Where The Heart Is (unabridged)

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Summary: What a delight!
Review: The characters in this book were so real. When I put the book down, it took a minute or two to pull out of their world and back into mine. I fell inlove with Novalee and all of her wonderful friends. I have already recommended this book to several people and will continue to recommend it to anyone who enjoys immersing themselves in a book full of warmth and character.

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Summary: Inventive
Review: These intresting characters will draw you in as you get to know them. I loved the living in Walmart concept. The story keeps evolving and is rarely dull. It just flows all the way.

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Summary: Billie Letts Never Challenges Her Characters, or Her Readers
Review: Although this is a charming tale, it's a little too fluffly to be considered good literature. Billie Letts never allows her characters to show us anything that would make us want to be like them, that would make us admire them, that would make us better understand our own lives. Her main character, Novalee Nation is constantly rescued in quite unbelievable ways, from challenging situations. As a teenage mother, bills, childcare, career, even race relations, are not a problem. Ha! Too bad we all can't charm away these difficult issues. However, if you're looking for an escape from reality, this is a good selection.

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Summary: Fell in love with Novallee and all the other zany characters
Review: As a college student, I don't get a lot of time to read for pleasure, but I read this book in two days using every second of my free time. Billie Letts created characters whose simplicity makes them complex. I didn't want to let the story go when it was over. I've recommended it to everyone I know!

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Summary: This is an absolutely wonderful book.
Review: Novalee Nation was a very believable character whom you keep hoping will grow up and she finally does! She grows up to be a very forgiving and beautiful person. I loved every minute of reading this book. My friends I have loaned this book to loved it as much as I do.

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Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: "Where the Heart Is" is wonderful! Novalee is genuine, loving, and smart. It's a story of survival, setting down roots, and finding true love.

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Summary: A heart warming book ;there's really such thing as kindness
Review: I truly couldn't put this book down. It gave me such a sence of bravery for Novelee. It cleary portrayed that if something horrible happens to you, one day you will be rewarded; handsomely. And she expessed such great will, determination, pride and love for her daughter Americus Nation. Great book Oprah!

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Summary: a teenage girl in trouble dares to dream and wins.
Review: A story to give the most downtrodden hope in a world filled with trouble. Never give up your dreams as long as you have breath. For if you succeed than you are ahead of the crowd. Love conquers all and forgives much. Novalee is a strong charactor to identify with and respect. The plot has enough twists and turns to delight, surprise and intertain for a straignt readthrough.

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Summary: Inspirational
Review: This was one of the best and most inspirational books I have ever read. Novalee went through so many things at such a young age, but she never let it bring her down. Most people would not react like that, but the author made it seem so realistic!

Rating:
Summary: One of the worst books I've ever read
Review: Judging from the other reviews, I can tell that I am in the distinct minority, but this is truly one of the worst books I have ever wasted my time reading. Gratuitous violence and sugar coated optimism mesh poorly in this utterly unbelievable tale of a teen mom who beats all the odds. I think it is statistically impossible to encounter the tragedy Novalee Nation endures. From kidnapping to tornadoes, people who live on Melrose Place have better luck. Another supposed draw of the book is the treatment and study of a rarely examined area of the country. As a native Oklahoman I was not impressed. Letts' portrayal of rural Oklahoma was a caricature of its real depth and complexity. The texture of Sequoya Oklahoma in this book is about as one demensional as Billie Letts' characters. They are either of unimpeachable character and ill of fortune or just plain evil. I became so desensitized to rape and abandonment that I was unable to be sentimental about the characters' triumphs. This book is not fit for anything more sophisticated than the beach.