Patty Janes House of Curl

Rating:
Summary: A Poor Woman's Steel Magnolias
Review: "Patty Jane's House of Curls" is a novel centered around Patty Jane, a deserted mother, Harriet, her sister, Ione, her mother-in-law, and Nora, her daughter. The story starts in the mid 1950s and ends in the early 90s. Patty Jane runs a local beauty salon. Her sister Harriet plays the harp and Ione keeps the salon in Norwegian pastries. In the course of the story there are tragedies, untimely deaths, fateful encounters, and sudden terminal diseases.

That the novel has so many improbable events isn't so much an issue as they were used clumsily get rid of inconvenient characters or tie up loose plot ends. The men were either unbelievable (Clyde, Reese, and Avel-unbearable wise and angelic) or cyphers (Thor). The one positive characterization was Thor's profound ambivalence with wife Patty Jane's pregnancy. This was a standout.

There are many tragic events in this novel. However, it is too upbeat for Oprah to ever include it in her Book Club. This is something Kelly Ripa would pick for her Book Selection. This being "Four Strong Women Weather it all" type of book.

Rating:
Summary: Leisurely Reading
Review: For a nice leisurely read this was a great book. I read it in a few days and was a bit disappointed becasue this was my second book by Landvik. Angry Housewives has it all over this one. I guess it's unfair to compare because they have nothing to do with one another. It was a nice read though.

Rating:
Summary: Just got worse and worse to the point of comedy
Review: I enjoyed Angry Housewifes so I picked up this book - my 2nd from this author. The book started out pretty good - however as I read on I was shaking my head. I lost faith in the characters and in the story.