One quiet spring day, Gracie Hollaman hears voices in her head that tell her to get in her car and leave her entire life behind -- her home, her h...
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Sep 03, 2007
I'm about 100 pages into it and it's just okay so far. I can't quite put my finger on what I don't like about it.
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Apr 30, 2010
Jo
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Feb 14, 2009
Mona
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This book was recommended by my friend Ashley and was one of the best books I've ever read. It is my understanding that it was the author's first novel. I want to go live with Mama Toot too!!!
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Jul 24, 2008
Georgie
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I really enjoyed the intertwining of cultures the author creates in this story. Also, going into the schizophrenic mind without harsh judgment. I bought it specifically for this reason as I find the condition to be misunderstood in most every society. The only thing I found this book lacking was a bit more story behind the reunion of Doristeen and her mother, however I really admired Ed's character. It brings readers to know how a spouse is also affected by this illness and the search loved o
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Sep 07, 2011
Karla
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I found the book I've been searching for without knowing I was lost without it. A noble and worthy read that may not be for everyone, it is for the philosopher deep within to become enchanted and consumed by. A complex southern tale of food, art, humor, connections, race and insightful thought provoking views into many types of religions, as well as a touch of poetry. It made me really see how complex Schizophrenia is from all angles and look for the miracle in every small wonder and the reason
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Jan 03, 2009
Cindy
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I really liked this book and really started to love the characters and the life changes that each were experiencing as a result of Gracie's illness. Sufficient grace is a wonderful title to convey how each person who is touched by Gracie finds there own way to the place where they are able to make sense out of a situation that seems to make no sense. Gracie in her own way moves the people around her onto a new path of life, growing from this experience. Ed finds that he is a person who has ma
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Jun 29, 2009
Nancy
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While hardly a book you can't put down, it was an interesting look into the results of mental illness on a family. Grace leaves her family early in the book and the impact that has on the lives of her daughter and husband were unexpected. Her husband, a tire store owner, takes up cooking via Food Network and discovers how relaxing cooking can be. Their daughter is horrified by her mother's voices and choices and refuses to embrace her new roll of being understanding and supportive. Meanwhile, an
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Mar 31, 2009
Rosemarie
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The story of Gracie, who leaves home and her husband of 30+ years after painting Jesus's portraits on 3 walls of their home, cutting up her credit cards, and tossing her wedding band onto their bed. She finds her way to the place she needs to be for healing. The reader learns about her family and the family who shelter her. As she explains to her psychiatrist, stories must complete a circle. Hers is completed, new circles begin, new possibilities exist, the reader finishes the book satisfied
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May 01, 2011
Rebecca
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My latest read has been on my shelf a while. The author of Sufficient Grace, Darnell Arnoult, is a good friend of my mentor, Susan Gregg Gilmore (Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen, The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove). I've had this book on my "to read" list for ages, putting it off and putting it off over and over again. The title had me a little blocked: I thought I knew what this book was about and how that tale would be told. I was wrong. Now that I've given it a go I'm so g
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Apr 29, 2010
Rhonda
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Jun 24, 2009
Suzy
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This is the story of an adult woman who has "always been a little different" and is diagnosed with schizophrenia. She paints 3 7-foot Jesus in her home and leaves without telling anyone where she has gone. The story follows her, the family who takes her in, and the family she has left. I loved this book - laughed out - listened to Gracie's "voices" - and empathized with all involved - the book does a great job describing schizophrenic symptoms, all tempered with lots of h
Jun 26, 2011
Brackman1066
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This book had some wonderful and wonderfully compelling characters. I heard the author say at a reading that this is a book with no villains, which it is. But I still had trouble putting it down every night to go to bed. The characters will stay with me for a while.
Should probably give the caveat that I work with this author, but honestly, I don't think that mattered in my response to the book.
Should probably give the caveat that I work with this author, but honestly, I don't think that mattered in my response to the book.
Sep 17, 2009
Beth Anne
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i really felt that this book lacked a lot. it was written well, and the characters were pretty well developed...yet when i got to the last page, i was highly surprised that the story was over.
i felt like...there was so much more story to tell...and the author just, stopped.
i'm not even saying that i need closure, or resolution in a book..but i want something. something more than this one gave me. i know that i will forget about this novel in a week or two...and i don't More...
i felt like...there was so much more story to tell...and the author just, stopped.
i'm not even saying that i need closure, or resolution in a book..but i want something. something more than this one gave me. i know that i will forget about this novel in a week or two...and i don't More...
Mar 30, 2010
Kathryn
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I had not heard of this book before it being the April read in Southern Lit Lovers. Oh gosh, it was good. The characters were rich with history and delightful personalities. Food is such a strong element in southern books and this one was no exception. I thought the ending was quite weak. I realize the attempt was to bring all the characters to some sort of completeness, but I was a bit disappointed.
Apr 03, 2010
Debra
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I read this for the Southern Lit bookgroup here on Goodreads and was very pleasantly surprized. It is hard to imagine this is the author's first book. Characters are well developed through an intermingling of lives. They are memorable as well. After Gracie looses her mind, her family and friends are connected in unusual ways. Very good read
May 22, 2008
Susan
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The readers who liked Secret Life of Bees will like this first novel from a talented southern author. In the first chapter, Gracie Hollaman cuts up her credit cards and tosses her wedding ring in the middle of the well-made bed, but not before she draws three larger than life pictures of Jesus on the walls of her home. As she leaves town without telling a soul, she starts on a journey that will change everything and everyone in her life, but strangely also connect her once again with her troub
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Dec 17, 2009
Alicia
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Sufficient Grace is the story of a woman suffering from schizophrenia. When she starts hearing the voice of God she leaves her husband and ends up staying with the African American woman who had taken care of her as a child. Throughout the book her family struggles to come to terms with the new direction their family has taken and adapts to the changes in surprising new ways.
Interestingly enough, this book does not paint a bleak picture of the effects of mental illness on an individu More...
Interestingly enough, this book does not paint a bleak picture of the effects of mental illness on an individu More...
Jun 16, 2009
Sandra Shanti
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When I read at the end of the book that the author had a mother with late onset schizophrenia I was even more impressed with this book.
Her characters are wonderful and I love Mama Toot!
Her characters are wonderful and I love Mama Toot!
Jan 06, 2011
Mich
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recommendation from friend... good read! southern lit and a great storyline to boot!
thanks jo
thanks jo
Nov 10, 2010
Erin
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Never reached me, although it was interesting reading about Gracie's schizophrenia.
Mar 26, 2010
Ruth
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A good read. Great cast of characters deal with a number of life altering issues. Initially, Gracie creates 3 large images of Jesus on some white walls in her home and it just gets a little crazier from there. Surprisingly, for me anyway, I enjoyed the husband, Eds, story more than the other characters. I don't know how realistic it could be, but I enjoyed watching him adapt from obliviously, contentedly married, to husband of missing wife, to husband of wife in mental facility, to obviously con
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Sep 16, 2009
Caren
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I really loved this book. I wasn't sure where it was going to go when it started and so I just got into the well written characters. I especially loved the companionship/relationship of the two Black women. Their strength and work ethic and sense of self were so comforting to read. The descriptions of food were a bonus!
These women have stayed with me even more then the main story has. I felt there was so much more I wanted to learn about them tht the story just wasn't long enough, but More...
These women have stayed with me even more then the main story has. I felt there was so much more I wanted to learn about them tht the story just wasn't long enough, but More...
Apr 15, 2010
Maren
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I enjoyed being in the South again through this book, and enjoyed it much more than I thought I would when I started it. It gave an interesting perspective on schizophrenia, and there were several very wise and insightful tidbits about relationships that I will look up later so I don't forget them....
May 28, 2011
Dee
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Could not get into this book - I found it boring and there are just too many good books waiting!
Dec 17, 2009
Paddy
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Disclaimer: The author is a friend. Doesn't matter, I liked this, her first novel, immensely. She deals w/ some of the same themes in The Secret Life of Bees but more effectively (Disclaimer #2: I did not like Secret Life although somehow I finished it). Darnell presents apt but not disturbing depictions of schizophrenia, lyrical writing, humor, authentic language. The books holds up all the way through.
Jul 20, 2010
joanna
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I was really disappointed with this book and struggled to finish. None of the characters were likable (except maybe Toot). The story felt disjointed and never really came together for me. I was hoping it was like The Secret Life of Bees, but I saw only one parallel.
Jun 06, 2008
I cannot wait to read Sufficient Grace. After hearing Darnell talk about the process she went though to write this novel; how it began a short story and she tried to get Ed to cheat on Gracie but he wouldn't, the personal parts that relate to her family. It's definatly next on my list of books to read; after I finish these library books, of course. :)
Jan 17, 2011
Dolly
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Sufficient Grace is a different kind of Southern Literature. The setting, the people, and the food definitely have a southern feel, but the storyline has a good bit of psychology involved, and this makes this book unique. I also enjoyed the characters and how the author connected them in the story.
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