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458th out of 703 books
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703 voters
Widow, Virgin, Whore
by
Deanna Lynn Sletten (Goodreads Author)
Three very different women−one house−one devastating diagnosis.
When recently widowed Katherine Samuals purchases a home to share with her son, Christopher, and best friend, Denise Richards, the last thing she expects is to include Denise's outrageous sister, Darla Richards, into the household. But Katherine agrees because she adores Darla's daughter, Chelsea, and feels thi
Paperback, 312 pages
Published
January 20th 2013
by Deanna Lynn Sletten
(first published December 10th 2011)
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Dec 29, 2011
Dianna
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone
Recommended to Dianna by:
Author giveaway
I am so happy that I won this book from the author. This book is VERY, VERY GOOD.
It is about the relationship between two best friends and the sister of one of them. Thus, the title, Widow, Virgin, Whore. The Widow has a son. Her house is too big so she decides to renovate and rent out some rooms. Her friend, the Virgin moves in and asks if her sister the Whore can also rent because it would be good for her daughter. Her mother, being who and what she is, is not the ideal parent and her daughte...more
It is about the relationship between two best friends and the sister of one of them. Thus, the title, Widow, Virgin, Whore. The Widow has a son. Her house is too big so she decides to renovate and rent out some rooms. Her friend, the Virgin moves in and asks if her sister the Whore can also rent because it would be good for her daughter. Her mother, being who and what she is, is not the ideal parent and her daughte...more
When you first read the title, you don't know what you're going to find. After reading the plot I was afraid it may be too sad or maybe hard to believe, but I was so wrong. I thought the women in this story would be or too close mind or very wild, but they're very real, if you read carefully you'll relate which anyone of them.
This is a great story, not only well written but very human. At first you found a description of each character, of their lives and the world around them. But after Darla f...more
This is a great story, not only well written but very human. At first you found a description of each character, of their lives and the world around them. But after Darla f...more
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The title, WIDOW, VIRGIN, WHORE drew me in. Followed by the great cover! What an amazing book it turned out to be :-) The story is the journey of a woman who is diagnosed with HIV positive/AIDS, but it becomes so much more!! It's an incredible tale of family, friendship and how something so horrific can bring out the best (and worst) in people. Ms. Sletten took a sensitive subject and told it in a way that I understood the disease, the pain and the joy. (Yes, joy! You will have to read it to fin...more
1 like · like · see review
Widow, Virgin, Whore by Deanna Lynn Sletten
The Title of this book of this book is both appropriate and almostmisleading. I am not bothered by sexually explicit material in a book, because to me sex is a very real part of the human experience; and that is what I was expecting to find. I was surprised, but not disappointed to find that there was no actual sex in the story.
Instead I found myself drawn into a wonderfully written human drama that centered around Katherine, who is a conservative widow...more
I sat down this weekend switching from my usual favorite genre of mystery books to read Widow, Virgin, Whore. It is obvious from the very beginning of the this remarkable journey who is who. Catherine is a widow with a young son who invites her "extended" family to live with her in order to share the expenses of a lovely Victorian House in Washington state. What she did not bargain for was for one of the roommates to become diagnosed with AIDS.
Being a softie by nature I kept my box of tissues ha...more
Being a softie by nature I kept my box of tissues ha...more
It all began with buying a beautiful victorian home in Seattle for a group of women to share. But the deal came with baggage in the form of the black sheep of the family, Darla. While the kids flurish, Darla tests everyone's patience with her short temper and string of boyfriends and parties. Ultimately, this fragile alliance is tested when the AIDS virus rears its ugly head.
This book provides a beautifully written account of a group of freinds and family who must deal with terminal illness. As...more
This book provides a beautifully written account of a group of freinds and family who must deal with terminal illness. As...more
I read this book for World Literary Cafe.
When you see the book title it makes you do a double take and wonder what in the world you are getting into. Don't let the title scare you.
I loved this book. I read it in 2 days.
The topic of AIDS to some still in this day and age is a taboo subject. We all know about AIDS but no one really wants to talk about it.
This book is beautifully written. It really makes you stop and see what exactly a person with AIDS goes through. Not just the illness, but the...more
When you see the book title it makes you do a double take and wonder what in the world you are getting into. Don't let the title scare you.
I loved this book. I read it in 2 days.
The topic of AIDS to some still in this day and age is a taboo subject. We all know about AIDS but no one really wants to talk about it.
This book is beautifully written. It really makes you stop and see what exactly a person with AIDS goes through. Not just the illness, but the...more
I swear to you I am part female. I love these "Entertainment for women" stuff. Anyways. Do not judge a book by its cover or title. I now know what the title means or is referring to. I enjoyed this book.
As an author myself I can appreciate the time and effort Deanna took into writing this, clearly doing her research on the matter and putting emotion into it. I did feel however that at the start the women were harsh and easily angered towards Darla, but as the story goes on you start to feel a s...more
As an author myself I can appreciate the time and effort Deanna took into writing this, clearly doing her research on the matter and putting emotion into it. I did feel however that at the start the women were harsh and easily angered towards Darla, but as the story goes on you start to feel a s...more
I chose this book to review and I was super excited about reading it but I was pleasantly surprised when I got into it and literally didn't want to put it down. Every time I have a few minutes with nothing to do I turned on my Nook so that I could read a little bit more even if it was only a few lines. I fell in love with the characters and was sad at the ending but I also knew how it would end once I was a few chapters into it. The one thing I can say about this book is don't judge it because o...more
I rounded up to 4 stars... I loved this book in its entirety except the love story between Gary and Denise. It was too quick, too easy and too saccharine. I never really became attached to Denise so I wasn't invested in her. I think this would've been a better book without her story, or if her story were more fleshed out.
The title describes the three main characters: Katherine, Denise, and Darla. They all live together along with their children when tragedy strikes. I'm not going to tell you wha...more
The title describes the three main characters: Katherine, Denise, and Darla. They all live together along with their children when tragedy strikes. I'm not going to tell you wha...more
This was a well rounded story with some humor, facts and some sadness to go with it. It definitely broadened my knowledge of AIDS. I am in the generation that was taught all about it in health classes, Knew how you get it, but I never thought about the actual people that got it. Never thought about the impact it could have on virtually everyone you knew and everything you did.
I enjoyed reading this story about friendship, family, and how they come together with the support and love you'd need t...more
I enjoyed reading this story about friendship, family, and how they come together with the support and love you'd need t...more
This book is about three very different women that end up living together. Katherine, the widow is a conservative and very intelligent single mother. Denise is the good girl and is written to be every woman’s best friend. Darla, the whore, is the wild, outrageous single mother that has never grown up.
I never read more than a sentence or two of the book’s description because I think it gives away too much. I rather go into the book a bit blind.
I thought this book was going to be something comple...more
I never read more than a sentence or two of the book’s description because I think it gives away too much. I rather go into the book a bit blind.
I thought this book was going to be something comple...more
This book comes with all the baggage one might expect from the perspective of three woman characters. I was expecting more smut from the title, rather than the emotion the story pulled from me. I became attached to Katherine, and when Darla was diagnosed with aids, it broadened my knowledge to a depth that I was unprepared for. Tragedy strikes as the woman form a very real binding friendship with one another. A story of the suffering Aids brings which was beautifully written.
I didn't expect to enjoy this this novel. I didn't expect to finish it. I've heard enough about AIDS through the years. Was this reallyhow I wanted to spend my weekend? However, by page 3 or 4, I knew my expectations were wrong. I couldn't put it down. I couldn't help but feel for these characters - Katherine, Denise, Darla and their extended circle and circumstances seems so real. Human feelings - and flaws - jump off the pages! Be warned - keep tissues close at hand.
I will admit I downloaded this book mostly because it was cheap (!). But am I glad I did!
The title can be misleading. I had no idea what the story was about and made up my mind about maybe some sort of windy romance of sorts.
Not at all.
This books deals with the sensitive matter of AIDS. And the author treats it in a beautiful, delicate way. Yet it's not sugar coated.
I highly recommend you to take this journey - and have tissues close at hand.
This novel is a hidden gem.
The title can be misleading. I had no idea what the story was about and made up my mind about maybe some sort of windy romance of sorts.
Not at all.
This books deals with the sensitive matter of AIDS. And the author treats it in a beautiful, delicate way. Yet it's not sugar coated.
I highly recommend you to take this journey - and have tissues close at hand.
This novel is a hidden gem.
2 likes · like · see review
What an amazing story. I have been crying for hours while reading this and it started just before the halfway point. I feel like I know these ladies and can only imagine what they went through. I would like to say that this is one I would read again, but I'm not sure I could handle these strong emotions again. Thank you Ms. Sletten for a great story...I will miss Katherine, and the Richard's sisters as well as those in the group. Wow....
1 like · like · see review
Widow, Virgin, Whore is a novel of three women, each at a different stage in their life. They move in together and as time progresses, their differences become their strengths as each member faces the challenges caused when Darla is diagnosed with AIDS. Having lost several friends to the AIDS virus, I found the description of the virus and treatment to be very accurate. This is a moving story of friendship, family, growth and loss.
May 05, 2012
Sian
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary,
women-s-fiction
I have really enjoyed this book, I read it in one sitting, which is unusual for me. I thought the level of information which was in this book and the treatment of the characters was totally amazing. There was one part that didn't sit well with me, which is why I only gave it four stars, and this had to do with the Vietnam Vet. Anyway, that isn't enough to put me off giving this book a 4.5 stars, and I definately recommend it!
This book has literally left me breathless. Simply put, it is one of the BEST books I have EVER read (not something I say lightly.). Although fiction the subject matter is very real, very present in our society today and this story will have you taking a closer look at the world around you.
I cannot recommend this book enough and plan on ordering several copies for friends and family.
I cannot recommend this book enough and plan on ordering several copies for friends and family.
4 likes · like · see review
FANTASTIC BOOK! By far one of the best I have ever read, and I read A LOT! My conservative estimate is reading 50-100 books a year. Usually more though. So I know what I am talking about. This book has EVERYTHING you could ask for, drama, humor, sadness, bullying, compassion, a little bit of everything. I think it is definitely a MUST READ!!
A sad story about a woman who contacted AIDS and how she finally finds herself before she passes. It captured the reality of this deadly disease and opened my eyes to the struggle that happens not only to the sick person but the family and friends as well. A great story to create awareness about AIDS in society.
I wasn't sure about this book when I downloaded it, but I'm so glad I did. It's one of the most emotionally powerful books I've read in a long time. You will laugh, you will cry, you will rage along with the characters. Take a chance, just be sure to keep plenty of tissues by your side.
Found this book hard to put down and it didn't take long at all to get into it. I never got bored though some of the characters needed more development. A human story that needs telling, over and over. Lots of tears were shed knowing what was inevitable.
1 like · like · see review
While I don't fit into any of the categories (widow etc), I found this a moving read. To begin with, I had no idea where it was going, and I found the characters irritating, but suddenly everything gelled, and I was hooked. A great story.
This book was less about the widow and virgin and all about the whore.
While I enjoyed the in-depth discussion about AIDS it should have been that from the beginning to the end.
While I enjoyed the in-depth discussion about AIDS it should have been that from the beginning to the end.
I really liked this book. It was very touching in parts. I loved the characters. Someone very near to my heart is HIV positive so this is a subject I have an interest in.
The title of this is very misleadind, but appropriate. It's a novel about three women who are very connected to each other, but are very different in nature.
You can tell it was written when we were first learning about AIDS and HIV. It was well-written. Not a happy book but I couldn't put it down.
This book totally surprised me. It was sad, uplifting and informative. This was a free book for my kindle off of ereadernews.com.
Amazing book of the hand we're dealt, how we deal with live and what is tossed in our path and how events change our lives.
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Deanna Lynn Sletten is an author who writes women's fiction novels and has also written one children's/middle-grade fiction novel. She started her writing career as a freelance writer for print media, newspapers and websites before transitioning to novel writing.
Deanna has two grown children and lives in northern Minnesota with her husband, beautiful Australian Shepherd and five cats. When not wr...more
More about Deanna Lynn Sletten...
Deanna has two grown children and lives in northern Minnesota with her husband, beautiful Australian Shepherd and five cats. When not wr...more
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“Darla shook her head, a small smirk on her lips. “You’re such a mom,” she told Katherine.
Katherine stared at her, puzzled. “You’re a mom, too,” she said softly.
“No, I gave birth. That doesn’t make me a mom. Not like you.”
A look passed between the two women like none they had ever shared before. For a split second, Katherine felt a slight connection. “Well, you rest. I’ll check on you later.” She turned and left the room, a funny, unexplainable feeling inside her.”
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3 people liked it
Katherine stared at her, puzzled. “You’re a mom, too,” she said softly.
“No, I gave birth. That doesn’t make me a mom. Not like you.”
A look passed between the two women like none they had ever shared before. For a split second, Katherine felt a slight connection. “Well, you rest. I’ll check on you later.” She turned and left the room, a funny, unexplainable feeling inside her.”
“You're still alive. Be thankful for that. You can still walk and talk and think. Yes, you feel like shit most of the time, but it could be worse. So instead of sitting in your room waiting to die, why don't you join in on life until you do die? Dammit! Get off your dead ass and make something of the life you still have left!”
—
1 person liked it
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