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Looking for Me
A Southern novel of family and antiques from the bestselling author of the beloved
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
Beth Hoffman’s bestselling debut, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, won admirers and acclaim with its heartwarming story and cast of unforgettable characters. Now her unique flair for evocative settings and richly drawn Southern personalities shines in her compelling new novel, Looking for Me.
Teddi Overman found her life’s passion for furniture in a broken-down chair left on the side of the road in rural Kentucky. She learns to turn other people’s castoffs into beautifully restored antiques, and eventually finds a way to open her own shop in Charleston. There, Teddi builds a life for herself as unexpected and quirky as the customers who visit her shop. Though Teddi is surrounded by remarkable friends and finds love in the most surprising way, nothing can alleviate the haunting uncertainty she’s felt in the years since her brother Josh’s mysterious disappearance. When signs emerge that Josh might still be alive, Teddi is drawn home to Kentucky. It’s a journey that could help her come to terms with her shattered family—and to find herself at last. But first she must decide what to let go of and what to keep.
Looking for Me brilliantly melds together themes of family, hope, loss, and a mature once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. The result is a tremendously moving story that is destined to make bestselling author Beth Hoffman a novelist to whom readers will return again and again as they have with Adriana Trigiani, Fannie Flagg, and Joshilyn Jackson.
Beth Hoffman’s bestselling debut, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, won admirers and acclaim with its heartwarming story and cast of unforgettable characters. Now her unique flair for evocative settings and richly drawn Southern personalities shines in her compelling new novel, Looking for Me.
Teddi Overman found her life’s passion for furniture in a broken-down chair left on the side of the road in rural Kentucky. She learns to turn other people’s castoffs into beautifully restored antiques, and eventually finds a way to open her own shop in Charleston. There, Teddi builds a life for herself as unexpected and quirky as the customers who visit her shop. Though Teddi is surrounded by remarkable friends and finds love in the most surprising way, nothing can alleviate the haunting uncertainty she’s felt in the years since her brother Josh’s mysterious disappearance. When signs emerge that Josh might still be alive, Teddi is drawn home to Kentucky. It’s a journey that could help her come to terms with her shattered family—and to find herself at last. But first she must decide what to let go of and what to keep.
Looking for Me brilliantly melds together themes of family, hope, loss, and a mature once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. The result is a tremendously moving story that is destined to make bestselling author Beth Hoffman a novelist to whom readers will return again and again as they have with Adriana Trigiani, Fannie Flagg, and Joshilyn Jackson.
354 pages, Hardcover
First published May 28, 2013
543 people are currently reading
12583 people want to read
About the author
Beth Hoffman
10 books1,511 followersTwelve days after Beth Hoffman’s first novel was published in 2010, she became a New York Times bestselling author with foreign rights selling to prestigious publishers in Italy, Germany, France, Poland, Norway, Hungary, Indonesia, Korea, Israel, and the United Kingdom.
Following an extensive national tour, Beth returned home to Kentucky and the solace of her writing studio. Drawing from vivid memories of childhood on her grandparents’ farm and her love of animals, nature, and antiques, a surprising story quickly took form. When asked about her second novel, which is titled Looking for Me, Beth says: “This book encompasses my deepest passions—it’s the story that woke me in the night and demanded to be told.”
Before beginning her writing career, Beth was the president and co-owner of an interior design studio. An artist as well as an award-winning designer, her paintings are displayed in private and corporate collections in the United States, Canada, and the UK.
Beth lives, along with her husband and two very smart cats, in a restored Queen Anne home in a quaint historic district in Northern Kentucky. Her interests include the rescue of abandoned and abused animals, nature conservancy, birding, historic preservation, and antiquing.
Following an extensive national tour, Beth returned home to Kentucky and the solace of her writing studio. Drawing from vivid memories of childhood on her grandparents’ farm and her love of animals, nature, and antiques, a surprising story quickly took form. When asked about her second novel, which is titled Looking for Me, Beth says: “This book encompasses my deepest passions—it’s the story that woke me in the night and demanded to be told.”
Before beginning her writing career, Beth was the president and co-owner of an interior design studio. An artist as well as an award-winning designer, her paintings are displayed in private and corporate collections in the United States, Canada, and the UK.
Beth lives, along with her husband and two very smart cats, in a restored Queen Anne home in a quaint historic district in Northern Kentucky. Her interests include the rescue of abandoned and abused animals, nature conservancy, birding, historic preservation, and antiquing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,075 reviews
August 19, 2013
An exceptional story that will leave antique lovers drooling, nature lovers longing for the outdoors, animal lovers running to make a donation to their local animal shelter or humane society, and hopeless romantics swooning.
I seriously can't believe that I waited a whole month to read this novel. I should have picked it up immediately. Looking for Me is storytelling at its best. Teddi and her brother Josh grew up on a farm in Kentucky. While she loves to give new life to old things like furniture, Josh becomes a protector of nature. Their father fosters their passions while their mother begrudgingly goes along with it. As Teddi and Josh grow up, they take their own journeys away from home. Their stories are both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Some of the overall themes of this beautiful novel are the power of family ties, the bonds of friendship, and the power of love.
I highly recommend this touching story. It's so well written, you'd think that these people exist in the world, not just on the page. I don't think I will ever look at an antique or go into a resale shop without thinking about this novel. Nor will I ever take a walk in a national park or wildlife preserve without it coming to mind. It's simply beautiful. Memorable.
Thank you to Pamela Dorman Books for the review copy.
I seriously can't believe that I waited a whole month to read this novel. I should have picked it up immediately. Looking for Me is storytelling at its best. Teddi and her brother Josh grew up on a farm in Kentucky. While she loves to give new life to old things like furniture, Josh becomes a protector of nature. Their father fosters their passions while their mother begrudgingly goes along with it. As Teddi and Josh grow up, they take their own journeys away from home. Their stories are both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Some of the overall themes of this beautiful novel are the power of family ties, the bonds of friendship, and the power of love.
I highly recommend this touching story. It's so well written, you'd think that these people exist in the world, not just on the page. I don't think I will ever look at an antique or go into a resale shop without thinking about this novel. Nor will I ever take a walk in a national park or wildlife preserve without it coming to mind. It's simply beautiful. Memorable.
Thank you to Pamela Dorman Books for the review copy.
August 9, 2016
Some early reviews:
“It is calmly delivered … packs a hefty emotional punch … a completely original story line.”
- FREDICKSBURG FREE LANCE-STAR
“Hoffman’s novel of a woman putting the pieces of her family’s secrets together combines a deep dramatic impact with Southern charm.”
- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“Beth Hoffman is a master at crafting a gentle story fierce with emotion.”
- SCRANTON BOOK EXAMINER
“Intelligent and brilliantly written … a deceptively complex story.”
- Heather Christman, Warwick’s
“[A] lyrical, almost mystical story that reflects life on a Kentucky farm, the wildness of the Red River Gorge, and the genteel South of Charleston, S.C.”
- PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
“Told with Beth Hoffman’s trademark blend of compassion and optimism … will touch any reader who has ever followed a dream, disappointed a parent, or said a final goodbye to their childhood home.”
- Jill Hendrix, Fiction Addiction
March 18, 2015
When I read this authors first book, Saving Ceecee Honeycutt, I read it in one sitting and was then disappointed because I'd finished it.
With Looking For Me I decided to take my time, reading a few pages a day and making it last. But...by the time I'd read about a quarter of the book I realized that this was not one of my better ideas. I didn't feel any connection to the characters.
So...I went back to the start, immersed myself in the story, and didn't come up for air until I read the very last word.
I love the way this author writes. She breathes life into all her characters, not only the main ones. They're believable and likable, and I find myself genuinely interested in their lives.
There is a little animal cruelty, but it's not too bad, and I found that I could read it without too much distress. There's also a romance, but it didn't turn my stomach, so that's a plus!
A beautiful story, beautifully written.
August 5, 2013
I am a huge fan of Southern fiction. I love the way Beth Hoffman uses Southern idioms, phrases and dialogues. Reading this novel, for me, was like being with a great friend. It’s a story about Teddi Overman, a woman in her thirties, who owns an antique and repair shop in Charleston. Furniture “speaks” to Teddi. She sees the beauty and history in an old piece of furniture. I liked that there were many themes in the story. Teddi struggles to understand her parents as people rather than parents. She struggles with her business and her obligations to her employees and friends. She struggles with the abandonment she feels of her brother abruptly running away when he was 18. She struggles with her obligation to her family and family history. And she struggles with making sense of her life and her control over her own happiness. Each character is fully developed and complex. I love Teddi’s Grandmother. On of my favorite Grandmother quotes: “Sometimes it’s not what we hold on to the shapes our lives--it’s what we’re willing to let go of”. Teddi ruminates “Maybe we were offered a rite of passage many times throughout our lives, if only we were awake enough to see it”. Her Momma told her “Never tie your happiness to the tail of someone else’s kite.” Teddi’s Great Grandmother said “each day is a gift and how we chose to unwrap it will determine our happiness”. I am a fan of Southern wisdom. This is chic-lit at it’s finest. Easy to read, uplifting, and insightful.
May 15, 2013
Looking for Me by the author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt has much to recommend it, and yet....
What I liked: great ambiance in the settings of the family farm in Kentucky and in Charlston, S.C.; lovely Southern charm and flowing descriptions; nature and wildlife; the love of junk picking and quality antiques; the feathers and the notes from Josh; gardens; and near the end, Teddi's refusal to sell her father's old Allis-Chalmers tractor. ( All of the above are things I personally love, and my father gave us an old Allis-Chalmers tractor many years ago that I adored and called Alice. I also had an antique shop for a while and still love junking.)
And yet...it was about half-way through the book before any real plot developed; there were too many time-shifts; much of the detail, while interesting and well-written either didn't advance the story or slowed it down and dispersed interest; Josh's disappearance did not feel realistic to me (leaving a family and sister he loved with no word or follow-up contact); too many themes going on. It seemed as if every good idea and description and interest that Hoffman had, she tried to use in one book.
Initially, I loved it. The minor characters are especially well done, and Hoffman's skill in creating an environment is wonderful. Even nearly half-way through with no idea what the plot was, I was still enjoying the book because I am interested in all of things Hoffman writes about. My thought was that it was like little essays or anecdotes about avocations and incidents and that I could be satisfied with that. At a certain point, however, I would have preferred more of a sense of continuity, a clear direct priority of theme and narrative.
Hoffman writes beautifully about her passions. Maybe that is recommendation enough.
NetGalley/Penguin Group, Viking.
May 28, 2012. Print version: 368 pages.
ISBN-10: 0670025836
What I liked: great ambiance in the settings of the family farm in Kentucky and in Charlston, S.C.; lovely Southern charm and flowing descriptions; nature and wildlife; the love of junk picking and quality antiques; the feathers and the notes from Josh; gardens; and near the end, Teddi's refusal to sell her father's old Allis-Chalmers tractor. ( All of the above are things I personally love, and my father gave us an old Allis-Chalmers tractor many years ago that I adored and called Alice. I also had an antique shop for a while and still love junking.)
And yet...it was about half-way through the book before any real plot developed; there were too many time-shifts; much of the detail, while interesting and well-written either didn't advance the story or slowed it down and dispersed interest; Josh's disappearance did not feel realistic to me (leaving a family and sister he loved with no word or follow-up contact); too many themes going on. It seemed as if every good idea and description and interest that Hoffman had, she tried to use in one book.
Initially, I loved it. The minor characters are especially well done, and Hoffman's skill in creating an environment is wonderful. Even nearly half-way through with no idea what the plot was, I was still enjoying the book because I am interested in all of things Hoffman writes about. My thought was that it was like little essays or anecdotes about avocations and incidents and that I could be satisfied with that. At a certain point, however, I would have preferred more of a sense of continuity, a clear direct priority of theme and narrative.
Hoffman writes beautifully about her passions. Maybe that is recommendation enough.
NetGalley/Penguin Group, Viking.
May 28, 2012. Print version: 368 pages.
ISBN-10: 0670025836
February 23, 2013
Talk about a quiet book that manages to pack quite the punch. Teddi is works with antiques and restoration, embodying the concept of hard work and dedication. We see her family through her eyes–her war veteran father who firmly believed in family and freedom, her glass-half-empty mother who always had a bone to pick, and Josh, the light of her life little brother who was enigmatically one with nature. When Teddi’s mother suddenly passes away, both she and the reader get exposed to the secrets that she never knew her family had. Some of them may lead to answering the question that has haunted her for years; is her brother dead or alive?
When I learned about the premise of this book, I was excited to sink my teeth into a good old Southern murder mystery. If that’s what you’re looking for, look elsewhere. This is a literary drama about maturity, acceptance, hope, and perseverance. Most importantly, it’s about coming to terms with the open-ended conclusions that life often has to offer.
Beth Hoffman isn’t a writer, she’s a painter. I sank into the hot, Southern charms of Charleston and Kentucky and loved every moment of Teddi’s life, from the memories of her past and her family to the present-day work with her antiques. She sees beauty where nobody else can and Beth Hoffman’s novel in turn proves that you don’t have to have a whirlwind of activity to be a gripping read. This book comes out in June 2013, making it an idyllic summer read. But don’t read it on the beach; read it on your porch with a cool glass of iced tea surrounded by the heat of the sun making your backyard flowers bloom.
When I learned about the premise of this book, I was excited to sink my teeth into a good old Southern murder mystery. If that’s what you’re looking for, look elsewhere. This is a literary drama about maturity, acceptance, hope, and perseverance. Most importantly, it’s about coming to terms with the open-ended conclusions that life often has to offer.
Beth Hoffman isn’t a writer, she’s a painter. I sank into the hot, Southern charms of Charleston and Kentucky and loved every moment of Teddi’s life, from the memories of her past and her family to the present-day work with her antiques. She sees beauty where nobody else can and Beth Hoffman’s novel in turn proves that you don’t have to have a whirlwind of activity to be a gripping read. This book comes out in June 2013, making it an idyllic summer read. But don’t read it on the beach; read it on your porch with a cool glass of iced tea surrounded by the heat of the sun making your backyard flowers bloom.
May 28, 2013
"Never tie your happiness to the end of someone else's kite."
The patches and quips of wisdom within the pages are part of the charm of Teddi Overton's story found in Beth Hoffman's second novel, LOOKING FOR ME. The voice is another, so engaging and powerful that the story is unputdownable (if that can be a word).
In the opening pages, the reader gets a glimpse into the heart of the main character: a scrappy and endearing Kentucky farm girl as she learns to cope with the world, her difficult family, and her brother's mysterious disappearance. Over time, Teddi begins to find her place in the world, refinishing mistreated antiques with a dream to sell them in her own upscale antique shop.
I laughed out loud at Teddi's eccentricities (having lunch with Pernelia) and loved her heart for animals and flowers and art. As Teddi begins to discover herself and her purpose, I experienced the discovery right along with her.
LOOKING FOR ME is a treasure of a novel, one sure to touch readers deeply with its generous helping of heart. It's a perfect sit-on-the-porch-with-a-glass-of-tea book.
I loved LOOKING FOR ME and recommend buying two copies -- one for yourself and one as a gift for a friend.
The patches and quips of wisdom within the pages are part of the charm of Teddi Overton's story found in Beth Hoffman's second novel, LOOKING FOR ME. The voice is another, so engaging and powerful that the story is unputdownable (if that can be a word).
In the opening pages, the reader gets a glimpse into the heart of the main character: a scrappy and endearing Kentucky farm girl as she learns to cope with the world, her difficult family, and her brother's mysterious disappearance. Over time, Teddi begins to find her place in the world, refinishing mistreated antiques with a dream to sell them in her own upscale antique shop.
I laughed out loud at Teddi's eccentricities (having lunch with Pernelia) and loved her heart for animals and flowers and art. As Teddi begins to discover herself and her purpose, I experienced the discovery right along with her.
LOOKING FOR ME is a treasure of a novel, one sure to touch readers deeply with its generous helping of heart. It's a perfect sit-on-the-porch-with-a-glass-of-tea book.
I loved LOOKING FOR ME and recommend buying two copies -- one for yourself and one as a gift for a friend.
February 24, 2014
By the bestselling author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. While Saving was a sweet, charming story, Hoffman has outdone herself in her second novel. Her writing now crosses over two genres, popular and literary, and I felt that she wrote this novel for me. Love antiques? Check. Love nature? Check. Love landscape? Check. Love rural settings? Check. Love mysteries? Check. Love art? Check. Love strong women? Check. Love unsentimental love stories and eccentric characters? Check. This novel has everything in it that I love reading about. The plot, while "quiet," is complex and intricately woven, and I was so happy to read a woman's novel that is for a change 98% devoted to life and family and job and only about 2% devoted to romance. A brave move on Hoffman's part.
I highly recommend this book if you love all or most of the same elements I do.
I highly recommend this book if you love all or most of the same elements I do.
May 30, 2013
Originally published on my blog My Novel Opinion
First off, I wanted to be clear why I chose to read this book...after being drawn to the delightful looking window display on the cover the one and only other reason was the first 7 words in the synopsis "A Southern novel of family and antiques"! I am a sucker for novels set in the South, I'm not even sure why having never visited or really interacted with anyone from that neck of the woods. I'm also going to throw my hands up and admit that I had not heard of Beth Hoffman before (sorry Beth), BUT I am now going to request Saving CeeCee Honeycutt from the library.
So, what did I think of LOOKING FOR ME? I thought it was wonderful and captivating. It was another unputdownable (which I seem to be reading a lot of lately). I have this thing (maybe some of you are familiar with this) where I can only put a book down at the end of a chapter, but as I came to the end of chapter after chapter I just had to carry on and find out what was coming next.
The story revolves around the life and family of Teddi Overman, an ambitious business woman who sought out her dream and leapt with both hands to grab it and didn't let it go (my kind of woman!). After discovering she had a knack for restoring old unwanted furniture, and successfully selling it in rural Kentucky, she wants to make a living out of this. Upon turning 17 and being gifted a car by her parents she ventures to Charleston to pursue her dream, with mixed feelings from her parents. Her father encourages her to carry on with her life, where her mother feels than there isn't a stable future in the path Teddi has chosen.
While Teddi is gone, her brother goes missing, her father dies, and her grandmother comes to live with her in Charleston; leaving her mom with the family farm, alone and seemingly bitter. Teddi struggles to understand why her mom is the way she is and also why her brother left and what may have become of him.
Teddi never lets go of the possibility that her brother is out there, even when everyone else presumes he is dead. After all how long can someone survive in the wilderness?
My Rating:
5/5 - There was no two ways about it - I was giving this book top marks! I loved every moment of it, and I will definitely be reading more of Beth Hoffman. But the stickler? I have to go to Charleston and shop for antique furniture. Oh and did I mention Teddi's best friend loves books? In fact she restores old books and hunts down first edition bargains!
First off, I wanted to be clear why I chose to read this book...after being drawn to the delightful looking window display on the cover the one and only other reason was the first 7 words in the synopsis "A Southern novel of family and antiques"! I am a sucker for novels set in the South, I'm not even sure why having never visited or really interacted with anyone from that neck of the woods. I'm also going to throw my hands up and admit that I had not heard of Beth Hoffman before (sorry Beth), BUT I am now going to request Saving CeeCee Honeycutt from the library.
So, what did I think of LOOKING FOR ME? I thought it was wonderful and captivating. It was another unputdownable (which I seem to be reading a lot of lately). I have this thing (maybe some of you are familiar with this) where I can only put a book down at the end of a chapter, but as I came to the end of chapter after chapter I just had to carry on and find out what was coming next.
The story revolves around the life and family of Teddi Overman, an ambitious business woman who sought out her dream and leapt with both hands to grab it and didn't let it go (my kind of woman!). After discovering she had a knack for restoring old unwanted furniture, and successfully selling it in rural Kentucky, she wants to make a living out of this. Upon turning 17 and being gifted a car by her parents she ventures to Charleston to pursue her dream, with mixed feelings from her parents. Her father encourages her to carry on with her life, where her mother feels than there isn't a stable future in the path Teddi has chosen.
While Teddi is gone, her brother goes missing, her father dies, and her grandmother comes to live with her in Charleston; leaving her mom with the family farm, alone and seemingly bitter. Teddi struggles to understand why her mom is the way she is and also why her brother left and what may have become of him.
Teddi never lets go of the possibility that her brother is out there, even when everyone else presumes he is dead. After all how long can someone survive in the wilderness?
My Rating:
5/5 - There was no two ways about it - I was giving this book top marks! I loved every moment of it, and I will definitely be reading more of Beth Hoffman. But the stickler? I have to go to Charleston and shop for antique furniture. Oh and did I mention Teddi's best friend loves books? In fact she restores old books and hunts down first edition bargains!
December 23, 2015
I am really trying to determine if this is a 4 or 5 star book. I'm leaning more to 5 star. It's not a book that moves quickly or hits the reader with a big "AHA!" but more of a quiet life, moving along that sneaks up on you by a reflection of life through one of the character's passions.
I don't really know how to explain what the book is about except perhaps a glimpse of the way we make our choices and and choose our paths. We don't get to choose for others but we do get to choose our perspectives and amount of optimism. Our life often reflects our attitude.
Hoffman paints her world with splashes of word color. I've never been to Kentucky but I've seen enough in my head to want to go to Teddi's childhood home. I want to meet Teddi's grandmother in Charleston, if she is still alive. I want to walk into Teddi's shop and watch Albert work his magic and listen to Inez. Of course these are all fictional people but I kept forgetting that was true. Hoffman is truly an artist.
Admittedly, I forgot more often than not to watch for the symbolism in the writing. It was just a book I enjoyed quietly. In retrospect, however, I realize that much of Teddi's life is reflected in work. When struggling through an intricate piece, she is working out a complex life problem. When making repairs on a particularly beautiful and expensive piece of furniture, it is indicative of something in her life. When one of her favorite antiques goes missing from her collection, she mourns the loss only until she finds it and does not reclaim it. It is symbolic of her heart.
Josh is near and dear to my heart for personal reasons reflecting on my own life. Josh is the baby brother of Teddi who becomes one with nature. He is closer to animals than people and becomes symbolic of the Raven, making right the wrongs. The big mystery is if Josh is still alive or if he is dead. He simply disappeared one night. This was his red, white, and blue. Teddi's was the car from her father and some cash to get her through. Also, her chance crossing with Mr. Palmer who changed her life. Later, she pays it forward.
The themes repeat throughout the book and could be studied and discussed at great lengths. The characters can be compared and contrasted in regard to optimism, hope, resistance to change, giving spirit, freedom, work and love. It is apparent when Teddi opens herself to love and uncertainty as she opens herself not only to a man but to life, in general. She becomes more generous and able to let go of memories and physical objects. She also gains much more in return.
Interspersed throughout the book are also Teddi's memories of her childhood; of Josh, her Grammy, her mother and father. New information is offered by Stella and Grammy, along with discoveries as she cleans out the house and barn. The characters are contrasted by their acceptance of what life has dealt them, their willingness to see opportunity or become bitter, and how they either hang on or let go.
The book is much deeper than the story. It touches on many life lessons but I need more time to think about it for a couple of days. Beautifully written.
I don't really know how to explain what the book is about except perhaps a glimpse of the way we make our choices and and choose our paths. We don't get to choose for others but we do get to choose our perspectives and amount of optimism. Our life often reflects our attitude.
Hoffman paints her world with splashes of word color. I've never been to Kentucky but I've seen enough in my head to want to go to Teddi's childhood home. I want to meet Teddi's grandmother in Charleston, if she is still alive. I want to walk into Teddi's shop and watch Albert work his magic and listen to Inez. Of course these are all fictional people but I kept forgetting that was true. Hoffman is truly an artist.
Admittedly, I forgot more often than not to watch for the symbolism in the writing. It was just a book I enjoyed quietly. In retrospect, however, I realize that much of Teddi's life is reflected in work. When struggling through an intricate piece, she is working out a complex life problem. When making repairs on a particularly beautiful and expensive piece of furniture, it is indicative of something in her life. When one of her favorite antiques goes missing from her collection, she mourns the loss only until she finds it and does not reclaim it. It is symbolic of her heart.
Josh is near and dear to my heart for personal reasons reflecting on my own life. Josh is the baby brother of Teddi who becomes one with nature. He is closer to animals than people and becomes symbolic of the Raven, making right the wrongs. The big mystery is if Josh is still alive or if he is dead. He simply disappeared one night. This was his red, white, and blue. Teddi's was the car from her father and some cash to get her through. Also, her chance crossing with Mr. Palmer who changed her life. Later, she pays it forward.
The themes repeat throughout the book and could be studied and discussed at great lengths. The characters can be compared and contrasted in regard to optimism, hope, resistance to change, giving spirit, freedom, work and love. It is apparent when Teddi opens herself to love and uncertainty as she opens herself not only to a man but to life, in general. She becomes more generous and able to let go of memories and physical objects. She also gains much more in return.
Interspersed throughout the book are also Teddi's memories of her childhood; of Josh, her Grammy, her mother and father. New information is offered by Stella and Grammy, along with discoveries as she cleans out the house and barn. The characters are contrasted by their acceptance of what life has dealt them, their willingness to see opportunity or become bitter, and how they either hang on or let go.
The book is much deeper than the story. It touches on many life lessons but I need more time to think about it for a couple of days. Beautifully written.
July 18, 2016
3.5 Beth Hoffman's writing is lyrical at times, painting a strong sense of place and the strength of this book for me, even more than the story.
Teddi Overman is an artist with a special talent for finding antique treasures and restoring and transforming old furniture into works of art. She lives on the family farm with her hardworking father who she adores, her mother, whose disappointment in life and negativity baffle her, and her younger brother Josh. She and Josh have a unique bond and Teddi worships him. Josh too, has a passion. From an early age, he loves and wants to protect the animals in the forest and gorge that border the farm. He is a loner who seems to know the language of animals and birds, often seeing messages in the bird feathers he finds in the woods.
Teddi's mother never had a chance to go to college and she desperately wants Teddi to go to school after high school Teddi's dream is to open her own furniture refinishing and antique shop and she can't find a college course to teach her that. To overcome her mother's objections, she literally sneaks away from home in the middle of the night to start a new life in Charleston. Through a series of almost too good to believe encounters with good people. she manages to start her own business. Life seems to be turning out okay until Josh mysteriously disappears.
The story is told from Teddi's point of view and alternates between the past when she was a teenager and the present when she is thirty-something. Sometimes the transitions between time periods were confusing. The middle of the book dragged at times, but there was always enough underlying tension about Josh's disappearance to keep turning pages and find out what really happened to him. Is he dead, or as Teddi suspects, he is living among the birds and animals he loves in the deepest part of the forest where even the rangers who taught him as a child don't know how to find him?
Teddi Overman is an artist with a special talent for finding antique treasures and restoring and transforming old furniture into works of art. She lives on the family farm with her hardworking father who she adores, her mother, whose disappointment in life and negativity baffle her, and her younger brother Josh. She and Josh have a unique bond and Teddi worships him. Josh too, has a passion. From an early age, he loves and wants to protect the animals in the forest and gorge that border the farm. He is a loner who seems to know the language of animals and birds, often seeing messages in the bird feathers he finds in the woods.
Teddi's mother never had a chance to go to college and she desperately wants Teddi to go to school after high school Teddi's dream is to open her own furniture refinishing and antique shop and she can't find a college course to teach her that. To overcome her mother's objections, she literally sneaks away from home in the middle of the night to start a new life in Charleston. Through a series of almost too good to believe encounters with good people. she manages to start her own business. Life seems to be turning out okay until Josh mysteriously disappears.
The story is told from Teddi's point of view and alternates between the past when she was a teenager and the present when she is thirty-something. Sometimes the transitions between time periods were confusing. The middle of the book dragged at times, but there was always enough underlying tension about Josh's disappearance to keep turning pages and find out what really happened to him. Is he dead, or as Teddi suspects, he is living among the birds and animals he loves in the deepest part of the forest where even the rangers who taught him as a child don't know how to find him?
June 3, 2013
Looking For Me is the first novel I've read by Beth Hoffman. This is the type of novel that gives the feeling that I should be enjoying it on the porch of some grand Victorian with a pitcher of sweet tea. I loved this book. Looking For Me definitely put me in touch with the summer's I spent at my great grandmother's home in Mobile, Alabama as a child.
Teddi found her life's calling at the tender age of 11 in the form of a beat up chair discarded along the highway. She took that furniture home, restored it, and then eventually sold it. Teddi grew up on a farm in Kentucky with her mother, father, and younger brother Josh. Leaving behind her family, she embarks upon the journey of owning her own antiques business. But she leaves behind a broken family. A mother who doesn't seem to be happy for her decisions at all. A brother who's leaves without a trace. And a loving father who tries to hold things together all the while having his own skeletons to sort through.
As the book progresses, Teddi narrates seemlessly between the past and present. There are some instances where something mentioned in the present intices her to reflect on the past. These moments help to define Teddi and explain her intense hold on the past and its relics. She refers to herself as a healer in the sense that she takes the most damaged piece of furniture and breaths new life into it. Beth Hoffman supplies us readers with a well developed character who isn't catty or unloveable. Most of the time I wanted to be in Teddy's shop looking at the items she restored and just chatting it up with her.
As much as this novel is heartwarming it is heartbreaking. Teddi's young brother's disappearance and her mother's negativity are the catalyst for much of the tension in this novel. There is a sadness of the loss of her brother that she carries around with her and it oozes from the pages so believeably. And the hope she has is gut-wrenching when the mind is screaming that Josh isn't ever going to be found.
Beth Hoffman's Looking For Me is an exceptional read that I'm sure fans will not want to miss. There are so many quotable passages in this book that I'm sure a highlighter will be necessary for those interested. I recommend this novel to lover's of women's literature, although I do think it's written very smartly in comparison to most "chick lit" out there. Looking For Me is a story of hope, loss, love, guilt, and family. It makes me wonder what stories my old furniture will say about me.
Teddi found her life's calling at the tender age of 11 in the form of a beat up chair discarded along the highway. She took that furniture home, restored it, and then eventually sold it. Teddi grew up on a farm in Kentucky with her mother, father, and younger brother Josh. Leaving behind her family, she embarks upon the journey of owning her own antiques business. But she leaves behind a broken family. A mother who doesn't seem to be happy for her decisions at all. A brother who's leaves without a trace. And a loving father who tries to hold things together all the while having his own skeletons to sort through.
As the book progresses, Teddi narrates seemlessly between the past and present. There are some instances where something mentioned in the present intices her to reflect on the past. These moments help to define Teddi and explain her intense hold on the past and its relics. She refers to herself as a healer in the sense that she takes the most damaged piece of furniture and breaths new life into it. Beth Hoffman supplies us readers with a well developed character who isn't catty or unloveable. Most of the time I wanted to be in Teddy's shop looking at the items she restored and just chatting it up with her.
As much as this novel is heartwarming it is heartbreaking. Teddi's young brother's disappearance and her mother's negativity are the catalyst for much of the tension in this novel. There is a sadness of the loss of her brother that she carries around with her and it oozes from the pages so believeably. And the hope she has is gut-wrenching when the mind is screaming that Josh isn't ever going to be found.
Beth Hoffman's Looking For Me is an exceptional read that I'm sure fans will not want to miss. There are so many quotable passages in this book that I'm sure a highlighter will be necessary for those interested. I recommend this novel to lover's of women's literature, although I do think it's written very smartly in comparison to most "chick lit" out there. Looking For Me is a story of hope, loss, love, guilt, and family. It makes me wonder what stories my old furniture will say about me.
March 1, 2013
Hands down this is the best read of the last six months or more. I read "Saving CeeCee Honeycutt" as an advanced reader and really enjoyed it.
A new coworker, and new friend, received an advanced reader copy from Ms. Hoffman who is a friend of hers. After she read it she loaned to me. I was hooked by the characters within the first few pages. I told Lesa that the storyline did not matter so much to me as I really cared more for the characters and the writing itself.
I was wrong. The story is wonderful.
A melding of great writing, great characters, and a wonderful story that is different than first expected come together to form a read very different from "CeeCee." At first I was expecting, then a little disappointed, that Grammy didn't play a bigger role. Then I remembered what my grandma always said - "Good things come in small packages."
I cannot wait for the next Beth Hoffman book.
A new coworker, and new friend, received an advanced reader copy from Ms. Hoffman who is a friend of hers. After she read it she loaned to me. I was hooked by the characters within the first few pages. I told Lesa that the storyline did not matter so much to me as I really cared more for the characters and the writing itself.
I was wrong. The story is wonderful.
A melding of great writing, great characters, and a wonderful story that is different than first expected come together to form a read very different from "CeeCee." At first I was expecting, then a little disappointed, that Grammy didn't play a bigger role. Then I remembered what my grandma always said - "Good things come in small packages."
I cannot wait for the next Beth Hoffman book.
April 3, 2013
We all have dreams...some are fulfilled, some are not. Teddi Overman knew she had a talent for refinishing antique furniture even though her mother told her there was no future in it. Her mother wanted her to be a secretary.
Teddi didn't want to be a secretary. Teddi pursued her dream but had reservations about leaving her family when she did. She was so far away from them, and since she had left secretly in the middle of the night and on a bad note, there was some regret on her part. Her decision was a good one in the long run, though.
LOOKING FOR ME is another spectacular read by Beth Hoffman. The book faces family issues, friendships, dreams, unearthed talents, tragedies, regret, and heartbreak, but also has wonderful lessons. You will need a kleenex as you follow Teddie Overman from her childhood to adulthood. You will share in her triumphs and also her let downs.
You will follow the Overman family as the book goes back and forth in time. Mama was an odd character who was always pessimistic. Teddi was loveable, hopeful, ambitious, optimistic, and a joy. Josh was a sad character. Daddy was a wonderful character. Grammy was the perfect grandmother. Stella and Olivia were perfect friends for Teddi.
The book is about memories....so important, yet so painful. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the setting, the storyline, and the lessons learned. The book was uplifting and sweet but will also bring tears to your eyes....good tears.
LOOKING FOR ME is about the relationship between family members and how tragedies can tear them apart and also about talents that we shouldn't waste. If you are an antique buff, you will be thrilled.
LOOKING FOR ME perfectly describes how we all are looking for something in our lives that usually takes root in our childhood. The quote from page 206 made an impression on me and seems to sum up what Ms. Hoffman was trying to convey:
"We will be known forever by the tracks we leave."
This quote stayed with me long after I turned the last page of the book.
The book is written in Ms. Hoffman's customary beautiful, effortless storytelling style. It conveys the fragility and beauty of family and the determination to never give up.
This is a must read so you can soak up the depth of, the warmth of, and the beauty of Ms. Hoffman's writing, and share in the benefit of her words of wisdom about being happy.
I absolutely loved this book. 5/5
This book was given to me by the author free of charge and without compensation in return for an honest review.
Teddi didn't want to be a secretary. Teddi pursued her dream but had reservations about leaving her family when she did. She was so far away from them, and since she had left secretly in the middle of the night and on a bad note, there was some regret on her part. Her decision was a good one in the long run, though.
LOOKING FOR ME is another spectacular read by Beth Hoffman. The book faces family issues, friendships, dreams, unearthed talents, tragedies, regret, and heartbreak, but also has wonderful lessons. You will need a kleenex as you follow Teddie Overman from her childhood to adulthood. You will share in her triumphs and also her let downs.
You will follow the Overman family as the book goes back and forth in time. Mama was an odd character who was always pessimistic. Teddi was loveable, hopeful, ambitious, optimistic, and a joy. Josh was a sad character. Daddy was a wonderful character. Grammy was the perfect grandmother. Stella and Olivia were perfect friends for Teddi.
The book is about memories....so important, yet so painful. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the setting, the storyline, and the lessons learned. The book was uplifting and sweet but will also bring tears to your eyes....good tears.
LOOKING FOR ME is about the relationship between family members and how tragedies can tear them apart and also about talents that we shouldn't waste. If you are an antique buff, you will be thrilled.
LOOKING FOR ME perfectly describes how we all are looking for something in our lives that usually takes root in our childhood. The quote from page 206 made an impression on me and seems to sum up what Ms. Hoffman was trying to convey:
"We will be known forever by the tracks we leave."
This quote stayed with me long after I turned the last page of the book.
The book is written in Ms. Hoffman's customary beautiful, effortless storytelling style. It conveys the fragility and beauty of family and the determination to never give up.
This is a must read so you can soak up the depth of, the warmth of, and the beauty of Ms. Hoffman's writing, and share in the benefit of her words of wisdom about being happy.
I absolutely loved this book. 5/5
This book was given to me by the author free of charge and without compensation in return for an honest review.
June 4, 2013
Hoffman has a interesting way of surrounding you with her words. I am not a huge fan of reading about antiques and restoring furniture but her descriptions are not needless - she actually breathes life into her inanimate objects (the furniture) as well as her characters. I found Teddi's store and her profession to be interesting after I settled into the book (resigned myself that this what the book was going to be about). However, I did feel that until 1/2 way through the book that there still wasn't a plot. It was more of an essay (as one reviewer accurately described it) - perhaps a way for the author to share her own background and hobbies. The dialogue and exchanges were real (except for Sam punctuating every sentence with Teddie's name - annoying!) and humerous at times. The whole story about her brother just seemed to be an aside and NOT believable. What sensitive young man would turn around and purposefully cause the ultimate anguish to his family? Doesn't ring true to me. The better story was of Teddi's relationship to the her family farm (love the Allis Chalmers mention!!)and with her parents. Her age just didn't seem to work with the time periods and left me feeling estranged in trying to relate to her. She goes to work in the antique store and a page later she has been working there 10 years; then we drop back 30 years to retell a memory. Teddi herself didn't change much in those years - the dynamics of her character, although she was very likeable, remained static. I also felt that although Teddi was the older sister and her brother much younger, the roles seemed dramatically reversed. There will be many who will give this 5 stars and perhaps it deserves more than three. However, when I compare it to Saving Cee-Cee Honeycutt it falls short and left me disappointed. (Seems like many of my favorite authors are not meeting my expectations in 2013!).
June 20, 2013
I'm not sure the title really fits-- Looking for Me. Maybe she was looking for herself in the context of the larger family that she lived within, but it seems to me that Teddi was pretty sure of herself and confident of who she was and what she wanted to be. I felt that it was only after she learned more about her mother and other family members that she became comfortable with all that she was. And that isn't even right. I'm not quite sure how to explain it. There is a complexity with Teddi's relationship with her brother that borders on mystical, but it never goes so far to fully push that envelope. The brother was the one part I didn't like about the story. At times the author made us think he had become a raven or a hawk himself-- a part of the Kentucky wilderness, and then she would back away from that. Why did he have run away to do what he felt he needed to do? I just felt something lacking there. I grew to love Teddi's mother as Teddi learns more about her, and I immediately loved her father. I loved the setting of antiques. I loved the opportunities she was given by mere strangers in life. We all need those opportunities. There were great themes about family and pursuing one's dream, but I am still hung up on the brother ...
I enjoyed this story. There were funny (laugh out loud) moments and then there were a few that brought tears to my eyes.
In my world, a book is good when I don't want to put it down to go to bed and when I can't stop thinking about it at work the next day-- when I can't wait to get home and read again. This book didn't make me feel obsessed, but I was I thrilled and surprised at a few turn of events. It won't go on my top ten list of favorite books, but any book read is a good book!
I enjoyed this story. There were funny (laugh out loud) moments and then there were a few that brought tears to my eyes.
In my world, a book is good when I don't want to put it down to go to bed and when I can't stop thinking about it at work the next day-- when I can't wait to get home and read again. This book didn't make me feel obsessed, but I was I thrilled and surprised at a few turn of events. It won't go on my top ten list of favorite books, but any book read is a good book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2023
Bu sene ki okuyup ta beğendiğim en iyi 10 kitap içinde sayabileceğim bir eser.
"Bazı insanlar beklentiyle kollarını ardına kadar açarak hayata doğru koşar. Diğerleri hafifçe araladıkları kapılarından dışarıda neler olduğuna şöyle bir göz atar. Bir de kalpleri atmaya devam ettiği halde yaşamdan çoktan vazgeçmiş olanlar vardır. Yorgun, tükenmiş, bitkin ve göçmüş durumdadırlar. Ama onlar da her yeni güne mecburen uyanır ve yorgun ayaklarını sürüye sürüye günleri devirirler. Belki bir değişiklik, hatta bir mucize olmasını ümit ederler ama ellerinden kaçıp giden hayalleri ve kaybolan yılları sırtlarında ağır bir yüktür. Giymesini bildikleri tek zırh budur çünkü.Alışmışlardır kısacası."
https://edebiyatdanostalji.blogspot.c...
"Bazı insanlar beklentiyle kollarını ardına kadar açarak hayata doğru koşar. Diğerleri hafifçe araladıkları kapılarından dışarıda neler olduğuna şöyle bir göz atar. Bir de kalpleri atmaya devam ettiği halde yaşamdan çoktan vazgeçmiş olanlar vardır. Yorgun, tükenmiş, bitkin ve göçmüş durumdadırlar. Ama onlar da her yeni güne mecburen uyanır ve yorgun ayaklarını sürüye sürüye günleri devirirler. Belki bir değişiklik, hatta bir mucize olmasını ümit ederler ama ellerinden kaçıp giden hayalleri ve kaybolan yılları sırtlarında ağır bir yüktür. Giymesini bildikleri tek zırh budur çünkü.Alışmışlardır kısacası."
https://edebiyatdanostalji.blogspot.c...
June 1, 2013
3.5 There is something so unique in tone that make southern novels special. The gentile manners, the sense of family, women who are feminine but have a backbone and side of grit to them. The humor and descriptions of wonderful houses and gardens and in this book, vintage antiques. Kentucky and the Daniel Boone National Forest, the plight of the wildlife and a young man who did not quite fit in with society but did fit in nature and his sister who loved antiques are the special features of this novel. Hoffman has crafted a novel with likable characters, plenty of southern charm, some family secrets, and a missing person as well as the plight of wildlife in the forest and the refinishing of antiques and made it all work wonderfully well.
July 6, 2013
I loved this book. It was vividly written with likeable characters. I was able to picture the settings, characters, and scenery so easily because of the vividness of the author's writing. To name a few themes, it's a story about love, hopes, loss, and fulfilling dreams. It's also a story about family life and the ups and downs of life in general. I felt different emotions while reading this book. I like when books do that for me. Even though I would like to discuss parts of the book with others, I don't want to discuss story details in this review because I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't read the book yet. I highly recommend it. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
July 7, 2016
Looking For Me has earned THE top spot as my all time favorite novel. I LOVE this story!! Beth Hoffman, consider me an ultimate fan. Thank you for creating this jewel. Everything about this beautifully written tale of Teddi Overman's search for her life's passion is perfect. I just want to hug my favorite book over and over. LFM will forever more be that book on my bookshelf that, when I glance at it, I will be reminded of not only how great it was but how great it made me feel with each passing chapter.
Know the feeling I speak of? You know right from the beginning it's going to be that book that you can't put down. Please don't let life disturb me until I finish reading one more page, one more chapter. As I read, LFM became my go-to happy place and then there would be the realization that this story could be my story, the moments are so relatable. My favorite books have the ability to make me feel and experience so many different emotions. Laughter and tears. And, let me tell you, there were many tears. It is not often that I become so engrossed that I cry while reading but there were several parts that just had me sobbing. A favorite story can do that because it is believable and genuine.
LFM is that kind of book. I would read a little further and then the written words of Beth Hoffman would grab me and take me for a spin on an emotional roller coaster. I'd find myself personally touched by moments in Teddi's life that were familiar to events in my own life and then I would stop, hold my place and stare at the cover of this amazing novel. When something suspenseful occurs, I mark my place again with my finger and hurry towards the back of the book to count the last page yet again. What page am I on? O.K. I've got (x) amount of pages left. Please don't let it end. I want to remain with Teddi and her loveable little dog, Eddie. Still, I can't turn the pages fast enough because I need to know that Teddi's life will be alright and as perfect as I think it should be.
Will Teddi find herself and true happiness in Charleston or Kentucky? Will Teddi ever repair the relationship with her mother? Will Teddi find all that she seeks? A home of her own, acceptance, forgiveness, love? And, what about Josh?
LFM is filled with a great supporting cast of characters I want to get to know personally. The mystical Josh. Sweet Mr. Palmer. Grumpy, quiet Albert and the thieving, sticky-fingered, Miz Tula Jane Poteet. I loved Teddi's BFF, Olivia. The conversations shared between the two friends could just as well have been a conversation I had with my own BFF. Like this brilliant novel, the characters are genuine. LFM also contained many of the things I am passionate about in my life. Great family, antiques, nature and wildlife conservation and animal rescue, Southern charm and old homes. Teddi's is a story about all of these things, including hope and finding love in the most unexpected of places, when one is least likely to be looking. LFM had just the right amount of mystery and suspense for me. I really could not predict the ending. There were fantastical moments of happiness and moments of profound loss and sadness that seemed to almost gut me. All were moments I could relate to, one way or another. LFM definitely found it's way to my heart. Did I mention that I loved this book?
An excerpt from the book: Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman,
"We sift and seek and question as we try to discover our truths and the truths of those we love, and sometimes when we least expect it, a mystery we never knew existed gets solved while all else remains unanswered."
Know the feeling I speak of? You know right from the beginning it's going to be that book that you can't put down. Please don't let life disturb me until I finish reading one more page, one more chapter. As I read, LFM became my go-to happy place and then there would be the realization that this story could be my story, the moments are so relatable. My favorite books have the ability to make me feel and experience so many different emotions. Laughter and tears. And, let me tell you, there were many tears. It is not often that I become so engrossed that I cry while reading but there were several parts that just had me sobbing. A favorite story can do that because it is believable and genuine.
LFM is that kind of book. I would read a little further and then the written words of Beth Hoffman would grab me and take me for a spin on an emotional roller coaster. I'd find myself personally touched by moments in Teddi's life that were familiar to events in my own life and then I would stop, hold my place and stare at the cover of this amazing novel. When something suspenseful occurs, I mark my place again with my finger and hurry towards the back of the book to count the last page yet again. What page am I on? O.K. I've got (x) amount of pages left. Please don't let it end. I want to remain with Teddi and her loveable little dog, Eddie. Still, I can't turn the pages fast enough because I need to know that Teddi's life will be alright and as perfect as I think it should be.
Will Teddi find herself and true happiness in Charleston or Kentucky? Will Teddi ever repair the relationship with her mother? Will Teddi find all that she seeks? A home of her own, acceptance, forgiveness, love? And, what about Josh?
LFM is filled with a great supporting cast of characters I want to get to know personally. The mystical Josh. Sweet Mr. Palmer. Grumpy, quiet Albert and the thieving, sticky-fingered, Miz Tula Jane Poteet. I loved Teddi's BFF, Olivia. The conversations shared between the two friends could just as well have been a conversation I had with my own BFF. Like this brilliant novel, the characters are genuine. LFM also contained many of the things I am passionate about in my life. Great family, antiques, nature and wildlife conservation and animal rescue, Southern charm and old homes. Teddi's is a story about all of these things, including hope and finding love in the most unexpected of places, when one is least likely to be looking. LFM had just the right amount of mystery and suspense for me. I really could not predict the ending. There were fantastical moments of happiness and moments of profound loss and sadness that seemed to almost gut me. All were moments I could relate to, one way or another. LFM definitely found it's way to my heart. Did I mention that I loved this book?
An excerpt from the book: Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman,
"We sift and seek and question as we try to discover our truths and the truths of those we love, and sometimes when we least expect it, a mystery we never knew existed gets solved while all else remains unanswered."
November 27, 2014
Beth Hoffman is a wonderful story teller, she has a way of making you feel like you are truly in the story along with, her genuine and so likable characters. I just finished reading, "Saving Cee Cee "Huneycutt". It was so good that I could not wait to see if she could follow it with another that had the same enjoyable quality. Thankfully, a repeat performance, this book was a bit more serious but an excellent story non the less.
Teddi our main character has a fire in her belly and refuses to be a conformist. At a time when women were expected to be clerical workers Teddi refuses to let any one break her spirit or ruin her dream of becoming an antique dealer/rest-orator. She moves from Kentucky to Charleston to follow her passion. With some help from a seasoned antique shop owner and all the courage and perseverance she could muster, she eventually becomes the owner of her own shop. One year when she returns home for Thanksgiving things become very complicated with her family when, her 18 year old brother, who has always had an uncanny connection to nature, decides to disappear after an unavoidable, turned tragic, family conflict.
A splendid journey through a honorable life. Theodora is surrounded by love, complex family relationships, deserved rewards for good deeds, and a whole wonderful amazing cast of long term friendships. A cozy bit of romance and a side-bar of mystery thrown in, makes this a well rounded, fantastic listen.
Jenna Lamia captures all the nuances of each character in their dialect and tone, she makes them all come to life. I realized that when the story was on a happy note her voice and pace made it happier and when it was sad she can make you cry. Another bright success by Hoffman and Lamia, I hope we don't have to wait too long for another. Definitely credit worthy.
Teddi our main character has a fire in her belly and refuses to be a conformist. At a time when women were expected to be clerical workers Teddi refuses to let any one break her spirit or ruin her dream of becoming an antique dealer/rest-orator. She moves from Kentucky to Charleston to follow her passion. With some help from a seasoned antique shop owner and all the courage and perseverance she could muster, she eventually becomes the owner of her own shop. One year when she returns home for Thanksgiving things become very complicated with her family when, her 18 year old brother, who has always had an uncanny connection to nature, decides to disappear after an unavoidable, turned tragic, family conflict.
A splendid journey through a honorable life. Theodora is surrounded by love, complex family relationships, deserved rewards for good deeds, and a whole wonderful amazing cast of long term friendships. A cozy bit of romance and a side-bar of mystery thrown in, makes this a well rounded, fantastic listen.
Jenna Lamia captures all the nuances of each character in their dialect and tone, she makes them all come to life. I realized that when the story was on a happy note her voice and pace made it happier and when it was sad she can make you cry. Another bright success by Hoffman and Lamia, I hope we don't have to wait too long for another. Definitely credit worthy.
August 22, 2013
My current audio pick. NOTE: If you are a dog lover there is one brief (mentioned in 2 chapters so far) story of cruelty, but justice is served. A very brief mention is made later in the story of an act of animal terrorism. It is not graphic, just mentioned. I love the way Beth Hoffman writes! The parts of this book on antiques and rare books just SING to me! Her complete authenticity in describing rural Kentucky may even top Barbara Kingsolver's command of the back roads. This book is simply GREAT. It does get confusing in the audio when the scene shifts back to an earlier time--this would not happen in the print I don't think since you would see the date clearly at the beginning of the chapter. It is READ in the audio, but I often missed it and had a WT? moment in listening. Very, very minor problem. Should be one of the best books of the year. And, can't everyone find a Sam or a Michael at the 11th hour? Wouldn't that be GRAND!
June 29, 2013
Beth Hoffman's gift for developing characters lures a reader into the world she wishes to portray. As I read the book, I believed Teddi to be a real person...down to earth, kind, honest, and loving. As a reader, I appreciated how Ms. Hoffman unfolds her story much like a blanket is unfolded on a bed. The story was wonderful and took this reader out of reality and into a place full of love. I loved this book!
April 19, 2022
Upon opening this book, reading it was a beautiful and captivating story. It was hard to put the book down.
I got lost in the adventurous life of Teddi and her brother Josh. They went different directions. Teddi always wondered what happened to Josh. Finally she said it was time for Josh to find her.
An excellent read, you get the feeling of being in Charleston South Carolina
I got lost in the adventurous life of Teddi and her brother Josh. They went different directions. Teddi always wondered what happened to Josh. Finally she said it was time for Josh to find her.
An excellent read, you get the feeling of being in Charleston South Carolina
April 11, 2014
A brilliant and beautifully moving story. Teddi Overman is a girl who knows what she wants, and what she wants is to restore and refinish the old furniture she rescues from yard sales, and eventually to own her own antiques and restoration shop. Against her mother's well meaning advice, Teddi leaves her home in Kentucky at 18, and heads for Charleston South Carolina.
Teddi's family is broken in ways Teddi doesn't understand. Teddi's mother is perennially unhappy and disapproving of everything Teddi does or dreams of, but Teddi loves her mother and strives to win her love and approval.
A major element of the story is the disappearance of Teddi's younger brother, Josh, while he is still a teenager. Teddi cannot bring herself to believe that her beloved brother is dead, and so is constantly searching for proof that he is still alive.
Ultimately, what Teddi is trying to do is "find" and "restore" the family she longs for. In the mean time, Teddi forms a sort of "surrogate" family for herself in the loving and supportive friends she meets on her journey.
I enjoyed this book on several levels. The characters were believable and likable, but not too perfect. The "mystery" of Josh's disappearance is deftly handled and keeps the reader guessing right up to the end. There is also a little romance thrown in for good measure. The furniture restoration is described in just enough detail to be interesting, but not boring. In fact, it's one of those books that makes furniture restoration look really fun and exciting, like, hey! I could do that!
Beth Hoffman is a very talented writer and I will be keeping a close watch for more of her wonderful stories in the future.
Teddi's family is broken in ways Teddi doesn't understand. Teddi's mother is perennially unhappy and disapproving of everything Teddi does or dreams of, but Teddi loves her mother and strives to win her love and approval.
A major element of the story is the disappearance of Teddi's younger brother, Josh, while he is still a teenager. Teddi cannot bring herself to believe that her beloved brother is dead, and so is constantly searching for proof that he is still alive.
Ultimately, what Teddi is trying to do is "find" and "restore" the family she longs for. In the mean time, Teddi forms a sort of "surrogate" family for herself in the loving and supportive friends she meets on her journey.
I enjoyed this book on several levels. The characters were believable and likable, but not too perfect. The "mystery" of Josh's disappearance is deftly handled and keeps the reader guessing right up to the end. There is also a little romance thrown in for good measure. The furniture restoration is described in just enough detail to be interesting, but not boring. In fact, it's one of those books that makes furniture restoration look really fun and exciting, like, hey! I could do that!
Beth Hoffman is a very talented writer and I will be keeping a close watch for more of her wonderful stories in the future.
August 11, 2022
I loved Beth Hoffman's first book, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, so I was really looking forward to this one. I was surprised at the completely different subject matter of Looking For Me.
I do not spend time writing long book reviews as there are always plenty of those listed under all the books here on Goodreads (and because I am always anxious to get on to my next book!), so I will keep my review short and sweet.
Beth Hoffman has a style of writing that I love; it's comforting, entertaining and optimistic. The story line was unique and compelling, the setting was familiar (to me), the characters appealing, and the brother especially fascinating because of his profound love for the natural world. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be looking forward to Ms. Hoffman's next best-seller.
I do not spend time writing long book reviews as there are always plenty of those listed under all the books here on Goodreads (and because I am always anxious to get on to my next book!), so I will keep my review short and sweet.
Beth Hoffman has a style of writing that I love; it's comforting, entertaining and optimistic. The story line was unique and compelling, the setting was familiar (to me), the characters appealing, and the brother especially fascinating because of his profound love for the natural world. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be looking forward to Ms. Hoffman's next best-seller.
November 2, 2018
Surprisingly good. I got attached to the characters right away and the story kept me vested.
My Rating: 4 stars
My Rating: 4 stars
March 21, 2020
Wer hätte gedacht, dass in dem Buch mehr steckt als der Titel zunächst vermuten lässt. Daher auch vier Sterne.
Erwartet, und daher habe ich auch nach all den eher anstrengenden Inhalten der letzten Bücher, die ich las, nach dem Buch gegriffen, eine leichte Liebesgeschichte mit netten alten Möbeln und schönem Ambiente. Herzschmerz und tiefe Seufzer. Bekommen habe ich eine Geschichte, die durchaus weniger platt und leicht ist, als ich dachte. Beth Hoffman erzählt die Geschichte eine jungen Frau, die nur schwer das Verschwinden ihres Bruders verkraften kann und, die im Grunde nie wirklich Antworten auf ihre Fragen bekommt. Gespickt sind die Szenen mit der einen oder anderen durchaus passenden Lebensweisheit und zeigt menschliche Schicksale auf, die all die Entwicklungen und Verhaltensweisen der Charakteren verständlich werden lassen. Auch wenn das Buch keine tiefgehenden psychologischen Aspekte erörtert und der Plott auch nicht tiefgründig verstrickt ist, so gefällt mir die Geschichte rund um Teddy und ihren Bruder, da sie mit viel Herzenswärme und Empathie erzählt wird. Zudem entbehrt sie nicht eines gewissen Lesesogs. Sie ist genau passend und kann in dem Maße unterhalten, wie es für mich passend war.
Einzig der Titel. Hier frage ich mich doch etwas, warum er gewählt wurde, da er sich in der Handlung als solches nicht widerspiegelt.
Erwartet, und daher habe ich auch nach all den eher anstrengenden Inhalten der letzten Bücher, die ich las, nach dem Buch gegriffen, eine leichte Liebesgeschichte mit netten alten Möbeln und schönem Ambiente. Herzschmerz und tiefe Seufzer. Bekommen habe ich eine Geschichte, die durchaus weniger platt und leicht ist, als ich dachte. Beth Hoffman erzählt die Geschichte eine jungen Frau, die nur schwer das Verschwinden ihres Bruders verkraften kann und, die im Grunde nie wirklich Antworten auf ihre Fragen bekommt. Gespickt sind die Szenen mit der einen oder anderen durchaus passenden Lebensweisheit und zeigt menschliche Schicksale auf, die all die Entwicklungen und Verhaltensweisen der Charakteren verständlich werden lassen. Auch wenn das Buch keine tiefgehenden psychologischen Aspekte erörtert und der Plott auch nicht tiefgründig verstrickt ist, so gefällt mir die Geschichte rund um Teddy und ihren Bruder, da sie mit viel Herzenswärme und Empathie erzählt wird. Zudem entbehrt sie nicht eines gewissen Lesesogs. Sie ist genau passend und kann in dem Maße unterhalten, wie es für mich passend war.
Einzig der Titel. Hier frage ich mich doch etwas, warum er gewählt wurde, da er sich in der Handlung als solches nicht widerspiegelt.
March 11, 2024
Another outstanding look at southern life. My big question is, why did Ms Hoffman stop writing after two wonderful novels? Even Google didn’t have the answer.
When the story first began I felt like I was reading another cozy mystery - young woman opening an antique store in a quaint town (Charleston) with a best friend and quirky neighbors - it quickly changed course and turned into an original and heartfelt novel - not quite as good as CeeCee, but very close. I enjoyed the nature sections, the examples of architecture and even all the antiques. It was a delightful read that I highly recommend.
When the story first began I felt like I was reading another cozy mystery - young woman opening an antique store in a quaint town (Charleston) with a best friend and quirky neighbors - it quickly changed course and turned into an original and heartfelt novel - not quite as good as CeeCee, but very close. I enjoyed the nature sections, the examples of architecture and even all the antiques. It was a delightful read that I highly recommend.
June 28, 2013
Originally reviewed at Novel Escapes.
Only Beth Hoffman can make me shed tears within the first thirty pages or so of a novel. She did it with Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt, and she’s done it again with Looking For Me. And the beginning wasn't the only time my eyes leaked during this fantastic, definitely top-5-of-the-year reads.
Hoffman is a word wizard. Her prose is truly simple, yet so lyrical. The end result is an effortless read, with an extraordinary impact. Many times I re-read sentences in utter wonder. Vivid and unforgettable in prose, plot and character, Looking For Me will not be easily forgotten.
"Never tie your happiness to the end of someone else's kite." I cannot tell you how much I adore this line. And it's just one of many incredible words Hoffman has strung together to weave this fabulous tale.
Looking For Me combines so much of what I love in life - and a novel - from nature, to antiques, to complicated family dynamics and a relatable, down-to-earth, woman who has some growth to do. I adored Teddi Overman. I wish she lived near me. I wish she was real. I wanted to walk into her shop. Yes, this book felt incredibly real. I felt present when I read this novel and wanted to wander into the lives of these characters and have a glass of wine.
This novel is not an explosive read, but rather bobs along gently with flashbacks and present day story. It is done so well that I barely noticed when we had flipped into a reverie. I loved the ‘leg up’ and ‘pay it forward’ theme and really appreciated that it is subtly done and not a knock you over the head kind of lesson.
I think what I loved most about this novel is that Teddi is mostly happy with her life, which is a refreshing change from the many main characters these days that are struggling, suffering or received some sort of life altering news. She has already followed her dreams – and is successful at it. She’s even fine with her singleton status. The only blips on Teddi’s happy-meter is a mother who is less than thrilled with her career path, and, more significantly, her brother’s mysterious disappearance years ago, something she still struggles with as it was never resolved.
I grinned from ear to ear during this book. I whooped out loud, gasped in shock, and laughed and cried. What more can you ask for in a novel? Slap down Looking for Me in your summer must-read pile. You won’t be disappointed.
Thank you to Viking for our review copy. All opinions are our own.
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