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24th out of 324 books
—
400 voters
Patty Jane's House of Curl
by
Lorna Landvik (Goodreads Author)
Patty Jane Dobbin should have known better than to marry a man as gorgeous as Thor Rolvaag, but she was too smitten to think twice. Yet nine months into their marriage, with a baby on the way, Thor is gone. It's a good thing Patty Jane has her irrepressible sister, Harriet, to rely on. For it's been said that a fine haircut can cure any number of ills, and before long the...more
Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages
Published
June 28th 1999
by Ivy Books
(first published 1995)
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Feb 25, 2009
Jessica
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Marcella, Angela, Linda
In this book you will meet Patty Jane and Harriet who are sisters living in Minneapolis, MN. These sisters have a bond that will touch your heart and they live a life that may just break your heart, but a heart cannot be broken without first having been filled to the point of bursting with joy and love.
This book is chocked full of wisdom and love that is expressed through each character in its own special way. I don't think you will step away from this book untouched or without falling in love...more
This book is chocked full of wisdom and love that is expressed through each character in its own special way. I don't think you will step away from this book untouched or without falling in love...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Jul 09, 2012
Relyn
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
women who enjoy domestic stories
Shelves:
audiobooks
I heard of this book often when it first came out. I even tried to read it at the time. I guess I just wasn't old enough to appreciate it yet. The humor is more subtle than I was ready for maybe? Or the storyline just too hmmmm... not twentysomethingish? I don't know exactly why I didn't like it then, but I know that I do now.
I laughed, often. And I cried, too. Often when someone says that they cried at a book, they mean that they teared up. I usually mean that, too. But this time, I cried crie...more
I laughed, often. And I cried, too. Often when someone says that they cried at a book, they mean that they teared up. I usually mean that, too. But this time, I cried crie...more
I just adored this book - it was warm, tender, full of wonderful characters, funny and romantic. I laughed and cried and didn't want the book to end.
Back Cover Blurb:
Maybe Patty Jane Dobbin should know better than to marry a man as gorgeous as Thor Rolvaag,but she's too smitten to think twice. Yet nine months into their marriage, with a baby on the way, Thor is gone. It's a good thing Patty Jane has her irrepressible sister Harriet to rely on - not to mention her extremely short, extremely rich...more
Back Cover Blurb:
Maybe Patty Jane Dobbin should know better than to marry a man as gorgeous as Thor Rolvaag,but she's too smitten to think twice. Yet nine months into their marriage, with a baby on the way, Thor is gone. It's a good thing Patty Jane has her irrepressible sister Harriet to rely on - not to mention her extremely short, extremely rich...more
This is the second novel of Lorna Landvik's that I've read and was not disappointed. This novel was filled with such emotional warmth, humour, sadness, triumph and close, understanding bonds between women.
Patty Jane and her sister Harriet are such colourful characters who know how to love and to forgive. I would have loved to have been part of Patty Jane's House of Curl and the womenly friendships they shared.
From back cover:
"Patty Jane Dobbin should have known better than to marry a man as gorg...more
Patty Jane and her sister Harriet are such colourful characters who know how to love and to forgive. I would have loved to have been part of Patty Jane's House of Curl and the womenly friendships they shared.
From back cover:
"Patty Jane Dobbin should have known better than to marry a man as gorg...more
I enjoyed reading this book for a few reasons: 1. It is set in Minnesota and used actual names of streets there that just made me feel nostalgic. 2. It had a "Steel Magnolias" feel to it with genuine women sticking together and sticking up for each other. 3. There are nuggets of wisdom throughout. Really the only reason I didn't like this book was that it got a little steamy in some parts. Also, at first I thought that there were just too many things going wrong for these two sisters who were ra...more
Patty Jane and Harriet Dobbin are two Minnesota sisters. Patty Jane marries gorgeous Thor Rolvaag, and Harriet becomes engaged to a man full of personality. Mainly told from the viewpoint of Patty Jane's teenage daughter Nora, the story of her mother, aunt, and grandmother in her mother's beauty shop is told after Thor vanished years ago.
The story is humorous with lots of ups and downs for these women. Some circumstances are too pat - the crazy lady who stops annually into the beauty shop, Harri...more
The story is humorous with lots of ups and downs for these women. Some circumstances are too pat - the crazy lady who stops annually into the beauty shop, Harri...more
Another great Lorna Landvik story, with all the whit of Minnesota humor. The two sisters Patty Jane and Harriet go through more ups and downs then they should be able to handle. As Patty Jane's daughter, Nora, says, "but comparatively speaking, our family seems to have had a lot more terrible things than most people."
You'd be laughing at the funny sayings of Patty Jane or her mother-in-law, Ione, and then in the next moment feel the loss of loved ones that each sister faces. Alcohlic parents, de...more
You'd be laughing at the funny sayings of Patty Jane or her mother-in-law, Ione, and then in the next moment feel the loss of loved ones that each sister faces. Alcohlic parents, de...more
My mom recommended this book for me and I'm not quite sure why. The whole thing felt like it was trying too hard - every life event had to be chocked full with wisdom and little sayings. Each character had these "charming" eccentricities that are supposed to be endearing, but instead it felt like too much going on. Finally, even though the characters had many road-bumps along the way and plenty of sadness, none of it really felt genuine. Even the depressing moments felt chocked with sugary-sweet...more
Set in Minneapolis and around places I know well, this book hooked me immediately. Though I read it long ago, I fell in love with Lorna Landvik's style of writing...not to mention a really great story. Lorna writes in a voice that sounds like your best friends'...as though she's just across the table from you sharing a cup of coffee. It's a book I keep on my shelf and have re-read, something I seldom do. You will love the characters, the story-line and the easy drift of words as you turn each pa...more
Ohh my!! I just loved this book! Fantastic job to Lorna Landvik! I just couldn't resist reading the next & next & next chapter. Smartly written with all the characters, the twist, even the ending. For people who are in love, those who want to be loved, those who are having a bad times. I like Patty Jane for her courage all those years in dealing with her mother-in-law, her pregnancy and specially the whereabouts of her husband. I wished I have the same courage as hers and a loving sister...more
If memory serves this was the first Lorna Landvik novel I read. The Minneapolis metro area has a phenomenal writing community, numerous publishing houses and one of the country's best public library systems. I heard Minneapolis writer Landvik lecture several years ago and loved her humor and incisive wit which bursts through on the pages of this and her other novels. Her characters are fleshed out, a bit off-tilt, but really interesting and unusual. Humor is balanced with the more dramatic aspec...more
This is my third book by this author and I may not read another. She has this way of telling you in advance that some tragedy is going to occur so the characters' actions seem pointless. This was particularly true in this story which was one spoiler alert after another.
Her use of language isn't bad, and, as in the other books, I enjoyed her presentation of Minnesota. Mostly, her characters are interesting, and the ones in this one were sort of funny, but I don't like being manipulated by unlikel...more
Her use of language isn't bad, and, as in the other books, I enjoyed her presentation of Minnesota. Mostly, her characters are interesting, and the ones in this one were sort of funny, but I don't like being manipulated by unlikel...more
Another great book! The book revolves around Patty Jane and her sister Harriet, as they go through quite a few ups and downs. In Part I, they both are young, a bit naive, and in love but then tragedy strikes. But they support each other, keep trudging on, and then in Part II, they find their second loves...along with quite a few friends with Patty Jane's House of Curl.
This book was definitely not some sappy romance novel, and while sad at times, overall was upbeat. And actually, it was pretty fu...more
This book was definitely not some sappy romance novel, and while sad at times, overall was upbeat. And actually, it was pretty fu...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This book had a rather slow start. I really didn't get into it until the last half, then it got better. Poor Patty Jane, alone with a baby, Harriet, who looses the love of her life. Then follows a path of drinking like her parents till she meets Reese. Nora, Patty's daughter, grows up amongst it all. Thor returns towards the end of the book, where we find out what happened to him. Clyde Chuka becomes a stable point in Patty Janes life but she stays married to Thor. Harriet looses her battle. The...more
This heartwarming novel explores the lives of two rather eccentric sisters. There’s plenty of Midwestern common sense, joy, loss and humor that season their lives and Landvik captures the voices of these characters (and they are characters!) perfectly. You will feel like a regular at the beauty parlor at the end of the story—and you will read it to the end! You just need to know what happens to these people! Landvik has written many other fine novels if you enjoy this one.
I am a huge fan of Fannie Flagg's books. For some reason, "fantasy" to me are books about small towns in the mid 20th century (pref post war) and all the colorful characters described in the books. This book fits that bill perfectly. It was a joy to read - sad and tragic - but hey, that's life - it hands you a bowlful of lemons usually and you have to figure out how to make lemonade out of it. I read the book Angry Housewives Eating Bon-Bons by the same author and did not enjoy it as much as thi...more
While this was a sweet novel, it does not measure up to Angry Housewives Eating BonBons. This is the story of two sisters, Patty Jane and Harriet, and Patty Jane's mother in law Ione and their journey over 30 years. It is about family and love and resilience. You could tell that author definitely related more closely to Harriet than to Patty Jane, Harriet's character was multi-faceted while I felt that Patty Jane was in the background alot. It was an enjoyable novel.
This book follows the lives of sisters Patty Jane and Harriet from the 1950s through the 1980s. It's a bittersweet book in which Patty Jane is abandoned by her husband, leaving her to raise their daughter Nora with her sister and her mother-in-law, Ione. Harriet's fiance is killed in a tragic plane crash. All three of the women pull together through the devastation to create Patty Jane's House of Curl, which becomes so much more than a beauty parlor. It's a very good book.
As always Lorna Landvik wrote a book that made me cry. Sometimes reading a book to escape from everyday life is needed. Then again, sometimes reading a book about others surviving everyday life is what's needed. Lorna Landvik never disappoints to deliver characters that seem as real as an aunt or a neighbor. Real life lessons when it comes to love, life and enjoying all it has to offer. Another book on my shelf that is dedicated to the writings of Ms. Lorna Landvik.
I have a mixed review with this one. At first glance I thought it would be kind of like Steel Magnolias (which I love) but while it has aspects of that story, it is markedly different. Plus I liked the idea of a bakery business run with hair salon - I could see my sisters doing something like that. However, I almost didn't read it past the first chapter because of some language and sexuality (married sex, but still, that was the topic of most of the first chapter so it made me wonder what the re...more
Being from Minnesota might be an advantage when reading this book. I knew these characters, have seen them on a daily basis, grew up with them. As some others have said, there were moments of laughter, and more that a box of tissue nearby came in very handy. But I enjoyed this community of women and celebration of life. If the storyline seemed predictable or corny, well, so is much of life. Thank you, Lorna, for simply calling it as you saw it!
Second book I've read by this author and every bit as enjoyable as the first, although I don't remember the first (title something like housewives yakking and eating bonbons)being quite so sad. Somehow even in the early bits the bad news feels imminent, and I had to keep myself from leafing ahead to see if certain characters (like Avel) remained in the picture or not. I'll keep my eyes open for others by this author.
This is one of my all time favorite books. I have read every one Lorna Landvic's books, but this will always remain my favorite. I have read it countless times and it one of the only book I have never donated to my local library. Ms. Landvic has a real gift for developing, strong female characters that you would love to have as a best friend. I just wish she would write some new books!!! I am patiently waiting.....
Apr 07, 2012
Rara
added it
This book shows what true life can be like. Good book overall and very sad at some parts. The only things I didn't like we're the language, and risqué images some of the intimate scenes put into your head. My language arts tracer recommended it for later in life but being me I went out and got it. It definitely is a good book for junior and senior (in high school) girls to read and I think you should!
Jul 10, 2011
Suzanne
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Suzanne by:
Color My Palette - Strawberry
For some reason I thought I had read this before, but I believe I was confused with Cassandra King's MAKING WAVES - the title of Landvik's book sounds southern to me. Anywho, I'm glad I figured out that I hadn't read this little gem! It just grabbed me. There were so many lovable characters. I couldn't put this book down and then I didn't want it to end.
This was good, just regular good, and not
great because I read it around the same time as other books I've rated more highly. It flows nicely. It is about two sisters and their bum luck. I think what I liked most
was that is was set in the '50's. I have some complaints about the author but I forget if
they apply to this book or not. I've now read three books by Lorna Landvik.
great because I read it around the same time as other books I've rated more highly. It flows nicely. It is about two sisters and their bum luck. I think what I liked most
was that is was set in the '50's. I have some complaints about the author but I forget if
they apply to this book or not. I've now read three books by Lorna Landvik.
This is my first read by Lorna Landvik and I enjoyed it. Being a big fan of smalltown America stories, I thought this book was entertaining & funny & sad, and I enjoyed the quirky & likeable characters very much. I especially loved Avel's character, and I was so sad that he didn't have a longer run in this story, but my-oh-my, for the time he was present in the Dobbins Sisters' life, his star shone! I loved his attitude. (Same can be said about Harriet at the end of the story.)
I woul...more
I woul...more
This book was quite a change of pace for me, and I loved it! Minnesota humor with a Twin Cities setting, Landvik has quite the turn of the phrase. I found myself laughing aloud at many of her characters' observations. Still, it was not all about laughing. As in all lives, there is a measure of sorrow and pain in those of her characters. Another book I will reread.
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Lorna Landvik is a mother of two and wife of one. She is the author of eight novels, including the best-selling ANGRY HOUSEWIVES EATING BON BONS, PATTY JANE'S HOUSE OF CURL and OH MY STARS. Also an
actor and playwright, Lorna has appeared in many stage productions. She is a new and passionate neophyte to the practice of yoga, which is a fine antidote to her long established practice of lounging.
More about Lorna Landvik...
actor and playwright, Lorna has appeared in many stage productions. She is a new and passionate neophyte to the practice of yoga, which is a fine antidote to her long established practice of lounging.
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Jun 26, 2012 08:32pm