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...
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Feb 25, 2009
Jessica
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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 f 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 f More...
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Nov 11, 2008
Jessica
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Dec 06, 2009
Barbra
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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 s 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 s More...
Apr 06, 2009
Louise
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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 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 More...
Jul 12, 2011
Carolyn
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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 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 More...
Sep 13, 2011
Emily
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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 su
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Feb 10, 2012
Chelsy
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Being a native Minnesotan and living in Minneapolis all of my adult life, I immediately feel a connection to this book and its characters. The people, places, and phrases (Uffda mayda!) were all SO familiar to me. The characters were well-developed, interesting, flawed but lovable. This book might seem a little hokey, sentimental, or predictable at times...but it's heartwarming and entertaining all the same! I laughed, I cried. If you like Fannie Flagg (Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop C
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Jun 27, 2011
Suzyberry
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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
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Aug 12, 2011
Susan
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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 a
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Jul 18, 2011
Laura
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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 More...
This book was definitely not some sappy romance novel, and while sad at times, overall was upbeat. And actually, it was More...
Jul 29, 2011
Kirstin
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Apr 16, 2009
Violet
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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 battl
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Jun 05, 2010
Shannan
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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 m
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May 11, 2011
Marissa
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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.
Sep 08, 2010
Amber
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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.
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Jul 22, 2010
Janille
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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
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Jul 20, 2011
Carol
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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!
Sep 13, 2009
penelopewanders
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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.
Jul 10, 2011
Suzanne
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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.
Oct 25, 2009
Marleen
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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 would have More...
I would have More...
Oct 24, 2009
Cindy
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This was a fun read, though I imagine it might be less so for someone unfamiliar with Minneapolis. I love how forcefully local the story is, and I enjoyed following the characters through their lives in and around my neighborhood. This was a great book to read while sad--there is a lot of sorrow in it, but it is uplifting and comforting nonetheless.
Apr 05, 2009
Jill
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Another book that was recommended by a friend. The setting is Minneapolis, one of my "home states," and I enjoyed the familiarity with the street names, parks, etc. But the characters did not appeal to me. They were all too odd with no strong character to ground them. I have since read several other books by Lorna Landvik which I can recommend more.
Sep 28, 2010
Karen
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At the end of this book I wanted to get in the car and go find these women. Loved this book. Such a good read. Endearing characters, great story line. I recommended it to everyone I know, and someday I may read it again, just to make me feel good. This was my first book by this author, and I've ready everything she's written ever since.
Sep 26, 2011
Debsg
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I read this book ages ago and just remembered it! It's a fun, small-town, Americana kind of story. It was recommended to me by my English Prof sister, who was more likely to recommend more weighty books than this, but found it charming and well written. It's a great book to pick up when you want a light read and a fast moving story.
Dec 21, 2009
Abby
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I read this in two days and cried my little heart out. It was very good and I loved all of the characters dearly, but there was just too much tragedy for me. I love books about love and family, but not when good people lose so much. I'm a bit annoyed with the author, was all that really necessary?? But, all in all, it was wonderful.
Jul 27, 2009
Africableu
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About a quarter of the way through the book, I had the sneaking suspicion I had read it before, but couldn't remember when, or how the story ended. By the time I finished, I was fairly sure I had read it before, but still not sure when. So it's fair to say the book was not at all memorable. It had some quirky characters, and a rapid enough pace, but after a while, it read a lot like a daytime soap opera.
Mar 26, 2009
Laura
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I really liked this book and I am beginnign to enjoy this author. I stumbled upon "Angry Housewives eating Bon Bons" accidentally and loved it, so I decided to give this one a try and was not disappointed. I like that her books follow the characters through multiple decades and contain very interesting and strong female characters.
Sep 24, 2011
Steven
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Deb picked this up on a clearance rack, and thought I would enjoy it. I have to admit the title put me off, but it was a Minnesota author and was set in Minneapolis, so I gave it a try. I'm glad I did. It was fun, and sad, and enjoyable to read. It is a bit of a melodrama, but with a hotdish sensability. Uff-da.
Sep 11, 2011
Lisa
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I read this book for my book club and do not think it was something I would have chosen on my own. I felt from the beginning a sense of impending doom; the lives of the characters seemed just too good to be true. And then all the tragedy set in...and there were too many twists and turns. I like the prologue and epilogue from Nora's point of view. That was the saving grace for me, and summed up what I believe to be the central theme of the novel. I could have done without all the tragedy though,
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Feb 25, 2010
Sherri
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I thought this book was a wonderful book! I just love the way Lorna Landvik weaves her stories. There are many stories within the story, which is a gift itself! Patty Jane and Harriet are sisters that have a great bond. Their lives are not a simple life but they seem to struggle through and accept the things that come their way and there are alot of things that come their way! I would definitely recommend this book.
