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495th out of 3,825 books
—
4,001 voters
Quite a Year for Plums
by
Bailey White
Anyone who has read the best-selling Mama Makes Up Her Mind or listened to Bailey White's commentaries on NPR knows that she is a storyteller of inimitable wit and charm. Now, in her stunningly accomplished first novel, she introduces us to the peculiar yet lovable people who inhabit a small town in south Georgia. Meet serious, studious Roger, the peanut pathologist and un...more
Paperback, 240 pages
Published
April 6th 1999
by Vintage
(first published June 16th 1998)
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Jul 10, 2008
Aiken314
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Southerners - not sure Yankees could/would appreciate it!
I really enjoyed this book; Bailey White often has me in tears because she has such a natural ear that she is able to carry over into her writing. A brilliant book? No. Outstanding theme and/or plot? No. Quirky characters? YES!! Exceptionally well drawn snipets of southern life among slightly off-center, good-hearted people? YES!! Bailey White writes exceptional characters that are not stereotypical and yet . . . we [who have lived in small, rural towns] KNOW these folks. It's a great, short sum...more
I loved Bailey White's two books about her mother and their relatives. Those books were filled with distinct personalities, humor, and purpose.
Quite a Year for Plums is filled with characters, occasional humor, but, sadly, no real purpose.
I suppose a book could get away without having a plot if the characters were strong enough to carry the reader through the pages, but that wasn't the case here. There are a lot of characters here, but none are given the chance to sufficiently sway the actions...more
Quite a Year for Plums is filled with characters, occasional humor, but, sadly, no real purpose.
I suppose a book could get away without having a plot if the characters were strong enough to carry the reader through the pages, but that wasn't the case here. There are a lot of characters here, but none are given the chance to sufficiently sway the actions...more
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I've been a fan of Bailey White since my mother first read me Mama Makes Up Her Mind. She did not disappoint with A Quite Year For Plums! White has away with words that makes you feel as if you known the characters in her stories your whole life.
This book is more like a series of short stories about the same set of people. One story could be read alone and would not need the previous story nor the following to be able to understand what is going on. As a whole though the stories tell a wonderfu...more
This book is more like a series of short stories about the same set of people. One story could be read alone and would not need the previous story nor the following to be able to understand what is going on. As a whole though the stories tell a wonderfu...more
So far, it's relatively interesting. Well-drawn characters and some interesting scenes, but nothing really jumps out. There's no real plot. I want there to be a plot. I keep waiting for these interesting characters to do something that carries forward more than just a few pages. I'll be done with it tomorrow, I'm sure, so more then...
Done. And my review remains exactly the same as above. Decent writing, decent characters, just no real continuous story being told. There are a few interesting meta...more
Done. And my review remains exactly the same as above. Decent writing, decent characters, just no real continuous story being told. There are a few interesting meta...more
This little book is an absolute charmer.
Did I learn anything from it? Oh, yes, probably all sorts of non-essential information about fires, electric fans, chickens, trees, birds, and spacemen that zoom around in convertible spacecraft looking for certain numbers and letters. Oh, and the opinion which folks from Georgia have of Florida. Does that make sense? Delightfully, happily, no.
This book is not a story; it is a character sketch of a slightly off-centre bunch of people - nematologists, orn...more
Did I learn anything from it? Oh, yes, probably all sorts of non-essential information about fires, electric fans, chickens, trees, birds, and spacemen that zoom around in convertible spacecraft looking for certain numbers and letters. Oh, and the opinion which folks from Georgia have of Florida. Does that make sense? Delightfully, happily, no.
This book is not a story; it is a character sketch of a slightly off-centre bunch of people - nematologists, orn...more
Quite a Year for Plums by Bailey White was an enjoyable read for me. I impulsively picked it up at the library’s display shelf without having heard of it before. This book was a quick read, with short chapters that moved the book along well.
There is an eclectic group of characters in this book ranging from Rodger a peanut expert, to two retired school teachers, to Louise who has dementia and believes in spacemen. Luckily, the author provides a ‘cheat sheet’ of characters at the beginning of th...more
There is an eclectic group of characters in this book ranging from Rodger a peanut expert, to two retired school teachers, to Louise who has dementia and believes in spacemen. Luckily, the author provides a ‘cheat sheet’ of characters at the beginning of th...more
I'm a huge fan of Bailey White- She of the quavery voice, lunatic mother and great stories. So, way back in 1998, when she came out with her first novel, I was delighted. Then I got the novel, and the delight turned to disappointment. It wasn't that I disliked it a little-- I couldn't even finish it. Nuh-uh. No go. Sorry.
I gave my copy away.
Since then, I have studiously avoided picking it up at book sales and Goodwill when I see it. Now Mama Makes Up Her Mind or Sleeping at the Starlight Motel I...more
I gave my copy away.
Since then, I have studiously avoided picking it up at book sales and Goodwill when I see it. Now Mama Makes Up Her Mind or Sleeping at the Starlight Motel I...more
Whimsical and witty…
Two words I would definitely not hesitate to use in description of this enjoyable little novel by Bailey White.
Quite A Year For Plums dwells on the slightly off-center antics of small town citizens in south Georgia, and boasts an array of characters who breathe life into every-day occurrences. There’s Roger, a quiet peanut pathologist who is a bit of an unlikely hometown celebrity. There’s Meade and Eula, two elderly spinsters who believe it is their sole purpose in life to...more
Two words I would definitely not hesitate to use in description of this enjoyable little novel by Bailey White.
Quite A Year For Plums dwells on the slightly off-center antics of small town citizens in south Georgia, and boasts an array of characters who breathe life into every-day occurrences. There’s Roger, a quiet peanut pathologist who is a bit of an unlikely hometown celebrity. There’s Meade and Eula, two elderly spinsters who believe it is their sole purpose in life to...more
I absolutely love the gardens in this book. Growing things are everywhere, and the characters cherish them. These characters range from gently befuddled through dangerously insane, but are lovable throughout. The joy is in the details---the difficulty one faces trying to paint chicken's feet (so difficult many artists contrive to leave them out of the scene)for example. As exasperating as they all are, these characters feel like family. Meanwhile, the story is laced with a deep sadness for the p...more
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It is a collection of Southern personalities who dwell in intertwining short stories, each chapter strong enough to stand alone but like a garden, creating a series of interconnected rooms we wander through, admiring, learning from, and smiling with. I particularly like the woman who believes the aliens are coming and using road signs to communicate finds an affinity with a husband of one of the summer visitors who is a type setter. He discovers someone who can really talk to him about the wonde...more
I was in the audience when Bailey White was doing the tour for this book. When she walked out, a huge murmur went through the room. Everyone was surprised to see that she wasn't the little old lady that she sounds like, but about half that age. She gracefully addressed the issue, and proceeded to enchant us all.
The book is a lovely little gem, not deep or complicated, but a collection of sweet love letters about her family. Wonderful for a bedtime or bathroom read.
The book is a lovely little gem, not deep or complicated, but a collection of sweet love letters about her family. Wonderful for a bedtime or bathroom read.
When I started the book, almost every character annoyed me. They seemed so flat. Everyone was kooky, obsessive and unrealistic.
As I read further, I couldn't put it down. All the eccentric, quirky characters were really quite entertaining. Just don't look for a story. There is no plot and no point. There is no moral or message. It's just an interesting series of events with a goofy set of characters. All in all, pretty enjoyable if you take it for what it is.
As I read further, I couldn't put it down. All the eccentric, quirky characters were really quite entertaining. Just don't look for a story. There is no plot and no point. There is no moral or message. It's just an interesting series of events with a goofy set of characters. All in all, pretty enjoyable if you take it for what it is.
This Bailey White novel has a slightly darker tinge than Mama Makes Up Her Mind had. The characters and descriptions remind me of early Anne Tyler. Some of the back-and-forth pov sections and timelines were a little confusing if I put it down and came back to it some days later, but I was able to quickly re-immerse myself into the world White had created. Now I'm eager to find and read Sleeping at the Starlite Motel.
An expert example of southern literature, chock full of colorful characters living their daily lives while becoming part of our families while you read. Tales of an eccentric mama sleeping on the porch, chickens who inspire, and events that will stay with long after the book is finished, Bailey White might have recaptured the essence of Faulkner.
I really liked this book. The story was charming, the characters endearingly odd. My only complaint was the lack of capitalization of bird species names. LOVED the references to the types of birds they might see in that area of the country, but wished they had been correctly capitalized. Still, a minor complaint about a book I read easily in a day.
A story with quirky characters... all too human with their silly flaws and mannerisms. I enjoyed this "slice of life" story that carried my interest along even when I wasn't really sure where the story was going! It reminded me of the goofy characters on Northern Exposure... always popular in my book (harhar... pun intended)
I did not like this book at all. It was very hard to follow and a little bit to silly for my taste. First you have Roger who loves peanuts and he is a plant pathologist. Then you have a guy named Jim Wade who is obsessed with fans. The book cures any afternoon boredness but leaves you confused and asking questions.
White, a clever commentator on NPR, does for northern Florida what Garrison Keillor does for Minnesota's lakes region: she creates a lovable cast of eccentric characters--mostly older women in her case--& recounts their humorous interactions in loving detail, but with little concern for larger plot development.
This is such a lovely book. You can just feel the humidity in the air. You will never look at a fan or a hen the same way again. It made me strive to live a calmer more thoughtful life - and I think I do since I read this. I can't wait to read more of Whites words. I would love to hear her on NPR again too.
Whenever an author has to include a who's who at the beginning of the book, I know I'm in for it. I just could not get into it. There ae some redeeming qualities, but it does not make my recommendation list.
I couldn't bring myself to care about any of the characters. It just felt so um, discombobulating.
I couldn't bring myself to care about any of the characters. It just felt so um, discombobulating.
I enjoyed her characterisation as usual, but being distracted by many other ourside issues at this time, probably took longer reading the novel than I would normally. I do believe the wealth of characters, needing a cast list at the start of the book, make it confusing to follow, especially as, like a chunk of life, there is no visible plot, and the story jumps from character to character. I ended up reading it as a series of anecdotes like the two previous books, and in that it is enjoyable. Th...more
Since I am from the general area in which this book was set, I found it to be entertaining enough. It didn't seem there was much of a plot--or it went completely over my head. I kept reading simply to see what familiar landmark the author would mention next.
It was light and fluffy. I'd consider reading another of this author's books based on this one, but not soon.
It was light and fluffy. I'd consider reading another of this author's books based on this one, but not soon.
My first Bailey White book, and I loved her homespun style! She writes about places I know, and people like my friends parents (and my friends!). Bailey White knows downhome Florida, and takes her readers with her on a trip back in time, which in many cases was just yesterday.
I've liked Bailey White's books in the past but this one just didn't resonate with me. I had trouble keeping track of the characters and the humor was all over the place. There were times where there were funny little pokes at society but overall this just didn't thrill me.
Disappointing.
Disappointing.
Usually, I love Southern Fiction. This time, not so much. The problem was that there was no plot to this book. It was about a bunch of eccentric characters living their eccentric lives... but without any kind of a point whatsoever. Cannot recommend it and very glad I didn't pay money for it.
Delightful. So Southern and full of colorful characters. I did have some trouble keeping everyone straight so had to go back and do a refresher. Makes you want to move to the country and hang out with people that are more concerned with friendship and doing the right thing.
I have listened to this book on audio cassettes several times. Each time is like greeting old friends and reminiscing about their foibles. All of the characters are uniquely entertaining and the subtle humour is quite satisfying. I want some of those special chickens.
No plot. I did enjoy the characters and their crazy lives but I kept waiting and hoping there would be some big event that would give the book a memorable ending and a reason to have read the whole book....oh well. The book cover is pretty...I like the chickens :)
I started this book, but could not work up enough interest to finish it. It's a novel about life in a small southern town. There are a lot of characters with strange connections to each other that I could not get straight. I finally lost interest in trying.
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Bailey White was born in 1950 in Thomasville, Ga. She still lives in the same house in which she grew up, on one of the large tracts of virgin longleaf pine woods. Her father, Robb White, was a fiction writer and later a television and movie script writer. Her mother, Rosalie White, was a farmer, and worked for many years as the executive director of the local Red Cross Chapter. She has one brothe...more
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Jul 11, 2008 07:42am
Dec 17, 2009 06:01pm