105th out of 317 books
—
511 voters
Bound South
by
Susan Rebecca White (Goodreads Author)
By turns hilarious and poignant, the lives of three vibrant and unique Southern women -- a proper Atlanta matron, her rebellious teenage daughter, and their housekeeper's young daughter -- intersect in unexpected and extraordinary ways in this richly compelling debut novel of family, friendship, and folly.
Paperback, 345 pages
Published
February 10th 2009
by Touchstone
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Louise has her hands full. Her teenaged daughter has run amok, her son is retreating into teenaged angst, her maid's problems are her problems and her best friend is getting divorced. But these are Southern women, smack in the heart of Atlanta, and they deal with problems using two failproof weapons: humor and alcohol.
This debut novel by Susan Rebecca White is a pleasant addition to the growing Southern Lit genre. Told from multiple (female) viewpoints, White is at the top of her game in the sna...more
This debut novel by Susan Rebecca White is a pleasant addition to the growing Southern Lit genre. Told from multiple (female) viewpoints, White is at the top of her game in the sna...more
Bound South takes place in Atlanta, GA. It has three different narrators: Louise (the mom- a rule follower, rich housewife, wonders what her life would have been like if she hadn't got married), Caroline (Louise's daughter - a rebel, an actress, wildchild, compulsive) and Missy (the housekeeper's daughter - very spiritual/Christian, abandoned by her father, poor). We learn about each of their lives from their childhood through adulthood. This book explores many taboo topics like religion, race,...more
This is a story of a staid family living in Ansley Park, yes Ansley Park in Atlanta, Georgia. The story is told from the viewpoint of three women, Louise, Caroline, and Missy. The are all connected with each other through Nanny Rose. Nanny Rose is Louise's mother, Caroline is the daughter of Louise, and Missy is the daughter of the woman who cleans house for Nanny Rose. Sounds complicated, but its not.
Louise would be considered a proper Atlanta matron, with all the old southern charm and traditi...more
Louise would be considered a proper Atlanta matron, with all the old southern charm and traditi...more
Very quick and enjoyable read focusing on the lives of three women in present-day Atlanta, and how their lives intersect one another's. I ran across a review for this book in one of the magazines I subscribe to, and because the author of the review recommended it for people who enjoyed "The Help" (see previous review I wrote a few months ago), I decided to pick it up at the library. Like "The Help", the story in "Bound South" is told from three Southern women's viewpoints. I don't feel that "Bou...more
May 03, 2009
JG (The Introverted Reader)
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommended to JG (The Introverted Reader) by:
Southern Lit Lovers group read
I would say that Bound South is a group of connected short stories. There's not really one plot that connects the chapters. Instead, I would say that the author uses these stories, told from the points of view of three different Southern ladies, to explore issues they each face and how hard it can be to move past them, even when they try.
I thought the author did a fantastic job giving each character her own voice. With each story being written in first person, it was very important that she get...more
I thought the author did a fantastic job giving each character her own voice. With each story being written in first person, it was very important that she get...more
This author was at the Decatur Book Fest last year - I didn't go but my mom did and she said that she felt so sorry for this lady because what's-her-face that wrote The Help was there too and she was the only one on the panel getting asked questions. I hate book covers with shoes on them. Do publishers think that the only way a woman will pick up a book is if there are a pair of shoes on the fucking front? This was a pretty good book though. One of the better known authors who had their review o...more
I really enjoyed this book. It's not written in a "traditional novel fashion." Instead, it is a series of vignettes that give you glimpses into the lives of three southern women. The book is chronological, yet not linear. So, you see bits and pieces of these women's lives. They intertwine to make a great story. There are certainly holes, as it is not a linear novel, and there are stories that are told that make you wonder "Where is this going and why was it included?" However, the book is never...more
This is interesting read, especially if you are familiar with the subtleties of southern culture and the family dynamics of southern families. The author captures the little actions and words very well and gives voice to the ambiguities. I really enjoyed the voices of the three women but would have liked a more complete ending. Things still seem unfinished in the wrap up and the stories are still very open.
As a side note: I found it a bit strange that although there is significant political und...more
As a side note: I found it a bit strange that although there is significant political und...more
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I was looking forward to Bound South, mostly because I thought it would be light and funny, an amusing alternative to the seriousness of life. One of the reviews in the book states, "From chapter one, you are in the unsentimental, annoying and enormously funny new South." I read almost eight chapters and I was still asking the same question: when does the "funny" start?
On the outside, this book was about a clash between new and old Southern manners and attitudes. However, I found it hard to hav...more
On the outside, this book was about a clash between new and old Southern manners and attitudes. However, I found it hard to hav...more
I read BOUND SOUTH while on four flights this past weekend, and it definitely took my mind off the hours in the air! The story is told from three different viewpoints and sometimes jumps ahead. I enjoyed Louise's chapters the most. She's the mother of Charles and Caroline, daughter-in-law of Nanny Rose. I enjoyed her perspective on being a Southern woman, and I admired how she changed and handled her children as the book went on. Caroline, the rebel child, also shares her POV, and I really liked...more
The author has a wonderful voice that is simply stunning. This novel alternates between the POVs of three Southern women: an Atlanta mother straddling old and new ways of being "Southern" and re-defining herself in the process; a rebellious and artistic teen who is trying to find her sense of place; and their housekeeper's young daughter, who is searching for her missing father. I have to give props to Ms. White because she writes young perspectives so amazingly well--the insights and voices are...more
Was this a quick read? YES Did I enjoy reading it? YES Did I pass it along for others to read? YES However....
There are a few things keeping this book from getting 5 stars from me. 1) While the book is written from the point of view of 3 people, it is obvious that the main character is Louise. And well....I don't really like Louise. Despite living smack-dab between Ansley Park and Buckhead, I can't really sympathize with the priveledged women living within the walls of those decadent homes. 2) I...more
There are a few things keeping this book from getting 5 stars from me. 1) While the book is written from the point of view of 3 people, it is obvious that the main character is Louise. And well....I don't really like Louise. Despite living smack-dab between Ansley Park and Buckhead, I can't really sympathize with the priveledged women living within the walls of those decadent homes. 2) I...more
There are two things I love. Reading new authors and southern fiction. . I stumbled across this book online a couple months ago and was intrigued by its premise.
Louise is the mother of two children, living a cushy life in Atlanta with her lawyer husband and two children. Caroline is Louise's teenage daughter with a mind of her own. Missy is the young daughter of Louise's housekeeper who has her own ideas of how one should live their life. It's interesting to follow the lives of these three sout...more
Louise is the mother of two children, living a cushy life in Atlanta with her lawyer husband and two children. Caroline is Louise's teenage daughter with a mind of her own. Missy is the young daughter of Louise's housekeeper who has her own ideas of how one should live their life. It's interesting to follow the lives of these three sout...more
Hmmm... I had some issues with this one. First of all... did she forget to end the book? I mean Hello? They are sitting there at dinner, and then you turn the page and WHAMMO the book is over? Huh? Call me crazy, but when I get to the end of a book I like for all the loose ends to be tied up. Maybe it's me.
The other issue was that I had some troubles with Louise. I tried to like her. I DID! But I just kept finding myself wanting to shake her until her pearls fell off. I really can't put my foot...more
The other issue was that I had some troubles with Louise. I tried to like her. I DID! But I just kept finding myself wanting to shake her until her pearls fell off. I really can't put my foot...more
This book is ANOTHER book that is told from several different perspectives (like the last 10 books I have read are like that!) and I found myself liking some characters better than others. And the character I liked the best I didn't feel like got very resovled. Therefore, I am rating this two stars for "it was ok." I am not calling it terrible (I have a problem with rating below three stars, I don't know what it is, but I feel bad, so go with me while I defend myself. Or don't, and stop reading...more
I really wish Goodreads let you do half-star ratings... because this would be 3.5, I think. I can't quite put my finger on it... I enjoyed reading this at the time I was reading it, but I think that is because I had hope that it was going somewhere. We get to know three women characters, seeing things through their "unique" perspective... and although it was interesting, i kind of felt like I ended up with an empty hand when all was said and done. So many books take readers on the subtle ride of...more
Susan Rebecca White was recommended to me by Joshilyn Jackson, so of course I wanted to read her immediately. Only problem was that this wasn't the book she said was her favorite, but it was the only one available from my public library. Still, it was a good read -- told in first person from three different women, touched on a lot of issues from both angles and was entertaining at the same time. My one complaint is that it ended rather abruptly. I understand why, but still, I turned the last pag...more
I had the pleasure of meeting Susan White at a recent function where she served as a guest teacher for an educational organization and learned of her first novel. She is a native Atlantan (I'm new to the City) and does a wonderful job of painting a modern and thoroughly entertaining view of "Inside" Atlanta.
Her characters are extrememly likeable even if they make decisions that you don't agree with. It's a story about an All-American affluent southern White family with demons, secrets, social st...more
Her characters are extrememly likeable even if they make decisions that you don't agree with. It's a story about an All-American affluent southern White family with demons, secrets, social st...more
I absolutely love Southern fiction. This book has gotten endless positive reviews from both critics and readers, but I didn't care for it and I'm not sure why. I generally read about 50 pages of a book before before I decide whether or not it's worth my time. Because of the glowing reviews, I read another 50 and finally stopped. Although Ms. White writes well, I didn't care about the characters or the storyline. Nothing grabbed me and made me want to keep reading. However, I'd be curious to see...more
I always like books about the South. I lived in the South during college, and know I could probably never live there again, but something about Southern literature really captures my attention. I this book was good but certainly not a must read. The chapters are narrated by one of three women, although one of the women narrates half of them. I was not really sure why she included the one young girl, Missy, as one of the voices. I don't think it added much to the book. But I thought the evolution...more
I REALLY enjoyed this book. I was at the bookstore one day and the cover caught my eye. The description sounded interesting to me so I quickly reserved a copy at the library. Unfortunately it took a few weeks before I had a chance to read it, but once I started it, I finished it in about two days.
That being said, I have to disclose that I love the South and I think that had a lot to do with why I enjoyed this novel so much. It's about three women/girls in present-day Atlanta and how their lives...more
That being said, I have to disclose that I love the South and I think that had a lot to do with why I enjoyed this novel so much. It's about three women/girls in present-day Atlanta and how their lives...more
There's one really bad thing about this book.
It ends.
I had so much fun reading it that I was not ready for it to be over. I wanted to know more about Tiny and Louise, and what happened to Nanny Rose between the beginning and end of the book, and what about Charles? And Caroline? Oh Susan White, you are going to need to write some companion novels to this book.
Two things I especially liked about Bound South:
1- Unexpected plot twists that were totally in keeping with the Old South/New South feel...more
It ends.
I had so much fun reading it that I was not ready for it to be over. I wanted to know more about Tiny and Louise, and what happened to Nanny Rose between the beginning and end of the book, and what about Charles? And Caroline? Oh Susan White, you are going to need to write some companion novels to this book.
Two things I especially liked about Bound South:
1- Unexpected plot twists that were totally in keeping with the Old South/New South feel...more
I think I read a different book than others have that loved this one. I kept waiting on the funny moments. My mother recommended this to me saying 'This one isn't as good as 'The Help' but it's funny-you'll like it.' I didn't like it. I hate not finishing a book so I read it through but was disappointed. I felt myself becoming annoyed by the characters. As a young Southern woman I didn't identify with the characters or their situations; instead I became increasingly aggravated at the sacreligiou...more
Maybe I did not read the same book that all the other reviewers read, because I did not like this book. Bound South tells the stories of Louise Parker, her daughter Caroline Parker and their maid’s daughter Missy Meadows, although the story mainly seems to be told through the eyes of Louise. I did not find any of the three main characters likable at all, especially Missy. The story jumped around a lot and I feel that the author missed telling us about huge chunks of the lives of Caroline and Mis...more
I loved this book! I kind of sense a sequel here. I mean, I'd like to see more of what happens with these characters. I am so proud and happy that I spent 27 years in Atlanta...I will always love the city. Reading BOUND SOUTH just reminds me of how strong my ties are to it. I've quoted the Indigo Girls before, and I'm doing it again, "When God made me born a Yankee, he was teasing."
I quibble with one detail. I do not recall 8-ounce Coca Cola bottles when I was young; I distinctly remember the...more
I quibble with one detail. I do not recall 8-ounce Coca Cola bottles when I was young; I distinctly remember the...more
Picked this up in my favorite independent bookstore at St Simons which always portrays upstarting Southern authors...this was definitely chick lit and hated most of the messages that were underlying in the story...I hate that young women will read these "mini" short stories and hold to the lifestyles portrayed...I was expecting so much from this apparently smart author was throughly disappointed. The only good thing I found was reading about "landmarks" in Atlanta...
Bound South
Written By: Susan Rebecca White
Published By: Touchstone, a Division of Simon & Schuster Inc., 2009, First Edition, 368 pages, paperback
ISBN 978-1416558675
Bound South starts off slowly, easing you into the lives of the dysfunctional Parker family. This smoothly flowing story is very entertaining and gives you a real taste of the South. The plot is unique and creatively deals with a few fairly serious topics, but it does not get bogged down. The characters and the emotional situatio...more
Written By: Susan Rebecca White
Published By: Touchstone, a Division of Simon & Schuster Inc., 2009, First Edition, 368 pages, paperback
ISBN 978-1416558675
Bound South starts off slowly, easing you into the lives of the dysfunctional Parker family. This smoothly flowing story is very entertaining and gives you a real taste of the South. The plot is unique and creatively deals with a few fairly serious topics, but it does not get bogged down. The characters and the emotional situatio...more
This book was much better than I was expecting it to be. I liked the vivid pictures and real places in the South that the author describes as well as the characters, who seem real too. I wish there had been more resolution with the three main characters and I wanted to see more of their stories woven together, intead of just three separate accounts. It was still really good and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a light spring/summer read.
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Susan Rebecca White is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Bound South and A Soft Place to Land. Her third novel, A Place at the Table, will be published by Touchstone / Simon & Schuster in June of 2013. A graduate of Brown University and the MFA program at Hollins, Susan currently teaches creative writing at Emory University. She lives in her hometown of Atlanta, GA with her two cat...more
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“How do I tell her that what I want is to know her, to know the woman who made these birds, to see what she might become if she is allowed to spread out, to expand. How do I say, Darling, please. Don't shrink yourself so soon.”
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