Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind: A Novel
by Ann B. Ross
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 535)
Read in January, 2000
Mom found this at the bookstore while browsing. I absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend it to just about everyone.
It's about a new widow who has discovered her husband had a lot more money than he let hew know and she's starting to enjoy her independence.
One day a woman shows up on her doorstep to deliver her husband's illegitimate son.
The pastor expected to be left the majority of the estate. When Julia starts speaking her mind and acknowledging the son of her dead hus...more
It's about a new widow who has discovered her husband had a lot more money than he let hew know and she's starting to enjoy her independence.
One day a woman shows up on her doorstep to deliver her husband's illegitimate son.
The pastor expected to be left the majority of the estate. When Julia starts speaking her mind and acknowledging the son of her dead hus...more
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
fans of Southern fiction with "zip"
This was an enjoyable read.
It's about an older woman, whose husband, a respectable banker, has recently died and left her a bunch of money. Just as she's trying out living on her own for the first time in 40 years, her dead husband's mistress shows up on her porch out of the blue, and drops off the young boy she had with him, and runs off, supposedly to go to beauty school. To add to the shock that her husband had been living a double life, and wasn't as respectable as he seemed, it seems lik...more
It's about an older woman, whose husband, a respectable banker, has recently died and left her a bunch of money. Just as she's trying out living on her own for the first time in 40 years, her dead husband's mistress shows up on her porch out of the blue, and drops off the young boy she had with him, and runs off, supposedly to go to beauty school. To add to the shock that her husband had been living a double life, and wasn't as respectable as he seemed, it seems lik...more
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Read in March, 2008
I just finished reading this book and am going to start the second one in the series. Very enjoyable and a quick read! Miss Julia's husband has just died, and while she is coping with that loss and her new-found freedom to do whatever she would like, she discovers her husband had a young son with a woman from the wrong side of the tracks. This leads to a kidnapping, a robbery and some other mishaps--which are all pretty humorous. The characterization is very good. I especially liked the fri...more
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Read in January, 2008
A light, entertaining little book I happened upon in a used bookstore while in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont last week.
The plot involves Miss Julia, recently widowed and, much to her surprise, enormously wealthy. She is of the old school, and has, until the death of her husband and her discovery of his secrets, been perfectly content to let the men in her life make all the decisions.
That all changes when Miss Julia is left with her husband's illegitimate son, forcing her to confront ...more
The plot involves Miss Julia, recently widowed and, much to her surprise, enormously wealthy. She is of the old school, and has, until the death of her husband and her discovery of his secrets, been perfectly content to let the men in her life make all the decisions.
That all changes when Miss Julia is left with her husband's illegitimate son, forcing her to confront ...more
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Read in January, 2006
Miss Julia, recently bereaved and newly wealthy widow, is only slightly bemused when one Hazel Marie Puckett appears at her door with a youngster in tow. But this perfectly practiced composure is quickly reduced when Hazel Marie unceremoniously announces her intentions: the child is Wesley Lloyd's bastard son and, since the man left her penniless, she's leaving little Lloyd in Miss Julia's care. Suddenly, this longtime church member and pillar of her small community finds herself in the center o...more
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Read in August, 2001
Miss Julia is a recent widow enjoying her new found freedom and wealth when Hazel Marie Puckett shows up and asks Miss Julia to look after her son, who is also the son of Miss Julia's late husband.
Throughout this book, we see Miss Julia's emotions flip-flop; the love and devotion to her late husband evolve into indifference while her indifference to Hazel and Little Lloyd evolve into love. We also meet several local characters, from the Preacher with ulterior motives to the town gossips, and w...more
Throughout this book, we see Miss Julia's emotions flip-flop; the love and devotion to her late husband evolve into indifference while her indifference to Hazel and Little Lloyd evolve into love. We also meet several local characters, from the Preacher with ulterior motives to the town gossips, and w...more
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Read in May, 2003
When Miss Julia, a newly weathly widow, is confronted with the girlfriend and son of her now dead husband, the pillar of this small NC town begins to speak her mind. She finds herslef in the center of this small town scandal, complete with a robbery, a kidnapping of 9-yo little Lloyd, and a comical band of characters. But, with the help of her housekeeper, Lillian, her lawyers Sam and Binkie, and her new tenant, Officer Bates, she manages to come through it all with grace, charm, and hilarity.
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Read in April, 2008
recommended to Kathi by:
My sister Suerecommends it for: Anyone High school age and up
I really liked this book. No violence or tense drama, but the characters were believable and Miss Julia is a scream. Newly widowed, she finds that her late husband had a family on the side when his 9 year old son is left on her doorstep by his mother. Handling the situation like a true southern lady, Miss Julia soldiers on into our hearts, along with her faithful houskeeper Lillian and, as she calls him, Little Lloyd, her dead husbands son. Along the way Miss Julia learns a lot about herself...more
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I always like to be able to recommend an entire series - it exponentially increases your choices at the library! And I can heartily recommend the entire Miss Julia series. Mainly, I love the novel's departure from the typical heroine. The title character in these books is a somewhat cranky and extremely proper elderly Southern widow, and while you can clearly see all her faults, you find that you come to love her anyway. I hope that I'm this feisty when I'm 80!
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Read in June, 2008
I enjoyed and laughed at this book. But I also found the main character irritating and parts of the book frustrating. Being Raised in a generation where woman were to be self sustaining, this woman who had left her life to her husband to run with no input from her...well, just a tad unbelievable. Since we moved to the South, I have been trying to read books that give me a clearer picture of the culture down here. I hope this was more fiction than fact!
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recommended to Martha by:
Patients who continously check out her books
Hysterical! Everyone has someone like Miss Julia in their family, whether it's an aunt, grandmother, or mother. She can be old fashinoned in her ways yet she'll put you in your place with the quickness of her wit and words. I read this in one sitting during a winter day and had to read the rest of the series immediately. Each one is as good as the first. Fun and quick reads, great for travel and laughing out loud. Miss Julia rules!
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Read in May, 2008
My mom's book club read this book and I was able to grab an extra copy. Miss Julia - a proper southern lady - was a delightful character. I put the sequel on hold at the library but then wasn't interested enough to go pick it up. Maybe if I run out of other things to read... I want to give this book 2 1/2 stars - somewhere between "it was okay" and "liked it" was about right for me.
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
persons who have lost a spouse, women
This book gave me a chuckle or two. The writing is a breath of fresh air. You could read this in an afternoon it is a simple read. Miss Julia becomes a widow, as people comeinto her life now that she is widowed the hilarity begins. The charcter of her maid, is as out-spoken as Miss Julia. The lawyers, the preacher of her church, even the towns folk will keep you laughing.
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Read in December, 2004
I read this with my old book group. I thought this one was a lot of fun. I even laughed out loud in a couple of places. However, the reaction of a couple of the other women in the group was one of anger and frustration at the small town mentality and dynamics depicted throughout the book. I too felt that frustration, but it was good to see Miss Julia blossom into her own.
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Read in January, 2008
I got this book from an end cap at the library. It sounds delightful and I'm really ready to be delighted - so many of the books I've read lately have disappointed . . .
Addendum
I've read a few chapters and I'm getting bored. If it doesn't pick up soon it's going back to the library.
2nd Addendum
I just don't care about these people. It's going back.
Addendum
I've read a few chapters and I'm getting bored. If it doesn't pick up soon it's going back to the library.
2nd Addendum
I just don't care about these people. It's going back.
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
adult women who love southern culture and women's roles discussion
Light weight version of the of the proper southern woman as in Steel Magnolias or Fried Green Tomatoes. When elderly, proud, upright Presbyterian Julia, is suddenly widowed she must adjust to a new perception of herself in which she is self-reliant and resourceful. Amusing with just enough drama for a pleasant story for daily commute to work.
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recommends it for:
Absolutely anyone that is from Southern hertiage or has lived in the South.
This is the first of the Miss Julie series. You will laugh until your stomach hurts. My Mother never reads but have sent her the first three and she read them all in session. She isw aiting for more. You will love this series even if you are not even close to the South but will totally love Miss Julie and her entourage even more if you are.
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Read in December, 2007
Book 1 in the Miss Julia series. A great book full of witty characters and many laugh out loud moments! Miss Julia is recently widowed and has found out that her late husband was very well off and that he also had a young son that she didn't know about. She quickly gets mixed up in all kinds of mess and definitely says what's on her mind.
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Read in July, 2006
Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind is the first in a hilarious series of a genteel Southern woman who is finally set free of a domineering husband. Much to her dismay, her husband's mistress drops off their illegitimate son and the fun begins. Her hilarious insights and determined attitude are so much fun to read. I loved the whole series!
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Read in April, 2008
I was only able to read a copy of the uncorrected unbound galley but, still found this book enchanting. Ross's character development could use some work as things didn't seem to mesh. I also had a very difficult time imagining the scenery and characters in my head which is unusual for me. overall, though, i enjoyed the book.
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