Welcome to Higby

by Mark Dunn

Following the national success of Ella Minnow Pea, this second novel from Mark Dunn brings the same charm and love of good language to a small town in the South. A Robert Altmanesque comedy, Welcome to Higby follows the hilarious goings-on in a small town in northern Mississippi over Labor Day weekend. From mousy Carmen Valentine, whose guardian angel, Arnetta, gives her penny-pinching shopping tips, to addled old Hank Grammar, who preaches Jesus to his neighbors' pets, Higby's townsfolk have a knack for getting into -- and trouble getting out of -- outrageous situations. Blessed with an unerring eye for dead-on details, Dunn lovingly traces the eccentric and touching lives of his characters, offering an intelligent yet heartwarming vision of life in small-town America. Welcome to Higby is a Southern comical tale about simple dreams both realized and thwarted by all the complexities of the human heart.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Religion

339 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Mark Dunn is the author of several books and more than thirty full-length plays, a dozen of which have been published in acting edition.

Mark has received over 200 productions of his work for the stage throughout the world, with translations of his plays into French, Italian, Dutch and Hungarian. His play North Fork (later retitled Cabin Fever: A Texas Tragicomedy when it was picked up for publication by Samuel French) premiered at the New Jersey Repertory Company (NJRC) in 1999 and has since gone on to receive numerous productions throughout the U.S.

Mark is co-author with NJRC composer-in-residence Merek Royce Press of Octet: A Concert Play, which received its world premiere at NJRC in 2000. Two of his plays, Helen’s Most Favorite Day and Dix Tableaux, have gone on to publication and national licensing by Samuel French. His novels include the award-winning Ella Minnow Pea, Welcome to Higby, Ibid, the children’s novel The Calamitous Adventures of Rodney and Wayne, Under the Harrow and Feral Park.

Mark teaches creative writing and leads playwriting seminars around the country, in addition to serving as Vice President of the non-profit PULA (People United for Libraries in Africa), which he founded with his wife, Mary, in 2002.

(modified bio courtesy of http://njrep.org/playwrights.htm)

Reviews

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-loved books from my past

Rating: 3.8* of five

The Publisher Says: Touchstone's trade paper edition has this description, which seems to me to give a better flavor of the book than MacAdam/Cage's short line:

Following the national success of Ella Minnow Pea, this second novel from Mark Dunn brings the same charm and love of good language to a small town in the South. A Robert Altmanesque comedy, Welcome to Higby follows the hilarious goings-on in a small town in northern Mississippi over Labor Day weekend. From mousy Carmen Valentine, whose guardian angel, Arnetta, gives her penny-pinching shopping tips, to addled old Hank Grammar, who preaches Jesus to his neighbors' pets, Higby's townsfolk have a knack for getting into -- and trouble getting out of -- outrageous situations. Blessed with an unerring eye for dead-on details, Dunn lovingly traces the eccentric and touching lives of his characters, offering an intelligent yet heartwarming vision of life in small-town America. Welcome to Higby is a Southern comical tale about simple dreams both realized and thwarted by all the complexities of the human heart.

My Review: Everything slips a bit with a sophomore effort. It just can't be as perfect as a first novel like Ella Minnow Pea was. But oh my gracious goodness me! If this is a sophomore slump, it's better than most writers' first novels.

What makes this story so satisfying is that the characters have such real, recognizable, and yet still over-the-top personalities. They aren't in any way caricatures. They are, at base, the people those of us who grew up in smaller towns around the country quite probably knew. Batty old bachelors? Everyplace has 'em, but in most big places there's no way to get to know them as well as one does when they go to your church, shop in the same market, have the same mechanic that you do.

Unrequited loves? Oh my heck, yes! We all know or know of one of those Grand Passions. In a smaller town, we all probably know of several, if only from high school. Dunn doesn't go the easy way around the subject here, and where it ends up is frankly a hoot.

Higby feels real. I love it. Not as much as I loved Nollop, but that's no knock on Higby, rather a further proof of Dunn's great capacity for creating delight through novel-writing. This right here? This is the sort of novel that makes the whole cultural phenomenon of fiction make sense to aliens.


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

[Vonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nowhere near the genius of LMNOP. Alas, it is rare that the sophomore effort can meet such high expectations.

[Melinda Worfolk · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a sprawling jumble of a book about a large assortment of characters in the fictional small southern US town of Higby. The quirk level is turned up to eleven here, and it does not do Welcome to Higby any favours. I liked a couple of the storylines and definitely wanted to find out how they resolved (Talitha, a hard partying spitfire who is kidnapped by a cult, Euless, a lonely mechanic, and Carmen, a woman who talks to her guardian angel), but I found the rest difficult to care about. I felt like the author was aiming for Richard Russo's Nobody's Fool, but wasn't quite skilled enough to pull it off.

[Aubrey Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up

[Carolyn Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Southern novel: 25 eccentric characters. Many crises of faith, love, health, and finances. Very well written, but the format gets old. WE ARE NOT ALL CRAZY DOWN HERE!

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't decide if I kinda loved this book or kinda hated it LOL. It wasn't nearly as clever or captivating as Ella Minnow Pea, but it was a mostly enjoyable read. It was quirky with a great cast of characters. The short chapters made for quick, interesting reading. I couldn't ever quite put my finger on what bugged me about the book. I think it had something to do with the fluid nature of relationships and the extremely quick "I love yous". Also in the beginning of the book there was some little tidbit from one chapter that would be woven into the beginning of the next chapter, but eventually the author stopped doing this. I couldn't decide if he just got lazy or if he felt too forced continuing it or what but I missed it when he gave it up. I did enjoy the way all the character's stories blended into each other toward the end of the book. Cleverly written, for sure. A slice-of-wacky-life story.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved it. Had to laugh out loud at several points. Quirky characters.
Story of a small town over a Labor day weekend. You just never know from one moment to the next.
If you like Fannie Flagg, you will like it.

[Jessica Harmon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast and easy read. A good novel to follow a serious or "heavy" read. The novel read a little too much like a romance novel for my liking as each character is obsessed with their sexual relationships. I became wary around page 200 and was honestly a little relieved when it was over.

[Barb Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I thought I might get the characters all mixed up because there are so many introduced in each short chapter at the beginning. However, each character is so fully brought to life by their conversations and thoughts, that you feel like you have actually grown up in the small town of Higby and know most of them - if not all. This is a delightful tale of the comings and goings of a bunch of average, ordinary townfolk. Very enjoyable - I recommend this to everyone!

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

A simple book about the abundance of quirky small town people. There's no real story line or through plot driving the story and making you want to know more. I couldn't make it past the first few chapters before calling it quits.

[Lindsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - giving up. I can not for the life of me get into this book. The only thing going for it are the characters are unique and the chapters are wicked short. I've liked other books by this author so this is a hit to my heart.

[Lizzytish · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved the author’s previous book, ELLA MINNOW PEA, but this book was a disaster. Way over the top quirky characters in the most ludicrous situations , with ridiculous amount of sexual drive, fell flat.

[Jamie Wyatt Glover · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. I think I am picky when it comes to authors who write 'slice of life' stories. I need to thoroughly care about these characters. I really enjoyed the ending and seeing all the small connections with the characters, but the first 2/3rds of the book were just okay for me.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite of Mark Dunn’s quirky and character-stuffed novels that I’ve read, but still charming enough that it was more enjoyable than not.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirky book with interesting characters. The town's water tower plays an alarmingly important role.

[Marsha Raasch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It had the feel of perhaps Frederik Backman. Multiple characters intertwining in the most random and entertaining ways.

[Hailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relaxing

[Brix Trover · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a minute to remember all the characters…only a few storylines stuck with me. Some storylines needed a bit more “UMPH.” But enjoyable, easy read!

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Writing in the spirit of his clever debut novel, Ella Minnow Pea, in which an island's language-loving inhabitants must adapt to a shrinking alphabet, Dunn delivers another witty and intricate book. This time he uses biblical quotations to guide his narrative, which tracks the residents of Higby, Miss., during Labor Day weekend of 1993, as they search for happiness, love and salvation. The tightly interwoven story lines feature a veritable swarm of oddballs, including Stewie Kipp, a born-again Christian whose fiancee, Marci Luck, resents his attempts at piety; Talitha Leigh, a floozy who is kidnapped by an extremist vegan cult and renamed "Blithe"; and dim-witted Euless Ludlam, who finds himself on the receiving end of a huge inheritance. The Bible quotes aren't just gimmicky transitional devices, since the novel closely follows themes of redemption and salvation, albeit in a screwball manner: as one character, Carmen Valentine, notes, "My guardian angel likes to help me stretch my shopping dollar." The collision of celestial concepts and quirky mannerisms makes the book both laugh-out-loud funny and sweetly touching. At its core is the belief that "God equals love," though the characters demonstrate this in some rather strange
ways. Dunn, a playwright, has a wonderful ear for dialogue; his rich and enticing prose, elegant structuring and wonderful attention to the smallest of details make this novel a delight.

[Marnie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't even express how disappointed I am in this book. I LOVED his first book, Ella Minnow Pea. I thought it was so clever and unique. And this, Welcome to Higby, is just terrible. There is nothing interesting about Higby. If you were to go there, you'd drive right through.

The descriptions of this book talk about it being hysterical. I haven't even smiled or chuckled once while reading. I'll read something and think, "I think I'm supposed to think this is one of those hysterical things" but that's it, just a thought and then just keep reading and wondering if it will get better. I felt like the scripture that starts every chapter was an intrusion. I don't care about any of the many, many characters. I've been reading thinking maybe it will get better or a point will show itself to all of this stupidity but nothing so I'm not even going to finish.

This author had such promise but perhaps he was really just a one-hit wonder. I absolutely recommend Ella Minnow Pea though, that gets 5 stars from me.

[Laura Radniecki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at my local library's book sale because of the pretty cover.

The short chapters were a nice change of pace for me from the other books I've been reading.

At first, I was overwhelmed by all of the different characters, but as I kept reading and they were reintroduced, I started to keep them all straight. I loved how the characters' lives all intertwined together in different ways.

I wasn't a huge fan of the way the author depicted their southern style of talking. All the comin', sayin', doin' - the dropping of the "g" and adding the ' annoyed me. But after awhile, I either got used to it or my brain started ignoring it and reading it as the full words.

This is not a plot-driven book. If you enjoy character-driven books, then I think you'll enjoy this one. It's a quick read and it's fast paced. It left me feeling like I was a resident of Higby and I knew all the funny quirks about my neighbors.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't one of my favorite books ever, but I did enjoy reading it. Keeping up with all of the characters was a different experience than the books I'm used to reading, but this novel was very entertaining. The ending seemed a little rushed, though I loved the way the characters intertwined.
I didn't love how some of the characters made their choices, specifically Oren Cullen. The way he acted made me uncomfortable. Most specifically that he cancelled a bible study, and left his son, Clint after he was just released from the hospital, just so Oren could go have sex with a masseuse.
My favorite relationship in the story was Euless's and Carmen's. They were so adorable, and they were both a little shy, crazy, and yet respectable. I am glad she didn't end up with Tie even though it was obvious from the beginning that she wasn't ever going to.

[MBenzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, it took me a few days to finish this book, I wasn't really able to get into it all that much, but once I finished it I started to like it more and more! Thinking back on all the quirky, eccentric folks of Higby, Mississippi, I was a little disappointed there wasn't more to read.

The book is about Labor Day weekend in the small town, and the going-ons in some of towns peoples lives. The chapters are really short (3-5 pages) and each focuses on a different person. There's Carmen, in love with the handsome Tie who doesn't know she exists...Stewie and Marci, whose relationship is tested, Pastor Cullen who's son Clint falls from the Higby water tower, both of whom are trying to move on after the loss of a wife and mother, and so many more!

I recommend this book as a light fun little read. You'll really enjoy the craziness and quirky drama of the folks from Higby, Mississippi.

[Judi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Because these last few hours had changed him forever. In the company of a fellow traveler Stewie had found God--- a different God--- one he had never known existed. A God removed from clumsy human projections and self-serving interpretations. A God unfathomable beyond the one simple truth acknowledged by all the religions of the world: God equals love. A generous love. A love without specifications."

I did not love this like I did ELLA MINNOW PEA -- but it is still very good. My review opens with this line: Even though this novel is not at all like it, while reading it I couldn't help but think that it was akin to a modern day A Midsummer Night's Dream....

My full review:

http://mostlyfiction.com/humor/dunn.htm

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Call me a snob for saying this, but I think a person has to be an intelligent reader to get this book and his book Ibid. Ella Minnow Pea is accessible by all. I also think that if a person does not have a general knowledge of the Bible, the humor in this book will not be appreciated. The quotations from the Bible match the story and all that is going on. The humor is outrageous and quirky, but the message is quite serious. Dunn is obviously a modern day satirist. He used dialog well with the characters.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read 2 other books by Mark Dunn - "Ella Minnow Pea" and "Zounds!". I absolutely loved "ELMNOP" and was entertained by "Z!". This book wasn't as good. I enjoyed it more at the beginning but got a bit bored and anxious to finish by the end. Dunn takes a small Mississippi town and gives the reader a 3 day experience in the town by following about 20 characters (It has a Garrison Keller feel: describing a small town of odd people). It just didn't grab me like I was hoping despite some really funny parts.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book occurs over the course of a holiday weekend in Higby. I liked the small town feel and the way that each character was interwoven into the story of other characters (as happens frequently in a small town). I enjoyed the characters but the plot is 'just a bunch of stuff that happened.'

It's an "english class" book with lots of discussion topics to be brought up in class...and I hate those. Maybe I'm softening to them though, because I did like the way the story began at the water tower and then ended it there again, coming full circle "back to the beginning" as it were.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I didn't love this the way I loved Ella Minnow Pea, I found it highly enjoyable. The wacky cast and conversational tone felt a little like Christopher Moore, but with less sarcasm and no demons or other fantasy beings. The book is really a bunch of short chapters each telling a small story about one of the residents of Higby, Mississippi over one Labor Day weekend. Despite the narrow time frame and location, the book was compelling and the characters came to life.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would recommend another work by Dunn, Ella Minnow Pea, but not this novel. The characters that inhabit the story were not people I cared to get to know, and did not improve upon closer acquaintance. They were not even people I could sympathize with in their flaws. In the book's defense, I was very young when I read it the first time, and I might feel differently about the characters now.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small southern town with quircky charchters. I love Mark Dunn's ability to tell a story. This time each chapter is told from a different person had an encounter from the pervious person. Its like passing a dime and watching the different stories. Very fun format to read. Ella Minow Pea was one of my favorite novels. Novels more with the format style like welcome to Higby, although minus the humor, call to mind Winesburg Ohio and As I Lay Dying.