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Fancy Strut: A Novel
“[Lee Smith] re-creates a vanished way of life with stunning authenticity.”— The Philadelphia Inquirer
Speed, Alabama, is frantically preparing for the event of a lifetime: Sesquicentennial Week. And all her proud citizens are kicking up their heels in a lively, pompous fancy strut. . . .
Praise for Fancy Strut
“Smith offers ripe entertainment.” — People
“[She] brings the storytelling gift off the porch swing and onto the printed page with an often breathtaking vitality. . . . A writer of rare talent.” — Publishers Weekly
“A spellbinding storyteller.” — Newsday
“[Smith] has the gift of a McCullers or a Faulkner of catching the sorrow, irony, and humor indigenous to the Southern temperament.” — Booklist
Speed, Alabama, is frantically preparing for the event of a lifetime: Sesquicentennial Week. And all her proud citizens are kicking up their heels in a lively, pompous fancy strut. . . .
Praise for Fancy Strut
“Smith offers ripe entertainment.” — People
“[She] brings the storytelling gift off the porch swing and onto the printed page with an often breathtaking vitality. . . . A writer of rare talent.” — Publishers Weekly
“A spellbinding storyteller.” — Newsday
“[Smith] has the gift of a McCullers or a Faulkner of catching the sorrow, irony, and humor indigenous to the Southern temperament.” — Booklist
358 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
3 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Lee Smith
43 books979 followersGrowing up in the Appalachian mountains of southwestern Virginia, nine-year-old Lee Smith was already writing--and selling, for a nickel apiece--stories about her neighbors in the coal boomtown of Grundy and the nearby isolated "hollers." Since 1968, she has published eleven novels, as well as three collections of short stories, and has received many writing awards.
The sense of place infusing her novels reveals her insight into and empathy for the people and culture of Appalachia. Lee Smith was born in 1944 in Grundy, Virginia, a small coal-mining town in the Blue Ridge Mountains, not 10 miles from the Kentucky border. The Smith home sat on Main Street, and the Levisa River ran just behind it. Her mother, Virginia, was a college graduate who had come to Grundy to teach school.
Her father, Ernest, a native of the area, operated a dime store. And it was in that store that Smith's training as a writer began. Through a peephole in the ceiling of the store, Smith would watch and listen to the shoppers, paying close attention to the details of how they talked and dressed and what they said.
"I didn't know any writers," Smith says, "[but] I grew up in the midst of people just talking and talking and talking and telling these stories. My Uncle Vern, who was in the legislature, was a famous storyteller, as were others, including my dad. It was very local. I mean, my mother could make a story out of anything; she'd go to the grocery store and come home with a story."
Smith describes herself as a "deeply weird" child. She was an insatiable reader. When she was 9 or 10, she wrote her first story, about Adlai Stevenson and Jane Russell heading out west together to become Mormons--and embodying the very same themes, Smith says, that concern her even today. "You know, religion and flight, staying in one place or not staying, containment or flight--and religion." From Lee Smith's official website.
The sense of place infusing her novels reveals her insight into and empathy for the people and culture of Appalachia. Lee Smith was born in 1944 in Grundy, Virginia, a small coal-mining town in the Blue Ridge Mountains, not 10 miles from the Kentucky border. The Smith home sat on Main Street, and the Levisa River ran just behind it. Her mother, Virginia, was a college graduate who had come to Grundy to teach school.
Her father, Ernest, a native of the area, operated a dime store. And it was in that store that Smith's training as a writer began. Through a peephole in the ceiling of the store, Smith would watch and listen to the shoppers, paying close attention to the details of how they talked and dressed and what they said.
"I didn't know any writers," Smith says, "[but] I grew up in the midst of people just talking and talking and talking and telling these stories. My Uncle Vern, who was in the legislature, was a famous storyteller, as were others, including my dad. It was very local. I mean, my mother could make a story out of anything; she'd go to the grocery store and come home with a story."
Smith describes herself as a "deeply weird" child. She was an insatiable reader. When she was 9 or 10, she wrote her first story, about Adlai Stevenson and Jane Russell heading out west together to become Mormons--and embodying the very same themes, Smith says, that concern her even today. "You know, religion and flight, staying in one place or not staying, containment or flight--and religion." From Lee Smith's official website.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 31, 2021
There a good number of characters in this book. It is about a town in Alabama and its sesquicentennial. The book goes into the characters in the fictional town of Speed and the celebration. It covers everything from who is sleeping with home to teenage angst to a crazy old spinster. The book is funny and the ending uniques. I just had more trouble identifying with the characters in this particular book as compared her other books I have read.
September 21, 2011
I've been lucky enough to see Lee a few times. She never fails to have a grin, a mischievous grin, plastered on her face, like she's laughing at you and with you all at once. And I see why in this book. Fancy Strut is a TRIP. Smith takes us inside the world of Speed, Alabama to see how they will celebrate their Sesquicentennial Week (that's 150 years young, for those of you not up on your Latin roots). This is sometimes in the 1960's, and the Ladies-who-Lunch crowd figures prominently in this tale of seduction, segregation, and baton twirling.
Two of the main characters are high school rivals, two majorettes who compete in the Susan Arch Finlay Memorial Marching Contest at the University in Tuscaloosa. Their mothers are cousins and rivals, as well, and a wonderful scene unfolds as the girls "Fancy Strut" it with all their hearts. At a recent reading, Smith explained that she used to be a journalist for a paper in Alabama in the 1960's and covered this very real competition. She interviewed Miss Fancy Strut, newly crowned, by asking her, "Well, what does it feel like to be Miss Fancy Strut?" to which the real girl exclaimed, "This is the happiest moment of my life!" The irony of this was not lost on Smith, who then concocted this twirling tale about Speed. I loved how each of the characters seems so ordinary from the outside and how Smith delves into their twisted personal thoughts. Many of them reflect along the lines of, "I think I'm going completely crazy." The closeness, the smallness of the town presses in on you from every side--everyone knows everyone's intimate business. And then this celebration seems to be the breaking point. People from all walks of life choose this very event, full of community pageantry, civil duty, bunting and marching bands, to break with their molds. They have reckless affairs, they send criminal threats, they all go a little bit nuts and seem heartrendingly and hilariously aware of it.
Two of the main characters are high school rivals, two majorettes who compete in the Susan Arch Finlay Memorial Marching Contest at the University in Tuscaloosa. Their mothers are cousins and rivals, as well, and a wonderful scene unfolds as the girls "Fancy Strut" it with all their hearts. At a recent reading, Smith explained that she used to be a journalist for a paper in Alabama in the 1960's and covered this very real competition. She interviewed Miss Fancy Strut, newly crowned, by asking her, "Well, what does it feel like to be Miss Fancy Strut?" to which the real girl exclaimed, "This is the happiest moment of my life!" The irony of this was not lost on Smith, who then concocted this twirling tale about Speed. I loved how each of the characters seems so ordinary from the outside and how Smith delves into their twisted personal thoughts. Many of them reflect along the lines of, "I think I'm going completely crazy." The closeness, the smallness of the town presses in on you from every side--everyone knows everyone's intimate business. And then this celebration seems to be the breaking point. People from all walks of life choose this very event, full of community pageantry, civil duty, bunting and marching bands, to break with their molds. They have reckless affairs, they send criminal threats, they all go a little bit nuts and seem heartrendingly and hilariously aware of it.
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November 23, 2023In her memoir Dimestore, Lee Smith was pretty underwhelmed by her second novel, which was her first venture away from biographical material, which she felt she used up in her first. You get the impression that she more or less abandoned that novel. She was working as a journalist and covered a local pageant and was inspired by how weird and wonderful the whole experience was this third novel is the result.
This novel focuses on the planning and execution of a Alabama town's sesquicentennial celebration. It's the early 1970s and the "Fancy Strut" in question is a local pageant. Realizing they're in over their heads a little, they hire a pageant company to help them, and are dismayed to learn that one requirement is that the company insists that the winner of the pageant be whoever sells the most tickets. Don't worry, they assure the planners, only a rich white girl will win. It always works that way.
The novel then spreads out its focus to several of the key players in the lead up to the event itself. We have several of the planners, the contestants, a Black militant bent of disrupting the plan, and other characters. The result is a funny, raunchy, ensemble novel that slices through the pretenses with irony throughout.
This novel focuses on the planning and execution of a Alabama town's sesquicentennial celebration. It's the early 1970s and the "Fancy Strut" in question is a local pageant. Realizing they're in over their heads a little, they hire a pageant company to help them, and are dismayed to learn that one requirement is that the company insists that the winner of the pageant be whoever sells the most tickets. Don't worry, they assure the planners, only a rich white girl will win. It always works that way.
The novel then spreads out its focus to several of the key players in the lead up to the event itself. We have several of the planners, the contestants, a Black militant bent of disrupting the plan, and other characters. The result is a funny, raunchy, ensemble novel that slices through the pretenses with irony throughout.
November 11, 2015
My mother is from Alabama and though I live in New England, I have strong southern roots. I like Smith's books very much, but this one is a little lightweight. She uses humor with skill. Her characters ring true. She has the small town Alabama milieu down. I did find it really annoying that the book, published by Ballantine Books, was riddled with copyediting errors - such as "litle" and quite a few wrong word choices or missing words. To me this is unacceptable. Smith deserves better. Hire a decent copy editor, Ballantine!
December 29, 2023
I love Lee Smith's books. This one, however, did not hit the mark. There was not one character in the whole book (and there were many characters) who was even slightly likable. A mishmash of a plot. Not for me.
March 23, 2021
Just mehh
May 14, 2013
Lee Smith is really the perfect author to read after a semester of grading is over with, and summer is just beginning. This novel did not disappoint, but it also did not stand out as her best work.
Packed with Smith's familiar cast of characters -- quirky and semi-crazy small towners -- this story is just delightful. Using a rotating omniscient point of view, Smith expertly weaves in and out of different characters' perspectives.
I'm intrigued by the way she is able to switch from one character's close pov to another character's close pov in the same scene. I think she succeeds in doing so because she spends a good amount of time in one character's head before switching, and she almost never switches back within the same chapter/scene, so we don't feel cheated.
This is also a neat plot because we know that all of the characters' individual conflicts are building up to the overall conflict of the sesquicentennial celebration. I do wish Smith had spent less time describing the extravagant event itself and more time describing each character's resolutions within this event, but overall, it was a satisfying ending.
A light read with fun character development makes this book a success. While I can't say I lost myself in the plot, I certainly enjoyed the ride.
Packed with Smith's familiar cast of characters -- quirky and semi-crazy small towners -- this story is just delightful. Using a rotating omniscient point of view, Smith expertly weaves in and out of different characters' perspectives.
I'm intrigued by the way she is able to switch from one character's close pov to another character's close pov in the same scene. I think she succeeds in doing so because she spends a good amount of time in one character's head before switching, and she almost never switches back within the same chapter/scene, so we don't feel cheated.
This is also a neat plot because we know that all of the characters' individual conflicts are building up to the overall conflict of the sesquicentennial celebration. I do wish Smith had spent less time describing the extravagant event itself and more time describing each character's resolutions within this event, but overall, it was a satisfying ending.
A light read with fun character development makes this book a success. While I can't say I lost myself in the plot, I certainly enjoyed the ride.
May 18, 2009
As a majorette, the title of this book caught my eye, and I laughed when majorettes are actually in the book as well!
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May 18th - I finished the book last night - I will tell you that it was difficult to get through. The book had a ton of potential as a fascinating small town of characters, but it fell flat. Not to mention that the majorettes were displayed in a very unfavorable light! ha! Some of the story lines interested me, but most didn't, and I was expecting this outrageous climax at the end as the book tried to build, but it was disappointing.
I typically enjoy the Southern Gothic novels, but this one failed to keep my interest, especially when I had several other books on my nightstand that were awaiting me...
* * * * * *
May 18th - I finished the book last night - I will tell you that it was difficult to get through. The book had a ton of potential as a fascinating small town of characters, but it fell flat. Not to mention that the majorettes were displayed in a very unfavorable light! ha! Some of the story lines interested me, but most didn't, and I was expecting this outrageous climax at the end as the book tried to build, but it was disappointing.
I typically enjoy the Southern Gothic novels, but this one failed to keep my interest, especially when I had several other books on my nightstand that were awaiting me...
December 20, 2007
Very different from Lee Smith's other works. This novel follows a cast of characters in a small Alabama town through their preparations for a Sesquicentennial celebration in the early 60's. The novel appears at first to be a feel good look at the town's nostalgic present, but it turns quickly into a A.M. Holmes style novel where everything is falling apart with dark overtones. I liked the characters in this novel a lot, but you have to get all the way through this book to really "get it."
March 27, 2008
So far, I am enjoying this much more than Lee Smith's Last Girls. This is a good portrayal of a Southern town, including some of the smugness and racism to be found in such places as Speed, Alabama, the setting.
This still gets a 3 after finishing it. Lee's characters are just not fully realized and seem like stock characters rather than real people.
This still gets a 3 after finishing it. Lee's characters are just not fully realized and seem like stock characters rather than real people.
July 24, 2009
Great start but in the end only satisfactory. This time the author herds a small Southern town full of disparate characters through a sesquicentennial celebration. Even the cover picture is a miss, as a Fancy Strut is certainly not a youngish girl in a flowery dress reaching for the sky in a summery field.
August 8, 2012
I adored On Agate Hill, the first novel I read by her, so quickly bought this one & read it but was sorely disappointed. Nothing wrong with it, but neither clever nor exciting.
I would not recommend Fancy Strut at all.
I also bought one called something about Linen -- I've got high hopes for that one.
I would not recommend Fancy Strut at all.
I also bought one called something about Linen -- I've got high hopes for that one.
October 11, 2008
This is actually a very finny book. I like the story line so far, and look forward to the rest of the story. Some of the characters are really humorous, in a twisted way.
April 21, 2009
1973 novel, set in Speed, AL (not an Appalachian novel) / preparations for Sesquicentennial Week / a character study of suburban Alabama in the late 1960s
nobody happy in Speed, AL
nobody happy in Speed, AL
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 1, 2009Unfortunately Idid not put any sort of comment in my journal when I read this book almost 5 years ago. Lee Smith is an author I have read before or since.
March 8, 2009
This didn't come close to Lee Smith's other books.
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May 1, 2009Fiction
December 4, 2009
Very funny, and an interesting contrast to Lee Smith's more recent works, like On Agate Hill.
July 16, 2016
My favorite Lee Smith work so far.
May 27, 2013
I am still processing this one. There is so much going on, just the kind of stuff I love.
May 25, 2014
I usually love Lee Smith's books...this was a quirky story about odd folks. It was first published in 1973...not her best!
May 4, 2015
I read this for book club. In my opinion, it's a mindless, imbecilic, moronic book. It's like reading a soap opera. Pure fluff. A waste of paper and my time.
May 14, 2015
The characters were weak and under developed. There didn't seem to be a plot to the book
May 28, 2008
Awful!
November 25, 2009
This book got really boring really fast. Did not finish.
March 18, 2012
Mixed up tale of a town's celebration. Too many characters.
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June 1, 2017Seriously? A character used the N word on page 7. NOPE
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews