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She Flew the Coop
The two main occupations in Limoges, Louisiana (population: 905), seem to be spreading juicy gossip and consoling the unfortunate with casseroles. And in this early spring of 1952, there is ample opportunity for both with sixteen-year-old and pregnant (by the Baptist minister) Olive Nepper, currently languishing in a coma after drinking pop laced with rose poison. But the plight of Olive and her family is hardly the only story spicing up the rumor mill in this small Southern community of unpredictable eccentrics, wandering husbands, and unsatisfied wives and few local sins will be put right by home cooking.
From Michael Lee West comes a beautifully rendered portrait of small-town Southern life, filled with humanity that brilliantly weaves comedy with dark calamity.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
About the author
Michael Lee West
11 books404 followersMichael Lee West grew up on the Gulf Coast with a wild tribe of Southern cooks. She lives on a farm near Nashville with her family. Michael is the author of Crazy Ladies, Mad Girls in Love, She Flew the Coop, American Pie, Mad Girls in Love, Mermaids in the Basement, Consuming Passions, and Gone With a Handsomer Man. Her new novel, A Teeny Bit of Trouble, is the second installment in the Teeny Templeton series and will be published on April 10, 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
April 30, 2007
And the story goes on .. this time, recipes included. A book I did not want to end.. or to which I wanted a sequel.
January 4, 2011
This is the perfect book for fans of Steel Magnolias and Fried Green Tomatoes and other great triumphs of Southern drama/comedy literature. It's a sprawling novel featuring almost a dozen POV's and a great deal of time is spent in back story and flashback, but it all works thanks to West's engaging style where one can almost hear the Southern narrators spinning their tales (I read this book, but I would bet that this would be an AWESOME audio book or read-aloud book for a road trip). With so many characters and a host of homey recipes, this would be a great book-club book. So many books that do recipes feel like they are adding them because they are the trendy thing right now and the recipes really don't bear any relation to the plot. Here, the recipes are an absolutely essential part of the story, and I particularly like where they are just woven right into the narrative. In many cases the recipe cuts to heart of the character in a beautiful way, and many of the recipes are very, very simple things--three or four ingredients, totally fitting this time and place.
February 18, 2008
Highly recommended for anyone with a crazy southern family.
January 22, 2008
I laughed out loud so much I read this a second time!
June 30, 2007
A fun summer read - this book also contains yummy recipes in between the chapters
October 22, 2009
I read the irst 50 pages. It is well written, but I was raised in the South in the 1950's, so it is a little bit TOO REAL for this reader. I like to be entertained - not reminded!! LOL
April 9, 2014
When Michael Lee West writes, she writes in a way that places the reader inside the story. When I started reading, She Flew The Coop, it was like riding in a car and seeing the sign - Welcome to Limoges, LA, and from there I was introduced to the residents, one by one. The cast of characters are engaging, at times inspiring and sometimes, infuriating.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book so much that I've ordered two more of Michael's books and I can't wait to read them. This story concerns a young girl named Olive. The town folk can't figure out why she drank her mother's rose poison with a Nehi soda. As Olive lays in the hospital in a coma, we meet her mother, Vangie, a tender hearted soul who really tries her best in whatever she sets her mind to. We meet her husband, Henry, and her maid, Sophie. Henry is a handful and Sophie is strong and capable. Next in line are the neighbors, the gossip, Harriet and the undertaker, Cab who is a hit with the widows of Limoges, and the Baptist minister, Kirby, who everyone seems to adore. We meet all of the crazy people of Limoges and watch them mix.
This is a wonderful, small town story full of recipes, humor and adventure. As I read this book, I was like a resident who had an opinion of everyone else, such as each person who resides in this small Louisiana town.
This is a fun book that's a little on the dicey side as some of the people in Limoges cannot seem to control themselves, but it's a part of the story that Michael Lee West has woven together to make an unforgettable book filled with everyday heroes and losers alike.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book so much that I've ordered two more of Michael's books and I can't wait to read them. This story concerns a young girl named Olive. The town folk can't figure out why she drank her mother's rose poison with a Nehi soda. As Olive lays in the hospital in a coma, we meet her mother, Vangie, a tender hearted soul who really tries her best in whatever she sets her mind to. We meet her husband, Henry, and her maid, Sophie. Henry is a handful and Sophie is strong and capable. Next in line are the neighbors, the gossip, Harriet and the undertaker, Cab who is a hit with the widows of Limoges, and the Baptist minister, Kirby, who everyone seems to adore. We meet all of the crazy people of Limoges and watch them mix.
This is a wonderful, small town story full of recipes, humor and adventure. As I read this book, I was like a resident who had an opinion of everyone else, such as each person who resides in this small Louisiana town.
This is a fun book that's a little on the dicey side as some of the people in Limoges cannot seem to control themselves, but it's a part of the story that Michael Lee West has woven together to make an unforgettable book filled with everyday heroes and losers alike.
November 27, 2010
My dear good friend pointed out to me just earlier that this type of book is not my reading style and you know when I thought about it she was right. I was very surprised that by the time it was over I was glad to see Henry Nepper get his just desserts and the DeeDee women end up in the same situation as her poor husband who did nothing but love her. There was a lot of sad things that happen in this book and things that will make you blush it's got some real honesty in the words. I enjoyed the story!
April 26, 2010
This novel is so good. The storytelling is excellent. I love the play with point of view. Even the town itself works as a character. This is my favorite MLW novel thus far. I highly recommend this book to aspiring fiction writers because it is such a study in emperimentation in POV. It's also just plain good reading.
January 9, 2008
as always awesome!
April 2, 2008
This was a fun, intricate, surprisingly mesmerizing novel about a small town in Louisiana, and I looked forward to reading it every night.
May 12, 2016
West at her best.
February 7, 2009
Quote from the book:
“If there’d been Baptists in Sodom and Gomorrah, it would’ve burned up a whole lot sooner.”
“If there’d been Baptists in Sodom and Gomorrah, it would’ve burned up a whole lot sooner.”
February 15, 2021
I am not really pleased with how I rated this book, because my head wasn't that much into reading it, sure you could say the style of writing from the author didn't help because it jumps are from plot to plot, timeline to timeline, and character to character, but still pretty sure objectively it is better then it ended up to be for me.
It tackles some quite heavy subjects with which you will be familiar more or less if you grew up in a small town.
It tackles some quite heavy subjects with which you will be familiar more or less if you grew up in a small town.
July 2, 2019
didn't like this one as much as West's other books that I've read, but it was pretty entertaining! A bit dark and explicit at times, but easy to read!
February 26, 2008
Sophie, I liked the comparison of Sophie's beaten biscuits and her life – I don't think you read too much in it – I think it was right on. And it was accurate with Burr gone she has become something sweet and better. I'm still a little shaky on what happened to their son it touched on it so lightly that I didn't know exactly what happened that led to his death. Sophie was one of my favorite characters. Especially after Burr died and she started living.
Henry - I think it was more than `mid-life crisis' that had Henry get up and leave his wife and marry Dee Dee. He wanted his cake and eat it too (another silly cliché that I never understood, just like Henry said, what else are you suppose to do with it, frame the cake and hang it on a wall?) He wanted a maid at home to take care of him and the house and a tart on the side to sleep with and make him feel like he was all that. There's no mid-life crisis about it. He was you typical old school male that thought they could do anything they wanted without repercussions. It probably would have been better (or worse depending on who you asked) if he actually married Dee Dee and watched what happened next – they would have made each other miserable – perfect revenge if you ask me.
But he didn't actually leave Vangie until after the daughter died. He kept trying to get her to come back before that. That indicated that it was depression that made him take off to Vegas. He wanted to replace what he lost as soon as possible and that was his opportunity. Eventually he would have been burned regardless if Dee Dee was really pregnant or not. Picture it 5 years later both him and Dee Dee would be cheating on one another. Now at least Billie has a chance to become decent.
Edith – I think she didn't want to move back to New York because there she would be just another artist no different than anyone else. At least in the South she got to be eccentric and stand out. People talked about her and excused her for what they thought were crazy ways. It sounded like she had what everyone hoped for when they started out – the perfect fairy tale romance. Maybe that would have changed if her husband lived longer ;)
Harriet – She was actually fun she reminded me of Harriet Olsen from Little House on the Prairie mean, gossipy and full of herself. Unfortunately she's too blind and dumb to actually realize that she's a miserable old coot so I don't think she will ever see the problems in herself. And she'll believe that she is always happy and perfect.
Dee Dee - She was a product of the time. If she was taught to provide for herself she wouldn't need to chase a man, married or not, to give her what she could have given herself. She was taught that, that was the only option, to find a man to take care of her. She blew it when she found a single man, Renny, so in her mind it would stand to reason that she would have better luck trying to get someone that she knew was a good husband – no matter if it was someone else's husband at least she could fix that. But what I don't understand is why did her aunt let them all stay – why didn't she throw them out instead of putting up with it?
Religion was a character in this book too. Actually it was a villain. Most of them used religion as an excuse. An excuse to snub people or gossip about them, an excuse to write notes instead of telling things to the victims face. An excuse to explain why someone was bad, `those nutty Baptists'. Kirby used it to get everything from food and shelter to sex. Methodists used it as an excuse to explain why they were better than the Baptists, the `Amen Baptists' used it to explain why they were better than the rest of the congregation. Harriet used it to justify all of her disgusting actions. This book is a definite explanation of why there are a lot of people out there that don't like organized religion.
Henry - I think it was more than `mid-life crisis' that had Henry get up and leave his wife and marry Dee Dee. He wanted his cake and eat it too (another silly cliché that I never understood, just like Henry said, what else are you suppose to do with it, frame the cake and hang it on a wall?) He wanted a maid at home to take care of him and the house and a tart on the side to sleep with and make him feel like he was all that. There's no mid-life crisis about it. He was you typical old school male that thought they could do anything they wanted without repercussions. It probably would have been better (or worse depending on who you asked) if he actually married Dee Dee and watched what happened next – they would have made each other miserable – perfect revenge if you ask me.
But he didn't actually leave Vangie until after the daughter died. He kept trying to get her to come back before that. That indicated that it was depression that made him take off to Vegas. He wanted to replace what he lost as soon as possible and that was his opportunity. Eventually he would have been burned regardless if Dee Dee was really pregnant or not. Picture it 5 years later both him and Dee Dee would be cheating on one another. Now at least Billie has a chance to become decent.
Edith – I think she didn't want to move back to New York because there she would be just another artist no different than anyone else. At least in the South she got to be eccentric and stand out. People talked about her and excused her for what they thought were crazy ways. It sounded like she had what everyone hoped for when they started out – the perfect fairy tale romance. Maybe that would have changed if her husband lived longer ;)
Harriet – She was actually fun she reminded me of Harriet Olsen from Little House on the Prairie mean, gossipy and full of herself. Unfortunately she's too blind and dumb to actually realize that she's a miserable old coot so I don't think she will ever see the problems in herself. And she'll believe that she is always happy and perfect.
Dee Dee - She was a product of the time. If she was taught to provide for herself she wouldn't need to chase a man, married or not, to give her what she could have given herself. She was taught that, that was the only option, to find a man to take care of her. She blew it when she found a single man, Renny, so in her mind it would stand to reason that she would have better luck trying to get someone that she knew was a good husband – no matter if it was someone else's husband at least she could fix that. But what I don't understand is why did her aunt let them all stay – why didn't she throw them out instead of putting up with it?
Religion was a character in this book too. Actually it was a villain. Most of them used religion as an excuse. An excuse to snub people or gossip about them, an excuse to write notes instead of telling things to the victims face. An excuse to explain why someone was bad, `those nutty Baptists'. Kirby used it to get everything from food and shelter to sex. Methodists used it as an excuse to explain why they were better than the Baptists, the `Amen Baptists' used it to explain why they were better than the rest of the congregation. Harriet used it to justify all of her disgusting actions. This book is a definite explanation of why there are a lot of people out there that don't like organized religion.
April 3, 2008
I ended up discarding this book because it was way too dark for me, despite its misleadingly lighthearted title. I thought it would be Fannie Flagg-ish, but it was distinctly lacking in charm and the characters ranged from horribly nasty to pathetic, often both. I like flawed characters, but they still need to be likeable, or at least a little sympathetic.
August 31, 2014
I thought this book would be fluff, but there was a bit more substance than I anticipated. Following the intersecting lives of small town Limogeans in 1952 following an overdose attempt by a teenager now in a coma, the perspective of her parents, lover, housekeeper, and neighbors proved to be as complex, disappointing, and tender as I remember small town living.
March 8, 2018
Very enjoyable accounting of life among the inhabitants of a small fictional town in Northern Louisiana in the early 1950’s. Characters are well rounded and portrayed well. The author makes you feel like you are right there, seeing all the scandals as they develop.
March 10, 2021
DNF. I've tried this one twice, decades apart, and it still doesn't quite work for me. The writing is phenomenal but the humor is so dark, the plot so bleak, the characters so flawed that I just can't get through. It may resolve into delightful, I'll never know.
October 12, 2013
A novel concerning life, death, sex, and recipes in Limoges,Louisiana. Limoges is a composite of small southern towns. Got more interesting the further I got into it.
July 19, 2010
Pretty good book! Lots of sex and lots of recipes, very Southern storyline, good beach read!
May 9, 2013
I didn't read the full title before I read the book - mistake. Emphasis on the sex, which I really don't care to read about as the main story line of a book.
January 26, 2013
The best part is the recipe for red beans. I have been using it since I read the book many years ago.
May 27, 2013
Uneventful.
October 10, 2014
I did not want this book to end.
November 23, 2023
This novel lacked both a main character and a plot (no exaggeration).
May 17, 2020
When I started reading this book, I marveled at how well this male author was able to capture the feelings and thoughts of women. About halfway through, I glanced at the back cover which said the author was a "she." She isn't the first woman I have encountered with the first name, Michael, but I just assumed she was male. No less a wonderful author for that. The characters in the book, both male and female, were so fascinating and I was really involved with their stories. She lets the characters each take a chapter or two to describe their sides of events which made the story so minutely drawn. Yes, there were great recipes just woven into the action, like somebody was telling a story and had to clarify, when they mentioned what was for dinner, exactly how the dish was prepared. These food details seem quite in keeping with the culture of the South which is the setting for the novel. The women characters were particularly honest and touching, even the ones who protected their own status quo by gossiping about the others. There was quite a bit of sexual tragedy especially with a couple of the younger characters who weren't told enough about sex to be able to recognize predatory behavior in men they trusted. Most of the women were trapped by the open secrets of infidelity and abuse in the male dominated world in which they lived. My heart bled for Sophie, a woman of color who was routinely beaten nearly to death by her husband for imagined offenses. I'd like to think she was a product of her time, 1952, Louisiana, but sadly, her story is being lived at this moment by so many women everywhere. People knew about it. No one stopped him.
May 22, 2017
I picked up a copy of She Flew The Coop after reading numerous good reviews for it on goodreads. If you love southern fiction (Sarah Addison Allen, Kathryn Stockett, Fannie Flagg) you will enjoy this book!
First of all the book is set in the 1950's in the small town of Limoges, Louisiana. The town is full of quirky characters, some that you will love and some that you will love to hate. The characters I liked the most were Sophie, Cab, Edith, and Vangie. It also is filled with delicious recipes that are woven right into the story line and are true to the time period of the book. To be honest, this book was such a fun read-I did not want it to end! I am hoping there will eventually be a sequel but for now I plan to order all of Michael Lee West's other books!
*Michael Lee West: How in the world did you come up with the part that happened between Cab and Cordy? I didn't know whether to laugh or be absolutely mortified. I actually read it to my husband who looked shocked to say the least.
First of all the book is set in the 1950's in the small town of Limoges, Louisiana. The town is full of quirky characters, some that you will love and some that you will love to hate. The characters I liked the most were Sophie, Cab, Edith, and Vangie. It also is filled with delicious recipes that are woven right into the story line and are true to the time period of the book. To be honest, this book was such a fun read-I did not want it to end! I am hoping there will eventually be a sequel but for now I plan to order all of Michael Lee West's other books!
*Michael Lee West: How in the world did you come up with the part that happened between Cab and Cordy? I didn't know whether to laugh or be absolutely mortified. I actually read it to my husband who looked shocked to say the least.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews