When Sisterhood Was Flower

by Florence King

A novel by the author of Confessions of a Failed Southern Lady

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Adult Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Born in Washington, D.C. in 1936 to a bookish British father and a tomboy American mother, Florence King spent her childhood living with her parents, her maternal grandmother, and her grandmother's maid.

King showed talent in French, but unable to pursue it as a major at American University, she switched to a dual major of history and English. She attended the University of Mississippi for graduate school, but did not complete her M.A. degree after discovering she could make a living as a writer.

King, who lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia at the time of her death, retired in 2002, but resumed writing a monthly column for National Review in 2006. She died on January 6, 2016 at the age of 80.

Reviews

[Suzanne Costner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The difference between reading this book and the re-edited version printed in "The Florence King Reader" was like taking a master's class. It taught me more about what to toss out and what to leave in than all of the English classes I have ever taken.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly the funniest book ever written.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loaned to me by my sister Em who said something along the lines of, "This book is perfect and ridiculous and hilarious," and I really can't help but agree!

[Bea Elwood]

Grab your dictionary and settle in for a wild ride. Years before Confedencry of Dunces was written us women had this gem to read.

[Nancy Lockett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was hilarious. Characters are quite liberal and it takes place in the 60's and 70's so be prepared.. but it really made me laugh.

[Kermit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss King herself sent me a paperback copy of the book after I wrote her a fan letter and described the gouging prices of her out-of-print books. This makes two books I own signed by the author.

Another reviewer said reading the original, as well as the re-edited edition for The Florence King Reader, was like a master class in editing, and I agree. The edited version in the reader is much better in every way.

***WARNING

I read King's works in college and my first years out in the world, when I was a different person. She writes very, very well and I love to read and re-read her National Review columns and book reviews, because they are cleaned up for magazine publication. Her books are not. They are crude and crass and the language and descriptions are very shocking.

[Mhwenglinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've only read the version in the Florence King reader, but it's a hoot, for anyone who can remember women's lib, and very possibly for anyone who has ever had a room-mate.