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Eat, Drink, and Be From Mississippi
Truely Noonan is the quintessential Southern boy made good. Like his older sister, Courtney, Truely left behind the slow, sweet life of Mississippi for jet-set San Francisco, where he earned a fortune as an Internet entrepreneur. Courtney and Truely each find happy marriages -- until, as if cursed by success, those marriages start to crumble.
Then their lives are interrupted by an unexpected a troubled teenager named Arnold, garrulous, charming, thuggishly dressed, and determined to move in to their world. Arnold turns their lives upside down, and in the process this unlikely trio becomes the family that each had been searching for. In the best Southern fiction tradition, Kincaid has brought us an inspiring story about finding the way home.
Then their lives are interrupted by an unexpected a troubled teenager named Arnold, garrulous, charming, thuggishly dressed, and determined to move in to their world. Arnold turns their lives upside down, and in the process this unlikely trio becomes the family that each had been searching for. In the best Southern fiction tradition, Kincaid has brought us an inspiring story about finding the way home.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published December 15, 2008
13 people are currently reading
340 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
January 15, 2009
This charming novel doesn't break any new ground, but its affirmation that opening one's heart to another person is the surest way to open our owns was lovely. Long a fan of Nanci Kincaid's novels, most notably Balls and Verbena, I was surprised and delighted to find another fresh voice from her. Some novelists -- even the great ones -- have a recognizable style and pattern that becomes predictable over time, but not Nanci. What a treat!
June 23, 2024
A brother and sister move individually to California from Mississippi. They fall in love and marry. The marriages ended in divorce for both. They both struggled with what they thought were their inadequacies. Their love for each remains strong. So strong, they take in a bold young man, who invites himself into their lives. The young man has been trying to rise above a poor beginning and has been staying off and on with friends. He thrives under tutelage of the brother and sister. A severely injured Iraqi war soldier has been the young man’s friend forever. The story comes to a head with the return of the soldier from the war. I enjoyed this book. I don’t believe Mississippi is the only state that has true family alliances and love.
January 27, 2009
The Hachette Book Group has a fantastic line-up of book releases this year. I just finished Eat, Drink, and Be From Mississippi by Nanci Kincaid. I wanted a book that would lift me up and make me feel more hopeful, and that's exactly what Nanci Kincaid delivers.
We are presented with a family in Mississippi that is very typical of what we might think of as a traditional small town, southern family. By the end of the book, we are witness to the formation of a new family, mostly self-chosen, 3000 miles from Mississippi that personifies the "resurgence of collective possibility".
Family is a funny thing: in the traditional sense, it's an entity created by luck of the draw, people who are tied together by biology, and sometimes grow together and sometimes grow apart. Kincaid explores a new kind of family - one that people choose, either consciously or subconsciously. They fight as much as traditional families, and they also love fiercely. They believe in one another, even in the darkest hours. They are drawn to one another.
Through the whole book, I thought about this idea of having a calling, of being drawn to someone, or something, without any true justification. Could be a career, or a certain city, particular people, or a cause you care about. It overtakes you -- no one tells you that you must dedicate yourself to this person, place, or ideal. You are just compelled to.
This is cause for great hope for all of us. Some of the characters in the book took a good long time to find their calling, others found it very quickly, and others thought they found it and then realized that they actually belonged some place else. It's never too late, or too early, to find our place in the world. And sometimes that place shifts, and the best we can do is know that the Universe knows better than we do. One things is for certain: if you are open to your calling finding you at every turn, then eventually it will.
We are presented with a family in Mississippi that is very typical of what we might think of as a traditional small town, southern family. By the end of the book, we are witness to the formation of a new family, mostly self-chosen, 3000 miles from Mississippi that personifies the "resurgence of collective possibility".
Family is a funny thing: in the traditional sense, it's an entity created by luck of the draw, people who are tied together by biology, and sometimes grow together and sometimes grow apart. Kincaid explores a new kind of family - one that people choose, either consciously or subconsciously. They fight as much as traditional families, and they also love fiercely. They believe in one another, even in the darkest hours. They are drawn to one another.
Through the whole book, I thought about this idea of having a calling, of being drawn to someone, or something, without any true justification. Could be a career, or a certain city, particular people, or a cause you care about. It overtakes you -- no one tells you that you must dedicate yourself to this person, place, or ideal. You are just compelled to.
This is cause for great hope for all of us. Some of the characters in the book took a good long time to find their calling, others found it very quickly, and others thought they found it and then realized that they actually belonged some place else. It's never too late, or too early, to find our place in the world. And sometimes that place shifts, and the best we can do is know that the Universe knows better than we do. One things is for certain: if you are open to your calling finding you at every turn, then eventually it will.
November 9, 2009
When I saw this title at the library, I immediately picked it up since I am from Mississippi. With that said, I'm very torn about this book. I was amused by this book and enjoyed it, and I don't feel like I wasted time in my life reading this book that I would really like to have back. At the same time, I feel kind of ashamed for not hating the book more. It was extremely problematic. The characters were stereotypical - the blacks, the white southerners, the cheaters, the women, the born-agains. In some ways, it seemed like a rip-off of the true story _Blind Side_ about Michael Oher. It also had too many threads going that she seemed unsure of how to tie up, so she just let them kind of dangle and let us draw our own conclusions. I knew she wanted the message to be that family is what we make it, despite blood lines and color. But she never actually said it or demonstrated it. What she instead essentially said was that Mississippi is one giant brain drain and it's a fun place to reminisce about, but not to stay in and be successful. Also, whites can make blacks successful if you just inject enough money into the problem or situation. I did, however, enjoy the mentions of Mississippi in the book, since I could relate to them and know where/what they were talking about.
September 9, 2009
I grabbed this book because I had no fiction on hand and the train was coming. I was a bit leery, both because of the title (a bit too cute) and the way the author spelled her first name. Yes, I judge a book by its cover, it's author's name and its title, along with a host of other things. But 5o pages in, I was hooked and want to read everything Nanci Kincaid has ever written.
The synopsis of the book is a bit off. Don't get impatient because you are pretty far in and the "troubled teenager" hasn't shown up yet; he arrives in the second half of the book. The first half is a leisurely meander though Truley's life, getting him from Mississippi to California and from high school student to successful entrepreneur. After that enjoyable setup we can make room for the troubled teenager.
Every once in awhile I get to read a book with delightful characters. Funny, interesting and flawed, I fall in love with them all. Add to that, the fact that Kincaid has some nice turns of phrase and you can take my recommendation that you sit yourself down with a nice book.
The synopsis of the book is a bit off. Don't get impatient because you are pretty far in and the "troubled teenager" hasn't shown up yet; he arrives in the second half of the book. The first half is a leisurely meander though Truley's life, getting him from Mississippi to California and from high school student to successful entrepreneur. After that enjoyable setup we can make room for the troubled teenager.
Every once in awhile I get to read a book with delightful characters. Funny, interesting and flawed, I fall in love with them all. Add to that, the fact that Kincaid has some nice turns of phrase and you can take my recommendation that you sit yourself down with a nice book.
July 29, 2009
An interesting story of two siblings who leave Mississippi and establish lives on the West Coast. This book was both predictable and surprisingly refreshing at time. Either way, it had me craving a giant mason jar filled with sweet, sugary iced-tea......(with a splash of vodka; of course).
January 11, 2009
I tried for 125 pages to like this book, but I couldn't. I was offended as a Mississippian and could have cared less about the characters.
August 7, 2009
Loved it!
January 24, 2009
Truely Noonan and his older sister, Courtney, were born and raised in Hinds County, Mississippi. They both ended up going to college and settling in California. Courtney marries a very successful real estate developer and Truely marries a teacher who is out to save the world. They are both happy, and while they maintain a relationship, they’re not what you would consider close.
Several years pass, their parents pass away and both of their marriages disintegrate. Courtney turns to plastic surgery and Truely maintains a relationship of convenience with Shauna. Shauna’s brother is injured in Iraq and Truely realizes that she means more to him than he thought. He rushes to be with her, but he’s too late - her old boyfriend is there to be supportive.
Through his contact with Shauna’s family, a young, street-wise black boy named Arnold is thrust upon Truely. Courtney starts coming to help Truely with Arnold and the three of them become a family. They all discover that they must let go of some secrets in their past and move on to the future.
I found Eat, Drink, and Be from Mississippi by Nanci Kincaid to be thoroughly enchanting. Nanci Kincaid does a marvelous job of creating flawed, but lovable characters. This is a book that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it.
Several years pass, their parents pass away and both of their marriages disintegrate. Courtney turns to plastic surgery and Truely maintains a relationship of convenience with Shauna. Shauna’s brother is injured in Iraq and Truely realizes that she means more to him than he thought. He rushes to be with her, but he’s too late - her old boyfriend is there to be supportive.
Through his contact with Shauna’s family, a young, street-wise black boy named Arnold is thrust upon Truely. Courtney starts coming to help Truely with Arnold and the three of them become a family. They all discover that they must let go of some secrets in their past and move on to the future.
I found Eat, Drink, and Be from Mississippi by Nanci Kincaid to be thoroughly enchanting. Nanci Kincaid does a marvelous job of creating flawed, but lovable characters. This is a book that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it.
June 18, 2009
It was the unremarkable story of grown Mississipi siblings Courtney and Truely Noonan, who each after a failed marriage, end up taking in a troubled black youth named Arnold and ostensibly use helping him to heal themselves. It felt stiff, it felt like what people SHOULD do and feel, not what they really do and feel. I thought about stopping halfway through, but persevered after reading a review at Amazon who said it got better when Arnold entered the story (more than halfway through). Not in my opinion, it didn’t.
March 11, 2009
This started out as the story of Truely, who grew up in Mississippi and then moved to California to attend college. I enjoyed the story when it was about Truely, his sister, and his family. However, somewhere in the story the focus shifted to a young street kid, Arnold, who moves in with Truely after his divorce. Arnold's story just didn't seem to fit the "Mississipi" feel of the beginning of the book, and I didn't enjoy the story as much after that.
March 19, 2009
Truely and his older sister Courtney grow up in a small Mississippi town. Courtney, the artistic one, is the first to leave and move to California. After high school, Truely follows suit. I loved their story as they both marry, have problems, etc. and form a wonderful relationship with Arnold, a young Black man, as he tries to better himself and the world around him.
July 20, 2009
A brother and sister from Mississippi end up financially successful in California, but emotionally struggling, until a young black kid from the ghetto manages to infiltrate their hearts and their lives. It's a subtle story of the making of a family.
Quote: "Secrets have a life span and shelf life."
Quote: "Secrets have a life span and shelf life."
October 3, 2008
I was expecting this to be a quirky Southern novel, which would have been fun. But it was actually a compelling (but in no ways didactic) exploration of what happens when Southerners leave the South as well as an exploration of race and class. Great characters, smooth writing.
June 8, 2009
If you enjoy Southern writing pick this one up! Very good. The South (especially Mississippi) will haunt you. Kincaid does an excellent job talking about leaving the South--and what you'll inadvertently carry with you!
July 29, 2009
This would be a great book from my book club for the food ideas! :-)
I was kind of perplexed by the story. At the end you could say there was a moral to the story, I suppose. But it was almost like there were too many strings going on therefore resolution was a bit unsuccessful.
I was kind of perplexed by the story. At the end you could say there was a moral to the story, I suppose. But it was almost like there were too many strings going on therefore resolution was a bit unsuccessful.
January 24, 2009
A well written story that explores family dynamics, unlikely relationships and loyalty. Interesting characters, a quick read. I liked it.
August 17, 2009
The depiction of a brother and sister from Mississippi who move to California certainly rang true, but the writing was a bit amatuerish at times. The main storyline was good, but a bit scattered.
January 28, 2009
I really liked how what the characters learned in their formative years stayed with them for the whole book, which covered about 30 years, but I found the ending to be rather abrupt.
May 19, 2009
A little far-fetched but still a good story.
February 24, 2009
Never really got going. Had a few good moments - but very slow moving.
March 2, 2009
Easy beach read.
March 28, 2009
Kind of corny, but a good story that made me cry a little bit.
May 2, 2009
A fun read, reminded me of a lot of good things about being from the South.
May 29, 2009
Excellent story that pulls you in. I wanted to find out what happened to the characters and what the stories were that each alluded to.
June 9, 2009
This book had very interesting characters but the plot kind of meandered. It has a really nice message about helping out people who are in need.
August 7, 2009
Interesting characters and a fun read!
April 23, 2012
I had a great time reading this book. The characters drew me in and made me care about them. Really nice when folks who have attachment issues overcome them.
August 20, 2009
Didn't get much work done, just wanted to read on...a good story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews