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Reunion Beach: Stories Inspired by Dorothea Benton Frank
In this warm and moving anthology, a group of best-selling authors and writers pay tribute to legendary, larger-than-life 'New York Times' bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank and her literary legacy, capturing her unforgettable spirit, joy, and humor in stories of reunions and love.
When Dorothea Benton Frank died in the fall of 2019, her friends in the literary community were bereft. Her loss was a hole in their lives that could not be filled. Elin Hilderbrand dedicated her most recent novel 28 Summers to Dottie, and other writers paid tribute to her in blogs and on social media. Yet they wanted to do more. Inspired by the title Dorothea Benton Frank planned for her next book - 'REUNION BEACH' - these close friends and colleagues channeled their creativity, admiration, and grief into stories and poems that celebrate this remarkable woman and her abiding love for the lush Lowcountry of her native South Carolina - a land of beauty, history, charm, and gully magic she so brilliantly brought to life in her acclaimed novels.
In the poignant and atmospheric 'Summer of ’79', the beloved characters from Elin Hilderbrand’s 'Summer of ’69' reunite on Nantucket ten years later for a bittersweet family reunion that holds life-changing consequences for them all.
A crisis of the heart reunites five best friends on idyllic Oak Island, where the memories they share and the truths they reveal offer unexpected insights and opportunities in Patti Callahan Henry’s engaging 'The Bridesmaids'.
Mary Alice Monroe weaves past and present in an emotionally powerful and uplifting story of love lost and found, about a birth mother who at long last meets the daughter she gave up in 'Mother and Child Reunion.'
Dorothea Benton Frank and Pat Conroy meet for a heavenly meal amid the divine beauty of the Lowcountry they shared and loved in Adriana Trigiani’s delightful and poignant story - a tribute to two dear friends and bestselling Southern legends.
A television special commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of a Lowcountry chef’s hit cooking show makes for an emotionally rich family reunion in Cassandra King Conroy’s 'Lowcountry Stew,' a blend of food, friendship, and marriage infused with the intoxicating flavor of coastal Carolina.
'REUNION BEACH' features short stories, poems, and essays from the following best-selling authors and writers:
•
#1 'New York Times' best-selling author Elin Hilderbrand
•
'New York Times' best-selling author Mary Alice Monroe
•
'New York Times' best-selling author Patti Callahan Henry
•
'New York Times' best-selling author Adriana Trigiani
•
Cassandra King Conroy, best-selling and award-winning author of 'Tell Me a Story'
•
Nathalie DuPree, author of the James Beard Award-winning cookbook 'Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking and Southern Biscuits'
•
Marjorie Wentworth, former Poet Laureate of South Carolina
Infused with Dorothea Benton Frank’s remarkable spirit, 'REUNION BEACH' is a literary homage and beautiful keepsake that keeps this dearly missed writer’s flame burning bright.
RUNNING TIME => 12hrs.
©2021 HarperCollins Publishers (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers
When Dorothea Benton Frank died in the fall of 2019, her friends in the literary community were bereft. Her loss was a hole in their lives that could not be filled. Elin Hilderbrand dedicated her most recent novel 28 Summers to Dottie, and other writers paid tribute to her in blogs and on social media. Yet they wanted to do more. Inspired by the title Dorothea Benton Frank planned for her next book - 'REUNION BEACH' - these close friends and colleagues channeled their creativity, admiration, and grief into stories and poems that celebrate this remarkable woman and her abiding love for the lush Lowcountry of her native South Carolina - a land of beauty, history, charm, and gully magic she so brilliantly brought to life in her acclaimed novels.
In the poignant and atmospheric 'Summer of ’79', the beloved characters from Elin Hilderbrand’s 'Summer of ’69' reunite on Nantucket ten years later for a bittersweet family reunion that holds life-changing consequences for them all.
A crisis of the heart reunites five best friends on idyllic Oak Island, where the memories they share and the truths they reveal offer unexpected insights and opportunities in Patti Callahan Henry’s engaging 'The Bridesmaids'.
Mary Alice Monroe weaves past and present in an emotionally powerful and uplifting story of love lost and found, about a birth mother who at long last meets the daughter she gave up in 'Mother and Child Reunion.'
Dorothea Benton Frank and Pat Conroy meet for a heavenly meal amid the divine beauty of the Lowcountry they shared and loved in Adriana Trigiani’s delightful and poignant story - a tribute to two dear friends and bestselling Southern legends.
A television special commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of a Lowcountry chef’s hit cooking show makes for an emotionally rich family reunion in Cassandra King Conroy’s 'Lowcountry Stew,' a blend of food, friendship, and marriage infused with the intoxicating flavor of coastal Carolina.
'REUNION BEACH' features short stories, poems, and essays from the following best-selling authors and writers:
•
#1 'New York Times' best-selling author Elin Hilderbrand
•
'New York Times' best-selling author Mary Alice Monroe
•
'New York Times' best-selling author Patti Callahan Henry
•
'New York Times' best-selling author Adriana Trigiani
•
Cassandra King Conroy, best-selling and award-winning author of 'Tell Me a Story'
•
Nathalie DuPree, author of the James Beard Award-winning cookbook 'Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking and Southern Biscuits'
•
Marjorie Wentworth, former Poet Laureate of South Carolina
Infused with Dorothea Benton Frank’s remarkable spirit, 'REUNION BEACH' is a literary homage and beautiful keepsake that keeps this dearly missed writer’s flame burning bright.
RUNNING TIME => 12hrs.
©2021 HarperCollins Publishers (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers
Audible Audio
First published April 27, 2021
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About the author
Elin Hilderbrand
94 books61.4k followersElin Hilderbrand lives on Nantucket with her husband and their three young children. She grew up in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and traveled extensively before settling on Nantucket, which has been the setting for her five previous novels. Hilderbrand is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the graduate fiction workshop at the University of Iowa.
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February 19, 2021
When Dorothea Benton Frank passed away in 2019, her death rocked our world as writers and readers. And her departure left us wanting to do something special to pay tribute to Dottie's life and her legacy. REUNION BEACH is a beautiful anthology that captures her unforgettable spirit, joy, and humor in stories of reunions and love. It features short stories from me, Elin Hilderbrand, Patti Callahan Henry, Adriana Trigiani, and Cassandra King, recipes from Nathalie Dupree, a poem by Marjory Wentworth-- poet laureate of South Carolina, and other wonderful friends and family.
REUNION BEACH is the title of the next book Dottie had planned to write. Today, it's a literary homage and beautiful keepsake to the writer we all loved so much.
REUNION BEACH is the title of the next book Dottie had planned to write. Today, it's a literary homage and beautiful keepsake to the writer we all loved so much.
May 8, 2021
Audiobook....11 hours and 47 minutes....
....stories inspired by Dorothea Benton Frank....
by Elin Hilderbrand, Adriana Trigiani, Patti Callahan Henry, Cassandra King, Natalie Dupree, Marjory Wentworth, and Mary Alice Monroe....
narrated by Susan Bennett
CONFESSION....
I haven’t read any of *Dorothea Benton Frank’s* books.
And...I’ve only read one book by Erin Hilderbrand.....and no books by any of these other bestselling authors.
I chose to read this (listen to the audiobook), out of love&friendship with my friend (sister-type friend), Toni.
TONI....not sure what I’m going to write here — but whatever it is ....however it comes out — winging it from the hip— I dedicate this review to YOU....with my deepest love ....treasuring ‘you’....treasuring ‘us’.
I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE WOMAN & AUTHOR Dorothea Benton Frank. ( friends, fans, and family called her Dot or Dottie)...
For a woman I never knew, never read, ......I feel privileged to have been invited to THIS PARTY CELEBRATION of her life, her stories, and the joy of meeting her friends, her tribe, her writing buddies, her family, her husband, best friends, and fans. I truthfully feel honored to have been a guest —
Dottie, I miss you too ....I may never have met you, read you, ( until now: I loved your sections in this book)....
but in just 11 hours and 46 minutes.....you taught me the value of laugher, happiness, ( the color ‘red’ )....How did you know it was my favorite color?....
you taught me the value of true friendships....the joy of CELEBRATIONS....and taking it upon yourself to to do whatever it took to make sure people were happy, that people were having fun no matter what they were doing— you lifted people’s spirits.....PEOPLE MATTERED TO YOU.....[I can relate so deeply]....but Dottie....you were REMARKABLE....(I don’t know how you did all that you did....but HOT DAMN your SUPER-BEING HUMANITY had me in tears.
I’m sad for all my own flaws....for losing friends ( whom I still think about and miss)....because I made thoughtless mistakes... I was too harsh, too opinionated, wrong, too rude, too righteous.....( perhaps threatened but that’s no excuse)....
I too value people with all my heart —-but at times I put my foot in my mouth and mess things up.....( it’s rare if I’m fully forgiven- but if I am- I’m thankful more than anyone knows)....
Dottie.....
you saw an element missing in life — THE VALUE of TRUE JOY— you found ways to have joy & happiness as a LIFE PURPOSE ....SO AS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE in others lives!!!
I don’t think ( until now- this book - 68 years old/ 69 later this month)....the POWERFUL UPLIFTING ‘choice’ lightness 'is' over darkness....(Choosing and creating lightness)
And I’m clear — you were no pushover—and happiness was not a panacea to you...
YOU WERE A VERY WISE WOMAN....
sure you saw all the meanness- ugliness - grief - injustice in life - you’d talk authentically and honestly with your friends and family about all these things....... but meanness and ugliness was not where you lived....
A few sentences that struck a cord with me:
“Good manners are the moisturizers of life”
“How do you know when it’s time to stop changing the world, and start writing?”
“It’s more important for dialogue to ring true then be grammatically correct”
“When you’re at peace, you see everything differently”.
“Getting sick is not worth the time, it keeps you from doing the things you wanna do”.
I BELIEVE FULLY WHAT YOUR DAUGHTER, *Victoria*, SAID ABOUT YOU....
“She turned humor into an art form and taught the world how to laugh”
“Mom was at heart a teacher and storyteller”
“When mom was in your corner, you couldn’t lose”.
“People mattered to mom. She could take a random person and speak to them for 30 seconds and make them her best friend. I think that’s why she was so successful as a writer”
“In this warm and moving anthology, a group of best-selling authos and writers pay tribute to legendary, larger-than-life New York Times best-selling Dorothea Benton Frank and her literary legacy”
AMEN! Beautiful!
....stories, essays, and poems...( set in Lowcountry of South Carolina), conflicts, arguments and resolution, marriages, divorce, more marriages, illnesses, deaths, friendships, and colleagues, food, recipes, wine, beach pleasures, fashion, aesthetic beautiful things, ( saying goodbye to those things no longer needed), awesome friendship bonding, (always with great food and drinks, sometimes a little weed), tidbits about her books, writing, and the business of the book world, and downright heartwarming vibrancy!
This novel’s achievement is pretty special to many people....
It delights, it’s hilarious, and deeply affecting.
....stories inspired by Dorothea Benton Frank....
by Elin Hilderbrand, Adriana Trigiani, Patti Callahan Henry, Cassandra King, Natalie Dupree, Marjory Wentworth, and Mary Alice Monroe....
narrated by Susan Bennett
CONFESSION....
I haven’t read any of *Dorothea Benton Frank’s* books.
And...I’ve only read one book by Erin Hilderbrand.....and no books by any of these other bestselling authors.
I chose to read this (listen to the audiobook), out of love&friendship with my friend (sister-type friend), Toni.
TONI....not sure what I’m going to write here — but whatever it is ....however it comes out — winging it from the hip— I dedicate this review to YOU....with my deepest love ....treasuring ‘you’....treasuring ‘us’.
I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE WOMAN & AUTHOR Dorothea Benton Frank. ( friends, fans, and family called her Dot or Dottie)...
For a woman I never knew, never read, ......I feel privileged to have been invited to THIS PARTY CELEBRATION of her life, her stories, and the joy of meeting her friends, her tribe, her writing buddies, her family, her husband, best friends, and fans. I truthfully feel honored to have been a guest —
Dottie, I miss you too ....I may never have met you, read you, ( until now: I loved your sections in this book)....
but in just 11 hours and 46 minutes.....you taught me the value of laugher, happiness, ( the color ‘red’ )....How did you know it was my favorite color?....
you taught me the value of true friendships....the joy of CELEBRATIONS....and taking it upon yourself to to do whatever it took to make sure people were happy, that people were having fun no matter what they were doing— you lifted people’s spirits.....PEOPLE MATTERED TO YOU.....[I can relate so deeply]....but Dottie....you were REMARKABLE....(I don’t know how you did all that you did....but HOT DAMN your SUPER-BEING HUMANITY had me in tears.
I’m sad for all my own flaws....for losing friends ( whom I still think about and miss)....because I made thoughtless mistakes... I was too harsh, too opinionated, wrong, too rude, too righteous.....( perhaps threatened but that’s no excuse)....
I too value people with all my heart —-but at times I put my foot in my mouth and mess things up.....( it’s rare if I’m fully forgiven- but if I am- I’m thankful more than anyone knows)....
Dottie.....
you saw an element missing in life — THE VALUE of TRUE JOY— you found ways to have joy & happiness as a LIFE PURPOSE ....SO AS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE in others lives!!!
I don’t think ( until now- this book - 68 years old/ 69 later this month)....the POWERFUL UPLIFTING ‘choice’ lightness 'is' over darkness....(Choosing and creating lightness)
And I’m clear — you were no pushover—and happiness was not a panacea to you...
YOU WERE A VERY WISE WOMAN....
sure you saw all the meanness- ugliness - grief - injustice in life - you’d talk authentically and honestly with your friends and family about all these things....... but meanness and ugliness was not where you lived....
A few sentences that struck a cord with me:
“Good manners are the moisturizers of life”
“How do you know when it’s time to stop changing the world, and start writing?”
“It’s more important for dialogue to ring true then be grammatically correct”
“When you’re at peace, you see everything differently”.
“Getting sick is not worth the time, it keeps you from doing the things you wanna do”.
I BELIEVE FULLY WHAT YOUR DAUGHTER, *Victoria*, SAID ABOUT YOU....
“She turned humor into an art form and taught the world how to laugh”
“Mom was at heart a teacher and storyteller”
“When mom was in your corner, you couldn’t lose”.
“People mattered to mom. She could take a random person and speak to them for 30 seconds and make them her best friend. I think that’s why she was so successful as a writer”
“In this warm and moving anthology, a group of best-selling authos and writers pay tribute to legendary, larger-than-life New York Times best-selling Dorothea Benton Frank and her literary legacy”
AMEN! Beautiful!
....stories, essays, and poems...( set in Lowcountry of South Carolina), conflicts, arguments and resolution, marriages, divorce, more marriages, illnesses, deaths, friendships, and colleagues, food, recipes, wine, beach pleasures, fashion, aesthetic beautiful things, ( saying goodbye to those things no longer needed), awesome friendship bonding, (always with great food and drinks, sometimes a little weed), tidbits about her books, writing, and the business of the book world, and downright heartwarming vibrancy!
This novel’s achievement is pretty special to many people....
It delights, it’s hilarious, and deeply affecting.
June 7, 2021
Review to be posted on blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
“Reunion Beach”: Stories Inspired by Dorothea Benton Frank.
I admit to knowing little about Dorothea Benton Frank before listening to this anthology. While listening to this beautiful anthology, however, I learned that she was a great woman and that she was loved and adored.
I originally chose to listen to this because it included a sequel to “Summer of ‘69” by Elin Hilderbrand: specifically, “Summer of ‘79” with the characters of Blair, Kirby, Tiger, and Jessie (fka Messy), however, other stories in this collection drew me in, in a way that I did not anticipate.
While I loved “Summer of ‘79”, and catching up with old friends, my favorite story in this collection by far was “Postcards from Heaven” by Adriana Trigiani, which included postcards sent from the late Pat Conroy to Dorothea Benton Frank, “PC” to “DBF.” To say that I was swept away by their magic does not give these postcards the credit they deserve. The sheer ingenuity of this premise astounded me. The fact that I adored Pat Conroy and loved his novels, might have something to do with the fact that I loved the notes he sent to his dear friend, however, they made me laugh, smile, and yes, shed a tear or two. Adriana Trigiani, thank you for capturing my heart!
Catching a glimpse of old friends in “Summer of 79” was a blast. Seeing Jessie all grown up threw me for a loop! Kirby hasn’t changed a bit and that is why I adored these characters and was happy as a clam to find out what they were up to 10 years later. My only regret? I wish this short story had been made into a full-length book as I couldn’t get enough of these characters! Perhaps that'll be in the works one day?! A girl can hope.
I also adored “Peter’s Speech at the Celebration of Life for Dottie.”
This is an anthology I won’t soon forget and one I recommend to all.
3.65 Stars
Thank you to my local library for loaning me a copy of the audiobook.
Published on Goodreads, Instagram and Twitter.
“Reunion Beach”: Stories Inspired by Dorothea Benton Frank.
I admit to knowing little about Dorothea Benton Frank before listening to this anthology. While listening to this beautiful anthology, however, I learned that she was a great woman and that she was loved and adored.
I originally chose to listen to this because it included a sequel to “Summer of ‘69” by Elin Hilderbrand: specifically, “Summer of ‘79” with the characters of Blair, Kirby, Tiger, and Jessie (fka Messy), however, other stories in this collection drew me in, in a way that I did not anticipate.
While I loved “Summer of ‘79”, and catching up with old friends, my favorite story in this collection by far was “Postcards from Heaven” by Adriana Trigiani, which included postcards sent from the late Pat Conroy to Dorothea Benton Frank, “PC” to “DBF.” To say that I was swept away by their magic does not give these postcards the credit they deserve. The sheer ingenuity of this premise astounded me. The fact that I adored Pat Conroy and loved his novels, might have something to do with the fact that I loved the notes he sent to his dear friend, however, they made me laugh, smile, and yes, shed a tear or two. Adriana Trigiani, thank you for capturing my heart!
Catching a glimpse of old friends in “Summer of 79” was a blast. Seeing Jessie all grown up threw me for a loop! Kirby hasn’t changed a bit and that is why I adored these characters and was happy as a clam to find out what they were up to 10 years later. My only regret? I wish this short story had been made into a full-length book as I couldn’t get enough of these characters! Perhaps that'll be in the works one day?! A girl can hope.
I also adored “Peter’s Speech at the Celebration of Life for Dottie.”
This is an anthology I won’t soon forget and one I recommend to all.
3.65 Stars
Thank you to my local library for loaning me a copy of the audiobook.
Published on Goodreads, Instagram and Twitter.
April 19, 2021
Reunion Beach was originally going to be the title of Dorothea Benton Frank’s next new novel, inspired as she was by attending her fiftieth high school reunion in 2018. Shockingly, Dottie (as all her friends and fans knew her) was diagnosed with a rare blood disease around July 4th, 2019 and passed away September 9th, 2019. Dottie was beloved by just about everyone who knew her, fans, friends, professionals in the book and publishing world, and naturally, her family. So, her close author friends decided to complete that book in her honor with this beautiful anthology. This ‘Reunion Beach’ is a tribute to Dottie as her friends remember her with stories, poems, essays and even recipes.
Dottie was the ultimate Southern Hostess, having grown up in South Carolina, and threw the best holiday and birthday parties known anywhere. She was outgoing, funny, friendly, and always ready to lend a helping hand without even being asked, she just knew what, where and when. Carrie Fenton, her longtime Editor, states the facts in her Introduction to this book, but she also tells us what fun she and Dottie had working together. One item that I love and must note here, is two life rules Dottie had:
1. If you are ever choosing between two pairs of shoes, pick the red ones.
2. Remember to Sparkle.
The list of contributors is too long to name each one in this review so be sure to read the Summary. But a few you will recognize are Elin Hilderbrand, Mary Alice Moore, Natalie Dupree, Mary Norris, and Adriana Trigiani, etc., including her husband Peter, her daughter, Victoria, and son William. Each person includes a story, essay, letter, etc. as a tribute to Dottie, in their own heartfelt style.
My personal favorite is the section by author, Adriana Trigiani, and in particular, the “Postcards from Heaven” which she writes as if they were from her dear friend, Pat Conroy, fellow South Carolinian and author, who passed away on March 4th, 2016. As Adriana writes, ‘he kept in touch in his own style’ with sixteen letters or postcards from heaven. Let me tell you, these are perfection! They are funny, tearful, nostalgic, snarky, sad, and realistic. To me, they say it all from friend to friend. Adriana continues with imaging how Dottie would react to entering heaven and seeing Pat Conroy again and what their conversation would be like. You do not want to miss this.
There is so much more I want to tell you, but you must read this for yourself. Even if you never read a Dorothea Benton Frank book, (I bet you will now!) or have only read one, you will still want to read this lovely book. Did I mention recipes, for food and drinks! Natalie Dupree has written several cookbooks! Anyway, I highly recommend it.
Thank you Netgalley, William Morrow Books and All the Authors from Reunion Beach
Dottie was the ultimate Southern Hostess, having grown up in South Carolina, and threw the best holiday and birthday parties known anywhere. She was outgoing, funny, friendly, and always ready to lend a helping hand without even being asked, she just knew what, where and when. Carrie Fenton, her longtime Editor, states the facts in her Introduction to this book, but she also tells us what fun she and Dottie had working together. One item that I love and must note here, is two life rules Dottie had:
1. If you are ever choosing between two pairs of shoes, pick the red ones.
2. Remember to Sparkle.
The list of contributors is too long to name each one in this review so be sure to read the Summary. But a few you will recognize are Elin Hilderbrand, Mary Alice Moore, Natalie Dupree, Mary Norris, and Adriana Trigiani, etc., including her husband Peter, her daughter, Victoria, and son William. Each person includes a story, essay, letter, etc. as a tribute to Dottie, in their own heartfelt style.
My personal favorite is the section by author, Adriana Trigiani, and in particular, the “Postcards from Heaven” which she writes as if they were from her dear friend, Pat Conroy, fellow South Carolinian and author, who passed away on March 4th, 2016. As Adriana writes, ‘he kept in touch in his own style’ with sixteen letters or postcards from heaven. Let me tell you, these are perfection! They are funny, tearful, nostalgic, snarky, sad, and realistic. To me, they say it all from friend to friend. Adriana continues with imaging how Dottie would react to entering heaven and seeing Pat Conroy again and what their conversation would be like. You do not want to miss this.
There is so much more I want to tell you, but you must read this for yourself. Even if you never read a Dorothea Benton Frank book, (I bet you will now!) or have only read one, you will still want to read this lovely book. Did I mention recipes, for food and drinks! Natalie Dupree has written several cookbooks! Anyway, I highly recommend it.
Thank you Netgalley, William Morrow Books and All the Authors from Reunion Beach
May 9, 2021
I was a little underwhelmed by this book. While it had some good stories, I was disappointed that Elin Hildrebrand’s contribution had already been published. I struggled to get through the whole book.
May 6, 2021
If you are a fan of Dorothea Benton Frank, REUNION BEACH a must-listen/read! Also, Susan Bennett is award-winning! I adore her and one of my favorite narrators.
I miss DOT so much, her books, humor, entertainment, sass, and tales of the Lowcountry. She was bigger than life. I always looked forward to her fab beach reads. You can imagine her smiling at this book and laughing out loud.
I also ordered the hardcover. A perfect gift for Mother's day and book clubs. The stories are nostalgic, funny, and sassy like the author and the food and wine will make your mouth water. I could actually listen to Patti Callahan and Mary Alice Monroe's stories for an entire book. The "Postcards from Heaven" was a nice touch and laugh out loud hilarious.
This collection is a treasured gift and grateful to all the authors for this beautiful tribute to this beloved author. Highly recommend!
My favorite stories:
"The Bridesmaids" by Patti Callahan
"Postcards from Heaven" by Adriana Trigiani
"Mother and Child Reunion by Mary Alice Monroe
Introduction by Victoria Benton Frank (her daughter)
Peter's Speech at the Celebration of LIfe for Dottie (husband)
Afterword by William Frank (son)
"Essays by Dorothea Benton Frank"
Included with the audiobook, you get a PDF (download) with all the delicious recipes mentioned and other enhancements! Well done. A classic. Highly recommend!
#JDCMustReadBooks
I miss DOT so much, her books, humor, entertainment, sass, and tales of the Lowcountry. She was bigger than life. I always looked forward to her fab beach reads. You can imagine her smiling at this book and laughing out loud.
I also ordered the hardcover. A perfect gift for Mother's day and book clubs. The stories are nostalgic, funny, and sassy like the author and the food and wine will make your mouth water. I could actually listen to Patti Callahan and Mary Alice Monroe's stories for an entire book. The "Postcards from Heaven" was a nice touch and laugh out loud hilarious.
This collection is a treasured gift and grateful to all the authors for this beautiful tribute to this beloved author. Highly recommend!
My favorite stories:
"The Bridesmaids" by Patti Callahan
"Postcards from Heaven" by Adriana Trigiani
"Mother and Child Reunion by Mary Alice Monroe
Introduction by Victoria Benton Frank (her daughter)
Peter's Speech at the Celebration of LIfe for Dottie (husband)
Afterword by William Frank (son)
"Essays by Dorothea Benton Frank"
Included with the audiobook, you get a PDF (download) with all the delicious recipes mentioned and other enhancements! Well done. A classic. Highly recommend!
#JDCMustReadBooks
May 10, 2021
Reunion Beach is a beautiful tribute to Dorothea Benton Frank filled with lovely short stories and essays from her friends and family. While it does fill slightly disjointed, the stories aren’t connected, it is a world class tribute to one lovely lady, and all of the writing is as beautiful as ever. I throughly enjoyed the stories!
May 5, 2021
I’ve only read one book by Dorothea Benton Frank and it was a short Christmas themed book (The Christmas Pearl). I gave that book a 5 star rating so I have no good reason as to why I haven’t explored her other books, especially since I like the setting of the Lowcountry in South Carolina so much in books by other authors. I have, however, read multiple books by four of the authors who contributed to this anthology so I enjoyed it very much. And I’m inspired to start reading DBF’s backlist and also some books by one of the other contributing authors who was familiar to me but I’d never read. RIP to a beloved Southern writer.
July 8, 2021
Reunion Beach is a tribute to Dorothea Benton Frank written by various friends and family. It is short stories and essays, some better than others. I am not a fan of short stories and normally avoid them, except I rather liked Dorothea Benton Frank's books. I know or knew nothing about her personally, but am sorry for her family and friends' loss.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
3 stars
Happy Reading!
April 30, 2021
This book is a tiny treasure that I will cherish for a long time!
I hope to one day have friends and family love me the way they have loved Dorothea Benton Frank.
Reunion Beach is a tribute to the late Dorothea Benton Frank. In this book are memories and stories told about times with DBF, or how they met her. This book also includes many short stories from some wonderful authors that I typically do not read (but I can assure you these authors are now on my TBR list!). I especially loved ‘Postcards From Heaven’ by Adriana Trigiani.
In addition to the wonderful stories throughout this book, there are also recipes that are shared. In fact, I really want to make some cornbread after reading this.
If you are a fan of Dorothea Benton Frank, you will want to get yourself a copy of this beautiful book. The authors all did a wonderful job, and I am so glad that I had the pleasure of reading this anthology.
I would like to thank Goodreads and HarperCollins/William Morrow for an ARC of this book.
I hope to one day have friends and family love me the way they have loved Dorothea Benton Frank.
Reunion Beach is a tribute to the late Dorothea Benton Frank. In this book are memories and stories told about times with DBF, or how they met her. This book also includes many short stories from some wonderful authors that I typically do not read (but I can assure you these authors are now on my TBR list!). I especially loved ‘Postcards From Heaven’ by Adriana Trigiani.
In addition to the wonderful stories throughout this book, there are also recipes that are shared. In fact, I really want to make some cornbread after reading this.
If you are a fan of Dorothea Benton Frank, you will want to get yourself a copy of this beautiful book. The authors all did a wonderful job, and I am so glad that I had the pleasure of reading this anthology.
I would like to thank Goodreads and HarperCollins/William Morrow for an ARC of this book.
May 11, 2021
I wanted to love this book and I did love parts of it. I loved a couple of the stories and enjoyed the letters to readers from "Dottie". I did however find myself skimming through a lot of the book anxious to get to my next good read.
May 9, 2021
When Dorothea Benton Frank died at 67 years of ages in September, 2019. she left behind not only her family and many wonderful friends but also millions of loyal fans. We enjoyed her books set in the lowcountry of South Carolina and featuring strong women characters of all ages. She was planning her next book when she died and the title was Reunion Beach. A group of authors who loved her decided to put together a book in memory of her with the same title. This book features short stories from some of the best Southern authors writing today as well as remembrances from her editor, her son and daughter and husband. Before each story, each author shares a memory of Dottie and this entire book shares their memory of her sprit, her love of her family and friends and the literary legacy that she has left behind. If you haven't read her books, she left behind 20 memorable novels. I can't recommend a book for you because I loved them all! Reunion Beach is a beautiful memorial to a fantastic woman and writer who helped to bring the lowcountry alive for her readers.
April 30, 2021
I bought this book only to read Hilderbrand's novella Summer of '79. As with all of her books I flew through it. It was so worth getting this book.
You will really be glad you read it.
You will really be glad you read it.
May 2, 2021
Must read for fans of southern authors.
May 2, 2021
Such a lovely tribute to a such a wonderful author and woman. As a fan, I miss Dorothea BF soooo much! Be at peace, Sistah…y’heah?! <3
May 3, 2021
Very disappointing. The book is a series of essays by Frank’s author friends but there doesn’t seem to be any connection or flow. It spoils the memories of her books I so loved.
May 3, 2021
Review to follow!
May 9, 2021
I really enjoyed this book and all of the stories. All of them paid tribute to Dorothea Benton Frank. This is a VERY GOOD READ. The first time I met here, you were not a stranger to her she made you feel like someone she had known for a long time. This book so concentrates on that. A MUST READ if you enjoyed her books.
April 29, 2021
This anthology about Dorothea Benton Frank (Dottie) and was written by many bestselling authors, including Adriana Trigiani and Elin Hilderbrand. It was a tribute to Dottie because of her untimely and sudden death. Dottie was a huge bestseller since "Queen Bee" rocketed to number two in the charts. "Reunion Beach" features letters, short stories, poems, and essays written by Dottie's friends and her editor. It also includes her son and daughter's essays and a piece from her husband, Peter.
"Reunion Beach" moved me so profoundly. I didn't know Dottie, but I felt I could recognize her on the street after reading this book. The author's collectively painted an intimate portrait of Dottie. This story was a memorial service in a book and was such a tribute to her life.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/adr...
"Reunion Beach" moved me so profoundly. I didn't know Dottie, but I felt I could recognize her on the street after reading this book. The author's collectively painted an intimate portrait of Dottie. This story was a memorial service in a book and was such a tribute to her life.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/adr...
March 5, 2021
This book is a tribute to Dorothea Benton Frank, an author who wrote about family, relationships and the Lowcountry. I have never been there, but her books made me feel as if I have. This one has several short stories and a few memoirs written by her friends. From what they all write, Dottie was an amazing woman! The short stories are all beach reads and the memoirs are sweet stories (mostly) about meeting Dotty or time spent. If you're a fan of Dottie or of any of the contributing authors I highly recommend this book - its a lovely tribute to someone I wish I had met. Thank you Netgalley!
July 29, 2022
What a beautiful tribute to one great writer and lady. Dorothea Benton Frank introduced me to the low country through Sullivan's Island and I never stopped reading her books until unfortunately there were no more. When I finally got to visit the low country it was everything she said it would be. This is a wonderful tribute to her. Short fiction stories, essays. My favorite was Low Country Stew. That one made me chuckle.
January 29, 2021
This book is a celebration of Dorothea Benton Frank by author's that called her friend. Through reminiscences of their friendship and original works inspired by Dorothea Benton Frank's writing a collection of author's contribute to this celebration of the beloved author.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc for my honest review.
April 29, 2021
This is a beautiful tribute to Dorothea Benton Frank. Such an moving collection of short stories, essays, poems, and even recipes - all the warm feelings! Very nicely done!
Thank you to William Morrow and Goodreads for the opportunity of reading the advance reader copy of this anthology. Delightful and I highly recommend!
Thank you to William Morrow and Goodreads for the opportunity of reading the advance reader copy of this anthology. Delightful and I highly recommend!
May 18, 2021
Every story, every recipe, every memory, all just as exquisite as the last. A fitting tribute to a true Lowcountry queen. You’ll laugh and cry in equal measure but when you get to “Postcards from Heaven,” all bets are off. Just call out sick and grab an extra box of tissues. I think DBF would wholeheartedly approve and I certainly wish she could still be here to do just that.
May 7, 2021
Didn't enjoy this that much. I'm not a huge fan of short stories or the authors that were included in the book. I would have rather read a whole book of people talking about Dorothea and retelling stories involving her.
July 5, 2021
Wonderful tribute to Dorothea Benton Frank by some of my favorite authors.
November 29, 2024
This collection of short stories, recipes and essays is written with love for the now deceased Dorothea Benton Frank. I think the essays and the notes from her children were probably the best at highlighting what an extraordinary woman she was.
I selected this because I wanted to read the short story "Summer of 79" from Elin Hilderbrand. It was a good story. Some of the other stories I skimmed. I feel the attraction to the collection would be the love and respect all in the collection had for Dorothea. As this is a short story collection I will rate the stories separately and say a little about each.
Bridesmaids by Patti Callahan Henry. 4 stars
Beatrice has a proposal from the man she loves for a second time but her thoughts of doubt immediately send up a distress call to her three best friends. It might be years since they've needed each other but Victoria, Rose, and Daisy hear her call. As they reunite, important lessons about life and love will take place.
Personally, the strongest of the stories in the collection. It might have only six chapters and an epilogue but Henry delivered such a tight plot that it felt like a full length novel.
Summer of 79 by Elin Hilderbrand. 3.5 stars
It's essential to have read Hiderbrand's full length novel Summer of 69 to fully appreciate the update on how Kate Levin and her grown children-Jessie, Kirby, Blair, and Tiger gather for the funeral of Exalta, grandmother and matriarch of the family. Plenty of heartache and life lessons in this tale but it had enough plot to keep me interested.
Postcards from Heaven by Adriana Trigani 1 star.
The whole premise of this is that author Pat Conroy, who died in 2016 is writing postcards from heaven to his friend Dorothea Benton Frank until they are reunited in 2019.
It was weird and after reading a few I skipped ahead. It just wasn't for me.
Mother and Child Reunion by Mary Alice Monroe. 2 stars
Two women- Elinor and Kristina prepare for a momentous occasion- that of birth mother and the child she gave up for adoption years ago. Both women have encountered many hardships and the story is told from both points of view. It was an okay story but I have never really been grabbed by the author's work.
Lowcountry Stew by Cassandra King Conroy Dnf'd Nellie Bee and sister-woman is all that sticks out to me.😂
Essays 5 stars
Peter's Speech at the Celebration of Life Ceremony
Introduction by Victoria Benton Frank(daughter of author)
Dottie and Me by Mary Norris
Making a Friendship by Jacqueline Bouvier Lee
Dottie:The Sparkling Comet by Gervais Hagerty
Essays and Poetry by Marjory Wentworth (fans of Dorothea Benton Frank will recognize poems that were in her books.)
Essays and Recipes by Nathalie Dupree
Essays by Dorothea Benton Frank
Afterword:Understanding My Mom by William Frank
Goodreads review published 17/11/24
I selected this because I wanted to read the short story "Summer of 79" from Elin Hilderbrand. It was a good story. Some of the other stories I skimmed. I feel the attraction to the collection would be the love and respect all in the collection had for Dorothea. As this is a short story collection I will rate the stories separately and say a little about each.
Bridesmaids by Patti Callahan Henry. 4 stars
Beatrice has a proposal from the man she loves for a second time but her thoughts of doubt immediately send up a distress call to her three best friends. It might be years since they've needed each other but Victoria, Rose, and Daisy hear her call. As they reunite, important lessons about life and love will take place.
Personally, the strongest of the stories in the collection. It might have only six chapters and an epilogue but Henry delivered such a tight plot that it felt like a full length novel.
Summer of 79 by Elin Hilderbrand. 3.5 stars
It's essential to have read Hiderbrand's full length novel Summer of 69 to fully appreciate the update on how Kate Levin and her grown children-Jessie, Kirby, Blair, and Tiger gather for the funeral of Exalta, grandmother and matriarch of the family. Plenty of heartache and life lessons in this tale but it had enough plot to keep me interested.
Postcards from Heaven by Adriana Trigani 1 star.
The whole premise of this is that author Pat Conroy, who died in 2016 is writing postcards from heaven to his friend Dorothea Benton Frank until they are reunited in 2019.
It was weird and after reading a few I skipped ahead. It just wasn't for me.
Mother and Child Reunion by Mary Alice Monroe. 2 stars
Two women- Elinor and Kristina prepare for a momentous occasion- that of birth mother and the child she gave up for adoption years ago. Both women have encountered many hardships and the story is told from both points of view. It was an okay story but I have never really been grabbed by the author's work.
Lowcountry Stew by Cassandra King Conroy Dnf'd Nellie Bee and sister-woman is all that sticks out to me.😂
Essays 5 stars
Peter's Speech at the Celebration of Life Ceremony
Introduction by Victoria Benton Frank(daughter of author)
Dottie and Me by Mary Norris
Making a Friendship by Jacqueline Bouvier Lee
Dottie:The Sparkling Comet by Gervais Hagerty
Essays and Poetry by Marjory Wentworth (fans of Dorothea Benton Frank will recognize poems that were in her books.)
Essays and Recipes by Nathalie Dupree
Essays by Dorothea Benton Frank
Afterword:Understanding My Mom by William Frank
Goodreads review published 17/11/24
May 12, 2021
If you have loved reading Dorothea Benton Frank’s books, you will like this. This is a collection of short stories, poems, essays, recipes and remembrances that are a love letter to Ms Frank, or Dottie as they lovingly called her. She sounds like a person we all wish we knew.
So, why only three stars? Well, I’m not a fan of short stories. I found that I wanted more. I actually enjoyed the essays or notes from Dottie to her fans the most. I just wish it was Dottie’s newest book...the one she never got the chance to write. Oh, how I will miss waiting to get her latest every summer!
So, why only three stars? Well, I’m not a fan of short stories. I found that I wanted more. I actually enjoyed the essays or notes from Dottie to her fans the most. I just wish it was Dottie’s newest book...the one she never got the chance to write. Oh, how I will miss waiting to get her latest every summer!
November 30, 2021
WOW! This won't be a 5 star read for everyone...but when you have authors like Mary Alice Monroe, Cassandra King Conroy, Elin Hildebrand, Adriana Trigiani, Nathalie Dupree and of course Dorothea Benton Frank herself contributing to the book (in honor of DBF), for me, that is the creme de la creme of the elite group of Southern women writers. Strong, independent ladies who can weave stories that for the most part are front and center in the magical land of the Lowcountry. Add into that references to Pat Conroy, recipes, poems and intertwining of all made for an absolutely fantastic read, especially when I had some down time the past two days.
I won't get into all of the specifics, but I will highlight some of my favorite parts. First of all, the introduction written by Dorothea's daughter Victoria is absolutely amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed "Bridesmaids" by Patti Callahan, an author I'm not familiar with and have already added a book of two of hers to my TBR list. Loved that the story is not just a one chapter story - but spans several - so we can see further development of the characters and storyline.
Elin's short story was NOT my favorite but was still an enjoyable read. Her works seem to be hit or miss for me - LOVED Summer of '69 but HATED The Identicals. Her list of what she has written is long, so there are many more that I will be reading over the years.
By far, my favorite was "Postcards from Heaven" by Adriana Trigiani. Again, another author I've heard of but not really read anything by her. Let's just say that these are postcards coming from PAT CONROY from heaven addressed to Dorothea, especially near the time of her death, and it was so poignant and made me want even more to spend just one day with these incredible authors.
Mary Alice Monroe never disappoints, and "Mother and Child Reunion" was another example of her fine writing. "Lowcountry Stew" that follows by Cassandra King Conroy another fantastic story that once again intertwines the authors.
The next few were delightful, authors new to me, including Mary Norris, Jacqueline Bouvier Lee, Gervais Hagerty and Marjory Wentworth. Then we are treated to essays and recipes by Nathalie Dupree who I have intermittently read. My favorite part of her is the fact that one of Anne Rivers Siddons' characters in Hill Towns is loosely based on her. She didn't seem too thrilled about that, but I would be honored to be included in any way, shape or form in an ARS book. And of course with her being a James Beard award winner and author of many cookbooks, she appeals even more to my "foodie" side.
The final part of the book included some essays written by Dorothea Benton Frank. I was not aware that she was planning on Reunion Beach as the title of her final book. The first book I ever read by DBF was Sullivan's Island, and I absolutely plan on a re-read of that in the near future. I believe it had some "follow up" books to it as well which I plan to re-read, and I have never fully explored her library of works, so whenever a lighter beach read is needed (to follow heavy/scary ones) I'll be sure to look her up.
I don't often include quotes in my reviews, but these were a few I just had to:
In the opening by her editor Carrie Feron, "1. If you are choosing between two pairs of shoes, pick the red ones. 2. Remember to sparkle."
Nathalie Dupree's description of Pork Chop Friends. "We had a choice. Our lives had been full of jobs where there was just one spot for a woman, and to get it you had to, as one woman cook said, "push everyone else of of the boat." It didn't suit us, so we decided we wouldn't do it that way. Somehow we developed the theory that if there is one pork chop in a pan it will go dry, but if there are two or more pork chops in a pan the fat from one will feed the other. We determined to make room for others in the pan and very shortly after were elected to be on the same board of directors on an international association."
From one of Dorothea's essays: "You know, growing up in the South a girl could be as ugly as a mud fence, but if she had nice manners that was all that mattered. So what if the only guy who asked you to prom weighed 300 pounds? He loves his momma and he has beautiful manners. That's what my momma would've said. My favorite character of all time is Miss Lavinia from Plantation. Her best quote? Remember! Good manners are the moisturizer of life."
And Gore Vidal's response to Dorothea when she asked how do you know it's time to start writing a book..."You'll write your book when you can't NOT write your book."
So many wonderful gems in this collection that certainly addressed some of the heavier topics in life. And the recipes....ahhh the recipes. I borrowed this from the library on e-book but already ordered the hardcover b/c of its gorgeous cover and all of the recipes it includes. I still love the look/feel of a "real" book...and even though it on sale for $2.99 on kindle right now, I simply have to have the "real" thing.
2021 has indeed been the year of "right book at the right time" for me, and I feel blessed to have had the time I have had to really make time for reading. Knowing how much I enjoy being transported into other places and characters has made my life all the better and I am so grateful to these authors for sharing so many beautiful words, sentences, paragraphs and pages with me.
OBVIOUSLY, I loved this book!!!!!!!!
I won't get into all of the specifics, but I will highlight some of my favorite parts. First of all, the introduction written by Dorothea's daughter Victoria is absolutely amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed "Bridesmaids" by Patti Callahan, an author I'm not familiar with and have already added a book of two of hers to my TBR list. Loved that the story is not just a one chapter story - but spans several - so we can see further development of the characters and storyline.
Elin's short story was NOT my favorite but was still an enjoyable read. Her works seem to be hit or miss for me - LOVED Summer of '69 but HATED The Identicals. Her list of what she has written is long, so there are many more that I will be reading over the years.
By far, my favorite was "Postcards from Heaven" by Adriana Trigiani. Again, another author I've heard of but not really read anything by her. Let's just say that these are postcards coming from PAT CONROY from heaven addressed to Dorothea, especially near the time of her death, and it was so poignant and made me want even more to spend just one day with these incredible authors.
Mary Alice Monroe never disappoints, and "Mother and Child Reunion" was another example of her fine writing. "Lowcountry Stew" that follows by Cassandra King Conroy another fantastic story that once again intertwines the authors.
The next few were delightful, authors new to me, including Mary Norris, Jacqueline Bouvier Lee, Gervais Hagerty and Marjory Wentworth. Then we are treated to essays and recipes by Nathalie Dupree who I have intermittently read. My favorite part of her is the fact that one of Anne Rivers Siddons' characters in Hill Towns is loosely based on her. She didn't seem too thrilled about that, but I would be honored to be included in any way, shape or form in an ARS book. And of course with her being a James Beard award winner and author of many cookbooks, she appeals even more to my "foodie" side.
The final part of the book included some essays written by Dorothea Benton Frank. I was not aware that she was planning on Reunion Beach as the title of her final book. The first book I ever read by DBF was Sullivan's Island, and I absolutely plan on a re-read of that in the near future. I believe it had some "follow up" books to it as well which I plan to re-read, and I have never fully explored her library of works, so whenever a lighter beach read is needed (to follow heavy/scary ones) I'll be sure to look her up.
I don't often include quotes in my reviews, but these were a few I just had to:
In the opening by her editor Carrie Feron, "1. If you are choosing between two pairs of shoes, pick the red ones. 2. Remember to sparkle."
Nathalie Dupree's description of Pork Chop Friends. "We had a choice. Our lives had been full of jobs where there was just one spot for a woman, and to get it you had to, as one woman cook said, "push everyone else of of the boat." It didn't suit us, so we decided we wouldn't do it that way. Somehow we developed the theory that if there is one pork chop in a pan it will go dry, but if there are two or more pork chops in a pan the fat from one will feed the other. We determined to make room for others in the pan and very shortly after were elected to be on the same board of directors on an international association."
From one of Dorothea's essays: "You know, growing up in the South a girl could be as ugly as a mud fence, but if she had nice manners that was all that mattered. So what if the only guy who asked you to prom weighed 300 pounds? He loves his momma and he has beautiful manners. That's what my momma would've said. My favorite character of all time is Miss Lavinia from Plantation. Her best quote? Remember! Good manners are the moisturizer of life."
And Gore Vidal's response to Dorothea when she asked how do you know it's time to start writing a book..."You'll write your book when you can't NOT write your book."
So many wonderful gems in this collection that certainly addressed some of the heavier topics in life. And the recipes....ahhh the recipes. I borrowed this from the library on e-book but already ordered the hardcover b/c of its gorgeous cover and all of the recipes it includes. I still love the look/feel of a "real" book...and even though it on sale for $2.99 on kindle right now, I simply have to have the "real" thing.
2021 has indeed been the year of "right book at the right time" for me, and I feel blessed to have had the time I have had to really make time for reading. Knowing how much I enjoy being transported into other places and characters has made my life all the better and I am so grateful to these authors for sharing so many beautiful words, sentences, paragraphs and pages with me.
OBVIOUSLY, I loved this book!!!!!!!!
October 23, 2024
3 1/2 stars rounded up to four.
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