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2011 Book of the Month Reads
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February's Secondary Read: "Where the Heart Is" by Billie Letts
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Adrianna, Owner of Cafe Libri
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Feb 02, 2011 02:31PM
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I loved this book when I read it a while back. Hope you don't hate it!! LOL
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LOL! You are so bad! :-P
I've read Billie Letts before, and I've enjoyed her books. I might have read this one before, so it will probably be a re-read for me. Another book I liked was The Honk and Holler Opening Soon. Did you ever read this one?
Adrianna wrote: "Paula wrote: "I loved this book when I read it a while back. Hope you don't hate it!! LOL"LOL! You are so bad! :-P
I've read Billie Letts before, and I've enjoyed her books. I might have read t...
Yes, I really enjoy her books. I think there is one more and I haven't read it but do have it here.
i am picking my copy up at the library today. i cant wait to read something i will enjoy.
pg. 16 i so want to hurt that guy my god....shes prego for gods sake give her a break about the bathroom...i think being prego i would have really flipped my lid
In chapter 2The names I have encountered are a little interesting. Sister Husband that is like two opposites but there is the black guy named Moses Whitecotton now that is a little ironic also the name Benny Goodluck. Moses also has this whole speech on names and what they mean and name your baby after something meaningful. I have never thought about names to be that serious. Now Willy Jack is a little odd with Willy=protector yeah right protector of what you just left your girlfriend and baby in a Wal-Mart parking lot now Jack=god is gracious but I also read and everyone knows what "you don’t know jack"(nothing) so I took that as a protector of nothing.
What does everyone’s name mean?
Amanda ~ Amanda is the feminine gerundive of the Latin verb 'amo' (I love) and thus literally means 'she who must be loved'. In the US, Amanda was particularly popular in the 1980s. Amanda can also be a male name which is Sanskrit in origin.
Notable bearers include actresses Amanda Bynes and Amanda Peet. 'The Amanda Show' was a children's television show starring Amanda Bynes.
Amanda's Pennant or Celithemis Amanda is a type of dragonfly.
Interesting what you can find out.
here is a questionWhy is the number 7 great to some people but bad luck for another?
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Willy Jack is only concerned with himself. I'm surprised he even stuck around as long as he did. I'm not surprised, though, that Novalee put up with him. Based on her history, she's never had anyone that really cared for her, and the imagination/daydream she created about their future was enough to sustain her.
As for the names, I never really thought about their meanings. They are all really unique, though!
I don't really get the emphasis on the number 7 other than that it's different from the traditional perspective of the number. Letts likes to take the common/natural and make it unique or special.
i didnt get to thinking about neames until moses really put an emphasis on it. Yes i would have to agree its a great story and i cant wait to watch the movie as soon as i am done with the book which should be by the weekend
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http://www.bookbrowse.com/reading_gui...
Caution! It is likely that the following questions will reveal, or at least allude to, key plot details. Therefore, if you haven’t yet read this book, but are planning on doing so, you may wish to proceed with caution to avoid spoiling your later enjoyment.
1. The theme of "home" runs throughout this novel. Would you characterize home as a place, a family, a state of mind, or, as Sister Husband says, a place "where your history begins"? As a homeless person longing for a home, Novalee's image of home is heavily influenced by the images she sees in maga-zines. How influenced are we all by portrayals of home and home life in the media, movies, and on television?
2. In the beginning of the novel, Novalee is a poor, uneducated teenage mother whose own mother abandoned her at a young age. Novalee, however, seems to be remarkably maternal and responsible in her parental role. Do you think this is a believable portrayal of teenage motherhood? Is it possible that lacking a loving mother herself she would be such a good mother? Both Novalee and Lexie defy our stereotypes of poor, single mothers. Do you think this is a strength or a weakness of the novel?
3. Novalee's superstition about the number seven intensifies after the birth of her daughter. What do you make of Novalee's seemingly irrational fears? What role do superstitions play in the lives of even the most rational of us? Are there any other patterns or cycles you recognize in the novel?
4. Despite his cruelty, women are attracted to Willy Jack and are willing to take care of him. What is the attraction of cruel men to needy women? Lexie says, "Girls like us don't get the pick of the litter." What do you think of this statement? And why do you think that Novalee decides to help Willy Jack when she learns of his plight?
5. Willy Jack's story is interspersed throughout the novel. Do you think his story is necessary to the plot? Why or why not? If this novel had been told through the eyes of Willy Jack Pickens, in what ways might we see Novalee differently?
6. Novalee takes pictures to "see something in a way nobody else ever had" and Forney reads to explore the world outside the confines of his own life. Do you think books and photography help them deal with their lives or keep them from dealing with life head on? In what other ways do we use inanimate objects to either cope with life or hide from it?
7. Children play an important role in this novel. How are their stories important? What do each of the children--Americus, Benny, Praline, Brownie--teach us about love and loss of innocence?
8. Despite their struggles, Lexie's family is incredibly loving, fun-filled, and close. This is what makes the attack on Lexie and Brownie so heart wrenching and shocking. Do you think Brownie's trust in adults can ever be fully restored? Why do you think the author decided to include such a brutal scene in a book filled with so much kindness?
9. How did you feel when Novalee spurned Forney? Did you believe they would ultimately end up together? Do you think they are well matched? Do you believe that differences in education and social class matter in a relationship, and what do you think makes it possible to bridge such differences? Or do you believe that people with similar backgrounds tend to be better matched?
10. There are no traditional families in this novel. Why do you think the author chose to write a book about home and family yet disregarded established notions of what constitutes each? Though many of us accept and embrace different forms of family life, why do you think the traditional family is still frequently portrayed as mother/father/children? Do you think this remains the "ideal"?
just finished itw as such a great book.
Mod
I did have a couple of questions based on my reading thus far...
Who is Gladys? Mentioned on page 20: "'Yes, ma'am. I think I do.'" Novalee touched the scar on her arm in remembrance of Gladys."
Who is Momma Nell? She's mentioned on page 30: "There must be, she told herself, things she could do. She could try to find Momma Nell, but she didn't know Fred's last name."
It goes on to mention Fred, the State School for Girls, and Rhonda. I'm presuming these are people from her past, but it's a little confusing when the names are just thrown out there. Gladys was the most confusing reference because it was 10 pages prior to this one.
Also, are the scars relevant in the book? She has the one on her arm that makes her think of Gladys, and then Forney keeps noticing the one on her lip when she's in the hospital. I keep wondering if there will be some back stories explained about Novalee's life.
Finally, my last question involves the setting of Wal-Mart. How could she not have been discovered living there? Don't large chain stores like that have a camera system installed? It seems like someone would have seen her on the video tapes.
I'm over-analyzing a bit, but I'm enjoying it nonetheless. Letts has a wonderful writing quality about her!
I do remember a mention of Gladys but i cannot help you there because i never grasped that. Maybe sister.You will find out who Momma Nell is when she is in the hospital after she delievers the baby.
Fred is Momma nell's boyfriend or husband i think if i remember correctly.
You know i was thinking the same thing in the entire book i dont think they even mention how she comes by to get the scars. You will find out a little more about her past life not much though. That is what is a little dissapointing because you never really find out everything about her past. Pretty annoying.
I was thinking the same thing with the walmart cameras. They must never review the cameras but how can you not know your inventory is missing. Wouldnt there be some sort of give away. I mean if you see the same woman with that tree and all i feel like it would be kind of weird.
End of Part 2, Page 215.I'm late to join the discussion but recently started reading this novel. It is not a book I would have chosen to read otherwise.
Assorted weird small town characters are not very believable -- I'm from a small town -- and the librarians depicted are extremely idiosyncratic. Novalee is very naive but seems capable of making better choices than her loser former boyfriend and horrible mother.
Despite the unbelievable characters, perhaps a better description would be characters blessed with an enhanced reality, this book is growing on me. Reminds me of Haven Kimmel whose characters are even more enhanced. I like the development of a relationship between Novalee and Forney.
I would say the security issues with Wal-Mart are probably a matter of literary license as I agree she would have been discovered the first night. Doesn't mention whether Novalee ever read From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler -- I doubt it, but her hiding made me think of that book.
Also I'm wondering about the time period -- 1980s? Somehow it has the feel of an earlier time period, perhaps due to the small town setting.
End of Part 3 - Page 311Found the time period in the next section -- late 1980s, early 90s. Willy Jack has certainly not improved as a human being since he left Novalee in Oklahoma. Does he have any redeeming qualities? I'm wondering how his character is going to progress in what's left of the book.
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Books mentioned in this topic
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (other topics)The Honk and Holler Opening Soon (other topics)
Where the Heart Is (other topics)
