Product Description

In Oklahoma, where Kraft Macaroni & Cheese is a staple and Bob Barker is king, twenty-eight-year-old Darla Moon struggles to break free.But as she plans her escape to New York City, turmoil erupts and the demands of family stand between her and her suitcase. Darla must, for the first time in her life, cast an unflinching eye on the hard-to-accept truths regarding love, responsibility, and survival. The Bingo Queens of Paradise lyrically blends a powerful comic voice with a poignant tale of a woman who longs to pursue her dreams.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1006092 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-01
• Released on: 2000-05-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Other than the dance barn and the drive-in, the only entertainment available in Paradise, Okla., a one-traffic-light town where the bank and movie house have long been boarded up, is Big Bucks Bingo. Darla Moon, 28, a seamstress and designer of Darling Darla Creations, dreams of escaping to New York City, but she's trapped in her hometown by her zany, sharp-tongued and often pathetic family. She has a special bond to her chronically troubled younger sister, Rhonda, whose third marriage has tied her to an abusive man, and whose two children are Darla's delight. This supple, snappy first novel introduces Darla in 1976 as an eight-year-old left in charge of six-year-old Rhonda and their sometimes senile and occasionally brilliant grandmother, Sophie, who receives "divine messages" from the Planet of Headbreakers, while their mother, Roxie, the town prostitute, goes out "dancing." The girls have no idea who their father is, and the many "uncles" who traipse through their house can be as cruel to them as Roxie is. But love and comfort can always be found at the home of Elijah, a black man about their granny's age, who's Darla's best friend. And under extraordinary circumstances, Darla's guardian angel, Shamir, sometimes appears to her. Grown-up Darla copes with guilt over an abortion and haunting memories of her mother's activities; she also falls in love with Reverend Spirit E. Jackson, the new preacher in town. Love makes Darla stronger but ties her all the more firmly to the place she longs to leave. When Rhonda's husband goes on a rampage and Rhonda herself becomes seriously ill, it seems Darla will never be free to pursue her dream, but readers can be sure that this resilient, clever protagonist will find a way to take control of her life. Park's characters form a colorful ensemble, from the brave and wily homespun heroine to the defensive, insensitive Roxie. This strange and involving tale sparkles with a sharp humor that ignites its richly textured setting.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
This debut novel by an award-winning short-story writer proves that on rare occasions the transition from short story writer to novelist can be seamless. In this dramatic story, set in the isolated town of Paradise, OK, Darla Moon dreams of going to New York and making a living as a designer. Darla and her sister, Rhonda, were raised by an indifferent alcoholic mother who worked as a prostitute, leaving her daughters' care to an elderly black man named Elijah. Darla admits that they "even smelled poor, that unwashed, uncared-for-stink that comes from too little soap, too much cigarette smoke, and no affection." When Rhonda, who marries an abusive husband, becomes critically ill, Darla takes care of Rhonda's children and makes a drastic decision about her future when she learns further truths about her tragic past. This memorable book pulsates with heartfelt characters and rousing events that will anger and bring tears. A rare gem; recommended for all collections.ADavid A. Beron?, Univ. of New England, Biddeford, ME
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Paradise, a dusty, one-streetlight Oklahoma town without a movie theater, bank, dry cleaners, or supermarket, is ill-named. Jed's Dance Barn and a neighboring town's drive-in are the only entertainment venues, except for the irresistible Big Bucks Bingo, where the poor, like Darla Moon and her relatives, go several times weekly and gamble away their disability and welfare checks. Darla, 28, dreams her seamstress-designer talents will be her ticket out and away from her semiretired hooker mother; her sickly sister, married to a no-good loafer; and her dotty grandmother, who collects invisible frogs, wears a wire hanger on her head as an antenna to receive messages from God, and wraps her legs in newspaper every night to prevent blood cell irradiation. When a hunky, itinerant preacher sends Darla's heart aflutter, it looks like the way out has arrived at last. Then family needs intervene and . . . well, you get the picture, which could show up on picture tubes as one of the more entertaining movies of the week. Whitney Scott

Customer Reviews

This book deserved more STARS!!!!!
There are certain books we read which strike a chord in our hearts and fill our eyes with tears. And when we finish these books, we find ourselves wishing we could go back and read them again for the first time. The Bingo Queens of Paradise by June Park is one of a handful of books which did this to me and I am so glad I found this author.

In her first novel, June Park, has written a keeper in the tradition of Billie Letts' books Where the Heart Is and The Honk and Holler Opening Soon. Like these books, The Bingo Queens of Paradise introduces the reader to memorable characters who remain part of our lives long after we finish the book.

Paradise is a small town in Oklahoma where trailers are found almost everywhere. The nightly activity in this town is a good game of Bingo where an interesting group of women who name themselves the Bingo Queens assemble. Among the women is Momma Moon, mother to Darla and Rhonda. These two sisters have grown up taking care of each other while their mother pays more attention to her male customers and Bingo games. While Darla works in Paradise, she dreams about moving to New York City to design dresses. Her younger sister, Rhonda, already the mother of two children, is married for the second time to an abusive husband she can't seem to leave.

The one man the two sisters have relied on for most of their lives is a black man, Elijah, who is the only person who is consistently there for them. It is Elijah who more than anybody encourages Darla to put Pardise behind her, and move on with her life in New York where she can pursue her dream. As Darla finally plans to leave events occur which will not only test her but may force her to face a great loss and perhaps alter her dreams.

This book is not always easy to read. There are scenes which are quite sad particularly when the reader learns all that Darla and Rhonda had to endure as they grew up. I found that at times Momma Moon was so cruel, uncaring and selfish, I had all but to do to compose myself and continue reading. For me it was as if these were real women living in a small town nearby and I had a glimpse into their lives. But I did continue reading as I knew I would and now consider this title one of my top ten reads for 2001. I did wonder at the end if Darla would ever leave Paraidse and found tears on my face when I closed the book and wished her a godspeed on her continuing journey.

I do hope that you enjoy this book as much as I did. As for me, I've already reread this book twice and am eagerly waiting for this authors next book. For me, this title can't be published fast enough.

Not your typical reading
When several friends read this book, they claimed it was funny, sassy and sweet ~~ but I didn't find it that way. It is sassy ~~ but also depressing. It does start out slow, but after awhile, you really get into the book. The names are even hilarious and the love stories are bittersweet.

Darla Moon is the child of a semi-retired hooker mother, raised on the leavenings of welfare, and she dreams big dreams of moving to New York to become a designer, only her ties to her family remain too strong for her to leave with a light heart. There's Spirit, the minister who falls in love with her; Rhonda, her sister who is married to a classic drunk who beats her; Elijah, the father-figure in her life; Granny, who has lost quite a few marbles in her head ~~ but remains one of the sweetest and central persons in Darla's life. There are the kids, Jessie and Pearl, Rhonda's kids, who are the loves of Darla's life. And there is Bingo ~~ every week, twice a week, bingo playing is the main central thing in their lives. As Darla prepares to move on with her life, all sorts of things happen to keep her rooted to her roots. Till she discovers the freedom of being her own person.

If you're looking for a heavier reading, I would not recommend this book. If you're looking for a lighter, bittersweet book to read while on car trips, or heading to the beach, then I would suggest that you pick this book up. It is depressing in some places ~~ life is too real to really be comfortable with this book as an escapism. But it is a book that you won't quickly forget.

I loved Bingo Queens
When I started this book, it wasn't something that I would have picked for myself (I read it for a book club). What a surpise this book was! A pleasant surprise. It starts out rather funny, and then you find yourself in the lives of these lovely, real characters. I found this book funny, caring and sad all at the same time. I cared about Darla and all her life pressures (some she gave herself), and Rhonda and hoping she would find a way to stand up for herself and her children. I kept reading to find how Granny got to be the way she was and why Elijah came with this poor family where ever they went.

This story made me care about every character, the quirky ones, the means ones and the loveable one. I highly recommend this book.