Product Description

Now, in this poignant mother-daughter story, Frank evokes a lush plantation in the heart of modern-day South Carolina-where family ties and hidden truths run as deep and dark as the mighty Edisto River...

Dorothea Frank and I share the same literary territory. (Pat Conroy)

Southern womanhood has found a new voice, and it is outrageous, hilarious, relentless and impossible to ignore. (John Berendt)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #149391 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07-01
• Released on: 2001-07-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 608 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780515131086
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
HA follow-up to Frank's debut novel, Sullivan's Island, this colorful contemporary romance effortlessly evokes the lush beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry while exploring the complexities of family relationships. When Caroline Wimbley Levine learns that her mother, Miss Lavinia, has supposedly gone mad, she leaves the big city bustle of Manhattan and returns to Tall Pines Plantation. Caroline originally left Tall Pines to escape her feisty, eccentric mother and her drunken brother, Trip, but when Miss Lavinia dies, Caroline is forced to come to terms with her family's troubled history as well her failing relationship with her husband. As Caroline reminisces about her past rebelliousness and her childhood, she realizes that her father's sudden and tragic death many years before served as a catalyst for the family's disintegration. Caroline and Trip also learn that their seemingly selfish and self-assured mother was not so uncaring after all. While most of the story is told from Caroline's point of view, journal entries written by Miss Lavinia open several of the chapters, providing the narrative with additional texture and warmth. Although the novel is short on plot, readers will enjoy immersing themselves in the lives of these deftly drawn, heartfelt characters. Agent, Amy Berkower. (July 3)Forecast: Sullivan's Island was a New York Times bestseller, and, if Frank's newest receives the critical praise it deserves, it will climb the charts as well. Booksellers will also boost sales if they recommend this book to fans of Pat Conroy and Anne Rivers Siddons.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review
Dorothea Frank and I share the exact same literary territory-- Sullivan's Island is hilarious and wise.... -- Pat Conroy

Review
"Filled with entertaining characters and lots of humor." (The State - Columbia, SC) Think Terry McMillan meets Rebecca Wells by way of the Deep South and you'll be barking up the right bayou. (The Mirror (UK))

Customer Reviews

Suprisingly Engrossing and Entertaining
This was my first introduction to Dorothea Benton Frank, but it won't be the last book I purchase from her.

This is an endearing and charming tale about a family that is ultimately brought together through a very difficult time. Ms. Frank has the ability to weave humor, folklore, history, and just plan fun throughout the story. I truly found this book to be amazing!

One of my favorite authors is Pat Conroy. I have read all of his books. Ms. Frank seems to share his ability to tell a story and keep his/her audience totally engrossed and comitted to the read.

There are funny, sad, intelligent, nasty, good, sweet, innocent, and centered characters in this book. Ms. Frank has a marvelous ability to bring each character to life and to make the reader feel that this is either someone already known to them or someone you would love to know.

I can't say enough about the beautiful writing that is in this book. I actually cried and am not one to do that freely. So that surprised me a lot. It was worth it. A great author and a great read!

Southern Traditions
After returning to the Plantation, Ms Benton Frank really hits her stride with passion and knowledge of the ACE basin in the Gullah Low Country of South Carolina. By mixing life stories from all facets of this particular plantation, the reader is drawn into a comforting fold of Southern Life, making you one of the family. The book is so enjopyable, I felt as if I was a vouyeristic member of the family peeking in on all the secrets.

I read this book AM and PM, and was only dissapointed that it ended. Ms Benton Franks writing is evolving into a much crisper, more joined together style than Sullivan's Island, with a better grasp and flow of the wonderful story of rediscovery of ones true heritage and inner self.

I loved this book, please keep 'em comming!

Another Can't Put it Down Read from Dorothea Benton Frank
Caroline Wimbley could list a million reasons for untying herself from her flamboyant mother Lavinia's apron strings and escaping to New York City to marry herself off to the first unsuitable man who looked her way. She's hasn't felt close to Lavinia in eons--ever since Daddy died and Lavinia simply quit being a mother.

While the passing yawn of years has not played out as passionately as Caroline once hoped, she considers herself well married, happily self employed, and deliriously happy with her bright, but somewhat academically challenged young son.

Going home to the Queen of Tall Pines Plantation where she and her brother Tripp were raised did not occupy a high spot on Caroline's list of priorities. Fate rears her fickle head, cackles noisily, and sets her sights firmly on Caroline's life.

A rare phone call from her brother Tripp suggests the possibility that mother Lavinia has taken leave of her senses. Caroline rushes home "to see about mother."

From the moment Caroline sets foot on the grounds of the plantation,little appears to have changed. Everything is just as beautiful as she remembers. But Caroline soon realizes that surface appearances mean little. Unflattering family secrets lurk in every branch of the Wimbley family, and promise to wreck havoc in everyone's lives.

The only that the only thing that is for certain is that Lavinia, while as eccentric as ever, is perhaps the only member of the Wimbley crew who is in full control of her sanity.

Plantation is both bust-a-gut funny and chock full of low country wisdom. Ms. Frank's ability to entice her characters to get up and dance off the page makes this endearing novel more than just a story. It is a tribute to the south I grew up with, where what is said, what is done and what is felt seldom means the same thing. This tale is rich with southern familiarity, and our infamous tawdry secrets.

Frank's spellbinding ability to spin a yarn nudges the reader gently along as we each come remember the ties that bind us to family. Anyone who's ever both loved and hated a mother will leave this story yearning to feel safe in Momma's care just one more time.

Bravo, Dorothea Benton Frank. You done good, you did.