32 Candles: A Novel [Paperback]

Ernessa T. Carter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 28, 2011

Davie Jones—an ugly duckling growing up in small-town Mississippi with a mother who couldn't get any meaner—is positive her life couldn't be any worse. Just when she's resigned herself to her fate, she sees a movie that will change her life—Sixteen Candles. But in her case, life doesn't imitate art. Tormented in school and hopelessly in unrequited love with a handsome football player, Davie finds it bittersweet to dream of Molly Ringwald endings. When a cruel school prank goes too far, Davie leaves the life she knows and reinvents herself in the glittery world of Hollywood—as a beautiful and successful lounge singer. Just as she's about to ride off into the L.A. sunset, the past comes back with a vengeance, threatening to crush Davie's dreams—and break her heart again.

With wholly original characters and a cinematic storyline, 32 Candles introduces Ernessa T. Carter, a new voice in fiction with smarts, attitude, and sassiness to spare.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This debut novel of longing for family, love, and acceptance finds some interesting territory before settling too early into inevitability. Davidia Jones, a nerdy child of poverty, is abused by her alcoholic mother and despicable father and is the subject of merciless taunting at her high school. But it's the "Molly Ringwald Ending" that guides this fragile 15-year-old when she bolts town with a lesbian trucker named Mama Jane and lands a gig as a '40s-style chanteuse in L.A. With a little Hollywood stardust, she redefines herself and begins living the life she's dreamed of--until James, the rich golden boy she had a crush on back home, walks into her nightclub. Not knowing their connected past, James promptly goes gaga for the overhauled Davie, whose need for sweet revenge adds a welcome dark edge to an otherwise predictable trajectory toward self-empowerment. New Agey embellishments (an "atonement list") seem like a misstep for a spirited heroine stuck in a middling narrative.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Carter’s captivating debut follows Davie Jones, an African American girl growing up in the 1980s in the small town of Glass, Mississippi. Scorned by her mother and classmates, Davie eventually stops speaking and takes refuge in the movies of Molly Ringwald, which promise happy endings for even the most downtrodden social outcast. Davie finds her dream guy in hunky James Farrell, a high-school football star who moves to Glass with his wealthy family. But her dreams are dashed when she incurs the ire of James’ cruel sister, Veronica, after Veronica catches her father visiting Davie’s promiscuous mother. Veronica then plays a mean prank that sends Davie running away from Glass for good, all the way to Los Angeles. There she finds her voice, both literally and figuratively, earning a living as a lounge singer. Davie is content with her life until James crashes back into it, causing demons from her past to bubble to the surface. With all the charm of a clever romantic comedy and peopled by appealing, memorable characters, Carter’s first novel is a winner on all fronts. --Kristine Huntley --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Amistad; Reprint edition (June 28, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061957852
• ISBN-13: 978-0061957857
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (149 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #372,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ernessa T. Carter has worked as an ESL teacher in Japan, a music journalist in Pittsburgh, a payroll administrator in Burbank, and a radio writer for American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest in Hollywood. Carter's also a retired L.A. Derby Doll (roller derby). A graduate of Smith College and Carnegie Mellon University's MFA program, and 32 Candles is her first novel. Find out more about the book and read her blog at www.32candles.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining, April 22, 2010

By 

cmp (Merrimack, NH USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: 32 Candles: A Novel (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

I truly enjoyed this book. I have next to nothing in common with the main character - except that I love Sixteen Candles - but I didn't feel left out, or that I didn't know what she meant or why she did the things she did. The author has a knack of making even the "crazies" very sympathetic. The characters are flawed, but not in an unappealing way.

The writing was nice and tight. I didn't run across any errors or choices that made me cringe, which is always nice. This was a quick read for me. I started and finished in one evening, but I also didn't want to put it down until it was done, which is a great sign.

The book is divided mostly into "Then" and "Now" sections, with some others along the way, and the first "Then" section was maybe a little slow to get going. We needed the background to understand what happened later, but it was the slowest-moving part of the book for me. Otherwise, the pacing was good and I didn't mind the jumping around in time. Sometimes in novels it's jarring, but this made sense and was well done.

I'd recommend this to fans of slightly more serious chick lit. It's funny in many ways, but can also be saddder than more humorous offerings like those from Helen Fielding and Sophie Kinsella.

Fans of the movie Sixteen Candles would also enjoy this book. ;) In fact, I think it would help to be up on your John Hughes canon, or you'll be missing something.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure magic., June 22, 2010

By 

JRose364 "J-Ro" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 32 Candles: A Novel (Hardcover)

You know those movies that make you want to stand up in the theater and cheer? Well, I had that feeling while reading this book. Davey is the very best of protagonists: we can all sympathize with her early life (ugly duckling, high school social difficulties); we can also, vicariously, thoroughly enjoy watching as things get better, and downright triumphant, when she grows up (her transformation into a successful, soulful chanteuse). This isn't all sweetness and light: Carter does a great job of making the story amazingly believable, yet taking us to places we can only imagine experiencing in our own lives. When Davey sings for the first time, I got chills. The love story is compelling. The characters are vivid.

32 Candles does a very good job of straddling the divide between chick lit (it's not about shoes! I hate books like that) and literary fiction (I grinned and giggled while reading this). I suppose I'd call it upmarket women's fiction. Women who like reading about pink drinks? They'd like it. Women who think shoes are dumb? They'd like it too.

This is smart, sassy, and so uplifting. A perfect book for summer.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank You Ms Carter, June 24, 2010

By 

Dianne E. Socci-Tetro "Books & Chat" (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 32 Candles: A Novel (Hardcover)

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32 Candles by Ernessa T.Carter

There is only one bad thing I just have to say about this book, and it is - do NOT do like I did and start reading it at 10 pm. I could NOT put it down; so inevitably I was up until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, reading this fabulous book.

This book is a mixture of "chick lit" and serious prose. With a lot of chuckle worthy parts and many more parts that will have you running for the tissue box. The combination of tight writing and plotting, perfect timing with the comedic and dramatic bits, having both sympathetic and non sympathetic characters and lessons in pop culture in the 80's and 90's makes this a book that I can absolutely see becoming a movie. This was written with an excellent use of first person writing and I never regret not hearing the voices of the characters.

I can easily see that this "ugly duckling" coming into her own, story is going to strum the heartstrings of many people out there. This is book written for all ages to enjoy; you will love it and be able to both sympathize and cheer for Davie no matter what your age is. I'm well into my 50's and could totally relate to this character.

This is really one of the best books I have read from this particular genre in ages and I can't wait to read more from Ernessa T Carter. I can easily see Ms Carter's writing eventually surpassing authors such as Terry McMillan.
Brava Ms Carter and thank you for the sleepless night and hours of pure enjoyment.