Customer Reviews

Lame Excuses

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having grown up in the rural South, I found myself reminiscing about my childhood and teenage years as I read this beautiful, but heart-wrenching, story. This first work by this new author is amazing in its descriptions and character development. I felt as though I could smell and taste the food, see the artistry of the dishes, and experience the life of a chef. Most of all, I felt that I knew the main character, Emily, and grew to love her as a friend.

Emily grew up in a small town family café where she felt safe and comfortable. Her lifestyle was formed early and continued into her young adulthood when she chose to continue her love for food by going to a culinary school. Emily's life seemed fulfilled by finding the love of her life and having a career that she enjoyed. The life that she loved, though, had a dark side, and the reader soon understood that Emily was in trouble. After getting to know Emily as she moved through many trying and interesting experiences, I found it easy to empathize with this very likeable character.

Thanks to this talented new author for a book that makes the reader think and, perhaps, make changes in his or her own life. The story itself was very well written and held my interest from the beginning to the end. Well done, Ms. Wells!

Lame Excuses is a rare find.

The language, dialog and imagery take you back to a simpler time; a terrific escape to a world where happiness and pick-me-ups (soda) are one in the same. Whereas I usually fly through books, I enjoyed slowing down for this one, taking in the language and the feeling behind it. Ms. Wells definitely has a way with words.

The characters are relatable, and evoke a great deal of empathy; there's just something about them that reels you in.

Lame Excuses, for me, was an outstanding introduction to this new author. I look forward to reading more of her work.

Alle Wells writes a story that readers can step right into. Her characters and dialog are believable, the scenes so rich with detail that you feel the pie crust dough between your fingers, pucker from the taste of rhubarb, and dissolve into the sweet depths of a banana split piled high with whipped cream. You feel Emily's passion for the café, share her love of the food she prepares, delight with her passion for Jim, and ache over her disbelief at learning that her health is so badly deteriorated.

Ms. Wells' presentation of the South is genteel and soulful, and while I gobbled LAME EXCUSES quickly, the story's delivery had a hypnotic quality. Her writing style reminds me of Fannie Flagg - humorous yet sharp and keenly observant.

Lame Excuses is a beautifully written and delivered story that entertains and offers an education for those who hear its message. Our passions may bring us great satisfaction, but we must learn to master them or they may be our downfall.

This book focuses on the life of Emily, as a girl and then a woman, whose life revolves around her passion for food - first in her father's short order café, then in culinary art school, and later in her adult life. Written in an intimate first-person point-of-view and studded with minute details about cooking, the people and loves in her life, and locale, this book almost reads as memoir, or autobiography. The experiences she details are absolutely convincing, as is her evocation of the rural South.
I guess from the cover and title I expected a more light-hearted read. Though the opening prepares the reader for a more somber tale, you tend to forget this as the story breezes along through the ups and downs of the loveable and lonesome Emmy. Yet as the story progresses, much of life's charms disappear as uglier truths begin to emerge. I can't say more without giving away the story, but the author successfully conveys the character's move from the pain, horror, and emotional turmoil on discovering that so much of her life has led to one big betrayal, to at least the possibility of hope.

Lame Excuses is nothing like you might think, although the story of a troubled young girl who finds comfort and solace in food may sound like it is the same as a dozen other stories, it most certainly is not. This is one of the most sensitive portrayals of being physically challenged that I have ever read. When Emily's rehabilitation coach explains how most people never make eye contact with someone in a wheelchair, I could feel the pain in his words. When this story started out, I had no idea where it would take me since much of the dialogue focused on food--but truthfully speaking, this is not a story about food, it a story about human weakness, regrets, emotions and friendships. The Southern setting is realistic and believable, the characters are true to themselves and the relationships are not sugar-coated. Lame Excuses is a well-told story that will leave you with plenty to think about.

Lame Excuses reads like a memoir. The story begins in a 1960's café where burgers, pick-me-ups and beach music create a simple and romantic world. Emily loves the café that provides everything see needs and asks nothing from her in return. Her cravings are met and problems solved by the warm comfort of melted cheese and lips tickled by a frosty bottle. Early in life, Emily learns the heavy price her parents paid for her carefree world when she is left behind with its reward.
As a young woman, Emily carves out a new life in a rural farming community. She shares intimate details of the skills she learned as a culinary artist and the food that became the center of her life. She meets a successful farmer. Together they face the joys and trials of family life. Underneath the surface, disease and addiction develop slowly and eat away at Emily's health.
The reader feels the impact of Emily's trials and triumphs in every word. This is a powerful example of the obesity epidemic facing our country today. As a health and fitness enthusiast, I recommend this book to anyone searching for the inspiration and strength that will lead them to a healthier lifestyle.

This story was well written and used very good descriptions of actions, objects and characters. One thing that I enjoyed from the book was the time period in which the story takes place. Many places in the book reminded me of places I knew when I was a child, so it was very relatable. I would have liked if the book was a little longer and it would have been nice to know a little more about some of the characters for example Tommy. Overall I would recommend this book to a friend.

Within the first few pages of this book, I was reminded of the writing style of Dorothy Allison in "Bastard out of Carolina." The pleasant, leisurely pace of the story speaks beautifully to its southern fiction genre and you can almost feel the heat and hear the insect buzz of a southern summer evening. Emily, the main character of the story, is engaging and I found myself more and more interested in her life and who she was becoming throughout the story. The imagery of the story is wonderful and will definitely leave you craving the gourmet delicacies that are the silent characters of the book. A bonus for this story is that although it is fiction, it addresses very serious health issues and teaches a lesson that we can all benefit from. I expect that Alle Wells will go far as she continues to write.

LAME EXCUSE is a book about passion for what-ever choice you make in your life, Emily's passion, and downfall was for food and sweets. I can relate to Emily, I myself had a passion for sweets, and soda which led me to the same end as Emily. I found my Achille's Heal in time, and it is under control now.

LAME EXCUSE made me hungry through out, and reminded me to get regular check ups.

GOOD JOB ALLE

I really enjoyed reading this book. The laid back attitude of the southerners brings back memories of my own life growing up in the rural south in the sixties. It was very well written and kept my interest. Matter of fact, I read later into the night because I couldn't put it down. Her descriptions were excellent, from the food itself to the surroundings.

This author has written a book to be proud of, and I will be looking forward to her next book.

Lame Excuses is a book I feel comfortable recommending to others. It definitely deserves the five stars I am giving it!