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Little Town, Great Big Life [Paperback]

Curtiss Ann Matlock
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

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Book Description

June 1, 2010
So what if Winston Valentine is ninety-two years old? He isn't dead yet! And he's out to prove it. His exuberant show of life—coming to you live from radio dial 1550—revitalizes Valentine, Oklahoma, for its centennial celebration. The townsfolk are determined to make this an anniversary to remember.

Except Belinda Blaine, who, at thirty-eight, doesn't feel like celebrating. Suddenly she's carrying a child—and the guilt of an earlier pregnancy nearly twenty years ago. No one in her close-knit community knows of either, including her sweet-mannered husband, Lyle. But disclosing this pregnancy will mean revealing her past and opening her heart. And Belinda's not quite ready for that.

As Belinda struggles over what to do, she finds comfort in unexpected places. After all, in Valentine, neighbors are family and strangers are friends. And this small town holds secrets and mysteries, and takes care of its own.


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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Valentine, Okla., is the kind of town where everybody knows or wants everybody else's secrets; a handicapped boy is appreciated for his deep wisdom; an old man and a dog get featured on a radio show; and when a stranger comes to town and stays, he's likely to be running from something. In the latest entry in Matlock's bighearted Valentine series (Chin Up, Honey), births, deaths, and the town's centennial celebration form the framework for insightful humor and a sense of close-knit community. Belinda Blaine at the drugstore might be pregnant and is wondering what to do. Seventeen-year-old Paris Miller keeps piling on makeup to hide the bruises inflicted by her grandfather, whom she nevertheless can't bear to lose. Fayrene Gardener, who owns the cafe, is falling for the stranger in town, but is he just another man who'll let her down? And then there's beloved 92-year-old Winston Valentine, who holds everyone together but might finally have to let go of life. Readers should hold on to their hearts; losing them to these unforgettable characters is a real possibility. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Belinda Blaine refuses to believe that she is pregnant at 38. She knows that her lovable husband, Lyle, will be over the moon, but she is worried about her past, and this anxiety is very stressful for the woman who always has the answers to other people's problems. Belinda shares the running of the family pharmacy with her mother, who is on the trip of a lifetime to France. Their pharmacy is an institution in Valentine, Oklahoma, just like Winston Valentine, 92, who can be found either on your AM dial or in his usual chair in the pharmacy. The small town is preparing for a centennial celebration as Winston adds his usual dramatic flair. This wonderfully poignant homage to the virtues of small-town life is filled with characters that would be at home anywhere. And even though this is Matlock's eighth book in the series and her fond farewell to Valentine, it stands on its own, and will make readers want to read the entire run. --Patty Engelmann

Product Details

  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Mira; Original edition (June 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0778327884
  • ISBN-13: 978-0778327882
  • Product Dimensions: 0.9 x 4.9 x 7.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #589,902 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Curtiss Ann Matlock is a the author of thirty-three novels, including the tender and funny Valentine series. Her books have earned rave reviews, spots on the USA TODAY bestseller list and numerous awards. Told with a strong Southern voice, her insightful stories portray the uncommon valor of everyday people and the humor, heartbreak, and shining graces of small-town life. Born in North Carolina, Curtiss Ann lived many years in Oklahoma; she now resides with her family near Mobile, Alabama. You can find out more about her and her work at CurtissAnnMatlock.com.

Customer Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
(12)
4.2 out of 5 stars
This book seems to be one of a series with which I was previously unfamiliar. Mary Ann  |  2 reviewers made a similar statement
The subplots make it even more interesting. happyreader  |  3 reviewers made a similar statement
Makes you yearn for small town life and a soda shop! M. D. Mulhern  |  2 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Better late than never September 3, 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
This book seems to be one of a series with which I was previously unfamiliar. Well, it is delightful gentle fiction, populated by down-to-earth characters. I quickly became absorbed in their lives, praying for them to prevail in believable situations. The breakfast scene with cinnamon rolls in Chapter 13, alone, was worth the price of admission. This volume has no problem standing without its predecessors, but I am looking forward to looking backward, anyway. Neither sappy nor predictable--Valentine, OK is just a great place to visit--with or without a carousel in the park.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Wise and Wonderful June 4, 2010
Format:Paperback
I am surprised by Harriet's review. Belinda, one of our main characters is no Grinch! She not only attracts your empathy; you begin to admire her and root for her throughout the book. She is a source of support to many of her town friends (and not such good friends) going through turmoil.
Winston and Willie Lee (and dog, Munro) (whom we met in previous books) delight us with their relationship of love and support. We big city dwellers look upon the characters in this book wistfully, wondering if such a small town feeling of support and caring really exist.
The subplots make it even more interesting.
I was pleased to see that Curtiss Lee Matlock had written a new book. I was even more delighted to have the privilege to read it. It is another warm cup of tea- relaxing and fulfilling. Thanks, CLM! Now I'm going to see which of her books I missed and get them promptly!
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Little town, but.. June 28, 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
Valentine is my kind of place! Everyone knows everyone, and they all seem to come back, never being able to stay away long. Sure they all have their troubles but in the end, they all are one big family and stick together.

The major part of the story is Belinda, who is married; has found out she is pregnant. Although excited she doesn't tell anyone. One, she is 35 and afraid of miscarrying. Two, she feels like she doesn't deserve the baby because she had an abortion many years ago. What she doesn't think about is God's grace, and Psalm 30:5....a major theme of this book. Which Winston repeats quite a bit.

It has many other things going on, like Andy, who is he really? What will happen with Paris? All in all, a really good story, loved the ending.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Well written, charming little story October 7, 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
So, this is a quiet little story that takes place in a fictionalized version of "Americana", a sleepy little town like Andy Griffith's Mayberry. Everybody knows everybody else and they all know each other's business............

If you are ready for a slow placed gentle read, a kind of "feel good book" this one's for you.

The main protagonist of this book is Belinda, a young woman who has found out that she is pregnant. The story chronicles how Belinda is handling this news...............

Reading through the other reviews, it seems as though people either love or do not like this book. Overall. it's very nice.

Enjoy the character development and the gentle prose. It's a very pleasant little book.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars not my cup of tea July 28, 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
I like murder, I like mystery, I like funny, I like sexual tension, and this book had none of that, so as you can imagine I am not a big fan. If you like longs walks on the beach, rocking on your front porch and watching the leaves float by, you might enjoy this book. I think the problem with me and this book is that I kept looking for something to happen rather than enjoying the languid walk through everyone's life. This book centers around Belinda Blaine, who discovers she is pregnant, is afraid to tell her husband, is running the drugstore while her mom is traveling, ect. There is an old guy Winston, who is loved by everyone in the town and starts a radio show to prove he isn't dead yet, a rambler who wonders into town, a young love scenario...and other daily interactions between the people in town. They are all good folks with big hearts who care about everyone, and this is pretty much the book. I am guessing if you have read the others in this series and have developed a relationship with the characters you might like this book better than I did, but this was the first one that I have read and all it did was make me impatient for something to happen, so I was dissapointed. I think if you know the type of person you are, you will know from this review whether this is the type of book you like to read.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Warm and memorable characters September 3, 2011
Format:Kindle Edition
Small-town life holds a special appeal for me because I was born in one and lived there during my early years. People make close connections, and the unusual characters seem larger than life. Curtiss Ann Matlock portrays this world beautifully.

In my own small-town novels, I aim to capture this sense of community and uniqueness. My hat is off to Curtiss Ann for doing it so well!
A Warm December
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Charming November 4, 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
This was my first time reading this author and I have to say I like this gentle, easy to read tale of a small town where everyone knows everyone. Reminded me a bit of Fanny Flagg's work. There's the radio station, small village characters and at the heart, Belinda, a married woman who is pregnant. She's torn between feelings of excitement and guilt. Great book for a trip or the beach.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Too Quirky For Its Own Good September 24, 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
This is a small town story, about slow "good old-fashioned" American life that probably doesn't really exist anymore, and possibly never did. It's definitely an idolized vision of Americana, as portrayed on 1950s TV.

The (extremely) fictional town of Valentine, Oklahoma is inhabited solely by quirky characters of the type that don't exist outside of old "Northern Exposure" episodes. Sweet to the point of sappy--snappy writing saves this from being all out sap-fest--this is a contrived tale that bounces from one inhabitant to another, hitting a lot of cliches along the way: the eccentric old codger, the small-town gossip, the enterprising town shopkeeper, a rugged do-gooder deputy, alcoholic caregiver with a mistreated teen and on and on ...

This is a sweet and gentle story, with a little sadness, a little sass and oodles of stereotypes. It's not altogether terrible, but it's also not too interesting. Sort of like "The Andy Griffith" show, if Aunt Bea occasionally got beat up by her boyfriend.

I gather from the blurb that there have been several stories set in this fictional Oklahoma community, focusing on various town residents, but despite my connection to the Sooner state, I'm not interested in learning any more about these dull, cardboard caricatures.

The book was well-written, unlike so many of these stories though, so if this IS a genre you enjoy (which, obviously, I don't), you'll probably like this one.
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