Myra Sims [Hardcover]

Janis Owens (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Admirers of Owens's first novel, My Brother Michael, may be disappointed with her attempts to retell the same story, this time from the eponymous Myra Sims's point of view. (Myra's brother-in law, Gabriel Catt, narrated the previous book, an account of his unquenchable love for the woman who became his brother's wife.) This version, again an affecting tale of incest, adultery and hard-won love among the lowborn denizens of a West Florida mill town, begins, like the first, with Michael, Myra's husband and Gabriel's brother, dead at age 43. Again we have flashbacks to their traumatic childhoods and to the adulterous liaison between Myra and Gabriel. In an arduous process of recovery, Myra confronts the truth that her adultery was the result of a drug-fogged mind and recognizes that Michael was always her true love. Myra's cynical view of her affair with Gabriel negates his romantic perception that the encounter was passionately reciprocated. Unfortunately, the ambitious endeavor of revealing an unexpected perspective to a story already once told also reveals some narrative insecurities in this gifted author's insightful, homespun style; here she indulges in repetitive minutiae and some overwrought prose. Yet Owens is a writer with a remarkable talent for touching the heart of a tale and endowing the circumstances of humble lives with dignity.

Copyright 1998 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Readers got a refreshing introduction to the Sims and Catts families in Owens's first novel, My Brother Michael (LJ 12/96), but there is more than one side to every story. Here to tell her side is Myra Sims. Perhaps it is her fresh perspective as narrator, or perhaps it is Owens's more confident and poignant writing, but this retelling adds depth to an already complex and haunting tale. Readers will become engrossed in the stories of brothers Gabe and Michael Catts and the woman, Myra, with whom their lives are entangled. For those who are new to their story, these strong and refreshing characters will not disappoint. Owens has proven she is a Southern writer who is here to stay, at least in the hearts of her readers.AShannon Haddock, BellSouth Corporate Lib., Birmingham, AL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Pineapple Press; 1st edition (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561641774
• ISBN-13: 978-1561641772
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,031,087 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It!, January 4, 2000

By 

Kathy Tolbert - See all my reviews

This review is from: Myra Sims (Hardcover)

Having read the first novel,My Brother Michael, I could hardly wait for the follow-up! It was well worth the wait. Myra Sims with her intriguing combination of strength and vulnerability is a character well worth the closer look we get in this book. Told from Myra's point of view, this novel fills in all of the blanks left by Gabriel Catts. I was thoroughly impressed by the skill with which Janis Owens accomplished this without even a hint of redundancy. I was moved by this story of tragedy and victory set in a rural south so familiar I felt like it was home. If you read and enjoyed My Brother Michael, I dare to say that you will enjoy Myra Sims even more. If you haven't then I suggest you add both to your reading list today.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Myra is real, at least it feels that way when you read this!, October 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Myra Sims (Hardcover)

This book is a fabulous look into the lives of rural Floridians. You'll feel like a guest in the home of Myra and Michael when you read this, so palpable are the situations depicted here. You'll cry when you read about Myra's childhood, scarred by the abuse of a tyrannical father. You'll share Myra's pain when she is torn between two brothers, Gabe and Michael, who love her perhaps too much. And you'll rejoice when Myra finds the strength to love herself in the end. Be sure to buy "My Brother Michael," a companion piece to this novel, to gain insight into the fascinating characters depicted here. I hope to see more from this fascinating author.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Biscuits, butter, and a Bible Belt redhead!, June 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Myra Sims (Hardcover)

Myra Sims is a girl we think we know and really don't know as well as we thought. Gabe spins out the love of his life, his brother, family members, and himself in My Brother Michael as clearly as can be. But, we find that just maybe he didn't tell it all. Myra returns the favor in her own version of the story in Myra Sims. By reading both books you are able to get closer to the bottom of what might be closer to the truth. Janis Owens can sure tell a story and what's even better is that she can tell a story twice. Readers will devour both books and after doing so might just become confused about which version to believe. One thing is sure, both books move you right next door to a real Southern family. Before you know it you'll have a cravin' for biscuits, grits, fried pork, fresh coffee, and a big helpin' of anything that Janis Owens decides to put on paper.