Plantation: A Lowcountry Tale [Print] [Mass Market Paperback]

Dorothea Benton Frank (Author)

Book Description

Series: Lowcountry Tales | Publication Date: July 3, 2001

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)

Editorial Reviews

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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Jove; The Berkley Publishing Group Jove Edition, July 2001, 1st Printing edition (July 3, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515131083
• ISBN-13: 978-0515131086
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (88 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #545,668 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am the author of eleven novels placed in and around the Lowcountry of South Carolina and thanking God for my chance to speak. When I'm not writing, I'm reading or gardening or cooking. Love to travel, shoot the bull with people and most of all, be with my husband, children and dogs - not always necessarily in that order. Just finished my eleventh book - Lowcountry Summer for William Morrow and it will come out June 15, 2010. Love to have company so come visit at www.dotfrank.com. And by the way, serious huge gushing thanks for everything - your kind words and emails. Writing saves me, but without your support it wouldn't mean much. (So I'm a little sappy and sentimental - big deal.) xxoo Dot

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Suprisingly Engrossing and Entertaining, August 26, 2004

By 

G. Roberts "Avid reader" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plantation (Lowcountry Tales) (Paperback)

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!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Southern Traditions, July 22, 2001

By 

Ms Sumida "MsSumida" (East Coast, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plantation: A Lowcountry Tale (Mass Market Paperback)

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!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Auntie Mame, Low Country Style, October 29, 2004

By 

Wendy Kaplan (Houston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plantation: A Lowcountry Tale (Mass Market Paperback)

Here is a book to hold to your heart, it is that good. And before I even get to the fun, lively and irresistible plot, let me just say that we know on page one that Miss Lavinia, our own Low Country Auntie Mame, has passed away. And yet at the end, when we have finished getting to know her and attend her death and funeral, I was crying like a baby. And I don't cry at books!!

The plot to this book is true to Dotty Frank's genre: displaced Low Country gal comes home, gets mesmerized, and slowly regains her roots. In this case, the woman is Caroline Wimbley Levine, married to a cold and smug psychiatrist, Richard, and living in equally cold luxury in New York with their beloved son Eric.

When Caroline hears from her brother Trip that their mother, Lavinia, is losing her marbles and must be put in assisted living, Caroline grabs Eric and goes home for what she thinks will be for a few days. And there she is caught up in the gullah magic; the Low Country mystique (in which I thoroughly believe, thanks to Dotty's wonderful books) and a chance to become, once again, the "real" Caroline.

This might be the best of the four books Dotty Frank has so-far written. I cannot praise it highly enough. Grab it and lose yourself in a truly wonderful read!