Customer Reviews

I Still Miss My Man but My Aim Is Getting Better

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

 

 

I bought this book on the strength of the title - and I still have to admit, it's a killer title. However, when I got to the point in the story where an angel was directing the plot, I almost put the book down and left it there. I should have. Shelby Kay is a terrific character. She doesn't need an angel to see her through the crises in her life. This is the first time I've read anything by Sarah Shankman and I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. But Sarah, honey, remember what they taught you in English 101 about "deus ex machina"?????? There is no need to cheat the readers like this. Give us Shelby Kay without the insiped angel angle and we'll love you all the more.

I'm a daughter of the South, and oh, how I wish I could give this book a glowing review, but it's a few leis short of Hawaii, folks. Now I believe in angels, but I don't believe that real people become angels after they die. Since that's a major underpinning of the story line here, it's a real problem for me. The plot? Even for a work of fiction, it's awfully convoluted. And either no one in this group is terribly bright--except for the mobster guy who manipulates LeRoy--or I've been away from Nashville too long. Too much of the characterization is cartoonish--especially that of the cop's girlfriend. Granted, there's hypocrisy in any religion, but Christians--especially the fundamentalists--have become the last group in America that it's OK to hold up for ridicule. If she'd been made a shucking, jiving black woman, critics would be calling for Ms. Shankman's head on a platter. Shelby Kay is a good character, though. I admire her courage in leaving her no-good husband and pursuing her dream. Maybe Patsy Angel can help her find a better class of people to hang around with if there's a sequel. But frankly, I'd rather see Samantha Adams again. .

When I say that Sarah Shankman has done a Carl Hiaasen in this book, I don't mean she's copied him in any way. She's an original. But she, like Mr H and almost no one else, understands that particularly curious form of logic, aspiration, and reality in which southerners live, a world view which northern and western folk think of as "insanity." Angels and devils figure prominently in what we call their mythos and they (southerners) call their lives. Strange forces abound. And get this clear -- this is not a case of Ms Shankman using these extra-normal events to drag one bit of plot or another in by its hiney -- my admiration is because she understands how these events figure into the lives of those wonderful people. And unlike Hiaasen's people, some of Ms Shankman's people are actually admirable, although venality certainly abounds. I have enjoyed all the previous Sam Adams books, but this one goes into a whole new level. I can tell from reviews (all positive) whether or not the writer has ever lived in the south and seen it from an outsider point of view. Those who haven't quibble about some things. Those who have lived there in that way read this book and laugh and say, "That's what I mean, that's what it was, that's what I was trying to put my finger on." Thank you, Ms Shankman. You're welcome to come to my house for dinner any time.

If your life looks a little too real and stressful, escape into the humor and intrigue of a Sarah Shankman mystery. Her characters are charming, rude, hilarious, brilliant, ignorant -- the extremes of humanity. You'll get to see what your idiosyncracies look like -- magnified -- and thank the stars that there's someone more wretched or obtuse than you. Great entertainment. I also recommend 'Digging up Momma.'

If your life looks a little too real and stressful, escape into the humor and intrigue of a Sarah Shankman mystery. Her characters are charming, rude, hilarious, brilliant, ignorant -- the extremes of humanity. You'll get to see what your idiosyncracies look like -- magnified -- and thank the stars that there's someone more wretched or obtuse than you. Great entertainment. I also recommend "Let's Talk of Graves."

I bought this book because I loved the title. I don't know much about country music even though my late father was an Oakie from Okmulgee and descended from a long line of sons and daughters of the Old South. My siblings and I were not exposed to Country Western except for once a week when our mother avoided the family room while the rest of us watched "Hee Haw" [salute!]. My ignorance didn't matter a bit. The book is hilarious! I didn't mind Patsy Angel. (I've never quite understood why someone who was born at the same time that someone died would become the reincarnation of the dead person when the baby was around months before birth. I forget why belief in reincarnation was dropped from Christian doctrine, but I'm sure that wasn't the reason.) I laughed uproariously as the plot became more complicated. I loved the final chapter so much I reread it several times. The next day I was quoting the opening lines of the title song's chorus to my coworkers. I even ordered a copy to be sent to my sister. I'm sure she's going to love it. Ann E. Nichols

... as in the book is way too bad for me to be able to believe the publishers had nothing better to do, and that's too bad. Best title EVER, but book itself is terrible, unless you're REALLY into the supernatural, country & western (generally), and/or Patsy Cline (specifically). I usually have a fairly short memory span for titles/authors/content because I read A LOT, but I read this book many years ago and yet the brilliance of the title combined with such disparate content has stuck with me. For some reason, it popped into my head today while I was looking for something entirely different and was inspired(?) to write this review.

All that said, I actually finished reading it instead of throwing it across the room because it is somehow compelling in its awfullness (is that a word & is it spelled correctly?), like a traffic accident.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story-telling was snappy. The characters were sympathetic. I had a great time with this book, and hated to put it down!

Wildly funny. Reminded me of Carl Hiaasen's "Tourist Season," only a bit less dark -- and of Fay Weldon at her best.

As a surviver of an awesomely dysfunctional marriage, this book was truly inspirational.