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by Lorna Landvik
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by Lorna Landvik
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Welcome to the Great Mysterious (Ballantine Reader's Circle) by Lorna Landvik |
by Lorna Landvik
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by Lorna Landvik
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
This debut novel's campy title promises good-natured gossip, women baring their souls and their gray roots to understanding hairdressers. Yet although Landvik builds her plot around two close-knit Minnesota sisters, Patty Jane and Harriet, she doesn't so much conjure a beauty shop as explain, in sentimental terms, how her kindhearted principals survive hardship. The story, which oscillates between optimism and tragedy, begins in 1953, at Patty Jane's wedding to handsome Norwegian Thor; that evening, the bride becomes pregnant, frightening her husband and eventually prompting his mysterious disappearance only days before their daughter is born. Meanwhile, Harriet falls in love with Avel, a doting millionaire. They're blissfully happy together, so when Avel goes on a business trip just before their scheduled nuptials, it's a sure bet his plane will crash. The ensuing years pass quickly as the sisters adjust to single life. Patty Jane opens the eponymous salon and raises her daughter, while Harriet, who never quite gets over Avel, develops a drinking problem. Both women will love again, but new troubles are in store. Landvik uses the latter half of the book to grandstand against alcohol and cigarettes; the characters praise AA, and one key player succumbs to lung cancer. Everyone finds consolation in the homespun wisdom that peppers every page ("grief is a lot like sobriety; you get through it one day at a time"). Family bonds?if not beauty-salon solidarity?triumph in this unpretentious tale. British rights to Little, Brown UK.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
From Library Journal
When her husband, Thor, disappears on the eve of the birth of their first child, Patty Jane is philosophical. Her sister Harriet and her mother-in-law stand by and offer support. After the baby is born, Patty Jane opts for beauty school as a way to make a living and establishes the House of Curl. Over the next 30 years, the House of Curl becomes a cultural center in the suburbs of the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Customers can get a perm, hear a lecture, drink coffee, catch up on news, learn a new skill, find a babysitter, or just hang out. The cast of eccentric characters make life at the House of Curl both amusing and enjoyable. The exaggeratedly odd twists and turns of life in this environment keep the listener guessing, with tragedy following comedy. Author Landvik reads in flat Minnesotan tones. Recommended.?Joanna M. Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Coll. of Continuing Education Lib., Providence
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
See all Editorial Reviews
This debut novel's campy title promises good-natured gossip, women baring their souls and their gray roots to understanding hairdressers. Yet although Landvik builds her plot around two close-knit Minnesota sisters, Patty Jane and Harriet, she doesn't so much conjure a beauty shop as explain, in sentimental terms, how her kindhearted principals survive hardship. The story, which oscillates between optimism and tragedy, begins in 1953, at Patty Jane's wedding to handsome Norwegian Thor; that evening, the bride becomes pregnant, frightening her husband and eventually prompting his mysterious disappearance only days before their daughter is born. Meanwhile, Harriet falls in love with Avel, a doting millionaire. They're blissfully happy together, so when Avel goes on a business trip just before their scheduled nuptials, it's a sure bet his plane will crash. The ensuing years pass quickly as the sisters adjust to single life. Patty Jane opens the eponymous salon and raises her daughter, while Harriet, who never quite gets over Avel, develops a drinking problem. Both women will love again, but new troubles are in store. Landvik uses the latter half of the book to grandstand against alcohol and cigarettes; the characters praise AA, and one key player succumbs to lung cancer. Everyone finds consolation in the homespun wisdom that peppers every page ("grief is a lot like sobriety; you get through it one day at a time"). Family bonds?if not beauty-salon solidarity?triumph in this unpretentious tale. British rights to Little, Brown UK.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
From Library Journal
When her husband, Thor, disappears on the eve of the birth of their first child, Patty Jane is philosophical. Her sister Harriet and her mother-in-law stand by and offer support. After the baby is born, Patty Jane opts for beauty school as a way to make a living and establishes the House of Curl. Over the next 30 years, the House of Curl becomes a cultural center in the suburbs of the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Customers can get a perm, hear a lecture, drink coffee, catch up on news, learn a new skill, find a babysitter, or just hang out. The cast of eccentric characters make life at the House of Curl both amusing and enjoyable. The exaggeratedly odd twists and turns of life in this environment keep the listener guessing, with tragedy following comedy. Author Landvik reads in flat Minnesotan tones. Recommended.?Joanna M. Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Coll. of Continuing Education Lib., Providence
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
See all Editorial Reviews
Product Details
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
PATTY JANE DOBBIN'S wedding dress was shell pink and of such a high-quality rayon that in the right light it looked like satin. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
appointments desk, booster chair, warming house Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Patty Jane, Clyde Chuka, House of Curl, Temple Curry, Evelyn Bright, Mighty Bites, Inky Kolstat, Aunt Harriet, Alva Bundt, Avel Ames, Crabby Bultram, Paige Larkin, Bev Beal, Reese Brown, Thor Rolvaag, Come Right Inn, Milt Zims, Pastor Schulberg, Bill Blaine, Minnehaha Avenue, Pastor Nelson, Gudrun Mueller, Merry Chuka, New Year's Eve, Ames Grains New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
PATTY JANE DOBBIN'S wedding dress was shell pink and of such a high-quality rayon that in the right light it looked like satin. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
appointments desk, booster chair, warming house Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Patty Jane, Clyde Chuka, House of Curl, Temple Curry, Evelyn Bright, Mighty Bites, Inky Kolstat, Aunt Harriet, Alva Bundt, Avel Ames, Crabby Bultram, Paige Larkin, Bev Beal, Reese Brown, Thor Rolvaag, Come Right Inn, Milt Zims, Pastor Schulberg, Bill Blaine, Minnehaha Avenue, Pastor Nelson, Gudrun Mueller, Merry Chuka, New Year's Eve, Ames Grains New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 5
books:
2
books
cite this book:
- The Tall Pine Polka (Ballantine Reader's Circle) by Lorna Landvik in Front Matter, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Your Oasis on Flame Lake (Ballantine Reader's Circle) by Lorna Landvik in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
- Where Is It? (Celebration Press Ready Readers) by Asta Thor on page 114
- Crazy Horse by Judith St. George on page 154
- In Their Own Words: Helen Keller by George Sullivan on page 153
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