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Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, Beth Hoffman
*****
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
Author: Beth Hoffman
First Edition: Viking, 2010
This edition: Kindle edition, Viking 2010
Original language: English
Awards:
- Southern Independent Booksellers Award
- Okra Pick
Summary:
From Amazon.com:
“Twelve-year-old CeeCee Honeycutt is in trouble. For years, she has been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille-the tiara-toting, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town-a woman trapped in her long-ago moment of glory as the 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen. But when Camille is hit by a truck and killed, CeeCee is left to fend for herself. To the rescue comes her previously unknown great-aunt, Tootie Caldwell.
In her vintage Packard convertible, Tootie whisks CeeCee away to Savannah‘s perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricity, a world that seems to be run entirely by women. From the exotic Miz Thelma Rae Goodpepper, who bathes in her backyard bathtub and uses garden slugs as her secret weapons, to Tootie’s all- knowing housekeeper, Oletta Jones, to Violene Hobbs, who entertains a local police officer in her canary-yellow peignoir, the women of Gaston Street keep CeeCee entertained and enthralled for an entire summer.
Laugh-out-loud funny and deeply touching, Beth Hoffman’s sparkling debut is, as Kristin Hannah says, “packed full of Southern charm, strong women, wacky humor, and good old-fashioned heart.” It is a novel that explores the indomitable strengths of female friendship and gives us the story of a young girl who loses one mother and finds many others.”
Quotes:
“Life is full of change, honey. That’s how we learn and grow.”
“When a chapter of your Life Book is complete, your spirit know its time to turn the page, so a new chapter can begin. Even when you’re scared or when you think you’re not ready, your spirit knows you are.”
“the powerful undertow of beauty,”
“Forgiveness has a whole lot more to do with the person doing the forgiving than it did with the person in need of forgiveness.”
“I don’t mean to lie, I just remember big.”
“What’s the difference between eccentric and crazy?”
“If you want to glow like you’re lit from within, CeeCee, wear pearls and a pale pink sweater.”
“Oysters are a lot like women. It’s how we survive the hurts in life that brings us strength and gives us our beauty.”
Opinion:
ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS NOVEL! If you liked The Help and Steel Magnolias, this book is for you. I loved the idea of a Life Book, of doing something “for ugly’s sake,” the bond among the women, the Southern hospitality, the traveling bra! The black boomerang of karma, finding men like high heeled shoes, not growing up too fast; this book was beautiful. I loved that the only man that ever really appears in the novel, and only for a brief time, is CeeCee’s dad. I love that world of and for women, where women are strong and beautiful in so many ways. I CRIED my eyes out. Definitely a new favorite and one I highly recommend.
Related articles
- Meet the Ladies in Red ~ Beth Yarnall (crimsonromanceauthors.com)
lasesana 
Thank you so much for your wonderful review of my novel. I’m tickled that you loved CeeCee’s story and grateful for your kind words!
I am HONORED that you have read my review! I don’t want to gush like a teenager with a rock star- but I’m going to: I LOVED YOUR NOVEL! The only thing that I didn’t like was that I finished it! I wish it could have gone on another 500 pages! You have a gift with words and I was truly touched by your book. I can still hear some of your phrases in my head. THANK YOU, this is a book I will never forget and will share with all the women that I cherish in my life… You do not know how special you have made me feel today! Thanks!
Well … consider yourself hugged. So often I’m amazed by the graciousness and pure generosity of life. Today I was feeling a bit low, and then, out of blue, I came across your blog post. You reminded me of why I write and create these stories and characters. I’m so glad my words mattered to you: I can assure you that yours have mattered to me!
Hugging you right back! Have a wonderful Sunday! You made my week!