22 April/May, 2013 Senior Focus
Sassy so uthern women tricities found in women are presented with love and hope. Read and compare with Cathy Holton’s Summer in the South, which has a similar plot.
The BookNook Settle In and Enjoy
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
By Bonnie Gerken Southern fiction is a genre all its own, and storytelling is ingrained in the culture of that part of the country. For me, the phrase “southern women” brings to mind someone feisty, strong and outgoing, as personified by the character of Scarlet O’Hara in Gone with the Wind. If you haven’t yet read that classic, it is well worth the time commitment it takes to read all 1,000 pages. If you like humor, Fannie Flagg and the Miss Julia series by Ann B. Ross are fun. And do you remember Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Burns? Other authors to try are Pat Conroy, Denise Hildreth and Lee Smith. There are so many options to choose from by searching “southern fiction” in the library catalog. Here are a few more feisty women for you to meet. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
When 12-year-old CeeCee’s mother dies, her father sends her to Savannah to live with a greataunt she doesn’t know. CeeCee’s story alternates between tragedy S1L-halverson5x8.qxp 1/4/12 11:34 and humor. All the strength, wisdom, generosity, fear and eccen-
In the 1960s, life in the south was separate and at the same time, intertwined. A writing project brings out all the secrets, breaks society’s rules, and endangers the participants as the Black help share their stories and that of the white families they work for with the world. Georgia Bottoms by Mark Childress
Georgia has a secret lover for each night of the week, and that’s not the only secret she’s been keeping from her friends and family. One day, her Saturday night decides he must confess his sins. Being a practical person who does what needs to be done to survive, Georgia goes into action to save her reputation. A fun romp in more ways than one. Reader alert – language Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Lily, 14, yearns to know more about her mother and runs away to follow her one clue. The search leads to a family of three sisters who own a honey business in South Carolina. The sisters take Lily in and she learns the truth love and memAM about Page independence, 1 ories in this coming-of-age story. Enjoy your reading, y’all.
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Bob Silverberg interviews Saralee Perel for Books and the World, a Cape Cod TV show that showcases four authors each month.
Lights, Camera, Lunacy! By Saralee Perel Like death, it was bound to happen. I was the guest on the TV show, “Books and the World.” Am I glad I stepped out of my comfort zone? We’ll see. In pre-show terror, I emailed my pal, Bill, for support. He thinks highly of me, so I didn’t tell him my real thoughts. “Your dream has come true,” he wrote. “Someone wants to interview you. It’s a GOOD thing.” “So is Metamucil,” I thought. “But you know what they say about too much of a good thing.” “What’s the worst that can happen?” “My dress could get stuck in the waistband of my pantyhose so viewers will see a wide shot of my fanny.” Before the show, I layered L’Oreal Firming Facial Serum on my thighs. I used a vat of Revlon Concealer on my second chin. I put Almay Cover-Up Stick on my crow’s feet and the sides of my mouth where my dark lines fan out like cat whiskers. The older I get, the longer it takes to get that natural look. My heart was beating so fast, I used up four years on its warranty! Flinging blouses from my closet, resulting in a giant mound of clothing, I found the answer to our daily two-hour search topic: where’s the cat? At the studio, I met the interviewer, Bob Silverberg, a stunning fellow with warm and welcoming eyes. When the cameras were on,
we simply spoke with each other – from the heart. It was because of this brilliant gentleman’s tender manner that I loved the experience. If you’d like to see my interview, just go to youtube.com and type my name. I went blank 17 times – seriously. And so, I learned about stepping out of my comfort zone. Instead of shying away from the next opportunity, I’m going to calmly and courageously take a deep breath, think about the value of attempting a new scary thing – and then throttle the person who asks me. To my friend, Bill, whose caring support was a reason I didn’t back out, “Hey pal, I’ve got two words for you. Trust me; they’re not elegant.” Those words I’d like to say to him and everyone else who believes in me? Thank you. I cherish the encouragement from friends near and far – not just old friends like Bill but new ones, many of whom are readers who’ve contacted me, but whom I’ve never met in person, which matters not one bit when it comes to the loving connections I’m blessed to receive. To all of my dear ones: you were right there with me. You represent the legs on which I stand. Award-winning syndicated columnist, Saralee Perel, can be reached at sperel@saraleeperel.com. Her newest book is Cracked Nuts & Sentimental Journeys. Visit saraleeperel.com.
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