Book Description
In the verdant backwoods of North Carolina, in a sad and singular era, the Birches are unique among women of their time-living gloriously rich it decidedly offbeat lives in a private world ahandoned by men. And though misery often heats a path to their door, headstrong Sophia and her y, brilliant daughter Margaret possess charms to ward off loneliness and despair-thanks to the uncompromising strength, uncommon wisdom, and muscular love of a remarkable matriarch and self-taught healer who calls herself Charlie Kate.
In Charms for the Easy Life, Kaye Gibbons has created a luminous, truthtelling novel that gives life to her most passionate and toughminded women yet.
Customer Reviews:
Charmed by this read .......2007-05-20
Gibbons' book is amount three strong women who possess the determination to succeed and do so with their hearts intact. You'll fall in love with these characters as the author cleverly displays their motives, desires, thoughts, and feelings. I thought this book was a little slow in the beginning, but soon I could not put it down. The characters began to evolve, and then Charms for the Easy Life became ever so intriguiging. Author, With Great Mercy.
Very Charming .........2007-04-16
It's a little gem of a book ~~ one I've had in my bookcases for a long time. This past weekend with everyone in my family struggling with the stomach flu ~~ I picked it up to read it as I needed something light and easy to read. It is a lovely insight in a family of three women of three generations. It's mostly about Charlie, the midwife and all-around nurse. Her daughter, Sophia and granddaughter, Margaret were secondary characters but their stories are just as charming.
Charlie grew up poor. She married the river ferryman. After their daughter, Sophia was born, they moved inland. Charlie kept her midwife practice going and soon, her husband abandoned her to work on the Ohio River. It was just Charlie and Sophia, till Sophia married a man who made a mockery of their wedding by wearing yellow shoes. While Sophia's daughter Margaret was still young, Sophia became a widow. Then Charlie moved in with them and this is the basis of their story. They lived through life with stories of people and ailments, love and friendship through the years.
It really is a charming little book. If you love stories on mother/daughter relationships, this book is for you. If you like stories about people living in rural areas where community is very important, this one is for you. It's my first Gibbons book in a long time and reading it is just as sweet as stealing an afternoon to read it!
4-16-07
Good Story.......2006-11-28
This is a very good story of women relationships, set in the old timey rural South. Charlie Kate was a tough character, but I guess that is what it takes to survive, especially if you are a woman taking care of yourself and your family.
The Not so Easy Life can be Charming.......2006-07-26
Kaye Gibbons' "Charms for the Easy Life" tracks three generations of tough-minded women from the beginning of the twentieth century up to World War Two. Charlie Kate is the larger-than-life character, an "Ubermensch." Charlie delivers babies, heals with herbs, reads two books a week, and directs the lives of her daughter, Sophia, and Margaret (Charlie's granddaughter). Since the impressionable Margaret is the narrator, it stands to reason hero worship takes precedence over a more reliable picture of the family's history of the first half of the twentieth century. She recites events before her birth with a fondness that is reserved for those we do not truly know; some warts of the family tree are exposed, such as the history of several suicides that provide some morbid humor. One male family member whose sexual orientation is questioned by everyone except his mother, "shot himself after having spent two miserable years grieving over the death of Rudolph Valentino." Women's clothes are found in one of his drawers. The son's mother says, "Oh, Charlie Kate. He had a girlfriend. Look at all her things here. I always knew what people said about him wasn't so." Margaret recalls, "my grandmother stuffed the dreamland girlfriend's things into a paper sack and marveled that a man would cram his feet into shoes so high and narrow."
The meat of the novel centers on Charlie and her indomitable spirit (she surely would be labeled a feminist today). One conflict both Charlie and Sophia have endured, that Margaret is determined to avoid, is the deserting husband. As far as dating advice, Charlie would often say, "Kiss all you want. Kissing's fine, nothing more than uptown shopping on downtown business. But if you suffer him to put that ugly thing in you before you're married, do not come to me to ask how to undo what you have so stupidly done." Somehow the three of them live under one roof in Raleigh, North Carolina, and quite well financially, since Charlie's mobile medical business (no license) is booming. Margaret recalls several stories of how grandmother saved this person from a lynching; sewed body parts together, treated malaria, and comforted the dying. After awhile one half-expects to read Charlie donning a cape and running around in tights with a big "S" on her chest (Charlie would have to wait at least until 1938 when Superman was created).
Besides the over-the-top portrait of Charlie, the novel still seems to plow forward as Gibbons fleshes out characters with dialogue that is sharp and has no effects of sounding contrived in order to say something witty. "Charms for Easy Life" may not offer a rounded character description of Sophia, Margaret, or a realistic one of Charlie, but the novel still manages to enliven a picture of life down South from the turn of the century to World War Two. Life may have not been easy for these renaissance women, but Gibbons sure has afforded us the pleasure to partake in their charms.
Bohdan Kot
A Rare and Beautifully Worthwhile Read........2006-01-30
Kaye Gibbons has one of those rare gifts that not all writers possess: the ability to take the lives of fictional people who are seemingly nothing in a high profile society and make them sparkle with with more interest and more reality-based magic than any heavily financed publicity machine could ever do.
You come to believe these three beautiful, strong women and the reasons for why they stand together--not because--but in spite of the unworthy men they've encountered. Grandma Charlie Kate, a smart, literature loving, though uneducated woman, is gifted in natural healings and believes that when a person dies and purges (foam at the mouth), it is all their hopes, dreams, and things left unsaid. She is odd by others' standards, outspoken, and that's what makes people respect her!
Daughter Sophia is the more openly dreamy side of Charlie Kate, hopelessly romantic in spite of a disappointing marriage to a man in yellow shoes, and she loves high fashion. She faints easily at the sight of infections when she helps her mother on housecalls, and is mad for a man named Mr. Baines who takes his sweet time going to the altar.
Sophia's daughter Margaret tells the entire story of the family's somewhat Hemingway-like suicidal history and recounts their lives mainly around WWII. Margaret is more like Charlie Kate, but she still has enough of her mother in her to fall in love with a wounded soldier who comes from a good home, having broken the circle of bad men on the first crack.
Everyone makes such a big deal about the Vietnam soldiers suffering more than any others, and I know that they did their share, but if you read this book and the life breathed into it, you will see that no war and what it does are any good. Beautifully written, easy to accept as nonfiction, and full of bittersweet richness, this is easily a book that should reap rewards for its quiet grace, humility, and strength of character. I love this book dearly, and urge you to read it because of the human interest. You will never forget it long after you are finished.
Product Description
multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.
Average customer rating:
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CHARMS FOR THE EASY LIFE
Manufacturer: AVON
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000I8VJ1I |
Average customer rating:
- A Good Book for Beginners
- The Same Information
- Not So Bad
- 112 pages?
- You tried
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How To Make An Easy Charm To Attract Love Into Your Life (How to Series)
Tara Buckland
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Customer Reviews:
A Good Book for Beginners.......2003-12-27
This is a great little book for beginners. It clearly explains the difference between white and black magick and has easy to follow instructions and lots of illustrations. I am surprised by the hostility shown by some of the other reviewers who seem to have some sort of personal grudge so I just wanted to put in my thoughts. I have often recommended this book to people new to the concept of working magick. (So many seem to think that it's all about bending the will of others to your own.) This author makes it clear that true magick begins in the purity of your own heart and intentions. For the price, this is a good buy!
The Same Information.......1999-12-09
I am curious as to why writers of these types of books have almost all the same information in them. They say the same thing but suggest different ways of doing them, such as the books written by Silver Ravenwolf, Raymond Buckland, Tara Buckland and several others. I am curious if all these are written by the same person using different names (as writers are known to do) or if they all simply collaborate with one another. I find, as I said earlier, that the writings are basically all the same thing. They seem to resemble little witchity type books instead of the realities of the Pagan Beliefs. But perhaps they were written to do that in the beginning?
Not So Bad.......1999-07-21
As a fiction this isn't all that bad. Not as bad as silver ravenwolf's stuff. If this writer wants to be a writer then she has to write books and if all this fiction witch stuff is what people are buying then that's what she should write. Real witches know this stuff is just for people who don't know about real witchcraft so as a fiction it's not so bad. Probably for people who think witches are like the christians want people to think we are. I give it a 2 cause I feel sorry all the reviews are bad :)
112 pages?.......1999-07-02
I thought it was somewhat lengthy just to give love attraction spells. Simply put, a bath, some deodorant, clean clothes, pleasant smile, intelligent conversation and some manners would work just as well as all this hocus pocus. One shouldn't be playing with spells for love. Love should be given freely.
You tried.......1999-06-28
Yes, one should never follow in another persons shadow. Each person has their own worth and value. Books that repeat so many others out there do not do justice to a writers ability. I suggest you find your own niche or better yet, leave the writing to writers.
Average customer rating:
- Skip it and read Close to You!
- Couldn't put this book down
- Entertaining!
- Great reunion story with romantic suspense added to the mix
- Almost like a Christina Dodd novel
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Almost Like Being in Love
Christina Dodd
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
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Similar Items:
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Close to You
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Just the Way You Are
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One Kiss From You
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Trouble in High Heels
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Tongue In Chic
ASIN: 1416540857 |
Book Description
New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd, whose first contemporary novel Just the Way You Are was hailed as "lively, sexy...nothing short of a success" (Publishers Weekly), presents her new novel featuring the Prestcott sisters.
As the middle child, Pepper Prescott's rebellious nature helped her survive when her parents disappeared and she and her siblings were sent to different foster homes around the country. Now an independent young woman, Pepper finds herself on the run after witnessing a shooting. Fearing for her life, Pepper flees to the only place she ever considered home and is shocked to find her old lover, Dan Graham, living on the remote mountain ranch. A battle-hardened ex-Special Forces soldier, Dan no longer strikes Pepper as a man she can trust with her secrets, her life, and her love. But as long-simmering desires flare into a deep, sensual passion, Pepper realizes the only way she can reclaim her life is to ally herself with the enigmatic warrior who's willing to help fight for her future by solving the mysteries of her past -- and making her his wife today.
Customer Reviews:
Skip it and read Close to You!.......2007-05-09
I read Close to you and loved it! so I decided to go backwards and read the other two prescott sisters stories. I never should have bothered. The interesting characters and well thought out plot line found in Tonue in chic was glaringly missing in this book. The herione was so incredibly irritating that it was completely hard to believe that hero really wanted to be with her...I mean really. I did the speed read version of this book. Sighing in relief when it was over. Too bad there is not a satisfaction guarantee on some of these books. $7 is a lot to waste on nonsense like this one. Skip the first two prescott books...go straight to Close to you and read Christina Dodd from there. It is obvious her writing has greatly improved over the years. Her new stuff is great.
Couldn't put this book down.......2007-02-20
The strong character of Pepper and her tragic story had me from the first page. This book has a very seductive cover but the story line, although it contains some romance is so much more. It is about family relationships and some military schemes are incorporated as well. This is the first book I read by this author, and I really enjoyed it.
Entertaining! .......2006-03-04
This is the first book I read from this Author, and I truly enjoyed it. I read these kind of books to relax, to complete my lunch time at work. The story really got me going and it was a quick read. Those reviewers upset that she is trying something new, I take she writes a different kind of novel, historical, like that will make these kind of books "literature". WE all read romance novels for FUN! So get the chip off your shoulder, and enjoy Ms. Dodds venture into "contemporary romance". I'm a Nora Roberts fan, and will always read someone new in between, this lady was a great choice, and I look forward to choosing more of her books.
Great reunion story with romantic suspense added to the mix.......2005-09-09
For Hope, Pepper, and Caitlin Prescott and their foster brother, Gabriel, life as they knew it changed forever the night their parents were killed in a car accident. Mysteriously separated and sent to different parts of the country, all four have grown to adulthood and forged new lives, but are constantly looking for each other. Life has dealt harsh lessons to them all, especially the middle sister, Pepper.
Just eight years old when she was torn from her home and family, Pepper became a ward of the system, moving from one foster family to another, each experience adding a layer of resolve and determination to never trust anyone other than herself. That resolve faltered the year she was sent to live in Diamond, Idaho. For a while, Pepper found a home with her foster mother, Mrs. Dreiss, and a youthful passion with the town's most popular son, Dan Graham. But when they finally gave in to their feelings for each other, Pepper's fears and insecurities got the best of her, and she ran away from Diamond and the boy she loved.
Nine years later, Pepper Prescott is calling herself Jackie Porter, and she is the owner of a successful landscaping business in Washington, D.C. Taking to heart the teachings of her favorite role model, General Jennifer Napier, Pepper has disciplined her body and mind to achieve her objectives. That new life is destroyed, however, the night Pepper goes to a book signing to meet her idol. Inadvertently witnessing the General kill her aide after being accused of treason, Pepper is spotted and barely escapes. Knowing she is a marked woman, Pepper decides to return to the last place that felt like home...Diamond, Idaho.
Dan Graham has spent the last nine years trying to forget Pepper and not really succeeding. Now in the military as part of an anti-terrorist unit for the Special Forces, Dan is home on medical leave and is keeping a promise to the late Mrs. Dreiss to care for the ranch until Pepper returns to claim it. Now Pepper's back, and the past is about to collide with the present. For these reunited lovers have an unresolved past to deal with and enemies to vanquish.
The second installment in Christina Dodd's series about the Prescott family, ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE is part action thriller and pure exhilarating romance. Pepper and Dan are impetuous, strong-willed characters made interesting by their all too human flaws. Interspersed throughout the story is the continuing search for her siblings by Hope, the eldest sister, whose story, JUST THE WAY YOU ARE, started the series. Missing siblings, reunited lovers, terrorist plots -- all come together in this intense, powerful story sure to become one of your favorite summer reads.
TheSchemer
Almost like a Christina Dodd novel.......2005-07-07
Hey, she's entitled to a bad day at work like everybody else. Don't let this book discourage you from reading anything else of Dodd's, including the rest of this series.
If I had read this one first, I'd have thought the move to contemporary romance wasn't going to work out for Dodd, who is best known for her delightful, deeply sensual historicals. But I happen to have loved the others in this series. So I'm happy to assume that "Almost Like Being In Love" is a fluke.
Where's my beef? Specifically, there's little sexual chemistry between the hero and heroine, which is a historic first - and only! - for a Christina Dodd romance novel. The plot is neither credible nor deliberately incredible (as in deliberately, gleefully over-the-top, which is a hallmark of this author's highly entertaining Victorian-era bodice-ripper romps.)
I feel like an ungrateful wretch, but to award "Almost" anything above a 3 would be a disservice to Christina Dodd's writing at its best, and to readers who are new to this marvelous author.
Book Description
A high school jock and nerd fall in love senior year, only to part after an amazing summer of discovery to attend their respective colleges. They keep in touch at first, but then slowly drift apart.
Flash forward twenty years.
Travis and Craig both have great lives, careers, and loves. But something is missing .... Travis is the first to figure it out. He's still in love with Craig, and come what may, he's going after the boy who captured his heart, even if it means forsaking his job, making a fool of himself, and entering the great unknown. Told in narrative, letters, checklists, and more, this is the must-read novel for anyone who's wondered what ever happened to that first great love.
Customer Reviews:
truly romantic as a love story should be.......2007-08-14
I am not going to talk about the wiring, the vocabulary, the plot device, etc. No, I am not interested all your usual technical stuff about writing a good book. I simply love this book because it truly is what it's meant to be: a love story. Love among partners, lovers, friends, family, etc. that are genuine and heart felt. Craige and Travil's road to HEA is one of the most romantic story I have ever read. Even the triangle relationship ( a hot button for me and I normally have very low tolerance for this type of story) of the three men works out beautifully. I don't know what the author hopes to accomplish writing this book, but to me, this is simply a feel good book that I love to re-read over and over. It feels good because it sends out the simple message: everyone, no mater how odd or strange you are, deserves love and will eventually find true love (even if you have to travel across the country to find it! )
Almost Like Being In Love.......2007-08-08
Almost Like Being In Love is the unconventional love story, the nerd and the jock hook up and actually fall in love with each other, both boys by the way. The story is something that I was skeptical about at first, but once it traveled to their adult lives I began to take it more seriously. I feel as though Last Days of Summer is Kluger's best work, but Almost Like Being In Love uses his style of writing just as eloquently and allows for each side of the story to be told in an amusing way.
A Good Romantic Comedy.......2007-05-22
I liked what one critic said, that the novel is "as preposterous as a Broadway musical." I would add that things get a little too precious when Craig and Travis have raisin fights in their dorm room, and the mocking, sarcastic banter among all the characters is sometimes groan-worthy (if people really talked like this all the time, it would be a very annoying world indeed). I also have a gripe about how the gay characters in this book have 30-inch waists, muscles to spare, and upwardly mobile careers. In the real world not all of us are perfect, just like you straight folks! What kept me reading is the love triangle between Craig, Clayton and Travis. It seems like the situation could never be resolved in a satisfactory manner, so I kept turning pages to find out. If you're a sucker for romance, you'll enjoy this.
Funny and romantic.......2007-05-13
Without a doubt, this book is one of the funniest and most romantic stories I've ever read. I laughed, I cried, and as soon as I was finished, I wanted to read it again! Highly recommended.
Amazing!.......2007-04-28
This book is beautifully written! It is funny, classic, involving and suspenseful. You find yourself routing for the characters and cheering and crying all at the same time. A true page turner. This book will awaken emotions in you that you may have put away on the shelf. Highly recommended.
Product Description
3 Book Set By Christina Dodd (Lost Texas Heart Series); Almost Like Being in Love; Just the Way You Are; Close to You.
Average customer rating:
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Almost Like Being in Love (Jazz Vocal Series)
Manufacturer: Warner Bros Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Jazz | Musical Genres | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0757934684 |
Product Description
5 Mass Market Paperback Titles By Dodd - Rules of Engagement - Almost Like Being in Love - Trouble in High Heels - Rules of Attraction - In My Wildest Dreams
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- Don't Tell Anyone
- Eat the Document: A Novel
- Enduring Love: A Novel
- Enemy Women: A Novel
- Eva Luna
- Everville
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