Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts is another recent read of mine compliments of Oprah’s book club, and also happens to fulfill my “W” on my A-Z Book Challenge.
From Goodreads:
“Talk about unlucky sevens. An hour ago, seventeen-year-old, seven months pregnant Novalee Nation was heading for California with her boyfriend. Now she finds herself stranded at a Wal-Mart in Sequoyah, Oklahoma, with just $7.77 in change. But Novalee is about to discover hidden treasures in this small Southwest town–a group of down-to-earth, deeply caring people willing to help a homeless, jobless girl living secretly in a Wal-Mart. From Bible-thumping blue-haired Sister Thelma Husband to eccentric librarian Forney Hull who loves Novalee more than she loves herself, they are about to take her–and you, too–on a moving, funny, and unforgettable journey to . . . Where the Heart Is.”
Basically, it was a good book, not amazing or anything, another more subtle read. Did I like it? Yes. Am I going to go telling everyone I know to read it? No. Oprah didn’t make a wrong choice, just a not-so-exciting one.
I probably also am a little less overjoyed about it since I just read Vinegar Hill, which is another subtle, small town read of Oprah’s book club that I honestly loved. I’d say Vinegar Hill wins out.
If you enjoy quieter reads, particularly with a small town feel, you might enjoy this book.
Any subtle reads you want to recommend?
Thanks for reading,
You are reading all these books that I read years ago when Oprah first picked them–it’s taking me back! Hahaha!
I read a couple of other books by Letts and enjoyed them. Like you said, they’re nothing spectacular, but they’re nice reads.
I remember reading this years ago and found it a wacky yet charming. I can’t remember the character names but the relationship between heroine and the old woman worked.
A movie was made based on the book but as I recall didn’t measure up to the imagery the author created.
You’re taking me back in time too, I remember digging this one. I think I saw the movie too…Natalie Portman i think?
This just makes me think of the Natalie Portman movie! Living in the Walmart. Sigh. Good times. For a subtle read, I like Kent Haruf, and the occasional Anita Shreve.
I don’t remember liking this book all that much. Maybe because I saw the movie first? I just remember being frustrated and bored during this one.
I’m not sure if I saw the movie but it was a not-so-exciting book. Not bad though. Just alright to me.
I love such stories with small town feel. Always find them charming. I’ll give this a try. Thanks for the recommendation.
I did like it but it was slow. It honestly is because I had just loved Vinegar Hill and Where the Heart Is is similar, so it might have been too much small-town story for me at once.
Is it anything like ‘Lucia Lucia’ ?
Ooooh hmmm. . . I loved Lucia Lucia but I read it so long ago. . . I can’t compare the two. . .
Ohhh I don’t even know the movie other people are talking about. Anyway, I usually like stories in a small village, about families and so on, but I think I won’t look for this one; I want other of your recommendations first
I agree, this was good but others I have read have been amazing!
This was one of the only book-to-film adaptations ever in the land that I preferred the film. And they filmed at my alma mater for like 3 seconds.
That’s a cool fact though!
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