Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
by Beth Hoffman
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.
6 comments:
Hi, I am kind of a stalker--I am Stephanie Lund's mom and I read the blog to see what your monthly book is to give me ideas for the book club I belong to.
This is a book our group read a few years ago and it is delightful. The ladies CeeCee meets are quite the group!
I am anxious to hear how your group likes the book!!!
I loved this book. It is a perfect summer read; I only wish I had been lying on a beach while reading it. For the author’s first book it is surprisingly good. It starts out sad but soon had me laughing out loud as well as crying. I was sad when the book was over; I want to have some of the characters as my friends.
Favorite Quotes:
Page 101: Everyone needs to find the one thing that brings out her passion. It’s what we do and share with the world that matters. I believe it’s important that we leave our communities in better shape than we found them.
Page 181: “…that’s what friends should do: cherish the good and pretend not to notice the harmless rest.”
Page 290: “People is wise cause they get out in the world and live. Wisdom comes from experience –from knowin’ each day is a gift and accepting it with gladness. You read a whole lot of books, and readin’ sure has made you smart, but ain’t no book in the world gonna make you wise.”
Page 222: “What’s the difference between eccentric and crazy?” … “Nobody knows!”
I really liked this book. It was a mix between The Help, The Ya-Ya Sisterhood, & The Secret Lives of Bees, all great books. I felt so bad for CeeCee and all she went through with her mom, but I am glad of how things ended up for her. I would love to know women like these. ;)
Favorite Quotes:
Pg 109: I flushed with delight at being in the company of a woman who used cuss words so freely.
Pg 255: Oysters are a lot like women. It's how we survive the hurts in life that brings us strength and gives us our beauty.
Pg 260: "I can't wait to see Mrs. Odell. It feels like I haven't seen her in years."
"That's how it is when you love someone. I'm sure she's as excited as you are."
I love that last quote because that is exactly how I feel about some of my friends. :)
I wish I was lying on a beach reading this too!
I adored this book! It reminded me of Steel Magnolias and The Help, along with a little YaYa Sisterhood. It had me crying big crocodile tears and laughing fantastic belly laughs. Truly one of my newer favorites that I'll definitely be reading again. I think what I like so much about this is CeeCee's happy ending. Not all kiddo's who have troubled lives get their happy ending. My hope of all hopes is that my 2 kiddo's will get the happy ending they deserve, just as CeeCee did.
Favorite Quotes:
"Oysters are a lot like women. It's how we survive the hurts in life that brings us strength and gives us our beauty." pg. 255
"Don't lay claim to something' that don't belong to you." pg. 289
"Don't go wastin' all them bright tomorrows you ain't even seen by hangin' on to what happened yesterday. Let go, child. Just breathe out and let go...People is wise 'cause they get out in the world and live. Wisdom comes from experience –from knowin’ each day is a gift and accepting it with gladness. You read a whole lot of books, and readin’ sure has made you smart, but ain’t no book in the world gonna make you wise.” pg. 290
I don't usually like description, but I thought some of hers was lovely. (I don't know how to do page numbers on my Kindle, so I have no page numbers; if anyone can enlighten me, I'll be truly grateful.)
"Her pace quickened when a small patch of sunflowers came into view.. . . From a distance they looked like a gropu of ladies with their heads hung low, as if embarrassed that they'd arrived at a party wearing identical hats."
"Sapphire looked at her friend kindly, patted the table, and said, 'Just set up the board as best you can. We'll play with whatever we got.' I thought that was one of the wiest things I'd ever heard anyone say."
"We stepped out of the car, and three tail-wagging dogs greated us with whimpers and squeals, acting like they knew us well, had missed us terribly, and were sick with happiness to have us back." Perfect description of dogs!
I loved this book! It's the very genre and pace I love (thanks Lauri for teaching me this). I cried when CeeCee left Mrs. Odell and was so happy for their reunion. I love that Mrs. Odell taught CeeCee about the Book of Life and reminded me that we don't always have the life we wish we had. I'm glad CeeCee ended up with a better life than she dreamed possible.
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