From Publishers Weekly
This debut novel's campy title promises good-natured gossip, women baring their souls and their gray roots to understanding hairdressers. Yet although Landvik builds her plot around two close-knit Minnesota sisters, Patty Jane and Harriet, she doesn't so much conjure a beauty shop as explain, in sentimental terms, how her kindhearted principals survive hardship. The story, which oscillates between optimism and tragedy, begins in 1953, at Patty Jane's wedding to handsome Norwegian Thor; that evening, the bride becomes pregnant, frightening her husband and eventually prompting his mysterious disappearance only days before their daughter is born. Meanwhile, Harriet falls in love with Avel, a doting millionaire. They're blissfully happy together, so when Avel goes on a business trip just before their scheduled nuptials, it's a sure bet his plane will crash. The ensuing years pass quickly as the sisters adjust to single life. Patty Jane opens the eponymous salon and raises her daughter, while Harriet, who never quite gets over Avel, develops a drinking problem. Both women will love again, but new troubles are in store. Landvik uses the latter half of the book to grandstand against alcohol and cigarettes; the characters praise AA, and one key player succumbs to lung cancer. Everyone finds consolation in the homespun wisdom that peppers every page ("grief is a lot like sobriety; you get through it one day at a time"). Family bonds?if not beauty-salon solidarity?triumph in this unpretentious tale.

Duplicate copy offered in noumena12's Virtual Bookbox and accepted by camis - mailing tomorrow morning via surface mail - ENJOY!

Thanks Rosie - this arrived today. Looking forward to reading it.

Finished this last night and I loved it! A really quick read, but not fluff - in fact far from it. Great female characters who show both strengths and weaknesses and a good mix of laughter and sadness. Landvik certainly knows how to tell a good tale.

Sending to PurpleRosebud from the Name swap.

Thanks camis arrived today. Enjoyed the bookswap game now looking forward to reading the book.

Great story! A quick read that held my interest right from the start. Much more depth than I expected. Lots of emotion both happy and sad. Thoroughly recommended to others to read. Enjoyed the swap game and now I've enjoyed the book. Perfect!

Now going off to welshhelen who won it in another bookswap.

Enjoy!

Thank you, purplerosebud, the book arrived a couple of days ago. I thoroughly enjoyed Welcome to the Great Mysterious and was so pleased to win this book in the swap because I wanted to read more of her books. I'm hoping to get to it soon, after clesaring the 3 dozen ring books waiting for me!

Thanks again :-)

Well, it took me three years to get round to reading this but I'm glad that I finally did! It's not my favourite Landvik novel - The Tall Pine Polka takes pride of place - but it was certainly an enjoyable read. It was emotional without being schmaltzy and hard-hitting without being unrealistic. I thoroughly enjoyed the main characters, especially the men funnily enough!

Another great read from an author who I always look out for. Thanks for sharing, everyone. I'll hopefully be setting up a new OBCZ in the new year so I'm saving this to go on that shelf.

Sent to Pussinbooks as a surprise RABCK

Oh! What a lovely book. I thought that, as this was one of Landvik's earlier works, it might not be as good as her later books, but I was pleasantly surprised. In fact I think this may get the accolade of joint favourite along with Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons. I agree with WelshHelen that it packs an emotional punch without becoming slushy, and celebrates the strength of family and friendships without being cheesy. I defy anyone to be dry-eyed by the end, though! Really enjoyed this, thanks again to Helen for the kind RABCK.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

On the BC shelf upstairs.

Join your local library and use your card to keep it active.
It is FREE and opens the doors to books, music and film, IT and our services from your home.
We value your membership: keep using us!


Click here for Milton Keynes Libraries webpage.

Swiped from the library bookcrossing display. Well pussinbooks, I don't want to discourage you from bringing in books to support this OBCZ but, you've piqued my interest yet again and I've got far too many books to read already. If only I could resist...