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Search - The Florabama Ladies' Auxiliary Sewing Circle
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The Florabama Ladies' Auxiliary Sewing Circle Author: |
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Book Information
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Other Versions of this Book: Hardcover, Hardcover
Book Description:
Welcome to Florabama, Alabama-a place where you can stop to sip a co'cola or iced tea and think about money and love. If you had 'em, you were free to think about other things. If you didn't, you couldn't think about anything else.
"We've been screwed blue and tattooed," quips Hilly Pruitt, upon hearing the news of the closing of Cherished Lady, the local lingerie factory where she's worked a lifetime. The same day the plant closes, Bonnie Duke Cullman, former-deb turned Atlanta-society-wife, has herself been downsized-right out of her marriage and picture-perfect life. In an unlikely alliance, Bonnie, Hilly, and the rest of the ex-bra seamstresses join forces in the "Displaced Homemakers Program" at a podunk community college. Together they endure a midlife survival course where the events of a single year forever alter the way they see the world and their places in it.
Hailed as "a fearless novelist" (Pat Conroy) and "a peerless limner of strong, complex women" (Anne Rivers Siddons), Lois Battle creates a rich tapestry of female friendships in this funny, heartfelt, and poignant story about the surprising power of a group of small-town women.
"The book is so full of good stuff it's hard to know where to start. It has a feel of Places in the Heart, a little of Norma Rae, and maybe a touch of Fried Green Tomatoes. But [it] stands on its own as an intelligent, poignant, funny, wistful novel of expectations, love and rebirth." (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
"This is just the kind of book you'd like to take onto the porch of a clapboard house, to read curled up in a wicker chair with a glass of iced tea at your side." (Houston Chronicle)
"We've been screwed blue and tattooed," quips Hilly Pruitt, upon hearing the news of the closing of Cherished Lady, the local lingerie factory where she's worked a lifetime. The same day the plant closes, Bonnie Duke Cullman, former-deb turned Atlanta-society-wife, has herself been downsized-right out of her marriage and picture-perfect life. In an unlikely alliance, Bonnie, Hilly, and the rest of the ex-bra seamstresses join forces in the "Displaced Homemakers Program" at a podunk community college. Together they endure a midlife survival course where the events of a single year forever alter the way they see the world and their places in it.
Hailed as "a fearless novelist" (Pat Conroy) and "a peerless limner of strong, complex women" (Anne Rivers Siddons), Lois Battle creates a rich tapestry of female friendships in this funny, heartfelt, and poignant story about the surprising power of a group of small-town women.
"The book is so full of good stuff it's hard to know where to start. It has a feel of Places in the Heart, a little of Norma Rae, and maybe a touch of Fried Green Tomatoes. But [it] stands on its own as an intelligent, poignant, funny, wistful novel of expectations, love and rebirth." (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
"This is just the kind of book you'd like to take onto the porch of a clapboard house, to read curled up in a wicker chair with a glass of iced tea at your side." (Houston Chronicle)
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Top Member Book Reviews
5 member(s) found this review helpful.
A "gently" raised Southern Gal, loses her husband (his fault), loses her idenity (her fault) and struggles to become a real woman in todays' "New South". How she accomplishes not only this, but helps a large group of other woman who have been "displaced by progress" is a wonderful story. There was no sense of self-pity here, just a wonderful sense of a new life on the brink....I recommend this book to (and for) woman everywhere.
Rachel H. (
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Being from Alabama, I was drawn to this book. I'm glad I was. It was a great story about getting your life back on track and helping others do the same.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is a great novel about making your life over after a setback. There isn't a lot of sewing in it, but it's very, very good.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Wonderful story of a group of women and their leader overcoming unexpected turnarounds in their lives and finding a new way. Believable.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Nice story about women who must continue on after the plant they work for closes.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
A story of strong Southern women and their struggle with finding new direction after being laid off, divorced, or let down. I found the growing and changing friendships delightful to watch unfold.
ShawnMarie M. (
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
This was a nice, easy read with very enjoyable characters. My only complaint is that the ending leaves you wondering what happens next and the author has planned no sequal.
Barbara B. (
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is such a good book. A number of ladies "of a certain age" find themselves in crisis when the mill they work for closes, and they are forced to make new beginnings.l
The way they do this will warm your heart.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
People calls this book Norma Rae meets Steel Magnolias, and I have to agree with them. This book is touching and funny - about the surprising power of a group of small-town women.
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
A fun, quick easy read! Lots of characters and personalities who join together for support after the "Cherished Lady" factory closes down.
Please Rate these Book Reviews
I loved this book. It is cozy, warm, and snuggly. The normal southern setting melds nicely into the well rounded characters and their antics. Good story line, good solution, good read.
I loved this book! Author's characters are believable & well-fleshed out. The story line was catchy. I got so engrossed in the whole thing that I was left wanting a sequel! Good read.
So, if you're into "chick-lit" I think this is probably a great choice. I had an expectation about it being more about labor organizing and the deep connections between working class women (these topics are briefly looked at) and as such I was a little confused by the central themes of divorce and an middle aged woman's return to sexuality (which was actually pretty sweet). In other words, if you're looking for Southern Literature with edge a la Dorothy Allison, this might not do it for you. On the other hand, if you want a sweet story about a woman rediscovering herself in the South, it's a pleasant read.
From back cover:
Welcome to Florabama, AL, a place where you can sip a co'cola or iced tea and think about money and love. if you had em, you were free to think about other things. If you didn't, you couldn't think about anything else.
Lois Battle creates a rich tapestry of female friendships in this funny, heartfelt and poignant story about the surprising power of a group of small-town women.
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