Helpful Score: 3
Possibly the smarmiest book I've ever attempted to read. It's so sugary sweet sappy it almost makes your teeth hurt.
Helpful Score: 2
I enjoyed this book immensely. Sure, it is a sappy read, with characters that are too good to be true, but that was the draw for me. Made me wish I was part of the Ponder family and that I grew up in Louisiana (otherwise probably on my list of least favorite places to live!). So many joyous moments and crushingly sad ones as well, and a very satisfying ending made the story come around full circle. I loved it!
Holly H D. (hdurrence) -
Helpful Score: 2
This book is absolutely wonderful. I love all of the Rebecca Wells books but this was truly a gem. It made me laugh and cry. The story is heartwarming from start to finish.
Helpful Score: 2
I wanted to like this book, but I eventually grew weary of it. The word "cloying" kept recurring to me as I read it - it was just too syrupy and too stereotypically southern for me. The emotions seemed superficial, contrived and "too precious". I actually remember having the same feelings about Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, although I liked it better, so this will be my last effort at a book by this author.
Helpful Score: 1
I wanted to like this book, but I eventually grew weary of it. The word "cloying" kept recurring to me as I read it - it was just too syrupy and too stereotypically southern for me. The emotions seemed superficial, contrived and "too precious". I actually remember having the same feelings about Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, although I liked it better, so this will be my last effort at a book by this author
Michelle B. (memphismama) reviewed The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder on + 59 more book reviews
I loved it! I am glad I didn't listen to the bad reviews online. I like her style and loved this book. I have shared it with coworkers who agree that this is well worth the read.
This is a great read. It is dead on for small towns in the south and for Louisiana in particular. Rebecca Wells captures all the voices in this book even better than the Ya Ya sisterhood!
This is the most awful book I've read in a really, really long time. The only reason I finished it was because I was on a family vacation with no access to anything else to read. I am a fan of some of Wells other works, and expected to like this one also. Boy, was I disappointed. The writing is repetative, the characters flat and boringly predictable. I just didn't care whether the guy got the girl in the end or not. I would not recommend this book to anyone!
Lana K. (mazeydazey) -
It's funny how one person can read a book and not like it and another person can simply adore it but that is what makes the world go round! It would be a sad place if we all thought the same thing. eh??? Having said that I thought this book was fantastic! I listened to it on my CD player as I was driving to Missouri. I can't remember who read the book but she was great. Round trip was 14 hours and it took every minute to hear it but it made the trip go by so quickly. I liked it so much that a year later I read the book and enjoyed reading it as much as listening to it. If you like the Ya-Yas you should like this book. The characters are wonderful, the places so mystical. What is not to love about Louisiana?? The book took me back to my childhood and even though I didn't have an unusual family like Calla Lily, it did remind me of the summers I spent on my Grandmas farm. I laughed, I cried and at the end of the book it warmed my heart. Rebecca Wells is a great author and a wonderful person who has overcome a lot of obstacles in her life. I admire her and enjoy her books. I recommend you check out her website. I love the moon and the moon loves me......Yes you must read The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder.
The only redeeming quality of this book is the picture on the cover. Seems like Rebecca Wells got this published solely through her reputation for the ya-yas. This book is a predictable, overly sweet, simplistic waste of time. The writing and dialogue are awful. Had this been submitted as a first time manuscript from an unknown author I can't imagine a publisher would have touched it.
I love this author and this book was given to me by a dear friend. The first third tore my heart out and I was swept in by Calla and her mother. There are only two reasons I didn't give this five stars. First, too much time spent on the moon descriptions. Second, I really wish Calla could have had a few flaws so she wouldn't have felt so surreal. Sending this one on to my eldest daughter who loves this author as well.
Wonderful prequel to Divine Secrets of the La-la Sisterhood.
ANDRE' E. J. (Expeditious) -
Another absolutely wonderful book! All the reading emotions come thru in this book. Rebecca Wells is a super author. Loved all the Ya-Ya books too.
The opinions on this book are so vastly different, it's amazing. I wondered if I was reading the same book. I love Rebecca Wells and the other books she has written. I desperately wanted to like this book, and tried so hard.
The story suffers from a total lack of story and character development. The dialogue is so badly written, it's painful. I saw online that someone said Rebecca Wells was suffering from Lyme disease while writing this novel. If that's the reason this book is so poorly written, then it's the fault of the publisher and/or editor. This is a surface story. There is no depth to the characters, plot, storyline, etc. Several characters are introduced for absolutely no reason. Cally Lily didn't really need two brothers, they did nothing to move the story line forward.
The editing is non-existent. She puts her drunken best friend to bed to sleep it off and then she wraps her in a quilt to sleep on the floor. The story is confusing and frustrating, it was impossible to get into. No development, no depth.
Major incidents are thrown into the storyline, allowing you to believe that, for example, racism is a huge part of the story. However, racism never discussed again. The story is told, not shown, and the reader has a difficult time getting through the book. I struggled to finish this book, before finally giving up more than halfway through.
The story suffers from a total lack of story and character development. The dialogue is so badly written, it's painful. I saw online that someone said Rebecca Wells was suffering from Lyme disease while writing this novel. If that's the reason this book is so poorly written, then it's the fault of the publisher and/or editor. This is a surface story. There is no depth to the characters, plot, storyline, etc. Several characters are introduced for absolutely no reason. Cally Lily didn't really need two brothers, they did nothing to move the story line forward.
The editing is non-existent. She puts her drunken best friend to bed to sleep it off and then she wraps her in a quilt to sleep on the floor. The story is confusing and frustrating, it was impossible to get into. No development, no depth.
Major incidents are thrown into the storyline, allowing you to believe that, for example, racism is a huge part of the story. However, racism never discussed again. The story is told, not shown, and the reader has a difficult time getting through the book. I struggled to finish this book, before finally giving up more than halfway through.
Author does a nice job of recreating place & time - Louisiana in the 1960-1980's
A refreshing read. I loved Calla Lily Ponder - she is definitely a character I could relate to. Growing up in a close knit community, finally venturing out on her own & remaining true to herself & her upbringing, even when life was cruel & so unfair. I certainly recommend this book for a light, fresh plot that will have you laughing one minute & crying the next.
