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Dollbaby: A Novel
Dollbaby A Novel
Author: Laura Lane McNeal
A big-hearted coming-of-age debut set in Civil Rights–era New Orleans—a novel of Southern eccentricity, secrets, and laughter —   — When Ibby Bell?s father dies unexpectedly in the summer of 1964, her mother unceremoniously deposits Ibby with her eccentric grandmother, Fannie, and throws in her father?s urn for good measure. Fannie?s New Orleans h...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780670014736
ISBN-10: 0670014737
Publication Date: 7/3/2014
Pages: 352
Rating:
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 21

3.7 stars, based on 21 ratings
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Members Wishing: 6
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Dollbaby: A Novel on + 73 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I received this book as a Goodreads first-reads winner.

It it set in New Orleans in the late 60s as the south is experiencing desegregation . Although the book is named "Dollbaby" which is the name of a main character in the book, it mainly focuses on the experiences of Liberty "Ibby" Bell as she is left by her mother at a grandmothers house after her father passes away.
The story is enjoyable and the characters are well developed. While the book touches on issues of civil rights, it's definitely not a hardcore look at those experiences. While the characters do find themselves in racial situations, most are "solved" with little or no conflict. What made me like this book is the background stories and how they are woven together. I would recommend this book to people who like reading about the old south and the relationships that are built between families and the people who work for them.
kimberlyrav avatar reviewed Dollbaby: A Novel on + 417 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
What an emotional ride this book took me on. Such a touching, meaningful, fantastically written book. I was so taken with this book, it could easily have been made into a movie.

The book starts out in 1965, way down south in Louisiana, during a time when racism was still hugely prevalent. Even though Lindon B Johnson makes his speech about all men created equal, some of the white men and women of the south dared anyone to make them conform to such a belief.

It all starts when a shy 11 year old white girl, named, Ibby, who just having lost her dad, is dropped off by her less than caring mother to a grandmother the girl has never known.

The world Ibby(short for Liberty), enters now living with her paternal grandmother, changes her whole past, present and future. So many secrets, so many lessons, so many experiences await Ibby.

The book follows Ibby from the age of 12 until her adulthood, when until then do all of the family secrets, monumental in many ways, come flying full force into Ibby's world.
I loved this book. Every open minded American should read this precious book.
Read All 2 Book Reviews of "Dollbaby A Novel"


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