The Saints and Sinners of Okay County: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
by Dayna Dunbar
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In the tradition of Fannie Flagg and Lorna Landvik, The Saints and Sinners of Okay County is a heartfelt and compelling debut novel with an unforgettable heroine. It's the story of a woman whose ability to see the futures of others leads her right back into her own troubled past. It's the summer of 1976, and it seems like the entire state of Oklahoma is celebrating America's bicentennial. But in the small town of Okay, Aletta Honor has much more on her mind than flags and fireworks. She's show more pregnant with her fourth child and hasn't seen her husband, Jimmy, in weeks. Although she can guess where the hound dog has parked his red-white-and-blue van--in front of the local gin mill or outside the home of yet another woman for a little Yankee Doodle Diddle. Discretion is not in the man's constitution. Flat broke and desperate for some cash, Aletta decides to set up a food stand on the front lawn during the Okay Czech Festival. But when a woman touches her hand in sympathy, Aletta is completely unsettled. She never touches anyone outside her family--if she does, she gets overwhelming visions of their lives and futures. It started when she was a young girl and has scared her ever since. Now Aletta immediately sees the woman in a tragic accident, and gives her a warning that will save her life. When the woman returns the next day to thank her, Aletta figures out how to save her own life. With all the courage she can muster--figuring the townsfolk will most likely think she's nuts--she puts a sign in the front yard: ALETTA HONOR. PSYCHIC READER. DROP-INS WELCOME. But doing readings for people opens a door she thought she had locked long ago, as memories of a terrible event come flooding back. She may not be able to see into her future, but she realizes she must face the demons in her past if she's going to make a new life for herself and her kids. First, though, she'll have to tell a few fortunes. . . . Poignant, touching, and full of the kind of wisdom that can only come straight out of the heartland, Dayna Dunbar's The Saints and Sinners of Okay County is a wonderful novel of a woman who confronts pain in order to reclaim her belief in herself, lay her past to rest, and bring order back to a life that has veered too far off track. From the Hardcover edition. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
It is the summer of 1976, and it seems that the entire state of Oklahoma is celebrating America's bicentennial. Meanwhile, in the tiny town of Okay, Aletta Honor is just barely struggling to get through each day. She hasn't seen her husband, Jimmy in weeks, she is pregnant with her fourth child and she can just imagine where her hound dog of a husband has parked his red-white-and-blue van - probably in front of the nearest gin mill or outside the home of the closest, warmest, most feminine form he can find who isn't her.
Flat broke and desperate for some cash, Aletta decides to set up a food stand on the front lawn during the Okay Czech Festival. However, when a woman touches her hand in sympathy, Aletta becomes truly unsettled. She show more never touches anyone outside of her family; if she does, she is overwhelmed by visions of their lives and futures. This "gift" has been part of her life since she was a little girl, and she has always been seriously spooked by it. Aletta sees that the woman will die in a tragic accident and warns her to be careful. When the woman returns the next day to thank Aletta for saving her life, Aletta sees a way out of her current situation.
Throwing caution to the wind, expecting that the townspeople will probably believe her to be crazy, Aletta sets up a sign in the front yard advertizing her psychic gifts. But doing readings for people opens a door that Aletta thought she had locked years ago. As the memories of a terrible event come flooding back, Aletta begins to realize that she must face the demons of her past if she and her children are to have any hope of a prosperous future.
This is the first time that I've actually read this book. Mareena found it for me; stowed away on my bookshelf and almost forgotten. I had bought it from my local library's book sale in 2009 and had for some reason never read it. What a shame for me! I had almost missed reading a sweet little gem of a book that I give an A+! I have set it back on my bookshelf and look forward to reading it again sometime soon. show less
Flat broke and desperate for some cash, Aletta decides to set up a food stand on the front lawn during the Okay Czech Festival. However, when a woman touches her hand in sympathy, Aletta becomes truly unsettled. She show more never touches anyone outside of her family; if she does, she is overwhelmed by visions of their lives and futures. This "gift" has been part of her life since she was a little girl, and she has always been seriously spooked by it. Aletta sees that the woman will die in a tragic accident and warns her to be careful. When the woman returns the next day to thank Aletta for saving her life, Aletta sees a way out of her current situation.
Throwing caution to the wind, expecting that the townspeople will probably believe her to be crazy, Aletta sets up a sign in the front yard advertizing her psychic gifts. But doing readings for people opens a door that Aletta thought she had locked years ago. As the memories of a terrible event come flooding back, Aletta begins to realize that she must face the demons of her past if she and her children are to have any hope of a prosperous future.
This is the first time that I've actually read this book. Mareena found it for me; stowed away on my bookshelf and almost forgotten. I had bought it from my local library's book sale in 2009 and had for some reason never read it. What a shame for me! I had almost missed reading a sweet little gem of a book that I give an A+! I have set it back on my bookshelf and look forward to reading it again sometime soon. show less
Typical first book and, just like the title, it was okay. I gave her two stars because she had a good concept.
Easy novel, reminds me of Fannie Flagg
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3 Works 116 Members
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Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Goldmann (45745)
Common Knowledge
- Original title
- The Saints and Sinners of Okay County
- Original publication date
- 2003
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 94
- Popularity
- 342,861
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.63)
- Languages
- English, German
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 7
- ASINs
- 1
