Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Patty Jane's House of Curl
Patty Jane's House of Curl
Patty Jane's House of Curl
Audiobook (abridged)3 hours

Patty Jane's House of Curl

Written by Lorna Landvik

Narrated by Lorna Landvik

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

Gently humorous and peopled with eccentric characters, Patty Jane's House of Curl is a heartwarming, deeply satisfying experience.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateOct 22, 2002
ISBN9781598872668
Patty Jane's House of Curl
Author

Lorna Landvik

Lorna Landvik is the author of twelve other novels, including the bestselling Patty Jane’s House of Curl, Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, and Chronicles of a Radical Hag (with Recipes). Also an actor and playwright, Lorna has performed on numerous stages. A recent DNA test determined she’s 95 percent Norwegian and 5 percent wild.

More audiobooks from Lorna Landvik

Related to Patty Jane's House of Curl

Related audiobooks

General Fiction For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for Patty Jane's House of Curl

Rating: 4.166666666666667 out of 5 stars
4/5

42 ratings16 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was really a nice little novel. I would classify it somewhere between a fast, fun book and a good read. The characters were well developed and memorable, though they could have been stereotypical. It's basically a family story,about two sisters who have more than their share of troubles, from alcoholic parents to lost spouses, but who are also blessed with a strong mother-in-law and delightful daughter and a few really good men. It takes place in the late 50's through the 60's.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the first book, I read by this author, and I have been looking for more by her. It is humerous, and touching. Patty Jane's husband disappears one night, never to be heard of again. She is left to struggle, but has a supportive sister (sometimes) and mother in law all of us would love to have. She comes through and goes on in a way that will make you laugh and cry.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The writing is smart and the dialogue is snappy and believable. I found the hardships in the character's lives borderline contrived, but not so much that I couldn't enjoy the story. Perhaps witnessing so many tragic coincidences happening to otherwise good people pushed me too much out of the novel's fictional world.The House of Curl salon is where the Dobbin sisters forge their strongest bond, and their relationship is the emotional hinge of Patty Jane's House of Curl. I was also touched by the persistent theme of finding eternal meaning in the daily interactions of those you love.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Sort of a Norwegian Southern novel. I tried this a couple of times, but I was determined to get to the end this time; I don't see what all the fuss is about.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Lorna Landvik is one of my favorite authors and she shows her stuff in yet another hometown story filled with laughs as well as tears. If you like rich and moving characters, this one's for you.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great characters, and Lorna's accents brought me right back to my childhood.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Great story about a family that loves and supports each and the community.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Excellent book. It's funny and real and contains a lot of characters I am sure I've met. It also, blessedly, blissfully, FINALLY does not depict men and women in conflict. The guys are just as decent as the gals and vice versa.

    Nobody pontificates. No lectures. No big-feelin' explanations of why stuff happens. It happens because that's how life is, so get over it and get on with it. This author is one of the rare ones of late who give the reader credit for getting it without being beaten over the head with it.

    This author likes people and it shows. There is not a mean bone in this book's body.

    I am going to read as much as I can find!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It only took me one day to finish this book. Once I started I couldnt stop. I loved it from begining to end. I was brought to teas by the ending. It reminded me alot of Terms of Endearment. A good book all the way around and I would recommend it!!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Enjoyable read but not a keeper.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I gave it three stars and three hankies. The melodramatic plot feels contrived at many points, but I still cared about the characters and a few sniffles were involved. The ending is uplifting, but not exactly happy.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This one's a bit soap-opera-ish in plot, but it's written so well I forgive that. Landvik has a wonderful manner of creating home-y, lovable characters.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This story of two sisters follows their highs, which are very high, and their even-lower lows, starting in the 1950s with Patty Jane's whirlwind romance with and marriage to Thor, her Prince Charming and Mr. Right. This knight has feet of clay that begin to crumble when Patty Jane becomes pregnant on their honeymoon, and he disappears from her life just days before their daughter, Nora, is born.Younger sister Harriet has also met her own prince, Avel Ames of the Ames Cereal family of multi-millionaires. The wedding is to take place in June, just 3 1/2 months after Thor disappeared and Nora was born .... and then Fate steps in to readjust the happiness factor, and Harriet suffers a crushing loss of her own.Patty Jane opens a beauty parlor - Patty Jane's House of Curl - and it becomes a gathering place for the women of the town. Then, classes are added - cooking, arts, singing, dance, quilting, whatever someone wants to teach. The shop's regular customers have stories of their own, which we learn about in bits and pieces that never overshadow the main stories, but that emphasize the passage of time. Love, loss, family - both the one we are born into and the family we make for ourselves, come together to keep the sisters, Nora, and Ione (Patty Jane's mother-in-law) on a roller coaster. The story overall is heart-warming. The occasional lapses into sentimentality are forgivable.I couldn't put the book down. It's a very quick read. The small-town setting and the group of women at the beauty parlor are very reminiscent of some Southern fiction. Very enjoyable.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I picked this book up because of the quirky, cheesy title, and was pleasantly surprised. This is a sweet story, full of rich characters that you can't help but love. There are plenty of stories going on in this sleepy little town, and several plot twists that surprised me. Even though this story takes place in Minnesota, I was reminded of the small town southern fiction that I like so much. Because I enjoyed this book so much I've gone on to read other Landvik books.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Loved it!! quick read. Set in MN, with lots of landmarks and quirky people. 2 sisters and their lives. Sad ending. But good one. Would like to read more of her books.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I just adored this book - it was warm, tender, full of wonderful characters, funny and romantic. I laughed and cried and didn't want the book to end.Back Cover Blurb:Maybe Patty Jane Dobbin should know better than to marry a man as gorgeous as Thor Rolvaag, but she's too smitten to think twice. Yet nine months into their marriage, with a baby on the way, Thor is gone. It's a good thing Patty Jane has her irrepressible sister Harriet to reply on - not to mention her extremely short, extremely rich almost-brother-in-law, Avel Ames.It's been said that a good haircut can cure any number of ills, and before long the Minnesota sisters have opened a neighbourhood beauty parlor complete with live harp music and an endless supply of delicous Norwegian baked goods. It's a wonderful, warm-hearted place where you can count on good friends, lots of laughter, tears, and comfort when you need it - and the unmistakable scent of somebody getting a permanent wave.....