5.0 out of 5 stars DEALING WITH LIFE'S SETBACKS

j.b. · September 25, 2015

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } Thor Rolvaag is the handsomest man in the Twin Cities and will give all the pretty boys in Hollywood a run for their money, he's that handsome.He falls in love with Patty Jane Dobbins, she's the only one for Thor. She becomes pregnant, then just days before her daughter's birthThor disappears. Long gone. Year younger sister, Harriet, meets the love of her life. Avel Ames, the heir to the Ames fortune, sees her and falls immediately in love for her. Avel is thirty-five, about thirteen or fourteen years older, short, only about five feet or five one while Harriet is tall and thin. Opposites attract so it seems. How he spoils her, he loves her so much. He fits right in with her family, he is tired of rich, spoiled, snobby people. He wants to be around real people. Ione is Patty Jane's mother-in-law, completely different that the fast speaking, out spoken Dobbins sisters. She was born in Norway, and can't believe her only child would walk away from his family.Patty Jane and Harriet are very close, their parents were alcholics, drunk, abusive and died when the girls were in their late teens. They had only each other. Then just before Harriet and Avel's wedding day, Avel is killed in a plane crash. Both sisters are bereaved.Patty Jane opens her House of Curls, a salon catering to working class ladies. It is affordable, fun, popular, home made snacks, coffee and drinks are provided. Ione is a wonderful baker. It is a salon staffed by ladies for ladies. Old fashioned, but this book begins in the fifties and continues on. Patty Jane, Harriet, Ione plus Nora who is brought up in her mom's beauty parlor listening to woman gossip. And it is set in the front of their house. The four have moved in together, a family of women.Several years later, Harriet falls apart. She never got over Avel's death. She drinks heavily, lives on the street, loses contact with her worried and loving family. Interesting how the sisters deal with life. Patty Jean knows she must be strong, she has a child to worry about, while Harriet, musically gifted, who can do so much with her beautiful voice and love of music lets life pull her down. Yet, who can blame her.But all ends well. Lorna Landvik's books are so upbeat.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Prejudiced Review

M.B. · November 14, 2013

Disclaimer: This is NOT an impartial review. Second time I've read this book, initially when it was first published and was recommended by a friend. My first copy was loaned out so many times I lost track of it, and when I read that there was a sequel coming out, I ordered it again, both to refresh my memory of the story, and to complete my set of Lorna Lanvik's books. I remembered absolutely loving the book the first time around, and time has not diminished that. Even if it were not a great story, I would have felt the same way.....here comes the disclaimer.....because I grew up in the same neighborhood as Ms. Landvik, went to all the same schools, had some of the same teachers, albeit a big earlier than her. The street names and places in this book are actual places. I ate a lot of Stratoburgers at the Airloha drive-in and saw a lot of movies at the Leola theater. That part of south Minneapolis was a great place to live and grow up. The book is a lovely reminder of that gentler tme. But no matter where you spent your childhood, I think you'll still relate to this book, because this story could have happened anywhere, and the story, sometimes funny and sometimes tragic, will tug on your heart. Thanks again, Lorna Landvik, for this wonderful book.

4.0 out of 5 stars Life and Love in the heart of Minnesota

R. · October 13, 2002

PATTY JANE'S HOUSE OF CURL by Lorna LandvikPATTY JANE'S HOUSE OF CURL is the story of two sisters and the trials and traumas that they experience throughout their lives. Taking place between the late 50's through the 70's, it's told in a rather light-hearted tone. We see how they meet the loves of their lives, starting with Patty Jane's good-looking boyfriend Thor, who she ends up marrying and has the most wonderful time with, until she becomes pregnant with their first baby and things start to go downhill from there. One day, after a major fight, Thor disappears without a trace. By this time their marriage has pretty much soured, and she immediately thinks that he's run off with another woman. Reminders of Thor are everywhere, as he is the model for a famous breakfast cereal, and it's hard not to pass by the breakfast cereal aisle at the grocers without seeing his handsome face on a cereal box.Harriet in the mean time meets the love of her life, Avel Ames, who they find out later is a multi-millionaire and owns the cereal company that eventually hires Thor to become their model. Avel is no Thor, and in fact is inches shorter than Harriet and is not considered a very good-looking man. But, what Avel lacked in looks, he made up in kindness and generosity. Avel and Harriet are truly in love, and they plan to marry as soon as he returned from a business trip in South America, planned by his sisters who do not want him to marry Harriet.Flashbacks describe their parents as alcoholics, parents who were not really there for their children, but it's all told in a rather funny and comical tone. Because of this, it took me quite a few chapters before I even realized their parents had been alcoholics in the first place, probably because Patty Jane and Harriet did not know either.As we find out, life doesn't ever go their way. Harriet doesn't have her happily-ever-after, and soon drowns herself in liquor. Patty Jane has lost Thor, but she puts her whole soul into a salon called Patty Jane's House of Curl, and their lives are now centered here. All their friends and family are part of this salon, including Thor's mother Ione, and Patty's daughter Nora.Don't think this is the end of the story. There are plenty of surprises and laughs and tears to come. Harriet and Patty eventually find new loves to fill the voids left by Avel and Thor, but even then things don't turn out the way they want or expect. The moral of this book: life goes on and you make of it what you will. This is not going to be a classic by any means, but it's worth the time spent reading. A number of memorable characters and a somewhat convoluted story -- for a light read with some heavy issues, I recommend PATTY JANE'S HOUSE OF CURL.

A Great Novel

M.J.B.S. · June 17, 2013

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } I just finished reading Patty Jane's House of Curl and I loved it. I enjoy reading novels set in small town america, and Lorna Landvik is now in my favourites along with Ann B Ross and her Miss Julia stories, Fanny Flagg, and Billie Lett. If it were'nt for amazon I would never have discovered these wonderful american authors. This is a gem of a book and I cant wait to read some more of hers.

Muss Frau lesen..

S.L. · January 24, 2017

Auf Deutsch: Patty Janes Friseursalon!Ich habs für meine Schwägerin auf englisch gekauft , damit sie auch die irrwitzige skurrile geschichte von Patty Jane lesen kann.Wenn Frauenzusammenhalten,dann kann auch das größte Unglück kein Hindernis für Erfolg,Freundschaft,Anerkennung und neue Möglichkeiten sein....Mehr verrate ich nicht ;-)

Love Lorna Landvik novels

L.A. · October 27, 2019

Great read, funny & have a Kleenex handy for the teary parts !!

Best book

Z. · January 23, 2018

Great story Lorna Landvik is great XX

Good quality, second hand book.

P.V. · March 12, 2015

Arrived even earlier than expected and exactly as described.