On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

Launch your discussion of your final thoughts about The Pecan Man by Cassie Dandridge Selleck here. If you post a review, please post a link to it in this topic. We want to know what you thought.

"Lawyer Stevens"

Here is a review by Diane: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....
For some reason that even I don't know, I was thinking this might just be a sweet, so-so read, possibly because it was such a short novel, couldn't be found at my library, whatever. Even as I was reading, up until about halfway, it was a solid 3 stars. But the author drew me farther into the lives of these characters, and the twist at the end was entirely unexpected. I really liked the wrap-up of the characters future lives after the events of the main story. So I was wrong to pre-judge this one. You'd think I would learn by now.

Diane wrote: "Here is a review by Diane: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....
For some reason that even I don't know, I was thinking this might just be a sweet, so-so read, possibly because it was su..."

Diane, once I got half way through, my rating was up in the 5 territory. Her description of the children as they were grown didn't have much emotion in it, and it felt like she was just doing an obligatory wrap-up. That last piece with the bombshell in it totally caught me off guard. I would have liked her to pump that up a bit, maybe toss in a tender flash to earlier times, but I ended up giving it four stars as a debut novel. I hope she will publish another soon.

I looked for more by her, because this was written in 2012. From what I read, she got the idea for this, did a short story, and spent several years polishing it up.

I finished The Pecan Man in December. I have only just completed my review. For, this little book stayed with me. It caused me to think a great deal of Eldred Mims' fate. It troubled me. Initially, upon finishing the book, I only rated it a 3. After reflecting on it considerably more, while writing the review, I took a much deeper look at this short novel. It is considerably deeper than it appears at first blush. My final rating is 4. My review is Here.

I just finished the book and am sorry to rate it only 2 stars. The story is touching, the characters are endearing, but I am still disappointed in the end (the final twist was not absolutely necessary and didn't add much to the plot).
I am glad I read it though. And even if I rarely take part in the discussions, I try to read at least one of the group's books each month and follow the threads with great interest.

Thanks, Virginie. Like the book or not, everything is food for thought on these threads. Some of our best discussions come about when there are differences of opinion. I'm glad you chipped in on this one.

Finished https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Found this to be very thought provoking. So much contained in such a few pages. I did really like the character of Ora.

I finally got around to reading The Help this year, and I laughed and got watery eyes and thoroughly loved it. Reading The Pecan Man gave me some of the same feelings, just not as much impact. It did do a lot with its few pages. I was reminiscing about The Help, and I was happy this came along. Here are my brief review-notes: [image error] The Pecan Man by Cassie Dandridge Selleck

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I'm kind of used to the low percentages, but only 2-3 books a year give my old cold heart a nudge. This bitter and sweet story reached in there and grabbed it a couple of times. Thus the high rating.



View all my reviews

I think the twist at the end gave added meaning to the Pecan Man's decision to confess and go to prison. Besides the idea that he would have a roof over his head and three meals a day, and be forced to give up his alcohol habit, as he told Ora, the last chapter gives another reason; to save his daughter from further sadness, and protect his grandson's reputation. And I was happy to know how everything progressed from the time of the main action of the story.

There were a lot of things to mull over after finishing this short book. It explored race relations, justice, secrets, lies, and moral gray areas. It also showed that there are many ways of being a family.

For a self-published debut novel the author wrote very well. I rated the book 3.5 to 4 stars. She has started on another novel, and I would look forward to reading it someday.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I listened to this on audio at my pal Laura's recommendation. The narrator was amazing. This was a thought provoking book and it received one of my rare 5 star ratings.

Ora Lee reminded me of Atticus Finch, but (dare I spout blasphemy?) his character always seemed wooden to me - so goody-two-shoes that it made TKAM a middle school book in my mind. Great themes & great vocabulary, sure. But Ora Lee was more believable & far more lovable to me.

Some of the closing chapters about the adult children of Blanche seem as if the author was just cleaning up the plates after the big, successful dinner party. Tidying up with little emotion, you know? Had that last section with the bombshell in it been expanded, I definitely would have given this sweet novel five stars.

A debut this good is rare, though. I accidentally stumbled upon this as an audio loan from my public library this summer. Still feels like gold!

I liked this. And it does stick with you. good Old Ora Lee . Sometimes you do the wrong thing for all of the right reasons.

LeAnne wrote: "Ora Lee reminded me of Atticus Finch, but (dare I spout blasphemy?) his character always seemed wooden to me - so goody-two-shoes that it made TKAM a middle school book in my mind. Great themes & g..."
cleaning up the plates after the big, successful dinner party. Tidying up with little emotion, you know spot on !

As I stated in my review, I was pleased to discover the profundity of the characters and the depth of the plot in this small book. I agree with those who suggested that perhaps if the author had expanded the plot further the novel would have been more impressive. Nevertheless, I found it to be an intriguing little tale.

I think, LeAnne, because I saw To Kill a Mockingbird as a child, my parents found leaving me with my older siblings when they went to the movies was dangerous for my health and safety--I always had a sprained arm or had had an accident of some sort as a result of their rough-and-tumble games--and loved movies & would sit quietly rapt, and so I saw TKAM when I was 6 or so and always thought of Atticus as Gregory Peck who was, perhaps, restrained on the surface but burning with passion for justice--I never felt that way about the book. I taught it every year for four years to my students at the Naval Academy Prep School, and it was always a favorite, perhaps my love for it helped. I do not feel it is blasphemy, I find it interesting that because I never read the book without the influence of the movie, I've had such a different experience. I most often do it the other way around. But even though I was a precocious reader and was reading at a seventh grade level in first grade, my being able to read the book prior to the movie back then was not on the cards.

Loved this book. Ora Lee is my new hero.

Kim wrote: "I think, LeAnne, because I saw To Kill a Mockingbird as a child, my parents found leaving me with my older siblings when they went to the movies was dangerous for my health and safety--I always had..."

Isn't it amazing the power a great movie can have on us when we read the same story in its original form? Gregory Peck was amazing in the role, and I think he will be Atticus forever for most of us.

There is a film adaptation of "The Black Stallion" that was produced by Francis Ford Coppola in 1979, and it is a fantastic movie. My sons are in their teens and still like to watch it, but have no interest in reading the book. When well done, screenplays and cinematography and good direction make those actors own the story. Love that!

Jane wrote: "LeAnne wrote: "Ora Lee reminded me of Atticus Finch, but (dare I spout blasphemy?) his character always seemed wooden to me - so goody-two-shoes that it made TKAM a middle school book in my mind. G..."

Jane, my notifications have gone wonky so I'm just seeing your January comment now. In May! But yes - it sounds like that final chapter of tidying up hit both of us the same way. I hope she publishes again soon!

I also hope Ms. Selleck publishes soon. I did a review of The Pecan Man and when I can, I'll post it. Such a rich story in a short novel!

I just read The Pecan Man. Such well developed characters and plot in this short novel. I'm not tech savvy enough to post here but I have the review on my profile

Read on Cassie's blog that she sold the book rights to an independent film company and is working on a sequel based on Grace.