Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts

I first published this review March 17, 2011

In 1999 our book club started meeting and our first book to read was Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts. It had been an Oprah pick for her book club the year before. However, we didn't pick it because of that - we have a tendency to shy away from Oprah's picks because for so many years they were so "dark". We picked Where the Heart Is because we had heard it was a good read but more importantly we wanted to start our book club with an Oklahoma author. Billie  Letts was born in Tulsa and used to be a professor at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. 

Novalee Nation leaves Tennessee with her boyfriend and heads for California. She's pregnant and the car they are traveling in leaves a lot to be desired. Her feet are swelling and she loses her flip flops through the floorboard while they are driving. They stop in Oklahoma at a Walmart to get new flip flops. When she comes out of the Walmart, he's gone. She has $5.55 to her name, in a strange town and doesn't know what to do.

This is the beginning of this easy to read, interesting book by Billie Letts. They made a movie out of the book. Usually if I really like the book, I don't always like the movie but this movie follows the book well and is good.

I enjoy Letts' books. She does usually have some language in them. A lady  left our book club  when we read Honk and Holler Opening Soon  because of the language. However, her books pull you in and keep you interested in the characters.

You can't help but fall in love with Novalee and the people that reach out to this down and out young woman. She's a favorite main character for me.