Revenge of the Kudzu Debutantes by Cathy Holton
The Revenge of the Kudzu Debutantes was the Abingdon Book Group read for April. What I thought was going to be a light and entertaining read for the group, turned out to provoke some very intense discussion. We talked about adultery, sin, the spread of HIV, slavery in the south and its customs & traditions. Wow! The book is set in the south and features an unlikely trio of friends who decide to take revenge on their cheating husbands. This is a very funny and entertaining story with a good ending. A fun book to take to the beach, even as it covers some serious topics.
From Booklist
Not since the Ya-Ya Sisterhood has there been a group of good ol' gals to rival Holton's trio of scorned Southern women. Best friends for years, earthy Lavonne, mousy Nita, and feisty Eadie are at once privy to and frequently at odds with the creme de la creme of Ithaca, Georgia, society, courtesy of their husbands' stations in life. All three are married to pillars of the community, lawyers who care more for their annual Montana hunting trip than they do for their spouses. As the preparations for this year's getaway ratchet into high gear, the wives uncover evidence that the only conquests their husbands are interested in making are of the two-footed, female variety. Hell hath no fury, as the saying goes, and the wives concoct a deliciously devious scheme to make their husbands pay--big time--for their indiscretions. Irresistibly entertaining, Holton's debut is hilarious, a cunning, rollicking addition to the popular Southern "steel magnolias" genre. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Other Books by Cathy Holton
The Secret Lives of the Kudzu Debutantes
Virginia Broadwell decides to destroy the ladies for the social havoc they have wreaked. What will the girls do?
Beach Trip
A reunion of four friends becomes a cathartic journey into the past in Cathy Holton’s luminous new novel. Darkly comic and deeply poignant, Beach Trip is an unforgettable tale of lifelong friendship, heartbreak, and happiness. May 2009
Some questions for book groups and readers:
Revenge is the theme of this novel – have you ever done something to get revenge – was it satisfying?
What characteristics did the husbands exhibit besides lying & cheating? Which of the husbands (if any) behaved the worst?
Did any of the husbands have any redeeming qualities?
What did you think about the scene at the ranch? Did the husbands get what was coming to them as far as Mr. Ramsbottom’s treatment of them?
Eadie & Trevor have a strange relationship even before Trevor goes off with Tonya – comments?
Why was Eadie a better companion for Trevor than Tonya?
Describe the relationship between Nita & Charles. How does Charles treat Nita & their children? What role have Charles’ parents had in his life? Can we excuse his behavior because of his parents influence? How much are we responsible for our choices as adults?
What did you think of Virginia Broadwell? How was she different from someone like Mrs. Shapiro? How did their values differ?
In what ways is Jimmy Lee very different from Charles?
Lavonne gave up her career for her husband and children, was this a good thing? How did it affect her?
Did you enjoy the humor in the novel? How did the author use humor to enhance the book’s subject matter?
Describe the relationship between the 3 women. How do they support each other?
What were your hopes for the women as you read this book? How did you expect it to end? Was the ending satisfactory? Did the men get what they deserved?
Would you read the sequel or another book by this author?
Labels: Abingdon library, book discussion group, Cathy Holton, humorous fiction, Revenge of the Kudzu Debutantes
posted by Julia @ 10:32 AM
0 Comments
Links to this post
