Oh My Stars

Lorna Landvik excels with this masterful tale of Violet Mathers, an ugly duckling, deserted by her mother, beaten by her father, and just to make sure she has more than her share of misery, a horrible accident that causes the loss of her arm. But an amazing thing happens to Violet on her way to commit suicide. Violet's life has taught her that when things look as bleak as can be, they can still get bleaker. And her bus ride to San Francisco for the express purpose of jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge proves that point. How she winds up on a farm in North Dakota, how she meets the man she will love forever but who can never love her in the way she needs him to, how lemons truly become lemonade is about the most uplifting, heart-wrenching story I've had the pleasure of reading. Her dreams of being a fashion designer may have died with the loss of her arm, but a life she never envisioned rises up to meet her. Through a series of circumstances Violet could never have dreamed, she finds herself traveling through the United States as a band manager during the Great Depression. Twenty years before Elvis, a beautiful and charismatic man named Kjel Hedstrom had young girls swooning and grown men wanting to join the band. His relationship with Violet, the other band members he brings into her life, and the unforgettable adventures of the Pearltones will keep you mesmerized. Be forewarned that this book will not end as you expect, and perhaps not as you would have wished, but end it does and don't be surprised if your tears of sorrow and joy have stained the pages.

I am a big fan or Lorna Landvik, and was not at all dissapointed in this book. There are so many things that I loved in this book. I loved that the characters went from rock bottom, to top of their own worlds and back down again but make it out ok. And I realy liked that the ending wasn't what you thought it would. A great read! The books main character was a lame dog at first, one arm, no self esteem, and her only goal in life is to be the 2nd person to jump of the Golden Gate Bridge. You want to take her in and fix all her woes. But then she meets the two people who will change all that. This is a great story that will stay with you. It is very dramitic with powerfull race issues that remind you how far we have and have not come over the years.

As a fan of Lorna Landvik's writing, I found this book as good as her others. The character descriptions were so vivid that I could easily see them in my mind. Definitely, a book that was "hard to put down!"

Every once in awhile, it's fun to read a book that causes you to smile and forget about everything. It doesn't always have to be a profound book that addresses society's biggest issues; sometimes some escapist fun is perfect for that long flight or commute on the train. That tends to sum up my view of Oh My Stars. It was fun, it included a number of great characters, a few plot twists, and a number of important observations about our country during the years just before World War II. The observations include a perspective on racial relations, music and war but isn't overly political or preachy. The central character is Violet Mathers, who looks back on her life's story. She has an unhappy beginning with a mother who abandons the family, a cold and abusive father, and eventually a factory accident that costs her an arm. Ready to kill herself, she instead begins a lifelong odyssey full of music, travel, and love. Although some people often think Landvik is a writer of books that appeal to women, I think her work is transcends that limitation. I enjoyed her previous book, Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons and am interested in reading some of her other work too. What I enjoy is her ability to write about a lifetime in a concise way. Oh My Stars is actually a fictional biography of an entire life; in fact entire lifetimes about a number of characters. She manages to cover decades in time without being shallow, and she does it with a sense of humor that often brings with it a unique Midwestern perspective.

Oh My Stars opens with Violet describing The Off Ramp Café. It is your regular Anytown, USA diner where truckers are eating burgers, salesmen are reading the papers, and waitresses are writing down orders. Violet soon invites us to sit down for a cup of coffee while she tells us a story about miracles and love. Violet had a hard depressing childhood. Her mother deserted her when she was just a child and her father was physically and verbally abusive. Rebelling against everything her mother told her not to do, Violet went without using soap, bit her fingernails, didn't brush her hair, and slept in her clothes. For those reasons plus many more she was tormented by the town people and other kids. Violet spent much of her time alone reading and learning until one day her father told her to get a job instead of sitting around all day doing nothing. Violet was hired at the thread factory where she finally got to experience something she never had before, friendship. The days spent there were some of the best times but it quickly ended when she was involved in an "incedent" which caused her to lose an arm. Violet could not take life the way is was any more so she decided to clear out her bank account, take a bus across the country, and jump off the San Francisco bridge. Little did she know at the time that her life was about to radically change. On the way across the United States, Violets bus broke down in North Dakota. She was rescued by two men - Kjel a man who made her feel like no other and his friend Austin. These two men who where stuggling musicians took her in on their journey to fortune and fame and made her a part of their life and the pursuit to make their own special kind of music. Oh My Stars is not a bright and funny kind of story like Lorna Landvik has written in the past but it sure is worth the time it takes to read it. This story deals with some serious issues such as abuse and racism but it also has love and hope and shows that miracles can happen. You can't help cheering on Violet as she makes her way through this book. I'ts about time Lorna Landvik wrote a new book and Oh My Stars will not disappoint you. Enjoy!