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Summary: Another Excellent Read from Dorothea Benton Frank
Review: I was excited to find Plantation on the last day of my beach vacation and couldn't wait to get home to start reading it as I had thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Frank's debut novel - Sullivan's Island - and knew what to expect from this gifted storyteller. Plantation was another wonderful read, full of both endearing as well as dysfunctional characters who literally come to life on the page. I read a lot of novels and occasionally one touchs my soul; Plantation was such a book. I couldn't put it down and didn't want it to end. Hopefully we can look forward to more books from this very accomplished author.
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Summary: Plantation will keep you smiling for days on end
Review: I was in awe of Dorothea Frank Benton's Sullivan's Island and reccomended it to several friends who gave it the same five star review that I did. She has now outdone herself with Plantation.
The story is heartwarming, hilarious in parts and brought a few tears in the end. It is a brilliant story of a family's struggle to be themselves,to carry on the family traditions that are so important and shows a strong family bond of love and trust
I can't wait for the next book from MS Benton.
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Summary: Plantation..........
Review: I was intrigued by the book and could not put it down. I love this author and cannot wait to read more of her Lowcountry tales. DBF truly captures the beauty of the region and the lacal character. Her descriptions are wonderful and her dialogue rings true (mostly).That being said, I had few "issues". The main character, Caroline is not that likable. I was disapointed that while she was devasted that hew husband cheated on her, she condoned the affair that her brother carried on....The treatment of her sister-in-law Frances Mae was really appaling. Clearly this family had great wealth, class and style. However, ther were so snobbish to look down on Frances Mae because of her background. When Frances Mae gave birth on the side of the road the first htought was of the disgrace she bought to the family, not sympathy for the poor woman. I just felt that since Caroline was supposedly so lovely, she should have exercised greater compassion. I also found the last hundred pages rather melodramatic and all of the voodoo stuff (in great detail!) got a little old. As I said, this was worth the time to read and I lov ethe author. Sullivan's Island was definately better!
Rating: 
Summary: A worthwhile read
Review: I was looking forward to Plantation after thoroughly enjoying (and recommending to several others) Sullivan's Island. I didn't feel this was quite as good as S.I., but still an enjoyable, fun, and sometimes emotional read. I would have to agree that the first 200 or so pages felt very LOOOONG and drawn out, but the rest is very good, with a particularly excellent last 100 or so. Well drawn, 3 dimensional characters and Ms. Frank definately knows how to make you feel a part of the goings-on. Read this one for fun-- you don't have to think hard, but it isn't completely fluff either.
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Summary: Wow! What a great story.
Review: I'm another one of those who couldn't put this book down and who was sorry to have it end. Living on the Gulf Coast, it is easy to slip into the Lowcountry especially the way Frank paints it. And what a cast of characters she serves up. This lady can really "turn a phrase" and create not only a marvelous place but fill it with believable characters. Punch the buttons and let amazon.com send this wonderful book to you. This one is a winner.
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Summary: A Southern Treat
Review: If you have any love for the "Low Country" of South Carolina, this is the book for you. As one who has spent a lot of time in the "Low Country" Ms Frank brings to life the smells and sounds as well as the long history of family in the South! I thoroughly loved this book as much as Sullivan Island, her first book.
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Summary: Miss Lavinia Is A Hoot!
Review: If you love a good story about the south, or even if you just love to laugh out loud when you're the only one home you've got to read Plantation. My mother and I bought this book at the same time and we just love to get together and discuss the delightful, zany characters and their equally zany lives. The story revolves around a woman,Caroline, who had moved from the ACE Basin of South Carolina to bustling New York City for college to escape her cantankerous mother, Lavinia. When Caroline's brother calls to tell her that "Miss Lavinia" has tried to shoot him, Caroline rushes home to "see about Mother" only to find that life on Tall Pines Plantation has not changed one bit, but that maybe she has. Be prepared to sit for hours with this book as you won't want to put it down for fear of missing one of Lavinia's episodes.
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Summary: Another Great Book From DBF-yanh?!
Review: Looks like she's done it again! Dorothea Benton Frank is one helluva great writer! I anxiously look forward to her next book, whether or not it is another Low Country tale it is sure to be a winner. The way she introduces her characters then develops them is what holds my interest with each chapter. I disagree with the reviewer that said Caroline Wimbley Levine is Susan Hayes all over again! WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! I did enjoy it, though, when DBF had the two characters meet up toward the end of the book-maybe someday she will write a book mainly about their friendship. I liked Caroline's character & how she finally got up the gumption to leave her cheating, lowlife hubby & take her son to stay at Tall Pines. I can't decide which character was my favorite, Caroline, Lavinia or Millie-all are good, strong women & they keep you turning the pages. All in all, a terrific story that I highly recommend. Kudos to DFB on her 2nd triumph!
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Summary: Come visit Tall Pines Plantation.........
Review: New York City and South Caroline 1984 - 2000 Caroline Wimbley has left the lowcountry of South Caroline, a flamboyant mother, and drunkard brother behind to live in New York City. To insure a permanent stay, she meets, falls in love, and marries the first man she encounters, Richard, her college professor. She sets up her own interior design business, has the perfect son, and continually forgives Richard for his infidelities, for the next sixteen years. Caroline plans to never go back to South Caroline and doesn't except to visit. Her plans change however when her brother Trip, calls to inform her that Miss Lavinia, their mother, finally flipped out. Miss Lavinia tries to kill Trip with her granddaddy's shotgun, he now plans to put her in a nursing home and take control of Tall Pines Plantation. Caroline rushes home to see what is happening to her mother, but the return evokes memories of why she left. With reflections of yesteryear, Caroline discovers you can come home again. When her mother dies, she must come to terms with her grief for a woman she now admires, a brother who is lost without his family's love, and the father of her son. Can Caroline be the next Queen of the Tall Pines Plantation? Does she want to be? PLANTATION gives readers a first person glimpse into the life of Caroline after she leaves the plantation for the big city and the very eventful return some sixteen years later. As Caroline tells her story, readers will be thrilled with bits and pieces of Miss Lavinia's journal, plus Miss Laviana's thoughts as they talk to the reader in first person. Ms. Frank does a wonderful portrayal of the plantation, events, and the people in this southern state. At times, I could almost smell the fresh cut grass, hear the siren song of the winding river, and bask in the shadows of the tall pines. Even though Caroline's family is dysfunctional, the first person narrative and the pages from Miss Lavinia's journal, make this a must read of the summer. Grab a glass of iced tea, put on a jazz CD, and enjoy the yarn of a true southern family. Debbie Gilbert
Reviewer for Romance Reviews Today
Rating: 
Summary: Another saccharin stereotype of Southern life
Review: Oh if only Dorothea Frank had bothered to check her facts!! This author tried to add a sense of reality by adding so many incorrect 'local' tidbits to this string of incredibly saccharin 10,000 words that it becomes painful. For example, set in present day South Carolina one of the character's relatives goes to jail for writing a bad check for property taxes. Folks, in South Carolina that ain't a crime. Stupid, yes. However, in South Carolina it won't land you in jail (Hmmm...but it probably should). The word "bubba" is bandied around quite a bit. Funny, I've lived here a little over half my life and never heard the word 'bubba' in conversation. The word "beaux", yes. Bubba no. One of the characters worries yet another relative will 'wind up at the bottom of Lake Murray.' If only our author had taken the time to glance at a MAP. A swamp, maybe. Lake Moultrie, or Lake Marion, perhaps. Lake Murray? Kind of a haul from where the story takes place. These people eat GUMBO for cryin' out loud. These South Carolina purebloods are eatin' Cajun? Really? Whatever happened to good ol' shrimp and grits, Beaufort stew or any of the many low country specialties? Basically, this story plays on every stereotype of the gentility of Southern life while conveniently forgetting all the murkier and darker issues, such as race relations. Just string a few of them together in your mind, throw in a sickly sweet ending, and you've saved yourself an afternoon. At least Pat Conroy gets his facts straight.
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