Rating: 
Summary: More Steel Magnolias.
Review: After 44 years of marriage to the late Wesley Lloyd Springer, a pillar of the church and of his community of Abbotsford, North Carolina, his wife Julia receives a shock when his long-time mistress, Hazel Marie Puckett, appears on her doorstep. Hazel is off to beauty school and intends to leave her son, Little Lloyd, in the care of Miss Julia, after explaining that the young boy is Wesley Lloyd's son. Not that Julia doubts her--the boy could be Wesley's twin minus 60 years!After her husband's death, Julia had found that she was his sole beneficiary, much to her surprise since he had such a low opinion of her abilities, financial and otherwise. What was even more surprising was the size of the estate. Now a rich woman, Julia was looking forward to enjoying her life in style when the presence of Little Lloyd turns that life upside down. Faced with a whole new set of problems, Julia, with the help of two female and two male friends, struggles through and becomes stronger and more assured. She is the Southern Steel Magnolia personified. After finding that most of the town knew of her husband's affair, she not only takes the boy into her home, but acknowledges him as her late husband's child. Julia runs into problems with her minister, who wants her to give the church a large chunk of the estate or he will have her declared incompetent, and with a relative of Hazel's who sees the boy as a source of money, even if it means kidnapping him. With the help of her friends, she attempts to defeat these connivers. Ann Ross has a good eye for the details of small-town southern life and the social rules that exist and govern that life and her *voice* is very authentic. She lambastes all the pillars of society: the government, the ministry, marriage,and the legal system. The book is enjoyable and fast-paced, a comedy of manners and mistakes with a cast of off-center characters.
Rating: 
Summary: Just plain heartwarming!!
Review: I couldn't put this book down. The other reviewers have already expressed my sentiments very well . . .(except the one who didn't like it!) So, it's enough to say, read this book if you want to spend time with some wonderful characters and a most heartwarming message. (P.S This really wouldn't be a good Oprah book - no angst . . . )
Rating:
Summary: A Gut Splitter
Review: "MISS JULIA SPEAKS HER MIND," pokes fun at every institution in the Old South from city officials, the clergy, and even the home and marriage. At the same time that the novel is poking fun, it is the funniest novel I have read in many a moon. Miss Julia is a terrific character who faces life head on and comes out on top of every situation. The church (Presbyterian) is pictured as a meddling money grabbing institution that uses modern medical knowledge along with the legal system to better its self. I especially liked the way Miss Julia handled her nymphomania! Some of the words I would use to describe this book are delightful, extremely humorous, tender, and a must read.
Rating:
Summary: Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind
Review: What a wonderful book! This should be recommended for an "Oprah Book". At home we have three people trying to read this book at the same time. This would be the perfect book for a movie or "Southern sitcom"! A little of Miss Julia is in all of us Southern women! It doesn't matter where you are from, Miss Julia is fine reading and I highly recommend it to everyone. Read the first chapter and you are hooked. This book can be read in less than a day. Once you start you won't be able to put it down. We need more books like this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Shut Up Miss Julia
Review: The title of this book is wonderful and I had high hopes, but, it was a great disappointment. I understand it is a book of fiction, but it was in no way believable. For all those years, Miss Julia was the faithful, naive wife and suddendly she becomes a "tiger" on the death of her lying and tiresome husband... just can not buy the story. A fellow librarian and I ageed that Miss Julia should keep her mouth shut...her IQ was in the single digits. Too bad it was not a good book... I did read all of it, but do not suggest it to other readers.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: I could not put this book down. I have recommended it to everyone I know! Ms. Ross' characters and descriptions of small town life in the South are humorous and dead on! I thoroughly enjoyed every page and hated for the story to end. I am anxiously awaiting another book by Ms. Ross.
Rating:
Summary: Lillian and Julia
Review: Lillian and Julia are two characters you wouldn't mind knowing in real life. Brave women. Southern women's humor cuts right to the bone; right to the bottom line; right to the irony "of it all". Would make a good movie. Also, Sheri Tepper's Mavis (shapeshifter)stories would make a great TV series.
Rating:
Summary: Miss Julia takes the cake!
Review: There isn't much I can add to all the other reviews of this great book! I read it because it was on our local library's "Pick of the Month" list. I couldn't put it down. I read it all the way through. (Luckily it was a Saturday!) It's great! It's funny! And we should all have as much starch and vinegar as Miss Julia has! I'll be shoving it down the throats of all my friends demanding that they read it - and then I will sit back and smile when they thank me!
Rating:
Summary: Still laughing
Review: Because I was reared in the South, this book seemed to capture all of the yesterdays and todays. Ross' delightful dialogue made me cackle out loud , and those humorous sexual images remained in my mind long after the book was closed. My only discontent...the book is over. It was a wonderful way to escape and reflect on how the southern woman's role in society became so stereotyped. I am eagerly awaiting another one of these jewels. Keep on speaking your mind, Ms. Ross.
Rating:
Summary: A truly enjoyable read
Review: Growing up in the south, I felt like I knew this town and enjoyed the characters and their many interactions. I can picture Miss Julia and her surroundings so clearly. The humor in a not so humorous situation kept you wondering what could happen next! I have recommended this book to so many friends and family members and all have enjoyed as much as I did. I will look forward to her next novel(s).
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