Rating: 
Summary: Homespun wit and wisdom
Review: This book centered on the womenfolk of 1952 Limoges, Louisiana, will charm the tar out of you while making you think. There is the doomed Olive Nepper, daughter of Henry and Vangie, ignobly impregnated by the ersatz Baptist preacher. And there is the blowsy DeeDee Robichaux, grasping wife of the paralyzed Renny and mother of the utterly charming and guileless Billie. We meet Edith Galliard, Vangie Nepper's widowed sister-in-law who is a transplanted New York artist, and their busybody neighbor Harriet. Little Fannie epitomizes innocence and will break your heart. Sophie Donnell works as a maid for many of the white ladies in town, most of whom love and respect her and pray nightly for the death or maiming of her brutish husband, Burr.When Vangie learns of Henry's sordid affair with DeeDee Robichaux, she moves out to the cotton plantation she inherited but which Henry never allowed her to spend a penny of her inherited money on. It is a joy to watch Vangie reborn at the age of 40, taking a stand for the first time in her life, learning to drive, modernizing her appearance, siccing her dog on Henry, and doing what has to be done all by herself. This book portrays a microcosm of small-town life with all its banality, sense of community, pettiness, goodness, gossip, and cohesiveness. It is as well a tender commentary on new love, old loves, and illicit love. There is plenty of poetic justice to go around as each woman flies her own unique coop. The evolutions of Vangie and Sophie were in my opinion the most powerful. Each of the pivotal characters reaches deep within herself in time of crisis to find her strength and courage. The feminist theme is subtle in that these women don't burn their bras and swear off men; rather, they learn to solve their own problems with a little help from God and their friends. This novel is rich and funny and irreverent, to say nothing of chock-full of comfort food recipes. I was completely captivated and didn't come up for air 'til I finished it.
Rating:
Summary: A book to savor!
Review: Most books, I devour in a couple of days. This book was so interesting, that I savored it - I didn't want it to end. The book was written from the view points of many characters, which sometimes had me flipping back to prior pages to check out which character was speaking. But, this made it even more interesting. I was glad to get my hands on a book that wasn't like all the rest - it had a few twists that were surprising, and even had recipes. I am on-line today to select another West novel and I hope it's just as good.
Rating:
Summary: Laughed my booty off!
Review: As a former member of an "intellectual" book club, I was so refreshed by She Flew the Coop that I have since loaned it out 4 times! It is an ingenious combination of "front page" story lines, small town life, humor & YES, even recipies. I'm proud to say that I even tried a few! Coming from the South, I read the entire book with a southern drawl, which at times had me on the floor. I'm more of a smirker than a "laugh-out-loud"er, but I got so ticked at times that I ran up to my husband trying to read a passage from the book and couldn't read through through the tears! Great job, West! I cried and I laughed 'til I cried!
Rating:
Summary: A superb book
Review: Michael Lee West has written a wonderfully insightful book about life in sleepy Limoges, Louisiana. The story takes place in 1952 and opens with the attempted suicide of a pregnant local teenager. It then moves forward from the viewpoint of eight very colorful citizens and you learn all about Limoges town life, secrets and idiosyncrasies. Each narrator's story line moves the plot forward from a different direction and then Ms West ties it all together, very satisfyingly, at the end. The writing is terrific, witty and irreverent. The scenes and settings, vivid. And both really capture the tone of the deep south. And as an added bonus...recipes. For what would the south be without great cooking. All in all a terrific book, chock full of emotions, to read more than once and share with others.
Rating:
Summary: Makes me hungry and homesick!
Review: This book is an excellent read. Ms. West cpatured the essence of living in Northeast Louisiana with the description of the homes, trees and southern ladies' love of gardening and good food. I grew up very close to Lake Providence,La and I felt like I was there the entire time. Ms West's depiction of the people of Limoges and their complex relationships was captivating. I was glued to the book for 2 days until I finished it!
Rating: 
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: I was extremely disappointed. Amazon has been recommending this book, and now I know why I kept putting it off. The only reason I finished it was to find out what happened to Olive Nepper. Not worth the effort.
Rating:
Summary: Oprah, what about this one, it's fabulous book club book
Review: I was enthralled and captivated my the eccentric characters in Michael Lee West's book. I found myself relating to all of the characters in the book. By choosing to tell the story from more than one characters point of view it gave the book much more depth and provided the reader more incite into the events of the book. West is able to create stories that really touch you yet bring out life's funny moments as well tragedies. I also read Crazy Ladies and found this book to be even better. I cann't wait for her next book. She is definitely one of my favorite authors!
Rating:
Summary: Oh, how I love Michael Lee West!
Review: This is only the second book I have read by Ms. West (first being American Pie) and I was totally enthralled. It took me a few chapters to get the ball rolling, but after that I couldn't stop reading. I loved every single second I spent in Limoges, Louisiana with Vangie, Henry, DeeDee, Harriet and the others. Some of the storylines were quite sensitive (i.e. Reverend Kirby) but I really didn't mind, it only made the book seem more real. I have her other two books, Crazy Ladies and Consuming Passions, and I can't wait to start on them. Thanks and kudos to Michael Lee West!
Rating: 
Summary: Depressing, not funny, drawn out tale re So. LA in 1952
Review: After reading Crazy Ladies and American Pie, I had expected to discover something similar. Was I ever shocked to find a long and drawn-out story about the people (seemed like everybody in town) in Limoges, LA. West's method of telling a story through the eyes of each of the main characters, which I enjoyed in the other two stories, was confusing and distracting and unnecessarily long winded in this tale. The brutality experienced by Sophie at the hands of her husband, and the monstruous sexual abuse by the minister whom they trusted left me feeling violated for those kids. I can tolerated murder stories, even gruesome ones, but this story just left me striving for a quick end, which was long coming, and totally unfullfilling. I skimmed and scanned and skimmed and scanned. I can't believe her editor didn't make her cut out about half of her story--a lot of it didn't really change anything. Save your money and read her other two stories. They are only one third as long and much more agreeable and pleasant to read. The recipes aren't worth the money, although I haven't tried any.
Rating:
Summary: Great characters, great story--BUY IT!
Review: I don't think you need to have lived in Louisiana to appreciate the realism of the 3-dimensional characters in this book. Even Yankees will love it. Extremely well-written with unpredictable twists and turns.
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