Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch

By: Haywood Smith

Narrated by: Anne Gartlan

Southern housewife Linwood Breedlove Scott was happily content in her comfortable 30-year marriage, but when her husband cleans out their bank accounts and runs off with a stripper, her life takes a hilarious, yet touching, right turn into reality. With no place to go but home, she's forced back to her eccentric family she escaped by marrying at 19. But despite her newly dependent situation, Lin begins to stand on her own two feet and wake up to the joys - and perils - of life as a single woman. And she also learns surprising lessons about her family: that things aren't always what they seem, and that the power of love governs even the most dysfunctional of relationships.©2002 Haywood Smith (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks America

Easy listen

Entertaining and a good beach read.
The narrator does a great job with southern accents.

Chapters don’t link up right

The story is funny and captivating. I love the ending and I hope you enjoy it too.

Challenges Prejudices

I almost stopped listening after the first few chapters due to the blatant racism of the characters. I decided to continue and realize the author is not only raising awareness regarding the small minded mentality of some, she is artfully challenging the readers conventinal wisdom. Can't stand the narrator though... I want to punch her in the face.

Haywood Smith is royal with this book!

If you could sum up Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch in three words, what would they be?

Funny, Sincere, Reflective

What was one of the most memorable moments of Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch?

Eating Brownies and Drinking Champagne!

Have you listened to any of Anne Gartlan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no - but she was great in this book!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Small town life will never be the same again when this bee flys into town!

Recommend this

I love Haywood smith. She's definitely one of my favorite authors. Apparently she no longer writes because it's been so long since a new publication. She certainly knows how to tell a story and that pick a narrator!! Working my was through her other books!!

Wonderful!

I got to live in another town, another body, another world away and I needed to hear all the lessons Lin learned! Thank you so much for a fabulous experience! I can't wait to read the new sequel!

fun!

It was a fun listen, light and entertaining. I encountered a few unpredictable moments, which makes an exciting read! I enjoyed the narrator as well!

This story has not aged well

I had a very hard time finishing this book. The premise is good and if it was the year 2005 I might have enjoyed it more. The chauvinistic references and man versus woman idea is very dated as are the lines of the story of the homosexual women. I even found some of the Race references a little difficult to hear. Honestly I am a conservative southern woman so by definition these things should not have made a difference. They did. I

Disappointing

The story and delivery were engaging.However, the frequent F-bombs and detailed sexuality reduced it to trashy novel worthy of a brown paper bag. After I figured out his/her? (I can't tell by the name) writing style and being shocked by the vulgarity I chose to fast forward thru the sexual scenes. Disappointing....

A bit contrived....

This is a little too much for me...a little too cliche and the kind of book that perpetuates the worst of the South......