Patty Jane's House of Curl

Lorna Landrik's quirky sense of humor and even quirkier performance in Patty Jane's House of Curl make this audiobook a laugh-out-loud treat for listeners' ears. In this story of two sisters and their unlikely loves, Landrik weaves a hilarious tale of how relationships can affect us in the most bizarre fashion. Timing is everything in comedy, and Landrik gives her performance as though she were the spitfire star of a sitcom. She takes care to give each character a distinct voice and personality beyond what's written in the text. Most important, perhaps, is that nestled amid the wacky accents and one-liners is the lesson of how important a community of peers is to our sanity. R.A.P. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

September 2, 1996
"Homespun wisdom peppers every page" of this first novel that centers on the neighborhood beauty shop, according to PW.

May 1, 1997
When her husband, Thor, disappears on the eve of the birth of their first child, Patty Jane is philosophical. Her sister Harriet and her mother-in-law stand by and offer support. After the baby is born, Patty Jane opts for beauty school as a way to make a living and establishes the House of Curl. Over the next 30 years, the House of Curl becomes a cultural center in the suburbs of the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Customers can get a perm, hear a lecture, drink coffee, catch up on news, learn a new skill, find a babysitter, or just hang out. The cast of eccentric characters make life at the House of Curl both amusing and enjoyable. The exaggeratedly odd twists and turns of life in this environment keep the listener guessing, with tragedy following comedy. Author Landvik reads in flat Minnesotan tones. Recommended.--Joanna M. Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Coll. of Continuing Education Lib., Providence