Saving Ceecee Honeycutt Audiobook [Free Download by Trial]

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Saving Ceecee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

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Summary

Read Beth Hoffman's blogs and other content on the Penguin Community. Steel Magnolias meets The Help in this Southern debut novel sparkling with humor, heart, and feminine wisdom Twelve-year-old CeeCee Honeycutt is in trouble. For years, she has been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille-the tiara-toting, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town-a woman trapped in her long-ago moment of glory as the 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen. But when Camille is hit by a truck and killed, CeeCee is left to fend for herself. To the rescue comes her previously unknown great-aunt, Tootie Caldwell. In her vintage Packard convertible, Tootie whisks CeeCee away to Savannah's perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricity, a world that seems to be run entirely by women. From the exotic Miz Thelma Rae Goodpepper, who bathes in her backyard bathtub and uses garden slugs as her secret weapons, to Tootie's all-knowing housekeeper, Oletta Jones, to Violene Hobbs, who entertains a local police officer in her canary-yellow peignoir, the women of Gaston Street keep CeeCee entertained and enthralled for an entire summer. Laugh-out-loud funny and deeply touching, Beth Hoffman's sparkling debut is, as Kristin Hannah says, 'packed full of Southern charm, strong women, wacky humor, and good old-fashioned heart. ' It is a novel that explores the indomitable strengths of female friendship and gives us the story of a young girl who loses one mother and finds many others. Watch a Video

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10 comments

  • Patricia Zietz
    •October 23, 2023 at 10:22 pm
    This book is a charming taste of the southern lifestyle and tells a heartwarming tale of a young girl growing up with a mother who battles mental illness during a period when society lacked understanding. It was a delightful read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
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  • Dorathy Chafe
    •October 23, 2023 at 7:25 pm
    This book had me feeling pretty down, to be honest. Poor CeeCee Honeycutt, just a young girl of 12, had a really tough life compared to other girls her age. But hey, don't worry, things do turn out alright for her in the end, just like the title suggests. She's lucky enough to come across some genuinely caring individuals who help her find some happiness. Gotta say, I really dug the way the characters were described, the conversations they had, the person who read the audiobook, and how the story unfolded. I definitely think it's worth checking out!
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  • Edwin Ludgate
    •October 23, 2023 at 1:28 pm
    Jenna Lamia is hands down one of my favorite audiobook narrators. Her voice is so natural and calming, and she brings depth to her characters without going overboard with the drama. However, I have to admit that Ceecee, the main character, really got on my nerves. In my opinion, she came across as a selfish and whiny child who we are supposed to sympathize with just because she's had a difficult life. I didn't find any of the characters particularly well-developed or likable. Some people have compared this book to "The Help" and "The Secret Life of Bees," but I won't comment on the latter. Honestly, Hoffman doesn't even come close to Kathryn Stockett. Stockett has a true understanding of the South and is a talented writer. On the other hand, Hoffman, to me, sounds like someone from the North who has no real knowledge of the subject matter. It doesn't help that I consider her to be a weak writer. There are far too many flowery and overly poetic sentences throughout the book. It's fine if you're not Shakespeare, but please don't try to imitate him. Overall, I find Hoffman lacking in originality and not even particularly skilled at what she's attempting to do. I wish she had found her own unique voice that worked better for her. In my opinion, this entire book just doesn't click.
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  • Lizabeth Z.
    •October 6, 2023 at 3:18 pm
    CeeCee Honeycutt's life has been nothing short of challenging. With a father who frequently travels and a mentally ill mother, she finds herself left alone at home. Her mother, although not physically abusive, is trapped in a delusion, believing she is the Vidalia Onion Queen from 1951. She parades around town in her prom dresses and tiara, completely disconnected from reality, no matter how hard CeeCee tries to bring her back. After a series of events, CeeCee finds herself living with her Great Aunt Tootie in Savannah, where she begins her journey towards healing from her difficult past. This story beautifully explores themes of love, loss, forgiveness, friendship, and the strength of women. We witness CeeCee gradually coming to terms with her past and eventually opening up to the people around her about the hardships she has endured with her mother. Beth Hoffman truly brings these characters to life, allowing readers to develop a deep affection for each of them. If you enjoyed "The Help," you'll undoubtedly fall in love with CeeCee as well. I highly recommend this book as a must-read! I originally wrote this review in February 2010, and now, in February 2012, after re-reading the book, my love for it remains just as strong. This time, I opted for the audiobook version, narrated by the incredibly talented Jenna Lamia. Her narration truly enhances the story and keeps you engaged throughout. The characters in this book stay with you long after you've finished reading. It's been two years since my first read, and catching up with my old friends Oletta, Mrs. Odell, and, of course, CeeCee felt like a reunion. I adored every moment of it, and I'm grateful to have these characters in my life through this book. This is definitely a solid five-star read that continues to hold a special place on my favorites list.
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  • Marlena Pulkrabek
    •October 5, 2023 at 7:16 am
    The story is adorable, but it's written in such an overly sentimental way that it becomes difficult to listen to. If you enjoy a lot of comparisons, poetic language, and overly emotional descriptions, then this book will be right up your alley. However, if you find flowery descriptions and forced sentimentality to be irritating and excessive, then it's best to avoid it.
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  • Dion Bellessa
    •October 3, 2023 at 5:41 am
    Man, I really wanted to like this book. I was a huge fan of "The Help," which people compared it to, and the narrator was the same as well. :::: But here's the thing, while "The Help" was a straightforward look into the Jim Crow South, this CeeCee book was just too sugary and full of self-pity. It was honestly crap. :::: I gave up listening after a few hours and never once thought, "I wonder what happened to CeeCee?" I didn't give a damn about her, to be honest. :::: In my opinion, if I can easily put a book down after reading more than a quarter of it, the characters just aren't captivating. Either they lack depth or their voices are so hard to connect with that any curiosity I might have had about their fate is overshadowed by the need to be done with them. And that's exactly how I felt about CeeCee. She's a dull, self-pitying and uninteresting character. ::: (I'm sorry, Ms. Hoffman, for being so harsh)
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  • Edwin Preciado
    •October 3, 2023 at 5:37 am
    I bought this book with the expectation of a delightful Southern read, reminiscent of Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood or Fried Green Tomatoes. Unfortunately, it fell far short of that. I would consider it average, at best. While I found the story somewhat enjoyable, I didn't become fully engrossed in it or develop a strong connection with the characters. I could easily put it down whenever necessary without feeling a strong desire to pick it up again. The characters lacked enough development to truly invest in them, and even though the story was set in the South, it could have easily taken place anywhere else. In the works of Fannie Flagg and Rebecca Wells, the Southern towns they depict are so well-developed that they almost become characters themselves, which is not the case in Beth Hoffman's books, unfortunately. I also read Hoffman's book Looking for Me and had a similar underwhelmed reaction. I just feel that her writing lacks depth. However, I did enjoy the narrator and appreciated her ability to give each character a unique voice.
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  • Roxanna A.
    •September 30, 2023 at 4:50 am
    This book, "Saving Ceecee Honeycutt," has been compared to "The Help" by some reviewers, but let me tell you, they are nothing alike. Unlike "The Help," this book lacks any social commentary, except for a brief scene involving Martin Luther King. The characters in this story are quite shallow and there is a noticeable absence of dramatic tension. Everything seems to work out smoothly and effortlessly for the main character, Ceecee, who is portrayed as a kind-hearted girl. The language used in the book is often overly sweet and clichéd, with comparisons like a happy heart being compared to a cherry pop-tart. I grew weary of characters who were either unrealistically nice, entirely villainous, or ridiculously eccentric (especially the male characters). Unfortunately, any interesting or complex characters were quickly disposed of. As for dramatic tension, all of the characters' problems were resolved quickly and with little introspection or struggle on their part. Although I am not from the South, I found the characters to be stereotypical in a somewhat insulting manner. Despite my initial curiosity and hope for some substantial plot development, I was disappointed to find that the story lacked depth. Subplots that had the potential to add complexity and depth to the story were either resolved in a simplistic manner or not resolved at all. I'm at a loss as to why so many people loved this book. If you haven't already, I recommend reading "The Help" instead, as it possesses all the qualities that "Saving Ceecee Honeycutt" is missing.
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  • Renna Shellenbarger
    •September 30, 2023 at 1:23 am
    The book, 'Saving Ceecee Honeycutt', is incredibly well-written and the narrator has done an outstanding job! I give her a solid 5 stars for her performance! However, I must warn my fellow men, this book is clearly intended for a female audience, as it primarily focuses on women and their interests. The male characters depicted in the story are often portrayed as scoundrels, losers, or jerks, which can be a bit disheartening. While there are a few mentions of deceased men who were described as "wonderful", it does give off the impression that they don't make men like that anymore. As a man reading this book, I found myself overwhelmed with the overwhelming female perspective before I could even reach the end.
    0 0 •Reply

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