- Hardcover: 368 pages
- Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1 edition (Jun 19 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 044652901X
- ISBN-13: 978-0446529013
- Product Dimensions: 15.9 x 3.2 x 23.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 567 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #236,844 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Letts's tale of two children who set out on a voyage to find their father after his hefty ex-girlfriend, the children's guardian, falls dead in a Wal-Mart, is a moving coming-of-age tale. Cassandra Morris is amazingly strong in her delivery, giving a tremendous performance in which her fresh voice is perfectly suited for 15-year old Lutie. Her reading is clear and well paced, and her habit of rushing her words at times serves as an endearing character trait; she can do no wrong here. Her performance is a genuine one that will move audiences with its honesty and passion. A Grand Central hardcover (Reviews, Apr. 28). (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Review
'Letts delivers a heartbreaking tale about love, loss and survival that will stick with the reaDer long after the last page is turned' - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 'An uplifting tearjerker' - KIRKUS REVIEWS
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Feel Good Read,
By
This review is from: Made in the U.S.A. (Hardcover)
I've read all of Billie Letts' novels to this point. You may have heard of her first one - 'Where the Heart Is'- a New york Times bestseller, an Oprah pick and also made into a movie starring Natalie Portman. It is the story of a young pregnant teen who lives in the local Wal Mart.Made in the U.S.A. returns to Wal Mart. Lutie and Fate McFee's father ran off to Las Vegas a year ago, leaving them behind with his girlfriend Floy. While shopping at the local Wal Mart, Floy drops dead. Fifteen year old Lutie decides that they shouldn't wait around for social services to put them into foster care, so they take Floy's car and head off to Vegas to find their dad. With little money and unable to find their dad, they try to survive in Sin City. Some unknown good Samaritan seems to be watching out for them, leaving food and notes on the hood of the car they're living in - but it's not enough. Lutie and Fate are soon subjected to the ugly side of Vegas. I'll stop there without going any further into the plot and spoiling the tale. Letts' hallmark seems to be that family is not always biological. This theme was also the basis for 'The Honk and Holler Opening Soon'. And it's done well again in Made in the U.S.A. Although it becomes somewhat predicable as to what's going to happen in the end, it is still an enjoyable, feel good read that will have you cheering for Lutie and Fate and the resilience of the human spirit.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
3.8 out of 5 stars (87 customer reviews) 35 of 37 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful story,
By Ann Margaret "cover to cover" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Made in the U.S.A. (Audio CD)
You will not get anything done for a few days because you will not be able to put this book down! You will get attached to these young characters who are trying to figure this adult world out alone. They make bad choices and you will be rooting for them page after page hoping someone will help them find their way. You won't be dissappointed. Just forget about the laundry for a few days. (and the dishes, homework, phone calls, husband, children) Just keep reading.
20 of 23 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not her best,
By BeachReader - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Made in the U.S.A. (Hardcover)
This book was just "okay". I am still waiting for Letts to write another book as good as "The Honk and Holler Opening Soon" which I think was her best ever.The first half of this book took place in Las Vegas and was pretty sleazy. Many of the things that happened there required a suspension of belief, something I do not readily do. The book moved a little more easily once Letts returned to her familiar turf (Oklahoma). There was some interesting trivia about how a circus is run and what happens in the winter on its home grounds. But there was way too much coincidence for my liking. I finished it because it was quick reading, but this will definitely not go down as my favorite Letts book. Also, the editing was very lax, something that annoys me a lot. But her husband died during this book's publication process, so perhaps her editor was being gentle.... 12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
interesting character driven contemporary tale,
By Harriet Klausner - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Made in the U.S.A. (Hardcover)
In Spearfish, South Dakota, with their mother long dead, the McFee siblings teenage Lutie and preadolescent Fate live with three hundred plus pounds Floy Satterfield; their runaway father's former girlfriend. However, their lives take a spin when their guardian drops dead at the local megastore. Lutie, who enjoys shoplifting for fun ever since she was booted from the high school gymnastics team due to unfair influences, persuades her eleven year old brother to give up the TV shows and global warming because they have two choices: flee in Floy's ancient car or allow the state to place them. They decide to find their wastrel dad whose last known address is Las Vegas with no further specificity except some dive hotel.In Las Vegas, they begin to learn nasty truths re their father and prison, and where he might be; which if true will prove he is beyond their reach. Fifteen year old Lutie obtains fake working papers and dead-end jobs so she and her brother have food and shelter of sorts. However, increasingly their choices seem to be foster care or the street sharks including avaricious child molesters, rapists, drug addicts and other abusers. However, former aerialist Juan Vargas "adopts" the pair as his redemption and takes them to his family in Oklahoma where they run the Vargas Brothers Circus. Juan carries guilt, but his grandma has love for all three seemingly losers that might help each find sanctuary if they reach out to her and one another. Although at times diving too deep into soap opera territory, MADE IN THE U.S.A. is an interesting character driven contemporary tale that argues it takes a village to raise children. Readers will feel for the McFee sibs, who are neglected while their guardian lived and after she dies make questionable decisions more out of fear. What happens to them especially Lutie in Vegas shows the real sinful underbelly of the city. Although Oklahoma turns out to perfect to be realistic, fans will soar with Lutie, play trivia with Fate and hope Juan forgives himself as they with grandma try to become a family. Harriet Klausner |
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