The Optimist's Daughter

This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel tells the story of Laurel McKelva Hand, a young woman who has left the South and returns, years later, to New Orleans, where her father is dying. After his death, she and her silly young stepmother go back still farther, to the small Mississippi town where she grew up. Along in the old house, Laurel finally comes to an understanding of the past, herself, and her parents.
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192 pages

Average rating: 6.8

10 RATINGS

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2 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

Anonymous
Aug 01, 2023
8/10 stars
This is a very straightforward book. When Laurel's father dies, she must deal not only with her own grief but that of her friends and neighbors (her father was a well-loved judge in their small town). On top of that, she also has to deal with the histrionics of her stepmother, a woman younger than herself, who does not react in a way that Laurel finds seemly.

The night after the funeral, Laurel finds herself alone in her childhood home. Going thro...read more
Marilynn
Sep 28, 2022
7.4, A wonderful discussion. And many thanks to Marilynn for hosting and providing those yummy snacks!

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