topic Re: Dorothea Benton Frank in Book Club

Dorothea Benton Frank

QVCkitty1 — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 19:58:32 GMT

I realize she is popular , but her books are new to me. Recently I ordered " Shem Creek" on kindle, it was on sale for 1.99. I enjoyed it , so I'm asking if you are a fan , which of her many books was a favorite ?

Re: Dorothea Benton Frank

jeanlake — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 20:06:33 GMT

She's a favorite 'put my mind in neutral' author I like to listen to on audio books on my drive to work. Reminds me of Nancy Thayer and Hilderbrand who write coastal novels. Surprised and sad to hear Ms. Benton Frank passed last September at only 67 - terminal disease. Her stories were full of life and love for South Carolina.

Re: Dorothea Benton Frank

QVCkitty1 — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 20:14:23 GMT

@jeanlake wrote:
She's a favorite 'put my mind in neutral' author I like to listen to on audio books on my drive to work. Reminds me of Nancy Thayer and Hilderbrand who write coastal novels. Surprised and sad to hear Ms. Benton Frank passed last September at only 67 - terminal disease. Her stories were full of life and love for South Carolina.

@jeanlake , I want nice " relationship books " these days, she seems to fill the bill.

Re: Dorothea Benton Frank

Sooner — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 20:19:06 GMT

Plantations was her first and one of the best.

Beach Music by Pat Conroy is also VERY good.

Mindless mysteries centered around Charleston: Laura Childs Tea Shop mysteries.

Re: Dorothea Benton Frank

jeanlake — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 20:22:18 GMT

Her books are not intelectual historical fiction or novels full of legal or military jargon. I like all that, too, but if you want a story based on relationships that describe family characters and flow in and out of romantic plots, her's are good books to get lost in. I've visited many South Carolina / North Carolina / Georgia coastal towns and reading her novels make me feel like I'm on vacation. Shem Creek is good. Haven't read one of her books I didn't like.

Re: Dorothea Benton Frank

stevieb — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 20:33:42 GMT

I have mixed feelings about her writing. Some of her books I've really enjoyed, while others didn't do much for me. Queen Bee, the one I read most recently and, I believe, her last book, was entertaining but not very deep. I've read others but honestly don't remember the names, though I did find several of them somewhat more impressive, given the genre, and to be good reading. For this sort of 'beach read' type novel, she's better than several of the others who write in this vein. Sadly, I believe she passed away last year.

Re: Dorothea Benton Frank

hooked on books — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 00:47:29 GMT

I've read many of her books and enjoyed them, though none recently. I didn't know that she had passed away. Sorry to hear that.😞

Re: Dorothea Benton Frank

KathyM23 — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 04:12:31 GMT

I have read and loved all her books. She was born on Sullivan's Island and her love for the low country is evident in her books. I too love Charleston and Sullivans Island. My girlfriend's husband also grew up on Sullivan's Island and went to school wth Mrs. Frank's brother.

If I were to ever relocate to the South, it would be the Charleston area. That area is my favorite place to vacation. I will surely miss her books. She also must have had a great sense of humor as came through in the preface or acknowlegement pages of her books.

Re: Dorothea Benton Frank

beach-mom — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 04:43:31 GMT

@jeanlake wrote:
Surprised and sad to hear Ms. Benton Frank passed last September at only 67 - terminal disease. Her stories were full of life and love for South Carolina.

@jeanlake - I didn't know this either. I had a chance to meet her at a luncheon and book signing about 3 or 4 years ago. I wanted to go, but couldn't make it. Now I wish I'd cancelled everything else.

@QVCkitty1 - I enjoy her books. Like you, I came in a little later, but I grew up in Georgia and I love reading about the area. I've read almost all of her books, usually during the summer. They transport me to another place and a simpler life. Her characters are great! Three of the ones I really enjoyed were The Last Original Wife, Pawley's Island, and Same Beach, Next Year.

I have her books in hard cover or trade paperback. Now I want to get the ones I don't have.

Re: Dorothea Benton Frank

beckyb1012 — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 13:19:22 GMT

One of my favorites authors for so very long. I am usually the first on hold for one of her new releases. Any of her books would be a treasure to read. I had not heard she passed away. Bless her for all the joy she brought to us.

Re: Dorothea Benton Frank

fit model — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 14:40:11 GMT

Yes, I have read about 5 of her books, all from my library. Her writing is witty, yet she engages the reader with real emotion. All of her books revolve around NYC and the islands off the coast of South Carolina. She makes you feel like you are there. I like Southern writers,, still trying to figure out why.

Just hope she keeps writing.

Re: Dorothea Benton Frank

sward05 — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 17:02:05 GMT

I particularly enjoyed Isle of Palms and Queen Bee.

Re: Dorothea Benton Frank

QVCkitty1 — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 17:14:59 GMT

@fit model wrote:
Yes, I have read about 5 of her books, all from my library. Her writing is witty, yet she engages the reader with real emotion. All of her books revolve around NYC and the islands off the coast of South Carolina. She makes you feel like you are there. I like Southern writers,, still trying to figure out why.
Just hope she keeps writing.

@fit model , I love Southern writers too, and I'm a yankee through and through. I think it's because they can reall spin a tale, and love to include eccentric characters.

Re: Dorothea Benton Frank

icaughtu — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 19:40:05 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
Plantations was her first and one of the best.

Beach Music by Pat Conroy is also VERY good.

Mindless mysteries centered around Charleston: Laura Childs Tea Shop mysteries.

@Sooner Beach Music is my favorite book of all. I have tried to get my friends to read it but they never do. Don't know what they are missing. I also loved all of Dorothea Benton Frank's book. So sad when I heard she passed.