Novels With Nell - Dollbaby

Nell is back today with another great book recommendation for y'all! I'll be the first to tell you that after reading the name of the book and giving Nell a questioning glance I wasn't sold at first but am now eager to give it a try.

If you like Southern fiction or read and loved The Help, then you should read Dollbaby. It’s set in New Orleans in 1964 when Ibby Bell’s father dies and her mother drops her off at her grandmother’s house with her father’s urn in tow. Ibby has never been to a place like New Orleans before, and for those of you who have been, I think you’d agree it’s a unique city- full of history, tradition, charm, and quirks. Ibby gets an education on the South and its secrets (and her family secrets) from her eccentric grandmother, Fannie, and Fannie’s cook, Queenie, and Queenie’s daughter, Dollbaby. It’s a fun group of characters to follow along with and keeps you hooked until the end!

Here are two reviews that I believe capture the essence of the book well:

“Deeply southern and evocative, Laura Lane McNeal’s beautifully written debut, Dollbaby, takes us back to a not-so-long ago time when we were learning to look through different eyes at the fabric of our society, race, youth and family.”

—Susan Crandall, author of Whistling Past the Graveyard

“In this tender coming-of-age novel, McNeal brings to life a place, an era, and an amazing cast of strong, larger-than-life characters. Heartrending, captivating, and ultimately, triumphant.”

—Cassandra King, New York Times bestselling author of Moonrise

-Nell

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Although I can’t remember whether or not Nell has personally recommended this one to me (she’s made many of recommendations over the years so it is hard to keep track of) this is one that has a sense of familiarity to me as I’ve grown up in the South. New Orleans is such a fun place to visit and having been there I’m able to picture certain aspects of the setting Nell has described and am aware of some of the quirks of the south and the close knit nature of families there which makes it seem like one I really should take her recommendation on. Have any of y'all read this?