Where The Heart Is by Billie Letts

Synopsis :

 Talk about unlucky sevens. An hour ago, seventeen-year-old, seven months pregnant Novalee Nation was heading for California with her boyfriend.  Now she finds herself stranded at a Wal-Mart in Sequoyah, Oklahoma, with just $7.77 in charge. But Novalee is about to discover hidden treasures in this small Southwest town - a group of down-to-earth, deeply caring people willing to help a homeless, jobless girl living secretly in a Wal-Mart.

 From Bible-thumping blue-haired Sister Thelma Husband to eccentric librarian Forney Hull who loves Novalee more than she loves herself, they are about to take her - and you, too - on a moving, funny and unforgettable journey to...where the heart is.


I decided on this book as it's part of Oprah's Book Club. I have totally no idea who the author is.  First page into the book, I was quite hooked as I was partly interested in how Novalee managed to live in supermart for a few months without being detected.  I don't it would be possible in real life to do so.

The storyline was quite predictable with pregnant girl left behind by boyfriend, girl gave birth in dramatic circumstances, girl too trusting and gave money all away, girl left stranded again with newborn baby, guardian angle appear to rescue girl and baby and take them home, the whole community embraced them into their lives, then a few tragedies later everyone live happily ever after, the end.

In that sense, I quite like the book for its survivor message behind the story is rather strong. However, I found it also slightly judgmental and might not fare well with some people.  There might be some who would question on why does the book support teen pregnancy.  I don't think the author meant for it to be such other than just a story of acceptance, love, trusting and hope.  If you like these elements, then I guess you won't find much fault with Where The Heart Is.

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