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The Widows of Wichita County
Jodi Thomas Book Review

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Plot Summary of The Widows of Wichita County
"

Mira, Aug 2003, 6.50
ISBN: 1551667150

In Clifton Creek, Texas, the oil rig explosion on the Davis ranch leaves four men dead and one individual in critical condition fighting for his life. Because of the charring of the corpses and the severe burns of the survivor no one knows who lived. Five women huddle together in the County memorial Hospital waiting to know whether their spouses are alive or not.

Widower Helena Whitworth married J.D. and in spite of their adult children from previous marriages they have been happy together. Italian Anna Montano is the wife of rancher Davis, but he is aloof towards her treating her like an outsider while being nice to her brother. Bar girl Crystal loves her spouse Shelby Howard though he treats her as his trophy wife. Randi had planned to leave her husband Shelby's nephew Jimmy to try to make in the country music world. Schoolteacher Meredith Allen had wondered when her spouse, Kevin, a former high school football hero, will realize that his life did not end at eighteen.

Though this is a strong tale, THE WIDOWS OF WICHITA COUNTY will feel a bit disappointed because readers learn rather quickly who survived. Guilt, shock, and “wishes” are not fully explored though the story line looks deeply at grief and survival following one person making a life for herself and her ailing husband with the help of the widows. Jodi Thomas furbishes a powerful character study that will hook fans of women's fiction, but though the novel will be well received, readers will feel it could have more.

Harriet Klausner

"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Widows of Wichita County
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - present (2000-2010)
Family, caring for ill Yes
Who is sick? - husband
because he/she is - physically ill
Internal struggle/realization? Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Coping with loss of loved one(s) Yes
Loss of... - husband/boyfriend/squeeze

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - homemaker
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Nationality - White (American)
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - none

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 3 ()
United States Yes
The US: - Texas

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Unusual Style: - a lot of stream of consciousness
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
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