School of Beauty and Charm

by Melanie Sumner

Genres: General Fiction; Literary Fiction

Synopsis

A “tragically funny debut novel” about a Southern girl’s reckless rebellion ( Library Journal). Henry and Florida Peppers of Counterpoint, Georgia, are upstanding Baptist parents whose dearest wishes are to keep their asthmatic son, Roderick, alive—and keep their smart-ass daughter, Louise, from going to hell. But after Roderick dies at fifteen, the three must figure out how to continue on. Steady, serious Henry buries himself in his work managing the local cardboard factory. Flamboyant Florida, with a fine-honed knack for losing her cool, redecorates the house and takes up painting by numbers. Louise, however, indulges her addictions: She’d already discovered vanilla extract at an early age, and now she’s developing her tastes for liquor, food, and sex. Still, that’s not quite enough danger for Louise, and at eighteen, she runs off to join a carnival . . . From a Whiting Award–winning author, The School of Beauty and Charm is a story with the power to make readers laugh and cry, and a moving portrait of a father and mother, two good-hearted people doing everything wrong to win back their daughter.

Release date: September 28, 2001

Publisher: Washington Square Press

Print pages: 320