The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara-Wearing, Book-Sharing Guide to Life
by Kathy L. Patrick
Published by Grand Central Publishing
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Reviewed by Claire Vath
“Never judge a book by its cover,” or so the adage goes, but Kathy L. Patrick’s The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara-Wearing, Book-Sharing Guide to Life fails to delve too much deeper than its hot pink and leopard cover.
Kathy Patrick became somewhat of a nationwide sensation when the former book buyer was fired from her job. Gathering her courage and money, Patrick transformed part of her house into a beauty salon and bookstore, appropriately named Beauty and the Book.
As her client base grew, Patrick started a book club, calling the members the Pulpwood Queens—an homage to the major industry in her small town of Jefferson, Texas.
Patrick’s book chronicles her tumultuous childhood and how it set the stage for her future passions. “What my book will reveal is how one woman followed her passion and made her dreams come true,” Patrick writes, conceding that her book won’t reveal the “seven secrets of true happiness.”
The rhythm of the book is interrupted by boxed-in quotes throughout the text, including some of Patrick’s own jewels of wisdom: “You can never wear too much leopard print; it’s an instant icebreaker for making new friends.”
Kathy Patrick comes across in her writing as a Southern woman whose life work adds to her larger-than-life persona. And let’s not short-change her: She’s taken great strides to advocate literacy.
But her book—while not “unenjoyable”—proves not every book lover should become a writer. The book, like her business, is a hybrid of offbeat beauty tips, biographical information and the literary world.
Perhaps the most useful pieces of this book are the suggested reading lists at the end of each. (Though many of the books are mediocre at best, yet decidedly unpretentious, Patrick does list some classics, such as To Kill A Mockingbird.) The resources for starting your own book club (complete with recipes) at the end of the book are also great.
Let’s give credit where credit’s due: Patrick herself may not be a stellar writer, but she has proved to be many a struggling author’s champion, and her perseverance should serve as an inspiration to women everywhere.
Armchair Interviews agrees.
Author’s Web site: http://www.BeautyandtheBook.com