Born and raised in Cenla, I felt like someone had written my mother's life story....I grew up all around plantation farmers, even spent summer's on the creeks camping out, the ladies got together playing canasta; I think this is an excellent portayal of true life in Cenla and most still exists this way; your phrases touched my heart, I still tell my daugher "Pretty is as pretty does", thanks so much for this book, I am ready to re-read, what else can top this. I haven't read a book that so moved me to tears, laughter, hate and love since David Hill's Sacred Dust. THanks, Ms. Wells, if you only knew how it helped heal me also...