Velva Jean Learns to Drive, Jennifer Niven
Velva Jean Learns to Drive, Jennifer Niven
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Velva Jean Learns to Drive

Author: Jennifer Niven

Narrator: Jenna Lamia

Unabridged: 14 hr 58 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 07/28/2009

Synopsis

Set in Appalachia in the years before World War II, Velva Jean Learns to Drive is a poignant story of a spirited young girl growing up in the gold-mining and moonshining South.

Before she dies, Velva Jean's mother urges her to "live out there in the great wide world." Velva Jean dreams of becoming a big-time singer in Nashville until she falls in love with Harley Bright, a handsome juvenile delinquent turned revival preacher. As their tumultuous love story unfolds, Velva Jean must choose between keeping her hard-won home and pursuing her dream of singing in the Grand Ole Opry.

About The Author

Jennifer Niven has written four novels for adults—American Blonde, Becoming Clementine, Velva Jean Learns to Fly, and Velva Jean Learns to Drive—as well as three nonfiction books—The Ice Master, Ada Blackjack, and The Aqua-Net Diaries, a memoir about her high school experiences. Although she grew up in Indiana, she now lives with her fiancé and literary cats in Los Angeles, which remains her favorite place to wander. For more information, visit JenniferNiven.com, GermMagazine.com, or find her on Facebook.Jenna Lamia has appeared on- and off-Broadway, as well as on television in Law and Order: SVU, Strangers with Candy, HBO's Oz, and MTV's Awkward., of which she is also the coexecutive producer. Her film credits include The Fighter and The Call.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Stepheny

Velva Jean Learns to Drive started out as a buddy read with the lovely TL. Unfortunately she lost interest and didn’t continue it. I did and am so glad that I did! There was a couple points early on that almost made me call it quits as well, but I stuck with it. Velva Jean believes her life will not......more

Goodreads review by Bev

What a powerful and moving book about finding and pursuing your dreams. In this Southern fiction coming of age novel, Velva Jean marries Harley Bright at the tender age of 16. Constrained by her role as a preacher's wife and blocked in by her life on the mountain, her dream of singing in the Grand Ol......more

Goodreads review by Kelly

I found this book delightful. Velva Jean is a true survivor with a wonderful heart. The storyline is nothing new and there are no twists to be found, but you will fall in love with Velva Jean and her family. She speaks some truisms that are spot on, and it's a good old fashioned read which shows wha......more

Goodreads review by Debbie

This book was a little hard to get into at first and yet strangely I could not put it down. We first meet Velva Jean when she is 10 years old and watch as she grows older, marries and has to make a decision about pursuing her dream of singing in the Grand Ole Opry. I had to really get myself into th......more

Quotes

Praise for Jennifer Niven and Her Novels

“A touching read, funny and wise, like a crazy blend of Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, a less morose Flannery O’Connor, and maybe a shot of Hank Williams...Niven makes some memorable moon-spun magic in her rich fiction debut.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
 
“In this story Jennifer Niven creates a world long gone, a mountain past where people suffer failure, loss, and betrayal, as well as the strength and joy of connection and deep love. Velva Jean Learns to Drive takes us far into this soaring, emotional country, the place where our best music comes from.”—Robert Morgan, bestselling author of The Road from Gap Creek and Gap Creek
 
“A fluid storyteller.”—Wall Street Journal
 
“Velva Jean learns to...not only drive, but to soar. This beautifully written coming-of-age story captivated me, and I recommend it to anyone who has ever longed to ‘live out there.’”—Ann B. Ross, author of the bestselling Miss Julia novels
 
“Spirited.”—Parade

“If [Niven] continues to create female characters as strong, as fallible and as appealing as Velva Jean, she has a grand career ahead of her.”—Wilmington Star News

“Velva Jean makes a charming, bright-eyed narrator (bringing to mind that other delightful young rural protagonist: Scout of To Kill a Mockingbird).”—The Christian Science Monitor

“The novel takes hold of your imagination and refuses to let go—even long after you've read the last page.”—Costco (Pennie’s Book Pick of the Month)

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