Billie Discovers Miss Julia 2011

Here’s to offering  many thanks to a dear friend who insisted that I had to meet Miss Julia.  In case you don’t know what I’m talking about – it’s a series of books written by Ann B. Ross about a fictional character called Miss Julia.  Miss Julia is a very out spoken southern lady who is left a widow without knowing diddly-squat about the family business and/or finances.  Perhaps the reason I am enjoying the Miss Julia books so much is because she reminds me of myself in many ways.  An older lady and is not afraid to express her opinion.  The first book of this series was published in 1999 and I can’t believe I’ve just now found out about it; however, The Winston-Salem Journal says that Miss Julia is fast becoming a southern classic.

The first book is entitled Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind.  As I mentioned before, her late husband had told her nothing about the family finances and she had been the subservient wife for more than 40 years just going along with what he said.  (Very unlike me).  For instance, Mr. Springer would not have air conditioning installed in the house because “we need the fresh air.”  Would you believe he worked in an air-conditioned bank and wore a three-piece suit all day?

Now the Presbyterian Church where they belonged was located right across the street from the Springer home and the pastor wanted to build a new life center hounding Miss Julia to death for the money to do such.  Well you can count on Miss Julia to conquer adversities, one way or another, and you can also count on enjoying yourself while you are reading all about it.

Miss Julia will remind you, somewhat, of Aunt Bea on the Andy Griffith Show or maybe Miss Daisy in the Driving Miss Daisy Movie.  One paper describes her as a late-blooming feminist.  Further stating that Miss Julia is no shrinking violet in the comic plot that tweaks stuffy husbands, manipulative small- town neighbors, snoopy preachers, and general human greed, but ends by endorsing the love and vitality that energize Miss Julia’s sharp tongue and warm heart.

I am enjoying the books more than I can tell you  and as I’m reading I’ll say to myself “now when I get to the end of this chapter I’ll get up and do something.”  Wrong!  At the end of that chapter it leaves me hanging and I want to know what happens next.  After reading the first book borrowed from a friend, I ordered two from Amazon and then discovered the Crossville Library has most books in the series. And later I discovered a lady in my area owns all the books. In whatever manner you can find this series, I recommend them for very enjoyable reading.

With green beans waiting to be preserved, I’ll have to put off opening the next book in the series that I want to read, but this is definitely one of the best parts of country living.