The Sweet By and By: A Novel - Softcover

Johnson, Todd

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0061579513 ISBN 13: 9780061579516

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks, 2010

Synopsis

Meet five North Carolina women who are about to change the way you think about friendship. For Rhonda, a gritty, fun-loving hairdresser in tight jeans, the sights and smells of Ridgecrest Nursing Center are depressing. But before she can change her mind about working there, two residents glue themselves to her: Margaret, droll and whip-smart, with a will of iron that never fails her even when her body does, and Bernice, an avid country music fan who is rarely lucid. Together with Lorraine, their church-going, God-questioning nurse, and her daughter, April, bright and ambitious, they lock arms in courage and humor for a journey that speaks to us all—of how we live and die, of how we love and forgive.

About this title

From the Back Cover

"The women of The Sweet By and By have found a devoted muse in Todd Johnson."

--Alice Walker

"Heartfelt and stunning...Mr. Johnson paints a lush portrait of Southern life in vivid detail with clarity and wit. You will be riveted by the story of a group of unlikely friends, five North Carolina women bonded by their shared histories, passions and secrets. It's a genuine page turner."

--Adriana Trigiani

"Quite simply one of the most beautifully written books you'll ever read...The story plays like music in the heart...Beautifully crafted dialogue brings a quick catch in the throat...Strength fills this book, while reinforcing the love and respect Southerners hold for their mothers, grandmothers, friends, and daughters."

--Southern Living

"Bittersweet and often humorous...Johnson has a sure ear for Southern speech...the underlying message of the power of love and friendship resonates, as does its depiction of the way in which people leading unremarkable lives can have a tremendous impact on those around them."

--Publishers Weekly

"Save a place for this debut novel-essentially a hymn of praise for licensed practical nurses (LPNs)....Moving back and forth in time, Johnson does a fine job of illustrating the rich inner lives of those imprisoned by failing mental or physical health."

--Library Journal

About the Author

Todd Johnson was born and raised in North Carolina. Following a career as a teacher and studio singer in New York City, he received a Tony Award nomination as a producer of The Color Purple on Broadway. He studied history at UNC-Chapel Hill and holds a master's degree from Yale Divinity School. He lives in Connecticut. This is his first novel.

If The Sweet By and By prompts you to share a personal story, please write to Todd@ToddJohnsonBooks.com.

About this edition

• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0061579513
• ISBN 13: 9780061579516
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 321