THE LAST GIRLS

They were reading HUCKLEBERRY FINN in a college English class. Their impetuous suite mate, Baby, said, “I’d do that,” and they were off, rafting down the Mississippi, enjoying the adventure of a lifetime. Thirty years later, Harriet, Courtney, Catherine, and Anna reunite to scatter Baby’s ashes. This time they journey via riverboat and memory. Linda Stephens’s graceful performance enhances this complex exploration of the South, the sixties, and the cultural expectations for women of a certain class. Neither as sentimental as STEEL MAGNOLIAS nor as cynical as THE GROUP, THE LAST GIRLS offers a clear-eyed view of each woman, allowing Linda Stephens to slip from flamboyance to reticence, from brashness to delicacy with accomplished artistry. Based on her own experiences, Lee Smith’s novel reminds us that wisdom doesn’t necessarily accompany age. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 03]