Dancing on the Edge of the Roof: A Novel (the basis for the film Juanita): A Novel“Dancing on the Edge of the Roof kept my heart and mind dancing through the pages. Sheila Williams, with her talent for detailed storytelling, expertly takes the reader on a poignant and humorous quest for self.”—Lori Bryant-Woolridge, author of Read Between the Lies At forty-one, Juanita Lewis is running away from home, courtesy of a one-way ticket to Montana, a place that seems about as far away from the violence and poverty of the Columbus, Ohio, projects as the moon. She wants adventure and excitement—if such things exist for a pre-menopausal African American woman with three grown, deadbeat children. Juanita’s new life in Paper Moon, Montana, begins at a local diner where a culinary face-off with chef and owner Jess Gardiner finds Juanita in front of Jess’s stove serving up home cookin’ that lures the townsfolk like a magic spell. And suddenly Juanita, who was just passin’ through, now has a job by popular demand. Out here in this wide-open space, Juanita’s heart can no longer hide, especially when she sees herself through the eyes of the wonderful and eccentric people of this down-to-earth town. She’s happy in Paper Moon; she’s found a home, but can she stay? And then there’s Jess. She has always dreamed of romance, but she never planned on falling in love. |
Other editions - View all
Dancing on the Edge of the Roof: A Novel (the basis for the film Juanita) Sheila Williams Limited preview - 2002 |
Dancing on the Edge of the Roof: A Novel (the basis for the film Juanita) Sheila Williams No preview available - 2002 |
Common terms and phrases
African Queen ain't anyway Arcadia Lake asked baby bacon Bertie Bobby Smith breakfast breath Carl chuckled cigarette coffee cook counter Croque monsieur dance diner door Dracula eggs Elma face felt floor funny Gardiner gonna grinned guess hair hand hash browns head hear heard hell huge Jess Jess's eyes Juanita kids knew Lakota laughed listened live looked Louis ma'am Mary menu Mignon Millie Millie's Missoula Momma Montana morning Mountain never night nothin Old Boy orange juice pancakes Paper Moon Peaches Peaches's porch pulled Randy Rashawn remember scared Sheila Williams shit shook shoulders shrugged sister sitting smell smiled smoke sound stared stay stopped stuff suitcases talk Teishia tell things thought tiny told took turned Uncle Jess voice walked watched What's woman wondered Yeah