Cathy (Catsluvbooks)'s comments (member since Dec 28, 2008)

Cathy (Catsluvbooks)'s comments from the Readers and Reading group.

Nancy wrote: "OOps, Cathy, we'll have to disagree on South of Broad; I liked the book but was disappointed too and found it rather FAR-FETCHED! I also really disliked Leo's mother! I've loaned the copy to my s..."

Oh, I personally have no opinion on it yet. I haven't read it. I was responding to someone else's review with what I've "heard" about it.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "
Gone Tomorrow by Lee Child - 3 stars....Child is in better (but not his best) form after his last book, Nothing to Lose, which was, in my opinion, a debacle, since Child felt he had to put HIS political words into Reacher's mouth. Child must have read the reviews and decided this was not a good path for Reacher.

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I read several in a row and got burned out...I haven't tried the last couple.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "
South of Broad by Pat Conroy - 6 stars out of 5 !!!!

(I put this in my June reads, but expanded my "review" here)

I was lucky to have a fairy godmother loan me an ARC of this book. But I will be buying my own copy and re-reading it on August 11....I loved it that much.

SOUTH OF BROAD was simply A M A Z I N G and well worth the many years of waiting. I am looking forward to re-reading this so I can savor even more the language, the story, the atmosphere. WOW!

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JoAnn, how interesting!! this is the first time I've seen anybody have anything good to say about this book....and you loved it!!! almost everything I've read so far, folks have been disappointed.

Alias Reader wrote: "

This I Know is True I thought was great. I gave it a top rating. I found it to be a fast read.

As for She's Come Undone, I thought it was just ok..."

Have you tried The Hour I First Believed yet?

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "There are lots of dysfunctional folks out there....but I don't particularly want to read about them. Not that I only read "happy happy" books, but his books just seem to go to the extreme.
"
This is the sort of book I get the most out of!

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Great review, Cathy.

If I liked Lamb's writing/books, your review would almost convince me to read one of them!"
JoAnn, I am not sure what set you against his writing. Of the three novels, his first to me was just a three. I thought they got progressively better.

As I noted in another post, I just finished Wally Lamb's I Know This Much Is True.

This is from the review I posted on Goodreads already.

It's a good thing for me that Wally Lamb isn't more prolific or I'd be mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted. His sweeping story of dysfunctional family makes you look at your own family differently and if you're lucky realize it wasn't as dysfunctional as you thought. But more than he invokes lots and lots of introspection. His books aren't "Christian" books, per se, but there is a lot to make you think about REAL morality. Love vs. indifference. People really doing the best they can. Forgiveness for the weaknesses of others - and yourself. His books are torture to read. They make you look in the mirror. WANT to be a better person, more caring, less judgmental. The biggest sins: self-absorption to the point where you can't see others' point of view or feelings. Indifference. But yet we are what we are and overcoming our own weaknesses to be that better person - much easier to vow than to follow through.
The frame of the story is a set of twins, Thomas and Dominick. Thomas develops schizophrenia. Dominick does not. He's the "stronger" twin but comes to resent his strength that made his brother his mother's favorite, the protected one. The strong do get tired of being strong and come to resent it. But yet that strength is ultimately what pulls him through. Gosh, so much I could say.....I rooted for Dominick all the way through though and to me with all his "issues" that's a testament to how good Wally Lamb is.

JanOMalleycat wrote: "Cathy said: "First - I hated the obvious "beached whale" symbolism. Delores was extremely obese and the dead beached whale was clearly about her. The triumph of the live whale at the end and her li..."

I like the depth his characters have though. You know them. Even if you don't LIKE them.

I gave this book 3 out of 5.

I am not sure what to say about this book! This is the life story of Delores Price written by a man, Wally Lamb. I thought it was a good read. It definitely held by interest. It wasn't nearly as long and sprawling as The Hour I First Believed, which I thought was better.
But I do have quibbles.
First - I hated the obvious "beached whale" symbolism. Delores was extremely obese and the dead beached whale was clearly about her. The triumph of the live whale at the end and her life turnaround - well, I rolled my eyes. Come on now.
I usually think books are too long and should end sooner. This one, I would have liked another chapter. Or an epilogue. Did they finish degrees? Did they ever get pregant?
I tend to get irritated with main characters whose problems are largely of their own making. Yeah, Delores got raped at 13 but she was being stupid and rebellious and put herself in a bad situation.
I read a review by someone else who said that she kept reading the book hoping something good would happen to Delores. In Delores' case, she was the architect of much of her bad "luck" and also, finally, the architect of her life's turnaround.
I kind of had issues with her being institutionalized for seven years and getting out and being more or less "normal" (whatever that is). Does that really happen?
Yeah... A lot of quibbles but, again, a very good read and admit I was interested in it.

Perpendicularandi wrote: "Hi! I'm Randi, and I'm brand new to this group. I just wanted to introduce myself. I like to read, write, and do crafts. I'm working on a novel right now. I have very eclectic taste in books. ..."

Hi, Randi!!!!Welcome....

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Cathy (Catsluvbooks) wrote: " Sorry, JoAnn but they ARE roaches!"

That's what I said, but I was corrected many times by people who love over New Orleans, including the manager of Commander's Palac..."
They are either misinformed or in denial! (or maybe the Palmetto bugs have a good PR firm!) Those darn things particular love climbing and will crawl in trees or up walls. They are gross.

Lots of folks call cicadas "locusts" but they are wrong about that too.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Cathy, I first thought it was a roach but I was "corrected". Anywhere else, they would be considered roaches LOL Whatever it was, it was disgusting to find inside a restaurant. Someone said to me....."

Sorry, JoAnn but they ARE roaches!

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Cathy, I first thought it was a roach but I was "corrected". Anywhere else, they would be considered roaches LOL Whatever it was, it was disgusting to find inside a restaurant. Someone said to me....."
American cockroach
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American cockroach


The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), also known as the Palmetto Bug or a Waterbug, particularly in the southern United States, is the largest species of common cockroach, and often considered a pest.[citation needed:] It is native to the Southern United States, and common in tropical climates

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Bunny, we did have great food in New Orleans. But that is the only good thing I can say about it. We ate at Bayona, http://www.bayona.com/
and Commander's Palace (where we found a huge palmetto bug..."

The giant roaches, you mean? <grin>
I live in Mississippi, a few hours away from New Orleans. We have those here as well.

you can use the book search function to add your books. that's the way I did it.

I finished the book last night and gave it four stars.I thought it was the perfect followup to Team of Rivals, which is several hundred pages long. LOL. This was a much faster and lighter read. I liked the story immensely and loved the way it ended.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "I forgot to mention that I loved loved loved this book!"

I just started this book last night. I didn't get too far into it but I am looking forward to it!

Cathey wrote: "I read IN THE WOODS by French and liked it, BUT, I was not happy about the unsolved mystery!"

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ditto!!!!
A lot of folks say that's the way the book "needed to be" but it bugged me...Great book though.

I'm finishing Team of Rivals for book nook cafe. I'm not sure what I'll tackle next but I have plenty of choices.