Dawn Michelle's comments (member since Jul 15, 2008)

Dawn Michelle's comments from the The Next Best Book Club group.

I have not read the first one yet (as I am bogged down totally in this other book), but have bumped it up TBR next as I need something a little "lighter" than what I am reading now. I hear that they are awesome. I am reading the first one because of all the good I have heard about them here and because, well, they sound REALLY funny and interesting.

@Lori...I just checked out the TNBBC stuff and I have to say it all looks great. And I just wanted to give you a HUGE thank you for remembering us plus size girls. I am so excited that at some point I will also be able to own a shirt and not just a mug or bag. That means a lot to me. So Thank you! YOU ROCK!

It would take PAGES to list all the books I have bought in the last month. I am NOW having a hard time finding a place to put everything. And seeing as I am bogged down in "American Gods" I have NO idea when I will get to something new.

I WISH I could find "Everything is Illuminated" but alas it still eludes me. I have looked everywhere. Except e-bay. Shoot. Forgot...heading there now.....

Some of the good ones I have bought and CANNOT wait to read:
Summerland and The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon, the first Sookie Stackhouse book, three others by Charlaine Harris, Anansai Boys, American Gods and some YA book by Neil Gaiman, A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews and MANY MANY more. :-) I need to stay home and read and STAY OUT of the bookstores! :-)

I LOVED this book. I read it last year, so I feel like I am finally ahead. I have actually read BOTH of this months books! YAY!

This book was amazing for me. I really loved the story and the characters and how the story flowed. I hope that you LOVE it too Lori!!

What did I like about this book??? <sit and thinks hard>

I liked that she was no pushover. YES, she did things she didn't want to to, but she ended up doing them on HER terms and NO one else's. And how what she does at the end of the book is to really HELP that person, not hinder them. And I like how she doesn't let anyone forget how her mother REALLY died.

I also really liked the writing style and how the story flowed. VERY interesting. And lovely. YAY

Oh noooooooo!!! You can stop talking in Caps. That must be VERY tiring!!

And yes, it was totally worth it. Going this weekend to look for the next 2. I can't wait!!

Thanks again.

*Continues to dance with (G)Emma!!*

(G)EMMA!!!!!!

I have to tell you how much I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

I also have to say I was pretty skeptical. I mean, really. You hype it A LOT. But still, I went out and bought it. And was, in all honestly, prepared to be disappointed.

I TOTALLY APOLOGIZE!!!! This book ROCKS!!! I cannot wait to go and get the next two. I LOVED this book. I have already recommended it to people.

Thank you for loving a book so much that you are willing to brow-beat people into submission to get them to buy and read it. WE (the people) are grateful beyond words!!!

YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY

Thank you all for your kind words...it just re-enforces what I said and what I think of this group, which is by far my favorite!!

@Kellie: I agree about Almost Moon. I am sure if I could have gotten around the subject matter, I would have found it to be a really well written book. Her others were. But the idea of killing ones mother was more than just horrifying to me, it was repulsive. And because of that (I just couldn't get past it at all), I never finished the book.

I wonder if I need to go back and re-read Memory Keeper's Daughter. Maybe I missed something that it seems like LOTS of people got. Hmmm...

I think some of the books turned me off because of writing style, but yes, I guess most are because of an emotional response. I guess I need to examine that. Hmmmm....again!!! :-)

And yes, THANK YOU to Lori. You rock. You make this such a great place and we are all grateful for the load you bear. May we all live up to what you promote everyday!!!

Well, I just "wasted" a good hour reading this WHOLE post. And it was an hour WELL wasted. How wonderful to read what people think about books. And how for the most part, people agree about certain ones. Very enjoyable to read what you all had to say!

I am usually reluctant to tell people about the books I didn't care for (as I dislike the word "hate")as they are for the most part tremendously judgmental about them. I try and read to broaden my mind, but I also love fluff. Totally. And YA. LOVE that stuff. And to some, that makes me less of a reader in their eyes (because I don't like/care for some of the "classics" or what they are reading). OR, I am a "smarty-pants" who is showing off. There are days I feel I cannot win.

However, that said, I feel I can list my list here. While I know there are people who will disagree with me, it won't be in the vein as mentioned above. That is VERY refreshing to me!! So thanks to this group for making it a safe place to civilly discuss our dislikes.

(There are more than 10...I hope that is OK!..I just kept thinking of ones while I read all the previous posts) :-)

In no particular order:

1. The Good German ~ Joseph Karon/While a good topic and subject, the story at times REALLY dragged for me and to be honest, the ending was a HUGE letdown. While I am glad that I read it, I did NOT enjoy it while I was reading it.

2. Lord of the Flies ~ William Golding/Sorry Lori!! I had to read this in school and I remember crying though most of it. I was so upset and angry that CHILDREN would do these things to each other. Very disturbing.

3. Almost Moon ~ Alice Sebold/ LOVED "The Lovely Bones" and "Lucky". DID NOT love this one. I don't think I made it past chapter 2. ICK!

4. Jane Eyre ~ Charlotte Bronte/This book was SO hard for me to read. I just don't get all the "flowery" language and just lots of things about this book. I know its a "classic", but sometimes, I think the "classics" are the hardest to read....at least for me. But I keep plugging away. I did like the story though. It was the way it was told (language and how it flowed)that bugged me to NO end!!

5. The Memory Keeper's Daughter ~ Kim Edwards/There has been enough said on this one. While an interesting idea and topic, there is little room for sympathy for these people, especially the father. SIGH. ICK!

6. Daisy Miller ~ Henry James/ ONLY because she is so inappropriate and such a silly girl at times. SO annoying!!!

7. Atonement ~ Ian McEwan/Really?? Was this book REALLY necessary?? I am SO glad I am not the only one. And I give KUDOS to those who loved it. You all are better people than I!!

8. The Jane Austen Book Club ~ Karen Joy Fowler/PURE cattiness. If I want that I will call up my step-monster. It did nothing to make me want to read ANY Jane Austen (something I have been trying to gear up to do)!!

9. Bee Season ~ Myla Goldberg/I was really surprised by this book. And not in a pleasant way. The premise is great, but it just spirals down into a very ugly place and never quite redeems itself!

10. I'll Take You There ~ Joyce Carol Oates/There is 2 hours of my life I will never get back again. Not only did I NOT understand this book, I don't even know WHY it was written. IMHO, there is NOTHING redeeming about this book. YUCK!

11. Wicked ~ Gregory Maguire/I saw the musical and THEN tried to read the book. BAD move. Will never attempt to read it again. So bad. WILL see the musical again if I get the chance. Fantastic!

12. Angela's Ashes ~ Frank McCourt/ I was depressed for a month after reading this. I gave it to my boss (at the time), and he couldn't even finish it and HE IS IRISH!!! I get that its about his life and life was rough there, but it just was so sad and depressing. And I LIKE books like this normally. I don't know. I just didn't like it.

13. Daughter of Fortune ~ Isabel Allende/I don't even really remember this book. I do remember I DID NOT like it. I finished it, but GACK!!!

14. One Hundred Years of Solitude <--I couldn't remember who was who and which one of the same name was being talked about. I was SO confused. I gave up. I am sure its wonderful, but I really don't need added confusion in my life!! LOL :_)

There are many I am waiting to read that are still in hardcover. It seems to take forever for them to make the move to paperback. I do have to admit I have picked up some good deals on e-bay on HC books though. That has been nice.
And YAY YAY YAY A Thousand Splendid Suns has FINALLY come out in PB so I am hoping the husband REALLY follows the list this year and I get that for Christmas!!

I want to read:

The Gargoyle~Andrew Davidson
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle~David Wroblewski
The Zookeeper's Wife~Diane Ackerman
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers~Mary Roach
Knit 2~Katie Jacobs
Belong to me~Maria de los Santos

I had already read this so I can count it right? It was only like a month ago!! :-)
I really LOVED this book. And while somewhat different than the movie, I didn't feel either detracted from each other. It was a lovely read!!!

This book didn't impact my life or anything, but I HAVE been carting it around for years. That book is The Westing Game. I got it one year from my father's neighbor's for Hanukkah (they were Jewish and were sharing their holiday with us..it was neat for me) and I have never gotten rid of it, I read it at least once a year (that reminds me, I am due) and it has moved to each and every place I have ever lived (which is A LOT). I LOVE this book. Its about ready to fall apart and I probably should get a new one and put the old one away to keep it all together, but there is just something about holding that book and reminiscing. Ahhhhhhh


Oh, and Emma?? I don't know if OBSESSED is a strong enough word for what you are about these books. All I know is that I cannot wait to finally get these and read them. You have made me SO curious about them. :-)

Anyway, I am looking in Wikipedia and this is what I came up with..along with TONS that I had never heard of. :-)

1967
S. E. Hinton - The Outsiders (HOW exciting..this is one of my ALL-TIME favorite books. YAY!!)

Robert E. Howard - Conan the Warrior

Ira Levin - Rosemary's Baby

Daniel Pratt Mannix IV - The Fox and the Hound

Gabriel García Márquez - One Hundred Years of Solitude (DID NOT LIKE THIS BOOK...)

Catherine Marshall - Christy (Another one of my favorites)

Chaim Potok - The Chosen

* Nobel Prize for Literature: Miguel Ángel Asturias


Newbery Medal for children's literature: Irene Hunt, Up a Road Slowly

Pulitzer Prize for Drama: Edward Albee, A Delicate Balance

Pulitzer Prize for Fiction: Bernard Malamud - The Fixer

Pulitzer Prize for Poetry: Anne Sexton: Live or Die

Ok..I feel old :-)

My list would be PAGES. I am a weeper by nature (LOL) and give me a sad ending or storyline and the waterworks just start. I think I cried for the last 8 chapters of "Half-Blood Prince"...only because I started to get a glimmer of what was going to happen (I have that annoying habit of guessing stuff....so annoying) AND because it was 3AM!!

I spent a couple hours crying yesterday over a book..."Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time" by Rob Sheffield. EXCELLENT read, but sad.

The Pearl made we weep IN SCHOOL. How embarrassing. As did "Of Mice and Men" and "Lord of the Flies" (which I never really cared for). And I cried when I read "The Outsiders".

Sigh. See what I mean. Maybe I should only read happy books?? :-)

Here is mine...I am so jealous of all of you that could put your spouses as your best friends...I always wanted that with mine....

A - Age: 40 (soon to be 41...GASP!!)
B - Best friend: Pamela (since 1st grade), Julie, Sonjia
C - Chore you hate: Doing dishes (hubby does bathroom)
D - Dessert you love: Cherry Pie, Cheesecake
E - Essential start your day item: If the husband is OUT of the house before I get up, I consider it a good day
F - Favorite author/ book: Just decided there were WAY to many to list here without it taking up PAGES..
G - Gold or Silver: Both, mixed
H - Hometown: Uh...Birthplace: Torrance, California, Main growing up years: Corry, PA, with Westchester County, NY holding a dear place in my heart along with several places in Ohio
I - Instruments you play: Piano (badly), and I sing.
J - Job title: To annoy the husband as much as possible (this is according to him LOL)
K - Kid(s): None. We helped raise my great niece Maddie for three years though.
L - Living arrangements: In an over-priced Toronto apartment with not enough space. :-)
M - Mom's name: Susan
N - Nicknames: Mish, Chelle, Dawn Michael, Dino, Tink
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: I think 5. I might have missed a few though.
P - Pet Peeve: When people get a text and then ANSWER it during a movie, people who make fun of or don't accept my OCD about things.
Q- Quotes you like:"I was of the opinion that the past is past, and like all that is not now it should remain buried along the side of our memories."
— Alex (From "Everything is Illuminated")
R - Right or left handed: Right, but I can use both to write and do other things. Comes from having a right arm being broken for a summer.
S - Siblings: 2 older step-brothers, 3 older step-sisters, 1 younger biological sister
T - Time you woke up today: First 9AM, then Noon
U - Unique thing about you: Truly, I am so average, that I make watching paint dry exciting, but if I had to write something, I would say I have Vulcan ears, with one that has a freckle right on the top of it.
V - Vegetable you love: Peas, broccoli, asparagus, really almost ALL veggies except squash (ICK ICK ICK) and pumpkin!!!
W - Worst habit: Jumping to conclusions without the whole story and ALWAYS assuming the worst. Sigh.
X - X-rays you've had: Um, we stopped counting after 20 (this was before I was 12)
Y - Yummy food you make: Manicotti, Lasagna, Meatloaf and I have been told I make ONE KILLER cheesecake.
Z - Zodiac Sign: Libra

Thank you Logan for letting me know about Oscar Wao being in paperback. I will SO go and look for it when I am home next. YAY YAY YAY!! I have never read a book that was part of a "book club" before.

Lori~ How are you liking "Odd Hours"? Did you finish it? I really loved it, but it was so different from the first three I thought. Won't say anymore in case you haven't finished it yet. But I am anxious to see what you think when you are done.

To whomever was reading "The Eyre Affair"..don't despair..it DOES pick up. You just have to remember that Thursday's 1985 isn't and wasn't OUR 1985. I loved that book (and the following ones). VERY creative.

Logan~ I am really into this book. Almost done. He writes really well and just draws you into the story. I am so glad I picked this one up.

I really want to read the Oscar Wao(?)book, but its still in hardcover. Unless I can find a superb deal on it in the states when I go, it will be awhile until I read it. I am so looking forward to it though. Don't know what I am going to read after I finish the current one...I only have TWENTY-NINE to pick from....GASP!!

I just went and counted (including the 5 bought on Sunday) and my total is 29. I was telling everyone it was like 15. SIGH. :-)

Lori~ After tackling Jane Eyre at the beginning of this year, I have NO desire to venture into Wuthering Heights...KUDOS to you for finishing it!! YAY!!

Of Mice and Men is AMAZING. What a wonderful read. I don't think it will take you long to get through it at all (especially since I just re-read your post and realized you said you read this in school. ALWAYS a good re-read!!).

LOVE the Jasper Fforde books. HILARIOUS!

Am reading "Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield. So far this is an amazing book. Makes me want to go out and buy some cassettes and make mix tapes again. I MISS that. :-)

Hopefully moving onto Stardust after that.