Cherylann's comments (member since Jun 18, 2009)

Cherylann's comments from the Bookmarks Subscribers group.

Betsy, I love that sentiment - Olive is like the private part of ourselves speaking that you hope no one hears. I think that's why so many people have had difficulty with this book - we don't want to see ourselves in Olive.

Now to rhyme book titles:


rhyming words: Lizard/Wizard

Lisa, I read The Worst Hard Time a few years ago. I will preface this by saying that I'm fascinated by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl (I have a friend who thinks I've lived through it in a past life). I found this book terrific. I liked that it wasn't all facts. The People's voices come through loud and clear. If you see if again at Goodwill, pick it up. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

The Help is on top of my TBR list. I need time to read! Can we lengthen the day?

I just finished . This is a great read! It makes me thankful that times have changed, or my family may very well have locked me in an institution. I like that Esme is a strong female - unfortunately she pays the price.

I definitely don't regret this read -especially after my real-life book club discussion. There are times when I was frustrated because I wanted him to just say what he was going to say and move on. When I think back about the book, his writing is really beautiful in a nerdy way. That's a good thing. Lisa, you got your money's worth for this one.

Julie, I do the same thing as you. With my last name being Schmidt, people often ask if I'm related to Mike Schmidt the former Phillies player. My reply, "He's my father" ;) (NOT) Sometimes it's fun having a famously common last name.

No, I haven't. I'm not sure if I'm ready to tackle another Carter. :)

I felt the same way. I was expecting a huge climax, and when he finally got there, I was like - this is it. I knew that was going to happen. Julia is an amazing character. I wasn't crazy about how Carter wrote a woman - there was too much that felt plastic to me. But she did change as the book progressed. She learned how to stand on her own and follow her heart. I also really liked her daughter.

We said the same thing in book club. The book could have used 200 less pages. Did you find the climax suspenseful?

I finished A Mercy by Toni Morrison for a book club. While the book is "small", Morrison has it so layered that it's much more book than it looks. My book club leader began the session by asking for a plot summary of the book - very clever, Barbara. We skirted the issue by trying to talk about themes or characters. Nope, Barbara kept us on the plot question, digging through the layers and stories Morrison weaves together in the novel.

A Mercy is a beautiful and heartbreaking story.

I saw Julie & Julia the weekend before last. FABULOUS (but maybe because I only read Julie & Julia and not Julia Child's memoir). Nora Ephron did a great job blending the two memoirs. There were obvious submissions from Julie & Julia the book, but I didn't miss them in the film. There were also a few slight changes. Again, it worked because it was combining two memoirs. Meryl Streep was phenomenal. She was Julia. Highly recommend this - and I rarely see movies in theatres because I spend my money on books ;)

Betsy, I've been avoiding The Time Traveller's Wife because I enjoyed the book so much. Good to hear your thoughts about it. I might end up seeing it after all.

Since we all seem to be readers - real readers not the people who run out and buy whatever Oprah tells them to read ;) - I thought I'd share a blog I've been reading. The National Book Foundation has been blogging about past winners of the National Book Award. I've been following the blog through facebook (love those daily feeds). I've read about so many books I wasn't even aware existed. I've added a bunch (pretty much every book I've read about) to my TBR. I was wondering if anyone else was following the blog or has read any of the past NBA fiction winners and what your thoughts are.

You have intrigued me. I have to read for comps, or else. This will be my reward for being a studious person (and not playing with my new mac). Looking forward to reading and discussing it with everyone.

Betsy, I just discussed this in one of my real life book groups. I didn't find it to be good as a thriller. I liked his writing but felt he was a little wordy. After the book discussion, I had a new appreciation for his use of language. I really liked the social commentary in the book - especially issues of class structure both within dominant culture in the US and within the African American community. We spent most of our book club meeting talking about class structures within the darker nation - as Carter calls it. It was especially interesting for me because, as a white woman, I've never experienced the things mentioned in the book, but I have had call to examine white privilege. I was really thankful to those in book club who were willing to share their experiences. I don't want to say anything more specific for fear of giving something away. This book is truly layers thick, and I liked it for that reason.

Betsy, I agree with you about both liking the book and the ending - there was a sense of incompleteness about the end. I found myself so completely absorbed with the plot and the characters that I kind of disturbed myself. I didn't want to be so consumed by the book because of the subject matter. I would be happy to discuss this with you.

It does. In some ways it reminded of The Thirteenth Tale.

How are you enjoying Deliverance Dane? OOOOH - I can't wait to talk about it with someone who's read it. It's making the rounds of some members of my face to face book group. But it will take time before everyone reads it.

I got my copy of A Reliable Wife on Friday (call it a divorce present). I'm anxious to start reading it. I need to clear some things off the shelf first.

Cherylann wrote: "I think the fact that we've all posted on the Overrated board qualifies as a booksnobs. Maybe we should call Stephanie the Queen Snob ;) Seriously, I've done the same things that all of you have ..."


Sorry for getting a little carried away. It's a happy day today. I'm finally after 22 months divorced! Yay Me! In the hearing, my ex, with a voice full of derision, said, "Since you read <scorn>, I will give you the books (my thought - ummm, they were mine anyway since I don't think you can actually read). Because you don't need the television, I will take that." (my thought - I got the better deal even though the books are heavier they've already been moved to a safer place and who wants an 8 year old tube tv anyway when flatscreens are the tech product du jour, you idiot.)

I am now looking forward to really being able to start my new life with a booksnob um bibliophile, Bill.

I think the fact that we've all posted on the Overrated board qualifies as a booksnobs. Maybe we should call Stephanie the Queen Snob ;) Seriously, I've done the same things that all of you have posted (and I hate being "outed" for guilty pleasures that don't fit in the snob category - long live internet shopping!) I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to read quality literature. It makes us interesting people who are able to think for ourselves. No longer will we blindly line up at the cash register with the latest Oprah book in our hands! We are discerning Bookmarks Subscribers Book Snobs! And we're proud of it!