group discussion
topic:
Reading Goals & Challenges >
Jo's 2009 Books
I don't have a specific amount of books in mind, though not less than 12 for the year. Hubby and I are in competition to see who can read more books in a year (and each one has to be written down or put into my list on GR to count). He's currently at 13 and I'm finishing #11. These are mine so far: 
The Thirteenth Tale 
The Heretic's DaughterNo Book Cover Avail Chickadee
Under the Tuscan Sun
A Pig in Provence Good Food and Simple Pleasures in the South of France
The Shop on Blossom Street
Bound South A Novel
Orange Mint and Honey A Novel
The Outsiders
The Unlikely Lavender Queen A Memoir of Unexpected Blossoming
Jo, Did you enjoy The Heretic's Daughter? I just got it at a thrift shop, so anxious to read it! Also got the second book for the Blossom Street series. Seems these are light, fun reads. Great list!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the 2nd Blossom Street book! (A Good Yarn). It was the 1st one I read in the series. That and 20 Wishes are my favorite in the series so far. The newest one (Summer on Blossom Street) is sitting on my shelf and I can't wait to read it!I did like The Heretic's Daughter. I felt it took a little getting into (for me until 1/2 way thru) and the rest of the book is very good (I think it should be required reading in high schools just for that) but I remember being a little dis-satisfied with the ending. I'm glad though that I stuck with it. It builds well and really brings home the tension and terror of those times.
Dolly wrote: "I really liked A Good Yarn, that was a good one. I also want to read Summer On Blossom Street."That gives me an idea Dolly! ;~)
How does "The Outsiders" read from an adult prospective? I read it in middle school and remember really liking it at that time.
Lisa wrote: "How does "The Outsiders" read from an adult prospective? I read it in middle school and remember really liking it at that time."I didn't read it back in school (I went to an antiquated Catholic grammar school) but I never liked the movie. I really liked the book which was a HUGE surprise to me, it even made me cry 2 or 3 times. I was fascinated by the author, that it was a woman also surprised me, that she wrote this during high school and it was published her freshman year of college amazed me!
Mandy Sue wrote: "Jo ~ I think most of these are on my TBR shelf. I'm going to have to look at your reviews. =)"
Eeek! Not sure if I've posted reviews on most of these (looking sheepish). I'll have to take a look-see.
Mandy Sue wrote: "No problem, Jo. I'm sure you rated them at least, right?"Yes, I did rate them, I remember that much, lol!
Sure is Aylin! I'm curious to see what the point of view is of older fiction books about the same subject. The Heretic's Daughter and The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane take a much more realistic and honest look at the events surrounding the Salem Witch Trials than anything I've read in the past which was mostly 'nonfiction' accounts.
I LOVED it! It's the only Barbara Kingslover novel I've ever finished over the last 15 years! She usually bores me to tears & I could never finish any of her books and I've tried several, non fiction and fiction.
Did you try reading The Poisonwood Bible? I loved that one, but it's the only one of hers I've read. I hear she's got a new book coming out this fall.
Tried Poisonwood Bible, twice! Couldn't do it. As with many of her others. Started Animal Vegetable Miracle, liked it and then started not liking it so I've put it down again.
It seems that people that like her novels don't care as much for her shorter books/short stories (myself included- Bean Trees not a favorite) and vice versa. Not sure if this is a phenomena, but it seems to be the case with some of my friends. One of the mysteries of reading.
Jo wrote: Tried Poisonwood Bible, twice! Couldn't do it. Jo, that happened to me, too. I think it took me three years to read the book. It was a difficult read but in the end, I'm glad I finished it.
That's too bad Jo, I love that one. Personally, I like finding authors I don't like/can't get into... clears the way for other books. :)
Ah well, there are plenty more books that I enjoy! Reading The Help now and poking around to see what else I want to read.
See you wound up giving this one 4 stars, guess it got better huh? Do you recommend it? It sounds good.
I gave it 4 stars because I couldn't give it 3.5 and I liked it more than 3 stars. I didn't like the beginning of the book at all (it kept reminding me of The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood and Bet Your Bottom Dollar) & for some reason I had a hard time putting a southern accent on any of the characters throughout the entire book. (Perhaps because while I've read a lot of southern lit, most of it hasn't been set on the coast and I live on the coast & automatically think of here or up New England area). And while I felt my eyes roll a lot throughout, it ended up being a cute read and I liked the ending. It's this month's group read choice for my Southern Lit GR group which is why I finished it. (I may not have otherwise with the rocky start). **Changed rating on this to 3 stars....
It's cute- the illustrations are great! It was originally written in the 70s so the info in it is a little... off! (When you read it in present day mind set that is).
Jo wrote: "#17: 
Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts The Story of the Halloween Symbols"
I have this book and several of its companions for other holidays. I like to put them out as part of my seasonal decor. People love to browse through them when they visit.
Jo wrote: "Tried Poisonwood Bible, twice! Couldn't do it. As with many of her others. Started Animal Vegetable Miracle, liked it and then started not liking it so I've put it down again."Jo - try
, and if you don't like it, I'll supply all the weenies for this fall's roasts! It's one of my Top 5 all time favorites.
Thanks Cindy! I've had that on my list for quite some time. I love anything to do with the supernatural.
Jo had posted a kind of cryptic note on FB about that book and I've been curious about it ever since.
READ IT Laura! (The Lace Reader). I may give your Kingsolver suggestion a try. I'm back to Animal Vegetable Miracle now since I'm leading a read on it for my gardening group here on GoodReads. (I'm holding you to the weenies - LOL!)
Angie, I don't have any of the other holiday books in this particular series but I do the same with the ones I have for each holiday and season!
#18 
G is for Garden State A New Jersey Alphabet Edition 1.#19
Good Night America#20
Good Night New Jersey(#s 19 and 20 were read in late winter early spring, forgot about them until now).
I've bought all of these for grand nieces & friends baby showers & new arrivals - and bought extra's for us, just in case! I've read them and they are So so cute!
I think they have them for all the states. I got the NJ one in our Barnes & Noble and I know they had TX there (which I have to get for grand niece Caroline soon) and I got the America one down in Philly at the Liberty Bell shop. There's a website for them (prob cheaper on B&N) I'll post the link soon.
No, it's nothing like the Goodnight series at all! I do believe the Weird states are more for adults, created by the guys who publish Weird NJ Magazine. After they published a book of Weird NJ, they started publishing one each for all the other states. I've been reading Weird NJ mag for many years now. It's fun & interesting. The book wasn't so great. http://www.weirdnj.com
