Where Have You Been? (With link to your review)

[Stacy]

Just finished love is a mixtapefor Virginia.

[Jayme]

Just finished The Grapes of Wrath for Oklahoma (though you could also read it for California) and The Patron Saint of Butterflies for Connecticut. Both were great reads. Heading to Montana with In Open Spaces

[Jayme]

Just finished In Open Spaces for Montana (my take). Heading to New Hampshire with John Irving's The Hotel New Hampshire. I haven't read any of his books, but I have seen several movie versions, so I am rather excited to read this one.

[Suzanne]

Just left New Mexico in A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent, which technically covers pretty much all the states of the west, but since I had to narrow it down to one state, I chose NM. At any rate, this was a really excellent work of history about President James K. Polk and American westward expansion. My review is here: http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/07...
I also recently finished a marvelous novel of Montana with English Creek. My review is here: http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/07...

[Jayme]

Finished Mean Season for West Virginia. It was your typical chic-lit book which was OK because I needed a light, no-brainer to take to the beach while family was visiting.

[Stacy]

Just finished Cross I like James Patterson because he is a quick easy read for me.

[Yrinsyde]

I've just left Maine, paying a fraught but engaging visit with Olive Kitteridge. Now I am on my way to New Hampshire's Our Town.

[Yrinsyde]

Yrinsyde wrote: "Now I am on my way to New Hampshire's Our Town." Our Town has been withdrawn from the local library so I'm going to read Nineteen Minutes instead.

[Yrinsyde]

Yrinsyde wrote: I'm going to read Nineteen Minutes instead." I don't seem to have any luck so far - Nineteen Minutes has just been borrowed! Anyway, I've finished my brief sojourn in Massachusetts with Ethan Frome. What a sorry tale! Something happy and jolly next please?

[Jayme]

I finished The Call of the Wild for Alaska my take is here (great book). I am still in Illinois with Jane Addam's Twenty Years at Hull House. It is taking me forever to read this book, so I am also reading Winesburg, Ohio for Ohio. Will need a happy book soon.

[Jayme]

Finished Winesburg, Ohio for Ohio, of course, and Kindred for Maryland - both books were very good. My take is here and here. I have no idea where I'm heading next, but need something light and sci-fi.

[Suzanne]

I've completed my trip to Washington DC with a view of post-colonial politics that looks even nastier than today's version with Scandalmonger. It's an excellent work of historical fiction. My review is here: http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/08...

[Suzanne]

Had an opportunity for a quick trip to Washington state with Jamie Ford's new book (TBR 9/10/2013) Songs of Willow Frost. Just as good as Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. My review is here: http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/08...

[Jayme]

Finished Our Town for New Hampshire and Twenty Years at Hull House for Illinois. My thoughts are here. I'm planning on finishing up Angle of Repose for Idaho this week and then it's to the beach house for light reading and cocktails before school starts the following week. Happy Reading Everyone.

[Yrinsyde]

My local library disposed of Our Town, which was my choice for NH too. I found an alternative, which I finished a few days ago - Killer Keepsakes. I'm now in Rhode Island with Traveller and plan an extended stop in Vermont with The Secret History. Schools in Australia have been back for awhile - still winter here!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I spent the summer in a bleak near-future Massachusetts reading Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. My review is here.

[Stacy]

I just finished The Beginner's Goodbye for Maryland. I gave it 3 stars it was ok.

[Suzanne]

I'm totally in love with Michener after reading Hawaii. So glad for this book challenge, or who knows when I would have finally read anything by this author! My review is here:
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/08...

[Suzanne]

I've also just left North Carolina with a new book exploring the moral issues of mandatory sterilization in Necessary Lies. My review is here:
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/08...

[Yrinsyde]

I have just left Rhode Island with Traveller. I enjoyed my stay although the bullies in the story were a little over the top for me. Now to tackle Vermont with The Secret History.

[Suzanne]

I loved my visit to Arizona with These Is My Words. My review is here:
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/09...

[Laurel]

I have been in Alabama reading the wonderful To Kill a Mockingbird .

Here is my review:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10...

I also visiting Georgia, reading Scarlett

[Laurel]

Just finished my visit in Minnesota, having read. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder .
An enjoyable cozy. Here is my review:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Yrinsyde]

I've just left Vermont with The Secret History. It leaves me feeling meh.

[Barbarac]

I just recently finished A Reliable Wife and Moon Over Manifest. The first one I barely finished, I did not enjoy at all, I have nightmares that are less dark than that book.
Moon over Manifest was great, like a visit to another time and another place that leaves you with a smile on your face.

[Laurel]

I was in North Carolina, and for a little while, Pennsylvania (the plot moves to Hernia, Penn., for about 50% of the book), reading So Faux, So Good . A fun cozy read. I gave it 3 1/2 stars. Here is my review:

[Laurel]

I was in North Carolina. I gave this cozy 3 1/2 stars.
Here is my review:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... So Faux, So Good

[Stacy]

Just left Delaware with Hawkes Harbor I finished it but I almost gave up on it.

[Laurel]

I have been in the hollers of Kentucky, where i read Raylan , by Elmore Leonard. Loved this book, gave it 4 stars.

Here is my review:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

I think I am off to Washington DC with American Assassin by Vince Flinn.

[Yrinsyde]

I've spent some time in NYC with an Italian family set in the early '50s. It was ok. I thought I'd read this as it was one I owned (I've decided to pass it on). I'm now in Connecticut with Revolutionary Road (which is also set in the '50s).

[Suzanne]

Many thanks to all those who recommended The Kitchen House for my visit to Virginia. I couldn't put it down! My review is here:
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/10...

[Susan]

Just finished Silken Prey for Minnesota and The Orchardist for Washington State. Both were excellent. The Sandford "Prey" book was not as bloody and violent as they can be. The Orchardist is a wonderful description of life in early Washington and a thoughtful read. I have been reading quite a few translations over the summer and am behind on my America list but working on it now a bit.

[Yrinsyde]

I've just left Revolutionary Road in Connecticut, and I am now in New Jersey with Portnoy's Complaint. I've read a little of this and already I am going 'uugghhhhh'!

[Suzanne]

Black history was the major theme in the two states I just left. First, I really enjoyed the visit to Mississippi with Mudbound. Not so much my visit to Idaho with The Blacker the Berry. My reviews are here:
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/10...
http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/10...

[Suzanne]

More black history with a trip to Louisiana in Cane River. Loved it! Here is my review: http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/10...

[Stacey]

I am still having trouble trying to post my list. Any thoughts from anyone on how best to do this?

[Stacey]

Oh, I'm currently reading We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, which is set in both Indiana and California. Fun reading, so far.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Stacey wrote: "I am still having trouble trying to post my list. Any thoughts from anyone on how best to do this?"

Stacey- How are you trying to post it, or where? And what kind of trouble? I'm sorry if I missed your question before, but I'm happy to try to help.

[Stacey]

Thank you, Jenny. I tried posting my list per the advice given on the site via the "personal file" and can't seem to do so. Just thought I may be missing something here. I can be very dense when it comes to tech-y issues!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

I don't know anything about a "personal file." I would just copy and paste the text into the box! Did you try that?

[Yrinsyde]

I recently finished Portnoy's Complaint for New Jersey. Care to read someone's personal rant about his sex life anyone?

[Stacy]

I just left North Carolina (again this was my second NC book) with The Guardian I'm having trouble deciding what to read next.

[Suzanne]

I knocked two more states of my list this week - and happily, I really enjoyed both books! Oregon was the setting for The Brothers K, a fabulous coming of age novel that was not only hilarious, it was moving as well. My review is here: http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/11...
Next I went to Alabama with a really terrific work of historical fiction dealing with the troubles of Southern reconstruction following the civil war. The book is The Rebel Wife and my review is here: http://coldread.wordpress.com/2013/11...

[Laurel]

Suzanne wrote: "I knocked two more states of my list this week - and happily, I really enjoyed both books! Oregon was the setting for The Brothers K, a fabulous coming of age novel that was not only ..."

Thanks for posting about The Rebel Wife. Fortunately, I already had it on my TBR LIST, but I have moved it up in the queue. Nice review, too! Love fiction about this period, and the Civil War, of course.

[Suzanne]

Laurel wrote: "Suzanne wrote: "I knocked two more states of my list this week - and happily, I really enjoyed both books! Oregon was the setting for The Brothers K, a fabulous coming of age novel th..."

Thanks, Laurel! I always love a good work of historical fiction, especially when I can learn something new:)

[Laurel]

I was in American Samoa reading Pago Pago Tango, not part of the continental United States, but many links, regarding culture and history, dating back to 1907. I gave it four stars.

[Yrinsyde]

I've just left Maryland with the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants. I was surprised that I liked it so much. On to Delaware and then Virginia next. I'll be continuing my journey next year!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Suzanne wrote: "I knocked two more states of my list this week - and happily, I really enjoyed both books! Oregon was the setting for The Brothers K, a fabulous coming of age novel that was not only ..."

Suzanne, I'm reading The Brothers K right now! But since I'm reading it with a group, it's going to take me a while....

[Jayme]

I have been in a bit of reading slump, but am now reading Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather for New Mexico and it really captures the ruggedness and isolation of New Mexico in the mid/late 1800s.

[Yrinsyde]

I finished reading Hawkes Harbor for Delaware today and I really enjoyed it! My favourite parts were the sailing stories. Next on the list is Virginia with Big Stone Gap.