BOTM - October 2013 - Have No Shame by Melissa Foster

[Delia]

For October we have TWO Books of the month. Melissa Foster's Have No Shame and for those that have not yet read it, The Last Oracle: Book Three of The Sibylline Trilogy.

In addition, Melissa has graciously agreed to do a Q&A with the group! Yay!

[Jessica]

Omg. I have to get the book!

[Delia]

Jessica wrote: "Omg. I have to get the book!"

I KNOW! I've been chomping at the bit to read this since it's release a few months ago. LOOKS amazing!!

[C.M.]

Delia, you haven't read Have No Shame? It's my very favorite of all of Melissa's books so far, for so many reasons. You will LOVE it!

[Delia]

Colleen wrote: "Delia, you haven't read Have No Shame? It's my very favorite of all of Melissa's books so far, for so many reasons. You will LOVE it!"

Colleen, it has really been the book I've been most excited to read (of ANY author)! So I'm SO thrilled everyone voted for it!

OH! This book is written in two formats: Colleen do you want to talk about that, since you're most familiar with it.

[C.M.]

I think it was one of the most innovative, creative, and reader-centric decisions made by any other. Melissa queried her readers and hundreds of people responded very passionately on both sides of the debate. The debate was this: The book is written in the south in the 60s and so, of course, she gave her characters a southern dialect in the dialogue. USUALLY, a dialect stays in the dialogue only and not in the narrative. But Melissa liked the continuity of the dialect in the narrative, too, even though some might consider this "taboo" from an editing standpoint. I was torn at first and thought I'd favor reading the version w/o the southern dialect in the narrative, but I gotta say, I quickly fell in love with the version with the southern dialect ALL the way through. It just got you into the character and time period and you never left. BUT, since readers were so split and had such STRONG opinions about the matter, she decided to offer two versions so that readers could decide which version they preferred to read. To me, this was ground-breaking. I'd never heard of another author doing this or offering this. And it was one of the most technical edits I've done because of having to add and remove g's from two different versions and remembering when they belonged and when they didn't. It was super fun. But the story itself is so impactful, sensitive yet realistic, hard to read, beautiful, and one of THE most memorable and breath-taking interracial love stories I've ever read. Theirs, regardless of race, but because of all they had to over come and endure against the backlash of cultural/racial issues, makes them one of my top favorite couples in literature of all times.

[Delia]

Colleen wrote: "I think it was one of the most innovative, creative, and reader-centric decisions made by any other. Melissa queried her readers and hundreds of people responded very passionately on both sides of ..."

Thanks Colleen! Beautiful!!

[Marling]

OH Em gee now I am torn.. idk which version to get and I must start reading!

[Delia]

Marling wrote: "OH Em gee now I am torn.. idk which version to get and I must start reading!"

I've heard from several readers that the southern dialect is fantastic! That's what I'll read...at least I'll start off with it and maybe switch.

[Marling]

Hmmm that is a good idea ;)

[April]

Awesome can't wait! Good timing I was about to look for the next book to read.

[Delia]

April wrote: "Awesome can't wait! Good timing I was about to look for the next book to read."

Great!

[Delia]

Hi All, FINALLY got a chance to start reading HAVE NO SHAME at 4am. OMG!! ABSOLUTELY LOVE it! And April, I'm reading the southern dialect and really it's narrated by the author and reads GREAT!

Melissa's writing in this SO reminds me of the great classic writers with their poetic wording. CAN'T wait until everyone's read this!

[Lesley]

Delia wrote: "For October we have TWO Books of the month. Melissa Foster's Have No Shame and for those that have not yet read it, The Last Oracle: Book Three of The Sibylline Trilogy.

In addition, Melissa has ..."

I need to get this right away! I want to finish it before the discussion gets into full swing.

[Delia]

Lesli wrote: "Delia wrote: "For October we have TWO Books of the month. Melissa Foster's Have No Shame and for those that have not yet read it, The Last Oracle: Book Three of The Sibylline Trilogy.

In addition..."

Lesli, you are going to LOVE it!!

[Delia]

I just finished Have No Shame and WOW! Can't wait for the Q&A with Melissa! Here's my review!

BREATHTAKING! I absolutely fell in love with this book! Melissa Foster's brilliance shines through in this amazing novel that is reminiscent of Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird. One of the most profound novels I have read in quite some time!

[Lesley]

Delia wrote: "Lesli wrote: "Delia wrote: "For October we have TWO Books of the month. Melissa Foster's Have No Shame and for those that have not yet read it, The Last Oracle: Book Three of The Sibylline Trilogy...."

I started reading it last night. I like it already!

[Delia]

I was drawn in from the first few pages and hated to set it down!

[Lesley]

Delia wrote: "I was drawn in from the first few pages and hated to set it down!"

I can relate. I would be a lot further but I spent hours in my kitchen making apple butter today.

[April]

Delia wrote: "I just finished Have No Shame and WOW! Can't wait for the Q&A with Melissa! Here's my review!

BREATHTAKING! I absolutely fell in love with this book! Melissa Foster's brilliance shines through in..."

I just realized I have another one of her books in my to read called Megan's Way, maybe I'll read that right after :)

[Delia]

April I'm pretty sure Megan's Way was her 1st novel. I'm SO excited for all of you to read Have No Shame!!

[Lesley]

Delia wrote: "I was drawn in from the first few pages and hated to set it down!"

I just finished it this afternoon. It was such an emotional journey. I read the one with southern narrative. I really like it. I liked the continuity of it. And I loved the ending but I won't put a spoiler in.

[Delia]

Lesli wrote: "Delia wrote: "I was drawn in from the first few pages and hated to set it down!"

I just finished it this afternoon. It was such an emotional journey. I read the one with southern narrative. I re..."

Lesli- I'm SO excited to be reading and sharing books with everybody! VERY fun!! I KNOW this will be one that I read and re-read!

[Sherry]

Loved this book! Had a very HARD time putting it down in my busy schedule!

[Delia]

Sherry wrote: "Loved this book! Had a very HARD time putting it down in my busy schedule!"

Sherry, wasn't it just great??!!

[Sherry]

Yes! I really enjoyed it.