Merrill"s 2011 Challenge

[Merri]

[Merri]

#1 Best Friends Forever author Jenifer Weiner- real comfort food easy read!

[Merri]

#2 I Remember Nothing- Nora Ephron

3 stars- A cute book of reflections

[Andrea, Moderator]

Merri, I just got the new Weiner on my Nook. I thought it was going to be a regular book but it is only a 120 page short story. Oh well :)

[Christy]

Andrea wrote: "Merri, I just got the new Weiner on my Nook. I thought it was going to be a regular book but it is only a 120 page short story. Oh well :)"

Really? I thought this was a regular book as well. Glad I found out before I got a copy!

[Andrea, Moderator]

Yup, I even went to her cite and she doesn't have it listed! I did a little further digging and found that it was something she did for Redbook magazine over the summer. The story was published in two parts as far as I can tell.

I'm a big Weiner fan so I'll still enjoy it either way :) Ohhh yeah, it was only $1 so I don't feel cheated either...hahah

http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/...

[Merri]

#3 The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
1st book I have read by this author- really enjoyed it!

[Andrea, Moderator]

Ohhh, I have this one here to read (someday)!

[Mary]

Merri, I've heard such good things about this author. Glad to know you liked TFG.

[Merri]

Mary- hi!!!

[Mary]

Hope you and yours are well :-)
Happy reading!

[Christy]

Andrea wrote: "Ohhh, I have this one here to read (someday)!"

Me too! I really liked her book The House at Riverton so I picked this one up on one of my swap sites.

[Merri]

Christy i will have to look for that one! Thanks! It reminded me of Barbara Taylor Bradford's early work-not thrilled with her newer novels Woman of Substance was one of my all time favorite books


Mary- we are all doing well- things ae going well for you and you family too!

[Merri]

After a month I gave up On The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo- I know everyone loves it but it just didn't catch me- i read all the way to page 200 and finally gave up!

[Andrea, Moderator]

It's hard to get into it because of all the Swedish names and politics. Maybe if you put it aside and come back to it later.....

[Merri]

i don't know after 200 pages-it should have peaked my interest-it's a vanilla/chocolate thing-this was just not for me

[Andrea, Moderator]

Sometimes that's just the way it is! :)

[Merri]

#4 The Shadow of Your Smile- Mary Higgins Clark= She never disappoints!

[Merri]

#5 Sullivan's Island Sullivan's Island (Paperback)
by Dorothea Benton Frank

Loved it- never read her before- will definitely be reading more of her work!

[Andrea, Moderator]

Merri, I several books by Dorothea Benton Frank, I'm glad to hear that you liked her!

[Merri]

My friend Lynne just sent me about 6 of them- so I started with the oldest one she sent me!

[Merri]

#6 Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
Interesting book-Seemed historically accurate from stories i have been told by immigrants

[Merri]

#7 Madame Bovary- 1 star- very disappointing- I had heard so many wonderful things about this book- I guess it's the vanilla/chocolate thing!

[Merri]

#8 The Postmistress by Sarah Blake enjoyed- very thought provoking!

[Joy]

Merri wrote: "#8 The Postmistress by Sarah Blake enjoyed- very thought provoking!"

This one looks good, I may have to check it out!

[Merri]

Joy- I read it with a book club and no one else like it! Just giving you the heads up! LOL

[Joy]

Merri wrote: "Joy- I read it with a book club and no one else like it! Just giving you the heads up! LOL"

Thank you!! =)

[Merri]

#9 Minding Frankie
by Maeve Binchy

Loved it- have always loved the way she weaves a story!

[Andrea, Moderator]

Merri, I love Binchy too! I always read everything she writes.

[Merri]

I listen to them in the car on CD now- i love the accents- i really think it adds to the feeling of the book!

[Andrea, Moderator]

I know! I read some of them so long ago that it's like a new story...lol

[Gnatalby]

Merri wrote: "#9 Minding Frankie
by Maeve Binchy

Loved it- have always loved the way she weaves a story!"

I love Maeve Binchy. I have this on hold at the library. Can't wait!

[Andrea, Moderator]

I think part of the reason I love her was that she was also an author that my Nana loved and shared with me when I started to read "adult" level books. She writes a nice clean story that we talk about together and have fun. So now when I read a book of hers it always takes me back to those special times we spent talking about books.

[Gnatalby]

Andrea wrote: "I think part of the reason I love her was that she was also an author that my Nana loved and shared with me when I started to read "adult" level books. She writes a nice clean story that we talk ab..."

My Mom loved her. The first book I read by her was The Glass Lake, which is still probably my favorite. I definitely think of my mom when I read her.

[Merri]

#10 Plantation by Dorothea Benton Frank
3 stars not as good s Sullivan's island but a pleasant read!

[Merri]

#11 Worst Case (Michael Bennett, #3)
by James Patterson

Read while on vacation-loved it!

[Merri]

#12 Cottage by the Sea- Ciji Ware

Loved it! Never read this author before- will definitely look for more books by her!

[Andrea, Moderator]

Looks like she has a lot of books that look like they might be interesting!

http://www.cijiware.com/

[Merri]

I saw that- but I have so many books on my TBR shelf and a dozen already on my kindle- so i am trying to be good and wait! LOL

[Merri]

#13 Sizzling-Sixteen by Janet Evonovich- loved it- love all the Stephanie Plum books!

[Merri]

#14 Bulls Island
by Dorothea Benton Frank

Loved it- like comfort food easy to read and relaxing!

[Merri]

#15 Broken (Georgia, #2) by Karin slaughter- listened to it in the car loved it!

[Merri]

#16 Isle of Palms (Lowcountry Tales #3)
by Dorothea Benton Frank

Love all her books!

[Merri]

#17 Private- James Patterson Maxine Paetro
good book but I think he is starting to repeat parts of story lines

[Merri]

#18 Cashelmara-by Susan Howatch
Historical Fiction- loved it!

[Merri]

#19 Happy Ever After-Nora Roberts-Bride-Quartet 4
loved it!

#20 Major-Pettigrews-Last-Stand-Helen-Simonson
Excellent!

[Merri]

#21 This Matter of Marriage- by Debbie Macomber easy nice summer read!

[Andrea, Moderator]

I love Debbie Macomber, she such a "sweet story" writer.

[Merri]

perfect summer reading!!! I just finished a new author I will post later- also perfect summer reading!

[Karol]

Hi, Merri! I hope you are fairing well post-Irene.

I noticed Major Pettigrew's Last Stand on your list. I have had so many people recommend that one to me . . .