Chicks On Lit discussion
Jo's 2011 Reading Journey
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Jo, I absolutely loved Where the Heart Is. I should probably reread it as well as it has been awhile.
Glad to hear there's another fan! I haven't re-read in quite a few years so it was good because I didn't remember everything anymore.
Have either of you read any of her other books? I read Shoot the Moon which I thought was pretty good and I've wanted to read The Honk and Holler Opening Soon for some time. I haven't read Where the Heart Is, yet either.
I enjoyed Shoot The Moon and I loved The Honk And The Holler Opening Soon. I haven't read her most recent (the only one I don't own) though which I've been meaning to. (Made In The USA is the title I think).
I've read Shoot The Moon, The Honk and The Holler Opening Soon and Made in the USA. Seems like there are others by this author, but the caffeine hasn't kicked in yet. I think The Honk & Holler is my fav.
Jo wrote: "Completed the short story entitled The Yellow Wallpaper from The Yellow Wallpaper for the first of my in-person evening bookclub's Winter short story venture (meet-up was last Thurs) a..."I have read The Yellow Wallpaper many times. It was when I had to reread it in a college class that the discussions brought up ideas, theories, and thoughts to ponder on. It has always been a favorite of mine, but now I use it as a topic of conversation if I'm around Nerdy people like myself. How did you like discussing the book in your reading club? It was in that college class discussing it with others and guided by an excellent professor that my thoughts of the book broaden farther than I thought it could.
Of have heard many wonderful things of Where the Heart Is the book. I'm pretty sure it was made into a movie that I really enjoy...was it? If so then I really need to add that book to my reading challenge list that keeps on getting altered.
Anyone else having a constantly altered reading list for one of your challenges?
Where The Heart Is is a cute movie but it's not as good as the novel!!!Billie Letts may have written short stories, but Where The Heart Is, The Honk And Holler Opening Soon, Shoot The Moon and Made In The USA are her only novels to date. (WTHI was her first novel).
We had a Great time discussing The Yellow Wallpaper! The writing, the story, the symbolism; it all made for a fun and interesting evening despite the serious subjects of it.
Today at breakfast bookclub we discussed Then We Came To The End by Joshua Ferris which I didn't like reading it but appreciate the novel more now that we all discussed it. (I gave it 2 of 5 stars on gr's and marked it originally as unfinished because I skimmed a lot just to be prepared for today because I wasn't enjoying it).
I finished the short story entitled "Deep End" for the 2nd of our evening bookclub's Winter short story venture; from The Best Short Stories of J.G. Ballard, 1 of 5 stars.
4.
Night
4 of 5 stars; re-read, evening bookclub.
5.
The Secret Life of Bees
5 of 5 stars; re-read of an all time favorite for evening bookclub.
Was The Secret Life as good...or better the second time around??? Love, love, love that book!! :)PS You are reading up a storm so far this year!! Go Jo!!
Lol :-) And I feel like I'm hardly reading this year because so much isn't appealing to me! I've read Bees now @ least 3 times if not 4. I like it more every time I read it if that's possible!
Short story #3:Finished "A Woman On The Roof," by Dorris Lessing, this month's selection for our final bookclub short story meet-up. 3 of 5 stars.
Collected Stories: To Room Nineteen v. 1
Last night I finished 
Brooklyn
4 of 5 stars; It's been an emotional read but I did like it a lot. Toibin does a fantastic job of of painting an emotional picture of what Eilis Lacey is feeling in leaving Ireland for the US and what she experiences in her first years here; I feel like I've been through this journey with her and as parts of it were similar to my Nana's, she will remain with me for some time.
11.
The Help
4 of 5 stars, may upgrade to 5 of 5. Have to gather my thoughts on this eye-opening southern read for a bit. (This month's selection for evening bookclub).
12.
Bloodroot
4 of 5 stars. Incredibly intense, often sad. Despite liking it a lot, sometimes I wanted to be done with it already but I couldn't read through this one quickly. Amy's writing is simply beautiful and haunting.
13.
A Reliable Wife
3 of 5 stars, would give it 3.5 if I could. This month's morning bookclub selection. Very surprised that I liked it! Flowery, melodramatic, the story itself at times boring and not my usual read - I started it yesterday and finished it today!
14.
The White Garden: A Novel of Virginia Woolf
2 of 5 stars.
I'm not a big fan of mysteries but wanted to give this a chance because of the White Garden at Sissinghurst (England) aspect. I enjoyed the parts dealing with and in the garden however the rest got to be a bit tedious and dragged for me. At one frustrated point I put in my status, "...cut to the chase already!" I'm not sorry I read it but I'm glad I'm finally done with it!
15.
Her Fearful Symmetry
3 of 5 stars.
One of the oddest, novels I've ever read! Twisted! I wasn't a fan of Time Traveler's Wife so this was a huge improvement over that novel for me but, wow. Once I re-read a quarter of it after I finished, I was less befuddled by it overall. Not a bad read, not a great read.
16.
Miracle On I-40
5 of 5 stars!!!
Truly a heartwarming and wonderful read at this or any time of year! Shortly after opening any of Curtiss Ann's novels, I am quickly reminded of how much I love her writing. I highly recommend this and her other novels.
Finally I believe my reading rut is over!!! (It's been 4 months since I finished reading anything I've picked up!)
I hate reading ruts. I usually hit mine in January or February, so I'm already trying to line up books I know I'll like.
2011 ended with 16 books read, 3 short stories read and many, Many unfinished reads! Now on to 2012 and a new thread!!
Chicks On Lit
Books mentioned in this topic
Miracle on I-40 (other topics)Her Fearful Symmetry (other topics)
Her Fearful Symmetry (other topics)
The White Garden (other topics)
A Reliable Wife (other topics)
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Finished:
Where the Heart Is
5 of 5 stars
This was a re-read of an all time favorite of mine and it had been long enough since I'd read it last where I couldn't recite it in my head as I went along, lol and it truly does get better with every read. Billie's writing is simple, powerful and beautiful.