March challenge

[Kristy]

The Book of Joe

By all accounts, especially his own, Joe is not a nice guy. He has screwed people over and used their lives as the basis for his debut novel.

But upon receiving word that his father has had a heartattack, Joe goes back to the town he left 17 years ago and never looked back on.

From coming to terms with the suicide of his high school friend Sammy and the impending death of his other best friend Wayne, this is both a funny and touching story of the "you can't go home again" genre.

I would give this 3/5. Not the most original idea for a book, but it kept my attention.

There are some storylines I would have like to have seen more of, I think it would have been a more rounded book. But an enjoyable story it has a little bit of everything in it.

[Sheila]

Kristy wrote: "The Book of Joe

By all accounts, especially his own, Joe is not a nice guy. He has screwed people over and used their lives as the basis for his debut novel.

But upon receiving word ..."

Sounds interesting.

[Sheila]

Manda wrote: "I finished last night.

What an amazing book. Why haven't I discovered this gem before?"

That's the beauty of reading. Lots of gems to be discovered. I'm glad you liked Rebecca.

[Chuck]

Yesterday afternoon finished "Sandstorm" by James Rollins, Book 1 of his "Sigma Force" series.

Just started "Brown Wolf," a short story by Jack London. Also started reading "11/22/63" by Stephen King.

[Sheila]

Let me know how you like 11/22/63.

[Chuck]

Sheila wrote: "Let me know how you like 11/22/63."

Will do - Having a tough time putting the book down!

[Sheila]

Manda wrote: "Chuck wrote: "Sheila wrote: "Let me know how you like 11/22/63."

Will do - Having a tough time putting the book down!"

that sounds like a good enough recommendation for me! lol"

Me, too!

[Sheila]

Just finished The Terrible Privacy of Maxwell Sim by Jonathan Coe. I gave in a 4. Very interesting. Max has trouble connecting with people even though there are so many ways to communicate with others. I watched him trying to connect but not very successfully. He looks inside of him to discover what is wrong. I think this is a good book for our times. Definitely a good book club or group read. There are so many discussion points in it. I could certainly understand what Max feels. I just wish I hadn't felt shortchanged by the ending. It makes sense but I wanted to know more.

[Kristy]

Finished "A Spell for Chameleon" by Piers Anthony tonight. This is the first of many in the Xanth series. Xanth is a magical land with mythical creatures, and magical beings. If you have no magic you are exiled. This is the story of an exile and a return. I found myself not wanting to read this book because I didn't want it to end. I should have just remembered there are 35 books in the series!

4/5 stars

[Sheila]

Manda wrote: "Sheila wrote: "Just finished The Terrible Privacy of Maxwell Sim by Jonathan Coe. I gave in a 4. Very interesting. Max has trouble connecting with people even though there are so many ways to co..."

I've never read him before. Probably wouldn't have read him now either but it's for book club this week. I liked it. It is a book that makes you think about all the loneliness and depression suffered by people today and yet we are surrounded by all these methods of communication. Max was always finding excuses as to why he could not communicate face-to-face for long. I think our society is headed that way. So I really did think and am still thinking about the book and how I can change how I reach out to people (as I send you a message on a message board ;) ) One of the best experiences I had in the past 4 months was when I delivered Avon to a person in my romance book club and spent a couple of hours visiting with her and her mother. It reminded me of how it was like when I was a child and my mom did not work outside the home and we visited relatives and talked. I did feel shortchanged by the ending. It made sense but I wanted to know a lot more about Max's life by the end of the book and if and how he changed. I took me 4 days to read 300 pages so it was not my most favorite read.

[Sheila]

The Terrible Privacy of Maxwell Sim is not a comedy although it has its funny moments. Also I saw The Hunger Games twice this weekend. I loved it. The books are still better but they stayed true to the books. The actors and actresses look the way their characters are written. Excellent job!

[Chuck]

Now reading "The Buddha in the Attic" by Julie Otsuka. "In eight incantatory sections, The Buddha in the Attic traces their extraordinary lives, from their arduous journey by boat, where they exchange photographs of their husbands, imagining uncertain futures in an unknown land; to their arrival in San Francisco and their tremulous first nights as new wives; to their backbreaking work picking fruit in the fields and scrubbing the floors of white women; to their struggles to master a new language and a new culture; to their experiences in childbirth, and then as mothers, raising children who will ultimately reject their heritage and their history; to the deracinating arrival of war."

Still working on "11/22/63" by Stephen King . . . So far 5/5 stars!

[Kristy]

<--- Finally got to go pick out our puppy last night! Meet Charlie-Gus. He's teeny tiny right now, can't come home for another month, but he's going to be three handfuls when he does!

[Kristy]

Manda wrote: "Kristy wrote: "

He's an absolute darling x Bet you cannot wait for him to come home!"

I can't, but since the parents belong to friends of ours we can go visit whenever we want!

[Sheila]

Kristy wrote: "Manda wrote: "Kristy wrote: "

He's an absolute darling x Bet you cannot wait for him to come home!"

I can't, but since the parents belong to friends of ours we can go visit whenever we want!"

That's good.