On the Southern Literary Trail discussion
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General Bookishness
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Retired: What are you reading?
I'm in neither. But as I have started reviewing on goodreads authors sometimes ask me if I can read an arc of their book and I generally say yes. I don't have the time to be in anything more than that but if a goodreads friend asks me I'm happy to read and review.
Brina wrote: "Done. That's such a good idea- a book exchange so after we read hard copies of ARCs we can pass them on. Maybe we should make a new thread about this???"I don t have any Arc but I do have some new hard backs for a good home or exchange so maybe a new thread where we can post lists of books up for grabs would be a good idea as I have decided not to keep all the books I buy and read for example I have just finished The Book of Harlan I also have Work Like Any Other: A Novel lovely novel
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Good idea! With that in mind, I have created the HGB seeking GRR: (The place for books seeking a new home) discussion board.
Tom wrote: "Brina wrote: "Done. That's such a good idea- a book exchange so after we read hard copies of ARCs we can pass them on. Maybe we should make a new thread about this???"Good idea! With that in mind..."
GR used to have a book swap in the past so this is a great idea, Tom.
Yippee, Brina!!! Great idea to set up an ARC abd used book exchange! Thank you, Tom for creating the thread :)
I finished Tasa's Song. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 . My review:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...A holocaust story based on stories the author's mother told her .
Thought I'd post that I'm reading Gone With The Wind for the first time. Bonus, preface by Pat Conroy. I have come a long way since joining here.
And Then All Hell Broke Loose: Two Decades in the Middle East Richard Engel's new book. Man, I bet it's good.
Read that John, and found it very informative and interesting.
i've been through two fictions now and I need something different.Thanks Diane , always nice to hear from you
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And Then All Hell Broke Loose: Two Decades in the Middle East Richard Engel's new book. Man, I bet ..."I can't imagine his book not being good.
I find his books & Dexter Filkins' always outstanding.
I finished The Trouble with Goats and Sheep. 4 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show.... This is a well written debut novel.
I finished The House at the Edge of Night: A Novel. 5 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I have read 40% of Gone With the Wind 550 pages to go. I usually average that many pages a week so I view it as reading my 3 books for the week in one book. I love what I have read so far, and I dot think you can get more southern than this.
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Diane, because you asked :), I am a Yankee from the Land of Lincoln, and my parents view GWTW as sexist and racist so I was never allowed to read the book or see the movie. This is a new experience for me and I enjoy being exposed to the antebellum south from a southern point of view- one 180 degrees different from that which we learned in textbooks. I like the characters thus far except Melanie because she is weak from years of inbreeding. How could she not suspect Scarlett's true feelings for her husband??? Rhett is my favorite because he sees the big picture, is a business man, and yet is still a southerner. I would call him a gentleman even though most do not simply because he brings ladies gifts in an attempt to woo them and stole the horse and wagon to deliver Scarlett to safety. I wish she would stop obsessing with Ashley and go to Rhett but then the book wouldn't be 960 pages long. 550 pages to go and then I will see the movie for the first time.
We were brought up on Gone With the Wind. I first read it when I was nine. Mama was invited to the movie premiere in Atlanta but not allowed to go. Her uncle's wife was married to "Sue Ellen" (Evelyn Keyes). When we were growing up, Mama would characterize people by saying, "She's a nice girl, like Melanie," or "he's a fine person like Ashley." Me? I always liked Rhett.
Just started Fates and Furies as an audio book and am crazy about it so far...but people have forewarned me that it is a love/hate book. That said, I'm from Ft. Lauderdale and end up letting auld lang syne woo me when a book is set there. Sea Creatures was one a REALLY enjoyed because I could "see" Biscayne Bay and all the little canals with mid-century houses on them...very authentically done.
Diane wrote: "I've been wondering what you think about GWTW as I saw your progress. Have you seen the movie, and what do you think about the changes they made to the film?"My favorite review of GWTW came from my best friend in high school who wrote:
This is the story of (view spoiler) who loves ...."
BC that seems spot on so far even though I'm only halfway done. Made me laugh.
Y'all? Bourbon + cranberry juice + a juicy wedge of lime over cracked ice = a Scarlett O'Hara. You may need to toast the book when you're done.
I remember getting a very thick paperback of GWTW through my JR HS book club. I was in seventh or eighth grade. Very thin paper, teeny-tiny print. I began reading it as soon as I had a study hall, and was over 300 pages in when I got home. My sister did not believe I had gotten that far in that time, grabbed the book from me and began quizzing me on characters, events & was totally flummoxed my thorough answers. So many people borrowed it from me that semester, the book looked like it had been through the wars itself. I finally got a hardback as a replacement.
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It captured its time & place extremely well. We need books that do that. The book is not an advertisement or a recommendation for a way of life, it is a story of what a slice of life was like at a certain time & place. We may have moved on, and not all of us have as current politics remind us everyday, but we need stories of the past to inform our present and future.
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Diane I hope that scene is as amazing in screen as it is in print. GWTW will have to take a back seat to baseball tonight because I'm at my first game of the year yippee! Leanne that drink sounds mighty fine right about now it is boiling at the ballpark. But my 10 year old is happy so I am too. Go Cubs.
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My favorite review of G..."
That might be my favorite all time review as well.
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It is, Brina! When the camera pans to Clark Gable with his wicked smile, it gives me chills every time.
I read GWTW a bunch of times when I was a teenager. The movie never seemed to be quite the same thing for me.Brina, I wonder if the Pat Conroy intro is the same as his GWTW essay in My Reading Life. Was it a long one? He looked at it from both sides. Also, he had an essay in the same book on War and Peace which made me read it!
So I came home to broken a/c so I really feel like I'm in Tara now. Leanne I could use one of those drinks but will settle for ice cream. I actually ordered the movie from the library because sometimes it takes a while to process holds. Diane, looking forward to the first Rhett scene. Jan the preface by Pat Conroy is about 10 pages long and explains how he grew up with GWTW. I don't know if this is the same essay you have read. All in all a great night and I look forward to getting back on the reading track tomorrow.
I love Gone With the Wind - a classic movie. I can quote almost every line with every character. Let's not forget Aunt Pittypat, "Don't you dare faint". Diane, glad you didn't name your daughter Pittypat. ;0)
I have finished Each Vagabond by Name. 4 stars . My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
I think I first read GWTW when I was in the 6th grade --so about 55 years ago. And I realize I've never read it since. One of my favorite TV moments is from the Carol Burnett Show when she does her satire of the film---the curtain-rod drapes over her shoulders. Does anyone else remember that episode?
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It's been slow reading the past few days and today as well- third baseball game in the last 48 hours. The things we do for our kids. Scarlett is finally starting to become an adult rather than a child so I'm interested but haven't been able to read. I will catch up starting tonight and looking very forward to the movie.
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I saw it years ago and again just last month. It is included in a Best of Carol Burnett that showed on PBS during a pledge drive.
Makes us laugh every time, Tom. My husband just dissolves into laughter as soon as he sees Tim and Harvey appear. Not that we do not love Carol, but the appearance of Tim always made the rest of the them crack-up which we loved.
Has anyone read the book THE DOLLMAKER? It is based in Kentucky and is a movie. I have the book and I enjoyed it. it is also a movie. I haven't seen the movie.I liked the book.,
I read it some years ago, and I think I saw a movie of it with Jane Fonda if I remember correctly some time after I read the book.
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Just finished Fates and Furies - I gave it a 3 mostly because the first half was very b l o a t e d and made me really not care about the second half. The married couple had sex every 45 minutes in the audio book, but instead of that being scintillating, it was like the antichrist of Viagra. TMI and GAR.
Sure glad to hear what is in the above book . I'll tick that one off the list of TBR . YUK .
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On the Southern Literary Trail
Books mentioned in this topic
Happy Land (other topics)Take My Hand (other topics)
Happy Land (other topics)
Happy Land (other topics)
Somewhere Toward Freedom: Sherman's March and the Story of America's Largest Emancipation (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Bennett Parten (other topics)Wes Browne (other topics)
Hubert Skidmore (other topics)
Mark Twain (other topics)
Delia Owens (other topics)
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I have two sources. One is the Amazon Vine program. They post a list of books or other items which I choose from and review. Unfortunately, I was invited to join many years ago and have no idea how anyone else would become a part of the program. The other source I use is the LibraryThing Early review program. They post a list of books available and how many copies of each there are. People say if they are interested and at the end of the month the books are given out to random applicants in exchange for a review.