"So my day and evening schedules were now filled, leaving little time to grapple with worrisome matters like suspicious detectives, slippery preachers, and daring sheriff's deputies hanging out on windswept billboards."
-Miss Julia, from the novel
I love, love, love Miss Julia in this series of 16 novels! This adorable Southern lady is likely 60-something and a staunch Presbyterian---all of which I identify with. To top it off, her antics are often laugh-out-loud funny! I enjoy all the minor characters, as well; after reading all 16 books they seem like friends.
Miss Julia Lays Down the Law wouldn't be one of my favorites as it has a bit more serious tone than most so I will rate it 4+. Instead of Julia's usual efforts to help her family or friends in which she gets into some kind of mischief, she is trying to prove herself innocent of a mysterious wrong-doing. Lamar Owens, a new character and seemingly a good-for-not-much street person, shows up in this story, partners with Julia in trying to clear her name and provides much comic relief.
My beginning quote from the novel should whet your appetite for reading the book, but if you have read other Miss Julia adventures, you'll need no incentive!
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Another Man's Treasure by Charles R. Hall
"That is the new name of your company...It's like my Uncle Lou used to say about stuff at tag sales: "One man's junk...is another man's treasure.'"
-Orel Hughes, from the novel
Another Man's Treasure was suggested by one of our Page Turners whose neighbor is the author's mother. She was even able to order autographed copies of the book for those of us who wanted them. The setting was very familiar to us Central Floridians---a beach community on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Names of establishments like the Gulf Oasis Motel and the Sunset Tavern seemed believable.
Throughout the first several chapters I had a difficult time getting into the book and wasn't quite sure why. Perhaps it was challenging to identify with the preteen main characters or that some of the dialect didn't ring true to me or that I was confused by the shifting of the story from one subplot to another so abruptly. Somewhere past the halfway point when the plot really got rolling, I became involved and found myself wanting to finish as opposed to needing to, in order to lead the discussion. Even so, I'll rate the book a 3.
Orel Hughes was a mysterious character at first but became my favorite as he seemed to be a transformative influence on most of those around him. Twelve-year-old Lucy was an enigma to me---mature at one point and playing Barbies at another, seeming a tomboy for much of the story but turning into quite a romantic at times. She won me over at the end as she tried to live out Orel's advice: "As long as you go out there and ripple the pond, everything will be fine, sweetie."
I don't want to spoil the plot but let me say it is multi-faceted and keeps you turning the pages near the end. The themes of greed and redemption make it a worthwhile read. I look forward to hearing what the group will have to say on Thursday. I'll revisit this entry with the results.
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As often happens in our meetings, some of us thought our discussion was better than the book! Our average rating was 3.4. We used 8 thought-provoking questions composed by the member who suggested the book. When we got to strengths and weaknesses, folks had a lot to say. We decided on the plus side the characters were pretty well-defined and the plot was believable. Also the locale was familiar to us. Many of us agreed that the tempo seemed off with the beginning being quite slow and the ending moving perhaps too rapidly. I wasn't the only one who took a while getting into the story and others agreed that at first the child characters were not as interesting. One person suggested the theme was Orel's idea of the "ripple effect." I guess you will have to read it to see if you agree.
I'd love to see your comments!
-Orel Hughes, from the novel
Another Man's Treasure was suggested by one of our Page Turners whose neighbor is the author's mother. She was even able to order autographed copies of the book for those of us who wanted them. The setting was very familiar to us Central Floridians---a beach community on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Names of establishments like the Gulf Oasis Motel and the Sunset Tavern seemed believable.
Throughout the first several chapters I had a difficult time getting into the book and wasn't quite sure why. Perhaps it was challenging to identify with the preteen main characters or that some of the dialect didn't ring true to me or that I was confused by the shifting of the story from one subplot to another so abruptly. Somewhere past the halfway point when the plot really got rolling, I became involved and found myself wanting to finish as opposed to needing to, in order to lead the discussion. Even so, I'll rate the book a 3.
Orel Hughes was a mysterious character at first but became my favorite as he seemed to be a transformative influence on most of those around him. Twelve-year-old Lucy was an enigma to me---mature at one point and playing Barbies at another, seeming a tomboy for much of the story but turning into quite a romantic at times. She won me over at the end as she tried to live out Orel's advice: "As long as you go out there and ripple the pond, everything will be fine, sweetie."
I don't want to spoil the plot but let me say it is multi-faceted and keeps you turning the pages near the end. The themes of greed and redemption make it a worthwhile read. I look forward to hearing what the group will have to say on Thursday. I'll revisit this entry with the results.
--------------------------------------
As often happens in our meetings, some of us thought our discussion was better than the book! Our average rating was 3.4. We used 8 thought-provoking questions composed by the member who suggested the book. When we got to strengths and weaknesses, folks had a lot to say. We decided on the plus side the characters were pretty well-defined and the plot was believable. Also the locale was familiar to us. Many of us agreed that the tempo seemed off with the beginning being quite slow and the ending moving perhaps too rapidly. I wasn't the only one who took a while getting into the story and others agreed that at first the child characters were not as interesting. One person suggested the theme was Orel's idea of the "ripple effect." I guess you will have to read it to see if you agree.
I'd love to see your comments!
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews
"...James thought of an old joke. It was about how Savannahians are just like the Chinese---they both worship their ancestors and eat a lot of rice."
-from the novel
This book was the first in a queue of books set in Savannah I planned to read in connection with our trip there. I started it while we were in the city the last of March but just finished because there wasn't much time to read while on our tour. I had read Savannah Blues previously, probably before our last visit there some 9 years ago. Some aspects I remembered, but not all. It was an enjoyable read though less so than the Savannah from Savannah series by Denise Hildreth that I read recently. The latter series was gentler (less strong language, for one thing) and funnier, in my opinion. I'm giving Savannah Blues a 3.5.
Eloise "Weezie" Foley is an antique picker on the rebound from a failed marriage. Early on she gets in big trouble while attending an estate sale. The plot involves a murder mystery, the attempt to save an antebellum rice plantation home, a crooked antique dealer selling knock-off antiques and a budding love affair---the perfect ingredients for what my husband would call "chick lit" but then I am a chick!
Some of the humor came from quaint Southern sayings, a few I had never heard before, like "gripes my grits" and "give a pee-diddly." "I swanneee" was an exclamation I fondly remembered my mother and aunt using. I had never heard the phrase "making mattress music" but I bet you can figure that out!
I noticed the change of perspective from time to time, most of the story in first person from Weezie's point of view. Occasionally, the author would switch to third person. I haven't seen that element in a while.
It was fun reading fiction centered around places and things we had seen and learned about on our Road Scholar Savannah program, which was sponsored by Armstrong State College, Weezie's alma mater. On both our Charleston and Savannah tours we heard a lot about the culture of rice production and preservation of historic sites and buildings so I could easily relate to those references in this novel.
It was not surprising that the author was a former antique picker; she shows her knowledge of that world through Weezie's exploits. Apparently she also was a journalist who reported on the trial of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, a novel you cannot help hearing about frequently while visiting Savannah.
I recommend this novel to any "chicks" who want some light reading and especially those planning a trip to Savannah!
Would love to read your comments!
-from the novel
This book was the first in a queue of books set in Savannah I planned to read in connection with our trip there. I started it while we were in the city the last of March but just finished because there wasn't much time to read while on our tour. I had read Savannah Blues previously, probably before our last visit there some 9 years ago. Some aspects I remembered, but not all. It was an enjoyable read though less so than the Savannah from Savannah series by Denise Hildreth that I read recently. The latter series was gentler (less strong language, for one thing) and funnier, in my opinion. I'm giving Savannah Blues a 3.5.
Eloise "Weezie" Foley is an antique picker on the rebound from a failed marriage. Early on she gets in big trouble while attending an estate sale. The plot involves a murder mystery, the attempt to save an antebellum rice plantation home, a crooked antique dealer selling knock-off antiques and a budding love affair---the perfect ingredients for what my husband would call "chick lit" but then I am a chick!
Some of the humor came from quaint Southern sayings, a few I had never heard before, like "gripes my grits" and "give a pee-diddly." "I swanneee" was an exclamation I fondly remembered my mother and aunt using. I had never heard the phrase "making mattress music" but I bet you can figure that out!
I noticed the change of perspective from time to time, most of the story in first person from Weezie's point of view. Occasionally, the author would switch to third person. I haven't seen that element in a while.
It was fun reading fiction centered around places and things we had seen and learned about on our Road Scholar Savannah program, which was sponsored by Armstrong State College, Weezie's alma mater. On both our Charleston and Savannah tours we heard a lot about the culture of rice production and preservation of historic sites and buildings so I could easily relate to those references in this novel.
It was not surprising that the author was a former antique picker; she shows her knowledge of that world through Weezie's exploits. Apparently she also was a journalist who reported on the trial of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, a novel you cannot help hearing about frequently while visiting Savannah.
I recommend this novel to any "chicks" who want some light reading and especially those planning a trip to Savannah!
Would love to read your comments!
Monday, April 6, 2015
South of Broad by Pat Conroy
"South of Broad is a conspiracy of platelets, son: blood and breeding are all that matter there. No, that's not true: there's got to be a truck full of money somewhere near the blood bank."
-Jasper King from the novel
South of Broad was chosen specifically to enhance a spring trip to Charleston, SC, the setting of the novel. I checked out not only a print copy but also the audio version on CDs. My husband and I began the story together, listening in the car en route to Charleston, and enjoying it immensely. I don't believe I've read Pat Conroy before but I will add him to a list of preferred authors.
In the prologue we find that main character, Leo King, has been emotionally damaged by a family tragedy when he is very young. With therapy he is much stronger as a senior in high school on "Bloomsday," 1969, Part One. (You must read it yourself to find the significance of Bloomsday!) On that fateful day, he becomes involved with helping several students new to his school to transition. These are to become his closest friends.
The plot moves ahead 20 years to a reunion of sorts, where they demonstrate what friends are for. Then in a flashback to high school, the reader begins to discover how Leo, affectionately nicknamed "Toad," was the glue holding the nine of them together. The group of friends and some other characters are quite unique---some quirky but lovable, a few hard to like and a couple who are mysterious and downright evil. Along with the characters, we loved the author's use of both pathos and humor.
While on our arranged tour in Charleston, it was amusing to find actual places which figured into the novel. We visited the gorgeous chapel at the Citadel, where some of the friends were married, Middleton Place Plantation where a wedding reception was held and a mansion on East Battery, where we could imagine the home of the Rutledges. We passed by the Yacht Club, the scene of a luncheon on Bloomsday, and visited the beautiful St. Michael's church, the scene of another wedding. It was even fun discovering the familiar street names in the Historic District, where Leo delivered newspapers in his youth. We heard the blueblood South Carolina family names referred to many times while seeing them on the pages and learned the meaning of the title, hinted at by Leo's father in the quote above. I even had my first she-crab soup---absolutely delicious!---which was a specialty Leo made for his friends in the novel.
When we mentioned the book to one of our group leaders, she really had nothing positive to say. She cited historical and geographical discrepancies and, surprisingly, even gave away some of the plot. We found this annoying and it certainly lessened our fondness for her. But she IS a historian; I suppose she never learned to "suspend her disbelief" to enjoy fiction. Her loss!
You can probably tell I REALLY liked South of Broad. I give it a 5 and will read another Conroy soon.
-Jasper King from the novel
South of Broad was chosen specifically to enhance a spring trip to Charleston, SC, the setting of the novel. I checked out not only a print copy but also the audio version on CDs. My husband and I began the story together, listening in the car en route to Charleston, and enjoying it immensely. I don't believe I've read Pat Conroy before but I will add him to a list of preferred authors.
In the prologue we find that main character, Leo King, has been emotionally damaged by a family tragedy when he is very young. With therapy he is much stronger as a senior in high school on "Bloomsday," 1969, Part One. (You must read it yourself to find the significance of Bloomsday!) On that fateful day, he becomes involved with helping several students new to his school to transition. These are to become his closest friends.
The plot moves ahead 20 years to a reunion of sorts, where they demonstrate what friends are for. Then in a flashback to high school, the reader begins to discover how Leo, affectionately nicknamed "Toad," was the glue holding the nine of them together. The group of friends and some other characters are quite unique---some quirky but lovable, a few hard to like and a couple who are mysterious and downright evil. Along with the characters, we loved the author's use of both pathos and humor.
While on our arranged tour in Charleston, it was amusing to find actual places which figured into the novel. We visited the gorgeous chapel at the Citadel, where some of the friends were married, Middleton Place Plantation where a wedding reception was held and a mansion on East Battery, where we could imagine the home of the Rutledges. We passed by the Yacht Club, the scene of a luncheon on Bloomsday, and visited the beautiful St. Michael's church, the scene of another wedding. It was even fun discovering the familiar street names in the Historic District, where Leo delivered newspapers in his youth. We heard the blueblood South Carolina family names referred to many times while seeing them on the pages and learned the meaning of the title, hinted at by Leo's father in the quote above. I even had my first she-crab soup---absolutely delicious!---which was a specialty Leo made for his friends in the novel.
When we mentioned the book to one of our group leaders, she really had nothing positive to say. She cited historical and geographical discrepancies and, surprisingly, even gave away some of the plot. We found this annoying and it certainly lessened our fondness for her. But she IS a historian; I suppose she never learned to "suspend her disbelief" to enjoy fiction. Her loss!
You can probably tell I REALLY liked South of Broad. I give it a 5 and will read another Conroy soon.
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