The book chosen is Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral, by Kris Radish. Deadline to begin discussion will be April 23.
Enjoy reading.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
New Book Choices
Following are the book choices offered by our March/April host, Jen:
The Echo Maker, by Richard Powers;
Lark and Termite, by Jayne Anne Phillips;
Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral, by Kris Radish;
and
Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo, by Heather Wardell
Please vote for your book choice by Thursday, March 17, by emailing kzmclain@comcast.net.
Interesting choices!
The Echo Maker, by Richard Powers;
Lark and Termite, by Jayne Anne Phillips;
Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral, by Kris Radish;
and
Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo, by Heather Wardell
Please vote for your book choice by Thursday, March 17, by emailing kzmclain@comcast.net.
Interesting choices!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Stars Fell on Alabama
So, who could possibly have thought when we chose this book that I, your esteem host, would subsequently have a nearly month-long stay in the hospital, only to leave minus part of my bowel. Thanks to all of you for your prayers and good wishes. I am on the road to recovery.
As a result of my illness, however, I was unable to read this or any other book until recently. While it was slow getting into, I enjoyed this book a great deal.
While I love any Fannie Flagg book, the subject matter is nearly always eccentric and uncomfortable and the characters are always (to use an old-fashioned and currently politically incorrect term) queer. I honestly can't think of a better word. Off-beat. Weird. Funny. Loveable. Even the bad guys. Don't you LOVE that Babs Babington never came around to being nice? She spent that entire day with Maggie, but proudly proclaimed at the end of it that she was still going to be an evil bitch, and proud of it.
And really Ladies, how can you not like a book where the character driving the entire story line is a midget who has been dead for a number of years? Hazel was one of the most decent and loveable characters I have ever come across in a book. She positively impacted her friends tremendously, and they will love her forever because of that. And talk about not feeling sorry for yourself? Hazel certainly never did.
True, suicide is an uncomfortable topic. And I never could quite figure out why exactly Maggie felt the need to leave this earth. But her plans for carrying out the deed, and the way she carried them out, making sure that all of her debts were paid and she took care of those she loved prior to the suicide were so sweet to me. And I loved the way she would run into her roadblock and simply go put the suicide note away until she solved the newest issue facing her.
When you read Fannie Flagg, you must know that you are going to have to struggle a bit with a serious issue, but she will never let you down. Her characters' decency always rise to the top. And she always makes me laugh out loud.
As a result of my illness, however, I was unable to read this or any other book until recently. While it was slow getting into, I enjoyed this book a great deal.
While I love any Fannie Flagg book, the subject matter is nearly always eccentric and uncomfortable and the characters are always (to use an old-fashioned and currently politically incorrect term) queer. I honestly can't think of a better word. Off-beat. Weird. Funny. Loveable. Even the bad guys. Don't you LOVE that Babs Babington never came around to being nice? She spent that entire day with Maggie, but proudly proclaimed at the end of it that she was still going to be an evil bitch, and proud of it.
And really Ladies, how can you not like a book where the character driving the entire story line is a midget who has been dead for a number of years? Hazel was one of the most decent and loveable characters I have ever come across in a book. She positively impacted her friends tremendously, and they will love her forever because of that. And talk about not feeling sorry for yourself? Hazel certainly never did.
True, suicide is an uncomfortable topic. And I never could quite figure out why exactly Maggie felt the need to leave this earth. But her plans for carrying out the deed, and the way she carried them out, making sure that all of her debts were paid and she took care of those she loved prior to the suicide were so sweet to me. And I loved the way she would run into her roadblock and simply go put the suicide note away until she solved the newest issue facing her.
When you read Fannie Flagg, you must know that you are going to have to struggle a bit with a serious issue, but she will never let you down. Her characters' decency always rise to the top. And she always makes me laugh out loud.
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