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Sweetest_thang
Member
09-28-2004
| Tuesday, November 02, 2004 - 9:22 am
Just started reading "Friday Night Lights" and "Heart Full of Lives" by Ann Rule. So far, both are VERY good!
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Tuesday, November 02, 2004 - 10:30 pm
Heart Full of Lies was REALLY good!! I finished the free book from Bookcrossing.com, Somebodies and Nobodies and am halfway through Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet In Heaven.
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Vee
Member
02-23-2004
| Wednesday, November 03, 2004 - 4:03 am
I'm reading some fluff, instead of just eating it... Wreck the Halls by Sarah Graves. She's a Maine author and her books are likened to Diane Mott Davidson's except, instead of recipes, you get a guide to home repair. Also, I'm reading Just Fifty Years Ago by Gladys Hasty Carroll, also a Maine author. Her most famous book's title, As the Earth Turns was borrowed by a famous soap. The producers had to change the title when she would not allow them to use hers. She writes very beautifully of a slower time...1910 Maine in this case. No, I really don't just read Maine authors!
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Wednesday, November 03, 2004 - 11:40 am
I read Skipping Christmas in a day. I figured that I would, it was a short book. It was a cute story. I might have to go see the movie. I am going to start The Mammoth Cheese by Sheri Holman. I've had it sitting here for awhile now so I thought I should tackle one I've had longer.
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Marysafan
Member
08-07-2000
| Thursday, November 04, 2004 - 8:31 am
It's been awhile since I've posted in this thread. When I was last here I had just started "Big Chief Elizabeth". I was enjoying Big Chief Elizabeth, but it wasn't Holding my interest as much as I would have liked. I am half way through it and will finish it someday...but for now I have set it aside for something different. Something different...but what? I thought about going back to Anne Tyler's "Back When We Were Grown Ups"...I had really enjoyed her "Patchwork Planet" but had abandoned ship on this other one before finishing the first chapter. I saw on Seamonkey's list that it is listed as my having read it...so out of guilt I picked it up again. Well...the good news is that I managed to get through the entire first chapter this time...but nope...this wasn't the right book for right now. I went to a sale the end of August at our local library. Books were $1.00 a bag...and I walked away with two bags full. (For future reference...a bag holds about 10 books.) So I perused through the selection hoping to find something that would call out my name. I saw "Since You've Been Gone" by Allison Kerry. A while ago, I watched a movie titled "Since You've Been Gone" which was an endearing old movie set in the early stages of World War II. I thought that perhaps this might be the book version and having enjoyed spending time with those characters...thought the book version would be just the ticket. I settled in and found myself on December 6, 1941. Yes...an endearing tale of a family whose life would be turned upside down the next day. Boy was in for a surprise! Turns out that everyone in this family has quite the sexual appetite! Not the nice little innocent tale I expected....but a rather hot and steamy tale that I was almost embarrassed to be reading in front of my daughter! Not the sort of thing that I would be found reading...but too good to put down! I must say...it was a very pleasant diversion, and I enjoyed every sordid detail! I finished it rather quickly! Well...after that...I thought something much more innocent was in order. Being so stressed out these days...I longed to be a nice place...an easy but interesting read would be nice. The other day, hubby brought home for me another "treasure". It was book seven of the Mitford series. I placed it next to volumes 1-6 on my must read soon shelf. I decided it was finally time to visit Mitford...the books have been sitting on my shelf for several years now. So I started "At Home in Mitford" and after a tenuous start...I can say that I am fully invested in these folks now and am glad that volumes 2-7 are waiting for me when I am finished. A long time ago...in this section...some posted "Calgon take me away...to Mitford". I never forgot that...and when I need a break from the present times...I am glad that I had Mitford waiting there. Thank you to whoever posted that...and introduced me to these quirky, yet genuine people. I can't tell you how grateful I am to the people who post in this thread. You haven't steered me wrong yet!
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Thursday, November 04, 2004 - 11:54 am
I finished The Five People You Meet in Heaven and it was nice enough but frankly I can't join in all those who found it so outstanding.. I'll bookcross it.. Starting a nice thick (almost 500 pages) travel book, Dark Star Safari: Ovderland from Cairo to Cape Town by Paul Theroux, who has written many "audacious" travel books and a long list of novels as well.. So far, so good.. he's in Egypt trying to get a visa for Sudan.. where he plans to visit the crater of the factory bombed by Clinton.
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Sweetest_thang
Member
09-28-2004
| Thursday, November 04, 2004 - 2:29 pm
Marysfan, you will love the Jan Karon Mitford Series. I have read them all and enjoyed them immensely (spelling stinks!). Such refreshing and funny books to read. I actually was laughing out loud. If you like light hearted, somewhat christian books, there's a series of books by Robin Jones Gunn, "Secrets", "Whispers", "Wildflowers" etc. You kind of have to start with the first one as they eventually interlink with each other, but they are somewhat laced with Christan values and romance. Again, something nice and refreshing to read.
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Sweetest_thang
Member
09-28-2004
| Thursday, November 04, 2004 - 2:51 pm
Actually, let me clarify the Robin Jones Gunn Series. She has several different series of books (Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen - which are teen books). The series that I recommend is the Glennbrooke Series: #1. Secrets #2. Whispers #3. Echoes #4. Sunsets #5. Clouds #6. Waterfalls #7. Woodlands #8. Wildflowers Apparently, she's added a new series called "Sisterchicks" which usually involves two best friends (mom's, middle aged) on an adventure. Looks good and I might see if I can find a couple of those to take on my vacation. Check out her site www.robingunn.com
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Thursday, November 04, 2004 - 6:10 pm
She should set one of those best friends ones in the Amazing Race 
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Friday, November 05, 2004 - 4:31 pm
I loved Skipping Christmas! I've been reading Sherrilyn Kenyon and Christine Feehan and just ordered more of their books today from Amazon.
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Sunday, November 07, 2004 - 11:18 am
Finished The Mammoth Cheese and enjoyed it. I am reading Death Gets A Time-Out by Ayelet Waldman now. It's about a woman who was a prosecutor until she became a stay at home mom and now is a private investigator on the side. Very funny writing.
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Vee
Member
02-23-2004
| Sunday, November 07, 2004 - 2:03 pm
I'm getting back here to correct myself...why am I always wrong?! Anyway, the title of the G.H. Carroll book is Only Fifty Years Ago. Oh, Mary, I'm so glad that you have found the Mitford community appealing. I love those books and all those quirky characters. And, you don't have to worry about a daughter wondering what you're reading! LOL...now perhaps I can find that other book you were mentioning...
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Puppylov3
Member
01-26-2004
| Sunday, November 07, 2004 - 2:38 pm
Yay fellow Mitford fans!!!!!!!!!!!
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Not1worry
Member
07-30-2002
| Sunday, November 07, 2004 - 4:14 pm
My favorite Mitford book is the latest, Shepherd's Abiding. I read that there will be only one more book and the Mitford series will be done. However, Karon supposedly plans to follow Father Tim to Ireland and a new series will begin there. For those of you that liked Mitford, try A Can of Peas and Dandelions in a Jelly Jar by Traci DePree. They take place in the Northwest, Minnesota I believe. They aren't quite as good as Mitford, but they were enjoyable without being preachy. There's also the series of Heavenly Daze, an island in Maine. Sort of a very cold, isolated Mitford. The first in the series is The Island of Heavenly Daze. The name put me off as too cutesy, but the books were great. I have found a new female P.I. series to keep me occupied until Stephanie Plum is back. By Kathy Trochek, the first book is Every Crooked Nanny. I can't wait to keep going in the series. The P.I. is a former Atlanta cop who turned P.I. Investigation wasn't paying the bills so her pushy, nutty mom helped her buy House Mouse, a cleaning service. Loved the book.
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Marysafan
Member
08-07-2000
| Tuesday, November 09, 2004 - 4:50 am
Not1worry, Thanks for the heads up on the Traci DePree books. I'll keep my eye for them. I'll also look for the Heavenly Daze books. Like I said...you folks haven't steared me wrong yet!
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 9:58 am
I am going to start A Paper Life by Tatum O'Neal. Should be some juicy stuff!
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Yankee_in_ca
Member
08-01-2000
| Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 10:16 am
I'm reading "Vernon God Little" right now. Anyone else here read it?
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 11:18 am
Mamie, I'm very interested in that book; will be good to hear your reaction.. I've read John McEnroe's autobiography but want to hear from Tatum, especially about her childhood. I did see her interview with Larry King. I'm still reading Dark Star Safari by Paul Theroux and he's a heck of a travel writer.. he's really into the people and countries and the history, but not in a travelog, scenery way. He's written a whole raft of books, fiction and non-fiction and I will definitely be picking up more of them.
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Jasper
Member
09-14-2000
| Wednesday, November 10, 2004 - 6:39 pm
If anyone likes funny: Dress your family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris It's a bunch of short stories and a funny read.
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Friday, November 12, 2004 - 8:34 am
Finished Tatum O'Neal's book. It is written very matter-of-factly but when I think about it, it is really the way she talks. I don't know how we expect kids to become responsible adults when they don't have a responsible adult in their lives. It is a shame. I think I should read Johnny Mac's book now too for equal time, but I don't really think she bashes him in hers. And like she says, she never publicly said anything about him until he wrote his book. I tend to believe what she writes about his anger. Didn't we all witness that at some time or other? I am going to start reading Liberating Paris by Linda Bloodworth Thomason who wrote and produced Designing Women and Evening Shade. I expect it will be in the same Southern vein.
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Mak1
Member
08-12-2002
| Saturday, November 13, 2004 - 7:22 am
I read Margaret Truman's Murder in the CIA on a recent trip. I wasn't in the mood for a spy novel, but it fit in my purse, lol. It was good. Now I'm reading and really enjoying a book Seamonkey recommended a while back, Year of Wonders, by Geraldine Brooks.
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Saturday, November 13, 2004 - 1:22 pm
OH, Mak!! I'm jealous!! Mamie.. I don't think John really bashed her in his book either. Not really the other side, just another facet and mostly about him, naturally, since he has quite a life and career to discuss, plus his happy second marriage and a whole batch of kids from both.
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Monday, November 15, 2004 - 5:50 pm
I finished Liberating Paris and I wouldn't recommend it. It was one of those books that as I was getting towards the ending, I was skimming through. I am now reading A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg. It reminds me of the sweet Christmas stories that my dad used to write every year. Everyone couldn't wait to get them. They were touching and meaningful. I need some happy writing!
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Yesitsme
Member
08-24-2004
| Wednesday, November 17, 2004 - 7:29 am
I just read two books by SC author Ray Blackston, Flabbergasted and A Delirious Summer. Both are about characters in a church singles group in Greenville, SC. He writes with both humor and heart and I found I liked and appreciated each of these nice (but flawed) people he writes about. And as someone who has spent some time in Southern church singles groups, I felt like I knew them. I look forward to his next book.
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Mamie316
Member
07-08-2003
| Thursday, November 18, 2004 - 7:48 pm
I really enjoyed A Redbird Christmas. It was a very sweet story. Would make a good Christmas movie of the week. I also finished Changing Habits by Debbie Macomber. Really liked that too. I am now into a chick lit book , Whose Wedding Is It Anyway by Melissa Senate. Oh and I forgot, I also read Silver Bells by Luann Rice. Another sweet Christmas story.
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