Book 11: Final score, or Where you at?
I know that we're just past the mid-point of the month and not yet at the official end, but I thought I'd throw the Final Review out here anyway. I'm only partway through my book club checklist:
1. Bought the book
2. Let it sit unattended on the nightstand
3. Start reading.
4. Finish the book.
5. Promptly forget 95% of the book.
Right now, I'm only on Step 3 which is pretty good for this point in the book club selection cycle. However, I know that some of you are done already and are itching to add your comments and see what others think. So, if you're done go ahead and give this book your final score.
***** = This was one of the best books I've ever read.
**** = It was a great book, I'd definitely recommend it.
*** = It was pretty good.
** = There were some parts that were OK, but overall not great.
* = Not great. At all.
0 = Didn't quite get around to this one.
If you're only partway through, feel free to add your comments anyway.
1. Bought the book
2. Let it sit unattended on the nightstand
3. Start reading.
4. Finish the book.
5. Promptly forget 95% of the book.
Right now, I'm only on Step 3 which is pretty good for this point in the book club selection cycle. However, I know that some of you are done already and are itching to add your comments and see what others think. So, if you're done go ahead and give this book your final score.
***** = This was one of the best books I've ever read.
**** = It was a great book, I'd definitely recommend it.
*** = It was pretty good.
** = There were some parts that were OK, but overall not great.
* = Not great. At all.
0 = Didn't quite get around to this one.
If you're only partway through, feel free to add your comments anyway.
As stated above, I am only partway through the book. However, I am REALLY struggling to get into this one. For some reason, the tempo of the writing is a little jarring to me and some of the phrasing seems a bit awkward. A few times I've found myself turning to my inner editor and thinking "oh my, that sentence should be removed or at the very least rephrased".
One thing that I've found strange about reading this book is that I keep getting hung up on the descriptions of the terrain and plant life. There are so many words in those sections that I am not familiar with that I just can't picture the setting. When I can't picture the setting and I trip up on words I feel I should know, I start skipping around. And when I start skipping around, I probably miss some of the good stuff. Like the plot.
I know that Jacki loved this book (see her comments in the announcement entry), but I'm having a tough time. Anyone else?
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I appreciated the scenery and loved her descriptions of the places - but then I can see them.
I struggled a little too. One of the reviewers on the back of my copy called it an "unemotional" account - and that is what I struggled with. I found it so unemotional that it was difficult for me to like the main character. I can't believe there weren't any redeeming moments in her childhood, or that she didn't love her husband at some point, or that even though God knows none of us want to live there, that she doesn't appreciate that she is who she is because she came from that dirt.
I wanted her to be sorry for leaving John. I wanted her to tell us she loved her parents. I appreciated her point about breaking away from that past, and that it was not what she was made for. I just waited for a glimmer of respect for her origins. Did I miss it?
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I just read Jenine's comments about the character and plot. I don't even have a comment on that because I couldn't get past the author's style of writing. Reading her was like getting stuck talking to someone who goes on and on and on, giving you way more information than you want. I did not like it when she would start a story and then digress and not come back to her original thought for several pages. As you can tell, this book did nothing for me...I give it 1 star. Thank goodness we have so many different authors and books in our world because obviously we can't all like the same things. No offense, Jacki,...it must be good because it was a national bestseller...makes me wonder what is wrong with me! (nothing, I am sure)
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Oops, I am new to this process, so my comments are in the April 11 spot. The gist, in case you don't want to find it, is to read THE TENDER BAR by JR Moehringer if you want Real autobiography!!
Hi, guys, in case you couldn't guess, I have joined the book club.
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Aunt Marcia! Welcome, I'm glad that you're joining us. We're glad to have you.
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I put The Tender Bar on my library list. Will let you know how I like it!
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I was not able to get it to it this month, but I am happy to have this site so I can refer back to it when I get some free time - thanks Jennie!!
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