MARCH READS

[rapa]

Looking forward to calmer weather, signs of Spring and some good reads in March! What's on your plate?

[Eaglewoman]

Caraci- thanks for the great review sounds like my kind of book, bought it fri on my NOOK, and it will be my next up book,

[rapa]

Thanks CARCI, for the recommendation! Finished it in a couple days as it was a compelling read. Must admit to shedding a few tears. Am eager to hear LOROUCH'S opinion as the story scenario is Minnesota.

[Mandy Muffin]

The great calendar protest, depravity in old London town, a history of women's fashions in the 18th century

All this can be found in "Slammerkin" by Emma Donoghue  http://emmadonoghue.com/books/novels/slammerkin.html

I picked up the title as it was a reissue after the glowing success of "Room," an eerie tale that was on top of the charts just a couple of years ago.  The book opens with the unrest caused by the change over to the Gregorian calendar that all Europe was undergoing.  A young girl in left to fend for herself on the streets of London, first taking up prostitution but she gets into the servitude of a family that is in the women's fashion business. Based on a true story, there is lot of description of the corsets and stays that formed the fashion of the time. The slammerkin was a loose gown that could be opened in the front, a popular dress for loose women or casual attire around the house.  It is a tragic story, with Dickensian overtones.  I found it to be a very informative and interesting read.   

[Countryphyl]

The book our book club is reading this month is Still Alice. I really enjoyed it but it is .scary thinking about Alzheimers.

[Mandy Muffin]

I have this penciled in for a "to read" in the near future.  Don't know if I will see the movie first.  My Mom passed away after an 8 year struggle with Alzheimer's and I am very aware of the potential for the disease and some of the steps to take to lessen the chances of getting it.  I understand this is early onset to a college professor. Maybe reading a lot and keeping your mind active doesn't work after all. 

[Countryphyl]

I am not sure if I could take the movie. My mother-law had Alzheimer's but they did not live near us so I did not really see the progression. LMK if you read it and how you liked it.

[Eaglewoman]

Our book club read Still Alice and  then several of us went to see the movie and lunch after to discuss   it. The movie did a good job of following the book. Very frightening, but proves that no matter how smart you are you are not immune to it. My DINL works on the memory care floor at the local nursing home, they are lucky to have her there, she becomes very attached to her patient. Sat. she called and said she had a new admissions and it was a friend of mine. He had moved to Cheyenne to be near one of his daughters, but brought him back here as he got worse. Will go next week to see him after he gets settled in.

[Mandy Muffin]

"Us:A novel" by David Nicholls http://www.amazon.com/Us-Novel-David-Nicholls/dp/0062365584/ref=sr_... Note the $2.99 price from Amazon.  I am currently reading this romp through Europe by a couple on the brink of divorce and their teenage son which is quite entertaining. I just finished "The Great Divide" by "Horse Whisperer" novelist, Nicholas Evans, which is also about a dysfunctional family with a tragic ending. This story was definitely not a romp but a cold, sober heart strings puller. 

[rapa]

I see that Sara Gruen, author of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, is out with a new novel AT THE WATER'S EDGE. Anyone interested in a trip to Loch Ness?

[Mandy Muffin]

I wonder if she wrote this one as a National Novel Writing Contest challenge, i.e., write a 50,000 page novel in just 30 days.  "Water For Elephants" is just one of many that got written this way.  I've been to Loch Ness and seen Nessie. He spends his days posing for tourists. 

[Carolyn Tewell]

Okay this is a test. I have NOT been getting notifications of posting so changed my e-mail address to an AOL account I continue to maintain. (I know...how lame!)

Finished The THORNBIRDS ...some of the reading was tedious. Long paragraphs describing flowers, trees, black flies, drought, floods, home decorating....then skip to another chapter with introduction of new character and must again describe flowers, trees, drought , floods, home decorating. I read this the first time at age 44? Amazing that I could be enchanted with all the analysis? Maybe I have become jaded over time. Thought maybe I read an abridged version? Remember it in paperback. To be honest did not read any of her other books. McCullough is an amazing writer...the whole family stuff, romance, WWII with England, Africa, Italy, Austrailia...mind boggling!

Next up is to reread A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE. Now, I loved that book too and kept trying to like her later publications to no avail.

Leave the light on for me...mellow

[Grammie Sue]

While I am almost certain I have not read A Woman of Substance I think I might have seen the mini series.  I was curious and looked it up just to see the plot and if it has been a movie. Mini series is what I found.  I like the actress Deborah Kerr, who played the main character Emma Harte.   I wish they would play it again.