Deb’s Comments (group member since Jul 12, 2011)

Deb’s comments from the Topeka & Shawnee Co. Public Library group.

Neat! I think the job of being a designer of book jackets must be really interesting. If I was doing it I'd make sure to at least know what the characters are described like before putting people on the cover. So many times there's a picture on the cover that does not match the character description at all!

One that is stuck in my mind is "The first time Jude Allman died he was 8 years old". It's from Waking Lazarus by T.L. HinesWaking Lazarus

It really grabbed my attention. "Wait, what, the FIRST time he died? What's going on here!?" And then of course I had to keep reading to find out.

May wrote: "Just starting The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot."

Abigail wrote: "May wrote: "Just starting The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot."

I've heard such great things about this book, but I've never actually read it."

That is such a great book, I love books that show you the personal aspects of historical events and I feel like that's what this one does.

I was excited to start listening to All Things New by Lynn Austin, one of my favorite Inspirational Fiction authors. I love her historical fiction and this one is set just after the Civil War. It's about a family who is struggling to survive on their plantation, and I like that it has several points of view. So not only are members of the owner's of the plantation heard from, but some of the formerly enslaved members as well. They are all obviously struggling with a lot of changes, and there is a lot of tension not only between the races but also the generations. I can't wait to see where it goes!

I found the courage of the characters inspiring and the story enlightening in this historical novel. Geesje came to America from Holland to escape religious persecution. Anna feels like she must choose between her fiance and her quest for faith and for answers. Each woman shows great strength and each story has a lot to teach us. Until I heard Geesje's story about how her family was hounded by their neighbors, I didn't know that religious persecution had happened in Holland. I was startled to learn that those who separated from the state run church in Holland were persecuted, and that some of them came to America so that they could worship freely. I admired their bravery and I felt for Geesje every step of the way, as she endured the long ocean voyage She and her family tried to carve out a new community named Holland out of the Michigan wilderness. But it was the personal challenges that she faced that truly made her an engaging character, as separation and hard choices made finding her way to true love and happiness difficult. That personal journey is what connects her to Anna, a young woman from a high society family who comes to the resort near Holland to rest and think after her engagement is broken off. She wonders why she feels so drawn to the church she visited, why she has strange dreams and memories, and why her former fiance does not understand her need to ask questions about her past and about God. As she delves into the past, she learns to stand up for herself and I truly enjoyed watching her character grow, even as I wondered how the pieces of the puzzle would connect and tie her story to the Geesje's. I couldn't wait to get to the end of the story and have all my questions answered.
The characters in this book are asking some tough questions, as they face many heart wrenching losses. If you read this book, be prepared for an emotional roller coaster as you follow them through their ups and downs! Fortunately there are characters who speak words of wisdom from the "good book" into their lives during these struggles. Still, Geesje in particular worries that the questions she asked while her heart was broken will discourage those who hear her tell it. On the contrary, Gessje, I found your honesty made your story all the more encouraging and helpful. And I appreciated learning about all that these brave pioneers had to go through in to live out their faith the way that they wanted to.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction, especially about the early settlement of America, and to those who enjoy uplifting stories which illustrate how Biblical wisdom can be applied to real life.

On a side note, I dislike when the publishers come out with "movie tie in covers". Usually I much prefer the original cover!

I've discovered what I will think will be a new favorite series - I'm listening to Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear. I'm loving the details about how Maisie investigates and how the author is capturing the World War I era time period.

May wrote: "I am just beginning The Ogallala Road: A Story of Love, Family, and the Fight to Keep the Great Plains from Running Dry. Having grown up in Western Kansas, I am concerned about the depletion of the..."

I've heard great things about that book...sounds intriguing.

Her husband didn’t understand her. Her mother-in-law criticized her. And her toddler threw her keys and his shoe into the water.

No, not the latest Facebook post from your friend, but the very relatable problems of Louisa Johnson Adams, wife of President John Quincy Adams. Louisa Thomas’s delightfully readable biography Louisa: The Extraordinary Life of Mrs. Adams brings to life this formerly obscure first lady and credits her with invaluably aiding her husband’s political career.

Born in London to an American father and English mother, the pretty and amiable Louisa Johnson caught the eye of the chilly, yet brilliant diplomat John Quincy Adams. He loved service to his country, his family and his books; raised to be an ornament to society, she thought he read too much. Their courtship and early years of marriage were tumultuous: oh-so-modern arguments over money, child-rearing and family lead to many hurt feelings and misunderstandings.

Yet together they were formidable. From the glittering courts of St. Petersburg to the rough-and-tumble political scene in Washington, John Quincy’s political star rose aided in no small part by the very charming Louisa. This lady knew how to give a party; one gala she hosted was still being talked about half a century later. With a bright smile, delectable food and dazzling conversation, Louisa charmed critics and friends alike and her “campaigne” for her husband’s presidency was a success.

Staff Review by Julie Nelson and posted on the TSCPL website at https://tscpl.org/books-movies-music/...

I'm currently listening to Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald
Right now it's fascinating hanging out with Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald in Paris while they pal around with Ezra Pound, Ernest and Hadley Hemingway, and Gertrude Stein (among others). What a life!

A safe, decent, affordable place to live – that’s all Arleen wants for herself and her two young sons. Scott, a former nurse and recovering addict, wants that too as he wears out his welcome on a friend’s sofa. Ned and Pam, staying in a cheap motel, pray the new baby won’t come until they find a new place. And Larraine, huddled under blankets in her brother’s trashy trailer with no heat, is almost at the end of her rope. For these evicted families, the American dream of decent housing is heartbreakingly out of reach.

Evicted

Eviction is a fact of life for many poor families. When rent takes up as much as 70 or 80 percent of income certain unpleasant choices must be made: pay the rent or buy food? Pay the rent or pay the gas bill? Rent isn’t always the first priority, so landlords evict, moving companies empty out apartments, and families, many with children, scramble to find another place, only to discover that a prior eviction makes it that much harder to find a new home.

In his eye-opening new book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, sociologist Matthew Desmond reports that children are at greater risk of homelessness after evictions. Employment and health can suffer. Families can be broken apart. Desmond spent months living among poor families facing eviction in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and presents a nuanced, compassionate picture of both tenants and landlords. Desmond does an admirable job of humanizing a devastating social problem that deserves a serious solution.
-Staff Review by Julie Nelson, posted at https://tscpl.org/books-movies-music/...

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald

I'm reading Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald. I'm not familiar with her life, but it's reading as a solid historical novel about a young southern girl who is quite taken with the young Yankee writer Scott Fitzgerald.

Abigail wrote: "I tried reading a book by Robert Liparulo called Germ, but I didn't get very far into it. As I remember it, it was a fiction book about someone using biological weapons to kill people. His descript..."

I've tried reading a Liparulo before too and I was also disturbed by his graphic images--like crumbs floating on top of blood after the killer made a sandwich. He's pretty over the top and the surprising thing was that this was from a Christian publisher.

I’m very fond of annotated editions; like keys to a secret room or a map of hidden treasure, annotated editions reveal gems that enhance the reading of a beloved text. John Matteson’s lovely annotated edition of Louisa May Alcott’s classic Little Women is no exception: this oversized volume, generously illustrated and thoughtfully edited, is a treasure trove of information not only about the book but also about the Alcott family.

Of course we find out about Amy March’s pickled limes and Meg’s blanc mange (with recipes!), as well as explanations of the many allusions to John Bunyan’s allegory The Pilgrim’s Progress, but what I found fascinating were the parallels – and notable differences – between the fictional March family and the Alcotts. The Alcott sisters really did put on theatricals, for example, with Anna Alcott (“Meg”) being both a gifted actress and talented set builder. Lizzie Alcott (“Beth”) did die tragically young, but her final, lingering days were not nearly as peaceful as Beth’s. May Alcott (“Amy”) was a talented artist and many of her paintings, drawings and even the cast she made of her foot are reproduced in this edition.

In fact the many wonderful illustrations and photographs are reason enough to check out The Annotated Little Women. Matteson includes Little Women illustrations from different artists such as Norman Rockwell and May Alcott. There are movie stills from from the 1933, 1949, and 1994 films (to refresh your memory, Katherine Hepburn, June Allyson and Winona Ryder were the respective “Jos”). There are also many photographs of the Alcott family and various Alcottiana such as Lizzie Alcott’s sewing box and Anna Alcott’s wedding dress.

Louisa May Alcott famously didn’t want to write a novel for girls, fearing it would be dull, but more than a hundred years after its publication, Little Women lives on in our hearts. If it’s been awhile since you’ve peeped in on the March family, John Matteson’s annotated edition is a marvelous way to reacquaint yourself with the joys and sorrows of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy.

Review by TSCPL staff member Julie Nelson, posted at https://tscpl.org/books-movies-music/...

Ware adding 10 new kits to the Library’s Book Group in a Bag collection this year. And while we’re excited about adding new kits to our collection, it’s always hard to narrow down our list to just 10 titles.

That’s where you come in. Please take our survey and help us narrow down our choices to the top 10 most popular titles. We love getting this feedback from the people that actually use our collection.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6WJWQ5R

Here, in brief, are the 20 titles under consideration:

I'm listening to Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah but I'm finding it over long. She goes into way to many details about the clothes and events in an effort to describe the shifts in time as it spans the 70's, 80's, 90's and beyond. I wonder if the wildly popular Nightingale by her has the same level of detail?
I am enjoying The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory more, but then I am a sucker for a well written historical novel with a lot of intrigue.

I remember being glad that I was listening to Immaculée Ilibagiza's book about the Rwandan genocide because that meant I only had to deal with it 15 minutes at a time. That way I could leave the chilling scenes of people chanting "kill them, kill them, kill them all" behind at the point when it was all just about too much.
Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust

Melanie wrote: "I need to get back involved with the group. Right now things have been a bit overwhelming on what I'm dealing with and kinda shutting down. Some of it is my own destructive tendencies. I wasn't a f..."

I have heard a lot of people say the same thing about this book--that they just couldn't get past their dislike for the narrator. I too found her quite shocking and I found myself worried more about whether or not she would survive her own stupidity rather than the physical hardships of the trail.

We miss you at the group but I understand about life getting in the way. We'll be here for you whenever you can make it!

Kelly wrote: "So far I've been busy!
-The Revenant, so I could see the movie!
-A Year of No Sugar
-NPR Funniest Driveway Moments- a collection of NPR interviews over the years.
-Notorious RBG, a fan biography on..."

I had to read more about "A Year of No Sugar" after I saw it on your list. I've been hearing a lot about these "no sugar" diets lately. I'm amazed that people can actually accomplish it.

Holly wrote: "Good luck with Emma and Otto and Russell and James. I thought it had some good moments, but never understood what motivated any of characters to undertake their bizarre journeys.
I just finished St..."

Yes, I'm finding it much the same as you did Holly--I can't come up with a reasonable reason for the characters actions. I'm just interested enough to keep listening until the end, but I don't think this will go on my favorites list.