All the Ugly and Wonderful Things

Okay...  I don't know what to say.  I really liked this book!

But it comes with really serious 'ewwww-iness"

How's that for an opinion?

The general thought at book club was the same as mine. We all liked it--but we all felt guilty for liking it as much as we did.

What does that say about the author, when you can write about a despicable thing and make the reader sympathetic?

That she's pretty good.

It was a really good story with very complicated situations.

During book club we read  (not sure if was on the jacket or of the internet) that the author did have a inappropriate age relationship as well as the main characters in the book did.

Interesting, right?

As you know, I don't write 'reviews' this is more of a way for me to keep track of what I've read for the year and what book club has read which book. (whew)

But Keeli made a great tart for dessert!

Here is what Goodreads said about it:

As the daughter of a meth dealer, Wavy knows not to trust people, not even her own parents. Struggling to raise her little brother, eight-year-old Wavy is the only responsible "adult" around. She finds peace in the starry Midwestern night sky above the fields behind her house. One night everything changes when she witnesses one of her father's thugs, Kellen, a tattooed ex-con with a heart of gold, wreck his motorcycle. What follows is a powerful and shocking love story between two unlikely people that asks tough questions, reminding us of all the ugly and wonderful things that life has to offer.

Bookclubs and more Bookclubs!

On Monday, I said this about this book:

This one was---just okay.  I read it for book club and tomorrow night I have to go defend my opinion in someone's house, who really loved it. 

I would recommend with reservations.

But here it is Wednesday, the day after book club and guess what?  I still would recommend it with reservations, BUT we had the best discussion last night.

It was all about women's issues--which the book brought to light in a different way.  I guess they weren't just women's issue:  health, love, parenthood and worry, infidelity, aging, friendships, discovering yourself.  But the book talked about these things among women, so we really, REALLY, got off subject and didn't talk so much about the book's characters, but rather, ourselves.  The book was the catalyst tho.

I still don't know if I'd recommend it,  I didn't love it, but I did love the discussion it brought about.

It was a small group last night--only half of us--but it was fun.

I could kick myself for not stepping outside and taking a picture of Kerry's view. I don't know why I didn't, it's so beautiful, and as you know I like it when I can show off  Nevada's beautiful side.

I took a few photos but my head must have been somewhere else.

Betty and Kerry were our hosts. They served some great appetizers

And Kerry has a very big lazy susan, so serving ourselves was easy peasy.

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On Wednesday afternoon,  we had our first Literary Guild Luncheon of the season.

The Literary Club (we gave up the word Guild some time ago) has been meeting since 1952.

We don't all read the same book (except for the month of May), but we have a nice lunch and listen to a book talk.

We have a little booklet with all the members names in it and phone numbers.

Every October we donate money to purchase Dictionaries for all the 3rd graders in the county school system.

And this is the book which Terri gave the report about.

She says we all should read it!

The CCB (coffee, conversation and books) club-- He Said/She Said

This is my 'non' book review.

And if you haven't read it but want to, you probably shouldn't read further.  NOT that I'm giving an in-depth review with spoilers--this will just be a few sentences--but I'll ruin something for you.

My opinion below was the consensus of the whole book group. 

Here we are--having coffee on Saturday morning. 

Even the newest member Penelope  (Robin's granddaughter) agreed!

I gave it four stars.  Sometimes Goodreads ratings are hard for me tho---I feel it was a solid 3.7, not really quite a 4.

For the first part of the book, I was thinking it was only so-so, but the ending took me by surprise.

Total surprise!  And then I thought, WOW, what a great job the author did.

And as I mentioned, that was the thought of the CCB Bookclub.  It was interesting that three of my friends (CCB friends pictured above) had gone to see the big eclipse last month.  They were all in agreement that it was AMAZING to see in person and would become eclipse chasers if at all possible.  If we are still a bookclub in 2024, we might make a book club trip to Texas. 

I failed to mention that Total Eclipse was a major theme of the book, but it was,  so discussing it (it was pretty close to us, so we saw 89% totality) lots of fun.

From Goodreads

In the hushed aftermath of a total eclipse, Laura witnesses a brutal attack. She and her boyfriend Kit call the police, and in that moment, it is not only the victim's life that is changed forever. Fifteen years on, Laura and Kit live in fear, and while Laura knows she was right to speak out, the events that follow have taught her that you can never see the whole picture: something, and someone, is always in the dark.

So, I didn't really spoil it, but sometimes I hate when someone says to me--oh the ending!! You'll be so surprised.  Cuz then I won't want to read it.

Happy Sunday!