I posted this in the nonfiction thread a few days ago. The further I get into the book, the more I’m enjoying it so thought I’d post it in this thread, too! Excellent read.
I’m currently reading a very interesting book called The Big House: A Century in the Life of an American Summer Home by George Howe Colt. If you’ve ever been to Cape Cod, you’ll find it fascinating, and, even if you haven’t, it’s still interesting. Here’s an excerpt from a review I read before getting the book:
The featured history of the area, and of life in this Brahmin family, is very well researched and particularly interesting.
every time someone suggests a jodi picoult book, i say to myself “never again” and then i read it anyway. her books always make me mad. but they do make you think about things from many different points of view. same can be said for her latest Handle with Care.
for some reason, my mind doesn’t seem to focus as much as i would like, so i’ve been amusing myself with fluff. harlan coben’s lates, andrew gross’ latest…well, you get the picture. fun and fast but with no substance whatsoever.
i, too, spent a bundle last week at b&n.com. i picked up quite a few books that have been mentioned here and i can’t wait to get started…just one more week of finals and the summer reading season can begin!
I will buying this book for my son to read this summer.
Summary From Amazon…
Story takes place after WWII in the Mississippi Delta, where Memphis-bred Laura McAllan is struggling to adjust to farm life, rear her daughters with a modicum of manners and gentility, and be the wife her land-loving husband, Henry, wants her to be.
The real heart of the story, however, is the friendship between Jamie, Henry’s brother, and Ronsel son of sharecroppers who live on the McAllan farm. They have both returned from the war changed men: Jamie has developed a deep love for alcohol and has recurring nightmares; Ronsel, after fighting valiantly for his country and being seen as a man by the world outside the South, is now back to being just another black “boy.”
Told in alternating chapters by Laura, Henry, Jamie, Ronsel, and his parents, Florence and Hap, the story unfolds with a chilling inevitability. Jordan’s writing and perfect control of the material lift it from being another “ain’t-it-awful” tale to a heart-rending story of deep, mindless prejudice and cruelty. This eminently readable and enjoyable story is a worthy recipient of Kingsolver’s prize and others as well. --Valerie Ryan
^Alwaysamom, I checked The Big House out of the library thanks to your previous mention of this book. Unfortunately I am still rereading another book. (C.J. Cherry’s Cyteen - which might as well be brand new I remember nothing, nothing about it though I know I’ve read it before.)
Always a mom,
Yes, you probably did mention it and that is where I got the idea to read it. One ofthe best books I have listened to (got the audio version) in a long time.
We just finished reading and discussing “Loving Frank” in our book club. While the book was well written it didnt in my opinion paint a very complimentary picture of Frank Lloyd
Wright.
No, it doesn’t. Our book club just discussed this last week – the consensus was that it’s interesting how FLW’s legacy has endured without all the details of his affair(s). Most of the people in our club knew a fair amount about FLW’s architecture, but had never heard a word about his “lurid” personal life.
Has anyone read T.C.Boyle’s The Women? It’s also about Frank Lloyd Wright from the women’s point of view. I read Loving Frank when it came out and enjoyed the story even though I knew most of the history. But I like to read many books on a subject so I thought about picking up this book. Does anybody else read several books on subjects like I do?
artmommy7- I am waiting on The Women. I have requested it from the library. There is quite a wait so I am thinking many others read like you do.
I just picked up The Elegance of the Hedgehog from the library. I waited about 1 month to finally get it. First I have to finish Handle with Care. I like some of Jodi Picoult’s older books. The Pact, Salem Falls and a few others. I have been disapointed with the last 4. I had never read Harlan Coben before but picked up one my husband had and I think it makes decent beach or airplane reading.
I just finished North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell and absolutely loved it, but I’m a fan of 19th century British fiction—it might not be to everyone’s taste. The BBC mini-series is a great companion piece—beautifully filmed and true to the book in spirit if not in detail.
Just finished “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin. It was very moving–warning don’t start unless you have time to finish. It’s riveting & provides great insights as to how to effectively spread peace among desparate poverty–EDUCATION!
Mary13 - that’s a favorite book of mine, and I must agree, the Richard Armitage - um, I mean BBC - production is a truly beautiful adaptation and very true in spirit.
Katliamom: I completely agree. An absolutely wonderful book. Having just gone through DMV Hell getting DD her driver’s license, I especially loved those scenes.
^ You won’t regret it! I recommend watching the DVD first, and then delving into the book. Usually, I do it the other way around, but I think the mini-series tells a lovely and compelling story all on its own, and the novel is a great follow-up for nuance and detail.
