Comments on Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity: Sunday Salon 57: Have You Read These Books?

The only book that I've read was The Mermaid C...

2012-02-02T18:44:24.638-06:00

The only book that I've read was The Mermaid Chair and like Jules I preferred The Secret Life of Bees. It's worth a read though if you decide to keep it :)

I've read Mermaid Chair, it's an odd book,...

2012-01-31T07:23:39.188-06:00

I've read Mermaid Chair, it's an odd book, very odd, but it was well written. I prefer Secret Life of Bees, but the book is worth reading. Haven't read anything else on the list.

Hi. I'm a new reader and I really enjoy your b...

2012-01-31T00:15:25.314-06:00

Hi. I'm a new reader and I really enjoy your blog. I just finished reading The Mermaid Chair and I really liked it. It's not the type of book I usually read, but I'm glad I did.

Plant herbs! So useful. Also, cherry tomatoes. I r...

2012-01-30T15:20:13.203-06:00

Plant herbs! So useful. Also, cherry tomatoes. I remember my kids used to run out and eat them like candy. No watermelon (at least, they never worked for us). Oh, and while you can't eat them, lavender is just so lovely. Every time I went outside in the summer, I couldn't resist picking a few sprigs. Such a beautiful scent.

(I'm not much help with the books on your list, though, I'm afraid - haven't read any of them.)

And Mojitos!

2012-01-30T14:17:18.569-06:00

And Mojitos!

The Mermaid Chair is a good one, as well as the Ka...

2012-01-30T14:16:16.955-06:00

The Mermaid Chair is a good one, as well as the Kate Atkinson book. I still want to read her Case Histories book, especially after seeing the Masterpiece adaptation they recently showed on PBS.

Time flies! I can't believe your little one is already 9 months old!

*Kay - I'm on the fence about the Anne ...

2012-01-30T12:36:39.277-06:00

*Kay - I'm on the fence about the Anne Tyler but I'll definitely keep the Atkinson! Maybe even read it soon. I didn't realize that okra was prickly! I love it but have never cooked with it--I don't trust my abilities to properly fry things. ;) Have you had pickled okra? YUM!

*Chris - Ok, I'm glad to hear that you haven't had many problems with Squash because that's probably what I want the most (other than carrots). Right now we're trying to figure out the best place for the box (which is constructed)--we have two large oak trees in the backyard that block most of the sun in the afternoons (western exposure).

*Kim - I've heard good things about Chabon as well, just not this particular book. Think I'll keep it.

*CB James - Ugh, I know...it's terrible to hang on to these books that I've had for years. Am going to try to get rid of a few of them at least. ;)

*Melody - I've read Secret Life of Bees as well--long time ago!!

*Nan - I read one Anne Tyler and it didn't work for me--a lot of praise in the comments for Back When We Were Grownups but I'm just not sure. might keep the Flagg--I've enjoyed her other books.

*Galnxtdoor - Even though I'm put off by the length of the Flagg book I think I'll keep it. I've read another one of the series so hopefully this one is good.

*Word Lily - LOL!!! Slow is definitely not what I need in my life right now. ;)

*Kailana - I have such a bad habit of picking up books without know much about it. Need to stop that! ;)

*Melody - My favorite Flagg book is Daisy May and the Miracle Man. Or is it Fay? Anyway, fun fun book. I thought Welcome to the World Baby Girl was ok--think it's part of this series? So torn! ;)

I loved Standing in the Rainbow. I haven't re...

2012-01-30T12:07:03.626-06:00

I loved Standing in the Rainbow. I haven't read a lot of Fannie Flagg, but I fell in love with this one. Afterwards I read Can't Wait to Get to Heaven and was really surprised how insubstantial it was. I guess she's hit & miss for me too. :)

There are several books on your list that I have o...

2012-01-30T11:56:56.852-06:00

There are several books on your list that I have on my TBR pile and kinda wonder the same thing...

I've read a few Anne Tyler books, but not that...

2012-01-30T09:15:01.467-06:00

I've read a few Anne Tyler books, but not that one. One I really really liked, the other not so much. The biggest thing they had in common: they move incredibly slowly. So, if that's something that makes you struggle with a book, I'd maybe skip it.

Wow! You certainly are working to purge your books...

2012-01-30T01:47:54.602-06:00

Wow! You certainly are working to purge your bookshelf. :)
I should really get to work on mine too!

I am afraid I haven't read most of the books that you mention here. Of these, I have read just one - Fannie Flagg's Standing In The Rainbow. I LOVED the book, and would definitely recommend keeping it. It is not a masterpiece or anything, but good, old-fashioned comfort reading for a lazy day. I even put up a review of the book on my blog. You might want to go through it before you decide. Hope it gives you a better idea of the book, and helps you take a decision. :)

Back When We Were Grownups is one of my favorite b...

2012-01-29T22:10:33.975-06:00

Back When We Were Grownups is one of my favorite books. I've read it at least three times. But it is possible that its appeal is for an older reader.
And I am very fond of Standing in the Rainbow. Again, maybe it just appealed to me because I am older. But I did love each of these books.

Oh, I'm sad to say that I haven't read any...

2012-01-29T18:14:31.605-06:00

Oh, I'm sad to say that I haven't read any of those, other than Sue Monk Kidd's Secret Life of Bees. Nevertheless, I look forward to your thoughts on the books you read. :)

I say if you've had the book over two year and...

2012-01-29T18:08:24.582-06:00

I say if you've had the book over two year and haven't read it yet, you're probably never going to. Gid rid of 'em!!!! I so need to do a cull myself. I'm staring at an overflowing set of TBR shelves as I type this. Yikes!

I haven't read any of these, but I do love Mic...

2012-01-29T17:43:50.192-06:00

I haven't read any of these, but I do love Michael Cahbon. So, I'd say keep Summerland and give it a try!

I haven't read any of those books so can't...

2012-01-29T16:28:52.229-06:00

I haven't read any of those books so can't help you there :p I'm so happy for you with the gardening!!!!! As for the squash…I've never had problems with them. It may be different areas of the country. I get problems with bugs on my tomatoes more than anything…I hate those damn things :( We planted yellow squash once and had more than we knew what to do with!!! I'm guessing you'd probably have similar results since we're around the same region. Good luck :D

I think several of the books you have are Oprah pi...

2012-01-29T14:55:25.700-06:00

I think several of the books you have are Oprah picks from the early years of her book club. I've read BACK WHEN WE WERE GROWNUPS - in 2001 - as I recall I liked it. I also read the Kate Atkinson book in 1997 and though I don't recall the details exactly, it was an interesting book that I liked very much. Those are the only two I've read.

Me, I've got a "black" thumb and can kill plants with just a touch (almost true actually). Good luck with your gardening though. When I was a kid and we lived in Lubbock, my mom grew all those veggies. The okra gets tall as I remember and is kind of prickly to pick. LOL

I wouldn't even know what to use mint for! Oth...

2012-01-29T14:54:34.522-06:00

I wouldn't even know what to use mint for! Other than juleps. ;)

*Nymeth - I've only read one Anne Tyler...

2012-01-29T14:52:09.140-06:00

*Nymeth - I've only read one Anne Tyler and I was "eh" about it so I'm not sure. I'll definitely keep the Atkinson and Chabon, still not sure about Rice, though. ;)

*MJ - Glad to hear good things about Graceland. The cover is certainly catching!!

*Beth F - Yup, definitely ditching Mermaid Chair. I liked another by Jane Hamilton so I might keep that one, too. I would LOVE blackberries but not sure they'll do in our hot climate. So much to learn!

*Nomadreader - Oooh, I like the idea of the Amazing Race premise to Lost and Found! That's not what I expected from the cover at all. I have several Tom Wolfe books on my shelf and I'm not really sure why! ;)

*Heather - Bahahaha! You're books sound a lot like mine "Oh I have that one but I haven't read it/I have another by the author but haven't read it." ;) Keeping the Chabon.

*Unfinished - You'll be proud to know I took two huge bags of books to the library last week! And after this post I'll be taking more!

*Andi - I wondered if Capture of Canaan might be dramatic but you're the second to endorse so I'll hang on to it. Seems lots of people really like Anne Tyler!

*Lisa - I don't know what you constitute as "so much more"! What it boils down to is not enough room on the shelves and needing more space. I did really want to categorize mine into clever groups but I gave up after Classics and am just doing everything alpha. Maybe I'll change later...

*Michelle - I hadn't thought about growing onions!! Though I do like Mexican (um hello!!!!) and would love to make my own salsa or even pasta sauce with tomatoes. Otherwise I"m not really a big tomato eater (though I love a good BLT). I know your mom gardens but fruit trees?!

*Laura - Definitely getting rid of Mermaid Chair. And I think the Flagg book is part of a "series" that I've read from but it's just so big and daunting!! I would LOVE strawberries but do worry about our heat. Praying that this summer isn't like last summer!

*Allie - I emailed you a pulled pork recipe--hope you enjoy it! And good luck with the roast. Personally I think it's tough to go wrong with roast!! Just let it cook until it falls apart.

*Lu - Songs in Ordinary Time is one of those that I've had for years and years. Think I'm going to get rid of it...thanks for your help.

*Care - Huh--Geena Davis and William Hurt, huh? ;) I've tried Anne Tyler once and wasn't thrilled but several have said to keep it.

My mint stays put. I wish it would take over my y...

2012-01-29T14:50:41.073-06:00

My mint stays put. I wish it would take over my yard but we keep mowing it and it retreats. Sigh... But that's probably the New England clime not the good hot areas?

Haven't read any of these but do recognize a f...

2012-01-29T14:49:09.860-06:00

Haven't read any of these but do recognize a few authors (am I echoing everyone else's comments?) I would probably attempt the Anne Tyler. It's been years since I've read her one book that was a movie with Geena Davis and Wm Hurt but THAT has stayed with me. Not really about the book - something about dogs.

I haven't read any of these! Though I have tri...

2012-01-29T14:13:46.480-06:00

I haven't read any of these! Though I have tried (and failed) to read Songs in Ordinary Time several times. I would definitely hold on to Summerland though! Michael Chabon hasn't let me down yet. I can't wait for your post on Tuesday!

I haven't read any of those, so I am no help. ...

2012-01-29T13:57:24.038-06:00

I haven't read any of those, so I am no help.

I don't know if I commented or not, but I was really excited about your crock-pot post! I hardly ever use my crock-pot, so I have been looking for new recipes so that I can use it. I'm making a roast in it tomorrow. Hopefully it turns out well. :)

The only two books I've read from that list ar...

2012-01-29T13:03:50.130-06:00

The only two books I've read from that list are: The Mermaid Chair-I very much disliked it...which doesn't mean you won't like it, but I remember being really annoyed the entire book. The Fannie Flagg book was light and entertaining. Not my favorite or least favorite Flagg book. Helpful, huh?

My sister planted berries (strawberries and raspberries) when she lived in CO. They did really well and I think were fairly easy to maintain. However, for some reason I think they need cooler weather than we have here? Not totally sure there either. I'm just full of help today, huh?? :)

I have read Sue Miller's While I Was Gone. It ...

2012-01-29T12:50:34.186-06:00

I have read Sue Miller's While I Was Gone. It was intersting and a quick little read. Life changing? No. Entertaining? Sure.

Do you guys eat a lot of Mexican food? I have always wanted to plant a "salsa garden". Onion, tomatoes, jalapenos. I don't know how different growing things in different climates is, but my mother does have the most amazing garden. If you have questions, she would love to let you know what works and what doesn't. I would love to have a garden and fruit trees like her one day.