Book Recommendation...

[Italiahaircolor]

I know we sometimes discuss books on this site...and I just wanted to share that I am reading an amazing book right now. The Help by Kathryn Stockett. What a fantastic read, I literally cannot put it down. It actually has a 5 star rating on Amazon--which is incredible due to the fact that over 2,000 people have reviewed it!

Has anyone read it? What did you think?

 

[upgrade]

What is it about? I''m always looking for a good read.

 

[Clio]

Oooh, I have the book but haven''t started it yet! You''re the second person who has raved about it, so now I''m really looking forward to it.

 

[tigian]

Date: 9/4/2009 1:43:01 PM
Author: Clio
Oooh, I have the book but haven''t started it yet! You''re the second person who has raved about it, so now I''m really looking forward to it.

Me too!

 

[Bia]

Gonna pick it up. I just finished a great book (Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah) and am already hungry for a new one.

Thanks Italia

 

[risingsun]

The Help is an excellent book. I highly recommend it!

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 9/4/2009 1:08:29 PM
Author: upgrade
What is it about? I''m always looking for a good read.

Basically the book follows the story of 3 women living in the 1960''s in Mississippi during the birth of the civil rights movement.

Sketter is a well off recent grad who is questioning the rights given to African Americans during this time period. Mimmy and Abeline are two maids working for weathly families who are tired of the way they are treated. Together the three embark on a seemingly impossible mission together. Seperately, all the women are battling something.

I''m not going to give out more than that, I don''t want to ruin the book. All I''m going to say, is that this is in a class all it''s own as far as story line, character development and tugging on the heart strings. I''ve laughed, cried and been mad as hell. It''s a great book. Every year I pick my favorite read and buy it for all the women on my Christmas list...and I can honestly say, I am excited to pass this on. It really is a treasure.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 9/4/2009 3:11:54 PM
Author: Bia
Gonna pick it up. I just finished a great book (Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah) and am already hungry for a new one.

Thanks Italia

What did you think of Firefly Lane? Have you, by chance, read Jennifer Weiners Best Friends Forever? I ask because the books are very similar.

 

[Bia]

Date: 9/4/2009 6:20:49 PM
Author: Italiahaircolor

Date: 9/4/2009 3:11:54 PM

Author: Bia

Gonna pick it up. I just finished a great book (Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah) and am already hungry for a new one.


Thanks Italia

What did you think of Firefly Lane? Have you, by chance, read Jennifer Weiners Best Friends Forever? I ask because the books are very similar.

I liked it a lot. Although it followed a theme I've seen before, many times (best friends - love, fights, sex, babies, good times, bad times, etc), I found the story to be quite touching. The ending, a little cliche, but all in all, I enjoyed the read. Not quite a 'can't-put-it-down' book but a good one all the same. Her other books might be a little too romancy for my taste, not sure though.

Jennifer Weiner, I've read a few of hers. She's a great beach read for sure. Haven't read Best Friends Forever though. Did you like it? Did you read Firefly Lane? If so, whatdya think?

eta: Oh! I picked up The Help and another book, The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf. They both look great - love starting new books! I'll keep you posted

 

[Italiahaircolor]

Date: 9/4/2009 10:51:30 PM
Author: Bia

Date: 9/4/2009 6:20:49 PM
Author: Italiahaircolor

Date: 9/4/2009 3:11:54 PM

Author: Bia

Gonna pick it up. I just finished a great book (Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah) and am already hungry for a new one.


Thanks Italia

What did you think of Firefly Lane? Have you, by chance, read Jennifer Weiners Best Friends Forever? I ask because the books are very similar.

I liked it a lot. Although it followed a theme I''ve seen before, many times (best friends - love, fights, sex, babies, good times, bad times, etc), I found the story to be quite touching. The ending, a little cliche, but all in all, I enjoyed the read. Not quite a ''can''t-put-it-down'' book but a good one all the same. Her other books might be a little too romancy for my taste, not sure though.

Jennifer Weiner, I''ve read a few of hers. She''s a great beach read for sure. Haven''t read Best Friends Forever though. Did you like it? Did you read Firefly Lane? If so, whatdya think?

eta: Oh! I picked up The Help and another book, The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf. They both look great - love starting new books! I''ll keep you posted

I did read Firefly Lane...I thought it was alright. I guess I like my books to have "meat"...I love falling in love with the characters, and really rooting for them, I love thick plot lines--even if they are expansive...to me Firefly Lane lacked those key elements. I felt that the characters were really "white bread". It was almost predictable to a fault. In the end, I wasn''t sad to see it end. That''s how I judge my books--how sad am I to say good by to the pages in end.

 

[April20]

Date: 9/4/2009 10:52:10 AM
Author:Italiahaircolor
I know we sometimes discuss books on this site...and I just wanted to share that I am reading an amazing book right now. The Help by Kathryn Stockett. What a fantastic read, I literally cannot put it down. It actually has a 5 star rating on Amazon--which is incredible due to the fact that over 2,000 people have reviewed it!

Has anyone read it? What did you think?

She''s going to be at the Decatur Book Festival (just east of Atlanta) this weekend. I''m going today. She''s speaking at 3:00 with two other authors as part of "New Voices of the South". I haven''t read the book yet, but I''m putting it on my list and I''m going to try and check her out.

Here''s the link to the festival for those in the Atlanta area: http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2009/index.php

 

[Bia]

Date: 9/4/2009 11:35:26 PM
Author: Italiahaircolor

Date: 9/4/2009 10:51:30 PM

Author: Bia

Date: 9/4/2009 6:20:49 PM

Author: Italiahaircolor

Date: 9/4/2009 3:11:54 PM


Author: Bia


Gonna pick it up. I just finished a great book (Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah) and am already hungry for a new one.



Thanks Italia

What did you think of Firefly Lane? Have you, by chance, read Jennifer Weiners Best Friends Forever? I ask because the books are very similar.

I liked it a lot. Although it followed a theme I''ve seen before, many times (best friends - love, fights, sex, babies, good times, bad times, etc), I found the story to be quite touching. The ending, a little cliche, but all in all, I enjoyed the read. Not quite a ''can''t-put-it-down'' book but a good one all the same. Her other books might be a little too romancy for my taste, not sure though.


Jennifer Weiner, I''ve read a few of hers. She''s a great beach read for sure. Haven''t read Best Friends Forever though. Did you like it? Did you read Firefly Lane? If so, whatdya think?


eta: Oh! I picked up The Help and another book, The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf. They both look great - love starting new books! I''ll keep you posted

I did read Firefly Lane...I thought it was alright. I guess I like my books to have ''meat''...I love falling in love with the characters, and really rooting for them, I love thick plot lines--even if they are expansive...to me Firefly Lane lacked those key elements. I felt that the characters were really ''white bread''. It was almost predictable to a fault. In the end, I wasn''t sad to see it end. That''s how I judge my books--how sad am I to say good by to the pages in end.

I agree with you that it was very predictable - particularly the ending.

 

[Diamond*Dana]

I have not heard of The Help, but I am excited to read it now!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Anyone read Still Alice? I am humber 200 on the waiting list at the library....

cheers--Sharon

 

[upgrade]

Date: 9/4/2009 6:19:42 PM
Author: Italiahaircolor

Date: 9/4/2009 1:08:29 PM
Author: upgrade
What is it about? I''m always looking for a good read.

Basically the book follows the story of 3 women living in the 1960''s in Mississippi during the birth of the civil rights movement.

Sketter is a well off recent grad who is questioning the rights given to African Americans during this time period. Mimmy and Abeline are two maids working for weathly families who are tired of the way they are treated. Together the three embark on a seemingly impossible mission together. Seperately, all the women are battling something.

I''m not going to give out more than that, I don''t want to ruin the book. All I''m going to say, is that this is in a class all it''s own as far as story line, character development and tugging on the heart strings. I''ve laughed, cried and been mad as hell. It''s a great book. Every year I pick my favorite read and buy it for all the women on my Christmas list...and I can honestly say, I am excited to pass this on. It really is a treasure.

Thanks Italia. Sounds like a great book. I''ve requested it at the library and will let you know what I think once I''ve read it!

 

[April20]

I went to hear Kathryn Stockett speak today and she was lovely. Very, very funny as well. I''ve downloaded the book and am anxious to start reading it. Thanks for the heads up Italia. It was perfect timing.

 

[Irishgrrrl]

Italia, after reading your review and after reading the first few pages on Amazon and getting COMPLETELY engrossed, I ordered The Help today! I can''t wait for it to get here! Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[Bia]

Italia - Just wanted to let you know I''m reading The Help. So far, what a great book! I started it again yesterday (been busy with school reading lately) and I haven''t been able to put it down. I''m already halfway through, and you know it''s quite the chunky read.

Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for the recommendation. I''ll let you know what I think when I finish it.

 

[April20]

I just finished it a couple weeks ago. I loved it. I started reading it during the week and then had Friday off- ended up on the couch from 2-7 finishing it. Couldn''t put it down. Easily my favorite book in years.

 

[Bia]

What a fabulous book! I finished it today (yay for Mondays off!)...couldn't put it down!

I loved that the author told the story from three perspectives - just gave it so much more meat. Particularly since the three women were so completely different.

Just wonderful...I almost wish I hadn't finished it so quickly.

So anyway, another great review from me. Definitely check it out if you haven't already.

Anyone interested in a book review thread? I would love to talk about this book in particular (and others) and get some opinions/thoughts about the story and the author.