I'm curious, too, about Jill Duggar's memoir. It must be hard to reveal all the truths when so many players are still living and so many watchers are still watching.
Love your new Bookstack post, Linda. I really enjoyed Tom Lake, and overall I enjoyed It Goes So. Fast. Both of these tugged at my mother hearts strings which are very tuggable right now and also the tendency lately to reflect back on earlier seasons of life.
I'm also in the unpopular category of not falling in love with You Could Make this Place Beautiful. I thought her writing and framework were excellent but I kept putting myself in the shoes of her kids who would one day read the book and I couldn't enjoy it. But I think that's a me-thing, my friend read it and said it never occurred to her to thing about that aspect at all. I didn't stick the landing on that one so maybe there was more beauty in the later chapters.
Tom Lake - loved this also, although my boys were not home during COVID so I was jealous throughout the whole book. I also kept wondering if I had any secrets/parts of my life that my boys would be interesting in learning about.
Heaven & Earth Grocery - It's finally my turn in the queue and I am picking it up tomorrow from the library. Glad to know it might be hard to stick with. I will do my best.
It Goes So Fast - love the sound of it. I think I will totally relate, so as soon as I pick up Heaven & Earth, I will have room on my hold queue to add It Goes So Fast.
You Could Make this Place Beautiful - I don't remember much about it, but it was one that I returned after my 10% rule (Life's too short to spend on reading a book if you aren't loving after 10% of the pages).
A Thousand Splendid Suns - purposefully last in my comments. I LOVE Khaled Hosseini's books. He is my favorite author. Have you read "The Kite Runner" or "And the Mountains Echoed"? They are all difficult to read, but "And the Mountains Echoed" is my favorite book of all time.
I'm headed over to do your survey, and look forward to further Bookstacks!
Thanks so much for all of your comments and critiques! So good to know I'm not too far off-base in my assessments, LOL!
I read "And the Mountains Echoed" several years ago and TBH, I don't remember the plot or characters, but I know I did really like it (which is why The Kite Runner and 1000 SS were on my TBR list). I still have to read The Kite Runner. Like you said, these are not easy books to read, but they are rich.
Thanks again for your input, AND for taking the survey! ❤️
I read Tom Lake and really enjoyed it. I like Ann Patchett. I have the Heaven and Earth Grocery Store on hold at the library. I finally was able to borrow Lessons in Chemistry and just started it. Thanks for your reviews!
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed Tom Lake. And thanks for your suggestions in the past, Nancy. I’m now a huge William Kent Krueger fan thanks to you!
Linda, I so enjoyed this! I love to hear book thoughts from a trusted friend.
I couldn’t get through Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, I tried! IMO it kind of rambled, and I usually like deep character development. But I just wasn’t feeling it.
I’ve had Tom Lake on hold on my Library app for a while, your review was encouraging! I enjoyed her book The Dutch House.
And, I have read Everything Sad is Untrue and really enjoyed it! I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts.
I love that you’re doing this and will be looking forward to future “bookstacks”! 😀
Thanks, Cheryl! I agree that Heaven and Earth GS rambles and it was HARD to stick with it. I was glad I did as the ending really tied everything together. I listened to the Dutch House (narrated by Tom Hanks...the best!) and liked it. I enjoyed Tom Lake even more and look forward to hearing what you think of it. Thanks for the words of encouragement!
Aimee, it seems we’re on the same wavelength with these books. Thanks for sharing your impressions and leaving a comment! It’s always nice to hear from you.
I'm curious, too, about Jill Duggar's memoir. It must be hard to reveal all the truths when so many players are still living and so many watchers are still watching.
Very true, Cindy. Have you read it? Or seen the documentary?
Love your new Bookstack post, Linda. I really enjoyed Tom Lake, and overall I enjoyed It Goes So. Fast. Both of these tugged at my mother hearts strings which are very tuggable right now and also the tendency lately to reflect back on earlier seasons of life.
I'm also in the unpopular category of not falling in love with You Could Make this Place Beautiful. I thought her writing and framework were excellent but I kept putting myself in the shoes of her kids who would one day read the book and I couldn't enjoy it. But I think that's a me-thing, my friend read it and said it never occurred to her to thing about that aspect at all. I didn't stick the landing on that one so maybe there was more beauty in the later chapters.
LOVE this, Linda! Ok - here go my comments:
Tom Lake - loved this also, although my boys were not home during COVID so I was jealous throughout the whole book. I also kept wondering if I had any secrets/parts of my life that my boys would be interesting in learning about.
Heaven & Earth Grocery - It's finally my turn in the queue and I am picking it up tomorrow from the library. Glad to know it might be hard to stick with. I will do my best.
It Goes So Fast - love the sound of it. I think I will totally relate, so as soon as I pick up Heaven & Earth, I will have room on my hold queue to add It Goes So Fast.
You Could Make this Place Beautiful - I don't remember much about it, but it was one that I returned after my 10% rule (Life's too short to spend on reading a book if you aren't loving after 10% of the pages).
A Thousand Splendid Suns - purposefully last in my comments. I LOVE Khaled Hosseini's books. He is my favorite author. Have you read "The Kite Runner" or "And the Mountains Echoed"? They are all difficult to read, but "And the Mountains Echoed" is my favorite book of all time.
I'm headed over to do your survey, and look forward to further Bookstacks!
Cherie,
Thanks so much for all of your comments and critiques! So good to know I'm not too far off-base in my assessments, LOL!
I read "And the Mountains Echoed" several years ago and TBH, I don't remember the plot or characters, but I know I did really like it (which is why The Kite Runner and 1000 SS were on my TBR list). I still have to read The Kite Runner. Like you said, these are not easy books to read, but they are rich.
Thanks again for your input, AND for taking the survey! ❤️
I read Tom Lake and really enjoyed it. I like Ann Patchett. I have the Heaven and Earth Grocery Store on hold at the library. I finally was able to borrow Lessons in Chemistry and just started it. Thanks for your reviews!
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed Tom Lake. And thanks for your suggestions in the past, Nancy. I’m now a huge William Kent Krueger fan thanks to you!
Linda, I so enjoyed this! I love to hear book thoughts from a trusted friend.
I couldn’t get through Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, I tried! IMO it kind of rambled, and I usually like deep character development. But I just wasn’t feeling it.
I’ve had Tom Lake on hold on my Library app for a while, your review was encouraging! I enjoyed her book The Dutch House.
And, I have read Everything Sad is Untrue and really enjoyed it! I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts.
I love that you’re doing this and will be looking forward to future “bookstacks”! 😀
Thanks, Cheryl! I agree that Heaven and Earth GS rambles and it was HARD to stick with it. I was glad I did as the ending really tied everything together. I listened to the Dutch House (narrated by Tom Hanks...the best!) and liked it. I enjoyed Tom Lake even more and look forward to hearing what you think of it. Thanks for the words of encouragement!
Aimee, it seems we’re on the same wavelength with these books. Thanks for sharing your impressions and leaving a comment! It’s always nice to hear from you.