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As the Ward Turns #2
Around the ward in 80 days: A novel
If you're wondering whether Joni's sequel, Around The Ward In 80 Days, could possibly be as funny as her best-selling book, As The Ward Turns, the answer is a resounding YES! In Around The Ward In 80 Days, Andy (the enthusiastic but guilt-ridden Relief Society president), cavorts through some of the craziest adventures you can imagine, with none other than her zany homemaking leader, Edith Horvitz, at her side. This spine-tingling story takes you to Europe as Andy tries to prevent a murder in a clever, unpredictable plot. As hilarious as it is, you'll also enjoy the powerful gospel values in this story. Joni Hilton pays loving tribute to the importance of family, church, and a solid spiritual foundation of a gospel-centered life.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
2 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Joni Hilton
36 books35 followersJoni Hilton is an award-winning playwright, the author of 20 books, and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in writing from USC. She is frequently published in major magazines and contributes columns to MeridianMagazine.com. She hosts a call-in radio advice show on Saturday mornings on AM-1380 KTKZ (streaming live)at 9 a.m. Pacific Time.
Hilton is a former TV talk show host and TV spokeswoman for various corporations, and lives in Sacramento, California, with her husband, Bob, a former game show announcer. They are the parents of four children. Read more at jonihilton.com. Or, check out her Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joni-Hi...
Her three new Kindle books are available for just $2.99 at amazon.com/author/jonihilton and in paperback form at Createspace.com.
Hilton is a former TV talk show host and TV spokeswoman for various corporations, and lives in Sacramento, California, with her husband, Bob, a former game show announcer. They are the parents of four children. Read more at jonihilton.com. Or, check out her Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joni-Hi...
Her three new Kindle books are available for just $2.99 at amazon.com/author/jonihilton and in paperback form at Createspace.com.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 31, 2017
Read this a long time ago and thought it was quite humorous.
November 18, 2011
I don't know how many years it was after reading the 1st book that I learned there were more in the series. And I don't really know why it has taken a few more years since then to finally get a hold of the books and read them (excepting the years in the east when my library didn't carry them). But I'm so glad that the whole series is in my system and so glad I'm back in the Taylor family's world.
And this sequel is just as funny as I remember the first book being. Andy's adventures are exactly as they're described: zany. And you don't even have to be LDS to enjoy the humor of some of them. Still, it's always fun to read a book with plenty of cultural references (and learning to smile about some of them!) that don't need to be explained. A few things are now dated, but I find it neat that I've "been around long enough" to remember the things referenced and to know when the changes took place years later. Still, even if a few of those things are now outdated, it is still hilarious! I think some of my LDS reading teens at the library would still enjoy it. I bet my mother would continue to love the series! Indeed, any LDS woman with a sense of humor would enjoy the silliness of it all.
And this sequel is just as funny as I remember the first book being. Andy's adventures are exactly as they're described: zany. And you don't even have to be LDS to enjoy the humor of some of them. Still, it's always fun to read a book with plenty of cultural references (and learning to smile about some of them!) that don't need to be explained. A few things are now dated, but I find it neat that I've "been around long enough" to remember the things referenced and to know when the changes took place years later. Still, even if a few of those things are now outdated, it is still hilarious! I think some of my LDS reading teens at the library would still enjoy it. I bet my mother would continue to love the series! Indeed, any LDS woman with a sense of humor would enjoy the silliness of it all.
December 15, 2017
Bad guys, missed flights, and some powerful glue.
As an extremely generous thank-you gift for putting up with him all these years, Andy's brother Nick is taking her and her entire family to England on vacation. She is thrilled! A little less thrilling is the reality of her offer to hold onto Nick and Zan's wedding gifts while they're on their honeymoon. Particularly the macaw (from Edith--who else?) that cusses a blue streak and imitates household noises.
Then Andy is hit by a sudden attack of stomach flu in the airport, and misses the flight (everyone else has already boarded.) If that weren't bad enough, upon returning home, she finds a couple of burglars--or something--in her house. Before long, she is on her own [almost] private flight to England, along with her kidnappers and Edith--who was just stopping by and insists on coming along. She is supposed to lead them to her brother (his shadowy past catching up with him), but there are plenty of things that could go wrong in the meantime. She hopes.
* * * * *
I like the beginning and the ending of this one the best. The middle is good for a smile here and there, but yeah. Get your laughs in at the beginning, then stick it out to the surprise ending.
I blog at www.ofbooksandblooms.com
As an extremely generous thank-you gift for putting up with him all these years, Andy's brother Nick is taking her and her entire family to England on vacation. She is thrilled! A little less thrilling is the reality of her offer to hold onto Nick and Zan's wedding gifts while they're on their honeymoon. Particularly the macaw (from Edith--who else?) that cusses a blue streak and imitates household noises.
Then Andy is hit by a sudden attack of stomach flu in the airport, and misses the flight (everyone else has already boarded.) If that weren't bad enough, upon returning home, she finds a couple of burglars--or something--in her house. Before long, she is on her own [almost] private flight to England, along with her kidnappers and Edith--who was just stopping by and insists on coming along. She is supposed to lead them to her brother (his shadowy past catching up with him), but there are plenty of things that could go wrong in the meantime. She hopes.
* * * * *
I like the beginning and the ending of this one the best. The middle is good for a smile here and there, but yeah. Get your laughs in at the beginning, then stick it out to the surprise ending.
I blog at www.ofbooksandblooms.com
September 20, 2017
Well, it did make me laugh.
March 20, 2018
I think every group of people likes laughing at themselves sometimes. And Mormons are no different! In this book you will meet extremes of many people in your average Mormon community. But through it all there is love and understanding (or at least attempts at understand). That's what a love about books like this. We don't need to be perfect in order to be loved!
**Talking Points - who do you identify most with in this book? If you were going to write a book called Around the Ward in 80 days about your own ward (or church), what characters and characteristics would you include? Have you have people in the past that were hard to be friends with, how did you deal with that? Did friendship ever form? Do you have people now that are hard to be friends with? Why? Can one person develop a friendship, or does it take two?
**Talking Points - who do you identify most with in this book? If you were going to write a book called Around the Ward in 80 days about your own ward (or church), what characters and characteristics would you include? Have you have people in the past that were hard to be friends with, how did you deal with that? Did friendship ever form? Do you have people now that are hard to be friends with? Why? Can one person develop a friendship, or does it take two?
May 17, 2011
I recently re-read this book. It's good for a laugh, but totally far-fetched. Don't expect amazing writing or a plot that leaves you thinking. Instead this is a bubble bath book - a great book to read in the tub, in front of the fire, or in bed, just for fun. I still enjoy it, and I'll probably pick it up again sometime - once again, just for fun!
December 12, 2009
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first. Where the first one is an exaggeration of LDS culture, this one is basically about a family vacation gone wrong. I did enjoy the relationship between Andy and her husband in this book.
It is still incredibly funny and fun to read, and I will still continue to read the rest of the series.
It is still incredibly funny and fun to read, and I will still continue to read the rest of the series.
November 19, 2008
I read this at a time in my life when I needed some postive and lots of belly laughing to lift my spirits. This is an excellent book and I could actually in my mind picture people in my ward who could have been the characters in this book.
February 17, 2009
I was camping out in a friend's basement and came across this on a shelf. Picked it up because I remembered the author from my teenage years. I stayed up very late reading it all and laughed myself sick. Joni Hilton is a true LDS Comedy Queen. I would love to read the rest of the series.
April 30, 2015
The first was definitely better. It was about some "being Mormon"; things with touching spiritual moments. This was more an adventure story with Mormon characters. On the plus side, they were the same characters from the first, so that gave them history.
March 6, 2008
again, hilarious. book about funny things that go on in wards. Also, about herself as well.
May 12, 2008
Joni Hilton a laugh a minute.
August 19, 2008
A wierd sequel to As the Ward Turns. But a fun ride none the less.
January 6, 2009
Not as good as the first, but Joni Hilton, makes you love these charcters.
July 12, 2009
kind of surprised by some of the content.
August 3, 2009
Loved the first one ordered the next. The hilarity continues. Loads of fun.
September 29, 2009
Oh my gosh I was laughing so hard with this book. I kept thinking that sounds exactly like so-n-so from my old ward with a lot of the characters. Fun quick read.
December 28, 2009
Just as good as the first. I will never tire of Joni Hilton!
February 28, 2010
This was a really good book. It started off a little slow but ended really good.
March 2, 2010
Hilarious! Even funnier than the first one. I stayed up late reading it one night and woke up Gareth with my laughing!
April 20, 2011
I seriously love these cheesy books!
July 14, 2011
These books get funnier and funnier. What a light hearted read. Recommend it to anyone who needs a good laugh.
December 6, 2012
This one was even more improbable and less believable than the first...
February 28, 2013
Joni Hilton is a genius. If you're interested in all things Mormon and quirky with an eccentric pioneer grandma thrown into the mix you better read this book. I still can't stop laughing.
March 8, 2013
Funny in a corny, clichey way.
November 3, 2025
Hilarious!
October 5, 2018
Pretty light reading, amusing at times
November 2, 2012
This book was a lot of fun to read. It will keep you laughing. I suggest this book to anyone!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews