Nancy’s Comments (group member since Jun 06, 2011)

Nancy’s comments from the Reader's Ink group.

Well, this book was my pick for January, and I must admit I could have done a better job at selection. That being said, I didn't totally dislike the book, but like Ashley pointed out, it sounded like a Lifetime movie. With C-list soap actors. But sometimes, I don't mind a little "bubble gum for the eyes." I just don't want to have to have a tablet close by to keep track of all the different characters, past and present. It's probably more of my forgetfulness than anything, but if the characters were memorable, I'd probably remember them a bit better. The local Bainbridge Island setting was the best part of the book! And the closely held family secrets are, I think, more common with that generation because people in the 1940's were just more private for various reasons: shame, embarrassment, the moral code of that era. Let's face it. Reality TV leaves nothing to the imagination. Sometimes less really is more. I give the book a 2.5 out of 5. Ho hum.

Sorry for being gone for a bit. Work consumes most of my waking hours. I was threatened with detention from the moderator if I didn't chime in, so I'm chiming!

Question #2: How well do you think the long lost diary aspect worked in this novel. Why?

Question #1: How did you like the book, and why?

Sooooo, how did everyone like the book, and how would you rate it? I'm going to hold off on airing my opinion until y'all have a chance to finish it. I lent my copy to Ashley, so it's been a while since I finished it. But I have a definite "take" on it nonetheless.....

I am SO a dog person. We were indoctrinated from birth to dislike cats, as my mother could not STAND them. I've had a dog since I was 3 years old, and have had beagles, labs and Brittany Spaniels at various times in the last 50+ years. Dogs are the sweetest, most forgiving creatures on the planet. And most of them are so stinkin' cute, they're just the best pets in the world. After reading this month's book, it reminds me of how much I loved my own dear departed pets. This is the longest dogless stretch I've ever had in my life, after we lost both Brits within 10 days of each other 3 years ago. DOGS rule, I'm afraid. They just do.

A page limit rule might be too constricting this early in the game. If I need to opt out one month, I'll opt out if the book is too long and/or tedious to get through or if I just don't have the time. On the flip side, is there a page MINIMUM?

I'm only on page 31, and I had to start the book over again after leaving it for a week. I fell asleep after starting it for the second time, so either it's just not grabbing me to get into it, or I have the attention span of a gnat.

She also may have referred to it as "womanly" because men were simply not required to sacrifice the way women were, so it really had to be gender specific. An "art" is a skill or talent that usually has to be worked at to become really proficient. We aren't innately endowed with a sacrificing nature. Quite the contrary. It's just that if you have a family, SOMEbody needs to sacrifice at least some of the time, or the children may as well be raised by a pack of wolves. Abba had to do the sacrificing because Bronson was too busy with his head in the clouds and simply refused to live up to HIS responsibilities. And I think Ashley's right when she says that art "implies that they're faking it a bit." How could it not? I really liked that Abba didn't make the girls feel that they were a burden. Her burden was Bronson. Wouldn't it have been interesting if Abba and the girls had just quit doing anything for Bronson, and made him fend for HIMself?

Well, I dusted off my library card, and I intend to use it in the coming months. I ordered both March and Skippy Dies, and they're both on their way this week. I think it's time I used the library that my taxes pay for even if it means: 1) running in the rain to get to the front door; and 2) getting accosted by a woman outside gathering voter signatures to get an initiative on the ballot legislating how big a chicken's cage should have to be to make them more comfortable to lay eggs (I kid you not....). Only in the Pacific Northwest....Jeesh.

I'm going to get it from the library over the weekend and read it while I'm waiting for Skippy Dies to show up.

I finished the book Sunday night, and I really enjoyed it. Bronson made me want to slap him silly, and I find it so hard to believe that young women were ever really this virtuous and so "good." I'm just glad I never grew up in that environment. I'd have been toast for sure and would likely have brought my family eternal shame. Too bad Louisa May didn't have Elizabeth Bennett's paternal unit for her father instead of the egocentric narcissist, Bronson. I'm anxious to begin discussions at the end of the month, and just wish we could all meet for drinks to do it!

Well, here goes. I've known Ashley since birth because, well, I'm her mom. Auntie Cheryl is my older sister, and I've known Ashley's friends Julie and Alisha for years and Meghan and Lauren since her days at Oxy. I live in the Seattle area and enjoy spending time with my granddaughter whenever I can (she's 2500 miles away!), outings with my girlfriends, movies, watching sports (I only watch now, as I retired from softball 2 years ago), and curling up with a good book. LOVE that. I survived an FDIC takeover at a bank a year ago, and now work in the "Special Assets" area (translation: crappy loans) of that fine establishment doing workouts and foreclosures while also "enjoying" a 90-mile roundtrip commute every day. Maybe I can get the August book on a CD and listen to it to and from work! This is my first book club, so I hope y'all will bear with me as I stumble through. Ashley is broadening dear old mom's horizons as well as being my "go to" Martha Stewart and fashion police. I hope to retire in 5 years, and then I can read whenever I want, whatever I want. Glad to be part of the group. NEXT?

I don't even HAVE the book yet, and I'm also a poor working stiff. I didn't even have time to go to the library, so I just ordered it on Amazon and should have it delivered to my front door this week. Carol, don't feel like you're behind. I haven't even started yet.