Lizziefaye's Comfy Corner discussion

This will be our discussion thread for Cherry Cola Book Club by Ashton Lee. We will be reading this book during the month of September.

I've listened to this on audio before, so I've checked it out again on Hoopla. However, I've got a print copy from the library too. I can't decide if I should just read it with my eyes or do the audio again. Maybe I'll do both.
I'm just curious who is listening and who is reading in print.

I’m reading the actual book. I knew this was set in MS, but it is actually set in Northeast MS where I was born and raised. I’m only a couple of chapters in but I’m really enjoying it so far. I love that I know the real places that are mentioned, and I can definitely relate to the characters.

I just started reading it in print.

Jennifer wrote: "I’m reading the actual book. I knew this was set in MS, but it is actually set in Northeast MS where I was born and raised. I’m only a couple of chapters in but I’m really enjoying it so far. I lov..."

That is so fun Jennifer! I love reading books that are set in places that I've been to or lived in. It really adds something to the reading experience.

I just finished the book a few days ago and loved it. However, I was frustrated at times because I wanted so much to jump into the story and help. So, needless to say, I became very involved in the story - a sign of a good book.

I'm listening to it. If I do like it I will end up buying a copy. lol

Maybe it is just me but does anyone else feel the urge to visit your local public library while reading this book?

Jeanette wrote: "Maybe it is just me but does anyone else feel the urge to visit your local public library while reading this book?"
It does make you want to get out and support your library doesn't it?

Living in Pages wrote: "I got a couple chapters in but sadly I don’t want to continue.. I think it’s the writing style, it doesn’t flow well for me and instead of wanting to keep reading I just wanted to stop. Hope you gu..."

That's okay! Thanks for giving it a go. I've got some other read-alongs going right now too, if you want to check into those.

Just curious, were you reading the physical book or listening to audio?

I love the characters in this book, the ladies such as Periwinkle Lattimore ( what a cute cafe she has), and retiree Connie Mcshay ( a woman who really is lending a hand to Maura Beth Mayhew). Poor Maura Beth all she wants is for her library to remain open and maybe find a man of her own. I'm only on chapter 3 but loving the development of the story so far.

I've gotten behind already with my all of my read-along books. Since I've listened to this on audio before I really want to read it in print this time. However I had to read my mystery book club book for our meeting that was on Thursday so I had to focus on that. I did go ahead and check out the audio and have listened to the first 3 chapters, but I haven't given up on the idea of reading it in print this time. I'm planning to get loads of reading done this coming week while sitting with my daughter for a 72 hour EEG.

I'm happy that most of y'all seem to be enjoying this first book.
I'm interested in doing a live show either on Saturday Sept 29 or Oct 6th. I originally thought that I would do the first Saturday of the following month because it would give everyone the whole month. However the 29th is almost the end of the month, so it can go either way. I will try to figure out how to set up a poll so you can vote on your preference.

I finally received my book and will be starting it soon. It sounds like it will be good!

Jennifer wrote: "I finally received my book and will be starting it soon. It sounds like it will be good!"

Glad you got your book Jennifer. I hope you enjoy it!

I am about a third of the way through and I’m hoping I grow to like Maura Beth. I do however love Miss Voncille. I’m not that keen on the writing style and the over use of adjectives but I really like the story line and need to finish the book to see if and how the book club grows.

I just finished chapter 4 and had a horrible thought. I hope that Councilman Sparks doesn't become Maura Beth's love interest at some point in the series. He will have to become much more likeable for me to get behind that!

I also wish that Maura Beth was a little more creative to begin with. She seems to only look for and use other people's ideas so far.

Yes, that is one of the reasons I find Maura Beth unlikable. She not only uses others ideas, she becomes bossy bringing them to life. I find it difficult to believe that a 28 year old has no imagination for themselves, especially being a director of a library.

Councilman Sparks and Maura Beth can become live interests for me. Both unlikable characters. Maybe they will bring out the best in each other. And to continue in Maura Beth’s inadequacy for any ideas, her decorating of the first book club meeting for Gone With the Wind. I won’t spoil for others but I was shocked. It’s a book club...

Meh. I gave this three stars. Parts were okay, but other parts downright boring.

Lets hope that things will improve in the other books. I hope you guys will keep reading them with me.

I’m about half way through and I’m enjoying it. It’s not award winning literature, but I didn’t expect it to be. I do not like Councilman Sparks, but did think about him and Maura Beth ending up together. I think he would have to go through some major changes first. Also, I think We are going to see Maura Beth grow. She doesn’t have the best ideas yet, but she does well at keeping the peace and standing up for her library. I really like Miss Voncille and Connie at this point.

Jennifer I like your practical and optimistic way of thinking.

I just finished the book and agree with others that it was just ok. I loved the premise and really hoped to love this book, but I didn't. I thought it was definitely weird that a book lover and librarian had such a hard time being creative with bookclub ideas. I also thought the pacing was off. There were a lot of times where I was just bored and ready to move on then other times when things happened really fast. I thought a lot of the characters needed a little more depth a development to get the reader attached. Overall it was decent but I probably won't continue on in the series.

Ok, where to start. I gave the book 2 stars and one of those is for the supporting characters. It’s odd that an author can write such supporting characters yet such weak main protagonist and unlikable antagonist. Based on my rating system I have to give a star for world building or descriptions. Even though the author over described many things. One of the worst sentences to support this was, “The phone rang at a quarter to ten the next morning in Maura Beth’s purple bedroom.” We get it already, her apartment is all purple. The premise for the book was good but the overall execution of it was poor. To end my rant, I would not want to belong to a book club where one person stood behind a podium while the few others sat in chairs discussing a book while looking at movie posters. It’s a book club. Blow up the different covers available for the book. Thanks Elizabeth for getting us together to read this and I don’t regret it.

Melinda, I also thought it was weird that she stood at a podium when there were only about 6 people there. For the big meeting, I was fine with it though.

The Scarlett vs. Melanie discussion was a fun idea. Of course now I want to know which one all of you most identify with. I also enjoyed the To Kill a Mocking bird meeting. The things that people shared were good, I thought.
The movie posters didn't really bother me since we don't have any decorations at my book clubs. And they were donated and not paid for with library funds. I would have agreed with the councilman on that one, if she had used library funds for those.
The food was getting a little repetitive, but I could understand why they would want all those good things for the big meeting.
I imagine that there will be different foods in future meetings and then corresponding recipes in the back of the books.
Tomato aspic has always sounded kind of gross to me, but now I kind of want to try it. LOL! Have any of you every eaten it?

I have lots more thoughts about the book, but I will save most of them for our live show.
I did post a poll that no one responded to. Then I realized that I was probably supposed to invite you to vote in it and I didn't. Oh well, I'm still learning.
Anyway, I think I would like to go ahead and try doing a live show this Saturday September 29th since the month will be just about over by then. Is there anyone who thinks they won't have time to finish the book before then? Let me know.
I will need to start it at 11am or noon Eastern time because we have to meet our builder at the flooring store later in the day. Are any of you on the West Coast? Will 8am be too early for a Saturday morning?
I know that a couple of you said that you probably won't continue the series. I hope that some of you will continue to read with me and that the series will get better from here. The rest of the books in the series do have much higher average ratings.

I would love the live show at 11 if possible! :) Can't wait to join in!

I’m available for the live show anytime Saturday morning/ early afternoon. I enjoyed the book and will continue the series.

I’ll be working Saturday, but I hope you all enjoy.

I’ll set my alarm for the live show. Don’t want to miss it.

I thought the book was ok. It was a really quick read. Councilman Sparks was very creepy in my opinion. Didn't like him at all. I am not sure if he was supposed to be creepy or just a jerk. It will be interesting to see what he is like in the next book.
MaryBeth was ok, kind of annoying at times. The whole podium thing at a book club was pretty strange. Not my kind of book club. The one think that really bugged me was that for such a small poorly funded library, they always seemed to have whatever books people wanted. I would think everything would be very out of date with the way the library was talked about, not full of the latest and greatest books.
I am hoping the series improves as it goes along. I do have all of the books now.

I'm going to have to postpone the live show until next Saturday October 6th. There is just too much going on at my house this weekend for me to focus on it.
We are giving away our piano and someone is coming from 3 hours away to pick it up on Saturday and they will probably get there sometime between 11 and 1. Then we need to go meet with one of the builders to pick out tile for the new bathroom.
I hope next week will work out for y'all. Sorry to have to change at the last minute.