On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

Comments on this board should be written with the assumption that not all readers have finished the book. Please avoid revealing any spoilers.

I love this book. I won’t be reading again but highly recommend this short book.

I won't be reading this again either, but I've read it twice now and echo Laura that it's a great book. Very short, but Ellen is a character that you will remember.

Been on my list for quite a while and I'm getting to it this time.
Hoopla availability an added plus.

This is a short, memorable book that I would also recommend highly. I'm too overloaded with books to read it again.

On second thought, an audio on Hoopla, a review of my review, and 5 years have passed. I might be able to sneak a reread in audio form in for February. I really did love this book!

This was the first one by Kay Gibbons that I read, and I've since read everything she's written ... and loved them all.

I also read this many years ago and then went on to read others by the author. I will be reading this. Has anyone read the recently published sequel to this book?

Just finished this one. Ellen is quite a survivor! Her voice is quite simplistic and she even made me laugh at times!

Just finished as well. About half-way through I realized I had seen the movie version of this book. It was quite well done. My first Gibbons, although I have several of her books on my TBR.

I just discovered that You Tube has the movie in its entirety.

I had no idea there was a film version. I'll have to check it out.

Do, Diane. It has been years and years since I saw it, but I remember it as very moving. Jena Malone did a remarkable job of portraying Ellen.

I've just started this one and already love this spirited little girl. Oh, the thoughts that are flying around in her little head.

Movie not available on Netflix, Amazon or Hulu, and not at my library either. I'll go the You Tube route.

Libby wrote: "I've just started this one and already love this spirited little girl. Oh, the thoughts that are flying around in her little head."

Yes, you love her right away, don't you.

I too could not find the movie anywhere so thanks for the YouTube heads up.

Tracey the Bookworm wrote: " Has anyone read the recently published sequel to this book?"

Yes I did read the sequel (and have a signed first edition of it).
The Life All Around Me By Ellen Foster was published in 2005.
You can read My review HERE

Thanks, Tracey. I can see how the sequel would be hard to live up to the original.

Sara wrote: "Libby wrote: "I've just started this one and already love this spirited little girl. Oh, the thoughts that are flying around in her little head."

Yes, you love her right away, don't you."

Yes, I do, Sara. The tone has turned somber, but I just love the way her thoughts spout out, a little torrent of justifiable anger.

Cathrine ☯️ wrote: "I too could not find the movie anywhere so thanks for the YouTube heads up."

Cathrine -
I can't grab the link from my browser but look up -"Beverly Tierney" on you tube in the search and "Ellen Foster" pops up. She has only 16 movies posted so you should be able to locate it.
I was a little confused but realize everything in the movie is reversed so you will see people driving like the Brits and seated in the left side of their vehicle.

Thank you so much, Kathryn. I had not been able to find it before, but that was a winner.

Glad you enjoyed it Sara. I'm happy you were able to view it.

Thanks Kathryn, at first I was like how come all the writing looks like it belongs on an ambulance.

Cathrine,
LOL, good thing I wasn't drinking anything when I read that!

It was a while for me. At first, I thought, they don't sound British when her grandmother brought her and mother home from the hospital and everyone disembarked from the car. Then, I noticed the house number was weird and the light bulb went on!

It was just as good as I had remembered and a joy to watch it again.