Book Review: Flamingo Diner

Flamingo Diner by Sherryl Woods

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I added this book to my to-be-read pile based on the cover alone and didn't realize what it was about until I picked it up to read it. The subject of suicide is a touchy one for me, so I approached it hesitantly. It turns out, I didn't need to worry since that part of the story never actually reached me on an emotional level. I applaud the author for tackling such a sensitive and important issue, but I wanted it to take me deeper into the characters' emotions as they tried to put the world back together again after the family tragedy.

The story was too slow moving for my taste (the heroine vowed to find out why her father took his own life for at least half of the book without ever actually making any attempts to find out anything.) I looked forward to the strong sense of community promised on the book's jacket, but that, too, fell short of my expectations.

As disappointed as I was with the suicide story line, however, I thought Ms. Woods handled the romance between Emma and Matt very well. Their attraction built slowly, but anything more rapid would have felt unrealistic to me.

Not destined for my "keeper" shelf, but not a wall-banger, either :)



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100 Books: #14 The Magic of Ordinary Days

I have this book listed as #14 on my list of books to read and it's the second alternate in my 2001 To-Be-Read Challenge list. Trouble is, as I began to write this post and I looked at the blurb on goodreads.com, I realized that I may have already read this book. The story line certainly sounds familiar. Lonely girl married to a man she hardly knows. Becomes friends with two Japanese sisters in a nearby internmnent camp . . . If I haven't read it, I read its identical twin.

So I may not be able to use this one as an alternate after all. I'd just check my copy, but I can't find it -- this despite the fact that my daughter and I have spent hours cataloging all the books in the house and making sure we know where they are. Oops! Apparently we failed.

So if I can ever figure out where my copy is and figure out whether I've already read this book, I'll either leave it on my list or take it off.

Which brings me to a question. For those of you who have TBR stacks in the hundreds, if not thousands... How do you keep track of your books? Inquiring minds and all that....

100 Books: #13 Mrs. Lincoln, A Life

I'll admit I'm fascinated by the life of Mary Todd Lincoln, which is why Mrs. Lincoln, A Life by Catherine Clinton is on my list of books to read at #13. It's at #13 only because I haven't had it on my To-Be-Read stack as long as some of the others on this list.

I read Love is Eternal by Irving Stone many years ago, which is where I learned some of the things about Mary Lincoln that have made me stop and think about her over the years. She was a Southern woman who married a Northern husband--and not just any Northern husband, either. I wonder whether I'd have the courage to stand up for my convictions the way she did when people expected her to walk across the Confederate flag, or how well I'd survive losing a beloved child and my husband.

If memory serves, I was in my early twenties when I first became familiar with Mary Todd Lincoln's life. Since then, I've held my own life up to the light for closer inspection on more than one occasion. I'm interested to see how I fare when I read her story now that I have a little more life experience under my own belt.

Is there some public figure, either alive or dead, who inspires you in some way?

100 Books: #12 The Beach House

Unlike #11 on my list, I'm really looking forward to reading The Beach House by Mary Alice Monroe. I've mentioned before my love all things pertaining to beach and sand and sun and surf, and this book certainly appears to qualify.

When I first picked up this book, I'd never been to the Lowcountry, but that changed in October of last year, when I spent a week on the Isle of Palms with the Lowcountry Romance Writers. It was a truly wonderful week and I met some fascinating people while I was there. I'll be traveling back to Charleston in April to meet with them again. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to paying a visit through the pages of this book.

100 Books: #10 Flamingo Diner

Number 10 on my list of books I want to read is Sherryl Woods' Flamingo Diner. I think I picked this one up shortly after my youngest daughter and her husband moved from Utah to Florida, taking with them the wonder child who was, at that time, my only grandchild.

For months after they left, I picked up everything I could find that had a palm tree on it or some connection to Florida. Made me feel closer to them in some odd way. Until I started writing this blog post, I wasn't even sure what the book was about. Another instance of cover art swaying my book-buying habits.

Today, I actually read a blurb about the book, and I'm relieved to say that it sounds like something I'll like. A few key words appear, such as, small town, secrets, tragic death, and questions. And, oh yeah, there's a romance involved. I'm always relieved when an impulse buy turns out to be a good thing.

How about you? Are you an impulse buyer? If so, do you ever regret giving in?
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from the blog On My Mind Today

100 Books: #9 Quite a Year for Plums

 I'm fond of claiming that I'm not swayed by book reviews, but this is the book that proves the exception to the rule. I picked this book up several years ago because I either heard or read a review that convinced me I'd like this one. I'd never heard of the book or the author and hadn't been book shopping in far too long, so I'd had no occasion to run across it. But someone raved about it somewhere, and their enthusiasm for the book left a lasting impression.

I've never read anything else by Bailey White, but I love books set in small towns. Put that small town in the South, and I'm doubly hooked.Though I only recently moved to the South myself, my dad was born in Arkansas, and my grandmother had enough of the South left in her to create a little tug in my heart for all things Southern. I'm waiting for the day when I stop sweating through the long, hot, humid summers and start glistening instead. Then I'll know I've truly arrived.

The blurb I read for this book promises love, family and idiosyncrasy. Does it get any better than that? I love quirky characters, unreliable narrators, people obsessed by chickens who dream about chicken feet. I'm of the belief that quirky people make the world go round. 

If you've read this book, I'd love to hear your opinion of it. I'll be sharing mine once I've read it. 

100 Books: #8 A Thousand Acres

Number 8 on my list of 100 Books I Want to Read is A THOUSAND ACRES by Jane Smiley. This is probably the first book I'm hesitant about. The premise sounds interesting: 

A successful Iowa farmer decides to divide his farm between his three daughters. When the youngest objects, she is cut out of his will. This sets off a chain of events that brings dark truths to light and explodes long-suppressed emotions. An ambitious reimagining of Shakespeare’s King Lear cast upon a typical American community in the late twentieth century, A Thousand Acres takes on themes of truth, justice, love, and pride, and reveals the beautiful yet treacherous topography of humanity.

Sounds great, right? I love the themes of truth, justice, love and price, and I don't mind navigating the treacherous topography of humanity. I couldn't be a writer if I shied away from that particular journey.

I love Shakespeare and am fascinated not only by how his work is still relevant today, but by how often modern writers, playwrights and movie-makers remake his stories.

But the thing is, I think I know what the dark truths are in this book, and I'm not 100% sure I'm emotionally ready to tackle this book. Whether or not I actually read this one is going to depend on a couple of factors. First, how I'm feeling when it comes time to start reading; and, second, what other readers have to say about it. Is it graphic? Is it a difficult read? 

If the author handles this subject one way, it could be the very thing I need to read. If she goes another way, it could be a very bad choice. If anyone out there has read it, I'd be very interested in your opinion. 

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from the blog On My Mind Today

100 Books: #7 Magnificent Obsession

I'm not going to lie. I love commercial genre fiction. I write commercial genre fiction. But that doesn't mean that I don't also love classic literature or even literary fiction. I love to read, and my tastes aren't always the same. Which is why I've added MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION by Lloyd C. Douglas to my list in the #7 spot.

I've heard good things about this book, but must confess I know absolutely nothing about the storyline. I haven't even seen the movie, starring Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson. But, hey! It's Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson. How could it go wrong? Plus, Agnes Moorhead appears in a non-Endora role.

I do know that it's supposed to be: 

An engaging and dramatic story of personal redemption and private sacrifice.

Now, I'm all for engaging and dramatic. Nothing's worse than picking up a book that you want to be engaging and dramatic, only to find it dull, repetitive, and boring. I love books about personal redemption and private sacrifice, so this books sounds like it's right up my alley.

Lloyd C. Douglas also wrote THE ROBE, which I've also never read. But I have seen that movie.

So I'm looking forward to reading this one, but I'm also wondering if anyone out there reading this blog has read the book or seen the movie. If you have, I'd love to know what you thought of them.

100 Books: #6 Up Island

One of my favorite books of all time is Anne Rivers Siddons' COLONY. I love the story and am head-over-heels in love with her writing. It's lush and evocative and so beautiful that today, years after I read the book for the first time, I can still call up images formed in my imagination when I read it for the first time. Add to that a long-time fascination with the sea and lighthouses, and you may be able to guess why this book ended up on my list.  Even better, according to the blurb on goodreads.com, it deals with a couple of subjects I find endlessly fascinating: family dynamics and how we cope when the world we've so carefully built implodes. I'm hoping for another magical ride through a richly drawn setting.

100 Books: #5 Don't Tell

Number 5 on my List for the 2011 To Be Read Challenge and my own list of 100 Books I Want to read is DON'T TELL by Karen Rose. A few years ago, I was walking around in a publisher-sponsored book signing at the Romance Writers of America annual conference. As I rounded a corner in the crush of people, I spotted one of Karen Rose's books sitting on the table and I knew I had to have that book. Dark. Mysterious. Compelling. 

I found the covers so intriguing, in fact, I stopped and got a book. Maybe two. I can't remember now. I do remember that I also came away with a bookmark which ended up on my desk a few weeks later. 

My daughter sat down to use the computer, spotted the bookmark, and had the same reaction I'd had. She just had to read at least one of Karen Rose's books. And of course, after one, she was hooked. I guess great cover art does make a difference--at least with some people!

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from the blog On My Mind Today

100 Books–#4: I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason

I picked this one up for the title alone. In fact, to this day I haven’t actually done more than skim the back cover blurb but that's okay. The title totally does it for me. 

As a girl, I was a serious Perry Mason fan. I watched those old reruns religiously. Every night, I sat on my bed and practiced my shorthand homework while Perry, Della Street and Paul Drake made the world a safer place. I snarled at Hamilton Burger (did he ever go after the right guy?) and wondered whether the author intentionally named the guy Hamburger. 

I thought Della was not only beautiful but one sharp cookie, and Paul Drake was big and strong and loyal. Though I never fantasized about Perry romantically, I marveled at his brilliance, and tried to reach the outcome before he got there. I don’t think I ever won, but I sure loved to try. So when I saw this book somewhere, I knew I had to have it. Yeah, I’m late reading it, but better late than never, right?

100 Books -- #3 Magic Hour

Next on my list of books I want to read is MAGIC HOUR by the incredibly talented Kristin Hannah. This book has been on my to-Be-Read list for far too long, considering all of the good things I’ve heard about it. Check out the ratings on goodreads.com and you’ll find so many stars it will make your eyes blur.

I recently read Firefly Lane, also by Hannah, and loved it, so I’m eager to get to this one! And last, but certainly not least, the enthusiastic thumbs’ up given to this book by my daughter, whose taste in books doesn’t always match my own, but it matches often enough. She knows me well enough to have a pretty clear understanding of the books I’ll like and the ones I won’t. She’s pretty sure I’ll like this one, and that cinches its spot at #3 on my list.

100 Books -- #2 What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day

I first heard about this book when it became a pick for Oprah's book club. Not that I generally like to read the books Oprah selects for her book club. They're usually very dark and take me to places I've been working hard to climb out of, so I tend to avoid them. But this one caught my eye and I added it to my list. I've just never gotten around to actually reading it. I intend to rectify that omission in 2011.

Unlike the books I shy away from, this one sounds like something I might like:

This highly praised debut novel by a renowned African-American playwright/essayist is a gritty yet warm and inspiring story of hope, love, and homecoming.

Inspiring. Hope. Love. Home. All those lovely, comfort words with a touch of grit tossed in to keep it from getting boring. I'll let you know whether I think it lives up to its press when I've finished it. 

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from the blog On My Mind Today

100 Books I Want to Read: #1 The Adams-Jefferson Letters

I’ve decided to compile a list of 100 books I’d like to read—or read again. This isn’t something I’m going to do quickly. No, I’m going to take my time and think about it. I’m going to take somewhere around 100 days to pull this list together. Maybe even a bit longer. I’m going to require myself to have a good reason for putting the book on my list, but I’m going to cut myself some slack by allowing me to be the sole judge about what constitutes a “good reason.” 

Recently, I signed up to participate in the 2011 To-Be-Read Pile Challenge hosted by Roof Beam Reader so I’ll begin with the first book on that list: 

THE ADAMS-JEFFERSON LETTERS: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adams by John Adams, Lester J. Cappon

I’m a little obsessed with John Adams. I’ll admit it. My interest in our much unappreciated second president began when I read THOSE WHO LOVE by Irving Stone many years ago. After reading JOHN ADAMS by David McCullough a few years ago, my interest took another leap. McCullough’s book made me want to become a better person. My daughter gave me THE ADAMS-JEFFERSON LETTERS a year or two after I finished JOHN ADAMS, and my goal is to read it this year.

2011 TBR Challenge

Once again I'm going to attempt the TBR Challenge. It's hosted by Adam at Roof Beam Reader and the goal is to read 12 books off my to be read list in 12 months. I've posted my list in the sidebar over there --> Now to cross my fingers and hope I actually meet the challenge this year. It's not that I don't read a dozen books in a year. I just don't always remember to look at my list and pick a book from the ones I decided in December I might want to read in June. I'm not that organized, I guess. Or my moods fluctuate too much. Whatever. It's a challenge to meet the challenge :)


How about you? Any great reading or writing challenges you're undertaking or hosting next year? I'd love to hear about them.


_______________________________ from the blog On My Mind Today