I gave up on this read. I thought since I enjoy military movies that I might enjoy reading a military book. It may well be the style in which it was written that did not capture my attention, but it will have to wait until I read all the other books I know I will enjoy. I am open to hearing from others who have read this book, though. It bounced between narration and first person too much for me.

Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes

Love finds a way to heal scarred hearts, deal with tragedy, and provide second chances in unexpected ways. Jenny Lucas returns to her small town in North Carolina, a place she left for a reason, when a fatal diagnosis forces her hand. She and her young daughter Isabella move back in with her father and ailing grandmother to spend the remainder of her time at home and make things right. While there, she is forced to confront strained relationships with her emotionally-detached father, as well as her ex-boyfriend, David, who doesn’t know he fathered Isabella and has since married. Along the way, she also finds feelings for her old friend, Craig—feelings that, though mutual, can never be fulfilled. All the while, Isabella must be prepared for Jenny’s coming death. Jenny fights an emotional battle and struggles to find healing, forgiveness, and love.

Catching Moondrops by Jennifer Erin Valent

Jessilyn Lassiter no longer has to convince people she’s not a child. Having just turned 19 in the summer of 1936, her love for Luke Talley has never been more real. And Luke is finally beginning to care for her in the way she's always dreamed of.

But their budding romance is interrupted when Tal Pritchett—a young, black doctor—comes to Calloway, stealing the heart of Jessilyn’s best friend, Gemma, and stirring up the racial prejudice that has been simmering just beneath the town's surface.

The tension starts to bubble over when Jessie's elderly neighbor Miss Cleta becomes the first white townsperson to accept Tal’s treatment. And when a young black man is lynched, Calloway is brought to its knees once again as Jessilyn realizes that her anger can make her heart as full of hate as the Ku Klux Klan members who have terrorized her town and her family.

1. In Catching Moondrops, racial prejudice again rears its ugly head in Calloway, and some members of the black community are increasingly unwilling to accept it. While Malachi Jarvis becomes defiant, Tal Pritchett favors a more peaceful resistance. Discuss the different approaches these men take to express their independence.

2. The Ku Klux Klan reappears six years after they terrorized the Lassiter family. How does Jessilyn’s reaction differ from Gemma’s? Jessilyn and Gemma are polar opposites. Jessilyn isn’t a believer in Gemma’s God. Gemma can share her burden with her Creator. Jessilyn takes on a battle by sharing her inner thoughts while Gemma prays to her God for relief.

3. When Gemma’s church is burned, she and Jessilyn have opposite reactions yet again. While Gemma’s main concern is the well-being of Tal and the others at the church, Jessilyn is consumed by a desire for revenge. What does this tell us about Gemma’s heart? About Jessilyn’s? The book is written by a Christian and on that token is showing the difference of a heart of a believer and of a non-believer. Of course, Jessilyn is the non-believer and takes on battles on her own, Gemma being the heart filled with the Grace of the Son of God is forgiving, less burdened, more at peace with allowing God to carry the burden.

4. Jessilyn isn’t the only one discovering love this time around. Tal Pritchett quickly turns Gemma’s heart inside out, and though Jessilyn initially encourages her best friend to pursue him, she suddenly becomes burdened by their relationship. What brings about the change of heart, and how does she move past it? Have you ever been in her shoes? The sudden burden that comes about is when Jessilyn realizes that Gemma and Tal are going to be married and Gemma will not be there for her as she has in the past. She realizes their relationship will change and is uncomfortable with the uncertainty of the future.

5. For the first time in Jessilyn’s life, she’s turning to someone besides her father with her fears and worries: Luke. How has time and age begun to make Jessilyn turn to someone other than her father for security? Time allows trust to build and as a girl grows older the time clock begins to begin ticking toward the urge to nest and build a home and family.

6. Miss Cleta again defies tradition by receiving medical care from Tal Pritchett. Why is Gemma so concerned about her doing this, and what are the eventual repercussions of Miss Cleta’s decision? Gemma is concerned because she knows the Klan still lurk. She is fearful that Miss Cleta and Tal will suffer at their hands in repercussion to their decision to break tradition. Maybe she’s been programmed to think that blacks and whites shouldn’t cross the invisible line.

7. Like Miss Cleta’s choice to be treated by Tal, how does the trouble between Delmar and Malachi at the meeting place stir the pot of racial prejudice in Calloway?

8. A horrifying experience haunts Jessilyn’s dreams and saps her strength. But only one perpetrator behind the despicable act demonstrates true shame. What do you think is the cause of such depravity? How are we all susceptible to evil infiltrating our hearts, and what can we do to keep that from happening?

9. Jessilyn’s own heart is at risk when she allows bitterness and hate to fill it. What happens to make her see how lost she truly is? How does that moment change her life?

10. When Jessilyn discovers the darkness of her soul, she reaches out to the God she’s heard about all her life but never truly felt the need for. What’s the difference between believing in God and inviting him to be Lord of your life? Inviting God into your life means you are prepared to surrender your life to His will.

11. Mrs. Jarvis’s appearance at Cole Mundy’s funeral is a stunning portrayal of forgiveness and grace. How does that moment affect those present and how do you think it turned the tide for race relations in Calloway?

12. Jessilyn’s new life began the day she humbled herself before God. What changes do we see in her as Catching Moondrops comes to a close? She becomes more light hearted and develops a more trusting nature and she appears joyous. Have you experienced a similar moment in your life? And if so, how did that moment affect your future? I was seventeen years old when I turned my life over to God. I remember the feeling of freedom and near weightlessness came over me as well as the unending joy that seem to flow through my veins.

Once A Cowboy by Linda Warren

Believe it or not this is the first Harlequin I have read. I actually didn't know it was a Harlequin when I read it because it was a free eBook and it didn't say, or I didn't notice. It was a good read, I must admit, and was not as cheesy as I first imagined Harlequin would be.

Private investigator, of course a cute petite blonde with a Texas drawl, is hired to determine the paternity of a local retired cowboy rodeo star for a couple who have recently lost their last son. Investigation proves the cowboy is the childless couple's child that was swiped at birth. Very interesting story unfolds and kept my attention until at the very end of the story the investigator discerns that she too was a victim of being switched at birth. Still the story was readable.

Last Dance by Linda Joy Singleton

Last Dance is the second book in the tween Seer Series by Singleton. The first, Don't Die Dragonfly was listed in the free eBook series so I decided to give it a read. They are quick reads. Sabine is a seer and was sent from home to live with her grandmother because her ability to see flashes of the future caused turmoil in their home town. Sabine gets her extraordinary abilities from her grandmother so it is a kinder more understanding place to dwell.

In this book Sabine has been tasked by her grandmother to find a missing book that contains a secret recipe for the cure that ails her - Alzheimers. Sabine and her friends journey to a small town that is hopefully where the long lost family book is located. During their journey they meet a ghost of a murdered woman who wants Sabine to help her solve the mystery of her death.

These are nice stories to read in between heavy reads. I am not driven to read the series one book after another, though.

I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg

I did not know that Fannie Flagg wrote one of my favorite stories, "Fried Green Tomatoes." I will have to read the book someday as I only watched the movie. I Still Dream About You was a fun read. I chose the book because Fannie was the author and I needed something light hearted and funny to distract me from my every day nerve-wracking saga. A few pages into the story; however, and I began having serious doubts that this was the best choice for me at this time. The lead character was writing her suicide note and was meticulously planning her exit of this realm. "Great!" I thought, just what I need... ideas on how to end it all!

Maggie is depressed because she is 60 years old and her life seems to have been a waste of dreams never realized. As the former Ms Alabama that represented the state at the Miss America pageant (didn't win) she has been held to different standards by her townfolk, or so she felt. Her best friend and boss, the incomparable Hazel, has just passed and she feels even more alone. Maggie's devotion to her friends and community give the story a nice twist.

I enjoyed this read because it flowed well, made me laugh and easily lead me 'into' the story and kept me turning pages. I enjoy the genuiness of the characters of this story and will likely read more written by Fannie.

Book Club Discussion Questions
1. Maggie’s life hasn’t turned out the way she’d hoped, and at the beginning of the book she makes her big decision to fix it once and for all. Why do you think she feels this way, and what makes her decide that the time has come to put her plan into action? Have you ever felt the way Maggie does, and if so, what did you do to solve it?

2. Maggie’s decision comes at the end of a perfectly ordinary day, with no bells and whistles or dramatic events. In your opinion, is this typical of the way big changes happen in real life? Can you think of examples in your own life where a major event happened on an otherwise ordinary-feeling day?

3. What are Maggie’s “16 perfectly good reasons to jump in the river”? If you were making the list, what would you put in your “pros” and “cons” columns?

4. When Charles proposed to Maggie years before, she turned him down. Why did she do this? Do you think she made the right decision, given the circumstances at the time? In hindsight, should she have made a different decision? What would you have done?

5. Both Brenda and Maggie each think that the other’s life is easier and happier. Brenda is envious of Maggie’s good looks and constant cheerfulness and charm, while Maggie wishes she had Brenda’s practicality and the comfort of her big family. Why do you think they believe this—is the grass simply always greener on the other side of the fence? If you had to choose between Brenda’s and Maggie’s, which kind of life would you prefer?

6. Edwina Crocker-Sperry spent her life protecting a huge secret, one that both gave her tremendous freedom and tightly curtailed her world. What do you think that life was like for her? Would you like to have been Edwina, or to have lived a life like hers? What do you think would have happened if her secret had been discovered?

7. Everyone who meets Hazel Whisenknott falls in love with her, with her energy and enthusiasm and optimism. Even five years after she is gone, she still brightens the lives of all her friends and employees. Do you know anyone like Hazel?

8. Hazel refused to let anything get in the way of her dreams. What lessons could we all learn from Hazel’s story? What about Maggie’s?

9. At one point, Maggie meets a schoolmate who is surprised to hear that Maggie never became Miss America—the friend has been bragging about knowing Miss America for years. When Maggie tells her she was just the second runner-up, she laughs, “Honey, it’s like the Oscars; after so many years, nobody ever remembers who won, just who was nominated.” How does this change Maggie’s perspective? Do you think the observation is true, or not? Can you think of examples?

10. One effect of Maggie’s decision, she realizes, is that she no longer has to worry about the consequences of her actions. She stops going to the gym and watching the news, and starts having a lot more fun. She even speaks her mind to Babs Bingington! If you didn’t have to worry about the long-term consequences of your actions, what would you do differently? Is there anything on your list you might want to do anyway? Is there anything you might want to give up, despite the consequences?
(Questions issued by publisher.)

Reading, Reading, Reading . . .

My daughter and my dad gave me a Kindle eReader for my birthday 2010 and since then I haven't been able to stop reading. I have always loved a good book, but have suffered, miserably, all my life with something that surely seems like a reading disorder. I am not dyslexic, but have always had a problem with comprehension and recall, which I think go hand in hand. I think I realize, now, why it is so much easier to read on an eReader. I tried to read from a traditional soft bound book last week, and realized an old familiar feeling. My eyes jumped all over the two pages; it was so hard to focus on one specific line or two. Some say I suffer from ADD. For whatever reason I read so much more on my eReader than I ever did with traditional books. I do miss the feel of a good book in my hands, but with the eReader I don't have to struggle with positioning with a floppy, heavy, book.

Anywho, I have read so many books that I'm about to post, but didn't take the time to post them as I read them, so they will be posted out of sequence. I will do better about that in the future.

In other book news, I think some of my coworkers and I are going to create our own book club. I'm so excited, because I've always wanted to join one.

Happy reading!

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

What a fabulous book. I checked this book out of the library a year ago, but never got around to reading it. C and I want to see the movie, but we make a habit of reading the book before we see a movie because it usually adds so much more to the film. This was such a good book. Beautifully written story that relives the life of a vet who lost his parents tragically then joined a circus instead of taking his final exam. It is a colorful story that drew me into the time period and enveloped my senses. I swear I could smell popcorn and elephant poo! I know I'll read this story again someday.

1.Water for Elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. How do the chapters about the older Jacob enrich the story about Jacob’s adventure with the circus? How would the novel be different if Gruen had only written about the younger Jacob, keeping the story linear and never describing Jacob’s life as an old man?


2.Did the chapters about the nursing home change how you think about older people? In what ways are the doctors and nurses condescending? How is Rosemary different? How do you treat older people?


3.In chapter two, the twenty-three year old Jacob starts his story by telling us he is a virgin. From the cooch tent to the erections the older Jacob gets when being bathed, sexuality is woven into the whole story. Why do you think Gruen added these details? What role does sexuality play in Water for Elephants?


4.When you first read the Prologue, who did you think murdered the man? Were you surprised by who the actual murderer was?


5.The book begins with a quote from Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss: “I meant what I said, and I said what I meant…An elephant’s faithful—one hundred percent!” What is the role of faithfulness and loyalty in Water for Elephants? How do different characters define loyalty? (Jacob, Walter, Uncle Al).


6.Why does Jacob get so mad about Mr. McGuinity lying about carrying water for elephants? Do you see and similarities of temperament between the young Jacob and the old Jacob?


7.In what ways is Water for Elephants a survival story? A love story? An adventure?


8.Water for Elephants has a happy ending for Jacob, but not for many other characters. Discuss Walter and Camel’s fates. How does tragedy fit into the story?


9.There is an “us and them” mentality in the circus between performers and workers. How does Jacob bridge these two classes of people? Why does each group hate another group? Does the circus merely mirror society in an exaggerated way?


10.Are you satisfied with the end?


11.In the Author’s Note, Gruen writes that many of the details in the story are factual or come from circus workers’ anecdotes. These true stories include the hippo pickled in formaldehyde, the deceased fat lady being paraded through town and an elephant who repeatedly pulled out her stake and stole lemonade. Gruen did extensive research before writing Water for Elephants. Was her story believable?

Cottonwood Whispers by Jennifer Erin Valent

Cotton Whispers, the sequel to Fireflies in December, continues the friendship between Jessilyn Lassiter and Gemma Teague. The summer of 1936 brings with it tragedy and heartache that threatens to tear their friendship apart. Gemma works for a local wealthy family where she falls in love with their youngest son. Jessilyn tries to come between the two, telling Gemma he is no good. When Jessilyn’s young neighbor girl is hit by a car and killed, it threatens to dissolve Jessilyn and Gemma’s friendship.

Jessilyn’s world comes crashing in when a sweet elderly friend is accused of the crime. After discovering who was actually responsible for the child’s death, Jessilyn discovers that coming forward could lead to her father losing everything. Jessilyn is in the midst of discovering what it means to become a woman and questioning what kind of God allows these tragedies to happen to good people.


Discussion Questions:
1. Jessilyn and Gemma are sometimes at odds throughout the book. What factors do you think contribute to this? Have you experienced a similar situation in your own life? Age, temperament, life circumstances, differences in faith. Gemma and Jessie are so different as far as their temperament. Gemma is logical and is patient enough to let things unfold as they should, but Jessie is aggressive/assertive and does not wait for anything to unfold. I think Jessie's outward personality - larger than life and full of drama - gets under Gemma's skin. I also think Jessie's lack of faith in God challenges the relationship with Gemma. I think Gemma can be at peace because she surrenders her troubles to God.

2. What brings about Luke's change in attitude toward Jessilyn at the beginning of the story? Can you relate to Harley's reaction to Luke's birthday gift for her?

3. In Jessilyn's past she has faced violence, but finding Callie battered by the roadside impacts her very strongly. What fears do you think Jessie was forced to confront as she waited alone with her?

4. Gemma withdraws when she finds out about Callie. How does her reaction vary from Jessilyn's? How do the differing reactions exemplify their personalities and situations?

5. Gemma's normally logical outlook is challenged by Joel Hadley's flattery. Have you ever experienced a time when emotions blinded you to sensibility?

6. Gemma and Jessie can't clear Mr. Poe's name because Joel has threatened to foreclose on the family's farm and also because they are afraid they won't be believed. Would you have handled the situation any differently? How?

7. Mr. Poe's arrest leads the people of Calloway to condemn him without trial. Have you seen similar examples in our world today? In historic events?

8. Even though Jessilyn nearly died four years earlier, Mae's death seems to be her first true realization of her mortality. How can age and maturity color our experiences?

9. Mr. Poe's sacrifice has widespread impact. Who is affected and how? Do you agree with Jessilyn that some of the townspeople were hypocrites?

10. Ms Cleta encourages Jessilyn to hear the "whispers" of memories she has of Mr. Poe. Have you ever been touched by your own "whispers"?

11. Jessilyn's anger at God eases with time, but she still hasn't been able to find solid faith in Him. What do you think is holding her back?

Don't Die Dragonfly by Linda Joy Singleton

Don’t Die, Dragonfly is the first book in the Seer series by Linda Joy Singleton. Sabine Rose is a teenage psychic. When she predicts a schoolmate’s death in a car crash, her town and family turn against her, believing she caused the accident. She is sent to live with her grandmother, also a psychic, and she begins a new life at a new school. She vows to keep her gift a secret, but with another life on the line, she’s not sure she can.

Singleton establishes a rich, believable cast in Dragonfly. Though sometimes the characters fit into cliché moulds, I still love them. Penny-Love, Sabine’s popular cheerleading best friend, is relatable and funny. She adds normalcy to Sabine’s otherwise abnormal life and, in doing so, grounds Sabine. Sabine also makes friends with her school newspaper editor, Mannie, and the resident Goth-girl, Thorn. These quirky characters bring out different sides of Sabine, allowing her to become a more well-rounded character.

One of the major appeals to Singleton’s story is the love triangle. Josh is popular, kind, and sweet – everything Sabine is looking for. The only thing is, she can’t tell him her secret and his best friend, Evan, will do anything to see the two ripped apart. Then there’s Dominic, the quiet, sexy, and frustrating farmhand Sabine’s grandmother has hired. He has a way of getting underneath Sabine’s skin, yet he’s one of the only people she can truly be herself around. These relationships only grow more interesting as the series progresses.

Sisters by Kathleen Thompson Norris

Sisters was a good read, not one of my ultimate favorites, but the story kept me clicking to the next page. The writing style of the author was a little odd, but as I said, the story kept my attention. Most books will identify the character speaking, but this author/editor team allows the reader to keep up with who is speaking by knowing the story and 'supposing' who is speaking. Several times I wound up reading back over a paragraph or two and putting a bit of thought into determining who is saying what. It's not that big of a deal, but something that kept me from reading uninterupted.

This is another period piece and takes place in the late 1800s. Two sisters raised in the same home as their elder cousin (raised as sisters.) The youngest is married first, eldest marries second leaving the middle daughter to the neighbor man/friend of her father's. Trouble is the neighbor friend is in love with the youngest of the sisters.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

I have tried and tried to get into this book, but can't make it beyond the first couple chapters. I'll give it another try after the book I'm reading now.

The Kindle

The last book I read, Letters of a Woman Homesteader, was read via my birthday present - the Kindle eReader. I love it! I have always adored the smell and feel of a good book and my home is filled with them, but the Kindle allows me much easier reading and is especially nice now that I'm growing older and sometimes have troubles like comfort and vision. The Kindle is easy to position while in sitting position or lying down. I read five books since the week before Thanksgiving. I'm won over!

Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt

After deciding that city life as a laundress wasn't for her, Elinore Pruitt, a young widowed mother, accepted an offer to assist with a ranch in Wyoming, work that she found exceedingly more rewarding. In this delightful collection of letters, she describes these experiences to her former employer, Mrs. Coney. Pruitt's charming descriptions of work, travels, neighbors, animals, land and sky have an authentic feel. The West comes alive, and everyday life becomes captivating. Her writing is clear, witty, and entertaining. The 26 letters are brief and tell about her life on the ranch in the early 1900s. On occasion, language reflects the racial prejudice of the time. Many times, Pruitt attempts to portray the culturally diverse characters she meets by writing their various dialects as they sound.

Troublesome Creek by Jan Watson

A charming historical novel set in the late 1800s. Born and raised in the hills of Kentucky, Laura "Copper" Grace loves the wilderness of her home in Troublesome Creek. But when her stepmother threatens to send her away to boarding school to become a lady, Copper faces the possibility of losing everything that is precious to her. Copper must come to terms with her family and discover the true meaning of home. Nothing can drag her off the mountain, until the day she realizes that God has other plans for her life.

Discussion Questions:

1. Troublesome Creek is a work of historical fiction. Do you often choose this genre? If so why? I enjoy historical works (even fiction), but have never read this genre per se, until recently. This is my second read from this time era. I think I have enjoyed reading them because it feels as though I am reading of my roots. Being from the deep south I feel a particular kinship to such stories. They are easy on my heart and mind to read and that's a nice change of pace.

2. Julie’s unwed pregnancy set the stage for her estrangement from her sister Grace. How are unmarried mothers viewed differently today? Sadly, it seems almost a popular fad to be not only single and pregnant, but a teenager and pregnant.

3. Granny believed in “signs.” How do you feel about foreshadowing? Is it scriptural? I am not a Christian as defined by most Christians. I do claim to believe in signs, but think it is more my making fun and light of uncanny coincidences. The signs that Granny believed in I account to as superstition and I do not give much energy to their attention.

4. Both Will and Grace blamed themselves for JulieÂ’s death. How were they at fault, if at all? Julie's death was not anyone's fault, she was merely a victim of unfortunate circumstances. Her path may have been different if her sister, Grace, hadn't been so cold to her when she became pregnant and perhaps her death 'may have' been prevented by Will taking the buckboard instead of the buggy, but her death isn't either of their faults.

5. Why was Grace so reserved? Why was she so hard on Copper?

6. How did her stepmotherÂ’s expectations help to shape the young woman Copper was to become?

7. Have you ever known a social outcast like Remy? Did this person make you uncomfortable? Did you befriend them?

8. The snake handling service was a pivotal point in Copper BrownÂ’s life. Do you believe God would cause a serpent to bite Daniel in order to answer GraceÂ’s prayer to get Laura Grace off the mountain? No, I do not. I do believe that if God had anything at all to do with the snake bite it was Daniel's lesson to be learned, not Laura Grace's.

9. What did you think of John Pelfrey? Should Copper have married him? I'm torn. It wouldn't have made for a hot love component as the wiley Simon, but John is solid and familiar and probably would have remained loyally by her side until the end of time. I don't think Simon will stand by her. I have the impression that Dr. Corbett will use Copper up until the novelty has worn off and then he will shelf her for another.

10. How would CopperÂ’s life be different if she had married her childhood friend?

11. Was it realistic that Will would leave the mountains to please his wife? Do you think Grace would finally be happy if they moved? No, I don't think a mountain man of that time period would have ever considered leaving his own holler must less crossing the country where he will be totally outclassed.

12. In this book the eastern Kentucky mountains becomes almost a central character. Have you ever loved a place as much as Copper loved her home? How did you feel if you had to leave it? No, not really. I have no attachment to places because when the north wind blows I usually hop upon my magick carpet and let the wind decide the next stop. I have no home other than where I am now.

13. Copper was very young to be married. Why was that so easily accepted in those times? Life expectancy wasn't that long back then. Mostly because women were hitting their prime child bearing years, able to work hard with consistency. Girls were married off early because they were one less mouth to feed.

14. How would your life be different if you lived in the 1880Â’s. Would you like to? What modern convenience would you most miss? Hot shower.

15. Do you look forward to the next book in this “Romance of Life” series?Absolutely!

Fireflies In December by Jennifer Erin Valent

“The summer I turned thirteen, I thought I killed a man.”

So begins the story of Jessilyn Lassiter, a young girl whose world is torn apart the summer of 1932. When Jessilyn’s best friend, Gemma, loses her parents in a tragic fire, Jessilyn’s father vows to care for her as his own, despite the fact that Gemma is black and prejudice is prevalent in their southern Virginia town.

It doesn’t take long for the Lassiters to attract the attention of a local band of Ku Klux Klan members, who make increasingly violent threats on Jessilyn and her family.

As she struggles to navigate a complex world of first crushes, loyalties, and betrayals, Jessilyn ultimately discovers what it takes to be a bright light in a dark world.

This story and the books in the series that follow were beautifully written and lovely stories. Time set in the times of Klu Klux Klan and racial biggotry.

In this the first of the series Jessilyn Lassiter introduces us to her best friend Gemma who comes to live with Jessie's family after her parents die tragically in a house fire started by lightning. Life becomes complicated when the town folks get wind of the living situation and the Lassisters wind up gaining the attention of the KKK.

Great character development and a story well expressed that keeps the reader turning the page.

Discussion Questions:
1) The townspeople seemed to have a problem with Jessilyn and Gemma’s friendship primarily after Gemma came to live with the Lassiters. What made the difference in their minds? Could you relate to Sadie’s mixed emotions about keeping Gemma? Blacks and whites did not cross relate back in those days without grief, especially in the deep south. On one level I can understand Sadie's need to be weary for her family's safety, but on another level I find it impossible to relate to Sadie. I wouldn't think twice before making the same call that Jessilyn's father did. If any child lost their only living relatives I would scoop them up and bring them in from that darkness in a moment; without hesitation - the rest of the community be damned if they will. What I find totally contrary is that our elders teach us to treat others as you would have them treat you. The Golden Rule have an addendum that states you should treat others as you would have them treat you 'if it is convenient or easy for you'. This is a prime example of the hypocracy that helped me decide the faith I was raised in wasn't the only way to come to know the Divine. Not because I didn't know love and faith that our Father exists, but that if His followers could be so self-righteous and hypocritical they were not my flock. This book touched a lot of sensitive areas and brought back a lot of painful memories.


2) Take a walk in Gemma’s shoes. How would you cope with her combination of loss, fear, and feeling out of place? There were several times in the book I cried for thinking of what Gemma must be going through. To lose your parents at such a young age and in such a tragic way is unimaginable, but to stand idle while watching the people who came to your rescue be persecuted on your account has to be the second most worst time in life. The author wrote Gemma beautifully though... with grace, humility, and so much inner strength.

3) Explore the sisterhood between Jessilyn and Gemma. In what ways did their tragedy make their bond stronger? When two people traverse trial and tribulation together it is bound to bring them closer together. Jessilyn and Gemma didn't know they were colored differently. They didn't see one another as those outside their heart did...

4) How do the Lassiters personify the title, and how can we do the same? Why is it so necessary in our day and time to stand up for what is right and true? If we each do not stand up to this type wrong in the world what is the world worth? There were so many people who witnessed the attrocities of our wrongful past, but who turned an idle ear and blind eye to the wrongfulness. If we do not stand up for what is right we will continue to traverse the same course - and that is unspeakable.

5) Despite the closeness of her family, Jessilyn feels alone in her guilt over Cy fuller and in her struggle with Walt Blevins. Why? In what way would a relationship with Jesus Christ have eased Jessilyn’s burden of loneliness? I respectfully decline to answer this discussion question.

6) How does Jessilyn’s persistent questioning of her faith point to God’s sense of timing and purpose in all things?

7) In what ways does Luke’s presence provide a stabilizing force for Jessilyn?

8) Do you think Jessilyn and Luke are drawn together by being the only non-believers in their tight little circle?

9) How did Miss Cleta’s courage inspire the girls? How did it inspire you?


10) In what way do you feel that Otis Tinker’s belief in his “cause” enabled him to lead a double life? How are we capable of letting this sort of double life creep into our own lives?

11) How do the “band of angels” bringing help to the devastated Lassiter farm show that even the smallest acts of selflessness can make a strong impact?




12) How did the Lord use the tragedy and fear of that summer to teach Jessilyn and to bring the characters together?

I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flag

When the story begins, we meet Maggie Fortenberry, the still beautiful ex-Miss Alabama and former model, who has returned to her home town of Birmingham and is now selling real estate in the high-end market of Mountain Brook. On the outside, Maggie may appear to others to be cool, calm, and collected, but all is not what it seems. For years, Maggie has been living with a painful and secret past, and now that the bottom has suddenly fallen out of the real estate market, her future is not looking all that great either. Maggie finds herself with a dilemma that many baby booomers are facing these days: “Too young to retire, and too old to start a new profession.” Now what?

After months of long, sleepless nights, Maggie finally comes up with what she thinks is “the perfect plan” for what to do with the rest of her life. But as we all know, plans don’t always turn out the way we want. Anyhow, while Maggie is busy trying to put her perfect plan into action, something unexpected happens and she finds herself embroiled in the middle of a mystery that might even baffle Nancy Drew!

There were several times I wondered why I continued reading this story because Maggie's drive to end it all did not set well within me. There was, however, a place in the story where I took pause and considered my own plight and how if I never had my daughter and my parents had moved onto the next realm, if I, too, would not have considered the same path. Mostly because I have lost my path at times in life and claimed my daughter's existence as my Saving Grace. As I grow older I grow to know that I have a strong faith that life is like the pendulum swing in that it swings just as far into the dark as it does into the light.

Discussion Questions:
1. Maggie’s life hasn’t turned out the way she’d hoped, and at the beginning of the book she makes her big decision to fix it once and for all. Why do you think she feels this way, and what makes her decide that the time has come to put her plan into action? Have you ever felt the way Maggie does, and if so, what did you do to solve it?
Maggie had all sorts of dreams that were based on her winning the Miss USA pageant, but when she did not win she came home feeling as though she let everyone, including herself, down. She compared her life with those around her - those she deemed happy or successes at life. She had no children, no husband and her parents were gone. He greatest friend in the world had just passed and with it fears of their business spinning into the drain. She lost hope, but worse, she lost faith. Why this particular time? She had no one left to object or to whom she felt responsible. Or maybe she felt as though she had no one left who needed her.

I have definitely gone through a few dark patches on my journey and no doubt I will again. The difference with the times I experience now and the earlier ones in my life is that I now understand the pendulum swing and have faith in the Universe that I will not be given more than I can handle. I know that there are learning opportunities and silver linings to all challenging times - I just have to find the patience and keep faith alive.

2. Maggie’s decision comes at the end of a perfectly ordinary day, with no bells and whistles or dramatic events. In your opinion, is this typical of the way big changes happen in real life? Can you think of examples in your own life where a major event happened on an otherwise ordinary-feeling day?
No, not really. The times I have experienced the want to just move on and end this trip through the living realm have been when I am going through rough and rocky roads. I always feel the need to depart this world during depressive, dark, times.

3. What are Maggie’s “16 perfectly good reasons to jump in the river”? If you were making the list, what would you put in your “pros” and “cons” columns? Cons: I would miss the next swing of the pendulum into the light, my daughter, my parents and other family members. I may not have a spouse, or a thriving business and financial security, but I do have the opportunity to become better, to learn new lessons of faith and understanding, to perhaps share something with another in need that helps them along their journey. I am nothing more than a tool of the universe. This body is borrowed, my soul a at times a tool, at times a sponge... My life has purpose even if I do not know exactly what its purpose is at every moment. I have faith and I believe in the Great Mystery to shine the light on the path I am to take.

4. When Charles proposed to Maggie years before, she turned him down. Why did she do this? Do you think she made the right decision, given the circumstances at the time? In hindsight, should she have made a different decision? What would you have done?
I cannot remember the exact reasons she gave Charles as to her answer. I do remember that her reason had something to do with holding him back from knowing true happiness. I am not much on martyrdom and try always to make decisions based on my truths. If it were going to hold me back from being of further use to the Universal needs I may turn down a proposal. I always ask myself, "Who am I that I should know what is best for you and your path?" I can't answer for Maggie's hindsight but she seemed to have learned a great lesson. We as mere humans can rarely answer our own riddles, or know what's best for our own lives; how can it be that she could know what's best for Charles' future and sojourne?

5. Both Brenda and Maggie each think that the other’s life is easier and happier. Brenda is envious of Maggie’s good looks and constant cheerfulness and charm, while Maggie wishes she had Brenda’s practicality and the comfort of her big family. Why do you think they believe this—is the grass simply always greener on the other side of the fence? If you had to choose between Brenda’s and Maggie’s, which kind of life would you prefer?
In my life I have had both. I grew up in a huge family with strong family ties, yet I chose a life of solitude 3000 miles away. I'm an odd one indeed, because I do not do well carrying a burden of other's expectations of me, especially when those people are people I care most about. If I were to return to Brenda's life I would surely disappoint so many of the people I love the most. Now that I live Maggie's life I do get lonely quite often, but enjoy the quiet and peace of no expectations.

6. Edwina Crocker-Sperry spent her life protecting a huge secret, one that both gave her tremendous freedom and tightly curtailed her world. What do you think that life was like for her? Would you like to have been Edwina, or to have lived a life like hers? What do you think would have happened if her secret had been discovered?
I have read quite a few stories about times during the mid to late 1800's and how boys were preferred over girls, and each time it turns my stomach to think of how girls were treated just because their father's were not given male heirs. Poor Edwina. How she must have felt knowing her father could not accept her for who she was. Poor family in that the community belief that a woman could not be heir to a busineses. Do I wish I could live a double life? Uhm, no. I have enough of a hard time living my single one in good measure and keeping. It did make me happy to read that Edwina found a way to live and disclose her true womanly self it is just too bad that she could not do so in her own home with her family.

7. Everyone who meets Hazel Whisenknott falls in love with her, with her energy and enthusiasm and optimism. Even five years after she is gone, she still brightens the lives of all her friends and employees. Do you know anyone like Hazel?

8. Hazel refused to let anything get in the way of her dreams. What lessons could we all learn from Hazel’s story? What about Maggie’s?

9. At one point, Maggie meets a schoolmate who is surprised to hear that Maggie never became Miss America—the friend has been bragging about knowing Miss America for years. When Maggie tells her she was just the second runner-up, she laughs, “Honey, it’s like the Oscars; after so many years, nobody ever remembers who won, just who was nominated.” How does this change Maggie’s perspective? Do you think the observation is true, or not? Can you think of examples?

10. One effect of Maggie’s decision, she realizes, is that she no longer has to worry about the consequences of her actions. She stops going to the gym and watching the news, and starts having a lot more fun. She even speaks her mind to Babs Bingington! If you didn’t have to worry about the long-term consequences of your actions, what would you do differently? Is there anything on your list you might want to do anyway? Is there anything you might want to give up, despite the consequences?

Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

After being dumped by his longtime girlfriend, twenty-eight-year-old Justin Halpern found himself living at home with his seventy-three-year-old dad. Sam Halpern, who is "like Socrates, but angrier, and with worse hair," has never minced words, and when Justin moved back home, he began to record all the ridiculous things his dad said to him:

"That woman was sexy. . . . Out of your league? Son, let women figure out why they won't screw you. Don't do it for them."

"Do people your age know how to comb their hair? It looks like two squirrels crawled on their heads and started fucking."

"The worst thing you can be is a liar. . . . Okay, fine, yes, the worst thing you can be is a Nazi, but then number two is liar. Nazi one, liar two."

More than a million people now follow Mr. Halpern's philosophical musings on Twitter, and in this book, his son weaves a brilliantly funny, touching coming-of-age memoir around the best of his quotes. An all-American story that unfolds on the Little League field, in Denny's, during excruciating family road trips, and, most frequently, in the Halperns' kitchen over bowls of Grape-Nuts, Sh*t My Dad Says is a chaotic, hilarious, true portrait of a father-son relationship from a major new comic voice.


I literally could not read this book without cracking up. I began reading it on the flight to visit my family for the holidays. Just before we exited the plan the gentleman behind me tapped me on the shoulder and said, "You have to tell me the name of the book you are reading." He said that because I fought back over the top, from the gut laughter, so badly my eyes stayed watery.

Definitely not a read for those who are easily offended by foul language and politically incorrectness.

Spoken From the Heart by Laura Bush

Wow! This book changes everything - well, it changes a lot of my old perceptions. I am not sure why I chose this book to read because as most who know me know I have never been fond of her husband's leadership. My distaste for his leadership lead to my personal assumption about who he is as a person. In this I have learned a lesson - again. We as people are in large part have two sides to our persona. The me I am here at home does influence who I am in public and at work, but visually and acoustically a very different woman. At work I am an aggressive recruiter at home I am laid back and connected to my woman spirit.

I am glad I read this book of life from Laura Bush's perspective. In it she describes with such clarity you can actually imagine what it was like to live in Midland during the oil boom. I understand better that part of the country breeds the strong willed and why those from that region are very proud of their heritage.

The story interweaves the consistency of her father moving their family from house to house within the town, her incredible friendships that have stood the test of time, and of a tragedy that left her grieving silently for decades. She lived through the thick of the civil rights movement graduating college in 1968 she took on teaching in intercity schools and later a trained as a librarian. The marriage to George took place after only having dated him for three months, but they knew upon meeting they were destined to be together forever. The stories of being thrust into the limelight of the political world and of the relationship with her mother in law (this one blew me away.) The biggest shocker of the entire story is of George's devotion to her and his family. I think that is the biggest reason I am glad I read the book... I hate the idea of the leader of our masses being cold and calculating.

A few questions I will ponder to answer:

1. Laura Welch learned that her grandmother had lost two children, but no one new the entire story—because it was never discussed. "You might talk about the wind and the weather, but troubles you swallowed deep down inside." In what way does this training—suppressing unpleasant information—prepare her for the life ahead?

2. How does Laura describe her growing up as an only child? What was it like for her eventually to marry into the large, boisterous Bush family? How hard do you think it was for the once shy girl who went on "solo picnics" to fit in?

3. How does Laura Bush frame the terrible car accident that happened when she was 17? She writes that so many lives were wrecked that night at that corner." Talk about the accident and its aftermath.

4. If you are "of an age," how well does Laura capture the tone and tenor of the 1950s and '60s? She grew up in Texas, but are there similarities to your childhood years?

5. Laura Bush doesn't talk about how she felt watching so many of her friends marry...and she, herself, not marrying until the day after her 31th birthday. She learned of a friend's remark that "the most eligible bachelor in Midland" married "the old maid of Midland." She says she thought it was funny. Do you believe her?

6. How does she explain the whirlwind courtship with her future husband? Does she discuss what drew her—a once shy, bookish young woman who read Tolstoy by the poolside—to an outgoing jock-turned-oil-man? How does she talk about their differences...and what holds their marriage together?

7. What does she mean that she and George, as a young married couple, "were the outliers on the Bush family curve"?

8. How does Laura talk about her relationship with her mother-in-law, Barbara Bush? How did the relationship evolve?

9. In what ways did Laura's life change from being first lady of Texas to being First Lady of the United States? Did you/do you ever envy her positions? Would you find it exciting...or terrifying...to be the wife of the President of the United States?

10. How does Laura defend the her husband's decision to declare war on Iraq? And his response to hurricane Katrina?

11. Talk about how she felt on her return to private life in Texas in 2009. What does she mean when she says, "I could at last exhale"?

12. Laura Bush has always been described as a deeply private individual. Do you feel she reveals her inner self in this memoir? Do you feel you know who she is, more so than when you started the book? Or do you feel she revealed very little, especially after her childhood?



She's a remarkable woman and tells of her childhood in the little west Tewhere everyone knew everyone and then some. Her childhood seems so enchanting and full of love. As I read I was continually shocked or moved emotionally by some of her experiences. Her devotion to education and love for children endears her to her reader. Her adoration of her husband no matter what leaves a lonely heart yearning for something never attained. She's truly a fascinating woman and after reading her book I have added her to my "Most Like to Meet" list.

Firefly Lane by Krisin Hannah

I read more in the summer months of 2010 than I have in a long while. Having the time for reading has been wonderful and am realizing now, at 45, what I have been missing all my life by not finding the time to read. This book was handed to me by a young woman who worked at the hospital on a temporary assignment this summer. It caught my fancy first because it was written by an author who is from the PNW and grew up not far from the area I first called home a decade ago. As I began reading I found I couldn't bear to put it down. It is a touching story of two girls who met during their early teen years - the year, 1974. While the story was excellent it left me reflective of what my life may have been had I been fortunate enough to of met a lifetime friend when I was younger. It was easy for me to step into Kate and Tully's world and follow their lives as though I were a bystander. I identify more with Kate in that I've always searched for the something more... I will have to rethink that longing now because what I have had and experienced in my life has been all I really needed; love, family, health, strength, faith... toss in adventure and what else could a woman ask for to complete the journey?

Here are some of the questions other readers have posted and my answers according to my interpretation.

1. One of the first things Tully says to Kate is a lie. Indeed, Tully is quick to lie throughout her life. Do you think this trait is her way of hiding the shame of her past or is it a willful reinterpretation of self? Do these lies and manipulations, big and small, help her ultimately to be more honest about whom she is, or do they undermine her ability to face her ownshortcomings?

2. From her earliest memory, Tully feels abandoned by her mother and father. How does this sense of being unwanted influence her life? How does her troubled relationship with her mother lead to the decisions she makes in her life? Do children have an obligation of some kind to forgive their parents, even inthe face of repeated disappointment? How much do you think childhood heartaches make us who we are?

3. The Kate-Johnny-Tully triangle is one of the fundamental underpinnings of the novel. How does Johnny really feel about Tully? How does Tully feel about him?

4. Kate believes she is Johnny's second choice for love. How does Johnny contribute to her insecurities? How did Tully? How much of a relationshipis set in the beginning and how are changes made as we grow?

5. When Chad leaves Tully, she rationalizes away her broken heart by saying,"if really loved me, he would wait for me." What does this reveal about Tully's perception of romantic love? How do these perceptions setthe stage for the rest of her life? Do you believe that Tully will ever fall in love?

6. Near the end of the novel, when their friend is on the rocks, both women feel wronged. Certainly Kate has ample reason to feel betrayed, but what about Tully's similar belief? Do you understand why Tully was upset, too? Do you believe that a friend should always reach out, even when great pain has been caused? Or do you believe that true friends would never hurt each other?

7. If you could think of one word that personified the seventies, the eighties,the nineties, and the new millennium (so far), what would those words be?

8. At which moment in the novel did you first notice a hint of tension between Tully and Kate? Who do you feel was to blame for this turning point?

9. Music plays an important role in this novel. What musical memories do you have of your teen years, your twenties, and today? Do you feel, as we get older, that music plays less of a role in our lives? Why do you feel that music so profoundly impacts us when we're "coming of age?"

10. What do you feel Kate was most jealous about with regards to Tully? And what was Tully the most envious of in Kate's life? Jealousy is often wanting what we cannot have. Do you feel that these characters truly could not have the things they wanted? If not, why not?

11. Under what circumstances do you feel a betrayal is unforgivable? Do you feel that any of these characters crossed that line?

12. What role do you see Tully playing in Mara's life, after the pages of the novel are closed?