Looking Back... In an effort to transfer my book journal entries over to this blog, I'm going to attempt to post (in chronological order) an entry every Friday. I may or may not add extra commentary to what I jotted down in these journals.
Fiction
1999 Grand Central Publishing (first published 1998)
Read in March 2000
Rating: 4.5/5 (Very Good)
Publisher's Blurb:
Twelve years later, the once-busy highway is dead and the sign is as worn as Caney, who hasn't ventured outside the diner since it opened. Then one blustery December day, a thirtyish Crow woman blows in with a three-legged dog in her arms and a long-buried secret on her mind. Hiring on as a carhop, Vena Takes Horse is soon shaking up business, the locals, and Caney's heart...as she teaches them all about generosity of spirit, love, and the possibility of promise-just like the sign says.
My Original Thoughts (2000):
Fantastic book! I think I enjoyed it even more than Where the Heart Is. Wonderful, quirky characters. Memorable and humorous. Letts is a great storyteller.
My Current Thoughts:
While I don't remember the details of this novel, I do remember that it was one I loved and one that I have always planned to read again. This is my year for rereading, so it's going on the stack!
I have read all four of Billie Letts' novels and would love to read more, but sadly, she passed away in 2014. Click on the titles for my reviews of her later books.
Oh, the cover and the title! I haven't read anything by Letts, but I am adding this one to my list. Love quirky characters!
ReplyDeleteJenclair, I plan to reread this one next month. I'm currently rereading Pig in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver and it's just as wonderful as the first time I read it. This will be my year of rereads!
DeleteI only read her book Where the Heart Is which was really good. I need to pick up the others! Like Jenclair, I love quirky characters.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading this one again! I, too, like quirky characters.
DeleteThis sounds really good!
ReplyDeleteIt was when I read it 20 years ago. It's on my reread stack for next month and I'm hoping it stood the test of time!
DeleteI read this one in 2003 and gave it four/five stars. It sounds like a book I would like to reread, too.
ReplyDeleteDeb, you've inspired me to jump on the "Rereading" bandwagon. I'm currently rereading Pigs in Heaven (Kingsolver) and plan to reread this one by Billie Letts in February. It's fun to revisit old favorites!
DeleteYou know, I never read Where the Heart Is but the movie was charming. I love the title of this book you featured. If I ran through all my journal entries and tried to add them to my blog, it would take me years. I love that you are doing though. I keep waiting for a personal assistant to arrive. Hasn't happened yet.
ReplyDeleteTi, it was a good movie, wasn't it?
DeleteYes, it's going to take me years to post all my old journal entries. I'm only on year 2000 and if I'm lucky, share 52 books a year. It's going to take me a while! :)
I loved this book! And I adored Where The Heart Is. I can't remember the other books she wrote, but I'm thinking I probably read those as well. I think it's time for a reread on all of them, because I'm still in the mood to read books that make me happy. Thanks for the reminder! :-)
ReplyDeleteLaurel, I doubt I'll reread Where the Heart Is (it still seems too familiar, so maybe in another decade?!), but I can't wait to reread this one. My goal is to reread a favorite every month, so this will be in my stack for February.
DeleteI've only read Where the Heart is by I enjoyed it. I'll have to look for more of her books. One of my goals this year is to read more books by authors I liked. I've recently realized that I rarely read more than a book or two by the same author and really don't finish that many series(es?).
ReplyDeleteJen, I need to do the same and start reading more from some of my favorite authors. It's so easy to forget about them. Time for another collage to keep me on track! :)
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