Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our February 2010 selection:

The Jane Austen Book Clubby Karen Joy Fowler

The question was asked, “Would you recommend this book to someone else?”

Sue: "Yes. Especially for anyone that's interested in Jane Austen. I liked the development of the characters."

Maye: "Yes. Maybe too much information about some of the characters."

Jane: “It wasn't one that impressed me a lot. It was kind of hard for me to connect with a lot of that stuff."

Janine: “It's the first book the group's done where some felt they liked the movie better than the book."

Ann: "Yes. It's okay."

Judy: "It was okay."

Brenda: "I just enjoyed this book so much. Now I want to read all of Jane Austen's novels."

Marianne: "I love it. I'm not finished with it yet, but I love it."

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our January 2010 selection:

Stealing Buddha's Dinnerby Bich Minh Nguyen

The question was asked, “Would you recommend this book to someone else?”

Sue: "A little too much emphasis on food. . ."

Jane: “Yes. I liked it because I thought she listened and got educated.”

Janine: “Yes. I wondered , though, how much of what she felt was actually from being an immigrant as opposed to just being different from the pack."

Ann: "Why was this a Book-Club-To-Go Kit selections? I was very disappointed!"

Judy: "It was all right but it wasn't one of my favorites."

Georgianna: "It was interesting in the descriptions of the culture clashes. As natives we may not understand what they're [the immigrants] are suffering because we don't know where they're coming from."

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our December 2009 selection:

A Year Down Yonderby Richard Peck

The question was asked, “Would you recommend this book to someone else?”

Sue: "Yes. Easy, relaxing read."

Maye: “Yes. Nice short story, easy to read, a lot of life lessons for all ages.”

Jane: “Yes. I thought it was a good book. It was a fast read.”

Janine: “Yes. Great, funny, enjoyable read."

Ann: "Yes. Easy read. Enjoyable.

Rose: "Yes. I enjoyed it very much."

Marie: "Yes. I would recommend it."

Judy: "Yes. I would recommend it. It was funny. You feel like you've met some of these people."

Brenda: "Yes. It had strong characters. I didn't always know where it was going. There were lots of surprises."

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our November 2009 selection:

The Tender Barby J. R. Moehringer

The question was asked, “Would you recommend this book to someone else?”

Sue: "Interesting but a little long. [Large Print version]"

Vickie: “Yes. I'm not finished but I'm enjoying it.”

Jane: “Yes. It was different. I did like it. I laughed at some of the funny things.”

Janine: “Yes. This book make me laugh out loud several times. I especially enjoyed his view of his world as a child."

Ann: "Yes, but I got so mad because he was wasting his life. Here he is, a very educated person, and he was just blowing it."

Rose: "Yes. I don't recommend too many books to my daughters but I'd recommend this one."

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our October 2009 selection:

The Orchardby Adele Crockett Robertson

The question was asked, “Would you recommend this book to someone else?”

Georgianna: “Yes. It's sad that she put out all that effort and wasn't able to keep the orchard. It was a book that you had to keep reading once you picked it up."

Sue: "Yes. A hard-working woman that shows what someone can accomplish when she puts her back and mind to it."

Vickie: “Yes. I would recommend this to a reader. Her determination and never quitting despite the hardships she went through was incredible.”

Jane: “Yes. I thought it was a very good book, a true story of an amazing woman.”

Janine: “I was amazed by the woman's determination to tackle tasks that required a variety of new skills. I especially enjoyed learning all about the mechanics of operating an orchard and about beekeeping."

Judy: "I thought it was a good book and very timely considering the economic crisis we're in."

Ann: "Yes. I admired her independent nature and perseverance as she struggled to save the orchard."

Marianne: "Yes. I felt bad for her. I wanted her to save the orchard."

Rose: "Yes. I really liked it. It brought back things my Mom and Dad had told me about the Depression era."

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our September 2009 selection:

Shugby Jenny Han

The question was asked, “Would you recommend this book to someone else?”

Marie: “Yes, I enjoyed the book but probably would only recommend it to a young person.”

Georgianna: “No. I didn't like the book. It was sad all the way through. You don't want to think that Jr. High is like that buy you know it is. I hated the end. That kid's not going to write to her and then she'll be disappointed again. I hated her nickname. I thought it was a shame when she had such a beautiful name. The author wrote too well."

Sue: "Interesting easy read. Brings back memories of Jr. High. I was much more interested in Shug's parents' store, being an older female."

Vickie: “Yes. I would recommend this to young girls but also to adult women. I found it very inciteful.”

Jane: “The book was okay but I thought Shug was too self-centered.”

Janine: “I thought the author did an amazing job of capturing all the insecurities of early adolescence.”

Brenda: "It brought back the preteen years."

Ann: "This describes how pre-teenagers think and how they get subjects so mixed up in their minds."

Comments from the Book Discussion Group at DeSoto Library regarding our August 2009 selection:

A Tree Grows in Brooklynby Betty Smith

The question was asked, “Would you recommend this book to someone else?”

Marie: “Yes! The best yet!”

Georgianna: “Yes.”

Sue: "Yes. A sad period in our history but a very good book."

Vickie: “Yes. I would highly recommend it, especially to older teens and up.”

Jane: “Yes. I thought it was a really good book. I'm surprised I've never read it or seen the movie.”

Janine: “It captures a time and place in a way you won't forget.”

Brenda: "Yes. Excellent description of Brooklyn in the early 20th century."

Ann: "Yes. Should be read by all, just like To Kill a Mockingbird."