Journal Entry 1 by choclaholic from San Antonio, Texas USA on Wednesday, November 16, 2005

6 1/2 stars

I bought this book because I had met the author of it, Lisa Wingate, at the Bookcrossing Convention in Forth Worth in April, 2005. Actually, she gave her presentation, which included a disucssion of her inspiration for this book and read an emotionally touching excerpt from it, just before I gave my own presentation. Everyone was so moved by Lisa's sentiments of her Grandmother, that by the time my speech was over and I could meet her personally, she had sold out all her copies of this book. So no autograph for me :( Still, a few months later, I continued to think about the author's passage, so I went out and got it. I must say I had built it up in my mind to the point that I was expecting so much from it; but honestly, it didn't quite meet my expectations.

This was the story of Kate Bowman -- new mother, financially and maritally strained, and on a mission to convince her aging and forgetful grandmother to leave the family homestead for... assisted living. Grandma Rose covertly left her personal journal of pithy antecodotes laying around for Kate to find. From this, Kate was reminded of the old cliche -- "Stop and smell the roses".

I guess I found the story to be a little overly sentimental (I didn't care for another wildly popular book, Tuesdays with Morrie, for similar reasons). It was also a bit slow, and quite predictable... its not exactly a page turner, yet you'll know how its going to turn out before you get a third of the way through. Everything was a little too conveinient and a little too pat. Although the contrast between Kate's feeling of financial pressure (in spite of her boat and country club membership) was a good contrast to the plight of seriously impoverished little Dell Jordan, still it felt a bit contrived. It was also just a little too "nice" that Alzheimer's stricken Grandma was able to sneak to Rose a written parable of her good ol' days, and that Kate was able to read a particular quote from the wildflower journal at the very moment she needed it. At times, it was a very "romantic" vision of the past that Grandma would paint with her words. I'm sure it was very catharctic for the author to write this book, though, so I'm glad she wrote it and was able to make some money from it :)

Lastly, I was assured by the book's author that her books wouldn't fall under the category genially refered to as "chick lit", but I somewhat disagree, as it's not quite good solid literature either -- maybe more like "ficiton-lite". And because of my feelings for this story, I've decided to pass on the neon pink and blue books by the same author that I won as doorprizes at the BC convention: Texas Cooking and The Lone Star Cafe. Nothing personal, really, but books about romances just aren't my cuppa tea.

This book takes place at Christmas time, so I think now is a good time to release it. It also got a lot of great reviews from other readers, so obviously my response to it is a "just me" thing (I'm more likely to respond positively to an apocolyptic sci-fi epic). So to whomever finds it - I do hope you enjoy it, and that your heartstrings are touched by the simple messages of what makes a good life.

Enjoy it if you find it,

Choclaholic


 

Journal Entry 2 by choclaholic at City View Building, 10999 I 10 West in San Antonio, Texas USA on Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Released 6 yrs ago (11/29/2005 UTC) at City View Building, 10999 I 10 West in San Antonio, Texas USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Left about 8:30 am on the center of the breakroom table on the 4th floor. I think there are a few artistic folks on this floor who would like a book like this. Happy reading! 

Journal Entry 3 by AnonymousFinder on Friday, January 06, 2006

I was delighted to find this book in my breakroom at work just before the holidays. I think I enjoyed it for the same reasons that choclaholic did not like it. It indeed was too contrived at times but the fact that it describes a relationship with a grandmother reminds me so much of my grandmother and the months before she passed away really touched my heart. Yes, I guess it was sentimental. But I read because I want to "escape" so therefore I guess sentimental "chick lit" books are my preference.

CAUGHT IN SAN ANTONIO TX US