Journal Entry 1 by alrescate from Strafford, Missouri USA on Sunday, November 10, 2002

A promising book for airplane reading. 

Journal Entry 2 by alrescate from Strafford, Missouri USA on Saturday, November 30, 2002

This is a decent little book. If you like Adriana Trigiani's series from Big Stone Gap, you will probably also enjoy this. This follows the laid- off factory workers of Cherished Ladies and their mentor. A very light read. 

Journal Entry 3 by alrescate at -- By Hand or Post, Ray/ring, Rabck in Springfield, Missouri USA on Thursday, February 13, 2003

Released on Thursday, February 13, 2003 at Another bookcrosser in Springfield, Missouri USA.

This is on the way to another BookCrosser. Thanks for the swap! 

Journal Entry 4 by vraciousrdr from Vista, California USA on Thursday, February 20, 2003

Received in trade from alrescate, thanks!! TBR 

Journal Entry 5 by vraciousrdr from Vista, California USA on Friday, March 07, 2003

Heartwarming, cozy story of a group of ladies who despite circumstances wove the pieces of their shattered lives together . Gave it an 8 out of 10 because of abrupt unfinished ending for Bonnie - no resolution.

From the back of the book:

Welcome to Florabama, Alabama - a place where you can sip a co'cola or iced tea and think about money and love. If you had 'em, you were free to think about other things. If you didn't, you couldn't think about anything else.

"We've been screwed blue and tattooed." quips Hilly Pruitt, upon hearing the news of the closing of Cherished Lady, the local lingerie factory where she's spent a lifetime. The same day the plant closes, Bonnie Duke Cullman, former deb-turned Atlanta-society-wife, has herself been downsized - right out of her marriage and picture picture life. In an unlikely alliance, Bonnie, Hilly, and the rest of the ex-bra seamstresses join forces in the "Displaced Homemakers Program" at a podunk community college. Together they endure a midlife survival course where the events of a single year forever alter the way they see the world and their places in it.

Lois Battle creates a rich tapestry of female friendships in this funny, heartfelt, and poignant story about the surprising power of a group of small-town women. 

Journal Entry 6 by vraciousrdr at Bookcrosser in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan USA on Friday, June 13, 2003

Released on Friday, June 13, 2003 at Bookcrosser in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan USA.

Released as RABCK to mellion108 via mail 

Journal Entry 7 by mellion108 from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan USA on Friday, June 27, 2003

I'm so excited! What a great day. I dragged myself through too much traffic, stalled in construction zones, trying to finish errands on a busy, busy Friday when everyone and his brother decided to leave work early and clog the roads.

Then I finally, finally with only 5 minutes to spare, make it to my post office box. I unlock the little door, reach in, and find...this wonderful little book from vraciousrdr. What a nice way to end what could have been a horrible, swear-worthy afternoon!

Thanks so much for the book. I can't wait to read it. :) 

Journal Entry 8 by mellion108 from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan USA on Friday, July 11, 2003

I am on a mission to read the books sent to me by other BookCrossers so that I can let the books continue to travel. I seem to have more books than time, so this is a daunting task!

Anyway, I finished this book yesterday and enjoyed it. I was expecting something more along the lines of a Fannie Flagg or Adriana Trigiani or something, but this book isn't quite like that. The women are southern, but there aren't as many quirky characters as in some of the other "southern women" novels (for lack of a better term). Although it has its moments, this book isn't the bust-a-gut-laughing kind of read--it really focuses more on life changes and courage and how some families are more about the people you decide to include rather than the people with whom you share blood ties.

True, the book doesn't really wrap up what happens to Bonnie, but it obviously sets up for a sequel. I'd really like to read more about Ruth, Hilly, Albertine and Henry, Bonnie, and Cass. I liked this book enough to check into any sequel. I'm going to offer this as a bookray to see if there's enough interest. If not, I'll try to RABCK it.

• AmberLee17 (California)
  
• geniedances (Texas)
  
• sejent (Kentucky)
  
• mysteryfan03 (Missouri)
  
• caretta (Alabama)
  
• WarEagle78 (Alabama)
  
• rern (New York) Asked to be skipped
  
• weeblet (Virginia) Asked to be skipped
  
• talkland (U.K.)
  
• Annelis (Finland)
  
• riroti (Netherlands) Current reader!
  
• puppymummy (Australia)
  
• kymberlie (Texas)
  

Journal Entry 9 by AmberLee17 from Stockton, California USA on Monday, August 25, 2003

It arrived TODAY! (Mon. 25 Aug 03) (Packaging a little battered, it looks like the book has a bit of a story to tell beyond which we'll ever get to learn...)

Thanks for the opportunity Mellion108 and other generous BookCrossers! 

Journal Entry 10 by AmberLee17 from Stockton, California USA on Saturday, September 06, 2003

It wasn't quite what I expected, but I enjoyed it very much! I would love to read the sequel, but based on the summary of the author's work in the back, she mainly writes stand alone novels.

*Oh, SPIT!* I want to know what happens to Bonnie, her father and step-mom, her kids and their significant others, to Hilly and Jess and their blended family, to Ruth as she accepts new challenges... even Norma Jean in the office. (Not Snoopy or Roxy, my curiosity does have limits *grin*) I guess this is the sign of a successful novel to get us caring about characters. But I want more resolution than it looks like I'll get.

One thing that intrigued me with the writing was my emotional response to the shut-down of the Florabama plant that triggers much of the action. Earlier this year the division I'd worked at for almost 22 years shut down (much more gracefully and honestly than the one in the book) and this helped me process (sorry to be so trendy but can't think of another word) a lot of what I did not have time to deal with when we were panickedly seeking new positions. I must look up more of Ms. Battle's writing.

Thank you for ringing this. Although I'd expected something folksy and crafty, what I got was more what I needed. 

Journal Entry 11 by geniedances from Houston, Texas USA on Saturday, September 20, 2003

The book arrived today. Thanks for sharing! 

Journal Entry 12 by geniedances from Houston, Texas USA on Saturday, September 20, 2003

The book arrived today. Thanks for sharing! 

Journal Entry 13 by geniedances from Houston, Texas USA on Thursday, October 09, 2003

Enjoyed the book! Found myself getting involved with the gals who lost their jobs and were making an effort to better themselves. I will be sending this on to Segent in Kentucky. 

Journal Entry 14 by geniedances at Releasing to the next bookcrosser on the Bookring in Houston, Texas USA on Friday, October 10, 2003

Released on Friday, October 10, 2003 at Releasing to the next bookcrosser on the Bookring in Houston, Texas USA.

As of today, the book is in the mail. 

Journal Entry 15 by sejent from Louisville, Kentucky USA on Tuesday, October 14, 2003

Received in today's mail...will start reading soon and will journal again when I have finished. 

Journal Entry 16 by sejent from Louisville, Kentucky USA on Sunday, December 21, 2003

Sending to mysteryfan03 in Moberly, MO. 

Journal Entry 17 by mysteryfan03 from Moberly, Missouri USA on Saturday, December 27, 2003

Received this today!! Thanks! I will pass it on when I get to read it. (have a couple of others in front of it)  

Journal Entry 18 by mysteryfan03 from Moberly, Missouri USA on Thursday, January 08, 2004

This was a nice light read. I really enjoyed the book after I got into it. Thanks for an enjoyable book!! 

Journal Entry 19 by caretta from Lynchburg, Virginia USA on Saturday, January 31, 2004

This book arrived on Thursday - thanks mysteryfan03! This is next up on my TBR pile. 

Journal Entry 20 by caretta from Lynchburg, Virginia USA on Saturday, February 21, 2004

This book wasn't exactly what I expected, but I did enjoy it. My favorite parts were short, 1-3 line descriptions of many ordinary places, people, and things that Lois Battle just nailed. My least favorite parts involved the two romantic relationships that developed during the book. I felt those parts took away from the main story line. And I didn't mind the way it ended - I felt that the author provided enough closure to the story she was telling. Overall, I'm glad that I had a chance to read this book that I probably would have never picked up on my own - thanks, mellion108 for the ray!

This book is now off to WarEagle78, who is obviously another Auburn Tiger :-) 

Journal Entry 21 by WarEagle78 from Hoover, Alabama USA on Wednesday, February 25, 2004

The book arrived today - thanks caretta for sending it on! Will journal again when read. 

Journal Entry 22 by WarEagle78 from Hoover, Alabama USA on Thursday, March 04, 2004

There was a lot to like in The Florabama Ladies' Auxiliary & Sewing Circle. The theme of life changes in the book was nicely done; some of the descriptions were beautifully written. I loved the parts about the house Bonnie rented, for example, and you could just visualize the house in New Orleans, the restaurants, the graduation ceremony. The characters were quirky and individual just as I would expect to find in rural southern Alabama.

However, the book left me wondering if chapters had been deleted by editor's error. I never got a sense of many of the characters. I guess I had a preconceived and erroneous idea about what the focus of the book would be. I just didn't see enough of the women pulling together, I never really understood how they were surviving individually after the layoff, I expected the theft to be more of a climactic moment, and how Snoopy found camellias in her garden to donate to table decorations in late May defies all odds.

I guess in some ways I could say the book was so good it left me needing more. But really to me it just felt incomplete and I was disappointed.

Oh well, I appreciate Mellion108 including me in the bookray as this book has been on my list for quite some time. It will be heading off to England when I next hit the post office, as rern and weeblet have asked to be skipped. 

Journal Entry 23 by WarEagle78 from Hoover, Alabama USA on Saturday, March 13, 2004

On its way to England today, will be a few weeks before it resurfaces! 

Journal Entry 24 by talkland from Eastbourne, East Sussex United Kingdom on Sunday, April 18, 2004

This arrived on Friday but I have been busy whooping it up this weekend!!! 

Journal Entry 25 by talkland from Eastbourne, East Sussex United Kingdom on Thursday, May 06, 2004

A lovely gentle story about women who have been laid off when the local lingerie factory closes and how it affects their lives. I have been dipping into it every day on the way to and from work on the train. 

Journal Entry 26 by talkland at on Thursday, May 06, 2004

Released on Thursday, May 06, 2004 at the post office in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, in Controlled Releases.

Off to Finland... 

Journal Entry 27 by Annelis from Kerava, Uusimaa Finland on Thursday, June 03, 2004

Journal Entry 28 by Annelis from Kerava, Uusimaa Finland on Saturday, July 17, 2004

Journal Entry 29 by riroti from Nijverdal, Overijssel Netherlands on Sunday, August 01, 2004

Received the book yesterday, will start reading it soon!!

Ria 

Journal Entry 30 by riroti from Nijverdal, Overijssel Netherlands on Wednesday, September 29, 2004

This was a very nice read! I wish there was a follow-up, seemed to short for all the different stories to tell.
The book is off to Texas tomorrow.
Thanks for including me in this bookray. 

Journal Entry 31 by mellion108 from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan USA on Saturday, April 23, 2005

Alas, it appears that this book has been lost somewhere since it hasn't been seen since riroti mailed it in September 2004. I hope that it has found a good home somewhere, and I hope the rest of you on the list get a chance to read it someday!