Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
17 journalers for this copy...
Purchased for $1.99 at the Salvation Army on 4th Avenue and 11th Street in NY, NY on October 26th, 2005.
Extra copy purchased for bookcrossing!
From Publishers Weekly
Five friends live through three decades of marriages, child raising, neighborhood parties, bad husbands and good brownies-and Landvik (Patty Jane's House of Curl) doesn't miss a single cliche as she chronicles their lives in this pleasant but wholly familiar novel of female bonding. When Faith Owens's husband is transferred from Texas to the "stupid godforsaken frozen tundra" of Freesia Court, Minn., in 1968, her life looks like it's going to be one dull, snowy slog-until the power goes out one evening and a group of what appear to be madwomen start a snowball fight in her backyard. These dervishes turn out to be her neighbors: antiwar activist Slip; sexpot Audrey; painfully shy Merit; and widow Kari. They become fast friends and decide to escape their humdrum routine by starting the Freesia Court Book Club, later given the eponymous name by one of their disgruntled husbands. As the years pass, Audrey and Merit get divorced, Kari adopts her niece's illegitimate baby, all five of the women find work outside their homes and they even smoke a joint together. Their personal dramas are regularly punctuated by reflections on political milestones ("First Martin Luther King, Jr., then Bobby Kennedy. As if we didn't have enough to worry about with this stupid war..."). While some scenes are touching and genuinely funny, readers of Fannie Flagg, Rita Mae Brown, Rebecca Wells and many imitators will feel that they've seen this before.
Extra copy purchased for bookcrossing!
From Publishers Weekly
Five friends live through three decades of marriages, child raising, neighborhood parties, bad husbands and good brownies-and Landvik (Patty Jane's House of Curl) doesn't miss a single cliche as she chronicles their lives in this pleasant but wholly familiar novel of female bonding. When Faith Owens's husband is transferred from Texas to the "stupid godforsaken frozen tundra" of Freesia Court, Minn., in 1968, her life looks like it's going to be one dull, snowy slog-until the power goes out one evening and a group of what appear to be madwomen start a snowball fight in her backyard. These dervishes turn out to be her neighbors: antiwar activist Slip; sexpot Audrey; painfully shy Merit; and widow Kari. They become fast friends and decide to escape their humdrum routine by starting the Freesia Court Book Club, later given the eponymous name by one of their disgruntled husbands. As the years pass, Audrey and Merit get divorced, Kari adopts her niece's illegitimate baby, all five of the women find work outside their homes and they even smoke a joint together. Their personal dramas are regularly punctuated by reflections on political milestones ("First Martin Luther King, Jr., then Bobby Kennedy. As if we didn't have enough to worry about with this stupid war..."). While some scenes are touching and genuinely funny, readers of Fannie Flagg, Rita Mae Brown, Rebecca Wells and many imitators will feel that they've seen this before.
I've decided to make this a bookray! Please PM me to join - there is no limit to the number of participants as this is a bookray.
Shipping order (temporary as of 10/27/05):
1) twinkpuddin (NY, can ship intl)
2) KarinAlyssa (Can, prefers to ship to US)
3) SillySilhouette (OH, prefers to ship within US)
4) Timollie5502 (PA, prefers to ship within US)
5) SCA2003 (OH, prefers to ship within US)
6) Sabeena29 (MA, prefers to ship within US)
7) ellis917 (FL, prefers to ship within US)
8) Anne-girl80 (IL, prefers to ship within US)
9) KarenLea (CA, can ship anywhere)
10) lauraloo29 (Can, prefers to ship to US)
11) glade1 (NC, prefers within US)
12) genielady (WV, prefers to ship within US)
13) Suebo (PA, prefers to ship within US)
14) ToXiCKiTTiKiSS (CA, prefers to ship within US)
15) mrsordonez (MO, prefers US ship)
16) cowgirl-up (OH, can ship int'l)
17) JanieMac75 (Scotland, prefers to ship within UK)
18) Inver (Scotland, can ship anywhere)
19) BonnethillBunny
20) Elsita (Portugal, prefers EU if poss.)
21) concertina8 (Austria, prefers EU if poss.)
22) KatColorado (Switzerland, can ship anywhere)
23) boomda181 (Can, can ship anywhere)
24) bookfairy65 (Australia, prefers within Australia)
25) BellaMack (Australia, prefers within Australia)
Bookray Rules:
1) Please journal when you receive the book so we know you got it!
2) Please journal your thoughts when done (good or bad, it's ok!)
3) Please try to keep the book no longer than a month.
4) PM the next reader for the shipping address.
5) Send away and journal when sent!
6) Have fun!
Shipping order (temporary as of 10/27/05):
1) twinkpuddin (NY, can ship intl)
2) KarinAlyssa (Can, prefers to ship to US)
3) SillySilhouette (OH, prefers to ship within US)
4) Timollie5502 (PA, prefers to ship within US)
5) SCA2003 (OH, prefers to ship within US)
6) Sabeena29 (MA, prefers to ship within US)
7) ellis917 (FL, prefers to ship within US)
8) Anne-girl80 (IL, prefers to ship within US)
9) KarenLea (CA, can ship anywhere)
10) lauraloo29 (Can, prefers to ship to US)
11) glade1 (NC, prefers within US)
12) genielady (WV, prefers to ship within US)
13) Suebo (PA, prefers to ship within US)
14) ToXiCKiTTiKiSS (CA, prefers to ship within US)
15) mrsordonez (MO, prefers US ship)
16) cowgirl-up (OH, can ship int'l)
17) JanieMac75 (Scotland, prefers to ship within UK)
18) Inver (Scotland, can ship anywhere)
19) BonnethillBunny
20) Elsita (Portugal, prefers EU if poss.)
21) concertina8 (Austria, prefers EU if poss.)
22) KatColorado (Switzerland, can ship anywhere)
23) boomda181 (Can, can ship anywhere)
24) bookfairy65 (Australia, prefers within Australia)
25) BellaMack (Australia, prefers within Australia)
Bookray Rules:
1) Please journal when you receive the book so we know you got it!
2) Please journal your thoughts when done (good or bad, it's ok!)
3) Please try to keep the book no longer than a month.
4) PM the next reader for the shipping address.
5) Send away and journal when sent!
6) Have fun!
Journal Entry 3 by KarenZero at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, October 30, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (10/30/2005 UTC) at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Off to twinkpuddin!
Off to twinkpuddin!
Caught! I am in the middle of another book for a ring right now - but I expect to be done with it by next week and get a start on this!
Finished this up last nite. I was really pleasantly surprised by this book - I enjoyed it a lot more than I had expected to. The book really gave the comforting feeling of getting together with old friends. I liked the whole book club idea and how it brought them all together. Thanks to KarenZero for sharing!
Have KarinAlyssa's address and hope to get the book heading to Canada this week.
Have KarinAlyssa's address and hope to get the book heading to Canada this week.
Journal Entry 6 by twinkpuddin at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (11/23/2005 UTC) at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Off today! Enjoy!
Off today! Enjoy!
Received today, I even started it. Will journal later. Thanks KarenZero and TwinkPuddin !
I thought I had journal it afterwards, but there's nothing. This book was amazing because I had never thought that being a member of a bookclub could be so fulfilling and fun. To see the lives of those different women evolving was great as well. The writer had a way with words and each page just flew away until I arrived at the end. The only slight default was that most of the books read by the club were not known to me, so the discussion part left me cold.
Thanks for sharing, it was sent on December 16 to SillySilhouette in OH.
I thought I had journal it afterwards, but there's nothing. This book was amazing because I had never thought that being a member of a bookclub could be so fulfilling and fun. To see the lives of those different women evolving was great as well. The writer had a way with words and each page just flew away until I arrived at the end. The only slight default was that most of the books read by the club were not known to me, so the discussion part left me cold.
Thanks for sharing, it was sent on December 16 to SillySilhouette in OH.
Thanks! Looks like a good one!
Will start reading it soon...
Well, sorry fellow "rayers". I can't "digest" any more of this book. I stopped on page 88 after I realized that I would rather do housework than try to read it!
Needless to say, my decision has liberated me. And I must admit (not proudly) that this is the first bookray/ring that I've ever not finished.
I liked how it started out with the depth of Faith's emotions and circumstances. They were described in first person. However, I was a little put off when the first person switched to someone else. Things became worse when the characters started acting in unbelievably childish and irresponsible ways.
I also felt that the story was drawn out and went into too many tangents. -Need I say more?!
Mailed to timollie5502 on 1/17/06.
Just got this in the mail today... I'll start it right away - I'm looking forward to it! Thanks for sharing!
I just finished this last night, and I really enjoyed it a lot. I love reading stories about groups of tight-knit women friends - that's something I've always longed for, and I love living vicariously through books like this. Thanks so much for sharing this book!
Sending on to SCA2003 on 2/21/06.
Sending on to SCA2003 on 2/21/06.
Recv'ed in the mail today, I'll read it after 2 other books. I'm looking forward to this one :)
I stayed up late finishing this book, really loved it! Since moving here I don't have any tight friends and I "adopted" this group for a short while! After reading this book I'm going to search for a book club :)
Journal Entry 14 by SCA2003 at Sent to fellow Book Crosser by mail. in Lancaster, Ohio USA on Thursday, April 6, 2006
Released 18 yrs ago (4/6/2006 UTC) at Sent to fellow Book Crosser by mail. in Lancaster, Ohio USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Sent on to sabeena29, Enjoy!
Sent on to sabeena29, Enjoy!
Journal Entry 15 by sabeena29 from not specified, not specified not specified on Wednesday, April 19, 2006
received today- with another book that's part of a ring- will try to get to this asap and send on its way- I see its very popular - thanks KarenZero for hosting and the other participants for helping it travel :)
Journal Entry 16 by sabeena29 from not specified, not specified not specified on Wednesday, May 24, 2006
update: am about halfway through and really enjoying so far- have sent two pms to ellis917 but no response - have pmed the next person on the list Anne-girl80 for her address. Will finish and send out this weekend.
Journal Entry 17 by sabeena29 from not specified, not specified not specified on Sunday, May 28, 2006
When I first heard of this book I thought it was a chick lit book- i.e. Jane Green or Jen Weiner- although I like that genre I'm glad this was different. I found the characters well developed and unique- I could really relate to the story as I am around the age of the character's first born children. At times, it was a bit confusing with the first person changes but I just looked back to the beginning of that chapter to double-check who was telling their story. I also liked the letters Faith wrote to her mother and found that to be an integral part of the story. Sending off to Anne-girl80 - enjoy!
I received this book last week, and haven't had time to submit a journal entry. I'm sorry. I started reading it that night. I'm really enjoying it, and look foward to getting the kids to bed every night, so that I can read! This is my first bookray. Thanks for inviting me to join!!!
I completely enjoyed this book. I looked foward to finding a few minutes each day to squeeze in a few pages. There is nothing better than reading about the strong friendships we as women have. Being a housewife and young mother, I empathized with the characters at the start of the book. I grew up in the Twin Cities, so I enjoyed reading about the facets of life I grew-up with and miss dearly. I often biked to Minnehaha Falls when I was at the University! A definite recommendation for any housewife looking for a book to read!! I am sending this to California for KarenLea to read.
Caught!!! I have a few books ahead of it, but I should be able to start it soon. Thank You for sharing!!!
I loved this book. I really didn't expect it to be so sad and touching. I connected with all of the characters and wished that the book had been longer.
I will mail of this book to the next reader on Monday.
Thank you to Karenzero for sharing this book!!!
I will mail of this book to the next reader on Monday.
Thank you to Karenzero for sharing this book!!!
Received in the mail on Monday (8-14-06). More later...
Update: Oops! We were logged in under my daughter's screen name. This is really glade1 catching this book!
Update: Oops! We were logged in under my daughter's screen name. This is really glade1 catching this book!
OK, sorry, that last entry was under my daughter's screen name. Now glade1 has officially caught this book!
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would early on. The more I read the more I wanted to read more and find out what happened next. There were a few details that hit sour notes for me, though.
First, being a Southerner, I cannot STAND it when someone uses y'all in the singular. Y'all is a contraction of you all (second person plural)! Several times in this book, Ms. Landvik has her Southern-born characters using y'all when speaking to only one person. I know it's nitpicking but that is one of my pet peeves.
A few other things seemed a little unrealistic--I know, it's fiction! But would there have been an openly gay couple living in suburban Minnesota in the early seventies? Maybe so but it seemed a little off to me. And the switching from first person to third person, from letters to narrative, etc., annoyed me at first, though I grew used to it. Also, like others, I have read very few of the books the book club discussed, so I'm sure I lost some of the significance there.
Despite these minor irritations, I enjoyed the story and "bonded" with the characters. Like timollie said, I enjoy vicariously living with close-knit groups of women. I've not had that in my adult life and I miss it. It makes me want to start a book club!
Thank you, KarenZero, for sharing this book. I have PMed the next person and await an address to move this along.
Update 9-19-06: Genielady asked to be skipped and Suebo is AWOL, so I have PMed ToXiCKiTTiKiSS for an address. As soon as I find someone to send this to, I'll move it along!
Update later on 9-19-06: ToXiCKiTTiKiSS has already read this book so wants to be skipped! I've PMed Mrsordonez for an address.
Update 9-22-06: OK! Finally found someone to take the book. Mailing to mrsordonez today via media mail.
First, being a Southerner, I cannot STAND it when someone uses y'all in the singular. Y'all is a contraction of you all (second person plural)! Several times in this book, Ms. Landvik has her Southern-born characters using y'all when speaking to only one person. I know it's nitpicking but that is one of my pet peeves.
A few other things seemed a little unrealistic--I know, it's fiction! But would there have been an openly gay couple living in suburban Minnesota in the early seventies? Maybe so but it seemed a little off to me. And the switching from first person to third person, from letters to narrative, etc., annoyed me at first, though I grew used to it. Also, like others, I have read very few of the books the book club discussed, so I'm sure I lost some of the significance there.
Despite these minor irritations, I enjoyed the story and "bonded" with the characters. Like timollie said, I enjoy vicariously living with close-knit groups of women. I've not had that in my adult life and I miss it. It makes me want to start a book club!
Thank you, KarenZero, for sharing this book. I have PMed the next person and await an address to move this along.
Update 9-19-06: Genielady asked to be skipped and Suebo is AWOL, so I have PMed ToXiCKiTTiKiSS for an address. As soon as I find someone to send this to, I'll move it along!
Update later on 9-19-06: ToXiCKiTTiKiSS has already read this book so wants to be skipped! I've PMed Mrsordonez for an address.
Update 9-22-06: OK! Finally found someone to take the book. Mailing to mrsordonez today via media mail.
arrived safely, will journal more upon finishing.
Ok, please don't kill me, I still have the book, and am trying to read it while on vacation, I've gotten through the sixties and am in the 70s now. Hope to get it out for the new year, thanks for understanding.....
Ok, I finished the book, but lost cowgirl-up's address. I just sent her a PM, and will mail this upon hearing back from her.
I found this book mediocre. I read the whole thing, which I don't do if it's bad, but wasn't especially on fire about it. The characters did have depth, something that romance novels (which, of course this is not) lack, and that kept me reading, but it felt like everything was tied up in a neat little bundle in the end.
***spoiler alert, to read highlight with mouse***
I especially didn't like the account when Fred, Slip's brother, visits the housewives for a meeting. The account of the girl in Vietnam, although appropriate in its accuracy, was out of place with the tone and rhythm of the rest of the book. If I wanted something that heavy, I'll go pick up nonfiction. Even the dramas of the housewives, such as Merit's abuse, paled in comparison.
I also didn't like how Julia and Kari made up in the span of a few pages, like the author was ready to finish up the book and forgot to put the revalation of Mary Jo in until the end. Faith's outing was also late, how can you be friends, and such close friends as these women seem to be, without revealing her "great shame" or even hinting to it. It was not believable.
For some reason, I just didn't like the characters of Slip and Audrey, probably because Slip was so fit into her "social justice" personality, and Audrey didn't have enough of a personality.
I lost track of whose kids were whose, and had to do a lot of thinking and remembering to keep up. Almost drew family trees. The men became a blur after a while as well.
Overall, it was ho-hum, but entertaining enough to at least complete it, and although I would not recommend it, I don't feel I wasted my time.
I found this book mediocre. I read the whole thing, which I don't do if it's bad, but wasn't especially on fire about it. The characters did have depth, something that romance novels (which, of course this is not) lack, and that kept me reading, but it felt like everything was tied up in a neat little bundle in the end.
***spoiler alert, to read highlight with mouse***
I especially didn't like the account when Fred, Slip's brother, visits the housewives for a meeting. The account of the girl in Vietnam, although appropriate in its accuracy, was out of place with the tone and rhythm of the rest of the book. If I wanted something that heavy, I'll go pick up nonfiction. Even the dramas of the housewives, such as Merit's abuse, paled in comparison.
I also didn't like how Julia and Kari made up in the span of a few pages, like the author was ready to finish up the book and forgot to put the revalation of Mary Jo in until the end. Faith's outing was also late, how can you be friends, and such close friends as these women seem to be, without revealing her "great shame" or even hinting to it. It was not believable.
For some reason, I just didn't like the characters of Slip and Audrey, probably because Slip was so fit into her "social justice" personality, and Audrey didn't have enough of a personality.
I lost track of whose kids were whose, and had to do a lot of thinking and remembering to keep up. Almost drew family trees. The men became a blur after a while as well.
Overall, it was ho-hum, but entertaining enough to at least complete it, and although I would not recommend it, I don't feel I wasted my time.
Arrived safely in the mail. I'll start it as soon as I finish my current read.
This was a fun read. I wouldn't call it light, but it moved along well and had a good rhythm. I loved the perspective of the different housewives throughout and thought it added a lot of variety. The ending seemed a little rushed to me. The last 50 pages revealed so much, but seemed more factual than emotional compared to the rest of the book. This is the first book I've read by this author and I'll be very likely to pick up others.
I've PMed JanieMac75 for an address and will get this out in the mail ASAP. Thanks to KarenZero for sharing this book as a bookray!
I've PMed JanieMac75 for an address and will get this out in the mail ASAP. Thanks to KarenZero for sharing this book as a bookray!
I wasn't able to reach JanieMac75 by PM. I passed the book along today to Inver in Scotland via air mai. Happy reading!
I wasn't able to reach JanieMac75 by PM. I passed the book along today to Inver in Scotland via air mai. Happy reading!
Book arrived in Scotland today, thank you. It will be a wee while before I get to it as I have 3 other bookrings to get through before this one, but will try to get to it ASAP. Looks like it's only stop in the UK, before it gets on its travels again. What a well travelled book!!25/4/07 Still be a wee while before I get to this but next on the bookring list to read.
15/5/07 Started reading at the weekend. Will try to get through it ASAP and get it moving again (heading towards halfway read and enjoying 18/5/07).
30/5/07 Nearly 3/4 way through, been trying to read two bookrings at once, you know how it is!!!
Apologies for holding on to this for so long. I am finished with it now and will be passing along to my sis soon. Overall I enjoyed the book when I actually sat down and concentrated on it. Thought they were a lovely bunch of friends other than just those who meet supposedly to discuss books (although that didn't take up much of the actual story). It is comforting that there are people who stand by each other no matter what ups and downs they go through. Thanks for allowing me to take part in the ray.
4/7/06...UPDATE.....passing on to my sis (Bonnethillbunny)
4/7/06...UPDATE.....passing on to my sis (Bonnethillbunny)
Journal Entry 34 by BonnethillBunny from Pitlochry, Scotland United Kingdom on Friday, July 13, 2007
Just been handed this from Inver (my sister) Hopefully this will be my holiday read once I've finished my book club book.I read a bit of this sneekily and looks like it will be good.
Journal Entry 35 by BonnethillBunny from Pitlochry, Scotland United Kingdom on Friday, October 26, 2007
I really loved this book, the shift from story to story is smooth and easy to follow I liked all the characters and couldn't help wondering if the bookclub I am in will still be going in 40 years time!
Journal Entry 36 by BonnethillBunny from Pitlochry, Scotland United Kingdom on Friday, November 9, 2007
Winging its way to Portugal, wish I was too, the weather will be better!
happy reading Elista.
happy reading Elista.
It's with me, now!
The unbelivable story of five friens who start a book club who lasted more than thirty years. I really loved their stories, knowing their secrets, their loves, their fragile and strong parts.
Thanks so much for sharing this book, KarenZero.
On it's way to concertina8, asap!
13 February - concertina8 asked to be skipped.
- contacting KatColorado.
- KatColorado didn't respond to PM's or ISO
- contacting boomda181
Thanks so much for sharing this book, KarenZero.
On it's way to concertina8, asap!
13 February - concertina8 asked to be skipped.
- contacting KatColorado.
- KatColorado didn't respond to PM's or ISO
- contacting boomda181
The book has finally arrived safely in Ontario, Canada. I will read it very shortly and journal more very soon. Thanks Elsita for mailing to me.
At first I was completely pulled into the lives of the Angry Housewives, but somewhere I lost my steam and dragged the rest of the way through the novel. The women's friendships and arguments interested me but for some reason that I cannot quite figure out, I just wasn't fully committed to them for the entire novel. Thanks for the opportunity to read this book KarenZero. I am trying to get a hold of bookfairy65 to get an address.
