Beth Inman could have been the " little
586017
Voice in my mind " as we began our move into life on the RV road.  Things I struggled with working out were all explained in her book, clearly and simply. Excellent ideas, with examples, pictures, and her thoughts about the process of why they decided on this traveling life, how to manage the move, and practical ideas for the transition are covered.  I hope to meet her somewhere "on the road" and give her a hug for sharing with everyone.
3829007
You know, I did really like the story. It would be one of my favorite quick reads if I wasn't so confused about why Christy Hayes has some of the same character, verbatim, as in Friday Night Lights. Character names are hard to come up with, true. I just wish that hadn't been so obvious.
1813699
This was a nice (not always the most positive adjective one can assign) little summer story that had numerous characters, few of whom seemed real.  I would have to agree with the other reviewers who found the book somewhat disappointing. Neither Dabney or Clenendin demonstrated any really admirable qualities, they were mired in self-interest.  Clenendin and Dabney's "love affair" wasn't the stuff of Dr. Zhivago, it was more extreme stupidity that lacked credibility. Not to mention selfishness. Dabney suffers from a disorder that won't allow her to leave the island (other than to receive a degree from Harvard, really? That seems like a smear against the University's mind-broadening capabilities!) She then lets her "soul mate" leave the island to pursue a career (why else would you get a degree from Yale?) refusing to go with him, even though she's pregnant.  She ultimately marries a decent man whose tragic flaw is that he's committed to his work, at which he's brilliant, she still refusing to leave the island even though he tries to open the world to her. He's sentenced to a life of constant commuting, living life as a bachelor (and faithful, to boot) at Harvard, where he teaches. Ultimately he feels guilt because he wasn't "attentive enough." Please. Almost three decades later the love of Dabney's teenaged life returns and destroys her marriage, even though he's been absent for almost 30 years and has had no part in raising his daughter, Dabney's husband took on that task, even adopting her.  Hard to feel sympathy for the woman....yes, she did a great job for the chamber of commerce, but did she ever really sacrifice her wants for either her "great love" or her more than decent husband? Hardly. I found her to be an unlikeable protagonist, one who never matured beyond high school, despite her Harvard degree (and there was zero description there, it was just mentioned in passing a few times, what was the point?)

For those who rave about the rich details about Nantucket, I disagree.  I felt they were sketchy, just references to beaches and restaurants with a few details, like a list of various oyster offerings.  Come on.  How about a little description of the places mentioned, and maybe a little history thrown in...it is, after all, steeped in all kinds of interesting tidbits.  The author mentions the protagonist's ancestor who stood at the corner of two streets talking to passersby about voting rights for women.  Why not let readers know it was the birthplace of Lucretia Coffin Mott, one of the leaders of the movement (and one of my ancestors!)  With some plot changes and better background, this could have been a really good book.  As it is, it's just chic lit, mediocre at best.
1656401
This a lovely little story about a couple long separated having to overcome the past to get together again. The mystery was a nice touch and there was a lot packed into this little story. I was definitely rooting for the hero. There were a few things that could have been fleshed out better with the heroine, but then I think the culprit is how short this book was. Definitely had to keep picking it back up to read until I finished. An enjoyable story.
4252118
My main criticism is that Amy's voice was such a small portion of the book.. The author had some good thoughts and seemed to be familiar with the subject of ladyboys, but I was more interested in Amy's life and experiences and insights.
As much access and time he had with her, I would have expected much more of her presence in the narrative. Amy was a great subject for the book, don't get me wrong, but I didn't feel I knew very much about her at the end.
I do understand that it's a book touching on a somewhat famous person and not a bio.
For anyone with more interest about the nitty-gritty, I'd suggest "Ladyboys: Inside the Secret World of Thailand's Third Sex." It gives the complete stories of several ladyboys in very different circumstances.

P.S.If the author does another book, I'd be willing to read over for grammar and typos at a quite reasonable rate. I noticed a few of those -- nothing glaring, IIRC, but as an English major a few things were obvious.
2683276
Betsy Craig began her career in the little Kansas town Spring Water where as a young reporter she quickly learned that small town mentality and the 'good old boy' syndrome was alive, well and going to cause her trouble. Betsy's boss Bob Parker is unreasonable in his firing of Betsy because a local rowdy muttered a swear word into the open mic during an interview. Parker tells Betsy that were she a man the incident would never have taken place. When Betsy seeks legal recourse she finds herself facing a brick wall and decides to leave Kansas for the opportunities she hopes will be greater in Pennsylvania.
Fourteen years pass and Dr Craig, Professor at Mountain View University is up for tenure. Betsy has taught journalism and broadcasting at the school for six years, has begun a growing relationship with the Dean of English, Todd Baker and feels her life is on a positive track. She is aghast when the retention Committee turn down her tenure because her immediate boss Dr Steve Harding has not sent a letter supporting tenure for Betsy.
Betsy is dismayed to learn that Steve's supervisor Dean Chambers is determined to get rid of her and has put pressure on Steve to withhold his support for her. Betsy suspects that her relationship with Todd may be part of the underlying cause for what has happened. Chambers' secretary is a woman who would like to continue the relationship she and Todd enjoyed prior to Betsy. As if this were not enough Betsy is soon scrutinized because of attention she receives from ROTC director Mike Kelly.
Mountain View is a borough steeped in its heritage. Many of the citizens have lived in the area for generations and make themselves part of every segment of the Community. The town is controlled by The Founders and Betsy is not welcomed by several of the more puissant of the present day family members. From the outright maneuvering of Anna to machination of supposed friend Steve Harding Betsy learns that she is being forced out. Back in Kansas she chose to leave and find another job. At that time Betsy decided that life is like a hard boiled egg. At times we must just eat a little shell along with the good stuff. Here in Pennsylvania she decides to stay and fight. Betsy is a might wary: her last foray against discrimination was not a success.
Gives the reader a glimpse into the lives of many small communities run by the descendants of the founders where rumor mongering, willful incompetents and downright ugly people hold sway over others. We are led to realize that the fine line between victim and victor may be mighty thin.
Filled with intense imagery and absorbing characters sure to keep the reader turning pages A Mouth Full of Shell is a well wrought work showing some of the problems to be encountered by a determined woman in a male dominated, tight knit world. Writer Gotsch has produced characters who are well developed, often not very likeable and very convincing. Betsy has to be tough, she is a sympathetic character the reader can empathize with as she struggles to take charge of her own life.
A Mouth Full of Shell will grip the reader from the first line and carry along on a worrisome ride to the final paragraph as we grapple with the unfairness often facing Betsy. It is not a book for everyone, those who do not care for a feminist viewpoint, or think that 'good old boy rule' is best will not care for the work. Discerning readers who do enjoy a well wrought tale filled with a bit of social message, nicely crafted settings and characters, vibrant dialogue at times hard hitting and gritty and a strong woman who does win in the end will find the book to their taste.
Reviewed by: molly martin
2932013
I'm glad Eleanor had someone she could trust and talk to. I think Ms. Hickok didn't get the credit she deserved in history for helping Eleanor have a clear picture of what matters to American people. Especially at that time. So what if they were lovers. I can see where she would be quite lonely.
4251708
I did not remember Missy in Little House, but her picture on the book cover was familiar. I enjoyed this book, but was often incensed by the mother who was a money monger and seemed to only "love" her daughters when they were making money. It was equally annoying when her father never stepped in to control the situation, but he did love them without reservation. So glad this story ended in a good place.
3005755
I read this book practically in one sitting (on two legs of a plane flight) and I have to admit enjoying it.  However, I was somewhat appalled at Juliet for two reasons.  One, a pregnant woman does not have to be a slob, and she definitely was.  Two, her daughter, although bright and creative, is a brat.  I know this because she reminds me a great deal of my 6 1/2 year old granddaughter.  If you can't control a child when she's two, you can't control her at six or at sixteen.  Some discipline is sadly overdue here, but it's not too late at this point.  And dear Peter is an enabler. The whole family needs to get its act together quickly while Isaac (I can't possibly imagine allowing a 2 year old to choose her sibling's name--what were they thinking?) is young enough to be controllable.  However, I enjoyed the book and I do intend to purchase her new novel.
316661
I don't think I've ever written a review in the middle of a book before, but I am so distracted by one element, I had to stop and write about it.  For the most part, I really enjoyed the story.  It wasn't too cookie cutter and had some unique elements.  Rena, the heroine, did adjust just a bit too easily after only a couple of days and there is a moderate amount of grammatical errors, but none so distacting as the author's CONSTANT description of how small Rena was.

I'm 60% through the book and at least 10% has been devoted to her size.  No quotation marks here because I didn't go back through the book to quote them directly, but close enough for you to get the gist of my meaning.

Jake, she's small, just the way you like them, even smaller than Molly (saloon girl), he always liked small women, her sister in law's dresses were so big they were swimming on her, it would take three of her to make up the size of one normal woman, the only ready made clothes that would fit would be those for little girls, bet a little bitty thing like that isn't woman enough for you, you're so tiny I bet big old Jake hurt you on your wedding night...that should give you the idea.  It has been creepy and seems to get worse, almost like a town of pedophiles.  That may not be the intention of the author, but the vibes are there for me.

Now I have nothing against small women, but it really detracts from the story to beat a dead horse like that and repeat over and over she is the size of a little girl.  Although I am otherwise enjoying the book, I am not likely to read more from this author because it sounds like a pattern that may repeat itself and it is just too creepy.  I will finish this one because it is a good story, and hope the creepiness ends, but I don't hold out much hope.
2653031
A pretty obvious debut novel for this writer.  She still needs to learn a lot about character development in my opinion.  However she does have a lot of potential.  She reminds me a little of Fannie Flagg with her working with small towns and their quirks.
I certainly do wish her well though because there was a lot I also enjoyed about the book.
2948479
You won't have to spend much time reading this very short novel, but digesting it may take a little longer.  Esperanza is a teenager who doesn't like her name.  This is one of the many things we learn about her, as she acquaints us with her neighbors, mostly women, ashamed, abused, diseased, or locked away--stuck in situations that they can never overcome--in a Latino section of Chicago.  Her family's house is not what she or her parents had yearned for, but it's a step up from the rentals with apathetic landlords that they've endured in the past.  Except for her Papa, the men are not good for much of anything except dance partners.  Mostly, though we learn about Esperanza's hopes, dreams, friendships, and at least one traumatic episode in her life.  She vows not to become a teenaged single mother like some of the girls she knows and tells her story, as well as theirs, in a series of very short narratives.  Although the ending is hopeful, I would have liked a little more laughter or at least some characters that served as role models or positive influences, rather than just examples of what not to do.  Where does Esperanza get her gumption?  I'm still not sure, but at least she has some.
45007
This is a short story that takes me back to my past in Ohio. Not that I heard anything quite as detailed as the narrator is relating, but similar in tone... It seems that all small towns have their "cemetery" ghost stories and widows tales designed to intrigue, frighten and encourage gossip and speculation. It was a form of entertainment long before TV came along.

The narrator is a woman who was a teen in the fifties when her family lived across the street from a seamstress named Mrs. Hill. As an adult now, she tells the story of Mrs. Hill: "a perpetual widow who buried five husbands within twelve years. Her marriages were so brief that the friends and neighbors never bothered to learn the true name of the new spouse; therefore, all of Mrs. Hill's husbands were identified as Mr. Hill. She had the sympathy of all her neighbors - all but one."

It so happens that when the teen girl sees the fifth husband being placed in the ambulance, she starts thinking back. On a rare occasion when she's in their home, she remembers the latest Mr. Hill complaining about the lemonade "tasting funny" and other clues. But it isn't until Mrs. Hill finally passes on and her great-grandson inherits the house that she comes to the conclusion that perhaps the "poor, grieving widow" had somehow killed her many husbands and gotten away with it.

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Mrs-and-Mr-Hill/dp/B006NAXSM8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Mrs. and Mr. Hill</a>&nbsp;is an intriguing story that doesn't reach any positive conclusions, but makes one wonder what really happened back then in the fifties when, as the narrator says "Let the Blacks kill themselves seemed to be the consensus of opinion of the police department." Thus, they never investigate Mrs. Hill.

No one knows that Mrs. Hill has a daughter and granddaughter, so what happens when they suddenly show up? And why do she and the daughter fight all the time? What does the teen narrator hear the daughter scream at her mother just before stomping away? How does that fit into the girl's speculation? And what does she learn from the great-grandson years later when he visits the house he inherits?

Kudos to author Elaine T. Jones for answering those questions and many more. She's a rare gem who manages to tell a story that makes one feel they're sitting beside her, listening raptly to every word, reminiscent of the greatest storytellers of ages past.

Reviewed by Betty Dravis, February 26, 2012
Author of award-winning "1106 Grand Boulevard"
2144277
This short book was written from the heart. I can tell, she is trying to remember things to the best of her ability and not embellish. It felt disjointed to me, could have used some editing. But read away I did.

Child abuse happens more then anyone realizes. The one thing I took away from this book was to act. If you suspect, call someone. Children need an advocate, and if it's not in the house, that job is ours.
2391244
Daddy's little girl is just that, a little girl with a big mouth brother. She is and will be a one hit wonder, like all the others from the 50s, 60, and 70s.

If it wasn't for her Daddy's VH! "B-list" show and money, there would be no CD, no contracts. Like I said a B list one hit wonder. And I wonder how she would of done it with out her BIG Daddy's money.
3406963
I enjoyed the book, and the characters are well developed, but I felt the book was more like an extended short story than a fully developed novel.  The whole book centers around the tragic death of two teenagers (Hossam and Natalie), with the story line switching back and forth between various timelines (i.e. early in Hossam's parents' marriage, when Hossam and Natalie were alive, and after their death).  The book focuses on Hossam's family, Egyptian-American Muslims, and the ways in which the teenagers' tragic deaths affect the various members of that family.

Hassib does a beautiful job providing a small window into an American-Muslim family's existence, beliefs, practices and cultural pushes/pulls (American liberalism and Egyptian conservatism and mysticism), making thi family's characters realistic and honest.  But I felt that Hassib really missed something by not delving further into Hossam and Natalie's characters, their relationship, and how things developed up until their tragic deaths, as well as not developing (expanding on) the relationship between their two families prior to, and after, their deaths.  It's as if there were ten potential story lines to follow and develop, and Hassib chose to only develop half of them.  The book, thus, is a good story, but it had the potential to be something really great.
975598
Can we see more of Beth (aka the bad witch)  I think maybe she has a lot more to offer the school than her scheming rotten sister ?