I had to get some of them from inter-library loan, but I was able to find all but one of them. Plainsong was my favorite. It disturbed me, too, though.

It disturbed me, too, though.

But it's so Utopian! And peaceful!

(Yes, I'm joking, but only on the level. If it makes people think, it's done its job.)

If it makes people think

tha's what I meant

disturb isn't bad or good. just made me think more than I planned.

Deb, do you find people have confusion between your book and Kent Haruf's? (obviously because of titles, not so much subject matter).

The reason I ask is that I was in Readerville's YA topic talking about Haruf's Plainsong and other patrons thought I meant yours.

HOWINTHEHELL AM I GOING TO READ ALL THE BOOKS I'M GIVING AS GIFTS BEFORE I GIVE THEM!!!???

It just isn't going to happen. I have too many non-reading chores to get through.

At least there's an active USPS lending library thing happening in my family.

I have too many non-reading chores to get through.

No chores. only read. start with the YA since they go so damned fast.

I am a couple of days late getting this posted. Our Dec. bookclub was on Tuesday. In Dec we all read a different book and give reports. Since we all liked our books (this years theme was other bookclubs and we all, except 1, selected books from the Today Shows list), I though I would list them here as suggestions.

As mentioned before, my book was You are not a Stranger Here. It is a collection of short stories and I loved it. I read one story a day (a suggestion from a bookclub website) and loved that approach. It kept me from getting the stories mixed up and also kept me from getting overwhelmed with some of the more intense plots.

The Known World, Shadow Baby, and Baudolino were the other books read. I don't want to attempt at descriptions as I would probably mangle them. But, I left the meeting wanting to get each one of them to read, so I feel good suggesting them.

The reason I ask is that I was in Readerville's YA topic talking about Haruf's Plainsong and other patrons thought I meant yours.

Oh, my. Who was present? I'm a r'ville regular, but not in the YA topics.

I've had a bit of confusion, but mine was published first by several years, so I can always get snooty over that one. Truth to tell, though. Haruf's is a very good read. Different universes, though.

A plug for my friend and neighbor, who has written for Salon.com, and for whom my college roommate was a long-term babysitter. I haven't read the book yet, but it gets good advance reviews. The blurb is a little blurbifying, but check out her web site to see if this might interest you:

Faulkner Fox's new book, DISPATCHES FROM A NOT-SO-PERFECT LIFE, will be out at the end of December. In this provocative, brutally honest, and often hilarious memoir of motherhood, Faulkner explores the societal and cultural forces that American mothers have to contend with. From the time of her first pregnancy, Faulkner found herself--and her body--scrutinized by doctors, friends, books, strangers, and, perhaps most of all, herself. In chapters such as "A Pregnant Self," "House, Man, Child," and "Judging Friends," she sheds light on the fear, confusion, and isolation experienced by many new mothers, mapping the terrain of contemporary domesticity, marriage, and motherhood in a voice that is utterly candid and irreverent. At the same time, she chronicles the sheer joy she and other mothers take in their children.

For more book information or to find out where Faulkner will be reading, please visit [link]

I know Faulkner! Coolness!