Next book?

Hey all! So I've been checking the group out a little more that what I have been in the past few months.

In saying that, I would love, love, love to be part of the next book talk. So is there anyway ( I know you just finished one and started talking) that we could throw around a few ideas for the next book so I can buy it early and be on the same page as you all?

I have our list. Do you guys want me to go ahead and have Keith pick for February? Then we'll have the 3 options, and we can vote on one of them.

ETA a picture:



This was the best I could get out of Keith!

Well, I went ahead and had Keith choose 3 titles from our ongoing list (Donna, he refused to have his picture taken). They are:

Nobody Said Not To Go by Ken Cuthbertson, suggested by Marise (message 11)

Huckleberry Finished by Livia J. Washburn, suggested by Linda P (message 9)

Truman by David McCullough, suggested by Labwriter/Becky (message 8)

The message numbers refer to the "Future Suggestions" thread.

Also, the floor is always open for additional suggestions. Every time someone mentions something, I put it on the list.

Ready? Set? Vote!

Beckylynn, that's great that you'll be joining us again. We've missed you.

Voila! I was just wondering over on the "Sorry" thread what our next choices will be. Maybe we can bribe Keith next time to get his picture taken?

My No. 1 choice is....Truman, although I suspect others may have already read this one. I have been wanting to forever it seems. I'm thinking it's a chunkster and winter is usually a good time for reading so the timing would be good.

I also thought the first one looked good (I'm judging by the "tags"), but, of course, my library doesn't have it.

The middle book looked kind of similar to the one we just finished.

As always, I'll go along with the group.

I've read #2 and proposed it. I don't think mysteries do that well in a group (unless it's a mysteries group).

I've read #3 and don't care to re-read such a long book.

I guess I'll vote for #1 then.

I vote for the first one, too. I've also read Truman, and really enjoyed it but don't need to read it again for another decade or so.

Donna, I tried bribery (I made 3 dozen of his favorite chocolate mint cookies for him), but it didn't work. He hates having his picture taken. Maybe I'll find a different picture that's already been taken and post it for you...

I also want to read Truman at some point in time, but I think I'd rather go with Nobody Told Me Not To Go. It's fairly inexpensive on Amazon or at BetterWorldBooks.com. Emily Hahn sounds like a fascinating person. Apparently she lived in St. Louis until she was 15, when she moved to Chicago. So Linda P would have a Chicago connection with it too!

>5 lindapanzo: Linda, do you think I should take it off the list?

Maybe we'll have a final vote by Friday, so everyone will have time to order it for Christmas!

Take # 2 off? Sure. I don't think two mysteries in a row would be a good idea.

If Huckleberry Finished is being taken off the ballot, then I'm not sure what to do. That is probably what I would have voted for.

As for the other two - both biographies - I've been saving Truman until I get that far in my presidential-biographies-in-order project. Which won't be next year, since I haven't even gotten to the Civil War yet. But I would be willing to read it out of order if that is what the group chooses.

Nobody Said Not to Go was on the ballot a while back, I think. My library doesn't have it - they didn't have any of the books that time and I put all 3 of them on the ILL request list. I cancelled the 2 I didn't need, but they came anyway. So I know I can get it with a little lead time.

My vote - based on a coin toss - is Nobody Said Not to Go.

#9 Sandy, it doesn't have to come off.

I know the book titles were drawn by Keith but, by the luck of the draw, I'm not too thrilled with this month's choices. I guess it was bound to happen at some point.

He was probably mad about me wanting to take his picture and picked poorly on purpose...

Although I wouldn't mind any of them. Like Sandy, I'd like to save Truman for the right order, and I don't mind reading a mystery, even if we don't discuss it much. And I like the sound of Nobody Said Not To Go. Maybe we should make Beckylynn pick which one, since she's the one who started it all.

Becky L should at least get a vote!

#10 Linda, there's been a couple of times when I wasn't thrilled with the choices, but the books and/or discussion always turned out to be OK. That's one of the things I love about this small group - I actually read the chosen books, even when I don't expect to enjoy the book. And I usually end up enjoying the book.

That is so true, Sandy. I'm surprised at how much I liked our last selection. I may even read the second book in the series!

I'm fine with either reading Truman later -- or on my own at some point. I'll be looking for a copy at the next library sale(s) as this is one I'll want to keep in my permanent collection.

I dislike "rules" but maybe we should consider dropping a title if it gets rejected twice from our three choices. The odds of this happening aren't great, but it would say something about our desire to not read a certain book. I have a feeling that we'll keep adding new titles all the time. Terri, is there room on your spreadsheet to keep track of rejected titles?

#12 Okay, I will go with Nobody Said Not to Go as my choice.

When would be reading this book?

Funny you should ask, Donna...I'm not sure when I started, but I have been marking my spreadsheet each time a title is picked. I had the thought a while back that if a book got rejected too many times, we should at least review it to see if (a) it should be rejected, or (b) we should move it to the head of the class out of pity.

Right now, the only book with that distinction is Dangerous Water: A Biography of the Boy Who Became Mark Twain. This is the second go-round for Nobody Said Not to Go. There are currently 24 unread books on the list.

There are your statistics for the night!

Oh, Sorry Linda! I thought we'd start in early February.

I might have to go the national ILL route with this. None of the north suburban Chicago libraries has it.

I'm okay with what everyone wants....but in saying that I honestly prefer fiction over non-fiction. I think February sounds good, that way everyone has a chance to purchase whatever book we choose.

Start the book in February or discuss though?

Start discussing early in February.

I'm confused. Has the decision been made to go with Dangerous Water?

I don't think we ever did decide for sure. No one liked any of the choices. Perhaps I should just blow off Keith and do a random number thing, and we'll just go with that? I'd like to read Nobody Told Me Not To Go, but since it's so difficult to find, it might not be a good choice. I don't mind Huckleberry Finished either, although I don't think this is a good time of the year to read something the size of Truman.

Help!!!

I thought we'd decided on Nobody Told Me Not to Go - I've already requested it from ILL. Has everyone else had trouble finding it?

I'm okay if we go with it. I was going to buy a copy--it looks like one I'd like to own!

Note, to be clear, I think the name of it is: Nobody Said Not to Go.

I'm not finding it at all with the word "told" in it.

Odd but I get no hits when looking for the title but get several local hits when looking for the author. Must be a typo somewhere.

I'll reserve it through local ILL for late January.

#25 oops! I guess that's why I was having trouble with the touchstone! I hope I've got the right book ordered. :)

Nobody Said Not To Go it is. I'll have to check into ILL for it, too. Looking forward to it.

Ha, Ha! So I had a 50% off coupon for Borders today and some gift cards. I spent about an hour in there, looking for just the right book. I came home with Truman by David McCullough. I suggest we schedule that one for December, so that if I start reading it now, I'll be finished by then!

Just kidding, but wow, what a chunkster!

Terri, I had the same thought yesterday when I was in Half Price books in Frisco, Texas. What a great store, btw. I knew it was big but that one is a real doorstop! I didn't buy it (for $7.98 --*kicking myself*) because I couldn't find shelf space for it right now.

Okay--- So. Nobody Said Not to Go it is then? Hmmm, looking at the description I'm not too sure this is going to hold my interest, but that's why you guys are here! To make me try new things and get out of my comfort bubble! :)

Becky, how can you resist a book about a woman who, "driven by curiosity and energy..went there and did that, and then wrote about it without fuss"?

I admit, it looks like a lot of words and not nearly enough pictures, but if we don't take the plunge, we miss a lot of great books we wouldn't read otherwise!

And while I'm thinking about it...
I just found out that the Read MOre selection this year is The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin. I'm not a huge science fiction fan, but it seems that a group of MO readers ought to read the annual Read MOre selection, even though it's not on our list. I'm suggesting it for April. What do you think?
http://www.readmoremissouri.org/

This is the best group to take on a book that I would never do alone. I don't always love the books we read, but I'm always glad I read them.

I think that is a great idea! I'm not a huge sci fi reader either, so it will be a good reason to read someone I normally wouldn't.

#32 Terri, I can't believe I didn't see this post when I posted at #33. I must have forgotten to hit "submit" until after dinner. Obviously, it was in response to your comments at #31, and BeckyLynn's at #30.

I think you've got a great idea. I'm not a sci-fi fan, either, but I'm making a concerted effort to read outside my comfort zone this year. I see that there will be book discussions conducted all over the state in May-June-July. That would be neat to do, too. We could all attend in our own towns. Will Keith be insulted if we tell him he's not needed? I didn't see where it said why this book was chosen - I assume the author is from Missouri?

Keith has worked his special magic again and come up with three choices of books for us. Drum roll:

Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip by Matthew Algeo. Suggested by tloeffler, Message 1 of Future Book Suggestions?

Huckleberry Finished by Livia J. Washburn. Suggested by lindapanzo, Message 9

Gangs of St. Louis: Men of Respect by Daniel Waugh. Suggested (again) by tloeffler, Message 118, based on Message 117 from lindapanzo (again).

This is the first time for books 1 & 3 (both non-fiction), second time for book 2 (fiction). I was thinking we'd follow Sandy's advice above and read The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin for June, since that's in the middle of the ReadMOre activities, but let me know if there are objections to that. Nothing is etched in stone....

My Huckleberry Finished suggestion really seems to pop up a lot, doesn't it?

I've read that one and the Truman book (which was excellent) so I would vote for:

Gangs of St. Louis: Men of Respect by Daniel Waugh

I vote for Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure

My library has the Harry Truman book, so I'll add my vote to Sandy's. The book cover makes it look like a fun read!

I can recall the Harry Truman book from my Kindle archives and refresh my memory and would be happy to do so.

Beyond what is talked about in the book, I think there's plenty of room for discussion as to how times have changed.

Oh, I would like the Harry Truman book too. I bought it for my dad's birthday, and he just loaned it back to me.

Huckleberry Finished has been coming up a lot lately! But I'll have to vote for the Harry Truman book too, since it was my suggestion originally.

Monday morning will be the end of February, so wherever the vote stands then, we'll go with that. To start reading on April 4? Let me know what you think!

#42 Sounds good to me!

I'll vote for the Truman book, too.

Okay, it looks like it's Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure by Matthew Algeo for April! Talk to you then!

I picked it up at the library today - it looks wonderful. Can't wait.

Okay, so YESTERDAY I FINALLY got nobody said not to go! Believe me, wanted to be in on it (finally) and then my book doesn't come in....

#45 Good to know. I probably won't re-read it but will recall it from my archives and glance through/skim parts. Maybe go back and read my LT comments from when I first read it.

>45 tloeffler:: Harry Truman in April. Excellent!

>47 beckylynn:: Better late than never, Becky. I hope you can join us on the Truman read.

Poor Becky! You try so hard....

Becky, are you going to go ahead with Nobody Said Not to Go?

Well, I don't have any plans to start it any time soon..... You guys have fun with the Truman book! I know he was quite the interesting character in life!

Should we start thinking about our next book? Shall we go to the hat, do the ReadMOre (The Dispossessed, which I can't see has anything to do with MO), tackle Truman?

Thoughts? Ideas? Complaints? Anyone?

I vote for the hat.

The hat is fine with me - and I have no complaints. I will probably go ahead and read Truman on my own because I really do want to visit the Truman library sometime this year and know I will appreciate it more with some background.

I never did figure out why in the world Dispossessed is the ReadMOre choice. Our library book group will be discussing it in August. This will be my first LeGuin book. I'll be reading out of my comfort zone again!

The hat is always a good idea. Hope he comes up with a good one!!

I got Keith to go to The Hat tonight (he thinks we're nuts). This is what came out:

1. The Ghost in the Little House by William Holtz. A biography of Rose Wilder Lane, suggested by Becky (Labwriter) in Message 8 of "Future Suggestions." First time picked.

2. Private Life by Jane Smiley. A novel suggested by Terri in Message 41. First time picked.

3. It's One O'Clock and Here is Mary Margaret McBride: A Radio Biography by Susan Ware. Another biography, suggested by Becky (Labwriter), also in Message 8. Second time picked.

Let the voting begin!

I vote for Private Life!

I will second Jennifer's vote because I know my library has this one.

I vote for Private Life - it was already on my wishlist

Private Life sounds good to me. What would the start date be? I want to read Truman, but I've realized that this is not a good time for me to start such a long book.

We've been doing every other month, haven't we? So that would be about June 1 for what ever book we pick next.

Is there any interest in doing a group read of Truman later this year over the course of several weeks? If we take it slowly enough I'd even be willing to start in the summer.

I've already read Truman, and probably need to wait another decade or so before reading it again, but I'd happily take part in a discussion should there be one.

I was leaning toward Private Life myself. And we can start on June 1 or push it to the 6th if we want to start on a Monday. It doesn't matter to me!

If a group of you read Truman, I will join. I was hesitating because I'm trying to read the presidents in order, but the Excellent Adventure has whetted my appetite.

I was also trying to read the presidents in order, but at the rate I'm going I'll never get to Truman! I wouldn't have suggested it except that so many have expressed a desire to read it sooner rather than later.

I vote Private Life, that is if my vote counts anymore!

Private Life sounds good to me, too. I've never read anything by Jane Smiley.

Sounds like Private Life is the winner! How about if we just start on Monday June 6 for consistency?

And Becky, your vote only counts if you join us this time! It will be good to have you back!

Sounds like Private Life is the winner! How about if we just start on Monday June 6 for consistency?

And Becky, your vote only counts if you join us this time! It will be good to have you back!

P.S. Since Truman is such a chunkster, why don't we do a separate thread for that one, and whoever wants to read it can, but we'll stay on our regular schedule for those who don't want to tackle it?
Just a thought...

Just put in the request for Private Life at the library. It's actually available at our local branch, so it will be waiting for me when I get home tomorrow night.

Terri, I think that's a good idea about Truman.

I just ordered Private Life, so we will see if I actually get this one to be part of the group!!
**tloeffler, reading or discussing on June 6?

Begin discussing on June 6!

Picked up my copy of Private Life from the library last night. It looks good.

Everyone: Check out my addition to Message #2!

What a great hat! Did you have to play the "mother's day" card today to get the shot?

Not sure it will make him more willing, but tell Keith that we all love him and the work he does picking books for us.

Nice hat. Please thank him for picking out books for us.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Keith has "magic" hands. Thanks to him we have great books to choose from. Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day, Terri.

Got my copy of Private Life! Looks amazing! Can't wait to start...

That is a killer hat! I want one!

It's awesome, isn't it, Jen? I went to a User Group Meeting for our computer system last year, and the theme was UGM: The Musical. On the last night, they passed out these hats in gold & silver to all of us. I like to put it on and pretend like I'm in A Chorus Line. It's also perfect for picking things out of!

Woo Hoo! Becky's going to join us!

I came over to see what everyone was doing, and I see you're reading a Jane Smiley. Sigh. I guess with her, you either love her or hate her. I'm in the latter category. Not that I haven't given her a fair try--I've read or tried to read five or six of her books, and I finally just said, "Jane, you are not for me, go in peace." I hope you enjoy Private Life.

I'll check in with y'all for your next read. I wasn't here for the last one, either, Nobody Said Not to Go. I had started that book some time ago and frankly disliked Hahn, although that wasn't my main "issue" with the book. I've read many biographies of unlikable people that were good reads (a recent one about Mary McCarthy comes to mind), so if the writing style had been better, I probably would have finished the thing.

I hope someday the group will choose the Mary Margaret McBride book, by Susan Ware. I see it's been picked out of the hat twice and turned down twice, although I can see how you wouldn't want to read two biographies in a row. Mary Margaret was an absolute hoot, a Missouri farm girl who made it big in New York City, but she never lost her Missouri roots. She was born in 1899, studied journalism at the U of MO, then went to the big city to make her fortune. She had a friend or partner or whatever she was named Stella Kern who was "terrifying when aroused--life was never dull when Stella was around." To be honest, it's not the best biog I've ever read, but the subject was so good, I didn't care.

Becky, the next time the Mary McBride book get picked out of the hat, please give us this same spiel - you make it sound so much more appealing than the synopses I read online when trying to decide which book to vote for.

I've heard the same thing about Jane Smiley. I've only read one of her books before and, while I didn't love it, I didn't hate it either. It was good enough that I'm willing to give her another try.

I'm having a little difficulties with her style of writing, however, the story so far is keeping my interest!

The discussion on Private Life seems to have run down. Is it too soon for Terri to fire up the hat for an August book? Tell Keith to limber up his picking hand!

I like that. Fire up the hat. hee-hee.

I never did get around to it. Maybe better luck next time for me.

I'll get him on it this weekend!

I'll bet you guys thought I had forgotten all about you. How could I? No, it's just been a busy month. But Keith got on the stick this morning and chose three books for our perusal for an August read:

Big Spring Autumn by Bonnie Stepenoff--suggested by lindapanzo in Message 126.

Dangerous Water: A Biography of the Boy Who Became Mark Twain by Ron Powers--suggested by sixwoolsocks in Message 10

Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg--suggested by labwriter in Message 133.

On your mark, get set, Vote!

I vote for the Fannie Flagg book - I like her books, usually.

They all sound good, but I am also going to vote for Standing in the Rainbow - only because it is the only one owned by my local library, making it the easiest for me to get. I've never read Fannie Flagg before, but I do not care for the Fried Green Tomatoes movie.

ETA - I just read back over the list of suggestions and saw where Becky first suggested Standing in the Rainbow. It is #2 in a series of 3 books. Should we start with #1, instead, if the vote goes with Fannie Flagg? Becky? What do you think?

I also noticed that this is the 3rd time that Dangerous Water has been pulled from the hat. We didn't vote to throw out a book after 3 strikes, did we? I seem to remember a discussion to that effect.

I vote for Big Spring Autumn.

I'm not a big Fannie Flagg fan myself. I liked Fried Green Tomatoes but nothing else I've read. But if that book wins, I agree with Sandy, that we should probably start with the first book.

We had talked about abandoning a book after 3 strikes, but I don't think we ever decided to do it for sure. I'd rather not, myself, because there's no accounting for what choices a book is up against. What does everyone else think?

And, on that note, my vote is for Dangerous Water.

If you didn't like the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes, then I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you pretty much for sure won't like Fannie Flagg's books.

If you feel lukewarm towards Fannie Flagg in general, then I'm pretty sure you won't enjoy Standing in the Rainbow.

I don't think it's necessary to read the first one in this series first, Welcome to the World, Baby Girl, since most of what happens in that book happens after the events of Standing. It's more a case of using some of the same characters in the two books rather than being an actual series. I would, however, read Standing before I read the third one, Can't Wait to Get to Heaven.

I read these three books in March & April, so I won't be reading Standing with the group if you decide that's the book you're going to read. I'll keep an eye on the thread, though, and chime in with comments.

I guess what I mostly want to say is this: based on the comments about Flagg and the book so far, I sort of hope the group doesn't choose the Flagg book. I hope instead you can find a book that a lot of you feel really enthusiastic about reading.

I'm already reading about four biographies, so I'm not going to opt for Dangerous Water. By process of elimination, then, my vote is Big Spring Autumn.

I'm going to vote with Linda and Becky on Big Spring Autumn, although I'll have to ILL it. Maybe it will make me feel cooler to read a book set in a beautiful Ozarks autumn.

Big Spring Autumn would be my vote, also.

Okay, it's been a week, and it looks like Big Spring Autumn is the winner for August. Since we're getting such a late start, shall we give ourselves until mid-August to acquire it & read it, or do we want to stick to the first-week-of-the-month like we've been doing?
I'll go ahead and start the thread!

I've put in an ILL request, also. Not knowing how fast it will get here, I'd vote for a mid-August start.

Mid-August for Big Spring Autumn sounds good. I picked up a copy for my Kindle for a cheap price. It looks pretty short, which is a good thing, as far as I'm concerned.

Has this group read Enemy Women by Paulette Jiles ?
It is historical fiction set in Missouri during the Civil War. A friend just read this and I thought it sounded interesting. The reviews here on LT are varied, but it may be a book we would want to consider if everyone hasn't already read it.

Brenda, we read Enemy Women 3 years ago. I had to look to check the date, and I'm shocked it has been so long - I didn't realize that Missouri Readers had been active for more than about 2 years.

I remember liking it quite a bit - you should definitely give it a go. It looks like we discussed it in sections - here is where we began: http://www.librarything.com/topic/45642

Would it be a good idea to have BeckyLynn post a list of our completed books on the group page where it would be easy to see?

Thanks Sandy. I have already put it on my list. . . Did you like the book? My RL friend said she became exasperated that nothing ever seemed to go in favor of the story's protagonists, just wanted something good to happen and get on with it!

Brenda, I didn't read Enemy Women with this group, but I did read it when it was the Read MOre selection a few years ago. I think I felt the same as your friend. Not a book I can actually say I "enjoyed."

Are we just about ready for Keith to go to the hat again? Any last minute suggestions to add to it?

I liked the book, but agree that nothing ever seemed to go in her favor. However, it was wartime, so it seemed to make sense to me. Plus, I remember her being "plucky" and never letting the setbacks keep her down.

Terri, I'm ready for Keith to work his magic again if everyone else is.

#102 Sounds good to me, too, Sandy.

Okay, then. This is what we got:

1. Welcome to the World, Baby Girl! by Fannie Flagg. Message #133--Labwriter (Becky)

2. Beauties by Mary Troy. Message #138--Labwriter (Becky)

3. Gangs of St. Louis: Men of Respect by Daniel Waugh. Message #118. Me.

I guess we'll give it till Friday for everyone to vote! Vote!

P.S. I vote for Beauties.

I vote for Welcome to the World, Baby Girl

I'm abstaining this time. I've already read Baby Girl and don't know a thing about the other two books which I'll have to get through ILL. Surprise me. ;-)

I vote for the Fannie Flagg book, too.

Well, with 2 votes to 1 vote (where are the rest of you?), Welcome to the World, Baby Girl by Fannie Flagg gets the nod for October. I haven't looked at the size of it--want to try for October 3 or hold off until October 10?

#109 Amazon says it's 512 pages but I'd think that it'd be a fairly quick read, despite its length. Either is fine with me.

>109 tloeffler: Working, working, working. But the Fannie Flagg book sounds good, and I can actually get ahold of a copy, so I'm in. Let's say Oct. 10?

Either start time is OK with me, too.

Okay, October 10. I'll start a thread for it!

Thanks Teri. . .

I'll follow the discussion as best I can. I read it in 2002, and don't plan to reread it. That's what I get for abstaining. :-)

Are we ready to choose a December book?

I am!

Me, too. I was trying to remember whether we did a December read last year or not.

We read A Bad Day for Sorry last year. I think we figured that the reading would be done before the holiday season took off. We could schedule it for the 5th, and either pray for a short book choice, or come up with one on our own.

At the Bookstore Cruise, I met SO many MO authors, and bought SO many of their books. I really wanted to put some of them on our list, but I'm the only person on LT who owns most of them, so I didn't think it boded well for them being readily available to everyone else. Maybe I'll read some of them first (HA!) and if any stand out, I'll suggest them and force you to buy them.

Anyway, I'll have Keith pick, and then we can decide what we want to do based on that.

I had Keith pick some books for us last night. See below, and decide if we want to vote on these, or just choose a shorter book because of the season.

The Wild Vine: A Forgotten Grape and the Untold Story of American Wine by Todd Kliman

It's One O'Clock and Here is Mary Margaret McBride: A Radio Biography by Susan Ware

The Tender Land: A Family Love Story by Kathleen Finneran

Those three are all around 280-320 pages. If we're going to go off the list for a shorter book, I might suggest Daniel Woodrell's latest book of short stories The Outlaw Album. I just finished it, and Wow.

Anyway, let's see what everyone thinks by the end of the week and then we'll see what the consensus is!

I don't know which to vote for. I own all three of them, and I've read two of them, but would happily read them again. I guess I vote for the one I haven't read: It's One O'Clock and Here is Mary Margaret McBride.

I wouldn't mind reading Woodrell's latest! But from that list, I vote for The Tender Land.

My first choice would be the new Woodrell (or even an old Woodrell), then The Tender Land, then One o'clock . . .

I'd choose either The Tender Land or The Outlaw Album - no preference between these two. My second choice is The Wild Vine.

First choice: The Wild Vine
Second choice: The Outlaw Album

So far (and it's just been a day), it looks like The Outlaw Album is the front runner. Will anyone have trouble finding it? That's probably a really good bet, since it's short. Then, depending on whether anyone votes the rest of the week, we can take the next in line and do that one for February (The Tender Land is currently in the lead for that).

Thoughts?

Outlaw Album is on order at our library - 20 copies - but I don't know how soon it will be in.

Oh, no! I just checked - 20 copies are coming in, but the wait list is already up to 135. It will take quite a while for me to get that book. I guess I would lean towards Tender Land for December and saving Outlaw Album for later.

Behind the times here... I didn't know Daniel Woodrell had a short story collection out. I'm running into similar problems getting Outlaw Album. I put my name on a waiting list with 12 patrons ahead of me. Even with 5 copies, it will be awhile before my name comes up.

It looks like I can get The Tender Land through ILL so I'll join the majority and go with that title. Ah, suicide, what an uplifting topic for the holiday season.

Let's go with The Tender Land then for December (12/5/11? That's the first Monday).

And if anyone gets their copy of The Outlaw Album and wants to talk about it, I'll be happy to talk! He does the short story very well.

Should I add it to the list?

And believe me, Donna, compared to Woodrell's stories, suicide just might be uplifting...

I requested The Tender Land. Not sure which library it's coming from, but then I don't really care as long as I get it in time. ;-)

Soooo, are you saying Danny's stories are dark, Terri? I'd love to read them anyhow so please add the book to our list. Thanks. And thanks again to Keith for doing the drawing.

The Tender Land is on it's way to me - looking forward to it

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Shall we ring in the New Year with three more choices for a February read?

Go for it

I finally got around to having Keith pick some books, I guess for February, although it's getting close.

Mr. Bridge by Evan Connell--Donna828

The Ghost in the Little House by William Holtz--Labwriter

The Wild Vine by Todd Kliman--Tloeffler

Cast your ballots!

a difficult choice - will require more thought

I'm inclined to vote for Mr. Bridge. Although I'll be glad to read any of these.

Well, I own Mr. Bridge and wouldn't mind rereading it. But then I'd also like to learn more about Rose Wilder. There's a small museum of Kewpie dolls within a few miles of my house that I should visit.

I think I'll abstain from voting this time. You guys surprise me. ;-)

I've read Mr. Bridge, so for me it's a choice between the other two. After reading about both, I think I would be most interested in The Ghost in the Little House.

I want to go on the record as saying that I think Donna is cheating by not voting! Especially since I think she did that once before. And more especially since that's what I wanted to do and I'm miffed because she beat me to it!

OK, then. Since we read Mrs Bridge, I think we should definitely read Mr Bridge. Sometime.

Normally I don't love biographies, but Becky has made this one sound so appealing, and plus who wouldn't want to read about the creation of the Little House books?

The Wild Vine is just the kind of off-beat thing that I would pick out and love while everyone else is scratching their heads and turning up their noses. Plus, I happen to have a bottle of Stone Hill Norton wine that is crying out to be opened and drunk.

So, I guess this is how I would rank them. Bridge, Little House, wine. In that order. But under duress. I think the bottle of Norton will go well with any of them.

I'll throw in my vote for the Rose Wilder Lane book, too.

My family and I were talking at Christmas about how much we miss going wine tasting in Missouri. We'd always go to Augusta to buy wines, and then maybe the one at the top of the hill (Montelle?), and then finish up at Blumenhof with a picnic and a bottle. Such a fun day. The Norton was never my favorite, but there are some super delicious wines from Missouri. Who knew?

I agree that it's not fair for Donna to abstain, so I put her down for the Little House book. Which is winning right now, 3-2-0. It's a fair-sized book, though, so if it wins, we should give ourselves some extra time.

I'm with you, Jen. Norton's not my favorite, but it is the favorite of everyone I know who likes a dry red. I love Missouri wines. My sisters & cousins & I are on a quest to visit all 90+ wineries in the state (not at the same time). We keep drifting back to Hermann & Ste. Genevieve, though.

138: Sandy, you made me laugh so hard the dog came running in the room to see who else was here!

140: Thanks, Terri, for keeping me honest. I promise to vote with gusto in the future. The problem is, I usually make the most boring choice. Some of my favorite Missouri books have been the ones most out of my reading comfort zone.

I'm happy with casting my vote for the Rose Wilder Lane bio as I gave a biography challenge on the 12 in 12 group.

Taking the proactive approach - I checked the Lane biography out from our library today. It is 387 pages minus the notes and acknowledgements, so I agree that a little extra time may be beneficial. I'm looking forward to this . . .

Well, gosh. I haven't read any of them. I am somewhat familiar with the Missouri grape that saved the French wine industry since that was just a few miles from here, so that would be fun.

I have never read any of Wilder's books so that may be a bit over my head as a comparative reference.

Mr. Bridge sounds interesting but I'd defer if too many have already read it.

So I guess I'd vote for The Vine but would gladly defer to any alternate choices.

I'm not doing cartwheels over any of these books.

I vote for The Wild Vine by Todd Kliman.

So the vote now is:

Little House: 3
Mr. Bridge: 2
Wild Vine: 2

Which makes The Ghost in the Little House the winner.

Want to shoot for February 13? That's about a month. Let me know if you think we need more time.

Sorry--maybe Keith will come up with something that garners more enthusiasm next time!

I think that's the closest vote we've ever had, though, isn't it?

I believe you're right. And maybe the most votes we've had in a while!

May I throw a couple of titles into the hat?
Woe to Live On Daniel Woodrell
hist fict (Quantrill's raid)

The Border Between Them Jeremy Neely
NF (border wars)

Across the Wide Missouri Bernard DeVoto
1948 Pulitzer for history (fur trade 1832-1838)

Juliet's Moon Ann Rinaldi
YA hist fict (Quantrill's raid)

Orphan Trains to Missouri Michael Patrick
Missouri Heritage Readers Series

Wow, those all look so interesting, Brenda. Maybe we should throw a few titles out of the hat to increase the odds of getting one of our newer suggestions. I also liked Terri's suggestion of A Good American. I thought about our group when I read the review on BookPage.

Woe to Live On was already on the list, but I've added your others, Brenda. And I got Keith to pick, so here are our options for April:

1. Woe to Live On by Daniel Woodrell--suggested a long time ago by Susan_KH and more recently by Brenda (brenpike). And I swear it's a coincidence--it was already in the hat and he picked it fair & square.

2. Unveiling Kate Chopin by Emily Toth--suggested a long time ago by Becky (labwriter).

3. Tomato Red, again by Daniel Woodrell. Not suggested by anyone in particular that I wrote down, but bunched in with all the Woodrell books we added all at one time.

What do you say we pick April 9 to start reading? That's the Monday after Easter, so the festivities will be over. We'll see how the voting goes this week, and when it seems to have petered out, we'll take the winner!

I vote for Woe to Live On because it seems like an omen.

I also vote for Woe to Live On

Definitely Woe to Live On . . . A reread of a favorite! Yeah

Woe to Live On sounds like a good one to me, too. I like omens!

Woe to Live On!

I'll have to think about it. I was really hoping that the new Jetta Carleton book, Clair de Lune, would pop up next. I may go ahead and read that one anyway.

I'm posting here because I thought everyone would see it. I just got a message from BeckyLynn. She is a "new mommy" - go to her profile page and look at the wonderful picture she has posted there.

After about a week, Woe to Live On seems to be the unanimous favorite. We'll start talking in April!

Thank you everyone for the well wishes! Piper and I are keeping ourselves awfully busy, and in my 'spare' time I've been catching up on mommy or baby books! LOL!

Maybe we could look for a MO-themed mommy and baby book?

Naw. Been there. Done that. I've already had my fun. Have at it, Becky!

I'd love to jump on that band wagon...but I'm sure there are plenty of people who don't want to read that kind of book, but I'd defintely participate.

I took the liberty of having Keith choose three more books for our June read:

1. Gangs of St. Louis: Men of Respect by Daniel Waugh

2. The Dead End Kids of St. Louis: Homeless Boys and the People Who Tried to Save Them by Bonnie Stepenoff.

3. Unveiling Kate Chopin by Emily Toth.

Pretty heavy on the St. Louis side this time. According to my list, the first one was my suggestion, second was Linda Panzo, third was Becky (labwriter). Not that it really matters. No fiction this time. 1 & 3 have each been picked one time before. We can start discussing June 4, start the 11th (the week of the big book fair!), or wait until we're done with the book fair and start the 18th. Doesn't matter to me--majority rules!

Even though I suggested it, I've already read (and enjoyed) #1, so my choice would probably be #3. Although I'd be okay with #1 or #2. Whatever--my intention is to get through ALL of these books before I die!

I am not eager to read another Bonnie Stepenoff (Big Spring Autumn), so my choice would be the Emily Toth book, Unveiling Kate Chopin. : )

I vote for #3, too.

I'm voting for #2

Phooey, I was hoping for the new Jetta Carleton book. Oh well. I may go ahead and read it anyway.

Oops, I vote for #2.

What new Jetta Carleton book? Is it in the hat?

It should be. I think I mentioned it on the other thread. It was long-awaited. Came out last month, I think.

Clair de Lune by Jetta Carleton.

I don't know what is happening to my memory. I recall talk about a newly published book - but nothing else. It does look good. Terri, it's already in the hat, isn't it?

I actually have Claire de Lune checked out now and will be reading it this weekend. I'd be happy to consider it our next Missouri Readers selection! : )

It is in the hat, and Linda, I think you were disappointed LAST time when we didn't pick it!

I'm fine with going ahead and reading that if you all want to. We don't have to be MARRIED to the hat; it was just an easier way to pick than choosing among 30 books!

So if we add Claire de Lune as a fourth selection, and start the voting again....

I'd vote for Claire de Lune. And I guess I can already mark Linda & Brenda down for that one!

Married to the hat? LOL

I vote for it.

I'll vote for it, too. But I don't know how fast I can get it - still listed as "on order" in the library's catalog.

Claire de Lune sounds good, too. Can I change my vote?

I'm voting for Clair de Lune, too! I bought it as one of my Thingaversary books in March.

Sounds pretty unanimous. I say we go for it. When do you want to start "talking?"

I took the liberty of having Keith choose three more books for us for August. His original choices were:

Cemetery Bird by Bridget Bufford

Autobiography of Mark Twain by Mark Twain (although there seem to be several volumes and at least 2 completely different books besides...)

Can't Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg

He was very excited to have kept to a theme (death), but I made him put the Fannie Flagg book back because we hadn't read #2 yet. He picked another one:

Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg which is--surprise!--#2. I watched him do it and there was no cheating.

And just as an FYI, I believe that Donna & I are going to tackle Truman in July, if anyone wants to join us!

I guess my vote would be the Fannie Flagg. The Mark Twain and the Truman are too long (for me) and the Bufford book has no information available.

I also cannot find Cemetery Bird. I've got a driving trip coming up in July and can do Mark Twain on audio in time for an August discussion. Or the Fannie Flagg is also OK. I'd love to do Truman, but it is (surprisingly) not available in an unabridged audio version on CDs, and it's too long for me to read in print this summer. (Unfortunate, because I'm driving to Chicago in August and would love to have a long audio book for the car.)

I guess I'm voting for Mark Twain, with Fannie Flagg as my #2 choice.

I pulled Cemetery Bird off the list (even though I was the one who put it on!). If it's that difficult to find, it's not worth it, and I don't have a good recommendation for it, just that it was a MO author.

I would like the Mark Twain book better, but if I'm reading Truman, it might be too much to have multiple large books going.

I'm not a fan of Fannie Flagg but I can do it if that's what comes up.

Oh, dear. I completely forgot about this. Maybe because there was so little enthusiasm for any of them....

One Fannie Flagg, two Mark Twains. Maybe we should just try it again in October? Thoughts?

Who can get enthused about anything in this heat?

October sounds good to me . . .

That's good enough for me. We'll see what Keith pulls out in early September.