April 2022 Book of the Month Club - Louisiana Longshot

[gilmargl]

I managed to read about a quarter of this short book but I found it too stupid for words. Slapstick humour is not for me (I hated clowns even as a child). But, I had some sad and upsetting news from England just before Easter which called for action and certainly coloured my mood and may have affected my judgment! It reminded me of a similar book - something about bones and petunias (or were they begonias?) which was for me just as embarrassingly silly - so please try to warn me if you decide on something similar in the future - it will save me having to write a negative comment and you having to read one!

Looking forward to the short stories next month.

 

[verna davies]

gilmargl . That book wasnt to everybody's taste but thanks for attempting and reviewing. We will tip you the wink if something similar is chosen.

 

[rubysmama]

It reminded me of a similar book - something about bones and petunias (or were they begonias?)

Close - azaleas.

so please try to warn me if you decide on something similar in the future - it will save me having to write a negative comment and you having to read one!

Sorry you didn't like the book and its humour didn't work for you. Ironically your "review" made me laugh out loud.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Mamanyt1953 . We all knew you would enjoy the book again which is great. Personally, I think you should write a book, some of your expressions crack me up, far funnier to me than the book.

I actually have a stash of true stories that most of you wouldn't believe. But true, I swear it! I just can't seem to string them together into a coherent narrative!

so please try to warn me if you decide on something similar in the future

Generally speaking, stay away from "cozy mysteries." Most of them have a bit of slapstick humor in them, and they require a good bit of suspension of disbelief.

You know, I just posted in the ATBAR thread that I have to admit, there is quite a lot of Ida Belle and Gertie in me...leaning more towards Gertie, if I'm being honest. Maybe that's why I love these books so. I can see me in the same situations SO clearly!

 

[misty8723]

The book also made me crave banana pudding, so there's that.

I would LOVE to have some banana pudding right now

 

[misty8723]

Glad you joined us this month, and read Louisiana Longshot, despite it not being the type of book you'd usually choose.

Honestly, I would join you more often but the books chosen are either too expensive for me or on a long wait list with the library.

 

[verna davies]

misty8723 . You should be able to download the short stories for May free so hopefully you can read one, two or more.

 

[rubysmama]

Honestly, I would join you more often but the books chosen are either too expensive for me or on a long wait list with the library.

misty8723 : We'd love to have you join us more often too, but understand long wait lists with libraries, or a book being too expensive.

As V verna davies posted, all the May short stories can be easily read on line.

And, as a heads up to anyone who finds their library has long wait lists, we will likely read one of the runners up from this month's poll in July. So if your library has these books, and there's a long wait list, maybe put a hold on them now.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella​

 

[Boris Diamond]

I enjoy books that keep moving and don't get bogged down. The action kept moving in this book. There was lots of silliness, but I enjoy that.

The author grew up around the bayous of Louisiana and is familiar with the culture of that area. Her knowledge gave an interesting depth and authenticity to the book.

Parts of the book were difficult to accept. The scene that bothered me the most was when Ida Belle called Fortune a coward and Fortune lost it and jumped right into Ida Belle and Gertie's scheme. How could a person who spent so much time undercover be so easily manipulated? Ida Belle's manipulation seemed almost childish.

I have read all but the last book in this series. It has been hard to remember my first reading of this book. I was not so impressed that I immediately bought the next book, but at the encouragement of another member of TCS (can you guess?,) I did start the series when I joined the local public library. I now own seven of them. I came to enjoy the characters and the world the author has created in Sinful, La. I like the directness of Fortune and find her likable. Ida Belle and Gertie are an interesting pair. The strange residents there might seem over the top to some, but it seems kinda normal to me.

I like this book am going to give it a rating of 1/2 stars alligators.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

You know, I kinda think that Fortune's susceptibility to Ida Belle and Gertie might stem from two things...They're kinda kindred souls with similar backgrounds, and, more importantly, Fortune's mother died when she was young, and she pretty much lived in a man's world after that. I think that Ida Belle was that delicate balance between a warrior that she could respect, and a mother-figure that she responded to, even if on a subconscious level. And I'd say that to her face, then pick myself up off of the floor!

 

[rubysmama]

The strange residents there might seem over the top to some, but it seems kinda normal to me.

LOL. It would probably be fun to know people like that.

You know, I kinda think that Fortune's susceptibility to Ida Belle and Gertie might stem from two things...They're kinda kindred souls with similar backgrounds, and, more importantly, Fortune's mother died when she was young, and she pretty much lived in a man's world after that. I think that Ida Belle was that delicate balance between a warrior that she could respect, and a mother-figure that she responded to, even if on a subconscious level.

Yes, that makes sense.

And I'd say that to her face, then pick myself up off of the floor!

 

[verna davies]

Honestly, I would join you more often but the books chosen are either too expensive for me or on a long wait list with the library.

What genre of books do you like, maybe we have one planned in the coming months.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

misty8723 , I am so in touch! I have to skip a lot of months because I can't afford the book, even on Kindle.

 

[misty8723]

What genre of books do you like, maybe we have one planned in the coming months.

misty8723 , I am so in touch! I have to skip a lot of months because I can't afford the book, even on Kindle.

I can't say a specific genre, although historical fiction and fantasy are two. I just like books that are well written with an interesting plot. I like to download the free ones on Kindle or the Kindle Unlimited because if I read a bit and don't like it, I can just delete it and not feel I wasted my money. I don't like murder mystery in general or first person narratives (which so many are these days). It seems a lot of the books chosen are mysteries because that is apparently the most popular with people. I'm always reading, often two or more books, and since I can read Kindle on my phone, I always have a book everywhere. One of my past bosses commented that he couldn't imagine seeing me without a book.

 

[pearl99]

Just finished it.
I enjoyed it, a lighthearted sometimes not too realistic mystery with some humor and odd characters.

I patted myself on the back that I figured out Marie was in the attic after the racoon too. I never figure things out so mysteries are always a surprise to me.I did chuckle some in the book, and it's not a serious mystery but that's alright, I do like lighthearted books in the mix of what I read. I am OK with suspending expectations of realism and going along for the ride.

I thought Ida Belle and Gertie were fun old ladies, I've met old ladies like this in my nursing career, I felt that there was more to them but never figured on spies.
Fortune sure wasn't a believable CIA agent but that went along with the Cozy atmosphere.
I thought the girl in the restaurant who wanted to be a baker- towards the end in the boat with Fortune- was in on the plot and was going to off her. That's how wrong I get things in mysteries .
Never saw Marge in love with Marie coming! Lari , you are perceptive!!
It was a fun fast read, I give books like this 3 stars because they're not too literary- but doesn't mean I didn't like them.

I'm looking forward to reading Flowers for Algernon again next month. It's been years since the first time.

 

[Boris Diamond]

You know, I kinda think that Fortune's susceptibility to Ida Belle and Gertie might stem from two things...They're kinda kindred souls with similar backgrounds, and, more importantly, Fortune's mother died when she was young, and she pretty much lived in a man's world after that. I think that Ida Belle was that delicate balance between a warrior that she could respect, and a mother-figure that she responded to, even if on a subconscious level. And I'd say that to her face, then pick myself up off of the floor!

Maybe. And I can see where the points you make could make her more susceptible to Ida Belle's coward challenge. But the way that Fortune explained it was that the response to being called a coward was something ingrained in her by her father.

"The worst kind of person is a coward.

The voice from the grave ripped through me, completely overshadowing Morrow's plea, and twenty years fell away in an instant."

"I felt my exasperation rise and cursed my father for ingraining the coward challenge in my psyche."

It sounds like Fortune had been showing weakness for this coward challenge well before she met Ida Belle.

 

[misty8723]

I managed to read about a quarter of this short book but I found it too stupid for words.

I do agree with this statement. I read the whole thing, but would never read another one. I like more subtle humor for one thing, and the plot itself didn't interest me that much.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

I give books like this 3 stars because they're not too literary- but doesn't mean I didn't like them.

LOL, I give stars purely on how much I like a book. Some of the "literary" books I've read just bored me to tears.

 

[pearl99]

LOL, I give stars purely on how much I like a book. Some of the "literary" books I've read just bored me to tears.

Yes me too! Maybe I should rethink. I’ve debated in my mind how to rate.

 

[rubysmama]

I patted myself on the back that I figured out Marie was in the attic after the racoon too. I never figure things out so mysteries are always a surprise to me.

I usually try to figure out the whodunnits, and whatnot, but I didn't clue in that Marie was in the attic. Which is embarrassing since I'd just read another book where someone was hiding in an attic.

I thought Ida Belle and Gertie were fun old ladies, I've met old ladies like this in my nursing career,

Interesting. Guess their characters weren't so farfetched afterall.