Okra Book Challenge

It's official, I'm a PEACH!  Thanks to Kathy at BermudaOnion.Net, I was introduced to 7 southern-based novels as part of the Okra Picks Book Challenge.  My recommendations in order are:

Zora & Me by  Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon

Virals by Kathy Reichs

I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

My Only Sunshine by Lou Dischler

My least favorites of the bunch:

The Perfect Love Song by Patti Callahan Henry

Love, Charleston by Beth Webb Hart

My Only Sunshine by Lou Dischler

The hurricane of life swirls around young Charlie Boone in 1960's Louisiana - "facts of nature," alligators in suitcases, a bullet-eating, bed-wetting little brother, a lucky Uncle Dan, a very unlucky horse named "Lunch Time" and lots of salt.  

I've been struggling to write this review because I've had no one complete, intelligible thought since reading about Charlie's youthful tales. I wasn't sure if I could finish this book after reading the first few chapters, just too bizarre and unbelievable even as fiction.  But Charlie's hurricane made life seem so alive that I found myself thinking about Charlie and Jute digging a pig-pen (with the good spoons) for Uncle Dan; the Cuban Missile Crisis sirens that led Charlie to hide out and play doctor in the mayor's office; and wanting to discover what really happened to Charlie's mom - the beautiful voice that sang "you are my sunshine, my only sunshine."  

I feel two ways about this book - Huh? and  Awesome!


This book has now been added to my list of images that come to mind when I hear "My Only Sunshine."  It joins two of my favorite movies - Beaches and O' Brother Where Art Thou?



3 3/4 out of 5 DogEars 
Okra Pick Book Challenge

I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg

What a treasure to discover a new "old" author!  I tried reading Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe in my mid-20s but didn't last past the first few chapters.  Guess I wasn't mature enough in my humor and need for a good story.  I Still Dream About You is funny, refreshing and not a tad bit "old."  Maggie, Hazel, Ethel, Brenda and even Babs are each awe-inspiring in their pursuits to find the meaning of life and friendship.  Maggie as the central character who is trying to find the most well-mannered and self-sufficient way to exit this world is hilarious with her graciousness and Nancy Drew like sleuthing, that you can understand why she is the former Miss Alabama.  Brenda, Maggie's best friend, is feisty and the character I related to the most if only for her need to be comfortable in her own skin - because who can really deny themselves a pint of ice cream if it's in the freezer waiting for a spoon?  (And yes, I've tried covering up how many cookies I've taken before.)  Ethel, well, there's nothing wrong with the color purple.  It's an intoxicating color.  Hazel -  pure energy and spunk we all wish we could have.  Babs "the Beast" is a part of all of us- sheer grit to get what we want but we are too polite to butt our way to the front of the line. 

All of these women plus kilt wearing bones with decades old secrets; ankle weights & inappropriate sweatshirts; goats and the beautiful house on the hill that keeps Maggie part of the living made "I Still  Dream About You" a pleasure to read now that I'm almost in my mid-30's.

41/2 DogEars out of 5
Okra Picks Book Challenge

Reagan Arthur Book Challenge

I'm signing up for the Reagan Arthur Book Challenge.  Think I'm gonna need reading glasses and a few more hours in the day - oh, the sacrifice of good reading!

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

Larry Ott was never enough of a man for his father’s standards. Silas “32” Jones excelled and gained respect. As boys they endured a brief, secret friendship doing what boys do – fishing, shooting guns, exchanging tales. Anger, color and lies ended their friendship. Cindy Walker, the town beauty and after one date with Larry, never seen again. The start to a saga that burdened the souls of Larry and 32, taking them from friends to outcasts to heroes. After being accused of raping and murdering Cindy but never convicted, Larry settled into a routine of ridicule. Living at his childhood home with only himself, his dwindling land, chickens and aging mother to care for – nobody cared for him. Scary Larry – a monster just like those in his beloved horror novels. Some 25 years later another young girl goes missing. Silas is back in town acting as constable and the police chief questions Larry. Silas discovers the body of the local drug dealer, a former friend, and on instinct sends his EMT girlfriend to Larry’s house. Larry came home to a monster earlier in the day and is found with a gunshot wound to the chest, barely alive. As he lays in a coma, restrained for the hospital staff’s protection, Silas rediscovers the past he shares with Larry. Old photos, the rifle Larry gave him that ended their friendship, secrets 32 kept from everyone, even himself. Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin is a curvy, anguish-ladled story containing a peculiar friendship between two boys, two men that leaves you feeling heartbroken and uplifted at the same time. The first quarter of the book made me twitch with discomfort and dread. Thankfully, Mr. Franklin kept the story pregnant with plenty of secrets, lies and truths so that I was able to finally exhale at the end and let go of the monster that de-railed Larry and 32’s friendship all those years before.

3 3/4 out of 5 DogEars 

Okra Book Challenge Pick

Virals by Kathy Reichs

Rating:  A Good Tale
Virals by Kathy Reichs contains some of the most engaging and witty characters I’ve read to date. Upon reading the description of how a band of teenagers is introduced to a virus that gives them the senses of feral wolfdogs, I was rather doubtful of how the story could play out without becoming too far-fetched. I was wrong. Young and brave Tory Brennan leads Hi, Ben and Shelton on a mission. A mission that will cure their sense of abandonment by workaholic or overbearing parents and give them the prowess to create their own future.
On Morris Island, just south of Charleston, but miles away from normality, Tory is slowly adjusting to life with the father whom she has just met at fourteen. Not only has she just met her father and his elitist girlfriend, she must trudge up to Charleston every day for school surrounded by the usual mix of snobby, overconfident and rowdy teenagers, made even worse by the fact they are rich. Her escape is the land, animals and sea that encompasses Morris and Loggerhead Islands. Tory’s aunt is a famous forensic anthropologist and her father is a scientist – exploring the world around her is something that cannot be stopped. Her father works on Loggerhead Island at a research institute only reached by boat. Tory and the guys are allowed to roam the island and visit the research institute as long as they don’t make trouble. Monkeys, a body buried long ago and forgotten, secret and unauthorized research projects and the disappearance of a wolfdog pup create a backdrop for the mystery that Tory must solve. During the valiant effort of saving the young wolfdog, whom the band names Coop, they are all exposed to a virus, one that will give them senses too rabid for humans to endure but will save their lives. Sprinting from Loggerhead, to Morris, to the band’s secret bunker and Charleston – Tory must find out who buried secrets on Loggerhead long before she was born or her and the guys will become a mystery themselves.
A story filled with courage, speed, humor and intelligence – a great read for any young adult to show them the strength to become their own. Looking forward to Tory’s next escapade.

4 out of 5 Dogears
Okra Book Challenge Pick

Zora & Me by Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon

Rating:  TALEASTIC

I will start off by highly recommending this book to young and old and everyone in between! This book is not only an enthusiastic adventure but also a unique look into the life and culture of the people and times of a real town with a big heart.

Eatonville is only 20 minutes from my house, so while reading of Zora, Carrie & Teddy’s adventures I could picture the places they were exploring. This is the story told from the eyes and ears of Zora’s best friend Carrie and is written with raw emotion. Carrie takes us along as she and Zora figure out how old Mr. Pendir turns himself into the gator man; meets and mourns Ivory and his beautiful music and learns the secrets of Gold and the world they are living in. Each journey makes them grow up a little but never dulls their spirit.

Although this story is a work of fiction – Zora Neale Hurston did grow up in Eatonville and her imagination inspired those around her. I have never read anything by Ms. Hurston but have Their Eyes Were Watching God checked out from the library and plan to dive in once the holidays are over. Thank you Ms. Bond and Ms. Simon for writing this tale about Zora and her friends with such enthusiasm and heart!

4 out of 5 Dogears 
Okra Book Challenge Pick

Okra Pick Challenge

Many thanks to Kathy at BermudaOnion for introducing me to and hosting the Okra Picks Book Challenge.  The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) picks a list of Okra worth books each year.  Kathy has challenged us book junkies to read and review as many of the Okra books as we can by March 31, 2011.  I am currently at the Tater Level (4-6) and hope to be to the Okra level (10-13) by March 31.  My first reviews on this site are from this challenge and I appreciate Kathy allowing me to post them on my first attempt at a blog!!