The Bucolic Plague

by Josh Kilmer-Purcell

August's Book Pick

The Help

by Kathryn Stockett

This is my book of the month. I've read it once, and loved it so much I was thrilled to hear it was my book club pick in anticipation of the movie release, coming in August. As a girl from the south Southern Literature holds a special place in my literary heart, and this book is among my favorites in that genre. I give this book a must-read for anyone who enjoys Southern Literature, in particular. It is funny and heartbreaking as you start to feel, and fall in love with some of the characters. At 400 + pages it is a commitment, but one you'll be glad you made.

What the Dog Saw

by Malcom Gladwell

Oh, wow. Where do I begin. I'm sure this book may be appealing to the right type of audience, but let me say upfront that I am absolutley not Mr. Gladwell's target audience. This book was chosen for book club. I went to Amazon to get a feel for what the book was about and I have to say I was less than excited. So much that I couldn't get through one full page of the preview for this book - no way was I going to devout  400 + pages of time to this collection of "observations". I have no fascination with Ron Popeil - all due credit to the brilliant business man/inventor/pitchman that he is. Nor do I give a flying fig about the ins and outs of Grey Poupon and other condiments of the like. I gave this book a giant, unapoligetic PASS.

Half Broke Horses

by Jeannette Walls

It took me a while to get into the story of Lily Casey, but once I did I learned to love her. She was absolutely determined and strong willed - everything a woman wasn't supposed to be during those times. I found her resourcefullness and desire to learn addictive. I found myself cheering for her. Ms. Walls writes this story in a way that captures the essence of her grandmother's spirit, I only wish I had the talent to orchestrate such a beautiful tribute to my own grandmother's legacy. I was completely satisfied with the unfolding of this novel and look forward to reading Ms. Walls previous novel, The Glass Castle.

The book is divided into sections that contain very short snippets. It reads quickly and is easy to put down and pick up to fit in a few pages here and there. I also enjoyed the inclusion of Ms. Walls old family photographs. It made Lily and her family all the more real and inspirational. I give this book a buy for a great summer read.

Pictures of You

by Caroline Leavitt

I'm giving this book a pass on my must-read list. The characters weren't fully developed and what I did know about them I found annoying. I read this book quickly to get it over with quickly - not the way I like to spend my time reading. There were some members of my book club that mildly enjoyed the book, but no one was overly enthusiastic about the read. Too bad, because I had high hopes. I found the story unsatisfying.