tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post8041867354697433233..comments2024-03-29T08:54:05.713-04:00Comments on The Misadventures of Widowhood: From Snarky to Happy Anticipation Misadventures of Widowhoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-56941506171795944142017-02-18T15:26:09.898-05:002017-02-18T15:26:09.898-05:00"Outlander" is an amazing writing feat c..."Outlander" is an amazing writing feat combining research, imagination and talent. I've read a couple to see what all the buss was about and it's well deserved. Just not my idea read. Expect me to copy and paste this paragraph when you write your post. LOL<br /><br />Reading under pressure is hard!Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-60996774900183612932017-02-18T13:35:58.885-05:002017-02-18T13:35:58.885-05:00I was in a book club for about 5 years a long time...I was in a book club for about 5 years a long time ago and mostly liked it, but mostly for the social aspects and eventually I was one of the "bad" members who never finished the book and another woman and I talked about TV shows and movies. I've not joined another book club because of my slothful tendencies -- I don't like reading under pressure. <br /><br />I really donnajurenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10799559087972759233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-90248776473132794422017-02-17T08:04:51.386-05:002017-02-17T08:04:51.386-05:00Exactly. We are such a new group we're still g...Exactly. We are such a new group we're still getting to know each other and our tastes in books. I don't believe I'll be the odd man out on the book we're reading for next month's discussion.Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-5135145770644456602017-02-16T22:26:23.085-05:002017-02-16T22:26:23.085-05:00I feel like the whole point of a book club is to b...I feel like the whole point of a book club is to be exposed to other points of view. (Otherwise, why bother discussing the book with others.) I have the opposite tension in my book group; I'm always the least critical member of the group. But I don't feel as though my friends' critiques ruin the books for me, just help me to think more deeply about them. -JeanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-26424142533495957042017-02-16T15:31:52.044-05:002017-02-16T15:31:52.044-05:00Hate to break it to you, but that wasn't a boo...Hate to break it to you, but that wasn't a book club you belonged to. LOLMisadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-81441335777754434772017-02-16T13:13:37.591-05:002017-02-16T13:13:37.591-05:00I'm too selfish to join a book club. I tried ...I'm too selfish to join a book club. I tried it once and it was like an episode of Desperate Housewives. The hostess lived in a $1M (or more) home and was dressed in designer clothes (and not my Walmart upscale wardrobe). They all had Louis Vitton purses (or other high cost brand). The food was exquisite and mostly purchased for exorbitant costs. <br /><br />And only ONE other person (The Awkward Widowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03729456066739275695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-4383252520569835652017-02-16T09:36:03.324-05:002017-02-16T09:36:03.324-05:00Can you believe I've never seen Frozen! Animat...Can you believe I've never seen Frozen! Animation is not something I willing watch. Aren't we all so different. Maybe it's all just pure eye candy only some of us like the orange candy and some of like the purple so to speak. The all grey scenery with the red dress does sound stunning...using color to direct the audience to really focus on what they want to uplift. That's what I Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-26172789401101668122017-02-16T09:01:59.759-05:002017-02-16T09:01:59.759-05:00I think a good comparison would be the different w...I think a good comparison would be the different ways a song is interpreted. Consider the National Anthem being performed at baseball games and how the singer is subtly changing rhythm or tone values without changing the notes. We have a Shakespeare company that performs here every fall at the local college, and while it is convention to not change the words that Shakespeare wrote, they do Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-58983627966251037712017-02-16T00:56:46.356-05:002017-02-16T00:56:46.356-05:00I just looked at that book on Amazon. It looks lik...I just looked at that book on Amazon. It looks like an interesting read. Your description of how you feel about opera is fascinating. I never would never have thought of opera as being creative---emotional, yes like listening to classical music can be---but the stories and notes in opera never change. What do I know, I've never even been to a live production of opera. They must have their Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-31872537234376171332017-02-15T22:36:10.558-05:002017-02-15T22:36:10.558-05:00I do agree with you about manipulating emotions. ...I do agree with you about manipulating emotions. I think my problem with Hollywood style movies is that too many of them are too overt in their presentation. Beautiful people, sunsets, romantic music. I find music intriguing because there is such a mystery to the way it stings your emotions: why are two notes so deeply connecting with something inside of me. There was a book that I read Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-72005678128550005352017-02-15T21:26:35.030-05:002017-02-15T21:26:35.030-05:00I don't always say what I think. Lots of time ...I don't always say what I think. Lots of time I go along to get along or I soften my first thoughts before I speak them...and that's okay with me. LOLMisadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-85263045454525086232017-02-15T21:15:26.470-05:002017-02-15T21:15:26.470-05:00Wow, it's about time that you wrote a blog. I&...Wow, it's about time that you wrote a blog. I've been excited waiting to read it. <br />As far as you being the only one not liking the book, SO WHAT! I'm impressed that you admitted the many flaws it had. The other ladies just wanted some love with it. Jean, I love the fact that you say what you want to say and no matter what others feel, you give what you say and that's great. Paul Pietrangelohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15997368569947980343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-5835481059493884212017-02-15T14:22:31.490-05:002017-02-15T14:22:31.490-05:00Oh gosh, I will never say "it's just word...Oh gosh, I will never say "it's just words" again because, you're right, that's what POTUS' defenders say about his lying. Words do have power beyond belief---the right words, said by the right person at the right time can start wars or heal nations. <br /><br />You have an interesting take on movies and books manipulating your emotions yet you don't view music as Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-82440665740433770732017-02-15T13:53:28.177-05:002017-02-15T13:53:28.177-05:00I looked those reviews up at Amazon, too. But sinc...I looked those reviews up at Amazon, too. But since I didn't buy the book there I won't leave a review. I think most people like it because it's set in an exotic place and they are fascinated by the culture.<br /><br />Compared to five years ago or even two, I am in a better place, that's for sure.Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-11938894670981728122017-02-15T13:44:08.352-05:002017-02-15T13:44:08.352-05:00Good fiction writers do good research. Historical ...Good fiction writers do good research. Historical fiction is my favorite genre. I can't tell you how many times I've fact checked authors' timelines, etc. only to find out they were right. You learn to trust certain authors over others. Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-43851010719499035572017-02-15T13:30:06.899-05:002017-02-15T13:30:06.899-05:00I used to belong to a book group. I still see the...I used to belong to a book group. I still see the women regularly but we no longer read books for discussion. We actually stopped reading books, because at the time we were all still working, and none of us felt that we had time to read. Now we chat about the world and everything in it!<br />I am not a movie watcher. I found, over the last years, that I was becoming less tolerant of films Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-14547005381070359982017-02-15T13:22:55.025-05:002017-02-15T13:22:55.025-05:00I had to look at reviews for the book on Amazon. ...I had to look at reviews for the book on Amazon. 2,368 positive. 354 critical. Please add yours! Personally I steer clear of romance in books and movies ever since I've been single, so I would have skipped this book.<br /><br />Strong words of praise "I truly adore that group". Think back a year ago, or five. Ever think you'd get here?! GowitheFlohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01842273685414939160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-53262385438784932017-02-15T12:34:53.927-05:002017-02-15T12:34:53.927-05:00I've never belonged to a book club. Never want...I've never belonged to a book club. Never wanted to belong to one for precisely the situation you and some of the comments relate. Most of my life I've read only nonfiction. A few years ago I started reading some fiction. I had problems because I wanted time lines and situations to be true to real lie. Doesn't work that way in fiction.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11586429675286969340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-38618767173974875962017-02-15T10:47:33.078-05:002017-02-15T10:47:33.078-05:00We've never discussed politics at the book clu...We've never discussed politics at the book club and I have no clue what way the others in the group lean. I'm not angry about the election---it's over---but I'm fearful and angry with the direction #45 is taking the country. But without a doubt that isn't channeling into my thoughts about this book. (I have a website I go to for political discussions and get that stuff out of Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-12959750693578985422017-02-15T10:34:42.590-05:002017-02-15T10:34:42.590-05:00My book club was formed three books ago and has a ...My book club was formed three books ago and has a lot of retired teachers in it. So far I haven't been "lambasted" for being the old man out on all the books but I'm grateful we have skilled facilitator who keeps things moving along. I do find it fascinating that people read the same books and come away with such different opinions. We all bring different life experiences to Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-57948000043611203802017-02-15T09:50:01.292-05:002017-02-15T09:50:01.292-05:00I probably wouldn't have read past the 4th cha...I probably wouldn't have read past the 4th chapter of a book like that. You are right. How caring can a man be who walks out on his family? I'm curious--were the other readers of the conservative bent politically? Are you still angry about the Trump election? Maybe that is what colored both sides of the review of this book. I am finding that people are still angry (on both sides) Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03399435237919718544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-72893768992032337602017-02-15T09:30:53.227-05:002017-02-15T09:30:53.227-05:00Thank you for what you said in the first paragraph...Thank you for what you said in the first paragraph. I really couldn't overlook the long---like 20 pages long---monologues scattered through out the book and I kept wondering why an editor allowed the author to break all the rules about point of view story telling.<br /><br />With people, we all overlook flaws. Otherwise none of us would have friends or warm relationships would we. <br /><br /Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-17490234525816777552017-02-15T09:26:38.718-05:002017-02-15T09:26:38.718-05:00Oh I love that you didn't cave. I quit my book...Oh I love that you didn't cave. I quit my book club for a plethora of reasons but this was one of them. I never saw the books the same way. I never poo-poo'd their comments or their logic. They were quite pretensious about what we read. God forbid when it was my turn to choose the book and I picked a current best seller. How pedestrian of me! I listened to them discuss and pontificate andMargaret (Peggy or Peg too)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04247428494327269983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-91208984218690174852017-02-15T09:04:43.509-05:002017-02-15T09:04:43.509-05:00Mary, it took me a long while before I could conce...Mary, it took me a long while before I could concentrate enough to read again after my husband died. Even now at the five year mark I still don't seem to enjoy reading as much as I used to, but I fully believe it's worth pushing forward...to challenge myself. Good luck with your club. We have a list of questions to guide our conversations, put out by the publishers and available online. <Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5990351249805345004.post-15164438490782222392017-02-15T08:58:57.136-05:002017-02-15T08:58:57.136-05:00I've read a few POW and Holocaust books. They ...I've read a few POW and Holocaust books. They are hard to forget, aren't they. That the human spirit can endure so much is amazing.<br /><br />Wouldn't you hate to be sequestered for months with a bunch of strangers who might or might not turn into people you like. <br /><br />Yes, these are the same ladies from the Gathering that I've written about before. Now that nicer weather Misadventures of Widowhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262709452281226620noreply@blogger.com