The More I Read

about the late sixties makes me glad I wasn't around then.  The Risen was another excellent book by Ron Rash.  It was very sad.  Definitely not a lifter.  I couldn't help but really dislike Ligeia.  REALLY.  I think I disliked her more than the grandfather!

My First Ron Rash Novel

was Above the Waterfall and I am VERY disappointed.  NOT disappointed in the book!  It was excellent!  But disappointed that this was not a series!   The main character, the town sheriff named Les would be an excellent main character for a series.  Rash is such a great writer though, I bet he would get bored.  But man, this was really good. 

Can You Take a Look at This Rash?

Something Rich and Strange:  Selected Stories is written by my latest read by the incredible Ron Rash.  Some of the stories were in Nothing Gold Can Stay.  and I did love all of those.  And these stories that I had not heard before were equally as excellent.  On to Above the Waterfall!

Stay Gold, Ponyboy

is a quote from one of my most favorite books, ever!  And because of reading that book so many times and seeing the movie, I learned the poem, to which it refers. And because I loved The Outsiders and learned the quote Nothing Gold Can Stay caught my eye.  So I have to thank S.E. Hinton for turning me on to Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost which then made me notice this amazing collection of short stories by Ron Rash.  This was an incredible collection of stories.

Because of this Website

Does the Dog Die, I was able to read Because of Winn-Dixie.  Well, reread it.  Because I remember reading it along time ago, but I really didn't want to reread it if Winn-Dixie died.  And while I was pretty sure, almost 99% certain that he didn't, I just wanted to make sure.  I have been struggling through The House of Small Shadows and it has been very depressing and I didn't need anymore depressing right then.
Does the Dog Die is about movies, which I didn't know when I looked at it quickly on my phone but just discovered now.  I just found this on goodreads, so that is another good resource for those of you, who like me, subscribe to the No More Dead Dogs way of life.
This is a great story.  Nowadays it might seem like every other book for kids is about a girl from the south, without a mother or a father or both, but Because of Winn-Dixie was early on, so you can't get mad at it for that.
What I loved most, not surprisingly, was the relationship between India Opal and her dad, whom she just calls, "The Preacher."  I loved that the church her father pastors was welcoming of all, even the stray dog, Winn-Dixie, named after the store.  I LOVED Glory Dump and Otis and Miss Franny Block.  All lovely characters and lovely people.  And they call came together, because of Winn-Dixie.

Terrible Covers

on all three of the Belles books so far.  And The Grass is Always Greener might be the last one, but I hope not.  I have enjoyed this series so much.  I feel like there HAS to be one more book, even though it has been a year since Isabelle Scott moved from her grandmother's small home in Harbor Side to the richie-rich world of Emerald Cove.  Isabelle's aunt, Zoey, whom we met in the last book plays a bigger part in this one and man, man, man is she a jerk!  Spoiler:  I was hoping she was a big fraud!  But I guess not.  But still she is a big jerk!  Unreal.
Anyway, I hope that we get one more addition to this series, because I would love to find out of Isabelle's dad become governor!

Ahhhh...with a big, big smile

Brown Girl Dreaming is a lovely, beautiful, eloquent, eye-opening, heart-opening memoir.  I hope that Jacqueline Woodson will do as Roald Dahl and Gary Paulsen have done and continue on with autobiographical works.  There are many, many reasons why I hope that she does this.  In no particular order:  anything and everything she writes is beautiful.  She has an unique story to tell.  Woodson is one of the most important writers of our time.  We can all learn about history through her rich experiences.  BGD is Woodson's story of growing up in Columbus, where she was born, Greenville, South Carolina and Bushwick.  It is written beautifully in a free verse that is like music.  Her words make her feelings come alive in a way that a very, very few writers can do.  With every book Woodson proves that she is one of the greats.

What Happened?

I knew that Hex Hall was over, but then when School Spirits came out, I thought we were in for another series!  And we are in for another series from the awesome Rachel Hawkins, but the series is completely new and it is called Rebel Belle and this is the first one.
I did like Rebel Belle, but I think I had a bad attitude about it because I was hoping for School Spirits #2, which I guess isn't coming.  The other thing that didn't blow me away about this book is the mythology part.  Now that said, I know that mythology part is just the very thing that will make this popular with girls who liked the Percy Jackson series, and there are a ton of girls who did! It just wasn't my thing.   I love the set-in-south deal of this book and it comes across as very authentic.  I liked the main character too, she is a driven, I-have-to-do-everything-perfectly kind of girl who realizes that life is far from perfect.  I gave this one 3 of 5 stars, but just because of my personal disinterest in mythology, not because it isn't a good book.  I will probably read the second one.  I will be able to recommend this to a lot of people.

It Took Me a Bit

But finally I got around to reading Winter White, the second in the Belles series.  I don't know why I didn't get to it before, but I am glad I did.  The first one was great and this one was, too.  More southern and political drama.  I am glad that Izzy and Mira are friends now.  Izzy and Mira are ready to take part in Emerald Cove's Cotillion. The ending surprised me as I thought it was kinda like the ending to the first one, but maybe I am wrong.  Either way, it was really good and I can't wait to read the third.