On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

Comments on this board should be written with the assumption that not all readers have finished the book. Please take care not to reveal information that might lessen other readers’ enjoyment.

I will not be joining this read because I listened to Meryl Streep’s excellent performance not too long ago. The audiobook was a terrific way to experience this story.

I just finished this book this month. I hope to follow the discussion since it’s prevalent on my mind.

I do recommend reading Our Town, Thornton Wilder’s play. You can read it in an hour or two.

I recently read this one too, as Anne Patchett is a favorite author for me. Like Lori, I'll follow along with the discussion.

Terry wrote: "I will not be joining this read because I listened to Meryl Streep’s excellent performance not too long ago. The audiobook was a terrific way to experience this story."

I also listened to the audio, masterfully performed by Meryl Streep.

(Then again, I would probably listen to Meryl Streep read a receipt from Home Depot ... just sayin'.)

And I agree with Lori's recommendation to also read (or re-read) Wilder's play Our Town

I have read and won't be joining but agree on the recommendation of audio and Our Town.

I read this back when it first published and it did have me reading and watching the Wilder play. I really wanted to experience the audio with Streep but at the time the wait list was too long and I was too impatient. I'll follow along but since it's been a while I may not be able to contribute much. Patchett is one of my very favorite writers and I recall enjoying this but it did not have the same 5 star impact most of her other novels have delivered.

It's too bad that I just read this in January. It would have been fun to read with the group. Even though I've had a frustrated relationship with Patchett's other books I've read, I loved this one. I agree that it's good to read Our Town first if you aren't familiar with it.

I listened to this also, read by Meryl Streep & loved it! Just watched Our Town on YouTube with Paul Newman as the stage manager. Highly recommend!

It seems to me that most of us who regularly comment have already read this one. Thanks for the YouTube hint Lexy!

I'm hoping to read it this month. I've owned a copy of it for ages and I've never read anything by this author.