SS Book Club: Book 1, Chapters 4-6 Discussion (Murder on a Girls' Night Out)

[wbarker]

Ok - so I saw from another post that some people are past chapters 1-3, so here is the second thread for chapters 4-6! I'm a bit behind, so will post a few things as soon as I catch up to some of you quicker readers! :)

Happy reading! . . . And aren't those sisters great?

[rebate queen]

:o I hope it didn't sound like I was rushing you to post this thread. What I was trying to say was that I had finished 1-3 but was kind of afraid to post yet in the discussion thread...don't want to ruin it for anyone. People are still posting about getting their books, etc. I haven't looked at the other thread since this morning so maybe discussion has already started...Can you tell that I haven't done this before??:confused:

[mood4amelody]

Okay, so I peeked!! :eek: Dawn, I don't think you should worry about ruining it in the 1-3 thread. It says right in the title "Ch 1-3 Discussion", so people should expect that anything in those Chapters might be discussed there. lol I'm really ready for it to begin over there. That's why I came and peeked - to see if we were getting into some meaty dissecting and analyzing yet!!

[wbarker]

I've got some errands to run this morning, but I'll post a few things I put notes on when I get back! :)

[mood4amelody]

I've got some errands to run this morning, but I'll post a few things I put notes on when I get back! :)

After I go thru my email to try to find freebies to post, I'll go to the 1-3 section and post, too. I finished the first 3 so I can not feel like I'm "peeking" if I post there now! lol

[messajarjar]

Anyone have any ideas on who the murderer is? I think we've already met him/her. I'm just trying to put together motive.:D

[rebate queen]

Anyone have any ideas on who the murderer is? I think we've already met him/her. I'm just trying to put together motive.:D

You're way ahead of me--I have no clue.

Pretty freaky to me about the voicemail thing!

[wbarker]

You're way ahead of me--I have no clue.

Pretty freaky to me about the voicemail thing!

I couldn't agree more! Here I am, reading away in bed with my hubby quietly snoring on one side, and my son quietly sleeping in his crib on the other (the lights are out - I'm reading on my pda, and the wind is really howling!), and I read that sentence about the message on the phone . . . I guess I should fess up now . . . I'm not a huge mystery fan. :) Probably because I have really sensitive hearing, and I'm AFRAID of the dark. . . yes - I'm an adult, and I HATE the dark. My poor hubby gets woken at least once a month because I hear something in our house (poor insulation - I hear things outside, and it sounds like it is in the next room!). . .

LOL - He's gonna love it now that I'm reading a mystery!

Anyway, that voicemail throws a wrench in what I thought was going on! Now the plot is really including the sisters in more than just that one bought a place where a murder occured . . . .

Hmmmm . . .

[wbarker]

Anyone have any ideas on who the murderer is? I think we've already met him/her. I'm just trying to put together motive.:D

How far are you? I'm in chapter 5 . . . I'm not sure we've got enough info yet, but some things are certainly worth noting . . .

Ed's PMS
The broken/loose items in the bathroom
The way Ed died
Henry - - - there is something there, I just don't know if he's a good guy or a bad guy yet
Debbie's house (where the voice mail was recorded)

Hmmm - lots going on!

[rebate queen]

:) Wendi, I just love looking at your little guy when I read your posts. He reminds me a lot of my son when he was that age. One of these days I'll post a picture from when he was that age...

[wbarker]

Something I noticed in chapter 4:

"Ponyboy, Ponyboy," Mary Alice sang, jiggling her twin . . . . Patricia Anne was giving her a hard time about waking the twins from their nap. . . .

The only reference to Ponyboy that I recall is from the book/movie Outsiders. . . I think he was the younger brother. I think he was the one who blamed himself for something. . . interesting reference?


Another note: Anyone heard of Stanback? I've never heard of it before! I googled it, and it does exist, but it has been discontinued I believe.


Hmm - the "Shrimp Destin" sounded yummy . . . Shrimp heated in a butter - garlic sauce and served on toast . . . well, I'm not sure about the toast part, but the shrimp in butter garlic sauce sounds good. I make a really great bbq shrimp in olive oil, garlic and lemon juice. Maybe I'll try it on toast! :)

[wbarker]

:) Wendi, I just love looking at your little guy when I read your posts. He reminds me a lot of my son when he was that age. One of these days I'll post a picture from when he was that age...

:) That is one of my husbands favorite pictures of our son! I really like it too - because he was really laughing - it was a great moment! (Plus he didn't really look like an infant anymore - you could kind of see him getting a little older!) Well - he still looks like an infant, but his features were becoming more "his", I don't know how else to describe it.

I'd love to see pics of your son!! When he was that age, and now!

[wbarker]

So - I've started wondering about the whole Ed/PMS thing. I'm trying to come up with ideas as to what could be causing his mood swings.

If I recall, I think Bonnie Blue told Mary Alice and Patricia Anne that he had PMS on the 26th of every month, and that the symptoms were him getting really drunk.

So . . . I'm guessing it isn't a hormonal thing (unless he's had a *** change, which just doesn't quite fit!)

So - - - it could be the anniversary of a loved ones death - maybe he had an accidental part in it?

The whole getting drunk - hmmm - could be that he is trying to drown his sorrows, relieve stress, or celebrate!

Any ideas??

[messajarjar]

Think somebody was hitting him up for "protection" money every month at that time? maybe he tried to sell the bar quickly to get out from under this person...hhhmmmmm...:confused:

[wbarker]

ohhhh - I hadn't thought of that! What a great idea!

[messajarjar]

I haven't seen any evidence of that yet, and I'm much further along in the book. Still, it's a good theory since I still don't know what's going on. This one's going to hold out till the very end! :eek:

I really did not like this book at the beginning because I'm used to reading much darker and forensic heavy books. But I have to say, it's grown on me! Now I'll have to read all the subsequent books after this one that revolve around the Southern sisters. There a quite a few! :cool:

[messajarjar]

For anyone interested in the further adventures of Aunt Sister and Mouse:

http://www.annegeorge.com/

[Jenni232323]

I haven't heard of Stanback either - guess it's like Goody's powder.
And yes, Shrimp Destin - yum! Sounds a bit like scampi on toast.
Strange about the voicemail - doesn't seem like something the twins would've done.

I'm wondering if Patricia Anne's headaches and random naps have anything to do with the whole story?

Also, in Ch. 6 - the discrepency regarding Ed's parents and the real reason he wanted to sell the place. Wonder if he was needing the cash, or needed to get out of town.
And Henry said Ed had a wife - hmmmm.

I have a taste for that homemade applesauce - has anyone ever made some?
On to chapter 7.

[wbarker]

I haven't seen any evidence of that yet, and I'm much further along in the book. Still, it's a good theory since I still don't know what's going on. This one's going to hold out till the very end! :eek:

I really did not like this book at the beginning because I'm used to reading much darker and forensic heavy books. But I have to say, it's grown on me! Now I'll have to read all the subsequent books after this one that revolve around the Southern sisters. There a quite a few! :cool:

I have to admit that the author has done quite well with the characters. I really do like the sisters!

[wbarker]

I haven't heard of Stanback either - guess it's like Goody's powder.
And yes, Shrimp Destin - yum! Sounds a bit like scampi on toast.
Strange about the voicemail - doesn't seem like something the twins would've done.

I'm wondering if Patricia Anne's headaches and random naps have anything to do with the whole story?

Also, in Ch. 6 - the discrepency regarding Ed's parents and the real reason he wanted to sell the place. Wonder if he was needing the cash, or needed to get out of town.
And Henry said Ed had a wife - hmmmm.

I have a taste for that homemade applesauce - has anyone ever made some?
On to chapter 7.

Hmm - never thought much about the headaches and naps - good point - wonder if they will paly a larger part??

Yes - I'm really curious on why Ed needed to sell the place . . .

I love homemade applesauce. I haven't had it since I was a child, but used to make it with my mom.

Anyone have a good recipe? If not, I'll see if I can ask her for hers. I'm trying to get my family to eat better . . . that would be a good one.

[wbarker]

Lol - what did you guys think in chapter 5 when Patricia thought to herself:

I learned after marriage . . . "Don't lie, but don't tell everything." It allows a certain amount of dignity to remain in the relationship. It is also a kindness.

I actually agree here, but think there is a fine line between what you should be honest with your significant other/family, and exactly how much to share.

Thoughts?

[wbarker]

Hmm - also liked this (also in Chapter 5 I think)

"Macaroni and cheese, lima beans and mashed potatoes," [Fred] announced happily. "An orange, green and white vegatable. Just what the nutritionists recommend."

Oh - if only macaroni and cheese was considered a vegatable! I'd be in heaven! Anybody else enjoy macaroni? I hate to admit it, but I've never had home-made macaroni - anyone have a good recipe to share? I think it is SUCH a comfort food!

[mood4amelody]

Sorry ladies, I am so far behind! I just can't get out of this blue funk kinda mood. Here're some thoughts:

When the purses were mentioned and it was said that the Betty Blue had probably gotten it at a fraction of the cost, how did you take that? I wondered if it were a slur either racially or financially? I mean, just because one purse owner is obviously in good financial circumstances, and the other is obviously African-American, why would it be assumed that the latter purse would be from Discount City or something? Isn't that an assumption based on other assumptions?

I actually LOL at the part where the "student" was telling "Mouse" that he was the only one at college in Iowa who knew the difference between the use of "lie" and "lay" in a sentence! That was hugely funny to me living here and not being a native. I have heard grade and high school TEACHERS say things like "I seen the student misbehaving" or "I seen her grade report." Drives me frikkin' nuts to hear an educator bastardize the English language like that! When we get school newsletters, I can't read them with out groaning over the grammer!

[wbarker]

Sorry ladies, I am so far behind! I just can't get out of this blue funk kinda mood. Here're some thoughts:

When the purses were mentioned and it was said that the Betty Blue had probably gotten it at a fraction of the cost, how did you take that? I wondered if it were a slur either racially or financially? I mean, just because one purse owner is obviously in good financial circumstances, and the other is obviously African-American, why would it be assumed that the latter purse would be from Discount City or something? Isn't that an assumption based on other assumptions?

I actually LOL at the part where the "student" was telling "Mouse" that he was the only one at college in Iowa who knew the difference between the use of "lie" and "lay" in a sentence! That was hugely funny to me living here and not being a native. I have heard grade and high school TEACHERS say things like "I seen the student misbehaving" or "I seen her grade report." Drives me frikkin' nuts to hear an educator bastardize the English language like that! When we get school newsletters, I can't read them with out groaning over the grammer!

About the purses - I didn't take it as a racial slur at all, but DID see it as a judgement/slur/prejudice about her financail situation - insinuating that she couldn't afford a "real" purse, and could only afford the "knock-off".

I also agree about the use of English with educators and professionals - nothing gets me more than when grammer isn't used correctly, or vowels are added to words! My in-laws all say "warshing" and "Warshington."

It used to drive me nuts at work when some of our head managers would say things like "ain't no" (isn't that a double negative??) . . . . another that used to get me was one of the ladies who reported to me was continually taking business writing classes, and still wrote everything in one long sentence/paragraph - used to really bug me! My boss always had me correct her emails and send them back to her, and she NEVER learned! I even went to a class with her to see if she participated! She really couldn't communicate outside the office because no one could make it through her emails! They got lost after the second sentence.

I'm certainly not saying I've got perfect grammer, but I do at least try! :)