The House on First Street

Hi Book Clubbers!

Time to start our third book of the year! If you haven't already, go get your copy of The House on First Street. We'll be posting a reading schedule on Monday!


Quick book synopsis, stolen from Amazon:

"Julia Reed went to New Orleans in 1991 to cover the reelection of former (and currently incarcerated) governor Edwin Edwards. Seduced by the city's sauntering pace, its rich flavors and exotic atmosphere, she was never entirely able to leave again. After almost fifteen years of living like a vagabond on her reporter's schedule, she got married and bought a house in the historic Garden District. Four weeks after she moved in, Hurricane Katrina struck.

With her house as the center of her own personal storm as well as the ever-evolving stage set for her new life as an upstanding citizen, Reed traces the fates of all who enter to wine, dine (at her table for twenty-four), tear down walls, install fixtures, throw fits and generally leave their mark on the house on First Street. There's Antoine, Reed's beloved homeless handyman with an unfortunate habit of landing in jail; JoAnn Clevenger, the Auntie Mame—like restaurateur who got her start mixing drinks for Dizzy Gillespie and selling flowers from a cart; Eddie, the supremely laid-back contractor with Hollywood ambitions; and, with the arrival of Katrina, the boys from the Oklahoma National Guard, fleets of door-kicking animal rescuers and the self-appointed (and occasionally naked) neighborhood watchman. Finally, there's the literally clueless detective who investigates the robbery in which the first draft of this book was stolen. Through it all, Reed discovers there really is no place like home.

Rich with sumptuous details and with the author's trademark humor well in the fore, The House on First Street is the chronicle of a remarkable and often hilarious homecoming, as well as a thoroughly original tribute to our country's most original city."

We hope you'll join us. See you Monday!

Rachel's Response to Part 3

I know, I know, I'm about 2 weeks late and posting, but I finished this past week and I wanted to share my thoughts! Better late than never, right??

Erin asked...

Ree faced many changes and challenges in her first year of marriage with the separation and divorce of her parents, marriage, life on the ranch, and pregnancy. How would you have coped with so many changes at once?

I would have been a basket case. I have a hard time with change, and when you throw in that many at one time, I would have felt like I was drowning. While reading I was actually surprised by how well she managed it all. I hope I never find myself in that position!

Jessica asked...

Did you feel the third part of the book was rushed compared to Part I and Part II?

A little bit. It seemed like she was trying to squeeze it all in. I would have loved for her to have gone more in depth about her pregnancy and the postpartum blues she wet through, but I can also understand that those were "harder" places in her life compared to her dating and engagement to MM.

Stephanie asked...

So many "bad things" happened on Ree and Marlboro Man's honeymoon. Did you have anything like that happen to you? How did you handle it?

No! Nothing like her experience, at least. When we took our trip to Europe last year (not a honeymoon), our luggage was lost on the way there and then again coming home. That had me so upset. I can't imagine having bad things happening on my honeymoon!

Rocky Mountain Wife asked...

One of my biggest wondering is how Ree's parents feel about how much of the book she spends talking about their impending break-up, and eventual divorce. She then is very blatant about how frustrated and sad she was with her mom. How do you think her parents feel at their portrayal in her book?

You know, I was kind of wondering this myself. I am sure it was hard for them to read this. Hearing your daughter's thoughts on your divorce must be heart wrenching. But I understood why she put it in there. It was a major issue in her life while dating, planning a wedding, and her first months as a newlywed. It wouldn't have been easy to deal with,

MC asked...

Did you like the ending to the book? What more would you have liked to know about Ree and Marlboro Man's relationship?

I liked the ending. I would have loved to have learned more about the days when she was raising two babies, but I was pleased with how it ended.

Natalie asked...

If you read The Pioneer Woman's blog before reading this book, what have you learned about her? How did the book compare to her typical blog posts? If you didn't read her blog, will you now?

I can't really say I learned about her, because when I discovered her blog back in 07, I started reading the Black Heels section on there. As long as I read her other blog posts, I was also reading her updates to her love story, so I guess in my mind they were always intertwined. Hope that makes sense.

Part Three Questions Posted!

Erin asked...

Erin asked...

Ree faced many changes and challenges in her first year of marriage with the separation and divorce of her parents, marriage, life on the ranch, and pregnancy. How would you have coped with so many changes at once?

Jessica asked...

Did you feel the third part of the book was rushed compared to Part I and Part II?

Stephanie asked...

So many "bad things" happened on Ree and Marlboro Man's honeymoon. Did you have anything like that happen to you? How did you handle it?

Rocky Mountain Wife asked...

One of my biggest wondering is how Ree's parents feel about how much of the book she spends talking about their impending break-up, and eventual divorce. She then is very blatant about how frustrated and sad she was with her mom. How do you think her parents feel at their portrayal in her book?

Another question: If you are married, did your first year of marriage contain many ups and downs as Ree's had? We're just about to finish our first year of marriage, and we've certainly had ups and downs-and I wonder if this is typical for everyone?

MC asked...

Did you like the ending to the book? What more would you have liked to know about Ree and Marlboro Man's relationship?

Natalie asked...

If you read The Pioneer Woman's blog before reading this book, what have you learned about her? How did the book compare to her typical blog posts? If you didn't read her blog, will you now?

Post Your Questions for Part Three!

We are all probably on the final pages on Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. I have loved this book so much.

Take just a second a leave a question in the comments sections for us to discuss for Part Three.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!