Bingo

First off, I loved Bingo and have re-read it many times. Many of my general thoughts are already well said in other reviews, so I want to add an offbeat one. Bingo also tells a story about a woman's love for her career, newspapering, and how that career is endangered by the sale of "her" paper to a big company. Brown nails that part of the story -- her descriptions of how it feels when the "big guy" arrives on the doorstep of the little paper are dead on. I lived through that same situation, with less happy results, and Nickel's reactions ring very true. In this era of mergers and buyouts, that's another reason to read Bingo. Share the book with a friend or three.

Those crazy Hunsenmeir sisters are back, and this time, it's personal.... Julia and Louise, after 80+ years of sibling rivalry, still don't have it right. And when Ed Tutwieler Walters saunters into Friday night bingo, the fireworks are on autopilot. Vying for the attentions of the town's newest bachelor, Julia and Louise pull out all the stops. And often at hilarious consequences....Told through the perspective of Julia's adopted daughter, Nickel, readers are treated to small town life in all its glory. Gossip, disputes, affairs, friendships and, yes, even pesky family troubles, run amok in Runnymeade, Maryland, and Rita Mae Brown uses every ounce of her literary talent to create this unforgettable story. I was very impressed by what I read, and despite all their cat-fighting, Julia and Louise are two women I'd love to have lunch with!I read the first book in the Hunsenmeir series, Six of One, a couple years ago, and I truly enjoyed Bingo so much more. Funnier and more wisecracking, Bingo will have readers yearning for weekly bingo dates in the Catholic Church basement, socializing at the town square, and the chance to take your pets with you everywhere you go, even to the doctor's office during your annual check-up. Wonderfully endearing. Can't wait for Loose Lips.

"The stands cheered the skunk, not Ursie. The skunk stood her ground and shooed her babies back into the nest. She waited with cool precision for the arrival of this rabid human." A big grin covers my face and I chuckle as I read about the snobbish Ursie Yost being publicly humiliated as she chases a skunk. A gift of love to the main character, Nickle Smith, touches my heart. Bingo is a book that I will read time and time agian. It is a book filled with everything: joy, sorrow, pain jealosy, laughter, failer, success, romance, mischief, and love. Set in the New England town of Runnymede, the unforgettable characters weave in and out of the story,, always with a tidbit of gossip to share. Middle aged Nickle Smith is going through a period of time in her life that requires some major decisions. She is trying to by the newspaper wher she works as an editor. Her affair ends in an unexpected manner. And on top of that, her mother and aunt, the spirted Hunsenmeir sisters, argue and make public displays as they hanker after the same man. With the loving support of her family and friends, Nickle somehow pulls through. I recived a book for christmas called Loose Lips. I liked so much that I bought another book in the triogy, Bingo. There is another, Six of One , which I have yet to read and am looking forward to.

A girlfriend of mine from work lent me the book - you've got to read it she said. As I was reading the book, people thought I was crazy because I would just "bust out" laughing constantly. I could not put the book down! I knew nothing about the author, Rita Mae Brown, at the time. A few months later I ran into another girlfriend who was a "big" Rita Mae fan. She has lent me "Six of One" and I'm about half way through it - it is just has hysterical. My suggestion: Read "Six of One" first and then read "Bingo" (Have "Bingo" on your lap when you finish "Six of One" because you will not want the story to end!)

I simply cannot imagine that ANYONE could read this and not absolutely LOVE it!! I've read it at least 10 times, and I've loaned out too many copies; time for another one. It's funny how you can learn so much from works of fiction; there's something to love and hate about all the characters and that's what makes this book so wonderful. I can honestly say I have a new appreciation for living life to the fullest and accepting people for who they are. Although I've enjoyed Ms. Brown's mystery books, what I really want is a third book to complete the stories told in Bingo and Six Of One. If you love books that are REAL and oh so touching, this and it's prequel are must haves. I also would like to see a sequel to "Southern Discomfort."