Comments on: Book Club Monday #3

By: Jane

Jane — Mon, 25 May 2009 18:52:13 +0000

Blog Book Club Contest Winners!

Hi everyone, the comments were so great and this discussion has been so interesting that I couldn’t draw just one winner so we have two! I asked my older sons to each draw a number and Jake picked:

#39 Kim Gilbert

and son Ty drew #46 Carolyn in Utah. You both have won a copy of Easy On The Eyes.

Carolyn and Kim, please send me a private email with your address and we’ll get those out in the mail.

Thanks to everyone for discussing the novel and let’s have another great conversation this week!

Yours,

Jane
http://www.janeporter.com

By: kribss

kribss — Sat, 23 May 2009 12:23:22 +0000

it all depends on one’s own definition on being perfect. and there’s nothing wrong with trying to be perfect as long as one doesnt punish herself for not being there and if they can laugh about it if ever caught for not being up to the standards.

By: mary j

mary j — Sat, 23 May 2009 06:13:56 +0000

Had a friend years ago who always seemed to have the “perfectly” ordered house…dropped by her home unexpectedly one Sunday morning to leave a present…the Sunday paper was scattered on the floor!!! Oh, my! Such a little thing but, the jig was up and she
seemed a bit more relaxed after that;)

By: Carolyn in Utah

Carolyn in Utah — Fri, 22 May 2009 23:53:36 +0000

Mrs. Perfect is my absolute favorite Jane book. I’ve read it several times, in fact. There is something about having the high-stress affluent life and seeing it all stripped away that is so appealing to me. I live the same kind of privileged lifestyle and often fantasize about being forced to move and downsize. To live in the kind of house where you can let your imagination run wild and decorate it any-which-way and not be chastized about resale value. To not be expected to be Supermom. I admire perfectionists with a great work ethic like Taylor, but I am never friends with women like her. Ever. If they are that hard on themselves then I figure they will be that hard on me. I muddle through life as best I can but I watch the Taylors of this world with fascination.
I liked how Jane gave Taylor a very human, lower middle-class upbringing because I can identify with that & with wanting to rise above it. I’ve always thought that Martha Stewart must certainly have been scarred by her humble origins in New Jersey because nobody has pursued upper-class Connecticut chic the way Martha has.
I do wish that Mrs. Perfect had ended with Taylor’s husband getting a job offer in Seattle for half his old salary. Getting swept away by Prince Charming (a job with double the salary and in a different country) is not nearly as challenging as having to live like regular people and interact with people from their previous life. Plus, if she stayed in Seattle there would more hope of having a follow-up book on Taylor and Marta!
I loved what Suzanne said in a previous post– that life is not a trophy to be flaunted, it is to be lived and enjoyed. Well said!

By: Janeblog » A JANE EXTRA: Mountains and Miracles

Janeblog » A JANE EXTRA: Mountains and Miracles — Fri, 22 May 2009 18:01:31 +0000

[...] on Monday. Good luck! (And after you comment here, make sure you add your comment to Jane’s online book club discussion this week.) Written by Jane on at 11:00 am and filed under A Jane Extra. Bookmark the permalink. [...]

By: Cheryl S.

Cheryl S. — Thu, 21 May 2009 19:54:26 +0000

I don’t believe in pretending to be perfect. No one is! Behind every “perfect” family, person, etc. are a lot of flaws. I’d much rather know the genuine, real person behind the facade.

By: kari n.

kari n. — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:12:11 +0000

I truely don’t think there is such a thing as a “perfect” person. I think people can try and in doing so they live a very unhappy life. I too, have been guilty of trying to be and trying to do everything perfect. It makes you a miserable person to be around. I have found out it’s better to just enjoy life and care less about what others think! I agree with the post above….we don’t live in a perfect world, so how can we be perfect? I have not read Mrs. Perfect yet, but can’t wait to get to it!

By: D.H.

D.H. — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:23:17 +0000

Oh to be graced with a smilely face. That would be perfection. Oh well, maybe next week.

By: Quilt Lady

Quilt Lady — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:55:44 +0000

My way of looking at things is no one is perfect and never will be because we don’t live in a perfect world! You can pretend to be perfect but thats about it and it will bite you in the butt before its all over with! All a person can do is the best that they can and let things happen as they may!

By: Jessica L

Jessica L — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:55:17 +0000

Illusions can’t last, and they are very hard to maintain for a long period of time. Several posters said to do your best. That’s what is expected of us, and that is actually attainable!