The Second Diary

My hubby bought this book, working out a trade with the author. I stayed up the whole nite/morning to finish this book !! LOVED it!!! Loved the book !! Awesome to see raw honesty and love within a family! Awesome read !!

My husband was wondering why I kept giggling as I was reading this. I love the way The Second Diary is told by two different generations, past and present. It's a warm & humorous look at families, love & life that will have you wondering what secrets YOUR family is hiding.

I think the most important part for me was showing that family does stop visiting and its sad for the elderly. Growing up, I can relate to Cherry. I saw my grandparents daily. It's just part of our culture. My grandparents didn't make it to my adulthood. If they did, I'd be like Cherry and over there every day. I hope my daughter and mother have the same relationship. I loved reading it diary style. Some elders can be so reserved! I want to hear about their adventures! Lovable characters, clean,and well written.

This was such an entertaining book. It touched all of my emotions and honestly made me laugh out loud (several times), made me angry at some of the characters and made me cry too. Speaking of the characters, they were all so believable, to the point where I really want to be friends with Cherise and Gene. And Dottie (granny) is exactly the sort of woman I want to be! She's got guts, moxie and plenty of love for those that love her back. And there she was, like all good moms and grannies,nworking in the background for the sake of her kids and grandkids.

One of granny's granddaughters gives her a set of two journals for a birthday gift. Smart ole granny decides to write two separate ones. The one she's sure the family will find one day, and then the one she bids: the real deal, secret one. I loved her diary entries and it was such fun to hear what she really thought of everything and then the narrative part of what "happened". Just so entertaining that I didn't want it to end and when it did, I practically happy danced around the room because...there's a sequel called Granny's No Angel. I IMMEDIATELY went and downloaded that too! So if you're buying the paperback, do yourself a big favour and grab both when you get this. Some of your questions will be answered and you can go on having the same wonderful time that you did with this one. Now...back to my Granny book. ??

First of all to really appreciate The Second Diary one must have read the first, Granny's No Angel. Having a gift of two diaries on her birthday, this canny Grandma decides to keep both up to date; the first records tidbits of her daily life and the second the rest of the story behind the tidbits! And
it is quite the surprise to her loving granddaughter Cherry (who cares for Grandma the last months of her life) when her husband discovers the second diary. He reacts quite strongly with whoops of laughter as he reads it aloud. Family secrets are revealed in great detail with Grandma's colorful asides. But the most shocking is the revelation of Grandma's final romantic fling described in blushingly livid detail. Eventually After parts of the diary is shared with the whole family, mysteries are solved and family rifts healed. Well written from both the voices of Grandma and Granddaughter Cherry.

This book had me within the first paragraph - many times I found myself laughing aloud with delight! A few days of Dottie's diary had my eyes fill with tears. This book is so enjoyable, and so worthy of being read. I am recommending to everyone that they read it - it exudes real life, with humor and grace. Can't wait to read the sequel!

I really enjoyed this story. I love the character of Granny...she is so funny and dear! I really liked to see the interaction between Granny and Cherry. It made me nostalgic for the relationship I shared with my grandmother! The story was sweet and funny, but not sugary! I liked that there was tension and a some poignant moments...it made the story seem so believable! And, one can just tell that the author is a true animal lover.. the pups featured in the story added a little something extra that is very appealing to a dog lover like me! Everyone should be as lucky as Cherry to have a Granny by their side when muddling through life's marshes!

I absolutely loved reading about the adventures of this feisty old grandma. Granny had me laughing so hard I almost cried. Granny reminded me of my childhood and my own dear grandmother who was equally feisty and strong-willed. I could imagine the spunky little old lady in my head as I enjoyed her stories.

Everyone should keep a diary and write their life story for future generations to enjoy. Some of Granny's comments, such as "He dilled my pickle" had me cracking up. This little old lady was a breath of fresh air.

I loved the stories about the dogs and the fact that they were all named after famous people. I enjoy dog tales, so the canine adventures were an added bonus. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a humorous book and/or dog stories. I can't wait to read more by this author.

As a library assistant I come in contact with thousands of books. This book touched my very soul. I keep a "secret" journal/diary of sorts. I don't have a glossed up story journal. I have a real, raw, emotional, tell it like it is about everything and everyone...journal/diary that starts with age 5. Delightful read. I have donated this to the library where I work so others can enjoy as well.

In "The Second Diary", Ciara Threadgoode invites you into the world of Gene, Cherry and Cherry's grandmother Dottie. It's an easy world to slip into, assisted by Ciara's conversational style of writing. The sayings and dialect cement the book in Santa Barabara USA, and as the dramas, skeletons and past misunderstanding unfold themselves from the pages of the book, you feel like you're there, experiencing it with them. Dottie is a real character, and her second diary hints at the deep waters and strong currents of her childhood and adult days that glitters under the carefully worn veneer of old age. A wonderful book, although I would have liked to have gotten to know Gene a little better, and Dottie deserves a book of her own.

I just finished reading this lovely book and I found it to be absolutely DELIGHTFUL! It's an "easy" read as Ciara has a great way of putting the words on paper and quickly drawing you into the story. LOVED the diary that Granny wrote and Ciara incorporated into the storyline, I laughed out loud SO many times at some of Granny's sayings!
It was also very enjoyable to learn more about Ciara's life with her husband and their furry kids. The part about learning who her paternal Father was spoke to me on a personal level, as I too, had to "discover" the truth about my own Dad when I was younger.
All in all, I truly loved this book...I found myself wondering what was going to happen next...and wondering what Granny was going to say next. I now have to read the NEXT book to find out even MORE about these wonderful people!

Ciara Threadgoode captured my attention right away. I thought I was reading a memoir because her characters are so real. Her writing flows, and her expressions are fresh and new. She sure had me laughing--I couldn't think of a better book to spend a day on the beach with.

Weaving the past with the present from two different perspectives, this clever story is a fun and fascinating look at family dynamics across three generations. When the loyal granddaughter (who has become feisty Grannie's primary care giver) discovers her own mother's infidelities, she has to choose whether to ignore family secrets or confront them head-on. Filled with colorful characters and six adorable dachshunds, this book speaks volumes about life, love, and choices along the way.
I've never had a dachshund pup, but I sure enjoyed getting to know them. Look forward to the sequel.

Susan Joyce

As a "Mommy" to only fur babies myself, this story resonated with me right off the bat. It takes you on a journey that makes you both laugh and cry. Truly a magic carpet ride with six very special doxies! Read this book now you won't be disappointed. Looking forward to the next book.

Secrets.... family secrets. Every family has them. The Second Diary was definitely at the top of the best books I have ever read. The "real" diary found by a granddaughter after granny's death. Told the feelings and thoughts of a 76 year old woman in the last days of her life. About doctor appointments, feeling about her family (pass and present) and the love she found, proving the no matter how old we get the spirit stays young. And of course the secrets that she kept well hidden in her heart because they were not her secrets to tell. Miss Threadgoode developed the characters so well that everyone who read this can relate someone in their family to them. I found this book delightful, witty, charming and nostalgic. A page turner and a must read.

I was fortunate enough to be raised by my grandmother and even though she doesn't talk like this granny or keep a diary, she is just as feisty and lovable. She taught me my love of books and dogs so any book with a liberal sprinkling of doxies is a good thing. I can relate to the family drama going on and because of it I avoid my own family like the plague. This was a trip down memory lane for me since it brought back so many wonderful memories of growing up with my own grandma.

The journey through this families life is so much like that of anyone you may know, maybe even yourself. The follies this family goes through will make you laugh and cry. The dogs make things more enjoyable with the day to day adventures. It may have taken me longer to read than I would have like to myself, as I have 7 of these little creatures myself. So, you see, I too found myself included in this story with Cherry and her grandma.

I am looking forward to reading, "Granny's No Angel"

Read this sweet, entertaining and heartwarming book when I was supposed to be doing more serious and mundane things (taxes, ready a heavy book group book). Lost sleep staying up reading it. Touched by Granny's secret diary in which she shares her responses to people and challenges in her life, past and current. It's obvious how much she's lost in life, her dear husband, her closest friend, and, through distance and emotional estrangement, some of her children yet she remains positive and in-charge of her life. Not into whining, just dealing with what comes. Thank goodness for her close relationship with her also independent and somewhat quirky granddaughter Cherry and Cherry's husband and loving dachunds that allow her to continue to live her life in her final days. Loved the clichés/saying. Enjoyed noting difference in how I've heard some of them and how Granny worded them. Regional differences, perhaps? I'll admit that the book had me hooked when Day 6 of Granny's second diary, she shares a beloved poem from her child because her mother loved poetry and had her memorize and recite it: "Paddle Your Own Canoe" by Sarah Bolton. That is my favorite poem! Will be reading the sequel very soon.

THE SECOND DIARY is a hilarious romp through the life of one grandmother and her revelations about her traditional but dysfunctional family. Readers find her old clichés funny and the grandchildren's modern slang convincing. Granny's favorite granddaughter, her husband, and their dachshunds care for the elderly woman and in the course of helping her, discover a diary that leaves readers laughing and perhaps shaking their heads about their own families. The book has readers laughing out loud but its underbelly reveals that all families endure dysfunction because humans are distinctive in their view of life and no two personalities are alike. Finding the second diary under the polka dot towels leaves readers turning pages to see what else is going to be revealed. Readers will laugh so hard they'll cry. It is a twenty-first-century book that says it the way it is with all of the misunderstandings and human frailties that accompany life in modern America.

This book is an AWESOME read ! The characters seemed to be so real , your neighbor or even a member of your own family ! Granny sure is a woman full of surprises and a lot of love for the pups especially Ryan . The story kind of grabs you into this family as if it were your own ,the secrets that finally were revealed, the reactions to them . They make you wonder just how you would've handled things ! The relationships between all family members, could be like any others, but , the relationship between Cherry and Granny was very special ! Like I said this book draws you in ,makes you a family member . The author quoted Oscar Wilde by saying "If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again , there is no use in reading it at all " and I have already done that and you will too.

How could anyone not give The Second Diary a five star review. This book is uplifting, heady and refreshing. A book for all ages. My 90 year old mother read it in one day. She couldn't put it down. And yes, she could relate to Dorothy Rose. As her daughter, I can attest to that fact. Older people have lives and secrets and history which Ciara Threadgoode brings to life, all the while sending chuckles and mirth. I cannot wait to read her other novels. Some books you read and immediately get rid if. This book I will keep to re-read many times.

This was a truly heartwarming and endearing story of the love and devotion between a grandmother and granddaughter.It aired a sense of mystery and secrets from the past, which kept my interest piqued as to what would end up happening. It was written well and colorful giving our imagination a true sense of picture. Grandmother had a secret diary that was found after her passing, a no holding back sort of book. Granddaughter wrote concurrently in sync with her entries and it flowed perfectly and you could not wait to find out the secrets and how the story ends. A terrific read for all!

Granny's humor and perspectives on life took me from my teenage years into
adulthood. She made me laugh and more importantly she made me think. Some of
the sayings reminded me of things I'd heard my family in Oklahoma say when
I was young. Reading this book, I laughed, reminisced and spent sometime
reflecting on the special people I have in my life. Granny has a wicked
sense of humor, she definitely lifts your mood instantly. I can't remember
when I last read something and had to stop every now and again to wipe my
eyes, I'm sure my stomach will hurt tomorrow with all that laughing!!! I
didn't want it to end and cant wait for the next book.

My daughter purchased this book for me as she knew it was on my list of future reads. Started reading and couldn't put it down as it brought back memories of my own childhood and my own, sweet grandma. Written by a gifted author who simply drew me into the story and making it seem so real...I'll be looking for the next book by this author....I recommend this book highly...

After reading her first book I was delighted to find there was a second!! This woman writes in a way that allows you to get lost in her books and just keep reading. The grandmother in these books is a delightful - creative - woman who you fall in love with. I would recommend that anyone who is looking for a book to read that will make you feel good and smile - it is a wonderful story - well written and keeps you involved. Outstanding.

I borrowed the book from the Kindle library and I immediately fell in love with the story and main characters. I stopped reading half way through and purchased it for my Mom. I knew she would get a real kick out of the turns of phrase and hilarious images the author creates. I seriously wanted more, and the way she ended it was just perfect. She touched my heart in so many ways. I love dachshunds, and though they weren't the main characters, their presence was perfectly portrayed.

A refreshing change from my usual type of novel, The Second Diary is a light-hearted examination of family life, packed with engaging characters and amusing incidents. In the background, the book also examines more serious issues, such as attitudes towards the elderly and preconceptions about marriage. Recommended.

This book has everything a great story needs - easily relatable characters, humor, twists and turns, and featured website dogs! I enjoyed this book thoroughly from beginning to end! Dog lovers and anyone who has enjoyed a special relationship with a family member will absolutely love this book.

Very enjoyable read! Loved the insights into people and family relationships, all held together with humor and love. They may not always like each other, but the love is still there. Looking forward to reading more from Ms. Threadgoode.

I absolutely loved this book, beautifully written with such feeling. The Author cleverly wrote from two perspectives, making this book appealing to all ages. Granny is such an inspiration, giving the reader lots of laughs. I laughed and cried but mostly smiled at this lovely story, I really did not want it to end. looking forward to the next book....

I enjoyed reading this story. The interplay between past, present, and any future possibilities made for a very interesting and fun adventure. There is mystery and curiosities enough to keep the reader intrigued and wanting to find out what happens next. A serious story told in a humorous and insightful manner.
I came to feel a connection and empathy with the main characters, especially Grandma "Dottie".

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good and humorous book. From the feel and quality of the cover and pages to the story and characters. I absolutely can't wait for the next book to come out.

I just finished this book and I absolutely loved it. A feisty grandmother with some secrets, a devoted granddaughter, who discovers the secrets in the diary of her grandmother and dogs. Who could ask for anything more. A well written, full of humour book with a surprise but very pleasing ending.

Enjoyed the homespun voice of this charming novel. The cover is lovely, and the story is enjoyable for a curl-up by a warm fire with a cup of tea, to get to know a feisty woman who kept two sets of books.

Granny's got a lifetime of secrets, and has decided to record them in a secret diary. Some may heal family rifts, and some may blow the lid off. Either way, Granny is going to tell it like it is, sugar coating nothing. I received the audio version as a gift, and enjoyed it to the fullest. Best family story I've heard since Fried Green Tomatoes. This should be made into a movie. Thank you, Ciara Threadgoode.

I just finished reading this delightfully entertaining book. Since Dottie and I are the same age, I recognised several of the words of wisdom she used. Words I myself have used. I think it is a generational story cleary showing the love between grandmother and granddaughter. I look forward to reading "Granny's No Angel."
Carolyn Wallace

I laughed a lot at the grandmother's secret diary. The story coming out through that and her granddaughter's writing was interesting, intriguing and having its fair share of ups and downs. I shall treasure many of the sayings - not to mention the report of a visit to the doctor and the red ring. (I say no more so I won't offend the more sensitive)