Was that really another January gone already?
Talk Book of the month club
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1Booksloth
Just checking in to start up a thread for our January books then realised it's 3.30 am over here. Now insomnia is one thing, but writing book reports at a time like this is another altogether, so I'll leave things ready for whoever gets here first. Might even make it back myself eventually.
2FicusFan
Well its too late here (1:00 am) to start now. But I will be back later this week. Not sure about Monday its always a bit rough. Though its Groundhog Day, I say roast that damn thing if he predicts more winter (which he usually does).
3Booksloth
Here we go then - my first bunch of the year:
1 The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes - okay but nothing special.
2 The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop by Lewis Buzbee- I love books about books and this is one of the treasures of the genre. An account of the author's life in bookselling and the books he has loved along the way. A must for other 'books about books'-lovers.
3 This Year You Write Your Novel - Well, we'll see. I only know that if I'd written a chapter for every ho-hum-average 'how to write a novel' book I've read I'd be rivalling Barbara Cartland by now.
4 If He Hollers Let Him Go - A bleak. if predictable, tale of a black man accused of raping a white woman.
5 A Florentine Death - I got about a quarter of the way through before deciding life was too short. Abandoned.
6 After A Florentine Death I was desperately in need of a good story, well-written; those are the times I fall back on that select group of writers who never let me down - one of whom is Patrick Hamilton, and the book I picked was The Gorse Trilogy - consisting of The West Pier, Mr Stimpson and Mr Gorse and Unknown Assailant, which might sound like a big read, going for the whole trilogy in one go, but al three stories together still come to around 600 pages so not that much different from the single average novel. There is a lucidity to Hamilton's style that makes all his books a sheer joy to read, despite the fact that they are set in the rather bleak period between the wars and centred around some fairly unsavoury people. This one, in a way, reminded me rather of Patricia Highsmith's Ripley books. As far as I'm concerned, Hamilton can't put a foot wrong.
7 Let Me Go Amongst all the fuss that is accompanying the movie of The Reader right now, this is another book along similar lines, but this one is autbiography. It relates the author's visits to her dying mother who was once a guard in Hitler's labour camps. Schneider's mother was rarely around when she was a child and yet the mother/daughter bond is a hard one to ignore and this is the account of Schneider's attempts to reconcile her natural feelings for her mother with the knowledge of her mother's past. It's a book that asks more questions than it answers but that's no reason why the questions shouldn't continue to be asked.
8 The Assassin's Cloak - recommended by a very nice man in Waterstones - is probably the best anthology of diary extracts I have ever read. When I bought it I had expected it to be one of those books I would keep by the bed and dip in and out of from time to time. Instead, I found that once I picked it up I simply couldn't put it down again. I'm very fond of diaries but there's no denying that even the most interesting lives can have their 'ho-hum' moments and there invariably comes the odd period that is the literary equivalent of 'Got up. Porridge for breakfast. Went to school. Came home. Neighbours on telly. Went to bed.' Not so in this book. Because it's an anthology the editors have been able to pick out the very cream of diary entries and every single one is a gem. My usual complaint about books like this is that they can come across as being a bit disjointed but that certainly isn't the case here. By presenting the excerpts in the traditional diary format of one day at a time (regardless of the year or the author) the editors of this wonderful book have achieved a satisfying coherence to the work with frequent flashes of humour, poignancy and just enough information about the diarists to inform and entertain, but never bore. I kept picking this book up, meaning to have a quick ten-minute browse, only to find myself, hours later, putting it down again with great reluctance. It's a book I can't recommend heartily enough and one I know I will return to time and time again over the years.
9 On a trip around some London used-book shops with a friend I came across a little novel called Up a Tree In the Park at Night With a Hedgehog - and all I can say is if any of you could have resisted a title like that then you're not the people I thought you were. It was a nice easy, fun read too. Maybe not the kind of thing I'd normally read but an enjoyable bit of light relief just the same.
10 A book I bought because I kept hearing so much about in on LT was The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - a rehash of Hamlet set on a dog-breeding ranch in Wisconsin. Unlike practically everyone else who has read it, I found this rather disappointing. The links to Hamlet that should have been subtle were practically bludgeoned to death, which - to anyone who knows the play, at least - made the whole thing rather predictable. The best parts of the book are the chapters told from the viewpoint of Almondine, the doggy equivalent of Ophelia, which combine a great deal of knowledge of the species with real charm and affection, but the rest of the book just left me cold. If anyone is interested, I have reviewed it here - http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=Booksloth - and I'm rather comforted to see that, since I posted my review, a lot of other people seem also to have found the book erratic, to say the least, so maybe it's not just me after all.
11 The Hidden, by Tobias Hill was an ER book and one I couldn't have been happier to get. Because the book is set in Sparta and various other spots around my beloved Peloponnese I had high hopes for it and I wasn't disappointed. Recommended to everyone but especially anyone who is looking for something to take on their holiday to Greece. Review here - http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=Booksloth
12 The Brutal Art Not so much a whodunnit as a whathappenedtowhoeverdunnit. An art dealer discovers an apartment-full of the most extraordinary art, which he puts on display. The artist seems to have disappeared into thin air. As the drawings begin to shake the art-world and command huge sums of money, the dealer is drawn into a cold case investigation of a series of murders that took place forty years ago and to which the art he is displaying seems to hold clues, maybe even evidence. If the artist wasn't also the killer how would he know there was a connection between the crimes that was never made public? It's a great read and I'll be happy to try anything else that comes along by this author.
Book of the month then? Well, you know by now that I'm unlikely ever to settle on just one but I think this month I can very nearly do it. The Gorse Trilogy is a book I will always cherish and no doubt return to in the future, as is The Hidden, but for sheer 'laugh one moment, cry the next' variety and a slice of the human soul, my pick this month has to be The Assassin's Cloak. Sheer magic from start to finish.
1 The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes - okay but nothing special.
2 The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop by Lewis Buzbee- I love books about books and this is one of the treasures of the genre. An account of the author's life in bookselling and the books he has loved along the way. A must for other 'books about books'-lovers.
3 This Year You Write Your Novel - Well, we'll see. I only know that if I'd written a chapter for every ho-hum-average 'how to write a novel' book I've read I'd be rivalling Barbara Cartland by now.
4 If He Hollers Let Him Go - A bleak. if predictable, tale of a black man accused of raping a white woman.
5 A Florentine Death - I got about a quarter of the way through before deciding life was too short. Abandoned.
6 After A Florentine Death I was desperately in need of a good story, well-written; those are the times I fall back on that select group of writers who never let me down - one of whom is Patrick Hamilton, and the book I picked was The Gorse Trilogy - consisting of The West Pier, Mr Stimpson and Mr Gorse and Unknown Assailant, which might sound like a big read, going for the whole trilogy in one go, but al three stories together still come to around 600 pages so not that much different from the single average novel. There is a lucidity to Hamilton's style that makes all his books a sheer joy to read, despite the fact that they are set in the rather bleak period between the wars and centred around some fairly unsavoury people. This one, in a way, reminded me rather of Patricia Highsmith's Ripley books. As far as I'm concerned, Hamilton can't put a foot wrong.
7 Let Me Go Amongst all the fuss that is accompanying the movie of The Reader right now, this is another book along similar lines, but this one is autbiography. It relates the author's visits to her dying mother who was once a guard in Hitler's labour camps. Schneider's mother was rarely around when she was a child and yet the mother/daughter bond is a hard one to ignore and this is the account of Schneider's attempts to reconcile her natural feelings for her mother with the knowledge of her mother's past. It's a book that asks more questions than it answers but that's no reason why the questions shouldn't continue to be asked.
8 The Assassin's Cloak - recommended by a very nice man in Waterstones - is probably the best anthology of diary extracts I have ever read. When I bought it I had expected it to be one of those books I would keep by the bed and dip in and out of from time to time. Instead, I found that once I picked it up I simply couldn't put it down again. I'm very fond of diaries but there's no denying that even the most interesting lives can have their 'ho-hum' moments and there invariably comes the odd period that is the literary equivalent of 'Got up. Porridge for breakfast. Went to school. Came home. Neighbours on telly. Went to bed.' Not so in this book. Because it's an anthology the editors have been able to pick out the very cream of diary entries and every single one is a gem. My usual complaint about books like this is that they can come across as being a bit disjointed but that certainly isn't the case here. By presenting the excerpts in the traditional diary format of one day at a time (regardless of the year or the author) the editors of this wonderful book have achieved a satisfying coherence to the work with frequent flashes of humour, poignancy and just enough information about the diarists to inform and entertain, but never bore. I kept picking this book up, meaning to have a quick ten-minute browse, only to find myself, hours later, putting it down again with great reluctance. It's a book I can't recommend heartily enough and one I know I will return to time and time again over the years.
9 On a trip around some London used-book shops with a friend I came across a little novel called Up a Tree In the Park at Night With a Hedgehog - and all I can say is if any of you could have resisted a title like that then you're not the people I thought you were. It was a nice easy, fun read too. Maybe not the kind of thing I'd normally read but an enjoyable bit of light relief just the same.
10 A book I bought because I kept hearing so much about in on LT was The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - a rehash of Hamlet set on a dog-breeding ranch in Wisconsin. Unlike practically everyone else who has read it, I found this rather disappointing. The links to Hamlet that should have been subtle were practically bludgeoned to death, which - to anyone who knows the play, at least - made the whole thing rather predictable. The best parts of the book are the chapters told from the viewpoint of Almondine, the doggy equivalent of Ophelia, which combine a great deal of knowledge of the species with real charm and affection, but the rest of the book just left me cold. If anyone is interested, I have reviewed it here - http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=Booksloth - and I'm rather comforted to see that, since I posted my review, a lot of other people seem also to have found the book erratic, to say the least, so maybe it's not just me after all.
11 The Hidden, by Tobias Hill was an ER book and one I couldn't have been happier to get. Because the book is set in Sparta and various other spots around my beloved Peloponnese I had high hopes for it and I wasn't disappointed. Recommended to everyone but especially anyone who is looking for something to take on their holiday to Greece. Review here - http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=Booksloth
12 The Brutal Art Not so much a whodunnit as a whathappenedtowhoeverdunnit. An art dealer discovers an apartment-full of the most extraordinary art, which he puts on display. The artist seems to have disappeared into thin air. As the drawings begin to shake the art-world and command huge sums of money, the dealer is drawn into a cold case investigation of a series of murders that took place forty years ago and to which the art he is displaying seems to hold clues, maybe even evidence. If the artist wasn't also the killer how would he know there was a connection between the crimes that was never made public? It's a great read and I'll be happy to try anything else that comes along by this author.
Book of the month then? Well, you know by now that I'm unlikely ever to settle on just one but I think this month I can very nearly do it. The Gorse Trilogy is a book I will always cherish and no doubt return to in the future, as is The Hidden, but for sheer 'laugh one moment, cry the next' variety and a slice of the human soul, my pick this month has to be The Assassin's Cloak. Sheer magic from start to finish.
4Hollister5320
Sloth - disappointed to hear that the Edgar Sawtelle book was not so good. There was so much hype around that book that I was wondering if it was really any good. My mom read it and said it was"Ehh, alright. It's not my type of thing." So you're not the only one... Oh well, I suppose I can move that one further down on my mile-long TBR list.
I've been a member of the living dead for the past few days. I blame all of the snow and the sicknesses that come along with it. I'll get my January reads up ASAP, I promise. I look forward to hearing from the rest of you! I hope you started off 2009 with a good month of reading!
I've been a member of the living dead for the past few days. I blame all of the snow and the sicknesses that come along with it. I'll get my January reads up ASAP, I promise. I look forward to hearing from the rest of you! I hope you started off 2009 with a good month of reading!
5Booksloth
Sorry to hear you've been feeling rough, Hol. You need some book therapy for sure! Big hugs.
6dianestm
My January reads:
Small Island by Andrea Levy - 3 stars okay, bit long winded when it didn't need to be
Peak by Roland Smith - 3 1/2 stars, easy read, didn't touch on the relationship between father and son as much as I though they could have
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith - 4 stars, as good as the reviews
Collateral Damage by Fern Michaels -4 stars, have enjoyed the whole Sisterhood series
Eating Peacocks by Barbara Else - 2 1/2 stars, average
Never Let me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro - 2 stars,
A Crime in the Neighbourhood by Suzanne Berne - 4 stars, I could easily relate to the 70's, very well written and a very good read
Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alic Kuipers - 3 1/2 stars, quick emotional read
Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess - 4 stars, awful topic but well written with a satisfying end
Chloe Leiberman (Sometimes Wong) by Carrie Rosten - 3 stars, a typical teenager, book is written as her college application
Swimmers Rope by Stephanie Johnson - 4 stars, beautifully written by a NZ author, tells the story of incidental love, accidental love, the pity of love, the danger of love, the problems of denying love
The Cat Ate my Gymsuit by Paula Danziger - 3 stars, funny
Vive La Paris by Esme Raji Codell - 3 stars
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier - 5 stars, perfect in every way
Black Sheep by Yvonne Collins - 4 stars, a funny look at reality shows, the contestants and the false portrayal
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole - 3 stars, completely mad
The Road by Cormac McCarthy - 4 stars, heart wrenching story of a father and son with a surprising end
Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger - 3 1/2 stars, very confused and lonely young man lacking any direction
Belonging by Sameen Ali - 3 1/2 stars, very moving biography
Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy - 2 stars, struggled through this one
The Life and Death of Laura Friday and of Pavarotti, her Parrot by David Murphy - 4 stars, very funny book about a man writing a story to get over a heartbreak
Rape, a love story by Joyce Carol Oates - 3 1/2 stars, story makes us consider the role justice has and the forms it can take. Very emotional story.
Quiver by Peter Leonard - 4 stars
Paper Towns by John Green - 3 1/2 stars, found this to be to long winded with a disappointing end
Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz - 4 1/2 stars, a gripping tale of sisterly rivalry, family loyalty, and secret histories
My favourite book for the month was undoubtely Rebecca with my least favourite being tied between Never Let me Go and Tess of the D'Urbervilles
Small Island by Andrea Levy - 3 stars okay, bit long winded when it didn't need to be
Peak by Roland Smith - 3 1/2 stars, easy read, didn't touch on the relationship between father and son as much as I though they could have
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith - 4 stars, as good as the reviews
Collateral Damage by Fern Michaels -4 stars, have enjoyed the whole Sisterhood series
Eating Peacocks by Barbara Else - 2 1/2 stars, average
Never Let me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro - 2 stars,
A Crime in the Neighbourhood by Suzanne Berne - 4 stars, I could easily relate to the 70's, very well written and a very good read
Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alic Kuipers - 3 1/2 stars, quick emotional read
Such a Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess - 4 stars, awful topic but well written with a satisfying end
Chloe Leiberman (Sometimes Wong) by Carrie Rosten - 3 stars, a typical teenager, book is written as her college application
Swimmers Rope by Stephanie Johnson - 4 stars, beautifully written by a NZ author, tells the story of incidental love, accidental love, the pity of love, the danger of love, the problems of denying love
The Cat Ate my Gymsuit by Paula Danziger - 3 stars, funny
Vive La Paris by Esme Raji Codell - 3 stars
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier - 5 stars, perfect in every way
Black Sheep by Yvonne Collins - 4 stars, a funny look at reality shows, the contestants and the false portrayal
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole - 3 stars, completely mad
The Road by Cormac McCarthy - 4 stars, heart wrenching story of a father and son with a surprising end
Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger - 3 1/2 stars, very confused and lonely young man lacking any direction
Belonging by Sameen Ali - 3 1/2 stars, very moving biography
Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy - 2 stars, struggled through this one
The Life and Death of Laura Friday and of Pavarotti, her Parrot by David Murphy - 4 stars, very funny book about a man writing a story to get over a heartbreak
Rape, a love story by Joyce Carol Oates - 3 1/2 stars, story makes us consider the role justice has and the forms it can take. Very emotional story.
Quiver by Peter Leonard - 4 stars
Paper Towns by John Green - 3 1/2 stars, found this to be to long winded with a disappointing end
Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz - 4 1/2 stars, a gripping tale of sisterly rivalry, family loyalty, and secret histories
My favourite book for the month was undoubtely Rebecca with my least favourite being tied between Never Let me Go and Tess of the D'Urbervilles
7Booksloth
Some really good ones there, dianestm! Now you have to tell us which you liked best. And what did you think of A Crime in the Neighbourhood? That's one I keep wondering about buying.
8karenmarie
Hi everybody! I am very intrigued by The Brutal Art, Booksloth, and dianestm you read some of my favorites - Rebecca, The Road, The Catcher in the Rye, Tess of the d'Urbervilles. I wish I had time to read that many books.
I agree with Booksloth, dianestm - please tell us which you liked the best. And tell me what you thought of A Confederacy of Dunces.
I had a great reading month. Here are my books in order read:
Napoleon's Pyramids by William Dietrich ***1/2 Historical fiction. I really enjoyed reading about the Napoleonic Era from an American’s viewpoint. The writing was reasonable for the time, the story had lots of action although it was subtle. I admit that when I finished I was a bit let down until I really started thinking about it. Then it grew on me and I’ve BookMooched two others by him.
Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart by Gordon Livingston **1/2 Psyco-babble. Bleh. An arrogant, cold man tries to write like he cares about people.
The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn by Colin Dexter *** I did it again. I found a great series by starting in the middle. This is an Inspector Morse mystery and the dead man, Nicholas Quinn, has lip-read something that has caused him to be murdered. It was subtle and enjoyable. I’m bookmooching the rest.
Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah ***1/2 This is the story of a Chinese girl abused by a step-mother and father – not physically, but emotionally and psychologically. She escapes to England, becomes a doctor, moves to the US and goes on with her life, but I was disappointed that she spent so much of her life still trying to please her awful father, vicious and wicked step-mother, and her greedy shallow siblings.
China Road by Rob Gifford ***1/2 A very different take on China by one of my favorite NPR correspondents. This is the story of his travels over Route 312 in China from Shanghai all the way west to the border with Kazakhstan. I liked most of it and appreciated the different kinds of people he met. I enjoyed reading his opinions on where China was going and why.
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett **** A gem of a book. The premise is that the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, is chasing her corgis, discovers a mobile book library at the Palace to serve her staff and is given a book to read. She becomes a voracious reader. It is novella length and I just loved it.
What Time Devours by A. J. Hartley **** I picked this book up at the grocery store, of all places. It sounded interesting and was. Thomas Knight is a high school teacher, a Shakespeare Scholar who didn’t finish his doctorate. He discovers a dead woman just outside his kitchen window, and that starts a very interesting adventure wrapped around the premise of the play Love’s Labour Won.
The Perfect Scent by Chandler Burr **** Ah, this book was my December ER book and a feast for the senses. It is two stories – one of the creation of Sarah Jessica Parker’s Lovely perfume and the other the creation of Un Jardin sur le Nil by Jeane-Claude Ellena for Hermes. Burr is quite lyrical in describing scents, perfumes, and the perfume industry. He is also very good at describing people in a few deft phrases. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and then went out and bought small samples of both perfumes. They are both amazing, more so because I know so much of what went into them.
The only stinker was Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart.
It’s hard to pick one winner for the month, so I’ll fudge a little and pick The Perfect Scent for nonfiction and What Time Devours for the fiction read. If you ask me tomorrow, I might pick two different books.
I agree with Booksloth, dianestm - please tell us which you liked the best. And tell me what you thought of A Confederacy of Dunces.
I had a great reading month. Here are my books in order read:
Napoleon's Pyramids by William Dietrich ***1/2 Historical fiction. I really enjoyed reading about the Napoleonic Era from an American’s viewpoint. The writing was reasonable for the time, the story had lots of action although it was subtle. I admit that when I finished I was a bit let down until I really started thinking about it. Then it grew on me and I’ve BookMooched two others by him.
Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart by Gordon Livingston **1/2 Psyco-babble. Bleh. An arrogant, cold man tries to write like he cares about people.
The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn by Colin Dexter *** I did it again. I found a great series by starting in the middle. This is an Inspector Morse mystery and the dead man, Nicholas Quinn, has lip-read something that has caused him to be murdered. It was subtle and enjoyable. I’m bookmooching the rest.
Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah ***1/2 This is the story of a Chinese girl abused by a step-mother and father – not physically, but emotionally and psychologically. She escapes to England, becomes a doctor, moves to the US and goes on with her life, but I was disappointed that she spent so much of her life still trying to please her awful father, vicious and wicked step-mother, and her greedy shallow siblings.
China Road by Rob Gifford ***1/2 A very different take on China by one of my favorite NPR correspondents. This is the story of his travels over Route 312 in China from Shanghai all the way west to the border with Kazakhstan. I liked most of it and appreciated the different kinds of people he met. I enjoyed reading his opinions on where China was going and why.
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett **** A gem of a book. The premise is that the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, is chasing her corgis, discovers a mobile book library at the Palace to serve her staff and is given a book to read. She becomes a voracious reader. It is novella length and I just loved it.
What Time Devours by A. J. Hartley **** I picked this book up at the grocery store, of all places. It sounded interesting and was. Thomas Knight is a high school teacher, a Shakespeare Scholar who didn’t finish his doctorate. He discovers a dead woman just outside his kitchen window, and that starts a very interesting adventure wrapped around the premise of the play Love’s Labour Won.
The Perfect Scent by Chandler Burr **** Ah, this book was my December ER book and a feast for the senses. It is two stories – one of the creation of Sarah Jessica Parker’s Lovely perfume and the other the creation of Un Jardin sur le Nil by Jeane-Claude Ellena for Hermes. Burr is quite lyrical in describing scents, perfumes, and the perfume industry. He is also very good at describing people in a few deft phrases. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and then went out and bought small samples of both perfumes. They are both amazing, more so because I know so much of what went into them.
The only stinker was Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart.
It’s hard to pick one winner for the month, so I’ll fudge a little and pick The Perfect Scent for nonfiction and What Time Devours for the fiction read. If you ask me tomorrow, I might pick two different books.
9Hollister5320
Here are my meager reads this month... I'm sorry that I don't have a lot to report, but life gets in the way sometimes. Here we go:
1. The Host, by Stephenie Meyer - I adored this book. I was really nervous that I wasn't going to like it because I had heard that it wasn't nearly as good as the Twilight series. And you know what? It's not as good as the Twilight series. But that's alright, it's still a wonderful book. Meyer definitely has a tone that she likes to write in, and I thoroughly enjoy it. I would recommend this book to any fan of her other work.
2. Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult - I am doing the 999 Challenge this year, and one of my categories is Jodi Picoult books. I really loved this one. It's about a school shooting. It takes you inside the mind of the victims, the shooter, the law enforcement, and the legal players. This book is really painful at times. I know I cried a few times. This is my third Picoult book that I've read. I think this is generally considered to be one of her better books, and I can see why. Really good read, I recommend it.
3. Persuasion, by Jane Austen - Another category of mine is Classics. Jane Austen certainly fits that bill. This is my third Austen piece (S&S and P&P are my others), and I loved it. Anne Elliot's world was one that I was very glad to have gotten to look at. Captain Wentworth's letter toward the end of the novel is probably one of the most romantic letters I've ever read. I definitely teared up when I read it. While I liked Persuasion, it still isn't my favorite Austen piece.
4. Dead Until Dark, by Charlaine Harris - Have you seen that show on HBO called "True Blood?" Did you like it? If you did, like I did, then you'll definitely enjoy the first novel in Harris's Sookie Stackhouse novels (don't get me started on the issue that the heroine is named Sookie Stackhouse), also called the Southern Vampire Mysteries. Pretty much all of season one is compacted into this tiny novel. Harris is witty and makes you really like Sookie, but does not develop the other characters all that well. Either way, it's a super quick read and is cute. Yes, cute is the perfect word to describe this book.
5. Living Dead in Dallas, by Charlaine Harris - And here is the sequel to the book above. Book Two was just as decent. It gave a little bit more character detail, which I really enjoyed. For the 999 Challenge, I also have Vampire Books as a category. So I plan on reading Harris's entire series of Sookie Stackhouse books.
So there you have it, not too many. But instead of quantity, I had quality. I really loved everything that I read this month. It was a good start to 2009. My pick has to go to The Host. It was the book that I devoured the fastest and couldn't get out of my head for days after finishing it.
P.S. Come visit me! My blog gets lonely sometimes. Plus, I would love to hear all of your responses, so leave me a comment on the site! http://www.misshollyslibrary.info
1. The Host, by Stephenie Meyer - I adored this book. I was really nervous that I wasn't going to like it because I had heard that it wasn't nearly as good as the Twilight series. And you know what? It's not as good as the Twilight series. But that's alright, it's still a wonderful book. Meyer definitely has a tone that she likes to write in, and I thoroughly enjoy it. I would recommend this book to any fan of her other work.
2. Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult - I am doing the 999 Challenge this year, and one of my categories is Jodi Picoult books. I really loved this one. It's about a school shooting. It takes you inside the mind of the victims, the shooter, the law enforcement, and the legal players. This book is really painful at times. I know I cried a few times. This is my third Picoult book that I've read. I think this is generally considered to be one of her better books, and I can see why. Really good read, I recommend it.
3. Persuasion, by Jane Austen - Another category of mine is Classics. Jane Austen certainly fits that bill. This is my third Austen piece (S&S and P&P are my others), and I loved it. Anne Elliot's world was one that I was very glad to have gotten to look at. Captain Wentworth's letter toward the end of the novel is probably one of the most romantic letters I've ever read. I definitely teared up when I read it. While I liked Persuasion, it still isn't my favorite Austen piece.
4. Dead Until Dark, by Charlaine Harris - Have you seen that show on HBO called "True Blood?" Did you like it? If you did, like I did, then you'll definitely enjoy the first novel in Harris's Sookie Stackhouse novels (don't get me started on the issue that the heroine is named Sookie Stackhouse), also called the Southern Vampire Mysteries. Pretty much all of season one is compacted into this tiny novel. Harris is witty and makes you really like Sookie, but does not develop the other characters all that well. Either way, it's a super quick read and is cute. Yes, cute is the perfect word to describe this book.
5. Living Dead in Dallas, by Charlaine Harris - And here is the sequel to the book above. Book Two was just as decent. It gave a little bit more character detail, which I really enjoyed. For the 999 Challenge, I also have Vampire Books as a category. So I plan on reading Harris's entire series of Sookie Stackhouse books.
So there you have it, not too many. But instead of quantity, I had quality. I really loved everything that I read this month. It was a good start to 2009. My pick has to go to The Host. It was the book that I devoured the fastest and couldn't get out of my head for days after finishing it.
P.S. Come visit me! My blog gets lonely sometimes. Plus, I would love to hear all of your responses, so leave me a comment on the site! http://www.misshollyslibrary.info
10tjsjohanna
Here's my list:
My Newberry reads:
Young Fu of the Upper Yantgze
Smoky the Cow Horse
Hitty
These were all enjoyable reads, which was a nice change since the very earliest Newberrys have seemed less than stellar to me. These all were unique and well written.
My non-fiction reads:
Against Medical Advice
The Cross: 38,102 miles
Six-legged Soldiers: Using insects as weapons of war
Four Queens - didn't finish, which is rare for me
These were all interesting but not compelling. My struggle to finish Six-legged Soldiers (which should have been much more interesting) and my boredom with Four Queens drove me to light reading for the rest of the month!
Young Adult / Fun reads:
Chalice - my favorite fantasy author Robin McKinley, back in fine form
Igraine the Brave
The Thief Lord
Don't Hex with Texas
The Mediator: Haunted
The Mediator: Twilight
Thursday Next: First among Sequels
Silks
Tantalize - the only one of these reads I found myself disappointed in.
I'd have to go with Thursday Next as my favorite this month. Mr. Fforde always manages to take me by surprise!
My Newberry reads:
Young Fu of the Upper Yantgze
Smoky the Cow Horse
Hitty
These were all enjoyable reads, which was a nice change since the very earliest Newberrys have seemed less than stellar to me. These all were unique and well written.
My non-fiction reads:
Against Medical Advice
The Cross: 38,102 miles
Six-legged Soldiers: Using insects as weapons of war
Four Queens - didn't finish, which is rare for me
These were all interesting but not compelling. My struggle to finish Six-legged Soldiers (which should have been much more interesting) and my boredom with Four Queens drove me to light reading for the rest of the month!
Young Adult / Fun reads:
Chalice - my favorite fantasy author Robin McKinley, back in fine form
Igraine the Brave
The Thief Lord
Don't Hex with Texas
The Mediator: Haunted
The Mediator: Twilight
Thursday Next: First among Sequels
Silks
Tantalize - the only one of these reads I found myself disappointed in.
I'd have to go with Thursday Next as my favorite this month. Mr. Fforde always manages to take me by surprise!
11Booksloth
IT'S SNOWING!!!!!!! Sorry about that guys but being in the only corner of England that seemed to be missing it all I'm very excited indeed. Especially as I don't have to go out today (though there will definitely be snowballs and dog-photos in the garden in a minute).
ETA - Though I've no idea what a 'Newberry' read might be, Snowy the Cow Horse has to be one for the 'books with great titles' thread!
PSETA - And now it's gone. Hmmph. Didn't even make it as far as the garden.
ETA - Though I've no idea what a 'Newberry' read might be, Snowy the Cow Horse has to be one for the 'books with great titles' thread!
PSETA - And now it's gone. Hmmph. Didn't even make it as far as the garden.
12karenmarie
The John Newbery Medal (Newbery with one 'r') is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children of the American Library Association (ALA) to the author of the Outstanding American Children's Book. The award has been given since 1922. Together with the Caldecott Medal, it is considered the most prestigious award for children's literature in the United States. It is named for John Newbery, an 18th century publisher of juvenile books. - from wikipedia.org
Smoky is from 1927
Hitty is from 1930
Young Fu is from 1933
Are you reading every 3rd year tjsjohanna? If so, Caddie Woodlawn is next and I remember reading that as a youngster and liking it a lot.
The ones you might have heard of, Booksloth, are The Voyages of Dr. Doolittle, A Wrinkle in Time or The Giver. One that I love and did not realize was a Newbery book was Holes by Louis Sachar.
Smoky is from 1927
Hitty is from 1930
Young Fu is from 1933
Are you reading every 3rd year tjsjohanna? If so, Caddie Woodlawn is next and I remember reading that as a youngster and liking it a lot.
The ones you might have heard of, Booksloth, are The Voyages of Dr. Doolittle, A Wrinkle in Time or The Giver. One that I love and did not realize was a Newbery book was Holes by Louis Sachar.
13Hollister5320
Oh I really loved Caddie Woodlawn when I was younger. I read it when I was 12 and had to act it out for my class! So much fun.
Sloth - well I'm glad someone is enjoying the snow falling. My central Ohio roads have turned into blocks of ice. Apparently no one in the Columbus, Ohio area knows how to salt and then plow? Oh well... it's pretty when it's not dangerous. :)
Sloth - well I'm glad someone is enjoying the snow falling. My central Ohio roads have turned into blocks of ice. Apparently no one in the Columbus, Ohio area knows how to salt and then plow? Oh well... it's pretty when it's not dangerous. :)
14Booksloth
Thanks for the explanation, karenmarie! Sounds interesting - there is some great children's/YA literature around and I think it's such a shame to miss it just because we're 'grown-ups'. And I love Holes too.
15QueenOfDenmark
My books for January have been good ones on the whole, so a good start to the year.
1. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates. I'd been wanting this one for a while and it was a good read, although quite a bleak one. Spoilt only by having the film tie-in cover but I'm glad I finally took the plunge and read it.
2. The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. Recommended by Booksloth and I'm glad because I really enjoyed it. Slightly strange and plenty going on, both in present day and through the 700 year old backstory.
3. The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman. Found through LT, a modern fairy tale of an unnamed woman who sometimes make wishes that come true, including her wish to be struck by lightning. Strange but enjoyable.
4. Death of a Murderer by Rupert Thomson. Another Booksloth recommendation, this one took me some time to get around to as the subject matter meant I had to be in the right mood to give it a fair chance. Worth it once I did, creepy in parts and one of those books that make you wonder what you and the people around you would do in the situations described in the book.
5. The Blindfold by Siri Hustvedt. First one this year to be a disappointment but still quite good. Odd and with the story not told in order, Iris struck me as an unreliable witness to her own life. Could go either way on a second reading. Bought after reading the authors novel What I loved, seeing this one in the back blurb and noticing that Siri and Iris were mirror image names, so became interested.
6. BUtterfield 8 by John O'Hara. Bought on impulse, again not as good as hoped but could become a higher rated book on a second read. Another bleak read that left me a bit drained and sometimes not too keen to go on with it.
7. Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. Another Booksloth recommendation and another great book. I was hooked just a couple of pages in by this story of Frank Lloyd Wright and his lover Mamah Chaney. Would really recommend this one.
8. The Birthing House. Impulse buy and the years first clunker of a book. Not scary, odd backstories, unbelievable plotlines and lots of loose ends. Felt rushed at the end. I've already given it away.
9. President Obama: Election Newspaper Front Covers. Library Thing Early Reviewer book. Not a lot to read but a lovely piece of memorabilia of the historic election.
10. The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews. Library Thing Early Reviewer book. Lovely story of a strange but likable family, easy to read and possibly my favourite ER book so far.
11. Christmas with the Savages by Mary Clive. Impulse buy and lovely. An Edwardian Christmas seen through the eyes of the priviledged children at a grand house. Funny and charming and a nice light read. Looking forward to reading this to BRE at Christmas.
12. Survivors by Terry Nation. A plague kills most of the population and those who survive soon learn that life will never be the same again. Bit like Day of the Triffids or The Stand but not quite so good and made me think of I am Legend while I was reading it. Enjoying it a lot, wish I had watched the TV series now.
If I were to choose a favourite for the month I think that Loving Frank just has the edge.
1. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates. I'd been wanting this one for a while and it was a good read, although quite a bleak one. Spoilt only by having the film tie-in cover but I'm glad I finally took the plunge and read it.
2. The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. Recommended by Booksloth and I'm glad because I really enjoyed it. Slightly strange and plenty going on, both in present day and through the 700 year old backstory.
3. The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman. Found through LT, a modern fairy tale of an unnamed woman who sometimes make wishes that come true, including her wish to be struck by lightning. Strange but enjoyable.
4. Death of a Murderer by Rupert Thomson. Another Booksloth recommendation, this one took me some time to get around to as the subject matter meant I had to be in the right mood to give it a fair chance. Worth it once I did, creepy in parts and one of those books that make you wonder what you and the people around you would do in the situations described in the book.
5. The Blindfold by Siri Hustvedt. First one this year to be a disappointment but still quite good. Odd and with the story not told in order, Iris struck me as an unreliable witness to her own life. Could go either way on a second reading. Bought after reading the authors novel What I loved, seeing this one in the back blurb and noticing that Siri and Iris were mirror image names, so became interested.
6. BUtterfield 8 by John O'Hara. Bought on impulse, again not as good as hoped but could become a higher rated book on a second read. Another bleak read that left me a bit drained and sometimes not too keen to go on with it.
7. Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. Another Booksloth recommendation and another great book. I was hooked just a couple of pages in by this story of Frank Lloyd Wright and his lover Mamah Chaney. Would really recommend this one.
8. The Birthing House. Impulse buy and the years first clunker of a book. Not scary, odd backstories, unbelievable plotlines and lots of loose ends. Felt rushed at the end. I've already given it away.
9. President Obama: Election Newspaper Front Covers. Library Thing Early Reviewer book. Not a lot to read but a lovely piece of memorabilia of the historic election.
10. The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews. Library Thing Early Reviewer book. Lovely story of a strange but likable family, easy to read and possibly my favourite ER book so far.
11. Christmas with the Savages by Mary Clive. Impulse buy and lovely. An Edwardian Christmas seen through the eyes of the priviledged children at a grand house. Funny and charming and a nice light read. Looking forward to reading this to BRE at Christmas.
12. Survivors by Terry Nation. A plague kills most of the population and those who survive soon learn that life will never be the same again. Bit like Day of the Triffids or The Stand but not quite so good and made me think of I am Legend while I was reading it. Enjoying it a lot, wish I had watched the TV series now.
If I were to choose a favourite for the month I think that Loving Frank just has the edge.
16tjsjohanna
karenmarie - thanks for the excellent explanation of Newberry awards. I'm actually trying to read all of them at some point. I started with the first book to win the award and have been trying to get them from my library - I was surprised that they don't have all of them. These just happen to be the ones I got this month - funny that they are from every third year! My wikithing page has a list of all the winners, along with a link to my reviews and the date I read them. I can't wait to read Caddie Woodlawn again. I loved that book as a kid and have re-read it a couple of times.
17Booksloth
Jody - Does this mean I should move Revolutionary Road up the pile? I have a great longing to go for The Bear Went Over the Mountain (Shearrob recommended) next but I'm torn over what to choose after that. (And yes, I know I'm a bit weird, but I do plan ahead, though it rarely works out quite the way I'd planned.)
18QueenOfDenmark
#17 Booksloth - I would definately read it first if you are planning to see the film. Frank and Alice are not very likable but the story is gripping and the writing is good. It is a bit like being trapped in a room with a couple having a terrible argument because they haven't realised you were in there and now you daren't move to leave so have to sit through it. So don't chose it to cheer yourself up or as a nice light read.
19Booksloth
Sounds like just my kind of book! Don't worry about the film - I just wait for the DVDs ever since I was expected to spend about £40 on a 'small' drink of Coke that came in a 2 gallon bucket and then sit next to a man who hadn't had a bath in a couple of years and to whom deodorant was a complete stranger. Now I just sit at home with a large whisky!
20Nickelini
Wow. Impressive reading lists. Do you people take time to eat and sleep?
Here is my January list. Go here for comments
10. The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World, Eric Weiner
9. A Fine Brush on Ivory: an appreciation of Jane Austen, Richard Jenkyns
8. Terry Jones' Medieval Lives, Terry Jones
7. Return of the Soldier, Rebecca West
6. Parliament of Fowls, Legend of Good Women, & The Book of the Duchess, Geoffrey Chaucer
5. after the quake, Haruki Murikami
4. The General, CS Forester
3. Larry's Party, Carol Shields
2. Helen of Troy, Margaret George
1. Fruit: a Novel about a Boy and His Nipples, Brian Francis
Two five star books this month: The Geography of Bliss and Return of the Soldier.
Here is my January list. Go here for comments
10. The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World, Eric Weiner
9. A Fine Brush on Ivory: an appreciation of Jane Austen, Richard Jenkyns
8. Terry Jones' Medieval Lives, Terry Jones
7. Return of the Soldier, Rebecca West
6. Parliament of Fowls, Legend of Good Women, & The Book of the Duchess, Geoffrey Chaucer
5. after the quake, Haruki Murikami
4. The General, CS Forester
3. Larry's Party, Carol Shields
2. Helen of Troy, Margaret George
1. Fruit: a Novel about a Boy and His Nipples, Brian Francis
Two five star books this month: The Geography of Bliss and Return of the Soldier.
21CarlaR
My Jan list.
A Man Without A Country by Kurt Vonnegut jr. It was a little on the *old man grumbles about life* side. If you appreciate Vonnegut then you will find some good in this book. Even late in his life he liked to show his humor.
The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon This was one of those books that had been on my TBR mountain for a while. It was good, a little muddled in places, but I figure that most people have seen the movie anyways so the ending wouldn't be any shock.
Three Novels by Samuel Beckett This is a really hard read and I had to have a lot of patience to make it through. This book includes the Beckett trilogy Molloy, Malone Dies and The Unnamable. All of these shorter books are said to be interconnected, either because the same character narrates all of the books or by some other reason. I know that my mind still tries to make a connection and when I have nothing else to read I might have to re-read this. I am a masochist.
A Room With a View by E. M. Forster Seriously the worst Forster book that I have ever read in my life. I like the man and his work, but hated this book. The characters lacked any kind of depth and weren't real to me. So far this is the worst of the year.
In the Woods by Tana French A very good book until the end. It's about two crimes, one happening about 30 years previous to the book and then a current one and the connection between them. Without giving away the end I assure you that I felt let down in a big way. The story was great and the writing was good, the end sucked.
The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho I have no words for this book. You either like Coelho or you don't. This is the second time I have read him and the second time that I feel gyped out of what should be a really good story.
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky I have always liked Dostoyevsky but I have always found him a bit harder to read simply because of the thought process I have to go through. Generally he is heavy with the philosophical ponderings. I was very wary as to whether I wanted to proceed with this novel because I could imagine that it would take me forever to get through so I was shocked when that turned out not to be the case. What I got was a well written story which was a little lighter than most of his work. I will have to say that of all of those I have read this month that this is my number 1. An awsome story that is well written and flows nicely and still leaves you with things to think about long after you have turned the last page.
War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells Great book, quick read, 'nuff said.
A Man Without A Country by Kurt Vonnegut jr. It was a little on the *old man grumbles about life* side. If you appreciate Vonnegut then you will find some good in this book. Even late in his life he liked to show his humor.
The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon This was one of those books that had been on my TBR mountain for a while. It was good, a little muddled in places, but I figure that most people have seen the movie anyways so the ending wouldn't be any shock.
Three Novels by Samuel Beckett This is a really hard read and I had to have a lot of patience to make it through. This book includes the Beckett trilogy Molloy, Malone Dies and The Unnamable. All of these shorter books are said to be interconnected, either because the same character narrates all of the books or by some other reason. I know that my mind still tries to make a connection and when I have nothing else to read I might have to re-read this. I am a masochist.
A Room With a View by E. M. Forster Seriously the worst Forster book that I have ever read in my life. I like the man and his work, but hated this book. The characters lacked any kind of depth and weren't real to me. So far this is the worst of the year.
In the Woods by Tana French A very good book until the end. It's about two crimes, one happening about 30 years previous to the book and then a current one and the connection between them. Without giving away the end I assure you that I felt let down in a big way. The story was great and the writing was good, the end sucked.
The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho I have no words for this book. You either like Coelho or you don't. This is the second time I have read him and the second time that I feel gyped out of what should be a really good story.
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky I have always liked Dostoyevsky but I have always found him a bit harder to read simply because of the thought process I have to go through. Generally he is heavy with the philosophical ponderings. I was very wary as to whether I wanted to proceed with this novel because I could imagine that it would take me forever to get through so I was shocked when that turned out not to be the case. What I got was a well written story which was a little lighter than most of his work. I will have to say that of all of those I have read this month that this is my number 1. An awsome story that is well written and flows nicely and still leaves you with things to think about long after you have turned the last page.
War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells Great book, quick read, 'nuff said.
22FicusFan
My January books:
I was reading a couple of series that were wacky fantasy/modern day blends, that someone on Goodreads called Dude-Lit (as opposed to Chick-lit). Both series were carried over from December. Sometimes I read the book as it comes out, and sometimes I collect the whole series and only read when its done.
1. The Undead Kama Sutra, by Mario Acevedo, Completed 1/1/09
It is book 2 in the Felix Gomez, Vampire PI series. The main character was a soldier in Iraq, and was turned into a vampire. He comes home and uses his vampire powers to become a very successful PI. Turns out there are aliens among us as well. Humor and sex-focus abound.
In this book Felix is searching for a vampire version of the Kama Sutra, and gets side tracked into an alien plot to abduct human women and sell them off planet as pets.
This book was OK. Not as good as the original (The Nymphos of Rocky Flats), probably because the shock value has worn off. The books are all consumed with sex and female body parts. It needs a lighter touch. The characters were more developed, and the writing was good. It seems the author replaces any character that gets too close to Felix, so he isn't as likable as he should be.
2. X-Rated Bloodsuckers by Mario Acevedo, Completed 1/1/09
Book 3 in the series. This one takes place in the X-rated film industry in LA. No aliens this time. He is looking into the murder of a reformed porn star. He is also spying for the vampire power structure who think the head vamp in LA has let humans in on the secret and is colluding with them to gain political and financial power. A bit more like a normal mystery, except for the vampires and the sex-focus, though also a bit slow in terms of pacing.
Not sure if I will read the next one or not. None of the characters are people I miss when the book is done, and I am getting tired of the ham-handed sex-focus of the books.
3. Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell, Completed 1/2/09
The first book in the Kurt Wallander series. I read this for a RL book group.
A Police procedural type of mystery set in Sweden. Kurt is a police officer, with lots of experience, a good heart, and a terrible mess of a life. His wife left him, and his daughter won't spend time with him, but occasionally hooks up with criminals.
The story is set in the 90s when Eastern Europe has escaped from communism, and many are fleeing to other countries for a better economic life. Sweden is being overwhelmed and the government has set no rules. There are refugee camps, and anti-foreigner feeling is running high.
An elderly farm couple in a isolated place (one other farm neighbor) are slaughtered in the night and their neighbors hear nothing. The rumor starts that foreigners are involved. Kurt has to track down the killer and deal with hate crimes and violence. Very well done, interesting setting and characters. I also thought the translator did a good job. I will read the rest of this series at some point.
4. Hot and Sweaty Rex by Eric Garcia, Completed 1/4/09
Book 3 of the Dinosaur Mafia series. This is the other wacky Dude-lit book/series. Again it is a mystery with a PI as the main character, but he is actually an evolved dinosaur in a latex people suit. No really. He is a raptor and is from LA, but this book takes place in South Florida.
Th POV, Vincent Rubio works for himself, but in this book he gets sucked into working for the mafia. He has to follow a rival family member to south Florida and spy on them. While there he hooks up with important people from his past. This is the last book and again, the wow of dinos in human suits has worn off. The characters are not really compelling and it plods a bit.
5. The Mosaic of Shadows by Tom Harper, Completed 1/11/09
This was a stand alone when I bought it, but now is the first book in the Demetrios Askiates series. It follows the POV, a former mercenary who is tasked to find the man who tried to kill the Emperor Alexios in the street, with an exotic weapon from the West. They also are looking for the powerful people who set the plan in motion. So its an historical mystery. It is set in Constantinople in the Byzantine empire in 1095, with the first crusade arriving outside the walls. They may fight the turks, or they may sack the city.
The writing was unsophisticated and it made the pace slow. The characters and the setting were well done, but the perp was obvious. Don't know if I will read the rest of the series or not.
6. A Tree Grows in Booklyn by Betty Smith, Quit - 1/16/09
This was a book I had to read for a RL book group. I really disliked it. It was slow and had no real story as far as I could tell. I realize it is a slice of life of the time period and class of people, but it just didn't grab me. I don't usually give up on books, last year I only had 1. But I just couldn't force myself to keep reading. The writing was good, so I may finish it at some point in the future.
7. Radio Freefall by Matthew Jarpe, Completed 1/19/09
A book for a RL book group. It is SF that mixes the computer/virtual world with corporate culture and music. It is set in the future where companies have taken over the functions of government, because they are so powerful, and embedded in everything through the use of the information and the computer grid. It is billed as an updated version of The Moon is a Harsh Mistress based on earth with Rock & Roll. Apt. It is well written and flows well. The characters are good, and the story is interesting. Much better than I was expecting. Will read this author again. It was his first book.
8.Graveyard Eyes by David Chacko, Completed 1/23/09
Another mystery set in modern day Istanbul. It is the start of the Onur Levent series. He is a police officer and is given a high profile case: the torture murder of a rich half-foreign woman who runs a famous travel agency, and is connected to the rich and powerful of the city. She also has English relatives demanding action.
The writing was good, the setting was spot on, much better than the other mystery series set in Turkey. The characters were interesting. The pacing was a bit slow but that was the only problem.
9. House to House: A Soldier's Memoir by David Bellavia and John Bruning
Completed 1/24/09
This is a non-fiction book about the experience of a soldier, Sergeant David Bellavia in Iraq. I saw him on CSPAN speaking about the book when it came out as a HC about a year ago. It was an amazing performance, I think he talked for over an hour on one breath. The book reads the same way. The main story is the battle of Fallujah. They went in to clean out the insurgents after they killed and hung the bodies of 4 American contractors from a bridge. It is extremely raw, and very frank and rough. Not for the faint of heart.
Very well done in terms of the writing and the telling of the tale. I read it in one sitting.
10. Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich, Completed 1/25/09
After the previous book I needed a light and easy read. This is a book in the Stephanie Plum Between-the-Numbers series. They are short and usually set around a holiday. There is also a bit of fantasy thrown in.
In this book the holiday is St. Patrick's day. Grandma Mazur has run off to Atlantic City to gamble with mob money that she stole from a light fingered leprechaun. He stole it from the mob to get a run down race horse, Doug, a leg operation. Diesel appears, chasing after the leprechaun and the horse, whom the leprechaun also stole.
Diesel might be a bad boy angel, in any event he is a bit magical. Eventually he and Stephanie and the leprechaun end up in an RV, as they try to find the horse and the grandmother who have been kidnapped. They find the horse. So now they have an RV and a horse. You do the math. I laughed out loud and almost fell on the floor. Stephanie never changes but I don't mind, she is book form comfort food.
11. The Perfect Scent by Chandler Burr
This is a non-fiction book, and was an ER book.
I started it in January but it was such a slog that I didn't finish until February. It was horribly muddled and lacking in focus. The writing was good and there were interesting parts, but way too much material, way too many people. He jumps between NYC and Paris, he goes back and forth in the time line.
I will finish the review next month. I still have to come up with something for the publisher, but all I really want to know is if all their editors are dead (ala LT's new Dead or Alive toy).
It was a pretty good month, though it started slow. As you can probably tell I get bored easily. So a book needs to grab me with the writing, the story, the characters or the setting. If it does grab me I can forgive a lot, but if it doesn't, no amount of perfection will be able to make up the deficit.
My favorite would have to be House to House, but I also enjoyed Faceless Killers, Radio Freefall, Graveyard Eyes and Plum Lucky.
23katiai
Hi!
I am new here, and just finished Blindfold.
Thanks for noting that Iris and Siri are mirror-names. I was wondering how much hustvedt has put her life in this book. At least in real life she suffers from horrible migranes.
First I was mesmerized by this book, but towards the end I got tired of it. I think the problem is that there is no development in Iris. She is the same person at the beginning and at the end of the book. There is also a narsistic element to her: people think her either crazy or amazing, that there is something "more" to her, even when she really doesnt show it in the book what that extra element in her could be besides her youth, beauty and complex mind - and neither one of those elements are very special in a slender young blonde....
Now come to think of it, I quite agree with the comment of Paris at the end of the book.
Kati
I am new here, and just finished Blindfold.
Thanks for noting that Iris and Siri are mirror-names. I was wondering how much hustvedt has put her life in this book. At least in real life she suffers from horrible migranes.
First I was mesmerized by this book, but towards the end I got tired of it. I think the problem is that there is no development in Iris. She is the same person at the beginning and at the end of the book. There is also a narsistic element to her: people think her either crazy or amazing, that there is something "more" to her, even when she really doesnt show it in the book what that extra element in her could be besides her youth, beauty and complex mind - and neither one of those elements are very special in a slender young blonde....
Now come to think of it, I quite agree with the comment of Paris at the end of the book.
Kati
24karenmarie
Hi Kati - welcome! We always love to have new memebers.
We post books by month. You can catch up with all of us and write about your reading on (this is confusing) the June thread, although, it's really for books read in May.
Here's May's thread (called the June thread): June Books, really May's
See you around!
Karenmarie
We post books by month. You can catch up with all of us and write about your reading on (this is confusing) the June thread, although, it's really for books read in May.
Here's May's thread (called the June thread): June Books, really May's
See you around!
Karenmarie
