This month, I only got three books read. For a total of 1,122 pages. Ouch.
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty (394 pages). I really loved the first book I read of hers. This one, I'm not so sure. The chapters bounced around between several (eventually overlapping) stories, all occurring in Australia. Which had me way confused for a very long time. The first storyline is in Melbourne with Cecilia, her husband John-Paul and their three daughters (Polly, Esther and Isabel). She has a full and fulfilling life. Until she finds a letter from her husband, to be opened at the event of his death (he's still alive, BTW). The letter is so shocking, so life-changing, that Cecilia's world will never be the same. The second storyline is in Sydney with Tess, her husband Will, their son Liam and her cousin Felicity. Tess learns that her husband and cousin have fallen in love. So she takes her son back to her hometown of Melbourne to be with her mother. And begins to learn more about herself than she thought possible. The third storyline is in Melbourne with Rachel, her son Rob, daughter-in-law Lauren and grandson Jacob. Rachel is a widow who lost her daughter when Janie was just a teenager. A murder that was never solved. Her world stops when Rob and Lauren tell her that they are moving to NYC for two years and taking Jacob, the light of her life, with them. Tess grew up with Cecilia and her husband. Rachel is the secretary at the children's elementary school, where the principal is the ex-boyfriend of both Janie (in high school) and Tess (in her twenties). The worlds begin to overlap and intertwine. Eventually, secrets come out and lives are forever changed. One of my favorite parts- the epilogue, where the author tells us all of the might-have-beens that the characters would've experienced if things had gone differently. I liked the book okay (once I got into it). It was definitely not as good as What Alice Forgot, the first book I read by the author.
Cress by Marissa Meyer (550 pages). Third book in the Lunar Chronicles. The books are strange retellings of fairy tales, set in a dystopian future. In book one, we met Cinder, aka Cinderella (she happens to be a cyborg and a missing Lunar princess) and her compatriot, Captain Thorne. In book two, we met Scarlet, aka Red Riding Hood, and her sidekick, a street fighter nicknamed Wolf. In book three, we met Crescent Moon, aka Rapunzel. Cress has been imprisoned in a satellite orbiting Earth, forced to do the Lunar Queen Levana's bidding (Cress is a techie genius). Unfortunately for the Queen, Cress's sympathies lie with Cinder and her crew. While Emperor Kai of New Beijing prepares for his wedding to Queen Levana (something he's willing to do to save Earth from Lunar soldiers), Cinder and her crew search for a way to save Earth themselves. No way is Cinder going to let Kai, the man she loves, marry an evil dictator who will probably kill him when she, Cinder, is the lost Lunar princess who can save both Earth and Luna from Levana's reign. A rescue attempt on Cress goes wrong and the crew ends up separated- Scarlet on Luna, Cress and Thorne in the Sahara and Cinder and Wolf in their spaceship. Eventually they are all reunited and the revolution can begin- a revolution to take Luna back from Queen Levana's clutches.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (178 pages). I have absolutely no idea what I just read. Seriously- weirdest book ever. The narrator returns to his hometown in Sussex for a funeral. He drives back to the property where his childhood home used to be. He then drives to the end of the lane near his house and sees Hempstock Farm. Suddenly, he is taken back to events that occurred when he was seven. A boarder who had been living with the boy's family commits suicide in the family's car. At the end of the lane. By Hempstock Farm. There, the boy meets Lettie. She's eleven. And there is something most unusual about the Hempstock women. Lettie and the boy inadvertently bring a demon-woman named Ursula Mockton into the boy's life. The Hempstock women must fight to send her back to wherever it is she came from. Lettie sacrifices herself for the boy. Well, sort of. Her mother and grandmother put her body back in their "ocean" so she can live. The boy only seems to remember these events when he returns to Hempstock Farm. And never remembers returning to Hempstock Farm. I for real have no idea what I read. Remind me that I don't really like Neil Gaiman, please!
Monday, March 3, 2014
Saturday, February 1, 2014
2014 is not off to a good start
So, I'm rather embarrassed by my lack of reading so far this year. Only three books. Yes, I said three. That's a grand total of 911 pages. I hang my head in shame. I vow to do better. Or at least try to do better. What can I say- Buffy the Vampire Slayer has distracted me.
Promises to Keep by Jane Green (337 pages). I started this book on the way home from Key West. Apparently, I decided that I wasn't going to read too much this month. As evidenced by the fact that it took me until Snowpocolypse 2014 to finish the book! Of course, the subject was a tough one for me, so I think that added to it. Callie is a forty-something year old mother of two, happily married to the love of her life. She's a breast cancer survivor. Several years after she's been declared in remission, she suddenly starts having unexplainable migraines and pain. After weeks in the hospital, they are finally given a diagnosis. Her family (husband Reece, sister Steffi, mother Honor, father Walter) and best friends (Lila and her boyfriend Ed) rally around her. As Callie's life slowly leaves her body, her loved ones learn to cope with the idea of life without Callie. They also learn that life, and love, does go on. It was a beautiful, sad, lovely story.
Enders by Lissa Price (272 pages). Sequel to Starters, a book I really loved. The downside? I read Starters nearly 2 years ago. So I had a devil of a time remembering details of what happened. Callie is a Starter, a younger person who survived the Spore Wars. Don't ask. In the first book, she allowed a microchip to be placed into her brain and had rented out her body to Enders, old people who had survived the Spore Wars. Long story short, there was some Old Man who was trying to take over bodies. And a government issue. Or something like that. In this one, Callie still has the microchip. And the Old Man can still get inside her head. Callie eventually befriends another Starter named Hyden. Turns out, he's the Old Man's son. And might have answers to what the Old Man is up to and maybe even how to stop him. I think I enjoyed the first book more. But it was a great read for a snow day!
Spelling It Like It Is by Tori Spelling (302 pages). Yep, I read yet another of Tori's books. I'm sorry- I like her. And Dean (or at least I did before the cheating rumors came out). Despite the fact that they cheated in order to be together. But that's a whole other story. On to this one. I had heard that Tori had had a rough time with her last pregnancy. I mean seriously, she had a one month old when she got pregnant with her fourth! But I had no idea how tough the pregnancy had been. This book focuses on the last few seasons of Tori & Dean, the last few moves and their last two kids. I like that Tori is open and honest about the troubles she and Dean have (arguments, money, etc.). I like that she's honest about her flaws (she's got champagne taste on a Budweiser budget. OK fine, more like on a Stella budget). I like that she geeks out when she meets her idols. I literally read the whole book in one day!
Long story short- thank goodness for a snow day. It was basically like a pool day for me. I got two books read from start to finish and one just finished!
Promises to Keep by Jane Green (337 pages). I started this book on the way home from Key West. Apparently, I decided that I wasn't going to read too much this month. As evidenced by the fact that it took me until Snowpocolypse 2014 to finish the book! Of course, the subject was a tough one for me, so I think that added to it. Callie is a forty-something year old mother of two, happily married to the love of her life. She's a breast cancer survivor. Several years after she's been declared in remission, she suddenly starts having unexplainable migraines and pain. After weeks in the hospital, they are finally given a diagnosis. Her family (husband Reece, sister Steffi, mother Honor, father Walter) and best friends (Lila and her boyfriend Ed) rally around her. As Callie's life slowly leaves her body, her loved ones learn to cope with the idea of life without Callie. They also learn that life, and love, does go on. It was a beautiful, sad, lovely story.
Enders by Lissa Price (272 pages). Sequel to Starters, a book I really loved. The downside? I read Starters nearly 2 years ago. So I had a devil of a time remembering details of what happened. Callie is a Starter, a younger person who survived the Spore Wars. Don't ask. In the first book, she allowed a microchip to be placed into her brain and had rented out her body to Enders, old people who had survived the Spore Wars. Long story short, there was some Old Man who was trying to take over bodies. And a government issue. Or something like that. In this one, Callie still has the microchip. And the Old Man can still get inside her head. Callie eventually befriends another Starter named Hyden. Turns out, he's the Old Man's son. And might have answers to what the Old Man is up to and maybe even how to stop him. I think I enjoyed the first book more. But it was a great read for a snow day!
Spelling It Like It Is by Tori Spelling (302 pages). Yep, I read yet another of Tori's books. I'm sorry- I like her. And Dean (or at least I did before the cheating rumors came out). Despite the fact that they cheated in order to be together. But that's a whole other story. On to this one. I had heard that Tori had had a rough time with her last pregnancy. I mean seriously, she had a one month old when she got pregnant with her fourth! But I had no idea how tough the pregnancy had been. This book focuses on the last few seasons of Tori & Dean, the last few moves and their last two kids. I like that Tori is open and honest about the troubles she and Dean have (arguments, money, etc.). I like that she's honest about her flaws (she's got champagne taste on a Budweiser budget. OK fine, more like on a Stella budget). I like that she geeks out when she meets her idols. I literally read the whole book in one day!
Long story short- thank goodness for a snow day. It was basically like a pool day for me. I got two books read from start to finish and one just finished!
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
I ended 2013 pretty strong (at least on the pages read front)
Thank goodness for vacation at the end of the year. Otherwise, December would have been pretty pathetic. So away we go!
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding (386 pages). Bridget is back! And is now a widow (let's all shed a tear from Mark Darcy, shall we?!) I 100% enjoyed reuniting with Bridg. In typical Bridget fashion, she is still scatterbrained. And still unlucky in love. Well, sort of. Daniel is still around (and shockingly a rather good stepfather to Bridget's two kids). I had totally forgotten how much fun her diary style of writing is.
Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen (310 pages). This was my book club book, and the one that I chose. In 1845, Edgar Allan Poe met Frances Osgood, a children's book author and budding poetess. Frances' husband, a famous portrait painter, had abandoned her and their two daughters for younger, richer women. Frances, Edgar and Edgar's wife Virginia struck up a friendship. Virginia was young and sick, actually dying of consumption during the time Frances knew her. Frances tried to keep her relationship with the Poes strictly platonic. But eventually, the passion between her and Edgar became too great to ignore. They traveled to Boston for an evening, where their daughter Fanny Fay was conceived. Frances knew that they had no future together. Her philandering husband agreed to raise Fanny Fay as his own. The last time Frances saw the Poes, Virginia was days from death. As it turns out, Edgar wasn't too far behind her. I am a huge fan of historical fiction and this one was right up my alley. As enjoyable as The Paris Wife or Z or any of the other recent historical fictions I have read.
Divergent by Veronica Roth (487 pages). This book had been suggested by more than one person. And now a movie has been made based on it. So I decided to give it a read. In dystopian Chicago, you are forced to chose a faction at the age of 16. The options are Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless and Erudite. If you don't fit into just one faction, you are Divergent. Beatrice undergoes testing, just like everyone else, to learn her faction. Turns out, she doesn't belong with the rest of her family in Abnegation- she is Divergent. On the day of her Choosing Ceremony, she switches factions and chooses Dauntless. As she begins to go through initiations, Tris (as she chooses to be called now) begins to learn more about herself and even her family. She also begins to learn more about her society, a society that is no longer content with different factions. The day she finally becomes a Dauntless is the day society erupts into war. I really, really loved this book. Like read it in 24 hours loved it!
Insurgent by Veronica Roth (525 pages). Book 2 in the Divergent series. In this book, Tris and her love Tobias (her former instructor) are facing a new world. The Erudite are poised to take over and destroy the factions. For what reason, only their leader knows. But even she is powerless against the Divergents (apparently, there are a lot more of them than people realized). The factions splinter and find themselves allied in very strange ways, including with the factionless (those who don't fit in). But they learn that the fences that surround them serve a greater purpose. Sounds like their society was some sort of experiment. Hopefully, book 3 goes into more detail about that! Read this one in about 24 hours as well.
Allegiant by Veronica Roth (526 pages). Book 3 in the Divergent series. I hate it when authors change their style mid-series. Tris has been the narrator for 2 books. Now we switch between Tris and Tobias as narrators?! Although, by the end, it made sense. In this book, we finally find out what has been happening this whole time. After Purity Wars nearly destroyed the country, it was determined that the "genetically damaged" could eventually be made "genetically pure" again. Experimental cities were set up, Chicago being one of them. As those in power outside the fence realized what was going on inside the fence, they wanted to use a serum to erase all memories. Fortunately, Tris and her friends were too smart for them. Eventually, Chicago became a new city, factionless and healing. This is one of the few series I've read that I didn't have serious issues with at least one of the books. I enjoyed all three!
So that was in for December. 5 books and 2,234 pages! Not too bad. As for 2013 as a whole, I know I had some slow months, but I feel pretty good. 60 books. 15,577 pages. That's a lot of reading!
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy by Helen Fielding (386 pages). Bridget is back! And is now a widow (let's all shed a tear from Mark Darcy, shall we?!) I 100% enjoyed reuniting with Bridg. In typical Bridget fashion, she is still scatterbrained. And still unlucky in love. Well, sort of. Daniel is still around (and shockingly a rather good stepfather to Bridget's two kids). I had totally forgotten how much fun her diary style of writing is.
Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen (310 pages). This was my book club book, and the one that I chose. In 1845, Edgar Allan Poe met Frances Osgood, a children's book author and budding poetess. Frances' husband, a famous portrait painter, had abandoned her and their two daughters for younger, richer women. Frances, Edgar and Edgar's wife Virginia struck up a friendship. Virginia was young and sick, actually dying of consumption during the time Frances knew her. Frances tried to keep her relationship with the Poes strictly platonic. But eventually, the passion between her and Edgar became too great to ignore. They traveled to Boston for an evening, where their daughter Fanny Fay was conceived. Frances knew that they had no future together. Her philandering husband agreed to raise Fanny Fay as his own. The last time Frances saw the Poes, Virginia was days from death. As it turns out, Edgar wasn't too far behind her. I am a huge fan of historical fiction and this one was right up my alley. As enjoyable as The Paris Wife or Z or any of the other recent historical fictions I have read.
Divergent by Veronica Roth (487 pages). This book had been suggested by more than one person. And now a movie has been made based on it. So I decided to give it a read. In dystopian Chicago, you are forced to chose a faction at the age of 16. The options are Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless and Erudite. If you don't fit into just one faction, you are Divergent. Beatrice undergoes testing, just like everyone else, to learn her faction. Turns out, she doesn't belong with the rest of her family in Abnegation- she is Divergent. On the day of her Choosing Ceremony, she switches factions and chooses Dauntless. As she begins to go through initiations, Tris (as she chooses to be called now) begins to learn more about herself and even her family. She also begins to learn more about her society, a society that is no longer content with different factions. The day she finally becomes a Dauntless is the day society erupts into war. I really, really loved this book. Like read it in 24 hours loved it!
Insurgent by Veronica Roth (525 pages). Book 2 in the Divergent series. In this book, Tris and her love Tobias (her former instructor) are facing a new world. The Erudite are poised to take over and destroy the factions. For what reason, only their leader knows. But even she is powerless against the Divergents (apparently, there are a lot more of them than people realized). The factions splinter and find themselves allied in very strange ways, including with the factionless (those who don't fit in). But they learn that the fences that surround them serve a greater purpose. Sounds like their society was some sort of experiment. Hopefully, book 3 goes into more detail about that! Read this one in about 24 hours as well.
Allegiant by Veronica Roth (526 pages). Book 3 in the Divergent series. I hate it when authors change their style mid-series. Tris has been the narrator for 2 books. Now we switch between Tris and Tobias as narrators?! Although, by the end, it made sense. In this book, we finally find out what has been happening this whole time. After Purity Wars nearly destroyed the country, it was determined that the "genetically damaged" could eventually be made "genetically pure" again. Experimental cities were set up, Chicago being one of them. As those in power outside the fence realized what was going on inside the fence, they wanted to use a serum to erase all memories. Fortunately, Tris and her friends were too smart for them. Eventually, Chicago became a new city, factionless and healing. This is one of the few series I've read that I didn't have serious issues with at least one of the books. I enjoyed all three!
So that was in for December. 5 books and 2,234 pages! Not too bad. As for 2013 as a whole, I know I had some slow months, but I feel pretty good. 60 books. 15,577 pages. That's a lot of reading!
Sunday, December 1, 2013
No Read November
So apparently, November is now famous for being "No Shave November." I think there's a legit reason behind it, but most guys I know just like to take advantage of not having to shave for a month. Far be it for the women to get that same luxury. But that's a whole other blog topic. This one's about my (again) shameful lack of reading this month. Shall we get to it? It'll take about 2 minutes, promise.
The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by A.N. Roquelaure, aka Anne Rice (253 pages). Anne Rice wrote these books back in the 1980's. And boy- are they risqué!! Beauty had been asleep for 100 years, you know, just like the fairytale says. But the Prince doesn't awaken her with a kiss. He awakens her with a sexual experience. Sure, she's passed out. But it does the trick. Unfortunately, the Prince is from a line of royals who take neighboring princes and princesses as Tributes/sex slaves. And Beauty is to become the Prince's first personal sex slave. The Tributes are punished constantly, not to be cruel but rather for them to learn to surrender. I'm still not sure why the Tributes are actually willingly sent to this kingdom. Beauty soon falls in love with her Prince and also with another Tribute, Prince Alexi. He tells her his story of slavery. Beauty slowly begins to yield to her Prince, becoming a Court favorite. She later learns that the ultimate form of punishment is to be sent to the Village, where the Tributes are auctioned off for the summer. Beauty sees the willful Prince Tristan in a wagon, headed towards the Village and his punishment. And something in her breaks. She finds herself in the wagon, next to him, on their way to the Village. Having crazy rabbit sex in the wagon! This book is all sorts of crazy! Like gave 50 Shades a run for its money crazy. Paddling. crazy acts of humiliation, nakedness, violations. The things done to these Tributes is riveting. And insane.
Beauty's Punishment by A.N. Roquelaure (233 pages). The second in the Sleeping Beauty trilogy. Equally as risqué! Beauty and Tristan have each been auctioned off in the Village. Beauty is sold to an Innkeeper and quickly becomes a favorite of the Captain of the Guards. Tristan is sold to the Queen's Chronicler. Unlike his Master in the Palace, the Chronicler finally breaks Tristan, who becomes devoted to his new Master. Everything seems to be going well for Beauty and Tristan (or as well as it could, considering they are sex slaves). Then they, and four other slaves, are kidnapped by a neighboring Sultan and taken off to his kingdom for two years (according to the deal the Queen brokers with the Sultan). The Sultan, unlike the Queen, doesn't even view the slaves as human (or so they are told). But he does enjoy sexual games as much as the Queen. At least this time, Beauty and Tristan are together!
Bunheads by Sophie Flack (294 pages). The author herself was a dancer with the New York City Ballet. You get the feeling that she's telling her own story. Hannah Ward is a nineteen year old ballet dancer (which is certainly not the same thing as a ballerina, who is a principal in a company). She's been in New York for 5 years, studying dance and being a member of the corps of the Manhattan Ballet. One night, she meets Jacob, a struggling student musician. Almost simultaneously, the ballerina with a lead role in a ballet is injured and Hannah, her understudy, takes on the role. The rest of the season, Hannah is faced with a choice - to continue down this path she is on, a path that may or may not ever lead to becoming a ballerina, OR to try a new path, one that leads her out into the world. It sort of reminded me of one of my favorite movies, Center Stage. A talented dancer who realizes there is more to life that dance. At least, for her.
Beauty's Release by A.N. Roquelaure (238 pages). The third and final book in the Sleeping Beauty trilogy. I had to take a little break. Honestly, it had become monotonous. Still risqué, but all three books are almost identical in the crazy sex stuff that happens. In this one, Beauty, Tristan, Laurent (a rebellious runaway slave), Rosalynd, Elena and Dmitri find themselves under the Sultan's command, unsure of what to expect. Turns out, it's more of the same. Lots of degradation. Lots of crazy sex. The book focuses on Beauty and Laurent more than the other slaves. Both of them quickly come to love the Sultan's world. Until they, and Tristan, are rescued by the Queen's soldiers (much to their dismay). Beauty is set free and returned to her parents, where she turns down every Prince who comes to woo her. Laurent and Tristan are sent to become ponies for hire in the Village for their insolence in wanting to remain with the Sultan. After nearly a year, Tristan is sold to his beloved former Master, the Chronicler. Laurent's father dies and he returns to his country as King. And then travels to Beauty's country, to claim her as his Queen, his Slave and his one True Love. So they could live happily (and apparently sexily) ever after.
So that's it for this month. 4 books and 1018 pages read. At least I did better than last month.....
The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by A.N. Roquelaure, aka Anne Rice (253 pages). Anne Rice wrote these books back in the 1980's. And boy- are they risqué!! Beauty had been asleep for 100 years, you know, just like the fairytale says. But the Prince doesn't awaken her with a kiss. He awakens her with a sexual experience. Sure, she's passed out. But it does the trick. Unfortunately, the Prince is from a line of royals who take neighboring princes and princesses as Tributes/sex slaves. And Beauty is to become the Prince's first personal sex slave. The Tributes are punished constantly, not to be cruel but rather for them to learn to surrender. I'm still not sure why the Tributes are actually willingly sent to this kingdom. Beauty soon falls in love with her Prince and also with another Tribute, Prince Alexi. He tells her his story of slavery. Beauty slowly begins to yield to her Prince, becoming a Court favorite. She later learns that the ultimate form of punishment is to be sent to the Village, where the Tributes are auctioned off for the summer. Beauty sees the willful Prince Tristan in a wagon, headed towards the Village and his punishment. And something in her breaks. She finds herself in the wagon, next to him, on their way to the Village. Having crazy rabbit sex in the wagon! This book is all sorts of crazy! Like gave 50 Shades a run for its money crazy. Paddling. crazy acts of humiliation, nakedness, violations. The things done to these Tributes is riveting. And insane.
Beauty's Punishment by A.N. Roquelaure (233 pages). The second in the Sleeping Beauty trilogy. Equally as risqué! Beauty and Tristan have each been auctioned off in the Village. Beauty is sold to an Innkeeper and quickly becomes a favorite of the Captain of the Guards. Tristan is sold to the Queen's Chronicler. Unlike his Master in the Palace, the Chronicler finally breaks Tristan, who becomes devoted to his new Master. Everything seems to be going well for Beauty and Tristan (or as well as it could, considering they are sex slaves). Then they, and four other slaves, are kidnapped by a neighboring Sultan and taken off to his kingdom for two years (according to the deal the Queen brokers with the Sultan). The Sultan, unlike the Queen, doesn't even view the slaves as human (or so they are told). But he does enjoy sexual games as much as the Queen. At least this time, Beauty and Tristan are together!
Bunheads by Sophie Flack (294 pages). The author herself was a dancer with the New York City Ballet. You get the feeling that she's telling her own story. Hannah Ward is a nineteen year old ballet dancer (which is certainly not the same thing as a ballerina, who is a principal in a company). She's been in New York for 5 years, studying dance and being a member of the corps of the Manhattan Ballet. One night, she meets Jacob, a struggling student musician. Almost simultaneously, the ballerina with a lead role in a ballet is injured and Hannah, her understudy, takes on the role. The rest of the season, Hannah is faced with a choice - to continue down this path she is on, a path that may or may not ever lead to becoming a ballerina, OR to try a new path, one that leads her out into the world. It sort of reminded me of one of my favorite movies, Center Stage. A talented dancer who realizes there is more to life that dance. At least, for her.
Beauty's Release by A.N. Roquelaure (238 pages). The third and final book in the Sleeping Beauty trilogy. I had to take a little break. Honestly, it had become monotonous. Still risqué, but all three books are almost identical in the crazy sex stuff that happens. In this one, Beauty, Tristan, Laurent (a rebellious runaway slave), Rosalynd, Elena and Dmitri find themselves under the Sultan's command, unsure of what to expect. Turns out, it's more of the same. Lots of degradation. Lots of crazy sex. The book focuses on Beauty and Laurent more than the other slaves. Both of them quickly come to love the Sultan's world. Until they, and Tristan, are rescued by the Queen's soldiers (much to their dismay). Beauty is set free and returned to her parents, where she turns down every Prince who comes to woo her. Laurent and Tristan are sent to become ponies for hire in the Village for their insolence in wanting to remain with the Sultan. After nearly a year, Tristan is sold to his beloved former Master, the Chronicler. Laurent's father dies and he returns to his country as King. And then travels to Beauty's country, to claim her as his Queen, his Slave and his one True Love. So they could live happily (and apparently sexily) ever after.
So that's it for this month. 4 books and 1018 pages read. At least I did better than last month.....
Saturday, November 2, 2013
I am embarassed by my lack of reading in October. I blame Netflix and Sons of Anarchy
So last month was HUMILIATINGLY bad on the reading front. I read 2 books. Yes, just two. I got about halfway through a third, but didn't finish it. So it won't count until this month. Here goes....
Wonder by RJ Palacio (313 pages). This was my book club book. August Pullman (age 10) has just gone to school for the first time. Auggie (who happens to share my birth date) was born with severe facial deformities. Which resulted in his parents' decision to home school him. Once he reached fifth grade, they decided it was time for him to be around other people. So they started him at a nearby private school (less kids around to be shocked by his face). Auggie quickly makes some new friends. Or so he thinks. This story is told from multiple points of view- Auggie, his older sister Olivia, his friend Summer, his friend Jack, Olivia's boyfriend Justin and Olivia's friend Miranda. Each of them views Auggie's "facial abnormalities" differently. And each of them realizes that those abnormalities define all of them, not just Auggie. I bought this book in the kid's section of Books-A-Million. But it was so much more than just a kids' book. It was truly a wonderful story. And it makes you think about who people are, not what they appear to be. Looking beyond looks to who a person truly is. I recommend it to anyone with kids!
Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman (299 pages). I bought this book for one reason - I am obsessed with the Netflix series! No really, season 2 can't get here fast enough! There was a part of me that was a little worried about ruining the show for myself. But not to worry- they aren't really a lot alike. The names of some of the women aren't even the same. And let's face facts- we all know she's only serving one year in prison. Spoiler alert- she gets released! Some of the things that I like so much about the show (Pennsatucky being a crazy Christian, Alex being in the same prison) weren't true in the book. Neither was the timeline of the crime to the arrest. But guess what- I didn't care! I still really liked the book. The characters were just as intriguing (even though you don't get to know them quite as well as the show). I just found Piper, the main character, quite fascinating. A rich white girl thrown into a world that most people don't even understand. And she understood that she put herself there, with her bad decisions. So it was up to her to make the best of the situation.
And that was it for this month. 612 measly pages of reading. I hang my head in shame.....
Wonder by RJ Palacio (313 pages). This was my book club book. August Pullman (age 10) has just gone to school for the first time. Auggie (who happens to share my birth date) was born with severe facial deformities. Which resulted in his parents' decision to home school him. Once he reached fifth grade, they decided it was time for him to be around other people. So they started him at a nearby private school (less kids around to be shocked by his face). Auggie quickly makes some new friends. Or so he thinks. This story is told from multiple points of view- Auggie, his older sister Olivia, his friend Summer, his friend Jack, Olivia's boyfriend Justin and Olivia's friend Miranda. Each of them views Auggie's "facial abnormalities" differently. And each of them realizes that those abnormalities define all of them, not just Auggie. I bought this book in the kid's section of Books-A-Million. But it was so much more than just a kids' book. It was truly a wonderful story. And it makes you think about who people are, not what they appear to be. Looking beyond looks to who a person truly is. I recommend it to anyone with kids!
Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman (299 pages). I bought this book for one reason - I am obsessed with the Netflix series! No really, season 2 can't get here fast enough! There was a part of me that was a little worried about ruining the show for myself. But not to worry- they aren't really a lot alike. The names of some of the women aren't even the same. And let's face facts- we all know she's only serving one year in prison. Spoiler alert- she gets released! Some of the things that I like so much about the show (Pennsatucky being a crazy Christian, Alex being in the same prison) weren't true in the book. Neither was the timeline of the crime to the arrest. But guess what- I didn't care! I still really liked the book. The characters were just as intriguing (even though you don't get to know them quite as well as the show). I just found Piper, the main character, quite fascinating. A rich white girl thrown into a world that most people don't even understand. And she understood that she put herself there, with her bad decisions. So it was up to her to make the best of the situation.
And that was it for this month. 612 measly pages of reading. I hang my head in shame.....
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
My September readings (I'm a little late in posting)
September's books were all over the place. Historical fiction, short stories, biographies, memoirs. And only one truly awful one in the bunch!
Freud's Mistress by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman (351 pages). Yes, back to the historical fiction for this girl! Apparently, it has long been theorized that Freud had an affair with his wife's sister. There's no concrete evidence to prove it though. But the authors sure had fun with it! It's 1895 in Vienna. Minna Bernays has lost yet another job and must turn to her sister Martha and brother-in-law Sigmund for help. Martha, once a beautiful woman, is now a shadow of herself. She's given birth to six children and is addicted to laudanum (which seems to be a popular addiction back in the day!). But her beauty was all she ever had to offer Sigmund- she doesn't understand his theories and doesn't encourage him. Minna, on the other hand, is the intellectual sister. And she and Sigmund discuss his theories, they soon give in to their mutual attraction. Let's face facts- this is Sigmund Freud we are talking about. Was there ever a man so focused on sex? Like, ever? Sigmund has his own issues- his theories are given absolutely no weight in the medical community and he has a slight cocaine addiction. You know, because it's medicinal and all. Minna has her own addictions - gin and Sigmund being first amongst them. But just as quickly as Sigmund's passion for Minna takes over it, it disappears. Minna is left heartbroken and confused. Ironically, it is her sister who comforts her the most. Minna spends the rest of her life with the Freuds, eventually dying a year after Sigmund. I know, I know, there's a fictional aspect to the story. But I found it quite fascinating. Sigmund's relationship with his wife, with his infatuations, with his cocaine addiction, all of this was interesting to me. And from what I can tell, probably relatively truthful.
Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean (310 pages). Found this one on sale at Books-A-Million and decided, what the heck, let's give it a read. It's marketed as the first-ever authorized sequel to JM Barrie's Peter Pan. I've read the original. I've seen most of the movies. I've seen Mary Martin in the musical (well, it was televised, but still). So I like Peter Pan. I did not like this book. It had the style of JM Barrie, but was missing the magic. Wendy and the Lost Boys are all grown up. They begin having crazy dreams and realize that something strange is happening in Neverland. They steal their children's clothes so they can become children again and go back to Neverland. Peter is there, and in scarlet. Because it's the fall and apparently he changes wardrobe with the seasons?! Peter and the Boys (and girls, as Tootles only has daughters and therefore he and Wendy are the girls in the group) go off on new adventure. They find the Jolly Roger, empty of pirates but still having pirate lot. Peter begins wearing Hook's old jacket. Then they meet a circus owner, Ravello, who travels with them. From the moment we meet him, there was something I didn't like about Ravello. But I couldn't put my finger on it. Then I began to wonder - what if Hook didn't die and was now this strange raveling man Ravello? Back to the story though. Peter isn't the same boy anymore. He's rather mean actually. He's becoming someone altogether different. He's becoming Hook - the way he acts and speaks even! The Boy's adventure finally ends as they reach the top of Neverpeak and find buried treasure. As they pull item and item out of the chest, the truth is revealed (and I was correct. Stupid Ravello/Hook). Honestly, I was happy when I finished. Not because I'd enjoyed the book, but because it was over. Disappointing at best.
Many Bloody Returns by Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Kelley Armstrong and others (355 pages). A collection of stories about vampires and birthdays. Love! The stories were easy reads. The first had Sookie, Eric and Pam making an appearance. The others were new characters. Each centered around a day, not necessarily an event or person. And that day was a birthday, or a rebirth day. The concept was great- 13 short stories with only two things in common. Interesting to see how each author took the ideas and ran with them. The stories were a lot of fun.
The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel (265 pages). Sometimes I find books just wandering the aisles of Books-A-Million (yes, I have been known to judge a book by its cover). Other times, I go off of suggestions from fellow readers. And occasionally, I'll buy a book because of the review in People Magazine. This was one of those times. The book was about the wives of the astronauts, starting with the Mercury Seven and ending with the Original Nineteen. All NASA wanted was for their astronauts to come from picture perfect households. And these women did their best to show that. Even knowing that many of the husbands, celebrities and rock stars of space, were running around on them with Cape Cookies (one has the audacity to marry his Cookie and try to bring her around after his wife divorced him for cheating. He left NASA shortly thereafter). The wives were fascinating by their own merits. One was a daredevil pilot herself. Another, who's husband was permanently grounded after he hot dogged around Earth, went on to become a pretty famous TV personality. Another became a senator's wife. It was interesting to read about their own competitions that mimicked what their husbands were going through- to be the first in flight, the first to walk on the moon, etc. I really enjoyed the book - lots of funny moments as well as some truly poignant ones. When Apollo 8 orbited the moon over Christmas, they read Genesis over the airwaves. Can you imagine THAT happening nowadays?
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline (273 pages). In the late 1800-early 1900's, orphans from the east coast (namely New York City) were put on trains and sent to the mid-west. There, they faced an unknown future - a life of hard work or a family of loving new parents? Niamh Power and her family arrive in America from Ireland, hoping for a new start. What they found was worse than Ireland, especially when a fire swept through their apartment, killing everyone but Niamh. The nine year old is put on an orphan train and ends up in Minnesota. She moves from foster home to foster home before finally settling with the Nielsens, who want her to take their deceased daughter's name. The newly named Vivian eventually marries and moves to Maine. There, she meets Molly Ayer, a seventeen year old who is basically an orphan (her father is dead and her mother is in prison). She's having problems of her own with her foster family. When Molly starts to work for Vivian, they strike up an unlikely friendship. As Vivian reveals more and more of her story to Molly, her past finally begins to become a part of her present and her future. It was a really great story. And amazing to think of the two hundred thousand children who really did travel on the orphan trains.
Cemetery Girl by David Bell (389 pages). Four years after 12 year old Caitlin disappeared, the pastor of the crazy church her mother joined convinces her parents, Tom and Abby, that they need a memorial service so they can move on. A memorial service complete with a grave and headstone. A few weeks after the service, Tom and Abby have split. And then they receive a phone call. Caitlin was found walking down the road, disheveled but healthy. The next few days are a nightmare- Caitlin refuses to talk about what happened to her, but still seems to be in love with the man who took her. Then an arrest is made. At first, the police aren't able to charge him with anything having to do with Caitlin. So Tom and his brother decide to take matters into their own hands. Good story, heartbreaking to read about a 16 year old and the Stockholm Syndrome she experienced at the hands of a 53 year old man. Makes me think about the girls in Ohio, and Elizabeth Smart, and Jaycee Dugard. The mixed emotions that probably ran through them upon their eventual release. Hatred, loss of safety, confusion. And this poor girl in the story was only left with love for her captor. It was a good story, but definitely a disturbing one.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed (311 pages. Of very tiny print I might add). This was to have been a read for my second book club. Sadly, that book club is now defunct. But I'd already purchased the book, so decided to give it a read. I have a friend who hiked the Appalachian Trail a few years back (he's actually also hiked the Pacific Crest Trail). I kept up with his travels on the website that was set up for AT hikers to use as their online journal. I found it fascinating. Something I could never do, but fascinating all the same. I felt the same way as I read this book. At 26, Cheryl had reached the end of her rope- father gone from her life, mother dead, siblings scattered, marriage ended in divorce, slight heroin addiction. She picked up a copy of The Pacific Crest Trail and decided to give the PCT a go. She traveled alone. Along the way, she met many fellow hikers. And she found herself. Honestly, I wasn't sure I would enjoy the book. I, personally, have no desire to do any sort of hiking- long distance or 20 feet. But I found myself wanting to see what she had seen, wanting to challenge myself. That feeling passed as soon as I finished the book. Who am I kidding- I am a lounge by the pool kind of girl (which is where I was when I read the book), not a hike 02 miles a day kind of girl. Doesn't stop me from admiring those girls though!
Only 7 books, but a total of 2254 pages. Not too shabby!
Freud's Mistress by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman (351 pages). Yes, back to the historical fiction for this girl! Apparently, it has long been theorized that Freud had an affair with his wife's sister. There's no concrete evidence to prove it though. But the authors sure had fun with it! It's 1895 in Vienna. Minna Bernays has lost yet another job and must turn to her sister Martha and brother-in-law Sigmund for help. Martha, once a beautiful woman, is now a shadow of herself. She's given birth to six children and is addicted to laudanum (which seems to be a popular addiction back in the day!). But her beauty was all she ever had to offer Sigmund- she doesn't understand his theories and doesn't encourage him. Minna, on the other hand, is the intellectual sister. And she and Sigmund discuss his theories, they soon give in to their mutual attraction. Let's face facts- this is Sigmund Freud we are talking about. Was there ever a man so focused on sex? Like, ever? Sigmund has his own issues- his theories are given absolutely no weight in the medical community and he has a slight cocaine addiction. You know, because it's medicinal and all. Minna has her own addictions - gin and Sigmund being first amongst them. But just as quickly as Sigmund's passion for Minna takes over it, it disappears. Minna is left heartbroken and confused. Ironically, it is her sister who comforts her the most. Minna spends the rest of her life with the Freuds, eventually dying a year after Sigmund. I know, I know, there's a fictional aspect to the story. But I found it quite fascinating. Sigmund's relationship with his wife, with his infatuations, with his cocaine addiction, all of this was interesting to me. And from what I can tell, probably relatively truthful.
Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean (310 pages). Found this one on sale at Books-A-Million and decided, what the heck, let's give it a read. It's marketed as the first-ever authorized sequel to JM Barrie's Peter Pan. I've read the original. I've seen most of the movies. I've seen Mary Martin in the musical (well, it was televised, but still). So I like Peter Pan. I did not like this book. It had the style of JM Barrie, but was missing the magic. Wendy and the Lost Boys are all grown up. They begin having crazy dreams and realize that something strange is happening in Neverland. They steal their children's clothes so they can become children again and go back to Neverland. Peter is there, and in scarlet. Because it's the fall and apparently he changes wardrobe with the seasons?! Peter and the Boys (and girls, as Tootles only has daughters and therefore he and Wendy are the girls in the group) go off on new adventure. They find the Jolly Roger, empty of pirates but still having pirate lot. Peter begins wearing Hook's old jacket. Then they meet a circus owner, Ravello, who travels with them. From the moment we meet him, there was something I didn't like about Ravello. But I couldn't put my finger on it. Then I began to wonder - what if Hook didn't die and was now this strange raveling man Ravello? Back to the story though. Peter isn't the same boy anymore. He's rather mean actually. He's becoming someone altogether different. He's becoming Hook - the way he acts and speaks even! The Boy's adventure finally ends as they reach the top of Neverpeak and find buried treasure. As they pull item and item out of the chest, the truth is revealed (and I was correct. Stupid Ravello/Hook). Honestly, I was happy when I finished. Not because I'd enjoyed the book, but because it was over. Disappointing at best.
Many Bloody Returns by Charlaine Harris, Jim Butcher, Kelley Armstrong and others (355 pages). A collection of stories about vampires and birthdays. Love! The stories were easy reads. The first had Sookie, Eric and Pam making an appearance. The others were new characters. Each centered around a day, not necessarily an event or person. And that day was a birthday, or a rebirth day. The concept was great- 13 short stories with only two things in common. Interesting to see how each author took the ideas and ran with them. The stories were a lot of fun.
The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel (265 pages). Sometimes I find books just wandering the aisles of Books-A-Million (yes, I have been known to judge a book by its cover). Other times, I go off of suggestions from fellow readers. And occasionally, I'll buy a book because of the review in People Magazine. This was one of those times. The book was about the wives of the astronauts, starting with the Mercury Seven and ending with the Original Nineteen. All NASA wanted was for their astronauts to come from picture perfect households. And these women did their best to show that. Even knowing that many of the husbands, celebrities and rock stars of space, were running around on them with Cape Cookies (one has the audacity to marry his Cookie and try to bring her around after his wife divorced him for cheating. He left NASA shortly thereafter). The wives were fascinating by their own merits. One was a daredevil pilot herself. Another, who's husband was permanently grounded after he hot dogged around Earth, went on to become a pretty famous TV personality. Another became a senator's wife. It was interesting to read about their own competitions that mimicked what their husbands were going through- to be the first in flight, the first to walk on the moon, etc. I really enjoyed the book - lots of funny moments as well as some truly poignant ones. When Apollo 8 orbited the moon over Christmas, they read Genesis over the airwaves. Can you imagine THAT happening nowadays?
Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline (273 pages). In the late 1800-early 1900's, orphans from the east coast (namely New York City) were put on trains and sent to the mid-west. There, they faced an unknown future - a life of hard work or a family of loving new parents? Niamh Power and her family arrive in America from Ireland, hoping for a new start. What they found was worse than Ireland, especially when a fire swept through their apartment, killing everyone but Niamh. The nine year old is put on an orphan train and ends up in Minnesota. She moves from foster home to foster home before finally settling with the Nielsens, who want her to take their deceased daughter's name. The newly named Vivian eventually marries and moves to Maine. There, she meets Molly Ayer, a seventeen year old who is basically an orphan (her father is dead and her mother is in prison). She's having problems of her own with her foster family. When Molly starts to work for Vivian, they strike up an unlikely friendship. As Vivian reveals more and more of her story to Molly, her past finally begins to become a part of her present and her future. It was a really great story. And amazing to think of the two hundred thousand children who really did travel on the orphan trains.
Cemetery Girl by David Bell (389 pages). Four years after 12 year old Caitlin disappeared, the pastor of the crazy church her mother joined convinces her parents, Tom and Abby, that they need a memorial service so they can move on. A memorial service complete with a grave and headstone. A few weeks after the service, Tom and Abby have split. And then they receive a phone call. Caitlin was found walking down the road, disheveled but healthy. The next few days are a nightmare- Caitlin refuses to talk about what happened to her, but still seems to be in love with the man who took her. Then an arrest is made. At first, the police aren't able to charge him with anything having to do with Caitlin. So Tom and his brother decide to take matters into their own hands. Good story, heartbreaking to read about a 16 year old and the Stockholm Syndrome she experienced at the hands of a 53 year old man. Makes me think about the girls in Ohio, and Elizabeth Smart, and Jaycee Dugard. The mixed emotions that probably ran through them upon their eventual release. Hatred, loss of safety, confusion. And this poor girl in the story was only left with love for her captor. It was a good story, but definitely a disturbing one.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed (311 pages. Of very tiny print I might add). This was to have been a read for my second book club. Sadly, that book club is now defunct. But I'd already purchased the book, so decided to give it a read. I have a friend who hiked the Appalachian Trail a few years back (he's actually also hiked the Pacific Crest Trail). I kept up with his travels on the website that was set up for AT hikers to use as their online journal. I found it fascinating. Something I could never do, but fascinating all the same. I felt the same way as I read this book. At 26, Cheryl had reached the end of her rope- father gone from her life, mother dead, siblings scattered, marriage ended in divorce, slight heroin addiction. She picked up a copy of The Pacific Crest Trail and decided to give the PCT a go. She traveled alone. Along the way, she met many fellow hikers. And she found herself. Honestly, I wasn't sure I would enjoy the book. I, personally, have no desire to do any sort of hiking- long distance or 20 feet. But I found myself wanting to see what she had seen, wanting to challenge myself. That feeling passed as soon as I finished the book. Who am I kidding- I am a lounge by the pool kind of girl (which is where I was when I read the book), not a hike 02 miles a day kind of girl. Doesn't stop me from admiring those girls though!
Only 7 books, but a total of 2254 pages. Not too shabby!
Saturday, August 31, 2013
The number of books was par for the course. The amount of pages? Rather August (get it? I'm such a nerd).
This month was far less rainy than last month. And I went to the beach for a long weekend. But I was also busy two Saturdays in a row. So there went my good reading days. But I must say, 8 books at 2786 pages was not too shabby.
Saints at the River by Ron Rash. (237 pages). Yet another Ron Rash book. I loved Serena so much that I wanted to read another sooner rather than later. Maggie Glenn is a photographer for a newspaper in Columbia, SC (I can only assume it's The State, but they never say). When a 12 year old girl drowns in the Tamassee River, Maggie and her coworker Allan go back to her hometown to cover the story. Because the body is trapped in the river, the girl's parents want to do whatever it takes to recover the body; locals and environmentalists do not want the river, which is protected by federal law, to be disturbed. Maggie has her own issues with being home - childhood incidents have left a schism between her and her father. Eventually, the decision is made to bring in a temporary dam so that the body can be recovered. But the Tamassee has its own ideas about if and when it will relinquish the body. The locals are suddenly faced with their own loss. And Maggie comes to terms with her father during the weeks that follow. Seriously, Ron Rash is a Southern author genius.
Confessions of a Rebel Debutante by Anna Fields. (272 pages). I saw this on sale at Books A Million ($4.97, y'all. Hello bargain shopper!) And it seemed funny (and quite possibly my own life story). So I had to buy it. Halfway through the introduction, I realized I was wrong - this wasn't my life story. I was a Deb. Two balls, thank you very much. The author, not so much. But I was right on the funny side of it! Anna grew up in North Carolina and went to finishing/boarding school. Yet was never asked to be a Deb. Instead, she forged her own path - attending Brown (a Yankee school!), moving to LA, going to NYU (another Yankee school!) for graduate school for writing. She worked for Diana Ross, she was the tutor for Jill Zarin's daughter, she had a lot of funny stories to share. It was an easy read (no seriously, I read it in less than a day).
Bossypants by Tina Fey (275 pages). This was my second book club book. My second book club that, alas, is no more. We didn't even meet to discuss the book. [sad tear] Anyway, I knew I liked Tina Fey, at least what I knew of her from SNL. And yes, she's a hysterically funny writer (in case her years as a writer on SNL weren't a hint to that). I loved the fact that she went to UVa and made a reference to Mr. Jefferson (only people with a connection to UVa will understand that). It certainly wasn't a thought-provoking life history or anything like that. It was light-hearted and enjoyable (no, seriously, I read it in the other half of the day).
South of Broad by Pat Conroy (512 pages). Almost exact three years ago, I was down in Edisto, telling my parents about this guy I'd just started dating. He had given me Lords of Discipline to read (he was a Citadel grad). Ironically, the owner of the beach house is also a Citadel grad. So I found it only fitting to read another Conroy book while down there! This book was amazing. I am 100% a Conroy convert now. It's the summer of 1969. Leo King is entering his senior year of high school. In his short life, he's already lost his beloved older brother to suicide, been in and out of mental hospitals, been arrested for cocaine possession and now faces the uncertainty of senior year friendless. Then he is asked by his mother, who's also the principal at his high school, to meet some orphans, Niles and Starla Whitehead, and make their transition to high school easier. That same day, he meets Chad Rutledge and Molly Huger, rich kids who were arrested for cocaine and will now be attending public school; Sheba and Trevor, the Poe twins; and Ike Jefferson, his new football teammate and son of the new black football coach. Leo has no idea that these seven people, and another orphan named Betty, will become the most important people in his life. Sheba goes on to become a famous actress, Trevor moves to San Francisco and contracts AIDS, Ike marries Betty and becomes chief of police, Chad and Molly marry (despite his inability to remain faithful) and Leo marries Starla, who is never able to shake off the damaged psyche of her youth. Through tragedies and love, through triumphs and sorrows, these eight people provide as much stability as they can for each other. When lifelong secrets and horrors are revealed, they are there. Just like a family. It was an amazing story. I read the entire thing in one day. And I. Am. Hooked. On. Conroy.
Heft by Liz Moore (352 pages). This was my first book club book. And of course, I wasn't able to make it to book club to discuss it. First things first, I HATE it when authors use the ampersand (&) rather than spell out the word AND. It messes with the flow of the writing for me. Oddly, the ampersands were interspersed with the word, so I know she knew the word.... Lucky for the author, I rather liked the story. So I'll forgive her the excessive use of ampersands. Arthur Opp is a retired professor who lives in Brooklyn and weighs 550 pounds. His shame at this fact has led to a completely reclusive lifestyle. Kel Keller is a high school senior from Yonkers. He's a standout baseball player at the very wealthy public school he attends. His mother, Charlene Turner, was one of Arthur's former students. They had a pen pal relationship for years after she left college. One day, everything starts to change. Arthur hires a maid, who quickly becomes a friend. Charlene's alcoholism takes its final toll. And left to deal with all of this on his own is Kel. The book ends with the promise of a meeting between these two men, who would never have met but for their connection to Charlene.
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult (460 pages). I have literally read every book Jodi Picoult has written (good ones and bad). And she definitely has a style of writing. Or so I thought. This book is like no other book I have ever read by Picoult - and I loved it. Sage is a 25 year old baker who is involved with a married man. She is in a grief counseling group due to the loss of her mother. In that group, she meets Josef, a ninety something year old man. As they become friends, Josef tells her that he was an SS officer, and one who was at Auchwitz. He also asks a huge favor of her. Sage knows enough about her family history to know that her grandmother Minka survived Auchwitz, but that is the extent of her knowledge. She makes a call to the FBI to report Josef. And in doing so learns more about her family and herself than she ever imagined. Omg- I could barely put this book down. It was fascinating that the novel was interspersed with a novel that Sage's grandmother had written - all about an upior (the Polish version of a vampire) and a beautiful young baker with whom he falls in love. Who's story was Minka telling - her own, that of the Nazis, or her granddaughter's? Picoult's detail during Josef's and Minka's stories was heart wrenching. I found myself wiping away tears and wondering (for the millionth time) how people can be so cruel. It was a gut-wrenching story and one of the best I've ever read from Picoult. I will say that, in true Picoult style, there were some fabulous twists!
Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham (340 pages). And yes, Lauren Graham of Gilmore Girls fame (I know she's also on Parenthood, but that show's not my jam). The year is 1995. Franny Banks gave herself three years to make it in NYC as an actress. In 1992. She's now got six months. And she's no closer than she was two and a half years ago. Her roommates are supportive, but of no help. Her acting class is helping her with her craft, but not her career. She finally gets an agent, only to lose the agency's representation. She becomes involved with one of the most successful actors in her class. Or so she thinks. It was a really easy read and very creative (pages from Franny's date book were in between chapters, covered in her notes and doodles). I like Lorelei Gilmore's writing style a lot. The only thing I didn't like? The ending. It left me a bit cold. And more than a bit confused.
Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris (338 pages). The final Sookie Stackhouse novel. To be honest, I didn't watch this season of True Blood. But I seem to remember the characters and storylines from the show more than the ones from the book (they are totally different at this point. I mean, not even remotely the same). So I always end up a little confused when I start reading the books again. In this one, Arlene shows up again. Book Arlene, who tried to kill Sookie and was sent to jail. Show Arlene isn't a murderer. So I like her. A few days after Arlene is released on bail and shows back up in Bon Temps, she is found dead. And Sookie is accused of the murder. All of Sookie's friends, human and supe, start showing up to help her prove her innocence. It was nice to see the return of some old characters. It was nice the way Harris tied up some of the storylines for those characters. And honestly, the ending was perfection. I couldn't have been happier for Sookie and the way her life was starting to turn out. Harris did an excellent job ending the series. It didn't end with a bang, but with a promise of happily ever after.
Saints at the River by Ron Rash. (237 pages). Yet another Ron Rash book. I loved Serena so much that I wanted to read another sooner rather than later. Maggie Glenn is a photographer for a newspaper in Columbia, SC (I can only assume it's The State, but they never say). When a 12 year old girl drowns in the Tamassee River, Maggie and her coworker Allan go back to her hometown to cover the story. Because the body is trapped in the river, the girl's parents want to do whatever it takes to recover the body; locals and environmentalists do not want the river, which is protected by federal law, to be disturbed. Maggie has her own issues with being home - childhood incidents have left a schism between her and her father. Eventually, the decision is made to bring in a temporary dam so that the body can be recovered. But the Tamassee has its own ideas about if and when it will relinquish the body. The locals are suddenly faced with their own loss. And Maggie comes to terms with her father during the weeks that follow. Seriously, Ron Rash is a Southern author genius.
Confessions of a Rebel Debutante by Anna Fields. (272 pages). I saw this on sale at Books A Million ($4.97, y'all. Hello bargain shopper!) And it seemed funny (and quite possibly my own life story). So I had to buy it. Halfway through the introduction, I realized I was wrong - this wasn't my life story. I was a Deb. Two balls, thank you very much. The author, not so much. But I was right on the funny side of it! Anna grew up in North Carolina and went to finishing/boarding school. Yet was never asked to be a Deb. Instead, she forged her own path - attending Brown (a Yankee school!), moving to LA, going to NYU (another Yankee school!) for graduate school for writing. She worked for Diana Ross, she was the tutor for Jill Zarin's daughter, she had a lot of funny stories to share. It was an easy read (no seriously, I read it in less than a day).
Bossypants by Tina Fey (275 pages). This was my second book club book. My second book club that, alas, is no more. We didn't even meet to discuss the book. [sad tear] Anyway, I knew I liked Tina Fey, at least what I knew of her from SNL. And yes, she's a hysterically funny writer (in case her years as a writer on SNL weren't a hint to that). I loved the fact that she went to UVa and made a reference to Mr. Jefferson (only people with a connection to UVa will understand that). It certainly wasn't a thought-provoking life history or anything like that. It was light-hearted and enjoyable (no, seriously, I read it in the other half of the day).
South of Broad by Pat Conroy (512 pages). Almost exact three years ago, I was down in Edisto, telling my parents about this guy I'd just started dating. He had given me Lords of Discipline to read (he was a Citadel grad). Ironically, the owner of the beach house is also a Citadel grad. So I found it only fitting to read another Conroy book while down there! This book was amazing. I am 100% a Conroy convert now. It's the summer of 1969. Leo King is entering his senior year of high school. In his short life, he's already lost his beloved older brother to suicide, been in and out of mental hospitals, been arrested for cocaine possession and now faces the uncertainty of senior year friendless. Then he is asked by his mother, who's also the principal at his high school, to meet some orphans, Niles and Starla Whitehead, and make their transition to high school easier. That same day, he meets Chad Rutledge and Molly Huger, rich kids who were arrested for cocaine and will now be attending public school; Sheba and Trevor, the Poe twins; and Ike Jefferson, his new football teammate and son of the new black football coach. Leo has no idea that these seven people, and another orphan named Betty, will become the most important people in his life. Sheba goes on to become a famous actress, Trevor moves to San Francisco and contracts AIDS, Ike marries Betty and becomes chief of police, Chad and Molly marry (despite his inability to remain faithful) and Leo marries Starla, who is never able to shake off the damaged psyche of her youth. Through tragedies and love, through triumphs and sorrows, these eight people provide as much stability as they can for each other. When lifelong secrets and horrors are revealed, they are there. Just like a family. It was an amazing story. I read the entire thing in one day. And I. Am. Hooked. On. Conroy.
Heft by Liz Moore (352 pages). This was my first book club book. And of course, I wasn't able to make it to book club to discuss it. First things first, I HATE it when authors use the ampersand (&) rather than spell out the word AND. It messes with the flow of the writing for me. Oddly, the ampersands were interspersed with the word, so I know she knew the word.... Lucky for the author, I rather liked the story. So I'll forgive her the excessive use of ampersands. Arthur Opp is a retired professor who lives in Brooklyn and weighs 550 pounds. His shame at this fact has led to a completely reclusive lifestyle. Kel Keller is a high school senior from Yonkers. He's a standout baseball player at the very wealthy public school he attends. His mother, Charlene Turner, was one of Arthur's former students. They had a pen pal relationship for years after she left college. One day, everything starts to change. Arthur hires a maid, who quickly becomes a friend. Charlene's alcoholism takes its final toll. And left to deal with all of this on his own is Kel. The book ends with the promise of a meeting between these two men, who would never have met but for their connection to Charlene.
The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult (460 pages). I have literally read every book Jodi Picoult has written (good ones and bad). And she definitely has a style of writing. Or so I thought. This book is like no other book I have ever read by Picoult - and I loved it. Sage is a 25 year old baker who is involved with a married man. She is in a grief counseling group due to the loss of her mother. In that group, she meets Josef, a ninety something year old man. As they become friends, Josef tells her that he was an SS officer, and one who was at Auchwitz. He also asks a huge favor of her. Sage knows enough about her family history to know that her grandmother Minka survived Auchwitz, but that is the extent of her knowledge. She makes a call to the FBI to report Josef. And in doing so learns more about her family and herself than she ever imagined. Omg- I could barely put this book down. It was fascinating that the novel was interspersed with a novel that Sage's grandmother had written - all about an upior (the Polish version of a vampire) and a beautiful young baker with whom he falls in love. Who's story was Minka telling - her own, that of the Nazis, or her granddaughter's? Picoult's detail during Josef's and Minka's stories was heart wrenching. I found myself wiping away tears and wondering (for the millionth time) how people can be so cruel. It was a gut-wrenching story and one of the best I've ever read from Picoult. I will say that, in true Picoult style, there were some fabulous twists!
Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham (340 pages). And yes, Lauren Graham of Gilmore Girls fame (I know she's also on Parenthood, but that show's not my jam). The year is 1995. Franny Banks gave herself three years to make it in NYC as an actress. In 1992. She's now got six months. And she's no closer than she was two and a half years ago. Her roommates are supportive, but of no help. Her acting class is helping her with her craft, but not her career. She finally gets an agent, only to lose the agency's representation. She becomes involved with one of the most successful actors in her class. Or so she thinks. It was a really easy read and very creative (pages from Franny's date book were in between chapters, covered in her notes and doodles). I like Lorelei Gilmore's writing style a lot. The only thing I didn't like? The ending. It left me a bit cold. And more than a bit confused.
Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris (338 pages). The final Sookie Stackhouse novel. To be honest, I didn't watch this season of True Blood. But I seem to remember the characters and storylines from the show more than the ones from the book (they are totally different at this point. I mean, not even remotely the same). So I always end up a little confused when I start reading the books again. In this one, Arlene shows up again. Book Arlene, who tried to kill Sookie and was sent to jail. Show Arlene isn't a murderer. So I like her. A few days after Arlene is released on bail and shows back up in Bon Temps, she is found dead. And Sookie is accused of the murder. All of Sookie's friends, human and supe, start showing up to help her prove her innocence. It was nice to see the return of some old characters. It was nice the way Harris tied up some of the storylines for those characters. And honestly, the ending was perfection. I couldn't have been happier for Sookie and the way her life was starting to turn out. Harris did an excellent job ending the series. It didn't end with a bang, but with a promise of happily ever after.
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