I really did have every intention of reading more books in December, but clearly had no follow through. Perhaps this year will be better. I'd love to read at least 5 books a month. But we shall see. I blame Netflix instant stream for my slacking off. Because I must blame someone! Away we go with the recaps-
The Bad Miss Bennet by Jean Burnett. Of course, she can only be referring to Miss Lydia Bennet, the naughtiest of the Bennet sisters! Lydia is recently widowed (not that losing Wickham is any great loss) and wanting new adventures in London and beyond. And boy, does she find them! Highwaymen, murders, salacious offers, adventures on the Continent, all abound when Lydia Bennet enters the scene! The writing style wasn't even remotely Austin-esque. But it didn't make the book any less enjoyable. And what fun to see what happened to Lydia post forced wedding!
Hidden by PC Cast and Kristin Cast. The 10th book in the House of Night series. Vampires. Goddesses. Immortals. Death. Love. Teenagers battling Evil. The series is really good- kind of a different look at vampires (or vampyres as they spell it). In this one, Zoey Redbird (the heroine) must save her beloved grandmother from Darkness and its Queen, former Vampyre Priestess Neferet. Thank goodness for the elements and her friends. Ok fine, this is total teen vampire lit. But I'm sorry- I love it!
The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck. I actually had another book in my hands, but this one kind of called to me from my bookshelf. I'm not sure why I even bought it (as I've said before, I'm picky on my Christian lit). And I'm definitely not sure why I read it (as I'm dealing with a slightly bruised up heart right now). But am I ever glad I bought it AND read it! Charlotte owns a prominent bridal boutique in Birmingham. Her gift- finding the perfect dress for each bride. However, she can't seem to be bothered to find her own perfect wedding dress for her fast approaching wedding. A wedding that, when the groom asks to postpone due to how quickly they fell in love, Charlotte promptly calls off. He must be all in, or she doesn't want to marry him at all. When she stumbles across an auction at a local estate, she ends up buying an old truck. Inside that truck is the most beautiful and special wedding dress Charlotte has ever seen. She determines that she must track down the owner. Or owners. Emily, who was brave enough to wear a dress designed by a black woman in 1912 and to choose love over financial security. Mary Grace, who was too poor to buy a dress to marry her preacher husband in 1939. Hillary, who married the love of her life in 1968 and then had the war take him away from her just 6 months later. It has fit each woman perfectly, without alteration. Is this dress actually meant for Charlotte? As she realizes how much she misses both her fiance and her best friend, she comes to realize that God brings things to us in His time. And that it is up to us to appreciate His timing and His plans, even when we don't understand them. It ended up being a pretty perfect book with which to end the year!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Saturday, December 1, 2012
November readings- I could've done better....
Really, there has been no excuse for my slacking off on the reading front. I apologize.
The Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri. This is a debut novel. The author writes like it is his 100th. The writing is exquisite. Vishnu (yes, also the name of a Hindu god) is a handy man for a three story apartment building in exchange for work, he is allow to live on one of the landings. The story begins with Vishnu lying on his landing; he is dying. As he lies there, he begins to reflect on his life and even thinks that he is, in fact, the god Vishnu. Around him, the inhabitants of the apartment building are living their lives. The two housewives on the first floor are constantly at war over their shared kitchen. The families on the second floor must deal with their teenagers, who have eloped. the problem is that one family is Hindu and the other Muslim; the families are not okay with a friendship, let alone a love affair. To add to the Muslim family's distress, the father is going through a religious awakening. On the top floor, a lonely widower is still grieving over the loss of his beloved wife. The floors of the apartment building seem to mimic the spiritual journey Vishnu is taking as he dies: from earthly dramas to spiritual enlightenment. It was a beautifully written novel and an interesting study on some aspects of Hinduism about which I knew nothing.
Reflected in You by Sylvia Day. The second in the Crossfire series. Just as good as the first book, better story than Fifty Shades. All I will say is that Gideon and Eva are some MESSED UP people. I wouldn't put up with his crap, not for all of his money. Possessive, almost irreparably damaged. He's more than most women could handle. I guess that makes Eva a good match for him- she's equally as damaged. At least there is some reasoning behind the way he treats her- everything he does is to protect her. Sadly though, almost everything he does seems to hurt her too. Before you ask, yes, there is a lot of sex in the book. But it's not messed up sex- no Red Room or anything too kinky like that.
The Zahir by Paulo Coehlo. This author can do no wrong, as far as I am concerned. There is nothing he has written that I haven't loved. This book was no exception. The narrator (who seems remarkably similar to the author himself) is a famous writer who lives in Paris with Esther, his war-correspondent wife of ten years. One day, she disappears. Was she kidnapped? Did she leave him for another man? Or did she simply leave him? The narrator is left with no answers. He tries to move on with his life- he finds a new girlfriend and eventually writes a book about Esther, his zahir, the one who occupies his every waking thought. Then Mikhail (the man his wife may or may not have left him for) shows up at a book signing to tell him that Esther is alive and well. Thus, a quest to find his lost love begins. However, in searching for her, he really finds himself. I know that sounds so cliche. And in another author's hands, it would have been. But Coelho writes with such insight, such beauty, you feel like it's the first time you've ever heard a certain idea.
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. Damn you, Gillian Flynn. You did it again! Didn't have a clue as to what was coming next! First and foremost, she really is a great writer. I mean, where else are you going to read this sentence, "Kenny made a shruggy noise and left" and actually hear that exact noise in your head. You know the noise I mean. I had never thought of how to describe that noise. But that's it- it's a verbal shrug! Back to the story though. Libby is 32 years old. At age 7, she was the lone survivor when her brother massacred her mother and sisters. Her testimony sent him to jail and left her alone in the world. Twenty five years later, she is approached by a Kill Club, kind of like a murdery ComiCon. These strangers question her testimony against her brother. After all, she was completely hidden while the murders were taking place. But Libby sets off to prove that she was right. Or was she? She begins to remember (and learn) things from that night, things that have her question everything she believed. Great story!
The Death of Vishnu by Manil Suri. This is a debut novel. The author writes like it is his 100th. The writing is exquisite. Vishnu (yes, also the name of a Hindu god) is a handy man for a three story apartment building in exchange for work, he is allow to live on one of the landings. The story begins with Vishnu lying on his landing; he is dying. As he lies there, he begins to reflect on his life and even thinks that he is, in fact, the god Vishnu. Around him, the inhabitants of the apartment building are living their lives. The two housewives on the first floor are constantly at war over their shared kitchen. The families on the second floor must deal with their teenagers, who have eloped. the problem is that one family is Hindu and the other Muslim; the families are not okay with a friendship, let alone a love affair. To add to the Muslim family's distress, the father is going through a religious awakening. On the top floor, a lonely widower is still grieving over the loss of his beloved wife. The floors of the apartment building seem to mimic the spiritual journey Vishnu is taking as he dies: from earthly dramas to spiritual enlightenment. It was a beautifully written novel and an interesting study on some aspects of Hinduism about which I knew nothing.
Reflected in You by Sylvia Day. The second in the Crossfire series. Just as good as the first book, better story than Fifty Shades. All I will say is that Gideon and Eva are some MESSED UP people. I wouldn't put up with his crap, not for all of his money. Possessive, almost irreparably damaged. He's more than most women could handle. I guess that makes Eva a good match for him- she's equally as damaged. At least there is some reasoning behind the way he treats her- everything he does is to protect her. Sadly though, almost everything he does seems to hurt her too. Before you ask, yes, there is a lot of sex in the book. But it's not messed up sex- no Red Room or anything too kinky like that.
The Zahir by Paulo Coehlo. This author can do no wrong, as far as I am concerned. There is nothing he has written that I haven't loved. This book was no exception. The narrator (who seems remarkably similar to the author himself) is a famous writer who lives in Paris with Esther, his war-correspondent wife of ten years. One day, she disappears. Was she kidnapped? Did she leave him for another man? Or did she simply leave him? The narrator is left with no answers. He tries to move on with his life- he finds a new girlfriend and eventually writes a book about Esther, his zahir, the one who occupies his every waking thought. Then Mikhail (the man his wife may or may not have left him for) shows up at a book signing to tell him that Esther is alive and well. Thus, a quest to find his lost love begins. However, in searching for her, he really finds himself. I know that sounds so cliche. And in another author's hands, it would have been. But Coelho writes with such insight, such beauty, you feel like it's the first time you've ever heard a certain idea.
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. Damn you, Gillian Flynn. You did it again! Didn't have a clue as to what was coming next! First and foremost, she really is a great writer. I mean, where else are you going to read this sentence, "Kenny made a shruggy noise and left" and actually hear that exact noise in your head. You know the noise I mean. I had never thought of how to describe that noise. But that's it- it's a verbal shrug! Back to the story though. Libby is 32 years old. At age 7, she was the lone survivor when her brother massacred her mother and sisters. Her testimony sent him to jail and left her alone in the world. Twenty five years later, she is approached by a Kill Club, kind of like a murdery ComiCon. These strangers question her testimony against her brother. After all, she was completely hidden while the murders were taking place. But Libby sets off to prove that she was right. Or was she? She begins to remember (and learn) things from that night, things that have her question everything she believed. Great story!
Friday, November 2, 2012
Scary movies- I blame Halloween for my TiVo treating me so eerily
Because of the fact that I live alone, I don't tend to watch too many scary movies. Unless it's one I've seen before and don't truly find "scary." Like any of the Scream movies. Don't get me wrong- there are some scary moments, but because I expect them, it doesn't freak me out. I love scary movies though. Which has certainly posed a dilemma leading up to (and post) Halloween. See, every station was showing scary movies almost all last month. And my TiVo loves to surprise me with shows and movies it thinks I might like. As an aside, is it sad that I refer to Siri as a she, but TiVo (who has been with me for years) is merely an it? I should name it. Or at least refer to it as a he. Anyway, back to the blog. TiVo hit me up with some great scary movies- Poltergeist, The Ring, Last House on the Left, Final Destination. Good stuff. Last night, I watched Scream 2. Today, I've watched Last House on the Left and The Ring. Last House was a little more brutal than scary. The Ring, on the other hand, very scary. But I've noticed something about myself. The more scared I am, the more I talk to the TV. Like during The Ring, Naomi Watts was on the ferry and tried talking to a horse. The horse started freaking out. She continued to try to pet the horse and calm the horse. I was screaming at the TV, "Get the hell away from the horse! Are you stupid? If an animal seems scared of you, go away." And then when her son watched the tape, I was like "Who leaves a tape like that lying around for their child to find? And what kid just grabs a random video? Oh, I know, a creepy ass kid like that one." I'm thinking, maybe no more scary movies for me for a while....
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
October- disappointing on the book reading front at least
For some reason, this month was really slow going. I blame the last book- it took me forever to get through!
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. I'd always heard about this book as such a great work of American literature. It definitely was a good book. But I still had some difficulty with it. When reading the author's own words, I found her to be a hauntingly beautiful writer. I mean, right out the gate, she had me. But then the characters would speak. And I have always had a problem with reading dialects. Janie is a beautiful light skinned black woman who lives in northern Florida during the early 1900's. Her grandmother marries her off at 16 to save her from herself (she'd seen Janie kissing a neighborhood boy). Janie thinks that marriage equals true love. She didn't find that with her husband. So, when silver-tongued Joe enters the picture, she leaves with him. Joe quickly establishes himself as the first mayor of the first all-black town of Eatonville, Florida. Janie realizes that she loves him far more than he loves her; to him, she is a trophy wife. When he finally passes away, she falls hard and fast for Tea Cake, a man MUCH younger than her. Their marriage, although tempestuous and filled with jealousy, finally provides her with the love she always pictured. She eventually returns to Eatonville and is faced with the gossip surrounding her relationship with Tea Cake. She proceeds to tell her story to her friend, so as to silence the gossips. I'm not going to lie, I had a hard time following some of the story (at least when it was predominately told through dialect). But when it wasn't?! Amazing. Hurston was a preeminent author during the Harlem Renaissance and I can definitely see why. Oddly enough, one of my favorite lines came near the end of the book and was said by Janie (and therefore in dialect). "Two things everybody's got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin' fuh theyselves." Pretty deep thoughts there.
Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson. I read about this book in another book (the author read it in a book club) and decided to read it myself. I love my book club, but I sincerely doubt we would ever read something like this! The narrator of the book is nameless. You feel like you get clues about gender, but then a few pages later, there are clues that point to the other gender. Narrator is in love with Louise, a married woman who leaves her husband so they can be together. Narrator discusses some of the prior relationships Narrator has been involved in (men, women, single, married). But this love with Louise is all-consuming. Narrator eventually leaves Louise for Louise's own good, or so Narrator thinks. It's an interesting novel about love and passion, about looking at a relationship for what makes it rather than the people who are in it. It's very color/gender blind. It's about knowing another person so completely that they become a part of you. It's probably not a novel for everyone, but it was really good and a very easy read.
Lolita by Vladmir Nabokov. Another classic that I had never gotten around to reading. I've seen the movie, but that didn't nearly do the book justice. In fact, it was almost nothing like the book! Makes me wonder if the recent(ish) remake does a better job of staying faithful to the book. Anyway, Humbert Humbert is quite the pervert, as far as I am concerned. The fact that Delores Haze (aka Lolita) isn't the first young girl with whom he has become obsessed in more than a little disturbing. As is their eventual relationship. The movie merely implies a sexual relationship, candy-coating his obsession. The book is explicit. They are lovers. Period. She is 12. Disgusting. It was not my favorite book that I've ever read. Far from it. In fact, I had rather a hard time finishing it. But at least I can now say I've read it.....
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. I'd always heard about this book as such a great work of American literature. It definitely was a good book. But I still had some difficulty with it. When reading the author's own words, I found her to be a hauntingly beautiful writer. I mean, right out the gate, she had me. But then the characters would speak. And I have always had a problem with reading dialects. Janie is a beautiful light skinned black woman who lives in northern Florida during the early 1900's. Her grandmother marries her off at 16 to save her from herself (she'd seen Janie kissing a neighborhood boy). Janie thinks that marriage equals true love. She didn't find that with her husband. So, when silver-tongued Joe enters the picture, she leaves with him. Joe quickly establishes himself as the first mayor of the first all-black town of Eatonville, Florida. Janie realizes that she loves him far more than he loves her; to him, she is a trophy wife. When he finally passes away, she falls hard and fast for Tea Cake, a man MUCH younger than her. Their marriage, although tempestuous and filled with jealousy, finally provides her with the love she always pictured. She eventually returns to Eatonville and is faced with the gossip surrounding her relationship with Tea Cake. She proceeds to tell her story to her friend, so as to silence the gossips. I'm not going to lie, I had a hard time following some of the story (at least when it was predominately told through dialect). But when it wasn't?! Amazing. Hurston was a preeminent author during the Harlem Renaissance and I can definitely see why. Oddly enough, one of my favorite lines came near the end of the book and was said by Janie (and therefore in dialect). "Two things everybody's got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin' fuh theyselves." Pretty deep thoughts there.
Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson. I read about this book in another book (the author read it in a book club) and decided to read it myself. I love my book club, but I sincerely doubt we would ever read something like this! The narrator of the book is nameless. You feel like you get clues about gender, but then a few pages later, there are clues that point to the other gender. Narrator is in love with Louise, a married woman who leaves her husband so they can be together. Narrator discusses some of the prior relationships Narrator has been involved in (men, women, single, married). But this love with Louise is all-consuming. Narrator eventually leaves Louise for Louise's own good, or so Narrator thinks. It's an interesting novel about love and passion, about looking at a relationship for what makes it rather than the people who are in it. It's very color/gender blind. It's about knowing another person so completely that they become a part of you. It's probably not a novel for everyone, but it was really good and a very easy read.
Lolita by Vladmir Nabokov. Another classic that I had never gotten around to reading. I've seen the movie, but that didn't nearly do the book justice. In fact, it was almost nothing like the book! Makes me wonder if the recent(ish) remake does a better job of staying faithful to the book. Anyway, Humbert Humbert is quite the pervert, as far as I am concerned. The fact that Delores Haze (aka Lolita) isn't the first young girl with whom he has become obsessed in more than a little disturbing. As is their eventual relationship. The movie merely implies a sexual relationship, candy-coating his obsession. The book is explicit. They are lovers. Period. She is 12. Disgusting. It was not my favorite book that I've ever read. Far from it. In fact, I had rather a hard time finishing it. But at least I can now say I've read it.....
Monday, October 1, 2012
Kicking off fall with some good reading
I definitely didn't beat my record or anything, but I got some good reading done in September. And a wide range!
Starters by Lissa Price. America has been devastated by something called the Spore Wars. An entire generation has been wiped out of existence. Left are the Enders (the old people) and the Starters (the young people). They were the ones considered the most vulnerable, so they were the ones given the vaccine. Sixteen year old Callie and her seven year old brother Tyler have been on their own for three years. When Callie hears of a way to make money, she jumps at it. She agrees to rent out her body to an Ender, so that Ender can experience youth again. Something goes wrong with Callie's final renting. And she is suddenly able to hear the Ender who had rented her. Helena is on a mission. And Callie must decide whether this mission is worth risking her own life. It's a pretty cool story. One of the write-ups compared it to Hunger Games. Sure- because it's post-apocalyptic and the government is crazy (and willing to sacrifice the lives of children). But other than that, not even remotely similar! Another book in the series is coming out soon, so that should be exciting!
Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian. It's a beautiful July morning in Vermont. As Alice Hayward emerges from the lake where she has just been baptized, she looks at her minister and says "there." A few hours later, Rev. Stephen Drew remembers that word when he learns that Alice's abusive husband has strangled her and shot himself, leaving their 15 year old daughter an orphan. Heather Laurent, a popular author of books about angels, enters the scene. She can sympathize with the daughter, as her father did the same thing to her mother years earlier. But suspicions begin to arise in this small town when Stephen leaves the church. What secrets did he know about Alice and her husband? This is the second book I have read by Bohjalian and his writing style quickly pulls the reader into the story. He is also quite the master of the "holy crap, where did THAT ending come from?!" Two very enthusiastic thumbs up! And a nice break from my fairy tales and historical fiction- nothing says a break like a nice murder story....
My Favorite Fangs by Alan Goldsher. One of the funniest books I have read in a very long time! It was completely tongue in cheek and witty. Maria is a sex-crazed vampire. The abbey is full of zombies. The Baroness is a succubus. And the Nazis want to rid Europe of the undead. Several times, someone will quote a line from the musical that is completely grammatically incorrect. And they let you know that they said it that way because Hammerstein wrote it that way! Or a character will say a line that is clearly from a different musical and someone out of the scene will say, "wrong musical, whore." Unlike the P&P&Z books, this book isn't even remotely trying to take itself seriously. And that is part of the charm!
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. This was her debut novel. Gone Girl was a pretty crazy book. So was this one. Camille, a reporter for a paper in Chicago, is sent to her hometown by her editor to cover the murder of two young girls. There was a nine month lull in murders, so are they even connected? Once the second girl's body is found, it becomes clear that a serial killer is on the loose. Camille has her own family related demons. I 100% thought I had the killer figured out with about 100 pages left. I was so close. But Flynn managed to pull one over on me again. Just like last book. Well played, Gillian. Well played. Next book of yours, I promise, I will actually be right about the killer!
Bared to You by Sylvia Day. Basically Fifty Shades, only without the Red Room of Terror. And with a woman who is equally as damaged as the billionaire who is obsessed with her. Eva comes to NYC to start a job at an ad agency. She has money of her own and her step-father is a wealthy man. But she wants to make something of herself. Then she meets the owner of her building (and her sort of boss) Gideon Cross. The attraction can't be denied. Yep- that's all I'm going to say about this book. I actually liked it even more than Fifty Shades.
A Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnay. Amazing!! This is the woman who wrote Sarah's Key, one of the most touching novels I have ever read. This book is completely different than Sarah's Key, but just as amazing. Antoine decides to surprise his sister Melanie with a trip for her 40th birthday. He takes her back to the little sea village where they used to spend summers as children. The last time they went was the summer before their mother died of a brain aneurysm. The trip brings back memories, including one that is so shocking to Melanie when she remembers it that she wrecks the car on the return trip! Antoine finally learns the truth about his mother and her death. Tatiana de Rosnay is a beautiful writer and I loved this book!
The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. This was my book club book. Afghanistan has never really been known for their women wearing revealing clothes and having lots of freedom. But apparently, they did used to have some freedom. They could go to school and have jobs. To be honest, I feel like I was blissfully naive about the real Afghanistan. In the late 1990's, Kamila has just graduated with her teaching degree. She is living with her family in Khair Khana, a suburb of Kabul. Then the Taliban stages a coup to take power again. Their lives are quickly turned upside down. Women can no longer be outside the home. They can't have jobs. They can't leave the house without wearing a chadri, the full coverage burka. Refusal to comply will result in severe beatings. Kamila and her sisters eventually start their own business of dressmaking. She goes on to start a school for women and even to work with the UN. Considering she is only a few years older than me, she's more than a little bit amazing. And fortunately for her, 9/11 happened and America stepped in to help things in Afghanistan go back to normal. Really amazing story!
Starters by Lissa Price. America has been devastated by something called the Spore Wars. An entire generation has been wiped out of existence. Left are the Enders (the old people) and the Starters (the young people). They were the ones considered the most vulnerable, so they were the ones given the vaccine. Sixteen year old Callie and her seven year old brother Tyler have been on their own for three years. When Callie hears of a way to make money, she jumps at it. She agrees to rent out her body to an Ender, so that Ender can experience youth again. Something goes wrong with Callie's final renting. And she is suddenly able to hear the Ender who had rented her. Helena is on a mission. And Callie must decide whether this mission is worth risking her own life. It's a pretty cool story. One of the write-ups compared it to Hunger Games. Sure- because it's post-apocalyptic and the government is crazy (and willing to sacrifice the lives of children). But other than that, not even remotely similar! Another book in the series is coming out soon, so that should be exciting!
Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian. It's a beautiful July morning in Vermont. As Alice Hayward emerges from the lake where she has just been baptized, she looks at her minister and says "there." A few hours later, Rev. Stephen Drew remembers that word when he learns that Alice's abusive husband has strangled her and shot himself, leaving their 15 year old daughter an orphan. Heather Laurent, a popular author of books about angels, enters the scene. She can sympathize with the daughter, as her father did the same thing to her mother years earlier. But suspicions begin to arise in this small town when Stephen leaves the church. What secrets did he know about Alice and her husband? This is the second book I have read by Bohjalian and his writing style quickly pulls the reader into the story. He is also quite the master of the "holy crap, where did THAT ending come from?!" Two very enthusiastic thumbs up! And a nice break from my fairy tales and historical fiction- nothing says a break like a nice murder story....
My Favorite Fangs by Alan Goldsher. One of the funniest books I have read in a very long time! It was completely tongue in cheek and witty. Maria is a sex-crazed vampire. The abbey is full of zombies. The Baroness is a succubus. And the Nazis want to rid Europe of the undead. Several times, someone will quote a line from the musical that is completely grammatically incorrect. And they let you know that they said it that way because Hammerstein wrote it that way! Or a character will say a line that is clearly from a different musical and someone out of the scene will say, "wrong musical, whore." Unlike the P&P&Z books, this book isn't even remotely trying to take itself seriously. And that is part of the charm!
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. This was her debut novel. Gone Girl was a pretty crazy book. So was this one. Camille, a reporter for a paper in Chicago, is sent to her hometown by her editor to cover the murder of two young girls. There was a nine month lull in murders, so are they even connected? Once the second girl's body is found, it becomes clear that a serial killer is on the loose. Camille has her own family related demons. I 100% thought I had the killer figured out with about 100 pages left. I was so close. But Flynn managed to pull one over on me again. Just like last book. Well played, Gillian. Well played. Next book of yours, I promise, I will actually be right about the killer!
Bared to You by Sylvia Day. Basically Fifty Shades, only without the Red Room of Terror. And with a woman who is equally as damaged as the billionaire who is obsessed with her. Eva comes to NYC to start a job at an ad agency. She has money of her own and her step-father is a wealthy man. But she wants to make something of herself. Then she meets the owner of her building (and her sort of boss) Gideon Cross. The attraction can't be denied. Yep- that's all I'm going to say about this book. I actually liked it even more than Fifty Shades.
A Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnay. Amazing!! This is the woman who wrote Sarah's Key, one of the most touching novels I have ever read. This book is completely different than Sarah's Key, but just as amazing. Antoine decides to surprise his sister Melanie with a trip for her 40th birthday. He takes her back to the little sea village where they used to spend summers as children. The last time they went was the summer before their mother died of a brain aneurysm. The trip brings back memories, including one that is so shocking to Melanie when she remembers it that she wrecks the car on the return trip! Antoine finally learns the truth about his mother and her death. Tatiana de Rosnay is a beautiful writer and I loved this book!
The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. This was my book club book. Afghanistan has never really been known for their women wearing revealing clothes and having lots of freedom. But apparently, they did used to have some freedom. They could go to school and have jobs. To be honest, I feel like I was blissfully naive about the real Afghanistan. In the late 1990's, Kamila has just graduated with her teaching degree. She is living with her family in Khair Khana, a suburb of Kabul. Then the Taliban stages a coup to take power again. Their lives are quickly turned upside down. Women can no longer be outside the home. They can't have jobs. They can't leave the house without wearing a chadri, the full coverage burka. Refusal to comply will result in severe beatings. Kamila and her sisters eventually start their own business of dressmaking. She goes on to start a school for women and even to work with the UN. Considering she is only a few years older than me, she's more than a little bit amazing. And fortunately for her, 9/11 happened and America stepped in to help things in Afghanistan go back to normal. Really amazing story!
Friday, August 31, 2012
Pool time made August a pretty good reading month!
A solid 8 books this month- ranging from reworked fairy tales to scientifical biographies. Pretty good month!
The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer. Yes, Kurt Hummel wrote a book, y'all! And it was REALLY good. As my faithful readers probably know, I love a re-worked fairy tale. In this one, Alex and her twin bother Connor fall into a fairy tale book that their grandmother gave them. Did you know that Goldilocks was a wanted fugitive? Or Red Riding Hood was a tad bit narcissistic? Or that the Princes Charming were all brothers? Or that the Evil Queen really was a kind of sad figure? Despite their love of fairy tales, the twins didn't know these things either! The book was fantastic- I read it in 2 days (and it's over 400 pages). According to Kurt, er um I mean Chris, he plans on writing more stories. I CAN'T WAIT!!
The Prince, The Showgirl and Me and My Week with Marilyn by Colin Clark. These two books together sort of made up the movie My Week with Marilyn. The first book is Colin's diary that he kept during the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl. In it, he discusses the difficulties Sir Laurence Olivier had on set with Marilyn. Oddly, it doesn't seem that all of it was entirely Marilyn's fault. She had just married Arthur Miller, her third husband. While she was most definitely a movie star (the camera loved her), she was also most definitely not an actress. Olivier (who was married to Vivien Leigh) understood actors. He did not understand this strange new bred of creature in front of him. The woman who somehow managed to stumble onto moments of brilliance, then flee from the set in utter confusion and forgetfulness. The second book was a much more detailed account of the one week that Colin spent as Marilyn's special confidante. Even though both books were combined into the same publication and the second book was first, I decided to read them chronologically. Which meant reading half of the first book, switching over to read the second in its entirety, then back to finish the first. A little confused perhaps, but certainly made the story flow! I had just seen the movie (Michelle Williams was completely captivating). And the book was just as amazing. You kind of feel bad for Marilyn. All she wants is someone to love her and all she got were people who pandered to her and drugged her (just like Elvis). Even her husband viewed her as a plaything- he got to be the man to bed the famous Marilyn Monroe after all! Her story seems to be everywhere lately. The TV show, Smash. The most recent People magazine. There is just a fascination about her that will never die. She won't let it!
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. This month's book club book. I can't really write a full review or I will RUIN the book. Nick and Amy are about to celebrate their five year anniversary. They are both writers who were fired from their jobs in NYC and have moved back to Nick's hometown on the banks of the Mississippi. Nick is small-town Missouri, Amy is the subject of a beloved children's book and an heiress. By the time they move back to Missouri, they have lost everything. The day of their anniversary, Amy goes missing. And all signs point to Nick as the killer. Is he? Amy seems a sympathetic character. But oddly, so does Nick. The twists that keep coming in this book, holy crap! I think I sat with my mouth open in shock for about a minute when I finished. This has got to be one of the craziest books I've read in a long time. I absolutely loved it. And can't wait to discuss with book club!!
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After by Steve Hockensmith. Last month, I read the prequel, this month the sequel. Elizabeth and Darcy are now happily married, but not necessarily content. As a married woman, Elizabeth can't be seen in public with weapons, despite her skill as a warrior. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, all that changes when Darcy is bitten by a zombie. When his aunt tells Elizabeth that a cure exists in London, Elizabeth, Kitty, Mary and Mr. Bennett set off to find the cure. Zombie fights entail. Secrets are revealed. And Elizabeth remembers how much fun she had as a true warrior. This is the last of the P&P&Z books- and sufficient to say, Darcy and Elizabeth do get their happily ever after!
When in Doubt, Add Butter by Beth Harbison. If you are looking for an easy beach read, chick lit type, this is it. Gemma is a private chef in DC. She works for a few different households, each of which has their own drama. But she thinks she's happy with her life. She has her work, she has her friends. But she certainly isn't looking for love. After a one night stand, all of that changes. As her work life gets turned upside down, so does her personal life. It's a little deeper than some chick lit (Gemma put a child up for adoption when she got pregnant at 16). But still a good time and a good read.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Ever heard of HeLa cells? I sure hadn't. Ever heard of the polio vaccine, cloning and gene mapping? Of course. They are because of HeLa cells. The cells taken from the cervical tumor of a 31 year old black woman in 1951. Those cells, unlike normal cells, went on to continue to divide and grow at an astonishing rate. For 20 years, her family had no idea that her cells had been taken. In fact, everyone thought they had come from a woman named Helen Lane. When the author (who has a degree in biological sciences) learned about this woman, little was really known about her. Henrietta's family finally opened up and were willing to share what had happened. This family has no health insurance and most of them live in subsidised housing. Yet Henrietta's cells have gone on to form a multi-million dollar industry. The family will never see a penny, because once cells/tissues/etc are removed from your body, you have no control over what happens to them. But her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will know that their mother, who loved to help people, has gone on to help more people than she ever could have dreamed! It was a great book- I'm not much of a science girl, but even I found this fascinating!
The Second Empress by Michelle Moran. Yes, more historical fiction. This is the most recent one by Moran. And I loved it. Marie-Louise is just 19 years old when she marries 40 year old Napoleon, who is fresh off of his divorce from Josephine. Marie-Louise is able to provide Napoleon with the one thing Josephine couldn't, an heir. But aside from that, Napoleon's love for Josephine never fades. Marie-Louise must also contend with Pauline, Napoleon's sister. The two of them have a, shall we say, not quite sibling appropriate relationship. Pauline, just like her brother, is power hungry. She's also a bit of a slut. Her goal- to rule with her brother, just like the pharaohs in ancient Egypt. About a year after Marie-Louise gives birth, the Russian disaster occurs and Napoleon is forced into exile. Marie-Louise and her son return to Austria, where she is free to live out her days with the love of her life (who she unfortunately can't marry until Napoleon dies. But who needs that- they still had children together!). The story is told through the eyes of Marie-Louise, Pauline and Pauline's Haitian (does anyone else say it the way Cher did in Clueless or is that just me?) chamberlain, Paul. Probably one of Moran's stories that is closer to history than to fiction. I read the book in one day, it was that good!
Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer. I love me some Jodi Picoult (despite the fact that it's usually the exact same story). But this is Jodi Picoult like you've never even imagined! Her co-author is her teen aged daughter. And the story? A re-imagined fairy tale (clearly my other new favorite). Have you ever wondered what fairy tale characters do when you aren't reading their story? Delilah never did. Until one day, Prince Oliver spoke to her from the pages of her favorite fairy tale. Literally spoke to her! Oliver is miserable, continuing to act out the same scenes every time someone reads the story. He wants to escape. And Delilah makes it her mission to help him. But how does a fairy tale character escape from the book that gives him life? A very cute story, made even cuter knowing that Picoult wrote it with her daughter.
The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell by Chris Colfer. Yes, Kurt Hummel wrote a book, y'all! And it was REALLY good. As my faithful readers probably know, I love a re-worked fairy tale. In this one, Alex and her twin bother Connor fall into a fairy tale book that their grandmother gave them. Did you know that Goldilocks was a wanted fugitive? Or Red Riding Hood was a tad bit narcissistic? Or that the Princes Charming were all brothers? Or that the Evil Queen really was a kind of sad figure? Despite their love of fairy tales, the twins didn't know these things either! The book was fantastic- I read it in 2 days (and it's over 400 pages). According to Kurt, er um I mean Chris, he plans on writing more stories. I CAN'T WAIT!!
The Prince, The Showgirl and Me and My Week with Marilyn by Colin Clark. These two books together sort of made up the movie My Week with Marilyn. The first book is Colin's diary that he kept during the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl. In it, he discusses the difficulties Sir Laurence Olivier had on set with Marilyn. Oddly, it doesn't seem that all of it was entirely Marilyn's fault. She had just married Arthur Miller, her third husband. While she was most definitely a movie star (the camera loved her), she was also most definitely not an actress. Olivier (who was married to Vivien Leigh) understood actors. He did not understand this strange new bred of creature in front of him. The woman who somehow managed to stumble onto moments of brilliance, then flee from the set in utter confusion and forgetfulness. The second book was a much more detailed account of the one week that Colin spent as Marilyn's special confidante. Even though both books were combined into the same publication and the second book was first, I decided to read them chronologically. Which meant reading half of the first book, switching over to read the second in its entirety, then back to finish the first. A little confused perhaps, but certainly made the story flow! I had just seen the movie (Michelle Williams was completely captivating). And the book was just as amazing. You kind of feel bad for Marilyn. All she wants is someone to love her and all she got were people who pandered to her and drugged her (just like Elvis). Even her husband viewed her as a plaything- he got to be the man to bed the famous Marilyn Monroe after all! Her story seems to be everywhere lately. The TV show, Smash. The most recent People magazine. There is just a fascination about her that will never die. She won't let it!
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. This month's book club book. I can't really write a full review or I will RUIN the book. Nick and Amy are about to celebrate their five year anniversary. They are both writers who were fired from their jobs in NYC and have moved back to Nick's hometown on the banks of the Mississippi. Nick is small-town Missouri, Amy is the subject of a beloved children's book and an heiress. By the time they move back to Missouri, they have lost everything. The day of their anniversary, Amy goes missing. And all signs point to Nick as the killer. Is he? Amy seems a sympathetic character. But oddly, so does Nick. The twists that keep coming in this book, holy crap! I think I sat with my mouth open in shock for about a minute when I finished. This has got to be one of the craziest books I've read in a long time. I absolutely loved it. And can't wait to discuss with book club!!
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After by Steve Hockensmith. Last month, I read the prequel, this month the sequel. Elizabeth and Darcy are now happily married, but not necessarily content. As a married woman, Elizabeth can't be seen in public with weapons, despite her skill as a warrior. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, all that changes when Darcy is bitten by a zombie. When his aunt tells Elizabeth that a cure exists in London, Elizabeth, Kitty, Mary and Mr. Bennett set off to find the cure. Zombie fights entail. Secrets are revealed. And Elizabeth remembers how much fun she had as a true warrior. This is the last of the P&P&Z books- and sufficient to say, Darcy and Elizabeth do get their happily ever after!
When in Doubt, Add Butter by Beth Harbison. If you are looking for an easy beach read, chick lit type, this is it. Gemma is a private chef in DC. She works for a few different households, each of which has their own drama. But she thinks she's happy with her life. She has her work, she has her friends. But she certainly isn't looking for love. After a one night stand, all of that changes. As her work life gets turned upside down, so does her personal life. It's a little deeper than some chick lit (Gemma put a child up for adoption when she got pregnant at 16). But still a good time and a good read.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. Ever heard of HeLa cells? I sure hadn't. Ever heard of the polio vaccine, cloning and gene mapping? Of course. They are because of HeLa cells. The cells taken from the cervical tumor of a 31 year old black woman in 1951. Those cells, unlike normal cells, went on to continue to divide and grow at an astonishing rate. For 20 years, her family had no idea that her cells had been taken. In fact, everyone thought they had come from a woman named Helen Lane. When the author (who has a degree in biological sciences) learned about this woman, little was really known about her. Henrietta's family finally opened up and were willing to share what had happened. This family has no health insurance and most of them live in subsidised housing. Yet Henrietta's cells have gone on to form a multi-million dollar industry. The family will never see a penny, because once cells/tissues/etc are removed from your body, you have no control over what happens to them. But her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will know that their mother, who loved to help people, has gone on to help more people than she ever could have dreamed! It was a great book- I'm not much of a science girl, but even I found this fascinating!
The Second Empress by Michelle Moran. Yes, more historical fiction. This is the most recent one by Moran. And I loved it. Marie-Louise is just 19 years old when she marries 40 year old Napoleon, who is fresh off of his divorce from Josephine. Marie-Louise is able to provide Napoleon with the one thing Josephine couldn't, an heir. But aside from that, Napoleon's love for Josephine never fades. Marie-Louise must also contend with Pauline, Napoleon's sister. The two of them have a, shall we say, not quite sibling appropriate relationship. Pauline, just like her brother, is power hungry. She's also a bit of a slut. Her goal- to rule with her brother, just like the pharaohs in ancient Egypt. About a year after Marie-Louise gives birth, the Russian disaster occurs and Napoleon is forced into exile. Marie-Louise and her son return to Austria, where she is free to live out her days with the love of her life (who she unfortunately can't marry until Napoleon dies. But who needs that- they still had children together!). The story is told through the eyes of Marie-Louise, Pauline and Pauline's Haitian (does anyone else say it the way Cher did in Clueless or is that just me?) chamberlain, Paul. Probably one of Moran's stories that is closer to history than to fiction. I read the book in one day, it was that good!
Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer. I love me some Jodi Picoult (despite the fact that it's usually the exact same story). But this is Jodi Picoult like you've never even imagined! Her co-author is her teen aged daughter. And the story? A re-imagined fairy tale (clearly my other new favorite). Have you ever wondered what fairy tale characters do when you aren't reading their story? Delilah never did. Until one day, Prince Oliver spoke to her from the pages of her favorite fairy tale. Literally spoke to her! Oliver is miserable, continuing to act out the same scenes every time someone reads the story. He wants to escape. And Delilah makes it her mission to help him. But how does a fairy tale character escape from the book that gives him life? A very cute story, made even cuter knowing that Picoult wrote it with her daughter.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
July was slow reading, but good stuff!
This month, my reading choices were all over the place. Chick lit to historical fiction to spiritual to Austen-esque lit. I love reading such a wide range of stuff!
The Jane Austen Marriage Manual by Kim Izzo. I read this book in 4 hours (got to love a holiday where you can just sit by the pool and read!). Kate Shaw is a writer who is living a pretty happy life. Until everything turns upside down. She loses her boyfriend, a potential job, the family home and her grandmother all right before her 40th birthday. She is finally offered an opportunity to freelance for a magazine and the article is to be about marrying a rich man. Thanks in no small part to a birthday gift of land in Scotland that made her a Lady, she begins to jet set in search of her own Mr. Darcy. But at the age of 40, what is really more important- love or money?
The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty. And we return to the historical fiction. In 1922, Louise Brooks, the famous silent movie actress who made the bob THE haircut to have, was just 15 years old when she was accepted to a famous dance school in New York. Her parents couldn't allow her to travel to, and live in, New York without a chaperone. That's where neighbor Cora Carlisle came in. For her, it was an opportunity to learn more about her own life. She had come to Kansas at 6 years old, an orphan from New York. While in New York, Cora finally becomes the woman she always wanted to be and takes these discoveries home to Kansas with her. Louise, on the other hand, goes on to become the icon of a generation before falling into demise. An absolutely fascinating book- I'd suggest it for a book club read. I read it in one day (ok, the same day as I read The Jane Austen Marriage Manual. What can I say- I LOVE a holiday!)
By The River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coelho. I needed a little break from historical fiction (mainly because I didn't have any to read at the moment), so went back to a favorite author. Coelho is one of the most spiritual authors I have ever had the pleasure of reading. All of his books focus on different emotions/experiences. This one is about forgiveness. Pilar and her childhood sweetheart haven't seen each other for eleven years. During this years, Pilar has gone to school and pondered what she will do with her life. Her childhood sweetheart, on the other hand, has become a famous spiritual leader. He has been given a miraculous gift. But when Pilar comes back into his life, he must decide which is more important- his gift or his love. For Pilar, there is no decision. Faith, love and miracles are all tied up together.
The Au Pairs by Melissa de la Cruz. I've read quite a bit of her work, most of it being of the supernatural bent. Vampires, witches, etc. This one was about 3 girls who become au pairs for a rich family in the Hamptons one summer. Mindless beach read. And while I still think she's an enjoyable author, I definitely like her supernatural stuff better.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith. This takes place before Elizabeth and Darcy have the pleasure of meeting. In fact, it takes place right around the time Elizabeth is about to have her coming out at her first ball. Instead, corpses begin to emerge from the ground. Mr. Bennet informs his daughters that the unmentionables have returned. And that he, as a warrior, has neglected his duties. He has not trained his daughters in the deadly arts. Elizabeth quickly reveals herself to be quite adept at zombie hunting. Along the way, she falls in love. With her deadly arts Master and also with a doctor who is trying to learn about zombies. Eventually, every bit of the Bennet girls' training is necessary when the zombie herds attack. I love Jane Austen and I love supernatural. So these books are a perfect combination for me!
The Jane Austen Marriage Manual by Kim Izzo. I read this book in 4 hours (got to love a holiday where you can just sit by the pool and read!). Kate Shaw is a writer who is living a pretty happy life. Until everything turns upside down. She loses her boyfriend, a potential job, the family home and her grandmother all right before her 40th birthday. She is finally offered an opportunity to freelance for a magazine and the article is to be about marrying a rich man. Thanks in no small part to a birthday gift of land in Scotland that made her a Lady, she begins to jet set in search of her own Mr. Darcy. But at the age of 40, what is really more important- love or money?
The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty. And we return to the historical fiction. In 1922, Louise Brooks, the famous silent movie actress who made the bob THE haircut to have, was just 15 years old when she was accepted to a famous dance school in New York. Her parents couldn't allow her to travel to, and live in, New York without a chaperone. That's where neighbor Cora Carlisle came in. For her, it was an opportunity to learn more about her own life. She had come to Kansas at 6 years old, an orphan from New York. While in New York, Cora finally becomes the woman she always wanted to be and takes these discoveries home to Kansas with her. Louise, on the other hand, goes on to become the icon of a generation before falling into demise. An absolutely fascinating book- I'd suggest it for a book club read. I read it in one day (ok, the same day as I read The Jane Austen Marriage Manual. What can I say- I LOVE a holiday!)
By The River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coelho. I needed a little break from historical fiction (mainly because I didn't have any to read at the moment), so went back to a favorite author. Coelho is one of the most spiritual authors I have ever had the pleasure of reading. All of his books focus on different emotions/experiences. This one is about forgiveness. Pilar and her childhood sweetheart haven't seen each other for eleven years. During this years, Pilar has gone to school and pondered what she will do with her life. Her childhood sweetheart, on the other hand, has become a famous spiritual leader. He has been given a miraculous gift. But when Pilar comes back into his life, he must decide which is more important- his gift or his love. For Pilar, there is no decision. Faith, love and miracles are all tied up together.
The Au Pairs by Melissa de la Cruz. I've read quite a bit of her work, most of it being of the supernatural bent. Vampires, witches, etc. This one was about 3 girls who become au pairs for a rich family in the Hamptons one summer. Mindless beach read. And while I still think she's an enjoyable author, I definitely like her supernatural stuff better.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith. This takes place before Elizabeth and Darcy have the pleasure of meeting. In fact, it takes place right around the time Elizabeth is about to have her coming out at her first ball. Instead, corpses begin to emerge from the ground. Mr. Bennet informs his daughters that the unmentionables have returned. And that he, as a warrior, has neglected his duties. He has not trained his daughters in the deadly arts. Elizabeth quickly reveals herself to be quite adept at zombie hunting. Along the way, she falls in love. With her deadly arts Master and also with a doctor who is trying to learn about zombies. Eventually, every bit of the Bennet girls' training is necessary when the zombie herds attack. I love Jane Austen and I love supernatural. So these books are a perfect combination for me!
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