Alice Hoffman
I liked this book. I thought it was a good collection of short stories more than a novel. The setting remained the same and occasionally involved ancestors from a previous story, but it didn't flow as well as I thought a novel should. Just when I was getting into a story it would change and we would be dealing with their great grand children's lives. I do wonder if this would have bothered me less if I had read it in fewer sittings rather than here and there over the past few weeks. A good book, not a great book.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Freedom
Jonathan Franzen
I have to say this was not my favorite. It actually lead to some pretty good discussion which I enjoyed, but it felt forever long. I guess I don't understand why popular novels about "American families" have to be about how sad and miserable and depressed they are. In the end no one or very few people are happy. I have to say I have a great life, even with really crappy things happening that I have NO control over I still have so much I love. I can think of amazing Godly men and women I know who have endured tragedy after tragedy and I don't think their novel would be nearly so whiny. But, it did have my beloved bow ending that I found especially uplifting these days. I also have to say that man Jonathan is obsessed with sex scenes, good grief! We get it already. So, I wouldn't read this unless this is your favorite genre and you won't mind lots of inappropriateness and whining. Sorry!
I have to say this was not my favorite. It actually lead to some pretty good discussion which I enjoyed, but it felt forever long. I guess I don't understand why popular novels about "American families" have to be about how sad and miserable and depressed they are. In the end no one or very few people are happy. I have to say I have a great life, even with really crappy things happening that I have NO control over I still have so much I love. I can think of amazing Godly men and women I know who have endured tragedy after tragedy and I don't think their novel would be nearly so whiny. But, it did have my beloved bow ending that I found especially uplifting these days. I also have to say that man Jonathan is obsessed with sex scenes, good grief! We get it already. So, I wouldn't read this unless this is your favorite genre and you won't mind lots of inappropriateness and whining. Sorry!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Faithful Place
Tana French
Some of my book club friends were all pumped up about a new Tana French novel to read. I have to admit I didn't even know who she was. I thought this was a good book. It took me awhile to get into it. I definitely struggled with the colloquialisms (SAT word, huh) of another culture. It got on my nerves throughout the whole book that I often couldn't fully appreciate the dialogue or know just how offended I should be by the cursing. :) I did like the story though. It was a little predictable, but I liked learning about the relationships involved and the special place it gave to your first true love. The book also makes you think about what your life would be life with a different parents and my sister would LOVE the importance placed on birth order in this family. I think this is a good read if you can get past the language barrier even though it is in English.
Some of my book club friends were all pumped up about a new Tana French novel to read. I have to admit I didn't even know who she was. I thought this was a good book. It took me awhile to get into it. I definitely struggled with the colloquialisms (SAT word, huh) of another culture. It got on my nerves throughout the whole book that I often couldn't fully appreciate the dialogue or know just how offended I should be by the cursing. :) I did like the story though. It was a little predictable, but I liked learning about the relationships involved and the special place it gave to your first true love. The book also makes you think about what your life would be life with a different parents and my sister would LOVE the importance placed on birth order in this family. I think this is a good read if you can get past the language barrier even though it is in English.
The Scent of Rain and Lightning
Nancy Pickard
I think I liked this even better than the other book I recently read by this author. I thought it was less predictable and I identified with the characters more. I thought this was my kind of mystery, intriguing but not scary. I also liked the perspective on family and appreciated how the mom in the story had realistic opinions about her children while fiercely loving them.
I think I liked this even better than the other book I recently read by this author. I thought it was less predictable and I identified with the characters more. I thought this was my kind of mystery, intriguing but not scary. I also liked the perspective on family and appreciated how the mom in the story had realistic opinions about her children while fiercely loving them.
Brava Valentine
Adriana Trigiani
A cute holiday read. This was the perfect unwind for a few minutes at the end of a long day book. It was fun, sweet and not challenging in any way. It even involved celebrating the holidays, but you also got to escape to Italy and South America. This was the second in a series and I enjoyed it. I liked that it had a little more meat to while still remaining fun and overall light hearted. I do hate that people are so laid back about the commitment that a marriage is, but this is a cheesy novel so I won't get up on my soap box. And, I did love the story of her parents working through a challenge in their marriage rather than giving up!
A cute holiday read. This was the perfect unwind for a few minutes at the end of a long day book. It was fun, sweet and not challenging in any way. It even involved celebrating the holidays, but you also got to escape to Italy and South America. This was the second in a series and I enjoyed it. I liked that it had a little more meat to while still remaining fun and overall light hearted. I do hate that people are so laid back about the commitment that a marriage is, but this is a cheesy novel so I won't get up on my soap box. And, I did love the story of her parents working through a challenge in their marriage rather than giving up!
Monday, December 13, 2010
The Hunger Games, Catching Fire & Mockinjay
Suzanne Collins
Oh my goodness! I loved these books. They are not life changing, but they are very entertaining. I put off reading them forever, I thought it would be too sad and weird to read about kids trying to kill each other. It sounds awful, but it really isn't it is a great series. Go get them and read them, but wait until after Christmas if you have as much to do as I do. Because once you start you will want to sit and read until you are done with all 3. Luckily, they are young adult fiction so you can power through all 3 in probably a day and a half! I love that it has a strong female lead that doesn't need a boy to make her feel complete, Bella. I like that she struggles with figuring out the difference between good friends and boyfriends, that is hard! A good book I would be glad for my little Sadie to read, oh wait I have two boys they will want to read The Lord of the Rings....
Side note-Some friends told me about a phone app that lets you share good books to read, but I can't remember what it is, do y'all know?
Oh my goodness! I loved these books. They are not life changing, but they are very entertaining. I put off reading them forever, I thought it would be too sad and weird to read about kids trying to kill each other. It sounds awful, but it really isn't it is a great series. Go get them and read them, but wait until after Christmas if you have as much to do as I do. Because once you start you will want to sit and read until you are done with all 3. Luckily, they are young adult fiction so you can power through all 3 in probably a day and a half! I love that it has a strong female lead that doesn't need a boy to make her feel complete, Bella. I like that she struggles with figuring out the difference between good friends and boyfriends, that is hard! A good book I would be glad for my little Sadie to read, oh wait I have two boys they will want to read The Lord of the Rings....
Side note-Some friends told me about a phone app that lets you share good books to read, but I can't remember what it is, do y'all know?
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
The Virgin of Small Plains
Nancy Pickard
This was a good, easy mystery read. I like that it was a mystery, but not scary. The main character had a great name, even if she did spell it wrong. :) I thought it was a little too easy to figure out, but that's okay I still had to finish and make sure I was right. A great book for reading on the plane while you travel for the holidays, or fun to curl up under a blanket with to relax and escape after you eat some turkey.
This was a good, easy mystery read. I like that it was a mystery, but not scary. The main character had a great name, even if she did spell it wrong. :) I thought it was a little too easy to figure out, but that's okay I still had to finish and make sure I was right. A great book for reading on the plane while you travel for the holidays, or fun to curl up under a blanket with to relax and escape after you eat some turkey.
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