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.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
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.
Admission
Jean Hanff Korelitz
A friend at work recommended this book for my book club, because she was reading it for hers and thought it was going to provide good discussion. I will be honest, I am very interested to see what kind of discussion it sparks. I can totally see the girls either loving or hating this book. I thought it was a little hard to get through at times. I think I enjoyed it, even though it felt like a really long book. It raised really good thoughts about nature vs. nurture, privilege and want, and opened my eyes to a culture I rarely think about. I must admit I am glad I didn't have dreams of going to an Ivy league school, clearly I am not Ivy material. But, I sure am glad I was wildcat material. :) I was also intrigued by the adoption issues raised, although I don't think I wholly agree. As I said, I am interested to see what discussions will come up and would love to have been there for my friend's book club as some of the ladies in her group have college age children.
A friend at work recommended this book for my book club, because she was reading it for hers and thought it was going to provide good discussion. I will be honest, I am very interested to see what kind of discussion it sparks. I can totally see the girls either loving or hating this book. I thought it was a little hard to get through at times. I think I enjoyed it, even though it felt like a really long book. It raised really good thoughts about nature vs. nurture, privilege and want, and opened my eyes to a culture I rarely think about. I must admit I am glad I didn't have dreams of going to an Ivy league school, clearly I am not Ivy material. But, I sure am glad I was wildcat material. :) I was also intrigued by the adoption issues raised, although I don't think I wholly agree. As I said, I am interested to see what discussions will come up and would love to have been there for my friend's book club as some of the ladies in her group have college age children.
In Cold Blood
Truman Capote
Whoa!
I picked this up at my aunt and uncle's house this summer to pass time while I was feeding Hank. I kept finding myself wondering about it, so I downloaded it on my kindle to finish it. I am amazed and appalled by this book. It is so sad to know this is true, and that people really do horrible things like that for pretty much no reason. I think the book was very well written, occasionally a little slow, but overall great. It was interesting to hear the crime from varied perspectives. There were times I almost felt sorry for one of the criminals in some weird way. I am glad I decided to finish the book, even if there wasn't a happy ending. A great true crime drama.
Whoa!
I picked this up at my aunt and uncle's house this summer to pass time while I was feeding Hank. I kept finding myself wondering about it, so I downloaded it on my kindle to finish it. I am amazed and appalled by this book. It is so sad to know this is true, and that people really do horrible things like that for pretty much no reason. I think the book was very well written, occasionally a little slow, but overall great. It was interesting to hear the crime from varied perspectives. There were times I almost felt sorry for one of the criminals in some weird way. I am glad I decided to finish the book, even if there wasn't a happy ending. A great true crime drama.
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