Being laid off has its perks. I've had plenty of pool time this summer...and plenty of reading time. Of course, my husband is growing more concerned by the day. I've already read most of my new books and I think he's concerned I'm going to send us to the poor house with weekly trips to the bookstore. I haven't yet joined the library. I like to own the books, stare at them in my bookcase and imagine them in my own "library" someday. My husband likes to imagine them in the trash, I'm sure.
I think all told I have read at least 10 books in the past month and a half. Last night I finished "Best Friends Forever" by Jennifer Weiner. I am a big fan of hers. I have read almost every book she's written. Being that there are only seven of them, it hasn't been a hard feat. I like her writing style and find her books entertaining.
"Best Friends Forever" was cute and had its moments but I found the plot a little outlandish. And I have a very large imagination. I usually don't have a problem with outlandish plots. But even this plot got on my nerves. I just kept asking myself, "Why? Why? Why?"
The book centers on Addie Downs and her best friend Valerie Adler. The two friends have a falling out in high school but reconnect after a high school reunion when Adler appears at her friend's door for help. What follows is the part I find unrealistic.
Adler thinks she has "killed" a fellow high school classmate, who she is angry with because of a past event, when she struck him with her car. Only she didn't hit him that hard and when she and Downs go back to the scene of the "crime," he isn't there. Do dead bodies walk away, I ask you? Only in "Weekend at Bernie's."
So of course the two would decide to hightail it out of town because they think they might be found out. It's just logic, don’t you know.
I found myself getting angry at the book and the characters...asking them, "Why? why? why?" are they being so stupid! It annoyed me to no end. As did the incessant whining from Downs about her being VERY overweight in high school (she claims at one point to have tipped the scales over 350 pounds). Perhaps she shouldn't have binge ate in the middle of the night, every night! I hate whining characters.
This is definitely something you can wait to read until it comes out in paperback...or check it out from the library. A place I plan to visit one day...maybe...we'll see...not sure I'll have time...
Friday, August 21, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Let's review...'The Girl Who Played With Fire' by Stieg Larsson
I stayed up late last night to finish "The Girl Who Played With Fire" by Stieg Larsson. I couldn't wait to find out the ending...there had been so many unexpected twists and turns...I was riveted.
And then just as I reached page 503 at midnight, I was greeted with a cliffhanger. A cliffhanger!!!!! I can't say for sure but there may have been swear words involved as I walked around the apartment getting ready for bed.
"The Girl Who Played With Fire" is the second in a three part series. The first book, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," was released last year. Amazon states that the third and last book, "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest," will be released on Oct. 31. However, the official Web site of Stieg Larsson has a date of January 2010. Oh, please let it be Oct. 31. I don't think I can wait until January to find out what happens.
If you're unfamiliar with Stieg Larsson and his series...allow me to introduce you. Stieg Larsson was a Swedish author who died unexpectedly shortly after delivering these three manuscripts. It's very sad that these are the only three works we'll ever see from him. Larsson was a great writer who had a gift for storytelling.
The books follow journalist Mikael Blomkvist, who is part owner of a magazine called Millennium. In both books he becomes involved in criminal investigations. Trouble definitely seems to follow him. His sidekick in the first book, Lisbeth Salander, is one of the main characters in the second book. She is feisty, aloof, smart, interesting...she is unlike any character I have read before. And she has a history... a mysterious history that keeps you guessing until the end of the second book.
These books are definitely a bit racey with its content. A LOT of discussion about sex crimes, sex trading, prostitution, incest...etc. So if these subjects make you uncomfortable, you might want to pick up something else to read.
But if you're game, check them out.
And then just as I reached page 503 at midnight, I was greeted with a cliffhanger. A cliffhanger!!!!! I can't say for sure but there may have been swear words involved as I walked around the apartment getting ready for bed.
"The Girl Who Played With Fire" is the second in a three part series. The first book, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," was released last year. Amazon states that the third and last book, "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest," will be released on Oct. 31. However, the official Web site of Stieg Larsson has a date of January 2010. Oh, please let it be Oct. 31. I don't think I can wait until January to find out what happens.
If you're unfamiliar with Stieg Larsson and his series...allow me to introduce you. Stieg Larsson was a Swedish author who died unexpectedly shortly after delivering these three manuscripts. It's very sad that these are the only three works we'll ever see from him. Larsson was a great writer who had a gift for storytelling.
The books follow journalist Mikael Blomkvist, who is part owner of a magazine called Millennium. In both books he becomes involved in criminal investigations. Trouble definitely seems to follow him. His sidekick in the first book, Lisbeth Salander, is one of the main characters in the second book. She is feisty, aloof, smart, interesting...she is unlike any character I have read before. And she has a history... a mysterious history that keeps you guessing until the end of the second book.
These books are definitely a bit racey with its content. A LOT of discussion about sex crimes, sex trading, prostitution, incest...etc. So if these subjects make you uncomfortable, you might want to pick up something else to read.
But if you're game, check them out.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Let's review...'The Sugar Queen' by Sarah Addison Allen
One of my favorite things to do is to spend a couple hours at the bookstore and just browse. Usually, I'm not looking for a specific book. I'm searching for a something I've never heard of, by an author I've never heard of - a diamond in the rough.
I love discovering new writers. I have no patience whatsoever so I can't exactly be expected to wait until my favorite authors release their next books. Instead I fill the in between time with little known writers and their books, hoping that they will join my favorites list.
This is precisely why I love Barnes and Noble. If you weren't already aware, B&N has a Discover New Writers section. I have found many a good book and great author there. I highly recommend you peruse the section the next time you find yourself in B&N.
In addition to the DNW section, B&N also has a number of tables set up with different genres of books that stand out among the rest. There's so much to stop and look at...it's like being in a candy store. And you know how I love chocolate!
On a table display in B&N is where I found "The Sugar Queen" by Sarah Addison Allen. I had never heard of her or her book before. But the cover spoke to me. Yes, I'm serious.
Peppermint patties run across the top of the cover and in the center is a girl sitting (in the snow maybe?) holding a peppermint patty. Sold!
This sweet little book follows main character Josey Cirrini, a Southern belle, who feels she needs to hide her love of sweets and only do her mother's bidding. Until she finds a fairy godmother of sorts in her closet. And then everything changes.
In the vein of Alice Hoffman, Allen interweaves magic and reality in this cute story about finding yourself and embracing who you are. If you're a Hoffman fan, you'll love this book. And, incidentally if you haven't read an Alice Hoffman book, you really should pick one up. I recommend "The Probable Future." It's one of my favorites.
Speaking of favorites, many authors on my list have come out with new books this summer...but the hard part is choosing which one to read first. eeney, meeney, miney, moe...
I love discovering new writers. I have no patience whatsoever so I can't exactly be expected to wait until my favorite authors release their next books. Instead I fill the in between time with little known writers and their books, hoping that they will join my favorites list.
This is precisely why I love Barnes and Noble. If you weren't already aware, B&N has a Discover New Writers section. I have found many a good book and great author there. I highly recommend you peruse the section the next time you find yourself in B&N.
In addition to the DNW section, B&N also has a number of tables set up with different genres of books that stand out among the rest. There's so much to stop and look at...it's like being in a candy store. And you know how I love chocolate!
On a table display in B&N is where I found "The Sugar Queen" by Sarah Addison Allen. I had never heard of her or her book before. But the cover spoke to me. Yes, I'm serious.
Peppermint patties run across the top of the cover and in the center is a girl sitting (in the snow maybe?) holding a peppermint patty. Sold!
This sweet little book follows main character Josey Cirrini, a Southern belle, who feels she needs to hide her love of sweets and only do her mother's bidding. Until she finds a fairy godmother of sorts in her closet. And then everything changes.
In the vein of Alice Hoffman, Allen interweaves magic and reality in this cute story about finding yourself and embracing who you are. If you're a Hoffman fan, you'll love this book. And, incidentally if you haven't read an Alice Hoffman book, you really should pick one up. I recommend "The Probable Future." It's one of my favorites.
Speaking of favorites, many authors on my list have come out with new books this summer...but the hard part is choosing which one to read first. eeney, meeney, miney, moe...
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Let's review...'Real Murders' by Charlaine Harris
When I was younger every Saturday my father would take me to Spags in Shrewsbury. If you're not from around the Worcester area where Spags is a legend, picture Building 19 meets Home Depot meets BJs. It was the kind of place where you could get name brand items super on sale but you had to bring your own bag - or find a box lying around.
I would always spend most of my time in the book section at Spags searching for mysteries written by Christopher Pike, RL Stine or Agatha Christie. Nancy Drew and the Hardy boys were also a favorite of mine. There was something about these "who-done-it" novels that really drew me in. As you might have guessed I also really enjoyed playing Clue! (And still do in case anyone else is game).
When I found "Real Murders" by Charlaine Harris in Barnes and Noble the other day, I was reminded of those books from my childhood. I was hoping that "Real Murders" would be a similar novel and take me back to those days when I would read a 200-300 page book in a couple of hours while PBS cooking shows (who doesn't love to watch Yan Can Cook???) played in the background on the television.
I was not disappointed.
"Real Murders," the first in a series called the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries, is a fun little book anyone could breeze through in a couple of hours. I wasn't sure if at the end of the book I would want to read more in the series but I find myself wanting to know what happens to main character Aurora Teagarden. What other kind of shenanigans does she get herself into?
And I have to say I didn't even suspect who the killer was - which is a sign of a good mystery indeed.
The writing isn't tight. Harris makes many faux pas' which I was strictly told never to do in my creative writing classes. But that's Ok because I wasn't reading "Real Murders" for the best piece of literature ever created. I wanted a little fun and a little intrigue. And that's what I got.
Now, if I could only figure out...was it Mr. Green in the library with the candlestick? Or Professor Plum in the billiard room with the rope?
I would always spend most of my time in the book section at Spags searching for mysteries written by Christopher Pike, RL Stine or Agatha Christie. Nancy Drew and the Hardy boys were also a favorite of mine. There was something about these "who-done-it" novels that really drew me in. As you might have guessed I also really enjoyed playing Clue! (And still do in case anyone else is game).
When I found "Real Murders" by Charlaine Harris in Barnes and Noble the other day, I was reminded of those books from my childhood. I was hoping that "Real Murders" would be a similar novel and take me back to those days when I would read a 200-300 page book in a couple of hours while PBS cooking shows (who doesn't love to watch Yan Can Cook???) played in the background on the television.
I was not disappointed.
"Real Murders," the first in a series called the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries, is a fun little book anyone could breeze through in a couple of hours. I wasn't sure if at the end of the book I would want to read more in the series but I find myself wanting to know what happens to main character Aurora Teagarden. What other kind of shenanigans does she get herself into?
And I have to say I didn't even suspect who the killer was - which is a sign of a good mystery indeed.
The writing isn't tight. Harris makes many faux pas' which I was strictly told never to do in my creative writing classes. But that's Ok because I wasn't reading "Real Murders" for the best piece of literature ever created. I wanted a little fun and a little intrigue. And that's what I got.
Now, if I could only figure out...was it Mr. Green in the library with the candlestick? Or Professor Plum in the billiard room with the rope?
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