I finished reading The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield tonight. What a lovely book!
I've read such mixed reviews about this book that I think it's a love it or hate it kind of story. I loved it.
I loved the characters and the unfolding of the story within the story. I found it captivating and impossible to resist.
Now I'm moving on to Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris.
I just finished reading Enduring Love by Ian McEwan, and I'm reminded again why he is one of my favorite contemporary novelists.
This is a very short book, but an excellent read. I truly started to doubt the main character's sanity because the whole situation seemed so out there and no one in his life believed him when he tried to tell them what was going on.
As with his other novels, I love the way a chance incident completely changes the course of his characters' lives. Something so simple can have such a profound impact.
I also love the way he has a distinct style as a storyteller without resorting to formulaic repetition.
Very much so recommended.
Now I'm returning to The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. I'm about 30 pages in and very much so enjoying it so far.
I plowed through the last 150 or so pages of The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon (part of Outlander series) last night. Now I've started an Ian McEwan novel called Enduring Love. Good so far.
]]>I finished reading Home by Marilynne Robinson today. I'm not entirely sure what I think of it.
Home picks up with the same characters she featured in Gilead from a different perspective, 20 years later. I adored Gilead. Couldn't put it down or forget it. But I just don't feel quite the same way about Home.
The last 50 or so pages were excellent, but it was slow to get on it's feet and I almost gave up on it.
I've also recently read: The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin, Unexpected Blessings: Finding Hope & Healing in the Face of Illness by Roxanne Black and Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher.
I highly recommend all but Love the One You're With. It was only okay. Not bad, but not great.
I finished reading Drums of Autumn the other day, which is the fourth book in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. It totally rocked. I hadn't cared much for the third book, but this one totally redeemed her in my estimation. I can't wait to get into the next book and find out what happens to these awesome characters.
Now I'm reading Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Yes, it was an Oprah Book Club pick, but I decided to read it anyway because I've read so many good things about it. I'm about 300 pages in and really enjoying it.
I'm also listening to the audiobook of Carrie Fisher's latest book Wishful Drinking. Definitely laugh out loud funny and very well written. She rocks.
Books I've Read in 2009:
1. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
2. When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
3. Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
Currently Reading:
- The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
- Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
I've left this journal idle for far too long, so I'm going to try to start using it again. We'll see how that goes.
I've been reading quite a bit lately. I discovered the Twilight series, and I'm totally hooked. I'm making myself space out the books so I can make the stories last longer.
Here's where I am so far for 2009 -
1. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer - loved it!
2. When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
Currently Reading:
- Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
- Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
It has been entirely too long since I updated. There are so many reasons: I've been sick, I've been busy learning to knit and reading and I've been swamped at work.
However, I do have some book reviews to share.
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
I absolutely loved this book. If anything, I loved it more than Outlander. Jamie and Claire are the best couple I've read about in ages. I love Claire's fiery spirit and learning more about their lives together. I even cried a little toward the end! Of course, now I'm dying to dive into the third book.
Cross-X by Joe Miller
This is an engaging, though provoking story about high school debate and race. It's a great read.
Something Blue by Emily Giffin
This book is the sequel to Something Borrowed, but is told from the perspective of the best friend in that story. Though it was a tad predictable, I just loved it. It's a very sweet, happy story.
Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitting Handbook by Debbie Stoller
This is my first knitting book and the perfect reference for getting started. It has had answers to every single one of my questions and better explanations of techniques than any other resource I've checked. It's full of cool, hip projects, too.
Yellowcake by Ann Cummins
It was okay. There wasn't much plot to it, though the characters were well developed and interesting. If you think it sounds good, give it a shot. Otherwise, I'd recommend you skip it.
The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell
She is one of my favorite writers, and this is a perfect example of why I love her. She's witty, intelligent and kooky. These essay are a joy to read. I highly recommend this and any of her other books.
I've read 18 toward my 50 book goal for the year.
Some people think American Idol is too mean. They don't like the way Simon treats the contestants, and they criticize the producers for choosing to air the auditions of so many angry and inherently untalented people. I just cannot agree, as this meanness is precisely the reason I watch.
I think Simon is great. I cackle maniacally and pump my fists in glee when he asks the sad sack standing hopefully before the panel, "Whaaaat was that?" with his snooty British accent. "Thaaat was terrible," he'll snidely, affectedly sputter.
Yet, for whatever reason, the Simon haters prefer to coddle poor performers and spare their feelings. They hate his honest approach because it often makes people feel bad. Sniff. I think he's doing these delusional freaks and pathetic no-talents a favor.
The freaks themselves and their families love to hate Simon for this. Usually they manage to make themselves look even sillier than their singing did by ranting nonsense. During the San Antonio auditions earlier this season, the angry mother of a rejected contestant asked why Simon didn't just go back to France or wherever he is from. Ryan Seacrest helpfully pointed out that Simon is actually British, not French, which prompted the mother to suggest he "go back to British."
Honestly. If this woman doesn't have enough sense to know the correct form of the word would have been Britain or even England, it is no great suprise that she's not a good judge of her daughter's singing talents, either.
Here's my bottom line: If you put yourself and your singing out there for public scrutiny, you don't have the right to get your panties in a wad when you don't like the response. Simon is performing a public service by telling people the truth about their lack of talent. If no one else has leveled with them yet, it is high time someone does, and Simon is the man for the job.
]]>The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
This
was a cute, fluffy read. I am impressed by these authors' ability to
make the horrible, selfish mother quite sympathetic in many ways. I
liked the main character and believed her conflict between telling the
selfish parents to kiss her ass and staying because the child needed
her. I read their other book, Citizen Girl, which I found disappointing. This one was a much better story.