Well, despite my first full week of work since summer started, the continuing very HOT weather here in RI, and two days of birthday celebration for Auntie C...I am on track for my weekly read this week.
This week I read Bad Heir Day by Wendy Holden. It's a fairly typical chick-lit type book. A light read about Anna, a struggling writer, whose heir-to-a-sewage-fortune boyfriend gives her the boot...leading her to take a job as an "assistant" to a romance novelist. The job turns out to be a nanny position...and the plot goes on from there.
I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters - they all sort of rubbed me the wrong way. I kind of felt like they all got what they deserved. The ending was a bit too neat for me...everyone's loose ends very tidily tied up...not my favorite read lately.
Next week: Object Lessons by Anna Quindlen...recommended to me by Mom
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Under the Dome - Stephen King
I have been a huge Stephen King fan from the day I first read one of his books. It was The Dead Zone, and I was probably about 13. From then on, every trip to the library meant a new King book...until I had read everything the Warwick Public Library had of his. Now, when a new book comes out, I look forward to the day when I will find it on the KIN shelf at the library. And so, I was happy when I arrived at the library two weeks ago and discovered "Under the Dome."
At 1072 pages, I figured it would take me a while to read. However, once I started, I found myself grabbing every spare minute to continue...to the point where I had it at hand so I could read during commercials. It is the story of a small town in Maine (as so many of his books are). This particular town one day finds itself, as the title says, under The Dome. They are sealed in from the rest of the world. The characters include a former army lieutenant turned diner cook, a small town newspaper editor, a corrupt politician, and a whole cast of others. Surprisingly soon after the dome's appearance, the town becomes an experiment in human psychology. In many ways, things go exactly as you expect them to...but there are other things that you just don't see coming...especially when the origins of the Dome are revealed.
As I mentioned, I've been reading this book almost non-stop when I've been home. There is one exception to that. I do not, under any circumstances, read a Stephen King book in bed. I vowed many years ago that I would never do this again...after too many nights staying up to read "just one more chapter" followed by horrific nightmares. I have had an overactive imagination since I was small, and King's books provide a hell of a trigger for the things that go bump in the night.
Overall, I liked "Under the Dome." It isn't quite up there with my personal favorites: It, The Stand, Bag of Bones; the ones that I re-read semi-annually. I would, however, recommend it to anyone with an interest in human behavior.
Next up: Bad Heir Day by Wendy Holden...another library pick.
At 1072 pages, I figured it would take me a while to read. However, once I started, I found myself grabbing every spare minute to continue...to the point where I had it at hand so I could read during commercials. It is the story of a small town in Maine (as so many of his books are). This particular town one day finds itself, as the title says, under The Dome. They are sealed in from the rest of the world. The characters include a former army lieutenant turned diner cook, a small town newspaper editor, a corrupt politician, and a whole cast of others. Surprisingly soon after the dome's appearance, the town becomes an experiment in human psychology. In many ways, things go exactly as you expect them to...but there are other things that you just don't see coming...especially when the origins of the Dome are revealed.
As I mentioned, I've been reading this book almost non-stop when I've been home. There is one exception to that. I do not, under any circumstances, read a Stephen King book in bed. I vowed many years ago that I would never do this again...after too many nights staying up to read "just one more chapter" followed by horrific nightmares. I have had an overactive imagination since I was small, and King's books provide a hell of a trigger for the things that go bump in the night.
Overall, I liked "Under the Dome." It isn't quite up there with my personal favorites: It, The Stand, Bag of Bones; the ones that I re-read semi-annually. I would, however, recommend it to anyone with an interest in human behavior.
Next up: Bad Heir Day by Wendy Holden...another library pick.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Julie and Julia
Behind again, I know...its so hard to find time to sit down at the computer when all I want to do in this weather is float in the pool and try to keep cool. Add in work and traveling and it is even hard to find time to read. But I am trying to keep up!
Last week I read "Julie and Julia" by Julie Powell. I saw the movie quite a while ago but wanted to read the book as well. It is the story of Julie Powell's project to cook all of the recipes in Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a year, and write a blog about it. I enjoyed reading about Julie's ups and downs throughout the year of completing her project. She showed so much dedication...and made me want to give writing another shot. It has always been lack of discipline that has distracted me from writing...the instant I blank on the plot line, I give it up. I'm trying hard not to do that this time...have the beginnings of something but am not sure where it will end up...we'll see!
I'm currently reading Under the Dome by Stephen King...at 1070-ish pages, it is taking me a while, but it has also sucked me in completely, as his books always do. Hope to review it in the next day or so!
Last week I read "Julie and Julia" by Julie Powell. I saw the movie quite a while ago but wanted to read the book as well. It is the story of Julie Powell's project to cook all of the recipes in Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a year, and write a blog about it. I enjoyed reading about Julie's ups and downs throughout the year of completing her project. She showed so much dedication...and made me want to give writing another shot. It has always been lack of discipline that has distracted me from writing...the instant I blank on the plot line, I give it up. I'm trying hard not to do that this time...have the beginnings of something but am not sure where it will end up...we'll see!
I'm currently reading Under the Dome by Stephen King...at 1070-ish pages, it is taking me a while, but it has also sucked me in completely, as his books always do. Hope to review it in the next day or so!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh
Last week I read Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh - about a family living in a coal mining town during the 40s and 50s. I enjoyed this quite a bit. I like the reminder that we were not always in such constant contact with each other. A son may go off to college and come home with a wife his family had never met. A daughter goes to work in the city and is only in touch by letters. A family's only access to a phone is a pay phone at the local store...
I tend to read "historical" fiction that is set farther back - usually Victorian Era type things...it was nice to read something a bit more recent, even if it was set before my lifetime...
I tend to read "historical" fiction that is set farther back - usually Victorian Era type things...it was nice to read something a bit more recent, even if it was set before my lifetime...
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Catching up!
It's been just over 5 weeks since my last post. (And as I'm typing that, I feel like I should be kneeling in a confessional booth...) Summer is my 2nd favorite time of year and I've been doing lots of reading, especially this past week while I've been on vacation. However, less time inside means less time on the computer, so I let the blog slide a bit. So...here are new reviews for the weeks I've missed.
Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him: I liked this book - inside look at the world of art galleries. Not a 5-star book for me, but a decent read.
"Shakespeare's Landlord" by Charlaine Harris - picked this up because I loved the Sookie ones so much. The main character in this series is Lily Bard...it was ok, but didn't suck me in the way the vampire ones do. Probably won't read the rest of this series.
"The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters" by Elisabeth Robinson: I love, love, LOVED, this one. Another book told entirely in letters, with a few emails sprinkled in. The letter writer is Olivia Hunt, a Hollywood producer who is trying to get Don Quixote produced. The relationship between Olivia and her younger sister Madeline is an interesting one...anyone who has a sister should enjoy it. May require a hanky!
"Schooled" by Anisha Lakhani: Another good one...this is about an idealistic young teacher who goes to work at a high-priced prep school in Manhattan...its an inside look at the private school world - and parents who will do anything to ensure their child's "success"...aka placement at an Ivy League school, of course.
This week I'm reading Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh. Almost finished...should be posting about it in the next day or two...
Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him: I liked this book - inside look at the world of art galleries. Not a 5-star book for me, but a decent read.
"Shakespeare's Landlord" by Charlaine Harris - picked this up because I loved the Sookie ones so much. The main character in this series is Lily Bard...it was ok, but didn't suck me in the way the vampire ones do. Probably won't read the rest of this series.
"The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters" by Elisabeth Robinson: I love, love, LOVED, this one. Another book told entirely in letters, with a few emails sprinkled in. The letter writer is Olivia Hunt, a Hollywood producer who is trying to get Don Quixote produced. The relationship between Olivia and her younger sister Madeline is an interesting one...anyone who has a sister should enjoy it. May require a hanky!
"Schooled" by Anisha Lakhani: Another good one...this is about an idealistic young teacher who goes to work at a high-priced prep school in Manhattan...its an inside look at the private school world - and parents who will do anything to ensure their child's "success"...aka placement at an Ivy League school, of course.
This week I'm reading Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh. Almost finished...should be posting about it in the next day or two...
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