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!

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...

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...

Summer Island by Kristen Hannah

Summer Island had a good story, although I have to say I didn't love it as much as Firefly Lane. I just have a problem, I think with characters who say they hate their mothers. Maybe its just that I can't relate...I have always had a good relationship with mine. I had a hard time believing that what Nora did was so bad that her daughter would not speak to her for 11 years...and use that as an excuse to run away from the love of her life. Like I said, not a bad story, but not my favorite. Still, it's a quick read...worth checking out.

I'll admit I slacked off - I should have posted this a week ago. I have been thoroughly wrapped up in the life of Sookie Stackhouse. Sara loaned me 9 Sookie books and I stayed up late last night finishing the last one. I am enchanted with these books! I also watched 2 seasons of True Blood on HBO on demand...and am anxiously awaiting season 3 next month!

Back to my book a week project though...this week I'm reading "Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him" by Danielle Ganek.

The Heroines by Eileen Favorite

I was disappointed with The Heroines. When I picked up the book, I thought it sounded like a great story line - a young girl living at her family's B&B where famous Heroines from novels dropped in - Scarlett O'Hara, Madame Bovary, etc. Honestly, though, I didn't feel like it delivered.
There is no real explanation of why or how the heroines arrive. There is no rhyme or reason to their visits. The book is more about thirteen-year-old Penny's teenage issues with her mother,and her discovery that her father is not who she has been led to believe.
Not one I'd recommend...I'm relisting it on Paperbackswap.com tonight.

Next up: Summer Island by Kristin Hannah.

Children's Hospital Boston - NSTAR's Walk for Children's Hospital Boston 10 - 's Page

Not book related...but I am walking for Children's Hospital Boston on June 13...see page below for more info!

Children's Hospital Boston - NSTAR's Walk for Children's Hospital Boston 10 - 's Page

Living Dead in Dallas

Finished Living Dead in Dallas, the second Sookie Stackhouse book by Charlaine Harris. I am loving this series, and can't wait to get to the library to pick up the next one...Club Dead.

In the meantime, I'm also watching True Blood on demand from HBO...and loving that too. Twilight may have hot teenage vampires...but True Blood has hot grown-up vampires!

This week...The Heroines by Eileen Favorite