Books:
Read: 27 (68 so far this year)
Pages Read: 8,623 (20,960 so far this year)
Bought: 18 (which means this is the first month I read more thanI bought!)
Best: The Creation of Eve (Lynn Cullen), Shoot to Thrill (PJ Tracy), Every Last One (Anna Quindlen), The Map of True Places (Brunonia Barry) (those are all for review and will be posted later). Also Hunter's Moon and Not a Sparrow Falls.
Looking Forward To: The Last Time I Saw You (Elizabeth Berg), Feed (Mira Grant), Radiant Shadows (Melissa Marr), Going in Circles (Pamela Ribon).
Movies:
Watched: 3 (29 so far this year)
Bought: 2
Best: Time Traveler's Wife
Looking Forward To: Seeing Hot Tub Time Machine Friday!
TV:
Watched: 70 episodes (161 episodes so far this year)
Bought: The first two seasons of Breaking Bad (which is partially why the number of episodes watched is so high); received the third season of Big Love and the second season of Gossip Girl for birthday. :)
Best: Breaking Bad (holy crap, how did I never see this show before?!) and 30 Rock
Looking Forward To: More Breaking Bad! :)
Thursday, September 2, 2010
66 - The Summer Before
Finished The Summer Before by Ann M. Martin.
I loved the Baby-Sitters Club growing up, so I was beyond overjoyed to see that there was going to be a prequel coming out.
And this book was so much better than I was expecting. It is, as the title would have you believe, the summer before the BSC was formed.
Kristy's sad because she misses her dad. Mary Anne's starting to chafe under her dad's overprotectiveness and mega rules and regulations. Claudia feels like she's way more grown up than Kristy and Mary Anne are (uh--YEAH, no kidding) and Stacey is about to move to Stoneybrook from New York, and is relieved to be getting away from her former best friends.
*happy sigh* Such a fun book. :) I hope there will be a sequel at some point. I'd love to see them in high school or college (or even better yet, as adults).
I really liked this book, probably way more than I should. It's great to see my old BSC friends again. :)
I loved the Baby-Sitters Club growing up, so I was beyond overjoyed to see that there was going to be a prequel coming out.
And this book was so much better than I was expecting. It is, as the title would have you believe, the summer before the BSC was formed.
Kristy's sad because she misses her dad. Mary Anne's starting to chafe under her dad's overprotectiveness and mega rules and regulations. Claudia feels like she's way more grown up than Kristy and Mary Anne are (uh--YEAH, no kidding) and Stacey is about to move to Stoneybrook from New York, and is relieved to be getting away from her former best friends.
*happy sigh* Such a fun book. :) I hope there will be a sequel at some point. I'd love to see them in high school or college (or even better yet, as adults).
I really liked this book, probably way more than I should. It's great to see my old BSC friends again. :)
63 - Not a Sparrow Falls
Finished Not a Sparrow Falls by Linda Nichols. This is a review copy, sent to me by the publisher.
There are two main storylines here--Mary Bridget is on the run from her old life (she purchased supplies to make meth; she didn't actually make the meth herself--that was Jonah, her scary boyfriend) and eager to start over; she gives herself the name Bridie (after Bridget--her mom's name and her middle name). And Alisdair is at loose ends with his three children (teenage Samantha and twin toddlers Bonnie and Cameron) after his wife and their mother died two years ago, shortly after the twins' birth. He's a pastor and his church isn't happy with him because he's focusing more on his radio show than on leading the congregation. And the children are largely being neglected--until a nanny is found. Guess who? :)
This is Christian fiction (this novel was actually a Christy award finalist) and there is God talk. But it's also just a fantastic, heartwarming story. Bridie is a fantastic character and I fell in love with pretty much every character in here. (Except, of course for Jonah, the scary, meth-making ex-boyfriend.)
I hope to read more of her books.
There are two main storylines here--Mary Bridget is on the run from her old life (she purchased supplies to make meth; she didn't actually make the meth herself--that was Jonah, her scary boyfriend) and eager to start over; she gives herself the name Bridie (after Bridget--her mom's name and her middle name). And Alisdair is at loose ends with his three children (teenage Samantha and twin toddlers Bonnie and Cameron) after his wife and their mother died two years ago, shortly after the twins' birth. He's a pastor and his church isn't happy with him because he's focusing more on his radio show than on leading the congregation. And the children are largely being neglected--until a nanny is found. Guess who? :)
This is Christian fiction (this novel was actually a Christy award finalist) and there is God talk. But it's also just a fantastic, heartwarming story. Bridie is a fantastic character and I fell in love with pretty much every character in here. (Except, of course for Jonah, the scary, meth-making ex-boyfriend.)
I hope to read more of her books.
58 - Beguiled
Finished Beguiled by Deeanne Gist & J. Mark Bertrand. This was a review copy, sent to me by the publisher.
Rylee is a dogwalker in Charleston and things are getting kind of scary. Several of her clients have been burglarized and she's pretty much the only link between them. And she keeps feeling like someone's watching her. The police obviously think she's involved and she doesn't know how to prove her innocence. Fortunately, there's a really cute newspaper reporter.
I really wasn't a fan of this. It's not that it wasn't entertaining (it kept me reading) but it was sort of lightweight. It should have been a lot creepier than it was, and I thought that the romance between Rylee and Logan (reporter) happened way too fast and wasn't that credible.
It definitely could be that I was just not in the right frame of mind for this book; it says on the back that the authors have both crafted bestseller novels.
On the plus side, I did like Rylee--any fan of dogs is a good person. :)
Rylee is a dogwalker in Charleston and things are getting kind of scary. Several of her clients have been burglarized and she's pretty much the only link between them. And she keeps feeling like someone's watching her. The police obviously think she's involved and she doesn't know how to prove her innocence. Fortunately, there's a really cute newspaper reporter.
I really wasn't a fan of this. It's not that it wasn't entertaining (it kept me reading) but it was sort of lightweight. It should have been a lot creepier than it was, and I thought that the romance between Rylee and Logan (reporter) happened way too fast and wasn't that credible.
It definitely could be that I was just not in the right frame of mind for this book; it says on the back that the authors have both crafted bestseller novels.
On the plus side, I did like Rylee--any fan of dogs is a good person. :)
45 - The Creation of Eve
Finished The Creation of Eve by Lynn Cullen. This was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for a review.
This reminded me a lot of The Other Boleyn Girl, except I actually ended up liking this better. (High praise indeed, because I LOVED TOBG.)
Sofi is sent to the Spanish King's court to be a lady-in-waiting for his new wife after a little indiscretion. Sofi (actually a real person) was a painter of some renown; she trained under Michelangelo (which ended up being maybe not so great, since this was the time he was considered a heretic and also discovered to be gay).
There's a love story and a lot of palace intrigue--it's just an incredibly fun story. And Sofi is fantastic. She's a woman in the 1500s who paints as well as a man and who's been educated well beyond what women were allowed. She's a kickass heroine.
You can tell that Lynn Cullen did a lot of research into Sofi and into the time period, but at the same time, it doesn't bog down the narrative. That's an incredibly fine line to walk.
Lynn Cullen's compared to Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir and Sarah Dunant. If that's not enough to get you to want this book, seriously I don't know what will.
This reminded me a lot of The Other Boleyn Girl, except I actually ended up liking this better. (High praise indeed, because I LOVED TOBG.)
Sofi is sent to the Spanish King's court to be a lady-in-waiting for his new wife after a little indiscretion. Sofi (actually a real person) was a painter of some renown; she trained under Michelangelo (which ended up being maybe not so great, since this was the time he was considered a heretic and also discovered to be gay).
There's a love story and a lot of palace intrigue--it's just an incredibly fun story. And Sofi is fantastic. She's a woman in the 1500s who paints as well as a man and who's been educated well beyond what women were allowed. She's a kickass heroine.
You can tell that Lynn Cullen did a lot of research into Sofi and into the time period, but at the same time, it doesn't bog down the narrative. That's an incredibly fine line to walk.
Lynn Cullen's compared to Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir and Sarah Dunant. If that's not enough to get you to want this book, seriously I don't know what will.
56 - Hunter's Moon
Finished Hunter's Moon by Don Hoesel. This was a review book, sent to me by the publisher.
Synopsis from back of book:
"Bestselling novelist CJ Baxter has made a career out of writing hard-hitting stories ripped from his own life. Still there's one story from his past he's never told. One secret that's remained buried for decades.
Now, seventeen years after swearing he'd never return, CJ is headed back to Adelia, NY. His life in Tennessee has fallen to pieces, his grandfather is dying, and CJ can no longer run from the past.
With Graham Baxter, CJ's brother, running for Senate, a black sheep digging up old family secrets is the last thing the family and campaign can afford. CJ soon discovers that blood may be thicker than water, but it's no match for power and money."
I have minor issues with the cover of the book, because it makes it seem like a thriller, and this really isn't. It's a novel about family and about integrity. Most of the book is literary fiction at its best (and while I say that term with a mighty eyeroll, it's true). The writing is crisp and evocative and the whole book is wonderfully paced and plotted.
(This is not to say that the last 50 pages or so aren't action-packed. They are--I think I read them in about 20 minutes and I was unable to read fast enough.)
CJ is a very likeable character; I hope there's a sequel. (Sam would especially like to hear more about CJ's dog, Thor.)
Synopsis from back of book:
"Bestselling novelist CJ Baxter has made a career out of writing hard-hitting stories ripped from his own life. Still there's one story from his past he's never told. One secret that's remained buried for decades.
Now, seventeen years after swearing he'd never return, CJ is headed back to Adelia, NY. His life in Tennessee has fallen to pieces, his grandfather is dying, and CJ can no longer run from the past.
With Graham Baxter, CJ's brother, running for Senate, a black sheep digging up old family secrets is the last thing the family and campaign can afford. CJ soon discovers that blood may be thicker than water, but it's no match for power and money."
I have minor issues with the cover of the book, because it makes it seem like a thriller, and this really isn't. It's a novel about family and about integrity. Most of the book is literary fiction at its best (and while I say that term with a mighty eyeroll, it's true). The writing is crisp and evocative and the whole book is wonderfully paced and plotted.
(This is not to say that the last 50 pages or so aren't action-packed. They are--I think I read them in about 20 minutes and I was unable to read fast enough.)
CJ is a very likeable character; I hope there's a sequel. (Sam would especially like to hear more about CJ's dog, Thor.)
54 - Never Say Never
Finished Never Say Never by Lisa Wingate. I received this from Bethany House in exchange for a review.
According to the back of the book: "Kai Miller floats through life like driftwood tossed by waves. She's never put down roots in any one place--and she doesn't plan to. But when a chaotic hurricane evacuation lands her in Daily, Texas, she begins to think twice about her wayfaring existence. And when she meets hometown-boy Kemp Eldridge, she can almost picture settling down in Daily--until she discovers he may be promised to someone else. Daily has always been a place of refuge for those the wind blows in, but for Kai, it looks like it will be just another place to leave behind. Then again, Daily always has a few surprises in store--especially when Aunt Donetta has cooked up a scheme."
(Quoted so as not to spoil anything.)
Donetta and Kai narrate alternating chapters and Donetta talks in dialect which was a little annoying, especially at first. But they're both incredibly likable characters (and I'm guessing Donetta appears in the other Daily, Texas books so that's good).
Recommended for people who like fluffy love stories (not a slam; this book was incredibly fun to read) and/or Christian fiction.
According to the back of the book: "Kai Miller floats through life like driftwood tossed by waves. She's never put down roots in any one place--and she doesn't plan to. But when a chaotic hurricane evacuation lands her in Daily, Texas, she begins to think twice about her wayfaring existence. And when she meets hometown-boy Kemp Eldridge, she can almost picture settling down in Daily--until she discovers he may be promised to someone else. Daily has always been a place of refuge for those the wind blows in, but for Kai, it looks like it will be just another place to leave behind. Then again, Daily always has a few surprises in store--especially when Aunt Donetta has cooked up a scheme."
(Quoted so as not to spoil anything.)
Donetta and Kai narrate alternating chapters and Donetta talks in dialect which was a little annoying, especially at first. But they're both incredibly likable characters (and I'm guessing Donetta appears in the other Daily, Texas books so that's good).
Recommended for people who like fluffy love stories (not a slam; this book was incredibly fun to read) and/or Christian fiction.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)