Books Read Recently

I've been a bit...absent from the blog these past months but I'm hoping I can start it up again and keep it going.

Let's get reacquainted by starting with one of my favourite things - books.

My library card expired in January and I haven't yet had it renewed. 

I was reading everything on my e-reader and I found myself missing paper. 

I wanted to hold the concrete, solid form in my hands to feel as though I was getting through it. Actually accomplishing something. 

(It's nonsense, really. Kind of like how I set a reading challenge for myself every year through Goodreads. 

Why do I bother? 

It's not like I need to "get back into reading" since I haven't had a reading lapse, oh, ever. 

And yet - 50 book goal in 2016! (sigh.)

Regardless, I was enjoying reading printed books again, but for at least one I had to start a second book because the one I was reading was too big to carry on my commute to work (I'm looking at you Goldfinch!) 

I don't usually read more than one book at a time as I find it hard to keep the stories straight but this time I really had no choice so I was able to do it.

I've enjoyed them all for the most part with a hiccup here and there.

1. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

It took me a long time to get through this one because, well, it's huge. But I thought it was great. As mentioned above, I couldn't carry it to/fro work so it did take longer than usual but it's such a good story. I was invested in the characters and I didn't know what was going to happen. I bought this book back in December thinking I'd read it over the holidays but the sheer size of it made starting daunting. I'm glad I finally did. Did it deserve the Pulitzer? I can't say. But it was one of the best books I've read this year.

My rating:

★★★★

2. I'm Thinking of Ending Things - Iain Reid

There has been a lot of hype about this one. My fella picked it up second hand since we'd heard about it on the radio and our interest was piqued. I'd just finished reading The Goldfinch and I needed a break from "epic" stories.  I read this entire book in one day and found it to be a tense, what's-going-to-happen, nail-biter but when I got to the end my first thought was huh? Did I miss something? I went back and read a few pages again but it didn't help. I looked at some of the reviews on Goodreads and some of those readers said the same thing. I don't want to say it wasn't good, I think I just maybe didn't get it? I almost wanted to go back and start over to see what I missed in my race to the finish, but then I realized I didn't care that much. I'd give it a solid meh.

My rating:

★★★

(I'm giving it three stars because it was good enough to keep me reading for an entire Sunday. That's got to get some credit.)

3. Girl Through Glass - Sari Wilson

I was in the bookstore buying a gift and they had a deal on that if you bought 3 books you got one free so I knew I couldn't leave without taking advantage of that. I don't know about you, but my mind often goes blank in the bookstore - I have 150 "to-reads" listed on Goodreads but in a pinch I can't remember a single one. 

I had pinned an article of "must reads" for 2016 and this one was in the list.  It stood out because it's a book about ballet. I love books about ballet. When I was little I wanted to be a ballerina when I grew up (excessive height and flat feet notwithstanding) so I was interested. But really, I'm not sure that it was "about ballet." 

The main character was a ballet dancer and she teaches the history of dance at a college somewhere as an adult. I waited for it to get better but I started thinking that maybe the person who wrote the "must reads" list was getting some kind of kickback to include it because really - it just wasn't very good. The main character is kind of loathsome and unlikable and I didn't find myself rooting for anything for her but therapy. Not even the ballet parts were very good. Harumph.

My rating:

★

(harsh, I know. I felt cheated.)

4. A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara

This was the 4th book I bought at the aforementioned sale. When I read reviews of the Iain Reid book, one reviewer said that it was totally overrated and if you wanted to read the other most overrated book of the year, pick up "A Little Life."

And so that brings us here. Another long one that took ages to get through. But as with "The Goldfinch", I loved the story. The character of Jude is heartbreaking and the dedication of his friends and loved ones, is, well, bottomless. This book wasn't what I think of as a "hard read" or overly complicated but I did find it slow at times. (Except for that one section where I started reading in bed around 11 and just couldn't put it down until I'd finished that section and when I finally shut the light it was 12:30. Ugh!)

My one criticism of it was the over-usage of names.

Example: "Jude - what did you think you were doing Jude? Why, Jude, did you think that was necessary? I don't understand you, Jude." (I totally made up those sentences. None of them were in the book.) Did the author love the name Jude? It suits the character really well but the main theme of the story is the depth of the relationships that these people have with each other and, specifically, with Jude. It was just too much and got on my nerves. Other than that - loved it.

My rating: 

★ ★ ★ ★

5. Espedair Street - Iain Banks

Fella fell in love with Iain Banks within the past couple of years. This was one of the ones he kept encouraging me to read and I'm glad he did. I don't think I loved it as much as he did, but I did enjoy the story and thought the quality of his writing was excellent. This one is the story of a successful rock star who has lost his way and is thinking of ending his life. It goes back and forth between how he got started and where he is in his current life and how he's become what he now is. 

Enjoyed it. Wouldn't rush to read other Banks books, but there are a couple that Fella endorses so I might give them a spin.

My rating:

★ ★ ★

Those are the books that bedazzled (or not) in recent weeks. I'll be back soon with the next round!

What I've been reading

Something has been missing as of late.
A voice that I hear in my head.
Thoughts that spin about - nothing of any great consequence
but with nowhere to go - they just
spin.

It's this ol' blog.
I believe I am coming up on year 5 of the blogiversary
but this past year hasn't been much of a year.

But I miss it.
So I'm going to try to get back on the horse and get things out.

So up first?
Reading, of course.
Every year Goodreads has a reading challenge.
You set your goal number of books and keep track on their site of your progress.
Last year I set my goal at 50 and blew it out of the water.
So I thought this I would double it and go for 100.

I'm a few books behind.

But that's ok.

Sometimes I find that challenges and competitions can make me race through something and not savour what I'm taking in. I'm totally guilty of reading too fast and then hardly remembering what I've read so to amp it up with a challenge - well sometimes I wonder what I'm doing at all.
I love to read.
I have to remember that.

So here's what has been on my Kobo lately (there have been a few stinkers so I'll probably leave those out.) Maybe I'll rephrase that by saying - here's what I'd recommend:

The Circle by Dave Eggers
A few years back, I started to read "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" and I hated it. It's Dave's memoir and I thought he was an arrogant, pompous ass. I vowed to never read anything by him again. Recently I read that "The Circle"was similar to another book that I'd liked (you know how you get those - If you liked this, then you'll love this! links from Chapters (Goodreads does it too.)
So I requested it from the library.
And I loved it.
It's a little bit Big Brother. And a little bit Ready Player One. Right off the bat you know that it's not possible for everything to be as perfect as it seems. This book got some not-so-great reviews - some people didn't think the characters were well developed and that the writing was ordinary at best. Maybe those things are true and maybe that's what made it easy to read. Sometimes I find that authors try to show how smart they are by using a lot of big words to say simple things. Maybe I'm just not as smart as they are (but it does make me appreciate the dictionary on my Kobo) but often I find it's just unnecessary. I expected that of Dave Eggers (since I had a pre-conceived idea of who he is) but it wasn't what I found. It was a page turner for me and I couldn't put it down.
Let me put it this way - for the past 6 months or so I have started getting off the subway a a stop further away from my workplace then I have to - it adds an additional 10 minute walk to my commute but also saves me from the crowded train (which I find hard to handle lately). When I was nearing the end of this book - I rode the extra distance so I could keep reading.
That tells you something, I think.

Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch
Oh Herman, you are a dark, dark soul. I read "The Dinner" by Herman Koch last year and had no idea what I was in for before starting it. It was incredible. A brutal book, but brilliant. Creeps up on you and takes a big bite.
So I guess you could say I was prepared for his newest release. And it didn't disappoint. I don't want to tell you too much and I suggest you don't find out what it's about before you read it. If you liked "The Dinner" I'm pretty sure you'll like this one. It's another one that's hard to put down but good to the finish. Apparently he has written other novels but I can't find them in english. Our loss.

Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey
Another one that I didn't know the premise of before I started reading it and I would recommend that you do the same. Really well written - you feel the confusion and anxiety of the main character from a perspective you don't normally get to see.
I was in the bookstore last week and saw a woman looking at this book and I told her she should buy it.
Books that make you talk to strangers are a good bet.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
This is the first David Sedaris book I've read. I'd read about how hilarious he is but something had kept me from reading his books all these years (I often resist hyped things just to be stubborn. I can't help myself).
Finally - I resisted no longer.
I was disappointed. I didn't really enjoy it and I found I was just trying to get through it.
But here's the interesting part. I found his stories unoriginal.
They were ideas I'd heard before and I thought - who cares?

But then I looked at the publication date. He wrote this one in 2001 and then I realized - he was the original. Others have copied his ideas and modeled their stories after his. Huh.
It didn't make me enjoy it any greater but I respected him more once I figured this out.
I guess his stories are timeless, in a way, or at least they've made a mark.
Maybe next I'll read his most recent volume - to see what he has to say these days.

The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
This is a sweet little book. I love post-apocalypse stories about survival and "what went down" and this one didn't disappoint. It's a great story - good pacing. I loved it - plain and simple. Highly recommend.

So there are 5 - all ones I'd recommend (except the Sedaris).

Happy reading!


P.S. People often ask me how I find or choose books. There are a few sources - sometimes it's a simple stroll through Chapters but I also find a lot on Goodreads (linked above) and from this lovely blog - Heart of Light. She has similar tastes in reading to mine and does lists just like this one (I didn't mean to copy her - I'm really just trying to re-boot the old blog and reading is a good kickstart for me). I've gotten a lot of recommendations from her - The Dog Stars, The Jack Reacher books (which I didn't talk about here) and many others. I love the library - I download most of what I read. It's free!

is anyone else as disappointed by this book as I was? (and other concerns) a.k.a. Is Everyone Hanging Out WIthout Me? (and other concerns) by Mindy Kaling

Sometimes not having cable means that I don't get pop culture references.

Yes I know that most people don't even watch tv anymore. 

They just look up everything online.

I'm on the computer all day at work so I don't spend a lot of time online at home.

Everyone has their limit.

So I'm thinking that maybe part of the reason I didn't find this book that great is because I didn't get all of her references.

But at the same time, I don't think that's entirely it.

I think that she's funny.

And that she's smart

but at times, I found that her humour went for the easy mark

and that made it less clever than I like.

I was disappointed

but if you love Mindy Kaling, you might get more out of it than I did.

I have never watched the American version of The Office because I don't think you can top the British version. 

Why would I bother? 

There is no one who can succeed at awkward and uncomfortable the way Ricky Gervais does.

I like Steve Carell

but he's no Ricky Gervais.

America needs to stop with the remakes and come up with some ideas.

Surely they haven't entirely run out of originality.

But that's a story for another day.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Ah high school.

Loved and Disdained by all

sometimes simultaneously.

I don't know a lot of people who loved high school

I think it's s struggle for most

in one way or the other.

There are times that everyone feels left out

that age can be cruel 

and the transition from childhood to adulthood 

can be painful and confusing.

For those of us who weren't what everyone wanted to be in high school,

we remember things differently.

We watched

and tried to understand 

why people did what they did.

As adults, you still see the same kinds of behaviours

founded in insecurity and a need to belong

or be on top.

But for those of us who never expected to be on top,

we saw things differently than most.

Charlie is kind of naive but he is smart and honest.
And once the light of two lovely people shine upon him
he is recognized for how wonderful he is.

But of course, this is teenagedom
and even Charlie makes some mistakes in finding his way.

This is a sweet, heartbreaker of a story
and I don't think I could have fully appreciated it when I was in high school
(if it had been written yet. but you know what I mean - yes?)
but I can now.
I am sentimental for some of my teenage years -
 for the wonder I felt
and the possibility of it all.
And the feeling of
"In that moment
we were infinite."

Yes.

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Reading Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

made everything seem, well, dark.

It's a brutal story - 

Libby Day witnessed her brother murder her mother and two sisters.

She is an introvert (well who can blame her)

and she's running out of money (well, yes, of course!)

and she starts to delve into what happened that January night in 1985

so she can pay her rent.

It's a great mystery

lots of twists and turns and ah- ha!s

but it was still kind of dark.

I enjoyed Gone Girl and I enjoyed this one too

but I think I need something a little light and fluffy

to give the dark a rest.

Seduction by Catherine Gildiner

I loved Catherine Gildiner's memoirs.

They were funny

and sad

and kind of unbelievable.

Very entertaining.

So when I saw this at the second hand bookstore
I thought it was worth a go.

This is a novel.

It's about Freud

and murder

and criminals

and world travel.

It's interesting, complicated and very smart

but I don't know if I would give it a resounding whoop!

I feel like I got through this book.

I enjoyed it

but once I was finished,

there was no looking back

(and I was kind of glad to see the end of it.)

So take this as you will.

If you'd like to learn more about Freud, then jump in.

If you find it tiresome that all of the characters in the book are unbelievably brilliant (and attractive)

then it's not the one for you.

Over to you.

Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon

Jennifer McMahon likes to put pictures of somewhat creepy looking little girls on the covers of her books.

This one isn't so bad

but her others?

Creepy.

This book was disappointing.

I really enjoyed Don't Breathe a Word.

It was a page turner.

A little scary with some good twists and turns.

This one wasn't like that.

It was kind of predictable

and I didn't really like the characters all that much.

I might give one of her others a go

(if I find it in a remaindered bin somewhere)

but if it disappoints,

I'm drawing the line.

Promise.

gone girl by gillian flynn

This book is a cracker.

I tell no lie.

It twists

and turns

and you think you've got it all figured out.

but you aren't even close.

It's worth buying in hard cover.

get it before someone leaks the ending, or the middle,

or the anything.

I couldn't put it down.

the future of us by jay asher and carolyn mackler

Teen fiction can be confusing at times.

The stories can be serious and dark

but then there is an obvious lack of well, adult stuff.
So sometimes I forget that I'm reading a "young adult" novel
and when I find myself saying, wha?
then I usually remember.
Oh yes.
I am not the age of the majority of the readers of this book.
But that doesn't mean they aren't worth reading.
I loved the Hunger Games and yes, I'll admit it, the Twilight books (not the movies).

 This is a story of life before Facebook.

Before the internet, really.

I remember those days.

But what I kept forgetting was that the target audience for this book

would not.

They don't know what it was like when you could only look up information in books.

Or if you heard a song on the radio that you loved

it was really hard to find out what it was unless they played it on the radio

(which they never did.)

There was a lot that was good about the world before texting.

Facetime,

not facebook.

Getting asked out on a date, in person,sweaty palms and all.

Not online

or over Skype.

Face to face.

I'm glad that was my teenage generation.

I'm glad it wasn't so

impersonal.

And maybe it really isn't now.

Maybe I'm completely out of touch.

But there was something about then that was perhaps more honest.

There was less to hide behind.

But this is about the book, not my nostalgia.

I liked this book.

I read it because I read Jay Asher's first book, 13 Reasons Why, which I loved.

This book is a lighter topic -

a  girl gets a computer and her friend gives her a CD for AOL (remember those?)

When she loads it onto her computer, Facebook is saved as a favorite place.

But Facebook doesn't exist yet

and what she sees is the future.

Her future.

And the future is scary.

Not in an apocolyptic kind of way.

but in a very real way -

She's unhappy.

And maybe that's the biggest nightmare
and not what anyone bargains for.
So she sets about to change her future
but everything she does
affects, well, everything.
It's an interesting story.
And I found it sweet that this teenager would have the maturity to realize that her happiness is not inherent but rather something that we have to create for ourselves.
But then, this book was written by a full grown adult - not a teenager - and there were a few times that I could see that through the lines.
That hindsight is often 20/20.
But still -
worth the cover price and overall, it was time well spent.



by nightfall by michael cunningham

Do you remember "The Hours"?

It was that really good movie about Virginia Woolf

and Meryl Streep was in it.

It was also based on a book of the same name

by Michael Cunningham.

I bought that book

I think at a yard sale

but I never read it.
I can't explain why
I just didn't.

And so -

I picked up By Nightfall one day at the bookstore.

Read the dust jacket

read the first few pages

though - I must have it.

But I put it down, having decided that I could wait till it was cheaper.

Then I forgot all about it.

I was at one of my favorite discount bookstores and saw a copy

and did the exact same thing I did the first time

but this time - I made it mine.

That was about 4 months ago.

I've read some great books this summer

and the time was right to crack this one.

It's about a couple - Peter and Rebecca Harris, who live in New York.

They are successful and have a comfortable life

They are in their 40's and are mostly content

but not entirely.

Rebecca's brother shows up

and wreaks havoc

in strange, strange ways.

He shakes them up

and changes everything.

Sometimes I get tired of hearing about New York.
How great it is
how special it is
how special and great everyone is who lives there.

But this New York book
was different.

It's a really interesting story.

Not a lot happens, really

but reading how Peter (it's mostly about Peter) sees things

and how he interracts and feels -

it's so....human and flawed

and well, understandable.

It's a sweet little book

and he is such a good writer - intelligent and quiet
and cutting.
He kind of reminds me of Richard Yates.
And now I want to read more.
It's always a great discovery
to discover something new and wondrous.

Memoirs of A Beatnik by Diane Di Prima

And now for something completely different.

I picked this up at a secondhand bookshop

and thought it looked interesting.

I used to read Jack Kerouac

actually saw Allen Ginsberg read once

and even still didn't think I understood a lot about being

a beatnik.

I guess I do now.

At least,  I know what Diane Di Prima's sex life was like.

The back cover of this book said it was 

:A witty, sexy beat novel from one of the movement's most accomplished writers." 

Sounds good, yes?

Well - 

it's kind of a sex book.

There's a lot

(and I mean, a lot)

of very graphic sex in this book.

It's the kind of book 

where you start to read it on your way home on the subway

and you kind of hope no one reads over your shoulder because you're on page two

and it's already gotten into it.

So now that I've gotten that out of the way

is it any good?

It's kind of interesting.

You have to remember what era it is

and how different a lot of things were back them

(and a lot of things that weren't)

so it's a good snapshot of a time that I have scarce understanding about.

It's short and a quick read.

But overall, kind of forgettable.

I'd say it's probably better written than those Shades of Gray books

so if that's the kind of thing you're looking for

then this might be just the ticket.

(I don't think I'll be reading those, by the way.

I think they make The Da Vinci code look like fine literature.

And that just isn't the way I want to spend my reading hours.)

I'll leave this one to you to decide.

(just don't leave it out for the kiddies to peruse!)

books, lately

Oh hello.

Did you think I'd given up on the blogosphere?

Well, I did for a little while.

My brain was full and I was unable to make space for anything else

so I opted out for a little while.

BUT!

I am currently on vacation and while I'm moving at a slower pace

it's also been an opportunity to catch up a little and well, breathe.

I've been reading a ton lately.

Nothing overly difficult 

(because it is summer and really, who needs anything to be difficult when they are on vacation? 

No one, that's who).

So here's a wrap up of what's been in front of my eyes for the past month or so.

The last one I mentioned was Valley of the Dolls.

It was great. 

Terrible and offensive at times, but mostly great.

Bad in a good way.

The movie? 

Terrible.  

I cannot stress how terrible it was. 

All of the character development was completely axed so you didn't really feel anything for any of them or even understand why they were friends. 

Not worth the effort. 

Fella gave up partway through and went to bed. I stuck it out. 

Those are minutes I will never get back....

Moving on...

Up next - 

Maine

by

J. Courtney Sullivan

I like J. Courtney Sullivan. 

I don't know why she uses the J in her name when I suspect that people call her Courtney

but that's kind of irrelevant isn't it?

I read her last book "Commencement" and quite enjoyed it as well. 

I believe I compared it to full fat yogurt.

It was satisfying.

Well, I didn't have the same reaction to Maine

but I very much enjoyed it. 

Loved the characters and the dynamics between them.

Loved how the chapters were written from their perspective

there wasn't just one narrator.

Don't let the cover fool you, it would be a great beach read

but there's more to it than the sand between your toes.

Made me miss our family cottage in Nova Scotia. Big time.

Sigh.

Then we had

Catching Fire

by

Suzanne Collins

You can't go wrong with these books.

It's a great story and you can't put them down.

I loved it so much I bought the third and final, Mockingjay for my vacation.

I'm working on it now.

And for a little heartbreak:

Thirteen Reasons Why

by Jay Asher

Oh Jay Asher. 

you got it so right.

Kids are cruel.

But so are adults.

And that's why I think adults should read this book,

even though it's written for young adults.

Because we should all be reminded that our actions affect others

and that our intentions may not always be true.

This book is about Hannah Baker. 

A teenage girl who committed suicide

and left behind audio tapes

for specific people to listen to

thus learning how they all played a part in her death.

Brutal. But very, very good.

And yes, another one:

Ready Player One

by

Ernest Cline

If you like adventure

If you like video games

If you like obscure references to the 80's

then this is the book for you.

Even if you don't like any of those things

you may not "get" the book as much as a computer geek

but it is a wild ride.

The world is in the dumpster.

Economic, ecologic, you name it - the world is in crisis.

Poverty reigns

and people not only escape, but essentially live in virtual reality.

A Steve Jobs-like computer mastermind dies and leave behind an "easter egg" hidden in the virtual universe he and his company created.

Whoever finds this egg will be rewarded by inheriting a vast fortune.

So a teenage boy sets out to win the game

and his adventures catch you up and take you along.

And not to spoil anything but

it has a great ending.

So that's the reading list for June!

I'm now working on "Mockingjay" the last Hunger Games book

and then who knows what else.

Happy reading!

(it's good to be back.)

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

I was killing time in Indigo last night which is always a dangerous venture for me.

 I always want to buy at least three or four books -

I graze the new release tables and think

I can't wait for it to come out in soft cover!

I must have it now!

I have to know what happens!

I have to say - I sometimes get buyer's remorse from these purchases because they are total impulse buys and they often don't live up to my excitement and expectations.

I can usually force myself to resist and stick to my budget, put the books back, and write the titles down in my planner to remember for later.

I did however, give in to one temptation.

This bit of weirdness that I couldn't resist.

Have you seen this?

Spooky cover, right?

Well spooky inside too!

It's a novel with all these crazy photographs inside of circus - like children.

Totally eerie.

When I googled it this morning to find a picture to post,

I found a trailer for the book on YouTube and I just had to include it.

Just what a horror-movie-loving girl like me needs in January!

I started it this morning on the subway and I'm hooked.

I also saw in my brief googling that there a lots of rumours of a movie being made.

That whole thing can be hit or miss

but so far I'm loving the story.

But it's nice to get chills from something other than sub-zero temperatures.

Happy Friday!

The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides

He didn't disappoint.

It was a great read.

It was a bit weird to read the book whilst all the hype of his book tour and appearances was going on

but it's a good story and I felt like I knew the characters early on.

I went to a reading he did at the Toronto Reference Library last Monday.

I have to say that I don't always want to meet authors I love
because I get a little....

starstruck.

I usually get quite nervous

and try to say something witty and interesting

but end up babbling ridiculously.

A bit like a teenager meeting Corey Hart for the first time.
(or maybe I should use Justin Bieber as a reference?
 I've never heard his music and I don't really get the sideswiped hair thing
but beauty is in the eye of the beholder I suppose.

On the plus side - he read really well

(sometimes they aren't good readers. They don't have the flair for the dramatic, so to speak.

I'm thinking specifically of Mordecai Richler.

I saw him read from Barney's Version when it was first published and he was awful.)

I love it when the voice they use sounds like the one I hear in my head when I'm reading a book.

You may think it's my own voice I hear - but it isn't.

You may also think I'm a little crazy.

That's not untrue but I'm not completely off my nut, I assure you.

The point is, he was a lovely guy.

Well spoken.  Funny.

Very enjoyable.

I would endorse any of his books.

My favorite was Middlesex but Virgin Suicides is also very good.

Marriage Plot is an easy read.

It's not easy subject matter -

depression, religion, college

but it flows.

And besides, he kind of looks like a pirate.
How can you not love him?

Strange but True

Did I write about this book already?

This was a great book.

Make no mistake, it has a terrible title

but it is a great story.

Creepy, unnerving

and it goes to a place you don't expect it to go

but you can't help but ride along with it to the very end.

It's a page turner and it has a great conclusion.

You get lost in it and it's over fast.

I read most of it on the way back from Vancouver.

It's a long flight but it was blissfully shortened by reading this book.

I'm not surprised it didn't win a Pulitzer

but I can tell you it was the best $3 I spent the day I bought it.

Drood

Believe it.

I finally finished this book.

It was great.

I know it took me forever to read it.

It rarely takes me that long to finish a book but I think it's a good thing that I could pick it up and read a couple of pages here and there and still get totally into it.

I just haven't spend a lot of time reading this summer

(which is more honest than saying I haven't had the time.

Because I have - I just spent it watching Dexter, True Blood and Pretty Little Liars....

But I would totally recommend this one.

Especially if you like historical fiction (and are sick of queens) or Dickens

but not so much if you're a fan of Wilkie Collins.

(He doesn't come off so well in this story.)

And now I'm on to this:

It will definitely be a faster read

mostly because it's light enough to travel with me on the subway....

Drood

This book is so good I can hardly put it down!

It's a great one to read while on vacation

I am LOVING it!

Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

I realize that I'm not actually going to increase my brain power by reading this book

but books like these have their place

and when escapism is what you're seeking

you might as well jump in

and let yourself sink.

I just finished this:

(bringing home the birkin by Michael Tonello)

so it's kind of a theme.

Whatever.

This is why I'm in a one woman book club.

No justification needed,

right?

new reads

Ordered some books from Chapters yesterday...

I've wanted to read this for awhile and I found it for less than $6!

brain candy



Smashed by Koren Zailckas

I finished this last week.

It was quite different than I thought it would be.

It wasn't melodramatic

or tragic

or over the top.

It was sad and real

and recognizable.

I enjoyed it and would recommend it

but I'm not sure exactly who I'd recommend it to

which is strange for me.

I gave it to fella to read.

Perhaps he'll be more coherent in his assessment than I am.....

Now I'm starting on this:

I don't read a lot of "classics"

so it will be an interesting departure for me.

I have read some Dickens (namely, Nicholas Nickleby, which I adore)

but not a lot

and not recently

so we'll see how it goes.

I'm reading it in preparation for this:

My friend recommended it and I thought I should read the story it's based on

before reading it.

So here I go.