Weekly Reading Round-Up
After that last minute excursion to the bookstore last week, here’s what wound up in the book pile:
— All I Ever Wanted, Kristan Higgins
As always, fabulous first person prose, a spunky heroine, and a wacky cast of supporting characters.
— The Big House, George Howe Colt
Non-fiction about the author’s family summer house in Maine, tracing a century and several generations in a Boston-based family.
— The Night of the Living Deed, E.J. Copperman
I’m a sucker for books that involve the restoration of old Victorian mansions with resident spooks.
Now that I’ve read those, though, I could use something new. Any suggestions? What have you been reading?
I just started college and for a freshman seminar course, I read On the Road by Jack Kerouac and Gonzalez and Daughter Trucking Co. by Maria Escandon. Both are pretty good – I think I may have liked On the Road more, but the other was a faster read.
By the way, Lauren, you are coming to my hometown of Houston a week before I come home for break. I’m a little sad I won’t be there 🙁
I’m reading _Writing Jane Austen_, by Elizabeth Aston.
On the docket: more Bill Bryson, the new Philippa Gregory (_The Red Queen_), and some books my aunt loaned me whose titles I can’t remember.
And of course the silly work reading…
I finished The Swan Thieves and liked it a lot more than most of you guys (though I agree with whoever it was who said that Kostova has some strange obsession with soup). I study art history so I loved that it was about painting.
I didn’t love it as much as The Historian…the end was kind of anticlimactic and there were some plot lines that just didn’t need to happen. I think what it comes down to is that this story is, by its nature, character driven (unlike The Historian, which was atmosphere driven), and while atmosphere is Kostova’s forte, character development is a bit of a weak area.
I thought the story (most of it) was really great, however, and the writing was absolutely gorgeous. So thumbs up.
I started Oscar and Lucinda (Peter Carey) today, so far so good.
I’m still reading through “A History of the English Speaking Peoples: Birth of Britain” (Churchill). I just finished “The Borgia Bride” by Jeanne Kalogridis. I find her writing style and the time period of her books very interesting. In fact I just bought her “The Devil’s Queen” as well. I have just started my first book by Jean Plaidy, “To Hold the Crown.” I like her story and information about Henry VII’s time period but the writing style is extremely repetitive.
I read the Hathaway series of books from Lisa Kleypas this week. What a fun family! I could so hang out with them. Leo reminded me a bit of Miles with his sarcastic attitude.
I also finally read Lady Chatterly’s Lover. I was really interested in the political aspect of the book. And, of course, I couldn’t believe the book ended as it did. That drives me crazy. I kept hoping my free copy was just missing pages. Ugh. 🙂
Forgot one…Also read Higgins ‘Fools Rush In’. It was okay. I really thought the main character was a bit pyscho for such an educated woman.
I just finished reading “All I Ever Wanted” last week and really enjoyed it! I loved the first-person narrative a lot.
Currently I’m reading “The Queen’s Mistake” by Diane Haeger, about Catherine Howard. Not sure what I think about it yet — that remains to be seen.
I am read All I Ever Wanted too! I decided to give Higgans a chance since everyone else liked her. I thought it was really funny, but most of the side characters were one-dimensional and sometimes it was a bit gross. I didn’t remember what I thought of the first person narration. It was fun, but not my fsvorite. To Higgans fans what is your favorite, and what do you most reccommend?
* I read, not I am read. I do have a college degree. Yikes. Oh I know we are a bit past Heyer but I also Beauvallet and They Found Him Dead. Both lovely, although not as funny. I am now reading Duplicate Death, which features the same characters as They Found Him Dead. Would recommend both and in that order.
I have recently been taken with Daphne du Maurier and have been reading several of her books including Rebecca, My Cousin Rachel and Mary Anne. She has a wonderful way of writing and introducing suspense and carrying it through her novels. I was drawn in as soon as I read the first sentence…”I dreamed of Manderely last night”
I ADORE Daphne du Maurier. Rebecca is probably in my all time top 10 list…I agree, that opening “last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again” just grabs you and pulls you right in. I made my book group read My Cousin Rachel (loved it…) and Frenchman’s Creek is on my TBR list. I bought Mrs. de Winter, the sequel to Rebecca written by Susan Hill (The Woman in Black) back in February and I’m looking forward to her interpretation.
If you like Daphne you might want to check out Kate Morton (The House at Riverton, The Forgotten Garden) and Sarah Waters (The Little Stranger, Fingersmith). Also Diane Setterfield (The Thirteenth Tale).
I’m still on my Loretta Chase kick. Since the time I have for actual reading-reading (paper … text …) is very limited, it is going slowly, but she is such huge fun! This week I finished “Lord Perfect”, and started “Miss Wonderful”. There are a few that I have not been able to find yet. Her books don’t seem to stay in print very long – unfortunate, since they’re great.
And I agree with Pam, “The Thirteenth Tale” is well worth reading. I listened to it when it first came out, and I was entralled.
I have also, while doing chores & driving, been re-visiting some old friends. (Listening to books while doing other stuff is the BEST kind of multi-tasking.) I listened to Ellis Peters’ “The Leper of St. Giles” and “Fallen Into the Pit” (from 1951), and GH’s “The Talisman Ring”. If you’re into audiobooks, you might agree with me that who does the actual reading can make a huge difference in the quality of the experience. If you have a chance to listen to Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael books as read by Patrick Tull, do it! Other people may read the author’s words, but Patrick Tull lives and breathes them.
Deep Dish, by Mary Kay Andrews. I love her books, no matter what she is calling herself. Very Southern, Atlanta based, so it’s great fun to pick out the real from the unreal. Her characters are dead on, I feel like I run into them everytime I leave the house. VERY funny….
It was me! I mentioned the Kostova soup obsession, so random! I just read the 3rd book in Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate. Totally wonderful, though I still think Changeless is my favorite, but I did love Blameless, now I have to wait for next July for Heartles… I don’t know how I will be able to do it!
I just read Bed of Roses (2 of 4 in the Brides Quartet) by Nora Roberts. It was fun but I’m really looking forward to the 4th couple. The set up for the pair was in this book and it looks like they’ll be a great match!! I found theirs few scenes the most exciting part..
Right now I’m reading the Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. It’s jumping off the page and has a really cool (and not annoying or boring) use of footnotes!
I’m still reading Wind-up Bird Chronicles by Haruki Murakami. It’s really really good. It’s just long.
Also I’m reading a huge book of native american myths and folklore. It’s good. I like it and recommend it. Well I recommend both.
I read a few ARCs that weren’t particularly interesting while I was on vacation. Now I’ve gone back to Orczy rereads with The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel.
I am taking a break from the weightier Welsh trilogy (Here Be Dragons) by Sharon Kay Penman, and have gone a wee bit downmarket (in terms of book covers and mass market paperbacks) and have been reading stories that are all about Highlanders, time travel and need I say, some pretty sexy scenes? Fun summer reads by Karen Marie Moning and Teresa Medeiros. And yes, I carry the books around well-hidden, because I don’t want anyone to know I’ve been reading books whose covers feature male torsos. Hee hee.
I read the first three of Nora Roberts Bride quartet this past week and started her new one “The Search” which I am very into. Had a hard time putting it down to do the laundry and dishes!! Can’t wait to get an hour in at lunch today!! Next on the list is “Mennonite in a Little Black Dress”. I have Mennonite relatives and am very intriqued about this book.
I read the first three of Nora Roberts Bride quartet this past week and started her new one “The Search” which I am very into. Had a hard time putting it down to do the laundry and dishes!! Can’t wait to get an hour in at lunch today!! Next on the list is “Mennonite in a Little Black Dress”. I have Mennonite relatives and am very intriqued about this book.
To Jane F – I also can’t wait for the 4th Bride book. I think I’m going to like it best of all.
I just discovered Tessa Dare and am really enjoying reading the Stud Club Trilogy. She reminds me a lot of Julia Quinn, funny, witty and touching all at once. I love the video she made for the Trilogy using her kids toys.
Just finished three good reads, Mockingjay, Juliet, and One Day. All well worth the time!