Numbers 27 and 28!!

I keep ripping through the books on my Kindle - I'd better watch out, since I'm liable to run out of books for the upcoming plane rides I have!!

Harry started this one, but couldn't get into it.  It was a little slow, but once it got "wound up" it became more compelling.

 The reviews are saying that it's not her best work, but since she is such a skillful story-teller, it is still a good read.

And it's a strange story - but then, all her stories are!  There is not as much character development as she usually provides, which is disappointing.  But all in all it's an insightful look into the role of mothers in our lives.

 

I had never read Anna Quindlen, in spite of seeing her name often on best-seller lists.  But you know those parts of Amazon that say, "Those who looked at this book also looked at .....?"  Well, I thought I'd give it a shot.

It was a good story.  And the writing was clear and precise - always a plus.  It's the story of a 60 year old woman who feels like she's on the downhill slide - one reviewer commented that it was nice to see a story told from an "older" woman's point of view.  

And it was nice!

A little bit "tidy" at the end - but sometimes tidiness is welcome!

I may try another of her books.

Busy reading - to Boston and back!

Our recent junket to Boston for the marathon afforded me lots of time to read - what a vacation!!  It's my idea of heaven!!  The Goldfinch was a strange kind of book - a little "rough" for me in the language department and depictions of drug use - but the story was gripping - I had to skim over the "bad" stuff to keep the story line straight.  But it was a compelling mystery - don't want to spoil it for anyone!

This one, My Name is Resolute, is by Nancy Turner, the woman who wrote These is My Words.  She may not be a great writer, but she can tell a good story with all the historical facts straight - and there is something to be said for that!  I personally believe in getting my history from well-researched novels.  This one qualifies. Starts in the West Indies in the late 1600's - ends with the Revolutionary War.

This one may be "chick lit" or not.  It's not especially well-written, but there is a compelling plotline.  It is excellent airplane fare!

 

I have loved the writing of Ivan Doig since I read The Whistling Season - I have read all 16 of his novels - except for the one that is coming out in August.  And when I heard of his death last week, I was truly saddened.  

I knew I had not read his work of non-fiction - not sure why, just didn't think I'd like it as much.  So I promptly put This House of Sky on my Kindle - and now I wonder why I thought it wouldn't be as good as his novels!  It is a beautiful memoir - and actually having read his other books, I can see how his life influenced his writing.

One of the reasons I can tear through so many books so quickly is because I can skim very effectively.  If the descriptions don't advance the plot, I tend to skip them.

When Ivan Doig writes, I don't want to miss one word - I read all the descriptions - it is as if the details in the setting are part of the story - essential to the meaning.  

I will truly miss his work - and look forward to his final novel in August.

30 more and I'm at 52!

I need to quit starting books, or I'm never going to get anything done!!  I had ordered this book on Kindle a few months ago - and it's publication date came - but I had forgotten about it!!

A nice surprise.  One I didn't want to waste - so after taking my daily walk, working out at Curves, and making the beds, I started reading - and stayed up late last night to finish.

I need to stop doing this or my to do list will just grow!

Lisa Genova writes about neurological diseases and their impact on families.  In one sense, they are quite educational - the author is a neuroscientist turned novelist - so the lesson is very palatable.

But the human aspect - and the effect that disease has on families - is the most compelling part of the stories she tells.

This one is about Huntington's Disease - and I confess I didn't know much about it.  But it's been described as the "cruelest disease."  I especially enjoyed the setting - Boston's neighborhood Charlestown - and the marathon references.  The family is Irish, and she draws a very vivid portrait of a modern-day family steeped in tradition but facing many challenges to those beloved traditions.

A friend said, "Sounds depressing to me" when I told her what I was reading.  And that's what I've heard from others about Ms. Genova's other novels - especially Still Alice.  But one of the gifts this writer has is the ability to show families uniting and fighting what life has handed to them.

There is not the usual happy ending, but the ending is positive and uplifting.  I don't think you can ask for more than that.  Otherwise you are reading a fairy tale!

Checkin' 'em off!

I recently finished reading Divergent by Veronica Roth.  Neither Harry nor I can recall being the one who put this on our shared Kindle account!  He thinks he saw the movie - thought I was with him - but I have no memory of it.  We are a bit perplexed by all this - I'm pretty sure we're not that forgetful yet!!  He did acknowledge that he might have seen it with someone else when I was out of town - that has happened before.

At any rate, it's been in our Kindle library for a while - so I finally read it.  It's a nice airplane kind of read - but nothing to write home about. 

However, I can and do see the attraction for a teen readership!

Not sure if I will read the other two.

On to the next addition to our library - the newest Lisa Genova novel - pretty good so far!!

Another great read

I've read The Devil in the White City and In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson, and neither one disappointed - they were both compelling and informative reading.  I heard him years ago on NPR when he was being interviewed, and he was pretty amazing to listen to also.  So knowledgeable and well-spoken.

His latest was a great read too.  I guess I've never thought much about the Lusitania, since Titanic seemed to always be the maritime disaster everyone dissected and discussed.  But the drama here is pretty intense - and the history lessons are invaluable too.

Once again, you know the outcome, but it's still a page-turner.

Doesn't bet much better than that!