Wow, some good books, Byron! I'm afraid I've been reading a lot of fluff in comparison!
Just finished:
Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey by Alison Weir
Historical fiction about the British royalty a la Philippa Gregory (apologies to the author who is probably tired of that comparison). Viewpoint shifts throughout the book. I liked it. 402 pages.
Rumors by Anna Godbersen
The second in the Luxe series. Set largely in Manhattan in 1899. I liked it and the last 100 pages or so were really engrossing -- you are pretty sure one bad thing is going to happen, but you (or at least I) thought the other was going to be okay.... young adult fiction. 423 pages.
What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn
I liked this one. Set in England in the 80's and more or less now. a young girl father dies soon after giving her a book on how to be a detective. She begins to watch/shadow people in her neighborhood and at the new nearby mall. She has a friendship with a young man in her neighborhood and when she disappears, he is suspected. A first novel. 246 pages.
The Sun, July 2008.
Read this while waiting for jury duty. Now I need to get to the August one! 48 pages.
Buffy in Denver
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Another post by Byron
I read the Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
which was great but quite a bit sad (216)
Wobegon Boy by Garrison Keillor
Which was actually much better than I was expecting. I generally get bored
listening to him ramble on the radio. I think it works much better in print (320)
The Trial by Franz Kafka,
This was great, I think it might be famous so I won't go on about what it's about,
but he really nailed that feeling where things seem to happen for no reason (at least that you know about) but profoundly affect your life, that feeling of not being in control at all (292)
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
I've been wanting to read this for awhile. It's wonderful. I didn't really realize this before I read it, but it's autobiographical, which is always neet. (289)
Slaughterhous Five by Kurt Vonnegut
I've read this before, and it was just as good the second time. (215)
The Things they carried - Tim O'Brien
This is a group of stories that the author wrote about his time in Vietnam using both personal experiences and those of his friends. I liked it so much I've started on another book of his.
I hope all are doing well, take care
Byron
which was great but quite a bit sad (216)
Wobegon Boy by Garrison Keillor
Which was actually much better than I was expecting. I generally get bored
listening to him ramble on the radio. I think it works much better in print (320)
The Trial by Franz Kafka,
This was great, I think it might be famous so I won't go on about what it's about,
but he really nailed that feeling where things seem to happen for no reason (at least that you know about) but profoundly affect your life, that feeling of not being in control at all (292)
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
I've been wanting to read this for awhile. It's wonderful. I didn't really realize this before I read it, but it's autobiographical, which is always neet. (289)
Slaughterhous Five by Kurt Vonnegut
I've read this before, and it was just as good the second time. (215)
The Things they carried - Tim O'Brien
This is a group of stories that the author wrote about his time in Vietnam using both personal experiences and those of his friends. I liked it so much I've started on another book of his.
I hope all are doing well, take care
Byron
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Anyone else going to join in this month?
A Colder Kind of Death by Gail Bowen
Another of the mystery series set in Canada/Regina. I like them -- just enough actual substance that I don't feel like I'm reading total fluff, too.
217 pages
Money Changes Everything: 22 Writers Tackle the Last Taboo with Tales of Sudden Windfalls, Staggering Debts, and Other Surprising Turns of Fortune edited by Jenny Offill & Elissa Schappell
Interesting essays. Just a warning. Don't spend 4 days in a row looking on Craigslist for a apartment you can afford while also reading this book and then go to a party in an enormous two story house with a lovely finished basement where the people are talking about their iphones and how their kids have way too much stuff -- it may leave you over analyzing your place in this world.
283 pages
The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King
The first in a mystery series about a young girl who meets and develops a friendship with Sherlock Holmes. I liked it and the next two are waiting for me at the library. 405 pages.
Buffy in Denver
Another of the mystery series set in Canada/Regina. I like them -- just enough actual substance that I don't feel like I'm reading total fluff, too.
217 pages
Money Changes Everything: 22 Writers Tackle the Last Taboo with Tales of Sudden Windfalls, Staggering Debts, and Other Surprising Turns of Fortune edited by Jenny Offill & Elissa Schappell
Interesting essays. Just a warning. Don't spend 4 days in a row looking on Craigslist for a apartment you can afford while also reading this book and then go to a party in an enormous two story house with a lovely finished basement where the people are talking about their iphones and how their kids have way too much stuff -- it may leave you over analyzing your place in this world.
283 pagesThe Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King
The first in a mystery series about a young girl who meets and develops a friendship with Sherlock Holmes. I liked it and the next two are waiting for me at the library. 405 pages.
Buffy in Denver
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
East Coast Novels
Palace Council by Stephen L. Carter
I like his books. This one is set over a 20 year period, give or take a few years, starting in 1952. Lots of politics.
One thing about this book (and I think it's unusual for me to think about a book this critically (in the neutral sense of the word) so it must have been a big deal) is that he kept referencing the fact that it was taken place in the past ("Harlem in those days" kind of things) -- maybe because this is his first place that doesn't take place "today"?
I'm writing this quickly as Jeremy needs the computer, so I may not be making any sense at all.....:p 514 pages
The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant
for book club tomorrow night. rich in characters. by the author of The Red Tent. Set in a tiny town in Massachusetts in the early 1800s. 263 pages
Buffy
I like his books. This one is set over a 20 year period, give or take a few years, starting in 1952. Lots of politics.
One thing about this book (and I think it's unusual for me to think about a book this critically (in the neutral sense of the word) so it must have been a big deal) is that he kept referencing the fact that it was taken place in the past ("Harlem in those days" kind of things) -- maybe because this is his first place that doesn't take place "today"?
I'm writing this quickly as Jeremy needs the computer, so I may not be making any sense at all.....:p 514 pages
The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant
for book club tomorrow night. rich in characters. by the author of The Red Tent. Set in a tiny town in Massachusetts in the early 1800s. 263 pages
Buffy
Friday, July 18, 2008
Four more before we leave to housesit
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Sort of a mystery. I like stories where seemingly unrelated characters are actually connected. 310 pages.
Red Leather Diary by Lily Koppel
I think this has been getting a fair bit of press. Young reporter at the NY Times discovers the diary of a young woman living in Manhattan's Upper West Side in the 1930's. fairly interesting. 321 pages.
#90 Ever by Gail Carson Levine
Not nearly as compelling as it could have been. Some interesting takes on various conceptions of God. By the author of Ella Enchanted. 244 pages.
#91 The Wandering Soul Murders by Gail Bowen
another in the mystery series set in Canada I've been reading. I like them. 207 pages.
Buffy in Denver
Sort of a mystery. I like stories where seemingly unrelated characters are actually connected. 310 pages.
Red Leather Diary by Lily Koppel
I think this has been getting a fair bit of press. Young reporter at the NY Times discovers the diary of a young woman living in Manhattan's Upper West Side in the 1930's. fairly interesting. 321 pages.
#90 Ever by Gail Carson Levine
Not nearly as compelling as it could have been. Some interesting takes on various conceptions of God. By the author of Ella Enchanted. 244 pages.
#91 The Wandering Soul Murders by Gail Bowen
another in the mystery series set in Canada I've been reading. I like them. 207 pages.
Buffy in Denver
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Just you and me this month, Tam.
Listening Is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life from the StoryCorps Project by Dave Isay
What an interesting book. Some of you may have listened to StoryCorps interviews on NPR. This was my first experience with them and it was fascinating.
www.storycorps.net 270 pages.
Buffy in Denver
What an interesting book. Some of you may have listened to StoryCorps interviews on NPR. This was my first experience with them and it was fascinating.
www.storycorps.net 270 pages.
Buffy in Denver
another sun down
I read June's issue of The Sun. I really really appreciated the interview with Edward Tick, about how the US is failing its returning soldiers (and how it could help them, if it chose to). 48 pages.
-Tamie
-Tamie
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Sausage Dogs and Delayed Planes
The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs by Alexander McCall Smith
the middle book in the little trilogy by the author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Very short. Funny, especially if you know at all about the world of academia (or care enough to imagine). I liked this one better than the first. There were several parts I read aloud to DH. 128 pages
Dear American Airlines by Jonathan Miles
Another fairly short one. Author's first novel, I believe. Bennie Ford (53 years old) is on the way to his estranged daughter's commitment ceremony when his flight is delayed and he is stuck at O'Hare. An angry letter to the airline turns into a recitation of his life story interspersed with excerpts of the novel Ford is translating from the original Polish. Interesting.... 180 pages
Buffy in Denver
the middle book in the little trilogy by the author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Very short. Funny, especially if you know at all about the world of academia (or care enough to imagine). I liked this one better than the first. There were several parts I read aloud to DH. 128 pages
Dear American Airlines by Jonathan Miles
Another fairly short one. Author's first novel, I believe. Bennie Ford (53 years old) is on the way to his estranged daughter's commitment ceremony when his flight is delayed and he is stuck at O'Hare. An angry letter to the airline turns into a recitation of his life story interspersed with excerpts of the novel Ford is translating from the original Polish. Interesting.... 180 pages
Buffy in Denver
Friday, July 4, 2008
And the first four for July
Three middle grade books:
Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson
reminded me of Stargirl a bit -- just in the whole newcomer-who-is-so-different-from-'us' way. I liked it. Title comes from the Emily Dickinson poem about hope. 118 pages
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
I liked The Watsons Go to Birmingham (by the same author) more, but this was good. (and I still managed to cry at the end). Buxton is an actual town/community in Canada where freed and escaped slaves lived. Elijah is the first child born free in the community. A good historical novel for middle grades. 341 pages
Cicada Summer by Andrea Beatty
I think it's important for me to remember that this is juvenile literature (not young adult) and judge it on that basis. Clever writing, fun characters. Main character hasn't spoken since her brother's death, new girl comes to town.... 167 pages.
And an adult book that my library classed as sci-fi
The Man Who Turned Into Himself by David Ambrose
Loved it. I'm totally a "what if?" kind of person (as in I really like the movie Sliding Doors) and I think that is a lot of why I loved this book. It's based on the "many worlds" theory of quantum physics.
Rick Hamilton is in a middle when he suddenly feels that his wife is going to die. He arrives at the scene of the accident as she is dying. He closes his eyes in grief and when he opens them she is alive, though it's a slightly different accident and he is a slightly different person. (and they suddenly have no child.) Really good stuff, in my opinion. 197 pages.
Buffy in Denver
Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson
reminded me of Stargirl a bit -- just in the whole newcomer-who-is-so-different-from-'us' way. I liked it. Title comes from the Emily Dickinson poem about hope. 118 pages
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
I liked The Watsons Go to Birmingham (by the same author) more, but this was good. (and I still managed to cry at the end). Buxton is an actual town/community in Canada where freed and escaped slaves lived. Elijah is the first child born free in the community. A good historical novel for middle grades. 341 pages
Cicada Summer by Andrea Beatty
I think it's important for me to remember that this is juvenile literature (not young adult) and judge it on that basis. Clever writing, fun characters. Main character hasn't spoken since her brother's death, new girl comes to town.... 167 pages.
And an adult book that my library classed as sci-fi
The Man Who Turned Into Himself by David Ambrose
Loved it. I'm totally a "what if?" kind of person (as in I really like the movie Sliding Doors) and I think that is a lot of why I loved this book. It's based on the "many worlds" theory of quantum physics.
Rick Hamilton is in a middle when he suddenly feels that his wife is going to die. He arrives at the scene of the accident as she is dying. He closes his eyes in grief and when he opens them she is alive, though it's a slightly different accident and he is a slightly different person. (and they suddenly have no child.) Really good stuff, in my opinion. 197 pages.
Buffy in Denver
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