Book List Update

So I finally got around to updating my book list for 2008. My goal was 20 books and if I exceeded that, then 10,000 pages. I read 23 new books for a total of 9,141 pages; reread at least 4 and left 3 unfinished. Here are a few extra comments on the rereads and unfinished.

Reread:
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
The story is so good at getting down to why we resist the love and salvation of God. It's a romance, so that obviously makes it interesting.
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
I'm rereading this slowly to Grandmother - I got her a copy for Christmas '07 and read a chapter here and there when I visit her. Anne is such a classic character and so easy to sympathize with. The story makes you laugh out loud with every chapter. Reading it to Grandmother will be among my treasured memories of 2008.
Anne of the Island by Lucy Maud Montgomery
This is where Anne agrees to marry Gilbert. Good times, good times.
The Book of Hours by T. Davis Bunn
It is a fictional story with a good mystery that involves a historical castle with hidden clues and ultimately a great historical find.

Unfinished:
Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts
Good at first, but ultimately boring… it goes on too long without pulling you in.
Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
Not nearly as funny or engaging as previous Plum books… still working on finishing it.
Wideacre by Philippa Gregory
I did not like this story! Main plot involves incest and the heroine is so obsessive you cannot relate at all. Downright weird and sick.

Well that's all folks for 2008 - I'm already started on the first book for 2009... Happy New Year!

Shoe Addicts Anonymous, by Beth Harbison

I got some chuckles out of this story of 4 women who bond over their love of shoes. This is actually a very nice story about the importance of female friendship and it is good without being preachy or sappy. Each of the four women struggle with a different issue and come together in reponse to an add online for a shoe trading club. The club initially offers each the escape from their daily troubles, friendship desperately needed and eventually brings resolution to the difficulties in their lives.

Good Man Hunting, by Lisa Landolt

This book is by a local author and set in Dallas, so it intrigued me on a trip to B&N. The heroine of this story is an assistant manager in a pizza joint who thinks her life is never going to change. However, she meets the members of The Hunt Club at a friend's wedding and they promise her the opportunity to find her dream (read handsome, rich and/or famous) man and guarantee they'll be able to get him to marry her. This is obviously too good to be true and our heroine ends up involved in some serious scheming to get her dream man and unbeknownst to her, these plots involve murder! As she tries to back her way out of the situation, funny hijinks ensue and ultimately she does win her dream man and finds out a little more about who she is in the process. I liked this story because I identified with the heroine's view of herself as someone who could do better, but is stuck and doesn't know how to improve her life. But, when presented with an opportunity, she goes for it and has an adventure that changes her life.

Finished November 2008

A Wicked Wench, by Anne Herries

I can't believe I picked a book out with this title from the library. This is a bit of a raunchy tale about a revolutionary era younger daughter coming of age in England after her mother dies and her father becomes burdened by excessive debt. Her older sister is the dutiful, plain daughter who marries money to pay her father's debts; however, she turns out to be vengeful, mean and unmerciful to the younger, impulsive sister. The younger sister runs off with a cad, ends up penniless in a brothel and is rescued by a man she hates, but ends up falling in love with. I didn't like this story because the person who does the prudent thing is painted as evil; but the morally errant does suffer the consequences of her behavior, but she doesn't seem to learn from them until the very very end, if then. There is a happy ending for the heroine, but it's not very satisfying because you don't like the heroine. Not a good choice from the library. :(

Finished November 2008

Bright Lights, Big Ass, by Jen Lancaster

Another extremely funny memoir from Jen Lancater. This one is mainly focused on life in the big city and further develops her start in writing. This one gets a little bit more on the silly side and shows how Jen can kind of get out of hand, but she always manages to learn a lesson or change a habit, and does so realistically. Another fave!

Finished October 2008

Bitter Is The New Black, by Jen Lancaster

The original effort by this author, I didn't find it as funny as Such A Pretty Fat, but it was still a hoot all the same. This book is a memoir of the author's job hunt and decision to become a writer. I didn't identify with this one quite as much, but it was still worth reading. Jen Lancaster's style of witty observation (I especially enjoy the sidebar thoughts as footnotes included on almost every page) puts you right in the situation with her.

Finished October 2008

Such A Pretty Fat, by Jen Lancaster

This is the funniest book I've read in a long time, possibly ever. A memoir of the author's efforts at weight loss, it is a much more realistic picture of the thoughts and feelings of a person struggling with significant weight issues. But ultimately, it is just a very funny look at life in this day and age. Based in Chicago (the real Chicago, not the suburbs!), the lifestyle she describes isn't too far off this Dallas girl's lifestyle. Her observations are extremely witty, and she is a Republican! :) A must read for any modern girl.

Finished September 2008

Book List Update

If you check out my book list at right, the links will direct you to my reviews of the respective books. Just in case you're interested. C

The Constant Princess

My latest read is The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory. I said I was going to read more of this author and it was worth it. This story is considerably shorter than The Other Boleyn Girl and would be a good read if you didn't like the intrique of TOBG.

Again we go to 16th century England and the household of Henry VIII. This time we learn the story of Catarina, Infanta of Spain as she becomes Katherine of Aragon, Henry's first wife. The story actually begins in Katherine's childhood in Spain in 1492 (if you are thinking "that's when Columbus sailed the ocean blue", you would be correct - brownie points for you!). Something I did not know is she was the daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, who financed Columbus' trip to the 'West Indies'. This story was challenging in respect to exploring Katherine's strong sense of destiny and conviction that it was God's will for her to be Queen of England. This explains Katherine's tenacious hold on the idea through many years of very difficult circumstances. It raises the question "how far is too far when we think we are doing God's will?" Ultimately, Katherine is a woman of strong faith and incredible courage and intelligence. Hers is an inspiring story... hey, at least she wasn't beheaded. :)

i know...

Yeah, I know the streak didn't last long. :) But I'm back, right?

Friday night I finished The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. It was good. I always like historical fiction just because I love history. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I'll probably rent it whenever it is released on DVD.

The Other Boleyn Girl is set in 16th century England and centers around the rise and fall of King Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn. The story is told from the perspective of Anne's sister, Mary, who was also the king's mistress. Mary narrates the story, giving the reader emotional insight to the court of Henry VIII and his first two wives. The engaging narrative illustrates the impact of individual choices and the runaway ambition of the Boleyn/Howard family, especially Anne as she relentlessly pursues the position of queen. This novel is well researched and the author does a great job of keeping you interested. I'm definitely going to read more by this author. Overall, I give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

P.S. The edition of the book I purchased has a good discussion with the author in the back.

Enjoy!

Book List

I decided to keep a book list this year and so I've added the books I've read so far to the section on the right... check it out. :)

My goal is to read 20 books this year or 10,000 pages. To count toward the goal, the book has to be a classic or a minimum of 200 pages. Yes, I have rules. :)

I'm also in a book club - very fun! Let me know what you recommend. I'm currently reading The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory.

Mansfield Park

My latest read is Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. Very entertaining with a little more intrigue than the usual Austen. Her character of Fanny Price is perhaps the wisest and most moral of any of hers I've read so far. Fanny's reserve and introspection make me identify with her the most strongly of the Austen heroines and I hope I have the same good sense she does, although I doubt it. In this story, Fanny is raised from the age of ten by her wealthy uncle and aunt along with her four cousins. Befriended by her cousin Edmund when they are children, he educates and guides her through their childhood and she becomes his confidante. This relationship is central in the book, and the characters surrounding Fanny and Edmund seem to highlight their high moral standards by being either silly or progressively wicked. Through flirtation, intimacies, play-acting, and ultimately infidelity, Austen weaves her most outright moral plot emphasizing the necessity of adherence to principle. The wise, just Fanny wins all in a satisfying happy ending.

Lean Mean Thirteen

Not my most favorite of the Plum series, but still funny. Now Stephanie is wanted for kidnapping and murder! Oh dear. What will she do? Ranger will come to her rescue, of course! This story has more of the Morelli depending on Ranger to protect Stephanie crap that sort of started in Eleven On Top. It is annoying to me that Morelli seems to be a little bit of a minor character until the end. Come, on! We know she loves him! Can they just stay in one house together for the entire book next time? Seriously, just get married already. Favorite part of this one is the house full of weed getting blown up and everyone - Stephanie, Lula and the FTA - gets high from the house. Could that really happen? Probably not. But funny. 3 1/2 out of5 stars.

Twelve Sharp

Stephanie is back at bounty hunting and ends up helping Ranger out of a serious predicament - he's wanted for kidnapping and murder. We learn a lot about Ranger in this book and Stephanie tells Morelli she loves him. Also, none of Stephanie's cars get blown up - she has the mini cooper for the entire book. Favorite moment - Grandma in Sally Sweet's rock band with Lula. Can't beat an old lady in a leather bustier with ice-cream cone bra. Also - bonus - Lula and Tank get together. Wow. 4 out of 5 stars.

Eleven on Top

In this installment, Stephanie tries unsuccessfully to quit bounty hunting. After several ill-fated attempts at other jobs, she ends up working for Ranger. Favorite moment - Lula vs. Mama Macaroni shoot out at the dry cleaners. Too FUNNY!!!

Ten Big Ones

The Stephanie Plum series always makes me laugh out loud! In this installment, Stephanie finds Ranger's previously top-secret apartment in an attempt to find a safe hideout while a gang has a contract out on her life. Grandma is in rare form in this one - helping Stephanie out with the FTA's. Fun times. 4 out of 5 stars.

Morrigan's Cross, Dance of the Gods, Valley of Silence

A vampire trilogy recommended by Kelli. The story centers around the development of a 'Circle' of 6 people and their mission to defeat the evil vampire, Lilith. The six people travel across time and worlds, coming together in 21st century Ireland - and I want to live in their house. Its a 12th century castle updated with modern conveniences. Would that not be cool? Anyway, i'll go ahead and review the whole trilogy as they are all pretty much the same. The story is compelling because of the 'we have to save the world' cause, but the relationships between the characters are a bit predictable. I like the clear delineation of good vs. evil and the book gives several good examples of why evil must not be entertained or tolerated even if it looks pretty or innocent. Ironically, its just that idea that makes me think I probably shouldn't have read these books since they include a lot of sorcery and witchcraft. 3 out of 5 stars.

Northanger Abbey

Easiest read of Jane Austen so far. I liked it, basically because I hadn't seen a movie of it, so I didn't know the story already. Austen's protagonist in this story is Catherine Morland, a young girl just entering society, so you see late eighteenth century society through her naive eyes. I strongly identified with this character as she navigates her social circle because I often feel I misjudge people and their character and end up slightly embarrassed because of it. The story remains upbeat despite the negative circumstances surrounding Catherine and ultimately ends happily. I like the story and the character Catherine because even though she goes through some embarrassing things, she doesn't blame herself or despair - she just goes back to her hometown and picks up again and happiness still finds her there. I look forward to more Austen books not yet movies. :) 4 out of 5 stars.

Shopaholic Ties the Knot

Shopaholic madness gets more ridiculous with two weddings planned by two wholly unsuspecting mothers; Luke finally has it out with his mother and goes into a depression… weird for a light book; finally they pull off two weddings in one day. Several laugh out loud moments, but we keep sliding down the slippery slope of outlandish ridiculosity. 3 out of 5 stars.

Shopaholic Takes Manhattan

Shopaholic continues with a trip to Manhattan where we discover Becky hasn't fully kicked the shopping habit; relationship with Luke develops; Becky and Luke have business opportunities, but Becky's shopping almost undoes everything. We're starting to get ridiculous... 3 out of 5 stars.