Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Reading List

I've been back on a real reading kick lately, I love my nook. This is unfortunately expensive because e-books are a big, fat rip-off and the pricing ticks me off but I do love the portability, convenience and wide selection. I think I'm going to have to go back to real books with the occasional e-book because e-book publishers can't figure out that I would buy 5 $5 books a month but will only buy one $13 book a month. I also object to the way library licensing and e-book lending is handled.

Whatever though, this wasn't intended to be a rant about the publishing industry (but screw you, stupid publishing industry!). Here are my extremely summarized book reviews:

Room: I really liked this book--until I got to the third quarter of it. It's a short novel and I think that contributed to its pacing problems. It was a fantastic book, until it fell a little flat. Worth reading though.

Sarah's Key: I don't know why everyone liked this book so much. Great idea for a story, shoddy one-dimensional characters. It was good, I didn't regret reading it but I don't know why it was so celebrated.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: This was enjoyable. I liked reading it, but could easily put it down. It was fine; very sweet.

Same Kind of Different as Me: I would have never read this book if I fully understood what it was going to be about. I dislike spiritual books, I dislike anything about cancer, I dislike emotional memoirs, I dislike anything that leaves me open to feeling emotionally manipulated. But this book really moved me; I thought this was a phenomenal book...and then I got to the end and figured out it had all been a true story? (This isn't a secret, just something I hadn't noticed.) Totally profound, well-written, thought-provoking, touching and full of wisdom. I am so glad I read this book.

Tiger, Tiger: A Memoir: This is a memoir about a girl who had a 15 year relationship with a pedophile, starting when she was 8. It is incredibly disturbing, especially since it's true, but she is a fantastic writer with a unique perspective. Totally bizarre life and again, disturbing (obviously!) but she has an amazing way with words. I hope she goes on to write fiction, she is brilliantly talented.

American Psycho: This is the worst book ever. In the history of writing. There is not one good thing about this book: it is not well-written, it is not clever, it is not interesting or fun to read, its gratuitous violence isn't entertaining in any way--if you like gory crime books, you probably still won't like this book because it was stupid and it sucked. It was annoying, it lacked a plot and it was a total waste of time. I HATED this book. I can't emphasize that enough. Don't even bother picking it up to see why I hated it. (You're welcome.)

Right now I'm reading The Alchemist and I really like it; it's very inspirational and motivating. Next, I think I'll probably read Nefertiti because I'm in the mood for some historical fiction and I like Egyptians (and I'll probably buy it full price from Barnes and Noble like a sucker.)

Have you read anything good lately?

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just read your recommendation The Art of Racing in the Rain. I really enjoyed it.

Just put Same kind of Different on Hold in The Library.

I am in a good book slump.
Have you ever read "EXtremely Loud and Incredibly Close"? It is older but I still think about it and the main character.


meg

Jacqueline said...

I am a high school teacher, so I read a lot of fiction written for older teens. I just FLEW through the House of Night series. It's for teens, but probably more appropriate for adults! It's sort of Twilight-meets-Harry-Potter, but really interesting! I'm also reading Discovery of Witches, which is excellent.
I wasn't a huge fan of Sarah's Key either- I thought the plotline was good, but underdeveloped. I haven't read Nefertiti yet, but I'm going to check it out right now!

Sam said...

I love my nook too.

I read The Help on your recommendation and loved it. I guess I'll be downloading Tiger Tiger now!

Sasha said...

I so wish I could find time to read.... I miss it so much! When I run I listen to chic-lit audio books because they make the time fly by.

Unknown said...

My last three reads were really good. Mudbound---The Kitchen House---and Strangers at the Feast. The last was an audio book. Still on my mind. Just started The Winter Sea. Love when I pick good ones. I am a library user.

Anonymous said...

I've heard the Hunger Games series is excellent so that is next on my list. Right now I'm finishing up the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series. It's pretty good, can be hard to get into and the pacing is frustrating at moments but overall I like it.

Lauren said...

Just read Water for Elephants which was excellent. It has been on my list for a few years now but I just finally got around to reading it. I think it is coming out as a movie soon and I wanted to read it before I saw any commercials or anything about it. It was fantastic, hope the movie doesn't butcher the story.

Sam said...

A few books that I've recently read and loved are: 666 Park Avenue, Warmth of Other Suns, Somewhere Inside and The Fates Will Find Their Way. Oh, and Jen Lancaster's new book If You Were Here is really good too.

Melanie said...

As per your recommendation, I read The Art of Racing in the Rain and I loved it. I don't think I've cried that hard since Dumbledore died, but a very well-written and emotional book.

Right now I'm reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. It is spiritual and religious, which can be boring I know, but this one is not. At least not the first half of it. I will pray for lightening not to strike when I say that in the second half she goes on a bit more than I felt was necessary to get the point across, but it leaves you really thinking about the important things in life and prioritizing family.

Clare said...

One of my favorite books is Crashing Through. It's the true story of a man who was blinded in an accident as a child and is able to get his sight back as an adult. Fascinating and a really enjoyable book to read.

Unknown said...

re: Crashing Through, did he pee his pants laughing once he regained his sight and saw a smart car for the first time? I may have read an article about that and thought it was fascinating. I'm on a bit of a memoir kick right now and might like that.

Water for Elephants was awesome. Movie cannot match up, no matter what.

Going to add the others to my wishlist. I've heard varying things about Girl with the Dragon Tattoo--always about pacing. I do have the Hunger Games series, just keep forgetting to figure out how to download it (someone gave it to me.) I've seen Discovery of Witches but it's always $12.99 and that pisses me off.

said...

"Water for Elephants" was excellent. Other books on my list are "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot, "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand, "One Day" by David Nicholls and "You Know When the Men Are Gone" by Siobhan Fallon. I also want to add "The Art of Racing in the Rain."

Finally, just wanted to recommend Shelfari. It's a great way to find books, keep track of what you've read and it can link up with what you've purchased on Amazon.

Christi said...

I read American Psycho several years ago. I totally agree with every ounce that is it an AWFUL book. I stuck with it thinking it must get better. It didnt. It was so grossly graphic in the violence that I still remember certain passages and it has been at least 6-7 years since I read it.I cant believe they made it into a movie or that Christian Bale starred in it- bleech!
I read the Hunger Games trilogy and really enjoyed it. I am anxiously awaiting the next installment of the black dagger brotherhood by JR Ward.

Liz said...

Thanks for the recommendations!

I recently finished Pillars of the Earth and that book consumed me. I haven't found anything in the last month that has sucked me in like that one did.

I also recommend the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. I still need to read the last book, but the first 2 were engaging and interesting reads.

Anonymous said...

Can you take out ebooks from your local library? The NY Public Library lets you take out ebooks, but I'm not sure if your town does. Definitely look into it, because you can totally save!

Katie said...

For some reason, I feel very defensive of American Psycho, even though I hated it, too. I think it is because I first read Less Than Zero by Ellis as an impressionable college student, decided he was a genius, but then went on to hate every other thing he ever wrote. If you do ever want to give him another try, Less Than Zero was his first novel, which he wrote while he was a student.

Peggy's Place said...

Check out http://www.bookcloseouts.com/Store/Browse/_/N-0/Ntt-Nefertiti.
it's $4.50. Great place to get books that were published a while back.

Anonymous said...

I also read The Help because of you and loved it!

-Murphy

Mom said...

The Art of Driving in the Rain by Garth Stein was recommended by your Aunt L.

Jennifer said...

After finishing Water for Elephants I'm scared to read anything else. It was just so good that I don't think anything will compare.

Anonymous said...

Patron Saint of Liars was a great read. Quick though- get from library if you can.

Susan in Texas

Jennifer said...

Don't read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I wanted to stab myself while reading it. Once I started I couldn't stop (of course), but it was one of the most boring books I've ever read. I'm not sure why so many people think it was so great. It wasn't.

Anonymous said...

Have you read Sophie's Choice? It is another one of those books that still comes up in my life and that I find myself thinking about. It is a really good read even if you know the story. The book is so much better than the movie as it gives you more insight into the mother role.

Meg

Anonymous said...

You should definitely read "Still Missing" by Chevy Stevens. I seriously could not put this book down. http://www.amazon.com/Still-Missing-Chevy-Stevens/dp/B004F9OV7K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1301322975&sr=1-1