I read The Widow's War by Sally Gunning because it was recommended by two different people. There were times when I was reading this that I wasn't so sure if I liked it; but in the end, I did think it was pretty good. I am not a big fan of historical fiction, so that may have been part of my hesitation, or maybe it is a little slow in the middle. The book is set in the 1700s, and is based on a woman's right to rule her own life and have control over property, which she did not have at that time in the newly forming United States. I am also in the process of reading Daniel Deronda, which is set in the 1800s in England, but is basically about the same topic. It seems, unfortunately, that we could write a similar book today, and perhaps that is what Allison Pearson did when she wrote I don't know how she does it, a satirical look at the impossibility of motherhood and full time employment. In this century, we are not so much constrained by law, as we are constrained by nature or cultural mores that say that the mother should carry the greater part of child care duties.
Thanks for recommending books, keep those recommendations coming!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Book Club
Only three people came to discuss our book: Simply from Scratch by Alicia Bessette and one of them did not like the book so much that she didn't finish reading it. The story is about a young widow who is still in deep grieving a year after her husband's accidental death. There are many characters in the book who are suffering from one form of grief or another and I thought the author did a good job of bringing these story lines together. However, E thought the story was too contrived and artificial. L and I agreed that it was an easy read and in spite of the heavy topic, the characters made it an enjoyable story. I think the thing I liked the best was the fact that it ended with hope, the main character, Zell, was able to finally see through her grief and begin to live her life again.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Names in literature
Do you ever notice that certain names will pop up in literature? Right now I am reading three books that all have a character named Gwen or Gwendolyn. I recently started to read Daniel Deronda by George Eliot and the main character is named Gwendolen. When I opened Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones, I was surprised to see that the mother of the main character is Gwendolyn. In a third book, Murder on the Rocks by Karen MacInerney, one of the minor characters is named Gwen. I have also noticed lately that Lily is a very popular name for females in fiction, and that Audrey is making a come-back. Haven't noticed too many characters named Wendy, although that name originally comes from a fictional character. What names are you noticing in your reading?
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Reading recommendations
Thanks to friends, these books were recommended:
The Help: I read this last summer and would agree it was a great book with lots to discuss. Our book club might read this even though many of us have already read it.
The Immortal Cells of Henrietta Lacks: We read this in book club and agree with the friend who recommended it. Very good writing and a great read.
The Widow's War: I think my sister also recommended this a few months ago, will try to find it at the library.
Life is so good by George Dawson: will check this one out as well.
Any other recommendations?
The Help: I read this last summer and would agree it was a great book with lots to discuss. Our book club might read this even though many of us have already read it.
The Immortal Cells of Henrietta Lacks: We read this in book club and agree with the friend who recommended it. Very good writing and a great read.
The Widow's War: I think my sister also recommended this a few months ago, will try to find it at the library.
Life is so good by George Dawson: will check this one out as well.
Any other recommendations?
Friday, June 3, 2011
May 2011 book list
Books-May 2011
1. 13 little blue envelopes by Maureen Johnson
2. The puzzle lady vs. the sudoku lady by Parnell Hall
3. Grounded by Kate Klise
4. How to be an American housewife by Margaret Dilloway
5. The heart of memory by Alison Strobel
6. Shoe addicts anonymous by Beth Harbison
7. I'll walk alone by Mary Higgins Clark
8. This is your brain on music by Daniel Levitan
9. Declaring spinsterhood by Jamie Lynn Braziel
10. Two of the deadliest by Elizabeth George
11. Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
12. All unquiet things by Anna Jarzab
13. Wicked prey by John Sandford (audio book)
14. Medical error by Richard Mabry, M.D.
15. The summer of hammers and angels by Shannon Wiersbitzky (SLJ review)
16. Russell's world by Charles Amenta III (SLJ review)
17. twelve rooms with a view by Theresa Rebeck
18. The ninth wife by Amy Stollis
1. A young adult novel about a girl whose aunt sends (from the grave) envelopes with directions to be followed; seemed fairly believable, except the girl was only 16 or 17 and traipsed all over the world by herself.
2. A silly mystery by Hall, he writes with a breezy style and his characters are somewhat contrived, but fairly amusing.
3. A wonderful tale for intermediate children, but why do so many authors for kids write about death?
4. Told in two voices, this looks at the difficult relationship between mothers and daughters particularly when they are not only struggling with a generation gap, but with a cultural gap as well, the mother was a Japanese war bride. Well told.
5. Savannah, a Christian motivational speaker, finds her faith in Christ has disappeared when she wakes up from a heart transplant. Interesting theme based on cellular memory.
6. Recommended by my sister, Katie, a little bit of a romance, along with the bonding of friendship around the love of shoes.
7. The latest Clark mystery, I’d say she is getting better again, it helps when she stays away from paranormal themes.
8. Maybe the hardest book I read this month. A little deep and I didn’t really need all the technical mumbo-jumbo, but came away with some new understanding of music. I liked learning about the way notes are measured and the distance on the sound meters between notes.
9. A quick read, free on Kindle. Of course, she falls in love with the guy next door and tries to eschew romance. Cute and perky.
10. Short stories by female mystery writers, runs the gamut from serious, gruesome to silly and nonsensical. All based on lust or greed.
11. Our book club choice of the month, very heavy reading. Hard to reconcile how we choose to treat other human beings. Written about females slaves in the 1850s, the reader knows they will be free in a few years, but the characters do not know this.
12. Nick’s girlfriend was killed, after a year, he and her cousin try to discover who the killer was. A surprise ending that was foreshadowed slightly. Well-done young adult novel.
13. The only way to go with John Sandford. Lots of plot lines, numerous characters, but a fun way to pass the time when in the car or working around the house.
14. Thumbs down on this one, billed as a medical mystery, the characters are not well developed and too much time is taken up with medical details. Who cares if the author is a medical doctor and knows all the right terms?
15. A story for intermediate readers about a young girl who overcomes the adversity of poverty to help her mother save their home. Lots of heart, predictable characters, okay story.
16. A picture book for kids about a boy who is autistic. Good book for siblings of an autistic child.
17. Maybe my favorite of the month. Well told, sassy voice, and characters that you have to like or hate.
18. Bess is a great character, 35, successful professionally, but still looking for love. She finally finds it only to learn that her beloved has been married 8 times. Will she dare to become the 9th? Love it!
1. 13 little blue envelopes by Maureen Johnson
2. The puzzle lady vs. the sudoku lady by Parnell Hall
3. Grounded by Kate Klise
4. How to be an American housewife by Margaret Dilloway
5. The heart of memory by Alison Strobel
6. Shoe addicts anonymous by Beth Harbison
7. I'll walk alone by Mary Higgins Clark
8. This is your brain on music by Daniel Levitan
9. Declaring spinsterhood by Jamie Lynn Braziel
10. Two of the deadliest by Elizabeth George
11. Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
12. All unquiet things by Anna Jarzab
13. Wicked prey by John Sandford (audio book)
14. Medical error by Richard Mabry, M.D.
15. The summer of hammers and angels by Shannon Wiersbitzky (SLJ review)
16. Russell's world by Charles Amenta III (SLJ review)
17. twelve rooms with a view by Theresa Rebeck
18. The ninth wife by Amy Stollis
1. A young adult novel about a girl whose aunt sends (from the grave) envelopes with directions to be followed; seemed fairly believable, except the girl was only 16 or 17 and traipsed all over the world by herself.
2. A silly mystery by Hall, he writes with a breezy style and his characters are somewhat contrived, but fairly amusing.
3. A wonderful tale for intermediate children, but why do so many authors for kids write about death?
4. Told in two voices, this looks at the difficult relationship between mothers and daughters particularly when they are not only struggling with a generation gap, but with a cultural gap as well, the mother was a Japanese war bride. Well told.
5. Savannah, a Christian motivational speaker, finds her faith in Christ has disappeared when she wakes up from a heart transplant. Interesting theme based on cellular memory.
6. Recommended by my sister, Katie, a little bit of a romance, along with the bonding of friendship around the love of shoes.
7. The latest Clark mystery, I’d say she is getting better again, it helps when she stays away from paranormal themes.
8. Maybe the hardest book I read this month. A little deep and I didn’t really need all the technical mumbo-jumbo, but came away with some new understanding of music. I liked learning about the way notes are measured and the distance on the sound meters between notes.
9. A quick read, free on Kindle. Of course, she falls in love with the guy next door and tries to eschew romance. Cute and perky.
10. Short stories by female mystery writers, runs the gamut from serious, gruesome to silly and nonsensical. All based on lust or greed.
11. Our book club choice of the month, very heavy reading. Hard to reconcile how we choose to treat other human beings. Written about females slaves in the 1850s, the reader knows they will be free in a few years, but the characters do not know this.
12. Nick’s girlfriend was killed, after a year, he and her cousin try to discover who the killer was. A surprise ending that was foreshadowed slightly. Well-done young adult novel.
13. The only way to go with John Sandford. Lots of plot lines, numerous characters, but a fun way to pass the time when in the car or working around the house.
14. Thumbs down on this one, billed as a medical mystery, the characters are not well developed and too much time is taken up with medical details. Who cares if the author is a medical doctor and knows all the right terms?
15. A story for intermediate readers about a young girl who overcomes the adversity of poverty to help her mother save their home. Lots of heart, predictable characters, okay story.
16. A picture book for kids about a boy who is autistic. Good book for siblings of an autistic child.
17. Maybe my favorite of the month. Well told, sassy voice, and characters that you have to like or hate.
18. Bess is a great character, 35, successful professionally, but still looking for love. She finally finds it only to learn that her beloved has been married 8 times. Will she dare to become the 9th? Love it!
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