It’s Monday! What are you reading?

12 Comments

Posted on October 21, 2013

It’s Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey where we discuss what we have been up to lately, and what we are looking forward to in the coming week. Stop over there and see what other bloggers have posted!

http://bookjourney.wordpress.com

This is what has been going on here-

Last week, I posted:

Top Ten Books I was “forced” to read

Before I Met You- a review

reblogged Blogger Made of Awesome from Traveling with T

I finished reading-

Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead

He’s Gone by Deb Caletti

I am currently reading-

Please Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

(having a hard time getting into it- hate when that happens!)

I am planning to read next-

I am not really sure, as I have over a dozen books- real and ebooks, for review and for pleasure- to choose from.

Here are a few that I have- can anyone suggest which I should read next???

The Paris Architect

The Shining

The Wedding Gift

Astor Place

Teatime for Fireflies

The Savage Garden

What are you reading?

Please leave a comment-I love hearing from you!

Top Ten Books for the Fall

26 Comments

Posted on September 17, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke & the Bookish. It’s awesome. Every Tuesday, the lovely ladies over there give us book bloggers wonderful and fun topics to create our lists! Check out what others have posted by going over there! http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com

This week’s topic is-

Top Ten Books on My Fall TBR List

Seeing as the weather here is 100% autumnal, this is a perfect topic-going down to 38 degrees tonight-brrrr……

1. The End of the Affair by Graham Greene

It is one of those novels I have always wanted to read, but never have. I am determined to do it!

2. The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom

Love this author, even though he usually makes me sad 😦

3. Seduction-A Novel of Suspense

I love suspense!

4. Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick

This book sounds great- disturbing, but great.

5. Touchstone by Laurie R King

I read Bones of Paris, never realizing it was a sequel-so now I want to read the first!

6. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

I had’t heard of this until the movie came out not too long ago.

7. East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Again, one of the books that has been on my TBR list for way too long- going to tackle it this fall.

8. Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead

The other books are pretty serious, so I want a little comic relief!

9. The Secret History by Donna Tart

I have been hearing that this is a book I MUST read, so I am going for it!

10. The Stand by Stephen King

Ashamed to say, this will be my first Stephen King- very excited!!

That’s what I am looking forward to reading in the coming months-what about you?

Please leave a comment-I love hearing from you!!!

Top Ten Tuesday #9

10 Comments

Posted on June 25, 2013

Today’s topic is:

TOP TEN BOOKS I’VE READ SO FAR IN 2013

(seems like a good time for it, since we are halfway through the year)

10. The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

a She Reads book club selection

9. Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

needless to say, better than the movie

8. The Bookseller by Mark Pryor

7. The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian

(can’t wait for his new one)

6. The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman

so sad

5. The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin

beautifully written

4. The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

her best so far

3. The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow by Rita Leganski

another She Reads book club selection

2. The Prisoner of Heaven by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

love this series- need to read again

1. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

Armchair BEA Day 3!!

12 Comments

Posted on May 30, 2013

Today is Day 3 of the Armchair BEA! Today’ s Genre is Literary Fiction. When I saw this I was a little confused-hmmm, what is literary fiction exactly? So, I do what everyone does when they find themselves in need on information- I googled it. As best as I can put together, literary fiction is- “critically acclaimed”, serious, focuses on subject, not plot, “based in language”, lyrical and poetic, and focused on character development. Ok- this I can work with.

So far this year, I have enjoyed The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin- https://turnthepagereviews.com/2013/04/17/the-orchardist/

I also really like Silver Lining Playbook by Matthew Quick-

https://turnthepagereviews.com/2013/04/01/silver-lining-playbook/

In the future, I would like to read The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Life of Pi. I also can’t wait to get my hands on And The Mountains Echoed!

For someone just getting into literary fiction, I would recommend The Cider House Rules by John Irving or The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kinsolver. Also- The Kite Runner was amazing!!

I honestly have trouble differentiating between genres sometimes. Another book many would call a classic, but I think qualifies, would be Pride & Prejudice.

I think the label “literary fiction” can be off putting, as if you have to be a Literature major in order to read certain books. I think that is ridiculous! Anyone can read any book, as long as they enjoy it. If it feels like work, or a chore, then it is not meant to be.

Maybe I should remind myself of that as I try to tackle more “classics” 🙂

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cover of Life of Pi

Cover of The Poisonwood Bible

Cover of The Cider House Rules

Silver Linings Playbook

4 Comments

Posted on April 1, 2013

Silver Linings Playbook

by Matthew Quick

published by Sarah Crichton Books

2008

Meet Pat. Pat has a theory: his life is a movie produced by God. And his God-given mission is to become physically fit and emotionally literate, whereupon God will ensure a happy ending for him — the return of his estranged wife Nikki. (It might not come as a surprise to learn that Pat has spent time in a mental health facility.) The problem is, Pat’s now home, and everything feels off. No one will talk to him about Nikki; his beloved Philadelphia Eagles keep losing; he’s being pursued by the deeply odd Tiffany; his new therapist seems to recommend adultery as a form of theraphy. Plus, he’s being hunted by Kenny G!

In this enchanting novel, Matthew Quick takes us inside Pat’s mind, showing us the world from his distorted yet endearing perspective. As the award-winning novelist Justin Cronin put it: “Tender, soulful, hilarious, and true, The Silver Linings Playbook is a wonderful debut.” (from Goodreads)

My Review

I started to enjoy this story almost as soon as I began reading it. Silver Linings Playbook is a fast read, and it is very easy to get into. The only drawback for me was not knowing why Pat had ended up in a mental facility. It almost seemed there was a bit of brain damage, the way he was so childlike and unknowing of the world around him and of passing time.

The characters in this book draw you in and make you root for them to succeed. Pat is working very hard on “being kind, not right”. The relationships in this book are touching, messy, and feel real. I love the way Pat interacts with his mother and brother, who are there for him and help him. Pat and his Dad, though, have a very difficult relationship, and the fact that it is not all cleared up and perfect at the end makes it even better. I think, perhaps, the character that really stayed with me was Tiffany. In Tiffany, we see how grief can truly rip a life apart, and the wonder of the human spirit, to fight to come back from despair.

I loved this book. It was a little darker than I had anticipated. I am looking forward to discussing it for my local bookclub next week. I have not seen the movie yet, but do want to. My mom-always trust her when it comes to books- said it was very good, but of course, not as good as the book.

rating-3.5 out of 5