30 posts tagged “srp”
I joined a summer reading program again this year, so my book reviews here will be going up a lot more regularly. I don't like writing book reviews, so I put them off. I need to stop that.
Shopgirl by Steve Martin
I saw the movie based on this book sometime last year, and I've had a copy of the book, borrowed from my sister about ages, and I finally got around to reading it. I started it on my way to the airport, and finished it before I came home, so I could finally return the book. Anyway ... while I did enjoy this story, I had a hard time picturing Claire Danes as Mirabelle. The character as written just didn't jive with her face or mannerisms. I had the same problem with her boyfriend, played by Jason Schwartzman in the movie. Amazingly enough, Steve Martin made a perfect Ray Porter. Still, it was a sweet little story, and worth the read.
Big Boned (Heather Wells Mysteries, book 3) by Meg Cabot
I like Meg Cabot's book because they are light and fluffy. Sometimes I don't want to have to think very hard about what I'm reading and these books are perfect for that. I'm sad that this is the last Heather Wells book, she was a fun heroine and I was able to identify with her neuroses and insecurities. Since this is the end of the series, Heather ends up happy and everything is tied up in a neat little bow. I also loved most of the supporting characters in this series and I would love to read more about them. Perhaps we can lobby Meg Cabot to write more about Sarah, Heather's Dad, and maybe even Jordon.
Switching Time: A Doctor's Harrowing Story of Treating a Woman with 17 Personalities by Richard Bear
When I was in junior high I read everything I would get my hands on about multiple personality disorder: When Rabbits Howl and Sybil are the two that I remember most. They were fascinating yet disturbing but I couldn't not read them. At some point the phase ended and I moved on. Recently a friend listed this on her current reads and I got curious. Just like the other books, it was fascinating, disturbing, and heartbreaking all at the same time. It was good that at the end she was able to integrate everyone and make all of these personalities into a fully functioning and mentally healthy woman.
When I read my first novel in verse, I thought it must be an easy thing to do. Fewer words, lots of white space and a very simple plot. But with this one, I realized how freaking hard it must be to wrote these novels. Fewer opportunities for description, not many words to get your reader to care about your characters, and having to actually tell a cohesive story through poems\. In this story, Ava boyfriend dies and in her subsequent depression, he starts to appear to her, but only when she's at home. Trying to hold onto Jackson, Ava withdraws from her friends and her life in order to stay at home and be near his ghost. Only when her parents force a family vacation at the beach does Ava start to live again and enjoy life.
A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer
It didn't occur to me until I was about a third of the way through this that I was reading a modern retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. I loved the story as a child, and the Richard Chamberlain movie version was of my favorites for years. It's a wonderful story of revenge and I was quite angry when Hollywood gave it a happy ending a few years back. This retelling was so close to perfect and such an enjoyable read that I almost didn't want to finish it. I tend to get mad at the endings of a majority of the books I read and I did not that to be the case here. I risked the ending and I'm happy to say that I was not angry or disappointed. Hooray!!!
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (Gallagher Girls, book 2) by Ally Carter
The first book in this series, I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You, made me laugh but I thought the ending was rushed and way too contrived. On the recommendation of goddesslibrarian, I decided to give the second one a try. I'm glad I did. The story was tighter than the first one, the girls were a little less annoying, and the ending did not suck. I can't wait to see what the Gallagher Academy girls get up to next.
There were things about the movie version of this that I really liked, mainly the idea of teleportation. But the execution fell flat for me. So I went to the source, and I enjoyed it a hell of a lot more than the film. Now I want to read the other books in the series to see how much was pulled from those books, because so much of the movie was just not in the book. The main character had the same name, he had parents, and he could teleport, and that's pretty much where the similarities ended. There was no secret force chasing him, he did not find another jumper, and his mother's back story was completely different. So maybe the film is a composite of the three novels? This must be partly the case as Griffin does not make an appearance in this first book. I'm reserving judgment until I get the rest of the story.
The Third Circle (Arcane Society, book 4) by Amanda Quick
Resistance by Owen Sheers
I wanted to like this alternative history World War II novel, I really did, but I hated the ending. I know, I know, that's a theme for me, and I do wish this wasn't the case. I just get so invested in the books I read and have this idea in my head of the way the characters should act that when they do something else I get mad. I also can't stand rushed endings or ones where everything is too nearly wrapped up. I'm not doing a very good job of explaining this, it's just the way I feel. After getting wrapped up and involved in this novel, I didn't believe that the main character would have done what she did at the end. It didn't fit. As I've said before I need to someone with similar taste to read things first and tell me if they are worth my time and energy. This was not.
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
205 Pages
4.5 Stars (out of 5)
This completes the Summer Reading Program that I've been participating in. I'm rather annoyed at myself for not completing my challenge to read three classics including Slaughterhouse-Five. I managed that one, but didn't get the other two finished. I just need to manage my time better. I did complete my goal of 20 books and reviews, and I reread His Dark Materials Trilogy, so I'll call it a partial victory.
I really enjoyed reading Vonnegut's novel. I've heard for years that is was banned and burned, but never really know what the story was and certainly didn't know why it was so controversial. And after reading it, I'm still not sure why it raises so many objections. I laughed a lot and was fascinated by the story of Billy Pilgrim traveling through time. He was a soldier and maybe this is seen as anti-war? Or maybe the part where the aliens tell Billy that there are seven sexes and that love between two men is necessary for reproduction but love between two women is not. Curious ... I'm not sure why I waited so long to read this, but I'm glad I finally did. Baby Laughs: The Naked Truth About the First Year of Mommyhood by Jenny McCarthy
208 Pages
3.5 Stars (out of 5)
She's got such as easy to read style, it felt like this only took an hour to read. Lots of laughs, and lots of fun stuff to look forward to as my friends keep popping them out ;-) Now I just need to read her third book. And have you seen picture of her recently? She's lookin' fine!
Anyone But You: A Novel in Two Voices by Lara M. Zeises
245 Pages
3.5 Stars (out of 5)
Several of my fellow YA enthusiasts have recommended this book. I wanted to like it, I really did. But the lack of resolution really bothered me. If you are going to set something up, please follow it through. Maybe she was setting up a sequel? Still, I wanted a more definitive ending. Everything leading up to it I thoroughly enjoyed and then, nothing. It left me frustrated.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
238 Pages
4.5 Stars (out of 5)
Over Sea Under Stone by Susan Cooper
252 Pages
3.5 Stars (out of 5)
I really liked this story, once I got into it, and am very excited to see how the other books tie in. I want to know more about Gumerry and find out who the Withers siblings are. And I need to find out what happens to the children. I hope they make an appearance in the other books.
Secrets of the Lean Plate Club: A Simple Step-by-Step Program to Help You Shed Pounds and Keep Them Off by Sally Squires
333 Pages
4.0 Stars (out of 5)
It's been a long time since I read anything resembling a diet book. I've been to a nutritionist and know what I need to do to lose weight and get healthy, I just wasn't doing it. I started reading Sally Squires weekly column in The Washington Post and soon moved on to her weekly chats. I liked her easy style and straight forward advice, and the input from those who are also struggling to lose weight is a nice booster. I've been on Weight Watchers since October and have lost almost 60 lbs. So NOW I decided to read a diet book.I've been struggling with motivation lately and I think this book was just the kick that I needed to get me back on track. The book didn't really tell me anything new, but served to reinforce the reasons that I'm doing these things, and that was exactly what I needed. I was hoping to get some good recipes, but I was disappointed in that respect. Most of the recipes listed more than ten ingredients, and that just turns me off. Even if it's a simple recipe, too many ingredients and I won't even bother to read it.
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore
402 Pages
4.5 Stars (out of 5)
For someone who thinks very little about religion and Christianity, it's shown up a lot the past few weeks. First there was Philip Pullman's His Dark materials trilogy, then Fallen, and now this. And how could I forget The Prophecy, the brilliant film with Christopher Walken and Eric Stlotz? I find the story of the angels and the fall fascinating, perhaps I need to do more research in this area. Maybe this will fulfill the non-fiction portion of my summer reading program goal.
Oh, and I laughed my ass off. Moore tells a great story.
Belly Laughs:The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth by Jenny McCarthy
165 Pages
4.0 Stars (out of 5)
A bunch of my pregnant friends have told me how much they've enjoyed Jenny McCarthy's books and I finally got around to reading one. She's got a great voice, and I can't wait to read the other two books. And now I'm not sure I ever want to get pregnant ;-)