Gotta Read it!

For all you "Alex Cross" fans, read this book. I'm now reading Dean Koontz's new book called "Your Heart Belongs to Me" and so far it is really good. It starts off preeeeety scary. I'll let ya know.

Cross Country by James Patterson

I picked up the new James Patterson, "Cross Country" while on vacation this past week. It's Patterson's newest Alex Cross novel. I love his Alex Cross books and read them as soon as they come out. The one just before this one left me a little mad because Alex did get the bad guy but the really bad guy got away, so you have to wait for the next little while to see when the really bad guy comes back. Anyway, the newest book has a really really really bad guy in it. OK...so the deal is...when I get really stressed on a rrrbg (see above) I tend to look in the back pages to see if he gets it in the end. I know, I know!!! but this time I'm trying not to. I'm on page 300 of 405 and if this rrrbg lives to the next novel, THAT'S IT!!!! I'm not reading another Alex Cross!!!!! I've got company coming in for 2 days today, a choir xmas concert in 3 weeks of which I have music I have to memorize and a very fun crowd for Thansgiving, so I really don't have time for a really good book which this is, so it better be worth it. I'll let ya'll know.

Catching up

It's been too long since I posted to this blog. But I've been reading TONS. But not everything thrills me and inspires me to write. But I thought I'd do a brief overview of things that have interested me lately:

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I've read this probably 7 or 8 times, but a few weeks ago, I picked it up and spent the whole day reading again. It's the foundational book on which all current romance novels are based. It's a cliche to say that Mr. Darcy is the ideal man, but it's true! I just love him.
Which brings me to another interesting subject: all the P&P "sequels" written by modern day writers. I think they're all TERRIBLE. I appreciate the fact that people want to know what happened after the wedding, but an excellent piece of fiction, in my opinion, can and should only be continued by the original author. Some lady in Texas thinks she knows what happened to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy? Sorry, only Jane Austen knows that and she's been six feet under for quite a while. I do like the movie adaptions though. The Kiera Knightley version was really good, especially since it kept VERY true to the novel, as much as it could considering the time considerations. Bridget Jones Diary is my favorite book/movie re-telling. (Which is different from a sequel. A modern re-telling is fine, if it doesn't take itself too seriously.) I'd love to see the BBC version of the novel. I keep meaning to order it from Amazon. Maybe I'll do that after this!

2. Right now I'm reading The Brief and WOndrous life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. It's wonderful, so far. There's a lot of Spanglish, which made the reading hard at first but context generally clears it up.

3. Juan just finished The Road by Cormac McCarthy and says it's one of the best/saddest books he's ever read. He finished it a week ago but says he still thinks about it. That's the sign of a good book!

4. I read all the Twilight books in about four or five days. I couldn't get enough of them. Ohhh, I love me some Edward Cullen!! Who would have thought that vampire love would be so hot? As a romance novel fan, Twilight really appeals to that part of me. Juan thinks there's too much sitting around talking about love, but I like that stuff. The first book drags as far as action, but the rest pick up. The last book isn't as bad as people say, but it's certainly not the best. That goes to the third one!!

5. I just finished The Other Queen by Phillipa Gregory. I generally like PG. I think the Other Boleyn Girl was her best. This one really dragged, took me a long time to get through it. My mom read it first and said that she didn't think PG likes Queen Elizabeth, and to read it, it really seems true. She's really hard on her. This book didn't have any protagonists/antagonists, but it wasn't quite literary enough to support that construct, which is why I think it was a slow read.

The Time Travellers Wife

This was such a beautiful book. It's been around for ages and I'm pretty sure they even made a movie about it. The story is about Henry and Clare. They meet when Clare is 6 (Henry is from the future and in his late 30's). They meet frequently in Clares childhood and then, when Clare is 20 and Henry is 28 they meet in the present. They love eachother their entire lives.

So amazing. I highly recommend, especially if you're in the mood for a love story.

Double Take

I just finished reading Double Take by Catherine Coulter.
I have read a slew of books from her FBI series and this one
was everything I had hoped it would be. It was filled with
suspense and intrigue with a bit of psychic visions, communications
with the dead and of course death of the BAD GUY. I am now on the
hunt for Tailspin, another one of her FBI books.

Nineteen Minutes...Jodi Picoult

Just finished Nineteen Minutes. It was a very good book. Really insiteful (is that with a c or an s?) as to the psychie (oh brother, sorry for the English Shana and Cari) of children, and parents, and teenagers, etc. It ended the only way it could. I think I probably would'nt read it if I had small kids as it can make you feel a little bit helpless and hopeless as a parent. But since my kids all turned out soo good and balanced (despite having me for a mother) instead I just breathed a big "whew" that their grown. I reeeeeally need to read something light and airy so my next book is called "The Good Good Pig" by Sy Montgomery. It's about the extraordinary life of christopher hogwood. So far, it 's just what I needed.

Stephanie Myer- The Vampire Chronicals

These books (4 total) are without a doubt the best I've read over the past couple years. They're like candy, purely for recreation and not at all high-brow, and, like candy, I am going totally addicted.

The story revolves around the intense love story of Bella and Edward Edward and his family (the Cullens) are vampires that do not feed on humans..'vegetarian' if you will. Bella is human.

I read all 3000 pages (4 books) within 2 weeks. These are the kind of books you stay up until 3am reading... They're such page turners that I found myself sneaking in 2 minutes here and there just to get a fix.

Oh, AND, Twilight (the 1st book) has been made into a movie, debuting 12/12/2008.

I highly recommend!! Harry Potter quality:)

My Sister's Keeper

Over the past several years the majority of my books have been pretty much murder and mystery, with, of course, Harry Potter and others mixed in. Literature (I'm speaking about books found in the Literature part of Borders, rather than Mystery) has not really been a big interest. But Cari has got me hooked on Jodi Picoult. I finished "My Sister's Keeper" and have become a total fan. Which is great because she has lots of books to read. "My Sister's Keeper" is about a young girl (13) who was pretty much bred to be her older sister's (16) medical parts supplier, as it were. Her sister has leukemia, since the age of 2) She now has decided that she no longer wants to do this. The book is really really good. I totally had thought I figured out the ending was absolutely wrong. I'm now reading "Nineteen Minutes" and went to Costco today to get "Vanishing Acts." Will let you know, but 1/2 through Nineteen Minutes, it is as time consuming as My Sister's Keeper. I LOVE good books!!!!

A thousand Splendid Suns, 5 bookmarks

Ok. I've heard about this book for a while. It's written by the same author who wrote The Kite Runner. (I gave it to my sister to read so I don't have the guy's name in front of me. I was in the Oslo, Norway airport and needed a book to read, the English section was very limited but I did see A thousand Spendid Suns. Cari and Shana have been telling me for a while that this is a very good book. So, facing a 12 hour ride home, in the middle seat, I thought I could certainly use a really good book. This book was it. It's the story of two women in Afganistan through the Soviets and Taliban regimes. Pretty much the 70's, 80's and 90's. I actually felt very ashamed that there are people in this worled who are suffering so much abuse, neglect, and hatred, because of their sex or race or place in this world, and I'm just so oblivious to it. I Have to say that I gave Afganistan very little thought before, not now. It so totally wrapped me up in these two women's lives that I felt they were in the room telling me themselves. I sobbed. Not "cried" but "sobbed". Not just over one incident but throughout the book. I'm not one that typically cries in books, movies, yes, (never could watch Lassie as a kid, it shut me down for a week afterward) but this book is that good. The only problem with it was finding something to read after. I had intended to read the Stephanie Plum 14 book, but after reading about these women's lives in Afganistan, it seemed just a little too frivilous. So I started and stopped different types and now I am finally able to pick up Stephanie Plum. Not one I typically cry over. haha
I give this book 5 Bookmarks (the top score.)

The Secret Life Of Bees

I have been reading like a mad woman this summer whenever I can. I have read a number of books but most have not been post worthy. However I just finished "The Secret Life Of Bees", by Sue Monk Kidd. It was exceptional!!! It was a wonderful love story between the Beekeeper and the Bees, between a Nanny and a Child, and between the Beekeepers and the Child. This book was set in the South in the year 1964, when racial tensions were still running VERY high. This book made me laugh and cry. I loved it and I will be keeping it as opposed to trading it for another book. *****(five stars)

Fearless Fourteen

Ahhh... That's about all I can say. I just plowed through the latest Janet Evanovich book "Fearless Fourteen". All I can say is bring on "??? Fifteen". It was a great read, as are all the other Stephanie Plum books. I laughed out loud more than once and made Abigail ask "what you doing Mommy?" Lula is up to all sorts of antics with Tank, Ranger is still steamy, Stephanie and Joe are still on, and Grandma tries out something new that brings all sorts of funny visuals to mind. Not to mention the "security" Joe hires to watch his house, that is hilarious all on its own. This book was ***** (five stars). Go get it folks it is great!

"Stolen Innocence"

I finished reading "Stolen Innocence" by Elissa Wall. I think I might have wrote a little about it but now that I am finished I'll add a bit more. To repeat, probably, she was a fundamentalist LDS who was forced to marry at age 14. She eventually left the group and filed rape charges against the leader, Warren Jeffs, for putting her in this marriage at 14. That is a really over simplified summary. It was a really good book and very detail oriented. This group is the same one that moved to Texas a few years later and became the group in the news a few months ago when they took all the children away. It felt a little "whiny" to me towards the end of her time in this group. She really wasn't very nice to her husband who she repeatedly said was not very nice to her, abusive, mean, etc. She totally proved her case to me as well as the jury that found W.J. guilty, but I guess what it was was that she didn't make me feel was real sorry for her. I read years ago a book called the "Burning Bed" about an abused wife with kids who eventually poured gasoline on her sleeping husband's bed and lit a match. Now she made me cry for her. She was soooo beaten down. But I just didn't have the same feeling for Elissa. anyway..gooooooood book and fast read. I'm almost done with The Other Boleyn Girl and will start the Boleyn Inheritance next. See ya! p.s....I just have to say that I'm so grateful for a mother who read all the time. My 2 sisters and I read all the time and now our daughters (Cari, Marila, and Linda) read all the time! Thanks Mom!

Jennifer Weiner

I really like JW books (for those of you who don't know, she's kind of a "literary" chick lit. Her books that I've read are "Good in Bed" and "Little Earthquakes" and "In Her Shoes.") The book I'm reading now is "Goodnight Nobody" which at first seemed really readable and engaging but now seems kind of whiny and self-righteous. The crux of a story is a bored stay-at-home mom who goes about investigating a local murder. I think I'm tired of the bored housewife routine-- "oh my husband doesn't pay enough attention to me, oh, I can only make fishsticks and tater tots and everyone else serves organic sushi to their children." A lot of chick lit has devolved into this. It's either a housewife who's under appreciated and underwhelmed by their life, or a woman who's just dying to get married, have a boyfriend, lose ten pounds or buy a new Prada bag. Blech. I think I'm getting cranky with it all. That's why I've jumped to memoir and good ol' historical fiction. But I'll finish "Goodnight Nobody".

If you need proof of how much this character feels sorry for herself (and her million dollar home, her husband who's nice but works a lot, her new car and her three bright, and of course, terribly witty children):

"'Goodnight comb and goodnight brush, goodnight nobody, good night mush.'"
"Mama, who is Nobody?" Sophie asked, pointing at the blank page.
Me, I thought.


Oh, BARF. Go cry over your latte!!

I Rememberd!!!

Holy Cows!!!!! This getting old thing is killing me. I forgot how to post on this and I read another book I wanted to tell you about, but I couldn't remember how to do this. OK. Actually, I am currently reading it, but it is very good. It's a mystery but it's humerous too. The Witch's Tongue: A Charlie Moon Mystery by James D. Doss. Charlie Moon is a Native American in CO a former investigator for the Southern Ute Police Department. He's a rancer now but still involved with some investigating and some law enforement pals. Some pretty colorful characters too. I'm really enjoying this book, it's hard to turn the tape off (listening to it). Think you will enjoy it too.

OOOOOPS!

Sorry, I hit the wrong blog when I put in the picture of Elijah. I know this blog is all about reading so sorry! But as Shana is one of the creator's of this sight I'm sure she won't mind.

Elijah Joseph Strassburg

Joe and Shana had their baby, Elijah Joseph Strassburg, at 3a.m. this morning 6/3/08. He weighed in at 9.5 oz, and is 20" long. He has a bunch of dark hair and a really sweet disposition. Shana is doing great and had a relatively easy time. Chloe hasn't quite figured out that she gets to keep Eli or even if she wants to. haha But she is having fun in the hospital room with her folks. We are just very excited to welcome to the world Elijah, our 5th grandbaby and 2nd grandson.

Rave Reviews?

Children's books aren't the only thing I read these days, but the book I'm reading right now is quite long (850 pages to be exact) and it's not as captivating as I had thought it would be. I have found that when I am not totally into a book it takes me quite a while to finish it since I'm not rushing to find a quiet minute or two throughout the day to sneak in reading time. With this book (Outlander by Diana Gabaldon) it's just been a few chapters or so a night before I fall asleep. The problem is that I'm cursed with the need to finish a book once I've started it! I'm not saying that this is a book I wouldn't want to finish, because I do- but at the same time it's taking me a while to get through with it so I can start something else. Does anyone else have this problem, or do you just put the book down and never look back? Sometimes I'm not sure if a book is disappointing because I was expecting so much more... I have heard so many good things about this book and the whole series, so maybe I was expecting too much. That happened when I read Life of Pi. Everyone I had talked to raved about the book, but I didn't think it was all that spectacular. I enjoyed it and there are interesting things about the story and the structure of the book, but it was another book I had to plod my way through! Anyway, I'll let you know what I think about Outlander after I've actually finished the book, which will hopefully be soon!

Children's Books!

Well, I figured I should probably post something to this blog before I go into labor, have another child to take care of, and really have no time for reading... Except for when I'm nursing! I remember reading a lot while I nursed Chloe, but then again I didn't have Chloe around to worry about what she's getting into! Lately most of my reading has been that of children's books. Chloe has started to really enjoy having me read stories to her and her current favorites are the Fancy Nancy books! We read Fancy Nancy: Bonjour Butterfly at least three times a day, usually followed by Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy! These are really cute stories with wonderful illustrations! So far I haven't gotten totally tired of reading them even though we read them SO much!

Three Cups of Tea

I received this e-mail from our friends, Gary and Judy Ewing on a book. I'll copy it as she wrote it:

"Just a note to recommend the most amzing book I've read in a long time...I know you'll enjoy it to. It's Three Cups of Tea...One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...one School at a time. It's author is Greg Morgenson and David Relin. Greg was a mountain climber who climbed K2, in Afghanistan....but didn't quite make it. His amazing story evolves to him becoming a builder of schools for girls in Afghanistan....which he continues til now. You HAVE to read it!"

Sounds reall y good.

Phillipa and Dean

I just finished reading "The Constant Princess" by Phillipa Gregory. She wrote "The Other Boleyn girl" and then "The Boleyn Inheritance". All about the wives of Henry the 8th. The "Bolyen" books she wrote first and then went back and wrote the Constant Princess after his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. She wrote in her research of the Boleyn girls she became very interested in Katherine. Cari suggested reading that one first and going in order of his wives. It starts out a little slow with her early life as youngest daughter, Catalina, to Ferdinand and Isabella, King and Queen of Spain. It was totally a good read. I couldn't wait to start the next one, "The Other Boleyn girl." This one is really good too. BUT..then Dean Koontz came out with his book, "Odd Hours." So....Boleyn got put aside for a little bit. (Actually we are leaving for vacation in a couple of weeks so I thought the Boleyn books would be better to take as they are paperback.) I am totally a Dean Koontz fan. I read all of his books. If any of you follow him, this is his 4h Odd adventure. It starts out with Odd Thomas, Forever Odd, Brother Odd, and now Odd Hours. Odd Thomas is a great guy, very average looking but can see dead people. So he helps the local police in finding killers. He can also see the future at times so goes around trying to keep people from dying. Odd Hours has started off very fast paced and good. I would recommend reading the first book, Odd Thomas, first to get a sense of the character.

RE: "Dogs"

I know, I had the same feelings but it is interesting to read about that country's (Zimbaway (spelled something like that) uprising in the 70's. She'got a little bit of sense of humor to her too. You could see how the whites had total domination over the blacks in that country, but on the other hand they kept them fed and even had medical services for them. I had to put it down for a long while. And RE: "14" Stephanie Plum. YEA!!!! I love Stephanie. Can't wait for the new one.

Memoir

My mom lent me a memoir called "Let's Not Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood." It's extremely interesting, but barely a third in, I'm completely depressed. We have a whole slew of dead animals, an alcoholic mother and two dead babies. What could possibly be ahead?? I'm wondering if this whole memoir crazy world is going to make us a much more depressed society. After all, shouldn't reading be escapist? Why waste time diving head first into someone's depressing reality? Sigh... I'll keep reading though. The book is interesting. And therein lies the problem...

Calling ALL Stephanie Plum FANS

It's almost here...June 17th. YEAH!!!!! (author is Janet Evanovich for those who are unfamiliar)

Not Even My Name

OK - This is my first post EVER. I read this great story about the Greek, Armenian & Asyrian Genocide in Turkey. It's non-fiction (unless you ask someone from Turkey). The author Theo Halo tells the story of her mother's excile from Turkey. She opens with their visit to Turkey to see if they can find her home, and from there goes back in time to recount the excile and her life up to the trip. There are some really sad things, but overall the ending is happy. I LIKE HAPPY ENDINGS. The thing I found most interesting is that during my days in the Senate I recall the issue of the genocide being hotly debated because one of the UC's wanted to accept some money from Turkey. The string attached was that we would denounce that there ever was a genocide. We had a Greek Senator who led the oposition and it was a big deal. The book references that incident. Not in great detail though. I remember when it was taking place wondering what were they really talking about? Who were those people they were referring to as being exciled or killed? Now I know! Aaron says that you can still be shot in Turkey for claiming that it happened.

Re: Steamed

I understand completely! For the most part (and there are always exceptions) I read books and watch movies to relax. I look forward to the ending because I know that no matter the hardship or trauma that the characters have faced, in the end, all the pieces fall into place and good triumphs over evil. There's something about a book/movie that ends badly that leaves me SO dissatisfied! I feel as if I've been robbed of the relaxation/escape that I was in search of. The only way to describe it hmmph!

On a lighter note..I just got 3 new books! All of them recommendations...

First on the list:
Another Bullshit Day in Suck City- recommended by Cari. I'm SO excited to read it.. Even if this book is a disaster, it still has the best title I've ever read.

Phillipa Gregory

I think the whole world's gone Phillipa Gregory crazy... In 2003, when Shana and I were in London I bought "The Virgin's Lover" and didn't end up reading it until 2006. (I only can be that specific because I remember I was pregnant when I read it). I loved it, and when I went to buy more PG books, expecting there to be quite a hunt, I was very surprised to find that she's everywhere. She's HUGE. I love that she's making historical fiction mainstream, and I love that you can learn about the Tudors, historical Britian, etc, in an entertaining way. What's even more interesting is that historical fiction is now popular as a genre. I'm sure there's some historians who think it's garbage and silly, but I think anything that makes us learn is worth reading!! Anyway, so right now I am currently reading "The Last Wife of Henry 8th" by somone who's name I don't remember. It's pretty good, but it's no PG. I can't wait until the next book, but at the rate she's churning them out you have to wonder if she's going to run out of characters pretty soon!!

Steamed!!!!!

I just finished a book by a well known, and usually very entertaining, author. I won't say which one in case someone else is reading it...BUT.....I'm just steamed. The bad guys totally win and are extremely smug in the end. What is up with that? I read for total relaxation and entertainment. There are the occasional non-fiction, self-help, autobiographies, but for the most part I love to read and be totally taken away with a book. I can even handle it when the bad guys are reeeeally bad because I know that they will get it back in the end. Not with this book. The good guys were really hurtin at the end and the bad guys were triumphant. I don't want reality when I read. I want to know that good will always trump evil. The authors I read always have great endings or I don't read them. That's why I have authors I read and those that I don't. This guy has always had great, happy endings. Not this time. In reading his little blurb at the end of the book he was making a political statement. PLEEEEEEZE! I just want to live in a world where everything is made right at the end. Good always wins, bad always loses. I can with books, but this one as totally disillusioned me. Reality has entered into my fantasy. I need to read some Agatha Christie.

Some Of My Favorite Reads

Over the last year I have stumbled upon some new favorite authors who have actual series that I can spend hours consumed by. Here would be my new favorite Authors: Blaize Clement - Dixie Hemingway Mystery Series. These are a kick to read and very enjoyable. Janet Evanovich - Stephanie Plum series and the Full series are a great read, funny suspenseful and easy to get through. I can't wait for the next one. I have two new authors that I have enjoyed as well, Brian Freeman - Stalked and C.J. Box - Blue Heaven. Both are suspenseful.

Of course I have my old faithful authors that I love to read, Vince Flynn writes political thrillers that should be read in order. His main guy is Mitch Rapp and this guy is pretty amazing. John Grisham is another author that I just can't get enough of. I have read every single one of his books and have loved 99% of them. Fern Michaels has started a new series that has been a lot of fun to read. It is the Sisterhood series. Read them in order. They are about a bunch of female vigilantes and you just have to love 'em.

Deadlist Catch

OK, I admit that I am totally addicted to Discovery Channel's Deadliest Catch, about crab fishing on the Bering Sea. I have watched all of the three season's that are on DVD. I'm hooked...and then.....in looking through the Costco ads I see that there are two books out on this subject. One is called "Deadliest Catch, Desperate Hours", and it's a book about all the adventures and stories about the boats and crews of the Discovery Program. The other is called "Time Bandit" which is the name of one of the boats owned and operated by two brothers, Andy and Johnathan Hillstrand. It's the story of their life and experiences on the Bering Sea. So I put down my Grisham book, and picked up these two and read as often as I could. Just finished them and would highly recommend them for anyone whose interested in this stuff. I read parts to Don continually and he was very interested in them also. Not enough to read the books himself, as he has read maybe 3 books our entire marriage (34 years...well actually no, just two as he read one before we were married.) It's kinda hard to understand as I have had at least one, most times 2 or 3going the whole time. But anyway.....good books. I'll let Joe read them now. Now I'll go back to see how the nasty and vindictive Mr. Carl Trudeau is doing in "The Appeal." But first, it's wednesday, so I better be getting on Romans 13. (Any help in Romans is totally appreciated.haha)

For the love of words..

Ok, enough dilly-dallying. I read, I promise, although the mystery/adventure/thriller gene that seems to run in the family has escaped me. I'm addicted to memoirs and fiction that could have been true if you stretched your imagination. I carry on love affairs with the main characters and often get so lost in their lives I forget about mine. My bookshelves are full of past affairs, lovers that I can't bear to part with, that each hold a part of me.. my hand, my arm, my toe.

My most recent 'affair' was with the memers of a fully disfunctional family in The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. This is the story of her life, growing up with a brother and 2 sisters and parents who were self proclaimed 'wanderers.' The father is a drunk who spends all their money on booze and unsuccessful get-rich-quick schemes. They live poorly, without electricity or running water in the Apalachans. When the kids are around 15 they decide to leave their parents and move to New York. Choosing to be homeless, the parents follow.

I HIGHLY recommend this book. I read it in a day. It was amazing.

Books I have Read

Hi. Cari and Shana have graciously invited me (Eve) to add my thoughts to their realreading blog. As Cari mentioned Stephen King, I have to add my thoughts on him. I loved Stephen King. Yes I did say "loved". He has become waaaaaay to "wordy" for me. "Just get to the scary parts, Stephen." I started his Duma Rey, of which my sister Diane said was great, and couldn't get into it. Maybe I'll try again. Some books that I have read I'll comment on. I finsihed reading the new James Patterson, "Double Cross" with his Alex Cross character. Very good, but, the bad guy gets caught, the really bad guy doesn't. Why does he do that? Now I have to wait another year to find out what happens to poor Alex. One of my very favorite authors is a kid (he's about 20) named Matthew Reilly. Loved every one of his books. But the last one, which was really really good, he left as a cliff hangar also. AAAHHH! I would absolutely recommend any one of his books for total entertainment. He's written, Ice Station, Temple, Contest, Scarecrow, Area 7, 7 Deadly Wonders and it's sequal, 6 Sacred Stones. All very heavy on action. While I was in Kuaui I read "Gods in Alabama, by Joshilyn Jackson. A very light murder mystery with a little romance and insight into life and family relationships. I would defintely recommend it to anyone. I'm in the process now of reading The Appeal, by John Grisham. It's a typical Gisham book, fast and entertaining but a little too liberal for me. Well that's it for me, Happy reading.

Just a thought...

I thought I'd pose a question... genre fiction (romance, mystery, thrillers) or literary fiction? Which one has more merit? What is more important-- pure entertainment (which some would say is why you even read at all) or the ability to provoke a deeper sense of thought and meaning? I'm kind of in the middle, and pretty much enjoy both kinds of books. But I wonder if there are people who are squarely one side or the other. OR, whether there's some authors who transcend this idea. Stephen King is trying to go "literary", but is it working? Or will he always be known as the guy who can scare the daylights out of you? Just my daily rambles..

Cari's Introduction

This is my introduction to the blog... it feels a little self-indulgent, but isn't that what reading is?
All I know is books make me happy. I love walking into a bookstore. I feel like I could spend hours in there, walk out spending way to much money and yet feel okay about it. I love the smell of books, the covers of books, the way page 1 looks so far away from page 456, and yet somehow you get there in a millisecond. I love talking about books! Which is why Shana and I decided to start a book blog. Hardly pioneering, I know, but yet still, everyone needs a forum.

Oh, and to kick this off: Right now I'm reading: ('scuse the double colon: it's gramatically correct but awkward looking. I just realized I made it a TRIPLE colon. It might be the first one EVER.)

Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
Atonement (Ian McEwan)
Thinner (Stephen King, but actually been working on this one for five months or so)
The Shipping News (Annie Proulx)

Of course I have LOTS to say about all these books, but this is just an intro!! More later, I'm sure!!


P.S. Anyone is welcome to join this blog! Just contact me or Shana!!