Alphabet Weekends Saturday, Jun 30 2007

Alphabet Weekends
by Elizabeth Noble

Why did I read it?

I heard it mentioned on the nest book club board, and when I saw it at the library I was in the mood for some chick lit so I grabbed it.

What’s it about?

Tom and Natalie are life-long friends who grew up together. When Natalie gets dumped by her long-time boyfriend, Tom decides to convince Natalie that they are meant to be together by partaking in an activity each weekend that begins with each letter of the alphabet. Meanwhile, Tom’s sister in law is involved in an extra-marital affair and Natalie’s parents have love troubles of their own.

Did I like it?

At first I kind of did – the way it portrayed the different storylines in the family reminded me of “You Made Me Love You” (which I loved.) But after a while I realized that I really didn’t like this one. The characters weren’t that interesting, the dialogue was kind of cheesy, and the side stories seemed kind of pointless. And the plot was just too entirely predictible, even for chick lit.

Rating:

C+

Leave a Response »

 

The Kite Runner Monday, Jun 25 2007

The Kite Runner
by Khaled Hosseini

Why did I read it?

Well, I felt like the last person in the world who has any interest in books who hadn’t read it, and since Khaled Hosseini’s new book recently came out and I just found out they’re making The Kite Runner into a movie, so I thought it would be as good a time as any to go ahead and see if I liked it, so I got it from the library.

What’s it about?

Most people probably know, but it’s about a man named Amir. Up until the last chapter or so, the story as told as if he is telling it, looking back. It starts when he’s a young boy growing up rich and privileged in Afghanistan, his best friend being his servant, Hassan. Then an event happens that changes their relationship forever (I’m trying to avoid spoilers here) and plagues Amir with gut-wrenching guilt. They part ways, and Amir goes on to find a great life in America. One day, he’s contacted by an old friend in Afghanistan, who is deathly sick and has one last wish, that only Amir can help him with. So he returns to his war torn country to try and grant his friend’s dying wish, and along with doing that, make amends for what he didn’t do so many years ago.

Did I like it?

I did like it, and if I had read it without hearing anything about it, I probably would have thought “that was a really good book.” But, I have heard so many people RAVE about this that I guess my expectations were set just a bit high. It was a good book – well written, enjoyable, and interesting, but I wouldn’t say that it was quite a modern masterpiece. Parts of the plot seemed a bit contrived, and sometimes I felt like the author was trying just a bit too hard to pull on your heartstrings. Still good though – I’m glad I read it.

Rating:

A-

Leave a Response »

 

This Is How We Do It: The Working Mother’s Manifesto Thursday, Jun 21 2007

This Is How We Do It: The Working Mother’s Manifesto
by Carol Evans

(Currently reading)

Leave a Response »

 

The Poisonwood Bible Wednesday, Jun 13 2007

The Poisonwood Bible
by Barbara Kingsolver

Why did I read it?

This book came in a “lot” of books I won on e-bay, and I’d heard about it on the Nest book club board.

What’s it about?

It’s about a southern Baptist minister who brings his family (his wife and four daughters) to the Belgian Congo back in the 1950’s for what is supposed to be a year-long mission. It turns out to be much longer, and the book continues into the family’s separate lives after they leave the Congo. The chapters rotate between being told by each daughter’s viewpoint, with an introduction to each section of the book told from the mother’s viewpoint, looking back.

Did I like it?

Yes, I did like it. It was a LONG book, and I stuck with it no problem. I thought the middle part could have been a little shorter, and I would have liked more of the book to be dedicated to the family’s lives after leaving the Congo. I also thought the author went off into a rant about Congolese politics a few times, which didn’t quite fit into the story. Overall, although this probably isn’t something I would have went and chose myself to read, I’m glad I did.

Rating:

B

Leave a Response »

 

Mercy Sunday, Jun 10 2007

Mercy
by Jodi Picoult

Why did I read it?

I was in the mood for some Jodi Picoult and this was one that I bought in a “lot” a while back – I couldn’t decide and ended up just grabbing it off the shelf.

What’s it about?

Cam MacDonald is the police chief (or clan chief) of a small Massachusetts town filled with Scottish descendents like himself. One day his unknown cousing, Jaime, comes to town asking for Cam. He then points to his dead wife in the passenger seat of his truck, and confesses that he is the one who killed her. You see, Maggie was suffering greatly from terminal cancer and Jamie killed her at her own request. Of course, “mercy” killings are still illegal, so Jaime must be tried for his crime, with Cam as star witness for the prosecution.
The same day Jamie arrives in town, a vagabond stranger, Mia does. She gets a job as Cam’s wife, Allie’s assistant at her flower shop, but it is Cam who she entrances – which ends up causing great strife to the marriage, and life.

Did I like it?

Ehhh…the writing was fine, the story was interesting enough but pretty predictible. Both of the other Picoult novels I’ve read had “twists” at the end, which I was kind of hoping for, but it didn’t happen. Cam and Mia were very unlikeable characters, which I don’t think was the intention – there were also some characters who were introduced unneccesarily. It was OK.

Rating:

B-

Leave a Response »

 

Quitting books Saturday, Jun 9 2007

As an avid reader, “quitting” books is not something that I like to do. The only book (prior to the last few weeks) that I can remember quitting is “A Long Way Down” by Nick Horny. It was OK, not the worst book I ever read, but I just really didn’t like it, or “get into” it. I read about half before I put it down. I was 8 months pregnant and not in the mood to force myself through something I wasn’t enjoying.

However, in the last 2 weeks I’ve quit 3 books, which I’m not really happy about. First was “A Prayer For Owen Meany,” by John Irving, which is highly recommended and considered a classic by many. I read 20 or so pages but it was just so boring! While I’d really like to finish this some day, it was too hard to resist moving on to something more interesting to me.

Then was “Plain Truth” by Jodi Picoult. Now, I love Jodi Picoult. I have several of her books sitting on my “To Be Read” shelf. I had selected “Plain Truth” because it seemed to have better reviews than some others of her books that I have. Well, I got 10 or so pages into it, and one of the first things that happens is that an Amish girl gives birth to an infant who is found dead the next day. Now, I knew this was included inthe plot, but, having a newborn myself, it was just too disturbing for me to read about a dead baby – this is so unlike me, but I just couldn’t continue. I put it back.

Then, thinking I needed something lighter, I grabbed “A Year in the Merde” by Stephen Clarke from my TBR shelf. This is a fake memoir about a Brit living in France that was included in a lot of books I got off E-bay. I got 20 or so pages into it, but I’m just not “into it.” The author seems to assume everyone reading it speaks French, as alot of phrases/quotes are written without their English counterparts. Maybe I just don’t know enough about France/the French to enjoy this, but I just wasn’t.

So, I just finished my non-fiction read, “The Working Gal’s Guide to Babyville” and I need to pick something else to start. I think I will go with something else by Jodi Picoult. We shall see tomorrow.

Leave a Response »

 

The Working Gal’s Guide to Babyville Thursday, Jun 7 2007

The Working Gal’s Guide to Babyville
by Paige Hobey & Allison Neid, M.D.

Why did I read it?

I spotted this in a bookstore back when I was pregnant and it seemed like a hip, modern guide for the younger working mother. When I got a $10 gift card for signing up for Google checkout I bought it from shop.com during the last month or two of my pregnancy, and I felt that now, as I was nearing the end of my maternity leave, would be a good time to read it. I had actually read the first chapter, about preparing for your newborn, when I was still pregnant.

What’s it about?

Despite it’s title, this book is a guide that could be useful for all new mothers, working or not. There’s (like I said) a chapter on preparing for baby, and chapters on baby care and on eating and sleeping with detailed guides that are some of the most helpful I’ve found. However, there are chapters that are really geared towards moms who work, like one on enjoying your maternity leave and several regarding alternative work arrangements. The author includes several budget spreadsheets to help new moms decide if they can afford to not work, work part time, etc. However, there is a chapter just for stay at home moms!

Did I like it?

Not quite as much as I’d hoped. Part of it was my fault – I should have read parts of the book earlier. The chapter on maternity leave was pretty helpful, but my maternity leave was almost over (although what the heck was the author thinking suggesting we fine tune our exotic cooking skills during our time off!?)
But I thought there were too many chapters on alternative work arrangements and not enough on helping those of us who KNOW we’re returning full-time with adjusting to and juggling our new lives. I also thought that the chapter on SAHM’s was unneccesary in a book with this title.
Like I said though, the chapters on babies eating/sleeping schedules was helpful – I wish I’d found it sooner, I think I would have my daughter on a better routine right now if I had.

Rating:

B

Leave a Response »