Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
by J.K. Rowling
(Review in Progress)
Rating: B+
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Tuesday, Jul 31 2007
Fiction 11:14 am
A Thousand Splendid Suns Saturday, Jul 28 2007
A Thousand Splendid Suns
by Khaled Hosseini
(Review in Progress)
Rating: A+
Love Walked In Tuesday, Jul 24 2007
Love Walked In
by Marisa De Los Santos
Why did I read it?
I heard several people say this book was a cute, quick read. I got it cheap on E-bay.
What’s it about?
Cornelia is a thirty-something manager of a coffee shop living in Philadelphia. One day, handsome debonair Martin Grace walks in, and they start a relationship. Meanwhile, across town, Martin’s nearly-estranged daughter Claire is dealing with her mother’s strange behavior. What happens
Rating: C
The Other Boleyn Girl Monday, Jul 16 2007
Fiction 11:48 am
The Other Boleyn Girl
by Phillipa Gregory
Why did I read it?
The girls on the nest book club board rave about this book – I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything bad about it. So when I saw that one of my favorite book seller’s on e-bay had it for sale I picked it up.
What’s it about?
I didn’t know the first thing about King Henry VIII, or British history in general, before reading this book (and really, I still don’t, as I know this was fiction) but this is the story of Mary and Anne Boleyn. Anne is “Queen Anne,” who the king had beheaded after suspecting her of adultery (although it’s widely suspected that she was innocent and he had ulterior motives.) The story centers around Mary Boleyn (hence, the Other Boleyn Girl) and starts when she is just a young teenager and a mistress of the King herself, and we follow her and her sister’s lives up until the famous beheading itself.
Did I like it?
Not as much as I had hoped. I don’t know if maybe I’m just not into historical fiction or what, but I wasn’t that interested. The writing seemed repetitive and the book was just too long – I think it could have been shortened without affecting the plot.
Rating:
B
She’s Come Undone Wednesday, Jul 11 2007
Favorites and Fiction and Oprah's Book Club 4:03 pm
She’s Come Undone
by Wally Lamb
Why did I read it?
I heard about this book and when I saw it for super cheap from a seller on e-bay that I wanted to buy another book from I picked it up so I could take advantage of combined shipping.
What’s it about?
This is the life story of Dolores. We meet her on the day her family gets their first TV set when she’s a child, and the book ends when she is in her 50’s (I think.) Dolores has a pretty rough life and spends the majority of it morbidly obese and suffering through many tragedies and injustices. But…she manages to overcome.
Did I like it?
I really liked it! It was one of those books I didn’t want to put down because I wanted to see what was going to happen, and I really liked Wally Lamb’s writing style. I can’t wait to read his other book which I’ve heard even better things about!
Rating:
A
Good in Bed Saturday, Jul 7 2007
Chick Lit and Favorites and Fiction 3:01 pm
Good in Bed
by Jennifer Weiner
Why did I read it?
I got this book of Ebay a while back, after reading (and loving!) Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner. But then I read Goodnight Nobody, and hated it, so I was hesitant about this one. But I’ve heard really good things about it, so the other day when I was craving some “chick lit” I grabbed it off the shelf.
What’s it about?
Cannie is a twentysomething chick living it up in Philadelphia. She has a decent job as a newspaper writer, a slightly odd but loving mother, and great friends – an overall happy life, despite the fact that she’s overweight. But after declaring that she “needs a break” from her long-time, pot smoking boyfriend, she’s shocked to find herself the subject of exposing magazine column written by him, titled “Loving a Larger Woman.” This triggers several events that upturn Cannie’s life, including meeting and befriending a movie star, traveling to Hollywood, and the biggest change a life can possibly have….
Did I like it?
Yep – now this is good chick lit. Well-written, interesting, likeable, realistic characters, not totally predictible. I really enjoyed this book and it was great to read it after some terrible “chick lit” I’ve suffered through lately.
Rating:
A
The Reader Friday, Jul 6 2007
Fiction and Oprah's Book Club 7:03 am
The Reader
by Bernhard Schlink
Why did I read it?
Well, I had just finished Alphabet Weekends and am waiting for some books I bought off e-bay to come in the mail. I needed something to pass the time until they came, and The Reader was the shortest book on my TBR shelf, so I grabbed it. I had bought it at Half Price Books a few months ago on clearance for $2.00.
What’s it about?
As a young boy in Germany, Michael falls ill with hepatitis and after becoming sick on the street he is rescued by an older woman, Hannah. She soon becomes his lover and he often reads to her before and after. One day, she dissapears. Several years later, observing a trial as a young law student, Michael finds Hannah on trial for working for the Nazi’s. He then discovers “a shocking secret” about her.
Did I like it?
No, I did not. It was boring and very predictible. That’s about all I have to say.
Rating:
C-
