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A friend passed on a copy to me of Nora Bonesteel's Christmas Past by Sharyn McCrumb. It's more of a novella than a full-length novel and was a super-quick read, perfect for my flight to my daughter's house for Christmas. It was fine, and certainly in keeping with the season.
Actually, two stories in one and the author cuts back and forth between the stories with each new chapter. I never can decide if I'm a fan of that way of writing.
I LOVE anything and everything by Sharon McCrumb. They're mysteries, but are more about southern folklore. Is she still writing?
I've read a lot of depressing books lately. Need to find one that makes me laugh. Anyone have a recommedation for a recently published nice light funny book?? Something Bridget Jones ish???
I LOVE anything and everything by Sharon McCrumb. They're mysteries, but are more about southern folklore. Is she still writing?
I've read a lot of depressing books lately. Need to find one that makes me laugh. Anyone have a recommedation for a recently published nice light funny book?? Something Bridget Jones ish???
well did any of you get books for Christmas ? or gift cards to book stores ? Im just curious . Im reading the quilt walk and it is rather good . I was really thinking about leaving the cd forum altogether I have hit such rudeness lately . Oh well nature of the beast I guess .,
Location: Montreal -> CT -> MA -> Montreal -> Ottawa
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The unknown Americans in The Book of Unknown Americans will remain unknown to me. I got to about 15% and was bored by it. It's written like it's a YA book, but not the clever YA books that I typically enjoy (like The Fault of Our Stars or We Were Liars). It's too simplistically written for my liking. So even though I didn't want to think too much, that was thinking too little. And since I felt the need to jump start my brain again after that boredom, I started -- even though I said that I would NOT -- The Hundred-Year House.
well did any of you get books for Christmas ? or gift cards to book stores ? Im just curious . Im reading the quilt walk and it is rather good . I was really thinking about leaving the cd forum altogether I have hit such rudeness lately . Oh well nature of the beast I guess .,
I'm still reading the stack of books I've gotten as presents over the past 2 years. I keep adding to the stack now and then myself when a review grabs my imagination.
I just reviewed one of the books I purchased, and while it's a deeply engaging read, it is not fun. It's a history called 'Living Hell', a history of the injuries that came in the Civil War. It's gruesomeness is so graphic in parts that I have to stop reading for a day or two and allow the mental pictures fade from my mind. The worst is it's a history, and every word is true and taken from letters and documents.
The book before this one was a gift I got from an old friend and fellow reader. We swap books back and forth and I've always gotten good books from him, but I was really disappointed in "The story of Edgar Sawtelle," by David Wroblewski. A #1 N.Y. Times bestseller and one of the books from Oprah's book club. Published in 2008.
I usually don't give away spoilers, but this one deserves it. While the descriptions and details are wonderful, this is a story about a family who raises exceptionally expensive dogs. The dogs are bred for their companionship ability rather than for their looks. And it took the entire book for me to discover the plot surrounding all the marvelous stuff about the farm, the lives and the dogs was ripped straight out of Shakespeare's Hamlet. I was really let down when my increasing suspicions were brought to full fruit in the last chapter.
I wondered why the writer, who had such great power painting word pictures, couldn't come up with a plot on his own. It seemed like such a cheat. If he had wanted to rip off the Great Bard, at least he should have used a lesser-known play. The worst of it is the book sets itself up as a feel-good story for over half it's length, then falls to pieces with a tragic ending, leaving the reader with no understanding of why the bad conclusion came about.
Apparently, my thoughts were shared by about half the readers when it first came out. Readers either fell for the books lyrical and poetic descriptions of dogs, a mute boy and nature, and accepted the Shakespearean plot or they found it tedious, over-long and a rip-off, like I did.
Last edited by banjomike; 12-27-2014 at 12:13 AM..
The unknown Americans in The Book of Unknown Americans will remain unknown to me. I got to about 15% and was bored by it. It's written like it's a YA book, but not the clever YA books that I typically enjoy (like The Fault of Our Stars or We Were Liars). It's too simplistically written for my liking. So even though I didn't want to think too much, that was thinking too little. And since I felt the need to jump start my brain again after that boredom, I started -- even though I said that I would NOT -- The Hundred-Year House.
I started Hundred Year House and quit about 20 pages in. Lately, if a book doesn't grab me immediately, I'm done. Looking forward to your opinion.
Almost halfway through Atul Gawande's "Being Mortal" (only began it yesterday)
and despite the depressing subject matter, can't put it down-he writes so very engagingly.
Put aside The Adventures of Augie March till my mood changes. I think it will be a good book. My holds finally came in, so I thought I'd read Charlotte's Web - Maybe my brain can handle a kid's book. haha
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