Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Forum #2 - Summer Reading

On average, the Baroness polishes off a book a week. I've always been a voracious reader. These past few months, though, and the upcoming few weeks see me in whirling dervish mode.

So, for once, I will actually have a summer reading pile.

Some of these sad babies have sat there, patiently, for quite some time. To them, I whisper a sacred promise - "I'll get to you soon..."

The lovely Countess iPost - check her out both here and here - suggested that I share my summer reading list. It's not particularly ambitious, but I always have a few series on the go that I pick up as I can.

Here we go:

Just read:

1. The 6th Target, James Patterson and Maxine Pietro
What one usually expects from the Women's Murder Club series. And sometimes, predictable is ok, too.

2. The Good Husband of Zebra Drive, Alexander McCall Smith
Oh, how I love, love, LOVE this series of his - the flip side, the antithesis of the Women's Murder Club is Smith's Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

Every time I read about Precious Ramotswe, Mma Makutsi, and JLB Matekoni and their friends and associates, I am calm and peaceful. Life moves at a pretty mellow pace in Botswana, and I greedily rip through these faster than I should, and then am sad that there is not another one waiting.

This prolific writer has 3 sets of series - this one, The Sunday Philosopher's series, and the 44 Scotland Yard series. I love each one.

3. The Secret Life of Bees and The Mermaid Chair, Sue Monk Kidd
I found the SLOB rivetting and powerful; a testement to the power of women. The Mermaid Chair? Meh. Kind of like "The Thornbirds" on a island.

On Deck:

1. Daniel Isn't Talking, Marty Leimbach
The von B's know many families within our community that are affected by children with autism. I read a glowing review on this and picked it up awhile ago.

2. The Almost Moon, Alice Sebold
The Lovely Bones was a book that I hadn't picked out at all; it was foisted on me by a friend at a time when I had no time for reading. But, once I finished the first paragraph, I was hooked and could not put it down. I'm hoping this will be similar.

3. A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini
I keep putting this off, I don't know why. Perhaps because The Kite Runner was so amazing.

4. Foreskin's Lament, Shalom Auslander
Another book review that intriuged me - this book tells the history of a man who grew up in a strict Orthodox Jewish household, all his childhood memories flooding to the forefront when considering the circumcision of his soon to be born son.

That's it - pretty sad, really. Especially considering yesterday's extensive list. But I'm fairly picky about my reading.

And you? What's on deck for you, and why?




12 comments:

formerly fun said...

Well, you know how I feel about Oprah and her treatment of James Frey, so I went out and bought his new book, Bright Shiny Morning, out of protest.(it was also well-reviewed)

For an upcoming plane ride, I purchased, Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea, by Chelsea Handler, a totally immature, inappropriate humor writer.

Anonymous said...

Can't forget about happiness by will ferguson!

One that you gave me of course, and I've read twice.
LOVE IT!

And my list would therefore include many really trashy teen novels.
Lets put it this way, they're easy to read, and I'm too much like my mother.

THE END. haha

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

LOVED The Secret Life of Bees but feel the same as you about The Mermaid Chair! I also loved The Kite Runner...so I will have to check out A Thousand Splendid Suns. Right now I just started Pillars of the Earth...one that will probably take all summer! Oh, and I didn't know James Frey had a new one...I will have to check that out as well.

Anonymous said...

I'm in a book drought. I've been trying to read a book for a week and I'm not getting anywhere with it. Maybe I need to try a different one...

Mental P Mama said...

I am reading the Dooce book right now: Things I Learned About My Dad, and it is so-so. Some are better than others. Next up: David Sedaris' new book! Love him...

Not Afraid to Use It said...

I don't get to read anything right now, but if you haven't read The Secret History by Donna Tartt, get thee to a store and get a copy.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I got the David Sedaris one too and it is a crack up. I can't read it in bed anymore when my huz is sleeping because I wake him up laughing.

Maggie, Dammit said...

I felt exactly the same way about Kidd's books.

Our book group just read "Christine Falls" by Benjamin Black (a pseudonym for Jon Banville) It was pretty good.

I also highly, highly, highly recommend "Special Topics in Calamity Physics" by Marisha Pessl. I may have her name spelled wrong, fair warning.

yay books. :)

Memaw's memories said...

I have been a fan of James Patterson for a long time. Normally, I don't like murder mysteries, but he has a way of telling his stories that I can't put them down. I also like his love stories too.

I love books that are in series and westerns of any kind.

I picked up a book at Dollar General(yes, I said Dollar General) that I hope will be good. The name is Plain Brown Wrapper by Alex Powell. I have no idea what it's about.

Anonymous said...

Countess FF: I will p/u the new James Frey (your evil plan is dashed, O. That'll show ya!!) And I've read some Chelsea Handler stuff before, so this sounds pretty good.

Countess Schmee: I am all for the easy-to-burn-through-in-one-afternoon "novels". Sometimes, my brain just needs a little junk food. It can't be Proust and Kafka every day...

Countess iPost - If you ever finish, please let me know about the Pillars book - I've seen it at the bookstore, but have been too intimidated.

Countess AG: Why read a book when you can be right on the cutting edge of late-breaking news on CNN?
This is very important work.

Countess Maggie: I will look for those two - I'm really intrigued by the title of the second one. And yay books, indeed!!

Countess FF: Oh, how momma loves her some David Sedaris. I saw him at a reading a couple of years ago, and now consider it my life's mission to wrestle him away from the clutches of Hugh and show him what it's all about. Just don't tell my husband...

Countess MPM: See my feeling about Mr. Sedaris in the comment just above. I have extra copies of "Me Talk Pretty One Day", and give them out indiscriminately to anyone who says they've never heard of him before.

Countess NATUI: I will get me to a bookstore, posthaste! Although they're kind of a dangerous place for me. Like my sons and Best Buy.

Countess Memaw: I'm a big mystery series fan too: Sue Grafton, Janet Evanovich, The Kellermans, Tim Cockey, Patricia Cornwell, Robert Parker. The big thing with me is that I HAVE to read them in order. And the problem is, aside from Parker, I burn through the new ones as soon as they come out. I can't stop myself!

As for the dollar store find, I think there are literary treasures everywhere, I think. And sometimes, they find you. Let me know how it is - I'm curious!

Lisa said...

In progress here as Casa de Disco Bubbbles:
Water for Elephants (has been in progress for a while now)

Harry Potter #2.

On deck:

Barack Obama #1 (not cuz I'm voting or not voting for him, I just want to read his story);

Where the Heart Is (a recommendation from Sandi, a Widow for One Year);

The Almost Moon (because I also loved "The Lovely Bones")

Harry Potter #3

The Friday Night Knitting Club;

Carl Heissen "The Lottery" (love his offbeat humor and he's a good storyteller);

The Kite Runner

Valerie Bertinelli's auto-bio

the entire David Sedaris collection (just because "The Well Read Hostess" said so).

Last , but not least, SLOB. It's been on my shelf for 2 years and I just can't seem to get into it. BUT, I'm going to make an effort since now, yet another person has said how great it is.

I love having a booklist. It excites me in the same way vacation planning does!

Because YOU said so, I'm adding the Alexander McCall Smith to my list.

...Barbra Peapod

Anonymous said...

Countess Babs: Things are certainly growing at Casa De Bubbles, and not just your garden - your book pile is massive!!

I had previously been recommended "The Water Elephant", and "Friday Night Knitting Club", so your word clinches the deal.

I've read Carl Heissen before - quite liked it, and will look for more.

And I URGE you to try SLOB - it's a very empowering book, and quite a lovely illustration of race relations in the early 60's.

And I'm excited to hear what you think about Mr. McCall Smith. I really love him. His gentle crafting of characters is just spectacular!!

Happy reading, dear blend!

 
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