Okay, this has NOTHING to do with the list of books I still have not reviewed (even though I did read them) and everything to do with the 2 books I read this weekend.
Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
2 thumbs up! Okay, I have read almost everything by this author. I dipped my toes into her work with the Shopaholic series, and my sister gave me this one to read on Friday. I was expecting a light-hearted romp through some rather self-concerned person's life, but did not find that here! It was fun, but had enough "meat" that I wanted her to succeed. Lexie has amnesia and for all intents and purposes, has lost her new self. She is trying to connect what she is now with who she was then. Fascinating, and well written. The primary question of what would make a person dramatically change their life actions and perspective is a good one and is well explored in this book. So, 2 thumbs firmly up!
The Prophet of Yonwook by Jeanne DuPrau
1.5 thumbs up. I read this book on Thursday, after work, so it is not a long read. I did enjoy it, but not nearly as much as I enjoyed reading City of Ember. The characters are realistic and horrid all at the same time, which is true to life. I just did not feel the flow in this book like I felt it in Ember. To be fair, most third books are not as strong as the first 2 or so and this one was a pre-quel which I think ruined the story for me a bit. I will re-visit this after reading book 2 of the Ember series and decide if that alters my view at all.
Have a blest week! Whoo hoo, done with Friday the 13ths for several months.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Time Changing Catch Up... 13ish book reviews
Okay, so I ignored/totally forgot that I promised myself to review the books I read. Even if no one else reads my reviews, which how could they? I am a non-entity on the blog-o-sphere. Which is fine with me. Really. the last thing I need is to add to my stress level, hence the light reading load I am reporting here. God Bless the public library and God Bless the read and return system... makes my life so much happier/easier.
Here we go, its a long list, so I may not finish tonight.
The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
2 thumbs up. I must confess I have read this before (I think about 5 years ago, but who knows?) and really liked it then. I challenged myself to read the whole series and this seemed a good way to dip the toes in as it were.
Tight characterization. Some characters left purposefully 2 dimensional, maybe because the main characters see them this way? Tight action, very little drag. Felt a bit long in the middle, but that was most likely because I vaguely remembered the end and I wanted to get to that point and see if I was correct? (by the way, I was not) Left me excited for more about Jason Bourne, or whoever he really is.
Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich
1.25 thumbs up. I got into reading Evanovich for her Stephanie Plum series and this seemed a nice innocuous off shoot or light reading exercise. It was. Not hard to follow, a bit cardboard-y, but fun. Good fluff, full of quirky characters that at first seem ludicrous, but then you realize you know people like this. Good fun, but probably would not have held my interest if it was any longer. Her abrupt endings are fairly typical for how she rights. I like that she sews everything up and puts a bow on it. Just generally good fun. Recommend for summer or spring break reading, especially if you are a NASCAR fan.
Hurricane Bay by Heather Graham
1.5 thumbs. Good, tight read. Ending was unexpected, even though I found myself bored in the middle. This was mostly due to the fact I thought I had it all figured out - wrong! I would definitely recommend this book to others interested in the mystery genre, who were maybe a bit squeamish on overly technical or bloody/body specific mysteries. She made me care about the characters, even when I didn't really think I cared what happened to them. Good reminiscing or development of the question- can one ever go back to what one had?
I'm in No Mood for Love by Rachel Gibson
Cute. 1.5 thumbs up. Maybe 1.25. Ms. Gibson's books are fun and full of unexpected twists. She makes the characters take realistic steps in ways that other romance/fluff (as opposed to overly sexual-ized) books don't always do. Because she writes, in my opinion, about more realistic people, I am more vested in what happens to them. I have enjoyed 3 books by her, and look forward to finding more! The prequel to her next book about Truly, Idaho has my interest firmly grasped. nice, crisp writing!
Sex, Lies and Online Dating by Rachel Gibson
See above. I read this one first and am happy I did, otherwise I would have known how it ended. I like the idea of women writer friends who all write in different fields. Well introduced, realistic (for the most part- but hey, its fiction) characters who are basically like able, even when you want to hit them on the head!
Sugarplums and Scandal by Lori Avocato, Dana Cameron, Mary Daheim, Cait London, Suzanne McPherson and Kerrelyn Sparks
1 thumb up, at most. Probably more honestly - .25 thumbs. I do not really like short, short fiction, so cannot blame the authors wholly for my disappointment. But really not too impressed with this collection. One that stood out in a positive light was Kerrelyn Sparks' tale. Ghoulish and funny as all get out. I really like the were-rabbit. Unexpected and light hearted, especially a gem in this collection. I will look for other work by this author specifically.
Here we go, its a long list, so I may not finish tonight.
The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum
2 thumbs up. I must confess I have read this before (I think about 5 years ago, but who knows?) and really liked it then. I challenged myself to read the whole series and this seemed a good way to dip the toes in as it were.
Tight characterization. Some characters left purposefully 2 dimensional, maybe because the main characters see them this way? Tight action, very little drag. Felt a bit long in the middle, but that was most likely because I vaguely remembered the end and I wanted to get to that point and see if I was correct? (by the way, I was not) Left me excited for more about Jason Bourne, or whoever he really is.
Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich
1.25 thumbs up. I got into reading Evanovich for her Stephanie Plum series and this seemed a nice innocuous off shoot or light reading exercise. It was. Not hard to follow, a bit cardboard-y, but fun. Good fluff, full of quirky characters that at first seem ludicrous, but then you realize you know people like this. Good fun, but probably would not have held my interest if it was any longer. Her abrupt endings are fairly typical for how she rights. I like that she sews everything up and puts a bow on it. Just generally good fun. Recommend for summer or spring break reading, especially if you are a NASCAR fan.
Hurricane Bay by Heather Graham
1.5 thumbs. Good, tight read. Ending was unexpected, even though I found myself bored in the middle. This was mostly due to the fact I thought I had it all figured out - wrong! I would definitely recommend this book to others interested in the mystery genre, who were maybe a bit squeamish on overly technical or bloody/body specific mysteries. She made me care about the characters, even when I didn't really think I cared what happened to them. Good reminiscing or development of the question- can one ever go back to what one had?
I'm in No Mood for Love by Rachel Gibson
Cute. 1.5 thumbs up. Maybe 1.25. Ms. Gibson's books are fun and full of unexpected twists. She makes the characters take realistic steps in ways that other romance/fluff (as opposed to overly sexual-ized) books don't always do. Because she writes, in my opinion, about more realistic people, I am more vested in what happens to them. I have enjoyed 3 books by her, and look forward to finding more! The prequel to her next book about Truly, Idaho has my interest firmly grasped. nice, crisp writing!
Sex, Lies and Online Dating by Rachel Gibson
See above. I read this one first and am happy I did, otherwise I would have known how it ended. I like the idea of women writer friends who all write in different fields. Well introduced, realistic (for the most part- but hey, its fiction) characters who are basically like able, even when you want to hit them on the head!
Sugarplums and Scandal by Lori Avocato, Dana Cameron, Mary Daheim, Cait London, Suzanne McPherson and Kerrelyn Sparks
1 thumb up, at most. Probably more honestly - .25 thumbs. I do not really like short, short fiction, so cannot blame the authors wholly for my disappointment. But really not too impressed with this collection. One that stood out in a positive light was Kerrelyn Sparks' tale. Ghoulish and funny as all get out. I really like the were-rabbit. Unexpected and light hearted, especially a gem in this collection. I will look for other work by this author specifically.
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