After giving up on Secret Love, I picked up a book I knew I would enjoy. I have enjoyed every book I've ready by Allende's and Eva Luna was no exception.
It covers the story of Eva Luna from her being found at the mission to her finding her partner. Like many of Allende's books, the character moves around as circumstances change. The one constant in Luna's life is the stories she makes up for herself and those around her. The cast of characters was amusing and brought additional comedy to the happenings.
This one is on the shelf and available for borrowing.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Secret Love - Bart Schneider
This book isn't bad exactly, it just isn't good. I started it well over a week ago and I still haven't made it to page 100; which in light of my recent reading pace tells you something. I just don't have any desire to pick it up and find out what happens next. Yes, I'm tired with the demands of our new baby, but both Ghost Map and Natural Ordermage had me reading in the middle of the night - happily reading instead of watching bad TV or decent TiVO.
An interracial couple in 1960s San Francisco - one a lawyer leading protests the other a hanger-on in those protests was just not enough for me to keep going. If I was in a different mood, I probably would have finished it because it isn't terrible - but it is definitely not engaging.
It'll be heading off to the used book store on my next run.
An interracial couple in 1960s San Francisco - one a lawyer leading protests the other a hanger-on in those protests was just not enough for me to keep going. If I was in a different mood, I probably would have finished it because it isn't terrible - but it is definitely not engaging.
It'll be heading off to the used book store on my next run.
Friday, October 19, 2007
The Ghost Map - Steven Johnson
A book club book that for some reason I was convinced was the book for November - since I skipped October. But it is actually for December! I'll probably read it again closer to the meeting. Yes, it was that good. I would be willing to read it again in the next 2 months. Ok, I might not read the final 2 chapters again...
The Ghost Map is about the investigation into the spread of cholera in London during the 2nd to last outbreak. It describes London in the mid 19th century and then moves on to the epidemic and resulting investigation I was fascinated by the description of London overcrowding and how many more people per square acre lived in London then than live in NYC today. The sections dealing with the outbreak and investigation were well written and engaging.
However, the final 2 chapters were difficult for me to get through. One chapter talks about the spread of disease today and the other tends to focus on urbanization and terrorism. While the author made interesting points, I wish he had done so in a more concise manner.
I enjoyed this book and will read it again. I will either add it to the library or include it in the package when I return "A Perfect Red" to the east coast.
The Ghost Map is about the investigation into the spread of cholera in London during the 2nd to last outbreak. It describes London in the mid 19th century and then moves on to the epidemic and resulting investigation I was fascinated by the description of London overcrowding and how many more people per square acre lived in London then than live in NYC today. The sections dealing with the outbreak and investigation were well written and engaging.
However, the final 2 chapters were difficult for me to get through. One chapter talks about the spread of disease today and the other tends to focus on urbanization and terrorism. While the author made interesting points, I wish he had done so in a more concise manner.
I enjoyed this book and will read it again. I will either add it to the library or include it in the package when I return "A Perfect Red" to the east coast.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Natural Ordermage - L.E. Modesitt, Jr
For the first time in reading the Saga of Recluce series I find myself wanting to read the series in the chronological order of the books rather than in the order they are published. Natural Ordermage includes excerpts of history books detailing what happened in earlier books in the series - each colored with the politics of the land producing the history. While I remember the books vaguely, my memory does not correspond to the accounts in the histories, so I find myself wanting to go back to those sections of the series and read them in historical order. Of course, whether those sections of the series were written from the point of view of Order or Chaos will color the account.
I particularly like this series because it constantly moves back and forth between the Order or Chaos side of the story - showing that neither side is completely evil, they just look at the world in different ways - and try to control it differently based on those points of view. This is something more people need to try - seeing the world from both sides.
This book will reside in the library - since I have read the rest of the books in the series at least twice through if not more.
I particularly like this series because it constantly moves back and forth between the Order or Chaos side of the story - showing that neither side is completely evil, they just look at the world in different ways - and try to control it differently based on those points of view. This is something more people need to try - seeing the world from both sides.
This book will reside in the library - since I have read the rest of the books in the series at least twice through if not more.
Running from the Law - Lisa Scottoline
Nothing special, although a nice change from the usual heroine attorney. Fun family dynamics mixed in with the crime - enough to make me smile at some of the situations. Quick and easy read, I'll pass it on to others.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Books with baby (3 books or was it 4)
Echo Park by Micheal Connelly - next in the Harry Bosch series I enjoy. I nice read - quick and fun. Finished it at the doctor appointment before going to the hospital.
Forbidden Fruit by Erica Spindler - started this one in the hospital and after 156 pages I still didn't care. It reminded me of a Danielle Steele novel. At 156 pages in, I was just getting the overview of main character number 3 and so I put it down to return to the used book store.
Legal Tender by Lisa Scottoline - Related to the characters in Killer Smile which I wrote about last month - although this one came first. This was a nice, quick read - as is everything I have tried to tackle lately. I look forward to more of these, although I doubt I would re-read them.
See Jane Die by Erica Spindler - leery after the last one, I picked this one up and got sucked in. I even read it in the car - which I haven't been doing because it makes me sick. Of course, it was the part about who the killer was and I only had 3 pages to go. Fun, it kept me guessing as to who the killer was until the end (although I had narrowed it down to 2).
Forbidden Fruit by Erica Spindler - started this one in the hospital and after 156 pages I still didn't care. It reminded me of a Danielle Steele novel. At 156 pages in, I was just getting the overview of main character number 3 and so I put it down to return to the used book store.
Legal Tender by Lisa Scottoline - Related to the characters in Killer Smile which I wrote about last month - although this one came first. This was a nice, quick read - as is everything I have tried to tackle lately. I look forward to more of these, although I doubt I would re-read them.
See Jane Die by Erica Spindler - leery after the last one, I picked this one up and got sucked in. I even read it in the car - which I haven't been doing because it makes me sick. Of course, it was the part about who the killer was and I only had 3 pages to go. Fun, it kept me guessing as to who the killer was until the end (although I had narrowed it down to 2).
Monday, October 01, 2007
The Killing Game - Iris Johansen
I haven't read Johansen in ages (at least 10 years) - she's one of the author's Grandma reads. I think reading a book by her every once in a while is ok, but I tend to find them repetitive and easy to figure out. This one was an exception - more than likely she has increased her skill or decreased her output over the years. It was fun and while I had an inkling that one of two options was the killer, it was interesting to see how they got there.
A fun book, but nothing spectacular, and I'll probably offer it to anyone who wants it and then send it back to the used book store it came from.
A fun book, but nothing spectacular, and I'll probably offer it to anyone who wants it and then send it back to the used book store it came from.
Vanishing Point - Marcia Muller
Another book in the Sharon McCone series that I enjoy. Muller has always provided a fun read - a character that actually grows over the life of the series and yet a nice detective mystery mixed with the personal problems. This was just as expected, quick and fun. I do enjoy this series - although I did start waiting for the paperback.
This will be on the shelf with the rest of the series.
This will be on the shelf with the rest of the series.
Brenda Novak series (3 books)
I bought this series to support both a local bookstore and a local author, I knew nothing about them at the time. There's a book signing at Book Lovers in October - but I doubt I'll be there.
The Stillwater series is set up like a fantasy or sci-fi series. After resolving the issues of the current book, Novak makes sure to set up the interest for the next book in the series. The entire series (Dead Silence, Dead Giveaway, and Dead Right) centers around keeping a deadly family secret. Most of the series you know what the secret is - it's just a matter of what will make it out in the open and which family member's perspective will be the focus. The interesting thing is thinking about whether it is better for it to stay a secret or not. Each book also touches on the idea of whether they are keeping the secret to help themselves or to help someone else. Are they avoiding their own suffering or shielding someone else from it?
Anyway, they are a quick read - and the author is local - probably lives within 15 mins of me. I'll be passing these on for others to read. I doubt I would re-read them.
The Stillwater series is set up like a fantasy or sci-fi series. After resolving the issues of the current book, Novak makes sure to set up the interest for the next book in the series. The entire series (Dead Silence, Dead Giveaway, and Dead Right) centers around keeping a deadly family secret. Most of the series you know what the secret is - it's just a matter of what will make it out in the open and which family member's perspective will be the focus. The interesting thing is thinking about whether it is better for it to stay a secret or not. Each book also touches on the idea of whether they are keeping the secret to help themselves or to help someone else. Are they avoiding their own suffering or shielding someone else from it?
Anyway, they are a quick read - and the author is local - probably lives within 15 mins of me. I'll be passing these on for others to read. I doubt I would re-read them.
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