Books I've read and favorite authors (book corner)

[gingerbird]

I have to say, The Last Song really wasn't a BAD book. It was an easy read and kept me company for a while. I was irritated by the lack of fact-checking about tents, though. I also thought the dad was namby-pamby when the daughter didn't want him to play his piano IN HIS OWN HOUSE so he put up a plywood wall to close it off. What's wrong with saying, "Live with it, you little brat?" Oh yeah, he was dying, that's why. I also didn't understand the fireballs those guys were rolling up and down their knuckles. Never have seen anything like that and couldn't imagine it. I will do another Nick Sparks, but only when I feel the need for brainless predictability and "love conquers all."

I enjoyed Elizabeth Berg's "Home Safe." That ended without the lead character woman doing the predictable, and I was glad for that. She chose to live her own life and do what was best for HER. The book also pointed out problems with marriages/relationships. Thank goodness, that was a refreshing change. No couple gets along 100 percent of the time.

After all the relationship mumbo-jumbo I've been reading lately, I needed some harsh reality so got "One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer" by Nathaniel Fick. WHAT A FABULOUS BOOK! It's the true story of a Dartmouth grad who was going to be a doctor but went to Marine officer training instead, just before 9/11. After that event, he was sent to Afghanistan as platoon leader of 1st Recon Battalion. His story is engrossing, made moreso because he relates true events plus gives insight into his own thoughts during and after battle and after leaving the Corps. HIGHLY recommend. We all need to know what's going on during this "war," and we aren't getting it from the spin doctors in Washington. I absolutely LOVED this book. I will read it again ... I've already read it twice in a row.

[Cindy]

Sounds good Ginger--I'll put it on hold at the library right now. Ita on the piano thing--grow up kid and it was HIS house. Not feeling too sympathetic today after watching kids in the mall beg for food/toys yesterday. Urgh.

It's been so hot here I haven't been reading. The Forgotten Garden is suppoed to be good (Laura Morton I think??) but I'm still waiting for it

I read the Winter Garden by Kristen Hannah and when she finally decided to move the story along it came out well but MAN the first half was self-indulgent. Nothing moved. The story took too long to come out so by that time I was like "oh too bad that happened to that poor character but at least something finally did!" LOL

So Home Safe and Making of an Officier...

[Cindy]

Started reading a Jodi Picoult book about a boy with autism/how it affects the whole family. So far it's a good read (faster pace than her last one)

[gingerbird]

Cindy, Jodi Picoult is a familiar name to me, although I don't think I've ever read any of her books. Maybe you have posted about her before?

I just finished "Breathless" by Dean Koontz. I got it because I knew it would keep my attention, and it did. Right up until the lazy ending, lazy like the last book of his I read. I'm getting so tired of so many authors phoning it in, writing a good story, then just stopping. This book was about two mysterious and strange white animals found in the Colorado woods. A side story was about a twin who murdered his brother and SIL and assumed his identity, then was stalked by some invisible entity. A second side story was about a physically disfigured man who lived homeless since he was shunned by society. Well, at the end, after Homeland Security secures the house in Colorado to "examine" the white animals, it turns out the entire planet has pairs of these white animals everywhere, the twin/dead twin story had no connection whatsoever except it was in Colorado too, and provided a gratuitous murder/stalked-by-spirits story, and the disfigured guy, well, at the end he said he had seen the white animals and they changed his life. It ended with a comment: "I think if we ever harm one of those animals, that's the end of us." And that was the end of the book. Everyone lived happily ever after (I guess), but no explanation was ever given for what the animals were or why they were there or even where they came from. Just: THE END. Oh, of course, there were more details, like a extended story of how the woman vet had killed her mom's boyfriend when she was 15. But who cares? Dean, you are a skillful story teller, but you are getting so lazy!

I'm now reading "The Vanished Man" by Jeffery Deavers. Can't say I recommend that one, either. It's about an illusionist who is going around murdering random people and doing quick-changes in between to change his appearance, and doing the changing all while being pursued by police. Really hard to buy. I'm not all that invested in this book, but it's killing some time. I'm off to the library today to get a new one. Good luck on me for that!

[gingerbird]

Well, in between major novels I read "Plum Lovin'," a "between-the-numbers" Stephanie Plum book. It was fast, easy-to-read, nothing memorable, just fun. But I did think about you, Nelra, since now Steph has a THIRD man in her life, Diesel, another bounty hunter. While she hasn't slept with him yet (at least not in this book, he's in more), Ranger and Morelli seem to not mind him hanging around and staying overnight in Steph's apartment. Interesting. And so wrong.

I read that Katherine Heigel is slated to play Stephanie Plum in the movies. She is SO not Jersey Italian, so wrong for that role. I can't help but think these fun books are going to turn into movies-that-s*ck because of her.

Anyway ... now I am reading James Lee Burke's "Rain Gods." I have to say, he's the best WRITER I've ever read as far as painting pictures with words and describing people's thoughts and deeds. By far. This book reminds me of No Country for Old Men, although I'm hoping it ends better. But it has the same atmosphere. I am really enjoying it, and will get more of Burke's work for sure. He's now at the top of my "best writer" list.

Cindy, I've often skipped to the back to read the ending of books, then finish them anyway just because I'm enjoying the ride. But if the journey is slow and tedious, then life is too short to be stuck suffering along just because you started some book. "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" is one I quit shortly after starting it. Gah. Hated it.

Next on my list is "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle."

[Cindy]

OMG that Last Song Movie was horrible!!! Miley was a terrible actress and I don't think she's attractive at all! lol

Yes, I skipped, then went back, still didn't finish it, it was due back so I dropped it off. Yes, KH does terrible movies. No clue why but gives her time with her baby so whatever..lol

I'm not reasing a ton. Way too hot lately...more holds to put on my library list Ginger! :-)

[gingerbird]

Too hot to read? Heh. Makes me laugh. And conjures up an image.

My fav place to read is in bed at night, snug under the blankets and propped up by pillows. Might have something to do with the fact I don't have a light in my living room so can't read on the couch. Yes, that's right. I'm not kidding. If the tv isn't on, it's pitch black in there.

I have a long stick (a wooden back scratcher!) that I use to turn out the bedroom light when I'm ready to stop reading and go to sleep. That way I don't even have to get up. Yeah, I'm lazy.

[Cindy]

Oh I believe you..lol I've had no light in my computer room for 2 yrs now. That's right, at night, I type in the pitch dark (like now) The bulb needs replacing and I can't reach it. I hate having people in my house, so I've done without it. I don't read in bed because I can't reach the light and don't want to get up, so which one of us is laziest?? lol

[gingerbird]

Cindy, grab your mom next time around and make her change that light bulb for you.

I liked James Burke's "Rain Gods" so much, I got his "Jolie Blon's Bounce" directly afterward.

I am halfway through "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle" and it's finally getting interesting, although I really wanted to quit early on. I've forced myself to read a couple chapters every night, which helped me get to the middle of the book where I found things a bit more interesting. Can't say I'm hep on Oprah's taste in reading.

Got to the library right before closing, so quickly grabbed Michael Crichton's "Pirate Latitude." Man, I've had to force myself to keep reading that one, too. I'm halfway through that and sort of interested so will make myself continue. While I've enjoyed Crichton's attention to detail in the past, I have to say I don't need full-color descriptions of what happens to a man's eyeballs, tongue or bowels when he is hanged/strangled to death or when rats are eating off a live man's face. I appreciate a little "less is more" in such cases.

[Cindy]

Ewww gross Ginger! Now I know why he stayed with ER so long...wanted to show his gore on tv!

Yeah, I've only read a couple of Oprah's books and liked them ("The Reader" comes to mind) but alot of them I was all "Oh please, get real"

Currently reading "The Forgotten Garden" by Kate Morton good start but it is jumping POV's so I'm finding that a bit difficult to keep track of and it's a huge book.

[Cindy]

Forgotten Garden--author Kate Morten

Very good if a little long at 550 pages. A little self indulgent on the author's part, but lots of twists and turns and an overall solid story.

[Cindy]

Just finished the third book in Suzanne Collin's Trilogy It starts with The Hunger Games goes on to Catching Fire and finishes with Mockingjay.

Disappointed in the third book (guess I wanted my "happy" ending and she didn't even come close) but overall, I found it to be a really good series and it was easy to read. Not for the faint of heart though as it's filled with violence but it did suit the topic/styles of the books.

[gingerbird]

I'm reading another Scarpetta novel by Patricia Cornwell, Port Mortuary.

www.patriciacornwell.com/books-novellas/port-mortuary/synopsis/

It's a huge book, but I'm enjoying revisiting the characters I like so much as the same people are in all of the Kay Scarpetta novels. I've read all of them (it is good to read them in sequence, although not necessary as back stories are always given) so was glad to find this newest one at the library.

[Cindy]

Kate Morton --The Distant Hours is turning in to a pretty good read. Secrets/History/Good storytelling