Saturday, December 22, 2007

"Book of the Dead" by Patricia Cornwell

The Kay Scarpettas series is one of the most interesting I've read. She is a medical examiner/forensic investigator. This latest book takes place in Charleston, SC. If you've read the previous books, you will appreciate the twist of events that takes place with Scarpetta, Marino and the other characters. I won't give anything away in my blog, but I was shocked at where Cornwell took this book. There's a big cliff-hanger at the end too so I guess we'll all just have to wait and see what comes from her next book.

Now back to the Boleyn Inheritance...

The next book for my book club is "Love in the Time of Cholera."

Friday, November 30, 2007

Books and holidays

I finished "Lipstick Jungle" during my week off from work last week. It was a really fun read. I got sucked in right way and really enjoyed the story about three successful women and what it takes to stay on top of their game. I enjoyed this book by Candace Bushnell much more than "Trading Up."

I started reading "The Female Brain" recommended by Amy in my book club. Sorry Amy, but I just can't get past the second chapter. I think there are tons of differences between men and women and this book explores those differences by explaining what's happening hormonally in the female brain. there are huge generalizations in this book. I'm just not into it right now.

So on to "The Boleyn Inheritance" the sequel to "The Other Boleyn Girl" and I've decided that I need LIGHT reading this month! Have a good weekend everyone!

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Lipstick Jungle By Candace Bushnell

I started Lipstick Jungle on Sunday. It's a bit like Sex and the City without the sex. It's fun and just what I need this week since I'm off work.

I have HUGE pile of books to get through. Here are some of them:
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Wuthering Heights by Bronte
Wings of the Dove by Henry James
In A Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
My Antonia by Willa Cather
Jane and the Stillroom Maid
The Painted House by John Grisham

and more....can you tell I've been wanting to catch up on reading the classics?

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving! I'm very thankful for books and stimulating conversation around books! :)

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

What does your name mean to you? How does it define who you are?

For Gogol Ganguli his name is significant. He should have originally been named by his grandmother but unfortunately the letter never arrived from India to his parents in Boston. So his father chooses Gogol. Gogol doesn't like being named Gogol--it's different. When he's older he changes his legal name to Nikhil which confuses his family, his friends and the ones who know him by Gogol. He doesn't learn the significance of his name until he's older from his father. He's known that he was named after Nikolai Gogol, but wasn't sure why. Guess you'll have to read it to figure it out.

The book was easy to read--Lahiri has a way with words. She won the Pulitzer for "Interpreter of Maladies", a great collection of short stories. I really enjoyed her writing and can't wait to see what she brings us next.

One thing I didn't know was that Indian food is all eaten without silverware. I didn't know that at all. I guess the only Indian restaurant I've been to served food with utensils. maybe it wasn't truly authentic after all. :)

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich

Fun fun fun! This is a fun series (starts with "One for the Money") about a bounty hunter in Trenton NJ. Sure the writing isn't fabulous or what would be considered great literature, but they sure are entertaining. Stephanie Plum finds herself a murder suspect for her ex-husband Dickie. All kinds of things happen yet she manages to entangle herself from the mishaps. She can not decide between her two beaus, Joe Morelli (the Italian cop) or Ranger (the stud bounty hunter/who knows what he really does). We find out Tank's real name is Pierre! It was just the book I needed after the serious ones I've read lately.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

This was the book that my book club just read. This was a fascinating book. It is about two girls in China who grow up communicating with a secret language "nu shu" that Chinese women invented. This was passed down to daughters from their mothers. They write the symbols on a fan that they send to each other when they aren't together.

The book goes through in great detail of the footbinding that each girl had to endure. It sounded painful and we all wondered how could any mother make their daughters go through this--the answer is that it would help them to marry well. See the author's website for pictures: www.LisaSee.com.

These two girls (Lilly and Snow Flower) are called laotongs or "old sames" and are the best of friends until one betrays the other. I won't spoil it--you'll have to read it in order to find out what happens.

I haven't read many books about China. If you liked "Memoirs of a Geisha" (that's about Japan) then you will like this book.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Suns

After finishing "A Thousand Splendid Suns" I am thankful to be a woman who lives in the US. I get angry sometimes seeing the good old boy network in play around the office, but compared to what the women in Afghanistan have gone through, I am reminded that I don't have it so bad after all.

This novel was well written and the story opened my eyes to the struggles that many families have gone through in Afghanistan. I can't understand what it would be like to live in a country that has been at war for over four decades. There are something like 4 million refugees from Afghanistan that are living in Pakistan. I can't imagine feeling like it is unsafe to go back to where you grew up or lived for years and years.


The bond between the main characters (Mariam and Laila) is so volatile yet in the end they are almost like mother and daughter or sisters. Mariam lived through so much--she was born to a single woman so right off the bat she was looked down upon. Then at 14 she goes to live with her father (she didn't know if was her father until later) and he immediately marries her off to this abusive middle-aged widower. She can't have a baby and suffers for it. At the same time Laila's story begins and she is orphaned when her family dies from a bomb exploding right near their house. She is taken in by Rasheed (Mariam's husband) and eventually becomes his second wife.

This has been one of the best books I've read this year and I've read quite a few good ones! (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Animal Vegetable Miracle, Jane Eyre)

On to "Snowflower and the Secret Fan" which is our next book club read.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Suns ctd...

The thing I like about Hosseini's books is that it has exposed many readers to Afghanistan's culture. I am at a point in the story where the Soviet Union has disintegrated and has left Afghanistan. When the Soviet's were in control, women had more equal rights--they had the opportunity for education and many didn't wear the burqas anymore. Those are the headscarves with the piece of fabric covering the face too. It's hard to imagine being invisible to the outside world and hiding behind dark fabric.

Monday, September 10, 2007

A Thousand Splendid Suns

If you haven't read "The Kite Runner" you should. I checked out Khaled Hosseini's "A Thousand Splendid Suns" from my library. So far it is pretty captivating. I think this book is going to focus on more of the relationships between women in Afghanistan. That's what I gather from the inside flap and the first 50 pages or so.

Our next read for our book club is "Snowflower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See. This book is fiction and is about the friendships between Chinese women and the secret language that they created. They used fans to write messages to each other. I'm reading that one next.

I also finished listening to "Bee Season" last week. That was a really compelling story. I loved it. I am going to pick up another audio book at the library by the same author (Myla Goldberg) which is called "Wickett's Remedy". Listening to audio books in the car just makes the commute so much more bearable. The radio gets so old after awhile. It's nice to have something else to focus on. I was really wrapped up in "Bee Season". I know before I said her voice is mousy--I actually think she has an expressive voice and it was perfect for that story. I'm curious to see how I'll like this one.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

I finished "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" this morning. It was such an enjoyable read. Kingsolver's style is conversational and she kept me interested for 300+ pages (i.e. the entire book). When I was at the grocery store yesterday I found myself checking to see where the produce came from that I was buying--unfortunately it the peppers were from Canada and California. Way over the 250 mile radius that Kingsolver's family stuck to in their year of food. I encourage you all to visit her website for the book. It has recipes and pictures of their farm: http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/.

Happy Reading!

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

This book by Barbara Kingsolver is fantastic! I'm learning a lot of about harvesting your own food. Harvesting can mean picking green beans, tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables or it can even mean killing your chickens and turkeys for meat.

Mostly this book has made me want to know more about where the food in my local King Soopers is coming from. A lot of our fruit comes from California, but what about the beef, chicken and eggs? The book has also made me think that we definitely need to support our local farms, thus our local economy.

Earlier this summer, Angela told me that she has a share in a local farm where they receive fresh vegetables every week. I went online to www.localharvest.org/csa to look up the Castle Rock area. Lo and behold there are a few down this way who participate in the community supported agriculture. I've talked with Ron and we are going to do this next spring/summer as I think it's too late to sign up for this year. I'm hoping that this will in a way force me to eat different veggies than I otherwise normally wouldn't even consider. Plus we'll be supporting our local economy.

Monday, August 27, 2007

Bee Season

I finally finished a book after reading Harry Potter. "Swapping Lives" was fun, yet very predictible. It could have been the inspiration for that TV show Wife Swap. Except one of the girls wasn't married so maybe not. I still think my favorite chick-lit books are Bridget Jones and "Good in Bed" by Jennifer Weiner.

I started reading "Animal, Vegetable Miracle: A Year in the Life of Food" by Barbara Kingsolver earlier this summer. I didn't finish it because it was due at the library. I finally got it back this weekend so I think I might read some more of that in between the Book Club book. It makes me want to eat fresh vegetables. You all can quote me on that as I'm not known for eating much of anything that's green besides lettuce and green beans.

I'm listening to "Bee Season" by Myla Goldberg. It's narrarated by the author--she kind of has a mousy squeeky voice, but now that I'm 5 CDs in, I'm used to it! The story is very interesting. It's about a girl, Eliza who wins the school school spelling bee much to her own surprise. She goes on to win the district bee too. As she heads to the National spelling bee her family starts to fall apart. Mom is a little out there and starts stealing, and brother is trying to find his religion. Dad is wrapped up in Eliza's success and ignoring son and wife. It's intriguing and because I'm listening to it I keep trying to spell some of the harder words she gets like gegenschein. Don't ask me for the origin or a definition!

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Swapping Lives

Yea, I have finally made a book stick! I'm reading "Swapping Lives" by Jane Green. It's a chick-lit book, but lately that's what I've been into since it's summertime. A British singleton in London who works for a magazine is going to trade places with a stay-at-home mom who lives in Connecticut. Sounds like a reality show, huh? It's keeping my attention for now. I was on such a roll right before I started this blog..hmm maybe that's why!

I read the first few chapters of our book club book "The World Without Us". This one might take awhile so I might have to read that one next.

Why is it that when one has a stack of books to read, they can't seem to find any of them interesting??? That's why I had to cut back on buying them--my stack keeps growing and I don't have any interest in plowing through it.

I'm looking forward to September--I love this time of year when it finally cools off a bit and the smell of fall is in the air. I'll be heading to Chicago at the end of the month for my friend Katie's wedding. So excited for that.

I told Nancy I'd update our book club blog and so far I haven't done it. Better get it done this weekend. I think that might be her thing more than it is mine or anyone else in our group for that matter! :)

Friday, August 10, 2007

Becoming Jane

I went to see "Becoming Jane" with a bunch of gals from book club and work. It was really a great movie. Anne Hathaway does a great job and the guy in it is cute! It has made me want to read more of her works. All in time... Julie Walters, the actress who plays Mrs. Weasley in the HP films was Jane Austen's mother. And Maggie Smith (Mcgonagall) was in it as well--her nephew was Mr. Wisley--so it was pretty funny. If you are a Jane Austen fan, this movie is a must-see. You'll cry so bring tissues! If only we did know about Jane's romances in her life.

Monday, August 6, 2007

Next Book Club Book

Yea we have a new book for book club. It's called "The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman. (I think that's the author's name.) Karen picked this non-fiction book. It sounds like it will be very interesting--it's a what-if scenario that goes something like this: What if people ceased to exist and the earth kept on turning? What would happen to all of the buildings/plastic/bronze/plants/animals? It sounds fascinating--I hope it is.

The discussion on Jane Austen's P&P was fun. We talked about class differences, marrying within your own class, marrying for convenience or love, Jane Austen...it was a great time. As usual. We changed up how we decide what book to read--the hostess gets to pick and really she should have the only say. Although both Angela and I were trying to convince Karen to pick the one she did pick. She had a Michael Crichton book on her list too. :) Emily was telling Angela that she didn't get to vote anymore. It was funny. I wonder when the next love story will be--it seems we're all pretty set on reading some non-fiction novels.

Work is already better. I had a major score with my home office today that made me look like the hero. So I was feeling much better by the end of today. I have to remember that work does not rule my life--I am working to live not living to work. I have let the stress get to me too much the past couple of weeks. Of course not having a boss does not help the situation, but oh well. It's the situation I'm in.

Ron and I are going camping this weekend. I can't wait!!!

Friday, August 3, 2007

I haven't been able to make a book stick this week and I think it's because I'm stressed with work and working longer hours. I have been thumbing through a Jane Austen biography since my book club meets on Sunday to talk about "Pride & Prejudice."

I'm listening to "Deep South" by Nevada Barr and narrated by Barbara Rosenblat. This book takes place in Mississippi along the Natchez Trace. It's another one in the Anna Pigeon series.

I'm off to my high school reunion this weekend. I'm anxious to see some of my friends that I haven't seen for almost 10 years. Some were at my wedding 5 years ago. I'm bummed that Jennie and Katie and Sara won't make it. I don't know if my friend Kim will be there or not. But I will get to see Kate, Kevin and Kisa, Meghann, Nancy, and Michelle, and Alex. :) Yea!

Book Club is on Sunday this weekend too. Cynthia's hosting and making quiche. It sounds delicious. I'm anxious to see everyone and am really interested to see what book the next hostess picks.

Sunday, July 29, 2007

I think I've picked up about three different books to start and then I've put them all down. After Harry Potter, I guess maybe I'm not as anxious to jump into anything. I'm still thinking about the last book!

I finished listening to "The Da Vinci Code" and haven't started listening to anything yet either. I've never been this indecisive! I have to make decisions all day long at work, maybe my brain needs a break.

I think I'm going with "An Assembly Such as This" by Pamela Aiden. It's a trilogy that is basically "Pride & Prejudice" told from Darcy's point of view. I've read the first couple of chapters and I think I'll continue on with it since my book club is reading "Pride & Prejudice." I've read P&P a couple of times now (the last time was about 6-8 months ago) so I don't think I'll re-read before our book club on Aug. 5th.

I've found a wonderful website about everything Jane Austen: http://www.jasna.org/

I haven't read all of her works--I have yet to read: "Emma," "Northanger Abbey," and "Mansfield Park" to read. She's just so witty and funny! I love her!

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

I am finished with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I won't spoil it for those of you who haven't finished yet. I loved it...I think the way Rowling ended it was perfect. It's definitely up for discussion! And those in my book club: you better be finished by Aug 5th so we can chat!!! :)

Now for what to read next...

Hope you are all having a fabulous week! I'm exhausted, but that's because I have stayed up late reading. Ron was in Pueblo so I didn't have anything distracting me. I don't feel like I rushed through--I really did enjoy it! Night Night!

Monday, July 23, 2007

Sorry about the million posts on HP--they weren't showing up last night when I hit the save button. Oh well...now you know how much I love it! I know I know just like everybody else.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I finished "Endangered Species" just in time for my HP book to arrive in the mail on Saturday. I promise not to put spoilers on here withought a warning. :) I love it so far though and no, I have not peeked at the last page! One of my favorite characters hasn't shown up yet though--that's Neville. I wonder where he'll be. I also love Ron Weasley, Professor McGonogal (sp?), Tonks, Lupin and Luna Lovegood. I love to hate Lucius Malfoy, Umbridge, and of course Snape.

Happy Reading!

Sunday, July 22, 2007

At last Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is here! I'm about 250 pages in and I love it so far. I have not looked at the last pages to see what happens--I want to enjoy it page by page. :) I hope all the Pott-heads out there are enjoying the last book!
At last, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is here! My book arrived in my mailbox yesterday as promised by Amazon. I also won't spoil anything for anyone...although at some point I will have to talk about it. :) I'm about 250 pages.

Hope all you Pott-heads are enjoying this one!

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Audio Books

Ok well...in addition to reading books I like listening to them on CD/tape. It makes my 20 mile commute to work go by so fast some days that it doesn't feel like I'm in the car for very long. Plus I like that it's not interrupted by commercials! The radio gets annoying after awhile.

I am listening to "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown. I wasn't one of the first to read it when it came out in fact I think it had been on the bestseller list for over two years by the time I read it. My friend Jennie bought a used copy of the book on CD that is read by Peter Micheals--she said I should listen to it. It is very fun and the narrator is fantastic. I don't speak French so hearing it makes it a little more real. I'm at the part where Sophie and Robert Langdon have gotten the rosewood box out of the Swiss Bank. Silas has killed the nun and is on his way to the Teacher's place. Now I want to go to France!!

Only 4 days until Harry...

Saturday, July 14, 2007

HP#5 Movie

If you are interested you can check out the blog that Nancy has set up for our book club. It has great food and great book suggestions!--->

Harry Potter:
Oh my gosh, if you are a HP fan: GO SEE THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX!!! It was by far the best movie in the series. Maybe because I loved this book in the series also. They could not have cast a better person to play Umbridge. Imelda Staunton was great!! (She's been in the Sense & Sensibility movie with Emma Thompson. She plays Mrs. Palmer.) The Ministry of Magic was really incredible and very much like Rowling had described in the book. I was a little dissappointed that Neville's character wasn't a major focus as it is in the book, but still very well done! Another character we get introduced to is Bellatrix Lestrange played by Helena Bonham Carter (another great British actress). The end is so suspenseful, I was really enthralled by the whole thing. It's inspired me to read Book #6 before Sat. We'll see...still gotta finish "Endangered Species." Please let me know what you think if you see it!

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

My book club is reading Pride & Prejudice for our next meeting...I can't wait to re-read this...but first Harry Potter! Only 10 more days since it officially comes out at midnight. I ordered mine off of Amazon so hopefully it will come early that day! Everyone keeps saying that Rowling is going to kill Harry. I don't think she will. Harry is very much the Jesus-like figure and I just don't see how he would not live on forever...we'll see, won't we?

Ron and I were in Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday--one of Nevada Barr's books takes place there (I think it's "Hard Truth"). I really want to go to Cumberland Island where "Endangered Species" takes place. It sounds so cool--there are tons of sea turtles around there. I've never seen one in the wild before. That would be something else. I'm sure it's pretty hot there in July and August though.

Sunday, July 8, 2007

I'm about 100 pages into "Endangered Species" by Nevada Barr. I have listened to this book on CD about a year ago. It's a mystery in which the main character, Anna Pigeon is a National Parks Ranger. She is assigned to Cumberland Island off the coast of Georgia. She is on the fire prevention crew. There's a plane crash where one of the rangers is killed.

I love Barr's style--she makes me feel as if I'm in the park she's describing. I want to go to all of these places that she writes about. I've read all of the books (or listened to them on CD) in the Anna Pigeon series, but this one is one of my faves.

Only 13 more days until the final Harry Potter book arrives on my doorstep! :)

Saturday, July 7, 2007

I've been inspired by my friends Emily and Angela who have blogs for their daughters. I've been keeping a book diary and what better way to keep track and share with all of my friends and family then to start a blog. I read a lot. And lately I've been reading even more. I have a lot of favorite authors and read all sorts of books. I'm going to have to figure out how to put a list of the books I've read this year so far....

I have a stack of about 20 books that I have to get through before I should buy anymore. Plus I'm a fan of the library too. As my mom says, you are wasting your tax dollars if you don't utilize your local library.

Last August I started a book club with my friend Amy. It has been a great success and we still manage to talk about the book for at least half of dinner. I'll keep you posted on that blog's address if you are interested. We'll be posting recipes and our mini-reviews of the books we're reading.