Since my last scathing book review, I’ve read three more on my quasi-official intend to read list, with a few fun books in between, just so I don’t get too high-brow, doncha ya know.
After finishing that loathsome tome that shall not be named, I enjoyed a quick read about a teenage psychic in a fictional town on Cape Cod. Technically, Clarity by Kim Harrington is classified as a Young Adult novel, but I think it’s great read for teens and above. This middle-aged mama is certainly looking forward to the two sequels. I’m not a huge fan of the YA paranormal genre (you’d have to rip out my fingernails to get me anywhere near Twilight), but Clarity kept me entertained and interested all the way through to the end. There’s just enough teen angst to appeal to the teen reader, but it’s not so outlandish as to overpower the main story. If you need a good vacation book or a way to find something in common with the teen in your life, read this one.
Once Clarity had, um, cleared my mind, so to speak, I read A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. This one has earned a spot right up there on the “Really Makes You Think List” alongside The Handmaid’s Tale. The parallels I could draw between Huxley’s world and modern society’s obsession with technology for the sake of technology, along with its zest for the voyeuristic (YouTube, ”reality TV, anyone?) are downright scary. I’m still thinking about this one months later. Every time I get disgusted by the latest media blitz on the tragedy of the week, the underlying theme of this novel pops into my head and I think that Huxley may have been onto more than he could have dreamed of when he wrote it. It’s worth a read and it will make you think.
Deciding that I needed to sex things up a little, I read Talking with the Dead by Shiloh Walker. Part paranormal mystery + part romance novel = total guilty pleasure reading. Yes, I liked it. Although the subject matter was dark, the narrative moved quickly and didn’t get bogged down in horrible details of the crimes. The romance scenes didn’t get bogged down either. (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)
Then I returned to the quasi-official intend to read list and I’m oh so glad I did. My next choice was The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I love, love, love this book. It was translated from the original Spanish, but the translation captures the beauty of the original quite nicely. There are stories within the story, wonderously drawn characters, romance, mystery, history, and a superb narrative wound throughout the novel. There were nights that I couldn’t put it down, and nights when I forced myself to stop reading because I didn’t want it to end. Of all the books I’ve read so far in my life, this ranks in my all-time Top 5. Go read this book. Now.
Still buzzing from the wonderful images created by Zafon, I picked up Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray. Big mistake. This was a complete snoozefest for me. I mean, enough about flighty English maidens already. I think I was so thoroughly spoiled by the beautiful wordcraft of Zafon that I couldn’t get past Thackeray’s disjointed prose. There was no way I was hanging in there for 800 pages of that.
I’m now in the midst of A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. Yes, the same Bill Bryson whose book ,Notes from A Small Island, bored me to pieces. (Sorry, Bill. I’m not familiar enough with British geography to be able to enjoy your memories of it.) I’m happy to report that this is book is anything but boring. If you’re a wannabe science nerd like me, this book is perfect for you. Think National Geographic Magazine meets Discover Magazine, with a little bit of People thrown in.
And, as if I didn’t have enough reading to do, I’ve joined an online book club hotsed by one of my BB2G pals. I just finished reading our first selection, Before I Go to Sleep by SJ Watson. (Well, it’s the first that I’ve been a part of – the bookclub has been going on for about two years already). I liked it. I think the ending was wrapped up a little too neatly, almost as if the author was just looking to finish it as quickly as possible, but overall, it was a good book. I’m interested to hear what the others in the group think of it.
So, what have YOU read lately?
Oooooh I love book review posts!! I almost started reading Clarity but wasn’t sure about it. I’ll have to try it. I just finished A Discovery of Witches and LOVED it. It’s like Twilight but for adults, so it was SO much better!
Thanks!! Definitely try Clarity – I think you’ll like it. Thanks for the recommendation for A Discovery of Witches. I’ll add it to my list!
I am in the midst of reading American Wife, it is good. Can’t tell you the author and am too lazy to get up and get the book…but I also have read a couple chapters of the Bill Bryson book…it was recommended by my thesis advisor and I used it in my master’s thesis…about 19th century church pastors. It is on my list of “I’ll get back to that and probably buy a copy”
I’ll be interested to hear what you think about the Bill Bryson book.
Thanks for the recommendation re: American Wife. I’ll add it to my list!
Okay, now I am jealous. I am reading “Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder.” I need to go on vacation.
You get all the fun. Do NOT bring that book on vacation.;)