This school year is so much better than last year, which was my first year teaching, without a classroom (on a cart :( boo) and two subjects instead of one. I actually am really organized now and have free time and a life, which is such a relief!
Thus, I have been reading again, as well as sewing. From the library. I also discovered last weekend that I can check out books in Jefferson Parish using my Orleans Parish card, so now I have a giant, new library to go to as well!
Bad:
Death Echo by Elizabeth Lowell. It was the kind of book where you keep thinking it will get better, and then it never does.
A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott. It was too old-fashioned, and I was a history major!
Andrew checked out The Search for Modern China and I thought it sounded familiar. Yes, because I read it for a history class on China and own the book. Duh.Good:
Fragile Beasts by Tawni O'Dell. This was good about two orphan boys and a old woman who takes them in. It sounds cliched, but it wasn't.
Neighborhood Watch by Cammie McGovern, about a librarian who goes to prison for a crime she did not commit and then is later acquitted. It was slow paced, but an interesting perspective.
The Binding Chair by Katheryn Harrison. This is set in China around 1900, following the life of a woman with bound feet. It was very interesting and the plot was excellent and unpredictable. I do think the sex scenes were added for shock value for some reason, and I don't feel like a a prudey prude.
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. This book was sweet, about two estranged sisters who are reunited and grow closer as adults. I liked this one the most, by far.
I really only read fiction, and I especially love historical fiction and mysteries, or even historical fiction mysteries- oh! I also read very fast, so I read these in about two weeks.
What do you guys read and how often?
That is a long list of books to have finished in two weeks, sounds like you are very organized! I am currently reading the second book in the "dragon tatto" series. I know you read this at Christmas. It is really good! Did I tell you we saw the movie "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" on netflicks? The movie was entertaining but of course did not have the depth of the book. Isn't that always the case?
ReplyDeleteI read voraciously and indiscrimately. I've read everything from the classics to the most modern trashy vampire story and loved them all. When I was younger, I used to limit myself to one intelligent book and then one trashy book (I call them mind-candy). But since I've gotten a little older, and work can be stressful, I read purely for pleasure and escape. I'll check out a stack of books from the library (or download them to my Nook) and if I can't get into the book I will just return it. I read every day. If I can't read during the day, I always read before going to sleep. Reading relaxes me.
ReplyDeleteYou really do read fast!
ReplyDeleteI don't have much time for reading these days but i listen to audiobooks instead. My most recent favourites were "wild lavender" and silver wattle by Belinda Alexandra, and would highly recommend them if you like historical fiction. I'm definitely on the look out for anything else by her.
I'm enjoying the book "The King's Mistress" by Emma Campion. It is very good historical fiction. I think you would like it Molly.
ReplyDeleteI just read 2 books that I thought were very good historical fiction novels. They were: "Mary: Mrs. A. Lincoln" by Janis Cooke and "The Personal History of Rachel DuPree" by Ann Weisgarber. I'll be checking out the ones you mentioned that you liked. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to get into Sense and Sensibility (for my sew-along), but I don't have big blocks of time to do so :( I read Hardy Boys and Nancy Drews and other books like that all the time because they are satisfying to my vintage side but still quick. I wanted to read one of my books by Sartre but I can't find it!
ReplyDeleteYou HAVE to read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - the last few pages left me in hysterics but the book's recent success gives it a real happy ending. Read it and then google NYT article about the foundation Rebecca Skloot (the author) set-up and its recent successes!
ReplyDelete