Give up on this

I have to give up this blog as you can see, I haven't really been updating it. I keep up with my books on Facebook so this is more duplicating.

Also right now although I am still constantly reading, I am more worried about getting back my fitness and losing weight again. That has to be my main goal. Maybe I will start a blog about that. I do have one on Sparkpeople though, so I need to think about the work in updating two.

Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult

Another great novel by Jodi! I wouldn't rate it as one of her best, but it was good.

A woman takes off with her daughter leaving her husband. They travel cross country to her brother's place while the husband tries to search for them.

It was a great book, just not as great as most of hers. To say it was probably my least favorite of hers, but no means takes anything away from the book. It was still an excellent book.

Grade: B

In Search of Rhett Butler by Sharron Haynes

Okay I expected it to be more Gone With the Wind. It was a basic story of a woman looking for Mr. Perfect. Her name was Scarlett and she fell in love with the movie and spends her life looking for someone like Rhett. The problem was he was a fictional character.

It was a good book, but just not quite what I thought it would be.

Grade: C+

The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty

A REALLY good book. This basically loser guy loses his parents in an accident and just picks up his old bike and starts riding. He ends up riding across the country. In the process he finds himself. It was an excellent book!!!

Grade: A

Big Love by Sarah Dunn

Cute book, typical what I would call "chick lit". It starts when her live in boyfriend leaves her right before a dinner party. He leaves to go get mustard and doesn't come back. The rest was pretty predictable. Girl is suddenly single and starts dating.

Grade: C

The Sixth Wife by Suzannah Dunn

This book was about Katherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of Henry VIII. She was the one he was married to when he died. She did not have an easy life. The story takes place after he has died and after she married Thomas Seymour. He was a cad and ended up dying a traitorous death, being beheaded. Of course, this is after she dies after giving birth.

It was a good book, I love books from this time frame.

Grade: B

Mayada, Daughter of Iraq by Jean Sasson

This is a true story of a woman who comes from a prominent family in Iraq. She starts out a life of good fortune, but as Saddam's regime continues, her position changed. It tells the story of many people who were tortured and killed while he was in power.

The most heartbreaking to me where the neighbor boys who were around 14 and playing football in the street and were arrested because they "stared" at the police officers. Their mother asked Mayada to find them for her, she does but they are dead having been tortured. Eventually she was imprisoned and witnessed the torture first hand as a victim and witnessing her cell mates.

I tell you there have been times I have been conflicted about the war, but no matter we did the people of Iraq a huge favor by ousting Saddam. He was an evil, evil man as where the people that he was surrounded by.

Grade: A

Behaving Like Adults by Anna Maxted

A really cute book. Not earthshaking or anything, but it is good. The main character runs a dating agency that is supposed to be ultra exclusive, but she has a soft heart and has a hard time saying No to the desperate people. After going on a date with a man who applied to her agency she is date raped and her belief in relationships is tested. It was a really good book. I would say it is "chic lit" but I think its above that by a bit. It had more depth to it.

Grade: B

A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

Who thought a book on suicide could be funny! This book is about 4 people who meet on top of a building in London and form a sort of bond. They are up there to kill themselves. Needless to say they meet each other and don't jump. I have to say the 18 year old girl Jess is hysterical! She had me laughing out loud. Her first introduction to the first two up there were so funny, everytime I think of it, I laugh. She just wanted acceptance but would come out with some whacky things!

This was a book club book and I really enjoyed it. Although the ending wasn't much of an ending.

Grade: B

Cracks In My Foundation by Marian Keyes

I only got through the first part of this book it SUCKED!!! I have liked her books in the past, but this one was awful. It says a lot if I don't even get through it.

Basically its just her thoughts on crap. She comes across like a spoiled b**ch.

Grade: F

The Washingtonienne by Jessica Cutler

This book was funny. The main character was not very likable and a total slut.

Basically after losing her job and boyfriend in NY she moves to DC to live with a friend. While their she gets a job as an intern for a senator and proceeds to have sex with lots of men and even gets paid for it by one guy who gets her an apartment. She ends up keeping a blog about it and gets found out and becomes the talk about town. It was a typical "chic lit" kind of book which I do enjoy.

Not a serious thought provoking book, but fun.

Grade: B

The Good Mother by Sue Miller

Wow it was a good book I guess but kind of strange. It's about a woman who gets divorced then gets into another relationship and the struggles that result from that relationship. I was shocked as a mother she would behave the way she did.

This is a hard book to judge, it was good writing, but the story was kind of weird and the mother's reactions were strange.

So for me -

Grade: C

Losing It by Valerie Bertinelli

As a fan of hers I had to get this book, especially after seeing her on Oprah. I was shocked by the life she led. I will say I think even more of her for being so honest and coming through so strong. When I first heard about the book I wasn't sure about it. I thought it would be more of a weight loss book. It really was more her life story.

She is such a beautiful amazing woman. And I will say even heavy she is gorgeous! I'm so glad she is finding such happiness now.

Grade: A

She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

I actually bought this book sometime ago, but after reading a few of Oprah's selections and not enjoying them I put it away. It was mentioned in another book so I thought I would give a try and am glad I did. It was really good. I once heard how Wally Lamb had a knack for getting inside a woman's head while writing. I will say it was true.

It follows a damaged young girl through her life. It was an excellent read. I can say luckily the character was not someone I could relate too. However that in no way took away from the book. I really enjoyed it!!!

Grade: A

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

Absolutely loved this book. Jodi Picoult has such a knack for writing books from all sides, it really does make you question things you believe strongly in. As my hot topic is abortion I would love to see her tackle a book on that.

This book is about the death penalty. A man who is on death row for killing this woman's husband and child wants to donate his heart to her other daughter who needs a transplant. He has to face legal battles in order to do so. It really makes you question the whole process. It was an excellent book, hard to put down. I will admit the beginning and the end had me crying.

I recommend any book of hers! Everyone I have read has been excellent. Although after this book which I think was my favorite of hers was Nineteen Minutes about school shootings.

Grade: A++

Mrs. Kimble by Jennifer Haigh

Boy, I keep picking these books with really warped characters! This story is about a man and the many women who love him through his life.

In the beginning you learn that a man has died, it then goes back to the beginning with his first wife and tells this mans story from the perspective of the women and children in his life. He really was a love them and leave them type of guy and discarded his children just as easy. His first wife really fell apart after he left and was never really able to get her act together. The kids had to raise themselves.

The man was such a jerk, it was good to know throughout that he died alone. I just really felt for the women who loved him.

My Grade: B

Eight Million Gods and Demons by Hiroko Sherwin

Another great book. I'm really enjoying books in different times and different cultures.

This is set in Japan prior to WWII. The main character Taku is a very idealistic man who has served prison time for his political ideals. He marries a young, beautiful woman who has epilepsy and loses many children. Her husband full of ideals blasts men who get involved with geishas or keeps other women. Of course through the course of his business dealings he meets a geisha and ends up having a second family with this woman. During this time his wife becomes pregnant and gives birth to a healthy boy. When he is about 14 or maybe 15 his mother, Emi, dies and he is taken to the second family's home and raised with his father's other children.

The story was wonderful and multigenerational. It was weird though to read about WWII from the Japanese perspective. I found it very educational. I really enjoyed the book.

My Grade: A

truth and consequences by Alison Lurie

In this book a woman has been a caretaker for her professor husband after a back injury, during that time they have fallen out of love. Another couple moves to town, the woman a writer works at the university and everyone including the injured husband falls for her. Of course they begin an affair. Meanwhile the caretaker wife falls in love with the writer's "husband".

I felt sorry for the wife who had been taking care of the husband. Her husband was downright mean and rude to her. I hate to give away the ending, but lets just say the wife does get her happy ending, after enduring even more pain.

I felt the husband really got what was coming to him as well.

It was an enjoyable book. I would say it was okay, not great and not bad. I just didn't really think the characters were very sympathetic.

My Grade: C

love walked in by Marisa De Los Santos

Wow, what a wonderful book! I have to say since I began this project of books, this is by far my favorite so far, of course I'm only about 10 into my 50+ books.

In this book a woman, Cornelia, works in a coffee shop and in walks what she thinks is Mr. Right. Of course he doesn't end up being so, but in the process she meets his daughter (Clare) who comes to live with her when the little girl's mother disappears.

Clare is such a spunky little girl who has been dealing with her mother's mental illness long before she disappeared. She was so resourceful in getting around not having an active mother and keeping people from finding out.

Cornelia stays with Clare's Dad even after learning what a deadbeat dad he is, mainly because she doesn't want to lose Clare. They hire a detective to try and find the mother while I believe Cornelia is torn between wanting her found for Clare, but wanting to keep her.

It was such a wonderful, heartwarming story. I think it really showed about what love is all about, the good and the bad. It also really resonated that while loving someone there are times that your needs/wants can be different and it was about putting aside what you want for the sake of someone you love.

My Grade: A +

What Was She Thinking by Zoe Heller

This story is certainly relevant in light of the scandals today with teachers having affairs with their students. I really did not like the character "writing" the book. She was an old bitter spinster.

She tells the story of her friend, Sheba, who starts at her school and ends up having an affair with one of her students. I really didn't feel sympathy for any of the characters, not sure if it was deliberate on the part of the writer, but none of the characters were really redeaming to me. They all seemed selfish. The only character I had sympathy for was Ben, Sheba's son who was autistic or downs or something like that.

Overall it was a pretty boring book, everyone knew what would happen and had no resolution of ANY kind.

My Grade: D

The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber

This book is about basically a prostitute in the 1800's. It follows her path from a brothel to ending up working as a governess for the daughter of her benefactor. Originally he set her up in a nice apartment with an allowance but she became obsessed with his home life so set her self up as the daughter's governess. She becomes obsessed with the family. The guys wife is pretty much nuts.

Overall I thought it was a good book. The character of wife was very endearing because she was so childlike. No one ever told her about menstrual cycles so each month when it comes she thinks she is dying.

It definately brought to reality the class structure of that time.

It was a long book, but thoroughly enjoyable.

My Grade: B

A Tale of Two Sisters by Anna Maxted

It certainly seems fertility is an issue in the books I am reading!

This book is about two sisters with a very strange relationship. The older sister isn't as pretty or successful, but very happy in her relationship. They didn't want children and were not comfortable with kids. She finds out she's pregnant. It really throws her for a loop but she realizes she wants the baby. They wait until she is 16 weeks to tell her family. She is most excited to tell her sister and does so by phone. Unbeknownst to her, her sister, the pretty, successful married one, has been trying for over a year to get pregnant and has been unsuccessful. Her sister Cassie is very upset and is very selfish about it. Shortly after Lizbeth loses the baby. She is heartbroken and goes through major life changes which ultimately strains her relationship with the perfect guy.

Overall the story is about family and how no matter how screwed up they may be, we still love them no matter what.

I really never felt for Cassie. From the beginning I felt she was selfish and expected everyone to cater to her. I started warming up a bit towards the end, but never completely.

Grade: B

Back Roads by Tawni O'Dell

Man this book sure makes me appreciate my normal childhood.

The book is about a nineteen/twenty year old boy who is raising his three sisters because his Mom is in jail for murdering their abusive father. He gets involved with one of his sister's friends Mom. He falls in love and she is murdered.

Through his interrogation with the police his childhood and life is revealed. His sister turned to him for comfort through the abuse of his father and they were sexually involved.

It took a lot of twists and nothing was as it seemed as he discovers through the novel.

It was a great book, very gritty.

My Grade: B+

At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks

Aagh, one of my favorite all time authors. I have always really enjoyed his books, especially after reading Three Weeks with My Brother and learning more about him as a person.

This book was really good! It is about a man who does fall in love pretty much at first sight and the ramnifications of it when you don't really know the person. Its a beautiful and heart wrenching love story. The best friend was a real jerk and from day one trying to plant seeds of doubt. I pretty much could see that coming from the beginning. Not the whole story, but I knew he would be causing problems down the line.

Very, very sad ending which left me literally sobbing.

This was my book club's selection for December and it was a great one!

Grade: A

One Small Thing by Jessica Barksdale Inclan

The book is about a couple who are unable to conceive when suddenly the husband finds out he has a 10 year old son and his ex-girlfriend has died. With this discovery the wife learns secrets of her husband's past that she had no clue about.

Being infertile myself it was easy to put myself in the wife's shoes. She is thrown for a loop and goes somewhat off the deep end. I felt her reactions were very realistic. I won't give the ending away because I think its well worth the read. I did hope for an epilogue with more resolved though.

Grade: A-

The Diviners by Rick Moody

OH MY GOD this was the worst book I have read in a long time. It was way to wordy! Probably sounds funny to say that about a book, but god it was awful. The writer would go off on tangents that seemed to make no sense. He would use two pages to describe what could be said in two sentences. I never really got the "theme" of the book or what it was really all about.

Basically it starts off about light moving across the world, then to some old drunk lady, then her daughter, then her driver, then back to her, then various people in her office etc. Something about making a miniseries called "The Diviners". I will give away the ending, because there was no build up or anything but in the last what, paragraph or so it doesn't get made. I am only assuming that was the general theme. There was no real resolution of anything not that there was a major conflict really. They all had individual conflicts that never came together and none of them ever resolved.

Glad this was a cheap book because it was awful. I also bought The Ice Storm by the same author, which was made into a movie. Man I hope it is better than this was.

Grade: F

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

Wow it was a smaller book, but was really good. One of the reviewers on the cover compared Mr. Knowles to Salinger. I could definitely see a similarity to Catcher and the Rye, more in the way the book "felt".

It was a coming of age story of two boys in a "prep" school in the Northeast during WWII. As someone that did not live through that time parts were hard to really "get" what the main character talks about feeling. I guess that is also true since I am a female and this comes from a man's side.

Overall though I really enjoyed it and it has some parallels now with the Iraq war and boys going over and being killed. Its easy sometimes to forget that these young men are still in so many ways boys.

Grade: B+

Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh

It was a really interesting read. It takes place starting in the 40's or so about a family in a mining town. To me it was especially interesting because my step father grew up in a mining town in Canada.

Jennifer Haigh did a fantastic job portraying the bleakness of it all. There wasn't a great climax as in a typical novel. I thought though it was more realistic than some books, there is no happily ever after, its just more that life continues with its ups and downs.

My grade: B-

I am in the middle of a Separate Peace by John Knowles and am really enjoying it. Reminds me in spirit of the Catcher and the Rye.

Beginning

I have decided to start this blog to keep track of what I am reading. I am a pretty avid reader and started to keep a binder of books I read with descriptions etc. but it became pretty troublesome to keep up. I figured this would be a good way to keep up and share what I thought with other people.

I also always love to hear about other great books so maybe as I get this going people will post their suggestions for books as well.

I should also say that I love pretty much every type of fiction and biographies, but do not like science fiction at all.

I feel like a kid at Christmas today because I ordered 50 books from Barnes and Noble of their clearance and it should be delivered today. I would love to own a quaint bookstore someday. Too bad all the B&N's and Borders have put most of the small bookstores out of business. I love to be surrounded by books and love talking to other readers!