Once again, the time has come for me to share my thoughts on what I've been reading. Er, actually it is past time. Waaaay past time. In fact, summer is almost halfway over and I'm just now posting my spring reads?! Well, I guess that's about par for the course, right? Just one of the little quirks that you're all starting to love about me. Not.
Anyway, my spring reading started quite slow. (surprise, surprise) A million little engagements and my surgery really caused my reading to fall by the wayside, but thankfully, I've managed to get back on track. Hooray!
Here are the good, the great, and the meh that I curled up with in March, April, and May...
***********************************************
STAR RATINGS CHART
5 : Effing Awesome, Unputdownable
4 : Pretty Sweet Read, Good Stuff
3 : Meh, Just Average, Did Nothing for Me
2 : Ugh, Struggled, Just Happy to Finish
1 : Suckass, Chucked
***********************************************
The Shining by Stephen King
Pocket Books, 1977
683 pages
Read - March 5, 2011
3 Stars
Okay...I'll just say it...this book wasn't that scary. *ducks from flying debris lobbed at my head* I reeeeeeaaaallly wanted a creepy, edge-of-my-seat, up-all-night, fright-fest of a book (hell, I even made sure I had plenty of room in my freezer...heh heh), and this one is touted by Constant Readers everywhere as one that should deliver. Alas, I was underwhelmed. Of course, I looooooove the Stanley Kubrick adaptation (which I understand Stephen King took major umbrage with for a long time) because the movie is scaaaary (I mean, hide-under-the-covers, sleep-with-the-light-on SCARY), but the book was...ho hum. Maybe I was too big of a fan of the movie going into the book? Maybe I'm just too jaded to appreciate the nuances? Maybe I'm too old (and wise) to be scared by a book? And maybe I will be chased down the street by crazed King fans wanting to beat some sense into me.?! Eek!
Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
Washington Square Press, 2001
400 pages
Read - April 29, 2011
3 Stars
So, this was an unintentional reread...meaning, I forgot that I'd already read it. Perhaps if I had checked my Goodreads shelves before I plucked it from the library shelf, I could have saved myself the trouble. Plus, not only did I end up rereading a book that I wasn't planning to reread, but it even went down a rating for me. I just wasn't much in the mood for the level of whining that went on in this book (and how I ever was is beyond me). Boo. With any luck, I'll be able to forget it again soon.
Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner
Atria Books, 2008
384 pages
Read - May 3, 2011
2 Stars
Considering how 'meh' the first book was, I shouldn't have even bothered with the follow-up. Unfortunately, it was even worse than its predecessor. The whole thing was an exercise in frustration, from the stale characters to the lame dialogue to the overly dramatic plot. Quite frankly, it reeked of a Lifetime movie of the week. I'm actually amazed that I made it to the end of this suckfest, and I kinda wish I'd at least gotten a t-shirt out of it so I could say I walked away with something. *sigh*
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Barnes & Noble Classics, 1847
524 pages
Read - May 10, 2011
5 Stars
Jane Eyre may just be a perfect novel! It really has everything, except aliens (but, give the masterminds time and I'm sure they'll work them in). This book always manages to sweep me off my feet and transport me to Victorian England's countryside. Perfect escapism. I just curl up with a glass of wine and swoon. How can you not root for Jane and Mr. Rochester? If you haven't read it yet, get thee to a bookshop and prepare to be enchanted!
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
St. Martin's Press, 2004
322 pages
Read - May 14, 2011
3 Stars
I admit, pretty much the only reason I picked up this book is because I was interested in seeing the movie. But, I wish I had just gone to see the movie and skipped the book because now I'm not that interested in seeing the movie. I really disliked every character in the book, save for Ethan Ainsley (who was only a minor character anyway). The book was quintessential chick lit: cheesy scenes, drama, sex, fashion, and bullshit. Brain candy and nothing more.
Brave New Worlds: Dystopian Stories (various authors) edited by John Joseph Adams
Night Shade Books, 2011
470 pages
Read - May 17, 2011
4 Stars
Wowzers! I really adored this collection, which read like the 'Who's Who of Dystopian Literature.' I tried my best to savor the stories by reading a few here and there, but I could very easily have sat down and read the whole thing in a weekend. Believe me, it wasn't always easy to set it aside. Most of the stories are absolute classics of the genre and you just can't get enough! One of the best aspects of the book is the introduction to the authors and stories that editor John Joseph Adams lays out at the beginning of each story in the collection. That totally pumped me up to read the stories and to seek out more by the authors. Whether you're looking to sample dystopian lit for the first time or you're looking for a compilation of some of the biggest names in bleak-future writing, this short story collection will amaze and astound you! I will definitely be picking up the other anthologies by John Joseph Adams and Night Shade Books.
P.S. Thanks for the signed copy!
(I won a copy of this book through the First Reads program on Goodreads.)
All the Time in the World: New & Selected Stories by E.L. Doctorow
Random House, 2011
277 pages
Read - May 24, 2011
3 Stars
I was very excited to read this one since so many of my Goodreads friends have gushed over Doctorow's work. In fact, I have several of his novels waiting in the wings, but I thought his short stories would give me a nice glimpse of what I could expect from his style. Overall, I thought the book was just okay. As with most short story collections, some stories really stand out more than others. However, I will say that a lot of Doctorow's stories had a dark edge to them that I found intriguing, so I'm looking forward to picking up his other works that are collecting dust biding their time in my library. Perhaps those same Goodreads friends could point me in the direction of which E.L. Doctorow book I should wrap my mind around next? *hint hint*
{Stacie, say the word and I'll send this out to you!}
(I won a copy of this book through the First Reads program on Goodreads.)
The Silent Land by Graham Joyce
Doubleday, 2011
262 pages
Read - May 25, 2011
5 Stars
Confession: until very recently, I had never heard of Graham Joyce. Either he isn't very big in the U.S. yet or he has managed to fly under my radar for all these years (which is no easy feat). No matter. I'm just glad that I was afforded the opportunity to learn of him with The Silent Land, a fabulous piece of speculative fiction. I devoured this bad boy in less than 24 hours and was kind of peeved any time something dragged me away from reading it. Granted, it certainly wasn't a great literary masterpiece, but it was an all-absorbing page-turner (with the occasional shag scene) that kept me rapt from beginning to end. Does that sound like something you wouldn't mind curling up with on a lazy weekend?
Oh yeah...and I love, love, LOVE the cover art!
(I won a copy of this book through the First Reads program on Goodreads.)
Something Blue by Emily Giffin
St. Martin's Press, 2005
338 pages
Read - May 30, 2011
3 Stars
I have NO idea why I read this book since I really hated Darcy in the first book. And to be honest, the first half of this book didn't make me want to write her love songs either. However, somehow Emily Giffin managed to humanize Darcy more as the book went on, so I was able to warm up my cold heart to her by the end of the book. Plus, Ethan Ainsley had a much bigger role in this book, which was a definite bonus! I may have to change my mind about seeing the movie adaptation of the first book now.
Fair Play by Tove Jansson
Translated from the Swedish by Thomas Teal
New York Review Books, 1982
100 pages
Read - May 31, 2011
2 Stars
I really don't think I was in the mood for this book when I picked it up. Not exactly sure what kind of mood you have to be in for lesbians and art, but I certainly wasn't feeling it. Sorry, Tove.
***********************************************
SPRING 2011 TOTAL:
10 books
3,760 pages
***********************************************
Now to get back to my summer reading, already in progress...
