Praise to all holy things (and my sweet mother-in-law who sent it), my new Kindle arrived yesterday!
I had to actually buy FOUR real books to hold me over until my Kindle successfully crossed the waters. Two I purchased based on interest, and the other two I purchased based solely on their length. I'm a fast reader and I needed to be certain I wouldn't find myself book-less.
Which brings my total books read in the Philippines to...55. I won't bore you with complete reviews, but a few are worth mentioning...
On my current reading docket:
In Our Image (Karnow), the history of the Philippines I've been raving about
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Safran Foer), which I'm struggling with a little
What Your Second Grader Needs To Know (A lot, unfortunately)
Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game (Lewis), on loan from Prime meaning I better get cracking
What I Will Recommend:
Divine Signatures (Lund): I'm not one who usually goes all nuts for "churchy" books, but this one was a life changer for me. I'm already on my second time through.
O Pioneers!/Song of the Lark/My Antonia (Cather): You can download the three of these together on Amazon for free. All good, but Song of the Lark receives my strongest praise.
What the Dog Saw (Gladwell): I have loved all of Malcolm Gladwell's books, and this one was no exception. What isn't good about having information on serial killers, Cesar Milan, and solving homelessness in one handy volume?
Bossypants (Fey): If you are feeling a little sad or blue, this will pick you right up. Also, Tina Fey is awesome in every conceivable way.
Cutting For Stone (Verghese)
The Gun Seller (Laurie, as in Hugh Laurie, as in "House"): Hee-larry-us. Sample Quote: "She narrowed her eyes. Horizontally, not vertically."
Hannah Coulter (Berry): This wasn't a new book to me, just my yearly visitation, but to all of those who I have recommended this to: What are you WAITING FOR?
The Psychopath Test (Ronson): So funny and insightful and now I know who among you is cuckoo.
S'Mother (Chester): There once was a man who had an extremely overprotective mother who would write her fears down in letters that she would send him. Well, he saved those letters and put them into a book for the rest of the world to enjoy. Why did I pick out a book about a man and his overprotective mother, you ask? No reason.
Stark (Elton): What if, as the end of the world neared due to massive environmental destruction, the richest people in the world conspired to escape? Elton hypothesizes on the topic in a most hilarious (fictional) way. This and the Hugh Laurie book were recommended by my ultra-running friends and have only served to increase my esteem for them.
The Historian (Kostova): This was one of those that I purchased based on length, and when I opened it and found out it was a "Vampire Book" I thought various profanities to myself because that's not my bag (and yes I read all four "Twilight" books and yes I am still angry about the MONUMENTAL WASTE OF TIME that it was). However, my ox was in the mire with no Kindle, so I read on. I was surprised by how much I liked this book, and here is the subtitle I propose for it: The Book Stephanie Meyer Would Have Written If She Possessed Any Talent Whatsoever.
Unbroken (Hillenbrand): I mention this just in case you missed the other ten blog posts where I suggested reading this. Take a hint, now.
Mona 5th Ward primary families
9 months ago
4 comments:
Thanks so much. You've read more in your time there than I've read in maybe the past 20 years. How were you ever able to be friends with me? I laughed so hard at your reviews of the Twilight books. Monumental waste of time? You probably spend a whole hour reading the whole set. Even I sped through the first one in an afternoon, and I'm at least ten times slower than you. I didn't go on to read any others though. I feel the same way about her...so stupid. But I might give your other vampire book a try.
You have become your mother. :)
I have many memories of the piles of books next to her bed and her weekly trips to the library. I had never seen one person read so much.
I will be reading a couple selections from your list so, thanks for sharing what you've read.
I want to go to the Philippines so I can read 55 books! Oh wait I'd still have my kids with me. Drat! I will take your suggestions though it takes me one month to finish a single book. Which do I start with...that's the hardest question.
Don't get me started on Twilight and the developmental damage it could cause. All we need is a bunch of half-wit girls obsessed with boys, hurting themselves to get attention, telling people it's okay that he put bruises on her because she liked it... That author has to either have some major emotional damage/baggage, or is willing to offer a very warped perspective on relationships and try to sell it as "healthy" just to make a buck. That's not even touching the bad writing...
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