8.26.2010

On My Bookshelf

I have a few books waiting to be read that I am pretty excited about, actually. First, I received this wonderful book in the mail from Dr. Kathy Jordan:


I cannot even begin to tell you how interested I am in this book! I haven't started reading it yet, due to the insanity (which I will be sharing with you about later...), however, I can't wait to dive into it! My art has become such an amazingly important part of my life. I am actually even considering pursuing it in a more academic format in the future, perhaps along the lines of art therapy. I know that this book is going to be an important one for me! I just KNOW it! Also, Kathy signed it and wrote a REALLY sweet note inside and that makes it EVEN COOLER! If you are interested check out Kathy's website for a chance to WIN a copy!!!

Next, I have a book that I actually went to the store to pick up last night.


The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I had heard some scuttle about this series, but in all honesty, I knew nothing about it. It wasn't until I heard the premise behind this, the first book in the trilogy (at least for now), that I became really interested. It is published by Scholastic and is actually categorized as a 'young adult' novel, but you know what...The Giver is categorized as a children's book and that sucker has more to say than most 'adult books' I've read! So, I picked it up. I'm going to read it - maybe this weekend if I have time. I'm REALLY looking forward to it and I want to read it quickly, as I really don't want to be spoiled on this one and now that I have it I know it will randomly pop up everywhere! LOL!

Finally, there is this book.


Yes, yes, I know. Old news. But I had avoided it due to the hype because, well, quite frankly books like Twilight get hype. Not good books. Just say'n. BUT, for some reason I was drawn to it. The Hubbums picked up a copy randomly a few weeks back and read it. Now, understand, The Hubbums is an AVID reader and knows GOOD literature vs. HACK CRAP when he sees it. He really liked this book. He said it was just okay until the very last page. At that point it became a REALLY GOOD BOOK. THAT, my friends, is the kind of review that makes you want to read a book. A book so perfectly tied together that you feel as though it was TOTALLY worth finishing. So, now I want to read that one, too.

As far as The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo, again, slightly interested, but nervous about the incessant hype. The jury is still out on that one. I don't own a copy yet, so we shall see.

In the meantime, what are YOU reading? Anything good?

16 comments:

  1. I've been re-reading some old favorites. I'm in the middle of the Anne of Green Gables series, a huge favorite of my childhood. I haven't seen any new books that have sparked my interest lately.

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  2. Naked Came the Phoenix for our Book Club get together in September. I'm also reading Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult. At first I thought the Salem Falls book was lame but the more I read it, the more it's drawing me in.

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  3. Now now Jingle...you have asked a question with an answer that is going to tell ya just what a quirky person I am...LOL!!!

    I just finished a series of books by Charlaine Harris. The Sookie Stackhouse series. She is a fantastic writer and her books are well worth the read. That is if you like the mystical realm. (vampires, werewolves and faeries..OH MY) Some might say "Hummmmm...Sookie Stackhouse sounds very familiar" and she just might. Mrs. Harris's books are the basis for the HBO series "True Blood". I so wish that the producers of the show would stick to her books. Of course they think they need to add things to get folks attention but to be honest the books take you into a realm that you don't need any bad language or steamy scenes..your imagination will handle that all on it's own.

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  4. Oooh, you have some delicious reading ahead!! I would share what is on my bookshelf, but I think I'd go over the limit for the internet. (Hah!) Seriously, I have 7 books out of the library and 3 that I've had for a while. I think I'm "in progress" on at least 4. Sheesh.

    p.s. You'll adore Kathy's book!

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  5. Good morning my dear! Love your book suggestions, and I'll have to go look for them. Life of Pi was actually required summer reading for our high school's 9th or 10th grade last year, can't remember which.

    Loved sassypackrat's comment about Anne of Green Gables -- reminds me I need to get that and start reading it with my little miss K.

    I have not picked up a good book in a while and need to. Thanks for today's post!

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  6. I just read Bamboo People a couple days ago and it is a YA book but very good. An excellent view into Burma and the horrific things that go on there while the world stays quiet.
    I'm about to read Traveling Mercies and Eva Luna. Hopefully I'll get those read in the next week or two but life is crazy here as well!

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  7. I will have to check some of these out! With my monsters out of school, I haven't been reading much! Just two more weeks...just two more weeks! :)

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  8. The Life of Pie is brilliant, I loved it especially the completely different viewpoint on animals living in Zoos that you rarely get to hear about, well I hadn't heard that side of it before.
    It's a magical book that is really believable when you read it but if I told you the plot as a summary you'd say WTF??
    Two other books that I would really recommend are:-

    Anita Diamant - The Red Tent. A fascinating story of another way people lived (and probably still live) from the woman's perspective.

    Joanne Harris - Holy Fools. A brilliant story and she recreates the era so well you can practically smell the smells and feel the heat.
    Again, another way of life to experience without having to leave the comfort of your armchair and running hot and cold water!

    Gini
    xx

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  9. I just wish I had time to read ONE book! LOL

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  10. I thought Water for Elephants was good before all the hype came out...I hate when it becomes the must-read or must-see or must-have thing. I liked The Time Traveler's Wife too. Now I'm reading Drive about what really drives people (not a novel). Love Red Scarf Girl--it's a memoir but it reads like historic fiction (1960's)...love it!

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  11. I just picked up a book this past weekend called This Is all: The Pillow Book of Cordellia Kenn... Its been FANTASTIC so far! Super interesting and a unique perspective into the teenaged girls psyche...skeptical at first but it was on sale so I threw caution to the wind and decided to go for it... good decision!

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  12. I'm reading the Sookie Stackhouse books, too. Also, I am reading The Anti Cancer Way (still)... I started it over from the beginning. I'm really back logged on my reading. I usually zip thru books. (my word verification is jives... thought that was funny!)

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  13. I'm STILL reading Eat Pray Love....because I keep falling asleep a minute after I start reading. (Not because it's boring - it's really NOT - but because I get to bed too late every night!)

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  14. I haven't had any time to read and have stacks and stacks of books to get to. It has been so long that I am just starting The Lost Symbol....

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  15. Excellent choices here! I've been hearing great things about Kathy Jordan's book. And from what I hear, the hype surrounding Hunger Games is well worth it. I'm currently reading "Practical Magic" by Alice Hoffman. Gearing myself up for the party next month. Alice Hoffman is one of my favorite authors - and it's amazing that I never read this one book in particular. Very different from the film - but just as magical! I highly recommend "Ice Queen" by Hoffman. Amazing modern day faerie tale. Theresa

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  16. I, too, am sceptical about books that get a lot of hype. I just saying to my dad recently that I wish there was another list, besides NYT Bestsellers, something that would not allow books like Twilight or Walk to Remember, something that might actually consist of books worth your time. YA fiction is often better-written, and always "cleaner", so there's that. But now, I look for stuff that's won a prize I respect, such as Man Booker. Always a good indicator, I've found.
    Just finished Mockingjay, the last book of Hunger Games. She's good. Also just finished Amy & Isabelle, which was amazing. Now reading Beatrice & Virgil, Yan Martell's next offering. Proving to be as good as his first.
    Anne Tyler is always a good bet. I think I own everything she's ever written. First one I read was A Slipping Down Life. Least favorite is Digging to China. It's still good, but there's something about it that didn't sit right with me.
    I read a lot. I try to read only worthwhile stuff. Sometimes that's hard.
    Oh, one last one, a little on the cerebral side, Elegance of the Hedgehog. Totally worth all the hype, absolutely amazing.

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