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Carmie
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| Posted: Sept 08 2009 at 10:59pm | IP Logged
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I too, read Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict and this may be my least favorite of all the Austen inspired fiction I've read. It was just lousy. I put what I'm reading up at Goodreads. Any of you ladies there? I recently finished the YA novel The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and I'm very eager to read the sequel, Catching Fire. I'm working slowly through Elizabeth Goudge's The Bird in the Tree as well. Any fans of Elizabeth Goudge? I've collected a few of her novels that are back in print. I just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and it was delightful.
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Carmie
mommy to Luke(10), Sam (4) and Tess born 12/02/08
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Chari
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Lots of fans of Elizabeth Goudge here, Carmie!!
Lots of us read The GL&PPPS earlier this year and loved it, too.
I am adding my last two reads before I take them to the library, where I HOPE the last Betsy-Tacy book is waiting for me, finally.
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
Still well-written and the charachters still well-developed........i feel like I KNOW these people...I probably do  ...they are myself and friends and relatives 
this second book seems to focus on the girls' relationships with their moms.......the stroies pull you in.
A good read if you have time for the modern novel...and read the first one
Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood
The girls are tryng to figure out what to do with themselves, now that they have graduated from high school
interesting............the girls do not really have boyfriends....but when they do....they are always boys they had good friendships with first......a bit different from movies today....
okay....off to the library!
And back to the classics........soon.
I just might have to read Tale of Two Cities soon
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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Chari
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Okay, I finished Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares.
So, my final analysis on the four book series is this:
They are well-written. Good for a summer or vacation read. NOT good for the youth, esp. homeschool girls or those girls who are living in the world, but not of it. A girl who lives in the secular society and has no religion in her life.....will see ways to apply the characters' experiences to her own life, and that may be a good thing.
I found as an adult with life exeriences.....that I could relate to the girls......because each of the girls has a part of my secular, non-religious teen-self. I remember needing to make some of their decisions....and sometimes choosing their way or the opposite.
The fourth book had a few too many nekked people for my tastes.......and two more of the girls lose their innocence in the 4th book........but of the three that do (the first was in the first book)....ALL THREE are MISERABLE. Absolutely miserable afterward. They all had their fantasy of how wonderful it would be...and it was...but none of them imagined the horrible emotional feelings and loss they would experience later. I find it interesting that in a modern novel, this would be so. I guess if Ms. Brashares is going to include this in her novels....at least she treats it in a way to discourage teens from going that route.....or giving their fantasies a dose of reality. Now, within marriage.....that would be lovely. Hmm...she does not ever discuss the alternative, wiating. Too bad.
Hope I make sense......I am trying to write with a mild headache and lots of distraction.
Still hoping to find the 8th Betsy-Tacy book at the library......what have you finished this week?
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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stellamaris
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Just finished Fr. Ricciotti's History of Israel in two volumes. This was a treasure trove of historical information written from a totally Catholic perspective. I wish someone would update and reprint this great work! Also read Beloved by Toni Morrison, in my quest to read the 100 greatest modern novels. It is a very intense portayal of the horrors of slavery in the American South pre-Civil war. The main character kills her baby to keep her from being enslaved, but the guilt of this deed haunts her (literally) and nearly kills her. Very difficult read, but I am glad I read it. Loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society and also had fun with The Scarlet Pimpernel, my "beach reads".
So, now with beach season wrapping up, I'm starting in on War and Peace.
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In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to  dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
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JuliaT
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Here are some of the books I have read since Aug.
ELEGANCE OF A HEDGEHOG by Muriel Barbery. I loved this book. There was so many things to think about. It is not a plot story but, rather, a theme story. I thought it was very well written.
WHY IS THE SKY SO BLUE by Susan Meissner. This is Christian fiction. Usually I do not like this genre but, all things considering, it wasn't too bad.
FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley. I have never read this before and was pleasantly surprised by it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Again, it was a theme book. It gave me much food for thought.
AUSTENLAND by Shannon Hale. I didn't like this at all. It was just way too shallow and the ending was too predictable.
MY LIFE IN FRANCE by Julia Child. I was inspired to read this after watching the movie of JULIE AND JULIA. I enjoyed the book very much.
LEWIS CARROLL IN NUMBERLAND by Robin Wilson. I skipped over the math part (it was way over my head) but the biography part was quite interesting.
HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins. I was sure that I would not like this book but I was wrong. What an amazing book! I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series.
A ROYAL PAIN by Rhys Bouwen. A fun, fluff mystery.
THE ACTOR AND THE HOUSEWIFE by Shannon Hale. After my disaster with Austenland, I was a bit reticent to read another of Hale's books but this one is different. There is a bit more depth to this one. I am enjoying it.
Blessings,
Julia
mom of 3(10,8,6)
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Gratiae ut Deus
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I've recently read all the Twilight Series. My favorite being the first book in the series.
I next read The Time Travelers Wife and hated it! Yes, I had that strong an emotion to it. It was repulsive in more ways than one. Please, spare me the detailed sex scenes. And IMO you could tell it was the authors first attempt at writing. Her characters were dull and flat. And how many poems in languages that I don't understand does a novel need. I got the feeling the author was trying too hard to impress and lost the great potential the story had.
After that horrible experience I read My Sister's Keeper and really enjoyed it. It is a tear jerker, but not overly so. The author, Jodi Picoult breaks it up nicely between the main characters in the story giving them each their time to speak. The ending was a definite surprise. I liked that the story didn't end how I thought it would.
At present I'm reading Bill O'Reilly's Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity that my mil loaned to me and St. Therese's Story of a Soul
Waiting for me in my "to read" basket is Three Cups of Tea, Coraline,and Samuel Adams, A Life by Ira Stoll
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Here's to happy reading!
God bless,
Kelly
Wife to Mark
Momma to boy 11, girl 10, boy 8, boy 7, girl 5, boy 4, girl 2, and baby on the way :)
Gratiae ut Deus
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Mimip
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So because of the recommendations on this post I have read the following in the past few weeks:
Mistress of the Revolution C. Delors: Liked it a lot. I few of the scenes were a bit graphic for me but I really liked all the history.( I love historical fiction)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Absolutely loved it. The end was a bit abrupt for me but I really enjoined learning more about the occupation and the book made the characters come to life.
I'm now on to Secret Life of Bees which someone I just met could not believe I had not read.
Thanks for the recommendations, Ladies!
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In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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SuzanneG
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mimip wrote:
| Mistress of the Revolution C. Delors: Liked it a lot. A few of the scenes were a bit graphic for me but I really liked all the history.( I love historical fiction) |
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Oh, I'm so glad you liked it!! She is coming out with another book in Summer 2010....For the King!!
I'm about 10 pages away from finishing Anya Seton's Avalon, which is rivaling Mistress of the Revolution for my favorite book of 2009.
I have two more Anya Seton books to read (The Turquoise and My Theodosia), and then I can happily make my LIST of her novels in order of favorites!!!!!  And, then start all over!  Katherine is still my favorite!
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Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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Mimip
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Suzanne,
I thought she had other books!!!!!!! Oh I am so sad but I'm going to check out Anya Seton.
Please tell me the Secret Life of bees gets better because it is dragging.....
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In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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Karen T
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Gratiae ut Deus wrote:
I've recently read all the Twilight Series. My favorite being the first book in the series.
I next read The Time Travelers Wife and hated it!
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I finally read the first two Twilight books recently. I really had no interest in it but was curious to see why so many moms were letting their teen daughters read them (always pointing out the lack of usual teen dating activities in the books) - well, I can understand the draw of the character for teens - he's like a creepy Mr. Darcy - so gallant and self-sacrificing for her BUT the only reason they don't consummate their relationship is that he says he's so strong he would accidentally kill her! No mention of being chaste for any moral reasons, and he sneaks in her room and watches her sleep all night. Ugh. yeah, I read the 2nd one too, and that's enough for me. The first was definitely better.
I also hated the Time Traveler's Wife. I didn't even finish it. Totally creepy how a 40-something naked man appears to a 6 year old child in the meadow. I quit after a few of the "romance" scenes.
I've been reading a lot lately, most of it non-fiction stuff.
Today at the library I picked up a hardback of Arroyo's biography of Mother Angelica for 50 cents. I'd wanted to read it a few years back and then somehow forgot about it. I've read about 1/3 of the book so far and it's riveting. I hardly ever watch EWTN (I've almost entirely quit watching TV at all and usually forget it's on our listings now) and have only seen her a few times, so this is very interesting, learning all about her early life and how she built the Alabama monastery, etc.
Karen T
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teachingmyown
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I just finished The Lost Prince by Frances Burnett. Am I the only who didn't know about this book?! It is wonderful! I guess you would say it is a children's book, but the story is great. A big thank you to my dd13 who is a voracious reader. She keeps finding treasures for me to read.
I am working on Middlemarch by George Elliot right now, which dd13 put down. It is a bit of a chore to get through, but so far is very amusing.
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Mimip
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So I am done with Secret Life of Bees and was kind of augh.... Could have done without but I see where others would like it.
I just saw Inkheart on DVD today and I think I want to read the three books by Funke now.
Now on to a Michael Phillips book, Wild Grows the Heather in Devon. How are the rest of you doing?
__________________
In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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Karen T
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How was the Inkheart movie? I read the book, thought it was OK but it didn't inspire me to find the sequels. I wasn't sure about the movie - would it be OK as a family movie (8 and 9 year olds)
I finished the Mother Angelica biography and I have so much more respect for her now - wow, what a life!
I have recently read two books by Jen Lancaster, Pretty in Plaid and Bitter is the New Black. I'd already read her latest one Such a Pretty Fat. These are pretty bad from a moral point of view, lots of bad language, cohabiting, etc but I needed something light and funny and they were definitely that. Anyone who has struggled with weight loss would probably enjoy the last one, and anyone who did the whole sorority rush thing in college would find Pretty in Plaid hysterical I think (no, I never pledged).
Right now I'm attempting Darwin's Black Box and The Edge of Evolution both by Michael Behe. I've been roped into leading a discussion on evolution and the Catholic Church, for our parish's young adult discussion group, b/c I have a science background.
So you can see why I needed some light, funny reading for a change
Karen T
p.s. I'm reading The Mysterious Benedict Society to the kids - interesting!
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Mimip
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Karen,
I cannot believe you brought up the Evolution thing since I just got a call from a fellow hser who wants me to help her in a discussion about this!!!! Could you PM me about your reading????
Oh, Inkheart would be fine for my 9 year old but not my 7 year old. I would watch it first and make a decision about it before letting the little ones see it.
I think I need to get the Mysterious Benedict Society for the kids since so many of you have recommended it!
__________________
In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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Stephanie_Q
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OK - I know I've seen the author Elizabeth Goudge here over and over. I'd seen it again, recently in Michael O'Brien's booklist ("A Landscape with Dragons") and then my spiritual director asked me if I'd seen the movie "Green Dolphin Street". I haven't - it's not available on Netflix, so I did the next best (ok - better) thing and checked out the book. I LOVE IT! Our library only has two other books by her. I am going to be keeping an eagle eye out for more...
(Of the two books I have immediately available, would you recommend "The Scent of Water" or "The White Witch")?
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Stephaniedh 6.01
dd 6.02, dd 8.03, ds 3.05, ds 12.06 at Catholic school.
dd 12.09 at home.
Baby boy due 10.13
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Natalia
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I have read a couple of good books lately:
The Saffron Kitchen A story set in England and Iran.
The Legend of the Wandering King A beautiful story set in Ancient Arabia. It is Juvenile book, a quick read. A magic tale of pride, repentance, responsibility and ultimately redemption. A great story.
I also read Pat Conroy's newest book South of Broad and I didn't like it. I have never read a book with filthier language than this. I have never read any of his other books. I can tell he is a good writer but I didn 't like this one.
And another JF When You Reach Me Another quick read, part mystery and part fantasy. I really enjoyed this one.
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Natalia
http://pannuestrodecadadia.blogspot.com
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Michiel
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This is cool. How did I not see this topic before? Currently reading The Yearling by Marjorie Rawls. I thought this was a kids' book but was wrong. Loving it.
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MichelleW
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ok, i haven't seen this mentioned, but i might have missed it. i loved loved loved "the sweetness at the bottom of the pie" by bradley. it is a mystery, really enjoyed it.
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Michelle
Mom to 3 (dd 14, ds 15, and ds 16)
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Chari
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Thanks for that rec, Michelle!
WELCOME, Michiel! How do you pronounce your name? I like to "hear" people's names when I read them....and I like to be accurate......might be a spin-off from my own name issue
The Scent of Water is great, Stephanie! What did you choose? I have yet to read The White Witch
Mimi, I liked The Secret Life of Bees........but the movie was only so-so......they changed too much.
I have only read Caledonia series form Michael Phillips.......how are the other books?
Kelly, I keep foregtting that I want to read My Sister's Keeper.............maybe I will just post this and go order it from the library! 
I just finished reading Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance by Atul Gawande
He was a keynote speaker at my alama mater.............so I looked up his books to read......another one is waiting for me at the library.
I am in the middle of a 900 page book......it helps to break it up with a few quick reads
Better was good...........written well enough.......definitely interesting.....but never gripping. I like how he weavesstories through his chapters.....they realy help.
I recommend it if you are married to a physician.....ARE a physician..........or you work in the medical field or have some other interest related to the same. Actually, any RN or MD should read this.........the last few chapters could improve their care of patients........or least give serious food for thought.
I also think there is an important chapter in there that should be must reading for any parents of children with CF.
Other topics include "washing hands" (I am NOT like the average RN/MD in this case!), info about treating soldiers during war.........kind of a history, which includes now........fascinating and frightening!.......interesting read about the medical field and death row cases......and more
anyone have more books to add? I have some more.......but my long post has taken too much time for now!!
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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Stephanie_Q
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Chari wrote:
The Scent of Water is great, Stephanie! What did you choose? I have yet to read The White Witch
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Actually, I picked up a copy of "The Castle On The Hill" for $1 at the library booksale...so I'm reading that one - will probably check out "The Scent of Water" after that...
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Stephaniedh 6.01
dd 6.02, dd 8.03, ds 3.05, ds 12.06 at Catholic school.
dd 12.09 at home.
Baby boy due 10.13
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4Real Forums : Book Club
Topic: Our 2009 Book List!
