February 2008 Blog Posts (11)

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Bridget Jones's Diary

I haven't seen the movie. But, it was so popular that I thought the book would be good.

Wrong. I hated it. I think I'm just too old and too happily married to enjoy a whiny, albeit somewhat funny, vulgar, lonely heroine. If she can even be called that. Given the film's R-rating, I shouldn't have been surprised by the book's foul language and sexual exploits. But, I was. I found nothing to relate to, which is something that I have found I need, in… Continue

Added by Holly on February 29, 2008 at 4:00pm — No Comments

An Assembly Such as This: A Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman

I have yet to find an attempted Pride and Prejudice sequel to be worth my time. This novel is the first that really does the story justice. While this book isn't a sequel, it's a wannabe adaptation: the first of three novels which basically retell the story of Pride and Prejudice from the viewpoint of Mr. Darcy. A viewpoint that Austen readers have wondered about since the novel was published. This one ends after the ball at Netherfield, with Darcy… Continue

Added by Holly on February 28, 2008 at 4:00pm — No Comments

The Quilter's Homecoming

Book 10 in the Elm Creek Quilter's series. This one goes back in time to the 1920s and the depression years in California. Like the other books, it involves an ancestor of Sylvia Compson, and like all her other ancestors, this woman quilts. Chiaverini has a nice formula. She writes about quilting, family, women and relationships and ties it all together with facts about quilting and patterns.

I enjoyed this novel, although not as much as I've… Continue

Added by Holly on February 25, 2008 at 4:00pm — No Comments

The Sacrifice

I wasn't disappointed. I've enjoyed this series so far. The glimpse it offers into the lives of the Plain people is fascinating. Their way of life is foreign, yet familiar. I loved how the author explored the different religious aspects of the Amish vs. the Mennonite faiths, and that Mary Ruth and others weren't afraid to question their upbringing and the strictness of their lives.

I found myself hurting for Leah and how she lost her true love… Continue

Added by Holly on February 21, 2008 at 4:00pm — No Comments

The Betrayal

The second in the Abram's Daughters series. I really liked it. Easy to read, but not simple. It keeps your interest.

The role that the church plays in the lives of the Plain people is fascinating. It makes me think about our own lives and our own involvement in our individual faiths. Do we see our religious leaders as controlling, the way outsiders might? Or is it all natural and normal? Definitely interesting. I don't understand the concept of… Continue

Added by Holly on February 17, 2008 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Circle of Quilters

This was my least favorite novel of the Elm Creek series. Two of the original quilters are leaving and the others interview people to take their places. Each chapter is about one of the interviewees. I found it difficult to get through. The only person I enjoyed reading about was Russ, the lone, male quilter. The others, especially Anna and her boyfriend and Karen and her husband, were more extreme caricatures, and annoying. And main character Diane,… Continue

Added by Holly on February 13, 2008 at 4:00pm — No Comments

How to Take the Ex our of Ex-Boyfriend

A light, fun read. Giovanna is someone you can like and even relate to in many ways. I can see the appeal for teenagers/YA. Those high school years can be awkward, with lots of embarrassing moments. Giovanna certainly has her share of embarrassing moments and misunderstandings in this book, but her voice is believable. Entertaining.

A light easy… Continue

Added by Holly on February 11, 2008 at 4:00pm — No Comments

New Moon

I liked it, sort of. But, like Twilight, it was a slow starter for me. The dialogue was still clunky and sappy and often felt like Meyer was, again, trying too hard. She still needs a good editor. Bella's narration is awkward throughout the book.

All the way through this book I wanted to throttle her. She's still weak and whiny. She used Jacob something fierce. Her melodrama over losing Edward was enough to make me vomit. There's a point… Continue

Added by Holly on February 9, 2008 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale

It's a compelling novel, but certainly not a happy one. Around the year 900, a young Irish princess is kidnapped by Vikings and ends up in Iceland as a slave. She's strong-willed and refuses to speak. Historically, it's a fascinating description of the time and people and the conflict between the Vikings and everyone else. The idea that this people just came in and took whomever they wanted--men, women, and especially children--and sold them as slaves… Continue

Added by Holly on February 6, 2008 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

I was surprised at how short this book is. I was picturing some long-winded gothic-type novel, but this was almost a short story. I was also surprised at how the bulk of the story is told from the point-of-view of outsiders: those who know Dr. Henry Jekyll and observe his actions, and those who come to know Edward Hyde and learn the doctor's desperate secret. I found Stevenson's psychology fascinating: his idea that one could separate the two sides of… Continue

Added by Holly on February 2, 2008 at 4:00pm — No Comments

SAHM I am

Chick-lit. No wait, I like some chick-lit. This was more chick-light. Anyone who has ever been on an email/yahoo-type group will understand the book. You'll even identify with some of the characters, and the misunderstandings that come about because so much is lost with email communication. I did find a couple of the characters simply too extreme and unrealistic. There were none I neither identified with nor cared about.

It was laugh out loud… Continue

Added by Holly on February 1, 2008 at 4:00pm — No Comments

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