April 2008 Blog Posts (116)

Search Blog Posts

The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea

This book is haunting. I think that's the only word I can find for it right now. The characters are swirling around in my mind and I am trying to make sense of them. Teresita is a child born into poverty, given up by her mother, raised on a rancho in Mexico. She soon begins to learn the arts of a curandera (a healer) - and she also discovers that she is the child of a fling between her mother and the head of the rancho.



I loved following her life - as she learns the art of childbirth… Continue

Added by Corinne on April 23, 2008 at 10:53am — No Comments

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

East of Eden completely swept me away. With all of it's pain and hatefulness, I found it so redeeming. Steinbeck is amazing - sometimes I feel like I am reading the scriptures when I read some of his stuff. Chapter 34, an entire three page chapter, is on good and evil and how really all we have is the ability to make choices between them. "There is no other story. A man, after he has brushed off the dust and chips of his life, will have left only the hard, clean questions: Was it good or was it… Continue

Added by Corinne on April 23, 2008 at 10:52am — No Comments

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Reading this book the second time, it was even more amazing that I remembered it. I almost felt a physical pain; it is such a poignant coming of age book. An interesting thing is that I felt, this time, so much more of the struggles that the parents went through, trying to raise their kids in such meager circumstances. I still adored Francie as a character and found her longing to be needed just as dear to my heart now as I did when I was a teenager and read it. But I think I appreciated the… Continue

Added by Corinne on April 23, 2008 at 10:51am — No Comments

Dracula by Bram Stoker

I didn't know so much what to expect. I have never read any "horror" novels before, frankly because I'm not into horror and gore. I like thick, intricate plot and good characters, but not so much blood and guts. But, for my offline book club we are read The Historian which, I heard, is a companion book to Dracula. I thought that this was as good a time as any to give Dracula a try.



I loved it. LOVED it. Found it completely en"gross"ing. Ha. Yes, it's bloody. Creates super graphic… Continue

Added by Corinne on April 23, 2008 at 10:51am — No Comments


Blogger The Shadow of the Wind

I finished it a couple of days ago, but I wanted to process it a little before I wrote my review. I liked it a lot when I finished it, but I've decided that I like this book even more now.



The plot of the novel is actually kind of difficult to describe. The book is set in Barcelona in the post-WW2 era, when fascism reigns supreme. The story involves a bookseller, his son, a beggar, a villain, love interests, a murder, and a very singular book--The Shadow of the Wind. Being that it is… Continue

Added by Tricia on April 21, 2008 at 10:53pm — No Comments


Blogger Persuasion

The Book: Said to be the thinker's Pride and Prejudice, this is the last book Jane Austen wrote and is said to be her most autobiographical. Not a lot happens in this novel, but it is so interesting to study the psychology of all the characters. Austen's use of wit and irony is at its finest. I love it!



The Movie: I understand you've got to cram a 238 page book into an hour and a half for Masterpiece Theatre. And for the most part I forgave the necessary screenplay alterations. But,… Continue

Added by Tricia on April 21, 2008 at 10:53pm — 1 Comment


Blogger Northanger Abbey

The Book: I think I last read this one about 16 years ago, which made this kind of fun since I remembered it not-at-all. I thought this book was hilarious. I actually laughed out loud in some parts. Catherine is a real dingbat, but kind of endearing. I loved all the baddies in the book--Isabella, Mr. Thorpe, and General Tilney. I think after reading this I may be tempted to pick up The Mysteries of Udolpho at some point.



The Movie: I was not a fan. Catherine was more contrived… Continue

Added by Tricia on April 21, 2008 at 10:52pm — No Comments


Blogger Mansfield Park

The Book: Phew, that was a long one...nearly twice as long as Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. I do remember reading this one in high school and thinking, "Ew, cousins, weird." But, I'm over it now. My favorite part of this book is the last 100 pages, where all the action is packed. Jane Austen sure doesn't let you wallow in the happy conclusion for long. Just one page of something like, "And they got together and lived happily ever after." Not much to swoon over really. Still, I think this is… Continue

Added by Tricia on April 21, 2008 at 10:51pm — 1 Comment


Blogger People of the Book

I had seen this book in the bookstore and read a few reviews from fellow bloggers, so I was happy I got through the queue at the library pretty quickly. Having not read Brooks' other books, I wasn't sure what do expect since those I spoke to previously had given Pulitzer Prize-winning March mixed reviews. But, the dedication to the book says, "For the librarians" and from there on out I knew I was going to love it.



I can't think of a way to describe it that will do the book justice.… Continue

Added by Tricia on April 21, 2008 at 10:50pm — No Comments


Blogger Ophelia

It's been awhile since I've seen Hamlet (and I don't think I've ever read all of it) so this book based on Ophelia was a fresh new surprise. Voted one of the best teen reads of 2006 on teenreads.com, the author takes what Shakespeare has given us about Ophelia and expands her whole story, filling in all the details about a noble life in Denmark.



I definitely loved the romance of the first half, but then the book had a few slow moments for me in the second half. However, it all ended… Continue

Added by Tricia on April 21, 2008 at 10:49pm — No Comments


Blogger The Alchemist

I laughed.
I cried.
I loved it.

I even read the last 50 pages or so out loud to Dan and he loved it.

It's short, but powerful. A fable for our time.

Travel with Santiago to Egypt and see what happens....

Added by Tricia on April 21, 2008 at 10:47pm — No Comments


Blogger The Friday Night Knitting Club

I read this one on vacation this weekend with my husband. It is the perfect light read for a long weekend.



The story follows Georgia, a single mother, who owns a yarn boutique in Manhattan. On Friday nights a group of women, old and young, come together in the store to work on their projects, and become friends. They see each other through life's up and downs, and despite their varied backgrounds, form a bond that can't be broken.



It was kind of obvious that this was Kate… Continue

Added by Tricia on April 21, 2008 at 10:46pm — No Comments


Blogger The Next Thing on My List

This is my book club's book for March. I was able to get it quickly from the library, and it was a quick and easy read. It was light and fluffy--what I would classify as chicklit.



The story follows June Parker, a 30-something who works for LA's Rideshare program. June is in a car accident with Marissa, whom she met at Weight Watchers, and Marissa dies. June barely knows the woman, but she feels tremendous guilt. June finds a piece of paper among Marissa's belongings that she had… Continue

Added by Tricia on April 21, 2008 at 10:45pm — No Comments


Blogger Sarah: Women of Genesis

This is the first book in Orson Scott Card's Women of Genesis series, which also includes Rebekah and Rachel and Leah. It is actually the last one of the series for me since I read the others in 2006.



I think it is a good exercise to read about people in the scriptures as real people, with day to day lives, hopes and dreams, as long as you remember that it is just a fictional interpretation based on the Bible. The fact that Card and I share the same faith (and he's a North… Continue

Added by Tricia on April 21, 2008 at 10:44pm — No Comments


Blogger Bound on Earth

I should say up front that I don't generally read LDS fiction. My friend, Andi, got me to read Dean Hughes' Children of the Promise and Hearts of the Children series a few years ago, which I did enjoy and would recommend. Other than that, I don't think I've read any other LDS fiction after purposely boycotting The Work and the Glory because I got sick of people bearing their testimonies about them.



However, Julie over at BestBooks got me interested in this one, enough to buy it with… Continue

Added by Tricia on April 21, 2008 at 10:43pm — No Comments


Blogger A Great and Terrible Beauty

I tried to like this book. Honest, I did. I'm still new to fantasy, and I just couldn't get into this book. I never cared about a single one of the characters. I thought all the fantasy bits were confusing. It just seemed like Harry Potter meets Dead Poets Society for stuck-up girls in the late 19th century.



This is the first of a trilogy of books about Gemma Doyle, a sixteen year old. Her mother is murdered in India, and she has been sent to finishing school in England. The… Continue

Added by Tricia on April 21, 2008 at 10:42pm — No Comments


Blogger Book of a Thousand Days

This is the latest Shannon Hale's young adult novel. The story is a retelling based on Brothers Grimm Maid Maleen. The novel is written in diary form by Dashti, the maid of Princess Saren. Set in Mongolia, the two are locked together in a tower for seven years by Saren's father for her refusal to marry the horrible man he desires. However, Saren is secretly engaged to another, Khan Tegus, despite her father's wishes.



And with that, I will leave you to go and get it for yourself, so I… Continue

Added by Tricia on April 21, 2008 at 10:41pm — No Comments


Blogger Jane Austen in Scarsdale

At first I was totally embarrassed to admit I was even reading this. I rarely pick something up at the library on a whim (usually I just trust my handy list). But, it looked cute and I saw it on a display of all things Jane Austen. Turns out, the book is a total rip-off of Persuasion. So, it was a little disappointing to know from the get-go exactly how it was going to turn out. Then again, last week my brain was in no mood for thinking, so it turned out rather nicely. It's funny, cute, fluffy,… Continue

Added by Tricia on April 21, 2008 at 10:40pm — No Comments


Blogger An Incomplete Revenge

This is the 5th installment in the Maisie Dobbs mystery series. Set in England, during the post-WW1 era, Maisie is a private investigator and psychologist that uses keen insight and the study of human behavior to solve cases. This novel focuses on an area of Kent during the hop picking season where strange events have occurred in a small village since the war. The blame is usually given to the gypsies or Londoners who come to pick the hops. But Maisie thinks there is much more to… Continue

Added by Tricia on April 21, 2008 at 10:39pm — No Comments


Blogger Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, by Winifred Watson, was first published in 1938. The recently released film starring Frances McDormand and Amy Adams has again brought the novel back into the public eye. Listed as one of the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, the review states:



Over the course of the day, in a series of deft interventions, witty misunderstandings and brilliant repartee, Miss Pettigrew is revealed as a lifesaver. A delightful, intelligent and naughty novel which… Continue

Added by Tricia on April 21, 2008 at 10:38pm — No Comments

Latest Blog Posts

Most Popular Blog Posts

Blog Topics by Tags

Monthly Archives

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

1999

Need help?

Badge

Loading…

Get Badge

© 2013   Created by Tricia.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

Sign in to chat!