Reading retrospective: February 2004

I started out February 2004 by reading Bridget Jones's Diary. I enjoyed this one a lot; very funny. I was still slogging through H.G. Wells books and read The Island of Dr. Moreau, not one of my favorites. I read The Windsor Knot by Sharyn McCrumb, whose books I almost always enjoy. Anne Hall Whitt's The Suitcases was a surprisingly good non fiction about book orphaned sisters moving from one foster home to another. I also read two thrillers, The DaVinci Code, which I admit I really enjoyed and Tell No One by Harlan Coben. My final book for the month was The Postcard by Beverly Lewis, the story of an Amish girl. I have always meant to read the sequel to this one and still haven't.

Twilight

Ok, so I finally gave in to see what the fuss was about. I didn't have any interest in reading it as I really don't care for vampire stories. But so many have told me it's not just vampires, it's a love story so I thought I would try it.

Eh, it was ok. It was certainly fast to read. I did get annoyed with Bella a lot and also hearing about how perfect Edward is. I don't have to read the next book immediately (I don't have a copy right now anyway) but I will read the rest of the series sometime because I do want to know what happens. I hope Bella doesn't annoy me too much in the rest of the books.

Loving Frank

I am a huge fan of Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture. I grew up near Fallingwater, which I just adore. So, I had to read this book when I first heard about it.

The book is historical fiction about Mamah Cheney and FLW's affair, which was scandalous at the time that it happened in 1910. I wasn't surprised at the end since I already knew what was going to happened. I've never been a big fan of FLW the person and he certainly didn't come off as lovable in this book. I was really bothered by Mamah's choices, especially leaving her children for so long.

Overall, I liked the book although some parts did go a tad slow. I most enjoyed the parts about the building of Taliesin and when they lived there.

Jack's Black Book

This is the last book in the Jack Henry series that I have been reading. I keep seeing the title as Jack Black's book, ha ha! jack and his family are back in Florida and his hilarious adventures continue. I didn't like this book as much as some of the other Jack books but it was still funny.

25 things

So there's a 25 things about yourself note going around on Facebook and I've seen it on some blogs too. I decided to do a 25 things book related meme.

1. I don't remember when I learned to read but I wish I did.
2. I remember reading and doing book reports on Laura Ingalls Wilder books in 2nd grade.
3. I always read above my reading level in school.
4. I loved the Scholastic book orders.
5. I discovered Anne of Green Gables through one of the Scholastic book orders in 4th grade but I don't think I read it until 5th grade.
6. We did Book It in elementary school. If you filled all your stars for the month (I think it was 5 or 7) with books you read, then you got a free personal pizza from Pizza Hut.
7. I always had to create my own stars because I always read more.
8. I started this blog about 2 years ago.
9. I have probably around 500 books that I haven't read yet.
10. I have about 200 or so that I have read.
11. My kids probably have around 100 books.
12. I hardly ever buy a book new unless I really want it and want it to keep.
13. My favorite used book store closed a few years ago.
14. They have another location but it's farther away and I haven't been there yet.
15. I love library book sales.
16. I don't use the library as much as I should.
17. I have so many books at home to read so that has cut my library usage.
18. I have about 20 bookmarks.
19. My oldest book is a very old copy of Anne of Green Gables. Not a first edition, but close.
20. I'm not very good at writing book reviews.
21. It's really hard to choice one favorite book; I have so many.
22. It bothers me a tad when people say they love to read but don't have time. It just depends on how much you want to do it. I always make time to read even with 3 small children.
23. I also have lots of unread magazines in this house.
24. This list was a lot easier to make than the original 25 things about me list.
25. I'd love to hear 25 book related things about you!

Reading retrospective: January 2004

I read 6 books in January 2004. Hmm, that was a lot for being a new mother (daughter was 6 months old then) I started the year with Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. I had heard of this book but never really had a desire to read it. However, I found this as a bookcrossing book so I decided to read it. I was surprised how much I liked it and now it is one of my all time favorites.

My next book was A Sudden Change of Heart by Barbara Bradford and I don't remember a thing about it! I'm pretty sure it wasn't my type of book and not sure why I read it in the first place.

My third book was Paige by Paige by Paige Davis. I was big into Trading Spaces then. I remember it was a fun, light read.

I then read In the Days of the Comet by H.G. Wells. Ugh. I was reading through a set of H.G. Wells books hoping there would be one I liked but I really didn' t care for any of them. I don't remember the plot for this one but I remember slogging through it. I then read.

My fifth book was I Sleep at Red Lights by Bruce Stockler. This book was non fiction about a family with triplets. Some parts were funny but I remember mostly being annoying by the mother in this book.

My final book was The Enchanted Castle by E. Nesbit. I remember liking this one a lot but not much about the book itself specifically.

Jack's New Power

I love the Jack Henry books; they are absolutely hilarious. There are 5 of them and this is the third one I've read.

Jack's family moves around often and during his 13th year, they move to Barbados. Having just visited Barbados last year, it was neat to see various places I've been to mentioned in the book and know generally some about the island.

The books is told in the first person by Jack. He is such a typical boy and gets into all kinds of trouble and has all kind of adventures.

The books are loosely based on Jack Gantos' own childhood. Fun and entertaining.

4/5

Witches Brew

This is the fifth book and final book in the Landover series. I did read recently a sixth book is coming out later this year.

I am not normally too much of a fantasy reader but I like these books. I think I like fantasy better if it is somehow pertains to earth. The king of the magical kingdom of Landover bought Landover for $1 million from a catalogue (book 1) so much is about him learning and interacting in the kingdom. The only pure fantasy books I like is the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

There were a few dry spells in the book but I mostly enjoyed it. The characters are interesting and once again the future of the kingdom of Landover is on the line

3/5

Before Green Gables

My favorite author is L.M. Montgomery and one of my favorite books in Anne of Green Gables so there's no surprise that I had to read this book.

I enjoyed the book more than I thought I would. I liked getting in insight into Anne's early life before Green Gables. I couldn't help but wonder though, how LMM really imagined it, if she did.

There were many a-ha moments in the book like learning about how found Katie Maurice, her use of big words, taking care of children, etc.

I have to admit that I even cried a little.

Overall, I enjoyed the book very much. I usually don't care for sequels or prequels to books written by other authors but I did like this one. I like it as a separate work from LMM's stories , if that makes sense.

4/5

Tomorrow Will Be Better

I started this book late last year but finished it in January, so this was my first book finished in 2009.

This book is about Margie, who lives in 1920s Brooklyn. It begins when she is 16 and takes her first job and takes us through her trials there and of her marriage.

I just love Betty Smith's books. If you don't know already, her most famous book is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, which is one of my favorite books. I then read Joy in the Morning and loved it too. This isn't my favorite of hers, but I still liked it a lot. You are really drawn into the story. Margy wants a better life for herself than her parents and you see her struggle each days with her decisions. I really didn't care for many the characters but Margy and her friends. The other characters weren't very likeable. I enjoyed reading about life in the 20s in Brooklyn

4/5