Dear John

Every now and again, I like romantic, tear-jerker books. This book was a great read for that category. This is the second book I have read by Nicholas Sparks. I have heard great things about his work from one of my really good friends, but haven't really gotten into his work.
This book was recently made into a movie which is why I really picked it up. I wanted to read it, before I saw the movie adaptation. The book focuses on love story across the miles between a solider overseas and a young woman in college. We learn that these characters John and Savannah have only been physically in the same place a handful of times but they fell deep in love and wanted to make it work. John who is a solider overseas before the events of 9/11 decides to re-enlist which puts more of a strain on their relationship. We learn a lot about the workings of two completely different people and their families.
I found parts of the book predictable, but very enjoyable. It was a story that I really liked and would recommend. Sparks really has a gift for words and wrote a beautiful story.
Read March 2010

Dune Road

This was not as good as I hoped, or expected.
The book was VERY predictable. The characters had a lot of potential but they fell short of making me interested in their lives. I think that Green tried to cram too many story lines into one book, where this could have been 2 distinct stories.
This book follows a newly divorced woman who is trying to navigate living as a single mom in a ritzy beach town. We meet quirky neighbors, a yoga studio owner, owners of a hot restaurant in town, a couple whom she is friends with that might lose it all due to the economy, a hot novel writer, her ex-husband... the list goes on and on. The main character finds out about family members she didn't know she has. It is all too much for one book.
I think I might have enjoyed it, if I was looking for a book to read on a vacation. It was not the best book I have read by Green, but I do plan on reading more of her work.
Read March 2010

Brava, Valentine

I have read I believe 6 (or more) of Adriana Trigiani's books. I have once again fallen in love with her story of an Italian - American Family. This book is the second of the series. The first book was Very Valentine. You can read more about that book here - http://kimsbookblog614.blogspot.com/2009/02/very-valentine.html. The character of Valentine finds herself having to deal with now being the head of the family business and finding a way to work with her brother who is almost her complete opposite.

Brava, Valentine starts off in Italy and crosses back to the United States and then to another old world country. We see Valentine take the reins of the company and really make some great things happen in her own life, along with growing as a person.

I love the aspects of friends and family in this book. It shows that the relationships may not always be good, but family is family and will always be there for you.

Trigiani knows how to describe in beautiful details the characters and places in her books that you feel that you are a part of them. I love this book and would highly recommend reading both Very Valentine and Brava, Valentine. There will be a third book in this series coming out, hopefully next February.

Read February 2010

Commencement

I enjoyed this book. For the most part it was an interesting read. I did find parts of the book to be predictable. The four main characters had very distinct personalities and were well defined by Sullivan. As the book was narrated by these characters you could see the care that was put into the writing. All of the emotions with in the characters and friendship were well placed, and made the story more appealing and real for me.

I think that the friendship between the girls was very true to the author. Sullivan showed the ups and downs of the friendship and how it can endure through many trials. Being that I personally have three best girlfriends could be why I found parts of the book predictable. One line that I found in the book really hit home for me, "But what had once seemed like genuine care and concern had now turned ugly- they could not stop judging, comparing".

I was a little disappointed with the end of the book. I would have like to seen it go in a different direction then how it ended. The ending seemed wrong in comparison to the character's life with in the book.

Read February 2010

Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone

It seems like I should have read these books already, but nope I started this month!

I have only read Book 1 of Harry Potter thus far and I loved it. It was a quick and entertaining read. I can understand why so many people love the books as well as the movies ( I have not seen the movies either). This book almost feels like it is in it's own language. Understand spells, characters and also the world of Wizards / Witches versus Muggles came very quickly to me.

This was a fun read and I can not wait to read the rest of the series.

Read January 2010

Home To Big Stone Gap

There isn't much more praise I can give then to say that I would want to live in Ave Marie's world. Home to Big Stone Gap, is the last in the series by Adriana Trigiani. These books are so well written that you want to fall into place with in the characters lives and places that are visited.

There were parts of the story and information that was given that made me unsure of where the story was heading. Then I realized it was the pure development of these characters lives and the Blue Ridge Mountain world. This book felt as if it was written differently then the previous books, however the characters and story lines have changed with the years. In this book we learn more about the people who are closet friends of Ave Marie's, including Fleeta, Theodore and Iva Lou. We also learn what marriage for two people is like after more than 20 years. I t was nice to see the growth and love still developing between Jack and Ave Marie.

I have enjoyed the entire series. All of these books are worth reading and will take you to somewhere you might have never been, like Cracker's Nest.

Read January 2010

2010 Reading List

Last year I didn't get through my "Must Read" list. I have taken some books from that list and added them to the books that I would like to read this year. These books are besides what is decided for the Book Club that I am in. They are in no particular order-
The Help - Kathryn Stockett
Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Commencement - J. Courtney Sullivan
The Secret History - Donna Tartt
East of Eden - John Steinbeck
Running with Sissors - Augusten Burroughs
Dry - Augusten Burroughs
Quickie - James Patterson
The Harry Potter Series - J. K Rowling
The True Blood Series - Charlene Harris (finish it)
Pride & Prejudice - Jane Austen
Memory Keepers Daughter - Kim Edwards
Last Chance Saloon - Marian Keyes
The Reader - Bernard Schlink
Are you there Vodka? It's Me Chelsea - Chelsea Handler
Friday Night Knitting Club - Kate Jacobs
Bitter Is The New Black - Jen Lancaster