Monday, January 4, 2010
Let The Northern Lights Erase Your Name, by Vendela Vida
I participated in a chain-letter-style book swap, and have actually received two books already, this being one of them. Interesting. I wonder if it would have been as interesting a story in a less foreign setting (Lapland, incidentally). Good though.
Hold Tight, by Harlan Coben
I like Coben's work in general, but this one kind of strained credulity. Not buying it coming together so tightly in the end.
Phantom Prey, by John Sandford
It's kind of refreshing to see Lucas Davenport feeling his age as he fights crime in Minnesota.
The Bone Collector, by Jeffrey Deaver
Broken Window inspired me to reread earlier Rhyme/Sachs novels. This is where they get their start as a team.
Broken Window, by Jeffrey Deaver
A good thriller and a bracing look at what's happening to privacy rights in our digital age.
Night Passage, by Robert Parker
Jesse Stone is kind of like Spenser, but not as much as Sunny. Still fun to read.
Perish Twice, by Robert Parker
Sunny Randall is really just a female Spenser, but all right. Still fun to read.
The House On Fortune Street, by Margot Livesey
Nice character study, told from different perspectives, with suicide as the underlying theme. Like it a lot.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson
I've been hearing about this one for a while, and I really enjoyed it. It's basically a thriller/mystery, but in a really richly realized setting with great characters.
Peace Like A River, by Leif Enger
Loved this book and will definitely reread it soon, maybe even buy it. Some of the loveliest prose I've read in a long time, and rich with references to literature, the bible, westerns, and history.
The Housekeeper And The Professor, by Yoko Ogawa
Reminiscent of The Elegance Of The Hedgehog, though more simply written. A look at the role memory plays in our lives and relationships, and really sweet.
Running Blind, by Lee Child
I think I read this before, and I always enjoy the Jack Reacher books. What a great character. Has no one made a Reacher movie, yet?
The Fundamentals Of Play, by Caitlin Macy
I said earlier I would read this as an exercise after reading Macy's short-story collection, and that's all it was. Not great.
The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
One of my picks for my online bookclub...I've been meaning to read it for a while, and it was certainly striking. I might need to read it again to fully appreciate it, but I am looking forward to the movie.
In The Heart Of The Canyon, by Elisabeth Hyde
Nothing monumental, but a really fun look at a lot of characters when they're forced to be together. It follows a group trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.
Trace, by Patricia Cornwell
I used to love the Scarpetta novels, but this one just reinforced why I don't read Cornwell anymore. Disappointing to the point of ridiculousness.
Unaccustomed Earth, by Jhumpa Lahiri
This one got so much praise, I was kind of expecting more, but it was a good enough read.
The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
A reread for my mom's group book club...I thought it would be a crowd pleaser, but they didn't like it for reasons I won't go into, but it's another one I respond to so emotionally that I overlook the flaws.
Slumdog Millionaire, by Vikas Swarup
I have to say, I think whoever adapted this missed some great opportunities. Not a terrible adaptation, but the book is much more interesting, and less forced than some of the movie was.
The Three Incestuous Sisters, by Audrey Niffenegger
Niffenegger started out as a paper and book artist, sort of like Claire in The Time Traveler's Wife, and this is an earlier art book of hers. Interesting visuals, and some similar themes to TTW.
Darkfever, by Karen Marie Moning
I picked this up by accident without realizing it was a fantasy-romance-y sort of thing, and read it anyway. And damned if it isn't part of a trilogy, which I feel honor-bound to read now. Figures.
Cold Plague, by Daniel Kalla
Virus-nearly-allowed-to-kill-everyone! Saved at the last second by a clever CDC guy. Now you don't have to read it.
The Leisure Seeker, by Michael Zadoorian
Funny and heartbreaking story about an old couple traveling on their Last Hurrah trip in an RV. Liked it a lot.
Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer
Well, a client lent them to me, so I read them. And they are pretty darn good YA fantasy books. I would have been all over them at 14.
Collected Stories, by Tennessee Williams
I think Williams is now one of my mythical dinner companions...you know that game? Some of these stories are dark, dark, dark, but funny and human.
A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini
Reread this for the mom's group book club...it's so interesting to me when a book touches me despite my being really aware of its flaws, and this is one of those books. Really interesting look into that part of the world, if it was a little predictable, much like The Kite Runner.
The Other Boleyn Girl, by Philippa Gregory
Classic historical romance. Never saw the movie. My librarian friend from college recommended this, too.
In Secret Service, by Mitch Silver
Can't remember anything...sure it was a political thriller of some kind.
Hide, by Lisa Gardner
Good thriller. Fun to try to put the pieces together along with the main characters.
The English Major, by Jim Harrison
First time I've read him. Reminds me a little bit of Richard Russo, and I liked it.
A Lucky Child, by Thomas Buergenthal
Another Holocaust survival story, and a really wonderfully written one. Self-critical, and self-aware, in good ways.
Charity Girl, by Michael Lowenthal
This was a second choice one of the months of my online book club, but it looked interesting. It's based on a true story of girls with Venereal Disease getting locked up in what were essentially prisons, which I'd never heard of. Not the best book ever, but really interesting.
Day, by Elie Wiesel
I read Night ages ago, but never even knew there was a Day. Interesting counterpoint. Wiesel spoke at my college, and he's got a way with words.
Year Of Wonders, by Geraldine Brooks
This was for my online book club, and was also recommended by my best friend from college (now a librarian). I liked it a lot, though the ending went a kind of sudden and odd direction that probably wasn't entirely necessary. It's interesting to read a story like this about old plague (and based on a true story) in light of H1N1 and the like.
After The Darkness, by Elie Wiesel
I saw a documentary about a Holocaust survivor, and that sent me onto a Holocaust survival story kick. This is a collection of stories woven into a general history of the time, along with some heart-breaking photography.
Valley Of The Dolls, by Jacqueline Susann
Read this for my mom's group book club, and missed the discussion due to travel. Interesting to read in light of today's social mores and values. Sort of tragic in general.
Handle With Care, by Jodi Piccoult
This is another case where I liked the author's earlier books quite a lot, but am not enjoying the newer ones. Specifically with this book, it's so blatantly emotionally manipulative (which is kind of Piccoult's "thing," admittedly) that it made me angry to read it. Also, it's told in a million different voices, too many for my taste. Easy enough to follow, but totally unnecessary and irritating. One of those books I was cranky to finish.
Home Safe, by Elizabeth Berg
Eh. I really loved her earlier books and have loved her more recent ones less. Kind of a what-happens-next story where nothing much happens.
A New Year Already, And Months and Months Behind.
Well, what can I say. At least it's true to form. I have a list, and I will do my best to catch up to the present. I'm sure I'm missing a few along the way, and will add them with the '09 tag as I remember reading them.
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