36, 37, 38, 39

At this rate, I might beat the number of books I read last year. Although, I've decided to stop trying for meaty books. It's just too hard (trying?!) to read classics when you keep getting interrupted!

We were on holiday this past five days and I managed to read four books.

I absolutely adore James Rollins. Unfortunately everyone seems to have discovered him at the same time I did. Everytime I walk into a used bookstore and ask for his books I hear, "Oh we just sold several this morning. I'm not sure we have any..." He's brilliant. Really. This was his first book. So good I forced Andrew to begin it the moment I finished and he too had to devour it. Very Michael Crichton-ish and very, very good. Though I'm not sure I'd watch the movie. Too scary.


I had to read this one because it's the first in the series (of the last James book I read) and I think I read somewhere that this was her first novel. Which is very interesting considering up until now I'd only read Children of Men and her Adam Dalgliesh books. And he plays a huge role in these books (albeit only as being quoted by Cordelia as having taught her dead partner everything he knew about solving mysteries.) Still, very interesting to read a book in which he figures so largely and knowing (I think) that she had yet to write a book about him.

Also, this was better than the other Cordelia book. I think there's another C book. I'll have to dig it up somewhere...

THIS Dan Brown had no religious stuff going on. Though I suppose the thought of finding life on another planet might scare some Christians, but not me. Anyway I quite like his writing style too, but it's not as good as Rollins'.


I think I say this after every Martha Grimes book I read. My favorite. And I really am going to buy all her books and (one day) read them all in order.

*happy sigh* I still have four more new (used) books from Penticton's Book Store to go read.

32, 33, 34

Have to say this was not my favorite PD James. I read another book review on this one and I think I might agree that it's in part because it is hard to warm up to the main character. I wanted to like her but it just didn't happen.

Also, I didn't figure out the mystery before she did.

I think my mystery figuring out must be in a downward spiral. This book had me guessing right until the end too. In fact, I did something I never do...I read the last page of the book before I was even halfway through the story. Yes, that's how obsessed I was solving the mystery.




I do love these Richard Jury mysteries. Funnily enough, I read The Case Has Altered first and it makes several references to Five Bells. One of these days I shall have to collect the entire Richard Jury series and read them from beginning to end.

28, 29, 30, 31

Time to catch up on what I've been reading...

When we first arrived in Switzerland, I started with this. Pretty stock Rendell, I'd say.


Next it was Death of an Expert Witness by PD James. Probably my favorite of the books I read while we were on our trip.

I quickly moved on to this one...
And then I ran out of books. Dave leant me Leanings by Peter Egan. Brilliant reading. Who knew motorcycle stories could be so funny? I found myself laughing out loud, quoting whole sections of the book, and I can't stop thinking about it. I only got a little into the book, so I have to steal it from Dave so I can finish it.

Home again and two weeks without a book. I picked this one up at Costco and pretty much devoured it. Today I'm hoping to drag my kids to a used bookstore in search of more by him. Just brilliant.

27

Just finished The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Satterfield. AMAZINGLY good.

24, 25, 26

...wow it's been almost a month since I've had anything to say on this blog. Luckily, that doesn't mean I haven't been reading. Still - not as much reading has been happening as I would have liked.

I have had the serious misfortune of reading two of the worst books ever in my entire life back to back. This is what comes from forgetting to bring books with me to the beach and having to comb the shelves of the gift shops for something to read (that and accidentally buying a book I've already read because I didn't take the time to read the back of the cover...) If I had spent a little more time looking this book over, I would have realised that she had comments from all sorts of paranormal societies littered through the first few pages. As it is, I thought it would be a conspiracy along the lines of Crichton or Ludlum. Not so. Plus, again something I didn't notice, it's a romance. *barf* Still, I needed something to do while my family ignored me at the beach, this was it.

Thankfully, I met for coffee with my good friends a few weeks ago and Jane lent me so really good books.

Now maybe just maybe I loved this book so much because I read two really bad books before it. But I don't think so. De Los Santos is an amazing story teller. Even better than that, she can craft characters. I drove my poor hubby crazy reading pages of this book to him. But each of her characters are real people I've met in my life. And I couldn't believe how well she captured their essences. Like Piper in the beginning of the book? I know so many women like her. I am probably the way I am as some sort of rebellion against women like her. Belong to Me is one of my very favorite books ever. I strongly urge you to rush out right now and get your own copy. I can't lend you mine. It's Jane's.

For some reason (maybe the pretty jackets?) I thought Between, Georgia was also by de Los Santos. Not so. As evidenced by the name Joshilyn Jackson on the cover. Duh. I was hopeful that I would love this book just as much, but not sure it would really happen. Very pleasantly surprised.

This story is, in some ways, grittier than the other. I mean, I wouldn't exactly call Belong to Me a Hallmark story despite the Hollywood Ending but, Between, Georgia takes place in some of the, well, less tidy areas of Georgia. The characters are rougher. But no less real. And maybe that's why the story felt uncomfortable sometimes. Just like some of those small towns in the southern states. They're quaint in their own own poor, run down way. But you're not really sure if it's safe to stay too long.

That feeling doesn't last for long. Once again the story and the characters draw you in and once you're in you can't stop. Another amazing read which leaves me very, very eager to start the third book Jane lent me (plus, I want to return them to her before we leave for our summer vacation!)

23

Just finished The Judas Strain by James Rollins. Why haven't I read anything by him before (at least I don't think I have!) This book was like some amazing hybrid of Dan Brown and Michael Crichton. I seriously couldn't put it down. And every time Andrew tried talking to me while I was reading it I wanted to rip his face off. It was that good. I must pay off my library fines so I can track down more of his stuff. It seems like the characters in this book carried through from previous books and on to future books...so hopefully I've discovered a wealth of reading material...just in time for summer!

15 - 22

Och! Too busy reading to track the books. In no particular order:

Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes (I read one of her books years ago and didn't really like it, but I think I've changed my standards since then and thoroughly enjoyed this one.)

Moon Islands by Rosie Thomas

Ruby and Iris by Rosie Thomas (RT spins an interesting enough tale, but I find it really hard to finish her books. I think there's just not enough momentum to pull me through. I did finally get through these though.)

How Will I Know by Sheila O'Flanagan

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

Glorious Appearing by Jenkins/LaHaye

Nights of Rain and Stars by Maeve Binchy

Hokus Pokus by Fern Michaels (perhaps one of the worst books I've ever read. Great idea for a story, terrible writing. Had to finish it though because the premise was so funny. Toooo bad.)