Book Report
Some general musings on the books I read in January....Let's start off with the one I hated.
Adored, Tilly Bagshaw
This is not the sort of book I usually read, as I make a differentiation between "chick lit" and pure, unadulterated trash. However, I wanted something mindless to take with me on a long weekend, and this book seemed like it had plenty of pages to keep me occupied. But I was wrong. It did not hold my interest at all. In fact, I read the first chapter or two and discarded it. It was absolutely preposterous. What Hollywood movie star/mogul, no matter how powerful, brings his mistress home to live with him and his wife? What wife has so little backbone that she stands for it, and indeed, throws a welcoming dinner for the little tramp? More cartoonish characters than a comic book. I'm sure Danielle Steele and Barbara Taylor Bradford (two other novelists that I never read) have better-quality offerings, if this is a genre you enjoy.
Not much better...
The J.A.P. Chronicles, Isabel Rose
I thought this was going to be a nice, light, chick-lit read, but it had pretensions of seriousness. At least, I think it did. How else to explain all the descriptions of deviant sex and molestation? These are "issues"! Anyway, it failed on both counts--tt wasn't funny and it wasn't "literary." Pretty much a waste of time. And why did the book jacket feel the need to point out that "the author herself is a member of a prominent New York family"?
The rest of these were pretty good. As you can see, I have diverse tastes. But when I read for pleasure, I do definitely veer toward the chick lit. Chick-lit and novels of the Gilded Age and the Jazz Age. That's what I like.
The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom, Suze Orman
This was one of my "New Year's Resolution" reads. I wanted to get my finances in order this year and start putting money away for the future. Surprisingly readable, although not exactly for the financial novice. I certainly don't have enough assests to have to worry about setting up a trust, for instance.
Julie and Julia, Julie Powell
A blovel! Or whatever you call a novel that's based on a blog. I have to say, I admire Julie. I am much too picky of an eater to ever attempt such an ambitious cooking project. She cooks and eats everything in The Joy of Cooking! No organ meats or offal for me, thanks. Still, a fun, lighthearted read. It made me want to make some of the recipes for myself.
The Beautiful and Damned, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Dissolution at its finest. I love Fitzgerald's way with the language. But is it wrong that this book kept making me long for a cocktail of my own?
Prep, Curtis Sittenfeld
I could not relate to the main character at all, a Midwestern outsider at an East Coast prep school. It seemed like she was willfully making mistakes and putting herself on the sidelines. It's one of those books where you want to shout, "No! Don't do it!" But she does it anyway. Still, an interesting read, although the denouement was not particularly shocking.
A Year in the Merde, Stephan Clarke
A British man is hired by a French company to launch British-style tearooms in France. Of course, nothing goes according to plan. I think we are supposed to laugh at the bumbling French, but there are also plenty of opportunities to laugh at the bumbling Englishman.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See
Technically, I read this back in November, but I wanted to include it because it was such a good read. A very moving story of two girls' friendship in 19th-century China, and what happens when we use the wrong words to express ourselves.
Okay, recommendations for February are appreciated!
Adored, Tilly Bagshaw
This is not the sort of book I usually read, as I make a differentiation between "chick lit" and pure, unadulterated trash. However, I wanted something mindless to take with me on a long weekend, and this book seemed like it had plenty of pages to keep me occupied. But I was wrong. It did not hold my interest at all. In fact, I read the first chapter or two and discarded it. It was absolutely preposterous. What Hollywood movie star/mogul, no matter how powerful, brings his mistress home to live with him and his wife? What wife has so little backbone that she stands for it, and indeed, throws a welcoming dinner for the little tramp? More cartoonish characters than a comic book. I'm sure Danielle Steele and Barbara Taylor Bradford (two other novelists that I never read) have better-quality offerings, if this is a genre you enjoy.
Not much better...
The J.A.P. Chronicles, Isabel Rose
I thought this was going to be a nice, light, chick-lit read, but it had pretensions of seriousness. At least, I think it did. How else to explain all the descriptions of deviant sex and molestation? These are "issues"! Anyway, it failed on both counts--tt wasn't funny and it wasn't "literary." Pretty much a waste of time. And why did the book jacket feel the need to point out that "the author herself is a member of a prominent New York family"?
The rest of these were pretty good. As you can see, I have diverse tastes. But when I read for pleasure, I do definitely veer toward the chick lit. Chick-lit and novels of the Gilded Age and the Jazz Age. That's what I like.
The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom, Suze Orman
This was one of my "New Year's Resolution" reads. I wanted to get my finances in order this year and start putting money away for the future. Surprisingly readable, although not exactly for the financial novice. I certainly don't have enough assests to have to worry about setting up a trust, for instance.
Julie and Julia, Julie Powell
A blovel! Or whatever you call a novel that's based on a blog. I have to say, I admire Julie. I am much too picky of an eater to ever attempt such an ambitious cooking project. She cooks and eats everything in The Joy of Cooking! No organ meats or offal for me, thanks. Still, a fun, lighthearted read. It made me want to make some of the recipes for myself.
The Beautiful and Damned, F. Scott Fitzgerald
Dissolution at its finest. I love Fitzgerald's way with the language. But is it wrong that this book kept making me long for a cocktail of my own?
Prep, Curtis Sittenfeld
I could not relate to the main character at all, a Midwestern outsider at an East Coast prep school. It seemed like she was willfully making mistakes and putting herself on the sidelines. It's one of those books where you want to shout, "No! Don't do it!" But she does it anyway. Still, an interesting read, although the denouement was not particularly shocking.
A Year in the Merde, Stephan Clarke
A British man is hired by a French company to launch British-style tearooms in France. Of course, nothing goes according to plan. I think we are supposed to laugh at the bumbling French, but there are also plenty of opportunities to laugh at the bumbling Englishman.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See
Technically, I read this back in November, but I wanted to include it because it was such a good read. A very moving story of two girls' friendship in 19th-century China, and what happens when we use the wrong words to express ourselves.
Okay, recommendations for February are appreciated!
posted by Astera @ 4:13 PM
2 Comments:
At 9:59 AM,
Bruingirl said…
Might I suggest:
7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey
Devil in the White City, Eric Larsen
Me Talk Pretty One Day, David Sedaris
Brave New World, Aldous Huxley (always a classic in my opinion)
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy (if you're feeling ambitious, but I'm sure you've already read this one)
At 12:12 PM,
Katie said…
psst - i'm gonna cheat. I have book club tonight and haven't thought of any recommendations. I'm going to 'borrow' the one you loved.:)
Don't know your preferred genre, but look at The Dive From Clausen's Pier.
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