I should rename my blog "Boys, Books, & Other B-problems"
I've totally slacked off in my writing, but at least I've been reading a fair amount this summer.
Keys to the Castle by Donna Ball. I usually don't read romance novels (very different than novels with romance in them), but this takes place in France and features a southern heroine. Who can resist such allure? A very easy read, gorgeous descriptions, a handful of French conversations and phrases, flawed but lovable characters... Very very good.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Classic science fiction which I can't believe I hadn't read before. Funny, quirky, adventurous with some very nice jabs at politics and modern society. I kinda wish I could have read it when it was written because I'm sure I missed a few subtler points. Also a very easy read.
Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian. What sort of summer would it be if I didn't indulge in some young adult novels? Natalie is an even more ambitious and uptight version of who I was in high school, but with less friends. Her moral compass realigns itself as she learns more about herself and the people she loves. This book explores some really interesting thoughts on feminism, sexuality,the negative/positive portrayals of women, etc.
Bloody Valentine by Melissa de la Cruz. I've written about her Blue Bloods series before. Again, it's brilliant, like pretty much everything she writes. This is a collection of three love stories with the protagonists from the Blue Bloods series. What was most revealing was learning about Schuyler's parents.
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown. This was fun to read because it takes place in Ohio. Rose, Bean, and Cordy are three sisters named for Shakespearean heroines. Their whole family is obsessed with books, which is both awesome, and a burden, since it limits their communication with each other. All three sisters have their secrets which lead them home in their adult lives. I loved loved loved this book. It's totally different than the books I normally read. One quirk I liked best was the use of "we" in telling the story. It's third person omniscient, but also first person. Sort of. All the background stuff is narrated as "we," as in the three sisters.
Baby & other stories by Paula Bomer. A collection of short stories that are as depressing as hell. Don't read this.
Keys to the Castle by Donna Ball. I usually don't read romance novels (very different than novels with romance in them), but this takes place in France and features a southern heroine. Who can resist such allure? A very easy read, gorgeous descriptions, a handful of French conversations and phrases, flawed but lovable characters... Very very good.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Classic science fiction which I can't believe I hadn't read before. Funny, quirky, adventurous with some very nice jabs at politics and modern society. I kinda wish I could have read it when it was written because I'm sure I missed a few subtler points. Also a very easy read.
Not That Kind of Girl by Siobhan Vivian. What sort of summer would it be if I didn't indulge in some young adult novels? Natalie is an even more ambitious and uptight version of who I was in high school, but with less friends. Her moral compass realigns itself as she learns more about herself and the people she loves. This book explores some really interesting thoughts on feminism, sexuality,the negative/positive portrayals of women, etc.
Bloody Valentine by Melissa de la Cruz. I've written about her Blue Bloods series before. Again, it's brilliant, like pretty much everything she writes. This is a collection of three love stories with the protagonists from the Blue Bloods series. What was most revealing was learning about Schuyler's parents.
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown. This was fun to read because it takes place in Ohio. Rose, Bean, and Cordy are three sisters named for Shakespearean heroines. Their whole family is obsessed with books, which is both awesome, and a burden, since it limits their communication with each other. All three sisters have their secrets which lead them home in their adult lives. I loved loved loved this book. It's totally different than the books I normally read. One quirk I liked best was the use of "we" in telling the story. It's third person omniscient, but also first person. Sort of. All the background stuff is narrated as "we," as in the three sisters.
Baby & other stories by Paula Bomer. A collection of short stories that are as depressing as hell. Don't read this.