The Book Stealers

DEAD

2009-08-06T18:11:00.000-07:00

I just read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer. It killed me. Hence the title of this, my first post. For those of us who learn best visually, this book is brilliant. You live the story with the protagonist, acutely feeling what he feels and seeing what he sees. This book is a second life to me. It killed me, and it taught me how to live.

2nd vote for Sprig Muslin

2009-07-18T17:13:00.000-07:00

This IS a good book! - A fast read in the regency period. Fun!

Oops.

2009-06-26T15:18:00.000-07:00

I didn't realize I had posted. Sorry. I haven't had much time for reading lately because I started my new job. However, I have really been enjoying the Book of Mormon lately. I read it on my lunch hour.

Lyrical Prose

2009-06-16T21:56:00.000-07:00

Last week when I went to the library, I happened across a young adult book list. After scanning it briefly and deciding against looking into the books, I hit the shelves for my usual perusal. By chance, I came across a book that I had seen on the list and decided to take a chance on it. The book is Skellig by David Almond, and the description on the back of the book (after a somewhat sappy summary), labels the book as "lyrical prose." Suprisingly, the idea of a lyrical prose novel intrigued rather than spurned me, and I was soon sucked in. The story line is definitely a little strange and has to be taken with a grain of salt, but if you read it from the poetic, metaphoric stance that I think it was written from, it has some promise. Most of all, I was wowed by his masterful, beautiful writing style and how his style and message (albeit weird) really came together in the end. Check it out and see what you think - it's a quick read of only 181 pages.

Summer Reading Update By Lindsay Koelling

2009-06-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

My husband is interning in NYC and I couldn't let him all the fun alone so I decided to come along. But without a job I am left with a lot of spare time to read. Thus, I will give a short accounting of the books read.

My favorite genre to read is Young Adult Fiction, however, my husband gives me a lot of beef about that because he says I should be reading something more educational. So in order to feel like I am not wasting my time with just entertaining books I decided for every fictional book I will read one classic or non-fiction book.

Hunger Games (Young Adult Fiction, my favorite genre)

I LOVED this book. I thought it to be an interesting story line.
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival.

Columbine (Non-Fiction):
This was interesting to me even though I know probably for most it would be distributing. It tells the true story of what happened at the Columbine shooting. There were many untrue stories and events told from the media during that time that still live on.

Warning: It is littered with profanity from the boys (aka the killers) journals.

Uglies and Pretties (Young Adult Fiction):
These two books are part of a trilogy. They are very entertaining and quick reads. There about a world in which everyone has an operation when they turn sixteen, making them supermodel beautiful. This seems like a good thing, but it's not. Especially if you're one of the uglies, a bunch of radical teens who've decided they want to keep their own faces.

They were not my ABSOLUTE favorite books but i really enjoyed the read and was sad when they were done.

Nickel and Dimed (Non-Fiction):
Barbara Ehrenreich’s non-fiction bestseller, Nickel and Dimed, is the story of an essay writer who went undercover as a low wage worker to find out how non-skilled workers make ends meet. The experiment took place in Florida, Maine, and Minnesota, with the author finding a job and lodgings in each location. The experiment was held for one month in each location, working full time and living only off the amount of money earned in low-wage jobs. The goal was to determine whether or not the author could both live off the money earned and have enough money at the end of the month to pay the next month’s rent.

I thought this book was boring. But a good reminder of how people live and how blessed we are.

More books to come!

Alas! I'm Not A Purist

2009-06-08T20:47:00.000-07:00

I do love all things Jane - but find some of the knock-offs entertaining. Elizabeth Aston does a great job - with my favorite being "The Exploits and Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy." And "The Indepedence of Miss Mary Bennett" was a good read. It is a new one written by Colleen McCullough of "Thorn Birds" fame - a very good writer. But beware! In this one our hero, Mr. Darcy, is cast as a bit of a bad guy. Which reminds me - "The Ladies of Missalonghi" by McCullough is short and diverting. Thanks, Chrissy, for making it quite OK to steal books! Chrissy's Mom

3 Great Books, 3 Different Genres

2009-06-08T20:19:00.000-07:00

I just got back from the library and remembered three books I've read recently that I wanted to share. The first is a children's novel - Bella at Midnight by Diane Stanley. This is a really cute and fun variation on a classic fairy tale. Can you tell I like fairy tales? (Mom, I don't think I'll ever change). Next, Janine's post reminded me about Austenland, by Shannon Hale. I wasn't sure about it at first, but it was a great romance that any Jane Austen lover should read. The last book I was thinking about today was Sprig Muslin by Georgette Heyer. This is what they call a "Regency" novel, but I have no clue what that means. I guess it means that it takes place a couple centuries back in England - kind of Pride of Prejudice times. Anyways, this book keeps you on your toes the whole time and is an incredibly surprising page-turner.

Hope at least one of those piqued your interest!

Am I Elizabeth Bennet?

2009-06-08T09:25:00.000-07:00

So while I search for teaching jobs in vain, I have become quite the reader in my spare time. Currently I am reading the famous, Pride and Prejudice. I have read it three times already but I continue to return to my dear old friends and every time I do, I ask myself, "Am I Elizabeth Bennet"? I identify with her in so many ways and feel so connected with her personality.

If you have not read this book, I would totally recommend it. The language is heavy at times but if you wade through it, you will feel utterly in love with a fictional romance.

Secretly, I am in love with Mr. Darcy. There is something about his quiet, brooding character that makes me fall in love every time I read the book.

Miss Elizabeth Bennet

Me: Am I her? Is she me?

Rose Daughter

2009-06-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

I read Rose Daughter earlier this spring and have been thinking about it again ever since the roses at Grandma's house have come out so beautifully. This book is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and the language is absolutely beautiful. The ending gets a little strange, but I was still sad to put it down. A quick read that keeps your attention the whole time. Another great retelling of Beauty and the Beast is East by Edith Pattou.