How much does insomnia suck? I would say at the very least it sucks
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So I’m writing a post on books at 5am. It’s better than lying in bed Worrying About Important Life Decisions. (I want to move to CT, I want to stay in NYC, I want to move to CT, I want to stay in NYC, and on it goes).
Oh, and at least I have company. Hi Winston!
OK, so here are some books I’ve read recently and loved. And I know I never give much description about the books but when creating this post I looked at the descriptions on Amazon and sometimes they ruin the whole gasp, she did what reaction as you read the book. So I have included a brief description with links to Amazon for more info.
The Romantics by Galt Niederhoffer
I got this book from Jen and honestly, the storyline wasn’t brilliant and each of the characters are despicable in their own way and yet I couldn’t put the book down. And all the while I thought to myself they should make this into a movie. Turns out they already did. And there’s a slew of famous people in the movie. This book is about a crew of college friends re-uniting for a wedding and involves all sorts of love triangles and discussions on class. This is what I would refer to as a beach read. And again, I know I’ve barely given you any details about the book but if you read the Amazon description it tells you some major plotlines that I think are better to just find out as you read the book.
The Poison Tree by Erin Kelly
I LOVED THIS BOOK. I really couldn’t put it down. My Mum told me about it and her recommendations are usually spot on. You know from the beginning that someone has died at the end of the Summer and you know that one of the characters has been in prison for 10 years as a result. The book then starts to unravel the mystery.
An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin
In my opinion Steve Martin is an extraordinary writer. I think he is more talented at writing than being an actor/comedian. Oh, and I just found out that Steve Martin is also in a band called the Sleep Canyon Rangers and they recently won entertainer of the year at the Bluegrass Awards. I mean, is there anything he can’t do? Do you think he’d be any good at fixing the economy? Let’s just make him President and call it a day. Anyway, this book has been on the bestseller list so you’ve probably already read it, but if not, I can assure you that it’s well written and highly entertaining. It’s about a beautiful and ambitious (and not very scrupulous) young art dealer in NYC. It follows her life over a 10 - 15 year period and gives the reader an interesting insight into the world of art. But really it’s the main character - what she thinks and does - that makes the book what it is.
The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin
This story is set during the 1800s. A rich American girl is brought to England to find herself a husband with a title. Not only did I enjoy the story and the characters but I was fascinated by the extreme wealth displayed during the Gilded Age. The main character describes a party she attended where they had cigarettes rolled in $100 bills. I wouldn’t set fire to $100 today let alone the fact that $100 in the 1800s is probably the equivalent of 1,000s of dollars in today’s money.
That’s it for now. You can click here for previous book recommendations.
Got any recommendations for me?
I’m about halfway through Rich Boy by Sharon Pomerantz and I cannot put it down. I couldn’t even wait to finish reading it before telling you to go read this book immediately.
I have read so many good books lately. Some of these came to me on recommendation so I feel obligated to share the wealth and pass on the recommendations.
1. The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
This is an Australian novel and when I read the reviews on Goodreads I couldn’t help but note that people either LOVE this book or HATE it. I fell very firmly into the LOVE camp but I can see why some people would dislike it. I think one of the reasons I loved it so much is because it is Australian and I was reminded of so many things from home as I raced through to finish this amazing book. So this recommendation is aimed more at the Aussie crowd.
2. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
OH MY GOD THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD I COULDN’T PUT IT DOWN. Charlotte woke me up one morning at 5am and instead of going back to bed I went and read this book for 2 hours. True story. It’s better than sleep! It’s a novel about Ernest Hemingway’s wife based on the letters sent back and forth between them. An absolutely brilliant read. (Thanks Julie for the rec!)
3. Shopgirl by Steve Martin
I think most of us now know that Steve Martin is not just an actor / comedian but also a writer. And a bloody good one. I raced through this little book in just a few days. Read it.
4. Room by Emma Donoghue
This is a fascinating story about a girl and her son who have been locked in a single room for the son’s entire life. Another one that is un-puttdownable. Actually, I only ever blog about the ones that are un-puttdownable. Who wants to be recommended anything other than un-puttdownable books?
5. We Need To Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
So…..I can’t remember what this book is about but I know I loved it and gave it 4 stars on Goodreads!
6. Perfect Peace by Daniel Black
I stumbled across this book on Amazon. You know when they do that whole ‘these books are recommended for you’ or the other one ‘people who like this book also bought this book’. Well I came across this book and decided to take a gamble. Wow - it’s another good one! This woman has six boys and so desperately wants a little baby girl that when she gives birth to her seventh son she decides to deceive everyone and raise him as a girl. It rightfully gets an average of 5 stars in the Amazon ratings.
HAPPY READING PEOPLE!!
I have read absolutely stacks of books in recent weeks. And all of them have been so good. Here are just a few.
The Art of Racing in the Rain is told from the perspective of a dog. I couldn’t put this book down and when I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about it. And looking at Winston and wondering what he was thinking!
Commencement was a book that reminded me of a college version of Prep (but perhaps not as good as Prep). It was about four girls who go to Smith College and how their lives play out. I thought it was well written and enjoyed how it went back and forth in time to tell each girl’s story. However, there was a very weird storyline introduced towards the end of the book which I suppose was meant to be a twist but I found to be ridiculous and not in keeping with the book. Still, a good read.
The Hunger Games - multiple people recommended this book to me. When I read the synopsis I wasn’t convinced but then I started reading. And I read. And I read. And I read. I finished it in three days flat. It’s essentially a reality show in which the winner is the last person alive. This book is part of a trilogy - I’ve heard good things about the second and third books.
Remember when I saw a book, looked it up, and bought it all within one block. Well, I’m so glad I did. I couldn’t put it down. It’s a memoir written by a woman who lost her mother at the age of 11 and was immediately placed in a foster care system that completely failed. Cupcake’s childhood included molestation, prostitution, extreme drug abuse, gang membership, homelessness, verbal and physical abuse, and criminal activity. It made me want to grab this child from the pages of my book and adopt her. If it was a fiction book you would finish reading the book and say to yourself “Well, that was a little farfetched”. But it all happened! (Although some Amazon reviews suggest a bit of James Frey-ism). Anyway, it’s very well written. A real page turner.
A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown
I am racing through books. No wonder John suggested I request a Kindle from Santa this year. I really don’t want one though - part of the joy of reading for me is the book itself, physically turning the pages, seeing it on my bedside table.
Anyway, I just finished This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper. It was a great read! Definitely a ‘go buy it immediately’ kind of book.
With the right actors it will make a brilliant movie too. I did some googling and it turns out all of his books have been optioned.
Back in September 2008 I picked up this book and couldn’t put it down. And when I did eventually put it down I did something I’ve never done before. I tracked down an email address for the author and sent her fan mail. The author sent a very sweet response the next day. Seriously, you guys, do you want to read a good book? Go and read All We Ever Wanted Was Everything by Janelle Brown.
I guess I made it onto her mailing list because a couple of weeks ago I received an email announcing her new book. I clicked through to Amazon and pre-ordered This Is Where We Live. I spent this afternoon reading it. I didn’t love it as much as her first book but I still raced through it. It’s definitely worth a read.
I realize my book reviews are crap because I don’t actually tell you what the books are about. But just go read these ones, ok?
I finished reading Look Again by Lisa Scottoline. I really enjoyed it. I loved the premise of the book. Imagine you see a missing child photo that looks exactly like the son you adopted 2 years earlier. What do you do? Well, the main character cannot let it lie and she takes the reader on a journey of twists and turns. I actually stayed up reading one night after feeding Charlotte even though it was 3am and I was desperately tired. It’s a page turner.
Just finished Little Bee by Chris Cleave.
As it says on the back cover of the book:
Once you have read it, you’ll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don’t tell them what happens. The magic is in how the story unfolds.
It’s true. I picked up this book without a single clue about its contents and thoroughly enjoyed allowing the book to simply unfold. Go ahead and read it. It’s well worth it.
My latest read was The Last Child by John Hart. This book pulls you in from the very first page. I defy you not to race through it. It never lets up with constant twists and turns along with a fantastic cast of characters. From Amazon:
A year after 12-year-old Alyssa Merrimon disappeared on her way home from the library in an unnamed rural North Carolina town, her twin brother, Johnny, continues to search the town, street by street, even visiting the homes of known sex offenders. Det. Clyde Hunt, the lead cop on Alyssa’s case, keeps a watchful eye on Johnny and his mother, who has deteriorated since Alyssa’s abduction and her husband’s departure soon afterward. When a second girl is snatched, Johnny is even more determined to find his sister, convinced that the perpetrator is the same person who took Alyssa. But what he unearths is more sinister than anyone imagined, sending shock waves through the community and putting Johnny’s own life in danger.
This book gets two thumbs up from me.
