I have a stack of nine books to give away tomorrow at a brunch I'm going to.......my way of recycling..........and in looking at the stack, I realized what a strange range of books they are that I have been reading!
Here's the list - State of Denial, by Bob Woodward; The Sisters Mortland (which I did not read); To the Nines by Janet Evanovich; Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier; The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd; The Road by Cormac McCarthy; Still Missing (didn't read); A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffet (one of my heroes); and Thunderstruck by Erik Larson. Strangely, the ones I liked - To the Nines - never read Janet Evanovich but she has a quirky way of writing and some funny phrases - loved her word for a body guard "steroidasaurus" - isn't that descriptive? Enjoyed Thunderstruck about Marconi and a man named Crippen in England - Larson's research is amazing and he makes a non-fiction book read like a novel. Didn't read The Sisters Mortland and Still Missing - read 6 pages of the first and didn't like it and the subject matter of Still Missing about kidnapped children is NOT my cup of tea..........I NEVER, in the past, would have not finished a book but I now don't waste my time if it doesn't interest me or the writing is dull..........State of Denial was upsetting because of how duped we, as Americans, have been by the Bush Administration. Thirteen Moons was not as good as Cold Mountain........Loved The Secret Life of Bees and Thurderstruck. Jimmy Buffet has written better things.........You have to be "in the mood" to read Cormac MCarthy.
What I love here in Mexico, books are like gold and so I read whatever I get - and it has expanded my horizons and introduced me to authors that if I were buying the books, I would probably not read! What are your reading these days?
3 comments:
Wasn't the Secret Life of Bees a great book! So glad to see you are passing these on. I should put a Bookcrossing label in them next time just to track where all the ones I pass on to you end up...could be fun. I thought The Road rather weird but I couldn't stop reading it.
You know from my blog what I have read recently, but I am in the middle of reading Edward J. Larson's Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate over Science and Religion. He does an excellent job of removing the issues from the cartoonish world of Inherit the Wind -- by placing the issues within their broader historical context. I am really enjoying it.
Your comment about books being gold is a theme I have often heard repeated. Reading is my life line to the world. I will need to work out some plan to get books when I move down. If I move to Barra de Navida, rather than Morelia, the problem will be greater.
Steve - I'm not familiar with that book but it sounds fascinating. Those are the kinds of things I gravitate to - books I learn something from........that's why reading Janet Evanovich which was a mindless read, was fun. Her verbage was funny! READING has ALWAYS been my lifeline and escape - used to drive my parents crazy!
When I go to the states, I go to Salvation Army and Good will and by grocry bags of books, friends save them and there are always people doing book exchanges in Mexico. You'll never be without! AND your mail service that you set up wherever you go will not charge duty on books so every now and then when I just have to read a certain book, I order it........not very often though.
Kay Cox who wrote on the blog above your comment is one of those great people who saves books for me. Thanks Kay!
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