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Friday, June 02, 2006
Books for May
Forgot to do these yesterday.
Title (bold indicates first-time read) -- Author -- Rating (out of 5)
- The Tenth Circle -- Jodi Picoult -- 4.5
- Now that I've read two of Picoult's books I will know for the future that her standard formula is to throw multiple twists at you in the last chapters of her books, and perhaps next time I will be less incensed. This one was not as bad as My Sister's Keeper, whose ending seemed contrived and out-of-place and honestly reminded me of myself in tenth grade, realizing that the way I'd intended to write a certain short story it was going to be way too long so I killed off the male lead with a plot twist and felt smug at my cleverness. The twists in The Tenth Circle initially did make me angry, but they were easier to forgive because they made the story more complex, and gave you a lot more to think about, rather than feeling like an easy way out of a complicated story.
- Don't Look Down -- Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer -- 3.5
- This was more pleasant than some of Crusie's books -- she's toned down the over-the-top sex a bit. The co-author thing seems to have gone nicely; there's an action angle to this that I'm not sure Crusie could have pulled off on her own and I am going to guess that that's Bob Mayer's main contribution...? This isn't my favorite chick-lit book but it was a not-unpleasant way to spend some time, even though I did get extremely annoyed at the negative attitude toward homeschooling (of all things, in a fluff novel) that was sprinkled throughout the novel. Let's make this intelligent young individual into a clone of all her peers. Tragic that she should be so at home talking with adults! sheesh.
- Avalon High -- Meg Cabot -- 3
- Speaking of fluffy chick novels. This one was interesting, with a fantasy sort of twist that would translate well into a movie, in my opinion. As teen books go, it asked a lot of the reader, too -- if you don't know a good bit about Arthurian legends (who me?) you'll maybe be a bit lost for good portions of this story.
- Speaking of fluffy chick novels. This one was interesting, with a fantasy sort of twist that would translate well into a movie, in my opinion. As teen books go, it asked a lot of the reader, too -- if you don't know a good bit about Arthurian legends (who me?) you'll maybe be a bit lost for good portions of this story.
- Tending to Grace -- Kimberly Newton Fusco -- 3.5
- Another YA novel, not so fluffy, about a teenaged girl whose depressed mother leaves her off with a distant aunt and takes off to Las Vegas with a loser, which of course enables the daughter to learn much about herself and become the grown daughter the aunt never had. It's a first novel for Fusco and you can sort of tell, but overall it's quite good. It's a strong character study with a good underlying plot, and some surprising developments that add depth.
- Another YA novel, not so fluffy, about a teenaged girl whose depressed mother leaves her off with a distant aunt and takes off to Las Vegas with a loser, which of course enables the daughter to learn much about herself and become the grown daughter the aunt never had. It's a first novel for Fusco and you can sort of tell, but overall it's quite good. It's a strong character study with a good underlying plot, and some surprising developments that add depth.
- Assorted Princess Diaries Books -- Meg Cabot -- 2
- When this was a new series I read the first two books, and at that time of my life (when I also dipped into that series that starts with something about Angus and full-frontal snogging) they were the kind of frothy, harmless, light sort of break I needed from whatever was going on in my life. Or something. Because I liked them then. But however many years later, when I happened to be in the YA section and see that there were about four gazillion more of those Princess books, I checked out like four of them and found that they did not hold the same appeal. Or pretty much any appeal at all, to me. I think I got through about one and a half of them before I couldn't stand it anymore.
- When this was a new series I read the first two books, and at that time of my life (when I also dipped into that series that starts with something about Angus and full-frontal snogging) they were the kind of frothy, harmless, light sort of break I needed from whatever was going on in my life. Or something. Because I liked them then. But however many years later, when I happened to be in the YA section and see that there were about four gazillion more of those Princess books, I checked out like four of them and found that they did not hold the same appeal. Or pretty much any appeal at all, to me. I think I got through about one and a half of them before I couldn't stand it anymore.
- Second Honeymoon -- Joanna Trollope -- 3.5
- This was the first Joanna Trollope novel I'd ever read. I was thoroughly snagged in the first chapter by the central character's feeling of loss as her last child left the nest. At first she seems quite a pitiful character (I can see myself in those shoes in, oh, about twelve years, if I don't get on it with the night-class thing), but her development as a character and as a person were brilliantly handled throughout the novel, as her empty nest becomes uncomfortably re-filled. This is almost an "ensemble" novel, if there is such a thing, with the minor characters fleshed out so thoroughly and given such complex storylines that they pretty much become major characters in their own right. I found some of the resolutions a bit unsatisfying, but overall I do truly recommend this novel.
- This was the first Joanna Trollope novel I'd ever read. I was thoroughly snagged in the first chapter by the central character's feeling of loss as her last child left the nest. At first she seems quite a pitiful character (I can see myself in those shoes in, oh, about twelve years, if I don't get on it with the night-class thing), but her development as a character and as a person were brilliantly handled throughout the novel, as her empty nest becomes uncomfortably re-filled. This is almost an "ensemble" novel, if there is such a thing, with the minor characters fleshed out so thoroughly and given such complex storylines that they pretty much become major characters in their own right. I found some of the resolutions a bit unsatisfying, but overall I do truly recommend this novel.
- Brother and Sister -- Joanna Trollope -- 3
- Not as good as Second Honeymoon, but still very well-written. I took off half a point or so because the gender issues that were lightly touched on in SH take on a bit of a bludgeon-ish nature in this novel, and I got tired of being reminded that it's a man's world and doesn't that just suck. Seemed like the author had a bit of a chip on her shoulder as she was writing. Good points: characterization is again quite good. Also, rather than simplifying the issue around which the novel revolves (adoption), Trollope stirs things up into a quite complicated mess that really makes you think. She didn't change my mind, but she made me see some angles I hadn't thought of so clearly before. And that's good literature.
- Not as good as Second Honeymoon, but still very well-written. I took off half a point or so because the gender issues that were lightly touched on in SH take on a bit of a bludgeon-ish nature in this novel, and I got tired of being reminded that it's a man's world and doesn't that just suck. Seemed like the author had a bit of a chip on her shoulder as she was writing. Good points: characterization is again quite good. Also, rather than simplifying the issue around which the novel revolves (adoption), Trollope stirs things up into a quite complicated mess that really makes you think. She didn't change my mind, but she made me see some angles I hadn't thought of so clearly before. And that's good literature.
- Girl with a Pearl Earring -- Tracy Chevalier -- 4.5
- Intense, riveting, passionate novel that makes the reader see 17th-century Holland as if Vermeer himself had painted it -- all glowing light and gritty shadows. The central character is unforgettable for her suppressed passions which never find fulfillment in the way you think they will as you read -- which is a good thing -- and for her almost uncannily clear and real voice. The ending is perfectly done. Bravo. Recommended.
- Intense, riveting, passionate novel that makes the reader see 17th-century Holland as if Vermeer himself had painted it -- all glowing light and gritty shadows. The central character is unforgettable for her suppressed passions which never find fulfillment in the way you think they will as you read -- which is a good thing -- and for her almost uncannily clear and real voice. The ending is perfectly done. Bravo. Recommended.
- The Virgin Blue -- Tracy Chevalier -- 3
- This is another novel in which Chevalier demonstrates her vivid storytelling skills. I've never read a description of a color that made me see it in my mind's eye in quite the same way as she writes about a particular shade of blue in this story. I found the historical flashbacks to be the most intriguing parts of the book; the modern-day scenes quickly turned into an unfulfilled-wife-tempted-to-have-an-affair cliché, although the mystery angle was quite well-handled.
- This is another novel in which Chevalier demonstrates her vivid storytelling skills. I've never read a description of a color that made me see it in my mind's eye in quite the same way as she writes about a particular shade of blue in this story. I found the historical flashbacks to be the most intriguing parts of the book; the modern-day scenes quickly turned into an unfulfilled-wife-tempted-to-have-an-affair cliché, although the mystery angle was quite well-handled.
Comments
That's alot of books!
Posted by: debi at June 2, 2006 02:20 PM
Oh I've always wanted to read Girl With a Pearl Earing.
Posted by: jenn at June 2, 2006 06:50 PM
I read *Vanishing Acts* by Jodi Picoult on vacation last week. It was good and no lame-o ending. (I still feel betrayed by My Sister's Keeper. Gah.)
I also read *Princess in Pink* (#5) before vacation. I blew through the first 3 or so, thinking they were pretty good. 4, less so. 5 was work to finish. Mia obsesses about whether the boyfriend would take her to the prom. Ugh. So I am not sure if it is better to have read them all the way through all at once, while still on a "this is pretty good" high, or to space them out. Or just Not Read Them.
I am also starting to have issues with Meg Cabot and her teen-liberal nonsense. (the adult books seem to be better). All teens are liberals; all others are stupid. I also strongly suggest you steer VERY clear of *Ready or Not*. The first book in that series (?) was good but RoN basically focused on whether the heroine would Do It with her boyfriend. That one literally hit the wall. ANd you know I am not a book-abuser.
I am feeling lucky, though, and checked out *Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants*. We'll see how that goes.
Posted by: mary at June 5, 2006 06:04 AM
