Undecideds

Hey, fellow readers!!  What are you reading?  I'm kind of in a rut and need some suggestions.  What would be a good end-of-summer read? 

What have I been up to?  Well, my Walking Friend (WF) and I went to the Farmer's Market yesterday, looking for fresh peaches. O.M.G. I hadn't been to the Farmer's Market here in town. They had some hot peppers that smelled AMAZING.  I stood over by them, sniffing, for so long that I'm sure the lady thought I was going to try to stuff some in my purse.  (Still wish I could think of a reason to buy some).  In any case, Southern Living has an absolutely LOVERLY peach cobbler recipe - it is the real thing, too, made with pie crust and layered with peaches. Yumm-er. And btw, below is a picture of their peach-cinnamon ice cream...just in case...you need to go get some peaches. 

                                      

I'm currently reading 'The Post Birthday World' by Lionel Shriver.  First, Let me say that the first novel of Ms. Shriver's that I read was 'We Need to Talk About Kevin' which was a MINDBLOWER. (And I'm sure I've talked about this book before, so let me go ahead and apologize for what's coming.) WNTTAK was about a family that was decimated when Kevin, the son, killed several of his peers in a school shooting (is shooting the right word? He didn't use a gun, he used a bow and arrow as his weapon). In any case, Eva, Kevin's mother, never was very maternal and actually didn't like Kevin very much. So the question that predominates, did Eva not like Kevin because he was 'evil' or maybe, that something was inherently wrong with him? Or did he become the was he was BECAUSE Eva didn't much like him? Very chilling book that really sticks with you. My book club read this book and almost didn't forgive me for choosing it!! It is disturbing to read, but well written and definitely a novel you will remember.

So then I picked up TPBW.  This book is about the effects of choices that we make in our daily lives. Initially, it was confusing to read, because each chapter is sort of running parallel to the last. I should explain. The book is based on a pivotal moment in the protagonist's (Irina's) life. She is having a birthday dinner with her husband's friend, Ramsey, and a moment comes when she either chooses to kiss him or doesn't. From then on, the chapters alternate, telling the story of what happens if she DOES kiss him (and eventually cheats on her husband) or DOESN'T kiss him.  Very interesting read about how often, in the moment, you don't realize that you are making a decision that can affect the rest of your life. I'm not 100% sure if it works, though. Like I said, it is very confusing (especially if you are not expecting the alternating stories and have to work that out) and it is a very detailed story - you may not want to read that much about what minutiae is going on in Irina's life.  I can't say if I would recommend this or not.  I sort of like it and, like WNTTAK, you will remember this book, but it takes some work to get through. 3 out of 5 stars.

I've also just finished 'Shine Shine Shine' by Lydia Netzer. I read about this one in People magazine, I think.  Really, it's a little strange.  Maxon and Sunny grew up together, married and have been together now for 20 years. Maxon is a gifted NASA (I think) engineer who is chosen to go to the moon with a team in order to colonize the moon with robots.  Sunny is a beautiful surburbonite who has alopecia (is bald...no hair, no eybrows/lashes..), but tries hard to keep up appearances.  They have an autistic son, Bubber, who I think, may be like his Dad (Maxon may be a little autistic, too - in his growing up, they talk a lot about him learning the appropriate emotional responses).  Anyway, while Maxon is on his way to the moon, Sunny has a car accident and her wig flies off - so the neighborhood sees her as she really is for the first time.  That is the catalyst that makes her realize that she's not normal, Maxon's not normal, Bubber's not normal...and that's ok.  It is a very whimsical and unlikely book - liked it - but not really sure of the plot.  The story seemed to be a meandering talke of Sunny and Maxon's life.  Which is ok, and interesting, but it always aggravates me a little when I feel like we're just wandering, not actually going anywhere!!  So.  I'm sorry, I don't know whether to recommend this one or not.  3.5 out of 5 stars.

Awhile back, I read 'Room by Emma Donoghue.  I seems like this book is loosely based on the story of Jaycee Dugard (kidnapped, held captive, had captor's baby). The story is told from the vantage point of five year old Jack who has only ever lived in the 'Room' with his Ma. The story tells of their days - rationing food, bathing, learning, making do with what little they have. Although Jack doesn't really understand, his Ma locks him up safe in the wardrobe when Old Nick comes to visit her. Eventually, they try to escape from their one room prison where Old Nick has been keeping them. This is another one - pretty interesting read, but a little disturbing. I don't know whether to tell you to read it or not!!  3 out of 5 stars.

I would love to hear from you in the comments!!  Please let me know what you are reading and how you are doing!!  I've just gotten the book 'Skippy Dies' by Paul Murray.  We'll see how it is!!

Summer Reading

Hi everyone!!  Hope your summer has been going well - and that you are having good times and keeping cool!

Like the picture?  See, in January, this is how I picture my summer.  Hot, but with a cool breeze...my toes perfectly painted...a lazy bird aimlessly spiraling in the sky above...

Right.  I read entirely too much.  I completely forget about the humidity that makes me sweat the SECOND I step out the door, the HOARDS of mosquitos (see those birds in the picture?  They are not actually birds.  They are Alabama mosquitos.) and the BROILING sun.  Breeze?  What breeze?

HOWEVER, the good news is that I've been reading a lot of new and varied stuff this summer.  One of my favorites was "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn.  Initially this book seems

normal, boring almost.  I was aggravated.  Nick and Amy move from New York to Missouri where they can help with Nick's parents.  Normal marriage stuff, blah blah blah...and then Amy disappears on the day of her 5th wedding anniversary.  It's crazy!!  From what you've read until this point, you could not possibly have any idea about what might have happened.  And you certainly wouldn't suspect Nick!!  But then, the book starts to turn a little darker and the author teasingly reveals just a bit more.  Turns out that Nick is not the handsome good guy that you thought he was, their marriage is not as perfect as you once believed and Amy for SURE isn't the person you think.  And let me tell you...I read so much that I am not easily surprised, but this book knocked me flat on my hiney.  It is completely NOT what you would expect.  Hmmm...I can't decide what I should tell you...so I just won't say anything else.  Needless to say, this one is worth the read.  I would give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

So then I moved on to "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky.  Apparently this novel was originally published in February 1999 by MTV Books (kind of cool, huh?  I didn't know MTV had a book division).  Now, I was excited to read this for two reasons:  it has been made into a movie with Emma Watson (Hermione) and because it is frequently on the American Library Association's list of most frequesntly challenged books.  Meaning people want to keep them out of the library.  So.  I'm nosy.  I'll say it out loud.  I wanted to see what this was all about.  The book is based on letters that the main character, Charlie, is writing to an anonymous person - someone he has never met, but thought he could confide in.  Charlie is a freshman in high school and is shy and awkward.  After one of his friends commits suicide, he makes friends with two seniors, Sam, and her brother Patrick.  The book touches on topics like teen suicide, same sex dating, drug experimentation and burgeoning love.  And through it all, Charlie is very likeable and touching.  Near the end of the year, though, all his friends are set to graduate and Charlie gets very depressed.  Things happen and Charlie's mental state gets worse and he actually has to be checked into a mental hospital - in the hospital, he recalls some memories that he had suppressed from his childhood (which explains a lot about why Charlie is like he is).  I know, I know, it sounds a little depressing, but I promise, throughout, Charlie is very likeable and upbeat.  This book does not leave you feeling bad.  4 out of 5 stars.

In the interest of discussing something a little, ahem, lighter, I read a book that had been on all the best seller lists for ages.  I admit, I don't always like to read best-sellers - I like to read a book BEFORE all the hype.  You know, so I don't have any preconceived notions about what I'm reading.  Well.  I did it.  I finally bought 'Bossypants' by Tina Fey.  It was originally published in April 2011 and was on the New York Times Bestseller List for 5 weeks.  **yawn** Hmm..not impressed.  I actually don't like to have a book stuffed down my throat and I think that's why I never picked this one up.  Mistake.  Yall.  This is a really good, funny, easy read.  It talks some about Tina's life growing up and her college years...then how she made it on SNL...then about 30 Rock...and her family. All in such a funny and humble way.  She is so vibrant and smart and WOW!!  She manages a career and family...it's amazing.  I'm amazed.  And I apologize, Ms. Fey, for not picking this up sooner.  4.5 out of 5 stars.

I think I have a tendency to write only about the books I really like on this blog (because I'm so excited and want so much to share them with you!!, but in my next post, I'm going to include some novels I'm not sure about.  In fact, I just finished one that I can't tell ya if I liked it or not.

See yall soon!!!  Keep cool....fall is coming....in about....4 months...