Books 17, 18 and 19
Apr. 26th, 2003 02:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sierciaLeaving Cold Sassy - Olive Burns
Blech with a capital B. I read this coming off the glow of Cold Sassy Tree, which I adored. Ms. Burns didn't finish this novel, having passed away when less than halfway through it. So, the story just kind of ends in the middle. They included some of her notes for the future development of the book with the novel, but those did nothing to improve the experience. Additionally, even what was in this book lacked the wit, charm and love that suffused the first book; perhaps because the character of the grandfather was what gave the first it's magic, or perhaps because, since this was essentially the story of her parent's courtship and marriage, the author lacked the distance neccesary to find the nuance of the story. I would definitely give this a miss.
All Over but the Shouting - Rick Bragg
This was an interesting read. Bragg grew up dirt poor in rural Alabama, and has managed to become a Puliter prize winning reporter for The New York Times, and this is the story of his life. Well written and interesting. Made me want to go search up some of his stories from the Times.
Tender at the Bone - Ruth Riechl
Another writer for the NY Times with a (somewhat less) autobiographical book - this was a collection of assorted food stories from the author's life - from saving guests from her mother's "creative" food ideas as a child through finding her career as a food and restaurant critic. Another interesting read, that I enjoyed a great deal.
Now I'm not sure what I'm going to read next.
Blech with a capital B. I read this coming off the glow of Cold Sassy Tree, which I adored. Ms. Burns didn't finish this novel, having passed away when less than halfway through it. So, the story just kind of ends in the middle. They included some of her notes for the future development of the book with the novel, but those did nothing to improve the experience. Additionally, even what was in this book lacked the wit, charm and love that suffused the first book; perhaps because the character of the grandfather was what gave the first it's magic, or perhaps because, since this was essentially the story of her parent's courtship and marriage, the author lacked the distance neccesary to find the nuance of the story. I would definitely give this a miss.
All Over but the Shouting - Rick Bragg
This was an interesting read. Bragg grew up dirt poor in rural Alabama, and has managed to become a Puliter prize winning reporter for The New York Times, and this is the story of his life. Well written and interesting. Made me want to go search up some of his stories from the Times.
Tender at the Bone - Ruth Riechl
Another writer for the NY Times with a (somewhat less) autobiographical book - this was a collection of assorted food stories from the author's life - from saving guests from her mother's "creative" food ideas as a child through finding her career as a food and restaurant critic. Another interesting read, that I enjoyed a great deal.
Now I'm not sure what I'm going to read next.
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(no subject)
Date: 2003-04-26 06:08 pm (UTC)Blech with a capital B.
Yeah, that was my opinion almost exactly.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-04-27 11:29 am (UTC)Jester by James Patterson - takes place in France in the 11th century. Follows the main character Hugh from being a simple innkeeper in a small village to the Holy land on Crusade and back, and how his life must change when he comes back to discover..... :) (I love doing that) (I'm still reading this, so I actually can't go much further.)
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. A story that follows a family of four, centering on the 11-year-old Reuben, the narrator, in (I think) the 1930s. The story takes place during and after a family tragedy. If you liked The Lovely Bones, I think you'd like this one, too.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-05-01 02:42 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-05-01 08:27 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-05-01 08:28 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2003-05-02 11:11 am (UTC)Don't know if you read (or liked) Memoirs of a Geisha...but there is a biographical version.
It's called Geisha, A Life by Mineko Iwasaki.
Fiction-wise, try The Pact by Jodi Picoult. The subject matter was a little heavy, but it was a fast read (you want to find out what happens!)