I’m beginning to suspect I won’t be able to accomplish my goal of reading all of my library books before their due dates arrive, although it isn’t entirely out of the question.
Yet.
I’ve got four books due a week from today and two due two days after that: Who’s Looking Out for You? (O’Reilly); Slander: Liberal Lies About the American Right (Coulter); How Could You Do That? The Abdication of Character, Courage and Conscience (Schlessinger); The Ten Commandments: the Significance of God’s Laws in Everyday Life (Schlessinger); An Inconvenient Book: Real Solutions to the World’s Biggest Problems (Beck) and Stop Whining and Start Living (Schlessinger).
Of the four due first, I’m halfway through O’Reilly and a quarter of the way through Coulter. So if all goes well and my brain doesn’t explode, I’m still relatively optimistic about my chances of finishing the six by the 15th and 17th.
Of course, I’ve got five more waiting for me at the library as I type this, two more classified as “in transit,” and three still with holds.
Anyway, a brief review to continue my trend of documenting the books I’ll read this year.
(I’ve been really lax in this little project, so I may be missing a couple.)
14) The Host, Stephenie Meyer: I’ve blogged several times about this book. I loved it. Though it wasn’t about Edward and Bella, it was still excellent and, for me, on par with Twilight, which is my favorite of that series. Five Cherry Chapsticks.
15) Love the One You’re With, Emily Giffin: Emily Giffin is probably my favorite chick lit author, and I loved Something Borrowed, Something Blue and Baby Proof. I wanted to love Love the One You’re With, and I did really like it. But I was so afraid the storyline was going to take…a certain turn, that I was tense and ready to dislike it at the drop of a hat. I still am a bit perplexed by the ending, but all in all, it was a good read. Not her best, but still good. Three Cherry Chapsticks.
16) A Company of Swans, Eva Ibbotson: This was one of the books I read based on a recommendation by Stephenie Meyer. She listed the book’s heroine, Harriet Morton, as one of her favorite literary heroines ever. So of course, I was intrigued. I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down from the moment I read the first page. I’m a bit surprised that it’s out of print, but it’s easily found at libraries (and there’s often a wait for it). Ibbotson’s style is very classical but still relatable, and I identified with Harriet a great deal. Four Cherry Chapsticks.
17) A Countess Under Stairs, Eva Ibbotson: I checked this book out at the library because I loved A Company of Swans so much. The premise of the book — a young Russian countess forced to flee to England at the onset of the Russian Revolution and find work as a maid — is quite interesting. I also liked Anna, the protagonist, and the prevailing plot. It did get a bit bogged down in the B storyline and I found myself wondering when the book would end. Three Cherry Chapsticks.
18) Book of a Thousand Days, Shannon Hale: Like A Company of Swans, I read this because Dashti, the protagonist, is listed as one of Stephenie Meyer’s favorite literary heroines. It was also very interesting. It is a reimagining of a little-known Brothers Grimm fairy tale that I wasn’t familiar with at all, and I can definitely see why Meyer is so fond of Dashti. I was, as well. Four Cherry Chapsticks.
19) The Appeal, John Grisham: I’ve always known that Grisham was a Southern Democrat who was once a Mississippi State Representative, but this is the first of his many novels where his politics were very evident. I didn’t like his constant sniping at conservative values and conservative Christians, and his criminalization of what he calls “big business.” It was trademark Grisham as far as the plotting and characterization and that’s why I’ll give it three Cherry Chapsticks. But I didn’t really like it much.
20) Where Are You Now?, Mary Higgins Clark: I have grown up reading Mary Higgins Clark. I read my first the summer before I started college, and I’ve read pretty much every one since then. Her style is comforting and familiar and while it is at times a bit formulaic, I like it. This wasn’t her best, but it wasn’t horrible. Comfortable, familiar and solid. Three Cherry Chapsticks.
Posted by Stephanie Cowart on July 8, 2008 at 9:38 pm
my goodness! You’ve been busy! I have got to get myself to read a bit each day. I have so many books I need to get through!
Posted by writemeg on August 18, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I felt the same way about “Love The One You’re With.” I really started to dislike Ellen about halfway through… and am equally perplexed by the ending. But I still love Emily Giffin!
Posted by Adam on February 26, 2009 at 2:45 pm
I’m not sure The Appeal was as derogatory on Christians as it first appears. I’m hoping to give it a closer review, but my hunch is that I’ll find a more thoughtful and nuanced view of (conservative) Christians than a lot of people have. His outlook may be valuable to the conversation.
Posted by Jen on February 26, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I’d actually like to go back and read it now, too. I suspect I’ll have a different — or at least a better — opinion.