SaraPepparkaka Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Well into the new year, and here comes my first book finished for 2011. "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld. This is apparently a YA book, and it's also scifi. I bought it in a lovely bookstore in Stockholm this Saturday, and then read it on my way home on Sunday. This is what it says on the back cover: Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. In just a few weeks she'll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunning pretty. And as a pretty, she'll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun. But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world - and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally's choice will change her world forever. My thoughts: This book is somewhat predictable. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it, and the writer makes it hard to stop the series at just one book, so I will probably continue with this series at some point. Bonus points for allowing the main character NOT to be perfect. This book would be a lot less interesting if that wasn't the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted January 10, 2011 Author Share Posted January 10, 2011 Oh, and Scott Westerfeld has apparently written some adult books too. If anyone has read them, I would like to know what you thought of them. Also, has anyone read any more of this series? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 I've read the entire Uglies series, Sara. I quite enjoyed them and, like you say, you can't really stop with just one. I couldn't say whether I enjoyed one more than the others; I think they're probably all very similar in terms of quality. Saying Tally is not perfect is an understatement! I haven't read any of Westerfeld's adult books. In fact, I didn't know he had written any. I'm interested in reading the steampunk books he has been writing (of which there are 2 so far). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share Posted January 11, 2011 Kylie, it says in this book that he has written some adult books as well. That's all I know about it so far.. And I could clearly see how this book could have been if Tally had been perfect, in fact I have probably read one or two books like that, when the Heroine does All The Right Things, and can serve as an example for us readers that no matter what we should Always Do The Right Thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted January 15, 2011 Author Share Posted January 15, 2011 "Between summer's longing and winter's end" by Leif GW Persson. This book I read in Norwegian, despite it being written in Swedish originally. My dear husband thought I needed a book, and was in Norway at the time. He chose precisely this book because "it was next to some book I have seen in your shelf, so I thought it's probably one you can read". Bless the dear man, despite the fact that I found this book .. well, boring. I also hope that the police in Sweden do not drink as much alcohol in real life as they do in this book. It's Leif GW Persson's theory on who killed the Swedish prime minister Olof Palme (the great unsolved crime in Sweden) but it starts somewhere else entirely, and the story jumps back and forth in time and the narrator changes frequently. All in all it was a bit confusing. What I liked best about this book was that it was written in Norwegian, I learned a lot of new words, and I'm not all that familiar with Norwegian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladymacbeth Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Sara I think it's amazing you can read a book in Norwegian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted January 16, 2011 Author Share Posted January 16, 2011 No. it's not that amazing really. Norwegian is just Swedish with a little funny words thrown in occasionally, and creative spelling. I suppose Swedish is the same to a Norwegian speaker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chesilbeach Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 I really enjoy popping into your reading thread, Sara, as you often seem to read books that no-one else has and it's really interesting to read about something new! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted January 20, 2011 Author Share Posted January 20, 2011 I have a slight tendency to do things other people don't. Also I never do those things in the correct order. It makes for an interesting, if sometimes a bit lonely, life. I have finally finished another book. "Unseen Academicals" by Terry Pratchett. It was fine, but I'm really longing to read something Discworldian with Death in it. I must say that my work really has cut down on my reading time. Why can't I be paid to read books? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted January 23, 2011 Author Share Posted January 23, 2011 Finished another book, really fast reading for this year. "The paid companion" by Amanda Quick. No surprises there if you have read a book by the same author, fun reading just th same. Mind you, I don't think I would like to read several after one another, but one now and then is really lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share Posted January 25, 2011 (edited) I'm still indulging myself with my reading, and have read "M is for Magic" by Neil Gaiman. Most of the stories I had read before, but some were new. Good reading. I'm sure I will be forgiven in the end for the unslept hours at night, though I really can't afford them. One thought struck me when I had read "The paid companion"- I would really like to know how my own story ends. It would be nice to know the point where everything that follows it is just "happily ever after". Clearly, it is not when you get married as some stories would have us believe. Do we get a grade when we die? "3/5, nothing special about this life, although she didn't make any crucial mistakes." And, since I don't believe we get a grade for our lives when we die, why do I insist on living as if I get a grade? Minus points for when I forget to make sure my kids have their skis in school when they are skiing in gym class, bonus points when I volunteer to go with the school class on a class trip to help out. Minus points if I have too few flower beds in my garden and/or they are full of weeds, bonus points if the leaves are raked before snow falls. Anyway. I hope Neil Gaiman writes a book as good as "Neverwhere" some time soon. Edited January 25, 2011 by SaraPepparkaka Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share Posted January 26, 2011 Why it seems I have had more time for reading just lately. January won't be such a bad month for reading after all. This morning I finished a short book by Anna Gavalda, "En dag till skänks" in Swedish, original title "L'Échappée belle". Two sisters and a brother run away from a wedding and go visit their youngest brother instead. A sweet tale about freedom in all its simplicity. I had been wanting to read something by Anna Gavalda for some time, and then I found this one in the library and decided to give it a go. It was lovely to read about a summer day when it's freezing outside. And this book has all those complicated relationships that I so enjoy. Amazing how much reading pleasure in such a small book. I will probably not actively seek books by Anna Gavalda, but I will read more by her I'm sure, if another one of her books jumps at me in the library and wants to go home with me for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted January 28, 2011 Author Share Posted January 28, 2011 Finished Q&A by Vikas Swarup, will also be added to my reading challenge. I'm quite pleased that I seem to have found a balance in life that includes both reading AND work. The next challenge for that will be in March, when I will start working full time. Should I say something about the book? Well, it all ended a little too neatly. Not that I wasn't glad for the characters, but still. And it will make a splendid addition to my UN challenge for India. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'mRose Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 Cool books Sara, I've been wanting to get my hands on Uglies myself and it sounds like a pretty good read! I've also been wanting to read something from Lars GW Persson for a while, just because he seems to be such an interesting person. He always looks so tired! Not sure but he kind of reminds me of Henning Mankells character Wallander for some reason. Have you read any of his other books and liked them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted January 29, 2011 Author Share Posted January 29, 2011 This was the only book by LGW persson I have read. And as I said, it really didn't inspire me to read anymore. But the dear husband was encouraged by my reaction to him bringing me a book from his work trip, so he tried it again.. This time with more luck as to the choice of book, too. Still in Norwegian, Jo Nesbö's Panserhjerte. Now, I haven't read that many books by him, but what I've read I have liked. He wasn't as selfless buying this book though, since I know Jo Nesbö's books are just about the only books my husband has ever really enjoyed. And that is good praise indeed, because he hardly ever reads anything. So I guess he's looking forward to reading this book as much as I am, and I do think he will miss hearing Norwegian, since this was probably his last work related trip to Norway for a very very long time (He starts a new job on Tuesday), so maybe if he READS a little Norwegian it will make him feel good. I just hope he doesn't feel like going to a lot of holidays to Norway, though. At least not on a fishing trip, sleeping in a tent. I did NOT like that. For one thing, I didn't see a bookstore on the whole trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 Ok, so it finally happened. The romance novel with an unfaithful hero I just couldn't bring myself to dislike. That is, or possibly was, one of the things that makes me throw away books with great force. Only, not this time. AND he wasn't unfaithful to the heroine, but he was her best friends fiancé. Be that as it may with this book, I can't see me liking unfaithfulness in the future much either. Also, the author was a little too generous with the sex scenes, I could have lived without some, if not all, of them. In between the bedroom scenes there was a credible relationship building, though. (Note, I said credible, not realistic) The book? "Breakfast in bed" by Sandra Brown. What in this book brought me to bend my principles? No matter how good something is for you, if you're not happy or comfortable with it, it's not going to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
book worm at heart Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 I think I would like to give the book you have finished reading a try 'breakfast in bed' by sandra brown sounds interesting although I am like your self in the sense that I rather the authers were not so graffic in the sex scenes, not that I'm a prude but I have a good enough imagination without the most graffical stages of it being explained to me in such detail, I may give a couple of your others a go aswell. 'the uglys' sounds really good, will have to have a nosey about. thanks and I will keep track of ur listings as there are different genres of books rather than the usual suspects. ty an keep reading so I can get ideas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 I did order "Pretties" yesterday, the next in the series after "Uglies". I'm not expecting it to arrive just yet, in the end of next week perhaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'mRose Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 (edited) This was the only book by LGW persson I have read. And as I said, it really didn't inspire me to read anymore. But the dear husband was encouraged by my reaction to him bringing me a book from his work trip, so he tried it again.. This time with more luck as to the choice of book, too. Still in Norwegian, Jo Nesbö's Panserhjerte. Now, I haven't read that many books by him, but what I've read I have liked. He wasn't as selfless buying this book though, since I know Jo Nesbö's books are just about the only books my husband has ever really enjoyed. And that is good praise indeed, because he hardly ever reads anything. So I guess he's looking forward to reading this book as much as I am, and I do think he will miss hearing Norwegian, since this was probably his last work related trip to Norway for a very very long time (He starts a new job on Tuesday), so maybe if he READS a little Norwegian it will make him feel good. I just hope he doesn't feel like going to a lot of holidays to Norway, though. At least not on a fishing trip, sleeping in a tent. I did NOT like that. For one thing, I didn't see a bookstore on the whole trip. Okay, I think I'll wait and read somtehing by Leif. GW until someone gives a copy of one of his books. I really enjoy the Wallander books by Mankell so I was hoping for something similar there. I still have not read anything by Nesbö but I saw a program about books and they said his books are getting very popular all over the world. So I will definitely check them out in the future. That is so great that he got a new job! Fishing and sleeping in a tent do not sound like my idea of a holiday. :-P May I suggest Galway Ireland, I found a really nice book shop when I was there. Unfortunately I only got to spend maybe 15 minutes in there until we had to go. http://www.charliebyrne.com/about.php Edited February 2, 2011 by I'mRose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted February 5, 2011 Author Share Posted February 5, 2011 More fluff read. "Bet me" by Jennifer Crusie. An upbeat romance with some hilarious scenes. Can be read as a general cheer-me-up book if you are a friend of romance. If you aren't, this book isn't the one to change your mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted February 9, 2011 Author Share Posted February 9, 2011 Two books read. One unfortunately not available in English. One of the better Finnish authors, Maria Turtschaninoff, has written another book (YA fantasy). This one is called "Underfors", and it's about a city under Helsinki, and a girl with ties to this city. The girl does not remember who she is, or what her ties are to that city, but very soon she will have to remember. And then the story dances away around Finland, and in the end the girl is back in Helsinki, but a lot more wiser. If you can read books in Swedish, this is a book to keep in mind. Maria Turtschaninoff has also written another book in the same genre, "Arra", and that book is a bit better than this one. Still a good read. And then I've read "The help" by Kathryn Stockett. I haven't fully digested the book yet, but it's a well written story, and an insight into a very alien world for me. I just wonder what it is that I'm not seeing about myself, that someboy else sees as clearly as the "helps" see the families they work with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidsmum Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I've just bought The Help so I'd be interested to hear what you thought of it Sara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted February 9, 2011 Author Share Posted February 9, 2011 It's a good story, and it has one of my favourite things, the complicated relationships. In places it was very sad, and in places it was funny. Clearly readable. I cared very much for the characters, all of them, even the ones I guess I wasn't supposed to care so much about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 Well, my reading this week is "Reckless" by Amanda Quick, I truly do see the formula, I did almost immediately see the formula the books are written after, it's just I have a thing for precisely that sort of hero. So I enjoyed it! The second book read is "I capture the castle" by Dodie Smith. This is a pearl. It's full of all the things I love: books, crumbling buildings, charmingly complicated people who do unexpected things, and last but not least true love (and rarely does it follow a formula like in the "Reckless" book ). I see on the cover it's been made into a film. I cannot imagine how, and I don't think I will ever see it. I think the film would be terribly sentimental, and the book really isn't, and all the better for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraPepparkaka Posted February 16, 2011 Author Share Posted February 16, 2011 Also, I may have been born in the wrong place in the wrong time. It seems I should live in a crumbling old building with a huge library, and a neglected park. Oh well, I do aspire to that, even if our house isn't OLD old, being from the late 1970's, but I certainly neglect the garden, and I DID get my husband to put up those bookshelves for me- they turned out quite nicely! (I wonder if he really knows how grateful I am for them..) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.