Anna Begins
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Posts posted by Anna Begins
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I started a long way gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah last night.
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That does feel the way I felt after The Lovely Bones, a sort of disquiet or unease at the whole way it was happening. A very good review Anna
Thanks!
The scene where Susie leaves Heaven and enters Ruth's body to have sex with Ray
is very strange.
Great review! It's a shame you didn't enjoy the book so much. I agree it was a nice different take on 'heaven' and all that. I think I know which things you're referring to in your review, so I've sent you a PM with the spoilers to ask if that is what you meant (as to not spoil anyone who hasn't read it etc.).
I think it's nice for Sebold she's wrote a book about her rape, as that is something so painful, and writing about it might help to deal with it. I don't know if I could read it, it might be difficult to do so as it might be graphic or uncomfortable to read about it.
I hope your next read will be more enjoyable
.I will reply
And ya, that book sounds very harsh and hard to take. But I thought I would draw a comparison on how Susie was raped and killed in that underground tunnel.
I'll be curious to see what you pick up next, now the autism book is finished.
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I am down to #86 on hold at the library for "Unbroken". The Library has 22 kindle copies though so I am getting fairly close.
I think you will really appreciate this book. Did you read Seabiscuit by chance?
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Very interesting review Anna - I seem to remember thinking the same as you. A shame, because the premise is great, a really different take on the heaven theme.
Whew- then I am not alone! I haven't read any other reviews of it, except Athena's. I did like the different take on the whole heaven thing though.
I read The Lovely Bones years ago. It was ok but I wasn't jumping with joy about it. But, an ok read.
That's kinda how I feel about it as well.
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What are your next 3 books to read.
Probably already read
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Uh oh! We will have a lot to discuss
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I did. It changed a lot of the way I think about the bombings of Dresden, and other cities (Kyoto, etc) that were firebombed. It set off a little reading branch of research for me.
I like your tat though! It's like, a secret
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Title: The Lovely Bones
Author: Alice Sebold
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Age: Adult
Pages: 352
Read: 2/15- 2/21
Synopsis, from Amazon:
"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."
So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her.My thoughts:
I felt just ok about this book. I read this one not fast, not slow, just sort of eh. I was constantly waiting for certain things to happen. When they did, they fell short. The most important actions of the book I wish were made bigger, they get lost in the way the narrative is set- the way Susie sums up everything was very irritating to me. Even though the story takes place over several decades, I think certain events could have been more significant. As a result, I think the characterization of the other people in the story was shallow. It seemed like it was going for that “under 400 pages” type book. The Lovely Bones was darker than most “I’m in heaven” type story lines, which I liked. I thought a major part of the end was hokey and perverted almost. The end predictable and/ or inevitable. I wouldn’t recommend this book.
Just FYI, from Sebolds’ Lucky:
Alice Sebold's compelling memoir of her rape at the age of eighteen is a story that takes hold of you and won't let go. Sebold fulfills a promise that she made to herself in the very tunnel where she was raped: someday she would write a book about her experience.
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As for Kurt, he is, as described in Alex Woods, someone who seems to write a whole load of random absurdity which, upon closer reflection, actually has a very great deal of intelligent insight to it. I say this having only read Slaughterhouse-5, but I loved one aspect of that book so much I got it tattooed on me. I really must start reading his other stuff.
Ah- ok, I've only read Slaughterhouse- 5, so I don't really know his work. But a lot of authors and stories I have read either reference him or cite him as an inspiration.
Now you have me intrigued about your tattoo... is it a quote?
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20.2.2015 was the day when the president of Finland signed the same-sex marriage law
Well done, Finland!! 
Oh wow- Congratulations on being part of such an open minded country!
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I don't know that I am looking forward to it or not, but Stephen King will have a new book out June 2nd, called Finders Keepers.
From Amazon:
“Wake up, genius.” So begins King’s instantly riveting story about a vengeful reader. The genius is John Rothstein, an iconic author who created a famous character, Jimmy Gold, but who hasn’t published a book for decades. Morris Bellamy is livid, not just because Rothstein has stopped providing books, but because the nonconformist Jimmy Gold has sold out for a career in advertising. Morris kills Rothstein and empties his safe of cash, yes, but the real treasure is a trove of notebooks containing at least one more Gold novel.
Morris hides the money and the notebooks, and then he is locked away for another crime. Decades later, a boy named Pete Saubers finds the treasure, and now it is Pete and his family that Bill Hodges, Holly Gibney, and Jerome Robinson must rescue from the ever-more deranged and vengeful Morris when he’s released from prison after thirty-five years.
Not since Misery has King played with the notion of a reader whose obsession with a writer gets dangerous. Finders Keepers is spectacular, heart-pounding suspense, but it is also King writing about how literature shapes a life—for good, for bad, forever.Interesting that the US version has a cover that resembles Mr. Mercedes... if it is a sequel, it certainly doesn't seem like it is about how Mr. Mercedes ends... or was even about.
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This time next week I shall be looking forward to jetting off to Iceland again for some more Northern Lights hunting. It has been very cold out there these past few days with lots of snow, so I shall be packing the thermals and ice grips.
I am so jealous! That is one of my moms #1 things to do in her life, I'd love to be able to take her. Here, you go to Alaska.
I selected colors of dark red (actually looks more like reddish brown) down the middle and black down each side. Oh, I also chose a plain brass buckle. The work they perform is actually very nice.
http://www.gatlinburgcrafts.com/leather_real_mccoy.html
http://greatsmokyartsandcraftscommunity.com/_shops/mccoylea.htm
Very Nice!
The party ended at 10:30am this morning.
Must've been one heck of a party! -
Great review! What's with the Vonnegut?
And why does he inspire so many books??
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and then probably onto The First Fifteen Lives Of Harry August by Claire North.
Amazon keeps recommending this to me, I'll see what you have to say about it first
I finished Messenger by Lois Lowry yesterday, and I've started on The Humans by Matt Haig.
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The library sale is tomorrow and I'm excited for it. My boyfriend's been feeling tired lately so I'm doing my best to support him where I can. He'll be travelling to the UK next week so I hope he will feel good enough to do so and to be there and travel back again. I'm a bit worried about being on my own, but hopefully it will not be too bad since it's just a week.
Do you think he will be ok to go to the book sale tomorrow??
Just had a surveyor to make the plans for our bathroom conversion to be a wet room
. Then it will take 5 or 6 days of work to do it! . The thought of 5 or 6 days of tradesman tramps around the house, and the first days are going to be serious work .... 
,but not until late April. Looking forward to have a wet-room, but all the hassle!! *mega cringe*We are having our garage converted next week and it will take a week! That's a long time to have people in and out!
I have a paper due next Thursday on technology in society and in schools. It is giving me a great deal of trouble, I have to cite at least 3 sources. Other than working on that, looking forward to reading a lot this weekend!
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Anna - I will be intrigued by what you make of the Lovely Bones. I read it years ago and seem to remember liking the premise but not the end product for some reason.
Athena and I read it together (she finished before me, of course lol). She posted her review today.
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in some she gives away a huge spoiler in the first "chapter" and then makes you as the reader get to that point.
In theater, its called "a loaded gun"
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My book box has given me The Time Machine by HG Wells. It obviously thinks I need to stick with 19th century fiction
I've been putting this one off for a while but am looking forward to giving it a good go.
I hope you like it, I loved The War of the Worlds.
About 50% into The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I can't wait to see where it goes!
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Doesn't your kindle talk to you? Am I the only one?
Mine always says back "I love you too"
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Oh ya there were and still are HUGE here- I had them all. Most children learn to read with them.
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Ah- is that the UK cover of The Humans? Does it have the dog on the cover?
I hope you enjoy!
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Well, I've been a tad bit naughty and pre-ordered
Jason Hewitt- The Dynamite Room
and
Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig.
The Dynamite Room was from Claire's review, like, a month ago lol, the Matt Haig one I've been interested in for awhile, and now that I read Michelle's review, it made me even more interested.
Also, Mockingjay Pt 1 just came out, so I bought it for my kindle.
I don't think I have ever pre ordered anything!
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I quite enjoyed The Lovely Bones, surprisingly since it's not the kind of thing I normally read. I actually enjoyed the film better than the book, but both are very good.
Oh good- that the movie is good- something to look forward to!
Athena's Reading List 2015
in Past Book Logs
Posted
I didn't know Peter Jackson directed the movie The Lovely Bones! Might have to watch that today!
And you know you want to read the Meyer book already!