nursenblack

I definitely agree with you on Gatsby. It's a hyped-up "classic" that doesn't live up to the hype. As for modern books, I hate to say it, but I I feel that way about all Nicholas Spark's books I've read too.

I never thought about it before. Maybe not an actual soul, but alive in someway. Books do come from live trees. I've always felt since I was young that the walls of a home absorb emotions. so why not a book?

I love both series too, but I really think JK Rowling is the superior writer. HP books are far more complex. But I don't think I can fairly compare the stories because they are so so different and are liked for different reasons.

Since I last posted I have read A Bend In the Road by Nicholas Sparks, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen. The first one was okay, but Harry Potter and The Sugar Queen were both excellent. The later is Allen's second novel after Garden Spells. I enjoyed this one even more. The story is set in North Carolina and centers around Josey, who is lonely and trapped by her family name, and Chole who is determined to find out a secret her boyfriend is hidding. Overall entertaining novel, but I think that some of the "magical" elements that Allen uses in both novels are a bit overdone. I have started Mermaids In the Basement by Michael Lee West.

The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff was different than I thought it would be, but I wasn't disappointed. Not the best ever, but it was pretty entertaining. It was a neat mix of small town life, old secrets, and the paranormal. This is the authors debut novel so I can't wait to see what comes next for her. Now, I've started A Bend In the Road by Nicholas Sparks.

That sounds like such a good idea!! Maybe I'll undertake a challenge like that someday... It would be such a education to know some of the great (not as recognizable by the mainstream) children books.

I finished The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets and I loved it. It was an enjoyable coming of age novel that was a pretty fast read. I'm now on The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff.

Welcome to the forum paige turner!

Oh I saw this on Amazon several months ago and thought about getting it. Sounds excellent. I heard that Roseflower Creek by Miles is good too.

Beautiful. Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong country. Maybe someday....

I have now started The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice. This was not originally on my TBR, but after going to the library I have decided to expand it a bit. This sounded great!

ooops! Didn't know. Sorry

I finished the last of the Twilight series Breaking Dawn, which was full of surprises. Over all I enjoyed this series and would recommend it to young adults and adults. It was not nearly the best piece of fiction ever written, but it was an entertaining and easy read. However, the characters, Bella and Edward, left me very frustrated and often annoyed in New Moon and Eclipse. My qualm with Bella was that I assume it was the intention of Meyer because Jacob points this out to Bella many times. Half way through Breaking Dawn I was very disappointed when I did love all of the other surprises, which I will not disclose because I know how tempting spoiler highlights can be. Over all it was a suspenseful and romantic series and it is easy to see why it has been so popular.

I'm loving Heroes so far this season. I think that is going to be the feel of the whole season 3. Sort of an uneasy but with the same you-never-know-what-will-happen-next quality. I can't wait to see what happens!

I read The Other Boleyn Girl during the first of the year and really loved it. Have you have read any of Phillipa Gregory's other novels?

I had never really thought about this before. Wouldn't it be a hoot? My guests would be: Marylin Monroe Stephen King Paul Newman (sadly, he died yesterday) Christian Bale Jesse James (in case anyone gets outta hand) Jane Austen Elizabeth I Henry VIII

"I'd had more than my fair share of near-death experiences; it wasn't something you ever really got used to." Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Finished Eclipse and am now a quarter of the way through Breaking Dawn. I'm interested to see what happens, but Bella and Edward are so frustrating.....

It looks like you have had a productive reading year, especially while your in school. From your list I've read Me & Emma and also L.M Montgomery's whole Anneseries. I really loved them.

Right now the only one that comes to mind is Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook. I watched the movie several months before reading it and thought it was much more entertaining than the novel, which is usually not the case with me. I prefer to read a novel first because I don't want to be influenced too much by a film.

I have started third book of the Twilight series Eclipse.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was excellent. I loved it better than Sorcerer's Stone. Now I have begun the second book of the Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series New Moon. I'm lovin' it so far.

Finished Twilight by Stephenie Meyer and found it to be a very enjoyable read. No wonder this tell of "forbidden love" as become a #1 bestseller. I've ordered the rest of the series and can't wait to receive them. Now I am starting J.K Rowling's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I don't know why I've waited so long to complete the series!