NovaLee

This book keeps popping up on me ....everywhere I go I see it and it always seems to get rave reviews. Guess I've got another on "Mount TBR."

Thank you for the warning. A co-worker of mine read this book a couple of months ago and the morning after she finished it, she was still in tears. She was even surprising herself at how this book affected her. I really must read this! Have you seen the movie? I keep debatng whether I should read the book or just go and see the movie ....although I generally enjoy the books so much more than the movies.

Hi Gyre Just took a peak through all the books you've read this year ....gosh that's a lot of books and your reviews are fantastic. I will be putting a great number of these on my TBR pile ...thank you for the great suggestions. I see also that you have read a couple by Huruki Murukami ....I just finished KAFKA ON THE SHORE earlier this week and really enjoyed it, so will most certainly check out the ones in your review.

Oh yes ...I know exactly what you mean BookJumper. This past week, my bookclub met to discuss our summer read and I silently cringed when I saw the condition of one member's book. It looked as though he found it in a ditch somewhere it was so beat up and dirty. Tsk Tsk Tsk

Hi Bookworm Thank you for the great review on MY SISTER'S KEEPER. This book has been on my TBR pile for awhile now and I just haven't gotten to it. Think it's maybe moved up in the que a bit after reading your review.

Oh good! Be sure to let me know what your thoughts are when you have a chance to pick it up.

Oh for sure ...let's see ~ The Lovely Bones ~ The narrator is 14-year old murder victim Susie Salmon. Raped and killed by her neighbour, Susie ascends to heaven where she observes how her death has affected her family and those around her. It's a grisly subject but overall, I thought it was a good read. I think Alice Seabold does a nice job of portraying the everyday life of those who must try to move on and accept the fact that a loved one is gone and I liked her fresh insight on heaven ....although, I do hope that if I go to heaven I don't have to spend quite so much time watching everyone back on earth. There was one scene though, near the end where she "drops down to earth" that seemed a bit incompatable with the rest of the story ...for me anyway, it seemed a bit out of context. All-in-all, I'd give it 3 out 5 stars. The Time Traveler's Wife ~ Sci-fi concept (although doesn't read like a science fiction book) and a touching love story. Henry is a librarian with "Chrono Displacement" disorder; at random times, he disappears without warning and finds himself (naked) in the past or future. Told alternately from the viewpoints of time traveler Henry and his wife, Clare. The first part of the story is about Clare growing up with Henry popping in and out of her life, which I thought was an interesting concept and nicely done. I also enjoyed the transition, when grown-up Claire recognizes Henry ..and he has not yet met her. For me, it got a little ...um, domestic, I guess would be the word mid-way and I found myself thinking; "Ok ok, I get it, let's get on with it." It does pick up steam though as the book progresses and I flew through the back-half. This novel is not for those looking for a sappy love story, nor is it for the hardcore sci-fi fan. It's simply a good story with an interesting plot. Overall I enjoyed the book; thought it was well written. Is it worth reading? Absolutely!

Ain't nothin wrong with beans and toast. Not much more exciting at this end ....think it's going to be grilled ham and cheese sandwiches.

Absolutely ....of course pasta In fact, I had a small debate with myself ...would it be pizza or pasta? In the end though, pizza won out and it was delicious.

CURRENTLY READING A Good Death ~ Gil Courtemanche READ The Lovely Bones ~ Alice Seabold The Honk and Holler Opening Soon ~ Billie Letts The Wife Tree ~ Dorothy Speak The Time Traveler's Wife ~ Audrey Niffenegger A Complicated Kidness ~ Miriam Toews The Memory Keeper's Daughter ~ Kim Edwards Crow Lake ~ Mary Lawson Bel Canto ~ Ann Patchett Open House ~ Elizabeth Berg While I Was Gone ~ Sue Miller The Thirteenth Tale ~ Diane Setterfield Kafa on the Shore ~ Huruki Murakami Breath of Snow and Ashes ~ Diana Gabaldon The Ghost at the Table ~ Suzanne Berne The Reader ~ Bernhard Schlink The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle ~ Haruki Murakami Animal Farm ~ George Orwell ATTEMPTED READS A Prayer for Owen Meany ~ John Irving - Sorry ....but I just couldn't get through this one. Perhaps if someone here has read it and enjoyed it, they can give me a little insight into what I have so obviously missed. For me ....it was so bogged down with tedious detail and rantings that I found myself have to re-read whole chapters as I couldn't remember what I had read from the time I put it down until I picked it up again. Sadly, I didn't even make it half-way through. Perhaps I just didn't give it a chance.

I finished this book a couple of months ago and must say that I quite enjoyed it. It was unlike anything I've ever read before and I thought Diane Setterfield's writing style was very poetic. I thought the characters were unique, the plot interesting and imaginative. This book has tragedy, dark stormy nights and mystery; it's certainly not realistic and no doubt, wasn't meant to be so I found with that in mind I was able to accept the unbelievable characters; I did find the Angelfield family to be quite over-the-top and extremely odd. All in all, I liked it and certainly enjoyed Diana's beautiful writing style enough to try anything else she may publish in the future.

Hmm ....interesting question. I generally have difficulty giving my books away ...they become like good friends and I just can't part with them. I often tell myself that I really should clean out my book shelves ....luckily I'm easily able to talk myself out of actually going through with it.

I'm a 20th century woman (doctor) living in the 18th century on the cusp of the American Revolution with my loving 18th centurey warrior husband.

Being Friday - and a long weekend to boot ....think we deserve a treat Perhaps we'll head off to a restaurant somewhere ....just not sure where yet. Maybe Italian ....everyone loves pizza.

I read the first 5 books back-to-back ....kinda like one really big 5000 page book about 4 years ago and LOVED them. Must admit though, FIREY CROSS didn't hold my attention quite as much as the others and in fact, I have trouble even remembering that one. It's only just recently that I've picked up A BREATH OF SNOW AND ASHES in preperation for the latest one. Diana Gabaldon happens to be scheduled to come to a book store about a block from my house next month and read excerpts from the latest book in the series. I want to go to that and thought I should have 'ashes' finished before I go.

I love LIFE OF PI It's been a few years now since I read it but it goes down as one of my all-time favorites. There are few books that I would re-read but this is one of them.

Oh Canada! ....always good to meet another Canadian. I'm in Manitoba.

I keep meaning to read this book ~ the title has always intriqued me. I think this thread has just bumped it up in the que a place or two for me ....thanks for the reccomadation.

I just finished Kafka on the Shore by Murakami - a real metaphysical mind-bender to be sure but I really enjoyed it. It was the summer read for my bookclub and in fact, my bookclub meets this evening to discuss it. Should be cause for some interesting discussions and theories.

THANK YOU so much for the warm welcome everybody I feel right at home already

Hi ~ Just came across this site and thought I'd join in all the discussions. Looks like a fun place and I look forward to meeting you all. A couple of my favorite authors include ~ Diana Gabaldon Yann Martel Huruki Murakami