Tuesday, March 2, 2010

winter reading



With one or two exceptions, I've been slumming this winter. I've slunk down to the level of popular culture. Too cold to go out to the library so I'm reduced to what's on hand. And what's on hand ain't that classy. My SIL knows a lady that would bring her boxes and boxes of cheap paperbacks and my SIL would spread the joy. Somehow I've ended up with boxes and boxes myself. Sometimes four or five copies of the same book.

Anyway, since the weather got bad and we got high speed, I haven't made my way to the library, hence the paperback version of dumpster diving.


The Magician’s Assistant by Anne Patchett – This was the last book I checked out from the library. It came all the way from El Paso. For a dollar, the library will search outside it's regular exchange area and will have it sent 'a fer piece' for you. It was an enjoyable little read about a recent widow, the only survivor in a rather strange love triangle. She is surprised to find her deceased husband has living family and the story is about her grief and her integration into his family.


Bed Of Roses by Nora Roberts – Well, we all know Nora now don't we? I tend to skip over the hot and heavy parts but she does tell a good story. This is part 2 of the Bride series.


On The Street Where You Live by Mary Higgins Clark – Another very good storyteller of the murder mystery type.


The PMS Outlaws by Sharyn McCrumb – My sister gave me this one. It was a cute little tale about two women and their rivalry, a law partner put to the errand of buying a house for their offices and an elderly bootlegger.


Honeymoon by James Patterson & Howard Roughan – Female serial killer, marries 'em for their money and then kills 'em.


Shadow Dance by Julie Garwood – Young woman finds herself in a small Texas town to get more information about a centuries old feud between her family and the family of her sister's new husband. Dead bodies keep turning up in the truck of her car. Her FBI brother and friend come to her aid.


Bloodlines by Jan Burke – This was a good story, well written, about a newspaper reporter that spanned about 40 years with a good dose of the past thrown in. Kid/sidekick-reporter/mentor about an unsolved murder/kidnapping.


Breakwater by Carla Neggars – Hands down the worst of the lot. Dumb story, not particularly well written about an undercover investigation into a vigilante group with a main female character. And oh yeah, the requisite 'hot sex' scene.


19 comments:

  1. Funny that you mentioned Nora Roberts, I am skipping my way through a double right now.

    Did get some books I really want to read at the ICARE rummage sale. I am not allowing myself to start until I get all the blue diamonds together again...Nora Roberts'.

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  2. My reading list has recently consisted of a couple of John Grisham novels and two by Sue Monk Kidd.

    The Grisham stories I enjoy because they give insight into the world of lawyers. The characters are many times flawed and therefore realistic.

    Kidd's "The Secret Life of Bees" and "The Mermaid Chair" have been interesting. I enjoy the simplicity of the writing. The setting is in South Carolina and there seems to be something compelling about southern writers. Kidd has been compared to Carson McCullers, a great southern writer.

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  3. My mother used to say, Even the beautiful rose needs manure to grow. She was referring to her love of sleazy mystery novels.

    Why not read some pop culture? I love thrillers. Beats watching stupid TV, if you ask me.

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  4. Honeymoon seems right up my alley. I love murder mysteries of this ilk, and I love James Patterson. How can you go wrong. Thanks for the tip...

    PS: I'm a former Nora Roberts reader. Her lit is okay, but very strongly formulated and predictable. In a way, all her stories are exactly the same.

    But why don't you like the steamy parts? I usually dog ear those pages.

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  5. i LOVE reading, but i do not remember the last time i checked out a book.

    i can spend an hour in borders or barnes and noble, but the last time i darkened the door of a library i was a teenager.

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  6. Hey, it's kind of like snacking on a delicious chocolate candy bar. So enjoyable, but not much nutrition!

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  7. My reading list has been non-fiction but it's about time for a fun book. My brain needs a rest.

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  8. I have so many unread books on my shelf that I feel bad going to the library or buying more books. But I just went to the library and borrowed two books on Chopin so I could write an accurate post on his 200th birthday. Next Friday is the library book sale – hard bounds are $1 paperback 50 cents and on Sunday you can get a huge box full for $5. Dare I go to it?

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  9. I am starting Lonesome Dove over here.

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  10. One day I'm going to be an elderly bootlegger. But not a PMS outlaw.

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  11. I prefer J.D. Robb over Nora Roberts! I have always enjoyed Mary Higgins Clark. I am so bad about books...I join Book Clubs just to get the 10 books for $1...yes I know..I have to purchase three. But I wait until they offer deals on that too! LOL!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  13. I appreciate book recs and have not read any of these. Have you read The Book Thief? Incredible.

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  14. I mostly read this type of fiction - I don't want to have to think too hard when I'm reading. I'm a Nora (and JD Robb fan) - I skip the steamy parts too. James Patterson is pretty good - although sometimes he's TOO choppy for me. I'll have to check out the Julie Garwood - I think I've read something of hers, but I don't remember. I listened to an audio John Grisham (The Appeal) last week - ooh I was so annoyed! Not the ending I was hoping for.

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  15. I am not familiar with any of them. Sometimes, the best books come to us accidentally.
    I've been reading non-fiction, mostly.

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  16. I'm SO jealous that you're reading so much. I'm in a slump and just can't get into reading for any length of time. I need to snap out of it and get moving. I'm supposed to be reading Dubliners by James Joyce for my book club. But my sister just gave me Shutter Island and it's calling my name . . .

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  17. I've been into memoirs lately
    and re-reading Jane Eyre

    yet I do have a Jackie Collins open beside me, I love Jackie :)

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  18. I'm reading "Succubus Blues" by Richelle Mead. Before that it was "Blood Sisters" a vampire anthology. No Nora Roberts here, nope nope lol.

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  19. Hey, when all else fails...read smut. LOL

    Sorry I'm so tardy getting here. I'm literally 2 and 1/2 weeks behind. Uggghh.

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