Exceedingly Mundane

I finished another library book last night, “The Preservationist” by David Maine. It’s the fictionalized, sometimes irreverent, account of Noah. It covers fictional accounts the whole Biblical story of Noah and the ark – from his learning of the need to build the ark, his wife and sons and their wives, how they go about collecting the animals, how the people heckle him, what it’s like on the ark during the flood, the conditions, animals crammed in, what it’s like for months afterward, waiting to see land, how they get off and find land and figure out how to start from scratch when there’s not a soul left alive, except for them. It covers alot of things I really never thought about concerning a story I’ve heard of all my life. It’s not quite as good as another fictional based Biblical story I’ve read recently (“The Red Tent” by Anita Diamant), but it was still good and enlightening in its own way. I’m not overly fond of the way the author covered the dialogue and some of the actual dialogue itself (lots of references to “rutting” in this book!). But, with both books, I tend to forget that these characters were in the Old Testament, before the birth of Christ, in a time very unknown to me, and had to deal with hardships that I can’t begin to understand, as well as the fact that idol worship and mention of other gods, were commonplace. Anyway, I digress – I enjoyed it, and even though it wasn’t as good as Red Tent (few books are stacking up to that one for me lately), I’m glad I read it. 😀 If you’ve read any of my book reviews either here or at Hambones.org, you’ll find that I like almost every book I read, for one varied reason or another. I just like to read! To be entertained, to be enlightened, to make me think, or not, to simply read something light and nonsensical, just to read 😀 For a million different reasons, I just plain love books. So many books, so little time!

For the record, that makes #37 so far this year, with a total of 13,104 pages read. Up next is a book I’ve heard about for some time, but I haven’t gotten around to (or any other books by this author, for that matter). 🙂 It’s “The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd. I hope it’s good!

I finished another library book last night – finally! I’ve been plodding through this one for the last couple of weeks and I finally finished it. I think I’m still in a bit of the summer doldrums as far as reading and books go. I really love to read, but I can’t seem to find what I want to read right now, if that makes any sense. This was a good book, not fantastic, but your good basic murder mystery. Not too deep, not too technical, not too far-out-there, just a good basic plot that weaves in and out a little. I enjoyed it, and will probably read more of these in the future. Margaret Truman has a lot of these, part of the “Capital Crimes” murder mystery novels. I think she’s written anywhere from 12 to 15 of these, all based in the D.C. area, and all entitled “Murder At…”.

For the record, that makes #36 for the year, with a total of 12,874 pages read. Up next is a fictional account of Noah building the Ark, called “The Preservationist” by David Maine. I hope it is half as good as the book on Dinah I recently read called “The Red Tent”. That was a terrific book, and these that I’ve read since pale in comparison. 🙂

I *heart* the library! I just love being able to go and get books and bring them home to read and never have to pay a penny. I think libraries are very cool institutions

I had to recheck the book I was reading “Murder at Union Station” by Margaret Truman, as I was not quite finished with it. Here’s a neat factoid: I was reading the book the other night and Tim saw her name and said “is she related to President Harry Truman?” I had no idea, so I do what I always do. I went to the computer and got on Blingo, and come to find it, she is his daughter! How cool is that.

Anyway, I checked out 2 more books, you can see them on the sidebar. They are “The Preservationist” by David Maine, a book I had seen on Susie‘s blog, which is about Noah and building the ark. The other is a book that I think was on the bestseller list for a while, a few years ago – “The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd. Tune in over the next couple of weeks for book reviews.

Also, in my Thursday Thirteen post below, I listed 13 movies I wanted to see this summer. I found one at the library that seems to be a favorite, so I rented it for a week. For free. 😆 I got “Because of Winn Dixie”. I hope I don’t cry for days afterward, I’m a total sap when it comes to dog movies.

I finished another library book last night, “Goodnight Nobody” by Jennifer Weiner. I had not read any books by this author, and I must say, I really enjoyed it. It was a very good read, and a nice little plot. The basic premise of the book is a suburban housewife and stay-at-home mom with 3 kids under the age of five, finds herself living in a Stepford-like Connecticut suburb. She used to have a fun life, friends, parties, a cool job, and now she feels like her life is nothing. She walks in one morning and finds one of the perfect moms with a knife in her back, dead on her kitchen floor. She decided to do some investigative journalism and find out who killed her, about her life, etc. She used to be a reporter, after all (well, she was a tabloid, gossip type reporter!) The book goes from there, and the plot weaves in and out of her friends, family, children, fellow Stepfordites and the people she meets who knew the deceased. I really enjoyed it, and will be looking for more books by Jennifer Weiner to check out. She wrote the book “In Her Shoes”, which was made into a movie last year with Cameron Diaz (and yes, this movie is still on my rental list, haven’t gotten to it yet).

For the record, that makes #35 for the year, with a total of 12,547 pages read. Up next is one of the “Capital Crimes” series novels, “Murder at Union Station” by Margaret Truman. I only have a couple of days before this one is due back at the library, so I don’t know if I’ll finish it in time, or simply have to go back and renew it. So many books, so little time!

I finished a really good book last night, “The Red Tent” by Anita Diamant. It was quite unlike any book I had ever read, and I really enjoyed it. “The Red Tent” is the story of Dinah, from the Bible, daughter of Jacob and Leah, and is a fictional retelling based on Biblical facts. It is told by women, for women, about women. The tent signifies the place where the women go every month, and when they bear children. The book starts off with the stories of Rachel and Leah, and then progresses to Dinah’s full life story (as envisioned by the author).

The book was engrossing and had me reading the exact passages in Genesis to see how much is from the Bible, and how much is embellished by the author. The telling of the details, the customs and cultures of the time, as well as the sisterhood that this book embodies all made for a very engaging read.

For the record, this makes #34 on the year, with a total of 12,176 pages read. Up next is a book by a new-to-me author, Jennifer Weiner. I’m starting with one of her more recent books, “Goodnight, Nobody”. Check back in a few days or so for a review 🙂

I finished another library book last night, “Miss Julia Meets Her Match” by Ann B. Ross. This is probably the 5th Miss Julia book I’ve read, and I’ve really enjoyed them all. They are light and funny and very Southern. Sometimes, while I’m reading them, I just die out laughing, really loud. I get some funny looks from Tim sometimes 🙄

For the record, that makes #33 for the year, with a total of 11,855 pages read. Up next to read is “The Red Tent” by Anita Diamant, which I’ve heard good things about. Check back in a few days or maybe a week, for a review of that one. 🙂

Well, well, look at me, I finished another book! With no TV shows on at night to watch, I’m getting a lot of reading in!

This was a different kind of book for me, but another enjoyable one. I would classify this book as a modern day fairy tale, with a strong Christian undertone to it (considering it was written by a Christian fiction author). It’s a make-believe story about a young woman who lives in a mythical country (Pendaran), who agrees to an arranged marriage with the handsome, dashing prince. When they marry, they have never met. It goes on to follow their courtship during marriage and how they learn to like and love one another. I would almost like to call it a Harlequin type of romance, except that it is so very clean and uplifting, that I can’t really even use the word “harlequin” with the connotations it brings to mind. 🙂

For the record, that makes #32 for the year, with a total of 11, 549 pages read. Up next to read is the first of a series of 3 books by (again) Karen Kingsbury. It’s called “Waiting for Morning” and the other two at not at one of my normal library branches. So, I’ll need to call today and see about getting them sent to my regular branch. I love the library! 🙂

I finished another book over the long holiday weekend, “The Blue Bottle Club” by Penelope J. Stokes. I had read one other book by the same author, and I think I liked this one better. It was a story along the same line, a group of 4 friends, and you meet them later in life and look back at their lives, loves, and relationships. But this one had a stronger Christian undertone to it, and the path that your life takes based on God’s plans for you. I really liked it and would recommend it as a good read. 🙂

For the record, this makes #31 for the year, with a total of 11,255 pages read. Up next to read is another book that Gail has read and recommended, “The Princess” by Lori Wick. This will be my first book by Lori Wick, so we’ll see how I like it. She’s a very prolific writer, so if I like her writing style, I’ll have a lot to choose from for future reading choices!

I finished another book tonight, “Divine” by Karen Kingsbury. A very difficult book to read, but a very rewarding one, as well. “Divine” is a modern day parable of Mary Magdalene, and the 7 horrors she might face in today’s world. The subject matter, though not graphic, was difficult to read. It included sexual abuse of a child and of women, physical abuse, contemplations of suicide, and other difficult subject matter. All of it leading Mary to the one inevitable truth – that Jesus is the one who loves her, who has always has, who always will, and that He is the one who gave his life for her, so that she can be saved. God had a plan for Mary’s life, as he does for us all.

For the record, that makes #30 for the year, with a total of 10,913 pages read. I told Tim earlier, that I think I’m starting to read faster. I know I will have more time to read now (now that all of our TV shows are over for the season, with the finales of Lost and American Idol last night), but I think I really am reading faster. It’s the only way I can account for reading a book in just a couple of days. 🙂

Up next is “The Blue Bottle Club” by Penelope J. Stokes. Gail read it a couple of months ago, and recommended it to me. I wasn’t able to get this one right away at my library, so in the mean time, I checked out Circle of Grace by the same author and read it first. I also saw that my mother-in-law had the same book, “The Blue Bottle Club” at her house, and she was hoping to read it soon. Must be a good book!

I finished another library book last night (in a record 2 days!), “Miss Julia Hits the Road” by Ann B. Ross. I’ve read several of these books (I think this is the 4th one, out of maybe 7 or 8 she has written) and plan to read them all. Miss Julia is a great character, a very straight-laced genteel Southern widow, and she has all sorts of interesting and funny escapades that happen to her. Case in point – in this book, she ends up having to ride a motorcycle. In her dress, because she refuses to wear “britches”, because don’t you know, proper Southern women don’t do that 🙂 Another really light, but charming and funny book. They are always very quick reads for me, and a nice diversion from “heavier” topics.

For the record, that makes #29 so far this year, with a total of 10,562 pages read. I do believe I’m easily going to top my goals from last year (30, then later 35 books). I might have to really aim high this year, and try to read a much bigger number. 😀

Up next, I’m going to start a new book by Karen Kingsbury called “Divine”. This is her newest book, I believe, and I was so happy to see it available at one of my local library branches. I just looked, and it just came out in hardback in March 2006, so it is new. It’s going to be a bit “heavier” I think. I skimmed the author’s foreword and found this:

“Divine is a modern-day parable of Mary Magdalene. I have taken liberties – as a novelist must do – in finding seven demons or horrors that a person like Mary Magdalene might’ve been rescued from. In Divine, Mary Madison suffers all types of abuse, among other horrors. There are sections of this book that – though not graphic – will be difficult to read, sections that will put knots in your stomach for what this modern-day Mary suffers.”

Whew, going to be a bit heavier than what I’ve read recently, but hopefully good. I do enjoy her books. 🙂

I finished another library book last night, “Reunion” by Karen Kingsbury. This was the fifth and final book in the “Redemption” series, and I really enjoyed these books. This one had some really sad, gut-wrenching parts to it, but as with all of her books, they always end on a positive note and leave you feeling uplifted and content, even though you’re sad about whatever bad has happened in the book.

I like reading series books, where you get to follow characters and see them grow and change and basically, just find out what happens to them in their life. I think this book set up characters and situations for another set of books she is writing, and I’ll eventually read those as well. After reading over 1500 pages about the Baxter family, I really hate to see them go away. I get sort of attached to characters after a while, sort of like Father Tim in the Mitford series of books. I don’t really want to say good-bye to them quite yet. 🙂

For the record, that makes book #28 for the year, with a total of 10,223 pages read. I’m going to read another “Miss Julia” book next, a series of books by Ann B. Ross about a witty and charming Southern woman and the very lighthearted escapades she and her friends and family get into. This one is called “Miss Julia Hits the Road” and I believe it involves her and a Harley Davidson motorcycle. 🙄

As always – so many books, so little time. There just aren’t enough hours in the day, I would read more if there were more than 24 hours every day

I finished reading another book (from the library, again!) last night – “Hard Eight” by Janet Evanovich. I really love these books – they are light and funny and highly entertaining. They don’t have great language or scenarios in them, but that’s because she’s a bounty hunter out hunting murderers and rapists. They are so funny though, I will often just laugh out loud, really loud, at some of the passages in the book. Always a good diversion if I’ve read something a little heavier recently.

Anyway, for the record, this makes #27 for the year, with a total of 9,856 pages read. I’m headed back to the library this morning to get more books. 🙂 I’ll try to post later what I get and what I’ll start reading.

My dad and both sisters are on their way to town, and we’re going to go out to eat lunch and visit, so I’m not sure when I’ll get a chance to post. Sometime later today!

I finished another library book last night, my first by the author Jodi Picoult. The book was “Plain Truth” and I really enjoyed it. A very engaging book, with a good plot and lots of interesting issues and points it brought up. The book is about an Amish girl who is accused of murdering her newborn infant, yet she does not remember being pregnant or having the baby. A distant relative, Ellie, is caught up in her case and agrees to be her defense lawyer. The book covers the storyline as it unfolds, the relationship between the women, and offers an intriguing glimpse into the Amish life.

For the record, this makes #26 for the year, with a total of 9,545 pages read. Up next is another Stephanie Plum book, “Hard Eight” by Janet Evanovich. 🙂 I’m ready for one that is sort of light and funny!

I finished another library book yesterday, “A Thousand Tomorrows” by Karen Kingsbury. I’ve read several of her books, and this one was a little different. Good, but different. Most of the books I’ve read of hers have been really good Christian fiction, about common people and common situations. This one was a really clean book, but not what I’d call Christian fiction, in that, it was not “preachy” in any way. In fact, it rarely even mentioned God or prayer or leading a Christian life. But, the characters were very good people, living life to the fullest and experiencing events that changed them. The basic storyline is about a bullrider on the professional rodeo circuit who falls for a female barrel racer, who (he comes to find out) has a life threatening disease. It follows their careers and relationship, and it was a very quick and easy read.

For the record, this makes #25 for the year, with a total of 9,140 pages read. Up next is a book by a new-to-me author, Jodi Picoult. I know she’s had several books on the bestseller list and her novels are popular book club choices, so I’m looking forward to reading this one (Plain Truth). 😀

I finished another library book this afternoon – “Can You Keep a Secret?” by Sophie Kinsella. I’ve read most of Sophie Kinsella’s books, and I think that this one and the last one I read (The Undomestic Goddess) are the best ones yet. I really enjoy all of her Shopaholic books, but maybe I was getting tired of the same character, and these have had new and different characters. Maybe it’s just me, but these others seem more multi-dimensional and just plain more funny and entertaining. I really enjoyed this book. It was very light and very entertaining. A very, very quick read.

For the record, that makes #24 on the year, with a total of 8,902 pages read. I am going to read another Karen Kingsbury next, called “A Thousand Tomorrows”. I also have a new book I bought yesterday at Target that I’ve added to my ever-growing “nightstand” list on my sidebar. Yes, I buy books and I let them sit on my nightstand while I traipse back and forth to the library to check out books. No, I don’t read the ones on my nightstand or those we have in our bookshelves. I think it’s a goal-oriented thing. If I have a book from the library due back on a certain date, I’m more apt to read it in the time I have allotted. Not so with ones I own and that I can read any ole time. It’s some kind of disease, I know, but it’s just the way I’m wired.

FYI, I bought “Memoirs of a Geisha” because I wanted to read the book before I rented the DVD. I’ve been trying since January to check it out of my library and it’s always checked out, and I’ve just never gotten around to putting my name on the reserve list for it. They had it in paperback at Target, so I picked it up while I was there. 🙂

Oh, and I think people may be tired of seeing me blog about books, so if you are, pipe up and let me know. I know how much I enjoy reading, and how I love every minute of the day or night that I can sit curled up with a good book, lost in a story or plotline or a good character development. So, if you’re tired of seeing these blog entries about books, I’m sorry. I love books and I am loving reading so many good new ones, and I’m loving writing about them. 🙂 Hope everyone else enjoys them too; drop me a comment and let me know either way.