Julianne's comments (member since Jul 31, 2008)

Julianne's comments from the The Next Best Book Club group.

I just moved, and I need to buy a new bookcase (side note!), but I separated my books into "read" and "to be read". I haven't read yet but I have 2 shelves worth on my unread bookcase, and it's probably over 50. And I know I have books at my dad and sister's house that I haven't read yet.

Shannon-

His new book has come out very recently: The Angel's Game--of course I haven't read it but I snatched it up as son as it came out in Borders.

I just moved so Lord help me if I remember which box I packed it in...I look forward to it, though. Shadow of the Wind was Zafon's first novel, so I guess we'll see how he grows as a writer.

Lindalee-

Yeah, I really liked that. It was a great "Aha!" kind of thing, especially since I didn't feel sold on why the Jacks killed Bod's family.

Can anyone tell me the name(s) of Neil Gaiman's short stories? I love reading short stories, and I've really enjoyed several of Gaiman's novels so would like to expand.

Thanks!

I, too, very much enjoyed this book. It was the first book I couldn't put down in a while (and I've been having trouble finishing the long books that seem to be all over the best book lists lately!)

I wasn't surprised about the main characters having sex--I totally bought how the author painted Blomkvist's character: quick to have a physical relationship but unable to associate that with an emotional one. I was, however, irritated that Salander decided to get involved with him sexually. It was a bummer to me and way too predictable a plot move. It was a common thing to write, and unfortunate for such uncommon characters.

I'm so glad this is part of a trilogy (and that Larsonn was able to finish before he died!), because I felt very unsatisfied by all the backstory teasers about Salander and her childhood. I'll be looking for the next book ASAP--though I hope the library has it, because I really can't buy another book (hope you can hear the pain in my voice with that!!!!)

My Favorite Excuse:

"Sam (our 2 year old) needs a new book." Oooh, I better print out my "to buy" list from GoodReads before I go, in case one of those books is on sale. Oh, they're not on sale? Well, I'll just pick up one or two...or 6 anyway.

And, Dan, I use the $5 Borders Rewards all the time...but how come I spend $50+ every time I go in with my $5 off??? That Borders, they really know what they're doing!

I really enjoyed this book (read it a few months ago). The thing I loved best--that Gaiman was able to tell this story in so few pages.

I don't read a whole lot of YA or children's books, and if this had been written as an adult novel I have no doubt it would be 600+ pages long. Yes, I felt that Gaiman didn't explain everything and some themes weren't wrapped up nicely and tied up with a little bow. But I chalked that up to reading a kid's book. Kids (I'm making an assumption here) use their imaginations to fill in the gaps, while I want my authors to explain everything to me.

I considered it one of the better things I've read in 2009. And I'm excited about a movie. I also recently finished Coraline and look forward to renting that movie.

I happened to really enjoy this book. I thought the characters were all quite witty. My favorite genre is mystery/suspense, and I think this beats the pants off anything Patterson has written (or, at least, put his name on) in the last many years--I'd call that mellodrama well before this book. I also thought Zafon did an excellent job of character development. Even though (for instance) Fumero was very close to "all bad", he gave the back story to make his character more believable (and set him in a time period where someone like him may actually gain power despite his insanity).

I thought the time period of the novel lended itself well to the story--I don't remember much about Spain between WWI and WWII, but creating this story during the civil wars was a nice way to add personal stories to a terrible time period (without it being all about political commentary like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell).

This one made it on my Favorites of 2009. It was a fun read for me, and broadened my horizons. I need to look up magical realism, so I can't comment on that just yet.

A Begonia for Miss Applebaum (awesome book!)
Sweet Valley Twins
Sweet Valley High
Baby Sitter's Club
Island of the Blue Dolphins
R.L Stine
CHRISTOPHER PIKE (I was soo addicted to him--and I can't remember a lot of the titles of his books)
Stephen King
Nancy Drew (the newer-ish ones)
Just as Long as We're Together (read this one probably a dozen times!)

I have owned this for several months. Thank you for nominating it, b/c it gives me a reason to move it to the top of Mount TBR.

A new job and a busy household means I've been slowing on my reading. But I'll keep this one high up so I can discuss.

Canadian-

I second Sarah Vowell and Bill Bryson. And Michael J. Fox's Lucky Man (he has a new book coming out next week).

An excellent true story novel was The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston. He's a fiction author who got caught in the middle of a serial killer investigation in Florence, Italy. It's an unbelievable story, and he's a funny guy.

I have a couple of Mary Roach's books on my list--anyone read them and recommend? The one I own (but haven't read yet) is Stiff The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers.

There's another book of short medical factoids called The Woman Who Swallowed a Toothbrush And Other Weird Medical Case Histories. That was a quick, interesting read.

So, I broke...but it's not my fault! My DH got me a GC to Borders for Valentine's Day. I spent it, and I only went $6 over...

So that's not my fault!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For me, it's names in books. My sister makes fun of me quite a bit for that. Right now I can think of three off the top of my head, but I'm sure she'll post some more I've screwed up:

Hermione totally got me--sorry b/c it's my American ignorance (it's just not a popular name here).

Rodanthe--as in Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks. Yeah, I still think the "e" should be silent, but they made a movie of it and it's Row-dan-theeeeeee

Gemma--as in A Great and Terrible Beauty. I think it's easier to say this with a hard "g", but I'm pretty sure it's like Jem (as in a pretty stone). This is the newest one my sister thinks is so funny.

I'm actually afraid to say some names outloud for fear of being that person who is "sooo well read" (read that with sarcasm) but who can't pronounce a thing.

Cindy and Kim-

It's a worthwhile read--really two separate stories that take place at the same time and place. It's an amazing story, but has such a detailed account of architecture and other stuff that it's hard to stay with (IMHO), unless this type of non-fiction is your genre.

You'll be glad you read it when you're done, and you'll know so much about the World's Fair and Chicago history at the turn of the century (and the first serial killer). I'd say stick with it, but don't feel bad if you skim some parts-like what was served at particular dinner parties and such ;-)

I just finished Odd Hours--Lori thanks for getting me into this one.

I wish the end had more closure, and I'm bummed I have to wait til the next book comes out to find out what happens.

I'm also audio-ing (my word) Johnstown Flood. As a child growing up around DC I had never heard about the 1889 flood, and when I went to school in western PA people looked at me like I was a leper because I was ignorant about it. This book is my way of getting the jump on them--I'm sure I'll know more than they do when I'm done. BTW for anyone who doesn't know about it, it was horrifying!

Paula wrote: "I'm currently reading Inca Gold by Clive Cussler. I've never read his books before. I have to say that right from page one it caught my full attention and I'm really enjoying it. Not a bad way to s..."

Paula,

I LOVE Cussler's Non-fiction (The Sea Hunters)--his undersea company (NOVA) goes out looking for sunken boats/ships/etc. He tells the story of either what made the vessel famous or how it sunk, then the story of how he searched for it and what came out of it. His group was the one that found the Civil War submarine (the first sub to ever sink an enemy ship during wartime).

Christopher Moore
Dean Koontz
Paulo Coehlo
(hopefully) Charles Dickens

Christopher Moore
Dean Koontz
(hopefully) Charles Dickens

I made it past the 100 page mark before setting it aside in the early summer. Didn't feel like I had been captured. I may revisit it thanks to the monthly read, but I'm not sure yet.

Fiona,

You have just pinpointed my December 2008. There seems to be no time for reading, and then when you sit down to read nothing seems interesting. I would fall asleep within 10 minutes of reading (no matter what I was reading), and when I put a book down I had no interest in picking it back up.

To fix it, I 1) got through the holidays, 2) read something EASY that I knew I could put down several times, no big deal.

This, too, shall pass........

The word that keeps coming to my mind when thinking of this book is "sweet". The black and white feel of the book (someone mentioned earlier) is a perfect description. I did the audiobook, which was awesome (different narrators read each character's letters).

I don't think Juliet would have fit into the Guernsey story if Elizabeth had lived. I don't think the author really had a choice. Part of this story was Juliet finding her place in the world (when she didn't realize she was without one). If Elizabeth had come back, I think she would not have found a niche--and Elizabeth's death said everything about her character. I was definitely sad, but I respect the author's decision (and think it was the right one).

I've been swearing off WWII books lately--they hit me hard--but I'll be recommending this one to friends and family. Despite the Nazi stories, it seemed like a Feel Good story to me.