Lesleyw - The United Kingdom (247 books)

Lesleyw has entered to read 52 books in the 2012 Reading Challenge

Lesleyw has read 1 book toward a goal of 52 books.

1 of 52 (2%)

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Lesleyw gave

to:

Her Vampire Husband (M&B Nocturne by Michele Hauf

Her Vampire Husband (M&B Nocturne (B Format))
by Michele Hauf (Goodreads Author)

read in January, 2012

My rating:

Lesleyw liked Liz Blue's review of Collared:

" Short--really, overpriced--but it worked for me. Because sometimes even when the worldbuilding stinks (as it does here), the situation pushes my buttons enough that I can ignore the fact that the only purpose for the genetic mutation is to create a n... "
Read more of this review »

Lesleyw gave

to:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)
by Stieg Larsson

read in June, 2011

My rating:

Lesleyw gave

to:

The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks
by Josh Lanyon (Goodreads Author)

read in April, 2011

My rating:

Lesleyw made a comment on Kris's review of Last Days of Summer

"I've read Almost Like Being in Love, which was my favourite book of 2010. And i've just put My Most Excellent Year on my wishlist. :)"

Lesleyw gave

to:

Last Days of Summer
by Steve Kluger

read in March, 2011

My rating:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Last Days of Summer tells the story of Joey Margolis - a young boy growing up in Brooklyn in the 1940's. A boy, who rarely, if ever sees his father. Joey decides he's going to write (maybe harass would be a better word) Charlie Banks - the third base...moreLast Days of Summer tells the story of Joey Margolis - a young boy growing up in Brooklyn in the 1940's. A boy, who rarely, if ever sees his father. Joey decides he's going to write (maybe harass would be a better word) Charlie Banks - the third baseman for the New York Giants. Charlie doesn't exactly welcome the attention (at first) but Joey is nothing if not persistent.

This is an epistolary novel. Told in the form of letters, transcripts, notes and school reports. I think this format has its pros and cons. On the one hand you get to see a very personal side of the characters that you may not otherwise have, but on the other there are things that you miss out on seeing because the book doesn't have a conventional narrative. For example I would have liked to experience the first meeting with Charlie firsthand rather than through interview, but we don't get to do that.

Whether you like the novel or not, will probably depend on your feelings about the character of Joey - I loved him. Charlie is not so enamoured of him at first:-

"You are beginning to make a mess out of my life."

Joey really gets under his skin - like a tick. I think that the point I started to fall in love with the book was on p.88 when Charlie sets some boundaries on their friendship. I especially liked rule number 9

"9. You will alawys remember that you are probably somebody very special. I do not know this for a fact yet..."

I like how these rules keep cropping up throughout the story, and get adapted as circumstances change.

The writing is beautiful. There are so many bits that I could just quote, because I want to share them. The friendship that develops between them and how they stand up for each other is just wonderful to read. I think Joey initially sees Charlie as something of a challenge but eventually they become friends. For Joey, Charlie becomes the father he doesn't have. However, America is about to be pulled into World War 2 - which of course we as readers know, but the characters don't. So there is a sense of time running out, history moves on, no matter what. And eventually it catches up with them - Joey's Japanese friend Craig is sent to an internment camp, Charlie enlists and there is a sense of seriousness that wasn't there before.

"Joey listen to me. Everybody gets handed a rotten deal sooner or later and your just getting it out of the way early."

If I had any problems with the story, it would be the baseball references. Being in the UK I don't really understand them. I have a vague understanding of how the game of baseball works but not enough to decipher the few commentaries and stats sheets. However, I don't think it's necessary to be a baseball afficionado to enjoy the story. It's the relationships between all the characters that make the story work.

I would hightly recommend this story. It's funny and sad and touching and heartbreaking. I've always been of the opinion that if a story can make you really laugh or cry then it's on another level, it has really touched you and that's a rare thing.(less)

Lesleyw gave

to:

The Dark Tide (Adrien Engish Mystery Series #5)
by Josh Lanyon (Goodreads Author)

read in March, 2011

My rating:

Lesleyw gave

to:

Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunter, #2)
by Nalini Singh (Goodreads Author)

read in February, 2011

My rating:

Lesleyw gave

to:

Unholy Magic (Downside Ghosts, #2)
by Stacia Kane (Goodreads Author)

read in February, 2011

My rating:

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2012 Reading Challenge

Lesleyw has entered to read 52 books in the 2012 Reading Challenge Lesleyw has read 1 book toward a goal of 52 books. 1 of 52 (2%) Create your own 2012 Reading Challenge »
Jan 04, 2012 12:00pm · view books
Lesleyw gave to: Her Vampire Husband (M&B Nocturne (B Format)) by Michele Hauf (Goodreads Author) read in January, 2012	My rating:
Jan 03, 2012 10:52am
Lesleyw liked Liz Blue's review of Collared: " Short--really, overpriced--but it worked for me. Because sometimes even when the worldbuilding stinks (as it does here), the situation pushes my buttons enough that I can ignore the fact that the only purpose for the genetic mutation is to create a n... " Read more of this review »
Dec 30, 2011 09:40am · see review
Lesleyw gave to: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1) by Stieg Larsson read in June, 2011	My rating:
Jun 12, 2011 03:57pm
Lesleyw gave to: The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks by Josh Lanyon (Goodreads Author) read in April, 2011	My rating:
May 10, 2011 02:56pm
Lesleyw made a comment on Kris's review of Last Days of Summer "I've read Almost Like Being in Love, which was my favourite book of 2010. And i've just put My Most Excellent Year on my wishlist. :)"
Apr 06, 2011 11:55pm · see review
Lesleyw gave to: Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger read in March, 2011	My rating:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Apr 06, 2011 02:54pm · see review
Lesleyw gave to: The Dark Tide (Adrien Engish Mystery Series #5) by Josh Lanyon (Goodreads Author) read in March, 2011	My rating:
Apr 04, 2011 01:56pm
Lesleyw gave to: Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunter, #2) by Nalini Singh (Goodreads Author) read in February, 2011	My rating:
Mar 30, 2011 01:57pm
Lesleyw gave to: Unholy Magic (Downside Ghosts, #2) by Stacia Kane (Goodreads Author) read in February, 2011	My rating:
Mar 28, 2011 02:01pm

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