April 2013 Reading Challenge (Reader's Choice)

[Jennie]

We decided to make our first reading challenge a “reader’s choice” month. Read any book that interests you and let us know what you thought by replying to this post. Tells us why you chose the book, what you liked or didn’t like about it, and whether or not you would recommend it.

[Dorisjean]

I just finished the audiobook version of the Silver Linings Playbook. I enjoyed it thoroughly. The narration was great. The male narrator conveyed male/female, Philly, and Indian accents with aplomb. I laughed out loud at some parts, and even caught myself cheering out loud & tearing up at the same time while listening in my kitchen. Topics dealt with are: mental health, stigma, romance, starting life over, AND the fervent Eagles football fan base. What a combo! I have not seen the movie, so I am curious about how they altered the storyline to become a movie. Did they simplify and Hollywood-ize it too much? Did they leave out all the richness of the character's development? I'm glad I experienced the book first.

Recommended as a captivating, listening kind of "read", not too heavy and not too "fluffy." Just right.

[Phyllis]

I just finished Linda Greenlaw's latest book titled Lifesaving Lessons: Notes from an Accidental Mother. Linda is the only female swordfish boat captain and a survivor of the Perfect Storm who Sebastian Junger wrote about in his book by that title. Since then she has written several memoirs about her life. In this book, she is approaching fifty and reconsidering her life choices when an unexpected event changes everything.

[Gina]

Phyllis, this is on my list as well.

[Gina]

Dorisjean wrote: "I just finished the audiobook version of the Silver Linings Playbook. I enjoyed it thoroughly. The narration was great. The male narrator conveyed male/female, Philly, and Indian accents with aplom..."

I read this when it came out and LOVED it. Re-read it again recently and still LOVED it. Saw the movie last week and was somewhat disappointed. (Books are always better, aren't they?)

[Dee]

Yes, 99% of the time, anyway. There may have been one or two adventure-type tales that I thought were as good as the book, but it's rare. It's interesting when you observe young readers noticing it for the first time, especially when they have been reluctant readers. I always get a mild thrill when I see that happen:)

[Pat]

I just finished listening to the audiobook version of the latest of Alan Bradley's Flavia DeLuce mystery series, "Speaking From Among the Bones". This series is read by Jane Entwistle, and she does a bang-up job of capturing the spirited personality of the narrator, 11-year-old Flavia. The time is 1950, and the place is the little English village of Bishop's Lacey. Flavia and her family live on the local estate, Buckshaw, where young Flavia occupies a crumbling wing of the manor house that also contains her late uncle's chemistry lab. Flavia has a passion for poisons, and a penchant for stumbling across cadavers, an unnerving number of which are always turning up in Bishop's Lacey. Author Alan Bradley has done a remarkable job of capturing the spirit of the times in these stories - the austere post-WWII Britain of food rationing, hand-me-down clothes, and death duties capable of swallowing the family fortune, manor house and all.

[Michelle]

I recently finished The Walking Dead: the Road to Woodbury by Robert Kirkman. I have read most of the comics that have been released in this series and I thoroughly enjoyed them. I have not seen the TV series as of yet but am hoping to begin it in the near future. I was excited to read this book since it is basically about "The Governor" and he is a horrible yet fascinating character. It took me a little while to get into this book due to the excessive amount of detail. I think Kirkman is used to this detail for use of pictures in the comics or visually on the tv show but in word form it was a bit much. I wouldn't say that I "enjoyed" reading this book but I would still like to read the next in this series.

[Dorisjean]

Pat wrote: "I just finished listening to the audiobook version of the latest of Alan Bradley's Flavia DeLuce mystery series, "Speaking From Among the Bones". This series is read by Jane Entwistle, and she doe..."

Finally! I find someone who likes the Flavia De Luce mysteries! :) (sigh of satisfaction).

[Dorisjean]

Gina wrote: "Dorisjean wrote: "I just finished the audiobook version of the Silver Linings Playbook. I enjoyed it thoroughly. The narration was great. The male narrator conveyed male/female, Philly, and Indian ..."

What was disappointing about the movie? (I didn't see it & probably won't). Did they turn the Pat-Tiffany relationship into a typical, flat, hollywood love story? Did they ignore the relationship development between Pat & the other characters (therapist, Dad, brother, etc)?

[Dorisjean]

don presnell wrote: "just purchased "Shadow Country" by "Peter Matthiessen"
it's like your mouth watering as you think about
the red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting
someone just baked
anticipation"

red velvet cake level of anticipation? Hmmm, must look this book up. :)

[Dee]

I don't know if I'd like those Flavia mysteries, maybe someday I'll try one....

[Dorisjean]

Phyllis wrote: "I just finished Linda Greenlaw's latest book titled Lifesaving Lessons: Notes from an Accidental Mother. Linda is the only female swordfish boat captain and a survivor of the Perfect Storm who Seba..."

Oh good, Phyllis! I'm glad I'm not alone in reading memoir & non fiction! I love Mary Roach and Anne Lamott.

[Pat]

Dorisjean wrote: "Pat wrote: "I just finished listening to the audiobook version of the latest of Alan Bradley's Flavia DeLuce mystery series, "Speaking From Among the Bones". This series is read by Jane Entwistle,..."

I love that kid! - and I think Bradley's done a terrific job of evoking the English countryside, the village, the people of Bishop's Lacey and most of all the 1950's in Great Britain. His books really do transport me to that time and place - it was a kinder, gentler world, of Punch and Judy shows and Church fetes and tea and crumpets - and I wish I lived there, then - in spite of the occasional murder.

[Pat]

Dorisjean wrote: "don presnell wrote: "just purchased "Shadow Country" by "Peter Matthiessen"
it's like your mouth watering as you think about
the red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting
someone just baked
anti..."

Mr. Matthiessen has been on my to-read list for decades. I just put "At Play in the Fields of the Lord" on the book pile next to the bed. Your enthusiasm makes me eager to get started!

[Megan]

I recommend Cross Fire by James Patterson. Its really good

[Jennie]

I chose The Diviners by Libba Bray for April’s reading challenge. I read Going Bovine a few years ago and loved it so decided to start reading my way through Bray’s other books. Set in the 1920s, The Diviners tells the story of Evie O’Neill, a 17-year-old flapper from Ohio who is shipped off to Manhattan (to her delight) to live with her uncle after causing a local scandal. Evie’s uncle is the curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult, referred to by the locals as the “The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies”, and is asked to consult on a series of occult murders. As you might guess, Evie worms her way into helping out with the investigation. The story shifts perspectives to include a diverse cast of characters (many with special abilities) whose stories intertwine, even though some of them only vaguely ever cross paths (The Diviners is book 1 in a new series so I suspect we will see more interactions in later books). The Diviners has received glowing reviews and I agree that it is a solid book and I quite enjoyed reading it. Bray’s vivid writing style and attention to historical detail really brought me into the story, which was equal parts historical fiction, murder mystery, and supernatural tale, with a dash of sci-fi. Though it takes a few chapters for the story to get rolling, it was a fun and spooky read and I would recommend it to anyone that doesn’t mind a bit of the supernatural in their fiction. I look forward to the next installment in the series.

[Dee]

The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt (non-fiction). An account of what happens when a curious, highly cultured Italian scriptor (and his colleagues) discover Lucretius, Epicurean philosophy and all manner of 'pagan' non relgious origin theory and copy it into circulation during corrupt, anti-intellectual Roman papal rule. Not a quick read but a good one.

[Dee]

Don, I like Theroux too, his travelogue books are great. Now Dorisjean has got me interested in that Silver Linings book and Jennie's description of the Libby Bray book is intriguing enough to make take a look at it...Michelle's observation about the detail issue possibly stemming from the different formats is interesting, you'd think it would be the other way around, but it's actually true that the simpler the expression (if it's done well) the more thought and detail behind it...Phyllis, I read Greenlaw's first book and liked it, she's a gutsy one. Pat, you are an eclectic reader like me and some of the others on here are, I never know what you're going to be reading!

[Dee]

I think we should continue with the "Reader's Choice" Book Challenge. We can also do the usual pick-a-certain-book format, of course, but I like this idea, too, it's convenient and introduces a variety of different types of books/authors that you might not be familiar with or normally choose as reading material. It's cool.

[Dee]

No, I didn't think you were, not at all, I was just saying I like this format.

[Dorisjean]

Jennie wrote: "I chose The Diviners by Libba Bray for April’s reading challenge. I read Going Bovine a few years ago and loved it so decided to start reading my way through Bray’s other books. Set in the 1920s,..."

I love Libba Bray, but just could NOT get into this book! I was doing the audio book, & although it was WELL DONE (good voices & pacing), it just creeped me out and simultaneously irritated me w/ all the 20's slang that comes out of Evie's mouth. I think it was the audio format: made it so vivid and real to me versus, when reading i can skim over or distance myself from some parts. Audio format reaches parts of my mind and heart in a more immediate way sometimes. Tantalizing story, but yes very slow to get rolling. Good writing b/c the characters annoyed me (Evie) or scared me. Still love Libba Bray!

[Dorisjean]

Just finished the light novel "Flat out love." Great for a light, college age character romance you can listen to in the car. College freshman Julie moves in with family friends in Boston & transforms their lives & unravels a mystery surrounding the elusive older brother Finn. But don't overlook genius younger brother Matt. Funny dialogue; love Matt's taste in nerdy slogan t-shirts.

My brain is too full to enjoy a deeper read, right now. I loved the characters; so much so that I think I almost had a crush on the character Matt, myself. Rather embarrassing. And b/c of the book, I discovered the calorie packed joys of Dunkin donuts' Coolattas. ;)