Bridget's Bookshelf

[Bridget]

A Prayer for Owen Meany was so good. I really loved this story. There were quite a few twists that I didn't expect. I read this on Kindle, but I might just have to have a hardcopy for my library.

[Bridget]

I just finished The Magician's Nephew and really enjoyed it. I'm glad I read this book first as it was the 6th book in the series when it was written. It sets the stage for the rest of the series, which I like. I've only ever read "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" and that was years ago, so it will be fun to re-read that one and continue on.

[Bridget]

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, this is such a good story. I think it's perfect for a younger reader.

[Bridget]

I've finished by The Horse and His Boy and Prince Caspian. They were both pretty good, I think I like the first better. I loved the mouse in Prince Caspian, but the story went a little long in places. All in all they were exciting and enjoyable to read.

[Bridget]

I finished the last three books of the Narnia Series. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, and The Last Battle. These are all good stories and I think well written for young adults. "The Last Battle" was pretty intense in my opinion, but I still enjoyed it. It would be hard to pick a favorite.

[Bridget]

Dragonfly in Amber This was certainly a good book. I enjoyed this a lot more then I thought I might. The first, "Outlander" was exciting, but seemed to be one long "roll-in-the-hay", while this story did have it's share of romance, there seemed to be more drama and adventure. I'm sure I'll read the other books in the series over time. Here is a link to my review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/edit...

[Bridget]

The Sun Also Rises If one listens to critics you're supposed to find this book fascinating and believe it's the best thing ever written by Hemingway. I just can't get there. I could clearly see all of the actions, all of the scenery, the people. The conversations were a bit of a challenge to follow, but I figured that out. I liked it okay, but I just didn't love it. I might read it again, but I don't know.

[Bridget]

It's very rare that I do not finish a book, even if it takes forever (like the year and a half it took me to read Anna Karenina, which I hated). But this one - Tales of the City, I just couldn't get interested. Maybe it was my frame of mind and I'll go back to it at a later date? or maybe not.

[Bridget]

I just finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, I really loved this story. It wasn't sugar-coated with the world being perfect. It was a real story about growing up poor, the struggles and dreams for everyone that lived there. I will buy it for my bookshelf and read it again some day. Has anyone read any other books by Betty Smith? I would be interested to see if they are as good as this one.

[Bridget]

Go Set a Watchman This is a very thought provoking novel. The anger and sadness of finding that loved ones that once were on pedestals have fallen was very well written, as was the growth of Jean Louise into someone that could stand by her convictions. This one will end up in my library.

[Bridget]

I just finished Beloved This is such a strange book, I enjoyed reading it, I really like the may Toni Morrison wrote this. It definitely takes a person back in time, in a very truthful yet brutal way. Then along comes Beloved.

[Bridget]

I just finished Crime and Punishment, what is it about Russian novels, some parts are brilliant and I struggle to get thru the rest. I'll post a link to my review (it's pretty short and to the point). https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The following may contain spoilers (view spoiler)[ I had a problem with the characters names, seems there are three or four versions for each person. I thought the dinner after the funeral was funny, the fact that the sister was smart enough to know she was being fooled and dumped the guy, the friend was faithful, and then there was the character that said "tell them I've gone to America" and promptly shot himself. I did not see that coming. The whole story was quite a struggle, mentally and emotionally. (hide spoiler)].

[Bridget]

Need to catch up a bit. I finished Heart of Darkness, I really liked the writing style, and thought the story was quite interesting, but the end fell short for me. I wish it had been different.

So taking a short break from GAR, also finished The House in the Cerulean Sea I really enjoyed this story, it was very sweet and had good messages about being your true self and finding family in the most unexpected places. Highly recommended.

[Bridget]

Just finished Cloud Cuckoo Land, I really enjoyed this book, the story, the way it was written, how everything was connected. Now maybe back to Catch-22, unless I find another distraction which is highly possible. lol

[Bridget]

I finished Catch-22, I read the 50th Anniversary Edition which had added reviews and comments at the end. I found the history of how the book was written and how it came by its name very interesting. As for the story, the different characters were quite interesting, the contradictions within the descriptions were fun to read. There are some funny parts to this story and some very sad ones. I'll have to see if I read the sequel Closing Time.

[Bridget]

The latest books I've read are Gangsters vs. Nazis: How Jewish Mobsters Battled Nazis in Wartime America and The Bomber Mafia: A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War. They were both very interesting and thought provoking. I know the major points of WWII, but I never really knew a lot about the Nazis movement in the United States in the late 30's, or what it took to develop our Airforce in WWII. I highly recommend both of these.

[Bridget]

Finished another adventure with Claire and Jamie in Voyager, I thought the parallel stories before Claire goes back in time are very well done. It will be interesting to see what happens in the future.

[Bridget]

So going off list for a bit. Just finished The Love of my Life, it was okay. A quick, fun read, not too deep. Now, my ongoing saga to read Cyclops by Clive Cussler. Maybe I can finish it.....finally. I also finished The Midnight Library and Under the Whispering Door I really enjoyed these two, talk of death and decisions made in life, regrets and 2nd chances.