The Road by Cormac McCarthy

At last... a post about a book that I have actually read.
I just finished it, so it is still relatively fresh in my mind. I read this because my cousin's boyfriend suggested that I read "The Road" and that little push got me to finally finishing a book. I've started way too many books and not finished them recently. I find this to be one of my biggest problems with reading-getting too excited about new books and not finishing the old.

I'm not sure if any of you have read this book, or any of his others (No Country for Old Men, All the Pretty Horses, etc) but I found it a relatively good read. The last book I finished was "Twilight" so the writing was definitely a step up. I did feel like I was reading a book with the mute button on, for lack of a better description. It's just very dull, sad, quiet, etc. and I would not recommend it for a beach read or a pick-me-up easy read... but for the morning commute it is just fine. I think that they are even making a movie about it (or already have?) which, as you all know, I am not usually a fan of. I have the edition of the book that has the movie poster on the cover and therefore has the little lines on the back with the directors, actors and all. Charlize Theron is apparently in it and I have to wonder... WHEN WAS A WOMAN MENTIONED FOR MORE THAN ONE PARAGRAPH? Ok, that rant is over.

Now, whether or not I would recommend this book... I will have to say that I do because even when I was reading about all the depressing and horrible things, the father and son still drew me in. Basic story-line is that it takes place in a post-apocalyptic world and follows a father and son as they make their way down "the road" in hopes of finding warmth- or anything. The world that they live in has become a hell and there is a lot of focus on their coldness and hunger. In fact, while reading it in my frigid apartment I wondered if I would ever be warm again. (The heat just came on, yay!) The story is quite touching and really shows the bond between a father and son in a failing and miserable world.

In conclusion, I think that I would give this book 7 out of possible 10 stars. And there ya have it.

The Secret Life of Bees

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I also read "The Secret Life of Bees." I enjoyed it alot. I haven't seen the movie yet and now I'm looking forward to it. I'm actaully glad I waited to read it b/c I think I enjoyed it more with Queen Latifah's face in my mind. I've thought about reserving "Dragon Tattoo" but haven't for whatever reason. Maybe I'll just go ahead and do it.
Glad you all are back!

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

It has been quiet! I hope everybody comes back! I FINALLY finished Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert at an open house Sunday afternoon...it was really quiet -- the open house, not the book and I would have preferred to sell the house but I did enjoy the few quiet moments to read. I might pick up another one of her books sometime and she's having a sequel come out to EPL sometime this year and supposedly she has a true story account about a guy who up and left the real world to live off the earth somewhere in Appalachia -- sounds a bit like Into the Wild.

What I'm currently reading/listening to is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson and translated from the Swedish. I wanted to read it in Swedish but what with not speaking Swedish the English translation seemed the better choice. It's quite different from anything I've read in a while. It's a nicely written mystery about a decades old disappearance of the great-neice of a Swedish industry tycoon. So far the plot's quite twisty in a great way and it's been fun trying to keep up with the Swedish names. I think it would be easier if I were reading it in paper to keep up with the names but the audiobook narrator's really good and the book's well written as well.

I meant to start Everything is Illuminated again when I finished Eat Love Pray, but I've gotten caught up in Sashenka during the ice storm which seems appropriate as what I've read of it so far is all set in 1916 St. Petersburg with people wearing fur coats.

What is everyone reading?

It's been awfully quiet on the blog lately...what's everyone reading at the moment? I'm reading a book about James Beard (you know, the famous chef)...he was a real weirdo, but has a couple of recipes I'm going to try. Nothing with the pigs' feet he seems to be so fond of...and I have "Wuthering Heights" from the library, but haven't started it yet. I would like to defend my lack of not having already read "Wuthering Heights" by saying that I did read "Of Mice and Men" just for pleasure when I went to England last spring. BTW, I'm still only 1/2 way through "The Shack"...I had to put it down for awhile. I was tired of being hit over the head. Happy reading!
Susan

Not a Twilight Post...Ann Patchett, instead

Okay maybe it is a Twilight post...I had to share the books with Mary Rollins so I know what you mean about competitive reading. She took them to school and to ballet in case she had time to read so I couldn't read it in between.

I'm in the midst of the Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett. I loved Bel Canto which I read a few years back and this is the first book of hers I've read since then. She's not "plot" exciting to read but I do love her use of words and the visual images in her books. She's so kind and gentle to her characters too. Anyway, it's been a lovely book!

Also, I'm almost finished with Eat Pray Love. Granted, I've been reading it literally for months now but it's great and my delayed completion is a reflection of my lack of reading time rather than the engaging nature of the book. Actually, it's been a great pick-up and back-down book because the book is divided into three parts, each made up of 30+ small chapters each of which is its own entertaining vignette about the author's search for good food, God, and inner peace...three of my favorite things!

Have I mentioned that I'm also reading Treasure Island? Arrggghhhhh....makes everyday seem like a great day to talk like a pirate.

So...has anybody read Water for Elephants? Beth, you read that right? Was it great? Would I love it? I need a new book for my iPod to listen to while I was running and was thinking about getting that. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. It has to be something engaging enough to take my mind off running but not too intellectual because I'm not that smart when I run...

Because we all need another "Twilight" post...

Just for the record... I, my mother, and my sister have read/are reading THE BOOKS. It got downright ugly with mom and I, as we were competitively reading the same books at the same time (ie, "You drive so I can read. When we get to the store, I'll go in and you can stay in the car with the book!"). Sometimes we also hid them so that the other would not steal them away when using the exercise bike, etc. We also all loved the movie (mostly the landscapes... we're big Pacific Northwest junkies)... even Isabelle, non movie lover extraordinaire, said she would like to see it again.

I also (as commented) just read "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and my, do I love Fitzgerald. I read "Tender is the Night" last year and was once again surprised by joy... I mean, good writing. I also empathize with Isabelle's long movie thoughts.

Finally, I'm currently reading "Why French Women Don't Get Fat" which seems to be short, full of recipes, and funny. It's actually biographical with the recipes interlaced... something of a happy giggling longshot from "Like Water for Chocolate."

Kite Runner thoughts: I remember liking it a lot but it making me very sad. I thought the movie was equally sad, and not too bad for a movie adaptation from a good book.