Bull Fighter By Roddy Doyle

First of all, this isn't one novel, it is a collection of short stories. This made it easier for me to read. I read a few, took a break, and then got back to it. I usually read one per lunch break. I had to speed it up a little when I realised it was overdue and I'd renewed it as many times as I'm allowed.

The theme was the same (kind of) through all of the stories. Each one was a different story about a man. Usually an older man (50 plus, maybe). Most times they remembered their pasts, sometimes stayed in the present, and occasionally looked to the future.

They were good. I'm sure somebody male and in that age range would relate more than I did. Some stories were funny, some were morbid, and some (one in particular) were a bit disturbing.

I've read Roddy Doyle before. Once again, if I could read it with an Irish accent, all would be perfect in my world.

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

I've said this before, but I'm not sure if I've said it in any of my entries on this blog. I LOVED My Sister's Keeper. Unfortunately, I read it first, and haven't fallen in love with another Jodi Picoult book in quite the same way. She's a good writer, and chooses topics that are wonderful.

I guess I just had really high expectations for all the books after My Sister's Keeper, and found myself disappointed.

This book -House Rules -was great. It was about a family -a mother and brothers. One of the brothers has Aspergers. It's a popular subject, but I'm not sure if it's popular because people are just finding out more about it, or it's a subject matter people are just interested in. I'll admit I am quite interested in this syndrome. Especially about Aspergers. It seems like probably more people have Aspergers than we probably think.

Off subject, if anybody has a chance to watch Mozart and the Whale -do. It's about the same subject. Although, I'm not certain anybody reads this particular blog.

I enjoyed House Rules -although, I figured out what was going on quicker than I would have liked. It seemed obvious to me what the end would be. I actually wondered if I'd read it before.

Anyway, I'm back on the loving Jodi Picoult books.

The Other Woman by Joy Fielding

Another Joy Fielding book; like I said, I went to the library and saw Joy Fielding books and Sandra Brown books. I couldn't resist either. Especially these ones because it feels like there are so many I haven't read.

This one didn't disappoint. It was frustrating at times because you could see this completely strong woman who was in a bad situation, and it really seemed like she was doing nothing to make it better. In other words, I was basically waiting for the end of the book. The part where she realises she has to take care of herself first.

I'm sure you can guess what this book was about by the title, but it's sometimes unclear who The Other Woman is referring to. The main character was married to a man that she has basically taken from another woman. She broke up a marriage and a family. After years of marriage, she meets a younger woman who wants the same thing -to break up her marriage. This seemed like only a tiny part of the plot, which is good because there was so much to the story. It does basically go with the theme of 'once a cheater, always a cheater.' I don't know if that's true, and frankly, hope I never have to be in that sort of situation to find out.

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Mad River Road by Joy Fielding

I love books by Joy Fielding. Her books are definitely meant for females, and they are always about strong females. Sometimes the woman in her books don't realise how strong they are. I love that moment of clarity in the books.

That being said -I didn't really enjoy this one. It was darker than most. There were moments that would have been incredibly hard to write, and of course, she wrote them like a pro. I guess I was just waiting for the inspiration I get when I read her books, and I didn't get it. It isn't that it wasn't a great book, but I was expecting more. It left me feeling sad. Possibly because I wanted more. If I had seen the woman in this novel pick up the pieces of their lives and move on to bigger and better, I may have had a little more peace.

I'm not going to write the plot out. I obviously follow no sort of book review points when I write these. It depends what the book was, and then I decide what I want to write. Whether it be about the plot or the author, or about something I learned from the book.

One more book to write about today, and then I'm going to work on my own book.

White Hot by Sandra Brown

If anybody has read Sandra Brown, you already have an idea what this book is about. I have a soft spot for Sandra Brown because she was the first romance novel I read. To be perfectly honest, I probably  learned quite a bit about sex from her books (not from the health classes at school). Her earlier books were strictly romance and sex. Maybe that's one of the other reasons I enjoy reading her books. I've seen her go from romance to mystery. Maybe drama... I'm not sure what her books are considered. There's always a certain amount of mystery, romance, and intrigue. They're what I consider to be easy reads. That's not a put down of her writing. It's like when you put a movie in that you've watched a hundred times, you love the movie, you might know it by heart, and it's a nice break from reality.

This particular book was about a woman going back to her hometown after her brother dies. Going back after many years away. She, of course, needs to deal with the reasons she's been gone for so long. She has to solve the problems of the past to be able to move forward. I'm pretty sure I've read this book before, but it's been so long that I forgot key parts. Which is good because they surprised me.

I've gotten myself a library card -which is one of the reasons I've been reading my 'easy reads'. They're already in the library, and I already know I like them. I love the library.

Anyway, that's all. I'm behind: of course. So I have two more library books I've read and need to comment on.

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in a perfect world by Laura Kasischke

This novel took me A LONG TIME to get through. It's one of those books that I was enjoying, and I did want to finish it, but would put it down and go on to another book. I took a lot of breaks from it, and because of this I was actually pretty sad when it ended. I didn't give it the respect books deserve.

It wasn't at all what I thought it would be. It was kind of a different sort of world, I guess. It was this world, with the same famous people I know, but the world was being overtaken with the Phoenix Flu. Causing death and fear, first across America, and than the world.

It was about a woman taking care of her husband's children. She chose to quit her job, while he continued his as a pilot to take care of his kids. She ends up being the care giver while he travels, and rarely returns.

I liked it, which is why I feel bad for not just reading it. The author wrote a book that was made into a movie. I saw the movie, but will look into reading the book.

I just got a library card, so maybe I'll look her up the next time I'm there.

Summer and the City by Candice Bushnell

I haven't written a book post in a long time. I have two books to write about. There may have been more, but these are the two I remember. I need to write this more. Not really for anybody but me though. I should probably just keep a book journal, not a blog. The blog seemed easier at the time.

Either way. I recently read Summer and the City. It's the next book in The Carrie Diaries. I guess it's a series now. They're planning on also making it a TV series, which does seem pretty great. Only because I loved Sex and the City though.

Anyway, this one had some familiar names. Carrie was in New York for the summer before she went to school. She fell in love with the city. We also finally meet characters we know and love. Samantha and Miranda are both in it.

I liked it. I'll admit it. These books are lovely. They are easy reads, and they make me smile, and I enjoy reading books about writers. Even if this particular writer is made up. Even though I know where she will end up, it is fun watching how she got there. Also, she's younger and it's fun watching Carrie -and all of them, get into relationships when they are still young, and not yet jaded.

I'm looking forward to the next one.