This book was set in Australia during the 70s. That's pretty important information because what the main character went though, I couldn't even imagine. Also, although I really enjoyed the book, I probably would have loved it more if I could read it in an Australian accent.
It's about a girl who gets sent away to a prison of sorts for young girls. She gets sent away because she ran away from home. From the start, it seems like the whole world is against her, and it pretty much keeps on with that feeling. It is written from her point of view, and nobody else... wait. Strange, they do have on other person's thoughts in this book. I forgot, and now I'm looking at the book differently. For about five pages, they focus on somebody else, and her view of the 'bad girls'. Strange.
Either way, it didn't seem fair. Basically this girl was your average teenage girl. I guess in the 70s people were shocked that a 14 year old could have sex or do drugs, and tried hard to stop it. It seems like to much of a common occurrence these days, and sadly doesn't shock me at all.
Long story short, I liked the book, and couldn't put it down. I like the ones you can't put down. It's based on a true story. I'd love to read a sequel. I actually could go on and on about this book. If I was in University, I'd definitely choose to do an essay on it.
I love reading, and want to share what I've read.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell
Sometime because of my English degree, I feel like these kind of books, I should not admit I've read. Although I read a lot worse than that. I can admit it, I like the mystery/romance novels when I want a quick escape from reality.
I love the TV series Sex and the City. I loved the friendship between the four women, and their struggle in life, romance and career. Judge me if you want.
The book, is not exactly like that. First off Candace is the one writing it, and while she's not the main character, I kept expecting all the 'I's' to be from Carrie, not Candace. Carrie is in it, but there are so many different characters in it. All the names are familiar, but I couldn't pinpoint who was who. There is an introduction at the beginning of the novel from Candace. She said this book was written in an unsentimental way. She's right, it was. I didn't feel the same connection to the characters as I do in the TV series.
The character of Carrie was not at all the Carrie I was used to. The relationship between her and Big ended in the book partially because of her. The show really makes it look like it is Big's commitment issues, but in the book, it's clear that Carrie is crazy. I was a bit sad while reading it because I had always compared myself a little bit to Carrie, and imagined the great friendship between the four women. In the book, I really couldn't imagine wanting to be friends with any one of them.
After all that, I did enjoy it. It wasn't a story, it was a collection of different stories about single women, and single men in New York. I've actually read a book by Candace Bushnell before. It's about a life I will never know, and frankly never need to know. I have one more book by her I plan to read, but it's a bit lower on the list. I have quite the list of books to read.
I love the TV series Sex and the City. I loved the friendship between the four women, and their struggle in life, romance and career. Judge me if you want.
The book, is not exactly like that. First off Candace is the one writing it, and while she's not the main character, I kept expecting all the 'I's' to be from Carrie, not Candace. Carrie is in it, but there are so many different characters in it. All the names are familiar, but I couldn't pinpoint who was who. There is an introduction at the beginning of the novel from Candace. She said this book was written in an unsentimental way. She's right, it was. I didn't feel the same connection to the characters as I do in the TV series.
The character of Carrie was not at all the Carrie I was used to. The relationship between her and Big ended in the book partially because of her. The show really makes it look like it is Big's commitment issues, but in the book, it's clear that Carrie is crazy. I was a bit sad while reading it because I had always compared myself a little bit to Carrie, and imagined the great friendship between the four women. In the book, I really couldn't imagine wanting to be friends with any one of them.
After all that, I did enjoy it. It wasn't a story, it was a collection of different stories about single women, and single men in New York. I've actually read a book by Candace Bushnell before. It's about a life I will never know, and frankly never need to know. I have one more book by her I plan to read, but it's a bit lower on the list. I have quite the list of books to read.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Rescue by Anita Shreve
It took me a long time to read this one. I can tell how much I love a book by how quickly I read it. I did enjoy this one, but it was easy to put it down and forget about it.
I'm not sure that I've read anything else by Anita Shreve, but I have heard of her, and have always meant to read The Pilot's Wife.
She wrote this book from the point of view of a father. I always find it interesting when a woman writes from a man's perspective, or a man from a woman's perspective. I've tried it myself, and maybe should give it another go.
Either way she seemed to do a pretty good job. Although, I really can't say -I'm not a man, and don't know what or how they think about things. Would be nice to say we all think the same, but I don't think that's completely true. Everyone is different.
This book started close to the end, and then went to the beginning of the story, and back to the end. I'd say it actually skipped the middle. It's about a rookie fireman who falls in love with a woman who tries to love him back, but isn't quite ready to let go of her carefree life style. They have a daughter together, and she continues her carefree(ness) and also continues to drink. She ends up leaving the family, and years later we see him as a single parent raising his daughter alone. His daughter who is about to graduate high school.
Although a lot happened, it seems like so much was skipped at the same time. I felt bad for all of the characters. They all seemed lonely. I did enjoy the end. I was invested and wanted it to continue.
That's all I have for this one. Hopefully the next book I read will be quicker.
I'm not sure that I've read anything else by Anita Shreve, but I have heard of her, and have always meant to read The Pilot's Wife.
She wrote this book from the point of view of a father. I always find it interesting when a woman writes from a man's perspective, or a man from a woman's perspective. I've tried it myself, and maybe should give it another go.
Either way she seemed to do a pretty good job. Although, I really can't say -I'm not a man, and don't know what or how they think about things. Would be nice to say we all think the same, but I don't think that's completely true. Everyone is different.
This book started close to the end, and then went to the beginning of the story, and back to the end. I'd say it actually skipped the middle. It's about a rookie fireman who falls in love with a woman who tries to love him back, but isn't quite ready to let go of her carefree life style. They have a daughter together, and she continues her carefree(ness) and also continues to drink. She ends up leaving the family, and years later we see him as a single parent raising his daughter alone. His daughter who is about to graduate high school.
Although a lot happened, it seems like so much was skipped at the same time. I felt bad for all of the characters. They all seemed lonely. I did enjoy the end. I was invested and wanted it to continue.
That's all I have for this one. Hopefully the next book I read will be quicker.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
Here's what I have to say about this book: I absolutely loved it. Sometimes, in novels, although I enjoy them, I look forward to the ending. I look forward to them resolving things, and moving on.
In this one, I looked forward to them resolving things, but then wanted to continue to read it. I didn't want it to end at all. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it warmed my heart. This may sound silly, or over used, but I don't care.
My mom got it for me for Christmas, and picked very well because I had seen it before, but didn't buy it even though I wanted to. She did great!
Anyway, basically the story follows more than one interconnecting stories. I know it's been done before. Jodi Picoult does it in most of her novels. (I'm sure I'll reread My Sister's Keeper, and talk about that one as well). Either way, it's a method of writing I appreciate and enjoy reading.
This one followed two different families connected by a biological daughter to one of the families, and adopted to the other. They never actually met, but still had that very important connection.
Also, there was a character -the adoptive mother -that I didn't like at the start. I understood the way she acted, but still was frustrated with her. I think one of my favourite things about this book was watching her grow and learn as a person.
I don't want to say much more about it. Just know that I really enjoyed it. I love finding that rare great read. There are a LOT of wonderful books out there, but every once in a while I read one that I don't want to put down until it is finished. It's been a slow year for me because I haven't been putting as much effort into reading as I should, but this one and The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill are my favourites. They are the ones I did not want to put down. (Although I guess since it is January, then Secret Daughter wins so far.) Still a lot of time to find new favourites though.
Anyway, it's on my recommend list. I'm sure there will be lots, but I will be raving about this book for quite a while.
In this one, I looked forward to them resolving things, but then wanted to continue to read it. I didn't want it to end at all. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it warmed my heart. This may sound silly, or over used, but I don't care.
My mom got it for me for Christmas, and picked very well because I had seen it before, but didn't buy it even though I wanted to. She did great!
Anyway, basically the story follows more than one interconnecting stories. I know it's been done before. Jodi Picoult does it in most of her novels. (I'm sure I'll reread My Sister's Keeper, and talk about that one as well). Either way, it's a method of writing I appreciate and enjoy reading.
This one followed two different families connected by a biological daughter to one of the families, and adopted to the other. They never actually met, but still had that very important connection.
Also, there was a character -the adoptive mother -that I didn't like at the start. I understood the way she acted, but still was frustrated with her. I think one of my favourite things about this book was watching her grow and learn as a person.
I don't want to say much more about it. Just know that I really enjoyed it. I love finding that rare great read. There are a LOT of wonderful books out there, but every once in a while I read one that I don't want to put down until it is finished. It's been a slow year for me because I haven't been putting as much effort into reading as I should, but this one and The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill are my favourites. They are the ones I did not want to put down. (Although I guess since it is January, then Secret Daughter wins so far.) Still a lot of time to find new favourites though.
Anyway, it's on my recommend list. I'm sure there will be lots, but I will be raving about this book for quite a while.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Drunkard -A Hard-Drinking Life by Neil Steinberg
I read a lot more fiction than I read non-fiction. It's not that I'm not interested in non-fiction, but it just seems like there are so many more fiction books around.
I like that fact that the first book I'm writing about is non-fiction. The true experience about a man's fight with alcoholism.
It's his story, and he did a great job at telling it. I'm not just speaking about the alcoholism aspect of it, but I'm impressed with his courage at portraying himself as a man who didn't believe he had a problem, and was constantly feeling that he was better than others. Possibly not better -but smarter. He may not have realised it until he heard other opinions of himself.
The actual fight to help his drinking problem started with the fight to finally admit that he has a drinking problem. I've been around a recovering alcoholic my whole life, but have never seen him take a drink. He has been sober for more than 25 years. Reading the book showed me a little of what he must have gone through.
All in all I enjoyed it, and would recommend it. At times, I found myself frustrated when he kept reverting back to his 'Drunkard' self, but it was probably a realistic portrayal -especially since it was his true story (or a portion of his story).
Erin
I like that fact that the first book I'm writing about is non-fiction. The true experience about a man's fight with alcoholism.
It's his story, and he did a great job at telling it. I'm not just speaking about the alcoholism aspect of it, but I'm impressed with his courage at portraying himself as a man who didn't believe he had a problem, and was constantly feeling that he was better than others. Possibly not better -but smarter. He may not have realised it until he heard other opinions of himself.
The actual fight to help his drinking problem started with the fight to finally admit that he has a drinking problem. I've been around a recovering alcoholic my whole life, but have never seen him take a drink. He has been sober for more than 25 years. Reading the book showed me a little of what he must have gone through.
All in all I enjoyed it, and would recommend it. At times, I found myself frustrated when he kept reverting back to his 'Drunkard' self, but it was probably a realistic portrayal -especially since it was his true story (or a portion of his story).
Erin
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Introduction
I've always wanted to keep a book journal, and have in the past, but mostly off and on. In keeping with my New Year Resolutions, I'm going to do an entry for each book I read. I'm hoping this won't be 6 months between each book, and if it is, I haven't been reading as much as I should be.
I will be keeping up with my other blog as well, but this will be a nice break from reality.
E
I will be keeping up with my other blog as well, but this will be a nice break from reality.
E
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