Someday, Someday, Maybe by Lauren Graham

Someday, Someday, Maybe By Lauren Graham

First of all, I love the characters Lauren Graham plays. Gilmore Girls and Parenthood are two shows that I LOVE. Gilmore Girls wins over most shows, and I will admit right now that I have watched the DVDs a lot. I found out she wrote a book through twitter because I follow her. In other words, I already have great trust in the actress as a writer.

I saw it in the bookstore one day, and even though, I think $18 is almost a ridiculous price to pay for a book, I was curious, and had a great feeling about it. (It's my own fault for not giving into an e-reader).

I was also a little jealous. It's funny how different I feel about books now that I have an unpublished novel waiting for a publisher to fall in love with it. I was jealous because I'm guessing she had an easier time getting a publisher because of who she is. I might be wrong though.


That being said, this book needed to be published. It was wonderful. It made me laugh, and made me tear up at times. It was a good book. I loved Franny (the main character). I loved her honest roommates. Especially Dan. If I wasn't already with the perfect boyfriend, I'd be wishing he was a real person in my life.

Also, not everybody can say Diane Keaton encouraged them to write a book. That made me smile.

Obviously, my jealousy soon evaporated. It was only a moment, and not a long moment because I'd rather love and be happy about something than have feelings of jealousy. I'm pretty sure acting is one of the hardest careers to start, and to have a successful career as well as write a fantastic book, is pretty impressive. 

Actually, I thought there were a couple of quotes in the book about the struggle of actors trying to get jobs that fit how I need to look at things, trying to get into the professional writer field. "You lost a job  you never had." Basically, if my first choice publisher says no (which is not going to be a surprise), I have to remember it wasn't mine to begin with. Mine will come.

The book was about Franny trying to get her acting career on track (and started) before her deadline. Once the deadline arrives, she's going to find another path in life. That part of the novel has nothing to do with comparing to my own life because I already have a job, I'm just hoping to get into the book writing field. I don't have a deadline (nor will I give myself one). 

It was set in the 90s, which is a nice change of pace. It made me miss the times when you are excited to come home and check your messages. I don't even have a home phone to answer anymore. I guess some of the surprises and expectations are taken away now.

The only thing I didn't love about the book was the ending. It didn't feel like an ending, but I guess that leaves it open for my imagination, and (maybe) a next novel. I felt so much chemistry between two of the characters, I wanted to see more of them. That isn't the point though.

I'm literally writing this 10 minutes after finishing the novel. That's why I have so much to say.

This book was my 'lunchtime reading'. I had to bring it home this weekend, and finish it. I couldn't wait until Monday. I wish I had kept it until my trip to Newfoundland. Looks like I'll have another book to talk about. I just have to pick one. C thinks it must be time to get back to the third Game of Thrones book. He's probably right.

So: long story short: good book. I recommend it to anybody, especially those fighting to follow their dreams.

And as always:

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The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

May 28, 2014
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Basically, I loved this book. I loved the narrator choice (death), I loved the characters. I loved the love of books, and I LOVED the beautiful writing. To me, the descriptions could only be described as beautiful.

I spent the last half hour crying while reading the book. I mean, I guess I knew sadness was coming, but I still wasn't prepared for it.

The back of the book has some answers from Markus Zusak. There was something he said, they I loved.

I think to love your characters, and miss them when the book is over is wonderful for both the writer and for the reader.

(Side note, I have missed my characters in the book I wrote, but am still editing, so I still get to spend some time with them.)

Anyway, I recommend this book to basically everybody. I don't know if I want to watch the movie. I haven't decided.

Thanks for reading.

Dead Rock Stars by Wes Funk

I really enjoyed this book. Wes Funk is a Saskatchewan author. (Also the third Saskatchewan author I've written about on my Book Blog).

I've been reading this book during my lunches. I finally got to the point today where I couldn't put it down. I stopped reading when lunch was over, and counted down the hours until I could get home and finish it.

It's a short novel, but was the perfect length for lunchtime reading.

I really liked it. I wasn't sure when I started reading it, but liked it more and more as I got through it. Being from a small town (but not a farm), I kind of understood a lot that he said about the small town in the novel. My situation was obviously not the same as his (anybody who has read this knows why), but I still liked the small town theme. 

It was about family; it was about lost love and new love. It was also about getting over loss.

I sometimes feel jaded when I read love stories (or a love story within the novel). I never see it happening like it does, but I know love does come quickly for others. 

This is going to sound terrible (and a bit like a plug, but it's not), but now that I've written my unpublished book, I see different things. I actually think the love interests were similar. As I was writing him, I kept wondering if he was too good to be true. I felt the same about this guy. 

Anyway, it was a good read, and it feels good to have finally finished a book. I've taken too long off from reading, and it feels good to get back at it.

Six Years by Harlan Coben

I recently was reading a blog somebody was writing, and it had book reviews as well as life stories. I loved it, but it reminded me that I have not touched this one in a long time.

I'm doing two blogs right now that are pretty important to me, but this one is just as important. It's about reading! I am pretty sure I loved reading before I loved writing.

So I will talk about the book I just read.

Six Years By Harlan Coben

First of all, I'm pretty sure I've talked about other books he's written. They all have twists and turns and usually keep me interested until the end. I finish these books quickly (usually two days) because I'm excited to see how everything ties together.

I think this is his second newest book. I am sad to report, I didn't love it. I didn't love all the tie ins, and I actually was getting pretty frustrated (as the characters would have been as well) about the situation, and upset that nobody could figure out what was going on. (THIS MIGHT BE A SPOILER) Some of this may have been mob related because I guess they like to beat people up or shoot them instead of asking questions and talking. Although it seemed that was the case with pretty much all of the characters, mob related or not.

I did read quickly, and I must have enjoyed it because I didn't set it down, but I wasn't really happy with the ending. I think maybe I wanted more happiness. They focused on six years of unhappiness and missing somebody, and even more so on the two weeks (or so) of mostly terror and confusion. It made me tired and sad.

I know I'll read more by him though. I'll admit, I'll put down another book I'm reading to read one of his because I know it'll be a quick and pleasurable read. Plus, Harlan Coben is funny. His books aren't funny, but I have a feeling his characters have his sense of humour.




And that's my start back into writing about novels. We'll see how often I post. High hopes on this end.

Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers

I recently reread this book. I bought the book one day, a few years ago, and read it right away. It's a quick read -anybody who has seen it will know why. Basically each page is a new note left on the refrigerator between mother and daughter.

Although, I loved the book, and was impressed the author was able to make me feel the way I did with essentially 'notes' and no actual dialogue or action. The situation in the book was heart breaking, and I hope never to experience it. Although, I also hope to never have to live in a house with somebody and never have an actual conversation with them other than notes on a fridge. Saying that, I do have to remember that they talked, I just didn't see it. I was only shown certain glimpses of their lives.

I'm sure I'll read it again. As I said, it's easy to get through. It's kind of like watching a sad movie. When I feel like I need a cry, I can read it.

I've already read something else by her as well, so she's won me over. So far, it looks like she just writes for young adults. I'd be interested in reading something for adults.

Just some trivia, she also writes from Saskatchewan, and I'm pretty sure she's married to Yann Martel. What an interesting household that would be to grow up in. Almost magical.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I read this a while ago. It's pretty terrible that I procrastinate from writing about books I write. It's my own blog, and I shouldn't have to procrastinate something I choose to do.

So... Life of Pi.  I've been hearing about this book for a while, and thought it was finally time to read it. I especially wanted to read it before the movie came out. (Which it now has.)

It took me a while to get into it, but from what I've heard, I'm not the only person to feel like that. I was intrigued from the start, but still didn't get to the point where I couldn't put it down until half way through. I was a bit disappointed by the end of the book, but that's because of the way I think.

I would like to read other books by him, just to learn more about his writing. I also, will admit, I want to see the movie. There were some moments in the book, that I couldn't imagine, but I'd like to see how somebody else saw it. I'm not really looking forward to the goriness in the movie, I'm sure there will be some, as there was in the book. I different kind of gore than I'm used to... animals against animals. Somehow, I'm more immune to human violence, but not so much to animals hurting each other or getting hurt.

Anyway, I don't know if I'll read it again, but I'll read others by him, I'm sure. Plus, he's a Saskatchewan author, and that's awesome!

Lost by Joy Fielding

This is another one of those books that I could read over and over again... and I have.

Joy Fielding has this amazing ability to present female characters, that are in bad situations, and seem weak, but when faced with these situations, they fight back, and will do anything to improve their situations, and fight for happiness for themselves and people around them.

This seems like a common theme in all her books.

I am not a mother, so a book about somebody with two daughters (one young adult and one teenager) that has been through a divorce, isn't something I have experience with. It's not really needed when I read her books though. I experience things through the characters. I don't always agree with the way things are handled, but I pretty much know things will be better in the end. It's a nice feeling some days.