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Black or Green Who Cares

needlepointernc — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:39:16 -0400

We watched the movie 2 saturdays nights ago and by the middle of last week I had already finished the book. The movie is close to the book, but the book ends a lot differently. I would see the movie first and then read the book.

I didn't know what color the Mustang was supposed to be... this is a book of fiction so who cares what color. Maybe when he saw the movie in Kabul, it looked black. I think you missed the point of the book.My copy had study questions in the back. Why not concentrate on those. Maybe you didn't like his writing style. Well that is okay. Did he write it in English first or did he translate it. Maybe that is what you didn't like. I read half of a Faulkner novel and couldn't read another page of it.

You aren't supposed to like Amir... at least that is how I feel. He didn't like himself much did he? I learned a lot from this book. I learned that history repeats itself over and over and over again. There is always one class that hates the other class. Wars are fought over who thinks they are better - sounds just like 2nd grade on the playground.

I also learned that most people just want to live and let live and why can't we just do that. Think about that when you go to vote in November. Out with the old and in with the new.

I couldn't find his second book at the store but will order it online.

Peace is Patriotic.

Firefly Lane

alice — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:30:05 -0400

Saw this book in the library yesterday and was intrigued by the title. Had not heard of Kristin Hannah before and the story looked like it might be good. WOW! I cannot put this book down. Make yourself comfortable because you will not want to put this book down once you've started. An amazing, wonderful story of friendship. I am about the same age as the two central characters in this novel and could relate to every word. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!! Buy this book today for your best friend!

The Knitting Circle

alice boyce — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:56:59 -0400

I finished this book last week -- highly recommended for anyone who has experienced grief in any fashion. 4 stars from me!

The Kite Runner

Alice Osborn — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 20:59:41 -0400

The Wonderland Book Club (my book club) discussed "Kite Runner" on Friday and we collectively enjoyed it, yet as a writer, I always deconstruct novels and try to figure out what works/doesn't work. I loved Hosseini's characterization and images, BUT he is the most unsubtle writer I know -- so many lines started with, "and that was the last time I ate..." "and that was the last time I saw Hassan smile."" DUM, DUM, DUM. Cue soap opera music. AND I'm a Mustang enthusiast and he states that Amir's (the protagonist)father drives him to school in a black Mustang, like the one Steve McQueen drove in Bullet (1968). BUT, McQueen drove a GREEN Mustang -- this missed detail totally distracted me. In addition, Amir was the most unlikeable narrator I've encountered in a long time -- anyone else out there feel this way?

Going back to the classics...

alilewis — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:42:17 -0400

I have a "classic summer" planned. The following books are on my list:

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen

The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger

Lord of the Flies - William Golding

Gosh, maybe I just wish I was in high school again...

A book for you & your son

marcysmith — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:59:00 -0400

Hi Stephanie!

Brilliant idea! Let me know how your venture continues. Meanwhile, be sure to pick up the new release of Silverstein's first book of poetry, "Don't Bump the Glump." I recently had a chance to read to a passel of young'uns at the Barnes & Noble in Cary. I think it was Dad's Night Out with the Kids, because there were a lot of dads there -- and I think they loved the book even more! I still have a copy of the first edition, which my own dad gave to me. It's more Frankestein-ish than "Sidewalk" et al.

Best,

Marcy

p.s. to readers: I love reading out loud! If you want me to come to your group or shop to read, send a note to marcy.smith@newsobserver.com

Books that are good for you...

Stephanie — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:28:51 -0400

Oh wow, I hadn't heard of this book, I'm definitely going to have to check it out. Thanks!

I'm always trying to read books that are "good" for me, the ones that were assigned to us in high school, the ones we all groaned at. I resolved to start reading those kinds of books a few years back, but wondered how on earth I could get through long winding paragraphs in fancy language when I had an infant son babbling at me. And then I realized the solution.

I read out loud to him. :) The infant is now about to turn six, and he's played while listening to Mom read Dickens, Hemingway, H.G. Wells, Steinbeck, Lewis Carroll, RL Stevenson, Stephen Crane, and many others. Don't worry, he still gets plenty of Silverstein and Seuss, too. ;) But at almost 6, he's got an impressive vocabulary, a fabulous grasp of grammar, and he's able to read chapter books on his own. I hope that some of my reading aloud has helped him to learn to enjoy all kinds of books.

What's next on our list? I'm not sure...He expressed interest in Frankenstein the other day, so maybe that will be it!

for library patrons...

AHamm — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:39:32 -0400

I'd like to add my own book, Dear Jane Letters, to those by locals. It is a humorous love story, very light reading, and is available for free through Wake County Libraries.

Personally, I have Anne Rice's Christ the Lord sitting on my shelf waiting for me. I bought it several months ago on the recommendations of a few friends and just haven't quite got to it. I also recently heard about Right Lane Ends and intend to check it out sometime this summer.

The Namesake

needlepointernc — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 07:34:57 -0400

I was watching Charlie Rose a few weeks ago and he had Jhumpa Lahri on. She has written several books. I am reading "The Namesake". It is really interesting. It is about a Bengali family who comes to America. They have a naming tradition and the book is about how this tradition goes awry when their son is born.

I can relate because I have "name issues". My Mom gave me a hyphenated name and it was not a common one. I have gone through different phases with my name. What irks me is when many people shorten my name and then get insulted when I correct them and explain that my first name is hyphenated. Also, many computer programs still cannot handle the hyphen.

Her writing style is a little difficult. I hate longggggggggg paragraphs and long chapters without breaks. But she makes you have to keep reading.

Peace is Patriotic.

Novels for teens

A. Wimberley — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:05:09 -0400

I was the average shopper going to barnes nd noble and found out about Stephanie Meyer. She has amazing books! At first I read the twilight series. Edward is the best!Its more about the vampire falling in love with one of the characters, but it really is awesome!Then I moved on to her latest book The Host. It's a science fiction for people who don't like science fiction. It kept me turning the pages.
The Perfect Score is another book that I liked so far this summer. This book is about 6 teens who decide tosteal the SAT you child might have seen it in the movie theatre, but I find it a good read if you're not too into the thick books like the one above and the authors are by David Levithan(novilization),based on the story by Marc Hyman.
Oh My Goth is by Gena Showalter and is a Mtv book. There are many other Mtv books find one you like! Its about a goth girl that gets transported to an opposite universe. I know what your thinking science fiction,"Ick", but I actually found it enjoyable, but not a 1:00 in the morning page turner unlike Stephanie Meyer.
Finally, the book I'm currently reading Can't Get There From Here is a bout kids that runaway from either abusive homes or parents that kick them out not because of behavior. It makes you think of what you have and how easily it can be taken away. I'm only half-way through it so I don't know much yet, but so far it's really humbling.Hope you enjoy the book list.

Great summer reads...

Stephanie DeKeyser — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:16:39 -0400

For the past four years, I've kept a book journal, and I've got some wonderful recommendations for that perfect summer read!

1. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers- Mary Roach...What exactly happens when you donate your body to science? It's not all about ending up on a table in front of bewildered med students. You'll be surprised at just how busy dead bodies can be! Roach is a great non-fiction writer, her gory facts tinged with refreshing sarcasm, check out her other works, Spook and Bonk.

2. Welcome To The World, Baby Girl!- Fannie Flagg...The author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe brings forth a woman with a mystery to solve- but the answers probably won't be what you think. A surprising conclusion to a warm, funny book.

3. The Hundred Secret Senses- Amy Tan...What love and family really mean, even when it's difficult to live with them. Heartwrenching, beautiful and important.

4. Unveiled: The Hidden Lives of Nuns- Cheryl L. Reed...When you think of nuns, you think of women in a "penguin suit," right? You'll be amazed by the changes that have come to women of the cloth, as Reed visits many different orders of women who live to serve God.

5. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal- Christopher Moore..Read this in private, because you'll spend most of the book snorting, chortling, guffawing and gasping for air while you roar your laughter out loud. A surprisingly reverent yet still hysterical account of Jesus's life (Jesus is called Josh in the book), told by his best friend, whose name is, you guessed it, Biff. Any book where Jesus learns kung-fu HAS to be good, right?!? Moore's books are weird and laugh-out-loud funny, he makes for a great, light-hearted summer read.

6. A Tale of Two Cities- Charles Dickens...One of my favorite books of all time, it tells a tale of selfless love during the French Revolution, and the time leading up to it. It's slow getting to the action of the revolution, but Dickens' prose and wild descriptions of the riots and guillotines, and the ultimate sacrifice made in the end, are worth the lengthy backstory.

7. The Time Traveler’s Wife- Audrey Niffenegger...Ahh, a love story. Love, time travel, mystery, it's all here, but be sure to have your tissues handy- you're going to need a LOT of them.

8. A Clean Slate- Laura Caldwell..The best chick-lit book I've read yet. Kelly's not remembering huge chunks of her life, and her friends and family are treating her differently. What could possibly have gone on in those parts she's forgotten, why can't she remember, and what does this all mean? Strongly written, with a deeper meaning than most novels of the genre dip into.

9. Never Suck A Dead Man's Hand: Curious Adventures of a CSI- Dana Kollmann...A woman who worked for years as a CSI tells hysterically funny and sometimes revolting tales of her experiences. You'll never watch those crime shows the same way!

10. The Poisonwood Bible- Barbara Kingsolver...An amazing painting of a missionary family in the Congo, headed by a crazy, controlling father who refuses to bend any of his plans, and the tragedies it brings upon his family. Kingsolver's writing is so crystal-clear, so on-the-spot, that you'll feel like you're right there. Save the plane fare and explore Africa with this book.

11. Angry Housewives Eating BonBons- Lorna Landvik...The story of a group of women who by chance live in the same cul-de-sac, the book club they form, and the friendships that span thirty years. Reading this book ensure plenty of laughter and tears, and the strong desire to read more of Landvik's work.

12. A Certain Slant of Light- Laura Whitcomb...It's a ghost story...Wait, it's a love story! Actually, it's both, with a healthy dose of a love of literature thrown in. This is one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read, with a story that will remain with you forever. It's a quick read, but take the time to enjoy each word, because it will end much too quickly.

Just a handful of the 550+ books I've read and enjoyed since 2004. Hope someone out there enjoys them as much as I did!

What I'm reading this summer

Cindy — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:04:37 -0400

I picked up "The Last Lecture" at the bookstore the other day because I had heard such good reviews of it. It is an enjoyable easy read but has you really thinking about putting things in perspective in your life,what I think all of us could be reminded of at times. It seems we get too lost in our daily grind that we sometimes overlook the most special moments of all.

My recommendation for summer

Wendy Roberson — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:33:00 -0400

My recommendation for summer reading is
The Year of Fog
by Michelle Richmond

An interesting mystery/romance with twists and turns and some surprises!

Summer reading

Karin — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:19:59 -0400

"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. There is not one wasted word in the entire text. It is beautiful, thoughtful, and a masterwork of creative writing.

Stephanie Plum is the ultimate summer series

Traci Nachtrab — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 16:23:52 -0400

I'm reading all the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich. Perfect fun & hilarity for summer!