Thursday, August 03, 2006

Summer Reading List - Week Nine

As with last week, recommended titles have hyperlinks to you may learn more about the book!

  • Twelve Sharp - Janet Evanovich
    The latest installment in the Stephanie Plum series does not disappoint.

    I'm not claiming that this is any sort of life-changing book; it's not "great literature," nor any kind of "important read." What it is: a heck of a fun romp with America's most loved, least competent bounty hunter.
    I literally devoured this one in sitting, (and honestly, sometimes you need that every bit as much as a life-changing great read....)


  • Heat:An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany - Bill Buford
    This was fascinating!
    Buford has a very clean, very descriptive writing style. He cleverly and humorously chronicles his adventures (and misadventures) serving as an apprentice; first in Mario Batali's kitchen, then at both a pizzeria (where he learned the fine art of pasta making) and butchershop in Italy.


  • Between, Georgia - Joshilyn Jackson
    The story of Nonny Frett, who stands at many crossroads in her life - she is caught in the crossfire between her adoptive and biological families; she is in a state of marital limbo; she is caught between being someone's daughter and someone's mother. In short, Nonny herself is Between...

    This is Jackson's sophomore novel, following gods in Alabama. Although gods was occasionally uneven, I preferred it. It was an emotional story, one in which I found myself getting caught up. Between - while not short on family drama - did not draw me in as much.
    One strength that this book does have, however, is Jackson's ability to really flesh out a character, the more "Southern" and eccentric, the better. She also has an excellent ear for dialogue, and a very clever turn of phrase...
    I don't regret the time I spent on this book, but would recommend gods in Alabama over it.


Previous Summer Reading Lists
I / II / III / IV / V / VI-VIII


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wonder how you get so much reading done the way you wonder how I get so much sewing done. I am in awe. You read more in a week that I do in 6 months. Maybe that's why you can use big words like that one you used in yesterday's post that I meant to look up and forgot. Wait, I'll go see what it was.....scheudenfreude. Ok I'm off to look it up.
I like your new colors. Why does blogger put your sidebar items way down there at the bottom of the page?

Seren said...

I have to make myself savor Evanovich -- though that's kind of like trying to savor M&Ms. So sweet, so quickly devoured. Glad to hear the latest one is as much fun as the others. :)