Diane’s Comments (group member since May 09, 2012)

Diane’s comments from the Challenge: 50 Books group.

Haven't added anything in a while. Since my last post: Killing Lincoln (O'Reilly), The Light Between Oceans (Stedman), The Baker's Wife (Healy), Bury Your Dead (Penny), A Trick of the Light (Penny), Gone Girl (Flynn)

Just finished The Amateur by Edward Klein. Excellent FACT BASED, WELL-RESEARCHED book on the inexperience of Barak Obama. Based on interviews of some of Obama's closest SUPPORTERS-yes supporters.
Must-read prior to election.

Alison wrote: "thx"

;-)

Alison wrote: "was Kisses from Katie good? thats on my list to read. havent heard much about it."

Hi Alison: Here's the review I wrote:
I give this book 4 stars for the absolutely beautiful message it brings to the world. While I liked the style of the writing I did not care for the repetitiveness and predictability. Would have been better for me if it were more an essay and shortened with some of the more powerful stories of Katie highlighted.

More books read: The American Heiress
Goodwin, Daisy;
Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life
Rohr, Richard
Harbor Lights (Chesapeake Shores, #3)
Woods, Sherryl
State of Wonder
Patchett, Ann
Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption
Davis, Katie J.
Death Comes to Pemberley
James, P.D.

Just finished American Gods:
I really loved the idea of this book: the Gods of old cultures brought to the New World and their fate and fading with subsequent generations v. the gods of modern/post-modern culture and pop culture. I just don't think Gaiman pulled it off well. There was so much that could have been done.

The underlying messages are there: what we worship changes when we put our faith in the gods of culture, what is truth/true, loyalty v. subterfuge. There are some wonderful lines and philosophical thoughts. But the story just gets in the way. It is long in the tooth and jumps around too much. I just wanted to get through it.

Finished Flowers on Main. Good, quick, summer yarn! Back to American Gods...

Working on American Gods. I like it so far but feel it really needs my full attention. So I've started the second in the Chesapeake series by Sherryl Woods...liked the first and it was perfect "Summer" reading.

Okay-Ready to fill in what I've read so far:

Death at La Fenice
Hunger Games
Catching Fire
Mockingjay
Redfield Farm
Catholicism
The Kitchen House-very good
Gift From the Sea (One of my all-time favorite books)
Snow Child
Lent and Easter
The Help (for a second time!)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (can't believe I'd never read it--wonderful!!!)

You can see my reviews if interested...
The Tiger's Wife
The Inn at Eagle Point
Catherine the Great-wonderful!
Murder in the Marais
Pride and Prejudice-Can't believe I had never read it...another all-time favorite now!
Child 44
The Fiery Cross-my least favorite so far of the Outlander Series

Here we go!