I used to do book reviews on my blog, but I haven't done one since last September. I don't like to give away anything about the stories I read. I have found that it diminishes the experience for me. The books I have enjoyed the most have been the ones I picked up not knowing or expecting anything. It has gotten so important to me not to know that I have even stopped reading jacket covers, because for me they reveal too much.
I have made the decision to go from book reviews to posting a book list once a month or every other month to give a list of what I've read and weather or not I recommend the book. I may add my thoughts about the author or something, but I won't say much about the stories if I think it gives too much away. But who am I to judge what is too much to say? I may not say anything...
If you find you have read one of the books on my list please leave a comment for me as I love to hear and read opinions of books after I have read them. Or if you have read a good book feel free to give me recommendations, but please no plot.
This first one will be longer than others because it is several months worth. Here we go:
The Giver by Lois Lowry - I really liked this book even though it was a bit weird. It gave me some interesting insights and freaked me out at parts.
Fablehaven and Fablehaven: Rise of the Evening Star by Brandon Mull - I was reluctant to pick these up because I knew they were fantasy and I from what I had heard I felt like the author was riding on the coat tales of Harry Potter, who, you all know, is VERY near and dear to my heart. Then I found that the author is local and I like to support local artists (unless they write romance) so I gave them a try. I fell in love during the first book. They have a completely different tone than the books about Harry. So far, I have found them very enjoyable. I've just started the third book.
Lyddie by Katherine Paterson - LOVED IT!!!
Hot Lunch by Alex Bradley - This was a Utah Beehive nomination so I picked it up and found it a pleasant read. Very entertaining.
Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson - I liked this book.
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson - LOVED IT!!!
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier - This was the October Book Club Pick. I liked this book, and I really liked discussing it.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - This was a good book, but it's one that someone recommended to me and gave away a key element or two, so I don't feel like I got the full experience of figuring things out for myself.
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Relin - November Book Club Pick. I enjoyed reading this book. It's non fiction which is not really my thing but I really loved this book.
What Became of Her by M.E. Kerr - This book was okay. I feel like it was missing something.
The Sister by Poppy Adams - I loved this book, though it was really, really weird.
Hallelujah by J. Scott Featherstone - December book Club Pick. This was a good book because of the subject matter. I enjoyed reading it though I didn't really care for the authors writing style or his repetition.
Goose Girl by Shannon Hale - LOVED IT! There has been a lot of buzz about this local author in the circles I travel in. I gave her a try and I have been really impressed. Her writing is refreshing and very entertaining. I have been reading a lot of her books lately. All of her books are in demand here, I have to get on the library's waiting list for each of them. If I had daughters I would be purchasing them.
Enna Burning by Shannon Hale - LOVED IT! This is a companion book to the Goose Girl so read the Goose Girl first.
The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho - This book was strange and I'm still not sure if I liked it or not.... I'm leaning toward not.
The Tales of Beedle The Bard by J.K. Rowling - Of course I liked this book. It's a fun little companion to the Harry Potter series and I especially like the format and "contributors". And it was a fund raiser for a charity - it can't get much better than that. I also have two little pamphlet type books that J.K. did about eight years ago for another charity fundraiser, Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them. They are fun little reads that, like The Tales of Beedle, give a little extra insight into Harry's wizarding world.
Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary - I read this to Sam at night one chapter at a time. It was fun and we both enjoyed it.
The Ladies Auxiliary by Tova Mirvis - January Book Club Pick. I really like this book. I recommend it to all women. I liked our book club discussion as well, though I don't feel like we had the time we needed to cover it all (we went on a lot of tangents).
Book of A Thousand Days by Shannon Hale - LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT! So far this has been my favorite Shannon Hale book. It was wonderful!!!
In the last 5 months I have also re-read the Harry Potter 4-7 books and if you haven't read them WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!!!!
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5 comments:
Wow, Julie, you've read so many books!! I don't think I'll read that many books in my entire lifetime. I truly admire that about you!!
A friend of mine introduced me to Shannon Hale last year and I often pick up any of her books if I can find them in the library. Goose girl was my first. I REALLY like her as an author. I like this idea of lists, I feel the same that often books give away too much because it will say information about the book and I'll be 5 chapters in and still not to the things it gives away on the back. You're the second person who has recommended the Fablehaven series to me, so now I'll have to try it. I've been reading the Charlie Bone series by Jenny Nimmo and have really enjoyed it. It's geared towards elementary students and the writing isn't as wonderful as Harry Potter (could anything be?) but it's about kids at a boarding school who are talented...that's all I'll say...
Hey Julie, you're the best. I've been asked to start a book club in our ward and your blog gives me tons of ideas. Could you email me with the format of how you do your book club?
About your list--I haven't read any Shannon Hale--I'll try her. I absolutely love and have taught The Giver. There's two companion books--Gathering Blue and The Messenger--you should read them, they go fast.
Thank you! I've been looking for a new book, this will help!!!!
Great list and it looks like I need to add some of them to my to-read list. I liked The Giver a lot and I think it is even one we could use for book club. I really want to read The Book of a Thousand Days.
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