Book Round Up

I’ve been neglecting my Goodreads account lately. That and sharing books I’ve read with my blog readers. So, when a friend asked me if I’d read anything good lately (she just got an ereader), I said, “You betcha.”

And then I had to try and recall something I’d read in the past few months.

Fortunately, that wasn’t a problem. Briefly, here are a few…

Room by Emma Donoghue. Room is about a girl who is kidnapped and has a baby while in captivity (the kidnapper is the father) and when her child turns five, they manage to escape. It wasn’t nearly as disturbing as I thought it would be–which is kind of a relief, actually. I don’t like it when books mess with my mind in a huge way. The first half of the book deals with their imprisonment, the second half with… well, I won’t spoil it by telling you what they deal with.

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The Immortals by J.T. Ellison. This one also had mind messing potential, but thankfully didn’t leave any scars. It is about some teens involved in dark magic and murder. Fast and entertaining while the main character tries to track down the murders. Uses several point of views which works well for the story.

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Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda. I really enjoyed this one–more than I thought I would. It follows two families–an American family that adopts a baby from India who was given up because the family was too poor to raise her. It also follows that Indian family. I was worried it would be slow and work to read, but I couldn’t stop reading it! It also shows you a bit about Indian culture and the way things aren’t as balanced as you may think.

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The Irresistible Henry House by Lisa Grunwald. This was an intriguing book as Grunwald set her story of a man unable to commit to relationships in a university practice house during the 1940s. These practice houses existed (my grandmother-in-law attended one as part of her home economics education) and were intended to teach students the latest in home economics. Babies (supplied by an orphanage) included. My grandmother-in-law said there was a waiting list for babies who had been in the practice house as they didn’t play strange. Go figure, having how many mothers. Anyway, this story follows one baby who stays in the practice house instead of being adopted out and his own journeys into making lasting bonds with the women who come and go in his life.

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Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls. This was pretty good, as I do love Walls’s voice. However, I did like her memoir about her own life better–The Glass Castle. Half Broke Horses was about her grandma (who was a pretty amazing woman and character), which was cool, but at times I wanted to reach in the book and smack the grandma.

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Love the One You’re With by Emily Giffin. A chick lit novel that had me waffling back and forth on what I thought the main character was going to do… go back to her husband? Get back together with the ex-boyfriend who still stirs her heart? There were times when I wanted to shove the character one way and other times that I wanted to smack some sense into her and drag her back the other way.

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People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. A novel that moves back in time, following the story of a religious text from it’s daring wartime rescues back to its creation. While it may sound technical and dry, its a great story that is an intriguing mystery and is tied together by a current day protagonist who is not only dealing with her own issues, but also with solving the mystery and history of this book while restoring it.

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How I Became a Famous Novelist by Steve Hely. A humourous novel about a guy who decides he’s going to become a famous novelist to ‘get back’ at his ex-girlfriend who is getting married. He decides he can add in all the great elements of the nation’s greatest best-selling novels to make his The Big One. That means road trip, exotic locations, war, love stories, and philosophical moments. The novel (not the one he writes) follows his progress, downfall, success, downfall, and ultimate… share it… or spoil it? Nah… I couldn’t spoil it for you.

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P.S. Full disclosure: If you purchase one of these books using the links I’ve provided, I get a couple of cents. Does that make me an enterprising sell-out? (However, I haven’t ever ‘sold’ anything from my blog, so maybe it doesn’t–or just makes me an ineffective one. Har, har.)

I Won a book!

Wow! I won something. I haven’t won anything in a random draw since that peanut butter brittle when I was 15. Yes! The peanut butter brittle was good, but guess what’s even better? A brand new book! That’s right… a book. And even better, it is SIGNED by the author. WOO! Signed books always feel so much more special.

Here’s the scoop of chocolate: Kay Elam, over on her blog, had a contest where one could win a brand new copy of the just released book THE IMMORTALS by J.T. Ellison. I’m scared though. She says her books are scary. As in nightmare worthy… I’m going to be reading this thing through the cracks in my fingers as I hold my hand over my eyes! I love it!

Want to check it out? Here’s a linky for you:

Merry Christmas!

Poached from IndieBound.org

If you are a bit geeky and looking for some holiday cheer, click here.

Looking for Something to Read?

If you’re looking for something to read, it has become incredibly easy to do some snooping around. By that, I mean that there are many sites out there where people–just like you–have listed their favourite reads. That means, all you have to do is see what they are reading to find your next favourite read. I know! It’s so easy!

Here are a few places I like to find some good reads (other than bargain bins, the local library and my book club):

Goodreads.com This site has a pile of people blogging, reviewing, rating and talking about books. There are even book clubs and book topic discussions you can join. It’s like book central! (P.S. I’m on GoodReads. I’m still trying to get my account caught up to me though! I’m ‘jeanoram’ if you want to seek me out.)

Chapters, Amazon, indiebound, etc. Most online bookstores have created an online community where you can read reviews, see what other customers have bought or recommended. It’s a great way to fill your shopping cart, that’s for sure!

Girl Meets Book Good reads for chicks. There are a lots of great reads on this site along with reviews written by the site editor who happens to be a literary agent. That means she knows her stuff.

Chatelaine, my favourite Canadian magazine has a book of the month as well as other topics like beach reads. Online, search for ‘book of the month’ and you’ll get a nice list.

Those are a few places I go to get myself started. Where do you go?

Happy reading!

On Their Way!

My books are on their way! They have left Vancouver! I’m so pumped. I might get my books from Chapters today or tomorrow! Weeeeeeee! I love books!

Did I even mention what I ordered?

Here’s the list:

How to Write a Damn Good Novel II by James Frey (Originally, I was going to buy the mystery one so I could slip mysteries into my books as one slipped into ‘The 15 Date Rule’. But then I got distracted. I almost bought then both, but I will hold off–for now. I am also hoping that I won’t miss out on too much having skipped book one.)

Sleeping With Ward Cleaver by Jenny Gardiner (I told you I’d have to buy it now!)

Creating Unforgettable Characters: A Practical Guide to Character Development by Linda Seger (I’ve heard good things about this one and hope that it solves some of my character issues.)

I’ll keep you posted on the books.

Currently I am reading As Seen on TV  by Sarah Mlynowski which is good. You know everything is going to blow up for the main character, Sunny. So you wait, dreading it. http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/As-Seen-On-TV-Sarah-Mlynowski/9780373250363-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527as+seen+on+tv%2527

Enjoy!