Anyway, I wish I could list all the books I've read this year but there's so many I can't remember them all (not braggin', just sayin'). So, I'll list the ones I've read since I've been on holiday with a rating: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down or Switzerland (get it? neutral?) and a short note for the ones I didn't like.
I'll add to the list as I finish a book. Feel free to agree or call me a moron. I welcome spirited discussion. Earlier this month (4/08) I joined a book club through Meetup and I'll note which books were for the club.
In no particular order:
The Girls' Global Guide to Guys Theresa Alan- Thumbs Up
Goodnight Nobody: A Novel Jennifer Weiner- Thumbs Up
The Red Hat Club Haywood Smith- Thumbs Up
The Red Hat Club Rides Again Haywood Smith- Thumbs Up
Dreamboat Judith Gould- Thumbs Down (Cliched and predictable)
My Favorite Mistake Beth Kendrick- Switzerland (Cute, fast read but characters were formulaic)
Suburbanistas Pamela Redmond Sutran- Thumbs Up
The Pact Jennifer Sturman- Switzerland (Chick Lit mystery, predictable)
The Chinchilla Farm: A Novel Judith Freeman- Thumbs Up
Wife in the Fast Lane: A Novel Karen Quinn- Thumbs Up
Between, Georgia Joshilyn Jackson- Thumbs Up (Way, way up)
Tales from the Crib Risa Green- Thumbs Up
Julie and Romeo Get Lucky Jeanne Ray- Thumbs Up
Pug Hill Allison Pace- Thumbs Up (Despite my dislike of small, yippy dogs)
Gods in Alabama Joshilyn Jackson- Thumbs Up! - Methinks she's going to become one of my favorite authors
The Ivy Chronicles Karen Quinn- Thumbs Up
Promise Not to Tell: A Novel Jennifer McMahon- Switzerland (I was expecting more creepy and scary)
The First Assistant Clare Naylor/Mimi Hare- Thumbs Up the The Second Assistant the first book, was also good
Just Between Us Cathy Kelly- Thumbs Up (A little too long)
Rescuing Rose Isabel Wolff- Thumbs Up (Stay away if you're tired of the Bridget Jones knockoffs)
Always and Forever Cathy Kelly- Thumbs Up (Again, a little long)
The Secret Life of Bees Sue Monk Kidd- Thumbs Up
Awake Elizabeth Graver - Thumbs Up - Her writing style is a bit flowery. There were times when I got tired of it, and others where I loved her sentences
Oh My Stars Lorna Landvik - Thumbs Up - This was very good
Weekend in Paris Robyn Sisman - Thumbs Down - Couldn't finish it
Adventures of an Ice Princess Liz Maverick- Thumbs Down (Vapid)
The Almost Moon Alice Sebold- Thumbs Up
Remember Me? Sophie Kinsella- Thumbs Up Finished 4/20/08
Naked David Sedaris (for the book club) - What's between neutral and Thumbs Down? I didn't hate it. There were parts that made me laugh out loud. But it was weird. It's in essay format, but I didn't feel like I was learning about his life. Read at your own risk. Finished 5/10/08
Love the One You're With Emily Giffin- Thumbs Up
Flirting with Forty Jane Porter - Thumbs Up Finished 6/17/08
Water for Elephants Sarah Gruen - Thumbs WAY Up - This was for the book club. I didn't expect to like it because of the whole circus thing but it was great!
Love Monkey Kyle Smith - Thumbs Down This was for book club. Smith has a way with words, but I didn't connect to the character at all. (Finished 7/23/08)
The Time Traveler's Wife Audrey Niffenegger - Thumbs WAY Up For book club. SO, so good!
Certain Girls Jennifer Weiner- Thumbs Up
Savannah Breeze Mary Kay Andrews -Thumbs Up - This was the second in a (sort of) series. I also read Savannah Blues which was good too. Both are light reads.
The Alphabet Sisters Monica McInerney - Thumbs Up
Swapping Lives Jane Green - Thumbs Up
The Center of Everything Laura Moriarty - Thumbs Up
Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman Elizabeth Buchan - Thumbs Down - I rarely put a book down without finishing it, but I just couldn't get into this
Ready or Not? Chris Manby - Thumbs Up
The Ex-Wife's Survival Guide Debby Holt - Switzerland - Light and fast but not the best ex-wife gets her life together book I've read
Happiness Sold Separately Lolly Winston - Thumbs Up
The Other Side of the Story Marian Keyes - Thumbs Up
Speechless Yvonne Collins/Sandy Rideout - Thumbs Up
Love Walked In Marisa de los Santos - Thumbs Up
Luscious Lemon Heather Swain - Thumbs Up
The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters Elizabeth Robinson - Thumbs Up
We Are All Welcome Here Elizabeth Berg - Thumbs Up - I think I'm going to like everything she does
High Stakes: A Tale of Vegas Vampires Erin McCarthy - Switzerland - I almost put it down, but it was such a fast read I finished before I got really bored
Ladies with Options Cynthia Hartwick - Thumbs Up
Middlesex Jeffery Eugenides - Thumbs Up
Hissy Fit Mary Kay Andrews - Thumbs Up
The Family Tree Carole Cadwalladr - Thumbs Down - Could barely make it past the first chapter
The Girl Who Stopped Swimming Joshilyn Jackson - Thumbs Up
Sweet Revenge Dianne Mott Davidson - Thumbs Down I usually enjoy this series despite the plot similarities, but this was so formulaic and almost painful to read.
Hi! I too loved Secret Life of Bees ... did you know they're making a movie of it? I blogged about it earlier this week.
ReplyDeleteAlso, my entire blog is dedicated to books, with a list of what I've read/reviewed in the sidebar. If you're looking for book suggestions please drop by, and post a comment while you're there.
I'm adding you to my google reader ... it sound like you've got a variety of things to post about and I'm excited to read them! :)
I would say we have the same taste in books. I have read about 75% of the same books as you. The other 25% I will have to look into. I agree that I don't understand why people don't like to read. I just wish I had more time. I am always surrounded by books I am intending on reading. Love your blog.
ReplyDeleteYou know all about my reading addiction. I've read many of the books you have listed here, and agree with your reviews. We have almost the same taste in books!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy I came across your blog! We have the same taste from what I can see in our reading. I will be definitely reading some that I haven't read from your list.
ReplyDeleteYou are now on my Reader....yay!