Books, Books, and more books
So there’s a lot of stupid stuff going on right now. Unfortunately for me, I am not able to be as calm and rational about things as the rest of my family… so I decided to just not comment on any of it, because I will undoubtedly make it worse, cause that’s what I do 
So I decided to say what’s on my “to read” list and then more books I’ve read and reviews on them! YAY!
TO READ LIST:
1. I am actually READING “The true and outstanding adventures of the Hunt Sisters” (Weird Jen, but I was reading it when you left that comment!! I got it cause it was about sisters too!!). And I must agree…. I’ve put it down a few times and started a new book… haha and I don’t put books down either… so not the BEST sign!
2. I also started reading… “driving sideways” by Jess Riley. It’s SO good so far. I picked it up A. because it’s half off and B. My hero and author, Jen Lancaster, reccommended it on her website!
3. The Wonder Spot By Melissa Bank
4. My friend Leonard By James Frey (even though I KNOW he lied about it… GOT IT OPRAH!… his books are still SOOOO capturing and easy to read)
5.The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by: Diane Chamberlain… on sale at target and the description reminded me of a book I read and loved.
6. The Lost by: Daniel Mendelsohn. ONLY $2.50 at a half price book store… AWESOME… and any book Elie Wiesel says is good is fine by me.
7. Last seen Leaving by: Kelly Braffet… it was only $2… haha so I got it@
8. The Diplomat’s Wife By: Pam Jenoff… it sounded SO interesting and different… so i got it cause it was half off!
9. My Best Friend’s Girl by: Dorothy Koomson. Honestly… loved the cover. I completely judge books by their covers… and I’m usually right
10. The Bright Forever By: Lee Martin It was a pultzer prize finalist for fiction… also the back reminded me of a book by one of my favorite authors too
And that’s all on the TO READ. I bought all these books within the past week, haha I got excited. Plus a lot of them were half off… so what was I suppossed to do?!?!
Ok now some more book reviews… because I haven’t even reviewed a fourth of the books I’ve read!!!
Night- Elie Wiesel- A +
Since I mentioned him earlier, I thought I’d go over his book first. Phenomenal. One of my favorite books. BUT not in the way that the Applause of Heaven is my favorite… I’d read that one over and over. This one I had a hard time reading because you KNOW the whole time he actually went through this. It’s not a very long book… but it feels like it lasts for years because you just want it to be over for him. I cried pretty much the entire way through it, but that’s what I love about it. A book that makes you feel something real.
The Lovely Bones- Alice Sebold- A +
Also one of my favorite books. I think what it says on the back is so true: This book begins with more horror than you can imagine but closes with more beauty you can hope for.” I almost wanted to stop after ready the first chapter… it’s horrifying… one of the worst things I can ever imagine happening to anyone (it’s clearly not a true story… but still). But then it unfolds and ends so beautifully. You won’t be able to put it down. It’s amazing. Oh and they’re making this into a movie. Which…. I don’t know. Read the book… I dont think a movie could capture 1/4 of the emotion the book does.
Love Walked In- Marisa de los Santos- B+
I love the way this woman writes. It’s so interesting to read. I liked this book. There were times when I was like… blah… about it. And it’s not what I expected it to be. AT all. Which is what I enjoyed so much about it. I expected one thing… then another thing…. then another thing…. and got something completely different, yet more awesome that what I expected! I’d for sure read more books from this author.
Such a Pretty Fat- Jen Lancaster- A
Ahhh I love her. I met her when I bought this book and she signed it and the other 2 books of hers I have. She is EXACTLY how you would think she is by reading her books. She is SOOO funny, sincere, sweet, and freking adorable. Her book is about her being fat with a high self-esteem. It’s SO hysterical. It starts because a guy on the bus calls her “a fat bitch” and she just laughed and said… like I’ve never heard that before… then realized something’s wrong if she doesn’t get offended. Then that’s when she starts writing the book. She’s seriously awesome. And her husband was adorable and so enamored with her at her reading then stayed at talked to all her fans and wanted to take us all out for drinks, haha awww!!
Love the One you’re with- Emily Giffin- B
I was SOOOOO excited for this book. I LOVE Emily Giffin. her first 2 books, something borrowed and something blue are ADORABLE. They made me laugh and cry. And then her 3rd book was also so good. (Although I missed the characters of the first 2 books). I like the way it ended… after a while. At first I was kind of like… huh? I enjoyed it and it’s an easy read. I still think her first 2 books have been the best. But I also think I’m being unfair cause I was SOOO excited for this… so I put a lot of pressure and expectations on the book! I pre-ordered it like 2 months earlier THAT is how excited I was… so to be completely honest, it let me down a little bit. I still liked it and read it in about 2 days.. I just wanted a little more and I didn’t get it!
Remember Me? -Sophie Kinsella- A +
I would read ANYTHING…. I repeat, ANYTHING by Sophie Kinsella. She is hands down, the funniest writer ever. Every single book I’ve read by her I’ve wanted to be the character in it. She writes the FUNNIEST characters. She is the writer of the confessions of a shopoholic series… which is awesome, every one of them. Awesome. But I’m getting side-tracked. NOW here’s the difference between her book and Emily’s one above this. I was JUST AS excited about this book and also ordered it online and it SURPASSED my expectations. It’s hysterical and sweet. It’s about a girl who gets in an accident and wakes up and doesn’t remember anything that happened in the past 3 years. So she’s confused how she became who she is and doesn’t like it. It reminded me of a movie I saw…Regarding Henry, but more awesome and way funnier. I SERIOUSLY wanted to get in an accident and lose my memory. I mean… if a book can make you WANT something like that…. it’s probably a good book. * SIDE NOTE* I JUST read that they’re making a shopoholic movie… with Isla Fisher as Becky… who is actually EXACTLY who I would cast. It will be cute… like the devil wears prada was cute. I’ll let you know when it comes out how it was
Can you Keep a Secret- Sophie Kinsella- A+
While I was reviewing her newest book I read, I remembered how much I LOVED this one. LOVED LOVED LOVED. I’ve actually put aside NEW books to re-read this one… and I don’t do that often! I re-read books, of course, but it;s usually when I’ve foolishly spent all my money and can’t buy any new books (or I ran out of room on my book shelves…. which has happened). But it is so cute, the lead… again I wanted to work in a crappy news room and have my parents like my cousin better (which they actually might, haha). But it’s about how she tells this guy all her secrets on a plane when she thinks it’s about to crash… and he ends up being the guy who owns her company. It’s pretty hysterical. I laughed out loud a TON of times while reading it… every single time I read it!
The Spellman Files-Lisa Lutz- B
I did NOT expect to like this as much as I did. Partly because I only went into the store to by another Ken Follet book… and it was $4.99… so i got it. And loved it. “Harriet the spy for grown-ups”. It’s about a family who are private detectives and how this has effected their lives. The lead character killed me because she would call random guys she saw… “future ex-boyfriend #11″ I thought it was so funny… not future boyfriend… future ex boyfriend, haha. She’s not an optimistic and her mind is so funny (the lead character’s mind). Kind of dark, but still funny. A good, easy, fun read.
Sooo I could go on for another 10 pages… but I’ll stop and save some more for later Ok.. and I’ll let you know how all the books I’ve been reading are when I’m done!
Picking a favorite book to me is like asking normal people to pick a favorite song or movie. I can’t do it. But my MOST favorites are:
*The bible… I just bought a new one!
* Applause of Heaven
* ALL The Harry Potters (I miss you Harry Potter!!)
* Can you Keep a Secret?
*Night
* Pillars of the Earth AND a world’s End
* A Thousand Splendid Suns
* To Kill a mockingbird (I’m with ya Jen, makes me cry everytime!)
* Little Women (OF COURSE)
* The Lovely Bones
* Something Borrowed and Something Blue
* All Jen Lancaster books
*1984 (I hated it while reading it… but years later the book still comes back to me and intrigues me.. I recently bought a collector’s copy… I feel it;s a book you NEED to have… along with to kill a mockingbird, little women, catcher in the rye, and a tree grows in brooklyn… classics)
Everyone READ! It’s awesome!! I love it SOOO much. Most nights I’d rather stay in and read than go out. So read, it takes your mind off of things and transports you to another world for just a little while
OH and Im LISTENING to some books on itunes (I drive a lot).. The last Lecture and the 5 people you meet in heaven. I’m on the last lecture…. and i had to stop cause I was practically sobbing while listening to it in my ipod on the el Then I had to stop while driving because I was crying and the tears were compromising my vision!!! But I WILL finish listening to it soon!
Jess said,
June 12, 2008 at 3:41 pm
From one Jess to another, thanks for reading Driving Sideways! I’m so happy you’re liking it so far.
My Best Friend’s Girl sounds intriguing. Must pick that one up….
aboulet said,
June 13, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Have you read Dawn or Day by Weisel? They aren’t as good as Night (but, I mean, how do you top a book that won a Nobel Peace Prize?!?) and they are fiction, but they are really interesting. He basically puts himself in the place of the Nazi Regime and, through the characters, starts asking questions about the situation like, would he have done anything different?, would he have shown mercy?, etc. They are interesting and both a quick read (right around 100 pgs.).
Also, please read Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk (the guy who wrote Fight Club)!! He’s my favorite. Some of his other books can have some dirty parts in them, but Survivor isn’t like that…and it’s my favorite book of his.
amybaker said,
June 16, 2008 at 3:12 am
Jess, i love your reviews, and how you read. it’s awesome. three recommendations… the nanny diaries, a tree grows in brooklyn, and the poisonwood bible. they are three of some of my really fun reads. i was laughing the other day b/c i was thinking about how Art & I are “forever” students, (i am starting a phd in the fall) b/c we want to be professors, and you are already a professor, in pretty much a polar opposite field. YOU ROCK!!!!
jessboulet said,
June 16, 2008 at 4:41 am
Yeah girl… my credentials were “looking fabulous” and having any degree at all
Oh and I love the nannu diaries… although the movie BLEW
And I’ll add both Survivor and Poisonwood bible to my reading list
Jen Overholt said,
June 16, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Okay you have way more fun than me as I have mentioned I only get to squeeze in a book when I have nothing happening and with all 5 sweet love children (read it how you want) running around the house needing needing needing me… I am envious of your book time. I will share a funny story with you about books. I had my yearly gyno appointment which I must confess I really don’t mind as I usually have a sitter and get some peace (although I used to bring the first few along for lack of a sitter and leave them in the clothes changing closet while the dr was in the room—yes they will need threapy later I only hope I can get a group rate for all 5…) Well, I went in alone as my wonderful mother in law (seriously I love her) had the kids, the dr was delayed for 45 mintues I did not care I had a book (the hunt sisters) I was alone and no one needed me, I didn’t have to wipe a nose, a bum, pour some juice “NO! I said milk” in a sipper, no one wanted me to hold them or help them. So what if I was sitting freezing under that paper robe that they want you to put on backwards… I was alone and all was well in my quiet room. He actually apologized for taking so long, I accepted and asked if I could have a standing appointment for some quiet time alone. He thinks I’m kidding.
Any way, have you read the books by Sue Monk Kidd? I LOVED secret life of bees holding my breath and feeling my heart rate go up as they ran and loving them into safety. I did NOT like the mermaid chair I think because of the affair of the main character. I felt like it was a cop-out on the character’s part. I think I will re-read the bees while we are isolated in NC for a week. I will have nothing to do so I can sit and read for hours.
I think I’ll drag everyone to the library this afternoon I need a new book I’ve done 3 books in 4 days wish I could have read more
Jen Overholt said,
June 16, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Okay so I forgot to put in the whole reason I told the gyno story, it is that I was able to read in peace for 45 BLESSED minutes… Which I would have put in the orriginal thing I wrote but Tink was having a chocolate melt down and that needed to be taken care of immediatly softening her tantram with m and m candies, so when I forgot to put in 45 minutes to read part, she is the reason why. That was supposed to be in the story making it make sense and be funny at the same time. I honestly think my brain is fried when iI leave out the reason for a story, I was alone in the room for 45 minutes to read and I did not re-read anything because I was needed by a sweet love child. That is the purpose for the stroy b/c I know you did not care that I was at the dr.
amybaker said,
June 20, 2008 at 4:41 pm
i didn’t see the movie.. the chick they picked looked too “homey” or something, so i kind of wrote it off, i’m a snot
jessboulet said,
June 20, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Amy: I wish I hadn’t seen the movie. I mean, I only saw like the last 30 minutes… my roomate was watching it and this is how it went. “In the book, this happened and it was SO much better…. oh something different happened in the book, it was better.” (about 30 times) I didn’t WANT to see it… but I did… by default, and it wasn’t good. I also don’t like to watch books being made into movies… except harry potter of course, and cute books, like the devil wears prada.
Jen: I always forget the point of my stories, haha. But even without saying it, I DID get the point anyway. And even though I bought 12 books in a week and a half… I bought a new one anywy yesterday. But Artie was bothering me to read it, so I finally bought it but haven’t started it yet. I’ve knocked out 4 on that “to read” list though so far… once I get to 5 I’ll do reviews on them. So far.. LOVED all of them though!!!
Jen Overholt said,
June 25, 2008 at 2:57 am
books books books…
I am trying to read SACRIFICE OF ISAAC— have you read it? I am dumbfounded and am afraid I cannot finish it, the author weaves a web and I cannot follow. My mind is so tangled that I cannot begin to describe the story… It just took me 30 minutes to read 10 pages I have not read that slow since I was doing Dick and Jane readers… (Which by the way I am too young to have read for learning purposes I just read them because they were words and I could.) I am constantly re-reading the pages and forget it when a new chapter starts I have to go over the first page at least twice to figure out exactly who is talking… I am afraid I am going to have to return it to the library unfinished and check it out again, at a later date. I hat to admit defeat over a book I have been at this one for 2 full days and am only at page 168… Don’t get me wrong I’m all about deep reading when it is something I can apply to my life but a novel… I’m having a hard time even wanting to pick it up and I know if I put it down I’ll have to “start at the very beginning” which in this case will not be a very good place to start…
I just made C read WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS my mom brought him to us at the lib he found me hugged me right in public and said “why did you make me read that” than he wiped his teary little eyes… he’s my book boy.
amybaker said,
October 6, 2008 at 3:37 am
Okay, so I just finished baby proof, and I was a teensy bit disappointed b/c like you said, I missed the original characers so much. Yet, it was still hilarious, and I read it in about 2 days. book four is next!