I'm super busy with school, but I've still got time to read. I'm working on the second book of the Outlander series, but I thought I'd blog about my latest book club books as we are looking for new suggestions.
Over the summer, we read "An audience of chairs" by Joan Clark. It was a strange book, but good. I couldn't decide if I liked the main character or not, as she was very odd and eccentric but it was still a good read.
We then read "Divisadero" by Michael Ondaatje, which I didn't enjoy all that much. It was the first novel I'd ever read by him and I gave it a 7/10. It certainly kept to the theme of its title; the book was really like two books, but neither came together in the end and I like endings that wrap themselves up a little more than that.
Now we are reading a really good book. I completely adore YA novels, and this one is called "The book thief". It takes place just before and during WWII in Germany and is about a little girl who steals books from the Nazis and other places. It's amazing so far.
However, we've decided we need to branch out in the type of book we read, so I've been trying to come up with some new suggestions before our next meeting, which will be at my house. All of our books lately seem to have the same theme of separated families due to a traumatic experiece; a father gives a daughter up for adoption without telling the mother in one, a father takes a mother's children away because of her mental disability in another, and then a daughter runs away from her father in our last one.
Here are the future possibilities on our list:
Late nights on air, Elizabeth Hay
The Thirteenth Tale, Diane Setterfield
The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls
and
The Red Tent, Anita Diamant
Have you read any of them? What would you recommend?
7 comments:
Oo! oo! Late Nights on Air! It got our highest ever rating in our book club, an 8/10 (we're pretty tough on books). I liked it a lot, but it's pretty Canadian in the way that it's not really plot-heavy.
The Red Tent is another of my favourites. More plot-heavy and pretty good, I thought.
Another one I'd recommend is A Student of Weather by Elizabeth Hay.
I've never read Divisadero, but perhaps you could give Ondaatje another try with The English Patient (one of my constant re-reads).
How are you liking Dragonfly in Amber? I'm in between the fourth and fifth books, kind of taking a break. Jamie still haunts my dreams, however!
Hmmmm ... you might want to read 'In the Skin of a Lion' for another Ondaatje try ... I loved the English Patient when I started it and was dragging myself to the finish line by the end. He seems to be a hit/miss author for me.
If you're looking to get away from the family theme, 'The Glass Castle' wouldn't be my first choice. Fantastic book, but kind of depressing at the same time!
'Red Tent' -- meh. I'd say 7/10. Very well written, but not a book that captivates.
Haven't read Elizabeth Hay or Diane Setterfield, but I've heard that both are fairly good.
Have you read 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime', Sabrina? That might be one to put on the list.
OH. You should also check out AM Homes, if you're wanting something different ... though she doesn't do too well with happy families either. But the writing is fantastic. 'This Book Will Save Your Life' is my faovurite of hers so far -- a bit lighter than her usual fare.
Miss you!
xoxo
The Book Thief is a really good read. I hope you enjoy it!
Haven't read any of the four mentioned.... but I did enjoy The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Another book I adore is Lullabies for Little Criminals, if you haven't read that one already.
My book club is about to start on Eat Pray Love. Will let you know how that one goes!
Thanks guys! I'm enjoying the second book so far, Ciboulette, but I was kind of pissed at the beginning to find out that she'd gone back to Frank.
Let me know what you think at the end of the book...
Hmm... I should mention that Lullabies for Little Criminals probably isn't the best if you're trying to get away from the fractured families theme right now.... but keep it in mind for later on down the road!
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