Category Archives: adoption

The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

The best I can describe these books is that they were like packages of Double Stuff Oreo cookies hiding in my cupboard.

Now, for me, packages of Oreos in the cupboard don’t last long. I intend to make them last for days, intend being the key word here. But they are just so fun to eat, supremely tasty, with the added bonus of being a comfort food that you don’t have to actually cook and so addictive that even if I just eat two… and two… and two…  all of a sudden I have no more Oreos.

Do I get anything out of the Oreos other than a great sugar high and happy munching?  Nope.

Will I continue to eat Oreos?  Of course.

Do I love Oreos and recommend them to my friends? Without a doubt.

Start here!

Would I recommend these books? Only if you like Oreos.

No, seriously, they have nothing to do with Oreos. Other than that they are fun, addicting and, while I hate to say it – I fear I have to, nutritionally empty. But they are completely fat free, unless of course you eat them with Oreos – it’s your call!

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

While I would cheerfully force Harry Potter into anyone’s hands who hasn’t read it yet, I was not as taken with this book.

Once I was hooked I couldn’t put it down and read far later into the night than I should have but it took a long time to get to that point.

Would I recommend it? Eh… Realistic people are impressive to read about, the depth of characters, their realistic quirks, it’s excellent writing. But does all that work make for likable characters? Not necessarily.

The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

Sometimes when I read a book I wish the author wasn’t quite so good at what they do. I wish that their characters will seem less believable so that when the story is a bit gruesome I can think to myself – naah, nobody would ever do that for real… But Atwood is like Steven King, characters so well rounded and believable that it sometimes makes the books a bit too realistic – but in a good way- mostly.

This was the prequel to Oryx and Crake which, in my way, I remember about three non-relevant details from along with the sense that it was good/fascinating/icky which is just about exactly how this one was. Now I’ve got to go back and read Oryx and Crake again, quick before I forget!

Would I recommend it? She is a very good author but I’m not sure her post apocalyptic world is for everyone. I just have to much of a slimy feel to me after reading this to give it a broad recommendation – but for what it’s worth I am reserving Oryx and Crake from the library tonight to re-read.

Diana Gabaldon

Start with Outlander and then keep going.

I’ve been re-reading them in between other books since Jane has been born and I’m on my 6th book of hers in a month.

I haven’t yet had the words “dinna fash” or “you’ll ken” come out of my mouth yet but it’s a good thing I’ve only got one book left or I’d be yelling “Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ” next time I burn dinner.

Would I recommend them? Having just stared blankly at the computer screen for a many minitues I have no tidy way to sum up the books nor why exactly I’d recommend them.

I think I’m in a Jamie and Claire induced stuper… and now I have to go read what happens next – even though I’ve read this one twice before.

The Patron Sait of Liars by Ann Patchett

This is one of those books that I’ve always heard the name but never actually read.  Since reading State of Wonder  by the same author ( I thought I wrote a review on that book but just discovered that I didn’t. But I should have because it was one of my favorite books I have read lately, definitely a recommend read that one, check it out!  – anyway-)   I thought I’d read some more of Patchett’s books.  I’ve always heard this title come up and now I can see why, it’s good!

I like when books switch character perspectives, but I like it more when they go back. I enjoyed this book, I read it quickly, it was good, but I missed the characters voices when I never got to hear them again.

Would I recommend it? Yes.

(S)mythology by Jeremy Tarr

As I’ve said before I hate reading the back of the book, it always tells too much of what happens. Instead I like to read the first page. Standing in the library the first sentence in this book caught my attention, here it is for your enjoyment:

“Because this is ultimately a fairy tale, and because it is sacrilege not to begin all fairy tales with four simple words, and because I can think of no better words than these four to start off this particular fairy tale, because of all this we begin Once Upon a Time.”

Probably Jeremy had all his papers marked with big red R.O.’s in school too.

When the book took short funny and completly random tangents to explain things that didn’t need explaing I was hooked. Unfortunatly it got a bit long, while it made me laugh out loud at times it’s not something I can broadly recommend.

Unless you think things like this are funny:

“The Cabbie went red. He looks constipated, Sophie though. She was right, the Cabbie was constipated, he hadn’t had a constitutional in just under a week and though usually a pleasant man, one could understand why any mishap could cause him great rage.”

Then maybe you should try it.

Please excuse Piper, she was cuter than the book cover.

Would I recommend it? No

The Wideacre Trilogy by Phillipa Gregory

Wideacre

The most wonderfully written car crash of a book I’ve ever read. I couldn’t look away and I couldn’t stop reading even when I wanted to.

Would I recommend it? No. It’s well done, but I just can’t recommend a book full of incest, I can’t do it.

The Favored Child

One of those books where you know the end.  Right from the beginning you know the chances of a happily ever after are slim, very, very, slim. Then it gets worse, and you see the character falling into trap after trap and then end is coming and all of a sudden it’s back to the car crash that you just can’t look away from.

Would I recommend it? No.  See recommendation above and add in verbal and physical abuse and a barn owl that says “whoo, whoo”

Meridon

Wow.

Would I recommend it? Well, you can’t just go read the last book of a trilogy, it’d make no sense whatsoever.  This one almost made the rest worth it.

The end result:

While this won’t be a trio of books I’ll be highly recommending, my lack of recommendation is only due to the content. While they are clearly not for everyone I believe that they are remarkably well written, go read something else of Gregory’s I doubt you’ll be disappointed!

Run by Ann Patchett

It has been over a week since I read this book and I can’t think of anything in particular to say about it. Seems like a bad sign.

I remember thinking the writing was good.

She also Wrote Bel Canto maybe you should read that instead, I read that three years ago and I still remember parts of it!

Would I recommend it? Nope, can’t even remember it.