Gone With The Wind is one of the often referred to “great American novels” and I’d never read it. I found it at the local library book sale and as of tonight I can now say…
Would I recommend it? … Dude – it’s a great American novel, you gotta read it!
Twelve years ago John and I were dating and I was in the hospital recovering from a surgery, doped up on painkillers. John came to visit me every day I was there and one night he rounded up a TV and VCR and brought in one of his favorite movies for us to watch – The Power of One. Sadly due to all those painkillers I have a vivid memory of John sitting by my bed holding my hand, a vague memory of a TV showing up and absolutely no recollection of the movie. Nothing. Nada. In fact it doesn’t matter how many times John has told me over the last twelve years that I have seen the movie, I still don’t remember it.
Two months ago I brought home a book a friend had lent us saying it was a good “guy read” and I should give it to John. I dutifully passed the message on to John telling him it was “something about power of one?” Which then spurred on the same discussion we have repeated over the last twelve years about how I have seen that movie, and I say I don’t remember any of it and he says he loves it… yada, yada, yada.
But now our conversation has changed because now I’ve read the book and he remembers the movie and I can say things like, “What do you mean the movie doesn’t have Hoppie in it?!” Which is far better than the I still don’t remember the movie conversation we had been having.
Would I recommend it? Yes. This is a good “guy book” in a way that isn’t just shooting people, running around and blowing stuff up. It should also be mention that while I am distinctly not a guy myself, I thoroughly enjoyed it and have recommended it to other not guys. Although my girlyness probably came out when the boxing made me cringe, I can’t help it, I’m not a guy.
It’s Philippa Gregory – Good
It’s historical fiction – Great
It’s got a main character that’s likable – Awesome
Would I recommend it? For certain
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.
One of the many benefits of having a period of rest with a nursing baby is that there is a lot of time for reading. Some of it may be reading at two in the morning – but that’s never been something that has bothered me. In fact, this is about the only time I can be reading at two in the morning without mentally chastising myself and feeling guilty about being tired the next day. So without further adieu, here is my reading companion and book model showing off the last Phillipa Gregory book I read:
She looks fairly unimpressed but it’s Phillippa Gregory so the book was of course well written and pretty darn good (she is one of my favorite authors after all).
The book was set just post WWI and I liked that if only for the novelty of it. WWII books seem to be everywhere you look but I’ve read very few of this era, does anyone have suggestions for others?
Would I recommend it? I would except that early on I realized that the characters were all headed toward a gigantic train wreck of a catastrophe. The impeding doom of the wreck you know is coming but takes an entire book to get to could really get to a person. Fortunately for me, I had plenty of time in the middle of the night to read the book quickly and so I enjoyed it. Not a happy book, but a good book.
Awhile ago Aunt Corky mentioned she was reading this book and that she was enjoying it, since she’s usually got good taste I thought I’d try it.
She was right, I liked it.
Would I recommend it? Yes, I think I’m going to check out some of her other books as well.
My copy of this book is a discard from our library and it confuses me because on the spine there is a little sticker that says “Mystery” complete with ghost and candle.
Is it because mystery and history rhyme and they mixed up the stickers?
Or if I was still a young adult and hadn’t read this book a pile of times would there be a mystery to solve?
I can’t figure it out, but if I ignore the sticker I like the rest of the book mystery or not. I think I read this first as a Battle of the Books book and it’s somehow found it’s way onto my book shelf.
Would I recommend it? Yes, while I enjoy it now I loved it when I was younger.
Brooks has also written Year of Wonders, which is a fabulous book about the bubonic plague.
If you can write a fabulous book about the plague, writing about Mr. March from Little Women is no trouble at all.
Would I recommend it? Yes, I didn’t love Mr. March, but it didn’t matter.
Now I must go, I have to re-read Little Women.
Geeze Jessie couldn’t you read a new author?
I know, I know, there are already three of Gregory’s books I’ve done my tiny reviews on. What can I say? I love her!
For whatever reason reading about the royal families plotting to destroy each other and take the throne while using their children as pawns never gets old for me.
Would I recommend it? Yes.
On a different topic altogether in the background of the picture you can notice Piper sleeping on the couch (because as Johnny pointed out that is where she is usually to be found) and my stereo in the hole in my wall, (just because Corky asked).
Have I ever mentioned that I forgot books almost as soon as I read them? These little reviews I write, I do them immediately. Except for this one. It’s been a few days, and 3/4 of the way through my next book the details of this one are getting fuzzy already, so I’ll make it short.
Philippa Gregory is one of my new favorite authors.
Her books are excellent.
You should read them.
This one had lots of battles, traitors and people with the same name.
Would I recommend it? Yes. Look here and here for other books I’ve read by her.
Behind the Willows 