Recent reads: Summer 2012 Part Six


A modern coming of age story.  A mystery, a YA novel and two more continuations of beloved series from this summer.  This grouping may not have been the most titillating but, then again, it's had some pretty stiff competition.

My favourite out of this bunch has to be The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict, which I thought was better than any of the books in the Benedict Society series.  The plotline falls away slightly at the end but I think that Trenton Lee Stewart is slowly refining his craft.  I can't wait to see what comes out of him next.  The mystery / thriller The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo was substantial and expertly wove the past and present together.  For some reason though, I couldn't really get into it as much.  Jo Nesbo is an extremely popular Norwegian author so I may need to give his books another shot.

The next few books that I'm currently working on may deserve their own posts, rather than me haphazardly bunching them together and not taking the courtesy to mention more than half the books I read.  I shouldn't cheapen the words that the authors have taken the time and commitment to piece together.  It's not a race to read the MOST books (even though that would be a race I would WIN).  Really though, I should stop thinking like it's a competition.  Right after I finish reading the 30 books I'm working on this week...

Comments

  1. oooh new books i've not heard of

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  2. I love Jo Nesbo. I'm actually only allowing myself one of his books every three months. it's so hard to come across good crime writers, and I have a tendency to read all their books within a few weeks and then go cold turkey for six months or a year. so now I'm trying to do the reasonable thing and spread them out a bit more.

    do you know Henning Mankell? I like him even better. very densely written, a lot of social insight and empathy, his main character is messed up too, like most cops, but more relate able, at least to me, I just can't stop once I start...

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  3. You're a marvel, I don't know anyone who consumes books the way you can. There should be a competition for that instead of eating hotdogs. :)

    I've gotten good reviews of Sleepy Hollow Family Album. Did you enjoy it?

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  4. If reading is an Olympic sport, you'd win gold for sure, Rooth! So cool...and more books to add on my list:)

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  5. I've heard good things about Jo Nesbo, but have yet to read anything of his...time to search one out I think...

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  6. It's true. You totally win a gold star! :)I've not yet read any of the Benedict Society, but they look so fun--they are on my list! And Jo Nesbo is now on my list.

    Funny Petra should mention Henning Mankell--also on my list!

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  7. Woah. 30 books. You're such a beast! :) I definitely wish I could go through as many books as you. I'm gonna try harder to at least reach a tenth of that! :D

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  8. I've been wanting to read The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict! I'm a sucker for juvenile books... I used to read all the time until I got to high school, and now I can't seem to stomach adult books unless they are the classics like Great Gatsby or Catcher in the Rye. I have been giving some of the Vampire and Zombie books a try though (Pride & Prejudice AND zombies!?)

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  9. I'll have to check out The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict, it sounds good!

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  10. i really need to start reading more again...haha and i hear you on wanting to eat treats so i guess that is a motivator to work out :D

    -Jessica
    http://www.jumpintopuddles.com

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  11. Nice! I'm always looking for new books to put on my library list :-)

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  12. Oooh Jo Nesbo. I'm reading Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy right now and loving it. Thanks for the recommendations!

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  13. Callum just finished Unbroken for school, and since Neel's already read it, I'm due up next. My mother in law hated it, so I'm really looking forward to it!

    I love Tinker Tailor, which Erin recommended, and even wrote my college senior thesis on. Have fun!

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  14. i'm glad i have some new suggestions! i just finished reading 'atlas shrugged' which is not light summer reading, ha! but it was really good.

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  15. I love reading but haven't made time for it lately. I'll have to check out these suggestions!

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  16. Thanks for the recommendations! I'm just finishing a (kind of not great) book right now and I'm looking for a good one to move on to :)

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  17. Looks like a good read. I've just finished "Just kids" by Patty Smith. It is an amazing and inspiring story.

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