Recent reads: Summer 2012 Part Five


Happy Friday all!  You made it through the week - that deserves celebration with your cold alcoholic beverage of choice and a big bowl of ice cream.  Right now, mine would be a frozen margarita and a half gallon of cookies and cream.  I'm crossing my fingers that my sister will visit this weekend and that the rain  holds off long enough for me to get a ride in on Sunday.

Besides a continuation of the Armistead Maupin and Spellman series, which I am still enjoying, I've wormed my way through three other books.  Anne Bishop's big fat Black Jewels Trilogy is for the fantasy lovers that don't mind and maybe even enjoy witches, demons, a High Lord of Hell and talking animals.  I will warn you - it is on the mature side and does not shy away from sex or sexual abuse.  I don't believe those themes to be critical to the stories, which regardless are entertaining and present several strong female characters, good and evil.  As with most trilogies, I enjoyed the first book the best.  Why is that, by the way?  The first Harry Potter, first Lord of the Rings, first Game of Thrones - maybe because it's when I first meet the main characters and the magical settings that they live in.

Skippy Dies and This Is Where I Leave You are books you have to be in "that" mood to read.  The fictional novels address very real, complicated and ugly problems that normal people face, albeit compounded into a small period of time.  The tragic heroes, and they are tragic, each have to confront and slay the dragons in their lives.  The solutions seem easy enough to an objective third party reader but, funny enough, that's the way it is in real life as well.  Expect what you would in real life - unrequited love, sex, babies, marriage, infidelity - and you'll be in the appropriate mood to read these books.

Comments

  1. Happy Friday! I went for a cream soda tonight--my drink of choice only 2 or 3 times a year. You are amazing! You've read more books in the past few weeks than I have in the past year or so.

    I enjoy the occasional witch/demon story, but Black Jewels may be too mature for me. The other two sound interesting--it's nice to read about other people's real lives. It's funny how easy it is to see how other people have gotten off track, perhaps even sabotaging themselves, but so hard to see our own situations clearly. I do my best to try to step outside myself and consider other people's perspectives, but it's hard to know if you're successful at that.

    You changed your profile pic! That's a lovely photo--that girl has a spark in her eyes! :)

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  2. I always liked the hobbit more than lord of the rings series. But I agree, I generally like the first books more than the last, I think it's also because I'm sick of the formula - I mean, it was exciting the first couple of the times but then I get it!

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  3. Thanks for the recommendations.

    I agree that the first book in any trilogy is always my favorite.

    *Erin

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  4. Happy Friday!I envy u being able to consume all those without getting afraid of the fat haha As for me, The Return of The King would be the best. The Fellowship of The Ring is started with quite long pages of history. Though it's not a book, The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan's Batman) still is a trilogy and I think everyone would also love the last installment. Have u watched it?

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  5. You sound just like my daughter. She scours Amazon, B&N, and Half Price Books looking for her next author or series. I believe she has read her way through the Fantasy/Fiction section and manga sections. The kindle is always stocked! Whereas I follow many food blogs, she lives on the blogs of authors waiting for little chapter releases of their upcoming books! You two would have so much to talk about! She just got her U.T. roommate assignment but she is totally into sports (my d. is not). It could be interesting!

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  6. Sounds like some great books! I need to find some good summer reads. All of my friends are reading the 50 Shades series. I read the first and didn't enjoy it at all!
    :)
    Allison

    P.S. I'm having an INTERNATIONAL $75 Shopbop giveaway on my blog, so don't forget to enter! :)
    A's Fashion Files
    $75 Shopbop Giveaway!

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  7. Thanks, as always, for the recs. Can't ever get enough of these posts.

    It's funny...I think I always like the last book in a series the best. I'm always looking for closure. I think I probably enjoy the journey of the middle books the best, but I'm just always so happy to reach those pivotal moments...in HP, in the Hunger Games, in LoTR. Lovely memories. =)

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  8. Sounds like some good books... I have so many book review obligations but I always love to find out about new ones!

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  9. I'm always looking for new books. Which one was your favorite?

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  10. Man I wish I had ice cream right now ;) I've been reading all Coelho's books - making my way through them. I don't agree with some of the viewpoints but for the most part, it's inspired reading. Hope you have a lovely weekend! :)

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  11. Aaaah sunday now but I can still read! Great choices!

    Cheers
    CCU

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  12. I usually enjoy the last book of a series

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  13. Girl, you must be a fast reader. So jealous! And that Black Jewels trilogy is going on my to-read list as well:)
    Thanks for the recs!

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  14. I haven't heard of these, I'll have to check them out! I always like the first book too- there is nothing quite as magical as discovering an amazing story for the first time.

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  15. Perfect timing! I just finished reading Journey to the Center of the Earth . . . and I'm not quite sure what to pick up next . . .

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  16. I've heard lots of good things about Skippy Dies but I've never quite mustered up the enthusiasm to read it. What do you think? Worth it? Sounds like perhaps not. X

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