Courtesy campfirechicblog

This Friday Reads finds me at the tail end of a great book, The Grapes of Wrath. Yes, I did just call this a great book. I was thinking this morning, as I was driving through the pre-dawn morning traffic, that this story is so wasted on the youth. I have no idea why teenagers are made to read it. I never had to, but I can’t say I would have enjoyed it or understood it better than I understand it now. It’s eerie how it’s so relevant to today – families being forced out of their own homes due to the economy with no choice but to pack up and go where the work is. Only when they get to what is supposed to be the promised land, they find they’ve been sold the same dream as so many others, and there’s only so many pieces of the dream to go around. So much work and sacrifice, sometimes for nothing—and all you can do is keep going.

Yes, I’ve really enjoyed this book. It’s been slow going though, since I’m reading via audiobook. At night I follow along with my e-copy. I’ll probably read more Steinbeck.

My reading has been lax this week because I’ve been devoting time to my new project. My novel, tentatively titled Brunch at Ruby’s, will officially launch February 1.That is, I’ll start writing it.  I’ve been doing some prep-work, working through plotting the beats and having fun with developing my characters, their tastes and likes. I’ve been using Pinterest to build a pin board of things I think my characters like—everything from physical features to persona style, where they live, their decorating flair (or lack thereof), even what kind of food they like. It’s been fun, but also hard work to create a person from dust. Paired with the character survey, I feel more and more like these are real people living in my head.

I’m nervous to start writing next week, but I also know I’ve been holding back a few words, making myself wait until my official start date. Deciding to NOT write in January has been good for me. It’s made me long to get back to it and planted a few ideas in my head. It also took away the pressure of updating and editing and the old ‘ I’ve got to think of something new right STAT now!’  I like to harass myself by imposing impossible deadlines to complete difficult tasks.  I guess I feel like I’m not really working if I’m not working my fingers to the bone.

But that’s next week. This weekend will be one of reading leisure. I’ve a ton of books to choose from—I purchased Gathering of Waters by Bernice McFadden (big fan of her work) and I’ll be reading that tomorrow. Joshlynn Jackson has a new book out this week as well, and I picked up a few new ones in the last few weeks.  Just have to pick one and open it up.

A fine problem to have. :)

Happy Friday, Lovers!

A bit dry, but also very educating about past, present and history of death care– from clock urns to green cremation. Very interesting.

This brings my reading year to a close, though I do have a couple of books I’ve started. Tomorrow brings a brand new challenge…. I don’t know what to set my goal for, for 2012. Maybe I’ll push myself past 60 and go for 80?

• The Girl Who Chased the Moon  by Allen, Sarah Addison - This is the first book I ever read by Sarah Addison Allen. After reading this one, I had to go find ALL of her books and read them. The lightest touch of magic, romance and whimsy wrapped around a delightful piece of southern fiction.
• Still Alice by Genova, Lisa - A heartbreaking story about a woman who is battling early onset Alzheimer’s.
• Columbine by Dave Cullen- One of the few books that actually made me shed tears. A very upfront, detailed account of the events at Columbine High School– from both sides.
• The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Durrow, Heidi- This is probably the most beautifully written, almost poetic story I’ve ever read. I think I imitated Heidi’s style, much to my reader’s irritation, for about a month after I read this book. I also listened to the audiobook and it was beautifully done as well.
• The Kitchen House by Grissom, Kathleen -This was an audio book that I just could NOT stop listening to! Riveting story, satisfying ending. One of the few books I have ever given five stars to.
• Don’t Breathe a Word by McMahon, Jennifer- it’s hard to creep me out with words…..but Oh My. I find this book creepier than any Koontz or King! Really well written tale about a magical place and a Faerie King.
• The Peach Keeper by Allen, Sarah Addison-  I declined to put ALL of her books on this list, but the Peach Keeper was her most recent release and I really enjoyed it.
• Silver Sparrow by Jones, Tayari -I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Tayari several times, if only to hear her read from the first chapter of this book. It is gripping from page one when the narrator reveals that her father is a Bigamist. This is the story of two girls with the same father…but one is a secret.
• The Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner by Smith, Andrea – This is not a new book at all. I met Andrea Smith when she was leaving full time work to write this novel. In fact, I replaced her! Years later, I realized I’d never read this book and picked it up. An engrossing read about a couple who cannot conceive and are blessed with what seems like a baby from above– but they can’t keep him, so they surreptitiously find a home for him. Nor can they keep the other babies that show up on their doorstep, hoping for the same good fortune.
•  Thr3e  by Dekker, Ted – I read this book as research for a story I was writing about Schizophrenia. This story is more about Multiple Personality Disorder, however it is still a DOOZY. I got an inkling early on of what the outcome might be but it just seemed so IMPOSSIBLE. Believe me when I tell you that Ted Dekker is the king of making a way where there seems to be no way.
• When She Woke  by Jordan, Hillary – There were some parts of this book I didn’t really understand. For example there is an oddly placed lesbian awakening that just seems unnecessary to me. And as others pointed out, the main character falling on her own sword over a man (an adulterous minister, at that) was eye roll inducing. Overall, though this was a great tale of The Scarlet Letter meets Orwell’s 1984. Enjoyed it!
• 22 Britannia Road: A Novel by Hodgkinson, Amanda – I generally don’t read historical fiction not set in the US, but this book showed up in the GoodReads Book of the year nominations so I picked it up and I’m happy I did. The story bounces between WWII Poland and England– Silvana’s journey to keep herself and her son alive while her husband Aurek fights in the war, their determination to find each other and build a home together once more… but something is wrong. Something is just… off.
• Honorable Mention: Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Franklin, Tom – I read this at the end of 2010 but enjoyed it so much I wanted to mention it! This story is set in 1970′s Mississippi, around the cold, unsolved disappearance of a young girl. When another girl can’t be found, old suspicions are raised from the dead and two men who were once friends but grew apart must work together to solve the mystery and confront a decades old, buried past.

I set a goal this year to read 50 books and since I JUST finished book #50, it’s time to celebrate!

I’ve always called myself a voracious reader but in reality I probably read about ten books a year. Then I started writing in earnest and reading a lot helped my writing. So in an effort to feed this symbiotic relationship, I joined the challenge this year.

Looking over the list of the books I’ve read this year, I’m filled with pride and memories. Some were quick reads, some I had to push through. All of them gave me a sense of accomplishment that I’ve been sorely lacking lately.

Next year, I think I’ll add a few more and go for it again! Join me!

On the Banks of Plum Creek- A Laura Ingalls Wilder Book

I probably read this book four or five times one summer, then went to the library and borrowed them all until I made my way through every Little House book.

I am not really huge on romances. I find them pretty unrealistic and they make me roll my eyes more than anything– and I’m not just talking Harlequin. A romance has to be really good to hold my attention, i.e it has to be more than Bucky and Lucille rolling around in the hay in secret. Probably the only romance author I’ve read is LaVyrle Spencer,author of contemporary and historical romance. She retired from writing in 1997, but before then she published 25 romance novels about much more than romance. Her heroines are not shrinking violets, nor are they shrews. Her male main characters aren’t larger than life or unrealistic.

I really love all of her work, but the one book that stands out to me is Forgiving. THIS is the book that made me love historical romance.

From Goodreads:

Sarah Merritt arrives in Deadwood, Dakota territory, in 1876 with her father’s printing press and two ambitions–to find her sister Addie and to establish a local newspaper. In a town of mining bachelors, Sarah quickly becomes the center of attention in more ways than one, particularly when she knocks heads with marshal Noah Campbell, her soon-to-be romantic interest. Sarah finds Addie working in a local brothel and commences a long struggle to win back her affection and her soul. She writes to Addie’s former fiance, who comes to Deadwood and joins her in pursuing Addie’s salvation, an endeavor which will force them all to confront an ugly secret from the past.

This book, from the amazon reviews, seems to have been panned as a B Grade Western drama. I just didn’t see it that way. I loved Sarah and my heart ached for Addie and I rooted for Noah. *shrug* I liked it.

Oddly, I am watching it right now. This movie introduced me to John Grisham. It is his debut novel, The Firm, turned into a major motion picture starring Tom Cruise. Of course, the book is better than the film.

From Goodreads:

Mitchell McDeere, raised in the coal-mining region of rural Kentucky, has worked hard to get where he is: third in his class at Harvard Law. He’s young. He’s bright. He’s ambitious. Mitch could have the pick of the big firms in New York and Chicago, but he’s chosen the Memphis tax firm of Bendini, Lambert & Locke. They’re selective. They pay outrageous salaries. They have a turnover rate of zero. And Mitch is about to find out why.

Several events fuel Mitch’s growing suspicions: two of the partners die in a suspicious diving accident off Grand Cayman; the senior partners seem unduly proud of the fact that no one has ever resigned; and security measures at the office are, even for a company with billionaire clients, more than a little extreme. Then Mitch makes an explosive discovery: The firm is owned and operated by the most powerful organized crime family in Chicago. Even as Mitch discovers the truth, he finds himself caught between the FBI, who wants an informant inside the firm, and the firm itself, which will make him a very rich man—or a very dead one.

]]> http://www.thesweetescape.net/blog/2011/authored-inspiration/books-i-loved/30-days-of-books-day-19-fave-book-turned-into-a-movie/feed/ 0 http://www.thesweetescape.net/blog/2011/authored-inspiration/books-i-hated/30-days-of-books-day-18-a-book-that-disappointed-you/ http://www.thesweetescape.net/blog/2011/authored-inspiration/books-i-hated/30-days-of-books-day-18-a-book-that-disappointed-you/#comments Fri, 25 Nov 2011 21:19:24 +0000 MJones http://www.thesweetescape.net/blog/?p=1848 Continue reading →]]> I skipped yesterday. The ‘favorites’ thing was getting to me. I didn’t have a favorite quote… at least not one that I could wake up from my nap to remember… So we’re on to day 18!

Day 18 – A book that disappointed you

I am a huge Grisham fan, have read everything he’s written in the legal thriller genre, but I did not like this book. There were several that grew on me about halfway through. This one just never got me. The moment I read about  ’the drug’ and ‘the big case that could win us millions’, it immediately reminded me of King of Torts, which I enjoyed, but I definitely wasn’t going to read it again with different characters. Incredibly disappointed in this book.

Still love Grisham though.

Look at me, posting in my blog every day this week!

Anyway, ya’ll knew this was coming, right?

“I must confess that I think her as delightful a character as ever appeared in print, and how I shall be able to tolerate those who do not like her at least, I do not know”. 

- Jane Austen

Even if Darcy wasn’t my favorite male character, Elizabeth Bennet has been my favorite female character forever. I love her biting wit, high intelligence, and unmatched strength. I love her sharp tongue (I’ve always admired a woman who can cut a person down without being vulgar. I call it the Julia Sugarbaker), her sense of good will, her love for her sisters and family. I love that she wants to marry for love and will settle for nothing less.  Most of all, I love that she knows when she is wrong and is about to miss a good thing in Darcy.  In this couple, I don’t see  butting heads, rather iron sharpening iron.

A great match, indeed. They’re my favorite fictional couple.

All this talk of Pride and Prejudice makes me want to watch the movie this weekend! I have the 2 DVD set and FOUR DAYS OFF!

I think this one will be kind of obvious… and tomorrow, too. He’s the first character that comes to mind when I think of one I love dearly.

Fitzwilliam Darcy is the male protagonist in Jane Austen’s classic “Pride and Prejudice”.  I saw the BBC Mini Series before I ever read the novel, so Darcy will forever and always be Colin Firth. Speak nothing of that horrific remake with the most uncharismatic Darcy ever. It’s BBC all the way, baby.

I believe what I love about Darcy is that he is the quintessential strong silent type. He is the ultimate gentleman, no matter how rude, terse and tactless. He’s one of those men who may be disliked in public, but in private, treats his lady like a queen.  He often sticks his foot in his mouth because he has no concept of what he should/should not say. However he managed to win over such a strong character like Elizabeth by acting on his feelings and showing her how much he cared for her– by taking care of her family.

I don’t think another male character has ever been more gruff and aloof but endearing to me. Maybe he is the epitome of wanting what you cannot have.

From Goodreads:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”

So begins Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen’s witty comedy of manners–one of the most popular novels of all time–that features splendidly civilized sparring between the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet as they play out their spirited courtship in a series of eighteenth-century drawing-room intrigues. Renowned literary critic and historian George Saintsbury in 1894 declared it the “most perfect, the most characteristic, the most eminently quintessential of its author’s works,” and Eudora Welty in the twentieth century described it as “irresistible and as nearly flawless as any fiction could be.”