Jen's favorite quotes


"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."— Marilyn Monroe

Monday, February 22, 2010

It's Monday, what are you reading?



Ok, this past week I had a chance to read several books. I am getting ready for a big move and am hurriedly trying to read all the library books I have. Many of them were short, quick reads with the exception of one. All of them were good reads and I would recommend them.

Currently reading:
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory

I thought ths one looked interesting and I like this author. Her best works are about the British royalty during the 1600's (Her works on the Tudor and Boleyn girls are particularily good). I find that when she branches off from that she gets weird in her writing. I read another of her books called the Wise Woman and it was extremely weird and not what I thought it would be at all!

Just finished:
Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
-I really enjoyed this one. I thought the end was incomplete and left you hanging. I know she was going for hope and a chance at a new life and to show how strong a sisters bond could be but it felt unfinished for me. I liked the storyline but felt bad constantly for the older sister until the end when you learn that the youngest siter had her own issues. I wish both sides could ahve been flushed out equally throughout the book.

Virgin Earth by Philippa Gregory
-I picked this one up because of the author and also because it had a lot about VA in it. It's about the king's gardener during the Commonwealth and Restoration of England. There were parts where I was very mad at the main character for the way he treated his wives in the book (he had a Native American and English one and abandoned them both at different times). For the most part I enjoyed it and the way that the author manages to make history interesting and personal. You can understand that time period a lot through the eyes of the characters and their stories.

Day After Night by Anita Diamant
-This one was about 4 Jewish girls in Israel right after the Holocaust. I liked the book because I learned about events that happened during that time of which I was not aware. For example, the British kept Jews and "suspicious persons" with no papers who came to Israel in a camp outside Haifa for long periods of time. While not a concentration camp like the ones in Germany it was still a camp and there was a breakout. I had no idea that this happened! I also enjoyed the relationships the women fostered with one another and how they came to depend and need each other to help themselves heal from their pasts. I didn't like the mentality that seemed to be fostered in the book (and the region) that its okay to inflict bad things on others because we have suffered and now it's other people's turn. For example, the women in the camp talk of the nearby Arabs and how they should be removed because the Jews need a homeland. One of the girls in the book even questions this way of thinking (Aren't we trying to make our homeland in someone else's? Is more violence really necessary to achieve this?)and is quickly reprimanded for thinking this way. Other than that I enjoyed the book and found it a quick read.

Planning to read:
I don't have any books lined up for next week. I plan to go to the library once I get back home again and stock up so I'll have something to read while I'm recovering from my surgery.

7 comments:

  1. I have Shanghai Girls on my reading list. Ambiguous ending, hmm... I wonder how I'll take that.

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  2. I like Phillipa Gregory. Thanks for stopping by and entering my giveaway and becoming a follower. In answer to your question, I have tried to read Morgan Llewllyn but was never able to finish any...will have to try again..Good luck on your surgery

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  3. Sounds like you had a great reading week! Thanks for stopping by my blog :o) To answer your question I really liked the first Percy Jackson book & am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I have posted a review if you want more information :o)

    http://bookreviewsbysarah.blogspot.com/2010/02/review-percy-jackson-and-lightning.html

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  4. Day After Night sounds great! I've only read one book by Gregory and was sort of ambivalent towards it.

    Great week of reading!

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  5. I enjoy Philippa Gregory too and I am really looking forward to reading this book. Hope you enjoy it!

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  6. I've liked the Philippa Gregory books I've read. I've only read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See and I wasn't too crazy about it. I gave it three stars, but those poor women had it rough! Enjoy your books and good luck with your surgery! I hope it's nothing too serious!

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