April 2009 Book Challenge - Page 2

[NewCrunchyDaddy]

Originally Posted by cathe

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Two sisters Pearl and May were brought up in Shanghai in the 1930's -- they are well off and live a modern, carefree life. When their father gambles away all the family's money, however, the girls are suddenly forced into marriage to two Chinese boys from L.A. to pay off their father's debts. When the Japanese attack, the girls are forced to make their way alone to America and start a new life with their husbands.

Although this is a fascinating historical novel about Chinese immigrants in the mid-1900's, it's also a timeless tale of sisterhood -- the jealousy and the love. I enjoyed this.

Is this fiction or nonfiction?

[cathe]

historical fiction

[fremontmama]

Originally Posted by cathe

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Two sisters Pearl and May were brought up in Shanghai in the 1930's -- they are well off and live a modern, carefree life. When their father gambles away all the family's money, however, the girls are suddenly forced into marriage to two Chinese boys from L.A. to pay off their father's debts. When the Japanese attack, the girls are forced to make their way alone to America and start a new life with their husbands.

Although this is a fascinating historical novel about Chinese immigrants in the mid-1900's, it's also a timeless tale of sisterhood -- the jealousy and the love. I enjoyed this.

She wrote Snow Flower and The Secret Fan right? And did she write Peony in Love too? I'll have to check this one out.

Originally Posted by NewCrunchyDaddy

Yup. We had an apartment on 25th Avenue West. Just shy of the top of the hill.

Oh the top of the hill! man. Have you ever walked that hill? It is no joke!

[NewCrunchyDaddy]

Originally Posted by fremontmama

Oh the top of the hill! man. Have you ever walked that hill? It is no joke!

You're telling me!

[PassionateWriter]

When You Are Engulfed In Flames, David Sedaris
nothing really new to add IRT a review of this writer. He's witty and simply makes one laugh out loud. I particularly found his section re: quitting smoking hilarious, considering i have gone through that ordeal several times in my life, the last of which was almost 5 years ago. He quit as I did..cold turkey...but he moved to Japan in order to "change his environment", as all the self help books suggested. He's so quirky and funny!

1. Club Dead, Charlaine Harris. #3 of the Southern Vampire Series.
2. Dead to the World #4 of the Southern Vampire Series.
3. Dead as a Doornail, book #5 of teh Southern Vampire Series.
4. Holidays on Ice, David Sedaris.
5. Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins.
6. Life as We Knew It
7. Definitely Dead #6 of the Southern Vampire Series.
8. A Thousand Splendid Sunsets
9. All Together Dead #7 of the Southern Vampire Series
10.Graceling
11. David Sedaris: Live at Carnegie Hall.
12. Star Beast, Robert Heinlein
13. Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
14. When You Are Engulfed In Flames, David Sedaris

[Daffodil]

#5 - The Ponder Heart by Eudora Welty

Liked it, but didn't love it.

[cathe]

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

Based very loosely on the Twelve Dancing Princesses, The Frog Prince, and vampires tales of Romania, five sisters in Transylvania travel through a portal every full moon to dance with creatures of the Other Kingdom. Trouble occurs when one of the sisters falls in love with a Night Creature. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the strong female characters.

[Bufomander]

Originally Posted by PassionateWriter

for those of you recommending PDJames, where do you recommend starting?

I just finished:

#41 Innocent Blood by P.D. James
It was, imo, the most intense of any of hers I've read so far. It's a stand-alone, separate from any series. About a young woman who was adopted who decides she wants to learn about her birth parents. published in 1980. Beyond that, I started with the Adam Dagliesh series and have been reading them in order.....

[kaliki_kila]

Originally Posted by cathe

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

EEEEEEEE! : She has a new book out!

30. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

I read this in almost one sitting. This was such a fluid story to read. Sometimes it's so hard to get into a book, but this one was just so easy to like. It's about a race car driver... the story is told from his dog's point of view. The dog witnesses all the struggles in the man's life and the dog understands so much, yet he hates that he can do hardly anything for his owner other than to be a companion. It was a very good story.

[NewCrunchyDaddy]

For all of you bibliophiles in the Seattle area, I just got this email from Half Price Books, and thought I'd share, since it won't do me a lick of good right now:

Half Price Books prices just got better. Join us at our Washington Warehouse at 9241 Greenwood Ave. N. in Seattle on April 25 and 26, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a fantastic book sale. Everything will be $1 or less. Merchandise will be restocked on Sunday. So come to the Spring Sale and fill your shelves with great books, movies and music at great prices. See you there!

Accepted Tender: Cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover ($20 minimum purchase for credit card transactions). We are sorry, but we are unable to accept coupons, other discounts or gift cards at the warehouse sale. All sales are final.

Here's the link: http://halfpricebooks.com/760.html

[cathe]

Originally Posted by kaliki_kila

EEEEEEEE! : She has a new book out!

It may not be quite out yet -- I got an advance copy to review -- but it'll be soon.

[cathe]

BTW NCD--Darling Jim, the one I was raving about for you is just out. I'm very interested to know how you like it.

[fremontmama]

Originally Posted by NewCrunchyDaddy

For all of you bibliophiles in the Seattle area, I just got this email from Half Price Books, and thought I'd share, since it won't do me a lick of good right now:



Here's the link: http://halfpricebooks.com/760.html

Nice, I might have to check that out......

Originally Posted by cathe

BTW NCD--Darling Jim, the one I was raving about for you is just out. I'm very interested to know how you like it.

What's this one about? I think this might be the Seattle Public Library Seattle Reads together choice right now.....?

[Keeta]

Originally Posted by fremontmama

What's this one about? I think this might be the Seattle Public Library Seattle Reads together choice right now.....?

I thought it might be, too, but I just checked and the Seattle Reads is My Jim by Nancy Rawles.

NCD, we are totally going to check out that book sale! Woo-hoo!

[Alyantavid]

I finished The Memory Keeper's Daughter yesterday. It was slow and I had a hard time staying interested in it. It was alright, definitely not terrible, but I just couldn't get into it.

My mom loaned me her Kindle which is loaded with books so I can't wait to start those.

[cathe]

Darling Jim by Christian Moerk is pretty scary but the writing was great . . . Here's the amazon page and after I read the advance copy, I immediately contacted the publisher to find out if the author could be the keynote speaker for my writers' conference.

[cathe]

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Speaking of scary . . . a village of people has barricaded itself in the middle of the forest to keep out the 'unconsecrated' -- basically night of the living dead types who are looking to eat the living. If you get bitten--infected--you die and turn into one of them. The whole world basically has been taken over by them. Then they get into the village and a small group tries to escape and survive. Good book.

[NewCrunchyDaddy]

Originally Posted by cathe

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Speaking of scary . . . a village of people has barricaded itself in the middle of the forest to keep out the 'unconsecrated' -- basically night of the living dead types who are looking to eat the living. If you get bitten--infected--you die and turn into one of them. The whole world basically has been taken over by them. Then they get into the village and a small group tries to escape and survive. Good book.

Zombies? I love zombies!

[cathe]

Zombies - - - yeah that's what I was trying to say!

[fremontmama]

Originally Posted by Keeta

I thought it might be, too, but I just checked and the Seattle Reads is My Jim by Nancy Rawles.

NCD, we are totally going to check out that book sale! Woo-hoo!

Oh! Close! I knew it was Jim something

Originally Posted by cathe

Darling Jim by Christian Moerk is pretty scary but the writing was great . . . Here's the amazon page and after I read the advance copy, I immediately contacted the publisher to find out if the author could be the keynote speaker for my writers' conference.

Oooh sounds good. On a scary book kick?

Originally Posted by cathe

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Speaking of scary . . . a village of people has barricaded itself in the middle of the forest to keep out the 'unconsecrated' -- basically night of the living dead types who are looking to eat the living. If you get bitten--infected--you die and turn into one of them. The whole world basically has been taken over by them. Then they get into the village and a small group tries to escape and survive. Good book.