Mmm, books

I just got back from spending my lunch break at the Barnes and Noble.  Now it’s all I can do to focus on my computer instead of diving into The Namesake or A Long Way Gone, both books I’ve been coveting the chance to read for some time now.  I’m even itching and twitching to get back to North and South, even though it’s proving a long read, very reminiscent of college classes.

I believe part of the reason I want to dive into these new books is that I haven’t read anything earth-shattering lately.  Overall, my life has been very grey, dull, and not terribly exciting, par for the first quarter of the year course.  I’m sure that grey has affected my reading in some way, whether its my choices or my perceptions that are the prey.  But tomorrow is the first day of spring, so I’m banishing the grey.  With it, here are my uninspired reports on the relatively uninspired books I’ve read lately:

The Dogs of Babel, by Carolyn Parkhurst
Not a fan. The writing wasn’t that great, the characters were overblown and unbelievable, and there were some horribly graphic scenes depicting violence to dogs.  If it weren’t for the unnecessary violence, I wouldn’t have had a problem with this book.  I even think depiction of violence like that could be used effectively in some cases.  It wasn’t here.

Dry: A Memoir, by Augusten Burroughs
I felt like this book treated a subject as serious as that of A Million Little Pieces with as much gravity as a chick-lit-oriented weight loss memoir. I liked that aspect of it, but I didn’t like Burroughs voice. The author’s tone was a bit self-important and arrogant.  This is one I think might defintely have been influenced by my general malaise, though.  I’ll have to read another by him, as he is so well-loved by others.

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, by Kim Edwards
Very good, enjoyable read. It was a little thought-provoking and very touching, definitely worthwhile but nothing earth-shattering.  I might feel differently about that if I were a mother, though.

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, by Lauren Willig
The Masque of the Black Tulip, by Lauren Willig
First two books by the author; I think she’s working up to quite a series. Blend of historical romance, mystery, chick lit, a little smut for fun. I read the first in one long sitting on President’s Day afternoon. I think they’re pretty good for what they are, although some in my bookclub turned their noses right up.

North and South, by Elizabeth Gaskell
Originally published serially, its taking me forever to get through.  A little heavy-handed with the main point of the toll of the industrial revolution on the human condition, but at the time it was written that was a more novel idea than it is now.  Great writing and great characters; I’m enjoying it.