Books!

About a month ago I realized that I wasn't reading as much as I like to....crazy, I know! Those of you who know me, know that I read all the time so me not reading, kinda strange! I just have had soooooooooo much to do, that the reading was falling off. So the last month I've been trying to read more. Here are some of the books that I've been reading with a quick review of them.....Have you read any of these? What did you think about them? Any suggestions on other books I should read? Let me know!!!

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
I know that this was a huge bestseller a while ago, but I just got around to reading it. I loved it! It's a story about growing up, letting go, learning to deal with the truth, and keeping promises to friends. To me, a lot of the story is depressing (I cried!), but ends with a message of hope. It is set mostly in Afgahastan and much of the story contains flashbacks. I liked the writing and the story. I liked it so much, as soon as I finished it, I went to the school library and checked out Hosseini's second novel. Also, I know there is a movie version, but I haven't rented it yet....I'm going to though.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Yes, this novel is by the same author of The Kite Runner, and while the setting is very similar (Afganhastan 1970's - 2000's), the characters and the story are not. This story has two females as the main characters and it is their constant struggle to survive in an often harsh, male dominated society, while doing whatever they can to take care of their families. This story was a little more predictable than Kite Runner, but I still really enojoyed it.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Jacob is old and lives in a nursing home. When he realizes that the circus has come to town and is setting up the Big Top right down the street, a series of flashbacks about his early life as a member of a not-so-successful circus ensues. This wasn't my favorite novel (partly 'cuz I didn't like the ending that much...), but it was a good, quick read. Part of it is a little predictable, but overall the story flows well and I kept wanting to read 'just a little bit more' so I could find out what happens to Jacob, Rosie, Marlena, August, and the rest of the circus performers.


These is my Words by Nancy Turner
The subtitle for this novel is "The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine." The novel is set up just that way, as a diary. It starts with Sarah and her family leaving the Arizona territory to head for Texas. Along the way, tragedy appears and the family soon turns around and heads back to Arizona. They settle outside of Tucson and the rest of the diary entires include Sarah growing up, getting married, having children, and dealing with many of the early frontier day-to-day dramas. There is a whole entry about a serious monsoon that causes swarms of frogs and snakes to come up onto her front porch and try to get into the house!!! I really liked this historical fiction novel and the strong, independent Sarah....until the end. As the story draws to a close, Sarah becomes very infrequent at her writing. This by itself is not a problem. The problem comes when Turner (the author) decides to set up important events in Sarah's life by having her suddenly write in her diary for two days about nothing, and then on the 3rd day, a child is born, someone dies, etc. and then again, no writing for many months. Even with this issue, I truly did like the story and am waiting for the second section of Sarah's story to arrive via Amazon.

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult
I love Jodi Picoult as a writer. If you haven't yet read anything by her, you seriously should...start with My Sister's Keeper though! Anyway...Change of Heart is probably one of my new favorite novels by Picoult. Her novels are always told from more than one point of view and the stories all intertwin. This one is all about a man named Shay, who is on death row for murder. There are several twists throughout the story and while you want to hate Shay for what he has done, you grow to like him. This story does have a bit of a religious twist (people believe that Shay is performing miracles while in jail and he starts to get national coverage for this, which causes a whole subplot to emerge...) but the religious side of the story is minor compared to the human nature/family issues side. Another great novel by Picoult....I'm gonna start another one by her this weekend! I'm excited!