September books

[coffeesnob318]

Hmm. Looking back on what I was planning to read, I didn't stick too closely to my list. Oh well.

40. Fear and Trembling by Søren Kierkegaard

I don't even know how to begin to recap this. I have about twenty pages of notes in my other journal, and there's just no cutting it down. Suffice it to say that I found the book exhausting and enlightening and oddly liberating (eventually). Not a casual, light, sipping-umbrella-drinks-on-the-beach read, but parts of it did inspire me to require alcohol. I'm glad I read it; I'm glad I'm through; I'll probably pick up something else he wrote later.

41. There’s a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell: a Novel of Sewer Pipes, Pageant Queens, and Big Trouble by Laurie Notaro

As far as I know, this is her first work of fiction. It should definitely not be her last. This book is hilarious. I still haven't taken it back to the library, because I felt Michelle and Maggie just had to read it, too. I heart Laurie Notaro.

42. Syrup by Max Barry

This book was an easy read and a fun satire of consumer culture. I recommend it. If you work for Coca-Cola, be sure to read the disclaimer at the beginning. :)

43. Bastard out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison

Intense. Well-written. This one gave me trouble sleeping. It also was hard to hold onto. For some reason, it kept getting hurled across the room. The end of the book left me very, very still and not quite ok. Having said that, this is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. Highly recommended.

44. Really Unusual Bad Boys by MaryJanice Davidson

My first impression was that she seems to think she’s writing a blog, because that pretty much sums up her writing style (or lack thereof). I’ve read fanfic that was more artfully written. Now admittedly, I don’t read that much fanfic, and what I do read has been recommended by people who know what my taste is or written by people whom I know write well, so they’ve set the bar pretty high. But people who get paid to write should at least meet that bar.

My second impression, however, was that when the story includes a large puma that turns into a hot naked man, she can write in any style she damn well pleases, and I will still read it. Gleefully. It turns out to be a nice little romp in that respect. But reader beware - this book should not be read in the presence of much tequila. It might inspire behaviour that one would otherwise not consider. Then again, maybe that's exactly how one should read it...

45. Later, At the Bar by Rebecca Barry

This book was an account of a community’s comings and goings at a bar and how all the lives were interwoven around it. It was sweet in places and just repetitive in others. I enjoyed it overall.

Coming soon:
- The Great Hunt and The Dragon Reborn - Jordan
- The Cloister Walk and Amazing Grace: a Vocabulary of Faith - Norris
- Insecure at Last: Losing it in our Security-obsessed World - Ensler
- This is not Chick Lit: Original Stories by America's Best Women Writers
- Esperanza Rising - Ryan
- A Dirty Job - Moore
- God on Mute - Grieg
- Swapping Lives - Green

Comments

[magpie8386.livejournal.com]

Aww...I'm glad you liked the book I recommended. The Bastard book...*nods* I knew you'd like it. I think I may reread it.

[coffeesnob.livejournal.com]

You should. Just warn me when you're ready to throw it across the room so that I can duck.

[ex-meek386.livejournal.com]

I loved Laurie's book up until the way the old lady just vanished into thin air. It was like I, all-of-a-sudden, started reading science fiction. That pissed me off beyond belief. It was like she just rushed the book to a close and I wanted to throw it across the room because I was completely let down with that kind of an ending. I, personally, think Laurie needs to stick to her humorous auto-biographies.

[coffeesnob.livejournal.com]

That part was a little weird to me, but it was so random, it fit her. I still love her nonfiction the best.

[rhiannonhero.livejournal.com]

Bastard Out of Carolina haunted me for a long, long, long time after reading it. The ending made me very still, too. I talked about this book for years after reading it.

[coffeesnob.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it shook me. I hated it and loved it at the same time.

[delerium23.livejournal.com]

I loke MaryJanice Davidson. I think this was some of her earlier writing before she started the Betsy Queen of the Vampire books (Undead and Unwed being the first. I just got the 6th on Interlibrary Loan today.)

I Love Christopher Moore,too. Dirty Job is one of my favorites. Coyote Blue is also great. It has the first appearence of M.F.

[coffeesnob.livejournal.com]

I'll have to try her later stuff out, then. I'm willing to give her another chance.

The only Moore I've read so far is Lamb, but I loved it. I'm looking forward to Dirty Job.

[morelka.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts on Moore's writing. I loved A Dirty Job.

[coffeesnob.livejournal.com]

I'm excited about it. He's hilarious. I've only read Lamb thus far, but I liked it so much that I can see him becoming one of my favorite authors.