Books....

I've been reading a lot lately, which is almost laughable when you consider how busy I've been (not to delve to deeply off the topic of my post, but I do find it rather interesting that I get into these 'obsessions' with hobbies at the worst possible times).

Needless to say, despite the rather arduous schedule I've been living these past few weeks, I am 'making', and thereby finding, time to read. I love getting away in a good book...it's so liberating.

I've begun the John Grisham books, beginning with The Pelican Brief and The Firm, I then decided to deviate a little and I checked out two of his Novels, Playing For Pizza and Skipping Christmas. I really enjoyed The Pelican Brief, didn't much like The Firm and I was completely confounded by the two Novels. I suppose it's because they didn't really follow his usual writing, but I wasn't sure what to think after finishing them. I don't think I've as yet formed a solidified opinion. However, I have recently checked out A Time To Kill and I am hoping to like it better than The Firm. I really enjoy how this author allows you to read the story from different characters perspectives, but I felt the ending to The Firm was a little too easy to guess, which is precisely why I liked The Pelican Brief, I wasn't sure what it would end like....which intrigued me.


I've also decided to read, and reread, the books by Jane Austen. I've previously read Pride and Prejudice, as well as, Sense and Sensibility. I loved the first and was less enchanted with the second. I recently discovered, and I'm not sure why I didn't know this before, another author, by the name of Julia Barrett, has written a sequel to Pride and Prejudice, Presumption: An Entertainment and The Third Sister a continuation of Sense and Sensibility. Her writing style is very much like Jane Austen's and I have my name on the waiting list for both of those (apparently I'm not the only person who has decided to become better acquainted with her works)! In the meantime I have begun reading the book Charlotte (which was also known as The Brothers and Sanditon). This book was left incomplete when Jane Austen died and later completed by Julia Barrett. I've also begun Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen. I have not yet formed an opinion of either book, but I do have high hopes for them both.

Another book series I've completed is The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner. There are two other books in the series, The Queen of Attolia and The King of Attolia. They are in the young adult fiction section of the library and they were a really quick, fun read. I really enjoyed them and thought the author did a marvelous job of keeping the reader intrigued and enlightened. Definitely would recommend them. I know she has a few other books out, although the library did not have them. I would like to find them and read them as well.

There is also a host of other novels I've completed and a great deal more I am hoping to complete. It is funny because I'll go months without picking up a singe book, but once I find one I enjoy I will read at least a book, or two, a day until I burn out.

I'm sure many of you have read the Twilight series, funny story there...I bought the first book last November before our trip to Massachusetts. However, I wasn't able to begin the book on the plane (four kids on a six hour flight...imagine that) and, once there, my mother and sisters-in-law were all so eager to read the book I left my copy there for them to read. That dear little book has made its way all over Massachusetts, but has yet to find its way back home. Sadly, I have also purchased the two continuing volumes of that series, but have not been able to read them (I refuse to read book out of order - too confusing). I am, therefore, patiently waiting for the beginning book to arrive safely back home so that I may become engrossed in a world of vampires and romance....[sigh].

If you have any other recommendations for a good read, let me know so I can add them to my growing list of must reads (you would think with all the reading I've done the list would be getting shorter not longer, but I find with every new book I read there are at least three or four more by that author, or another, to be recommended)!!

P.S. Other books and authors to recommend:

All books by Dan Brown and Vince Flynn, the Harry Potter Series, The Forsythe trilogy (which has also been shown on film by the BBC - very good) and the Sherlock Holmes collection (all of these short stories have now been compiled into two volumes, a deliciously, wonderful read)!!!