The lazy blogger reads a lot

I'm feeling a little guilty about my lack of blogging over the past few months. I wish I had a good excuse like "I was in Europe" (I did go to Ottawa for a weekend and Tobermory overnight) or "I was training for a marathon" (I've played tennis twice) but the truth is I haven't really felt like blogging. 

I've still been reading a lot, catching up with friends and just enjoying the long lazy summer days.

I've read lots of mysteries, biographies and just a little fiction. Normally I love to read fiction but I am waiting for all of the hot new Fall titles to come out.

I hear Alice Hoffman has a new novel coming out and I loved to read her when I worked at Penguin. Her new book The Dovekeepers will be published by Simon and Shuster and I hear it is good.

Here are some of my July and August reads:

FICTION

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

This novel is about two sisters who leave Shanghai in the 1930s (the Paris of Asia at that time) for LA. I really enjoyed this novel, it was one of those sweeping sagas with a few tragic love stories, different cultures and family drama.

Dreams of Joy by Lisa See

This novel picks up the stories of the sister's from Shanghai Girls in 1957. It is set  in LA then for reasons I won't mention goes back to a very changed Shanghai.  I really liked this novel and read the first half of the novel very quickly. I found the second part a little slower. 

Dreams of Joy by Lisa See

 MEMOIR

A Stolen Life by Jaycee Lee Dugard

I really admire Jaycee Lee Dugard for writing this book and sharing her story.

It is a hard to book to read and sometimes surreal/difficult to believe/comprehend that it is a true story and that someone had to go through this.

Have You Found Her by Janice Erlbaum

Twenty years after she lived at a homeless shelter for teens, Janice Erlbaum went back to volunteer. She formed a relationship with a very troubled young woman and rallied for her during the best and worst of times. There were a lot of surprises in this true story which was at times quite heartbreaking. My mom recommended this one. 

  

Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming a Teenage Bride, and Breaking Free of Warren Jeff by Elissa Wall and Lisa Pulitzer

The title says it all, no? I started reading this book a couple of days ago and it is hard to put down. 

MYSTERY/THRILLER

You're Next by Greg Hurwitz

This is a really well written, smart thriller. It was one of my favourites in this category. While in Ottawa I stole a peek at my sister's friend Jennifer's Kindle and discovered that she has an amazing selection of mysteries. She told me about this one.

Serial by  John Lutz

As the title suggests, this is a psychological thriller about the capture of a serial killer. It is pretty graphic so not for the faint of heart. I liked it and it was my first time reading this author and I will be downloading some of his other books now too.

You're Next by Greg Hurwitz

What have you been reading this summer?

My Summer Reads

I've been a bad blogger this month. I've been reading a lot, but for some reason (maybe the weather) I've been neglecting BBTO.

My last couple of blogs were about the BBTO Chick Lit Challenge and it really proved to be a challenge because I just couldn't get into it. Was anyone able to stick with it?

Here are a few of the books that I've been enjoying:

I read a good novel called Maine which will appeal to most women. It is about the dynamics of a family of three generations of women who are all very different - yet similar in many ways. The family cottage in Maine is the real hub of the novel.  I found it dragged a bit towards the end, but that might have been me -
sort of a restless reader this summer. 

Sister: A Novel was recommended to me by someone who reads BBTO and should really start her own blog because she reads a crazy amount of books - very quickly.  This novel is a psychological thriller with lots of twists and turns. The novel ends very differently than I had expected it to.

I really enjoyed a bundle of books by Kevin O'Brien.
I had never read anything by this mystery/thriller author before and I was surprised in a good way. The character development was great and there were a lot of twists and turns in the plot. I'm usually pretty good at figuring out "who did it" but this author kept me guessing.

I just finished reading Still Missing. It reminded me of the novel Room. It is a novel about a woman who was kidnapped and held captive by a man who raped and tormented her. If anyone has read this book I'd be interested in hearing what you thought of the ending.

And I finally got around to reading Water for Elephants. I enjoyed it but felt slightly let down after all the hype.  The best part for me was the way the novel ended.

What has everyone else been reading? Anything good?

Chick Lit Challenge Update

It has now been a few weeks since Karen in Toronto proposed the BBTO summer chick lit reading challenge and it is proving to be a bit of a "challenge".... at least for me. 

Karen and I both recently finished Something Borrowed and neither one of us really loved it. Karen felt that the level of deceit among the three main characters (two best female frenemies and one two timing male) was ridiculous. I have to agree and say that there was nothing redeeming in this novel and that neither Karen or I are running out to buy Something Blue. The characters in the story violate the strongest type of code between girlfriends and it really left a bad taste.

Next on Karen's list is Jane Eyre. Classic chick lit and a great choice.
  
CityGirl is totally on top of the Chick Lit challenge. Some new reviews and suggestions are now up on her blog.

I recently started reading One Day and recognize that I'm having a bit of reader's block these days and not really enjoying much at all. I heard so many GREAT things about this book and under normal circumstances it would be my kind of novel - but nothing is really hitting the right notes with me this month. 


I confess that I strayed from the chic lit genre and read a couple of mysteries and they didn't do it for me either. A sign that it is time to spend a few days catching up on People, Star and US magazines before attempting to read any new books. This rarely  happens but when it does it is time to take a small break.


There was an interesting article in the Globe and Mail this weekend about chick lit. I liked the article because it mentions the fact that chick lit can mean a wide range of things for female readers. I like the term the literary agent in the article mentions "accessible women's fiction".

How's the chick lit challenge going for everyone else? 

CityGirl's Summer Chick Lit Reading Challenge Lists

CityGirl in Toronto has kindly taken the time to send in her summer chick lit reading list AND her list of recommends for anyone who wants to join in the summer chick lit reading challenge. 

There are lots of books to choose from and a good representation of chick lit authors from all over the world.

A big thank you to CityGirl. I know I will definitely add a few of these to my list. 

CityGirl’s Summer Chick Lit Reading List:

Personally, I blame my Fairy Godmother by Claudia Carroll

If This is Paradise, I Want My Money Back by Claudia Carroll

I Never Fancied Him Anyway by Claudia Carroll

Be Careful What You Wish for by Alexandra Potter

You’re the One that I don’t Want by Alexandra Potter

When in Rome by Gemma Townley

Learning Curves by Gemma Townley

The Booklovers Appreciation Society by Various

Growing up Again by Catriona McCloud

Fashionistas by Lynn Messina

Sushi for Beginners by Marian Keyes (possibly others too) She will get hooked!

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

Something Blue by Emily Giffin

The Gatecrasher by Madeleine Wickham

Thin, Rich, Pretty by Beth Harbison

Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella

Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella

Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Death by Chick Lit by Lynn Harris

Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell

Summer and the City by Candace Bushnell

With Her boots On by Lisa Dow

The Flirt by Kathleen Tessaro

Tantrums and Tiaras by Linda Francis Lee

And CityGirl’s Recommends:

Do You Want To Know a Secret? by Irish author Claudia Carroll

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella (This is the best Sophie Kinsella book yet - I think it reads like a movie)

The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell (Very fun and fluffy - great for the cottage)

Stuck in Downward Dog by Chantel Simmons (One of the few chick-lit books set in Toronto, so I could really picture the story unfolding in the city)

In Her Shoes – Lisa Dow (Also set in Toronto, very funny). With Her Boots On is the sequel.

Who’s that Girl by Alexandra Potter

CityGirl also suggested two books related to writing chick lit for anyone with a secret desire to write chick lit:

1. See Jane Write: A girl’s Guide to Writing Chick Lit by Sarah Mlynowski and Farrin Jacobs

2. Will Write for Shoes: How to Write a Chick Lit Novel by Cathy Yardley

Let the chick lit reading begin! And join in the #chicklitchat discussion on Twitter anytime!

Karen's Summer Chick Lit Challenge

My friend Karen, fellow booklover and talented book publicist in Toronto,  recently proposed a summer reading challenge that promises to be a lot of fun.

 

The goal is to read as many chick lit novels as humanely possible for the entire summer. My favourite chick lit author of all time is Marian Keyes. I don't read a lot of chick lit these days, but I've enjoyed Jane Green and Sophie Kinsella in the past and it looks like there is no shortage of chick lit options. Bring it on I say!

In Karen's words we're looking for titles that are "pure, unadulterated, fluffy chick lit". 

The first book on our list is Something Borrowed. So far it totally fits the bill and I'm starting to think about the next title. 


Would anyone like to join us? You can read at your own pace, and we can share ideas and compare reading lists at different stages during the summer. 


We would love to hear suggestions from you!

Vaclav & Lena: A Sweet Immigrant Coming-Of-Age Love Story

A few weeks ago I received a publicity copy of Vaclav & Lena by Haley Tanner. I was happy to receive an advance reader's copy (my first!) but was worried a bit because I like to blog about books that I love or want to read. I used to be a book publicist and appreciate that the person who sent it to me thought that I would enjoy it. But what if I didn't? 

I am happy to report that I LOVED Vaclav & Lena.  

Vaclav & Lena by Haley Tanner published by Random House Canada

The novel is a charming, sweet story about Vaclav and Lena, five-year-old Russian immigrant children who meet in an ESL class in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn.


Vaclav is wise beyond his years and he and Lena who has a troubled childhood spend everyday after school together and  aspire to one day perform a special magic show.


A lot happens as they grow up and part ways, but they have a special bond that can't be broken.

The story is at times funny, sad, sweet and anyone who reads it will be charmed by Vaclav and his love for Lena. 

Vaclav's mother is also an interesting character. She is tough on the outside but her weakness for Lena demonstrates that that she has a big heart. 

There are quite a few surprises and as the secrets and mystery of Lena's past were slowly revealed, it became really hard to put the book down.

I'm surprised that this  is Haley Tanner's first novel, she is definitely a writer to watch.

Two Novels: Two Sex Scandals

I've just finished reading two novels that deal with sex scandals. Reading the paper today, or almost any day really,  it is no surprise that there are a few novels out there that deal with this subject. Both got me thinking and asking questions, always a good sign that I've enjoyed the book.

Faith by Jennifer Haigh is definitely in my top 3 for spring. It is about the McGann's, a Boston family who all deal with the situation in different ways when Art, a popular pastor of a large suburban church is accused of molesting a young boy. His sister, Sheila, seeks to uncover the truth and discovers some family secrets that begin to influence the way she feels about the situation. As she looks for clues to what happened, and begins her own investigation of sorts,  the book becomes harder and harder to put down. It makes you think about important values like trust, faith, guilt and innocence. I highly recommend this novel. 

The second novel, Fly Away Home, by Jennifer Weiner (author of In Her Shoes, one of my favourites) is about Sylvie Serfer Woodruff, a fifty-seven year-old mother of two who is married to Senator Richard Woodruff. The family is torn apart when Richard is exposed as a cheater after a news story breaks that he has had an affair with one of his legislative aids and used his influence to get her a job at a law firm he used to work at.  

The big question in this novel is will Sylvie stay with Richard or dump him and start a new life?

And how can these women who are prominent in their own right stand by their husbands at the post scandal news conferences?

I'm not sure I got any insight into this after reading the novel but maybe that's the point.
There are some great female characters in this novel and I really enjoyed the dynamic between the two sisters. I also liked the witty dialogue which lightened things up when necessary. 

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