Tuesday, March 30, 2010

A recommendation: Watermelon by Marian Keyes

From Publisher's Weekly:
Claire Webster, heroine of this breezy Irish bestseller, thinks hubby James is the man of her dreams until he ditches her for an older woman (Claire herself is 29) two hours after their daughter is born. Mother and child repair to Dublin, where there's hope of solace and sustenance in the bosom of an eccentric family, while Claire downsizes from watermelon to wisp and struggles over the hurdles of blues and booze. When she attracts a handsome young lover and considers dumping the suddenly repentant James, it's clear a happy ending's in sight. Or is it? There are a few surprises and plenty of sassy girltalk in this slick if sometimes silly take on what it's like to be female. Much of the hilarity generated by Claire's funky family?airhead sisters who squabble over clothes and men, a mother who'd rather watch soap operas than cook, a father perpetually bewildered by the women in his life?wears thin, but readers will identify with Claire's flaws, applaud her irreverent wit and rejoice at her triumphant recovery. Like the fruit it's named for, this overlong novel is short on nutrition but long on refreshment.

I found this book to be an easy, quick read.  It is not something that stirs your mind, but it is good for a chuckle.  It is often pretty wordy and kind of silly, but the idea is cute.  I would reccomend it for a light read by the pool.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure by Emma Campbell Webster

I would say give this book a miss. I thought it would be fun like our January book of the month. Creating your own adventure in the world of Jane Austen should be fun, but if you don't make the same choices as Elizabeth Bennet then it goes all over the place putting you in different Austen books and having you die and so on. So, how is that 'your own' Jane Austen Adventure?? It's not it's Elizabeth Bennet's Adventure!
It's a shame really that since Austen is out of copyright that books like these can be made! Although I did like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance - Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem! Saw that there is Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters! ha!

link to whatcha reading wednesdays: http://pagesofthemind3.blogspot.com/2010/01/whatcha-reading-wednesday.html

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Let's Talk!!

Traditionally, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass are both considered stories for children. If you were asked to support the contention that these are actually stories for adults, how would you defend this?

Although a child in the story, Alice often exhibits mature characteristics; and the adult characters often exhibit childish behavior. Do you consider these books to be an adult's view of childhood, or a child's view of adulthood?

Throughout her adventures, Alice grapples with her idenity. While this is a common feature of most children's books, Alice's questioning often inadvertently invokes the ideas of western philosophers from Plato to Bishop Berkeley. What philosophical issues about identity does Alice raise?

What is the significance of the mushroom that Alice eats during her adventures?

Since their publication, many readers have found material in Carroll's book unsuitable for children. Which parts of the Alice books, if any, do you think are unfit, or even harmful, to children today?

And last but not least how did you like the book(s) and how do you compare it to all the movie versions out there?

Monday, March 8, 2010

March's Book

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
Do I really need to put a discription up?? If you need one please email me!!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Discussion Time!!

Tell us what you thought? The Good Bad and the Ugly!!!
Sorry about the delay! Any suggestions for March? I was thinking Alice in Wonderland? Or another classic?? Just have been in a classics mood. Let us know what you might want to read? In April I was thinking of bringing back a poll so that we have everyone's input!!

Cupcakes at Carrington’s by Alexandra Brown {book review}

Every month a blog I follow hosts a book club, but the books chosen all have to do with food. Particularly baking. It’s very similar to ...