February books

Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

I'm a Shakespeare nut, so directing MSD has given me a good nudge to go back and re-read. Reading (and directing) is, in some ways, better than acting in them because then I get to be everyone!


First Love by Ivan Turgenev

This was sitting unread on my shelf, given to me by friends who were packing out. It's a pretty quick and easy read if you're wanting just a little Russian lit.



Shopaholic & Baby, Undomestic Goddess
by Sophie Kinsella

I was needing some chick-lit and my usual friends-- The Dashwood sisters, the Bennet girls, Bridget Jones and Thursday Next--have all been called upon so frequently of late that I couldn't slip into their worlds. I was thinking ahead to what would happen next instead of losing myself in their stories as they unfolded. I had picked them up and tried, but needed something I knew less well. These two had only had one read apiece and so filled the moment nicely. I am not looking forward to the Shopaholic movie, though. It looks a little flat--with none of the bubble and spark. And, as irresponsible as Americans have proven themselves to be of late, I think Becky's spending (and particularly her reliance on her overdraft) are more British than American. Renee Zellweger was the perfect Bridget Jones. But, she immersed herself in that world. Taking away Becky Bloomwood's UK passport is a big mistake.

Size 12 is Not Fat
by Meg Cabot

Not sure why this image is so big. This book was fine. I could read more in this series. But, I won't read this again. Well...unless I'm desperate. This was (I think) someone's airplane book that got donated to our school library. It's a good airplane book.





Love Happens by Sarah O'Brien

I suspect this is another airplane book. It was very forgettable, neither a good book nor a bad book. It had moments of good...but only moments.



When Will Good News Come by Kate Atkinson

Any guesses as to what drew me to this book? ;> It's a murder, well, not mystery. There's not much mystery to this at all. There are several disparate stories here that don't really come together. It seems to be part of a series, so perhaps I'd've liked it better if I'd read the previous books first. But, maybe not. Several of the characters were likable. I think it would've been a better book if only two of the stories had been in it. There were just too many--and there really didn't need to be.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

I thought this was a very good book. It was well-written and kept me interested in the characters and their decisions. Like many Opr*h book club books, this was not a happy book. (What's with that? Doesn't she choose any happy books? It's gotten so that if anyone tells me it's an OBC book I just stay away.) But, I thought this was a good read.


North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

I'm not quite finished with this one, but near enough for it to be listed in February and not in March. After my discovery of Wives and Daughters last month, I thought I should give this book another chance. There's no doubt it's a good book, but I just don' t like it as much. It's not as satisfying a read to me, because I don't like the setting as well (Northern manufacturing city as opposed to Southern rural) but it is certainly well-written. It's so nice to be able to trust an author and relax into her written world. I know that she will bring these characters to a satisfying and appropriate end.

I'm surprised to see that I read only fiction this month. Interesting. Next month I'm planning some more Gaskell, and, if they arrive, suggestions from Nif (Austenland) and Debs (Honey for a Woman's Heart). Keep those recommendations coming! The next time you indulge in a browse through your local library, pulling books off the shelf as the covers strike (I do judge books by their covers) and reading the blurb on the back (I hate it when there are only reviews and no blurbs. I don't read those because who would put a bad review on a cover? Worthless.), spare a thought for me.

Oh--I ordered a kindle! So, I should be able to more easily get my hands on books...of a sort. And, I won't have to ship them home. If they're fab, I can always buy a real copy when I"m back. I'm not sure I'll put d2b books on there, though.

Happy reading!