Currently reading
No Death, No Fear
The One-Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming (New York Review Books Classics)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Book 1
I'm finally getting around to "reading" the HP series, since I've already seen all of the movies and I was told by my coworkers I should be fired for not reading them. Hah! :) Great introduction to the series. I loved listening to Jim Dale for this. He read all of the characters very well.[return][return]Of course I already knew what was going to happen, the style of writing didn't surprise me. All in all a very good YA book. A little less advanced than what I'd prefer, obviously, but I can appreciate it for what it is!
Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad
What an interesting aspect of WWII research. This historical novel looked at the war through the lens of music and its influence on entire cultures and nations. Not just any music, but that of the famous Soviet composer Dmitri Shostakovich, peering into his entire tumultuous, revolutionary life in Leningrad and seeing the common "chord" through it all that never lost Shostakovich’s focus. A passionate story that bolsters music as one of the all-time unifiers in life.
Slade House: A Novel
Could not put this book down! An easy, quick, fun, creepy read. I’m looking forward to reading The Bone Clocks, which is set in the same universe as Slade House.
Shutter Island
I love movies that you can watch over and over again, and see it in a different light, with a different perspective, each time. Movies that show you something new nearly every time you watch them - that's the mark of a great movie. Shutter Island is one of those movies, in my opinion.
The Book of Eli
Post apocalyptic type film with Denzel Washington, Mila Kunis, and Gary Oldman. Great cast, interesting plot, great soundtrack.
The Night Watch
This was my first novel by Waters, and it won’t be my last. Waters' writing immerses you into the time where the novel is set, her attention to detail draws you into the story in a way that only a skillful writer can. I loved the character development of this book, and I enjoyed reflecting upon how beautifully she wove four people’s lives together during WWII.
The Golden Compass
This was a fun YA read, and I probably liked it so much because it was the first fiction book I’ve read in a *long* time. It was also reminiscent of a lot of the fantasy novels I read as a kid. I had a pretty long stint of reading non-fiction, DIY, and self-help books. Happy that my Secret Santa from last year’s SantaThing awarded me this book! Will definitely be reading more from this series.
Eat, Pray, Love
As a young woman, this book spoke to me. It covered a lot of the personal struggles and passions I have encountered in the last 5-10 years.[return][return]I must admit, I started reading this book a long time ago and then set it down for a couple of years. At first, I was a little annoyed at Gilbert's voice. She seemed to be a little full of herself. Picking the book back up later on, I realized that I, too, had gone through a "selfish" phase, focusing on me, myself, and I, in order to balance out my life and gain the self-confidence I needed. It makes me wonder if most all women need to go through this seemingly "selfish" phase in their lives, especially since women are traditionally the caretakers of the world, making sure that everything and everyone is okay before they check their own pulse. This book is a great reminder that, especially as a woman, one needs to take care of themselves before taking care of others. By taking care of yourself, you'll have more to give to others, so it just makes sense. I'm very glad I picked this book back up and finished it, it's well worth the 4 stars.
I'm finally getting around to "reading" the HP series (I've purchased the first two audiobooks narrated by Jim Dale), since I've already seen all of the movies and I was told by my coworkers I should be fired for not reading them. Hah! :) Great introduction to the series. I loved listening to Jim Dale for this. He read all of the characters very well.
Of course I already knew what was going to happen, the style of writing didn't surprise me. All in all a very good YA book. A little less advanced than what I'd prefer, obviously, but I can appreciate it for what it is!
