I was thinking about my last post regarding Look Me in the Eye... and I realized that I hadn't posted why I really liked the book. I really liked that Robison took what most people would consider negatives and turned them into positives in both his work and family.
Maybe I really like that because I see that in myself, as well. I'm sure many people would say I'm too stubborn - but how would I have lived through my first year of teaching (much less the last 12 years) without that quality? I'm sure some people would say that my voice is too loud sometimes - but really, the ability to vary my volume is quite useful in my classroom! I'm sure some people would say I read too much - (and OK, I'd just say they were wrong) but how can I recommend a book to a 14-year-old if I haven't read what they might like? Any quality can be positive or negative, depending on the situation/how it's used/etc.
Moving on... to book #15: My dad loaned me Robert B. Parker's new book Stranger in Paradise, the new Jesse Stone mystery. Now, I'll give you that Parker can be formulaic... but I love his books! There's always (well, with a notable exception: Bad Business) a great story, great relationships, great dialog, great zinger lines. I've read (and re-read, and re-read) the Spenser series, Sunny Randall series, and of course the the Jesse Stone series.
I remember the summer I first read his whole Spenser series - my husband couldn't figure out why I was reading it, since at the time I didn't read mysteries. When he finally realized I was reading them for the romance between Spenser and Susan, he couldn't stop laughing. But I should give Parker credit - he's the author that got me into mysteries. I owe him a thanks.
I just looked on Amazon.com - and I see that Parker has TWO NEW BOOKS coming out soon! Resolution is due out June 3, 2008 and The Boxer and the Spy on May 1st, 2008. Amazon.com doesn't say which series these are in, so I googled it and found Robert B. Parker's blog! It's at http://robertbparker.typepad.com/ ... too cool! Parker says that Resolution is the sequel to Appallosa (which I haven't read) and that The Boxer and the Spy is his second young adult novel - now I have to go find the first and read it!
Normally I quote the first paragraph so you can decide for yourself if you want to read it - but since it was my dad's book, I had to return it. I enjoyed it, anyway.
Book #16: J.D. Robb's (Nora Roberts') book Strangers in Death is the 28th book in her "In Death" series. I have to admit, I read this series for the love story, too! It can be gory sometimes - but I love the relationships Roberts has developed over a 28-book series. Plus, even I can't re-read a 28-book series in a day - and there's a lot to be said for that!
The first paragraph:
"Murder harbored no bigotry, no bias. It subscribed to no class system. In its gleeful, deadly, and terminally judicious way, murder turned a blind eye on race, creed, gender, and social stratum. As Lieutenant Eve Dallas stood in the sumptuous bedroom of the recently departed Thomas A. Anders, she considered that."
It's not the best of the 28 opening paragraphs - but it was a very enjoyable read. I needed the stress relief this week. A lot.
I have more books to talk about, but on the chance that tomorrow is NOT a snow day, I have to get ready for bed. :D
Maybe I really like that because I see that in myself, as well. I'm sure many people would say I'm too stubborn - but how would I have lived through my first year of teaching (much less the last 12 years) without that quality? I'm sure some people would say that my voice is too loud sometimes - but really, the ability to vary my volume is quite useful in my classroom! I'm sure some people would say I read too much - (and OK, I'd just say they were wrong) but how can I recommend a book to a 14-year-old if I haven't read what they might like? Any quality can be positive or negative, depending on the situation/how it's used/etc.
Moving on... to book #15: My dad loaned me Robert B. Parker's new book Stranger in Paradise, the new Jesse Stone mystery. Now, I'll give you that Parker can be formulaic... but I love his books! There's always (well, with a notable exception: Bad Business) a great story, great relationships, great dialog, great zinger lines. I've read (and re-read, and re-read) the Spenser series, Sunny Randall series, and of course the the Jesse Stone series.I remember the summer I first read his whole Spenser series - my husband couldn't figure out why I was reading it, since at the time I didn't read mysteries. When he finally realized I was reading them for the romance between Spenser and Susan, he couldn't stop laughing. But I should give Parker credit - he's the author that got me into mysteries. I owe him a thanks.
I just looked on Amazon.com - and I see that Parker has TWO NEW BOOKS coming out soon! Resolution is due out June 3, 2008 and The Boxer and the Spy on May 1st, 2008. Amazon.com doesn't say which series these are in, so I googled it and found Robert B. Parker's blog! It's at http://robertbparker.typepad.com/ ... too cool! Parker says that Resolution is the sequel to Appallosa (which I haven't read) and that The Boxer and the Spy is his second young adult novel - now I have to go find the first and read it!
Normally I quote the first paragraph so you can decide for yourself if you want to read it - but since it was my dad's book, I had to return it. I enjoyed it, anyway.
Book #16: J.D. Robb's (Nora Roberts') book Strangers in Death is the 28th book in her "In Death" series. I have to admit, I read this series for the love story, too! It can be gory sometimes - but I love the relationships Roberts has developed over a 28-book series. Plus, even I can't re-read a 28-book series in a day - and there's a lot to be said for that!The first paragraph:
"Murder harbored no bigotry, no bias. It subscribed to no class system. In its gleeful, deadly, and terminally judicious way, murder turned a blind eye on race, creed, gender, and social stratum. As Lieutenant Eve Dallas stood in the sumptuous bedroom of the recently departed Thomas A. Anders, she considered that."
It's not the best of the 28 opening paragraphs - but it was a very enjoyable read. I needed the stress relief this week. A lot.
I have more books to talk about, but on the chance that tomorrow is NOT a snow day, I have to get ready for bed. :D
1 comment:
Why do you think I'm being careful to read Janet Evanovich in order!?!? Certainly not for the highly sequential nature of the bail bonds enforcement cases! :)
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