L #6- The Forgotten Garden

This book is written by Kate Morton. It's about a young girl who is deserted on a ship that is headed for Australia. All she has, in her possession, is a book of fairy tales. The dockmaster and his wife take her in and raise her. They fill her in on how she became theirs when she turns 21. She sets off to find the truth of her identity.

Finished 5- Never Let Me Go

Wow. I honestly don't know what to say. I just finished this book not 2 minutes ago. And I am just blown away. The book is powerful, incredibly so. The story is, at times, heartwarming, but through it all is the undercurrent of devastation. I don't even know how to describe how it made me feel. So many emotions.

There are many "mysteries" throughout this book. Ishiguro leaves you speculating from the very first page, by using terms that don't get defined until much later in the book. And once you feel as though you've figured one out, there's another piece that doesn't quite fit. Without giving away some of the mysteries, I'll say that this book gives you many things to think about. It leaves you questioning whether advances in society are worth it or not.

One thing I found odd was that the characters were not really developed. And the strange thing about that is it somehow isn't a criticism of this book. It worked with the story. I'm not sure how Ishiguro managed to do that. The story is also completely fragmented. Narrated from the memory of Kathy H., it is almost as if you are having a conversation with Kathy. She will start talking about one portion of her life, which reminds her of another time 5 years earlier. And even with all this jumping around, it is still very easy to follow. In fact, I often forgot she had switched gears so completely. I think that's the mark of a great writer. Again, I'm not sure how he pulled that off. But it really worked with the plot.

I would definitely recommend this book. But it is not a light read at all. The message of this book will haunt me for awhile.

There were 288 pages.

L #5- Never Let Me Go

I am very excited to start this book by Kazuo Ishiguro. I have heard so many great things about it. And, it's being made into a movie. I'm sure the movie will disappoint me (as so many cinematic interpretations do), but I love reading books prior to seeing the movie.

This book is about 3 friends who live at a boarding school in the English countryside. Years later, they reenter each others lives and look back on their past.

Finished #4

Finally done with my 4th book. Even though these books are part of a series, they are written in a way that they can be read individually. This one was an easy read, as usual, but was a bit heavy on the psychic aspects. I do wonder, though, how it's possible that in every one of these stories a VERY-rare-strong-psychic meets, and falls in love with, another very-rare-strong-psychic. Seems like way too many coincidences. Even so, I like the fun aspect of these books. It's a temporary break from reality, in every sense of the word. There were 403 pages in this book.

M #6 - Princep's Fury

I am starting my 6th book. It is book 5 in the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher, Princep's Fury. Can't wait!!!

M #5 - Captain's Fury

So I started and finished my fifth book in two days. I couldn't put it down. Thus far Captain's Fury has been my favorite book in the series. The main character, Tavi, finally learns who he is and starts to come into his furycrafting. The action and plot twists in this book are amazing and make for a very fast read. This book is also an obvious pivot point for the series and begins to set the stage for the story's conclusion in the next two books.

Normally I would write a bit more substantial review but I am eager to begin book 5 in the series!

I have a small obsession

Obsession, addiction, fixation, whatever you want to call it. That's me. I can't stop buying books. I have spent countless hours wandering bookstores, searching for the all elusive perfect book. I can't stop.

I love books.

I love the joy of finding a book that fits me. I love bringing it home, opening it for the first time, being drawn into the story, and exiting real life for a brief moment in time.

Suspended reality.

That's what reading is. For a moment you can be someone else, in another place and time entirely. Your job, your worries, your stress. They're gone. All that matters is the world you are absorbed in. A world that is drawn in your head simply by reading words on a page. It's marvelous, really, when you think about the imagination that goes into reading. It isn't just seeing the words; it's giving them meaning.

The characters, the worlds, the plots, they stay with you. They become a part of who you are. Years later, you might be reminded of something you once read in a book. And it will bring a smile to your face.

Reading is rewarding. Yes, I'm like a PSA for reading. But the whole point of that was just so that I could adequately describe my love of reading. And my addiction. The books collect in our house. On shelves, tables, dressers. One of my favorite parts of reading is passing a great book along. I don't keep them after I'm done, unless they are exceptional. The ones that will forever stay in my possession are Jane Austen and Harry Potter.

So here is proof of my latest spending spree. My pile of worlds yet to be indulged in.


Comparatively, here is Matt's pile. He has yet to convince me to give up the traditional book in favor of a Nook ;)