Picture Perfect

I was lucky enough to nab this off the library shelf the other day - that's two Jodi Picoult books in as many weeks - how lucky am I? I've stolen one of my good friend's ideas and started looking in the 'large print' section as well. I feel a little guilty about that but I promise I will read it very quickly!

Well, I've finished it now, but it took a little longer than I had hoped (oops). As always, I enjoyed Jodi's writing. It was interesting to see a marriage from a battered woman's perspective and to have a little bit of an insight into hollywood. I also enjoyed the stories from the north american indian culture.

Click the cover picture or click here to get your copy from Amazon.com

The Shift of the Ages

This is another book that I let find me while I was wandering the shelves of the library. I am always interested in the idea of unexplainable yet foretold events taking place toward the end of time. Unfortunately, the book didn't hold my interest. Although I was a couple of chapters in when I found 'The Tenth Circle' so this book took a back seat for a couple of days. I thought it was written like some of my son's adventure novels for 10 years olds. (He actually read a few chapters and said he like it! So there you go.) I think it's one I'd like to get back to, just to see what happens, but I've had to return it to the library for now.

In case you can't wait, you can click the cover picture or click here to buy the book from Amazon.com

The Tenth Circle

Now I love Jodi Picoult's books. I've only read a couple because you can never get your hands on them in the library! I was lucky the other day when my regular search of the catalogue revealed that one of her titles was 'available'. Yay. Of course, it hadn't made it to the shelf yet but I managed to grab it off the trolley. The librarian and I agreed that these are like gold!

I like the way Jodi tackles issues, but more than that, I just like the way she puts the words on the page. I like the 'real life tidbits' too that sneak in every now and again as well, like when Daniel remembers the young Trixie asking "do dogs know they're naked" and little things like that.

And just quietly, I was shocked by what teenagers actually get up to at parties these days (maybe it was Jodi's imagination??).

I wasn't sure about the comicstrips in the book, but did appreciate them after a while... particularly the little word search challenge at the end! It was great because I finished the book way too quickly and the search gave me one more excuse not to put it down straight away.

Click the cover picture above or click here to buy the book from Amazon.com

Daughter's Keeper

I got this one from the library. Just wandering down the aisles waiting for a book to pick me! This one caught my eye and Amy Tan's quote on the front was enough for me to decide to borrow it: "A powerhouse novel of complex emotions so compelling that when I finished the book, I started over again."

What was interesting for me, (if it's true of the US legal system) is how easy it seems that you can get caught in a situation without even wanting to be involved and end up paying dearly. Olivia's struggle with her mum seemed real enough even though I thought the ending was a bit hollywood. Probably would make a good chick flick.

Click the cover picture or click here to buy the book from Amazon.com

I Know This Much Is True

I stumbled across this MASSIVE novel in a second hand bookstore, and to be honest, picked it up because I liked the cover and it had a big "Oprah's Bookclub" stamp on it. It's about twins - one 'normal' and one with major psych 'issues' - raised by a single mother and her oppressive husband.

The book slammed me in the face in the first couple of pages and then I found I was really wading through waiting for it all to come together. I was camping with family and friends though, so it had a bit of competition. The story unfolded ok and I'd say it was a good read. Given the pace of the book, I have to say, I was a bit surprised with the quick wrap up at the end although, by the time I got there I was relieved to get the detail quickly in a few pages!

Let me know if you'd like me to send it to you. I've listed it on www.ourbookshelf.net