Saturday, April 21, 2007

The Spring Reading Thing


Here’s something fun for you:

The Spring Reading Thing!

Challenge yourself to read those books you’ve been meaning to get to but keep putting off…

I’m a little late to the party, since it’s running from March 21 - June 21, but I figure there’s still time to jump in and play. So here’s my list:

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus - A friend just loaned me this book, and since the movie’s coming out soon, I figure I’ll check out the appeal. Update: A quick, entertaining read. I finished it in a weekend! Reminded me of Bridget Jones, with the requisite chick lit 1st person slightly tormented, slightly neurotic, very single-and-struggling-to-find-a-meaningful-job heroine. Still, the 2 authors are spot-on in their satire of Manhattan nanny life. Unfortunately, I know mothers like Mrs. X. You'll like this one--give it a try!

Perfect Match by Jodi Picoult - She’s my latest favorite author. I was going to put down 19 Minutes, her latest release, but it’s about a school shooting, and I’m not sure I’m up for that. This novel’s about a couple torn apart by the assault of their young son and the lengths they go to manipulate the justice system and seek revenge. Still not too promising for a light read, but she tackles tough issues, and I like her for that.

Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time by Rob Sheffield - Believe it or not, my students have been raving about this memoir all year. Guess it’s time I see what’s so terrific about it. Plus, what child of the 80s doesn’t remember the decade of mix tapes? Update: This was a terrific memoir of a writer for Rolling Stone who lost his wife after 5 years of marriage, when they were both only 31. Poignant, well-written, and even humorous in places, it chronicles the couple's courtship through the classic icon of the mix tape. A fast read and one I'd recommend to anyone.

Never the Same by Diane Craver - This one’s an inspirational romance, an e-book that I won from a fellow Samhain author. I promised her a review on my blog, so I need to get going!

The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama - With the Presidential campaigns gearing up, I’d like to finish this nonfiction work and find out more about the newcomer from Illinois.

Anything by Jennifer Cruisie - She’s one of the biggest names in the romance genre, so I feel as though I should be familiar with her work, and yet I haven’t found a novel by her I could really get into. Any suggestions? Update: I made my way through Tell Me Lies and really enjoyed it, to my surprise! With a confused but endearing heroine, a sexy-as-hell hero, a murder mystery, a small town, and secrets between friends...how could I lose? My favorite part was reading Crusie's dialogue--great, believable stuff.

That’s probably about all I can manage, with the crunch time of school’s end fast approaching. But I hope there’s a Summer Reading Challenge as well, because I always have a list of books for those hazy days of July and August.

C’mon, join me! What books will be on your spring reading list?


4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great list, Allie... you'll have to let me know how The Audacity of Hope is... I was thinking of reading that myself.

Marianne Arkins said...

Jenny Crusie... hmmm... My faves are:

"Getting Rid of Bradley" and "Bet Me", though "Crazy For You" and "Charlie All Night" aren't bad either. Want me to loan you one?

Allie Boniface said...

Aw, thanks, Marianne, for the offer. Think I'll swing by my local library and see what I can find...

Anonymous said...

Vellum and Ink by Hall Duncan, All the Blazes that come out and a business book called the Corporate Dominatirx -mmmmm
Liz