I must clarify

I was thinking about the past 2 reviews I have posted and I think I have to clarify something. What I consider a trash book is not trash. A trash book is a quick read that is usually mostly a romance novel, or chick lit. Now I know that I use trash in what seems like a bad way - but it isn't! Trash books are great, they are quick and easy, usually funny and I own at least 4-5 dozen of them. I have also read hundred's of them. They happen to be one of my favorite genres. They don't teach me anything or stimulate my brain at all, this is why I call them "trash". I have got to find a better word for them because I feel awful calling them that. I may use chick lit from now on.

It's not like are Harlequin romances or anything - not that there's anything wrong with those....I just don't happen to read them. I might be a bit delusional about my marriage if I read those! My breasts don't heave very often, and if I even mention a "throbbing manhood", I would laugh my ass off.

So that's it - I hope that is all sorted out.

Atonement by Ian McEwan A Review

I amnot having good luck with good books lately. Isn't there anything good out there to read that isn't trash?

Anyway, I read this book on a suggestion from another person. (I am going to go back to finding my own books, thanks.) The premise of the story is a good one - set in 1935, a girl witnesses a crime that change the course of her, and many other people's lives. The story has three parts, first the crime in 1935, second the effects that this crime has on a man that serves in the second world war, and the third part about the girl at 18. The story line was great, but the execution, in my opinion was poor. It was long and drwan out, a lot of detail without the need for it. The tone was set in the first few sentences, we don't need 6 more paragraphs about it!

I continued to read this book, again, because I thought it would have a great ending. It didn't. The main characters lives are summed up in one sentence. ONE sentence! He can go on and on about a house and the lawn, but gives one sentence to fill us in on what happens? Not my idea of a great ending. I have to admit that I skipped a lot of this book, not whole pages, but a lot of the long winded explanations. I did not like this book. I found the plot compelling, very interesting facts on the war, and the characters had the opportunity to be very in depth. But they didn't get the chance. I highly doubt that I will read another book by this author - maybe if he came up with the idea and let someone else write it.

I'm going to have to read ANOTHER trash book! Is it too much to ask for a good book that doesn't include murder, infidelity or sci fi? I'd like to learn something from a book, I'd like to immerse myself in a world that I am unaccustomed to. Will I ever find another thought provoking author? I guess I'll have to keep trying.

The Passage by Justin Cronin A Review

I recently read the book The Passage by Justin Cronin. I can sum this book up in one word, Uhg. What a colossal waste of my time. I read it on the suggestion of a guy that works at Chapter's. I don't blame him, but I don't think I'll take anymore suggestions from him either. The book started off promising, but then it took a really weird turn. Then it took another turn, and another, and another. I think the author was trying to create suspense, but all it did was make me wonder if this book was ever going to end. It finally did end, and abruptly too. There was no explanation, no follow up, it just ended. I was really disappointed. 766 pages of pure torture for the most part.

I prefer to read happy things, I admit, but I have no problem reading "difficult" reads, things that are in depth and take some thinking. But the only thing I could think when I read this book, is how painful it was. I do not recommend it, I will not read anything else by thing author ever again! I finished it only because that's what I do, I gave it hope that it would at least have a great ending. It didn't. I don't even have any new knowledge from this book at it is all sci-fi-ish. I had to read a quick trash book, just to clear my mind!

Something cool

I found this great website - recommended by the fine people at Real Simple magazine. It's called bookseer.com. All you do is type in the last book you read and liked, or any book you liked for that matter, and it will bring up books along the same genre for you to try. You do have to be careful and look up those books before you buy them as some books may be labeled as the wrong genre. I looked up some Valerie Frankel books and it told be about some romance authors. Now I'm not against romance, but Harlequin just isn't my thing. I like books that are about stuff and the "romance" is not the main feature of the book. But it's a great little site and maybe it can help find author's that you didn't know about. I'm about to go there right now as I have nothing to read right now!

TAL....yes again!

This TAL system is a dream come true. It's not sad that I like to read that much! I got 4 new books today! I am so happy!! I'm not sure why my first book took so long, maybe it was due to being new in the system, but the books are coming in very quickly now. The 2 drawbacks of the system are that you cannot renew the books( so don't order too many at once...OR lock yourself in the bathroom and read until you're done), and that you have to take the book back to a real person at the library with the book in the envelope it came in. I know, the drawbacks don't seem so bad at all! So really, it is an amazing system for cheap people like me who like to read A LOT. So use it and enjoy!

TAL Online - a Success Story

I recently found TAL online, I posted about it about a month ago, and I have achieved success! TAL is an online program where you can borrow books and stuff from any library across Alberta! May not seem like a big deal to some, but to me, it is a godsend. Again, I read A LOT, and I have a hard time finding some books I have been looking for. The library doesn't always have the authors I am looking for, out of print books, that kind of thing. The book I received today is from Lethbridge, and I have been looking for it for ages. A Valerie Frankel book - I have read everything from her except 3 books, and I have gotten the first one. These books are out of print, not in my library system and to order them from Chapters, EBay, or Amazon will cost a lot more than I am willing to spend. My desire to get these books crossed of my "to read" list helped me find TAL online. I am so happy! It may take a while to get the books, but they are still free under my library card (best $12 a year I've ever spent) and they have had everything that I've been looking for. That's one more problem off my list. How did we ever live without the Internet though?