For One More Day - Mitch Albom

For One More Day by Mitch Albom

Jason looked at this book and commented that it's really just a short story in big type face with a hard cover that is marketed as a novel. While it may be short, I think books should be judged on their quality and not their quantity. :o)

I like Mitch Albom books -- he ventures into spiritual (but not religious) topics in a very gentle and "unpreachy" way. Although his books typically make me cry (and this was no exception), I think they're worth a cry because it's not a cheap cry (ahemlikePSILoveYouahem). His books make you (well, ME anyhow) think about heaven and hell and what happens between now and then.

Approved! 4.5 bookmarks!

Burning Bright - Tracy Chevalier

Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier

I'm so predictable: historical fiction. Loved it. Although not quite as enthralling as The Lady and the Unicorn, Chevalier's newest book still had me at hello. I might be repeating myself here but I really like it when a book inspires me enough to do more research about the time period. I mean, I wouldn't ever want to have to write another term paper or anything, but still. Chevalier's website also has great background on her inspirations and further reading.

4.5 bookmarks! Approved!

Digital Fortress = Dan Brown

Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

Why on earth would I start reading a conspiracy/murder novel as soon as Jason goes away for 2 and a half weeks? I convinced myself last night that there were people watching me from every window and there were surveillance cameras in the bathroom. [shakes head]

As with the other Dan Brown books I've read, I finished this one in 3 sittings. It just MOVED. I'd be interested to know what a computer junkie has to say about this book -- most of the computer virus stuff went over my head but I think Brown does a ridiculous amount of research so I have to assume it's closer to accurate than say, that movie The Net with Sandra Bullock. I had to laugh at some of the descriptions of how attractive the top cryptographer in America is -- of course, the main characters need to be attractive, right? Imagination and suspension of disbelief, right? Wasn't it me that was so annoyed the main characters in that Cholera book were ugly?

I digress. Ummm ... 3 maybe 3.5 bookmarks. Worth a beach read.

The Jane Austen Book Club - Karen Joy Fowler

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler

I don't think I want to be a member of the Jane Austen Book Club ... They don't seem to have anything in common (except for their love of Jane Austen which is, I suppose, the point) and they don't seem to LIKE each other at all ...

As background, I've only read 2 Jane Austen books and I found them to be overly wordy with too much dialog, not enough visually stimulating description with snooty heroines and stuffy supporting characters. Shoot me if you will, but I just didn't like them.

I also hated the movie version of this book (come on now, three flights between Boston and Maui in one month and they can't show ONE decent movie? ANYTHING on a plane is watchable ... this movie (and Rush Hour 3) were not.

So I started out with a negative attitude. And I think the roles were miscast in the movie (except for Prudie and Grigg) because I had the wrong mental picture for most of the women. All that said, I actually really enjoyed the book. There are handy synopses of the Austen books in the back but really, the book discussions are not the main point of the book -- Fowler has created several very strong characters. I think it's a BIG stretch that they'd all be a part of this book club but hey, it's fiction.

Enough rambling. 4 bookmarks -- but it didn't make me want to pick up and Austen ...