2011 Reads – Books 6-10

February 3, 2011 · 9 comments

After having finished only five books as of January 25, I have read five more just in the week or so since then. I have decided to attempt to write a few comments about each book that I read this year and realized that the post would get pretty long if I stick to posting the list once a month. So I am going to post these “mini” reviews whenever I finish another five books (or so, depending on when I get around to it!).

Without further ado, here are my most recent reads of 2011:

The Gift of Love edited by Lori Foster
I picked this up from the new books shelf at the library because I had decided to read some short stories this year and the description on the back of the book sounded like this would be an interesting look at different types of love with family relationships.

It turned out to be more like the equivalent of eight mini romance novels that had nothing to do with the grandiose promises made by the description. The only story I liked was “The Wolf Watcher’s Diet” by Paige Cuccaro; perhaps somewhat coincidentally, it was the only one without an explicit sex scene. Other than taking a few moments to read that charming tale, I would give this book a pass.

Under a Maui Moon by Robin Jones Gunn
I have always enjoyed reading Robin Jones Gunn; she writes fun inspirational chick lit which is great for a light read. Sometimes I have wished her characters would be a bit more developed, and in this story I was pleasantly surprised by more depth that I remembered from her other books.

I’m not sure if it’s because there are fewer main characters than in some of her series or because the subject matter is so near to her heart, but I was very impressed and encouraged by this story about a couple who hits a snag in their marital communication and has to decide whether their marriage can be revived, or even saved.

Intrigues: Book Two of the Collegium Chronicles by Mercedes Lackey
I loved this book almost as much as the first one in the series and am seriously considering going back and re-reading the older books to brush up on my Valdemaran history.

The Serpent’s Shadow (Elemental Masters, Book 1) by Mercedes Lackey
This story, set in early 20th century London, is a fascinating mix of magic, medical practices, women’s rights and figuring out who to trust along the way. I found it utterly enchanting and suspenseful.

The Gates of Sleep (Elemental Masters, Book 2) by Mercedes Lackey
Where the first book in the series takes place in the city, this one is set in the countryside, which was interesting. I also enjoyed the mild allusions to Sleeping Beauty. I hadn’t actually realized that these books were connected to classic fairy tales before I started this one and was struck by the christening scene, but looking back I can see the Snow White imagery in the first book. Very cleverly done.

You can see all the books I’ve finished so far this year on the bookshelf on my Books page or read all of my mini reviews by clicking on the 2011 Reads tag.

oooh love it must read- love suspense – love the London atmosphere –
Here is an exceprt from my blog on the 9 books I am reading right now
I hope you dont mind me copying and pasting – but I thought a fellow bibliophile would forgive me
Look me in the eye :
John Elder Robison account of his life with Asperger.
Very well written though the bits about the difficult childhood he and his brother who wrote the book Running with scissors- are almost too painful to read ) .
Not only did he deal with Aspergers – the larger part of his difficulty comes from his alcoholic father.
I have had to stop reading this book at the point where his father stubs his cigarette on his little brother’s forehead – but I will come back to it

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society
Very charming book.
That particular light British humor I love – set in the post War 1946 Europe.
The entire book is in letter form and its tragic that the book’ s author is dead after writing just one book.

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand & Harvesting the Heart
Both these books have had to be abandoned because they are making me sad.

Major Pettigrew is so lonely and sad – as is the one he falls in love with -Pakistani shop keeper Jasmina Ali.

Both are surrounded by greedy relatives and I am finding it depressing

Harvesting the Heart – tells about the story of a emotionally fragile woman who is overwhelmed by the birth of her child and abandons him

Death of a Dustman

This is from the Hamish Mcbeth series – and I just love these books.

They are so light . set in the Highlands of Scotland

They feature the happy constable Hamish Mcbeth in the happy place he loves – Lochdubh.

The mysteries are short and sweet and happy

Overcoming ADHD without a pill by Dr Stanley Greenspan
Just excellent like all his books are

The Cook book collector by Allegra Goodman

While Allegra Goodman is called this century’s Jane Austen – I just don’t feel her the way I do Jane Austen’s characters

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

This one is stunning.

Her writing is so profoundly moving.

Its like I am inside the lives of these people

Most of her characters have a Bengali background ( like I do ) –

In this collection of stories I had started to empathize with one of the women – Kaushik’s mother – for her love of perfume, her habit of talking to kids as though they were adults and for her indulgent affectionate husband and her silent son.

I am devastated halfway through the story to find that she is dying ( and does die ).

I think about how much I would hate to die- and not just for how will R and DH manage without me – for I just love my life.

Still while I am terribly sad at the turn this story takes – I cannot abandon this book

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