October Book List

Goodbye Without Leaving - Laurie Colwin
A so-so novel. The concept is neat - it's about a woman who sang backup for a Tina Turner-type singer in the sixties. Most of the book is about her trying to get past her glory days and live in the present...except she never really succeeds. The ending wasn't really an ending. I think you just have to love Laurie Colwin for her great characterization, and forget about plot.

Captivating - John & Stasi Eldredge BOOK OF THE MONTH
Right at the beginning of this book, I read, "If you're looking for another how-to book on being a more Godly woman, this is not it." After that I was committed, because those how-to books are what drove me to this one in the first place. :) This one is about the hearts of women, how we're really created. It talks about loving boldly and not being afraid to be vulnerable. It's wonderful. Just read it.

1001 Ways to Be Romantic - Gregory Godek
I am always up for romantic ideas. This book was fun to read, but a lot of the ideas are not possible for me at this phase of life, and a lot of them center on cards, flowers, and wine, none of which are favorites of my hubby. :) I repeatedly thought of Kevin James's "greeting card" stand-up routine.

The Mermaid Chair - Sue Monk Kidd
This is a really well-written book about a woman who returns to her childhood home. Her mother is having a nervous breakdown, which seems to be connected to her father's mysterious death when she was a child, and she needs to figure it out. Oh, and she has an affair with a monk. I didn't much care for that part, but the rest of it was very intriguing.

Just Friends - Robyn Sisman
Your standard chick lit. Guy and girl are friends for ten years, then events conspire to make them fall in love. Formulaic but enjoyable.

Prep - Curtis Sittenfeld
I had been hearing about this for months, so I was excited to get my hands on it. It's a novel about four years at a Massachusetts prep school. The narrator is self-analytical and self-obsessive to the point that I wanted to reach into the book and shake her. Overall, the book was well-written and pretty insightful. But a little disturbing. Oh, and Curtis Sittenfeld is a woman. :)

So...not a banner month for the book list. But I'm reading Knife of Dreams and really liking it, and there are more promising books on the shelf for next month!

October Book List

Goodbye Without Leaving - Laurie Colwin
A so-so novel. The concept is neat - it's about a woman who sang backup for a Tina Turner-type singer in the sixties. Most of the book is about her trying to get past her glory days and live in the present...except she never really succeeds. The ending wasn't really an ending. I think you just have to love Laurie Colwin for her great characterization, and forget about plot.

Captivating - John & Stasi Eldredge BOOK OF THE MONTH
Right at the beginning of this book, I read, "If you're looking for another how-to book on being a more Godly woman, this is not it." After that I was committed, because those how-to books are what drove me to this one in the first place. :) This one is about the hearts of women, how we're really created. It talks about loving boldly and not being afraid to be vulnerable. It's wonderful. Just read it.

1001 Ways to Be Romantic - Gregory Godek
I am always up for romantic ideas. This book was fun to read, but a lot of the ideas are not possible for me at this phase of life, and a lot of them center on cards, flowers, and wine, none of which are favorites of my hubby. :) I repeatedly thought of Kevin James's "greeting card" stand-up routine.

The Mermaid Chair - Sue Monk Kidd
This is a really well-written book about a woman who returns to her childhood home. Her mother is having a nervous breakdown, which seems to be connected to her father's mysterious death when she was a child, and she needs to figure it out. Oh, and she has an affair with a monk. I didn't much care for that part, but the rest of it was very intriguing.

Just Friends - Robyn Sisman
Your standard chick lit. Guy and girl are friends for ten years, then events conspire to make them fall in love. Formulaic but enjoyable.

Prep - Curtis Sittenfeld
I had been hearing about this for months, so I was excited to get my hands on it. It's a novel about four years at a Massachusetts prep school. The narrator is self-analytical and self-obsessive to the point that I wanted to reach into the book and shake her. Overall, the book was well-written and pretty insightful. But a little disturbing. Oh, and Curtis Sittenfeld is a woman. :)

So...not a banner month for the book list. But I'm reading Knife of Dreams and really liking it, and there are more promising books on the shelf for next month!