February Book List

[chestnutcurls]

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
A historical YA novel about yellow fever. It was just okay - very well-researched, though. I mainly picked it up because I loved her other book, Speak (which I'd recommend instead of this one).

The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
This was one of the more unique books I've read recently. It's a diary-type narration by a sweet, but very disturbed, teenage boy who's sort of a cross between Napoleon Dynamite and someone from Garden State (I guess I have those movies on the brain lately). Some parts are laugh-out-loud funny, and some come out of nowhere and totally shock you. Overall, I liked it and think it's timely.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I've decided to read more "classic" books this year. I don't know how I avoided this one for so long, but it's awesome and thought-provoking. Have I mentioned what a cool name Atticus is? Maybe if we get a dog someday, we can name it Atticus. Anyway, this gets my Book of the Month award.

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
Okay, get ready to attack me: I have never seen Phantom, either the musical or the movie. This is especially shameful since I come from a marching band tradition, where entire drum corps are named for it. Until I read the book, all I really knew was that the girl's name was Christine and that the Phantom was all tortured with love and that a chandelier falls at some point. Well, I took this book to Vegas with me and I couldn't put it down. On breaks I kept going back to my room to read some more. Now I'm definitely up for the musical or the movie or both. :)

The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters by Elisabeth Robinson
This book was depressing. It's about a Hollywood screenwriter and her sister, who is dying of leukemia. The theme seemed to be the eternal conflict between career and family (and other relationships). It made me sad and I couldn't relate to the main character's life. I'm surprised I finished it. Interestingly, though, the author apparently wrote the screenplay for Braveheart.

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
Thanks to Lawson, I'm getting into the whole Unfortunate Events thing. I read this one in about an hour. I started the second one, but it's temporarily on hold in favor of other books. Good stuff.

Broken Music by Sting
This is Sting's autobiography. I didn't know much about him personally, so I found it interesting. The only annoying part was that I waited the whole book to hear about his rise to fame, and as soon as the Police come to America to tour, he skips ahead to an event that happened, like, two years ago, and that's the end of the book. Whatever. I'm glad I read it anyway.

In process: R.C. Sproul, Essential Truths of the Christian Faith. I can only handle this one a little at a time, but I wanted to throw it in to show that I'm not just reading fluff. Okay, I'm reading mostly fluff. :( I'm trying to do better, though.

Comments

[stacye13.livejournal.com]

Hey, if you want to borrow the new Michael Crichton book, it's all you. I just can't plow through it right now. I tried a couple of times, but my attention span is taking a hiatus.

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

I have tons of books lined up right now, but I'll let you know if I run out. :) Thanks.

[hestergray.livejournal.com]

I like reading your book reviews. They give me good ideas about what to read. :)

And considering tomorrow is the start of another month, perhaps I can start writing down the books that I read! I think it's a good idea. If a book spans between two months, do you count it in the month you started it, or the month you finished it?

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

I'm glad! :)

I record a book once I finish it. If I don't finish it, I don't count it at all (which means that I've actually read a lot of other stuff, over time).

[greenhornet.livejournal.com]

Make sure to watch the movie version of " to kill a mockingbird." Gregory Peck, so ROCKS!

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

I'll put that on my list! :)

[monalisa73.livejournal.com]

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my FAVORITE books. I love it. I have read it a MILLION times...definitely in my Top 10.

If you haven't read Pride & Prejudice that's another great one to read...another one that I re-read constantly.

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I finally read that last year! Kathy got it for me for my birthday and said that I now had no excuse not to read it. :) I liked it.

[thetenthshadow.livejournal.com]

Don't forget my books too! :)

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

The ones you wrote? :)

[mandajanie.livejournal.com]

Okay, get ready to attack me: I have never seen Phantom, either the musical or the movie.

Me either! We are so pitiful. ;)

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

Yay! A fellow non-Phantom person. :)

[mrszoid.livejournal.com]

I loved reading The Phantom of the Opera. I loved all the passages about the secret tunnels underneath the opera building.

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

I know, that was fascinating!

[jesusrock7.livejournal.com]

TKAMB is two thumbs up! Ditto on greenhornet -- you've gotta get the DVD!

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

Okay. :)

[admael.livejournal.com]

You mentioned Garden State in your post... I might have already asked you this, but what did you think of it? I've heard various things about it: it's great, it's not, whatever. My main question, though, is whether there's enough sexual content to where I couldn't watch it with my parents or not.

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

Well, there's some innuendo, but there's mainly one specific part that is very, very bad. If you decide to watch it, let me know and I'll tell you where it is so you can skip it. There's also drug use and stuff, but to me the overall theme of the movie made up for it. Some parts are so touching and thought-provoking.

[evening-damask.livejournal.com]

Hi, Brenda! I've been seeing you around on LJ forever - we seem to have a number of mutual friends, so I've seen you on all their blogs. You seem like a fun person to get to know - so...I added you to my friends list, so you can come and read my LJ since it's entirely friends-only. I understand if you can't add me back, though. :)

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

Sure! I'm honored. :) I added you back!

[evening-damask.livejournal.com]

Many thanks! :)

[brittuhknee.livejournal.com]

I LOVE The Perks! =)