Twitterature: May 2014
Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan
Totally engrossing. Cahalan writes in a very approachable manner, so I found even the medical descriptions in this book fascinating.
How She Does It by Anne Bogel
A quick, inspiring read by our own Modern Mrs. Darcy. Reading this book inspired me to recommit myself to making my creative dreams a reality. (Thank you, Anne!)
Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichel
This is a wonderful book for anyone who loves food. I will admit to being a little put off by how into her characters she became. That was a bit strange for me. But maybe I’d do the same if I needed to go out in disguise for my job. Actually, maybe a disguise would be a good idea…
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simison
A light, fun and funny book. Lots of strong language, however, so I don’t feel like I can wholeheartedly recommend it. **Kindle version is currently on sale!**
Knight’s Castle by Edward Eagle
This was a read aloud with my kids. We all enjoyed it, and my 5 year old boy has been even more into knights since we finished it. Didn’t think that was possible. It would probably be good to read Ivanhoe before this book; it is heavily referenced throughout the story.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
I am still trying to decide how I feel about this novel. At nearly 800 pages, it is a behemoth. The characters were realistic, the plot was interesting (though I found myself bogged down at times). Do you ever become so involved in a story that you feel like you are part of it? Every once in a while, after I had been reading, I would become anxious about stolen artwork or drug use. I have never stolen art or used drugs, but I felt like I had. Is that weird? I generally like books that leave me thinking about them after I’ve finished reading them, and The Goldfinch definitely had that affect on me. I’m just not sure if I like it…
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Fascinating! Well written and crammed full of information. I loved this book!
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
So far this is my least favorite Austen novel. It took me probably til 2/3 of the way through the book to really get into it. I just didn’t find the characters as relatable or interesting as in Jane’s other work. If I hadn’t made the goal to read all of her novels this year (along with the Motherhood and Jane Austen Book Club)I might not have even finished it. Shocking for an Austen devotee!
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8 thoughts on “Twitterature: May 2014”
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I agree that Mansfield Park is not as good as some of Austen's other novels. I enjoy the quirky characters like Mrs. Norris and Lady Bertram, but some of the other characters & romances are not very convincing. That being said, a so-so Jane Austen is better than many other writers' best books! 🙂
I read The Rosie Project this month too — loved it. Thanks for your reviews.
I get deeply intwined in a story I'm reading sometimes too. I know I've gone too far when I start adding fictional characters to my prayer list 😉 And I'm with you on Mansfield Park. Getting the guy whose neglect is benign rather than malicious doesn't strike me as a happy ending. And then there's the cousin factor. Yuck! Popping by as your Twitterature neighbour. Great list!
I never read Mansfield Park but only saw the movie version once – and I remember just feeling disappointed by it.
Good point! I'd rather read Mansfield Park than a lot of other things out there.
I'm so glad I'm not the only one! Although, I've never actually prayed for fictional characters…I just think I AM one 🙂
Darn! I was hoping I'd like the movies better. There are several on Netflix and I was planning to watch them soon. Which version did you not like?
Loved The Rosie Project! And I read How She Does it last month too, really enjoyed Anne's book. I've been seeing a lot about The Goldfinch, but I'm almost afraid to try that one!
I'd love to hear what you think if you decide to read The Goldfinch. I'm still mulling it over… Can't decide if I want to recommend it to people or not!