March 11, 2009

A book is like a garden carried in the pocket

I've always loved to read. We had the most beautiful old library in my hometown, that was torn down many years ago. I have fond memories of time spent there, and if I shut my eyes and visualize it, I can still smell those old books.
One nice thing about having to lay around the past several weeks, is it's given me time to read again. My son's girlfriend, Katie, was so sweet to bring me a large basket of her books, and I'm really enjoying the variety.
She gave me, "Loving Frank", by Nancy Horan, for my Birthday. I've always been a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture, but I didn't know much about his personal life. The novel was a well written fictionalization, based on facts. Even though I disiked the main characters right from the start, I did enjoy the book.
The next one I read was by Janine Latus, "If I Am Missing or Dead: A Sister's Story of Love, Murder, and Liberation". While the title leads you to believe this is a story about a murdered sister, the book is mostly a memoir of the author's own life. I'm not sure I would recommend this one.
I just finished, "The Memory Keepers Daughter" by Kim Edwards. It's a story about a doctor who delivers his own twins, one of them with down syndrome. A very well written novel, that keeps your interest cover to cover, and is quite thought provoking. I will definitely be looking for her next book.
I'm about half way through "Sarah's Key", by Tatiana de Rosnay . The chapters go back and forth between two different characters in different time periods.
So far, the story of little Sarah in Paris, in 1942, is far more interesting than the chapters on Julia Jarmond, living there in 2002, but I'll let you know if I change my mind when I'm done..(I never judge a book by it's cover, or even way half way through!)

5 comments:

Lori said...

hi Nancy, i love to read also!!! i have been doing a lot of reading lately to sustain me through the winter blues...i did read "the memory keepers daughter"...but had not heard of "sarah's key"...it sounds interesting...i will look for it on my next trip to the library...

Jennifer said...

Oh those books sound interesting. I've picked up the memory keeper's daughter several times. Thanks for the insights.

LiLi M. said...

Hello Nancy, Good to hear from you again. Normally I write, I hope you are on the mend soon, but I almost envie you hehehe, all that time reading. So I say; happy recovering!

Gailann said...

Oh WOW Nancy, Memory Keepers Daughter is one of my favorite books. It is a story of true love!!! I am going to look for Sarah's key!

Hope your feeling better! Will call you soon.

EvScott said...

I enjoyed reading about what you're reading:) Always on the look out for a good book. We're reading 'The Fat Woman Next Door is Pregnant'. I DO judge a book by its cover. LoL
Glad you're on the mend...
Ev