Sunday, March 14, 2010

Sunday Salon: Happy Mothers Day!

It is Mothers Day here in England, I hope everyone is having a nice relaxing day! N and the boys and I went for a walk in the park earlier and later N is making a nice dinner for us. It's been a lovely day, if only I were feeling better! Woke up with a bit of a cold, so I'm hoping a couple of hour's rest with my book will be just what I need right now.

Since last Sunday, I have managed to finish five books and write just the one review here on the blog. I've been feeling such writer's block lately when it comes to book reviews. I am slowly writing more reviews though and I should be back on schedule sometime this week. So even though I *will* review these books soon enough, here are some brief thoughts on what I've read this week.

Last Sunday, I'd just started Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman and was enjoyed it immensely. We took the boys to a tube and bus depot yesterday, and seeing some of the memorabilia about the tube made me sort of giggle remembering Neverwhere and how Gaiman had brought the names of the tube stations and things to life in his novel. I did feel a little sad finishing this book, because apart from his graphic novels, one short story collection and Good Omens, the novel he collaborated with Terry Pratchett with, I've read all of Neil Gaiman's work. It saddens me when that happens. I am however looking for a copy of the series, Neverwhere.

After Neverwhere, I picked up Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols. I'd read a review of it over at Books. Lists. Life. last year and Lisa convinced me to search the book out. I was not disappointed at all and even stayed up far too late trying to finish it. I really, really couldn't put this book down at all, and I couldn't wait to see how it all ended. I'm sure review will be gushy, I'm warning you now.

And because I seem to be on a YA roll at the moment, I then picked up Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. I'd seen the movie with Michael Cera, but I much preferred the book. It felt like the book had more attitude and the sexual tension between Nick and Norah was far more evident in the book. I've put the other book written by Cohn and Levithan on my list, Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List.

And just when I thought my week couldn't get any better, I recieved a proof copy of Della Says OMG! by Keris Stainton in the post. I squealed, I really did. I was so excited to read Keris' first novel. I had really high expectations for it, and that always makes me nervous, but the book totally lived up to it. I found myself completely relating to Della and I actually started squirming from embarassment when her diary pages start making their way back to her because it felt like I was Della. Oh, it was a wonderful read.

And finally, N managed to find a copy of Ransom My Heart by Mia Thermopolis with Meg Cabot at the library and brought it home for me! It's the romance novel Princess Mia writes for her senior thesis. I really loved Finn and Hugo together. Everything about the book was so much fun to read, but with Meg Cabot writing it, how could it not be?

As for today, I've just started Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby. I'm only a couple of chapters in so far. I'm hoping that while Littlest is having his nap I'll have a few hours of uninterrupted time to myself. And if I fall asleep, that'll be OK too...

Happy reading everyone! What've you read recently and what're you reading today?

11 comments:

  1. I had a proper little panic when you said it was Mother's Day, before remembering the day's different in England and America. Phew. Happy Mother's Day!

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  2. Like Jenny, I had a moment of panic too before I realized you're in England. Whew. :)

    I loved Neverwhere as well and Good Omens. I have the miniseries of Neverwhere in my Netflix queue and hope to see it sometime this year (with 130-some in the queue, that's all I can hope for ;). I just came across Juliet, Naked this week at our library and will be interested to hear what you think.

    unfinishedperson (at) gmail (dot) com

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  3. Wow you have had a good reading week. Five books is definitely good going. I shall look out for Neverwhere as it sounds like a book I would enjoy. Have a great Mothers Day.

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  4. Glad you had a nice Mothers Day and are totally out of your book slump.
    I have the Ransom my Heart on my wishlist, the synopsis sounds fab.
    If you are putting Going Too Far on RISI, I will be nagging you (again) LOL

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  5. Thanks so much for your lovely comments. So relieved that you liked it! :)

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  6. The fisrt time I read neverwhere I read most of it on teh Tube. At one point I got of on purpose at Earls Court, just in case...

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  7. Happy Mothers Day to you (now late)! I have a writers block as well which is no fun at all.

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  8. Funny when I saw your post I got scared thinking to myself, Darnit I forgot Mother's Day! Haha Well Happy Mother's Day. Just checking on to see how you guys are doing :-)

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  9. Thanks Natasha! I hope to shake off the blues soon.

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  10. Shadowfalcon - I think reading Neverwhere on the tube would make the reading experience that more AWESOME. I went to Earl's Court the other day and I swear I kept looking around, like you said, JUST IN CASE! :)

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