If you’ve read this blog long, you know that I’m in love with words. And this section of the blog is devoted to my love of words. Here you’ll find my thoughts on what I’m reading, favorite authors, and my deep abiding love for used bookstores.
Reading stats:
What is Mandy reading? I am currently reading Persuasion by Jane Austen. Persuasion is my favorite Austen novel, and I needed something lighter after Sarah’s Key. My goal is to read 30 books in 2012. I cobbled together the list from various “best books of 2012″ lists I found online (namely NPR’s) and added in some favorites I haven’t read in awhile or books I didn’t get to on my quest to read 30 books last year. You can check out my progress here.
Where can I read book reviews written by Mandy? Well, right here.
How many books have you read this year? 5
Number of books hated so far: I didn’t hate Devil in the White City. Erik Larsen is a wonderful writer and a great storyteller. But that book was just hard to get through. The H.H. Holmes parts freaked me out and made me really sad. The section at the end when the detective is tracking down the Pietzel children almost did me in. I loved the juxtaposition with the World’s Fair and learning about a changing world and changing society, plus all the architecture stuff—and I really do want to go visit Chicago because of this book. But it’s not something I’ll ever read again.
Most interesting read this year: Sarah’s Key was more intriguing and overwhelming than I thought it would be. I hadn’t ever heard of the Vel’ d’Hiv roundup in Paris before and that historical fact amidst the work of fiction astounded me. I thought the novel was extremely well written and well paced and it was hard for me to put down and hard for me to read (because there was the fact that the roundup actually happened and French citizens were sent on trains straight to Auschwitz’s gas chambers). I’d definitely recommend it.
Biggest grammar pet peeves: using impact as a verb, forgetting the importance of adverbs, its/it’s (it’s not that hard, people)
All-time favorite books: Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion by Jane Austen, Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen, Rebecca by Daphne Du Marier, and Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts. I think, after rereading it last year, To Kill a Mockingbird ought to be on that list, too.
