Little Kite Girl

Since I’ve been a SAHM I’ve had more time to read.  I’ve read a bit of non-fiction, but after years of working on a philosophy degree I wanted to learn to read leisurely again.  I wanted brain candy.  My best opportunity to read usually comes when Bubby is sleeping but still needs held.   Here is a list of things I read while pregnant/post-delivery and my thoughts.

Pregnancy (the ones I remember…)

Something Borrowed Emily Griffin

Dramatic, a Cosmo-like read.  I related to being the “under-friend,” you know the slightly less sensational friend standing in the shadow of someone so charismatic, that even when she’s mean to you, you feel the desperate need for her to like you.  It was an ok read.

Something Blue Emily Griffin

The followup to Something Borrowed, Something Blue tells the story from the sensational friend’s point of view.  I actually enjoyed this one a lot more.

Babyproof Emily Griffin

This one was my least favorite of all three.  A wonderful couple breaks up because she doesn’t want a baby and he does.  The whole thing seemed a bit draggy to me.  It was ok though.

My Sister’s Keeper Jodi Picoult

I don’t think I like Jodi Picoult’s writing style.  Not enough happened storywise.  There was one problem, and the one side story seemed way off to the side.  The chapters were written around the different characters, and I disliked some of the characters enough to want to skip their chapter entirely.  I’m not sure why people thought it was so “cutting edge.”  Seemed like a pretty obvious argument from Philosophy 101- to genetically engineer or not to genetically engineer?  Old news.

High Fidelity Nick Hornby

I have no recollection of how I felt about this one.  Quite possibly I went into labor and didn’t finish it.

About a Boy Nick Hornby

Erily like the movie.

Coraline Neil Gaimen

I know it’s a kid’s book, but it scared me!  I love it.

Post Pregnancy

I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You Ally Carter

Teen lit, VERY good.  It felt like a female, spy-centered Harry Potter.  I would have loved this book in when I was in high school.  I loved it now.  I’m looking forward to more.

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging Georgia Nicolson

The name was the most interesting part about this book.  A lot of it was a far stretch, for instance, I’ve never met a 14 year old on the planet who worries that she’s a lesbian because she hasn’t had a boyfriend yet.  The protagonist often thinks things and wonders about things that are just disturbing.  Plus she witnesses her mother having an affair while her Dad is off working in another country and isn’t even phased.  Eck.

The Graveyard Book Neil Gaimen

Seriously good.  I feel cool that I read it before it won an award.  And it IS a good story for kids.  I’d read it to Bubby for sure.  But I also loved it just for me.  Good twist at the end, didn’t see it coming.

The Explosionist Jenny Davidson

Not quite sure what to say about this one…it was very odd.  Revisionist history, weird earth-conscious agenda, the protagonist is in love with her teacher but realizes that she’s ACTUALLY in love with his younger brother…the author wraps up the small issues by the end and leaves the big ones to prepare for a sequel, but the first one still feels undone. Leaving a cliffhanger requires skill.  You have to help your now story feel done while leaving something big open for the then story.  But this author seemed to fix one things while leaving everything else way undone.  Our copy was actually bound upside down in it’s cover, so I thought we might have lost 50 pages or so, but no.  It just ends like that.

Water for Elephants Sara Gruen

Amazing.  Some vulgar parts if you’re if you are easily offended, but brilliant.  It just felt honest.

Year of Wonders Geraldine Brooks

Very very good.  A heroine you can really admire.  I love that in a book.  However, she does lose her baby, which is NOT a good thing to read while you have a baby.  It was very, very sad.

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict Laurie Viera Rigler

I liked this one.  I’m not a big Jane Austen fan (OH WOW, I KNOW) but this seemed interesting enough to me anyway.  Just a light read about accepting yourself and your situation.

Up next:

Island of the Lost Girls Jennifer McMahon

I’ll let you know how it goes!

Any suggestions would be welcome.