First — HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

I had to take a moment to wish my Mom a great day today. Love you Mom!

Now, the library loot. I was planning to do this post yesterday but got hung up running a million and one errands yesterday and didn’t find time to sit so today it is.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. I put this one on hold in the hopes that I would have it for Jenny’s Books’s Diana Wynne Jones Week but it didn’t arrive in time. I’m a few chapters in and enjoying it. This book has been on my list for so long and I was worried that I would be disappointed by it (you know that whole books living up to expectations complex) but it’s good and funny. I thought the main character was going to bother me but once I got to understand her a bit, she’s grown on me and now I find myself happily following her along on the strange little journey she’s taken to find her fortune.

The Thieves of Manhattan by Adam Langer. I will admit that I know nothing about this book. I took it home with me without even checking what it was about but I have a feeling I am going to love it. I read the first few sentences and was completely taken in. When I dropped the books on the table my husband picked it up and asked if he could read it too. Maybe it’s the stark cover or the title, I don’t know, but I can’t wait.

The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner. Oh yes, now I get to found out what happens to Gen. You see, Gen is a Queen’s thief for a neighboring country and he’s managed to fall in love with the Queen of Attolia. Now, in the name of not giving it all away, I’ll stop there but I’m so looking forward to this one.

Kings of the Earth by Jon Clinch. I browse the new arrivals shelf when I have time and this one was there with its intriguing cover. It looks sad, depressing, and I’m not sure there is a happy or even a little less depressing end to the story but there was something that made me want to read it. It’s about brothers who live together on a crumbling upstate New York farm. When one dies the other two are suspected of murder.

I had a good week of reading last week. Here’s the wrap-up:

The Queen of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

The Queen of Attolia was good and I’m looking forward to continuing the series.

The Road. What do I say about this book other than it was probably one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. It’s about a post-apocalyptic world where the only survivors are left to fend for themselves in world with nothing left to give. The stark writing mirrors the situation of the characters. It’s sad, disturbing, disgusting, and honestly scared me more than anything I think I may have ever read. At one point I thought I might have to pull a Joey and put the book in the freezer but decided to push on, mostly because I couldn’t put it down. I don’t know if I will ever be able to read another McCarthy book, we have No Country for Old Men on the shelf, and while my husband assures me that it’s not as violent or disturbing, I don’t think I can do it. There is one scene in this book that actually made me put the book down and walk away from it and the hubby seeing this, the following conversation occurred:

“The basement scene.”

“What?”

“The basement scene. That’s what you just read wasn’t it?”

“Uh, yeah. How did you know? I thought you said you didn’t read this one.”

“I didn’t but that scene is legendary.”

“Legendary. Legendary! I don’t think I want to read anymore today. I’m freaked. I think I’ll go watch Shark Week in the bedroom for a while.”

Yes, the basement scene. I plan to include it in my review so I will say no more. Let’s just say I was so glad to pick up Harry Potter after that book. I needed a safe place after that. I still stand by what I said though — fabulous book and one of the best I’ve read.

Next week will be all about whales and kraken so I need to get writing and editing a few reviews.

Enjoy your Sunday fellow readers. 🙂