I’m once again joining with Modern Mrs. Darcy for her monthly link-up for books called Twitterature. The premise of this link-up is to share short, casual reviews of books we’ve been reading.
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My reading got a little put off by one book that I trudged through and then my marathon viewing of Scandal. Still, I was able to cross off a few this month. Let’s get to it!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
I mentioned last month I picked the first Harry Potter up second-hand to preview in case my daughters wanted to read it.
I feel like such a bad reader but I couldn’t stand this book. I feel like I might be pelted by a gaggle of sorcerer stones any minute. I respect Rowling’s ability to create likable characters and an interesting new world but I just wasn’t hooked in the least.
If I weren’t such a stickler about finishing books I start and previewing it for the girls, I would have dropped it midway. I don’t have too many qualms about the girls reading it if they want I suppose. Just not for me. Maybe I’ll still pick up the audio book at some point and see if it changes my mind.
Undaunted: Daring to Do What God Call You to Do
I saw Christine Caine three years ago at Catalyst. She made a mark on me then and did it again with her debut novel Undaunted. Part memoir and part inspiration, this book leaves you emboldened to do whatever God calls you to.
Eleanor & Park
I read Eleanor & Park at Anne’s recommendation. She’s calling it one of her favorites for the year. I don’t think this beats The Fault in Our Stars for me but if you like Young Adult fiction at all, you’re going to want to pick this one up. Incredibly charming and gritty all at once. Lots of language I wasn’t a big fan of but there was a truthiness to it that led me to give it a pass. My only issue is the ending. As cheesy as it might have been, I wanted a cleaner, happier ending.
I’m currently in the midst of listening to Tina Fey’s Bossypants and reading Jesus > Religion by Jeff Bethke, Anything by Jennie Allen and Jodi Picoult’s Keeping Faith.
Have you read any of these? What’s your latest favorite book?
Hi Amy! I know this is a post about books, but would your recommend watching Scandal? I loved listening to Bossypants. I used to love Jodi Picoult, but haven’t ready anything of hers in years. I found that her books affected me emotionally too much. Let me know how you like Keeping Faith.
Jacey recently posted…My September Bookshelf
Scandal definitely has some liberal themes. It can get violent and as I mentioned in Friday’s post, most of the draw is surrounding the main character who is having an affair with the President. That being said, it is terrific writing and acting and really keeps you on the tips of your toes. The first episode is pretty racy and perhaps what turned me off when it first debuted so I’d say if you like the first 3 episodes or so, then you’ll really like the show. I loved it. I think I watched the first two seasons in just a week or something crazy.
As for the books, I’ve never read Jodi Picoult but I think it might be too much for me. We’ll see.
Amy recently posted…Twitterature – September 2013
I LOVE that you think ‘The Fault in our stars’ is your fave YA fiction book and I envy that you’re reading Jesus>Religion. Can’t wait to get my hands on the book. Great to meet you too! 😀
Ibukun recently posted…Life Lately 1.2
I’ll be doing a post on Jesus > Religion the first week of October (I think). I’ve just started it but good so far!
Oh and Jodi Picoult?! BEST. I read ‘The Pact’ about a year ago. And I loved it
Ibukun recently posted…Life Lately 1.2
Harry Potter, really? Well, I liked it from the beginning, but I don’t think it really got rolling until Book 3.
I loved E&P, and I’m sorry you didn’t get your happy, cheesy ending. But Rainbow Rowell has been talking about a sequel in interviews… Plus she had a new book come out last week that I’m looking forward to reading asap.
I could quickly forgive the ending if there is a sequel.
Luuuuuuuuuurved Bossypants; hope you’re enjoying it.
I’m always bummed to hear somebody not enjoy Harry Potter, but then I have to remember that I was eleven(ish?) when the first one came out and that it’s a bit different coming to it as a grown-up.
Christine Caine is new to me, so I’ll have to look her up. Thanks for the recommendation!
MK Jorgenson recently posted…Twitterature :: September
Maybe I need to change my expectations a bit. I mean it IS a YA novel. I figured I’d be hooked on it though. I’m disappointed that I’m disappointed.
Christine Caine is an amazing Christian leader. Look up one of her talks if you can. I’m not sure what’s out there but she blew the roof off at Catalyst.
I can’t help it, I have a soft spot for Harry Potter…books and movies 🙂 But Anne’s right, the books really get good around book 3.
I really enjoyed E&P, but like you…not so much the ending. But if there could be a possible sequel, that might be awesomeness!
Stacey recently posted…Twitterature: September 2013
You are certainly not the only one!! I definitely feel like the outsider on this one. I don’t know if I could go another 2 rounds of HP for it to get good though.
Didn’t like Harry Pottter, huh? Well, just remember that we were all a lot younger when we read those books! Going back to the earlier books in the series now, they do seem a little juvenile, but I love how the characters grow up in the series and the stuff they’re dealing with (the big showdown bt good and evil) gets more serious too.
Sarah recently posted…Twitterature, September 2013
I’ve been trying to think of a series I could read my little ones and I don’t know why Harry Potter never occurred to me. I’ve never read it. My youngest is almost-7. I wonder if he’d like it, or find it a little boring? Maybe I need to wait a few more years?
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I think it might be a bit scary for that age just depending on tolerance levels. You could always start and gauge the response. I started Chronicles of Narnia with the kids but they had a hard time keeping up.
My first instinct is that we can’t be friends if you don’t like Harry Potter. But I do remember there being a long pause between when I read books 1 and 2. I think it was around book 3 that I couldn’t put them down. But if it’s not your thing, it’s not. I guess that’s OK. Even if you’re WRONG. 😉
Vanderbilt Wife recently posted…Peanut Butter Pie with Pretzel Crust
Book 3 must be magical. It’s what everyone says.