books books books

I was thinking about some of the good books I have read and decided to write a little post.

I love to read. Literally. As a child when (and if :P) I did something wrong I was punished by 'taking away my book'. And when I was sent to bed I would sneak out to the bookshelf and get a book - that was me being bad. And of course, reading when I should have been studying, but I eventually go the study done too. And on my first day home from grade one...my mother asks 'how was you first day at school Ashleigh?', my response - 'well, I haven't learned to read yet!!'...

I have to admit that university did change my habits a little, having more to do and being 'forced' to read non-fun stuff often means can't read what you want. Plus my budget didn't allow for new books too often and I've read most of the decent stuff the local library has to offer. Every now and then I'd treat myself to a new book though, sometimes good award winning reads, others just chic-lit stuff that's light and funny and takes your mind away from stuff. Chic-lit books are all the same though so I don't feel a huge need to write about them in my blog. They all end up making you feel warm and fuzzy or empowered or whatever, but they never make you think too hard (part of the appeal). Briefly though, the short stories series Girl's Night In is a good start, kind of like a chocolate sampler box where you can find authors you like then buy books. There are four in the series now and a percent of the sale goes to charity. Anything published by the Red Dress Inc company is usually pretty good and I own a number of books by Meg Cabot and the pair Josie Lloyd & Emlyn Rees. Failing that, anything with pretty colours (fuchsia, yellow, turquoise, purple, pink etc.) and more than one is generally a light read.

Non-chic lit books I have purchased generally belong to the top 100 list from angus and robertson http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/products/top100.asp because I impulsively buy books and I feel I can trust their list.

I bought the Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown when it first appeared on this list (just before the hype) and really enjoyed it. I'm kind of over it now though everyone is interested in it :) I also ended up with Angels and Demons but haven't felt the need for his other books.

I read the five people you meet in heaven - Mitch Albom and loved it. Its one of those books that shows you something new everytime you read it. And makes you think while also making you laugh and cry. Definitely a book that will never leave my bookshelf (unless I'm reading it or lending it to someone else of course).

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell is another one of those books. 6 different stories about 6 different people based in different periods of time but are all linked somehow. The book gives you only half of a story before moving on to the next one, which can get rather frustrating but pretty soon you are so into the next story you have forgotten about the previous one. The first story does take some time getting into it though, its a diary from somewhere in the 1800s and the language is a little tedious. Once you get through that though its definitely worth it :)

A few sad books the virgin suicides - Jeffrey Eugenides there was a movie made about this book that had some female actress but I've never seen it. Was a good book, a little twisted though. In the same category is The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold sad and twisted but generally a good read. Its the thoughts of a young girl AFTER she was murdered as she looks down from almost-heaven. Apparently this book will soon be made into a movie.

A book that was a little twisted but not really sad was The Bride Stripped Bare - Anonymous. Definitely a strange read. I wouldn't recommend it for everyone but its basically the story of a wife's 'sexual awakening' with someone other than her husband.

Then there are the classics which take some getting used to. Jane Austen is an obvious favourite (Emma in particular so it makes sense one of my second favourite movie is Clueless :P - number one is Love Actually if anyone cares). I love the whole 'Anne' series by Lucy M Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables etc. for those of you who don't know) and have read it quite a number of times. Sadly, I've never come across the full series in book form but have ebooks of the whole collection (which are free on the net) just means your eyes go funny after you read for a while. I also read the all the 'Flowers in the Attic' series by Virginia Andrews thats another truly twisted set of books (I won't spoil it but the start - ignoring the prequel - is about 4 kids who get locked in an attic because their grandfather doesn't know about them and their lives end up pretty messed up for the remaining books) this is another book that was a movie, again, one I haven't seen.

Other than that, I've read a lot of 'pointless' children's/teenage books as I've grown up and then continued to reread them because they are around. I was always a fan of the Emily Rodda series growing up (preffering Rowan of Rin over Teen Power Inc. but reading them all) and of course John Marsden's Tomorrow Series but I got over that cause I didn't like the way the final book ended (and refuse to read the Ellie Chronicles). My youngest sister also has a series of books from the Angels Unlimited series (by Annie Dalton) which I'll admit I have read and enjoyed. The beauty of kids books is they are short enough for you to read in the time it takes to eat breakfast and brush your teeth (times I'm often found reading :D)

I also have quite a few random books I've picked up for a few dollars second hand and from random places when I've just wanted a book to read. Some of them are good, some of them I should dispose of...

So thats it for me on books for the moment. I will definitely be adding any good reads I find to this blog. Even if no one is reading it, at least I'll have a record for my own future refernence...

I love books :)