Wednesday morning book thoughts...

I'm sitting on the couch with a book and a cup of chai tea (what could be better!), and I feel the sudden urge to share my thoughts on what I'm reading and my favourite books with you.  (I wonder if I'm becoming addicted to blogging?!)

I started reading Valerie Martin's The Confessions of Edward Day last night and, at a third of the way in, I'm not enjoying it as much as Property, but it's still strangely compelling and I want to read more.  It's about struggling actors in New York,  their relationships with each other, the fierce competition they face, and the ways in which they learn to deal with these and other life situations.  Just a few moments ago, I was reminded of another book that I read many, many years ago called Boys and Girls Together, by William Goldman.  While it's been many years since I've read that one, I think Edward Day reminds me of Boys and Girls Together for a couple of reasons: 1.  the writing style may be similar, and 2.  the storylines may be similar.  Remember, it's been years since I've read the Goldman book, but I have an old, tattered paperback copy on my bookshelf and may just have to reread it (it's over 600 pages of very very tiny type, so I may need to be in the right mood, and have lots of free time, before I undertake that!)

Remember William Goldman?  He was popular in maybe the '80s with his titles, Magic, The Princess Bride, and Marathon Man.  He may be best known as a screenwriter, both for the films based on the aforementioned novels of his own and for other novels made into films, such as The Stepford Wives and Misery.

But enough about William Goldman.  I just found out that Martin's title, Property, won the Orange Prize in 2003.  This is interesting, since We Need to Talk about Kevin, by Lionel Shriver, also won the Orange Prize, and that is a title that I would definitely include on my "Top 5 Desert Island Books" list.  So I guess I should check out the Orange Prize past winners list, since I seem to really like the novels that have been winners that I've read so far.

On another topic,  I think my all-time favourite, pick-up-and-reread-anytime novel is John Steinbeck's The Winter of our Discontent.  In fact, I reread it almost annually, and these readings often coincide with Easter, so I'm overdue for this year's reading.  I remember that it usually coincides with Easter because the novel begins on Good Friday, and I often think to myself that it's fitting to be reading this at the time, that I must be drawn to read it at this time of year. 

I'll end this now so I'll have something to write about next time.

Bye for now!
Julie

Upcoming events for book lovers in Waterloo Region

Just wanted to pass on some information about a couple of events happening in Waterloo Region in the next few weeks:

1.  First United Church, located at the corner of King and William Sts in Waterloo, will be hosting the 47th Annual CFUW (Canadian Federation of University Women) Used Book Sale on Friday, April 29th from 9am-9pm, Saturday, April 30th from 9am-1pm 

2.  Robert J. Sawyer, Canadian SF author, will be coming to Waterloo Public Library, 35 Albert St Waterloo on May 3rd, 2011 to launch his book, Wonder at 7pm.

That's all for today...
Bye for now!
Julie

A day late, and one post entry short...

On this lovely sunny Saturday of Easter weekend, I was thinking about my next entry while I was cleaning up my vegetable garden. I don't want to spend too much time inside today, but I wanted to mention a novel I happened upon by chance. The title is Property by Valerie Martin, and it was amazing!! I would recommend it for anyone who is interested in 1. slaves and slave-owners in the US, 2. women and power, 3. psychological fiction, 4. spousal abuse, and/or 5. an indepth study of a woman caught between "a rock and a hard place". The author, whom I've never heard of, is also the author of Mary Reilly, the novel on which the film was based. She has written quite a few other novels, and they all seem to be about different subjects, so I'm looking forward to reading more of her works, as time permits.
I'm headed back outside now, to go for a walk in the sunshine...
Bye for now!!
Julie

(I'm just figuring this out, so while I wrote this yesterday,I only figured out how to post it today, with the help of my lovely husband!)

My first blog post!

Hi there,
I'm just new at this, so what I'd like to do is have a blog that is composed of "all things book-related".  Since I facilitate a book discussion group, I'd like to begin with some information about the books we're reading and maybe the highlights from our discussions.  Our next book is The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, and we will be meeting on Friday April 29th to discuss it.  I can update you on our discussion after the meeting.
Bye for now!
Julie