All Consuming : oclibr

Why I recommend "The Whistling Season"

nobody@allconsuming.net (oclibr) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 01:37:39 GMT

by Ivan Doig

Wow! This was an awesome book! Not your typical pioneer story, but still filled with those elements. It was recommended to me and I would pass that along. I really enjoyed it.

A story about "When Crickets Cry"

nobody@allconsuming.net (oclibr) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 21:06:16 GMT

When Crickets Cry

by Charles Martin

I started off wondering if I was really going to get into this book because Martin’s use of metaphors and similes were just overwhelming. It was like he couldn’t get passed describing EVERYTHING with a metaphor. But he finally settled in and I enjoyed the story and could feel the anguish of a family waiting for a transplant. I would recommend this story.

A story about "The Mermaid Chair"

nobody@allconsuming.net (oclibr) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:53:55 GMT

The Mermaid Chair

by Sue Monk Kidd

I started with high hopes for this book but I hated the ‘pat-ness’ about it all. Please, does a life that includes a husband and daughter that love you, who are human and sometimes think only of themselves have to mean you run off into an affair? I would never recommend this one to anyone.

A story about "Thirteen Moons: A Novel"

nobody@allconsuming.net (oclibr) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:48:57 GMT

Thirteen Moons: A Novel

by Charles Frazier

I loved this story! It made history so personal and far beyond a dry impersonal retelling of sad things like the Cherokee trail of tears.

A story about "The Wednesday Wars"

nobody@allconsuming.net (oclibr) — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 22:13:38 GMT

The Wednesday Wars

by Gary D. Schmidt

I loved this story! It was the 60’s all over again and I could really identify!

A story about "Splendid Solution"

nobody@allconsuming.net (oclibr) — Wed, 02 May 2007 18:55:09 GMT

Splendid Solution

by Jeffrey Kluger

This book is the Iowa ALL READS selection from the Iowa center for the book! Their choices in the past couple of years have left something to be desired as far as I was concerned so I’m approaching this book with a bit of caution. I am optimistic however that it will be a good read.

A look at childhood!

nobody@allconsuming.net (oclibr) — Wed, 02 May 2007 18:53:04 GMT

Ida B: . . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World

by Katherine Hannigan

This was a delightful story about how a young girl deals with changes in her life. It’s an honest look at anger when life spins out of control. Ida B is just the kind of girl I would like to have been growing up. It’s such a delightful book!

Disappointing

nobody@allconsuming.net (oclibr) — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 01:29:25 GMT

Veil of Roses

by Laura Fitzgerald

I started this book with high hopes. I loved how the author started this story and was intrigued and captured right away with the story of this Iranian girl, Tami, come to America and hoping to stay. It degenerated quickly and lost all crediblility with me when Tami hooks up with not one but 3 men in the space of 3 months. Of course the best one was the lovely American boy… Anyway I was sorely disappointed by the way the book headed at the end.

A story about "The Children's Blizzard (P.S.)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (oclibr) — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 17:46:03 GMT

The Children's Blizzard (P.S.)

by David Laskin

So I read this book during the height of our midwest blizzard. Since I was sitting in a warm comfy environment: heat, lights, food as I read I realized I have nothing to complain about compared to those poor immigrant pioneers. They suffered so much just to have a better life for their children. They believed all that some schmuck newspaper reporter told them. And to top everything off, while we find weather reporting a rather ordinary thing and hardly political these days, back then weather reporting functioned much like the rest of government does today: filled with red tape and useless delays. Everything changes. Nothing changes.

A review of "Because I Said So" (rated 1 star)

nobody@allconsuming.net (oclibr) — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 02:10:51 GMT

Because I Said So

by Michael Lehmann

Among horrible movies that I’ve ever seen this ranks right up there. I expect better from Mandy Moore and even better from Diane Keaton. Who really talks to their mother about orgasms? And on the phone to them about sex while having sex? Puh-lease! It was disgusting. It was awful.

Why I recommend "The Cloud of Unknowing (Otto Penzler Book)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (oclibr) — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 16:16:07 GMT

The Cloud of Unknowing (Otto Penzler Book)

by Thomas H. Cook

This is a story about the adult relationship of a brother and sister whose lives have skewered by their father’s schizophrenia as they were growing up. Cook’s stories always lead me beyond my normal ‘on the surface’ thoughts about life in general. His mysteries always have enough twists and turns that actually keep me from turning to the end first. (I wouldn’t know the end even if I read it first). For a riveting mystery that shifts back and forth between past and present in Cook’s unique style I recommend this one!