Before I take the plunge into A Game of Thrones and disappear for however long it takes to plow through that series, I thought I'd play a quick game of catch up and try to remember the last few books I read in 2011.
The Last Werewolf: This was a juicy read, if gory at times. If you're able to suck it up and read about killing and eating humans every 200 pages or so, this is a worthy read. It's about a 200 year old misanthropic werewolf in present day who finds out he is officially the last living werewolf on earth. I found it fascinating to read a first person narrative told from the perspective of a (mostly likable) villain. It's an epic adventure with quality (read: Adult) writing style. Also, I totally smell a sequel. 
At Home: Major bore. Bill Bryson seems like a charming man but DUDE. This was a book club pick that I couldn't finish. Every time I picked it up I had flashbacks to 1997 during my freshman year of college when my roommate Maggie and I would need to take official nap breaks during reading assignments. This book induced many a nap break before I gave up on it.
An Echo in the Bone: After reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes (the 6th book in the Outlander series) I took a year or two long break. Then I recently saw An Echo in the Bone on the Buy 2, get 1 free table at Barnes and Noble and I snatched it up. It had been so long since reading the previous book that I had a hard time remembering some of the secondary characters, but eventually I fell back into the easy rhythm of Diana Gabaldon. I feel sad that Jamie and Claire are getting old, but am starting to find my groove with Brianna and Roger, who I assume are going to start playing a more major role in the next book. Thumbs up Diana. And way to leave us hanging until 2013 for book number 8. Rude.
Open: Andre Agassi's autobiography. Jeff got this book for his birthday and I read it to kill time, assuming it would be snoozeville but I loved it. Totally addictive and fascinating, despite my utter ignorance of tennis. This made me think I should be reading more autobiographies.
No Great Mischief: Boring. A little interesting, but mostly boring. I couldn't quite finish this book about sad Scottish immigrants living in Canada.
5 comments:
Hi Jill
I have just discovered your blog and just love your reviews. They are full of opinion and you really know what you love and dont. I dont know that I agree with everything you write but I love it. I am going to follow up on your recommendations. I belong to a book group and am a librarian but seriously, I am such a slow reader. I also live in a craxy earthquake riddle city in New Zealand and it is really hard to find some peace in your head to read these days. Earthquakes are quite traumatic especially when they are continuous for over a year. However, not important. I look forward to following you. Cheers Sally
I don't know much about any of those. Have fun with the Game of Thrones!
I love your reviews so much. I want to hug them and offer them some of my Girl Scout cookies.
An Echo in the Bone is the much awaited next chapter in the series of highlander Jamie Fraser and his time traveling wife, Claire. It is 1776, and Jamie and Claire are in the midst of war in the Americas and Jamie wishes to return to Scotland for his printing press so that he can bring it to America and report on the war. Of course, this is easier said than done and many complications arise and adventures ensue. Bree and Roger are safe in modern day Scotland with a large stack of letters to keep their memories alive. They cherish reading these letters slowly, as they know that once the letters are done, Jamie, Claire and Young Ian are gone forever.
Also featured prominently is Lord John Grey and his adopted son (biological son of Jamie), William, who is beginning his career in the British army, sent to the Americas to fight.
I like the above comments; you're a global hit. And the shout-out to our nap breaks. Open ruled.
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