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TexasMadness Profile
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Re: Books I've read recently


By the way, anyone else can also post books they've read recently in this thread so it's not just me all the time! I like to know what other people are reading too!
8/31/2008, 2:26 pm Link to this post Send Email to TexasMadness   Send PM to TexasMadness
 
TexasMadness Profile
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Re: Books I've read recently


The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue

Inspired by the Yeats poem of the same title, this book is an adult fairy tale like no other I've read. Hobgoblins are alive and well in this world and steal human children and replace them with one of their own. The story is written in alternating points of view - a boy turned hobgoblin and the changeling who replaced him.

I couldn't put this down and finished it in just a few days. At first I didn't like the ending - I felt it was rushed and left too many questions. But I've continued to think about what happened to the characters after the text ended. I now think it left the reader with just enough information so that we could finish the story on our own. I really loved it!
9/7/2008, 1:57 pm Link to this post Send Email to TexasMadness   Send PM to TexasMadness
 
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Re: Books I've read recently


The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian

This is a tightly plotted story with a real twist at the end -- I couldn't put it down. It takes place in Vermont and is about a woman who works with the homeless. The plotting reminded me a lot of the movie The Sixth Sense -- only better! Not mornally the kind of stuff I read (psychological thriller, maybe) but I thought it was really well done. Wish I could write like that!

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

This reminded me of Cold Mountain a little (I LOVED Cold Mountain, book and movie) because it really really captures the place. It's about a family that is searching for their oldest son who shot someone and then escaped from jail. It takes place in North Dakota. There are a lot of Christian references in this book but I wouldn't call it "Christian fiction." And these things didn't bother me because they didn't seem overdone -- they made sense in the context of the characters. Great book.
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TexasMadness Profile
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Re: Books I've read recently


Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah Macdonald

Wow, this book was awesome. The memoir of an Australian woman who spends 2 years in Indian with her boyfriend who is mostly absent because he is a news reporter. She explores the country side and the religious offerings of the country. She delights in the absurdity and extremes of the Indian culture. On the one hand, Delhi is dirty, smelly and full of stinking, farting, burping people and pushy beggars and scrawny cows. However, she has also never been more loved by people or welcomed by strangers or felt more joy at some of her experiences.

I have the audio version of this book (a lot of the books I "read" are audio that I listen to while weeding, cooking or walking to work). It was just amazing. I really think that everyone would enjoy this book. I can easily make a CD copy of it and send it to anyone that wants to listen. It's really wonderful!
9/11/2008, 9:55 pm Link to this post Send Email to TexasMadness   Send PM to TexasMadness
 
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Re: Books I've read recently


I just checked Holy Cow out of the library -- thanks! Looks really good.
9/19/2008, 2:51 pm Link to this post Send Email to MagiCat   Send PM to MagiCat
 
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Re: Books I've read recently


Oh good! Tell me what you think of it when you are done. I'm sure you'll love it!
9/19/2008, 4:06 pm Link to this post Send Email to TexasMadness   Send PM to TexasMadness
 
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Re: Books I've read recently


This Book Will Save Your Life by A. M. Homes

Hmmm...I hardly know where to start with this book. I don't usually read this type of fiction - I guess it's contemporary fiction. Normal people in today's world just going about their lives (I would include Holy Cow in this but that book rocked!). Anyway, the book was entertaining enough to finish (I've finally decided life is too short to read crappy books!) but it was weird. I'm at a loss for how to describe it! Basically, it's about a rich guy who has no friends or close family who has a near death experience and changes his life to be a better person.

The Washington Post reviewer didn't like it. Described it as "a tepid satire about Modern America" but others wrote very glowing reviews. I guess I would say that it's worth the read, but it's not on my favorites list.
9/21/2008, 1:09 pm Link to this post Send Email to TexasMadness   Send PM to TexasMadness
 
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Re: Books I've read recently


Brisinger by Christopher Paolini

Arg! The only reason I'm upset about this book is that it's the third in a series (The Inheritance Cycle) and I thought it was the last one! It was just published on Sept 20, so I read it pretty quickly...and now I have to wait for years for the next one! Apparently, it was originally only supposed to be a trilogy but the author had more to say.

Anyway, the series is great. The first book, Eragon was made into a movie which I haven't seen, but apparently it was a huge flop. So if you saw the movie, forget it and read the book. The first book is by no means going to become a literary classic, but the story is compelling and well written, if not a bit too linear and predictable. The author was only 15 or 16 at the time.

The second book, Eldest, was even better. The author's style matured and the story became more complex and followed several different lines. There were many twists and shocks and I was on my toes the whole time.

And the last book was a bit more descriptive with less action, but still a delight to read. There were no major shocks like in the second book so the story was a bit more predictable, but they didn't make it any less interesting to read along.

The stories revolve around a sort of Middle Earth era with dwarves, elves, dragons and magic. It is a classic tale of good fighting against the evil empire. Despite it's common theme, the story is fun to read and I've really enjoyed it.

And now I wait for the next one! Image
10/9/2008, 3:08 pm Link to this post Send Email to TexasMadness   Send PM to TexasMadness
 
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Re: Books I've read recently


American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Wow, this was such a good read. Although it is not a very theological or philosophical book, it has me thinking about the nature of deities a lot. It is a fantasy tale that takes place in modern times in our regular modern world. Gods of all sorts are alive and well in this country...well, maybe not so well. You get to meet them all - Odin, Kali, Easter, leprechauns, Ganesha and many more that I had never even heard of. Couldn't put it down!
11/7/2008, 11:54 pm Link to this post Send Email to TexasMadness   Send PM to TexasMadness
 
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Re: Books I've read recently


that was a great book! (American Gods)
11/8/2008, 12:00 am Link to this post Send Email to MagiCat   Send PM to MagiCat
 


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