The Way We Live Now, Anthony Trollope
28 Wednesday Dec 2011
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in28 Wednesday Dec 2011
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in25 Sunday Dec 2011
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in21 Wednesday Dec 2011
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in19 Monday Dec 2011
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in18 Sunday Dec 2011
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in16 Friday Dec 2011
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inWell, I did finish a book today, as it turns out. This book is a historical fiction book. It is a fictional account of the model for Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, and has much romance in it. This sounds like an extremely interesting plot, and I love historical fiction, but I didn’t like this author’s writing style that much. For example, on pg. 28, “The messenger pulls up alongside us. ‘Il Magninfico is dead.’ Papa shakes his head. ‘What? What are you saying?”Lorenzo de’ Medici. Il Magnifico- he died.'”
This is so blunt, just horrible writing. There are other patchy instances as well. Also, the main character falls in love with one of the Medicis, but instead she is forced to marry another man! I so wanted her to protest, to rebel against this society which forces her to marry. But no, she submits, and cannot marry the man she truly loves.
It was an interesting book in that I learned some of Florence’s history. But not the greatest writing style. Although I looked up some reviews of it, and lots of people seemed to like it. So maybe it’s just me. 2 1/2 stars.
16 Friday Dec 2011
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inSo, as mentioned on my other blog, I will be going to Miami Beach. I’ll bring much reading material with me, but, obviously, not enough for one a day like I’ve been doing lately. So I may not get to posting until the new year. Or I might, but not every day, that’s for sure. Keep reading while I’m gone!
15 Thursday Dec 2011
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inThis was an extremely funny book by a British author. It uses many British terms such as what ho, and other things. It was rather silly, as the whole plot revolves around an antique cow creamer, but it was a clever book, full of wit, and funny, though it was rather sexist. There are only a few female characters in it, and they are portrayed as silly and petty. Still, I enjoyed reading it. It tells of the likable bumbling gentleman Bertie Wooster and his manservant and protector, Jeeves. In this book, they go to stay at a place called Totleigh Towers, and what ensues makes up much of the book. Though it was a bit slow at first, this book quickly picked up, and it became difficult to put it down. I really liked it, and I hope to read more of P.G. Wodehouse in the future. I would definitely recommend it. 4 1/2 stars.
14 Wednesday Dec 2011
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inThis is a novel about modern Afghanistan. It tells of Amir, who is born in Afghanistan to a wealthy father. He plays with a Hazara boy, Hassan, whose father is their servant, but is haunted by things that he’s done to Hassan. Eventually he and his father emigrate to the US when the Russians invade Afghanistan. Many years later, after Amir’s father is dead, and Amir has married, he returns to Afghanistan at the request of his father’s old business partner. And there’s more, but I’ll won’t say. Despite what my mom may say, I think it’s a really good book. I like the narrative tone, and its a powerful book. I loved it. 5 stars.
13 Tuesday Dec 2011
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inThis is a novel set primarily in Madison, Wisconsin. 23 year old Carrie Bell is engaged to marry her high school sweetheart Mike. She is, to her horror, beginning to find this life suffocating and is considering leaving it, when Mike gets into a diving accident and is paralyzed. What follows is a compelling and moving novel. She tries desperately to be there for Mike, but she then goes to New York to stay with some friends. She eventually returns to Madison and… Well, I won’t say how it ends. It was a good book, though not exactly my favorite genre. 3 1/2 stars.