Excellent novel, about a Nigerian girl who ends up in England illegally after an encounter with a British couple on a beach.
My sinister past was bound to catch up with me sooner or later. I foolishly believed I could turn over a new leaf. Everyone can change, right? When even my own mother refused to believe that I was capable of transforming my ways, I should have called it quits.
I should have said no and gone on my merry way. Alas, I couldn’t resist. They smelled so good, and I knew as soon as I got my hands on them, I would be so happy. I threw caution to the wind as soon as I stepped into the building. I wondered why I had stayed away for so long. Did I think I didn’t need this? How could I have forgotten how wonderful it made me feel?
I filled my arms up with contraband and stood in line, sheepishly looking around to see if anyone noticed me, ready to call me out for my past dastardly deeds. I made it to the front of the line undetected, where the man behind the counter unknowingly handed me one of the most dangerous things I’ve ever possessed.
An account of the author's time spent in prison. Interesting, well written, but somewhat annoying when read in the same week as some of these other books due to the seeming lack of perspective on the authors part
A library card.
Because really, the only thing greater in life than books, is free books.
I was left to my own devices to check out books, as my mother declined to do so in an effort not to tarnish her sterling book-returning reputation. Unfortunately for her, her character is already sullied, due to the fact that she is related to me.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about my love for books. I uh…may or may not have forgotten to mention the fact that I’m wanted in three states and three countries for overdue library fines and illicit book borrowing. Clearly, I have learned nothing of morals in all my reading, because I have no qualms keeping someone else’s book in my sticky little paws for the entirety of the book’s life.
Account of the author’s life growing up in Sierra Leone during the civil war, when he was forced to become a soldier at the age of 13. Sad at many parts of the book, but ultimately inspiring.
I’d like to tell you I’ll return your book to you, but if it’s a good one and has a stunning cover and looks good next to all my other books, then I’ll probably just hope that you don’t ask me for it back. And then soon enough, I’ll move to another state and you’ll never see it again. Why else do you think I’ve moved on average every two years? Let’s face it, your book is probably happier living with me anyway.
I thought it would be so easy now that I can renew online! I even have a car- which I use to drive by the library about five times a week. It only took a month and I’ve already got overdue books. This whole ‘free book’ thing is not working out how I planned.
Sigh.
To get to the real reason I’m writing all of this. I’m ALMOST OUT OF READING MATERIAL. Since I don’t have class for a few weeks, and only have to show up to the hospital in order to provide free labor, I’ve actually got some time to read.
2nd in the 'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' series. If you haven't heard of this awesome 'thriller/mystery' series- go read them. You seriously won't want to put it down.
So…dear friends. I need some help. I need some good book suggestions. No, I don’t want to read Eat, Pray, Love again- I didn’t enjoy it the first time around. In return I’m sharing with you the books I’ve read this week, so YOU too can read a good book!
Even trade.
So please…GIVE ME SOME BOOK SUGGESTIONS!!!!!
Pretty please??
I know that some of the author’s names aren’t visible in the pictures. So in order.
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah
The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larson
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Have you read Three Cups of Tea? It’s a really good book- seems you would like it.
I wish I had a good list for you… I’ve been reading a mixture of Regency’s and children books lately (like Mary Norton’s The Borrowers).
But I can commiserate with your outlaw status. I have a book in my back seat that is a year and a half overdue… and I never even finished it.
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I’m telling you – Harlan Coben is my favorite author!! If you have not read his books, you need to! I own a lot of them, but after reading this post, you may not borrow them.
Oh yeah! I forgot you told me about him. I will investigate. Do you have a fav book of his that I should start with?
uh…maybe. I’ll continue to piss off the library.
ps. I promise I will return YOUR books….
Isn’t reading grand? I just started my second book in like three years… kids will do that to you. And I find myself wanting to ignore everything else until I finish it. Alas, I can not. The kids have to eat!
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I’m reading Girl Who Played With Fire right now, well now right now cause I’m commenting on your blog and the intarwebs but yea ya know. It’s sooo good! I love all books by Jodi Picoult. My favorite is Change of Heart by her, but all are amazing, most make me cry. I’ve met her and she is hilarious!
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I just finished Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, it was wonderful. I think you would really enjoy it, it is about medicine, family and Africa.
What Came Before He Shot Her (Elizabeth George)
A Thousand Splendid Suns (Khaled Hosseini)
The Eight (Katherine Neville)
The Quality of Mercy (Faye Kellerman)
Any of Bill Bryson’s laugh-out-loud travel books
Comfort Me With Apples (Ruth Reichl)
The Distant Land of My Father (Bo Caldwell)
And…my favorite beach read: The Shell Seekers (Rosamunde Pilcher)
Oh hey, no idea where I stumbled in, but just got a great book suggestion from a fellow blogger. The book is called: “Honeymoon with my Brother” by Franz Wizner. I myself, am a serial reader.
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Oohh! I just googled it- it looks super good and really funny.
I’m not sure I should associate with an outlaw, but then it probably would help me gain some street cred. I do so love libraries, but here in Vegas, they are either too small or far away. Boo! The University library is where I forsee spending a lot of time.
As for a book, my blog now has the Amazon, “What I’m Reading” widget. Most of those are school related. You’re ahead of me on Steig Larson. Ever heard of Lynn Kurland? She writes historical romance, time travel, paranormal, fantasy…but they are usually fairly light on the sex, which I found I didn’t miss much because the stories are so wonderful. Try Stardust of Yesterday; it has ghosts, castles and tons of humor.
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I’ll be sure to stalk your amazon widget. I’m not going to lie though- totally not going to read your school books. I will wait for you to read them, and then write a novel. Then I will read your novel.
The books were asking for it, with their bright covers and their sexy words and their alluring subplots. You are only human.
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See- I knew you understood me!
I’m almost done with Stay by Allie Larkin, and I’ve love the whole thing so far. Going to review it on my blog next week–it might be something you’d like. It’s about a girl and her dog.
Also, thanks for the recommnedations–I listened to the audio version of Little Bee a while back, and I LOVED it.
Have you read The Help? Also excellent. The audio book was great.
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I will put Stay on the list- never read The Help. Can’t wait to read your book review!
Agreed – you have to read The Help. awesome book! The books you recently read were also all good – although I think the Stieg Larson books are just a means to communicate the author’s fantasies. Gets a bit old after awhile. Love this blog – how in the world do you find time to do all this, crazy girl?
Well, I have this to offer: http://seekingelevation.blogspot.com/2010/02/giveaway.html. That’s where I talked about some of my faves. I’m in the process of trying to read everything that Coetzee has ever written, and that’s been fun. I just read Memory Keeper’s Daughter and it was so horrible it made me want to burn down the library. Ummmm. . .since you seem to read really quickly, you should just go commando in the library and bring home about twenty random books. Some of the best stuff I’ve ever read was stuff I’d never heard of before (or since). Have fun!
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Oooh! I forgot about that post. I also forgot to tell you that I read Magical Thinking a few months ago b/c of your post- freakin loved it. I looked like a crazy person laughing to myself on the plane.
One of my favorite books is “Hell’s Angels” by Hunter S. Thompson. And “Lord of the Flies” is a book I read over and over. Oh and if you’re into oral histories and punk rock, “Please Kill Me” by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain can’t be beat.
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I’ve never actually read Lord of the Flies. I might have to check it out- seems like I always pass the classics by. I should be better!
I DO NOT HAVE A SECOND to take a dump.. much less read… so I do not have recommendations for you. Although… I’m into Michael Pollen’s “Food Rules”, but it’s more bathroom material.
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The first book I always suggest is The Brother’s K by David James Duncan. I fucking LOVE this book. It’s about an epic tale about a family, with lot so bits about baseball, religion, and general nonsense. But you don’t have to like sports or religion to get sucked into this book. Just stay with it for the first 30 pages and then you’ll be set (it’s a long one but a quick read once you get going). I think I literally fell in love with the character Everett.
Another GREAT but disturbing read is Play it As it Lays by Joan Didion.
LOL!!! So awesome! I will remember to never lend you a book…I like to keep mine!
A few of my favorites:
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
The Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George
Pretty much anything by Tracy Chevalier
I’m also currently reading The Sewing Circles of Herat by Christina Lamb and it’s pretty spectacular so far.
Hope these help!
i think i run in a bit different vein than most of these titles but if you’re in the business of translating humanity; I like the following.
Freakonomics
Super Freakonomics
Blink
Survivor: by Churck Palnuick (author of fight club)
Linchpin
The first book I always suggest is The Brother’s K by David James Duncan. I fucking LOVE this book. It’s about an epic tale about a family, with lot so bits about baseball, religion,I’m also currently reading The Sewing Circles of Herat by Christina Lamb and it’s pretty spectacular so far.
I’ll have to check it out- I love new books!