Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Latest reads

After getting my stitches out Friday, I met some friends for dinner at John Harvard's. And enjoyed a very tasty post-stitches meal :) Finally being able to open my mouth wide enough to cram a hamburger in was wonderful. We started with a buffalo tender appetizer, enjoyed a couple of winter warmer beers - with the glass rims coated in cinnamon sugar, yum - before polishing off a good sized burger and fries. An excellent meal indeed. Afterwards we moseyed on over to the movie theater and saw P.S. I Love You. I had my doubts about this movie as I wasn't too crazy about the book, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I actually liked the movie better than the book, which almost never happens. I still say it's more of a renter though rather than a pay $10 to see it like my friends and I did.

AtonementCurrently, I am reading Atonement and am enjoying it, although based on what I am hearing and the tone the book is setting, I am getting the feeling that things do not end well. I can't say for sure though, I need to keep reading. I've just gotten to part three. I do think I will try some of McEwan's other books once I've finished this one and gotten through a few more in my stack. I've heard good things about Saturday as well.

Literacy and Longing in L.A.Next, I am hoping to sink my teeth into Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (book 6) or Literacy and Longing in L.A. - I've had L&L in L.A. on request from the library for months now and a copy finally came in. I'm not really even sure what it is about but I've seen it blogged about quite a bit.

The Tea Rose: A Novel The Winter RoseI bought my copy of Jennifer Donnelly's The Winter Rose and can't wait to start reading. I read The Tea Rose right before Christmas and couldn't put it down - I thought it was fantastic! I ended up buying a copy of it as part of a Christmas gift for my MIL as I think she will really like it too. I just loved the setting of The Tea Rose and the historical fiction-ess of it - set in England, then NYC, and then England again. I loved reading about Fiona and her success as she moved up the ranks and became a very prominent business owner in the tea trade as I silently rooted for her and her long-lost love Joe (I will say no more in case you plan on reading yourself). Just a fabulous book. Another one of my favorite reads of 2007.

Did anyone watch Persuasion on PBS Sunday night as part of the Jane Austen Masterpiece Theater special they plan on running through the winter? I did while I caught up on a little knitting and I'm still undecided as to whether or not I liked it. I liked some of the scenery shots, but am not sure how impressed I was with the acting or the presentation of the film - it seemed a bit choppy to me. Of course I did like the story though - another Jane Austen novel I will have to read in the very near future! I do plan on watching the other movies - there is a new one every Sunday night. I am especially looking forward to Pride and Prejudice which I think has 5 parts.

I need to get my act together - I've noticed several new (or newer) reading challenges in the blogosphere many of which I want to join. I need to pick and choose which books are going to make my lists and then post about them!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have to say, I'm avoiding the Jane Austen series on PBS. I'm pretty attached to the 1995 version of Persuasion with Ciaran Hinds (yum!). I don't think i can handle another one.

It just seems like they have to cut so much out to put novels like that on TV; I'd almost rather read the book again than spend the time watching the movie.

I also want to read Atonement; been hearing good things about it.

Hope your mouth feels better!

Anonymous said...

I read Atonement at the end of 2007 and LOVED it. I am glad to hear that you enjoyed The Tea Rose, since I currently have it sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read. I've been eyeballing Literacy and Longing in LA for a while - maybe I need to get that one from my library.
Stephanie
www.thewrittenword.wordpress.com

Marg said...

I just recently read Atonement and really liked it! I also really liked The Tea Rose, and LOVED The Winter Rose!

Unknown said...

Yes, Saturday by Ian McEwan is apparently absolutelu brilliant. My mother just read it and said she couldn't put it down (having previously been disappointed by him). I read the first chapter and it was very gripping. He can certainly draw you in to his novels.

I just started reading Water for Elephants - have you read it?

Kirsten said...

Susan - thanks for telling me about the 1995 version of Persuasion. I didn't know that one existed, I will definitely have to check it out!

Stephanie - enjoy The Tea Rose :) I think you will like it!

Marg - glad to hear you loved The Winter Rose! I am really looking forward to it!

Captain Cat - I did read Water for Elephants recently and while I did like it, I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. I think that was because soooo many people talked up the book to me that by the time I picked it up I had very high expectations for it. And I just realized I never answered your earlier question. My favorite book of all time is probably Little Women. I don't live too far from the home of Louisa May Alcott; I like to visit every now and then and tour the house. As part of the tour they show you her bedroom and the little window desk she sat at to write Little Women!

tanabata said...

I've had The Tea Rose sitting on my shelves unread for far too long. I really should read it soon.
I love that version of P&P with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. I just watched all 5 1/2 hours of it yesterday!

Kagemusha said...

Have you read "Amsterdam"? I enjoyed that book tremendously... I am planning on reading Atonement next year... my reading list is full this year, and so is my writing schedule... Cheers, JCR

Unknown said...

Hi there, thank you so much for visiting me today. I do appreciate it. It's funny you mentioned Jane Austen and the PBS airings of several of her books because I was going to record "Northanger Abbey" and had forgotten. You reminded me to do it. Thank you! I heard that "Northanger Abbey" was adapted by the same person who did the "Pride and Prejudice" adaptation with Colin Firth. My husband and I read the book together so we'll see how it matches up. Your blog is very fun and I do so appreciate your visit today.

allie
www.mycozyhome.typepad.com

shahidsidd said...
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