Who really knows the reason for my reading slump but I haven't even read one whole book this week. Sad but true. I had started "The Birth of Venus" by Sarah Dunant which I had picked up at a used book sale this spring. It sounded right up my alley - Historical Fiction taking place in Florence - one of my favourite cities in Italy. Sadly, it just couldn't keep my interest. I'll post about it later but for now I've put that book down.
Right now I'm reading another historical fiction, funnily enough, based in Italy too. It's a much more engaging read and I'm enjoying it so far.
Next up? Maybe the second book in the Body Mover series or "Mistress of the Game" which is the sequel to "Master of the Game" by Sidney Sheldon. I think I need some romance gone wrong, some backstabbing and other delicious deceptions to get my reading mojo back.
So what has your reading week been like? Did you find a keeper ... or a dud?
Too bad you didn't enjoy the Dunant book as I could tell how excited you were to read it. Here is a book set in Florence by one of my favourite historical fiction writers that I think you would enjoy (I loved it!):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/I-Mona-Lisa-A-Novel-Jeanne-Kalogridis/9780312341398-item.html?ref=Books%3a+Search+Top+Sellers
Beth,
ReplyDelete"I, Mona Lisa" sounds like a great read. Looks like the author has written a few books. Have you read any of her other books?
Not sure why I just couldn't get into "The Birth of Venus" ... actually, that's not true. It was just too slow. I read over 200 pages and all that happened was that she got married to an older man. That's it.
I'm reading another historica fiction book right now and it's really good! :) Next up will be a mystery, I think. Need a change of pace.
I haven't been reading either. It's not that my current book is bad (still on that Star Wars one), but I just haven't been in the mood.
ReplyDeleteThe heat and humidity seem to have drained all the stregth out of me. I can't seem to concentrate on anything.
Sorry the one book was a dud. Hope your current one lives up to its promise.
I have read all of Jeanne Kalogridis' books and loved each one. I, Mona Lisa was one of my faves.
ReplyDeleteI just finished The Captive Queen by Alison Weir, another of my fave authors of historical fiction. It was great! Now I have Susanna Kearsley's Mariana sitting on my nightstand. I'm taking it with me up North this weekend and look forward to reading it by the water in a Muskoka chair.
I'll have to put Kalogridis on my 'to read' list for sure. I've read Alison Weir before and really enjoyed "Mariana" (though "The Winter Sea" is my Kearsley favourite). Enjoy your time in the Muskokas. Brings back some good memories. :)
ReplyDeleteSharilyn ... I know what you mean. I just haven't been wanting to read as much ... not sure why. Maybe it's the heat ... could it actually be too hot to read?!?!
ReplyDeleteEveryone l know is in a reading slump.For me after taking care of the garden and everything else my mind is not there.And if l do it's Harry Potter the whole series all over again.Glad to see l am NOT alone in it's to hot to read this time of the year.
ReplyDeleteI need to re-read the whole Harry Potter series too. I foget a lot of details and need to re-read it all before seeing the last movie(s).
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that heat effects our reading ... yet I'd have no trouble reading tonnes if I was, say ... on the end of a dock or on a beach somewhere tropical. Something to ponder. ;)
I just got The Red Queen from the library a new book from Philippa Gregory and it's good.Only sixty pages in and l am hooked.I also have a mystery set in Russia in 1870.A Razor Wrapped In Silk by R.N Morris both my aunt and my best friend have raved about this book.As for my reading (in the summer) l do it in a nice cool bath or outside under a tree cold drink (iced coffee works wonders) at my side.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteI own "The Red Queen" and it's funny you should mention it b/c I just noticed it on my book shelf today. I'm getting into a historical fiction phase so I may pick it up since it sounds like good read.
As for where to read in the summer? I love my front porch with a cool beverage as well ... but I prefer iced tea over iced coffee. I'm a traditional hot coffee girl, I guess. :)
FYI: If you're going to read "The Red Queen", you might want to read the "The White Queen" first. They are part of a trilogy that Gregory is writing and the latter is the first of that trilogy. I'm still waiting for my copy of "The Red Queen" to come in. Which is fine by me since I have the new Jennifer Weiner, the second Steig Larsson, and many many others waiting in my pile on the nightstand. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth. I'll pick up "The White Queen" first.
ReplyDeleteStieg Larrson .... I've heard a lot of praise for his books. Are they really good ... or do they just have a lot of media attention? Too much hullabaloo and I start to wonder. I call it "The Oprah Effect". ;)
I have also had a slow week...I've been making bracelets with my girls and unfortunatly can't hold my book while I'm doing it.
ReplyDeleteHey Jen,
ReplyDeleteLook at you being all crafty! I'm not exactly crafty but I aspire to find my inner Martha Stewart someday. Case in point, two weeks ago Missy Moo and I painted garden variety rocks ... mine has lovely long eyelashes, big rosy lips and is totally bald. Ya, I know. You're jealous. ;)
I hate Oprah picks (except "Pillars of the Earth". That was fantastic!) so I can safely say that no, Steig Larsson is not an Oprah pick-type book. I have only read the first book in the trilogy and LOVED it. Kind of dark and some violence, but so well-written that I could overlook it. And I actually found it very hard to put down. I have heard that the 2nd and 3rd are even better than the 1st, so I am really looking forward to reading the others. I've never met a customer that didn't like the books. And almost every second customer that walks into my library asks me if we have them!
ReplyDeleteI would definitely recommend that you give it a try!
I made a mistake. I don't have "The Red Queen" by Philippa Gregory. I have "The Red Queen's Daughter" by Jacqueline Kolosov (which I had picked up at a Chapter's sale). It's about Mary Semour, daughter of Katherine Parr and Henry VIII.
ReplyDeleteBeth, I'll definitely check out Steig Larsson based on your praise.
I have read "I, Mona Lisa", it was ok and I have also read "the Borgia Bride" by her as well. It's definitely dark and kina creepy. Sher likes to write dark historical fiction, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteThe first book in the Steig Larrson is really hard to get into, like page 600 and I stopped reading it because he wrote about NOTHING and I couldn't keep it all straight. I skipped the first book and went straight to the second and third. LOVED them, especially the third, it was fantastic!
ReplyDeleteAleisha, I don't honestly think my Type A personality could start in the middle of the series lol. Would it be confusing to start on the second book when I don't know the main character or what she went through in the 1st book? Just wondering. Or are they more stand alone type books?
ReplyDeleteYeah, I get it and it did feel wrong at first, and there are quick moments in the second an dthird book that discuss past events, but it is easy to not worry about them. Really, the 2nd and 3rd shine compared to the 1st.
ReplyDeleteThanks Aleisha. :) I'll see how fair in the first book -- if the story is too slow I may skip to the next book. The book I just read skipped ahead without the reader really understanding some of the back stories and I found it frustrating. As long as I understand what's happened then it's al good.
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