Tag: book

First Impressions – The Guest List

Posted on by Shawshank

So this is a new thing I want to try out. I’m calling it “First Impressions”. I’m only a handful of pages into The Guest List by Lucy Foley, and I just want to talk about what I’m thinking about the book as I read the opening chapters.

It’s gonna be a wild ride, methinks.

Reese? Oh Witherspoon, not John Conners dad from The Terminator. Good to know.

So like A Song of Ice and Fire, each chapter is dedicated to one character in the book. We’re introduced to the bride, the plus-one, the best man, the wedding planner, the bridesmaid, and the fiancé. You really get to know them in the opening chapters. But at the end of each chapter, you’re left wanting more.

The other character in the book is the small Irish island out in the Atlantic Ocean. Lucy Foley is doing a great job of describing the island as both menacing, and gentle. I believe I’ve gotten to the point where all the characters are now on the island, and soon, I’m sure, all hell will break loose.

And I can’t wait to see how all this plays out.

Books – a year in review

Posted on by Shawshank

As I lie here at 10:42 on New Year’s Eve, scrolling through the discover feature on the WordPress app, I feel the need to talk a lot about all the books I read this year.

It’s been a lot. A lot. Trust me, I had a lot of time on my hands. I’m still trying to figure out how to balance work, and reading. So I am reading more now, at least in the last couple of days.

Some of my favourite books this year have been ones that were bought for me. House of Leaves, The Raw Shark Texts, etc. Some I found on the library cart – The Twilight Saga, some cheesy Janet Evanovich novels, and one called Honour Among Thieves.

I have a pretty nice collection of different books. I read a lot this year. I don’t put a number on it. Not everything needs to be a competition. Read because it’s fun, because as soon as you make it a competition, it’s not fun anymore.

I can’t wait to go on some reading adventures in 2021.

What are you reading to ring in the new year? Me, I’m reading The Guest List by Lucy Foley. I’m enjoying it so far.

See y’all in 2021 book nerds!

Book Haul – BigCity edition

Posted on by Shawshank

Greetings, book nerds! I have been to BigCity, and have returned to TinyTown with books. Book that were published this year! With the exception of one or two, there were all published in 2020.

Amazing, isn’t it. Looking back, I’m really happy that I didn’t go earlier, you know, before I had a job. I didn’t spend as much as I thought I was going to, which is nice. What was nicer, is that I went when they were having the boxing week sale. So essentially, I got two of the books basically free.

Without further adieu, I present my last book haul of 2020.

It took me a few minutes, but I think I’m going to read The Guest List by Lucy Foley first.

From the back of the book: An exclusive wedding on a remote Irish island – the bride, the plus-one, the best man, the wedding planner, the bridesmaid. All have a secret. All have a motive. But only one is a murderer.

Sounds really interesting for sure! I’ll try and get some reading done to talk about it in this weekends Lockup Library Book Club. See you then, book nerds!

Book Club – Brave New World

Posted on by Shawshank

What if God had made cars?

So I just finished Brave New World. I don’t know how I feel about it. It’s definitely a book that I’ll have to revisit later. I think it’s a book that most of the points went over my head.

I simply just don’t understand.

Maybe it’s because I didn’t read it all in one sitting, it was very hard to get back into it when I did pick it up. I mean, it started off really good, but the next time I picked it up, it was like a totally different book.

I mean I didn’t not like it. I just don’t know. I couldn’t identify with any of the themes of the book. In the end, I think I just finished the book so I wouldn’t have the shame of putting in back on my shelf as a “did not finish”. I’m neither happy, nor sad that I finished it.

It just is.

This or that Tuesday

Posted on by Shawshank

This one is also a fun one, forcing me to choose this or that. Sometimes I can choose, sometimes I can’t. It’s fun to figure out when I can or can’t.

So let’s not wait for it. Let’s get this party started. It’ll be lit, as the kids say these days.

Trilogy or book series of 10+ books?

Why not both? Here’s where I can’t choose. I loved the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and my favourite book series would be the Dresden Files. I’m happy with both. But here’s the real question, what ever happened to just simple stand alone books? Why does every new book have to be part of a series?

Would you want to own a bookstore or have a large personal library?

Is the bookstore a small but cozy store that you can just walk up and down the aisles, or am I like a manager at a Barnes and Noble? If it’s a small but cozy store. I’d be happy to own it. If it’s a manager position at B&N, no thanks it’s like a toy store that carries some books.

What book would you like to see under the tree this year?

I’d be pretty happy with any book under the tree and I’ll probably get one. But there’s no tree here. We’re the only house on this corner of the block with no Christmas lights. It doesn’t even feel like Christmas here. But anyways, back to the question. I’d like to get The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle – Agatha Christie meets Groundhog Day.

Until next time book nerds!