The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand

Well, what do you know, two posts less than thirty minutes apart.  

The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand - I liked it - a lot.  There are four couples that are the best of friends living on Nantucket - one couple is killed in a sailing accident, both drowned.  Now we learn about the secrets that the six remaining friends have after two of their own are tragically lost to them.  This one focuses on relationships, kids, affairs amongst friends, life and loss.  I liked it a lot.  I love the Nantucket setting (since I have been there before I can imagine exactly what the author is talking about).  What a great island.  This was another quick read, and it helped that I flew to Vegas for a quick weekend and finished it on the 2.5 hour plane ride out there.  It was really good, yet tragic at the same time.   I have a tight knit group of friends, so I could definitely relate to the friendship side of it.  The affair side, not so much.  

True Colors by Kristin Hannah

This is my third Kristin Hannah book.  I like her books because they read very quickly.  This one was about sisters growing up on a Washington horse farm.  One sister was beautiful, one was smart and plump, and one was a peacemaker.  It was a good book, although Firefly Lane is probably my favorite that I have read thus far by KH.  Love, sisterhood and betrayal are three common themes in the book.  Read it if you want a quick, easy read.  Sometimes I wish I had a sister and sometimes I don't.

The Language of Trees by Ilie Ruby

I loved this book.  Loved it.  Read it in two days, and I have not done that in a really long time.  I have had a hard time getting into my Vines and Spines books lately.  Just not great choices.  Well, The Language of Trees by Ilie Ruby - our February Vines and Spines book - was excellent.  A tale of a young boys death on a lake in Canandaigua while his two sisters lived is just the beginning.  Skip forward 12 years later and we get to take a look at the lives of the sisters and another parallel story of a man who grew up in town who is coming back after a long absence.  

I don't want to give anything away, so go out and buy it, Kindle it, Nook it, or whatever your preferred method of reading is.  Cheers to The Language of Trees and to Ilie Ruby. 

Been Awhile

It's been awhile.  I have lots of excuses.  Collin turned one.  Then we had Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Birthday #35, New Years, and before I know it it will be 2012.  I have read some books here and there.  Let me go back and think...I think I'll go from most recent, because I know what I just finished reading.

The Book Thief - excellent quick read.  A story of a girl in Nazi Germany as told from Death's perspective.  Loved it, loved the writing, loved the story.  Everything about it was wonderful.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - This was my book club's last book.  Was a bit hard to follow in the beginning because the story lines are blurred.  But in the end it was good.  Not great.  Not horrible.  I probably won't read it a second time around - or maybe I should because it's might be better?

Currently reading our latest Vines N Spines book...Man In the Woods - it's okay - I'm about halfway through and I'm not in love with it, we'll see how it ends - if I finish it. 

I have not been reading as much as I like to.  I have about 5 books piled on my nightstand looking at my longingly and asking me to pick them up.  Collin still doesn't sleep at 15 months, so I'm just plain tired after a long day at work and maybe a walk in the park after work.  Thank goodness for our 70 degree Januarys though! 

p.s. November Vines N Spines was My Name is Memory.  October Vines N Spines (my pick) The Thirteenth Tale - LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. 

p.p.s I think I know why I've neglected my blog (okay, so this is just one excuse) - I hate the font that pulls over when I bring reviews from goodreads.  I'll just have to start reviewing without any pretty pictures that come from goodreads.  Times New Roman = not my favorite font in the world.  Then nothing is consistent and it just doesn't look good.  Cheers to 2011!