Stories Sitting on the Shelf

I thought it might be interesting to show you what’s currently sitting up on my shelf that i’ll be reading soon. You can see what i’m currently reading on the side bar over there —>

And you can see what i’m about to read here:

Stories Sitting on the Shelf

Nice Girls Just Don’t Get It – Lois P Frankel: Offering the same brand of practical, no-holds-barred, expert advice that made Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office an international million-copy bestseller, Nice Girls Just Don’t Get It teaches us the skills we need to turn from a nice girl into a winning woman, not just in our careers but in our relationships, families, and everyday lives.

1984 – George Orwell: Written in 1948, 1984 was George Orwell’s chilling prophecy about the future. And while 1984 has come and gone, Orwell’s narrative is timelier than ever. 1984 presents a startling and haunting vision of the world, so powerful that it is completely convincing from start to finish. No one can deny the power of this novel, its hold on the imaginations of multiple generations of readers, or the resiliency of its admonitions a legacy that seems only to grow with the passage of time.

The Opal Desert – Di Morrissey: The Opal Desert is the story of three women from different generations with unresolved issues in their lives who meet in the fictitious NSW town of Opal Lake

Paint it Black – Janet Fitch: From the bestselling author of White Oleander, a powerful story of passion, first love, and a young woman’s search for a true world in the aftermath of loss.

Scandalands – Kyle Sandilands: The most hated man in Australia. And the most popular radio host in the country. Love him or hate him, there is only one Kyle Sandilands. This is the book Kyle’s fans have been waiting for, straight from the man himself. From his difficult childhood in Brisbane, through to his steely determination to succeed in radio and the successes and disasters he’s experienced along the way, Kyle tells his full life story with disarming honesty.

Stasiland – Anna Funder: In 1989, the Berlin Wall fell; shortly afterward the two Germanys reunited, and East Germany ceased to exist. Anna Funder’s bestselling Stasiland brings us extraordinary tales of real lives in the former East Germany. She meets Miriam, who tried to escape to West Berlin as a sixteen-year-old; hears the heartbreaking story of Frau Paul, who was separated from her baby by the Berlin Wall; and gets drunk with the legendary “Mik Jegger of the East,” once declared by the authorities—to his face—“no longer to exist.” And she meets the Stasi men themselves, still proud of their surveillance methods. Funder’s powerful account of that brutal world has become a contemporary classic.

True Blood Omnibus – Charlaine Harris: Contains ‘Dead Until Dark’, ‘Living Dead in Dallas’ and ‘Club Dead’. The first 3 books of the True Blood series. I’ve already read #1 separately, so will just be reading 2 and 3.

Winter of the World – Ken Follett: Second book of The Century Trilogy; Winter of the World picks up right where the first book left off, as its five interrelated families—American, German, Russian, English, Welsh—enter a time of enormous social, political, and economic turmoil, beginning with the rise of the Third Reich, through the Spanish Civil War and the great dramas of World War II, up to the explosions of the American and Soviet atomic bombs.

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So those are all the books that are currently sitting on my shelf, waiting to be read. Currently reading Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie.

-H-

Descriptions taken from Goodreads (as I obviously haven’t read the books!)

Mini Musings

‘Mini Musings’ will be posts about random, usually reading/book related tidbits that come into my very odd brain when they do.

The reason I decided to do this was because the other day I went to Broadway Shopping Centre in Sydney to buy some birthday presents. I wanted to get a friend some books, so after going to a few other shops for other things, I looked at the map directory. To my shock and horror… THERE WERE NO BOOK SHOPS!

Yes, you heard me. In a mall with approx. 100 shops, not ONE place sold books. Devastating. Upon further inspection of the map, I saw that a Dymocks store was opening soon, but I was quite sad that there was nowhere to get a book.

Anyway, that’s this week’s mini musing.

-H-

#3 Freedom – Jonathan Franzen

Freedom Front Cover

Goodreads rating: 3.63 (62,900+ ratings)

My rating: 5/10

Why it’s on the list: I bought it as it was on Dymocks‘ top ‘something’ list, and I could get 3 books for 2. Plus it sounded like something I’d be interested in.

First published: August 31st, 2010 by Farrar, Straus & Giroux

Genre: Family Drama

I read this book whilst holidaying in Mexico & Hawaii, and it was quite a depressing story. I hated every. single. character. I found them all selfish, uncaring, dishonest and depressing. However, after reading up on this book more, I believe that was Franzen’s intention. Freedom has a sombre mood throughout, and just when you think something good is going to happen, or a character is finally happy – something happens to change that. Which is frustrating, because as a person you expect ‘happily ever after’.

Set over a 20 or so year period in different states of the US, Freedom is about a typical, middle-class, American family – The Berglund’s – made up of Walter, Patty, Jessica & Joey. It centers around this family, with the comings and goings of rock star Richard Katz (Walter’s friend), Lalitha (Walter’s work colleague) and Connie (Joey’s girlfriend).

The first third is told from different perspectives of different characters. The middle portion of the book is in the form of an Autobiography written by Patty, at the suggestion of her therapist. In the last third, we go back to being written in different perspectives, but it jumps ahead, past the time that Patty’s autobiography is written. Freedom jumps around in time which can become confusing if you’re not paying attention to the story. Personally, I enjoyed Patty’s autobiography section, as you learn a lot about her childhood, and why she’s ended up the way she has. I felt really sorry for her through parts of it, but in the end found myself blaming her for her problems. Although her depression is sad, and in some ways I can empathise with her there.

Freedom is depressing and sad, and is a perfect example of what I’d never like my life to be like. At the end of it, I found myself pretty disappointed with the ending and where it went. Despite all my negative comments, I still think it’s worth reading this book, for the mere fact that it’s an interesting look into what some people’s lives are like. I tend to agree with the review below.

Past reviews

“Despite the brilliance, or maybe even because of it, I found the novel quite unappealing, maybe because every line, every insight, seems covered with a light film of disdain. Franzen seems never to have met a normal, decent, struggling human being whom he didn’t want to make us feel ever so slightly superior to. His book just has too much brightness and not enough color.”  – Alan Cheuse, National Public Radio

Notable quotes

“Nice people don’t necessarily fall in love with nice people.”

“You may be poor, but the one thing nobody can take away from you is the freedom to fuck up your life whatever way you want to.”

“This isn’t funny, Joey. She’s very depressed. You’ve given her a depression and you need to stop messing around. Do you understand?”

-H-

#2 A Game of Thrones – George R. R. Martin

A Song of Ice & Fire – Book 1 of 7

A Game of Thrones – Front Cover

Goodreads rating: 4.42 (286,190 ratings)

My rating: 9/10

Why it’s on the list: Because it’s AWESOME, that’s why… No, it’s on there because I wanted to read the books before watching the TV show. I like to visualise the characters and the settings without the influence of a TV show.

First published: August 6th, 1996 by Bantan Spectra

Genre: Fantasy/Epic

Where do I begin? A Game of Thrones is set in a fantasy world, where seasons can last years, and there are continuing feuds between the Noble Houses of Westeros (family dynasties) – of which there are 9, the guards on The Wall in the North called the Night’s Watch who protect the seven kingdoms from the mystery and terror further North, and the Free City of Pentos in the East. Winterfell, in the North, is where it begins, and throughout the book it switches from different perspectives of different characters. I was as confused as I’m sure you are. Thankfully, in the edition of the book I had, there were maps in the opening pages, and in the back pages were summaries of all the Noble Houses, as well as the sub-houses, and who was who in each.

The North & The South

The Land Beyond the Wall & The Land in the Eas

Houses Appendix

Each chapter is from the perspective of a different character. There are 8 characters whose point of view we get to see, the majority of them part of the Stark family, who rule the North and are based in Winterfell. I found this the best (and only plausible) way that this book could have been written. With the sheer amount of Lords, Ladies, Kings, Queen, Knights (or Sers as they’re called), servants, Maesters and children, it’s hard enough as is to keep up with who’s who and who hates/loves who, that the separation makes it much easier.

A Game of Thrones is such an epic book, that there is no simple way to explain the story without giving too much away, or confusing you into not wanting to read it, but the main themes in it are betrayal, power, family, class systems, coming of age, justice, & gender. Women’s roles in this world are medieval to me, although when I was writing this, I realised that there are plenty of similar goings on in the 21st Century. Girls are betrothed to men they don’t know, baby girls are seen as a disability – boys are the desired child, and so on. However, Catelyn Stark, and her daughter Arya, defy these traditional roles – of course, making them (particularly Arya ) my favourite characters (as you can see by her prominence in the quotes I chose below!). Well, apart from the direwolves, which in my mind are THE CUTEST THINGS EVER!

I will warn you though, there are some disturbing moments in the book, especially some passages involving rape. However, I believe these parts are necessary in the story to give you a sense of a woman’s worth in some of the lands, particularly those to the East.

Notable quotes

“I’m Arya Stark of Winterfell, and if you lay a hand on me my lord father will have both your heads on spikes. If you don’t believe me, fetch Jory Cassel or Vayon Poole from the Tower of the Hand.” She put her hands on her hips. “Now are you going to open the gate, or do you need a clout on the ear to help your hearing?” – Arya Stark

“My words lied. My eyes and my arm shouted out the truth, but you were not seeing.” – Syrio, Arya Stark’s Sword Teacher

“The Night’s Watch is a sworn brotherhood. We have no families. None of us will ever father sons. Our wife is duty. Our mistress is honor.” – Benjen Stark

“Your crimes will be washed away, your debts forgiven. So too you must wash away your former loyalties, put aside your grudges, forget old wrongs and old loves alike. Here you begin anew.” – Lord Commander Mormont

“My mind is my weapon. My brother has his sword, King Robert has his warhammer, and I have my mind… and a mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.” – Tyrion Lannister

If she choked on the blood or retched up the flesh, the omens were less favorable; the child might be stillborn, or come forth weak, deformed, or female. – Passage from Daenerys’ chapter

Past reviews

“an absorbing combination of the mythic, the sweepingly historical, and the intensely personal.” – Phyllis Eisenstein, Chicago Sun-Times

Bits & pieces

• Took Martin 5 years to write A Game of Thrones
• The series ideas began when Martin was a child, and involved a Turtle kingdom, with Lords, Kings & Knights.

-H-
Source

#1 Death on the Nile – Agatha Christie

Goodreads rating: 3.95 (27,200+ ratings)

My rating: 8/10

Why it’s on the list: I have a brother who is 15 who loves Agatha Christie, and owns about 30 of her books. He recommended this one as his second favourite Christie book (his first shall be revealed at a later time!). Of course, I had to read my brother’s 2nd favourite Agatha Christie book!

First published: November 1st, 1937 by Collins Crime Club

Genre: Mystery/Crime (duh!)

When Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective, boards a cruise up the Nile, he encounters wealthy heiress Linnet Doyle and her husband Simon on their honeymoon. Simon’s broken-hearted ex, Jacqueline, is also aboard.

However all is not as it seems on the old cruise ship. When Linnet is found murdered, Poirot has a shipload (so punny) of characters to interrogate to find the killer. From a maid, a nurse, and a lawyer, to an Erotic novelist, archaeologist and a few socialites, each character has their own variety of quirks and curiosities, and I was constantly rethinking my theories of the murder. Was it the jealous, heart-broken lover yearning for her ex? Or was it the lawyer who didn’t want to be caught stealing? Well, of course I’m not going to tell you who, how or where the murder took place, you’ll have to read to find out!

The best thing about a mystery novel? The guessing game it entails and the inevitable excitement when the killer, and HOW the murder is carried out, is revealed. I can tell you that I didn’t guess correctly!

With love, multiple murders, theft, violence, and the slight humourous quip from Poirot, this book is hard to put down, and at only 288 pages, is a quick, easy read.

Notable quotes

‘How absurd to call youth the time of happiness — youth, the time of greatest vulnerability!’

‘You cannot go back over the past. One must accept things as they are. And sometimes, Madame, that is all one can do — accept the consequences of one’s past deeds.’

Past reviews

“Hercule Poirot, as usual, digs out a truth so unforeseen that it would be unfair for a reviewer to hint at it”. – Caldwell Harpur, The Times Literary Supplement, 20th November 1937

“You have the right to expect great things of such a combination [of Agatha Christie and Hercule Poirot] and you will not be disappointed.” – Isaac Anderson, The New York Times, 6th February 1938

-H-

Welcome!

Welcome!

I’m Hannah, and this is my blog. Basic rundown –

• I wrote a list of books I want to read before I die [currently 1500+]
• I am going to read them, and write about it here

Find out more about ‘The List’ and how it came about, here

-H-