Do you want to know something about me that’s so dorky I’m kind of afraid to tell you? For every book I read, I make a little notecard that includes the author, title, brief summary/reaction, and the month and year I read it. I store these notecards, alphabetized by author, in a little box by my desk.
I started in 2007 because I wanted to keep a record of what I read, and although I’ve also began listing my reads monthly on this blog I doubt I’ll put an end to my notecard habit. I’m not sure why it’s so important to me to keep track, but somehow, it is.
Anyway, without further ado, here’s what I read in September:
Little Bee by Chris Cleave: Little Bee is a 16 year old refugee from Nigeria, and Sarah O’Rourke is a recent young widow and mother living in suburban England. Their lives intersect one day in Little Bee’s country, and as a result both women suffer terrible losses. It’s a sad story, but it’s beautifully written. It didn’t pull me in the way the summary on the book jacket claimed (presumptuously, in my opinion), but I did enjoy the author’s style.
Queen Takes King by Gigi Levangie Grazer: Jackson Power, a filthy rich New York real estate developer and his wife Cynthia, a former ballerina and business woman in her own right, have just celebrated their 25th anniversary. However, Jackson gets caught red handed in an affair with a young, blond, well-known news anchor, and Cynthia asks for a divorce. Predictably, battle ensues. The “who can out-manipulate whom?” theme of this story didn’t appeal to me, and neither did the irritating characters.
Are You There Vodka, It’s Me, Chelsea? by Chelsea Handler: This is a collection of short, funny stories about Handler’s life. It’s not typically the kind of book I read, but if you’re looking for something that will make you laugh this one won’t disappoint.
The Cradle by Patrick Somerville: Matt and Marissa Bishop are expecting a child very soon, but before she gives birth Marissa sends Matt on a strange errand. She wants him to track down a cradle, the one her mother rocked her in before leaving her for her father to raise. I liked this book; the story was bizarre and unpredictable, yet touching at the same time.
Between by Jessica Warman*: Pretty, popular, and wealthy Elizabeth Valchar has quite a shock when she discovers her own dead body floating just outside her parents’ yacht where she just celebrated her 18th birthday with friends. In death she tries to solve the mystery of how she died, and find out if her life was really as perfect it appeared to be. Krysten of Why Girls are Weird recommended this book, and it’s one I’m glad I read.
Faro’s Daughter by Georgette Heyer: I switched gears quite a bit with this novel, which is a period romance written in 1941. Wealthy young Adrian Mablethorpe’s family is scandalized when he sets his sights on marrying Deborah Grantham, a beautiful gambling-house mistress. When his uncle offers Miss Grantham a considerable sum for not marrying his nephew, she is appalled and makes it clear that she cannot be bought. Faro’s Daughter started slowly, but soon the battle of wits between Miss Grantham and Adrian’s uncle, Max Ravenscar, made it hard for me to put down.
*My pick of the month.
Have you read anything good lately?
all images from Amazon.com
