Summer Reading

Hello, friends. I began the following post in August, and never returned to finish it/post it! Oh Em Gee! Time has flown and I've just been so busy. I really do mean to keep up with this blog, and WILL be making a better effort going forward. For now, enjoy this post from August!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
*tap, tap, tap*

Hello?

Oh hai, Reading Blog. I'm so sorry you've been neglected. I've been reading, albeit not as much as I usually do (sad), but I took this pesky trip to Poland for the month of July and I just haven't been so diligent with the posting.

But I have returned!

So, what have I read this summer, and how do I feel about it? Let's see...

The Shack by W.M. Paul Young

This was a very inspiring book. While it starts off with a tragic event, what the main character experiences is beautiful and spiritual in a refreshing way. I'm not an overly religious person, but I am a spiritual person, and I found this story worked well with how I'd really like to believe God is. It was absolutely a beautiful book, and gives the reader something to think about.

The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd

A favourite book of mine is The Secret Life of Bees, so I have been wanting to read The Mermaid Chair for awhile - and it does not disappoint. Sue Monk Kidd is a lovely writer, and I highly recommend her stories.

Where Rainbows End (or: Love, Rosie) by Cecelia Ahern

This book is written completely in correspondence letters, emails, etc between two best friends who have to move away from each other as young teens. It is one of those "will they or won't they" end up together type of stories. It's a very good story, and I was gripped by the characters and what they were going through. I'm not sure I like the style of reading an entire story as emails, etc but it was a nice little reading experience change. My only complaint was that the book started to feel a bit long, and I was getting a little frustrated with the constant back-and-forth and drama between the main characters. Generally a good book, though.

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Oh Sophie Kinsella, how I do love your books. Another hit right here. I will admit, this doesn't jump to "My Favourite Sophie Kinsella Novel Ever" (I found it a little slow to get into - my most favourite is Remember Me if you're wondering), but I loved and read it just as quickly as I have every other books of hers. Totally recommend this to chick-lit lovers everywhere, and Sophie fans of course!

Acting Up (or: Pride, Prejudice & Jasmin Field) by Melissa Nathan

I'm a sucker for Pride & Prejudice remakes, so in that regard this book did not fail. However, I wasn't drawn into this story as much as I have been with Melissa Nathan's other books. It was almost like the Pride & Prejudice parallels were the entire thrust of the book, so unless you really enjoy P&P remakes, I'd stick to Melissa's other books, which are much better.

Other Books I Read In Summer 2009 (but did not get a chance to expand on, and now it's been too many months so this is all you're getting):

A Wild Affair by Gemma Townley (this is a sequel to The Importance of Being Married, and there will also be a third book to this series)

The Chocolate Lover's Club by Carole Matthews and its sequel The Chocolate Lover's Diet by Carole Matthews

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Since August, I've read a ton more books, so be prepared for more updates soon! Sorry for this long hiatus, ai yi yi!!