"If you're so bored, why don't you read?"
--Moira Kelly, The Cutting Edge, 1992
Time for my first book talk. As a future English teacher superstar, I get many an urge to update my reading audience of what I feel they are missing out on. For those of you who are illiterate fools, SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE!!
So far this summer, I have read a measly ten books. This is probably my lowest summer record thus far. I'm blaming it on work. That, and General Hospital. See, I have this little obsession with Port Charles's local mob boss and I find myself stalking him from 2 to 3, Central Standard Time. But I digress.
Mother of the Bride by Lynn Michaels. Two and a half stars. This romance was utterly predictable, slightly long, and the parts intended to be funny were not all that funny. Still, it had a great cover and it gets points for that (I most definitely judge books by their covers), and it was an easy, enjoyable beach read. Just a little too cheesy to be 3 stars. If you like this, Miss Rixie also recommends: I Think I Love You and Got Your Number, both by Stephanie Bond.
Faking It by Jennifer Crusie. Five stars. Jennifer Crusie is fast becoming one of my top three or four favorite authors. She does funny, she does sexy, she does suspenseful and she's second only to Janet Evanovich while doing it. One gratifying thing about her novels is that her characters have fun little quirks--they're not unbelievably bizarre, yet they don't follow the straight and narrow either. Another gratification is that her covers are awesome! Definitely has the best cover art out of all books available today. Faking It is one of her best. But here's a warning-first read Crusie's Welcome to Temptation (my all-time favorite Crusie). You'll see why ... Miss Rixie also recommends: Fast Women, Crazy For You, and What the Lady Wants.
Lucky Stars by Jane Heller. One star out of five. Guess her stars weren't so lucky, huh? (That was for you *tara--I know how much you enjoy things like that. I could write for People magazine.) I usually enjoy Jane Heller, but not this one. In fact, I blame this novel for the fact that I’ve only read ten so far this summer. I spent the better part of a week and a half struggling to finish it. Why, ask you? Well, to begin with, Stacey is a push-over in a major way. She lets her mother walk all over her and this made me despise her. She's a bit of a whiner too, now isn't she? That’s just the tip of the iceberg. However, my mum disagreed and said she thoroughly enjoyed it. To each his own, I guess... Miss Rixie recommends instead: Sis-Boom-Bah or Name-Dropping by Jane Heller. But if you're really looking for a good book, skip Heller and go straight to Crusie.
The Second Time Around by Mary Higgins Clark. Three and a half stars. I love MHC. Those of you who know me well know she is my all-time favorite author. This book was pretty good. I'm enjoying the first person narrative still, although I miss the old way of getting inside many different characters' heads. Not as good as her last one, but I enjoyed it more than many others. Miss Rixie also recommends: Weep No More, My Lady (Miss R's fave) and Remember Me (her most intricate plot, arguably). Also, Daddy's Little Girl, all by MHC.
Nobody Knows by Mary Jane Clark. Three and a half stars. Now don't get confused--this is Mary Jane, not Mary Higgins. MJC is MHC's ex-daughter-in-law, but she's giving MHC a run for her $$. This was my least favorite MJC, but still a cut above the rest. This book might possibly be four stars, based simply on the fact that her characters are flawed. Truly flawed. Yet you can't help rooting for them anyway. This one took place in Miami which was a fun change from NYC, and the heroine was a little down on her luck which was refreshing from the usual "top of her game" or "up-and-coming" heroine we usually get. Miss Rixie also recommends: Do You Want to Know a Secret? and Close To You, both by MJC.
Sahara Special by Esme Raji Codell. FIVE STARS!! I cannot, canNOT say enough good things about this book. Esme is my idol and all that she writes is golden!! Do NOT read this before you read Esme's other book though--that way you can see how Sahara's teacher is really Esme. If you like this, Miss Rixie also recommends: Educating Esme: the Diary of a First Year Teacher by Esme Raji Codell. Also recommended: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. Read them both to see the connections!
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. FIVE STARS each, although Prisoner of Azkaban is really a notch above the other two. It's by far the best in the series. If you like intriguing plots, intricate planning, extraordinary adventures, loyal friendships, amazing payoff and laughing a lot, I highly recommend these as well as the rest in the series and the films. If you do not enjoy these things, I suggest the Britannica Encyclopedia, Volume N-O. If these books don't give you a pleasurable delight for life, you're a lost cause and nothing will help. Rowling is a genius, that's all there is to it. If she were ruling the world, all things would be as they should.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Five stars. My all-time favorite and what I believe to be the best book ever written. Just reread it over the fourth of July weekend. Hadn't read it since my junior year of high school. Once I finished it, I remembered thinking, "Aaah. Now I'm complete." The feeling has only strengthened. Miss Rixie, The English Nerd also recommends: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (these books have always gone together in my mind) and Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson (another great coming-of-age story often incorrectly assumed to be only for young adults).
Seven Up by Janet Evanovich. Four stars. Janet Evanovich is right up there with Mary Higgins Clark as my favorite author. Her books are fabulous. I'm currently (re)reading this one and counting down the days (14) until I am at the Mall of America meeting her. Stephanie Plum is an ex-lingerie buyer turned bounty hunter. She's got nothing going for her except dumb luck and perseverance. Well, that and an ach-oh-tee cop named Morelli and a mentor named Ranger who's as mysterious and sexy as Batman. Throw in Stephanie's penchant for blowing things up (usually her cars), a dog who won't stop eating her belongings, her sidekick-- ex-ho turned office clerk Lula, and Grandma Mazur (who such a character she could have a novel of her own) and Seven Up will keep you up laughing all night. There is NO ONE on God's green earth funnier than Evanovich. Miss Rixie also recommends: the entire Stephanie Plum series, especially One for the Money and Four to Score, as well as her novel Full Tilt. Another hilarious classic is Bridget Jones's Diary and Bridget Jones: the Edge of Reason (Miss Rixie prefers the sequel).
Well class, get reading!! And let me know your thoughts!
