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The Year in Books – October 2014

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Just a few days late! I like to keep my posts to one per day so today is the book post day! I finished Philomena a few days ago and enjoyed it.  Well, one can enjoy a book even if the story is tragic and the ending is not what we hope for.  A story of a mother forced to give up her three-year-old boy in 1950’s Ireland as told by Martin Sixsmith after research and interviews with people in the boy’s life. I must admit that when I went to my Good Reads page to mark it as read, and I saw that Susan Kavanagh (a friend of Michael’s and a main “character” in the book) had written a review that was not too kind, I was a tad deflated.  I felt like Oprah when she found out that James Frey’s “A Thousand Little Pieces” was mostly fiction.  This book is supposed to be based on the true story and as far as Kavanagh is concerned, should be categorized as fiction.

That said, I still enjoyed reading it and will now watch the movie – which should be interesting as the book is about Michael (Anthony’s) life and the movie is about Philomena’s search for him.

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This month, for my “The Year in Books” choice,  I’ve decided to tackle a book that apparently everyone and their mother/father/brother/etc. has read but until now, still remained a mystery to me… J.D. Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye”.  Now, in my defense, I did go to French secondary school so it was not a book that was talked about!  I did go to English (and French) college and still had met anyone who had read it so…  About 20 years ago I decided to start catching up on what was once “required reading” in English.  So, I have been slowly reading one here and there.  This time, Salinger is the winner.  I’ve had it in my bookshelves for quite a few years but just never seemed to be in the mood to start it.  Can’t explain it but there you have it.  Now, it is time!

As it is not an overly large book, I also decided to read Dandelion by Sheelagh Mawe (mother of Mike Dooley of the TUT – Note from the Universe family).  I do that.  I saw there was some package deal on 3-4 of her books so I just bought them.  I love getting my daily email from the Universe letting me know how fabulous I am so I figured, the mother had to have some part in that!

I am enjoying the first few chapters so far…

How do you choose books you read?

 

14 thoughts on “The Year in Books – October 2014”

  1. Ooh! Catcher in the Rye! One of my favorite reads as a teenager. I think that was the key for me–it was a story of a teenager who just spoke normally, not in “literature-speak.” It was a departure for me, and I loved it.

    As for how I choose books…um…if they’ve got pages? 😉 I am such a book-lover, as you know! I always seem to have piles waiting for me, and I’m usually reading three or four at once (one fiction, the rest non-fiction–I can handle only one plotline at a time!).

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    • I don’t know what it means that I chose two “children’s” books this month!

      I know what you mean…anything with pages is an option! I actually read the “Wrinkle in Time” only a few years ago… I actually enjoy all types of books, even those meant for younger folk. It can’t be Anna Karenina all the time, you know! Me too I often have more than one on the go…plus magazines… sigh…

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  2. Philomena has got huge coverage here in Ireland, as I’m sure you can imagine. It had certainly played a huge role in bringing a lot of tough, rough stuff out from under the carpet and that has to be good as there are a lot of very scarred people in this country due to actions and cultural views from times past. I say past in hope!
    As for choosing books, recommendation or just browsing in bookshops/library.

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    • I can well imagine, Jean! As I was reading it, I was thinking that very same thing – it needed to be brought out from under the carpet…

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  3. Hi

    I loved Philomena the book and at the time of reading it I hadn’t seen the film. I actually liked getting both sides of the story whether Martin Sixsmith’s book was based more on what Michaels (Anthony’s) sister and partner were able to tell him rather than his own words or not it was still a very moving story. I have now seen the film and if anything when people tell me they have seen the film then I tell them they have to read the book in order to get both sides of the story. I’ve not read Catcher in the Rye either. I have spent this year re-visiting books I had to read at school and I have really enjoyed some. There have of course been others that I didn’t enjoy first time around and now some 30+ years later still don’t. With only three months left till the end of the year Catcher in the Rye may have to be squeezed in there somewhere.

    Mitzi

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    • I agree it was a moving story – even if some of the blanks filled in may or may not be correct!
      Isn’t it funny how we can reread books years later and get a totally different perspective, now that we have experience under our belt? I think it’s really interesting. Glad to see I’m not the only one who has missed this particular book! Thanks for stopping by! (I checked out your site too! 😉 )

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  4. I feel as though I should re-read the catcher in the rye as I read it years ago and wasn’t too impressed – I’d be interested to see what I think of it now. My to read list has increased exponentially since I started blogging, to encompass books written by other bloggers as well as books they recommend 🙂

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  5. I have not read Catcher in the Rye either. I went to school in Switzerland and studied Italian rather than English. I am trying to catch up. I usually go through phases of devouring all of a kind. At the moment, I am catching up with Christopher Brookmyre and other Scottish fiction. I also admit to choose a book by its cover, I like a pretty cover. Cx

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    • I think it matters not how we choose books! I, too, like a pretty cover but will not limit myself by excluding rather drab ones… We have a lifetime to catch up. Enjoy the journey!

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  6. I have Catcher in the Rye on my bookshelf – but can’t remember if I’ve read it yet!? I think I bought it years ago thinking the same thing as you – that I should catch up on what should have been read in school years.

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    • I actually enjoyed it. I know it’s written in the voice of a 16-year old and I’m sure that, had I read it when I was 16, I would have had a totally different reaction. That said, I suggest you read it (if for no other reason than to know what people are talking about when THEY talk about it!)

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