Women

The Passion of the Purple Plumeria

2013, Books in Bed, Favorites, Fiction, Women /

The Passion of the Purple Plumeria is my favorite of all the Pink Carnation books — that’s saying something.

I can also safely say that I’ve never really liked Jane.

And, I’ve always loved Miss Gwen.

I often find the 21st century pieces a little slow and just want them to get on with it or go away — in this book, I loved the entire storyline. I want that book!

Also, if you read this — don’t miss the interviews in the back of the book (I know I skip those sometimes, so don’t!)

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Maisie Dobbs: Birds of a Feather

2013, Audiobooks, Books in Bed, Favorites, Mystery, Women /

I enjoyed the first Maisie Dobbs so much that I immediately reserved the second book, Birds of a Feather. But, I accidentally reserved it in audio. Not intentional, definitely, because I have a lot of audio books on my reserve list and I try to keep it to less than three because otherwise they all come in at once and we don’t have enough time to listen to them before they have to back. I also wasn’t sure we’d like the English accents in audio — sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t. This time — we did!

Another good story. I really like all of these characters (but I hope Maisie picks Dr Dean over Detective Stanton… jus sayin’.)

I’ve reserved the next book, in audio (sigh — all of my audios will probably come in next week and we’ll have to return some unread! I hate it when that happens…)

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The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells

2013, Books in Bed, Queer, Sci Fi and Fantasy, Women /

Here’s another book that started a little slow for me — slow enough that I wondered why I take “what to read next” advice from TW so often. But, just as I was thinking I’d put down The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells and start something else, I realized it was written by the author of The Confessions of Max Tivoli so I stuck it out.

I’m glad I did. Because once Greta found herself in her second life/time, I was hooked and pretty much wanted to just read straight through (with brief stops for Candy Crush, of course.)

Interesting ending. I didn’t think that’s where the “original” Greta would stay, though it was the time/life that made the most sense for her (and probably the other Gretas, as well).

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Down Bohicket Road

1 Comment / 2013, Art, Books in Bed, Favorites, Non-Fiction, Women /

It always makes me smile when I see a book like Down Bohicket Road sitting on the shelf in the library. I can’t resist checking those out. Even though they make me homesick. Even though they make me question why I am adamantly opposed to moving back to Charleston when we leave here.

How about we compromise — someone buy me a Karen Whyte painting. Preferably one of Freda in a church hat…. but really, I’m not all that picky. Anything from Bohicket Road would do.

Sigh.

I particularly liked this book because not only were there paintings, there were stories. And the artist was honest about the racism she grew up with — and carried with her when she moved to Johns Island.

And, just for fun… you can “drive” down Bohicket Road, if you like…. it’s not the same as being there but…

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Maisie Dobbs

1 Comment / 2013, Books in Bed, Favorites, Fiction, Women /

I impulse picked Maisie Dobbs from a shelf at the library, not really knowing what I was getting myself into, (or really, TW into — since I picked it up with the assumption that TW would read it and I’d never manage to, because she reads really fast and I’m way behind on my TBR list.) I just liked the cover.

Turns out this is one of those series that slipped by me, unnoticed — that I totally should have noticed.

I love Maisie Dobbs. Love everything about her. Can’t wait to read all of the books in the series.

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Woman

2013, Books in Bed, Don't Read This, Feminism, Women /

I’ve never seen Woman, by Richard Matheson, before. Didn’t know it existed. So, I was kind of excited by it when TW put it in the library bag. I liked I Am Legend and Hell House. (TW is a Somewhere in Time fan.)

But… I didn’t particularly like Woman.

I didn’t hate it but I definitely did not love it. It’s a mean book, I think that’s what bugged me. A cautionary tale for men that’s completely irrational because it’s about women. I don’t know. It bugged me.

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Fang Chronicles: Zenya’s Story

1 Comment / 2013, Books in Bed, Fiction, Sci Fi and Fantasy, Women /

I’m playing catch up with a bunch of series I’ve read on my Kindle — most of them written by BlogHer community members. Hmmm, all of them written by BlogHer community members — cool!

The latest is Fang Chronicles: Zenya’s Story — I’m torn by this one. I couldn’t put it down, literally, but I’m not sure I liked Zenya as much as I did in the previous book. Or even early in the story. She got kind of wishy washy there in the middle and it felt not quite right.

But, it all worked out in the end and I’m pretty pleased with how things are progressing. I’m especially excited about the next one. I could not figure out why Honey would do THAT… so the first chapter of the next book cleared things right up. I should have guessed. It’s gonna be a good one!

PS. The edit on this one was outstanding. OUTSTANDING.

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Kiss Chronicles

2013, Books in Bed, Favorites, Non-Fiction, Women /

How old were you when you had your first kiss? 14? 19? 24? Older than 30?

Most of you are probably laughing at the idea of not having your first kiss until after you turned 30 but it happens. To normal (or mostly normal, hi Virginia!) people. Like Virginia.

I remember the first time I saw her on BlogHer, it took me awhile to wrap my head around the never been kissed idea. Then, when I realized she was writing a book (and donating the money from the sale to charity) I knew I had to read it.

And now that I finally have read it, I guess I understand a little better how Virginia has gone this long without a first kiss. Sort of.

Go download Kiss Chronicles (and make a donation to the American Cancer Society!) and let’s figure out how to get Virginia a first kiss… at BlogHer ’13, maybe? lol

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