Lula <3
I picked up the latest issue of Lula today. Love.
Bookshelf: In The Woods by Tana French
I picked up In The Woods by Tana French while I was in the US in July, and I just finished reading it. Set in Ireland (author Tana French is Irish), In The Woods is a psychological thriller about the murder of Katy Devlin, a 12-year-old girl from Knocknaree, a Dublin suburb. Detectives Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox are assigned the case, which appears to have connections to an unsolved case 20 years earlier involving the disappearance of two children, also from Knocknaree, who were Ryan’s childhood friends.
This book has a lot of admirable qualities, like the eloquent descriptions and the way it’s like there’s several levels to the story (the murder investigation, Ryan’s past, the relationship between Ryan and Maddox). However, I wasn’t thrilled about this book. It’s wasn’t that “can’t-put-it-down” kind of material that I was hoping for. I was disappointed by the ending, and I struggled to get through the book because I felt like the descriptions were sometimes just a little too many, and that slowed the story down.
What’s the latest book you’ve read?
Sushi date with my girls!
I met with two of my former co-workers, Linda and Martina, today and we stopped by the magazine store we used to work in together. I picked up British Harpers Bazaar and Jamie magazine. As many of you know, two of my many interests are baking/cooking and fashion (which is only a hobby of mine these days).
After leafing through some magazines we had sushi and then said goodbye to Martina who had an appointment to get to. Linda and I walked with her 9-month-old cutie-pie-with-a-cherry-on-top daughter to a coffee shop and had a chat before she had to head off to go and pick up her other daughter at daycare. It was so nice to see them again.
I took a nice walk home in the gorgeous weather and came home with blood smeared between my toes, my Converse are a half size too small and pinch my toes. So now I’m going to kick my feet back and read my magazines for a bit.
What I’m reading right now
I can’t believe how quickly I’m plowing through books lately. After finishing Never Look Away I’m on to another thriller/crime novel, no surprise.
I’ve never read anything by Lee Child before, but he’s a popular author in the thriller/crime genre, and Worth Dying For was one the Top 10 at the bookstore when I stopped by there the other day so I thought I’d give it a shot. I’ll give you a review once I’ve finished it.
What are you reading right now?
A review of three books
Ravens by George Dawes Green A thriller about a family who soon after winning the $318 million Max-a-million jackpot are visited by Shaw McBride and Romeo Zderko. McBride and Zderko intend to get their hands on a piece of the pie, and take the family hostage as part of that plan. A thrilling read, it’s scary how Green shows that, in the midst of fear and isolation, victims can come to adore the story’s vilains.
Blue Heaven by C.J. Box A crime novel that starts out with siblings 12-year-old Annie and 10-year-old William Taylor witnessing a brutal murder in the woods in their small hometown of Kootenai Bay outside of Idaho. Annie and William are forced to make a run for it when the murderers, a group of retired LAPD officers, spot them and will do anything to hunt them down and make sure they keep quiet about what they’ve seen. Suspenseful, and with many thrilling twists.
Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay David Harwood, his son Ethan and his wife Jan have planned to spend the day at the local amusement park, but soon after entering the park, Jan disappears. No one can find her, and when the police review surveillance video footage from the park they find no evidence that Jan was ever there. David soon finds himself the prime suspect in his wife’s mysterious disappearance, and has to fight to prove his innocence and keep his son safe. Linwood Barclay is one of my favorite authors of crime novels, and this is an excellent book, I couldn’t put it down!
Monday, 4th of July
Happy 4th of July to all my American friends and family!
I’ve been so bored all day! It’s lousy weather here and aside from doing the laundry I’ve just been sitting around all day. I’ve read at least 100 pages in my book, painted my nails a pale pink Estée Lauder, clicked my way through all my favorite blogs and watched some crap on TV.
However, it’s not all bad! I got a text from my friend Alex with the fantastic news that she’s in town! We’ve made plans to meet for drinks this evening and I’m doing a little happy dance just thinking about it. Before then, I’m going to go and grab coffee somewhere just to get out for a bit.
Talk to you later peeps!
Shopping and coffee with Bella
I bought a new pair of sandals today so I can alternate them with my Converse, especially on hot days when wearing sneakers gets way too warm and sticky. These sandals were a tripple win, not only are they a little bit different (i.e. not your classic sandals), they’ve got a special sole so they’re very comfortable and they were half off! I also picked up a new journal at Ordning&Reda (also on sale, it’s my lucky day) since I’m almost through my turquoise journal that I bought a while back.
After my little shopping trip I met up with Bella who’s finally got summer vacation from her medical studies in Poland and is home! We spent a couple of hours catching up with coffee and cake at Fåtöljen on Söder.
Now I’m going to answer some emails, paint my nails (and toes) and then keep reading Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay, it’s a can’t-put-it-down kind of book, I’m happy I managed to pick a good one again!
Bookworm
This is how you’ll find me most of my vacation days (life is backwards in Photobooth)
I finished reading Ravens yesterday (very good book, read it) and you know me, my book-abstinence set in right away and I had to run and buy a new book today. Sadly, the bookstore didn’t have any of the books you had suggested for me (I’ll look for them in the US) so I ended up getting Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay. I read several of his books last summer so I know I like his style of writing.
It’s hot here today so I’ve got my fan blaring in my face as we speak. There’s supposed to be some freak downpour on it’s way in, complete with thunder and lightning so I’m kind of hoping for that so that I can cozy up and read my book.
Our secret book club
Thanks for all your great book suggestions! Keep ‘em coming! I write them all down in my phone so I have the list with me at all times – quick access if I happen to finish my book and need to run by a bookstore for another fix.
I’ll share with you the suggestions I’ve got so far:
underestimatedmom suggested When We Were Friends by Elizabeth Joy Arnold. This one sounds like a real nailbiter and I’m definitely going to check if my local bookstore has it, or pick it up when I’m in the US.
Kelli suggested Elixir by Hillary Duff and when I heard Hillary Duff I instantly thought, ick not a celebrity-wannabe-writer chick flick, but then I read the review on amazon and reminded myself not to judge a book by its cover (or in this case, author), because it does actually sound kind of good.
Sonia suggested Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weirner and there’s something about the title (and the author) that sounds vaguely familiar, could I have read this book? Obviously if I did I can’t remember it so I should probably read it (possibly again) because it sounds good.
You guys are awesome book suggesters so keep those titles rolling in and I’ll keep sharing them with you and we can all have this secret book club sharing…er… thing. Except it won’t technically be secret since it’s out in the open and all. Just keep reading people. It’s sexy.
