If you’re looking for a couple of great reads….

I love the fact that our family loves to read and it has certainly opened up my reading list to some books that I normally would not have chosen.  I’ve really learned to enjoy reading some fantasy books that I normally would not have chosen years ago.

A while back Brett & Heather bought me “The Magicians” and most recently lent me the sequel “The Magician King“by Lev Grossman.  Both books take you into a world similar to Harry Potter and Narnia with so many twists and turns that it really captivates you and brings you right into a world of fantasy, magic, danger, intrique and even a little romance.  If you love Harry Potter and/or Narnia I would highly recommend either of these books.  You really don’t need to read “The Magicians” in order to enjoy “The Magician King”, but I would highly recommend that you do!

The second book is “Let The Great World Spin” by Colum McCann.  Remember the man that walked a wire strung between the towers of the World Trade Center in 1974?  With this event as the core of the novel it intricately weaves the lives of several different families together, bringing alive the voices of the people of New York City in the 70′s &  intertwines the events in each of their lives to unexpectedly bringing them together in the end.  Hope, despair, love, frustration, courage, and fear are all brought together by this acclaimed award winning writer.  Leave it to an Irishman to tell a great story!

More Summer Reading

It’s been a while since I’ve updated my reading list and for some reason, sad to say, Bookshare Books on Facebook seems to be having some issues.  So, as a result I’m a little behind!  But, my summer reading has continued and is now turning into my fall reading list. The summer days have cooled down and now there’s nothing better than some time on the patio, book (or kindle) in hand, a glass of ice tea and my ipod!  I’ve got some really awesome books that really stand out that I’d like to share with y’all.

I’m not normally a big historical novel type person, although I do have a keen interest in the Civil War period of our country and having lived in Illinois an interest in Lincoln.  Bill O’Reilly’s new book “Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever” peaked my interest.  A little slow to start with a lot of historical background about the Civil War made it a little hard for me to stick to the book.  But, as I read further into it I could understand how this set the stage for what was to come.

I’ve been looking for something inspirational and with some depth to it, but have had a hard time finding something that was different from what I’ve read in the past.  “The Well: Why Are So Many Still Thirsty”? by Mark Hall, lead singer & songwriter of Casting Crowns really gave me something to think about, touched my soul and my heart in so many different ways.

I love murder, mystery, detective stories.  Last night I cracked open a new book given to me by a friend.  “Three Bodies Burning” by Brian Bogdanoff is already hard to put down.  What makes it even more intriguing is that it takes place in Omaha in 2005 during a time when we were living there.  What’s disturbing to me though is that I truly have to say that I very vaguely remember this happening.  As usual, as so many other books do, it has peaked my interest to delve further into these murders and the investigations.  Guess I’ll have to check out the archives of the Omaha newspapers!

So that’s my updated list right now.  Happy reading everyone!

Summer Reading

Thanks to Lendle, my Kindle and the hot Texas weather I’ve been getting some really great reads under my belt this summer.  I’d like to just make a few recommendations if y’all are looking for something that will pull you right into the story and keep your attention until the very last page.

• “Water For Elephants” by Sara Gruen
• “A Thread Of Grace” by Mary Doria Russell
• “The Hunger Games” , “Catching Fire” & “Mockinjay” by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games Trilogy)
• “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett
• “In The Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror and An American Family In Hitler’s Berlin” by Erik Larson

Let me know if you’ve had a chance to read any of these that I’ve picked up this summer!  I try to keep my Bookshare up to date as best as possible so you can check out what’s been on my list.  Any recommendations from y’all out there?  Happy Reading!