Happy New Year once again dollface! How is this bright and shiny new year treating you?
I’ve managed to survive my first week back at the office relatively unscathed and I am so looking forward to kicking 2017 square in the NUTS! My first order of business is to smash last year’s reading tally of 24 books. Now, 24 is nothing to sneer at but back before social media ruined took over my life I used to read voraciously. I love the way a book can transport me to another world and either teach me something new or indulge the inner romantic in me (shhh! don’t tell anyone).
I also love reading reviews and suggestions on what books to read next, so I figure what better way to harness my former book worm again and tie it in with my other love, blogging?!
TA – DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Welcome to my new monthly series, Rosie’s Reading…
Each month I’ll review the books I’ve been reading and pass on any recommendations (or any duds to stay clear of) and in turn I would LOVE for you all to recommend any books you think I should read. So, without any further ado…
The Virgin Suicides, Jeffrey Eugenides
Goodreads says… The haunting, humorous and tender story of the brief lives of the five entrancing Lisbon sisters, The Virgin Suicides, now a major film, is Jeffrey Eugenides’s classic debut novel.
The shocking thing about the girls was how nearly normal they seemed when their mother let them out for the one and only date of their lives. Twenty years on, their enigmatic personalities are embalmed in the memories of the boys who worshipped them and who now recall their shared adolescence: the brassiere draped over a crucifix belonging to the promiscuous Lux; the sisters’ breathtaking appearance on the night of the dance; and the sultry, sleepy street across which they watched a family disintegrate and fragile lives disappear.
Rosie says… I really wanted to like this book as I’m a big fan of Jeffrey Eugenides’ other novels, but after finishing it I was in two minds about it. It was one of those books where I didn’t know if I was enjoying it at the time so I guess I wasn’t sold? (shrug), but I find myself still thinking about it so it’s definitely left an impression on me. Eugenides’ writing is really beautiful and poetic but I felt it was a little repetitive at times. The juries out on this one dollface – I’d love to hear your thoughts on it if you’ve read it.
Read this book… if you’re feeling nostalgic.
The Carrie Diaries, Candace Bushnell
Goodreads says… Before Carrie Bradshaw hit the big time in the City, she was a regular girl growing up in the suburbs of Connecticut. How did she turn into one of the most-read social observers of our generation?
The Carrie Diaries opens up in Carrie’s senior year of high school. She and her best friends — Walt, Lali, Maggie, and the Mouse — are inseparable, amid the sea of Jens, Jocks and Jets. And then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture. Sebastian is a bad boy-older, intriguing, and unpredictable. Carrie falls into the relationship that she was always supposed to have in high school-until a friend’s betrayal makes her question everything. With her high school days coming to a close, Carrie will realize it’s finally time to go after everything she ever wanted.
Rabid fans of Sex and the City will love seeing Carrie Bradshaw evolve from a regular girl into a sharp, insightful writer. They’ll learn about her family background — how she found her writing voice, and the indelible impression her early friendships and relationships left on her. We’ll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where the next Carrie Diaries book will take place.
Rosie says… I am a huge Sex and the City fan and thought I would really love this but I can’t say I did. I had to remind myself several times that it wasn’t the Carrie I was used to on the show. I did like delving into Carrie’s background and learning where she came from and how it all started but The Carrie Diaries felt like it was written more for a Young Adult demographic and it was dripping with predictability. The high school dramas and teenage angst has been done before, and let’s be honest, a thousand times better but the fact that Carrie is so dear to my heart kept me reading.
Read this book… if you looking for a quick and easy read. The Carrie Diaries would be fabulous on a lazy beach holiday.
Right dollface, I’ll chat to you in a week as I’m going to take another week off from the blog, just another new year’s resolution for 2017; take regular breaks and savour the moment!
Ciaosies 💋
Categories: Books
A Red Lip And A Nude Shoe 
Ohhhh! Yay! I always love finding new books but it’s getting to actually read that isn’t happening and hasn’t for a while. 😦
Enjoy your break though! 🙂
I’m the same, way too many books piling up on my bedside table xx
Before you disappear into real life for a week: are you on Goodreads?
I am, but very new to it. Don’t really know what it’s all about
It’s a good way of keeping track of what you’ve read, and also of getting recommendations. I’m on there-I give star ratings more than reviews (though I do some of those too). And I keep updated what I’m writing 😉 You can find me here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14755791.Andrew_James_Murray
Thanks for the tip! I’ll look out for you when I’m next online 👍🏻😊
Reading is life. We’ve done a bookclub at work for the last couple of years which was a good way to read things you might not ordinarily have picked up and it was all very sustainable via Kindle!
I love the idea of a book club but have always chickened out of joining one – I don’t know why! Hmmmm the Kindle hey? I’m still not convinced to buy one, am I lame??
I resisted for years saying things like “I read too fast, the screen isn’t big enough, I like proper books” etc. Then I relented and haven’t looked back. I started with a Kindle DX (the jumbo screen version) then moved to a Paperwhite a couple of years ago. It’s lighter to carry, doesn’t make my hands cramp from holding it, better for my eyes, cheaper than dropping bucks on hard copy books (I was also given a disc with over 2000 books on it so that helps) and I feel better about the sustainability factor. I still have a hard copy library of books I can’t part with but I haven’t bought one for many years.
Gah! I’m so torn! I like the idea of being sustainable and better for the environment but there’s something so beautiful about a library of books and browsing stacks of books in a shop. Maybe it’ll be a new thing I adopt in 2017 (trying a new “thing” each month)
I still totally browse . . . and note down the titles to download!
Hmmm you’ve given me much food for thought Beth….decisions are the worst! 😛 xo
I hear you #libran4lyf
Hahahaha
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
NOT THINGS I’VE READ…BUT IF SHE RECOMMENDS IT…!
You are a woman of many talents and interests! YAHOO! 🙂
I really am an enigma wrapped in a riddle!
EYE-YUP…MAYBE YOU ARE JUST A FASCINATING INDIVIDUAL LIKE THE REST OF WE BLOGGERING HORDE?
We’re all a weird and wonderful bunch 🙂
You betcha!
BUT NO MORE FASHIONABLE PICS FOR A WHILE?
Back to regular posting next week and there’ll be another wardrobe challenge in March 🙂 x
Ah…my search for beauty will be rewarded! 🙂
ROSIE—While you are reviewing books, would you check this one out—if it’s your bag to do so? SPIRIT-LED LIMERICKS AND OTHER CHRISTIAN POETRY, by (a certain) Jonathan Caswell. Not sure the author can afford sending you a signed copy…but it is available at amazon.com as either a hard coppy (soft cover book) or a version for their Kindle Reader. Publisher is AMERICAN STAR BOOKS.
Could you check out that book for me? 😀
I’ll check it out
I’LL TELL HIM. 😀
Excuse me—the author is Jonathan E. Caswell…Publisher’s web site is http://www.americanstarbooks.com Sure hope you would! I know the author might get a kick out of it…and increase his dismal sales!
I didn’t read the Carrie Diaries, but was a HUGE fan of the TV show. It’s on Netflix (in the US – not sure for AUS – think that’s where you’re living still…you seem to be a world traveler! 🙂 ) REALLY good and Anna Sophia Robb is on point – that said, I wasn’t a HUGE fan of Sex and the City. I was at first but then… I don’t know. It just wasn’t working for me.. Likely one of the only women to say that. I have heard that the book is a little different than the TV Series (it only lasted 2 season – not sure if it was b/c the book was completed or…) Check it out if it’s available to you. I’ve been rewatching and still wishing I could buy the DVD. I also love it b/c “she” and I are around the same age so the things from the 80s I lived through.
I never read the Virgin Suicides… saw the movie that was a bit disturbing…The soundtrack is good. I’d be curious if the movie was a close resemblance to the book.
Enjoy this feature you have on books! Keep up on your reading… 24 is impressive.
I’ve heard that I would love The Carrie Diaries because it’s set in the 80s and I’m quite partial to everything and anything from the 80s 😂. I would imagine it streams here too (yup in the land Down Under! 😉) so I should definitely check it out.
The older I get the more Carrie from SATC annoys me and seems petty but I can’t help it, I still love the show. I think the other characters make up for it. 😁
Thanks so much 😊 💋
Tell me what you think if you do check out the Carrie Diaries. Wait til you see the casting for Samantha! OMG!!
I shall! I see they’ve made a couple of series out of it so I’ll need to hop to it LOL 😉