Thursday, November 15, 2007

Book Reports

I thoroughly enjoy reading Dick Francis books. (Are any of you fans of his also?) I recently read Dead Heat, which was written by Dick and his son, Felix Francis. I wasn't too sure how good it would be. You know how it is sometimes when a really good author starts "sharing" writing duties and credits with someone new. But I thought I'd give it a chance since I've been such a fan. And am I glad I did! Dead Heat was a pretty good read, well worth the cost of the book and the time it took to read it. And here's a little bonus part (for me). Some of you may have read on my blog that Sophie at Sophie Honeysuckle's English Decor sent me a package a while back. She had included a little box of something called OXO (something I had never heard of before but which I've since come to know is actually beef bouillon cubes used for cooking). Anyway, somewhere around Chapter 7 of the book came this passage:

"We were in the restaurant of the OXO Tower, on the eighth floor overlooking the City of London Skyline."

I was thrilled! Here was this book by one of my favorite authors and it was mentioning something that my good friend Sophie had just introduced me to! Yeah, okay, so maybe it's kind of goofy that I was so thrilled to read that, but I was and, in fact, still am. So there. The passage continued on for a bit, explaining the architecture of the OXO Building, which was fascinating to read. All in all (and even without the reference that reminded me of Sophie! ha), this was a very good book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good murder and/or mystery. Er...I mean a good fictional murder and/or mystery, of course! For a synopsis and other reviews of this book, click here.

Next, I read Sweet Revenge by Diane Mott Davidson. This was, in my humble opinion, a terrible read. Absolutely terrible. I couldn't even finish it, it was so bad. I was going to outline exactly why I thought this book was so stupid, but really...I just don't think I can bear to relive it enough to do that for you. Suffice it to say, I thought the writing was juvenile, rife with redundancies and sometimes, just downright ludicrous. For a synopsis and other reviews of this book, click here. But if you make the mistake of attempting to read Sweet Revenge, don't say I didn't warn you!

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P.S. Before anyone starts sending me hate mail because you disagree with my "reviews" of these books, please keep in mind that this is just my opinion. I'm entitled to have it. And you're entitled to disagree with it. Just keep it clean, will 'ya? It won't be necessary to question my parentage and/or my mating habits in order to point out our differences of opinion. Understood?

19 comments:

  1. I've read all of the Diane Mott Davidson books, and after the last one (I forget the title - that's how "great" it was) - I'm giving up. I don't like the stories any more. I don't like the characters any more. The series has just overstayed its welcome in my house.

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  2. Kari since your depressed I would never disagree and upset you hehe. I have never read really. I am a love story..old days style reader. I may have to try your style.
    have a great day,Brenda

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  3. Okay, but did Sweet Revenge at least have some good recipes? :)

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  4. I have not read either of those books. I just might have to try reading "Dead Heat" one of these days.

    I don't read nearly as much as I used to when I was "younger" because I get headaches, and my eyes bug out of their sockets for several days afterwards. Yes, I wear my glasses, but I don't know when to put the book down and STOP reading. I tend to try and read it from cover to cover in one day! LOL

    I won't even bother looking at the second book you mentioned. I had the same reaction to the book "Wicked" I KNOW! I KNOW! Everyone LOVES that book, but I just could NOT get into it. I stopped reading after about a 1/4 of the way through it, and have had no desire to pick it back up and try again!

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  5. Can we question your parentage and mating habits if we agree with you?

    Can't do that either, since I have not read either book or any book by either author. Sorry.... not into that genre. I'm a sap for reading stuff written in the 1800's. I know, I know.... I need to move up a couple of centuries!

    The boys, however, have taken your advice and are starting to absorb all of the Star Wars books at the library. I've sped read through one of them and they seem pretty harmless (hey - they're just little boys). I'm not big into that genre of reading either....they weren't written in 1800.

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  6. Hi kari,

    I haven't read either of those books and haven't even seen these authors before but I am reading John Grisham's book right now called Playing for Pizza and it's a fun and easy read. Another fun and easy read of his is Skipping Christmas which was made into a movie. Hey, sometimes I just want to read fluff.

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  7. I laughed so hard when you asked me a short while back if I had ever heard of or read Dick Francis, because just as Wally Jr thinks he discovered Johnny Cash, I am all to certain I discovered Dick Francis...the first book of his I read was The Sport of Queens (he was a jockey, or did you know? He raced under the Queen Mum's colours for awhile...even ran the Grand National a few times...the first book he wrote was Dead Cert...I lifted it from my mother...I think it was like when I was 14 years old...early 60's...oh my yes, I love Dick Francis and the new one is on my Christmas list...I think you make a great book reviewer...after all your views are your own...no one should through rotten fruit!

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  8. I have read and enjoyed Dick Francis, including this one. I don't believe I've ever read Diane Mott, though.

    I love your reviews, Kari. Keep 'em comin'!

    Pat

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  9. I love to read book reports!

    You have a great day sweetie!

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  10. Love your snow globe banner!
    Sandra Evertson

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  11. Oh Oh Oh ... a reader !!! I love reading ... ALWAYS have a book (or two) on the go !

    Thanks for stopping by my blog ! Your comment about your son wanting to be a co-pilot or a garbage man cracked me up ! That is hilarious !! I love the things kids say !

    Stop by anytime ! You can be sure I'll be stopping by here again !!!

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  12. I haven't heard of either of these authors. But I don't read a whole lot anymore since my favorite author (LaVyrle Spencer) retired.

    And who would be foolish enough to question anything of a clearly depressed woman not going through menopause??

    Love,
    Julie

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  13. I have probally told you before but I really love your banner. It is so beautiful. Mary

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  14. Hi Kari,

    Well, if I ever get to read a book again (thanks kids) I will check out the "good" one.

    Heather

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  15. I just finished the Sweet Revenge (sometimes you just *have* to read and there's nothing else around!) I agree...it was waaaaaaayyyy down towards the bottom of books I'd might ever read again. I agree with Lynne, Ms. Mott needs to give up this line.

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  16. Hi Kari! I am commenting on this spot for all of the posts on this page .. at least ... up til Nov 8th, because on my husbands lap top screen at least it all becomes gibberish half way through the Nov 8th post. But I read the moviefone post ... 23 holiday movies. You are SO funny. OK. And long winded. But when you are witty, as you are, it's not a crime. I actually enjoyed reading all about those movies. Denzel's debate team? Johnny Depp is the demon barber of fleet street? Did you see Angela Lansbury in the co star spot for that story on Broadway (PBS)? She was so good. Great play. Dark. But great. And I especially loved the mea culpa post. You and I have arrived at similar places in our lives (see my most recent post) which is: it's more important to enjoy our family ... not to torture them with our "martyr" monologues ... so wise of you to notice and I am so proud of you for giving up the "stuff" and tending to the "family togetherness" instead. Right on! My husband and I just finished being dragged through court by my ex and I feared for months that his lies would prevail and I would lose my children! He lost. The kids won. 50 50 time split. I am just SO thankful to have them in my life. I don't even care if their rooms are clean anymore ... I am just glad to see them come through the door. My mind set is all different now. My focus is off of me and on them. I just love to "serve" them. It makes me happy now ... and in turn they are so much more thoughtful of me. I should have thought of this years ago. lol.
    My apologies again for my absence. I love love love your blog and think you are such great fun. My computer seems to be on the mend but still shuts down for no reason, sometimes for days at a time ... so hard to get to my blogging ... and I just want to spend all of my time with my kids so I don't spend so much time on the computer. (My little guy is watching a movie right now while I am on hubby's lap top next to him. Hubby's out tonight!)
    I hope to post a photo of my front door soon. Your front door inspired me.
    Laters. Come see me. I miss you!
    Wendy

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  17. When DM Davidson first began writing,I read and enjoyed her books. But the last two or three I tried were so much worse than her first. So, I haven't picked her up again.

    My current favorite mystery author is Joan Hess. I love her Claire Malloy series.

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  18. Kari!! Thanks for including the Oxo quote!! I will have to try that author! Hope your week is going well-and I'm loving your Christmassy blog and music!! It is pouring with rain here and I'm surrounded by science text books-yuk, enough said about that the better! I'm taking a break from school work and I'm going to try and post a quick post! I keep telling myself by Wednesday it will all be over!...
    Have a lovely Sundayxxxx

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