I just finished a short audio book called Bachelor Brothers’ Bed and Breakfast by Bill Richardson. Bill Richardson is host of CBC Radio’s afternoon magazine and he lives in Vancouver.
Bachelor Brothers’ Bed & Breakfast is a story about Hector and Virgil, the twin hosts of a rustic retreat. The story of how the brothers were conceived – romantic yet shocking; their motley inheritance – a big house on a small island in British Columbia; a huge library; an aged, cussing parrot and a dozen musical eggcups.
This was a fun and fast listen while I did a little housework and made dinner. I especially liked the recited poetry in the story.
This is quite an interesting book to read. Jodi Picoult really does her research on Autism, Asperger’s syndrome and the law. For some reason I seem to keep reading books about Autism and not purposely ~ I pick up a book, read what it is about and then proceed to read it. This is the third book in a year that I have picked up about Autism. House Rules is a thick book and an intense book so it takes a lot of your time. I read a big portion of the book on the way to Calgary on the long weekend and then the rest on the way home (Bob is a very fast driver so it is best that I read or I would be nagging him to death to slow down). Once I started this book, I had a hard time putting it down ~ I recommend it.
House Rules is about a young man, Jacob Hunt, with Asperger’s syndrome and his fascination of crime shows (like CSI) and crime scenes (and goes to crime scenes that he hears on his radio dispatched through the local police department) and tries to solve then while staying a bit of a distance away from the police. His mother, Emma, has practically given up her life for her love of her son. Jacob has a younger brother, Theo, who doesn’t have very much of a normal life because of his brother.
Jacob gets into trouble and and charged with murder. Read this book and see how this affects the Hunt family. One of the main house rules for the Hunt family is “look after your brother because he is the only one you have”.
IN FULL BLOOM is a very funny mystery. It was an audio book that I listened to in the earlier part of this week. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I love audio books and I get a lot done when I am listening to one. I got a good portion of my spring cleaning done last Saturday listening to the book and then did a manicure and pedicure while listening to the rest of the book yesterday morning. I am not going to tell you about the book but google it to see if it interest you enough to read it or listen to it
At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks is a very sappy romance. It annoyed the hell out me while I was reading it – come on – people aren’t really like that.
This book is about a journalist, Jeremy Marsh, that lives and breathes New York City until he meets Lexie Darnell, a librarian from Boone Creek, North Carolina. Well he gets 31 year old Lexie pregnant and gives up his whole New York lifestyle to do the right thing which is move to Boone Creek, North Carolina and the story unravels from there.
I found this book annoying because it seemed to go on and on with the sweetness between Jeremy and Lexie and the over-the-top politeness.
Last night I decided to finally put an end to my misery and finish this book so I could move onto to something with more depth. I went to bed at 9 p.m. and was determined to read it until I finished it which was 11:45 p.m.. When I did finish the last page my very first thought was ~ thank goodness it is over.
If your are a lover of romance novels go for it. I am sorry Nicholas but it will be a very long time before I read another one of your novels.
I am either going to continue on with Treading Water by Anne DeGrace ~ a story about the community of Renata, BC in the early 1900′s. I started it a while back then started the sappy romance novel because I forgot the Treading Water novel at home and I happen to have At First Sight with me at that given time.
Or I am going to start Here’s the Deal Don’t Touch Me by Howie Mandel. I think I will call it a biography. I got the book from the library for Bob and he absolutely totally enjoyed the book. It is not due back until April 20 which gives me a fair amount of time.
I just finished another audio book ~ Hot House Flower and the 9 Plants of Desire. This is a story about plant magic, spiritual discovery and romantic fever (sex too) in the jungles of Mexico. Legend has it that if you can find the nine plants of desire then all of your wildest dreams will be fulfilled. The story is about a recent 30 something New York divorcee that goes to the Yucatan jungle in Mexico hoping to find the 9 plants of desire and her adventures from New York to Mexico. A fun and entertaining read. You can learn a few things about tropical plants too such as if you torture the female cannabis plant before harvesting it will produce much more resin ~ huh!
I just finished an audio book called, “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein. It is about a dog named Enzo who knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul, who loves to watch TV and videos (especially about car racing) and is deeply devoted to his master, race car driver Denny Swift. This book had me laughing out loud, very angry and even a little disgusted a few times. It was a terrific listen!
This book made me wonder what goes on in Bailey’s mind.
I wrote a blog a few weeks back about my friend Sieja and how she is about to embark upon her new life as a cruiser with her partner, John. I read a book last weekend called An Embarrassment of Mangoes ~ A Caribbean Interlude by Ann Vanderhoof. Bob saw that I was enjoying the book so much that he read it him self. He just finished it and handed it to me and said, “Thank you for turning me on to such a lovely book.”
What I liked most about the book is that Ann invites you to join her and her husband, Steve, on their first Caribbean cruise. Since Bob and I are not going to play in the sun any where this winter ~ this was the perfect book to read ~ I have now had my winter-go-get-some-sun vacation.
I am however a little concerned about Sieja and John and how much is really involved with cruising (so is Bob). So Sieja if you read this blog please let me know that all is well and I highly recommend that you read this book that I just blogged about!
Ann Vanderhoof also has a website and blog so I am now going to go send her a little blog about her wonderful book and how much fun I had reading it!