On the plane I read

16: Tender is the Night by F Scott Fitzgerald. I liked it a lot better than The Great Gatsby, although I found it surprisingly honest and sordid for a book written in such conservative times. Maybe it wasnt as conservative as I thought!

17: Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray. A Novel without a Hero, but with a lot of comedy and rich storyline and characters.

18: Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens. I don’t think he knew how to NOT write well! I’m a Charles Dickens Groupie, yes indeed.

A Widow for One Year – John Irving

I’m really starting to like this author. He has a writing style completely his own, you can pinpoint it after reading any group of sentences within the book, without looking at the front cover. He’s funny and honest, and he has amazingly three dimensional characters. Make it ten dimensional… I can’t wait to get my hands on ‘A Prayer for Owen Meany’ – which a friend told me is his best.

13 for me is Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s… I bought it today on my lunch break, and finished it just after dinner by a bit… beautiful, light, the book equivalent of a tangy freezing pitcher of some kind of citrus juice. Paints New York in a beautiful light, and makes me want to settle for no less than Capote’s New York City.

14 is also by Capote – three short stories: House of Flowers, Diamond Guitar and a Christmas Memory. Usually short stories aren’t my thing, but this guy has a fabulous knack for them. Even when he’s being dreary and depressing, his narratives play like vivid scenes with bursts of color floating past my mind’s eye.

The Time Traveller’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger

This book is definitely definitely going on my all time absolute favorites, and I simultaneously wait and dread the day this genius of an author publishes another piece, waiting to take another glimpse into brilliance and dreading that the teetering high bar she has set for herself will come down even an inch.

aaaah this book – just beautiful!!! I was actually in tears by the end of it – so engrossed I literally devoured it in less than 3 days… now I wish I paced myself some more… siiiigh!

Currently, I’m reading:

Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert

Wish I had the original and not the translation, but for some reason they’re hard to come across unless you’re actually in France (I assume)!
Oh well… as with most classical novels, it’s still taking a while till I actually reach to the heart of the plot, but I just love the way everything is described. I like that these authors took their time setting the scene, giving a feel of the era in which the characters lived. It’s like he knew he was going to be studied and widely read hundreds of years after his time. Genius!

I can’t believe I forgot about these extroardinary books that I read over spring break!!! I found them buried in the back of my desk:

-Hotel Babylon: Imogen Edwards-Jones & Anon
I LOVE books like this, lets you know exactly the sick kind of world we live in… can’t wait to read Air Babylon (I think that’s what it’s called), as a frequent traveller, I like to know just how disturbing my disturbing-enough plane rides really are…

-Fatima’s Good Fortune: J&G Dryansky
A book written in a nice simple style, matching the nice simple characters. I especially like the way the author(s) reveal a bit more gradually about the characters that encounter the protagonist throughout her adventures.

-Cloud Atlas: David Mitchell
Infuriatingly mysterious!! This book drove me near insanity with its clues and jumping from one timeline to another. At the same time, I love the sheer genius of piecing together all those stories, and how the author allows for the readers interpretations of the plot.

-The Horrific Sufferings of the Mind-Reading Monster Hercules Barefoot; his Wonderful Love and his Terrible Hatred: Carl-Johan
Vallgren
Well… the title pretty much said it all, huh? It’s definitely an original story. Similarities to Hugo’s Notredame only in the characters I think, but other than that beautiful writing and portrayal of Germany in the 19th century.

Also, I just finished reading this book:
The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency – Alexander McCall Smith
I love this guy! He’s got an absolutely brilliant way of making you feel as though you’re actually reading someone’s thoughts.
My favorite part in the book that gives an example of this:
”...Really, there was nothing that she felt she had to hide. Now constipation was quite a different matter. It would be dreadful for the whole world to know about troubles of that nature. She felt terribly sorry for people who suffered from constipation, and she knew that there were many who did. There were probably enough of them to form a political party – with a chance of government perhaps – but what would such a party do if it was in power? Nothing, she imagined. It would try to pass legislation, but would fail.”

LOL! I love the light humour that tickles you on every other page!! Definitely worth a read.

I totally forgot to add another book that I read way in the beginning of this year, but forgot about!!
God of Small Things – Arundati Roy

Pretty good book, but a bit disturbing!!! I guess that’s what makes it realistic :p

So far, I’ve read I think 4 books (maybe one more, but I can’t remember!). I used to be a book-aholic, but this year has been crazy stressful so I’ve been keeping myself busy.

1- Cider House Rules by John Irving
2- Love Over Scotland by Alexander McCall Smith
3- Notes From A Small Island by Bill Bryson
4- The Secret Island & Spiggy Holes by Enid Blyton
(Yes, I’m 19 and I still love Enid Blyton ok!)

At the moment I’ve started reading books and then go and start on other ones at the same time, so now I’m currently on three: Another McCall Smith, a Garcia Marquez, and a Flaubert… they’re all so nice and different I can pick any one up depending on my mood… fun!