Odds and Ends

I have finished 2 books since I last posted. I read The Gifts of War by Mackensie Ford, and The Bluest Eyes by Toni Morrison. Was not especially impressed with either.

Gifts of War is about WWI, a Christmas Eve truce in the trenches, and a promise made and broken. It begins with a promise in the trenches during a one night truce to a German soldier (Wilhelm) to take his picture back to his girlfriend in England. Of course, when Henry goes to find the girl, named Sam, he falls in love with her. Unbeknownst to Wilhelm, Sam has had his baby, a son named Will. Henry meets Sam and pursues her, even though she tells him about Wilhelm and how she is waiting for his return. Henry never tells her that he knows/met Wilhelm. And so the story goes...

I thought that the story had great potential, but it pretty much let me down.

The Bluest Eyes was ok, but I just loved Beloved and Song of Solomon so much, that I found this book to be disappointing. I think that I must like when Ms. Morrison goes into the "spirit" world somewhat.

On a different note, I actually signed up for the Read 100 books in 2010 Challenge! I don't know what possessed me although I have been feeling as if I have been letting myself down with my lack of reading. I used to read like a fiend and I miss it. Now that I have retired, I thought I would get back to it, but it seems like I am always doing something else, often involving the computer! So I am pushing the envelope and going for the challenge. If you are interested in joining, go to this site:

http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-2010-reading-challenge-100-reading.html

Change of Heart

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult is a long book…447 pages. I think about twice as long as it needed to be. I liked the book, but was disappointed, just because a couple of her other books have been SO good.

The story is about Isaiah “Shay” Bourne who while working as a handyman, killed a little girl and her policeman step-father. Shay has been on death row for 11 years and is facing execution soon. The little girl’s mother had been pregnant at the time of the murders and her 11 year old daughter is in need of a heart transplant. You can see where this is going…Shay believes that he will be redeemed if he gives Claire his heart after he dies.

The chapters are told by Fr. Michael (Shay’s spiritual advisor), June (Claire’s mother), Lucius (in prison with Shay) and Maggie (Shay’s attorney). Each person does bring an unique perspective to the story, but I just found the whole thing to be too predictable.

If you want to read what I consider her best book, try My Sister’s Keeper. I really liked it. Her past few books have been disappointing to me.

Ok, so now I haven’t read a really, really good book for a couple of months…I have a stack of books waiting for me, so tonight I begin again. Here’s hoping for a great read!