The nice thing about my blog is that it gives me an opportunity to talk about what's happening in the book world in between my quarterly newsletter Chicks with Books. Here's some books I'm really looking forward to reading... First on my Books with Buzz list is Alan Brennert's Honolulu. Just published this month , Honolulu continues Brennert's historical fiction writing on Hawaii. Honolulu is the story of Regret, a mail order bride from 20th century Korea, who struggles with her new life in Hawaii to a man who isn't what she was lead to believe. But Regret (the name her parents gave her because she was born the 'wrong' gender) is a strong female character and she doesn't take her disappointments lying down. Brennert's previous historical fiction book Moloka'i is the tale of Rachel a 7 year old little girl living in Honolulu in the late 19th century who contracts leprosy and is taken away from her family and brought to live in the leper colony on Moloka'i. She then must grow up on Moloka'i and in doing so finds love, regret and finally redemption.Brennert is known for his excellent research and great writing. Next on my buzz list is The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obssession in the Amazon by David Grann. In 1925 legendary British explorer Percy Fawcett went into the Amazon in Brazil for the last time. His destination was the Lost City of El Dorado, the "City of Gold". The legend of El Dorado has captured the imaginations and minds of adventurers and scientists alike for 400 years (there's even an animated Disney film The Road to El Dorado). Fawcett nicknamed El Dorado The Lost City of Z and never returned from the expedition. Author David Grann became obsessed with the legend of Fawcett and decided to retrace the journey. The Lost City of Z is about Fawcett and Grann's journey. David Grann is a staff writer for the New Yorker and has written for a whole list of well know publications.This is his first book and already in the works is a movie adaptation.....Other books with buzz this week- The Shack by William P. Young, Life Sentences by Laura Lippman, A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick, Shanghai Girls by Lisa See. I hope I've peaked your interest here with some interesting reading! When I finally do crack these open and read them I'll write and let you know what I think... And speaking of interesting things, there's a nice article about my reading group, Chicks with Books, and my blog in The Danbury NewsTimes today! Here's the link: http://www.newstime.com/ci_12015712?source=email
Thanks to Carolyn Mueller, the writer at the NewsTimes, for her kind words! And you can find Carolyn every sunday writing her column Rabid Readers in The NewsTimes! Until next week...
happy reading! And remember- you can always leave me a comment by clicking on 'comment' under the blog post & I'd love to hear what you think!
9 comments:
Hi, I just stopped by via book blogs. Also looking forward to some upcoming books. I see you have listed The Uncommon Reader as a favourite, it's a favourite of mine too. I also quite liked Pillars of the Earth, it might be a long book but it dosn't take long to read. I love medieval English cathedrals, they are fascinating and Follet captures much of that. Follet's characterisation seems very plausable, I also like Ellis Peters medieval mysteries but her Bennadictine detective always seems to modern in his outlook. Love the blog.
Thanks so much for your encouragement! And thanks for the Ellis Peters recommendation- I love the medieval setting and will put her on my to read list! Stop by often to chat and share some of your other favorite authors!
The Hawaii series by Brennert is something I'd love to sink my teeth into once I've finished the books currently on my desk! Was Honolulu with the Korean bride Regret ever made into a movie? I recently saw on TV a film similar to the one you described- young Korean woman who finds she has been bought by an older man who works on a sugar plantation.
As far as I know no movie adaptation of Brennert's work, but the material sounds like it would make good viewing. I can't wait to start reading one of these too! I'm finishing up a book and then I have my book club read, so I'm hoping by the middle of April Honolulu will be a go! I'll let you know how it is- unless you read it first! Then you let me know! And BTW, thanks for stopping by and don't be a stranger!
Hey Suzanne! I found you via bookblogs too - we share some favorite books!! I haven't read "The Uncommon Reader" or "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan", but I'm definitely going to put them on my TBR shelf, since I LOVE the other books I've read on your favorites list! :) Please feel free to stop by my blog - I'd love to see you!
www.bookwormzreader.blogspot.com
Hi BookWormz! Thanks for coming by! And I love your blog! Very creative and I am going to try that recipe you wrote up! Back to books for a moment- I also picked up a copy of The Help and wrote a little blurb about it in my recent newsletter that I send out.I haven't read it but the story just grabbed me. I liked your review of it. AND I love your bookmarks! I will have to write something up here about them! Keep in touch!
Let me mention just one other author of great merit and underappreciated in this country, at least, if only to start you and others widening horizons: Penelope Fitzgerald, English, recently died, winner of the Whitbread a few times. Among her fine (short) books, THE BOOK SHOP. To toss in another worthwhile, if lesser known writer, a book cherished in The Netherlands if not well known here, although in print and in paperback, THE ASSAULT by Harry Mulisch. Even with a mediocre translation, his book is revelatory.
Ernie Jos
Suzanne, you're in Danbury? That's very cool that they featured your book group. Me, I just want to find a book group that lasts more than 2 books. :(
Michael and I work with Books on the Common in Ridgefield -- we often talk with book groups at their Book Group Open House. Have you attended that before? Have we met? If not, I'd love to meet you sometime!
Ann
Ann,
I missed the annual Book Club Appreciation Night at Books on the Common when you were there last Nov., but I won't next time! I hear that you and Michael come every year to host the event? Would love to meet you too!
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