what I have been reading

I remember how every summer when I was growing up, I participated in the Summer Reading Program at the local public library. I loved how the lists of books we had to have in order to get our book prize at the end of the summer grew as the months passed. When I was in second grade, I kept a meticulous list of all the books I read. I've tried on and off in the years since to keep track of what I've read, but half the time I forget to write down the titles and authors.

One of my resolutions for this year is to start writing down the books I have read. It seems like this is a no-brainer resolution; most people are probably resolving to read more, but this will be hard enough for me to do!

So here are the books I have read since the beginning of 2007 (I think).

I know there was a book I was rushing to finish before January so that I could start on The Yummy Mummy but I cannot remember the name of it (hence the resolution)!

The Yummy Mummy was an ARC from my friend Lissa (I love having friends who get free books at library conferences). She knew I would love it since it was British chick lit (my favorite). I had actually just the day before read a review of this book and was dying to read it. It was fantastic. The plot had enough twists and turns that it didn't end like I thought it would. I love my breezy, easy chick lit, but I do like it when authors try a little harder to make the storyline and the characters more substantial than usual. Now that I have gotten married and have a child, I have moved from the career-girl-seeking-true-love chick lit to the mummy lit--20-30 somethings who have kids.

After Yummy Mummy, I wanted another good book and picked up Gucci Gucci Coo by Sue Margolis. While this was an enjoyable read, it wasn't as good as Yummy Mummy (but what would have been? It's so hard to follow really good books with an equally good book). This book also doesn't end like you initially think it will. It even had a touch of mystery and suspense, which reminds me of what Lissa said about the Helen Fielding's follow-up to the Bridget Jones books, Olivia Joules And The Overactive Imagination--"Fielding is trying to turn chick lit into spy/adventure." (Sorry Lissa, that wasn't it exactly, but you get what I mean.) But this was way better than Olivia Joules which I couldn't even get past the first chapter in. Margolis also wrote the book in the third person which I understand gives the author more leeway in describing characters but I found it kind of annoying to read what the protagonist thought and felt instead of hearing about them firsthand. Maybe it's just me.

Today I finished Always and Forever by Cathy Kelly. I recall reading a short story by Kelly in Irish Girls About Town and always meant to read some of her full length treatments. I thought this book was great. The back cover gave me the impression that the book was predominately about the women's friendships, and that wasn't the case. But it wasn't too much of a disappointment because the women's individual stories were interesting. The balance between the three/four story lines was excellent. I don't think the book would have been as good if it were about only one of the women. To be honest, I wanted to book to end differently for the woman who had quit her job to stay home and care for her kids. I think this title would appear to many different people because of the variety of ages and situations represented.

What should I read next? I have nothing waiting for me at home. And since the library closes soon, I have just 27 minutes to find something new to read!

K