What I've read since last link-up:
2. 18 and Life on Skid Row by Sebastian Bach - Those who know me know that I am a fan of rock music and rock bios. First and foremost, Sebastian Bach is a true fanatic for music. He calls about a dozen guys his "hero" in this book. I'm okay with that. Who says you need to limit yourself to one hero? He name drops. A lot. But I do believe he is such a genuine fan of those people. Sebastian is also a fan of himself. That's no secret. He's toured the world in a rock band. He's performed on Broadway and was even in Gilmore Girls. This book had what I wanted from a rock bio - stories about music and excess, the highs and the lows of sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll. 4/5
3. Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight - I wanted to know how all the stories unfolded, but I wasn't exactly satisfied. Can't really explain my dissatisfaction without giving up spoilers. Too many characters. Some written well and some not. 2/5
4. High Fidelity by Nick Hornby - I've heard that Jonathan Tropper (a favortie author of mine) is the American version of British author, Nick Hornby. I've seen a couple of movies based on Hornby books (About a Boy and this one.) I don't usually read books when I've already seen the movie, but I'm so glad I did with this one. Plus, I'd been wanting to read a Hornby book for years. Happy I finally did. Even though the guys are total music snobs, and I hate music snobs. Even though the main character, Rob, is completely exhausting at times, other times I couldn't help but love him. I can see the Tropper/Hornby comparison and will definitely grab another book by this author. 4/5
5. The Pact by Jodi Picoult - I was late to the Jodi Picoult party. I hadn't read a book of hers until last year (Nineteen Minutes). I followed that up last month with Small Great Things and now, The Pact. She sure does know how to tackle complicated, heavy, difficult topics and write a complex, riveting story. 4.5/5
I've shown you mine, now you show me yours...books...
Bird Box is already on my TBR and every time I see it there, I think I need to read that now. And don't. Grrrr ... I never read About a Boy but I loved the movie. And sometimes when I love movie, I don't read the book to avoid getting irritated by the changes. LOL! I still need to read Trooper, which I tell you that every month. One month I will have read him!
ReplyDeleteI think I have The Pact on my TBR. The Hornby book sounds interning, might need to add it!
ReplyDeleteSomeone else mentioned High Fidelity in the last month or so and i wondered, "Like the movie?" I didn't check out the description on Goodreads until reading your review. Interesting. I've seen the movie, in bits and pieces. May have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteThe Pact was my first Jodi Picoult book, yeeears ago!
ReplyDeleteHigh Fidelity is one of the only books, ever where I enjoyed the film more. I just felt like it worked better when you could actually see the characters ad hear the music. It is one of my all-time favourite films though, so maybe I'm biased.
Hmm looking into The Rose Garden, you never know! I admit, I was born in 1990 and '80's rock isn't really my thing, but I did think Sebastian Bach was cute as a kid. hehe And I really loved the band in Gilmore Girls. It was one of my favorite parts of the show. Not featured enough, if you ask me... but anyhow, his character was one of my favorites as well. Especially when he comes into the show, they're all like... "he's old" but it ends up working out. haha I dunno, just the group dynamic is great. Glad you enjoyed his rock bio. :) XO - Alexandra
ReplyDeleteSimply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
Bird Box is insane but I was glued to it when I read it two years ago. I forced my coworkers to read it too. LOL
ReplyDeleteI adore The Pact.
You'll have to tell us how Bird Box goes. I've almost requested it and chickened out because I am a scaredy cat of horror books (haven't stepped near a Stephen King in probably 10 years). But I used to love them and that one has me so curious. I've never read a Jodi Picoult so I will have to try one of hers sometime. I'm not usually into heartfelt or heavy books though so I'm not sure if it would be my thing.
ReplyDeleteI love autobiographies anyways but I would love to read Sebastian Bach's... I saw him in Jesus Christ Superstar... he was a mess in it - in the best way. He sounded great, but he kept goofing off in the background & you could just tell he was doing it his own way.
ReplyDeleteI have The Rose Garden on my list and it is always available on Overdrive via my library so I will get to it someday. The cover is sooo gorgeous and I can do time-travel in moderation. Haha. I haven't read any Jodi Picoult yet, but I really should!!
ReplyDeleteI loved Bird Box. I hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI loved missing Pieces! Haven't heard of Bird Box but going to check it out. Blue adores Nick Hornby and has a few of his novels, and since I'm a (new) Tropper fan, I'll have to borrow one of those from her. I still haven't read a single Jodi Piccoult book, but I'm pretty sure I have one on my shelves.
ReplyDeleteThe Pact is the first Jodi Picoult book I read, like a million years ago it seems, and it hooked me to her. Had I read one of her lesser books first, I don't know that I'd be such a loyal reader (and, if the Lifetime adaptation of the book ever crosses your path, don't watch it. It's awful).
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear what you think of the Bird Box! I think I want to read that soon too. I might have to pick up High Fidelity. I watched the movie, but I was a kid, so I only remember bits and pieces of it. I definitely want to read another Jodi Picoult book when I'm in the mood for it.
ReplyDeleteI love Jodi Picoult and The Pact was one of the first of hers that I had read. I don't remember much of Where They Found Her but I apparently really liked it when I read it!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read a single book on your list but the last two sound pretty good!
ReplyDeletei'm glad you liked the rose garden well enough. definitely does not strike me as your kind of book so at least you didn't hate it ;) i used to love the move high fidelity - i was obsessed with john cusack for a big chunk of my late teens/early 20s - but have never read the book. i haven't read the pact yet, but it's one of my oldest books on goodreads, like i added it in 2009. haha. really really hope you like bird box!
ReplyDeleteSo I haven't heard of Nick Hornby, but he's definitely going on my list for future reads! And if time travel isn't your thing, I can definitely see why you didn't love The Rose Garden, but I'm glad that you gave it a try!
ReplyDeleteI've read 2 Picoults and the first was in 2014ish, so I was late to the game too. She's fine, I just don't seek her books out.
ReplyDeleteI did really enjoy The Storyteller though, so I'd try that if I were you.
The more I read, the more I feel like my pet peeve is when there are too many characters that don't all serve a purpose. I actually don't think I've seen any of the movies based off Hornby books, but now I'm definitely intrigued to read one.
ReplyDeleteThe Pact is one of my favorite Jodi books! I might have to go back and read it again. I'd also read that Sebastian Bach book, I like a good autobiography!
ReplyDeleteBeth
http://www.thebethnextdoor.com
Did my first comment go through?! I don't see it!? Also, how big is this link-up? I'd love to read the other bloggers' posts with books!
ReplyDeleteOMG, this is the third time my comment has disappeared!!! BOOO!!! I was saying book posts like these are my favorite!!! Thanks for the suggestions for the ones I ahven't already read. I'm late to your book challenge but I'm going to see what I've read so far in 2017 that can count. I have 3 weeks to get a finish!! lol
ReplyDeleteBird Box is crazy but I LOVED it. I hope you do too!! I love Nick Hornby. About a Boy is a favorite of mine, but I did like High Fidelity. I read The Pact years back when I was reading Jodi all the time. It's a good one!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
I love that you read so much and I love that here I will be able to find ideas for some good books. Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about where they found her. I wanted more from it it was in a bad book I just I wanted more
ReplyDeleteI keep forgetting to put Sebastian Bach's book on hold! I always feel like I need to read more Picoult and Hornby.
ReplyDeleteLol I hate when a review of a unsatisfying book makes me want to read it. I'm intrigued by the title and how you say you wanted to know how the stories unfolded, and I'm curious to see why it was unsatisfying. Definitely want to pick up another Picoult book!
ReplyDeleteI love Sebastian. I'll have to check out his book. I actually saw him on Broadway in Jeckyl & Hyde. I read "the Pact". Kind of a disturbing/depressing book.
ReplyDeletehttp://therantingsofadramaqueensmum.blogspot.com