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Thursday, May 17, 2012

Help Needed: Summer Reading

Don't forget to enter HERE my giveaway for a $50 Shabby Apple gift card! 


Tomorrow I will take off for my first summer beach trip. This will be a girls-only weekend with the Wives Club, and I have the custom napkins packed.


What I don't have packed are books to get me through this trip, or even a good library list to get me through the travel and pool months that are now upon us. To prove how unprepared and shameless I am about summer reading, something I usually start planning in February, I'll be buying the third Fifty Shades book at the airport. Now about those books....


I've read the first two. Fifty Shades of Grey is just flat out bad. I don't think it could be marketed at all without that whole, um, dirty factor, because really - that's all it sort of is.  Well, that and the story of a controlling, unhealthy relationship. Who wants to escape into that for pleasure (much less, cough-cough, pain!)? The character development and dialogue is among the worst I've ever, ever read. I don't even feel bad saying this because the author herself said on national TV that she isn't a good writer. I agree with her. I swore in protest of this series and its unexplainable popularity that I wouldn't read the two remaining books, but I found myself in the airport last weekend (I flew to TN to celebrate Mothers Day with PR) and I didn't have a book to read then either. Book two was right there, in paperback, and I'd had a rotten day, so I (rolled my eyes, bit my lip and...) just bought it.


Now, Fifty Shades Darker will never be hailed as a classic, but it's better than Shades of Grey. There's a little mystery. There's a little more than just a red room and Dom jeans, but sadly....there is still that cringe-worthy inner godess!  But I can't pretend I don't want to know how it all ends, so...I'll find out poolside this weekend.


After I put away the mommy porn, I only have two titles on my summer reading list:


1. Where We Belong
I really like Emily Giffin books. This one comes out late July. I follow Giffin on Facebook and know that there will be lots of references to the mid-1990s, when the main character was in high school. I'm ready for the nostalgia, along with the stories Giffin always tells. 


2. Fairytale Interruped



I have always been preoccupied with John F Kennedy, Jr., and after reading Come to the Edge last year, my curiosity remains pretty wet. I've managed to convince my high school friends to take a day trip to Cumberland Island, Georgia (where JFK got married) later this summer when we steal a few days on St Simons Island to mark our 35th birthday (I mean, will I ever stop celebrating???) and our 30+ years of friendship. Before our trip I will read this book written by JFK's former assistant. 


What will you be reading this summer?   Please send some suggestions before I start reading Twlight books....

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7 comments:

PomJob said...

Have you read anything by Jen Lancaster? I love her memoirs, her take on fiction was OK. She has a new book out that I haven't read yet but hears an excerpt from it.

I Do Declare said...

I have! I can't remember now which one (she was remodeling a house in Philly, I think...) but she is funny!!!

Tricia said...

So sorry I can't offer up any good books at the moment, because I feel like I've only heard about the Fifty Shades of Grey books for weeks. It's like nothing else exists. :) I still haven't read them. However, the other two books you mention really do sound good, and I love all the trips coming up with the girls. Adorable napkins by the way!! Have fun!

MCW said...

Thumbs down to Grey as well. I asked my friend how it ends so I'm in the know.

You have the read Unbroken. The book I just finished. Not kidding it is amazing. Read it. Seriously.

Leigh Powell Hines said...

Hi

Have a great time on your trip. Love those napkins.

Kate said...

I am reading The Bloggess Jenny Lawson's book Let's Pretend This Never Happened. It is funny and completely over the top, much like her blog. If you like stream of conciousness and sick jokes, it is great.

I am also reading the Steve Jobs biography. I am thoroughly enjoying it.

I love Jennifer Weiner, too. I have several of her books waiting on my shelf. My favorite of hers is Little Earthquakes. I have enjoyed all of her books, though. Her characters have depth and she doesn't follow a specific formula, like a lot of serial authors tend to do.

Kate said...

I am not sure if this is a duplicate. I got an error, so if this is a repeat, I apologize.

I am currently reading The Bloggess Jenny Lawson's book Let's Pretend This Never Happened. It is a crazy stream of conciousness book that is right in line with her blog. Very funny and twisted.

I am also reading and enjoying the Steve Jobs biography. It is very interesting to learn about a man who was so guarded.

I also enjoy Jennifer Weiner. I have several of her books waiting to be read. I love Little Earthquakes best, but I mostly enjoy that there is not a predictable formula to her books that other serial authors tend to follow.

I don't plan to read the Grey series, but may just have to if I run out of other things.

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