Thursday, July 24, 2014

Thoughtless Thursday: Book Moods

Do you choose different styles of books to read, depending on your mood? Or do you prefer a certain type of book consistently?

I like a lot of different kinds of books, but a book that sounds good one day may not be as appealing another day. In fact, sometimes I have two books going at once, and alternate them depending on how much time is available for reading and what I'm feeling like. Does that sound familiar?  One thing is for sure though. If I'm reading a really absorbing book, one that keeps me guessing what will happen next, all of my usual activities go on hold - sometimes I literally can't put a book down!

Here are four very different books that I've read this past year. Three of them were in the "can't stop reading" category, while one was savored a chapter at a time. 

1. Rescue Me, Maybe by Jackie Bouchard.
"What if your husband and your dog both died of cancer at the same time, and you were sadder about the dog?" Jackie Bouchard does a masterful job of illuminating the complex inner life of her unique female protagonist. The heartbreaking beginning of the book sets the stage for a journey of redemption, forgiveness, and finally, healing, with lots of laughs and surprises along the way.  In Rescue Me, Maybe the dog dies at the beginning - where the story usually ends - and the owner's journey through rebooting her life forms the core of this wonderfully entertaining book. Fellow introverts, you will appreciate the compassionate portrayal of the main character's struggles to forge new relationships despite her deep-seated inclination to seek isolation - a conflict that leads to some very funny situations.

Author Jackie Bouchard with her latest book.

2. Colter: The True Story of the Best Dog I Ever Had by Rick Bass. 
Award-winning author Rick Bass is well known for knife-sharp prose. He's a nature writer, but here he is telling a love story - from the prism of the love he has for Colter shines out love of the land and the outdoors.  Colter is a bird dog who brings his own style, wit, and personality to their partnership. Thanks to Bass's skill, you fall almost as hard for Colter as Bass did. This is a book  to read slowly and appreciate the evocative, crystal-clear writing.



3. War of the Whales: A True Story by Joshua Horwitz. Sometimes nonfiction can be as riveting as good fiction. Horwitz succeeds in telling a very complicated tale in an easily understood way. This is the story of the Natural Resources Defense Council's legal battle to stop the Navy from using low-frequency (later mid-frequency) sonar when scientists began seeing mass strandings of whales in areas where the sonar was used. In a fashion reminiscent of The Hot Zone (the nonfiction story of the discovery of Ebola), Horwitz tells the story in small chunks as seen from the viewpoint of two main characters, cetacean scientist Ken Balcomb and NRDC lawyer Joel Reynolds. He handily explains the arcane details of whale physiology, submarine surveillance, and  environmental law so they are comprehensible for readers. Though educational for sure, this book is not a textbook. It is the suspenseful story of the difficulty of protecting whale populations without compromising the Navy's need to protect American citizens and sailors during a  crisis of national security. 



4. The Rosie Project by Graeme C. Simsion.
I'll wind this up with a book that is pure fun. What happens when a nice guy on the autism spectrum decides apply his unique talents to finding - and winning - the perfect wife? This endearing little book completely won me over.  Many lessons about life and his own heart will have to be learned before there can be a happy ending for the goofy, clueless, yet smarty-pants hero of The Rosie Project








10 comments:

  1. I loved the Rosie project! I work with individuals on the autism spectrum, so much of it hit home in a different way. Happy reading!

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  2. I usually stick with the same genres, but I have stepped out of my favorite zones a few times. Those all sound like great reads.

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  4. I mostly stick with the same sort of books, however, I do like to change it up every once and a while though.
    Thanks for linking up with us!
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

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  5. Ooo very interesting choices. Thanks for sharing on Thoughtless Thursday. I should consider picking up one of those books for summer reading.

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  6. Ooo very interesting choices. Thanks for sharing on Thoughtless Thursday. I should consider picking up one of those books for summer reading.

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  7. Great selection. We have had so little time to read but when we do we stick to the same genre. We did read Rescue Me by Jackie and it was a great read. Have a fabulous Friday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  8. I have mood reading. I also have preferred genres. When I venture into something outside those interests I have to be in the mood or it is work to get through it.

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  9. I loved The Rosie Project, and I will definitely look into the others as well! I am all over the map in terms of genres - I will read just about anything. When I was younger and had a bit more time to read, I often had 3 or 4 books going at once! :) Thanks for sharing these reads!

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  10. I am definitely adding some of these to my reading list! But when it comes to books about animals, I have to scan to the end to see if the animal dies. If it does, I cannot read the book! Not sure how it will go if the dog's death is actually in the beginning of the story. Maybe I could just skip that part and start reading on Chapter 2?

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