February 01, 2012

I love to read.

This past month, I had a lot of free time on my hands. With a 30 hour drive, no work, and a golfing husband it all added up to lots of 'Kari Time'.

Thankfully, I love to read.

I read 6 books in January and a few of them where so wonderful I thought I would write up a little review of each and share just how awesome they were. I'm not a book critic and know nothing at all about what makes 'good literature' - instead how much I like a book depends on how it makes me feel. 

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The first book I read was Little Bee by Chris Cleave. This book was just so good. It is the story of a Nigerian refugee girl, who is in England illegally, and an English woman who's lives are intertwined. It opened my eyes to a world I knew existed but didn't think about much because it didn't effect me. It struck me deep in my soul. The story wraps itself around your heart and is almost impossible to put down.

My favourite line: "We must see all scars as beauty. Okay? This will be our secret. Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived."


Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford was a wonderful, touching, emotional story about a man being reminded of his past and the girl that went along with it. Set in Seattle during the Second World War this novel revolved around a very different side of the war that most probably try to forget - the Japanese internment. I was just captivated by the whole story.

My favourite line: "He'd learned long ago: perfection isn't what families are all about." & "He'd do what he always did, find the sweet among the bitter."


I finally get what all they hype is about - Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen was such a captivating, romantic love story. I was drawn in from the very beginning and ended up finishing it one night at 2 am because I just could not put it down. My favourite thing about this book though was that it was raw and real- not tied up with a pretty little bow - it was unexpected and very different.

My favourite lines: "The more distressing the memory, the more persistent it's presence." & "When two people are meant to be together, they will be together. It's fate." 


P.S. The Notebook? Just as good as the movie :) Now only if I could get Scott to watch it! 

3 comments:

Teaka said...

I seriously haven't read a non-fiction in years! Which is sad because I always hear about these great books I should be reading but I never get the time and when I do I feel like I should be reading something more real or historical. It's pathetic really of me as I've been wanting to read Water for Elephants for a few weeks now.

Mary Marantz said...

Oooh I've been wanting to read Little Bee! This is awesome!

M:)

The Smith's said...

i liked the notebook better in book form, than in movie form!