The Sunday Salon- 01-24-10: Book reviews

Hello bloggers and blogees! Happy Sunday. We've had a couple of spring-like days here in Portland this week, but it looks as though the rain is returning. The weather forecast says High: 44°; Low: 44°. We don't get a lot of variety here in the winter.

A couple of months ago I posted about redecorating my blog and attempting to do more book reviews. I've been 100% successful since the first of the year re: the book reviews! Even though I enjoy writing, for some reason I haven't felt very confident about my reviews. Or maybe it's some PTSD around all those book essays that I had to write in college. I'm not even very big on reading book reviews, at least before I read the book. I just don't want to know that much about it.

Then at some point I realized that by writing reviews I might actually remember some things about the books I've read! I don't seem to retain many details about books anymore, except that I loved it or hated it. So when someone with a mind like a steel trap comments on a book I read last month (or last week): "Oh, didn't you just love it when the priest and the rabbi walked into the bar...." and I mumble "Oh, uh-huh," because my mind is more like a steel sieve (except I can remember lyrics from really BAD 60s songs). Maybe I'll even start taking notes when I read. I have put the book darts to good use to mark some of my favorite passages.

So far in 2010 I've had some great reading - all six of the books I've read have earned at least 4 of 5 stars. Here's the list to date:

• The Bone People, 4 stars (Review)
• The Mammoth Cheese, 4 stars (Review)
• Let the Great World Spin, 4 stars (Review)
• Peace Like a River, 4.5 stars (Review)
• The Dew Breaker, 4 stars (Review)
• Under the Greenwood Tree, 4 stars (Review)

I'm just starting The Hearts of Horses by Molly Gloss, a Portland writer. I loved the other two books of hers I read and this one looks very promising. I hope it's good, since I recommended it to my book group!

I hope you have a great week and get to read great books.