Tag: Ireland

40 Things… (2)

[St. Stephen's Green Park, Dublin. County Dubl...
Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr

Following Boof at Book Whisperer, I’m participating in her 40 day book challenge leading up to her birthday.  Her second question is:

2) A book I wish I could live in

Well, bouncing off yesterday’s post of my favorite book of 2011, I’m going to say anything by Maeve Binchy.  Those quaint little Irish villages are so seductive (as are some of the villagers!).  I would love to live in Ireland for a bit…

And reviewing my list from my 40 things… My #2 was

2) Read “Persuasion” by Jane Austen
and I did!  In August of 07 (reflecting my belief that Austen is best read in the summer!).  Again, no great shakes, but a purposeful wish to do important things.

Off to read!

Books: Is Anybody Out There?

Cover of "Anybody Out There?: A Novel"
Cover of Anybody Out There?: A Novel

“Anybody Out There? (Walsh Family #4)” by Marian Keyes

Eh. I listened to this book and think it would have been better as a quick read. The format is told with a lot of email messages, so consequently, there is a lot of: “to: so-and-so@such-and-such.ie.net from:someoneelse@somewhereelse.com re: another topic”. Would have been faster to skim those bits and the flow would have been better. Also, I noticed that this is book #4 in a series about this family. I think it works as a stand-alone (I didn’t notice the series title til 3/4 through the book) but probably you get more emotional investment if you know the rest of the family as well.

The book’s primary character is Anna, who is Irish but lives in NYC.  “Something” happens, you know it does, but you don’t find out what “it” is until about halfway through the book (or so).  And I could have guessed, but it was kinda weird.  And then the search for answers, closure…

I like Marian Keyes all right but this is not a great audiobook.