Boy have I been absent from this blog! I guess I’ve just been busy with life. But, I guess that’s good, right? That means I’ve actually got a life. And lots of homework.
For awhile now, I’ve been singing my praises about Jodi Picoult. Most of the books I’ve read are Jodi Picoult, lately. But to be TOTALLY honest, I’m a bit “over her.” The Pact, My Sister’s Keeper, and Nineteen Minutes were incredible books. But…the past few books I’ve read just haven’t made me feel inspired to read and find out more about the characters. They tend to be slow, building the story and the last 50 pages tend to be when it gets exciting. And her books are hundreds of pages long.
So, I read Sing You Home. And here’s the synopsis before I review it:
Every life has a soundtrack. All you have to do is listen.
Music has set the tone for most of Zoe Baxter’s life. There’s the melody that reminds her of the summer she spent rubbing baby oil on her stomach in pursuit of the perfect tan. A dance beat that makes her think of using a fake ID to slip into a nightclub. A dirge that marked the years she spent trying to get pregnant.
For better or for worse, music is the language of memory. It is also the language of love.
In the aftermath of a series of personal tragedies, Zoe throws herself into her career as a music therapist. When an unexpected friendship slowly blossoms into love, she makes plans for a new life, but to her shock and inevitable rage, some people—even those she loves and trusts most—don’t want that to happen.
Sing You Home is about identity, love, marriage, and parenthood. It’s about people wanting to do the right thing for the greater good, even as they work to fulfill their own personal desires and dreams. And it’s about what happens when the outside world brutally calls into question the very thing closest to our hearts: family.
I read more than half of it. But, I couldn’t bring myself to finish it. I was just so uninspired. So, I can’t tell you what I felt like after finishing the book because I didn’t finish it. Gay rights was a huge part of the story line. Gays vs. religion/the church, and that topic didn’t capture my interest. I’m not saying the topic isn’t important, but the way it was laid out, I didn’t want to continue reading—so I didn’t.
I also started reading House Rules. And here’s the description:
When your son can’t look you in the eye . . . does that mean he’s guilty?
Jacob Hunt is a teen with Asperger’s syndrome. He’s hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, though he is brilliant in many ways. But he has a special focus on one subject—forensic analysis. A police scanner in his room clues him in to crime scenes, and he’s always showing up and telling the cops what to do. And he’s usually right.
But when Jacob’s small hometown is rocked by a terrible murder, law enforcement comes to him. Jacob’s behaviors are hallmark Asperger’s, but they look a lot like guilt to the local police. Suddenly the Hunt family, who only want to fit in, are directly in the spotlight. For Jacob’s mother, Emma, it’s a brutal reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family. For his brother, Theo, it’s another indication why nothing is normal because of Jacob.
And over this small family, the soul-searing question looms: Did Jacob commit murder?
I really liked the concept of the book. It sounded very interesting. But, again, it couldn’t keep me reading. I felt silo uninspired, so I shelved. Maybe I’ll pick it back up again…?
In much happier news, I’m rereading one of my favorite series of all time: The Summer Series by Jenny Han. Last year, around this time, I started reading the three-book series, starting with The Sumner I Turned Pretty. Here are the links for my two reviews if the series: here’s the first one and here’s the second one
I’ll also put in the description for the first and my favorite book:
Belly’s never been the kind of girl that things happen to. Year after year, she’s spent her summers at the beach house with Conrad and Jeremiah. The boys never noticed Belly noticing them. And every summer she hoped it would be different. This time, it was. But the summer Belly turned pretty was the summer that changed everything. For better, and for worse.
This description does not do the book or the series justice. Yes, this is definitely chick-lit. Yes, there is romance and boys, but there’s so much more dimension to the books. Oh and yes the girl’s name is Belly, short for Isabel. I laughed, I cried, and I couldn’t put the books down, even the sexing time around.
I intend to read a lot more you g adult romance stories in the near future. I’m such a sucker for a food love story. And I definitely want to read the new Sarah Ockler book, and I can’t remember the title. And I’m seeing the Hunger Games movie this weekend!
kooblover 