Another month has come and gone and I know I'm a little late with this post. However, I'm just returning from my planned blogging break. And it has been a good break. Lots of books read and listened to. And lots of reviews to come. Here's what I read and remember the best from July of 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010. I think that July seems to be my month for reading YA fantasy, at least in the last years. See what you think. My favorites from July of...
July 1995 - The Rainmaker by John Grisham - I used to read every single book that John Grisham wrote. That began when I read The Firm and then read his first book, A Time To Kill. I loved both of them. After that point, I raced to get every new book. And then, somehow, I kind of lost my impulse to run - for Grisham at least. Anyway, The Rainmaker is about a brand new lawyer who goes up against some very big companies. His promised job after law school never happens, because of a merger, and he fights 'big' insurance and a 'big' law firm. And he has right on his side, of course.
July 2000 - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling - Yes, this is probably my very favorite Harry Potter book. Now don't get me wrong, I love them all. But this one....it's the pivotal book, in my opinion. And it's the central book of the 7. This is the first really long Potter book. The first that I purchased from a US publisher. Little secret - I bought the first 3 books from 'across the pond'. It's the one that sees Harry start that journey into adulthood, in a very real way. I loved it and still do. The Tri-wizard Tournament, the students from other wizarding schools, the dragons, Cedric Diggory, Mad Eye Moody, Harry's first dance, so many things. I think I bought it the day it came out, and the time is coming closer for another re-read of the Potter books.
July 2005 - Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling - Do you see a theme here? This Harry Potter book was a very hard one to read. There were deaths of favorite characters and Harry is well on his path to adulthood by this time. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is the 6th book in the series and we are in the midst of dark, dark times. I remember buying this book on publication day and telling my husband that I would not be doing anything that weekend until I finished it. It was that kind of book. And, I also remember being so, so sad that I would have to wait quite some time for the next and last book. Sigh. Those were the days. Ha!
July 2010 - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - I can remember reading this book on a vacation we took that summer. I was sitting out on a cool balcony in Ruidoso, New Mexico and getting to know Katniss and company. I had been urged to read The Hunger Games and also Catching Fire before Mockingjay was published later that summer. I managed to do that and this was the last book I read in July of 2010, finishing it on the 31st. I recall trying to explain the whole concept of the games to my husband on that trip. While I won't say that I love this trilogy as much as the Harry Potter books, it's a really, really good one.
Please tell me you've read some of these books! If you haven't read any of them, well, what are you waiting for? Truly, what?
Great picks. And ah, nothing brings nostalgia like the Harry Potter series. Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows are probably my favorite, but then again Prisoner of Azkaban made me fall in love with Ron/Hermione. So impossible to choose!
ReplyDeleteIt really is impossible to choose. I love them all, but if I absolutely had to - Goblet of Fire and Deathly Hallows.
DeleteGreat nostalgic picks! Yep, have read and enjoyed many Grisham books and then...kind of got tired of them. About a year ago, however, I read his Sycamore Row and enjoyed it. Loved Harry Potter, but although I enjoyed The Hunger Games, I never finished the series.
ReplyDeleteI ought to try Sycamore Row. One day. :-)
DeleteWelcome back!!!!
ReplyDeleteGlad you got lots of reading done. Here, I'm still plugging away at my pile from the library. :-)
A weird thing that's happening is, I am picking (library) books and finding I have already read them!!!!!! If this keeps up, I'm going to have to only get brand new books out. -grin-
Tessa
Well, here's a little secret. My book log has helped in that regard too. Isn't it funny how we can get started on one and then think - didn't I read this? And then sometimes, I'm remembering a TV episode or another book that just seems similar.
DeleteP.S. Brand new books at the library are the best. Cleanest - as in not so icky. Says the quasi-germphobe. LOL
I've had exactly the same experience with Grisham - followed him avidly for years then kind of forgot about him for a while. I've read his last two or three though and find him just as enjoyable as in the arly days on the whole, but variable.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I also used to unplug the phone for the weekend each time a new HP came out... :)
Yes, I'm hearing that some of Grisham's recent books are well done. I probably need to try them, but honestly, there are so many books. It's hard to go back to an author after you've kind of left them for a while.
DeleteI'm at 50% on this. I read The Hunger Games and Goblet of Fire. I do think I owned The Rainmaker but I had already burned out on Grisham and ended up not getting around to reading it. Goblet of Fire was the last HP book I read. I think partly because it was such a pivotal book. In this book it got so much darker that I decided it wasn't for me. I do plan on going back and reading the rest at some point though.
ReplyDeleteKatherine, I agree that Goblet of Fire is where the HP series gets darker. But...you must finish it. Have you seen the movies??
DeleteI haven't read any of them, although several of them are on my TBR list. Thanks for the look back.
ReplyDeleteWe all have that endless TBR list don't we? :-)
DeleteThe only one I've read is The Rainmaker. I loved so many of his novels back then, including the other two you mentioned, but then just got out of the habit of reading him.
ReplyDeleteI read the first Harry Potter book aloud to my daughters, but then told them they were on their own for the rest of the series. And I never got into The Hunger Games either, despite their encouragement.
It's nice to see you back, Kay!
Thanks, JoAnn! Glad to be back, but it was good to take a step away for a bit.
DeleteGreat picks! I've read all the books you mentioned except THE RAINMAKER. I don't read much Grisham anymore, but I used to, same as you.
ReplyDeleteYes, Susan, I think many of us were big Grisham fans a few years ago. And some have kept up with the new ones. I've discovered that I just can't read them all, right?
DeleteWelcome back, Kay. It was nice for me to reminisce with you about books that I have also read and enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy these posts and the look back. And thanks for the welcome back!
DeleteNice to see you back! I've read all of the Potter books and am currently rereading the first book with my grandson... his first read of the book. He's loving it, as am I. I always forget how funny they are.
ReplyDeleteHow fun, Cath! They are very funny, aren't they? Very witty.
DeleteLove some Harry Potter! I still haven't read The Hunger Games....can you believe that? I haven't watched the movies either...I don't know what I am waiting for at this point. I hope you had a great break!
ReplyDeleteI did have a good break. Got some reading done and worked on some other things that I needed to. Plus I'm ahead on reviews/posts. That's a nice thing. :-)
DeleteI've read all of these, and have a great summer memory of mainlining the first five Harry Potter books in 2003. I am a fan of the Hunger Games trilogy as well and may try to re-read those before the last film is released. I have not read a lot of Grisham, but the Rainmaker is one that I did read because I saw a trailer for the adaptation with Matt Damon and Claire Danes in it, and somehow that made me want to read the book.
ReplyDeleteGreat minds think alike, right? That's a good idea to re-read all the Katniss story before November. I might think about that too.
DeleteYep read all the Harry Potter books and 2 Hunger Games. Loved all the HP books. I loved the first Hunger Games and the 2nd book less. Did not read the 3rd or see the movie. Believe it or not, I have not read any John Grisham...
ReplyDeleteWow, Gayle - can't believe you've never read any Grisham. I could recommend The Firm and The Pelican Brief and A Time To Kill. Because...you lack book suggestions, right? LOL
DeleteI'm glad you're back! I haven't read the Harry Potter or Hunger Games series -- yet. I figure at some point my kids will take an interest, then I'll jump in too.
ReplyDeleteProbably so, Diana. If you decide to read them, I hope you enjoy them. :-)
DeleteI am the same with Grisham. I feel like the first books he published were ones that he spent years perfecting...they are just that much better than the other ones he is churning out at a rapid speed.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Tina. Sadly, that's how I feel about a number of authors. I would read everything eagerly for a while and then as they got more popular, I'd stop. I think most authors have trouble coming up with a book a year and maintaining that pace.
DeleteHappy you are back from your break!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deb!
DeleteWelcome back from your break, Kay! Glad to hear you got lots of reading done. It's been a long time since I read any John Grisham. I loved The Hunger Games and Catching Fire but still haven't gotten around to Mockingjay. I'm afraid I'll probably end up seeing the movies first!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Iliana! I read Mockingjay, but I will admit that it wasn't my favorite of the three books.
DeleteI did read all of them except The Half-Blood Prince (only read the first two HP books, though my son has all of them on the shelf here). I also have most of the Grisham books on our shelf, also my son's collection. I enjoyed the Hunger Games trilogy and the first two movies. Yes, it's perceived violence about kids killing kids but I can accept fantasy as not real violence, whereas some thrillers get to me because of the realistic graphic violence.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I couldn't tell you what I read back in past years because I didn't think to keep a book journal, sigh...
I am grateful that I kept the book journal - and it's just a list really. Not a review of the book or notes or anything. And me, I wish I had started keeping it before 1993. I once knew a lady who had kept one since she was 8 years old. Sigh.
DeleteWelcome back! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on all the books you've read during your blogging break. Great picks you've here! I still remember the thrill of waiting for those Harry Potter books. And the movies... loved them all!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Melody! Well, one good thing is that I have a lot of reviews scheduled. I loved the movies too.
DeleteThe Tri-Wizard Tournament was my favorite too :) I'm loving the Hunger Games movies but didn't read the books (and probably won't because I love the movies so much!)
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed the Hunger Games movies too. Looking forward to the last one in November.
DeleteI haven't read any of these books, and the Grisham is the only one I might ever read. Haha. So not a fantasy girl. :<)
ReplyDeleteYes, I know that. If you didn't read Harry Potter back in the day when we were all first reading about him, you're probably not going to now. And I'd skip the Grisham as well.
DeleteI love the Harry Potter books and enjoyed the Hunger Games books. Like you, I favor Harry more. :-) of Grisham's books, I've only read two of his. The Brethren and A Time to Kill. I always wanted to read Pelican Brief, but never managed to get to it.
ReplyDeleteOh, I loved The Pelican Brief! At the time I read it, which was soon after it was published, it seemed so interesting and such a complicated story with secrets. I think I've read a lot more books using such plot devices since that time, but at that time, it was a new-ish thing for me.
DeleteI used to gobble up Grisham books, too, but after a while they all seemed so much alike. Also, I think I discovered Stephen King about that time.
ReplyDeleteYes, that was my experience too. Now Stephen King - I found him when I was in college. :-)
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