kristen g.'s Comments

Book Review: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Paul M.

Jan 19, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 6

kristen g. Feb 27, 2008, 7:19pm EST

I am just finishing this novel and would love to link to your review on my blog (www.bookclubclassics.com) next Wednesday. I, too, am enjoying it -- I thought it might be too self-consciously clever, but somehow Eggers pulls it off. I do think a little editing in the middle (the Might magazine part) would have been effective (I missed Topher!), but otherwise a nice surprise. I'm not sure it will transcend the time in which it was written, though -- but I love knowing all of the references as his contemporary!

50 Book Blog: Reviews 3 & 4 by Chris Steib

Feb 10, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 11

kristen g. Feb 11, 2008, 7:27pm EST

My family read Larson for our New Year's Eve book club and most of us really liked it (I think only one cousin found it boring...I enjoyed it). Thanks to Wurdzgurl for the heads up on Engfer's upcoming novel -- I loved Peace Like a River... I'm doing pretty well on my 50 books goal, but I create kits for book clubs for a living, so I basically get paid to read!

A Photo by kristen g.

Jan 7, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 4

kristen g. Feb 3, 2008, 5:37pm EST

Juno passes along a big "thank you" for the compliments...

50 Book Blog: Reviews 1 & 2 by Chris Steib

Jan 13, 2008 | rating: 9.8 | comments: 17

kristen g. Jan 14, 2008, 4:32pm EST

Love your choices so far! I, too, recently read Blindside and enjoyed it so much I passed it on to my husband, father, and friend. I'm now just finishing Moneyball -- also very good, especially if you like baseball as a sport (beyond loyalty to a particular team). I remember enjoying Waiting, too, but it's been a few years... I'm working on a post about your challenge for Wednesday... Check it out -- http://bookclubclassics.com

New Group: Read 50 Books In One Year by Rick S.

Jan 7, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 16

kristen g. Jan 7, 2008, 10:32pm EST

O.k., I'm in! So far I've read The Razor's Edge by Maugham, Anna Quindlen's new dog book, and In the Drink by Kate Christensen... I plan to count books I read for my book club web site, too (http://bookclubclassics.com) so To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf is up next...

Quick question for readers, authors, writers: what books have your reread and how has your take on the book changed - or not? by Jo C.

Jan 6, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 34

kristen g. Jan 6, 2008, 6:23pm EST

The Classics! I think a work has to be sufficiently complex or layered to support multiple readings. I've had to reread a lot of classics for my web site: http://bookclubclassics.com and each one revealed even more depth and meaning the second or third time around. I could see how non-fiction could be reread since the focus tends to be information...

books that weren't as good as everyone said they were by mona b.

Jan 3, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 6

kristen g. Jan 4, 2008, 4:03pm EST

Just a thought -- I really enjoyed The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath, and Catcher in the Rye the second time around, when I was ten years older...? Sometimes life experience -- or more time to make mistakes! -- can change the way I approach a classic. But I'm biased -- check out my web site: http://bookclubclassics.com and click on either the Gatsy or Grapes wrath to see my reasons for reading them (and reasons for struggling with them). Great conversation!

Best Books of 2007 by Nathan R.

Jan 2, 2008 | rating: 10 | comments: 9

kristen g. Jan 3, 2008, 9:25pm EST

I'll add Divisidero by Michael Ondaatje and Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson...

Hard Cover Book or Soft Cover Book Survey by ZlS Publishing

Dec 9, 2007 | rating: 10 | comments: 23

kristen g. Dec 10, 2007, 6:31pm EST

I agree w/ Bill F. -- medium-sized paperbacks are my favorite... seem to hold up better than the smaller paperbacks!

Books That Will Change Your Life by Andi Buchanan & Miriam Peskowitz

Nov 26, 2007 | rating: 10 | comments: 24

kristen g. Nov 26, 2007, 7:13pm EST

Great list! How about Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli? Too recent? I have a similar, evolving list for adults on my blog www.bookclubclassics.com and would love feedback...

Book Review: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult by gautami tripathy

Nov 17, 2007 | rating: 8.9 | comments: 7

kristen g. Nov 18, 2007, 1:41pm EST

I just posted a review of Nineteen Minutes on my own blog -- www.bookclubclassics.com. I also thoroughly enjoyed the novel and I am not always a fan of Picoult -- I think she struggles with endings. But the ending to Nineteen Minutes was a slam dunk! Compelling, thought-provoking, and complex -- just like the subject matter. Thanks for a great review!

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kristen g.
Minneapolis, MN

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