Finding Colin Firth

So I picked this up completely based on the title. Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy is one of my favorite casting jobs ever. It was the first role I remember seeing him in, and it...was...awesome. My love for Colin Firth aside, his inclusion in the book Finding Colin Firth by Mia March at all seemed superfluous. Including an actor in her books seem to be her "hook;" another title by her, which I haven't read, is The Meryl Streep Movie Club.

Finding Colin Firth is the story of 3 women at crossroads in their lives. Bea, a recent college-grad has just found out she's adopted. Veronica, who gave a baby up more than 20 years ago, is searching for closure and hope. Gemma, a workaholic who has lost her job has just found out she's pregnant. Their stories come together in Boothbay Harbor, ME, where a Colin Firth movie is being filmed. How they navigate all the changes and where it leads them is at the heart of the story. I found most of the characters one-dimensional. The most compelling story was Veronica's; I would have preferred more of her story than Gemma's. I would put this in the "chick lit" category, but it isn't one of my favorite light reads.

The Astronaut Wives Club

I "sort of" read The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel. Having heard the author on NPR and a few of the women on CBS Sunday Morning, I thought this would be a compelling book to read. I'm often interested in reading the woman's story, since often the history we read/learn/hear about is really HIS story. What could have been a great narrative non-fiction was, at times, rather bland. I wish the author would have instilled a greater sense of urgency and tension. It seemed like opportunities for great storytelling was wasted. While I admire the women and their survival under incredibly difficult circumstances, I feel like the story could have been told better.

Three Times Lucky

Just finished reading Three Times Lucky by Shelia Turnage, and liked it a lot. Set in a small town in North Carolina, this is the story of Mo (short for Moses), a girl who washed up on shore during a hurricane and was found by the enigmatic Colonel, proprietor of the local cafe. While looking and writing to her "upstream mother," Mo becomes embroiled in murder, kidnapping, and another hurricane. Luckily for Mo she really is three times lucky.

The main character's spunk, loyalty, ingenuity, and intelligence reminded me of Sammy Keyes, the main character in the Sammy Keyes... mysteries written by Wendelin Van Draanen. Also from a non-traditional home and dealing with quirky best friends (Dale Earnhardt Johnson III) and enemies (Anna Celeste, aka "Attila"), Mo keeps her wits and helps solve the crime.

Continuing on...

I've decided to try and continue using this blog as a way to keep track of books I've read. I'm not sure what form the entries will take -- simple lists with a few appeal factors, book reviews. In all likelihood it will be a combination; it will depend on how strongly I fell about the book.

We'll see how long this lasts...