Monday, August 23, 2010

Reading ruminations ~ it's Monday


It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme from Sheila of Book Journey.  It's all about sharing what we're reading.  Sheila offers a weekly prize, so go to her blog (after you read this post, of course) and join the fun.

Sheila's the reason I'm reading this first book.  When she wrote about Seven Year Switch by Claire Cook (2010), I knew I wanted to read it and put it on hold at my library.  Yes, the book looked interesting, but what really got me was Sheila's imitation of the book's cover:
Who could resist?  Maybe we should vote for "best cover" here! I kinda like Sheila's version because she is holding a copy of the book and put hearts around it.  She is not, however, at the beach -- and a major theme of the book is traveling with girlfriends to exotic places.  If you missed it, read yesterday's short teaser about one of the characters in the book.

Two more books found their way to my house this week:

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay (2007) is from my friend Donna, who handed me the book this week, saying I'll like it.  (We exchange books regularly.)  I know nothing about it beyond what's in the publisher's synopsis and what's in this video.
Paris, July 1942: Sarah, a ten year-old girl, is brutally arrested with her family by the French police in the Vel’ d’Hiv’ roundup, but not before she locks her younger brother in a cupboard in the family's apartment, thinking that she will be back within a few hours.

Paris, May 2002: On Vel’ d’Hiv’s 60th anniversary, journalist Julia Jarmond is asked to write an article about this black day in France's past. Through her contemporary investigation, she stumbles onto a trail of long-hidden family secrets that connect her to Sarah. Julia finds herself compelled to retrace the girl's ordeal, from that terrible term in the Vel d'Hiv', to the camps, and beyond. As she probes into Sarah's past, she begins to question her own place in France, and to reevaluate her marriage and her life.

Tatiana de Rosnay offers us a brilliantly subtle, compelling portrait of France under occupation and reveals the taboos and silence that surround this painful episode.
The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove by Susan Gregg Gilmore was published this week (2010).  I told you already that I attended a book signing by the author.  Donna has already finished reading this one and says it's good.  I reviewed Gilmore's first novel last year:  Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen.

Have you read any of these books?
What are you reading these days?
(Thank you for reading to the end of this post. Now you have my permission to go to Sheila's blog.)

8 comments:

Alaine said...

I missed that post of Sheila's but I'm going to read it now and yes it was a really cool pic. Have a great week!

Helen's Book Blog said...

A good 3 books Bonnie! Sarah's Key looks especially intriguing; I already want to know what happens to her brother

Unknown said...

I am a little obsessed with books set during WWII, but Sarah's Key is one of my all-time favorites. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Happy Reading!

(I too loved Sheila's "cover shoot")

Bonnie Jacobs said...

Claire Cook commented on Facebook earlier today: "Thanks for your posts and for reading Seven Year Switch, Bonnie! Sheila did such a great job on her cover imitation, didn't she?!?"

Unknown said...

Sarah's Key looks fantastic. Am planning on looking it up. Check out my Monday here

http://kyliesreads.blogspot.com/2010/08/its-monday-what-are-you-reading_23.html

Unknown said...

Ooh, those look good, Bonnie - particularly like the look of Seven Year Switch!

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

GAH! Just got home from the Leadership retreat seen your comment and had to hurry on over with coffee cup in hand. LOVE your post and laughing about the picture :D

Sarah's Key is pretty good - hope you enjoy it and your week Bonnie :D

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

Oh..... and I really wish I could have been on the beach for that picture :D