Missing reviews

I want to tidy things up before the end of the year, so here are some quick thoughts on the last few books I read... and never reviewed.

Misconceptions: Truth, Lies and the Unexpected on the Journey to Motherhood by Naomi Woolf

I was looking for something about the misconceptions about pregnancy and early motherhood, since I was finding pregnancy so different from what I expected. This book is more about the American health industry though so, although interesting, didn't do that much for me. (***)

The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar

This is ine of those books that I thank the blogosphere for - if I hadn't needed a U author for the A-Z challenge I would have never picked this up in the used bookstore and would have really missed out on a gem. It's a beautifully written heartbreaking story of the realities on life in India - many of you enjoy world literature, seriously, if you haven't read this, put it on your list for 2010. (*****)

Fables volume 1 - Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham

Between Nymeth and Kailana's raving, I couldn't not read this at some point. Charming and original, can't wait to continue the series. Have you watched Who Framed Roger Rabbit, by the way? :-) (*****)

A Break With Charity by Ann Rinaldi

A non-fiction book for teens, I picked this up when we were in Boston earlier this year. It's a story of the Salem witch trials - it had the same characters as The Crucible so I looked things up and it turns out that those characters actually existed! Fascinating. This book isn't exactly well-known and I recommend it for its simplicity and historical interest. (*****)

Shadows in Bronze by Lindsey Davis

The second in the mystery series set in ancient Rome. I like the idea of this series but to be honest I thought that the first book was only mediocre and I couldn't even finish this one... I'm told that it starts getting really good by about book 4. Apparently the historical aspect of ancient Rome is really well-researched and that's very attractive to me so I think I'll persevere... (**)

A belated Thank You to my Secret Santa!

Thank you, thank you, thank you Secret Santa (aka Melody) for all the great gifts! I've been out of circulation for a while and apologise for not posting this sooner, but better late than never, eh? Although I'm not totally ready to come back to blogging full-time, I love the book bloggers' holiday gift exchange and didn't want it to suddenly be February with me still not posting this, so here we are.

Thanks Melody, I love all the gifts you sent and can't wait to read the two books: Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi (I loved Persepolis and have really gotten into graphic novels so am immensely looking forward to this one) and Dark Visions by L.J. Smith, a new vampire-type book which Melody says she hasn't read yet either - it sounds fantastic and I can't wait to sink my teeth into it. Ha ha. :-)

Melody also sent me a cute keychain that says "Friendship is not won by the giving of things, but by the giving of the heart". So cute and SO true!

I also got a beautiful Christmas card with an actual personal message - I don't get that many of those anymore and it was much appreciated!

Hope Melody and everyone else had a wonderful holiday season! I did and am now trying to cope with the end of my pregnancy and the waiting for baby to arrive - I've had all sorts of painful ailments throughout and am SO ready for him to come out so cross your fingers that he'll be early! :-)