Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Turn The Page ... Tuesday



Have you ever read a book that made your chest just ache when you were finished? You felt like it just couldn't be done ... there was more, so much more that needed to be said, written, and finished. The package wasn't complete. I need ribbon, bows, happy endings ...


I know, that is a silly question isn't it. Of coarse you've read a book like that before. The characters stay with you. When you are not reading the book (like, let's say you are actually cleaning your house instead), you cannot get the people (who have now become your friends or enemies) out of your head. You wake up wondering what will happen next and try to sneak a few pages here and there throughout the whole day until you are actually able to dig back in. The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve is one of those books. You will not be disappointed. You will not be able to put it down. Never in a million years would I have guessed all the twists and turns. I was hungering for more. I wanted Kathryn and her daughter to be OK. I wanted a happy ending. I will not spoil it for you, no worries there, but I will say that I could have kept on reading and reading and reading ... I guess that's why Anita Shreve is such a gifted writer - she had me hooked from the beginning right to the very end.


From the very start of the book you know that Kathyrn's husband (the pilot) died in a plane crash. What evolves from the wreckage (both of the plane and their lives) is unimaginable. You will not be able to read fast enough.


This is actually the fourth book I've read by Anita Shreve - she has a talent for helping you find your way through the story. Her descriptions are so clear but not overly done that you could close your eyes and see what they are seeing; feel what they are feeling.

I'm issuing a little challenge for your July reading ... read a classic. How about one you "read" in high school (you know you used cliff notes too) or maybe pull a book off your shelf that was your great aunt's twice removed that you somehow inherited.

Let me know if you post a TTPT post and I'll link to you. Happy reading!

more to come ... keep checking back ~

9 comments:

Paige said...

Okay, must read that book now. You did a great job describing it - I love a page-turner!
I'll put up a TTPT post tonight...then I'll plan on starting Pride and Prejudice for the classic challenge, just as soon as I finish my current read. :)

jamie said...

Great post! You are so right on about, The Pilot's Wife. I remember reading it cover to cover in one night while I was in college (and probably should have been reading my biology text or something). Anita Shreve is one of my favorites and I think she has a new book out?
I would love to revisit some of the literature from high school. Shakespeare, Orson Wells, Upton Sinclair, Charles Dickens etc.! Good stuff there!

The Stitching Surgeon said...

love anita shreve! love the idea of TTPT - what a perfect way for me to get back into the bloggy swing of things! i just put up a post!!!

Paula said...

You so make me want to run out and find the Pilot's Wife. I've seen and heard of that book so many times, but have yet to pick it up. I definitely will know for sure!
My post is up for this month and I LOVE the classic's, so will certainly be in for next month as well.

heather jane said...

I've read a ton of her books, but somehow not this one. I have a review to put up, but I might have to wait until tomorrow....blog time running out....

Unknown said...

This sounds like my favorite kind of book. I love the ones that live in your mind even when you aren't reading them.

Jackie: said...

I have been looking for another book to read. I will have to check out this one.

Carol said...

Great book review!!! I remember finishing a book and the next day wondering what will the characters will be having for breakfast... I loved your post. Mine is belated, I know, a little patience, is coming tomorrow! Sorry!

jannza said...

I feel rotten!

Last month I was working on a very exciting (sewing) project so I decided to be clever and read a book that had a tie-in. I enjoyed the book and even managed to finish it before we were heading out-of-town for a much needed vacation

Plan: finish the book, write up the review, be impressed with yourself

Reality: finished the book, paid the bills, packed, washed, repacked, panicked, forgot to write the review, left town.

Naturally it was THE FIRST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH when I remembered....to write the review and be impressed with myself.

Moral: Pride goeth before the fall!

I'm still writing the review and I'll (hopefully) throw in another one for my July issue.

Hanging head,
Jan...who is also managing to finish her (impressive) sewing project and will blog about it soon....right after the middle-child's high-school graduation party Saturday....complete with southern home-cookin' goodness!