Becca Fitzpatrick

In junior high, I developed an addiction to R.L. Stine.  If I remember right, in THE SNOWMAN, the villain tries to kill the heroine by burying her inside a snowman . . .


In high school, a different kind of book scared me.  THE DAY OF THE JACKAL is one of those books that keeps on giving . . . me nightmares.  I've read it twice, and will probably read it another ten times before I die.  



In college, I had a frighteningly fun fling with Gothic romance.  REBECCA immediately pops to mind.  This cover was on the 1960 edition (its 7th printing) and sold for 35 cents.  I don't know why I threw that in.  Probably because it BLOWS ME AWAY.  



What books scare me now?  I haven't read anything memorably chilling in the past couple months, but I will say I am really, really looking forward to this:


 

1. Uglies by Scott Westerfield.  I'm not even a fourth of the way through this book, but it's impacted me so much already, I have to talk about it.  Saturday night was girls' night out, and my friends and I went out for Mexican in Old Town Fort Collins.  One of my friends is six months pregnant, and another just delivered a month ago.  So, among other things, we did the usual Mommy Rundown, comparing stretch marks and complaining about how out of shape we are . . . you know the drill.  

Fast forward a few days.  I'm reading Uglies and even though I don't yet know how the operation that turns Uglies into Pretties works, I know it's going to be BAD.  Mr. Westerfield has foreshadowed well enough that I know all that glitters isn't gold.  Instead of enjoying the thrills and chills of a really good read, I'm starting to have thoughts.  Thoughts like, Yes, my body is baby-scarred and flawed and yes, I could stand to give up ice cream a few nights a week, but at least it's real. 
I'm so glad this book made it onto our Book Club reading list.  I went into the book cautiously, not really sure how I'd feel about SF.  To my surprise, it's making me rethink my self-image. 

2.  The Luxe by Anna Godberson.  Another Book Club read.  I've been wanting a really good historical, and so far, this book is doing it for me.  *Sighs in reading pleasure*  Not to mention the cover looks delicious enough to eat.  That dress?  I WANT.  (HarperCollins does an amazing job with their covers, don't they?)   

Interested in seeing our Book Club lineup? 

October: THE LUXE by Anna Godberson

November: THREE CUPS OF TEA by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

December: THE GARGOYLE by Andrew Davidson

January: UGLIES by Scott Westerfield

February: ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, MIRACLE by Barbara Kingsolver

March: THESE IS MY WORDS by Nancy Turner

I read so many fabulous books in January, it made writing this post FUN! :)

A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King (A+)  LOVE the Mary Russell mysteries!  Seriously, if you are a mystery lover, you'll want to see Sherlock Holmes's apprentice in action.  Plus, the author interview at the end of the novel was fascinating.  Laurie R. King is one of those authors I wish lived next door - imagine all the conversation!

The Sweetheart Season by Karen Joy Fowler (A+)   This is the kind of novel I aspire to write.  Karen Joy Fowler has long been a favorite author of mine, and The Sweetheart Season is another amazing addition to her list of novels. (Actually, I think this may be the first novel she wrote; I'm not reading them in order!)

Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon (B+)  John Grey is one of my favorite characters from the Outlander series, and it was fun to get inside his world.  The climax, however, left me a little . . . baffled.  It fell short of my expectations, to say the least.  

Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman (A)   I don't care if people say Penman's books read like Harlequin Romances. I don't think they do.  And that's all that matters.  If you want a vibrant ride back in time to 12th century England, you can't find a better ticket.  (Read this book last year.  Loved it so much I came back for round two.)

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (A)  What can I say?  I used to think a dull man is better than a dull job.  Now I'm not so sure.  Can't wait to watch the movie on Masterpiece Theatre.