I went to my book group last night and we discussed Total Chaos by Jean-Claude Izzo, which is probably going to go on my list of favorites of the year. I’ll try to post a quick review tomorrow but I will say that one of the great things about this book is that I feel like I have a whole new picture of France.
I’ve read my fair share of books set in France – specifically, Paris so I feel like I’ve always had this more romanticized and glamorous image of France in my mind. The art, the wine, the good food, etc. but reading this novel set in Marseilles was a whole other look at France. It is just a more complete picture I would say.
Next up we have books to read by Stephen King, Andrew Kaplan and Robert Crais. I’ll be looking forward to those.
Now you are probably wondering about the BookPage pictured here with my book and that’s not the latest issue but I’ve been in major organizing mode and found it underneath stacks of TBR paperwork. Glad I did because we are off on vacation soon and I need to plan which books to take with me. I want a good combo of mysteries, fiction and maybe a classic for good measure.
While I was at Barnes & Noble I did find a couple of books that caught my attention but as I was meeting my group I didn’t really have a chance to make a choice on any of them. Here’s what I found:
- A Violet Season by Kathy Leonard Czepiel. A mother-daughter story set in 1898 amidst the backdrop of the violet industry.
- The Love of My Youth by Mary Gordon. A story of first lovers meeting again after more than 30 years.
- The Secret Book of Frida Kahlo by F.G. Haghenbeck. I’m a Frida fan so this goes on my list. Viva la vida!
- Blame by Michelle Huneven. This book seems to have won or been nominated for lots of awards. Not that that’s a requisite for me but I feel like I hadn’t even heard of this book.
Let me know if you’ve read any of these. I have a coupon for B&N so I may have to put it to good use this weekend.
Ah, the Izzo book is part of that World Noir series! Awesome. Damn I just don’t have enough TIME!!!!! I love Stephen King and Robert Crais, so there is nothing bad that is going to come from that.
I would love to read the Izzo title as well. Glad you mentioned it.
Sandy – I know what you mean, we need more time to get to all these great books! I haven’t read King in ages and I think I may have read one Crais a long time ago so I am looking forward to our next books!
Diane @ Bibilophilebythesea – It is so good! I hope you will add it to your list!
The Izzo looks great! And I haven’t read any but I remember enjoying VERY MUCH the book on Kahlo that I read way back (before the movie) and it reminds me how much I enjoy bios. Viva la vida!
The World Noir series looks very interesting, and something from the series might be appropriate for my book group at some point. I’m glad you enjoyed this particular one — it sounds fun!
I picked up the latest Bookpages over the weekend, stuffed it in my bookbag and then promptly forgot about it! Must pull it out and take a look and see what’s new. It has been ages since I have been inside a bookstore–it’s going to be so hot here this week a nice cool afternoon spent at the bookstore might be just the thing to do!