books 2006: Divining Women, by Kaye Gibbons

Listened to this in the car on the drive yesterday. I was looking for something fluffy that wouldn't take too much of my attention while I drove, and this pretty much fit the bill. The audio book might have been better if Gibbons herself hadn't read it, but she wasn't bad; I just wasn't thrilled about the story. Pissed me off that the woman stayed with the abusive jerk as long as she did (ie, until the last chapter). And, it's interesting, I usually don't have problems reading the terrible hurtful things characters in books sometimes say to each other, but it was very different listening to someone say the terrible hurtful things. There were several times when I flinched, just hearing those things aloud. The husband in the book is very controlling and verbally abusive, and says horrible things to his wife. But overall, you knew going into the book that the half-uncle of the narrator was going to be a big jerk, right from the start, and then as soon as you found out he was getting married you realize it's going to be one of *those* books. Eh.

books 2006: The Mammoth Hunters, by Jean M. Auel

Got this in paperback for a dollar at Ed McKay's in Greensboro, and I couldn't resist. I think I'll be done with this series for a while, though, unless Auel finally finishes the last book. ( lj-cut for some spoilers, and some meanness )