Before Women Had Wings

Before Women Had Wings by Connie May Fowler was a fast read for me. I really enjoyed the book, if "enjoy" is the right word. The story centers around a girl called Bird who is trying to find her way through a very chaotic childhood. Avocet Abigail Jackson (called Bird) and her older sister Phoebe were named after birds by their mother, with hopes that they could fly above the horrible lives that they live. The girls have alcoholic parents who are extremely abusive to each other and their children, and with life in general. Bird tries to understand her circumstances and conditions through various events that she experiences and various people that she meets. I sometimes found myself frustrated with Bird's attitude that she would never be able to become more than what she was because of her past and the abuse (both verbal and physical) that she suffered. But I had to keep in mind that many people do break the horrible cycles in their lives and make things better for themselves and for their futures, just all in due time. Bird is a young girl and is still learning to fly above all that has been dealt to her. The story can be unsettling at times due to the descriptions of the abuse, but I think it was necessary so that the reader could try to understand the kind of life that Bird experienced.

Dream Country

A couple of months ago, I discovered a new (to me, anyway) author that ranks up there with my favorites of Nora Roberts, Maeve Binchey, and Danielle Steele. Luanne Rice has a flair with family, love, and searching that the others have as well, but in a less intense style. Don't get me wrong, she still tugs at the heart strings and makes you think about your journeys in life, just in a milder manner. Dream Country by Luanne Rice gave me a few days away from my cold and dreary climate and sent me to a ranch in the Wild River Mountains of Wyoming. The storyline revolves around a broken family that had never lost its love for one another regardless of the distance and past. Although it was a slow start for me, I found myself totally engulfed in the story once it got going. Searching for lost loved ones, rediscovering love that was never lost, and reconciling with family and friends are the central themes. At first it seems to be a story of a mother trying to find her runaway daughter, but it slowly changes into a story of a woman and a man who are still deeply in love with one another but need to reconcile with the past events and actions that tore them apart eleven years ago. Although not one of my favorite books, it was a good read. I will continue to discover Luanne Rice through three more of her books that are currently found on my bookshelf.

Vanishing Acts

Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult is my third read for this author. It is true to Picoult's style and pattern of plot. The book revolves around a young woman who finds out that her whole past is a lie and that much of her life is based on protection and secrets and lies from the men she loves most: her father, her fiancee, and her best friend. Many of life's lessons are brought up in this read: trust, one's past, family, friendship, and what one will do out of love for another. I enjoyed this book, and some of the "seeds of thought" that are written into the storyline had me thinking as well. What about the real meaning of "truth"? How far would you go to protect someone you love? To what degree can you "accept" someone before it becomes necessary to move on? Do you believe in second chances? I look forward to reading more of this author.

All That Remains

All That Remains by Patricia Cornwell is the third book in the Kay Scarpetta (medical examiner) series, a series that I got hooked on this past year. It reminds me of the popular TV show CSI. I'm liking this series! The premise of this book was the disappearance of young couples that may or may not be linked to a CIA base located nearby the community. As per the first two books, there's investigation, allegations, hurt feelings, tension between past and future love, and a fast ending to tie up the original investigation. A fast read and enjoyable for those who like this kind of forensic mystery.

2007 TBR Challenge

My list for the 2007 TBR Challenge (listed in alphabetical order):

1. a lotus grows in the mud by Goldie Hawn
2. Atonement by Ian McEwan
3. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon
4. Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
5. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran
6. Lessons For Living by John Paul II
7. The Loop by Nicholas Evans
8. On the Road by Jack Kerouac
9. Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
10. Stolen Lives by Malika Oufkir
11. Toxic Bachelors by Danielle Steele
12. Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult

My extra reads for standby are:
1. Beach House by Pat Conroy
2. Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts
3. Impossible by Danielle Steele
4. Naked Lunch by William Burroughs
5. Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
6. The Visitation by Frank Peretti

These are either books that are collecting dust from the past year on my shelf, recommendations from friends over the past year, or recommendations from reviews from the past year. Maybe now that they are posted in a list I will get around to reading them!

January Reads

January has been a good month. I am now on my third read for the month. I finished All That Remains by Patricia Cornwell, read Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult, and am currently reading Dream Country by Luanne Rice. I am also going to take the 2007 TBR Challenge of reading 12 books in twelve months. This will be in addition to my monthly reads for Bookworms Reading Group (yahoo group). I am looking forward to having a Book In Hand all year!