Book In Hand

January Summary

2012-01-31T19:57:00.003-05:00

Wow, what a month of reading! I absolutely loved this month's selections!

January's list of books included:

American Salvage by Bonnie Jo Campbell (review)
Stealing Buddha's Dinner by Bich Minh Nguyen (review)
Her Rodeo Cowboy by Debra Clopton (review)
The 8th Confession by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro (review)
The Best Of Me by Nicholas Sparks (review)
Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen (review)

I recently started reading a book about a mentally challenged young man who wins the lottery, and this morning I began listening to an audio book about an older gentleman who lost everything and now finds himself working at Starbucks.

Water For Elephants

2012-01-29T16:33:00.001-05:00

The idea for this book came unexpectedly: In early 2003 I was gearing up to write an entirely different book when the Chicago Tribune ran an article on Edward J Kelty, a photographer who followed traveling circuses around America in the 1920s and '30s. The photograph that accompanied the article so fascinated me... .

I spent the next four and a half months acquiring the knowledge necessary to do justice to this subject, ... .

The history of the American circus is so rich that I plucked many of this story's most outrageous details from fact or anecdote (in circus history, the line between the two is famously blurred). ...

And finally, I'd like to draw attention to two old-time circus elephants, not just because they inspired major plot points, but also because these old girls deserve to be remembered. (from: Author's Note, pp. 333-334)

Seldom have I read a book where I absolutely loved the ending and found it a great way to conclude a good story. This is exactly how I felt about Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen. I was drawn into the story immediately, kept total interest throughout my reading, and was very pleased with the final ending. I found the history of the circus fascinating and I very much enjoyed the stories of Jacob Jankowski as both a young man and an old man. Although the abuse scenes were a bit unsettling, they were necessary and not overly explicit.

I highly recommend the book Water For Elephants to my fellow readers. And no, I have not seen the movie yet but plan to in the near future.

The Best Of Me

2012-01-28T14:30:00.003-05:00

... Amanda and Dawson are summoned back to Oriental for the funeral of Tuck Hostetler, the mentor who once gave shelter to their high school romance. Neither has lived the life they imagined...and neither can forget the passionate first love that forever changed their lives. As Amanda and Dawson carry out the instructions Tuck left behind for them, they realize that everything they thought they knew --- about Tuck, about themselves, and about the dreams they held dear --- was not as it seemed. Forced to confront painful memories, the two former lovers will discover undeniable truths about the choices they have made. And in the course of a single, searing weekend, they will ask of the living, and the dead: Can love truly rewrite the past? (back cover)

I thoroughly enjoyed the audio book The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks. True to Sparks' usual style of fiction, the story included intense love, lost love, continuing love, and difficult life-changing decisions made by the main characters and their loved ones. Unlike his books that I've read in the past, this one included a few new twists that gave, for me, a very satisfying ending. I highly recommend The Best of Me.

The 8th Confession

2012-01-23T19:19:00.004-05:00

It was almost midnight when Pet Girl got out of the cab and walked four blocks under the stars, the warm, moist air blowing off the ocean as she approached the run-down apartments at the farthest end of the Presidio.

She opened her front door, hung her backpack on a peg in the hallway, and went to the kitchen. There, she used a key to unlock the small pocket door, sliding it into its slot in the wall. Then she entered the long, narrow room that had once been a pantry and was now her private world. (p.278)

The Women's Murder Club tracks a killer with a taste for the super rich. Their feisty reporter won't let the murder of a homeless man be forgotten, or uninvestigated. Two club members find new romance. And one still struggles with the decision of whether or not to wear the engagement ring given by her lover and best friend. The 8th Confession by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro continues the club series with as much suspense and action as the previous books. I am thoroughly enjoying this series and will continue reading it until I reach the end.

Her Rodeo Cowboy

2012-01-23T19:04:00.002-05:00

Everything accountant Montana Brown thought she knew about love and marriage goes topsy-turvy when her parents split up. Shaken, she heads to Mule Hollow, Texas, to stay with family and take a chance on an old dream: being a cowgirl. With all her might, she tries to resist the charms of a too-handsome cowboy. Luke Holdon is going after his own dream of expanding his ranch. A wife isn't on his wish list. But the Mule Hollow matchmakers are fixin' to lasso Luke and Montana together --- with a little faith and love. (back cover)

I'm sorry... then again, no I'm not. I can't resist a good Love Inspired book from Harlequin. Throw in some nice scenery, a rodeo, and a handsome cowboy, well, I'm hooked. This is very true of Debra Clopton's Her Rodeo Cowboy. With a generous mix of escaping bad circumstances, matchmaking, falling in love, and making dreams come true, Her Rodeo Cowboy is a fun read that won't disappoint the reader. In fact, this reader is now planning to read the Mule Hollow series from which this book's characters originated.

Stealing Buddha's Dinner

2012-01-22T19:02:00.004-05:00

When I think of Grand Rapids I think of how much time I spent trying to make real the dream of the blond-haired girl with a Betty Crocker mother and a kitchen to match. Cocooned in my own silence, I dreamed of the day when I would be a grown-up at last. Then, I thought, I could eat whipped cream and SpaghettiOs every day and say whatever I wanted. Spurning my own reflection for what it could never give me, I thought I could make myself over from the inside out.

In truth, everything that was real lay right in front of me: oranges after dinner; pomegranates in winter; mangoes cubed off their skin. ... (p.247)

Stealing Buddha's Dinner by Bich Minh Nguyen was the reading I chose to update my diversity training at work. The reading brought an awareness to me about some of the feelings and struggles that an immigrant has in adapting to a new culture. The memoir describes the struggles that Bich endured in finding her identity amidst cultural, social and family issues. She relates to food and uses this medium to complete each chapter by telling a memory, relating that memory to a food and an adjustment during her childhood, and then relating both to a topic of cultural diversity or personal identity. It is a personal story of Bich's childhood as an immigrant and her choice of blending in or standing apart. Although I felt the author whined throughout much of the book about her circumstances, always wanting something else, I had a better appreciation for her accounts after reading the final chapter in which she summed up her feelings and what she had learned in living a blended life. I recommend this memoir to others.

American Salvage

2012-01-09T17:58:00.003-05:00

American Salvage is rich with local color and peopled with rural characters who love and hate extravagantly. They know how to fix cars and washing machines, how to shoot and clean game, and how to cook up methamphetamine, but they have not figured out how to prosper in the twenty-first century. Through the complex inner lives of working-class characters, Bonnie Jo Campbell illustrates the desperation of post-industrial America, where wildlife, jobs, and whole ways of life go extinct and the people have no choice but to live off what is left behind. (from: back cover of book)

I very much enjoyed this collection of short stories written by Bonnie Jo Campbell. After reading the first selection I was afraid that I would find the stories depressing; however, I soon found myself immersed in the complicated yet simple lives of the colorful characters and became less judgmental. My favorite selections were "The Yard Man", "Family Reunion", and "Storm Warning".

I specifically chose to read this book because it was written by a local author. I would recommend American Salvage by Bonnie Jo Campbell to others who enjoy reading short stories.

December Reading

2012-01-07T09:05:00.004-05:00

I spent my month reading holiday related books and enjoyed this adventure very much. Although most of the books could be classified as "chick lit" I did try a few that were not. Some personal observations about my holiday reading can be found in an earlier post.

As for the December titles, they included the following:

Christmas in Cedar Cove
Debbie Macomber

The Christmas Wedding
James Patterson and Richard DiLallo

The Perfect Christmas
Debbie Macomber
(audio book)

The Christmas Visitor
Anne Perry

The Christmas Note
Donna VanLiere

Shepherds Abiding
(including Esther's Gift and The Mitford Snowmen)
Jan Karon
(audio book)
(DNF - lack of interest)

The Christmas Train
David Baldacci

The Christmas Scrapbook
Philip Gulley
(a Christmas in Harmony novella)

Call Me Mrs. Miracle
Debbie Macomber

The Christmas Cookie Club
Ann Pearlman

I am starting my new year off with a collection of short stories written by a local author: American Salvage by Bonnie Jo Campbell.

Merry Christmas Reading

2011-12-26T10:08:00.005-05:00

While reading through the holidays, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the fun and spirit in the books I chose. I will post my final December reading list sometime next week, but in the meantime I wanted to report:

My favorite book (ok, two books):

Bring Me Home For Christmas by Robyn Carr
and
Call Me Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

My favorite author:

Debbie Macomber
(I read three of her books this month! Oh, and one a couple years ago I realized!)

Cutest (and, yes, corny) fun read:

The Christmas Scrapbook by Philip Gulley

Book that kept my attention and won my praise in the end:

The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

Book that disappointed me:

Shepherd's Abiding by Jan Karon
(Sorry Mitford fans, it just didn't hold my attention)

Book with the best additional information for the reader:

The Christmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman
(I loved her information about various ingredients found in cookies!)

Reoccurring theme found in several books:

Several books included a character who has a loved one that either served or is currently serving in the military. It shows how so many people are now touched by the war in one way or another.

A Diversity Reading

2011-12-17T12:09:00.003-05:00

I have to do a reading to update my diversity training at work. I have narrowed a list of suggested books to two that captured my interest:

Stealing Buddha's Dinner, a memoir by Bich Minh Nguyen

and

The Girl Who Fell From The Sky, a novel by Heidi W. Durrow

Feel free to leave a comment if you have read one or both of these books. I plan on making my final choice and read the book sometime in January.

Or maybe I will just have to read both them both...

A Great Book

2011-12-09T10:18:00.003-05:00

I found this quote posted at a library and thought it was a perfect description of a great book:

"A great book should leave you with many experiences
and slightly exhausted at the end."

William Styron (American author and essayist)

November Reading

2011-11-30T16:45:00.002-05:00

Wow, November was full of very good reads! I also made a decision to read holiday-themed books from Thanksgiving week through New Year's weekend. I listened to two audio books, completed an unfinished book from last month, read one festive book, and three additional books.

Here's my list for the month of November:

Matters of the Heart
Danielle Steel
(audio book)

Sweet Caroline
Rachel Hauck

7th Heaven
James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
(Women's Murder Club series)

Into The Beautiful North
Luis Alberto Urrea
(finished)

White Chocolate Moments
Lori Wick

Firstlight
Sue Monk Kidd
(audio book)

Bring Me Home For Christmas
Robyn Carr

I am currently reading Christmas in Cedar Cove by Debbie Macomber, a book given to me this past year by a good friend who enjoys this author.

Holiday Reading

2011-11-27T12:13:00.002-05:00

I'm in the mood for some holiday reading!

Yesterday I finished my first holiday-themed book and I am ready for more. Nothing lifts the spirits better than curling up with a good book that celebrates love, family, friends, and the Christmas season. I am hoping to continue this festive spirit through my reading into the next month.

Join me?

Missing a section... really?!?

2011-11-03T17:01:00.005-04:00

Did you ever read a book that was missing an entire section? I recently had this happen to me! While reading Into The Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea during the month October, I came to a page that did not match what I was reading on the previous page. I glanced at the page numbers and noticed that they jumped backwards in number. Under further investigation, I found that an entire section was bound twice into the book and the missing section was no where to be found. I was not a happy reader as I had read three quarters into the story! I guess I will need to find another copy to finish this book.

Just an added note 11/15: I finished Into The Beautiful North last night! After finding the section missing, I emailed the company from which I purchased the book and they sent a replacement within the week. I was then able to finish the book last night and will now pass it on to the friend who recommended it.

October Reading

2011-10-31T20:00:00.002-04:00

I really enjoyed my reading during the month of October. I completed five very good books and listened to two very good audio books as well.

SEAL TEAM SIX
Memoirs of An Elite Navy Seal Sniper
Howard E. Wasdin
and Stephen Templin

Fire and Ice
Julie Garwood
(audio book)

Shades of Blue
Karen Kingsbury

Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope
Don & Susie VanRyn and Newell, Colleen & Whitney Cerak
(audio book - non-fiction)

The 5th Horseman
James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
(Women's Murder Club series)

Into The Beautiful North
Luis Alberto Urrea
(unfinished)

The 6th Target
James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
(Women's Murder Club series)

I am currently half way through the book Sweet Caroline by Rachel Hauck and almost finished with the audio book Matters of the Heart by Danielle Steel.

Series and Trilogies

2011-10-05T14:34:00.005-04:00

One of the fun things I have done this year is to incorporate a couple of ongoing series, a new series and a couple trilogies into my reading.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the following:

Above the Line Series by Karen Kingsbury
This is another series from the ongoing set of series that originated from the characters of the Baxter family and their friends.

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
This is an action packed trilogy that was recommended by my daughter.

Sisters of the Heart Trilogy by Lyn Cote
This is a trilogy written by an author that I discovered a year or so ago.

Starvation Lake Series by Bryan Gruley
This series in a new one that takes place in my state and was recommended by my brother.

The Women's Murder Club Series by James Patterson
This is an ongoing series of which I wanted to read by a writer that I enjoy.

I highly recommend all five of these for your reading pleasure!

Audio Books

2011-10-05T14:28:00.002-04:00

I have had a renewed interest in audio books recently! Reason? I bought a new car this summer that has a CD player. What a bonus this has turned out to be!

I had a slight interest in audio books ever since I completed a reading challenge for audio books about a year ago, but now I have found that I quite enjoy listening to a good book during my commutes to and from work. I have completed one or two audio books per month since July.

Yes, I have definitely renewed my interest in this form of reading!

Third Quarter Reading for 2011

2011-10-05T14:04:00.006-04:00

As I am reading my way through the year 2011, I find that I am choosing books that have peaked my interest in various ways: book jackets that have caught my eye at the library; book titles that have caught my eye at the library; books that have collected dust on my shelves that I have been dying to read for a while (so why are they collecting dust?); recommendations from friends and family; and recommendations from publications reviewing books. I have found much pleasure in most of what I've read this year!

And now... the books that I read during the months of July, August and September:

July:

The Deep Blue Sea For Beginners
Luanne Rice
(sequel to The Geometry of Sisters)

Swimsuit
James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
(audio book)
(DNF: graphic, explicit, violent)

The Hanging Tree
Bryan Gruley
(Starvation Lake Series)

The Sun Farmer
The Story of a Shocking Accident, A Medical Miracle
and a Family's Life and Death Decision
Michael McCarthy
(non-fiction)

The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder
Rebecca Wells
(audio book)

His Saving Grace
Lyn Cote
(Sisters of the Heart Trilogy)

August:

3rd Degree
James Patterson and Andrew Gross
(The Women's Murder Club Series)

Unlocked
Karen Kingsbury
(audio book)

4th of July
James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
(The Women's Murder Club Series)

Testing His Patience
Lyn Cote
(Sisters of the Heart Trilogy)

Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight:
An African Childhood
Alexandra Fuller
(non-fiction/memoir)

Little Bee
Chris Cleave

September:

All He Ever Wanted
Anita Shreve
(audio book)

Loving Constance
Lyn Cote
(Sisters of the Heart Trilogy)

Here at the End of the World We Learn to Dance
Lloyd Jones

Southern Lights
Danielle Steele
(audio book)

Close To Home
Carolyne Aarsen
(Love Inspired Title)

Second Quarter Reading For 2011

2011-09-21T16:39:00.005-04:00

As I continue to read my way through the year, I found pleasure in the following books during the months of April, May, and June:

April:

97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement
Jane Ziegelman
DNF - lack of interest

Catching Fire
Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games Trilogy

A Visit From The Goon Squad
Jennifer Egan
DNF - no interest

May:

Drinking: A Love Story
Caroline Knapp
Non-fiction: Memoir

Calleghan's Bride
Diana Palmer
Harlequin Title

His Forever Love
Missy Tippens
Love Inspired Title

Mockingjay
Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games Trilogy

June:

The Help
Kathryn Stockett

Faking It
Jennifer Crusie

Starvation Lake
Bryan Gruley
Starvation Lake Series

First Quarter Reading For 2011

2011-07-16T11:55:00.004-04:00

Due to technical difficulties I have temporarily been away from my blog. But I have NOT been away from my reading! For the year 2011, I decided to not join any reading groups or challenges and instead read for pleasure and at my own discretion. Here is a list of the books I read for the months of January, February, and March:

January:

The Beach Club
Elin Hilderbrand

Sundays At Tiffany's
James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet

1st To Die
James Patterson
(The Women's Murder Club series)

What We Keep
Elizabeth Berg

Serenity
Harry Kraus

February:

2nd Chance
James Patterson with Andrew Gross
(The Women's Murder Club series)

Take One
Karen Kingsbury
(Above The Line series)

Take Two
Karen Kingsbury
(Above The Line series)

Consider Lily
Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt
DNF (slow to catch my interest)

March:

Drink, Play, F@#k
One Man's Search For Anything Across Ireland, Vegas, and Thailand
Andrew Gottlieb

The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins
(Hunger Games Trilogy)

Take Three
Karen Kingsbury
(Above The Line Series)

Take Four
Karen Kingsbury
(Above The Line Series)

2010 Final Summary

2011-07-16T11:43:00.002-04:00

Due to technical difficulties with my computer, I have temporarily been away from my blog. But I have NOT given up on my reading! Here is a list of the books that finished up my reading for the year 2010.

Books I found at my library:

The Jester
James Patterson and Andrew Gross

Under The Radar
Fern Michaels
(The Sisterhood Series)

Vanished
Mary McGarry Morris

The Swimming Pool
Holly LeCraw

The Wedding
Nicholas Sparks
(sequel to The Notebook)

Fly Away Home
Jennifer Weiner

Return To Harmony
Janette Oake and T. Davis Bunn

Lord Of Misrule
Jaimy Gordon

Books I found on my shelf:

A Thousand Tomorrows
Karen Kingsbury

Just Beyond The Clouds
Karen Kingsbury
(sequel to A Thousand Tomorrows)

Lavender Morning
Jude Deveraux

Interpreter of Maladies
Jhumpa Lahiri
(short stories)

Songs Of The Humpback Whale
Jodi Picoult

A Thousand Acres
Jane Smiley

The Finer Points Of Sausage Dogs

2010-08-19T06:30:00.003-04:00

Starring the brilliant but bumbling Professor Doctor Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld, The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs is a wonderfully entertaining showcase for [Alexander McCall] Smith's award-winning wit. Invited to lecture in America, von Igelfeld envisions a visit to California or New York. Instead, he finds himself at the University of Arkansas. Still, in von Igelfeld's view, one American state is very like another. An expert philologist, von Igelfeld prepares to deliver a talk on verbs, until he makes a grim discovery - he has been mistaken for a German master of veterinary science who has recently passed away. One man at the reception is quick to point this out. But von Igelfeld explains that since Germans are so efficient, they sometimes publish obituaries before a person's demise. Before long, he takes the podium and faces an attentive crowd expecting to hear some fine points on the nature of sausage dogs. (back cover of audio book)

The Finer Points Of Sausage Dogs by Alexander McCall Smith tells of the humorous adventures of Professor von Igelfeld, an intellectual snob and social misfit. During his adventures in this book, he experiences situations with sausage dogs; a co-worker's revenge and continuous rivalry; religious leaders in Rome; relics that get misplaced; a reporter; and a lecture cruise that does not meet his satisfaction. Smith's humor is clearly shown through the words and actions of his characters. And von Igelfeld finds that his words and actions will often return to haunt him in ways he least expects.

I found this book mildly interesting and occasionally I did find myself laughing (and groaning) at the antics of the main characters. However, The Finer Points Of Sausage Dogs was more of an entertaining diversion during my commute to work this past week than a book that held my attention throughout the entire reading. I really liked the narrator (Paul Hecht) and I appreciated the fact that this book had more than one story to be told about the foolish misadventures of a character that didn't have a clue about the real world. Even though this book is part of a series based on the character of Professor Dr. von Igelfeld, I think I will be satisfied with reading just this one for the time being.

A Caribbean Mystery

2010-08-14T10:45:00.002-04:00

Miss Marple woke early. Like many old people, she slept lightly and had periods of wakefulness which she used for the planning of some action or actions to be carried out on the next or following days. Usually, of course, these were of a wholly private or domestic nature, of little interest to anybody but herself. But this morning Miss Marple lay thinking soberly and constructively of murder, and what, if her suspicions were correct, she would do about it. It wasn't going to be easy. She had one weapon and one weapon only - and that was conversation.
Old ladies were given to a good deal of rambling conversation. People were bored by this, but certainly did not suspect them of ulterior motives. It would not be a case of asking direct questions. (Indeed, she would have found it difficult to know what questions to ask!) It would be a question of finding out a little more about certain people. She reviewed these certain people in her mind. (p.38)

A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie is a Miss Marple Mystery that was light and fun to read. While vacationing in the Caribbean, Miss Marple becomes acquainted with the other people also enjoying the quiet, slow pace of the small resort run by a young couple. One particular older gentleman, Major Palgrave, is known for his long stories of his past adventures in many foreign lands. One afternoon while telling Miss Marple about a husband who murdered his wife, he looks up and makes a horrible, shocked face as if he saw the murderer. The next morning, Major Palgrave is found dead in his bungalow. Was it his high blood pressure or murder? Miss Marple has her suspicions and decides to watch and listen while she talks with the other vacationers at the resort.

Of all the books I've read over my many years of reading, I have never picked up an Agatha Christie mystery. I'm glad I finally had the chance as I thoroughly enjoyed it! A Caribbean Mystery was a murder mystery at its simplest, which is why I found it such a good read.

And I have to admit... I could hear Angela Lansbury's voice as I followed Miss Marple's conversations while she was solving the murder mystery!

The Quickie

2010-08-05T07:00:00.001-04:00

Mistake, I reminded myself.
It had all been a terrible mistake. Quick as lightning, just as deadly.
I looked out at the red-eyed police heading back to their cars. That I was fooling them burned like battery acid in my stomach, but I tried my best to believe it was the best thing for everyone under the circumstances.
What result could have been better? I thought. The dehumanizing, demoralizing tabloid circus that was the truth?
...
My eyes were dry as I turned the engine over.
There was one good thing --- undeniable --- Paul and I had been given a second chance. (pp. 170-171)

The Quickie by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge is a fast-paced page turner with many twists to keep the reader guessing what might happen next. Lauren catches her husband Paul with another woman and decides her best revenge is to have a one night stand with a co-worker that has been flirting with her. What happens after a couple of hours of passion will change Lauren's life forever. Now she has to find the truth and make some tough decisions about her life, job, and marriage because of that truth.

I found The Quickie a very exciting book and I would compare the storyline to a line of dominoes: push one domino, then the next falls, then the next, then the next. Just as Lauren finds one new detail, something else is discovered which changes her perceptions of the truth about what happened the night of her impulsive decision to have a quickie in revenge for her husband's indiscretion. Each new twist adds to the plot and makes for a book that I definitely recommend to others.

Little Earthquakes

2010-08-04T17:58:00.004-04:00

Four very different women navigate one of life's most wonderful and perilous transitions: the journey of new motherhood.

With her trademark warmth and humor, Weiner tells the story of what happens after happily ever after. (back cover of audio book)

Little Earthquakes written and read by Jennifer Weiner is the story of four women's expectations before, during, and after motherhood. The women are very diverse and come to be very good friends after unexpected events draw them together. Their thoughts, ideas, and expectations of babies, husbands, family and careers dramatically change as they struggle to "have it all" after childbirth. Cute, humorous, and enjoyable to listen to, Little Earthquakes was a fun read and I recommend it to others. However, I do feel that it will have its greatest appeal to young women and mothers due to a plot that primarily revolves around husbands and babies.

The Hundred Secret Senses

2010-08-01T16:30:00.001-04:00

"... Everything with mind and heart together, use hundred secret sense."
"What do you mean, secret sense?"
...
"How can I say? Memory, seeing, hearing, feeling, all come together, then you know something true in you heart. ... You use secret sense, sometimes can get message back and forth fast between two people, living, dead, doesn't matter, same sense." (p. 102)

The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan begins as a story about two sisters but ends as a collage of stories about loyalty and love between people of the past and present. Olivia was quite young when her dad announces on his deathbed that he has a daughter that he left behind in China before he came to America. His dying wish is to have her join the family. Kwan arrives but is much different than Olivia expected. Kwan tells many secrets and stories of the past, many that include ghosts that Kwan sees with her yin eyes. Even as adults, Kwan continues to tell these stories to Olivia. When Olivia and her husband Simon's marriage begins to fall apart, they are offered an opportunity to travel to China. It's an opportunity that Kwan insists that the three of them accept so that she can return to her village. However, as events unfold, Olivia soon realizes that Kwan's secrets and stories have more truth to them than she ever expected.

Over the many years that Olivia spent with her half sister Kwan, she never learned to truly appreciate her sister or the love and loyalty that her sister showed her. She never understood the meaning behind her sister's continual story about Miss Banner that was told over the years. And she never understood why the yin world was so important to her sister. Olivia never appreciated or understood Kwan until they travelled to China.

I think Kwan intended to show me the world is not a place but the vastness of the soul. And the soul is nothing more than love, limitless, endless, all that moves us toward knowing what is true. I once thought love was supposed to be nothing but bliss. I now know it is also worry and grief, hope and trust. And believing in ghosts --- that's believing that love never dies. If people we love die, than they are lost only to our ordinary senses. If we remember, we can find them anytime with our hundred secret senses. "This a secret," I can still hear Kwan whispering. "Don't tell anyone. Promise, Libby-ah." (p. 358)

I have read Amy Tan in the past and was excited to read The Hundred Secret Senses. It was not the story I expected, but I definitely enjoyed the book and recommend it to others.

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

2010-07-24T14:30:00.002-04:00

Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last!

When Charlie Bucket finds himself the proud winner of a Golden Ticket in a chocolate bar, he knows that he has the greatest treat in the world in store for him. Join Charlie on his fantastic world-famous adventures in Willy Wonka's miraculous chocolate factory, where he sees strawberry-juice water pistols, luminous lollipops, a chocolate river, and rainbow drops --- and has the time of his life. (back cover of audio book)

Three and a half hours of listening pleasure, reliving a childhood favorite. That's how I felt as I listened to the audio book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. I have seen both movie versions but have never actually read the book. The narrator does a nice job of reading the book; the author's descriptions of the factory are full of detail and fun; and the grandparents in Charlie's family are hilarious (especially Grandpa Joe). I very much enjoyed this classic book and would recommend it to others.

And I will continue to dream about the chocolate rivers...

Divine

2010-07-12T21:45:00.006-04:00

Emma looked at the dark window for a long time. Her chin trembled. "Your story is amazing."

"Jesus rescued me from everything that trapped me. My fear and deception, my pain and my addiction. My faithlessness and promiscuity." She took a breath. "Even my desire to end my life. It's all in the past now."

"Nothing on earth could save a person from that." Emma's words were pinched by emotion, almost too soft to hear. "So what about me? How do I find that love, Mary? that love of Jesus that's so big He's all I could ever need?"

Mary felt elation race through her veins. Telling her story was draining. It took her back to unspeakable darkness and horror, back to the doubts and uncertainties and loneliness that had driven her into a life that should've killed her. But she would tell it over and over again until she died, for the privilege of having a woman like Emma ask her about Jesus. (p. 323)

Divine by Karen Kingsbury is a modern day story of Mary Magdalene. Emma Johnson has arrived at a women's shelter in Washington, DC ready to end her life. She meets the famous Mary Madison, a woman with a past who now devotes her life to others who need rescue from abuse. Mary's story is moving and horrific. As it unfolds, Emma finds it nearly parallels her own story. And as the two women share their stories, they discover the life saving love of Jesus that will change their futures and their lives forever.

A powerful story of abuse and rescue, love and faith, Divine is open, honest, and rich in detail. Karen Kingsbury again demonstrates her ability to make fiction come to life with characters and storylines that encourage her readers to question and evaluate their own relationships with people and with God. Karen Kingsbury is one of my favorite authors and Divine reminds me why. I highly recommend this book to others.

The Shack

2010-07-05T11:45:00.004-04:00

Dipping his hand in the water, he played, watching the patterns his movements made. "I'm realizing how few answers I have ... to anything. You know, you've turned me upside down or inside out or something." (p.198)

The Shack by Wm. Paul Young is not just a book to read. It is a reading experience that will not be forgotten. A few years after the beginning of Mackenzie's Great Sadness, he receives a note inviting him back to the shack where police found evidence from the disappearance and murder of his youngest daughter Missy. The note is from Papa, a name that his wife Nan uses when she speaks of God. Curious and against his better judgment, Mack returns to the shack for a weekend that will change his life forever. His experience at the shack will also change everything he believes and understands about love, relationships, life, and faith.

The Shack is a book that left me changed as well. Although it is a fiction book, it provided much thought and reflection to my own beliefs and understanding of love, relationships, life and faith. I loved it and have already recommended the book to several of my friends. It is a must read for people who question and/or need the reassurance of the presence of God in our lives and crazy world.

Smitten

2010-06-27T21:45:00.004-04:00

Matt raised his eyebrows "Yes?"
"I was thinking of the flasher," Lizabeth said. "And it occurred to me that I'm much more frightened of you than I am of him."
Matt stomped the lid down on the can of joint compound. "There's all kinds of fear," he said. "Some kinds of fear are much more fun than others."
It was true, Lizabeth thought. Matt was a ride down a white-water canyon. Danger had its upside, she decided. There was nothing like an occasional shot of adrenaline to spice up your life.
Lizabeth, Lizabeth, Lizabeth, a small voice whispered, those are fairy thoughts. Better watch out, ... (pp. 104-105)

Smitten by Janet Evanovich was a very quick read for me and I found it fun and entertaining as well. Lizabeth, a single mom, needs a job and Matt, a sexy carpenter, hires her just for the fun of it. Their attraction for one another is instant and intense. Throw in an eccentric aunt, a neighborhood flasher, a dog that keeps stealing food from the family meals, and a home that needs a lot of repair, you now have a crazy story true to Evanovich style. I loved Smitten and recommend it to other chick-lit readers.

The Shipping News

2010-06-26T19:30:00.004-04:00

Drumroll of rain. Stupid Man Does Wrong Thing Once More. (p.89)

The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx is a prize winning book, having won the 1994 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, the 1993 National Book Award for Fiction, and the Irish Times International Fiction Prize. As with most "prize winning" books, I had a slow start at it but then the storyline caught my interest and kept me going for a satisfactory ending.

Quoyle is a man that fits all the stereotypical images of the down-and-out middle aged man with a past: he has his private demons from his childhood and adulthood, he is overweight and questionably attractive, his wife cheats on him, he struggles at his lack-luster job, he has few friends, and his self esteem is extremely low. What he doesn't realize is that he is not stuck in this depressing life; all it takes is a change of course and a new perspective and attitude.

A spinning coin, still balanced on its rim, may fall in either direction. (p.11)

Tragedy strikes Quoyle's family and he finds himself in need of a new direction in life for him and his two young daughters. His aunt suggests moving to the coast of Newfoundland where their family originated and she grew up as a child. When they arrive, they find a life they never expected. New people, new jobs, new living conditions, new possibilities for everyone... a fresh start of sorts.

Water may be older than light, diamonds crack in hot goat's blood, mountaintops give off cold fire, forests appear in mid-ocean, it may happen that a crab is caught with the shadow of a hand on its back, that the wind be imprisoned in a bit of knotted string. And it may be that love sometimes occurs without pain or misery. (pp. 336-337)

And with that fresh start, Quoyle learns about love: love for life, family, friends, work, and a special woman. A story of blossoming, learning, and experiencing, Proulx's The Shipping News was something of a surprise for me. I questioned whether I could ride out the storm of the dark beginning and then I found light in the journey that continued to the end. I really liked the book and recommend it to others who also enjoy this kind of reading experience.

Man Hunting

2010-06-06T14:00:00.001-04:00

Kate smiled smugly. "Well, I'm counting on it being sexy. I have a date this afternoon."
"Oh, Lord. " Jake closed his eyes. "Who are you going to destroy now?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"The hotel would appreciate it if you'd just throw back the men you don't like without maiming them."
"I haven't maimed anyone."
"You almost drowned Lance, you scared Peter into heart palpitations, you stabbed Donald with a fork, and you hit Brad over the head with a bottle." Jake shook his head. "And they still ask you out."
"Lance asked for it, Peter was cheating, Donald was an accident, and, I might point out, I hit Brad to save you --- an act I have regretted every since."
"They ask you out, but they don't keep you. Has any guy actually finished a date with you?"
Kate sat up, outraged. "Listen, I've had affairs with men."
Jake snorted. "So you've said, but where are they now?" (p.131)

I love Jennifer Crusie and my latest read Man Hunting did not let me down. Kate is ambitious, good looking, rich, but without a man. She has a plan, though, to find her perfect match and is off to The Cabins Resort to initiate it. One problem: a date with Kate can end dangerously for the men she thinks might meet her criteria. And Jake always seems to be there to help these men to safety. Jake, Jake who? Oh, he's the brother of the hotel's owner who appears to have dropped out of life. But soon Kate and Jake become "buddies" and are the last people in Toby's Corners to see the sexual tension and love between the two of them. Will Kate find her ideal man and live happily ever after? Will Jake always swear off women and ambition in order to continue living his quiet life on the lake? Will these two ever take a good look at each and find what they are missing in life?

I definitely recommend Man Hunting. It is typical Jennifer Crusie, but that's ok by me. I like the predictability of her chick-lit books. They are fun and easy reading. I love the craziness she shows when two people are looking in the wrong places for love or meet the person of their dreams without realizing it because of their preconceived notions of "the right person." And I like it when the woman gets her man in the end.

Keeping The Feast

2010-06-03T20:45:00.006-04:00

Keeping The Feast is an inspiring story of what happens when tragedy strikes a happy marriage and a couple must suddenly fight to find their bearings. It is a testament to the extraordinary sustaining powers of food and love, to the healing that can come from the simple rituals of life, even during the biggest challenges, and to the stubborn belief that there is always an afterward, always hope. (back cover)

I loved John also because, like me, he liked to cook as much as he liked to eat, because both of us grew up in homes where honest food was the central magnet that brought us all to the same table two or three times a day. ... I loved him also because both our families came to the table not just to eat, but to talk, laugh, share our problems, share our lives. I loved him because I could envision a lifetime of ordinary meals together, alone or with good friends who might share our sense of what nourishment really means. ... I loved him because he was smart enough to know that food was a lot more than fuel. (p. 36)

A biography that describes love, food, travel, depression, and healing, Keeping The Feast by Paula Butturini boldly tells the story of family, friends, and the daily routines that helped during the many years of recovery after her husband John Tagliabue was hit by a bullet and had to heal not only from the bullet wound but from illness and depression as well. Butturini's vivid descriptions of food and country are rich and memorable. Her descriptions of depression and its effects on others are heart wrenching. And her love for her husband and for food are very obvious as she relates her detailed story to the reader.

A single bullet started it all. ... But even a single bullet takes at least two paths: one through a body, the other through life itself. The first path is visible, gory, dramatic. All the same, it is the simple route. The second path is imperceptible, hidden, and therefore far more fraught. The second path cuts through a once seamless life, splitting it in two: the old life before the bullet and the new life after. Neither doctors nor patient can see the second path, so the wounds it leaves often go unnoticed and untreated. Both can lead to long-term festering. (p.100)

I could not put this book down. I enjoyed it from cover to cover. I appreciated Butturini's fusion of food, routine, patience, and healing. I loved her detail. And my heart felt for John and the struggles he endured from his health and depression. A positive story that is not always a happy one, Keeping The Feast continued to show hope and love despite the many challenges that John and Paula faced.

All of us cook, I think, in part to feed our daily hunger, but just as important, and perhaps more so, we cook and eat to feed our spirits, to keep us all in the same orbit of life. As the generations turn, as our family expands, the table and its simple pleasures --- never just the food, but the food and the talk, the food and the laughter, the food and the tears, the jokes, the memories, the hopes --- still hold us in place, well anchored in a safe harbor. There may very well be another depression or endless other troubles, big or small, lying in wait for us, but rather than freezing in fear about what may come, we try our best to live and enjoy the lives we've been served forth. (pp. 253-254)

I think this statement fully illustrates the inspiration that Paula Butturini draws from when telling her story. Honest and refreshing, I absolutely loved Keeping The Feast and recommend it to others.

Buster's Diaries

2010-05-18T20:05:00.001-04:00

I have developed a huge repertoire of endearing noises. Each one of them has a precise meaning --- time to go out, I'm dying of hunger, I can't get the rubber bone from behind the desk and there ought to be room on the sofa for me. I do not expect him to hear high-pitched whistles. For he is no more a sheepdog than I am and I can't even hear his cell phone ring if it's in his inside pocket. He ought to take the trouble to understand what I say to him. But whatever question I ask or suggestion I make he has two stock responses. He either accuses me of whining or denounces me for attention-seeking. To make things worse, I am having increasing difficulty in understanding some words he says. When I barked at a man in the street this afternoon, he said, "Buster, I sometimes find your idiosyncrasies incomprehensible." (p. 123)

Buster's Diaries: The True Story of a Dog and His Man as told by Roy Hattersley is the short diary of Buster's adventures as dictated to his master Hattersley. Silly at times but cute overall, this easy to read book kept my attention fairly well. It also made me laugh occasionally as I thought of the dogs that have passed through my own life and how they might say some of the same things about humans that Buster related through his stories. Not the best dog book I've ever read, Buster's Diaries was entertaining and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy dog stories.

Lift

2010-05-02T09:15:00.002-04:00

No matter when and why this comes to your hands, I want to put down on paper how things started with us.

Written as a letter to her children, Kelly Corrigan's Lift is a tender, intimate, and robust portrait of risk and love; a touchstone for anyone who wants to live more fully. In Lift, Corrigan weaves together three true and unforgettable stories of adults willing to experience emotional hazards in exchange for the gratifications of raising children.

Lift takes its name from hang gliding, a pursuit that requires flying directly into rough air, because turbulence saves a glider from "sinking out." For Corrigan, this wisdom --- that to fly requires chaotic, sometimes even violent passages --- becomes a metaphor for all of life's most meaningful endeavors, particularly the great flight that is parenting. (book cover)

A very brief book that will touch a parent's heart, Lift by Kelly Corrigan is a delightful read that I recommend to others who like to read inspirational books.

Snow In April

2010-04-27T22:30:00.003-04:00

"Caroline, life is too short to look back over your shoulder. You only lose the way and stumble and probably fall flat on your face. I'd rather look forward." (p. 190)

Snow In April by Rosamunde Pilcher is a light-hearted read that discovers family, friends, and love. Caroline is to be married, but for convenience not love. She's unsure whether she wants to go through with the wedding or find an escape from it. When Caroline finds out that her estranged older brother Angus has recently sent a letter to her younger brother Jody, she and Jody decide to try and find him the weekend before the wedding by driving an old borrowed car from their home in England to Scotland where Angus is said to be working. As they finally reach Scotland, they encounter an April blizzard and their car slides into a snow bank at the Cairney estate where they meet Oliver. Everyone has a past that has affected their life's course so far, but their chance meeting will now change that course and find a new direction for their futures.

I very much enjoyed Snow In April. It was a simple and sugar coated story that ends happily ever after. Just the escape I needed this week. Rosamunde Pilcher was a recommendation from a blog reader, and I am glad I took the chance on this author. I plan to read more of her and I recommend this book to others.

In The Moon Of Red Ponies

2010-04-22T07:35:00.004-04:00

Billy Bob's first client at his new law practice in Montana is Johnny American Horse. A young political activist, Johnny is accused of murdering two men who may have been plotting to kill him. As Billy Bob digs deeper, he realizes the trail of deceit leads all the way to the United States Senate. When the body count rises, Billy Bob is forced to take action before he and his loved ones become the next victims. (back cover of audio book)

In The Moon Of Red Ponies by James Lee Burke is a murder mystery that includes lawyers, private investigators, environmental activists, past criminals, politicians, and officers of the law. The mix of the west, criminals with connections, politics, and the law creates a gripping novel that is part of the Billy Bob Holland series. However, this novel just didn't grip me enough to finish it. I did enjoy what I heard, but the storyline could not keep my interest. I loved the narrator of this audio book and found his use of voices to add to the intrigue of the story. I can't put my finger on exactly why I didn't finish In The Moon Of Red Ponies, but I would make a mild recommendation to others to read it.

Twilight

2010-04-15T21:30:00.002-04:00

"I feel very safe with you," I confessed, mesmerized into telling the truth again.
That displeased him; his alabaster brow furrowed. He shook his head, frowning.
"This is more complicated than I'd planned," he murmured to himself.
I picked up a breadstick and began nibbling on the end, measuring his expression. I wondered when it would be okay to start questioning him.
"Usually you're in a better mood when your eyes are so light," I commented, trying to distract him from whatever thought had left him frowning and somber.
He stared at me, stunned. "What?"
"You're always crabbier when your eyes are black --- I expect it then," I went on. "I have a theory about that."
His eyes narrowed. "More theories?"
"Mm-hm." I chewed on a small bite of the bread, trying to look indifferent.
"I hope you were more creative this time . . . or are you still stealing from comic books?" His faint smile was mocking; his eyes were still tight.
"Well, no, I didn't get it from a comic book, but I didn't come up with it on my own, either," I confessed.
"And?" he prompted. (pp. 170-171)

Am I the last one on earth to read Twilight by Stephenie Meyer? My daughter (who has read it three times and seen the movie more times than I can count on one hand) seems to think so! Well... I have now read it and must say... I was surprised to find myself caught up in the Bella story and really enjoyed the book. I have a hard time with reading the genres of fantasy and science fiction, but my daughter promised me that it was more of a romance than a vampire story. She was right. As I became more involved with the romance between Bella and Edward I found that the "vampire part" was just a supporting role in the story. I don't feel I need to go on further with the details of the storyline since I am the "last one on earth to read it", so I will leave this review with these closing thoughts. I thoroughly enjoyed the book Twilight. It was a fast read. But I will probably read it only one time, not three times, and savor my enjoyment of the story.

Oh, and yes, I would recommend the book to others!

Captivity

2010-03-28T14:00:00.003-04:00

In the sixties, when Dana was a small girl and, unknown to her, the seeds of her own activism were being planted, it was considered radical to advocate adequate space, exercise, and anesthesia for laboratory animals. Then, animals were merely tools capable of unlocking the mysteries of humanity. As the scientific community moved from experimenting on other humans --- usually disadvantaged or of color --- to using animals, the public welcomed the change. No one thought to ask why chimpanzees intelligent enough to learn how to push buttons aboard space capsules could later be lent to medical laboratories. Why it was morally acceptable to infect them with incurable diseases that people would not wish on their own pets. Now, at the beginning of a new millennium, research was beginning to prove sentience in animals, ... .
Dana wished she could have every human look for one minute into the eyes of a chimpanzee and try to deny the thinking brain, the self, the soul that lay behind them. Whoever had broken into the sanctuary the night before must have known the soul without understanding what had irrevocably been stolen from it. (p.24)

A story of the past meeting the present, the interactions between animals and humans, and the understanding of the need for animal rights and sanctuaries is the premise of the book Captivity by Debbie Lee Wesselmann. After a chimpanzee sanctuary in South Carolina has been violated, Dana Armstrong must now find the person(s) responsible, explain the activity to the community, university, and protesters, and smooth over tensions that have recently developed amongst those who give their money to help the university run the sanctuary. In the meantime, her brother Zack, who usually causes some kind of drama to the people he is around, has arrived in town and a reporter by the name of Sam Wendt, who has begun an extensive story on chimpanzees used in social experiments, wants to meet with Dana at both a personal and professional level. Finally, Dana's connection to her father's past psychological studies and a chimpanzee named Annie are now added to the mix that will send Dana's life into a tale spin. Dana's passion for her work and for the chimpanzees is clearly evident in all that she does, but at what cost to her personal life? And what will she do when a detail of her adolescent life that was discretely hidden by her parents is now revealed to others?

Captivity is an exciting novel that encompasses several different interests for readers: career choices, family, new love interest, animals and activism. I very much enjoyed this book and recommend it to others.

Paradise

2010-03-19T21:45:00.001-04:00

In the mid-1970's, America is reeling from the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement, and the hippie counterculture. Ruby, an all-black Oklahoma community, is proud of its heritage and wary of the five women who inhabit the "Convent" at the edge of town. Of questionable morals, these racially diverse women seem to be at the center of everything that's going wrong in Ruby. Motives and secrets are dramatically revealed as nine of the town's upstanding citizens plan the brutal murder of the Convent's unusual residents.
Vastly popular and with numerous literary awards to her credit, Toni Morrison is both passionate and cerebral. Paradise challenges listeners not only with such issues as civil rights, morality, and racism,but also with the drama and complexity of the human psyche. (back cover)

Paradise by Toni Morrison is all that and more. The author's known ability to weave so many fine details together to bring a story to it's climax is once again exemplified in this book. I have always found her work to be challenging to read, but it has always been worth my struggle to reach the end. I very much enjoyed the voice of Lynne Thigpen as she narrated this story and I appreciated the character development that Morrison created for both the town as well as the Convent. I would recommend this book to fans of Toni Morrison.

Herzog

2010-03-09T20:30:00.001-05:00

Herzog is the story of Moses Herzog, great sufferer, joker, and moaner, cuckold, charmer, a man of our time. Seeing himself as a survivor, of his private disasters but also of those of the age, Herzog cannot keep from asking what he calls the "piercing" questions. The answers he finds will matter not only to him but to readers of Saul Bellow's magnificent novel. (front cover)

It has taken me way too long to cover the first 88 pages of this novel that I feel, at this point, is a litany of complaints. However, I still have some interest in the book Herzog and I am reading it for two different challenges, so I think I will check my library to see if I can find it as an audio book. Otherwise, I will give it another try at another time.

What An Animal

2010-02-28T16:10:00.009-05:00

Ok, just one more reading challenge for the year. It's one that caught my eye and I haven't participated in this one before even though it's been around for a couple of years. Socrates' Book Reviews is hosting the What An Animal III Reading Challenge that takes place from March 1, 2010 until February 28, 2011. Rules are simple and the main idea behind the challenge is to read at least 6 books that include an animal either in the title of the book, on the cover of the book, as a major role in the book, or as a main character in the book. The animal can be any kind of animal and the books can be fiction or non-fiction. Sounds like fun to me!!

My list for the What An Animal reading challenge:

1. Captivity by Debbie Lee Wesselmann (major role: chimpanzees) (review)

2. Lift by Kelly Corrigan (cover art: butterfly) (review)

3. Buster's Diaries by Roy Hattersley (main character: dog) (review)

4. Smitten by Janet Evanovich (cover art: dog) (review)

5. The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs (cover art & title: dog) (review)

6.

DNF: In The Moon Of Red Ponies by James Lee Burke (title: ponies) (review)

Summer's End

2010-02-21T20:55:00.002-05:00

"But I'll never be released from this." Her quiet weeping overlaid her words. "Mother will need me until she dies. And when my grandparents die, I'll be left alone to shoulder the responsibility of her. I love her, but I won't ever be free---"
"I'll never be free either," Doug whispered, his lips beside her ear. "I have to stay and run the clinic. People depend on me."
She pressed her ear against his face and swallowed her tears, willing them away. She understood. Then she bent her forehead to his. "But you love the clinic---"
"Sometimes I hate it" His voice dropped low in his throat. "My grandfather sacrificed his whole life to provide quality health care to this county. If I left that would mean that I didn't respect what he'd sacrificed his whole life to achieve. I can never leave the clinic. I don't want to really, but it's sometimes hard knowing that I can't ever leave. Do you understand?"
"Yes." ... She clung to his shoulders, tears falling from her eyes. "I don't want to leave you, but I can't stay."
"I want to go with you, but I can't leave." He felt her tears on his cheeks. ...
She laid her head against his, heaving a sigh of pain, regret.
He echoed it silently. Lord, is this some cruel joke? Where is Your hand in this? (pp. 206-207)

As the Northern Intrigue trilogy comes to a close, Summer's End by Lyn Cote brings the county a new doctor. But Dr. Kirsi Royston doesn't plan to stay due to family commitments beyond her control. Dr. Doug Erickson tries to understand, but he also comes to realize that those commitments are deeper than what Kirsi has shared. As soon as the new doctor arrives in the town of Steadfast, Wisconsin, trouble begins to rear its ugly head. A new drug ring is trying to establish itself in the county and Kirsi somehow finds herself connected to the recent disappearances, shootings, and deaths. How is she tied to the current threats, attacks, and injuries? And as she finds herself falling in love with Doug, what will she do about her intentions to leave at summer's end when she finds her replacement? And can Doug take care of Kirsi in the same way he takes care of the other people in his life?

Summer's End is a real page turner of a mystery and a sweet love story all tied into one. I very much enjoyed the book; although, I hated to see this trilogy come to an end. I definitely recommend this book and the entire series to others!

Anyone But You

2010-02-17T18:00:00.004-05:00

"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards." (Soren Kierkegaard)

"Life doesn't have to suck." (Charity to her best friend Nina.)

The main characters of Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie seem to have a common problem: they can't accept unconditional love so they find faults in the people they date and therefore are unable to make any kind of long term commitment to another person. Nina is newly divorced and feels she needs to maintain her independence in order to have a sense of security in her life. Charity begins writing her memoir and uses the experience to figure out why she can't maintain a stable relationship with men. Alex feels the pressure of his family to succeed, but it's their definition of success that bothers him and keeps him an arm's length from committing to anything. And Max partakes in self-destructive activities that prevent him from being taken seriously. Then Fred enters Nina's life and the world takes on a whole new meaning to these four characters. In the end, they will finally accept themselves for who they really are, as well as two of them will finally accept and share the love they have for one another.

Very funny and true to Jennifer Crusie style, I absolutely loved Anyone But You. I listened to the audio book version and found it very entertaining. The use of echo when characters were on the phone was a bit corny, but the repetition of the last few lines at the end of one tape and then the beginning of the next tape helped keep the continuity of the final thoughts. Overall, a great audio book well worth the listen.

Shadow Of A Bull

2010-02-15T21:25:00.001-05:00

When Manolo was nine he became aware of three important facts in his life. First: the older he became, the more he looked like his father. Second: he, Manolo Olivar, was a coward. Third: everyone in the town of Arcangel expected him to grow up to be a famous bullfighter, like his father. (p. 3)

"You know, Manolo." She put her hand on his shoulder. "It's a funny thing about the two of us. Both of us are always going to be haunted by your father. No matter what we do or what we say or what we are, we are part of him. And you know something else, it is not altogether a bad thing. It is rather a very fine thing. Mostly it's a fine thing because your father was a noble man. A man of honor. A man of pride. He would never do anything he did not really want to do. It is true, as I said, that the people expected him to be better and greater each time he faced a bull; but, he, himself, also wanted that. And sometimes he was tired and had no time to rest; but he wanted it that way. The people, did not make him do anything he himself did not want to do. ... " (p. 126)

Shadow Of A Bull by Maia Wojciechowska was published in 1964 and was the winner of the 1965 Newbery Award. Set in Spain, the story tells of a young boy who feels he has no choice in the path of his future. Manolo Olivar is the son of a famous bullfighter and the people of his town are grooming him to become their next hero. But Manolo has a fear for the sport as well as dreams of doing other things with his life. He goes along with the training; however, it is his best friend's brother that truly has the interest and talent for sport. What Manolo decides to do on the day of his exhibition after learning more about bullfighting and his father will determine the path of his future.

An interesting story about personal growth and the struggles of growing up in another's shadow, Shadow Of A Bull also provides much detail about the sport of bullfighting and the culture of small communities and their expectations. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to both teens and adults.

The Cereal Murders

2010-02-11T19:35:00.002-05:00

Frances Markasian looked around my kitchen, her shallow black eyes impassive. The smell of the baking doughnuts was excruciating. I hadn't realized how hungry I was. "I understand some of the Elk Park Prep students and parents are pretty competitive. Would do anything to get into the right college."
I crossed my arms. "Yeah? Like what?"
She tapped her mouth with her pen but gave no answer. "Keith Andrews was the valedictorian. Who was next in line?" (p. 206)

Goldy Bear is not only good with food but she's also good at finding trouble. And in this culinary mystery Goldy finds the valedictorian dead, her son bullied, seniors pressured to be accepted, and herself falling for the handsome policeman Schulz. The Cereal Murders by Diane Mott Davidson also finds skeletons in people's closets, a rattlesnake in a locker, a spider in a drawer, and a corpse in the broom closet. The more Goldy investigates, the more endangered she and her family become. So... what would some students and parents do to get into the right college?

Typical reading for this series, I enjoyed this book and found it very entertaining.

The Geometry Of Sisters

2010-02-07T15:55:00.003-05:00

Art and math aren't so different. They come from ideas, from a way logic and magic combust. (p. 224)

Now, with the help of the right angle created by the height of Carrie Tower, and the calculus of longing, and the geometry of love, ... (p. 254)

The Geometry Of Sisters by Luanne Rice is a blended story of three sets of sisters and how their lives were affected by actions, events, and love. Beck (Rebecca) is trying to overcome the death of her father and the loss of her sister. She has seen how the loss of a sister by intentional absence can leave a hole in one's life through her mother Maura who has not spoken with her sister in almost eighteen years. And she has learned how the death of a father can leave a hole in one's life through her new friend Lucy whose family had also been affected by death and abandonment yet was helped by the love of close friends. Beck's family, which now includes only her mother Maura and her brother Travis, has moved from Ohio to Rhode Island to start their lives over after a double tragedy. Beck has dealt with these tragedies through stealing and mathematics. Her struggle is to break one habit and nurture the other while trying to understand how to handle real life. In the meantime, her mother searches for healing from her many losses both recent and past. And her brother learns to be strong while helping his sister and mother adjust and finding the true meaning of friendship.

Sometimes everything in life crystallizes in one moment, one place. Time doesn't matter; years trickle away. (p. 40)

Learning from new friends and old, learning from the past and present, and learning from love and time create common threads for the characters found in The Geometry Of Sisters. Water, family, and healing are additional focal points of the plot. And balancing what to hang on to and what to let go finds a major role in the characters' struggles as well. Luanne Rice is one of my favorite authors and I was not let down with this very enjoyable book. I definitely recommend it to others.

The Secret Cardinal

2010-02-04T19:55:00.005-05:00

The five papabili were all good men, any of whom would make a fine pope. Why, Donoher had to ask himself, were so many electors looking beyond these five --- and for what?

It was in the pendentives framing the upper corners of the Last Judgment that Donoher found his answer. There, Michelangelo painted angels carrying the symbols of Christ's passion: the cross, the nails, the crown of thorns, the pillar of the scourging. Jesus Christ suffered and died for what he believed in, and His example had inspired followers for two millennia. To lead one must inspire.

In the conclave that elected Leo XIV, the cardinals had moved past cardinals who could govern and elected instead a man who could inspire the faithful. Donoher knew that any of the cardinals in this conclave could administer the Holy See, but who among them could inspire? And wasn't that what the Church needed? (p. 122)

I have not read such an intriguing novel in a long time as the one I just finished tonight. The Secret Cardinal by Tom Grace is exciting and suspenseful from beginning to end. Part of the Nolan Kilkenny series, Nolan is now called upon for a special mission in Rome. He is asked to help free Bishop Yin, an virtually unknown man to many Catholics, who has been imprisoned for over thirty years for his religious beliefs. With the help of special forces, Nolan must do the unthinkable and hopefully complete the mission without losing his life. The story's setting is the Vatican and China. The plot includes the dangerous escape as well as modern technology, an election, and the mafia. And to add to everything that's already packed into this novel, a few unexpected twists and turns keep the story from being too predictable.

Tom Grace gives the reader a story Filled with fascinating detail about the history, politics, and people of China and the Roman Catholic Church, and the clever advanced technology and weaponry that have become [his] hallmarks... (back cover flap). I highly recommend The Secret Cardinal and hope to read more of the Nolan Kilkenny series in the future.

Birth Year Reading Challenge

2010-02-03T09:58:00.009-05:00

Ok, one more challenge for 2010! This one really peaked my interest: the Birth Year Reading Challenge hosted by CS & JG at Hotchpot Cafe.

What books were published the year you were born? This challenge encourages you to find out, and then read some of them. You might even draw some conclusions about what was going on in the literary world that year.

One candle is awarded for each qualifying book you read. There is no limit on how few or how many candles you earn.

Sounds good to me! I'm off to find some books that were published in ... oh, do I need to share that?

List for the Birth Year Reading Challenge:

1. Shadow Of A Bull by Maia Wojciechowska (review)

2. Herzog by Saul Bellow (review)

3. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (review)

4. A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie (review)

5.

What's In A Name 3 Challenge

2010-02-01T10:16:00.005-05:00

I just have to do this one again! What's In A Name 3 Challenge is being hosted this year by Beth Fish Reads. This year's reading categories are:

A book with a FOOD in the title: The Cereal Murders by Diane Mott Davidson (review)

A book with a BODY OF WATER in the title:

A book with a TITLE in the title: The Secret Cardinal by Tom Grace (review)

A book with a PLANT in the title:

A book with a PLACE NAME in the title:

A book with a MUSIC TERM in the title:

Read Your Own Books Challenge 2010

2010-02-01T10:07:00.003-05:00

As I look at my bookshelves, I know that I have found the perfect reading challenge! Jenn is hosting the Read Your Own Books Challenge 2010:

- Pick a number of books you'd would like to read in one year.
- Choose those books from your OWN collection.
- Read them between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010.

And that's it!

I think I will set a goal of 24 books... approximately two books per month. That should help the shelf space a bit!

Buck-A-Book Challenge

2010-02-01T09:57:00.006-05:00

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all could get paid to simply read books endlessly?

DelGal is hosting a different kind of challenge: The Buck-A-Book Challenge.

Here's a great way to reward yourself for reading persistence and save money at the same time. Read as many books as you'd like, there is no minimum, and there is no maximum. BUT, here's the "catch", you MUST physically take a dollar and save it somewhere safe where it won't be spent, every time you complete a book. At the end of the year, your total money saved will be the total amount of books you read, ideally the more you read, the more money saved.
Now, once Dec 31 comes, you must spend this saved money on something fun just for yourself (no paying bills, no buying gifts for someone else!) to begin the next year.

This challenge is a win-win situation! Love it and looking forward to participating!!

(And as of today, I have $3 saved.)

Battle of the Prizes

2010-02-01T09:48:00.006-05:00

Rose City Reader is hosting Battle of the Prizes. This is a new challenge to me and it peaked my interest. The guidelines are:

The challenge pits winners of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction against the winners of the National Book Award in the American Version of the Battle of the Prizes.

Does one prize have higher standards than the other? Pick better winners? Provide more reading entertainment or educational value? Maybe challenge participants will be able to answer these and more questions - maybe they will simply read three great books!

Choose three books that you have not read before:

One that won both the Pulitzer and the National.
One that won the Pulitzer but not the National.
One that won the National but not the Pulitzer.

The books I have chosen are:

Won both: The Shipping News by Annie Proulx (review)

Won Pulitzer: Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Won National: Herzog by Saul Bellow (review)

A to Z Challenge 2010

2010-02-01T09:37:00.017-05:00

The A to Z Challenge 2010 is hosted by Becky's Book Reviews and the guidelines are simple:

January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

How does this reading challenge work? Chose the option that works best for you...

Authors - Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.

Titles - Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.

Authors & Titles - Commit to 52 books.

I really enjoyed this challenge last year and look forward to participating again this year. I will be committing to 26 books through reading alphabetically by Title.

As I complete each title, I will list the book and author along with a link to the review:

A - Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie
B - Buster's Diaries by Roy Hattersley
C - Crazy For You by Jennifer Crusie
D - Divine by Karen Kingsbury
E
F- The Finer Points Of Sausage Dogs by Alexander McCall Smith
G - The Geometry Of Sisters by Luanne Rice
H- The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan
I
J
K- Keeping The Faith by Paula Butturini
L - Lift by Kelly Corrigan
M - Man Hunting by Jennifer Crusie
N
O
P - Paradise by Toni Morrison
Q- The Quickie by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge
R
S - The Secret Cardinal by Tom Grace
T - Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
U
V
W - When Did Caesar Become a Salad and Jeremiah a Bullfrog? by Martin Babb
X
Y
Z

Chick Lit Challenge 2010

2010-02-01T09:32:00.011-05:00

Twiga is once again hosting one of my favorite challenges: The Chick Lit Challenge. Her guidelines are simple:

The Chick Lit Challenge 2010 runs from January 1 - December 31. The goal is to read at least 8 chick lit books during the year. Books can be listed ahead of time or as you go along. Books can also be used for multiple challenges.

My books for this year's challenge are:

1. Crazy For You by Jennifer Crusie (review)

2. The Geometry Of Sisters by Luanne Rice (review)

3. Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie (review)

4. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (review)

5. Snow In April by Rosamunde Pilcher (review)

6. Man Hunting by Jennifer Crusie (review)

7. Smitten by Janet Evaonovich (review)

8. Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner (review)

When Did Caesar Become A Salad

2010-01-25T19:30:00.005-05:00

... I realize God must look at us in the same way we look at a messy room. He is supposed to be dwelling inside of us through the Holy Spirit, but our lives are so cluttered, spiritually and physically, we just don't have time or room for Him. Physically, we may need to prioritize our schedule with God being number one. Spiritually, we may need to clean up our room.
That's what confession does. It cleans out our soul so God can come in and relax, have room to walk around, and possibly do a little work. He, too, is probably amazed sometimes at what He finds: characteristics and qualities. He hasn't seen them in us in months, maybe years. God has a purpose of every Christian, and He seems to do His best work with a committed heart ... and a cleaned-up room. (p. 136)

When Did Caesar Become a Salad and Jeremiah a Bullfrog? by Martin Babb contains 100 Clever, Funny, and Insightful Lessons for Life. Babb's essays are very brief (2-3 pages), full of down-to-earth stories (many personal), and based on Christian living (he's a pastor) and lessons in life (he's full of life). Ten essays in each of the ten chapters sprinkle humor through words, everyday examples, and memories. My three favorite chapters were If Love Makes the World Go 'Round, Why Do I Feel So Square? (Lessons on Loving Others), If Home Is on the Range, Then Someone Is on the Hot Seat (Lessons on Family Living), and It's Not Christ's Shoes That Are Hard to Fill; It's the Holes in His Hands (Lessons from the Example of Christ).

Although this was not the best book of this type that I have ever read, it was very enjoyable and well worth my time. I found myself laughing out loud and nodding my head in agreement several times. And Babb's sense of adventure and humor capture the lessons he tried to portray in each of the essays. I recommend this book to others who enjoy this type of book.

Winter's Secret

2010-01-17T09:20:00.004-05:00

A knock sounded on the back door.
"Now who could that be?" Her grandfather opened the door. "Well, I'll be. Come in. Come in."
When Wendy heard the voice answering her grandfather, she almost dropped the casserole dish. She turned slowly.
Sheriff Rodd Durand stood within feet of her. A shock like electricity shot through her from her toes to her scalp. A blush warmed her cheeks, and she hoped she could blame it on the heat from the oven.
"Miss Carey, I didn't see another car," he said, eyeing her like a man watching a geyser ready to spout.
"Call me Wendy, Sheriff. I always park in the machine shed." Shaking inside, she made herself walk casually to the table and set down the dish. She wanted to ask, What are you doing here? Had he followed her? (p. 19)

Mystery and romance can both be found in Winter's Secret, the first book in Lyn Cote's Northern Intrigue Series. Set in chilly Wisconsin, the new Sheriff is having a tough time catching the Snowmobile Burglar. The townspeople, especially those who have bitter rivals to bad mouth or fight, are giving Sheriff Rodd Durand a hard time about it. He quickly realizes that there is one common thread to the home invasions --- Wendy Carey, the home health nurse who works out of the clinic. But as the sheriff enlists her help during the investigation, he also begins to experience feelings that he hasn't felt in a long time: the need to rely on another person for help, the need to release his fears and rely on his faith, and the need to share his life with the woman he is falling in love with. To complicate matters, both Rodd and Wendy have pasts that make them believe they are unlovable for a partner; also, the home invasions become more vindictive and the verbal attacks in town become more personal. But with encouragement from family and friends, these two find much more than they were ever looking for: love, faith, and strength in one another and in God.

I discovered Lyn Cote and her Northern Intrigue Series last year when I found the second book Autumn's Shadow at my local library. I enjoyed the book so much I decided I wanted to read the entire trilogy. I found Winter's Secret was just as good as Autumn's Shadow. The two books have completely different stories yet they weave together the characters and setting to make it into a series. I am definitely looking forward to finishing the trilogy with the final book Summer's End.

Winter Holiday Reading Challenge - January Update

2010-01-14T16:25:00.003-05:00

What is everyone reading this month for the Winter Holiday Reading Challenge?

Let everyone know what holiday adventure you experienced through reading this month! Leave your comment with the title and author, as well as a link to your review if you have one. (Remember, reviews are optional.)

Happy Holiday Reading!

Ana T. finished the challenge and her final review can be found here.
AlleluiaLu read A Christmas Gift by Saperstein and Rush.

December update can be found here.

November update can be found here.

Winter Holiday Reading Challenge original post can be found here.

Thank you to all the readers who participated this year!

Crazy For You

2010-01-10T10:30:00.003-05:00

Just a little selfish. A dog was such a small thing to want, not a change in life or a change in lover or really a change of anything much. Just a little change. Just a little dog. Something new in her life. Something different. (p. 8)

Crazy For You by Jennifer Crusie was just the book I needed to start my new year out right. A crazy chick-lit book that is filled with romance, fun, suspense, and happy endings. And changes are what it's all about: women who want a change in their daily lives because they are taken for granted; couples who want a change in their relationships because they've gone stale; and men who just don't understand what change is all about but eventually realize that changes really aren't all that bad. Of course, there's always one character who just can't stand change and will make everyone's life miserable because of it. (He's the stalker.)

Fun to read, a couple of steamy scenes to make it dreamy, and the women all get their men... that's what Crazy For You is all about! I discovered Jennifer Crusie a little over a year ago and wanted to read her again... and I will, again and again and again! I have more of her books on my shelf so that won't be a problem. I definitely recommend Crazy For You if you enjoy a good crazy chick-lit book now and then.

Finishing A Year Of Book Challenges (2009)

2010-01-04T11:45:00.001-05:00

As I reflect back on my 2009 reading and book challenges, I find that my reading was more diverse yet still included many of my favorite genres. I discovered new authors and series that I am excited to read in the future. I didn't have the quantity of books that I read in the previous year, but I did improve the quality of what I read this year. I also accomplished one huge goal that I set out for myself: I discovered audio books, found that I actually enjoy them, and completed the audio book challenge.

I set out to complete 14 challenges and 1 reading club during the 2009 reading year. I am happy to say that I completed 10 of those challenges! Of those that I did not complete, two were perpetual challenges (one I never started and one just never "fit" my reading this year) and two were not given enough attention over the year to complete. As for my reading club, I lost interest this past year and gave more attention to my challenges instead. I am also in the process of finishing one challenge that ends this month.

Overall, I feel like it was a successful reading year!

Challenges Completed:

Winter Holiday Reading Challenge #1 - completed 1/25/09
New Classics Challenge - completed 1/18/09
Soups On! Challenge - completed 3/21/09
A to Z Challenge (titles) - completed 12/5/09
Audiobook Challenge - completed 12/24/09
Celebrate The Author Challenge - completed 12/31/09
Chick Lit Challenge - completed 11/28/09
Read Your Name Challenge - completed 8/6/09
Series Challenge - completed 5/5/09
What's In A Name? Challenge - completed 9/6/09

Challenges Not Completed:

Disney Literature (Perpetual) Challenge - never started/not completed
Books Into Movies Challenge - books read; movies not seen
2009 Mini-Challenges - 5/12 mini-challenges completed
Just4thehelluvit - due to the diverse challenges I had, I didn't feel the need to do this challenge

Challenge yet to be finished:

Winter Holiday Reading Challenge #2 - ends 1/31/10

Unfortunately I did not write wrap-ups for all of the challenges that I completed this past year; however, for links to those challenges that do have a wrap-ups and for links to the selection of titles read to those challenges that don't have wrap-ups, I have included them in my summary above.

As for the new year and my 2010 book challenges.... well, I'm still considering my options!

Happy Reading Everyone!

Three Weeks With My Brother

2009-12-31T13:15:00.000-05:00

As I've said, my wife understands me better than anyone, and knew my urgent desire to go had less to do with the trip itself than spending time with my brother. This, then, is a story about brotherhood. It's the story of Micah and me, and the story of our family. It's a story of tragedy and joy, hope and support. It's the story of how he and I have matured and changed and taken different paths in life, but somehow grown even closer. It is, in other words, the story of two journeys; one journey that took my brother and me to exotic places around the world, and another, a lifetime in the making, that has led us to become the best of friends. (p. 10)

Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks is a memoir that shares the details of the brothers' three week trip around the world; but, more importantly, it shares the story of their lives as brothers and the discoveries they made through life's lessons. The memories are both happy and sad, filled with both successes and failures, and leaves one feeling both excited as well as frustrated at times. The places they visit are captivating as are the reflections they use to share their past.

I read just over half of Three Weeks With My Brother and did indeed enjoy the book; however, time, circumstances, and interest prohibited me from finishing the book. I have read other books by Nicholas Sparks and still find him a good author even though this was one of my least favorites. I would still recommend it, especially to those who like to read memoirs.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

2009-12-24T15:00:00.000-05:00

She [Kit Tyler] is like a tropical bird that has flown to the wrong part of the world. And in the stern Puritan community of her relatives, she soon feels caged in as well, and lonely. In the meadows, the only place where she can feel completely free, she meets another lone and mysterious figure, the old woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond. But when their friendship is discovered, Kit faces suspicion, fear, and anger. She herself is accused of witchcraft! (back cover of audio book)

Kit can swim, read, and teach. She is adventurous, educated and compassionate. And she befriends people who are shunned from her new community. Little does she realize that these actions and traits will be held against her when the community acts on their fear of witchcraft.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare was the 1959 Newbery Medal winner. It is beautifully read in this audio book version narrated by Mary Beth Hurt. The story is rich in detail and character. I very much enjoyed this book.

Winter Holiday Reading Challenge --- December Update

2009-12-13T20:50:00.005-05:00

What is everyone reading this month for the Winter Holiday Reading Challenge?

Let everyone know what holiday adventure you experienced through reading this month! Leave your comment with the title and author, as well as a link to your review if you have one. (Remember, reviews are optional.)

Julie read Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews
Julie read The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans
AlleluiaLu read Angels at Christmas by Debbie Macomber

Happy Holiday Reading!

November Update can be found here.

Winter Holiday Reading Challenge original post can be found here.

The Visitation

2009-12-05T15:45:00.001-05:00

We used to have plenty of dull moments in Antioch. They would pass through town in close succession like box cars at a railroad crossing, each one displaced by the next, but all of them alike, their steady, monotonous pace never changing. Anymore, such dull moments were hard to find, thanks to our newest Visitor. He had a knack for spacing things precisely, keeping us all guessing, waiting until we were just about to have a tiny dull moment before throwing another firecracker into the hen house. (p. 121)

The Visitation by Frank Peretti is a page turner that keeps throwing those firecrackers around from beginning to end. Travis Jordan left his calling as the pastor of Antioch's Pentecostal Mission Church for many reasons, and now the town's new visitor wants Travis to remember his past and why he questioned the church establishment in order to understand the mission of this self-proclaimed prophet. Is this visitor really the new Messiah or is he of another nature? Healing, miracles, and prophecy bring the town to this man, but Travis and two other pastors question the visitor's true intentions. Travis' past and the visitor's intentions seem to be entwined, and Travis finds himself on a hunt for truth, understanding and connections that will help him confront this mysterious, and possibly dangerous, visitor.

I very much enjoyed The Visitation. I recommend it to others who like Frank Peretti as well as to those who like Christian suspense fiction.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-18T21:00:00.001-05:00

Megan stood in the empty foyer and wondered how she'd manage to lose control of her life so easily. One minute everything was clean and uncomplicated, and then, wham, her mind was cluttered with babies and sexy pediatricians and roast turkeys. The worst part was that she was actually enjoying all this. Megan, you're such a jerk, she told herself. Have you forgotten about the bag hanging in the closet upstairs? Have you forgotten about Dave? And what about Steve? And Jimmy Fee, the little nerd?
Okay, she thought, she'd allow one man into her life. Tim. The other man would henceforth be referred to as "Dr. Hunter." And no more of that Mrs. Hunter stuff. And no more kisses! She'd set her alarm tonight, and tomorrow she'd get up at five o'clock and be fully clothed before Dr. Hunter arrived. (p. 38)

Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich is a quirky, fun book about two people who are hesitant to begin a new relationship but are brought together during the Thanksgiving season by a rabbit, an abandoned baby, and two interfering mothers who believe they are engaged. Megan finds herself attracted to Pat, but she's already been jilted by three loves in her life and doesn't want to go down that road again. Dr. Patrick Hunter finds himself attracted to Megan because she's feisty and full of energy. And baby Tim brings the two together in a very unexpected but loving way. Can they survive being parents? Can they survive Thanksgiving dinner? Can they survive the love they are beginning to feel for one another?

Typical Evanovich chick-lit, Thanksgiving was fun seasonal reading that lightened up my mood with love and laughter for a couple of days.

Decisions

2009-11-18T09:20:00.004-05:00

I don't usually post anything except my reading reviews and book challenges on this blog, but I thought this was worth remembering. It is a post from another reading blog that I stumbled upon, and I enjoyed what I read. (I guess that fits my criteria of posts.) Thanks, Janet, for this link that I found through your new reading blog.

Enjoy!

The Choices We Make by Deb Baker

And me? I would probably eat exactly the same thing as Deb!

Unnatural Exposure

2009-11-15T16:30:00.001-05:00

"How do you know you've got the flu? That it's not something else?"

"I don't have a rash. Is that what you want to hear?"

There was a long silence. Then he said, "What if you get one?"

"Then I'm probably going to die, Benton." I coughed again. "You'll probably never touch me again. And I'd never want you to see me again, if it goes its course. It's easier to worry about stalkers, serial killers, people you can blow away with a gun. But the invisible ones are who I've always feared. They take you on a sunny day in a public place. They slide in with your lemonade. I've been vaccinated for hepatitis B. But that's just one killer in a huge population. What about tuberculosis and HIV, and Hanta and Ebola? What about this? God." I took a deep breath. "It started with a torso and I did not know." (pp. 260-261)

Kay Scarpetta finds herself doing an autopsy on a torso that many people believe is part of a serial killer's trail. However, when she discovers the torso and another dead body both have a rash that hasn't been seen in years, Kay becomes very nervous and knows that this killer is out for revenge. Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell is the eighth book in the Scarpetta Series. The title describes a crime that Kay must solve before the world is exposed to a deadly disease of which she and others have unknowingly already been exposed. All the favorite characters are in this book, the familiar tensions and twists continue to be a part of the plot, and the conclusion comes suddenly as it often does in this series. Still, I very much enjoyed Unnatural Exposure and will continue reading from this series at my leisurely pace.

Winter Holiday Reading Challenge --- November Update

2009-11-14T05:45:00.009-05:00

What is everyone reading this month for the Winter Holiday Reading Challenge?

AlleluiaLu read The Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Benton Frank
Tea read The Christmas Clock by Kat Martin
Lindy (Grilsgood) read Silver Bells by Luanne Rice
Marilu read Cowboy Santa by Judy Christenbrry
Julie is reading The Christmas Shoes
Diane (bookinhand) read Thanksgiving by JanetEvanovich
Tea read Christmas Letters by Lee Smith
Tea read High Heels and Holidays by Kasey Michaels
Melissa read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Let everyone know what holiday adventure you experienced through reading this month! Leave your comment with the title and author, as well as a link to your review if you have one. (Remember, reviews are optional.)

Happy Holiday Reading!

(Winter Holiday Reading Challenge original post can be found here.)

Rabbit Hill

2009-11-10T21:30:00.000-05:00

All the hill was boiling with excitement. On every side there rose a continual chattering and squeaking, whispering and whistling, as the Animals discussed the great news. Through it all could be heard again and again the words, "New Folks coming." (pp. 11-12)

Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson is a Newbery Medal (1945) book about the Animals on Rabbit Hill who are looking forward to a new family moving into the farm house that has stood neglected for quite some time. This cute book is told through the eyes of the animals. As the animals prepare for the coming of the New Folks, they prepare themselves for whatever may arrive. There have been both good and bad times on the Hill, and the Animals are desperately hoping for New Folks that will plant the gardens, landscape the grounds, and be understanding and compassionate of the current residents of the Hill. The story tells the adventures of the Rabbit family, especially Little Georgie, and of their preparations, joys, and dangers before and after the New Folks arrive. The story concludes on Midsummer's Eve, a very special day for the Animals on Rabbit Hill. But their excitement for this year's event has a two-fold purpose, and this brings the story to a very happy ending.

The sun had set, and the gold of the west slowly faded to a cool clear green. Venus, hanging low over the Pine Wood, burned brilliantly, all alone at first, but as the sky deepened the small stars began to show themselves. High up the new moon swam like a silver sickle.

As the dusk thickened the whole Hill began to whisper with the soft rustle of small bodies passing through the grass, with the swish of tiny feet, all making their way toward the garden, for this was Midsummer's Eve and the Little Animals were gathering. (pp. 119-120)

A cute story rich with setting and anticipation, Rabbit Hill was an enjoyable read. The book is recommended for ages 8-12 with a reading level of 6.7. I recommend it to those who love a good animal story!

Oceans Apart

2009-11-08T20:45:00.000-05:00

Max kept reading, but Connor was no longer listening. His heart was stuck back on the first part, where Jesus knew that the people needed His word so that their hearts would be right. How simple was that? Simple and sound and true beyond anything Connor had told himself in the past ten years.

When was the last time he'd had those profound truths in the forefront of his mind? Back when he met Michele and the two of them began dating, definitely. But when had he stopped? When had he chosen to get through a week or even a day without God's words to guide him? And how come bells hadn't gone off, alarms to signal the fact that without the wisdom Jesus gave, he was bound to fall?

If his heart had been right that summer eight years ago, he never would've been unfaithful, never. Tempted, maybe, but he would have seen the way out, the way promised by God Himself. But then, he wouldn't have this wonder child sitting before him to remind him of everything he'd forgotten. (pp. 179-180)

Oceans Apart by Karen Kingsbury reminds us that Love happens when people forgive (p. 322). It's a story of forgiveness and second chances. It's a story about being oceans apart physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And it's a story about a little boy finding a family, a man living through the consequences of his poor choices, and a family needing to experience forgiveness before they are torn apart by the past. I liked how the story unfolded and I appreciated the various threads of forgiveness that made the story whole. Oceans Apart is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it to others.

Not Even For Love

2009-11-07T21:30:00.002-05:00

In Switzerland, Jordan Hadlock is surprised to find a fellow American outside her bookshop door --- especially one so ruggedly handsome. What's even more surprising are the feelings this alluring stranger awakens in her, even though she is already involved with a high profile Swiss industrialist. Now she will have to choose between a friend and a lover. (back cover of audio book)

Yes, I listened to another Sandra Brown audio book right after finishing one a couple weeks ago. Not Even For Love did not let me down. A true Sandra Brown romance, I very much enjoyed this book. The main character Jordan irritated me much of the way through the story because of her indecisiveness for what she really wanted, but I liked how Reeves pursued her to convince Jordan of her true intentions. Fun, steamy, and dreamy (I loved the setting of Switzerland), Not Even For Love gave me a perfect escape from reality during my daily commute.

Ring

2009-11-02T10:30:00.000-05:00

Tall and slender, Asakawa had never in his life had an illness worth the name. To think that this was how he was sentenced to die. Part of him still felt it was a dream, that he'd reach ten o'clock on October 18th without having understood the video or figured out the charm, but in the end nothing would happen and the days would stretch out before him as they always had. Oguri would wear a mocking expression and expound on the foolishness of believing in superstitions, while Ryuji would laugh and say, "We just don't understand how the world works." And his wife and daughter would greet their daddy with these same sleeping faces. Even a passenger on an airplane falling from the sky can't shake the hope that he'll be the one to survive. (pp. 120-121)

Asakaw, his family, everybody who had seen the video had been subconsciously infected with this virus. They were carriers. And viruses burrowed directly into the genes, the core of life. There was no telling yet what would result from this, how it would change human history --- human evolution. (pp. 284-285)

A chilling mystery of how one man discovers an unusual link between four deaths that now threatens his life and his loved ones is the premise of Ring by Koji Suzuki. How will Asakaw find the connection between a video, paranormal occurrences, and an unknown woman within a deadline of one week's time? With the help of his friend and old classmate Ryuji, Asakaw searches a vacation resort, a museum, an island, and an old well for the charm that will help break this virus and its deadly sentence.

I found the book Ring to be a real page turner; however, because it is a trilogy the ending left me hanging. I understand there is both an American and a Japanese movie based on this book that can be found on DVD. I'm not usually fond of horror mystery movies, but the book Ring was a good one and it might be worth checking out in movie format.

Winter Holiday Reading Challenge #2

2009-10-22T05:15:00.009-04:00

Continuing in the yearly holiday spirit, The Winter Holiday Reading Challenge will once again give readers a chance to enjoy some holiday getaways through their reading over the next three months. We are all busy people so the guidelines will remain simple.

The Winter Holiday Reading Challenge will last from November 1, 2009 to January 31, 2010.

The theme for this challenge is Winter Holidays. The books that you choose to read must have a storyline that includes celebrating a winter holiday, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year's, etc. (However the holidays are not limited to just these examples.)

You may choose the number of books you wish to read and a reading list is optional.

Leave a comment at the end of this post if you wish to join in on the fun.

Each month leave a comment at the end of the Winter Holiday Reading Challenge #2 Update post that includes the book title and author that you read for that month and the link to your review if you have one. (Reviews are not necessary to join in on the fun.) These updates will be posted on the 15th of each month during the challenge.

And finally, Enjoy your holiday reading!

This year's Winter Holiday Reading participants include:

Tea
busy91
AlleluiaLu
Julie
kim in ohio
Melissa
Violette
Christina
Diane
Lindy (grilsgood)
Marilu
Ana T.
SueFitz
Booked in Atlanta
Kristen

Just After Sunset

2009-10-22T04:45:00.000-04:00

Certainly it never occurred to me that writing short stories is a fragile craft, one that can be forgotten if it isn't used almost constantly. It didn't feel fragile to me then. Most of those stories felt like bulldozers. Many bestselling novelists in America don't write short stories. ... There are lots of things in life that are like riding a bike, but writing short stories isn't one of them. You can forget how. ... But there were also short stories I wasn't writing because I had some novel or other to finish, and that wasn't so okay --- I could feel those ideas in the back of my head crying to be written. Some eventually were; others, I'm sorry to say, died and blew away like dust. (pp. 2-3: introduction by the author)

After being the guest editor for the annual Best American Short Stories series, Stephen King decided to regain his ability to write short stories and gave readers Just After Sunset: Stories. This collection of thirteen short stories includes both old and new work by King. I read the first seven over the last couple of weeks. I found most of the stories interesting, but the last few days I just didn't find myself picking this book up to finish the rest.

For the most part I enjoyed what I did read. My favorite stories were The Gingerbread Girl, Harvey's Dream, and Rest Stop. Each of the stories has a bit of a different twist which I appreciated. Also, they are not all scary but rather have their own flair of horror. Although I did not finish this book, I believe there are Stephen King fans out there that would definitely enjoy Just After Sunset.

Led Astray

2009-10-16T20:20:00.003-04:00

Let me set the scene for this enjoyable audio book called Led Astray by Sandra Brown. First, there's the title and the author which says a lot for those of us who enjoy chick lit. Second, Jenny has a choice between two brothers: Hal who is a model son according to his parents and Cage who is the bad boy of his family and community. (Names alone help that decision!) Third, on the night Hal is to leave for his South American mission, Jenny experiences an evening of romance that was unbelievable; yet, that experience leaves her with some unexpected consequences for her future. Finally, several people are "led astray" in various ways throughout this story. Ok, enough said.

I really enjoyed this audio version of Sandra Brown's book. At first I wasn't thrilled with the narrator's voice, but it soon grew on me and I liked his tone. Also, I am slowly beginning to realize that I have a better attention span for chick lit audio books than with other genres. This book had a little of everything for the reader: intrigue, steaminess, found love, steaminess, newly found independence, steaminess... ok, I think you get the picture. (The steaminess, though, is not overboard; it's just a part of Jenny's transformation.) Sandra Brown has a way with her adjectives that pulls the reader right into the story and helps keep that interest from beginning to end. I recommend Led Astray to others who enjoy an escape from their lives through their reading.

Zombies of the Gene Pool

2009-10-08T08:42:00.003-04:00

Marion consulted the reunion brochure, a three-paneled flier on baronial ivory paper. It had been printed in considerable style by MistralWorld, Inc. and mailed to everyone connected with the science fiction genre. On the front was a blue computer-designed graphic of Atlantis sinking beneath the waves, and above it in gold-foil avant garde script were the words: Return of the Lanthanides. The first panel gave a brief history of the Lanthanides and the fate of Dugger's farm, probably taken from a reference work on science fiction, since several of the less important members were omitted altogether (Woodard, Giles, Conyers). The center panel gave a schedule of events, culminating with the Saturday trek to the newly drained Fan Farm to recover the time capsule (proceedings to be filmed by the television program A Current Affair). The literary auction would take place on Sunday morning, followed by a press conference with the surviving Lanthanides and their newly acquired publisher, the high bidder of the auction. The last panel, authorship credited to George Woodard of Alluvial, listed the contents of the time capsule and a brief description of the mini-con weekend that led to its creation. One of the two back panels provided a map of the Gene C. Breedlove Lake area of east Tennessee, with instructions on how to get there by air or car, and the last panel said "MinstralWorld Productions" in the customary recognizable flourish." (pp. 71-72)

Ok, I have to admit, I picked this book for the title because it started with "Z" and would be acceptable for the A to Z Challenge. It also intrigued me because I'm not really into zombies and the story could take me out of my comfort zone. What I found was that Zombies of the Gene Pool is a fun mystery by Sharyn McCrumb about a science fiction writers' reunion that gathers to uncover their time capsule that was buried in Wall Hollow, Tennessee, in order to recover the lost manuscripts that could make them a lot of money.

"Pretty good name for a science fiction group, though," said Jay with a glint of mischief in his eyes. "The lanthanides are the rare-earth series of elements."
The older man nodded. "Yes, that was the real reason we chose it. We thought rare earth described our visions rather well. And, of course, the name itself - Lanthanides - is from the Greek lanthanein, meaning to be concealed, which is perfect for a secret society of adolescent crackpots." (p. 20)

Jay and Marion accompany a fellow professor, who was a Lanthanide, to the reunion only to find out that there is much more to this group of old writers than they expected. There are also secrets to be learned when the capsule is finally dug out of the mud from the drained Gene Pool, as the lake was affectionately nick-named. As for the zombies... an unexpected guest arrives the night before the trek to the farm, someone the writers thought had died years ago and knows the secrets that they don't want to admit.

I really enjoyed this mystery that doesn't read like a science fiction novel at all. I recommend Zombies of the Gene Pool by Sharyn McCrumb. It was a light and amusing read!

She's Come Undone

2009-10-08T08:31:00.005-04:00

In this extraordinary coming-of-age odyssey, Wally Lamb invites us to hitch a wild ride on a journey of love, pain, and renewal with the most heartbreakingly comical heroin to come along in years. At once a fragile girl and a hard-edged cynic, so tough to love yet so inimitably lovable, Dolores is as poignantly real as our own imperfections. (back cover)

I have to admit, when I started this audio book, I wasn't too sure how far I would continue to listen. A wild ride on a journey and heartbreaking are two very good phrases to describe this book. Dolores has a lot of events that twist and turn her life for the good and the bad. The story is explicit and sometimes very unsettling. However, it grabbed me and wouldn't let go! At one point, Dolores tells another character that it's all about violation. At another point, she tells another character it's all about love. Both sum up the story perfectly. I'm glad I stuck with She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. It was a heartbreaking book to get through, but worth the wild ride.

Firefly Beach

2009-09-17T17:30:00.001-04:00

"Why are you so quiet?" Peter asked,his rocker creaking on the wide floorboards.

"I'm worried about my sister."

"Skye? She's getting the help she needs --- if she'll take it . . . you know it's up to her in the end."

"Not Skye. Caroline."

"Why?"

Clea's eyes filled with tears. "She's so armor-coated. Every since we were little she's been that way. So busy looking out for us, making sure Skye and I were happy and taken care of."

"She's a good sister."

"The best," Clea said.

"So why are you worried about her?"

"I want her to fall in love," Clea said.

"She will when it's time." (p. 154)

Another great book by Luanne Rice, Firefly Beach tells the story of two families: the Renwicks and the Connors. Each family has had its fill of brokenness, dishonesty, and lack of trust. Each family has also experienced loss, abuse, and silence. Now each family is finally going to come to terms with their shared history and their quest for love and acceptance.

Caroline and Joe were pen pals and friends following a tragic event one Christmas Eve when they were young children. When Joe found out about the truth as a teen, he refused to keep in contact with his friend. Now an adult, he is in Connecticut bringing up a treasure that is legendary to Caroline's community. Finally Joe and Caroline meet for the first time. With all the complexities of Caroline's family and the hidden secrets that need to be completely revealed, do Caroline and Joe have a chance at love? Will the two soften their hearts from the past and love in the future? Plenty of events occur to help these two become friends again and lovers in the future.

Firefly Beach is, of course, a love story; but, it is also a story of discovery and family. I loved the setting, the thread of different kinds of recovery that is sewn throughout the story, and the happily-ever-after... maybe ending. I recommend this book to others, especially if you are a fan of Luanne Rice as much as I am.

Sunset In St. Tropez

2009-09-15T22:00:00.002-04:00

"Just when you think you have a sure thing in your hand, it all falls apart and you have to start at the beginning. And then when you think your life is over, it starts again and you get another chance. Maybe that's what makes life worth living." (Robert tells Gwen while staying at in St. Tropez)

I love Danielle Steel, so I was very excited to hear one of her books as an audio book. Sunset In St. Tropez has all that Steel usually offers but not as steamy. Three couples who have seemingly perfect lives plan for a joint vacation in the summer. They decide to rent a villa in St. Tropez that comes very well recommended. Then each couples' life encounters a few twists and turns before and during the vacation. The story includes infidelity, death, illness, strong friendships, and new love as well as a "gem" of a villa for the couples' vacation. Yes, the story is rather predictable but it is also heartbreaking, fun, and a pleasant read. I recommend Sunset In St. Tropez if you are looking for a shorter Danielle Steel book to read.

My Stroke Of Luck

2009-09-06T06:34:00.003-04:00

"This accident has been a gift to me, " he (Jim MacLaren) said. I (Kirk Douglas) was shocked.
"What do you mean?" I asked quizzically.
"I consider it a stroke of luck."
"What are you saying, a stroke of luck?"
"Yes, I was lucky, it changed me. I didn't like the guy I used to be."
I looked at him in astonishment. ... Why is it that some people get stronger with adversity, while others shrink? (p. 53)

Kirk Douglas is well known for his acting, but his struggles with recovery from a stroke is what inspired this short memoir entitled My Stroke Of Luck. A book of recovery, celebration, and inspiration, Douglas writes of his experiences during recovery to let others know that this life changing experience can and will change one's life, and with healing, support, and perseverance, it could be a stroke of luck that changes one's life for the better.

Sometimes, I feel like a cowboy, slowly riding my horse, Whiskey, into the sunset. As I lope along, I think of my life; after a stroke, I made two films with impaired speech. Now I am waiting for another part to play before the sun sinks below the horizon. You can't stop an actor. Like the Energizer bunny, "he keeps going, and going, and going..." (p. i)

My stroke had led me on a great adventure and changed me into a different person --- a person whom I like.
Happiness is a temporary state. Waves of depression continue to ebb and flow, a relentless tide, no matter how hard I strive to subdue them. I have learned to live with uncertainty, to know that in life, there are no guarantees. I have learned that no matter how much you believe your house to be a safe haven, a fortress against the dangers of living, the hand of fate can pass through to touch you lightly on the shoulder, to smite you or your loved ones, to draw, with a sharp pointed line, on your cheek, from your temple to your chin.
When you feel too weak to carry your burden, look to the actions of other human beings for inspiration. (pp. 163-164)

This is the basis of the book My Stroke Of Luck: inspiration. Kirk Douglas wanted other stroke victims to know that it's not an easy path during recovery, however the actions of others can help make that path a bit easier. This memoir was a short and easy read that I definitely enjoyed.

Year Of Wonders

2009-09-03T17:52:00.005-04:00

... and then he gave a great sigh. "How strange it is, Anna. Yesterday, I have filed in my mind as a good day, notwithstanding it was filled with mortal illness and the grieving of the recently bereft. Yet it is a good day, for the simple fact that no one died upon it. We are brought to a sorry state, that we measure what is good by such a shortened yardstick." (p.195)

Not my usual choice in subject matters to read, Year Of Wonders: A Novel Of The Plague by Geraldine Brooks is an interesting story of a village in England during the period of time when the Great Plague brought devastation to its country. The people of the Derbyshire village of Eyam decide to quarantine themselves from other communities with hopes of minimizing the spread of this horrid illness to others. However, no person is not touched in some way by the effects of this decision.

Based on a true story, Year of Wonders tells this story though its main character Anna. A young adult who loses both family members and friends to the Plague, Anna works hard in her village, along with their pastor Michael and his wife Elinor, to keep the community together and functioning. Balances of love and hate, trust and distrust, science and religion, and fear and bravery are all tested during the year of quarantine. Much is lost, but Anna finds a new direction and strength within herself as she struggles day by day to just survive physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed Year Of Wonders. I am not usually a big fan of historical fiction, but this one definitely grabbed my interest a quarter of the way through the book. I found the struggles interesting, found myself supporting Anna's changes and growth as a character, and found the ending a unique way to conclude an intense storyline. I recommend this book to others who enjoy historical fiction, particularly England in the 1660's when the Great Plague was such a threat.

Lifeguard

2009-08-30T19:45:00.006-04:00

Ned walks away from his job, his town, and the woman he's fallen in love with. Runs away, actually, knowing that only velocity and secrecy can save his life. But who is pursuing him? The FBI? Whoever sabotaged the heist? Or is it all somehow tied into his new love --- and his oldest enemies? (back cover of audio book)

Lifeguard by James Patterson & Andrew Gross has it all... a robbery, lots of enemies, pretty women, ultra-rich people, art, high-speed chases, and lots of secrecy... all the makings of a good mystery.

Ned Kelly seems to have a string of bad luck experiences throughout his life. Now he and his buddies have a chance to turn things around by pulling off an easy art heist. But something goes terribly wrong. Ned immediately finds himself on the run. He also finds himself becoming quite chummy with Ellie, one of the detectives assigned to investigate the missing art pieces. Does the botched job and his friends' deaths have ties to his past, his family, or his last woman? And exactly who can Ned trust to help clear his name?

I thoroughly enjoyed the audio book Lifeguard. There were enough twists and turns to keep it quite suspenseful. The narration was very good; although, the background music that played occasionally was a bit cheesy for me. And the action of the story kept me interested throughout the seven cds. I recommend this book to others.

While My Sister Sleeps

2009-08-22T15:35:00.000-04:00

The key, she realized..., was letting go. The past was gone. She couldn't get it back. Here was a new reality. Sad as it was to accept that, it brought calm.
Molly wanted to share the insight with her mother. Letting go wasn't a betrayal, but rather a pure form of love. But letting go entailed acceptance of reality... (p.188)

While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky is not a depressing book about a woman who doesn't wake up from her coma but rather a celebration of life, love, and letting go. The story revolves around the Snow family and Robin Snow, an accomplished runner who one day suffers a massive heart attack and remains in a coma. Robin's mother can not accept the fact that such a tragedy could happen to her oldest child; her father quietly supports his wife. Robin's two siblings see things differently: her brother Chris keeps things to himself and her sister Molly voices her feelings and opinions quite openly. While trying to figure out what her sister would want, Molly sorts through feelings, friendships, guilt, and Robin's personal journal, only to discover that Robin had kept secrets from her family....secrets that will change everyone's view of who Robin was and what she really thought about her life and family.

...the comparison was too strong to ignore. "She is who she is, which is a different person from who she was. When I let go of who I want her to be and love her for who she is, I feel calm." (p.245)

Along with the main story line are two parallel stories that support some of the book's themes. One tells of a young anorexic girl and another tells of a older family member who suffers from Alzheimer's. Also, demonstrations of denial and acceptance by the Snow family expose issues of health, privacy, and organ donation. Needless to say, this book that had me captivated from beginning to end.

Raising provocative questions about family ties, repercussions of the past, and the toughest choices a parent could ever have to make, While My Sister Sleeps is a novel that will give you much to discuss. (p.324)

I loved this book for many reasons. First, family is always one of my favorite story lines. Secondly, I really liked the roles that the two male characters, David and Charlie, play in the lives of the family's female characters. And thirdly, I liked the pace in which the facts unfolded in the story so that it supported the family's emotions, discoveries and actions. I highly recommend Barbara Delinsky's While My Sister Sleeps to others.

The End of the Alphabet

2009-08-16T20:00:00.002-04:00

On or about his fiftieth birthday, Ambrose Zephyr failed his annual medical exam. An illness of inexplicable origin with neither known nor foreseeable cure was discovered. It would kill him within the month. Give or take a day.
It was suggested he might want to make arrangements concerning his remaining time. (p. 5)

Those who knew him described Ambrose Zephyr as a better man than some. Wanting a few minor adjustments, they would admit, but didn't we all. His wife described him as the only man she had loved. Without adjustment. (p. 9)

The End Of The Alphabet: A Novel by C. S. Richardson is a short novel of life, love, and death. Ambrose Zephyr has always been obsessed with the alphabet. When he has a month to live, he creates a list from A to Z of places to visit before his death. His wife Zappora Ashkenazi, better known as Zipper, travels with him; but, she makes her own list from A to Z to cope with the impending loss of her beloved husband. Their travels are brief but give them time for reflection. The couple's perspectives of details and events are different yet blended. Ultimately, the couple are given a chance to live, relive, and understand their past, present, and future.

I found this novel an interesting read, almost a combination of novel and poetry. The writing is unique but it gives the story a very personal tone. Even the chapters are entitled in a special way. And the love story is beautiful, especially the final two chapters. I very much enjoyed The End Of The Alphabet.

eX Marks The Spot

2009-08-15T20:45:00.002-04:00

As his calloused pad feathered over her skin, it occurred to Andi they were alone in the empty shop, nested together like Russian dolls.
The same thought must have occurred to Dave. His thumb stilled. The air seemed to get heavy around them.
Andi sensed his intent a second or two before he leaned into her. Her pulse skipping and stuttering, she splayed a hand against his chest.
"Wait, Dave."
"For what?"
"This...this isn't smart."
"Maybe not," he murmured, his mouth a mere inch or two from hers. "Then again, it could be the smartest thing we've done in years." (p. 99)

EX Marks The Spot by Merline Lovelace is a Harlequin Next book that tells the story of Andrea and Dave Armstrong and their second chance together. Andi is forced to retire from the Air Force as a Colonel after contracting a bacterial infection. She moves to Florida and finds that her next door neighbor is none other than her ex-husband Dave. He is a Colonel in special ops that has always attracted her in many ways. Only one problem: their marriage fell apart a few years ago due to their careers and personal priorities. Now that Andi needs to begin her new civilian life, she finds herself going in directions she never imagined: dealing with the medical implications of her illness, opening a bookstore, becoming an active citizen in her new community, and falling for her ex once again. Dave never gave up on them, and he wants to make sure that Andi is aware of that fact. Can the two of them give love a second chance?

EX Marks The Spot was a fast, fun read that is perfect chick-lit. Love, mystery, and new beginnings, the story has a little something for everyone. I really enjoyed the book!

Autumn's Shadow

2009-08-06T22:00:00.004-04:00

"What happened to your first love?" Did someone hurt you? Is that why you have kept love at a distance?
The question startled her, but she leaned closer to him, drawn to him. She shook her head against his plaid shirt, felling his hard chest under the brushed cotton. "I never met anyone I wanted to be with for life."
"I never wanted to be close to anyone ever again," Burke admitted. "But, Keely, I want to be near you." His voice thickened as he forced himself to put his love for her into words. "So much has happened to keep us upset, to separated us. But could we take some time --- try to give our feelings for each other a chance?" He gazed into her large eyes, now reflecting moonlight flowing through the bow window. Please, Keely.
"Yes." (p. 304)

What has happened to keep Burke and Keely upset and separated in Lyn Cote's Autumn's Shadow? Only two delinquent relatives, a few dangerous pranks pulled at the high school of which Keely is principal, fights that have been broken up by Burke while he is on duty as a police officer, and fires that have been set throughout the town that seem to point to someone they know well. Add those events to a few personal matters: Keely and Burke having a tough time fighting their attraction to one another, a young teen undecided what to do with her baby, an alcoholic, abusive father that needs help, and a powerful father who seems to always bully his way into situations. All these elements make a great story of mystery and love.

Autumn's Shadow is a Heart Quest book and second in Lyn Cote's Northern Intrigue Series that I just happened to find on my local library's shelf. I think I have found a new series that I would like to continue and a new author that I need to read more of. I highly recommend this book to others.

Where Yesterday Lives

2009-08-02T20:30:00.000-04:00

Her mother raised an eyebrow. ... "It's true, you're a grown woman, Ellen. You can make your own choices. ..."
Ellen was silent.
"The years go by too quickly to waste them in silent prisons of hate."
With that, she turned around and headed for the kitchen, leaving Ellen speechless and overwhelmed. All her life she had thought her father to be the poetic one, the parent who could best relate to her creative side. But once in a while her mother would surprise her by coming up with something meaningful enough to be remembered for a lifetime. Silent prisons of hate. (pp. 288-289)

Where Yesterday Lives by Karen Kingsbury tells the story of a family torn apart from the past, brought together by the death of their father, and healed by their faith and love that goes deeper than any of them ever imagined. Each sibling has a slightly different perspective of the their childhood, their relationship with their parents, and their placement in the family dynamics. As close as the siblings believed they were as children, they find that they have many secrets between them that have been both intentionally and unintentionally kept from one another. Breaking down the walls between them will be the only way for them to come together to peacefully lay their beloved father to rest following a massive heart attack that took him without warning. Can the five siblings remember the good times from their past as they share the hidden secrets that have kept them apart so that they can heal when they need each other the most?

He seemed a million miles away, lost in some long ago memory.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Choices. Passages. Moments that make a difference for a lifetime." (p.316)

Focused primarily around the oldest sibling Ellen, Where Yesterday Lives is a very touching story about healing, family, and secrets. As the front cover claims: "Sometimes today's answers are hidden Where Yesterday Lives." This statement couldn't be more true as a central theme of this wonderful book by one of my favorite authors, Karen Kingsbury. I highly recommend this book!

My Hands Came Away Red

2009-07-26T17:45:00.001-04:00

Sunday night was supposed to be evening church or movies on TV. It was supposed to be baking cookies or talking to Scott on the phone. It was even supposed to be calculus homework. It was definitely not supposed to be hiding in the jungle, sitting in the dirt, eight of us crowded into a hollow formed by buttress roots jutting from a giant tree trunk.
I think we all wanted to leave the fire burning as the gloom gathered under the trees, but no one protested when Mani and Kyle scattered it, carefully smothering all flames. It still didn't make any sense to me. I couldn't work out why anyone would have followed us. But I couldn't make any sense of what had happened in the village either. (p. 127)

From the first page to the last, My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay had me entranced in a story about a team of teens that are hiking through the jungles of Indonesia after the village they were staying in is attacked by a neighboring village. Narrated by one of the teens, the story explores the strengths, weaknesses and faith of these teens as they fight for their lives.

Cori is unsure of what she wants to do with her future when it comes to school and love. She decides to join a summer mission team that will live ten weeks on one of the Spice Islands of Indonesia. The team will help the Christian community there build a church as well as entertain their children with puppet shows that will spread the Word. However there is much unrest between the Muslim villages and the Christian villages in the area, and violence soon finds their village, forcing the teens to escape into the jungle. Led by Mani, the pastor's son, and caring for his young sister Tina, both of whom are orphaned during the violent attack, the teens find themselves in a situation that they could never have imagined. They experience painful events that leave a permanent impression on their young lives and their faith. And the group develops a very special bond that will remain even after their ordeal has ended.

Publishers Weekly (July 2007) claims: "In this fast-paced, thought-provoking debut novel, McKay ... explores injustice, religious reconciliation, suffering and faith ... one of Christian fiction's best novels of the year." (back cover)

I definitely agree with this review! Each character has a distinct role in the group's survival, and the events that the teens experience during their ordeal help mold the direction of the story. Very descriptive and very heart wrenching, I have to say that My Hands Came Away Red is one of the best books that I have read this summer. I loved the book and highly recommend it to others.

The Apprentice

2009-07-20T22:00:00.000-04:00

The Apprentice: My Life in the Kitchen by Jacques Pepin is a memoir about the well known chef who was brought up in the kitchens of France. Pepin's story is a bit slow moving and my busy schedule has not allowed me to progress very far into the book. I do hope to pick it up again at another time, as it did keep my interest through the pages that I was able to read.

Fieldwork

2009-07-08T18:30:00.004-04:00

Martiya invited Karen for coffee, and the two women talked. It was an irony, Martiya said: eighty years after Bronislaw Malinowski told all the anthropologists to get off the veranda of the mission house and go and live with the natives, the only people in all the world who seemed to share Martiya's obsessive interest and fascination with the Dyalo were a family of missionaries huddled in Chiang Mai, waiting for the world to end.
"Uh-huh," said Karen, who years later would feel extremely guilty about her response. (p. 281)

Fieldwork: A Novel by Mischa Berlinski is a story written in much the same way that the book is entitled, as a reporter's fieldwork after he becomes interested in the mystery surrounding a woman who was imprisoned in Thailand. The reporter is Mischa Berlinski himself. His stories on one level weave a tale about an anthropologist by the name of Martiya who was studying the Dyalo people in Thailand, was arrested for murder, and then later committed suicide in prison. On another level, his story is the culmination of two years research after spending time with people and letters from Martiya's past and trying to figure out her story. The reporter spends time conducting his own fieldwork to learn more about anthropology, missionaries, and the Dyalo culture; all this to understand why Martiya murdered another person.

The book is divided into five parts and an epilogue, each telling one facet of the story. Rich in detail, the reader will soon get lost in the jungles of Thailand and forget that this is a fictional work. However, the author states: This novel began not as fiction but as a history of the conversion of the Lisu people of northern Thailand to Christianity. Then one afternoon, I woke up from a long nap with a plot in my head, and my history became a novel. At that moment, I abandoned any intention I had to tell a true story. The Dyalo do not exist, except in these pages. None of this stuff happened to anyone. (p. 351)

I found Fieldwork very interesting and I especially liked the style in which it was written. I also appreciated the author's notes at the end of the book regarding his sources as well as the interview I found on his website about the background of the story. Although this book may not be of interest to everyone, I very much enjoyed it and recommend it to others who like a detailed book that takes a look at the balance between science and missionaries in third world regions of the world.

The Midwife's Apprentice

2009-06-28T22:00:00.000-04:00

She thought all that wet afternoon and finally, as she served Magister Reese his cold-beef-and-bread supper, she cleared her throat a time or two and then softly answered: "I know what I want. A full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world."

Magister Reese looked up at her in surprise. "You ask a lot for an inn girl. I thought you'd say a sweetheart or a yellow ribbon for your black hair."

"No, this is what I want, but it is my misfortune instead to be hungry, out of humor, and too stupid to be a midwife's apprentice."

"None so stupid," he said. "You can read as well as the cat."

Alyce smiled. And so winter turned to spring. (P. 81)

The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman is the 1996 winner of the Newbery Medal and tells the story of a young orphan found by Jan the Midwife in a dung heap early one morning. First called Beetle and then later named Alyce, the young girl finds her way into the community first as an assistant to the midwife, then as an inn girl, and finally as a midwife's apprentice. Her struggle to become a respectable member of the community to the midwife, the residents, and most importantly to herself is frustrating and yet endearing. Alyce's wants are not major, but she works hard to achieve them in her young, hard life. I very much enjoyed this book and recommend it to others.

Metro Girl

2009-06-22T17:15:00.002-04:00

What kind of story pairs Metro Girl with Nascar Guy to find Wild Bill after he disappears in Miami? Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich is a very funny adventure that includes a treasure hunt, bad guys, and unusual friends. The audio version made for a hilarious experience while commuting to work each day. Evanovich's attention to character and dialogue is definitely evident in the narrator's interpretation of this book. (C.J. Critt is the narrator.) And this new (2004) story was a nice redirection for the author who is well known for her Stephanie Plum books.

Alexandra "Barney" Barnaby is looking for her brother Bill after she receives a late night call in which he informs her that he will be gone for a while; this, followed by a scream. Barney heads to Miami to find her brother. It appears that Bill has taken Sam Hooker's boat, and Hooker, a Nascar driver, is not very happy about it. After some investigation, Barney and Hooker discover that Bill and his latest girlfriend Maria are searching for some gold bars that have some historical ties with Cuba and Maria's family. Once the pieces start to fall into place, the chase begins.

I loved this book, but I think a lot of the enjoyment came from the fact that it was an audio book. I found myself laughing out loud, finishing the character's lines, and making comments to the storyline as I listened to the misadventures of the two main characters. The end of the audio book also provided a short interview with the author, Janet Evanovich. A light and silly book, Metro Girl was definitely worth the time to listen to and it made my drive to work a bit more fun as well!

A Little Love Story

2009-06-21T15:30:00.001-04:00

Just before we crossed the rise, I looked back again and saw the door was closed and the light still showing in the window and I knew he was praying for us then, asking whatever saints and spirits might be out there to watch over us, help us not to turn bitter and hard, not to be afraid.

I didn't feel any of those things as we made our way across the monastery hayfield in the moonlight --- not bitter, not afraid. I felt then, for some reason, that life was larger and more complicated than I'd ever thought. You couldn't always be sure where bad luck ended and good luck began. You had to just endure certain things, and let time pass, and try to keep the gates open at the edges of your mind. (p. 102)

Jake met a woman one night when she backed her car into his truck while he was at the donut shop celebrating his one year of self-imposed celibacy. Neither one was ready to start a new relationship, but their love story becomes as unique as they are in the novel A Little Love Story by Roland Merullo. Jake is a carpenter and painter; he's from a family that currently includes a drug addict and a monk for siblings. Janet is a personal assistant to the governor; she's from a background of guilt and illness. Their story includes trust, jealousy, bravery, humor, and support. It also includes a debilitating disease, Cystic Fibrosis. But their love grows in a very special way as they learn from one another about the meaning of happiness and healing.

She stopped and rested again. She coughed, looked away from me. "Until I met you, I never cared about living very much. I'd had so much time to get ready for the idea of being dead, you know. And being stuck in this body was not exactly a picnic."

I started to say something, but she waved at me not to.

"When you jumped in the river that time after I fell in, and you came up sputtering and slicked your hair back and it was all standing straight up, at that minute I started to care. I wanted to have some fun with you. I wanted to see if . . . I've never had that much real luck with men. I mean, I had boyfriends I liked, I had enough sex. But I always felt there had to be some deeper level of intimacy that I could get to, some truer connection I could feel . . . So now I know I was right about that, and I know what it feels like, and I want a few more years of it. That's what makes it shitty." She flung one hand, palm-inward, toward the window. "But I can deal with everything else, the fear and the mess and all the ugliness and everything. I just wanted to tell you that. I just want you to be able to deal with it, too." (pp. 196-197)

An extremely touching story told by the male character, A Little Love Story explores the strength and sacrifices that love brings to a very special couple. I loved this book and recommend it to others.

Digital Fortress

2009-06-15T22:30:00.002-04:00

Susan's mind was racing --- Ensei Tankado wrote a program that creates unbreakable codes! She could barely grasp the thought.

"Digital Fortress," Strathmore said. "That's what he's calling it. It's the ultimate counterintelligence weapon. If this program hits the market, every third grader with a modem will be able to send codes the NSA can't break. Our intelligence will be shot."

But Susan's thoughts were far removed from the political implications of Digital Fortress. She was still struggling to comprehend its existence. She'd spent her life breaking codes, firmly denying the existence of the ultimate code. Every code is breakable --- the Bergofsky Principle! She felt like an atheist coming face to face with God.

"If this code gets out," she whispered, "cryptography will become a dead science."

Strathmore nodded. "That's the least of our problems." (p. 38)

Digital Fortress by Dan Brown includes coded messages, suspense, a love story, international drama, and a plot with plenty of twists and turns. I've read the author's two other books that are quite popular (Angels & Demons and The Da Vinci Code), so I was anxious to try this one that dealt with computers instead of the Church. And I was not let down as a reader.

Susan Fletcher, the head of the NSA's Cryptography Division, must help break a code that is holding her agency's computer TRANSLTR hostage. Her fiancee has mysteriously been sent to Spain to find the pass-key. Employees that happen to be in the office on this particular weekend are slowly discovering that something major is happening in the secretive department that houses the closely guarded computer. And Susan's boss seems to be more involved in the situation that she originally suspected. Susan soon finds she is not sure who or what to trust. Lives are at stake and so is the security of our country's secrets.

I very much enjoyed Digital Fortress and recommend it to others who enjoy Dan Brown's books. It is true to Brown's style and the story was an easy, quick, and suspenseful read that kept me turning the pages from beginning to end.

An Hour to Live, an Hour to Love

2009-06-08T20:30:00.000-04:00

This is a love story, but it also reveals a love affair with life. Our love is an example of what is possible in all relationships. Any one of us can take the time to notice and appreciate the gifts of any significant person, whether it is a spouse, parent, child, brother, sister, teacher, or friend. Why do we hold back what is in our hearts and take for granted those special people with whom we spend the most time? People want to know that they lived well, and loved well, and each of us has the power to share this gift. The most important question we can ask is: What kind of relationships do we want to have, and how can we nourish others so that we are nourished? Why wait to share the meaning of those relationships and withhold the gift of giving the most extraordinary kind of love --- heartfelt appreciation? We can all leave this world as complete as Richard did by taking the time to reflect on the meaning of our most significant connections and how we can best serve. Why are you waiting? (pp. 49-50)

An Hour to Live, an Hour to Love: The True Story of the Best Gift Ever Given by Richard Carlson and Kristine Carlson is a tribute in memory of Richard Carlson by his wife Kristine after his sudden death a few years ago. On their 18th anniversary, Richard presented Kristine with a letter that addresses the questions "If you had one hour to live and could make just one phone call, who would you call? What would you say? And why are you waiting?" Kristine found it a beautiful piece of writing that expressed Richard's love of life and his love for his family. The first part of the book is the letter she received on their anniversary and the second part is a reflection by Kristine of that letter. A touching book that demonstrates the idea of eternal love, the reminder of living each day as if it were the last, and the gift of a special relationship between two people, An Hour to Live, an Hour to Love is a brief book (only 60 pages) that will leave the reader with a very warm feeling inside. The book is a nice reminder of the special love we share with the people in our lives. I especially enjoyed the poem at the end.

I think I will go hug my loved ones now.

Eventide

2009-06-04T20:45:00.005-04:00

Carrie had so much to say to Graham. Years of dialogue, ages of stories. It was as if they were nearly one person --- or two sides of a coin. So alike, and yet so completely different. Their lives had viewed completely different worlds. Now, here, they faced each other again.
She wanted to know if she'd been wrong. Was it sin, failure, obsession? She hadn't really carried the torch for him; there was a life to prove it, and yet, had he ever left her? Was a little part of "laying down your life for your friends" also holding a bit of love for someone whom everyone would say to forget?
God, I have to know. Don't I need to know?
...
"Carrie," Graham said, and she marveled at hearing him speak her name again. "What's it all for?" he asked again.
Another of the questions without answers, she thought. And yet, Carrie knew with a peaceful setting inside that it was okay; the answers were unanswerable, at least in this world. But she'd know in just a little while.
She said with eyes closed, "Maybe everything is really all about eternity." (pp.263-264)

Eventide: the time from when the sun begins to set until total darkness has descended. Eventide by Cindy Martinusen is just that, a story about that reflective time when a day, a love, a secret, or a life comes to its end. Three lives that were involved over twenty years ago are again brought together when one of them is dying, one of them is trying to find out secrets from the past, and one of them is still trying to escape secrets from the past. As young adults, Carrie and Graham shared a very special first love for a very short time. It ended badly. Lauren, a devoted friend, helps Carrie overcome her broken heart. Each then moves on from their injured pasts to journey forward in life in ways they see best. But are they accepting, ignoring, or escaping what haunts them most?

How poignant. How like him. His life was all about keeping secrets alive, living with their pain, holding them close. And yet, he didn't want to face those secrets, didn't want them shown in the light. Yes, it was always about what he hadn't done. The promises he hadn't kept, and the dark secrets he held like a knife to jab his own chest. (p.297)

Lauren discovers that Graham was supposed to have buried a box in Italy the summer that he and Carrie fell in love. She locates Graham and asks for the box's location, then informs him that Carrie is dying. Lauren begins an adventure that is out of her nature; but, she ignores this fact and goes through with it for her best friend Carrie. Graham, in the meantime, finds himself docking in Harper's Bay. He feels that he owes Carrie an explanation so that she can be at peace. He also worries about his secret that was left in the buried box, a secret that he has been running from for most of his life that needs to be reconciled. Carrie is preparing for her imminent death. She wants the people that she loves to understand that she has few regrets for the short life she has lived and accepted. She also hopes that her secret in the buried box will help someone discover a past that needs to be revealed.

God wanted her trust, not just her devotion, she realized. Trust and faith --- it was walking blindly sometimes and believing in the One who held your hand. (p. 302)

A beautiful story of trust and faith, life and death, love and fear, Eventide portrays each in a simple and touching way. I very much enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to others.

Bungalow 2

2009-05-25T22:00:00.002-04:00

She turned up at the Beverly Hills Hotel two weeks later, and checked into Bungalow 2. She felt like a boomerang by now. She kept coming back to the same place. Like a bad penny that kept turning up. She rearranged the furniture the way she liked it, put out the photographs of the children, and got in the tub and turned on the Jacuzzi, and then sat smiling to herself. It felt good. It was like coming home. (p. 277)

Tanya Harris: devoted wife, mother of three, freelance writer. Tanya is more than satisfied with her almost too good to be true life of family, friends, and writing short stories and scripts for tv soap operas. Her dream is to some day write a screenplay for a movie in Hollywood. One day her agent calls with an offer to make that dream come true. Tanya's husband convinces her to take the once in a lifetime opportunity. Two of her kids support the decision; one makes her feel the decision is an act of desertion and betrayal to their family. Tanya's best friend offers help the family during her absence. Not wanting to waste this exciting chance to take her writing to the next level, Tanya decides to write a screenplay for a famous producer who asked for her personally. She moves into Bungalow 2 at the Beverly Hills Hotel for the next nine months while working on the film. Then, life throws its curve balls and Tanya begins to experience a whole new life.

Bungalow 2 by Danielle Steel is a typical "get lost in the story" novel by this author. Somewhat predictable at times, I found myself rooting for Tanya almost from the start. I enjoyed this book from cover to cover and recommend it to other lovers of Danielle Steel.

Whitethorn Woods

2009-05-17T16:45:00.002-04:00

Father Brian Flynn, the curate at St. Augustine's, Rossmore, hated the Feast Day of St. Ann with a passion that was unusual for a Catholic priest. But then, as far as he knew he was the only priest in the world who had a thriving St. Ann's well in his parish, a holy shrine of dubious origin. A place where parishioners gathered to ask the mother of the Virgin Mary to intercede for them in a variety of issues, mainly matters intimate and personal. (p. 9)

Father Flynn had an old battered car to take him on his travels. He rarely used it within the town of Rossmore itself since the traffic was very bad and parking almost impossible. There were rumors that a great bypass would be built, a wide road taking the heavy trucks. Already people were in two minds about it. Some were saying that it would take the life out of the place, others claimed that it would return to Rossmore some of its old character. (pp. 18-19)

The new road would run through Whitethorn Woods and, thus, through the shrine as well. This has created a controversy between neighbors in Rossmore. Maeve Binchy's Whitethorn Woods is a collection of stories within a story about the community of Rossmore and its families and friends. Each story is narrated by two different characters that are related in some way. And each story has some kind of connection to the St. Ann's well found in Whitethorn Woods. Stories of family, stories of old and new love, and stories of various discoveries bring together a collection of characters who have been affected by the shrine or by those who have visited it. Believers and non-believers alike, the community isn't ready to acknowledge the changes that will happen to the town of Rossmore when the construction begins. But their tales do tell quite a history.

I found Whitethorn Woods entertaining with its lighted-hearted stories that weave together a novel of "The Road, The Woods, and The Well." It is a change of pace from Maeve Binchy's usual novels. I enjoyed the book, though not as much as other books that I have read by this author who continues to be one of my favorites.

The Pearl

2009-05-08T18:57:00.007-04:00

... a pearl as large as a sea gull's egg, as "perfect as the moon." With the pearl comes hope, the promise of comfort and of security . . . . When the news of Kino's great find --- the "pearl of the world" --- spreads through the small town, no one suspects its power to deceive, to corrupt, to destroy. (back cover of book)

I love John Steinbeck, so I was excited to read yet another book by this author. The Pearl is an easy, quick reading Mexican folk tale that makes one reconsider how a great find can create a life changing experience. Centered around Kino, his wife Juana, and their infant Coyotito, the story describes the events following Kino's capture of a precious pearl. The young family's life changes drastically as they struggle to decide what to do with the treasure that is supposed to bring them good fortune. I enjoyed this book and recommend The Pearl to others.

Series Challenge Season 3 - Completed

2009-05-05T21:00:00.002-04:00

I have completed another challenge, and because of this challenge I have also completed a fourteen book series. This season I read the final four books of Karen Kingsbury's Baxter Family Drama, called the Sunrise Series:

Sunrise

Summer

Someday

Sunset

I highly recommend Karen Kingsbury as an author as well as this entire series that includes: the Redemption Series, the Firstborn Series, and the Sunrise Series.

And thank you Kathrin for hosting the Series Challenge again this year!