A Reading Journey

Review: Matched

2011-02-07T16:09:00.000-05:00

Title: Matched
Author: Ally Condie
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (November, 2010)
Pages: 384
Book Source: ARC from Publisher

Ally Condie's new novel Matched opens with Cassia Reyes confronting her future as planned out by the authorities of the very controlled society that she lives in. While she is excited to discover who her match is and what her assigned career will be, she is also beginning to think for herself and question the way things are. Set in a future where everything in society runs perfectly and everyone's needs are met, this novel challenges the reader to think about the systems which we rarely even notice let alone question. It makes you wonder what our future societies will be like and who will be in control.

Matched is a compelling dystopian novel that is aimed at an audience of 12 and up. It is very character driven and the issues that are raised through the characters are universal to young people everywhere. Will you go along with the crowd, or will you make your own path? How to recognize true love and how to remain loyal to your friends. Cassie has to decide whether to remain within the safety of her known controlled environment, or allow her creativity and individuality to flourish. But does Cassie even have any individuality, or is even her rebellion predictable?

I really enjoyed this novel even though it was written for youth. I love the political ideas that come through as well as the easy to follow story line and the likable characters. This novel was all about the confusion and questioning that is part of being a human trying to make individual life choices in the midst of societies structures. The plot of this story is not finished and once you finish you will be eager for the next installment.

Author Site: http://www.allysoncondie.com/

Review: Their Eyes Were Watching God

2011-02-06T18:01:00.008-05:00

Title: Their Eyes Were Watching God
Author: Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960)
Publisher: HarperPerennial Modern Classics: 2006
Original Publication: 1937
Pages: 205

From Cover: One of the most important works of twentieth-century American literature, Zora Neale Hurston's beloved 1937 classic, Their Eyes Were Watching God, is an enduring Southern love story sparkling with wit, beauty, and heartfelt wisdom. Told in the captivating voice of a woman who refuses to live in sorrow, bitterness, fear or foolish romantic reams, it is the story of fair-skinned, fiercely independent Janie Crawford, and her evolving selfhood through three marriages and a life marked by poverty, trials, and purpose. A true literary wonder, Hurston's masterwork remains as relevant and affecting today as when it was first published - perhaps the most widely read and highly regarded novel in the entire canon of African American literature.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this novel. It really captured the spirit of the character Janie Crawford and her courageous approach to life. The story is told in third person using local dialect for the dialog. The voice of the narrator comes through so strong and clearly - it sets the tone for the entire tale. The setting was intriguing and vividly painted. The story was framed with Janie's return home and flashed back to tell the story of her life. She starts out letting other people make her choices for her but soon learns that this has landed her in a place where her soul is not allowed room to breath.

I did find it a little slow going at times, but I am still glad that I read it. Their Eyes Were Watching God really gives the reader insight into the complexities , trials and joys of a unique individual's existence. Janie is an inspirational character because she took a great risk in order to truly engage with life. She was not selfish in her desire for happiness and she had her fair share of hardships and tragedy. Such a full range of emotions were present in this book. This novel highlighted the dreary realities of life as well as the magic and simplicity to be found if one is willing to grasp the opportunities that come along.

Short Quotes:

"There are years that ask questions and years that answer them." (p.21)
_____________
"... ever since the first tiny bloom had opened. It had called her to come and gaze on a mystery... It was like a flute song forgotten in another existence and remembered again." (p.10)
_____________
"Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered, things enjoyed, things done and undone. Dawn and doom was in the branches." (p. 8)

Review: The Strange Case of the Composer and his Judge

2010-09-25T13:46:00.008-04:00

Title: The Strange Case of the Composer and His Judge
Author: Patricia Duncker
Publisher: Bloomsbury (2010)
Pages: 260
Book Source: Review copy from Publisher

Back Cover Summary: The bodies are discovered on New Year's Day: sixteen dead in the freshly fallen snow. The adults lie stiff in a semicircle; the children, in pajamas and overcoats, are curled at their feet.

When he gets the report, Commissaire Andre Schweigen knows just who to call: Judge Dominique Carpentier, also known as the "sect hunter". She is the recognized expert in this field, brilliant and relentlessly rational, but Schweigen has his own reasons for wanting her on his case. In the vacated chalet, the investigators uncover an encoded book of celestial maps that points them to the inhospitable doorstep of a composer, Friedrich Grosz. But as the skeptical sect hunter earns the Composer's trust, she finds herself drawn into a world of complex family ties and ancient cosmic beliefs, unable - and increasingly unwilling - to escape.

Interrogating faith, immortality, and passion, The Strange Case of the Composer and His Judge is a metaphysical mystery of extraordinary power.

My Thoughts: I found it difficult to decide if I liked this book or not. I was puzzled by the style and pace. It was quite an intriguing read and certainly left an impression - a confusing one. It raised some interesting issues about the tensions between faith, reason and emotion. You are best to judge for yourself if The Strange Case of the Composer and His Judge sounds like the type of book you would like.

The mass suicide that the novel opened with set the story up like a traditional suspense/murder mystery type thing, but as I read on it became apparent that it was just an introduction to a much wider scope of issues. The title was very well chosen. The book is focused on the characters (the Composer and the Judge) puzzling relationship more that it is about any specific crime or events. As the Composer leads the Judge on a strange journey into the heart of his belief system, the Judge struggles to keep control of the relationship. She finds herself intellectually and emotionally off center where her rational mind and disdain for religious cults is no protection against the Composer. "... the Faith had proved to be the one sect that had piqued her interest and commanded her attention, precisely because it was not fraudulent or corrupt."(p.240)

As the Judge collects more information about the cult and spends more time with its leader, the Composer, she finds herself drawn to him and to his daughter. She struggles with her feelings while continuing to investigate the cult. Everything builds to a crescendo when the Judge has to decide if she will accept the role that the Composer wants her to take on.

A Quote: "She saw him clearly at last, beyond her reach, his arms raised in triumph, his face transfigured with certainty and joy."(p.252)

Review: A Hope Undaunted

2010-09-22T11:26:00.005-04:00

Title: A Hope Undaunted: A Novel
Author: Julie Lessman
Publisher: Revell (2010)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Romance
Pages: 505
Book Source: Free copy from Publicist for review

Publisher Summary (from back cover):
The 1920s are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O'Connor is the epitome of the new woman - smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jack fits all her criteria for a husband - good-looking, well-connected, wealthy, and eating out of her hand. But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Luck McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face-to-face with a choice. Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jack? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever?

My Thoughts:
When offered this book for review I accepted because it was set in the 20s and I love that time period (and the cover stood out). I probably should have known that it would not really be my kind of thing. Right from the beginning I knew who Katie would end up with and the author really dragged the process out by including a fair few twists and what-have you that kept the two apart when it was obvious that it would happen eventually. So the suspense was lacking, but to be fair, that is often the case with romance novels. I was hoping that the era would really come through in the setting, but it did not. The focus was on the characters and the 1920s setting seemed incidental. The plot was quite detailed and if you like romance books you may enjoy this one. I would put it at mildly entertaining.

Additional Information: A Hope Undaunted is the first in a series called "Winds of Change". The authors website is at www.julielessman.com

This and That: An Update

2010-09-22T11:12:00.004-04:00

Hi all,

Sorry that I don't post very often these days. I have kind of gotten out of the habit of posting on a regular basis. Just lazy with it I guess. I do still read a lot though and I have a very long list of books that I have read but not yet reviewed. None of these books stand out as being exceptional. I did see a movie on Net Flicks recently that I absolutely loved. It is called Bright Star (2009) and is about John Keats. Have any of you seen it?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0810784/

Also, last night I went to Portsmouth NH Music Hall to hear Margaret Atwood speak about her book Year of the Flood. She has such a sense of humor! It was very entertaining to listen to her. I am not sure when it will be posted, but the full audio should be available at this link some time soon: http://www.nhpr.org/node/10072 So if you are an Atwood fan keep a look out for it.

I hope to post some book reviews soon ... so don't give up on me yet!

A Literary Excursion: Waldon Pond

2010-08-25T08:59:00.001-04:00

Waldon Pond

The photo above is a replica of author Henry David Thoreau's cabin in the woods

where he went to "live deliberately."

Waldon Pond in the Summer time.

Review: Think of a Number

2010-08-23T09:02:00.000-04:00

Title: Think of a Number
Author: John Verdon
Publisher: Crown Publishers (2010)
Pages: 432
Book Source: ARC from Publisher

Think of a Number opens with the arrival of an intriguing poem which claims to know all the secrets of the recipient - including the ability to read his mind. This first letter is followed up by other poems that increase the level of threat and develop the suspenseful plot of the novel. The protagonist Dave Gurney has recently retired from the NYPD where he had quite a reputation for his investigative successes. Dave follows the trail of clues as multiple murders occur and tensions build. Between the cryptic poems and the very unusual murder scenes Dave and the local police have there work cut out for them.

I really enjoyed this novel. It was paced very evenly and the protagonist was developed in enough detail to come through as a complex human being - not just defined by his role as the investigator of the murders. The plot is quite complex and suspenseful without being overwhelmingly so. I was able to follow along and I enjoyed the resolution. I was not bothered by too many loose ends left unresolved. I liked the psychological detail of the murderer as well as the detective Dave Gurney. I don't often read thrillers and was impressed by this one. This is John Verdon's first novel and is satisfyingly well written. I would certainly read more of his work if he continues to write.

Product Review: TV Stand

2010-08-21T13:31:00.000-04:00

I posted a few weeks ago that I was soon going to be doing a product review for CSN Stores and I am just now getting to it. The item I ended up choosing was a TV stand because the one we had was a cabinet that I had moved upstairs for anther purpose - which left us with the TV sitting on the floor and us having to sit on the floor to get down to a level to view it comfortably. Which was not comfortable at all!So here is the TV stand that we ordered from CSN Stores. It came quickly and was delivered to our door. My husband put it together quite easily. Nothing was missing or went wrong and I did not hear any swearing during the construction process. The TV stand is sturdy and attractive. I like the clean and simple design. It obviously looks a lot better than the mess of cords and remotes that we had on the floor. So overall I am very happy with the product and the whole process of ordering and delivery went very smoothly.

Library Photos: Bedford Public Library

2010-08-05T15:42:00.002-04:00

Bedford Public Library

Note: If you have an interesting library building or library statue photo that you would like posted in this series please email me: thereadingjourney@gmail.com

Review: Stash

2010-08-01T10:31:00.000-04:00

Title: Stash
Author: David Klein
Publisher: Broadway Books (2010)
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 352
Book Source: ARC from Publisher

When Gwen Rain decides to buy a small bag of marijuana from an old friend she has no idea how this decision will affect her life. It sets off a chain of events that she has little control over and shows up all the cracks in her seemingly perfect world. Gwen is forced to make many moral choices and by the end of it all two people are dead and she is left with questions about her own role in those deaths. For this stay at home mum the whole situation is out of her range of normal and causes a lot of anxiety for herself and her family.

Stash is all about the moral dilemma's that are part of contemporary suburban life. It poses questions about how individuals deal with the pressures of modern day existence while also maintaining some level of ethical responsibility for their actions. In the confusion and stress of juggling marriage, family, career and financial pressures sometimes one small choice can bring everything crashing down.

Stash is written from multiple perspectives and is quite suspenseful and fast paced. The writing style as well as the content had a very contemporary feel. It is a very plot driven book and the characters are not as thoroughly developed as I generally like. Some characters seemed a bit stereotypical and lacked individuality. The novel was interesting because of its themes and held my attention because of the fast paced and fairly complex plot, but was quite a broad description of suburban life. I would have liked to see creative descriptive details and a greater level of uniqueness so that this book would be more impacting and memorable.

Review: The Lace Reader

2010-07-19T09:57:00.000-04:00

Title: The Lace Reader: A Novel
Author: Brunonia Barry
Publisher: Harper (2006)
Pages: 385
Genre: Fiction
Book Source: My Own Copy

Towner Whitney comes back to her home town Salem MA because her aunt has disappeared. Towner had run away years ago from all the heavy issues and secrets in her family and she finds it difficult to return and face it all. Towner comes from a line of women who can read the future in the patterns of lace.

The Lace Reader is told in the first person by Towner, but she is revealed to be an unreliable narrator who's perspectives and memories are tainted by her own mental illness. It is a fairly complex story that is unpredictable. Brunonia Barry unfolds her story piece by piece to reveal the characters and events in a mysterious and sometimes confusing way. Each chapter begins with a little excerpt from "The Lace Reader's Guide" and this sets the tone for that chapter's events.

I thought it was quite intriguing how this book was written from the perspective of someone who has had to endure a lot of tragedy and has been unable to cope with it all. It really gets the reader to think about what it would be like to process through your past when you can not even trust your own mind and memories. There are a lot of issues (such as childhood abuse, death of a loved one, psychological problems etc) that get brought up in this novel and it would not be a good choice if you are looking for a light, fun read. It is easy to loose track and get confused while reading this novel, so you need to just flow with it and not expect to sort it all out as you go. Even at the end I still felt a little unsure if I had gotten it all sorted. Right at the end we discover new information that makes you feel like you need to re-read it to see if it makes sense in light of the final discovery.

Review: Leaving the World

2010-07-16T09:55:00.004-04:00

Title: Leaving the World
Author: Douglas Kennedy
Publisher: Atria Paperback (2010)
Genre: Fiction
Book Source: Free copy from publisher

Publisher Description:
On the night of her thirteenth birthday, Jane Howard made a vow to her warring parents: she would never get married, and she would never have children.

But life, as Jane comes to discover, is a profoundly random business. Many years and many lives later, she is a professor in Boston, in love with a brilliant, erratic man named Theo. And then Jane becomes pregnant. Motherhood turns out to be a great welcome surprise—but when a devastating turn of events tears her existence apart she has no choice but to flee all she knows and leave the world.

Just when she has renounced life itself, the disappearance of a young girl pulls her back from the edge and into an obsessive search for some sort of personal redemption. Convinced that she knows more about the case than the police do, she is forced to make a decision—stay hidden or bring to light a shattering truth.

Leaving the World is a riveting portrait of a brilliant woman that reflects the way we live now, of the many routes we follow in the course of a single life, and of the arbitrary nature of destiny. A critically acclaimed international bestseller, it is also a compulsive read and one that speaks volumes about the dilemmas we face in trying to navigate our way through all that fate throws in our path.

My Thoughts:
Leaving the World was an entertaining book that kept me interested throughout. There was certainly a lot going on plot wise. (A little too much to be easily believable actually.) It is told in the first person and the narration flows well. Jane, the protagonist, is a character who is easy to warm to because of her flaws and complications. There are a lot of quirky supporting characters that help to add interest also. The book is divided into sections that correspond to major changes in Jane's life. Some segments seemed to work better than others. I didn't really enjoy the later part where Jane gets caught up in the case of a missing teenage girl. It just didn't seem to fit into the way I would expect Jane to behave.

Douglas Kennedy began Leaving the World with Jane's thirteen year old self vowing to remain single and childless. He then explored how this influenced her subsequent decisions. I thought he did well at portraying Jane as a hurt child who spends much of her adult life trying to protect herself and also gain the love she craves -to basically replace what was missing from her childhood. While it is not some work of great literature, overall Leaving the World was engaging and enjoyable to read. It was quite tragic at times and had some interesting suggestions about the outcomes of ones life choices.

Coming Soon ....

2010-06-26T18:51:00.008-04:00

Hi everyone,

I have been offered to do a product review for CSN Stores. I normally only review books, but I thought it might be fun to branch out every now and again. I did a book case giveaway for CSN a while ago and it went well, so this time I am going to do a review. My only trouble is choosing something to review. I have been browsing around their websites and there are a few things that interested me.

I like this poster because it reminds me of my two daughters swinging on the tree swing at their grandparents home:
I also like this contemporary zen vanity:But then again, how about this shoe?I will probably go with something practical in the end though - you will just have to wait and see!

Poem: A Book

2010-06-24T19:14:00.003-04:00

A Book

There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!

- By Emily Dickinson

Library Photos

2010-06-22T19:20:00.002-04:00

Goffstown Public Library

This library in Goffstown New Hampshire was build in 1909.

Review: A Wedding In December

2010-06-21T13:37:00.004-04:00

Title: A Wedding In December
Author: Anita Shreve
Publisher: Back Bay Books (2006)
Pages: 352
Genre: Fiction
Book Source: My Own Copy

In A Wedding In December Anita Shreve tells the story of seven former classmates who come together for a weekend to celebrate a wedding between two of there group. Set at an inn in the stunning Berkshire Mountains, the complex characters gradually unfold to the reader. We learn about their shared history as well as the issues they currently face. The plot of this novel is very simple and provides the backdrop for the revelations and memories of the characters. The group's get together proves to be very important because there are some ghosts that need to be laid to rest involving a shared tragedy from their final year of high school.

Stories that feature numerous characters like this on, is not to my personal taste. I prefer a reading experience that takes me deeply into one unbroken, consecutive thread. That being said, A Wedding In December did keep my interest even though it wove around past and present as well as featuring many different characters. I enjoyed one character in particular who was writing a historical story piece by piece through the novel. It was interesting to see how she worked out some of her own emotions through the creation of imagined characters. Overall, I felt like this novel had a sad and nostalgic tone to it because all the characters life choices are being evaluated and they have many regrets to grieve over. So if you are in the mood for something somber than this would be a good choice.

Review: The Wives of Henry Oades

2010-06-16T09:08:00.002-04:00

Title: The Wives of Henry Oades
Author: Johanna Moran
Publisher: Ballantine Books (2010)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book Source: ARC from Publisher

Publisher Book Summary:
When Henry Oades accepts an accountancy post in New Zealand, his wife, Margaret, and their children follow him to exotic Wellington. But while Henry is an adventurer, Margaret is not. Their new home is rougher and more rustic than they expected—and a single night of tragedy shatters the family when the native Maori stage an uprising, kidnapping Margaret and her children.

For months, Henry scours the surrounding wilderness, until all hope is lost and his wife and children are presumed dead. Grief-stricken, he books passage to California. There he marries Nancy Foreland, a young widow with a new baby, and it seems they’ve both found happiness in the midst of their mourning—until Henry’s first wife and children show up, alive and having finally escaped captivity.

Narrated primarily by the two wives, and based on a real-life legal case, The Wives of Henry Oades is the riveting story of what happens when Henry, Margaret, and Nancy face persecution for bigamy. Exploring the intricacies of marriage, the construction of family, the changing world of the late 1800s, and the strength of two remarkable women, Johanna Moran turns this unusual family’s story into an unforgettable page-turning drama.

My Thoughts:
This is an extraordinary story that is based on true life events. I found that it kept my interest throughout. The writing style felt like a detailed factual description of events without too much sensational or emotional language. I like how Johanna Moran treated the subject in this way because the basic facts of the story have enough substance to then as is. Moran has taken the facts of a legal case and imagined all the details of the characters and their settings. It sparks interesting questions about marriage, family, morals and the role of women in the time period (late 1800's). The Wives of Henry Oades is essentially about good people caught in impossible circumstances, forced to grapple with the harsh realities of survival.

Opening Sentence:
"A common bat on the other side of the world elects to sink its rabid fangs, and one's cozy existence is finished." (p.3)

Author Website:
http://johannamoran.com/index.html

Pictures from a Saturday Drive

2010-06-12T15:00:00.005-04:00

We had intended to go hiking in a New Hampshire state Forrest, but today turned out gray and rainy. Not wanting to stay cooped up inside the house all day, we decided to go for a drive out of town anyway even though it wasn't good walking weather.

We turned off onto a dirt logging road and the photo above is the view of the thick woodland we were driving through.

Along the way we came across this abandoned old farm. I thought this was a really interesting building. The picture came out kind of gray though because of the cloudy skies causing dull lighting. Also it was taken through the car windscreen, so you may notice some globs of rain.

I am not sure what these blossoms are called, but these flowering trees were everywhere along the road.

Review: Conditions of Faith

2010-06-10T10:00:00.001-04:00

Title: Conditions of Faith
Author: Alex Miller
Publisher: Scribner (2000)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book Source: My Own Copy

Dust Jacket Synopsis:
It's 1923 and at age twenty-five, Emily, an Australian, impulsively marries Georges Elder, a French-Scottish engineer ten years her senior. Suddenly she is propelled from Melbourne, where she is a promising scholar of classical civilizations, to Georges's small, conventional flat in Paris. Quickly dismayed at the traditional life she has married into, Emily resolves to look elsewhere for the exotic adventure and intellectual stimulation she believes to be her due. She will "live a Parisian fairy story," she determines, which suites her until it leads to an illicit liaison and unwanted pregnancy, altering her life irrevocably. At the center of the book is "the problem of a reason for living," a problem that society says should be solved, for women, by motherhood. For Emily, though, it's not sufficient. Her search for fulfillment will take her as far as the ruins of Carthage and ultimately challenge society's most deeply cherished beliefs about motherhood and family. Conditions of Faith is at once a provocative romance and an elegant meditation on a timeless dilemma.

My Thoughts:
I loved this book because it explores the themes that I am most interested in. The main character is a strong, intelligent young woman who is beginning her adult life. There is a sense that the protagonist, Emily, expects to "find herself" in Paris. She wants the culture to inspire her and provide opportunities for her to expand as a person. Instead of greater freedom she encounters more complexities and dilemmas. Alex Miller does an excellent job of describing the confusion of Emily's mind. He has created a very complex character by portraying a young lady who removes herself from the problems she had with her controlling father, only to discover that marriage actually increases her restlessness. Motherhood terrifies Emily because of the accompanying loss of freedom and the loss of control over her own life.

While Conditions of Faith is mainly a character driven novel, the plot does have a fair bit going on. Emily travels to a few different locations, meets some interesting people and embarks on an intellectual writing career. Her desire to pursue the challenge of career creates a lot of tension in her married life particularly when she falls pregnant. Alex Miller's writing was lovely. The descriptions of the various settings were very powerful. I will certainly be looking for other books by this Australian author and will re-read Conditions of Faith soon.

Two Quotes:
"... already at the age of unbelief - those precious treacherous years when we at last challenge our unquestioned childhood beliefs. Those years when to believe ceases to be the easiest thing for us and becomes the hardest thing. Then we spend the rest of our lives searching for the conditions of faith we once possessed so effortlessly and have lost. (p. 245-346)

"One goes by small degrees, one step at a time, until one stands at last on the place from which one refuses to be moved. And one is more astonished than anyone to see it is oneself who does this."(p.346)

Review: The Italian Slow cooker

2010-06-07T08:00:00.001-04:00

Title: The Italian Slow Cooker
Author: Michele Scicolone
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2010)
Genre: Non-fiction, cookbook
Book Source: Free Advance Reading Copy

This cookbook takes Italian favorites and shows you how to cook them in an electric slow cooker. The sections include: soups, sauces for pasta, risotto/polenta/grains, seafood, chicken/eggs/turkey, beef/veal/pork/lamb, vegetables, and desserts. The introductory information gives tips on how to make the most of your slow cooker - such as "Avoid unnecessary peeking." (p.7) There is also a segment called The Italian Pantry that lists ingredients common to Italian cooking.

Michele Scicolone has concocted some great recipes that are easy to make. It is great to have some new ideas for my slow cooker that so often sits unused in a cabinet. Most of the recipes are easy to make, which makes it good for any skill level. The recipes cover a wide variety of Italian cooking and I am surprised at how much can be done with a slow cooker.

Giveaways

2010-06-05T19:40:00.005-04:00

Here is a list of a few book giveaways that I have discovered on other book blogs:

Men & Dogs by Katie Crouch (Audiobook) @ Jo-Jo loves to read - June 19th

Into the Beautiful North by Luis Alberto Urrea @ Peeking Between the Pages - July 3rd

April & Oliver by Tess Callahan @ Peeking Between the Pages - July 3rd

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman @ The Tome Traveller's Weblog - June 12th

June Giveaway of three books @ Alaine - Queen of Happy Endings - June 30th

Review: Loving Frank

2010-06-05T15:43:00.006-04:00

Title: Loving Frank
Author: Nancy Horan
Publisher: Ballantine Books (2008-Trade Paperback)
Genre: Historical fiction
Book Source: My Own Copy

Set in the early 1900's, Loving Frank is the story of Mamah Borthwick Cheney and her long term love affair with Frank Lloyd Wright. Nancy Horan portrays Mamah as an intellectual woman who is unfulfilled in her life which confines her to the role of wife and mother. When Frank is hired to design their home, his personal charisma and unique design ideas spark what is initially a friendship between them. Mamah responds to the fact that Frank considers her his equal and discusses his theories about organic architecture with her. Horan writes, "Frank Lloyd Wright had ignited her mind like no other person she'd ever met. At first their conversations were about ideas. They talked about Ruskin, Thoreau, Emerson, Nietzsche." (p.16)

Mamah soon found herself willing to give up everything in order to be with Frank. Their conversations were inspiring and stimulating. They eventually both leave their spouses and children in order to make a life together... They subsequently struggle with the question, "Is the payment extracted for this choice too high?"

Loving Frank is more than a story about their relationship, though this is the main focus, it also chronicles Frank's struggles with his design and construction projects as well as Mamah's development as a feminist translator. It is a very complex and detailed story that explores the strengths and flaws of the two characters and those who (sometimes unfortunately) come into contact with them.

I enjoyed reading Loving Frank (Not that I agree with Frank and Mamah's life choices). Horan takes the historical facts and constructs very convincing characters. Her writing style complements the historical base of the story - it had a consistent tone and flow to it. The book was slightly slow in parts because of the very psychological and detailed exploration of Mamah's mind. She really struggled to make an identity for herself. The reality of the tension between ones responsibilities and self-fulfillment is a dilemma that Mamah found impossible to reconcile. It is a dilemma that we all face in one form or another and that a lot of literature grapples with.

Another Edith Wharton Quote ...

2010-06-03T07:38:00.000-04:00

"The moral atmosphere of the Tillotson interior was as carefully screened and curtained as the house itself: Mrs. Tillotson senior dreaded ideas as much as a draft in her back."

- From "Souls Belated" a short story by Edith Wharton

Looking forward to ...

2010-06-01T18:27:00.008-04:00

Writers On A New England Stage: Margaret Atwood

Coming up in September I am planning to go hear Margaret Atwood speak! I have just finished reading her latest book The Year of the Flood. I am sure that a lot of you have read it. (Leave a comment with your thoughts if you like.) Her dystopian literature is really thought provoking and engaging. Also, my favorite poem is written by Margaret Atwood. I posted it earlier this year because I wanted to share it with you guys. So when I was reading upcoming events on Atwood's website and noticed something in my state I was very excited.

New Hampshire Public Radio does this program called Writers On A New England Stage and it is recorded in Portsmouth, NH at an old music hall. The building itself sounds well worth seeing. "Its historic 900-seat theater, built in 1878, is the oldest in New Hampshire and designated an “American Treasure” by the U.S. Senate in the Save America’s Treasures Program administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Park Service."(Quoted from the music hall website) There are a lot of great authors that have been on the program in the past, and if you are interested you can listen to the Mp3 online. I personally can't seem to get it streaming, but it is probably my old slow computer giving trouble.

I wish any of you who are Margaret Atwood fans could come with me!

2010-05-16T09:06:00.001-04:00

Review: Arcadia Falls

2010-05-01T09:29:00.005-04:00

Title: Arcadia Falls
Author: Carol Goodman
Publisher: Ballantine Books (2010)
Genre: Fiction
Book Source: Free Advance Reader Edition from Publisher

Meg Rosenthal is a recent widow who has been left with nothing. In order to support herself and her teenage daughter, Sally, she takes a teaching job at an art focused boarding school in upstate New York. It was originally an artists commune that was eventually turned into a school, so it is quite an eccentric environment that this emotionally fragile mother/daughter move to. In this hauntingly beautiful rural setting, Meg and Sally discover the secrets that inspired the fairy tales written by the schools founder and her partner. When the secrets come to light, the dark past begins to reach into the present. It is no longer just fairy tales and biographical stories when one of the students dies under mysterious circumstances.

The past and the present are closely intertwined at Arcadia Falls and the rituals enacted by the students combined with the isolated setting give the book a surreal atmosphere. Carol Goodman's portrayal of the historical characters - the ladies who founded the school and grappled with the complications of their personal and professional lives - had more depth than the modern characters. In the early part of Arcadia Falls, the fairy tales were explored in their original setting. This element is quite fascinating but it fizzled out after Meg turned her attention to a journal that she discovers.

Arcadia Falls has too many coincidences and unrealistic events for me to be able to enjoy it. It feels like Goodman had trouble fitting everything together smoothly and had to force too much into place. The number of times that the local Sheriff happens to save Meg from falling off a cliff in the woods is near ridiculous. The complete lack of any serious investigation when a student is found dead (in the present day sequence) is very unrealistic. I found myself wondering if it was a Young Adult novel because everything is spelled out and explained for the reader along the way and a lot of the events were quite predictable. I was disappointed with Arcadia Falls because there was a lot of potential for an intriguing story here, but it turned out to be an irritating one.

Scene of the Blog

2010-03-03T01:19:00.001-05:00

Today The Reading Journey is being featured on Scene of the Blog over at Kittling Books, so be sure to check it out! Click on the button below to get there. I have been reading along with this feature for quite a while now and it is always interesting to see the environment in which book bloggers write.

Thank you to Cathy for having me as a guest on her blog Kittling Books.

Review: Fireworks Over Toccoa

2010-03-02T19:27:00.000-05:00

Title: Fireworks Over Toccoa
Author: Jeffrey Stepakoff
Publisher:Thomas Dunne Books (2010)
Pages: 260
Genre: Fiction, Romance
Book Source: Advance Reader Edition from publisher.
Book Release: April 2010

Fireworks Over Toccoa is set right at the end of World War II. The protagonist Lily has only been married for a few days and then separated from her husband by the war. Now that he is finally returning after so long Lily has to find the courage to become a wife to someone who may have changed just as much as she has. In the few days preceding his return, Lily's preparations to move into their home are interrupted by a chance meeting with her soul mate.

The characters in this novel are not developed in great detail, but just enough to portray the story. The setting is very important to the book because it is the cultural expectations of a young woman specifically from Toccoa that provided a lot of the conflict. In order to fully understand the protagonists dilemma, you had to understand the heavy weight of expectations placed on her due to her social setting. One of the major themes is the vast divide between the public and private 'self'. Lily literally puts on an entire persona for her visits to town.

Jeffrey Stepakoff has written quite an emotional story, but has kept it fairly simple and elegant. The main story is actually a flashback that is framed in the beginning and ending by a present day thread. This allowed the love story that takes place over a very short time, to be placed in the context of Lily's whole life. By including the protagonists older self the story gained depth and poignancy. It also highlighted the tragic timing of the events of Lily's life and how just a few days had such a deep impact on her.

Fireworks Over Toccoa was an emotionally intense love story. It was quite impacting for such a small book. It sparks thoughts about fate, and the importance of life choices. The themes were interesting. I always enjoy novels that discuss the idea of the authentic, inner life struggling with surface appearances and social expectations. In this case, the issue was not too simplified. The choice to live for others and to conform to social traditions at the expense of one's own desires was given due weight as an option. My main criticism of this book is that the plot was based on some pretty wild coincidences. I won't list them all because it would give away too much. Just be prepared to fully suspend your disbelief if you choose to pick this one up.

Library Photos

2010-03-02T18:58:00.001-05:00

York Public Library

Note: If you have an interesting library building or library statue photo that you would like posted in this series please email me: thereadingjourney@gmail.com

My Third Favorite Poem

2010-03-01T10:50:00.000-05:00

Morning Song

Love set you going like a fat gold watch.
The midwife slapped your footsoles, and your bald cry
Took its place among the elements.
Our voices echo, magnifying your arrival. New statue.
In a drafty museum, your nakedness
Shadows our safety. We stand round blankly as walls.

I'm no more your mother
Than the cloud that distills a mirror to reflect its own slow
Effacement at the wind's hand.

All night your moth-breath
Flickers among the flat pink roses. I wake to listen:
A far sea moves in my ear.

One cry, and I stumble from bed, cow-heavy and floral
In my Victorian nightgown.
Your mouth opens clean as a cat's. The window square

Whitens and swallows its dull stars. And now you try
Your handful of notes;
The clear vowels rise like balloons.

By Sylvia Plath 1961

A Quote

2010-02-25T06:57:00.002-05:00

"She had never before seen him read with so conspicuous an air of warding off interruption."

Edith Wharton (from the short story "Souls Belated")

_____________________________________

(I wish that I could learn how to ward off interruption when I am reading, but my kids and husband don't seem to take the hint.)

Review: Cry, The Beloved Country

2010-02-12T08:01:00.003-05:00

Title: Cry, The Beloved Country
Author: Alan Paton
Publisher: Penguin (1998)
Pages: 240
Genre: Fiction, Twentieth Century Classic
Book Source: My Own Copy

Back Cover Summary:
In the city of Johannesburg a father seeks his delinquent son. His search takes him through a labyrinth of murder, prostitution, racial hatred and, ultimately, reconciliation. In Cry, The Beloved Country Alan Paton addresses the problem of race relations in South Africa with the scrupulousness of a historian, the sensitivity of a poet. Over forty years after its creation it remains the classic narrative of racial tensions - intensely pertinent, unforgettably poignant.

____________________________________

My Comments: Cry, The Beloved Country has been one of my all time favorites for years now. It is a deeply moving story set in South Africa. By describing the tragedy of one family, the troubles of the whole nation are made personal and persuasive. An old Reverend goes on a journey from his home in a small rural village, to Johannesburg. He is looking for his lost son and his sister who have both been lost to the promise of work to be had in the big city. The sad truth that he discovers is that his two family members have turned to a life of crime and prostitution in order to survive. While seemingly powerless against the forces of the city, the Reverend does not give up his effort to bring them home.

This highly emotional story has many intense scenes. The problems of race relations, poverty, crime and the corrosion of the traditional ways are explored in their complexity. The poetic language Paton employs in his descriptions of people and places made Cry, The Beloved Country a joy to read. The atmosphere characters, plot, themes and setting are all very well developed. The empathy that Paton elicits through the plot and characters make a box of tissues a necessary accompaniment for this book! I highly recommend it.

Quote: There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any singing of it." (p.7)

Review: Love & War

2010-02-11T19:13:00.004-05:00

Title: Love & War

Author: John & Stasi Eldredge

Publisher: Doubleday (2009)

Genre: Non-fiction, Marriage

Book Source: Book provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah

Publisher Link: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385529808

Publisher's Summary:

What the Eldredge bestsellers Wild at Heart did for men, and Captivating did for women, LOVE & WAR will do for married couples everywhere. John and Stasi Eldredge have contributed the quintessential works on Christian spirituality through the experience of men and the experience of women and now they turn their focus to the incredible dynamic between those two forces.

With refreshing openness that will grab readers from the first page, the Eldredge's candidly discuss their own marriage and the insights they have gained from the challenges they faced. Each talks independently to the reader about what they’ve learned, giving their guidance personal immediacy and a balance between the male and female perspectives that has been absent from all previous books on this topic. They begin LOVE & WAR with an obvious but necessary acknowledgment: Marriage is fabulously hard. They advise that the sooner we get the shame and confusion off our backs, the sooner we'll find our way through.

My Thoughts: I found this book to be fairly slow going at first, but after a while I became comfortable with the pace. A lot of the content seemed like common sense advice. Some of the topics covered are; having a shared purpose, managing conflict, allowing for the difference in your spouse's style of relating and finding time to devote to each other. I appreciated the Eldredge's realistic look at the hardships common to most marriages. Their stories sometimes highlighted the difference in perspective between men and women. This was achieved by both of them writing individually about the same event. I liked their writing style. It flowed smoothly and was easy to follow. They included many of their own stories as well as examples from popular movies and music. This helped to provide variety and worked well to illustrate their points. Love & War is based on Christian beliefs and this is a strong thread throughout.

A Hilarious Snippet of Edith Wharton

2010-02-05T07:35:00.000-05:00

I have been reading heaps of Short Stories by Edith Wharton lately. There are some very serious ones, a few ghost stories and some really lighthearted stories. The following excerpt is quite hilarious (in my opinion). "The Lunch Club" referred to is much like a book discussion group. It is full of high class ladies who are trying to keep up an appearance of intelligence. The whole story is really funny and I particularly liked this segment. I hope that you all enjoy it too!
It always flustered Mrs. Leveret to be late at the Lunch Club: she liked
to collect her thoughts and gather a hint, as the others assembled, of
the turn the conversation was likely to take. To-day, however, she felt
herself completely at a loss; and even the familiar contact of
Appropriate Allusions, which stuck into her as she sat down, failed to
give her any reassurance. It was an admirable little volume, compiled to
meet all the social emergencies; so that, whether on the occasion of
Anniversaries, joyful or melancholy (as the classification ran), of
Banquets, social or municipal, or of Baptisms, Church of England or
sectarian, its student need never be at a loss for a pertinent
reference. Mrs. Leveret, though she had for years devoutly conned its
pages, valued it, however, rather for its moral support than for its
practical services; for though in the privacy of her own room she
commanded an army of quotations, these invariably deserted her at the
critical moment, and the only line she retained -- Canst thou draw out
Leviathan with a hook? -- was one she had never yet found the occasion
to apply.
Edith Wharton - From the short story "Xingu"

If you are interested in reading the whole story here is a link where you can: http://www.online-literature.com/wharton/2073/

My Second Favorite Poem

2010-02-03T08:23:00.000-05:00

Not Waving but Drowning

Nobody heard him, the dead man,
But still he lay moaning:
I was much further out than you thought
And not waving but drowning.

Poor chap, he always loved larking
And now he's dead
It must have been too cold for him his heart gave way,
They said.

Oh, no no no, it was too cold always
(Still the dead one lay moaning)
I was much too far out all my life
And not waving but drowning.

By Stevie Smith 1957

Wordless Wednesday

2010-02-03T08:08:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

Library Photos

2010-02-01T09:00:00.001-05:00

PETERBOROUGH, NH TOWN LIBRARY

This beautiful library in Peterborough New Hampshire is apparently the "oldest free library in the world supported by taxation." (If you click on the picture of the marble plaque it should go larger and you can read it more easily.)

Note: If you have an interesting library building or library statue photo that you would like posted in this series email me: thereadingjourney@gmail.com

Review: Undue Influence

2010-01-30T09:08:00.000-05:00

Title: Undue Influence
Author: Anita Brookner
Publisher: Vintage (2001)
Pages: 240
Genre: Fiction
Book Source: My Own Copy

Undue Influence stars Claire Pitt, a 29 year old single woman who finds herself unsatisfied with her rather limited existence. She is lonely. She does not know how to enjoy the freedom that she has. When her mother dies she begins to brood even more than usual. She works in a second hand bookshop with two old ladies- the perfect job for a quiet, solitary type of person. In the bookshop she meets a man who she becomes attracted to...

Undue Influence is a detailed psychological character portrayal. There are a lot of inner monologues because it is the thoughts and feelings of the protagonist that make up the main content of the book. Very little happens by way of plot. There is little going on in Claire's life and Anita Brookner loves to write about the little routines of people who are isolated and lonely. Claire spends a lot of time imagining the lives of strangers and building little stories in her mind connecting people to one another. This habit causes her to misjudge people... "People are mysterious, I know that. And they do reveal mysterious connections. But sometimes one is merely anxious to alter the script. It was not the first time I had been guilty of a misapprehension." (p.7)

This novel has a distinctly lonely atmosphere to it. Claire and other characters in the book sustain their lonely lives by clinging to their habits and routines. When something interrupts these things their world becomes insecure. At one point in the story one of the two old ladies from the bookshop has a fall and goes to hospital. This causes them both to deteriorate and to feel unable to cope with their lives. They sell the shop and move into an elderly persons facility. "... now she looked like a very old woman, collapsed, with a new look of preoccupation on her face, as if factors had entered her life from the outside, and as if another sort of predictability had become apparent. Her valiant daily routine had been broken into." (p.106) There are many other examples of change setting the characters off balance.

I enjoyed Undue Influence. It does drag a little in places because Claire seems to go over things in her mind more than once and the plot does not move quickly. If you are in the mood for a slow moving type of story than I recommend Anita Brookner. If you like excitement in your novels; Undue Influence is not for you. I personally find her novels soothing. They make me crave a quiet uneventful existence for a while. In reading this book, I really felt like I could see into the mind of the main character, Claire. Her insecurity and hesitancy about her every decision was portrayed very thoroughly.

20 Questions with Rebecca of Lost In Books

2010-01-30T08:22:00.003-05:00

This week I was featured on 20 Questions - a weekly event on Rebecca's blog Lost in Books.
Check it out if you are interested in learning a little bit more about my reading habits and preferences. Thanks Rebecca - it was fun!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-27T07:13:00.000-05:00

Yabby Pie (eaten by my Dad on Australia Day)

Australia Day

2010-01-26T01:00:00.001-05:00

January 26th - Australia Day

(Photo from Wikimedia Commons)

Review: Comfort Living

2010-01-24T11:34:00.000-05:00

Title: Comfort Living: A Back-to-Basics Guide To a More Balanced Lifestyle
Author: Christine Eisner
Publisher: Lifestyle Design (2009)
Genre: Non-fiction, Home Decorating
Book Source: Review Copy from Author

Comfort Living is like an emotional self-help book for your home. The premise behind this lovely book is that your home environment feeds your soul. The author Christine Eisner guides her readers on a journey of close examination that ultimately leads to positive changes in the home. These changes in turn influence the tone of your lifestyle.

The book is structured as an eight week course that helps you to develop a personal profile to enable you to turn your home into a sanctuary that meets your needs and priorities. There are many color photographs, practical ideas and tools for journal style reflection which help to get you in touch with your personal home decorating style. A few of the topics explored in this book include: identifying your treasures, enhancing your routines, and adding meaning to everyday objects. Comfort Living inspires a meaningful approach to home decoration.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

Review: Living The Law of Attraction

2010-01-16T16:19:00.005-05:00

Title: Living the Law of Attraction: Real Stories of People Manifesting Health, Wealth, and Happiness
Author: Rich German and Robin Hoch
Publisher: iUniverse (2008)
Pages: 248
Genre: Non-fiction, Inspirational
Book Source: I received a free copy from the author for this review.

Living the Law of Attraction is a collection of short true life inspirational stories. The theme that ties them all together is the concept that good thoughts attract good things into your life. This concept, called The Law of Attraction, is briefly outlined in the introduction and then the rest of the book is devoted to proving it through testimonials from people who have successfully applied the idea to their lives. The stories are collected into sections based on themes such as: Health, Weight loss, Business, Happiness, Relationships and Everyday Miracles. In some cases the short story was written by someone who is in business or who has written their own book. At the end of each story there is an email or website address that can be used to contact the author. Each contributor has written around three or four pages, so there are a lot of stories in total!

This is a great book to give you a boost emotionally and to remind you to live your life deliberately and positively. I like that fact that the stories are so short because it makes it easy to just catch one every now and again before bed or when you need a lift. It had been a while since I read anything inspirational, so it was refreshing to hear about other people's successes. There is great variety in the collection, making it easy to find something relevant to your own life issues. Living the Law of Attraction reminded me to be more positive toward my life and to take better care of myself and my thought processes.

Review: The Triumph of Deborah

2010-01-12T16:06:00.000-05:00

Title: The Triumph of Deborah
Author: Eva Etzioni-Halevy
Publisher: Plume of Penguin Group (2008)
Pages: 355
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book Source: Review copy from author

Deborah, the heroine of this story, is a Biblical figure who was a prophetess and leader in ancient Israel. The people would come to her for guidance and also to judge over their disputes. At the time of this novel there was ongoing enmity between the Israelites and the neighboring Canaanite people. In the story, Deborah convinces the reluctant warrior Barak to attack. When they are victorious, Barak captures two daughters of the Canaanite king (Asherah and Nogah) and brings them to reside in his home. He marries Asherah, the more beautiful of the two princesses even though she hates him for taking her captive. The novel focuses on the lives of three women - Deborah, Asherah and Nogah. It explores the ways in which these women deal with their circumstances and responsibilities. Deborah finds herself estranged from her husband at a time when she is dealing with the burden of protecting her people from their enemies. Asherah and Nogah must learn how to cope with life as captives.

I have not often read historical fiction set in Bible times, so it was interesting to read about this time period. It was a very different life for women in those days. The characters in this novel were quite complex and Eva Etzioni-Halevy wrote a lot about what they were thinking and feeling. The Triumph of Deborah gives an enlightening contrast between Deborah, who was a respected leader and the plight of some captured servant women who were the lowest of the low. I personally felt like the plot was a little too focused on romance. I enjoyed the segments that were about Deborah more so than the love story between Barak and Nogah which seemed a bit melodramatic for my tastes. I would recommend this book for people who usually enjoy historical romance.

Quote: "Sisra had spoken to Deborah as no man had ever dared speak to her before and his words struck her like a slap in the face. Her anger flared up, and this time she retaliated with sharp words of her own." (p.23)

Author Notes: Eva Etzioni-Halevy has also written other Biblical fiction: The Song of Hannah and The Garden of Ruth. She is on Facebook here.

Everything Austen Challenge Summary

2010-01-12T15:12:00.000-05:00

The Everything Austen Challenge ended on Jan 1st 2010. I was participating at the basic level which meant that I needed to read / watch six Austen related books or DVD's. So here is the list of the books that I read and reviewed for this challenge. I didn't end up watching any Austen DVD's.

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

Letters From Pemberley

Old Friends and New Fancies

Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manner

Ummm, there is only four there. I guess I did not quite complete the challenge. I am looking forward to watching the new production of Emma that is coming to PBS this month but it is not in time to count for the challenge. I don't think that I am really the challenge type though. I just like to read whatever I feel like, or whatever is on hand. Congratulations to all the other folk that actually kept up with their reading goals!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-06T00:52:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

Literary Excursion

2010-01-04T10:01:00.004-05:00

The Nashua Public Library

My own local library building in Nashua New Hampshire is nothing special, but they do have this statue out front. The statue is called Children Reading. Every time we visit the library my youngest daughter sits up on the statue and pretends that she is teaching the children to read. Cute, isn't it.

Note: If you have an interesting library building or library statue photo that you would like posted in this series email me: thereadingjourney@gmail.com

My Favorite Poem

2010-01-03T07:38:00.001-05:00

This Is a Photograph of Me

It was taken some time ago.
At first it seems to be
a smeared
print:blurred lines and gray flecks
blended with the paper;

then, as you scan
it, you see in the left-hand corner
a thing that is like a branch: part of a tree
(balsam or spruce) emerging
and, to the right, halfway up
what ought to be a gentle
slope, a small frame house.

In the background there is a lake,
and beyond that, some low hills.

(The photograph was taken
the day after I drowned.
I am in the lake, in the center
of the picture, just under the surface.

It is difficult to say where
precisely, or to say
how large or small I am:

the effect of water
on light is a distortion

but if you look long enough,
eventually
you will be able to see me.)

By Margaret Atwood 1966

Review: 7th Heaven

2009-12-31T09:56:00.001-05:00

Title: 7th Heaven (Women's Murder Club #7)
Author: James Patterson with Maxine Paetro
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company (2008)
Genre: Fiction, Suspense
Book Source: Review copy provided by Hachette Book Group.

In 7th Heaven, which is set in California, there are two mysteries being investigated by the protagonist Detective Lindsay Boxer and her partner. One case involves deadly fires being set at the mansions of very wealthy middle aged couples. Each time a book with Latin writing inside is left at the crime scene; tying together the fires and making it clear that they were no accident. This investigation ends up affecting both detectives in a personal way.

The other case explored in this suspense novel is an old one that involves a missing teenage boy who's parents are public figures. It is a high profile case that has a lot of media attention. When a new lead surfaces and a suspect is taken to trial, it is the lack of physical evidence that works against the prosecutor.

This was a fairly fast paced suspense novel that is seventh in the women's murder club series. I had not read the others and so the characters did not seem very well developed to me. I assume that if I had read the other 6 books in order I would feel like I knew Detective Boxer and her associates in more detail. In my reading I focused on the actual cases but I still found only mild enjoyment from this novel. The two story lines were necessary, because neither case was very detailed in terms of clues. In addition to solving the cases there was also some minor drama going on in the personal life of the detective. She finds herself attracted to her partner even though she is already in a relationship. Overall, I didn't enjoy 7th Heaven because there was just not enough substance to it to get me thinking.

Review: The Lightkeeper's Daughter

2009-12-29T12:49:00.005-05:00

Title: The Lightkeeper's Daughter
Author: Colleen Coble
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (2009)
Pages: 306
Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian, Romance
Book Source: Review copy provided by Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.

Set at the turn of the century on a lavish estate in Mercy Falls, California, The Lightkeeper's Daughter is a story about finding family, finding true love, and finding oneself. Addie Sullivan grew up in poverty as the only child of a husband / wife team lighthouse keeper in a remote location. Though she loved the beauty of the harsh environment she always felt lonely. When she is suddenly transplanted to Eaton Hall by a wealthy relative and discovers her true family heritage she thinks that she is on the brink of the fulfillment of all her dreams. It soon becomes apparent that she is in the middle of a dangerous mystery that began decades before.

This was a light and easy story that had enough going on to keep my interest. The romance element did not appeal to me as much as the mystery in the family and the psychological detail of Addie's search for her identity The protagonist Addie was fairly well developed and endearing. The plot was a little bit predictable, so it did not require much thought. Sometimes this is just what a reader is looking for. The themes worked quite well together and all the elements of the story resolved together at the end. I would recommend it to people who normally like these types of romance or mystery novels.

Quote: She'd thought leaving the lighthouse would be exciting, romantic. Now she longed for the roar of the waves outside her window and the cry of a seagull diving for a fish. The familiar held more appeal than she'd every imagined." (p.66)

Some blogging plans for 2010

2009-12-28T18:15:00.004-05:00

Coming up in 2010 I want to add a new feature to The Reading Journey. I got the idea from a day drive we took with our Christmas guests just the other day. We were driving two hours north into New Hampshire and as we observed the scenery, my mother-in-law and I spotted libraries as we drove through the small towns. They were all unique and so gorgeous! So I thought that I would start sharing photos of library buildings or statues in front of libraries. If you have a cute or unique library in your own town I would love for you to send me a photo and I will include it in the feature. Obviously I will include your name and/or blog link in the post to properly credit the photo to you. I will probably post monthly depending on how many photos I can take myself or collect from others. You can email me at thereadingjourney@gmail.com

I will also be keeping up with my literary destinations posts. They are not as frequent though, due to my own travel constraints. I have a couple of destinations still to feature that are within easy driving distance to where I live. So I am eager to get to them soon. The library buildings should complement the literary destinations nicely.

Review: Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains

2009-12-28T16:43:00.004-05:00

Title: Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains
Author: Dawn Menge
Illustrator: Bobbi Switzer
Publisher: Outskirts Press (2009)
Genre: Children's illustrated fiction - (6-8 years)
Book Source: Review copy sent to me by the author.

Queen Venita invites her twelve friends to visit with her at the Blue Ice Mountains where "There would be so many new and exciting things to do."(p.2) Each of her twelve friends take turns in visiting Queen Venita for each month of the year. During each month and each visitor there is a different focus - for example in January the visitor learns all about crabs, February - Sea Otters, March - glaciers etc. During each monthly visit the days of the week are listed with what was done on that day. This is kind of confusing because the visitor stays all month, but the activities are only described for one weeks worth.

As to my opinion of this children's book - unfortunately I cannot think of many positive comments. The book seems to suffer from an identity crisis. It is sort of a cross between an educational tool and a work of creative fiction. The character of Queen Vernita was not developed at all. We know nothing about her; she is merely a tool to convey information. The plot is non-existent. There is no problem/resolution or issue being explored. It is barely more than a list of dry educational facts. The illustrations did not appeal to me and the setting is described in a back-handed way through those lists of facts. It is not portrayed creatively through imagery. The language and writing style did not have the things that I always appreciate in children's books. No rhythm, no smooth flow or alliteration. This made the book rather boring to read out loud. Sadly, Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains is not a book that I would recommend.

Quote: "On Sunday, they learned that many seals were becoming endangered. This means that many seals are going to be gone forever. This made Queen Vernita and Rose very sad. So, on the thirty-first day of October, they created a sanctuary for the seals." (p.22)

P.S. There are no page numbers in the book so I counted them myself to identify the location of the quotes.

Short Note

2009-12-28T16:38:00.002-05:00

Just to let you all know - I have added a pole in the right hand side bar of the blog. If you have a minute to respond to the question that would be great.

Giveaway Winner

2009-12-27T08:42:00.002-05:00

The winner of my recent giveaway of 7th Heaven is ...

#2 - JoanneR

Congratulations! I have already emailed you. I hope that you enjoy the book.

Happy Christmas

2009-12-24T11:24:00.005-05:00

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Wishing you all have a lovely time with you family and friends. I hope that there are a lot of books under the tree for you this year!

Guest blog post/article

2009-12-16T10:13:00.005-05:00

Jane is my Co-Pilot: The Fine Art of Making Sense and Sensibility Totally Ridiculous
By Ben H. Winters,
Authors of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

Since writing Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, I've gotten a ton of feedback about how nice it is that I've made Jane Austen appealing to certain readers -- meaning readers who previously suffered a persistent allergy to The Classics. I am complimented for taking the prim and decorous Jane Austen and making her, A) really violent, and B) really funny.

The first compliment I will gladly accept. Over the decades since Sense and Sensibility first appeared, it has been noted by scholars and casual readers alike that the book is sorely lacking in shipwrecks, shark attacks, and vividly described decapitations. I believe it was the poet and critic Thomas Chatterton who admired the novel's careful plotting and social critique, but lamented the total absence of vengeful ghost pirates.

But I can't take credit for making Jane Austen funny. As is well known by passionate fans of Austen -- I have yet to meet any other kind -- the old girl has always been funny. Take for example Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, a set of secondary characters in Sense and Sensibility. The periodic appearances of the Palmers comprise what any comedy writer will recognize as a running gag. Mrs. Palmer is chatty and trivial, while Mr. Palmer (a delightful Hugh Laurie in the Ang Lee version) is gruff and unaffectionate. What Mrs. Palmer labels "droll," the reader -- along with Elinor, our sensible heroine -- recognizes as plain distaste for his wife, her friends, and everybody else in the universe. Every time those Palmers show up, we know we're in for the next variation on the same great gag.

Note that Austen doesn't do to the Palmers what Charles Dickens would: Exaggerate their core traits to the point of absurdity. (Also, she doesn't name them something like Mr. and Mrs. Featherwit). The Palmers are funny, but they're plausible, and their primary function in the book is to provide not laughs, but a corrective to Marianne's rosy ideal of married life. So Austen makes them funny, but not ridiculous.

Making them ridiculous was my job. When the Palmers appear in my monsterfied Sensibility, I give Mr. Palmer's drollery a murky, weird-tales back story, part of the preposterously elaborate foreshadowing of my H.P. Lovecraft-inspired denouement.

I play the same game, of comically amplifying what's already there, in varying ways throughout the book. Colonel Brandon, stiff and formal and middle-aged, becomes a stiff and formal and middle-aged man-monster. Genial Sir John becomes genial adventurer/explorer Sir John. Had Austen made all her characters ridiculous in that Dickensian way, if she had been the kind of writer who is forever winking at her readers, my book would be (as they say in improv comedy) a hat on a hat. But because Sense and Sensibility is so eloquent and restrained, Sea Monsters gets to go way over the top.

This is true even on the simple level of vocabulary. Austen's precise early-19th century diction is the textual equivalent of Eustace Tilly, the top-hatted, monocled figure from the cover of the New Yorker: Her writing simply oozes good taste. The trick was to appropriate that ever-so-tasteful and old-timey Austenian style to describe things she never would have:

In the profound silence that followed, their ears were filled with a low thrashing sound, as the corpse of the bosun's mate was noisily consumed by devil fish. At length the captain drew upon his pipe, and spoke again. "Let us only pray that this is the worst such abomination you encounter in this benighted land; for such is but a minnow, when compared to the Devonshire Fang-Beast."

"The . . . what?"

Even more fun to play with than Austen's eloquent vocabulary is her universe of enforced emotional rectitude. The Dashwood sisters live in a world where one's feelings are not blurted out -- or, at least, they're not meant to be, as sensible Elinor is continually reminding sensitive Marianne. It's a constant struggle to keep one's emotions hidden beneath the surface; all I did was literalize that metaphor in the most preposterous way, by adding deadly and dangerous monsters which appear literally from beneath the surface.

There was one factor above all that made Sense and Sensibility such a fun comic foil, and that is the place the book holds in the cultural firmament. One question I've heard a lot (or read a lot, as it's the sort of thing that comes up on blog comment-threads), is "Why didn't you do Persuasion? That's the Austen book that actually takes place on the water!"

The answer is simply that Persuasion, unlike Sense and Sensibility or Pride and Prejudice, may be a great book, but it is not a Great Book. It has not gathered around itself the unmistakable stink of importance.

Sense and Sensibility, on the other hand, stands in the literary tradition as Margaret Dumont stands before Groucho Marx, as the Chairman of the Reception Committee in Duck Soup: Prim and proper and radiating worthiness -- just waiting, in other words, for someone to hit it with a pie.

Review: Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

2009-12-16T09:07:00.004-05:00

Title: Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters
Authors: Jane Austen & Ben Winters
Publisher: Quirk Books (2009)
Pages: 320
Book Source: I was provided a free review copy from FSB Associates

The classic Austen social commentary about two sisters and their different approaches to love has been turned into a comic and imaginative science fiction novel. With every conceivable sea creature turned against humanity in a violent struggle for supremacy, the usual methods of courtship have been slightly altered. Rather than being attracted to a pretty face or a witty intellect, a single man in possession of a good fortune is now on the lookout for a woman with a strong pair of lungs.

The original storyline is the same - sensible Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars only to discover that he is secretly engaged to someone else, while romantic Marianne falls in love with the dashing Willoughby. When Willoughby is revealed to have been stringing her along while actually intending to marry a wealthy girl, Marianne succumbs to a dangerous illness brought on by her love sick state. Meanwhile Colonel Brandon (afflicted with tentacles attached to his face) patiently loves and waits for Marianne. In Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters it is all set against the backdrop of England in the grip of constant sea monster attacks.

It was the little details that made this book so hilarious. The familiar characters and plot placed in such outlandish circumstances made for quite a unique read. It is often the elegance of Regency England that attracts Austen's female readership. Don't expect to find it in this novel! Anything elegant has been turned into all things nautical. Where Marianne originally quoted poetry and played music, she now reads the journals of shipwrecked sailors and sings sea shanties. Practical Elinor memorizes "...the species and genus of every fish and marine mammal, learning to heart their speeds and points of vulnerability, and which bore spiny exoskeletons, which bore fangs, and which tusks."(p.11) There are also some interesting pencil drawn illustrations interspersed throughout the book. They usually depict the violent monster attacks and most outlandish events of the story. I recommend Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters to anyone who feels that they can appreciate the humor and enjoy the novel for what it is.

Holiday Reading

2009-12-15T13:28:00.003-05:00

I have never really read any specifically Christmas themed books before. I guess these type of books didn't appeal to me because it seemed like they would be corny and predictable. I could be wrong though. I could be missing out on some great books ...

Do you guys like or dislike them? Do you have any favorites that I should try? I have avoided them so far this season, but today I have succumbed and started reading Secrets of a Christmas Box by Steven Hornby. I kind of have to read it because I received it for free with a review expected. The audience for this one is 8-12 year olds. So a review should be forthcoming soon. Are any of you reading Christmas themed books this December?

Wordess Wednesday

2009-12-09T09:57:00.002-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

Finally getting to enjoy some snow here in Southern New Hampshire.

Review: A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy

2009-12-09T08:51:00.006-05:00

Title: A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy: A Novel
Author: Charlotte Greig
Publisher: Other Press (2009)
Pages: 275
Genre: Fiction
Book Source: My Own Copy

A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy is a story about a young woman named Susannah who is a college sophomore studying philosophy. It is set in the 1970's at Sussex University. It details Susannah's faltering steps toward adulthood and her desire to apply philosophy to her own life choices. The main choices that she struggles with are to do with her relationships. Should she be with her older boyfriend Jason who is set up financially or should she pursue a relationship with Rob, a young philosophy student in her classes. Unable to make her choice, she lets matters go along aimlessly until she falls pregnant. This new, more serious dilemma forces Susannah to turn to the philosophers for help in her predicament.

Personally, I didn't like this book. As someone who is interested in philosophy I was expecting to really enjoy it. Susannah was a realistically drawn character, but not a very compelling one. She seemed to be quite emotionally detached throughout most of the novel. I did not find myself caring very much about her life. The setting was not drawn in much detail either. It did not feel like the 70's to me. I was able to picture some specific places, such as the boyfriends apartments, but not the overall atmosphere of the time and place. A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy was in some ways an interesting and insightful look at the application of philosophy to modern life, particularly the problems facing females, but it just seemed like the chick lit type relationship dramas didn't mix very well with the heavy philosophers. Unfortunately, the ending was not completely satisfactory either.

Giveaway: 7th Heaven

2009-12-08T20:00:00.004-05:00

Giveaway courtesy of Hachette Book Group

7th Heaven by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

To Enter: Leave a comment with your email address. Open only to USA & Canada. No PO Boxes. Entries close December 22nd, 2009

Review: Ruined

2009-12-05T12:05:00.006-05:00

Title: Ruined: A Novel
Author: Paula Morris
Publisher: Point (2009)
Pages: 309
Genre: YA paranormal fiction
Book Source: Review copy won from Publisher

When Rebecca Brown is unexpectedly sent to live in New Orleans while her father travels in China, she is very unhappy about leaving her New York life behind. She has a hard time fitting into her new private school because she is looked down on and treated like an outsider by all the daughters of the wealthy old New Orleans families. The home that Rebecca is staying in with her aunt is opposite a cemetery and it is not long before she befriends a ghost named Lisette who is awaiting restitution for her murder years ago. As pieces of Rebecca's past and her connection to New Orleans are gradually unfolded she find herself in the middle of a life-and-death style mystery. She doesn't know who to trust and she doesn't know if her efforts to solve the mystery are actually contributing to her own dire future.

This young adult novel moved along at a steady pace and had an interesting plot. The setting and atmosphere of the book were very intriguing and vivid. While it is set in current day New Orleans, Paula Morris has included historical details that really added depth and believability to the ghost tale. Ruined is a book that is sensitive to the current day concerns of rebuilding post-Katrina New Orleans, while also tying in to the historical concerns that faced the city. Paula Morris touches on racial and socioeconomic themes in her novel and the characters demonstrate how these themes have influenced both the past and present.

Author Info: Paula Morris is a New Zealander who currently resides in New Orleans. Ruined (2009) is her first YA novel, though she has previously written other novels: Queen of Beauty (2003), Hibiscus Coast (2005), Trendy But Casual (2005) and Forbidden Cities (2008). Paula Morris write a blog: http://trendybutcasual.typepad.com/

Review: Fairy Hunters, Ink.

2009-11-30T09:57:00.006-05:00

Title: Fairy Hunters, Ink.: A Book of Fairies For Children and (Not So) Grown Ups
Author: Sheila a. Dane
Illustrator: Rose Csorba
Publisher: Dane & Co., LLC (2009)
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Children's
Book Source: Review copy from author

The first person narrator of this story is a girl called Laura who has developed the skill of seeing fairies. Along with her friends Ashley, Big Rabbit and Turtle, Laura investigates the world around her in order to learn about fairies and their various haunts. There is a lot of humor in the interaction between the characters that make up the fairy hunters group. Ashley is quite a mischievous five year old, while the older and wiser character Laura tries her best to keep her in check. Their adventures uncover a lot of different types of fairies that are characterized by their dwellings, such as Sock Fairies, Teacup Fairies, Attic Fairies, Flute Fairies etc. My personal favorite is (of course) the bespectacled, absent-minded Book Fairies who 'borrow' books to discuss at their book club meetings. They tend to argue about philosophical questions and drink a lot of Fritterberry Wine.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Sheila Dane's writing style in Fairy Hunters, Ink. has a charming old-fashioned style to it. It reminded me of so many of the classic children's stories that we all love. Both the story and illustrations are very unique and interesting. The authors personality really seemed to shine through in this work. Sheila Dane is working on a sequel and I look forward to the further discoveries of the Fairy Hunters.

Quote: "Since we are reading your Books (we have to get them somewhere), you might notice from time to time, that you are always losing your place, you can't find your book, or your book seems to keep mysteriously turning up in Odd Places. Chances are good that you are victim of an avid Book Fairy." (p.49)

Author Website: http://www.fairyhunters.net

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T10:54:00.003-05:00

For those of you who celebrate it, Mr. Cranberry says, "Happy Thanksgiving"!

Review: Sylvie and the Songman

2009-11-25T15:54:00.002-05:00

Title: Sylvie and the Songman
Author: Tim Binding
Illustrator: Angela Barrett
Publisher: David Fickling Books (2008)
Genre: Children's fantasy fiction
Book source: Book Diva's review group

Tim Binding’s book Sylvie and the Songman is a unique tale that explores the power of music. When Sylvie’s father disappears and the birds and animals all begin to lose their voices, Sylvie knows that it is up to her to unravel the mystery and rescue her Dad. George, her best friend, comes along and it does not take long before the dangers of their adventure threaten their safety. The sinister Woodpecker man and his cohorts are hunting them down so they must find refuge with the animals. Sylvie discovers her innate ability to communicate to animals and her special affinity to a fox. These abilities prove useful in their quest to overcome the evil Songman and foil his plan.

Sylvie and the Songman was an interesting novel with an unusual story. The plot was complex enough to be interesting to older children and adolescents. Sylvie was a likable character who was courageous and intelligent. I also liked the sinister characters. They helped to create the dangerous and mysterious atmosphere in the book. Tim Binding’s novel evidenced an appreciation for nature. His portrayal of animals was very creative. The pencil drawings also added to the enjoyment of the story. I would recommend it because of its complex themes and somewhat bizarre storyline. It is a great example of a creative and unique work of children's literature.

Where Are You?

2009-11-24T18:15:00.003-05:00

Hosted by An Adventure In Reading - "Where is your reading taking you today?"

The book that I am reading today is set in present day New Orleans. A fifteen year old girl from New York is having to spend six months living in New Orleans. She is not too happy about it. I am not far enough into it yet to see what adventures she ends up on. - The book is called Ruined by Paula Morris

two mini reviews

2009-11-24T17:22:00.008-05:00

Whoops ... I didn't realize that a week had gone by since I last posted. I have been reading heaps and instead of reviewing all the books lately I have moved straight onto a new book. Then I loose interest in writing the review for a book I finished a while ago. I will try to catch up by putting up some mini reviews over the next few days, that just share a few thoughts about the books I have read in the last few weeks or so.
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Title: The Castaways
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (2009)
Pages: 359
Book Source: My own copy

The Castaways are a group of four couples that are very close friends - they all live on the island of Nantucket. When one couple (Greg and Tess) die in a boating accident, leaving two young children and a string of mysteries, the other three couples are left to deal with the tragedy each in his/her own way. As the circumstances leading up to their death become known it seems that Greg and Tess's lives were not as straight forward as their friends thought... The point of view moves between all the different characters and we get to know Greg and Tess and their circle of friends by the retelling of stories from their past. The Castaways took many vacations together and the story of their relationships weave in an out from past and present. It was an enjoyable read because there was a lot going on. With so many main characters there was plenty of scope for human drama and tragedy. I kind of expected the boating accident to be more than an accident, but the book turned out to be predominantly about relationships.
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Title: Barefoot
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (2007)
Pages: 416
Book Source: My own copy

In her novel Barefoot, Elin Hilderbrand tells the story of three women from New York who spend a summer on Nantucket. Two of the women are sisters and one is a friend. They are all running from their problems and spend the summer trying to forget the reality of their situations. The friend Melanie, has just discovered her husband is having an affair and that she herself is pregnant with their first child after years of trying to fall pregnant. Brenda has just been fired from her position as an English professor due to her relationship with one of her students. She has also been charged with vandalizing a very expensive piece of art (after throwing a book that accidentally damaged it). Brenda's sister Vicki is having to deal with lung cancer. She undergoes treatment on the island. Also along for the summer are Vicki's two small boys. I was not particularly fond of this book. It moved kind of slow and was obviously fairly depressing. The way in which everything was resolved in the end seemed a bit unrealistic in Brenda's case and kind of annoying in Melanie's case. I thought that the thread about Vicki was probably the strongest. So Barefoot was not a book I would specifically recommend.

Review: Mercury In Retrograde

2009-11-17T16:13:00.004-05:00

Title: Mercury In Retrograde
Author: Paula Froelich
Publisher: Atria Books (2009)
Genre: Fiction
Book Source: Review copy from publisher

This fun story focuses on three young women who live in the same apartment building in New York city. There lives are in chaos of one form or another. Dana Gluck is a divorced workaholic lawyer who is having difficulty in getting on with her social life but is very successful professionally. Other than work, the only place she ever goes is to Weight Watchers meetings. Penelope Mercury is a newspaper reporter who starts a fire in her workplace, and unexpectedly quits her job. She is running out of money to pay her bills. Another character, Lena Lippencrass, (nicknamed Lipstick) is a wealthy socialite who has been cut off from her parents money and has to learn to make it on her meager fashion editor's wage. One of her main dilemmas is how to afford the designer dresses that she needs to wear to the society events that she has to cover for her magazine. These three become friends over yoga lessons in Dana's apartment and help each other through the time of transition.

This light chick lit was funny, quick and easy to read. The writing was clear and smooth in the transitions back and forth between the different characters. Paula Froelich has been very creative with some of the ludicrous situations that these characters find themselves in. She keeps her readers interested with lots going on in a short space of time. As a comic look at life's various problems, Mercury In Retrograde is a success. Reading about the characters bumbling mistakes makes an entertaining way to escape from your own. So long as you take it for what it is intended I don't see why anyone would be disappointed. The coincidental forces that seemed to ruin the characters happiness in the beginning of the novel end up granting them (and us) satisfyingly happy endings.

Review: The Maze Runner

2009-11-17T13:23:00.000-05:00

Title: The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Publisher: Delacorte Press (2009)
Genre: YA, Science Fiction
Book Source: ARC from Publisher

The Maze Runner, first in a series, is an intriguing story about a group of teenage boys who are trapped in a mysterious place called The Glade. Just outside The Glade is a massive maze that appears to be unsolvable. The main character Thomas has just arrived, with no memories other than his name, yet he occasionally feels some faint traces of feeling that the place is familiar. While he is trying to adjust to his predicament he discovers that there are horrifying machine/beast creatures that attack the boys - especially in the maze at night. Fortunately they are secured in The Glade each night by big stone doors and walls. But what would happen if anyone ever gets stuck out there at night? Who created the maze? How will they ever get home to their families? The next day a girl arrives with a note from the creators and the end is triggered...

This novel sets up what looks to be a very suspenseful story with an end-of-the-world type theme. At first it seems that the action is confined to trying to solve the maze, but by the end of the novel the setting has broadened and new mysteries are hinted at. I look forward to reading the next installment and finding out what is going on. Dashner has created a strange but believable world that captured my interest and kept me reading. At first it felt a little repetitive when the boys circumstances were being described. I enjoyed it more as I got into it and things started happening. The book sort of felt like a computer game to me. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspenseful science fiction and particularly to teenage boys: what with the heroic young male protagonist, the spots of blood and gore plus the mysteries to solve I imagine it would be a great choice. It has been a while since I read any science fiction and I really enjoyed The Maze Reader.

100 Followers

2009-11-14T10:26:00.005-05:00

Woo Hoo! The Reading Journey now has 100 followers!

Thank you to everyone who has been reading posts and leaving comments. I have been surprised at how quickly it has grown and how enjoyable blogging is.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-11T17:00:00.003-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

I recently took this photo in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant!

Review: Up Island

2009-11-11T16:15:00.005-05:00

Title: Up Island
Author: Anne Rivers Siddons
Publisher: HarperCollins (1997)
Pages: 342
Genre: Fiction
Book Source: My Own Copy From A Library Sale

The title Up Island refers to the beautiful Martha's Vinyard up-island setting of this novel. The protagonist Molly Redwine starts out living in Atlanta but ends up finding an idyllic haven "Up Island". After her marriage falls apart, her various family members leave her, her mother dies and her home is taken from her, middle aged Molly is in a desperate situation. She does not know how to cope with the wreck of her life or how to begin a new future. When circumstances lead her to an isolated cottage on a pond, the solitude and close proximity to nature begins to have a healing effect. Anne Siddons has written about death, abandonment, and the complete loss of identity that accompanies the stripping away of everything a woman has poured her soul into. I have read other books that have similar story-line's to this one, but none as good as Up Island. Siddon's moved beyond stereotypes and created a greater depth to the "middle-aged woman finding herself" theme than I have seen in other works of this type.

Molly was a very detailed character who felt very realistic to me. As she dealt with all the emotional pain I could really see her strengthening and changing throughout the story. My favorite character though was Molly's father Tim. He was such a loving, caring person with a lot of dignity about him. The pacing of this book was good; it kept moving steadily. There were two distinct phases to the novel based on the setting. When I got into the second part I began to miss some of the characters from Atlanta and wonder what had become of them. Overall this was a captivating and creative story that explored some heavy themes. The ending was lovely and wrapped up without being too predictable (eg. woman goes back to husband or woman finds someone else). It was kind of open ended but implied that Molly had come to terms with the fact that her life would not be planned out or neatly organized. I loved the connection between nature and the soul. Also, the descriptions of the changing New England seasons really helped to evoke the feel of the story.

Quote: "Beyond all of it, the silver of the sea tossed and flashed. It was so utterly, picturesquely lovely, so somehow ridiculously operettalike, that I simply laughed. My heart squeezed with enchantment." (p.153)

Review: The Possibility of Everything

2009-11-09T10:15:00.004-05:00

Title: The Possibility of Everything
Author: Hope Edelman
Publisher: Ballantine Books (2009)
Genre: Non-fiction - Memoir, Travel
Book Source: ARC from publisher

In The Possibility of Everything, Hope Edelman is a writer who is struggling to maintain order in her life and who finds herself very concerned about her three year old daughter Maya. Maya has taken up with Dodo, an imaginary friend, who causes behavioral changes and general disruption in her life. After seeking advice from books, Maya's doctor, teacher and a psychologist friend but finding no real solution to the problem of Dodo, Eldelman and her husband decide to take a vacation. Their choice is to go to Belize and bring Maya with them to consult with a shaman. This book details their journey, the people they meet and they way in which their lives change. Edelman writes about how she was a mainstream American mother who was skeptical about all things spiritual but how through these unusual experiences she discovered new possibilities.

Edelman is an amazing writer who somehow wrote an entire non-fiction book out of a one week vacation and the lead up to it. I figure that she must be a really good writer because she had me hooked even though the story is not one I would normally go for. The idea of taking a young child to Belize to see a healer in order to cure her of an imaginary friend seems quite bizarre to me and I did not identify with her parenting style. That being said, Edelman's ability to vividly describe her feelings as well as her surroundings made it very easy to enter her world. I feel like I have just watched a documentary film about Belize because Edelman's descriptive writing made it so easy to picture the places they visited. I also feel like I know the family. Edelman has effortlessly captured the reality of their lives and her state of mind at the time. The fear and confusion she felt is something we can all identify with at some point in our lives even if our method of solving our problems varies. Edelman's writing style is so smooth and polished that it was delightful to read. I am now keen to get a hold of her previous works . She wrote an international bestseller called Motherless Daughters about her experience of loosing her mother at a young age. After being introduced to her writing in The Possibility of Everything I am confident that her other books will contain the same emotional honesty.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-04T16:06:00.003-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

It's Tuesday... Where are you?

2009-11-03T12:25:00.003-05:00

Hosted by An Adventure In Reading - "Where is your reading taking you today?"

Today I am in New York City in the early 1900's with Undine Spragg. She is trying to gain entrance into upper-class society by making an advantageous marriage. The book is The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton.

Review: Frozen Tears

2009-11-02T10:01:00.005-05:00

Title: Frozen Tears
Author: Mary Ann MacAfee
Publisher: Self-published (2008)
Pages: 360
Genre: Fiction
Book Source: Review copy from author

Frozen Tears is set in a small, remote town in the interior of Alaska. The protagonist Kale Weaver is a young woman who's life takes shape in some unexpected ways. Her work protecting water quality predisposes her to a close connection to nature and this connection strengthens through the years as she learns about Ennuit beliefs and rituals. She falls in love with Elliot, an Alaskan native who is a pilot. As the story progresses Kale has to face some very difficult and tragic events that test her to her limits physically and emotionally. She is able to get through these things by searching for meaning in the natural environment and by finding purpose in caring for mistreated wolves. Wolves become a personal symbol in Kale's life journey. The lessons she learns about Ennuit culture from her father-in-law provide her with the wisdom she needs to make some very hard choices.

In Frozen Tears Mary Ann MacAfee transports the reader to such a beautiful and harsh setting in which the tragedies that occur in the narrative are quite likely to occur in reality. When I began the book I was concerned that the theme of protecting the Alaskan environment may overwhelm the story and be the sole focus of the novel. I was pleasantly surprised that it was not this simplistic at all. The theme was present as part of a more complex story that engaged with many different moral dilemmas and life challenges. Kale is a strong and intelligent character who has to deal with both the best and worst of another culture. I enjoyed immersing myself in the Alaskan wilderness and learning about the type of courage and stamina required to live in such an isolated and harsh place.

Author Website: maryannmacafee.com

Guest Review (of sorts): The Tale of Despereaux

2009-10-31T09:03:00.005-04:00

Title: The Tale of Despereaux
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Publisher: Candlewick Press (2003)
Book Source: School Library

My 8 year old daughter Lillian reads a lot but this particular book she is re-reading at home as well as listening to the teacher read it at school. She has a bookmark keeping the place her class is up to, a bookmark keeping where she has read ahead past the class during spare time at school, and a book mark where she has started back at the beginning at home. So let's ask her what is so great about The Tale of Despereaux to warrant three concurrent readings.

Lillian's Answer: "There is lots of things happening at the same time and it is really interesting. Well like it is a huge book with lots of different stories in it. It has got 370 pages in it and there is this one bit that is really funny. Despereaux (the mouse) falls in love with a princess (a human) and he is not supposed to let the princess touch him or see him and so he has to go into the dungeon. That is where the rats are and the rats want to eat him, but he hasn't been eaten yet and I don't think he will be because I have already read the book before and I remember that he stays alive."

Lillian's Favorite Passage: "The Princess Pea looked down at Despereaux ... Despereaux stared up at her in wonder. The Pea, he decided, looked just like the picture of the fair maiden in the book in the library. The princess smiled at Despereaux again, and this time, Despereaux smiled back. And then, something incredible happened: The mouse fell in love."

I asked her to tell me more about this book but she wanted to keep reading and was mad that I was interrupting her reading to ask who the author and publisher were. So we had better leave her to it.

A Reading Snack

2009-10-31T08:37:00.007-04:00

When you are living in a foreign country you tend to get excited about finding a product from "home". The other day I found Tim Tams and am happy to report that they are the real thing. This is not exactly a post about something book related, but is loosely connected to the theme of the blog because Tim Tams make a great reading snack. If you want to give it a try, here is the procedure:

1. Look for them at Target (if you click on the photo to enlarge you will see they are imported by Pepperidge Farm, I found my packet at Target in the grocery section)
2. Make a cup of coffee
3. Grab your current read
4. Dip chocolate cookie (biscuit is the Australian term) in your coffee. This will cause it to begin melting so don't leave it in the coffee too long.
5. Enjoy!
6. Watch out for falling crumbs that nestle in book pages

Note: I did not get compensated in any way for this post. It is solely my unbiased opinion. (I wish that I did get a case of free Tim Tams out of it.)

Wordless Wednesday

2009-10-28T07:30:00.000-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

Review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

2009-10-27T12:50:00.005-04:00

Title: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: A Novel
Author: Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
Publisher: The Dial Press (2008)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book Source: Library Copy

Set in 1946 soon after the Second World War, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society tells the story of a writer who is searching for a subject for a book. The protagonist Juliet Ashton enters into a correspondence with a man from Guernsey, a British Island occupied by the Nazis during the war. Through letters between Juliet and her friends old and new, an intriguing portrayal of what it was like to live through the German occupation emerges. The members of the society and the stories they tell capture Juliet as both a writer and a human being. After she has done as much research as she can she realizes that she must go there herself.

The tone of this book was light and humorous even though it related to war. The cast of characters were quirky and interesting. The letter format worked perfectly. (It reminded me of the book and film 84 Charing Cross Road.) Even though the letters often related anecdotes and little stories there was a strong plot line tying it all together. The letters are written by many different characters, so we get many different viewpoints along the way. I really enjoyed the writing style; it helped to evoke the time period so well. I did have a niggling hesitation about the way in which many war time atrocities were brushed over or taken lightly but it seems that the authors purpose was to look for the good in humans regardless of the external circumstances and allegiances. Overall, I really enjoyed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and would recommend it as a funny and sweet story that celebrates books as a way to rise above life's difficulties.

Where Are You?

2009-10-27T10:50:00.005-04:00

Hosted by An Adventure In Reading - "Where is your reading taking you today?"

Right now I am in The Glade, which is a fictional place created by James Dashner in his book called The Maze Runner. The Glade is surrounded by massive stone walls with doors that lead out into a maze. Each night the doors close the inhabitants inside the Glade in order to protect them from the dangerous creatures that roam the maze at night.

Quote & Question

2009-10-26T13:38:00.005-04:00

Quote:

“Reading a book is like re-writing it for yourself. You bring to a novel, anything you read, all your experience of the world. You bring your history and you read it in your own terms.”

^{- Angela Carter}

^Question:

^{When you are reviewing a book(or recommending one to a friend) do you try to stay objective when evaluating it's merits or are you happy to allow your own unique perspective to come through in your review?}

Review: Chronic City

2009-10-22T12:21:00.000-04:00

Title: Chronic City
Author: Jonathan Lethem
Publisher: Doubleday (2009)
Genre: Fiction
Book Source: ARC from Publisher (Doubleday)

Chase Insteadman is the character who narrates this unique story of a group of friends who live in Manhattan. Chase was a child star who now floats through life with no particular purpose. His only responsibility is his role as the fiance of Janice Trumbull who is trapped on the International Space Station and sends him love letters which are also printed in the newspaper. When Chase meets Perkus Tooth his life takes on a new routine. Perkus is a cultural critic who endeavors to enlighten Chase with his wild drug induced theories and paranoid interpretations of life in Manhattan. He obsessive search for truth takes the form of cutting up magazines to rearranging words and analyzing various films. As Chase joins Perkus in his search for meaning other characters enter the story-scape such as Oona Laszlo, a ghost writer and Richard Abneg who works for the mayor. One of the bizarre adventures Perkus leads the group into is an obsession with "chaldrons", which they feverishly try to buy on Ebay auctions. In the end the characters of Chronic City discover that things are not what they appear and they are quite possibly mindlessly playing out their assigned roles.

It took me a while to get into this book. It had me puzzled and wondering where it was going. Chronic City is not a gripping read due to its detailed ramblings about what goes on in the mind of Perkus Tooth, some of which is interesting but mostly absurd. It makes for very little and very slow plot development. That being said, I was interested in the overall themes even though I felt that they tended toward repetition and ambiguity. A lot seemed unnecessary. Lethem has written a very long and detailed portrayal of modern city life. His characters illustrate the compelling force of obsession. I did enjoy his postmodern themes and would recommend it to people who like heavy reading.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-10-21T18:00:00.004-04:00

These were taken at a lake in Vermont, USA

Wordless Wednesday

It's Tuesday... Where Are You?

2009-10-20T13:08:00.003-04:00

Hosted by An Adventure In Reading - "Where is your reading taking you today?"

This Tuesday I am sailing around about to discover the Hudson River. I am reading Half Moon: Henry Hudson and the Voyage that Redrew the Map of the New World by Douglas Hunter

Wordless Wednesday

2009-10-14T15:15:00.003-04:00

Wordless Wednesday

Review: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much

2009-10-13T16:31:00.008-04:00

Title: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective, and a World of Literary Obsession
Author: Allison Hoover Bartlett
Publisher: Riverhead Books (2009)
Genre: Non-fiction
Book Source: ARC from Publisher (Riverhead Books)

This true story is about a book thief named John Gilkey and a rare book dealer named Ken Sanders who is determined to stop him. Set in the intriguing world of rare books, The Man Who Loved Books Too Much explores the power of possession. For John Gilkey ownership of books carries an identity of intelligence and class. Rather than work to pay for the books he wants to own, he makes fraudulent purchases and generally acquires rare books any way he can. Ken Sanders becomes obsessed with stopping Gilkey in order to protect his trade from such a prolific rare book thief. Sanders and other book sellers who are victims of Gilkey take the loss of beloved books very personally and band together to bring him to justice.

Allison Hoover Bartlett finds herself wanting to understand how Gilkey could risk his freedom in order to stock his book collection. Through detailed interviews with Gilkey she begins to discover a man who has an unusual set of ethics and a strong desire to create his ideal self-identity. Along the way the author is herself drawn into some ethical dilemmas. As she spends more and more time with Gilkey and he begins to reveal details not yet known to the police investigators, the author's role becomes unclear. Is she merely collecting stories, or is she influencing them?

One of the reasons that I enjoyed this book was that there was a lot of variety to it. It contained crime mystery, an introduction to the rare book trade and stories of historical book collectors. Another aspect I particularly liked was the interesting and timely themes. The author delved into Gilkey's ethical theories and psychological motivations. The fine line between loving books and obsessively collecting them at any cost was an interesting question that was raised in The Man Who Loved Books Too Much. The desirability of books as objects in and of themselves regardless of the content printed within is still alive and strong today even with the popularity of electronic books. Allison Hoover Bartlett's writing was charming, as were her descriptions of various rare book stores and the people that frequent them.

Two Awards

2009-10-13T13:58:00.005-04:00

Two Awards:

The One Lovely Blog Award was passed to me from Katy of A Few More Pages. Katy has just started blogging in September and looks well worth following. It is fun to be amongst the early followers of a new blog.

I want to pass this award on to:
Jo-Jo of Jo-Jo Loves to read!!!

Kaye of Pudgy Penguin Perusals

Melody of Melody's Reading Cor ner

The Splash Award came from Al at Publish or Perish. Thank you... Check out Al's photos and write ups about his weekend trips in the Australian countryside and also his journey toward the publication of his first novel.

This award goes to:

Kals of At Pemberley

Heather of Gofita's Pages

Dani of Average Girl Reads

It's Tuesday, Where Are You?

2009-10-13T13:06:00.002-04:00

Hosted by An Adventure In Reading - "Where is your reading taking you today?"

I am currently reading my way through Manhattan. Jonathan Lethem's intricate look at this city in his new book Chronic City is very thought provoking. From what I can gather he seems to be exploring the notion of truth and reality as it is found in modern urban life.

Review: Letters From Pemberley

2009-10-08T12:31:00.004-04:00

Title: Letters From Pemberley
Author: Jane Dawkins
Publisher: Source Books (2007)
Genre: Historical Fiction, Austen sequel
Book Source: My Own Copy

Letters From Pemberley is a sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The story spans the first year of marriage between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. The entire novel unfolds through a series of letters written from Elizabeth to her sister Jane, who is herself newly wed. Many of the familiar characters are present in this sequel to one degree or another. As Elizabeth settles into her new home and meets her new neighbors we see her mature and become comfortable with her new situation. Her initial nervousness and hesitations over how to run such a grand home and how Mr. Darcy's friends will receive her provide some difficulty in her early months of marriage. These hardships are tempered by Mr. Darcy's care and concern for Elizabeth.

Meanwhile Jane and Mr. Bingley find that they are overrun with Jane's family coming for frequent visits. When they find that they are expecting their first child they decide to move very near to the Darcy estate. Mr. Darcy's young sister Georgiana also features in the story. She is a welcome companion for Elizabeth. Letters From Pemberley was a sweet story that was quick and easy to read. The letter format resulted in short chapters and proved a nice way to tell the simple story. Jane Dawkins kept it gentle and positive in style and plot. There were no arguments or misunderstandings between the newly weds. There was a ball, visits between family and friends, a London trip, an engagement, pregnancy and new acquaintances. Overall, this is a light read that I would recommend to Austen enthusiasts and anyone looking for a slight extension to the happily-ever-after theme. Jane Dawkin's novel gives the reader a glimpse of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's happy marriage as it continues past the wedding day.

The Shameless Braggings of a Book Hog

2009-10-05T18:20:00.004-04:00

Today I went to a library book sale that advertised $5 for a bag full. (Like waving a red cape in front of a bull.) I managed to stuff 19 books into the shopping bag. (One book didn't make it into the photo.) Some were children's books for my daughters but admittedly most were for me. Then later in the day The Year of the Flood arrived in the mail from Kaye of Pudgy Penguin Perusals. A book for my husband and my daughter also arrived in the mail from my brother. One being a really gorgeous hard cover Alice In Wonderland with amazing illustrations by Rodney Matthews. (Yesterday A Hopeless Romantic arrived from Becky of One Literature Nut.) So our house has been inundated with books today! Always a good thing.The most interesting book that I carefully stuffed into the $5 bag is a book called The Celebrity and is written by Winston Churchill. Not THE Winston Churchill but an American writer(1871-1947). The book that I got was published in 1899. Unfortunately it is in bad condition so is probably not valuable at all. But still I thought it would be fun to have. The cover is completely missing and someone has made a cover for it out of cardboard and brown paper. Wikipedia informs me that this Winston Churchill lived in New Hampshire for quite a while and that his second novel sold 2 million copies. Quite an accomplishment considering the nations populations was only 76 million at the time.

Review: The Portrait of a Lady

2009-10-03T15:19:00.011-04:00

Title: The Portrait of a Lady
Author: Henry James
Publisher: Penguin Books (2003)
First Published: 1881
Genre: Classic fiction
Book Source: My own well worn copy.

Isabel Archer is a young American woman who is invited to visit Europe with her aunt. Isabel is an optimist who's ideas about life have been formed by the American ideal of individualism, as well as by romantic and naive notions gleaned from reading books. She embarks on her European tour with a desire to observe humanity and experience all she can. To this end she determines to retain her freedom; turning down two eligible marriage proposals...

After some time she meets Gilbert Osmond, an ex-patriot American living in Italy. His charming manner and his dedication to art and beauty intrigues Isabel and she agrees to marry him. Later she realizes that ''love' for her was based more upon Isabel's money, youth and beauty than any affinity of their minds. She is merely another of the pieces of art that he collects - meant to adorn his home. For an opinionated intelligent woman like Isabel the situation is stifling and humiliating to say the least.

The Portrait of a Lady is classic literature at its best. Henry James is a master craftsman who delves deeply into the layers of the human consciousness. He gives wonderful psychological character portrayals that unfold gradually. The various characters spend a lot of time speculating on each others motivations. The settings are very atmospheric and important to the development of Isabel's character. James creates suspense and great internal drama with his use of symbols and metaphors. For example, when Isabel is contemplating her marriage she describes it as:

"... the shadows had begun to gather; it was as if Osmond deliberately, almost malignantly, had put the lights out one by one. The dusk at first was vague and thin, and she could still see her way in it. But it steadily deepened, and if now and again it had occasionally lifted there were certain corners of her prospect that were impenetrably black."(P.474)

The Portrait of a Lady can stand multiple readings even in close succession due to the detailed descriptions of setting and characters. It spans such a range of human emotion. It is full of intelligent characters and touches upon many important themes such as marriage, love, female freedom, social constraints, wealth, etc, etc. As one of my favorite books, I highly recommend it. This is an excellent choice for a book club and for those who enjoy immersing themselves in a long and detailed story.

Review: The Gardner Heist

2009-09-30T19:21:00.001-04:00

Title: The Gardner Heist: The True Story of the World's Largest Unsolved Art Theft
Author: Ulrich Boser
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (2008)
Pages: 260
Genre: Non-fiction, art, crime
Book Source: Library

"Every work of art is singular, unique, and when a creation goes missing, there is nothing left behind but inadequate facsimiles - and fading memories."(p.41) The loss of a dozen masterpieces from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston is the topic of this true story. UlrichBoser opens the book with a description of how the theft took place - pieced together using all the available information. The remainder of the book discusses the clues, the suspects and the various detectives who have tried to solve the case. It gives the reader a detailed look at the issue of art theft including the motives and outcomes of these acts. It also describes the work involved in solving this type of crime and the tenacity needed to follow it through.

On a recent trip to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum with my book club I was able to view the empty frames which are all that remain of the stolen masterpieces. The art that is stolen is generally believed to be ruined and lost forever. Even the millions of dollars offered in reward have not been able to bring about its recovery. UlrichBoser's book highlights the way in which the missing art lodges itself in the consciousness of all the people who have tried to solve the crime or otherwise been involved. The loss is so potent because of the historic and cultural significance of the pieces and the multitudes of people who have subsequently been denied the opportunity to view the stolen art. The Gardner Heist began as a fascinating book, but seemed to get boring and bogged down in endless speculations in the last half. While I did enjoy learning about the heist and the people who have tried to solve the crime, I think that the book would have been more enjoyable if it were shorter and not quite so detailed about all the Boston crime personalities that could have, might have, possibly were involved.

Note: This is my second book completed for the Heidenkind Art History Reading Challenge.

Review: Bending Toward The Sun

2009-09-29T15:29:00.006-04:00

Title: Bending Toward The Sun: A Mother and Daughter Memoir
Author:Leslie Gilbert-Lurie with Rita Lurie
Publisher: HarperCollins (2009)
Pages: 357
Genre: Non-fiction, Holocaust Memoir
Book Source: Review Copy from FSB Associates

Bending Toward The Sun tells the true story of Rita Lurie who survived the Nazi occupation of Poland in WWII by hiding in a farmhouse attic for approximately two years. While cramped up in the cold dark attic with fourteen other family members, the young Rita learned to suppress all her needs; both physical and emotional. Among these terrible circumstances, Rita's mother and younger brother died. When Poland was liberated and Rita and her family were freed, their troubles were far from over. They lived in many refugee camps while waiting to emigrate to a new country and begin afresh. They ended up being granted entrance to America where Rita was thrust into a new life that included a difficult step-mother as well as adjusting to life in a foreign place.

The second part of this memoir is told from Rita's daughter Leslie's perspective. While Leslie was blessed with the security of growing up in America, the trauma that Rita had experienced as a young girl continued to have an effect upon the next generation. Due to Rita's early loss of her mother, a legacy of separation anxiety was passed down to her daughter and granddaughter. It is this generational effect of the original trauma that inspired Leslie to examine her mother's story and see if she could make sense of the way it had touched her own and her daughter's life. Leslie is a very accomplished woman but she grew up with a strong sense of guilt and concern for her mother. She took on a role of protecting her mother from any emotional upset. Leslie's description of the family dynamics gives the reader a greater understanding of how one tragic event can become an integral part of the lives that are touched by it either directly or indirectly.

Bending Toward The Sun is a well written and engaging memoir that tells an amazing story. The strong characters and important themes made this a book that was well worth reading. It is a testament to Rita's strength of character that she managed to lead a full life after all she went through. She devoted herself to giving love and protection to her children and grandchildren. She had an endless ability to nurture her loved ones despite her own emotional deprivation. Though Rita was determined to overcome her troubles, she still had very serious bouts of depression at various periods of her life. It was heart-breaking to read about her depression soon before her 70th birthday. Rita was five when she went to the attic but even at age 70 she was still experiencing the devastating effects of the Holocaust. Throughout the memoir there is not just a sense of loss and tragedy, but also of hope and inspiration. In the pages of Bending Toward The Sun, Rita and her family are celebrated as survivors and inspirations for all.

Review: South of Broad

2009-09-24T12:43:00.005-04:00

Title: South of Broad
Author: Pat Conroy
Publisher: Nan A. Talese Doubleday (2009)
Genre: Fiction
Book Source: ARC from publisher

South of Broad features a diverse group of people who meet in high school and develop close bonds that endure through some pretty rough times. Set in Charleston, South Carolina the story is narrated by Leopold Bloom King. Leo had been a lonely child who experienced devastating tragedy in his family. As he begins to piece his life back together Leo reaches out to other kids at his school who also need to have the support of a group. After numerous years pass, the group comes back together in order to embark on a rescue mission. In the process their lives are all put in danger as a mystery that has shadowed the whole book comes to the forefront with terrible consequences. Leo is the point at which all the themes intersect. He approaches each challenge with courage and faith. He fights for lost causes and befriends outcasts.

Personally I did not completely like this book. It felt somehow forced and overly dramatic. It was like an exercise in how to cram as much tragic and horrifying personal drama into one novel. Child abuse, neglect, suicide (by a ten year old), depression, AIDS, adultery, murder, mental illness, a devastating natural disaster as well as racial, sexual and class discrimination; South of Broad has it all. Pat Conroy has written a story that closely examines all the worst aspects of human nature and studies how severely damaged individuals survive. In my opinion it was all a little too extreme. That being said, I did notice toward the end of the book that the narrator is revealed as being very unreliable and prone to exaggeration for the purpose of telling a good story. So the extremes of the novel were acknowledged to exist in the context of Leo's vivid imagination and descriptive story telling skills. It was this act of telling the story that contributed to Leo's ability to survive and make sense out of his troubled existence.

On the positive side is Pat Conroy's beautiful writing style and descriptive genius. Permeating the entire story is the protagonist's love of Charleston. Charleston is presented to the reader in all it's mystery and splendor; giving the setting significance as a redemptive power for the characters. Pat Conroy has a lyrical style that turned mundane events like cleaning a store or doing a paper route into romantic and magical experiences. He also included some quirky and humorous characters that helped to lighten the otherwise very heavy novel.

Bookcase Winner!!!

2009-09-23T19:56:00.005-04:00

The moment arrives for announcing the winner of BBAW giveaway #2 ...

The winner of the Mylex Four Shelf Bookcase was determined using random.org.

#111 - Beth (of The Crazy Life of a Bookaholic Mom, which seems to be a very new book blog worth checking out.)

Congratulations!

I will be emailing you straight away.

Thank you to CSN Furniture for providing the giveaway bookcase. I am sure that Beth will put it to good use! Thanks to everyone who entered. I hope that you all won something in the many other BBAW giveaways that were going on last week.

Review: Eye of the Beholder

2009-09-22T15:45:00.000-04:00

Title: Eye of the Beholder: Masterpieces from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Editors: Alan Chong, Richard Lingner & Carl Zahn
Publisher: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum & Beacon Press (2003)
Pages: 240
Genre: Non-fiction, art
Book Source: Library

"Isabella Stewart Gardner's museum is an extraordinary achievement... Her taste and intelligence engendered a very personal collection, replete with masterpieces but also with delightful eccentricities." (intro p.ix)

Eye of the Beholder is a celebration of this Boston museum and all the delightful treasures found within. It contains color photographs of the museum and the works that reside there (or previously resided there before a notorious art heist) as well as written reflections about the museum and its works by many important people of Mrs Gardner's time - such as Henry James, Edith Wharton, Henry Adams, John Singer Sargent, James Whistler, Bernard Berenson etc.

I really enjoyed looking through this book and reading a bit of background about the works of art. It has given me a little insight into the spirit of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum as well as the woman who collected and displayed these amazing pieces of art. I would recommend it to anyone, not just professionals or art students because it is quite a personal rather than technical art book. It serves as an introduction to a unique museum and also as a basic guide to the main works to be found there. The book is structured by the art time period, geographic origin, as well as type, with textiles and decorative arts being given their own chapter. I look forward to visiting the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum next weekend with my book club. I am confident that having read Eye of the Beholder will enhance my enjoyment of the experience.

Note: This is my first book read for Heidenkind's Art History Challenge.

A Literary Excursion

2009-09-19T16:16:00.005-04:00

Mount Monadnock

Today my family and I went hiking at Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire. It's link to the world of literature is that it was also visited by the writers Emerson and Thoreau.

"Both Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau visited the mountain and wrote fondly of it. Emerson was a frequent visitor, and made the mountain the subject of "Monadnoc", one of his most famous poems. Thoreau visited the mountain four times between 1844 and 1860 and spent a great deal of time carefully observing and cataloging natural phenomenon. He is regarded as having written one of the first serious naturalist inventories of the mountain. A bog near the summit of Mount Monadnock and a rocky lookout off the Cliff Walk trail are named after him; another lookout is named after Emerson." (From this Wikipedia link)

Note: Sorry about the poor quality pictures of Mount Monadnock. The batteries were flat on the real camera, so they were taken on a mobile phone. The portraits of the two writers come from Wikimedia Commons.

Winner #1

2009-09-19T09:29:00.002-04:00

Winner of BBAW Giveaway #1
Using Random.org

#23 - Bingo

Congratulations! I will email you soon and please respond with your address within 3 days.

Also, thank you to everyone else who entered to win this book. If you haven't already discovered it I have a bookcase up for giveaway and you still have a couple more days to enter. I hope that you all enjoyed the BBAW celebrations. Have a great weekend!