The Android's Dream
by John Scalzi
I am generally not a huge fan of science fiction. Well, except for Star Wars movies. But that's a whole different story. SF literature is usually not something I go for. But I found this book on the "new releases" shelf (even though it was published 3 years ago -- Viroqua may be a tad bit behind) and it caught my eye.
The cover artwork was cool, and the title was intriguing. I read the book flap, and it sounded funny and interesting. And it was! Hooray!
This book reminded me a lot of Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. (OK. So I like one other SF book. Honestly, I can't think of any others!) It was witty, sarcastic, had great dialogue, and a wacky premise. There are a lot of characters, though. It got a bit confusing at first trying to figure everyone out. But the story was so good, that you got over it!
I just tried to write a sentence about the premise of the book, and it's awfully complicated -- there are a lot of things all tied together. So let me just say it's about interplanetary relations, a dead guy whose been brought back as the first "real" artificial intelligence in a computer, the US State Department, an alien that eats people while on a religious quest, a veteran of the worst battle ever who is a computer genius and gets sucked into the whole thing, and a sheep.
That may sound crazy, but it works! I may even have to start checking out other SF books, now! :)
©2006, Tom Doherty Associates
ISBN 978-0-765-30941-9
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Priceless Memories
Priceless Memories
by Bob Barker and Digby Diehl
I used to watch "The Price is Right" every day during the summer. I wanted to be on that game show so bad! I knew the prices, I knew the games, and I loved Bob Barker. He always came across as a funny, friendly gentleman. Now that he's retired, you couldn't pay me to watch TPIR. Can't stand Drew Carey. Ruined the show, for me.
Anyway, as I was browsing my library's new releases, I saw a picture of Bob Barker on the cover of a book -- his memoirs! Hooray! The book flap said it was full of stories about his life, his favorite contestants, and memories of TPIR. Sounds great! Although, when I told other people I was going to read Bob Barker's memoirs, they thought I was a bit crazy. Hmmm.
This was a nice book, written by someone who is not a writer. Technically, this isn't a great example of good writing. That said, it is full of good stories -- about growing up, about his mom and his wife, about his pets, and about his years on television. There were stories that made me laugh out loud, and a couple that made me get a bit misty.
In the end, I came away with the impression that Bob Barker is still a funny, friendly gentleman (even if he isn't a great writer). So in the words of the immortal man: "Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered."
©2009, Center Street
ISBN 978-1-59995-135-5
by Bob Barker and Digby Diehl
I used to watch "The Price is Right" every day during the summer. I wanted to be on that game show so bad! I knew the prices, I knew the games, and I loved Bob Barker. He always came across as a funny, friendly gentleman. Now that he's retired, you couldn't pay me to watch TPIR. Can't stand Drew Carey. Ruined the show, for me.
Anyway, as I was browsing my library's new releases, I saw a picture of Bob Barker on the cover of a book -- his memoirs! Hooray! The book flap said it was full of stories about his life, his favorite contestants, and memories of TPIR. Sounds great! Although, when I told other people I was going to read Bob Barker's memoirs, they thought I was a bit crazy. Hmmm.
This was a nice book, written by someone who is not a writer. Technically, this isn't a great example of good writing. That said, it is full of good stories -- about growing up, about his mom and his wife, about his pets, and about his years on television. There were stories that made me laugh out loud, and a couple that made me get a bit misty.
In the end, I came away with the impression that Bob Barker is still a funny, friendly gentleman (even if he isn't a great writer). So in the words of the immortal man: "Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered."
©2009, Center Street
ISBN 978-1-59995-135-5
Vision in White
Vision in White
by Nora Roberts
Well, big surprise. Nora Roberts is awesome. Oh, to be as prolific as she! 4,000 novels under two different names (perhaps a bit of an exaggeration) -- and they are all good!
This latest is no exception. It is the first in a new series (I am a sucker for a good series) -- "The Bride Quartet." The backstory is of four women who grew up as friends and now run a wedding business together. The first book, Vision, tells the story of Mac, the wedding photographer.
As usual with a NR book, the plot is solid, the dialogue is funny and sexy, and you genuinely like the characters! This was a quick read for me, and I am now anxiously awaiting installment two in the series. The problem with reading new series is that I actually have to wait for the next one to be published, instead of just waiting for it to arrive through inter-library loan! Hopefully, come December I won't forget that this is on my list!
©2009, Berkley Books
ISBN 978-0-425-22751-0
by Nora Roberts
Well, big surprise. Nora Roberts is awesome. Oh, to be as prolific as she! 4,000 novels under two different names (perhaps a bit of an exaggeration) -- and they are all good!
This latest is no exception. It is the first in a new series (I am a sucker for a good series) -- "The Bride Quartet." The backstory is of four women who grew up as friends and now run a wedding business together. The first book, Vision, tells the story of Mac, the wedding photographer.
As usual with a NR book, the plot is solid, the dialogue is funny and sexy, and you genuinely like the characters! This was a quick read for me, and I am now anxiously awaiting installment two in the series. The problem with reading new series is that I actually have to wait for the next one to be published, instead of just waiting for it to arrive through inter-library loan! Hopefully, come December I won't forget that this is on my list!
©2009, Berkley Books
ISBN 978-0-425-22751-0
Monday, August 10, 2009
The Angel's Game
The Angel's Game
By Carlos Ruiz Zafon
I was first introduced to Zafon in his book, The Shadow of the Wind. This book is sort of a sequel, although 99% of the characters are different. The only thing that remains the same is Sempere & Sons bookstore, and the Cemetery of Forgotten Books.
Which makes this sound like a novel about books, and it kind of is, but more than that, it's a novel of love, madness, and mystery.
It is also long -- not long like Harry Potter 850 pages, but long as in drawn out. Perhaps it is because it is translated from Spanish, or perhaps it is because Zafon is wordy. Either way, at times the book drags, but you know it is taking you somewhere interesting, and you go along anyway.
The ending, too, is unexpected. Mysteries remain. This is not, after all, a fairy tale where everyone lives happily ever after.
©2009, Doubleday
ISBN 978-0-385-52870-2
By Carlos Ruiz Zafon
I was first introduced to Zafon in his book, The Shadow of the Wind. This book is sort of a sequel, although 99% of the characters are different. The only thing that remains the same is Sempere & Sons bookstore, and the Cemetery of Forgotten Books.
Which makes this sound like a novel about books, and it kind of is, but more than that, it's a novel of love, madness, and mystery.
It is also long -- not long like Harry Potter 850 pages, but long as in drawn out. Perhaps it is because it is translated from Spanish, or perhaps it is because Zafon is wordy. Either way, at times the book drags, but you know it is taking you somewhere interesting, and you go along anyway.
The ending, too, is unexpected. Mysteries remain. This is not, after all, a fairy tale where everyone lives happily ever after.
©2009, Doubleday
ISBN 978-0-385-52870-2
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Escape Velocity
Escape Velocity
by Mark Walden
I was waiting for this book forever! Ok, not forever, but it sure feels like it. That's what I get for reading books in a series as the author is writing it! It wasn't like waiting for Harry Potter or anything, but I did check my library's listings weekly.
This is the third book in the H.I.V.E. series -- the Higher Institute of Villainous Education. Yep, it's about a school for criminals! They aren't all bad, though, of course.
In this installment, Otto, Wing, Laura and Shelly must use their unique skills to: a) escape from school; b) rescue Dr. Nero; and c) defeat the really bad guy. Of course, there are problems along the way, along with a few happy surprises.
These books are geared for young adults, but I really like the stories. Great characters, and lots of creativity involved in the plots. And, I'm guessing, another H.I.V.E. book down the line!
©2008, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
ISBN 978-0-7475-9485-7
by Mark Walden
I was waiting for this book forever! Ok, not forever, but it sure feels like it. That's what I get for reading books in a series as the author is writing it! It wasn't like waiting for Harry Potter or anything, but I did check my library's listings weekly.
This is the third book in the H.I.V.E. series -- the Higher Institute of Villainous Education. Yep, it's about a school for criminals! They aren't all bad, though, of course.
In this installment, Otto, Wing, Laura and Shelly must use their unique skills to: a) escape from school; b) rescue Dr. Nero; and c) defeat the really bad guy. Of course, there are problems along the way, along with a few happy surprises.
These books are geared for young adults, but I really like the stories. Great characters, and lots of creativity involved in the plots. And, I'm guessing, another H.I.V.E. book down the line!
©2008, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
ISBN 978-0-7475-9485-7
Sudden Moves
Sudden Moves
by Charlotte Vale Allen
Remember Fresh Air? About Lucinda and Katanya and getting over issues? Sudden Moves is the sequel! I knew there was one, because there was a note on the back of FA. But I didn't think I'd find it right away! I was just perusing the As at the library, looking for other books by this author, and when I picked this one up, I was so excited!
The whole gang is back, and doing their best to live normal lives. Luce is spending as much time with her grandmother as possible, and watching Soupboy a few times a week. Kat and her mom and grandma come up to Luce's monthly, and Luce is still working on not being so agoraphobic.
There are a few minor crisis to deal with throughout the book, one of which is Eli, Luce's grandmother's handsome doctor. Can Luce handle a "boyfriend?" OMG! :)
But then, 9-11 happens, and everything is different. How do they cope, and how can life ever be normal again?
This doesn't get too preachy about 9-11, but it does treat it with the severity it deserves, and does a good job of expressing the emotions many people felt during the days that followed.
It was good to "catch up" with Luce and Kat and see where life took them.
©2004, MIRA Books
ISBN 0-7783-2036-7
by Charlotte Vale Allen
Remember Fresh Air? About Lucinda and Katanya and getting over issues? Sudden Moves is the sequel! I knew there was one, because there was a note on the back of FA. But I didn't think I'd find it right away! I was just perusing the As at the library, looking for other books by this author, and when I picked this one up, I was so excited!
The whole gang is back, and doing their best to live normal lives. Luce is spending as much time with her grandmother as possible, and watching Soupboy a few times a week. Kat and her mom and grandma come up to Luce's monthly, and Luce is still working on not being so agoraphobic.
There are a few minor crisis to deal with throughout the book, one of which is Eli, Luce's grandmother's handsome doctor. Can Luce handle a "boyfriend?" OMG! :)
But then, 9-11 happens, and everything is different. How do they cope, and how can life ever be normal again?
This doesn't get too preachy about 9-11, but it does treat it with the severity it deserves, and does a good job of expressing the emotions many people felt during the days that followed.
It was good to "catch up" with Luce and Kat and see where life took them.
©2004, MIRA Books
ISBN 0-7783-2036-7
Guilty
Guilty
by Karen Robards
I had never heard of this author, even though she's written about 15 books, and some have been bestsellers (apparently). I liked the sound of this one, and it didn't disappoint.
Kat the teenager is in foster care and runs with a rough crowd. One night, they rob a gas station, and an employee gets shot and dies.
Fast forward 15 years. Kate the ADA is living in Philly with her son, Ben, trying to make it. And she's doing pretty well, until someone from her past shows up. Mario is the one Kat thinks shot the man that night, and now he wants her help to get out of jail. He threatens to tell everyone that she was the one who shot the guard and Kate is afraid that everything she's worked for will be gone -- and that Ben will be left alone.
Other events make this even more interesting -- a hot cop trying to figure out her past, mob ties, a kidnapping -- and overall, this was a fast, good read. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author!
©2008, G.P. Putnam's Sons
ISBN 978-0-399-15461-4
by Karen Robards
I had never heard of this author, even though she's written about 15 books, and some have been bestsellers (apparently). I liked the sound of this one, and it didn't disappoint.
Kat the teenager is in foster care and runs with a rough crowd. One night, they rob a gas station, and an employee gets shot and dies.
Fast forward 15 years. Kate the ADA is living in Philly with her son, Ben, trying to make it. And she's doing pretty well, until someone from her past shows up. Mario is the one Kat thinks shot the man that night, and now he wants her help to get out of jail. He threatens to tell everyone that she was the one who shot the guard and Kate is afraid that everything she's worked for will be gone -- and that Ben will be left alone.
Other events make this even more interesting -- a hot cop trying to figure out her past, mob ties, a kidnapping -- and overall, this was a fast, good read. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author!
©2008, G.P. Putnam's Sons
ISBN 978-0-399-15461-4
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Promises in Death
Promises in Death
by J.D. Robb
As the 28th book in a series (and no, I'm not kidding), this book follows a tried but true line. And that's why I love them! Familiar characters (Dallas, Roarke, Peabody and the rest of the gang), some future tech (but not too future), and a kick-ass attitude. I started this book last night thinking I'd read for a bit before I went to bed. And finished the book 4 1/2 hours later -- way too late (or too early, depending on your point of view). But once into it, I couldn't put it down. Like all of the "in Death" books, the end is fast paced and gripping. This one had a bit of a twist in that the vic was someone who was one of the good guys, and had been around for a few books. These are not books that you can read one after the other -- the plot lines are pretty similar, after all. But one every month or so is awesome! I hope there are many more in the series.
©2009, G.P. Putnam's Sons
ISBN 978-0-399-15548-2
by J.D. Robb
As the 28th book in a series (and no, I'm not kidding), this book follows a tried but true line. And that's why I love them! Familiar characters (Dallas, Roarke, Peabody and the rest of the gang), some future tech (but not too future), and a kick-ass attitude. I started this book last night thinking I'd read for a bit before I went to bed. And finished the book 4 1/2 hours later -- way too late (or too early, depending on your point of view). But once into it, I couldn't put it down. Like all of the "in Death" books, the end is fast paced and gripping. This one had a bit of a twist in that the vic was someone who was one of the good guys, and had been around for a few books. These are not books that you can read one after the other -- the plot lines are pretty similar, after all. But one every month or so is awesome! I hope there are many more in the series.
©2009, G.P. Putnam's Sons
ISBN 978-0-399-15548-2
The Girl She Used To Be
The Girl She Used To Be
by David Cristofano
This is the first novel from this author. Premise: girl who has been in the witness protection service since she was 6 is now 26. She's moved around about five or six times, and has that many identities. Both parents are dead and all she wants is to be her real identity. Problem: she and her parents witness a mob killing and the feds are sure the mob is still looking for her.
So, she's on the move again. First night in a hotel, the son of the mob family finds her. Surprise! He doesn't want to kill her -- he wants to protect her and give her a real life.
Who should she trust? Where can she turn? What is the cost of freedom?
Ultimately, the ending was not as satisfactory as one might hope. However, it was more realistic and I guess that counts for something. This was a relatively quick read with some good characters, even if the girl did seem a bit whiny at points.
©2009, Grand Central Publishing
ISBN 978-0-446-58222-3
by David Cristofano
This is the first novel from this author. Premise: girl who has been in the witness protection service since she was 6 is now 26. She's moved around about five or six times, and has that many identities. Both parents are dead and all she wants is to be her real identity. Problem: she and her parents witness a mob killing and the feds are sure the mob is still looking for her.
So, she's on the move again. First night in a hotel, the son of the mob family finds her. Surprise! He doesn't want to kill her -- he wants to protect her and give her a real life.
Who should she trust? Where can she turn? What is the cost of freedom?
Ultimately, the ending was not as satisfactory as one might hope. However, it was more realistic and I guess that counts for something. This was a relatively quick read with some good characters, even if the girl did seem a bit whiny at points.
©2009, Grand Central Publishing
ISBN 978-0-446-58222-3
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Sorceress
The Sorceress
by Michael Scott
The Sorceress is the third book in the series "The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel." The first two books are The Alchemyst and The Magician. They are a young adult fantasy series. I love them! They incorporate real people and fantasy characters into a huge battle for the fate of our world and the human race.
The whole story line focuses around Nicholas and Pernelle Flamel, famous alchemists (real people) during the 1600s. They have discovered the secret of immortality and are searching for the twins of prophecy who will help save the world. Present day, they own a bookstore in San Francisco. They meet Josh & Sophie Newman, and believe they are the twins they have been searching for.
Convincing them of this, teaching them the magic of the elements, and preparing them for the battles that lie ahead seems like it might take awhile, but must happen FAST, because the dark forces are closing in. The three books take place over about one week. No wonder the twins often doubt what's happening and their role in things.
The books are fast paced, interesting, and filled with wondrous and mysterious things. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series, The Necromancer, due soon!
©2009, Delacorte Press
ISBN 978-0-385-73529-2
by Michael Scott
The Sorceress is the third book in the series "The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel." The first two books are The Alchemyst and The Magician. They are a young adult fantasy series. I love them! They incorporate real people and fantasy characters into a huge battle for the fate of our world and the human race.
The whole story line focuses around Nicholas and Pernelle Flamel, famous alchemists (real people) during the 1600s. They have discovered the secret of immortality and are searching for the twins of prophecy who will help save the world. Present day, they own a bookstore in San Francisco. They meet Josh & Sophie Newman, and believe they are the twins they have been searching for.
Convincing them of this, teaching them the magic of the elements, and preparing them for the battles that lie ahead seems like it might take awhile, but must happen FAST, because the dark forces are closing in. The three books take place over about one week. No wonder the twins often doubt what's happening and their role in things.
The books are fast paced, interesting, and filled with wondrous and mysterious things. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series, The Necromancer, due soon!
©2009, Delacorte Press
ISBN 978-0-385-73529-2
Storyville USA
Storyville USA
by Dale Peterson
This is a non-fiction book that combines two of my nerdy favorites: road trips and research for nerdy things. Storyville is the tale of a father and his two children who drive across the US visiting towns with unique names. Their goal is to find out why Between, Georgia and Sleepy Eye, MN are named the way they are. Of course, they visit a ton of places and meet the locals who are, usually, happy to share what they know. The trip starts in Start, Louisiana, and ends all the way at the Arctic Ocean in Alaska. While the author is, at times, a bit wordy and occasionally wanders off task, this was still an enjoyable read. He writes like people talk, and the whole experiment sounds like a whole lot of fun. Good reading, and makes me want to do a little more map reading and research. I am such a geek! :)
©1999, The University of Georgia Press
ISBN 0-8203-2151-6
by Dale Peterson
This is a non-fiction book that combines two of my nerdy favorites: road trips and research for nerdy things. Storyville is the tale of a father and his two children who drive across the US visiting towns with unique names. Their goal is to find out why Between, Georgia and Sleepy Eye, MN are named the way they are. Of course, they visit a ton of places and meet the locals who are, usually, happy to share what they know. The trip starts in Start, Louisiana, and ends all the way at the Arctic Ocean in Alaska. While the author is, at times, a bit wordy and occasionally wanders off task, this was still an enjoyable read. He writes like people talk, and the whole experiment sounds like a whole lot of fun. Good reading, and makes me want to do a little more map reading and research. I am such a geek! :)
©1999, The University of Georgia Press
ISBN 0-8203-2151-6
The Family Man
The Family Man
by Elinor Lipman
This was a "nice" story. Henry, a gay man, gets back in touch with his ex-wife (uh-huh, you heard me) after her husband dies. He then gets in touch with his former step-daughter, whom he hasn't seen in 25 odd years. He has some guilt issues about that, and frustration issues about dealing with his ex. But he loves his daughter and wants to be involved in her life. At the same time, his ex hooks him up with a new love, Todd. Lots of changes for Henry!
The Family Man is a good read, with interesting characters and a plot that turns and twists, without being too unrealistic. It seems that Lipman has written about a dozen books, and if they are like this one, I think they'll make an enjoyable read.
©2009, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN 978-0-618-64466-7
by Elinor Lipman
This was a "nice" story. Henry, a gay man, gets back in touch with his ex-wife (uh-huh, you heard me) after her husband dies. He then gets in touch with his former step-daughter, whom he hasn't seen in 25 odd years. He has some guilt issues about that, and frustration issues about dealing with his ex. But he loves his daughter and wants to be involved in her life. At the same time, his ex hooks him up with a new love, Todd. Lots of changes for Henry!
The Family Man is a good read, with interesting characters and a plot that turns and twists, without being too unrealistic. It seems that Lipman has written about a dozen books, and if they are like this one, I think they'll make an enjoyable read.
©2009, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN 978-0-618-64466-7
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
white hot
white hot
by Sandra Brown
Sandra Brown has written 6 million books. OK, that is an exaggeration. Slightly. I know I've read several of hers before -- usually a little bit of romance, some mystery, perhaps some crazy family dynamics, and takes place in the south. This book is no different.
It was a nice, easy read that had all the requisite parts of a Sandra Brown novel. Daughter hates family, and has left to make a new life for herself, vowing never to return. However, her younger brother commits suicide and so, reluctantly, she comes home. She hates the town, her dad and the business he runs that runs the town, her older brother and his disregard for everyone except himself, and their new, slick lawyer (even though he's hot). She's only going to stay for the funeral, then head back to her real life. But the lawyer gets her to stay -- for a night -- by telling her that maybe the suicide was murder.
Of course, she stays longer to figure that out. And encounters lots of other issues she thought she'd left behind.
This book was no earth-shattering novel, but it's a good summer read.
©2004, Simon & Schuster
ISBN 0-7432-4553-9
by Sandra Brown
Sandra Brown has written 6 million books. OK, that is an exaggeration. Slightly. I know I've read several of hers before -- usually a little bit of romance, some mystery, perhaps some crazy family dynamics, and takes place in the south. This book is no different.
It was a nice, easy read that had all the requisite parts of a Sandra Brown novel. Daughter hates family, and has left to make a new life for herself, vowing never to return. However, her younger brother commits suicide and so, reluctantly, she comes home. She hates the town, her dad and the business he runs that runs the town, her older brother and his disregard for everyone except himself, and their new, slick lawyer (even though he's hot). She's only going to stay for the funeral, then head back to her real life. But the lawyer gets her to stay -- for a night -- by telling her that maybe the suicide was murder.
Of course, she stays longer to figure that out. And encounters lots of other issues she thought she'd left behind.
This book was no earth-shattering novel, but it's a good summer read.
©2004, Simon & Schuster
ISBN 0-7432-4553-9
Fresh Air
Fresh Air
by Charlotte Vale Allen
I'm pretty sure I've read books by this author before, but I don't know which ones. And she has written a crap ton, so really, it's anybody's guess which one(s) I've read. I can't say if any of her other books are good, but this one was terrific!
Set in the mid-90s, it tells the story of a woman who, after her mother dies, completely isolates herself from the outside world. She used to have a life, she used to go out, she used to be relatively famous. And now, she works as a text editor for websites, and orders everything she needs online. Until one summer day, when she meets a young girl in her own front yard. Slowly, Lucinda comes back to life, to the present, and learns to live again.
There are a few twists and turns, and at one point, I said, "Wow. Didn't see that coming!" This book is a nice, easy read, that tells a great story.
©2003, MIRA Books
ISBN 1-55166-682-0
by Charlotte Vale Allen
I'm pretty sure I've read books by this author before, but I don't know which ones. And she has written a crap ton, so really, it's anybody's guess which one(s) I've read. I can't say if any of her other books are good, but this one was terrific!
Set in the mid-90s, it tells the story of a woman who, after her mother dies, completely isolates herself from the outside world. She used to have a life, she used to go out, she used to be relatively famous. And now, she works as a text editor for websites, and orders everything she needs online. Until one summer day, when she meets a young girl in her own front yard. Slowly, Lucinda comes back to life, to the present, and learns to live again.
There are a few twists and turns, and at one point, I said, "Wow. Didn't see that coming!" This book is a nice, easy read, that tells a great story.
©2003, MIRA Books
ISBN 1-55166-682-0
Monday, July 6, 2009
bookends
bookends, by Jane Green
I like Jane Green's novels. I have read three or four of them, so I figured I couldn't go wrong with another. And I was right. bookends is the story of Cath and her friends Si, Josh, and Lucy. They are 30-somethings, and have been friends since college. They all live in London and have pretty much adjusted to the idea of being grown-ups.
When a former college friend comes back into their lives, things change. Old stories are revisited, Josh might be having an affair, Cath & Lucy are trying to start a new business, Si meets a man who no one else likes, Cath meets a man who likes her, but who she thinks of as just a friend.
What I like about other books by Green is true of bookends, too. The characters are funny, realistic, and face normal problems. The solution isn't always easy, and it's not always happily ever after. But it is satisfactory -- no one is left hanging.
©2001, Broadway Books
ISBN 0-7679-0780-9
I like Jane Green's novels. I have read three or four of them, so I figured I couldn't go wrong with another. And I was right. bookends is the story of Cath and her friends Si, Josh, and Lucy. They are 30-somethings, and have been friends since college. They all live in London and have pretty much adjusted to the idea of being grown-ups.
When a former college friend comes back into their lives, things change. Old stories are revisited, Josh might be having an affair, Cath & Lucy are trying to start a new business, Si meets a man who no one else likes, Cath meets a man who likes her, but who she thinks of as just a friend.
What I like about other books by Green is true of bookends, too. The characters are funny, realistic, and face normal problems. The solution isn't always easy, and it's not always happily ever after. But it is satisfactory -- no one is left hanging.
©2001, Broadway Books
ISBN 0-7679-0780-9
The Goodbye Summer
The Goodbye Summer, by Patricia Gaffney
This is a nice book. Nothing too earthshattering, but nice. It tells the story of Caddie, a 32-year-old single woman living with her grandmother. Her mother is dead, and she never knew her father. She is perfectly happy with her life, until her grandmother breaks her leg and moves into Wake House, kind of like a retirement home (definitely not a nursing home).
Caddie has a hard time adjusting to living alone, and makes friends with all the other elderly (mostly) residents of Wake House. The Goodbye Summer is at times funny, sad, poignant, and aggravating. Sometimes, I just wanted to shake Caddie and say, "wake up! Life doesn't work that way!" Other times, I was laughing so hard I had to put the book down. But in the end, this book tells a story of living life, with all the hellos and goodbyes that entails.
©2004, HarperCollins
ISBN 0-06-018529-5
This is a nice book. Nothing too earthshattering, but nice. It tells the story of Caddie, a 32-year-old single woman living with her grandmother. Her mother is dead, and she never knew her father. She is perfectly happy with her life, until her grandmother breaks her leg and moves into Wake House, kind of like a retirement home (definitely not a nursing home).
Caddie has a hard time adjusting to living alone, and makes friends with all the other elderly (mostly) residents of Wake House. The Goodbye Summer is at times funny, sad, poignant, and aggravating. Sometimes, I just wanted to shake Caddie and say, "wake up! Life doesn't work that way!" Other times, I was laughing so hard I had to put the book down. But in the end, this book tells a story of living life, with all the hellos and goodbyes that entails.
©2004, HarperCollins
ISBN 0-06-018529-5
Thursday, July 2, 2009
The Well and the Mine
The Well and the Mine, by Gin Phillips
You MUST read this book! I picked it up at Border's because of one sentence on the back cover:
"In a small Alabama coal-mining town during the summer of 1931, nine-year-old Tess Moore sits on her back porch and watches a woman toss a baby into her family's well without a word."
The other introductory part made this a book that I usually wouldn't read -- a little too sappy, maybe -- but that sentence drew me in, and I'm so glad it did! This is one of the best books I've read in a long time.
I liked the format of the book, too. Different characters are the narrator on and off throughout the book -- Tess and Virgie, the daughters, Jack, the son, and Albert and Leta, the parents. It's never confusing, though. It is always clearly labeled who is the narrator.
Not only does this book explore the mystery of the baby in the well, it also touches on the ideas of sacrifice, family, race, and small town life, all without being preachy. I'm not going to go into too many details about the story itself, because I want you to read it without knowing what's going to happen next! So, find this book at your library, or ask me to loan you mine. I will, as long as you promise to give it back! :)
©2007, Riverhead Books
ISBN 978-1-59448-449-0
You MUST read this book! I picked it up at Border's because of one sentence on the back cover:
"In a small Alabama coal-mining town during the summer of 1931, nine-year-old Tess Moore sits on her back porch and watches a woman toss a baby into her family's well without a word."
The other introductory part made this a book that I usually wouldn't read -- a little too sappy, maybe -- but that sentence drew me in, and I'm so glad it did! This is one of the best books I've read in a long time.
I liked the format of the book, too. Different characters are the narrator on and off throughout the book -- Tess and Virgie, the daughters, Jack, the son, and Albert and Leta, the parents. It's never confusing, though. It is always clearly labeled who is the narrator.
Not only does this book explore the mystery of the baby in the well, it also touches on the ideas of sacrifice, family, race, and small town life, all without being preachy. I'm not going to go into too many details about the story itself, because I want you to read it without knowing what's going to happen next! So, find this book at your library, or ask me to loan you mine. I will, as long as you promise to give it back! :)
©2007, Riverhead Books
ISBN 978-1-59448-449-0
My Lobotomy
My Lobotomy, by Howard Dully
This is definitely not a "feel good" read. It was, however, interesting, frustrating, and satisfying. As you might guess from the title, this book tells the true story of Howard, who at age 12 (12!) was given a lobotomy at the demands of his stepmother..
The book starts with a long backstory about his mother's and father's families and background. They came from two very different social backgrounds, but were happy until she died after giving birth to her third son. Howard was the oldest child, and was a bit of a troublemaker -- nothing terrible, but just your average boy. His father eventually remarried Lou, a woman with a son of her own, and she and Howard just never got along. She blamed him for everything, even when it wasn't his fault. She became convinced something was wrong with him, and took him to tons of doctors and psychiatrists to try and figure it out.
She finally took him to Dr. Charles Freeman, who was a "pioneer" in the lobotomy business. All I can say is "Thank God that's not a real medical option anymore." He was most famous for developing the technique where he took two ice picks, inserted them through the eye sockets (OMG!) and moved them around enough to mess up the front part of the brain. It usually wasn't fatal, and was supposed to help people suffering from emotional disorders.
The book goes on to tell about the rest of Howard's life -- he lives in an insane asylum, becomes a drug addict, marries a few different women, becomes homeless, and, in general, has a really shitty life. He finally meets a woman who helps him turn his life around, and in his mid-50s, he starts digging and trying to find out WHY he'd had the lobotomy.
While I can't say this book was always enjoyable, the story behind this man's life, combined with the story of Dr. Freeman is one that I'm glad I read.
©2007, Three Rivers Press
ISBN 978-0-307-38127-9
This is definitely not a "feel good" read. It was, however, interesting, frustrating, and satisfying. As you might guess from the title, this book tells the true story of Howard, who at age 12 (12!) was given a lobotomy at the demands of his stepmother..
The book starts with a long backstory about his mother's and father's families and background. They came from two very different social backgrounds, but were happy until she died after giving birth to her third son. Howard was the oldest child, and was a bit of a troublemaker -- nothing terrible, but just your average boy. His father eventually remarried Lou, a woman with a son of her own, and she and Howard just never got along. She blamed him for everything, even when it wasn't his fault. She became convinced something was wrong with him, and took him to tons of doctors and psychiatrists to try and figure it out.
She finally took him to Dr. Charles Freeman, who was a "pioneer" in the lobotomy business. All I can say is "Thank God that's not a real medical option anymore." He was most famous for developing the technique where he took two ice picks, inserted them through the eye sockets (OMG!) and moved them around enough to mess up the front part of the brain. It usually wasn't fatal, and was supposed to help people suffering from emotional disorders.
The book goes on to tell about the rest of Howard's life -- he lives in an insane asylum, becomes a drug addict, marries a few different women, becomes homeless, and, in general, has a really shitty life. He finally meets a woman who helps him turn his life around, and in his mid-50s, he starts digging and trying to find out WHY he'd had the lobotomy.
While I can't say this book was always enjoyable, the story behind this man's life, combined with the story of Dr. Freeman is one that I'm glad I read.
©2007, Three Rivers Press
ISBN 978-0-307-38127-9
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Virgin Suicides
The Virgin Suicides, by Jeffrey Eugenides
I read Middlesex. I didn't like it. Even so, I thought I would try this book by the same author. It was first published in 1993, and although I don't remember hearing much about it then, the blurb on the back got my attention. This book is about the five Lisbon sisters, who all commit suicide over one year.
The premise was interesting, but the book was, sadly, not. I found it long, boring, and often confusing. The narrator is, one presumes, one of the neighborhood boys who was infatuated with the Lisbon girls. Now he is grown, and looking back at that year and the actions of his friends, the Lisbons, and their neighbors. He also occasionally refers to exhibit #s for mementos the boys collected of the girls, and of interviews collected of other people who knew the girls. There are no exhibits. You never learn who the narrator is.
Apparently, I am one of the only people who did not fall in love with this book. Newsweek, the NY Times, Esquire -- they all loved it. I guess I am not cut out to be a "real" literary critic. And that's OK, because if being a "real" critic means liking books like this one, I'll be an armchair critic any day!
©1993, Picador
ISBN 978-0-312-42881-5
I read Middlesex. I didn't like it. Even so, I thought I would try this book by the same author. It was first published in 1993, and although I don't remember hearing much about it then, the blurb on the back got my attention. This book is about the five Lisbon sisters, who all commit suicide over one year.
The premise was interesting, but the book was, sadly, not. I found it long, boring, and often confusing. The narrator is, one presumes, one of the neighborhood boys who was infatuated with the Lisbon girls. Now he is grown, and looking back at that year and the actions of his friends, the Lisbons, and their neighbors. He also occasionally refers to exhibit #s for mementos the boys collected of the girls, and of interviews collected of other people who knew the girls. There are no exhibits. You never learn who the narrator is.
Apparently, I am one of the only people who did not fall in love with this book. Newsweek, the NY Times, Esquire -- they all loved it. I guess I am not cut out to be a "real" literary critic. And that's OK, because if being a "real" critic means liking books like this one, I'll be an armchair critic any day!
©1993, Picador
ISBN 978-0-312-42881-5
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Favorite Wife: Escape from Polygamy
Favorite Wife, by Susan Ray Schmidt
Mormons fascinate me. Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Polygamy, Breakaway Sects -- I'm a sucker for it. What's up with all the secrecy? What's going on behind closed doors? I just want to know! Plus, I'm not the most religious of people, so I am interested in how people can believe that God wants them to do all these things that I consider just plain unusual. I saw Favorite Wife at Borders. It has a picture on the front of a man and seven women, and the blurb on the back mentioned something about "life inside one of North America's most notorious polygamous cults." Yep, I needed to read it.
It was pretty fascinating. At several points, I had to say, "What? Really? You honestly believed that to be true?" This book is an autobiography that tells the story of Susan's life in Colonia LeBaron and Las Molinas, both in Mexico. They are settlements of the "Church of the Firstborn of the Fullness of Times." Growing up, I thought ELCA was a lot to say when talking about what kind of Lutheran church I went to! This church was run by the LeBaron brothers (namely Joel, Verlan, and Ervil). Joel is the Prophet on earth, and Verlan and Ervil are church leaders. They believed that it was a man's duty to have several wives and to be their "spiritual head." Pretty much, if you were a woman, you weren't getting into heaven unless you were the plural wife of some man -- preferably some man about 20 years your senior. You and your children became the jewels in his heavenly crown, and only by being a plural wife was your salvation ensured.
Susan was 15 when she married Verlan and became his sixth wife. Verlan was in his 40s. And it was her choice to marry him! She wanted to! Over the next few years, Susan has five children and Verlan marries four more women. They live near one another in Las Molinas, and briefly in Nicaragua. Eventually, issues between the brothers arise, and Ervil's group break away and begin a blood feud with the original church.
I enjoyed reading this book, although there are an awful lot of names to remember (I guess that's to be expected when it's a book involving polygamy...). Reading about this group from one of its former members, and from someone who truly believed that this was how God wanted them to live was extremely interesting. It was almost unbelievable at times, and at other times I got so mad at Susan, Verlan, and the others that I had to take a break from reading.
Two things in particular I liked about this book. 1) It has a few pages of pictures! I love it when true stories include pictures of the real people. 2) It has an epilogue that tells what happens to the other people in the book after the author's story is done. This one also contains a list of some other books about the LeBarons that I will have to look for this summer.
© 2006, First Lyons Press
ISBN 978-1-59921-494-8
Mormons fascinate me. Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Polygamy, Breakaway Sects -- I'm a sucker for it. What's up with all the secrecy? What's going on behind closed doors? I just want to know! Plus, I'm not the most religious of people, so I am interested in how people can believe that God wants them to do all these things that I consider just plain unusual. I saw Favorite Wife at Borders. It has a picture on the front of a man and seven women, and the blurb on the back mentioned something about "life inside one of North America's most notorious polygamous cults." Yep, I needed to read it.
It was pretty fascinating. At several points, I had to say, "What? Really? You honestly believed that to be true?" This book is an autobiography that tells the story of Susan's life in Colonia LeBaron and Las Molinas, both in Mexico. They are settlements of the "Church of the Firstborn of the Fullness of Times." Growing up, I thought ELCA was a lot to say when talking about what kind of Lutheran church I went to! This church was run by the LeBaron brothers (namely Joel, Verlan, and Ervil). Joel is the Prophet on earth, and Verlan and Ervil are church leaders. They believed that it was a man's duty to have several wives and to be their "spiritual head." Pretty much, if you were a woman, you weren't getting into heaven unless you were the plural wife of some man -- preferably some man about 20 years your senior. You and your children became the jewels in his heavenly crown, and only by being a plural wife was your salvation ensured.
Susan was 15 when she married Verlan and became his sixth wife. Verlan was in his 40s. And it was her choice to marry him! She wanted to! Over the next few years, Susan has five children and Verlan marries four more women. They live near one another in Las Molinas, and briefly in Nicaragua. Eventually, issues between the brothers arise, and Ervil's group break away and begin a blood feud with the original church.
I enjoyed reading this book, although there are an awful lot of names to remember (I guess that's to be expected when it's a book involving polygamy...). Reading about this group from one of its former members, and from someone who truly believed that this was how God wanted them to live was extremely interesting. It was almost unbelievable at times, and at other times I got so mad at Susan, Verlan, and the others that I had to take a break from reading.
Two things in particular I liked about this book. 1) It has a few pages of pictures! I love it when true stories include pictures of the real people. 2) It has an epilogue that tells what happens to the other people in the book after the author's story is done. This one also contains a list of some other books about the LeBarons that I will have to look for this summer.
© 2006, First Lyons Press
ISBN 978-1-59921-494-8
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