stiltsville by Susanna Daniel

Synopsis from the Author's Website: One sunny morning in 1969, near the end of her first trip to Miami, twenty-six-year-old Frances Ellerby finds herself in a place called Stiltsville, a community of houses built on pilings in the middle of Biscayne Bay.

It’s the first time the Atlanta native has been out on the open water, and she’s captivated. On the dock of a stilt house, with the dazzling skyline in the distance and the unknowable ocean beneath her, she meets the house’s owner, Dennis DuVal—and a new future reveals itself.

Turning away from her quiet, predictable life back home, Frances moves to Miami to be with Dennis. Over time, she earns the confidence of his wild-at-heart sister and wins the approval of his oldest friend. Frances and Dennis marry and have a child—but rather than growing complacent about their good fortune, they continue to face the challenges of intimacy, and of the complicated city they call home.

Stiltsville is the family’s island oasis—until suddenly it’s gone, and Frances is forced to figure out how to make her family work on dry land. Against a backdrop of lush tropical beauty, Frances and Dennis struggle with the mutability of love and Florida’s weather, and with temptation and chaos and disappointment.
But just when Frances thinks she’s reached some semblance of higher ground, she must confront an obstacle so great that all she’s learned about navigating the uncharted waters of family life can’t keep them afloat.

**Please forgive my vagueness.  I read this book awhile ago and never quite got the review done even though the book deserves so much more.** 

My thoughts:  I'd seen several reviews of stiltsville around the blogosphere before I actually got the opportunity to read it.   Even having read the synopsis and reviews I was unprepared for the emotional experience of reading this book.

At first I was rather indifferent about the story.  It was entertaining enough but nothing was really happening to keep me "glued" to the page. I completely agree with those that said that the story was a bit mundane at times.  The author spent a great deal of time describing some of the more typical aspects of marriage and parenthood however.  I believe that this was required to complete the picture of the relationship between Frances and Dennis as well as their daughter.  I never completely understood what drew Frances and Dennis together and why Frances seemed to be so unhappy in her marriage.  As time went on I was impressed with the integrity that Frances displayed and felt for what she was going through.  It was at this point that I was truly  impressed with the work and the range of emotion I felt while reading the story.

I don't want to lead you to believe that this is just a story about marriage.  The author explores Frances' friendships as well.  I felt that the author did a fantastic job at describing stiltsville and Southern Florida. I could easily visualize the things that were being described and could feel how the setting was an integral part of the story.

I would absolutely recommend this story to anyone who enjoys Women's Fiction where the characters are a bit more mature.  It is an interesting exploration into the life cycle of a marriage and gives the reader some things to think about.

I received my copy of stiltsville from the publisher in order to participate in the book club discussion at Every Day I Write the Book.  It's a fantastic blog that you should check out.

The Heroine's Bookshelf by Erin Blakemore

Synopsis from GoodReads:  Jo March, Scarlett O'Hara, Scout Finch—the literary canon is brimming with intelligent, feisty, never-say-die heroines and celebrated female authors. Like today's women, they placed a premium on personality, spirituality, career, sisterhood, and family. When they were up against the wall, authors like Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott fought back—sometimes with words, sometimes with gritty actions. In this witty, informative, and inspiring read, their stories offer much-needed literary intervention to modern women.
Full of beloved heroines and the remarkable writers who created them, The Heroine's Bookshelf explores how the pluck and dignity of literary characters such as Jane Eyre and Lizzy Bennet can encourage women today.

Each legendary character is paired with her central quality—Anne Shirley is associated with irrepressible "Happiness," while Scarlett O'Hara personifies "Fight"—along with insights into her author's extraordinary life. From Zora Neale Hurston to Colette, Laura Ingalls Wilder to Charlotte BrontË, Harper Lee to Alice Walker, here are authors and characters whose spirited stories are more inspiring today than ever.

My thoughts:   This was a fantastic exploration of literature.  I had read only some of the books referenced and have been inspired to read others. The thing that I really love about this book is that you can easily read it bits at a time.  Whatever the occasion, there is likely a section to inspire you.  Having a crisis of faith?  Read the section devoted to faith.  Feeling a bit unhappy, the section on Happiness takes you to one of my favorite characters, Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables.

Each of the sections also includes a suggestions for a similar novel.  Many of these suggestions were new to me as well.  I will certainly be picking up one or two of them.  


The entire time I was reading this book I kept thinking that this would make a great basis for a challenge.  Wouldn't you know that someone else was thinking the same thing and put one together.  You can find the Heroine's Bookshelf Challenge over at Bibliophibian.  I would be participating in this one if I had just a bit more free time.  

I highly recommend this book filled with strong women.  It is sure to perk you up if you are feeling a bit down and inspire you to be all that you can.  


You can find Erin Blakemore on the web at http://www.erinblakemore.com/

Erin Blakemore lives in Boulder, CO so I am including The Heroine's Bookshelf on my Literary Road Trip exploration of Colorado Authors.  


I received my copy of The Heroine's Bookshelf from the great people at HarperCollins Publishers for review.  My review has not been influenced by receipt of this book. 

Oogy- the dog only a family could love by Larry Levin (audio book)

My thoughts:  It is without hesitation that I say that Oogy was a very special dog as was the family that adopted him.  Oogy was discovered by the police when the busted up a dog fighting ring.  He had been used as a bait dog to train other dogs to fight.  The problem was that Oogy didn't have a vicious bone in his body, even under the worst of circumstances.  It was through sheer determination on his part as well as his care takers that he pulled through.  

Enter the Levin family.  They are at the Veterinarian's office dealing with one of the toughest situations an animal lover can face, the loss of their furry friend.  The immediate connection between this dog and this family was undeniable.  They immediately agreed to adopt the pup.

This story is as much about the dog as it is about the man and the family.  We learn about Larry's fears as he becomes a father for the first time. We are with him as he embraces fatherhood and grows as a parent. I am in awe of the lengths that Larry goes to caring for Oogy.  What starts out as a tragedy quickly becomes a very heartwarming story that will restore your faith in people.

The story is narrated by Larry Levin and I think that that it helps to convey the emotion in this story. As an animal lover and adoptive person to a rescue dog I recognize that helping these animals is extremely rewarding but can be very difficult.  I see what the Levin's gave to Oogy, but I can also see what Oogy gave to them.  

Seek this one out, you won't be sorry.

I received my copy of Oogy from the publisher for review.  This is my honest opinion.

Queen Hereafter by Susan Fraser King

Rather than rewrite the synopsis and introduction, you can find it in my Intro post.

My thoughts: I loved this book.  Since reading the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon I have a special place in my heart for Scotland.  This book also reminded me of one of my favorite books of 2010, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by CW Gortner. 


I was interested in the relationship between Margaret and her husband Malcolm as the marriage was arranged for political alliance.  The relationship was certainly different from those that I am familiar with, but it did seem to be one of mutual love of and respect. 

The cast of characters was diverse and full of strong personalities beginning with Margaret.  When she vowed to do something, she put all of her heart into making sure that it got done and got done correctly. The other and almost equally important heroine in the story is Eva.  Eva is much like Margaret in her sense of duty and honor to her family.  She would do anything for her family, even if it wasn't the best choice for her. For those of you participating in the Strong Heroine Challenge I think Queen Hereafter is an excellent choice. 

Eva's betrayal is alluded to throughout the story, but it sneaks up on you because there is so much going on in the story.  This is a fantastic book for those readers of Historical Fiction that enjoy stories with some actual historical basis.  If you are looking for a bodice ripper, this book is probably too subtle for you.  This is a book that I would be comfortable passing onto my grandmother and I just might do that. 

My copy of Queen Hereafter was provided to me by the publisher for participation in the tour presented by TLC.  I would like to thank them for allowing me to read this fantastic book and introducing me to an author that I am sure to pick up again.

Other works by Susan Fraser King include Lady Macbeth which is now out in paperback.  I'm putting it on my wish list!

If you are a fan of Historical Fiction, Do you have a favorite author that I should be checking out?

Secrets to the Grave by Tami Hoag and a Giveaway

Synopsis from Goodreads:  Marissa Fordham had a past full of secrets, a present full of lies. Everyone knew of her, but no one knew her.

When Marissa is found brutally murdered, with her young daughter, Haley, resting her head on her mother's bloody breast, she sends the idyllic California town of Oak Knoll into a tailspin. Already on edge with the upcoming trial of the See- No-Evil killer, residents are shocked by reports of the crime scene, which might not have been discovered for days had it not been for a chilling 911 call: a small child's voice saying, "My daddy hurt my mommy."

Sheriff's detective Tony Mendez faces a puzzle with nothing but pieces that won't fit. To assist with his witness, Haley, he calls teacher-turned-child advocate Anne Leone. Anne's life is hectic enough-she's a newlywed and a part- time student in child psychology, and she's the star witness in the See-No-Evil trial. But one look at Haley, alone and terrified, and Anne's heart is stolen.

As Tony and Anne begin to peel back the layers of Marissa Fordham's life, they find a clue fragment here, another there. And just when it seems Marissa has taken her secrets to the grave, they uncover a fact that puts Anne and Haley directly in the sights of a killer: Marissa Fordham never existed.

My thoughts:  I enjoy a good mystery.  I love trying to piece together the facts to reach a conclusion and either being justified at the end or proven wrong in a surprise twist.   Tami Hoag is a new to me author and from what I understand is an outstanding contributor to the genre.

I know I've said it before, but I think that there is a certain time in which one is going to really enjoy a particular book.  Maybe it addresses something that the reader is going through, or brings a distant memory to the forefront.  It might reflect the readers priorities at the time.  Something happened to me when I became a mother nearly three years ago.  My tolerances for certain things increased along with my sensitivity to others.  

I know that as a general rule a murder mystery is going to contain some element of wrongdoing, otherwise what are we going to be figuring out?  I felt that this one started out at a fairly gruesome level and was continuing in that direction.  One of the biggest things that I've become less tolerant of is the involvement of children in these types of novels.  From what I can tell the victims four year old daughter is a major part of the story which was a turn off for me at this point in time.  

At this point in my life, this book was not for me.  In my humble opinion, it seems to be well written and I'm not saying that I won't enjoy it in the future, but right now I just couldn't continue it and I stopped reading after the first 50 or so pages.  

I think a reader who is not as sensitive to the two things that I mentioned would probably enjoy this story. I know it has gotten rave reviews by others.  

My Copy of Secrets to the Grave was provided by the publisher in order to participate in this blog tour put together by TLC tours.  If you get a chance, stop by some of the other participants to see what they thought.  

Monday, December 6th:  A Bookworm’s World

Tuesday, December 7th:  Luxury Reading

Wednesday, December 8th:  Musings of an All Purpose Monkey

Thursday, December 9th:  Under the Boardwalk

Friday, December 10th:  Life in Review

Monday, December 13th:  The Well-Read Wife

Tuesday, December 14th:  My Two Blessings

Wednesday, December 15th:  Musings of a Bookish Kitty

Thursday, December 16th:  Bewitched Bookworms

Friday, December 17th:  Presenting Lenore

Monday, December 20th:  Man of La Book

Tuesday, December 21st:  I’m Booking It

Wednesday, December 22nd:  Rundpinne (Deeper Than the Dead)

Thursday, December 23rd:  Rundpinne (Secrets to the Grave)

Monday, December 27th:  Reviews by Molly

Monday, January 3rd:  Teresa’s Reading Corner

Wednesday, January 5th:  Lesa’s Book Critiques

Monday, January 10th:  Jen’s Book Thoughts

Do you love a good mystery?  Want to find out if this one will appeal to you more than it did to me?  The publisher has graciously offered one of my readers a copy of BOTH of Tami Hoag's Novels.  You have the opportunity to read both Secrets to the Grave as well as the first in the series, Deeper than the Dead.  

The Giveaway for these two will run through Midnight Mountain Time on January 14, 2011.  I will then randomly select the winner who will be notified via email.  They will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.  

The Dirty Life on Farming, Food, and Love by Kristin Kimball

Synopsis from Goodreads:  "This book is the story of the two love affairs that interrupted the trajectory of my life: one with farming—that dirty, concupiscent art—and the other with a complicated and exasperating farmer."

Single, thirtysomething, working as a writer in New York City, Kristin Kimball was living life as an adventure. But she was beginning to feel a sense of longing for a family and for home. When she interviewed a dynamic young farmer, her world changed. Kristin knew nothing about growing vegetables, let alone raising pigs and cattle and driving horses. But on an impulse, smitten, if not yet in love, she shed her city self and moved to five hundred acres near Lake Champlain to start a new farm with him. The Dirty Life is the captivating chronicle of their first year on Essex Farm, from the cold North Country winter through the following harvest season—complete with their wedding in the loft of the barn.

Kimball and her husband had a plan: to grow everything needed to feed a community. It was an ambitious idea, a bit romantic, and it worked. Every Friday evening, all year round, a hundred people travel to Essex Farm to pick up their weekly share of the "whole diet"—beef, pork, chicken, milk, eggs, maple syrup, grains, flours, dried beans, herbs, fruits, and forty different vegetables—produced by the farm. The work is done by draft horses instead of tractors, and the fertility comes from compost. Kimball’s vivid descriptions of landscape, food, cooking—and marriage—are irresistible.

"As much as you transform the land by farming," she writes, "farming transforms you." In her old life, Kimball would stay out until four a.m., wear heels, and carry a handbag. Now she wakes up at four, wears Carhartts, and carries a pocket knife. At Essex Farm, she discovers the wrenching pleasures of physical work, learns that good food is at the center of a good life, falls deeply in love, and finally finds the engagement and commitment she craved in the form of a man, a small town, and a beautiful piece of land.

My thoughts:  I saw an introduction to this book on one of the blogs that I read (I think it was the Tattered Cover) and was immediately intrigued.  Then later that morning I was lurking on twitter and came across a tweet by the publisher and was even more intrigued.   I wouldn't go so far to say that I'm a city girl, but I can definitely say that I'm not a farm girl.  The closest I've come to actually growing something is the accidental pumpkin patch we ended up with after pumpkin guts were put in the compost pile.  (ask me if you want to know more)

Recently the idea of growing my own food has become more and more appealing.  As I read about others doing it and the satisfaction they get from their gardens I am more and more interested.  I loved their idea that they wanted to produce everything to feed their community.  They had some animals and a variety of crops.  This wasn't your typical farm.  They did as much of the work as they could using horses and old fashioned farm equipment.  They also utilized everything they produced to the greatest extent possible.

I immediately liked Kimball's voice.  She was very no nonsense about her desire to learn more about farming and about her romance.  Farming is difficult work and a difficult life.  I commend her for choosing to live her life the way that she wanted to.  In no way am I ready to take on life on the farm, but I think I just might plant a small garden next spring.  I think it would be good for me and for the little monkey.  Not only because we'll know where our dinner is coming from but so that we have a little bit of an understanding of the important role that the farmer plays in our life.

This was a fantastic book that I highly recommend.  I went on a bit of a memoir kick for awhile and this one is the best of the bunch.  I'll be passing this one around for some time to come.  I can't tell you how many times I've discussed it and suggested it already.

I received a copy of The Dirty Life from the publisher.  This is my honest opinion of the book.

Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros

My thoughts:  I picked up this book for a quick diversion.  It is a very quick read (it took me about three hours)  that is largely comprised of tweets.  For those of you who may be unfamiliar with twitter or tweeting, it is a form of social media in which your entire comment is limited to 140 characters.  

A very sweet story about an author who has pretty much fallen from the public eye after a rapid rise to the top.  Struggling to write her next story and feeling pressure from her publicist she reluctantly signs on to twitter and is immediately contacted by Mark.  

Mark teaches the newbie the ins and outs of twitter and the two begin a flirtation.  Mark shares his adventures and Abby shares her frustrations.  The story is not without its ups and downs.  Having isolated herself for so long, Abby questions the wisdom of opening up to a man that she met on the Internet.  Mark's life seems so exciting and he is able to reach her in ways that others have not so she casts those questions aside.  Mark motivates her to move forward both professionally and personally.  Abby convinces him to reveal his true self.

This is a great novel for a quick escape from reality.  Some of the pop culture references lead me to believe that I fall squarely in the middle of the target audience for this book, but I think some younger people will be able to appreciate it.  It is a fairly innocent romance, but I will caution that there are one or two parts that are a little more suggestive.

I received my copy of Goodnight Tweetheart from the publisher for review.  This is my honest opinion of the book.

Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

Synopsis from Publisher:  When Valentine's grandmother begins a new life in Italy, she places Valentine and her nemesis, her brother Alfred, "the Prince," as partners at the Angelini Shoe Company, makers of handcrafted wedding shoes since 1903. A once-in-a-lifetime business opportunity takes Valentine from the winding streets of Greenwich Village to the sun-kissed cobblestones of Buenos Aires, where she unearths a long-buried family secret and finds herself torn between a past love that nurtured her and a new one that promises to sustain her, in this "dazzling" (USA Today) follow-up to Very Valentine.

My thoughts: Although this is the second book in what I've learned is a trilogy this was my introduction to both Valentine Roncalli and the author, Andriana Trigiani.  I remember seeing several reviews for Very Valentine last Spring and knowing instantly that I wanted to read it.  While my intention was to read Very Valentine before this one, it just didn't happen.  I didn't feel like I was lost reading this one even though I hadn't read the first installment.  I certainly intend to read it in fairly short order. 

Brava, Valentine begins with Valentine Roncalli along with her large family in Italy preparing for her beloved grandmothers wedding. There is no shortage of drama in this very fun and entertaining story.  This is not only a life changing event for the bride and groom but for Valentine as well as she is taking over the family business, or is she?  Valentine is a great character.  She is strong and independent, but still a little bit quirky.  She is presented as a real woman with her own set of issues rather than a perfect character.  There is such a mix of fantastic characters in this story.  Each of the individuals within the Roncalli-Angelini family and then the family itself.  They were quite the bunch. 

 

Brava,Valentine lived up to my expectations as I'm sure that Very Valentine will.  I would encourage you to pick them both up. 

I've read several books this year that were set in Italy and with each one my desire to visit becomes stronger and stronger.  Hopefully I will get to see these beautifully described settings one day.  Until then, I'll keep on reading about them.  

I received my copy of Brava, Valentine from the publisher to participate in this Blog Tour. 

Making Light of Being Heavy by Kandy Siahaya

Synopsis from publicist website:  These days everyone has a society-driven mindset and totally forget to laugh, especially at themselves. This may be cliche but the author truly believes that laughter is the best medicine and thinks everybody should laugh every day. Period. Over the years as a person blessed with the fat gene, Kandy has been in many situations where if she could not find humor she probably would end up on the couch in the psychiatrist s office. This book is about as politically incorrect as it gets for such a subject but it is also based on reality. This is a reality that many women have just like Kandy but do not think they can (or should) at times just laugh about it. Her intention when she started writing this book was to hopefully give insight to many who could never relate but at the same time perhaps provide a different perspective to women just like her. It is a point of view that has given her the strength to live her life happily and project these feelings onto everyone she comes in contact with. She has a great sense of humor and a quick wit and guarantees you will be laughing (and thinking) with each chapter of Making Light of Being Heavy.


My thoughts:  This is a very quick read at 90 pages long.   It is fantastic that the author has embraced her weight and is okay with who she is.  In this day and age, self acceptance especially among women is difficult to achieve.  Parts of the story reminded me of a stand up comedy act, others felt like she was defending her choices.  There was a lot of information on various popular diets ranging from the gimmicky diets to the tried and true.  Kandy relates her successes and failures with each. 


I've read some of the reviews and I know that I'm in the minority when I say that this book wasn't quite what I expected.  I guess I was looking for more of a memoir about what her life is like  and how she handles the prejudice that can exist against larger people.  I thought it would be more personal stories that would let me get to know Kandy as a person not just stories about why she is fat.  I was looking for fewer fat jokes and more of her personality to shine through.  


Here are a couple of the other reviews that I found:


As the pages turn
Beck's Book Picks



This book was provided to me by the publicist for review. 

The Christmas Chronicles The Legend of Santa Claus by Tim Slovner

Synopsis from Goodreads:  In this new holiday classic, Tim Slover crafts a marvelous, magical novel about how Santa Claus became the man he is today. After reading The Christmas Chronicles, you’ll believe all over again in the magic of the season.
 
Snow is falling, and the clock ticks toward midnight on Christmas Eve while countless children, too excited to sleep, anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus. But in Tim Slover’s deeply charming and utterly thrilling new novel, that’s the end rather than the beginning of the story. In this richly imagined tale of Santa’s origins, the man in full finally emerges. The Christmas Chronicles is at once an action-packed adventure, an inspiring story of commitment and faith, and a moving love story.

It all starts in 1343, when the child Klaus is orphaned and adopted by a craftsmen’s guild. The boy will grow to become a master woodworker with an infectious laugh and an unparalleled gift for making toys. His talent and generosity uniquely equip him to bestow hundreds of gifts on children at Christmas—and to court the delightful Anna, who enters his life on a sleigh driven by the reindeer Dasher and becomes his beloved wife.

Still, all is not snowfall and presents. Klaus will be shadowed by the envious Rolf Eckhof, who will stop at nothing to subvert him. But in the end, Santa’s magic is at last unleashed, flying reindeer come to his aid, and an epic battle between good and evil is waged in the frosty Christmas skies.


My thoughts:  I am the type of person who has to wait until after Thanksgiving to embrace the holiday season.  As soon as the Thanksgiving feast was finished and the leftovers packed away I grabbed a warm fuzzy blanket, a hot cup of tea and this book and made my first venture into the holiday season of 2010. 

This story was a delightful way to kick off the holiday season.  I could almost smell the peppermint in the air.  While the story is not geared for younger readers (it opens with the premise that Santa isn't real) it is a great little story for the older reader.  I would welcome you to pick up a copy and make it part of your holiday tradition.  It will renew your own belief in Santa.  


I'll be putting out the cookies on Christmas Eve along with my little monkey, will you?  If not, read The Christmas Chronicles and you just might change your mind.  


I received my copy of The Christmas Chronicles from the publicist in order to participate in this blog tour.  Receipt of the book did not affect my opinion of the story.

Room by Emma Donoghue (audio book)

Narrated by: 
     Michael Friedman
     Ellen Archer
     Robert Petkoff
     Suzanne Toren


Synopsis from Publisher:  To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, ROOM is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.


My thoughts:  When I first read the synopsis of Room I was worried that I wasn't going to be able to handle it.  I thought it might be too emotionally wrenching for a mother to a young boy.  There is no way that I could handle any sort abuse against Jack.  I wondered if it was going to be painful to read as the story is told from the perspective of five year old Jack.  

As I listened to Jack I was constantly picturing my little monkey.  This made it a little difficult to listen to at times, but it was well worth it.


The ending was not entirely unexpected, but still surprising if that makes any sense at all. 


On the narration: I thought the narrators did an excellent job.  At first I thought that "Old Nick" sounded like too much of a good guy to be the monster who could do such a thing.  After further pondering I realized that he HAD to sound like a nice guy in order to have gotten Ma to go along with him in the first place.  


I loved the youthfulness of young Jack's voice and the wonder about the world that was conveyed each time he spoke.  


The bottom Line:  I fully understand why this book has received so many award nominations.  I would encourage you to seek out either in audio or in print.  It is certainly worth the read and the subsequent discussion.

I received my copy of Room from the publisher.

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Synopsis from Goodreads:   
BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present. 

My thoughts:  I took a little bit of a different approach on this book.  Several bloggers who enjoy the same books as I do have read and enjoyed it so I didn't pay much attention to the synopsis. I dove into it with a general idea what it was about not seeking out additional information.   This was a great way to approach a book and I'm going to have to do it more often. 

There is a certain amount of intrigue to the story.  You know that something has happened to Andi, but you don't learn the extent of the tragedy until later in the story.   Andi is a character that is endearing and frustrating at the same time.  She is suffering but refuses to let anyone in.


Alex's plight is revealed through a series of entries in a diary that Andi discovers.  Alex is fiercely independent and stubborn, two of the traits that she shares with Andi.  Two very similar girls in two very different times makes for a very interesting story.


Revolution is targeted to the teens but could easily appeal to a wider audience.  I will definitely be recommending this one as one of my favorites from 2010.


About the Author: Jennifer Donnelly is a new to me author.  After reading Revolution and while writing this review I set out to learn more about her.  I discovered that she actually has several titles to her credit.  The next one that I will be seeking out is The Tea Rose.  


You can find Jennifer Donnelly on the web:


http://www.jenniferdonnelly.com
She is also on both twitter and facebook.

I received my copy of Revolution from the Publisher via the First Reads program on Goodreads.

The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker

Synopsis from Publisher:  It's lonely being a Mormon in New York City. Every year, Elna Baker attends the New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance. This year, her Queen Bee costume (which involves a funnel stinger stuck to her butt) isn't attracting the attention she'd anticipated. So once again, Elna finds herself alone, standing at the punch bowl, stocking up on Oreos, a virgin in a room full of thirty-year-old virgins doing the Funky Chicken. But loneliness is nothing compared to what Elna feels when she loses eighty pounds, finds herself suddenly beautiful...and in love with an atheist. 


My Thoughts:  I saw this title reviewed on another blog and was immediately intrigued.  I apologize, I don't remember which one it was so I cannot give them proper credit.  I really should keep track of these things.  


The title immediately jumped out at me and the cover looked fun.  I seem to be on a bit of a memoir streak lately.  This one is one of my favorites.  It is easy to see why Elna is "the funny one" in her family.  Her wit and humor shine through in all of the stories that she tells.  


I know the phrase "coming of age" is terribly over used, but this truly is a journey of self discovery.  Elna experiences the same things that most college age young women do, but she has the added pressure of adhering to the life guidelines imposed by her religion.  She expresses frustration several times leading her to question the guidelines and whether or not she truly wants to live as a Mormon.  

The only thing that I didn't really like about her story was the method she used to lose her weight and the rate at which she lost it.  Eighty pounds in five and a half months is a lot of weight to lose so rapidly.  Her diet included medication and very little food.  I'm not sure what kind of doctor allowed this to happen, but it is not reality and I don't believe that this should ever be attempted.  


The bottom line, Elna is a very funny young lady who has a lot of life ahead of her.  She has written a fantastically humorous account of her life so far. 


For more humor from Elna check out her webpage:  http://www.elnabaker.com/

I received my copy of The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance from the Publisher.  This is my honest opinion of the book.

What I Thought I Knew: A Memoir- Alice Eve Cohen (a review and giveaway)

Synopsis from Goodreads:  At age forty-four, Alice Eve Cohen was happy for the first time in years. After a difficult divorce, she was engaged to an inspiring man, joyfully raising her adopted daughter, and her career was blossoming. Alice tells her fiancé that she’s never been happier. And then the stomach pains begin.

In her unflinchingly honest and ruefully witty voice, Alice nimbly carries us through her metamorphosis from a woman who has come to terms with infertility to one who struggles to love a heartbeat found in her womb – six months into a high-risk pregnancy.


My thoughts:  This was actually the first memoir that I read in my recent foray into the genre.  I received it in the mail one day and started reading it because it was close by.  It is a very intense read but I could not put this book down.  I was reading it in EVERY spare moment.  I was horrified by her experiences with her medical practitioners.  I felt her anguish when her world was turned upside down.  


It's not really a journal, yet it is.  Cohen is absolutely sharing her innermost thoughts and experiences with the reader.  She is brutally honest throughout.  So honest that some may find her thoughts and language offensive so I do issue a word of caution.  


The title is born of a habit that the author has.  A habit of making lists titled "What I know".  These lists appear periodically throughout the story and are absolutely fantastic.  I think it would be incredibly interesting to compile more of these lists over time.  Just random lists that give an extensive peek into someones life.  Not necessarily about anything at all.  Hmmm... maybe I should do this.  Something to think about.


This is a great book for anyone who likes a dramatic story. 

You can find Alice Eve Cohen on the web:

www.aliceevecohen.com 
 
http://www.facebook.com/people/Alice-Eve-Cohen/1046733364

www.twitter.com/AliceEveCohen

The Good News is you have a chance to win a copy of this fantastic memoir!

Song of the Orange Moons by Lori Ann Stephens

Synopsis from Goodreads:  A mosaic of stories that follow the intertwined lives of three girls coming of age. Two young girls from Jewish and Christian families and their elderly widow next door try to find happiness in a seemingly cruel world. In spite of their different cultural and economic backgrounds, Rebecka, Helen, and Adelle all share the delicate and self-conscious journey to womanhood. All three search for love and meaning in a variety of places a charismatic church, a Depression-era orphanage, a moonlit Savannah park, an orthodox Jewish boarding school and end up finding lasting strength in the power of their friendships. 

My thoughts:  This debut novel from Lori Ann Stephens is beautifully written.  It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did I couldn't wait to see what happened to each of these women.  Each of the girls has a vastly different experience yet they are able to come together to form a bond that stands the test of time.   We meet Rebecka and Helen as young girls, but Adelle shares her growth through her memories.  

One of the things that I found interesting was the passage of time.  Stephens didn't feel like she had to tell us every little detail to make the transition from young girls to women.  I think that the story reinforces the importance of those people that you choose to keep in your life for whatever reason.  It demonstrates how those people help to mold you into the person that you are.


There were times where I wondered where she was headed.  There wasn't a clear path that allowed you to guess where they were all going to end up.  I am interested to see what Stephens writes next.

This one is just releasing, I encourage you to check it out.

My copy of Song of the Orange Moons was provided to me by the author and her publicist to participate in her blog tour.  In no way did this affect my opinion of the book.  




  

The Heights by Peter Hedges (audio book)

Narrated by: 

     Peter Hedges

     Any Ryan

     Alison Pill

Unabridged CDs, 7 CDs, 8 hours 

Released March 2010 by Penguin

Synopsis from Penguin:Tim Welch is a popular history teacher at the Montague Academy, an exclusive private school in Brooklyn Heights. As he says, "I was an odd-looking, gawky kid but I like to think my rocky start forced me to develop empathy, kindness, and a tendency to be enthusiastic. All of this, I'm now convinced, helped in my quest to be worthy of Kate Oliver." Now, Kate is not inherently ordinary. But she aspires to be. She stays home with their two young sons in a modest apartment trying desperately to become the parent she never had. They are seemingly the last middle-class family in the Heights, whose world is turned upside down by Anna Brody, the new neighbor who moves into the most expensive brownstone in Brooklyn, sending the local society into a tailspin.

Anna is not only beautiful and wealthy; she's also mysterious. And for reasons Kate doesn't quite understand, even as all the Range Rover- driving moms jockey for invitations into Anna's circle, Anna sets her sights on Kate and Tim and brings them into her world. 

My thoughts:  I wasn't really sure what to expect when I popped in the first disk.  Hedges is a new to me author.  If I am honest I have to say that I probably wouldn't have picked this one up on my own based on the cover art.  (yes, I am influenced by these things) I will say that I loved the narrators.  Their voices easily guided me through the story.  The story is told in segments narrated by the different characters.  An approach that was new to me just a few months ago, but appears to be increasingly popular. 

This story had potential but I think it fell short.  The characters never felt connected to one another and I never connected with them.  There wasn't much depth to the characters or to the story.  Kate and Tim are often described as being "normal".  I think this couldn't be further from the truth.  I suppose if life were like a soap opera they would be considered the "normal" couple.  Their relationship was nowhere near normal.  Kate and Tim NEVER communicate with one another.  

The author goes off on tangents on occasion into seemingly unrelated stories involving Tim's parents and sister or some of the other mothers in their circle.  There were a couple of these tangents that did eventually wind back around, but weren't really necessary in the story as a whole.  There are a couple of segments that are pretty sexually explicit.  I'm still undecided as to whether they were needed to tell the story or just there to grab a certain audience.  I'm leaning toward the latter.  

My copy of The Heights was sent to me by the publisher as part of a contest win.  This is my honest opinion of the story.