Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough by Ruth Pennebaker

Synopsis from GoodReads:  Joanie's ex-husband is having a baby with his new girlfriend. Joanie won't be having more babies, since she's decided never to have sex again. 

But she still has her teenaged daughter Caroline to care for. And thanks to the recession, her elderly mother Ivy as well. Her daughter can't seem to exist without texting, and her mother brags about "goggling,"-while Joanie, back in the workforce, is still trying to figure out her office computer. And how to fend off the advances of her coworker Bruce.

Joanie, Caroline, and Ivy are stuck under the same roof, and it isn't easy. But sometimes they surprise each other-and themselves. And through their differences they learn that it is possible to undo the mistakes of the past.


My thoughts: Several times in my life I've not only heard, but used the phrase "The only way out is through."  That phrase accurately sums up the situations presented in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough.

Each of the women is in the midst of what can be a very tumultuous time in a woman's life.  Joanie is a recent divorcee nearing her 50th birthday. Caroline is in her teens, dealing with all of the physical changes a girl goes through at that point in life and trying to figure it all out.  Ivy is at the point in her life where she has to depend on her children more than she's used to and is finding herself more alone as her friends are passing away.  Put the three together and you get a pretty interesting story.

This is a super easy read but it was certainly a bit morose at times.  It actually reminded me a little bit of Love in Mid Air by Kim Wright.  It had a very similar tone and the main characters were very much alike.  I think my only real complaint is that the ending came and wrapped up fairly quickly. 

I would probably recommend this book to others if I know that they like chick lit that is a bit more mature.  If someone is looking for something that is lighter, this is probably not the title they should pick up.  

On a side note, I didn't "get" the cover until I finished the book and then immediately understood it and thought it to be very clever.
 
This is Ruth Pennebaker's debut novel that has just released.  She has previously written three young adult novels, Don't Think Twice, Conditions of Love, and Both Sides Now.  You can find more information about Ruth and her work at her website. http://www.ruthpennebaker.com/



Check out the trailer:
 





Check out some of the other stops on the tour:
Monday, January 17th: Debbie’s Book Bag
Tuesday, January 18th: Proud Book Nerd
Thursday, January 20th: Love to Read for Fun
Monday, January 24th: Hospitable Pursuits
Tuesday, January 25th: Scraps of Life
Wednesday, January 26th: Reviews from the Heart
Thursday, January 27th: Tina’s Book Reviews
Tuesday, February 1st: Booksie’s Blog
Wednesday, February 2nd: BookNAround
Friday, February 4th: Life in the Thumb
Monday, February 7th: Iwriteinbooks’s blog
Tuesday, February 8th: The Book Chick
Wednesday, February 9th: A Bookish Way of Life
Thursday, February 10th: Romance Books Forum
Monday, February 14th: Bookworm’s Dinner
Tuesday, February 15th: Amused By Books
Wednesday, February 16th: Clever Girl Goes Blog
Date TBD: Chefdruck Musings


I received my copy of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough from the Author to participate in this tour coordinated by TLC Book Tours.  This is my honest opinion of the book.

Small Wars by Sadie Jones

Synopsis from Goodreads:  The prizewinning author of The Outcast delivers the emotionally searing story of a marriage in crisis, an unflinching look at lives irrevocably altered by one of history's "small wars."

Hal Treherne is a major in the British Army, a young and dedicated soldier on the brink of a brilliant career. When he is transferred to the British colony of Cyprus in 1956, Hal is joined by Clara, his beautiful and supportive wife, and their baby daughters. The Trehernes quickly learn that the Mediterranean is no "sunshine posting," however, and soon Hal is caught up in the battle to defend the island against Cypriots seeking enosis, union with Greece.

Leading his men in difficult and bloody skirmishes, after years of peaceful service, Hal at last tastes triumph. But his confidence and pride quickly fade: traumatized by the brutality he witnesses-and thwarted again in his attempts to do the right thing-Hal finds himself well trained in duty but ill equipped for moral battle.

A seasoned army wife, Clara shares her husband's sense of obligation. She knows to settle in quickly, make no fuss, smile. But as she struggles to trust her own maternal instincts and resist the anxiety that surges with Hal's frequent absences, Clara grows fearful of her increasingly distant husband. When she needs him most, Clara finds the once-tender Hal a changed man-a betrayal that is only part of the shocking personal crisis to come.

What place is there for honor amid cruelty, and what becomes of intimacy in the grinding gears of empire? A passionate and brilliantly researched novel about the effects of war on the men who wage it and the families they leave behind, Small Wars raises important questions that resonate for our own time.

My thoughts: I've gone back and forth on this book.  When I started it I thought it was just okay.  It was another young couple getting together before he goes off to war.  The story quickly jumps into their marriage and they have been separated while he is stationed abroad.  The family is finally reunited and I was eager for the story to begin.  What I didn't realize was how pertinent the war itself was t the story.  I'll admit that I got lost a time or two as the author describes the small battles that Hal is involved in on a daily basis.  Finally I realized that I needed to look past them, and really look at what was going on.  

This was not only a tale of the relationship between a soldier and his bride.  The story encompasses the relationships of the soldier and his men as well as that of the soldier and the wars.  Each of these relationships intertwine to lead us to the unexpected climax.

While many of the readers might not be soldiers in the military each one of us are soldiers in our own way. We are each fighting battles that others may or may not be aware of.  This is the story of Hal and Clara, how each of them were fighting their own battles and neither of them  aware of what the other is dealing with.

In the end, I enjoyed this book.  I thought it was realistic portrayal of the difficulty of being married to someone whose job prevents them from open communication with the ones that matter most.  

Sadie Jones lives in London and has one other book to her credit.  Her first novel, The Outcast won the Costa First Novel Award and was a finalist for both the Orange Prize as well as the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for First Fiction.

Check out the other Stops on the Small Wars Blog Tour:
Tuesday, January 18th: nomadreader
Thursday, January 20th: Diary of an Eccentric
Tuesday, January 25th: Unabridged Chick
Wednesday, January 26th: Rundpinne
Thursday, January 27th: In the Next Room
Monday, January 31st: Reviews from the Heart
Tuesday, February 1st: Amused By Books
Wednesday, February 9th: The Book Faery Reviews
Thursday, February 10th: Caribousmom
Friday, February 11th: BookNAround
Wednesday, February 16th: Chefdruck Musings

I received my copy of Small wars to participate in this blog tour presented by TLC Book Tours.  This is my honest opinion of the book.

This title qualifies for the What's in a Name 4 Challenge under Title with a size in it.  Yay!

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

Synopsis from Goodreads:  In a sleepy, snow-covered city, Cora Crowder is busy preparing for the holiday season. Searching for a perfect gift, a fortuitous trip to Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad's (a most unusual bookshop) leads to an unexpected encounter with co-worker Simon Derrick and the surprise discovery of a ticket for a truly one-of-a-kind Christmas Ball. 

Every year, the matchmaking booksellers of the Sage Street bookshop host an enchanting, old-fashioned Christmas Ball for the romantic matches they've decided to bring together. 

This year, will Simon and Cora discover a perfect chemistry in their opposite personalities and shared faith? Or will the matchmakers' best laid plans end up ruining everything this holiday?


My thoughts:  It seems that my reading plan was not quite in line with my activity level in December.  This was one of the few Holiday themed books that I was reading this year.  I didn't get it in before Christmas or even before the New Year so it ended up being my first book in 2011.  

I pretty much knew that it was going to read like a Hallmark special and that was exactly what I was looking for.  I really enjoyed the addition wizardry into the theme.  This story was an exploration of a new relationship, but also of faith .  Sometimes the two combined can really weigh down a story, but in this case the wizardry and the ball made it  more fun.  The story is full of fantastic coincidences and wonderful people.  It is a simple yet elegant holiday read that will satisfy your sweet tooth and is sure to get you in the holiday spirit.  


Check out the trailer...









Edited 1/20/11 to add:

I just realized that this book counts toward my What's in a Name Challenge hosted by Beth Fish Reads for the Number in the title Category.  Yay for achieving one of the challenge goals!


I was provided a copy of Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by the Publisher for review.

What's in a Name Challenge

Beth Fish Reads has just announced the What's In a Name Challenge for 2011.  

Between January 1 and December 31, 2011, read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with a number in the title: Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul
2. A book with jewelry or a gem in the title: 
3. A book with a size in the title: Small Wars by Sadie Jones
4. A book with travel or movement in the title: 
5. A book with evil in the title: 
6. A book with a life stage in the title: 

I'm not sure how I will fill in these blanks, but it should be fun.