Friday, December 31, 2010

Friday Finds -- 12/31

Happy Friday! My Friday Find is Riding with the Queen by Jennie Shortridge. Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

Full of big dreams of the fast life, Tallie Beck hit the road at the age of seventeen to become a rock 'n roll star-and vowed never to look back. Now, at thirty-four, she's little more than a down-and-out singer who smokes and drinks too much and knows better than to make promises she can't keep. Dumped by her latest band and low on cash, Tallie has no choice but to go back to Denver. Back to her crazy mother, and her resentful younger sister, Jane, who's never forgiven her for leaving. But seeing her family again after all these years stirs something unexpected in Tallie. And after so many miles on that long, exhilarating, scary-and often lonely-road, she's looking back to trace some wrong turns, and figure out the way to where she really wants to go...

What is your Friday Find?

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Book Club Spotlight -- Ines of My Soul by Isabel Allende

One of the books that the library book club will be reading over the next few months is Ines of My Soul by Isabel Allende. Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

Born into a poor family in Spain, Ines works hard to make ends meet. It is the sixteenth century, and when her shiftless husband disappears to the New World, Ines uses the opportunity to search for him as an excuse to flee her stifling homeland and seek adventure. After her treacherous journey takes her to Peru, she learns that her husband has died in battle. Soon, she begins a fiery love affair with a man who will change the course of her life.

I have started this book and am really enjoying it. Unbelievable description of how they lived makes it hard to put down. Have you read this? If so, what did you think?

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Book Club Spotlight -- Finny by Justin Kramon

One of the books the library book club will be reading over the next few months is Finny by Justin Kramon. Here is what Publisher's Weekly had to say:

In his impressive debut, Kramon takes on a number of familiar coming-of-age plots -- small town fish out of water adolescence, frustrated first love, boarding school friendships, big city escapes -- and pulls it off with flair and humor.

Sound good, right? Have you read this? If so, what did you think?

3 W Wednesdays -- 12/29

This meme is hosted by Should Be Reading.

What are you currently reading? I just started When She Flew by Jennie Shortridge.

What have you recently finished reading? I just finished Love and Biology at the Center of the Universe by Jennie Shortridge (review to come), Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger, and One Day by David Nicholls (click on title to read my review).

What are you planning on reading next? Not sure. I have one more Jennie Shortridge book on the bookcase -- Riding with the Queen. I also have Nancy Martin's newest -- Our Lady of Immaculate Deception.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Review -- Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger

Last Night at Chateau Marmont
by Lauren Weisberger
Simon and Schuster Adult, 2010
370 pages
*I borrowed this book from the library.

Summary: Brooke and Julian have been married for five years. She is a nutritionist who works two jobs, supporting her husband so he can work on his music career. When Julian's record comes out and an appearance on Jay Leno makes him a celebrity, Brooke is left alone in New York and hounded by the paparazzi. Will their marriage survive the roller coaster ride of being a celebrity?

Review: I have to say that out of all the Lauren Weisberger novels (Everyone Worth Knowing, The Devil Wears Prada, and Chasing Harry Winston) -- this is my favorite so far. I enjoyed the character of Brooke and could sympathize with her as she struggles to make her marriage work. I thought she was a great character -- down to earth and interesting. Overall, the book was a bit disappointing. The plot was a bit predictable and the supporting characters were kind of dull. However, it was a quick easy read that was entertaining. Rating: *** out of 5.


Have you read this book? If so, leave a link to your review in the comments section!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Review -- One Day by David Nicholls


One Day
by David Nicholls
Knopf Doubleday, 2010
437 pages
*I won a copy of this book from the publisher.

Summary: Dexter and Emma are connected by the one day they spent together after graduating from college. As they go their separate ways and become different people, they continue to stay connected through letters and eventually become best friends.

Review: Through 'snapshots' of one day (July 15) over the course of twenty years, author David Nicholls describes the relationship between two people as they journey to find themselves and their way through life. The novel is entertaining, the characters are interesting and real, and the novel is (at times) heartbreaking. Emma and Dexter are wonderful characters, who are perfect for one another, but the reader is allowed the time to see them grow and mature both in and out of their relationship. A wonderful read. Rating: **** out of 5

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Book Club Selections


The local book club that I belong to chose these books to discuss over the next six months:


Finny by Justin Kramon
Ines of My Soul by Isabel Allende
House Rules by Jodi Picoult
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
The Book Club by Mary Alice Munroe
Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill

I will be highlighting each of these books in future posts. I have already started Ines of My Soul and am really enjoying it.

Have you read any of these books? If so, did you like / dislike any of them?

Friday, October 1, 2010

Friday Finds -- 10/1


Happy Friday! My Friday Find for this week is Star Island by Carl Hiaasen. Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

Twenty-two-year-old pop star Cherry Pye is attempting a comeback from her latest drug and alcohol disaster. Ann DeLusia is Cherry's "undercover stunt double," portraying Cherry whenever the singer is too wasted to go out in public. But, one night, Ann-as-Cherry is mistakenly kidnapped from a South Beach hotel by an obsessed paparazzo named Bang Abbott. Now the challenge for Cherry's handlers (über--stage mother; horndog record producer; nipped-and-tucked twin publicists; weed-whacker-wielding bodyguard) is to rescue Ann while keeping her existence secret from the public--and from Cherry herself.

This sounds like a really funny read. What did you find this week?

Monday, September 13, 2010

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 9/13


This meme is hosted by Book Journey.

Sorry I have been MIA lately. I started grad school last week and between work, homework, and spending time with my boyfriend and family, I have been swamped. However, I did devour the fantastic Still Missing by Chevy Stevens this weekend and am hoping to post a review of the lovely One Day by David Nicholls by the end of the week. After that -- it is back to homework and if I have a free minute or two, I will be reading Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin and The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry.

What are you reading?

Thursday, September 2, 2010

August 2010 Wrap Up


Reviewed:





Read, But Not Yet Reviewed:

One Day by David Nicholls

*On a side note: Next week I am starting graduate school, so I may be a bit M.I.A for the first month while I get use to the pace of two classes. Thanks to everyone who subscribes, follows, and comments on Barney's Book Blog!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Review -- Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert


by Elizabeth Gilbert
Penguin, 2007
352 pages
*My mom let me borrow her copy.

Summary: After a terrible divorce, Liz spends a year traveling in order to heal herself from within. She spends 4 months each in Italy (eat), India (pray), and Bali (love).

Review: Wow, at times this novel can be really powerful... and sad... and interesting... and funny. Author Elizabeth Gilbert takes the reader on a journey to find a balance between pleasure and enlightenment. The prose is wonderful. The author is able to express herself and explain the change within in such a personable way. I found myself feeling as though the author was a close friend. A friend who was opening up about all her anxieties and difficulties as she learned how to be a better version of herself. However, there were sections of the novel where I wanted to yell at her -- Who cares if you are having trouble mediating? YOU ARE IN INDIA!!! On a side note, I am also EXTREMELY JEALOUS, because who wouldn't want to get paid to travel to these great place and just work on relaxing, finding themselves, and being happy? I think she has one of the best jobs in the world. Overall, highly recommended especially for those interested in traveling, spiritual journeys, memoirs, and Italian food. Rating: **** out of 5

Monday, August 23, 2010

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 8/23


This meme is hosted by Book Journey.

I can't believe the weekend is over already! Over the weekend I was able to almost finish the fantastic One Day by David Nicholls. Last week I finished Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (review to come) and reviewed Starting From Scratch by Susan Gilbert-Collins (click on the title to read my review).

This week I am hoping to start one, if not all of the following: The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry, The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery, and Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin.

What are you reading this week?

Friday, August 20, 2010

Friday Finds -- 8/20


This meme is hosted by Should Be Reading.

I just finished a fantastic novel with recipes and then came across Lunch in Paris, A Love Story With Recipes by Elizabeth Bard. This book sounds great. Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

Was it love at first sight? Or was it the way her knife slid effortlessly through her pavé au poivre, the steak'spink juices puddling into the buttery pepper sauce? LUNCH IN PARIS is a memoir about a young American woman caught up in two passionate love affairs--one with her new beau, Gwendal, the other with French cuisine. Packing her bags for a new life in the world's most romantic city, Elizabeth is plunged into a world of bustling open-air markets, hipster bistros, and size 2 femmes fatales. She learns to gut her first fish (with a little help from Jane Austen), soothe pangs of homesickness (with the rise of a chocolate soufflé) and develops a crush on her local butcher (who bears a striking resemblance to Matt Dillon). Elizabeth finds that the deeper she immerses herself in the world of French cuisine, the more Paris itself begins to translate. French culture, she discovers, is not unlike a well-ripened cheese-there may be a crusty exterior, until you cut through to the melting, piquant heart.

Doesn't this sound wonderful and delicious? What did you find this week?

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Review -- Starting From Scratch by Susan Gilbert-Collins



by Susan Gilbert-Collins
Simon & Schuster Adult, 2010
322 pages
*I received this from the publisher for review.

Summary: On the day she defends her dissertation, Olivia is devastated by the news that her mother (Vivian) has died. Olivia moves home and uncovers secrets about her mother and three siblings while learning to move forward from the terrible loss.

Review: Let me explain why my summary is just okay -- I forgot to mention the cooking! The novel is centered around Vivian's love of cooking and even includes recipes. Olivia uses cooking as a way of feeling close to her mom. I thought this was lovely little novel filled with wonderful characters and some unexpected surprises. Each sibling (including Olivia) has a secret that they are keeping from the family. The author does such a great job of having the secrets come out in both funny and sad ways that make you feel like part of the family. Olivia was a great main character, very interesting and relatable. Overall, a fun and light read that was very entertaining and made my mouth water the entire time! Rating: **** out of 5


**** Corrections (8/20/10): Thanks to Ruth who caught my mistakes! In the original post I wrote that Annie was the main character, but have since fixed it to read Olivia. Sorry everyone!


Have you read and reviewed this book? Then leave a link to your review in the comments section!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

3 W Wednesdays -- 8/18


This meme is hosted by Should Be Reading.

What are you reading? Currently, I am about 20 pages away from finishing Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and 20 pages into One Day by David Nicholls.

What have you recently finished reading? Over the weekend I finished Starting from Scratch by Susan Gilbert-Collins (review to come) and last week I reviewed Look Again by Lisa Scottoline (click on title to read my review).

What are you reading next? Most likely I will try to read The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry or if the library has a copy, then I will read The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson.

What are you reading?

Monday, August 16, 2010

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 8/16


This meme is hosted by Book Journey.

Happy Monday! This week I am trying to finish Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert so I can go see the movie with my mom. I also need to pick up One Day by David Nicholls again and if all goes according to plan (which it never does) then I will finish the week off by reading The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry. Last week, I read Starting from Scratch (which I loved, review to come) and reviewed Look Again by Lisa Scottoline (click on the title to read my review, not my favorite but had some good qualities).

What are you reading this week?

Friday, August 13, 2010

Friday Finds -- 8/13


This meme is hosted by Should Be Reading.

My Friday Find this week is a book that I am in the middle of and can't seem to put down. It's the lovely Starting From Stratch by Susan Gilbert-Collins. Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

In this heartwarming debut novel with recipes, a grief-stricken daughter cooks herself and her family back to life.

Okay, if that was not enough information for you then here is what I found at the publisher's website:

Why is someone who just defended her doctoral dissertation still wasting her time at her childhood home, two months after her mother's funeral, making coq au vin and osso buco? Olivia Tschetter, the youngest of four high-achieving South Dakotan siblings, is not returning to "normal"—or to graduate school— quickly enough to suit her family. She wants only to bury herself in her mother's kitchen, finding solace in their shared passion for cooking. Threatened with grief counseling, Olivia accepts a temporary position at the local Meals on Wheels, where she stumbles upon some unfinished business from her mother's past—and a dark family secret. Startling announcements from two siblings also challenge the family's status quo. The last thing she needs is a deepening romantic interest in a close but platonic (she thought) friend. But while Olivia's mother is gone, her memory and spirit continue to engage Olivia, who finds herself daring to speak when she would never have spoken before. Told with humor and compassion, Starting from Scratch explores the shifting of family dynamics in the wake of shattering loss and the healing power of cooking.

Food is a constant in the book, so I am always hungry while reading it and I am seriously considering buying a cast iron skillet just so I can try the chocolate cake recipe. Seriously.

What did you find this week?

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Review -- Look Again by Lisa Scottoline


Look Again
by Lisa Scottoline
St. Martin's Press, 2009
352 pages
*I borrowed this book from the library.

Summary: When Ellen suspects that her adoptive son may be the kidnapped son of another couple, she sets out to find the truth and puts herself and her son in danger.

Review: In the beginning of the book, Ellen struggles to decide if she should look into her adoptive son's biological family to determine if he is a kidnapping victim. And she struggles. And she struggles. And her kid is whiny. And her kid has a temper tantrum. And she feels like a terrible mom. And she struggles. So I was really bored in the beginning, but about half way through the novel, the action picks up. All of a sudden, Ellen is tailing people and getting DNA samples all spy-like. And I can't put the novel down, it's so good. The ending was a little predictable but still a good conclusion to the story. Overall, the characters were okay, the plot was good, the writing was fine, but I most likely won't read another by this author anytime soon. Rating: ** out of 5.

Have you read and reviewed this book? If so, leave a link to your review in the comments section!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

3 W Wednesdays -- 8/11


This meme is hosted by Should Be Reading.

What are you currently reading? Right now I am in the third part of Eat, Pray, Love (the love part) by Elizabeth Gilbert and only a handful of pages into One Day by David Nicholls and Starting from Scratch by Susan Gilbert - Collins.

What have you recently finished reading? I just finished Look Again by Lisa Scottoline (review to come) and The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens (click on the title to read my review).

What are you reading next? No idea. I need to finish the three that I am working on before starting something new.

Monday, August 9, 2010

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 8/9


Happy Monday! I have today off of work so this will be a quick post and then I am off to yoga class. I am currently reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (I just finished the Italy portion and am yearning to go there on my next vacation) and One Day by David Nicholls (not much to report I have only read a few pages since last week). Last week, I finished Look Again by Lisa Scottoline (review to come) and reviewed The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens (click on the title to read my review). I have book club tomorrow night and we are discussing The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (click on the title for my review). Have a great week of reading!!!

What are you reading?

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Book Club Spotlight -- 8/8


In October, the library book club will be reading The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry. Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

Can you read your future in a piece of lace? All of the Whitney women can. But the last time Towner read, it killed her sister and nearly robbed Towner of her own sanity. Vowing never to read lace again, her resolve is tested when faced with the mysterious, unsolvable disappearance of her beloved Great Aunt Eva, Salem's original Lace Reader. Told from opposing and often unreliable perspectives, the story engages the reader's own beliefs. Should we listen to Towner, who may be losing her mind for the second time? Or should we believe John Rafferty, a no nonsense New York detective, who ran away from the city to a simpler place only to find himself inextricably involved in a psychic tug of war with all three generations of Whitney women? Does either have the whole story? Or does the truth lie somewhere in the swirling pattern of the lace?

Have you read this book? If so, give it some love (or dislike) in the comments section -- just no spoilers please!

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Do you use Google Analytics?


I feel very behind the times. A few weeks ago, I (finally) installed Google Analytics on my blog. It only took me three times to figure it out (and I strangely consider myself tech savvy). So now the results come in everyday and I wonder how to use the information that it gathers.

How do you use the information from Google Analytics? Have you set goals based on the data? If so, what are they?

Right now the only thing I really understand is how many visitors I receive on a daily basis and the average amount of time a visitor stays. That's pretty much it. Oh, and I like the feature that shows which content is viewed the most.

As a reviewer do you use this information to receive review copies? Do you report this information to anyone -- publishers, publicists, or your own readers?

Let me know in the comments section or send me an email at jedziedz(at)hotmail(dot)com.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Friday Finds -- 8/6


Happy Friday! My Friday find for this week is Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie (available 8/31/10). One of my all time guilty pleasures is Agnes and the Hitman also written by Crusie (and Bob Mayer). Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

Andie Miller is ready to move on in life. She wants to marry her fiance and leave behind everything in her past, especially her ex-husband, North Archer. But when Andie tries to gain closure with him, he asks one final favor of her before they go their separate ways forever. A very distant cousin of his has died and left North as the guardian of two orphans who have driven out three nannies already, and things are getting worse. He needs a very special person to take care of the situation and he knows Andie can handle anything…When Andie meets the two children she quickly realizes things are much worse than she feared. The place is a mess, the children, Carter and Alice, aren’t your average delinquents, and the creepy old house where they live is being run by the worst housekeeper since Mrs. Danvers. What’s worse, Andie’s fiance thinks this is all a plan by North to get Andie back, and he may be right. Andie’s dreams have been haunted by North since she arrived at the old house. And that’s not the only haunting…What follows is a hilarious adventure in exorcism, including a self-doubting parapsychologist, an annoyed medium, her Tarot-card reading mother, an avenging ex-mother-in-law, and, of course, her jealous fiance. And just when she thinks things couldn’t get more complicated, North shows up on the doorstep making her wonder if maybe this time things could be different between them. If Andie can just get rid of all the guests and ghosts, she’s pretty sure she can save the kids, and herself, from the past. But fate might just have another thing in mind…

It sounds like the perfect summer read -- I can't wait! What did you find?

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

WWW Wednesdays -- 8/4


This meme is hosted by Should Be Reading.

What are you currently reading? Right now I am in the middle of Look Again by Lisa Scottoline (I started skimming -- I don't know if it's my mood, the characters, or the topic that is turning me off) and One Day by David Nicholls (less than 20 pages in -- very interesting characters so far).

What have you recently finished? Last week I finished The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens (click on the title to read my review). Yesterday I searched the internet for word that there is a sequel in the works to this book, but came up with nothing. Very disappointing.

What are you reading next? Maybe I will try to finish The Host by Stephenie Meyer (a re-read) or The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (for book club in October).

What are you reading?

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Review -- The Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens


by Lori Lansens
Little Brown, 2010
353 pages
*I borrowed this book from the library.

Summary: Mary's life is filled by her hunger for food and her love for her husband, Gooch. Overwhelmed by grief and depression, Mary is morbidly obese. When Mary's husband disappears, she faces her fears and leaves her small town in Canada for California. With the help of strangers, she begins to learn who she is without Gooch.

Review: I am going to start at the end instead of the beginning. For me, the ending was abrupt and disappointing because the book was so good. I turned the last page and was upset because I absolutely loved Mary and was so proud of the transition she begun to make within. Okay, so back to the beginning. When you meet Mary, you recognize the sadness and depression in her life and her inability to sedate the hunger she feels inside. Author Lori Lansens does a great job describing Mary's fight with food and endearing her to the reader. The strongest part of the novel for me was Mary's quest to find Gooch. I just loved all of the characters who helped her with her journey and how accepting they were of her. They were able to see beyond the weight to the person she was inside and I think that helped Mary to begin the process of healing herself. Rating: **** out of 5 (Dear Lori Lansen, I will make it 5 out of 5 stars if you tell me there is a sequel in the works. Thank you, Jess)

Have you read and reviewed this novel? Then leave a link to your review in the comments section!

Monday, August 2, 2010

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 8/2



This meme is hosted by Book Journey.


I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. The weather here (in Massachusetts) is really beautiful -- cool, sunny, and breezy. The perfect weather to sit outside with a book and something fruity to drink. I digress! This week, I am reading One Day by David Nicholls (interesting so far) and Look Again by Lisa Scottline (kind of terrible -- maybe I am just not in the mood?). Last week I finished the wonderful A Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens (review to come) but if you want to discuss the ending then shoot me an email (jedziedzAThotmailDOTcom) because I have a lot of confusion and disappointment brewing (and I absolutely loved this novel). I also reviewed the fantastic This Must Be The Place by Kate Racculia (click on the title for my review).


What are you reading this week?

Saturday, July 31, 2010

July 2010 Wrap Up


I had a tough month! For the first few weeks I was stuck on some real chunksters and had to bring them back to the library unfinished, but I am finally back in the reading groove!

My reviews:





I actually enjoyed all four of these books, but Guernsey and This Must Be the Place were absolutely fantastic. I gave both books 5 stars!

How was your month?

Friday, July 30, 2010

Thank you for the award!


I was one of 50 wonderful book blogs that was recognized by Awarding the Web and Online PhD Programs. I want to thank everyone who voted for my blog and the wonderful people over at Awarding the Web for their dedication and support of book blogs (especially little ones like me).

To see the entire list of winners, please go to http://www.onlinephdprograms.com/top_general_book/#Barneys_Book_Blog.




Friday Finds -- 7/30


This meme is hosted by Should Be Reading.

My Friday find this week is The Embers by Hyatt Bass. Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

A novel about a once-ascendant Upper East Side family that has crumbled in the aftermath of a tragedy for which the father has been held responsible, and how they put the pieces of their lives back together.

I know it is a short summary, but doesn't it sound interesting? For more information, go to the Macmillian website. What did you find this week?

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

My Favorite Reads -- 7/29


This meme is hosted by At Home With Books.

My favorite read this week is The Divorce Party by Laura Dave. This was a wonderful novel about a woman who throws a divorce party and how it affects her family. It is an engrossing read filled with interesting characters. (Divorce parties are unbelievably real, just google 'divorce party' and you get tons of sites devoted to the planning and preparation of divorce parties. One site even had 'divorce party games'.)

Check out the rest of my review: The Divorce Party Review

What is your favorite read?

3 W Wednesdays -- 7/28


This meme is hosted by Should Be Reading.

What are you currently reading? I am about 50 pages into A Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens (very sad so far) and 50 pages into Look Again by Lisa Scottoline (kind of dragging -- hope it picks up).

What have you recently finished? Last week I finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows and This Must Be The Place by Kate Racculia (both 5 stars -- click on the title to read my review).

What are you reading next? I think it's going to be One Day by David Nicholls or maybe Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven by Susan Jane Gilman.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Review -- This Must Be The Place by Kate Racculia


by Kate Racculia
Henry Holt, 2010
368 pages
*I received a review copy from the publisher.

Summary: When his wife unexpectedly dies, Arthur finds a mysterious postcard amongst her things and ends up in Ruby Falls. There he meets his wife's childhood friend, Mona and her daughter Oneida and he begins to learn who his wife was before she met him.

Review: How can I explain how much I loved this novel? The four main characters (Arthur, Mona, Oneida, and Eugene) are so wonderfully quirky that I couldn't help but love them. Author Kate Racculia really nailed the teenage angst and confusion as well as the intensity of a first relationship. The story is predictable but I think the author lets the reader in on the secret early so that we are able to bond with Mona and Arthur and dread the moment when the secret is revealed (this is just a theory). The story is engrossing and the writing is wonderful. I especially loved when the narrative progressed into the future to give the reader an understanding of how important the events of the story are and how they change the course of the character's life. Rating: ***** out of 5. (I had to, I LOVED IT.)

Monday, July 26, 2010

The Little Stranger Giveway Winner!


THE WINNER OF THE LITTLE STRANGER BY

SARAH WATERS IS...


ALYCE!


CONGRATS! AND THANKS TO ALL WHO SIGNED UP FOR THE GIVEAWAY.

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 7/26


Happy Monday! I am in such a good mood because even though my weekend was very busy I was still able to get a decent amount of reading done. Currently, I am reading Look Again by Lisa Scottoline (for book club) and A Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens (just started it last night). I finished the fantastic This Must Be The Place by Kate Racculia (review to come) and the outstanding The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (click on the title to read my review).

What are you reading?

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Book Club Spotlight -- 7/25


Our book club will be reading Look Again by Lisa Scottoline for our September meeting. Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

The blockbuster New York Times bestselling author joins St. Martin's Press with a knock-out novel about a woman who comes to suspect that her adopted child is actually another couple's kidnapped child.

Sounds like an intriguing plot. Have you read this? If so, give it some love (or some dislike -- just no spoilers!) in the comments.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

What is your all time favorite book?


I know, I know -- It's like asking a mom to pick a favorite kid. It's really hard. Yet, once I sat and thought for a minute or two, it easily came to me. I guess you could break it down by genre. What is your favorite classic? Favorite historical romance or literary fiction? But that would take a long time and I am quite sure I wouldn't have a book for every genre.

So my pick? It is definitely Persuasion by Jane Austen. I could read Persuasion time and time again (in fact I have) and never get bored with it. I absolutely love Anne. She is the perfect heroine (okay, okay maybe not perfect -- she can be a bit of a doormat) who picks the perfect gentleman in Captain Wentworth (okay, okay he is not perfect either -- but very close). I love the family running away from the collectors, the hypochondriac sister and her sweet country in-laws. I love all the talk about the Navy and their trip to Lyme. I love the scandal in Bath and (of course) the perfect ending.

All right! Enough gushing! What is your all time favorite book?

Friday, July 23, 2010

The Little Stranger Giveaway


I am giving away one gently used copy of The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

Set in rural Warwickshire just after the Second World War, The Little Stranger is her fifth novel, the first with a male narrator, Dr. Faraday. We meet the doctor at Hundreds Hall, a former grand structure now wasting away, and home to the Ayreses for close to two centuries. Members of the landed gentry now fallen to ruin, the Ayreses -- Mrs. Ayres and her two grown children, Caroline and Roderick -- seem steeped in a bygone, gentler age. Called upon to examine the housemaid, Dr Faraday finds himself strangely drawn to the dilapidated house, where his own mother used to work as a maid 30 years ago. What begins as mild fascination with the house and its residents will transform itself into something more pronounced as Dr. Faraday scrambles to make sense of the strange happenings that begin to haunt Hundreds. Unexplained marks appear on the walls, fires start on their own accord, and footsteps break the silence of unoccupied rooms. Acting both as doctor and confidant, Dr. Faraday's life becomes closely entwined with the Ayreses, even as a string of greater tragedies descend on the Hundreds. This is quintessential Waters territory -- involving madness, suicide, and an arguable murder -- perfected over the rather steep arc of her work. Dripping with psychological suspense, The Little Stranger keeps the reader guessing on whether it is an atmospheric horror story or a macabre murder mystery right to the end.

And here is my review: The Little Stranger Review

If you would like to enter the giveaway, then leave your name and email address in the comments section. The giveaway will close on Sunday, July 25th at midnight EST. Only US residents please. Good luck!

Friday Finds -- 7/23


This meme is hosted by Should Be Reading.

Happy Friday! My Friday Find is Bird In Hand by Christina Baker Kline. Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

The accident was just that -- an accident. It was dark, it was raining, ALISON had two drinks in her, and the other car ran the stop sign. She just didn't get out of the way fast enough. But now a little boy -- not her own -- is dead, and Alison finds herself trapped under the twin burdens of grief and guilt, and feeling increasingly estranged from her husband . . . CHARLIE, who has his own burdens. He's in a job he doesn't love so that Alison can stay home with the kids (and why isn't she more grateful for that?); he has a house in the suburbs and a long commute to and from the city each day. And the only thing can focus on these days is his secret, sudden affair with . . . CLAIRE, Alison's best friend. Bold where Alison is reserved; vibrant where Alison is demure, Claire has just had her first novel published, a thinly-veiled retelling of her childhood in South Carolina (which is also Alison's, in a sense). But even in the whirlwind of publication, Claire can't stop wondering if she should leave her husband . . . BEN, an architect who is thoughtful, kind, and patient. And who wants nothing more than a baby, or two -- in fact, exactly the kind of life that Charlie and Alison have . . . Four people, two marriages, one lifelong friendship: everything is about to change.

Sounds very interesting! What did you find this week?

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Review -- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows


by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Random House, 2008
288 pages
*I borrowed this book from the library.

Summary: Shortly after WWII, writer Juliet Ashton befriends the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society.

Review: I absolutely loved this novel. It is a wonderful light, easy read that just transports you to another time and place. Told completely through letters, the characters (especially Juliet) shine through the page and give the novel a light and breezy tone. The story of a community living through the Occupation is an upbeat survivors tale with a little history mixed in. All of the society members are wonderfully unique individuals that the reader can easily love. I definitely recommend this novel. Rating: ***** out of 5.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

3 W Wednesday -- 7/22


This meme is hosted by Should Be Reading.

What are you currently reading? I am currently reading This Must Be the Place by Kate Racculia. So far it's a wonderfully funny read with really interesting characters.

What have you recently finished reading? The fantastic Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (review coming soon!).

What are you reading next? I am thinking either A Wife's Tale by Lori Lansens or The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Arriving Last Week


I received a copy of One Day by David Nicholls in the mail last week. Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

It's 1988 and Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley have only just met. They both know that the next day, after college graduation, they must go their separate ways. But after only one day together, they cannot stop thinking about one another. As the years go by, Dex and Em begin to lead separate lives—lives very different from the people they once dreamed they'd become. And yet, unable to let go of that special something that grabbed onto them that first night, an extraordinary relationship develops between the two.
Over twenty years, snapshots of that relationship are revealed on the same day—July 15th—of each year. Dex and Em face squabbles and fights, hopes and missed opportunities, laughter and tears. And as the true meaning of this one crucial day is revealed, they must come to grips with the nature of love and life itself.

And I read that they are developing the book into a movie starring Anne Hathaway -- sounds great, right? Now I just need to find the time to read it.

Monday, July 19, 2010

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 7/19


Happy Monday! Well, I just got back from a weekend of camping in Maine and had a fantastic time. I hope everybody had a wonderful weekend. So what's booking? Well, I am making some progress on The Passage by Justin Cronin (Amy just showed up again and I am intrigued). I am also loving the very funny, This Must Be the Place by Kate Racculia (and hoping to have a review up this week). I have also started the lovely The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (for book club). Wow is that title a mouthful!

Last week I reviewed the wonderful The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and gave it 4 1/2 stars (click on the title to read my review). Since I have three books going at once, my goal is to finish one and post a review this week. Wish me luck!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Book Club Spotlight



For next month's book club meeting, we chose to read the very popular The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. For anyone who hasn't read it, here is the Barnes and Noble description:

"I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers." January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she's never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb....

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends--and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society--born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island--boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

I am actually hoping to start this book while camping this weekend. Wish me luck! If you have read this book, give it some love in the comments section (or some dislike if you wish) -- but no spoilers -- I haven't read it yet!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

When do you throw in the towel?


I am currently reading a book that is HUGE, very buzz worthy, and most bloggers are raving about it. Yet, I am struggling to get through this massive tome and am only 1/3 of the way through. When do I throw in the towel? When do you make the decision to stop reading?

Normally if a book doesn't catch me in the first 100 pages, I call it quits. There are two exceptions to this rule: 1. the book is for book club and 2. I accepted the book for review. I feel that I need to make a concerted effort to read the novel a book club member picked out because I would want them to make the same effort for a book I chose. With review books, I feel they should be read cover to cover because I made a commitment to read and review a particular novel.

When do you say enough is enough? Do you have any reading rules?

Friday, July 16, 2010

Friday Finds -- 7/16


My Friday Find this week is I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman (available 8/17). Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

Eliza Benedict cherishes her peaceful, ordinary suburban life. But her tranquility is shattered when she receives a letter from the last person she ever expects to hear from: Walter Bowman. There was your photo, in a magazine. I'd know you anywhere. In the summer of 1985, when she was fifteen, Eliza was kidnapped by Walter. He had killed at least one girl and Eliza always suspected he had other victims as well. Now on death row for the rape and murder of his final victim, Walter seems to be making a heartfelt act of contrition. Having wondered why Walter had let her live, she cautiously makes contact with him. Yet as Walter presses her for more and deeper contact, it becomes clear that he is after something greater than forgiveness. He wants Eliza to remember what really happened that long-ago summer. He wants her to save his life. And Eliza, who has worked hard for her comfortable life, will do anything to protect it—even if it means finally facing the terrible truth she's kept buried inside.

I am really interested in thrillers lately and this book had definitely peaked my interest. I actually read and reviewed another book by Laura Lippman called What the Dead Know (click on title to read my review) and am hoping to enjoy this one as well. What did you find this week?

Thursday, July 15, 2010

My Favorite Reads -- 7/15


This meme is hosted by At Home With Books.

My Favorite Read this week is the lovely Paper Towns by John Green. I reviewed this a few months back and wrote:

I absolutely could not put this novel down. The characters are fun, smart, and interesting high school students who are pulled into the mystery of Margo's disappearance. John Green keeps the story rolling with an intriguing plot, crisp dialogue, and wonderful characters.

It is an absolutely awesome read. What is your favorite read this week?

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Did Everybody Get This Email?


I received an email from one of the publicists over at Viking/Penguin Publicity. Have you seen this?

COME MEET BESTSELLING MYSTERY AUTHOR
TANA FRENCH

. . . WELL, AT LEAST MEET HER VIRTUALLY VIA
A LIVE ONLINE CHAT ON JULY 2O AT 1:30 PM ET

Penguin Books invites you and your readers to join the celebrated mystery author, Tana French, for a chat at the Penguin Water Cooler on Tuesday, July 20th at 1:30 PM ET, hosted
here on the Penguin USA website!

I won't be participating because I will be at work (and I haven't read her new book). Will you be there?

3 W Wednesdays -- 7/14


This meme is hosted by Should Be Reading.

What are you currently reading? I am currently reading This Must Be the Place by Kate Racculia (my daytime / gym book) and The Passage by Justin Cronin (my nighttime / bed book).

What did you recently finish? I recently finished reading The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. It was fantastic (click on the title to read my review).

What are you reading next? I want to start next month's book club book early, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I have heard nothing but fantastic things about this novel and am hoping it's a quick read.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Review -- The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon


by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Knopf Doubleday, 2010
554 pages
*I borrowed this book from the library.

Summary: After a difficult childhood, David Martin becomes a fiction writer who is commissioned to write a religious text for a mysterious publisher.

Review: My summary of this book is terrible because SO MUCH more happens in this book, but I am finding the plot difficult to explain without spoiling too much. So you are getting a bare bones summary and a YOU SHOULD READ THIS review. The characters are mysterious with a touch of supernatural, the plot is dark and fast paced, and the writing is wonderful. My only complaint is that parts of the plot were confusing and the ending did not answer all of my questions. I do think it will make a fantastic book club book and lead to a great discussion tonight. I loved all the main characters (even when they made decisions I did not support) and was completely immersed into the world that the author created. Rating: ****1/2 out of 5.

Monday, July 12, 2010

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 7/12


This meme is hosted by Book Journey.

Happy Monday! Why am I so excited? Because yesterday I finished my book club's selection before tomorrow's meeting! YEA!!! And the book was GOOD. Really, really GOOD. What was it? The book was The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. If you enjoy plot driven books with a lot of mystery and a little supernatural element, then definitely check out this book.

Now that I am ready for book club, I am going back to reading The Passage by Justin Cronin (about 300 pages in). I received a few emails from other bloggers telling me not to give up on this chunkster, so I am going to take their advice and give it another week. No promises after that! I also started This Must Be the Place by Kate Racculia and so far am very intrigued.

What are you reading this week?