Curled Up With a Good Book and a Cup of Tea

Book Blogger Hop

2012-05-25T11:14:00.000-04:00

It's Friday and it's time for the Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Jennifer at Crazy For Books. It's a weekly gathering of book bloggers and has recently come back from hiatus! Check it out and find some fabulous book blogs.

This weeks question is a good one:

How do you handle the writing of a negative review?

Unfortunately I've had to write about a few not so great books. We all have some books that we just don't connect with. I always try to keep my reviews balanced, with both the positives and negatives. If I find that there are a lot more negatives, I'll explain why I personally feel that way. I recognize that obviously there are other people out there who like the book so in this case I will read other reviews of the book and in my review point out what other people like about the book. I would rather not publish a review of a book than write an entirely negative review.

How about you?

"Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" by Amy Chua

2012-05-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

Last year a book burst on the scene that had everyone talking, not all good though. Amy Chua's Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother had people heated up over her discussion of Eastern versus Western parenting. Chua, an American born to Chinese immigrant parents, had set out to raise her children in the Chinese way. For her this meant her kids had to spend long hours playing the violin and piano, studying, and pretty much doing nothing else. In return, she felt her children would have all of the skills they needed to be the most successful adults. But along the way, Chua learns a lot about her children as well as herself and finds that it's not about the particular way in which you raise your children, but about the lessons learned along the way.

When I first heard all about this book in the media Amy Chua came off as a know-it-all "we're better than you" type of person. And it's true, she does come across as that in the book, however, by the end of the book Chua herself recognizes this and is completely honest about the lessons she learned along the way, as taught to her by her own children.

I can understand where she was coming from. I'm the child of an immigrant and married to an immigrant. I see the desire for success and the difference in parenting from Western culture. I grew up in an immigrant neighbourhood, mostly Chinese. I've seen these Tiger Mothers and their children in action. So there were no shockers in this book for me. Yes, she doesn't let her children have playmates or sleepovers. They are forced to play their instruments for hours on end and driven hours for lessons from top teachers. But along the way Chua learned that when you instill good character in your children and teach them responsibility from an early age, they'll be able to make the decisions in their lives and still turn out successful.

My issue with this book, and this is what may have given it the bad rap it received in the media, is Chua's unfortunate attempts at humour in this book. A lot of assertions and observations came across as her trying to make light of the situation or make fun of herself, but instead came across as half-jokes. You're fairly certain she can't actually be serious, but it just wasn't funny enough to know for sure.

I'm glad I read this book despite the negativity that surrounded it. I think you can always learn something from other people even if you disagree with everything they say. This is a fascinating look at a way of parenting that is very different from what we are used to in North America, but that is occurring elsewhere in the world. The fact is many parents are like this and Chua is probably one of a few who will tell it like it is. We may not agree with it, we may think it borders on insanity, but it is still interesting to read about.

It's (Monday was a holiday so now it's) Tuesday, What Are You Reading?

2012-05-22T13:22:00.000-04:00

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Yesterday was Victoria Day, a holiday in which we honour Queen Victoria's birthday and recognize the current sovereign's birthday. Also known as May two-four, it's the unofficial start of summer season and so we celebrated wonderfully with barbecues and fireworks. And thus, I'm posting this a day late!

Last week was the Bout of Books readathon, and I did pretty well. I read two of my three goal books and read one additional book as well as finished one I started long ago and then put aside. Here is what I accomplished:

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua (review coming soon)

Redemption by Bryan Clay (review here)

The Walking Dead Book One by Robert Kirkman et. al (review here)

Love Wins by Rob Bell (review coming soon)

Here is what I plan to read this week:

The Headmaster's Wager by Vincent Lam (currently reading)

Percival Chen is the headmaster of the most respected English school in Saigon. He is also a bon vivant, a compulsive gambler and an incorrigible womanizer. He is well accustomed to bribing forever changing lists of government officials in order to maintain the elite status of the Chen Academy. He is fiercely proud of his Chinese heritage, and quick to spot the business opportunities rife in a divided country. He devotedly ignores all news of the fighting that swirls around him, choosing instead to read the faces of his opponents at high-stakes mahjong tables.

But when his only son gets in trouble with the Vietnamese authorities, Percival faces the limits of his connections and wealth and is forced to send him away. In the loneliness that follows, Percival finds solace in Jacqueline, a beautiful woman of mixed French and Vietnamese heritage, and Laing Jai, a son born to them on the eve of the Tet offensive. Percival's new-found happiness is precarious, and as the complexities of war encroach further and further into his world, he must confront the tragedy of all he has refused to see.

Everybody Has Everything by Katrina Onstad

What happens when the tidy, prosperous life of an urban couple is turned inside out by a tragedy with unexpected consequences? After a car crash leaves their friend Marcus dead and his wife Sarah in a coma, Ana and James are shocked to discover that they have become the legal guardians of a 2½-year-old, Finn. Finn’s crash-landing in their lives throws into high relief deeply rooted, and sometimes long-hidden, truths about themselves, both individually and as a couple. Several chaotic, poignant, and life-changing weeks as a most unusual family give rise to an often unasked question: Can everyone be a parent?

The Jane Austen Marriage Manual by Kim Izzo

It is Fall 2008, the recession is in full swing and Kate Shaw is about to turn forty. As an acting beauty editor for a fashion magazine, Kate has glided from contract to contract only to be told that, due to cutbacks, her services are no longer required. Through no fault of her own she finds herself single, homeless and desperate to help her family survive its own financial and emotional crises. Known for her love of all things Jane Austen, Kate is given a freelance gig that changes everything: is it possible, in these modern times—and at a certain age—to marry well?

What starts as an article quickly turns into Kate’s real-life quest. From the polo fields of West Palm Beach to the slopes of St. Moritz and the glamour of London’s social scene, Kate, who gets mistaken for an aristocrat—Lady Kate—chases the man of her dreams, a charming and elegant older financier. But she keeps running into a brooding Englishman, Griffith Kent, who works at an impeccably Austenesque estate called Penwick Manor. Caught between Mr. Rich and maybe Mr. Right, Kate must choose what she really wants out of life: to marry for money or marry for love.

I'm excited to read the first two Canadian books but I'm especially excited to read The Jane Austen Marriage Manual as I haven't read any good chick lit in a while and this one looks promising!

Book Blogger Hop

2012-05-18T10:46:00.000-04:00

It's Friday! And that means it's time for the Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Jennifer at Crazy For Books. I'm looking forward to this weekend, it's a long weekend as Monday is Victoria Day and the weather is supposed to be beautiful!!! So definitely lots of fun outside. And I'm participating in the Bout of Books readathon, so I look forward to wrapping up an awesome reading week.

This weeks question is: How many books do you own? This can include books in your to be read pile and books you have already read that are on your keep shelf.

I don't know. I have about 100 books sitting on the bookshelves in my bedroom. But I live in an apartment and don't have a whole lot of space so those are only my most recent acquisitions. I also have tons of books in boxes in my storage space and at my mom's house that are waiting patiently for me to get a bigger place so they can be liberated and restored to shelves where they belong. I have no clue how many are in those boxes.

"The Walking Dead Book One" by Robert Kirkman et. al

2012-05-17T10:57:00.000-04:00

Rick Grimes awakes from a coma to find that he is the only patient in the hospital and there are no doctors or nurses. However, he quickly learns that he is not alone. The hospital, and the world, has been overcome by zombies and Rick must think quick if he wants to survive. When he meets a group of fellow survivors they band together in hopes of finding a safe place to live and learn along the way that nowhere is safe from the zombies.

The Walking Dead Book One by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, Charlie Adlard, and Cliff Rathburn contains the first 12 issues of the graphic novels that spawned the successful television series. The artwork is fantastic and realistic (or as realistic as you can be about a zombie apocalypse) and the story is character driven and well written. There is the perfect balance of zombie attacks and character development.

I decided to read the graphic novels after watching the television show. I absolutely love the show and needed something to hold me over until the next season starts. Fans of the show will thoroughly enjoy this. There are actually a lot of differences between the book and the show, in terms of events and characters, which makes it fun to read. It also gives you a new appreciation for the television series and shows the work it took to translate the story from the page to the screen.

I'm not a reader of graphic novels so I don't have much to compare this one to. However, my husband is a big reader of them and he's impressed by this one so far. So I think readers and non-readers of graphic novels will enjoy this one. There is strong language and obviously a lot of zombie killing so it's not for everyone. But I believe that a lot of people who think this might not be their cup of tea will find that they really enjoy this book. I can't wait to get started on the next volume.

"Home" by Toni Morrison

2012-05-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

Frank Money has returned to America from the Korean War a scarred and angry man, traumatized by what he experienced on the front lines. When he learns that his sister is being medically abused, he must do what he always vowed never to do - return to the small Georgia town he came from and holds a deep hatred for. As Frank travels to rescue his sister, he questions his sense of self and along the way discovers in himself a man he didn't think could ever live again.

Home is Toni Morrison's tenth novel and the first of hers that I have read. I have always wanted to read her works, hearing such great things about her writing and I can now see why she has the reputation she does.

Without getting into the graphic or the sensational, Morrison paints a haunting picture of a man scarred by the horrors of war. While it is set in the 1950's, it could easily take place today. It isn't a long novel and while that doesn't allow for major development of characters, there are many voices represented through different narrators. The chapters in which Frank addresses the reader directly are outstanding.

Home paints a stark picture of what life was like in the 1950's. It touches on war, racism, poverty and eugenics in a clear way that isn't in your face but doesn't beat around the bush either. Morrison is skilled at walking the fine line that divides the two.

I was a little surprised at this book. Given the status that Toni Morrison has in the literary world (and I'm sure is very deserving), this book didn't seem to live up to that reputation. The plot felt like it deserved more development, the characters felt like you only knew half of them. I was definitely expecting a lot more story.

I have heard that if you are fan of Morrison's you will enjoy this book, but this is not the book to start with if you haven't read any of her previous works. So I will take that into account and say that while I enjoyed the story but wasn't blown away, I will definitely try reading one of her earlier works to get a better feel of her writing.

It's Monday What Are You Reading?

2012-05-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. I love this meme as it gets me set up for the week reading-wise, helps me set reading goals and motivates me to work my way through my to read pile.

Last week I read:
The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones (click on title for review)
Wait No More by Kelly and John Rosati (review coming soon)
Home by Toni Morrison (review coming soon)

This week I am:

Participating in the bout of books read-a-thon. It's a week long readathon, which is right up my alley! For it I will be reading:

The Headmaster's Wager by Vincent Lam

Redemption by Brian Clay

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua.

I'm feeling really good about this week, how about you?

A readathon? Yes please!

2012-05-13T21:56:00.001-04:00

I have signed up to participate in the bout of books read-a-thon that is happening from May 14 to May 20. I love a good readathon, but sometimes (most times) it's hard for me to dedicate a weekend to just reading. But a whole week works for me. This will motivate me to make my way through my to read pile!

Want to participate? Head over to here and check it out.

Bout of Books is a week long read-a-thon, run from 12:01am on Monday, May 14th through 11:59pm Sunday, May 20th in whatever time zone you are in.
Bout of Books is low pressure, meaning participants are only asked to push themselves to read more than they normally would during any given week. There is no competition between readers.
How much time a reader wants, and can commit, to read, tweet, or network with fellow bloggers is left to individual preference. All challenges and giveaways are optional.
Networking with fellow bloggers is actively encouraged, though never required. Co-hosts are there to facilitate blog hopping and interaction between participants.
Use Twitter to post updates throughout the read-a-thon. Everyone will be tweeting with the #boutofbooks hashtag.

I'll be participating mostly through Twitter (@goodbooksandtea). I'll do a wrap-up post here to see if I met my goals. Speaking of goals, here is what I plan to read:

Will you be joining in?

Book Blogger Hop

2012-05-11T10:29:00.000-04:00

It's Friday and it's time for the Book Blogger Hop! Hosted by Jen at Crazy For Books, it's a weekly gathering of book bloggers to get to know each other and discuss all things bookish!

This weeks question is: Who is your favourite book character?
You know, I have quite a few favourite characters from the chick lit genre. I love Sophie Kinsella's Becky Bloomwood (Shopaholic series), Meg Cabot's Lizzie Nicholls (Queen of Babble series) and Carmen Reid's Annie Valentine (Personal Shopper series). But I think my favourite character goes to....

Precious Ramotswe from The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith.

Precious is an irresistible heroine who sets up the first all ladies detective agency in Botswana. She is warm, compassionate, thoughtful, and for her it's not about solving crimes but helping people with personal problems. Every book I have read in the series I am just taken in by Precious.

"The Uninvited Guests" by Sadie Jones

2012-05-09T10:47:00.000-04:00

It is Emerald Torrington's twentieth birthday and her life is about to be turned upside down. Sterne, the house she lives in with her mother Charlotte, stepfather Edward and siblings Clovis and Smudge, is on its last legs and due to financial crisis may not be theirs for much longer. Edward has departed to the city to see if he can save the family home while the rest of the family prepare for the party.

But just as her guests begin to arrive, a terrible train wreck occurs nearby and a group of mysterious survivors have made their way to Sterne. They need a place to stay until the Railway comes for them and while the family gives them shelter and food strange things begin to happen throughout the house. And when one survivor - a figure from the family's past - decides to make himself a part of the birthday celebrations, things take a very strange turn for the worse.

Set in rural England at the turn of the last century, The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones, is a dark and strange tale full of drama and humour. Wonderfully written, you don't feel like you're reading a current novel set in the past, you feel like you're reading a classic novel that has survived the test of time.

This was a page turner for me, I just couldn't put it down. Even though I kind of guessed what was going on early on in the book, I wanted to keep reading to see how it all played out. The book isn't just about trying to figure out the mystery, the characters are well developed and Jones paints the time and place so wonderfully, that you find yourself immersed in all that is going on.

By the time I reached the end of the book, I was a little unsure of it. The "wrap-up" of the story was a little bit of a let-down for me. So as I closed the book, I sat and thought about whether or not I actually liked the book. And the decision I have arrived at is that I did like the book. It is eccentric, wonderfully quirky and definitely held my interest. However, I wasn't blown away in the manner I thought I would be at the beginning of the novel. Overall, this is a book I would recommend, as it is something different and written in a wonderful voice.

I received this book courtesy of Random House of Canada. The opinions expressed above are purely my own.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

2012-05-07T12:48:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I have participated in this meme! Lately my reading and review posting has been pretty spotty and I need some more organization and motivation to keep reading. I have a pile of fantastic books I want to get to, and this meme should definitely help me get back on track. Check out all of the other participants at Book Journey by Sheila.

Right now I'm reading two books:

The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones

Set in rural England just after the turn of the last century, Emerald is preparing to celebrate her 20th birthday when a train crash brings a crowd of mysterious travellers to her home for shelter. I just started this one this weekend, and it's a page turner!

Sarai by Jill Eileen Smith

This book tells the story of Sarah and Abraham from the Bible, from Sarah's perspective. I started this a while ago and put it down but am looking forward to finishing it. It's always interesting to read a Biblical story in fictional form.

The next two books in my pile are:

Wait No More by Kelly & John Rosati

This book is about the Rosati's family adoption journey, adopting four children from the American foster care system. I am really looking forward to this one as adoption is something that our family hopes to do one day. It's also a great time to read it as May is Foster Care Month. In Canada there are over 76,000 children in the foster care system and in the US, over 400,000 children.

Home by Toni Morrison

In Toni Morrison's latest novel, Frank Money is veteran of the Korean War who went through traumatic experiences and is now back home facing the trials of racist America. When he rescues his medically abused sister and takes her back to their childhood home he faces childhood memories and the horrors of war head on.

"Where We Have to Go" by Lauren Kirshner

2012-05-05T10:10:00.004-04:00

For Lucy Bloom, the transition from childhood into adulthood isn't going to be easy. As an awkward eleven-year-old, she is a devotee of cats and televisions most famous extraterrestrial, ALF. Her father is a failed glamour studio photographer who currently divides his time between a dead end job at a travel agency and AA meetings. Her mother is a former beauty queen from Bulgaria and current ESL teacher who tends to a family of mannequins in the backyard.

As Lucy tries to navigate adolescence in Toronto during the 1990's, readers witness a sweet and quirky coming of age in Lauren Krishner's debut novel Where We Have To Go. Lucy grows from a young girl into a university student and along the way we watch her deal with the loss of friendship, bullying, eating disorders and the discovery of what it really means to be a young woman.

This is a cute novel with quite a few laughs. It is easily relatable, especially to those who came of age during the 1990's. Lucy Bloom is a character who will quickly grab hold of you. Her voice is smart and quirky and she gives you a new way of seeing the world.

I found that the book started off very strong, with me not wanting to put it down. But through the middle it lagged a bit and I had some difficulty staying attached to the story. However, once Lucy began her struggle with an eating disorder, it felt like it was no longer about setting up a story and the book picked again for me and I found myself heavily invested in it. The last bit of the book was beautiful and touching.

Anyone who remembers the awkwardness of the pre-teen and teenage years will definitely relate to this book. Lucy Bloom is a heroine for every young woman who struggled to be accepted and to find who she is and how she fits in this world. Lauren Kirshner has done a great job in her debut novel.

I received this book courtesy of Random House of Canada. The opinions expressed above are purely my own.

"Another Piece of My Heart" by Jane Green

2012-04-30T13:17:00.000-04:00

Andi felt blessed when at the age of thirty-seven, she finally found the perfect man. Ethan is an amazing husband and devoted father to his two daughters, Emily and Sophia. Andi was thrilled to become step-mother to the two girls and accepted them as her own. But Andi struggled to accept the fact that she may never have children of her own. Her dream of motherhood and raising a child may never come true.

Complicating the situation is teenager Emily. She sees Andi as an obstacle to her father's love and she will do everything she can to break up the family dynamic. Just when it looks like Andi cannot handle the rebellion anymore and Emily may have won, a crisis hits the family. The two find themselves at a crossroads, with everything they ever believed about family and motherhood coming into question.

Another Piece Of My Heart by Jane Green is a sweet novel about love, family and motherhood. It raises the question of what happens when you find everything you have ever wanted, but one thing stands in the way of pure happiness. This is a book that hits the nail on the head for so many issues that exist in families today - blended families, teenage rebellion, infertility.

Jane Green does an excellent job of setting up the family dynamic, introducing all of the characters, their struggles and their joys. Andi is a character that instantly draws you in. I do feel that the rest of the characters were somewhat glossed over, the reasons for their behaviour not fully developed. The storyline is pretty standard fare, nothing out of the ordinary for this type of novel. And keeping with this, while the story does pick up toward the end of the novel and really pull you in, it ends up being wrapped up in a nice neat package which most likely wouldn't happen as smoothly in real life.

My biggest criticism of the book is I just didn't like how it went back and forth between Emily and Andi's point of view, one in the first person and one in the third person. That being said, this is still a book that is good to curl up with or relax in a hot bath with. It's an easy and quick read, you won't find yourself losing interest but you may walk away from it at the end not feeling very many emotions. And that's okay with this book.

"Vanished" by Liza Marklund

2012-04-20T10:26:00.001-04:00

Annika Bengtzon is working as a copy editor at Stockholm's Evening Post when a call comes into the newsroom. With her colleagues busy working on a story about a double murder at the docks, Annika takes the call. It's from a woman who claims that her organization, the Paradise Foundation, can help people change identities and completely erase their pasts and she wants Annika to write a story about them.

Shortly after meeting with her, Annika is contacted by another woman named Aida who has a connection to the double murder and whose life is in danger. To help her escape, Annika puts her into contact with the Paradise Foundation. But when Aida turns up dead, Annika decides to dig deeper into the organization and finds that it's not what it seems. And as Annika and local council employee Thomas try to shed light on its activities, they find their own lives in danger.

Vanished, by Liza, Marklund, is a fast-paced thriller by Scandinavia's Queen of crime fiction. Reading this book you will easily see how she has earned that title. Annika Bengtzon is a fantastic heroine. She is flawed and complex, but committed to fairness and justice and will be loved by every reader. The scope of this book is very wide and it makes for a great story, one that is rooted in an actual story Marklund investigated herself in her earlier career as a journalist.

This book is a part of a series centred around Annika Bengtzon. What I like very much about this series is that while you do see Annika move her way up at the paper, and grow into her role as wife and mother throughout the series, you do not have to read the books in chronological order. This is the second book of the series that I have read (see my review of The Bomber here) and this one takes place earlier than the previous book. It's a very interesting way to discover the character of Annika and I love that you know bits and pieces from all over her life while you're reading, but not the whole story.

There is a lot going on in the book - Annika's past, her ill grandmother, her relationship with Thomas, the Paradise Foundation, the involvement of the Yugoslavian Mafia in the murders, Aida's past in Yugoslavia - and there are some points that I personally felt could have been dealt with better (for example, not as much attention or more explanation) however, Marklund is a very skilled writer and does an excellent job of weaving all of this together.

Vanished is a well-written and thrilling novel. Having thoroughly enjoyed both this book and The Bomber, I look forward to reading the rest of the Annika Bengtzon series.

Beautiful Bookstores

2012-04-18T15:08:00.003-04:00

If these bookstores were in my corner of the world, they'd get all of my money just because of their beauty!

Selexyz Bookstore in Maastricht, Netherlands. This bookstore was built inside a former Dominican Church (source)

Livaria Lello in Porto, Portugal, built in 1906 (source)

El Ateneo Bookshop in Buenos Aires, Argentina, built inside a former theatre (source)

"419" by Will Ferguson

2012-04-13T13:53:00.003-04:00

It all begins with a simple email: "Dear Sir, I am the son of an exiled Nigerian diplomat, and I need your help…"

When Laura Curtis' father gets caught up in this con, he ends up losing his money, his home and his life. Determined to take revenge on father's killer, Laura sets off dangerous world of the Lagos underworld and into the heart of the 419 industry. But she soon discovers that this scam reaches much further than she thought. A pregnant young woman who appears out of a sandstorm in sub-Saharan Africa, a young man whose village has fallen prey to the destruction of the oil industry, these lives and more are all connected to Laura's through one of the worlds most notorious email scams.

419, by Will Ferguson, is a fast-paced, sweeping novel that takes you into a world full of crime, suffering, greed, revenge and redemption. The 419 email scams (named for the section of the Nigerian Criminal Code dealing with fraud) are well known throughout the world and have become an industry in Nigeria. This books takes you inside a world you know of, but couldn't possibly understand the scope of. We often find ourselves wondering who could possibly fall victim to one of these scams but this book shows just how the goodness of human nature can easily be taken advantage of.

Ferguson masterfully weaves the stories of many people together into one book, jumps from person to person but consistently keeps the book flowing straight through to the end. I have to admit that there were points where I thought "okay, where is this going," but when it got to that point, I was impressed with skillful writing that brought me there.

Ferguson has obviously done his research. The 419 world is highly intricate and through it all he manages to put a human face to these people, to make them understandable and even make the reader sympathetic to their plight. This book doesn't just cover the 419 scams, it looks at the effects the oil industry has had on Nigeria, it's economy and the its citizens. It examines what can happen a country gives its young people an opportunity for education but little opportunity to put that education to work.

My favourite part of this book was when Laura travelled to Nigeria to get revenge. In the beginning, I really questioned her strength and character but she turned out to be a fantastic and funny heroine. I couldn't help but smile and cheer as she worked her revenge on the man who swindled her father.

Will Ferguson is a fantastic writer and I am such a fan of his earlier humour writing, especially Happiness and How to Be a Canadian. I barely had to look at the blurb on this book to decide whether or not to read it, his name on the cover is enough for me. But when I did find out that this book differs from the previous works of his I have read, I strongly questioned whether or not a book of this genre would be any good. Well, I never should have doubted him. This is an incredible novel and it proves that Ferguson is a talented writer of any genre.

I received this book courtesy of Penguin Canada. The opinions expressed above are purely my own.

Fantastic Libraries Around the World

2012-04-11T11:57:00.005-04:00

Who doesn't love a beautiful library???

Main reading hall of the City Library of Stockholm (source)

Library of the Dutch Parliament, The Hague, Netherlands (source)

Main reading room, Library of Parliament, Ottawa, Ontario (source)

Uris Library, Cornell University, New York (source)

Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library at University of Toronto, Ontario (source)

"Ecoholic Body" by Adria Vasil

2012-04-09T12:04:00.002-04:00

Adria Vasil, Canada's straight-shooting green living expert, is back, and this time it's personal…care, that is.

Ecoholic Body: Your Ultimate Earth-Friendly Guide to Living Healthy & Looking Good by Adria Vasil is the only book you will need to turn your personal care as green as you possibly can. It literally has you covered from head to toe to make sure you get chemicals out of your body and out of your life.

This indispensable guide covers everything. It gives you the lowdown on the "mean 15" ingredients to avoid, the best skin care, all the latest eco-fashions, the scoop on nature's best for kids, and how to green your health care and feel your best. The book also includes labelling of Made in Canada products, a nation-wide store directory, do-it-yourself homemade body care, and something that is very important to ecoholics, money saving tips.

The best feature of this book is Vasil's exhaustive testing of products from every type of personal care. She doesn't just tell you which products have the best ingredients and the least chemicals, she tests every product for effectiveness, smell and feel, rating them on a scale of 1to 5. And for that I give her a standing ovation. Years ago I switched all of my personal care products to all-natural except for one - deodorant. I was never able to find a natural deodorant that I felt confident leaving the house with so I just gave up on that one. But after reading Adria's test guide, I went out and bought the top-rated one and I am in love.

Adria Vasil doesn't just talk the talk, she lives the life and writes her book with honesty and humour. Reading this book is like getting tips from your girlfriend, from the beginning you trust everything she says and every recommendation she gives. She doesn't just tell you what to avoid then throw you at the mercy of the drugstore shelves, she straight up tells you what not to buy and why.

Ecoholic Body is the third book by Adria Vasil. The first - Ecoholic - covers everything you need to know about going green in every aspect of your life. Her second book - Ecoholic Home - gives you all of the information you need to make your home the cleanest, greenest and most efficient one on the block. There is also a US edition of Ecoholic in bookstores now to help Americans decode what is really green and what is just green washed on their shelves as well.

These days it's all about going green and saving the earth and that's a good thing. But it's not as easy as it seems and if you find yourself confused by the messages out there then you need some Ecoholic in your life. And if you've been living the green life for a while and think you've got everything down, this book will continue to motivate you and introduce you to some fabulous new products and stores. There is something in this book for everyone and declare it a must-read for all.

Be sure to check out Adria Vasil's website, on Twitter @ecoholicnation, and her weekly column in Now Magazine.

I received this book courtesy of Random House of Canada. The opinions expressed above are purely my own.

"Song of My Heart" by Kim Vogel Sawyer

2012-04-06T12:48:00.000-04:00

Sadie Wagner will do anything for her family so when her stepfather is injured and can no longer work, as the eldest child she decides it is time for her to take on a job. The town of Goldtree, Kansas offers her everything she could ever want - a job as a clerk at the mercantile and the opportunity to become a professional singer at the local opera house. Though the opera house isn't what she thought it would be, she can't risk the money her family needs so she will do anything to keep her job.

Thad McKane is the new sheriff in Goldtree. It's not quite what he wants to do but it will earn him the money he needs for training to become a minister. Goldtree isn't the type of town that would need a sheriff, but it has been plagued by bootlegging operations and the town council wants Thad to find the culprit before word gets out to the people living there.

When Thad and Sadie meet, there is instant attraction. But when Thad hears Sadie practicing the bawdy tunes she sings at the opera house, he begins to wonder if she is as innocent as she seems. And as he does a little digging, he finds that Sadie may be a part of the crimes he is investigating.

Song of My Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a beautiful work of historical Christian fiction. Readers are instantly transported back to a different time and caught up in a different world. It isn't just a simple love story, it has scandal, blackmail, illegal dealings, and enough intricacies to keep the reader turning the pages. Most importantly, it has strong Christian messages that readers can appreciate and relate to.

The best thing about the book is the fabulous characters that make for a very interesting town! Sadie is a girl that everyone will relate to and empathize with, Thad is a dashing suitor, Asa Baxter is a great villain, and twins Melva and Shelva Baxter are a right laugh!

I think it may be time for me to quit saying I'm not a big fan of historical fiction because this is another fantastic offering from the genre. I know that I can at least say I'm now a fan of Kim Vogel Sawyer and will definitely be looking for more of her books.

"Web of Angels" by Lillian Nattel

2012-04-02T13:29:00.004-04:00

On the surface, Sharon Lewis is your average mother. She is the centre of a vibrant house full of three kids and a loving husband. She has a close-knit extended family and lives in a quiet, community-oriented neighbourhood. But Sharon keeps a secret from everyone but her husband.

Everything is going well for Sharon until the day Heather Edwards, a pregnant teenager living down the street, commits suicide. This act, and the fallout from it, has a significant impact on the Lewis family and leads to the unravelling of Sharon's secret - she has DID, dissociative identity disorder. And the multiples who make up Sharon are aware of a secret that exists in Heather Edwards' family, one that threatens the life of Heather's surviving sister.

Web of Angels by Lillian Nattel is a heartbreaking, haunting and beautiful story. It takes the painful and unfortunate reality of evil that exists in this world and deals with it in a kind and loving manner. The character of Sharon is beautifully crafted and obviously well-researched. Nattel has taken DID and made it understandable for those who are not familiar with it.

What was impressive about this book is that it's not about a woman and her DID, it's about a woman who happens to have DID. We are able to view, understand and learn about the disorder in the larger context of a crime happening within a close knit community. Sharon and her multiples are loving, strong and courageous, fighting for what is right at all costs.

This book is full of sensitive topics but covers them in a manner that is not overly graphic. There is a lot to deal with and take in and the weak of heart may have trouble with some of it, but it is an important subject and Nattel's writing tackles the subject in the best way possible.

Web of Angels will most likely challenge your views and preconceptions of DID and open your heart to those who are dealing with it. You will be astonished by the way Nattel is able to take heart-wrenching topics and write them in such a beautiful way. A page-turner for sure, Web of Angels is a must-read.

Thank you to Random House of Canada for providing me with a copy of this book for review. The opinions expressed above are my own and I have received no compensation for this review.

Vacation Time!

2012-03-06T11:15:00.003-05:00

Oh I wish it was that kind of vacation! Due to the illness of everyone in my family except me, my reading has been pretty much non-existent. And it will probably stay that way with March Break coming up next week. So I will be back in about a week and half with more reviews, hopefully until then I can find some bookish things to post about.

"Brooklyn Bites: Vol 1" by Scott Stabile

2012-03-05T09:55:00.003-05:00

Brooklyn Bites by Scott Stabile is a collection of short stories that centre around relationships and incredible, delightful food in Brooklyn, New York. Heart-warming, rich and well-written, these stories will have you smiling at their familiarity and your mouth watering. While they capture the spirit of Brooklyn, New York you don't need to be from the city to make a connection.

In Truffle Fries, a woman and her boyfriend share a steaming plate of truffle fries between them. As the women looks across the table, she sees the man she has loved for the last two years but lately has wanted to push off a cliff. As she lets the truffle fries whisk her away to far and romantic places, minus her boyfriend, she considers what it is she really wants from life.

In A Little Taste of Chocolate, Rick and Shelly wake up hungover to the sounds of the irritating bulldog across the street. As they dread the day ahead in the tough economy that has hit everyone, they share their love along with a little piece of chocolate, a ritual they do every day to make life just a little bit sweeter.

This is a wonderful offering of stories and food, wonderfully combined and brought to life. The voices of the characters are real, their problems relatable and understandable, and the description of the food will have you tasting it in your mouth as you read. This is the first set in the Brooklyn Bites collection and I look forward to reading the next instalment and future ones. The quality and writing of the stories is better than you may expect for self-published work. Short story fans should definitely check these out.

About the Author

Scott Stabile lives and writes in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. He's published a handful of early reader books through Harper Collins (the L'il Pet Hospital series), created a hit true-crime series for the Discovery Network (I Almost Got Away With It), and wrote a feature length children's script that actually turned into a film (The Oogieloves in the BIG Balloon Adventure), which will hopefully brighten the darkness of movie theatres everywhere. He's currently eating his way through New York City and the rest of the world.

His tumblr blog provides a snapshot of Brooklyn's tastiest dishes along with dramatic mini-stories for each.

His Facebook fan page keeps his readers up to date on his works in progress and current favourite restaurants.

"The Beggar's Opera" by Peggy Blair

2012-03-02T11:04:00.003-05:00

Canadian detective Mike Ellis had hoped that the sun and sand of Old Havana, Cuba would help save his troubled marriage. The scars that adorn his face show that Ellis is carrying a lot of baggage and his wife has had enough of it.

Inspector Ricardo Ramirez, head of the Major Crimes Unit of the Cuban National Revolutionary Police, is a respected, intelligent, hardworking man with a beautiful young family. But he is dying from the same form of dementia that killed his grandmother, one that makes him see the ghosts of victims of unsolved murders.

Ellis and Ramirez's paths cross when a young Cuban boy turns up dead. Inspector Ramirez is investigating the crime when he discovers Ellis' wallet on the young boy. Ramirez has only a few days to build the case against Ellis and as he races against the clock, the case takes twists and turns, taking readers on an incredible journey.

The Beggar's Opera by Peggy Blair is a fantastic, fast-paced mystery set in the beautiful landscape of Castro's Cuba. It is engaging, educational and well-researched, full of danger, intrigue, and surprise. This is a novel that will have you immediately wrapped up, wanting to rush to turn the page to find out what happens next yet wanting to slow down to savour every drop of its beauty and richness.

Cuba comes to life in this book. My husband and I were married in Cuba and it holds a special place in my heart. While we didn't stay in Havana and did more of the "tourist resort thing", there were small glimpses of what life is really like for Cubans that were unsettling and difficult to reconcile with Cuba the holiday destination. Blair's book blows these glimpses wide opens and shows exactly what life is like - the embargo's, the law system, the free education that trains you for a job that isn't available, the police corruption, counting soap and pencils as prized possessions - ways that are totally foreign and incomprehensible to Canadians and North Americans. But for all the problems, this book equally shows the beauty of Cuba, its history and most importantly, the Cuban people and their strength and determination.

And through it all, Blair weaves an incredible mystery, one that paints a shocking picture, a mystery that will have you guessing all the way until the end. In terms of style, I greatly appreciated the short chapters of the book, each one with something dangling at the end, you just want to keep turning the page to find out what happens next. I love a book where there isn't a good spot to put it down! Blair uses a few main characters in the book to give the story different dimensions, showing the case from different viewpoints and this richly adds to the layers of the book.

I personally cannot find fault with this book, it is everything I want my mysteries to be. The only thing more thrilling than this book is the fact that there will be more to come! Not only is this a great mystery read, but it will introduce you to a Cuba you have never known before, the Cuba that very few foreign eyes get to see.

Peggy Blair has been a lawyer for more than thirty years. A recognized expert in Aboriginal law, she also worked as both a criminal defence lawyer and Crown prosecutor. She spent a Christmas in Old Havana, where she watched the bored young policemen along the Malecón, visited Hemingway's favourite bars, and learned to make a perfect mojito. A former member of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, Blair is named in the Canadian Who's Who. She lives in Ottawa.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Penguin Canada as part of a blog tour. Check out the other stops on the tour:

The Novel Nation http://thenovelnation.com/
Wicked Little Pixie http://wickedlilpixie.com/
Bookish http://evie-bookish.blogspot.com/
Thrifty Momma’s Tips http://www.thriftymommastips.com/
Serendipitous Readings http://serendipitous-readings.com/
A Bookworm’s World http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/
Just A Lil’ Lost http://justalillost.com/

The Literary Word http://theliteraryword.blogspot.com/

"Ali in Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales" by Ali Wentworth

2012-02-29T13:01:00.003-05:00

You probably know Ali Wentworth from her hilarious days on In Living Color, or her hilarious role as Schmoopie on Seinfeld, or her hilarious appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show. And when you take a look at her life, you'll see it's no wonder she is such a funny woman.

In Ali In Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales, Ali Wentworth shares tales of growing up in a family of political journalists, rebelling against her blue-blood upbringing and moving to Hollywood. She goes from a childhood among Washington's elite to New England prep school to doing sketch comedy in Los Angeles and then back to Washington when she marries political and media sensation George Stephanopoulos and has two little girls.

Ali is honest and funny in this memoir as she shares about her WASP upbringing, the wisdom her non-nonsense and elegant mother imparted in her, and the time she swam around the swimming pool while holding onto the shoulders of Henry Kissinger. She is an amazing story-teller and while you wonder if all of them are true (and the title does warn you of this), you don't care too much because they will have you laughing the whole way through. Her description of childbirth had me laughing so hard, my husband was wondering what was wrong with me (then I shared the story with him and he burst out laughing).

If you are a fan of Ali's, reading this book is like having her sit down for coffee with you. It's like she is telling you the stories rather than you reading them. I thought this was a fantastic book because I am such a fan of Ali's. She is an intelligent and funny woman, which is a great combination. I loved the stories of her childhood. How many of us can say we grew up entertaining world leaders at our parents parties?

If you're looking for a typical autobiography, you're not going to get it with this, as this is more about various, hilarious tales from Ali's life. If you're looking for laughs, you've found the right book. I certainly hope she's saved some tales for another book.

"Spa Wars" by Chris Manby

2012-02-27T10:17:00.002-05:00

Emily Brown is a beauty therapist who has just made the plunge into owning her own business. With a leap of faith and all of her money she has opened up her own salon called The Beauty Spot. But the business is struggling and Emily needs to find a way to gain new clients quick. Carina Lees has just placed second on a wildly popular reality show is looking for a way to turn her fifteen minutes of fame into a permanent spot in the limelight.

One night, on her way to an awards show, Carina suffers a beauty nightmare and pops into The Beauty Spot for emergency treatment. Emily helps her out and Carina is so grateful, that she mentions Emily and her salon at the awards show that night. Overnight, The Beauty Spot is buzzing with new clients, packed appointments and desperate for new staff. But just as things start going better than Emily could have imagined, the salon quickly takes a bad turn. Emily can't figure out why but strange things are happening in the salon and her business is spiralling out of control. Who is trying to sabotage Emily's salon?

Spa Wars by Chris Manby (who also publishes as Chrissie Manby) is a quick, fun book that will interest any woman who enjoys (or dreams of) a day at the spa. It falls into the chick-lit genre but doesn't feel formulaic as you read it and brings something new to the genre, rather than using what it is already there.

I really liked the narration of the book. The entire time I was reading it, I felt like I was listening to the voice over of a show or documentary. It was an added effect that really worked for me. I also love the way the book poked fun at the reality entertainment celebrity world without being overly mean. There were quite a few moments in the book that had me laughing out loud at the absurdity of it all.

The characters are all well-written. You can't help but cheer for Emily and want the best for her. She is exactly the type of person I would want working at the salon when I show up. I even found Carina a bit endearing (just a bit.) As much as she was that annoying reality celeb, you could tell that there was more to her story, something behind her that was driving her to be that way.

While I did feel that the end of the book wrapped up a little too quick and neat, I really enjoyed reading this book. This is the second book I have read by Ms. Manby and I can now say that I am a big fan of her work, and I will definitely be seeking out more of her books in the future.