mammaslibrary

Maybe Read: A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

2012-02-13T11:15:00.000-08:00

In a Nutshell:

The story revolves mostly around three people during the early 1900's in the Midwest. The main character, Catherine Land, answers an ad requesting "a reliable wife" by the second main character, Ralph Truitt. Ralph is a wealthy business man who lives in northern Wisconsin, and who's businesses pretty much employ most of the small and desolate rural town. Though Ralph is successful in business, his private life has been a mess. After 20 years of trying to recover from a horrible past, he places the ad in a paper for "a reliable wife" in hopes to start fresh with a new wife and new life. Part of starting fresh means making amends with his prodigal son, Antonio. Antonio is the third character in the plot. He is a lascivious, good-for-nothing drunkard in St. Louis. The reason for Antonio's hatred and lack of ambition involves his past with Ralph and his previous wife. Antonio blames Ralph for his mother's death 20 years before. He also holds much resentment for mental and physical abuses that Ralph doled out towards him in anger against his unfaithful, selfish wife who ran off with her lover. She left her young son with Truitt and never looked back. These three lives are inextricably intertwined in more ways than one as the story unfolds. You find soon that Catherine is anything but reliable, as her main goal is to slowly kill Ralph and become a rich widow. But what drives this course and the twists and turns that happen afterward are surprising. Swirling all around the three characters are a small, poor town that slowly is infused with it's own tragedies during a long, frigid, heartless Wisconsin winter. The barren wasteland almost becomes a character of it's own, and is meant to describe what hatred, loneliness and sorrow can do to a person without hope or love.

My Take:

The book has some really nice writing at times, and I did love the symbolism of the snowy winter and aligning the weather with what was going on emotionally with the characters. I think the struggle that Catherine feels as she carries out her plans was well developed. It is through that journey mentally that Catherine finds her own hope and grace. I did like that. I also loved the development of Catherine as she related to her younger, troubled sister Alice. When she does finally find Alice and tries to bring her home was the best chapter for me. It showed the reader that there was hope, and a turning point for Catherine's character. Where I felt the story got a little boring and drawn out was all the sex. Now don't laugh! I am not a Puritan! But it takes up most of the book. I understand that the author wanted to show that sex is what drives many a bad decision, especially as it relates to these characters. It also becomes a toxic, obsessive force between Catherine and Ralph. This needs to be illustrated so that you feel the healing transformation between them toward the end of the book. It also is often a way to control others, too, which is also a motive in the book. It just was everywhere and all the time. I just got kind of bored midway through because of it. Things got interesting when Catherine begins to waver in her resolve for murder as she sees Ralph become sick and in pain. Then as Antonio comes to live with them all under the same roof, the story picks up steam.

"It was a story of how the bitter cold gets into your bones and never leaves you, of how the memories get into your heart and never leave you alone, of the pain and the bitterness of what happened to you when you're small and have no defenses but still know evil when it happens...of the life you live in secret, knowing your own pain and the pain of others but helpless to do anything other than the things you do and the end it all comes to." pg. 280

But as depressing and somewhat toxic the whole story is for these people, for some characters there is hope, love and forgiveness in the end. There is for some of these characters, but not all. In that respect the book is painfully honest. The truth is, sometimes I want to escape in my books. Reading is a sort of therapy for me. So it was a little too cold, depressing and chilly as the winter I see outside my own window right now for most of the book. Redemptive as it is in the end, it's a slog wading through the worst parts of humanity to get you there. So if you read this book, I recommend a warm blanket and some comforting tea while doing it.

The Importance of Reading Aloud to Children

2012-02-05T15:56:00.000-08:00

previously posted on urbandomesticdiva.com:

I recently was asked by a wonderful organization called litworld to be one of their brand ambassadors for World Read Aloud Day on March 7th. I was excited and honored. I have been an avid reader my whole life. From when I read my first book by myself to this very day, reading is a therapeutic past time for me- and I love discussing what I read (thus my "mammaslibrary" book review blog). I am asked by other women how I can find time to read!? As busy and stressed as I am, I don't know how I couldn't. Reading is the only way I can wind down before bed, even if it's all of three pages, I have to do it. Reading to me is like a glass of warm milk.

But becoming a WRADvocate for litworld.org has forced me to evaluate my influences in reading from when I was very young. My obsession with books was something I took for granted about myself. When I really stopped and thought about it, however, my parents did not read to me when I was little. They had immigrated here from Italy in the mid 1960s, knowing practically no English. By the time they had me, they only spoke self-taught broken English. So reading to me like other American parents did every night was not happening in my home. So as I answered my WRADvocate profile questions, I became baffled. How did I become such a voracious reader and writer if my poor parents were struggling with the language themselves?

Well, when you hear it takes a village to raise a child, nothing could be more truthful then when it came to my upbringing. Looking back, I can tell you distinctly the first time I was given a book and had someone read aloud to me. It was my father's American cousin and his wife who arrived at our home with a Little Golden Book of Disney's Robin Hood. They read it to me in bed. I had to be 4 years old. It was wonderful and I was hooked. Though my parents' English improved through the years and bought countless books for my sister and I, they still only read to us rarely. It was the wonderful reading time with teachers and the school librarian that fed my hunger for reading. It was an escape for me as it is for all kids. Even as our class moved into chapter books, I remember my third and fourth grade teachers reading aloud to us. They would always stop at a cliffhanger, leaving us wanting more. It was such a great way to introduce us to the intrigue and rewarding perseverance that chapter books provide. It is something I struggle with at home now with my daughter. She finds long chapter books daunting. I am using the "few chapters a night" aloud approach right now to see if it works.

If it wasn't for my father's cousin, my wonderful public school teachers or an extensive local library, I am not sure who would have nurtured my reading skills. I won the school's Young Author's Contest in for both 4th and 5th grade levels! This, from a child whos parents still spoke broken English at home.

It is so very important to support programs to help children read. Children come from all kinds of socio-economic backgrounds and reading support may not always come from home, no matter how good a parent's intentions are. It does take a village to keep kids reading and writing. And we need to help make sure those supporting literacy get the resources they need to help children. After all, we may have the next Hemingway out there!

Think about the children in your neighborhood, or around the globe. And especially your own children. Read to them often. Take them to the library with a big old tote bag to fill. Create your own family "book club" (see my post on this great idea). Urge your school or parish to run a book drive to support a local used book shop or library. Donate or raise funds as a community service project for organizations such as litworld.org.

And for litworld's World Read Aloud Day, plan a cool event at your local library, child's school, scouting troop or just at home with your family! Litworld.org has great downloads, ideas and kits to print and use to make that day reader-ific! Or simply, take ten minutes on March 7th with your kids, grab some books and read aloud. It's the best gift you can give them. I am living proof of that.

In honor of my father's cousin, Vito, who with his wife, was the first person to read aloud to me. We lost Vito to colon cancer on New Years 2012. He holds a special place in my heart, always.

About litworld

LitWorld is a 501C3 nonprofit organization led by Executive Director Pam Allyn, a renowned literacy educator and advocate. We work to cultivate literacy leaders worldwide through transformational literacy experiences that build connection, understanding, resilience and strength. LitWorld joins together with teachers, parents, community members, and children to support the development of sustainable literacy practices across the world.

Literacy is the foundation for emotional and physical well-being, intellectual growth, and economic security. The right to read and write is a fundamental human right and belongs to all people.

Worldwide at least 793 million people remain illiterate. Two-thirds of them are women. All over the world, children are hungry for learning and for the power it brings. Research shows that children learn to read and write best by writing and telling the stories of their own experiences. Yet it is rare to find safe spaces where children feel fully comfortable to do so.

LitWorld is changing that.

MUST READ: Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman

2012-01-23T10:01:00.000-08:00

In a Nutshell:
This book revolves around 2 main characters; Beattie and Emma. Beattie is Emma's deceased grandmother, a wealthy Australian businesswoman and fashion mogul who doted on Emma. Emma is a London prima ballerina who has an accident and ruins her knee. Her leg is so damaged she cannot dance anymore. She decides to fly home to recover and figure out what she should do with the rest of her life. It is there that her mother tells her that there was a part in Beattie's will, only to be read when Emma retired from dancing. The will bequeaths Beattie's original farm and land in Tasmania to Emma to do with what she wants, but only after she has spent 6 months on the property. Emma goes down there, but while Emma is cleaning out the old farmhouse to sell, she discovers letters, photos and a mystery. It seems that Beattie had a whole life before even Emma's mother was born. You are privy to some of that story as the reader, because as you get acquainted with Emma, the story goes back in time a lot to Beattie. Beattie's life story is a tumultuous beginning of some bad choices during the depression in Glasgow. She becomes pregnant and runs a way with her lover to Tasmania. Through domestic trials and drama, she ends up on a large sheep farm called Wildflower Hill as a maid. It is there she makes one brave move to change her fortune-and future-forever.

My Take:
I was still going through Kate Morton withdrawal when I saw this at Target. It had a Kate Morton review on the front, and it so happens, the two authors are friends. It seems that Kimberly Freeman has been a sort of mentor to Kate. Kimberly Freeman has been writing for a long time, just under different names. At any rate, this book was like a sweet cup of hot chocolate. The two main characters suck you in, especially Beattie. Beattie was so well developed, her story so dramatic, strong and tragic. I cried through the whole last 30 pages. I finished this book in one week. I drank it all up at once. Emma's story was a little more pedestrian, a little more "Bridget Jone's Diary"-ish, kind of expected...from the love story angle to her involvement with a special needs dance group she is asked to help. In contrast, Beattie's life takes on all unexpected twist and turns. The two parallel yet similar lives add some nice tension in the story and play off one another brilliantly. After all, they are inextricably tied by blood and history. The story is a wonderful homage to love and motherhood. It tells a bittersweet story of what we as mothers sacrifice in love for our children. It's also about finding love in unexpected places, and to be ready and open to it when it shows up. It is also about strength and courage in the face of complete hatred, bigotry and lack of compassion. I loved it. I now am going through Kimberley Freeman withdrawal!

MAYBE READ: House at Riverton by Kate Morton

2012-01-22T08:32:00.000-08:00

In A Nutshell:

This was Kate Morton's first novel, and it seemed inspired in many ways by the classic masterpiece theatre series, "Upstairs, Downstairs." a tangled, sweeping drama where the army of servants and a web of affluent British aristocracy lead parallel yet intermingled lives. The story spans from Victorian England, through WWI, to the roaring 20's. However, it is told to you by an aging grandmother living in the 20th century, who needs to unburden her secrets and guilt to her son. Her secrets come from the time she was a very young servant in the Riverton estate. It was there that she meets and works for the Hartford children; Hannah, Emmeline and David. She also meets Robert Hunter, a friend of David's, who later in life becomes a famous poet and kills himself on the estate during a party. The only witnesses of the apparent suicide are Emmeline and Hannah, and they never spoke to each other after the tragedy. As Grace, the main character who is now 90 years old and in a nursing home, works with a movie director who is recreating the story of the "famous tragedy" at the House at Riverton her memories and guilt come back full force. Things that she long wanted to keep secret now need to be told, and she tells them..and you are along for the journey.

My Take:
As I said, this was Kate Morton's first novel. It was interesting for me to kind of go backwards with her writing. I read The Forgotten Garden first, than The Distant Hours. You can really see the growth in writing and prose from her later books to this first one. That being said, it is not a bad read. It just kind of felt a little cliche for me. The typical Upstairs-Downstairs/Gosford Park characters and intrigue is there. You have an aging grandmother that goes back to the estate to relive her memories and validate history for a movie director working on a film about the tragedy (sounds a little like Titanic?). There was even a little guilt from a wrong done and unresolved WWI love story in there like Atonement. However, all in all, it was not that it was unenjoyable at all. I like the genre, so it worked for me. I think knowing the ending with Robert Hunter's death at the very beginning took away from the dramatic reveal of the guilty secret at the end. If you are in withdrawal from some Kate Morton, it does the trick. If you want to get started on some Kate Morton, I recommend The Distant Hours. That, I think, is her best book to date.

Mayor Emanuel, Keep your Hands off my Library. Thank You.

2012-01-21T14:46:00.000-08:00

Irony is when you are asked to become a brand ambassador for a worldwide literacy organization, and asked to plan an event for worldwide reading day...

and you find that literacy is soon to become a luxury in your own back yard!

A couple months ago I was asked by litworld.org to become Chicago's World Read Aloud Day brand ambassador. I was floored, honored and excited. I was tasked to plan a fundraising and awareness event, big or small, for March 7th.

One of my ideas involved a library, so I went to visit my regional public library, Sulzer. They have a great storytime room and my daughter and I just love milling around and filling our tote bags with treasured books. After talking to one of the librarians, I was sad and frustrated.

She told me that the Mayor, due to budget short falls, has cut staff and hours. She said they are now closed on Mondays and they have laid off about 20 people over the past two months. She said that basically, the way the hours are being handled, they have to work 6 days but are really only getting paid 5. Meanwhile, they don't even have enough bodies to keep up with getting books back on the shelf (I noticed carts and carts of books in aisles, waiting to get put back.), let alone doing any kind of community outreach which they always felt was important, including children's story hour!

In the first nine months of this year, the Chicago Public Library system offered 15,228 children's programs, serving 418,055 children of all ages, according to Dempsey. Librarians also made 740 visits to area schools to talk to teachers and students about what they can offer. But with fewer librarians, those programs will likely shrink. Reducing morning hours also closes the library at a time of day popular with young children, according to Lynn Elam, president of the Illinois Library Association. Elam said helping children get a jump-start on school through reading is a big part of what libraries do. (Chicago Tribune, 10-25-2011)

"Emanuel's budget also includes funding cuts that would slash full-time public library staff by 32 percent--and that comes on top of a 10 percent staff cut in 2010. The mayor's proposal would also cut eight hours a week from the branches' hours of operation. Such cuts would have far-reaching effects: Chicago Public Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey pointed out, for example, that library branches had over 8.3 million visitors--and that 60 percent of people using library computers were using them to search for jobs." (Chicago Tribune, 10-25-2011)

Ok. I get it. The economy stinks. All cities have had to make cuts to balance budgets that never can seem to be balanced. But what I take issue with is Mayor Emmanuel giving breaks where they arguably are not needed (in fact, taxes actually fund the city. We're going to have a $635.7 million deficit this year?) and social programs that citizens count on, such as the local library, is getting screwed.

"For example, according to NBC Chicago blog "Ward Room," "When the General Assembly's fall veto session begins...Mayor Rahm Emanuel's legislative priority will be securing a tax cut for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME)." Emanuel is seeking $120 million in tax breaks for the CME and the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Emanuel is also pressing for an ordinance that would cut taxes for 2,700 Chicago-based companies at a cost to the city of $23 million. Companies with more than 50 workers are taxed $4 per worker per month, and Emanuel is aiming to abolish the tax completely by 2014". (socialistworker.org, 2011-11-10)

So here I am, trying to plan an event to help children globally with literacy and reading. And it seems that even though children in Africa need books and resources, there will soon be many children in my own city that I love, in the United States of America, that are going to need this event as much as any child across the globe.

I will let you know what event gets solidified, but sadly, it won't be at a Chicago Public Library.

If you wish to write the mayor's office, here is the form:
http://webapps.cityofchicago.org/eforms/org/cityofchicago/eforms/controller/contactUsForm/preFeedbackForm.do

Sources:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/8156275-418/emanuel-to-cut-chicago-libraries-hours.html
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2012/0112/Rahm-Emanuel-and-public-sector-union-play-hardball-over-Chicago-library-hours
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-10-25/news/ct-met-library-cuts-focus-20111025_1_chicago-public-library-library-employees-library-services

VIDEO: The magic of a REAL book.

2012-01-17T12:35:00.000-08:00

Digital readers can do a lot, but they can't do this:

Here's to the hope that real books will still be around well after I am dead and gone!

Must Read: The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

2011-11-06T07:15:00.001-08:00

In a Nutshell:
I was introduced to Kate Morton's writing when I picked up The Forgotten Garden. Her writing was reminiscent of the Bronte sisters, with a sprawling family drama that spanned as far back as the ruined castles and estates that seem to be the backdrop for her stories. I really enjoyed it, and when I found The Distant Hours, I couldn't resist. Morton's Gothic Victorian style is alive and well in The Distant Hours. A tired, moldy castle whispers secrets of the distant hours of the Blythe family. At the center of the Blythe family legacy...and intrigue...is Raymond Blythe. A father of three girls and an author of a classic thriller called "The Mudman", he rules his family with a needy, jealous love even well beyond the grave. The story jumps generationally, where you meet the Blythe sisters in their advanced years as old spinster sisters sitting in their dusty castle and then go back during the war while the sisters were young women, and through memories even touch on the sisters as they were children. Gradually you peel away the layers of secrets and drama that the main characters have layered around them. Love, affairs, mental instability, scandal, deception, murder, heartbreak; its all in here. And the main character who you are on the sleuthing journey with is Edith Burchill.

Edith works in publishing in London and discovers her pedestrian mother had kept a secret for years from her and her father. A letter shows up on a normal Sunday from 30 years ago that causes Edith's very composed mother to sob and break down. She doesn't tell anyone why she is so upset, instead is very secretive. Edith, concerned and curious, looks at the return address, thus beginning her journey that draws her to the castle and the sisters Blythe.

Meridith and Edith are connected to the castle and the Blythe family by WWII. Edith's mother, Meridith, was an evacuee from London during World War II and lived at the castle for over a year. Meridith becomes best friends with the youngest Blythe sister, Juniper, and is introduced to writing as a career with the whispering castle that was the backdrop for "The Mudman" as inspiration. This time in Meridith's life she kept secret from her family, and did not want to remember it. Edith wants to know why her mother is behaving this way, and starts her journey to find out. As Edith uncovers all the secrets of Middlehurst Castle, she strengthens her own self esteem and resolve, as well as grows her relationship with her own mother. She also becomes the catalyst for the Blythe sister's closure with their own pasts.

My Take:

There is a lot to like in this book. The description of the castle and area is engrossing. The layers of secrets you uncover with Edith, little by little, make you want to stay up late into the night to figure out the next connection. Morton weaves clues so beautifully nuanced that you are putting things together even before Edith does, and hoping down the road that your guess is right. The tangled relationships that Morton describes is also very engaging. I especially enjoyed Edith's relationship with her mother. It was so real. Daughters often have tenuous relationships with their mothers. It is often very true that daughters don't really see their Mothers as people that had lives, dreams and adventures before they were born. There is often an invisible barrier that is there, and as Edith's mother starts opening up to who she is and breaking down that barrier, Edith begins to understand and accept her. They become closer for it.

The other layer of genius...you can call it almost meta, is the story within a story. The story of "The Mudman" is shared in snippets, but the first chapter is what launches the whole story at the very beginning. It is totally engrossing and beautifully written. And it is the center point of the whole Blythe story. Morton should almost write "The Mudman" in it's entirety as a sequel! I would read it. This "mudman", in many ways, is what has destined the sisters Blythe to all their various fates. Their aging, sad, dusty story is beautifully woven and revealed. You feel sadness, love and anger for all of them at various times in the book. What a tangled web they wove.

My only complaint about the book is the ending. I don't want to spoil anything. I will just say that it ends somewhat poetically, then an afterword continues where the multitude of loose ends get tied for you, the reader only (not Edith, mind you, who you have been on this sleuthing journey with the whole time.) I am not sure why it was handled in this way. It almost looks as if the editors wanted more and Morton wanted to end it her way, so this was the compromise? It felt weird and disjointed from the rest of the writing. I felt like there could have been a way to tie some loose ends within the flow of the story and call it a day. But you read for yourself and form your own opinion. I had to pay an extra 60 cents for my library book returned late so I could finish it, and I was disappointed in the ending. Was it worth 60 cents as a whole? Abso-frickn-lutely. As the nights get colder, this is the perfect book to keep you warm at night. Trust me.

I also am going through ancient English castle withdrawal now so I promptly checked out The House At Riverton by Morton too! (stay tuned)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

MUST READ: The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

2011-02-02T15:30:00.000-08:00

In a Nutshell:

First of all, I chuckle to myself about trying to boil down roughly 700 pages to "a nutshell". This is a long book. Which is why it has been a bit since I posted a review, so I apologize. This book is a rich mystery that keeps you guessing as each chapter gives you clues and revelations to the plot. The book spans 5 generations of a family, and each chapter continues the story of that character in that time period. It is in that way, bouncing back and forth, the story is woven and tied together. The mystery revolves around Nell, a woman who as a child of four, was abandoned at the dock in Brisbane, Australia. She was told by "The Authoress" not to reveal her name or where she was from. Being a dutiful child, she obeys. The dock master finds her and brings her home. With his wife, they raise her as their own, giving her the name, Nell.

Nell grows up and does not remember being abandoned, and lives a happy life until her father, burdened by guilt, tells her the truth. He shows her the little suitcase she had with her on the dock which held some clues to her history. These clues set in motion Nell's own search for her parents and family. She gets partway on her search, when she finds she is needed more at home caring for her grand daughter, Cassandra. Cassandra grows up with Nell, unknowing of Nell's secret or the reason for Nell's melancholy. She also lives a somewhat happy life with her grandmother. When Nell dies, Cassandra surprisingly discovers that Nell left her a cottage in Cornwall, England. Cassandra had no idea that Nell had anything to do with England or had other property. She also finds Nell's little suitcase and notebook where Nell kept notes on her search for her parents.

Cassandra feels the need to go to Cornwall and pick up the investigation where Nell left off. And gradually, the mystery of the poor little girl on the dock and the cursed Mountrachet family, who "wanted things they shouldn't or couldn't have" is told. You soon discover who "The Authoress" is and why she lived away from the Mountrachets (tucked in a little corner of their estate) where a hedged maze took it's visitor to a secret, walled garden outside the cottage where she lived. You get to know the characters and the seaside town that add pieces to the story as well as a textural background for the scenery and descriptions. And in the center of it all are the greedy, avaricious Mountrachets themselves. And for them, you bounce back in time to the lush, rich time period of Victorian England. And as a bonus are the fairy tales that "The Authoress" writes, which underpin the whole tale. They are used to transition to and from time generation leaps as well as give you clues to the mystery or to motivations. Phew, I think that does it.

My Take:

I did enjoy this book. I was drawn to it from the beginning, with its lush, overgrown garden on the front cover. It reminded me of The Secret Garden I read as a child. And surprisingly, there is a little cameo of the author of that book in this story, as the walled garden becomes an inspiration to her to write The Secret Garden. I did like that. The jumping from time period and generation to generation is done smooth as silk at times, and other times, it is jarring and hard to follow. I like how Ms. Morton used the fairy tales from "The Authoress" to strategically help some of that. I wonder too, if it was meant to be a little jarring. As Nell and Cassandra find out their bits and pieces that they have to weave together to put their whole life story together, we are on that same journey with them. There are a few characters I found a little underdeveloped, I have to say it revolved around the men in the story. They seemed very tertiary, almost non-existent compared to the women. It seemed the women held a lot of the story and...the power...if you will. I read a few reviews complaining of a love story line that seemed thrown in there for the sake of perhaps selling more books. I'm not sure I agree. Cassandra is on her own journey to heal and find herself, and in finding Nell's heritage, she does just that. Both women, throughout their lives, seemed to be living half lives. The mystery that was over them, whether they knew it or not, forced them to not really live their lives to their fullest potential. Cassandra begins to blossom in the garden and the love that grows between her and Christian seemed right to me. And really this is a love story between two cousins, Eliza and Rose, where Eliza loves her cousin like a sister, and would have done anything for her, and pretty much does. That relationship I enjoyed very much. Are there parts of this story that seem a little cliché, as if pulled from lots of other Victoriana novels and children's tales? Yes, sometimes. But if its a good winter read you are looking for that wraps you up in an overgrown-garden canopy for a few cold months where you can just enjoy the ride...wrap yourself up in this one.

MUST READ: Letter to my Daughter by Maya Angelou

2010-10-31T19:44:00.000-07:00

In a Nutshell:
I heard Dr. Angelou being interviewed about this book on a radio talk show, and I was intrigued to purchase it for myself. But before I could get it for me, a dear friend Kathleen's (writer extraordinaire) birthday came first, so I gave it to her as a gift. Well, Kathleen knew I was interested in reading it so after she finished it she lent it to me! It was a gift that kept giving! Why was I so intrigued? Well, first....it's Maya Angelou. If you are not familiar, read "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" or some of her poetry, and you will be amazed. What that woman does with the English language is not of this earth. And secondly was the tact of this book itself. This is a collection of memories, poems, speeches and letters from Maya Angelou to pretty much all women. Dr. Angelou has a son, but not a daughter. This book is to all women, whom she sees as her daughters. The book takes on a matriarchal tone as each chapter hits on specific topics or moment's in a women's life that Dr. Angelou has a memory, a thought or an opinion about. She shares these writings, sometimes very personal and emotional, in a way to teach, connect and inspire all women. The chapters are all very short, the longest maybe being 4 pages. They are put together in somewhat chronological way or relateable so that the rhythm of the read is smooth and connected even though each chapter is about something different.

My Take:
Well, I struggled to say MUST read or MAYBE read. But I settled on MUST for a few reasons, One, though I have finished the book two weeks ago, some chapters are still staying with me. They pop in my head here and there, urging me to think about things. This book has some staying power, and I think that's what Dr. Angelou wanted her "daughters" to do. Think. I did wish more of her gorgeous narrative writing came through more. Some chapters were a little stilted, and I was not sure why some chapters were in there at all. Towards the middle and end, it felt like some chapters were there to fill the book up. But all that being said, there are parts that will make you cry, and move you. There is a poem called Condolences that I copied and will save. Someday, I know I will need to give it to somebody and it was so very heart wrenching, calming and beautiful. I hope it will add comfort to someone that may need it someday. The way she describes her mother and her grandmother, you just want to go have some coffee and southern pie with all of them. What an incredible family structure Dr. Angelou had that made her who she is today. I hope someday they do make a movie about her and her life, but I don't know if they could even boil it down to a Lord of the Rings 3 1/2 hour flick! There is too much this woman has gone through, learned and done in one lifetime. In the end, she decided to share bits of it with us, her daughters. And I thank her.

To learn more about Dr. Angelou, go to her website!

MUST READ: Dracula in Love by Karen Essex

2010-08-22T08:54:00.000-07:00

This post will also be featured on my lifestyle blog, UrbanDomesticDiva.com

In a Nutshell:
First of all, to keep things transparent, I was asked to write this review by Random House. I was absolutely honored and have enjoyed Karen Essex before, so it was a good fit for me. The funny thing is, I am not a "Dracula" kind of person. In fact, a review I wrote a few years back was on "The Historian" which was another Dracula book I could not stand. I also was a little skeptical regarding this book. With the whole "Twilight bandwagon", I had to ask myself if Ms. Essex was just riding the coat tails of the trend? Well, I can tell you that this book is more about revisiting the original Dracula story than anything else, in a way that has never been done before. In way that was very provocative, creative and, well...dare I say...way sexy.

This book is based on the original story of Dracula written by Bram Stoker. But don't assume too much here. Ms. Essex takes a completely different look at the story and turns certain things on it's head for distinct reasons-but I will get to that below. So to be fair to the author, I decided to brush up on the original Dracula tale with some Spark Notes before I dove into Dracula in Love. It was well worth it, and I think I enjoyed the read even more because of it.

The original story of Dracula was a commentary on not only the modern world encroaching on the old, traditional world-thus making Victorian Society (i.e. men) very uncomfortable. But it was also a "watch out" to Victorian society for sexualized women. Beyond the horror and thrilling story of Dracula was a commentary on women-and that sexuality in women was dangerous. Sexualized, independent women could ruin a man's life. As women began awakening to their "freedoms", they were a threat to the steady, predictable fabric of acceptable society. Science and technology was also doing that-but women were as well. And they were easier to control as well as a perfect scapegoat for all this change. It is important to keep that in mind as you read this novel.

The cast of characters are the same, with Mina being the main character. Mina is a school teacher, engaged to the lawyer, John Harker. John Harker goes to close a real estate deal for a mysterious Count overseas, and that is where Harker meets the "she devils" that seduce him and as he says, try and kill him. There is also Lucy (Mina's best friend) and Lucy's ailing mother, as well as Lucy's three suitors. There is also the legendary Dr. Von Helsinger, and of course, Count Dracula himself. The cast is the same, but their motives, actions and personalities are all different. The story is told solely by Mina. And even as she begins her story in her words she basically refers to the original story that we know as a sham, and plans to tell you the way in which things really happened.

"Unlike most people whose lives remain private, my story has been written by another, sold for money, and offered to the public for entertainment. The author of the fiction claims to be above reproach because his records are "exactly contemporary". But these "records" are falsified documents, based on lies of a cabal of murderers desperate to conceal their dark deeds. The true story remains a secret–my secret–and with good reason. Reader, you are about to enter a world that exists simultaneously with your own. But be warned: in its realm, there are no rules, and there is certainly no neat formula to become–or destroy–one who has risen above the human condition. " (prologue)

To that end, there is also a tertiary character, a sensationalist newspaper man, that is gently woven through the story. He is the character that perhaps causes the known Dracula horror story to grab hold, just to sell more papers. This helps gives reason as to why you would believe the tale you are now reading versus the last one by Stoker. Many of the major events unfold very similar to the original story, except that Lucy is not seduced by Dracula, nor does she become a vampire. Her tale is more real, more sad, and more true to what many women had to deal with during this time period. In sharp contrast is Mina's story, complete with magic, mysticism, love and empowerment.

My Take:
It took me a little bit to get into, but let me clarify. Out of the gate, it grabs you at 100 miles an hour. Page one, Mina is sleepwalking and gets assaulted and almost raped in the first few pages of the book. The writing is so descriptive-the situation so horrible-that it is quite a fast paced page turner. Then things slow down for a bit after, particularly when Mina is in the quiet, seaside town of Whitby with Lucy. But when Mina goes to her fiance's bedside overseas until the very end, things get really interesting. Toward the last half of the book, I pulled a couple of all nighters, it was so good I could not put it down! I love a read like that (though my dark circles don't!) I really liked quite a few things about this book that give this novel merit in the halls of "Dracula" interpretations. First, it is very sexual. And it should be-considering that is what the main basis was for the original book of Dracula. Mina awakens to many things in herself, but especially to her sexuality. A few times, I needed a cold shower after reading. Some of the scenes in here were really sensual and erotic, yet beautifully written so that it did not feel like a cheesy romance novel.

But beyond the sex, I love that Dracula was not a monster, per say. He was still an immortal being, and the drinking of blood was a powerful thing that should only be shared with other immortals–or someone you wanted to become immortal by having the human drink the immortal's blood. The latter is described as a very dangerous thing because most mortals can't survive the transition and usually die. Dracula, though powerful and able to kill, only killed when he had to–mostly to protect Mina. Mina often refers to him as her "savior" and her "companion". Dracula brought Mina to her real self, protected her, took care of her and awakened her freedoms and her sexuality. Bram Stoker was against much of this. In the original Dracula story, he made Mina an asexual being in his story and way too "Pollyanna". She was "good" and a perfect example of the ideal Victorian woman. In contrast was Lucy, a flirtatious woman with three suitors, and admitted to wanting to marry all of them! Stoker kills her off because she gives into her sexual side by giving into Dracula-thus her more carnal desires.
This scenario was in need of refreshing. We all know now that women can be true to themselves, that it is healthy to be a sexual being and to rejoice in our freedoms. So who are the real monsters here? Victorian men who wish to squelch a woman's spirit? Men that use them and prevent them from being who they are–or Dracula? Ahh, this is the paradox that Ms. Essex brings to life in a very gripping manner. I really liked how she turned this whole story upside down. The real monsters were most of the human men of this time period. When Mina (and Lucy) begin to show too much free thinking and independence-they become forced patients of the Bedlam insane asylum. It is here that Von Helsinger runs awful experiments. One such experiment is the infusion of male blood into women to make them (what he thinks) mentally superior and overall better. But without the knowledge of blood types, Von Helsinger kills Lucy because the blood they transfuse was incompatible. Ms. Essex writes the actual process in such a way that describes that this blood violation–this blood draining by these men–was the real crime here. For example, Lucy describes the blood experiment in her letter to Mina as she begs for help to escape:

"Von Helsinger...directing the men how to touch me...When Arthur isn't taunting me, they are completely silent as they stroke and kiss me all over my body. I can hear their heavy breaths breaking the awful silence in the room. I cannot tell you the state of self-disgust this invokes in me. When Von Helsinger feels that my body is ready, he takes my naked arm and makes an incision into which he inserts a tube with a central rubber bulb for pumping. Then he rolls up the sleeve of my donor..." pg. 180

This experiment eventually killed Lucy. A sexual violation, and a blood transfer, but not Dracula. Something far worse and more sinister.

So if you are in the mood for a steamy, slightly "women's lib" approach to the Dracula story with a little bit of fairy tale mixed in, than pick this book up! I found myself sad when the book ended, but I have a glimmer of hope that Ms. Essex is not done. There are elements in the ending that made it seem like there might be more to this saga. I hope so. I would like to visit Mina and her Count again. Thank you Random House for giving me the opportunity to read it. I am not sure I would have on my own, and it was worth it!

Great online book recommender-"The Book Seer"

2010-07-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

This online app I think is simple and fun in tone. The great thing is you put in the last book you read and it's author, and it combines Amazon recos with librarything, and gives you a list of similar styles, authors and genres that you might like as well. Other engines just give you a list of that same author's books. But you may wish to discover a new author, and this simple online app will have you do just that. For instance, I typed in March: a Novel, by Geraldine Brooks, and it gave the the following list to try. Give it a try yourself and see what it recommends for you!

http://bookseer.com/

MUST READ LIST: Top Ten Books from Living Female Authors

2010-07-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

Hello my fellow bibilophiles! Recently, I was forwarded a great article on the top ten reads authored by "the fairer sex" which I included a link to here.
http://flavorwire.com/104195/required-reading-10-women-writers-we-love

I would add Maya Angelou FOR SURE, as well as;
Sarah Dunant, Annie Proulx, and Isabel Allende, just to name a few.

And a fellow bibiolphile friend whom I respect very much, Addie, added Julie Orringer, author of How to Breath Underwater and The Invisible Bridge, and Alice Munro too.

Happy Summer reading!

MUST READ: Sand Daughter by Sarah Dunant

2010-07-12T11:09:00.001-07:00

In a Nutshell:

This book tells the story of the first crusades, lead by a group of French nobles called the Knights Templar. The story is told from a few perspectives, but mainly two main characters; A Sheik's Muslim daughter named Kalidah, and her childhood male friend named Bilal. These two start out in the story as characters of no real power or importance, but end up being part of the Sultan's inner circle of advisers. They begin as part of a nomadic tribe caught in the middle of a subtle family power struggle. To resolve the struggle, Kalidah is set to wed her cousin and unite her tribe. Kalidah runs away that night because this was a fate she did not want. Bilal thinks he is in love with Kalidah, and secretly follows her as she escapes. In doing so, he has a completely different adventure that leads him to his own destiny-mainly the Sultan's army and a touching relationship with a male lover (one of the Sultan's sons).

Meanwhile, there is a larger war brewing as the "Franj" (French) have taken over the holy city of Jerusalem, and the native people are not happy. To combat the invaders, the Sultan is unifying all the Middle Eastern tribes to fight against the Europeans, and Kalidah's tribe is not sure if they will join the fighting. Kalidah does not wish to marry her cousin, and the night of her wedding, runs away with one of her uncle's servant who tells her that there is a plot to kill her. Following her heart - and a complete stranger- she and this young man, Sulayman, escape. They begin a long adventure through the ancient Middle East as they run away from her evil cousin as well as journey toward uncovering the mysteries of Kalidah's (and her Mother's) past. The adventure takes you through ancient history, nomadic culture and even a little mysticism and magic-not to mention some love stories and battles.

My Take:

Ooo was this GOOD! This book has many layers of storytelling and messaging. I think the big picture message I took away was pretty much summed up on the acknowledgement page where the author writes, "For an end to the crusades." Underneath the story of Kalidah's and Bilal's adventures and relationships is a greater message of understanding and acceptance of other cultures and religions. It is ever so subtle, but it is there. The crusades were pretty much the beginning of the conflicts that are still going on today in the Middle East. The ripple affect of a Western culture invading another country and forcing their beliefs and way of life on another is still being felt. But it doesn't stop there. Dunant craftily sheds the light of hypocrisy on both sides of the conflict. For instance, Kalidah at one point is condemning the invasion of Jerusalem by the French to a friend and healer they met on their journey. This wise man, named Ghassan, asks Kalidah why she feels so sure about her righteousness-and then explains to Kalidah...

"Jerusalem was already two thousand years old when King David "founded" it. He took it from the Jebusites, who had no doubt taken it from someone else. And after him it passed to the Assyrians, then the Babylonians, Alexander of Macedon, Ptolemy, the Seleucids, the Maccabees, the Romans, the Byzantines, and then-only then-the Muslims. We are a mere scratch on the surface of that great city; a scratch no longer or deeper perhaps than the Franj, in Allah's grand scheme. For if Allah has willed our existence, then He has willed theirs, too."

As I mentioned, moments of socio-political commentary is very subtle in this story. Above it are tangled relationships a tribal culture creates that add many surprises in the book. Surprises of paternity, old love affairs, new love affairs and many secrets. Kalidah is a character that grows and develops to a kind of warrior princess by the end of the story-which sounds a little cliche. But Dunant builds the story to that inevitable climax in a way that is quite believable. Her grasp on the history of this time in the Middle East is formidable, as well as her understanding of life and hardships of the tribes of that time. It was a very fun, educational and thought provoking read. And I, too, hope that someday, there will be an end to the crusades.

MUST READ: March: A novel by Geraldine Brooks

2010-03-13T11:19:00.000-08:00

In a Nutshell:

Many of you out there read the wonderful classic of the March girls in Little Women. If you recall, their father goes off to help in the civil war and leaves the family for a year. Then towards the end of the book, Marmee needs to run to Washington because they have news that their father is gravely ill in an army hospital. He does return home after some time to his family, but he plays a very small role in the book. What Geraldine Brooks has done is tell a tale of what Mr. March goes through as an army chaplain during the war. She tells of his brushes with danger with confederates, his past as an abolitionist, his life as a peddler during his youth, his stay at a cotton farm with freed slaves, etc. The other piece of the March puzzle is his marriage to Marmee, which Geraldine brings to life in this book. For most of this she uses historic records of Louisa May Alcott's father as base to start. Little Women is somewhat based on her own family, and Geraldine deduced that her father was probably the fictitious Mr. March. Coupling that with historic records of the war, and adding first hand understanding of relationships and love, and you have a rich, thorough story.

My Take:

I was very intrigued by the premise of this book. Little Women was a favorite of mine. As I began reading, I was quickly sucked into the rough and tumble war-life that Mr. March was thrown in the middle of. It is a stark contrast from the lives his "Little Women" were living in Concord. Geraldine weaves past and present events adeptly to give you a deep understanding of Mr. March as a person with all his failings. She really

brings to life his relationships with his wife and with others around him, including a few slaves. What I liked was the raw and "imperfect" take she gives Mr. March. It is such a difference from Little Women where the girls were a little "goody-goody" and Marmee could have been canonized! I also like her "real" approach to the March marriage, complete with infidelities, misunderstandings, jealousies and forgiveness. She also weaves some other historic characters in the story, like the authors Wordsworth and Thoreau. Through records, it was a fact that Mr. Alcott was friends with these writers as well as other abolitionists. They add some texture to the story, not to mention the slaves Mr. March comes to know and help. You could say this book is the "grown up" version of Little Women. It was a great winter read.

Must Read: Leonardo's Swans by Karen Essex

2010-02-05T20:59:00.000-08:00

In a nutshell:
This is historical fiction that takes place in the time of -you guessed it, Leonardo DaVinci. It is told from the viewpoint of two sisters, Isabella and Beatrice Este. Beatrice become the Duchess of Milan through marrying the famous & powerful Duke of Milan-Il Moro. Isabella become the wife of Francesco Gonzaga and princess of neighboring Mantua. Political tug of war in Northern Italy is the crux of this story, told through these two sisters, who like many sisters, love yet compete with each other. Through all this political unease are tales of love, jealousy, loss, and art. In the middle of all this is Leonardo DaVinci-the symbol of enlightenment and intelligence in the Renaissance. The Duke was a major patron of Leonardo and through all this drama are birthed Leonardo's masterpieces. He plays the muse & jester through this whole story while creating the masterpieces we know of today.

My Take:
This is truly an engrossing story. I really enjoyed the portrayal of DaVinci. Also, the relationship between Beatrice and Isabella was complex and developed, as was Beatrice's relationship with her husband, the Duke of Milan. After reading this book, I found myself wanting to look through some art history books to review some of DaVinci's pieces that were described in the book.

Must Read: The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

2010-01-24T21:04:00.001-08:00

In a Nutshell:
This book revolves around a main character, flanked by a whole cast of some very interesting supporting characters. At the center of the story is 27 year old Josey, a sheltered woman who is "held captive" emotionally by her mother in the biggest, richest house in town. She has spent her adult years caring for and carting her mother around out of guilt for her bad behavior as a child. Her connection to the outside world is a handsome mailman who she secretly falls in love with. Her way to escape her claustrophobic life is to eat her hidden sweets in her bedroom when her Mom isn't looking. But her life takes a turn when a strange woman named Della Lee arrives in her closet and won't leave. She and Della start a relationship that not only helps Josey to reconnect with her stifled hopes and passions, but also drives Josey crazy. As Josey ventures out into the snow-filled mountain town to connect with people, she becomes friends with some great characters, and has some adventures of her own. As the tie between Josey and her mother starts to break, her mother even experiences a reawakening of her own dreams and passions.

My Take:

If there is one thing I like in a winter read is a good fairy tale. And if it's one thing this author does well is tell a good fairy tale. She weaves in a little bit of Southern magic in all her stories, and this one is no exception. The story revolves around a fictional ski resort town in the North Carolina mountains that adds a "snow globe" kind of backdrop for our cast of characters. This snowy world just adds to the texture and magic of the writing. In this snowy town, Sarah Allen delves into the complex relationships of some characters in the area. The tenuous relationship between mother and daughter is explored, as well as the hero worship some daughters feel for their fathers. Female self-esteem is explored, as well as sisterly love-literally and figuratively. And of course, love and jealousy is at the heart of it all. Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. I finished it in 3 days! It was a very light, "sweet" read. You need to open yourself up to possibilities of the "impossible" when reading an Sarah Allen book. But if you accept the ride your on with her, its a fun one.

Must Read: The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley

2010-01-01T21:13:00.000-08:00

In a Nutshell:
The book is misleading in it's title. Is not really a haunted bookshop, but haunted in the voices of author's that fill the bookshop. The story revolves around a bookshop in Brooklyn after World War I. The owner and his wife live above it, and take in a sprightly, young girl in to work in the shop. Underneath the cozy, quiet goings on of the shop is a sinister spy mystery that comes to life and adds a dramatic storyline to the story.

My Take:
This is a sequel to another book called Parnassus on Wheels that I discovered in a large book collection at our summer rental. I started reading the prequel there and became very interested in these stories. The bookshop is written with such depth and texture that it seemed very real. It is what any book lover would imagine a quaint, used, urban bookstore to be like. I read a review where someone said it was a "Charming light reading for bibliophiles", and that couldn't be more true. Throughout the story are constant highlights or excerpts of famous books and authors. And the bookshop owner is a book lover who's philosophy permeates this story. The spy ring subplot uncovered by an ad exec adds much humor and drama in the story. Overall a very fun read.

Must Read: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

2009-09-24T22:22:00.000-07:00

In a Nutshell:

This is a classic children's book about a group of woodland animals who are friends. These animals all have different personalities and all have to deal with their "project friend", Toad, who is wealthy and always getting himself into trouble (particularly with motorcars). Each animal has their cozy home and has their own adult foibles and strengths that make them very humorous and interesting. It is hard to believe that this was written for children because of how advanced the writing is. Graham uses eloquent words and wonderful, descriptive sentences that I would assume most young children nowadays would have trouble with. Maybe kids were smarter back in the day? I wouldn't doubt it!

My Take:

You may ask yourself why would you want to read a children's book? This is a classic that is often referenced here and there in literature and popular culture. I often wondered about this book and I finally checked it out of the library. It was a refreshing read, no doubt. But as I said above, the writing was pretty advanced for children. That being said, the adventures these animals have are fun and enjoyable, at times even downright funny. I read this in late September and that ended up being a perfect month to read this. Graham's beautiful descriptions of the forest and the season's changing around the animals were a perfect backdrop for watching the end of summer moving into the fall, awaiting the first snow and starting to "hibernate" myself! Toad is a really funny, outlandish character, and as the other animals struggle staying friends with him, you can completely relate to having a friend like Toad. You know-a friend that drives you crazy and drags you into his outlandish schemes, and yet you can't help but love him and try to help. That's the much loved Toad. And I think you will love this book. Once finished, you'll understand why it's a classic.

Must Read: Silver Nutmeg by Norah Lofts

2009-09-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

In a Nutshell:
This book was about the nutmeg trade in the Indonesian Islands during the Dutch colonization. Needless to say, that is a very interesting combination of subjects blended together, and creates a fertile ground for storytelling. First, you have the people of Banda, tropical and exotic, and the characters and culture that this island gives birth to. Then you have the Dutch aristocracy intermingling with this exotic culture. The main characters in this plot are a Dutch nutmeg plantation owner (Evert Haan), his half brother who is a trading ship captain, and the plantation owner's wife, Annabet, who marries him through a "glove" marriage (arranged and unseen until showing up at the dock). Annabet shows up close to death and very ugly through battling illness and fever. Evert is repulsed and orders her killed, but through island cures and fresh air, recovers her health and beauty in time for Evert to return from a trip and fall in love with her. Woven throughout the story is a mysterious, exotic and dark character, native to the island, who "helps" various wealthy townspeople with dark errands and black market dealings. But at the end, you soon find out that this character had his own dark agenda all along.

My Take:
I found this book at a yard sale that our neighbor was having. She is a retired librarian, so I am always intrigued by her book collection. She had this hardcover book out for 75¢ with a note that said "A Good Story", which pretty much sold me! So if you do wish to read this, I would check it out of the library or buy it second hand, because it is out of print. But I will tell you, I enjoyed the read. It took a handful of pages to get into at first, but if you stick with it, it is a very interesting story. There is not much written about the nutmeg trade and the people of Banda-or the Dutch colonists for that matter. It was very engaging to learn about these cultures and time periods. The love story between Annabet and a strange Englishman who's life she saves was the one relationship I did not find believable. She spends a few days nursing him back to health from a knife wound, and she falls in love with him. They don't even talk much during this encounter, really. It was a little childish. But the repercussions of those few days together are felt throughout the book as it relates to Annabet's relationship with her husband and with the townspeople as they prepare for war. It has a little "Casablanca" feel to it. I read it in the late summer and it was a great addition to warm beach days.

Must Read: Eve: A novel of the First Woman by Elissa Elliott

2009-08-08T22:31:00.000-07:00

originally posted on UrbanDomesticDiva.com

In a Nutshell:

This book is a fictional tale about the human race's first woman, Eve. The Bible does not go into the life of Adam and Eve after they are thrown out of Eden to any great extent. It tells the story of Cain and Abel in a very top line kind of way, as well as Adam and Eve's life of toil and labor in raising crops and family. Elissa Elliott takes this story and gives it a deeper, richer tale. She gets into each of Eve's children's feelings, their sibling relationships and squabbles. She develops Eve as a real mother who has joy, love and heartache as her marriage and family grows and changes. She also develops the mindset and longing that Adam and Eve would have had in regards to their relationship with God, who they disappointed and continually try and garner approval from. The backdrop of all this storytelling is a harsh, hard life of early civilization along the fertile plains of Africa. Here, Eve's family struggles with floods, drought, sickness and farming for food. They not only survive, but thrive as they find ways to make delicious foods, grow a garden from Eden's seeds that they saved, develop an irrigation system, build a viable home and grow an orchard. Things go topsy-turvy when another human civilization migrates near them that is more advanced than they are. This calls into question God's story that they were the first and only humans on earth. As they struggle with their confusion and living side by side with this other early, human civilization, they try and keep their own beliefs and traditions the same. But as all younger generations, some of Eve's children become enamored by the more advanced civilization, and the family really begins falling apart. We all know how the story ends, but this is an exploration on how they may have gotten to that ending.

My Take:

This was a pleasant surprise I found at the library. I picked it up because of the cover art, and read the first couple of pages and was hooked. What I loved about this book was not just the poetic prose throughout the story, but the way the author brought Eve's family to life–real life. She was a mother and a wife, like many of us. She had children of all ages with their own issues, like many of us. She was very much human-questioning her faith, her marriage, her favoritism among her children. She is a rich, complex character that you laugh and cry with in this story.

One of the more interesting aspects of the book is the introduction of the first civilization during Adam and Eve's time on earth. Their lives and the lives of the first human civilization as we know it meld and clash. The existence of other humans, more advanced then they are, calls into question everything Adam and Eve believe in. And really, isn't that the way it is in life, as we try and rectify the story of Genesis and the what science tells us was how mankind began? How do these two stories live side by side one another without contradicting and clashing with each other? This is the whole other, deeper layer that this story brings to light. The author really seems to have done her homework on early civilization near the Euphrates and adds that day to day hardship into Eve's family life. This makes the book very educational and interesting. This was a wonderful read. I highly recommend it.

Maybe Read: Chez Moi by Agnes Desarthe

2009-07-11T22:29:00.000-07:00

originally posted on UrbanDomesticDiva.com:

In a Nutshell:

This was a book translated from french, and I could feel it at times where it got a little choppy and difficult. You get to know the character and her life through her storytelling and flashbacks, all while opening a "shabby-chic" restaurant in France. She does this with no formal cooking education and very little money, and pretty much as a way to run away from her past. As the story unfolds and she opens herself up to some of the characters that frequent her restaurant, you learn slowly what she is running away from. Revolving around her are some eccentric characters like some beatnik french college students, a neighboring florist who smokes too much and always gives her day old flowers, and an awkward college grad waiter named Ben who helps Myriam with a marketing plan and ideas to grow the restaurant (which work.) With Ben's help, Myriam grows a viable restaurant as well as comes to terms with some of her mistakes in her own life-and forgives herself. Throughout all this is a raw, delicious approach to her cooking and running a small, off-the-beaten path restaurant in France.

My Take:

The connecting of the events of her life is difficult to piece together sometimes. She will drop a bomb in one chapter about her past and then elaborate on it 200 pages down the road, or will jump back to something a few chapters back in the middle of another thought. I am not sure if that is because it was translated or the way in which this writer works. It is a sad story, and triumphant at times. My favorite parts are when she writes about the cooking. The love affair with food and cuisine comes to life in this book. It almost makes you believe that love and passion in cooking alone can make a successful restaurant. It doesn't-Myriam finds out it takes a lot more, and you find out with her. I liked it a lot...did not love it. But some parts were very worth the read and beautiful.

Must Read: Philip Pullman Series

2009-06-10T20:53:00.000-07:00

In a Nutshell:
It is hard to boil down this amazing trilogy by Philip Pullman. The wonderful, fantastic world he has created and the amazing plots and subplots in it explores Religion and superstition, the complex relationships of parents and their children, the relationships of ourselves to our own souls, what friendship really means, what death is like and what Love really might be about. SO on one layer, you have a wonderful fantasy about a young girl and boy who travel through a magical world with talking animals, pirates, polar bear warriors and more-all while escaping their ego-maniacal parents, bad and good angels, "soul eaters", ghosts and the "Government". But there is a whole other, deeper level that calls into question much of established religious beliefs. This series was originally sold as young adult fiction but many adults have taken it on, much like Harry Potter.

My Take:
I love good fantasy-always have. And I simply devoured this series. Religious undertones aside, it is simply a dynamic, action packed read with many twists and turns, some of which you can't believe yourself. Out of all three, my favorite was The Subtle Knife. The Amber Spyglass got a little weird for me at the end. You knew the author was leading up to the two main characters hitting puberty and falling in love. But when it does happen, it is not very emotional or believable. The love story was kind of "cold". The main characters traipse through various "worlds" using "the Subtle Knife", but the world the main characters end up in was very odd. It was home to "hippie-esque" elephant-like creatures that roll on wheels with their foot-bones as a way to adapt to their world. They used sap from indigenous trees to keep the wheels well-oiled on their "feet" and that's how they got around. But the trees were dying which would mean the end of their civilization. The two children and a fellow friend need to find out why the trees are dying. The reason ends up being a culmination of all three books. It seems Pullman is trying to make a point about evolution and the garden of Eden here, but it is strange and a little odd. Otherwise, the adventures and story told in these three books are pretty darn good.

Must Read: The Secret of Lost Things by Sheridan Hay

2009-04-10T22:19:00.000-07:00

In a Nutshell:

This book is another story that revolves around an old dusty bookstore. So, for you bibliophiles out there-this is a good one! The story revolves around a young girl named Rosemary Savage who migrates to New York after her mother passes away. She lived a very sheltered, quiet life with her mother in Tasmania. They lived above her mother's hat shop, and they had few friends. When she arrives in New York, she is pretty much a fish out of water and has very little money. One day, on her wanderings, she comes across an old bookstore and walks in. Out of desperation, she gets the nerve to ask for a job. The owner takes her up on it, and she becomes a part of the eccentric, odd cast of characters that work in this dusty, crowded bookstore called the Arcade. There is an opera-singer transvestite who acts like her older sister and watches out for her. There is the blustery, shrewd owner, Pike. A jolly, magnanimous, rare book dealer and an albino assistant manager named Walter Geist who draws Rosemary into an odd web of mystery regarding a lost manuscript of Herman Melville's. There are more characters as well, and all of them are more comfortable with the old, dusty tomes than real life outside of the Arcade. Rosemary falls in love with Oscar, and effeminate loner who sort of becomes her friend but never really reciprocates her feelings.The mystery of the lost Melville manuscript is woven throughout the book, and allows Hay to also weave in much symbolism and metaphor with references to Moby Dick. As Walter Geist starts having feelings for Rosemary as they try to get the Melville manuscript, and Oscar want to get it first because he hates Walter-Rosemary gets caught in conflict and confusion, not understanding which side she should be on.

My Take:

There was a lot of merit in this book for me. I loved the rich cast of characters, and the way New York is described in this book from the perspective of a very young, poor girl just trying to survive and thrive. I also loved the deep description of this very interesting Bookshop. I found myself wanting to visit it, being a book lover myself. You just get lost in its crowded aisles and dusty, chaotic shelves, just like the characters themselves. That was the best part for me. The Melville mystery added interest and a plot-but I enjoyed the character development more. The layer of Moby Dick references and parallels in the writing became a little tedious for me and I did not feel that they were necessary. But overall, a very engrossing read.

Must Read: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

2009-03-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

In a Nutshell:

Ahh, where to begin? I will start by saying that this author is channeling the Bronté sisters. There is a little Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights in here. She weaves what begins as a classic ghost story in a haunting, old house and slowly reveals the real deal as you go-deliciously and perfectly woven together. You have two main characters here that come together early in the book. Vida Winter is a famous author who is dying and calls on our other main character, Margaret, to write her biography. Margaret and Vida could not be more different. Vida lived her life in the spotlight and has given 9 different versions of her life story to the press, always avoiding the truth. She lives in an old, rich mansion and has lived her life out loud while keeping much of her real self hidden. Margaret is a London bookseller's daughter who had had some fame from her biographical writings but had lived a sheltered, quiet life with her father. She is psychologically haunted by her stillborn twin and her guilt prevents her from really living her life and being someone. So Vida hires her to write her biography and Margaret travels to Yorkshire to stay in the old, haunted mansion (complete with Library) to interview people and write. As she slowly gleans Vida's story (complete with a governess, a somewhat incestuous relationship between a brother and sister, an abandoned baby, two twin sisters and a ghost on the grounds of ruined Angelfield estate) Margaret comes into her own as a person and makes peace with her own ghosts-as Vida does hers.

My Take:

I could not put this book down. It is awesome. I really don't know what else to say about it! The story is spellbinding, the landscape and backdrop is textural and beautiful. The character development is rich and believable. The mystery is seamless and you are on the "Setterfield train" from beginning to end. A great read.

Must Read: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

2008-07-20T20:58:00.000-07:00

In a Nutshell:

This book is about two middle-aged sisters in North Carolina, Claire and Sydney Waverley. Unlike her sister Sydney, Claire stayed in North Carolina, inheriting the family home complete with the magic garden and the famous, magical, Waverley apple tree. Sydney ran away to New York when she was young and never looked back. But after an abusive marriage, Sydney sneaks away with her 5 year old daughter to the only place she thinks she can be safe-her family home in North Carolina with Claire. SO these two women get thrown together after many years apart to not only make peace with another, but allow the other sister to help grow the other (emotionally and socially). As in all of Sarah's southern yarns, the story comes complete with a healthy dose of town eccentrics as well as magic. Each of the Waverly women are born with magical talents, and it isn't until Sydney begins to embrace hers that she begins to grow emotionally. Claire's talents is to grow a magic garden and cook with magic in her recipes. Sydney's wild side begins to rub off on Claire as she finally opens herself to others, and to love.

My Take:

Being a cook and a gardener-and a cook who cooks with what she grows in her garden, I really liked this story. I loved the development of the relationship between the two sisters, and their cousin Evanelle is a wonderful, eccentric addition to the cast of characters. Even Evanelle had a magic talent, to give people what they needed before they needed it. The descriptive approach to Claire's Victorian home, her garden and her cooking (dashes of horticulture folklore is woven into Claire's magical dishes) was absolutely delicious. I found myself quite jealous of Claire's home. But Claire created this home around herself to shut herself in. When Sydney and her daughter arrive, Claire is forced to face not only her feeling toward her, but learn to love her and her niece. This slowly allows her to open herself up to a steamy relationship with her neighbor. There is a pretty hot few pages of some Southern lovin' in the garden that was quite erotic, I have to admit! The parallels drawn between what was going on with Claire and her lover and the blooming and opening of the garden all around her was really something! Another interesting, unexpected character is the Waverley tree, hundreds of years old and pretty much with it's own personality and role in all that happens around it. This element of the story was pretty fun and only Sarah Anderson can pull it off. Well done! A wonderful summer read. Also, if you go to Sarah's website, she has some of the recipes that she weaves into all her books. http://www.sarahaddisonallen.com/garden_spells.html