That's What She Read

Fabulous Friday - February 10th

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:45:00 PST

How can it be February 10th already? Gah!

Anyway, one of the best things in life is knowing that you are not alone in your thoughts or feelings about a certain topic. This post by Andi at Estella's Revenge deserves to be read and re-read as it succinctly captures everything I have been feeling lately about blogging but have been too afraid/ashamed to put into words. This post made my week.

What makes this a fabulous Friday for you?

Audiobook Review - Nice Girls Don't Live Forever by Molly Harper

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:45:00 PST

Title: Nice Girls Don't Live Forever
Author: Molly Harper
Narrator: Amanda Ronconi
ISBN: B0037Z2YSQ
Length of Audio: 8 hours, 29 minutes
Synopsis:

"Nothing sucks the romance out of world travel like a boyfriend who may or may not have broken up with you in a hotel room in Brussels. Jane Jameson's sexy sire Gabriel has always been unpredictable, but the seductive, anonymous notes that await him at each stop of their international vacation, coupled with his evasive behavior over the past few months, finally push Jane onto the next flight home to Half Moon Hollow — alone, upset, and unsure whether Gabriel just ended their relationship without actually telling her.

Now the children's-librarian-turned-vampire is reviving with plenty of Faux Type O, some TLC from her colorful friends and family, and her plans for a Brave New Jane. Step One: Get her newly renovated occult bookstore off the ground. Step Two: Support her best friend, Zeb, and his werewolf bride as they prepare for the impending birth of their baby...or litter. Step Three: Figure out who's been sending her threatening letters, and how her hostile pen pal is tied to Gabriel. Because for this nice girl, surviving a broken heart is suddenly becoming a matter of life and undeath..."

Thoughts: Continuing the ongoing dramedy that is Jane Jameson’s afterlife, Nice Girls Don't Live Forever picks up roughly two months after the shenanigans from Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men. This time, instead of weddings, the reader gets the pleasure of following Jane through store ownership and burgeoning civil responsibilities through her experiences with the local Chamber of Commerce, and her best friend’s impending parenthood. Wackiness ensues in typical Jane-like fashion.

What makes this third novel so special is the fact that Jane truly grows into her own as a vampire and strong female. While Jane always had sass, she did not always have the gumption for confrontation. She was not spineless, but there were quite a few paragraphs devoted to the proverbial wringing of her hands as she kept her frustration to herself. Thankfully, in her desire to become a new and improved Jane, she finally starts taking matters into her own hands, not shying from painful truths and open dialogue. This leads to some of the funniest and best scenes in the entire series, while the reader is torn between wanting to cry with laughter and cheering Jane as she does so.

Amanda Ronconi continues in the same vein as in the previous novel/audiobook experience – absolutely brilliant. She adds the perfect level of snarkiness and Southern twang to the story that epitomizes Jane. After listening to her for two novels, she has definitely become a narrator I would seek out and to whom I would listen again and again.

Nice Girls Don't Live Forever remains the fun, funny, and romantic story that one has come to expect from Molly Harper. The continual subtle mockery of the genre only adds to the overall fun. Everyone needs a good laugh every once in a while, and Nice Girls Don't Live Forever provides some much-needed comic relief from whatever ails you.

Acknowledgements: Mine. All mine.

Review - Obedience by Jacqueline Yallop

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:45:00 PST

Title: Obedience
Author: Jacqueline Yallop
ISBN: 9780143120674
No. of Pages: 288
Genre: Literary Fiction
Synopsis:

"Set in contemporary and World War II France, this is the story of Sister Bernard: her forbidden love, her uncertain faith, and her guilt- ridden past.

A once -bustling convent in the South of France is closing, leaving behind three elderly nuns. Forced, for the first time, to confront the community that she betrayed decades ago, Sister Bernard relives her life during the war.

At thirty, Sister Bernard can hear the voice of God-strident, furious, and personal. When a young Nazi soldier, a member of the German occupying forces, asks her to meet him in the church in secret one evening, she agrees. And so begins the horrifying and passionate love affair that will deafen the heavens and define her life, tempting her into duplicity."

Thoughts: Obedience by Jacqueline Yallop is really a tale of two stories – one is historical fiction, allowing the reader insight into occupied France during World War II, and the other is contemporary fiction, showcasing the end of an era. Throughout both stories flows Sister Bernard’s history, past and present combining to highlight the lasting impact one moment’s poor decision had on the rest of her life. While Sister Bernard is forced to confront her guilt, the unfolding of her story highlights the true victims and guilty party of those past deeds. A difficult book to describe, Obedience is a compelling read for its brutally honest depiction of convent life, the pressure to conform, and the steps people are willing to take to survive when the world is torn upside-down.

The words “poor decision” when describing Sister Bernard’s life-changing moment is something of a misnomer. Her need to find love overrides every instinct her upbringing and religious life has instilled in her. Indeed, this is the true tragedy, as this need induces her to act before thinking and to take chances when to be caught means almost certain death. What is worse is the fact that her sheltered existence within the convent fails to prepare her for the true circumstances behind the presence of the German soldiers and the cruelty of mankind. Sister Bernard is simply a nun in the wrong place at the wrong time, and her overwhelming need to belong to someone places her in some truly unfortunate, horrific experiences.

Obedience itself is rather jagged in its storytelling. The sections jump from one era to the next with little to no warning or explanation of the current time frame of the story in a given section. The reader is forced to determine whether it is past or present based on certain clues. This does become easier towards the end, when the two scenes are more familiar to the reader, but can be confusing in the beginning of the novel. Similarly, Obedience is one of those novels that does not willingly share its secrets and truths. Rather, the entire story is hazy, almost impressionistic, providing no clear picture of motive, personalities, physical descriptions, or anything else which would add clarity to the truth. Instead, the reader is forced to interpret the hidden secrets, much like someone interprets a painting, based on the sweeping strokes of Ms. Yallop’s pen.

While difficult to describe, Obedience is one novel that sneaks under a reader’s skin. Languid in its storytelling, the story unfolds slowly and yet surprisingly forcefully, compelling the reader to feel the full weight of Sister Bernard’s emotional turmoil. It is a novel that leaves the reader grasping under the weight of the full knowledge of lost opportunities and lost truths.

Acknowledgements: Thank you to NetGalley and to Elaine Broeder from Penguin Group for my e-galley!

Review - The Tapestry of Love by Rosy Thornton

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:45:00 PST

Title: The Tapestry of Love
Author: Rosy Thornton
ISBN: 9780755345571
No. of Pages: 406
Genre: General Fiction
Synopsis:

"A rural idyll: that's what Catherine is seeking when she sells her house in England and moves to a tiny hamlet in the Cévennes mountains. With her divorce in the past and her children grown, she is free to make a new start, and her dream is to set up in business as a seamstress. But this is a harsh and lonely place when you're no longer just here on holiday. There is French bureaucracy to contend with, not to mention the mountain weather, and the reserve of her neighbors, including the intriguing Patrick Castagnol. And that's before the arrival of Catherine's sister, Bryony."

Thoughts: Some stories start out strong, capturing a reader’s attention from the first few pages, while others build slowly, taking their time to weave a story through detailed descriptions and careful character development. As one could guess from its title, The Tapestry of Love is very much one of the latter types of stories. Rosy Thornton’s deliberate layering of setting and character create a languid story that is as French in its meandering as it is in its set location. Do not let this description fool you however; The Tapestry of Love is a powerful story of reawakening and a coming-of-age story for the over-forty crowd.

Catherine is a bit of a conundrum. She arrives in France completely affected by the eight years since her divorce, but the reader does not get any insight into these experiences. Instead, one gets the chance to understand Catherine and her motivations slowly, through hints and glimpses into the past. This makes Catherine a difficult character to understand at first because very few people can relate to her need to move to a foreign country and surround herself with the silence of the countryside, let alone her tapestry business. However, as the reader gathers a more complete picture of her, the story, and the reader's empathy for Catherine, takes off.

Reminiscent of stories by authors like D. H. Lawrence or Thomas Hardy, the setting is as much a character as Catherine or Patrick is. Catherine’s entire growth occurs because of her house and her experiences in France versus in England. Ms. Thornton captures the ambiance and flavor of Cévennes with her lush descriptions and painstaking detail. In fact, she builds the setting color by color, just like Catherine builds her tapestries. The tie-in is brilliant and effective.

The Tapestry of Love is a simple and beautiful story told in an old-fashioned, meandering way that is perfect for the idyllic backdrop. Completely the opposite of today's more popular conspiracy thrillers or sappy romantic tragedies, it is one of those novels that all but requires a cuppa while reading. More importantly, it is meant to be savored slowly, read while enjoying a quiet afternoon or two; pauses for daydreams or naps while reading are completely allowed. The Tapestry of Love provides a great relaxing escape from the mundaneness of everyday life.

Acknowledgements: Thank you to the author for my review copy!

It's Monday! What are you Reading? - February 6th

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:45:00 PST

Hosted by Sheila from Book Journey, this is a weekly event to share what we've read in the past week and what we hope to read, plus whatever else comes to mind.

Finished Last Week:

Lunatics was an audiobook and absolutely hilarious!!

Currently Reading:

Currently Listening:

Up Next:

As always, I reserve the right to change my mind, depending on how I feel on any given day.

What are you reading this week?

The Sunday Salon - February 5th

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:35:55 PST

It's Super Bowl Sunday! While I'm not interested in any of the teams actually playing, I was able to see the oh-so-amazing trailer for The Hunger Games. Is it just me or does this movie look amazing? I really hope the commercials are better this year than they have in the past few years or so.

18 years ago, Jim and I went on our first date. We went out for Mexican food at some restaurant in Chicago that neither one of us can remember and then saw Jim Carrey perform stand-up. It was a great first date and the perfect beginning to our relationship - a little bit spicy, slightly goofy, a whole lot of funny and totally enjoyable. Love ya, babe!

It was a relatively quiet week this week. Holly had a big week with a sleepover held at our house on Friday night and then yet another birthday party on Saturday night. This makes three parties in four weeks. She has yet another one next Saturday too. I love that she has so many friends, but this is getting to be expensive!

Reviewed this week:

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
Perfect by Ellen Hopkins
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

It's game time! I'll be using this time to catch up on blogging, paperwork, watching the game and reading. I hope you enjoy the game. Happy Sunday and, for those of you who do not like football, happy reading!

Mini-review Saturday - Perfect and Speak

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:00:04 PST

Title: Perfect
Author: Ellen Hopkins
ISBN: 9781442423572
No. of Pages: 640
Genre: Young Adult
Synopsis:

"Everyone has something, someone, somewhere else that they’d rather be. For four high-school seniors, their goals of perfection are just as different as the paths they take to get there.

Cara’s parents’ unrealistic expectations have already sent her twin brother Conner spiraling toward suicide. For her, perfect means rejecting their ideals to take a chance on a new kind of love. Kendra covets the perfect face and body - no matter what surgeries and drugs she needs to get there. To score his perfect home run - on the field and off - Sean will sacrifice more than he can ever win back. And Andre realizes that to follow his heart and achieve his perfect performance, he’ll be living a life his ancestors would never have understood.

Everyone wants to be perfect, but when perfection loses its meaning, how far will you go? What would you give up to be perfect?"

Thoughts: What does it mean to be perfect? The definition is as varied as the individuals trying to define it. Yet, in all instances, a person’s desire for perfection can lead to the exact opposite. Such is the lesson learned in Ellen Hopkins’ Perfect. Told through four different narrators each with their own professed goals, the drive to be perfect is pervasive no matter socioeconomic class or experiences. Readers from all backgrounds will be able to relate to at least one of the narrators. It is this personal connection that builds between the reader and at least one narrator which drives home the message of the infeasibility of perfection and the damage that ensues when trying to achieve it. As someone struggling with a mild form of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Perfect struck a chord and mirrored some of my own inabilities to let go of the unattainable. Ellen Hopkins’ style is breezy, and she successfully sustains the four distinct voices of the narrators. More importantly, she maintains an appropriate level of gravitas for the situations described. The resulting novel is one that is shocking, poignant, and hits close to home.
Acknowledgements: Mine. All mine.

Title: Speak
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
ISBN: 9780141310886
No. of Pages: 208
Genre: Young Adult
Synopsis:

"Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth."

Thoughts: Speak is a powerful and poignant novel about peer pressure, the need to fit in, and the lengths to which people will go to achieve the required social status. As a disenfranchised teen with a terrible secret, Melinda’s social status as the high school pariah is extremely disturbing because it only reaffirms her decision to remain silent while simultaneously heartbreaking because of the needlessness of the entire situation. There is nothing about Melinda’s experiences that is easy, and the effects of those experiences are appropriately complicated. It is up to the reader to discover the hidden truths behind Melinda’s actions while she unconsciously seeks solace and closure. Laurie Halse Anderson has made a name for herself by becoming the voice for hundreds of thousands of suffering teenagers who are afraid to let themselves be heard. In Speak, she brings to the fore the silent victims of date rape. It is a book that deserves to be read and discussed with every teenager in order to allow all victims the chance to be heard.
Acknowledgements: Mine. All mine.

Fabulous Friday - February 3rd

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:45:01 PST

Eighteen years ago tomorrow, Jim and I went on our first date. While we may not celebrate this day, we do always acknowledge the date. Eighteen years seemed like a long time several years ago. Now, it feels like it passed in the blink of an eye.

What makes this a Fabulous Friday for you?

Review - The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:45:00 PST

Title: The Adoration of Jenna Fox
Author: Mary E. Pearson
ISBN: 9780312594411
No. of Pages: 266
Genre: Science Fiction
Synopsis:

"Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox has just awoken from a year-long coma—so she’s been told—and she is still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. But what happened before that? She’s been given home movies chronicling her entire life, which spark memories to surface. But are the memories really hers? And why won’t anyone in her family talk about the accident? Jenna is becoming more curious. But she is also afraid of what she might find out if she ever gets up the courage to ask her questions. What happened to Jenna Fox? And who is she really?"

Thoughts: The Adoration of Jenna Fox is an unusual combination of story and morality lesson. While the story is geared towards a younger crowd, the morality lessons are subtle but complicated enough to be most effective for older, more adult readers. The resulting juxtaposition makes for an eerily compelling story that appeals to all generations while making it one that can easily be re-read without losing any of its impact.

The majority of the story revolves around Jenna as she struggles to rediscover who she is and her place within her sphere of influence. What follows is a fairly typical coming-of-age story as Jenna uncovers the truth surrounding the accident and her recovery and eventually finds her voice and the strength to make herself be heard. This part of the story is neither horrible nor overly well-done. It is standard young adult fare.

What makes The Adoration of Jenna Fox rise to the top is the ethics discussions that ensues while Jenna is re-discovering herself. At issue is the idea of the existence of humanity and where to draw the line medically when it comes to artificial limbs, organs, and the like. Of even more interest to older readers with children is the discussion of just how far a parent would be willing to go to save the life of a child. If anything was possible, should one take rescue efforts to the extreme? Should we draw a line between what is possible versus what is acceptable? As medical technology advances, society will have to address questions like this. Ms. Pearson puts a very empathetic face on such questions, forcing the reader to think of his or her own actions if faced with similar situations.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox is a hybridized coming-of-age, futuristic novel with very real questions about the feasibility versus the acceptability of the use of technology to advance humankind. Its very nature broadens its appeal to a wide audience, making it one of the rare novels that allows for parents to read it together with their teenagers. While it was not one of my favorites, I can see its appeal to others. The ethical debates alone are worth the read.

Acknowledgements: Mine. All mine.

Review - A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:45:00 PST

Title: A Discovery of Witches
Author: Deborah Harkness
ISBN: 9780670022410
No. of Pages: 579
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Synopsis:

"Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries — and she is the only creature who can break its spell."

Thoughts: Warning - gushing to follow...

Have you ever read a book that made you smile for its entirety? A book where everything about it was enjoyable, from the descriptions to the characters to the plot and beyond? One that took a storyline that has been rehashed one too many times and made it completely new and exciting again? If you have, then you too must have experienced Deborah Harkness’ A Discovery of Witches. If you have not, well then, get thee to a bookstore or library and read it immediately!

Vampires, witches, daemons – oh my! Granted, these are not the traditional vampires, witches, and daemons. Ms. Harkness’ adaptations of the mythologies maintain the danger that immediately comes to mind when either creature is mentioned. Even better, Ms. Harkness takes her mythologies one step further. These are not humans gone bad or humans born with special powers. These are all non-humans, creating an intense us-versus-them dynamic in which the creatures are only trying to survive in a world run by humans. While it is not a major plot point, it is enough of a difference to establish an intensity to the proceedings, as Matthew and Diana try to resolve their issues while maintaining their cover as “normal”.

What sets A Discovery of Witches apart of the rest of the genre are the descriptions, accurate historical details, and adult emotions involved. The descriptions throughout the novel are simply sublime. The reader feels a part of the novel, whether the action is occurring in Oxford, southern France or in New England. Ms. Harkness has the ability to evoke the scent of a wood-burning fire or the loamy scent of earth with a few choice words. Similarly, in a novel where one of the main characters is 1500 years old, historical details and accuracy are a must in order to lend credence to his age and experiences. Ms. Harkness accomplishes this through well-researched and fun historical vignettes that close the gap between history and present-day. Even better, while there is definitely a romantic element, there is none of the juvenile emotional drama that permeates paranormal romance these days. Both Diana and Matthew have a healthy respect for each other as individuals and for their individual pasts. They make no demands of each other and just revel in being themselves. It is refreshing to see a relationship where two people come together as equals and do not get caught up in the acquired baggage each brings with them.

While one could argue that there have been enough books involving this unholy trinity, A Discovery of Witches outshines them all. Reminiscent of The Historian and Practical Magic with its Gothic feel and absolutely gorgeous descriptions with the added benefit of a heroine who can more than stand up to any Big Bad, the greatest drawback to the novel is the waiting period required until the release date of the second book in the series.

Acknowledgements: Thank you to the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association for my review copy!

Review - Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:45:00 PST

Title: Carrier of the Mark
Author: Leigh Fallon
ISBN: 9780062027887
No. of Pages: 352
Genre: Speculative Fiction, YA
Synopsis:

"Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction."

Thoughts: With success comes the danger of copycats. In books, as in life, if something works very well for one person, someone else is bound to try to imitate that same success. Unfortunately, the axiom “imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery” does not apply to books. No one wants to read the same essential story, no matter how many details are altered in some way. There have been so many rehashing of the Twilight series that one can quickly lose count of all those hoping to recreate the Stephenie Meyer success story. Some of these have been surprisingly well-written and successful in their own right. Unfortunately, Leigh Fallon’s Carrier of the Mark does not fall into this category.

In spite of the extreme similarities to the Twilight saga, there are two major things wrong with Carrier of the Mark. The first of these is the myth behind the story. Paranormal stories succeed because the myths around which these stories revolve are well-known and have withstood the test of time. Werewolves, zombies, witches, fae, and even the ubiquitous vampires are commonly known, even if the details behind the myths differ region to region or even person to person. In Carrier of the Mark, Ms. Fallon goes out on a limb and creates her own myth. While she should be applauded for her creativity, her myth is just plain confusing. There is no frame of reference or familiarity for the reader to understand just what Megan and the rest of her characters are facing. This is due, in large part, to the second fundamental issue with Carrier of the Mark – the writing.

Had Ms. Fallon been a stronger writer, the myth would simply make more sense. Key elements of the story would not remain unexplained throughout the majority of the novel, and the reader might actually care about Megan’s fate. Instead, the characters are insipid, flat, and essentially caricatures of other similar characters in other similar novels. The pacing of the novel is uneven at best. Megan goes from being an unknown new kid to drawing attention to falling in love with Adam within a few short pages, while the big climax is anything but suspenseful. Many questions remain unanswered, even some of the most basic ones that really should have had resolution. The result is a lackluster story in which the reader has no real affinity for or empathy with the main characters and spends a large majority of the novel just trying to figure out what the major conflict is.

To be fair, Ms. Fallon deserves credit for trying something new. Unfortunately, it did not live up to its potential. Instead, Carrier of the Mark is a hint that the Young Adult market has truly become supersaturated with Twilight-esque novels and that there is a clear need for something more original and better written.

Acknowledgements: Mine. All mine.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - January 30th

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:19:52 PST

Hosted by Sheila from Book Journey, this is a weekly event to share what we've read in the past week and what we hope to read, plus whatever else comes to mind.

Finished Last Week:

I was really thinking that this was a slow week for reading. I guess this is proof that it was not. My favorite? Nice Girls Don't Live Forever on audio. So much fun!!

Currently Reading:

Currently Listening:

I started one and finished one all in a week. It's progress.

Up Next:

As always, I reserve the right to change my mind, depending on how I feel on any given day.

What are you reading this week?

The Sunday Salon - January 29th

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:01:13 PST

Meine beliebte Lesern, hello! It's been an exciting week here in Shannon Teach and on the blog.

We started out the week with a special honor for Holly as she was hand-selected to help show our local school board how they have used Skype in the classrooms. She was so excited to be a part of this display and made sure she was dressed up appropriately - even if the other kids also selected were not. She did a fabulous job, being one of the only students to have memorized her lines and speak loudly and clearly. Who knew my baby was such star material?

If the economy is still struggling, one would never know it as seen by the difficulties we had buying our latest vehicle this week. Jim had ordered it a few weeks ago from the factory. While waiting for delivery, he was repeatedly frustrated at the lack of communication from the dealership. He would call with questions, and they would never respond. He would e-mail and would be met with radio silence. Even on the day of scheduled delivery, they never bothered to call him to let him know there was a delay. It took repeated phone calls and text messages to pry this information out of the salesperson. The last straw came when they sent an e-mail to Jim canceling the order because they "knew he was not satisfied" and "did not want to do business with someone who could not appreciate their efforts". WTH? Needless to say, Jim went into the dealership the next day and opened up a can to their general manager. We did receive the car, but I suspect it will be a long time before we go back to that dealership for anything.

I love when I get the chance to incorporate life lessons into one of the kids' homework assignments. Connor's main assignment this week was about the art of negotiation. He was to negotiate with us for something he wanted. The something turned out to be a new laptop. What we negotiated is a month-long test where he would have to do all of his chores without being told - no constantly having to remind him to fold clothes or clear off the table. If he could last 30 days, we would gladly get him a new laptop. You have to understand that this is the same boy who cannot remember to turn in homework assignments and cannot stay on task for longer than five minutes. Jim and I are fairly certain that he will never make the full month; in fact, I give him a week. If he proves us wrong, then it is a win-win for both parties. If he fails, he's learned that you can negotiate, but it does not always mean you will get what you want. This little lesson started today. By 9:30 AM, he had already taken it upon himself to get up with the dogs, feed them and brush them, mop the floors, clean the basement, and surprise us with breakfast. I think I'm going to enjoy this lesson!

I celebrated my third blogiversary this week. I've been doing this longer than I lived in some states when Jim was in the military. It is insane how time flies when you are having a blast. On a similar vein, this is my 1,000th post! That is an astonishing number. I used to see other bloggers celebrate this milestone and think that I would never get there. It just goes to show you to never say never.

Because I was busy celebrating my blogiversary, I only reviewed two books this week, but they were good ones:

The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau
Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran

I don't know about you but I can actually see the sun today. I am going to enjoy it while I can. I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday. Happy reading!

Mini-review Saturday: Mockingbird and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 06:00:04 PST

Title: Mockingbird
Author: Katherine Erskine
ISBN: 9780399252648
No. of Pages: 235
Genre: Young Adult
Synopsis:

"In Caitlin's world, everything is black or white.

Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing.

That's the stuff Caitlin's older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon's dead and Dad is no help at all. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger's, she doesn't know how. When she reads the definition of closure, she realizes that is what she needs. In her search for it, Caitlin discovers that not everything is black and white the world is full of colors messy and beautiful."

Thoughts: Even though Mockingbird is geared towards younger readers, Kathryn Erskine makes it easy for readers of all ages to empathize with every aspect of Caitlin’s behavior, no matter how quirky or disruptive. The reader easily slips into Caitlin’s mindset, and all those within her circle who fail to remain patient with Caitlin’s quirks quickly become evil. Yet, this is not a story about Asperger’s. While it provides remarkable insight into the thought patterns of someone with Asperger’s, Mockingbird is ultimately a poignant story on the ravages of grief. Caitlin and her father, along with the entire town, struggle to make sense of the tragedy that changed their lives forever. Ultimately, it is Caitlin’s faith in her beloved brother that unites the community in their grief in a way that is so simple it is brilliant. Readers of different ages will walk away from Mockingbird with different insights, but the emotional tug that comes from Caitlin’s struggles for normalcy cross generations and provide the story its heart. An emotionally engaging and quick read, Mockingbird is one novel that everyone should read in order to understand how being different truly feels.
Acknowledgements: Mine. All mine.

Title: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Author: John Boyne
ISBN: 9780385751070
No. of Pages: 224
Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction
Synopsis:

"Berlin 1942

When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move from their home to a new house far far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence running alongside stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people he can see in the distance.

But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different to his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences."

Thoughts: John Boyne’s fable about a young German boy’s experiences in Nazi Germany, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, is a bit predictable, but its power lies in that predictability. It is akin to watching a train wreck or automobile crash – one can see it coming but yet cannot look away in simultaneous fascination and horror. While Bruno is almost too naïve to be credible and his mispronunciations appear almost deliberate, Bruno symbolizes the naivety of the entire world in thinking that humanity could never stoop so low. Because of the fact that nothing in the story, except for perhaps Bruno’s childish voice and innocence, is surprising, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a tremendous cautionary tale of the inadvertent damage our behaviors can cause for our loved ones and a blatant reminder on how one’s perception can impact an entire population. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas capitalizes on the horror of the Holocaust but makes it palatable for readers of all ages.
Acknowledgements: Mine. All mine.

Fabulous Friday - January 27th

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:45:00 PST

This is one of the best things about coming home every day. Granted, they are usually a lot more active than this.

Momma, why is Gretchen in my bed?

What makes it a Fabulous Friday for you?

Review - Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:45:01 PST

Title: Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution
Author: Michelle Moran
ISBN: 9780307588654
No. of Pages: 448
Genre: Historical Fiction
Synopsis:

"Smart and ambitious, Marie Tussaud has learned the secrets of wax sculpting by working alongside her uncle in their celebrated wax museum, the Salon de Cire. From her popular model of the American ambassador, Thomas Jefferson, to her tableau of the royal family at dinner, Marie’s museum provides Parisians with the very latest news on fashion, gossip, and even politics. Her customers hail from every walk of life, yet her greatest dream is to attract the attention of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI; their stamp of approval on her work could catapult her and her museum to the fame and riches she desires. After months of anticipation, Marie learns that the royal family is willing to come and see their likenesses. When they finally arrive, the king’s sister is so impressed that she requests Marie’s presence at Versailles as a royal tutor in wax sculpting. It is a request Marie knows she cannot refuse—even if it means time away from her beloved Salon and her increasingly dear friend, Henri Charles.

As Marie gets to know her pupil, Princesse Élisabeth, she also becomes acquainted with the king and queen, who introduce her to the glamorous life at court. From lavish parties with more delicacies than she’s ever seen to rooms filled with candles lit only once before being discarded, Marie steps into a world entirely different from her home on the Boulevard du Temple, where people are selling their teeth in order to put food on the table.

Meanwhile, many resent the vast separation between rich and poor. In salons and cafés across Paris, people like Camille Desmoulins, Jean-Paul Marat, and Maximilien Robespierre are lashing out against the monarchy. Soon, there’s whispered talk of revolution. . . . Will Marie be able to hold on to both the love of her life and her friendship with the royal family as France approaches civil war? And more important, will she be able to fulfill the demands of powerful revolutionaries who ask that she make the death masks of beheaded aristocrats, some of whom she knows?"

Thoughts: Michelle Moran is known for her ability to bring to back to life famous women who were each afforded a surprising level of power and/or fame among their contemporaries. Ms. Moran’s impeccable research allows the reader to step back in time to gain a detailed perspective of the challenges faced by her chosen heroine. In her latest novel Ms. Moran successfully branches away from Egypt and to the French Revolution and the woman who would become famous as Madame Tussaud.

The story takes place well after Marie Grosholz and her “uncle”/guardian Philippe Curtius gained fame throughout Paris as the purveyors of skilled wax models but before the civil unrest behind the Revolution broke out into bloodshed. Marie is not a typical historical fiction heroine; she is not coming of age or waiting for her family to find her a husband. Well into her late twenties, Marie retains the greatest voice when it comes to the family business. She makes a large majority of the business decisions, and it is her wishes that are brought to life when it comes to the displays themselves. She is also surprisingly cutthroat and dispassionate; she will do anything to ensure that the business remains open and popular with the greater population, no matter where her true allegiances lie. Against the backdrop of an increasingly bloodthirsty crown, Marie must balance her love of the King’s sister and the royal family with that of her business with that of her personal happiness. It is a balancing act with which most modern women are familiar, but the stakes are not quite as high these days as they were in France during the late 1780s/1790s.

Madame Tussaud shines with its historical depictions of royal life framed against the backdrop of the real-life struggles of the non-nobility. Ms. Moran showcases the court of Louis XIV in all its naivety, inaction, glory and grotesqueness. Among the breathtaking descriptions of Versailles, Ms. Moran adds the squalid descriptions of overcrowded rooms, a lack of personal hygiene, and general lack of understanding behind the commoner’s true demands. The royals’ inability to understand the true state of desperation and the Third Estate’s increasing bitterness towards the royal family is as shocking as it is depressing. Even worse are the absolutely brutal depictions of the Revolution itself. The fear of being named as a royal sympathizer, the repugnant glee from the mobs, the disgusting nature of the guillotine all combine to create a level of terror that few other eras can match. Ms. Moran captures this terror in a way that is breathtaking, while leaving the reader feeling guilty about being thankful s/he was not alive during the Reign of Terror.

The one weakness of Madame Tussaud is Marie herself. Her balancing act between the two sides of the Revolution, as well as her “business first” mindset, make her fairly unlikable. For someone who is not so young, she makes some ill-informed decisions which, even though they add drama to an already exciting story, do not align with the character Ms. Moran carefully crafts for readers. These poor decisions seem forced and specifically designed to draw out the story, when the underlying historical drama provides enough excitement and tension.

Madame Tussaud, much like the title, is a tale of two stories. There is Madame Tussaud, the devoted businesswoman who lives for her wax models and displays. Then there is Marie Grosholz, a woman trying to maintain some level of normalcy in a world that has gone mad. Ms. Moran’s depiction of the mismanagement leading up to the Revolution and the Reign of Terror remains one of the more brutal versions ever experienced while providing the story with its heart and soul. Marie may not be the most sympathetic of heroines, but no reader can share her experiences without developing a profound sense of gratitude at distance between the historical events described and today. Ms. Moran’s ability to remove that perception of distance is a testament to her abilities as a writer and to her research capabilities. If all of her books are as thoroughly and as realistic as Madame Tussaud, I cannot wait to read more of her work.

Acknowledgements: Mine. All mine.

That's What She Read - Year 3

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:45:00 PST

Three years ago, I had this crazy idea to start a blog. I blame my book club friends (Christina and Stephanie, I'm looking at you); they were raving about this new methodology and the connections they were making. Of course, when I look back on it, I still do not know why I did it. I mean, I was still in the process of working towards my MBA. It wasn't as if I had time to do this. Heck, I didn't even know what blogging really was when I first started. How is that for naive?

What I received from this exercise in naivety and grandiosity is more than I can put into words, which is ironic in that I have become quite skilled at putting the impossible into words over the past three years. I can think of no better lesson in learning how to take chances, to step outside one's comfort zone, and to do what one loves to do. Putting one's innermost thoughts down in such a public forum takes courage, something I never thought I had. Similarly, talking with publishers and requesting books from anyone in the publishing business requires a level of confidence I know I never had. My younger self would never recognize the woman I have become today. I owe a lot of that to reviewing.

I know we all start these websites for ourselves, to get our thoughts out of our heads and out into the public, and that we would continue to do so even if no one read our words, but just know that my love for my readers keeps me going even when I may not feel motivated. After three years, I write for you guys as much as I write for myself and the growth opportunities. Thank you so much for allowing me the privilege of being part of such an amazing community of free spirits and free thinkers, of those who are not afraid to question the status quo, and who continually strive to improve literacy and promote reading throughout the globe.

Thank you to everyone who has followed me on this crazy journey of mine. You have seen me through highs and lows, both personally and professionally. You have remained patient through my love of all things Twilight and my ongoing fascination with anything vampiric. You have cheered on my family and become like family yourselves. I love you guys!

Review - The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:45:00 PST

Title: The Crown
Author: Nancy Bilyeau
ISBN: 9781451626858
No. of Pages: 418
Genre: Historical fiction
Synopsis:

"Joanna Stafford, a Dominican nun, learns that her favorite cousin has been condemned by Henry VIII to be burned at the stake. Defying the sacred rule of enclosure, Joanna leaves the priory to stand at her cousin's side. Arrested for interfering with the king's justice, Joanna, along with her father, is sent to the Tower of London.

The ruthless Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, takes terrifying steps to force Joanna to agree to spy for him: to save her father's life she must find an ancient relic - a crown so powerful, it may hold the ability to end the Reformation. Accompanied by two monks, Joanna returns home to Dartford Priory and searches in secret for this long-lost piece of history worn by the Saxon King Athelstan in 937 during the historic battle that first united Britain.

But Dartford Priory has become a dangerous place, and when more than one dead body is uncovered, Joanna departs with a sensitive young monk, Brother Edmund, to search elsewhere for the legendary crown. From royal castles with tapestry-filled rooms to Stonehenge to Malmesbury Abbey, the final resting place of King Athelstan, Joanna and Brother Edmund must hurry to find the crown if they want to keep Joanna's father alive. At Malmesbury, secrets of the crown are revealed that bring to light the fates of the Black Prince, Richard the Lionhearted, and Katherine of Aragon's first husband, Arthur. The crown's intensity and strength are beyond the earthly realm and it must not fall into the wrong hands.

With Cromwell's troops threatening to shutter her priory, bright and bold Joanna must now decide who she can trust with the secret of the crown so that she may save herself, her family, and her sacred way of life. This provocative story melds heart-stopping suspense with historical detail and brings to life the poignant dramas of women and men at a fascinating and critical moment in England's past."

Thoughts: Much has been made of Henry's divorce from his first wife, paving the way for the Protestant faith to take hold in England, yet little in historical fiction has dared approach what the people must have felt to have their only known faith stripped from them and made treasonous. In The Crown, Nancy Bilyeau takes this little-trodden idea and takes it one step further by focusing on those most impacted by such changes - those who devoted their entire life to God. Through Bilyeau's careful research, the reader gets a clear picture of just how dangerous their pious lives became after Henry declared himself the one true leader of the Church.

Joanna is a most unusual heroine of the period in that she is humble, capable, and does not need a man, marriage, or children to find fulfillment. At one point in time, Bilyeau leads the reader to suspect that there may be a "happily ever after" ending for our heroine. There is that but not in the traditional sense. Even better, Joanna does not preach. Her faith is sincere but private. The religious imagery and history, while a huge focal point of the story, remains subdued enough for even the most atheistic reader.

The mysterious and mystical crown, from which the book receives its name, is almost unnecessary to further a reader's interest in the story. The story receives its heart and soul from Joanna's, and the priory's, struggle to survive in a world that is abjectly hostile to anything Roman Catholic. Athestan's crown, while an interesting piece of trivia, is second fiddle to the drama that is Tudor England at this time. That being said, its very existence does raise questions on the power of faith, something at the very heart of the conflict.

The Crown by Nancy Bilyeau is a fascinating departure from typical novels about the Tudor period, specifically Henry VIII's reign. Taking place as far from court life as possible, Bilyeau is able to capture the feeling of confusion and fear of all his subjects during the rise of Cromwell and the Protestants. Joanna, as an educated woman from a family of privilege is remarkable in her humility, courage and faith. Well-researched and well-written, and requiring only a small modicum of suspension of belief, The Crown is a welcome addition to the historical fiction drama.

Acknowledgements: Thank you to NetGalley and Justina Batchelor from Simon & Schuster for my review copy!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - January 23th

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:45:00 PST

Hosted by Sheila from Book Journey, this is a weekly event to share what we've read in the past week and what we hope to read, plus whatever else comes to mind.

It was another productive week last week, even without listening to an audiobook.

Finished Last Week:

Seriously, why did I wait SO long to read A Discovery of Witches. It is one of the best books I've read in a LONG time!

Currently Reading:

Currently Listening:

Still nothing. I don't know what is wrong with me.

Up Next:

As always, I reserve the right to change my mind, depending on how I feel on any given day.

What are you reading this week?

The Sunday Salon - January 22nd

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:00:03 PST

Damn Packers. I was so worried that their bye week would be detrimental. It turns out I was right. Now I'm left scrambling to find a new team to root for during the remainder of the football season. I still love football, but it just isn't the same when your team is out of contention.

It is the middle of January, and we finally received our first real winter storm of the season. It's unfortunate it decided to hit on a Friday night and bring nothing but a decent layer of ice rather than any snow. Better luck next time!

No more puppy teeth! This may seem trivial but seriously, to not have to deal with those needle-sharp teeth anymore is a blessing and deserving of a celebration.

Holly is being honored tomorrow evening by being one of two students in her class to demonstrate Skype to the local school board. She says she is nervous, but I think she's excited too. All she can talk about is her presentation. We'll be there for moral support, but I know she is going to be just fine. She adores her teacher and will do almost anything to make her proud. In situations like this, that is a good thing.

Reviewed this week:

The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man's Quest to Be a Better Husband by David Finch
Smut by Alan Bennett
Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men by Molly Harper (audiobook)
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

I don't know about you but an ice storm screams chili. I need to go start a pot. Have a great Sunday, everyone! Happy reading!

Mini-review Saturday - A Monster Calls and The Yellow Wallpaper

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:00:08 PST

Title: A Monster Calls: Inspired by an Idea from Siobhan Dowd
Author: Patrick Ness
ISBN: 9780763655594
No. of Pages: 224
Genre: Young Adult
Synopsis:

"At seven minutes past midnight, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes to find a monster outside his bedroom window. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting-- he's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the nightmare he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments. The monster in his backyard is different. It's ancient. And wild. And it wants something from Conor. Something terrible and dangerous. It wants the truth. From the final idea of award-winning author Siobhan Dowd-- whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself-- Patrick Ness has spun a haunting and darkly funny novel of mischief, loss, and monsters both real and imagined."

Thoughts: For a beautifully written novel about grief and learning to let go, one need look no further than Patrick Ness' A Monster Calls. Deliciously creepy, Ness calls to mind every nightmare anyone has ever had. Conor's struggle to accept the inevitable is every bit as poignant as one might imagine. Ness captures perfectly a not-so-little boy's anxiety over his mother's failing health and fervent attempts to avoid the truth. Readers should expect to cross the gamut of emotion, from fear to grief and back again. It truly is as good as everyone has been saying.
Acknowledgements: Mine. All mine.

Title: The Yellow Wallpaper and Selected Writings
Author: Charlotte Perkins Gilman
ISBN: 9781844085583
No. of Pages: 45
Genre: Classics
Synopsis:

"Based on the author's own experiences, The Yellow Wallpaper is the chilling tale of a woman driven to the brink of insanity by the 'rest cure' prescribed after the birth of her child. Isolated in a crumbling colonial mansion, in a room with bars on the windows, the tortuous pattern of the yellow wallpaper winds its way into the recesses of her mind."

Thoughts: The Yellow Wallpaper brings to mind the chicken and the egg argument. In this case, which came first, the woman's mental illness or the wallpaper? Was she mentally deranged before she gave birth? Would she have been okay had she not been put on bed rest? Who truly is at fault - the husband who ordered her to rest, genetics, or that blasted wallpaper? Written as journal entries, the reader bears the full brunt of the woman's downward spiral into delusions, all the while left with a myriad of unanswered questions thanks to an extremely flawed narrator. Another creepy novel in which nothing is as it seems and during which the reader is forced to draw his or her own conclusions, The Yellow Wallpaper brings to the fore the idea of gender relationships and the inadequacies of previous medical treatments. There is no doubt that this short story will continue to stand the test of time and provide plenty of discussion fodder for years to come.
Acknowledgements: Mine. All mine.

Fabulous Friday - January 20th

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:45:00 PST

Another Christmas gift. Because my family knows me so well, I actually received two of them. Does this make me a majority shareholder?

I'm an NFL Team Owner!!

What makes it a Fabulous Friday for you?

Audiobook Review - Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men by Molly Harper

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:45:01 PST

Title: Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men
Author: Molly Harper
Narrator: Amanda Ronconi
ISBN: B00369UYG2
Audiobook Length: 9 hours, 48 minutes
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Synopsis:

"With her best friend Zeb’s Titanic-themed wedding looming ahead, new vampire Jane Jameson struggles to develop her budding relationship with her enigmatic sire, Gabriel. It seems unfair that she’s expected to master undead dating while dealing with a groom heading for a nuptial nervous breakdown, his hostile werewolf in-laws, and the ugliest bridesmaid dress in the history of marriage.

Meanwhile, the passing of Jane’s future step-grandpa puts Grandma Ruthie back on the market. Her new fiance, Wilbur, has his own history of suspiciously dead spouses, and he may or may not have died ten years ago. Half-Moon Hollow’s own Black Widow has finally met her match.

Should Jane warn her grandmother of Wilbur’s marital habits or let things run their course? Will Jane always be an undead bridesmaid, never the undead bride?"

Thoughts: Poor Jane. Being human, and alive, has never looked quite as enticing. Forced to wear the ugliest bridesmaid dress in existence all while trying to keep the groom alive, maneuvering through the minefield that is her family relationships, and trying to make sense of her relationship with Gabriel, it is enough to turn even the nicest girl into something best seen on The Exorcist. Throughout all her trials and tribulations however, Jane remains her goofy self replete with her insecurities, her strong sense of obligation, and her wit.

Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men picks up several months after the end of the first novel. While there are some references to the first book, first-time readers will be able to survive after just reading the synopsis. This time, the reader gets a better look at Jane's circle of friends and family, adding some much-needed character development that was missing the first time around. Jane is much more comfortable in her vampire skin now that she has had several months to get used to the transformation. Her family's inability to adjust to her new lifestyle add some of the funniest, albeit saddest, moments in the story. We all want to be accepted for who we are, and the fact that Jane's family cannot is disappointing even as these scenes provides comic relief.

Amanda Ronconi had me in stitches with her enactment of Jane. Just the barest hint of a Southern accent creeps through her performance, which fits the locale of the novel. The timbre of her voice is perfectly suited to audio, just low enough to still be feminine while not irritating the listener. The only drawback to her performance is her attempt at male voices. While Ms. Ronconi's voice is low for a female, she cannot pull off the bass notes necessary to emulate masculine voices. The result is something that sounds more painful than male. Still, as Jane, she captures her sarcasm, earnestness and gaucheness will also portraying hints of the strength of character that makes Jane such a great heroine.

Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men makes no demands of the reader other than to sit back and chuckle. The gentle mocking of the entire genre never gets old but only serves to add to the general hilarity. Jane remains endearingly clumsy and absolutely charming. Every once in a while, every reader needs a book that does not take itself too seriously but should be enjoyed as is, with minimal effort. Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men fits the bill perfectly.

Acknowledgements: Mine. All mine.

Review - Smut by Alan Bennett

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:45:00 PST

Title: Smut
Author: Alan Bennett
ISBN: 9781250003164
Genre: Short stories
No. of Pages: 152
Synopsis:

"One of England's finest and most loved writers explores the uncomfortable and tragicomic gap between people's public appearance and their private desires in two tender and surprising stories.

In The Greening of Mrs. Donaldson, a recently bereaved widow finds interesting ways to supplement her income by performing as a patient for medical students, and renting out her spare room. Quiet, middle-class, and middle-aged, Mrs. Donaldson will soon discover that she rather enjoys role-play at the hospital, and the irregular and startling entertainment provided by her tenants.

In The Shielding of Mrs. Forbes, a disappointed middle-aged mother dotes on her only son, Graham, who believes he must shield her from the truth. As Graham's double life becomes increasingly complicated, we realize how little he understands, not only of his own desires but also those of his mother.

A master storyteller dissects a very English form of secrecy with two stories of the unexpected in otherwise apparently ordinary lives."

Thoughts: Lately, there has been a spate of novels that enforce the lesson that one can never truly know someone else. While someone may portray himself in a public persona as polished and urbane, this same person could be struggling with a mental disorder or harboring a hoarding fetish. One just never knows and can never know all of the details. Smut is yet another example of this, focusing on sexual proclivities instead of other personality traits.

What is Smut? This is one instance where the author's choice of verbiage is quite telling. This one little word has multiple definitions, all of which apply to Bennett's stories. One definition for smut is a particle of dirt or a smudge made by soot or dirt. Yet another definition is something that is obscene in writing or speech. The third, and probably most well-known, definition is pornography. It is also a form of fungus on grains. Driving home the point that what is ordinary to some is extraordinary to others, both of Bennett's main characters experience a shift in their own definitions of smut. What both of them would have once considered obscene becomes acceptable, even commonplace. These acts become as innocent as a smudge of dirt to the main characters, while others revile their actions as akin to the lowliest form of fungi.

With a title like Smut, one would expect a fair level of explicit sex. While there are definitely sex scenes, Bennett shies away from crossing over into the pornographic. Granted, for certain readers even what is portrayed may be too much, but that is not Bennett's intent. Through Mrs. Donaldson's awakening and Graham's own experiences, the reader is meant to understand better the complexity of human nature and the fear in which each of us lives at the thought of being considered abnormal or different from others.

Because of its very nature, Smut is not for all audiences; it does take a fair amount of open-mindedness about sexuality to finish either story. For those willing and able to do so, Bennett's short stories provide tremendous insight into those who may be considered to be on the fringes of society, even if they appear perfectly ordinary to the world. Truly, what is "ordinary" and "normal" anyway?

Acknowledgements: Thank you to the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association for my advanced copy!

Review - The Journal of Best Practices by David Finch

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Shannon) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:45:00 PST

Title: The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man's Quest to Be a Better Husband
Author: David Finch
ISBN: 9781439189719
No. of Pages: 224
Genre: Memoir
Synopsis:

"At some point in nearly every marriage, a wife finds herself asking, what is wrong with my husband’s brain?! In David Finch’s case, this turns out to be an apt question. Five years into his marriage, David and his wife Kristen learn that he has Asperger Syndrome, an autism spectrum condition characterized by egocentricity, unusual and sometimes repetitive behaviors, and impaired social reasoning. The diagnosis explains David’s life-long quirks, his difficulty socializing, and his need for things to go according to plan. But it doesn’t make him any easier to live with.

Determined to change that, David embarks on an ambitious journey to understand and rein in the symptoms of the disorder which have wreaked havoc on his marriage. With the analytical fervor typical of an Aspie and with Kristen’s patient help, David compiles a list of best practices—hard-won epiphanies that arise from fights, from self-reflection both comic and painful, and once from watching SportsCenter: “be her friend first and always,” “use words,” “thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s life,” and “laundry: better to fold and put away than to take only what you need from the dryer.” Over the course of two years, the Journal of Best Practices leads David to surprising insights, transforming him into a better husband, father, and all-around better guy… albeit one who sometimes quacks in public."

Thoughts: Having met David Finch in Detroit last October during the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association annual trade show, I discovered first-hand what a genuinely funny person he is. I knew that reading his memoir, The Journal of Best Practices, would be an enjoyable experience. I was prepared for the humor; I was not prepared for the heartfelt honesty and almost heartbreaking determination he shows throughout his journey to overcome his Asperger's in order to save his marriage. While David explains how difficult simple, everyday situations are for him due to his Asperger's, the lessons he learns over the eighteen-month experiment are truly lessons for every male.

Any memoir is only as good as the forthrightness of the author. David's honesty is as refreshing as it is touching to behold. There is no holding back for Mr. Finch. He is surprisingly candid in telling his story; for better or for worse, David tells it like it really was. He does not hide the fact that he was a distant father or selfish husband. A story such as his needs this openness to showcase his struggles and help the reader understand just how remarkable his successes are. Because of his honesty, the reader walks away from his story feeling as if s/he really knows David and feels humbled at being allowed such an intimate look into his life.

Every woman should be so lucky to have a husband like David. Ultimately, his love for Kristin is the driving force behind his need for self-improvement. The fact that he was able to make it so long without a diagnosis of any sort shows that he was able to function in society. He did not have to attempt to this experiment, and yet he jumped into it with as much enthusiasm and excitement as any five-year-old on Christmas morning. Given the divorce rates these days, most people in Kristin and David's situation would have called it quits. The fact that they did not is testament to their love, and it is beautiful to behold.

Marriage is never easy. Marriage to someone with Asperger Syndrome makes it even more difficult, especially if neither party knows that he has Asperger's at the beginning of the marriage. What is remarkable is the effort and work both Kristin and David put forth to save their marriage. The Journal of Best Practices is a great example of the dedication and perseverance it requires for a healthy and happy marriage. Better yet, David Finch has made it easy for every husband out there to learn what women truly want!

Acknowledgements: Thank you to the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association and David Finch for my review copy!