Literature and a Lens

REVIEW: Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew J. Sullivan

2018-03-22T09:40:00.000-04:00

Following a young woman with a hidden past dealing with the suicide at the bookstore where she works, Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew J Sullivan weaves a multi-thread narrative that flashes back and forth different time periods. The story begins with Lydia Smith finding a photograph of herself in the pocket of Joey Molina after he unexpectedly commits suicide. This discovery leads her on a long and winding path that will ultimately unlock secrets she’s worked years to bury and uncover information about the life she left behind years ago.

Sullivan skillfully creates a tangled mystery and methodically unravels the puzzle to a satisfying conclusion. There was never a moment when any reveals or actions left me scratching my head trying to make sense of things. Much of the novel centers on the theme of motivation. Why does Lydia keep her previous life deeply hidden? Why did Joey hang himself? Why did Lydia’s dad suddenly uproot and relocate the two of them to the woods? These and many other questions about what drives the characters actions are central to the story, with some being fully explored and others left to linger only partially explained.

However, the biggest issue for me was the distance that was created between the reader and the characters. I never felt like Sullivan did a deep dive with any of the characters and that left things feeling a little flat. Which is disappointing considering I really enjoyed the mystery. I never felt a connection with any of the characters much less Lydia who we follow most of the book. Yes, there is some backstory and personality conveyed, but nothing stood out as particularly interesting or endearing. I think more attention was given to ensuring that the puzzle’s solution was airtight, which I can appreciate, than creating a musli-layered protagonist. Overall, the story felt much more observational in a crime-of-the-week way that I would happily binge watch but probably won’t remember much by next week.

*3 Stars

*I received this book as an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Strays by Emily Bitto

2017-04-21T13:38:00.001-04:00

"Are you listening, girls... I want you to understand that art is never wrong or immoral."

The Strays begins on Lily's first day at a new school where she befriends Eva Trentham, daughter of avant-guarde painter Evan Trentham and his wife Helena. Loosely based on the Heide Circle, a group of artists in 1930s Australia who lived on a old dairy farm, The Strays ventures into a bohemian artist colony through the eyes of Lily. As the only child of a conservative working class family, she longs to immerse herself in the bohemian world of the Trenthams.

"Trying to describe my friendship with Eva is like showing the slides from a life-changing journey. The images can never break their borders and make their way into the body...they can never convey the feeling of profound change, brought about simply by altering one's place in the world."

Little by little, Lily becomes a fixture in the house and her and Eva become inseparable. Evan and Helena's parenting consists mostly of forced self reliance as the girls must fend for themselves amongst all the other "strays" in an environment filled with temperamental artists and adult gatherings. Spending their days on the outskirts of the adults' glamorous lives, the girls lounge around the garden with stolen alcohol and cigarettes while contemplating the life questions that plague adolescents. Unfortunately, this living arrangement isn't the utopia it seems and soon Lily begins to see that the idyllic life she so coveted my not be everything she dreamed.

Emily Bitto has won several Australian literary prizes for The Strays, and I can understand why. Her writing style is informative yet plain, which I say as a positive. She lets the characters shine by keeping the story less plot driven and more slow burning. She writes with a gentle, melancholy, and contemplative hand the tale of a liberal family's struggles in conservative 1930s Australian society.

One big theme recurring throughout the novel is the definition of family. Is it biology or choice? Eva and Lily are not related, but they form a strong sisterly bond that Eva lacks with her two biological sisters. Evan and Helena Trentham make the choice to, for all intents and purposes, neglect their children and construct their own "family" from the many artists they invite to live in their home. In many ways we see how this can be a positive, the ability to create a family where one's own fails, but whether we want it to or not, one's blood relations can impact in ways we can never fully understand yet are incapable of stopping.

Another idea the author plays with is that of women in art as timelines for male artists. Women artists of that time are rarely allowed to stand on their own. They must be placed along the timeline of their husbands and lovers. Helena allowed herself to take a backseat to Evan's career and become a wife and mother, but quickly she begins to resent her decision. In an effort to right a wrong in her life, she begins to gather all of the "strays" into her fold to keep it from happening to them. In her mind, she can provide a living arrangement for female artists to flourish without succumbing to societal pressures.

Bookended by an adult Lily trying to make sense of things and coming to terms with the guilt for the role she played, The Strays delves into the intense friendships of youth and the need to belong to someone somewhere. The characters felt a little one dimensional, but it seems to be on purpose. We're reading about these people through the eyes of a child who very well may not have understood the depths and intricacies of adult life. There is a definite sentiment that many family secrets are intertwined and buried, and it says a lot about an author who can refrain from digging into the indiscretions. Anything more than presented would have felt exploitative.

The Strays was an enjoyable journey into a period of Australian history with which I am unfamiliar. In fact, I would have enjoyed a slightly longer version with more to ground the story in the 30s and 40s. The elements of art decency during that time period were fascinating but all too fleeting, and I wouldn't have been opposed to a slightly longer work that dove a little deeper into the historical fiction realm, but what Bitto has provided is quite worth the read.

*I received this book as an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Whole Art of Detection by Lyndsay Faye

2017-03-23T11:53:00.001-04:00

*4 Stars

I first came across Lyndsay Faye's work in 2012 after reading The Gods of Gotham, the first in her Timothy Wilde series, and completely fell in love. Her writing wrapped itself around me and fully transported me to mid-19th century New York City in a way that few historical fiction books can accomplish. Accurately capturing the dialogue of these classic characters is one of her strongest skills and sets her apart from other historical fiction authors. Her newest anthology is no exception, and I jumped at the chance to review this one.

The Whole Art of Deception is a collection of Faye's original short stories based upon the canon of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes mysteries. The anthology is broken into four sections: Before Baker Street, The Early Years, The Return, and The Later Years. This division allows the reader to really get a full perspective of Holmes' and Watson's characters, particularly the stories that take place before the two met when each solved mysteries on their own. I thought that the story An Empty House was quite heart-wrenching, but gives a powerful glimpse of Dr. Watson's profound grief after the death of his wife Mary.

Overall, the variety of stories presented was great! A handful of them were in the form of diary entries from both Holmes and Watson. The entries from Holmes were particularly insightful as they give a look into his mind's inner workings and how he views those around him, especially Watson. I gained a better understanding of the degree and strength of their friendship, which is an area at which Faye excels. While accurately mimicking Doyle's writing style, she manages to capture how much these two frustrate and irritate one another while still displaying how true their friendship really is. A story that stands out is a retelling of the Hound of the Baskervilles but from Sherlock's perspective as he is called away from the main action in the original. There are many little tidbits for those who are serious fans of Doyle's canon.

While I haven't read all of Arthur Conan Doyle books, I am a fan of the Sherlock Holmes character in his many different forms from tv to film to books with Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal being one of my favorites. His is the image I had in my head as I read through each story, and I think it helped increase my enjoyment overall. There was a good mixture of story composition types as some were longer and others were mere snippets while some stories were either complex or a more straight forward deduction. The simplicity of the stories really stood out to me though, in a positive way. Faye focuses more on the cases and character quality than trying to recreate a perfect, historically accurate setting that many times winds up bogging down a story with excessive details.

The anthology format makes this collection easy to pick up and put down at a leisurely pace without the feeling of fragmentation. Many of these stories have been published in other places, but it's nice to see all of them together and with the addition of two new tales. This one is highly recommended for fans of either Lyndsay Faye's previous works or fans of Sherlock Holmes.

*I received this book as an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

2017-02-20T07:25:00.000-05:00

Returning to Roanoke, her grandparents' farm in rural Kansas, was the last thing that Lane ever intended on doing. Though only spending one summer surrounded by family secrets in a dying town, she left for California and vowed never to go back. After years of just trying to exist, she receives a call from her Grandfather telling her about her cousin Allegra's recent disappearance. Sensing something isn't quite right, Lane hops on a plane and returns to the tragic place that she left all those years ago in the hopes of finding Allegra or at least assuage her own guilt over running away.

By integrating all the Roanoke girls' stories, Amy Engel weaves a page-turning family saga that switches between Lane's first summer in Osage Flats, Kansas all those years ago and her return. At first the time shifts every chapter confused me, but I did get comfortable with the format and could see why the author chose to present her story this way. While the book was very easy to read, I felt more of a YA voice coming through than the adult thriller I believe Engel intended. This makes sense considering that her two previous novels fell into the YA genre; however, considering the disturbing subject matter I thought a more nuanced tone could have been used.

And that brings be to my biggest concern with the story. Without revealing any spoilers, just be aware that there is a taboo subject at the heart of The Roanoke Girls that might be a bit much for a lot of people. I do think the big reveal happened too early in the book, within the first 5 chapters, to have as much impact as a later reveal would have, but I this seems to have been done on purpose as nothing that comes after is sensationalized. I don't believe that the family secret itself was intended to be the focus as much as the destructiveness of families and damaged people, so the marketing as a "thriller" seems a bit misleading.

Even though the the subject matter made me uneasy and the story itself felt foreseeable, I did compulsively turn the pages in order to watch everything play out. The Roanoke Girls is a controversial yet solid first novel from Amy Engel that should cause quite a stir once released.

*I received this book as an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Revenge by Yoko Ogawa

2017-02-14T07:26:00.000-05:00

While the title is a bit misleading, there is very little revenge between the covers, my experience reading Revenge: Eleven Dark Tales by Yoko Ogawa was wonderful! Sometimes a book appears in the right place at the right time in life. Overall, I'd probably rate the stories 3 and 4 stars, but the way I felt reading them makes this a 5 star for me. It's hard to pin down such nebulous "feelings" but when it hits you just know.

Now, I don't want to reveal too much about the stories because they are short and telling too much would kind of ruin one's enjoyment, but my favorite aspect of this book was the interconnectedness. Ogawa skillfully weaves her characters lives together, though some stories have a thinner thread than others. After reading about half the book, I began eagerly turning the page looking for that "Aha!" moment that connected a tale to another earlier on. It was a bit like playing detective and searching for the clues. I read through this collection quite quickly, which I think helped me spot the linking details.

The tone of this short story collection walks the line between macabre and horror. There is just enough description to make the reader uneasy but not enough to take it over the line into gross-out territory. Short sentence structures and simple word choices add to the tense tone, but I don't know if this is due to Ogawa's writing style or Stephen Snyder excellent translation.

Revenge definitely offers a true sensory experience. This is a book to be savored and being present in the moment just adds to the reading. If you participate in the R.I.P Challenge around Halloween then I would add this one to your list. I plan to reread this collection again this fall to see how well it holds up.

REVIEW: Day Drinking: 50 Cocktails for a Mellow Buzz by Kat Odell

2017-02-13T19:24:00.002-05:00

Kat Odell has compiled many recipes from bartenders from all around the country. There is a distinct laid-back, almost retro vibe to the writing that I found enjoyable. Each drink comes with a little history and backstory that added to the nostalgia of bygone eras where drinking for flavor trumped quick inebriation. The photographs are lovely and the styling matches the overall tone of the book well.

The concept of day drinking is one that most people are familiar with, including myself, and I love the idea of a book filled with low-alcohol beverages. It's nice to have flavorful options that won't result in slurred speech and a hangover. While these drinks are targeted towards low-key day consumption, I could see these as great evening cocktails for those who prefer lighter beverages.

I found a lot of recipes I'd love to try out, particularly the coffee based ones, the fruity summer spritzers, and an earl grey & Pimm's combination. Overall, I found the directions simple and where there are ingredients that may be harder to find Odell does a good job of offering possible substitutions. There is also a handy list of measurement conversions and equipment definitions that I found particularly useful.

While I haven't made any of the cocktails yet, I'm looking forward to trying them out as the spring and summer months approach. This book would make an excellent gift for fellow day drinkers or for someone who prefers lighter cocktails!

*I received this book as an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Don't Feed the Monkey Mind - Jennifer Shannon, LMFT

2017-02-10T10:57:00.001-05:00

As someone who has suffered from generalized anxiety for the last three years, I have read many many books on the subject looking for a little relief. Jennifer Shannon's book captures the whirlwind of emotions and thoughts swirling around inside an anxious person's head. This may stem from the fact that the author lives with a "monkey mind" herself, and the inclusion of her personal stories gives the reader a way to connect with someone who truly understands what he or she is going through on a daily basis. Her approach to dealing with anxiety differs from the typical relaxation and meditation advice and uses the counterintuitive approach of confrontation, which I found refreshing.

Shannon's simplification of the topic, especially the causes, allows the book to be more approachable for most readers. Using the image of a monkey inside our minds helps illustrate the concept in a way that makes sense. Narrowing down the root assumptions of an anxious person's belief system is a great classification system that most readers will be able to relate to themselves. Another aspect that helped the book stand out was the repetition of her core principles and concepts such as the cycle of anxiety and the use of expansion charts. While the website was not operational at the time of reading, the way it was integrated throughout the book could be quite helpful.

On a personal level, there were a few areas that didn't work for me. The writing style was a little too simplified in parts and the continuous use of the monkey metaphor did become tiring by the end. Also, the intended audience seemed to change during the book. Sometimes it felt intended for educated adults but at other times the repetition and simplification lent itself to a book intended for adolescents. Overall, these points probably wouldn't be considered issues by most readers so I don't think it negatively affects the book as a whole. There were many sentences and talking points that I marked as I read that definitely gave me things to think about.

While maybe this book's writing style wasn't my favorite, I do recommend this book for anyone suffering from anxiety looking for a little relief and/or validation. The included exercises and quizzes are a nice addition, and the techniques for coping with anxiety and it's symptoms are innovative and nontraditional in a way I haven't seen in other books.

*I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

REVIEW: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

2014-03-28T09:39:00.000-04:00

Boy, did I underestimate this classic! Perhaps I’ve always misjudged it because of the cheesy mass market paperback cover. You know the one I’m talking about. Basically the vibe of every dime store romance novel: red satin sheet, big gold lettering. I purchased my copy from a local Goodwill more than a year ago mostly for the haunting cover to the left. This is such a better representation of the material between the covers.

From the famous opening line “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again“, Rebecca begins as a woman cryptically looks back on her life. Soon you are transported to Monte Carlo where the young woman's story began. Working as a companion for an older American woman, this unnamed narrator seems happy to be free from her old life but yearns for something to come along and shake things up.

Enter Maxim de Winter, intelligent, suave and the owner of Manderley, his estate a little outside of London. He lost his wife, the devastatingly beautiful Rebecca, over a year ago and has come to Monte Carlo to help distance himself from such a tragic event. Over the course of the summer, our heroine and Maxim begin a courtship that results in a hasty and business like marriage proposal. Eager to embark upon a new chapter of her life she agrees and soon they are arriving on the grounds of his massive estate.

The rest of the gothic romance is best experienced with little spoilers. I think that’s why I enjoyed it so much. Du Maurier creates a very atmospheric estate at Manderley with her descriptions of the gardens, the palatial house, the sea, and that damn fog. There is an interesting dynamic that plays out between the couple and the servants that I think would appeal to Downton Abbey fans.

With so many plot turns, I sped through the last half of the novel with such fervor. Rebecca is one of those novels where the narrator enters your head and has you thinking about the story even when you’re not currently reading it. There was such a need to find out what happens.

While not short, clocking in at a little under 400 pages, Rebecca grabbed me by the collar and wouldn’t let go. I can see why this is a favorite read for Halloween and the many spooky reading challenges. Highly recommend!

REVIEW: Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner

2014-01-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

After being sent away for committing a public transgression, romance novel author Edith Hope, who writes under the pseudonym Vanessa Wilde, finds herself checking into the remote and exclusive Hotel du Lac. Located on a lakeshore in Switzerland with grey mountain views, the hotel provides a bit of a sanctuary in which to rest and gather one’s thoughts. The yearly tourist season is coming to a close and Edith finds herself wrapped in the quiet solitude needed to honestly analyze her life choices so far and contemplate her future. Here she is able to work on her latest novel as well as write letters to David, the married lover she left behind in London.

Soon though, Edith decides to venture from her room and begins encountering the other guests of the hotel, many of which have been disgraced or spurned by love in one way or another. Through her eyes and introspective observations, we meet the interesting and somewhat stereotypical cast of characters that make up the bulk of the story, including wealthy and pretentious Mrs. Pusey and her daughter Jennifer, the elderly Mme de Bonneuil who has been dumped at the hotel by her son, the astonishingly thin Monica who was sent away by her husband, and the devilish middle-aged businessman Philip Neville. Beginning as just passive people watching, Edith is soon drawn into each character’s sphere in one way or another. These interactions, situational reflections, and recollections through letters allow these characters to fully develop. From here Brookner builds the slow, perceptive narrative that makes up this meandering novel of manners.

As is often the case when I read books that have won prestigious awards, Hotel du Lac has many elements of a well-crafted piece of literature but isn’t necessarily the most interesting read. Not much actually happens within the short 184-page story, and at first I had a hard time getting into it.

However, once I realized that the prose was the focal point and let go of my need for interesting characters or a plot full of action, I was able to ‘get’ what Brookner was doing. In fact, I’m glad to have read this story for the pure fact that now I have an example of not having to like or care about a novel’s characters to enjoy the book. Many readers get caught up in the idea that the only great stories are those with relatable or appealing characters.

In fact, Hotel du Lac feels off kilter but in an intentional way. This quiet novel is quite subtle and depressing and many people will find it boring. The main character Edith does border on hollow, but Brookner seems to do that intentionally in order to keep the focus on those around her. I found the females' judgment of other women, as well as men, particularly disheartening but all too realistic. Forget ‘the man,’ sometimes women can be each others worst enemies.

People love this one, especially women. Now you will notice, Harold, that in my books it is the mouse-like unassuming girl who gets the hero, which the scornful temptress with whom he has had a stormy affair retreats baffled from the fray, never to return. The tortoise wins every time. This is a lie, of course,’ she said pleasantly, but with authority. ‘In real life, of course, it is the hare who wins. Every time. Look around you. And in any case it is my contention that Aesop was writing for the tortoise market. Axiomatically,’ she cried, her voice rising with enthusiasm. ‘Hares have no time to read. They are too busy winning the game.

The purpose seems to be to critique society’s values and morals by creating characters that typify the stereotypes, especially female, on which Edith can mull and ponder and question. I enjoyed the meditation on personal choices and the examination of one’s own life and views as well as of the people that surround you.

Least you think I’m a huge champion of this book, I did find the whole spinster motif a little tiring. I can't even think of a novel that stars a male spinster, but I digress. While written in the 1980s, the book read like it was set in the 1940s but there was no indication of a historical setting. There wasn't much I found particularly witty within the pages, but I enjoyed the read. It was perfect for weathering this insanely cold winter we’ve been having. In fact, I would say the book was an accurate match to my mood at the time. Overall, I would call Hotel du Lac a solid read that is somewhat thought provoking but not life changing.

Tackling Mount TBR - Summer Edition

2012-06-19T07:30:00.000-04:00

Reading is one of my favorite things to do during the hot and lazy days of summer! More daylight hours means more natural light to read by. With so many great books being released lately, it has never been more easy to increase the size of my TBR pile. This summer I'm hoping to put a sizable dent in the mountain of books I've amassed. I'm not imposing any book buying bans on myself (because I know I would fail miserably), but I would like to pay special attention to all the potentially wonderful books currently residing on my shelves. So, without further ado I present:

TEN BOOKS AT THE TOP OF MY SUMMER TBR

The Darlings by Cristina Alger - After reading Greg's review over at The New Dork Review of Books, I knew I had to read this one soon. Books set in NYC always hold a special place on my shelves, but add in a wealthy dysfunctional family going through a scandal, and you've hooked me.

The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons - I've heard this one would be great for fans of "Downton Abbey." Many books like to tie themselves to famous works but don't actually have much in common, so we shall see if the comparison is accurate. Based on all the positive reviews, this sounds like a great atmospheric novel to lose myself in.

When She Awoke by Hillary Jordan - Borrowing from Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, Jordan erases the line between church and state in a very powerful and dystopian way. I'm really interested in seeing what kind of reaction I will have while reading about such stigmatization of women.

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami - Talk about major intimidation! I signed up for Dolce Bellizza's Japanese Literature Challenge as a way to push myself to tackle this Murakami which has been sitting on my shelf for years.

The Starboard Sea by Amber Dermont - Another addition to the TBR pile based on a book blogger recommendation. Ti at Book Chatter says, "The Starboard Sea is a book that reads easy, yet gives you plenty to think about." I also love books that center around prep schools.

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton - No summer is complete without throwing in a classic novel. I adore Wharton and consider her the queen of dramatic irony. While there wasn't as rigid a class structure in the US as in other countries at that time, Wharton manages to subtly remind us that they did exist and explores them with such nuanced writing. I have no doubt the this one will not disappoint.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain - The title alone speaks volumes to my introverted heart. Succeeding in today's world often feels like a contest to see who can talk the most and/or the loudest. I'm not saying one way or the other is right, but I'd love to see a little more respect for those of use who are "quiet."

The Submission by Amy Waldman - Another novel centering around a controversial topic. The jacket copy promises a "debate about the claims of grief, the ambiguities of art, and the meaning of Islam." Hopefully this one will be presented in a way that gets me thinking and questioning. I love a good philosophical debate.

Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee - In an effort to add more non-fiction to my reading repertoire I've decided to dive into this Pulitzer winner. Cancer has always been mystifying and, in all honesty, quite a scary disease, so I'm hoping to find a little more insight in this "biography." If nothing else I'm sure I'll take away some interesting anecdotes with which to pepper my conversations.

The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer - Armchair travel alert! Hungary, Paris, and Budapest all in one book. I've had my sights set on these cities as vacation destinations for a while, but until I have unlimited funds, I will have to settle for a journey through the written word. Plus, this satisfies my need for a chunkster clocking in at around 750 pages.

What one book are you hoping to tackle this summer?

As always, Top Ten Tuesday is brought to you by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. Be sure to check out what others are listing as their must-reads this summer. Who knows what new titles you'll find!

REVIEW: The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

2012-06-18T07:30:00.000-04:00

Title: The Sugar Queen

Author: Sarah Addison Allen

Pages: 276

Genre: Southern Fiction

Release Date: May 20th, 2008

Publisher: Bantam

Source: Personal Copy

What's it about? In The Sugar Queen, Allen's second published novel, we are introduced to Josie Cirrini. Being the daughter of the man who single-handedly revitalized Bald Slope, the late Marco Cirrini, has placed her in a spotlight that she would rather not grace. As a child Josie was less than pleasant to her family, friends or people in the town, and even though she changed her ways after the death of her father she still is unable to shed such a negative public persona especially, it seems, with her own mother.

Now, twenty-eight year old Josie lives at home and tends to her mother as a personal assistant shuttling her to hair appointments, luncheons and town errands in a never-ending quest to receive the forgiveness that she so desperately seeks. In the meantime, Josie fills the void with candy and junk food, travel magazines and trashy romance novels, which she keeps hidden behind a secret panel in the back of her closet, instead of living her own life outside her childhood home. Then one day everything changes with the arrival of Della Lee. Josie wakes one morning to find her hiding out in her closet, and, unsure of what to do, goes back and forth on whether to tell anyone. Della Lee is someone to talk to other than her mother and a part of Josie wants to help this poor woman from whatever she is hiding from.

As the days pass on, the woman hiding in the closet helps Josie on her road to find herself, and gives her the push she needs to spread her wings starting with Chloe, a young woman tormented by books that keep appearing out of thin air, who works at the local sandwich shop. Add in Adam, a local mailman and town transplant who quickly captures Josie's affections, and you've got the playful, heartwarming and at times difficult tale of a young woman on the verge of becoming comfortable in her own skin.

What did I think? Finally, I have done it. I have completed all of Sarah Addison Allen's novels. Ever since reading and thoroughly enjoying The Girl Who Chased the Moon last year I have been intent of reading everything she has written. Her playful stories always include a touch of magic but not in an obtrusive or integral way to the narrative. Kinda like a little cherry on top of an ice cream sundae. The treat would still be great without it, but the addition seems to complete everything. Plus, the quote below is an awesome justification for me to have shelves and shelves of books!

Books can be possessive, can't they? You're walking around in a bookstore and a certain one will jump out at you, like it had moved there on its own, just to get your attention. Sometimes what's inside will change your life, but sometimes you don't even have to read it. Sometimes it's a comfort just to have books around. Many of these books haven't even had their spines cracked. 'Why do you buy books you don't even read?' our daughter asks us. That's like asking someone who lives alone why they bought a cat. For company, of course.

I will say that The Sugar Queen was my least favorite of her novels. I wasn't as enchanted with the characters like I have been in others, and throughout a lot of the story I felt a disconnect. The cynic in me doesn't believe the almost instantaneous bond that formed between Josie and Chloe. Friendships are so much harder to cultivate and blossom than just ordering a sandwich a few times. Eventually Josie, Chloe, Della Lee and the rest of the gang did grow on me, and much of that I attribute to the multiple POVs. Each character gets a chance to tell his or her story, adding another layer of understanding for the reader. The narrative was predictable but in a good way. I don't think many people read SAA's work for crazy plot twists.

In the end, The Sugar Queen was a feel-good novel just this shy of sentimental. A young woman trapped in her house by an unforgiving mother yearning for friends and romance. The heroine is given the Rapunzel fairy tale treatment on her way to love and self discovery. Even though I'm the same age, watching Josie take those first steps toward freedom made me feel like a proud mother. In many ways I can relate to her character so watching her succeed felt like a win for all of us shy and socially awkward ladies out there. This whimsical tale made me tingle with warm and happy feelings, and I devoured it in about a day.

Recommend? Yes - if you are in the mood to indulge in an exceptionally sugary treat or if you are already a fan of Sarah Addison Allen's work.

REVIEW: The Unseen by Katherine Webb

2012-06-06T07:30:00.000-04:00

Title: The Unseen
Author: Katherine Webb
Pages: 464
Genre: Historical Thriller
Release Date: May 22nd, 2012
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Source: Copy provided by publisher for TLC Book Tours

What's it about? It's 1911 in a rural hamlet in England. The Vicar and his wife, Alfred and Hester Canning, live a simple life. Alfred prepares for Sunday sermons and visits parishioners during the week, and Hester finds entertainment with the ladies of the town playing Bridge and participating in seances. The biggest worry naive Hester faces is wondering why Alfred has yet to touch her in the ways of husband and wife after over a year of marriage.

As summer descends, two new arrivals bring the promise of change to the small community. Cat Morley, a feisty young woman with a complicated past, is sent from London to work as house maid for the Cannings. Although quick to settle into her duties, Cat still yearns for the freedom denied her because of her "station" in life. Meanwhile, Alfred's new found interest in fairies and spiritual elements in nature has brought the arrival of Robin Durrant, a theosophist excited to investigate the claims of such sightings nearby. Alternating between the past and the present, The Unseen offers a summer filled with discomfort, tension and jealousy that slowly come to a head in an tragic and unforgettable way.

What did I think? Seeing as how I finished this one at the beach, I can authoritatively say that this is an excellent beach read for this summer! Katherine Webb creates quite an engaging and thrilling story. The writing quickly drew me in and kept me turning the pages. I will say that the present day story of journalist Leah searching for the identity of a dead soldier found in Belgium was slightly lacking, but was woven in at, what I felt, were appropriate moments. There was definitely a modern vs old-fashioned woman theme swirling throughout, especially with Cat being contrasted with prim, naive and unquestioning Hester.

Of all the characters, Cat was by far my favorite. It takes a lot of talent to get me to cheer for such a harsh, cold, angry (although justifiably so) character, but I did wholeheartedly. Webb manages to touch on a lot of subjects, especially those concerned with women's rights, such as voting and overall freedom, and gender/class relations. This was a deeper novel on some levels than I was expecting.

The Unseen met my checklist for great summer book. Mystery and intrigue with a bit of the occult that I just couldn't stop reading. It took a lot for me to put the book down and fall asleep after reading into the wee hours. There were just too many questions floating in my head, and I just wanted to see how the pieces would fall together. After such a positive experience I will be seeking out Webb's previous novel The Legacy which was released last year. From what I hear it won't disappoint either!

Want to know what others are saying? Visit the next stops on the tour or check out the reviews on Goodreads

Thanks again to TLC Book Tours for having me on the tour. I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino

2012-06-01T07:30:00.000-04:00

Title: The Devotion of Suspect X

Author: Keigo Higashino
Pages: 298
Genre: Suspense Thriller
Release Date: February 1st, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Source: Personal Copy

What's it about? Yasuko Hanaoke has finally reached a good place in her life. Left behind are her days as a waitress in a nightclub as well as her abusive ex-husband, Togashi, who she divorced 5 years ago. Working a steady job at Benten-tei, a local lunch shop, she provides a decent home for her teenage daughter Misato. Everything seems to be working until one day Togashi shows up at her job demanding money. Not wanting the situation to become worse, Yasuki agrees in an attempt to keep her daughter safe until events intensify and suddenly turn deadly. Now Togashi's dead body lies in the middle of her apartment, and a stunned Yasuki has no idea what to do until her neighbor Ishigami, a high school teacher and mathematics genius, knocks on her door with a plan to dispose of the body and cover up the murder.

A few days later, Detective Kusanagi is called to a scene where a dead body has been discovered. After an initial inquiry, Yasuki's name is quickly drawn to the forefront of the investigation. While she has an airtight alibi, something in Kusanagi's gut tells him that there is more to the story than meets the eye. Unable to find a way to disprove her innocence, he calls on his friend Professor Yukawa, an astrophysicist at the local university, to help him find a hole in the story. Now the battle of wits has begun as Yukawa searches for answers to a seemingly unsolvable case, and Ishigami does everything in his power to protect Yasuki and her daughter.

What did I think? The Devotion of Suspect X is my first read for the Japanese Literature Challenge. I chose this one mainly because the plot was intriguing, and I wanted my first foray into this fascinating culture's literature to reflect modern day society. Keigo Higashino is one of Japan's bestselling mystery writers, so I figured this would be a great place to start. One thing this book conveys quite well is a sense of the mundane day-to-day life in Japan. There was definitely a relative philosophy angle integrated into the story making the overall tone of the book more highbrow instead of using violence and gore. The author creates a pretty captivating puzzle that kept me guessing until the end. Many of the twists and turns really did come as a surprise, which is a big deal in my book. Writing an adequate review is difficult because much explanation would completely spoil the story.

However, there were some negatives that kept me from falling completely for the novel. I was not a fan of the translation. The prose felt flat, and the dialogue was a little formal for my tastes. The sense of urgency that I expected from both sides didn't appear, and the characters just seemed to be going through the motions. Maybe this was due to, what I felt, was a slight lack of character development . All the requisite biographical facts were laid out, but I didn't really get a sense of how these people felt on an emotional level.

For the most part, I do recommend reading The Devotion of Suspect X, especially if you are new to Japanese literature. Yes, there are some issues, but overall I think Higashino creates a marvelous puzzle that fans of psychological thrillers will love. The characters are smart, and at times I found it hard to pick a side to root for as I read. Professor Yukawa was definitely an interesting character and appears in more books under the "Professor Galileo" series. It took me a while to get used to the unfamiliar name and place pronunciations, but I loved that this book took me out of my comfort zone. My success and enjoyment of Higashino's novel has me even more excited to tackle a Murakami in the upcoming months!

I've Accepted the Challenge!

2012-05-25T10:58:00.000-04:00

I've officially joined my first reading challenge...ever! Big news, right? I've been blogging for over a year without participating in a challenge, but this one was just too good to pass up. Like a lot of readers, I find that many of my book choices unintentionally fall into very homogeneous territory regarding both author and story. This is my attempt to rectify that just a little bit.

Hosted by Bellezza over at Dolce Bellezza, the Japanese Literature Challenge 6 is an exciting way to expand my reading horizons. Running from June 1st, 2012 to January 30th, 2013, the goal is to read one or more books by Japanese authors. Of course, mine will be translations, but it would be awesome to be able to read the original texts. Head on over to her site for some great recommendations to jump start your reading. Also, I must point out (if you hadn't already been awed) that the badge for this years challenge is absolutely gorgeous!

In all honesty, the fact that I'm currently reading The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino is what prompted me to join in the first place. I mean, I'd almost completed the challenge without even knowing it, so why not make it official? However, I then realized that I've had Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore sitting on my shelf for ages. This challenge gives me the motivation to finally get one of this widely read author's books under my belt.

So, my goal for the sixth annual Japanese Literature Challenge will be 2 books. Hopefully reading these will be such positive experiences that I'll want to seek out a few more, but for now I'll leave the goal small.

Have any of you signed up for this challenge or participated in years past? Whether you have or not, I'd love to hear your Japanese literature recommendations!

Long Gone by Alafair Burke

2012-05-23T06:55:00.000-04:00

Title: Long Gone
Author: Alafair Burke
Pages: 368
Genre: Suspense Fiction
Release Date: June 21st, 2011
Publisher: Harper
Source: Copy provided by publisher for TLC Book Tours

What's It About?: Things are starting to turn around for Alice Humphrey. At 37 she is unemployed, single, and struggling to get out from the shadow of her father, a famous movie director. It's been eight months since being laid off from her job at the Met, and Alice begins to question many of the choices in her life including her decision to get an MFA. Then one night at a local art show, she meets handsome and mysterious Drew Campbell who offers her a job managing the art gallery he is to open that will showcase the work of unknown Hans Schuler, an artist who's works are edgy, modern, and quite disturbing. Wondering if the offer is too-good-to-be-true, Alice's initial skepticism gives way to her desperation to not only find a job but to land her dream job.

Soon, Alice finds her rhythm again and enjoys the structure that managing the gallery has given to her days. While opening night may not have been packed, online orders for Schuler's work begin pouring in until one afternoon Alice finds a group of protesters marching outside the gallery alleging that some of the models in the photographs are underage. Unsure of what to do, she calls Drew for help and agrees to meet him at the gallery the next morning. However, when she arrives the gallery has been stripped of all art and a dead body lays on the ground. As the police begin their investigation, one that becomes entangled with a case involving a missing New Jersey teenager, Alice quickly finds herself as the prime suspect. Now she must do everything in her power to find out the truth, even if it means revealing some secrets long hidden by her estranged family.

What Did I Think?: Long Gone is Alafair Burke's first standalone novel and, from what I've read, departs from her usual detective based fare. I can't say if this is better than her previous works, but the story was quite suspenseful and riveting. Much of the book was consumed in large chunks as I couldn't stop turning the pages. An NYC setting, an underground criminal enterprise, hidden secrets, an on-again off-again boyfriend, an estranged brother, and a missing girl are just some of the elements that really made Long Gone come alive. This well-crafted tale employs many twists and turns along the way.

Even though predictable at times, I still fell into Alice's story quickly. While some of her choices came across as naive, especially for a 37 year old woman, they weren't outlandish. I chalk a lot up to the desparation created by being unemployed. As the investigation continues, Alice begins to grow and become more confident in herself instead of crumbling or relying on someone else. Yay for a strong heroine! Unfortunately, I felt that the male counterparts were a little lacking in development and came across as slightly stereotypical but not in an overt way that would bring the book down.

The prose flows well with both dialogue and detail complementing each other. For me, the beginning chapters introduced a lot of different characters and subplots and seemed a little choppy, but as I continued I realized that Burke's talent lies in taking these multiple story threads and weaving them together by the end of the book. Sure some of the subplots weren't as well developed or wraped up, but this didn't really affect my level of enjoyment.

While Long Gone may not appeal to some readers, I think most fans of psychological and suspense thrillers will enjoy it immensley. I like how Burke raised many of the questions surrounding social media today from online message boards to illegal photography to Facebook. This was my first Alafair Burke novel, but it certainly won't be my last!

Want to know what others are saying? Visit the next stops on the tour or check out Alafair Burke's website, Facebook page, and Twitter account for more information

Thanks again to TLC Book Tours for having me on the tour. I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff

2012-05-17T07:30:00.000-04:00

Title: Lost in Shangri-La
Author: Mitchell Zuckoff
Pages: 384
Genre: Historical Non-Fiction
Release Date: April 26th, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Copy provided by publisher for TLC Book Tours

Using diaries, letters, newspapers, declassified military documents, and many other sources, Mitchell Zuckoff explains what happened to the twenty-four men and women aboard the Gremlin Special, an Army Air Force plane intended to transport passengers on an aerial tour of uncharted parts of New Guinea. Almost at the end of World War II, this flight was intended to be a recreational trip to the remote area nicknamed "Shangri-La" in an attempt to see the lush jungle, remote villages, and natives' unusual lifestyle.

Unfortunately, the flight didn't go as planned, resulting in a spectacular crash killing most of those on board. Badly injured, the only three survivors, Margaret Hastings, John McCollom, and Kenneth Decker maintain hope of being rescued soon and decide to fight for their lives. In a courageous attempt at self preservation, these three must cross amazingly difficult terrain including harrowing rock climbs, sliding down waterfalls, and crawling through the thick and treacherous vines and brush covering the jungle floor. What follows is the intense adventure full of superstitious and potentially hostile natives, a group of paratroopers who risk their lives in a daring rescue attempt, and the trials and tribulations of the brave trio.

Hands down Zuckoff's writing makes Lost in Shangri-La. The readability, especially for non-fiction, was excellent, and I never felt overwhelmed or bored with the information presented. There is no doubt that this is one meticulously researched book, but the translation into a simple yet thrilling narrative is what kept me turning the pages. I also enjoyed the integration of anecdotes and historical facts within the narrative. This added a layer that helped me understand certain aspects surrounding the incident as well as kept the tension high. I just wanted to keep reading to see what was happening to the main trio!

So many parts of this narrative were engrossing. I loved reading a woman's perspective on being stranded around only men. The physical, emotional, and material needs are quite different. Seeing Margaret navigate such a difficult situation without any feminine products, much less female companionship, was interesting. Also, reading about the initial meetings between the village natives and the military as well as subsequent interactions appeased the part of me that is fascinated with social anthropology.

I can't think of a single group that couldn't find at least some part of the story intriguing. To put this in perspective, I not much of a non-fiction reader, so that cannot be used as an excuse. Besides, I'm not the only one who believes this book is a must-read. Lost in Shangri-La won the non-fiction category in the 2011 Indie Lit Awards. Okay, enough with the gushing. On to the commands - GO READ THIS BOOK!

Thanks again to TLC Book Tours for having me on the tour. I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

Be sure to check out the next few stops on the tour to see what others are saying!

Thursday, May 17th: Book Him Dano!
Wednesday, May 23rd: Doing Dewey
Monday, May 28th: Little Bit of Wonderful
Thursday, June 7th: Book Reviews, Fiction Reflections, ‘n More!

Blue Asylum by Kathy Hepinstall

2012-05-08T07:17:00.000-04:00

Title: Blue Asylum
Author: Kathy Hepinstall
Pages: 288
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: April 10th, 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Source: Copy provided by publisher for TLC Book Tours

Blue Asylum opens with a young woman on board a ship headed to Sanibel Asylum off the coast of Florida. Wondering how everything escalated from a simple life on her parents' farm to having her mental health quickly declared by a judge to be lacking, she must endure the journey to the small island while surrounded by the sound and smell of cattle. Daring to free slaves and lead them to freedom, Iris Dunleavy has been sent to the asylum in the hopes that she can be rehabilitated to a proper southern wife after standing up to her wealthy plantation owning husband in Virginia.

After arriving at Sanibel, Iris is quickly put under the care of the supervising doctor Henry Cowell whose methods are considered the best throughout the country. One of the more "modern" techniques of the facility is the harsh and debilitating water treatment used to reign in those who become out of control. In addition to caring for his patients, Dr. Cowell must also look after his troubled twelve-year-old son Wendell and his wife Mary who he keeps subdued with laudanum and trinkets.

Over the weeks Iris meets many of the other unusual tenants of the asylum including a woman who believes her dead husband is still alive and right beside her, a man who thinks his feet are impossibly heavy, and a lady who swallows anything she can get her hands on. Among those who are visibly ill, she spots Ambrose Weller playing checkers in the common area. Ambrose is a Confederate soldier who relies on the color blue to help combat the frightening memories of his past. The two form a bond of love, and Iris begins to plot an escape from the island. Blue Asylum offers a very emotional and gripping tale that puts into question the definitions of both insanity and freedom.

Kathy Hepinstall has created quite a deep, meaningful story especially considering the novel's shorter length. I must admit that I was surprised at how quickly I became enthralled with the writing. She manages to include those little details that really build up a story without drowning the narrative in exposition. I'm very impressed that in approximately 280 pages Hepinstall does what takes a lot of authors double that page count to achieve. It is this clear and precise prose that helps create such an intense atmosphere. A luxury mental hospital surrounded by swaying palm trees and crashing waves quickly gives way to an eerie environment filled with swamps, alligators, and questionable patients that make the reader constantly assess Iris' safety.

In terms of characterization, I give Blue Asylum a solid A. Iris and Ambrose are both developed slowly through the revelation of the events that led to their imprisonment, which I thought was done with appropriate pacing. The many secondary characters definitely help make the hospital lively. Each has an intriguing story of their own, but Hepinstall makes sure to never let them weigh down the narrative. However, it was Dr. Cowell who stole the show for me. This man truly believes he is helping those around him with his theories and practices. He devotes his life to restoring people to becoming functional members of society again at the expense of his own family. His story offers up so many questions. Can mental illness be "cured?" What defines those who are classified as insane? Is a doctor just as mad as the patients he treats?

The combination of the Civil War time period and the elements of an insane asylum meld together nicely, and I found this representation of modern psychiatry's early implementation fascinating. Blue Asylum explores the lengths to which a person's mind will go in the name of self preservation and blurs the lines between what is real and imagined. This historical fiction offers many different ideas to explore including women's rights and slavery, making this an excellent choice for book clubs. There is so much to discuss regarding mental illness and the treatment of those considered "crazy" as well as delving into the definition of freedom. Kathy Hepinstall has created an absorbing novel that I just couldn't put down!

About Kathy Hepinstall

Kathy Hepinstall is the author of three previous novels, The House of Gentle Men (a Los Angeles Times bestseller), The Absence of Nectar (a national bestseller), and The Prince of Lost Places. She is an award-winning creative director and advertising writer, whose clients have included top brands in American business. She grew up in Texas.

Visit Kathy at her website, read her blog and view the book trailer for Blue Asylum!

This Life Is In Your Hands by Melissa Coleman

2012-04-23T07:30:00.000-04:00

Title: This Life Is In Your Hands
Author: Melissa Coleman
Pages: 352
Genre: Memoir
Release Date: April 10th, 2012
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Source: Copy provided by publisher for TLC Book Tours

I think most people have wondered what it would be like to untether themselves from their phones, stop wasting time for the daily commute or the multitude of other modern inventions and problems that can negatively affect quality of life. What if you knew exactly where your food came from and didn't have to worry every time you purchased meat or vegetables at the grocery store? For many the idea of homesteading is seen as living the "simple life," but author Melissa Coleman reveals that such a life is anything but in her memoir This Life Is In Your Hands.

"Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without," was the homesteading adage, and it served them well.

Eliot and Sue Coleman, two young adults yearning to reject the constraints put on them by their middle-class upbringing, decide to set out for coastal Maine in an attempt to forge their own path by living off the land. After purchasing 60 acres from Helen and Scott Nearing, authors of the homesteading bible Living the Good Life, the two work tirelessly to build a house, a profitable farm, and create a happy home life for Melissa and her two sisters. Eliot constantly strives to attain his five year goal of making his farm profitable while Sue tries to find a rhythm cooking, cleaning, and raising the children. However, success and achievement don't always come without a price. Soon the Coleman's become the new faces of the Back-To-The-Land movement and begin receiving media attention. This prestige starts inspiring more individuals to make the journey to Maine to apprentice with Eliot adding to his already strained relationships. Coleman reveals the trials and tribulations of rejecting modern conventions and working the land in her honest, engaging memoir This Life Is In Your Hands.

"The reality of this way of life is that you have got to keep at it even when you don't feel like it," Mama wrote in her journal to ease her mind while Papa was outside. "Otherwise you won't make it. It's no life for dabblers. You've got to dig it wholeheartedly, for if you don't, you just simply won't be happy nor successful at what you do."

One of the things that first drew me to this novel was the potential to learn a little more about the origins of the organic movement. I've become a lot more interested in where my food comes from and what I put into my body over the last few years. While a little dry at times, Coleman does a nice job of giving the basic background of the movement. At its heart, this story more about one family's joys, triumphs, pain, and heartbreak, so I wouldn't recommend this for readers who are looking for a more in depth look at the homesteading movement itself. While the beginning of the book lacked more emotion, I could tell that the writing was a cathartic experience for the author by the last third of the story.

Coleman's biggest strength is her writing. The readability was high with flowing prose and evocative descriptions. Symbols such as hands and water play a prominent part throughout and help add a slight literary tone to the writing. I also enjoyed the inclusion of details of the outside world at different points in time. Throwing in current events, music, politics, etc helped to set many of the scenes and give a reference for the year.

For much of the book I felt like I was reading a novel. Once she began writing from memory instead of telling her parents story the narrative soared. I think a key to successfully reading memoirs is being able to appreciate someone's life without necessarily judging every detail. The author didn't seem to judge her parents' actions or motivations, although I do wish she had revealed some of her personal feelings on growing up in such an environment and the possible effects such a life had on her once she became an adult and started her own family.

This Life Is In Your Hands serves as both a memoir but also a warning. You can't focus entirely on one aspect of life and continually neglect other areas. While I did enjoy the book, I felt that the story was more a biography of Sue and Eliot Coleman rather than a memoir. So much of the narrative highlights their journey and the consequences of their decisions. While not a favorite, Coleman's work is an engrossing, informative, solid read and.definitely a good choice if you're looking for a non-fiction read or have a particular interest in the movement.

Interested in learning more about Melissa Coleman? Check out her website and Facebook page!

Thanks again to TLC Book Tours for having me on the tour. I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

Be sure to check out the next few stops on the tour to see what others are saying!

Tuesday, April 24th: she reads and reads

Wednesday, April 25th: Book Club Classics!

Thursday, April 26th: Veronica MD

Friday, April 27th: BookNAround

TLC Book Tours: The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani

2012-04-09T07:35:00.085-04:00

Title: The Shoemaker's Wife
Author: Adriana Trigiani
Pages: 480
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: April 3rd, 2012
Publisher: Harper
Source: Copy provided by publisher for TLC Book Tours.

The Shoemaker's Wife is the first book I've read by Adriana Trigiani. I must admit that I had always (unfairly) dismissed her work as nothing but chick lit romance, but the opportunity to read this one came up, so I decided to give it a shot. When this monster tome arrived in my mailbox, I was a little taken aback. Investing time into a nearly 500 page novel from an author I have never read is a little daunting. However, once through the first 50 pages I knew I had made the right choice in accepting it for review.

Now, normally I like to provide my own summary of a book in my reviews. However, after multiple attempts I realized that I just wasn't going to be able to condense this vast story into a paragraph or two that would do such a beautiful tale justice. So in this case I'm going to use part of the copy provided by the publisher.

From HarperCollins:

The majestic and haunting beauty of the Italian Alps is the setting of the first meeting of Enza, a practical beauty, and Ciro, a strapping mountain boy, who meet as teenagers, despite growing up in villages just a few miles apart. At the turn of the last century, when Ciro catches the local priest in a scandal, he is banished from his village and sent to hide in America as an apprentice to a shoemaker in Little Italy. Without explanation, he leaves a bereft Enza behind. Soon, Enza's family faces disaster and she, too, is forced to go to America with her father to secure their future.

Unbeknownst to one another, they both build fledgling lives in America, Ciro masters shoemaking and Enza takes a factory job in Hoboken until fate intervenes and reunites them. But it is too late: Ciro has volunteered to serve in World War I and Enza, determined to forge a life without him, begins her impressive career as a seamstress at the Metropolitan Opera House that will sweep her into the glamorous salons of Manhattan and into the life of the international singing sensation, Enrico Caruso.

From the stately mansions of Carnegie Hill, to the cobblestone streets of Little Italy, over the perilous cliffs of northern Italy, to the white-capped lakes of northern Minnesota, these star-crossed lovers meet and separate, until, finally, the power of their love changes both of their lives forever.

My Thoughts:

The Shoemaker's Wife was a wonderful read from beginning to end. At first I was afraid that the length of the book would be its downfall, but Trigiani masterfully keeps the story from dragging. I found myself easily consuming huge chunks at a time after being so drawn into Ciro and Enza's worlds. The writing was beautiful and polished, and Trigiani seems quite comfortable in her ability to tell such a grand story. There was a nice balance between description and action that kept the flow of the story easy to read. The last 50 pages felt a little rushed, but I think that's just because I wanted the story to continue on. I've read very few novels of this length that are able to achieve this feat.

The aspect of The Shoemaker's Wife that I enjoyed most was that there were two separate story lines, but both were equally developed. I can't say I preferred one character's story more than the other. This is not just a love story between two fated individuals. This is a story of two immigrants trying to make their own way and discover who they are as adults. Many authors don't allow their characters to reach the selfactualization that these two were able to achieve. Trigiani made a smart decision in allowing both Ciro and Enza the opportunity to figure out their own lives and grow as people before coming together as a couple, and this is why the story succeeded in being more than just a typical romance.

Another aspect that Trigiani excels in is creation of setting. The lush descriptions really yank you into the story and firmly set you into another place and time, but not in a way that becomes obtrusive or boring. The story strongly showcases different cities and aspects of daily life without glossing over anything or going too in depth. I never found myself skimming long paragraphs of details in order to "get to the good stuff."

On top of the excellent plot, I actually cared about these people, from the main characters to all the secondary characters that come and go along the way. Each had a distinct personality and thoughtful characterization, and I found myself becoming sympathetic to their individual plights. From Italy to Manhattan to Minnesota, the reader is able to see Enza and Ciro grow from children to adults and watches as the two continually find themselves weaving into part of each other's lives.

Overall, The Shoemaker's Wife was so much more than I expected. This is both a heartwarming and heartbreaking story of family, friendship, epic love and the ups and downs of life as an immigrant. More than those things, this is a novel that illustrates the strength of the human spirit. Enza and Ciro are inspirational in their fight against adversity. They never completely give up while trying their best to work hard and achieve their place in life. This story reminded me that America is, at its core, a country of immigrants who struggled to make a better life for themselves and their families. I can't say enough good things about this sweeping tale. Don't be put off by the length as this is an engrossing and easy read. I definitely recommend reading it if you get the chance!

About Adriana Trigiani

Adriana Trigiani is an award-winning playwright, television writer, and documentary filmmaker. The author of the Big Stone Gap series; Very Valentine; Lucia, Lucia, The Queen of the Big Time, and Rococo, she has also written the bestselling memoir Don’t Sing at the Table as well as the young adult novels Viola in Reel Life and Viola in the Spotlight. Her books have been published in thirty-six countries, and she has written and will direct the big-screen version of her first novel, Big Stone Gap. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.

Check out Adriana's website, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter!

Thanks again to TLC Book Tours for having me on the tour. I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

Be sure to check out the next few stops on the tour to see what others are saying!

Tuesday, April 10th: Book Dilettante

Wednesday, April 11th: Bibliosue

Thursday, April 12th: West Metro Mommy

Monday, April 16th: "That's Swell!"

Tuesday, April 17th: Confessions of an Avid Reader

The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson

2012-03-23T07:09:00.002-04:00

Title: The Lantern
Author: Deborah Lawrenson
Pages: 386
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: August 9th, 2011
Publisher: Harper
Source: Personal Copy

With her career at a standstill and a social life that’s far from exciting, Eve finds herself accepting a freelance opportunity in Switzerland working with advertising and promotional brochures. Looking for a little adventure, she decides to take a day trip to a maze located at Lake Geneva. Here she meets Dom, a confident and self assured older man who has made his fortune in a geo technology business. Conversation flows easily, and, after an admittedly whirlwind romance filled with trips to the theater, long nights at local cafes, and travels to Italy, Dom asks Eve to move with him to France. Eve quickly accepts, wanting to put down roots of her own, and the two begin their life at Les Genévriers.

The property drew us in immediately. Not love at first sight, exactly, not as explosive as that: more a deep, promising undertow, as if it had been waiting for us, and we for it. It was familiar, in that it was the same sensation as when Dom and I first met: recklessness muted by instant empathy, surrounded by beauty.

At first everything seems fine as Dom and Eve begin repairing the crumbling house and decorating it with antiques and relics from local flea markets. Soon they start discovering many new rooms and hidden chambers filled with many objects that are dubbed “gifts from the house.” After making the choice to do without Internet or telephone, the warm summer days are spent with Eve reading and yearning to translate the authors she loves and Dom composing music on his piano. All seems perfect until one night at a party a local woman, Sabine, thinks she recognizes Dom from her past. Dom quickly dismisses the notion, and Eve accepts everything at first, but the seed of doubt has now been planted in her mind.

A secret can rot the soul. Unspoken, it seeps into the subconscious, it penetrates the body, the character of a person, until at last it takes over all reason and reasoning – until nothing is left but the secret that cannot be told and that must be kept tight inside at all costs. This is devastation, the inner waste.

As the winter months descend upon the house, Dom grows more withdrawn and distant and refuses to discuss his history with Rachel. With her suspicions raised, Eve becomes so desperate to find answers to allay her fears that she overlooks the eeriest things occurring around her such as the smell of strange but alluring aromas and shadows outside her kitchen window. Unknown to the current occupants, the house has a sordid history of its own involving Bénédicte Lincel, her blind sister Marthe, and her destructive brother Pierre. As the years pass, Les Genévriers becomes the site of tragedy, heartbreak, and evil deeds that, once uncovered, could change everything Eve has ever known and trusted.

As much as this pains me to admit, I have not read Rebecca and therefore cannot comment on the claim that this is a modern retelling. There have been a lot of comparisons between Lawrenson and du Maurier’s work in promotional material for The Lantern, and the main character Eve even makes mention of the likeness. However, I will leave the comparing and contrasting of the two works to other more well read bloggers than myself.

On the surface, The Lantern has all the necessary elements for a good Gothic tale. The mysterious setting is filled with crumbling buildings, ghosts, supernatural disturbances ,and family secrets. Before I get into the more critical aspects of my review, I do want to say that I enjoyed the book and found myself quickly turning pages to see where the story would take me. This isn’t to say The Lantern is without flaws, but it does attest to the readability and the general level of enjoyment.

Moving between Eve and Dom in the present and Bénédicte’s story in the past, The Lantern is slow in the beginning but picks up as the stories unfold and come together. The writing kept me feeling appropriately scared, intrigued, etc. However, I didn’t quite buy the ‘romance’ of Eve and Dom. There wasn’t much of a connection between the two, and most of the story was spent with them carrying out different tasks in separate rooms. I think that the story might have been more powerful with a focus on Bénédicte and no romance angle at all. For me the story would have been more enjoyable with Eve being portrayed as a stronger woman who comes to Les Genévriers independent of a man.

The lengthy descriptions of setting definitely place the story firmly within the genre. Lawrenson does a nice job composing a believable, eerie rural setting in France from the buildings to the neighbors. Visualizing the characters and the action was made quite effortless for me as I read. Using a blind character as the basis for a lot of the detailed descriptions of scent was a nice touch. I think without that plot device the descriptive elements would have become too tedious.

I really wish I had read this book in October because I think it would go perfectly during the RIP Challenge. There was just enough of the supernatural to be entertaining without going over the top. As I was writing this review, I reread the first 20 or so pages and was amazed at how much more sense the beginning made the second time around. While I do think the mentions of modern technology took a little away from the Gothic feel, Lawrenson’s explorations of themes such as paranoia and lost love helped me overlook the elements that came across as slightly awkward. While The Lantern may be more enjoyable to those who have not read Rebecca, I do recommend this one for those looking for a very readable ghost story.

Waiting on Wednesday: An Uncommon Education by Elizabeth Percer

2012-03-14T07:42:00.007-04:00

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. This is a chance to spotlight an upcoming release that you just can't wait to get your hands on and devour!

An Uncommon Education

Elizabeth Percer

Release Date: May 1st, 2012
Publisher: Harper
Jacket Copy: Harper Summer 2012 Catalog

From a young age, Naomi Feinstein believed that she could save the people she loved. Afraid of losing her parents—her father with his weak heart, her deeply depressed mother—she was determined to become a doctor. An outcast at school, Naomi loses herself in books and daydreams of Wellesley College. But when Teddy, her confidant and only friend, abruptly departs from her life, it’s the first devastating loss from which Naomi is not sure she can ever recover, even after her long-awaited acceptance letter to Wellesley arrives.

Yet Wellesley isn’t the bastion of solidarity and security Naomi had imagined. Amid hundreds of other young women she is consumed by loneliness—until the day she sees a girl fall into the freezing waters of a lake. The event marks Naomi’s introduction to Wellesley’s oldest honor society, the mysterious Shakespeare Society, defined by secret rituals and filled with unconventional, passionate students.

Within “Shakes,” Naomi begins to open up, reflecting a little less and living a little more. Detaching from the past, Naomi immerses herself in this exciting and liberating new world. But her happiness is soon clouded by a scandal with irrevocable consequences. Naomi has always tried to save the ones she loves, but part of growing up is learning that, sometimes, saving others is a matter of saving yourself.

An Uncommon Education is a compelling portrait of a young woman’s quest for greatness. Poignant and wise, it artfully captures the complicated ties of family and friendship, and the importance of learning to let go.

Sounds awesome, right? This would make a perfect addition to my spring reading list. I've always had a soft spot for secret societies and academic settings.

What are you anxiously anticipating?

The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean

2012-03-12T07:04:00.017-04:00

Title: The Secret Lives of Dresses
Author: Erin McKean
Pages: 292
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: February 10th, 2011
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Source: Personal Copy

Life couldn't be more plain for twenty-year-old Dora. Raised by her grandmother Mimi, whose love of vintage clothing was not passed on to her jeans and t-shirt wearing granddaughter, Dora's lack of interest extends further than just dresses. With few college dreams or career aspirations, Dora accepts an offer to attend Lymond College in Boston after being persuaded by Mimi and the generous scholarship awarded by the school. Close to completing her major in the exceptionally vague field of Liberal Studies, Dora stumbles upon a job at the campus coffee shop after being told that she would not have any on-campus summer employment. It is during one of her shifts that Dora receives a call from her grandmother's good friend Gabby informing her that Mimi is in the hospital after having a stroke.

As she races back to her hometown of Forsyth, NC to be by her grandmother's bedside, Dora must prepare to be confronted with memories of the past as she takes on the task of running the vintage clothing store. After a chance encounter with a customer, Dora makes a discovery that Mimi had kept a secret for so many years. Each of the glamorous, sexy, and elegant dresses has its own life story created by Mimi and given away to the new owner. With the help of Gabby and Conrad, a young contractor, Dora begins to question everything in her life that she had considered boring and begins to wonder if she can become the strong and confident person she was always meant to be.

After rereading my synopsis of The Secret Lives of Dresses by Erin McKean, I realize that this story was just plain...plain. I can't really describe how I felt about this book other than that it was nice. McKean has created a light and simple read with a straightforward plot. For me this was a case of judging a book by its cover gone wrong. Who wouldn't fall in love with the gorgeous yellow dress on the cover? Plus, the use of the pale green window frame makes the dress catch my eye even faster. The romantic in me wishes I had a closet full of dresses like this one and just as many places to wear them. I also love the idea of vintage clothes, especially those uber-expensive pieces that were so well taken care of they rival any new piece of clothing today. Oh the places they've been and the things they've seen. I'm obsessed with vintage postcards simply for the little glimpse they provide into someone else's story. Robert Olen Butler's short story collection Had a Good Time: Stories from American Postcards sits on my TBR shelf for that very reason. Ultimately, I picked up McKean's work based on the novel's idea and cover, which is something I rarely let myself do.

Overall, I breezed through The Secret Lives of Dresses and would recommend it as a book to read on an airplane or while waiting in line. The story was mostly enjoyable but not very memorable, and I think I received more joy from the act of reading rather than from the content. McKean played it safe with the narrative as it didn't pack any emotional punch. There should have been more focus on the dresses and their "secret lives," because the short stories that were included were pretty boring, and I found myself skimming these sections. For a book with this title, there could have been a lot more exploration of the idea that clothes can make a person: they help them fill a role or boost their confidence no matter their background or size. Instead, we're given a cute story with sterotypical characters and awful names (Maux, Con, Tyffanee? Come on!)

If you are looking for sweet, happy, safe read that can be consumed quickly and provides a slight jolt of sugary good feelings, then I would suggest possibly picking up The Secret Lives of Dresses from your local library.

The End Of Everything by Megan Abbott

2012-03-05T07:24:00.027-05:00

Title: The End of Everything
Author: Megan Abbott
Pages: 256
Genre: Psychological Fiction
Release Date: July 7th, 2012
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Source: Personal Copy

While suburbia in America is often portrayed as an idyllic place to set down roots and raise a family, Megan Abbott reveals that these communities can harbor just as many dark secrets as their urban counterparts in her newest novel The End of Everything. Lizzie Hood is a typical thirteen-year-old girl growing up in the Midwest during the 1980s. Practically inseparable from Lizzie, her best friend Evie Verver lives in the house next door - a house where Lizzie not only feels at home but at peace. The two girls seemingly share everything, from their clothes to their dreams and fears, and Lizzie couldn’t imagine her life without her closest friend alongside her.

Then one day everything changes. Evie never comes home, and the only clue to what may have happened is a car Lizzie remembers seeing as her mother picked her up from school earlier that afternoon. As a town torn apart by such a tragedy looks for answers, Lizzie is bombarded with questions from the police as well as Evie’s father. Once the investigation starts pointing to Mr. Shaw, an older man who lives in the neighborhood with his wife and son, a panic slowly grows among the community. In an attempt to gain some control, Lizzie begins her own investigation and starts to unravel the mysteries and secrets that had been hiding all around her.

These are all the good things, and there were such good things. But then there were the other things, and they seemed to come later, but what if they didn’t? What if everything was there all along, creeping soundlessly from corner to corner…and I didn’t hear it? Didn’t see it?

Once I started reading The End of Everything I was blown away by how much the story affected me emotionally. I was quite unable to leave the book sitting before feeling the need to pick it back up and continue toward the end. Abbott’s writing was superb and created lots of tension and pressure from beginning to end. This is not to say that the story was unwound neatly. On the contrary, once I thought I knew where the story was headed, WHAM, a whole new angle was dropped into my lap. All the twists and knots in this story just beg to be disembroiled and untangled through discussion with others. Abbot focuses not on the crime itself but more on the event’s impact of a young girl’s disappearance on the people of a small community. Abbott definitely introduces themes and ideas that could be interpreted as a commentary on suburban life in America.

There are times now when I look at those weeks before it happened and they have the quality of revelation. It was all there, all the clues, all the bright corners illuminated. But of course it wasn’t that way at all. And I could not have seen it. I could not, could not.

Along with being an excellent source of twisted psychological fiction, I would argue that The End of Everything is also a coming of age tale. Lizzie, on the cusp of adolescence, goes through a multitude of changes during the entire ordeal in terms of her relationships and sexuality. Trust, or lack thereof, is constantly confronted over the course of the novel. The distrust between friends, family, and neighbors builds constantly and creates an air of doubt and suspicion over the entire narrative. Abbott plays around with the theme of memory quite a bit - especially the way memory, when coiled with desire and desperation, can distort one’s perception.

Somewhere, though, somewhere in my head, in the back pitch of it, there’s something. There’s something. I just can’t reach it.

Told from Lizzie’s point of view in the present tense, her depiction of events becomes so mingled with her dreams and memories that the reader even begins to question the reliability of the narrator. Such an unreliable narrator adds another layer to Abbott’s novel, and I must say I loved Lizzie’s voice. The way she was written kept me uncomfortable yet enthralled the entire time. Her emotions, while strong, were often romanticized and naïve, but in my opinion this makes for an excellent portrayal of a thirteen-year-old girl just discovering sex and its power often times in a very uncomfortable, for the reader, manner.

Mr. Verver, he was there. I couldn’t remember a time when I wasn’t craning my neck to look up at him, forever waiting to hear more, hungry for the moments he would shine his attentions on me.

The End of Everything is such a multilayered yet quite disturbing thrill ride, but I will say it is not a novel for everyone. I caution potential readers that disconcerting subject matter, such as the relationships between older men and teen girls, is discussed which makes it a little hard to read. However, I think those who pick up this book and give it a go will be surprised at how mesmerizing Abbott’s work really is under the surface. I’m looking forward to reading another book by this author soon.

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie

2012-02-27T07:05:00.047-05:00

Title: Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress
Author: Dai Sijie
Pages: 184
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: October 29th 2002
Publisher: Anchor
Source: Personal Copy

Between 1966 and 1976, Mao Zedong brought about the Cultural Revolution in China in an attempt to abolish all views and beliefs that did not agree with the Maoist doctrine. Progress in China after the late 1940s led to the creation of a more privileged societal class consisting of people with careers in fields such as medicine and science. Mao alleged that capitalist sentiments were returning to those involved in or influential in government activities which led to the mass persecution, harassment, and abuse of Chinese citizens. Children of people deemed enemies of the state were sent to rural villages in an effort to "reeducate" them in the ways of farming and manual labor. Author Dai Sijie was part of this reeducation movement spending three years in rural Sichuan. Sijie draws on his experience to create his semi-autobiographical debut novel Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress.

Set in 1971, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress tells the story of two teen boys, both children of doctors, who are sent to a rural farming village named Phoenix Mountain in order to be reeducated. Luo, the son of a dentist who worked on Mao's teeth, and the narrator, the son of doctors, are quite opposite in personality with Luo being a loud, rebellious, and talented storyteller and the narrator being more reserved. Stripped of all their belongings except a violin and an alarm clock, Luo and the unnamed narrator must adjust to a life filled with coal mining, working in the rice fields, and other less than pleasant farm tasks. After a few months, the boys are sent by the head of the village to a nearby town to watch North Korean films and bring back stories, which they then retell to those in the village.

It is during one of the trips to the movies that the boys meet the Little Seamstress. Being unable to read or write, the shy seamstress quickly falls for the two city boys who visit her often, regaling her with narrative stories. Also along the way the boys meet Four Eyes, a boy from a neighboring village who possesses a contraband crate of Western literature. It is from him that Luo and the narrator come in into possession of Balzac's Ursule Mirouët. After reading the slim volume the boys begin on a path that takes them on a journey that changes everything in not only their lives but in those around them.

This short little read, more a novella than a novel, was a quick one for me. While I wasn't as blown away as I expected, I did enjoy the story enough to plow through it in about a day. Incorporating many well known authors of Western literature, such as Gogol, Flaubert, Dumas, Flaubert, and Rousseau, did add a certain quality that I found endearing. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress explores the power and influence of friendship and poses many questions for the reader to contemplate, such as the effect of a life without books. Just imagine if a group came into your home, took every book you owned, and torched them in the street right in front of you. I think it's safe to say that all of us readers would be devastated to say the least.

Now, the fast reading pace is not an indicator that Sijie's work is without flaws. While it did pique my interest in the Chinese Cultural Revolution, I felt that the book downplayed the issue and lacked the emotional impact that I expected. Since Sijie uses the revolution as the basis for his entire story, he should have focused a little more on the pain, suffering, and hardships that occurred during that time period. The way the two boys were allowed to freely go back and forth between villages seemed a little unbelievable to me, although this may be due in part to the Sijie's sparse succinct writing style.

There was so much that could have been brilliant if only a little more development had occurred. When I finished I felt like I had just read only the outline of a story, and I was left wanting more. The characters could have used more development, especially the Little Seamstress who came across as very one-dimensional. I don't regret reading this one, but I can't say I would wholeheartedly recommend it unless it currently resides on your TBR shelf.

Underground Time by Delphine de Vigan

2012-02-13T07:37:00.002-05:00

Title: Underground Time
Author: Delphine de Vigan
Pages: 260
Genre: Contemporary French Fiction
Release Date: November 22nd 2011

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Source: Copy provided by publisher

One of the most enlightening things a reader can do is open themselves up to books written by foreign authors. So many great books come from countries other than the United States and Canada, but I think many readers (myself included) stick to the familiar writings of our native tongue. For me, the most common problem I run into is a lackluster translation. I think we’ve all been in this situation. You’re reading the dry writing of an international bestseller and thinking that the story has to be better if only you could read (insert language here), right? I’ve always had a hard time accepting that what I’m reading isn’t the author’s exact word choice or phrasing. Knowing that someone else has interpreted the text, to their best of their ability I’m sure, affects my attitude when starting a translated novel, and in most cases the story comes across as flat. Luckily, Delphine de Vigan’s novel transcends all my prejudices.

First published in France in 2009, Underground Time tells the story of two Parisians who must live with the depression and loneliness that oftentimes characterize urban living. Mathilde works as the Deputy Director of Marketing at a large international food company. For eight years she has successfully worked in the same position with the same colleagues until one day when she disagrees with her boss during a presentation. This slight difference of opinions causes Jacques, notorious for his anger, to quickly turn on Mathilde. The beginning jabs are subtle, and most take the form of back-handed statements of concern. Projects she has been working on are taken away from her; she is left out of internal communications and is forced from her office to a small windowless closet. From there it spirals into an all-out psychological attack that slowly drives Mathilde into a powerless state of mind.

Thibault’s story creates the alternate narrative of the novel. His day begins after he dumps his girlfriend upon recognizing her inability to offer a deeper affection than Thibault feels necessary. Once an aspiring doctor in medical school, Thibault now works as a paramedic driving around the city being dispatched to different places and homes. As the day goes on, the isolation and lack of connection begin to wear on him and drain him both mentally and physically.

While Thibault’s story was definitely the less developed of the two, both offer a rather realistic look into two issues currently affecting modern first-world societies: the effect of corporate culture on employees and the anonymity and loneliness of urban life, which de Vigan chooses to represent with transportation. Mathilde’s story will strike a chord with anyone who hass ever experienced a negative office environment where just the thought of having to go to work can send your mood plummeting. De Vigan does a great job of capturing how quickly one can be rendered powerless by an employer. While I often questioned why Mathilde never tried looking for another job, I came to understand that most people are afraid of change - especially as a single mother who really does depend on her salary; and most hope that if they can just hold on a little longer, then justice will prevail. Both Thibault's and Mathilde’s stories use transportation, both public and private, to comment on contemporary urban life. Mathilde takes the Metro daily and realizes that even a certain physical proximity does nothing to offer a sense of connection for people.

When she catches someone’s eye, she looks away. Even when it’s busy, there remains on public transport both a certain intimacy and a sense of reserve; limits imposed on the eye since they can’t be imposed on the body.

Thibault spends his day isolated in his personal vehicle while riding around the streets of Paris. Much of his life has been spent sitting in traffic, at red lights, or searching for a parking space. These annoyances that plague an urban dweller can slowly wear down one’s quality of life. De Vigan eloquently shows how transportation, the staple of city life, can enforce an anonymity among a group of people who are so close yet seemingly so far away.

There may not be much action to the plot, which takes place over 24 hours with a few flashbacks thrown in, but Underground Time wowed me with a realistic portrayal of two separate people dealing with similar situations, although I do question why Thibault’s story wasn’t as evenly developed as Mathilde’s. One big thing I took away from the novel is that we are not alone in our feelings of depression, loneliness, or isolation. This wonderful translation sucked me into these people’s lives and left me feeling very emotionally connected. Overall, this is a fast read with a very French ‘feel’ that I recommend for anyone interested in a realistic portrayal of modern life.