Stephanie's Book Journal

Pieces of Happily Ever After by Irene Zutell

2009-12-31T10:06:00.001-05:00

8/10 - I really enjoyed this light read. It was like getting the inside scoop about some story that's flying around the tabloids. Even with it's Hollywood setting and some off the wall characters, I found it believeable. It even had a nice little moral thrown in there about judging other people. This would be a perfect vacation book.

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

2009-12-24T10:09:00.001-05:00

8/10 - Fascinating premise for this story, following an ancient book through it's travels through Jewish history. I liked how many of the people who handled and cared for the book were not Jewish. It reminded me a little of The Historian. You got to travel to many different times and places in the world. It's a book meant to savor and not rip through, but on that same note it can move a little slow. The narrator is adequate, but strikes me as someone who belongs better is a CSI lab.

Lottery by Patricia Wood

2009-12-07T10:06:00.000-05:00

9/10 - I really enjoyed this Forest Gumpesque novel about a "cognitively challenged" man who wins the Washington States Lottery. The bad characters were a little overly bad, but the good characters were spot on I thought. You can't help but like the main character Perry who is wise beyond his IQ score of 76. The ending was very satisfying for me in that wrap it all together kind of way.

~To Be Read~

2009-12-01T20:00:00.000-05:00

Here's my "to be read" list, in no particular order. I will update as I read them, or add on. I have reduced the list to include only books that I currently have on my shelves. If you'd like to see books I'm "wishing" for you can consult my library on librarything.com, see "Links".

Triangle by Katharine Weber
Cherry by Mary Karr
What We Keep by Elizabeth Berg
The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
Notes on a Scandal (What Was She Thinking?) by Zoe Heller
The Tall Pine Polka by Lorna Landvik
Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton
Monkeewrench by P.J. Tracy
Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson
One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus
Light on Snow by Anita Shreve
Arthur and George by Julian Barnes
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
Singing Songs by Meg Tilly
The Sunday List of Dreams by Kris Radish
Mother of Pearl by Melinda Haynes
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
The Tie That Binds by Kent Haruf
The Problem with Murmur Lee by Connie May Fowler
The Abortionist's Daughter by Elisabeth Hyde
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
The Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard
The Breakdown Lane by Jaquelyn Mitchard
The Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
After This by Alice McDermott
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A Widow for One Year by John Irving
Some Things That Stay by Sarah Willis
Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings by Christopher Moore
Paint It Black by Janet Fitch
Silent in the Grave by Deanne Raybourn
The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean
Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
Everything Changes by Jonathon Tropper
Lamb by Christopher Moore
Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore
The Surrogate by Judith Henry Wall
You're Not You by Michelle Wildgen
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
Bliss by O.Z. Livanelli
Any Bitter Thing by Monica Wood
The Girls by Lori Lansens
The Last Witchfinder by James Morrow
Traveler by Ron McLarty
The Mummy by Anne Rice
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
The Ha-Ha by David King
The Reader by Bernard Schlink
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos
How to Talk to a Widower by Jonathon Tropper
Last Seen Leaving by Kelly Braffet
Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
Rush Home Road by Lori Lansens
The Girls Who Went Away by Ann Fessler
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney
A Piece of Normal by Sandi Kahn Shelton
Thank You for All Things by Sandra Kring
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
Watership Down by Richard Adams
Mean Girls by Hayley Dimarco
Bufflehead Sisters by Patricia Delois
By Bread Alone by Sarah-Kate Lynch
Marley and Me by John Grogan
Self Storage by Gayle Brandeis
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
The Terror by Dan Simmons
Thank You for All Things by Sandra Kring
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
The Last Town on Earth by Thomas Mullen
The Department of Lost and Found by Allison Winn Scotch
Oxygen by Carol Cassella
Blind Submission by Debra Ginsberg
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
How to Be Lost by Amanda Eyre Ward

Children of God Go Bowling by Shannon Olson

2009-11-28T20:21:00.004-05:00

7/10 - Fairly entertaining, would be more so if I had spent more time single. Singleness and therapy are the main topics here. Olson sprinkles in enough funnies to keep you entertained, and you can glean a little wisdom through her therapy too. Nothing spectacular.

Love in the Present Tense by Catherine Ryan Hyde

2009-11-18T08:55:00.001-05:00

9/10 - This book would definitely fit into my warm fuzzy stories category. Okay, it can cross the touchy feely line occasionally, but not to the point where it's over the top. It's not Lorna Landvik (whom I love anyway). I really loved Pearl, because I've seen her before. I'm an L&D nurse and I've met this rough, scared little girl. Great a typical characters, and the story has a really good flow. Besides, who wouldn't love Leonard.

Hot Six by Janet Evanovich

2009-11-15T13:37:00.000-05:00

8/10 - Boy Evanovich really knows how to string you along. Just when things really start to heat up, boom, game over. So I'm forced to wait until the next book. I'm really liking these, although I definitely couldn't read them back to back.

Her Daughter's Eyes by Jessica Barksdale Inclan

2009-11-11T13:32:00.001-05:00

7/10 - A story about two teenage sisters who are essentially abandoned by their father after their mother dies of breast cancer. The older sister gives birth at home with the younger delivering the baby in secret. Sounded like it would be right up my alley, but I had a hard time really feeling for the characters although I think they are written very well and accurately. Gritty and somewhat reminiscent of Girls in Trouble.

The New A to Z Challenge

2009-11-11T11:01:00.000-05:00

Yes, I'm going to do it again. All new to me authors, for every letter A to Z.

A - The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani
B - Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum
C - The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain
D - The Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue
E - The Greatest White Trash Love Story Ever Told by Rhett Ellis
F - The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
G - The Other Mother by Gwendolyn Gross
H - Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
I - Her Daughter's Eyes by Jessica Barksdale Inclan
J - The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
K - Whistling in the Dark by Lesley Kagen
L - Speak Softly, She Can Hear by Pam Lewis
M - Gracelin O'Malley by Ann Moore
N -
O - B-mother by Maureen O'Brien
P - The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett
Q -
R - Empire Falls by Richard Russo
S - The Myth of You and Me by Leah Stewart
T - Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani
U - The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall
V -
W - Night by Elie Weisel
X -
Y - Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
Z -

The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue

2009-11-02T20:45:00.003-05:00

5/10 - I hate to say it, but this one became a chore to read. When you only have 25 pages left, and you still have to drag yourself back to it, that's not a good sign. My biggest gripe was the whole premise on which the story was based. Unfortunate children are stolen by hobgoblins or changelings who then turn the child into a changeling and take their place in the human world. Then the cycle repeats itself once it becomes the stolen child's turn to reenter the human world and take another child's place. Why? What's the point? It's just a useless cycle. The whole thing was just a bizarre drawn out tennis match.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell

2009-10-25T16:48:00.002-05:00

8/10 - I liked this much better than I was anticipating I would. From the description, I was expecting something like Water For Elephants, which I didn't think lived up to the hype. I really enjoyed how the story unfurled, sort of like stream of consciousness. I also liked how you could never tell if Esme was really crazy, or if she was just a typical teenager who was bucking her oppressive high society upbringing. I wished the author had filled out the ending a little more. I'm not one who likes to just "imagine" what happened. I'm also not sure what she was trying to add to the story with the relationship of Alex and Iris. I would have liked more closure on that.

A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

2009-10-22T20:15:00.000-05:00

9/10 - You just have to love Christopher Moore. I've never read a more funny, witty, totally out there author. Charlie Asher is a classic Moore character who has unwillingly been charged with stopping the powers of darkness, along with his sidekick a 7ft tall black record store owner named Minty Fresh. Things got a little, WTF, at the end, but overall hilarious and fun to read.

What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman

2009-10-14T20:33:00.002-05:00

6/10 - Again, mysteries aren't really my genre. I thought this would be a good read for October, but there was nothing creepy or scary. I felt like the author was trying to hard to make then ending hard to predict instead of making it a good story. I also felt it was confusing with all the jumping from people, places, and times. Usually I do pretty well with that, but the character in this book had so many aliases, I didn't have any clue who the narrator was half the time. I don't predict I'll be reading any more by this author.

The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint by Brady Udall

2009-10-04T17:26:00.002-05:00

10/10 - I really loved this book. I would compare it to She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. The way the main character's life sort of ebbs and flows with happiness and despair. Udall does a fantastic job with all the characters too. Not a cliche' in the bunch as far as I'm concerned. I'll be looking for more of his work.

Gracelin O'Malley by Ann Moore

2009-09-24T20:17:00.002-05:00

9/10 - I love all things Irish (besides the food!), and this book really puts you there, albeit during one of the bleakest times of the country's history. I loved all the characters in the book, and my only complaint is that I didn't get to find out how all of their stories ended. It can be a bit of a downer read just because of the suffering, but really a wonderful book I think. I'm going now to look for more books of Ireland by this author.

Big Stone Gap by Adriana Trigiani

2009-09-17T07:39:00.000-05:00

7/10 - I really liked the characters, but just didn't care for Trigiani's writing. It was one of those books that I could pick up or leave with equal ease. I haven't decided if I'll get the next in the series. I enjoyed it, but I'm not excited about it. I think I'll leave it for now.

Sleep Toward Heaven by Amanda Eyre Ward

2009-09-05T21:45:00.000-05:00

9/10 - I've been putting this one off because of the depressing subject matter, but I'm so glad I finally picked it up. Ward's writing is so good, and the way these three women's lives are interwoven is so interesting. The bond the death row inmates have was fascinating, and makes me wonder if that really happens. I would recommend this one to anyone.

The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

2009-08-29T07:50:00.000-05:00

10/10 - One of my favorite reads of the year so far. It had just the right amount of romance, history, and action. I never lost interest. The author gave enough detail that you didn't feel like you missed anything, but no too much so you wished she'd move on already. I really enjoyed the love story, and the backdrop of Niagara Falls was perfect.

High Five by Janet Evanovich

2009-08-23T20:35:00.002-05:00

10/10 - Damn you Janet Evanovich! You sucked me right in didn't you. This is my favorite of the Stephanie Plum series so far. Now I'm all hot for Morelli and Ranger. Grandma Mazur is hilarious! Etc, etc... the stuff everyone else will tell you if they've read these.

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

2009-08-21T09:06:00.000-05:00

8/10 - I really enjoyed the first book in this series and have already ordered the second. It's like a cross between the Sookie Stackhouse series and the Stephanie Plum series. I really liked Harry, and his little quips. Sometimes the explanations of how the magic works is a bit lame. Lots of talk about energy, but whatever. It's an entertaining read, lets not overthink it.

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

2009-08-08T20:39:00.003-05:00

2/10 - Holy cow! I hate these people. And I mean all of them. What a bunch of self-centered, stuck up, holier than thou jerk-offs. I can't believe I even finished this whole book, I cared so little for what happened to them. I actually started wishing someone would die to liven the thing up a bit. Not a single action in this book was motivated by anything other than self absorption. I'm so glad it's done.

Perfect Life by Jessica Shattuck

2009-08-01T21:47:00.002-05:00

6/10 - I thought it was an okay book. I didn't really care for any of the characters, or what happened to them really. They all seemed so shallow and material. I did like the common gene/DNA thread that ran through the book, and the story line was enough to keep me interested. However, it wasn't a book that I got excited about.

Some People, Some Other Place by J. California Cooper

2009-07-24T08:02:00.001-05:00

5/10 - A friend lent me this book, and she loved it and was very excited about it. I wish I could say the same. At first, I didn't think it was even going to make it past the 100 page rule, but then I kinda got into the story. I really didn't like the writing style at all, and her preachy pauses were making me insane. I liked some of the characters, but there were way too many! I'd much rather get really into a few characters than read a little about 20 some different ones. The author's main point was that love was more important than money, but then at the end of the story the main character uses money to buy love for her friend. WTF! I gave it a 5 because I thought the story was okay, but I won't be reading anything else by this author.

The Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue

2009-07-11T21:16:00.003-05:00

8/10 - More of a love story than a ghost story. I loved Razi's character, I would totally like to hang out with her. The interwoven story of Amy and Scott really added to the story also, I just wish there had been a little more follow up. I wanted to check up with them, see how things were going.

The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett

2009-07-04T19:01:00.004-05:00

8/10 - Hard to discribe my feelings about this book. It really puts you in the main character, Sabine's, head, so that it became hard for me to separate myself from her. That's what made it so engrossing. The plot alone would not have held my interest. At any rate, it did inspire me to investigate some of Patchett's other books.

The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani

2009-06-24T07:49:00.001-05:00

10/10 - Best book I've read this year! Excellent mix of cultural history and story telling. I'm just fascinated by the middle east, and I loved the learning about the art of rug making. I found it interesting that I never realized that the author never told you the main characters name until I was looking over an interview in the back of the book. If you liked Beneath a Marble Sky, then I think you would really like this one.

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

2009-06-20T08:19:00.000-05:00

7/10 - I know my knowledge of the classics is lacking, but this book made it even more obvious. Still, the managed to be fast moving and entertaining, if not extremely bizarre. I'm sure if you were a big Dickens and Bronte fan you would be head over heels in love with it. I'm just not sure if it's my kind of thing. I do feel more compelled to read Jane Eyre now.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

2009-06-12T15:05:00.000-05:00

7/10 - About half way through this book, I was ready to shoot myself. It was so ungodly depressing, and although the ending is so satisfying that its worth dragging yourself back from the brink of suicide, I find it hard to give the book the rave reviews everyone else did. I was not a pleasure to read, it was agony. It is however extremely well written, and the voice of the narrator, Enzo the dog, is very unique. Just make sure there are no firearms, sharp poiny things, or potent medicinals about when you read it.

Looking For Alaska by John Green

2009-06-06T19:40:00.003-05:00

8/10 - At the risk of sounding pompous, I'd say this is a very realistic portrayal of teenage relationships. The pompous part coming from the fact that I do realize I am no longer a teenager. Honestly, it doesn't feel like it was that long ago. Great characters, and it doesn't overdo the teenage angst part, which many other have a tendency to do.

B-mother by Maureen O'Brien

2009-06-02T21:27:00.004-05:00

9/10 - A really well-written book about adoption. This is a topic I'm always interested in, because I'm a labor and delivery nurse. I really thought she did a wonderful job of character development which is important to me. My only gripe was the relatively anticlimatic ending. Overall, a really good read that I finished in two days. I was always looking forward to reading more.

Lost on Planet China by J. Maarten Troost

2009-06-01T14:34:00.003-05:00

9/10 - Troost has just a great sense of humor. This is the second book I've read by him, and I find myself laughing out loud and trying to find someone to read a passage. Lost on Planet China is a travelogue sort of book, but unlike most travelogues, it's not going to make you want to travel to China. While his assessment is not entirely negative, it's not going to inspire you to visit. So if you have a soft spot for China, or are a travel snob, this is not the book for you. But I love his totally un-PC approach.

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

2009-05-27T09:24:00.002-05:00

9/10 - Really good. I was liking it, and then I got to the last 70 pages and I was loving it. I was really surprised by the ending. I thought she was headed in one direction and I was going to be okay with that, but then she went in a totally different direction which I thought was so much better and different. I wish I could elaborate, but don't want to spoil it for those who want to read this book.

The Greatest White Trash Love Story Ever Told by Rhett Ellis

2009-05-19T21:00:00.000-05:00

3/10 - Unfortunately, the best part of this book is the title. With a title like that, I'm expecting something witty, humorous. This is actually not a novel, but really a collection of 3 short stories, which in my opinion reads like it was written by a high schooler of modest talent. If you're interested it's only 105 pages long and takes no time to read, but I don't know if you'd want to waste the money.

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood

2009-05-17T19:34:00.003-05:00

7/10 - I don't get Margaret Atwood. I always finish her books feeling like she's trying to impart some pearl of wisdom to me, but I'm too dense to understand it. I like her writing well enough, I just don't get it. I know this will sorely dissappoint Denise, as she is an avid Atwood fan.

The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

2009-05-04T08:49:00.001-05:00

7/10 - A female friendship book along the lines of Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, although I liked that one better. I felt like this one lacked depth, and I didn't really care for the ending. It was an okay book, and I liked the romantic relationships that were sprinkled through out the book. I just didn't feel like the writer really fleshed out the relationships within the club.

Home to Harmony by Phillip Gulley

2009-04-27T14:30:00.000-05:00

8/10 - Wholesome, heartwarming with a sense of humor you wouldn't expect from a Quaker minister. It was just what I needed after the last book. It's a simple quick read. Gulley's writing style is very easy to like, as is his personality which shines through it.

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum

2009-04-24T21:10:00.003-05:00

8/10 - Well, this book was really not what I thought it would be. I mean, I didn't expect it to be uplifting, but I didn't expect it to be so disturbing either. Of course the events of World War II are disturbing, but this was more than that. It became very personal somehow and I wished the author hadn't felt the need to go into such great detail. It actually got to the point that I had a hard time sleeping after reading it. I was so hoping for a different resolution, not a happy ending exactly, but something more satisfying. Boy, do I need something light now.

The Monsters of Templeton by Laura Groff

2009-04-14T14:18:00.004-05:00

8/10 - I liked Groff's writing style and the overall plot was good. I like my books a little dark and gothic, and this one definitely fit the bill. The only part I wasn't overly crazy about was the genealogical portions. I realize that it was used to join all the different characters together, but I wish we didn't have to go through quite so many ancestors. The fake letters and journal, along with the pictures really added to the story. I would recommend it.

Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich

2009-04-03T07:56:00.000-05:00

8/10 - I always keep a Stephanie Plum novel in the bathroom, and I'm convinced that I will finish the whole series in this way. They are perfect for this purpose because I can read them in small snippets without feeling like I'm missing out on something. Plus by now, I'm very familiar with the main characters, so I don't get them mixed up. In this book, I finally fell in love with Morelli and now I want Stephanie to get with him.

Blessed are the Cheesemakers by Sarah-Kate Lynch

2009-03-17T08:22:00.000-05:00

10/10 - Boy I really loved this book. It was sooooo different, which I'm sure you could guess by the name. Pregnant vegetarian milk maids, blond supermodels, Sulivan Islanders, Irish Cheesemakers, and cats named Jesus, Mary, and All the Saints. How's that for a cast of characters? This was definitely a "I couldn't put it down!" kind of book. I loved Lynch's writing style too. Can't wait to read another by her.

Monique and the Mango Rains by Kris Holloway

2009-03-13T19:54:00.002-05:00

10/10 - This book really inspired me and reminded me why I became an L&D nurse in the first place. I think this should be a mandatory read for every L&D nurse who feels they are becoming jaded. I just fell in love with Monique, her caring, passion, and sense of humor. I was so touched by her story that I donated money to the clinic in her honor, Cabinet de Soins Monique. I will be passing this book around to my co-workers. And to Monique... Allah ka dayoro sumaya... May God cool your resting place.

Whistling in the Dark by Lesley Kagen

2009-03-08T07:28:00.000-05:00

9/10 - I'm not usually a mystery fan, but I really enjoyed this one. The O'Malley sisters were just such great characters, and Kagen does very well writing from a child's perspective. I did figure out who the killer was, but there were plenty of other suspects in the book, so I was often reconsidering my choice.

The Other Mother by Gwendolyn Gross

2009-03-01T23:10:00.001-05:00

9/10 - This book really challenged my thinking. I thought it would be more about working mother versus stay at home mother, but the issues it really brought up was how as mothers we judge anyone who parents differently than we do, and how that arises from our own self-consciousness as mothers. It also talked a lot about how people balance being needed and needing. I really liked it. I'll be thinking about it for a while. At first, I didn't think I liked it, because I didn't really like either of the main characters, but now I think that was essential to the points.

The Society of S by Susan Hubbard

2009-02-23T15:14:00.004-05:00

10/10 - It's been a long time since I read a book that I literally couldn't put down. Of course it had to be another YA vampire fiction book, but at this point I have to tell you I'm really not caring. Thanks Gwen for lending this one to me. This story is narrated by 13 year old Ariella, and doesn't have any of Twilight's sexiness. That would be creepy right? This was more a vampire murder mystery. I really liked it, give it a chance.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

2009-02-21T14:36:00.003-05:00

7/10 - Cute, quirky beginning to the Southern Vampire series. I had a hard time because I was constantly comparing it to True Blood, which seemed more thorough. Not really fair since they devoted one whole season to the first book in the series. I put the next one on my wishlist, so maybe I can be a little more unbiased since they haven't turned that one into a TV show.

Sarah's Quilt by Nancy E. Turner

2009-02-15T11:32:00.003-05:00

7/10 - Well, I'm a little bummed. The book previous to this, These Is My Words, featuring Sarah Agnes Prine is probably in my top ten of all time. So I had high expectations for this book which was to continue Sarah's story. I still love Sarah and think she is a wonderful character, but the storyline of this book just didn't do it for me. I felt like all of the dramatic moments seemed so disjointed. I don't want to ruin it for anyone, so I'll say there were some points that flowed, but others just seemed to be thrown in there to break up the monotony. It moved much slower than TIMW, and I was hoping to see a little more to come of two love interests. Those could have been some really great additions, but little came of either. Now I'm debating about reading the third book The Star Garden. Can anyone give me their opinion of it?

Speak Softly, She Can Hear by Pam Lewis

2009-01-30T20:28:00.000-05:00

8/10 - My friend Gwen lent me this book and prefaced by saying, "During the first two chapters, I wanted to throw it away, but it gets better." Needless to say, this made me very skeptical, and she was right, I thought the book was trash in those first two chapters. Now I'm glad I got through it, because the rest of the book was pretty good, great characters that are well fleshed out. I don't have a clue what the hell is with the title. It makes it sound like some ghost story, and it's really nothing like that. A mild psychological thriller.

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain

2009-01-25T18:37:00.000-05:00

9/10 - Good all around story that was very well written. It was one of those books were all the pieces are strong, the characters, plot line, writing. Kept me interested through out, however I didn't give it the full 10 because I didn't feel really emotionally involved. I didn't feel like I was in the story or personally knew the characters like I get with some books.

The Myth of You and Me by Leah Stewart

2009-01-15T08:49:00.000-05:00

8/10 - A good book about close female friendships. Left me wishing there was a little more elaboration at the end of the story. I think she still makes her point, but the close felt very abrupt. Nonetheless, I liked it and would read another by this author.

Night by Elie Weisel

2009-01-10T22:31:00.005-05:00

I won't be giving a rating for this book. Did I enjoy it? No. How can you enjoy the recount of someone's life in the concentration camps? This book plumbs the depths of human cruelty. Reading it, is merely to bare witness to this man's suffering.

Empire Falls by Richard Russo

2009-01-09T22:54:00.003-05:00

8/10 - I really loved all of the characters in this book. They were a very believable bunch, Max was so Max! I'm not sure what to make of the story. The ending surely took me by suprise. It was like the rest of the book lulled me into this sort of expectation that nothing much happens in Empire Falls. Even though all the signs were there, I didn't read them. I liked it.

The Top Ten of 2008

2009-01-01T09:45:00.000-05:00

One Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
The Kindness of Strangers by Katrina Kittle
Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos
Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
The Birth House by Ami McKay
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
Girls in Trouble by Caroline Leavitt
The Kind of Love That Saves You by Amy Yurk

The Kind of Love That Saves You by Amy Yurk

2008-12-29T22:21:00.003-05:00

9/10 - Best book about grief I've read so far. I really liked the format. The narrator is writing letters to her unborn child. I thought it was well written and believable. I wish there was a little more at the end, not because I think it would really add to the book, but I didn't want to let go of Sarah just yet.

A to Z New Author Challenge

2008-12-29T08:04:00.001-05:00

Woohoo!! Completed!! I've read an author for every letter of the alphabet. That was so fun, I just might do it again.

A - Zorro by Isabel Allende
B - Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg
C - Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross
D - The Brothers K by David James Duncan
E - The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
F - The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
G - Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
H - The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman
I - Compromising Positions by Susan Isaacs
J - Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson
K - The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
L - Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
M - The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty
N - The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
O - The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
P - Little Children by Tom Perotta
Q - One True Thing by Anna Quindlen
R - Why Girls Are Weird by Pamela Ribon
S - The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
T - The Book of Joe by Jonathon Tropper
U - Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger
V - Slaughter-house Five by Kurt Vonnegut
W - The Rock Orchard by Paula Wall
X - Sky Burial by Xinran
Y - The Kind of Love That Saves You by Amy Yurk
Z - The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Zafon

Sky Burial by Xinran

2008-12-26T20:49:00.000-05:00

7/10 - Doesn't a Sky Burial sound romantic? Yeah. It's not. I don't want to ruin it for you though. That aside, this was a pretty decent book. I was a little overwhelmed and confused by the political portions. I realize they were pertinent to the story, but I felt like the author dwelled on them in parts and it took away from the romance of the story. However, the discussions of Tibetan culture were enthralling. It's a very quick read, worth your time.

Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger

2008-12-24T10:40:00.000-05:00

5/10 - Just an okay mystery/thriller book. I got annoyed with all main character's inner dialog. It was written like she was talking to the reader, and felt like she was trying too hard to be cute. The characters were not terribly believable, and the plot really wasn't. What else can I say. It fulfilled my U requirement for the new author challenge.

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

2008-12-08T09:42:00.000-05:00

8/10 - I was surprised by the many similarities between Nefertiti and The Other Boleyn Girl. Both were written from the perspective of the sister of an important icon in history. Both stories focused on a power hungry family and an unstable Monarch. I could go on and on, but I won't. The story was entertaining. I enjoyed hearing about Egypt. I wish there were more fiction novels that focused on ancient Egypt. Not deep reading, but entertaining. I'd recommend it to a friend.

Compromising Positions by Susan Isaacs

2008-11-29T20:17:00.004-05:00

7/10 - Along the lines of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, only subtract bachlorette bounty hunter and insert housewife detective. I really enjoyed the Judith Singer character, she was fun and quirky, and I was glad that she didn't back down to her hubby. She was actually pretty 'real' despite her stereotypical upper middle class surroundings. The love interest left much to be desired however and I hadn't realized when I picked the book up it was copyrighted in 1978. Other than that it was an okay read, kept things interesting enough.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

2008-11-21T22:46:00.002-05:00

10/10 - Very different from her Twilight series, but still awesome. At first, I was thinking it might be too Sci-Fi for me, but I got over that quickly. Some more great love interests, which really make her books for me. Exciting plot, everything.

2008 Fiction Lover's Genre Challenge

2008-11-21T16:41:00.002-05:00

This year for my online book club reading challenge we are focusing on genres. We each picked 12 genres from a list and the challenge is to read at least one book from each genre on the list. Obviously some books can fit in more that one genre, but I will try to pick one genre that I think suits it best and will read 12 different books.

Historical - Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald
Chick Lit - Love Walked In by Maria de los Santos
Horror- I am Legend by Richard Matheson
Fantasy/Sci-Fi - The Host by Stephenie Meyer
Mystery/Thriller - The Alienist by Caleb Carr
Romance - Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson
Foreign - Love Marriage V.V. Ganeshananthan
Young Adult - A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Classic - Slaughter House Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Movie Tie-in - Atonement by Ian McEwan
Memoir - Love is a Mixed Tape by Rob Sheffield
Comedy - Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
COMPLETED!!

The Birth House by Ami McKay

2008-11-12T14:49:00.005-05:00

9/10 - I was so dissappointed when I read Midwives by Chris Bohjalian. It was an okay story, just not what I was hoping it would be. This book is what I was hoping Midwives would be. Stories about womens friendships and how they support each other during childbirth. As an L&D nurse, this topic is especially close to my heart.

Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich

2008-11-08T21:28:00.002-05:00

8/10 - I actually liked this one much more than the first. In the first book, I thought the characters were anh.. okay. Ranger was my favorite. But in Two for the Dough, I really fell in love with Morelli, Grandma Mazur, Lula, and Stephanie. I'm off to order the next now.

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

2008-11-06T08:12:00.001-05:00

6/10 - I thought I'd read something scary for Halloween. This book had the novella I Am Legend as well as a bunch of short stories. I thought the were all all right. Matheson was definitely ahead of his time. I can see he inspired more movies than just I Am Legend. I'm glad I'm done with it though. Just not my thing I guess.

Second Glance by Jodi Picoult

2008-10-23T08:06:00.001-05:00

7/10 - I've never had a lot of interest in Jodi Picoult, because I really don't like court room drama. But a friend lent me this book, and promised there was no court rooms involved, so I gave it a whirl. I thought it was good. It kept me interested even though I've been in a big reading slump lately. I liked the ghost story theme. It's that time of year anyway right. I thought some parts did drag a little, and I found Ross to be a little melodramic. Overall, it was a good read.

Cut to the Bone by Shane Gericke

2008-09-13T09:52:00.000-05:00

3/10 - Long, meandering thriller. There were so many characters in this book and two different time periods that by the middle I didn't know where I was or who I was reading about. The whole time I'm thinking the author has to tie everything together at the end and then it will make sense, but No! Nothing gets tied together, and the killer is a nobody. What the hell! I liked the main two characters, that was about it. Wouldn't waste your time even if you're into the thriller genre, and I'm not. I read it because a neighbor lent it to me with good intentions.

The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J. Maarten Troost

2008-09-01T20:41:00.002-05:00

9/10 - A hilarious account of the authors stay on the island of Tarawa in the South Pacific. I really enjoyed the authors sense of humor and personality. It was one of those books that had you googling parts just so you could get a better idea of what he was talking about. I found the whole thing fascinating and it made me further appreciate the comforts of our modern society. Who wouldn't find it funny to watch a man peddle a bicycle one handed while swing a tuna at a dozen hungry dogs.

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

2008-08-26T20:26:00.003-05:00

10/10 - My beautiful Edward... now what am I going to do? How will I get my fix? My wonderful fantasy life has come to an end. I'm beside myself. I guess there's nothing left to do but wait for the movies to come out. I wonder if they have any clue what kind of hit they have on their hands. They better not screw this one up.

The Kindness of Strangers by Katrina Kittle

2008-08-17T21:47:00.000-05:00

10/10 - I was so hesitant to read this book because of the disturbing subject matter, but Kittle does such an excellent job writing about sexual abuse without sugar coating it, but she also doesn't alienate the reader. The characters are so well developed that you just ache for them. There is a good balance between the despairing parts and the triumphant ones, so you really feel compelled to keep reading. This book has such a great sensitivity. I really loved this one!

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett

2008-08-09T21:07:00.005-05:00

7/10 - Hilarious book about Armageddon and good vs. evil. This book is full of very funny tidbits and the story overall is strong. However, there is an enormous amount of characters to keep track of, and some serious slow parts to overcome. I'm glad I read it, but I'm not running out to lend it to someone else.

Inspired Passages ~ Good Omens

2008-08-09T20:28:00.004-05:00

Okay, so these aren't particularly inspirational, and won't have you pondering the meaning of life or anything, but they are laugh out loud funny!

Many people, meeting Aziraphale for the first time, formed three impressions: that he was English, that he was intelligent, and that he was gayer than a tree full of monkeys on nitrous oxide.

"Hey," he said, but much more weakly this time, "did any of them kids have some space alien with a face like a friendly turd in a bike basket?"

I about peed my pants at those.

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

2008-07-25T14:11:00.004-05:00

9/10 - My beloved Edward is back! Unfortunately, he brought that annoying Bella character with him. Okay, so I think I'm too attached to the characters in this series. I really liked this one, it brought back all the good stuff from both Twilight and New Moon with only a tough of the incessant whining that drove me nuts in New Moon. Now I can't wait to read the next one, Breaking Dawn, and to see the movie that comes out 12/12! This will be the first series I've ever read start to finish since The Chronicles of Narnia when I was 13.

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

2008-07-10T19:38:00.002-05:00

10/10 - Wonderful, simple, and elegant. It was a little bit Practical Magic and a little bit Sleeping With the Enemy. I'm really looking forward to Allen's second book, Sugar Queen, now. This book made me feel very relaxed and comfortable. Very satisfying.

Slaughter-house Five by Kurt Vonnegut

2008-07-06T21:06:00.002-05:00

4/10 - This book makes me feel like my brain has been whisked in a bowl with milk and then poured into a frying pan and scrambled. That's about the best I can come up with. Why do I keep trying to read classics? It just makes me feel like I'm out of the loop, like I'm missing something. So it goes.

Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg

2008-06-30T08:51:00.002-05:00

8/10 - I tend to struggle with books that revolve almost entirely on the inner workings of peoples minds. I know it's bad, but I find them boring. I'm kind of childish in my reading. Let's go somewhere, let's DO something. But Elizabeth Berg crafted such nice characters for this book, that I was able to get by nicely. I was so proud of myself for not looking ahead to find out what happens, because that would have ruined it. I did see some areas that could have been improved, but if I talked about them I could ruin the book for you. So I'll leave them unsaid.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

2008-06-24T08:01:00.000-05:00

8/10 - A sweeping epic based in Scotland about a woman from the 40-s who's swept back to the 1740's. This book is a quick read despite it's 850 pages with tons of great characters and just enough sex to really keep things interesting. It's is action packed with very few slow parts. I enjoyed it so much, I'm going to hop over to Paperback Swap and order the second in the series.

Love Marriage by V.V. Ganeshananthan

2008-06-05T20:05:00.004-05:00

2/10 - I'm so relieved to be finished with this book, I felt like it was never going to end. There was no real flow or plot whatsoever. It really should have been billed as a book of short stories. It felt more like the author was trying to find an excuse to talk about Sri Lanka. I love learning about other cultures, but you have to have a story in there too. Otherwise, it just becomes a droning history lesson.

Who are all these characters and why do I care about them? Did we have to hear the story of every family member? I would have liked to see the author delve more into the main characters similarities to Uma. I would have liked to hear more of her story and how it intertwines with the Yalini's. We could have had a little Sri Lankan Bell Jar.

How can you write a book called Love Marriage and not have a hint of romance? Yalini's parent's story was a little romantic, but still there was so much family history that I feel like the characters you really cared to know about got watered down. I was really looking forward to this one, and I feel let down.

Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon

2008-05-25T14:20:00.002-05:00

8/10 - Short, suspenseful read. When it arrived from Paperbackswap, I was just glancing over it, reading a few pages. I only got 7 pages in before the phone rang, but I about jumped out of my skin! I had to limit my reading of this book to the daytime hours, because it made me to jumpy to read it after dark. But then again, I'm a wuss when it comes to those things.

The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty

2008-05-19T14:39:00.002-05:00

7/10 - This was an okay book. I liked the main character Evelyn. She was very believable. This is the first book that I've read that is about a girl growing up in the same time period as me. It made it very easy for me to relate to her. I remember friendship pins and watching the Challenger go down on TV. But in the end it didn't really go anywhere, so I felt let down.

Enlightenment for Idiots by Anne Cushman

2008-05-09T08:17:00.000-05:00

7/10 - This was a pleasant read. I liked the characters well enough although I thought they all were a bit flaky. My favorite was Devi Das, who was the only character I felt really warm toward. I think my enjoyment of the book was hindered by my inability to identify with any of the characters even though I liked them. I think some of my reformed Neo-hippy friends from college would probably like this book more than me. I thought the story story was well paced and held my interest. It arrived just before I left on vacation and turned out to be good vacation reading. I enjoyed the excerpts which described different yoga poses. My husband found it very amusing to watch me try them out, and I was surprised to find that I can still stand on my head, even if only for a few seconds. ;-) I think readers will find it delivers just what you would expect from the title.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

2008-04-25T19:57:00.004-05:00

11/10 - Okay, I don't want to hear any comments about the rating. I just had to set this book on a pedestal somehow and that's how I chose to do it. This is far and away the most moving book I've ever read. It should have been called A Thousand Falling Tears. I implore you to read it. I won't bother to describe the story line because what ever I say won't do it justice. Just read it..Please. I'm blown away.

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

2008-04-17T19:33:00.004-05:00

6/10 - Similar to Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, The Spellman Files is an entertaining book about a family of private investigators. I'm usually partial to books that are heavy on character development, but I really felt that character development was all this book was about. There really was no discernible plot. The characters are quite entertaining which makes the book readable, but nothing to write home about.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

2008-04-05T23:15:00.001-05:00

6/10 - This was a somewhat entertaining little YA book. Generally though I didn't really understand the whole supernatural concept the book was based on, and the characters were all very cliche. I felt like it followed that unwritten boarding school recipe. I don't think I'll be picking up anymore of this authors.

Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos

2008-03-31T12:36:00.004-05:00

9/10 - Everything I love in a book; love family, great kids. It gave me a cozy feeling down to my bones. Some reviewers complained about predictability, but I didn't see it. I can see how her writing style might not appeal to everyone, it's a bit halting, but I liked it. I think I would have appreaciated the book more if I was a fan of old movies. This will be a great one to pass on to friends.

Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald

2008-03-26T13:50:00.004-05:00

8/10 - I'm not one who says things like "I just couldn't put it down." when talking about books. But really, I just couldn't put it down. Someone wrote in another review that reading this book is liking driving past a grisly accident, you want to look away, but you just can't. I think that sums it up perfectly. This book contains some of the most unusual characters I've ever come across. How they end up in the same book is amazing as well. But I just could not stop reading it out of morbid curiosity if nothing else. The happy ending queen crosses over to the dark side.

One For the Money by Janet Evanovich

2008-03-21T19:36:00.005-05:00

7/10 - Another fun, easy read with lots of likeable characters. I enjoyed it so much that I ordered the next in the series "Two For the Dough". I was really surprised that so many parts of the story line caught me by surprise. Usually, I have books like this figured out by the first chapter. I even had a "holy crap" moment when the main character did something I totally wasn't expecting. If you like series, I'm sure you've already read this, but if you haven't, you should.

Love is a Mixed Tape by Rob Sheffield

2008-03-17T02:03:00.003-05:00

8/10 - It's amazing to hear someone talk about one of the worst times in his life with such humor. This is what Rob Sheffield does. He writes about his life with his wife, Renee, and about how music brought them together and how it helped him to heal after she died. There's music in this book for everyone, and some songs that noone has every heard before. Life Rob's rewording of "The Tigger Song" into "The Widow Song".

The terrible thing about widows,

is widows are terrible things.

Their eyes are covered with sunglasses.

Their fingers are covered with rings.

They're jumpy, dumpy, frumpy, glumpy,

dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.

But the most terrible thing about widows

is that I'm the only one.

I'm...the only one.

Girls in Trouble by Caroline Leavitt

2008-03-13T08:43:00.000-05:00

9/10 - This book was so much more than the cover or title would lead you to believe. The characters are so believeable and well written, that it's almost impossible to figure out who to side with. It's a very touching story about a sixteen year old girl who gets pregnant and decides to give the baby up in an open adoption. I highly recommend it.

The Alienist by Caleb Carr

2008-03-06T22:35:00.003-05:00

8/10 - Interesting "Jack the Ripper" type mystery set in the late 1800's in New York. I thought the writing was excellent, and the story held my interest although it took me a really long time to read. I'm not a die-hard mystery lover, but if you are you'll probably love it. I thought it could have been condensed some. Oh, and don't read it if you are hungry. The detective crew has some pretty amazing meals thrown in there with the gore.

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson

2008-02-09T11:44:00.000-05:00

5/10 - I'm surprised at James Patterson for putting this out. It seems really beneath him. It is utterly predictable, I could have told you the whole story after reading 3 pages. He also does something that I find incredibly irritating. I absolutely hate it when authors repeat themselves. I find it condescending, like the reader isn't smart enough to remember important points. It would get you through a plane ride, but I could think of way better.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

2008-02-05T21:42:00.000-05:00

8/10 - It is rare that I find a book that I want to take my time with, this is an exception. I really enjoyed the poetry and spirituality of the writing. I found myself mulling over passages before moving on. I thought the journaling format was very effective. I especially loved that parts when he talked about his son and what he was doing. Those parts were especially warm. I did find myself wishing for more of a story interwoven in his thoughts. There were definite pieces of one, but they never really panned out. I also would have liked to hear the thoughts of the son when he grew and read the journal.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

2008-01-25T15:58:00.000-05:00

Argh. This one is really hard to rate because my thoughts are so divided. On one side there's the cynical part of me that says this is just a bunch of New Age Hooey. He just says the say thing over and over, and the phrase "to penetrate the Soul of the World" is just hard for me not to snicker at. On the other hand, if I'm feeling philosophical, I can find some real depth in the story. I think if you really read it with a totally open mind, you could get a lot out of it. It definitely makes you think. So I guess I'm taking the easy way out and I'm not going to give it a rating. Your take will depend so much on how you approach the book. You're just going to have to make your own mind up on this one.

Undead and Unwed by Mary Janice Davidson

2008-01-22T15:02:00.000-05:00

7/10 - Fun, quirky read about a materialistic blonde who is killed and rises from the dead as the prophetized Vamipire Queen. I think that pretty much says it all. Great book to read on a plane, that sort of thing.

Atonement by Ian McEwan

2008-01-18T20:25:00.000-05:00

6/10 - It's hard to fully explain my feelings about this book without giving away some plot details, so be warned. For starters, the first 100 pages were agony for me. I just found it to be very wordy and flowery. I started threatening the author that if he didn't get somewhere with all this fast then I was throwing in the towel. And then we got some where.... and fast! Wow! There was 50-100 pages there that I couldn't put the book down. Then we landed with a thud. There was all this build up for Robbie and Cecilia to be reunited and then he just shows up in the bathroom. WTH!!! And Briony never really atoned for anything. Sheesh! Guess this just wasn't my thing.

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

2008-01-02T23:00:00.000-05:00

8/10 - This is book two in the Twilight series, and I didn't enjoy it as well as the first. I just found myself completely annoyed with Bella the main character and her incessant whining!! Edward, the love interest, is my favorite character and he was absent for half the book. After reading this book, I'm even more certain that he needs to dump Bella and fall madly in love with me! I did like our new character Jacob though. He made Edwards absence less painful. I will probably continue with the series when I get Eclipse from PaperBackSwap, or as a gift, but I don't think I'm going to run out and buy it.

The Best of 2007

2008-01-01T20:34:00.000-05:00

I can't really rank them from 1-10, but I definitely have a top 5, so I'm differentiating those. I think it's a little bizarre that they all start with 'The'.

Top 5
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Zafon
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
The Book of Joe by Jonathon Tropper

Top 10
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
The Rock Orchard by Paula Wall
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
The Red Tent by Anita Diamont

Booklist for the 2007 Fiction Lovers Challenge

2007-12-22T23:35:00.000-05:00

Fiction Lovers is a online book club/message board. The challenge this year was to rid our shelves or To Be Read lists of books. We had to pick 26 books to be read by the end of 2007. Here's my list, starred items are books currently on my shelves. Books in brackets have already been read.

[The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver]
[Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors]
[The Book Thief by Markus Zusak]
[Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay]
[The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls]
[Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson]
[Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry]
[The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty]
[The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander Mccall Smith]
[One True Thing by Anna Quindlen]
[The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory]
[Peace Like a River by Leif Enger ]
[The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett]
[Pope Joan by Donna Cross]
[The Red Tent by Anita Diamont]
[The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Zafon]
[Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See]
[Tangerine Dream by Ken Douglas and Jack Stewart]
[The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield]
[The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger]
[The Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox ]
[The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides]
[A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks]
[Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen]
[Watermelon by Marion Keyes]
[Zorro by Isabel Allende]

Mission Completion!!

The Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox

2007-12-22T23:30:00.000-05:00

6/10 - Ummm... I don't think I got this book. It's about a man's relationship with an angel, and is set on a Vintyard in France during the mid 1800's. Some parts were interesting, some parts bizarre, and some parts just disturbing. There were some interesting theological plot turns that were quite thought provoking. I found the language, while elegant in parts, was overall difficult to understand. I don't think it's a bad book overall, but not one I would recommend to anyone.

The Book of Joe by Jonathon Tropper

2007-12-13T23:30:00.000-05:00

10/10 - You can't judge a book by it's blurb, and this book is a perfect example why. The blurb made it sound like a quirky funny light read, but there's really so much more to the story. It was also very touching and insightful. I really liked how he wrote about his high school years. It made me very nostalgic. Beautiful right to the very end. I highly recommend it. I just finished it tonight, and I've already passed it on.

Inspired Passages ~ The Book of Joe

2007-12-11T21:05:00.001-05:00

Another revelation. I think this one requires a little more background. Joe has written a highly controversial book that portrays his home town and its inhabitants in an unflatterly light. Now he's back in town after 17 years and has reunited with one of his high school buddies who is dying of AIDS. They go out for bender and he runs into his friend's mother after dropping him off at home.

"So, you're a famous author now," she says in the same tone she might have used to say, "So, you're a convicted pedophile."
"I guess so," I say.
"Well," she says disdainfully. "You won't find me reading that trash."
"If you haven't read it, how do you know it's trash?"
"I heard about it," she declares gravely. "And believe me, hearing was plenty."
"Well," I say, placing the book back on the shelf and heading for the door, "I guess that's my cue."
I head down the stairs, now noticing the crucifix and assorted Jesus artwork that occupies every available bit of wall space. Wayne's mother follows behind me, muttering something quietly to herself. As I reach the front door, she calls my name softly. I turn to face her. "Yes?" I say.
"I'm praying for your father," she says.
"And what about your son?"
She frowns and looks heavenward. "I pray for his soul."
"He's not dead yet," I say. "I think he could use a little less praying and a little more compassion."
"He has sinned against the Lord. He's paying the price."
"And I'm sure the Bible has nothing by praise for the woman who denies her suffering child a mother's love in his final days."
She flashes me a dark look, her eyes filled with the defiant righteousness of the dogmatically pious. "When was the last time you read the bible, Joe?"
"You won't catch me reading that trash," I say. "I've heard about it, and believe me, hearing was plenty."

Good Grief by Lolly Winston

2007-12-08T19:12:00.000-05:00

8/10 - I was really impressed by how well the author handled this topic. I think it's hard to center a book around grief, because you want things to turn out well for the person that lost a loved one, but you have to make it believable at the same time. You can't just make everything happily ever after at the end. I thought the book progressed a a perfect pace, and was entertaining. I would read more by this author.