EDIT: Winner has been posted here
As promised, I'm posting my first book giveaway today!
The book: The Beach House - Jane Green
How to win: Comment on this post. Extra entry if you blog about the giveaway and post your link here! (USA & Canada only - I'm sorry to everyone else, but I can't afford the ridiculous international postage!)
Deadline: 11:59 PM on Monday, July 7. Check back on Tuesday to see if you won!
Labels:
book giveaway,
jane green
Title: The Beach House
Author: Jane Green
ISBN: 0670018856
Pages: 352
Genre: Women's Fiction, Beach Read
Review: Originally posted at Curled Up With A Good Book
Rating: **** 1/2 (out of 5)
Wherever Nan Powell goes, whispers seem to follow. At 65 years old, she is one of the older residents of the ‘Sconset area of Nantucket and has quite a reputation around the island. Everyone thinks of her as the eccentric older woman who has lived alone for far too long. While not quite as crazy as she seems, Nan has indeed been alone for a very long time. Her beloved husband, Everett, committed suicide after racking up an enormous gambling debt, leaving Nan to pay his bills and care for their young son, Michael. Now, Michael is living in New York and has trouble finding the time to visit his aging mother.
One day, Nan’s financial advisor comes to her with some dire news: all the money she put in a hedge fund is gone. Her best option now is to sell her property on Nantucket (called Windermere), which is worth several million dollars. As Windermere is the only thing she has left of her dear Everett (she had to sell off the rest of the property in order to pay his debts), she can’t bear the thought of losing the house. Therefore, she comes up with a brilliant plan: she will rent the rooms and run a B&B for the summer, inviting people into her home and slowly watching them become a part of her family.
While The Beach House’s central character is Nan, there are multiple storylines that slowly weave together to form a coherent whole, much as the various persons in the novel gradually come together to be Nan’s family. There are Bee and Daniel, a married couple with two beautiful young daughters who are having marital issues, though it is hard to determine exactly what the problem is. And then Daff and Richard, and their daughter, Jess, who has difficulty coping with what her parents are going through. And then there’s Michael, Nan’s son, and his complicated relationship with his married boss, Jordana. Green tells all these stories seamlessly; there is no jarring disconnect, as happens so often in novels with multiple storylines.
Green’s talent is evident, and shines through in her writing of the characters in the story. By the middle of the book, the reader is invested in each of these characters; it is important that they work through their problems and find a happier place. And at the end of the book, the reader is sad to leave these characters, to not be able to enjoy more of their stories.
The Beach House is the perfect beach read. It is a drama, and is very serious in some places, but it is never a heavy book. It never drags the reader down or makes the reader feel as if he/she has an added weight on their shoulders. Instead, even at the most dramatic moments, it is hopeful and uplifting - a breath of fresh air. It helps to redefine the genre of “beach read;” these books are no longer complete fluff with a lack of depth. Instead the nuances in The Beach House serve to give us a new view of beach reads (and women’s fiction in general). It is Green’s best work to date.
Labels:
beach read,
jane green,
review,
women's fiction
I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed The Beach House by Jane Green. I'll post a full review tomorrow, but for now, I just have to say that this is the best Jane Green I think I've read! [Updated: Review for The Beach House]
Stay tuned for a review tomorrow and giveaway information to come...
Labels:
book giveaway,
jane green,
sunday salon
Labels:
historical fiction,
sunday salon
I've joined the Sunday Salon, which means I have committed to setting aside time today to read, blog about what I've read, and comment on others' Sunday Salon pages!
Today I will be reading (and hopefully finishing) The Uncrowned Queen by Posie Graeme-Evans.
Labels:
sunday salon
I enjoyed The Richest Season. It was definitely a light beach read – anyone looking for substance or deep thought should search elsewhere. The book was reminiscent of Dorothea Benton Frank’s The Land of Mango Sunsets, but I found it much more enjoyable. The book is satisfying and enjoyable, and I think any female would enjoy it, but most likely it speaks to women approaching the middle of their lives. The characters are well written and it is easy to sympathize with them. Overall, this is a great first effort from McFadden and I look forward to reading what she comes out with next!
(Incidentally, completely off topic, but I absolutely despised the cover of the ARC. The cover of the actual book is much better. And yes, I do judge books by their covers.)
Labels:
beach read,
librarything,
review,
women's fiction
Title: Perfect on Paper: The (Mis)adventures of Waverly Bryson
Author: Maria Murnane
ISBN: 098004250X
Pages: 320
Genre: Chick Lit
Review: Originally appeared on Amazon.com - the author was kind enough to send me a review copy!
Rating: **** 1/2 (out of 5)
Perfect on Paper is the story of Waverly (yes, like the cracker) Bryson, a woman who works in sports PR, but doesn't like sports. That seems to be a metaphor for Waverly's entire life; her fiancé left her a week before their wedding, and she still can't seem to find the courage to tell people that he left her, and not the other way around. She confesses deep thoughts about her past to random strangers and always seems to be spilling food on herself when she meets cute guys.
In short, this is a hilarious look at ordinary life. Yes, Waverly seems to have the "it" job...but how many of us aren't excited by our jobs? And how many girls have lied about who dumped who in a relationship (or at least considered it?) And don't get me started on blind dates - Waverly's experiences are priceless. The key to this book is that Waverly is like any other woman; who can't relate to what she's going through or sympathize with how she feels? Even though she lives a bit more of a glamorous lifestyle than the common woman, throughout the book, it is clear that she is just an ordinary girl trying to find love - and shouldn't everyone love reading about that?
Murnane's wit shines through the book - if I had to pick one reason to read the book, it would be the sheer hilarity that ensues. She also manages to write incredibly awkward scenes without making the reader cringe. One of the worst parts of reading a book like this is that when there is an embarrassing moment for the main character, I am tempted to skip ahead and just see how it ends because it makes me feel so awkward. Murnane somehow magically managed to write these events without the embarrassment passing on the the reader, an impressive feat.
In short, Perfect on Paper is well written, funny, smart, and is generally loveable. So what are you waiting for? Read this book! You won't regret it.
Labels:
chick lit,
review
Title: Remember Me
Author: Sophie Kinsella
ISBN: 0385338724
Pages: 400
Genre: Chick Lit
Review: Originally posted at Curled Up With a Good Book
Rating: **** 1/2 (out of 5)
What happens if you wake up one morning and realize that all of your dreams have magically come true overnight? That’s what happens to Lexi Smart. She wakes up in a hospital one to find that she doesn’t recognize herself – literally. The frizzy hair is gone, replaced by a sleek, shiny mane, and the lifelong nickname “Snaggletooth” just doesn’t apply anymore…and why do her lips look suspiciously plumper? She doesn’t even believe the Louis Vuitton handbag that the nurse hands her is actually hers. Why? Because Lexi has no memory of the past three years. In her mind, she’s a struggling assistant manager at a flooring company who just had a typical crazy night out with her girlfriends in 2004. In reality, she’s actually a member of the Board of Directors of that flooring company and is waking up from a minor car accident in 2007.
Lexi finds that she has everything she has ever wanted: she is beautiful, married to a ridiculously good-looking guy, makes a lot of money, and lives in the most beautiful loft she has ever seen. So what if everyone at the office not-so-secretly wishes she hadn’t recovered from the car accident? And so what if her oldest friends don’t want anything to do with her anymore? And does it really matter if her new husband scolds her like a child for not putting her shoes away properly? Remember Me? is the tale of Lexi’s quest to discover what happened to her during those three years to turn her into a person whom she doesn’t physically or emotionally recognize, and what she does when she finds out that her new life may not be as picture perfect as it seems.
Remember Me? is funny, witty, and absolutely charming; it is perhaps Kinsella’s best work yet. The characters are extremely well written and appealing. Like all of Kinsella’s protagonists, Lexi is quirky and a bit off-center. What makes this book fresh and unique, however, is that when she wakes, Lexi is the woman that every chick lit heroine loves to hate: sleek and polished, beautiful, refined, and very unpleasant in the workplace. It’s interesting to see what Kinsella does with that role reversal, how the reader sympathizes with the snooty boss in charge instead of condemning her. The most interesting parts of the book come when Lexi is trying to discover what drove her to this complete personality change. She looks at what her husband and friends demonstrate that her life has become and searches for some fragment of the Lexi she knows within it.
Ironically, it is not with her husband that Lexi finds remnants of the woman she used to be, but with his architect partner, Jon. Jon delivers startling news to her soon after their first meeting and, unsure of whether to trust him, she holds him at arm’s length while trying to decipher the puzzle of the last three years.
Remember Me? is a fresh look at what might happen if that fairy-tale wish comes true: “I wish I could wake up to find a new me, someone completely different than I am now.” Its hilarious situations and witty humor make it a real force to be reckoned with in the chick-lit genre. The fact that it comes with some definite introspection makes it that much better. It is an absolutely enjoyable experience; readers will race through the pages to find out what happens to Lexi as they try to discover the secrets of her past together. Kinsella has really outdone herself with this work. Any fan of chick lit should pick this up immediately.
Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Swapna Krishna, 2008
Labels:
chick lit,
review
Title: Earthly Pleasures
Earthly Pleasures by Karen Neches is the story of Skye Sebring, a new soul who works in the Hospitality Division of Heaven. Newly created, she has yet to experience life on Earth, preferring the experiences of simply welcoming the recently deceased into Heaven. After all, on Earth, would she be able to use her WishBerry to order up a dirty martini anytime she wants? I don’t think so!
Skye is completely happy with her life in Heaven - until Ryan Blaine appears in her office. An extremely handsome lawyer who is constantly featured on Heaven’s reality show, Earthly Pleasures, Blaine is only in Skye’s office for a minute before the defibrillators return him to his physical body on Earth. Intrigued by their meeting and the fact that he seems to recognize her as someone else, she begins watching Blaine on Earthly Pleasures and becomes more and more attached to him as she tries to decipher the mystery of who she reminded him of. It becomes even more of a puzzle when she realizes that she resembles his wife, Susan. As the tale unfolds and the multiple storylines come together, the reader is drawn into the mystery of Skye’s past. And just who is Susan Blaine?
Light, funny, and incredibly creative, Earthly Pleasures is an absolute joy to read. The characters are extremely well-written; the reader roots for Skye immediately. The mystery adds a sense of urgency to the novel and brings it one step above other books. The reader tries to distinguish the lies from the truth and read between the lines to figure out what is really going on. Neches is brilliant in that respect. She adds just enough of every element to make the perfect book. The mystery isn’t overwhelming; instead, it’s fun and piques the reader’s curiosity. She doesn’t go overboard in her creativity. Heaven is an interesting place, and I want to know more about her interpretation of it. But there is no skimming due to overly detailed descriptions or long, boring imagery. The book is funny but doesn’t try too hard. It seems very natural and completely believable. Neches also manages to add depth to the novel, sometimes difficult to do in this chick lit genre. It is not a fluffy story about Heaven but a true, deep love story between two people which transcends time, space, and everything else as we know it.
The only complaint that I have about Earthly Pleasures is that it is too short. At the end of the book, I was left wanting more. I certainly hope that Neches plans on revisiting this story in order to deliver a sequel, because my imagination isn’t nearly as exciting as hers. I would love to know what happens next.
Anyone can enjoy Earthly Pleasures for its simplicity and wit while appreciating the well-written characters and mysterious storyline. Neches’ view of heaven is appealing and humorous, enough to make anyone hope that it actually resembles the true Great Beyond. I highly recommend Earthly Pleasures – trust me, it’ll only take one sitting!
Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Swapna Krishna, 2008
Labels:
chick lit,
review
Title: Promise Not To Tell
Promise Not To Tell by Jennifer McMahon is the story of Kate Cypher, a nurse working in Seattle. She receives a call from some old friends back home who tell her that her mother, who suffers from dementia and Alzheimer’s, is rapidly deteriorating. Kate goes home to confront the difficult situation with her mother, who does not want to go into a home. However, there are other issues waiting for Kate upon her return. 31 years earlier, Kate’s best friend, Del Griswold, was murdered, and the killer was never found. Now there is another murder that is frighteningly similar to Del’s – is it coincidence that it happened right after Kate’s homecoming? And what really happened the day that Del was murdered?
I really enjoyed Promise Not To Tell. The pacing was quick, and at a concise 256 pages, there really was never a dull moment. The author foreshadowed well, increasing the reader’s anticipation, but never gave too much away. It is frustrating when an author’s use of foreshadowing actually ruins the book due to poor placement and revealing too much information (Michael Crichton’s The Andromeda Strain is the best example I can think of for really irritating foreshadowing).
The book was definitely spooky and a little bit creepy, but it definitely wasn’t too scary for those of you that have difficulty with horror novels (like me.) Besides the unfolding of the mystery, the element I honestly liked best about the book was its length. Too often, my main complaint about a novel is that about 100 pages could have been trimmed off without any significant impact on the plot or character development. While I don’t mind long novels, I’m a big proponent of the idea that a book shouldn’t be any longer than it really needs to be. McMahon seems to have had that same idea in mind when writing Promise Not to Tell.
I also think McMahon did a great job portraying school children. As much as many of us liked to romanticize our childhoods, the fact is, kids can be incredibly cruel. I think many of us, especially those of us who enjoy escaping into books as we’ve become older, have been at the receiving end of taunting and bullying. I think through the way the author writes Del and Kate, she really drives home the point of how cruel children have the capacity to be. It’s very well written, but not horribly uncomfortable to read, which is a welcome surprise.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it!
Labels:
mystery,
review
Title: The Sound of Language
Author: Amulya Malladi
ISBN: 0345483162
Pages: 256
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Review: Originally posted to Curled Up With a Good Book
Rating: ***** (out of 5)
What is the sound of language? To Raihana, it’s bees. When she hears Danish, it’s like the buzzing of swarms of bees, confusing her and leaving her unsure in her new country. A refugee from Afghanistan, Raihana settles in Denmark with extended family and tries to build a new life for herself by attending Danish classes and immersing herself in Danish culture. To accomplish this, she spends time with Gunnar, an old Danish man who has recently lost his wife. He finds himself at a loss for taking care of his late wife’s bees, so Raihana helps him. Together, they recover from their wounds and build a friendship. The Sound of Language by Amulya Malladi follows the personal journey of Raihana as she struggles to build a new life for herself as a refugee in Denmark while coming to terms with the horrors of her past in Afghanistan.
Raihana doesn’t have an easy time of it. Everyone seems to disapprove of her friendship with Gunnar, from the Muslim woman in her class who insists Raihana is a “fallen woman” for associating with an unmarried man (however innocent the relationship may be) to Gunnar’s daughter-in-law, who is convinced that she is a lazy immigrant who refuses to work and will steal anything in sight. Malladi tackles these prejudices head on; she tries to show these delicate issues from multiple points of view and succeeds in giving the reader different opinions, some very controversial, on these matters.
The Sound of Language is Malladi’s first book about the Middle East rather than about India, but that fact isn’t obvious. She writes about the cultural conflicts of Afghanis and Muslims living in Western society with a certain grace and fluidity, taking ideas that are foreign to Westerners (for example, Raihana’s proposed marriage to a man with a wife and family in Pakistan) and, without defending these practices, stating them as fact. This is how it is in other cultures – accept it. This straightforward, unapologetic approach is refreshing. There is no need to make excuses for or justify these unique cultural practices, and Malladi doesn’t stoop to this level.
The most remarkable feature of Malladi’s book is how beautifully it is written. It flows seamlessly – there are no jarring transitions, no sentences or words out of place. It is simply a delight to read. The characters are also well developed, each with his or her own reasoning and personal prejudices, and Malladi makes their points of view clear and easily understood without resorting to unnecessary explanation. She understands each character well and has fleshed them out thoroughly. The book in itself conveys pure joy – while the story is not always happy, that delight is still there, lurking under the complexity of modern-day life.
The magic of The Sound of Language lies in its simplicity. It’s a rather short, simple book that is easy to read. Unlike many other books that tackle the subject of Afghanistan under the Taliban, it is not difficult or painful. It deals with important and tricky issues such as race and prejudice but manages to maintain its innate sweetness - not sappy or roll-your-eyes-in-disgust sweet, but truly, genuinely sweet – like honey. Delightful, pure, golden honey. Simple and sweet.
Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Swapna Krishna, 2008
Labels:
contemporary fiction,
review
Title: The Ten Best Days of My Life
Author: Adena Halpern
ISBN: 9780452289406
Pages: 272
Genre: Chick Lit
Review: Originally posted to Curled Up With a Good Book
Rating: **** (out of 5)
The Ten Best Days of My Life is the story of Alex Dorenfield (and her beloved dog, Peaches). Alex is shocked when she finds herself in Heaven after being brutally hit by a car on a late night/early morning dog-walking session. However, things aren’t as bad as they first appear to be. Alex is thrilled to meet up with her grandparents and beloved uncle in Heaven. She meets the cutest guy, Adam, in line waiting to get into Heaven - and is it just coincidence that he ends up living next door to her?
Once Alex discovers the benefits of Seventh Heaven (the highest possible level of Heaven one can achieve), she is delirious with happiness. A closet the size of a bedroom full of designer clothes, shoes, and accessories, her dream house, a cute guy next door, and being able to eat anything and everything without gaining weight (and no cellulite!). What else could a girl want?
Therein lies the problem. One morning, shortly after arriving in Seventh Heaven, Alex’s guardian angel drops by for a quick chat. It seems that “the establishment” in Heaven isn’t quite sure whether Alex really deserves to be in Seventh Heaven or whether she should be sent back to one of the lower levels (still nice, but nothing compared to Seventh). In order to prove that she belongs, Alex is asked to write an essay chronicling the ten best days of her life to demonstrate that while her life was short, it was worthwhile. This journey of reflection and self-introspection is what provides the heart and soul of The Ten Best Days of My Life.
At the beginning of the novel and through the first few parts of her essay, Alex seems demonstrably spoiled and whiny. Her general level of self-importance is irritating, and she seems to have a very strong sense of entitlement. While not difficult to like, she is difficult to respect. For example, her constant use of the phrase “miracle child” to describe herself is off-putting and generally seems in bad taste. However, this seems to be a deliberate move on the author’s part. By characterizing Alex as a rather selfish narcissist, she leaves quite a lot of room for character growth. When that development finally comes, it is satisfying and leaves the reader with a sense of delight.
While The Ten Best Days of My Life is Adena Halpern’s debut in fiction, she has previously written what can best be characterized as a fashion memoir entitled Target Underwear and a Vera Wang Gown. Having read that book, it is easy to see where the inspiration for Alex comes from; Halpern has written what she knows. Though sometimes this can lead to monotony, in this case it pays off. She retains the wit from her previous work but proves that she has more than a good sense of humor. The ability to craft a solid, enjoyable story from scratch is a difficult one. Halpern has proven her talents as a writer as fiction and I look forward to reading her next work.
Another chick lit-type book was recently released about Heaven that people will inevitably compare to this novel: Earthly Pleasures by Karen Neches. Which is better? It’s difficult to say. Though they are both about Heaven, the novels themselves are very different. Halpern’s work is more fluff, syrupy sweetness and reflections on life and what is important. Neches, on the other hand, seems to dig a little deeper under the surface and crafts more of a mystery. Which one should you read? If you like the genre, read both. They are different enough that you’ll not feel like you’re reading the same thing twice. The real question is, whose version of heaven would you rather visit?
The Ten Best Days of My Life is not grand literature. However, it is an immensely sweet novel that will endear itself to anyone who wants a book which will make them smile. Fans of chick lit should put this on their reading list for 2008.
Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Swapna Krishna, 2008
Labels:
chick lit,
review
Title: The Beach HouseAuthor: Jane Green
ISBN: 0670018856
Pages: 352
Genre: Women's Fiction, Beach Read
Review: Originally posted at Curled Up With A Good Book
Rating: **** 1/2 (out of 5)
Wherever Nan Powell goes, whispers seem to follow. At 65 years old, she is one of the older residents of the ‘Sconset area of Nantucket and has quite a reputation around the island. Everyone thinks of her as the eccentric older woman who has lived alone for far too long. While not quite as crazy as she seems, Nan has indeed been alone for a very long time. Her beloved husband, Everett, committed suicide after racking up an enormous gambling debt, leaving Nan to pay his bills and care for their young son, Michael. Now, Michael is living in New York and has trouble finding the time to visit his aging mother.
One day, Nan’s financial advisor comes to her with some dire news: all the money she put in a hedge fund is gone. Her best option now is to sell her property on Nantucket (called Windermere), which is worth several million dollars. As Windermere is the only thing she has left of her dear Everett (she had to sell off the rest of the property in order to pay his debts), she can’t bear the thought of losing the house. Therefore, she comes up with a brilliant plan: she will rent the rooms and run a B&B for the summer, inviting people into her home and slowly watching them become a part of her family.
While The Beach House’s central character is Nan, there are multiple storylines that slowly weave together to form a coherent whole, much as the various persons in the novel gradually come together to be Nan’s family. There are Bee and Daniel, a married couple with two beautiful young daughters who are having marital issues, though it is hard to determine exactly what the problem is. And then Daff and Richard, and their daughter, Jess, who has difficulty coping with what her parents are going through. And then there’s Michael, Nan’s son, and his complicated relationship with his married boss, Jordana. Green tells all these stories seamlessly; there is no jarring disconnect, as happens so often in novels with multiple storylines.
Green’s talent is evident, and shines through in her writing of the characters in the story. By the middle of the book, the reader is invested in each of these characters; it is important that they work through their problems and find a happier place. And at the end of the book, the reader is sad to leave these characters, to not be able to enjoy more of their stories.
The Beach House is the perfect beach read. It is a drama, and is very serious in some places, but it is never a heavy book. It never drags the reader down or makes the reader feel as if he/she has an added weight on their shoulders. Instead, even at the most dramatic moments, it is hopeful and uplifting - a breath of fresh air. It helps to redefine the genre of “beach read;” these books are no longer complete fluff with a lack of depth. Instead the nuances in The Beach House serve to give us a new view of beach reads (and women’s fiction in general). It is Green’s best work to date.
I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed The Beach House by Jane Green. I'll post a full review tomorrow, but for now, I just have to say that this is the best Jane Green I think I've read! [Updated: Review for The Beach House]Stay tuned for a review tomorrow and giveaway information to come...
I have finished The Uncrowned Queen by Posie Graeme-Evans, which is the last book in the Anne de Bohun trilogy. I will post a full review of the trilogy tomorrow, but in the meantime, my preliminary thoughts are that the book was good, but dragged a little towards the end.
I enjoyed the first book of the trilogy, The Innocent, but really didn't like the second, The Exiled. I thought The Uncrowned Queen redeemed the series and brought back the elements of The Innocent that I enjoyed. I rate the book *** 1/2 (out of 5). Full review to come tomorrow.
My next book will be The Beach House by Jane Green. Stay tuned to my blog, because this book will turn into my first book giveaway!
I enjoyed the first book of the trilogy, The Innocent, but really didn't like the second, The Exiled. I thought The Uncrowned Queen redeemed the series and brought back the elements of The Innocent that I enjoyed. I rate the book *** 1/2 (out of 5). Full review to come tomorrow.
My next book will be The Beach House by Jane Green. Stay tuned to my blog, because this book will turn into my first book giveaway!
I've joined the Sunday Salon, which means I have committed to setting aside time today to read, blog about what I've read, and comment on others' Sunday Salon pages!
Today I will be reading (and hopefully finishing) The Uncrowned Queen by Posie Graeme-Evans.
Title: The Richest Season
Author: Maryann McFadden
ISBN: 1401322700
Pages: 336
Genre: Women's Fiction
Review: Originally posted on LibraryThing Early Reviewers
Rating: **** (out of 5)
The Richest Season is the story of Joanna, a corporate housewife whose children are grown and gone. Her husband, Paul, has recently been promoted to a VP position at the telecommunications company he works for – and Joanna knows what that means. More long absences, more business trips, more of Paul putting his job before his family. So finally, pushed to the brink, Joanna decides to leave. She finds herself at Pawley Island in South Carolina with little money and no prospects, a far cry from her lush suburban home in New Jersey. Joanna meets an elderly woman named Grace, who has a secret of her own, and Joanna becomes a sort of part-time caretaker for Grace. As she begins her new life, Paul struggles to accept Joanna’s decision (refusing to do so for a long time) and faces a crisis of his own. The Richest Season is about two people who have grown apart, and whether it’s possible for them to grow together again.
I enjoyed The Richest Season. It was definitely a light beach read – anyone looking for substance or deep thought should search elsewhere. The book was reminiscent of Dorothea Benton Frank’s The Land of Mango Sunsets, but I found it much more enjoyable. The book is satisfying and enjoyable, and I think any female would enjoy it, but most likely it speaks to women approaching the middle of their lives. The characters are well written and it is easy to sympathize with them. Overall, this is a great first effort from McFadden and I look forward to reading what she comes out with next!
(Incidentally, completely off topic, but I absolutely despised the cover of the ARC. The cover of the actual book is much better. And yes, I do judge books by their covers.)
Title: Perfect on Paper: The (Mis)adventures of Waverly BrysonAuthor: Maria Murnane
ISBN: 098004250X
Pages: 320
Genre: Chick Lit
Review: Originally appeared on Amazon.com - the author was kind enough to send me a review copy!
Rating: **** 1/2 (out of 5)
Perfect on Paper is the story of Waverly (yes, like the cracker) Bryson, a woman who works in sports PR, but doesn't like sports. That seems to be a metaphor for Waverly's entire life; her fiancé left her a week before their wedding, and she still can't seem to find the courage to tell people that he left her, and not the other way around. She confesses deep thoughts about her past to random strangers and always seems to be spilling food on herself when she meets cute guys.
In short, this is a hilarious look at ordinary life. Yes, Waverly seems to have the "it" job...but how many of us aren't excited by our jobs? And how many girls have lied about who dumped who in a relationship (or at least considered it?) And don't get me started on blind dates - Waverly's experiences are priceless. The key to this book is that Waverly is like any other woman; who can't relate to what she's going through or sympathize with how she feels? Even though she lives a bit more of a glamorous lifestyle than the common woman, throughout the book, it is clear that she is just an ordinary girl trying to find love - and shouldn't everyone love reading about that?
Murnane's wit shines through the book - if I had to pick one reason to read the book, it would be the sheer hilarity that ensues. She also manages to write incredibly awkward scenes without making the reader cringe. One of the worst parts of reading a book like this is that when there is an embarrassing moment for the main character, I am tempted to skip ahead and just see how it ends because it makes me feel so awkward. Murnane somehow magically managed to write these events without the embarrassment passing on the the reader, an impressive feat.
In short, Perfect on Paper is well written, funny, smart, and is generally loveable. So what are you waiting for? Read this book! You won't regret it.
Title: Remember MeAuthor: Sophie Kinsella
ISBN: 0385338724
Pages: 400
Genre: Chick Lit
Review: Originally posted at Curled Up With a Good Book
Rating: **** 1/2 (out of 5)
What happens if you wake up one morning and realize that all of your dreams have magically come true overnight? That’s what happens to Lexi Smart. She wakes up in a hospital one to find that she doesn’t recognize herself – literally. The frizzy hair is gone, replaced by a sleek, shiny mane, and the lifelong nickname “Snaggletooth” just doesn’t apply anymore…and why do her lips look suspiciously plumper? She doesn’t even believe the Louis Vuitton handbag that the nurse hands her is actually hers. Why? Because Lexi has no memory of the past three years. In her mind, she’s a struggling assistant manager at a flooring company who just had a typical crazy night out with her girlfriends in 2004. In reality, she’s actually a member of the Board of Directors of that flooring company and is waking up from a minor car accident in 2007.
Lexi finds that she has everything she has ever wanted: she is beautiful, married to a ridiculously good-looking guy, makes a lot of money, and lives in the most beautiful loft she has ever seen. So what if everyone at the office not-so-secretly wishes she hadn’t recovered from the car accident? And so what if her oldest friends don’t want anything to do with her anymore? And does it really matter if her new husband scolds her like a child for not putting her shoes away properly? Remember Me? is the tale of Lexi’s quest to discover what happened to her during those three years to turn her into a person whom she doesn’t physically or emotionally recognize, and what she does when she finds out that her new life may not be as picture perfect as it seems.
Remember Me? is funny, witty, and absolutely charming; it is perhaps Kinsella’s best work yet. The characters are extremely well written and appealing. Like all of Kinsella’s protagonists, Lexi is quirky and a bit off-center. What makes this book fresh and unique, however, is that when she wakes, Lexi is the woman that every chick lit heroine loves to hate: sleek and polished, beautiful, refined, and very unpleasant in the workplace. It’s interesting to see what Kinsella does with that role reversal, how the reader sympathizes with the snooty boss in charge instead of condemning her. The most interesting parts of the book come when Lexi is trying to discover what drove her to this complete personality change. She looks at what her husband and friends demonstrate that her life has become and searches for some fragment of the Lexi she knows within it.
Ironically, it is not with her husband that Lexi finds remnants of the woman she used to be, but with his architect partner, Jon. Jon delivers startling news to her soon after their first meeting and, unsure of whether to trust him, she holds him at arm’s length while trying to decipher the puzzle of the last three years.
Remember Me? is a fresh look at what might happen if that fairy-tale wish comes true: “I wish I could wake up to find a new me, someone completely different than I am now.” Its hilarious situations and witty humor make it a real force to be reckoned with in the chick-lit genre. The fact that it comes with some definite introspection makes it that much better. It is an absolutely enjoyable experience; readers will race through the pages to find out what happens to Lexi as they try to discover the secrets of her past together. Kinsella has really outdone herself with this work. Any fan of chick lit should pick this up immediately.
Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Swapna Krishna, 2008
Well, it's that time again - Friday is FINALLY here, and it couldn't have come soon enough! Every Friday, I'm going to do a round-up of what's been going on in my week of books (since the previous Friday).
Books I've completed:
Failure is Not an Option - Gene Kranz
Black Out - Lisa Unger
Violet By Design - Melissa Walker
Beginner's Greek - James Collins
Promise Not To Tell - Jennifer McMahon
Room for Love - Andrea Meyer
Books I've received (in the mail, BookMooch/PBS, bought, etc.):
Souviner - Therese Fowler
Now Face To Face - Karleen Koen
Next on my TBR List:
This Charming Man - Marian Keyes
Books I've completed:
Failure is Not an Option - Gene Kranz
Black Out - Lisa Unger
Violet By Design - Melissa Walker
Beginner's Greek - James Collins
Promise Not To Tell - Jennifer McMahon
Room for Love - Andrea Meyer
Books I've received (in the mail, BookMooch/PBS, bought, etc.):
Souviner - Therese Fowler
Now Face To Face - Karleen Koen
Next on my TBR List:
This Charming Man - Marian Keyes
Bethanne over at Author, Author is giving away 6 copies of Jonathan Miles' Dear American Airlines! Keep an eye on the blog today in order to figure out how to snag a copy!
Labels:
book giveaway
This week's Booking Through Thursday:
What, in your opinion, is the definition of a “reader.” A person who indiscriminately reads everything in sight? A person who reads BOOKS? A person who reads, period, no matter what it is? … Or, more specific? Like the specific person who’s reading something you wrote?
In my opinion, a "reader" is anyone who makes the time to read. We all lead busy lives, and plenty of people have come up to me and said, "How do you find the time to read so much? I love to read but I never have time!" Well, the answer is that it's important to me, so I make time. I think that if you make the time to read, even if you don't manage to read quickly or get through many books, you are a "reader."
For other answers, check out Booking Through Thursday!
Labels:
meme
What, in your opinion, is the definition of a “reader.” A person who indiscriminately reads everything in sight? A person who reads BOOKS? A person who reads, period, no matter what it is? … Or, more specific? Like the specific person who’s reading something you wrote?
In my opinion, a "reader" is anyone who makes the time to read. We all lead busy lives, and plenty of people have come up to me and said, "How do you find the time to read so much? I love to read but I never have time!" Well, the answer is that it's important to me, so I make time. I think that if you make the time to read, even if you don't manage to read quickly or get through many books, you are a "reader."
For other answers, check out Booking Through Thursday!
Booking Mama is hosting a giveaway for The Memory of Water by Karen White. The contest is open until midnight on June 30, 2008. Head over to her website to enter!
Labels:
book giveaway
Title: Earthly PleasuresAuthor: Karen Neches
ISBN: 0743292480
Pages: 320
Genre: Chick Lit, Fantasy
Review: Originally posted to Curled Up With a Good Book
Rating: *****
Earthly Pleasures by Karen Neches is the story of Skye Sebring, a new soul who works in the Hospitality Division of Heaven. Newly created, she has yet to experience life on Earth, preferring the experiences of simply welcoming the recently deceased into Heaven. After all, on Earth, would she be able to use her WishBerry to order up a dirty martini anytime she wants? I don’t think so!
Skye is completely happy with her life in Heaven - until Ryan Blaine appears in her office. An extremely handsome lawyer who is constantly featured on Heaven’s reality show, Earthly Pleasures, Blaine is only in Skye’s office for a minute before the defibrillators return him to his physical body on Earth. Intrigued by their meeting and the fact that he seems to recognize her as someone else, she begins watching Blaine on Earthly Pleasures and becomes more and more attached to him as she tries to decipher the mystery of who she reminded him of. It becomes even more of a puzzle when she realizes that she resembles his wife, Susan. As the tale unfolds and the multiple storylines come together, the reader is drawn into the mystery of Skye’s past. And just who is Susan Blaine?
Light, funny, and incredibly creative, Earthly Pleasures is an absolute joy to read. The characters are extremely well-written; the reader roots for Skye immediately. The mystery adds a sense of urgency to the novel and brings it one step above other books. The reader tries to distinguish the lies from the truth and read between the lines to figure out what is really going on. Neches is brilliant in that respect. She adds just enough of every element to make the perfect book. The mystery isn’t overwhelming; instead, it’s fun and piques the reader’s curiosity. She doesn’t go overboard in her creativity. Heaven is an interesting place, and I want to know more about her interpretation of it. But there is no skimming due to overly detailed descriptions or long, boring imagery. The book is funny but doesn’t try too hard. It seems very natural and completely believable. Neches also manages to add depth to the novel, sometimes difficult to do in this chick lit genre. It is not a fluffy story about Heaven but a true, deep love story between two people which transcends time, space, and everything else as we know it.
The only complaint that I have about Earthly Pleasures is that it is too short. At the end of the book, I was left wanting more. I certainly hope that Neches plans on revisiting this story in order to deliver a sequel, because my imagination isn’t nearly as exciting as hers. I would love to know what happens next.
Anyone can enjoy Earthly Pleasures for its simplicity and wit while appreciating the well-written characters and mysterious storyline. Neches’ view of heaven is appealing and humorous, enough to make anyone hope that it actually resembles the true Great Beyond. I highly recommend Earthly Pleasures – trust me, it’ll only take one sitting!
Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Swapna Krishna, 2008
updated Sunday, March 1, 2009
1. Case Histories - Kate Atkinson
2. This is How it Happened (Not a Love Story) - Jo Barrett
3. The Woods - Harlan Coben
4. The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Mohsin Hamid
5. Sloppy Firsts - Megan McCafferty
6. Villette - Charlotte Bronte
7. P.S. I Love You - Cecelia Ahern
8. The Reading Group - Elizabeth Noble
9. The Sound of Language - Amulya Malladi [review]
10. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox - Maggie O'Farrell
11. Shadow Music - Julie Garwood
12. The Ruins - Scott Smith
13. The Dowry Bride - Shobhan Bantwal
14. Garden Spells - Sarah Addison Allen
15. Guilty Pleasures - Laurell K. Hamilton
16. Pieces of My Sister's Life - Elizabeth Joy Arnold
17. Plum Lucky - Janet Evanovich
18. Four Wives - Wendy Walker
19. Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope - Jenna Bush
20. Second Helpings - Megan McCafferty
21. A Walk With Jane Austen - Lori Smith
22. A Hollywood Ending - Robyn Sisman [review]
23. Queen of Babble - Meg Cabot
24. Indie Girl - Kavita Daswani
25. Resurrection - Tucker Malarkey
26. The Race - Richard North Patterson
27. Queen of Babble in the Big City - Meg Cabot
28. No Dress Rehearsal - Marian Keyes
29. Atonement - Ian McEwan
30. Walking the Bible - Bruce Feiler
31. Unpredictable - Eileen Cook [review]
32. What Matters Most - Luanne Rice
33. A Great and Terrible Beauty - Libba Bray
34. Remember Me? - Sophie Kinsella [review]
35. The Pilot's Wife - Anita Shreve
36. Rebel Angels - Libba Bray
37. Second Chance - Jane Green
38. The Feast of Roses - Indu Sundaresan
39. Sandcastles - Luanne Rice [review]
40. The Nanny Diaries - Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus
41. Charmed Thirds - Megan McCafferty
42. Bulls Island - Dorothea Benton Frank
43. Earthly Pleasures - Karen Neches [review]
44. A Version of the Truth - Jennifer Kaufman & Karen Mack
45. The Innocent - Posie Graeme-Evans
46. Fourth Comings - Megan McCafferty
47. Lady Macbeth - Susan Fraser King
48. Smart Girls Like Me - Diane Vadino
49. Me and Mr. Darcy - Alexandra Potter
50. Irish Girls About Town - Maeve Binchy, Marian Keyes, etc.
51. The Way Life Should Be - Christina Baker Kline
52. The Sweet Far Thing - Libba Bray
53. People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks
54. The Ten Best Days of My Life - Adena Halpern [review]
55. Beautiful Lies - Lisa Unger
56. The Rossetti Letter - Christi Phillips
57. On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan
58. 37 - Maria Beaumont
59. The Hollywood Girls' Club - Maggie Marr
60. Curse of the Spellmans - Lisa Lutz
61. The Wayward Muse - Elizabeth Hickey
62. Left Bank - Kate Muir
63. Light of the Moon - Luanne Rice [review]
64. The Religion - Tim Willocks
65. Bloom - Elizabeth Scott
66. The Seduction of Water - Carol Goodman
67. Bungalow 2 - Danielle Steele
68. Under the Banner of Heaven - Jon Krakauer
69. Size Twelve is Not Fat - Meg Cabot
70. Stone Heart - Luanne Rice
71. Sliver of Truth - Lisa Unger
72. Good Man Hunting - Lisa Landolt
73. My Summer of Southern Discomfort - Stephanie Gayle
74. The Secret Between Us - Barbara Delinsky
75. Secrets of the Hollywood Girls' Club - Maggie Marr
76. Belong to Me - Marisa de los Santos [review]
77. Deep Dish - Mary Kay Andrews
78. Spa Vacation - Theresa Alan
79. Certain Girls - Jennifer Weiner
80. A History of Lucy's Love Life in 10 1/2 Chapters - Deborah Wright
81. The Ex-Debutante - Linda Francis Lee
82. Chambermaid - Saira Rao
83. The Right Stuff - Tom Wolfe
84. Size 14 is Not Fat Either - Meg Cabot
85. Deke! An Autobiography - Donald K. Slayton & Michael Cassutt
86. The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte - Laura Joh Rowland
87. Pemberley Remembered - Mary Lydon Simonsen [review]
88. Invisible Lives - Anjali Banerjee
89. Sundays at Tiffany's - James Patterson
90. The Making of The African Queen - Katharine Hepburn
91. Acts of Love - Emily Listfield
92. The Lady Elizabeth - Alison Weir
93. Love Marriage - V.V. Ganeshananthan
94. The Girl Who Stopped Swimming - Joshilyn Jackson
95. The Secret of Lost Things - Sheridan Hay [review]
96. Violet on the Runway - Melissa Walker [review]
97. Perfect on Paper: The (Mis)adventures of Waverly Bryson - Maria Murnane [review]
98. Any Way You Want Me - Kathy Love
99. Nice To Come Home To - Rebecca Flowers
100. The Post-American World - Fareed Zakaria
101. The Sugar Queen - Sarah Addison Allen [review]
102. Women in Hats - Judy Sheehan
103. A Good Indian Wife - Anne Cherian
104. Big Boned (Size Doesn't Matter) - Meg Cabot
105. Hold Tight - Harlan Coben
106. The Courtesan - Susan Carroll
107. Songs of the Missing - Stewart O'Nan
108. Flight: My Life In Mission Control - Chris Kraft
109. Another Thing to Fall - Laura Lippman
110. The Senator's Wife - Sue Miller
111. Love the One You're With - Emily Giffin [review]
112. The Exiled - Posie Graeme-Evans
113. Driving Sideways - Jess Riley [review]
114. The Tea House - Paul Elwork
115. The Host - Stephenie Meyer
116. The Richest Season - Maryann McFadden [review]
117. Failure is Not an Option - Gene Kranz [review]
118. Black Out - Lisa Unger
119. Violet By Design - Melissa Walker
120. Beginner's Greek - James Collins [review]
121. Promise Not to Tell - Jennifer McMahon [review]
122. Room for Love - Andrea Meyer [review]
123. The Uncrowned Queen - Posie Graeme-Evans
124. The Beach House - Jane Green [review]
125. This Charming Man - Marian Keyes [review]
126. The Drowning Tree - Carol Goodman [review]
127. Queen of Babble Gets Hitched - Meg Cabot [review]
128. A Page Out of Life - Kathleen Reid [review]
129. Sweet Love - Sarah Strohmeyer [review]
130. Laughing Without an Accent - Fizooreh Dumas [review]
131. In the Woods - Tana French [review]
132. Stealing Athena - Karen Essex [review]
133. The City of Falling Angels - John Berendt [review]
134. Lock and Key - Sarah Dessen [review]
135. A Summer Affair - Elin Hilderbrand [review]
136. The Fall of Troy - Peter Ackroyd [review]
137. Violet in Private - Melissa Walker [review]
138. The Second Summer of the Sisterhood - Ann Brashares
139. A Wrinkle In Time - Madeleine L'Engle
140. A Wind in the Door - Madeleine L'Engle
141. Beach Girls - Luanne Rice [review]
142. Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer
143. The Last Oracle - James Rollins [review]
144. Moon Shot: The Inside Story of America's Race to the Moon - Deke Slayton & Alan Shepard
145. Dragonfly: NASA and the Crisis Aboard Mir - Bryan Burroughs
146. Last Kiss - Luanne Rice
147. The Night Villa - Carol Goodman [review]
148. Summer Blowout - Claire Cook [review]
149. Off the Menu - Christine Son [review]
150. The House at Riverton - Kate Morton [review]
151. Sleeping With Ward Cleaver - Jenny Gardiner [review]
152. Only in America? - Graham K. Wilson
153. The Forbidden Daughter - Shobhan Bantwal [review]
154. Cancer is a Bitch - Gail Konop Baker [review]
155. The Monster of Florence - Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi [review]
156. States and Power in Africa - Jeffrey Herbst
157. The Secret Bride: In the Court of Henry VIII - Diane Haeger [review]
158. The Writing Class - Jincy Willett [review]
159. The Smart One and the Pretty One - Claire LaZebnik [review]
160. The Enchantress of Florence - Salman Rushdie [review]
161. Falling Under - Danielle Younge-Ullman [review]
162. How to Be Single - Liz Tuccillo [review]
163. Rosewater and Soda Bread - Marsha Mehran [review]
164. Unorthodox Lawmaking - Barbara Sinclair
165. The Professor's Wives' Club - Joanne Rendell [review]
166. In the Land of No Right Angles - Daphne Beal [review]
167. Sleeping Arrangements - Madeleine Wickham [review]
168. Nefertiti - Michelle Moran [review]
169. Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times - Nancy Bermeo
170. The Man Who Loved China - Simon Winchester [review]
171. An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination - Elizabeth McCracken [review]
172. Schooled - Anisha Lakhani [review]
173. The Likeness - Tana French [review]
174. No Other Way Out - Jeff Goodwin
175. Time of My Life - Allison Winn Scotch [review]
176. House and Home - Kathleen McCleary [review]
177. The Best Day of Someone Else's Life - Kerry Reichs
178. Hot Mess: Summer in the City - Julie Kraut & Shallon Lester [review]
179. Love and Biology at the Center of the Universe - Jennie Shortridge [review]
180. The Other Queen - Philippa Gregory [review]
181. My Husband's Sweethearts - Bridget Asher
182. Veto Players - George Tsebelis
183. When Will There Be Good News? - Kate Atkinson [review]
184. Civil and Strange - Clair Ni Aonghusa [review]
185. The Fire - Katherine Neville [review]
186. Force and Statecraft - Paul Gorden Lauren
187. Soup in the City - Kelly Hollingsworth [review]
188. Lulu in Marrakech - Diane Johnson [review]
189. The Letters - Luanne Rice & Joseph Monninger [review]
190. A Constant Heart - Siri Mitchell [review]
191. The Safety of Secrets - DeLaune Michel [review]
192. Your Roots are Showing - Elise Chidley [review]
193. Thank You For All Things - Sandra Kring [review]
194. The Sleeping Beauty Proposal - Sarah Strohmeyer
195. Altared - Colleen Curran
196. House of Daughters - Sarah-Kate Lynch [review]
197. The House on Tradd Street - Karen White [review]
198. Twenty Fragments of a Ravenous Youth - Xiaolu Guo [review]
199. Testimony - Anita Shreve [review]
200. The Fortune Quilt - Lani Diane Rich [review]
201. The Heretic Queen - Michelle Moran [review]
202. Somebody Else's Daughter - Elizabeth Brundage [review]
203. Scot on the Rocks - Brenda Janowitz [review]
204. The Opposite of Love - Julie Buxbaum [review]
205. My Best Friend's Girl - Dorothy Koomson [review]
206. Knitting Under the Influence - Claire LaZebnik [review]
207. The Reluctant Widow - Georgette Heyer [review]
208. Wife in the North - Judith O'Reilly [review]
209. Chasing Harry Winston - Lauren Weisberger [review]
210. A Thousand Veils - D.J. Murphy [review]
211. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Steig Larsson [review]
212. One Fifth Avenue - Candace Bushnell [review]
213. The Pirate's Daughter - Margaret Cezair-Thompson [review]
214. Catwalk - Deborah Gregory
215. Names My Sisters Call Me - Megan Crane [review]
216. Questions to Ask Before Marrying - Melissa Senate [review]
217. Home Girl - Judith Matloff [review]
218. My Lady of Cleves - Margaret Campbell Barnes [review]
219. Jack With a Twist - Brenda Janowitz [review]
220. The Last Queen - C.W. Gortner [review]
221. The Yoga Teacher - Alexandra Gray [review]
222. The Memorist - M. J. Rose [review]
223. I Know It's Over - C.K. Kelly Martin [review]
224. The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters - Lorraine Lopez [review]
225. The Washingtonienne - Jessica Cutler [review]
226. The Pre-Nup - Beth Kendrick [review]
227. Good to a Fault - Marina Endicott [review]
228. Tethered - Amy Mackinnon [review]
229. Whacked - Jules Asner [review]
230. Faro's Daughter - Georgette Heyer [review]
231. Mrs. Perfect - Jane Porter [review]
232. Gilding Lily - Tatiana Boncampagni [review]
233. 13 Little Blue Envelopes - Maureen Johnson [review]
234. Essential Readings in World Politics, 3rd Edition
235. The Memory of Water - Karen White [review]
236. Why the Cold War Ended - Ralph Summy
237. Flirting With Forty - Jane Porter [review]
238. Ending the Cold War - Richard K. Hermann
239. Shelter Me - Juliette Fay [review]
240. Girl Most Likely To - Poonam Sharma [review]
241. Girls in Trucks - Katie Crouch [review]
242. Cutting Loose - Nadine Dajani [review]
243. Holidays on Ice - David Sedaris [review]
244. LoveHampton - Sherri Rifkin
245. The King's Daughter - Sandra Worth [review]
246. Matrimony - Joshua Henkin [review]
247. The Audacity of Hope - Barack Obama
248. The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff [review]
249. Five Things I Can't Live Without - Holly Shumas [review]
250. Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher [review]
251. The Misadventures of Oliver Booth - David Desmond [review]
252. Crescent and Star: Turkey Between Two Worlds - Stephen Kinzer [review]
253. In the Convent of Little Flowers: Stories - Indu Sundaresan [review]
254. The Charlemagne Pursuit - Steve Berry [review]
255. Odd Mom Out - Jane Porter [review]
256. The Madonnas of Leningrad - Debra Dean [review]
257. Cotillion - Georgette Heyer [review]
258. Creepers - Joanne Dahme [review]
259. The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca - Tahir Shah [review]
260. The Secret Papers of Madame Olivetti - Annie Vanderbilt
261. The Secret Scripture - Sebastian Barry [review]
262. Royal Escape - Susan Froetschel [review]
263. The Wednesday Sisters - Meg Waite Clayton [review]
264. The Quiche of Death - M.C. Beatons [review]
265. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini [review]
1. Case Histories - Kate Atkinson
2. This is How it Happened (Not a Love Story) - Jo Barrett
3. The Woods - Harlan Coben
4. The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Mohsin Hamid
5. Sloppy Firsts - Megan McCafferty
6. Villette - Charlotte Bronte
7. P.S. I Love You - Cecelia Ahern
8. The Reading Group - Elizabeth Noble
9. The Sound of Language - Amulya Malladi [review]
10. The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox - Maggie O'Farrell
11. Shadow Music - Julie Garwood
12. The Ruins - Scott Smith
13. The Dowry Bride - Shobhan Bantwal
14. Garden Spells - Sarah Addison Allen
15. Guilty Pleasures - Laurell K. Hamilton
16. Pieces of My Sister's Life - Elizabeth Joy Arnold
17. Plum Lucky - Janet Evanovich
18. Four Wives - Wendy Walker
19. Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope - Jenna Bush
20. Second Helpings - Megan McCafferty
21. A Walk With Jane Austen - Lori Smith
22. A Hollywood Ending - Robyn Sisman [review]
23. Queen of Babble - Meg Cabot
24. Indie Girl - Kavita Daswani
25. Resurrection - Tucker Malarkey
26. The Race - Richard North Patterson
27. Queen of Babble in the Big City - Meg Cabot
28. No Dress Rehearsal - Marian Keyes
29. Atonement - Ian McEwan
30. Walking the Bible - Bruce Feiler
31. Unpredictable - Eileen Cook [review]
32. What Matters Most - Luanne Rice
33. A Great and Terrible Beauty - Libba Bray
34. Remember Me? - Sophie Kinsella [review]
35. The Pilot's Wife - Anita Shreve
36. Rebel Angels - Libba Bray
37. Second Chance - Jane Green
38. The Feast of Roses - Indu Sundaresan
39. Sandcastles - Luanne Rice [review]
40. The Nanny Diaries - Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus
41. Charmed Thirds - Megan McCafferty
42. Bulls Island - Dorothea Benton Frank
43. Earthly Pleasures - Karen Neches [review]
44. A Version of the Truth - Jennifer Kaufman & Karen Mack
45. The Innocent - Posie Graeme-Evans
46. Fourth Comings - Megan McCafferty
47. Lady Macbeth - Susan Fraser King
48. Smart Girls Like Me - Diane Vadino
49. Me and Mr. Darcy - Alexandra Potter
50. Irish Girls About Town - Maeve Binchy, Marian Keyes, etc.
51. The Way Life Should Be - Christina Baker Kline
52. The Sweet Far Thing - Libba Bray
53. People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks
54. The Ten Best Days of My Life - Adena Halpern [review]
55. Beautiful Lies - Lisa Unger
56. The Rossetti Letter - Christi Phillips
57. On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan
58. 37 - Maria Beaumont
59. The Hollywood Girls' Club - Maggie Marr
60. Curse of the Spellmans - Lisa Lutz
61. The Wayward Muse - Elizabeth Hickey
62. Left Bank - Kate Muir
63. Light of the Moon - Luanne Rice [review]
64. The Religion - Tim Willocks
65. Bloom - Elizabeth Scott
66. The Seduction of Water - Carol Goodman
67. Bungalow 2 - Danielle Steele
68. Under the Banner of Heaven - Jon Krakauer
69. Size Twelve is Not Fat - Meg Cabot
70. Stone Heart - Luanne Rice
71. Sliver of Truth - Lisa Unger
72. Good Man Hunting - Lisa Landolt
73. My Summer of Southern Discomfort - Stephanie Gayle
74. The Secret Between Us - Barbara Delinsky
75. Secrets of the Hollywood Girls' Club - Maggie Marr
76. Belong to Me - Marisa de los Santos [review]
77. Deep Dish - Mary Kay Andrews
78. Spa Vacation - Theresa Alan
79. Certain Girls - Jennifer Weiner
80. A History of Lucy's Love Life in 10 1/2 Chapters - Deborah Wright
81. The Ex-Debutante - Linda Francis Lee
82. Chambermaid - Saira Rao
83. The Right Stuff - Tom Wolfe
84. Size 14 is Not Fat Either - Meg Cabot
85. Deke! An Autobiography - Donald K. Slayton & Michael Cassutt
86. The Secret Adventures of Charlotte Bronte - Laura Joh Rowland
87. Pemberley Remembered - Mary Lydon Simonsen [review]
88. Invisible Lives - Anjali Banerjee
89. Sundays at Tiffany's - James Patterson
90. The Making of The African Queen - Katharine Hepburn
91. Acts of Love - Emily Listfield
92. The Lady Elizabeth - Alison Weir
93. Love Marriage - V.V. Ganeshananthan
94. The Girl Who Stopped Swimming - Joshilyn Jackson
95. The Secret of Lost Things - Sheridan Hay [review]
96. Violet on the Runway - Melissa Walker [review]
97. Perfect on Paper: The (Mis)adventures of Waverly Bryson - Maria Murnane [review]
98. Any Way You Want Me - Kathy Love
99. Nice To Come Home To - Rebecca Flowers
100. The Post-American World - Fareed Zakaria
101. The Sugar Queen - Sarah Addison Allen [review]
102. Women in Hats - Judy Sheehan
103. A Good Indian Wife - Anne Cherian
104. Big Boned (Size Doesn't Matter) - Meg Cabot
105. Hold Tight - Harlan Coben
106. The Courtesan - Susan Carroll
107. Songs of the Missing - Stewart O'Nan
108. Flight: My Life In Mission Control - Chris Kraft
109. Another Thing to Fall - Laura Lippman
110. The Senator's Wife - Sue Miller
111. Love the One You're With - Emily Giffin [review]
112. The Exiled - Posie Graeme-Evans
113. Driving Sideways - Jess Riley [review]
114. The Tea House - Paul Elwork
115. The Host - Stephenie Meyer
116. The Richest Season - Maryann McFadden [review]
117. Failure is Not an Option - Gene Kranz [review]
118. Black Out - Lisa Unger
119. Violet By Design - Melissa Walker
120. Beginner's Greek - James Collins [review]
121. Promise Not to Tell - Jennifer McMahon [review]
122. Room for Love - Andrea Meyer [review]
123. The Uncrowned Queen - Posie Graeme-Evans
124. The Beach House - Jane Green [review]
125. This Charming Man - Marian Keyes [review]
126. The Drowning Tree - Carol Goodman [review]
127. Queen of Babble Gets Hitched - Meg Cabot [review]
128. A Page Out of Life - Kathleen Reid [review]
129. Sweet Love - Sarah Strohmeyer [review]
130. Laughing Without an Accent - Fizooreh Dumas [review]
131. In the Woods - Tana French [review]
132. Stealing Athena - Karen Essex [review]
133. The City of Falling Angels - John Berendt [review]
134. Lock and Key - Sarah Dessen [review]
135. A Summer Affair - Elin Hilderbrand [review]
136. The Fall of Troy - Peter Ackroyd [review]
137. Violet in Private - Melissa Walker [review]
138. The Second Summer of the Sisterhood - Ann Brashares
139. A Wrinkle In Time - Madeleine L'Engle
140. A Wind in the Door - Madeleine L'Engle
141. Beach Girls - Luanne Rice [review]
142. Breaking Dawn - Stephenie Meyer
143. The Last Oracle - James Rollins [review]
144. Moon Shot: The Inside Story of America's Race to the Moon - Deke Slayton & Alan Shepard
145. Dragonfly: NASA and the Crisis Aboard Mir - Bryan Burroughs
146. Last Kiss - Luanne Rice
147. The Night Villa - Carol Goodman [review]
148. Summer Blowout - Claire Cook [review]
149. Off the Menu - Christine Son [review]
150. The House at Riverton - Kate Morton [review]
151. Sleeping With Ward Cleaver - Jenny Gardiner [review]
152. Only in America? - Graham K. Wilson
153. The Forbidden Daughter - Shobhan Bantwal [review]
154. Cancer is a Bitch - Gail Konop Baker [review]
155. The Monster of Florence - Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi [review]
156. States and Power in Africa - Jeffrey Herbst
157. The Secret Bride: In the Court of Henry VIII - Diane Haeger [review]
158. The Writing Class - Jincy Willett [review]
159. The Smart One and the Pretty One - Claire LaZebnik [review]
160. The Enchantress of Florence - Salman Rushdie [review]
161. Falling Under - Danielle Younge-Ullman [review]
162. How to Be Single - Liz Tuccillo [review]
163. Rosewater and Soda Bread - Marsha Mehran [review]
164. Unorthodox Lawmaking - Barbara Sinclair
165. The Professor's Wives' Club - Joanne Rendell [review]
166. In the Land of No Right Angles - Daphne Beal [review]
167. Sleeping Arrangements - Madeleine Wickham [review]
168. Nefertiti - Michelle Moran [review]
169. Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times - Nancy Bermeo
170. The Man Who Loved China - Simon Winchester [review]
171. An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination - Elizabeth McCracken [review]
172. Schooled - Anisha Lakhani [review]
173. The Likeness - Tana French [review]
174. No Other Way Out - Jeff Goodwin
175. Time of My Life - Allison Winn Scotch [review]
176. House and Home - Kathleen McCleary [review]
177. The Best Day of Someone Else's Life - Kerry Reichs
178. Hot Mess: Summer in the City - Julie Kraut & Shallon Lester [review]
179. Love and Biology at the Center of the Universe - Jennie Shortridge [review]
180. The Other Queen - Philippa Gregory [review]
181. My Husband's Sweethearts - Bridget Asher
182. Veto Players - George Tsebelis
183. When Will There Be Good News? - Kate Atkinson [review]
184. Civil and Strange - Clair Ni Aonghusa [review]
185. The Fire - Katherine Neville [review]
186. Force and Statecraft - Paul Gorden Lauren
187. Soup in the City - Kelly Hollingsworth [review]
188. Lulu in Marrakech - Diane Johnson [review]
189. The Letters - Luanne Rice & Joseph Monninger [review]
190. A Constant Heart - Siri Mitchell [review]
191. The Safety of Secrets - DeLaune Michel [review]
192. Your Roots are Showing - Elise Chidley [review]
193. Thank You For All Things - Sandra Kring [review]
194. The Sleeping Beauty Proposal - Sarah Strohmeyer
195. Altared - Colleen Curran
196. House of Daughters - Sarah-Kate Lynch [review]
197. The House on Tradd Street - Karen White [review]
198. Twenty Fragments of a Ravenous Youth - Xiaolu Guo [review]
199. Testimony - Anita Shreve [review]
200. The Fortune Quilt - Lani Diane Rich [review]
201. The Heretic Queen - Michelle Moran [review]
202. Somebody Else's Daughter - Elizabeth Brundage [review]
203. Scot on the Rocks - Brenda Janowitz [review]
204. The Opposite of Love - Julie Buxbaum [review]
205. My Best Friend's Girl - Dorothy Koomson [review]
206. Knitting Under the Influence - Claire LaZebnik [review]
207. The Reluctant Widow - Georgette Heyer [review]
208. Wife in the North - Judith O'Reilly [review]
209. Chasing Harry Winston - Lauren Weisberger [review]
210. A Thousand Veils - D.J. Murphy [review]
211. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Steig Larsson [review]
212. One Fifth Avenue - Candace Bushnell [review]
213. The Pirate's Daughter - Margaret Cezair-Thompson [review]
214. Catwalk - Deborah Gregory
215. Names My Sisters Call Me - Megan Crane [review]
216. Questions to Ask Before Marrying - Melissa Senate [review]
217. Home Girl - Judith Matloff [review]
218. My Lady of Cleves - Margaret Campbell Barnes [review]
219. Jack With a Twist - Brenda Janowitz [review]
220. The Last Queen - C.W. Gortner [review]
221. The Yoga Teacher - Alexandra Gray [review]
222. The Memorist - M. J. Rose [review]
223. I Know It's Over - C.K. Kelly Martin [review]
224. The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters - Lorraine Lopez [review]
225. The Washingtonienne - Jessica Cutler [review]
226. The Pre-Nup - Beth Kendrick [review]
227. Good to a Fault - Marina Endicott [review]
228. Tethered - Amy Mackinnon [review]
229. Whacked - Jules Asner [review]
230. Faro's Daughter - Georgette Heyer [review]
231. Mrs. Perfect - Jane Porter [review]
232. Gilding Lily - Tatiana Boncampagni [review]
233. 13 Little Blue Envelopes - Maureen Johnson [review]
234. Essential Readings in World Politics, 3rd Edition
235. The Memory of Water - Karen White [review]
236. Why the Cold War Ended - Ralph Summy
237. Flirting With Forty - Jane Porter [review]
238. Ending the Cold War - Richard K. Hermann
239. Shelter Me - Juliette Fay [review]
240. Girl Most Likely To - Poonam Sharma [review]
241. Girls in Trucks - Katie Crouch [review]
242. Cutting Loose - Nadine Dajani [review]
243. Holidays on Ice - David Sedaris [review]
244. LoveHampton - Sherri Rifkin
245. The King's Daughter - Sandra Worth [review]
246. Matrimony - Joshua Henkin [review]
247. The Audacity of Hope - Barack Obama
248. The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff [review]
249. Five Things I Can't Live Without - Holly Shumas [review]
250. Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher [review]
251. The Misadventures of Oliver Booth - David Desmond [review]
252. Crescent and Star: Turkey Between Two Worlds - Stephen Kinzer [review]
253. In the Convent of Little Flowers: Stories - Indu Sundaresan [review]
254. The Charlemagne Pursuit - Steve Berry [review]
255. Odd Mom Out - Jane Porter [review]
256. The Madonnas of Leningrad - Debra Dean [review]
257. Cotillion - Georgette Heyer [review]
258. Creepers - Joanne Dahme [review]
259. The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca - Tahir Shah [review]
260. The Secret Papers of Madame Olivetti - Annie Vanderbilt
261. The Secret Scripture - Sebastian Barry [review]
262. Royal Escape - Susan Froetschel [review]
263. The Wednesday Sisters - Meg Waite Clayton [review]
264. The Quiche of Death - M.C. Beatons [review]
265. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini [review]
I was very productive yesterday evening! After coming home from work and cooking dinner, I still managed to finish 2 books before I went to sleep! (My lovely fiance does the dishes, so that helps.)
My review of Beginner's Greek will come after it posts to Curled Up, but here are my thoughts on Promise Not To Tell by Jennifer McMahon
My review of Beginner's Greek will come after it posts to Curled Up, but here are my thoughts on Promise Not To Tell by Jennifer McMahon
Title: Promise Not To TellAuthor: Jennifer McMahon
ISBN: 0061143316
Pages: 256
Pages: 256
Rating: **** (out of 5)
Promise Not To Tell by Jennifer McMahon is the story of Kate Cypher, a nurse working in Seattle. She receives a call from some old friends back home who tell her that her mother, who suffers from dementia and Alzheimer’s, is rapidly deteriorating. Kate goes home to confront the difficult situation with her mother, who does not want to go into a home. However, there are other issues waiting for Kate upon her return. 31 years earlier, Kate’s best friend, Del Griswold, was murdered, and the killer was never found. Now there is another murder that is frighteningly similar to Del’s – is it coincidence that it happened right after Kate’s homecoming? And what really happened the day that Del was murdered?
I really enjoyed Promise Not To Tell. The pacing was quick, and at a concise 256 pages, there really was never a dull moment. The author foreshadowed well, increasing the reader’s anticipation, but never gave too much away. It is frustrating when an author’s use of foreshadowing actually ruins the book due to poor placement and revealing too much information (Michael Crichton’s The Andromeda Strain is the best example I can think of for really irritating foreshadowing).
The book was definitely spooky and a little bit creepy, but it definitely wasn’t too scary for those of you that have difficulty with horror novels (like me.) Besides the unfolding of the mystery, the element I honestly liked best about the book was its length. Too often, my main complaint about a novel is that about 100 pages could have been trimmed off without any significant impact on the plot or character development. While I don’t mind long novels, I’m a big proponent of the idea that a book shouldn’t be any longer than it really needs to be. McMahon seems to have had that same idea in mind when writing Promise Not to Tell.
I also think McMahon did a great job portraying school children. As much as many of us liked to romanticize our childhoods, the fact is, kids can be incredibly cruel. I think many of us, especially those of us who enjoy escaping into books as we’ve become older, have been at the receiving end of taunting and bullying. I think through the way the author writes Del and Kate, she really drives home the point of how cruel children have the capacity to be. It’s very well written, but not horribly uncomfortable to read, which is a welcome surprise.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it!
Title: The Sound of LanguageAuthor: Amulya Malladi
ISBN: 0345483162
Pages: 256
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Review: Originally posted to Curled Up With a Good Book
Rating: ***** (out of 5)
What is the sound of language? To Raihana, it’s bees. When she hears Danish, it’s like the buzzing of swarms of bees, confusing her and leaving her unsure in her new country. A refugee from Afghanistan, Raihana settles in Denmark with extended family and tries to build a new life for herself by attending Danish classes and immersing herself in Danish culture. To accomplish this, she spends time with Gunnar, an old Danish man who has recently lost his wife. He finds himself at a loss for taking care of his late wife’s bees, so Raihana helps him. Together, they recover from their wounds and build a friendship. The Sound of Language by Amulya Malladi follows the personal journey of Raihana as she struggles to build a new life for herself as a refugee in Denmark while coming to terms with the horrors of her past in Afghanistan.
Raihana doesn’t have an easy time of it. Everyone seems to disapprove of her friendship with Gunnar, from the Muslim woman in her class who insists Raihana is a “fallen woman” for associating with an unmarried man (however innocent the relationship may be) to Gunnar’s daughter-in-law, who is convinced that she is a lazy immigrant who refuses to work and will steal anything in sight. Malladi tackles these prejudices head on; she tries to show these delicate issues from multiple points of view and succeeds in giving the reader different opinions, some very controversial, on these matters.
The Sound of Language is Malladi’s first book about the Middle East rather than about India, but that fact isn’t obvious. She writes about the cultural conflicts of Afghanis and Muslims living in Western society with a certain grace and fluidity, taking ideas that are foreign to Westerners (for example, Raihana’s proposed marriage to a man with a wife and family in Pakistan) and, without defending these practices, stating them as fact. This is how it is in other cultures – accept it. This straightforward, unapologetic approach is refreshing. There is no need to make excuses for or justify these unique cultural practices, and Malladi doesn’t stoop to this level.
The most remarkable feature of Malladi’s book is how beautifully it is written. It flows seamlessly – there are no jarring transitions, no sentences or words out of place. It is simply a delight to read. The characters are also well developed, each with his or her own reasoning and personal prejudices, and Malladi makes their points of view clear and easily understood without resorting to unnecessary explanation. She understands each character well and has fleshed them out thoroughly. The book in itself conveys pure joy – while the story is not always happy, that delight is still there, lurking under the complexity of modern-day life.
The magic of The Sound of Language lies in its simplicity. It’s a rather short, simple book that is easy to read. Unlike many other books that tackle the subject of Afghanistan under the Taliban, it is not difficult or painful. It deals with important and tricky issues such as race and prejudice but manages to maintain its innate sweetness - not sappy or roll-your-eyes-in-disgust sweet, but truly, genuinely sweet – like honey. Delightful, pure, golden honey. Simple and sweet.
Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Swapna Krishna, 2008
Katrina's having her usual Monday book giveaway at Stone Soup! Make sure to check it out - she's giving away an autographed copy of Sarah Strohmeyer's newest, Sweet Love!
http://katrinastonoff.wordpress.com/2008/06/23/monday-book-giveaway-june-23-2008/
(And you actually can win this - I won a few weeks ago)!
Labels:
book giveaway
http://katrinastonoff.wordpress.com/2008/06/23/monday-book-giveaway-june-23-2008/
(And you actually can win this - I won a few weeks ago)!
Title: The Ten Best Days of My LifeAuthor: Adena Halpern
ISBN: 9780452289406
Pages: 272
Genre: Chick Lit
Review: Originally posted to Curled Up With a Good Book
Rating: **** (out of 5)
The Ten Best Days of My Life is the story of Alex Dorenfield (and her beloved dog, Peaches). Alex is shocked when she finds herself in Heaven after being brutally hit by a car on a late night/early morning dog-walking session. However, things aren’t as bad as they first appear to be. Alex is thrilled to meet up with her grandparents and beloved uncle in Heaven. She meets the cutest guy, Adam, in line waiting to get into Heaven - and is it just coincidence that he ends up living next door to her?
Once Alex discovers the benefits of Seventh Heaven (the highest possible level of Heaven one can achieve), she is delirious with happiness. A closet the size of a bedroom full of designer clothes, shoes, and accessories, her dream house, a cute guy next door, and being able to eat anything and everything without gaining weight (and no cellulite!). What else could a girl want?
Therein lies the problem. One morning, shortly after arriving in Seventh Heaven, Alex’s guardian angel drops by for a quick chat. It seems that “the establishment” in Heaven isn’t quite sure whether Alex really deserves to be in Seventh Heaven or whether she should be sent back to one of the lower levels (still nice, but nothing compared to Seventh). In order to prove that she belongs, Alex is asked to write an essay chronicling the ten best days of her life to demonstrate that while her life was short, it was worthwhile. This journey of reflection and self-introspection is what provides the heart and soul of The Ten Best Days of My Life.
At the beginning of the novel and through the first few parts of her essay, Alex seems demonstrably spoiled and whiny. Her general level of self-importance is irritating, and she seems to have a very strong sense of entitlement. While not difficult to like, she is difficult to respect. For example, her constant use of the phrase “miracle child” to describe herself is off-putting and generally seems in bad taste. However, this seems to be a deliberate move on the author’s part. By characterizing Alex as a rather selfish narcissist, she leaves quite a lot of room for character growth. When that development finally comes, it is satisfying and leaves the reader with a sense of delight.
While The Ten Best Days of My Life is Adena Halpern’s debut in fiction, she has previously written what can best be characterized as a fashion memoir entitled Target Underwear and a Vera Wang Gown. Having read that book, it is easy to see where the inspiration for Alex comes from; Halpern has written what she knows. Though sometimes this can lead to monotony, in this case it pays off. She retains the wit from her previous work but proves that she has more than a good sense of humor. The ability to craft a solid, enjoyable story from scratch is a difficult one. Halpern has proven her talents as a writer as fiction and I look forward to reading her next work.
Another chick lit-type book was recently released about Heaven that people will inevitably compare to this novel: Earthly Pleasures by Karen Neches. Which is better? It’s difficult to say. Though they are both about Heaven, the novels themselves are very different. Halpern’s work is more fluff, syrupy sweetness and reflections on life and what is important. Neches, on the other hand, seems to dig a little deeper under the surface and crafts more of a mystery. Which one should you read? If you like the genre, read both. They are different enough that you’ll not feel like you’re reading the same thing twice. The real question is, whose version of heaven would you rather visit?
The Ten Best Days of My Life is not grand literature. However, it is an immensely sweet novel that will endear itself to anyone who wants a book which will make them smile. Fans of chick lit should put this on their reading list for 2008.
Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Swapna Krishna, 2008
I've decided to dive right in with Boston Bibliophile's LibraryThing Tuesday Thingers Question!
This week's question:
Do you have any unique books in your library - books only you have on LT? How many? Did you find cataloging information on your unique books, or did you hand-enter them? Do they fall into a particular category or categories, or are they a mix of different things? Have you ever looked at the "You and none other" feature on your statistics page, which shows books owned by only you and one other user? Ever made an LT friend by seeing what you share with only one other user?
Well, the answer to this took some digging around my LT library.
My single unique book on LT is Landmark Visitors Guide-Cornwall, England. I did manage to find cataloguing information on it. I've never actually looked at the "You and one other" feature, I didn't even know that was an option! But after looking at it, I apparently share no books with just one other person. The next book up is Women in Hats by Judy Sheehan, which I share with three other people.
Labels:
librarything,
meme
This week's question:
Do you have any unique books in your library - books only you have on LT? How many? Did you find cataloging information on your unique books, or did you hand-enter them? Do they fall into a particular category or categories, or are they a mix of different things? Have you ever looked at the "You and none other" feature on your statistics page, which shows books owned by only you and one other user? Ever made an LT friend by seeing what you share with only one other user?
Well, the answer to this took some digging around my LT library.
My single unique book on LT is Landmark Visitors Guide-Cornwall, England. I did manage to find cataloguing information on it. I've never actually looked at the "You and one other" feature, I didn't even know that was an option! But after looking at it, I apparently share no books with just one other person. The next book up is Women in Hats by Judy Sheehan, which I share with three other people.
After much deliberation and perusing other blog sites, I have finally decided to start my own book review blog! This will be a place for me to post my thoughts on books I've read or want to read. I'm not sure how long it will take me to get some readers (if ever), but if you've stumbled upon this site, welcome and thanks for stopping by!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
