Title: The Quiche of Death
Author: M.C. Beaton
ISBN: 0312939167
Pages: 272
Release Date: December 1992
Series: Agatha Raisin Mysteries, No. 1
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 4 out of 5

From the back cover:

Putting all her eggs in one basket, Agatha Raisin gives up her successful PR firm, sells her London flat, and samples a taste of early retirement in the quiet village of Carsely. Bored, lonely and used to getting her way, she enters a local baking contest: Surely a blue ribbon for the best quiche will make her the toast of the town. But her recipe for social advancement sours when Judge Cummings-Browne not only snubs her entry—but falls over dead! After her quiche’s secret ingredient turns out to be poison, she must reveal the unsavory truth…

Agatha has never baked a thing in her life! In fact, she bought her entry ready-made from an upper crust London quicherie. Grating on the nerves of several Carsely residents, she is soon receiving sinister notes. Has her cheating and meddling landed her in hot water, or are the threats related to the suspicious death? It may mean the difference between egg on her face and a coroner’s tag on her toe…

I've heard a little bit about M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin mystery series and thought I would give it a try. It reminded me a lot of Agatha Christie (and indeed, there are many Christie references within the book), except it was a silly novel.

The characters are the best part of The Quiche of Death. They are all so quirky and funny; Agatha herself is a riot. At the beginning of the book, I was afraid that I wouldn't like her because she's a bit of a malcontent. However, she grew on me very quickly, as did all the characters in the novel.

The book is definitely short and quick and can probably be read in one or two sittings. It was basically a cozy mystery. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series!

I've rearranged my list of book reviews for your perusing convenience! Before it was arranged in alphabetical order by the author's last name. I've since changed it so that it's still in alphabetical order, but it's subdivided into rating. That makes it easier to quickly find books I've rated highly.

List of Book Reviews

(or click on the "Book Reviews" button in the banner above)

Title: Shelter Me
Author: Juliette Fay
ISBN: 0061673390
Pages: 448
Release Date: December 30, 2008
Genre: Women's Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary Fiction
Review: HarperCollins First Look
Rating: 4 out of 5

From the back cover:

After the sudden death of her husband, Janie LaMarche is swamped by the tides of grief and rage. Yet she's force to confront the onward march of her life by an unlikely cast of interventionists: her two small children, her Ipecac-toting aunt, the "unflinchingly nice" parish priest, and the contractor hired by her husband to build her porch, whose involvement in her family's life becomes more ingrained with every beam he installs.

Reminiscent of Lolly Winston's Good Grief, yet imbued with the quirky humane qualities of Anne Tyler's work, Shelter Me reminds us that the terrain of one's future is is best navigated with the help of others - even the ones we least expect to call on, much less learn to love.

Shelter Me is the story of a women's emotional journey after the unexpected death of her husband leaves her a widow with two very young children. After Robby's death, Janie can barely make it through each day and ends up relying more and more on those around her to help her cope with life.

The cast of characters in Shelter Me is entertaining and probably the best part of the book. There's Cormac, Janie's cousin who runs a bakery, and his girlfriend Barb, who Janie calls "Barbie" behind her back. There's Father Jake, the priest who comforts and listens to Janie, but has his own demons that slowly come to light as he becomes an integral part of her life. Aunt Jude is the zany aunt who Janie relies on more than ever because her mother, Noreen, chose to stay in Italy rather than be with her daughter on her road to re-learning how to live. And finally, there is Tug, the carpenter who Robby hired to build his wife a new porch before his death. These characters are well-written and entertaining, and they help Janie to begin to move on with her life.

Janie herself is also a very interesting character. Though she is depressed, she is also incredibly angry and has a tendency to lash out at people. This has the potential to be an annoyance for the reader, but Fay handles it very well. Janie's anger is realistic without being irritating. Fay seems to understand the emotions involved with losing a loved one and writes Janie's emotions incredibly well.

The book itself is a bit long, but is a satisfying read. I'd like to give a big thank you to the HarperCollins First Look program for sending it to me to read - I enjoyed it and would recommend it to any fans of chick lit or women's fiction. It reminded me a bit of Luanne Rice, so if you are a fan of hers, you will most likely enjoy Shelter Me.

I said I wasn't going to join any more challenges, but of course I should have known better! 3m over at 1 More Chapter is hosting the Countdown Challenge, which I think sounds super interesting.1. The goal of this challenge is to read the number of books first published in a given year that corresponds to the last digit of each year in the 2000s — 9 books from 2009, 8 books from 2008, etc. The total number of books required, therefore, is 45.
2. This challenge lasts from 8/8/08 through 9/9/09. Yes, it is retroactive to August 8th!
3. Crossovers with other challenges are allowed and your lists may change at any time.
4. Sign up using Mr. Linky
5. Have fun reading!

Here's my list so far:

2009:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

2008:
1. In the Convent of Little Flowers: Stories - Indu Sundaresan [review]
2. The Night Villa - Carol Goodman [review]
3. Names My Sisters Call Me - Megan Crane [review]
4. Cancer is a Bitch - Gail Konop Baker [review]
5. An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination - Elizabeth McCracken [review]
6. The Enchantress of Florence - Salman Rushdie [review]
7. Falling Under - Danielle Younge-Ullman [review]
8. The Professor's Wives Club - Joanne Rendell [review]

2007:
1. Nefertiti - Michelle Moran [review]
2. The Fortune Quilt - Lani Diane Rich [review]
3. Scot on the Rocks - Brenda Janowitz [review]
4. The Pirate's Daughter - Margaret Cezair-Thompson [review]
5. Girl Most Likely To - Poonam Sharma [review]
6. Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher [review]
7.

2006:
1. Knitting Under the Influence - Claire LaZebnik [review]
2. The Madonnas of Leningrad - Debra Dean [review]
3. The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca - Tahir Shah [review]
4.
5.
6.

2005:
1. The Washingtonienne - Jessica Cutler [review]
2. 13 Little Blue Envelopes - Maureen Johnson [review]
3.
4.
5.

2004:
1.
2.
3.
4.

2003:
1.
2.
3.

2002:
1.
2.

2001:
1. Crescent and Star: Turkey Between Two Worlds - Stephen Kinzer [review]

Title: Royal Escape
Author: Susan Froetschel
ISBN: 1594147175
Pages: 377
Release Date: December 10, 2008
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5

From the dust jacket:

Beautiful, witty and sharp on fashion and charity, Elena was supposed to live the fairy-tale life. Instead, her marriage is in ruins and her in-laws resent her glowing popularity. All Elena really wants to do is spend time with her two sons and to be a good mother.

The death of her divorce attorney complicates her plans. The Queen, her mother-in-law, withholds settlement on a trust fund and expects Elena to give her marriage one more chance. That means keeping a low profile and following all orders by the royal family and their staff.

A terrorist attack on Elena puts her back into the spotlight. The family's security detail whisks her two sons into hiding, insisting that protection requires separation from their mother. But she wonders how can anyone be safe, if the security experts can't even protect a princess?

When I first heard about Royal Escape, the description intrigued me. It basically said that readers looking for a less tragic fate for Diana, Princess of Wales, would probably enjoy this book. I'm not one for royal mania, but I just watched a PBS special on The Windsors, so I was in a royal family mindset.

Let me make this clear right from the start: if you are a fan of the Windsors, this book is probably not for you. The Wyndhams, as they are referred to in Royal Escape, aren't portrayed in the best light. If I were to have to guess at Froetschel's political leanings, I would say she is for the monarchy being abolished in Britain. Elena (Diana) is, of course, the most sympathetic of the characters in the book, a victim of both the royal family and their staff. Her concern for her sons was touching, but I didn't do much in terms of character analysis because it was obvious who each character was supposed to represent in the royal family.

The most interesting part of the book was how the royal family is handled by their staff. While I don't know if it is true or not, I thought it was very intriguing. The mystery of what really is going on behind the scenes is captivating and propels the story forward.

Basically, this book is pure escapism: if you are looking for a fun, mindless read, this is a great book to choose. There isn't too much substance, but it is fun and keeps the reader hooked. There are some unresolved issues at the end of the book and some large plot holes, but if you aren't in the mood to care about that sort of thing (as I wasn't when I read the novel), then Royal Escape is for you. As long as you don't take yourself or it too seriously, you will enjoy this book.

Thank you to those at Five Star Publishing who sent me this novel to review.

Title: The Wednesday Sisters
Author: Meg Waite Clayton
ISBN: 0345502825
Pages: 304
Release Date: June 17, 2008
Genre: Women's Fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

From the dust jacket:

Friendship, loyalty, and love lie at the heart of Meg Waite Clayton’s beautifully written, poignant, and sweeping novel of five women who, over the course of four decades, come to redefine what it means to be family.

For thirty-five years, Frankie, Linda, Kath, Brett, and Ally have met every Wednesday at the park near their homes in Palo Alto, California. Defined when they first meet by what their husbands do, the young homemakers and mothers are far removed from the Summer of Love that has enveloped most of the Bay Area in 1967. These “Wednesday Sisters” seem to have little in common: Frankie is a timid transplant from Chicago, brutally blunt Linda is a remarkable athlete, Kath is a Kentucky debutante, quiet Ally has a secret, and quirky, ultra-intelligent Brett wears little white gloves with her miniskirts. But they are bonded by a shared love of both literature–Fitzgerald, Eliot, Austen, du Maurier, Plath, and Dickens–and the Miss America Pageant, which they watch together every year.

As the years roll on and their children grow, the quintet forms a writers circle to express their hopes and dreams through poems, stories, and, eventually, books. Along the way, they experience history in the making: Vietnam, the race for the moon, and a women’s movement that challenges everything they have ever thought about themselves, while at the same time supporting one another through changes in their personal lives brought on by infidelity, longing, illness, failure, and success.

Humorous and moving, The Wednesday Sisters is a literary feast for book lovers that earns a place among those popular works that honor the joyful, mysterious, unbreakable bonds between friends.

Meg Waite Clayton is one of those special authors who's very active in the blogosphere. I follow her blog, First Books, which is a very interesting look about how writers got started on their first books. As such, I feel a little bad that it's taken me this long to read The Wednesday Sisters, especially considering what a great book it ended up being!

The Wednesday Sisters is really about the characters. Clayton writes her characters very well, making them both sympathetic and independent. I loved Ally's marriage, and that she was breaking stereotypes through it. Though Linda's directness was a lot to take at the beginning, it was easy to come to love her. Brett's gloves were an interesting mystery at the beginning, but they had become so much a part of her that when she finally revealed why she wore them, it was almost anti-climactic. Kath's path up the career ladder was a joy to read about, as she was breaking through boundaries and walls every step of the way, and Frankie's struggle to produce a novel and eventual triumph was heartwarming. Each of these women had their faults; sometimes they were prejudiced, sometimes they lied, sometimes they were plain difficult. But that made them all the more real to the reader.

The 1960's was just as much of a character in the novel as any of the women. I loved reading about the group participating in the different activities of the decade. It was great to witness them talking about how the changes affected them. I also absolutely loved the fact that Clayton mentioned every single one of the important Apollo flights - I am a huge fan of the space program and I feel like it had a huge impact on the 1960's. (I kept thinking back to the Apollo 8 panel I attended with astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders - my post). Clayton made the uncertainty of the times come alive in The Wednesday Sisters.

In many ways, The Wednesday Sisters is a coming of age novel - these women grow along with their country. I highly recommend this book - it's one you don't want to miss!

Title: The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca
Author: Tahir Shah
ISBN: 0553383108
Pages: 368
Release Date: January 31, 2006
Genre: Non-Fiction, Travel, Memoir
Challenge: Fall Into Reading 2008
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

From the back cover:

In the tradition of A Year in Provence and Under the Tuscan Sun, acclaimed English travel writer Tahir Shah shares a highly entertaining account of making an exotic dream come true. By turns hilarious and harrowing, here is the story of his family’s move from the gray skies of London to the sun-drenched city of Casablanca, where Islamic tradition and African folklore converge–and nothing is as easy as it seems….

Inspired by the Moroccan vacations of his childhood, Tahir Shah dreamed of making a home in that astonishing country. At age thirty-six he got his chance. Investing what money he and his wife, Rachana, had, Tahir packed up his growing family and bought Dar Khalifa, a crumbling ruin of a mansion by the sea in Casablanca that once belonged to the city’s caliph, or spiritual leader.

With its lush grounds, cool, secluded courtyards, and relaxed pace, life at Dar Khalifa seems sure to fulfill Tahir’s fantasy–until he discovers that in many ways he is farther from home than he imagined. For in Morocco an empty house is thought to attract jinns, invisible spirits unique to the Islamic world. The ardent belief in their presence greatly hampers sleep and renovation plans, but that is just the beginning. From elaborate exorcism rituals involving sacrificial goats to dealing with gangster neighbors intent on stealing their property, the Shahs must cope with a new culture and all that comes with it.

Endlessly enthralling, The Caliph's House charts a year in the life of one family who takes a tremendous gamble. As we follow Tahir on his travels throughout the kingdom, from Tangier to Marrakech to the Sahara, we discover a world of fierce contrasts that any true adventurer would be thrilled to call home.

I can't remember where I first heard about The Caliph's House, but I'm really glad I took the time to read it. The book is a real adventure; I couldn't believe that the author and his family actually faced all of these challenges and triumphed. Lesser people would have cracked under the pressure and fled Casablanca, broken.

The depiction of life and culture in Morocco is at once hilarious and completely intriguing. I constantly was comparing Shah's experiences to my own in the United States and shaking my head in disbelief. The cultures are so different; in a lot of ways, Moroccan culture reminded me of Indian culture. They are both very superstitious and honor family above all else. It's always fun to learn about another culture, and it was especially enjoyable to do it through the eyes of a skeptic.

The Jinns really made the novel for me. At the beginning, I was frustrated by the Moroccan's unswerving belief in the Jinns, as was the author. But as the novel progressed, I found myself warming to the concept. Who was I to say that there weren't evil spirits inhabiting Dar Khalifa? Though I didn't believe in them, that didn't make them any less real to the Moroccans. It was one of those examples of exhibiting a cultural superiority mentality without realizing it; because I did not grow up believing in Jinns, I was quick to dismiss the idea. I appreciated how The Caliph's House made me re-evaluate how I think about things.

I highly recommend The Caliph's House, even if you don't normally read non-fiction. The book is easy to read; Shah breaks up the tale enough to where there are plenty of stopping points. If you want to read this book alongside another (as I did), the style of the novel makes it very easy. It is entertaining, funny, and wonderful to read - I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope you will too.

I am thrilled to announce my next book giveaway. Author Brenda Janowitz offered me the chance to offer not one, but two of her books to give away on my blog! Scot on the Rocks [review] and Jack With a Twist [review] are funny and heartwarming chick lit novels that I thoroughly enjoyed, and thanks to Brenda, they both could be yours!

Title: The Secret Scripture
Author: Sebastian Barry
ISBN: 0670019402
Pages: 304
Release Date: June 12, 2008
Genre: Literary Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5

From the dust jacket:

As a young woman, Roseanne McNulty was one of the most beautiful and beguiling girls in County Sligo, Ireland. Now, as her hundredth year draws near, she is a patient at Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital, and she decides to record the events of her life.

As Roseanne revisits her past, hiding the manuscript beneath the floorboards in her bedroom, she learns that Roscommon Hospital will be closed in a few months and that her caregiver, Dr. Grene, has been asked to evaluate the patients and decide if they can return to society. Roseanne is of particular interest to Dr. Grene, and as he researches her case he discovers a document written by a local priest that tells a very different story of Roseanne’s life than what she recalls. As doctor and patient attempt to understand each other, they begin to uncover long-buried secrets about themselves.

Set against an Ireland besieged by conflict, The Secret Scripture is an epic story of love, betrayal, and unavoidable tragedy, and a vivid reminder of the stranglehold that the Catholic Church had on individual lives for much of the twentieth century.

I first heard about The Secret Scripture when it was shortlisted for the 2008 Man Booker Prize. Though it didn't win, the description captivated my imagination and I knew I wanted to read it.

I'm not sure what I expected from the novel, but I can say that I was surprised by its contents. I suppose between the title and description, I was expecting a sort of gothic mystery with a secret at the center of the novel. That was definitely not the case with The Secret Scripture; it was a mystery, but it was also the history of one woman and the story of what really happened to her.

I really enjoyed the novel. The setting, Ireland, plays a significant role within the book and it is interesting to see how the Catholic Church played a major part in the nation's development. It's always nice to learn something from a book, especially when it's unexpected.

Award-winning (or in this case, nominated) novels usually conjure up an image of a thick, heavy book that is slow and difficult to read. Fortunately, that is not the case for The Secret Scripture at all. The novel flows smoothly and keeps the reader hooked from beginning to end. The mysteries of Roseanne's past, and why she was committed to the asylum in the first place, propel the story forward.

I definitely recommend this novel to anyone who is looking to stray into literary fiction. The book is interesting and keeps the reader's attention without being too long or heavy. It's an enticing book that is easy to enjoy.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa - whatever holiday you are (or aren't) celebrating today, have a great day!

Title: Love the One You're With
Author: Emily Giffin
ISBN: 0312348673
Pages: 342
Release Date: May 13, 2008
Genre: Chick Lit
Review: Originally posted at Curled Up With a Good Book
Rating: 4 out of 5

Ellen Graham (formerly Ellen Dempsey) is a newly married photographer living in New York City. She thrives on the energy of the city and is deeply in love with her husband, Andy, who is a lawyer at a big New York firm. Her life is as close to perfect as anything she could possibly imagine…until fate blindsides her.

Walking on the street one day, Ellen runs into Leo, the quintessential “guy who got away.” Their relationship, filled with soaring highs and the deepest lows, was tumultuous and intense – nothing like Ellen’s safe relationship with Andy. After Leo dumped Ellen (at least, that’s the way she remembers the story), she was depressed for an unnaturally long time, unable to deal with her grief because she had no closure to the relationship. There was always that lingering question of why – why it didn’t work out, why did he fall out of love with me, why, why, why?

So when Ellen runs into Leo, she decides to take him up on his offer of friendship, even though she knows she is treading in dangerous waters. Their intense chemistry hasn’t dissipated at all, and she doesn’t feel like Andy would understand her draw to Leo – understandably, because she can’t understand it herself. Before she realizes it, Ellen is drawn into an impossible situation, questioning the fundamentals of her relationship with Andy – and whether or not she is living the life she is meant to.

Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin is a wonderful story about a woman who isn’t quite sure of what she wants or of who she is. While Ellen is a strong, confident photographer who knows she is good at her job, when it comes to her personal life, she is a little more insecure. First, there is her situation with her husband’s family, Andy. While she adores them and they have accepted her warmly into the family, she still feels inadequate. Her background is nowhere near their old-money Southern country-club lifestyle, so it is understandable that when Leo shows up, Ellen feels conflicted. Did she marry Andy because she was settling, because she knew that Leo no longer loved her? Does she still love Leo? These questions are all serious issues that must be faced in a marriage, if there is to be any hope of longevity. Unfortunately, they are also some of the most uncomfortable issues out there, and it is easier not to face them. Giffin tackles these questions with grace and dignity. The reader never loses faith in Ellen or becomes disgusted with her choices. She takes her marriage very seriously, and her choices with regards to Leo are weighed heavily and carefully.

Characters are always Giffin’s strong points in her novels. The stories are always interesting, but it is the reader’s ability to sympathize and relate to her characters that give her stories their drive. While Ellen is easy for a reader to understand, the rest of the characters are a bit more difficult. This appears to be purposeful on Giffin’s part, as Ellen has trouble understanding them as well, further contributing to her sense of loneliness and not quite fitting into her husband’s world.

The questions at the core of Love the One You're With are the most interesting aspect of the book. What is love? What does marriage mean? Too often, chick lit/women’s fiction paints an excessively rosy a picture of love and marriage – the soul mate, the one you’re meant to be with. All the stars align to see you together, and when you fall in love, nothing else matters. As much as we want to believe that this is the case, Giffin presents a much more believable picture of love and marriage. Put succinctly, it’s about the one you’ve chosen to love and loving the one you’re with.

My interview for The Book Bloggers has been posted! In case you are wondering what this is, it's a site where authors can connect with bloggers to review their books, thanks to BreeniBooks' hard work. Check it out!

Meet S. Krishna's Books

It's time to announce the winner for my Matrimony giveaway! According to random.org, the winner is number 19!

Congratulations Stephanie from And Life Goes On.... I've left a comment on your blog letting you know you won!

Come back later today or tomorrow for my next giveaway - it's going to be 2 books instead of one, and I'm really excited about it!

Another award! I've been given the Kreativ Blogger award by Bermudaonion at Bermudaonion's Weblog, Alea at Pop Culture Junkie, and Wendy at Caribousmom. Thanks, this is amazing!

Edit: I forgot to include Veens on this list! You're the best, thank you!

There's a meme that comes with this award. I'm supposed to decide on six values that are important to me and six things I don't support, as well as nominate six other bloggers!

Six values that are important to me:

1) Honesty
2) A sense of humor
3) Open-mindedness
4) Modesty
5) A sense of gratitude
6) Optimism

Six values I don't support:

1) Bigotry/racism
2) Lack of compassion
3) A sense of entitlement
4) Acting superior to others
5) Cruelty
6) Prosletyzing

I know I'm supposed to nominate six other bloggers at this point, but it's too difficult to choose! So I will take the easy way out and open it up for anyone and everyone to participate! Thanks again!

Title: Creepers
Author: Joanne Dahme
ISBN: 0762433132
Pages: 232
Release Date: September 8, 2008
Genre: Mystery, Teen
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

From the back cover:

From moving to a new house to making new friends and preparing for high school, life for the new girl in town can be unsettling. But thirteen year-old Courtney is unprepared for how creepy life in Murmur, Massachusetts turns out to be. Her ivy-covered house overlooking the antiquated cemetery next door is one thing, but Courtney finds herself thrust into a full-fledged haunted adventure after meeting Christian and Margaret Geyer, a strange father and daughter with unfinished family business. The body of their ancestor, Prudence, has gone missing from beneath her ivy-carved tombstone and must be returned to its final resting place in order to break the spell that looms over Courtney’s house. To add to the suspense and help solve the mystery, authentic documents and photographs are set at the beginning of each chapter pertaining to Murmur, Courtney’s house, and the infamous cemetery. Will Courtney uncover the secret lurking within the dark, dank underbelly of her ivy-covered basement?

Creepers is a modern day gothic mystery, aimed at young adults. The book itself is beautiful; there are rich illustrations throughout the novel and there is ivy running through the pages (which is a recurring theme in the book.) It makes for a wonderful reading experience, helping to envelop the reader within the pages.

However, I was a bit disappointed by the book. I had heard many good things about it, and maybe my expectations were too high. I just didn't think it was as good as it could have been; while the mystery was interesting, it wasn't captivating. Also, gothic mysteries do well with a sense of creepiness, which this novel seems to lack. Basically, it is a great young adult novel, but might leave adults looking for more.

That being said, Creepers does have its own sense of enchantment. Dahme builds a scene very well and it is easy to get lost in the atmosphere of the town of Murmur. The pages interspersed between the chapters of diary entries and signs are well-placed and help add to the ambiance of the novel. Whoever was in charge of designing the book did extremely well.

While I did want something more out of Creepers, it was an easy read that young adults will definitely enjoy. I look forward to Dahme's next novel, The Plague, which is being released in May, 2009.

I enjoyed the 2008 Fall Into Reading Challenge, so I've decided to go ahead and join the 2008-09 Winter Reading Challenge!


The rules:

1) Choose any number of books you would like to read and post them on your blog.

2) They can be fiction and/or nonfiction including e-books and audiobooks

3) They can overlap with other challenges.

4) To sign up, click here. (Hosted by My Two Blessings)

So, what are you waiting for?? This one's a pretty flexible challenge, so it should be easier to complete, especially considering you can pick the number of books you want to read!

I'm going to treat this challenge like I did the Fall Into Reading challenge - I'm going to make my list a mix of books that I have had on my shelves for awhile, ARC's that have been languishing, and books I know I'll be reading in early 2009.

My list:

1) The View from Garden City - Carolyn Baugh
2) The Wednesday Sisters - Meg Waite Clayton
3) Fashionably Late - Nadine Dajani
4) One More Year: Stories - Sara Krasikov
5) The Smart One - Ellen Meister
6) A Hopeless Romantic - Harriet Evans
7) The Frog Prince - Jane Porter
8) The Quiche of Death - M.C. Beaton
9) The Last Mughal - William Dalrymple
10) The Chocolate Run - Dorothy Koomson
11) Knit Two - Kate Jacobs
12) Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell
13) The King's Last Song - Geoff Ryman
14) First Darling of the Morning - Thrity Umrigar
15) The Gathering - Anne Enright

I'm only picking 15 because I like a lot of flexibility in what I choose to read, and the challenge only runs for 13 weeks.

I'm so honored that Veens over at Giving Reading a Chance has given me a great buddy award!

I've talked about Firoozeh Dumas before and how much I've enjoyed her books Funny in Farsi and Laughing Without an Accent [review]. If you want a taste of what her books are like, one of her stories/vignettes is on NPR - it's a good one, so make sure to check it out if you're interested!

Pass the Foie Grass: Christmas Menu Hard to Digest

Title: Cotillion
Author: Georgette Heyer
ISBN: 1402210086
Pages: 288
Release Date: October 5, 2007
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

From the back cover:

A sham betrothal isn't the only thing that gets Kitty and Freddy into trouble, but it's definitely the beginning ..

A most unusual hero: Freddy is immensely rich, of course, and not bad-looking, but he's mild-mannered, a bit hapless-not anything like his virile, handsome, rakish cousin Jack ...

A heroine in a difficult situation: Young Kitty Charing stands to inherit a vast fortune from her irascible and eccentric guardian-provided she marries one of his great-nephews ...

A sham betrothal: No sooner does Kitty arrive in London then the race for her hand begins, but between confirmed rakes and bumbling affections, Kitty needs a daring scheme...

I've really been enjoying all the Georgette Heyer re-releases that Sourcebooks has been putting out. This is the third one I've read (along with The Reluctant Widow [review] and Faro's Daughter [review]) and I can now say for certain that Heyer is an amazing author. I just can't believe it took me this long to read her novels!

I think that Cotillion is my favorite Heyer novel so far. The plot is fun enough, but it really is the characters that make this book. Kitty is sweet and her schemes are amusing. It is clear what she intends from the beginning of the novel, but it is fun to watch her plans unfold and unravel before her eyes. I also love how considerate she is: she is determined to help others, while being unsure of her own fate.

However, it was Freddy that really stole my heart in this novel. I love how he takes care of Kitty, how he goes along with her plans even though they are not his first choice. I enjoyed reading about how sweet he really is, how he does things he really would rather not and comes to Kitty's rescue time and time again, all because he is a gentleman and a good person. You could say I have a bit of a crush on Freddy - he reminds me of my husband!

Cotillion is completely fun and entertaining. I was completely hooked the whole time, hoping against hope that the novel turned out the way I wanted it to. If you haven't read any Heyer, this is a great place to start; if you have read Heyer and enjoyed her novels, read Cotillion as soon as you can! You'll definitely enjoy it.

Thanks so much to Danielle at Sourcebooks for sending me this novel to review!

Title: The Madonnas of Leningrad
Author: Debra Dean
ISBN: 0060825316
Pages: 256
Release Date: March 14, 2006
Genre: Historical Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5

From Amazon.com:

Bit by bit, the ravages of age are eroding Marina's grip on the everyday. An elderly Russian woman now living in America, she cannot hold on to fresh memories—the details of her grown children's lives, the approaching wedding of her grandchild—yet her distant past is miraculously preserved in her mind's eye.

Vivid images of her youth in war-torn Leningrad arise unbidden, carrying her back to the terrible fall of 1941, when she was a tour guide at the Hermitage Museum and the German army's approach signaled the beginning of what would be a long, torturous siege on the city. As the people braved starvation, bitter cold, and a relentless German onslaught, Marina joined other staff members in removing the museum's priceless masterpieces for safekeeping, leaving the frames hanging empty on the walls to symbolize the artworks' eventual return. As the Luftwaffe's bombs pounded the proud, stricken city, Marina built a personal Hermitage in her mind—a refuge that would stay buried deep within her, until she needed it once more...

I don't really know what inspired me to pick up The Madonnas of Leningrad. I was at the library, in a hurry because my husband was waiting outside in the car. I made a quick run over to the "New Releases/Popular Titles" shelf. Because it was a Saturday, it was pretty picked over, but this small novel caught my eye, and I decided to take it home on an impulse. I didn't know what it was about or even what genre it was, but I loved the title.

And now? Now I am so glad I took a chance on The Madonnas of Leningrad. (And how have I not heard about this book before? I think I'm the only one.) It's a short book, to be sure, but inside is a wonderful and moving story about Marina's struggles in the past (the siege of Leningrad) and in the present (Alzheimer's).

Prior to the novel, I knew enough about the siege of Leningrad to know that it was horrific, but the book puts a new face on the struggle. Through Marina, the reader is exposed to the appalling conditions in which people were forced to live while the Nazis were trying to take the city during World War II. It's not until you read a novel like this, whether fiction or not, that you really begin to comprehend what people must have had to deal with. However, I also liked that the struggle wasn't the focus of the novel. While the siege of Leningrad deserves novels, history books, etc. written solely about it, those aren't books I'll be reading because they would probably be depressing. The Madonnas of Leningrad isn't like it; it's sad, to be sure, but it manages to keep the reader's spirit high. It's not a burden or a weight.

I think the best part of the novel is the way it jumps in time. Dean seamlessly weaves the past and the present together; there is one point in the novel where Marina is sitting at her granddaughter's wedding, and before the reader realizes it, Marina has been taken back to Leningrad and watching a different wedding at a different time. Dean is an exceptionally talented writer and it shines through in The Madonnas of Leningrad.

This is a great novel that I think anyone would enjoy. It's easy to read and beautifully written; definitely pick this one up if you are debating on it like I was!

Title: Crescent and Star: Turkey Between Two Worlds
Author: Stephen Kinzer
ISBN: 0374531404
Pages: 288
Release Date: September 22, 2001
Genre: Non-Fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

From the dust jacket:

For centuries few terrors were more vivid in the West than fear of "the Turk," and many people still think of Turkey as repressive, wild, and dangerous. Crescent and Star is Stephen Kinzer's compelling report on the truth about this nation of contradictions - poised between Europe and Asia, caught between the glories of its Ottoman past and its hopes for a democratic future, between the dominance of its army and the needs of its civilian citizens, between its secular expectations and its Muslim traditions.

Kinzer vividly describes Turkey's captivating delights as he smokes a water pipe, searches for the ruins of lost civilizations, watches a camel fight, and discovers its greatest poet. But he is also attuned to the political landscape, taking us from Istanbul's elegant cafes to wild mountain outposts on Turkey's eastern borders, while along the way he talks to dissidents and patriots, villagers and cabinet ministers. He reports on political trials and on his own arrest by Turkish soldiers when he was trying to uncover secrets about the army's campaigns against Kurdish guerrillas. He explores the nation's hope to join the European Union, the human-rights abuses that have kept it out, and its difficult relations with Kurds, Armenians, and Greeks.

Will this vibrant country, he asks, succeed in becoming a great democratic state? He makes it clear why Turkey is poised to become "the most audacious nation of the twenty-first century."

I first began reading this book for a graduate school paper I was writing on Turkey and Iran. I read the first two chapters, which were immensely useful in my paper. After said paper was turned in and I was free of the burden of finals, I found that I was still pondering Crescent and Star. I decided to go ahead and finish the book, and I'm glad I did.

Turkey is a country that has intrigued me greatly ever since undergrad. It straddles Europe and Asia, and as such, its history and culture are unlike any other Muslim country - it is currently trying to join the European Union. Its government is very repressive and the country has a history of human rights violations. It is also the only democracy with a predominantly Muslim population. These dichotomous and sometimes contradictory qualities make Turkey an extremely interesting country to study closely.

Kinzer's book isn't academic or dense; instead, it is a journalist's view of Turkish history and culture. It is extremely easy to read and is a great introduction to the country as it is today. In between chapters, he has a series of vignettes that help illustrate his feelings towards the country. They fill in the gaps and really make the book personal, rather than a third-person treatise on Turkey.

Crescent and Star is a great summary of the country of Turkey. Whether you are thinking of visiting there or just intrigued by the country, this is a wonderful book to pick up. Even if you normally don't like non-fiction, this is an easy one to read.

Title: Odd Mom Out
Author: Jane Porter
ISBN: 0446699233
Pages: 432
Release Date: September 27, 2007
Genre: Chick Lit, Women's Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5

From the back cover:

Advertising executive Marta Zinsser is no poster child for her wealthy Seattle suburb-and nothing could please her more. This former New Yorker wears combat boots, not Manolos, and drives a righteous Harley hog instead of a Mercedes SUV. Now she's launching her own agency in this land of the Microsoft elite, even though her ten-year-old daughter wishes she'd put on a sweater set and just be normal.

Can this ex-urbanite remain uniquely herself without alienating the inner circle of smug, cookie-cutter executive wives? And when push comes to shove, can she stop being the proud odd mom out and take a chance at something frighteningly-and tantalizingly-new?

I have really enjoyed getting to know Jane Porter's novels through Miriam at Hachette Book Group, and Odd Mom Out was no exception. My only regret about this book is the fact that I didn't realize that Mrs. Perfect was a sequel/spin-off of Odd Mom Out - I would have loved to have read them in the proper order. Marta's actions in Mrs. Perfect have so much more meaning when viewed against the backdrop of how distasteful Taylor was to Marta earlier on.

I loved the character of Marta. She was strong, funny, and tries to do it all for her daughter. I really felt for her when other mothers tried to make her feel bad for having a job. I don't think there is anything wrong with working when you have kids, just like there is nothing wrong with deciding to stay home. But in the end, it is a personal choice and frankly, it isn't anyone else's business! I did like how Marta slowly softened her edges through the book. She realized that, though it is okay and good to be different, it's ok to be the same sometimes too. It's especially interesting to think about her story juxtaposed with Taylor's from Mrs. Perfect because they are so different, yet Jane writes them both so well.

I liked Eva as well, though I wish more had been explored with her modeling (I'm not going to explain further because I don't want to give away plot points!) I felt like it was a significant part of the story, especially considering Marta's hesitation, and then it completely disappeared.

I have just one more Jane Porter book to go (The Frog Prince) before I've read all of her "modern lit" titles. However, I was really excited to discover that she has a book scheduled to be released in April 2009 in which Tiana, a character from Odd Mom Out, will be explored. I definitely can't wait for that one!

A HUGE thank you to Miriam @ Hachette for sending me this one to review!

Do you give books as gifts? To everyone? Or only to select people?

Just to my sister. I honestly don't know many people who read (besides my fellow book bloggers, of course)! But my sister and I give books to each other and exchange books a lot because we are both avid readers.

How do you feel about receiving books as gifts?

I'm not sure. On one hand, the thought is really sweet because it's obvious whoever is the gift giver took the time to pay attention to what I like. On the other hand, I'm kind of picky about what I read. My husband's mom did something nice, when she was traveling, she saw something that made her think of me and picked it up for me. I really appreciated it because it wasn't a book, but it was book-related. (She got me the "Read" sign, not the plant, the box, or the statue of Ganesha).

Title: Light of the Moon
Author: Luanne Rice
ISBN: 0553805118
Pages: 400
Release Date: January 29, 2008
Genre: Women's Fiction
Review: Originally posted at Curled Up With a Good Book
Rating: 4 out of 5

Light of the Moon, Luanne Rice’s latest novel, introduces us to Susannah Connoly, an anthropologist at a small college in Connecticut. Devastated by her mother’s recent death and estranged from her long-term partner, Susannah feels lost in the quagmire that has become her life. With the encouragement of her mentor, she decides that it is time to get away and take a trip to Camargue, France – the trip that she and her mother had been planning to take since Susannah was a child. The Camargue region is best known for its white horses, but Susannah has a different reason for going there: the saint who was responsible for her birth, Sara-la-Kali. Susannah’s parents thought they would never have children until going to the saint and praying for a child; Sara-la-Kali blessed them with Susannah.

Upon arriving in the Camargue, Susannah meets Grey Dempsey, a journalist-turned-horse rancher living with his daughter, Sari. Sari’s mother, Maria, was a gypsy who left the family when Sari was only eight years old. In desperation, Sari rode her horse, Mystere, in pursuit of her mother, only to be thrown when her horse was frightened by oncoming headlights. Now, five years later, Sari has all but recovered from the physical traumas of that event (with the exception of her lingering colorblindness), but the emotional damage is still raw. What’s more, she has not even visited her beloved Mystere since the accident. Understanding that Sari is exceptionally fragile, Grey puts his personal life on hold in order to accommodate her. However, once he meets Susannah, he has more and more trouble with that decision, especially when he sees how good she is with Sari. As the three grow together, they learn about friendship, family, and what the bond between a mother and daughter really means.

Light of the Moon is a wonderful story of the mother-daughter relationship and how nothing can replace this fragile bond. One of the best aspects of the books is that many points of view are presented, so that by the end of the book, there are no “bad” characters. There is deeper meaning behind every decision made, and Rice makes sure the reader is aware of this. Often in stories, it is all too easy to demonize one character and elevate another. However, in Light of the Moon, the characters face bad decisions they have made in the past and, at least in part, realize that they may be complicit in their own situations. For example, the most frustrating of these in the book is Sari. She is fragile, damaged by her mother’s departure, and therefore seems to sabotage any relationship her father has. While this is understandable given the predicament she finds herself in, Sari realizes that she is perpetuating her unhappiness by not allowing anyone in rather than taking a chance on something new. It is frustrating to read this storyline as Sari makes this personal journey.

The one superfluous aspect of the story is Ian, Susannah’s former lover. He seemed rather unnecessary, and his characterization changes entirely through the book (he doesn’t seem like the same character at the end as he was at the beginning). Part of this may be due to Susannah’s experiences in France: she sees him in an entirely new light after being in the Camargue. However, that doesn’t explain it entirely. There also is little closure to that storyline, as he simply disappears as a character in the middle of the book.

One of the qualities that makes the book a sheer delight to read is the setting. Most readers probably don’t know much about the Camargue, or that it is famous for white horses. It is always nice to read about a place that you are unfamiliar with, and Rice has a talent for making the setting an integral part of the novel. The reader can’t imagine the story taking place in any other locale; Camargue is as much a character in the book as Susannah or Grey. It is a pleasure to read her beautiful descriptions of the area. I’m certain that anyone who reads this book will feel a longing to visit the Camargue.

Light of the Moon is a touching story that is a joy to read, and while there are frustrating aspects to the book, Rice more than makes up for them with her wonderful descriptions and moving relationships. It is a story of a woman seeking her maternal roots and how important that mother-daughter bond really is.