I didn't know if I was going to be able to finish this one in the time allotted – I had so much trouble finding one last book from 2003 to read and review!  I’m glad I participated in this one though – it was a great way to read books from previous years.  I’d love to participate in this challenge again.
 

2009:
1. Love and Other Natural Disasters - Holly Shumas [review]
2. 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows - Ann Brashares [review]
3. North of Beautiful – Justina Chen Headley [review]
4. Eat, Drink, and Be From Mississippi - Nanci Kincaid [review]
5. The Pluto Files - Neil deGrasse Tyson [review]
6. In Other Rooms, Other Wonders - Daniyal Mueenuddin [review]
7. The Seance - John Harwood [review]
8. Bound South - Susan Rebecca White [review]
9. The School of Essential Ingredients - Erica Bauermeister [review]

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. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini [review]

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. Salaam, Paris – Kavita Daswani [review]
5. A Hopeless Romantic – Harriet Evans [review]
6. Just Between Us – Cathy Kelly [review]

2005:
1. The Washingtonienne - Jessica Cutler [review]
2. 13 Little Blue Envelopes - Maureen Johnson [review]
3. The Frog Prince - Jane Porter [review]
4. Apollo Moon Missions: The Unsung Heroes - Billy Watkins [review]
5. Bras and Broomsticks - Sarah Mlynowski [review]

2004: 
1. The Chocolate Run - Dorothy Koomson [review]
2. The Ghost Writer – John Harwood [review]
3. English as a Second Language – Megan Crane [review]
4. Under the Duvet – Marian Keyes [review]

2003:
1. Looking for Class: Days and Nights at Oxford and Cambridge – Bruce Feiler [review]
2. The Canterbury Papers – Judith Koll Healey [review]
3. Engaging Men – Lynda Curnyn [review]

2002:
1. Abraham: A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths – Bruce Feiler [review]
2. Roanoke: Solving the Mystery of the Lost Colony – Lee Miller [review]

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

From the publisher’s website:

Thirty-four-year-old Manhattan accountant Cat Connelly has always lived life on the safe side. But after her little sister gets married, Cat wonders if she has condemned herself to a life of boredom by playing by the rules. She decides to take a chance for once, accepting an invitation to spend a month with an old flame in Italy. But her reunion with the slick and gorgeous Francesco is short-lived, and she finds herself suddenly alone in Rome. Now, she must see if she has the courage to live outside the lines for the first time - and to face a past she never understood. It will take an unexpected friendship with a fiery Italian waitress, a whirlwind Vespa tour of the Eternal City with a handsome stranger, and a surprise encounter with an old acquaintance to show Cat that life doesn't always work out the way you expect, but sometimes you have to have fall in order to fly.

I really enjoy books in which the main character travels to a foreign country, especially when the author is generous with details and descriptions about sights.  When these books are well-written, I feel like I get to take a trip without leaving my house.  For simply the cost of a book and the time it takes to read it, I get to learn about entirely new places and revisit old sites that I adored.  I felt that way about Italian for Beginners; it was a wonderfully written book with not one, but two main characters:  Cat and the city of Rome.

I loved reading about Rome through Cat’s eyes.  The constant Roman Holiday references were a delight, and I enjoyed how descriptive Harmel was with the setting.  I really felt like I was in Rome with Cat, taking in the amazing sights and sounds of the city.  It made Italian for Beginners an absolute joy to read.

Cat’s story was very compelling as well.  I sympathized with her and felt bad that her family was so judgmental of her relationships.  I was glad when she went away, breaking free from all of that.  I really enjoyed getting to know Cat and accompanying her on her journey of self-discovery.  She was a very well-written character who was very easy to understand.  By the end of Italian for Beginners, I felt like she was an old friend.

I definitely recommend Italian for Beginners if you’re a fan of chick lit.  It’s a wonderful, light book that is easy to read.  Definitely pick this one up if you’re looking for a great summer novel!

I can’t believe another Sunday is already here!  August has just flown by.  I start school and my internship this week, and I’m heading to New York on Thursday to see the US Open (woo!) so things are going to start getting really busy.

I’ve wrapped up most of the BBAW stuff I’ve been working on, so I’m making an effort to get caught up on reading other blogs.  I’ve barely been reading anything for at least two weeks, but I don’t want to hit the dreaded “Mark All as Read” in Google Reader – I already did that once this summer after coming back from Oxford!

This week, I completed the Buy a Book and Read It Challenge and wrote up a summary of my book club’s discussion about Beth Kephart’s Nothing But Ghosts.  I joined the R.I.P IV Challenge and posted a preview of a challenge I’m going to be hosting in October called the Clear Off Your Shelves Challenge.  I also said a big thank you to you guys in my post about BBAW and invited you all to come hang out at the DC Tweetup, which coincides with the National Book Festival at the end of September.   Additionally, I participated in Wordless Wednesdays and my Thursday Tunes for this week was The Tudors: Season 2 soundtrack.

Books I’ve read this week:

Other reviews posted this week:

From the publisher’s website:

Twenty- four are forced to enter. Only the winner survives.

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death – televised for all of Panem to see.

Survival is second nature for sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who struggles to feed her mother and younger sister by secretly hunting and gathering beyond the fences of District 12. When Katniss steps in to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, she knows it may be her death sentence. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Oh, The Hunger Games. I have to admit, I wasn’t even sure I was going to review this book after I finished reading it, just because I’ve seen so many reviews of it around the blogosphere. I wasn’t sure I really wanted to add to the hype. But of course, here I am writing the review anyways. I couldn’t resist – I really enjoyed The Hunger Games and I want to share why!

I loved, loved, loved the character of Katniss. I thought she was smart, clever, and amazingly resourceful. You couldn’t help but root for her during the course of the Hunger Games. She cared so much for her sister and would do anything to protect and take care of her family. Had Katniss not been an impeccably written and expertly developed character, this book would not have been worth reading. The fact that I could barely put it down speaks to Suzanne Collins’ talent as a writer.

I also liked both of the potential love interests introduced for Katniss during the course of The Hunger Games. On one hand, Gale is just as resourceful as Katniss. He is strong and knows how to take care of himself. He also knows Katniss better than anyone else knows her. But on the other hand, Peeta has made sacrifices for Katniss in the past. He is somewhat of a mystery to Katniss, but seems to care about her. I can’t wait for the full love story to unfold in the next two books.

Naturally, I thought the entire premise of The Hunger Games to be completely distasteful – not in a bad way, but in the way that the author intended. However, I was fascinated by Collins’ interpretation of the dystopian future. I thought she did a great job making this nightmare of a world come alive for the reader. I only wish she included more information about the history of this world; additionally, I’d love to learn more about the individual Districts. I suppose that will happen in the sequel, Catching Fire.

There is a good reason The Hunger Games is getting a lot of hype – it is really that good! While I don’t think it was perfect, this is one of those novels that the positive buzz can’t ruin. It lives up to all those great reviews; you should definitely give it a chance if you haven’t already!

Title: Engaging Men
Author: Lynda Curnyn
ISBN: 9780373250288
Pages: 320
Release Date: May 1, 2003
Publisher: Red Dress Ink
Genre: Chick Lit
Source: Personal Copy
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

From Amazon.com:

When one ex-boyfriend gets married, a girl can laugh it off. With two, she begins to get nervous. But three? Three?

Angie DiFranco is starting to take it personally. What is it about her that doesn't incite men to plunk down large sums of money in the name of eternal love?

According to her one successfully married friend, men are like tight lids. One woman comes along, loosens him up, leaving him for the next woman to pop off the lid, no problem. After all, would Jennifer have landed Brad so easily without the Gwyneth factor?

Suddenly Angie looks at Kirk, her current boyfriend, with new eyes. Kirk, whose last girlfriend loosened his lid by giving him The Ultimatum. Kirk, who suddenly seems primed to be popped right open.

If the tight-lid theory is true, Angie could be married within a year -- with a little effort. And a little help from her friends . . .

I don’t remember where I first heard about Engaging Men, but I remember reading a rave review of it that really made me want to read it.  Since it’s out of print, I bought it used sometime last year and it has been sitting on my shelf since then.  I was desperately searching for a book published in 2003 to complete the Countdown Challenge, and Engaging Men fit the bill.

My favorite part of Engaging Men was Angie.  I thought she was a wonderful chick lit heroine.  She was smart and funny, but she was also ambitious and wanted to improve her lot in life.  Though she was in a professional rut when the book starts, she finds the strength to pull herself out of it.  I also liked that Angie became more and more unsure of herself the closer she got to having everything she thought she wanted. 

Indeed, this entire book is about taking chances versus playing it safe.  At the beginning, Angie is in sort of a cocoon, swaddled in her comfortable, safe life.  It’s once she starts to take risks that she begins to realize what she really wants and what will make her happy.

Engaging Men is a frothy, light book that is supposed to be read for pure enjoyment.  However, the author tries to take it up a notch by introducing multiple characters, each with their own storyline.  As a result, there are too many characters in this novel.  Additionally, because there are so many, none are explored in depth and there is little real character development besides that of Angie herself.

Additionally, Engaging Men is simply too long.  It could be 50-100 pages shorter and still achieve the same result.  The author tries to introduce conflict at the very end of the novel, and it just doesn’t work.  The book would have been much better had that part been cut out.

While Engaging Men was an entertaining read, I can’t really recommend it above the other chick lit books out there.  However, if you’re a big fan of chick lit and are looking for something you haven’t read yet, this probably would be a good book to pick up if you find it at a used book store!

I wanted to let you guys know about a challenge I’m planning on hosting, in case you’re interested in participating!  It is going to be called the Clear Off Your Shelves Challenge.  The point will be to read books that are on your shelves that are your own copies – review copies and library books don’t count!

I’m thinking of running it from October 1 – November 30.  That way, it’s going on during the 24 Hour Read-a-thon in October, but finishes before Christmas so you have room for all those new books you’re going to get!  Rather than having a set number of books you need to complete, I was thinking we could use percentages instead.  The idea would be that a certain percentage of the books you read during these two months would have to be books that qualify for the challenge.

If you’re interested in participating, I’ll probably start taking sign-ups in mid-September, so stay tuned!

From the publisher’s website:

Mystery writer and dabbling sleuth Sophie Katz is head over heels in love--with a three-bedroom Victorian. She's got to have it, despite a few drawbacks. Her slimy ex is the Realtor. The creepy seller wants her to join San Francisco's spirited Specter Society. And her first tour of the house reveals a body clutching a cameo with a disturbing history of its own.

There's no way Sophie will give up on her dreams of stained glass and original woodwork, though--even when things become officially weird. A Society member is found with a slashed throat, and Sophie's house might as well be yelling, "GET OUT!" She's hearing footsteps, lights are turning themselves off and her stuff keeps moving inexplicably. To top it off, boyfriend Anatoly thinks it's all in her head. Sophie is 99% sure her problems are caused by someone six feet tall instead of six feet under, but the only way to be sure is to track down the killer--before he pushes her kicking and screaming to the other side....

When I was offered Lust, Loathing, and a Little Lip Gloss for review, I didn’t know it was the fourth book in a series.  When I found out, I contemplated running out and buying all the others before reading this one.  However, I ended up deciding to just go ahead and read this book as a standalone novel to see how much I liked it – that way if it wasn’t entertaining, I wouldn’t have subjected myself to three novels before it!  I needn’t have worried, though – Lust, Loathing, and a Little Lip Gloss was a wonderful novel that was funny, quirky, and thoroughly entertaining.

I really loved Lust, Loathing, and a Little Lip Gloss.  Though I hadn’t read the previous books, I honestly didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything.  The character of Sophie was fully developed within the confines of this novel – I really felt like I got to know her.  I have to give Kyra Davis credit.  She managed to create a rich standalone novel that’s also a part of a series, without ruining any of the previous books!  I’m planning on reading the first three books in the series now, and I’m looking forward to the mysteries in each of them.

I also really liked that Sophie was a biracial character – she was half-black, half-Jewish.  It doesn’t really play into the book that much, but I really appreciated that detail.  Sophie herself was a lot of fun and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her.

The mystery in Lust, Loathing, and a Little Lip Gloss was very well-written.  I have to admit, I had no idea who the real culprit was, or what was actually going on.  Davis has a real talent for crafting intricate mysteries – she kept me guessing for the entire book!

The secondary characters in Lust, Loathing, and a Little Lip Gloss were a lot of fun as well.  I really enjoyed getting to know all of these people – Davis made them as real to me as if they were friends.  The entire book is very well done.  If you’re a fan of chick lit or mysteries, definitely pick this one up.  If you’re a fan of both?  What are you waiting for?  Read Lust, Loathing, and a Little Lip Gloss as soon as possible!

The National Book Festival is an annual event that takes place in Washington, DC every September.  This year, it is taking place on Saturday, September 26, 2009.

Here are some of the authors scheduled to attend:

Junot Diaz
James Patterson
Jodi Picoult
Nicholas Sparks
… and many others! (Complete List)

Many book bloggers – some living in the DC area, some coming into town for this special occasion – are planning a TweetUp (this is a Twitter term, but any book blogger is welcome!)  Interested?  Join this Google Group and see what we’re planning!

From the publisher’s website:

In the Gilded Age, newly wealthy and culturally ambitious Americans began to compete for Europe’s extraordinary Old Master pictures, causing a major migration of art across the Atlantic. Old Masters, New World is a backstage look at the cutthroat competition, financial maneuvering, intrigue, and double-dealing often involved in these purchases, not to mention the seductive power of the ravishing paintings that drove these collectors—including financier J. Pierpont Morgan, sugar king H. O. Havemeyer, Boston aesthete Isabella Stewart Gardner, and industrialist Henry Clay Frick. Packed with stunning reproductions, this is an ideal gift book for art lovers and history buffs alike.

When I first heard about Old Masters, New World, I was immediately intrigued.  I love books about art history and the detective work that goes into proving the provenance of a painting.  I thought Old Masters, New World would be a great book about the arrival of the artwork of the Old Masters (Raphael, Michelangelo, etc.) in the United States.

After reading Old Masters, New World, I realize I was both completely right and completely wrong in my expectations.  On one hand, it was definitely about the acquisition of Old Masters paintings from Europe by Americans.  However, in many ways, this book was not about artwork at all; instead, it was much more about the people who acquired the art.

Old Masters, New World is a study of the American personalities of the late 19th century who found themselves interested in bringing the art of the Old Masters across the ocean.  Saltzman does her best to give each of these people a voice and personality, to bring them to life for the reader.  I felt like I was getting to know each of these people through their histories.

However, my interest in Old Masters, New World was for the art, not for the people.  While there is definitely a discussion of art, the book is much more about the world of art dealing and purchasing than the paintings themselves.  Therefore, though it’s well-written, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would.  If you are interested in the art dealing world, though, you will likely love this book.

Welcome to the Thursday Tunes! Each week, I will showcase music, whether new or old. Hopefully you will find something that interests you here!

This week’s Thursday Tunes features the soundtrack to the second season of the hit TV show The Tudors.  The score is composed by Trevor Morris.  Why the second season and not the first season, you may ask?  While the first season soundtrack is definitely good, the second season has a beauty to it that captivates me every time I listen to it.  Even if you haven’t seen the show, I think you’ll find the score simply beautiful.  I absolutely love the theme music to the show, which is the first track of the CD.  Additionally, the track “A King Reborn” is a slower, piano version of the theme which is haunting.  “Henry Eats the Swan,” which is also the music that plays while Anne is executed, is great as well.

The Tudors: Season 2 soundtrack can be purchased from the Amazon MP3 Store for $9.99.

I’ve been a little spacey for the past week when it comes to blogging and commenting on other blogs because I’m on the committee for BBAW (Book Blogger Appreciation Week!) It’s been a lot of work – I can’t imagine how much Amy (from My Friend Amy’s Blog) has on her plate, considering how much I have going on for it!

Though I didn’t announce it here, I was nominated in multiple categories, for which I am so honored and grateful. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy this blog, and you guys are what make it completely worthwhile! Thank you so much to those of you who read my blog, take the time to comment, and a huge thank you to those of you who made the effort to nominate me!

I’m thrilled to announce that I’m joining the R.I.P. IV Challenge, hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings! I have heard amazing things about this challenge and Carl’s hosting abilities, so I’m really excited about this one!

This challenge runs from September 1 – October 31, and you can read any books in the following genres:

• Mystery
• Suspense
• Thriller
• Dark Fantasy
• Gothic
• Horror
• Supernatural

There are different levels to the challenge. I’ve decided to do the Peril the First:

This means I have to read four different books in the given time frame. Luckily, I don’t have to pick them out in advance, but here are some of the books I’m considering:

• Her Fearful Symmetry – Audrey Niffenegger
• Affinity – Sarah Waters
• The Moonstone – Wilkie Collins
• Ruined – Paula Norris
• House of Lost Souls – F.G. Cottam

I’d love more good gothic mystery suggestions, if you have them!

From the publisher’s website:

Since becoming a widow at age twenty-seven, Anjali Kapadia has devoted herself to transforming her parents' sari shop into a chic boutique, brimming with exquisite jewelry and clothing. Now, ten years later, it stands out like a proud maharani amid Edison’s bustling Little India. But when Anjali learns the shop is on the brink of bankruptcy, she feels her world unraveling…

To the rescue comes Anjali’s wealthy, dictatorial Uncle Jeevan and his business partner, Rishi Shah—a mysterious Londoner, complete with British accent, cool gray eyes, and skin so fair it makes it hard to believe he’s Indian. Rishi’s cool, foreign demeanor triggers distrust in Anjali and her mother. But for Anjali, he also stirs something else, a powerful attraction she hasn’t felt in a decade. And the feeling is mutual…

Love disappointed Anjali once before and she’s vowed to live without it—though Rishi is slowly melting her resolve and, as the shop regains its footing, gaining her trust. But when a secret from Rishi’s past is revealed, Anjali must turn to her family and her strong cultural upbringing to guide her in finding the truth…

I’ve really enjoyed Shobhan Bantwal’s books.  Her novels The Dowry Bride and The Forbidden Daughter [review] both dealt with controversial subjects in Indian society.  They were engaging novels that I thoroughly enjoyed reading, so when I heard she had another novel coming out, I couldn’t resist it!  The Sari Shop Widow is lighter in tone than Bantwal’s previous books, but it’s just as captivating.

I absolutely loved the character of Anjali.  She was smart and savvy, a real role model for younger women, especially Indian girls.  Though she had a breakdown after her husband died, she rebuilt her life, pouring her energy into something productive.  It was great to see her declare that her life was not over, even though her husband had died.  I also liked how vulnerable Anjali was.  I could feel her anguish at the prospect of losing her shop.  I could feel her anger at the thought that outsiders might be coming in and taking it over.  Bantwal did a great job of developing Anjali and making her seem like a real person

I also appreciated how modern The Sari Shop Widow is.  A lot of stories about Indians set in America tend to be fantasy stories in some ways – Indians residing in the United States, but living exactly as they would have if they had stayed in India.  When you live in a foreign country, that culture will rub off on you.  I liked that Bantwal incorporated both the traditional and the modern in this novel.  For example, Anjali lives with her parents even though she is a thirty-seven year old widow, though there are also some practical reasons for that.  However, Anjali also has a life of her own, one that she keeps secret from her parents.  It’s a delicate balance that takes a deft hand to achieve, and Bantwal does it well.

The story of The Sari Shop Widow is a bit of a fairy tale, but in a good way.  I loved how Rishi came in as a knight in shining armor in order to save the shop, but Anjali wasn’t having any of it.  It really reinforced the idea that she is a modern woman and wanted to be saved through her own hard work, not rescued by some guy she doesn’t know.  Though the story focuses much more on Anjali’s development rather than the saving the store, I enjoyed reading about how they turned the shop around.  I would have love more details on it.

The Sari Shop Widow was a book I simply couldn’t put down.  It was fun and easy to read; I felt like the pages flew by.  This is a great book for a lot of different audiences because it incorporates so many different genres – I highly recommend it!

Orchids at the Botanical Gardens in Washington, DC

For more Wordless Wednesdays, click here

On Sunday, my IRL (in real life) book club met in order to discuss this month’s read: Nothing But Ghosts by Beth Kephart [review]. This book club consists of Jenn from Jenn’s Bookshelf, Michelle from Galleysmith, and Deborah from Books, Movies, and Chinese Food – it’s a great group!

Main discussion points:

• We all really enjoyed the book, which was very nice!
• All of us loved the librarian because she was so different than what you normally picture as a librarian.
• We appreciated the relationship between Katie and her father. It was nice to see a healthy father/daughter relationship in a young adult novel.
• Beth Kephart’s writing is absolutely beautiful. It really makes the book worth reading.
• We thought the finch represented Katie’s mother, trying to draw Katie back into her parents’ room. It helped her to move past her mother’s death.
• We remarked on how the book wasn’t really about Katie. Instead, it seemed to be about the few weeks during which the book takes place. As a result, the reader is held at an arm’s length from Katie. We don’t really get to know her.
• We discussed the phenomenon of young adult literature that is written for adults in some ways, and trying to market the genre to both teens and adults.

Next month, we are reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Mr. Darcy, Vampyre – I can’t wait for that discussion!

From the publisher’s website:

The complexities of a friendship. The unexplored doubts of a marriage. And the redemptive power of literature...Julie Buxbaum, the acclaimed author of The Opposite of Love, delivers a haunting, gloriously written novel about love, family, and the secrets we hide from each other—and ourselves.

It happened on a tree-lined street in Notting Hill to a woman who seemed to have the perfect life. Ellie Lerner’s best friend, Lucy, was murdered in front of her young daughter. And, as best friends do, Ellie dropped everything—her marriage, her job, her life in the Boston suburbs—to travel to London and pick up the pieces of Lucy’s life. While Lucy’s husband, Greg, copes with his grief by retreating into himself, eight-year-old Sophie has simply stopped speaking.

Desperate to help Sophie, Ellie turns to a book that gave her comfort as a child, The Secret Garden. As the two spend hours exploring the novel’s winding passageways, its story of hurt, magic, and healing blooms around them. But so, too, do Lucy’s secrets—some big, some small—secrets Lucy kept hidden, even from her best friend. Over a summer in London, as Ellie peels back the layers of her friend’s life, she’s forced to confront her own as well: the marriage she left behind, the loss she’d hoped to escape. And suddenly Ellie’s carefully constructed existence is spinning out of control in a chain of events that will transform her life—and those around her— forever. A novel that will resonate in the heart of anyone who’s had a best friend, a love lost, or a past full of regrets, After You proves once again the unique and compelling talent of Julie Buxbaum.

Julie Buxbaum’s The Opposite of Love [review] was one of my favorite books of 2008. I’m a huge fan of Buxbaum’s writing, so when she told me that she had a new book coming out in August, I couldn’t wait to read it. I was a little nervous because I had very high expectations, but I shouldn’t have worried. After You is a thoughtful and touching book that I couldn’t put down.

I loved so many things about After You that I don’t even know where to start. The character of Ellie was wonderfully written. I sympathized with her completely – her panic at the death of her best friend Lucy, her unconditional love for Lucy’s daughter Sophie, and her inability to move on with life after the death of her unborn child, Oliver. Though we are in very different places in our lives, I saw a lot of myself in Ellie, a lot of my own hesitation and fears. I think that is what I love most about Julie Buxbaum’s writing – her ability to develop three-dimensional characters that are completely real.

I also really enjoyed Buxbaum’s use of the children’s novel The Secret Garden in order to help Sophie overcome her grief at her mother Lucy’s death. As a child, I absolutely loved The Secret Garden. But more than that, Buxbaum’s premise that books can help us cope, even in the darkest times, really spoke to me. It wasn’t just Sophie who healed through The Secret Garden; Ellie used it as a way to deal with her grief as well. That was a wonderful message that permeated through the book.

Additionally, Julie Buxbaum’s writing is absolutely beautiful. She has a way with words that is difficult to describe, so I’m just going to share some passages here with you.

“Perhaps these are the most frightening moments of married life, when you turn to your partner and realize you have promised to spend the rest of your life with someone you no longer recognize. Someone you can no longer even see.'”

“Wanting may be the worst feeling of all, next to hope. But hope is the worst. Hope is the moment before peeing on the negative stick. Hope is the moment before they tell you they can’t find a heartbeat. Hope is a setup, a bait and switch, an illusion.”

The literary quality of Buxbaum’s writing elevates After You to an entirely different level. As a result, I believe that even if you aren’t a fan of chick lit or women’s fiction, you will find something to love in After You.

I can’t gush enough about how wonderful Julie Buxbaum’s novels are, or how much I enjoyed After You. The characters were wonderfully drawn and the story was compelling. I couldn’t put the book down because I was so anxious to find out what happens to Ellie, to make sure that she learns to live again after Lucy’s death. This was an absolutely wonderful book that I highly recommend!

A huge thank you to Julie Buxbaum for sending me this wonderful book to review!

I’m really happy to announce that I’ve completed the Buy a Book and Read It Challenge!  I’m a little sad that it took me this long, but usually I buy books and just stick them on my shelves where they gather dust for months, sometimes years!

1. Apollo Moon Missions: The Unsung Heroes - Billy Watkins [review]
2. Death by Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries - Neil deGrasse Tyson [review]
3. Looking for Class: Days and Nights at Oxford and Cambridge – Bruce Feiler [review] 4. Disquiet – Julia Leigh [review]
5. Perfect Fifths – Megan McCafferty [review]
6. The Complete Persepolis - Marjane Satrapi [review]
7. Moon Lander – Thomas J. Kelly [review]
8. The Way Home – George Pelecanos [review]
9. Nothing But Ghosts – Beth Kephart [review]
10. Brisingr – Christopher Paolini [review]
11. Small Favor – Jim Butcher [review]
12. Turn Coat – Jim Butcher [review]

From the back cover:

Forced to flee Bombay when her wealthy and charming husband divorces her and squashes her career, Lucky Boyce feels defeated and desperate for respite. Fortunately, old friends welcome her to New York where life begins with promise. Determined and trying to make a difference, she volunteers to teach yoga to prison inmates. But with her confidence in question and love starting to surface, a series of bizarre events leave Lucky searching once again for answers. Is her journey through life destined to be marred by duplicity and betrayal? Or does she simply need to overcome her fears and look within for the strength to break free? A stunning novel about one woman’s struggle toward enlightenment, Lucky Everyday blends the principles of yoga with a thoroughly modern take on the quest for a fulfilled life.

Lucky Everyday is an entertaining and well-written novel about an Indian girl living in New York City.  She has faced some negative things in her life (namely a divorce from her unfaithful husband) and is trying to start over again, to pick up the pieces of her shattered life and rebuild it.  Bapsy Jain’s novel is a great work of multicultural fiction that is completely unique and a joy to read.

I really loved the character of Lucky.  She was incredibly strong and really tried to stand up for herself, even when she was scared.  She faced a lot of adversity, but always managed to come out on top through sheer will.  I loved how smart and savvy she was, as well as the way she was loyal to people and was willing to trust them.  She was an inspiring character and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her in Lucky Everyday.

I enjoyed reading about Lucky going to the prison in order to teach yoga.  I thought that was an incredible gesture, especially considering she was already having trouble with money.  The experience was frightening at the beginning, yet she persevered and learned so much from it.  She found a way to make the prisoners respect her.  It was an impressive accomplishment that really endeared me to both the character and the novel.

One thing about Lucky Everyday that I wasn’t sure about is the sheer number of unfortunate things that happen to Lucky over the course of the book.  It’s not exactly a long novel, yet it feels like one thing after another happens to her, to the point where it isn’t 100% realistic.  If you can suspend your sense of disbelief and just go with the flow of the novel, this probably won’t bother you.  But if you fixate on these occurrences, it will probably ruin Lucky Everyday for you.

I thought Lucky Everyday was a really creative and clever novel.  Jain’s writing is clear and precise, and she tackles a lot of controversial issues within the pages of this book.  I think any fan of contemporary or multicultural fiction would really enjoy this novel.

I’m currently giving away The White Queen by Philippa Gregory.  Contest ends on September 1. [review][entry page]

This week, I undertook a huge blog redesign, so if you’re reading this in a feed reader, head on over to see what you think!  For those of you who have seen it and commented on my blog or via Twitter, thanks so much!  I knew I liked it, but I’m glad to see that it appeals to others as well. 

I also wrote the second half of my post on the colleges around Oxford that I visited.  I participated in Wordless Wednesdays and my Thursday Tunes for the week was the band She & Him.

Books I’ve read this week:

Other reviews posted this week:

(click on the book cover for a link to the review)