Title: The Lake of Dreams Author: Kim Edwards ISBN: 9780670022175 Pages: 400 Release Date: January 4, 2011 Publisher: Viking Genre: Contemporary Fiction Source: Publisher Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary:
Lucy Jarrett is living in Japan with her boyfriend, Yoshi, and is bereft. She hasn’t been able to find work and is lost in the foreign country. When her mother is injured in a car accident, Lucy uses it as an excuse to return home, even though she knows her mother was barely hurt. When she returns to the Lake of Dreams, she is forced to confront everything that has changed and everything, like her father’s suicide, that has stayed the same.
Review:
Despite all its great reviews, I never really had the urge to read Kim Edwards’ first novel, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter. The premise just never appealed to me and despite all the good things I’d heard, I didn’t choose to pick it up. But with her second novel, The Lake of Dreams, I was definitely intrigued. I love plots featuring lost and haunted women searching for something, and the fact that some early reviews said that this book would disappoint lovers of her first made me think that this one was more my style.
It looks like that is the case because I did enjoy The Lake of Dreams. Lucy is a well-written main character, flawed and real. She’s at her most interesting when she’s clashing with those around her, something that happens relatively often in the novel. She has a tendency to react too quickly, to snap at others, then regret her words. I loved her self-introspection and the way she had to face some difficult truths about herself. That being said, Lucy is never unlikable, though my description might seem that way. It’s clear from the beginning of the novel that she has some serious issues, especially when it comes to her father’s death, and it’s satisfying to watch Lucy slowly come to a place of acceptance.
When the present becomes too much for Lucy to deal with, she hides in the past. Upon coming home, Lucy discovers some letters that concern a woman named Rose and her daughter, Iris. Lucy is curious about them because her family is relatively tight-knit, and it’s strange that she might have relatives she’s never heard of. Lucy’s mother informs her it might be her great-aunt, and she may have been involved in women’s suffrage. This storyline is really fascinating and provides a very interesting glimpse of women at a time when they were fighting for the right to vote in the United States. I would have loved more of this story.
The Lake of Dreams isn’t perfect; it does move slowly, so don’t expect to read it in one sitting. However, I took the book at its languorous pace, and as a result, I really enjoyed getting to know Lucy and following her in both the present, and her research into the past. It was an interesting novel and I definitely recommend it, though I’m not sure that those expecting this one to be exactly like The Memory Keeper’s Daughter will really love it.
Title: Suits: A Woman on Wall Street Author: Nina Godiwalla ISBN: 978934633953 Pages: 300 Release Date: February 28, 2011 Publisher: Atlas Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir Source: Publisher Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Summary:
Nina Godiwalla was a driven young woman who was determined to find financial independence. She pursued a career in investment baking, interning at JP Morgan and working at Morgan Stanley after college. The brutal hours and non-stop work were difficult enough, but when Nina is forced to compromise her cultural heritage along the way, will she continue along her chosen career path?
Review:
From the second the great people over at Atlas sent me an early review copy of Suits: A Woman on Wall Street by Nina Godiwalla, I knew I wanted to read it. Nina is the real thing - she worked in the Corporate Finance group at Morgan Stanley, which is one of those where people are expected to work 24/7, no exaggeration. I was eager to read about Nina’s experiences, how she got to that point, and why (if?) she decided to leave.
One thing that surprised me about Nina from the very beginning of her memoir is that she makes it clear her parents did not push her into investment banking. Nina is a Parsi whose family is from India, and usually Indian parents are the ones that shove their children towards these lucrative fields, not understanding the sacrifices the people working these jobs are expected to make. However, for Nina, she was pushing herself towards investment banking. After her personal experiences at home, she was determined to be financially independent, in some ways, at the cost of everything else. I was fascinated by this drive, where it came from as well as what the results were, and it gave the book a unique flavor.
The stories about life as an investment banker in Suits: A Woman on Wall Street sound like horror stories to someone like me, but for any investment banker, they’re just another day at work. I was shocked at what Nina was expected to do and the way she, and women in general, were treated. In order to progress at her job, she had to keep her mouth shut when the men around her made racist and sexist comments, and when she did, she was rewarded for being a “team player.” It’s the kind of thing that will make you sick to your stomach.
The most interesting part of Suits: A Woman on Wall Street, though, is Nina’s personal journey. She is a spunky young woman with a lot of energy and zeal and a desperation to prove herself in her early days. By the time she’s into her Morgan Stanley stint, though, that woman is gone, replaced by someone who has become so deadened by her job, all she can do is keep going. It’s so sad to see what the job does to her, but at the same time, it’s great when she finally comes back to herself. Nina’s development over the course of the book is rewarding and ultimately very gratifying.
Suits: A Woman on Wall Street was a eye-opening, engrossing read that really defied my expectations. I loved Nina; she’s clearly a talented writer who would do well if she tried her hand at fiction. I’m glad she chose to share her story and I look forward to seeing what she does next.
Title: A Fountain Filled With Blood & Out of the Deep I Cry Author: Julia Spencer-Fleming ISBN: 9780312995430 & 9780312988883 Pages: 400 & 432 Release Date: April 1, 2003 & April 26, 2004 Publisher: St. Martin’s Genre: Mystery Source: Personal Copy Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Summary:
Rev. Clare Fergusson and Chief of Police Russ van Alstyne are back in the second and third installments of Julia Spencer-Fleming’s series, following In the Bleak Midwinter. In A Fountain Filled With Blood, harassment of gay citizens is followed by a high profile murder. In Out of the Deep I Cry, the roof of Clare’s church is leaking, and an offer to fix it comes with a moral dilemma that results in a disappearance.
Review:
I was surprised and thrilled at how good In the Bleak Midwinterwas, so I was very excited to pick up A Fountain Filled With Blood and Out of the Deep I Cry. I was really impressed with the complexity of both of these books, as well as Clare’s character’s development.
Each of the books in the Clare Fergusson series (so far) has been unique, which I really appreciate. They aren’t carbon copies of one another, and there is no formula or easy way to predict what will happen. Each of these books are nuanced and layered. In A Fountain Filled With Blood, Spencer-Fleming tackles the very timely issue of gay bashing. Citizens are being harassed solely because they are gay. When a body turns up, Clare and Russ disagree on how to handle it. On the other hand, in Out of the Deep I Cry, the plot seems much less grave - the church’s roof is leaking. But the novel unfolds in such a way that makes it just as compelling, even though it’s leading to a completely different place. I love how unique each of these books are, yet they are all well done.
Clare’s character development in these two books is wonderful. She’s forced to ask herself serious questions as the mutual attraction between Clare and Russ grows. Additionally, in Out of the Deep I Cry, she has to make a difficult decision about fixing the church’s roof. The money will have to come from the community - will she raise money for it, or will she reduce a service to the less fortunate in order to pay for it? These are difficult, yet realistic questions, and Spencer-Fleming does a wonderful job with Clare.
The Claire Fergusson series has become one of my favorites, and I’m eager to continue with it in the next book. It is worth reading these books in order, just because there is great character development and every one of these novels is good!
Title: Ascendant Author: Diana Peterfreund ISBN: 9780061490026 Pages: 400 Release Date: September 28, 2010 Publisher: HarperTeen Genre: Teen/YA, Fantasy Source: Publisher Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Summary:
In this sequel to Rampant, Astrid is still living with her fellow unicorn hunters in Rome, but she is beginning to question her mission. Is it really necessary to kill the unicorns, or can she find a way for unicorns and humans to live in peace?
Review:
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the first book in Diana Peterfreund’s Killer Unicorns series, Rampant, so I was very excited to pick up its sequel, Ascendant. Ascendant starts right where Rampant left off, and plunges the reader right back into the trademark action and thrills of the first book.
Ascendant is one book that definitely does not suffer from the trademark middle book syndrome (the Killer Unicorns series is supposed to be a trilogy). Though it is necessary to read Rampant first in order to understand what is going on and the mythology behind the books, Ascendant is a book that really can stand on its own two feet. At the center of the novel is Astrid’s personal journey and her coming into her own. Though she loves her unicorn hunting powers, she dislikes her work less and less as every day goes by. She wonders if there is some way to protect unicorns and regular humans from each other, rather than having to kill the unicorns.
Astrid’s moral and ethical questions are at the center of this novel. After all, there are plenty of deadly animals that are allowed to live in peace - why should unicorns be any different? They are an endangered species after all. Can humans and unicorns coexist, and if they can, what does that say about what Astrid has been doing? Astrid begins to see the unicorns as more than just bloodthirsty mongrels intent on killing humans, and she is forced to reevaluate everything she knows because of that.
Peterfreund takes a daring leap about halfway through the book with Astrid’s character, and I really appreciated it. It’s nice when authors take chances with their beloved characters, rather than leaving them stagnant because that’s what the readers have come to know. It ensures that this series stays fresh and new.
Ascendant is a complicated and introspective book that really surprised me with its depth. This is really a great series and I’m so glad I’ve read them. It’s going to be a long wait until the third book in the series, but I highly recommend readers take the time to catch up on the first two books, if you haven’t already!
Title: Exit the Actress Author: Priya Parmar ISBN: 9781439171172 Pages: 464 Release Date: February 1, 2011 Publisher: Touchstone Genre: Historical Fiction Source: Publisher Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary:
Ellen Gwyn is a working class girl living in London in the mid-to-late 1600s. She finds work selling oranges in front of the theater and is relieved - after all, her worst nightmare is to become a prostitute like her sister, Rose. Her dazzling wit and charm impress those at the theater, and it isn’t long before Nell is asked to work as a supporting actress. As her star rises farther than she ever thought it could, Nell catches the eye of the king, and all of London begins to wonder whether he might be interested in her.
Review:
I don’t know much about Ellen “Nell” Gwyn, except for the fact that she was a royal mistress of Charles II, so the prospect of learning more about her intrigued me. I have to admit, though, when I first started this novel, I was hesitant. It’s told in a diary format, which doesn’t usually appeal to me, and it took me awhile to really get into the narrative. However, I’m glad I stuck with it because I was rewarded with a delightful protagonist, wonderful historical details, and an entertaining glimpse into life at court and behind the scenes at the theater.
Nell was simply a wonderful heroine in Exit the Actress. She was spunky and smart, and I couldn’t help but love her. I really appreciated Parmar’s ability to write a sympathetic woman with a mind of her own. Nell walked a very fine line in this book, trying to maintain her reputation while also enjoying life and living every moment to the fullest. I thought she was very well crafted and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her.
Priya Parmar is clearly a talented author, and she did a wonderful job with her debut novel. As I mentioned before, the novel is told in a diary format, and I was surprised at how well done it was, considering I don’t usually take to books written in this way. In between Nell’s entries are announcements, royal letters, and gossip columns, such that the reader receives a broad and varied view of what life was like at the time. Through Nell’s experiences, the reader gets to see both how the poor live, as well as the sumptuousness of court. Parmar’s historical details are excellent, and it’s clear she undertook a substantial amount of research before writing this story.
The glimpses the reader received of Charles II were also tantalizing. This novel takes place at a very interesting time in English history - Charles II’s father, Charles I, had been executed by Oliver Cromwell after the English Civil War. After an unsuccessful experiment with democracy, Charles II was restored and the monarchy continued. The reader can see that these experiences have really affected Charles II, but also that he hides it extremely well. I appreciated how the novel focused on Nell, yet still took the broader history into account.
Exit the Actress is a charming novel that I highly recommend to any fans of historical fiction. Though Nell is immediately loveable, it takes some time for the story to start, but I encourage readers to stick with the book. You’ll be rewarded with a wonderful story and a well-researched look into 17th century England.
I’ve decided to bring back my music feature Thursday Tunes on a semi-regular basis. There’s just so much great new music out there, I can’t help but want to share it!
Joshua Radin is one of those artists who has put out a lot of music, so it’s great when you discover him because he has an extensive back catalog! I’ve been listening to his most recent album The Rock and the Tide, but it’s Simple Times, Radin’s 2008 release, that I really love. He’s got a great singer/songwriter vibe and a good voice. I love the song “Brand New Day” - it’s fun while simultaneously being a beautiful song. “I’d Rather Be With You” is has a great beat while still being a relatively soft song. Simple Times can be purchased from the Amazon MP3 Store for $9.99.
Title: Six Suspects Author: Vikas Swarup ISBN: 9780312630737 Pages: 480 Release Date: July 7, 2009 Publisher: Minotaur Books Genre: Mystery, Multicultural Fiction Source: Publisher Rating: 3 out of 5
Summary:
Vicky Rai, the son of a prominent government official, has been murdered at a party at a farmhouse outside of Delhi. There are many people who wanted him dead - after all, the party was hosted by Vicky in celebration of his acquittal for a murder everyone knew he committed. Six people at the party had guns that matched the bullet that killed Vicky. The book takes the reader through each suspect’s background and motives for wanting Vicky Rai dead.
Review:
Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup has a very interesting premise. There really is no overall narrative; it begins with a journalist, who is covering the Vicky Rai case and outlines the six suspects in his murder. Then, the narrative shifts between each of the suspects, allowing each to tell their story in their own words. It’s not a very traditional way of telling a story, and I can’t say that the experiment really worked, but more on that later. First, I’ll focus on the laudable parts of the novel.
Six Suspects really works as a satire on Indian society, the legal system, and the current pop culture. It’s also very funny - Swarup errs on the side of humor, rather than seriousness, and it works well for the tone of the book. He also does take the reader on twists and turns, to the point where they’re sure of who the murderer really was. Then he throws a kink in what seems to be ironclad reasoning, and the reader must start all over again.
The problem is that Six Suspects doesn’t really work as a mystery. It’s too loosely plotted; things only really start to come together at the end of each suspect’s narrative, at which point the reader has to start all over again with a brand new person. As I went into the book expecting a mystery, it didn’t really satisfy me. Additionally, none of the characters are likeable. It makes sense that people the reader is investigating for murder might not be easy to like, but it made the novel difficult to read. In particular, the unbelievably stupid American’s story is both frustrating, slow, and pushes the limits of any credulity. As this book is a satire, I can justify it in my mind, but it still didn’t really make for an enjoyable reading experience.
I really wanted to like Six Suspects, but it just didn’t work for me in the end. The mystery wasn’t tightly plotted enough to carry the story, and it’s too much of a satire for a satisfying armchair visit to contemporary India. There are definitely people who might enjoy this story, especially if you’re looking for a good satire on India, but I have to say that it left me wanting.
Title: Skipping a Beat Author: Sarah Pekkanen ISBN: 9781451609820 Pages: 352 Release Date: February 22, 2011 Publisher: Washington Square Press Genre: Women’s Fiction Source: Publisher Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Summary:
Julia Dunhill is numb when it comes to her sham of a marriage. She and her husband, Michael, barely communicate anymore. It seems as though Michael’s first love is the company he started, and Julia’s compensation for the lack of a true life partner is the oodles of money her husband brings in. She’s at peace with their arrangement, at least, as much as she can be, and she throws herself into her event planning business to compensate. But when the unthinkable happens, and Michael’s outlook on life completely changes, she has to ask herself what really matters to her, whether it’s too late to save their marriage, and if she even wants to try.
Review:
I really enjoyed Sarah Pekkanen’s first book, The Opposite of Me, so I was eagerly awaiting her second novel, Skipping a Beat. I had high expectations for this one, so I started it with a little nervousness, but I needn’t have worried. Pekkanen knocks it out of the park with her second novel.
I absolutely loved the character of Julia. Pekkanen really drew me into the story, making sure I was very emotionally involved. I was invested in Julia; her happiness meant a lot to me, and as a result, I was racing through this book, desperate to know that things would turn out okay for her. I felt Julia’s hurts and understood her fears; she had come to accept that, while Michael and she went through the motions of being a couple, she had no emotional support. However, she knew she would always be financially secure, a small comfort, but an important one. When that rug is pulled out from under her, she has no idea what to think, and all she has to hold onto is her anger.
I thoroughly enjoyed Skipping a Beat. It’s not often that I cry at books, but this one had me in tears, as I experienced Julia’s emotional upheaval right along with her. I really adored this book, and with it and The Opposite of Me, Sarah Pekkanen has become one of my favorite authors, and one that I will definitely be keeping a close eye on in the future.
Title: Bijou Roy Author: Ronica Dhar ISBN: 9780312551018 Pages: 256 Release Date: July 20, 2010 Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Genre: Multicultural Fiction Source: Publisher Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary:
After the death of her father, Bijoya Roy (nicknamed “Bijou”) must fulfill his last rites and place his ashes on the Ganges River in India. Though this is usually performed by the eldest son, because her father had only daughters, the duty falls to Bijou. She leaves her boyfriend in Washington, DC and travels with her family to India, feeling all the pressure and responsibility of being a dutiful daughter. Once there, though, Bijou meets some old friends of her father’s and realizes how much she didn’t even know him.
Review:
Bijou Roy is the story of a woman caught between two worlds - the comfort of her home in the United States, and this foreign world in India that her father belonged to. When she first arrives in India, she fights with everything she has against accepting what is around her. All she wants to do is hide in her grief, yet so much is being asked of her and expected of her. When she learns that there is more to her father than she knew, it makes Bijou feel even worse, that there was such an important part of him hidden from her. However, as she explores her father’s past through Naveen, the son of her father’s close friend, she begins to understand her father more than she ever did while he was alive.
A constant theme running through Bijou Roy is that of pressure. Bijou feels pressure from all sides - her boyfriend wanting to be there for her during this difficult time, but Bijou wanting space, her mother expecting her to complete the last rites of her father even though they aren’t traditional and she has no idea what to do, questions about her future, especially marriage - and she doesn’t know how to cope with all these people asking something of her. In some ways, she finds peace in her father’s past, even though what she uncovers disturbs her. There, she can just be herself, her father’s daughter, as she tries to understand the man she thought she knew and try to come to terms with his death. By doing so, she begins to understand crucial things about herself and about the clash between tradition and modernity going on around her.
Much of Bijou Roy and Bijou’s father’s past has to do with the Naxalite movement in India. I know next to nothing about this group going into the book, so it was nice to learn something about Indian history while reading this novel. Dhar does a solid job giving the reader a brief Indian history lesson, so it’s not necessary to have an intimate knowledge of the region before reading this book.
Bijou Roy was a beautiful story about the search for an identity in the midst of grief and loss. It’s wonderfully written; Dhar’s luminous prose really brings the character of Bijou to life. Bijou’s struggle to find a middle ground between what she wants and what she thinks is her duty is universal; as a result, the themes of this book will be accessible to many different backgrounds. This is a wonderful work of South Asian fiction, and I look forward to seeing what Ronica Dhar does next.
Good morning everyone! I hope you all are having a great Sunday so far. This past week and this weekend so far have been busy, but productive, which is always a good feeling. I’m looking forward to getting a little reading time in tomorrow, with this three day weekend. I’ll be traveling next weekend, so I won’t be doing a Sunday Salon post next Sunday, but I’ll be reading comments and email as always!
I have to say, I’m surprised I haven’t had any 5 star reads yet this year. By this time last year, I had at least 3-5. I’m sure some of that is that I’m pickier than I used to be, but perhaps it’s also the books I’m choosing to read? I’ve read less literary fiction so far this year, and that’s usually where the bulk of my top reads comes from. That being said, I haven’t been as much in the mood for literary fiction, as I’ve been busy with work and often want easier reads at the end of a long day. It’s an interesting quandary and I’m curious to see how it plays out over the course of the year.
I’ve been thinking a lot about review copies versus non-review books lately. I often see discussions of people expressing frustration with their review commitments, and though I don’t feel that way personally, I can understand. My philosophy is to read what I want when I want, review copy or not. Luckily, many of the books I want to read are review copies, so I usually don’t have a problem. That being said, I may cut down on reviewing (but not reading!) non-review books for a little while. I have so many reviews pre-written and scheduled because I read so much towards the end of last year that I’m having trouble finding dates for my review commitments. If a non-review book leaves an impression, I’ll definitely still review it, but I’m going to cut down on those 4th and 5th book in a series reviews and such.
My Thursday Tunes for this week was The Pursuit by Jamie Cullum.
Title: Delhi: Adventures in a Megacity Author: Sam Miller ISBN: 9780312612375 Pages: 304 Release Date: July 20, 2010 Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Genre: Non-Fiction, Travel Source: Personal Copy Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Summary:
In this book, Sam Miller, a BBC correspondent based in Delhi, walks around his beloved adopted city and relates stories and history, giving the reader a sense of the unique personality of this vast metropolis.
Review:
I absolutely love travel books, so when I first heard about Delhi: Adventures in a Megacity by Sam Miller, I immediately knew I wanted to read it. I’ve visited Delhi just once, but it left a striking impression upon my brain, so I was eager to see whether what I remembered actually was the truth.
Delhi is a travelogue of the best kind. Miller’s passion is to walk, so he tackles the city by walking in circles, in order to ensure he doesn’t miss anything. He takes the reader by such famous landmarks as the Qutb Minar and the place where Mahatma Gandhi was killed, but also stops at the nameless ruins that have been forgotten by history. Each section includes a map so the reader can see exactly where different buildings and temples Miller discusses are.
What I really enjoyed about Delhi: Adventures in a Megacity, though, is that Miller takes those beautiful, incredible ruins and structures and juxtaposes them against everyday life in the city. While he’s walking from one landmark to another, he might stop and have a conversation with a photographer trying to make a living by selling silly pictures. As a result, the reader gets a real sense of the dual nature of this city. Delhi is beautiful and majestic at the same time it’s poor and its people are struggling.
Miller also gives the reader the modern history of the city and visits places that are rarely touched by tourism. Some of his experiences are funny, others are stomach wrenching. All are honest and told with a deft hand and experienced eye. Miller’s love for Delhi is clear on every page, even when he’s discussing difficult subjects that are usually swept under the rug.
I cannot recommend Delhi: Adventures in a Megacity highly enough. It’s well-written, fascinating, and Miller’s descriptions are such that the reader can hear the sounds of the bustling city. It’s a must for any armchair traveler, or anyone interested in learning more about India.
Title: Cracked Up To Be Author: Courtney Summers ISBN: 9780312383695 Pages: 224 Release Date: December 23, 2008 Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin Genre: Teen/YA Source: Personal Copy Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Summary:
Parker Fadley was a straight A student, head of the cheerleading squad, girlfriend to a guy everyone wanted, and one of the most popular girls in school. Then, one night, everything changed. Now Parker is destructive to both herself and those around her. She’s stopped doing her homework, broken up with her boyfriend, and abandoned her friends - she just wants to be left alone. But the new guy, Jake, doesn’t take her hints, and tries to break through the walls she has created around herself.
Review:
I don’t read much contemporary YA anymore, but I so enjoyed Courtney Summers’ Some Girls Are that her debut, Cracked Up To Be, has never retreated from my TBR list. I was expecting a riveting and emotional novel, and I was shocked at how heart-wrenching I found this book.
Parker should be an unlikeable character. She’s mean to everyone around her, she uses people, and she is very self-destructive. But for some reason, I was instantly drawn to her. Summers shows the reader how damaged Parker is, while at the same time making them understand that she wasn’t always this way. There is a Parker crying for help underneath this strong and difficult façade and it’s up to the reader to make their way through it to understand what really happened. As a result, at the same time Parker is being mean, she’s showing how much she’s hurting.
Summers does a wonderful job exploring the world of teens in Cracked Up To Be. She doesn’t spare the reader, letting us know exactly what is in Parker’s head at any given moment. Alcohol, sex, and drugs surround Parker, but it is her mental state that really causes anguish for the reader. It’s clearly that Parker is balancing on an edge, and it wouldn’t take much for her to fall. What is heartwarming, though, is how Jake and Parker’s ex-boyfriend Chris refuse to give up on her and show her the meaning of real friendship.
I was hooked onto Cracked Up To Be and read it in one sitting. Parker’s journey was such a tumultuous one, and as a reader, I was very emotionally invested in her story. If you’re looking for a gripping, quick read, look no further than Cracked Up To Be. With it, Courtney Summers has earned a place on my must-read authors list.
Title: Keys to the Castle Author: Donna Ball ISBN: 9780425239308 Pages: 336 Release Date: January 4, 2011 Publisher: Berkley Genre: Women’s Fiction Source: Publisher Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary:
When Sara Graves’ husband dies unexpectedly, she is at a loss as to what to do. Even worse, he dies only three weeks after their impulsive marriage. When Sara discovers her husband had family property in France, she is surprised but not shocked; after all, they barely knew one another before marrying. But when she travels to France to settle the will, Sara is in for one shock after another, making her wonder if she really knew the man she married.
Review:
Sometimes I’m in the mood for some light, fun reading that doesn’t require energy to read or me to engage with the story. I just want to be entertained, and I was in one of those moods when I picked up Donna Ball’s Keys to the Castle. This was the perfect book for one of those moods - light, frothy, and very enjoyable.
Sara was an interesting character. In this book, she’s in her late forties, a fact of which I had to keep reminding myself. I don’t know what it was - her energy, her impulsiveness - but I kept picturing her about ten years younger (late thirties) than she is actually written. That’s not a criticism or complaint, just something that struck me about Sara. I could understand the depth of her grief at losing a husband she loved, but barely knew. I really enjoyed watching her find her strength and learn to live again.
I have to admit, I didn’t really get the main romance of the story. I saw it coming, I just didn’t feel it. That being said, it didn’t bother me or seem out of place. In fact, it fits in with the character of the overall book - it’s all on the surface. This makes it a perfect book if you’re looking for pure entertainment, rather than having to think about characters or situations, but if you go into the book with an analytical mindset, I can see this being bothersome.
Keys to the Castle was a fun and easy read. While I do enjoy Donna Ball’s Ladybug Farm series (A Year on Ladybug Farm), it’s nice to see her take a break and try something new. This is a great book to read after a long, tiring day.
Title: The Other Life Author: Ellen Meister ISBN: 9780399157134 Pages: 320 Release Date: February 17, 2011 Publisher: Putnam Genre: Women’s Fiction Source: Publisher Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary:
Quinn Braverman has a great life, on the surface. She has a loving husband and a beautiful son. She also has another baby on the way. But there is a darker side to Quinn’s seemingly idyllic existence - her mother’s suicide, her brother’s bipolar disorder. Most of all, though, there is the “other side”, a portal through which Quinn can have all of her “what if” questions answered. She knows that she exists on the other side of this portal and she can see what her life would have been like had she made different decisions. Though she has never visited, circumstances conspire to make Quinn wonder whether the other life she has might be better than the one she’s leading now.
Review:
There has been a trend toward magical realism and fantastical elements within women’s fiction novels lately. Books such as The One That I Want by Allison Winn Scotch and The Transformation of Things by Jillian Cantor provide a new dimension to the genre, allowing readers to vicariously do what they can’t in their own lives. The Other Life is another of these books; the main character, Quinn, knows about the other side, though she’s never gone there. When life becomes too difficult though, it’s easy for her to consider escaping to a place where she has none of these problems.
To be fair, though, Quinn isn’t really searching for an escape. Instead, she is seeking understanding, something any reader can identify with. She wants to know why her mother killed herself, why things with her unborn baby are difficult. Knowing she is still with her ex-boyfriend on the other side, she wonders if she made the right decision by breaking up with him. All of these questions and doubts make Quinn easy to identify with, something which might be difficult otherwise, considering how perfect her life appears to be on the surface. The key to Quinn’s brokenness is her mother and she has to come to terms with that before she can truly live her own life.
The mechanics of the “other side” aren't really detailed in the book, and as a result, the reader is left with a sketchy interpretation of how it works. It’s fine for the purposes of this book, since the focus is on Quinn and her character development, but I couldn’t help but want to know more about what exactly was going on with these portals, how they worked, etc. It’s one area of the book that might leave readers wanting.
The Other Life was an engaging read that will leave readers reflecting on their own lives. The issues it discusses are timely ones, and it does address the “what if” question very well. This book would make an excellent book club pick, as readers will wonder at Quinn’s decisions and question whether she is making the right choices for herself. I definitely recommend this book for fans of women’s fiction.
I’ve decided to bring back my music feature Thursday Tunes on a semi-regular basis. There’s just so much great new music out there, I can’t help but want to share it!
Jamie Cullum was one of those artists I took a chance on, but I liked the description of his music and the sound samples I got to listen to from his 2010 album The Pursuit. I’m so glad I took the plunge - he has a great jazz sound, and I absolutely love his piano playing. He has some great original songs, but also some solid covers. You may have heard his song “Gran Torino” from the movie of the same name. His song “I’m All Over It” is just a lot of fun, reminiscent of a Ben Folds song. I absolutely love his cover of Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music” - it’s so melodic, it’s hard to believe it’s the same song! The Pursuit can be purchased from the Amazon MP3 Store for $9.49.
Title: The Oracle of Stamboul Author: Michael David Lukas ISBN: 9780062012098 Pages: 304 Release Date: February 8, 2011 Publisher: Harper Genre: Historical Fiction Source: Publisher Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Summary:
Eleanora Cohen is an eight year old girl living in the Ottoman Empire in the late 1800s. She is a prodigy with amazing intellect and gift of perception. Stifled at home by her overbearing aunt, Eleanora stows away in a trunk on her father’s journey to Stamboul. This decision will have lasting repercussions and sets of a chain of events that leads to Eleanora meeting the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
Review:
Michael David Lukas’ The Oracle of Stamboul is a work of historical fiction, rich in detail. Lukas clearly knows this world well and creates a beautiful backdrop for Eleanora’s story. He makes the late nineteenth-century Ottoman Empire come alive for readers. Readers will be able to picture the lush and dramatic setting in their minds because of Lukas’ impeccable detail.
Eleanora is an impressive, precocious character that is clearly gifted. Her intellect would be unusual for someone three or four times her age, so for an eight year old, her level of intelligence is simply unheard of. It’s clear she’s some sort of savant, and as a result, at times it’s easy to forget she’s just a child.
I’m not sure whether The Oracle of Stamboul is supposed to be the first in a series, but it had an unfinished quality to it. It seemed like the first 200 pages or so were simply setting the stage, so when it was over, it seemed like the book had barely begun. That’s not to say it’s slow - it moves quickly and keeps the reader’s attention, for the most part. But the ending comes abruptly, and the reader is left feeling like the story hadn’t really been told.
The characters in The Oracle of Stamboul aren’t the easiest to sympathize with. To me, the most three-dimensional character was Eleanora’s father, who is intelligent and kind and wants to give his daughter the best of everything. I had trouble with Eleanora herself, though it is understandable why. It is difficult to write children, even moreso to write a child with the brain of the most intelligent of adults. As a result, Eleanora comes across as wooden and a bit flat, and I wasn’t very involved in her story as a reader.
The Oracle of Stamboul is a novel with a lot of promise, and though it didn’t work for me as well as I’d hoped, I still enjoyed the atmosphere and wonderful historical setting. Historical fiction readers who are very interested in the details would enjoy this book, but if your primary concern is character development, I’d choose another read.
Title: Riding the Ice Wind: By Kite and Sledge Across Antarctica Author: Alastair Vere Nicoll ISBN: 9781848853065 Pages: 272 Release Date: August 31, 2010 Publisher: I.B. Tauris Genre: Non-Fiction, Travel, Memoir Source: Publisher Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary:
Riding the Ice Wind is a chronicle of Alastair Vere Nicoll’s journey across Antarctica with a team of men. He discusses the preparation for the journey, as well as the challenges and hardships they faced once they were on the continent.
Review:
Antarctica has always fascinated me, so when I first heard about Riding the Ice Wind, I knew I wanted to read it. While I would never want to haul a sled across the entire continent, I thought the idea sounded really interesting and I was eager to see what the journey was like, as well as what might motivate someone to do something so daring.
I have to say, Nicoll really erased any romanticism I had about Antarctica. He puts a very human face on the continent, discussing how hard it was to just get through one day. There were logistical issues, not to mention the unrelenting cold. It’s difficult for many of us to conceive of how cold it really is in a place like Antarctica. At the same time I admired Nicoll for his courage on this expedition, I thought he was crazy for wanting to do it in the first place.
This is a memoir, rather than an account of a trip across Antarctica. As a result, it is intensely personal. Nicoll shares his doubts and fears with the reader; we really get into his head and are allowed to share in his joys and frustrations. There is no detachment here. This may prove a frustration to some readers, as Nicoll often ruminates on the intense loneliness that surrounds him, but I appreciated the personal angle that is so different from many similar books out there.
I appreciated how honest Nicoll was with the reader. A lot of things on the trip went wrong. Things didn’t work out, weren’t planned well, or just didn’t happen correctly. Nicoll doesn’t offer excuses, but instead shows the reader how he and his team worked through these challenges. He also gives some appreciation of how difficult it is to plan such an epic journey, something I had given little thought to before this.
Riding the Ice Wind was a really interesting look at a trip that I would never want to take myself, but I loved being along for the ride. Despite the difficulties and harsh realities of Antarctica, though, my enthusiasm for visiting the continent one day hasn’t dampened. I definitely recommend this book for armchair travelers and people who appreciate an introspective memoir.
Title: The Vaults Author: Toby Ball ISBN: 9780312580735 Pages: 320 Release Date: September 14, 2010 Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Genre: Mystery Source: Publisher Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary:
The Vaults takes the reader back to the 1930’s, but an alternate history where The Vaults encompasses the entire history of The City. There is a file for every crime committed and every perpetrator, making The Vaults a complete repository of knowledge on crime. But when Arthur Puskis, the caretaker of The Vaults, finds a duplicate file about the same murderer, but with different information in each file, he is shocked. After all, The Vaults is supposed to be infallible - so, then, which of these files is incorrect and why was it put there? Puskis’ search for answers involves him in a larger plot with serious repercussions.
Review:
At first glance, it’s difficult to tell that The Vaults is in an alternate history. In fact, it’s conceivable that you could read it without really taking note of that fact. But it is a dystopian-style novel set in a history in which there is The City and there are The Vaults. To Arthur Puskis (and most in the city), The Vaults are infallible. The fact that he finds a duplicate file within its depths shakes him to his very core. He doesn’t know what to think, and begins doubting and questioning everything around him.
The Vaults is written in a noir-type mystery style, which is very appealing. Ball’s writing is so descriptive and evocative, I could picture what was going on in my head as an old black and white movie. The mystery within is pages is layered and deep, and it takes a lot of digging to uncover the truth behind it. There are a lot of disparate threads at the beginning of the novel, enough to confuse the reader a bit, but Ball seamlessly weaves them together, telling one large, overall story.
The characters within The Vaults are all very well written. It’s impressive, because they so easily could have been caricatures, but instead they are three-dimensional, vivid people. Arthur Puskis was my personal favorite, but I also appreciated Frings, the journalist who is determined to uncover the truth behind the corruption in the mayor’s office. There is just so much going on in this story, so many people, that it’s difficult to really talk about the specific things I liked because it is all so tied together.
The Vaults is a layered nuanced novel and is definitely an impressive debut for Toby Ball. Mystery fans should definitely consider picking this one up; it’s different than most of what you’ll read, but in this case, that’s a very good thing.
Good morning all! I’m having an eventful but fun weekend here. I’m hoping to get some reading done this afternoon, but only if I manage to finish writing all my reviews from the week. I used to write reviews immediately after I’d finished books, which was very methodical and convenient, but lately I’ve been putting them off until the weekends and having review writing marathons. In some ways, it’s less fun and seems more time consuming, but I also like it a lot. It gives me some time to reflect on books, rather than going with my immediate initial opinion.
I did have a great reading week this week, which is always a good feeling. One that jumps out at me is You Had Me At Woof by Julie Klam - I’m not really a dog person, but this book was about life, told through lessons Klam learned from dogs, rather than just about dogs. As a result, it really has universal appeal. I also read my first Orson Scott Card book, The Lost Gate. It was really interesting and the mythology was excellent. I’m still formulating my thoughts about it, but I was really happy to read it since I’m trying to read more fantasy.
Sadly, I think I might be giving up on the Maisie Dobbs readalong. At this point, I think I’m two books behind and I hate playing catch-up when it comes to reading, which should be fun. While I really enjoyed the first book in the series and definitely want to continue with it, I haven’t had the urge to pick the second book up lately and don’t want to force myself into it.
Title: Atlantic: Great Sea Battles, Heroic Discoveries, Titanic Storms, and a Vast Ocean of a Million Stories Author: Simon Winchester ISBN: 9780061866128 Pages: 512 Release Date: November 2, 2010 Publisher: HarperAudio Genre: Non-Fiction, History Source: Publisher Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Summary:
In this ambitious book, historian Simon Winchester tackles the entire Atlantic Ocean, writing a biography of this vast body of water.
Review:
When I first read that Simon Winchester had written a biography of the Atlantic Ocean, my first response was “What??”. Not only is it difficult to conceive of what a biography of a body of water might be like, but the Atlantic Ocean is so large with so much history that it’s hard for one’s mind to grasp the concept of writing a biography of it. But if anyone can do it, renowned historian Simon Winchester can, so I decided to give it a try and see what it was all about.
Atlantic was really an amazing experience. Winchester starts with the formation of the Atlantic Ocean, but moves quickly to more recent times when humans were exploring and conquering the seas. Winchester discusses everything from naval battles to trying to lay down the first transatlantic cable in order to send instantaneous messages from England to the United States and back. It’s a vast and impressive human history, with the framework of the Atlantic Ocean around it.
Winchester also discusses environmental concerns with the Atlantic Ocean. From overfishing (something I found both fascinating and shocking) to the effect of climate change on the body of water, and how it might change as a result, Winchester isn’t afraid to make predictions for the Atlantic’s future. At the same time, he makes allowances for the fact that no one knows what is really going to happen and tries to present a balanced view, rather than a global warming horror story.
I listened to Atlantic on audio, and I have to say it was definitely the right choice. I read Winchester’s The Man Who Loved China a couple of years ago, and found it interesting but dry, and I thought his work might be more engaging in audio. I’m not sure if it was the book or the wonderful audio production, but I enjoyed this book much more. Winchester himself was the narrator, and he did an excellent job with the material. The audio of Atlantic is unabridged and runs 14 hours and 30 minutes.
I really enjoyed Atlantic and highly recommend the audio to anyone who’s interested in non-fiction or history. Though it did take me some time to get through, I never found myself bored or with wandering attention while listening to it. Winchester’s approach to the biography was really interesting and the stories he decided to share were fascinating. I can’t say enough good things about this book and will definitely going back to read his others, most likely in audio as well.
Title: The Best American Travel Writing 2010 Editor: Bill Buford ISBN: 9780547333359 Pages: 352 Release Date: September 28, 2010 Publisher: Mariner Books Genre: Non-Fiction, Travel, Essays Source: Publisher Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary:
This collection of essays represent the best of American travel writing published in 2010.
Review:
I’ve always been intrigued by the books in the Best American series, but it’s really the travel writing I’ve had my eye on. I’m always looking for more travelogues, and this seemed like the perfect way to discover new authors in the genre.
The selection of essays included in The Best American Travel Writing 2010 vary greatly. Tom Bissel’s Looking for Judas deals with history as much as it does travel as Bissell searches for the historical figure of Judas. David Sedaris’ Guy Walks Into a Bar Car uses the author’s trademark humor to discuss a journey by train across the United States, and works incredibly well as both a travel story and one centered in humor. The Ponzi State by George Packer isn’t really about travel; instead, it’s a discussion of the real estate situation in Florida, but it’s still fascinating. Me, Myself, and Ribeye by Steven Rinella will delight both foodie and travel writing fans, as it chronicles the author’s trip across Argentina to find the perfect steak. These four selections were really highlights of the collection for me.
Of course, there were other essays that didn’t resonate as well. Some of the essays didn’t seem travel related, except for the fact that they were set in a different country (admittedly, that’s the case with The Ponzi State - set in Florida - but I found it so interesting and well-written that it didn’t bother me). Like any anthology, different essays will appeal to different audiences, but I have no doubt that if you like travel writing, you will find something to love in this collection.
Title: Choker Author: Elizabeth Woods ISBN: 9781442412330 Pages: 240 Release Date: January 4, 2011 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Genre: Teen/YA, Contemporary Fiction Source: Publisher Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary:
Cara is a nobody at her high school. She doesn’t really have any friends, though she does have a crush on a really cute guy, Ethan. Unfortunately, Ethan’s girlfriend is Alexis, a popular, pretty girl whose life mission seems to be to make Cara’s existence miserable. Cara wishes and hopes for some help, and then Zoe, Cara’s best friend from childhood, shows up and asks Cara if she can stay for awhile. Cara is delighted at this turn of events, and thinks things are perfect, until strange things start happening, and Cara wonders if Zoe is at the center of it.
Review:
Choker is an expertly plotted psychological thriller, which, I must admit, surprised me. While I do enjoy the occasional YA novel, they aren’t books I would imagine would delve deep into the human psyche (generalizing, I know). However, Choker takes the reader on a thrill ride through the characters’ minds as the reader tries to uncover what exactly is going on.
It begins with Cara being bullied. This part of the book really is heartbreaking, as it’s never easy to read about that sort of thing. The reader wonders how people can be that cruel, how teenagers can so easily be absolutely despicable to one another. Though the causes and psyche of the bullies are unclear, it’s very obvious what it does to Cara. She is broken by the tormenting, and all she wants is for it to go away. Zoe’s arrival gives her the strength she needs to endure Alexis’ taunts.
However, Zoe starts acting more and more strangely, and Cara begins to wonder if she really knows her friend anymore - after all, it has been years since they have spoken. She begins to remember small acts of cruelty that Zoe committed and wonders if she was romanticizing their friendship in her mind. All the while, the reader is wondering why Cara trusts Zoe so much, when it’s clear that Zoe is a destructive person. As the book progresses, it becomes obvious that Zoe destroys everything she touches. All the reader can do is keep reading and hope that Cara will escape Zoe’s clutches before it’s too late.
Choker is densely plotted and suspenseful. It will hook the reader from the very first page, as they try to understand what is going on and root for Cara. The ending is exceptionally well done; this isn’t a good psychological thriller for the YA genre. It’s a great psychological thriller, period. Anyone interested in books about the human psyche and destructive personalities should definitely pick this one up. It’s a short, quick read, but it will leave you shocked, as well as impressed with Elizabeth Woods’ writing ability.
Title: The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels Author: Ree Drummond ISBN: 9780061997167 Pages: 352 Release Date: February 1, 2011 Publisher: William Morrow Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir Source: Publisher Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary:
When Ree went to college in California, her intention was to never return to her small hometown in Oklahoma. After college, though, she temporarily returned to Oklahoma, a quick break before her planned move to Chicago. And there, in a bar, she meets a man she calls Marlboro Man - a real cowboy who lives on a ranch about an hour from where her parents live. Ree is immediately attracted to Marlboro Man, but they just met - is he worth putting her Chicago plans on hold for? And what about J, the boyfriend that Ree left behind in California?
Review:
I love The Pioneer Woman. I am an avid reader of her cooking blog and own her cookbook. I enjoy the self-deprecating sense of humor she exhibits in her cooking posts and am in awe of the success she has found through blogging. Plus she’s from Oklahoma, and let’s face it, there aren’t that many of us! Therefore, when I heard she had a memoir coming out, I didn’t hesitate a second before picking it up. I knew I wanted to read it and was pretty sure I was going to love it.
The Pioneer Woman reads like a romance novel, in the best sense of that word. I personally don’t read the romance genre, but this memoir has all of the thrills, joys, heartaches, and struggles you want out of a romantic comedy, but without the sex (thankfully!). What impressed me about it is that it reads like fiction - Ree has an engaging and fun writing style and the book really flew by for me. As a result, this is a great pick for those who don’t usually enjoy non-fiction, but want to read more of the genre.
That being said, this memoir is a bit on the surface. It’s not about Ree the person and her struggles and fears (though the author is honest about those sorts of things); instead, it’s about her love story, how she was swept off her feet by a cowboy. As a result, if you aren’t familiar with the Pioneer Woman before reading this book, you might be left wanting by this memoir. Ree is certainly a humorous and engaging writer, and although she can be selfish at times in the book, it’s clear she’s being honest, so she’s definitely appealing. It’s just that there isn’t a lot of character development or introspection, something that memoir readers often look for.
Nevertheless, I really enjoyed The Pioneer Woman and have no qualms about wholeheartedly recommending it. I enjoyed every second I spent with it; it’s only after I put it down and began to think about it that I realized it wasn’t as in depth as I’d hoped. If you’re looking for a light easy read, a romantic fun story that will make you feel good about life, this is definitely a great book to pick up. And if you aren’t familiar with Ree, I highly recommend visiting her website, especially if you’re interested in cooking, because her recipes are amazing!
I’ve decided to bring back my music feature Thursday Tunes on a semi-regular basis. There’s just so much great new music out there, I can’t help but want to share it!
Grace Potter has been around for awhile, and I have some of her earlier CD’s, but it’s her 2010 release that really made me a fan. They have a sort of bluesy-rock dynamic going, and the entire record is just a lot of fun to listen to. It’s a favorite of my husband’s and he deemed them “Black Crowes with a female singer.” The entire album is just a lot of fun. I love the song “Paris (Ooh La La)” and “Tiny Light” is also great. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals can be purchased from the Amazon MP3 Store for $5.99.
Title: Love in Complete Sentences Author: Mary E. Mitchell ISBN: 9780312656690 Pages: 304 Release Date: November 23, 2010 Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin Genre: Women’s Fiction Source: Publisher Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Summary:
Kate Cavanaugh’s beloved husband Adam passed away two years ago, but the pain of that loss is still raw and fresh to Kate. She’s a guidance counselor at a high school, but she wonders what her colleagues think of her because everyone can see that her teenage daughter, Charlotte, is out of control. Meanwhile, Kate’s young son Hunter has taken to carrying around a ketchup bottle as a sort of security blanket, which worries Kate. Kate’s family is broken and she has no idea how to fix things and bring her children and herself to a place of happiness.
Review:
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a solid women’s fiction novel that grapples with serious issues, so I was looking forward to reading Love in Complete Sentences. While it’s so heartbreaking to read about a broken, struggling family, it’s wonderful to see them endure these hard times and come out stronger and wiser on the other end. Love in Complete Sentences was exactly that, but also so much more.
Kate was an incredibly vivid character that I couldn’t help but like. I really loved the fact that she wasn’t perfect. She made a lot of mistakes; there were times I wanted to insert myself into the novel as a character (or maybe pull Kate out) in order to talk some sense into her, especially with how she dealt with Charlotte. But even though I could see she was making a mistake, I understood where it was coming from. I could see her fear and loneliness, her inability to move on after the death of her husband. Kate was trying as hard as she could to be the best mother she knew how to be, but she was crippled by Adam’s loss. Her desperation seemed so real and genuine to me that I felt like Kate was a living, breathing person.
The relationship between Kate and Charlotte is one of the central foci of the novel, and it’s certainly a difficult one. Charlotte is a teenager who acts out constantly, and while it is very frustrating (the reader can completely understand why Kate has such trouble dealing with her), there are also reasons behind what she is doing. Mitchell did an excellent job writing Charlotte as a completely believable teenager who, at her core, just wants to be loved for who she is.
If you’re a fan of women’s fiction, don’t hesitate to pick up Love in Complete Sentences. This book would make a wonderful book club pick, as readers will want to dissect and discuss Kate and Charlotte to try and understand these two complicated characters. Mitchell does a wonderful job portraying real life, as opposed to a fairy tale, and it really makes the novel worth reading. I really enjoyed every second I spent with it and look forward to seeing what Mitchell does next.
Welcome! I’m Swapna Krishna, and this is where you’ll find my book reviews. Feel free to look through my review database. I also host the South Asian Review Database and run the South Asian Challenge, which promote the authors and literature of the region.
I do accept books for review, but please take a look at myreview policy before pitching me a book. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Title: The Lake of Dreams 
Title: Suits: A Woman on Wall Street 
Title: A Fountain Filled With Blood & Out of the Deep I Cry 
Title: Ascendant 
Title: Exit the Actress 
Title: Six Suspects 
Title: Skipping a Beat 
Title: Bijou Roy 
