Title: Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Audacious Heist in History
Author: Ben Mezrich
ISBN: 9780385533928
Pages: 320
Release Date: July 12, 2011
Publisher: Doubleday
Genre: Non-Fiction, Space/NASA
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

Thad Roberts was an insecure ex-Mormon whose parents had disowned him. He married young, and his life didn’t seem to be taking him where he wanted to go. He decided to change all that by going to school and eventually applying to NASA for an internship, hoping to eventually become an astronaut. But his academic, straight-laced life takes a detour when Thad finds the opportunity to steal some genuine moon rocks from NASA.

Review:

I enjoyed Ben Mezrich’s The Accidental Billionaires (which eventually became the movie The Social Network), so I would have read his next book, regardless of what it was about. When I discovered it was about NASA, an organization I love to read about, and the heinous theft of moon rocks, I was immediately captivated.

Mezrich uses his trademark narrative non-fiction style to tell the story, which basically means it reads like fiction. While his stories are extensively researched and are factual (though perhaps biased in some cases), the books are written in such a way that they are very engaging and easy to read. Sex on the Moon went by much more quickly than an average work of non-fiction; it was fascinating and the pages flew by.

Thad Roberts is portrayed as a lost and wandering soul who finally found a home at NASA. He became a leader among his peers and those around him really looked up to him. He made a name for himself with those he worked under and was respected for his work ethic and intelligence. So, then, why in the world would a man who had found a place for himself conspire against the organization that had taken him in and steal priceless objects from them?  While the title of the book makes it sound like it was all for a woman, the truth is more complicated than that.

From the beginning, Thad is insecure. He wants people to like him. He wants to be respected. When he walks into a room, he wants people to stare, and then turn to those they’re sitting with and whisper, “Do you know who that is?!?” It’s this desperate need for attention and acclaim that leads Thad down his self-destructive path. I have a distinct feeling that readers were supposed to pity Thad (and maybe admire him just a little for his audacity), but I would be lying if I said I felt the same. While part of me did feel sorry for him, I mostly just wanted to see him behind bars, and was racing through the book to see if he eventually got his due.

I enjoyed Sex on the Moon, though I can’t say Thad Roberts really appealed to me. The story was solid, and the behind-the-scenes look at NASA was very interesting. Mezrich did an exceptional job fleshing out the personality of Thad Roberts, especially when it came to his flaws and insecurities, and it was interesting to ponder over him. If your book club reads non-fiction, this would be a great pick, as it reads quickly and there are a lot of moral ambiguities to discuss within its pages.

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Title: The Art Detective: Fakes, Frauds, and Finds and the Search for Lost Treasures
Author: Philip Mould
ISBN: 9780670021857
Pages: 272
Release Date: June 10, 2010
Publisher: Viking
Genre: Non-Fiction
Source: Personal Copy
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

In this book, British art dealer Philip Mould, best known for the original BBC version of the show Antiques Roadshow, chronicles some of the more interesting finds and discoveries of his career, including finding a lost Gainsborough painting.

Review:

I love reading books about art - provenance, history, finding lost art - so I’ve been wanting to read The Art Detective for some time. I wasn’t familiar with Philip Mould before I picked up this book, but I enjoyed getting to know him through it. His voice is self-deprecating and honest. While it’s clear he’s an important person in the art world, in Britain as well as world-wide, he never tries to boast about that fact.  This self-awareness makes him incredibly appealing over the course of the book.

The book is divided into different chapters, each with its own story about a certain work of art. One of the most important finds in Mould’s career, a lost Thomas Gainsborough, is chronicled in this book, as well as is the the faking of a Norman Rockwell painting. Mould didn’t actually have any professional connections to the Rockwell, but the entire situation intrigued him enough to seek out those involved and get the real story. This mix of tales really gives the reader a good sense of Mould’s personality, and what interests him most in his dealings.

The style of The Art Detective is light and easy. Mould gives enough details to satisfy the curious mind, but never stifles the reader with trivial minutiae. As a result, this is a great read for a layperson like me, interested in the art world but without much knowledge of it. It’s really an accessible book, and the format makes it such that if you aren’t interested in a particular tale, you can skip ahead to the next chapter without missing any overarching narrative.

The Art Detective was a thoroughly enjoyable read that was both quick and informative. I do hope that Mould chooses to release another book; with all his years in the art business, I’m sure he has many more great stories he could share with readers. This is a great book for art lovers, but also for those new to the art world but intrigued by what Mould might have to say.

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Title: When You Were Mine
Author: Elizabeth Noble
ISBN: 9781439154854
Pages: 352
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Touchstone
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Publisher
Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary:

Susannah isn’t quite content with her life. Approaching 40, she doesn’t have any children of her own, but she is a stepmother to her partner Doug’s three children. Her previous failed marriage has left Susannah wary of commitment, but even if that wasn’t the case, she knows something isn’t quite right with her relationship with Doug. But when she runs into her childhood sweetheart, Rob, at her brother’s wedding, Susannah begins to remember her times with Rob and begin asking that very dangerous question - what if?

Review:

When You Were Mine is a somewhat convoluted novel of a woman facing her past, and the discontent in her present. Susannah is a well-written main character, full of lost hopes and dreams. She has forced herself to settle for the life she has now because it’s all she has left. If she acknowledges that what she has with Doug isn’t really what she wants, Susannah will be completely alone. She’s approaching forty and likely can no longer have children, she isn’t married - this was not how her life was supposed to turn out. When she sees Rob, it rekindles all those deadened feelings within her.

This novel jumps between past and present in order to flesh out Susannah and Rob’s love story, and it’s very disconcerting. The novel doesn’t make it clear when it is going to jump, so the reader can think they are in one time frame, and then realize a page later that they are incorrect. It was incredibly convoluted and difficult to follow, and as a result, the structure hampered my enjoyment of the story. I was invested in the Susannah of the present, and continually taking me back to her days as a teenager really took away from the story for me.

The real highlight of When You Were Mine was the friendship between Susannah and her best friend, Amelia, who is going through chemotherapy treatments. I continually wished that Noble would focus more on this duo, as they had a rich and honest friendship I really enjoyed.

All in all, When You Were Mine fell mostly flat for me. While I was interested in the characters, the structure of the novel and storytelling devices didn’t work for me. I’ve enjoyed many of this author’s other books, and I’d recommend picking one of those up before going for this one.

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Title: The First Day of the Rest of My Life
Author: Cathy Lamb
ISBN: 9780758259387
Pages: 480
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

Madeleine O’Shea is a life coach, empowering women and inspiring them to lead productive and happy lives.  But her entire career is a sham - Madeleine has never recovered from the sexual abuse inflicted upon her when she was a child, and as a result, she is a shell of a woman.  She hasn’t been able to come to terms with what happened; she is fragile, afraid of breaking her carefully composed façade at every turn.  But when a reporter starts investigating Madeleine’s past and threatens to bring everything to light, Madeleine realizes the way she’s been living is not sustainable.

Review:

The First Day of the Rest of My Life is a heartbreaking and ultimately inspiring story of two women who have experienced unbelievable horrors.  As innocent children, they were terrorized by their mother’s boyfriend, informed that if they told anyone what he was doing to them, he would kill their mother.  Lamb details the disgusting and depraved actions that Madeleine and her little sister Annie were forced to undergo, and it is incredibly difficult to read.  There were many times I had to put the book down and just close my eyes, because it’s so hard to think of these innocent children dealing with sexual abuse, especially with the knowledge that versions of this fictional story happen every day.

It’s this anger, this shame, and the guilt for not being able to protect her sister that cripple Madeleine today.  Though she wants to stop being victimized by her past, she doesn’t know how to move on and begin living her life on her own terms.  It is so sad to see how broken Madeleine is from her childhood, and it’s interesting to see how that affects everything she does. 

But Madeleine and Annie are not the only focus of The First Day of the Rest of My Life.  Their grandparents, who have loved them and given them shelter from the world, have secrets of their own which are now coming to light.  Madeleine and Annie must deal with their shocking revelations, at the same time they are trying to cope with the prospect of a reporter digging into their own pasts and bringing everything to light.  It becomes almost overwhelming, the weight Madeleine feels on her shoulders as she desperately tries to protect her family.

Admittedly, at times The First Day of the Rest of My Life is a little over the top, especially during the second trial featured in the book.  On the whole, though, it’s a heartfelt and very real story about a women struggling to break free from the chains of her past.  Lamb does an excellent job meditating on society's desire to demonize the victims of a tragedy, especially when the victim is female and the crime is sexual in nature.  It’s an intelligent and very emotional novel that I recommend to fans of thought provoking women’s fiction.

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Title: Ghost Story
Author: Jim Butcher
ISBN: 9780451463791
Pages: 496
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Publisher: Roc
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Warning: This review contains SPOILERS for the previous book in The Dresden Files series, Changes.

Summary:

Harry awakens from his recent murder in the land of the dead, where he is told his work isn’t quite over yet.  In order to save the lives of three of his dearest friends, he must return to Chicago and solve the mystery behind his own murder.  The only catch?  Because Harry is now a spirit, he will not go back to the world he knows as flesh and blood, but as a ghost.

Review:

I love this series.  I don’t think I need to state that at this point.  I am constantly amazed at Jim Butcher’s creativity, at the risks he takes with the storyline and his main character.  After all, anyone who knows anything about storytelling knows you don’t kill off your main character at the end of a book when you’re still intending to write more sequels.  But that’s exactly what Jim Butcher did in Changes - one of the most incredible, shocking, and best decisions ever made in the history of writing series - and that immediately leads to the beginning of this book, the thirteenth in The Dresden Files series, Ghost Story.

Harry is really in over his head in this book.  Though he’s usually outmanned and outgunned, he usually has confidence in both his powers and abilities, as well as trust in those around him.  When he reawakens as a ghost, however, Harry loses even those few advantages.  He is alone, with no one able to hear or see him, and as a ghost, he cannot manipulate the real world, nor can he use magic.  It’s a startling and humbling realization for Harry.  It forces him rethink who he is - after all, he defined himself through magic.  It was the essence of his being.  If he no longer can use magic, then what is he?

It is very important to be familiar with the series prior to reading Ghost Story.  First of all, the premise of this book is so different from the rest, so fresh and new, that you need to understand the other books to really appreciate this one.  Also, a lot of this book is revisiting with Harry’s old friends and understanding the effects he had on them, and what they have become without him.  It’s a great piece of storytelling, but if you have no foreknowledge of the people he encounters, it won’t mean much to you.

I absolutely loved Ghost Story.  I think in some ways, it is a book for real fans of the series.  There isn’t quite as much action as you’d expect from a Dresden Files novel; instead, it’s quieter.  While there are multiple storylines, one of which is very action-packed, this book is much more introspective. It revisits old friends and once again changes the course of the entire series with its powerful ending.  I devoured this book, unable to tear myself away from it, and already can’t wait for the next novel in the series.

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Title: The Full Moon Bride
Author: Shobhan Bantwal
ISBN: 9780758258847
Pages: 352
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Multicultural Fiction
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

As an Indian who was born and raised in America, Soorya Giri has always looked down on the concept of arranged marriages. But now that she’s in her thirties, she can’t help but agree to her parents’ requests to set up meetings with prospective husbands; after all, she has never even been kissed before. Through her parents, Soorya meets Roger Vadepelli, a handsome and charming man, but she is sure he won’t be interested in her. But Soorya gets more than she bargained for when, all of a sudden, she has more than one man vying for her affections, and she doesn’t know how to handle her newfound charms.

Review:

I’ve enjoyed Shobhan Bantwal’s previous novels (reviews of The Forbidden Daughter, The Sari Shop Widow, and The Unexpected Son) so I was excited to see she had tackled an entirely new subject in The Full Moon Bride - the experience of the first generation Americans, the children of immigrants.

Soorya was a very unique character. She was smart and capable, as evidenced by her job at a top New York City law firm for environmental law. But what surprised me about her was that she was over 30 and still living at home with her parents, and no real explanation was given for that. Of course, it could be the incredibly high rent prices in New York, or the fact that she didn’t feel like she had a need to move out - I just found that strange, though in the grand scheme of things, it’s not really important.

What really struck me about Soorya, though, were her self esteem and body image issues. Being over 30 and never having been kissed properly, I understand how those nagging doubts could creep up on her, thinking something is wrong with her as a result. But she perceived herself as unattractive, and as a result, she could not imagine how anyone could possibly be attracted to her. When Soorya finds herself with the attention of more than one man, it’s really interesting to see how she deals with it, as well as how, even in the face of such obvious attention, she still can’t see the beauty that others perceive.

I also enjoyed the discussion of arranged marriages in The Full Moon Bride. Being raised in the United States, Soorya’s immediate reaction is confusion and revulsion. But as she matures, she begins to consider it a possibility - after all, it worked out really well for her own parents. Can anyone really be happy, marrying someone they barely know? Will love eventually come, as her parents assure her it will? These are interesting questions that no one really has the answers for, and Soorya isn’t sure she wants to take the risks in order to discover if arranged marriage might work for her.

I enjoyed The Full Moon Bride - it had all the heart and wisdom I’ve come to expect from Shobhan Bantwal’s books, as well as the discussion of contemporary issues facing Indians today. I thought Soorya was an excellent character, frustrating at times, but I so enjoyed watching her grow and learn so much about herself and the world around her. This was a light, quick novel that fans of multicultural and women’s fiction definitely should pick up.

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Title: We All Fall Down
Author: Michael Harvey
ISBN: 9780307272515
Pages: 320
Release Date: July 12, 2011
Publisher: Knopf
Genre: Mystery
Source: Publicist
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:

In the fourth Michael Harvey novel, Michael must face any big city’s worst nightmare: a biological attack in the heart of Chicago, using the city’s L train to disperse the pathogen. When questions arise following the attack, Michael plunges himself into an investigation that takes him to labs, the FBI, and the underworld of Chicago in order to discover the perpetrators behind the attack.

Review:

I’ve become a huge fan of Michael Harvey’s novels featuring PI MIchael Kelly (The Chicago Way, The Fifth Floor, and The Third Rail), so I was eagerly anticipating the fourth book in the series. While the first two novels stand alone relatively well, this book doesn’t. It’s really necessary to at least have the background of The Third Rail to really understand We All Fall Down because the events from this novel really stem from what happened in its prequel.

As always, Michael Kelly is an appealing main character. I love his style, his wit, and his innate intelligence. He is quick and sharp, and only has improved as the novels have progressed. He’s also wonderful at working people - he knows when to be a diplomat, but always stands up for himself and fights for what he believes in. If I were in trouble, Michael Kelly is someone I would want on my side.

The plot of We All Fall Down is fast paced and thrilling from beginning to end. There are many disparate threads that make up this novel, seemingly separate storylines that seem to come together towards the middle of the book, and it does take some brain power to follow each one and figure out the overall picture behind the novel. In other words, this is not a mindless read you can race through with minimal effort, but at the same time, it’s not difficult. It’s just a puzzle that takes some time and effort to figure out. I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot and reveled in the joy of being along for this thrilling ride.

Michael Harvey is a talented author, and I certainly hope we aren’t going to see the last of Michael Kelly anytime soon. He’s become one of my favorite literary PI’s; I really like how reliably good and satisfying every novel in this series is. If you haven’t read anything by Michael Harvey yet, I highly suggest you start at the beginning of this series - you’ll find quick-paced and enjoyable reads that will never disappoint.

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Good morning everyone! This weekend has been a busy one so far, but one of the highlights was seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 yesterday in theaters.  I really enjoyed it (and definitely had some trouble holding my sobs in), but I can understand people’s criticisms about the modified ending. Still, I really enjoyed it and thought the movie was well done.

I didn’t get a lot of reading done this week, which is sad.  I don’t think I’ll get too much done this week either - we have a concert to go to Wednesday night, and then we are traveling for the weekend.  I will not be checking in next Sunday with a Sunday Salon post - this is the first trip I’m not taking my laptop with me and am relying on my iPad only.  We’ll see how well it works, I am pretty attached to my electronics!

Out Now! piece for InReads.com on 7/19/2011

Reviews posted this week:

Title: The Statues That Walked: Unraveling the Mystery of Easter Island
Author: Terry Hunt & Carl Lipo
ISBN: 9781439150313
Pages: 256
Release Date: June 21, 2011
Publisher: Free Press
Genre: Non-Fiction, History
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

In this study of Easter Island, the authors look closely at the island’s history in order to determine why it is so barren, and in the process, they stumble upon the truth behind the mystery of the infamous statues of Easter Island - why they were made and how they were moved.

Review:

Anyone interested in archaeology has likely studied Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, at one point or another.  The mystery behind the island’s massive statues is on the same level as those of the pyramids at Giza and Stonehenge. But this is not the only puzzle present on Rapa Nui. What happened to the island’s natural resources - its trees and plants? Why is the land so infertile? What happened to the culture that created the statues?

Hunt and Lipo attempt to answer all of these questions in The Statues That Walked.  The prevailing theory thus far has been a case of “eco-suicide” - that is, that Rapa Nui was a thriving, lush island with a complex and advanced culture, but over farming and statue building raped the landscape until all that was left was what we see today. Unable to sustain its population, the islanders began to die out, and the culture was lost.

The Statues That Walked presents a very different case for the mystery behind Rapa Nui. Though the authors initially expected their findings to support the generally accepted notion of eco-suicide, they were surprised to find evidence against it. This makes their case all the more convincing - they aren’t trying to convince the reader of anything. Instead, they are looking at the evidence and attempting to form a theory around it. It makes for fascinating reading, because readers get to see the process of building a brand new theory around Rapa Nui.

The book is well-written, and though it can be technical at times, it is accessible enough for a lay person with only a casual interest in archaeology. Its brevity works well, highlighting important information but not overloading the reader with unnecessary detail. The authors present an intriguing portrait of this island and it was wonderful to be along for the ride as they made some revolutionary discoveries.

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Title: American Gods: The 10th Anniversary Edition
Author: Neil Gaiman
ISBN: 9780062059888
Pages: 560
Release Date: June 21, 2011
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary:

Shadow has just been released from prison and is ready to go home and see his wife when he is informed that she has been killed in a car accident. He meets a mysterious man named Mr. Wednesday and decides to work for him. What Shadow doesn’t realize is that Wednesday has thrust him in the middle of a war between the old European Gods and the new gods of technology and credit cards.

Review:

American Gods is a book I’ve been wanting to read for some time, so when I received a review copy of the tenth anniversary edition of the book, I figured it was the perfect time to read it. After all, if I was going to embark on the epic journey of this novel, I’d rather read the author’s preferred text than the original release.

I’m not sure what I was expecting with American Gods, but I can’t say it lived up to what I hoped it would be. I really enjoyed Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, but this book didn’t work quite as well for me. I absolutely loved the premise - a war between the old gods and new, and Shadow being caught in the middle. I loved the potential for mythology and the social commentary contained within the novel. Gaiman isn’t afraid to comment on society’s quest for money. He also highlights the dynamics of small town life in America, and in my opinion, that is the part of the novel that worked best.

However, the story meandered way too much for my taste. There didn’t really seem to be any rhyme or reason to what Shadow was doing or where he was going, and I found myself struggling to understand what was going on more than once. Every time Shadow would be ripped away from the smaller, quieter parts of life to participate in the novel’s mythology, I was disappointed because it was the mundane that was accomplished so well in this novel. I just couldn’t get into the plot, and as a result, I had trouble immersing myself in the story of American Gods.

Despite my disappointment with American Gods, I’ll still be reading more of Neil Gaiman’s works. This book didn’t work for me as well as I’d hoped, but that doesn’t mean I don’t recommend it. From what I’ve heard, you either like it or you don’t; that means that, if you’re still intrigued by the novel, you should definitely give it a chance. Perhaps it might work better for you than it did for me.

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Title: Sisterhood Everlasting
Author: Ann Brashares
ISBN: 9780385521222
Pages: 368
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers
Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary:

Ten years after the events of Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood, the reader revisits Lena, Carmen, Bridget, and Tibby. After Tibby moves to Australia with Brian and loses touch with her three friends, the sisterhood drifts apart. Lena is living by herself, lost to the world, while Carmen has achieved her dream - she is a successful actress and engaged to a man that none of her friends like. Meanwhile, Bee is living in California with her boyfriend, Eric. When the three friends each receive a plane ticket to Greece from Tibby, they are ecstatic that they will be able to reconnect, until tragedy strikes and nothing is ever the same.

Summary:

I’ve read and enjoyed all the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants novels, so I was excited when I heard that Ann Brashares was releasing a new novel about the girls (now women!) ten years later. I was excited to revisit with Lena, Carmen, Bee, and Tibby and see where their lives had taken them, and how they had grown up since the last novel.

The problem was that I didn’t feel they really had grown up. While it was nice to see some of their more familiar quirks, I felt like they were the exact same people I had left in the fourth book, maybe even with some regression. Lena was still a loner, Bee still had commitment issues - it was more of the same. Then, after the tragedy struck (which I won’t ruin for you), each of the girls retreats even more into themselves. The entire novel is one long introspective and nonmoving character study, and to be frank, it gets frustrating.

Now, if you’ve read the novel, you might think I have no heart. Don’t get me wrong, I was moved by this book at times - though I was able to predict most of the storyline from people’s comments about how it was really sad, I still teared up now and then. But I just felt like the entire book revolved around pivotal events at the beginning and the end of the novel, and that nothing really happened in between.

Of course, I’m in the minority with this opinion - most of the reviews and comments I’ve heard about this novel were rave reviews. But I’m sorry to say I didn’t love this book and actually felt like it was unnecessary - I would have been happy to leave the Sisterhood at the end of the fourth book. That being said, it was nice to see Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bee again, and I was happy with how they ended up - though I must admit that I found the ending of the book a little too sappy for enjoyment. Overall, I think I could have done without reading this novel, though if you’re a huge fan of the series, you should pick this book up just because you’ll wonder about it if you don’t.

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Title: When we Were Orphans
Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
ISBN: 9780375724404
Pages: 352
Release Date: October 30, 2001
Publisher: Vintage
Genre: Literary Fiction
Source: Personal Copy
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:

After his parents are kidnapped in Shanghai, nine-year-old Christopher Banks returns to England from China, leaving the only home he has ever known. As he grows up, he attends Cambridge University and eventually fulfills his dream of becoming a detective. He is consumed by his parents’ disappearance and strives to return to Shanghai, changed by the widespread use of opium and the invasion of the Japanese during World War II, in order to discover what happened to them.

Review:

After loving Never Let Me Go, I knew I wanted to read another Kazuo Ishiguro novel as quickly as possible. I made it a point to pick up When We Were Orphans, and when I did, I was immediately greeted by Ishiguro’s bright and clear prose. I absolutely love the way Ishiguro writes; having only read one of his books before this one, I feel silly saying he is one of my favorite writers, but When We Were Orphans affirmed my feelings on the subject. His prose is so crisp and easy to read, yet it is also evocative and beautiful. Ishiguro is one of those authors where, when I open his books, my eyes feel like they can rest because they don’t have to fight against weighty writing. In that sense, this novel was a delight to read, as I’m confident anything of Ishiguro’s will be for me.

Christopher never appealed to me over the course of the novel, but I’m certain that was the author’s intent. While the reader is privy to his thoughts, he’s not a very likeable person. He is cold and distant, and very petty and insecure. He is constantly on the defensive and often doesn’t know how to act in polite company. He’s also completely self-deluded, a trait which seems to take over as the novel progresses. It’s clear that many of these flaws have stemmed from Christopher’s parents’ disappearance, something he has never recovered from emotionally, and has built up in his mind.

When We Were Orphans also has the tendency to meander. From the back cover description, I knew the novel would be about Christopher’s eventual return to China, so I couldn’t understand why it was taking so long. The novel wandered through his life and it seemed to be rather aimless. What I didn’t understand, though, was that Ishiguro was carefully setting the stage, crafting Christopher’s mental state, building up to the last 50 pages of the novel.

Indeed, it’s these last few pages that really bring the entire novel together. Before that, the novel seems disjointed and disparate, but Ishiguro reveals himself as a master of his craft by tying every loose end of the book together beautifully. I loved how it came together at the end, how all of a sudden it all clicked and made perfect sense. I was no longer wondering, but instead understood exactly what Ishiguro had tried to do, and succeeded at doing, with this novel. 

While When We Were Orphans will never be my favorite of Ishiguro’s works, I have to marvel at how carefully it was constructed. At times Christopher drove me crazy, but I also found his delusions and insecurities completely fascinating. He’s definitely a character you will want to dissect; in fact, there are a lot of great discussion points within this novel’s pages - Christopher himself, the state of the Shanghai that Christopher returns to, the opium trade, social climbing - that it would make for a wonderful book club read. I’m so glad I discovered how much I love Kazuo Ishiguro and can’t wait to pick up another one of his books.

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Title: The October Killings
Author: Wessel Ebersohn
ISBN: 9780312655952
Pages: 320
Release Date: January 18, 2011
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:

When Abigail Bukula was fifteen years old, her family was the target of an apartheid raid, as her parents were anti-apartheid activists. A white soldier saved Abigail’s life, and years later, after Abigail has risen through the ranks of the South African justice department, that soldier comes to Abigail for help because he fears his life is in danger.

Review:

The October Killings is a fascinating novel for many reasons. The characters, the mystery, but most of all, it’s the setting that makes the novel unique. Set 10 years after the end of apartheid in South Africa, the book highlights the contemporary issues facing the country today. From racial tensions to the mistrust of anyone associated with the apartheid government, even if they are the only ones qualified for a certain governmental position, Ebersohn highlights the struggles that South Africa is undergoing, politically, socially, and economically.

Indeed, Ebersohn isn’t afraid to mine South Africa’s troubled and violent past to craft an engaging and thrilling story. From the very beginning, readers will be hooked on Abigail’s story, eager to learn more about the past she has tried so hard to put behind her. She is a strong, resourceful character, and it’s wonderful to see how progressive she is. Abigail is willing to work with anyone who has the skills to help her and doesn’t automatically disqualify someone just because they worked for the apartheid government.

This book also blurs the moral lines very well. The soldier that saved Abigail’s life has her implicit trust, and she will do anything to help him. But, at the same time, he was working for the apartheid government that came after her family. These nuances make this novel incredibly interesting, as the reader really can see how difficult it is to judge people based on past deeds or associations.

The mystery within The October Killings is exciting, but it’s pretty clear early on in the novel who is behind the murders. Abigail knows the answers intuitively; the problem is staying one step ahead of this killer before he comes after her soldier, Leon. It’s well written and exciting, and fans of literary mysteries should definitely consider picking this novel up.

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Title: The Mango Season
Author: Amulya Malladi
ISBN: 9780345450319
Pages: 272
Release Date: October 26, 2004
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Genre: Multicultural Fiction
Source: Personal Copy
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:

Priya Rao is returning to her home country of India after seven years of living in the United States, avoiding the topic of the marriage that her parents want to arrange for her. While in the United States, she has fallen in love with and gotten engaged to an American named Nick, a man her family knows nothing about. Knowing she has to tell her family about Nick, but unable to handle their expected disappointment, Priya dreads seeing her family again.

Review:

The Mango Season is a short but powerful read about acceptance. From the beginning of the book, it is clear that Priya’s family is important to her. She loves Nick, but at the same time, she dreads the confrontation that will come with her announcement. She doesn’t doubt what she must do for one second, but she doesn’t want to face the threats of disownment that will come with her choice to marry outside of religion, culture, and race.

Though Priya’s family does have some “typicals” in it - the meddling mother and dictator of a grandfather, to name a few - each member is carefully drawn to illustrate an aspect of Indian culture. From the thirty year old cousin who has few prospects because she is still unmarried to the cousin whose wife is still shunned because she wasn’t chosen by the family, Malladi illustrates many of the difficulties of modern day Indian culture. Seeing everything through Priya’s eyes, the Westerner who has returned home, casts and even sharper and brighter light on everything she sees. Priya is appalled by the lack of acceptance, by the low value put on women, and it’s difficult for her to realize that her family is just as guilty of this as those abstract Indian families she reads about in the news.

At the same time, though, Priya loves her family. She knows her grandfather is racist and a bigot, and isn’t afraid to challenge his views. She stands up for what she believes is right, but at the same time, she can’t help but love her grandfather. I appreciated this nuance, as it was well illustrated. You don’t have to agree with everything someone says or believes in order to care for them deeply.

At times, Priya’s reluctance to speak about Nick is frustrating. But it’s easy for the reader to see why she can’t tell the truth; so much pressure is put on her to be the good, obedient daughter, and she truly wants to be that for her parents and grandparents. But Priya also realizes she must live her own life, not the one her mother expects of her, and it’s difficult for her to truly understand that choosing Nick might indeed mean leaving behind her family. Her courage also inspires those around her to speak, and while it is a little cheesy, it’s heartwarming at the same time.

I found The Mango Season to be a quick and easy read that really spoke to me. It was a little simplistic at times, but I truly enjoyed it from beginning to end. I couldn’t put the book down because I had to know what happened to Priya. I appreciated that Malladi didn’t tie everything together with a neat little bow at the end; though she doesn’t leave the reader hanging, the ending is realistic rather than sappy and sweet. If you’re looking for a quick read about India that isn’t dark or heavy, The Mango Season is a great choice.

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Title: The Twisted Thread
Author: Charlotte Bacon
ISBN: 9781401341503
Pages: 384
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Publisher: Voice
Genre: Mystery
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

Madeline Christopher is an intern teaching at the prestigious Armitage Academy, a boarding school. When seventeen-year-old Claire Harkness is found dead, the students and faculty are shocked, and the police are baffled. What’s even more confusing is the fact that it appears that Claire recently had a baby, but no one knew she was pregnant. Even worse, the baby is missing, and no one has any clue where he or she is, nor who the father might be. Madeline finds herself at the center of the investigation as the police tried to uncover the secrets behind Claire’s murder.

Review:

The Twisted Thread has many different layers - on the surface, it’s a mystery. A gripping, well-fashioned gothic, the plot will keep readers hooked from beginning to end. Every break in the case and secret that is revealed leads to new questions, each even more complicated than the last. Bacon provides twists and turns that keep the reader guessing, and even at the end, when the reader thinks they finally have the whole story figured out, Bacon throws in a new kink just to keep readers on their toes.

However, underneath the surface, The Twisted Thread is a serious social commentary. The students attending Armitage are the scions of some of the richest people in the country, and they have a very large sense of entitlement. On the other hand are the people from the town surrounding the school, Greenville, who don’t have anywhere near the same privileges or resources as those at the school. And straddling the two worlds is the police chief of Armitage-Greenville, Matt Corelli, who attended Armitage on a scholarship, but was forced to leave in the midst of a scandal. He is uniquely suited to understand the difficulties between the two communities, as well as the singular dispositions of the students at Armitage.

The secrets at these highly privileged schools are also tackled in The Twisted Thread. From hazing to traditional teenage bullying to secret societies, Bacon leaves no stone unturned as she takes the reader through these traditions and shows the harm that comes from them. These intense and thoughtful additions to the novel elevate it from an entertaining murder mystery to a book with many interesting comments on society, especially that of a wealthy and prestigious school.

I enjoyed The Twisted Thread from beginning to end. There is so much going on within its pages that it will keep readers hooked. I appreciated that Bacon chose to do more with this novel than just keep it as a traditional gothic murder mystery; as a result, it would make a good book club pick because there is a lot to discuss within its pages. I look forward to seeing what Charlotte Bacon does next, and in the meantime will be seeking out her previous novels.

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Good morning everyone! I am sad to say I have not yet ventured out to see the new Harry Potter movie, even though I love the series in both book and film form. We were hoping to go this morning in an effort to avoid the crowds, but work and life have gotten in the way. We may go this afternoon, but more likely, we will wait until next weekend, until more people have seen it and the theater is less crowded.

I had some serious issues with copyright infringement this week, and while I won’t go into them in detail here, I may be doing another post in my copyright infringement series - just as a reminder that the series as a whole is still there on my blog, if you need a resource, as well as some new tips I’ve learned as I’ve been submitting.

You may be wondering where my Shelving Books series has gone as of late, and it’s a good question! While it’s partially that I have less time to blog, and as a result, I’ve been neglecting it, there’s also another reason I haven’t been writing it recently. I’ve gotten a gig writing at WETA inReads (for those of you who don’t know, in my day life, I am a full-time freelance writer and editor), and the feature I write every week is called Out Now! In this feature, I profile books that came out in the previous week, and as a result, there’s a large overlap between it and Shelving Books. I’ll link to my Out Now! pieces in my Sunday Salon posts in the future, since I don’t know when I’ll have the time to bring back Shelving Books.

Out Now! for 7/12/2011

Reviews posted this week:

Title: Saved By Beauty: Adventures of an American Romantic in Iran
Author: Roger Housden
ISBN: 9780307587732
Pages: 304
Release Date: May 17, 2011
Publisher: Broadway
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir, Travel
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:

In an effort to understand modern-day Iran, Roger Housden travels to the country to appreciate its beauty, history, art, and culture, but also to understand the politics and mindsets of the modern day Iranians.

Review:

Iran is a country I’ve always been intrigued by. It seems like it’s exotic and cultured, yet that romantic view is tempered by the knowledge of its repressive religious regime. As a result, when I heard about Saved By Beauty by Roger Housden, I jumped at the chance to read a firsthand account of someone who took the time to journey to the country and get to know its people and history.

Housden is a poet, and it shows in every aspect of his travelogue. From his lyrical writing and lush, vivid descriptions to his constant discussion of the Iranian Sufi poets Hafez and Rumi, it’s clear that poetry is very important to Housden. What impressed me, though, was how crucial poetry is to the Iranians as well. It seemed like everyone Housden met was quoting Rumi or asking him for his favorite Hafez. It made for a wonderful common ground for Housden to really relate to the Iranians he met, and it also was a great example of how cultured a people the Iranians are.

I also appreciated how far and wide Housden traveled in order to get a sense of the Iranians, and to just have the chance to talk to people who interested him. Yes, he went to the expected Tehran and Shiraz, but he also journeyed to Kurdistan, to Ahwaz in Mesopotamia. I loved how much he wanted to soak in the country, how his curiosity and natural sense of adventure made him want to take advantage of every opportunity. His descriptions were wonderful, and I felt privileged to merely be along for his glorious ride.

Housden paints a picture of a modern Iran, bursting at the seams with culture and creativity. A new generation of young people are less willing to bend to the whims of a restrictive regime. They love America and want to be a part of the wider, secular world. It’s a really nuanced and detailed picture that Housden presents to the reader, but most of all it’s one of love. It’s clear he adores this country he visits, and though parts of it frighten and overwhelm him, he delivers a fitting tribute to its vibrant culture and history.

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Title: Storm Front & Fool Moon
Author: Jim Butcher
ISBN: 9780451457813 & 9780451458124
Pages: 384 & 352
Release Date: April 10, 2000 & January 9, 2001
Publisher: Print - Roc / Audio - Buzzy Multimedia
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Audiobook
Source: Personal Copy
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

In the first two novels of The Dresden Files series, readers are introduced to wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden, consultant to the Chicago Police Department’s Special Investigations unit.  Harry finds himself involved with Chicago’s crime boss Johnny Marcone, grisly murders, a drug ring, and strangest of all, werewolves, in his efforts to reconcile the magical world with the one we live in every day.

Review:

If you read this blog regularly, you know that I absolutely love the series The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher.  I’ve reviewed the later books on this blog, but after listening to and being very impressed with the audio of Side Jobs: Stories from the Dresden Files, I decided to go back and start the series from the beginning on audio.  I’ve been wanting to reread them for a long time, and I thought this would be the perfect way to do that.

I was surprised at how little I remember from the first book, Storm Front.  A lot of the major players aren’t introduced until later, so there were only a handful of familiar characters in the book.  It’s also clear that Jim Butcher hadn’t finished fully fleshing out the world of magic that Harry lives in.  There weren’t really any discrepancies, but things weren’t quite as detailed as they become later.  It’s clear that this was Butcher’s first book, as his writing isn’t quite as sophisticated as it is later.  But the story is solid and he does a great job introducing Harry and endearing the reader to him.  I also loved that the book is filled with Dresden’s trademark sense of humor.

The second novel, Fool Moon, didn’t stand the test of time as well.  While good, I found myself more than ready for the end of the book.  I enjoyed the introduction of later favorites Billy and Georgia, but didn’t like the adversarial nature of Harry and Murphy’s relationship.  That’s not to say it was bad - I still enjoyed it quite a bit, but I have a feeling it’s going to be my least favorite of the series during this re-read/listen.

The audio production wasn’t the highest quality for Storm Front.  It didn’t really even sound like a professional job.  James Marsters is amazing as Harry Dresden, though he didn’t sound quite as comfortable with the character as he did in Side Jobs.  Still, I’ll definitely be listening to future audio versions of these books, as the quality has to get better at some point.  The audio version of Storm Front runs 8 hours and is unabridged.  I didn’t notice anything bad about the audio production of Fool Moon, though, perhaps because I was so engrossed in the story and had gotten used to the quirks from the first listen. James Marsters really comes into his own in this book - he really became Harry for me.  The audio production of Fool Moon runs 10 hours and is unabridged.

I really enjoyed my re-listen of the first two books in the Dresden Files series and am looking forward to moving onto the next book, Grave Peril.  I’m really enjoying tracing the development of the characters I’ve come to love so much, as well as watching the mythology behind Harry’s world take shape. These novels are a great choice for audio, and I highly recommend them to anyone looking to try out some urban fantasy.

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Title: The Moment
Author: Douglas Kennedy
ISBN: 9781439180792
Pages: 544
Release Date: May 3, 2011
Publisher: Atria
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: Personal Copy
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

In 1984, writer Thomas Nesbitt travels to West Berlin in order to write a book on the city. He meets Petra Dussman, a translator and political dissident from East Germany, and falls in love with her. While Petra is cold at first, she quickly returns Thomas’ affections, and both are happier than they ever could have thought. But Petra’s past eventually comes back to haunt her, and Thomas realizes their bliss can’t last forever.

Review:

The Moment is actually told in one long flashback, from a 50-year-old, present-day Thomas Nesbitt.  As a result, from the beginning, the reader knows that the relationship between Petra and Thomas won’t last.  They know he returns to the United States and seemingly never looks back.  That knowledge makes The Moment difficult to read at times; the happiness between Petra and Thomas won’t last, and it’s sad because they work so well together.

The portrayal of West and East Berlin is fascinating. Kennedy captures the free and clear atmosphere of the West, the colors and lights and sounds. But when Thomas crosses the border into East Berlin, everything becomes gray.  He uses snow as a metaphor to describe East Berlin in his writing, and with Kennedy’s vivid descriptions, the reader can picture it easily. He also captures the paranoid and claustrophobic nature of the time period, the suspicion that the East had for the West and vice versa. It’s interesting to be thrust into something so foreign, yet so close to our current time period, and to really feel what it was like to live in Berlin during the 1980s.

The love story in The Moment is sweet, but the book is a little longer than it needs to be. It’s contemplative and full of wonderful descriptions and character development, true, but it takes some time to get started. Sometimes there is too much detail. Once the novel really gets going, it’s difficult to put down, but that takes a little too long to arrive.

Still, I highly recommend The Moment for its wonderful atmosphere and gripping story.  The relationship development between Thomas and Petra is touching. This is a book that will stay with you for a long time after you finish it, as readers will wonder about their own “moments”, as well as the nature of betrayal. It’s a thought-provoking and enjoyable read, and I look forward to reading more of Kennedy’s works.

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Title: Instruments of Darkness
Author: Imogen Robertson
ISBN: 9780670022427
Pages: 384
Release Date: February 17, 2011
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

It’s 1780 and Harriet Westerman has discovered a body on her husband’s property. Since her husband is away, she sends for Gabriel Crowther, an anatomist who has kept a reclusive lifestyle, hoping that he will agree to help find the murderer. When it’s discovered that the dead man has a ring with the crest of Thornleigh Hall, the house of the Earl of Sussex, it connects that wealthy and twisted family to this puzzling murder.

Review:

Instruments of Darkness has two major storylines running through it. The first is the primary one, described in the summary above - a man is found murdered, and the ring in his pocket, leading Harriet and Gabriel to the seat of the Earl of Sussex, Thornleigh Hall, to find the answers behind the murder. But there is also another murder, one in London, and it’s difficult to tell how that distant story is related to the main plotline of the novel. As more is explained as the novel unfolds, though, it’s clear how masterfully Robertson has weaved her story together. It’s a great storytelling device and keeps the reader hooked.

The characters of Harriet and Gabriel are delightfully appealing in Instruments in Darkness. Harriet is an independent minded woman, ahead of her time, while Gabriel is smart and resourceful, but prefers to keep to himself. They make a great team, and give this novel some great personality. There are a lot of characters in this book, and they can be difficult to keep track of at times, but Harriet and Gabriel are at its center.

Instruments of Darkness also has a lovely gothic feel. While it becomes clear early on who the perpetrator of the murder is, it takes the rest of the book for the motive to come to light. I appreciated this unique twist, and while the novel felt overly long at times, the plot never failed to satisfy.

I enjoyed Instruments of Darkness and would love to revisit with Harriet and Gabriel in a future book. Even if Robertson chooses not to continue with these characters, though, I would gladly read whatever she writes next. This novel is a great choice for those who enjoy historical mysteries, especially those with a gothic essence.

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Title: Never Knowing
Author: Chevy Stevens
ISBN: 9780312595685
Pages: 352
Release Date: July 5, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Thriller/Suspense
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

Sara Gallagher has always wondered about her birth parents.  While her adoptive mother was devoted to her, her father was distant and never made her feel like part of the family. Now, as an adult, Sara has finally located her birth mother and decides to move forward with an introduction.  But what she doesn’t realize is that this innocent step will unleash a chain of events that will lead to Sara being hunted by a serial killer.

Review:

Chevy Stevens’ debut novel, Still Missing, had me at the edge of my seat.  I couldn’t put it down, and hung in there through all the crazy twists and turns (except the one at the end - couldn’t buy that one), anxious to know how everything would turn out.  Therefore, when I found out Stevens had a new book coming out, I immediately knew I wanted to read it - I had to see where the author would take me next.

Once again, I was breathless while reading Never Knowing.  The tension ramps up more slowly in this book than in Stevens’ debut; everything is normal at the beginning (except for Sara).  She is simply contemplating her birth parents and where she came from.  While this is a momentous decision, it is very personal.  It’s only after Sara starts walking down this path that she begins to understand the truth of her origins, which leads to unimaginable consequences.

I really felt for Sara.  She was in an impossible situation, wanting to help but, at the same time, trying to protect herself and her daughter.  It seemed like everything she did was wrong, and I can only imagine the horror of feeling hunted, of never feeling safe.  It would really mess up a person psychologically, and Stevens did an excellent job creating a taut and suspenseful net weaved around Sara’s psychological state.

However, I said before that, at the beginning of the book, everything was normal except for Sara, and therein lay my biggest issue with it.  I didn’t like Sara.  She is completely obsessive and angry and seems to have no self-control. And while I would understand these qualities developing as a result of feeling trapped, she’s like this before the craziness of the book really takes hold.  Her attitude was just difficult and, while I was definitely hooked on the novel, I never warmed to Sara.

Still, Never Knowing was a bite-your-nails thriller that I couldn’t put down.  Despite my issues with Sara, I read this book in one sitting, needing to know how it would turn out.  Stevens does an amazing job writing suspense, and this book proves that her first wasn’t a fluke - she’s become an author to watch.

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Title: Centuries of June
Author: Keith Donohue
ISBN: 9780307450289
Pages: 352
Release Date: May 31, 2011
Publisher: Crown
Genre: Literary Fiction
Source: TLC Book Tours
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Summary:

After a blow to the head, Jack finds himself on the floor of his bathroom. When he comes to, there is a man in his bathroom with him that he can’t identify, someone that reminds him of his father. Sitting on the bathroom floor, Jack is visited by eight different women that tell him a story of love gone wrong set in different periods of history.

Review:

If that summary of Centuries of June sounds strange, it’s not just you. This book is an incredibly unique piece of fiction, one whose entire story takes place on the floor of the bathroom where Jack wakes up at the beginning of the book. Each of the women visiting Jack has a different story; there’s Alice, who was accused of being a witch during the Salem Witch Trials. There’s Dolly, a woman who married a man who was half-bear and shunned for it, and Marie, a beautiful woman who was also a slave. These stories come from near and far, but are all rooted in folklore, mythology, and history, and all happen to be set in or around the month of June.

The question that permeates the novel is what do these stories have to do with Jack? And this is where the book was difficult for me. Though it was incredibly creative, I had trouble focusing on the book and getting through it because I couldn’t see where it was going. Though all of the women’s stories were unique and interesting, I found myself slogging through them at times because there was no larger point to me. It’s the reason I don’t usually read short stories; I don’t often enjoy separate, short works of fiction. I much prefer an overarching narrative.

That being said, once I was on the path to the conclusion of the novel and everything started to come together, I began to fully appreciate the beauty of the book. I appreciated the themes (that I can’t elaborate upon without divulging the truth behind the story) and am in awe of what Donohue attempted to do with this novel, and succeeded in doing on many levels. I wouldn’t hesitate to say that this novel is a breathtaking work of literary fiction, just because of how creative Donohue was with his writing.

That being said, I can’t say I loved the novel, just because I had so much trouble getting through it. I have a lot of appreciation for the book, and if I hadn’t been reading it for a set deadline and had been able to read one story per day, I think I would have enjoyed it more and found it easier to read. If you’re a fan of creative literary fiction and writers who take risks with their work, I don’t hesitate to recommend Centuries of June, with the caveat that it should be read slowly and savored. I personally will come back to it in a few months and reread it, and hope I find more pleasure in the act of reading it, now that I understand the connections in this complex work of fiction.

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Title: Untold Story
Author: Monica Ali
ISBN: 9781451635485
Pages: 272
Release Date: June 28, 2011
Publisher: Scribner
Genre: Literary Fiction
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

In this “what if” novel, Ali tackles the question of Princess Diana of Wales, and specifically, what would have happened if she had faked her death? It’s 10 years later, and “Lydia” has settled comfortably into her new life. She has friends and is a volunteer at the local animal shelter, and though she has some regrets, such as leaving her boys behind, she enjoys her quiet life in the American Midwest. But when a royal photographer happens to be in her small town, Lydia’s perfect life could come crashing down around her all over again.

Review:

When I first heard about the subject of Monica Ali’s novel Untold Story, I didn’t know what to think. After all, the “ripped from the headlines” subject matter seems out of character for her literary writing style. But I was very curious about this book, so I decided to read it, just to see what Ali’s imagination had to say about the princess.

Untold Story is a quiet novel. Most of the book is about Lydia’s rather mundane life, spending time with her friends, pondering her past and her painful memories. It is intensely character driven. Lydia isn’t the most likeable character - she can be very selfish and almost manic at times - but she has an aura of pain and vulnerability around her that is easy to sympathize with. It’s also clear how much she has grown as a person over the years. While at one point in her life, she needed the constant attention of the press, now she is content with her quiet life working with animals.

The drama of the book - the possibility that Lydia’s secret could be exposed to the world - isn’t actually all that dramatic. And that’s because this book really isn’t about the drama. Instead, it’s about the solace Lydia finds in the monotony of her everyday life. Monica Ali’s writing is gorgeous from beginning to end. The grace of her prose really illuminates the beauty in a quiet, well-lived life, especially for someone like Lydia who has had the misfortune to live the opposite.

I went into Untold Story expecting to dislike it, so I was really surprised that I really did enjoy it. It’s a beautiful piece of literary fiction, though I definitely wouldn’t recommend it to all readers. It’s easy to read; it can be slow at times, but that’s the point of the novel. The pace speeds up as the different storylines culminate, and as a result it would be easy to read this book in one or two sittings. If you’re looking for a literary read with a little ripped-from-the-headlines guilty pleasure thrown in, this is the perfect novel to pick up.

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Good morning, all! It’s been a little while since I’ve checked in with Sunday Salon, so I wanted to assure you all that I’m alive and well! Things have been very busy around here, between traveling, work, and hosting guests, so I unfortunately haven’t had much time for blogging or reading. I was also sick for awhile in there and am still recovering two weeks later. So basically, while I had a lot going on, I don’t have a lot to report in the blogging/reading arena. July promises to be slightly quieter, so I’m hoping I can get some good reading in this month, though I haven’t been able to do much so far.

I did start the first book in the Song of Ice and Fire series, A Game of Thrones, and I’ll admit I’m loving it. I’m not one to usually jump on a reading bandwagon, but the series has been on my radar screen for a very long time. When the HBO series came out, I was very interested in seeing it, but knew I wanted to read the book first, so like about a million other people, I’m now reading and enjoying the first book in the series.

This past week (Monday - Friday) was Space Week on my blog, honoring the last launch of the space shuttle and the end of the orbiter program. Atlantis successfully lifted off on Friday, July 8, 2011, at 11:29 AM EDT. While I am sad that the program is over and we don’t have anything currently scheduled for the next phase of space exploration, I’m hopeful that something is in the pipeline and am looking forward to what that might be.

This week, I also posted my Monthly Review for June 2011 and a Google custom search engine for Publishers.

Reviews posted this week: