Title: White Horse
Author: Alex Adams
ISBN: 9781451642995
Pages: 320
Release Date: April 17, 2012
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:

The world has come crashing down around Zoe.  She had a job as a janitor at Pope Pharmaceuticals and everything is normal, until people around Zoe started getting sick.  People keep getting infected until it’s revealed that a genetic mutation has effectively ended the human race.  90% of people will die, 5% will be fine, and the other 5% will mutate into something beyond recognition.  Panicked, Zoe flees to Europe to find the one person who can help her make sense of what's happening.

Review:

White Horse presents a bleak, desperate world in which there is little hope.  The human race is finished.  For those who didn’t contract the mutation, all that’s really left is to live out their lives in peace, and then die, knowing their race is dying along with them.  It’s a situation which most of us can’t even fathom, yet Alex Adams does an incredible job bringing this crumbling society to life through her wonderful descriptions.

The book is told in two different time periods simultaneously; that is, it jumps back and forth through time, so readers are able to see two different Zoes.  She’s never naïve, but does have an innocence that she quickly loses over the course of the book.  Pre-mutation, she comes across as a docile, almost shy woman who wants to keep her head below radar.  In the scenes of the future, she’s a warrior.  She fights for what she wants and what she believes in.  She’s strong, capable, and resourceful.  It’s wonderful to see the character growth and development over the course of the book.

Adams’ worldbuilding in White Horse is done expertly.  Because we get to see the world falling apart in front of us, it’s not difficult to see how the world we know came to be the one Zoe experiences.  She has to face the worst of humanity on her journey; it’s frightening, yet horribly realistic.  Her musings as she wanders are fascinating.  Somehow, despite her situation and what she’s seen, she never loses faith in humanity, a character trait that carried me through this dark book.

White Horse is the first in a trilogy, and it’s incredibly well done.  It’s not clear where the sequels will go, but Adams set up a potentially explosive storyline with the last lines of the book.  There are many dystopian and post-apocalyptic novels being written and published these days, but this is one that’s more than worth your time and effort.  It’s beautiful and haunting, with a surprise around every corner

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Title: Straphanger: Saving Our Cities and Ourselves from the Automobile
Author: Taras Grescoe
ISBN: 9780805091731
Pages: 336
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Times Books
Genre: Non-Fiction, Travel, Social/Psychological
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

In his latest book, Taras Grescoe takes on the reputation of public transportation.  While it’s conventionally viewed as a dirty last resort, Grescoe argues that a revolution in public transit is approaching.  He examines public transportation systems in cities in the US and around the world to see if creating sustainable and affordable transit is an achievable goal.

Review:

Straphanger: Saving Our Cities and Ourselves from the Automobile is many different things rolled up into one neat, easy-to-read package.  It’s a bit of a memoir, exploring Grescoe’s existence as a car-free human being.  It’s a travelogue of sorts, examining different cities, countries, and cultures and how they have reacted to the demands of public transportation.  And it’s a study of urban planning and culture, looking closely at the history of public transportation in the United States.

The book is divided up into different chapters, based on the city Grescoe is currently visiting.  His adventures in New York City are easy to predict - he delivers the history of one of the most-used public transportation systems in the world.  But he also discusses challenges facing the overtaxed system, such as expansion, maintenance, and profitability.  But then, Grescoe moves on to a place like Los Angeles, where the idea of public transit is almost laughable.  He discusses failed attempts at creating some sort of mass transportation and makes it clear as long as city regulations are too car-friendly (such as mandating parking spaces for every building), public transit will never take off.

Grescoe’s writing is clear and very easy to read.  His style is engaging and will make readers want to pay attention and take note of what he is saying.  Because the book is divided into many different chapters, each its own case study, it makes it easy to read this book in bits and pieces.  Indeed, that may be the best approach, as Grescoe packs a lot of wisdom and information into each of his chapters, and it’s worth reflecting on each before moving to the next.

If you are at all interested in urban culture, Straphanger is a must-read.  It’s a fascinating mix of how history, politics, and culture have affected the development of mass transit.  While this may seem like a boring subject, Grescoe makes it very interesting.  In the end, it may make you rethink your policy on utilizing the public transportation in your own city.

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Title: The Future of Us
Author: Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler
ISBN: 9781595144911
Pages: 356
Release Date: November 21, 2011
Publisher: Razorbill
Genre: Teen/YA
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

The year is 1996 and the internet is just starting to become popular.  For teens Emma and Josh, they instant message with friends and set up email accounts using AOL’s free trial.  But when Emma stumbles upon an unfamiliar site, blue and white with the word Facebook in the corner, she’s baffled.  She’s even more confused when she sees herself, fifteen years from now and miserable.  Emma vows that she will not let herself become that sad woman and tries to change her future, heedless of what else she might be creating or destroying.

Review:

Though The Future of Us is a YA novel, aimed at teens, in some ways I feel that’s not its actual audience.  Instead, I think that my generation is the target audience for the book - those of us who were teenagers in the mid-nineties, who remember the free AOL CD’s, spend hours on AOL Instant Messaging, and lived for the “You’ve Got Mail!” chime when we logged into the program.  While teens now probably can’t fathom living without always-on internet and Facebook, I can very much imagine how I’d feel as a teen, logging into AOL and seeing my current Facebook profile.

While I think I’d be very pleased with what I found, Emma is not.  It’s not that she’s not popular or she’s picked on in school, quite the opposite, in fact.  But she hasn’t found real satisfaction in her life.  She doesn’t really like the guys she dates and she reassures herself by thinking that her post-high school life will be fulfilling and happy.  When she discovers her future self on Facebook and finds that all is not well, she’s understandably shattered.  She decides to change her future and does so in very clever ways.

It’s amazing how much The Future of Us feels like the ‘90s.  From the pop culture references to the technology, Asher and Mackler really do an excellent job bringing that period to life.  I was constantly chuckling at the book, recognizing people I knew back in high school in the characters.  There is a bit of teen angst that I didn’t love in the book, but overall, Asher and Mackler do an excellent job probing the meaning of happiness.  What does it mean to be happy, and what are the consequences of each small action we take, or those we choose not to?  I loved this discussion, as well as the thoughts it provoked as I was reading.

Overall, The Future of Us is a fun, enjoyable read that readers who remember the ‘90s fondly will love.  Though it is a YA book with teenage characters, I’m not sure how much today’s teens will get out of it, as they may become bored with the constant references to pop culture they don’t understand.  Emma and Josh are solid characters, though not without their overly fair share of angst; I enjoyed this trip down memory lane and appreciate that the authors took so much care in bringing my teenage years to life in this book.

Other books by Jay Asher:

Thirteen Reasons Why

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Title: Pack of Lies
Author: Laura Anne Gilman
ISBN: 9780373803248
Pages: 384
Release Date: January 18, 2011
Publisher: Luna
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

Bonita Torres is back, along with the Private Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations team (PUPI for short), and they’ve just landed one of their biggest cases yet.  Unfortunately, it’s also a bomb just waiting to go off; the implications of it, as well as what they find, could ignite a war between the human magical community, called the Cosa Nostradamus, and fatae.  Can Bonnie and her colleagues figure out what is going on before it’s too late?

Review:

Pack of Lies is the sequel to Hard Magic, and it really fleshes out and explores the world that Gilman worked hard to build.  Readers who enjoy an intricate and complex backstory will love learning the tidbits about the Cosa Nostradamus and fatae that Gilman has sprinkled through this novel.  Though she answers questions and provides information, Gilman does it in a way that will make readers even more curious about this world she’s created.

The mystery behind Pack of Lies is an intriguing, if somewhat confusing, one.  Readers will need to pay close attention to all the details given over the course of the investigation or they may end up puzzled by the process of obtaining the final verdict.  Gilman doesn’t treat her reader with kid gloves, instead plunging them deep into this world and presenting them with a very strange scenario.  It’s incredibly well done, and while it’s a gripping mystery, it also serves to educate the reader more about this well-conceived world.

I mentioned in my review of Hard Magic that Bonnie irritated me a bit, but that I predicted her rough edges would soften in future books, and I was completely right.  I actually really liked Bonita in Pack of Lies.  She's grown up quite a bit, as she grapples with the gravity of her everyday occupation.  She’s a hard worker and throws herself into PUPI, giving them everything she has and more, and it’s gratifying to see someone so young dedicated to something larger than themselves.  I really look forward to getting to know her more in future books.

With Pack of Lies, Laura Anne Gilman has really solidified a great urban fantasy series.  If you’re looking for something a bit different than your normal read, but something that isn’t too far our of reach, this is a great book to pick up.  Set in our normal world, yet containing goings-on just under the surface, Gilman will introduce you to an entire new reality.  The third book in the series, Tricks of the Trade, is already out and I’m looking forward to reading it.

Other books by Laura Anne Gilman:

Hard Magic
Flesh and Fire

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Title: The First Warm Evening of the Year
Author: Jamie M. Saul
ISBN: 9780061449727
Pages: 304
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

Geoffrey Tremont is in love with his bachelorhood in New York City.  His life is uncomplicated, he has a flexible job he loves, and a girlfriend who puts no demands on him.  He has no idea that his life is about to be turned upside down, starting with a registered letter from a lawyer’s office in upstate New York.  It turns out that Geoffrey’s friend from college, Laura, has died and named him the executor of her estate for reasons that Geoffrey doesn’t know.  He travels to her home and there, he meets Marian, Laura’s best friend, and he learns about Laura’s life.

Review:

The First Warm Evening of the Year is about love.  All-consuming, passionate, knock-your-socks-off love.  It’s what Geoffrey experiences the first time he sees Marian.  He finds contentment in his simple life without any commitments or strings attached; he never thought he was missing anything.  That is, until he meets Marian and realizes how much more is out there.  It wonderful to watch Geoffrey really begin to live, especially because, though Marian is the catalyst, it isn’t about her.  It’s about Geoffrey learning to love life for himself.

But The First Warm Evening of the Year is also about other, quieter types of love.  It’s about the simple, friendly love that Laura and Geoffrey had for one another, and the fondness with which Laura remembered it.  It’s about the very complicated love Laura had for her brother, Simon, and the consequences of which Geoffrey much deal with now that she’s gone. 

Indeed, Simon presents an interesting twist to the seemingly simple storyline of The First Warm Evening of the Year.  At first glance, Simon is selfish and has made a complete wreck of his life.  Though he professes to be profoundly shaken by the fact that his sister is dead, Geoffrey isn’t sure what to think after his previous run-ins with Simon.  It’s only after Geoffrey spends some time with him that he sees how truly broken Simon is, how much he has suffered under the weight of others’ expectations.  Though Simon isn’t completely redeemable - he does act abominably in multiple instances - he reminds the reader that things are not always as straightforward as they seem.

Overall, The First Warm Evening of the Year is a contemplative, thoughtful read.  It’s not slow by any means, as it moves forward at a steady pace, but it also doesn’t rush to any conclusion.  This book is about the masterful building of characters and situations, coming together until they reach a breaking point and the reader knows something must change.  Readers who enjoy thoughtful stories of love and loss will enjoy this well-written novel.

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Title: The Lilac House
Author: Anita Nair
ISBN: 9780312606770
Pages: 352
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Genre: Literary Fiction, Cultural Fiction (South Asian)
Source: LibraryThing Early Reviewers 
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

Meena enjoys being a corporate wife, so much that she wrote a bestselling book about it.  But when her beloved husband, Giri, leaves her unexpectedly, Meena doesn’t know what to do or how to support her children, mother, and grandmother, all of whom live together in a lilac house in Bangalore, India.  At the party where Giri leaves her, Meena meets Professor J.A. Krishnamurthy, also known as Jak, who has problems of his own.  His beloved daughter, Smriti, was grievously injured in an accident, but Jak wants to learn the truth about what really happened to her.

Review:

The Lilac House features two very different, but strong characters: Meena and Jak.  Meena is proud of her status as a corporate wife and bestselling cookbook writer, but things aren’t as rosy as they appear under the surface.  After Giri leaves, Meena is desperate to write another book, but her publisher has lost faith in her.  She must draw on all her mental and emotional resources as she tries to provide for her family.  Though Meena starts out the book primarily defined as a wife, she quickly breaks out of that mold, becoming an independent and capable woman in her own right.

Jak’s situation is a bit more complicated than Meena’s in The Lilac House.  He is a bereft father; his wife has left him and taken their other daughter, so Smriti is all Jak has left.  He is consumed by her tragic fate.  The only thing that will bring him peace is to learn what happened to Smriti, yet the more he is informed about his daughter’s actions, the more disillusioned he becomes.  Meena serves to ground Jak, to remind him why life is worth living, even when things appear bleak.

Jak is an expert on cyclones, and it’s this profession that frames the narrative.  Just as storms have their stages and cycles, so does the book.  It makes for an interesting structure, as readers have a preview of the tone of what is to happen through Jak’s writings.

Though the storyline and title of The Lilac House may make it seem like a light, easy read, it’s definitely not that.  The writing is very literary and the book moves at a slow pace.  Nair has beautiful prose, to be sure, but those looking for a quick, satisfying read won’t find it within these pages.  Indeed, Nair chooses to avoid tidy endings, preferring the complication and messiness of real life.  She also tackles many issues that make the book very relevant.

If you’re interested in contemporary novels that include issues that face modern India, yet are, at their core, about the lives people lead, The Lilac House is a great pick.  It’s not the easiest read, but it’s well worth is as Nair brings India alive for the reader and illuminates her setting through her descriptive prose.  The characters are vibrant and well-written, and though the book could have easily become dry, Nair ensures that it’s full of the wonder and richness that readers of literary fiction truly enjoy.

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Title: Afterwards
Author: Rosamund Lupton
ISBN: 9780307716545
Pages: 400
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Crown
Genre: Literary Mystery
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:

When Grace sees a fire engulfing the private school her daughter is an assistant teacher at, she runs into the flames to save Jenny.  Moments later, Grace awakens at a hospital, staring down at her own body.  She and Jenny are both in comas, but their spirits are alive and free to roam the halls.  Desperate for answers, Grace and Jenny follow the people they know and love and try to deduce what could possibly have led to the fire that hurt them both.

Review:

Afterwards is a twisty thriller, full of mystery and puzzles that will keep the reader interested.  From the beginning, it’s clear that the fire wasn’t an accident.  After all, Jenny was the only one who was supposed to be in the building at the time it was set.  The question is, was the fire about the school as a whole, or was Jenny a target?  This question opens up all possibilities, as Grace must delve into the politics of the the school as well as probe her daughter’s personal life in order to figure out what has happened.

But Grace and Jenny are limited in what they can accomplish.  Because they are spirits, rather than solid beings, they can’t interact with the world around them.  They can leave the hospital (with some difficulty), but they can’t affect events.  It’s frustrating for Grace to have to wait patiently while others do the digging for her, though her sister-in-law Sarah is a wonderful resource. By observing, Grace gains a whole new appreciation for those around her as she sees how much people care about her and her children.

However, Afterwards does have some flaws, though these didn’t really hamper my enjoyment of the book as a whole.  Grace often comes across as smug in her love for her children, which can be frustrating for the reader.  Additionally, there is no explanation given for why Grace and Jenny end up as these spirit-like forms; it’s just a given that readers will accept it and move on.  The book is also a bit predictable.  While it never lost my interest, it’s clear from almost the first page what the final fate of these two characters will be. If you pay attention to the story, it’s not too difficult to guess the end result of the mystery either, though the final identity of the arsonist was still a shock to me.

Despite these issues, Afterwards was still an enjoyable read.  Lupton has an incredible way with words, writing very literary mysteries that are breathtaking in their beauty.  Her prose is mesmerizing, and it will captivate the reader from beginning to end.  Readers’ hearts will break as an innocent boy is fingered for the crime and it will renew their resolve to find the culprit.  The narrative is taut and suspenseful, and even if the reader sees where the mystery is going, it’s still a wild ride to the conclusion.

Other books by Rosamund Lupton:

Sister

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Happy Sunday, everyone! Today’s a dreary day in the DC area, which might make it a perfect reading day!  Yesterday was the 24-hour readathon, and while I didn’t participate, I hope those who did got a lot of reading done and have today to relax and sleep!  I’ll admit I’m planning on doing that as well - the sickness that waylaid me last week is still lingering.  While I’m feeling much better than my worst, I’m still not at 100%, which has become very frustrating. I think a doctor’s visit might be in order if it’s around too much longer.

I’ve had quite a few interesting articles at the SheKnows Book Lounge I want to share.  My latest Fiction vs. Non-Fiction mash-up is up.  These are challenging articles to write, but I like to get creative with my picks! I also presented five books for those of you interested in the Titanic in The Titanic: Five Book Picks. In this months Fiction vs. TV, I’ve written about book picks for all you Mad Men fans. Finally, I’ve picked Sarah Pekkanen’s These Girls as the Red Hot Book of the Week and Letters from a Stranger by Barbara Taylor Bradford as a must-read.

This week, the space shuttle Discovery flew into the Washington, DC area, and while I didn’t get to go out to see it installed in the Udvar-Hazy center (a combination of needing to work and being sick), I did get to see it fly into DC.  I got some wonderful pictures of it, but I’ve posted my favorite below!

Reviews posted this week:

The Song Remains the Same - Allison Winn Scotch	The Orchid House - Lucinda Riley
Ashes to Dust - Yrsa Sigurdardottir	Five Bells - Gail Jones
The Griff - Christopher Moore & Ian Corson	The Language of Baklava - Diana Abu-Jaber

Title: The Language of Baklava
Author: Diana Abu-Jaber
ISBN: 9781400077762
Pages: 352
Release Date: March 14, 2006
Publisher: Anchor
Genre: Memoir, Cultural, Non-Fiction
Source: Personal Copy
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:

In this memoir, author Diana Abu-Jaber reminisces about her childhood, growing up in the very different worlds of Jordan and the United States. 

Review:

Memoirs about dueling cultures are always interesting, but Diana Abu-Jaber adds an extra layer to hers by telling it through the prism of food.  Diana’s father was obsessed with food while she was growing up and it was his dream to open a restaurant.  As a result, food played an important part in her life.  Food was a constant source of comfort to her and her family, and Diana remembers the best and worst of times through the different dishes that were present.  As a result, it makes a wonderful book for foodies, as her descriptions and the recipes included are simply delectable.

Diana’s stories in The Language of Baklava are simple and unremarkable, yet at the same time beautiful and timeless.  She writes about everyday life, rather than the earth-shattering events - the indignation of an American teenager being uprooted and moved to Jordan, playing with a boy with a red scooter in Jordan - these are experiences many can relate to.  She writes about the immigrant experience perfectly; anyone who has experience with or was raised by immigrants will likely recognize the stories that she tells, in some shape or form.

Abu-Jaber’s writing is breathtaking as she describes her childhood experience.  There is a wisdom, a grace behind her words.  Readers will feel her warmth as they are enveloped by the embrace of her memoir.  The tone of the memoir is light-hearted, though there are some more serious memories within its pages.  It focuses on the importance of food and family, a series of vignettes that travel forward through her life.  The structure makes it easy to read and her writing style makes it a joy to experience.

The Language of Baklava is the perfect choice for anyone who loves thoughtful but not self-indulgent memoirs, books with amazing descriptions of food, and reads that profile the immigrant experience.  It mixes all three of these elements in a beautiful way, rendering a compulsively readable book that readers won’t be able to put down. 

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Title: The Griff
Author: Christopher Moore & Ian Corson
ISBN: 9780061977527
Pages: 160
Release Date: July 19, 2011
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Graphic Novel
Source: Publisher
Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary:

Aliens have invaded Earth, and human civilization is in shambles.  Steve, Mo, and Curt are three tough New Yorkers who’ve decided they’ve had enough of these lizard-dinosaur-like intruders.  They make their way to Florida, where they believe they can hit these aliens where it hurts.

Review:

The Griff is a fun graphic novel that doesn’t take itself too seriously, despite the seemingly dire premise.  The story is humorous and the characters keep things light.  Though they are amusing, they don’t really stand out.  It’s not clear whether Moore meant to satirize comic book stereotypes through Mo (the takes-no-prisoners hot video game chick), Steve (the skateboarder), and Curt (the tough weapons expert) by creating clichéd characters, yet these people come across as caricatures.  There isn’t really anything to distinguish them from every other comic book character out there.

Unfortunately, the same holds true for the story.  While the premise is fun and unique, there are few surprises to be found in the plot.  The execution just comes across as dull.  While the story is, without question, a fun, quick read, it doesn’t set itself apart from any other graphic novel.  Indeed, I’m having trouble finding anything to say about it in this  review because it’s a bit unremarkable.  Though I haven’t read anything else by this author, I’ll admit I had higher expectations going in because I’ve read great things about his novels.

The artwork in The Griff is by Ian Corson, and it’s worth taking a look at.  Corson uses vivid, bold colors and does a great job setting the characters apart.  The depiction of the invaders is also well done.  While the artwork is spot-on, the characters and plot execution leave something to be desired, and as a result, I’d recommend picking up one of Moore’s print novels rather than this graphic novel.

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Title: Five Bells
Author: Gail Jones
ISBN: 9781250003737
Pages: 224
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Publisher: Picador
Genre: Literary Fiction
Source: Publisher
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Summary:

It’s a hot summer day in Sydney outside the Sydney opera house.  Four different people will travel through this space, called Circular Quay, over the course of the day.  Though seemingly random, they each are connected to one another in some small way.  Catherine is still mourning the death of her brother Brendan years after his death, while Ellie has traveled to Sydney to meet James.  James is caught up in the death of a young girl, for which he feels responsible, while Pei Xing recalls the difficulties of living in Maoist China.

Review:

Five Bells is a beautiful work of literary fiction about four very different people.  Jones’ writing is beautiful; it flows smoothly, softening out cracks and rough edges.  Each of these characters is experiencing some sort of grief or loss - it’s part of what connects them and ties them together - and Jones’ descriptions of these emotions are simply stunning.  She takes these difficult feelings and turns them into something poetic, worthy of song, making them a little easier to bear.

Of the four characters, Pei Xing jumped out the most to me.  The horrors she experienced in China were so realistically portrayed that readers will want to weep on her behalf.  She’s a widow now, in her sixties, but her best years were spent in Communist China under Mao’s rule.  She has experienced so much loss, yet she still lives on, determined to make something in her life good.  I admired her strength and resilience, as a lesser woman would have crumbled under the weight of her memories.

However, though Pei Xing was the most interesting part of the novel to me, she didn’t quite fit into the rest of the story.  She was the odd one out; it seemed as though her story should have been reserved for an entire book of its own, as there’s so much to tell.  The book also jumps around quite a bit among its narrators, and there isn’t always an indication that the speaker has switched, which can make for a difficult read. 

Still, Five Bells is a beautiful, contemplative book about the complexities of life and the difficulties of grief.  Jones has created very layered characters in James and Pei Xing (Ellie and Catherine don’t seem as well explored), and the setting of the novel really comes alive through her prose.  If you love interconnected stories about seemingly random people, this is a book you should definitely explore.

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Title: Ashes to Dust
Author: Yrsa Sigurdardottir
ISBN: 9780312641740
Pages: 368
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Genre: Crime Fiction
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:

Thirty-five years after a volcano erupted, covering the tiny Icelandic village of Heimaey in ash, excavators have returned to uncover the remains of the town.  Through it’s well known that no one perished in the eruption, and that everyone was safely evacuated, three corpses and one severed head are found in the basement of the Magnusson home.  Lawyer Thora Gudmundsdottir represents Markus Magnusson, who hired Thora to stop the excavation, and as a result, he is the police’s first suspect.  Now Thora must endeavor to clear Markus’ name while also finding the truth behind the bodies.

Review:

Yrsa Sigurdardottir is another Scandinavian crime fiction author, one who is still new to the United States market.  With Ashes to Dust, that may change quickly, as it’s a twisty, gripping mystery that will leave readers guessing until the very end.  From the beginning, Thora believes Markus when he says he is innocent, for a good reason - he never would have led her into the basement of his old home if he knew what was hidden there.  Additionally, Markus was just a boy when these men’s bodies were likely placed in the basement.  Thora has too many suspects - everyone in the village - and yet none at all, as no one knows who these people actually were.  Everyone who lived in the village was accounted for in the evacuation.

Thus begins the race against the clock to discover the true story behind these corpses.  It’s an old mystery, which makes it harder to solve.  The children of Heimaey are now adults with children of their own.  No one has any real interest in helping Thora, especially when doing so might expose their own secrets.  Sigurdardottir writes at an expert pace, smoothly keeping the plot moving while not giving away too much too quickly.  It makes for an entertaining and captivating read.

Though Ashes to Dust is the third book in the Thora Gudmundsdottir series, readers won’t have many problems reading this novel as a standalone, as I did.  Thora’s personal life is a bit complicated and that aspect can be confusing, but otherwise it’s easy to fall right into this book.  Thora herself is an appealing, attractive main character for this book.  She’s smart, determined, and resourceful, and she does an excellent job getting answers out of the most stubborn interviewees.  I look forward to going back and learning more about her in Last Rituals and My Soul to Take.

Though Ashes to Dust was the first I’d heard of Yrsa Sigurdardottir, it definitely won’t be the last.  With her confident writing style and twisty story lines, fans of crime fiction (especially of the Scandinavian variety) won’t be able to put this book down.  Sigurdardottir has developed an excellent main character for her series and I look forward to seeing where she takes Thora next.

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Title: The Orchid House
Author: Lucinda Riley
ISBN: 9781451655780
Pages: 464
Release Date: February 14, 2012 
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

Julia Forrester has experienced a tragedy that has left her unable to play music, though she is a concert pianist.  She finds solace in nothing.  When she finds out Wharton Park, the grand house where she spent her childhood, is being sold, Julia seeks it out along with her sister and once again meets the heir to the estate, Kit Crawford.  Kit and Julia find a diary in Julia’s grandparents’ old home, one which must have belong to Julia’s now-deceased grandfather.  Julia asks her grandmother about the diary and, in return, is told a story that spans generations and is about love and loss.

Review:

The Orchid House is two dramatic stories melded into one overarching saga that spans generations.  At the beginning, the focus is on Julia.  It’s clear she’s in mourning, and though the reader receives bits and pieces of her story through secondary characters, it takes time for the full scope of her loss to come through.  Readers will feel sorry for her, though some may find her frustrating.  She’s a bit of a doormat, and it’s not due to the tragedy.  She doesn’t really assert herself, preferring to go along with dominant personalities, which can be a difficult quality.

The second storyline is that of Julia’s grandmother, Elsie, and Olivia, the last lady of Wharton Park.  The tale of Olivia’s girlhood is a fun one, though readers will know that things can’t remain this happy forever.  That cloud hangs over the entire novel, especially as Harry, the heir to Wharton Park, makes one selfish decision after another, taking away any chance anyone involved with him may have found at happiness.  Readers will be appalled by Harry while simultaneously being riveted by his story.  Though the tale has an overwrought quality at times, that doesn’t make it any less interesting to read.

Lucinda Riley’s writing style in The Orchid House is really breathtaking.  She has a melodic, soft quality to her writing, which makes the reader really fall into the story.  Her descriptions are lush and gorgeous.  Readers will be able to feel the heat of Thailand, picture the old grandeur of Wharton Park, and to hear the young Olivia’s vivacious laugh.  It’s really wonderfully done, with one caveat: the dialogue is also written in this style, which is jarring.  While it’s beautiful to read, it’s unfortunately completely unrealistic.

The Orchid House presents some wonderful twists and turns for readers, making this a gripping read from beginning to end.  While it has some minor flaws, overall, it’s an enjoyable, beautifully written novel that takes readers from one corner of the world to another in search of answers.  It’s also the story of Julia’s attempt to find herself and what she stands for, especially in the face of the tragedies she’s experienced.  If you’re in the mood for a dramatic, yet satisfying book, The Orchid House is a great choice to keep you entertained.

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Title: The Song Remains the Same
Author: Allison Winn Scotch
ISBN: 9780399157585
Pages: 320
Release Date: April 12, 2012
Publisher: Putnam
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:

A woman wakes up in the hospital.  She has no memory of who she is or how she got there.  Slowly, she learns that she is Nell Slattery, one of two survivors of a plane crash.  She learns that she is married, is an art gallery owner, and has a sister.  As Nell tries to piece her life back together through the information others give her, she must rediscover who she is and if she’s living the life she always wanted to.

Review:

Amnesia seems to be an increasingly popular storyline in women’s fiction today, yet Allison Winn Scotch puts her trademark unique spin on the subject in The Song Remains the Same.  Instead of resorting to clichés and overused plot devices, Scotch wipes the slate clean, making this story fresh and new.  Like anyone else in her situation, Nell wants only to discover who she was.  She’s not afraid of finding the bad along with the good, but she’s having trouble because it seems that everyone around her has an agenda when it comes to her memories.  It’s not that people are keeping things from her to be malicious, but that they have their own narrative of how Nell’s life should proceed and are ensuring that, by keeping information from her, she is sticking to that.

It’s frustrating for Nell to have so few pieces with which to put her life back together, so she begins to focus on the one subject no one seems to want to talk about: her absent father.  It’s clear that Nell had a close relationship with her father before he left their family when she was a child.  She becomes convinced that her father is the magic key to her memories, her happiness, and everything in between.  Through this focus on the father-daughter relationship, Scotch elevates The Song Remains the Same from an amnesia story to the tale of a daughter searching for a father, with all of its messy repercussions.  It’s the story of a woman who just wants to be loved for who she is.

Nell also reevaluates her life because of her amnesia.  She will make readers want to examine their own lives, as she weeds out her beige furniture and boring wardrobe.  “Is this where I wanted to be when I was twenty?” readers will ask themselves.  In many ways, she serves as an inspiration.  Though she faced horrible circumstances, she came through them with a positive attitude, despite her failing memory.  It’s only as the book progresses that the reader realizes - and Nell herself realizes - that she is, in fact, broken.

The Song Remains the Same is a quick read, but it's also beautiful and contemplative.  Scotch’s focus on music as Nell’s source of solace will resonate with music-loving readers as they see themselves in this complicated woman.  Book clubs shouldn’t hesitate to pick up this book, as they’ll want to dissect Nell and the motives of those around her.  Scotch has written another winner, one of her best yet, and I’m already eagerly anticipating her next book.

Other books by Allison Winn Scotch:

The Department of Lost and Found
Time of My Life
The One That I Want

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Happy Sunday everyone!  This week, I did something unprecedented with my blog - I took a short review hiatus.  I’ve been having a lot of trouble keeping up with everything blog related, from email to getting reviews written and posted. When I returned from my week-long trip on Monday, I found myself with no reviews in the buffer, 15 outstanding reviews to write, and no time to do it in.  I decided it would be best for all involved if I took a short break to catch up - after all, the last thing I wanted to do was hurry through the writing of these reviews and not give each of these books the thoughtfulness they deserve.  I was planning on starting out tomorrow fresh and completely caught up.

Life, of course, had other plans.  On Wednesday, I fell sick with some sort of dastardly illness (really, a bad cold) and I have been completely useless ever since.  In hindsight, the hiatus was completely necessary because otherwise I would have been writing cold medicine-induced reviews like “Book=good. Go buy now!” Seriously. This is how bad my attention span is.  However, while I did a bit of catching up, I’m not nearly where I want to be which means that another hiatus is probably coming.  I’m not sure when, but it’ll be over a few days where I know I can really concentrate on blog reviews.

I’ve also decided to stop posting on Saturdays.  Saturdays are always my lowest traffic days (presumably people are running errands and spending time with their families, rather than reading blogs), so it makes sense.  Plus, it takes some of the pressure off.  If I find myself with tons of reviews, I may start posting again on Saturdays, but for now, I’m using that day to take a step back.

Thanks to all of you for your patience! I hate having to take breaks/eliminate days, but I keep telling myself that I’ll catch up when life slows down a bit and I cut down on traveling…but that hasn’t happened for the last year, so I can’t keep telling myself that.  I appreciate you all sticking with me!

I’m going on a short review hiatus on my blog starting today.  I posted earlier that it’s becoming difficult to stay current on reviews (I have something like 15 outstanding to write) and I need some time to write all those and get caught up in other areas of my blog (for example, my scary looking inbox).

Don’t worry, I’m not burning out or considering quitting.  I just need a few days to get all my stuff together.  I’ll be back with my regularly scheduled reviews starting Monday!

Title: These Girls
Author: Sarah Pekkanen
ISBN: 9781451612547
Pages: 336
Release Date: April 10, 2012
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

Cate, Renee, and Abby are three young single women living together in New York City. Cate is the new features editor of Gloss magazine and is focused on making her first issue in that position a success. However, Cate is haunted by a secret from her past, one that could tear down all that she's worked to accomplish. Renee also works at Gloss and is angling for a promotion, but she feels that her curvy body holds her back and is desperate to shed some pounds. Abby was working as a nanny in Maryland to an adorable young girl, but she fled to New York for reasons unknown. Each of these women must face her own trials, but they will find support in one another.

Review:

Sarah Pekkanen's third novel is a breezy yet contemplative novel that pays tribute to the power of female friendships. Though they live together, Cate and Renee aren't exactly close friends. They each feel alone in the world, weighed down by their own problems. Similarly, Abby doesn't have anyone to turn to after things go badly at her nanny job. She flees to her brother, who sets her up as Cate's and Renee's third roommate. As Cate and Renee care for emotionally fragile Abby, they begin to open up to one another and become a true support system for each other.

All three characters in These Girls are interesting and complex, but it's Renee that really captured my attention. She's a beautiful, curvy woman who isn't bone thin (and if she were, it wouldn't suit her body type or her vivacious personality), but the women she is surrounded by at the magazine have the body she wants. Indeed, she's afraid that she might be passed over for a promotion because she doesn't fit the "look" of the magazine. Her body image issues are sad, but even worse, this message is all-too-relevant in today's society. Through Renee, Pekkanen comments on societal pressure to be thin, and the difficult and often dangerous consequences that can have for women.

Cate is also a fascinating character in These Girls. She has accomplished a lot in her years at the magazine - being named features editor at such a young age is almost unheard of in the magazine industry. She feels a lot of pressure to perform, especially when those who work for her challenge her authority. Cate's story focuses more on the professional side, while Abby's hones in on matters of the heart. Each of these women are realistic and Pekkanen avoids the character clichés that seem to plague women's fiction novels these days.

Overall, These Girls is an enjoyable novel that readers will likely want to devour in one sitting. The realistic characters and the issues they must face will have reads itching to discuss the contents of this book, and as a result, it would make a great book club pick. This is a great choice for those new to Pekkanen's work, but her devoted fans will be satisfied with this novel as well.

Other books by Sarah Pekkanen:

The Opposite of Me
Skipping a Beat

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Title: The Submission
Author: Amy Waldman
ISBN: 9780374271565
Pages: 320
Release Date: August 16, 2011
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Genre: Literary Fiction
Source: Amazon Vine
Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:

It’s two years after the 9/11 attacks, and America’s psyche still hasn’t quite recovered from those awful events.  Claire Burwell’s husband died in the attacks, and she is representing the families of those who perished on a jury to pick a memorial design for Ground Zero.  The contest is anonymous, with no names associated with the designs the jury considers.  After much deliberation, a design is chosen, but when it is revealed that the author is Muslim - Mohammad “Mo” Khan - it wreaks havoc on the jury, as well as the nation.

Review:

The Submission is a beautifully written, provocative novel that will leave readers reeling from its powerful message.  Through the character of Mo Khan, an American-born architect who happens to be Muslim, Waldman asks the reader what it means to be an American.  Does religion supersede nationality?  Time and again, Khan explains to those against him that he is an American, yet it seems that no one will listen to him.  America is a nation of many cultures, religions, and political views, yet there is a streak of intolerance running through the country that Waldman doesn’t hesitate to uncover and probe.

The ignorant and prejudiced declarations about Muslims in The Submission are horribly ugly, yet the worst part of it is that there’s nothing new being said.  We’ve all heard the stereotypes, the awful generalizations, the ridiculous assumption that every Muslim is automatically a terrorist.  The sad truth is that what Waldman writes in her novel is completely believable - no reader would have trouble imagining that this is exactly how events might unfold, should this situation have occurred in real life.  Indeed, some of the discourse is reminiscent of the building of the Vietnam War Memorial, which is mentioned over the course of the book.

The real strength of the novel, and what keeps it from being a sort of cliché, is its characters.  Despite the fact that Mo becomes the face of Islam in the United States, of a people struggling to be accepted in their own country, he’s not some paragon of virtue that wins hearts and minds.  Instead, he’s difficult, arrogant, and often immature.  Claire, the seemingly perfect tragic widow, also has her own issues.  She’s struggling to be a single mother, while also bearing the burden of representing each and every family that lost a loved one.  She wants to stick to her principles, but when is that price too high?  These personal issues, so real and relevant, elevate the novel to another level entirely.

Waldman also doesn’t give the reader a tidy, neat story with a perfect ending.  Instead, it’s messy, as are the lives we live on a daily basis.  By its very nature, the book provokes discussion and questions, and it doesn’t seek to answer all of them.  Instead, it leaves the reader haunted by questions of intolerance and prejudice, while also wondering at the price of healing and adhering to one’s principles.  Waldman’s graceful prose makes the novel a pleasant read, despite its difficult subject matter.

The title The Submission is an ingenious one with which to label the book.  It has a dual meaning - Mo’s submission to the committee, his design and the controversy that erupts around it.  But it also means submission to one’s principles, or submission to the crowd mentality.  Submission to Allah is a common theme within Islam, and those interested in the final fate of Ground Zero ask themselves whether this submission is incorporated into Mo’s submission, his final design.  The title is one of those topics that can be discussed endlessly; indeed, the entire novel will leave readers itching to talk about it and share it.

I can’t say much more about The Submission except that it is one of my top reads of 2012.  It is so beautiful and powerful, even in its ugliness and most desperate moments.  I can’t describe with words what Amy Waldman has accomplished with this book; it’s amazingly relevant and incredibly thoughtful.  This is one of those books that will stick with me for a very long time.

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Title: The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier
Author: Ree Drummond
ISBN: 9780061997181
Pages: 304
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Publisher: William Morrow Cookbooks
Genre: Cookbook
Source: Gift from Author - Personal Copy
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review:

I'm a huge fan of Ree Drummond (also known as The Pioneer Woman), from her memoir to her cookbooks to her blog to her Twitter feed, so when I heard she was coming out with a new cookbook, I was ecstatic. Ree was kind enough to send me a copy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food From My Frontier as a gift, and though I was under no obligation to review it, I wanted to because I adore it so much. (Also, look at the awesome inscription I was greeted with upon opening it!)

The cookbook is divided into different sections, including Breakfast, Lunch, Pasta and Pizza, Sides, and Supper, and it has an index in case you're searching for a particular recipe. While she does include stories and photos from the ranch as she did in her previous cookbook, it's very clear that this one has one primary focus: food. The book contains over 100 recipes in all sorts of genres, so you're sure to find something you love here. While the main theme isn't really healthy food, Ree does offer salads and other light fare for your dining pleasure. The point of the cookbook is to make wholesome, delicious food at home for yourself and your family.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier has step-by-step photographs for each recipe, so you know what everything is supposed to look like. Not only are the pictures beautiful, but this makes it an ideal resource for beginner cooks. It would make a perfect gift for someone who doesn't know their way around a kitchen. If you're a more experienced cook, though, don't think that means these recipes are too simple for you. While they're easy enough for a weeknight dinner, they're creative and full of flavor.

The cookbook contains some recipes from Ree's website (tweaked and perfected), some from her TV show, and some completely original recipes to try. I'm a huge fan of Ree's Pasta with Pesto Cream Sauce, so I was thrilled to see it in her book. My husband is not generally a fan of pesto, but I thought that making it into a cream sauce might entice him, so I tried it. The warm, mouthwatering combination of heavy cream and fresh basil was divine and we were both huge fans of this dish. I'm looking forward to trying such recipes as the White Chicken Enchiladas, Cowgirl Quiche (I'll admit I've never made a quiche, but I can't think of a better teacher than Ree to guide me when I try it for the first time), and a Spicy Carnitas Pizza. Usually when I get a cookbook, a few recipes here and there will appeal to me, but with The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier, I want to make almost all of them.

I can't say enough great things about The Pioneer Woman in general, or this cookbook specifically.  I'll definitely be buying copies for friends, as this is going to be my go-to gift for this year. If you haven't tried The Pioneer Woman, check out her website and try some of her recipes for herself. If you like what you find (which I can't imagine you wouldn't), don't hesitate to buy this cookbook.

Other books by Ree Drummond:

The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels

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Title: The Riesling Retribution
Author: Ellen Crosby
ISBN: 9781439137642
Pages: 352
Release Date: July 27, 2010
Publisher: Pocket Books
Genre: Mystery
Source: Personal Copy
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

When Lucie's Gator breaks down in a remote part of her vineyard, she's mildly annoyed. After all, it's just the latest in a series of mishaps and accidents that have been plaguing her operation. But this latest problem turns potentially deadly when Lucie sees a tornado forming and has no way to escape. Luckily, Lucie emerges unscathed from the storm, but the vineyard suffers damage. The tornado also unearths a skeleton, buried for many years, which prompts a police investigation. Their main suspect? Lucie's dead father. As Lucie struggles to protect her father's good name, she most also deal with difficulties around her vineyard.

Review:

The fourth novel in Ellen Crosby's Wine Country Mystery series finds Lucie plagued with problems, so much so that this novel isn't really a mystery. Instead, it's a grouping of disparate storylines, some mysterious and others not. Though the dead body is important to the novel, it's these strange "accidents" that are really the core of the novel. When people begin pointing fingers at one another, who should Lucie believe? Does she truly trust her head winemaker Quinn, whom she's had personal and professional issues with since he came to work at the vineyard? It's very important for Lucie and Quinn's ongoing and tempestuous relationship that this question is finally dealt with, and it's happily tackled in this novel.

The Riesling Retributon is certainly interesting - there's a Civil War reenactment happening on Lucie's lands while all these other issues are ongoing, which gives the novel a historical flavor. Lucie's personal life also takes center stage, as her brother must finally face how bad his financial situation is, a storyline that has been developing over the past three books. All in all, it's enjoyable and worth reading, but it probably won’t be very appealing if you haven't read the previous books in the series. This is definitely a follow-up, a continuation, rather than a standalone novel. If a reader were to treat it as such, they would likely be disappointed and confused, as there is a lot that carries over from previous books.

For fans of this mystery series, though, The Riesling Retribution is a welcome addition to this group of books. Lingering questions are answered and new overarching storylines are developed, paving the way for exciting future books. It's very satisfying for those who follow the series, though it is a quieter installment than the novels that have come before it.

Other books by Ellen Crosby:

The Merlot Murders - Ellen Crosby
The Bordeaux Betrayal - Ellen Crosby

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Title: Tempest
Author: Julie Cross
ISBN: 9780312568894
Pages: 352
Release Date: January 17, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Genre: Teen/YA, Science Fiction
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

It’s 2009, and Jackson Meyer is nineteen years old.  He has the same interests as any other guy his age - for example, his girlfriend, Holly.  But Jackson has a big secret, one he hasn’t shared with anyone except a close friend.  He can jump through time, but only to the past, never to the future.  What he does in the past won’t change anything, as things will correct themselves.  He enjoys his time jumps, but then the unthinkable happens - someone attacks Jackson and Holly, and Jackson ends up stuck in 2007, unable to get back to the present.  In order to get back to the present and save Holly’s life, Jackson must find out more about his ability and why someone would want to harm him.

Review:

Tempest is a YA/adult crossover novel with a unique premise - a time-jumper who can wreak havoc upon his own past.  Jackson can jump back in time and change anything he wants, but it doesn’t affect his present.  It means he can go and talk to his twin sister, who died years ago, but nothing he can do can save her.  There’s a certain tragedy to Jackson’s ability - he has the power to time travel, but the inability to change anything for the better.  In some ways, it’s a blessing, but in others, it’s a curse.  When all the rules change on Jackson all of a sudden, he doesn’t know what to think.

After Jackson’s jump to the past, he adjusts to his new circumstances quickly, but is a little frustrating nonetheless.  His preoccupation with Holly is understandable, as she might be dead in his true present and he wants to save her, as is his impulse to seek her out and make sure she’s okay in his new (2007) present.  But he continues to be slightly obsessed with her, which is a little frustrating because it’s clear there is so much that’s happening that’s bigger than just Holly.  It would be nice if Jackson would gain some perspective, especially in future novel, but of course, he’s wont to act like a teenager.

The worldbuilding in Tempest is really great.  Cross keeps the reader in the dark for the first half of the novel; it’s only through Jackson’s experiments that he knows what his limits are.  But then, the book takes a turn, and all of a sudden the reader is inundated with information.  It’s fascinating and well done, making the reader feel as if their flailing in the dark with Jackson has paid off.  Cross also elevates the scale of the novel, making it about more than just Jackson and Holly.  I’m eager to see where she takes this aspect in future novels, as Tempest is the first in a projected trilogy.

Overall, Tempest is a gripping, exciting read.  Though there is a bit of teen angst that I didn’t love, Cross handled it well.  Jackson is mature enough to understand the scale of what’s happening, especially once things are explained to him, and though he has a mischievous streak a mile wide, it’s clear that he’s a good guy.  He makes a great main character with a fascinating ability, and even if you’re not a fan of traditional YA novels, you should consider picking this novel up for its unique premise.

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Title: Nightwoods
Author: Charles Frazier
ISBN: 9781400067091
Pages: 272
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Literary Fiction
Source: Curled Up With a Good Book
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:

It’s the 1950s in Appalachia, and Luce’s sister, Lily, has just been murdered.  Luce suspects that Bud, Lily’s husband, was responsible for her death and she decides to take in Lily’s two young children.  However, she is completely unprepared for how traumatized the children are after seeing their mother killed in front of them - they run completely wild and refuse to speak.  But Luce is determined to protect them from Bud, who knows that these children are the only witnesses to his crime, no matter what the cost.

Review:

Charles Frazier is famous for his evocative portrayala of North Carolina in his books, and Nightwoods is no exception.  Though the novel shares a place with his most famous novel, Cold Mountain, the time is different.  It’s the mid-twentieth century, rather than the Civil War, though the book could easily have taken place one hundred years ago or one year ago.  It has a certain timeless quality; life hasn’t changed much in rural Appalachia over the years, as Frazier makes clear.

Frazier’s writing is simply breathtaking in Nightwoods.  His writing is lush and descriptive.  He’s generous with the setting, giving the readers the smallest details in order to make the book come alive.  This is a very literary novel; though the book has a suspenseful basic plotline, the story seems to meander at times.  It doesn’t move quickly, instead letting the reader revel in every word and phrase that Frazier deigns to provide.  If you’re looking for a quick, snappy read, this isn’t necessarily the book to pick up.  Instead, it’s a great choice if you’re looking to be completely immersed in a new place.

Luce is a smart character, one that readers will appreciate and sympathize with.  She has been thrust into a difficult situation over which she has no control.  Of course she wants to protect her niece and nephew, but how is she supposed to do that when they refuse to communicate with her?  When they ignore her every request?  It’s clear the children are absolutely traumatized, but that doesn’t make them any easier to deal with.  Luce is fiercely loyal; she refuses to compromise her morals, which is a wonderful quality. 

Nightwoods is a perfect read if you’re looking for a quiet but moderately suspenseful read.  The book does move slowly, which makes it difficult to read at times, but overall Frazier has done a solid job incorporating a thriller storyline into a novel of literary fiction.  If you’re looking for a haunting story of love with three-dimensional characters and an incredible sense of place, this is the book you want to pick up.

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Title: Bleed for Me
Author: Michael Robotham
ISBN: 9780316126380
Pages: 432
Release Date: February 27, 2012
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Genre: Crime Fiction
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:

Joe O’Loughlin is a psychologist whose marriage has fallen apart.  He adores his teenage daughter, Charlie, and doesn’t think much of it when Charlie’s troubled friend Sienna seems to spend more time at his house than at her own.  But when Sienna shows up at Joe’s front door, covered in blood, he knows that he was wrong to not question things.  It turns out that Sienna’s father, a police officer, has been murdered, and the police are looking at Sienna as the prime suspect.  Joe decides to get involved in the case in order to clear Sienna’s name.

Review:

Bleed for Me is the fourth novel in Michael Robotham’s Joe O’Loughlin series, though I wasn’t aware of that when I started this book.  In fact, it’s so well written and the characters are so well-developed that I didn’t even realize it was part of a series until I was sitting down to write the review.  It functions fabulously as a standalone novel, and though I will be going back to read the previous books in the series, there is no need to do so before starting this book.

Joe O’Loughlin is a fascinating character.  He suffers from Parkinson’s disease, though the symptoms are manageable through medication at this point.  He includes some fascinating information about the disease that those not overly familiar with it might find interesting.  What made me like Joe the most is that he didn’t treat his disease as a death sentence.  He continues to work, and though he clearly wasn’t thrilled at the prospect of losing all control over his motor functions one day, he doesn’t let that stop him from living a full life.  Of course, he might deal with the aftermath of the diagnosis in a previous book, but I was very surprised at how well-adjusted he was, considering how difficult Parkinson’s must be.

This novel focuses on the ease of older men preying on teenage girls, and it does so in a frightening way.  The most normal-seeming people might have ulterior, dark motives.  While Robotham doesn’t try to unnecessarily scare his reader with how vulnerable young girls are, he does definitely make them think about the issue.  Sienna is clearly damaged, and what Joe uncovers when he is digging into her past trying to clear her name is disturbing, to say the least.  Those with teenage daughters will likely want to hold them close after reading Bleed for Me.

The story is fast-paced and very intriguing; Robotham does an excellent job writing a believable, engaging story that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end.  Bleed for Me is not predictable, and the twists and turns are fascinating.  This is a book you want to pay close attention to while reading, as the author scatters clues through the novel that readers can puzzle out and interpret.  It makes for a really incredible read, one that will keep readers guessing.

I can’t say enough great things about Bleed for Me; it has well-developed, three-dimensional characters and a gripping storyline, along with real issues that we are facing today.  It’s a dark novel, to be sure, but not a depressing one, as readers are reminded that, for every predator out there, there’s at least one Joe O’Loughlin trying to make things right.

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Title: The Book of Lost Fragrances
Author: M.J. Rose
ISBN: 9781451621303
Pages: 384
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Historical/Suspense Thriller
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:

Jac L'Etoile has suffered from psychotic episodes for most of her life. Whether they consist of talking with ghosts or having memories that couldn't possibly be hers, she has worked hard to control her mind and resist these visions. Now, Jac must deal with a new problem: her family's perfume company is in jeopardy, and Jac thinks the only solution is to sell two of their signature scents. Her brother, Robbie, disagrees, and the two have not been able to agree on a possible solution.  When Jac receives news that her brother Robbie has disappeared, she is bereft. After all, her brother is all she has left in this world. She travels to France, to their family home, for some clue as to what might have happened to him.

Review:

While The Book of Lost Fragrances is a standalone novel, it incorporates elements of Rose’s previous Reincarnationist trilogy.  Readers new to the author’s work will have no problem diving into this novel, as it was written to stand on its own two feet, yet readers familiar with the author’s previous works will recognize characters and settings, as well as the continuing theme of reincarnation.  Therefore, if you are a fan of Rose’s previous trilogy, this novel might feel like the fourth book in a series, giving it a familiar, well-loved feeling from the very first page.

Jac is certainly an interesting character.  She has been haunted from a young age by her psychotic episodes, and now that she’s finally come to terms with the difficulties in her past, including her mother’s suicide, she has some semblance of peace.  It’s difficult for her, then, when all that is upended by her brother, Robbie, who is searching for Cleopatra’s signature scent, believing it can unlock past life memories.  Rose created a contradiction in Jac; she’s so strong, yet so unbelievably fragile.  It’s very well done and makes her a very sympathetic character.

The reincarnation is handled well in The Book of Lost Fragrances.  Rose incorporates some fascinating details, from Egypt to Tibet, and it’s amazing how well she made the issue relevant through the Dalai Lama storyline.  This is the historical/suspense thriller genre at its best: sensual and beautiful, reaching through history to unlock past secrets.  Instead of going for cheap thrills or writing gimmicks, like many books in this genre, Rose presents a thoughtful, provocative storyline. It’s not often that a historical thriller could serve as a book club read, yet there is so much to discuss within its pages.  It’s really interesting how well all the disparate elements come together to make such a solid, page-turning novel.

The Book of Lost Fragrances is one of those books that has something to offer everyone.  You don’t have to believe in reincarnation to appreciate what Rose has done with her novel.  It’s also wonderful to see familiar characters from her previous books I’ve enjoyed, yet impressive how Rose managed to make it a standalone book.  The writing is beautiful, the storyline is exciting, and the history is well-researched; the book has wonderful depth and complex characters. What more could a reader want from a read?

Other books by M.J. Rose:

The Memorist
The Hypnotist

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Title: This Is Where I Leave You
Author: Jonathan Tropper
ISBN: 9780452296367
Pages: 352
Release Date: July 16, 2010
Publisher: Plume
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: Personal Copy
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Summary:

Judd Foxman has been having a difficult time of it lately.  He walked in on his wife in a compromising position with, of all people, his boss.  Now he’s living in a depressing apartment with no job, and to top things off, his father has just died.  Judd returns home and discovers, to his surprise, that his non-religious father’s dying wish was for his family to sit shiva, so for seven days, he and his crazy dysfunctional family mourn their patriarch while trying to sort out their own lives.

Review:

If I were to use one word to describe This Is Where I Leave You, it’s not one you’d expect based on the summary, but it’s true nonetheless: the book is absolutely and completely hilarious.  Judd is completely down in the dumps when the novel begins, for very good reason.  He’s always thought his wife, Jen, was too good for him, but the knowledge that she was unfaithful has completely done him in.  Tropper has written a completely sympathetic character going through a very tough time without making him pathetic.  It’s actually quite the feat because it would be very easy to feel sorry for Judd, to pity him, but instead the reader roots for him to start over again and find some new happiness.

Judd’s family is completely ridiculous, but they never come across as caricatures.  Tropper has an incredible ability to write the absurd, yet make it completely believable.  Each person in this book leaps off the page, even the secondary characters.  The character development in this book is simply stunning; these are real people, living difficult, messy lives.  They aren’t perfect, but their flaws round them out and make them whole.  I can’t describe how drawn into each character I was; it really is a stunning achievement.

While each person in This Is Where I Leave You grapples with death, they are also dealing with their own lives.  The presence of that profound sadness only seems to exacerbate the shortcomings in other areas of their lives.  And having to sit together, be in each other’s company for seven days?  It’s a pot of resentment and jealousy waiting to boil over.  Tropper deals with ancient family history well, making it relevant and never letting the backstories drag. 

The sheer wit and grace of This Is Where I Leave You make it worth reading.  It’s a snappy read, quick from beginning to end, and completely gripping.  In the end, it’s bittersweet as everyone, including Judd, must face the realization that as much as we want to, we can’t control our lives, and we all have faults which we must come to terms with.  The author makes it clear that the happy, neat ending we find in most books and movies don’t adapt well to the lives we lead.  Though Tropper has always been a talented novelist, this book proves he is on another level entirely.  I can’t wait to see what he does next.

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