My next book club book is When God Was a Rabbit selected by Jenna! I will wait to write about this one until after our meeting which is set for mid October.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Book Club
My next book club book is When God Was a Rabbit selected by Jenna! I will wait to write about this one until after our meeting which is set for mid October.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Retribution
Retribution
Author: Carmen Rodriguez
Source: Mom
Days to Read: 10
Written from the perspective of three generations of women, Retribution
is a story of courage and love. When Tania receives a letter suggesting that
her biological father may not be who she thinks he is, she begins a journey to
learn about her family’s history in Chile. Her mother, Sol, was part of the
underground resistance during the military coup in Chile in 1973. The Coup was
a result of unrest between the conservative Congress of Chile and the socialist
president, Salvador Allende. During the week of the coup, Sol was taken prisoner
and tortured. Her mother and Tania's grandmother, Soledad, disapproved of
Sol's involvement in the resistance. Their relationship was rather rocky.
Although this book is relatively short its packs a lot of punch. I
definitely teared up with this one.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
Author: Paul Torday
Source: My mom
Days to Read: 10
Pressing onward with nothing else to do but people watch or read, I quickly fell in love with this book. As odd of a subject matter that I thought it was, the book was great! I loved the characters and the story line. The book is about a middle aged British fisheries expert who is hired to spearhead an outrageous idea, bringing salmon to the Yemen for his countryman to fish. As the plan begins to take shape, the characters develop complex relationships with one another.
While reading the book I discovered that it was in fact a movie! I love when that happens! I haven't seen it yet but it is on my to do list. I highly recommend this book, both my parents loved it as well.
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Death Comes to Pemberley
Death Comes to Pemberley
Author: P.D. James
Source: My mom
Days to read: 7
Have you read Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice? If not no big deal, P.D. James provides a brief synopsis at the beginning of the book to fill the reader in on the characters and how they have come together.
Elizabeth and Darcy have been married for 6 years and live on Darcy’s estate, Pemberley. Elizabeth's beloved sister Jane, and her husband Bingley, are visiting Pemberley for the annual Lady Anne's ball. On the eve of the ball, Elizabeth's youngest sister Lydia, arrives hysterical and screaming that her husband, Wickham, has been murdered. Darcy and Bingley and several other gentleman that are staying at Pemberley, travel off into the woods to investigate and find Wickham leaning over his murdered friend sobbing that it was all his fault. Pemberley is thrown into a murder investigation and the reader is left to ponder "Who done it?"
I am not a big fan of mystery novels anymore but I did enjoy this book. It's interesting to read a novel that draws characters from a different author's novel. I felt that I already knew these characters and wanted to know where they were in their lives and what they had been up to!! This wasn't an all-time favourite of mine because I didn't find it wildly enthralling. HOWEVER if you enjoyed Pride and Prejudice then you may enjoy catching up with the Bennet sisters!
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
The Winter Palace
The Winter Palace
Author: Eva Stachniak
Source: A Chapters buy
Days to read: 10 days
I picked this book up at Chapters while I was shopping for a
birthday gift for a friend. I think I have mentioned this before but historical
novels are my FAVOURITE!!! More specifically, I love reading about women in history.
Cleopatra, Josephine Bonaparte, Anne Boleyn to name a few! After reading the inside
flap I knew it would be a goody!
This novel follows the life of Varvara, a young girl, in the
Russian court. Because of a promise made by the Empress to her late father, Varvara
is taken into the court and cared for. Her role is to be one of the many
“tongues” to the Empress, listening, watching and reporting back to her
majesty. She learns to be invisible, to read people and to know what the
Empress is thinking, feeling and wanting to hear.
But when young Sophie (destined to become Catherine the
Great) is brought to court to marry, Varvara finds in her, a friendship that
she has been longing for. Varvara begins to align herself with Catherine and slowly
forgets all that she has learned at the Russian Court. Power comes with a big
price.
The only thing lacking in this book was a love interest for
Varvara. She is the narrator of the story but I felt that she was too much on
the sidelines. I really began to care for Varvara so I wanted some good things
to happen to her and not just Catherine. But other than that I loved the book!
I ended up buying it for my friend Lauren; I wonder what she
will think of it! Next time I am in Chapters I will pick up some other books by Eva Stachniak.
The Lost Girls
The Lost Girls
Author: Jennifer Baggett, Holly C. Corbett, Amanda Pressner
Source: Our book club book, chosen by Lauren
Days to Read: 2 weeks
The 3 women have tons of adventures and visit some really interesting
places. In one chapter, I actually thought to myself that I would like to visit
this place they were describing (I think it was Lima, Peru).
One other thing to note was that it was really smooth switching
between chapters/writers. All the chapters are written similarly so you don’t feel
that it is really choppy or that you have to get re-accustomed to the new
author’s voice.
I wonder what my fellow book club members will think! Our
next meeting is July 18th so I will find out soon enough!
Tuesday, July 03, 2012
Under the Hawthorn Tree
Under the Hawthorn Tree
Author: Ai Mi
Source: Another random Chapters buy
Days to Read: 6 days
Before starting this book I asked my coworker
about it because as I read in the novel, the original book was discovered on a
blog, was published, and was a huge success in China. The book was translated
into English and has been made into a feature film. Ai Mi is an alias as the
real author is unknown. My coworker had not read the book but had heard of the
film and the story.
I was immediately drawn into this book. I love a
good romance, especially one that occurs in a different culture or time period.
This book was so different from any I had read in that the innocence of the
young girl Jingqiu was very extreme. The story takes place during China's
Cultural Revolution (socialism was being enforced across the country). Jingqiu
is sent to the country along with several other students to interview the
villagers and write a textbook. While living in the village, Jingqiu falls in love
with Old Third, an army general's son. Jingqiu comes from a family that has
been disgraced as her father was branded a Capitalist so the relationship would
never work. However the two find time to meet and spend time with each other.
In a stark contrast to todays societal norms, Jingqiu is naive and cautious in
her courtship with Old Third. She is also conflicted between her love and
personal desires and the political climate at the time. Falling in love and
marrying for love were not for the greater good and were considered
selfish.
The story is a typical love story but the
complexities of the culture provides the reader with a a new perspective. You
can't help but adore Jingqiu and the other characters in this novel.
I highly recommend it!
Alone In The Classroom
Alone in the Classroom
Author: Elizabeth Hay
Source: Random Chapters buy
Days to Read: I don't remember!
I usually have pretty good luck picking books from Chapters. I feel fairly confident when I read the back of a "Heather's Pick" and buy it that it will be a decent read. Now I don't remember if this was a "Pick" or not, but unfortunately this was one book I was anxious to finish so I could start another!
The book is narrated by Anne who is on a journey to discover more about her mother and her aunt Connie's past. Connie was a teacher living in the prairies in the 1920s and is not a conventional woman. She takes a particular interest in a struggling student, Michael Graves and they develop a relationship that lasts a lifetime. Other than that I am not really sure what else to take away from this book.
When I read the back of the book it sounded really interesting; mysterious deaths, the strange behaviour of a principal and passionate relationships. These all pointed to a good read. However, I found this book extremely difficult to follow. It jumps around from Anne the narrator in the present, to Connie in the 1920s. I could not figure out the significance of Anne's story line or really grasp what it even was. The book felt like a bunch of events that are loosely strung together by the recurrence of the characters but with no real or deep connection to anything.
I would have to say that I do not recommend this book, it just didn't make the cut!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Bookclub Book!
Our next book club book is called The Lost Girls by Jennifer Baggett, Holly C. Corbett & Amanda Pressner. It is a travel memoir of three girls who left Manhattan to backpack around the world.
Stay tuned for the book club review coming in July!
Birdsong
Birdsong
Author: Sebastian Faulks
Source: My parents
Days to Read: 2 weeks
I don't think I read the back of this book before I started it so judging from the cover (a silhouette of a WWI soldier) I was expecting to dive into a heavy war novel. Boy was I wrong (initially)! The first part of the book is narrated by Stephen, an English businessman who is visiting a small French town in order to learn about the manufacturing business. He stays with a man named Azaire who owns and runs factory. While living in Azaire's home, Stephen is drawn to Azaire's wife Isabelle. After finding out that her age and the fact that she is Azaire's second wife and step mother to his two children, Stephen's interest in her peaks. The two have a whirlwind affair that leads to Stephen and Isabelle moving away and ends with Isabelle leaving Stephen. Shortly after starts Part 2 of the book in which the reader is transported several years ahead and Stephen is now fighting in World War I.
This part of the book is a stark contrast to the first. While the
beginning of the book is full of passion and romance, the second part, which
takes place several years later during World War I, is dark and disconsolate.
Stephen has become hardened and rarely thinks of his passionate love affair
with Isabelle. While returning to the same French town on a brief leave from
the front lines, Stephen meets Isabelle’s sister, Jeanne, and then arranges to
see Isabelle. A lot of time has passed and things have changed for both Stephen
and Isabelle…
Along side this story line is another told by Stephen’s grand
daughter. I didn’t really feel that this added anything to the story and I
would have preferred if these parts were left out and it just stayed with one
time line. But an awesome book!
I found out that it was made into a TV series but I don’t think it
has played in Canada. I would love to watch an episode to see if the characters
are how I pictured them!
The Tender Bar
The Tender Bar
Author: J.R. Moehringer
Source: My parents
Days to Read: A week
When my dad gave me this book to read he said it was great. I went into this one with high expectations and it did not disappoint! The book is a memoir and details J.R.'s life growing up with a love and deep connection to a bar in Manhasset, New York.
J.R.'s mother left his abusive father when he was young and growing up without a father figure he looked to the bar and the men that frequented it to be his guides and mentors. With all types of characters found at the bar, J.R. grows up in the company of these men and loves them all. The bar is his sanctuary.
As a young 20 something who recently graduated from Yale, he returns home to Manhasset and to his beloved bar in search of some direction in his life. As you read the memoir you can feel the emotions of J.R. as he struggles to find himself. It came across to me as an honest recollection and analysis of his youth and the lessons he learned. At times it is funny, sad and depressing, and still heart warming.
Definitely worth a read!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Before I Go To Sleep
Before I Go To Sleep
Author: S.J. Watson
Source: My fellow book club member, Danielle
Days to Read: 10 days
This was our next book club book chosen by Danielle. I thought when beginning this book that it would along the same lines as Left Neglected where Christine, the main character in Before I Go To Sleep, would wake up each morning not remembering anything about her life and having to learn everything all over again. It was somewhat similar to this with a huge twist near the end of the book.
The book begins with Christine meeting a doctor who claims to be helping her with her memory recovery. He tells her to look in her closet for a journal that she has been writing documenting each day so she can use it as a resource the following day to remember things. Her husband, Ben, patiently explains each morning that she was in a car accident and her memory has been affected. Every morning Christine looks at the photos of herself and Ben that are taped to the bathroom mirror. Each day begins the same with the devastation of not remembering anything that has happened and her discovery of her journal. Christine keeps the journal a secret from Ben and also hides the fact that she is seeing a doctor who is assisting in her recovery.
Without giving away too much, the pieces start to fall together for Christine and she begins to remember some things on her own. What Ben has been telling her does not seem to add up and she finds herself searching for the true. The last 50 or so pages are thrilling and intense and definitely not what I had expected!!
At our book club meeting everyone said that they had enjoyed this book although no one really LOVED it. We all felt that at times it was confusing trying to piece together what was real and what wasn't. Two of the girls hadn't finished the book and it was quite funny listening to all of us that had finished try to explain the last few crucial parts in the book. All in all we give this book a 7.5!
The Gargoyle
The Gargoyle
Author: Andrew Davidson
Source: My fellow book club member, Danielle
Source: My fellow book club member, Danielle
Days to Read: 10 days
I wanted to branch out and read something a bit different
than what I am used to. This actually didn’t turn out to be very different but
I did really enjoy it. The Gargoyle is about an unnamed porn-star drug addict
who gets in a car accident and is severely burned. While in the burn ward he meets
an eccentric and schizophrenic patient, Marianne, who claims to know him.
Throughout his recovery the woman tells him tragic love
stories from long ago all the while claiming to know him. When it comes time for the narrator to
leave the rehabilitation centre, Marianne insists that he come and live with
her. Marianne explains that she has enough money to cover all his medical
expenses. She is a stone carver that makes gargoyle figures that are then sold
through her agent.
Marianne and the narrator develop a relationship and
Marianne continues to tell him stories from the past. Throughout the book you
are wondering whether the stories are about the two of them in their past
lives. The book was really good and I liked how you could draw your own
conclusions from the stories told by Marianne and the “real life” story of
Marianne and the burn victim.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Rooftops of Tehran
Rooftops of Tehran
Author: Mahbod Seraji
Source: My mom
Days to Read: 5
This was among several books that my mom had read and thought I
might like. With almost every trip home, my mom and I exchange books and I am
always excited to see what she has picked out for me. When starting a new book
I am open to what it has to offer. I try not to really think about if I like it
or not and just keep reading. This tactic comes in handy when I know I am
beginning to get bored or am struggling to understand what is happening. I push
those thoughts away and trek on. Some books, like The Girl with the Dragon
Tattoo, require a good 100+ pages before the reader has a grasp on the
characters and what is going on. I owe it to whichever book I'm reading, to
give it an honest to goodness attempt to enjoy it!
Now you may be thinking given what I have just explained, that I did
not enjoy the Rooftops of Tehran. But this is not the case! I absolutely LOVED
this book and found myself wanting to continue reading after I had turned the
final page.
The story is set in Iran and told by the main character Pasha. Pasha
is a young boy with a passion for reading growing up in a small alley
community. More than anything, it is a love story between Pasha and his
neighbour Zari whom he falls in love with. Zari is an enchanting, intelligent,
beauty who has been promised to marry Doctor. Pasha and Doctor develop a
special friendship in which they discuss books and politics and their views on
their country's judicial system. Pasha also spends countless evenings on his rooftop
discussing everything under the stars with his best friend Ahmed. Life is sweet
and beautiful for Pasha, Zari, Ahemd and Faheemah (Ahmed’s love) until their
friend Doctor is taken by the SADAK, the secret police organization in Iran.
From then on, the four friends are forced to grow up and deal with issues far
beyond their years. But their love for one another bonds them together.
I wish Mahod Seraji had other books that I could read! I truly
enjoyed Rooftops of Tehran.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
The Story of Beautiful Girl
The Story of Beautiful Girl
Author: Rachel Simon
Source: Birthday present from my friend Jenna
Days to Read: 5
My friend Jenna bought me this book for my birthday and I read it
shortly thereafter.
The novel takes place in the late 60's. Two people escape from the
School for the Incurable and Feebleminded and stumble upon the home of a
widowed, retired schoolteacher. At
first the woman, Martha, is hesitant to let the strangers into her home, a
petite white woman with a developmental disability and a deaf African American
man. Martha quickly sees the distress in their eyes and takes them in, clothes
and feeds them. Shortly after, the guards from the school are at her door
looking for the two escapees. Before she can assess the situation the
guards are removing the young woman and the young man, Homan, has
disappeared. As she struggles
against the guards, Lynnie, the young woman, tells Martha to “Hide her” Martha
is frozen and doesn’t know what to do but agrees. She then hears a cry and
finds a newborn baby in a basket in the attic.
The journey of Martha and the baby girl, Julia, takes them all over the
country. The story follows Martha, Lynnie and Homan through their separate lives
and always their constant thoughts of one another.
This was a pretty good book and kept me interested. However nothing about it stood out to me nor was remarkable.
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