Saturday, May 30, 2009

Possession

Possession
By A.S. Byatt
Vintage Books, 1991. 528 p. Fiction


Roland Michell, an uninspiring academic is obsessed with all things concerning the famous Victorian era poet, Randolph Ash. Ash, a married man, was obsessed with the poet Christabel LaMotte, a lesser-known contemporary. While researching Ash’s life Roland accidentally stumbles on a dusty old letter from Ash to LaMotte. The letter has never been discovered and could put Roland’s academic career back on the map. All Roland’s academic peers agree Ash and LaMotte never even met. With the letter secretly concealed Roland sets out to prove otherwise. Along the way he enlists the aid and trust of Maud Bailey. Maud is a successful scholar who is almost a polar opposite of Roland. At first skeptical, Maud soon is deeply intertwined in the mystery of the two poets. Roland and Maud grow closer together as they race to solve the puzzle before their fellow academics.

I watched the movie adaptation before reading the novel and would suggest to anyone interested to skip the film all together and focus only on Byatt’s work. Winner of the 1990 Booker prize, the theme of possession is replayed time and time again. It is seen in the academic fever to win the prize, the desire for completion among two lovers and the possession of a certain idea of truth. Although the novel could be categorized as a romance it is almost a mystery as the two central characters become detectives in their search for clues. Byatt’s talent is astonishing. Each poem by Ash and LaMotte are believably unique and full of symbolism. There are layers upon layers of meaning. It is refreshing to read a book that is cerebral yet full of passion.

ALC

Friday, May 29, 2009

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
By Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Quirk Books, 2009. 319 pgs. Fiction.

The dead are no longer resting peacefully underground throughout the English countryside and I am pretty sure neither would Jane Austen if she were aware of this plagiaristic and irreverent adaptation of her classic romance. This book is exactly what the title claims it to be. “Pride and Prejudice” with some zombie action thrown in. The Bennet sisters have all been trained in the deadly arts and are required to use their skills when social events are interrupted by the undead.

For some reason, I had expected a story somewhat based on the plot of “Pride and Prejudice” which included zombies and gory violence. What I found was “Pride and Prejudice” almost word for word…but with a few violent swordfights and a whole host of zombies popping up randomly throughout the text. I forced myself to finish just to say I had and actually liked the ending quite a bit.

I think reading this book is a lot like watching “Napoleon Dynamite”. While you are watching it for the first time, you are not sure what is so funny or why you continue sitting there. But after you finish watching it, you find it’s a lot of fun to discuss with friends and you randomly find yourself giggling when you remember different portions. If you are in the right mood, this book might be for you….I’m just not sure what would be considered the ‘right mood.’

CZ

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Bel Canto

Bel Canto
By Ann Patchett
HarperCollins, 2001. 318 pgs. Fiction

In an unnamed South American country, a famous soprano sings at a birthday party in honor of a visiting Japanese business tycoon. His hosts hope that Mr. Hosokawa can be persuaded to build a factory in their country. Alas, in the opening sequence, a ragtag band of 18 terrorists enter the vice-presidential mansion through the air conditioning ducts. Their quarry is the president, who has unfortunately stayed home to watch a favorite soap opera. The terrorists take the party-goers hostage instead, including the Japanese tycoon and the famous soprano, along with an assortment of Russian, Italian, and French diplomatic types. A Swiss Red Cross negotiator comes and goes, wrangling over terms and demands, and the days stretch into weeks, the weeks into months.

Beautifully written, the author flits in and out of the hearts and minds of hostage and terrorist alike, and in doing so reveals a profound, shared humanity. This was a very enjoyable read.

BHG

Lady of Quality

Lady of Quality
By Georgette Heyer
Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2008. 299 pgs. Romance

At 29-years-old and unattached, Miss Annis Wychwood is headed to Bath to set up her own residence. On the way, she encounters Lucilla Carleton stranded at the side of the road and offers to take the runaway home with her. Oliver Carleton, Lucilla’s guardian and a man renowned for his rudeness, soon appears in Bath to straighten out his flighty young charge, and he and Miss Wychwood strike up a surprising (and antagonistic) friendship.

Georgette Heyer is the perfect read-a-like for Jane Austen. She first began publishing Regency romances in the late 1920s and her books were recently reprinted, bringing back her lovable rakes and quick-witted spinsters. Black Sheep may be my favorite Georgette Heyer story, but they are all fun, humorous, and gentle reads.

MBC

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Remains of the Day

Remains of the Day
By Kazuo Ishiguro
Knopf, 1989. 245 pgs. Fiction

Stevens, the narrator of this book, is the perfect English butler. He has worked his whole life to have the traits that he considers to be fundamental to his profession. He takes great pride in his competence, his loyalty, and above all, his dignity. He embarks on a road trip in the latter part of his life and as he does, the memories of his past unfold. He feels satisfaction as he looks back on his life but the reader can't help but feel regret for all the opportunities lost.

It is amazing that Ishiguro can make you feel so much from a narrator that feels and says so little. This novel had very little action but the writing was beautiful and often made you feel and understand more than was said on the page. I admit that at times I found it a little boring but I have thought about it long after I finished the book.

AL

Saturday, May 23, 2009

The Lab

The Lab
By Jack Heath
Scholastic Press, 2008. 311 pgs. Young adult fiction.

In this thrill ride of a novel, Six of Hearts is a brilliant secret agent for an undercover agency trying to overthrow the dictatorship that is slowly claiming the world. He holds a mission success rate of an astonishing 1oo percent and manages to be the best agent the company has, all at the tender age of sixteen. He does, however, have the advantage of a superhuman body charged with special animal and plant DNA, granting him superior healing power, strength, and agility. When he undergoes a mission to bring down the company responsible for his creation, his talents are tested to their utmost limit.

Written by a high-school aged author, this book is a fast, entertaining read jam-packed with adventure. The sequel, due to be published in the U.S. by November of 2009, is being eagerly anticipated.


About Face

About Face
by Donna Leon
Atlantic Monthly Press, 2009. 278 pgs. Mystery.

Most of us have heard of the Mafia; not so many of an even older criminal organization, the Camorra, which emerges chillingly from the shadows in Donna Leon's newest Commissario Guido Brunetti book. The Commissario, surely one of the most appealing detectives of all fiction, meets a woman at a dinner party who is obviously the victim of plastic surgery gone bad. She charms him with her knowledge of Cicero and her willingness to talk books with a stranger. Soon his chance encounter with the signora dovetails with a case he is working on involving the illegal transport of garbage, and particularly of toxic and medical waste. Things escalate quickly. Good people die and are defamed; Italy's sordid criminal "justice" systems is exposed; business as usual goes on in a grim and frightening atmosphere. And yet, a rough and unlooked for justice makes the end of the story satisfying and the bitter of evil usually triumphant is tempered by the sweet of Brunetti's civility and intelligence and his enviable family life, all told in Leon's signature and exquisite prose.

LW

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

She Shoots to Conquer

She Shoots to Conquer
By Dorothy Cannell
Minotuar Books, 2009. 294 pgs. Mystery

In a new British reality show, aspiring brides/contestants are being trained in the art of archery with a hope of hitting the bull’s eye—the prize being a bridal bouquet. The contestants want not only a title, but the chance to renovate the grand and dilapidated old home of Lord Belfrey, the stately Mucklesfeld Manor. Where the contestants aren’t necessarily young and beautiful, the madcap adventures are plenty. But wait, Ellie Haskell finds herself on the scene and that means murder’s afoot. A contestant winds up dead and the question is ‘who dunnit this time?’--one of the oddly decrepit staff, the mysterious Lord, or his vengeful auntie? When Ellie's faithful sidekick and housekeeper takes the murdered contestant's place as a bridal potential, Ellie must solve the mystery herself.

A nice cozy, although I found the characters a bit too caricatured but grew fonder of them as the story progressed. Even the dialogue was somewhat irritating with its continuous asides, yet seemed smoother midway through—either the writing improved or I gained new appreciation…either way a bonus. Should appeal to fans of the “Aunt Dimity” series.

DAP

Very Valentine

Very Valentine
By Adriana Trigiani
Harper Collins, 2009. 371 pgs. Fiction

Valentine Roncalli, one of four children in a loud Italian-American family living in New York has discovered her calling in life is to make shoes. She works for her grandmother in the Angelini Shoe Company which has made custom wedding shoes since 1903. The company, however, is on the verge of financial collapse and her grandmother is too old to turn the company back around. While fighting with her brother, who wants to sell the shoe company, Valentine meets and starts a relationship with Roman Falconi, head chef at an up-and-coming Italian restaurant. The problem is that both Valentine and Roman are too dedicated to their careers to put much into a relationship that has the potential to be amazing.

Even though I have read other books by Adriana Trigiani, I at first wrote this book off as Chick-Lit. I quickly discovered that there is much more complexity to this novel and the characters in it to put it in that category. This is a good book about a woman trying to follow her dreams and the difficulties that can bring with family and relationships.

AJ

Execution Dock

Execution Dock
By Anne Perry
Ballatine Books, 2009. 306 pgs. Mystery

Perry’s mysteries continue to dissect the moral dregs found at the bottom of man’s soul. When the body of a thirteen-year-old boy is fished from the Thames River, Inspector Monk—now head of the famous River Police—is called upon to finish the appalling case his former superior was enmeshed in at his death. At the sordid trial of the accused, he uncovers the wicked trade of the sex merchants who work the Thames River.

With historical accuracy, Victorian England has rarely been depicted with such sinister malevolence, even for Perry. A psychological study, readers be forewarned that even if justice eventually succeeds, the subject is so vile the emotional senses are left reeling from the filth the river unearths.

DAP

The Private Patient

The Private Patient
By P. D. James
Alfred A Knopf, 2008. 352 pgs. Mystery

Commander Adam Dalgliesh and his team are called in to investigate a murder at a private nursing home for the wealthier patients being treated by the famous plastic surgeon George Chandler-Powell. The book has the cerebral qualities James is known for and focuses on the intertwining relationships of the patients and staff that reside at the stately English residence, Cheverell Manor. A lovely, literary puzzle that surprisingly ends in a double wedding. Despite the multiple murders, by Shakespeare’s standards this would classify as a comedy.

DAP

The Blind Assassin

The Blind Assassin
By Margaret Atwood
Anchor Books, 2000. 524 pgs. Fiction

If you enjoy stories within stories, MAYBE this book is for you. Iris's sister drives a car off a bridge in 1945. Richard Griffen, Iris's husband, is found dead in a sailboat in 1947. The two stories are retold in recollection style by elderly Iris Chase Griffens. Interspersed throughout the book Margaret Atwood has written a science fiction story complete with aliens on a foreign planet. This sci-fi story is called "The Blind Assassin". While the book does capture the spirit of the 40's with McCarthyism in full bloom, the struggle of the business community during the depression and all the sadness of an arranged marriage, I found the plots boring and confusing. Years jumped all over the place. Unless the date on a newspaper clipping was stated, I often couldn't tell when the event was happening. Throw in the sci-fi plot and it was just too strange for me.

I listened to the Random House audio edition with reader Margot Dionne, who was wonderful. The only reason I finished this book was to hear the magnificent metaphors. I loved listening to the sound of Atwood's words. There is a fair amount of sex and language throughout the book. I would have a hard time recommending "The Blind Assassin" to anyone but the most serious literary connoisseur.

mpb

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

The Language of Bees

The Language of Bees
By Laurie R. King
Bantam Books, 2009. 432 pgs. Mystery

Mary Russell is back in her newest tale and back in England after nine months abroad in India, Japan, and the United States with Holmes. Fresh upon arriving home, they are greeted by Holmes’ son, Damian Adler, the child of his affair with Irene Adler. This is the first time Damian has contacted Holmes since meeting him briefly in 1919, when Damian was in a French prison for allegedly killing a man. Standoffish that time, this second meeting has Damian gladly reacquainting himself with Holmes, trying to hide an ulterior motive. Damian’s wife and child have disappeared and Damian wants Holmes and Russell’s help finding them. Holmes immediately dashes off, while Russell joins him and Mycroft after solving the case of Holmes’ disappearing beehive. Russell looks into the new religious cult Damian’s wife had joined and finds disturbing connections between the religion's text and recent deaths at ancient historical sites. Russell and Holmes realize the importance of finding the mother and child soon in a great addition to this much-loved (by me) series.

MN

Monday, May 18, 2009

Frogs & French Kisses

Frogs & French Kisses
By Sarah Mlynowski
Delacorte Press, 2006. 277 pgs. Young Adult

The story picks up right where Bras and Broomsticks left off with Rachel dealing with her humiliating performance at the Fashion Show, which ended up breaking the leg of her arch enemy and causing lots of problems for her at school.

Miri, Rachel’s younger sister who is a witch, decides to use her magic to help Rachel. She decides to do a love spell on Raf to have him fall in love with Rachel again, except it goes all wrong. This is just the beginning of Rachel’s headaches and she realizes that having magic doesn’t always make things easier; it can make things more complicated.

A fun, light, chick lit for teens, with a touch magic to bring in a few surprises.

KK

The Lace Reader

The Lace Reader
By Brunonia Barry
William Morrow, 2006. 390 pgs. Fiction

When Towner Whitney’s great aunt disappears from her mansion in Salem, Massachusetts, Towner reluctantly returns to her childhood home. Going home means opening old wounds and Towner quickly learns she cannot run from who she is and where she comes from. In an area with a history of witches and mysticism, this story is filled with ideas of destiny, faith, and the survival of people and ideas which veer from the mainstream.

It took me about 100 pages to really enjoy this book and even after that I wasn’t always sure what I thought of it. The narration was a little disjointed, though I believe that was intentional to a point, so I shouldn’t be too critical. The story was slow but well thought out and by the end I was very eager to reach the conclusion. Overall I would recommend this book, especially to people who liked “The Secret Life of Bees” or maybe “The History of Love”.

CZ

Gossip Hound

Gossip Hound
By Wendy Holden
Penguin Group, 2003. 304 pgs. General Fiction


Grace Armiger is a hard working publicist stuck in a sinking ship. Hatto and Hatto publish esoteric literature like “Sucking Stones”, a travelogue by good looking British explorer Henry Moon. As the novel begins Henry is already smitten with Grace. At a literary festival the two have a brief and drunken affair. Grace calls it off because she feels guilt about cheating on her current boyfriend. Hygienically challenged Sion is a member of the revolutionary socialists. Sion treats Grace shabbily yet Grace stays with him. Belinda Black, a disgusting character, is a shoddy journalist who is tired of “B” list stars. She wants to jump up to the “A” list feature of her tabloid and is looking for a big break. Lady Armiger, wife of an ambassador, invites Grace to Venice for a dinner party and everything changes. Grace dazzles a Texas billionaire who fortuitously wants to purchase Hatto and Hatto and save its fate. Shortly after Grace is called on to promote the ridiculously bad novel of womanizing movie star Red Campion. Belinda and Grace’s lives intertwine as Belinda tries to land an interview with Red. Grace starts another lusty affair, this time with Red, while Henry fruitlessly continues to pursue her. Harried Grace hires a house cleaner to help organize her house, but the house cleaner wants to organize her love life as well. At another literary festival (this one about books in extremely poor taste) Grace, Henry, Belinda, and Red all collide and the novel resolves itself.


Although Holden is supposed to be a favorite I didn’t like this book. I didn’t understand why Henry Moon, the only likeable character, was so crazy for Grace. Grace, although supposedly a smart and savvy working girl, comes off as clueless and dissolute. Much of the novel centers on meaningless sexual encounters. I didn’t find it hilarious as advertized, but trashy. Although it is catalogued as general fiction I felt like I was reading a romance, and a bad one at that.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Man's Search for Meaning

Man's Search for Meaning
By Viktor E. Frankl
Beacon Press, 1992. 196 pgs. Nonfiction

Viktor Frankl survived the horrors of the concentration camps during the Holocaust. Through all of his trials, he tried to discover meaning in his suffering. This book does not try to give a detailed description of concentration camps but instead uses the experiences to teach the theories of Logotherapy. Logotherapy is the belief that the primary, most powerful motivating force in man is the striving to find a meaning in one's life.

I listened to this on CD and I enjoyed it even though I am not usually a nonfiction reader. The subject matter is heartbreaking but overall this book is inspirational because it is about looking past your suffering, whatever it may be, to find a meaning and a purpose in life. The second part of the book goes into a lot of psychological theory. There were many words I was not familiar with and I think I would have followed it better if I had been reading the book instead of listening to it. Logotherapy makes a lot of sense and this book gave me many things to think about and to discuss with others.

AL

Friday, May 15, 2009

Hands of My Father

Hands of My Father: a Hearing Boy, His Deaf Parents, and the Language of Love
By Myron Uhlberg
Bantam Dell, 2009. 232 pgs. Biography

Myron thought he was like every other kid growing up in the Bronx during WWII until he realized that his parents were different from everyone else- they were deaf. With this, came responsibility, one of the first signs that Myron learned from his father. Myron recounts his experiences as well his parents growing up in a time when ASL was not recognized as a language and those who were deaf were considered 2nd class citizens even to their own families.

This is a touching memoir, with many funny anecdotes of Myron trying to fit in the world around him and with his family. Feeling like two faces of a coin- a child yet called upon adult responsibilities of interpreting the hearing world for his parents and taking care of his younger epileptic brother. A wonderful read, that makes you ponder about family relationships.

KK

Bad Kitty

Bad Kitty
By Michele Jaffe
Harper Collins, 2006. 268 pgs. Young Adult

Seventeen year old Jasmine “Calamity” Callihan’s annual end of summer vacation is in Las Vegas at the Venetian Hotel. Jasmine wishes she could have been on vacation with her best friends Polly, Roxy and Tom. Instead Jas is with her overprotective father, twenty five year old perky step-mother, and snotty cousin Alyson. Six foot Jas wants two things in life: to become a forensic scientist and find a boyfriend she can –literally- look up to. When Jas sees a six foot three green eyed hottie working at the hotel snack bar, she thinks he just might fit the bill. While wondering how to draw Jack’s attention, Jas is attacked by a three legged orange cat. The cat belongs to the son of an infamous model, Fiona Bristol, who is camped out at the Venetian. Fiona’s husband allegedly killed her lover, in front of her small son, and is still on the loose. Jas states she has an,“incredibly ability to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.” She proves that as the three legged cat attack turns into a catalyst for more disaster. When Jas sends a text to her bemused friends, “Stole car. Got arrested. Met man of dream. Must go die now. Miss you”, they descend into Las Vegas to help. Jasmine and her friends, along with their unwelcome companions Alyson and her clone Veronique, set out to solve the mystery behind Fiona Bristol. It looks like the cute snack hut guy Jack is involved as well. But Jas doesn’t know if he works for the crazed killer or the beautiful model.

Bad Kitty is lighthearted in tone but does address the identity struggle that bi-racial Jasmine faces. Her father is a genius and although Jas bemoans any similarity between the two her intelligence is obvious through her sleuthing skills. The author uses footnotes to showcase the text messaging between the friends. Their banter can be amusing but is slightly overused. The novel is heavily influenced by Meg Cabot. I liked the fresh and balanced approach to family. Although Jas has an inner circle of friends there is definite parental involvement.

The Black Tower

The Black Tower
by Louis Bayard
William Morrow, 2008. 352 pgs. Historical mystery.

During the French Revolution Louis-Charles, second born but only living son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, disappeared. Known as the “lost dauphin,” he is believed to have died in prison in 1795. From this historical event, Louis Bayard has written in "The Black Tower" a tale of suspense, murder, and intrigue in high places about the possible fate of the young prince. Historical figures fill these pages, most notably EugĆØne FranƧois Vidocq, a criminal turned police officer who became head of the SĆ»rĆ©te Nationale during the Napoleonic era and who, as the father of modern crime detection, was the inspiration for characters ranging from Poe’s C. Auguste Dupin to Hugo’s Jean Valjean. The story itself is narrated by a Doctor Hector Carpentier whose father attended the young prince when he was confined in the Temple (aka, the Black Tower) in an horrific situation, deprived of sunlight—of any light but the occasional candle--and surrounded by mold, piles of excrement, maggots, rats, and roaches. But did the dauphin somehow live? That is the burden of this deeply engaging tale as Dr. Carpentier is drawn almost instantly into his unexpected adventure when a man he has never met is murdered on the way to see him. Nonstop action follows, steeped in the rich detail of Restoration France. The larger-than-life Vidocq brings Dr. Carpentier along in more ways than one, as an aide in his investigations and by way of bringing him to his manhood, and to becoming his father’s son. And does the dauphin yet live? Read the book to find out—or not.

LW

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Marcelo in the Real World

Marcelo in the Real World
By Francisco X. Stork
Arthur A. Levine Books, 2009. 312 pgs. Fiction

Seventeen-year-old Marcelo loves working with the ponies at the school he attends for students with disabilities, but Marcelo’s father, Arturo, believes Marcelo is ready to attend a public high school in the fall. When Marcelo protests, he and Arturo make a deal—Marcelo will work in the mailroom at Arturo’s law firm over the summer and at the end of the summer, if Marcelo follows all the rules of the “real world” and successfully completes his job, he will be allowed to choose the school he attends in the fall.

Marcelo’s Asperger’s-like perspective is reminiscent of The Curious Incident in the Night-Time and his naivete lends itself well to the story’s examination of good and evil, love, and integrity—all concepts Marcelo is truly grappling with for the first time as he discovers hard truths about his father and the world at large.

MBC

The Bar Code Tattoo

The Bar Code Tattoo
By Suzanne Weyn
Scholastic, 2004. 252 pgs. Young adult fiction.

Imagine the convenience and security of having all your electronic data permanently encoded on your arm. There would be no more credit cards to lose, no more identity theft, and no more expiration dates to be concerned about. It seems like a perfect solution, and yet there are still people who resist the tattooing and even those who delve into self-mutilation in order to rid themselves of the barcode they already have. To Kayla Reed, such desperate measures suggest the possibility that the barcode is less than perfect and perhaps even sinister. When tragedy strikes her home due to the tattoo, she is convinced to avoid it at all costs. Her life becomes increasingly tangled as she seeks to claim freedom in a world that insists upon electronic control.

This book has a highly captivating plot and is written in a very frank, colloquial style that would appeal to even a less enthusiastic reader. Although not the newest book, it remains applicable in content and even manages to convince the reader that our world could consider such a route, despite some definite improbability included. It warns against blindly turning all power over to the government, suggesting instead to be self-dependent within the straits of governing authority.

CW

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

The Pajama Girls of Lambert Square

The Pajama Girls of Lambert Square
By Rosina Lippi
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2008. 351 pgs. Fiction

John Dodge buys a failing store in Lamb’s Corner, South Carolina with plans to turn it around and sell it in eighteen months, just like he does with all his business ventures. Lamb’s Corner is different than anywhere else Dodge has been, though, and he finds himself seduced by the affairs of the town’s quirky residents, particularly pajama-clad Julia, who owns a neighboring linen store.

Fans of Lorna Landvik and Joshilyn Jackson will likely enjoy this one.

Skinned

Skinned
Robin Wasserman
Simon Pulse, 2008. 361 pgs. Young adult fiction.

Lia Kahn has a perfect life. Anything she wants is hers, with wealth, beauty, and popularity on her side--until a tragic accident changes everything. She awakens after a car crash to find herself "downloaded" into a mechanical body, and with that procedure, her old life begins to slowly fall apart. She is shunned by her old friends and boyfriend and even, to a degree, by her own family. Due to the controversy of the download process, many people hate her for what she has become, although there is a select crowd--others who have also been downloaded--that will accept her, if she so desires. Lia floats between her old and new life, trying to continue on as before, but gradually becoming an entirely different person in the process.

This book is reminiscent of both Peter Dickinson's Eva and Pearson's The Adoration of Jenna Fox. However, although Skinned was interesting and fast read, it was lacking in the depth of aforementioned books. It had a bitter aftertaste with all the betrayal and backbiting that goes on, and sadly, the main character wasn't very likeable. Nonetheless, if readers are looking for a book in the genre of science fiction along these lines, this one is still worth keeping in mind.

CW

Saturday, May 9, 2009

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
by Alan Bradley
Delacorte, 2009. 373 pgs. Mystery.

Flavia de Luce is the sort of little girl who could be profoundly annoying in real life, but in Alan Bradley's delightful new mystery she is a total charmer. Besotted with chemistry with a particular interest in poisons, she has her own lab at her home, Buckshaw Manor and would no doubt be happy as a clam were it not for her older sisters with whom she carries on endless exchanges of malicious practical jokes. Trouble arrives in the form of a dead jack snipe with a stamp stuck on his beak. When Flavia's father is apprised, he pales, trembles, and retreats to his room where Flavia later hears (and sees through the keyhole) him in an angry discussion with a red-headed stranger. Early the next morning, Flavia arrives in the garden just in time to watch the stranger take his last breath. Wasting no time, she hops astride her trusty bicycle Gladys and rides off to solve the case, redoubling her efforts when her father is arrested for the murder. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is a fabulous, British village mystery, filled with memorable characters: Dogger, the deeply traumatized World War II vet; Mrs. Mullet, whose custard pies are deadly even without poison; and Flavia herself whose brilliant mind is bottled up in the most precocious of little bodies. Best news of all--the next book in the series is in the works.

LW

Friday, May 8, 2009

Gilead

Gilead
By Marilynne Robinson
Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2004. 247 pgs. Fiction

The aging Reverend John Ames has found out that his health is failing and decides to leave his almost seven year old son a journal recounting his life so his son will know his father when he is older.

The rambling stories jump around recounting Ames family history and the community of Gilead, Iowa where he has spent most of his life. The book is filled with spiritual thoughts and questions that Ames has had over his life being a preacher, son of a preacher and a town member of Gilead.

A bit slow for my taste, but if you want a book that is well written with casual conversational style of writing, Marilynne Robinson books are perfect.

KK

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Long Lost

Long Lost
By Harlen Coben
Dutton, 2009. 371pgs. Mystery

Myron Bolitar gets in way over his head in Harlen Coben's latest thriller about his former basketball star turned agent. Just as Myron's current flame is dumping him, he gets an urgent call from a former girlfriend asking him to come to Paris. He does, to discover Terese's husband missing and quickly discovered to be dead. All kinds of profoundly entertaining mayhem ensues as Myron, with the invaluable help of his lethal and superbly well-connected friend Win, his former tag-team women wrestler office staff, and a delightful French police officer, investigates and uncovers a terrorist cell with an improbable but truly frightening scheme for infiltration and mass destruction. Myron and companions are witty, attractive characters, and the action is frantic and compelling. First great beach read of the summer season soon to come.

LW

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Telegraph Days

Telegraph Days: A Novel
By Larry McMurtry
Simon & Schuster, 2006. 289 pgs. Western

This is the story of Nellie Cartright whose father left his plantation in Virginia to seek his fortune in the Wild West. Soon after they settled, tragedy strikes and Nellie and her brother find themselves orphaned and forced to leave their home and make their way to the nearest settlement of Rita Blanca. Here, Nellie’s true adventure begins as she tries to find her place amidst such legends as Buffalo Bill, Billy the Kid, the Earp brothers, and Doc Holliday.

I somehow forget how much I enjoy Larry McMurtry’s westerns. He writes with a wonderful sense of humor which often pokes fun of the many human frailties present as much now as they were in the West which provides a backdrop for his story. Nellie, while promiscuous, is an endearing and completely entertaining heroine. The personality apparent throughout her narration perfectly matches the era, its characters, and its events.

CZ

Outliers: The Story of Success

Outliers: The Story of Success
By Malcolm Gladwell
Little, Brown & Co., 2008. 309 pgs. Nonfiction

Malcolm Gladwell has a true talent for finding topics relevant to our daily lives and explaining them in an entirely new and intriguing way. In Outliers he delves into what makes individuals exceptional. He describes the circumstances surrounding the rise of Bill Gates, the Beatles, and Mozart and why those circumstances in part produced the success those individuals enjoyed. Gladwell also introduces ideas on how the American education system is failing to create such situations and impeding the success of our coming generation.

I always love reading Gladwell’s books and Outliers is no exception. I always walk away with a lot to think about and a somewhat different opinion of myself and the world around me.

CZ

The God of Animals

The God of Animals
By Aryn Kyle
Scribner, 2007. 305 pgs. Fiction

When her older sister elopes with a rodeo cowboy, 12-year-old Alice Winston is left as the lone support to help her father, Joe, on the family’s failing horse ranch. Joe is preoccupied with the ranch’s wealthy clients and Alice’s mother suffers from depression and refuses to leave her bedroom, so Alice finds comfort in nightly telephone calls to her English teacher, Mr. Delmar, telling him the stories she wishes were true about her life. This is a beautifully-written and poignant coming-of-age story told from Alice's isolated but observant perspective.

MBC

Monday, May 4, 2009

The Mighty Queens of Freeville: A Mother, a Daughter, and the Town that Raised Them Both

The Mighty Queens of Freeville: A Mother, a Daughter, and the Town that Raised Them Both
by Amy Dickinson
Hyperion, 2009. 225pgs. Nonfiction.

Amy Dickinson, sometime panelist on NPR's "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" and heir to Ann Landers' syndicated advice column, tells the story of her tender, female-centric, laugh-out-loud family in this classy memoir of country life, city life, and country life again. Dickinson hopes to reverse her family's terrible "marital track record" (the men leave--the women stay) when she marries a boy so citified he cuts down a sapling three feet from the ground because he doesn't want to bend over. The marriage lasts long enough to produce Emily, a delightful little girl and charming young woman, and then Amy and her daughter are thrown back onto the ample, warm, and perishingly funny bosom of her family. The Mighty Queens of Freeville is filled with plenty of good advice, cracker-topped casseroles, Methodist barbeques, and a deep-seated understanding of farm life--"Like Park Avenue debutantes, our Holsteins were high maintenance, moved in packs, and were immune to reasoning or punishment." Truer words were never spoken, except for all the other true words spoken in this priceless narrative of family life.

LW