February 26, 2010: Live to Tell

Book: Live to Tell by Wendy Corsi Staub

Product Description:

Secrets can scandalize . . .

In a lovely suburban town just north of New York City, the gossip mill runs more efficiently than the commuter-train line. And in every impeccably decorated house, they're talking about Lauren Walsh. They say that nothing could be worse than being abandoned by your husband for another woman. They're wrong . . .

Secrets can shock . . .

All Lauren wants is to protect her children from the pain of her messy divorce. But when their father goes missing, a case of mistaken identity puts all their lives in danger, and a stealthy predator lurks in the shadows, watching . . . waiting . . .

Secrets can kill . . .

Lauren is about to uncover an unfathomable truth—a truth this cold-blooded mastermind would never let her live to tell . . . -- from Amazon.com

My Thoughts: Wendy Corsi Staub never disappoints me! When a new book comes out, I literally cannot read anything else until I have read the book. This weekend, I had to quit reading one book because it wasn't holding my attention and this book was staring at me and taunting me! Finally I gave in and devoured it on Friday night!

I think I am going to go out on a limb and say that this is one of my favorite books so far by Wendy! The twists and turns made me flip each page eagerly! This was such an interesting mystery, and then ending really made me look forward to the sequel! I read somewhere that this will be a trilogy (!).

One question that I asked myself throughout this book is, "what makes one person's life more important than anyone else's"? And also, "who has the right to make that decision?" I thought that was an interesting theme throughout, and it made me really angry (that's a good thing). I thought it was a great question for Wendy to put in my head!

I was very invested in each character. For Lauren, I just wanted happiness in her life and was hoping that would work out in the end. For Nick, who left Lauren for an older woman, would karma bite him in the butt and would it be deserved? For the kids, would they be able to adjust to all the changes? For Garvey, would he please just die in a fire? I'm kidding on that last one, but I didn't like him? It's like he was trying to be God, and I don't like that he had a favorite daughter! Ughhhhhhhh.....hated him, but I think that was the point :)

As for the actual mystery. Wendy put in several convincing red herrings. In fact, I thought it was this one person for the entire book. Seriously, right up until the end and then I was shocked when it wasn't! Don't you just love that? I can't wait for the next two books!

{alicia}

What's In Your Handbag?

Welcome to my weekly meme, "What's In Your Handbag"? Do you always have a book in your handbag? If you can't leave home without something to read, then "What's In Your Handbag?" is the post for you! Every Friday, I will be posting what book is currently in my purse.

Yay! It's my favorite kind of week because Wendy Corsi Staub's new book, Live to Tell, just arrived! I cannot wait until this workday is over so that I can go home, get in my jammies and devour this book! In case you didn't know, Wendy is my favorite author and she is super nice to boot! So anyways, if you haven't read any of her books then I demand you go pick up this book immediately!

Leave the link to your "What's in Your Handbag" post in the comments! Also, feel free to grab the button, the HTML is posted on the right sidebar.

{alicia}

Teaser Tuesdays

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!

"Let's both go to her. She won't be happy when she realizes that she has been fooled into pushing her daughter into dishonor"

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory, page 47

{alicia}

What I Read in Alabama

Here are some thoughts on the books I read during my vacation.

February 10, 2010: Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky
This book was just okay. I had a real issue with the characters in this book that were so contrived and snobby and I hated them all. Overall, I wasn't crazy about it.

February 11, 2010: Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
A 19 year old cop. Is that even possible/safe? That plot point bothered me. Couldn't they have made the characters older? Also, Meg's cancer outburst was a little dramatic/predictable for me. Overall, it was a nice quick read.

February 12, 2010: Sweethearts by Sara Zarr
This was a good, quick read as well. I was thankful that Jenna's flashback didn't go the predictable route. I was disappointed in the ending though. All that work and no payoff in the end?

February 13, 2010: Burned by Ellen Hopkins
Ellen Hopkins is brilliant. I can't even describe the rainbow of emotions I went through while reading this book, so I will just say again.... Ellen Hopkins is brilliant.

February 15, 2010: Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
Okay, I think some books should come with warnings on the cover. "WARNING: This book will make you cry uncontrollably. Best read in private". Seriously, I cried so hard and it was embarrassing because my grandma, Em and Max were all in the same room with me, so I was trying to be cool about it and tried to stifle the cries. It was all fine, until this horrendous noise came out of my mouth because holding it in wasn't working. It was super embarrassing!

First of all, I love that this book was about a friendship and that the friendship was primary while the romantic relationships were really secondary. I think that most books write those two relationships in the opposite order, if that makes sense. I really enjoyed reading about their friendship and the trials and tribulations through the years and how they managed through them.

At times, I really felt bad for Kate. I felt like she was sacrificing herself for Tully by going along with her plans and not sticking up for herself. But on the other hand, I think it worked out for her in the end (well, not the end end but you know what I mean).

I was really interested in Johnny and Kate's relationship. When they got married, I wondered if their marriage was doomed and if he was still in love with Tully. I wondered that until the very end. I wish we could have seen more of their marriage, but at the same time, I understand that the book wasn't about their relationship.

I really liked this book, even though it made me cry like a crazy person at the end!

February 15, 2010: Without You by Anthony Rapp
This was a great memoir! So often I forget that actors are real people, and reading about Anthony's life was great. And I totally cried throughout the book. Now I have to go watch this again.

February 17, 2010: Killer Gorgeous by Jane Holleman
This was the worst book I ever read. I can't even put into words how awful it was.

{alicia}

What's In Your Handbag?

Welcome to my weekly meme, "What's In Your Handbag"? Do you always have a book in your handbag? If you can't leave home without something to read, then "What's In Your Handbag?" is the post for you! Every Friday, I will be posting what book is currently in my purse.

I'm home....and super behind on everything! I had a great vacation and read a bunch books {look for my thoughts on those soon}. This week I have The White Queen by Phillipa Gregory, and I have to read it quick because it's due in like 3 days!

Leave the link to your "What's in Your Handbag" post in the comments! Also, feel free to grab the button, the HTML is posted on the right sidebar.

{Alicia}

What's In Your Handbag?

Welcome to my weekly meme, "What's In Your Handbag"? Do you always have a book in your handbag? If you can't leave home without something to read, then "What's In Your Handbag?" is the post for you! Every Friday, I will be posting what book is currently in my purse.

I should have titled this week's meme "What's In Your Suitcase" because I am on vacation! Me, my sister, her boyfriend and my niece took a road trip to Alabama to visit my grandparents! So, I packed some books {not too many though} for our two day drive down. Here is what I packed: Burned by Ellen Hopkins; Without You by Anthony Rapp; Family Tree by Barbara Delinsky; Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols. Hopefully these will keep me occupied during the road trip!

Leave the link to your "What's in Your Handbag" post in the comments! Also, feel free to grab the button, the HTML is posted on the right sidebar.

{Alicia}

January 16, 2010: Same Kind of Different As Me

Book: Same Kind of Different as Me
by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
*read for Bloom Book Club

Product Description:

Denver Moore grew up in Louisiana in the 1960's, working on a plantation as a modern-day slave. Ron Hall is an international arts dealer who moves between upscale New York galleries and celebrities. It seems unlikely that these two men would meet under normal circumstances. Until Deborah Hall, Ron's wife meets Denver and sees him through God's eyes of compassion. When Deborah is diagnosed with cancer she charges Ron with the mission of saving Denver. From this request, an extraordinary friendship forms between Denver and Ron, changing them both forever. A remarkable true story of friendship and unconditional love! -- from Christianbooks.com

My Thoughts: I'll be honest. When I first started this book, I was not crazy about it. I just could not get into the story at first. I was wondering what the heck was going on and when would these stories meet {I'm impatient that way}. Well the first assignment was to read to page 100, well these two stories started getting really good at page 100! After I read page 99, I just had to keep reading! I stayed up until 3:00 am just to finish this book, and as a sign of my aging, I felt like I was hungover the next morning.

Reading this book was truly a privilege that is so hard to put into words. Some people have described it as life-changing. For me it was life-changing, the journey I went on while reading this book was something I will never forget. This book made me want to be a better person and to open myself up to a relationship with God {something I have always struggled with}. I had my highlighter working overtime and my tissues handy and by the time I was done I was bone tired, but so satisfied with the way this book spoke to me.

Deborah Hall is such an inspirational woman, and what a memorial to her to be immortalized in this book. Her only fear in life is that she would not answer the call of God, well she need not have worried because she answered it. She was such a brave woman up until the day that she passed and I have to thank her, for if not for Debbie, there would be no story.

Denver Moore. What a man. He was raised in such poverty and was a modern day slave. I'll be honest - I did not know that existed. It was horrifying to me and when he went back to visit where he grew up, it made the story even more amazing. Denver always said something that made perfect sense, you know what I mean? He had a saying or an answer for everything. He is a great man, and one of my favorite examples is how he prayed all night for Miss Debbie because no one else was praying at night, everyone prayed during the day. So Denver would sleep during the day and pray all night. How amazing is that? And when he sensed she was ready to go, he told her it was okay and that he would fulfill her dream and take over her life's work.

I wish Denver and Ron would come to a bookstore near me. I just want to hug them both and thank them for writing such a moving book. It truly has been an honor to read this book, and I will forever remember how I felt while reading it. I feel like I have done no justice in describing my love for this book and everyone else may have a different experience while reading it. That being said, I urge you all to pick up a copy of this book and read it! I will definitely be picking up What Kind of Difference Do It Make?: Stories of Hope and Healing, and maybe I will even re-read it :)

{Alicia}

February 7, 2010: Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife

Book: Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife by Francine Prose

Product Description:

Among the thousands of stories written about World War II and the fate of the Jews, none is more widely known, or more cherished, than that of Anne Frank. "The Diary of a Young Girl," first published in Dutch in 1947 as "Het Achterhuis" and since translated into more than 60 languages, is today an international literary classic. Often read as a school text, it has been a primary source of information on the war years and the Nazi persecution of the Jews for millions of young people. The transmutation and dissemination of the book by other media -- stage, film, television, song, dance and traveling exhibitions -- have spread Frank's story, or versions of it, to still larger audiences. The famous house in Amsterdam, at 263 Prinsengracht, where for 25 months the young girl and seven other Jews hid from their Nazi hunters, is among Europe's most popular pilgrimage sites. In "Anne Frank: The Book, the Life, the Afterlife," Francine Prose explains some of the many sides of this remarkable story. Editors at numerous publishing houses initially rejected the manuscript of Frank's diary, believing it to be of little interest to readers. Obviously, they were wrong, for following translations into French, German and English, and especially after the book's adaptation as a popular Broadway play and Hollywood film, Frank's story has been passionately embraced by audiences around the globe. The question is: Why? Prose believes the answer lies in the book's artistry. In her estimation, the diary is a "masterpiece," a work of "literary genius" and "one of the greatest books about the Nazi genocide." But however one may weigh Prose's high regard for the diary's literary merits, nothing she presents in her own pages supports her description of the book as a seminal text about "the Nazi genocide." In fact, such references hardly appear in the diary. Indeed, much of the book's success may be owed to the fact that its author, who was to become a victim of the Nazi slaughters before she was yet 16, had only scant knowledge of what awaited her beyond the protective rooms of the secret annex. With respect to the dehumanizing circumstances that Frank encountered and ultimately succumbed to in Westerbork, Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen, then, "The Diary of a Young Girl" is an anticipatory text, not a fully realized one. It points toward the genocidal crimes of the Hitler era but spares the reader any direct confrontation with them. Nevertheless, this is a compelling story, as Prose makes clear. In the first part of "Anne Frank," the author distills the known facts of the young girl's biography into a generally accurate, engaging sketch of her life. She then moves on to consider the diary's literary dimensions, praising the book's novelistic qualities and arguing effectively for seeing it as a "consciously crafted work of literature." An accomplished fiction writer herself, Prose appreciates Frank's observational powers and skill in developing memorable characters. As is well known, Frank not only wrote but rewrote her diary, substantially editing many entries with an eye to publishing her book as a novel after the war. Prose's commentaries on the changes wrought by these revisions are often illuminating and raise this interesting question: Is Frank's book in fact a diary or a "memoir in the form of diary entries," an "epistolary autobiography" or a "novel in the form of a journal"? How one answers this question could help to determine how one reads the book and what one takes away from it. To numbers of people, though, Frank's story probably acquires its most lasting impressions elsewhere -- not from the pages of the diary but from the Goodrich and Hackett dramatization and George Stevens's Hollywood film. Prose's chapters on these productions convincingly show how the complexities of Frank's self-presentation disappear in the "silly and shallow version" of her developed on stage and screen. Unfortunately, this thinner, more mindless version has come to prevail as the "real" Anne Frank for many, who extract from her story sentimentalized notions of tolerance and understanding, caring and compassion. To some degree, Prose sympathizes with them. But she suggests that, admirable as these ideals are, to reduce Frank's life and death to facile "messages" of goodness, hope and inspiration is to read her less than faithfully and, thus, to remain still at a distance from one of the 20th century's best known, but not yet fully understood, figures. -- from Amazon.com

My Thoughts: I am fascinated with the Holocaust. I don't want to say that I'm obsessed because that sounds morbid, but I kind of am. It is something that I will never understand, it is an event so horrid that I can't even comprehend it. I guess that is why I read so many books about it. {Another fascinating obsession for me is polygamy....I'm kind of odd}.

I saw this book at the library and immediately grabbed it, though it isn't typical reading material for me. It isn't a first-hand experience of the Holocaust. Instead it is a book written about another book. Again, not typically something I am interested in.

While the subject matter of this book is something that interests me, and I learned things regarding Anne Frank's diary that I never knew, I sometimes struggled through my reading of this book. I was unaware of the backlash and conspiracy theories about Anne's father, Otto. I was also shocked that so many people worldwide insist that the Holocaust never happened and that it is all a conspiracy. Who knew that a young girl's diary could be the cause of so much controversy!

I guess I also never realized that Anne Frank rewrote her diary. I have not read the book since I was about 10 years old, so I'm thinking I need to re-read it with adult eyes.

If you pick this book up, it is obviously because you are interested in the subject. So I would have to say that you would like this book. Even though I had difficulty getting through some parts of the book, I really did enjoy reading about Anne again and reading how her life has affected so many people.

{alicia}

February 5, 2010: Story of a Girl

Book: Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr

Product Description:

When Deanna's father catches her having sex in a car when she is 13, her life is drastically changed. Two years later, he still can't look her in the eye, and though Tommy is the only boy she's been with, she is branded the school slut. Her entire family watches her as though she is likely to sleep with anyone she sees, and Tommy still smirks at and torments her when she sees him. Her two best friends have recently begun dating, and Deanna feels like an intruder. She tries to maintain a close relationship with her older brother, but Darren and his girlfriend are struggling as teenage parents. Deanna learns to protect herself by becoming outwardly tough, but feels her isolation acutely. Her only outlet is her journal in which she writes the story of an anonymous girl who has the same experiences and feelings that she does. Through this, readers see the potential that Deanna cannot identify in herself. This is a heartbreaking look at how a teenager can be defined by one mistake, and how it shapes her sense of self-worth. This is realistic fiction at its best. Zarr's storytelling is excellent; Deanna's reactions to the painful things said to her will resonate with any reader who has felt like an outsider. It is an emotionally charged story, with language appropriate to the intensity of the feelings. Story of a Girl is recommended for both teens and the adults who live and work with them.—from Amazon.com

My Thoughts: This book was just what I needed. I'm in the middle of a book that is kind of dry and this book kind of got me out of my funk!

Deanna's dad was a truly despicable character. Zarr wrote him so well, that I actually hated him. I thought his behavior was ridiculous, especially since it had been three years since the "incident". Also, I love the realism of life in a small town. I live in an extremely small town and it's so true that word travels fast and everyone knows your business.

Another thing I liked about this book was the exploration of a popular double standard. Being a young girl is so difficult, especially if you make a mistake in a small town. You will forever be regarded as the "slut" of the town while the young boy is seen as a hero. I wonder if there will ever be a day when this double standard goes away.

I would definitely recommend this book for a quick and easy read.

{alicia}

What's In Your Handbag?

Welcome to my weekly meme, "What's In Your Handbag"? Do you always have a book in your handbag? If you can't leave home without something to read, then "What's In Your Handbag?" is the post for you! Every Friday, I will be posting what book is currently in my purse.

This week, I took a trip to the library and picked up a copy of Story of A Girl by Sara Zarr. I've heard great things about this book, so I'm really eager to read it! I also have Sweethearts on hold at the library, so I'm hoping to pick that up this weekend. I really missed the library, it's always a fun way to spend a Saturday!

Leave the link to your "What's in Your Handbag" post in the comments! Also, feel free to grab the button, the HTML is posted on the right sidebar.

{Alicia}

February 2, 2010: Twenties Girl

Book: Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Product Description:

Lara Lington has always had an overactive imagination, but suddenly that imagination seems to be in overdrive. Normal professional twenty-something young women don’t get visited by ghosts. Or do they?

When the spirit of Lara’s great-aunt Sadie–a feisty, demanding girl with firm ideas about fashion, love, and the right way to dance–mysteriously appears, she has one last request: Lara must find a missing necklace that had been in Sadie’s possession for more than seventy-five years, and Sadie cannot rest without it. Lara, on the other hand, has a number of ongoing distractions. Her best friend and business partner has run off to Goa, her start-up company is floundering, and she’s just been dumped by the “perfect” man.

Sadie, however, could care less.

Lara and Sadie make a hilarious sparring duo, and at first it seems as though they have nothing in common. But as the mission to find Sadie’s necklace leads to intrigue and a new romance for Lara, these very different “twenties” girls learn some surprising truths from each other along the way. Written with all the irrepressible charm and humor that have made Sophie Kinsella’s books beloved by millions, Twenties Girl is also a deeply moving testament to the transcendent bonds of friendship and family. --from Amazon.com

My Thoughts: I love Sophie Kinsella! She always puts me in a great mood and I always love her books! I might break my book-buying ban and pick up the paperback version of this book when it comes out.

Lara was a fun, quirky character and she had me laughing hysterically! My favorite part was her first date with Ed. I could not stop laughing, people were staring at me! The mystery aspect of this novel was also refreshing, and I honestly had no idea where Sophie was going with the necklace search. It all paid off in the end though and made for a happy ending.

I loved this book! I hope you all read it {if you haven't already}.

{alicia}

Teaser Tuesdays

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!

"I feel a sudden lump in my throat as I watch. They're all Sadie inside, aren't t"

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella, page 513 {large-print edition}

{alicia}

January 30, 2010: Dying Scream

Book: Dying Scream by Mary Burton

Product Description:

No One Will Find You

An aspiring artist. A high-school senior. A stripper. Three women who seemed to have nothing in common except their sudden disappearance. But one man knew them all. Wealthy, privileged Craig Thornton even claimed to love them. And for that, they paid the ultimate price.

No One Will Save You

When Adrianna Barrington receives an anniversary card from her husband Craig, she assumes it's some crackpot's idea of a joke. After all, Craig is dead. But then come phone calls, flowers, messages. . .all reminding her how much Craig misses her. While Adrianna begins to doubt her sanity, grisly remains are found on the Thornton estate. Detective Gage Hudson is convinced the bodies are linked to Craig. But the biggest shocks are yet to come.

No One Will Hear You Scream

A psychopath has taken up his chilling work again, each death a prelude to the moment when she is under his control at last. And the only way for Gage and Adrianna to stop him is to uncover the truth about a family's dark past--and a twisted love that someone will kill for, again and again. . . -- from Amazon.com

My Thoughts: This was my first Mary Burton book and I liked it! I'm definitely going to look at the library for some more of her books. Sometimes there is nothing better than a lazy Saturday spent with a good thriller and I was not disappointed.

There were many red herrings placed throughout the book, and I had my own idea of who the killer was. I was wrong, and I'm happy I was wrong! One thing I wish that Mary Burton would have addressed is the paternity of Adrianna's baby that she lost. Am I the only one who thought the baby was Gage's? Also, there is a little inconsistency with who the killer killed {if that makes sense}. It seems with his motive, he should have killed Gage, but for some reason he didn't.

Though I had some questions at the end of this book, it was still a quick read and a good thriller!

{alicia}