June 25, 2010: My Name is Memory

My Name is Memory* by Ann Brashares

A romance that stretches across centuries and past lives constitutes the core of Brashares's varied second adult novel, the first in a planned trilogy. The story is primarily that of Daniel, as, in the present, he pursues Lucy (whom he knows as Sophia in a previous life) and attempts to persuade her of their history and destiny, but his passion initially and understandably scares her off. He disappears, presumed dead, but Lucy, unable to forget him, investigates his claims of their history until she discovers the truth. Meanwhile, Daniel takes readers on a tour of romantic near-misses, from sixth-century Africa through eighth-century Turkey to WWI. The story moves slowly and predictably, though when a plot finally materializes, Brashares (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) manages some satisfying momentum, even if the story begins to feel like it's borrowed from a James Patterson novel. Brashares's insights into human nature, meanwhile, should appeal to readers who enjoyed The Time-Traveler's Wife, but can appreciate a Nicholas Sparks-esque sensibility. -- from Amazon.com*

I'm a fan of Ann Brashares, so I was really excited to receive this book!  This book is different than her previous book, but still great.  The story revolves around Daniel and Lucy, their spirits have been in love since the 500's but she doesn't remember any of her past lives.  Lucy tries to piece the puzzle together, but can't seem to find Daniel.

This book got me thinking about past lives.  I've always wondered who I was in a past life (yes, I believe in that), so this book was kind of awesome for me.  Wouldn't it be amazing to remember all of your past lives and who you were.  It was also interesting to see how people who were close to you in a previous life are still part of your future lives.  

I think Ms. Brashares did an amazing job telling Daniel and Lucy's story, however, the ending left me bored.  It seemed so abrupt and didn't offer a resolution.  Maybe this is leaving room for a sequel.....please?!  Despite the ending, I still really loved this book and devoured it in one night!

*affiliate links used

**book provided by Hodder and Stoughton publishers for review on this blog.

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. 

It is Friday morning.....8:00 and I am sleeping in my car right now.  Obviously this post is pre-scheduled (most of them are) and I might not be sleeping in my car, I might be crying.  Every year we go to the Fiesta Ware tent sale in WV.  We leave at 10:30 on Thursday night, and drive through usually getting there between 1:30 and 2:00 am.  Then we plop our butts into line (usually we get a good spot, fingers crossed) and wait until 7:00 am and then they pass out tickets.  Now it's back to the car until 10:00 am at which point we can get in line by order of our tickets and wait to go into the tent.  Sounds like a blast doesn't it?  It is fun, but man does my body hurt the next day!  I also have a wedding this weekend, along with a family picnic.....which means I might not get much reading done!  However, if I do spare a moment I will be ready with My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares (which is quite good so far!)  Why does it seem like my weekends in the summer are always so busy?!  Does anyone else have this problem?

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.

June 23, 2010: Things I Wish I'd Know

Things I Wish I'd Known by Linda Green

Remember when life revolved around what top to wear? Let Linda Green take you on a hilarious, romantic and touching journey back to your teenage years...

When Claire Cooper was 15 she’d swear on her Wham! album that: big hair and rah-rah skirts were here to stay; Spandau Ballet would never split up; she would marry her idol, heart-throb footballer Andy Pailes. Fast forward 20 years and things haven’t gone quite to plan. And when Claire discovers the ‘dream list’ she wrote as a teenager, she realises how far removed her life is from the one she’d imagined. Divorced, stuck in a dead-end job and dating an ambulance-chasing personal injury lawyer, she decides it’s time to put her life back on track. But what really happened between Claire and her teen idol all those years ago? And is meeting him again the way to make her dreams come true? Or a huge mistake? -- from Amazon.co.uk (link)

Is there anything better than a warm summer day, lots of wine lemonade, and a great chick lit book?  I really don't think there is!  Reading this book just confirmed something that I have been thinking for awhile.....British Chick Lit is basically the best thing ever!  Yes, I read chick lit and you know what?  I love it, so judge all you want!

At first, I wasn't sure what Linda was getting at with her flashbacks to the 80's but after the second chapter I just didn't care!  I was transported to a time when your idol was the most important thing in the world.  Mine was Brian Littrell and I seriously thought I was going to marry the man, but unfortunately I didn't.  Who am I kidding, ten years later I sometimes still dream he may leave his wife for me.

I liked the tone of this book.  Claire felt like a great friend, and I seriously felt her troubles.  What's interesting to me is that this book was not all light and fluffy.  There is a point during the flashbacks that takes us to a seriously dark place, and I just wanted to hug teenage Claire through the pages.  I felt my heart break for her.  I honestly was not expecting that in this book, but after I finished it I was happy it was there. 

In the end, I'm happy that Claire was able to clear her head and make the decisions that she wanted and let go of her past.  I totally cried like a baby at the end of the book too.....I also wasn't expecting that.  Great book!

*This book was given to be by the Publisher for review on this blog.

June 17, 2010: I Am Hutterite

I am Hutterite* by Mary Ann Kirkby

I Am Hutterite takes readers into the hidden heart of the little-known Hutterite colony in southern Manitoba where author Mary-Ann Kirkby spent her childhood. When she was ten years old her parents packed up their seven children and a handful of possessions and left the security of the colony to start a new life. Overnight they were thrust into a world they didn't understand, a world that did not understand them.

Before she left the colony Mary-Ann had never tasted macaroni and cheese or ridden a bike. She had never heard of Walt Disney or rock-and-roll. She was forced to reinvent herself, denying her heritage to fit in with her peers. With great humor, Kirkby describes how she adapted to popular culture; and with raw honesty her family's deep sense of loss for their community. More than a history lesson, I Am Hutterite is a powerful tale of retracing steps and understanding how our beginnings often define us. 

Controversial and acclaimed by the Hutterite community, Kirkby's book unveils the rich history and traditions of her people, giving us a rare and intimate portrait of an extraordinary way of life. -- from Amazon.com*

Before I read this book, I had no idea what a Hutterite was.  If I'm being honest here, I equated Hutterites to be similar to polygamists.  It's unfortunate that I had those thoughts first, but I just want to be honest.  I am very interested in different cultures and religions, I've read many books about Polygamist colonies in the past, and I'm also interested in Amish living.  These are two subjects that intrigue me, so I was pleasantly surprised by this book and would like to read more on the subject.

This book goes back as far as Mary-Ann's (Anne-Marie in the book) grandmother and follows the family through-out.  It was so interesting to hear about the colony and how Mary-Ann's mother chose to follow her heart instead of the advice of her brothers.  She married the man she loved and they had many children, but they had a difficult time because her brother didn't approve.  Not having the approval of the guy who was basically "in charge" (kind of like a Polygamist prophet) could really lead to a difficult life.  This is most evident when Mary-Ann's brother, Renie, dies.  That section was so difficult to read, and I can't imagine the guilt that her parents felt, but because they couldn't get approval to go to the hospital, they were too late to save him.  Heartbreaking.  

Although her family ran away from the colony, their life on the outside was not as easy.  They often had to resort to eating rotten food, and wearing clothes unlike anyone else.  It was interesting to see Mary-Ann struggle with being an outcast, but still feel loyal to her family.  She even went as far as saving some saran-wrap out of the garbage and school and bringing it home to reuse.  I enjoyed this book because even though they did run away from the colony, Mary-Ann's childhood was a peaceful one and they led a pretty good life.  I wonder if there wasn't that tension between the family, if they would have stayed.

This was a great book that I devoured in one day!  I would love to read more about the Hutterite culture because, unfortunately, this is my first experience with it! 

Important Things to Note:

*affiliate links used

**book was provided by Thomas-Nelson for review on this blog {confessions of a bookaholic}.

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. 

Okay, I have to apologize again for my lack of posting last week! Oops!  I feel like I'm back on track, thanks to my handy dandy new calendar!  I'm trying to catch up on my library books, so this week I am reading Dreaming in Hindi* by Katherine Russell Rich.  I've been wanting to read this for awhile now, so I am really excited to do nothing tonight, except read.  It's been far too long!

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.

 

*affiliate links used

June 5, 2010: Sizzle

Sizzle* by Julie Garwood

Lyra Prescott, a Los Angeles film student, is closing in on graduation and facing important decisions about her future. She's already been offered a job at her hometown TV station, an opportunity that could ultimately launch her dream career as a film editor. But heading back home would also mean dealing with her overprotective brothers, social-climbing mother, and eccentric grandmother. Unsure of her future, Lyra dives into work on her final school assignment: a documentary transformed by a twist of fate into a real-life horror film.

After she unwittingly captures a shocking crime on camera, a rash of mysterious, treacherous incidents convince Lyra that she's trapped in a sinister scenario headed for a violent ending. Running scared, she turns to her best friend, Sidney Buchanan, whose connections bring dauntless and devilishly handsome FBI agent Sam Kincaid into Lyra's life. As the noose of deadly intrigue tightens and the feelings between them deepen, Lyra and Sam must place their faith in each other's hands—and stand together against the malevolent forces about to break loose.

No one mixes life-and-death suspense with feverish desire better than Julie Garwood. In Sizzle she burns hotter and brighter than ever, keeping the action and passion blazing till the incredible, unforgettable end. -- from Amazon.com*

This book was great in getting me out of a little reading slump.  I haven't read much Julie Garwood, so I didn't really know what to expect.  It was a nice and quick read with a semi-interesting plot.

The only thing that was kind of odd to me, is that Sam seems like an older man and the age difference between the two seemed huge.  Not too big of a deal in most cases, but here it kind of bothered me and I don't know why.

As for the mystery aspect, I wasn't on the edge of my seat dying to find out what happened.  It was interesting to see the end result, but nothing too shocking.

*affiliate links used

June 14, 2010: The Starlet

The Starlet:  A Novel* by Mary McNamara

It’s a not-so-well-respected rule in Hollywood that what happens on location stays on location. But when a hot young leading man winds up dead in his Rome hotel room, his costar’s life is about to go off the rails in a very public way—even by celeb standards.

At the tender age of twenty-three, Mercy Talbot has won an Oscar, battled addiction, wrecked more than her share of cars, and burned down her house. Her look-alike mother keeps her on a tight leash (and fueled with an endless supply of OxyContin and cocaine) and her producers demand a grueling schedule. By the time she stumbles across Juliette Greyson, a Hollywood insider on a much-needed vacation, Mercy is surrounded by photographers and about to emerge drunk, high, and naked from a public fountain. Whisking her away to an idyllic Tuscan ‘retreat,’ Juliette is about to discover another rule of Hollywood: wherever the starlet may go, the drama will follow .-- from Amazon.com*

What an interesting look into the Hollywood lifestyle.  It all seems so glamorous on the outside, but this book brings an inside view that is terrifying, yet intriguing.  Having never read Oscar Season, I was unsure of what to expect, but I was certainly hooked throughout this book.

When I first started reading, I began to wonder if this book was about a certain young actress (*coughLindsayLohancough*), however I quickly threw that idea out once it was said that Mercy was a brilliant actress and began reading it as a work of fiction.  The characters were so well thought out, and Mercy was certainly a sympathetic character.  In the hands of a different writer, Mercy could have been a horrific brat 100% of the time, but McNamara gave her some redeeming qualities.  Also, the gorgeous Italian scenery didn't hurt this novel any.  I could actually imagine myself at the Cerreta (if only it were real).

I'm a little ashamed to admit that I am a celebrity gossip junkie.  Every morning you can catch me checking Perez, TMZ, People and I'm Not Obsessed - so this novel was right up my alley.  I truly appreciated the "ripped from the headlines" feeling that was in this novel!  Great job Mary McNamara......now I'm off to find a copy of Oscar Season at the library.

*affiliate links used

**I received this book from Regal Literary for review on my blog. 

Sorry!

I'm a bad blogger, I forgot to post my own weekly meme on Friday!  Anyways, I apologize for my lack of focus lately, but I will be back this week with some new reviews and What's in Your Handbag? will be returning as well!

TLC Book Tours: The Truth About Delilah Blue

The Truth About Delilah Blue* by Tish Cohen

What if you woke up one day to learn that you were once a child on a milk carton?  This is the provocative premise of The Truth About Delilah Blue.

Lila Mack, formerly known as Delilah Blue Lovett, has felt like an outsider ever since she moved from the gingerbread community of Cabbagetown, Toronto, to Los Angeles with her father when she was eight-years-old.  Now twenty and still struggling to find her way in life, she yearns to become an artist like her long-lost mother, but, unable to pay for classes, she does something quite daring.  She takes a job as an art model, posing nude for a classroom full of students so she can learn from the professor—a decision that lifts the veil of her once insular world.

Anxiety over exposing her body is the least of Lila’s worries when her father starts to become disoriented and forgetful, signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s.  At the same time, her mother re-enters the scene, bringing secrets about the past that will change their lives.  Suddenly, nearly everything Lila knows about herself is a lie, and she has no idea who to trust—her free-spirited mother whom she always believed abandoned the family, or her adoring father, who has begun his descent into senility and is either unable or unwilling to give her answers.  Lila realizes neither parent is what he/she seems and the only one she can really rely on is the most broken person of all—herself.

The Truth About Delilah Blue showcases Cohen’s talent for finding the humor and heart in the most dysfunctional of families as she tackles the subject of parental abduction and the themes of abandonment, trust, healing and forgiveness. -- from Author's Website

First of all, I absolutely love the cover of this book.  It's gorgeous - but I'm superficial that way.  I found the story line to be very interesting.  Twenty year old Lila's mother finds her after about 12 years apart.  Lila thinks her mother abandoned her and her mother says Lila's father kidnapped her.  What a doozy!

The writing in this novel was so great.  I had so many mixed emotions throughout!  For example, Lila's (Delilah Blue) father kidnapped her, and at times I really sympathized with him.  Why on earth would I sympathize with a kidnapper?  Same with her mother.  At times I felt so sorry for her, she hasn't seen her daughter in 12 years but on the other hand, I kind of hated her most of the time.....if that makes sense.  I think that is great writing, because in most other books this case would be cut and dry - the father would be a guilty jerk and the mother would be a saint.  I like that Tish Cohen went a different way with that!

I also like that Delilah wasn't your typical twenty year old.  She didn't go to college, which some people may frown upon, but she did take the initiative to try and get into some art classes, even if she had to be a nude model.  I thought the modeling was an interesting perspective; her initial awkwardness evolved into a seasoned model who thought about her poses and how they would affect the drawings/paintings. 

I think that once you start this book, you will probably be hooked.  There is not clear-cut path to the ending of this book.  Lila takes many twists and turns throughout and ultimately I think she really found out who she was in the end.

Be sure to check out Tish Cohen's website, blog, and MySpace page.

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for allowing me to read this book as part of their program.  Here are the upcoming stops for The Truth About Delilah Blue TLC Book Tour:

Thursday, June 10th:  1330v

Monday, June 14th:  Chefdruk Musings

Wednesday, June 16th:  Books By Their Cover

Thursday, June 17th:  Cindy’s Love of Books

Tuesday, June 22nd:  Crazy for Books

Wednesday, June 23rd:  Books Like Breathing

Thursday, June 24th:  Jenn’s Bookshelves

Monday, June 28th:  Take Me Away

Tuesday, June 29th:  Galleysmith

Wednesday, June 30th:  Write Meg

*book provided by publisher for review
*affiliate links used

June 4, 2010: The Help

The Help* by Kathryn Stockett

      Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.
      Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.
      Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.
Minny, Aibileen’s best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody’s business, but she can’t mind her tongue, so she’s lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.
      Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.
      In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women—mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends—view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don’t. -- from Amazon.com*

I will be quite honest here.  I had the hardest time getting past chapter 1 and it took me three weeks to get past it because, darn it, I was determined to finish this book.  Of course, it isn't the book's fault, life got in the way and my attention was not 100%.  This week I finally got further, and thank goodness for that!

Immediately after I allowed myself to give it a chance, I was really hooked and was not at all let down by the hype!  I think this book will definitely be re-read by me at some point, because it was so well done.  It was so interesting to read about the 1960's from the different perspectives, and to see how the different women treated their maids.  My least favorite character was Hilly - what a b**ch!  My favorite characters were the main three, Miss Skeeter, Aibeleen and Minny.  They were very well developed characters and they each brought a different emotion to the story.  It's hard to imagine living in this time because it all seems so appalling.  I'm so grateful that most of us have changed our ways.

*affiliate links used

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. 

Wow!  I'm still slacking this week, can you believe it?  I still haven't even cracked open this book.  But since I was insane and took out 3 library books this week, I've decided to move on to those.  This weekend I will (hopefully) be reading Sizzle* by Julie Garwood.  I say hopefully because I will be watching my precious niece and she's at the age where she wants to get into everything!  So after bedtime, I'm going to sit down and read.  Who knows, maybe she will even take good naps for me.....but that is doubtful.

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.

 
*affiliate links used