The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Stieg Larsson)

I don't know why I didn't read this book sooner, when it was at the front of Chapters or when my mom whipped through them.  I still didn't know much about the book when my aunt started talking about the new movie that's now out.  When I told her I hadn't read the book, she just told me, "Oh, you have to.  They were so good."

So, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson was the next book I decided to read.  When I started it, I didn't read the back so I had no idea what I was getting myself in to. 

The novel is giant and it's a thriller/mystery/suspense book (with a bit of a love story at parts, I guess).  Without giving much away because most of this is on the back of the book, Mikael Blomkvist, a journalist, is hired by Henrik Vanger to solve a mystery.  Henrik's niece disappeared forty years ago and Henrik believes that she was murdered.  He's been stuck on this case for forty years and is desperate to find an answer.  Lisbeth Salander enters the story (she's the one with the dragon tattoo!).  She's a "genius hacker with someone twice her age" and tries to help Mikael with this mystery. 

"You didn't have to be a rocket scientist to see that these events were somehow related.  There had to be a skeleton in one of their cupboards, and Salander loved hunting skeletons.  Besides, she had nothing else on at the moment."  (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson, p. 390)

I really liked this book.  It took me a little while to get into for a few reasons.  First, I didn't have a good chunk of time devoted to reading when I started the book, and I think that you really need that to understand what is going on at the start of the book.  The whole novel isn't like the first fifty pages, so if you're having trouble with the beginning (the first hundred or so pages), don't worry - it gets a bit easier to read once the story is set up a bit for you.  Second, it just took some time getting used to the names of people and places (because they're all Swedish).  Once you start reading though, these names become familiar and it's fine.  Don't ask me to pronounce them, but it was easy to understand and recognize the names. 

This really was a "don't want to put it down" book for me.  It was exciting and a little bit crazy.  (That's one messed up family, the Vangers!)  If you haven't read it and are looking for something with a bit of substance, this could be it!  It's big and has a lot of details, but it moves at a steady pace and was very interesting. 

This is the first in the trilogy and I am looking forward to reading the next two!

The Embarrassing Library Story

It all started about a month ago.  I was all "I think this year, for my New Years Resolution, I'm going to buy less.  One thing I can do is start using the library more!"  (Realistically, I know that if the wait is too long for a book, I'm not going to wait for it - I'll end up buying it anyway.  But hey, I thought it would be good to try for a while.)  My first "book on hold" library story was a success - I put a book on hold, it got transferred to the library nearest me, and I was able to pick it up a few days later.  Woohoo - this library thing will be awesome.

The story continues at a Christmas party at the beginning of December, when the series "The Black Dagger Brotherhood" came up in conversation.  I was told by a few girls that I MUST read this book.  "Hey," I thought, "let's check if it's at the library."  They had one copy at a different branch, but it was currently checked out.  I put it on hold, knowing that it was due mid-December.  Perfect!

I've been checking the status of my book online (which is an awesome feature) and I noticed that it had been "In Transit" for a few days now.  Since I finished my latest book last night, I was ready for the first book of "The Black Dagger Brotherhood" series and decided to just go ask at the library.

She was very nice at the desk and called the branch it was being transferred from.  This was her end of the conversation.  "I have a patron here who has a book on hold.  It has been in transit since December 21st.  Could you check if it's on your shelf? (pause) It's W-A-R.  The author is J.R. Ward.  The book is called Dark Lover."  (Oh, this is embarrassing... It's not what it sounds like.)  So it wasn't there.  She tells me, "Maybe it's on the shelf here by accident.  The lady at the other desk across the library will be able to help you."

On to desk number two.  She was busy, so I thought, "This could be easy and less embarrassing.  I'll go look for the book on the shelf myself."  Nope, it wasn't there.  During this search, I said to my mother, "Mom, the book is called 'Dark Lover.'  It's not what it sounds like... It's a vampire book that (insert name of friend) said was very good.  This is kind of awkward."

Back to desk number two.  I ask about it, she checks the shelf again and it's not there.  Then she calls the library it was initially from, thinking it could have somehow ended up back there.  What I hear (along with the dozen people who are sitting right next to her at the computers.)  "Hello.  I have a patron here looking for a book.  It's been in transit for a while and maybe it's ended up back on your shelf by accident. (pause)  It's W-A-R.  Author J.R. Ward.  The book is called 'Dark Lover: The Black Dagger Brotherhood series.' Oh you don't need to write it all down.  You can just write down Dark Lover."  Meanwhile, a man shows up at the desk and is laughing (and we also get a few looks from the people at computers).  As I start turning red, I say to him, "It's not what it sounds like."

I find out he works there when he says, "Oh, there's a bin of books downstairs that has been there for a couple days.  I think they're transit books."  He goes down to get the bin of books as my mom and I wait near the movies just in case my book is there.  We see him bring up the box of books and he helps go through them, trying to find the book.  Mom says, "Well, they don't need to be reminded what the title is, at least."  Yes, it's an easy one to remember.  Dark Lover.

They find it and I go to the desk again to check it out.  I thank him, turn to the lady at the desk and say, "Well, I'm going to check out Season 3 of The Muppets, too, so that it doesn't look so bad.  That was really embarrassing."  After she punches in my stuff, the guys asks, "What's the book about anyway?"  I respond, "My friend told me it was good.  I don't even know really, it's like vampires or something."

I made their day.  You're welcome.  Now I have a book to read AND a season of The Muppets to watch. 

I haven't started the book yet, but it better be worth it. 

P.S. They were all extremely nice at the library and I think it was just a little mix up. Had I not asked, it would have sorted itself out (minus the embarrassment).

Secret Daughter (Shilpi Somaya Gowda)

I've been putting off my review of this book because it's currently on loan to a family friend... (I like to have the book in hand as inspiration!)  Since we still haven't gotten it back yet, I decided to just go for it.  Get her done before the new year - plus this book just may be one of my top picks of 2011. 

My mom recommended Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda this past winter when I was looking for a "good" book to read (you know, a book you don't want to put down?) 

Kavita, who lives in an Indian village gives birth to a girl.  In their culture, boys are strongly favoured and Kavita is expected to end the life of her child.  Instead, she brings her daughter to an orphanage.  At the same time, Somer and her husband Krishnan, who live in America and have been unable to have a child, decide to adopt.  Asha, the daughter, becomes curious about her past and decides to search in Mumbai for more information about her history. 

I loved that this book dealt with so many different issues, such as adoption, interracial marriages, poverty and infertility, just to name a few.  I couldn't put the book down once I started it - you so badly want to know how Asha's story turns out. 

This was Shilpi Somaya Gowda's first novel and I am excited to see what else she publishes!  I definitely recommend this one!

baby proof (Emily Giffin)

I read baby proof by Emily Giffin last year after receiving it as a Birthday gift from a friend. 

Claudia doesn't want children.  She finally faces the fact that she probably won't find Mr. Right (a man who also wants to skip the children) until she meets Ben.  Things seems to be going perfectly until one of them changes their mind... Now what?!

"This is the witty, heartfelt story about what happens to the perfect couple when they suddenly want different things. It’s about feeling that your life is set and then realizing that nothing is as you thought it was--and that there is no possible compromise. It’s about deciding what is most important in life, and taking chances to get it. But most of all, it’s about the things we will do--and won’t do--for love."  (from Emily Giffin's website)

If you've read Something Borrowed and Something Blue, also written by Emily Giffin, then expect much of the same type of writing.  I enjoyed the storyline and I found that it was a nice, easy read that dealt with a serious enough subject.  I just kept thinking throughout the novel, "I don't know what I would do!" 

It was a decent read, so if you're looking for something a little lighter that has a lot of heart, give this one a try.

Once Upon a Day (Lisa Tucker)

I grabbed Once Upon a Day by Lisa Tucker at the last minute on my way to a last minute supply teaching day.  I wasn't sure if it was the next book I wanted to read, but once I was about two chapters in, I was really intrigued.  (I stumbled upon this book at a bookstore and, even though I hadn't read anything by Tucker or really heard much about her, I decided to buy it after reading the blurb on the back...)

Nineteen years ago, Charles Keenan disappeared from his life with his two children.  Dorothea and Jimmy live with their father, Charles, in a huge house in the middle of nowhere.  He's a very overprotective parent - he won't let his children do anything that he thinks could result in them getting hurt.  That is, no tire swings, no cooking, no painting (because paint is toxic, you know!) and no leaving their property.  They are homeschooled, everything is delivered to them, such as food, and their doctor makes house visits to see them.  Jimmy decided to leave in his 20s to find his mother's family.  When Dorothea is 23, her father becomes ill and she goes out in search of her brother.  She's put into a world she has never known and begins to search for the truth about what really happened in her father's past.

"Tragedy, loss, and especially guilt: these were the real truths of the world, and Lucy knew it.  God help the person who didn't understand this, she thought.  God help themif they have to find out the hard way that the life they're taking for granted is as fragile as a naked heart."  (Once Upon a Day, Lisa Tucker, p. 71)

I loved this novel.  Like really loved it.  I want there to be a movie that follows this story exactly as it's written.  I finished it, wishing that it wasn't over, wanting to know more and more and more.

The novel is written a little differently.  Some chapters used a first person narrative, whereas others used the third person.  Tucker had to let the reader see everything that was going on in different locations and what different characters were thinking and feeling.  I loved the bit of back and forth and really felt that I got to know most of the characters so well.  Tucker did a great job of recounting past stories that were important to the outcome of the novel and characters within it. 

I loved the idea of the story.  It kept me interested after a little hook at the beginning, when Stephen and Dorothea's stories start to mesh a bit.  There were so many angles that I thought were covered well and they were all included at exactly the right time in the novel.  I couldn't put it down once I was a third of the way through - I just needed to know what happened next!

"This is the charming coincidence.  When things in the world that are unconnected suddenly connect, and a pattern emerges."  (Once Upon a Day, Lisa Tucker, p. 55)

At first, I thought the novel would be a bit like Room by Emma Donoghue.  Although it's similar in that there is a child who is basically restricted to where he/she is living, it's really quite different.  Dorothea, in this novel, does have a family who loves her and her father would have let her leave when she was ready (as he let her brother leave...).  Jack, in Room, has a mother who loves her, but he really is locked in a prison with his mom. 

Lisa Tucker has written a few other books, and I am anxious to read another one of her novels since I was so impressed with this one.

"[...] life is as much about what you believe as what seems to be reality."  (Once Upon a Day, Lisa Tucker, p. 153)

Nights of Rain and Stars (Maeve Binchy)

I've made reference to Nights of Rain and Stars in a past post, so I thought it was about time to write a description and brief review of this novel by Maeve Binchy. 

Four strangers from different countries end up in a Greek village.  They have all ended up here, trying to escape from the realities of their own lives.  Tragedy strikes the town and the stories of these four individuals begin to intertwine.  Through the experiences, tales, and advice from some older and wiser individuals in Aghia Anna, the four strangers begin to face their problems and find solutions to the questions they have been asking themselves. 

I enjoyed this book... It took me a while to get into, but once I got to know the characters, I really started to feel for them and started to create the endings that I wanted to happen.  (Isn't that one of the things that happens when you're reading?  I often think I have the perfect ending, but sometimes what I want to happen isn't what happens in the end...)

Maeve Binchy has a long list of novels, and I will definitely keep her on my "to read" Reading List.

Wonderstruck (Brian Selznick)

I just finished Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick.  I first heard about this book from this blog, written by a librarian who reads many young adult books.  Often, I just skim what she's read, but when I saw her review about Wonderstruck, I immediately looked for it in the library database.  Since there were quite a few copies available throughout the area, I decided to wait for a bit before checking it out (since I saw that it was a GIANT book and didn't think I had time to read it quite yet).  Walking through Chapters last week, I noticed that Brian Selznick's Wonderstruck has now made it right to the front and center.  I picked up the book and skimmed through it, noticing that a good portion of the book is made up of beautiful art.  After being home for two minutes, I searched for it again and noticed that now, 5 of the 7 copies were currently checked out of the various libraries in town.  I thought I'd better get on it before 30 people put the book on hold before me!  I had a copy transferred to my nearest library and picked it up two days later.  Wow, what a story...

The concept of Wonderstruck:  It's composed of two different and separate stories.  Ben's story is told entirely through words and Rose's story is told through pictures.  Ben is searching for a father that he has never known and Rose is in search of an actress who she reads about in the papers.  Their stories are set 50 years apart - oh, and did I mention that both Rose and Ben have hearing impairments?

I read this book very quickly - partly because it was very good and partly because of the beautiful artwork that fills up many of the pages in the book (and allows you to flip the pages quicker than if they were filled with words).  As you're reading both stories, you can see some similarities.  Both stories are well told and, as a reader, you wonder how Selznick is going to finish (and perhaps mesh together) these separate stories.

Also, let's take a moment here to again say how beautiful the artwork in the book is.  I was unsure when I was starting this book - how I was going to understand a storyline when there are no words to help?  The images do such a good job of telling a solid story.  (Yes, a picture can be worth a thousand words.)

Because of its size and weight, it's not a book I would recommend when you're heading on vacation, but it was a great, quick, young adult read that makes you smile at the end.

Room (Emma Donoghue)

The book needed a border!

I was reminded of this book during a brunch conversation yesterday morning.  I read it this past winter and thought it was deserving of a post! 

Room by Emma Donoghue is told from the perspective of Jack, a 5-year-old boy.  He has been living in a simple room for his entire life.  This is reality to him and he doesn't understand that there is a world outside of the room where he could have a much brighter life.  His mother, on the other hand, who has been in this prison since she was nineteen knows that she needs to do whatever she can to get her and her son out of the room alive. 

I enjoyed this novel.  It was interesting, being told from the point of view of a small child.  It's hard to imagine what it would be like to be stuck in one room for years at a time.  It would also be difficult to think what this would mean to a young child - this really is his reality and he doesn't know any better.  It would be hard to imagine that trees exist if you only see them on a television and have never seen one in real life.  It would also be a challenge for Jack's mother - how do you explain the world to your child who has been in the same small room his whole life?  And how do you keep things positive when all you really want to do is save yourself and your son?

I would recommend this novel.  It was interesting and kept you guessing.  Another book this makes me feel grateful for the life that I have!

A Wedding in December (Anita Shreve)

It seemed fitting to read this book since it is December and all.  I recently finished my first Anita Shreve book, so I decided to give this one a try too!

A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve takes place throughout one weekend.  Seven high school friends (and a few of their life partners) are reunited when Bridget and Bill, high school sweethearts, get married after being apart for nearly two decades.  During this weekend, both good and bad memories are brought up.  All the characters seem to leave their reunion a different person than when they arrived. 

"A twenty-two-year marriage is a long story," Nora said. "It's... it's a continuum with moments of drama, periods of stupefying boredom.  passages of tremendous hope.  Passages of resignation.  One can never tell the story of a marriage.  There's no narrative that encompasses it.  Even a daily diary wouldn't tell you what you wanted to know.  Who thought what when.  Who had what dreams.  At the very least, a marriage is two intersecting stories, one of which we will never know."  (A Wedding in December, Anita Shreve, p. 151)

Meet the characters:
Nora owns the inn where the wedding is taking place.  She's a widow in this novel and has a past with Harrison.  Harrison is a publisher who is living in Toronto with his wife and two children.  He's been keeping a secret since his days at Kidd (their school).  Agnes is a writer and a teacher at her former high school, Kidd.  She's always been known as the "single one".  Bridget and Bill are the ones getting married after being apart for two decades.  Rob and Josh are both musicians.  Jerry and Julie have both have done very well for themselves since high school. 

"I just couldn't stand having you all leave after this weekend [...] and not know this about me.  That I have had a life.  It's a different life than most.  A life dispensed in moments.  But they were transcendent moments, never dull, intensely felt, full of joy.  How many of you can say that?  I have had riches.  I have had my share."  (A Wedding in December, Anita Shreve, p. 262)

This book was good.  It was an easy read, and you often wanted to know what would happen next in this busy weekend.  I liked that in different parts of the book, the narration shifted to different characters.  In one chapter, you heard about the wedding from three different points of view.  It gave you the opportunity to know what the characters were thinking about as they were about to reunite with their long lost friends.  There were lots of little secrets that were brought up at the reunion, things that either happened in high school or that had happened since.  In this way, the book wasn't entirely predictable.  I also liked how the reader is left with the ability to decide how some of the story lines will end. 

"If Harrison had learned anything about private lives, it was that anyone looking in from the outside could never know the reality."  (A Wedding in December, Anita Shreve, p. 151)

When reading some books like this, though, I do sometimes think that it's unlikely for these events to happen.  Who goes to a reunion weekend twenty years after high school and has this much drama occur?  Despite this thought, it was a good read. It makes you think of what your reunion with your best high school friends would look like, and it makes you wonder (at my age, anyway) where you will be in twenty years.

"The things that don't happen to us that we'll never know didn't happen to us," Harrison said.
"The nonstories."
"The extra minute to find the briefcase that makes you late to the spot where a tract trailer mauled another car instead of yours."  Harrison took a bite of buttery muffin and thought about his next cholesterol test.
"The woman you didn't meet because she couldn't get a taxi to the party you had to leave early from," Bill added.  "All of life is a series of nonstories if you look at it that way."  (A Wedding in December, Anita Shreve, p. 207-208)

(If you're expecting something winter-y and Christmas-y, this is not it!  It only takes place in December.)

A Soft Place to Land (Susan Rebeccca White)

I found this novel at a used bookstore in town.  I didn't really know what I was looking for when I went there...  I was checking out some authors that have been recommended to me and browsing some of the award winning books.  This novel was in with the fiction books and I initially pulled it out because the spine of the book looked like it was in perfect condition.  Then, I saw the cover and, of course, judged it.  I liked the look of it and, after reading the back, decided that it looked like an interesting story. 

"Just know that whatever feelings you shove down are going to have to come up again sometime. And some people think it's better to control when it comes up than to have it just one day boil over and take you by surprise." (A Soft Place to Land, Susan Rebecca White, p. 104-105)

A Soft Place to Land by Susan Rebecca White is the story of two half sisters, Ruthie and Julia, who have to deal with the devastating news that their parents were killed in a plane crash while they were on vacation.  Ruthie and Julia are surprised when they hear what is in the will.  Julia, 16, who still has one living parent (her biological father), will be moving in with him and his new wife (we'll call her the evil stepmom).  Ruthie, 13, who has now lost both of her biological parents, is now moving in with an aunt and uncle.  On top of losing their parents, these girls are now, in a sense, losing each other.  The novel, told mostly through Ruthie's story, spans across a few decades and shows the hard times and complicated-ness that is involved in this sister-sister relationship. 

"Her mother.  Her mother who was so alive and then - so quickly, so finally - was simply gone.  From matter to memory.  Like that."  (A Soft Place to Land, Susan Rebecca White, p. 241)

When I first picked up the book, I noticed what Kathryn Stockett, the author of The Help, had said about this book: "A beautiful complicated love between two sisters.  Book clubs: This is your next pick.  I loved this book."  Considering how much I loved The Help, I thought that I would also enjoy this one. 

I completely agree with Stockett - it was most definitely a nice story about "the complicated love between two sisters."  You never know what kind of effect tragic news, such as the sudden death of two young parents, will have on you.  Especially being right at the center of everything, these girls would have had a lot to go through.  It was nice to see the good and the bad of their relationship after the death of their parents.  Also, not only did it show you what events happened right after the girls hear the news, but the author provides you with chunks of information from different points in their lives.

"I've never felt more grateful for my life than I do today, but I think it's fair to say the gods have put me through some shit." (A Soft Place to Land, Susan Rebecca White, p. 327)

I would recommend this novel if you're looking for something real.  It can be a hard topic to think about, write about, or read about, but Susan Rebecca White gives you an honest look at the relationship between Ruthie and Julia.  There were some parts of the story that I found more interesting than others, and some parts that I found to be a bit slow, but it was a good read.

"Knowing that everyone has a story," Naomi would say, "I find it very hard to judge." (A Soft Place to Land, Susan Rebecca White, p. 262)

Rescue (Anita Shreve)

I just finished reading my first Anita Shreve book.  My mom had read Rescue recently and when I was searching for my next book through our baskets and bookcases full of novels, she suggested that I read it.

Peter Webster is a paramedic.  On one of his first shifts, he first encounters Sheila, who had been in a DUI accident.  He is particularly curious about her and so he makes a point of visiting her in the hospital.  The medic/patient relationship eventually turns into a bit more.  Eighteen years later, Webster is a single father raising his daughter, Rowan.  When things with his daughter start to go off track, he thinks that maybe he can't be everything that his daughter needs.  With the possibility of Sheila back in the picture, Webster tries to decide if this really is the best thing for his daughter. 

I motored through the novel in a few days because it was an easy read.  The novel is told from the point of view of Webster.  One half of the novel was a bit of a love story that allowed you to see into the relationship between Sheila and Webster.  It contained enough details about Webster's job as a paramedic that would keep some readers interested in the novel if they aren't as interested the relationship story.  The other half of the book was less about the love story and more about the father/daughter relationship in the Webster household. 

"Do you love her?" his mother asked.
Finally, an easy question.  "I do," he said.  "Very much."  But even as he said it, and as sure as he was that he did, he wondered if he really knew what love, in these circumstances, meant.
(Rescue, Anita Shreve, p. 67)

I liked the story.  It was a little bit predictable, but there were still some aspects that came as a surprise to the reader.  I found that it was a fairly realistic story...  Many households are just like the Webster home, with single parents, broken families, and secrets.  I thought it was neat that Webster was telling stories from his medic calls, although many of these calls had little to do with the storyline itself. 

If you're looking for a light and easy read, Rescue may be the one for you!  I think a few more Anita Shreve books may be on my reading list in the future.

Go slowly and be careful.  (Rescue, Anita Shreve, p. 282)

P.S. I am a person who often does judge a book based on its cover (although this isn't the only way I choose my books!).  I don't know exactly what I was expecting from this cover, but I liked the look of it.  Somehow, though, I didn't think the story really matched the cover.  Sure, there's a mother and a daughter, but things aren't quite like this in the novel... 

Sarah's Key (Tatiana de Rosnay)

The novel Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay goes back and forth between two different time periods. 

July 1942 in Paris:  A young girl, Sarah, is arrested alongside her family in the Vel d'Hiv roundup.  When they show up at her door, Sarah locks her younger brother in a closet, promising to return to get him.

May 2002 in Paris: Julia, a journalist, is writing an article about the Vel d'Hiv roundup.  As she's doing her research, she finds out that her family history is more connected with the roundup (and more specifically, Sarah) than she previously thought.  She continues to dig deeper into Sarah's story, trying to find out what happened to this girl, her brother, and her family.

I loved how this book went back and forth each chapter between the different time periods - you were reading two different stories that you knew were somehow connected.  You find out more and more information about what happened to Sarah and her family and, as you're reading the novel, really want to know what happened to her in the end.  Where did she end up and what is she doing?  Is she still alive?  What about her family?

Not being a huge history fan, I wasn't sure at first of how I would like the book, but I did enjoy it.  Recently, I also went to see the movie.  It reminded me a lot of the book and the stories that were told in it.  I did find that it was a little harder to handle than the novel was.  It makes it all that much tougher when you visually and graphically see some of the conditions that these people were forced to live in.  It was a good movie that represented the book accurately and definitely shed some light on a not-so-happy part of history. 

I would definitely read another novel by Tatiana de Rosnay and would recommend Sarah's Key.

lullabies for little criminals (Heather O'Neill)

I'm not exactly sure what made me choose lullabies for little criminals by Heather O'Neill.  It could have been the bright green, happy-looking cover or it could have been the "Canada Reads 2007 Winner" sticker on the front.  

"Some guardian angels did a terrible job.  They were given work in the poor neighborhoods where none of the others wanted to go.  Every delinquent kid had one of these miserable angels who made sure that they made the worst of every situation.  These angels loved when people did the wrong thing or took risks.  You can't have that many bad things happen to you without some sort of heavenly design."  (lullabies for little criminals, Heather O'Neill, p. 285)

The story is told from the point of view of a twelve-year-old girl named Baby (who turns thirteen in the book).  Her parents had her when they were in their teens and her mother passed away when Baby was a year old.  She's living with her father in Montreal, moving from apartment to apartment trying to survive.  Her father is a drug addict and seems to go from highs to lows, and from nice dad to mean dad, on a daily basis.  You get a chance to see their relationship when it's at its best and when it's at its worst.  Baby has all the freedom that a twelve-year-old shouldn't have.  Throughout the novel, she gets sent to a detention center, gains a friend in a local pimp, and experiments with drugs and prostitution.

Maybe I just wasn't in the right mindset for this novel, but it wasn't my favourite and I found that it was a lot to handle.  You find yourself getting attached to Baby because she's such a young girl.  It makes your heart hurt when you hear about how she's doing drugs, selling her body, and basically living alone in the street.  At times, the content and descriptions in the novel almost made me feel uncomfortable.  (I feel like you could open to book to almost any page, read a random paragraph, and understand that she is leading a rough life.)  No young child should ever have to go through this, but the reality is that some children do have to deal with these types of obstacles.  This book made me thankful for my family, the environment that I grew up in and the experiences that I was able to have as a child. 

"I don't know why I was upset about not being an adult.  It was right around the corner.  Becoming a child again is what is impossible.  That's what you have legitimate reason to be upset over.  Childhood is the most valuable thing that's taken away from you in life, if you think about it."  (lullabies for little criminals, Heather O'Neill, p. 77)

Play Dead (Harlan Coben)

This book did not disappoint.  I was looking for another good mystery novel and that's exactly what I got.  I have always been impressed with Harlan Coben's novels and his ability to make me a) carry his book around everywhere I go, b) sit down for hours at a time and continuously flip the pages of his novel, and c) stay up late until it's finished. 

After reading those few non fiction books and some light summer reads, I thought it was about time that I got lost in another Harlan Coben novel.  This time, I chose one of the few novels that I haven't read by him, Play Dead.  Like I mentioned, I have loved every book that I've read by him in the past and this one was no exception.  (I may even have to go back and re-read a few that I remember really loving!)

At first I was hesitant to read it.  At the beginning of his book, Harlan Coben writes a short note to his readers.  He tells us, "Okay, if this is the first book of mine you're going to try, stop now.  Return it.  Grab another.  It's okay.  I'll wait."  He wrote this book when he was in his early twenties, and it was released for print in 1990.  He explains that he is not the same writer now as he was back then.  But that's okay - I liked the book anyway and I'm glad I kept reading. (Some other people who have written online reviews were very disappointed... I, however, thought it was still good and it kept me reading.)

Now onto the challenge of reviewing this book without giving too much away!  The book is about a Hollywood couple, Laura Ayars and David Baskin.  They were on their secret honeymoon in Australia when Laura went out for a quick business meeting.  When she returned, she was left with a note from her husband saying he had gone out for a swim.  He never returned.  Despite the coroner reports that say David drowned, Laura suspects some foul play and takes it upon herself to start finding answers.  Some secrets, as much as 30 years old, start to surface and prove that this is all a little deeper than we ever imagined it could be. 

As I was reading this book, I was starting to think that I had many things figured out.  There was a lot of foreshadowing and most people are able to put two and two together.  (I mean, come on, you can read the title of the book and figure out something!)  Half way through the book, I was even wondering why Harlan Coben needed another 200 pages to tie up the ends that I had already figured out.  Oh, how wrong was I.  Despite what I thought was happening, there were new facts that kept arising, changing the story entirely.

I would recommend this novel (as I would any Harlan Coben novel!).  If you're looking for a book that will keep you in suspense until the very last page, consider this one.  And consider his other novels, too!

The Help (Kathryn Stockett)

I read The Help by Kathryn Stockett during the summer and LOVED it! It had me laughing at many points and also had me in tears today as I was sitting outside enjoying the sunshine. I loved the rollercoaster of emotions I felt as I was reading this book.

For those of you who haven't heard about the book (which, I guess, is probably a low percentage considering the amount of publicity the new movie "The Help" was getting), it's a book about a town in Mississippi, where the coloured maids, alongside a friendly white lady, secretly write a book about their experiences working in white households. I loved how the chapters in the book were written from different points of view - it reminded me of how Jodi Picoult's "My Sister's Keeper" was written.

Here are some of my favourite (and most memorable) quotes from the book:

"Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, 'We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought.'" (The Help, Kathryn Stockett, p. 492)

"'I guess I got to go,' I say, even though I'd rather spend the rest of my life right here in Aibileen's cozy little kitchen, having her explain the world to me. That's what I love about Aibileen, she can take the most complicated things in life and wrap them up so small and simple, they'll fit right in your pocket." (The Help, Kathryn Stockett, p. 369)

"Skeeter look away from me, try to smile. 'I don't care about any of that ole stuff, anyway.' She kind a laugh and it hurts my heart. Cause everybody care. Black, white, deep down we all do." (The Help, Kathryn Stockett, p. 346)

I highly recommend this book. I loved it so much that I rushed out to see the movie. While the movie was decent, in this case I definitely thought that the details provided in the book provided for an even better story than what was shown on the big screen...

Open (Andre Agassi)

I am on a roll with my non fiction books lately.  The most recent one being Open by Andre Agassi.  I'm a tennis fan, so I read this book despite the fact that he was starting to quiet down his tennis career just as I was starting to regain interest in (watching) the sport. 

On the book, Time described the book as "One of the best sports autobiographies of all time.... One of the better memoirs out there, period."  Can't go wrong by reading this, right?

The story is about Andre Agassi. He struggled in school, hated the sport that was forced upon him by his father, and worked hard trying to find out who he was as a person.  He discusses everything from his lowest points to his highest points in the game, specific points in a match (really), his changing relationships with coaches, trainers, and girlfriends, and his struggles with his physical self and injuries.

It surprised me how much you really learn about Agassi in this book.  As fans, we cheer on our favourite athletes, sometimes thinking how lucky they are to be able to play hockey, tennis, basketball, whatever, for a living.  Never do we think that they don't want to be doing what they're doing.  Based on Agassi's interviews with the press at the time, you assume that he's being honest... wrong.  He's human, and when times are hard sometimes it's easier to just let people think what they want to think.  And hopefully you don't let it affect your game, right?  It must be difficult to live a life where your every move, comment, decision and relationship are right out there for the public and media to criticize and comment on.  It was an eye opener.

"If I had time, if I were more self-aware, I would tell journalists that I'm trying to figure out who I am, but in the meantime I have a pretty good idea of who I'm not.  I'm not my clothes.  I'm certainly not my game.  I'm not anything the public thinks I am.  I'm not a showman simply because I come from Vegas and wear loud clothes.  I'm not an enfant terrible, a phrase that appears in every article about me.  (I think you can't be something you can't pronounce.)  And, for heaven's sake, I'm not a punk rocker.  I listen to soft, cheesy pop, like Barry Manilow and Richard Marx." (Open, Andre Agassi, p. 117)

I found the book to be a bit of a rollercoaster.  I found some sections of the book more interesting than others.  He's writing about his career - which is tennis - so it makes sense that a majority of the story will be about just that - tennis.  There were some sections that were very... tennis.  Kudos to the fact checker who made sure that the tournament name, opponent name, round number, and match scores were accurately represented in the book!  I found I kept reading, waiting for the next piece of information about his relationships! 

I think you really need to have an appreciation for tennis or a love for Andre to fully appreciate this book.  If you don't have a love for either, I'm not sure that it would be on the list of your top reads.  I enjoyed reading Open, but I can see how it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea. 

There were many quotable moments in his book... I'll leave you with this one.

"It's no accident, I think, that tennis uses the language of life.  Advantage, service, fault, break, love, the basic elements of tennis are those of everyday existence, because every match is a life in miniature.  Even the structure of tennis, the way the pieces fit inside one another like Russian nesting dolls, mimics the structure of our days.  Points become games become sets become tournaments, and it's all so tightly connected that any point can become the turning point.  It reminds me of the way seconds become minutes become hours, and any hour can be our finest.  Or darkest.  It's our choice."  (Open, Andre Agassi, p. 8)

Water for Elephants (Sara Gruen)

In an attempt to catch up on writing about some of the books I read this past year, I shall write this one.  I was inspired last night after finally watching the movie version of Water for Elephants. This past winter, I was encouraged to read the novel Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.  I'm still a believer that 90% of the time, the book is better than the movie.  The movie, in this case, reminded me so much of the story that I read a few short months ago. 

The novel goes back and forth between the nursing home, where a ninety year old Jacob Jankowski is currently residing, and his earlier days, when he is 23 and working for the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. 
Jacob started working for the Benzini Brothers after he finds out that his parents have passed away.  Jacob was due to take his final veterinary exam and begin working with his father, but now decides to leave before he graduates from the program.  Once on the train, he gets hired as their veterinarian.  He becomes wrapped up in a love triangle and is engulfed in the life of the show.

I loved everything about Water for Elephants.  What kid doesn't think about what it would be like to work for a circus?  This gives you a somewhat behind the scenes look at some of the challenges that Jacob faced on the road.  I loved the back and forth of the story between the nursing home and the circus.  I loved the relationships that Jacob created on the train.  I loved the love triangle.  I loved the ending.  I loved that I didn't want to put the book down.

I would definitely recommend the novel, for a few extra stories from the nursing home and for some great opportunities to use your imagination and create your own images of what is being so wonderfully described using words. 

The Maze Runner (James Dashner)

Initially, I had only stopped at Chapters to look for the November/December edition of the National Geographic Traveler.  One of my friends will have a photo featured after being a merit winner in the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest.  My friends are just so awesome!

Being too early for the magazine (guess they really do mean that it will be out in November), I was wandering around during a 20% off sale.  I wasn't going to buy anything until I walked by the Young Adults table in the middle of the aisle. 

Usually, I notice and kind of smile at how the Young Adults table is covered in vampire books.  I read the Twilight books and, while I liked getting caught up in the vampire craze at the time, I think I'm done with the vampire world (except for maybe the last two Twilight movies, of course).  This time, I also noticed The Maze Runner by James Dashner on the table.  Not being like all the other vampire books on the table, I picked it up and read the back.  I just had a feeling that it could be another book, like The Hunger Games, that would surprise me and bring me to another world.

Let's start with a short description.  Thomas wakes up in a giant box that has brought him to a place called the Glade.  Around the Glade are large stone walls that open each morning and close each night, leading to a huge maze.  This place has a population that is make up entirely of kids - and they're all boys.  No one really knows why they are there or how to get out.  They only know that every month, a new boy shows up in the box, and that whoever sent them there is watching them and is providing them with the food and supplies they need to survive.  A day after Thomas arrives, there's an unexpected arrival in the box - a girl.  Things start to change in the Glade and everyone works hard to find the answers they need to survive and get out of the weird world they are in. 

I'm not entirely sure where to start with my thoughts on this book.  I liked it - just not as much as I liked The Hunger Games.  I found that it took me a little while to get used to the language used in the book.  And, because of "how they do things" when someone first arrives at the Glade, there were lots of conversations at the beginning of the book that I found confusing - I understand that they have a system for how they introduce people to the environment, but there was almost too much running around in my head for the first few chapters.  Once I got some answers, I found that it all made a lot more sense to me. 

I was intrigued throughout the book, really trying to come up with solutions for the problems these kids were facing in the Glade.  (And I feel uber smart because I came up what they tried in Chapter 42 before the author said it.)

You realize that they're all just kids and that they've been forced to grow up because of the situation they were put in.  I think there could be some great discussions around this theme, especially if this book was used in a classroom setting.

I am somewhat satisfied with the ending.  You feel a little relief for the tension you were feeling, but it does leave you with a twist in the Epilogue...  You kind of want more answers - answers which you hope will be answered in the next book, The Scorch Trials.  I'll probably reserve the next book from the library even though I'll have to wait a month or so before it's in (which is good news for the book - there is a wait list for it!). 

If you're in the mood for something a little different - a book that has some real life themes mixed with a lot of imagination - then I'd recommend this.

The Hunger Games, Catching Fire AND Mockingjay (Suzanne Collins)

 I read The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins after hearing so many good things about these books.  One recommendation was from my friend Amanda's blog. 

These books were read by me during the summer in record time.  I could attempt to write a blog post about each individual book, but they were read right after one another so quickly that I probably couldn't even get my thoughts right about what happened in which book.  What I do know is how much I loved these books. 

The first novel, The Hunger Games, introduces you to a different world, a place you couldn't even imagine.  Each  year, one boy and one girl from each district is chosen to fight in a battle to the death on live TV. 

Sounds strange, right?  I thought so, too, but there was something about this book that just kept me so captivated.  You fall in love with the characters and their stories, and the descriptions that Collins includes in the book make you feel like you are right there in the action.  There's always something about these books that take place in an exciting and different world that make me feel like I'm a kid again (um, Harry Potter anyone?).  They also make me wonder how someone could come up with these crazy and awesome ideas. 

The story continues in Catching Fire and Mockingjay.  Both books have equally exciting plots (I don't really want to give anything away, if you haven't read the first book...).  If you read and like the first book, I don't think it's possible to go without following up with Catching Fire and Mockingjay! 


This Young Adults trilogy is highly recommended by me.  Although I was a wee bit embarrassed to be buying this book from the "Teen" section (since I can't even count the number of times I'm asked whether I'm still in high school), I'm so glad I did. 

Seriously, go out and find these books now if you haven't already.  Start reading and let your imagination go to The Hunger Games. 

The Beach House (Jane Green)

At the end of the summer, I was looking for an "end of summer" book and I found The Beach House by Jane Green. 

This was the first Jane Green book that I'd read.  In fact, I ran across her book at Chapters when I was looking for a 4th book for my "Buy 3, Get 1 Free" deal. 

This book is about a house in Nantucket, owned by Nan.  She's an "eccentric" lady who suddenly realizes that her funds are decreasing and she needs to do something about it.  Since the last thing she wants to do is sell her beach house, she decides she's going to rent out rooms in her home. 

Meet the characters:  Daff is a single mother who just needs to get away, Daniel is a father with a deep secret he's been hiding his whole life, and Michael (Nan's son) is back home for the summer after a failed relationship or two. 

This book reminded me of:  Maeve Binchy's "Nights of Rain and Stars" because it's the story of how some strangers meet and end up changing each others lives. (Blog post about this one to come, I guess!)

The Beach House was an easy read and was fairly entertaining.  While you can predict some of the outcomes, there are a few surprising events to keep you interested.  It was a slice of life since the characters in the novel were all dealing with real issues.  I found myself glued to this book at times, needing to know what was going to happen.  I would definitely read another Jane Green novel in the future. 

Some memorable quotes:

"'But if I can impart some wisdom, a little of which I seem to have learned at my ripe old age, I do think,' she says gently, 'that nothing in this world happens without a reason.  That we are all exactly where we are supposed to be, and that the pieces of the puzzle have a tendency to come together when you least expect it.'" (p. 181)

"She wants to say: you will find your way through this, you will find a way forward because you are all good.  You are goodness and kindness and perhaps the best man I have ever met.  You can trust me because I trust you.  Because even though I barely know you I would place my life in your hands.  I know you would look after it."  (p. 311)

The Last Song (Nicholas Sparks)

Yes, I know... I read this.  There were three reasons why The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks was on my book shelf and on my reading list this past spring. 

1. I'm a fan of romantic comedies and those "fall head over heels" movies so yes, I have seen the movie.  And I liked it.  (Fun fact from Nicholas Sparks' website: He wrote the screenplay before he wrote the novel.  Miley Cyrus, who plays Ronnie in the movie, loved the movie A Walk to Remember and wanted to do a similar movie.  The Last Song was created.)

2. I found this book at HomeSense for $1.80.  After liking the movie, how could I leave that cheap-o book at the store?

3. Last year, I was living in the middle of nowhere (where I knew almost no one) on a teaching job.  I needed stuff to do, so I had started to read a lot more.  Since it was report card time, I needed a book that wouldn't consume every minute of my time.  I figured that a book based on a movie that I'd already seen would be a good idea! 

The plot? Ronnie and her brother go visit their father one summer in North Carolina. Ronnie isn't impressed because, since the divorce of her parents, she hasn't been able to look at her father the same. Ronnie makes some unexpected friends in North Carolina and then secrets start unfolding that make Ronnie question her current relationships with her friends and her family.

What's my verdict on the book?  It was so similar to the movie that I felt like I was re-watching it as I read the book.  I liked that the book was easy to read and, because of the timing, it was the perfect book for me. If you're in the mood for a love story and a bit of family drama, find a copy of this book. 

Little Princes (Conor Grennan)

I was hesitant to start this book, mainly because I'm not usually a non fiction reader.  However, because this book came highly recommended by various family members, I decided to give it a go this summer.  I'm glad I did.

Little Princes is the true story of Conor Grennan, a twenty-nine-year-old who decides he's going to go volunteer in an orphanage in Nepal (mainly because he thought it would sound good when he told others!).  Although his initial visit to Nepal was just the first stop on his "one-year, solo round-the-world trip," the experiences he had with the many children in the orphanage changed him.

Living in Nepal exposed him to many things.  He discovered that many of the children in these orphanages were the victims of child trafficking; that is, when times were hard, these children were sold by their parents, who had been promised that their children would grow up in a safer environment with food, shelter, and education.  This was hardly the case for many of these children. Conor takes it upon himself to find family members and reunite them with their children. 

Conor Grennan's descriptions of the children really make you feel like you are experiencing what he is - many of his interactions with the children made me laugh out loud, whereas others made me really feel for them.  The story of his trek across the country really makes you understand how difficult this journey was and how much he was risking to help the orphans.

This book really shows how much impact one person can have - He did some pretty amazing things. 

If you purchase this book, a portion of the proceeds are donated to Next Generation Nepal.

LEFT neglected (Lisa Genova)

I most recently finished reading "LEFT neglected" by Lisa Genova.  Recognize the author?  She also wrote Still Alice, which I also read and enjoyed!

LEFT neglected is a novel about Sarah Nickerson, an extremely busy mom who must deal with a brain injury called Left Neglect.  Basically, her brain no longer let's her body recognize that she has a left side.  Or that anything has a left side.

Imagine you only apply makeup to the right half of your face.  Imagine you can only read the right half of a page.  Imagine you can't tell your body to move your left limbs.  This is what Sarah is dealing with. 

Maybe it's the science communicator in me, but I loved learning about Left Neglect through this novel.  Lisa Genova does a great job explaining what it must be like to live with this type of brain injury.

Here's an example from the book (though kind of lengthy, it's very interesting!):

"The first step in my recovery is to become aware of my unawareness, to constantly and repeatedly remind myself that my brain thinks it's paying attention to all of everything, but in fact, it's only paying attention to the right half of everything and nothing on the left.  Every second of the day, it seems, I forget that this is so.  While the part of my brain normally responsible for this awareness has taken a leave of absence, I have to recruit another part of my brain to be my own babysitter, to monitor my every move and to chime in whenever I need prompting.  Hey there, Sarah, you think you're seeing your whole face, but you're actually only paying attention to the right side.  There's another half there.  It's called the left.  Honest to God. 
The second step, once I become aware of my unawareness, is to expand this knowledge over to the left, to stretch my focus and imagination past what seems like the edge of the earth, and find the other half.  What used to be automatic and entirely behind the scenes - seeing the world as a whole and seamless - is now a painstaking and deliberate process of trying to reel a disconnected left into consciousness.  Look left.  Scan left.  Go left.  It sounds simple enough, but how do I look, scan, or go to a place that doesn't exist in my mind?"  (p. 127-128)

 Another part that stood out to me was when she was talking about how difficult it is for her to walk:

"But walking with a left leg that fades in and out of existence is enormously frustrating and complicated.  Even stepping forward with my right foot requires a conscious and continued faith in the existence of my left side, because when that right foot is in the space between here and there, I'm standing only on my left leg.  My left leg and foot have to be appropriately activated, compromising between flexion and extension, responsible for balancing me and holding all of my weight upright - a tall order for an appendage that feels no loyalty toward me whatsoever.
I sometimes think it would be easiest to hop on my right foot to get from place to place, but I haven't yet had the courage to try it.  Logically, hopping should work, but somehow I just know I'll end up sprawled out on the floor.  Anticipating this outcome really shouldn't deter me from giving it a shot, as I end up sprawled out on the floor most of the time anyway.  I have big, colorful bruises all over me.  I can't believe I haven't fractured a hip or dislocated my knee.  Thank God I have strong bones and loose joints.  I guess I realize that hopping isn't a practical long-term solution for mobility."  (p. 157)

While these quotes from the book help to share some of the challenges of dealing with Left Neglect, they don't even begin to touch the thoughts that go through Sarah's head as she's dealing with this brain injury and trying to keep up with her busy family.

I really enjoyed this novel and would definitely recommend it!

The Awkward First Post

Let's try to make this first blog post the least amount of awkward possible. 

I read books.  Then I lose track of which books I've read.  My right now solution: Create a blog and write about it! 

Enjoy!