Book Nook Club: January 2009

January 31, 2009

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

There are books that I remember from my childhood, which everyone read, but I didn't. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg is one of these. I seem to think that all of my friends read it when we were in the 3rd grade. Maybe it was later. In any case, I was reading my own thing (if it really was the 3rd grade, it would have been the Hardy Boys). I have amended that oversight, and gladly so ...

The story is about two children, a girl and her younger brother, who run away from home and hide out in a New York City Museum. While there, they commit themselves to learning and, naturally, to avoiding capture.

In time, they come to develop a new quest, solving the mystery of who made the museum's new acquisition, an angel which might have been made by Michelangelo.

No, I don't encourage running away. However, I could relate so well to the kids. I can't tell you how many times as a child, I had dreamed of sneaking away into some great adventure of knowledge and mystery, being the only one who knew a secret, and so on. This book captures that spirit brilliantly. That it plays out in a fantasy about running away is one of those elements of the escape into fantasy.

It's not an adventure for the athletic types ... this book is an adventure for those of us dubbed "nerd," the kids who would actually revel in the opportunity to spend hours learning everything there is to know about a museum.

I would heartily recommend this book to anyone --regardless of age -- who loves knowledge and finds learning exciting. If you're the type of person who thinks that a day spent in the library is a perfect use of time, then you should read it. If you never did as a child, go ahead and do so now.

I realize that giving 5/5 stars to a Newbery winner (in 1968) doesn't exactly seem like a bold step, but I'm referring no less to how I felt about it now, at age 35.

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Kiss by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy

Kiss is the story of Shauna, the 28-year-old daughter of the leading presidential candidate, who wakes up from being in a accident-induced coma for 6 six weeks. At least that's what she's told...she can't remember a single thing from the last 6 months. Being kept in protection on her father's estate and helped by a boyfriend she doesn't remember, Shauna begins to get suspicious when her housekeeper warns her that her boyfriend is not a trustworthy man, and she has two incredibly vivid dreams of situations she knows little about: football and the war in Iraq. How could she have these dreams, and is everything really as it seems?

Kiss is by the author of one of my favorite trilogies. Dekker also wrote another collaboration, House, that I didn't particularly care for. I was looking forward to this book, because it sounded fascinating, I had heard good things about it, and I expect great things out of this author.

Kiss is full of page-turning suspense, action, twists, and dialogue, as Shauna seeks to discover the secret she had learned that led to her accident and avoid being killed because of it. Though this is an intriguing story, it didn't capture me quite like I expected. Though there were plenty of twists, I expected them by the time they came. Perhaps it's the influence of the books I've been reading lately, but I didn't particularly care for the fast-pace and would preferred to have a slower pace really getting into Shauna's character and her relationships with the others, especially her brother and father.

For those who like thrillers and suspense, I think you will enjoy this book.

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January 30, 2009

Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Riechl

Have you ever wanted to get into the mind of a restaurant critic? Or a spy? I don't think it would be on the top of my priority list, but my DC book club picked this book for January's book. The book is written by Ruth Riechl, a New York Times' restaurant critic for six years. The book is about her experience as an undercover restaurant critic.

When Ruth got on a plane to move to New York she was immediately recognized by a woman that worked in the restaurant industry. Every restaurant in NYC had posted Ruth's picture in their kitchens so they all knew who the new critic was. As soon as Ruth found this out she enlisted the help of a famous costume artist in New York, an old family friend who helped her design her first costume.

This book is about her experiences going to restaurants dressed as herself and different people. It includes real restaurant reviews that were published in the New York Times as well as some of her favorite recipes. She describes the food and restaurant in delectable detail that makes you want to try out the restaurants she ventures into. Her writing is intriguing and really takes you into the midst of being a critic, or a spy.

There were two things I loved about this book and neither had anything to do with her actual reviews or writing. One of my favorite parts was her different disguises and her perfect descriptions of how differently people act depending on who they're dealing with. For instance at one point she dresses as a homely old woman that she calls "invisible." She's seated at the worst table and cannot get service to save her life. On the other hand when she walks in as a gorgeous and sophisticated blond, taxis are fighting to drive her to the restaurant. It's a true story, and it's both heartbreaking and humorous to see the difference in treatment.

The second thing I loved about this book was for me how relatable it was. That may not be the case for everyone, but I've done a lot of service evaluation in settings including upscale restaurants. I've been given the chance to dine in restaurants that I would never fit into otherwise. I get the chance to act a part just like Ruth, and I love to see the different levels of service. It really is like playing an undercover part by blending right in. I related to this part of Ruth's book immensely, and that was the high point of this book.

I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys good food and a good story about human identity and relationships. I really enjoyed it, although for different reasons than most.

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Parting the Water by Jeanne Damoff

If you've ever felt ready to give up and lose hope, this book is for you. Or if you've doubted God's hand in your life, this is for you. This is a true story about a family's struggles after their son suffered a near-drowning experience, and they were told he would never come out of a vegetative state.

Jeanne Damoff's Parting the Waters is not one I would have ever picked up off the shelf, but after reading it, I'm glad I did. I was offered the opportunity to review this book as part of a blog tour. The book is a true story about Jeanne and her family and their experiences after her son Jacob suffers from a near-drowing accident. Throughout their experience, doctors and therapists told her that Jacob would definitely be brain dead and live the rest of his life in a vegetative state. She was even offered the option of pulling the plug at one point. But Jeanne and her family chose to fight.

And fight they did. The book has very Christian undertones, and Jeanne and her family lean heavily on God for support and hope in this difficult time. Many of the chapters are based on the blessings they've received through their own prayers and the prayers of others. The story really was an amazing one, and I cheered along with Jacob every time he met an accomplishment like learning to walk, talk, and swallow. The fact that it was a true story made it that much better.

I would recommend this book to anyone that's ever struggled with something difficult in their lives and wanted to give up hope. It really reminds you that nothing is ever too bad to handle with the help of those around you.

For more reviews of Parting the Waters, check out the other blog tour participants. Or you can check out Jeanne's website for more information on her story.

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Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland

I've always loved reading a good sci-fi/thriller book and when I got this book from the Early Reviewers group at LibraryThing, I thought it would be great and was greatly anticipating reading Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland.

Let me start by saying that if you don't like sci-fi, vampire, end of the world stuff, you won't like this book.

Any Given Doomsday is about a woman named Elizabeth Phoenix whose job it is to save the world from doomsday at the hands of vampires and demons.

While this book was not as great as I was anticipating, it wasn't bad either. The major problem I had with this book is the importance it puts on sex. (Yes, there is sex with vampires and demons and shapeshifters, oh my!) I think the book could have done without so much sex.

I liked the fast pace of the book and of course all the sci-fi elements but I didn't really fall in love with any of the characters. The book doesn't go in the background of Elizabeth much so you never really know why she is doing the things she does. I would have liked to have read more background on the characters.

While this book wasn't one of my favorite, it did leave me wanting more and when the next book in the series comes out I'm sure I'll read it.

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January 29, 2009

Look at our Fancy New Look!

Summer finished designing the blog; doesn't it look great? Thanks, Summer! This seems much more warm and inviting for people who want to stay and chat awhile about books.

One more thing: we have ANOTHER new Book Nooker! And HE's...Wickle! I'm glad that the Book Nook will be more diverse gender-ly, and hopefully we'll get more men who'll step up as well.

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Left To Tell, by Immaculee Ilibagiza

I chose to read this book because it was required reading for my son. I wanted to understand what he was learning, and was amazed by it.

This is a true story of a woman who survived the Rwandan holocaust of 1994 by being hidden in a tiny bathroom with 7 other women for almost three months. The only thing that seemed to keep her alive and sane was her faith.

I am not a very religious person, but I did not have a hard time believing what she felt was her God's hand taking away her suffering, and protecting or saving her many times. What I felt most profoundly while reading this was that you choose how you feel about what life hands you, whatever your religious beliefs may be.

This woman chose to be thankful for what she had, not bitter over what she had lost. She chose to forgive in the face of hatred. Her attitude of tolerance and love is inspiring.

I would highly recommend it.

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January 28, 2009

Newest Book Nookers!

When I said changes were coming, I wasn't kidding. Today I have the pleasure of introducing the latest two Book Nookers...and more are on their way!

Our first new member, Debateur, writes over on Debateur Debates. If you think her name "Debateur" sounds fancy with the "u" in there, just know she's Canadian. Does that mean we're international now? I, Ronnica, have been a friend of Debateur since she started her site a few months back. She's currently dealing with a bit of a health crisis, so I hope that reading can be a bit of an escape. I'm excited to have her on board!

Our other latest reviewer is Fancy Schmancy. Hopefully she'll fancy up the place. She found us through Marie's blog, so we know she must have a sense of humor. She's already mentioned to me what her first review will be (unless she's going to throw a curve ball), and the book sounds very interesting!

Welcome, ladies!

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January 27, 2009

One Year of the Book Nook

The Book Nook is now coming to age...the age of 1, anyway. In one year we've seen changes: the addition of new contributors, the adding (and subtracting) of monthly book discussions, and lots and lots of book reviews. That's really what we're about, isn't it?

In the next few weeks, there will be even more changes. A blog makeover for this humble space is in the works, as are several new contributors. Speaking of new contributors, if you are interested in becoming a reviewer here on the Book Nook, let us know! We want this place to be all about books, and that means books and book reviewers of all kinds! All it requires from you is a book review here and there (as often as you'd like) about books that you're already reading, letting us know if you'd recommend them and why. Read past reviews to get a feel for what the reviews are like, really, anyone can do it!

If you are interested in becoming a contributor to the Book Nook or just want to learn more about it, email me (Ronnica) at thereaderscircle (at) gmail (dot) com.

Read on!

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January 26, 2009

Sister of My Heart by Chitra Divakaruni

I decided to make this weekend a big reading weekend, so I started and ended reading this book in the last couple of days. (Sidenote: that might sound unusual to most avid readers, but I'm always reading at least 5 books at a time, so I read them all in pieces.)

And I'm so glad I did.

This book is February's selection for my book club, and I wasn't sure quite what to expect when I picked it up. It started out kinda slow, and it took me a while to warm up to the characters, but I finally did.

Sister of My Heart is the story of two girls born on the same day to mothers in the same Calcutta family, the day they found out that their husbands were dead. The two girls are Anju, the bold and plain, and Sudha, the beautiful and cautious. Though the two girls are very different, they are closer than sisters and raised by their mothers and another aunt.

Early in the book Sudha finds out a family secret that could change her relationship with her closer-than-a-sister cousin, but she tries not to let it. This very secret is what binds her to a loveless, childless marriage. For Anju, one furtive look takes much of the joy out of her own marriage.

This is a beautiful tale, one that made me cry harder than I have over any book since Thousand Splendid Suns (though it's not nearly as sad and depressing as that!).

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January 19, 2009

My Sister's Keeper

My sister gave me Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper: A Novel for Christmas last year. I came home Christmas Day, unpacked, kissed everyone goodnight and sat down and read it straight through.

I've loaned the book out and have forgotten everyone's names, so I'll have to tell you about it with placeholder names. Sister A has cancer. The sort that requires an exact match donor to keep her alive. Mom and Dad arrange for an exact match donor to be born: Sister B. The novel opens with Sister B announcing that she is seeking legal medical emancipation, i.e. that she, not her parents, will determine if and when she donates more blood, marrow, organs etc. The story is -- obviously -- compelling. What would you do? as the sister? as the parents?

In addition, Picoult's writing is transparent; never once did I stumble or backtrack or in anyway become aware of the word-crafting. The story flew off the page and into me, and that is what I count as good writing. The never-saw-it-coming ending was another big plus.

And while we are the subject of designer babies, what do you think of this story in the London Times: Deaf Demand Right to Designer Deaf Children?

DEAF parents should be allowed to screen their embryos so they can pick a deaf child over one that has all its senses intact, according to the chief executive of the Royal National Institute for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People (RNID).

It comes down to -- if parents are to be allowed to screen embryos: whose ideas of 'good' qualities should prevail? Clearly here the RNID folks have a view of what is desirable that differs greatly from the view of the hearing community. Very interesting . . . may have to revisit this in another post.

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January 17, 2009

Rex by Cathleen Lewis

I started reading Rex by Cathleen Lewis a couple of days ago and had a hard time putting it down to do my other reading. I had no idea I would enjoy it as much as I did.

Cathleen Lewis is a gifted writer and has a wonderful story to tell, the story of her son, Rex. I felt along with her as she agonized over the realizations that her son not only was blind, but autistic. She and the team of specialists at his preschool for the blind struggled to get him to eat, to engage, and to walk. He was incredibly sensitive to every noise, every touch, yet this was all different when you put him behind a keyboard. There he was free to be himself, to express himself musically, playing songs from the Beatles to Bach. Through the help of several music teachers, his incredible natural talent was encouraged as he was able to learn and play complicated pieces as well as transpose key and style, creating wonderful new pieces.

The story isn't merely Cathleen's journey with her son, but her journey towards God. Through the incredibly hard years, God was continually drawing her to Himself. This testimony only adds to what was already a beautiful and emotional story.

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January 7, 2009

Good Thing I Read Fast

All sorts of blogs (including this one) are posting about all of the books they read in 2008 and how many books they want to read in 2009. I don't have a number but I do have a list of books that I would really like to pickup and read. I read 35+ books between May and December 2008 and have no idea how many more I read before May. I'm assuming I'll read probably about that many in this year so here's a list of 20 I hope get read sometime. If you've heard any of these aren't worth reading (or you've read them yourself) I'd love any feedback.

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Wells
Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin
Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
First book (and maybe all) in the Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker
Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacob
A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman
Remember by Karen Kingsbury
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Songs for the Missing by Stewart O'Nan
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Goldengrove byFrancine Prose
The House on Fortune Street by Margot Livesay
The German Bride by Joanna Hershon
Breath by Tim Winton
The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie

What's on your list for this year?

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January 6, 2009

2008 in Review

Now that 2008 is o-vah (I had to type it that way because that's how I said it in my head. Pardon my strange mood), I'd love to hear what was your favorites and dislikes of 2008.

What was your favorite book you read in 2008?

Were any books so good that you reread them in 2008?

What was your least favorite book you read (or attempted to read) in 2008?

Was there a new author you discovered that you can't wait to read more of?

What was the biggest disappointment of 2008, book-wise?

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January 5, 2009

Night by Elie Wiesel

I don’t know how I missed this book, Night, not only had I not read it, I hadn’t even heard of it, and now I would list it as one of the most important books to read on the Jewish Holocaust. Elie Wiesel shares his personal experience in the camps. I’ve tried about seventeen different sentences in an effort to sum up his story; it can’t be done – it’s too big. Someone he manages to tell it well in this slender book, one that must be included on any Holocaust list.

Technorati books

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January 4, 2009

Mercy by Jodi Picoult

If you haven't figured it out already from reading my reviews, I'm a big Jodi Picoult fan. I like the way she takes a controversial issue and writes about it from multiple perspective. So when I got a Border's gift card from a blog giveaway, I picked up yet another Picoult book, Mercy.

I've stayed away from her books for a little while because sometimes I just need a light and fun read, and Picoult's books are anything but light. This one is no exception. The main point of the book is about mercy (hence the title). As the back cover puts it, "When does love cross the line of moral obligation. And what does it mean to truly love another?" I had high hopes for this book as I began reading it and those high hopes were upheld as the book began to picked up its pace as a man confesses to murdering his wife because she asked him to (to relieve her of suffering from cancer). The problem is that the book never really picked up its pace from there. There were no major twists or turns in this one that kept me intrigued. It actually took me a couple of days to read, which is a long time for me.

Out of all of Picoult's books (other than maybe Plain Truth), this was probably my least favorite. The story had a lot of potential, but it just missed its mark for me. The story was focused more on the relationship between the police chief and his wife rather than the relationship between the victim and her husband, which is what I think it should've been about. Either way, the writing was still good and the story intriguing. I would recommend it but only if you've already read her others. Don't pick this one up for your first Picoult.

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Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

The San Francisco Chronicle says about Prep, "[It] conveys the inner world of an entirely typical teenage girl with remarkable warmth. One of the most tender and accurate portraits of adolescence in recent memory." I would have to agree. I can't remember a book I've read recently or maybe ever for that matter that transported me back to my high schools days as much as Prep did. And I mean that in a good way. Although the main plot line (a 14-year old girl who decides to go to a private boarding school rather than public school) isn't all that typical, the life she lives within that boarding school is. Sittenfeld's writing is excellent. She puts you inside the head of a typical teenage girl, and you just can't get out.

From the memories of the great day with her secret crush to watching the queen-bee and wanna-be's, Sittenfeld includes everything to make you feel like you're living through high school all over again. I laughed out loud numerous times as I remember having so many of the same feelings that Lee (main character) has. You grow up as she does and feel for her as she just tries to make it through another day without screwing up.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I was getting ready to tell my parents that my 15-year sister had to read it. And that all ended when I got to chapter 8: Kissing and Kissing. For me, the chapter was completely unnecessary and ruined any chance that I could recommend the book to anyone and feel okay about it because of the descriptive love scenes, especially not my 15-year old sister.

Even with chapter eight included, I still really enjoyed this book, and Sittenfeld ends it out well. I would recommend it to anyone that likes good writing and well really anyone could read this. Just realize this recommendation comes along with my forewarning about chapter eight. If not for that one chapter, I would have easily given it 5 stars.

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She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

From the back cover- Meet Dolores Price. She's thirteen, wise-mouthed but wounded, having big her childhood good-bye. Beached like a whale in front of her bedroom TV, she spends the next few years nourishing herself with the Mallomars, potato chips, and Pepsi her anxius mother supplies. When she finally rolls around into young womanhood at 257 pounds, Dolores is no stronger and life is no kinder. But this time she's determined to rise to the occasion and give herself one more chance before really going belly up.

There is all sorts of praise out there for this book, and I read it based on those recommendations. I was expecting an inspiring story of a lost woman who finds her way in life. You know what I got? A depressing book about a girl who does nothing (really nothing) to try and make her life better. She stuffs herself, gives in to others' pressure, and hides the truth because she's afraid the people around her won't understand. I didn't find this book funny at all; I found it extremely sad and depressing, especially since I'm sure this kind of story happens more often than we want to believe.

I'll give it to Wally Lamb that he can write. The book was written very well; you forget that a man wrote the book since it's from a woman's perspective. You really get inside of Dolores' head (even though I really didn't want to be there) and feel everything she is going through. It's too bad the good writing was a story I didn't want to read. I probably would not recommend this book to anyone because it's depressing and there are portions (e.g., lesbian sleepover) that I don't think are necessary for anyone to read. Overall, two stars for the writing. One star for the story.

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See You In the Funny Papers by Pam Kumpe

Pam Kumpe is an inspirational newspaper columnist, host of the podcast "Daybreak Devotionals," and inspirational speaker. This book seems like a combination of all of those things to me. The book is full of funny short (2-3 pages) stories based on her life experiences and how she relates those back to God.

One for instance is about reading the Chronicles of Narnia and relating that back to how God sometimes uses the simple and weak to bring about great purposes. Another is about her experience throwing flaming batons at a high school camp and how she threw them too high (against her teacher's instructions) and lit the trees on fire. She relates this back to using our talents within the right means.

I chuckled a couple of times through this book but it was a little over the top for me. Yes, I'm a firm believer that all experiences point to God in some way or another but reading them over and over again became monotonous. I think this is a great book to use for things like a devotionals or talks in church but not for just everyday reading. I would recommend reading maybe a chapter a day rather than trying to read the book straight through like I did but overall it was a good reminder that we can find God in all things no matter how far-fetched they may be.

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Perfect on Paper (The Misadventures of Waverly Bryson)

Perfect on Paper by Marie Murnane is a light and fun read that kept me hooked from the beginning to end. Waverly Bryson was days away from her wedding to wealthy Aaron Vaughn when he told her that he wasn't sure if he actually loved her and called the wedding off. Her life suddenly went from perfect to pointless. The year after the breakup she goes through the motions of living her life as a big-time sports agent and hanging out with her best friends.

The book really starts to pickup when she meets a new crush, Jake, at a convention. They hit it off right before she rushes to the bathroom to throw up. She sees him at a party a little while later with another woman on his arm and barely talks to him, but you know in the back of her mind that little crush never goes away. Meanwhile back at work she's losing ground to her most despised colleague who sucks up constantly to the boss.

I'm not quite sure what it was about this book that made it such a good read, but I found it hilarious and very relatable. With a name like Waverly Bryson, how can you not like the main character? Maybe because all of us have had those moments where we embarrass ourselves in front of a crush or feel like nothing is going to work out. Throughout the book Waverly writes out "Honey Do" notes about her experiences, and these were my favorite part of the book by far (even though the rest was great as well). The "Honey" notes are all things like:

Ever wonder why the new girl at work seems to hate you so much?

Honey, think back to the angst of the highschool lunchroom. Then offer her a seat at your table.

The book is a lot deeper than it sounds at first. It's not just your typical chick-lit; it has a lot of these fun little ancedotes that really make you stop and think for a minute before moving on to the next funny adventure in Waverly's life.

I would definitely recommend this one to anyone that enjoys reading a good, clean, and funny novel. There's something for everyone in the book, and I couldn't put it down.

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Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

I read Kiterunner two years ago and was excited to see that the author, Khaled Hosseini, was coming out with a second book. Though I have wanted to read it since then, it's taken me a while to get around to actually reading it, which I did a few weeks ago.

If you've not read either of these books, you must. There's no other way of saying it. They are beautifully written and handle difficult situations with delicacy and care. While they might not be the best "fun" reading material, they are enjoyable in an entirely different way.

Thousand Splendid Suns is the story of two women in Afghanistan. Of course we're aware of how women are treated under the Taliban, but this book puts a personal face on such atrocities. The story is all the more tragic when you consider that these two women never thought that they would be put in this type of situation, but were forced into it by circumstances beyond their control.

I don't really want to share more and give it away, but I suggest that you take some time to search this out and read this now that the holidays are over.

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