Book Nook Club: Reviewed by A Super Girl

Showing posts with label Reviewed by A Super Girl. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Reviewed by A Super Girl. Show all posts

July 25, 2012

Gone Girl, By Gillian Flynn

Gone Girl seems to be a hot read this summer, as I've seen it all over the place. It's a thriller with the unusual twist that you actually know whodunnit almost from the beginning.

Nick Dunne comes home on his fifth wedding anniversary to find his wife Amy missing and their house in disarray. The cops quickly turn their attention to Nick as the prime suspect. After all, in cases like these, how often is the criminal NOT the husband?

Told in alternating viewpoints between Nick and Amy, the reader immediately knows that Amy is still safe -- somewhere. But where she is is a much deeper story. Over the course of the book, we learn about Nick and Amy's idyllic marriage that has somehow derailed into a terrifying game of manipulation. Why has Amy gone missing? And what punishment awaits Nick?

I had high hopes for this book. A thriller that isn't your typical thriller? A twist that you know up front, but that could still lead in any number of directions? Sounds good to me. But, I finished the book feeling disappointed.

The book is divided into three parts (really more like 2.5, the last part is a quick conclusion). The first part dragged for me. I'll admit, it served to throw me off the trail because it lead me away from what I thought was happening. And it did set up the rest of the story so it was a valuable part, but could have been shortened in favor of digging into the real suspense.

The second and third parts lived up to the hype, but I felt like there could have been even more thrills and twists. These parts flew very quickly, without the oh so good "slow burn" before uncovering the truth. And the end? Well, I'm still not sure how I feel about the end. I have the same complaint -- it just ended. Not an inordinate amount of suspense, and thus not a gratifying conclusion.

One of the final lines is: "We (Nick & Amy) are one long frightening climax." And I suppose that's true for the book. It's all about the climax, but it's a climax that could certainly have a bit more excitement injected into it.

However, the premise alone makes the book worth a read. It's hard to find a thriller with a plot that breaks the mold, and I think this one fits that bill.

3.5 stars.

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May 29, 2012

+One, by Brian Baleno

In + One, Brian Baleno takes the reader through a modern-day love story where Jake and Kara must decide if their love can withstand the external pressures of Jake's high-powered career.

I was initially drawn to the book because I lived/am living the plot. Nearly five years ago, I met a "Jake". In my case, he was an accountant instead of an investment banker, but he also dealt with the pressure-filled world of corporate mergers. One of the biggest issues in our relationship was his crazy schedule and lack of time to spend with me.

Plot: Since the story hit close to home, I certainly felt the plot was believable. I also appreciated its progression, and that it wasn't a predictable story that wraps things up in a nice bow.

Characters: Jake was likeable enough, and the reader could really feel the internal conflict between his career and his personal life. Kara, on the other hand, drove me pretty nuts. I saw a lot of myself in her (I know I whined a TON in the early stages of my relationship), but man was all her whining annoying. I felt that the true conflict in the book was less about Jake's life and his career decisions and more about how much Kara cared -- or didn't care -- about Jake. Then again, maybe that's my personal bias taking over because I know that a man can have a high-powered career and the love of his life. Kara couldn't seem to see that possibility.

My biggest issue with this book was the editing. While the writing was easy to follow and dig into, there were many passages of Jake's internal monologue that felt tangential and not important. But overall, it was an interesting take on the standard love story. 3 stars.

**While I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, the opinions shared here are all mine!**

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May 22, 2012

The Mother Road, by Jennifer Allee

The Mother Road tells the story of Natalie, who has just discovered her husband is leaving her for another woman with whom he's fathered a child. At the same time, Natalie's father is pressuring her to visit her ailing mother, who is battling Alzheimer's.

Natalie escapes the problems in her marriage by dragging her sister Lindsay on a road trip across Route 66 to visit home. Lindsay has her own set of personal issues that cloud the trip as both sisters prepare to encounter a past they've avoided for years.

Plot: I've been interested in taking a Route 66 road trip for some time, so that initially hooked me. The scenery was a good choice by the author as it makes a nice backdrop for the sisterly reunion that is the focus of the book. I enjoyed the interplay of the sisters during their trip, and the plot moved quickly, allowing me to get to know the sisters as well as their back stories. I felt the end of the book was pretty predictable, though the author did throw one curve ball that I wasn't expecting.

Characters: I actually found my favorite character was Lindsay. Of the two sisters, she was the most real, and I also felt her evolution throughout the book was the most visible. I found Natalie to be a frustrating narrator at times when her judgmental nature got the better of her. Sure, she underwent her own changes as she came to terms with her divorce, but I didn't feel this evolution was as well described by the author to warrant her overly righteous attitude through 90 percent of the book.

Overall, the book had a nice message and interesting characters with a bit of depth. 3.5 stars.

** I received a free copy of the book for the purposes of this review, but my opinions are my own.**
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May 16, 2012

The Orchid House, by Lucinda Riley

Listen up, Downton Abbey fans -- or really any fan of British historical fiction. The Orchid House may be for you.

The parallels to the PBS hit series are certainly what sucked me in. Old estate, big family with lots of heirs and plenty of secrets. After finishing, I don't know that I can put it quite on par with the writing and characters at Downton, but it's certainly similar enough to keep you interested.

Plot: Julia is struggling with grief after the sudden loss of her husband and son, so she leaves her home in France and heads to a small cottage in the English countryside where she grew up. She soon meets Kit Crawford who owns Wharton Park, an old estate that once thrived but is now crumbling and up for auction. Amid the relics on the old estate, Kit finds a diary belonging to Julia's grandfather. The diary leads Julia to seek out her grandmother to learn the history of her family, and ultimately Wharton Park as a whole.

The novel alternates between present-day England and WWII England, where the men of Wharton Park are soon off to fight in Southeast Asia. The stories intertwine with themes of love, loss, and secrets long held.

I liked the plot well enough, though it was a slow start for me. There were also a few twists that caught me off guard, but an equal amount that were fairly predictable.

Characters: Julia and Kit form the backbone of the story, with Julia's grandmother Elsie leading them into the past. Julia was likeable enough, and her grandmother proved to be a worthy storyteller. Alternating story lines between present and past kept me interested in all of the characters and their respective arcs. Kit had potential, but some of his dialogue was just a bit too over the top. Too formal, yet also erring on the cheesy side.

Overall, I enjoyed the plot and most of the characters. But, some of the dialogue and plot points left me wishing for a little more depth. 3.5 stars

**I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but my opinions are my own.**
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May 3, 2012

Heart of the Matter, by Emily Giffen

I really dig Emily Giffen. It started with Something Borrowed, but I also really enjoyed Something Blue. For me, the series was unique because Giffen wrote each book using the same basic plot, but from the differing perspectives of the two main characters.

After reading those, some of Giffen's other books, and now the Heart of the Matter, I've decided that Giffen excels at character development.

Plot: Tessa is a wife and newly minted stay at home mother of two with a busy life in her suburban community. Her husband Nick seems to be perfect -- handsome, kind, and a pediatric surgeon. But when he meets Valerie, the single mother of one of his patients, things change. The central plot in enhanced with great supporting characters, like the suburban queen bees written in true "desperate housewives" style, and a sweet little boy who's caught in the middle.

Each chapter alternates between Tessa and Valerie's perspectives, illustrating both sides of a very complex story.

Characters: As I said, this is where Giffen shines. I love that she alternates perspectives, and that she can make it happen with such ease. As a reader, it keeps me interested -- just when I'd hit a critical point with one character, the perspective would change. But it'd only serve to keep me reading. In addition to making the book a page turner, the differing perspectives makes it hard to choose a side. It makes you see the whole story.

Overall: In my opinion, it's rare for a book to keep me neutral. To not hand me the protagonist and antagonist in a neatly wrapped package. To make me assess the facts and make my own decision as to who's the "good guy". Giffen's books do this and for that, I'll keep reading. 5 stars.
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50 Shades of Grey, by E.L. James

You guys, I don't think we could be considered a legit book blog if we didn't review this book. Or, maybe we could call ourselves "above it", but I know I at least am not above a little smut now and again.

So, Fifty Shades of Grey. One day, I'd never heard of it and then like lightening it was everywhere. I mean, literally, it was overnight. And it all happened about the time I was trying to decide what to load on my Nook for my tropical honeymoon. Given the plot, this particular book seemed quite appropriate -- and it didn't disappoint.

Plot: Let's face it, this won't win the Pulitzer for its plot line. The book is basically sex in print, with the occasional side line in between. But, there is a common plot line that is every so slightly superior to your run-of-the-mill erotica plot. And it doesn't even involve a sexy secretary or hot pizza delivery boy! Already it's a step above the rest.

Anastasia is on the cusp of graduating college and being on her own. As a favor to her roommate, she conducts an interview of a local CEO, Christian Grey. Intrigued by him, she is surprised when he pursues her. Over the course of the book, she learns Christian is hiding a dark secret and she must make the decision whether to fall down the rabbit hole with him -- or rise above and move on with her life.

See? It's not a totally lame plot! There's lots of agonizing on Anastasia's part, and how Christian finally hooks her is interesting enough to entertain me between the really good parts that only serve to get you hot and bothered. (Like I said, PERFECT honeymoon/vacation read.)

Characters: Shockingly, I actually liked the characters. Anastasia intrigued me. Christian intrigued me. The two of them together and their interactions (the non-sexual ones!) intrigued me. Who woulda thought?!

Overall: I'll be honest. It's not literary genius. You pick book this up for the wow factor. It'll make you simultaneously cringe and think "hmmmm..." You pick this book up to add a little excitement to your life. And it will. But, you'll also enjoy the underlying story, however faint it may be. 4 stars.

P.S. -- I was pretty clueless on the premise, so when Christian starts talking about his "dark secret", I was afraid this was going to be another vampire book. After all, it started out as Twilight fan fiction. But, I promise you, no vampires make an appearance. At least not yet, there are two more books I have to read.

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Amped, by Douglas Richards

Amped, by Douglas Richards is the sequel to Wired, which I reviewed last fall. I recall finding Wired a fast-paced thriller and while Amped has its moments, I think I may have liked the first installment better.

Plot: Amped picks up where Wired left off. David Desh and Kira are now married and living off the grid with some of their closest allies. They continue to use Kira's special pills that, when taken, enhance a person's brain so they can think -- and accomplish -- unthinkable tasks and problems.

The crew of scientists, techno-geniuses, and former military ops are very careful about this use of this "miracle drug", trying their best to ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. But, they soon find someone is out to get them and there's a global threat that only their enhanced minds can neutralize. Along the way, Kira and David also question their own relationship, as information about their respective pasts are revealed.

Characters: I like the characters just fine; though they aren't my most favorite characters in literature. David seems a bit more "with it" and less easily duped than he did in the first book. And the affable hacker, Matt, is entertaining.

Overall: I had trouble wading through the "science" of Wired, and I had the same difficulty, if not more so, with Amped. And I'm still not totally convinced Kira is one of the good ones. But, I guess I'll just have to wait for a third installment to find out! Given all the technical aspects, you'd likely enjoy this if you're into sci-fi and looking for something with a twist. 3 stars.

**I received a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes. But, my thoughts are my own.**

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April 8, 2012

The Art of Fielding, by Chad Harbach

This book. This fabulously written, well-plotted and well-developed book.

I'd heard good things about The Art of Fielding for a bit, so when one of the ladies in my book club basically demanded we read it, I was totally cool honoring her demand.

Plot: Henry Skrimshander was born to be a short stop. When Mike Schwartz encounters him at a friendly tournament, he recruits Henry to come to small Westish College to play ball. Over the next few years Henry and Mike become best friends, and Henry remains error-less. Until one fateful day where a bad throw changes the lives of Henry and Mike, as well as Westish's affable president and Henry's roommate, Owen.

Even though Henry's life is the main thrust of the book, Harbach's writing weaves together several story lines that cascade from one character's mistake. And let's not just gloss over the writing and how well it advanced the plot. Sure, he was deft at keeping things moving, but more than that, there were several spots in the book where Harbach's writing was pure poetry. The way he talked about love and change and loss had me wishing the book didn't have to end.

Characters: I love good characters. Characters you can sink your teeth into and actually see leap from the pages of a book. Harbach created some wonderful characters. Flawed, but loveable. Real. Often when I read multiple story lines, I have a favorite, but in this case, I enjoyed them all and the characters flowed seamlessly in and out of the spotlight.

The book may be about baseball, but its themes are so much broader.

5 stars.
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March 12, 2012

The Priest and the Peaches, by Larry Peterson

The Priest and the Peaches is the story of the Peach family, immediately following the death of their patriarch. There are five kids, led by Teddy and Joanie, only 18 and 17 respectively. As they bury their father, they contend with what he left behind -- unpaid bills, debt, unsatisfactory living conditions, but also a whole cast of characters ready to pitch in and help.

Plot: I was intrigued by the plot when I picked it up. And I feel like the premise was there. But, in the end, the book was just too simplistic for me. It only spans two weeks, and while a lot happens in that time, you know that there's so much more to the story. These five kids are only at the beginning of an entirely new life and I felt it was a bit of a disservice to only focus on the immediate aftermath.

The book also has a strong Christian message, which I'm not opposed to, but I often find that Christian literature often takes the opportunity to hit you over the head with its intended message. I like a story with a message, but I don't like it when communicating the message means that everything is wrapped up perfectly with a bow on top. Throughout the book, there were "miracles" - the kids magically found money to pay bills when they were down to their last dime and there were people who magically appeared to save the day. Don't get me wrong, I believe miracles happen, but when you added everything up, it felt trite. In the real world, their struggle would have been just that -- a struggle -- even with God and good people on their side. Thus, there had to be a way to get the message across while also communicating the reality of the situation.

Characters: I think the characters were great, but again, I would have liked to see them further developed. Also, the younger Peach had nicknames and that really annoyed me.

Overall, I felt it had potential, but just didn't live up to what I'd hoped. 2 stars.

I received an electronic copy of this book for the purpose of my review. My thoughts are my own, though!

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February 12, 2012

The Paris Wife, By Paula McLain

The Paris Wife came out last year to much fanfare, yet I was hesitant when my book club chose it for our February read. I've never been much of a Hemingway fan, so I was pretty sure that I wouldn't enjoy reading about him.

Good thing I gave the book a chance, because I was completely wrong.

Plot: The Paris Wife is told from the point of view of Hadley, Ernest's first wife. They meet in Chicago in 1920 and quickly fall in love. After marrying, they're off to Paris where Ernest believes he can hob nob with the "it" literary crowd while advancing his career.

After a while, Ernest and Hadley find themselves deeply engaged in Jazz Age Paris, friendly with some of the finest literary minds of the time. They travel Europe together as Ernest searches for the story that will make it big. However, as his career takes off, his home life suffers.

Characters: Told from her vantage point, you can't help by love Hadley. Her voice is tender and real and she was by far my favorite character. As I thought about the book after I finished, I had trouble finding other favorites. There were lots of characters to be sure, but they all took a back seat to the central love story. In addition, many of the women in the book that Hadley considers friends were difficult to like. None were as real and genuine as Hadley, and I felt a niggling sense of distrust about each.

Overall I enjoyed this book much more than expected. I struggled through Hemingway in high school and college, but this view of him before fame and fortune has given me a back story that makes me curious to give his novels another try.

5 stars.

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January 3, 2012

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer

How have we not reviewed Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close yet?! Wasn't it THE book a couple years ago? Regardless, the movie is coming out soon, so it's a perfect time to take another look.

Plot: Oskar's father died in 9-11. While trying to come to terms with his death, Oskar uncovers a key in his dad's closet. With only the word "Black" on an envelope containing the key, Oskar follows the mysterious owner on a great hunt across Manhattan and its boroughs, meeting people with interesting stories along the way. Simultaneously, the reader is learning about Oskar's grandparents through letters they wrote to him and his father.

The plot really intrigued me, but I have to say that it was difficult to follow with the change between Oskar's story and the story of his grandparents. Oskar's story is complex enough with the multitude of characters and sub-stories that are told, and while in the end the grandparents' story is interesting, it felt tedious and unnecessary for much of the book.

Characters: Oskar is supposed to be endearing. After all, whose heart wouldn't melt upon reading about a 9-year-old grieving after 9-11. I feel a little bad saying this because he is supposed to be so lovable, but his quirks became a bit frenetic at times. I also think the back and forth with his grandmother prevented me from really sinking into Oskar's character.

Structure: As I've said, the alternating story lines threw me off. The parts told from Oskar's point of view were easy to read because he's a young narrator, but I also think that gave me confidence to skim them when I probably should have taken more care. In skimming, it's possible I missed some deeper meanings.

I finally picked this book up since the movie is coming out. And I think I'll still see the movie. I think (I hope!) Hollywood will do a good job of bringing this story to life in a way that's slightly more cohesive.

3 stars.
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December 1, 2011

The Family Fang, by Kevin Wilson

Oh man, The Family Fang.

Caleb and Camille Fang are performance artists who create "events" that shock and awe unsuspecting passersby. Their children, Annie and Buster, are unwilling participants in their mayhem which takes a toll on their psyches as they transition from childhood to adulthood. As adults, their lives begin to unravel and they move home temporarily, only to find their parents haven't changed -- and yet, their art has an entirely new goal.

Plot: The book is fairly character-driven and I had trouble understanding how on earth anyone considered the Fang events "art" to the point that these people became rich off of it. Which brought up an internal debate on the relevance and legitimacy of performance art. But aside from that and the insanity of Caleb and Camille, the plot is humorous and moves quickly. As it builds to the end it also becomes quite the page turner. Caleb and Camille are unpredictable and while you feel like you know where the plot may lead, you also know that it won't be what you expect.

Characters: These parents are cray-cray. Fo' real. The things they subject their children to are ridiculous and in some cases, deplorable. So, I wasn't a huge fan of them. But Annie and Buster are complex characters that are fun to watch. You'll meet them at fairly low points in their lives and you'll wonder why you should care about them, but by the end you'll be cheering for them.

All in all, I enjoyed it, despite the horrid parents and their outlandish sense of reality. 4 stars.

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November 20, 2011

Sweet Jiminy, by Kristen Gore

Sweet Jiminy Is Kristen Gore's third book. Having read the other two, I was excited to pick this one up, even though it's a departure from the author's usual humorous writing.

Plot: the novel opens with Jiminy being deeply unhappy and struggling with stress from law school. She chooses to leave her big city life behind and travel to Fayeville, Mississippi to stay with her grandmother. Upon arriving, she finds that the South is stuck in the 1960s. Her grandma's long-time help, Lyn, is still around and after just a few days it's clear that old wounds still haven't healed.

Characters: the characters were good, but none stood out to me as well-developed. I felt there was so much more that could have been explored with all of the characters, but the book was such a short read and there just wasn't time. Gore's other two books were a series, which offered ample time to really dig in to the characters.

While I found the book to be a pretty quick read, the characters fell short, the plot was a bit predictable and the ending just a little too "neat". 3 stars.

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September 27, 2011

Secret Lives of the Unemployed, by Liz Bartucci

In Secret Lives of the Unemployed, Liz Bartucci takes us on a tour inside the minds of the unemployed. These days, more and more of us can identify with this particular mindset.

I've read a few books that examine the recession and job loss; most notably Then We Came to the End. I've found them to be rather contemporary reads, bordering on postmodern in their style and tone. Which I suppose fits well with the topic. After all, we are finding ourselves in a whole new world and these novels mirror the times.

Plot: Lucy, Grey and Zac form the backbone of this story. All unemployed, all with their dark thoughts and hidden skeletons. They turn to each other for survival and, in the process, find their way out of the recession. Throw in a good love triangle full of suspense as to how it will end and you have an engaging read.

Characters: Lucy narrates the story, and I have to admit that she annoyed the crap out of me at first. She was entirely too dark and negative for my taste. But, why shouldn't she be; She's facing seemingly insurmountable odds. But then Grey and Zac enter the picture and over time, she changes and takes a new approach to life which opens up a world of possibilities.

Structure: The book is a series of blog posts from Liz's blog, each their own mini-story that combine to form the plot. As much as I love a good blog, the structure and style of Liz's writing was a bit hard to get used to, but after a "chapter" or two, I was fully ingrained and it because a very quick read.

Full of humor, unique characters, and some truly thought-provoking passages, Secret Lives of the Unemployed is worth a look if you're up for something different or living your own secret life of the unemployed. 3.5 stars.

*I received a free electronic copy of the book for purposes of this review, but the opinions shared here are my own.*

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September 24, 2011

Wired, by Douglas E. Richards

Wired tells the story of David Desh, and his fight to learn the truth about a mysterious woman with the power to undo -- or save -- the world.

Plot: David Desh got out of the special forces after a mission gone terribly wrong. He's brought back by an old friend to find Kira Miller, a scientist who the U.S. government believes is in bed with terrorists and working on a plot to unleash Ebola worldwide. As the story unfolds, David learns nothing is as it seems and the book becomes about much more than an attempt to infect the world with Ebola.

This book is sci-fi and thriller all rolled into one. There were parts of the book that were a little too scientific for me, and parts where the science got a little outlandish, but the suspenseful storyline kept me turning the pages.

Characters: David and Kira make a great pair. Though, for as smart and well-trained as David is supposed to be, he was fooled by Kira and the other villains quite a lot leading up to the end. I wanted him to be a little smarter and to out-think them a little more throughout. Kira is believable as a highly qualified scientist who is just trying to understand why she's in the cross hairs of an evil plot by an unknown villain. There are also some great supporting characters, including an affable hacker and a decorated colonel.

Structure: After reading several books that were heavy on narrative, this book was refreshing with the amount of dialogue the author used. The plot unfolds through several lengthy conversations between the characters, and while dialogue can sometimes be unwieldy, this dialogue was perfect for helping me understand what was going on, but keeping the book moving.

If you're looking for something that moves quickly and keeps you up all night, I'd check this one out. 3 stars.

*I received a free electronic copy of the book for purposes of this review, but the opinions shared here are my own.*

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September 7, 2011

Delivery, by Diana Prusik

In Delivery, Livi Wilson runs her family business, a flower shop, while grappling with grief over the loss of her brother and family friends too soon.

I'll be honest: I wasn't a fan.

Plot: The book starts with the funeral of a local icon, Bink Carter. He's a long-time friend of the Wilson family and Livi is taking it particularly hard. From even the start, the book fell flat because I was constantly hoping/expecting the plot would take a different turn and it didn't. For example, I couldn't figure out why Livi was so heart broken over losing Bink -- even though it was a sudden death and he was a friend. I wasn't invested in the characters enough to really understand the relationship and thus my first instinct was that the author was foreshadowing some more deeper gossip (an affair, a secret past, etc.). But she wasn't, and that just disappointed me. As the plot moves, the reader learns that Livi lost her brother in Vietnam and is still in deep grief over that and Bink's death just brings it to the forefront again. The book takes place in the 1980s, but you'd think she'd lost her brother much more recently.

I liked the flashbacks that related Livi's childhood and told stories about her brother and his death. But I didn't like them enough to make up for the fact that I couldn't understand why this was such a big deal 20 years later.

I realize my above description makes me sound heartless and that I don't understand what grief is. I'd like to think I do and I'd like to think that I could've gotten behind the reasons for Livi's prolonged grief, but the way it was written felt contrived and I just didn't fully see it.

Characters: I liked the characters and the dialogue they shared. It's a very feminine novel and also the story of a small town, and I suppose I enjoyed that aspect of it. I just didn't connect with the characters enough, especially Livi, to understand or relate to her feelings of desperation and sadness.

This book is a Christian novel, so I understand the reasoning for the author's focus on grief and Livi's subsequent descent into alcoholism until she finds God. While I don't typically reach for Christian novels by choice, I've found the occasional novel that I do enjoy because of its sincerity and gentle application of Christian themes.

However, I also find that novels with Christian subject matter tread a fine line between offering a positive message without being "preachy". For me, the sincerity and "real-ness" of Livi's feelings were lost on me and the Christian themes became increasingly preachy, so it made it difficult to dig into the book with the level of interest I'd hoped for. 2 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book, but my opinions are my own.

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August 12, 2011

Cash Burn, by Michael Berrier

I’m going to be up front: I did not enjoy this book. In fact, I nearly left it unfinished, but I knew that in order to provide a full review, I needed to finish it. Plus, I have a slight obsession with finishing every book I pick up. So, I muddled through.

Plot: The book is 459 pages long, and it took about 200 pages for the plot to get even remotely interesting. We know the main character, Jason, is struggling with a faltering marriage, but we don’t meet his wife until midway through the book. We know Jason is connected to a man named Flip, but again, it takes the reader a good portion of the novel to figure out how -- and why their current relationship is so frayed. The plot simply moved too slowly to keep me interested and had a lot of tangents that I could have done without.

As a final note, this is a Christian novel, but that doesn’t really come through until midway through and even then it felt like yet another secondary storyline.

Characters: Jason Dunn is a banker with millions of dollars under his control. Flip is a convict out on parole. Diane is Flip’s love interest. Brenda is Jason’s fling as his marriage crumbles. These characters are all intertwined, but because of the slow-moving plot, it took me longer than it should to figure out how and why I should care. There were also a slew of secondary characters, many of whom I felt could be easily cut from the story. For example, I enjoyed Flip’s parole officer, but then the author introduced a second cop and I never connected with him and my enjoyment of the first officer lessened.

Structure: The structure was fine, with chapters of a decent length. My eBook version was poorly formatted for my Nook, leaving some awkward page breaks, and I did notice a few more typos than normal. Though this is more the publisher’s job than the author’s, it does reflect on a reader’s overall impression of the book.

Regarding the writing structure, there were many sections discussing the banking industry. Frankly, most of these left me pretty clueless and just added to my displeasure in reading. I will admit I’m not a math/banking whiz, but there are a lot of things that fall outside my expertise. Yet, I can still read a book about and be both educated and not overwhelmed. In this book, the descriptions of Jason’s work often left me having to re-read sections and eventually give up.

Overall, I felt that the author could have simplified some of the writing and removed some of the extraneous characters and plot lines to make the book a more enjoyable read. I will say that once I got past the first two thirds of the book, the pace picked up. I began to care more about the characters and the plot moved. But it shouldn’t have taken me that long. 2 stars.
While I received a complimentary electronic version of this book, I was not compensated for this review and it is my own thoughts and opinions.

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July 14, 2011

Flesh & Bones, by Paul Levine

I was excited to read Flesh and Bones for a couple reasons: I always like starting new books (duh!) and it was the first book I would read on my brand new Nook e-reader.

This new novel is seventh in the Jake Lassiter series, chronicling a former NFL player turned attorney in Miami. I’m always a fan of a good series but I don’t know that I’d put this at the top of my all-time favorites.

Plot: We meet Jake in a bar catching up with an old friend. A woman walks in and shoots her father before fainting in Jake’s lap. Chrissy becomes Jake’s newest client and the reader follows him as he tries to clear Chrissy of what, on first glance, appears to be a fairly black and white crime.

For me, the plot was a bit predictable and there were points throughout the novel where I questioned actions the characters took, or perhaps didn't take. However, when Chrissy’s trial came up, I enjoyed the depth of legal knowledge and description that the author brings to his books. As a lawyer, he has an expertise that really comes through and makes the courtroom scenes shine in the novel. I also appreciated the final pages where the truth comes out. It wasn't entirely predictable and helped everything fall into place.

Characters: I think this is where the book fell short for me. I just couldn’t get down with the main characters. There were times when I thought Jake was the noble lawyer and other times when I felt he was lazy and ever so slightly smarmy. I can’t exactly pinpoint what it was about him, but for whatever reason he wasn’t 100% endearing.

I also couldn’t figure out whether I wanted to root for Chrissy or not. Sure she killed her father, but you soon learn there's more to the story. But that "more to the story" didn't become clear until the end, so I spent much of the book being skeptical of her. The author may have intended this because Jake spends most of the novel trying to figure out the same thing as he delves into the private life of his client. Chrissy would seem like the victim one minute and then shady three pages later. It was hard to root for someone who I just couldn't figure out.

Structure: The book is a breezy read, easy to get into and easy to follow.

Overall a fine read, but not a lot of depth for me aside from the quality courtroom drama. 3 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy for review purposes, but my comments are my own!

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July 4, 2011

The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver

Every once in awhile, I get it in my head to take a little trip back in time and pick up a book that I never seemed to get around to when it was in its heyday.

That sort of spirit, combined with a month free from book club and any review requests, led me to finally pick up The Poisonwood Bible. Perhaps most of you have already read this bestseller/Oprah pick, or perhaps you're like me and just haven't gotten around to it yet.

Plot: The Poisonwood Bible spans 30 years in the lives of the Price family. As missionaries from Georgia, they step foot in the Congo in 1959, when the country is on the cusp of political turmoil. Dumped in a tiny mission town in the jungle, the fire and brimstone father believes he has been placed there by God himself to baptize the heathens. His wife and four daughters are forced along for the ride.

The Prices quickly learn that this mission work isn't as easy as they thought and their father's refusal to listen to anyone but his own divine inspiration sets them up for trouble. The novel chronicles the lives of the Price women as they attempt to survive and understand the God they were always told to believe in.

Characters: The book is a character-heavy novel, told by Orleanna Price and her three daughters. With each chapter comes a different voice and the women are worlds apart. From an eldest daughter who cares more about taking care of her blonde hair than her family, to the youngest child who befriends the local children through a simple game of Mother May I, the characters in this novel provide a good look at life in the Congo -- and the politics that break the Congo's back.

Structure: The book is divided into books of the bible, beginning with Genesis and ending with Exodus, with sections told by each of the Price women. At nearly 600 pages, the book is hefty, but the characters keep it moving.

Not knowing the details of the Congo in the 1960s and reading the back of the book, I was expecting much more drama and suspense than what actually happened in the novel. However, I think Kingsolver did a wonderful job at conveying what everyday Congolese families might have experienced as their country was in turmoil.

It's a novel that will keep you thinking about it for a few days and a novel that begs to be discussed. If you're like me and have somehow avoided it since it was published in 1998, I'd encourage you to give it a whirl. 4 stars.

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June 27, 2011

Forever After, by Deborah Raney

Forever After is the second book in Deborah Raney's Hanover Falls series. It's newly released, out this month!

Plot: The novel gives us a glimpse into the lives of Jenna Morgan and Lucas Vermontez, two people connected by a tragic fire that killed Jenna's husband, who was also Luc's best friend. The fire also took Luc's father. It opens with the fire scene, but picks up a year after as both characters come to grips with the future before them. Jenna is struggling to make ends meet and break away from her in-laws, whille Luc is struggling to overcome his injuries from the fire as well as growing feelings for Jenna. The real sparks fly as these characters grow closer and learn more about themselves and each other.

Characters: Both Luc and Jenna are incredibly likable. Lucas sounds like the man next door; every woman's dream of a tough manly man who's a big softie on the inside. Jenna has a lot of mystery surrounding her, but it's revealed in a way that makes you sympathize with her and hope that everything turns out in her favor.

The supporting cast is equally likable, including Luc's mom and Jenna's mother-in-law. In fact, Jenna's mother-in-law was one character I wished I would've learned more about. There was a complexity there that I wanted to delve into and it made me wish the author had incorporated first-person narration so I could see inside her head.

Structure: The book is broken into several parts, with small chapters within. Very easy to read with plenty of natural breaking points. The plot follows a logical track that makes for an enjoyable read that doesn't require a lot of effort.

On the back of the book, it's classified as Fiction/Christian/Suspense. Even with the Christian undertones (and sometimes, OVERtones), I'd also put this in the Romance category. While it definitely follows a formula typical of this genre, it was still a great summer read.

While I received a free copy of the book for review purposes, my thoughts are my own!

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