Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Pretty Ugly


Pretty Ugly
Kirker Butler
3.5 / 5


Published March 31, 2015

First Sentence
"Miranda Ford never expected a simple trip to the drugstore to change the course of her entire life.""
Publisher's Description:
From a producer of Family Guy, a satirical look at a dysfunctional family complete with a stage mom, 9 year-old pageant queen, philandering husband, his girlfriend, and the crazy grandmother

Miranda Miller’s mission in life is to make sure her nine-year-old daughter, Bailey, continues to be one of the most successful child pageant contestants in the southern United States. Lately, that mission’s been difficult. Bailey has been secretly binge eating to gain weight so Miranda will let her retire; and the reality show Miranda been trying to set up for Bailey (and herself) just went to their biggest rival, Starr Kennedy and her tyrannical stage mother, Theresa.

But Miranda’s got an ace up her sleeve. She’s seven months pregnant with her fourth child, a girl, thank God, and Miranda is going to make damn sure that this one will be a pageant champion, too.

Unbeknownst to her, Miranda’s husband Ray, a nurse with a hobby of popping random pills, has knocked up Courtney, the less than brilliant seventeen-year-old orphan granddaughter of one of his hospice patients. With a wife, a mistress, two jobs, three kids (and two more on the way), a mountain of debt, and no real friends, Ray is desperately hoping his life puts itself back in order.

Meanwhile, the Millers’ two boys are being “homeschooled” by Miranda’s mother, Joan (pronounced Jo-Ann), a well-intentioned widow who spends most of her time playing solitaire and planning a murder with Jesus. Yes, that Jesus.

They’re just your typical dysfunctional American family.
 

Dear Reader,

If you are a fan of black comedy a la Little Miss Sunshine, this book is for you. With quite a bit fewer brooding characters, mind you. Almost everyone in this book - no matter how smart! - is shallow and acts rather stupidly, when you finally pause to take stock. But it is all very amusing to watch everything play out! I can't say you'll grow to love this dysfunctional "family" of pageant-obsessed Miranda, drugged out nurse Ray, ditzy teen Courtney, or direct-line-to-Jesus Joan (not to mention their poor kids!). But you will certainly want to keep reading - I finished this super quickly, and couldn't put it down until the train wreck resolved itself! In only the way "resolved" could mean, when the author is a producer of Family Guy. I have to say, some of my favorite content of this book came from the back cover, which included quotes from Seth MacFarlane (obvi), Jennifer Garner, Stephen Colbert, and Amy Poehler. Hey, if I was joining a club of sorts having shared this book with the likes of them, I was all in! And I am glad I did. It was a fun ride. You won't regret picking this up for a hilarious summer beach read.

Yours,
Arianna

P.S. I received a gorgeous hardcover copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.


Pretty Ugly

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At the Water's Edge


At the Water's Edge
Sara Gruen
4 / 5


Published March 31, 2015

First Sentence
"The headstone was modest and hewn of black granite, granite being one of the few things never in short supply in Glenurquhart, even during the present difficulty."
Publisher's Description:
In her stunning new novel, Gruen returns to the kind of storytelling she excelled at in Water for Elephants: a historical timeframe in an unusual setting with a moving love story. Think Scottish Downton Abbey.

After embarrassing themselves at the social event of the year in high society Philadelphia on New Year’s Eve of 1942, Maddie and Ellis Hyde are cut off financially by Ellis’s father, a former army Colonel who is already embarrassed by his son’s inability to serve in WWII due to his being colorblind. To Maddie’s horror, Ellis decides that the only way to regain his father’s favor is to succeed in a venture his father attempted and very publicly failed at: he will hunt the famous Loch Ness monster and when he finds it he will restore his father’s name and return to his father’s good graces (and pocketbook). Joined by their friend Hank, a wealthy socialite, the three make their way to Scotland in the midst of war. Each day the two men go off to hunt the monster, while another monster, Hitler, is devastating Europe. And Maddie, now alone in a foreign country, must begin to figure out who she is and what she wants. The novel tells of Maddie’s social awakening: to the harsh realities of life, to the beauties of nature, to a connection with forces larger than herself, to female friendship, and finally, to love.

Dear Reader,

This book took a little while for me to get into. However, knowing I’ve enjoyed a couple other of the author’s books in the past, I figured I’d give this one a bit more time. And I am glad I did - the story played out nicely, portraying a young woman caught up in strange madness during WWII. No, not really anything to do with the war, surprisingly! Rather, Maddie’s husband and his friend set off on a mad caper to Scotland, on a hunt for the elusive Loch Ness monster. Whew, I didn’t think this one could end well! I figured the author would either have to refute or “prove” the monster’s existence in order for the book to complete, but that was luckily not the case (you’ll see). 

The story started off very promising, it being that of a young newlywed couple going a bit overboard during 1945 New Year’s Eve celebrations. I loved all of the characters presented at the start: the carefree trio of best friends, the staid and snooty parental figures, and the backstories of how everyone interconnected. As in Water for Elephants, Gruen is great at painting vivid personalities while also keeping her characters grounded.

The adventure truly begins when the footloose and fancy-free trio set off for an overseas adventure - to prove the existence of Nessie! (Marshall would be thrilled.) Perhaps she should have seen it coming when she was coerced into traveling to Scotland during the height of the war, but this is also when things begin to go downhill for Maddie, as the true nature of her husband and his best friend are slowly revealed. While all of that story seemed plausible enough, I have to say there was another romance which I just did not see happening until I was bludgeoned over the head with it. Ultimately, they seemed perfect for each other, but I felt as if a bit more build up - more of a connection developed between the two - would have been better.

Overall, this book was not Gruen’s best (I’d put it on equal ground with Ape House), but I did get drawn into the story, and I certainly cried at the end! And that always says something to me, when a book can make me feel like that. Read this with a book club (there is plenty to discuss!) or as a summer read, especially if you love historical fiction. This will not disappoint.

Yours,
Arianna


At the Water's Edge

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Monday, March 30, 2015

The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line (Review by AmberBug)


The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line
(Veronica Mars #1)

Rob Thomas & Jennifer Graham
4 / 5

Published 2014

First Sentence
"The buses began to roll into Neptune, California, late Friday afternoon and didn't slow up until Monday."
Publisher's Description:

The first book in an original mystery series featuring twenty-eight-year-old Veronica Mars, back in action after the events of Veronica Mars: The Movie. With the help of old friends—Logan Echolls, Mac Mackenzie, Wallace Fennel, and even Dick Casablancas—Veronica is ready to take on Neptune’s darkest cases with her trademark sass and smarts.

Dear Reader,

I'll admit, I'm late to the game with Veronica Mars. I watched the show a long time ago but never finished the series. After getting rid of cable, I convinced my man to watch the series with me (binge watch it). It took us a few weeks to finish all three seasons and I promptly purchased the movie that weekend so we could continue the fun. I was SO hooked, right after the movie I downloaded the ebook (yes, Rob Thomas is getting all my money this past month, haha) and started reading it right away. You think binge watching a show is bad, try adding a movie and a book to the mix... overdose. I'm still glad I did it this way because everything was so fresh in my mind and the character voices played out really well in my head. Arianna listened to this on audio, which you can read about here. I'm tempted to re-read/listen to the book because she really liked hearing Kristen Bell voice everything. I don't think I missed out that much though, only because all the voices were still stuck in my head from my binge watching. It was like having my own audio soundtrack playing in my mind.

Getting to the book, I was really impressed with some things and disappointed with a few minor details here and there. This wasn't the best written book but the tone of voice was pretty dead on. I found the Author(s) really did a great job with the dialogue especially, Veronica had all her little nuances (like the "Ahh..." before she speaks sometimes) and I found this was the strongest part of the novel as a whole. I'm not sure if someone coming in to read this without watching the show will get as much enjoyment out of it. I would highly suggest watching the show (free on amazon prime and maybe netflix?) before delving into the books. Although, I think they did a pretty good job of giving a nice background without boring the fans. One of the things that truly bothered me was mention of Logan wanting to fly, which is why he in the Navy?!? I'm pretty sure the Navy is for sailing and the Air Force is for flying... but I'm not much on military stuff so maybe I'm missing something? If this is an oversight, it's a pretty big one (and one that's mentioned twice in the book).

Despite the few hiccups that set me off course, the book overall was a very fun and quick read. I'm not much for series (especially mystery series) since they all seem to blend into one but Veronica Mars stands out because she is a tough female character with a squishy marshmallow inside. I think any girl would want to be Veronica, and she is a great character to grow with. The mystery itself was interesting but wasn't what motivated me to keep reading. The fact that they included characters from the show and her past, that was the icing on the cake. I won't give away who we run into, even though it is given to us pretty early on, but let's just say it's a blast from the past. We get to progress deeper into the life of Veronica and Neptune, delving into many side plot lines (but main ones) that reveal some pretty juicy stuff. The next book is coming out pretty soon, and I might be tempted to jump right in... but maybe I need a break, I did just binge on EVERYTHING related to Veronica Mars possible. What can I say? I'm hooked.

Happy Reading,
AmberBug

The Ten-Thousand Dollar Tan Line (Veronica Mars #1)

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Saturday, March 28, 2015

84, Charing Cross Road


84, Charing Cross Road
Helene Hanff
4.5 / 5


Published 1970

First Sentences
"Gentlemen: Your ad in the Saturday Review of Literature says that you specialize in out-of-print books. The phrase 'antiquarian booksellers' scares me somewhat, as I equate 'antique' with expensive."
Publisher's Description:
It all began with a letter inquiring about second-hand books, written by Helene Hanff in New York, and posted to a bookshop at 84, Charing Cross Road in London. As Helene's sarcastic and witty letters are responded to by the stodgy and proper Frank Doel of 84, Charing Cross Road, a relationship blossoms into a warm and charming long-distance friendship lasting many years.

Dear Reader, 

How did this one little book break my heart so thoroughly?! It is only 97 pages long. And even those aren’t whole pages! I read this in little bits and pieces as I arrived at work every morning and drank my coffee while waiting for my computer to turn on. And it was an adorable copy, adorned with postmarks: 

(like my cute coffee mug?)

At first I found Helene Hanff rather off-putting in her rough edges and overly dramatic style, but I began to love her relationship with the Marks & Co. bookstore in London, particularly with Frank. Their rapport was almost immediate and so charming. And I cried through the last few letters. CRIED. When I felt as if I barely had any time to even get to know the characters! It’s incredible how much can really be said in a fairly short letter, taking into account of course all that is not written down. It’s one of the reasons I love writing letters. 

And that brings me to the reason I picked this book up. I’d had it on my TBR, but I was compelled into reading it by the announcement of an LWA Book Club! I am eager for April 12 to arrive now, so that I can discuss all of the aspects of this endearing book. I will be in Minneapolis on the first day of a conference trip, but I am still going to make this happen. I must emote with others over this book!

I don’t want to quote my favorite passage here like usual because there is so little content to discover already, but let me just say it involves pearl-handled fruit knives.


There is still plenty of time to read the book before the deadline, so if you are a letter-writer and if you don’t piecemeal it like me, you could probably have it read inside of an hour. I strongly encourage everyone to engage with this little gem.

Yours,
Arianna

-- Um, HOLY HELL. Is the audiobook of this made of SOLID GOLD? The prices for used copies run from $184.38 to $984.37! Unreal. 


84, Charing Cross Road

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Thursday, March 26, 2015

Headache: Hope Through Research


Headache: Hope Through Research
National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke
4/5


Published 1996

First Sentence
"You’re sitting at your desk, working on a difficult task, when it suddenly feels as if a belt or vice is being tightened around the top of your head."

Publisher's Description:

This pamphlet was written and published by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), the United States’ leading supporter of research on disorders of the brain and nervous system, including headache. NINDS, one of the U.S. Government’s National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, is part of the Public Health Service within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Dear Reader,

Bringing you a little something different today. This was a really great research journal about headaches. Pretty layman but did use all the scientific terms you'd expect. It doesn't read like a dense scientific textbook, which kept me interested. I also want to point out that it was published almost 20 years ago, so this information could be somewhat dated. However, here's a few interesting things I learned:

-The Trigeminal nerve sends the brain information about touch, pain, temperature and vibration. 
-Primary headache disorders are divided into four main groups: migraine, tension-type, trigeminal autonomic cephalgias (short-lasting but severe), and a miscellaneous group.
-The most common type of headaches are tension-type.
-Secondary headache disorders have underlying conditions such as brain tumors, hemorrhagic stroke and head injury.
 -Headaches in children can be caused by emotional problems, weather changes, irregular eating and sleep and dehydration.
-Genetics may contribute to a predisposition for migraines. Most migraine sufferers have a family member with the same.

One of the most shocking fact I learned was that having a hysterectomy can cause headaches (mostly migraine related) but going through menopause normally usually eases or stops for those who suffer from them. Makes me think twice about ever selecting to have my ovaries removed! For anyone who is interested in reading this, you can find the PDF for free here.

Happy Reading,
AmberBug

Headache: Hope Through Research

Monday, March 23, 2015

Orphan Train


Orphan Train
Christina Baker Kline
4 / 5


Published 2013

First Sentences
"I believe in ghosts. They're the ones who haunt us, the ones who have left us behind."
Publisher's Description:
Orphan Train is a gripping story of friendship and second chances from Christina Baker Kline, author of Bird in Hand and The Way Life Should Be.
Penobscot Indian Molly Ayer is close to “aging out” out of the foster care system. A community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping Molly out of juvie and worse...
As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly learns that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance.
Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life – answers that will ultimately free them both.
Rich in detail and epic in scope, Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of unexpected friendship, and of the secrets we carry that keep us from finding out who we are.

Dear Reader,

"I've come to think that's what heaven is--a place in the memory of others where our best selves live on." - Kline, The Orphan Train

This book was recommended by my dad, so I put it on hold at the public library because we have similar taste in books. (Good taste, of course!) I wasn't certain what to expect from the book, even though I apparently had added it in my TBR list on Goodreads. But the combination of my own interest and my father's convinced me it was worth checking out. And, I ended up really enjoying it!

The main story - that of an Orphan Train rider - is framed by another, modern-day story of a girl who is also an orphan, and has been bounced around from foster home to foster home. Currently 17, Molly is in what she hopes is her last fostering situation, but she gets caught stealing and is at the mercy of the system yet again. However, her boyfriend intervenes on her behalf and convinces everyone that it is a better idea for her to do community service helping out a local woman than for Molly to be sent to juvie. So she begins what sounds like the boring job of cleaning out an elderly woman's attic. Turns out, though, that Molly and Vivian have a lot in common, and the women soon bond over their stories.

Molly's story was less intriguing to me, but Vivian's was fascinating to read. A young Irish immigrant, she was orphaned at a young age and taken in by this society which took children off the streets of New York City and brought them out to the midwest via train, offering them up for adoption at every stop. I had never heard of this phenomenon before, but it was a very real (and apparently reasonable) thing in the early 1900s. Alone and left to fend for themselves in a new world, the children were often abused, used as workhorses, neglected by the Aid Society. Few were lucky enough to find a happy family experience, and usually those who did were the babies. Anyone over a few years old was generally taken on as free labor. It sounds like an awful experience, and Kline really wrote it well. Vivian lived through some serious hells, but found her own happinesses, and her story was an amazing and charming read. And while I wasn't Molly's biggest fan, I did enjoy the way the two women bonded over their common life experiences and became quite close.

I don't feel as if I am expressing how much I enjoyed this book well enough. I don't think anything but reading can really do it justice. So please, when you want a relatively light but enchanting read, pick this one up.

Yours,
Arianna


Orphan Train

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Friday, March 20, 2015

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry (Review by AmberBug)


The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
Gabrielle Zevin
4.5/5


Published 2014

First Sentence
"On the ferry from Hyannis to
Alice Island, Amelia Loman paints her nails yellow and, while waiting for them to dry, skims her predecessor's notes."

Publisher's Description:

On the faded Island Books sign hanging over the porch of the Victorian cottage is the motto "No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World." A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner, is about to discover just what that truly means.

A. J. Fikry's life is not at all what he expected it to be. His wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. Slowly but surely, he is isolating himself from all the people of Alice Island-from Lambiase, the well-intentioned police officer who's always felt kindly toward Fikry; from Ismay, his sister-in-law who is hell-bent on saving him from his dreary self; from Amelia, the lovely and idealistic (if eccentric) Knightley Press sales rep who keeps on taking the ferry over to Alice Island, refusing to be deterred by A.J.'s bad attitude. Even the books in his store have stopped holding pleasure for him. These days, A.J. can only see them as a sign of a world that is changing too rapidly.

And then a mysterious package appears at the bookstore. It's a small package, but large in weight. It's that unexpected arrival that gives A. J. Fikry the opportunity to make his life over, the ability to see everything anew. It doesn't take long for the locals to notice the change overcoming A.J.; or for that determined sales rep, Amelia, to see her curmudgeonly client in a new light; or for the wisdom of all those books to become again the lifeblood of A.J.'s world; or for everything to twist again into a version of his life that he didn't see coming. As surprising as it is moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry is an unforgettable tale of transformation and second chances, an irresistible affirmation of why we read, and why we love.

Dear Reader,

How adorable is this book? I want to pick it up and snuggle it to death! This is the perfect book to read in a cozy chair in the library or by a nice warm fire in the winter, absolutely PERFECT book for that. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry (TSLOAJF?) has all those romantic touches for a book lover, such a great lovable/snuggable book. Every literary reference has you petting the spine, each quirky character has you inhaling the dusty/glue filled scent wafting from the book... each chapter you fall deeper into the pages and into love. Ah shucks, you get the point. Anybody who loves books MUST read this... let me repeat... MUST read this. I think the perfect word for TSLOAJF is cozy.

Should I even go into what the book is about? I guess I'll give you some keywords; bookstore, piles of books, orphan, remote island, small community, love, vintage clothes, wait... did I mention piles of books? A.J. Fikry is a cantankerous book snob with an underlying soft heart, he owns the local bookstore on a remote touristy island. He meets a new sales rep for one of the publishers, Amelia, who represents everything A.J. is not... tolerant, lovable, and sociable. Next, enter baby Maya, left on the doorstep of the bookstore/home of A.J. Fikry with a note. The plot is a little wacky, but the love is in all the little details. I'm not the romance type, but this passage made me swoon a little:
“All I can say is . . . All I can say is we’ll figure it out, I swear. When I read a book, I want you to be reading it at the same time. I want to know what would Amelia think of it. I want you to be mine. I can promise you books and conversation and all my heart, Amy.” 
Ahhhhh, I would probably lose my breath if a man said that to me.

Enough will all my blah, blah, blah... I've said my peace. Meh, once more with feeling! READ this book if going into a bookstore will rob your wallet, READ this book if you think libraries are heaven on earth, READ this book if you can't get enough cheesy biblio jokes, READ this book if you like to smell books (why do we do this??), READ this if you have a "to-read" list that gives you panic attacks, and finally READ this if you think books have a heartbeat. Yeah, I do too.

Happy Reading,
AmberBug

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

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Thursday, March 19, 2015

Book Buddies - post #1



The Book Buddies Program


Dear Reader,

I am going to depart from reviewing a book today; I hope you’ll forgive the digression!

So. I recently signed up for this amazing program called Book Buddies (thanks for the referral, awesome sister Bethany!), which I am really excited about. The program matches you with an underprivileged kid who might not have the same opportunities I did, for example, in terms of time and support for learning to love reading. A couple of weeks ago, I got assigned my partner; for the sake of privacy, we’ll just call her “BB”. BB is 11 years old and in the 6th grade, reading at a 7th grade level. I have to admit, I was really glad to get a girl - while I know my pre-teen years were AGES ago by now, I still feel like I can (vaguely) remember what that time was like, and I certainly remember old reading favorites! So I hope to send her some great selections, based partly upon the letters she writes to me (I’ve requested she let me know if there are any specific books she would like). 


So the program requires that the adult Book Buddy send the kid Book Buddy a book a month (over the summer months, you send all 3 right before school ends), enclosing a letter and an SASE with each (everything is, of course, opened before being passed on to the kids, to keep them safe). I’ve just sent out my first one, with the help of AmberBug, who is just as excited for this program as I am! (I hope she will help me select a book each time, and next year we plan to do this in more of a partnership; I wish I had thought to do that when I first signed up!) What did I send, you ask? Why, a childhood favorite: Pippi Longstocking!

I don’t think I would necessarily have chosen that, because I worry that it might seem a bit dated, but I think Pippi easily transcends time, and plus, I was told that BB totally loves the Ramona books! So I think this one fits in quite nicely. Of course, I hope to have a better idea of what BB would like when I hear back from her; I am so glad that we get to exchange letters so that I can try to better tailor my selections to what she is interested in. 

In any case - I will try to remember to post every month as I make my selections. I would love any suggestions from those who are more familiar with middle-grade/YA books, as well! Please feel free to leave a comment about anything you know of that might be promising for an 11-year-old. I welcome all ideas & promise to take them all under advisement!

Best,
Arianna


Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)

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Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Code Name Verity


Code Name Verity
Elizabeth Wein
4.5 / 5

Published 2012

First Sentence
"I AM A COWARD."
Publisher's Description:
Oct. 11th, 1943-A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a chance at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.

When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.

As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage, failure and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from the enemy? 

A Michael L. Printz Award Honor book that was called "a fiendishly-plotted mind game of a novel" in The New York Times, Code Name Verity is a visceral read of danger, resolve, and survival that shows just how far true friends will go to save each other.

Dear Reader,

How to write about this book? It's a beautiful and heart-wrenching story about a deep and almost instant friendship, formed during the early years of WWII. Queenie charms her way into both Maddie's and the reader's heart almost immediately. I think one of my favorite lines from the book will help explain it: "It's like being in love, discovering your best friend." This book is the story of the girls' passionate friendship, developed during the early years of the war. I have put off writing this review, however, because there is so much that cannot be written about the story without giving things away. I can't even mention what happens in the beginning because that would tell the reader too much going in!

I suppose instead I will try to write in vaguer terms what I liked about this book. Yes, it was about these amazingly strong female characters and their iron wills. It was about women stepping up to play significant roles in WWII, and it was about friendship and family and love of the best kind. And yes, I might have loved it because it mentioned my family name in passing, and that is rare thing to see in literature of any kind! - The only other time I have seen my name in print in a book was in Howards End!

But, I want to simply highly recommend this book to you, Dear Reader. I can't say enough. You will most likely love & laugh, and you will certainly be brought to tears. But it is all worth it. All of it.

Yours,
Arianna



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Thursday, March 12, 2015

Sweet Tooth


Sweet Tooth
Ian McEwan
3.5 / 5


Published 2012

First Sentences
"My name is Serena Frome (rhymes with plume) and almost forty years ago I was sent on a secret mission for the British Security Service. I didn't return safely."
Publisher's Description:
In this stunning new novel, Ian McEwan’s first female protagonist since Atonement is about to learn that espionage is the ultimate seduction.

Cambridge student Serena Frome’s beauty and intelligence make her the ideal recruit for MI5. The year is 1972. The Cold War is far from over. England’s legendary intelligence agency is determined to manipulate the cultural conversation by funding writers whose politics align with those of the government. The operation is code named “Sweet Tooth.”

Serena, a compulsive reader of novels, is the perfect candidate to infiltrate the literary circle of a promising young writer named Tom Haley. At first, she loves his stories. Then she begins to love the man. How long can she conceal her undercover life? To answer that question, Serena must abandon the first rule of espionage: trust no one.

Once again, Ian McEwan’s mastery dazzles us in this superbly deft and witty story of betrayal and intrigue, love and the invented self.

Dear Reader,

Whoah, Ian McEwan. Whoah. This was my first McEwan book, and while this should come as no surprise, he really is the master of the twist ending! I did NOT see that one coming. I should have known, because while I haven't yet read or watched Atonement, I know the general plot and I have heard quite a bit about how much of a surprise the ending was. But, I guess I am glad I went into this book "blind" to the author's prowess in this sense; I just was thrown for such a loop!

I don't recall even knowing much about this book going into it, aside from "female spy," which of course intrigued me. And of course the author; even though this is the first book I've read of his, I knew he was a master story weaver. And, he didn't disappoint - this was an epic which spanned Serena's college years through her young adulthood, and the reader watched her grow up through some very rough times. I think I would have enjoyed the book more had I understood more of the politics behind the Sweet Tooth operation, but I enjoyed it quite a bit even though I wasn't quite familiar enough with all of what was going on regarding Communism in the U.K. in the early 1970s.

I wasn't the biggest fan of the protagonist; she was quite selfish and somewhat boring, really. And she seemed to choose the men she got involved with in order to spite others, it felt. I never quite believed her love affair with Tom. But, ultimately, it had to be believed as strong enough for the story to unfold the way it did. Despite all of my hangups about the awful, er, character of almost all of the characters, I really did enjoy the complex people that McEwan revealed in his writing. From what I've seen, too, this isn't his best work, so I am glad I enjoyed his writing style - I am encouraged to try others of his books, and am looking forward to doing so!

Yours,
Arianna


Sweet Tooth

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Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Dept. of Speculation


Dept. of Speculation
Jenny Offill
3/5


Published 2014

First Sentence
"Antelopes have 10x vision, you said."

Publisher's Description:

Dept. of Speculation is a portrait of a marriage. It is also a beguiling rumination on the mysteries of intimacy, trust, faith, knowledge, and the condition of universal shipwreck that unites us all.

Jenny Offill’s heroine, referred to in these pages as simply “the wife,” once exchanged love letters with her husband, postmarked Dept. of Speculation, their code name for all the uncertainty that inheres in life and in the strangely fluid confines of a long relationship. As they confront an array of common catastrophes—a colicky baby, bedbugs, a faltering marriage, stalled ambitions—the wife analyzes her predicament, invoking everything from Keats and Kafka to the thought experiments of the Stoics to the lessons of doomed Russian cosmonauts. She muses on the consuming, capacious experience of maternal love, and the near total destruction of the self that ensues from it, as she confronts the friction between domestic life and the seductions and demands of art.

With cool precision, in language that shimmers with rage and wit and fierce longing, Jenny Offill has crafted an exquisitely suspenseful love story that has the velocity of a train hurtling through the night at top speed. Exceptionally lean and compact, Dept. of Speculation can be read in a single sitting, but there are enough bracing emotional insights in these pages to fill a much longer novel.



Dear Reader,

Well this didn't "wow" me like it did for others. It was a short, quick read and wasn't unpleasant or anything. The story was vaguely told through short paragraphs (thoughts) written like a confession in letter form. It took a little bit of time to understand what was exactly going on and after awhile I started to admire the Author for being able to tell a complete story in this way. However, as impressive as this is, it wasn't that effective for me. I would consider this book to be a nice afternoon read to ponder on but nothing that brought out any emotion. The Author definitely is talented and she is able to describe certain situations pretty perfectly in very few words. This review will probably be about as short as the book though. I know this book won't be sticking around in my memory for very long and I don't think I would be dropping it into anybodys hands to read... not really sure where this book fits in my life? Oh well, I have this signed by the Author from my RJ Julia signed first edition club, so that's nice I guess. It was also picked for the Tournament of Books, so that will be interesting to see. I won't say read this or don't... this choice will be left up to you.

Happy Reading,
AmberBug

Dept. of Speculation

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Sunday, March 8, 2015

A Little Life


A Little Life
Hanya Yanagihara
5/5


Published March 10th, 2015

First Sentence
"The eleventh apartment had only one closet, but it did have a sliding glass door that opened onto a small balcony, from which he could see a man sitting across the way, outdoors in only a T-shirt and shorts even though it was October, smoking."

Publisher's Description:

Brace yourself for the most astonishing, challenging, upsetting, and profoundly moving book in many a season. An epic about love and friendship in the twenty-first century that goes into some of the darkest places fiction has ever traveled and yet somehow improbably breaks through into the light.

When four classmates from a small Massachusetts college move to New York to make their way, they're broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition. There is kind, handsome Willem, an aspiring actor; JB, a quick-witted, sometimes cruel Brooklyn-born painter seeking entry to the art world; Malcolm, a frustrated architect at a prominent firm; and withdrawn, brilliant, enigmatic Jude, who serves as their center of gravity. Over the decades, their relationships deepen and darken, tinged by addiction, success, and pride. Yet their greatest challenge, each comes to realize, is Jude himself, by midlife a terrifyingly talented litigator yet an increasingly broken man, his mind and body scarred by an unspeakable childhood, and haunted by what he fears is a degree of trauma that he’ll not only be unable to overcome—but that will define his life forever.

In rich and resplendent prose, Yanagihara has fashioned a tragic and transcendent hymn to brotherly love, a masterful depiction of heartbreak, and a dark examination of the tyranny of memory and the limits of human endurance.



Dear Reader,

Is it too much to say this book is one of my all time favorites? Ever!? Well too bad! I'm going to stick by this statement. I haven't read a book that made me cry so hard in a LONG time. A Little Life is tragic, emotional, heartbreaking but beautiful, loving and warm at the same time. Right from the start, we are introduced to this close knit group of friends that intertwine in so many ways but all the lines end with Jude. Jude is the private, quiet but sentimental sweet one. He is also looked out for by the group due to a disability. You don't have to try very hard to love Jude, I guarantee you'll be as head over heals with him as I was within the second/third chapter. Not to say that all the other characters don't have as much to give, because they each have a great personality and story to tell. Malcolm; the ambitious architect, JB; the talented addicted artist, Willem; the theater boy turned famous actor, and Jude; the tortured lawyer. The list of amazing characters doesn't even end there though, we have Harold; the kind old man who mentors Jude and Adam; the overcaring doctor that tends to Jude at whatever day or time is needed.

When I first read the description of this book, I have to admit I did an eye roll... ayep. I'm so OVER the friendship stories that span a lifetime, yes... they speak to me and I can relate to them BUT enough of them already! Boy, I was in for a treat. I had read Yanagihara's first book, "The People in the Trees" and really enjoyed it and if it wasn't for that, I probably would have missed out on this excellent piece of literature. I would like to kiss Yanagihara's feet for this book (and I HATE feet). Some parts of this book had that brilliance that we got to see in her first book, like when Harold drones on and on about law, but ultimately, this dribble of a speech is fascinating. Who would have thunk!? Yanagihara, thank you so much for coming into my life! I need more books, please! Let me gift you with a few glorious parts I had to save for later:

"Fairness is for happy people, for people who have been lucky enough to have lived a life defined more by certainties than by ambiguities."

"His persistent nostalgia depressed him, aged him, and yet he couldn't stop feeling that the most glorious years, the years when everything seemed drawn in fluorescents were gone. Everyone had been so much more entertaining then. What had happened?"

"Relationships never provide you with everything. They provide you with some things... don't you see it's a trap? If you keep trying to find everything, you'll wind up with nothing."

I think what brought me so close to this book and Jude is that I can completely relate to the way he deals with problems (no, not cutting). Those parts that describe memories like hyenas snapping and hungry, clawing at the door, wanting to break free. I know exactly what that is like, and being able to relate to that brought me very close to Jude. In no way is my life even close to being as messed up but I think anyone who knows what suppressing bad memories is like, will be able to relate to this character. Yanagihara can clearly paint a picture of someones life, I can only imagine she knows what suppressing bad memories feels like (there is no way she did it so clearly without that experience). I have SO much more to say but it would go beyond what is acceptable to talk about in a review. I want this book to be a little surprise to everyone... so before you read this, do what I did and roll your eyes and say, "not again!" Trust me, you'll be in for a big surprise!

Happy Reading,
AmberBug

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)

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Saturday, March 7, 2015

The Paying Guests


The Paying Guests
Sarah Waters
4 / 5

Published 2014

First Sentence
"The Barbers had said they would arrive by three."
Publisher's Description:
A truly extraordinary, masterful novel of brilliant storytelling, sensuality, and psychological suspense set in post-WWI London, from the internationally bestselling author of The Little Stranger. Three-time Booker Prize finalist Sarah Waters is at the height of her powers. 

A psychological and dramatic tour de force from beloved international bestseller Sarah Waters. The year is 1922, and London is tense. Ex-servicemen are disillusioned, the out-of-work and the hungry are demanding change. In South London, in a large silent house now bereft of brothers, husband, and even servants, life is about to be transformed, as Mrs Wray and her daughter Frances are obliged to take in lodgers.

With the arrival of Lilian and Leonard Barber, the routines of the house and the lives of its inhabitants will be shaken up in unexpected ways. And as passions mount and frustration gathers, no one can foresee just how far, and how devastatingly, the disturbances will reach.

Waters proves once again that her eye for the telling details of class and character that draw people together as well as tear them apart is second to none in this masterpiece of psychological tension and emotional depth.
Dear Reader,

I had to kind of rush my way through this book a little bit, because it was an ebook I borrowed from the library and thus available for only a limited time (and because it's currently in high demand, there's no way I could have gotten it out again for quite some time). So! I had to go quickly. Did I mind? Not at all! The story carried me along, especially the trial - I was kept on the edge of my seat almost the entire last third of the book. Whew! Boy, did that book make me THINK. For one thing, I couldn't figure out who I was rooting for: why did I care that the murderers got away with their crime? But I kind of wanted them to! That was a first odd thought. Then, later, I realized I didn't really LIKE any of the characters in the book - and usually I am drawn in by one or another, by caring about what happens to them. Not so with Frances, or Lillian, or Leonard! Don't get me wrong: I did really like some of the characters in that they were interesting, but not so much the characters' characters - you know what I mean?

In any case, wow - you just have to read this book. So much to think about! I should point out that there are some graphically intimate scenes, so definitely a more adult book. But nothing really untoward, or at least I didn't think so. The story focuses tightly on the main character, Frances, who is a committed (albeit young) spinster in postwar (WWI, that is) London. Women have just gotten the vote, but that's about the extent of things - inequality and repression still abound, and that is part of what this book explores. Frances becomes quite close with the new lodgers who move into her and her mother's house; since they have been left without any men after losing the three in their family to the war, they must find income to pay off some unexpected debts. This means the introduction of the eponymous "paying guests," which was a term used by polite society of the time to refer to the vulgar idea of tenants. I suppose the title is a great one, too, because the "guests" named paid in more ways than one, ultimately. And it seemed to be a particularly tense situation to begin with, as Frances' family is much more well off, in terms of social class, than the Barbers, who move in. To have to - for all intents and purposes - beg money from those who are of a lower class? It must have been unbearable to contemplate at the time. But an unlikely friendship is established between the families, and I loved seeing that.

What I liked most about this book, though, was its real examination of homosexuality in 1920s England - while we think things are still unequal here and now, back then it was many more times difficult to be a lesbian. The inability to express one's love in public, and having to do everything clandestinely, is a very interesting idea to explore: I've often seen the story told as a barrier between social classes, but never as a barrier due to gender.

There is just SO MUCH to discuss after reading this book; I don't even think I'm doing it justice. I wish I had a book club to talk this one over with, whew! Please let me know if you read it, Reader, so we can have a good talk!

Yours,
Arianna

The Paying Guests

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