Best Books of 2009

It has been a very slow year for reading for me. Life and work have gotten in the way of my sitting around and reading into the wee hours of the night. Since I am no longer going to Duluth for work each month, my nights to read in the hotel room are gone as well. I have also taken a break from accepting books to review. I still have a few to get to! Alas, I have only read 28 books in 2009, but some very good ones!!

Jen's Best Books of 2009

1. The Hour I First Believed - Wally Lamb (5/5)

2. The Crying Tree - Naseem Rakha - (5/5)

3. A Year On Ladybug Farm - Donna Ball - (4.5/5)

4. At Home on Ladybug Farm - Donna Ball (4.5/5)

5. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown (4.5/5)

6. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - David Wroblewski (4.5/5)

7. The Kindness of Strangers - Katrina Kittle (4.5/5)

8. Lace Reader - Brunonia Barry - (4.5/5)

9. Moloka'i - Alan Brennert - (4.5/5)

10. Things I Want My Daughters to Know: A Novel - Elizabeth Noble - (4.5/5)

I love making my list of best books each year. I forget about all the great books I read in the beginning of the year! I am looking forward to reading other book bloggers lists as well to make my "To Be Read" list even longer!

The year end brings no greater pleasure

than the opportunity to express

gratitude and good wishes to my readers.

May your New Year be filled with much happiness!!

Happy Reading!!

BLOG TOUR: The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall (and giveaway)

Hardcover: 208 Pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-307-44653-4

Blog Tour: October 12-16

Summary:

Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry. Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?

Author Bio:

Cindy Woodsmall is the author of When the Heart Cries, When the Morning Comes, and The New York Times Best-Seller When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years.

My Review:
Common themes in Amish fiction are family and faith. The interesting thing about "The Sound of Sleigh Bells" is that the two main characters are older single Amish women who run a store together. The older of the women, Aunt Lizzy wants to see her neice Beth to find love after being in mouring for an extended period of time. Aunt Lizzy goes about matching Beth to an Amish artisan whose work Beth admires. Though Aunt Lizzy's intentions were good, she goes about her matchmaking in a deceitful manner. I found the characters likeable and felt I understood their feelings. I really likes the young Amish artisan, Jonah.

I expected "The Sound of Sleigh Bells" to be a Christmasy sort of story, which it really isn't . None the less it was an enjoyable book and will be enjoyed by fans of Amish Fiction. This is the second book I have reviewed by Cindy Woodsmall and I find that she strings a bit of mystery into her stories that keep me intriqued. I completed this book in about a day and stayed up a bit too late to finish it!! My hubby woke up in the middle of the night and told me to turn the pages quieter...poor guy!

My Rating: 4/5 - Great - I would reccomend to my friends. Easy read to be enjoyed by fans of Amish fiction.

GIVEAWAY: I have two copies of "The Sound of Sleigh Bells" to give away. To enter the giveaway for this book, please leave a comment with a Christmas book recommendation for me and a valid email address to be entered into the drawing. I will randomly select and contact via email two winners on October 24th! You must live in the continental US to enter.

Looking for Free Books????
Book Giveaways will become a regular feature on my book blog. The publishers are generous and I have to regularly make room on my book shelves! I hope to post a book giveaway at least twice a month.

If you would like to purchase "The Sound of Sleigh Bells" by Cindy Woodsmall, stop by the Random House Website to review their purchase options.

Happy Reading!!

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

BLOG TOUR: The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (August 11, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400073960

Blog Tour: August 3-11, 2009

Summary:

Raised in foster care and now the widowed mother of a little girl, Cara Moore struggles against poverty, fear, and a relentless stalker. When a trail of memories leads Cara and Lori out of New York City toward an Amish community, she follows every lead, eager for answers and a fresh start. She discovers that long-held secrets about her family history ripple beneath the surface of Dry Lake , Pennsylvania , and it’s no place for an outsider. But one Amish man, Ephraim Mast, dares to fulfill the command he believes that he received from God–“Be me to her”– despite how it threatens his way of life.

Completely opposite of the hard, untrusting Cara, Ephraim’s sister Deborah also finds her dreams crumbling when the man she has pledged to build a life with begins withdrawing from Deborah and his community, including his mother, Ada Stoltzfus. Can the run-down house that Ada envisions transforming unite them toward a common purpose–or push Mahlon away forever? While Ephraim is trying to do what he believes is right, will he be shunned and lose everything–including the guarded single mother who simply longs for a better life?

Author Bio:
Cindy Woodsmall is the author of "When the Heart Cries", "When the Morning Comes", and The New York Times Best-Seller "When the Soul Mends". Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years.

My Review:
I have read Amish fiction in the past and didn't find it very fullfilling. That was not the case with "The Hope of Refuge" by Cindy Woodsmall. I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. "The Hope of Refuge" had me engrossed within the first few pages. I found the characters, Cara and Ephrian to be believable and very likeable characters.

I grew up in South Dakota. I lived near a Hutterite community and knew members of the community. This community is somewhat similiar to Amish, therefore, I am particularly interested in the Amish community, their rules and values. As with any book worth reading, I lost a few hours of sleep wanting to discover the outcome of "The Hope of Refuge", but it was well worth it!

My Rating: 4/5 - Great - I would recommend to my friends!

If you would like to purchase "The Hope of Refuge" by Cindy Woodsmall, stop by the Random House Website to review their purchase options.

Happy Reading!!

Monday Mailbox - 7/20/09 Edition

Mailbox Monday is a weekly event hosted by Marcia over at The Printed Page. While on vacation I completed 2 review books. When I came home three more books were waiting for me!

This last week, I welcomed three new book into my home and onto my ever growing TBR pile.

I received an (Advance Reading Copy) of Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin from Bethany House Publications. A publications date of October 2009 is expected for this book.

Product Description for Though Waters Roar:
Harriet Sherwood has always adored her grandmother. But when Harriet decides to follow her footsteps to fight for social justice, she certainly never expected her efforts to land her in jail. Nor did she expect her childhood enemy and notorious school bully, Tommy O'Reilly, to be the arresting officer.

Languishing in a jail cell, Harriet has plenty of time to sift through the memories of the three generations of women who have preceded her. As each story emerges, the strength of her family--and their deep faith in the God of justice and righteousness--brings Harriet to discovery of her own goals and motives for pursuing them.

I am participating in my first Blog Tour sponsored by WaterBrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books Program and received The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall to read for the tour. The tour will be taking place August 3rd - 11th. The Hope of Refuge is due out in paperback on August 11, 2009.

Description of The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall:

Raised in foster care and now the widowed mother of a little girl, Cara Moore struggles against poverty, fear, and a relentless stalker. When a trail of memories leads Cara and Lori out of New York City toward an Amish community, she follows every lead, eager for answers and a fresh start. She discovers that long-held secrets about her family history ripple beneath the surface of Dry Lake, Pennsylvania, and it’s no place for an outsider. But one Amish man, Ephraim Mast, dares to fulfill the command he believes that he received from God–“Be me to her”– despite how it threatens his way of life.

Completely opposite of the hard, untrusting Cara, Ephraim’s sister Deborah also finds her dreams crumbling when the man she has pledged to build a life with begins withdrawing from Deborah and his community, including his mother, Ada Stoltzfus. Can the run-down house that Ada envisions transforming unite them toward a common purpose–or push Mahlon away forever? While Ephraim is trying to do what he believes is right, will he be shunned and lose everything–including the guarded single mother who simply longs for a better life?

Lastly, I welcomed The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny into my home. The Brutal Telling will be on-sale October 1, 2009 by Minotaur Books.

Product Description for The Brutal Telling:

With those words the peace of Three Pines is shattered. As families prepare to head back to the city and children say goodbye to summer, a stranger is found murdered in the village bistro and antiques store. Once again, Chief Inspector Gamache and his team are called in to strip back layers of lies, exposing both treasures and rancid secrets buried in the wilderness.

No one admits to knowing the murdered man, but as secrets are revealed, chaos begins to close in on the beloved bistro owner, Olivier. How did he make such a spectacular success of his business? What past did he leave behind and why has he buried himself in this tiny village? And why does every lead in the investigation find its way back to him?
As Olivier grows more frantic, a trail of clues and treasures— from first editions of Charlotte’s Web and Jane Eyre to a spider web with the word “WOE” woven in it—lead the Chief Inspector deep into the woods and across the continent in search of the truth, and finally back to Three Pines as the little village braces for the truth and the final, brutal telling.

What books came into your house last week? Don’t forget to stop by The Printed Page and leave a link to your Monday Mailbox post for others to view!


Happy Reading!

Books Read in 2008

January
Lottery: A Novel - Patricia Wood - (4/5)
Tess of the d'Ubervilles - Thomas Hardy- (5/5)
Leap Days - Katherine Laphner - (3/5)
The Worse Things I Have Done - Ursula Hegi - (3.5/5)
The Rest of Her Life - Laura Moriarty - (4/5)
Astrid & Veronika - Linda Olsson - (4/5)

February
Family Tree - Barbara Delinsky - (4/5)
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox - Maggie O'Farrell - (4.5/5)

March
Budget Time Again - No Time to Read for Fun!

April
Fool's Puzzle (A Benni Harper Mystery) - Earlene Fowler - (3.5/5)
Black Girl, White Girl - Joyce Carol Oates - (3/5)
While the Locust Slept: A Memoir - Pater Razor - (3/5)

May
Birth Of Venus - Sarah Dunant - (4/5)
Fall on Your Knees - Ann Marie MacDonald - (4/5 )
The Golden Road: Notes on my Gentrification - Caille Millner - (2.5/5)

June
Case Histories - Kate Atkinson - (4/5)
Water For Elephants - Sara Gruen - (4/5)
Mistress of the Art of Death - Ariana Franklin - (4.5/5)
A Painted House - John Grisham - (4/5)
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress - Dai Sijie - (4/5)
The Bastard of Istanbul - Elif Shafak - (4.5/5)

July
The Septembers of Shiraz - Dalia Sofer - (4/5)
The Stone Diaries - Carol Shields - (3.5/5)
Daughter's Keeper - Ayelet Waldman - (4/5)

August
Creation in Death - J D Robb - (3/5)

September
Stalked - Brian Freeman -(4/5)
Unaccostumed Earth - Jhumpa Lahiri - (3/5)

October
Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism - Jenny McCarthy - (4/5)

November
There If You Need Me - Kate Braestrup - (3.5/5)
More Than it Hurts You - Darin Strauss - (4/5)

December
The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch - (4.5/5)

Books Read in 2009

January
Things I Want My Daughters to Know: A Novel - Elizabeth Noble - (4.5/5)
The Shack - William P. Young - (4.5/5)
Moloka'i - Alan Brennert - (4.5/5)

February
Lace Reader - Brunonia Barry - (4.5/5)
Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah - (3/5)
Barefoot - Elin Hilderbrand (3/5)
The Kindness of Strangers - Katrina Kittle (4.5/5)

March
The Secret Between Us - Barbara Delinsky - (3/5)

April
The View from Mt Joy - Lorna Landvik (3/5)

May
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - David Wroblewski (4.5/5)
The Girl She Used To Be - David Cristofano (4/5)
Across a Hundred Mountains - Reyna Grande (4/5)

June
The Hour I First Believed - Wally Lamb (5/5)
In the Kitchen - Monica Ali (3/5)
The Uncommon Reader - Alan Bennett (3/5)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mark Ann Shaffer (4/5)

July
Awaiting Your Reply - Dan Chaon (4/5)
The Crying Tree - Naseem Rakha - (5/5)

The Hope of Refuge - Cindy Woodsmall - (4/5)

August
Those Who Save Us - Jenna Blum - (4/5)
The Hope of Refuge - Cindy Woodsmall (4/5)

September
Prayers For Sale - Sandra Dallas - (4/5)

October
A Year On Ladybug Farm - Donna Ball - (4.5/5)
At Home on Ladybug Farm - Donna Ball (4.5/5)
The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown (4.5/5)

November
Emma & Me - Elizabeth Flock -(4/5)

December
The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff (hope to finish before end of yr)

Review: The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha

Title: The Crying Tree
Author: Naseem Rakha
Pages: 353 pages
Publisher: Broadway; First Edition edition (July 7, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0767931408

Book Description from Book: Irene and Nate Stanley are living a quiet and contented life with their two children, Bliss and Shep, on their family farm in southern Illinois when Nate suddenly announces he’s been offered a job as a deputy sheriff in Oregon. Irene fights her husband. She does not want to uproot her family and has deep misgivings about the move. Nevertheless, the family leaves, and they are just settling into their life in Oregon’s high desert when the unthinkable happens. Fifteen-year-old Shep is shot and killed during an apparent robbery in their home. The murderer, a young mechanic with a history of assault, robbery, and drug-related offenses, is caught and sentenced to death.

Shep’s murder sends the Stanley family into a tailspin, with each member attempting to cope with the tragedy in his or her own way. Irene’s approach is to live, week after week, waiting for Daniel Robbin’s execution and the justice she feels she and her family deserve. Those weeks turn into months and then years. Ultimately, faced with a growing sense that Robbin’s death will not stop her pain, Irene takes the extraordinary and clandestine step of reaching out to her son’s killer. The two forge an unlikely connection that remains a secret from her family and friends.
Years later, Irene receives the notice that she had craved for so long—Daniel Robbin has stopped his appeals and will be executed within a month. This announcement shakes the very core of the Stanley family. Irene, it turns out, isn’t the only one with a shocking secret to hide. As the execution date nears, the Stanleys must face difficult truths and find a way to come to terms with the past.

Dramatic, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting, The Crying Tree is an unforgettable story of love and redemption, the unbreakable bonds of family, and the transformative power of forgiveness.

My Review: I was initially intrigued when receiving this book for review by the cover. I am always drawn to interesting cover art. After reading the back cover I didn’t see how the boy playing the trumpet and the title The Crying Tree came together, but very appropriate after reading the book.

I read this book on my vacation and I must say it was a great read! The themes of the story for me were loss, grief and forgiveness. One of the most powerful lines in the books is about pain and grace. How do you have pain and grace at the same time? I guess through forgiveness comes grace. There is so much pain in this story, the pain of a mother, a father, sister and lover. There is a powerful statement made about pain and hatred eating you alive and now you get around that hatred and forgive. I am not sure I could have forgiven as Irene Stanley had, but she was a remarkably strong character. I appreciated her strength and journey.

The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha is a remarkable and heart wrenching story that will stay with me for a while. The characters are very well developed and you have a good feel for their feelings and values. The characters are very human and have made mistakes. I highly recommend this book. It will draw you in within the first few pages and like me, you will be staying up a bit too late wanting the story to continue!


My Rating: 5 – Highly Recommended

Happy Reading!!!

Booking Mama's Book Giveaway!!

This book looks like a fun summer read. Julie P. over at Booking Mama has posted another giveaway. Enter to win the book A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand. Julie P over at Booking Mama also has the honor of having a blurb from her review printed on the book! How cool is that! Trust me it is the dream of many book bloggers.

I am adding this one to my TBR list!! I am sure finding alot of summer reads to add to my list! Make sure to enter for you chance to win!

Happy Reading!!

Book Giveaway @ Booking Mama

This book looks like a fun summer read. Julie P. over at Booking Mama has posted a giveaway to win the book Looking For Salvation At the Dairy Queen by Susan Gregg Gilmore.

I am adding this one to my TBR list!! Make sure to enter for you chance to win!

Happy Reading!!

What's On Your Nightstand? - 6/23/09 Edition

What’s been on your nightstand this month? The folks at 5 Minutes for Books would like to know. See what everyone else is reading and discover some new titles to add to your TBR pile! Mine is ever growing!!

Books I have Read in June, 2009
In the Kitchen by Monica Ali - (ARC from Simon and Schuster) (my review)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer-June Selection for Book Group. (book group this Thursday!)

The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb (my review)

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett - a short novella borrowed to me by a friend. Must read and return very soon!

Jen's Reading Plan for June -
The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha - ARC from Random House

No One You Know - Michelle Richmond (Book Group Selection)

Sacred Hearts - Sarah Dunant - ARC from Random House

Await Your Reply - Dan Chaon -ARC from Random House

Happy Reading!

Mailbox Monday: 6/15/09

Mailbox Monday is a weekly event hosted by Marcia over at The Printed Page. It is exciting to received new books to review. I do like the slower pace at which they are coming in as I am able to read a few library books as well.

This week, I welcomed one new book into my home and onto my ever growing TBR pile. I received Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant from Random House to review. I am looking forward to reading this book. I previously read, Sarah Dunant's Birth of Venus and am looking forward to reading this one!

Product Description from Amazon.com:
The year is 1570, and in the convent of Santa Caterina, in the Italian city of Ferrara, noblewomen find space to pursue their lives under God’s protection. But any community, however smoothly run, suffers tremors when it takes in someone by force. And the arrival of Santa Caterina’s new novice sets in motion a chain of events that will shake the convent to its core.

Ripped by her family from an illicit love affair, sixteen-year-old Serafina is willful, emotional, sharp, and defiant–young enough to have a life to look forward to and old enough to know when that life is being cut short. Her first night inside the walls is spent in an incandescent rage so violent that the dispensary mistress, Suora Zuana, is dispatched to the girl’s cell to sedate her. Thus begins a complex relationship of trust and betrayal between the young rebel and the clever, scholarly nun, for whom the girl becomes the daughter she will never have.

As Serafina rails against her incarceration, others are drawn into the drama: the ancient, mysterious Suora Magdalena–with her history of visions and ecstasies–locked in her cell; the ferociously devout novice mistress Suora Umiliana, who comes to see in the postulant a way to extend her influence; and, watching it all, the abbess, Madonna Chiara, a woman as fluent in politics as she is in prayer. As disorder and rebellion mount, it is the abbess’s job to keep the convent stable while, outside its walls, the dictates of the Counter-Reformation begin to purge the Catholic Church and impose on the nunneries a regime of terrible oppression.


What books came into your house last week? Don’t forget to stop by The Printed Page and leave a link to your Monday Mailbox post for others to view!

Happy Reading!

Jen's Notes: June 14, 2009

Do you have notes all over your work space?? Do you use sticky notes or scraps of paper to remember important information? I tend to find sticky notes and scraps all over my desk at home and work. They might contain websites, books to read, or review sites to join. All important stuff that I seem to misplace! So this feature will allow me to organize my sticky notes and actually find the info at a later date. What a novel idea!!

I spent a fair amout of time this evening reviewing book blogs. The following is a list of books that interested me and where I read about them.

Book Recommendations:

1. Julie and Julia
2. The Cradle - Patrick Somerville (Bookmarks Book Review Newsletter)
3. Columbine - Dave Cullen (Bookmarks Book Review Newsletter)
4. Prayers for Sale - Sandra Dallas (Reading Group Gold Recommends)
5. The Glassblower of Murano - Marina Fiorato (Reading Group Gold Recommends)
6. Honolulu - Alan Brennert (author of Molokai)
7. The Worst Hard Time - Timothy Egan (The Sleepy Reader)
8. The Beautiful North - Luis Alberto Urrea (Booking Mama)
9. Leaving the World - Douglas Kennedy (Fluer Fisher Reads)

Blogs Added to Site:

1. The Sleepy Reader
2. Booking Mama
3. Me, My Book and The Couch
4. Stephanie's Written Word
5. The Book Case (blog of the editors from BookPage)

Other Items of Interest:

1. Entertainment Weekly's The New Classics List - the 100 best reads from 1983 to 2008.
2. TLC Book Tours - Read "Be a Tour Host" and Signed Up.
3. Discovered Rave About Reads Challenge - the site has a list of particpants and their list of books. Could be a good place to find some books to add to my TBR list!

My info is all safe and sound!! Time to throw away my sticky notes until next time.

Happy Reading!

Library Loot: June 10-16, 2009

I have not been to the library in a few weeks. My hubby has been picking up a few books for me, but it has been pretty slow on reserves as well. I have enough books around the house so it isn't like I am ever without a book to keep me company.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

1. April & Oliver - Tess Callahan

2. Google Blogger for Dummies - Susan Gunelius Hubby picked this up thinking I might like it. Isn't he so sweet to think about me!

I am off to see what others have checkout from their library this week and fill up my TBR list!

Interesting Books from Other Library Loot Posts:

1. Leaving the World - by Douglas Kennedy (Fleur Fisher Reads)

Library Loot Event is a weekly event hosted by Eva at The Striped Armchair that encourages bloggers to share the books they have checked out from the library. I always find many new books to add to my reserve list!

Happy Reading!

Vote For My Son, Josh!!!

Windows® Brand Ambassador — Semi-Finals Sponsored by Microsoft®

Please vote for my son in the Windows Brand Ambassador Semi-Finals!

Thanks A Million!

Review: In The Kitchen by Monica Ali

Title: In the Kitchen
Author: Monica Ali
Pages: 448 pages
Publisher: Scribner (June 16, 2009)
ISBN-10: 141657168X

I was so excited. The cover of the book had me thinking immediately that I would love this book!! This book appealed to me due to many of my loves, such as my love of cooking, British Authors, Hell's Kitchen and all things Gordon Ramsey!! Unfortunately, I could not find a graphic of the book cover I have.
Gabriel Lightfoot is the executive chef of a once majestic London hotel, the Imperial Hotel. He has a diverse group of kitchen help and a bully of a restaurant manager. He has aspirations for his future that include, starting his own restaurant, marrying Charlie and reconnecting with his family. In the Kitchen begins with the discovered of the death of one of the restaurants porters, Yuri. Yuri was a Ukrainian who seemed to have been living in the basement of the hotel. The death of Yuri is the beginning of many complications in the life of Gabe.

Shortly after Yuri’s death, Gabe discovers Lena in the basement. She had been staying with Yuri prior to his death. Gabe is drawn to Lena and an odd relationship begins between the two of them. He is haunted by a dream concerning the death of Yuri. Gabe’s father is diagnosed with Cancer and Gabe’s relationship with his fiancé, Charlie goes sour. Gabe’s life begins to spiral out of control.

My Review: I have not read Brick Lane, so I cannot compare this work to Monica Ali’s previous work. This book struggled to hold my attention, especially towards the middle. I found the characters to be interesting, but never developed to a level where I cared what happened to them. I thought some great issues were touched on in the book such as: immigrant slavery/labor force and mental illness. The diverse restaurant workers all had a story of their immigration, but the lack of development of them was a real missed opportunity to me.

I found myself feeling like I was always getting just a piece of the story. I wanted to know more about Gabe’s mother and her illness/life, more of the story of the lives of the diverse immigrant work force. I didn’t really find Gabe’s recollections of the time he spent with his father at the Mill to add much to the story.

I struggled to keep picking up this book. I wasn’t too concerned about getting back to Gabe. The story does start to gain some momentum towards the end as Gabe spirals into what I can only guess is a manic episode. But as quickly as Gabe’s manic episode began it ends very abruptly without any real intervention. The momentum of the ending came a bit too late for me!

3/5 – OK/ An Average Read (the ending caused me to bump the book up from a less than satisfying rating)

Happy Reading!

Review: The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb

Title: The Hour I First Believed
Author: Wally Lamb
Pages: 752 pages
Publisher: Harper (November 11, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0060393491

Caelum Quirk narrates Wally Lamb’s newest book, The Hour I First Believed. Caelum is a high school English teacher struggling to maintain his third marriage. Caelum and his wife, Maureen moved to Littleton, Colorado to start a new life after Maureen’s infidelity. Both take jobs at Columbine High School; Caelum as an English teacher and Maureen as the school nurse. Caelum goes to be with his aunt after she suffers a stroke in Three Rivers, Connecticut. Caelum’s aunt dies shortly after he arrives. Back in Colorado Maureen finds herself in the middle of the rampage created by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold within the Columbine School Shooting.

Maureen is in the school library with a student, Violet, when the shooting begins. Maureen hides in a library cabinet, listening to students being taunted and shot. Maureen struggles greatly with PTSD after this tragedy. Her life spirals out of control. Caelum and Maureen struggle to put their life back together after the shootings.

They decide to move back to the family farm in Three Rivers, Connecticut to recover from their ordeal in Colorado. Maureen struggles to regain her life, but experiences life altering tragedy. Caelum discovers in the farm house a family history archive of letters, diaries and news clippings. He begins to piece together the life of his ancestors and family secrets emerge. Caelum struggles with unexpected discoveries and continues with his quest for meaning and direction in his life.

My Review: I am once again blown away by the storytelling on Wally Lamb. He introduces us to a wide range of rich characters. What I like about the characters, especially Caelum, is they are just average people, trying to make sense of a world that is wrought with tragedy. The description of the shootings in Columbine are heart wrenching. I listened to this book and found the drama of the shootings to be very intense and had a profound effect on me.

Generally books with a lot of side stories are not enjoyable to me. The Hour I First Believed is the exception. The Columbine shooting falls into the background of the story as life and tragedy continues to plague Caelum. It almost felt like a new story once Caelum starting his discovery and research on his family history. But throughout the book the struggle to maintain the relationship between Caelum and Maureen is ever present.

To me the theme throughout the book is that life isn’t easy and neat. Terrible things happen to people for unknown reasons. This story though filled with tragedy portrays the strength of the characters to overcome the tragedies of their lives and find hope and purpose for in their lives. Don’t we all have tragedy in our lives at some level? It is all about our journey through the tragedy and who we are on the other side. One can only hope we continue to find hope in life after it is all said and done. It was inspiring to follow Caelum, Maureen and Violet in their journey to hope after an imaginable amount of tragedy.

4.5/5 – Highly Recommended

Happy Reading!

What's On Your Nightstand - 5/26/09

What’s been on your nightstand this month? The folks at 5 Minutes for Books would like to know. See what everyone else is reading and discover some new titles to add to your TBR pile! Mine is ever growing!!



Books I have Read in May, 2009 -

• Across A Hundred Mountains by Renya Grande - My Review


• The Girl She Used To Be by David Cristofano - My Review


• The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski - My Review

Jen's Reading Plan for June -

• In the Kitchen by Monica Ali - (ARC from Simon and Schuster) - I have started this one, but have not had alot of time to read.
• The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha - ARC from Random House.
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer-June Selection for Book Group.
• The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb - I am listening to this audio book and am nearly finished! Very good so far.
• The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett - a short novella borrowed to me by a friend. Must read and return very soon!

Happy Reading!

Mailbox Monday - 5/25/09

This is my second week in participating in Mailbox Monday. This is a weekly event hosted by Marcia over at The Printed Page. This week I recevied from Random House, The Crying Tree by Naseem Rakha. This book will be available July 2009.

THE CRYING TREE has been selected for Barnes & Noble's autumn Discover Great New Writers program.

Award-winning journalist and author Naseem Rakha’s debut novel, THE CRYING TREE reaches into the heart of a family nearly torn apart by a mother’s act of forgiveness.

Synopsis from Barnes and Noble. com

Irene and Nate Stanley are living a quiet and contented life with their two children, Bliss and Shep, on their family farm in southern Illinois when Nate suddenly announces he’s been offered a job as a deputy sheriff in Oregon. Irene fights her husband. She does not want to uproot her family and has deep misgivings about the move. Nevertheless, the family leaves, and they are just settling into their life in Oregon’s high desert when the unthinkable happens. Fifteen-year-old Shep is shot and killed during an apparent robbery in their home. The murderer, a young mechanic with a history of assault, robbery, and drug-related offenses, is caught and sentenced to death.

Shep’s murder sends the Stanley family into a tailspin, with each member attempting to cope with the tragedy in his or her own way. Irene’s approach is to live, week after week, waiting for Daniel Robbin’s execution and the justice she feels she and her family deserve. Those weeks turn into months and then years. Ultimately, faced with a growing sense that Robbin’s death will not stop her pain, Irene takes the extraordinary and clandestine step of reaching out to her son’s killer. The two forge an unlikely connection that remains a secret from her family and friends.

Years later, Irene receives the notice that she had craved for so long—Daniel Robbin has stopped his appeals and will be executed within a month. This announcement shakes the very core of the Stanley family. Irene, it turns out, isn’t the only one with a shocking secret to hide. As the execution date nears, the Stanleys must face difficult truths and find a way to come toterms with the past.

Dramatic, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting, The Crying Tree is an unforgettable story of love and redemption, the unbreakable bonds of family, and the transformative power of forgiveness.

Happy Reading,

Mailbox Monday - May 11th

This is my first time in participating in Mailbox Monday. This is a weekly event hosted by Marcia over at The Printed Page.

This week I recevied from Simon and Schuster, In The Kitchen by Monica Ali. This book will be available June 2009 from Scribner. This book appealed to me due to many of my loves, such as my love of cooking, British Authors, Hell's Kitchen and all things Gordon Ramsey! I am looking forward to digging into this one ASAP!

Synopsis of In The Kitchen By Monica Ali from Barnes and Noble. Com

Gabriel L ightfoot is an enterprising man from a northern E ngland mill town, making good in London. As executive chef at the once-splendid Imperial H otel, he is trying to run a tight kitchen. But his integrity, to say nothing of his sanity, is under constant challenge from the competing demands of an exuberant multinational staff, a gimlet-eyed hotel management, and business partners with whom he is secretly planning a move to a restaurant of his own. D espite the pressures, all his hard work looks set to pay off.

Until a worker is found dead in the kitchen's basement. It is a small death, a lonely death — but it is enough to disturb the tenuous balance of Gabe's life.

Elsewhere, Gabriel faces other complications. His father is dying of cancer, his girlfriend wants more from their relationship, and the restaurant manager appears to be running an illegal business under Gabe's nose.

Enter L ena, an eerily attractive young woman with mysterious ties to the dead man. Under her spell, Gabe makes a decision, the consequences of which strip him naked and change the course of the life he knows — and the future he thought he wanted.

Readers and reviewers have been stunned by the breadth of humanity in Monica Ali's fiction. She is compared to Dickens and called one of three British novelists who are "the voice of a generation" by Time magazine. In the Kitchenis utterly contemporary yet has all the drama and heartbreak of a great nineteenth-century novel. Ali is sheer pleasure to read, a truly magnificent writer.

As always, if you want to see what others found in their mailboxes this past week, check out Marcia's blog at The Printed Page.

Happy Reading!!

Review: Across A Hundred Mountains by Renya Grande

Title: Across a Hundred Mountains
Author: Reyna Grande
Pages: 259
Publisher: Atria (June 20, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0743269578


This is the story of migration, love and loss as two women (Adelina and Juana) find the path of their lives crossing. Juana’s family suffers a tragedy which greatly affects Juana’s relationship with her mother. Juana’s father, Miguel leaves to go to the United States to find work and money for the family. Juana and her mother struggle greatly in the absence of Miguel. After two years, Juana leaves Mexico to search for her father.

Juana is befriended by a young woman, Adelina in a Tijuana jail. Adelina was born in the United States and came to Mexico with her boyfriend. The two make plans to leave their life in Mexico behind them and go to the United States. Juana is desperate to find her father and find out why he did not return to Mexico as he had promised.

The story is told in alternating chapters by Juana the young girl living in Mexico in poverty with her mother and Adelina a 30 year old social worker in Los Angeles.

This is a debut novel by Reyna Grande. I love discovering new authors! I can only imagine the Reyna Grande enhanced the story by using some of her personal life to shape this story. When Reyna was 5 years old her parents immigrated to the United States and left her and her siblings in the care of their grandmother. At the age of nine, Reyna immigrated to the United States to be with her parents. She currently resides in Los Angeles. Author’s Website is http://www.reynagrande.com/

My Review: This book was recommended to by my friend, Syd. I thought the writing was good. The book was engaging and had a good flow to the story. The descriptions of life in Mexico were interesting and heartbreaking. I felt a bit confused in the middle of the story by the alternating chapters by the two women, Juana and Adelina. The author quickly brings it all together and it all makes perfect sense. Once everything started to come together, I had a hard time putting the book down. Once again I stayed up too late reading!
4/5 – Recommended/ A Good Read.

Happy Reading!

Jen C

Review: The Girl She Used To Bo

Title: The Girl She Used To Be
Author: David Cristofano
Pages: 256 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1 edition (March 19, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0446582220

When Melody Grace McCartney was 6 years old she and her parents accidently witness a horribly brutal act of violence committed by an influential mafia figure, Tony Bovaro. Melody and her family go into the Federal Witness Protection Program. They are frequently relocated and eventually the parents are killed by the Bovaro family, but Melody survives.

Melody continues to be in the Federal Witness Protection Program and goes through 8 aliases and/or lives. She frequently gets bored and get relocated. She is eventually located by Jonathon, the son of Tony Bovaro. He offers her a strange alternative, the protection from his family and a life she has never known.

My Review: My initial thoughts when starting this book was of nonbelief. I initially did a lot of “Yeah Right”. But this very talented author developed the characters so well that I began to believe and became fascinated with Melody’s behavior. Certainly not choices I would make, but I could understand Melody’s reasons. Melody is an adult woman, but she isn’t emotionally mature or rooted emotionally in her life and is drifting through life without a connection to other people. She desires that connection with others, a real family. This book is vey engaging and you are compelled to continue to read. The plot keeps you hooked with twists, turns and bittersweet moments.

4/5 – Recommended/ A Good Read – This book had me leaving my desk to actually take a lunch break to read!

Happy Reading!

Jen C

LIBRARY LOOT - May 2nd, 2009

Hubby went to the library for me this week and I had alot of reserves in! It was like my birthday when he got home. I was excited. I need to make time this week to get some serious reading done. Josh, my oldest came over and set up my gazebo/outdoor living room. It is all ready for me to sit out there and read. The MN weather hasn't been cooperating too much yet. today does look promising.

May 2nd, 2009

1. Novel About My Wife - Emily Perkins
2. Still Alice - Lisa Genova
3. The Ten Year Nap - Meg Wolitzer
4. Across A hundred Mountains - Reyna grande
5. Sarah's Key - Tatiana DeRosnay
6. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet - Jamie Ford
7. The Girl She Used To Be - David Cristofano (My Review)

To see what other bloggers are reading, stop by the weekly Library Loot Event hosted by Eva at The Striped Armchair.

Happy Reading!!
Jen C

Review: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski

Title: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
Author: David Wroblewski

Pages: 576 pages
Publisher: Ecco; 1ST edition (September 19, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0061768065

Edgar Sawtelle is the much desired child of Gar and Trudy Sawtelle. The Sawtelle family was known in Wisconsin for their breeding and training of dogs. When their son, Edgar was born without the ability to speak, they turn to their well trained dog, Almondine to help keep an eye on Edgar as he grows up.

All is going well in the family until Claude, Edgar’s uncle returns to the family home. Gar, Edgar’s father, unexpectedly dies and Edgar and his mother, Trudy attempt to continue with their lives and running the kennel. Edgar is devastated by his father’s death and attempts to prove Claude’s role in his father’s death.

My Review

To be honest my initial thought when this book was selected by my book group was there is no way that I could make it through this book . It is a good sized book and was described by the recommender as being a great book for dog lovers. I started this book while out of town for a conference and stayed up way too late reading. I found The Story of Edgar Sawtelle to be a compelling read that surprisingly gripped my attention quickly. I truly cared about some of the characters and couldn’t wait to get back to them once I closed the book. Some of the Sawtelle dogs are also well developed as characters themselves. The characters are well developed, which assists in connecting the reader to the characters emotionally.

So don’t be intimidated by the size of this book, your time will be spent enjoyably. I would rate this book a 4.5/5 – recommended read!

This book will be posted as a giveaway in the very near future. I am thinking through some unique details to add to my book giveaways! Be sure to check back for you chance to win this book.

Happy Reading!

Jen C

Review: The Kindness of Strangers by Katrina Kittle

Title: The Kindness of Strangers

Author: Katrina Kittle

Pages: 400 pages (paperback)

Publisher: Harper Perennial (January 2, 2007)

ISBN-10: 0060564784

From Publishers Weekly
Master caterer Sarah Laden is barely holding her life together as a widow with two difficult sons—recalcitrant teen Nate and troubled fifth-grader Danny—when the unthinkable happens. Her best friend and neighbor, Courtney Kendrick, is arrested in a child sex abuse scandal. Courtney's husband has vanished; their 11-year-old son, Jordan, is in the hospital recovering from a suicide attempt; and across the street Nate is finding, in Jordan's backpack, evidence of unthinkable abuse. Kittle (Traveling Light; Two Truths and a Lie) crafts a disturbing but compelling story line, as Sarah, Nate and Jordan uncover and come to terms with the horror in alternating chapters. Sarah, for instance, is shocked to learn that she dropped off food for the Kendricks' sex parties; Jordan must decide whether or not he wants to continue a relationship with his mother—who insists she's innocent—if and when she gets acquitted. Kittle's research sits awkwardly in expository dialogue—"One in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused before their eighteenth birthdays," intones the detective who will later become Sarah's love interest—but it doesn't slow the momentum. Though the movement is toward healing, there are bumpy roads ahead for everybody in this melodramatic but gripping read. (Jan.)

My Review
Readability: This is a compelling read. I started this book late one evening and was up way too late reading! I began reading the book again once I awoke.

Overall: Last night before bed I started this book. I read until after midnight and dreamed about this book all night. I woke up and finished the book before noon. It was a disturbing subject matter, but very well written. It kept me wanting to know what happened. It was the story an abused child and his journey to recovery and his experience with the legal, foster care and social services agencies. Being a social worker in a social services agency, I find this type of book very compelling. I rate this book 4.5/5 = Recommended / A good read.

Happy Reading!
Jen C

Review: Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand

Title: Barefoot

Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Pages: 432 pages
Publisher: Back Bay Books (June 9, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0316018597

From Publishers Weekly
Hilderbrand's sixth novel heaps on the trauma as a substitute for realistic connection in this heady mix of beach house, cancer, affair and mom lit. Connecticut housewife Vicki, diagnosed with lung cancer, has packed up her two kids for a chemo-commuting summer at the family's Nantucket cabin; sister Brenda, a newly minted high-powered assistant professor, has just been fired for having an affair with one of her students; Vicki's best friend, Melanie, newly pregnant, has discovered her husband is cheating. The three hit the tarmac of the tiny island airport, where they run into home-for-the-summer Middlebury senior Josh Flynn, who has a summer job there that he hates. Hardened cliché Brenda pines for her stereotypically weathered Australian lover. Melanie is a chronic complainer until she romances grim aspiring writer Josh, whom she has run into again and brought on as the house babysitter. (Josh thinks his old girlfriend should "locate her center" and "operate from a place of security.") Of the three women, only the suffering, stubborn Vicki, who keeps a list of "Things That No Longer Mattered" and cries when she can't seduce her visiting husband, draws readerly sympathy. There are some tender moments in Hilderbrand's latest beacher, but others are as irritating as sand in your swimsuit.

My Review
Overall, this book took me a while to get through. It wasn't overly exciting and it was another book about a person with cancer. I have read a number of books lately about cancer victims/survivors. I rate this book - 3 = Okay / An average book.

Happy Reading!
Jen C