I LOVE THIS BOOK! Ok, now that I got that out, let's summarize. This is a tale of how complicated relationships can be and shows that what's important in life are the people who belong to us. Cornelia and Teo move to suburban Philadelphia and find it difficult to fit in with their new sorority-like neighborhood. The story is split into 3 narrators: Corneila, her neighbor Piper and the 14 year old Dev.
Seemingly shallow and vicious Piper's cool exterior crumbles as the loss of her best friend to cancer and the infidelity of her husband threaten to destroy her "perfect" world. Through her developing friendshp with Cornelia, Piper finds the strength she needs to be true to herself and create a new, more loving, world for herself and her children.
Dev's connection to the story is initially unknown, but as his mother, Lake, develops a friendship with Cornelia, his involvement becomes central to all of them. A genius by definition, Dev was a loner who struggled in his California school, and was both relieved and confused when his mother packed the car and relocated them. In his new home and school, Dev feels like he belongs in a way he's never felt before; he makes friends and even falls in love with Claire, a girl who has a special relationship with Cornelia and Teo. Because he is a very smart boy, Dev pieced together the theory that his mother chose the small Philadelphia suburb because she was planning to re-connect with his biological father, a man Dev didn't know much about and had never met. His theory proves true, but not in the way he expected.
This story is engaging and written in a way that makes you feel like you know each of the characters...and eventually makes fall in love with each and every one of them. It shows that everyone is multifaceted; that one bad decision (or even a series of bad decisions) is not enough to erase a lifetime of good; and that forgiveness and love are powerful things that can overcome any adversity we might face.
Would I recommend this book? YES! I loved it so much I now have to go back and read De Los Santos's Love Walked In so I can see where Cornelia Brown was before she left the city!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Love the One You're With by Emily Griffin
I have read and enjoyed ALL of Emily Griffin's books and this was no exception. This is the tale of a love lost but not forgotten and what happens when there is an opportunity for a second chance.
The main character, Ellen, was dumped by her first love, Leo, an event that served as a catalyst for her career and development as a person. Exactly 100 days after marrying her best friend's brother, Andy, Ellen passes Leo in a crosswalk, which he follows up with a phone call and a brief meeting in a diner. As the story progresses, Leo offers a career opportunity that is too good to resist...leads her to evaluate "what might have been" with Leo. Ultimately, Ellen is forced to look at her life and decide what she wants from it; realizing that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
Would I recommend this book? Yes...but I still think Something Borrowed is my favorite Emily Griffin novel :)
The main character, Ellen, was dumped by her first love, Leo, an event that served as a catalyst for her career and development as a person. Exactly 100 days after marrying her best friend's brother, Andy, Ellen passes Leo in a crosswalk, which he follows up with a phone call and a brief meeting in a diner. As the story progresses, Leo offers a career opportunity that is too good to resist...leads her to evaluate "what might have been" with Leo. Ultimately, Ellen is forced to look at her life and decide what she wants from it; realizing that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
Would I recommend this book? Yes...but I still think Something Borrowed is my favorite Emily Griffin novel :)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Because this was selected by TWO of my book clubs, I was excited to get it. Though this book is classified as Juvenile Literature, the themes are somewhat advanced and I never felt like I was reading a child's book.
The story is narrated by Death and follows a young girl in Nazi Germany. Liesel, the book thief, captures Death's attention early when at age 10, en route to a foster home, her younger brother dies on a train. She "steals" her first book just after the funeral when she notices that one of the gravediggers dropped it in the snow. Ironically, Liesel can not read, but has a strong love for books.
Upon her arrival in Munich, Liesel meets her foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Rosa has a big heart that she tries to conceal with her foul mouth and Hans is a kind man who wears his heart on his sleeve. The Hubermanns do not believe in Nazi Party ideals, but Hans is forced to join the party and enlist in the army in order to protect his family--and Max Vandenburg, the son of the Jewish man who saved Hans's life in WWI and is living in the Hubermanns' basement.
Throughout her years with the Hubermanns, Liesel learns to read very well and develops relationships with many people in the neighborhood because of her love of books. Her strongest tie is to Rudy Steiner, her best friend and neighbor. The story ends with Liesel finally granting Rudy his long-awaited kiss, after he (and everyone else in their neighborhood) is killed in an attack. Liesel, the only survivor found in the ruins, was saved, essentially, by her love of words.
Would I recommend this book? Definitely!
The story is narrated by Death and follows a young girl in Nazi Germany. Liesel, the book thief, captures Death's attention early when at age 10, en route to a foster home, her younger brother dies on a train. She "steals" her first book just after the funeral when she notices that one of the gravediggers dropped it in the snow. Ironically, Liesel can not read, but has a strong love for books.
Upon her arrival in Munich, Liesel meets her foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann. Rosa has a big heart that she tries to conceal with her foul mouth and Hans is a kind man who wears his heart on his sleeve. The Hubermanns do not believe in Nazi Party ideals, but Hans is forced to join the party and enlist in the army in order to protect his family--and Max Vandenburg, the son of the Jewish man who saved Hans's life in WWI and is living in the Hubermanns' basement.
Throughout her years with the Hubermanns, Liesel learns to read very well and develops relationships with many people in the neighborhood because of her love of books. Her strongest tie is to Rudy Steiner, her best friend and neighbor. The story ends with Liesel finally granting Rudy his long-awaited kiss, after he (and everyone else in their neighborhood) is killed in an attack. Liesel, the only survivor found in the ruins, was saved, essentially, by her love of words.
Would I recommend this book? Definitely!
Comfort Me With Apples by Ruth Reichl
I have been seriously slacking on this blog! Ruth Reichl is an author I have enjoyed for a while, and this book is no exception. Though it took me a while to get throught the entire memoir, I'm glad I stuck to it. Comfort Me With Apples is a continuation from Reichl's previous memoir, Tender At The Bone and follows her progression from chef to restaurant critic.
A lot of this book focused a lot on the personal side of Reichl's life rather than her work. I was a little disappointed by how much was about her affairs, and prefer the style of Garlic and Saffires which is almost completely about her adventures in food. I did however like the details of her travels to Europe and China, but again would have liked more focus on her experiences outside the bedroom while she was in Paris. In all, I would say this is my least favorite of Reichl's books thus far, but definitely an important piece of the memoir series.
Would I recommend this book? Only if you've already read her others and are looking to fill in the middle.
A lot of this book focused a lot on the personal side of Reichl's life rather than her work. I was a little disappointed by how much was about her affairs, and prefer the style of Garlic and Saffires which is almost completely about her adventures in food. I did however like the details of her travels to Europe and China, but again would have liked more focus on her experiences outside the bedroom while she was in Paris. In all, I would say this is my least favorite of Reichl's books thus far, but definitely an important piece of the memoir series.
Would I recommend this book? Only if you've already read her others and are looking to fill in the middle.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Iliad by Homer
My best friend here LOVES mythology and the trojan war, especially movies related to the topic. I have always been completely confused every time we've tried to watch one of these movies...and annoyed him with questions about who each person is and why they're fighting. So, I decided to read this book, thinking it would help clear up some of my confusion...man was I wrong!
Apparently there is a reason people read this book when they are in high school and have a teacher to explain everything/everyone to them! Not that I didn't like the book, but I think it left me even more confused. There are a LOT of people involved, and their lineage and manner of death are graphically detailed...great if you're a teen boy, but not so much when you're a 30-something female. I made at least 30 calls to my friend asking who someone was or if it was important for me to try to remember some specific detail (if you're wondering, no, not once was it important).
Yes, I understand that this is an epic poem and that it's a classic, but I guess it's just not my thing. If it weren't 650+ pages of family trees and detailed accounts of each person's death I MIGHT have been more into it, but as it is, most of the story was lost in the details.
Would I recommend this book? Probably only if you have someone to help you through it...this might be the reason cliff notes were developed!
Apparently there is a reason people read this book when they are in high school and have a teacher to explain everything/everyone to them! Not that I didn't like the book, but I think it left me even more confused. There are a LOT of people involved, and their lineage and manner of death are graphically detailed...great if you're a teen boy, but not so much when you're a 30-something female. I made at least 30 calls to my friend asking who someone was or if it was important for me to try to remember some specific detail (if you're wondering, no, not once was it important).
Yes, I understand that this is an epic poem and that it's a classic, but I guess it's just not my thing. If it weren't 650+ pages of family trees and detailed accounts of each person's death I MIGHT have been more into it, but as it is, most of the story was lost in the details.
Would I recommend this book? Probably only if you have someone to help you through it...this might be the reason cliff notes were developed!
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