Latest Book Reviews

This is just a brief note to say that I had a change of heart, and decided to review my books under the “Books 2012″ tab at the top of the page.  I had planned to again place my reviews within the body of my blog, but with the upcoming arrival of our twins, I decided I would separate the personal stuff from the book stuff.  I have finally reviewed my first three books today. Just click on “Books 2012″ to see what I’ve been reading.

Two more books!

It may seem like I’ve been in a reading frenzy lately, but I don’t think it is any more than usual – but I’ve finished a couple nearly at the same time, so I’ll briefly review them both.  The first is entitled “War Brides”, written by Helen Bryan.  It’s set in a genre that I love, WWII England.  I’ll admit that the name of the book is rather cheesy, and when I started reading it I wondered if it was going to be another of those silly, fluffy romance novels that I hate.  But I kept on reading because I held out hope that it would be a good book.  After all, it was recommended by the handful of us WWII nuts on Paperbackswap.com (of which I am one) who share these English novels between us.  I’m glad I hung in there.  This book was not a bunch of silly gibbering about wartime romance, apart from what the title would imply.  It was about a group of five women from all different walks of life who end up living the war years mostly together in a large home in the English countryside.  I think the biggest problem I had with the book was as I mentioned, the beginning.  The author did not do a great job (IMHO) of introducing each character.  I found it quite confusing for a while, but was so glad I hung in there.   A great story about strong women who lived through some incredibly tough times.

I’ve often asked myself why does the WWII era interest you so??  I guess it’s for several reasons.  It was a time when everyone had to pull together, to actually fight (in many ways) for the freedom that I think we take waaaay too much for granted.  It was an era where my own parents met and fell in love, and I often imagine them listening to some of those great old Glenn Miller songs together.  And why England?  Well, I like WWII novels set in the USA as well, but it was in England where people really had to struggle with daily life and the fear of what could be flying overhead or landing on the beach, everyday.  Maybe I have a bit of a soft spot for England because my dear husband’s parents lived that struggle themselves.  He in the Royal Worcestershire Regiment and she, at home, in a mine detonator factory.   I think I would have loved to have lived then…. but maybe I’m wrong.

The next book is called “Room” by Emma Donoghue.  I’d heard – or read a lot of great things about this unusual novel and was excited to get the audio version from our local library.  People, I have listened to a LOT of audio books and never has one grabbed me the way this one did.  Frankly, I’m surprised I was able to drive and listen at the same time!  My mind was completely caught up in the world of “Room”.  Room was an 11 X 11 foot converted garden shed where Jack (the 5 year old main character) and his Ma lived his entire life.  They were held captive by “Old Nick” – the bad guy who kidnapped Ma when she was 19 and kept her “all to himself”.  Obviously, Room was locked so Ma and Jack had to depend on Old Nick for virtually everything.   I won’t do a synopsis of the book, but suffice it to say, this was incredible.  The person reading Jack’s part in the audio version was the most convincing reader I have EVER heard.  The whole book was strange, and scary, and crazy, and amazing, and yet full of love.  If I were giving star ratings, I’d give this one 4 out of 5, only because the middle of the book fizzled a tiny bit.  But only a tiny bit.  This was a great read!

Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy

Yesterday on my way home from work I finished listening to “Minding Frankie” by one of my very favorite authors, Maeve Binchy.  I have read nearly everything by this author and have enjoyed nearly every one.  That’s not true.  I’ve enjoyed every single one, just some more than others.  This one was read by a narrator by the name of Sile Bermingham who I assume is Irish.  Since all of Ms Binchy’s novels are set in Ireland, and this was no exception, it was appropriate to employ this delightful Irish narrator.  Her distinctive accents only added to this nice little book which was all about a young man bringing up his newborn daughter on his own.  Well, not really on his own.  We get to meet many people who influence the raising of little Frankie – and it all made for great listening.  Actually, it was a delightful book ~ I truly enjoyed it.  I’ve loved Maeve Binchy since I read her first novel back in the early 80′s and plan to continue to enjoy her work until she quits writing or one of us moves on to our great reward!

The Aloha Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini

In my last book review, I said something about being in a bit of a “reading rut” – albeit a GOOD rut.  Well, I’ve done it again, read (actually listened to) another book by Ms Chiaverini- the author of all the Elm Creek Quilt books.  This one was obviously set in Hawaii and since it was readily available at our local library, I gave it a try.  You know, part of the joy of this book was listening to the narrator/reader Christina Moore.  She is nothing short of excellent!  Another thing that made this book EXTRA enjoyable for me was that it was set in Maui.  She mentioned places like Lahaina, Kapalua, and even the Old Lahaina Luau!  Having been on that beautiful island of paradise just recently, I was instantly connected to this book.  It was all about one of the original Elm Creek Quilters who moved to Maui for 6 months to help a friend of hers start “Aloha Quilt Camp”.  The story wasn’t particularly riveting, but it was certainly enjoyable and made my hours behind the steering wheel of my car simply fly by!

On a similar note, I’ve now started reading two VERY LARGE books.  It may be a while until my next book review!  I’ve started “Fall of Giants” by Ken Follett – a monster sized family saga book set in England, USA, and Europe prior to and during WWI.  This book grabbed me in the first 30 pages!  I understand it’s the first of a trilogy of novels that Follett has in mind.  The second big book is one I’m listening to, entitled “Sing You Home” by Jodi Picoult. The unabridged audio version has 14 CD’s and that will take me a while to finish.  This book has received mixed reviews and is chock full of plenty of controversial subjects, but it sounded interesting to me and I know that all of Ms Picoult’s audio books are ultra-professionally narrated.   So be looking for my humble opinion on those books in the future.

An Irish Country Courtship by Patrick Taylor

Okay, some would say I’m in a bit of a reading rut.  If that turns out to be true, then it’s one heck of a good rut to be in!  Just finished reading the latest  Patrick Taylor novel entitled  An Irish Country Courtship. I just can’t help myself, I’m now fully enchanted by all the characters in the world of Ballybucklebo,  Northern Ireland.  Again I decided to listen to this book instead of read it.  The narrator, as always, did a fabulous job with all the accents making it a complete joy to listen to.  The book again surrounds the doctors O’Reilly and Laverty and all the interesting souls which inhabit the fictional town of Ballybucklebo.  As hinted by the title, “love is in the air” – this time for both of the good doctors…and how it all ends up… well, I won’t be revealing any details here.  All I’ll say is, I can’t wait to read the next – and I’m quite sure there will be another…. hopefully many more!!

Water for Elephants

This week I finished reading the book “Water for Elephants” by Sarah Gruen.  I feel like I am one of the last people to finally sink my teeth into this wonderful book — after all, it was a best seller back in 2007.  I’ll admit, it was in my “to read” pile for too long.  Why, you ask?  Well, I guess I drug my feet because… really– who wants to read a book about the circus in the 1930′s??  Answer?  YOU.  This was a great book, yes set in the Depression Era 1930′s, yes about a traveling circus, but much, much more.  I never thought I’d get engrossed in the workings of an old fashioned circus, the people, the performers, the workers, the veterinarian, the animals, and especially Rosie the elephant.  There was deviousness, love, tension, death, and humor.  I was not at all surprised to learn that Hollywood has already made a movie  based on this book, which will be released in April of this year!   I may never have read this, except for the encouragement of some of the folks at work who all highly recommended it.  I’m sure glad they did – simply a great read.

“Thursdays at Eight”

Here it is, my first book of the year….

“Thursdays at Eight” by Debbie Macomber.  This was an audio book that was a mere 8 CD’s long, so it only took me a couple of trips in the car to finish it.  The audio book I “read” prior to this one was a complicated, long novel by Philippa Gregory and I was ready for something light and easy.  Well, light and easy was what I got.  Ms Macomber’s books usually fall into that category… in fact this was really a little too light and easy – particularly too easy to guess the path the novel was going to take.   It was about four women who met every Thursday morning at a coffee shop to discuss their lives.  Of course we get to know each woman and the particular trials each one faces.  This book was simply okay.  It managed to keep my interest, but only because I had nothing else to listen to.  I have read other books by this author and enjoyed them much more.  This one was certainly forgettable.

A book review

I don’t normally make my book reviews into an actual blog post, but today I decided to do just that.  This book grabbed me – big time, and I just wanted to share my review with all.  So here goes:

January 27 “Still Alice” by Lisa Genova.  Oh. My. Gosh.  I literally couldn’t lay this book down until I finished it last night at midnight.  It’s a rare day when I’ll put nearly everything aside and read a book in two days, but that’s what I did with “Still Alice”.  At first, when I picked this book up at Costco, I thought it was a true story.  I was “into” true stories having just finished “The Glass Castle” and loving it… so I thought… “okay, let’s do it again.  Another non-fiction book!!  Woohoo Mizsuzee, you are not stuck in fiction-land, no, you are beginning to fill your mind with real things.”  Hmmmm.  Well, this book is not true.  It certainly could be, though!  “Still Alice” is about a 50 year old woman who begins to show signs of early onset Alzheimer’s disease… how the disease progresses… how it effects both Alice and the people in her life – her husband, children, and  colleagues.  The book is written from Alice’s point of view and even as she begins to get fuzzy and then fuzzier… it’s an astonishing read.  Having said all that, it may not be for everyone.  I have a rather intense interest in Alzheimer’s Disease.  I guess you could call it an “interest”…. but “fear” might be another good word.  My Grandmother developed Alzheimer’s in her 80′s – which isn’t too remarkable, unless you add on the fact that SO DID EVERY ONE OF HER FOUR SISTERS.  Even in this book, which is written by a PhD who really knows her stuff, they discuss the mutated gene that runs in families.   Yes, you can be tested.  And no, I have absolutely NO intention of finding out now, what may happen in the future.  If I remember right, none of the males in Grandma’s family developed the disease.  As far as I am aware, only ONE of the children of Grandma and all of her siblings have developed the disease (that would be my second cousin, Rachel).  So, do I worry about this daily?  Heavens no.  Is it a possibility for me?  Well, yes, I do believe it is.  And  hence my keen interest in this book.  I do suggest it as a heart-wrenching yet excellent read.  At one point in the story, as Alice has absorbed her new diagnosis, she says she would trade  cancer for Alzheimer’s in a heartbeat.  You can fight cancer, you actually have a chance at winning.  Your family and community would rally around you and find your fight noble.  Even if you were defeated in the end, you could look your family in the eye and say good-bye before you left….  Wow.  She is so right.   What a devastating disease.  To lose one’s mind.  Not much more I can say about this book – except that there are not many books that receive a 5-star rating with over 300 reviews on Amazon.  It’s a good one.  That’s a fact.

Time for a holiday

Yup, it’s time for a bit of a break.  A vacation if you will.  Soon we will board our aircraft and fly south for some of the hottest summer weather anywhere.  Are we crazy you ask?  Crazy like a couple of foxes I say!  We lived for four years in the California desert (it’s all we could take of the summers to be honest) and so when I say that the area around Palm Springs virtually becomes a ghost town in July and August, I do know what I mean.  We are going there for a variety of reasons.  One – to enjoy some honest-to-goodness sunshine; Two - to romp at will in the swimming pool; Three – to look pretty darned hard at the real estate market there, and TRY like crazy to find a steal of a deal!  We doubt there are many folks braving the 114 degree weather to go make silly, low-ball offers on homes this time of year.  We hope to be one of the few.  Our goal is not to move back to California permanently.  No, we are hoping to find a good investment property, possibly a home we can rent from time to time to friends, family, and acquaintances.  A place that in a few years time we will be able to “escape to” for a week or two at a time in the winter especially.  A home that maybe, just maybe… we will flock to as real ‘snowbirds’ do – flying south for the winter and back north for the summer.  A residence that sometime in the future will again be worth substantially more than we plan to pay for it. 

While there we decided to rent a house for the week!  We looked at staying in a hotel, and while they are much more reasonably priced this time of year (as opposed to wintertime), we still felt like it would be nice to stay in a home.  A place where we can not only sleep, but also cook lots of our own meals as well as enjoy the thrill of our own private swimming pool!  We found it on VRBO.com - a fantastic site that has vacation home and condo rentals all through the USA and the world!   We also have plans to visit at least three of our friends still living down there.  Hopefully it will be a great week long getaway. 

I’m taking three books with me — ahhhh I can close my eyes and see myself beside the pool, reading eagerly as I LOVE to do!  Here are the three:

Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

This book I have in audio form – it’s on my iPod and I will be listening to it on the airplane, waiting at the airport, etc.  So far I’m really enjoying it – I’m about 1/3 of the way through. 

The art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

This is a new book (published in May) and has received RAVE reviews!  If you are a dog lover, if you read “Marley and Me” – apparently it’s a must-read!  I had it on ‘reserve’ at our local library and picked it up today.  Can’t wait to get started. 

James Herriot's Cat Stories

I have happily read everything by James Herriot, and loved it all.  So this will be a re-read for me.  Picked this one up for pennies at a garage sale   Since it’s been a good few years since I’ve read it, it will all seem like new!

Our lap top is coming with us to the desert so my next post – complete with pictures- will be from Palm Springs!  I CAN’T forget the sunscreen!!!!

Check out the books

I’ve read an array of interesting books lately, and just wanted to remind everyone to check out my book reviews!  Just click on “Books Read 2008″ which is located across the top of the page, and have a read about some of my latest reads   I LOVE TO READ.  It is my favorite leisure time activity, summer or winter.  I’m never without several books in the works.  Many come from the local library, some from garage sales, some I pick up at the Goodwill, some are borrowed from friends, and some come to me from the fantastic website: www.paperbackswap.com.  Have a great summer of reading!  I will