Life List: A Woman’s Quest for the World’s Most Amazing Birds by Olivia Gentile
When Phoebe Snetsinger (amateur bird watcher extraordinaire) was told she was dying of cancer, she decided to spend the time she had left seeing as many birds as possible around the world. Of course that took a toll on her marriage and her four kids, but she ended up seeing more species than anyone in history – and I believe still holds that world record. Once a disgruntled housewife, Snetsinger ends up fulfilling her obsession and doing exactly what made her happy. All-in-all a good book with some interesting life-lessons. Don’t be surprised if you have an urge to run out and buy binoculars.♥
The Blue Notebook by James A. Levine
Batuk is sold into sexual slavery by her father when she was nine. Definitely not ‘Father-of-the-Year’ material. Now 15, she lives on Common Street -- a street of prostitution in Mumbai, India where children are kept in cages as they wait for customers. She finds hope and beauty while writing in her blue diary. Author James Levine, a doctor at the Mayo clinic, was inspired to write this novel when he was interviewing homeless children in Mumbai as part of his medical research and saw a young girl sitting outside her cage writing in a notebook. All U.S. proceeds from the book will be donated to helping exploited children. A powerful and heartbreaking story that needs to be read. ♥♥♥
The Red Leather Diary: Reclaiming a Life Through the Pages of a Lost Journal by Lilly Koppel
For more than half a century, the little red diary laid along-side trunks and suitcases in the basement of a posh New York apartment building. Then one day all this fabulous history is thrown in a dumpster. By chance the red leather diary is recovered by Lily Koppel, a young writer working at the New York Times. As Koppel reads Florence Wolfson’s entries, her life in1930s New York comes to life – horseback riding in Central Park, summer excursions to the Catskills, tea at Schrafft's, trips to London and Paris. With the help of a private investigator, Koppel try’s to find Florence (who would be a ninety-year-old woman) to return the diary. Does she succeed? Well, you’ll have to read this incredible true story to find out. A very cool glimpse into NYC circa 1929-1934.
What’s Left of Us: A Memoir of Addiction
by Richard Farrell
Filmmaker and journalist Farrell writes about a week of state-imposed rehab as a result of a failed attempt to overdose on heroin. Set in Lowell, Mass., in the late '80s Farrell acknowledges he was a liar, thief, bum, arsonist, absent father of two small children, an estranged husband and a mooching son. The book resonates with truth and is well-written. I could not put it down, but let me tell you -- I felt nauseated most the time. Point made Farrell.♥
Wildflower: An Extraordinary Life and Untimely Death in Africa by Mark Seal
Joan Root, a sixty-nine-year-old naturalist and Oscar-nominated wildlife filmmaker, was murdered by two masked men armed with an AK-47. Veteran journalist Mark Seal traveled to Kenya to investigate this real-life murder mystery–and found an unforgettable story not only of a tragic death but of her remarkable life. A completely inspirational history of Joan Root from her early days in Kenya to her courtship and marriage to Alan Root, and twenty years of groundbreaking wildlife filmmaking they did, both in Africa and around the world. Many believe her attempts to save the eco-system of her beloved Lake Naivasha was the reason she was murdered in January 2006. Fabulous non-fiction -- a worthy book. ♥♥♥
11.07.2009
9.20.2009
Books Read August 2009
A Long Way Gone, Memoirs of a Boy Solider
by Ishmael Beah
Ishmael Beah came to the United States when he was seventeen and graduated from Oberlin College in 2004. He’s a member of Human Rights Watch Children’s Division Advisory Committee and has spoken before the United Nations. He now lives in New York City, but years ago…in1993 to be exact, when he was just twelve, rebel forces attacked his town, Sierra Leone. He was separated from his parents and for months, he wandered through the countryside. Eventually he’s hijacked by the government army and taught to shoot an AK-47 and slaughter the enemy – while being fed a balanced diet of amphetamines. The enemy, more often than not, were boys his own age. Beah’s memoir follows the heart-breaking journey from a good hearted child, into a hardened soldier who “felt no pity for anyone.” Although it’s a sad tale, things turn out well for Ishmael and the take-away is just how resilient children are given the opportunity and the right circumstance. ♥♥
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
Stalin's Soviet Union is supposed to be a paradise -- its citizens live free from the fear of crime and their basic needs are taken care of. But millions know the truth: suspicion of owning a book from the decadent West, or the wrong word at the wrong time can mean execution. Enter MGB officer Leo Demidov -- war hero, supporter of the system, beautiful wife, and nice apartment. Then a different kind of criminal is on the loose. The only problem is Leo is the only one who wants to track him down. Soon he’s demoted and denounced, and exiled from his home. This may be the spoiled brat approach, but I didn’t want to read this book. After all, I’d never heard of it, didn’t like crime thrillers, and it wasn’t even a trade paperback. It was a little tiny paperback with little tiny print -- but it was the only thing I had at my fingertips. And gee, it was pretty good. Not really-really-knock-your-socks-off-good, but a solid read.
Farm City, the Education of an Urban Farmer
by Novella Carpenter
You know I love authors from the Northwest and particularly Idaho, so it will come as no surprise that I grabbed this book soon after it was published. Novella Carpenter grew up in Idaho and Washington State. In her memoir, she gets in touch with her inner farm girl and turns a vacant lot in downtown Oakland into a thriving farm. (I’ve been in downtown Oakland, and believe me this would be no small feat.) Carpenter starts with a few chickens, adds some bees, until she’s got a full-blown farm complete with goats, ducks, veggies and pigs. Carpenter really scores a coup—not only does she revitalize a neglected lot, but she feeds herself, a few neighbors and in the process gently reminds us that even people who live in cars are worthy of friendship. Not bad for a girl from rural Idaho.♥♥
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
How cool is this? Suite Francaise was discovered 62 years after the author's tragic death at Auschwitz in 1942. Her daughter Denise put the manuscript into a suitcase as she and her sister fled Issy l’Eveque. That the manuscript survived years of moving between hiding places, and was later entrusted to an organization dedicated to documenting memories of the war, is extraordinary. Beginning with "A Storm in June," Nemirovsky gives us a glimpse of the chaos and mayhem of the massive 1940 exodus from Paris on the eve of the Nazi invasion. Part two, "Dolce," chronicles the town of Bussy during the first influx of German soldiers. Simply elegant writing, especially considering the subject matter. ♥
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Liesel Meminger, is a girl living outside of Munich and this is her story. I’m not going to tell you much because you’ve really got to read this one. Okay….here’s a snippet: Death is the narrator (who does a good job BTW) telling this rather ordinary tale about a girl, some words painted on a basement wall, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans who like to burn books, a Jewish boy on the doorstep, and quite a lot of thievery. With the help of her foster father, Liesel learns to read, but unfortunately they have no money for books and well, the best ones are banned anyway. That’s where the thievery comes in. This book is perfect for “ages 12 and up,” but to tell you the truth it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year – or any year for that matter. And I’m not 12. ♥♥♥
by Ishmael Beah
Ishmael Beah came to the United States when he was seventeen and graduated from Oberlin College in 2004. He’s a member of Human Rights Watch Children’s Division Advisory Committee and has spoken before the United Nations. He now lives in New York City, but years ago…in1993 to be exact, when he was just twelve, rebel forces attacked his town, Sierra Leone. He was separated from his parents and for months, he wandered through the countryside. Eventually he’s hijacked by the government army and taught to shoot an AK-47 and slaughter the enemy – while being fed a balanced diet of amphetamines. The enemy, more often than not, were boys his own age. Beah’s memoir follows the heart-breaking journey from a good hearted child, into a hardened soldier who “felt no pity for anyone.” Although it’s a sad tale, things turn out well for Ishmael and the take-away is just how resilient children are given the opportunity and the right circumstance. ♥♥
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
Stalin's Soviet Union is supposed to be a paradise -- its citizens live free from the fear of crime and their basic needs are taken care of. But millions know the truth: suspicion of owning a book from the decadent West, or the wrong word at the wrong time can mean execution. Enter MGB officer Leo Demidov -- war hero, supporter of the system, beautiful wife, and nice apartment. Then a different kind of criminal is on the loose. The only problem is Leo is the only one who wants to track him down. Soon he’s demoted and denounced, and exiled from his home. This may be the spoiled brat approach, but I didn’t want to read this book. After all, I’d never heard of it, didn’t like crime thrillers, and it wasn’t even a trade paperback. It was a little tiny paperback with little tiny print -- but it was the only thing I had at my fingertips. And gee, it was pretty good. Not really-really-knock-your-socks-off-good, but a solid read.
Farm City, the Education of an Urban Farmer
by Novella Carpenter
You know I love authors from the Northwest and particularly Idaho, so it will come as no surprise that I grabbed this book soon after it was published. Novella Carpenter grew up in Idaho and Washington State. In her memoir, she gets in touch with her inner farm girl and turns a vacant lot in downtown Oakland into a thriving farm. (I’ve been in downtown Oakland, and believe me this would be no small feat.) Carpenter starts with a few chickens, adds some bees, until she’s got a full-blown farm complete with goats, ducks, veggies and pigs. Carpenter really scores a coup—not only does she revitalize a neglected lot, but she feeds herself, a few neighbors and in the process gently reminds us that even people who live in cars are worthy of friendship. Not bad for a girl from rural Idaho.♥♥
Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky
How cool is this? Suite Francaise was discovered 62 years after the author's tragic death at Auschwitz in 1942. Her daughter Denise put the manuscript into a suitcase as she and her sister fled Issy l’Eveque. That the manuscript survived years of moving between hiding places, and was later entrusted to an organization dedicated to documenting memories of the war, is extraordinary. Beginning with "A Storm in June," Nemirovsky gives us a glimpse of the chaos and mayhem of the massive 1940 exodus from Paris on the eve of the Nazi invasion. Part two, "Dolce," chronicles the town of Bussy during the first influx of German soldiers. Simply elegant writing, especially considering the subject matter. ♥
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Liesel Meminger, is a girl living outside of Munich and this is her story. I’m not going to tell you much because you’ve really got to read this one. Okay….here’s a snippet: Death is the narrator (who does a good job BTW) telling this rather ordinary tale about a girl, some words painted on a basement wall, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans who like to burn books, a Jewish boy on the doorstep, and quite a lot of thievery. With the help of her foster father, Liesel learns to read, but unfortunately they have no money for books and well, the best ones are banned anyway. That’s where the thievery comes in. This book is perfect for “ages 12 and up,” but to tell you the truth it’s one of the best books I’ve read this year – or any year for that matter. And I’m not 12. ♥♥♥
8.30.2009
Books Read July 2009
Fire in the Blood by Irene Nemirovsky
Written in 1941, the manuscript of Fire in the Blood was entrusted in pieces to family and friends when Nemirovsky was sent to her death at Auschwitz. Recently it was found in an archive in France and published. The story is narrated by Silvio, who left his tiny village as a young man, and had a life filled with adventure. Now, older and back where he started, he lives in a hovel in the woods – but he’s perfectly happy. That is until his young cousins wedding and he is drawn into small town scandals and secrets of the past.
Very nice read.
Happens Every Day by Isabel Gillies
Gillies left her recurring role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit to follow her husband to small-town Oberlin, Ohio, when he got a position in the English department. She was happily caring for their two sons, renovating an old house and teaching drama part-time when one day her husband decided he didn't want to be married anymore. He then turns around and marries the professor he’s been having an affair with. The novel is a much deserved twist of the knife for Gillies -- but somehow it gets winy and not that great to read.
Homer’s Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale. Or How I Learned About Love & Life with a Blind Wonder Cat by Gwen Cooper
The world is full of people with good intentions, but author Gwen Cooper is the real deal.
Homer, blind since he was two weeks old, luckily finds a forever home when Cooper takes him in, but it’s Homer who captures Cooper’s heart and teaches her what fearlessness really means. Homer is 100% blind; Cooper’s memoir is 100% pure inspiration. The story is funny, optimistic and heartbreaking. Yes, I cried several times, but mostly tears of joy -- knowing there are people in the world who despite potential hardship, step up and do the right thing. Even if you’re not a cat lover you can’t help but admire Homer. Read it. ♥♥♥
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
The Panama Hotel, once an elegant hotel in Seattle’s Japan-town has been boarded up for decades. One day, as 50-something Henry Lee walks by, the new owner is out front opening up a Japanese parasol recently discovered in the hotel basement. It is one of thousands of articles stowed away by 37 families as they were rounded up and taken to internment camps during World War II. Henry flashes back to his preteen years when he was forced to attend the exclusive Rainier Elementary, and his only friend was Keiko, a young Japanese American student. The friendship is complicated by Henry’s father’s ill regard for the Japanese. Now a widower, Henry is still trying to sort out his relationship with his Chinese father and the Japanese girl he loved. Is the answer in the basement of the old hotel? ♥
The Cure for Modern Life by Lisa Tucker
Once madly in love, Matthew and Amelia have chosen different sides of the medical coin. Amelia has dedicated her life to medical ethics, while Matthew is a heartless pharmaceutical executive who doesn't care about anything but money. However, one night Matthew comes face-to-face with a homeless boy in need of help. Now this part is far-fetched even by Lisa Tucker standards. Matthew takes the boy and his sister to his expensive apartment and lets them live there while he’s out of the country. Possibly one of the worst books I’ve read this year.
The Foreigner by Francie Lin
Emerson Chang is a San Francisco financial analyst who doesn't speak a word of Chinese, but finds himself in Taiwan searching for his long-lost brother. His mission? Carry out his dead mother’s wishes and find the elusive Little P, hand over the deed to the cheap hotel their mother owned, and then scatter her ashes in her native land. Sounds simple enough, but Little P is involved in some very shady Taiwanese criminal activity. This may come as a complete surprise, but Emerson finds himself mixed up in this world of crime. He loses his job back in California, and the property he's inherited in Taipei turns out to be less than auspicious. There’s nothing really wrong with this book – I just couldn’t get into it.
The Time it Takes to Fall by Margaret Lazarus Dean
Dolores Gray dreams of becoming an astronaut. Since she’s smart as a whip, lives close to Cape Canaveral, her father works for NASA, and she sees most of the launches in person -- her dream seems attainable. But on the morning of January 28, 1986, seventy-three seconds after liftoff, the space shuttle Challenger explodes, killing all seven astronauts on board. The Time It Takes to Fall is a coming-of-age/historical fiction novel that also weaves the story of a family's drama into the larger picture of a huge event in American history. What sounded like a hokey story line turned out to be a real gem of a book. ♥♥
Written in 1941, the manuscript of Fire in the Blood was entrusted in pieces to family and friends when Nemirovsky was sent to her death at Auschwitz. Recently it was found in an archive in France and published. The story is narrated by Silvio, who left his tiny village as a young man, and had a life filled with adventure. Now, older and back where he started, he lives in a hovel in the woods – but he’s perfectly happy. That is until his young cousins wedding and he is drawn into small town scandals and secrets of the past.
Very nice read.
Happens Every Day by Isabel Gillies
Gillies left her recurring role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit to follow her husband to small-town Oberlin, Ohio, when he got a position in the English department. She was happily caring for their two sons, renovating an old house and teaching drama part-time when one day her husband decided he didn't want to be married anymore. He then turns around and marries the professor he’s been having an affair with. The novel is a much deserved twist of the knife for Gillies -- but somehow it gets winy and not that great to read.
Homer’s Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale. Or How I Learned About Love & Life with a Blind Wonder Cat by Gwen Cooper
The world is full of people with good intentions, but author Gwen Cooper is the real deal.
Homer, blind since he was two weeks old, luckily finds a forever home when Cooper takes him in, but it’s Homer who captures Cooper’s heart and teaches her what fearlessness really means. Homer is 100% blind; Cooper’s memoir is 100% pure inspiration. The story is funny, optimistic and heartbreaking. Yes, I cried several times, but mostly tears of joy -- knowing there are people in the world who despite potential hardship, step up and do the right thing. Even if you’re not a cat lover you can’t help but admire Homer. Read it. ♥♥♥
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
The Panama Hotel, once an elegant hotel in Seattle’s Japan-town has been boarded up for decades. One day, as 50-something Henry Lee walks by, the new owner is out front opening up a Japanese parasol recently discovered in the hotel basement. It is one of thousands of articles stowed away by 37 families as they were rounded up and taken to internment camps during World War II. Henry flashes back to his preteen years when he was forced to attend the exclusive Rainier Elementary, and his only friend was Keiko, a young Japanese American student. The friendship is complicated by Henry’s father’s ill regard for the Japanese. Now a widower, Henry is still trying to sort out his relationship with his Chinese father and the Japanese girl he loved. Is the answer in the basement of the old hotel? ♥
The Cure for Modern Life by Lisa Tucker
Once madly in love, Matthew and Amelia have chosen different sides of the medical coin. Amelia has dedicated her life to medical ethics, while Matthew is a heartless pharmaceutical executive who doesn't care about anything but money. However, one night Matthew comes face-to-face with a homeless boy in need of help. Now this part is far-fetched even by Lisa Tucker standards. Matthew takes the boy and his sister to his expensive apartment and lets them live there while he’s out of the country. Possibly one of the worst books I’ve read this year.
The Foreigner by Francie Lin
Emerson Chang is a San Francisco financial analyst who doesn't speak a word of Chinese, but finds himself in Taiwan searching for his long-lost brother. His mission? Carry out his dead mother’s wishes and find the elusive Little P, hand over the deed to the cheap hotel their mother owned, and then scatter her ashes in her native land. Sounds simple enough, but Little P is involved in some very shady Taiwanese criminal activity. This may come as a complete surprise, but Emerson finds himself mixed up in this world of crime. He loses his job back in California, and the property he's inherited in Taipei turns out to be less than auspicious. There’s nothing really wrong with this book – I just couldn’t get into it.
The Time it Takes to Fall by Margaret Lazarus Dean
Dolores Gray dreams of becoming an astronaut. Since she’s smart as a whip, lives close to Cape Canaveral, her father works for NASA, and she sees most of the launches in person -- her dream seems attainable. But on the morning of January 28, 1986, seventy-three seconds after liftoff, the space shuttle Challenger explodes, killing all seven astronauts on board. The Time It Takes to Fall is a coming-of-age/historical fiction novel that also weaves the story of a family's drama into the larger picture of a huge event in American history. What sounded like a hokey story line turned out to be a real gem of a book. ♥♥
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