A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
Catherine Land answers an advertisement for ‘a reliable wife’ and become the bride of lonely, rich Ralph Truitt. It was a contract of necessity and they both knew it. As they slowly reveal their past lives the question becomes --would they survive the bitter Wisconsin winter of 1908? Kinda good in a creepy sort of way.
Honolulu by Alan Brennert
Great story about Jin, a young “picture bride” who travels to Hawai'i in 1914, but instead of the dashing, affluent young man in “the picture” she is quickly married off to a poor, mean-hearted laborer. Good book! ♥♥
New York by Edward Rutherfurd
O.K. the truth is I skimmed a few parts of this book, but hey, it was like a zillion pages long and the battles were just not that interesting! The story spans several families through the founding of New York, through 9/11. Quite an impressive feat and mostly well-done. Take it on the plane as you fly to Europe.
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
WOW – what a haunting book. Alice Howland is an esteemed psychology professor at Harvard, living in Cambridge with her husband, John, when the first symptoms of Alzheimer's begin to emerge. The reader follows each heartbreaking loss she suffers as the disease slowly takes away her life and mind.
The English Major by Jim Harrison
Some Harrison fans say he’ll never top Legends of the Fall – the story that made him the big guy he is. The thing is Harrison is incredibly talented and even though parts of The English Major found me ROTFL, as a whole it was just so-so.
6.20.2010
5.16.2010
April Showers Make for Soggy Books
Shooting Stars by LeBron James
O.K. before you think I am a total kook, I read this book because I had nothing else to read and my son was doing an English project on the guy. It was a good read although I’m 99% sure LeBron never typed a word of it. If you happen to be a basketball fan, and enjoy a real-life rags to riches story pick it up.
South of Broad by Pat Conroy
Shy and mentally unstable “Toad” happens to meet the orphaned twins from the mountains of South Carolina. A family moves in across the street complete with alcoholic Mother, gay son and beautiful daughter -- and a crazy stalking father. The first black football coach and his son arrive in town, and “Toad” is ordered to become friends with them to help ease racial tensions. Isn’t this enough for one book? Apparently not. There’s more but I just don’t have the space…
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
I’ve traveled to Isla Pixol a small island in Mexico, circa 1929; watched in the shadows as a boy becomes a man, laughed as he finds a home with Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo; stood helplessly by as his life unfolds as he comes to understand the facets of truth and justice; and sat in the courtroom as he faces the committee on un-American activities -- all navigated loyal stenographer Violet Brown. Crack open The Lacuna and prepare for a glorious journey. Barbara Kingsolver is a genius. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
The Samurai’s Garden by Gail Tsukiyama
Stephen, a young Chinese man stricken with tuberculosis, is sent to the family’s sea-side home in Tarumi, Japan to heal. During the year spent there, he learns to admire Matsu the quiet gardener, and love Sachi, now a leper, but once the most beautiful girl in the village. His great healing has nothing to do with the physical body. A beautiful little book published in 1994 but timeless in its appeal. ♥♥♥
O.K. before you think I am a total kook, I read this book because I had nothing else to read and my son was doing an English project on the guy. It was a good read although I’m 99% sure LeBron never typed a word of it. If you happen to be a basketball fan, and enjoy a real-life rags to riches story pick it up.
South of Broad by Pat Conroy
Shy and mentally unstable “Toad” happens to meet the orphaned twins from the mountains of South Carolina. A family moves in across the street complete with alcoholic Mother, gay son and beautiful daughter -- and a crazy stalking father. The first black football coach and his son arrive in town, and “Toad” is ordered to become friends with them to help ease racial tensions. Isn’t this enough for one book? Apparently not. There’s more but I just don’t have the space…
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
I’ve traveled to Isla Pixol a small island in Mexico, circa 1929; watched in the shadows as a boy becomes a man, laughed as he finds a home with Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo; stood helplessly by as his life unfolds as he comes to understand the facets of truth and justice; and sat in the courtroom as he faces the committee on un-American activities -- all navigated loyal stenographer Violet Brown. Crack open The Lacuna and prepare for a glorious journey. Barbara Kingsolver is a genius. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
The Samurai’s Garden by Gail Tsukiyama
Stephen, a young Chinese man stricken with tuberculosis, is sent to the family’s sea-side home in Tarumi, Japan to heal. During the year spent there, he learns to admire Matsu the quiet gardener, and love Sachi, now a leper, but once the most beautiful girl in the village. His great healing has nothing to do with the physical body. A beautiful little book published in 1994 but timeless in its appeal. ♥♥♥
4.08.2010
March -- A Month For Some GREAT Books
Shadow Tag by Louise Erdrich
In true Louise Erdrich fashion – Shadow Tag is another dark tale involving contemporary Native Americans. The difficulties, the issues, the problems facing Irene America and her famous husband are not so much different that white issues, but somehow Erdrich wraps them in dark swaddling and reading her books is like falling slowly into the La Brea Tar pits. ♥
The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova
Robert Oliver is a well-known, truly gifted painter who mysteriously and without much explanation attacks a painting in the National Gallery of Art. The story unfolds at the perfect tempo via his psychiatrist, his ex-wife, and the mysterious muse he paints over and over and over and over. If you read just one book this year please let it be The Swan thieves. ♥♥♥
The Help by Kathryn Stockell
It’s 1962, Mississippi, and Skeeter needs a ring on her finger. Constantine, the woman who raised her has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she’s gone. Enter Aibileen and Minny, two black women who will help Skeeter find the truth and make history along the way.♥♥♥♥
The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews
Hattie’s boyfriend dumped her – and it’s a good thing since she’s needed at home. Her sister Min has landed back in a psych ward and Min’s kids, Logan and Thebes need a caretaker. To take everyone’s mind off the obvious, Hattie has a wild idea to track down the absent father – so they take off on a remarkable journey across America. Toews puts the ‘fun’ back in dysfunctional. Great book. ♥♥♥
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
I met the most incredible woman at an art retreat I attended recently. During our conversation I ask her to share a few memorable books. Mountains Beyond Mountains was at the top of her list, so I read it. Kidder has an incredible style that puts you smack in the middle of Paul Farmers life –from geeky white trash youth to one of the world’s most beloved doctors, who is quite literally trying to cure the world. A must read for everyone! ♥♥♥
In true Louise Erdrich fashion – Shadow Tag is another dark tale involving contemporary Native Americans. The difficulties, the issues, the problems facing Irene America and her famous husband are not so much different that white issues, but somehow Erdrich wraps them in dark swaddling and reading her books is like falling slowly into the La Brea Tar pits. ♥
The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova
Robert Oliver is a well-known, truly gifted painter who mysteriously and without much explanation attacks a painting in the National Gallery of Art. The story unfolds at the perfect tempo via his psychiatrist, his ex-wife, and the mysterious muse he paints over and over and over and over. If you read just one book this year please let it be The Swan thieves. ♥♥♥
The Help by Kathryn Stockell
It’s 1962, Mississippi, and Skeeter needs a ring on her finger. Constantine, the woman who raised her has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she’s gone. Enter Aibileen and Minny, two black women who will help Skeeter find the truth and make history along the way.♥♥♥♥
The Flying Troutmans by Miriam Toews
Hattie’s boyfriend dumped her – and it’s a good thing since she’s needed at home. Her sister Min has landed back in a psych ward and Min’s kids, Logan and Thebes need a caretaker. To take everyone’s mind off the obvious, Hattie has a wild idea to track down the absent father – so they take off on a remarkable journey across America. Toews puts the ‘fun’ back in dysfunctional. Great book. ♥♥♥
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
I met the most incredible woman at an art retreat I attended recently. During our conversation I ask her to share a few memorable books. Mountains Beyond Mountains was at the top of her list, so I read it. Kidder has an incredible style that puts you smack in the middle of Paul Farmers life –from geeky white trash youth to one of the world’s most beloved doctors, who is quite literally trying to cure the world. A must read for everyone! ♥♥♥
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