by Kathryn Stockett
You know how you hear about a book that EVERYONE is reading and EVERYONE loves it and the list at the library is like 60 people long? So you put yourself on the list and wait. And wait some more. And then you wait again. And then your name FINALLY comes up on the list and you rush right down to the library and pick up the book.
Then you get home and open it and start reading and like 30 pages later you're like, "This? This is what everyone was talking about? This is what I waited so long for? Why?"
This book is not at all like this.
It definitely lived up to the hype.
Skeeter is a young woman who has moved back to her parent's home in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960s, after finishing college without obtaining a husband. The maid who raised her has disappeared and no one will tell her where she went. Skeeter, determined to become an author, hatches an idea to write a book of stories from the African-American maids who take care of the families in her community. She doesn't get much help initially, finding only a kind hand from Aibileen, who has raised 17 white children, and Minny, who can't keep a job due to her penchant for talking back. But eventually, others join in the cause and Skeeter finds that writing her book is eye-opening for everyone.
This book was interesting because it was told in alternately points of view: Skeeter's, Aibileen's and Minny's. Three vastly different characters, relaying the events of the book as they go, giving the reader an insight into not only how everyone feels, but how they are viewed by the other characters. There are the universally hated characters, such as Hilly, that tie everyone together, and the project of the book.
This was an excellent book and all I had heard it would be. I look forward to her next one.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Swimsuit
by James Patterson
Former cop and current reporter Ben Hawkins travels to Hawaii to report on the disappearance of swimsuit model Kim McDaniels. The murderer soon contacts Ben and wants to tell his story: and Ben has no choice but to agree.
Another not one of my favorites by James Patterson. When murdered Henri contacts Ben, I had hoped we would get a glimpse into the head of a serial killer. But the book seemed to be overflowing with pointless violence and rape. And honestly, I didn't find Ben Hawkins to be a very likable character, which made it hard to hope he survived his interviews with Henri.
Even though this is the second book in a row by Patterson that I haven't enjoyed much, it wouldn't stop me from reading more by him. There are enough other great books by Patterson to keep me going back to the library to give him another shot.
Former cop and current reporter Ben Hawkins travels to Hawaii to report on the disappearance of swimsuit model Kim McDaniels. The murderer soon contacts Ben and wants to tell his story: and Ben has no choice but to agree.
Another not one of my favorites by James Patterson. When murdered Henri contacts Ben, I had hoped we would get a glimpse into the head of a serial killer. But the book seemed to be overflowing with pointless violence and rape. And honestly, I didn't find Ben Hawkins to be a very likable character, which made it hard to hope he survived his interviews with Henri.
Even though this is the second book in a row by Patterson that I haven't enjoyed much, it wouldn't stop me from reading more by him. There are enough other great books by Patterson to keep me going back to the library to give him another shot.
The Alchemist
by Paulo Coelho
A young shepherd boy, Santiago, sets off from Spain to travel to the Egyptian Pyramids he saw in a dream. As he follows his Personal Legend, he encounters many people and obstacles, all of whom add to the journey and his life lessons.
I have read this book before and decided to read it again to rid myself of the unpleasantness left in me by "The Shack". "The Alchemist" was more inspiring to me than anything I found in "The Shack", and did not leave me doubting everything I had ever been taught at church. (I know, I know - everyone loves "The Shack". Everyone but me, I suppose.) Santiago moves along on his journey, learning from everyone he meets and more than once, finds himself ready to give up and go home. But he continues on.
The lessons I took from this book are two: 1. That everyone you meet and every obstacle you encounter is there for a reason. and 2. If you don't follow your Personal Legend, you will spend your life wondering what would have happened if you had.
This is a simple story with powerful lessons. Even if you loved "The Shack", you should check this book out and see what it does for you.
A young shepherd boy, Santiago, sets off from Spain to travel to the Egyptian Pyramids he saw in a dream. As he follows his Personal Legend, he encounters many people and obstacles, all of whom add to the journey and his life lessons.
I have read this book before and decided to read it again to rid myself of the unpleasantness left in me by "The Shack". "The Alchemist" was more inspiring to me than anything I found in "The Shack", and did not leave me doubting everything I had ever been taught at church. (I know, I know - everyone loves "The Shack". Everyone but me, I suppose.) Santiago moves along on his journey, learning from everyone he meets and more than once, finds himself ready to give up and go home. But he continues on.
The lessons I took from this book are two: 1. That everyone you meet and every obstacle you encounter is there for a reason. and 2. If you don't follow your Personal Legend, you will spend your life wondering what would have happened if you had.
This is a simple story with powerful lessons. Even if you loved "The Shack", you should check this book out and see what it does for you.
My Favorite Midlife Crisis (Yet)!
by Toby Devens
Gwyneth Berke is still recovering two years after her divorce from her suddenly out-of-the-closet husband. Her best friends Kat and Fleur drag her reluctantly into the dating world again. She meets a few flakes, before happening upon fellow gynecologist Simon at a medical conference. But is he really who he shows himself to be - or does Simon have secrets of his own? Gwyneth will soon find out.
This book is a kick. Even as one who is not at all close to mid-fifties, I could relate to Gwyneth and her friends as they navigate the treacherous dating world in search of men they can trust and are attracted to. More of a "girlfriends" book, than a "dating" book, this book nonetheless assures every woman that even if you have to kiss a lot of frogs, you will eventually find your prince.
I wasn't sure I would like this book - thought maybe I was too young for the demographic - but that was soon proven false. This is a book every woman can enjoy. And more so if you can identify some of your frogs with those in the book!
Gwyneth Berke is still recovering two years after her divorce from her suddenly out-of-the-closet husband. Her best friends Kat and Fleur drag her reluctantly into the dating world again. She meets a few flakes, before happening upon fellow gynecologist Simon at a medical conference. But is he really who he shows himself to be - or does Simon have secrets of his own? Gwyneth will soon find out.
This book is a kick. Even as one who is not at all close to mid-fifties, I could relate to Gwyneth and her friends as they navigate the treacherous dating world in search of men they can trust and are attracted to. More of a "girlfriends" book, than a "dating" book, this book nonetheless assures every woman that even if you have to kiss a lot of frogs, you will eventually find your prince.
I wasn't sure I would like this book - thought maybe I was too young for the demographic - but that was soon proven false. This is a book every woman can enjoy. And more so if you can identify some of your frogs with those in the book!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Hide and Seek
by James Patterson
Maggie Bradford is beautiful, successful and the mother of two adoring children. So why is she on trial for the murder of her second husband? Because she also killed her first husband, in self-defense of course, and her lover in-between husbands also died mysteriously. Is Maggie guilty of nothing more than choosing bad husbands - or something more sinister?
James Patterson can write the hell out of a book. If you don't know that, where have you been? I've read about half of the Alex Cross series and finally printed a list off his website of all his titles so I can work my way through the others. All his books are suspenseful, engaging and realistic. His characters are real, facing situations you wouldn't want to find yourself in, but dealing with it the way you would have to. The chapters are short, so there's the late-night read-a-thons, where one more chapter becomes one more chapter, becomes one more chapter.
I myself am not a huge fan of the Alex Cross series, but really enjoy his other stuff. I know a lot of his readers are the opposite. I also like his Women's Murder Club series, but haven't read too many of those. Now that I have the list in my bookbag however, I know I'll be prowling the stacks at Kalamazoo Public Library for all the titles I haven't check off yet!
Maggie Bradford is beautiful, successful and the mother of two adoring children. So why is she on trial for the murder of her second husband? Because she also killed her first husband, in self-defense of course, and her lover in-between husbands also died mysteriously. Is Maggie guilty of nothing more than choosing bad husbands - or something more sinister?
James Patterson can write the hell out of a book. If you don't know that, where have you been? I've read about half of the Alex Cross series and finally printed a list off his website of all his titles so I can work my way through the others. All his books are suspenseful, engaging and realistic. His characters are real, facing situations you wouldn't want to find yourself in, but dealing with it the way you would have to. The chapters are short, so there's the late-night read-a-thons, where one more chapter becomes one more chapter, becomes one more chapter.
I myself am not a huge fan of the Alex Cross series, but really enjoy his other stuff. I know a lot of his readers are the opposite. I also like his Women's Murder Club series, but haven't read too many of those. Now that I have the list in my bookbag however, I know I'll be prowling the stacks at Kalamazoo Public Library for all the titles I haven't check off yet!
After You
by Julie Buxbaum
When Ellie's best friend Lucy was murdered on the street in front of her eight-year-old daughter Sophie, Ellie flies to London to help her friend's family pick up the pieces. As Sophie and her father Greg begin to heal, Ellie learns things about her best friend that she never knew. And Ellie has to confront the real reason she left her home and husband to travel to London to help Lucy's family.
This is the long-awaited second book from this author. I loved, loved, loved her first book - The Opposite of Love - and couldn't wait to read this. It did not disappoint. Ellie is also a woman who seems to be her own worst enemy when it comes to life choices. But I could totally relate to the way Ellie thought, felt, and dealt with the things thrown at her. What seemed to be decisions made out of grief, soon because habit for Ellie and to fix her marriage and in essence, her entire life, she has to unlearn those habits.
I can't say enough about this author and the women she creates. Even Lucy, although we never met her while she is alive, is a complex and conflicted woman. Ellie's mother is another example. She is seemingly flighty and thoughtless, but we come to see another side of her that I could relate too. It seemed to me that the central question of this book was "What would you give up for love?"
Go read this book and The Opposite of Love. You can thank me later.
When Ellie's best friend Lucy was murdered on the street in front of her eight-year-old daughter Sophie, Ellie flies to London to help her friend's family pick up the pieces. As Sophie and her father Greg begin to heal, Ellie learns things about her best friend that she never knew. And Ellie has to confront the real reason she left her home and husband to travel to London to help Lucy's family.
This is the long-awaited second book from this author. I loved, loved, loved her first book - The Opposite of Love - and couldn't wait to read this. It did not disappoint. Ellie is also a woman who seems to be her own worst enemy when it comes to life choices. But I could totally relate to the way Ellie thought, felt, and dealt with the things thrown at her. What seemed to be decisions made out of grief, soon because habit for Ellie and to fix her marriage and in essence, her entire life, she has to unlearn those habits.
I can't say enough about this author and the women she creates. Even Lucy, although we never met her while she is alive, is a complex and conflicted woman. Ellie's mother is another example. She is seemingly flighty and thoughtless, but we come to see another side of her that I could relate too. It seemed to me that the central question of this book was "What would you give up for love?"
Go read this book and The Opposite of Love. You can thank me later.
The Mushroom Man
by Sophie Powell
Charlotte and her six-year-old daughter Lily go to the country visit her estranged sister Beth, her teenage son and identical triplet daughters. Lily adores the girls, especially after she is told the story of the Mushroom Man, who lives in the nearby forest and builds umbrellas for the fairies. Lily claims to have met him, and when the family wakes up one morning to find Lily gone, they all wonder who it was Lily actually met.
This was a short little book, with enough characters to potentially become confusing, but it really wasn't. It's hard to like Charlotte very much, or her husband Richard either for that matter, but Beth and the children are charming and realistic. The ending is left for the reader to decide, which sometimes bothers me, but in this case, fit with the book perfectly.
Charlotte and her six-year-old daughter Lily go to the country visit her estranged sister Beth, her teenage son and identical triplet daughters. Lily adores the girls, especially after she is told the story of the Mushroom Man, who lives in the nearby forest and builds umbrellas for the fairies. Lily claims to have met him, and when the family wakes up one morning to find Lily gone, they all wonder who it was Lily actually met.
This was a short little book, with enough characters to potentially become confusing, but it really wasn't. It's hard to like Charlotte very much, or her husband Richard either for that matter, but Beth and the children are charming and realistic. The ending is left for the reader to decide, which sometimes bothers me, but in this case, fit with the book perfectly.
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