It's Monday -- What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books. It's is a weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week.

Books finished:
The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly McNees (4 of 5 stars)

This was a delightful, romantic, and breezy novel. Perfect for summer.

I also finished for book group:

Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks. I haven't reviewed this one yet and will wait until after book group, so I can incorporate some of my fellow groupies' thoughts.  But my initial thoughts: I was really disappointed.  I'll leave it at that for now.

I got in the mail this week:

A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff
From B&N

Phoebe Swift, the proprietress of a new vintage clothing boutique, forms the center of this richly layered novel filled with the luxurious fashions of a bygone era. As Phoebe discovers, when you buy a piece of vintage clothing, you’re also buying a piece of someone’s past. There’s one item in particular that will unexpectedly change her life. Seamlessly blending humor and heartbreak, A Vintage Affair is a great summer read.

This was a "Barnes & Noble  Recommends" book selection and I was totally suckered in by the promo.  I've read other BN recommended books with varying success.  I'm hoping it is worth the "recommendation."

Additionally, I have on the HOLD SHELF at the library:

Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson
From B&N:
BACKSEAT SAINTS will dazzle readers with a fresh and heartwrenching portrayal of the lengths a mother will go to right the wrongs she's created, and how far a daughter will go to escape the demands of forgiveness. With the seed of a minor character from her popular best-seller, GODS IN ALABAMA, Jackson has built a whole new story full of her trademark sly wit, endearingly off-kilter characters, and utterly riveting plottwists.

I will pick this up on Tuesday.

The TBR stack remains disappointingly untouched -- it's a carbon copy from last week:

Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Love and Other Impossible Pursuits by Ayelet Waldman
A Long Long Time Ago But Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
Evangeline by Ben Farmer (I just won't let this thing go! I'm determined to read it even though I've re-checked it out 5 times! Ugh!)

What should I start this week?  Any votes?

What are you reading this week?

My Top Tens: Biographies and Memoirs

Suey at It's All About Books posted her top 10 favorite biographies and/or memoirs today. I am going to follow her lead:

I didn't think I was a big biography/memoir reader, I was surprised at what I came up with!

I no particular order:

1. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
2. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
3. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
4. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
5. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
6. Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster
7. The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan
8. Bad Mother by Ayelet Waldman
9. Gastronomical Me by MFK Fisher
10. Out of Africa and Shadows on the Grass by Isak Dinesen
11. My Life in France by Julia Child (thanks to Jayna for the reminder, I ADORED this book!!!)

Another one I would have added, but it's not really a memoir or biography is The Johnstown Flood by David McCollough.  A fascinating book -- I highly recommend it. 

Do you have a top 10 list?  Are you a big memoir/biography reader?

Guest Book Review -- Percy Jackson and the Olypmpians: The Titan's Curse (#3)

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Guest Review by Daisy Dad

When I started the third installment of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Titan’s Curse – I really didn’t want to like it. I read and reviewed the first two and you may remember that I was hung up over the similarities to the Harry Potter series. The characters, the situations, even the games that they play (I still enjoyed the Quidditch matches of HP over Capture the Flag and/or Chariot Races of PJ). But then I was talking to another father about the two series and he is a HUGH Percy fan and said that Harry was “just o.k”. JUST O.K.???? I almost fell over. I bit my tongue and allowed him to explain. He felt that while the Potter books were extremely entertaining, he really appreciated the teaching of Greek Mythology in a new, interesting and original way. I mentioned in my first review of The Lightning Thief that I wanted to go back and read D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths or maybe Homer’s The Odyssey, but have I? I’m not going to answer that, but I will let you know that I did finish The Titan’s Curse reading it differently.

Did I like it? Yes. Was it great? No. Unfortunately, I think Mr. Riordan missed a couple of opportunities to make his work stand above the critics (like me) that his books are subtle knock-offs of another series that “will not be named”. The best example of this is when the di Angelo siblings are introduced as the newest half-bloods in the story. An opportunity to explore these character’s feelings as they learn of their new identities as a daughter and son of a god was lost. I thought it would be interesting to see a different perspective than that of Percy’s, but that was not to be so. This installment is also basically the same as the first – a journey across the United States to save the world from the return of the Titan Kronos.

But the true craft that I have finally appreciated is the way Riordan weaves Greek myth into a modern day adventure. The Lightning Thief was the myth of Odysseus, The Sea of Monsters was the myth of Jason & the Argonauts, and now The Titan’s Curse is the myth of Hercules. And not a glossing over of those myths – a full telling with many of the side stories and details of the mythology that I would doubt would be learned in any elementary school or junior high. I lost myself in the adventure and spent less time making comparisons. I am a sucker for young love and the author does a nice job with the awkwardness of it, and I look forward to see how it develops further in the next two books. Knowing his audience, I also appreciated how death and the loss of a loved one were handled in this book.

I may have to read something else now and let some anticipation build for The Battle of the Labyrinth. What new Greek myths will I learn next?

Book Review -- The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O. McNees

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Reimagining the lives of deceased women authors is literary vogue: Jane Austen and The Brontë sisters have all been recreated in memoir-like fashion, as have the characters from their many novels.

Kelly O’Connor McNees has now added The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott to the list of “biographical” fiction – and I’m so glad she did.

Louisa is the fiercely independent daughter of Bronson and Abigail Alcott – and along with her three sisters, has settled in Walpole, Massachusetts, much against Louisa’s desires. At 22, she is eager to become a writer and to set off on her own in Boston to pursue her dreams. However, because of her father’s ideals and lofty philosophical beliefs (which results in no job and no income) she must stay at home and help her family subsist on virtually nothing.

In spite of the meagerness of their lives, Louisa enjoys the friendships of a group of young Walpolians – they entertain themselves with picnics at the swimming hole and producing theatre for the community. One such friend is Joseph Singer, a dashing young store clerk who shares Louisa’s love of poetry and literature. It is clear that Joseph is smitten with Louisa’s verve and intellect, but Louisa is determined that she is above and beyond having a relationship with this suitor. What proceeds, is a wonderful, if not bittersweet love story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The character of LMA is exactly how I had her imagined – extremely independent and willing to sacrifice most everything for the sake of her writing (including her romantic/personal happiness). From what little I know of LMA, I thought the author did a skillful job of interweaving fact and fiction – including the use of the known friends of the Alcotts – Emerson and Thoreau. She vividly recreates 19th century rural life, which although harsh, seems very bucolic. She also had a spare, but beautiful prose that reflected the style of LMA.

I’m eager to indulge on the writings of LMA after reading this book.

And if you are looking for a “summer read” then The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott should be on your list!

If you are interested in a "reading challenge" Margot at Joyfully Retired is hosting All Things Alcott Challenge. There is still time to participate.

Also, not too long ago, PBS produced a fabulous docu-drama on Louisa May Alcott. Here is a snippet, but I highly recommend viewing the entire episode!

Book source: Personal copy

View all my reviews >>

It's Monday -- What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books. It's is a weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week.

I finally had a break out book this week -- Ayelet Waldman's Bad Mother.  I highly recommend it for a book discussion or for girlfriends who are mothers. She is a brilliant writer, PLUS, there are many potential hot button issues to discuss (or debate, which ever you prefer). 

Books finished this past week:

Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain (2 out of 5 stars)

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (3 out of 5 stars)

Bad Mother by Ayelet Waldman (4 out of 5 stars)

Currently reading:

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly McNees

So far, this is a delightfully quaint book.  Nothing particularly new for this genre, but very enjoyable.  Louisa has been a fun character to follow.

To be read:
Ah -- the dreaded To Be Read list!!  Once again my impulsive nature sabotaged me this week.  I was so excited about Ayelet Waldman's writing that immediately upon finishing, I went to the library and checked out this:

Love and Other Impossible Pursuits

Summary from Goodreads:

In this moving, wry, and candid novel, widely acclaimed novelist Ayelet Waldman takes us through one woman’s passage through love, loss, and the strange absurdities of modern life.

I think this has been made into a movie -- but I'm not sure if it was ever released.  One of my "goodreads" friends finished this in one day, she said it was so good.  I want to believe her!

Another impulse check out:
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Summary from Goodreads:

I Capture the Castle tells the story of seventeen-year-old Cassandra and her family, who live in not-so-genteel poverty in a ramshackle old English castle. Here she strives, over a six-month period, first in a sixpenny book, then in a shilling book, and, finally, in a splendid two-guinea book, to hone her writing skills. And it is within these pages that she candidly chronicles her encounters with the estate's new, young, and handsome American landlords, the effects of her sister Rose's marital ambitions, her writer's-blocked father's anguished and ultimately renewed creativity, and her own hopeless, first descent into love.

So, the current stack of books (including the above) on my beside table looks like this:

Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks (book group choice, must be read soon!)

Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas (borrowed from a friend, must be returned soon!)

A Long Long Time Ago But Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka (carryover from last week)

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly (yep, another carryover)

Evangeline by Ben Farmer (this was only a 2 week check out, and I've reached my limit of renewals for this book -- I wonder if I will get to it or not?!)

For me, I've actually accomplished a lot this week.  My PTA duties begin in earnest this week, so I'm not sure July will be as literary prolific as June -- but I'm trying to keep up the pace until school resumes, because I know my reading time will take a hit once I'm fully ensconced as Madame President! Ugh!

What are you reading this week?  Anything to recommend?

Book Review -- Bad Mother

Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace by Ayelet Waldman


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

From the moment I brought my daughter home from the hospital 9 ½ years ago (and the two other children that followed) there hasn’t been a day go by that I haven’t thought of how bad I am at mothering. When trying to embrace “co-parenting” and allowing my then 3 week old to sleep on my chest, I fell desperately asleep, then was suddenly startled awake to realize she had rolled off my chest and onto the floor. When my second son was born, I spiraled into previous unknown depths of depression and misery. I couldn’t stand the sight of him and wondered where this foreign looking creature came from and how I could give him back. When my third child was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect at 28 weeks gestation, I blamed myself for drinking too much Dr. Pepper, forgetting to take my prenatal vitamins for two weeks while we were on vacation in New York – even going so far as to blame my proximity to the microwave for his malformed heart.

Now my “bad” mothering encompasses yelling too much, spending too much time on the computer, throwing away countless school assignments, and not being a presence at school parties.

In Ayelet Waldman’s treatise on motherhood – Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace, she writes in brilliant and witty prose that, guess what moms, we are OK and our kids will be just fine.

Her commentary covers everything from her relationship with her husband to her mother-in-law (a chapter I actually skipped, because my mother in law died a year after our daughter was born); she tackles breast feeding Nazis, her personal battle with bipolar disorder, her son’s failure to thrive at 2 weeks and another son’s ADHD. The most poignant, painful and heartbreaking is the chapter on “Rocketship” her third child, who was diagnosed with a chromosomal defect during an amniocentesis. After an intense internal battle, she decides to terminate her pregnancy. Bluntly she admits, “…I killed him.” I’m not here to cast judgment on Ms. Waldman, but, boy, that was a tough chapter to get through.

Ultimately, Ms. Waldman councils: I think it’s worth trying to be a mother who delights in who her children are…a mother who spends less time obsessing about what will happen, or what has happened and more time reveling in what IS. A mother who doesn’t fret over failings and slights…a mother who doesn’t worry so much about being bad or good, but just recognizes she’s both and neither. A mother who does her best, and for whom that is good enough, even if, in the end, her best turns out to be, simply, not bad.

I want to be that mother – a mother that knows her failings and limitations, but also knows that she loves her children desperately, and that even when I think I’m bad, I’m still pretty darn good.

Book group:  For those in a book group -- I think this would be a fascinating book to read along with others and a potentially firecracker discussion!

Book source: Public library

View all my reviews >>

Book Review -- When You Reach Me

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead


My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Author Rebecca Stead has created a totally unique juvenile novel featuring time travel, middle school angst, friendship, and of all things, Dick Clark and ‘70s game show, The $20,000 Pyramid.

Sixth grader Miranda, has to navigate a neglected friendship with neighbor Sal, a budding friendship with classmate Annemarie, and a conflicted friendship with Julia – all the while try to help her mother “practice” for her upcoming appearance on the game show, The $20,000 Pyramid AND figure out who the heck has been sending her very freaky and cryptic notes.

I’m not sure what to say about this novel – on one hand it was great:

• I loved Miranda’s spunk; she was a delightful character to follow, as was her mother and her group of rag-tag friends, supporting cast of school employees and Jimmy, the deli counter guy.

• I loved the time period – I was a grade schooler in the ‘70’s – so the essence of the book was very familiar and comforting – and who my age hasn’t watched The $20,000 Pyramid at least a gazillion times. And it’s true, Dick Clark never ages (at least until recently when he had his stroke).

On the other hand, I thought it was odd:

• The time travel thing just didn’t work for me. I understand that the author was trying to pay homage to A Wrinkle in Time – dare I say I’m not too fond of that book either (is that literary sacrilege?). But it was awkward and confusing.

• And who was the audience for this book? Once again, all of the 5 star reviews are primarily from adult, white women -- are the 9-12 year olds (for whom this book is intended), liking it as much at the adult audience? I can’t answer that – because I don’t think they have Goodreads accounts. I do know this book would be over the head of my 9 year old and the majority of our Mother/Daughter book group participants. And when I read juv fiction – that’s who I’m trying to “channel.”

So, it was quirky and somewhat endearing, but it didn’t meet my expectations.

Book source: Public library

When You Reach Me was the 2010 Newbery Award Winner.

View all my reviews >>

Today in Literary History

On June 30, 1936, the epic novel Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, was published.

Can you imagine what life would have been like without this work or the movie?

The year I started our book group, I knew that my book choice would be Gone With the Wind.  I'd never read it before and knew it was quite a bit different and better than the movie (isn't that always the case?).  I wasn't sure if my fellow groupies would be willing to imbibe a 1000+ page tome, but they reluctantly agreed (we took an additional month to read it).  I loved the book.   I can't remember per se, whether it was a clear winner for everyone, but it met and exceeded all my expectations.   My only disappointment was having obvious preconceived notions of Rhett and Scarlet, considering the number of times I had seen the movie.  Oh how I wish I could have gone into the book and imagined both of those characters in my own little brain.  I wonder what they would have looked like? 

Have you ever read Gone With the Wind?  Did you have any "ode to joy" feelings after reading it?

Check out this article on the History website:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/6/30?catId=7

Book Review -- Medium Raw

Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook by Anthony Bourdain


My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Let’s get this out up front: The F bomb is ABUNDANT in Anthony Bourdain’s Medium Raw. It’s how he has made a living – first as a foul mouth chef, now as a foul mouth TV travel host. The F bomb is so copious that if it were buck-shot loaded into a shot gun and fired at the book, all you would have left hanging from the spine was a few tattered pages that looked a lot like Swiss cheese. But if you have read his first book, Kitchen Confidential, or followed his TV show, you would know this – so I was prepared for battle when I cracked the cover on his most recent rant, restaurant subculture tell-all, memoir.

In essay style – Mr. Bourdain takes on every known enemy from Food Network, to Alice Waters (the Mother Theresa of the organic, sustainability food movement) to Ronald McDonald himself. He gives us background into the secrets of Top Chef (but not as much as I would have liked!). He talks bluntly about protecting his daughter from the chicken nugget, his suicidal moments following the end of his first marriage and tasting menus at 4 star restaurants (oh, and a superstar chef, named David Chang, who I had to Google to figure out who he was).

But his most brilliant chapter/essay is My Aim is True – about Justo Thomas, who is in charge of preparing all the fish for Le Bernardin – Chef extraordinaire Eric Ripert’s celebrated restaurant. In exquisite form, Mr. Bourdain takes us through a “day in the life” of Justo, as crates of every known type of fish must be filleted, scaled, deboned, and precisely portioned out for the various chef’s preparations. It is like a seafood symphony what this man is able to accomplish. And at the end, Mr. Bourdain does something that proves he isn’t as hard-hearted as he appears to be.

I sheepishly admit I like Mr. Bourdain’s snarky, snide, comic, vitriolic, commentary. I love his show and loved KC. This book, however, seemed like much of the same – and even I – who was prepared for the language, grew weary of reading yet another expletive -- which is why this is a 2 star book and not a 3.

So, if you are interested at all in reading Medium Raw – I would recommend (much against the publisher’s wishes) finding yourself a big comfy chair at Barnes & Noble (or your book store du jour) pulling a copy from the shelves and reading the chapters entitled Lower Education, I’m Dancing, and My Aim is True. You’ll be spared many of the F bombs, but left with some of the most emotional and best writing of the book.

Book source:  Gift for me my husband.

View all my reviews >>

It's Monday -- What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books. It's is a weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week.

For nearly two weeks, I have had a series of disappointing reads.  Last week it was Shanghai Girls by Lisa See.  This week I finished two that were less than stellar:

Finished:
The Icing on the Cupcake by Jennifer Ross
Embers by Sandor Marai

And I didn't finish one, which in hindsight, I probably should have finished over the other two:
Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard

It's been a while since I've absolutely fallen in love with a book.  I'm due an "I can't put this down -- why don't you kids stay in front of the TV a little while longer" novel.

Currently, I've hijacked my husband's Father's Day present.  Do you ever do that -- buy him something you secretly want for yourself?  I bought TWO things for him with that M.O. -- James Taylor and Carole King's CD, Live at the Troubadour and Anthony Bourdain's Medium Raw.

So far, it's everything you'd expect from Anthony Bourdain -- language, drugs, alcohol and food.  I adored Kitchen Confidential and DVR regularly, No Reservations -- but I haven't found the groove yet with this book.  It's a series of essays -- so it is a bit disjointed.  I just finished a splendid chapter called LUST, on various meals he has eaten both domestic and exotic.  I think when he is writing about food he is brilliant. 

My TBR/Reading ADD issues continue this week.

I made two book purchases over the weekend:

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly McNees

Deftly mixing fact and fiction, Kelly O'Connor McNees imagines a love affair that would threaten Louisa's writing career-and inspire the story of Jo and Laurie in Little Women. Stuck in small-town New Hampshire in 1855, Louisa finds herself torn between a love that takes her by surprise and her dream of independence as a writer in Boston. The choice she must make comes with a steep price that she will pay-for the rest of her life.

This is a relatively new novel, so I was completely surprised to find it marked down 50% at Barnes & Noble over the weekend!  As a B&N member I received an additional 10%, so this hardback novel was only $12.  Cheaper than a paperback!  I'm not sure why - is it not selling? 

And

A Long Long Time Ago but Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka
Whimsical, wise, beautiful, magical, and at times heartbreaking, A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True weaves together two remarkable stories, reimagining half a century of Polish history through the legacy of one unforgettable love affair.

I've been enchanted by this cover since this book was released.  And, as the winner of the Pen/Hemingway award, I'm hoping it merits its accolades.

My previous TBRs are still lurking in the stack....but my attention as been drawn elsewhere.  I'm sure by next week, something else will have lured me away from the above!

What are you reading this week?