Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Short Summary:
One day, Julie hears a loud thump coming from the kitchen. When she goes to investigate, she finds her husband Henry, a gourmet food-loving, social butterfly dying from a heart attack on the kitchen floor. Henry dies, leaving Julie to raise their young daughter Liz alone.

Overcome with grief, Julie tries to keep it all together with Henry gone, but as she tries to put her life back together, she finds more and more pieces of his life that she never knew existed.

As she unravels the lies Henry told, it doesn’t take her long to discover that he was a liar and a cheat.  Betrayed not only by her husband, but also by a close friend of the family who had been sleeping with Henry for years, Julie shares the healing process she must go through in order to forgive her husband, find closure, and move on to an even better life.

My Review:
I  couldn’t put this book down! I was constantly in suspense over what was going to happen next. The writing was so visceral that I could almost feel Julie’s raw pain coming through her words.  I especially loved the parts where she described trying to date again and the many difficulties that come with trying to find someone new who fits into your life and you into theirs. And finally, the parts where she called up the “other” women to discuss their affairs were absolutely priceless.

On first glance, many people might think this book is about a man and his many affairs, but really, it’s about a woman—Julie—and how she reconciled the life she thought she had with the life she actually had.

If you’re looking for a book about recreating your life when everything has crumbled to pieces around you, this is the book for you.

Have you heard about or read Perfection? I’d love to hear what you think!

Book: Perfection
Author: Julie Metz
ISBN: 9781401341350
Publisher: Voice
Source: Purchased

Giveaway:

Did you know Julie was on Oprah in January? If you missed it like I did, you might be excited to hear that Oprah is re-airing the episode this Friday July 30th. Be sure to check it out.  If you want to see notes from the episode or read an excerpt from the book, check it out on Oprah.com.

In anticipation of Oprah re-airing this episode, Stephanie from BookSparks PR has offered up a copy of this book for giveaway to one of my lucky readers! Thanks Stephanie!

Here’s how to win:

1. Show your support for this blog by following me via Google Friend Connect OR by liking my blog on Facebook. (Hint: Look in the right hand column.)

2. Subscribe to my blog’s RSS feed. (Hint: Right hand side under my blog header.) This is optional, but definitely appreciated.

3. Fill out this form: (Closes August 7, 2010)

Perfection Giveaway

Do you Tweet?
On July 30th, Julie will be on Twitter answering the question, Perfection is…?

Check out her Twitter at @juliemetzwriter and join in the discussion of what perfection is to you. (I think there will be prizes)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


Short Summary:
This book is about a teenage girl called Little Bee who is being hunted down by men who want to kill her for knowing too much about the killings of the people in her village, which rested atop rich oil deposits in Nigeria.

After enduring horrendous events on the beach at the hands of her captors, Bee escapes and stows away on a ship only to end up in a refugee detention center in England. She eventually manages to get out, and sets out to find the only people who might be able to help her—a couple by the names of Sarah and Andrew whom she briefly met on the beach before her capture and escape.

When she arrives at the couple’s house, Bee finds that she is just in time for Andrew’s funeral. She tries to help Sarah and her small son cope with the death. However, all the while, Bee is also dealing with the constant threat of deportation to her country where if sent, she would surely fall back into the hands of the killers who are looking for her.

My Review:
I picked up Little Bee from the bookstore based mostly on the gorgeous front cover. After reading the back flap, I was instantly intrigued. It was not the book that I had intended, but it was much, much more.

While tough to read at times because of the stories involving rape, murder, suicide—and ultimately genocide—Little Bee is an important read because it encourages you to consider difficult ambiguities most people don’t often like to think about, such as: How far will you go to help someone when you don’t have to? How far will you go to help someone if it means you have to physically suffer to save them? And how could that decision affect you for the rest of your life?

Honestly, Little Bee at points made me squirm, but it made me laugh a lot too. And at some sections I was so angry at Sarah’s character that I wanted to yell at her and ask in my best Red Foreman voice, What the Hell were you thinking!!?!?

So, why should you read this book? Well, I wouldn’t read the book if you’re looking for something hopeful, happy, and inspirational. But, if you want a read that is honest, that makes you think and feel—deeply—while forcing you to examine your humanity, and that of others, this is the book for you.

I’m giving Little Bee five stars because the writing is absolutely phenomenal. It will suck you in, grab your heart and soul and never let go.

Check out the book trailer:

Have you heard about or read this book? I'd love to hear what you think!

Book: Little Bee
Author: Chris Cleave
ISBN: 978-1416589648
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Source: Purchased

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Summary:
Tears to Triumph is a compilation of various women’s personal accounts of difficult situations they have dealt with and were able to triumph over in the end. Part stories, part encouraging commentary, Tears to Triumph offers insight on how to turn our most difficult struggles into success stories.

My Review:
I loved this book. I found the stories easy to relate to, and they kept my interest throughout the entire book. From recollections about having to get reconstructive breast surgery to losing a parent to dealing with family members who are on drugs, there are stories here of almost every variety. If you’re looking for heart-felt writing about dealing with difficult situations, or you’re trying to get out of a rut and need some inspiration, Tears to Triumph will be a great read.

Toward the end, there was a lovely quote that I just have to share:

God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, the courage to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know it’s me.

—Author Unknown (p. 218)

Have you heard about or read this book? I'd love to hear what you think!

Book: Tears to Triumph: Women Learn to Live, Love, and Thrive
Author: Dawn Marie Daniels, Candace Sandy with Dr. Jarralynne Agee
ISBN: 978-0-7582-3159-8
Publisher: Kensington Books
Source: Library Thing Review Copy

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

About a week ago, my nephew turned seven years old. I don’t have any children of my own, so I was wondering what in the world a seven-year-old kid would want for his birthday.

A trip to DisneyLand of course!

That was a little out of my budget, so when I was surfing the Web for cool bookish stuff, I came across An Awesome Book by Dallas Clayton.

I instantly fell in love with it, and I knew that this creative title was a perfect fit for my artistic and imaginative little nephew who loves to color and draw.

An Awesome Book began when Clayton wrote it for his son. He quickly started selling copies, and in his words, sales “snowballed” from there.

This is an inspiring story that every child—and adult—should read. The pictures are original, fresh, and creative.  I wish I could buy a copy for every person I know.

Check out Clayton’s video, and see what I mean.

Awesome Book Tour from Dallas Clayton on Vimeo.

Preview this title: An Awesome Book

You can’t find An Awesome Book on Amazon or in bookstores yet (that I know of), but you can get it from the store on Clayton’s Website VeryAwesomeWorld.com.

I am crossing my fingers that a publisher will pick up An Awesome Book and give it the attention it deserves.

Book: An Awesome Book
Author: Dallas Clayton
ISBN: 978-0-9792748-3-1
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Purchased

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Summary:
The Canine Condition by Alex Vardamis is narrated by a dog named Dingus. Dingus can read and write, and he is trying to learn how to speak. He is in love with Sally, who is a silver saluki. However, Paula, a purebred pointer, also likes Dingus, and she tries to get him away from Sally by telling him that Sally is in love with another dog. Dingus believes Paula, and they take off looking for dog paradise, which is apparently Boulder, Colorado. This book follows their many adventures as they make their way across the West.

My Review:
I love being a book blogger and sharing the wonderful, yet often under-appreciated books that cross my path during the year. When I saw this book, I was very excited to review it. I love dogs, and I have two of my own that are spoiled enough to be my kids. But, my love for dogs didn’t seem to improve or sway my opinion on this book very much.

The Canine Condition has many references to famous writers, their lives, and their works. You can also learn a few things about Hemingway, and there are a few good quotes on writing, which I enjoyed.

This book seems geared toward children in the fact that it has talking animals, and it brought back many recollections of the movie Homeward Bound. However, it’s written on a more intellectual level, so it’s really not for children. I also felt little to no investment in the main characters, which made it difficult to stay interested or really care what happened when they encountered problems on their journey.

Overall, I was bored, and I lost interest quickly. There were more than a few references to bestiality, which were not necessary, and after a while these references came across as childish and irritating—and GROSS.

I’m giving this book two stars because I appreciated the literature references and a few quotes; however, it just didn’t keep my attention.

I can’t guarantee what you will think, but this book was not for me.

Have you heard about or read this book? I'd love to hear what you think!

Book: The Canine Condition
Author: Alex Vardamis
ISBN: 978-1933002279
Publisher: PublishingWorks
Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary:
How to Thrive in Changing Times by Sandra Ingerman is a book about positive thinking. Using stories, meditations, and guided activities the author strives to help you find peace in your daily life when things change or become overwhelming. A big focus of the book is on finding things to be thankful for and developing a grateful approach to life.

Ingerman’s premise is that by changing how you think about a problem, your perception of the problem changes as well. Once your perception has changed, this then affects your future actions and behaviors, and thus your future reality.

My Review:
Those of you who know me well, know these last few months have been fraught with change, which can be difficult to deal with.  This is a book review that has taken me a while to write, and I’ve wondered why. Because for a small book with only 169 pages, I should have been able to read it very quickly.

Instead, I kept it on my nightstand and read from it on nights when things were not going well. It calmed me and soothed my nerves. I didn’t realize it, but I think I was trying to stretch out the time it took me to finish it. When I’ve completed this review, it will likely be going back onto my nightstand.

I don’t like to compare books in a review very often, but this book runs along a similar line as The Secret. If you liked The Secret, you will probably really enjoy this book. I know, I know, a lot of people think the idea of The Secret is hokey and pseudoscience. I am probably a bit of a critic myself, but I do think there is something to be said for positive thinking.

I don’t believe that if I think positively about a new car in my mind, one will magically appear. But, I do think that if I am able to adjust how I think about a challenging situation, it can then motivate me to do better, and it can lead to positive changes—instead of say…jumping off a cliff.

This book focuses on having a good attitude and doing what you can with what you have. That’s something I, and I think most people, can believe in and appreciate—whatever your particular beliefs or scientific persuasions.

I particularly appreciated the chapter on “Transforming Disappointment and Grief,” especially this quote:

“But in reality what more can I do? The fact is, I cannot force change in the outer world, but I can change my response. That’s the only place I can work—to find the light within me and keep shining that light out into the world. And when I feel nothing is going right—it is during these times that I must focus on something that is working.”

If you are looking for a book that helps you reframe difficulties and find quiet moments of gratitude and mindfulness, then you should check out this book.

Have you heard about or read this book? I'd love to hear what you think!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


Short Summary:
Dreams of Trespass is Fatima Mernissi’s account of her life growing up in a harem in Morocco in the 1940s.

Throughout the book, Fatima tries to figure out exactly what a harem is and what it is not. It is a coming of age story and also an exploration of the frontiers or boundaries in our lives set by our culture, our religion, our families, and even ourselves.

My Review:
I had always thought of a harem as a large collection of women who were basically sex slaves to a king. However, after reading this book, I realized that my notion of a harem was actually quite archaic compared to the harem that Fatima grew up in.

Fatima’s harem was more like living quarters for the females in the family with definite restrictions about leaving unless accompanied by a male companion.

Although, her grandmother’s harem seemed similar to a polygamous marriage made up of multiple wives, so the word “harem” can have multiple interpretations.

One of most remarkable and lovable things about Dreams of Trespass is how some of the women of the harem pushed back and rebelled in small but important ways.

From using the men’s radio to climbing up onto forbidden terraces to creating nontraditional embroideries of birds flying away, the women found their own unique ways to push back. It was these small rebellions that kept them sane and feeling as if they had some power over their lives.

Some of my favorite quotes came from Fatima’s mother:

“Covering your head and hiding will not help. Hiding does not solve a woman’s problems. It just identifies her as an easy victim.”

“A woman who chews gum is in fact making a revolutionary gesture. Not because she chews gum per se, but because gum chewing is not prescribed by the code.”

This is a lovely book filled with insight about life and the seemingly endless struggle for power between men and women. I already want to reread it, so I can pick up on all of the little things I may have missed the first time.

The most important thing I have taken from this book is that harems can be found anywhere where women are made powerless, and women can push back and have a say, even if it is only in the simplest and smallest of ways.

Book: Dreams of Trespass
Author: Fatima Mernissi
ISBN: 978-0201489378
Publisher: Basic Books
Source: Purchased

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Summary:
Eternal on the Water is the love story of Mary Fury and Jonathon Cobb. Mary is a teacher at New Hampshire University and specializes in corvid or—crow—research. Jonathon is a teacher at an upscale private school.

Their paths cross while preparing to kayak down the Allagash river in Maine. Jonathon is on sabbatical doing Thoreau research, and Mary is there to teach at the Chungamunga girls camping school. The two meet and instantly like each other, and they fall in love as they float down the river. Eventually, the two marry, and when Mary gets sick, they go back to the place where it all started.

This is a story about love, life, and living life to its fullest while we still can, but it is also about loving enough to let go.


My Review:
As Mary and Jonathon kayak down the river, their love story slowly unfolds like another mountain scene that appears around the bend. I adored Mary’s independent character and her favorite Mad Bomber hat.

Overall, I LOVED this story, but not immediately. At times, I caught myself wondering why Monninger spent so much time on certain scenes that didn’t seem to have a ton of relevance. I’m particularly thinking of when Mary and Jonathon go to visit Mary’s brother Freddie. I kept wondering, Where is this going? But eventually, all of the pieces slid into place—and in a most wonderful way.  I cannot imagine leaving anything out.

This is a well-crafted book with a heart-wrenching, but unforgettable ending. I can easily see this being one of my top favorite books of 2010.

I recommend this book to everyone, but particularly to anyone who loves the outdoors, has an interest in rafting, camping, antiquing, or just enjoys a good love story.

Have you read this book? I’d love to hear what you think. What is your favorite love story?

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I decided to read The Middle Place after reading another review I came across on the Internet.  It sparked my interest because it is about a woman a few years older than me who found out she had breast cancer.

While I don’t have any close relatives that I know of with breast cancer, I do have a few friends who have had cancer, and some who are still dealing with it; however, I also relate to this book on another level. That level of having your world turned topsy-turvy by events that you cannot control.

For me, it was watching helplessly as my mother got sick as her liver failed and stopped filtering her blood.  This meant that many days she stopped acting like herself. As the toxins affected her brain, she also failed to remember things old and new, and at times it felt as though someone had stolen my mother and left a shell of a person that tried to remember and tried to function, but often times, could not. I quickly found myself in a six-month nightmare of doctor’s visits, tests, and scans, while also trying to balance school and work.

Kelly Corrigan’s book The Middle Place explores this odd time in life when you are no longer just the child, but you are also the parent, either to your own children—or like me—to one of your parents. It is the time just before you grow up.  And usually, this growing up is prompted by an event that changes everything, something that forces your hand, that makes it impossible to ever be the same again. For Kelly, this all came about when she found out she had breast cancer. And not long after her diagnosis, she finds out that her beloved father has cancer as well.

I loved how this book explored the relationship Kelly has with her family, how she relies on her father for emotional support, and how her mother was such a stabilizing force. I loved reading about how Kelly dealt with her father’s cancer and how she begins to realize there are some things you cannot control or manage no matter how hard you try. I loved reading her response to the friend who had no idea her hair was short because she had cancer. I loved reading about how she responded to her overly optimistic friends who knew she had cancer, but had no idea of how it had affected her.

This book is fresh, witty, and real. Read this book because it is a great story. Read this book because the writing is wonderful. But most importantly, read this book if you have ever found yourself in switched around roles, and you think you might know what it is like to be in the middle place.  Trust me. You won’t regret it.

P.S. The audiobook is fantastic as well.

If you’ve had a chance to read this book, or if you  have any thoughts about it or this subject, I’d love to read your comments.

Book: The Middle Place
Author: Kelly Corrigan
ISBN: 978-1401303365
Publisher: Voice 2008
Source: Purchased  (Review Policy)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

As some of you know, I came down with a bad cold the day after Christmas. During that time, all I wanted was warm soup, cough drops, a box of really soft tissues, and a good book to read. I needed a light-hearted read to distract me from my misery and to keep me entertained. Truly Madly did just that.

After her father is caught having an affair, Lucy Valentine’s parents leave Lucy to run the family matchmaking business while they seclude themselves away from the media. But Lucy is nervous to run the business on her own because she does not have the same talent or gift that most of the other Valentines possess—the ability to see auras. It is because of this ability that the Valentines have been so successful matching couples with similar auras.

Lucy has a different ability. She can find items that people have lost just by touching their hand. When she tries to use her unique ability to match couples, it leads her through all sorts of scrapes and unintended consequences, including finding a match for herself.

Truly, Madly is full of likable characters, romance, and a touch of the supernatural. I highly recommend it to readers who like mysteries, romance, and to those who are looking for a light, fun read.

I can’t wait to read the next Lucy Valentine novel coming out in August 2010 titled Deeply, Desperately!

Book: Truly, Madly: A Novel
Author: Heather Webber
ISBN: 978-0312946135
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks 2010
Source: ARC from Barnes & Noble  (Review Policy)