Mental Foodie: A Book & Food Lover

Updates

2012-01-23T00:50:00.004-06:00

Yay I am only 13 books behind in my review (9 fiction and 4 non-fiction). Well for the 2011 books I read anyway. I have another 4 (including 1 NDF) to review yet for 2012. But at least I am catching up, as it had been over 20 books behind for a long time!

Part of the reason was probably because I am reading rather slow this year, so I am not as many books behind. So far in January, I'd only finished 3 books, and had another 2 DNF. I am about half way through my current book, A Tiger in the Kitchen: A Memoir of Food and Family by Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan. So I will finish at least 4 books this month (and if I read something fast/short after that, I may be able to squeeze in another one). This is far less than my usual 8 books on average. Ah well, quality over quantity.

It's also Chinese New Year today! Happy Chinese New Year to those who celebrate it! There is not much atmosphere here though. I do miss the food... maybe next year I'd make more of an effort to celebrate it. I was thinking of going to the Asian grocery store for something, but it had been cold / road conditions hadn't been the best, so we abandoned that idea.

Kitties are doing well. Sometimes I wondered if Sesame should have been called Sesa-you instead of Sesa-me since he is quite "me-centered" :) He doesn't like you petting him if he doesn't want you to, but you'd better pet him when he wants it! Though I should learn from him - everything is a toy to him. The whole house is like Disneyland according to him. Empty boxes? Yay! Plastic pen? Yay! Toilet paper roll? Yay! If we could only have such an optimistic outlook and find fun in everything.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Little Bee: A Novel by Chris Cleave

2012-01-23T00:35:00.002-06:00

Little Bee: A Novel by Chris Cleave

This was my November book club choice. I'd heard some good things about it so I was looking forward to reading this story. I am a bit torn about how I feel about it.

The first half of the book was very engaging, and what a strong first sentence - "Most days I wish I was a British pound coin instead of an African girl." (implying that people are happier to see a coin than an African girl). However, the second half slowed. And I also did not like the ending - not because it was happy or sad, but because it was ambiguous. I just do not like ambiguous endings. I know some readers like that because they can finish the story with their own imagination or have their own desired ending, but I prefer the author to tell me because it is their story, not mine.

The story were told from two perspectives - Little Bee (the African girl), and Sarah who met Little Bee in Nigeria on that fateful day on the beach that changed both of their lives. I liked the Little Bee chapters much more than Sarah's. Someone from the book club asked if the book would have been better if Sarah's chapters were eliminated. Well, her side of the story did provide some background, so I don't know how that'd work. I guess I just did not know how I felt about Sarah - I really admired a couple of actions she took, but at the same time, she seemed rather naive for a 32 years old and she made lots of decisions I disliked also.

I also wondered about Little Bee's language ability - it did not seem like she knew much English beforehand (that was the impression I got anyway, since she lived in a rural little town in Nigeria), and yet she spoke too poetically and with much sophistication from someone who learned most of her English in the detention center watching TV. Though I suppose some people are more gifted with languages than others. (Note, I was not aware that English was Nigeria's official language, though according to wiki, English is more for the urban elite, and not for rural areas.)

The story sometimes was too contrived [Spoilers] - Little Bee's detection "friend" hanged herself, Sarah's husband hanged himself. Little Bee and Sarah's boyfriendLawrence both mentioned the word "just" and its implication separately, e.g. calling someone "just" a co-worker when it wasn't necessary ("she is a coworker, vs. "she is just a coworker"), as it implied some guilt. The cop got called about Sarah's missing son would also arrest Little Bee, then Little Bee would be back to Nigeria so soon for deportation, even though she was in the detention center for 2 years prior... [/Spoilers]

I am not a writer, but I also thought the author seemed to tell more than show - mostly with Little Bee telling us what hapepend. I think my disappointment also came from the hype - the back of the book said "Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens. The magic is in how they story unfolds." But I didn't really feel the magic. I kept waiting for the magic. The message of the story was an important one (what refugees had to do to survive), and I don't disagree with that, but I thought the execution could have been better. However, it did make me think, if I was in Nigeria on that fateful day, what would I have done? Would I have done what Sarah did? or Andrew? Or something else altogether? I simply do not know. I think it is one of those scenarios that you won't know how you'd react until it happened to you.

One of the most interesting aspects of the book was to read about Little Bee's survival/exit strategy (see 3rd quote below) - what her mind set was even when she was in a seemingly safe place. But the author didn't really have to devote a whole chapter to it as it just got boring after a while - we got the message already. I also liked the author's subtle humor (see 4th quote). As you could see, all the quotes came within the first 50 pages. I really wish the rest of the book was as strong.

Note - there were some brutal, violent moments in the book. So be warmed as I know some readers couldn't stomach graphic descriptions.

We must see all scars as beauty. Okay? This will be our secret. Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived. (p9)

In your country, if you are not scared enough already, you can go to watch a horror film. Afterward you can go out of the cinema into the night and for a little while there is horror in everything. Perhaps there are murderers lying in wait for you at home. You think this because there is a light on in your house that you are certain you did not leave on... Horror in your country is something you take a dose of to remind yourself that you are not suffering from it. For me and the girls from my village, horror is a disease and we are sick with it. It is not an illness you can cure yourself of by standing up and letting the big red cinema seat fold itself up behind you. (p45)

In the immigration detention center, they told us we must be disciplined to overcome our fears. This is the discipline I learned: whenever I go into a new place, I work out how I would kill myself there. In case the men came suddenly, I make sure I am ready. The first time I went into Sarah's bathroom I was thinking, Yes Little Bee, in here you would break the mirror of that medicine cabinet and cut your wrists with the splinters. When Sarah took me for a ride in her car I was thinking, Here, Little Bee, you would roll down the window and unbuckle your seat belt and tip yourself out of the window, no fuss, in front of the very next lorry that comes the other way. (p47)

In the canteen there was a television that was always on. I began to learn more about life in your country. I watched programs called Love Island and Hell's Kitchen and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and I worked out how I would kill myself on all of those shows. Drowning, knives, and ask the audience. (p49)

3 / 5 .
(The first half would have been at least a 4 / 5, but the 2nd half did not live up to the expectation.)

Note - The book was borrowed from the library.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

2012-01-22T23:44:00.003-06:00

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

I know many bloggers love this book (or other books by Selznick). This is my first book by the author, and unfortunately it just didn't work for me. It has an interesting concept - a story combined with pencil drawings. The drawings were nice, but didn't wow me. Maybe because I had seen some really amazing pencil drawings. The story was fine, but a bit simplistic and slow for me. I kept waiting for some magical moments but they never arrived. I don't remember the ending now (3 months later), but whatever it was, it didn't blow my mind. Maybe I am spoiled by Shawn Tan's books? His stories were even simpler, but I felt inspired from his books.

I know I am totally NOT the target audience, so I am sharing my thoughts from an adult's perspective - someone who is not familiar with children's books (at least not for this age range - amazon listed it as 9 years and up). Maybe if I read this with a kid, I'd have felt differently. Or I am just too old and cynical lol.

I know the movie came out not long ago, and had good reviews too. But I doubt I'd be watching it any time soon. There are some quotes I did like from this book:

Some magicians started off as clock makers. They used their knowledge of machines to build these automata to amaze their audiences. The sole purpose of the machines was to fill people with wonder, and they succeeded. No one in the audience could figure out how these mysterious figures danced or wrote to sang. It was as if the magicians had created artificial life, but the secret was always in the clockworks. (p113)

"Sometimes I think I like these photos as much as I like the movies, " she said. "You can make up your own story when you look at a photo." (p193)

"Did you ever notice that all machines are made for some reason?" he asked Isabelle. "They are built to make you laugh, like the mouse here, or to tell the time, like clocks, or to fill you with wonder, like the automaton. Maybe that's why a broken machine always makes me a little sad, because it isn't able to do what it was meant to do." (p374)

2 / 5 .

Note - The book was borrowed from the library.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

2012-01-21T22:16:00.001-06:00

Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

Yep, another YA dystopian trilogy. But I do like this one - it did remind me a bit of The Hunger Games, though I still thought the Hunger Games is better, probably because it tugged on my emotion more (Katniss' love for her little sister).

The main protagonist, Beatrice/Tris (she decided to go by Tris later) reminded me a bit of Katniss - strong, smart, but sometimes she acted before she thought through it. The 5 factions each 16 years old had to choose which one they belonged to were Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). I liked the world-building in the book. It did make me think, if I had to choose, which faction would I choose? I think most likely Erudite. I doubt I'd ever be a Dauntless, but those who chose it thought:

But becoming fearless isn't the point. That's impossible. It's learning how to control your fear, and how to be free from it., that's the point. (p239)

It didn't really explain why you could only choose one, but I supposed that was the whole point of dystopian fiction - there were elements that were out of the characters' control, and it was up to them to do something about it:

My father says that those who want power and get it live in terror of losing it. That's why we have to give power to those who do not want it. (p68)

I could also guess who Four (another character) was right off the bat, so it didn't quite come as a surprise. I liked him too, but we did not know a lot about him yet. The other characters didn't leave as much of an impression (I could hardly remember their names now) but there were quite of few supporting characters. I had to laugh though when I read what Tris thought about having a pet - that's exactly what I felt before I became a kitty mama:

What is the point in providing food and shelter for an animal that just soils your furniture, makes your home smell bad, and ultimately dies? (p193)

While part of the plot was predictable (you know, like Tris can't die yet in Book 1) I am not quite sure where the next book would lead us, so I look forward to it! Hopefully it'd just be as fast paced as this one, and we'll get to know the characters a bit more, and that it doesn't suffer from "middle book syndrome" where the author saved the best bits for the last book.

If you like YA dystopian, go read this series!

4 / 5 .

Note - The book was borrowed from the library.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Reivew - Maman's Homesick Pie by Donia Bijan

2012-01-21T20:45:00.001-06:00

Maman's Homesick Pie by Donia Bijan

Part memoir, and part recipes, I was getting hungry while reading this book. The author's family fled from Iran to California in 1978, and she talked about the Persian food she grew up eating, the French food she learned cooking at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, and the fusion food (combining the two) she served in her own restaurant.

I am not familiar with either Persian or French cuisine, so it was interesting to read about recipes such as Saffron Yogurt Rice with Chicken and Eggplant, Orange Cardamom Cookies, Roast Duck Legs with Dates and Warm Lentil Salad, and Rose Petal Ice Cream. She also mentioned persimmon and how Californians had no idea what they were missing out on with this wonderful fruit (they found lots of persimmons wasted from people's yards in California). I love persimmon! Though I grew up just eating it as a fruit, or as a dried fruit (you have to soak it first before eating it. I much prefer it fresh). I also knew about pomegranates, which the author also grew up eating, since I was a little kid (many years ago now :) so I was amazed how it'd become a buzz food here in the US in recent years. When she talked about Persian food, it actually reminded me a bit of Chinese food too. I was so glad I won a copy of this book, so now I didn't have to type up the recipes from the book!

But above all, this book really was a tribute to her mother. Her mother had such a big influence on her and you could tell between the lines their love for each other. Her mum was a remarkable woman, and I was so touched by their stories that it made me missed my mother, who lives overseas, that I called her right away (I don't like talking on the phone much... so I don't call as frequently as I should... and my mum doesn't email.) It was a heartwarming story, though the author did not go into a lot of her own personal life, such as how she met her husband, or her relationship with her sisters. Hence why I thought this was written more in her mother's memory (she did dedicate it to both her parents. Her dad just did not get mentioned as much as the mother.) I liked her mother's thought on parenting:

She believed a parent's job was to provide love and security without staking any claims on a child's future, that children owned their dreams, their mishaps, their triumphs, and their failures. (p98)

I could also really identify with the quote below - like the author, I had lived in 3 different countries (her - Iran, US, France. Me - Hong Kong, Australia and US). I often have no idea how to answer the question, "where are you from?" because well, I call all three my homes. Do I really have to be exclusive and choose just one?

Paris, San Francisco, Tehran, all claim a part of me. As I looked out the window on the plane home from Paris, I thought about how the ktichens where I was shaped belong to all these places, and yet none claim to be the center. I'll always negotiate that in-between culture. And I'll alwyas rely on the longing for these places, and I'll always be learning to move between them without falling through the gaps. (p203).

I recommend this book to those who like food, cooking, and like to learn about other culture!

4 / 5 .

Note - The book was originally borrowed from the library, though I'd also won a free copy from another blogger, Chocolate and Croissants.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Battle Royale Ultimate Edition Volume 1 - 3 (out of 5) by by Koushun Takami, Masayuki Taguchi

2012-01-15T19:10:00.020-06:00

Battle Royale Ultimate Edition Volume 1 - 3 (out of 5) by by Koushun Takami, Masayuki Taguchi (GRAPHIC NOVELS)

I have never heard of this book before until The Hunger Games - some people said The Hunger Games author, Suzanne Collins, stole the idea (a bunch of teenagers killing each other off in a game) from this book, written by a Japanese author. I was curious, and wanted to see how close the two stories were. My library did not have the novel, but had the graphic novels instead. So I decided to read them.

It was probably a good thing that I read the graphic novels instead! I think there were like 40+ kids in this game, and with all their Japanese names, I would never have remembered who was who without the visuals! In fact, with 24 kids in The Hunger Games, I already got confused with a lot of the minor characters. Anyway back to this series...

Each of the ultimate edition is THICK. It wasn't until I was done with Book 3 (all the volumes my library had) that I found out there were 2 more volumes! And I couldn't find them in any of the library in my network... so I googled the ending instead (interestingly enough, the plot/characters/ending in the graphic novels differed a bit from the original novel, as did the movie!)

Now, I could see where people said Collins may have copied the idea from this story (if she did indeed read this story). The premise really was very similar. However, I think that was where the similarity ended. The reason behind the game, how the game ended, and most importantly, the personalities of the characters, were all very different, so the two stories had a very different feel to them. I mean, look at all the vampires stories out there - most of them are about vampires and non-vampires falling in love, but yet they are all different.

Due to the numerous characters in this series, only a handful of them were more developed, but I guess this was more of a plot-driven story to see who'd win ultimately. I supposed, since I read the graphic novel version, the character development might also be lacking a bit compared to the novel (just a guess). I also would NOT recommend this series for those until 18 years old - it had A LOT of adult content - violence (more so than The Hunger Games) and sex (to think these were 9th grade students). I am not sure whether the original novel included sexual content or not (but I presume the violence would still be there, given the premise.)

I did like the ending of this story (well, from what I could tell from searching google).

This story was also made into a movie, and I watched that too. As mentioned, some plot development and what happened to the characters were altered, but the overall story was still the same. Interestingly enough, there was no sexual content at all in the movie, but the violence was probably worse because now you got to see all the blood and gory.

Overall, I still liked the Hunger Games better, because I cared about the characters. With this series, I just wanted to see who win and how it ended. But you have to give credit to the author for using such a controversial and thought provoking topic as the backdrop of the story. This story also was not dystopian - it could be something that was happening in today's world instead.

3.5 / 5 .

Note - The book was borrowed from the library.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - No Time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay

2012-01-15T00:46:00.000-06:00

No Time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay

Fourteen-year-old Cynthia Bigge woke one morning to discover that her entire family–mother, father,brother–had vanished. No note, no trace, no return. Ever. Now, twenty-five years later, she’ll learn the devastating truth.

Sounds so intriguing! I mean, if I wake up tomorrow and find my family gone... I wouldn't know what to do.

This was a fast paced, engaging thriller, and I nearly missed my bus top when I read it on the way home. The characters were likeable but not memorable. The twists were good but not WOW. The way the twists were revealed were a bit anticlimactic, but it did keep you guessing. The loose ends were tied up at the end.

I would try other books by this author (this was my first, based on Thrill Week's recommendations, thank you!) if I want something "light and fluffy" (if you can call this genre light and fluffy lol). Though I have to admit, now that it'd been 3 months since I read it, I hardly remembered the plot - when I read some spoiler reviews, I remembered what happened, but not without those prompts. So it was fun to read while it lasted, but it did not have much staying power. But I guess that's what light and fluffy reads are for! If I remember every single book I read, my brain would explode.

3.5 / 5 .

Note - The book was borrowed from the library.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

2012-01-14T22:15:00.000-06:00

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I was looking forward to this book - there was such a hype on the blogs about this. I should know better since my reading taste seems to be different to the majority of the bloggers. I thought this book would be magical (hey it's about the circus after all!) well, it started off well, and captured my interest, and then it just went on, and on, and on, and on, and on... and a quarter of the way through the almost 400 pages book, and still nothing happened.

Maybe this would work better as a movie, as I'd love to see how Celia did her magic, and what the opening night bonfire looked like. But that'd probably only last just seconds, instead of multiple pages.

If you like descriptive, flowery, wordy story, then go for it. Not for me.

0 / 5 Did Not Finish

Note - The book was borrowed from the library.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Amazing!

2012-01-09T19:30:00.000-06:00

Wow, came across this video. Riusuke Fukahori 深堀隆介 is crazy talented!

Just watch - all the goldfish are PAINTED!

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Hot Lights, Cold Steel by D. P. Lyle

2012-01-09T01:33:00.009-06:00

Hot Lights, Cold Steel by D. P. Lyle

Forensic criminalist Dub Walker is called upon when an old friend enlists his help in finding her 19-year-old daughter. I saw this book in the library's new book section, and I found the premise intriguing as I was hoping it'd be like Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme series with a forensic criminalist as a protagonist. The author is a cardiologist, a writer, and a story and technical consultant for several popular television shows, including 1-800-Missing, Cold Case, CSI: Miami, Diagnosis Murder, House, Judging Amy, Law & Order, Medium, Monk, and Peacemakers - pretty impressive credentials!

I was disappointed with the story. I felt like there was no character development for Dub Walker - then after I had finished the book, I found out that this was #2 in the Dub Walker series, so that might explain the lack of character development (I am guessing all his background was discussed in #1? Unless #1 was written in the same manner...) So there was a disconnect because I had no idea who he was or what he was like, apart from he just knew all this people or had all this knowledge and could solve the crime just like that.

While the protagonist did use a little bit of scientific or behavioral knowledge to solve the crime, it was no where near as engaging, interesting, and detailed as Jeffery Deaver's story. So overall, a fairly unremarkable thriller for me, though there were a handful of good reviews out there. Maybe my expectations were just too high, or that I should have started with Book 1 - the cover did not indicate that this was a series at all - I guess you could read it as a stand alone if you really don't care about knowing the characters. While I prefer plot-driven to character-driven novels, I still have to care the characters enough to keep on reading. Why else would I waste my time on reading something I don't care about - be it the protagonist or the victim or villains. I need some emotional attachment.

2 / 5 .

Note - The book was borrowed from the library.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Henry's Sisters by Cathy Lamb

2012-01-08T22:03:00.000-06:00

Henry's Sisters by Cathy Lamb

As you can guessed from the book title, this book is about Henry and his 3 sisters - and how they dealt with a family crisis when something happened to mum. I thought the book started out okay... then 5 days later and about half way through, I just got bored. Normally I would have stopped, but since this was for a book club, I thought I'd try a little harder, so I skimmed the rest to see what happened instead (yes I cheated!) Well, not much happened until maybe the last couple of chapters, so I didn't feel like I missed much. The book could have been a lot shorter (funny, both goodreads and amazon said it is 352 pages? But I made a note that it was 430 pages?! Maybe it had been shortened since?!?!) Regardless of the actual number of pages, it still felt too long.

But the main reason I didn't like it was because of the characters - it seemed like EVERYBODY was a stereotype. EVERYBODY had to have an extreme flaw. Now, I get that we are not perfect and we all have flaws, but what is the likelihood that everyone in the family had a different behavioral disorder from The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV)? It just seemed quite unrealistic. Henry just happened to be the glue that brought everyone together because he... well I am not going to spoil it for you if you decide to read it. Just know that everything was so contrived, and everything was tied in a nice little bow at the end of the story as someone else from the book club put it. Though most of the people at the book club did liked it (except me and my friends, who are younger than the rest of the group).

This book reminded me a bit of The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown (see my review here) minus the Shakespeare reference. This book was published prior to the Weird Sisters though.

I did find a few quotes I liked (I do have 2 younger sisters after all):

"And we were never locked in closets. We chose to go there all on our own. To hide." (p14)

To me, the wind has always seemed like a person, with all the mood swings and rampaging, out-of-control emotions that we have. Sometimes it's angry and whips around corners, sometimes it ruffles the river as it hurries toward the ocean, sometimes it puffs on by, gentle, caressing. (p25)

The problem I see with fights between sisters is that the fights can degenerate to scorching meanness so quick, the words cutting right to the marrow, because sisters know how to hurt each other with pinpoint accuracy. They have history and hurts and slights and jealousies and resentment and they don't know how to rein it in, filter, or how not to be brutally honest with one another. (p95)

1 / 5 .

Note - The book was borrowed from the library.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Letters for Emily by Camron Wright

2012-01-08T01:30:00.003-06:00

Letters for Emily by Camron Wright

Grandpa was dying from Alzheimer's disease, and so he decided to write a book of poems for his granddaughter, Emily, while he was still alert. As Emily and her parents and relatives read the letters later, they were full of riddles - what did they mean? Could it have been a hidden fortune? Or something else?

I read this book soon after The Wednesday Letters by Jason Wright (see my review here). In fact, I went to the library specifically to borrow The Wednesday Letters, and then found this book nearby since the author's last names were the same. The premise sounded inspiring, and I ended up liking this book a bit more than The Wednesday Letters - but mostly because of the riddles. It was fun to try to solve the riddles, but of course the story was written for the characters, not the readers, to solve the riddles, so we did not always have enough clues or were exposed to every riddles (sometimes we just got the answer - the message - instead.)

The writing was just okay, similar to others I had read in this genre. There wasn't a lot of character development, so you don't really get to know them, as it focused more on the message. It just didn't get as emotional or touching as I hoped it would be. It was interesting to learn that the author was inspired to write this story based on writings from his own grandfather.

I did found a couple of quotes I liked:

This disease is a thief. It begins with short spells of forgetfulness, but before it's finished, it steals everything. It takes your favorite color, the smell of your favorite food, the night of your first kiss, your love of golf. (p2)

Parents are strange and wonderful creatures. When you're small they seem bright, shiny, and invincible. As you grow, that image starts to fade. It's a sobering moment, but the time will come when you realize they are not the heroes you imagined. They are just people struggling to do the best they can, just the same as you are. You will feel let down, betrayed, even ashamed. This is the time, Emily, when you need to forgive your parents for being human. (p179).

3.5 / 5 .

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - On the Mend: Revolutionizing Healthcare to Save Lives and Transform the Industry by John Toussaint and Roger Gerard

2012-01-08T01:07:00.000-06:00

On the Mend: Revolutionizing Healthcare to Save Lives and Transform the Industry by John Toussaint and Roger Gerard

Read this as part of my work book club since we work in healthcare improvement. If you have been working in this area for a while, it's interesting to compare what we do to what ThedaCare did/do (where the authors are from.) but there is not a lot of "new" thing to learn - though due to our different organizational culture and size, there are definitely some differences in how we approach this. If you or your organization is new to process improvement / eliminating wastes, then this is a good start to see what can be done.

The book description posted on goodreads did a good job summarizing the content so I'm just going to copy/paste it below:

Part case study, part manifesto, this groundbreaking new book by a doctor and a healthcare executive uses real-life anecdotes and the logic of lean thinking to make a convincing argument that a revolutionary new kind of healthcare — lean healthcare — is urgently needed and eminently doable.

In On the Mend: Revolutionizing Healthcare to Save Lives and Transform the Industry John Toussaint, MD, former CEO of ThedaCare, and Roger A. Gerard, PhD, its chief learning officer, candidly describe the triumphs and stumbles of a seven-year journey to lean healthcare, an effort that continues today and that has slashed medical errors, improved patient outcomes, raised staff morale, and saved $27 million dollars in costs without layoffs. Find out:

• How lean techniques of value-stream-mapping and rapid improvement events cut the average "door-to-balloon" time for heart attack patients at two hospitals from 90 minutes to 37.

• What ThedaCare leaders did to replace medicine's "shame and blame" culture with a lean culture based on continuous improvement and respect for people.

• How the lean principle of "building in quality at the source" broke down divisions among medical specialties allowing teams to develop patient care plans faster.

• Why traditional modern management is the single biggest impediment to lean healthcare.

• How the plan-do-study-act cycle coupled with rapid improvement events cut the wait time at a robotic radiosurgery unit from 26 days to six.

• How the lean concept of "one piece flow" saved time in treating ischemic stroke patients, increasing the number of patients receiving a CT scan within 25 minutes from 51% to 89%.

• How senior leaders at other healthcare organizations can begin their own lean transformations using a nine-step action plan based on what ThedaCare did — and what it would do differently.

Toussaint and Gerard prove that lean healthcare does not mean less care. On the Mend shows that when care is truly re-designed around patients, waste and errors are eliminated, quality improves, costs come down, and healthcare professionals have more time to spend with patients, who get even better care.

3.5 / 5 .

Note - Borrowed from the library

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - The Blade Itself by Marcus Sakey

2012-01-05T22:25:00.000-06:00

The Blade Itself by Marcus Sakey

Read this 4 months ago, and just got around to writing my thoughts about it now. Or should I say, my lack of thoughts. I honestly do not remember much of the plot or characters when I looked at the title. I read the description, and it brought back a bit of memory. So it was a fast thriller / mystery while it lasted - at least I finished it and wanted to find out what happened, though I did make a note that it was a bit predictable, without many twists or turns. It was a debut novel.

I picked this one up after hearing good things about the author's latest book, The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes. I actually won a copy of Two Deaths, and will give it a try since the author may have improved in the past 4 years.

I did like this quote: "That a man was measured by the way he acted, not what he had." (p290)

2 / 5 .

Note - borrowed from the library.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

2012-01-04T23:42:00.002-06:00

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

This was Sarah Addison Allen's first book, and many of her readers' favorites. Earlier in 2011 I read The Sugar Queen (my review here) and really enjoyed it, so I decided to read everything else by Allen. Magical realism became a new favorite genre for me.

I read this back in September, and now 4 months later, I hardly remember the plot but I remember it was a cute, sweet but predictable story. I could see its appeal to readers given its magical aspect, though it was magic without a feasible explanation (yes I am weird about that, it's hard for me to just believe in magic without some logic. In fact, have you read the article about Santa Clause from an engineering's perspective? No I am not an engineer, but my mind works kinda like that.)

Anyway I digress.

None of the characters really stood out (apart from the apple tree!) and I remembered some of them were a bit stereotypical. I did enjoy Allen's writing though. My favorite part of the book was reading about the unusual pairing of exotic favors in cakes or other dishes - they sounded magical (hehe - see, there is a plausible explanation for this type of food magic!)

At that time, I gave this book a 3.5. But now I think I'll lower it to 3 since it didn't have much staying power for me, unlike The Sugar Queen.

3 / 5 .

Note - borrowed from the library.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar

2012-01-03T23:35:00.004-06:00

The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar

Mostly based in India, Armaiti, Laleh, Kavita, and Nishta were once best friends. Due to circumstances, they had drifted apart and had not seen each other since. Thirty years later, one of them was dying in America and her last wish was to see her friends once more. Would they be able to honor her wish? I chose this ARC to review (out today!) because I wanted a good friendship story.

I liked the characters (loved their names!) - they were all flawed but seemed realistic. Though some characters were developed more than others. In fact, I thought the two male characters (husbands of two characters, who were also friends with all four girls back in the days) were the more complex characters even though they were not the main focus. I also was hoping for a more emotional read - after all, a close friend was dying! - but I thought it fell a bit flat.

One of the other themes of the book reminded me of Megan's Way by Melissa Foster - what would you do if you have a terminal disease - would you go for treatments or not? If not, why not?

Usually I shy away from literary fiction because I do not like overly descriptive story without much action. Fortunately I did not have much problem with this book, as the writing was quite easy to read. I also liked that I learned a little bit more about modern India.

This is definitely a character-driven novel, and more about the journey than the destination. Because of that I am quite disappointed by the ending - not quite how it ended, but where it ended. I thought there would be more to the story, or at least the book should have an epilogue to tie up some lose ends. Right now it just felt unfinished.

3.25 / 5

Note - ARC was given HarperCollins in exchange for an unbiased review.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

What a great start...

2012-01-02T19:57:00.000-06:00

What a great start in 2012 - my first book is a Did Not Finish! :) It is The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson, which is for one of my two book clubs. I'll share my thoughts about it in a separate post.

But true to my word, I am not wasting time on books I don't enjoy. So 2012 will probably be a year of book abandonment!

I hope you had a better start than I did :)

Note - I am enjoying this graphic novel series in Chinese (originally from Japan) called Black Jack 怪醫秦博士/ 怪醫黑傑克 by Tezuka Osamu 手塚治虫. I am not sure if it comes in English, but they are short stories about this talented unlicensed doctor practicing on patients... (ummm looks like they DO come in English? See this link).

It seems like I like graphic novels in Chinese better than in English (they are mostly translated from Japanese manga). The other graphic novel author I liked from last year was Fumi Saimon, again, I don't know if her books are translated into English... I guess these books have become my guilty pleasure when I am in a slump.

Books Read in 2012

2012-01-02T19:43:00.003-06:00

Fiction:

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs (2 Stars)
Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu (4 Stars)
The Restorer (Graveyard Queen #1) by Amanda Stevens (3.5 Stars)

Non-Fiction:

A Tiger in the Kitchen: A Memoir of Food and Family by Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan (3.5 Stars)

Did Not Finish (DNF):

The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson
The Night Circus: A Novel by Erin Morgenstern

Chinese:

Black Jack 怪醫秦博士/ 怪醫黑傑克 (Vol 6) by Tezuka Osamu 手塚治虫
Black Jack 怪醫秦博士/ 怪醫黑傑克 (Vol 7) by Tezuka Osamu 手塚治虫
Black Jack 怪醫秦博士/ 怪醫黑傑克 (Vol 8) by Tezuka Osamu 手塚治虫
Black Jack 怪醫秦博士/ 怪醫黑傑克 (Vol 9) by Tezuka Osamu 手塚治虫

2nd Blogging Anverisory and Reading Goals in 2012

2012-01-01T00:25:00.000-06:00

As of 1/1/12, I'd have been blogging for 2 years! Can't believe it. The biggest reward is to get to know some like-minded bloggers! :)

I will continue to blog in 2012 as time permitted :) Hopefully I can do a better job, and post more consistently than I did this year. I am such a spontaneous/mood blogger that I blog only when I feel like it...

Let's see what goals I should set for 2012:

#1 - I like what Kim from Sophisticated Dorkiness said about not becoming a reading robot (see her post here), and specifically that reading should be a transporting experience. So I want to continue to emphasis on quality over quantity, and choose books I really want to read, and abandon books that couldn't hold my interest. I already know 2012 is going to be a very busy year for me due to several projects in the works.

#2 - I will continue to try to blog every book I read (and not finished). I think I will do shorter, more to-the-point reviews. Well, truth be told, my posts aren't actually reviews since I don't go into deep analysis over language, structure, plot, characters... I really just want to share my thoughts on the book. And if I can write shorter posts, maybe I won't be so delayed on my reviews!

#3 - I also want to continue to read out-loud some books with hubby. Maybe we'll aim for 3 this year. It takes more time to finish the book when I read it out loud to him (compared to me just reading it silently to myself), but we do enjoy the experience, and it gives us something to do together.

#4 - I don't care how many fiction or non-fiction I read, as long as I read both! I am such a mood reader, so I can't plan ahead what I will read next (apart from the book clubs read - I belong to 2 of them)

#5 - Lastly, I still want to give at least 1 audio book a try, while being on the elliptical! 2012 is a year to get healthy! :)

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Review Reading Goals in 2011

2012-01-01T00:09:00.002-06:00

Let's reflect - these were my 10 reading goals set on 1/1/11. Let's see how badly I did lol:

Quality over quantity. If I can reach 100 books again for the 4th year in a row - fine. If not, I won't stress out much about it.

Well, it depends on whether you count the Chinese books I read!
I read 71 Fiction, 24 Non-Fiction, and 16 Chinese books. Thus in total - 95 (excluding Chinese books) or 111 (including Chinese books). Granted, quite a few of the Chinese books were graphic novels... so I'd let you be the judge. I probably would have finished over 100 (excluding Chinese) but I was in a reading slump starting in October. I was still reading, but my pace had slowed down A LOT. I usually read 2 books a week, but now it usually takes me at least a week to finish a book... To see the complete list of books I read in 2011, see here.
Read approximately half fiction and half non-fiction

BIG FAILED! I read roughly 3 Fiction : 1 Non-Fiction instead... I blamed other blogs lol, since most of you read fiction, and so many of the books you read sounded so good!
Continue to blog every book, hopefully within a week

BIG FAILED! It started of well, but in the second half of the year I fell way behind due to work. In fact, I am still not done with all my reviews yet... 25 to go! I guess I read faster than I blog...
Let's see if I can stick to doing BTT every week!

Another BIG FAILED! I think I did just once (the New Year resolution about setting up 2011 goals!) I guess I sometimes forget to read BTT every Thursday, and I don't always blog on Thursday ( prefer blogging on Friday night and over the weekend, when I don't have to worry about getting up early the next day).
Keep recommending books to others and encourage non-readers to discover the magic of books!

YES! I definitely did. When it comes to fiction, I usually recommend according to the reader's taste. The book I specifically recommended at least 4 times this year though, was My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey by Jill Bolte Taylor - another blogger's brother suffered a stroke, a co-worker's mother suffered a stroke, a husband of a friend of someone else I kinda know suffered a stroke, and my sister-in-law who works with people who may have had brain injury in the past so I thought this may help her communicate with them... I actually read this back in 2009, but it comes in handy (unfortunately....)
As much as I love my local library, I should at least read 10 of my own books... there are 170+ waiting...

Well, it again depends on how you look at it... If you only count the books I bought myself, then it's only ONE BOOK. However, I did read another 18 books that I didn't borrow from the library, but I received them this year as part of a book tour or ARC reviews...
Give audio books a try, while trying to exercise (bought an elliptical and have hardly used it... because I'd rather use the time to read instead... and I can't read it and use it at the same time. Perhaps audio books will help lower the opportunity cost)

FAILED! I borrowed them, but didn't end up listening to them as I'd hoped... which also meant I didn't use my elliptical either. Oops.
Read 5 books with husband - he prefers audio books and I prefer reading. So to spend more quality time together, maybe we'll pick a book and I'll read to him instead. We did one book together last year and it seemed to work quite well. Since English is not my first language, he can correct my pronunciation too. Kill multiple birds with one stone :)

We completed 2 books together (Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua and Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II by Mitchell Zuckoff) and we had started another 3 but didn't finish yet as I needed to return them to the library (Steve Jobs, Unbroken, and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.)
Read 5 books I won't normally choose. Even if I can't finish, at least give it a try.

I'd say yes - I tried historical fiction, historical non-fiction, chick lit, magical realism, literary fiction, women's fiction... Most of my fiction books were rated between 2 to 3.5 Stars though, I think mostly because I was reading out of my comfort zone. Some ended up being very good, but most were just so-so for me. I am glad I gave it a try this year so find out what I really like, and don't like.
Just enjoy reading... it shouldn't be a chore

I'd say yes - I abandoned 15 books in 2011!! You can see what they are at the bottom of this post.

Favorite Reads in 2011

2011-12-31T23:40:00.003-06:00

Favorite books in 2011!

(Note - read in 2011, not necessarily published in 2011. Book titles linked to my reviews.)

Adult Fiction:

Children of Paranoia (Children of Paranoia #1) by Trevor Shane - it's dystopian but not quite dystopian as it could happen right now. It's a thriller but not quite a thriller. But what it really is, is a love story.
The Human Bobby by Gabe Rotter - the plot took me by surprise and I love a good twist!
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen - I wasn't into Magical Realism until I read this book. This was my first Sarah Addison Allen book, and I ended up reading all her 4 books this year, though the rest were just okay for me. I liked it better when the magic is possible and explainable (I know, it's contradictory to what magic is... but I have a logical mind...)
Honorable mention: The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry - this book grew on me I think. I only gave it a 3.5 stars after I read it, but the story has staying power and I like that it doesn't have a typical ending.
Honorable mention: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce #1) by Alan Bradley- while the plot isn't the best, the main protagonist is memorable! Flavia may be my favorite character in 2011! The other character would be John from I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells but this book didn't make it as a favorite for me.

Young Adult Fiction:

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys - last book read in 2011 - just finished it an hour ago! Wow. I don't read a lot of YA, or historical fiction, but this is both, and it made me cry like a baby. Review to come!
Divergent by Veronica Roth - YA Dytopian. I can't wait to read Book 2! Not quite as good as the Hunger Games, but I do like it. Review to come!
Honorable mention: Matched (Matched #1) by Ally Condie - wasn't as action packed as Divergent, but I'll still read Book 2 (reserved!)

Non-Fiction:

Totto-Chan: The Little Girl At The Window by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi - this is kinda a re-read for me, and I don't re-read. I have read the Chinese version (originally written in Japanese) many, many times when I was much younger. The last time I read it was at least 10 years ago. This is the first time I read the English version, and it still has the same effect on me as it did before. This is one of my favorite reads ever, not just in 2011.
Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan - Very inspiring!
Life, on the Line: A Chef's Story of Chasing Greatness, Facing Death, and Redefining the Way We Eat by Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas - Food and business memoir, and I was inspired by Achatz's drive and creativity.
Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II by Mitchell Zuckoff - not usually a history fan, but I was hooked to find out what happened! Also read this one together with husband and it was fun as we got to discuss the book along the way.
Honorable mention: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua - Being Chinese, I could relate to some of it (lucky for me that I could not relate to ALL of it!)
Honorable mention: A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Lee Dugard - Just couldn't imagine what she had to go through when she was imprisoned for so many years, not just a stolen life, but a lost childhood.
Honorable mention: Maman's Homesick Pie by Donia Bijan - more food and memoir! I want to try out some of the recipes. Review to come!

Most disappointed books read in 2011:

Left Neglected by Lisa Genova - not a bad book, but I had such high expectation since I loved Still Alice. This book just didn't have the same impact on me and I didn't feel emotional like I did with Still Alice.
Where She Went (If I Stay #2) by Gayle Forman - also not a bad read by itself, but I really liked the first book If I Stay (also an emotional read for me) but this one fell short.

Yes it'd be here...

2011-12-31T00:59:00.000-06:00

Yes I'd do a best-of / end-of-year-recap post... but it is not ready yet because I am still trying to squeeze one last book in! I'm hoping I can finish tonight or tomorrow, but since we have a family event to go to tomorrow, I won't have time to post until later, or in 2012! :)

It has been interesting to read everyone's top list and stats!

Here were my reading goals for 2011 - come back later to see how I did!

Quality over quantity. If I can reach 100 books again for the 4th year in a row - fine. If not, I won't stress out much about it.
Read approximately half fiction and half non-fiction
Continue to blog every book, hopefully within a week
Let's see if I can stick to doing BTT every week!
Keep recommending books to others and encourage non-readers to discover the magic of books!
As much as I love my local library, I should at least read 10 of my own books... there are 170+ waiting...
Give audio books a try, while trying to exercise (bought an elliptical and have hardly used it... because I'd rather use the time to read instead... and I can't read it and use it at the same time. Perhaps audio books will help lower the opportunity cost)
Read 5 books with husband - he prefers audio books and I prefer reading. So to spend more quality time together, maybe we'll pick a book and I'll read to him instead. We did one book together last year and it seemed to work quite well. Since English is not my first language, he can correct my pronunciation too. Kill multiple birds with one stone :)
Read 5 books I won't normally choose. Even if I can't finish, at least give it a try.
Just enjoy reading... it shouldn't be a chore

What is Love...? Part 2

2011-12-13T23:26:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I saw an older couple who walked arm-in-arm. So sweet.

It reminded me of this other older couple I met many years ago. I was working at a fast food court in college, and the grandpa ordered two coffees for himself and grandma. I asked if they'd want milk or sugar with it.

He replied, "Two sugars for me, none for her. She's sweet enough already!" Awwww.

Came across this post today. Yes I know it's tempting to just see the pictures without reading the story first (can't help it, I'm a photographer even if I am not actively taking photographs. Guess once a photographer, always a photographer?) but trust me, do read the story, then the pictures become even more meaningful and emotional.

Yes I got teary. Yes there is still love like this among us.

(source: here)

What is Love...?

2011-12-12T00:35:00.000-06:00

Husband and I are really homebodies. Our typical day after work and on the weekend is pretty much the same every day - we're on our respective computers in our office, completed with the cat tree and where our 3 cats usually hang out.

He didn't go with me to Florida on my 3 days/2 nights trip. The last time we spent any nights apart was back in 2006 when I went to Mexico for 10 days with school. So it had been a while, even though we did the whole long distance relationship think from 1999-2004 (Minnesota/Illinois in the first year, then US/Australia the rest).

Anyway when I came back, he said he missed me... which was nice... until he said he was just bored without me there even though we were on the computers most of the time. Such a romantic isn't he! :p I guess he missed my clicking keyboard or me giving him "the talk"...

Book Review - Jane Was Here: A Novel by Sarah Kernochan

2011-12-11T23:32:00.001-06:00

Title: Jane Was Here: A Novel
Author: Sarah Kernochan
Year: 2011
Page: 318
Genre: Fiction

FTC Disclosure: A free copy from the Crazy Book Tours

Summary (from goodreads.com):
A mysterious young woman called Jane appears in a small New England town. She claims a fragmentary memory of growing up in this place, yet she has never been here before in her life. Searching for an explanation, she arrives at the unthinkable: that she is somehow connected to a beautiful girl who disappeared from the town in 1853. Is she recalling a past life? Jane becomes convinced of it. As she presses onward to find out what happened in this town over 150 years ago, strange and alarming things begin happening to some of the town's inhabitants. A thunderhead of karmic justice gathers over the village as Jane's memories reawaken piece by piece. They carry her back in time to a long-buried secret, while the townspeople hurtle forward to a horrific event when past and present fatally collide.

First Sentence:

The night is pale, humid, with a few begrimed clouds.

My Thoughts:

I have been trying to limit the number of ARC or blog tours due to my schedule. However, I was attracted to this book based on the blurb - past life? Karma? Possibly reincarnation? Sounds very interesting!

I was intrigued in the beginning of the book, wondering who Jane was. However, I soon lost interest because there were a lot of characters introduced, and so the storyline became choppy. Also, I didn't really care about any of the characters, so there was no incentive for me to keep reading.

I read some other reviews on goodreads to see if I was missing out on the story. Some said they really like part 2 because there were all letters written in the past, and talked about the background. I know this sounds silly, but this part of the book was all written in italic, and it was just very difficult for me read text in italic. If it was just a page or two, that might have been okay, but we're talking about 50 pages here. To me, font, font size, font style is all part of the reading experience so that just deterred me from trying further.

I think this story might be better told in movies. With the visuals, the plot might not be as jarring or jumping around so much. Later on I read that the author is a screenwriter / director, so I wonder if that's why I thought her writing style is better suited to that.

There are lots of good reviews out there though. In fact, don't forget to check out the tour! So far only one other tour post is written (as I'm 2nd on the tour) and it's VERY positive, so I really think it's just me. Unfortunately this one is just not for me. While I do prefer plot driven to character driven novels, I do have to at least feel something for at least one character.

Overall Rating:

0 Star. Did not finish. Just not my style. But check out the blog tours as I am very picky on what I read! So it's probably just me, and not the book.

The scheduled tour stops:
12/11/2011 -- Psychotic State Book Reviews
12/12/2011 -- Mental Foodie
12/13/2011 -- Tiffany's Bookshelf
12/14/2011 -- Book of Secrets
12/15/2011 -- Endlessly Bookish
12/16/2011 -- Sinnful Books
12/18/2011 -- Proud Book Nerd
12/19/2011 -- True Book Addict/Castle Macabre
12/21/2011 -- WV Stitcher
12/23/2011 -- Reader Girls

A little bit about Sarah Kernochan:

Sarah Kernochan received early acclaim for her Academy Award winning documentary Marjoe. She then recorded two albums for RCA as a singer-songwriter. In 1977, her first novel Dry Hustle was published. Returning to film, she scripted the the film Nine and ½ Weeks, Impromptu, Sommersby, What Lies Beneath and All I Wanna Do, which she also directed. She received a second Academy Award in 2002 for her short documentary Thoth. 2010 brought the re-issue of Dry Hustle as an ebook, and a third album of songs. 2011 brings us to Jane Was Here; Sarah’s first love and teenage ambition – a novel about reincarnation.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Argh!

2011-12-11T12:06:00.000-06:00

My old computer had a virus (plus it was an old computer), so I got a new computer not long ago, and finally everything was set up the way I liked it (esp since the new one has Window7, the old one had XP, so was still learning the differences).

Then my computer acted up last night and my techy husband had to reformat the hard drive and reinstall window because he couldn't fix whatever the problem was. So now I have to re-set everything and it's frustrating! It'd prob be a while before I can have it set up the way I like it again sigh.

I was also in Florida for 3 days for a conference earlier and was I sad to leave the perfect weather to come back to the cold! I did manage to finish one full book this week (instead of graphic novel, verse YA book, "scrapbook", Chinese books...) so that's an improvement as the last full length book I read was 3 weeks ago!

Will be posting a book review tomorrow as it's a blog tour...

Wham Bam Book Reviews - Did Not Finish

2011-12-03T19:49:00.000-06:00

I like what Tales of Whimsy did with her Wham Bam reviews (see here). Thought I'd try it for my Did Not Finish books - would help me catch up sooner!

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

Another book club pick. I was turned off by the Introduction section of the book - the author sounded arrogant and self-centered. I read the first couple of chapters and while the first chapter wasn't bad, it just didn't hold my interest. Some paragraphs were VERY long, and yet some pages were filled with just single line dialogs. If I didn't read the Introduction (which was long), I might have actually read a few more chapters of the book. In this case, first impression definitely made a difference, and it wasn't a good one.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

I know there were many good reviews of this book as many readers could reminiscent the 80s culture. While it started off interesting and I wanted to find out what happened, the 80s references were too much for me. I didn't grow up in the western world in the 80s (despite Hong Kong had quite a bit of western influences since it was a British colony) and I wasn't into gaming at all (I only played Prince of Persia and Breakout for a little bit), so I couldn't really relate or be nostalgic about it. I did like the main protagonist's voice, but just was not interested in the content. There were quite a few footnotes which were distracting. Also, if this was set in 2044 (33 years in the future), would people still be blogging or emailing and using laptop? Maybe people would still blog or email, but somehow I doubt laptop would still be in use...

Mirror Image (Daniel Rinaldi Mystery) by Dennis Palumbo

Found this while browsing the library. I thought I'd be interested in this one because the main protagonist, Dr. Daniel Rinaldi, was a psychologist who consulted with the Pittsburgh Police. But I had to stop around p82 - I didn't hate him, but he didn't grow on me and I just didn't really care what happened to him. Many characters were introduced but that was just it - no development. Granted, I didn't read that many pages but it was only 250 pages long so I'd already read 1/3 of it. It was actually the first in a series but it read as though you should already know who the characters were. Most reviews were good though and said it had good twists... but I was impatient.

The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta
I was intrigued by the premise of this novel - "What if—whoosh, right now, with no explanation—a number of us simply vanished? Would some of us collapse? Would others of us go on, one foot in front of the other, as we did before the world turned upside down?" I stopped about 60 pages because I got bored. It seemed to speak in a monotone. I also didn't really care about the characters I read so far... and the people who joined the cult after the Rapture all took up smoking even if they were totally against it before? It just didn't seem to make sense. I decided to checkout some 1 Star Goodreads review to see why people didn't like it, and to see if it was worthwhile to continue reading. I found a review that confirmed where I think the book was going, so I decided it's not worth my time... That's too bad, great premise, but not the execution style I like.

Best Kept Secret: A Novel by Amy Hatvany

Many reviews said this book read very real, even though this was fiction. I found that the author was a recovering alcoholic, so this was based on her own experience. It started off well, I could understand her guilt and pretense and avoidance, her love for her child, the fall out with the husband, and her relationship with her mother. However, I read about 1/3 of it and still nothing much happened... if you had follow my blog for a while, you know I prefer plot-driven than character-driven novel. I appreciate good characters, but I still need SOMETHING to happen instead of just their feelings and all. Also the story went back and forth between pre- and post- rehab without any clear indication of where the story time line was, and it got a bit confusing.

3 Cats

2011-12-03T17:01:00.002-06:00

Not their latest pic, but still want to post a picture of the 3 of them together :)

From L to R (adopted in order):

Kunik - thought to be Scottish fold, about 3 now? He was 1.5-2 years old when we got him. He really reminded me of this Japanese cat Maru (see blog) - they have similar markings and expression, though Kunik doesn't like boxes as much as Maru does. And Kunik is skinnier. We named him Kunik because he has a flatish face, but he still wanted to give us Eskimo kisses (nose-to-nose) and Kunik is the official term for Eskimo kisses. Sometimes I called him Kunnie.

Tallulah - about 3.5-4 years old now. We got her 2 weeks after we got Kunik but Kunik was missing his kitty friends at the foster mum's home. When we played cat videos on the computer, Kunik would try to find those kitties! They get along fine, but Kunik loves to play chase and wrestle, and Tallulah would only play for 5 seconds then she'd get annoyed... she's a lap cat, and loves food and neck scratches. When I thought saw her video from her foster mum, I thought she looked like a little wolf. But after we got her, she's more of a princess/diva lol. So I had to come up with a girly name for her.

Sesame - he was about 5 months old when we got him, so he's about 1.5 years old now and still act like a kitten! He's a Siamese -mixed. We got him 3 months after we got Kunik... we didn't plan to adopt a 3rd cat, but since Kunik really wanted a playmate, so we decided to try one more time, and luckily it worked as they love to play together. He definitley has the youngest-kid-I'm-a-spoiled-brat syndrome lol. He has a high pitch meow that sounds more like "eh?" (maybe he's actually Canadian instead of Thai?) and he loves to tilt his head to the side and looks at you all cute so you can't get mad at him even though he's the naughtiest. He's probably the smartest too. One of his toys fell behind a bookshelf from the top shelf (that has an open back), and some how he knew the toy was hidden behind the books so he pulled the books out of the bottom shelf to find the toy! The picture was taken when we first got him. He still looked very similar but with a bigger, rounder head now lol. And also he had more gray on his face and body.

Book Review - Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down by Irene Schram

2011-11-27T04:30:00.002-06:00

(image from amazon)

Title: Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
Author: Irene Schram
Year: 1972
Page: 192
Genre: Dystopian

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary:
I couldn't find a description anywhere on the web. Basically a group of young students (who were 9? 10? I don't remember now) and their teacher got kidnapped.

First Sentence:
Our whole class of students was on the grass, in the park, for a picnic: it was April and time for a picnic after a long winter full of weeks and months of rain, boring rain.

My Thoughts:

It seemed like not many people had heard of this book. I heard about it from a forum - someone remembered reading a book about a bunch of children got kidnapped with their teacher. S/he did not remember the name of the book, but the story left a lasting impression. S/he found out someone else online had the same experience. After some searching, they found out the name of the book. I was able to track down a copy from another library in our network.

The story was written in a diary format, from several different people. The voices were strong, especially since the main protagonist was a young girl who enjoyed writing. You could sense the innocence.

The book started out strongly, and was intriguing. It really made you want to find out what happened. Some commented that the plot was very violet and disturbing, especially given that the characters were young children. However, what made me give this book such a low rating was its ending, which I'd elaborate more in the next point, but it'd include spoiler.

[SPOILER]I found that the story didn't explain ANYTHING. It didn't explain why they were kidnapped, who kidnapped them, and the ending was very ambiguous, almost without an ending! So it was almost like an unfinished story. I agreed that the story line was memorable, but it was just frustrating, dissatisfying and disappointing when it read like an incomplete story. It was all about the journey, but without a cause, or a destination. Apart from the fact that PERSISTENCE was kept being brought up as a theme.[/SPOILER]

Quote:

You cannot laugh just because someone tells you to, can you. (p38)

Overall Rating:

1 Stars. Had a lot of potential but fell short. Seemed unfinished.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Happenings...

2011-11-26T03:16:00.000-06:00

I am in a reading slump AND blogging slump.

I am still reading, but very slowly. Only read when I am multi-tasking, e.g. when I am eating lunch, or feeding the cats (I have to sit there to watch them eat to make sure they only eat out from their own plate), or on the bus. Well I am reading Steve Jobs with my husband, but since I am reading it out loud to him, the speed is much slower (and boy, is my husband an Apple nerd or what? He knows a lot of the stuff already... so much so that he could finish the NEXT sentence before I even started at times...). I think my mind has just been preoccupied with other stuff, like watching TV series or movies, doing some online research about something (which could lead to something exciting if it came true)... There are lots of books I want to read, but have been holding off on reading them as I don't want to start and not be able to finish because of my slump (rather than not really liking the books.)

I took a week of work for a mental break earlier, and was really in a blogging mood. But after I got back to work, I got too busy again to blog...

Plus I have started a photography project with a friend, so will have to work on editing the photos, which takes a lot more time than shooting the photos. But it is something I am very excited about, as it is about giving back.

As for NaNoWriMo - I started a story (adult dystopian), but that's all I had done. Well, that's more than I'd ever written I suppose! I stopped because I am not ready to write this story yet - I guess I had wondered why some writers had said that (not ready to write a particular story) when I read about their writing processes, and never understood it until now. I have another story in mind though, so I'd start that sometime later, even if NaNoWriMo is coming to a close.

So I guess this November I'd just been "resting". But I guess we all need that sometime! And I am glad I have the luxury to rest.

Book Review - The Human Bobby: A Novel by Gabe Rotter

2011-11-17T05:12:00.001-06:00

Title: The Human Bobby: A Novel
Author: Gabe Rotter
Year: 2010
Page: 320
Genre: Fiction - Literary

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
A page-turning story of the unraveling of one man's seemingly perfect life, and his struggle to get it back.

First Sentence:
There's a staccato clicking sound in my head.

My Thoughts:

I have not seen a lot of reviews of this book, but from the few reviews, they all said the same thing - read it! I don't think I had seen a negative review. BermudaOnion's review was one of the first reviews I'd read, see here.

Seriously, if I saw this book in the library or book store, I would have NEVER picked it up. Not even to read the back description to see what it was about. Not based on the title. Not based on the cover. Really, if it wasn't for the other bloggers, I would have missed out on this brilliant book. This is such a shame that this book hadn't been given more attention when it came out last year. I had been meaning to read it for a while, but my library did not have it, and I finally found it from an inter-library in the network. After reading the book, the title made sense, but it's definitely not an eye-catching title. And the cover is related to the story (the yellow tent has its significance), but again, not eye catching. It looks gloomy. The cover reminded me of another literary fiction I didn't quite like - Caribou Island (see my review here with a cover picture.) I hadn't given it much thought about what the title should be, or what the cover should look like, but it is just unfortunate that this book might not have gotten a lot of attention based on this first exterior impression.

But yeah, I am going to echo all the other bloggers - READ IT! This will be one of my top 5 reads of 2011. I know, we still have 1.5 months to go, but I doubt it'd fall outside the top 5. It was a fast paced page turner, and I finished in 2 days. Would have finished it in one setting if I didn't have to go to work.

The book actually started on Chapter 31, which is rather unusual. I suppose it's like a prologue, but unlike the typical prologue, it didn't give up the ending, but rather connect the dot when you were about 2/3 through the story. It's almost a word-for-word repeat of Chapter 31, rather than just a hint of what was to come. I had to say though, after reading the book, this made sense, but when I first read it, it was a little confusing and this chapter was a little boring. So I was glad I didn't decide to drop the book based on this chapter alone (luckily it wasn't a very long chapter). After this chapter though, the rest was very easy to follow!

I don't quite know how to categorize this book - is it a literary fiction (since it said A Novel?) but it is so fast paced that it almost read like a thriller or suspense - after all, the protagonist's son went missing, and his life went from perfect to hell. And the plot twist was just brilliant - I thought I had it figured out, like who the kidnapper was, and I was right about that, but then I was also so wrong! I couldn't really tell you about it, or it'd spoil the fun. I couldn't really tell you which character I liked or disliked, because that'd give away too much! Seriously, this is definitely a book that the lesser you know, the better.

The tone of this book reminded me of This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper (read before blogging) or Domestic Violets by Matthew Norman (see my review here). But this one was better due to the plot, plus I just liked the characters better too. I liked its subtle humor (see quote below.) So if you like these two books, you'll probably like this. Even if you have never read these two books, you should still read this! I liked that this was written as a 1st person perspective, as you'd really get to know Bobby the protagonist.

I could see this book being made into a movie - how who should play Bobby? For some reason I can see Tobey Maguire or Jake Gyllenhaal.

I'd definitely read more of this author's work. This book was refreshing, and it had been a while since a fiction book excited me (I read this before Children of Paranoia, and that's another one I'd highly recommend, see my review here), that I can't wait to recommend to other people! Some people said they didn't quite like the ending, but to me, the ending was what makes this story so good. The reason it's not a 5 Stars is that I didn't get overly emotional. That speaks volume actually, for me to give a high rating to a book that doesn't make me cry!

Quote:

Shit, meet fan. (p114)

Overall Rating:

4.5 Stars. Read it, and enjoy the ride.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Dugard

2011-11-16T05:53:00.060-06:00

Title: A Stolen Life: A Memoir
Author: Jaycee Dugard
Year: 2011
Page: 268
Genre: Non-Fiction - Memoir

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
In the summer of 1991 I was a normal kid. I did normal things. I had friends and a mother who loved me. I was just like you. Until the day my life was stolen.
For eighteen years I was a prisoner. I was an object for someone to use and abuse.

For eighteen years I was not allowed to speak my own name. I became a mother and was forced to be a sister. For eighteen years I survived an impossible situation.

On August 26, 2009, I took my name back. My name is Jaycee Lee Dugard. I don’t think of myself as a victim. I survived.

A Stolen Life is my story—in my own words, in my own way, exactly as I remember it.

First Sentence:
Let's get one thing straight!

My Thoughts:

I wasn't living in the US when Jaycee went missing, so I wasn't aware of the news. However, I was living in the US when she was found, and I learned about her abduction then. When I found out she had written a book, I knew I had to read it - talk about a story stranger than fiction!

The book is not for the faint of heart - especially the first part of the book. It gave details, a lot of details, of what she went through. It would definitely be too graphic for some, especially given that this happened to a real person, and not a made up story. What made it more shocking was that she was written from her 11 yeas old perspective in the beginning of the book. She was scared and confused and didn't quite know what was going on. She didn't even know what rape meant. Could you imagine?

She was very honest, e.g., she said she didn't feel loved by her stepfather or her biological father.

I appreciated that in the beginning of the book, she "warned" the readers that the book might be jumping all over the place because she just wrote what she thought of. Usually I didn't quite like this writing style as I prefer a more linear timeline, but I was prepared, and it wasn't too confusing to follow. Even if it was confusing, well, she had a confusing life, to put it mildly.

Each chapter, she'd talk about her past, then it ended with a "reflection" passage from her current state of mind. It was quite introspective.

She also talked about why she did not try to escape [SPOILER] because she feared her daughters would be kidnapped if she was out in the big world, but she at least knew they would be safe in the backyard in the kidnappers' house... which was a bit ironic... [/SPOILER]

The book also talked about the therapy she received after she was found - a therapy that she found very helpful for her and her daughters, especially with the animal therapy as she loves animals. The therapist used her interaction with the animals to guide her to embrace her new found freedom

She didn't go into a lot of how the kidnapper Philip Garrido was arrested - [SPOILER] just that for some reasons he decided to bring the 'whole family' (His wife Nancy, Jacyee and Jaycee's 2 daughters) when he had to report to parole, and then somehow he just confessed? I had to google to find out exactly what happened. I guess from Jacyee's perspective, she probably didn't know much if she was in another room. [/SPOILER]

The story was a bit repetitive at times. Though it just drove home what a horrific life Jaycee had had prior to her escape. The title, A Stolen Life, couldn't have described it better.

Quote:

When I don't dare think, I dare to dream. (p62)

Overall Rating:

4 Stars. I couldn't imagine what she went through.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Iron House: A Novel by John Hart

2011-11-15T03:26:00.050-06:00

Title: Iron House: A Novel
Author: John Hart
Year: 2011
Page: 432
Genre: Fiction - Literary Thriller

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):

An old man is dying.
When the old man is dead they will come for him.
And they will come for her, to make him hurt.

John Hart has written three New York Times bestsellers and won an unprecedented two back-to-back Edgar Awards. His books have been called “masterful” (Jeffery Deaver) and “gripping” (People) with “Grisham-style intrigue and Turow-style brooding” (The New York Times). Now he delivers his fourth novel—a gut-wrenching, heart-stopping thriller no reader will soon forget.

HE WOULD GO TO HELL
At the Iron Mountain Home for Boys, there was nothing but time. Time to burn and time to kill, time for two young orphans to learn that life isn’t won without a fight. Julian survives only because his older brother, Michael, is fearless and fiercely protective. When tensions boil over and a boy is brutally killed, there is only one sacrifice left for Michael to make: He flees the orphanage and takes the blame with him.

TO KEEP HER SAFE
For two decades, Michael has been an enforcer in New York’s world of organized crime, a prince of the streets so widely feared he rarely has to kill anymore. But the life he’s fought to build unravels when he meets Elena, a beautiful innocent who teaches him the meaning and power of love. He wants a fresh start with her, the chance to start a family like the one he and Julian never had. But someone else is holding the strings. And escape is not that easy. . . .

GO TO HELL, AND COME BACK BURNING
The mob boss who gave Michael his blessing to begin anew is dying, and his son is intent on making Michael pay for his betrayal. Determined to protect the ones he loves, Michael spirits Elena—who knows nothing of his past crimes, or the peril he’s laid at her door— back to North Carolina, to the place he was born and the brother he lost so long ago. There, he will encounter a whole new level of danger, a thicket of deceit and violence that leads inexorably to the one place he’s been running from his whole life: Iron House.

First Sentence:
Michael woke reaching for the gun he no longer kept by the bed.

My Thoughts:

I read a lot of bloggers' good reviews on this one (see Charlotte's Web of Books' review here and Rhapsody in Books' review here) so I couldn't wait to read it!

The cover reminded me a lot of the The Passage by Justin Cronin - see here. Not identical, but close!

I thought, the title being Iron House, we'd learn more about the Iron House itself. It definitely played a role in the story, but not as predominate as I thought it'd be. I wish more of the setting was at Iron House since it was supposed to be this creepy place.

For a 400+ book, there actually was not a lot of action plot wise (I guess that's why this is called Iron House: A Novel, instead of A Thriller) - I guess for those who do not read a lot of the thriller / suspense genre, this book has a lot of action, but for those of us who do, usually more action is packed in a 300+ book :) However, I did like the author's writing because I was not bored, and I kept turning the page to find out what happened. This book really is more about families, than a real thriller.

Some parts of the novel might be too graphic for some readers, though those parts didn't bother me. In fact, I don't even remember now (3 months later) what those parts were...

Some plot twists were a bit too contrived and perhaps a bit unrealistic. While I did not guess all the twists, they were not so mind-blowing when they were revealed. The last chapter seemed to tie everything a bit too nicely, though I did appreciate the closure at the time (see, you can't please me - if you didn't wrap everything up, then it is too ambiguous for me! And if you tie everything up, then the bow is tied too nicely!) However, now that it's been 3 months since I read it, I remember the story, but not quite the ending... so the ending wasn't shocking enough for me to remember.

The characters were developed well, though I'd like to learn more about Jessup the bodyguard.

I had some questions about the book that I didn't feel the author answered: [SPOILER] (1) I was surprised that Abigail's mum didn't try to blackmail her or ruin her life (2) I was surprised that no one dug into Abigail's past, (3) I had to think about why, along with the 3 boys names, Salinda Slaughter and Abigail's name will be on the list? (4) This one isn't a question, but a comment - I was so bad, I thought Andrew Flint, the principal of the Iron House, was a pedophile, when in fact he turned out to be a good guy later on... my conspiracy mind was racing...

Some reviewers said that this is NOT John Hart's back book, perhaps I should try his earlier work.

After I finished this book, I thought it'd be a 3.5-4 Stars book. Now that it's been a few months, I'd decided on 3.5 Stars because there were some details I'd forgotten and so the staying power of this book wasn't as good as I'd hope it'd be. Also, later on I'd read Children of Paranoia (see my review here) which reminded me a bit of the Iron House - but I like Children of Paranoia better. Granted, I read Children a month ago, and this one 3 months ago, so maybe that's why I remembered Children better. However, Children's ending was more memorable and it also made me teary. I also liked the characters in Children better. Maybe it is not fair to compare these 2 books, but I guess what made me think of the two together were (1) both are love stories in disguise of a thriller (2) both protagonists were on the run / wanted to change for the better once they found Miss Right.

One thing this book made me think about - would we be happier if we know less? (Michael and Jessup seemed to have the most knowledge / know the most secrets, but also seemed the least happy)

Quote:

"Julian writes dark because the light he hopes to convey is so dim it only shows when everything around it is black." (p207)

But we can all live with doubts. It's the knowing that breaks us. (p414)

Overall Rating:

3.5 Stars. Enjoyed it, but the story didn't have as much staying power as I'd hoped, or it'd be 4 Stars.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright

2011-11-14T02:50:00.069-06:00

Title: The Wednesday Letters by
Author: Jason F. Wright
Year: 2007
Page: 304
Genre: Fiction - Family

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
Their story begins with one letter on their wedding night, a letter from the groom, promising to write his bride every week—for as long they both shall live.

Thirty-nine years later, Jack and Laurel Cooper die in each other's arms. And when their grown children return to the family B&B to arrange the funeral, they discover thousands of letters.

The letters they read tell of surprising joys and sorrows. They also hint at a shocking family secret—and ultimately force the children to confront a life-changing moment of truth . . .

First Sentence:
Shortly after 11:00 P.M., Laurel slid under the maroon comforter and into bed next to her husband, Jack.

My Thoughts:

A while back I asked if anyone has any "happy" books to recommend because my friend doesn't like to read sad books. Tea Time With Marce recommended this book (see her review here). I thought I'd read it too since I do like a good love story every now and then.

I read this 3 months ago, and I took notes. But I had already forgotten a lot of the story/characters by looking at my notes because now I don't remember exactly what some of my notes meant! I need to take better notes... like who the characters were instead of just their names!

It was a fast read, but it also read like a Hallmark movie. The twists and turns were quite contrived. But there was a mystery that was not clearly explained, or maybe I was to dumb to figure it out. I'll include my questions in spoilers. [SPOILER] in my notes, I wrote whether Rain's son was Malcolm or Nathan - did Rain get raped too like Laurel? It didn't go into details why Jack hated his twin brother Joe that much. The whole Malcolm/Nathan fighting over Rain was a bit predictable. [/Spoiler]

The relationship between the mum (Laurel) and dad (Jack) was quite sweet. Their children though, Matt, Malcolm and Samantha, were not as likable - perhaps because there weren't a lot of character development for these minor characters. I wish we knew more about the neighbor Anna Belle as she seemed like an interesting character, or Aunt Allyson (though I now do not remember much about her at all)

I thought this would be a more emotional and touching read. At times it got preachy, and perhaps had a bit too much Christian reference (note I do not have a religion, and am not against religion. But I just don't like preachy books, regardless of what religion it is. I think the "lessons learned" or the message can come across through a story without being preachy).

It was a cute idea to have the epilogue in an envelop (some reader missed that - so if you are going to read the book, don't forget to look at the last page / back cover, and look for the envelop!)

I did like the title and the cover of the book. Very fitting and eye catching.

The one thing I really did like about this book though, is that it did make me want to start writing my husband a weekly letter (or better yet, have him write me!) My husband and I actually met online (NOT on a dating site... those sites weren't even in existence then!) so we were like electronic pen-pal for a year before we met in person. We had a long distance relationship (I was in Australia and he was in the US, except the first year when I was an exchange student in Illinois, US) for 5 years before we got married. When I was in Australia, we saw each other once a year then, so we relied on email to communicate. I missed those days - well okay I don't miss the part about us being so far away from each other, but I miss his emails. Oh, those days when I kept refreshing my email to see if "You've got mail!" And how worried I was if I didn't hear from him each day, as my mind automatically thought that something bad happened to him.)

Quote:

Time is a powerful cue. (p276)

Overall Rating:

2 Stars. I really liked the premise, but didn't quite like the delivery.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

What's been happening...

2011-11-14T00:27:00.000-06:00

I took last week off work - I needed to use up some vacation time, but I also was ready for a break (an extended mental health day... I guess that'd be a mental health week?) I wasn't overly stressed, just that I'd been working hard without much of a break for a while. I had plans to clean up the house, or just sit around to read, or maybe work on my NaNoWriMo story.

I ended up doing absolutely nothing. Well that's a lie, I actually ended up catching up on book reviews/blogging. That's why you saw so many posts from me in the past few days because I was in the mood to write (but not in the mood for NaNoWriMo). I posted 15 reviews this week, have 4 scheduled to go in the next few days, and I still have 20 to do yet (5 DNF, 4 Non-Fiction, and 11 Fiction). But at least I am half way there! For a while I thought I won't be able to catch up by the end of the year, but I think I might just be able to. Now if I'd continue to write at least 1-2 per day I should be able to catch up in no time!

I wasn't in the mood to read at all... so far in November I'd finished 2 books only and we're almost half way through the month. To date, I'd read 84 books (62 fiction, 22 non-fiction, and 14 DNF). I doubt I can make it to 100 as I'd done in the past few years. Unless I read a lot of YA or graphic novels... but I am not going to do that just to reach a number. If I am in the mood to read a YA, I will(I do have one that I want to read, but not sure if I'd read it this year or next.) I did read 4 graphic novels already (3 were in a series) and that's enough for me for now. So I will just read what strikes my mood, and if I don't want to read, then so be it. There are times I wish I could just sit and read all week long, but I guess this week I really just wanted a break, and be lazy. I know it's a luxury. But I needed it.

Now I am ready to go back to work tomorrow!

Book Review - Life, on the Line: A Chef's Story of Chasing Greatness, Facing Death, and Redefining the Way We Eat by Grant Achatz, Nick Kokonas

2011-11-13T09:53:00.147-06:00

Title: Life, on the Line: A Chef's Story of Chasing Greatness, Facing Death, and Redefining the Way We Eat
Author: Grant Achatz, Nick Kokonas
Year: 2011
Page: 320
Genre: Non-Fiction - Memoir

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
"One of America's great chefs" (Vogue) shares how his drive to cook immaculate food won him international renown-and fueled his miraculous triumph over tongue cancer.

In 2007, chef Grant Achatz seemingly had it made. He had been named one of the best new chefs in America by Food & Wine in 2002, received the James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef of the Year Award in 2003, and in 2005 he and Nick Kokonas opened the conceptually radical restaurant Alinea, which was named Best Restaurant in America by Gourmet magazine. Then, positioned firmly in the world's culinary spotlight, Achatz was diagnosed with stage IV squamous cell carcinoma-tongue cancer.

The prognosis was grim, and doctors agreed the only course of action was to remove the cancerous tissue, which included his entire tongue. Desperate to preserve his quality of life, Grant undertook an alternative treatment of aggressive chemotherapy and radiation. But the choice came at a cost. Skin peeled from the inside of Grant's mouth and throat, he rapidly lost weight, and most alarmingly, he lost his sense of taste. Tapping into the discipline, passion, and focus of being a chef, Grant rarely missed a day of work. He trained his chefs to mimic his palate and learned how to cook with his other senses. As Kokonas was able to attest: The food was never better. Five months later, Grant was declared cancer-free, and just a few months following, he received the James Beard Foundation Outstanding Chef in America Award.

Life, on the Line tells the story of a culinary trailblazer's love affair with cooking, but it is also a book about survival, about nurturing creativity, and about profound friendship. Already much- anticipated by followers of progressive cuisine, Grant and Nick's gripping narrative is filled with stories from the world's most renowned kitchens-The French Laundry, Charlie Trotter's, el Bulli- and sure to expand the audience that made Alinea the number-one selling restaurant cookbook in America last year.

First Sentence:

On June 8, 2008, I flew to New York to attend the James Beard Foundation Awards.

My Thoughts:

I love food, I love reading how chefs become chefs. I guess I never thought about food being both an art and a science before, but once I learn more about it, food is like magic. I have heard of the restaurant Alinea before (you can read a brief description on wiki here or go to the restaurant's website). I think I first heard about it because I was browsing different cooking blog, and stumbled upon this one - Alinea At Home - which is quite impressive because of the ingredients and technique used in these dishes. I didn't know a lot about Alinea apart from browsing their website, read a few reviews and saw a few pictures. When I saw this book on my library's new catalog, I was intrigued - especially, "Facing Death"? What do they mean?

I really enjoyed this memoir - it was a bit of a memoir, a bit on the chef's creativity, and a bit on their restaurant business history and model. The chef, Grant Achatz, wrote the majority of the book, and this business partner, Nick Kokonas wrote part of it relating to the business and a bit about his own personal journey. Some people wondered why Nick was included, as they just wanted to learn more about food and Grant as a chef. But i like to hear Nick's perspective too, because really, without Nick, there is no Alinea. Or quite possibly it'd be a different restaurant altogether. I doubt it'd be the same because Nick let Grant had his vision, and Nick just made it happen.Another business partner might not have let that happen. Or Grant may not have enough financing to open his restaurant until a later date.

I think both authors were honest in their stories - the ups and downs they went through. I liked that Grant was grateful with the previous chef / mentor he worked with - Thomas Keller. I wish we all get to have a mentor like him. I admired people who teach and share their knowledge selflessly. He was also appreciate of another restaurant owner he worked with - Henry Adaniya at Trio, who did not restrict Grant's creativity. E.g. I never would have imagine a dish like this - it is a fish dish, but it is served in a bowl within a bowl. They'd place some flowers in the outer bowl, and the fish in the inner bowl. Once it's served, they'd add hot water to the bowl the flowers is in to release the scent of the flowers. He created this because it reminded him of the time when they'd eat walleye fish at a picnic with his family, where they could smell the flowers while they ate. Could you imagine - combing the visual, smell, taste, and texture all together? And most of all, it brought back his fond memories with his family.

After reading this book, it made me want to try Alinea in the near future, or at least sometime before I die (assuming I won't die too soon!) It is quite pricey for its tasting menu, which sometimes last for hours, but I am sure it'd be an experience - and that was what Grant envisioned. A new eating experience. It also made me want to borrow his cookbook though I know his technique is way beyond my skill level. I also want to eat at The French Laundry (Grant's mentor, Thomas Keller's restaurant in Napa), and Charlie Trotter's in Chicago even though Charlie wasn't the same mentor like Keller (Grant worked in his restaurant before going to Keller's, and let's just say it wasn't as positive of an experience.)

I just really loved reading about people's passion, dreams and their success stories (well the difficulties and failures too - so we could all learn from them). Interestingly, some of their "best practice" is also what we do at work in the health clinic - e.g. on their restaurant opening date, they limited the number of reservations/tables they'd serve, even if it meant they would not be making as much money, just so they could work out the kinks. We do the same when we open a new clinic or move to a new location, so that if something did not work, we did not impact the patients too much.

I teared up when I read the part where Grant went through his medical journey (I had no previous knowledge about it) and that was where part of the subtitle, Facing Death, came in.

I wish though that Grant would have elaborated more on his thought processes on creating his dishes. He talked about some (see the flower/fish example above) but I just wished he'd talk a little bit more. But I supposed this might be intellectual property. I did find this video online that talked about "bouncing flavors" - about how he thought of pairing two (or more) unusual flavors together.
I also wish the book would include more pictures of the food, and the serviceware designed especially for the food (not just for looks, but for functional reasons). It had some, but mostly in black and white. So I had to go google for some more photos - you can see the design of the servicewear by Marin Kastner here - very fascinating. You can also find pictures of the food they served when the first opened here - a visual feast in itself. You can see more pictures of the "food lab" (where they are trying out different ideas) here.

I also learned something new - Alinea is the only Michelin 3-Star restaurant that doesn’t have tablecloths on their black wooden tables, which presented the unexpected problem of table condensation (when serving water). Therefore, the staff calibrates the water to a specific temperature to avoid unsightly water. See the little details they thought of?

They had since opened a new restaurant called Next - the concept is very differently and recently they decided to devote it to childhood favorites - this is a fun video to watch (darn, I just found that the video had been removed due to some music copyright issue - but you can read about it here on Michael Ruhlman's blog. I have read a couple of Michael's books - though not his books on chefs/food, but do check them out as he is listed on my "read more" authors. I had read Walk on Water: The Miracle of Saving Children's Lives and House: A Memoir. I read these books before I knew he specialized in writing food! The first one was about pediatricians and the second one was about the fun and tears of renovating his historical house. Both were great reads.)

I also found a great article about this book here. I didn't know that this book was rejected by 5 publisher first because it didn't fit into the traditional 1st person memoir. I am glad that the 6th one accepted it because this is going to be one of my favorite reads in 2011.

Wow, did I write a long post or what! If it is not clear already - read this book especially if you are into food! It definitely make me appreciate eating at restaurants even more - all the hard work the chefs and the team put into putting something together for us to enjoy.

Quote:

Chef Keller always talked about thinking "big picture." He drilled that into all of the cooks at The French Laundry. With the tripe, he knew that if he showed us the right way to prepare it, he would be passing down not just a recipe but also a philosophy of cooking. (p77)

"I want to create an experience that is based on emotions. I want people to be excited, happy, curious, surprised, intrigued, and even bewildered during the meal." (p137)

Overall Rating:

4.5 Stars. I am hungry after reading this. But I am also inspired.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

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

2011-11-12T09:27:00.061-06:00

Title: The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott
Author: Kelly O. McNees
Year: 2010
Page: 343
Genre: Fiction

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
Millions of readers have fallen in love with Little Women. But how could Louisa May Alcott-who never had a romance-write so convincingly of love and heart-break without experiencing it herself?

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.

First Sentence:
Louisa May Alcott approached the ticket window of the Boston passenger station clutching a large case and a black parasol.

My Thoughts:

This was our book club choice for August. Not something I'd normally pick, but I was curious. I read Little Women a long, long time ago (Chinese version) so I only remember the gist but not the details. I liked it back then though, especially since I have 2 younger sisters, so sisterly stories appeal to me.

The first half of the book was a bit slow, and took me a few days to read; whereas the 2nd half, once the "decision" happened, it took me just a few hours, and stayed up late to finish.

This book was written more like a YA book and the plot was a bit simplistic. I did shed a few tears and my heart ached for Louisa and Joseph. I think I identified with the choice that Louisa/Joseph had to make - Love Vs Family Responsibility, so I felt for them. For myself, by choosing love, I had to leave my family to move to another country, thereby leaving my family responsibilities behind. It was a tough decision and sometimes it made me feel guilty since Chinese are big on family responsibilities... family-before-self... so that part really touched me. At the same time, I am career-minded, so I could relate to Louisa in that aspect.

As for the other characters, I didn't really like Louisa's dad Bronson or her mum Abba/Marmee either. Louisa was kinda cranky and didn't really act like a 22 years old sometime. The oldest sister Anna had a great relationship with Louisa, but the other 2 sisters, especially Lizzie, were not mentioned much. I wish it elaborated more on the sister relationship.

I was also hoping it would go into a little bit more details on how she wrote the Little Women. But that part was really brief.

I didn't think the prologue was necessary since it gave away too much. Another pet peeve - I don't usually like foreshadowing - even if it's just 2 paragraphs ahead of time, e.g., Louisa would always think back on his expression, the look of a boy, really, just a boy, unaware that in a moment his life would change forever (p160). Then went on to explain the decision that changed the boy's life forever. I think it just took the surprise away.

I liked the concept of the book - what if? What happened? (Since the real Louisa Alcott was rather private). From our book club discussion though, we questioned whether it was ethical to do so since it was almost making up stories about someone famous, which might, or might not be true. I guess some people might forget that this was fiction and not non-fiction, and take this as the truth.

Quote:

My definition [of a philosopher] is of a man up in a balloon, with his family and friends holding the ropes which confine him to earth and trying to haul him down - Louisa May Alcott, Her Life, Letters, and Journals (p33)

Tragedy cannot be measured out and compared on a scale. Loss is loss. (p324)

Overall Rating:

3 Stars. I liked it okay, but did not love it.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Megan's Way by Melissa Foster

2011-11-11T06:42:00.104-06:00

Title: Megan's Way
Author: Melissa Foster
Year: 2009
Page: 304
Genre: Fiction - Women

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
What would you give up for the people you love?

When Megan Taylor, a single mother and artist, receives the shocking news that her cancer has returned, she'll be faced with the most difficult decision she's ever had to make. She'll endure an emotional journey, questioning her own moral and ethical values, and the decisions she'd made long ago. The love she has for her daughter, Olivia, and her closest friends, will be stretched and frayed.

Meanwhile, fourteen-year-old Olivia's world is falling apart right before her eyes, and there's nothing she can do about it. She finds herself acting in ways she cannot even begin to understand. When her internal struggles turn to dangerous behavior, her life will hang in the balance.

Megan's closest friends are caught in a tangled web of deceit. Each must figure out how, and if, they can expose their secrets, or forever be haunted by their pasts.

First Sentence:
Megan and Holly ran, weaving their way through the crowds of the carnival and hollering to hear over the thick cheer that permeated the festive evening.

My Thoughts:

Tea Time with Marce really enjoyed this book (see her review here) and I was in the mood for a sappy book so I picked up this one from the library.

One review I read said that this book is like a sappy lifetime movie - I had to agree. It was not something I'd usually watch, unless I was really in the mood. This read a bit like a YA book. There were parts of this book I really like, but there were other parts I didn't quite like - even though I was in a sappy mood, but my usual non-sappy mind still came out while I read this. Let's talk about the part I did not like first - note, I'll include spoilers because it was too difficult to explain if I don't.

The story included some diary entries and letters. I typically like that, but in this story, it got a bit repetitive since the messages were pretty much the same.

I also could not connect to the characters - though there were parts of it still made me cry. Many of the characters in the book, female or male, cried a lot. I got that it was a sad story, but it got repetitive. The same for Megan's daughter, I got that she got angry sometimes, but that again got repetitive. Maybe if I read a bit slower or over a longer period of time, I wouldn't feel the repetitiveness as much. When you read a book in a short time, you tended to see the whole book instead just parts of it.

The following were some questions I had about the book, that I wish would have been answered more - see, I told you my usual overly logical or practical mind came out... I liked closures in books, that's why I don't typically do well with ambiguity in books (I have no problem dealing with ambiguity at work, as that just comes with the territory and we don't have control over everything, but stories are different since the author had control to include or not include something)

[SPOILER] (1) if Holly knew or suspected that Megan was dying, why didn't Holly tell Jack to go to Megan's birthday ritual since she knew how much it meant for Megan to have all her friends there? (2) if Megan and Lawrence had such a strong attraction, why would Megan go away that weekend and did what she did? (3) Holly's secrets.. seemed a bit far fetched regarding what happened with Peter and the baby switch... (4) the strong connection between Megan and Olivia seemed a bit unrealistic - I guess you hear about that with twins though, so I suppose it could happen with mother/daughter... (5) I was not sure about the timing - when did Holly get pregnant? Megan came back from "Italy" after 3 months, and saw Holly and Jack being in love, it didn't mention Holly was pregnant. Then both Holly and Megan were pregnant at the same time, and gave birth around the same time , and the 2 girls looked so much alike - wouldn't one baby be at least 3 months older than the other unless of course Holly got pregnant straight away when she and Jack got together... but I didn't get that impression? I suppose Holly could have gotten pregnant a month or two after Megan, but then her baby would have been a premmie. (6) It also seemed like all the 4 friends had such a strong friendship and yet there were so many secrets among them - is it possible to have such a strong friendship still given all the guilt they have? [/SPOILER]

I liked that the books had lots of twists, but some of them seemed a bit contrived and they way they were delivered were a bit anti-climatic as they were revealed "just like that" without a lot of built up.

What I did REALLY like about this book, was the strong bond between the mother/daughter, and the amazing friendship Megan had with her friends - that made me envy her. I guess I am always one who would rather have a few close friends than a big group of less close friends.

And the book really made me think - if I had terminal cancer, would I choose to fight or spare the loved ones seeing me deteriorate when it's 99% inevitable?

Quote:

Megan realized that there was a certain fear when one brought life into the world, and a completely different type of fear when one prepared to die (p120)

Overall Rating:

3 Stars. There were parts I really liked about this book (and made me get teary), but my mind was overly analytical about some other aspects of the story.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Tomato Girl by Jayne Pupek

2011-11-10T18:34:00.000-06:00

Title: Tomato Girl
Author: Jayne Pupek
Year: 2008
Page: 298
Genre: Fiction - Family

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
For eleven-year-old Ellie Sanders, her father has always been the rock that she could cling to when her mother's emotional troubles became too frightening. But when he comes under the thrall of the pretty teenager who raises vegetables and tomatoes for sale at the general store that he runs, Ellie sees her security slowly slipping away. Now she must be witness and warden to her mother's gradual slide into madness.

Told from Ellie's point of view, Tomato Girl takes the reader into the soul of a terrified young girl clinging desperately to childhood while being forced into adulthood years before she is ready. To save herself, she creates a secret world, a place in which her mother gets well, her father returns to being the man he was, and the Tomato Girl is banished forever. Tomato Girl marks the debut of a gifted and promising new author who has written a timeless Southern novel.

First Sentence:
Today is market day.

My Thoughts:

Tea Time with Marce recommended this book (see her review here) and I was intrigued.

This is definitely more of a character driven novel, but the characters seemed very real. The story was written from Ellie's perspective and she definitely had a strong voice. You can't help but fall for this little girl, and you wanted to be able to reach in to rescue her from all the problems her family placed on her shoulders.

Ellie's mum was a tragic figure, and you'd have a love-hate relationship with her dad. But if you put yourself into her dad's shoe, it'd definitely make you less critical and wonder what you'd do if your spouse has a severe mental illness. Tess, the teenager girl, again is another love-hate character - you feel bad for her but you may not agree with her actions but then again, what would you have done if you were her?

I would have loved to learn more about Mr Morgan (dad's boss and the store owner) and particularly, Clara and Jurichco - I wish we knew more about them and their magic (was it really magic? Or not?) As of now, we kinda just get a taste of these characters but I think they could have been elaborated more as I thought they'd play a more important role in Ellie's life.

The writing was easy to read. The ending also seemed a little rushed though (PS - now 3.5 months later, I can't quite remember how it end exactly...?). Some may find some content a little disturbing but it didn't bother me because it fit the story.

Oh and Jellybean - what a cute name for a pet chick!

While I was googling to see what other books the author had written, I found that she had passed away in 2010. I couldn't find out how she died though... but what a shame.

Quote:

I have heard Mama say there is nothing more disappoint than an ordinary life, but I don't know. Sometimes an ordinary life is what I want most in the world. (p43)

Anytime things get too hard, you draw yourself a door and step on the other side, you hear? You are always safe on the other side of the door. (p71)

"Remember what I said about your mother being like a lily caught in a hurricane? And the only way we can help her is to keep the wind and water around her calm. Understand?" (p98)

Whenever I have a hard day, I curl up in Mama's quilt and dream my troubles away. You give each worry you have to one of the stars. Remember that. Don't matter how many worries you got because there are always more stars than worries." (p212-213))

The one good thing about standing in the rain is nobody can tell you've been crying. (p243)

Overall Rating:

3.5 Stars. A good read. I wish a couple of characters were elaborated more. The ending was a little rushed.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Creep by Jennifer Hillier

2011-11-10T17:52:00.001-06:00

Title: Creep
Author: Jennifer Hillier
Year: 2011
Page: 357
Genre: Fiction - Murder / Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
Pulsing with the dark obsession of Radiohead’s song “Creep,” this taut thriller—Jennifer Hillier’s superb debut—rockets from its seductive opening to a heartpounding climax not easily forgotten.

If he can’t have her . . .

Dr. Sheila Tao is a professor of psychology. An expert in human behavior. And when she began an affair with sexy, charming graduate student Ethan Wolfe, she knew she was playing with fire. Consumed by lust when they were together, riddled with guilt when they weren’t, she knows the three-month fling with her teaching assistant has to end. After all, she’s finally engaged to a kind and loving investment banker who adores her, and she’s taking control of her life. But when she attempts to end the affair, Ethan Wolfe won’t let her walk away.

. . . no one else can.

Ethan has plans for Sheila, plans that involve posting a sex video that would surely get her fired and destroy her prestigious career. Plans to make her pay for rejecting him. And as she attempts to counter his every threatening move without her colleagues or her fiancé discovering her most intimate secrets, a shattering crime rocks Puget Sound State University: a female student, a star athlete, is found stabbed to death. Someone is raising the stakes of violence, sex, and blackmail . . . and before she knows it, Sheila is caught in a terrifying cat-and-mouse game with the lover she couldn’t resist—who is now the monster who won’t let her go.

First Sentence:
1st - Three Months.

My Thoughts:

I first heard about this book from Charlotte's Web of Books (see her review here). I am always on the look out for new author in the murder / mystery / thriller / suspense genre and I like that the protagonist is a psychology professor (I was a psych major). Besides, my favorite author in this genre, Jeffery Deaver, gave this endorsement: "top-of-the-line thriller writing. you beter call in sick, because you're not going anywhere until you finish reading."

This is a pretty good debut! Though it was a bit predictable - I did not guessing everything, but when the truth was revealed - though it was different and not quite what one would have expected - it wasn't as big of a twist as I thought it would be because there were hints along the way and so my suspicion was confirmed. [PS, now it's been 3.5 months since I'd read this book, and I don't quite remember what happened... this is not atypical of my usual experience with this genre since I read it for fun, but I mostly forget about the plot soon after... it was fun guessing while it lasted. PPS - I read some other reviews, and now remember what happened. So the story didn't have much saying power, but when I was given some clues, I remembered. ]

I actually did not quite like the protagonist, and some of her issues were not wrapped up [SPOILER] daddy's issue [/SPOILER] so I wonder if it is set up to be a series, especially since the ending is set up to be one.

Not a bad read, and it'd interesting to see if this turns out to be a series.

Overall Rating:

3 Stars. Decent debut.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

2011-11-10T00:19:00.000-06:00

Title: What Alice Forgot
Author: Liane Moriarty
Year: 2011
Page: 412
Genre: Fiction - Women

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
What would happen if you were visited by your younger self, and got a chance for a do-over?

Alice Love is twenty-nine years old, madly in love with her husband, and pregnant with their first child. So imagine her surprise when, after a fall, she comes to on the floor of a gym (a gym! she HATES the gym!) and discovers that she's actually thirty-nine, has three children, and is in the midst of an acrimonious divorce.

A knock on the head has misplaced ten years of her life, and Alice isn't sure she likes who she's become. It turns out, though, that forgetting might be the most memorable thing that has ever happened to Alice.

First Sentence:
She was floating, arms outspread, water lapping her body, breathing in a summary fragrance of salt and coconut.

My Thoughts:

I read At Home With Books' review (see here). The premise sounded very interesting - I don't know what it is, but it seems like there are a lot of "memory loss" books out this year? E.g. Before I Go To Sleep, Forgotten (YA, I won a copy but haven't read yet). Well, I am definitely interested in memory loss books because the plot line can be so different for each story! A lot of room for creativity.

I was hoping this was not going to be too chick-lit like. I read another review that said the first part was so-so, the second part was really good, and the last part was excellent. Nay. The general story line was not bad, but it was WAY TOO LONG. It would be a stronger story if it was shorter. The story was interesting enough that made you kept on reading to find out what happened, but the author deliberately made it longer, e.g. Alice might remember a fragment of someone or something, but nobody would tell her what it meant, they just told her she wouldn't want to know... it got old when it keeps happening.
The story was mostly told in 3rd person about Alice, but it included Elizabeth's diary and Frannie's letters.The subplots about Alice's sister and grannie were also unnecessary - in fact, I don't even remember what happened to them now, a few months after I read this book.

One thing I did really like about the book - it made me evaluate my relationship with my husband - no, we don't hate each other and don't have any plans to separate at all, but we've definitely settled into the companion phase of the relationship, like an old married couple. Why couldn't we have sustained how we felt about each other when we first met, you know? We've become so comfortable with each other (not that it's a bad thing) that those "makes you heart races" moments become rare... I know it is normal for this type of relationship (learned enough from my college psych classes) but still, sometimes I miss the honeymoon phases.
The story definitely did make me wonder what it'd be like if I were to lose 10 years of memories tomorrow...

Another blogger review I read (see here) was wondering what some Australian slang mean, e.g. lollies, Freddo Frog. I am glad I haven't forgotten my Aussie slang :)

Overall, the story was interesting, and the relationship about Nick and Alice seemed quite realistic. But it would be a much, much strong book had it been at least 100 pages shorter. And well, make it a bit less predictable. But that's the problem I have with most chick-lit or women's fiction.

Quote:

It seemed truly frightening that it was only by sheer chance that she had met Nick. It could so easily not have happened, and then she would have had a shadowy, half-alive existence, like some sort of woodland creature who never sees sunlight. (p77)

I asked if you thought Sarah looked even more beautiful than usual that night, and you said, "Alice, I could never love anyone the way I love you,' and I laughed and said, "That wasn't the question,' but it was the question, because I was feeling insecure, and that's what you said. (p232)

But maybe every life looked wonderful if all you saw was the photo albums. (p291)

Overall Rating:

2.5 Stars. Would be a stronger book if it was shorter.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Joy For Beginners: A Novel by Erica Bauermeister

2011-11-09T23:45:00.000-06:00

Title: Joy For Beginners: A Novel
Author: Erica Bauermeister
Year: 2011
Page: 288
Genre: Fiction - Women

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
At an intimate, festive dinner party in Seattle, six women gather to celebrate their friend Kate's recovery from cancer. Wineglass in hand, Kate strikes a bargain with them. To celebrate her new lease on life, she'll do the one thing that's always terrified her: white-water rafting. But if she goes, all of them will also do something they always swore they'd never do-and Kate is going to choose their adventures.

Shimmering with warmth, wit, and insight, Joy for Beginners is a celebration of life: unexpected, lyrical, and deeply satisfying.

First Sentence:
Life came back slowly, Kate realized.

My Thoughts:

Rhapsody in Books highly recommend this book (see her review here). I really liked the premise of the story, so I decided to read this. Well, or tried to read it as I could not finish it.

There were many positive reviews out there for this book, so I think it is really just me. I just can't seem to like Women Fiction. I don't know if that's because I don't connect with the characters or that I am not a girly-girl or what, but these books usually bore me. I read the first 92 pages and I had had enough. After the introductory chapter, each following chapter was about one of the 6 friends and what their dare was. I just got bored reading 40 pages about each of these women - e.g. [SPOILER] a woman who tried to find courage to box up her husband's stuff after he left for a younger woman, or another 40 pages about another woman who tried to learn to make bread [/SPOILER]. Their stories were just too predictable.

So yeah, most female readers would probably like this book. It's just me being difficult :)

Overall Rating:

0 Star. Did Not Finish. I was bored.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Never Knowing: A Novel by Chevy Stevens

2011-11-09T23:27:00.000-06:00

Title: Never Knowing: A Novel
Author: Chevy Stevens
Year: 2011
Page: 416
Genre: Fiction - Murder / Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
From the acclaimed author of STILL MISSING comes a psychological thriller about one woman’s search into her past and the deadly truth she uncovers.

All her life, Sara Gallagher has wondered about her birth parents. As an adopted child with two sisters who were born naturally to her parents, Sara’s home life was not ideal. The question of why she was given up for adoption has always haunted her. Finally, she is ready to take steps and find closure.

But some questions are better left unanswered.

After months of research, Sara locates her birth mother—only to be met with horror and rejection. Then she discovers the devastating truth: her mother was the only victim ever to escape a killer who has been hunting women every summer for decades. But Sara soon realizes the only thing worse than finding out about her father is him finding out about her.

What if murder is in your blood?

Never Knowing is a complex and compelling portrayal of one woman’s quest to understand herself, her origins, and her family. That is, if she can survive…

First Sentence:
I thought I could handle it, Nadine.

My Thoughts:

I read Still Missing last year, and quite enjoyed it (see my review here). When this book came up, I was curious to see what the author would do, since the psychologist was the common character between the 2 books (both protagonists told their story to the same psychologist).

It was a fast read, and the premise was very interesting - what would you do, if you find out your real father (whom you don't know anything about) was a serial killer? Would you want to meet him? Would you rather not? It definitely made me think "what if".
At over 400 pages though, the story was a little long, especially since not a lot happened. There were some twists in the end, but I was able to guess some of them (not every single one, but could see where the story was going)
I also didn't like the characters as much in this book and they seemed a bit stereotypical. So overall, not a bad read but I preferred Still Missing, which had a stronger voice.

The title of the book is fitting, and I quite like the cover. I wonder if the author would continue would this format of her future books (another protagonist consulting the same psychologist, Nadine, who actually do not play a big part of the story. Maybe we'd hear from Nadine some day?)

Quote:

You said my obsessions were passions, that my intensity were a powerful gift, that my determination was admirable. That what I considered my weaknesses could also be my greatest strengths. If John is a mirror that reflects back my worst distortions of myself, then you're a mirror that reflects that good. (p302-303)

Overall Rating:

3 Stars. Not bad. Liked Still Missing better.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - The Silent Girl (Jane Rizzoli & Maura Isles #9) by Tess Gerritsen

2011-11-09T23:13:00.000-06:00

Title: The Silent Girl (Jane Rizzoli & Maura Isles #9)
Author: Tess Gerritsen
Year: 2011
Page: 336
Genre: Fiction - Murder / Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
Lorraine Bracco loves The Silent Girl, saying "She did it to me again! I can't get anything done when Tess puts out a new book and this one caught me as I was starting work on Season 2 of "Rizzoli & Isles." So instead of memorizing my lines, I was sucked up into Boston's Chinatown with Jane, Maura, and company and could not put this one down. Just like the other books. Every time. And to top it off, now I have to wait for the NEXT one to come out--you're killing me, Tess! So good..."

No one takes readers to the dark side and back with more razor-sharp jolts and sheer suspense than the storytelling master behind Ice Cold and The Keepsake. When New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen has a tale to tell, put yourself in her expert hands—and prepare for the shocks and thrills that are certain to follow.

Every crime scene tells a story. Some keep you awake at night. Others haunt your dreams. The grisly display homicide cop Jane Rizzoli finds in Boston’s Chinatown will do both.

In the murky shadows of an alley lies a female’s severed hand. On the tenement rooftop above is the corpse belonging to that hand, a red-haired woman dressed all in black, her head nearly severed. Two strands of silver hair—not human—cling to her body. They are Rizzoli’s only clues, but they’re enough for her and medical examiner Maura Isles to make the startling discovery: that this violent death had a chilling prequel.

Nineteen years earlier, a horrifying murder-suicide in a Chinatown restaurant left five people dead. But one woman connected to that massacre is still alive: a mysterious martial arts master who knows a secret she dares not tell, a secret that lives and breathes in the shadows of Chinatown. A secret that may not even be human. Now she’s the target of someone, or something, deeply and relentlessly evil.

Cracking a crime resonating with bone-chilling echoes of an ancient Chinese legend, Rizzoli and Isles must outwit an unseen enemy with centuries of cunning—and a swift, avenging blade.

First Sentence:
All day, I have been watching the girl.

My Thoughts:

I have been reading all the Rizzoli and Isles books, so it's only natural that I pick up this one.

This book was written in 1st person from one of the character's perspective, then 3rd person from Rizzoli/Isles. I was disappointed that Dr Isles did not play a big role in this story, so there were not a lot of forensic details. I was hoping there were more interaction between Rizzoli and Isles.

Rat, from a previous book, was also briefly mentioned. And I wish there were more interactions between him and Dr Isles too. But I guess that was not the main story line.

I was able to guess the direction and some twists of the story, and it was a fast read. However I felt that some of the sub-plots were not really wrapped up or fully addressed - the readers may be able to guess what was implied, but did not know for certain

[SPOILER] I was reading some readers' comments and they thought it was a bit far fetched regarding "an animal" in the story. I think because I am Chinese, and have read enough king fu books (think Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon type of novels, which are very popular), I knew what the author was hinting at and it's NOT a paranormal story. It's a type of martial arts... hard to explain... if you have watched Crouching Tiger, remember people can walk up the wall really easily, or walk through the top of the trees really fast? It's that. [/SPOILER]

Overall, still a fun read. Has more Chinese elements than the previous novels (Tess Gerritsen is Chinese-American). I just wish it has a bit more forensic science in it.

Quote:

"It's not what you need to do," I reply. "It's what you need to be." (p9)

"Grandma, she'd pitch a fit if I tried to leave the house wearing ripped jeans, because she didn't want people to think all Chinese were slobs. I grew up with the burden of representing an entire race every time I stepped out of the door." (p68)

Overall Rating:

3 Stars. Okay read - not her best but not the worst.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi

2011-11-09T20:31:00.000-06:00

Title: Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window 窗邊的小徹, 窗邊的小荳荳, 小徹在學校裏, 愛心教育
Author: Tetsuko Kuroyanagi 黒柳徹子
Year: 1981 (1984 in English)
Page: 232
Genre: Memoir

FTC Disclosure: I bought this one

Summary (from goodreads.com):

This engaging series of childhood recollections tells about an ideal school in Tokyo during World War II that combined learning with fun, freedom, and love. This unusual school had old railroad cars for classrooms, and it was run by an extraordinary man-its founder and headmaster, Sosaku Kobayashi-who was a firm believer in freedom of expression and activity.

In real life, the Totto-chan of the book has become one of Japan's most popular television personalities-Tetsuko Kuroyanagi. She attributes her success in life to this wonderful school and its headmaster.
The charm of this account has won the hearts of millions of people of all ages and made this book a runaway bestseller in Japan, with sales hitting the 4.5 million mark in its first year.

First Sentence:
They got off the Oimachi train at Jiyugaoka Station, and Mother took Totto-chan by the hand to lead her through the ticket gate.

My Thoughts:

I hardly ever re-read books. I read this book, in Chinese, when I was a kid and loved it. I had re-read the version multiple times, though the last time I read it was probably 15-20 years ago. I left that book for my sister when I moved to the US. Since there are no Chinese bookstores nearby, and for one reason or another I never looked into Chinese online bookstore, I found an English version on ebay instead. I bought it a while back, and never got around to reading it. A few years later, I was thinking about this book and totally forgot I already bought a copy, so I bought it off ebay again. I didn't know until later when I organized my bookshelf... Even after buying the 2nd copy, I didn't read it until this year when I had the urge to read it again.

I was almost a bit afraid to re-read in case it didn't live up to the expectation - sometimes, memories are better than reality. Plus I had never read the English version before, so I didn't want to be disappointed because of the translation (granted, it was originally written in Japanese, so my Chinese version was still a translation...)

But I should not have worried. I still loved this book. This was based on the author's childhood around WWII, the majority of the book was so full of innocence, but the end of the book was heartbreaking. The author (or Totta-chan as she was affectionately known as) was just the cutest girl who was so loving, loyal and creative. I loved the stories about her and her classmates and her dog. Her parents were just so understanding. But most of all, my absolutely favorite was the Principal of the school she went to, Sosaku Kobayashi. He inspired me to be an educator, and I remember I SOOO wished I could have gone to his school, and have teachers like him. He didn't follow the traditional teaching method, instead, he taught in a way that made learning fun. He wanted them to have a balance in their school subjects - so they had music, dance, library, sports, field trips to experience real people's lives (e.g. farmers) and so forth. This is all that more amazing since this was based on a true story.

The book was a series of stories. Even though I don't like to read short stories, I have no problem with this book since the characters are still the same. My favorite story was Sports Day - and it really demonstrated the Principal's love for the children - he designed the games himself, so that the children who suffered from physical disability could also participate. He didn't want any children to feel disadvantaged or suffer low self-esteem because of it. And the price for winning? Fresh vegetables! How brilliant is that?

The English version also had an epilogue - I don't recall this section in the Chinese version (the English version I had was published in 1996). It talked about what happened to everyone in the book years later, and I appreciate knowing as I had been wondering all these years! It also included an author's note, where she talked about why she did NOT want to make this into a movie despite all the offers she had.

This is a book I highly recommend. Even after all these years, it is still a 5 Stars book for me. I hardly ever gave 5 Stars. I still cry when I read parts of the book. I still wonder why we couldn't have better educational system. I am still inspired.

Quote:
No quote, because I'd be quoting the whole book.

Overall Rating:

5 Stars. Can't get any better.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

2011-11-09T19:47:00.000-06:00

Title: Middlesex
Author: Jeffrey Eugenides
Year: 2003
Page: 529
Genre: Fiction - Literary

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
"I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day of January 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of l974. . . My birth certificate lists my name as Calliope Helen Stephanides. My most recent driver’s license...records my first name simply as Cal."

So begins the breathtaking story of Calliope Stephanides and three generations of the Greek-American Stephanides family who travel from a tiny village overlooking Mount Olympus in Asia Minor to Prohibition-era Detroit, witnessing its glory days as the Motor City, and the race riots of l967, before they move out to the tree-lined streets of suburban Grosse Pointe, Michigan. To understand why Calliope is not like other girls, she has to uncover a guilty family secret and the astonishing genetic history that turns Callie into Cal, one of the most audacious and wondrous narrators in contemporary fiction. Lyrical and thrilling, Middlesex is an exhilarating reinvention of the American epic.

First Sentence:
I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day in January of 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of 1974.

My Thoughts:

This was our book club choice for July. I've read some good reviews before, but never picked it up because I didn't think it was my type of books. I was right. I stopped at p34. Some may say 34 pages are not enough to judge a book. They might be right, but I just couldn't get into it. I kept having to flip back to the previous page to re-read what I just read. I just could not stand the thought of struggling 560+ pages

Chapter 1 was actually kinda interesting, especially the part about the silver spoon to see if the baby is a boy or girl. Chapter 2 focused on the grandmother when she was a young girl in Greece, and I just lost interest in this chapter.

Most of the book club people really liked it, except my friends and myself lol. But the book club people tend to be less harsh than I am :)

Overall Rating:

0 Star. Did not finish.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - I Am Not A Serial Killer (John Cleaver #1) by Dan Wells

2011-11-09T19:21:00.000-06:00

Title: I Am Not A Serial Killer (John Cleaver #1)
Author: Dan Wells
Year: 2010
Page: 272
Genre: Fiction - Young Adult, murder / mystery / thriller / suspense

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
John Wayne Cleaver is dangerous, and he knows it.

He’s spent his life doing his best not to live up to his potential.

He’s obsessed with serial killers, but really doesn’t want to become one. So for his own sake, and the safety of those around him, he lives by rigid rules he’s written for himself, practicing normal life as if it were a private religion that could save him from damnation.

Dead bodies are normal to John. He likes them, actually. They don’t demand or expect the empathy he’s unable to offer. Perhaps that’s what gives him the objectivity to recognize that there’s something different about the body the police have just found behind the Wash-n-Dry Laundromat---and to appreciate what that difference means.

Now, for the first time, John has to confront a danger outside himself, a threat he can’t control, a menace to everything and everyone he would love, if only he could.

Dan Wells’s debut novel is the first volume of a trilogy that will keep you awake and then haunt your dreams.

First Sentence:
Mrs Anderson was dead.

My Thoughts:

I chose this book because Tea Time with Marce loved it (and the rest of the trilogy - see her review here). I love the title and love reading about serial killers - so how could I say no? :) I liked the cover design too.

The book started out really well, I could identify with John (even though he is a teenage boy) - okay I don't think I am a sociopath (well I guess since I have never been evaluated I can't say whether I am or I am not for certain :) but I have an interest in criminal psychology and related stuff - that's why I like reading murder/mystery, love watching shows like CSI, Bones, Numb3rs etc. I have no desire to kill (hey, when playing paintball with my friends once in college, I was in hiding more often then shooting someone!) but I like to learn more about what goes through their mind. I think John was a well developed and memorable character, you could feel his struggle between good vs evil and you couldn't help but feel bad for him

Then around 100 pages, IT happened. IT made me go WTF? I thought there's surely a way to explain IT, but there will be a twist to tie things together or explain why IT happened. But nope, IT is IT. (NOTE - I am calling it "IT" because I read a review on goodreads that called it IT, and I thought IT is rather appropriate! Has nothing to do with Stephen King's book... ) Now for those of you who are on the fence about this book, but really don't mind some spoilers to see if this book is for you - here's the spoiler: [SPOILER] IT = a demon / monster. Yes a non human one. So this turns out to be a supernatural / paranormal book... which I totally was not prepared for since I don't usually read this genre - I had read some vampires and zombies YA but they just aren't really for me unless there is a good explanation... [/SPOILER]

It was a fast read, and apart from John, I also liked the other characters, especially Dr Neblin, but they weren't quite as well developed (e.g. his mother, aunt and sister). But since this is the first book of a trilogy, maybe these characters would grow. However, due to the IT element, I don't think I will continue with the series...

I haven't done any author interview, but after reading this book, I felt for the first time a need to ask the author, why IT? I haven't contacted the author... maybe I should? Or maybe he had already answer this question in another author interview?

Note - I finally watched the first episode of Dexter, and this book had been compared to Dexter due to the topic. The first episode of Dexter was really slow... so I didn't finish the rest of the season. Some said Season 2 is better? I had read the first of the Dexter book, which I thought was just okay.

Quote:

But you have to remember that predictors are just that -- they predict what might happen, they don't prophesy what will happen. (p3)

"The central question of psychological profiling... is not 'what is the killer doing,' but 'what is the killer doing that he doesn't have to do?'" (p62)

Overall Rating:

3 Stars. Would have been higher if it didn't have IT (see review above to learn what IT was).

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante

2011-11-09T02:20:00.001-06:00

Title: Turn of Mind
Author: Alice LaPlante
Year: 2011
Page: 304
Genre: Fiction

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
Dr. Jennifer White, a brilliant former surgeon in the early grips of Alzheimer's, is suspected of murdering her best friend, Amanda. Amanda's body was found brutally disfigured — with four of her fingers cut off in a precise, surgical manner. As the police pursue their investigation and Jennifer searches her own mind for fractured clues to Amanda's death, a portrait emerges of a complex relationship between two uncompromising, unsentimental women, lifelong friends who were at times each other's most formidable adversaries.

First Sentence:
Something has happened.

My Thoughts:

I had high hopes for this book (mistake #1) as I thought it'd be like Still Alice by Lisa Genova since the protagonist had Alzheimer's. I also thought this would be a thriller / suspense since someone was murdered (mistake #2). This is more of a literary fiction than thriller / suspense / murder / mystery - the genre I typically love - it is more of a story about what it would be like if you or someone you know have Alzheimer's, and there happened to have a death, rather than a who dunnit. Keep that in mind or you would be disappointed.
I read this book about a month after I read Before I Go To Bed (see my review here) - and there were some cross over between those books, but mostly because both dealt with memory loss. However I did like Before I Go to Bed better because there were more action (despite repetitious). The twist of this book was almost anti-climatic - when the big twist was revealed, I didn't have an a-ha moment, as it was already expected that a twist would be coming along.

I also didn't care for characters - unlike in Still Alice, where I really was rooting for Alice and hoped a miracle would happen (even though that would be totally unrealistic, and would be too cheesy if it did happen). But in this book, I really didn't really care. Partly I think is because of the writing - there were no quotation marks used for dialog. The whole book was very fragmented - I know this format was used to show what went through the Alzheimer's patient's mind, but it was very stream-of-consciousness-like, and I just do not like this style.

The story was told from Dr Jennifer White's perspective, so the readers got a sense of what it would feel like if you have Alzheimer's. However you didn't really get a sense of the other characters since Dr White was deteriorating and didn't remember much, like who Mark and Fiona, Jim, Amanda and Pete, Magdalena or Detective Luton were. Dr White and Amanda were supposed to be best friends but I didn't understand their friendship and what lead them to become best buddies. I also didn't really explain why Mark and Fiona turned out the way they did.

Due to the protagonist's disease, the story line was jumping all over the place from past to present without any indication - again, it was to show the impact of this disease, but at times it was just confusing for the readers.

Despite not liking the characters or the plot much, it did make me feel scared about having dementia - whether it was myself or loved ones having it. It is a very cruel and scary disease, especially for the family. I liked the premise of this book, but I just didn't like its execution or writing style. I think this book may have been beneficial to be told from more than 1 perspective, so that the other characters would get a chance to develop. As of now, due to the way the story is told, the readers feel distanced from all the characters, especially when Dr While was not very likeable. So I was not emotionally pulled in. It was just like reading someone else's story, rather than a friend's story.

Title fits the story, and I quite like the cover. If I remember right, it was on metallic paper so I loved the sheen

Quote:

He refers to what we do as the Two Circular Steps. Step One is admitting you have a problem. Step two is forgetting you have the problem... I would even add a third step: Step Three is remember that you forget. Step Three is the hardest of all. (p10)

What is worst than betrayal? Losing your sight. Losing the use of your arms. Just about any physical affliction or deformity. (p77)

Overall Rating:

2 Stars. Interesting premise, but execution fell short.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - The End of Everything by Megan Abbott

2011-11-08T20:00:00.000-06:00

Title: The End of Everything
Author: Megan Abbottx
Year: 2011
Page: 256
Genre: Fiction

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
Thirteen-year-old Lizzie Hood and her next-door neighbor, Evie Verver, are inseparable, best friends who swap clothes, bathing suits, and field-hockey sticks and between whom -- presumably -- there are no secrets. Then one afternoon, Evie disappears, and as a rabid, giddy panic spreads through the balmy suburban community, everyone turns to Lizzie for answers. Was Evie unhappy, troubled, or upset? Had she mentioned being followed? Would she have gotten into the car of a stranger?

Compelled by curiosity, Lizzie takes up her own furtive pursuit of the truth. Haunted by dreams of her lost friend and titillated by her own new power as the center of the disappearance, Lizzie uncovers secret after secret and begins to wonder if she knew anything at all about her best friend. MEGAN ABBOTT has taught literature, writing, and film at New York University and the State University of New York at Oswego. In 2002, Palgrave Macmillan published her nonfiction study, The Street Was Mine: White Masculinity in Hardboiled Fiction and Film Noir. She is also the author of the Edgar Award -winning Queenpin.

First Sentence:
She, light-streaky out of the corner of my eye.

My Thoughts:

I wanted to read this book after reading BermudaOnion's review (see here). She loved it, even though she said it was a bit creepy. But this sentence, "It’s a book that will really make you think and question what you see." sold me.

I'd say it up front - I don't like this book AT ALL. Mostly because of the content, but I did not like the writing either. I even had to re-read the first sentence (see above), not a good start. Some reviewers described her prose as lyrical - definitely not my style (State of Wonder by Ann Patchett may have been an exception for me as I was drawn in with her "lyrical" writing. My review here). I glazed over parts of the book, or I found myself reading the book and not really taking it in and having to re-read paragraphs... and that happened quite a few times throughout the book. I just couldn't really get engaged or absorbed in the story. I thought about giving up but somehow didn't as I wanted to find out what happened. Should probably have given in because her writing was the least of my problem

The protagonist was a 13 years old girl, but her voice sounded way older. While the premise was about a missing girl (which was why I was interested in reading, being a thriller lover), nothing much really happened until the last 20 pages. I really wouldn't call this a thriller / mystery / murder / suspense at all. Some called it a coming-of-age story, and well since I don't really like reading this genre, I'd just trust their opinion. Several reviews compared it the Lovely Bones but I have not read that book or watched the movie, so I couldn't compare.

The plot also seemed not quite plausible - unless the cops were really incompetent. The ending was okay since it was a twist and involved a "what if" scenario so that did make you think.

But the content really disturbed me and made me uncomfortable - and this is coming from someone who typically do not get disturbed reading about serial killers or body parts being dissected or internal organs spilling out. I guess we all have different level of tolerance on different topic. In this case, I don't think anyone under 18, especially girls, should read this book. While it is NOT graphic, it is what is implied that is disturbing. If I have a daughter I wouldn't want her getting ideas. It made me question why the author decided to write this book - what was her goal? What was the message she was trying to deliver? My first reaction after finishing this book was disgusted. Granted, things like this story may happen in real life, but I still wonder about the author's motivation on writing such a book. I'd elaborate a little bit more but will put in a spoiler tag in case you don't want to know: [SPOILER] a reviewer called it a reverse of a pedophile story, and I agreed. This is about 13yo girls' desire to get older men's attention (male figures related to them or not), and this is to put it mildly. [/SPOILER]

There are LOTS of very positive reviews of this book out there though, so it's probably just me. And this topic just touched my nerve I guess and made me feel uneasy. Some reviewers also said those who like psychological thrillers or crime novels would love it. I want to know if my fellow-bloggers who are into murder/mystery/suspense/thrillers genre would agree.

Overall Rating:

1 Star. Not for me at all because of the content. Also too slow-paced and too "lyrical" for me.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Odd Jobs by Ben Lieberman

2011-11-08T19:04:00.000-06:00

Title: Odd Jobs
Author: Ben Lieberman
Year: 2011
Page: 252
Genre: Fiction - Thriller

FTC Disclosure: Elaine Krackau from PR by the Book contacted me and asked if I'd like to receive a copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review

Summary (from goodreads.com):
Ten years ago, Kevin Davenport's life was rocked after witnessing the murder of his father. It's tough enough growing up without a father, but now there's not enough money to support himself, his mother and college tuition. But Kevin doesn't give up so easily. He never gets the luxury of a "normal job" and is always on the hustle. And this time is no different. He finds himself working in the corrupt Kosher World Meat Factory, a gritty business controlled by a crime syndicate and filled with a bizarre cast of characters who start turning up dead. Things are never as they seem as Kevin begins to get a little too involved in the lives of hardened criminals. Soon enough, he finds himself in a battle for his life.

First Sentence:
Just when I thought I could pull it off, I let out a double tequila burp.

My Thoughts:

I picked this book because the premise sounded exciting. I am always on the look out for new thriller authors! Endorsement from James Patterson didn't hurt either.

This is a fast-paced novel, however, it may be a bit too fast that there is not much character development.
Some of the plots also seemed a bit unrealistic and everything tied in too perfectly. So in the end I was not very engaged either in the character or the story. When the big twist was revealed about Kevin's dad, I wasn't all that surprised.

I am probably not the target audience - I think this book may be more suitable for college aged males, more like a dude-thriller (the protagonist is an early twenty-something).

The part I liked the best was probably the relationship between the protagonist and his "mentor" - it is great to read about those kind of relationship, I just wish it was elaborated more - the friendship, loyalty and the rest

This book seemed to be set up as a series though, so maybe more character development will emerge

The book title stood out, and fit the story. The cover was pretty typical of this genre though, and not something I'd have picked from a line up.

Overall Rating:

2 Stars. I am not the target audience.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Posts about chocolate

2011-11-03T23:23:00.000-05:00

I have been meaning to post about the different chocolate I tried. Finally got around to it. Then of course I didn't get to post a lot of the other ones I tried.

I am no expert, so I just gave a brief review so I can keep a record of what I have tried, and whether I'd buy them again or not for my own reference!

I like milk chocolate. I don't really have a favorite but generally prefer Belgium chocolate.

Chocolate - Bovetti Milk Chocolate with Caramel & Fleur de Sel

2011-11-03T23:17:00.001-05:00

Bovetti Milk Chocolate with Caramel & Fleur de Sel
$4.95
50g / 1.75 oz
France

Couldn't find a picture of the exact bar from their website, but it looks pretty (forgot to take a picture) - I like the see-through window in the packaging (you can see some pictures of this particular bar on google here). It tasted fine, but didn't really taste the caramel so it wasn't gooeyly sweet.

Buy again? Maybe.

Brittle - Sir Francis Bacon Peanut Brittle

2011-11-03T23:09:00.001-05:00

Sir Francis Bacon Peanut Brittle
I threw away the box, so don't know how much each box was. Around $6-7.
3oz
Bought from local gourmet store

Tasted more bacon than other "baconly sweets". It has chucks of bacon rather than diced. It wish it was slightly sweeter to balance our the saltiness of the bacon. I like Vosges Mo's Milk Chocolate Bacon Bar better.

Buy again? Probably not.

Chocolate - Askinoise 62% Dark Milk Chocolate + Fleur de Sel

2011-11-03T23:01:00.002-05:00

Askinoise 62% Dark Milk Chocolate + Fleur de Sel
$9.95
85g / 3oz

Springfield, MO
Bought from local gourmet store

I like the brown paper bag packaging. While it said it is dark milk since it's just 62%, it tastes more dark than milk. It was okay, I don't remember much about it...

Buy again? I saw on their website that they have a 55% Malted Moo Moo™ Milk Chocolate (a limited edition). So I'd probably try that but not buy this one again.

Chocolate - Poco Dolce: Bittersweet Olive Oil Sea Salt Bar

2011-11-03T22:54:00.001-05:00

Poco Dolce: Bittersweet Olive Oil Sea Salt Bar

$6.5

50g/1.763 lz

San Francisco

Bought from local gourmet store.

I prefer milk chocolate to dark or white chocolate. This was "bittersweet" but I was intrigued by having olive oil as an ingredient

I am not a chocolate expert at all but I really like the texture of this chocolate, unlike other texture I'd had. Some described it as velvety and I guess that's a good way to describe it. Maybe it's because of the olive oil? I can't really taste the olive oil though. And don't really taste the saltiness from the sea salt. It's not bitter which is good for me. The foil it was wrapped in almost feels like fabric (not quite, but not as brittle as other foil paper...)

Buy again? Will bring this brand again, but not sure if I'll buy this flavor again yet... I like trying new ones. But at least I know it's a good one to go back to.

NaNoWriMo.

2011-10-31T23:46:00.000-05:00

NaNoWriMo.

http://www.nanowrimo.org

National Novel Writing Month (i.e. November).

Have you done it? Are you doing it this year?

I heard about it for a couple of years now, and I am still deciding whether to do it this year (still have 20 minutes to decide! :)

At one point in my life, I did want to be a writer, but the story sounded so much in my head than on paper (it was in Chinese though). One of the "50 things to do before I die" on my list is to write a book, regardless of subject, so we'll see if that can ever be achieved.

If I do decide to give it a try this year, it really isn't to finish a novel (I am not that naive!) but to see if I can develop a habit or writing. To see if I have the discipline to do so (ha! maybe I'd procrastinate on writing and go on to exercise instead! See? No discipline here...) And to go experience what authors really do. I know I don't give a good rating to all the books I read, but as I stress, it's me, not the author or their book, that's the problem.

Just as I don't like every painting out there. Just as my clients don't like every image I photograph. Just as I don't like every dish I eat at restaurants.

But it doesn't mean I can't try it to see what they have to go through - e.g. many people think photographing a wedding is easy. Let me tell you it really isn't. Click the shutter is easy, but there are a lot of behind the scene stuff that non-professionals don't think about.

If I do try, I don't really have anything planned out like I see many people do. I think that'd deter me at this stage.

Makes me wonder how many avid readers secretly want to be an author :)

A Little Bit About Me

2011-10-24T23:16:00.001-05:00

I don't really do any meme - I don't have the discipline. When I saw this one at Lost in Books, I thought it might be fun to participate since I haven't really shared anything personal before, and I found it's a great way to get to know someone a little bit more!

Age:
34

Bed Size:
Recently changed from Queen to King when we were in need of a new mattress. Now our room looks so small lol!

Chore that you hate:
Cleaning...

Dogs:
I don't think I'd ever be a dog owner (though I never thought I'd be a cat-mama either...) Husband is allergic to dogs. But if I really have to pick one, I'd choose the big, gentle dogs who aren't hyper lol.

Essential start to your day:
Hot shower to wake me up.

Favorite colors:
I don't really have one... it depends on my mood and depends on what it is.

Gold or Silver:
I can wear both. I like rose gold also because one the first ring I had was my grandmother's rose gold band (she died way before I was born.)

Height:
5'4

Instruments you play:
I learned how to play the piano since I was 4 or 5. I learned the violin for a couple of years but I am bad at it. I learned to play the drums for fun for a year, but too hard to perfect it when you don't have a drum kit to practice on (I "made" my own drum kit using telephone books... but it's not the same)

Job Title:
Analyst / Internal Consultant in a health care institution. Photographer (though I am putting my photography business on sabbatical since my analyst job is keeping me too busy).

Kids:
None... still deciding... unless you count our 3 kittie-kiddies.

Live:
Minnesota (about 7 hours NW of Chicago in the US). Or as they say, Many-snow-ta.

Mother-in-Law's name:
Start with a J. In fact, husband's whole family has a J first name.

Nicknames:
None... even husband calls me by my first name.

Overnight hospital stays:
When I was born.

Pet Peeves:
Probably too many to list, but I can't really think of one that makes me really annoyed. I usually forget about it soon after.

Quote from a movie:
The only one I remember is "I see dead people"? :p (and no, I don't)

Right or Left handed:
Right

Siblings:
2 younger sisters

Time you wake up:
Depends if I have early meetings or not... if I have 7am meeting I need to get up at 5:45am to catch the bus. On the weekend, I just sleep till whenever my body wakes up. I am a night owl...

Underwear:
Yes I wear them :p

Vegetable you hate:
It's a Chinese vegetable and I don't remember what it's called (in either Chinese or English... after googling, I wonder if it is "Garland Chrysanthemum" or "Tong Ho"... tastes like metal :p)

What makes you run late:
Not wanting to get up (night owl, remember...)

X-Rays you've had:
Chest/lung, teeth. The teeth one makes me gag :p

Yummy food that you make:
Ice cream! I can't really cook (though I want to learn) but I can make pretty good ice cream, thanks to David Lebovitz's The Perfect Scoop ice cream recipe book! I used to feel indifferent about vanilla ice-cream, until I made it myself using vanilla bean. Better than even Ben & Jerry or Häagen-Dazs! Love green tea ice cream. I even modified the recipe to make black sesame ice-cream (you can tell I am Asian since I love green tea and black sesame everything :)

Zoo animal:
Ummm... don't really have a favorite?

Book Review - Night Road by Kristin Hannah

2011-10-23T20:11:00.000-05:00

Title: Night Road
Author: Kristin Hannah
Year: 2011
Page: 385
Genre: Fiction - Women

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
For a mother, life comes down to a series of choices.
To hold on…
To let go..
To forget…
To forgive…
Which road will you take?

For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children’s needs above her own, and it shows—her twins, Mia and Zach—are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable.

Jude does everything to keep her kids safe and on track for college. It has always been easy-- until senior year of high school. Suddenly she is at a loss. Nothing feels safe anymore; every time her kids leave the house, she worries about them.

On a hot summer’s night her worst fears come true. One decision will change the course of their lives. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget…or the courage to forgive.

NIGHT ROAD is vivid, emotionally complex novel that raises profound questions about motherhood, identity, love, and forgiveness. It is a luminous, heartbreaking novel that captures both the exquisite pain of loss and the stunning power of hope. This is Kristin Hannah at her very best, telling an unforgettable story about the longing for family, the resilience of the human heart, and the courage it takes to forgive the people we love.

First Sentence:
She stands at the hairpin turn on Night Road.

My Thoughts:

I haven't read Kristin Hannah before, but Tea Time with Marce convinced me to give this one as try as she gave it 5 stars (see her review here)!

I don't know if it's because I am not a mum, but women's fiction, as well as chick lit, just don't really appeal to me :( I found the story too predictable. The prologue gave away too much.

I also thought the characters were too stereotypical. At first I did like the mum Jude (even if she was a little over protective, but I think if I was a mum I would be too) but then she became unlikeable. I suppose if she was too likable then it became unrealistic too.

The writing was easy enough to read, so that's a plus.

This book did get lots of good reviews, so I think it's just me not liking family drama. This seems too much like a Hallmark/Lifetime movie. Though I did get slightly teary eyed a little.

Quote:

But i know that justice and revenge are two different things. (p204)

Overall Rating:

2 Stars. A bit too predictable for me.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon

2011-10-23T18:26:00.000-05:00

Title: Don't Breathe a Word
Author: Jennifer McMahon
Year: 2011
Page: 447
Genre: Fiction - Murder / Mystery / Thriller / Suspense

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):

On a soft summer night in Vermont, twelve-year-old Lisa went into the woods behind her house and never came out again. Before she disappeared, she told her little brother, Sam, about a door that led to a magical place where she would meet the King of the Fairies and become his queen.

Fifteen years later, Phoebe is in love with Sam, a practical, sensible man who doesn’t fear the dark and doesn’t have bad dreams—who, in fact, helps Phoebe ignore her own. But suddenly the couple is faced with a series of eerie, unexplained occurrences that challenge Sam’s hardheaded, realistic view of the world. As they question their reality, a terrible promise Sam made years ago is revealed—a promise that could destroy them all.

First Sentence:
If you are holding this book in your hands, you are one of the chosen.

My Thoughts:

I read the author's other book, Dismantled: A Novel, and liked it fine (see review here). When I read about this new book from goodreads' newsletter, it sounded creepy enough that I wanted to give it a try! Isn't the cover haunting?

The story started out creepy as promised, and definitely kept you guessing until the almost the very end... then the ending, particular the last page, just confused the heck out of me that I still wasn't quite sure what happened? Maybe I am too linear that I don't like ambiguous ending. Such ending just does not provide enough closure for me.

At 447 pages, this book probably was 100-150 pages too long. The story could have been faster-paced.

While I couldn't guess the minute details, I was able to guess the overall direction of the book. So when the twist was revealed, it lacked impact.

[Spoiler] Also, they made it sounded like the name Elton was an important twist, but it was never explained? [/Spoiler]

Overall, just an okay read... could have been better.

Quote:

Didn't everyone want that? Have a secret longing to be more special than the guy next door? Didn't everyone secretly wish there was another world you could find a doorway to, step inside, and become a queen? (p400)

Overall Rating:

2.5 Stars. Could have been shorter. The ending could have been better.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale by Carolyn Turgeon

2011-10-23T18:07:00.000-05:00

Title: Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale
Author: Carolyn Turgeon
Year: 2011
Page: 240
Genre: Fiction - Fairy Tale

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
The story of two very different women, one mortal, one mermaid, and the clash between worlds best kept apart... It is a cold day at the end of the world when a young woman, a princess in hiding, looks out across a Northern sea and sees something she could not have seen. It looks...it can't be. It looks like a mermaid's tail. And, as she looks more closely, she sees that the mermaid is dragging a drowning sailor in her arms. Because, only hours before, another princess, the daughter of the sea queen, has decided to risk everything and take a look at the world above the sea: the world of mortals. And there she finds a storm, a shipwreck, a sailor, and sets in train events which will change both women's worlds forever.

First Sentence:
It was a gloomy, overcast day, like all days were, when the princess first saw them.

My Thoughts:

I read the author's first book, Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story, last year (see my review here) and enjoyed it - the execution could have been improved as parts of it were just too long and slow, but the surprising twist at the end was very satisfying (yes I still remember - it definitely had staying power). So when I read on All About {n}'s blog that the author had a new book coming out (see her review here), I knew I had to read it.

You know, I never knew that the Disney version of Little Mermaid was different! I had only read the original version (in Chinese) when I was a child, and had never watched the Disney movie, so there was only one ending that I knew of, and this book was closer to that version than that of the Disney version.

I hardly remembered the details of the original Mermaid story (just the gist of it) so while reading this book, I had a hard time distinguishing what was a re-tell of the original story, and what was the author's new take of it. Because of my own expectation, I kept waiting for a brilliant twist to come along, but it never really arrived for me. It definitely didn't have as much of an impact as the first book. I thought there might be more "magical realism" in the story but it fell short.

The characters also seemed a bit flat and too cliche, and that people just magically fell in love without much relationship development (maybe this was the magic?) I noted that I wished it would expand on Sybil more since she seemed to be the most interesting character - except now, four months later, I don't remember who Sybil is anymore...

The cover is very pretty and I love the contrast between the blue-green background and the copper hair. BUT, I thought the main character had white blond "moon" hair?

If the author has a new book published, I'd probably still read it. But I hope it has a more memorable twist.

Overall Rating:

2.5 Stars. Liked the first book better.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Books... That Is Exactly How They Work

2011-10-23T12:46:00.000-05:00

Saw this on Facebook. Not sure of the source (though there is a URL at the lower right hand corner).

Book Review - Feed Your Brain, Lose Your Belly by Larry McCleary

2011-10-23T04:45:00.000-05:00

Title: Feed Your Brain, Lose Your Belly
Author: Larry McCleary
Year: 2011
Page: 240
Genre: Non-Fiction - Healthy, Weight Loss

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
Stay slim and mentally sharp by choosing foods that keep your waistline trim and your brain well fed.

Renowned neurosurgeon Larry McCleary, M. D., became fascinated by the paradox of the fattening of America and the brain starvation he was seeing in aging brains. His research led to this innovative conclusion: Calories you consume are bypassing your brain and being stored in fat cells. In Feed Your Brain Lose Your Belly, he reveals how ''sticky'' fat cells send mixed messages to your brain, causing you to experience persistent hunger, to overeat, and to gain weight as a result.

If you are ready to get in touch with the signals your body generates so that you work with, not against, your innate metabolic machinery, this book is the tool you've been seeking. Weight loss will be easy as you keep hunger at bay while providing your brain with the high-octane fuel it thrives on. Feed Your Brain Lose Your Belly pairs its advice with 7 days' worth of helpful meal plans and plenty of delicious recipes.

Dr. McCleary's counterintuitive perspective on the benefits of brain-healthy fat consumption--supported by clinical testing with a group that called themselves the ''Biggest Losers''--will help you make critical decisions about your diet. Learning to choose foods that prevent the production of sticky fat cells rather than forcing yourself to eat less is the best way for you to feed your hungry brain cells and stay thin.

First Sentence:
This is a book about hope -- hope that we will all live a long and happy life, that we will be around to help and comfort our aging parents and to enjoy our children as they grow up, and to watch them experience all the joys that we savored as children.

My Thoughts:

I need to lose weight, so the title of this books appeals to my scientific mind as I am curious to know how "feeding your brain" can help that!

It was a pretty fast read. It was written in lay-person terms so it was easy to understand.

Dr McCleary suggested to eat approximately 60% fat, 20% protein, 20% carb. Or at least a 2:1 ratio of Fat:Carb. Now, it's about GOOD fat like omega-3, not bad fat like ice cream, cake, cookies. Sigh :( If it was only that easy... He also recommended eating food that won't elevate insulin level so that we'd burn the internal source of energy (fat cell) rather than external source of energy (food). When insulin level is high, fat cells are "locked" up for storage. You're also less likely to feel hungry.

A lot of the other things he mentioned in the book were common sense, e.g. use spice to add flavor, instead of salt

The book included recipes, and lists of good carb, bad carb, good fat, bad fat etc. so it was helpful that you didn't have to google what is good and what is bad

Coconut oil is supposedly good too even though it's thought to be the most saturated fat oil - but not all saturated fat are the same - it has medium chained length saturated fat, not long-chained, so it actually goes into the liver and turns into an energy source, as opposed to being stored in fat cells. (Now I don't know if it's true or not, but that's what was stated in this book. I am tempted to give it a try as I like coconut, though I am not sure if I like coconut oil or not since I have never had it... or if I had, it was probably at a restaurant a long time ago)

Yes you still need to exercise!!!

The author also mentioned a clinical trial of a product he sells called Vitaloss (a supplement used to speed up metabolism and suppress aptitude). Basically the control group (placebo capsule) hardly lost any weight, the one using the Feed Your Brain Loss Your Belly (FYBLYB) diet/activity + placebo capsule lose 4.36 lb over 6 weeks, those on FYBLYB diet/activity and Vitaloss lost 11.77lb on average. The book didn't mention the sample size but it included an article to read. The article said 67 people were in the study so the sample size was not too big (just roughly 22 people per group). I thought it would be interesting to have another group where the subjects only took the Vitaloss supplement but didn't do the FYBLYB diet/activity. Some people think that including the Vitaloss information is advertising. I didn't have much problem with that - he still presented that FYBLYF diet/activity alone would help, maybe the supplement just accelerated the process. I won't be buying the supplement for now - there is not a lot of review yet and it's a bit pricy.

I may try his "diet" (paying attention to the 2or3fat:1carb ratio he suggested) to see if I will feel less hungry. He claimed that if one took the same calorie intake, but have a different ratio of carb:fat:protein (e.g. more carb than fat as most diets are, 55% carb, 15% protein and 30% fat). I tried tracking my food for a while (without following any type of diet, just tracking food I'd normally eat), and my fat intake definitely wasn't the highest. It was difficult to track though if the food is made from scratch... much easier to track when you buy prepackaged food... but prepackaged food is not as good for you! If only I could take a picture of what I am eating, and it'd give me a detailed nutritional analysis (not just a pure guess... even when I looked up food in the tracking website food database, there is so much variation...)

It's hard to rate the book - the book itself was easy to read, and his scientific theory seemed to make sense, but whether weight loss really happened was hard to judge. So I am just giving it a 3 as an average score...

Overall Rating:

3 Stars. Easy to understand, but don't know if weight loss will really happen yet...

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen

2011-10-23T03:29:00.000-05:00

Title: The Peach Keeper
Author: Sarah Addison Allen
Year: 2011
Page: 273
Genre: Fiction - Magical Realism

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
It’s the dubious distinction of thirty-year-old Willa Jackson to hail from a fine old Southern family of means that met with financial ruin generations ago. The Blue Ridge Madam—built by Willa’s great-great-grandfather during Walls of Water’s heyday, and once the town’s grandest home—has stood for years as a lonely monument to misfortune and scandal. And Willa herself has long strived to build a life beyond the brooding Jackson family shadow. No easy task in a town shaped by years of tradition and the well-marked boundaries of the haves and have-nots.

But Willa has lately learned that an old classmate—socialite do-gooder Paxton Osgood—of the very prominent Osgood family, has restored the Blue Ridge Madam to her former glory, with plans to open a top-flight inn. Maybe, at last, the troubled past can be laid to rest while something new and wonderful rises from its ashes. But what rises instead is a skeleton, found buried beneath the property’s lone peach tree, and certain to drag up dire consequences along with it.

For the bones—those of charismatic traveling salesman Tucker Devlin, who worked his dark charms on Walls of Water seventy-five years ago—are not all that lay hidden out of sight and mind. Long-kept secrets surrounding the troubling remains have also come to light, seemingly heralded by a spate of sudden strange occurrences throughout the town.

Now, thrust together in an unlikely friendship, united by a full-blooded mystery, Willa and Paxton must confront the dangerous passions and tragic betrayals that once bound their families—and uncover truths of the long-dead that have transcended time and defied the grave to touch the hearts and souls of the living.

First Sentence:

The day Paxton Osgood took the box of heavy-stock, foil-lined envelopes to the post office, the ones she'd had a professional calligrapher address, it began to rain so hard the air turned a white as bleached cotton.

My Thoughts:

Since I "discovered" Sarah Addison Allen this year and really enjoyed The Sugar Queen, I just had to read everything else by her! So when I found out her new book was coming out, I promptly reserved it at the library

Isn't the cover so pretty and sweet - though I almost wish it didn't have the girl :) I love the falling flowers and the tree in the background. The title fits the story too

I must say I was a bit disappointed with the story though - it just was a bit too predictable and the magic wasn't quite as magical. In fact, the magic seemed a little contrived.

The characters seemed a bit stereotypical. They were likable but none really stood out to me. [SPOILER] I also didn't quite understand how Paxton and Sebastian hit it off since they were never friends - I know the author tried to explain a little about that but the reason wasn't quite good enough [/SPOILER].

I'd still read the author's next book. I read on her facebook page that she was going through chemo so I felt bad that I don't quite enjoy this book as much - but I admired her that she still has a book published while she is going through a lot in her personal life!

Quote:

"Superstitions are man's way of trying to control things he has no control over." (p7)

Happiness means taking risks. And if you're not a little scared, you're not doing it right. (p249)

Overall Rating:

2.5 Stars. Not bad, but not her best.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi

2011-10-23T03:12:00.000-05:00

Title: Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain
Author: Portia de Rossi
Year: 2010
Page: 272
Genre: Non-Fiction - Memoir

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
"I didn't decide to become anorexic. It snuck up on me disguised as a healthy diet, a professional attitude. Being as thin as possible was a way to make the job of being an actress easier . . ."

Portia de Rossi weighed only 82 pounds when she collapsed on the set of the Hollywood film in which she was playing her first leading role. This should have been the culmination of all her years of hard work—first as a child model in Australia, then as a cast member of one of the hottest shows on American television. On the outside she was thin and blond, glamorous and successful. On the inside, she was literally dying.

In this searing, unflinchingly honest book, Portia de Rossi captures the complex emotional truth of what it is like when food, weight, and body image take priority over every other human impulse or action. She recounts the elaborate rituals around eating that came to dominate hours of every day, from keeping her daily calorie intake below 300 to eating precisely measured amounts of food out of specific bowls and only with certain utensils. When this wasn't enough, she resorted to purging and compulsive physical exercise, driving her body and spirit to the breaking point.

Even as she rose to fame as a cast member of the hit television shows Ally McBeal and Arrested Development, Portia alternately starved herself and binged, all the while terrified that the truth of her sexuality would be exposed in the tabloids. She reveals the heartache and fear that accompany a life lived in the closet, a sense of isolation that was only magnified by her unrelenting desire to be ever thinner. With the storytelling skills of a great novelist and the eye for detail of a poet, Portia makes transparent as never before the behaviors and emotions of someone living with an eating disorder.

From her lowest point, Portia began the painful climb back to a life of health and honesty, falling in love with and eventually marrying Ellen DeGeneres, and emerging as an outspoken and articulate advocate for gay rights and women's health issues.

In this remarkable and beautifully written work, Portia shines a bright light on a dark subject. A crucial book for all those who might sometimes feel at war with themselves or their bodies, Unbearable Lightness is a story that inspires hope and nourishes the spirit.

First Sentence:
He doesn't wait until I'm awake.

My Thoughts:

I have read good reviews of this book, but was on the fence to read it until I read Book Addiction's review. I am indifferent about Portia de Rossi - I haven't watched any shows she was in. I knew she was in Ally McBeal and is married to Ellen, and is Australian, but that's about all I know.

This is a very honest memoir. So raw that sometimes I felt like reaching inside the book to shake some sense into her. Some people who had Eating Disorder before mentioned that this book was like a self-help manual, so if you are going through or are recovering from Eating Disordering, it may be best not to read this book as the story may act as a trigger. For someone like me who do not know very much about Eating Disorder but am interested in the psychological aspect of it, this is quite an eye opener about what goes on in their mind and why they act the way they do, along with the different emotions that may go along with it - control, anxiety, depression, self-worth and approval from others

It was quite interesting to read that in their mind, "losing weight / dieting = hard work = achievement", and that they felt a sense of accomplishment when they heard the words "too thin" (even though it was meant as a negative comment). One really has to be careful of what to say to people who has Eating Disorder because some words could become a trigger to them

I felt bad for Portia - her mother's influence probably played a big role, and then of course being on Ally McBeal probably didn't help since at least 2 other actresses from that show had Eating Disorders. Due to the nature of her profession, the photographers and stylists and anyone else in the industry probably contributed a little too (imagine the pressure of not fitting into the clothes your stylists brought you.) That definitely makes me be more mindful about what I say when I photograph my subjects

I enjoyed Portia's writing, though sometimes the story got a bit repetitive - but I guess it just showed what went through the mind of someone with an Eating Disorder EVERY SINGLE DAY.

The epilogue was a bit long and got a bit preachy (e.g. about being vegan). She didn't elaborate a lot on how she recovered, but I think it'd be a different recovery path for everyone as that's no one solution that fits all, or it'd be an easy disorder to cure.

There were a few photos in the book, and they made you heart ached seeing how brutal she was with her body. I wish it also included some photos of her younger days though.

I like the title - especially the double meaning of the sub-title: A Story of Gain and Loss.

I was particularly touched by her relationship with her brother, and later on, Ellen. She did not bad-mouth anybody in the book, and admitted that she was unreasonable at time in retrospect. This memoir reminded me of Andre Agassi's Open: An Autobiography (my review here). I appreciate their honesty and showed us that being famous wasn't all that glamorous. I sincerely hope that Portia won't go back to her unhealthy lifestyle.

Quote:

I was officially a hypocrite. I wanted to blend in and disappear yet be noticed doing it. (p70)

I didn't decide to become anorexic. It snuck up on me disguised as a healthy diet, a professional attitude. (p277)

It would have been very easy for me to start losing weight again to get the attention and the concern that felt like love. (p279)

I made the mistake of thinking that what I look like is more important than who I am.

Overall Rating:

3.5 Stars. Honest and raw. Not the best memoir I had read but I learned something insight on Eating Disorders.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

2011-10-22T20:13:00.000-05:00

Title: Attachments
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Year: 2011
Page: 323
Genre: Fiction - Chick Lit

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
Beth and Jennifer know their company monitors their office e-mail. But the women still spend all day sending each other messages, gossiping about their coworkers at the newspaper and baring their personal lives like an open book. Jennifer tells Beth everything she can't seem to tell her husband about her anxieties over starting a family. And Beth tells Jennifer everything, period.

When Lincoln applied to be an Internet security officer, he hardly imagined he'd be sifting through other people's inboxes like some sort of electronic Peeping Tom. Lincoln is supposed to turn people in for misusing company e-mail, but he can't quite bring himself to crack down on Beth and Jennifer. He can't help but be entertained-and captivated- by their stories.

But by the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late for him to ever introduce himself. What would he say to her? "Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you." After a series of close encounters and missed connections, Lincoln decides it's time to muster the courage to follow his heart . . . even if he can't see exactly where it's leading him.

Written with whip-smart precision and charm, Attachments is a strikingly clever and deeply romantic debut about falling in love with the person who makes you feel like the best version of yourself. Even if it's someone you've never met.

First Sentence:
Would it kill you to get here before noon?

My Thoughts:

I must have been in a fluffy mood back in May because I read 2 chick lits (not my usual genre) that month (the other was Addition by Toni Jordan, reviewed here). When I read Helen's Book Blog's review, I put it on my TBR list because she liked it so much (plus I read a lot of other very positive reviews.)

It was a cute read, but like all other chick lit, the storyline became too predictable for me... I know, it's the journey not the destination and all that, but a good twist or a good ending makes such a big difference in my opinion (at least when it comes to books or movies anyway.)

The book was written in an email format and it was fun to read. Almost seemed like we were eavesdropping... the characters were likeable. At least nobody was unrealistically perfect. Some people found the story humorous but I didn't recall finding it that funny. Though I have a strange sense of humor. So it's just me. I prefer witty or dry humor (think Whose Line Is It Anyway) than say, Jim Carrey type of humor (in fact, I didn't find his movies funny at all... )

The title is quite clever though - since Attachments has a different meaning when it comes to emails. Can't really say the cover design is that eye-catching though.

So again, an overall quick beach-type read. I guess I am still not convinced that chick lit is my genre. But that's okay, just as murder/mystery/thriller/suspense is not for everyone either :)

Quote:

"Do you believe in love at first sight?"... "I don't know," he said. "Do you believe in love before that?" (p319)

Overall Rating:

3 Stars. Light-hearted read.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Addition by Toni Jordan

2011-10-22T19:39:00.000-05:00

Title: Addition
Author: Toni Jordan
Year: 2008
Page: 256
Genre: Fiction

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
Grace Lisa Vandenburg orders her world with numbers: how many bananas she buys, how many steps she takes to the café, where she chooses to sit, how many poppy seeds are in her daily piece of orange cake. Every morning she uses 100 strokes to brush her hair, 160 strokes to brush her teeth. She remembers the day she started to count, how she used numbers to organize her adolescence, her career, even the men she dated. But something went wrong. Grace used to be a teacher, but now she's surviving on disability checks. According to the parents of one of her former students, "she's mad."

Most people don't understand that numbers rule, not just the world in a macro way but their world, their own world. Their lives. They don't really understand that everything and everybody are connected by a mathematical formula. Counting is what defines us . . . the only thing that gives our lives meaning is the knowledge that eventually we all will die. That's what makes each minute important. Without the ability to count our days, our hours, our loved ones . . . there's no meaning. Our lives would have no meaning. Without counting, our lives are unexamined. Not valued. Not precious. This consciousness, this ability to rejoice when we gain something and grieve when we lose something—this is what separates us from other animals. Counting, adding, measuring, timing. It's what makes us human.

Grace's father is dead and her mother is a mystery to her. Her sister wants to sympathize but she really doesn't understand. Only Hilary, her favorite niece, connects with her. And Grace can only connect with Nikola Tesla, the turn-of-the-twentieth-century inventor whose portrait sits on her bedside table and who rescues her in her dreams. Then one day all the tables at her regular café are full, and as she hesitates in the doorway a stranger—Seamus Joseph O'Reilly (19 letters in his name, just like Grace's)—invites her to sit with him. Grace is not the least bit sentimental. But she understands that no matter how organized you are, how many systems you put in place, you can't plan for people. They are unpredictable and full of possibilities—like life itself, a series of maybes and what-ifs.

And suddenly, Grace may be about to lose count of the number of ways she can fall in love.

First Sentence:
It all counts.

My Thoughts:

I don't usually read chick lit. They are typically too predictable for me and I usually cannot identify with the protagonists. However, when I read Caroline Bookbinder's review of this book (see here), I was intrigued since she doesn't really read chick lit anymore and found that she likes this one.

The book started out interesting as you learned more about Grace, the protagonist who had OCD and was quirky about numbers. That made her a bit different from your typical girl next door. She was likeable. But just like other chick lit, the storyline got predictable, and the love interest, Seamus, just seemed too perfect.

I looked back at my notes, and I noted that there was a twist but the twist didn't really give a full explanation on some of the background.... now 5 months later, I have no recollection of what the twist was. Oops. Need to take better notes. Or write a review sooner!

I also wrote in my notes that it didn't shed good lights on mental health professional. I seriously don't remember why I wrote that... maybe because I work with mental health professionals who are great people so I am a bit more sensitive on this topic when they are represented in a negative way.

The book title is quite fitting, though I kept thinking it was called Addiction instead of Addition. Addition definitely makes more sense given that numbers played a big role in the story. The cover design is okay... nothing that makes me love it or hate it.

Overall it is a quick read. A beach-read type of book. It reminds me a bit of the Kitchen Daughter (see my review here) where both stories are a little quirky. Though I have to say I like Kitchen Daughter better as it has a surprising twist that I still remember. I don't regret reading this though, since the author is Australian and I used to live there, so some of the slang used in the book just bring back a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Quote:

Counting is what defines us... the only thing that gives our lives meaning is the knowledge that eventually we will all die. All of us. That's what makes each minute important. Without the ability to count our days, our hours, our loved ones... there's no meaning. Our lives would have no meaning. Without counting, our lives are unexamined. Not valued. Not precious. This consciousness, this ability to rejoice when we gain something and grieve when we lose something - this is what separates us from other animals. Counting, adding, measuring, timing. It's what makes us human. (p130)

Average doesn't mean normal (p243)

Overall Rating:

3 Stars. Fun read. Not the best, not the worst. Fun to read when you want something a bit fluffy.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Liberated... abadoning books

2011-10-18T00:02:00.000-05:00

I abandoned 7 books in the first six months of 2011, and abandoned another 7 books in the last 4 months... in a way it's quite liberating because I am trying not to feel guilty about it - "it is me, not you (or your book)". By all means, these are not bad books. In fact, you will find A LOT of positive reviews on them (more so than negative reviews). Regardless, it's just not the right time, or the right mind set or mood, for me.

How come people usually don't feel guilty when they stop watching a movie or a TV show when it's not to their liking, yet we feel bad when we stop reading a book? Or feel like we're obliged to finish them? I know it takes an author A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT to write a book, but the same can be said for movies and TV shows?

Anyway... by stopping to read what doesn't engage me, free me to explore more books. Here are the list of DNF (Did Not Finish) from July onwards. Review will come soon to explain why I stopped. (for the ones I abandoned earlier this year, see here at the bottom - click on the book title for "reviews").

Middlesex: A Novel by Jeffrey Eugenides (July)
Joy For Beginners by Erica Bauermeister (July)
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers (September)
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (September)
Mirror Image (Daniel Rinaldi Mystery) by Dennis Palumbo (October)
The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta (October
Best Kept Secret: A Novel by Amy Hatvany (October)

Book Review - Children of Paranoia (Children of Paranoia, #1) by Trevor Shane

2011-10-15T00:22:00.000-05:00

Title: Children of Paranoia (Children of Paranoia, #1)
Author: Trevor Shanex
Year: 2011
Page: 384
Genre: Fiction - Dystopian

FTC Disclosure: Received a free copy as part of the Crazy Book Tour, in exchange for an unbiased review.

Summary:

all wars have rules

rule #1: no killing innocent bystanders

rule #2: no killing anyone under the age of eighteen

break the rules, become the target

Since the age of eighteen, Joseph has been assassinating people on behalf of a cause that he believes in but doesn’t fully understand. The War is ageless, hidden in the shadows, governed by a rigid set of rules, and fought by two distinct sides — one good, one evil. The only unknown is which side is which. Soldiers in the War hide in plain sight, their deeds disguised as accidents or random acts of violence amidst an unsuspecting population ignorant of the brutality that is always inches away.

Killing people is the only life Joseph has ever known, and he’s one of the best at it. But when a job goes wrong and he’s sent away to complete a punishingly dangerous assignment, Joseph meets a girl named Maria, and for the first time in his life his singleminded, bloody purpose fades away.

Before Maria, Joseph’s only responsibility was dealing death to the anonymous targets fingered by his superiors. Now he must run from the people who have fought by his side to save what he loves most in this world. As Children of Paranoia reaches its heart-in-throat climax, Joseph will learn that only one rule remains immutable: the only thing more dangerous than fighting the war. . .is leaving it.

First Sentence:
Christopher, you need to know who you are.

My Thoughts:

I knew I had to sign up for this blog tour when I read this on Crazy Book Tours, "CHILDREN OF PARANOIA is set in a dystopian landscape reminiscent of I am Number Four and The Hunger Games, with a moral sensibility that will entice fans of Showtime’s Dexter. Trevor Shane effortlessly transitions between nail-biting action and heartfelt emotion, sure to delight genre fans and literary fiction lovers alike." I really liked the Hunger Games, I like dystopia, I like the concept of Dexter (I watched the 1st episode only and it was a little slow for me... but people had told me start from Season 2 instead? Anyway I digress.) so it is no surprise that this book sounds like my type of book!

Because of the Hunger Games connection, I was expecting a YA Dystopian for some reasons even though no where did the description said it was YA (in fact, it specifically said "since the age of eighteen, Joseph...") So I was pleasantly surprised that it was not YA. Now, there is nothing wrong with YA, but at my age (close to mid 30's) I'd become a bit picky when it came to YA since sometimes I feel I am too old for the "lessons learned". Not that I don't see the value in those lessons, but I'd learned them way too long ago already :) I was also a bit afraid that this would be character-driven and slower paced than the usual suspense/thriller because it said "A Novel" after the book title (as opposed to A Thriller). But I needed not worried, this book had BOTH great characters and action!

I am also not sure if this book really is dystopian. As I was reading it, I think the storyline could be happening RIGHT NOW. In fact, if you think more about it, it IS happening to a lessen degree - people hating (or maybe killing) each other for reasons no more than "we are the good guys, they are the bad guys". I guess there is no time limit when it comes to Good Vs. Evil.

The story was written as a diary but it wasn't really in a traditional diary format (i.e, not "Sunday, 1/2/11... Tuesday 3/2/11"). It was written in both 1st person and 2nd person "you" format, and this is not a style we typically see. Some paragraphs and chapters were quite long (especially compared to the usual thrillers when each chapter is typically quite short), but the story did not feel like it dragged on. In other books, long paragraphs sometimes annoyed me (just difficult to read) but this book didn't bother me.

I enjoyed the character development - I felt like I got to know Joseph and Maria and Joseph's friends quite well. They felt real. I particularly liked reading how Joseph taught the class to deliver maximum impact, and I enjoyed reading the details of his plan for each job.
It was not an ending I expected but it was fitting, and I can't wait to read Book 2 to find out where the story leads us.

There are a few other points I want to discuss but they include spoilers. So spoilers start now!

[SPOILERS] - Despite how much I enjoyed the book, I thought there were a couple of points that seemed a little unrealistic. 1st - no gun training? I would have thought it would be essential for an assassin. Secondly, what Joesph's mother did seemed a bit out of character? We'd only been hearing how sweet and loving his mother was, so I couldn't quite understand her action in betraying her son... it perhaps could have been elaborated more. But I supposed since this was written as Joseph's diary, we couldn't get the mother's thought process. Also, it made me wonder about the significance of the names - Joseph, Maria and Christopher? Or maybe I am reading too much into it. [/SPOILER]

I loved the title of the book - very intriguing and yet very fitting to the story. While the cover did not give away much, the yellow definitely made it stand out.

Even though there is another 2.5 months left in 2011, I am fairly certain this will become one of my top 10 of the year. I loved that it had both good characters and plot. I was engrossed in the story to see where it'd go. I also got a bit teary eyed towards to end because I wish things did not turn out they way they did, but yet could understand why it happened the way it did. I read this just a couple of weeks ago, so I could still remember the story fairly well. It would be interesting to test its staying power when the next one comes out next fall (tentatively titled Children of the Underground.) Kudos to the author as this is his first novel!

Knowing what I know now, Children of Paranoia is more of a love story in disguise. Doesn't matter if it's dystopian or YA or not.

Go read at least an excerpt on the author's website and see if you get hooked! http://www.childrenofparanoia.com/excerpt.html

Quote:

"Okay, I know you guys are nervous. You're nervous for two reasons. First, you're nervous because you don't know why you're here. Second, you've got an idea abut why you're here and you're nervous that you might be right." (p23)

I guess the when is the question that's usually asked because when somebody punches you in the nose your first instinct isn't to ask why, it's to feel pain and anger and to want to punch back. Eventually, you'll ask yourself why. The why always comes. It's unavoidable. (p28)

When you've got passion, you don't need reason. It's only when you get old, like us, that you start asking questions. The older you get, the more your passion drains out of you and the more you look for a reason behind everything. (p55)

"Either they're evil or we are. And I know for damn sure that I'm not evil." (p153)

Overall Rating:

4.5 Stars. I can't wait to read Book 2 of this trilogy!

Tour Schedule:

10/11 - Kritters Ramblings   http://www.krittersramblings.com
10/12 - Ravishing Reads   http://ravishingreads.blogspot.com
10/13 - My Utopia   http://myutopia36.blogspot.com/
10/14 - Reader Girls   http://readergirls.blogspot.com
10/16 - Mental Foodie   http://mentalfoodie.blogspot.com
10/17 - Rants~N~Scribbles   http://rantsnscribbles.blogspot.com
10/18 - Sinnful Books   http://sinnfulbooks.blogspot.com
10/19 - A Bookish Affair   http://abookishaffair.blogspot.com/
10/20 - Between the Covers   http://www.betweenthecoversblog.net/
10/21 - The Fiction Enthusiast   http://thefictionenthusiast.blogspot.com/
10/22 - Proud Book Nerd   http://proudbooknerd.com/
10/23 - Book Hooked   http://www.bookhookedblog.com
10/24 - Girls in the Stacks   http://www.girlsinthestacks.com
10/25 - All I Ever Read   http://books.nicoleabouttown.com

Trailer:

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Difference among Mystyery, Thriller and Suspense?

2011-10-12T22:35:00.000-05:00

Back when Marce hosted Thrill Week (see here), I found that I couldn't quite distinguish the differences among these genre: mystery, thriller and suspense.

I came across this article today that talked about it. What do you think of the explanation? In short, this is the summary (copy/paste from the article):

mystery: the main character is occupied in tracking down the truth about an event, usually a murder. If the protagonist is in any danger, it is usually moderate, and becomes a problem only as the detective approaches the truth.

thriller: the protagonist is in danger from the outset.

suspense: the main character may become aware of danger only gradually. In a mystery, the reader is exposed to the same information as the detective, but in a suspense story, the reader is aware of things unknown to the protagonist. The reader sees the bad guy plant the bomb, and then suffers the suspense of wondering when or if it will explode.

Does that help you?

Question Time - Do People Ask You Why You Blog?

2011-10-10T23:43:00.000-05:00

As I was busy typing up my last review, my husband asked, why do you do reviews? I guess to him, it's like homework.

Why would I want to assign myself homework huh :p

I guess since he doesn't read books (he prefers short articles, with his ADD and all), he doesn't quite get the excitement of discovering books (especially novels) and talking with others about books.

He likes movies, so to me books are no different to movies, except I play the movies in my head when I read. I am the director, the casting director, the photographer, the... it always amazes me that people get weird when they hear you love to read, but they don't give a second thought if people say they love movies.

I also told him I don't want to forget what I read (and of course he asked, why? So what if you forget?)

Well I just want to damnit :) I love to read, but I don't like reading textbooks at school. I like to blog but I don't like writing reports for school/work.

I blog because I can. Because I want to :) It's not like I am asking him to blog :)

Book Review - The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown

2011-10-10T23:11:00.001-05:00

Title: The Weird Sisters
Author: Eleanor Brown
Year: 2011
Page: 320
Genre: Fiction

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
A major new talent tackles the complicated terrain of sisters, the power of books, and the places we decide to call home.

There is no problem that a library card can't solve.

The Andreas family is one of readers. Their father, a renowned Shakespeare professor who speaks almost entirely in verse, has named his three daughters after famous Shakespearean women. When the sisters return to their childhood home, ostensibly to care for their ailing mother, but really to lick their wounds and bury their secrets, they are horrified to find the others there. See, we love each other. We just don't happen to like each other very much. But the sisters soon discover that everything they've been running from-one another, their small hometown, and themselves-might offer more than they ever expected.

First Sentence:
We came home because we were failures.

My Thoughts:

I admit, I read this book because of the hype. When it first came out earlier this year, it had SO MUCH BUZZ in blogsphere. Book Addiction's review (see here) made me put this book on TBR (she called it " unputdownable"! Could a recommendation come higher than that?) Not my typical genre, and I am not a Shakespeare fan either, but since I have 2 younger sisters, I have a soft spot for books about sisters.

I love how clean and whimsy the cover is, but I don't think it really reflected the story.... I don't know what type of cover it should have (that's why I am not a designer!), but the story didn't have the fairy-tale quality that the cover seemed to imply.

One thing that many people mentioned in their reviews was the unique "first person plural" ("We" instead of "I"... well I think it's called first person plural anyway since it's not 2nd person or 3rd.) I didn't really see what the big deal was. In fact, it was more like a combination of 1st person plural + 3rd person since it'd go "We...." then "Rose did ...". I didn't find it confusing (some people didn't know which character was speaking when they used 'we") but I also didn't think it enhanced the story one way or another.

The three sisters, Rose, Bean (Bianca) and Cordy (Cordelia), didn't quite live up to the book title either as I didn't think they were that weird. Since I had only read one or two Shakespeare (back in high school... Midsummer Night Dream and Macbeth), I didn't quite know what the sisters' namesakes were supposed to be like. There were also quite a few Shakespearean quotes in the book as the family injected their daily conversation with Shakespeare verses. I guess Shakespeare fan would appreciate the quotes better than I did since these quotes didn't quite add to the story for me. In fact, the quotes got old fast for me... do people really speak like that in real life?

I did like that the characters LOVED reading, which probably appealed to all book lovers

"The sisters loved each other but didn't like each other" -- I guess I could identify with that somewhat. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't dislike my sisters, but sometimes I may not agree with everything they do but I still love them just because. I guess being the oldest, I could also identify with Rose who felt like it's her responsibility to make sure the family holds together. Rose's dad kept telling her that her parents and siblings are not her responsibility. Chinese think otherwise - in fact, family is number 1 priority no matter what. Now I am not 100% on that - I don't like the concept of blindly supporting someone just because they are part of the family (I am talking about distant family here too, not just your nuclear family). Luckily I haven't been put into the position to test this out (I mean, if your brother is a serial killer, proven without a shadow of doubt, would you still support what he did unconditionally? I don't know if I could...)

The reason I only gave this book 2 stars was because there wasn't much to the plot (remember, I usually like reading plots with lots of twists and turns). I just don't typically do well with character-driven books. The characters weren't very likeable either - granted, the sisters were flawed but the rest of the characters just seemed too perfect so the gap was quite jarring.

It's been 5 months since I read this book, and I hardly remember what happened to the characters, just that it was something predictable (if it had a big twist, I would have remembered it better). So, the story had no staying power for me. In fact, when I was about 1/3 through the book, I was going to abandon it. I kept going just to see what the hype was all about. I should have trusted my instinct. I'd been trusting my reading instinct a lot lately - probably because I'd been busy at work, so I couldn't tolerate something that only remotely interest me. When I have little time to read, I want to read something that can engage me. Something that'd make me want to stay up to read even if I am dead tired!

What I learned is that I am just not a Shakespeare fan. At one point back in high school, I thought Shakespeare was pretty cool - I mean, he almost invented his own language! And there must be a reason why he is so popular - so back then I really wish I was smart enough to know and understand Shakespeare. Now? Just give me the lay-person version of the story :) I remember loving the scenery in the movie Romeo & Juliet (the Leonardo DiCaprio & Claire Danes version - love the songs by the way!) but I wish they spoke with plain English instead because it seemed too pretentious not to.

Okay, Shakespeare fan, don't hate me :) English is hard enough for me to master, let alone Shakespearean :) If I am really missing the mark about this book, please enlighten me. I want to learn why people love this book so much, so that I can grow to be a better reader!

Quote:

We are at our most miserable when we're doing it to ourselves. (p234)

Overall Rating:

2 Stars. Not for me.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love by Matthew Logelin

2011-10-09T23:39:00.000-05:00

Title: Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love
Author: Matthew Logelin
Year: 2011
Page: 238
Genre: Non-Fiction - Memoir

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):

Matt and Liz Logelin were high school sweethearts. The pair settled together in Los Angeles and they had it all: the perfect marriage, a beautiful new home, and a baby girl on the way. But just twenty-seven hours after they welcomed Madeline into the world, Liz suffered a pulmonary embolism and instantly died, without ever holding the daughter whose arrival she had so eagerly awaited.

Faced with devastating grief and the responsibilities of a new and single father, Matt coped by returning to the small blog he had created to keep friends and family updated on Liz's pregnancy, which today has become a place for him to share with over a million curious readers the day to day of two lives bound by loss and love. But there is more to his story than just raising a daughter alone: Matt Logelin is an extraordinary human being. Having been sustained through tragedy by the kindness and generosity of strangers, he is now dedicated to helping others in difficult situations by reaching out and inspiring those facing loss or adversity.

A heartwarming and heartbreaking story punctuated by beautifully recollected— and often humorous— memories and anecdotes, TWO KISSES FOR MADDY unquestionably has something to offer any reader who has experienced grief, and has sought the courage to live again.

First Sentence:
I met my future wife, the future mother of my child, at a gas station.

My Thoughts:

I first heard about this book from Lovely Little Shelf's post (see her review here). You know I like reading memoir, especially emotional memoir. So this sounded like something I'd have picked to read. I hadn't heard of Matt and Liz before. Hadn't read Matt's blog. So I really had no idea what to expect (apart from knowing the general premise).

I read this book about 5 months ago (yes, just got around to reviewing it now, shame on me!) and at that time I didn't take any notes for this book for some reasons (apart from the quote I included at the end of this post - which I do love). It was difficult for me to rate this book - don't get me wrong, this is a very sad story and I feel for Matt (father) and Maddy (daughter) and their families on losing Liz (wife/mother) - but I didn't cry, which was very surprising to me as I thought I would need a whole box of kleenex. Now, sometimes I wonder if that was because I do not have a child, so I couldn't quite feel the devastation... but I don't really think that is the case since I do have a spouse, and I thought Matt/Liz kinda reminded me of my husband and myself when we were dating, so it was something I could identify with somewhat (thinking of the possibility of losing J made my heart break). Also, I remember reading two other books before - both dealt with the death of their respectively child - I felt distant when I read This Lovely Life by Vicki Forman, but I got really emotional when I read Josie's Story: A Mother's Inspiring Crusade to Make Medical Care Safe by Sorrel King later. So I really don't think it was the topic, but rather than writing.

Now, I did feel some of Matt's emotion, and he wasn't shy to share exactly what went through his mind (quite a few F words were used) so I could feel his despair, but it just didn't quite touch my crying nerve... And yes, I don't just judge a book by its cover, but I judge how emotional I feel too. I tend to score books higher if they make me cry... it must have something to do with those psychology lessons I had learned back in college - we might not remember the details of an event (e.g. what we fight about) but remember how we feel (e.g. hurt).

Speaking of the cover, I do really like it. Being a photographer, I like the non-posed style of portraits. Though I wish the book title wasn't smack right in the middle which distracted from the image, especially since it covered the part where Matt's hands were holding Maddy. Hands are expressive! I like that the title was in a white circle and I like the font, but just didn't like the placement. As you can see, I have a strong opinion when it comes to photography and cover design :) Call it occupational hazard. The title is also very fitting, and tied in with the story very well.

I haven't googled lately to see how Matt and Maddy are doing (I did look it up after I finished the book, and they seemed to be doing well then.) I wish them all the best. I hope when Maddy is older, she'd read this book and know how much her parents loved each other, and how much they loved her. And that despite the tragedy, Matt tried to help others in need as well, which is admirable.

Quote:

Together during the worst of times is better than being alone at the best of times. (p18)

Overall Rating:

3.5 Stars. Sad but inspiring. Though I didn't get as emotional as other boos I'd read on similar topics.

All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

All-TIME 100 Best Nonfiction Books

2011-10-08T20:48:00.000-05:00

Came across this list from The Time Magazine, let's see how I do...

Politics and war, science and sports, memoir and biography — there's a great big world of nonfiction books out there just waiting to be read. We picked the 100 best and most influential written in English since 1923, the beginning of TIME ... magazine

Green Highlight - Have read

Yellow Highlight - Already on TBR list

Orange Highlight - Did Not Finish

Autobiography / Memoir

Biography

Business

Culture

Essays

Food Writing

Health

History

Ideas

Nonfiction Novels

Politics

Science

Self-Help / Instructional

Social History

Sports

War

It makes me wonder how these books are picked... and if they have read all non-fiction there is out there!

The Difference between Nerd, Dork, and Geek Explained by a Venn Diagram

2011-10-08T20:08:00.000-05:00

I came across this post about The Difference between Nerd, Dork, and Geek Explained by a Venn Diagram. Too funny :)

Now, why do people who love to read are often called a nerd or geek or whatever :p Is it because we are intelligent? :p

(Source: Great White Shark blog)