Book Review - The Skin Collector (Lincoln Rhyme #11) by Jeffery Deaver

The Skin Collector (Lincoln Rhyme #11) by Jeffery Deaver

Readers who had been following this blog probably knows that Jeffery Deaver is one of my favorite authors in the murder/mystery genre, especially with his Lincoln Rhyme series. The Bone Collector is probably his best known novel, and this is a sequel of sort (well it's not really a continuation of the story, but references were made quite a bit).

I was going to re-read The Bone Collector (even if I hardly re-read) but the library copy came before I had a chance to. I hardly remember what happened... but that's okay.

This is more like a 3.75 Stars book but I'd bump it up to 4 because this is better than the other recent Deaver efforts. There probably isn't as much character development as I'd have liked, but most of the characters are like old friends anyway, so I appreciate Deaver didn't make too many redundant introductions; though it still has enough details for those who hadn't read the series before. I did enjoy reading this - with lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. At least something fun to read when I don't have to use my brain too much :)


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 Rosie Project (Don Tillman #1) by Graeme Simsion

The Rosie Project (Don Tillman #1) by Graeme Simsion

Quirky and cute. It made reading fun! I really enjoyed the characters and kept wondering what'd happen. It reminds me a bit of Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, but maybe a bit more light-hearted.

The only thing I wasn't too sure about is its ending... (see spoiler alert below) - if I'd liked the ending, this would probably have been a 4-4.5 book. As of now, it's more of a 3.75 but I'll bump it up to 4 just because this book stands out more than the other meh-reads I'd had.. I heard that there's a Book 2 coming out... will definitely watch for it!

4 Stars





SPOILER ALERT
(highlight the paragraph to read)

I wish the ending isn't so predictable. It makes it a bit too chicklit-ish. I think if it didn't have a happy ending (as in, if they didn't get married), or have a bit more of a surprise ending, it'd have make it more memorable. I suppose though, if the ending is different, then Book 2 would also be different... 

[/Spoiler]

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 - Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley

Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley

A vibrant, food-themed memoir from beloved indie cartoonist Lucy Knisley.

Lucy Knisley loves food. The daughter of a chef and a
gourmet, this talented young cartoonist comes by her
obsession honestly. In her forthright, thoughtful, and
funny memoir, Lucy traces key episodes in her life thus
far, framed by what she was eating at the time and lessons
learned about food, cooking, and life. Each chapter is
bookended with an illustrated recipe—many of them
treasured family dishes, and a few of them Lucy's original
inventions.

A welcome read for anyone who ever felt more passion
for a sandwich than is strictly speaking proper, Relish is a
book for our time: it invites the reader to celebrate food
as a connection to our bodies and a connection to the
earth, rather than an enemy, a compulsion, or a
consumer product.

I love reading about food. I love reading memoir. But I haven't read a lot of graphic novels, but I am very glad I read this!

This is a refreshing and cute book. And the author/artist reminded me of myself a bit, especially with her views on food - she loves the exotic/gourmet food, but her guilty pleasure is French fries from McDonalds... yes I know they are bad for you but they are probably one of my favorite fries (given that I only eat them once a year at most, I don't feel so bad about it...) The biggest difference between us is that she actually cooks/bakes in the kitchen, while I dream that I can.

It was fun to read about her relationships with her parents and their impact on her regarding food. Her other stories about food and friends are also heartwarming. At the end of each chapter there are also recipes she drawn - very cool.

My favorite though, has to be the last chapter when she drew about her behind-the-scene experience at one of the best restaurants in the US (if not the world) - Alinea in Chicago. If there's just ONE restaurant I can try in the US, this is where I'd pick (read about the memoir written by the chef and business partner of Alinea I'd reviewed earlier here). Apparently she got invited to the kitchen after one of the owners saw her drawings about her actual eating experience at the restaurant (which I want to read!!). I was so jealous that she got to see the action! Though it seems there were equal amount of cooking and cleaning back there - which is good... who wants to eat from a dirty kitchen?

4 Stars (this is more like 4.25... not quite 4.5 because it just lacks a bit of depth, but it was a very enjoyable read nevertheless.)


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 Boy Who Could See Demons by Carolyn Jess-Cooke

The Boy Who Could See Demons by Carolyn Jess-Cooke

From Goodreads:
"I first met my demon the morning that Mum said Dad had gone." 

Alex Broccoli is ten years old, likes onions on toast, and can balance on the back legs of his chair for fourteen minutes. His best friend is a 9000-year-old demon called Ruen. When his depressive mother attempts suicide yet again, Alex meets child psychiatrist Anya. Still bearing the scars of her own daughter's battle with schizophrenia, Anya fears for Alex's mental health and attempts to convince him that Ruen doesn't exist. But as she runs out of medical proof for many of Alex's claims, she is faced with a question: does Alex suffer from schizophrenia, or can he really see demons?




Since I've been so busy, I'm way, way behind on all the book news this year, so this book wasn't on my radar until I read a review about it on another blog. And she said this book is like this other book, "XYZ".

No, there isn't a book called XYZ, but I'm just calling it XYZ because if I told you, then it'd probably become a spoiler. Because, well, I was able to guess the ending about half way though the book.

But, if she didn't mention that this is similar to XYZ, I probably wouldn't have picked it up. And I am glad that I read this as it's one of the more memorable fictions I read this year!

See, so I am a bit torn on what to tell you about this book, as I don't want to ruin it for you. But you may not pick it up if you don't know if it is your type of book! So email me, if you really want to know what XYZ is :)

Anyway, the writing was really quite engaging and I finished it rather quickly despite my schedule. The characters were memorable. And you just want to keep reading to find out what happened. Though I have to say the ending was a little tedious and probably could be a bit more concise... I mean, let's say in a movie where the 2 leads finally got together - and they finally kissed after all the tension! And they kept on kissing and kissing and kissing... and THE END.

Yeah.

Now I appreciate an author who tied up loose ends, but this one was just a little too neat.

And I have to say, since the book is about a 5 yo boy, it impacted me more now than if I don't have my son. I mean, what if... what would I do?! Not that I wouldn't have enjoyed this book if I were child-free. Just that it made me think more for sure.

4 Stars (more like 4.25 I guess... would've been 4.5 if the ending was executed a bit differently - don't get me wrong, I like how it ends, but just wished it ended in a more climatic manner.)




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 October List by Jeffery Deaver

The October List by Jeffery Deaver

From Goodreads:
Gabriela waits desperately for news of her abducted daughter.
At last, the door opens.But it's not the negotiators. It's not the FBI.It's the kidnapper.And he has a gun.
How did it come to this?
Two days ago, Gabriela's life was normal. Then, out of the blue, she gets word that her six-year-old daughter has been taken. She's given an ultimatum: pay half a million dollars and find a mysterious document known as the "October List" within 30 hours, or she'll never see her child again.
A mind-bending novel with twists and turns that unfold from its dramatic climax back to its surprising beginning, THE OCTOBER LIST is Jeffery Deaver at his masterful, inventive best.



I love Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme's series, but have only liked a couple of his stand-alone. So my expectation wasn't too high, but I just have to read his new book you know?

I actually ended up liking this - not his best work, but I like that he's trying something new (the story happened backward) and I think he pulled it off - I was able to guess one of the twists about half way or slightly later, but I like that the ending still surprised me.

However the book ended a little abruptly, and I do wish that there is an epilogue or something to tie back to actual ending (i.e. the beginning of the story). I actually ended up having to re-read the first couple of chapters to "close the loop".

The writing and plot was quite concise so it was a fast read. And ah, I missed my bus stop while reading this...

4 Stars (more like 3.75, but since I rate at 0.5 increments, I bumped this one up for trying something different.)




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 - Mammolina: A Story about Maria Montessori by Barbara O'Connor, Sara Campitelli (Illustrator)

Mammolina: A Story about Maria Montessori by Barbara O'Connor, Sara Campitelli (Illustrator)

Describes the life and achievements of the Italian woman doctor who developed a revolutionary method of educating children.

I have always been interested in education, and have heard about Montessori before, but haven't really looked into it. Now that we have a kid, I have to start paying attention so I started doing some research. I am still very busy at work, so don't have much attention span to read books that require a lot of brain power - thus when I found out there is a children's book about Maria Montessori, I thought it would be a great cliff note version :)

I really enjoyed it - it was written in a simple manner and held my interest. And what a remarkable woman! Whether you agree with her philosophy on children education or not, she was one fascinating woman - I didn't know she was a doctor before she was an educator, and she became a doctor because she did not want to be a teacher in the first place (one of the few professions that women could be back then.) It interested me enough that I wouldn't mind reading more about her :)

4 Stars.

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 - Corrupt Practices: A Parker Stern Novel by Robert Rotstein

Corrupt Practices: A Parker Stern Novel by Robert Rotstein

I read this based on my blogger buddy Marce's recommendation ( see her review here on Tea Time with Marce). I love reading legal thrillers, especially if they have good court room scenes while I can read about the strategies / tactics the lawyers use to win a case (how often do I wish in real life I can just demand someone to answer yes or no lol.)

This did not disappoint! Like Marce predicted, I did stay up to finish reading it (which is rare nowadays as I usually fall asleep at my desk now that we have a toddler... good thing it was a weekend). It had good characters, good plot and good court drama. Now I am kinda harsh when I rate a book - hardly any books are 5 stars (like only life-changing books get that), and only books that are very, very memorable will get 4.5, so a score of 4 is actually quite high in my ranking and this book gets a 4. There are some unresolved subplots - but I suppose this is going to be a series so there aren't answers to all the questions yet (which can be frustrating.) Some plots were also a bit contrived but at least they are probable.

I look forward to reading more books in this series!

PS - this is a quote Marce cited in her review, and it's also a quote that jumped out to me when I read this book. I do not have a religion, and have often wondered what religion really means to those who believe, so this is a great analogy for me to understand it a little bit:

"Religion can be very similar to an embrace. And you can't really explain an embrace. But there are people who comfort me with just a hug." Grinning slightly, she tilts her head toward her father. "If that same person hugged you, you'd probably recoil in disgust. But the trick, with both people and faith, is to find what will comfort you. We all need a divine embrace."

4 Stars.




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 - Mother, Mother: A Novel by Koren Zailckas

Mother, Mother: A Novel by Koren Zailckas

Who is telling the truth? The book alternated between siblings Violet and Will, after their oldest sister Rose went missing.

I quite enjoyed this novel, though perhaps "enjoy" is the wrong word to use for this psychological suspense. The characters were quite well developed, and it was a page turner. The chilling part is that there are probably people like so in real life...

The ending was a bit anti-climatic for me though, only because I semi-guessed what happened so it wasn't quite as WOW as it'd have been.

I like the front cover - though I think I kinda like the ARC cover I received a bit more:

4 Stars. Don't forgot to check out other TLC stops to see what other bloggers think! Another blogger posted about 5 things you didn't know about this book , and #2 on the list, regarding the title of the book, was especially interesting! And I think the ARC design cover fitted the title perfectly! It contain some spoilers though, so don't read if you haven't read this book yet :)

Koren Zailckas’ TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, September 16th:  Peeking Between the Pages

Tuesday, September 17th:  Books a la Mode

Wednesday, September 18th:  River City Reading

Thursday, September 19th:  Between the Covers

Monday, September 23rd:  Mental Foodie

Tuesday, September 24th:  Books a la Mode - guest post/giveaway

Wednesday, September 25th:  Fiction Addict

Thursday, September 26th:  The Best Books Ever

Monday, September 30th:  Tiffany’s Bookshelf

Tuesday, October 1st:  From the TBR Pile

Wednesday, October 2nd:  Sara’s Organized Chaos

Thursday, October 3rd:   Luxury Reading

Friday, October 4th:  Sweet Southern Home

Monday, October 7th:  A Bookish Way of Life

Tuesday, October 8th:  WV Stitcher

Wednesday, October 9th:  5 Minutes for Books

Thursday, October 10th:  Overflowing Bookshelves

Monday, October 14th:  50 Books Project 

Note - A ARC was given as part of the tour, 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.

Book Review - How to Fix Your Novel by Steve Alcorn

How to Fix Your Novel by Steve Alcorn

From Goodreads:

Have you started a novel, only to get part way into the manuscript and find yourself stuck? Or do you have an idea for a novel, but aren't sure where to begin? Have you completed a first draft, but feel it doesn't quite have the luster of professional writing? 

In this lively and fun-to-read guide, Steve Alcorn shows you the remedies you need to achieve success. Step by step, you'll breathe life into old manuscripts, create new novels that read like bestsellers, and put the spark back into your writing life. 

Topics include: 

Story Structure 
Character Building 
Viewpoint 
Tense 
Voice 
Setting 
Conflict 
Suspense 
Mystery 
Dialogue 
Writing Big 
Beginnings and Endings 
Getting Published 

Whether you're a first time novelist still planning your story, or an experienced author looking for ways to bring your fiction to life, How to Fix Your Novel is the ideal prescription.

Not too long ago, I reviewed another novel writing book - The Mashall Plan (see review here) - I was curious to read other novel writing books just to see what other approaches there are. I know there are no right or wrong ways, but I merely just want to know how others formulate their novels. 

This is an easy read, and I learned much from it! If there is one big take away, is it the difference between STORY and PLOT:

Plot = the physical journey / action
Story = the emotional journey / reaction

As simple as that! What a lightbulb moment! Now I know why I prefer some novels over another - for the ones that I love or have staying power, it really has to have a good balance or both. A lot of the murder/mystery that I read - they have great plot, but hardly a story, hence I had fun reading it (action packed!) but hardly remembered it afterward. I don't care much for character-driven novels, because it so focuses on the emotional side of the story that it doesn't have enough action! 

It also uses examples from other books/movies to illustrate the different aspect of a novel. I also like that, when it comes to writing from different voices, the author wrote the passages 3 times using 3 different voices to show the differences (e.g. the protagonist as an adult, the protagonist as a child, a 3rd person narrator), which in turn, will help the writing to decide which view point is the strongest. 

The author also listed the steps that worked for him to finish a novel. So it provided a great guide, with some easy steps to follow! The methodology used in this book is more flexible, less structured, than that from the Marshall Plan. I can't say one is better than the other, but both give me some great ideas. Maybe this year I would be able to do NaNoWriMo?!


4 Stars - a few chapters didn't quite give me the lightbulb moments than the rest. But I am definitely glad I read this - even if I don't end up writing, this sheds some lights for me when I read.  I wish I had taken a novel writing class back in college! Not that it was offered... 




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 Marshall Plan for Novel Writing by Evan Marshall

The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing by Evan Marshall

Okay I admit it. I am a writer wannabe.

Except, I haven't even written anything :p (school work didn't count).

A couple of years back I wanted to participate in NaNoWriMo, and I wrote 100 words (or was it 50?) Yeah, you get the picture. 

I have all these ideas in my head, but as soon as I tried to put words on paper (or rather on the computer screen), it just did not work. My biggest problem I think was plotting - how do you weave the storyline together that's not boring? How do you write 300 pages when I could summarize it in 500 words?! So I went to research on books that help you with plotting, and I came across this one.

From reading the reviews, some people may find this plan too structure. From what I'd read, some writers are "pantsters" (can write by the seat of their pants) and some are "plotters". Now when I write blog posts, I just write without any outline/drafts, but I can't do that when I tried writing a story. Normally though I am not into big structure either, but I think this book offered me some good insights about plotting in general, and I may give it a try (no, haven't started yet... work had been very busy, and with a teething 10 month old, I am choosing sleep when I could.)

There are other books on plotting but I haven't read them yet so I don't know how they compare. Ultimately though, there are really no right or wrong way, but I love hearing about how others write. So if you do write, I'd love to hear how you do it!

Some reviewers did say this book applies more to books like thrillers, and I don't know if it's true or not. But I do notice more about plotting when reading novels now :)

4 Stars - did learn something new and may be useful!


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 - Defending Jacob by William Landay

Defending Jacob by William Landay

I love legal thrillers, especially if they have great courtroom drama, because I found the exchange could be so witty (though I hope I'd never have to set foot into a courtroom, unless I am just there as an audience out of curiosity, or as a juror).

I see this book on several bloggers' Top 10 list, so I just had to read it. It did not disappoint, though at over 400 pages, some parts just seemed a bit slow. (Nowadays, anything over 300 pages seem a bit long!)

The courtroom dialog was just okay in this book, but I liked how the story was told in two formats (first person and court excerpts), despite me not really liking any characters. 

There was a good twist in the end, though it wasn't a WOW/mind-blowing/WTF twist like The Sixth Sense. It did, however, make me think what I'd do if I was Jacob's parents. Now that I have a child, a story like this takes on a different dimension. Suddenly these what-ifs become more real. Like, it could totally be a reality. Before, it could be someone else's problems. It is a scary thought, and I hope I never have to face these issues.

4 Stars.

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 Other End Of The Stethoscope - 33 Insights for Excellent Patient Care by Marcus Engel

The Other End Of The Stethoscope - 33 Insights for Excellent Patient Care by Marcus Engel

Brutally honest account on how the author, who was 18 years old at the time, was treated as a patient after a serious car accident that almost killed him.

Anybody who works in healthcare should read this - this is a short read that is straight to the point. Even though I am not involved in patient care, it still made me cringed as I hope I hadn't committed any of the "mistakes" he experienced.

Note - bought the Kindle version



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

Book Review - The Cross Examination of Oliver Finney by Randy Singer

The Cross Examination of Oliver Finney by Randy Singer

I came across this book because I was reading review on another book by the same author (forgot which one, maybe the latest?) and one of the reviews said his/her favorite of this author is The Cross Examination of Oliver Finney instead. The premise sounds interesting ("Faith on Trial" - a reality game show about religion, and all contestants were lawyers and had to defend their faith) - now I don't have a religion, but I want to keep an open mind to learn about different ones. Anyway, it wasn't until I looked at my Goodreads record that I found I'd actually read another book by the same author -  By Reason of Insanity - back in 2008. I gave it 4 Stars then, but honestly I don't recall much of it. I don't usually remember much with this type of fiction though (legal thrillers, murder/mystery... these are my "fluffs").

Anyway this was a fun read. I especially liked the part about breaking codes, so much so that I went to reserve The Code Book by Simon Singh which the author referred to. Another interesting aspect is that the author actually wrote a non-fiction called The Cross Examination of Jesus Christ, and this non-fiction book was referred to in this fictional book, in which it was pretended that the main protagonist wrote the non-fiction one :) Now, I don't recall the previous book I read was a Christian legal thriller, and this book definitely biased towards Christianity, for no reason other than that the main protagonist was a Christian. Thankfully that it did not seem preachy and so I was able to enjoy the story.

Story wise I'd give it 3.5 Stars, Character wise maybe 3 Stars (a bit flat and stereotypical), but I really enjoyed reading about code cracking, so will change that to 4 Stars. 


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

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

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 - A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Dugard

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 - Revelations (Jane Perry #3) by Laurel Dewey

Title: Revelations (Jane Perry #3) 
Author: Laurel Dewey 
Year: 2011
Page: 464
Genre: Fiction - Murder / Mystery / Suspense / Thriller

FTC Disclosure: Tracee, Pump Up Your Book PR Specialist and Virtual Book Tour Coordinator contacted me to see if I was interested, in exchange for an unbiased review

Summary (from goodreads.com):
In this third Jane Perry novel, Laurel Dewey takes Jane out of Denver to the small town of Midas where the Chief of Police is a close friend of Jane's boss. Jacob Van Gorden, the fifteen-year-old son of a prominent area businessman, has disappeared and all signs point to his abductor being Jordan Copeland, a man who committed a similar crime decades ago. Jane settles into this little community for much longer than she wants, living with a preacher and his family (including their eccentric teenage daughter who was Jacob's girlfriend). There are signs that Jacob is still alive, so the clock is ticking. And as Jane investigates Jordan Copeland, she begins to have doubts about his guilt and begins to uncover signs of devastating – and even deadly – secrets all around Midas.

Meanwhile, Jane must deal with two considerable secrets of her own. One hits her in the gut before she leaves Denver and the other creeps up on her from the most unlikely of places. And on top of this, Hank Ross, owner of a bar in Midas, has somehow managed to find a way beneath Jane's armor-plated defenses, forcing her to contend with feelings she hasn't allowed to surface for a very long time.

Revelations is the most powerful and personal Jane Perry novel yet. Teeming with the passions and ambiguities that make Laurel Dewey so compelling to read, it is a breathtaking story of mysteries revealed and withheld.

First Sentence:
Jordan Copeland ran like a monster through the rain-soaked woods, chased only by his demons. 

My Thoughts:

Why this book?

• Murder / Mystery / Thriller / Suspense has always been my favorite fictional genre. This was what I used to read 99% of the time. I still like it, but now it is harder to find ones that are satisfying - after you have read a lot of this genre, sometimes the plot became too predictable. So I am always looking for new authors to try! Even though this is Book #3 in the series, I asked if I had to read the previous books, and was told that they could be stand alone.

First thought:

• When Tracee contacted me, she said they are hoping all reviews will be posted on 6/14/11 - so I haven't read any other reviews of this book yet and I can't wait to see what others think! It is quite unusual to be one of the first to review it (or read a book with no prior reviews anyway!) So this review definitely is not influenced by other review :)

Cover Art:

• I love pictures of trees. Trees full of leaves, or bare trees. In fact, I have taken similar pictures of tree branches. So yes I like the cover - it is relevant to the story, and it looks kinda creepy too so you know bad things are gonna happen!

Title:

• While it fits the story, it's not really attention catching. I like wittier titles. This just describes the book but there is no surprise that makes you go "ah, now I know what the title implies!"

Writing:

• This is a pretty long book at 464 pages. It was a little slow to begin with, but once you get into it, it was a pretty fast read. 

• I think there were parts, especially when it came to Jordan, that could speed up a little. From memory, like most books in this genre, the sentences and paragraphs were fairly short. However, when it came to Jordan, those paragraphs got a lot longer

Plot:

•  Kept you guessing! Although some parts seemed a little convenient where many characters experienced the same theme - their histories were revealed. 

• I think chapter one was the weakest chapter. It was a short chapter, but it wasn't very clear and if I was to pick up this book, just to read the first few pages to see if I wanted to read the rest of the book, I might have given up. I knew it was there to set up Jordan as a main character, but it left me confused instead (well, might be that was the whole point, since Jordan was sometimes confused...)

• I liked how the author answered all the unanswered questions in the end! Sometimes in other books, the authors might raise some questions that seemed utterly important, and made you guessed what happened. Life Sentences: A Novel by Laura Lippman came to mind - there was this BIG SECRET, that you just know the answer would made you go "aahhh... that's what happened! That explained it!" but it never came. I googled a lot to find out what happened and found others experience the same as I did! I think the author said she was going to explain it in her blog or website or something... but I couldn't find it at the time and forgot about it altogether. So I appreciated that this author tied up all loose ends, even the ones I had forgotten about!

• I was able to guess two big plot twists though (or I had the suspicion where the plot was going), but that didn't really take the enjoyment out of reading the story (one concerning Jacob, and one about his family)

Characters:

• Even though I hadn't read the previous 2 Jane Perry books, I got a pretty good sense of whom Jane was in this book. Some others might not like her - she swears, she was a recovering alcoholic, she didn't always follow protocol - but I liked her independence, her smarts, and she had a sensitive side too. I particularly liked reading about her and Bo - even though their relationship was a minor one in the book, it demonstrated what type of person Jane was. I didn't expect that side of her. In fact, that might be what I liked the most about the book (remember the ?, !, trash bag ?)

• The minor characters, like Bo and Vi, in the book were well developed, you got a sense of who they were even if they did not play a big role. I wish Jane's partner/boss was developed a bit more though but you still got a sense of his personality. I wanted to taste Hank's food!

Ending:

•  Definitely a hook to make you read the next book! Another secret!

Emotion:

• While it was not the best murder/mystery I had read, it was still exciting to find a new author you like! Almost like trying out different chocolate, and find one that you want to buy again :)

What I Learned:

• It took me 7 days to read this book (was busy though) but I didn't feel like it took that long. Weird. I think the story did suck me in, but I just didn't have much time to read that week. 

PS:

• Now I have to go read the other reviews to see if I am in the minority of liking this book - somehow I doubt it :) Makes me wonder if Tea Time with Marce will like this one since she is into this genre too!

Read this Author again?

• I think so! I might have to go read the first two in the series! 

Quote:

"It's the little things, you know? People are always looking at the elephant in the room and I'm always looking at the peanut." (p36)  

"When faced with uncertainty in our lives, I always harken back to something my wife's grandfather told her to say during times of trepidation. It was just ten words but in those words, there was both comfort and courage to continue. Those ten words were: I will be all right and one day I will die."" (p153)

"Two people look at a bridge. One sees a place to jump and the other sees a place to cross over. But when it's all said and done, it's still just a bridge. It's our perception that gives its power." (p363)

Overall Rating:
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 Man with the Beautiful Voice: And More Stories from the Other Side of the Couch by Lillian Rubin

Title: The Man with the Beautiful Voice: And More Stories from the Other Side of the Couch 
Author: Lillian Rubin
Year: 2004
Page: 176
Genre: Non-Fiction - Medical

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
In her long career as a psychotherapist, acclaimed author Lillian Rubin occasionally encountered patients who demanded a very special, even unorthodox, therapeutic approach. For the first time, Dr. Rubin tells the stories of her most fascinating, most challenging cases from the other side of the couch, focusing not just on the patient, but on her own inner process as she confronts the issues each case raises.

First Sentence:
It's my first day at the clinic where I'm about to begin my internship, the necessary prelude to getting licensed as a psychotherapist. 

My Thoughts:

Why this book?

• Would like to learn more about psychotherapy - just a personal interest since I was a psych major and am working on a project related to this topic. I love reading medical related non-fiction anyway, especially when they are case studies (in layperson terms, not in scientific jargon)

First thought:

•  Interesting!

Cover Art:

• Indifferent, though it's relevant to one of the cases

Title:

• It's taken after one of the cases - not sure if it's my favorite case in the book, but a memorable one

Writing:

• Easy to read

Plot:

• The book included several case patients Dr Rubin had in the past - so it almost read like short stories

• There were both success and failure stories in the book - so Dr Rubin wasn't just tooting her own horn. Some patients were long term patients, requiring years of theraphy. There was no magical treatment that cured the patients overnight

Characters:

• Dr Rubin seemed well liked and approachable. I liked that she explained why she took a certain approach with different patients. It was almost like you could hear her inner thoughts as she assessed the patients

• She was also very honest - you'd think being a psychotherapist she'd be sympathetic - yes she was, but just not 24/7. She's human after all! 

Ending:

• I read this a while back and couldn't quite remember how it ended. However since this was a collection of patient stories, the ending wasn't quite as critical as say, a fictional story.

Emotion:

• There was one particularly sad story, and I am sure it haunted Dr Rubin. But I guess we had to remember that the doctor could only do so much - their role was to guide the patient, it really is up to the patient to make their own decision

What I Learned:

• The term "passing" in relation to race. Haven't heard of it before (explanation in wiki). 

• For couple therapy - the therapist was not supposed to see the couple individually (according to Dr Rubin anyway), e.g. if the husband told the therapist he cheated, and the therapist told the wife then it broke patient (the husband's) confidentiality. If the therapist chose not to tell the wife, and the wife found out later, she would not trust the therapist as she might think the therapist sided with the husband and kept the wife in the dark

• If a patient asked something and the therapist did not want to answer yes or no right then since either option was appropriate (because of the consequences), answered the question in a way that left the option open instead (e.g. "if you complete the next step, then we can readdress the issue then" instead of saying yes or no to that issue straight away)

PS:

• Made me wonder if someone had to go through therapy himself/herself, in order to become a good therapist, so they'd know what their patients go through? Since I had a psych major, I had considered going back to school to learn about therapy/counseling. However, I had a fairly stable, non-dramatic life. Would I be sympathetic enough?

Read this Author again?

• Most likely

Quote:

Freud himself knew that there was no cure and no transformation, only the possibility of transcending. Which is why he promised only to turn neurotic suffering into ordinary pain. (p159-160)

Overall Rating:
4 Stars. Learned something new!

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

Book Review - Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II by Mitchell Zuckoff

Title: Lost in Shangri-La: A True Story of Survival, Adventure, and the Most Incredible Rescue Mission of World War II
Author: Mitchell Zuckoffx 
Year: 2011
Page: 400
Genre: Non-Fiction - History

FTC Disclosure: Free ARC from HarperCollins in x

Summary (from goodreads.com):
On May 13, 1945, twenty-four American servicemen and WACs boarded a transport plane for a sightseeing trip over Shangri-La, a beautiful and mysterious valley deep within the jungle-covered mountains of Dutch New Guinea. Unlike the peaceful Tibetan monks of James Hilton's bestselling novel Lost Horizon, this Shangri-La was home to spear-carrying tribesmen, warriors rumored to be cannibals. But the pleasure tour became an unforgettable battle for survival when the plane crashed. 


Miraculously, three passengers pulled through. Margaret Hastings, barefoot and burned, had no choice but to wear her dead best friend's shoes. John McCollom, grieving the death of his twin brother also aboard the plane, masked his grief with stoicism. Kenneth Decker, too, was severely burned and suffered a gaping head wound.

Emotionally devastated, badly injured, and vulnerable to the hidden dangers of the jungle, the trio faced certain death unless they left the crash site. Caught between man-eating headhunters and enemy Japanese, the wounded passengers endured a harrowing hike down the mountainside--a journey into the unknown that would lead them straight into a primitive tribe of superstitious natives who had never before seen a white man or woman.

Drawn from interviews, declassified U.S. Army documents, personal photos and mementos, a survivor's diary, a rescuer's journal, and original film footage, Lost in Shangri-La recounts this incredible true-life adventure for the first time. Mitchell Zuckoff reveals how the determined trio--dehydrated, sick, and in pain--traversed the dense jungle to find help; how a brave band of paratroopers risked their own lives to save the survivors; and how a cowboy colonel attempted a previously untested rescue mission to get them out.

By trekking into the New Guinea jungle, visiting remote villages, and rediscovering the crash site, Zuckoff also captures the contemporary natives; remembrances of the long-ago day when strange creatures fell from the sky. A riveting work of narrative nonfiction that vividly brings to life an odyssey at times terrifying, enlightening, and comic, Lost in Shangri-La is a thrill ride from beginning to end.

First Sentence:
On a rainy day in May 1945, a Western Union messenger made his rounds through the quiet village of Owego, in upstate New York.

My Thoughts:

Why this book?

• While history books aren't usually my genre, this one promised to read like a fast-paced adventure fiction. Besides, my husband would really enjoy this one since he loves reading about wars, so I thought this would be a good contender for our "read aloud" together (me reading it out loud to him as he prefers audio and I prefer prints)

First thought:

• I am just glad I wasn't on that plane...

Cover Art:

• I have an ARC so my cover was actually the second picture posted (the green one). I actually prefer this version over the one that got released (the more orange one) because of the jungle. I still think the cover could be a bit more attractive - maybe an actual picture of Shagnri-La / Baliem Valley and/or the natives?

Title:

• Fitting, interesting and concise

Writing:

• Easy to read, with a subtle sense of humor (when appropriate). 

Plot:

• The author had conducted extensive research for this book and it showed - not just the event, but the different characters mentioned in the book too. Because of that, sometimes it got side-tracked a bit (e.g. by providing the background of a non-key-but-not-too-minor characters). We read this book together over a couple of months due to our schedule, and sometimes I had to think back about what happened or whom that person was.

• The story was engaging though as we really wanted to find out what happened - did they beat the odds? If so, how? 

Characters:

• We really got a sense of whom the main characters were - especially since we got read some of their diary entries. 

• It was really interesting to read about the natives, and the perceptions and/or assumptions from both sides. I had always been fascinated by cultural differences so I really enjoyed reading this part. I am a little sadden about how they turned out as reported in the epilogue. 

• There were quite a lot of people mentioned in the book - some played a bigger part than others. I guessed the author just wanted to acknowledge them, and documented their role in the story. I was particularly glad he played special tributes to the paratroopers, especially the medics  - they deserved the kudos.

• It wasn't until we finished the book that I found a list of all characters at the end of the book! Would have been better if the list was placed in the beginning of the book so I knew it was there to start with! Typically I tried not to flip to the back of any books in case I read the ending by accident...

Ending:

• I was pleased the author included an epilogue.

Emotion:

• I couldn't imagine having to go through what the main 3 characters went through. There definitely were some touching moments, especially when it came to McCollom - he was so young and yet so mature

What I Learned:

• I didn't know about Dutch New Guinea and its involvement in WWII. Definitely learned quite a few new things in this book!

PS:

• The husband enjoyed this book as I predicted. I asked him how he'd rate out of 5 stars. He wouldn't give me an answer as he hates rating things (and I ask him to rate things a lot lol)

Read this Author again?

• Yes!

Quote:

Margaret described a lesson she carried with her from the valley. "Fear is something I don't think you experience unless you have a choice. If you have a choice, then you're liable to be afraid. But without a choice, what is there to be afraid of?You just go along doing what has to be done." (p316)

Overall Rating:
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 Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

Title: The Sugar Queen 
Author: Sarah Addison Allen
Year: 2008
Page: 276
Genre: Fiction - Magical Realism

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):

In this irresistible follow-up to her New York Times bestselling debut, Garden Spells, author Sarah Addison Allen tells the tale of a young woman whose family secrets—and secret passions—are about to change her life forever.

Twenty-seven-year-old Josey Cirrini is sure of three things: winter in her North Carolina hometown is her favorite season, she’s a sorry excuse for a Southern belle, and sweets are best eaten in the privacy of her hidden closet. For while Josey has settled into an uneventful life in her mother’s house, her one consolation is the stockpile of sugary treats and paperback romances she escapes to each night…. Until she finds it harboring none other than local waitress Della Lee Baker, a tough-talking, tenderhearted woman who is one part nemesis—and two parts fairy godmother…

Fleeing a life of bad luck and big mistakes, Della Lee has decided Josey’s clandestine closet is the safest place to crash. In return she’s going to change Josey’s life—because, clearly, it is not the closet of a happy woman. With Della Lee’s tough love, Josey is soon forgoing pecan rolls and caramels, tapping into her startlingly keen feminine instincts, and finding her narrow existence quickly expanding.

Before long, Josey bonds with Chloe Finley, a young woman who makes the best sandwiches in town, is hounded by books that inexplicably appear whenever she needs them, and—most amazing of all—has a close connection to Josey’s longtime crush.

As little by little Josey dares to step outside herself, she discovers a world where the color red has astonishing power, passion can make eggs fry in their cartons, and romance can blossom at any time—even for her. It seems that Della Lee’s work is done, and it’s time for her to move on. But the truth about where she’s going, why she showed up in the first place—and what Chloe has to do with it all—is about to add one more unexpected chapter to Josey’s fast-changing life.

Brimming with warmth, wit, and a sprinkling of magic, here is a spellbinding tale of friendship, love—and the enchanting possibilities of every new day.

First Sentence:
When Josey woke up and saw the feathery frost on her windowpane, she smiled.

My Thoughts:

Why this book?

• We are choosing our books for our book club for Aug 2011-July 2012. The librarian hosting the book club gave us a list of choices (some of them are our suggestions... okay a lot of them are MY suggestions :p). One book that caught my eye was Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen. I have never heard of her before, but that book sounded intriguing even though it's not my usual type of books. I did a little more research, and found all her books have great reviews. I decided to try The Sugar Queen out instead (so if the book club ends up choosing Garden Spells, I would read it then along with the book club members)

First thought:

• I think I may have found a new favorite author, even though this is not my usual genre!

Cover Art:

• I like it but I don't love it. I wish I have a window view like that though!

Title:

• Sugar? Queen? Sounds like a winning combo! (Though admittedly, I am not really into the whole princessy, royalty thing. It gets your attention though, especially since I have a sweet tooth!)

Writing:

• Easy to read. No complaints here. Probably not literature standard but hey that's why I am reading this since I am not into literature!

Plot:

• A bit predictable, but I really like how everything tied together and that took me by surprise.

• My only other experience with magical realism was The Book of Tomorrow by Cecilia Ahren (my review here) and I didn't like it very much because the magic seemed out of place - it was more of a convenience than an integral part of the story. It wasn't explained very well either (okay, maybe you can't really explain magic, but my logical mind needs some type of a resolution or explanation!) So when I read The Sugar Queen, I wasn't quite sure how I'd like the whole magical realism theme but I am glad I gave it a try. Is it plausible? It depends on your belief, but at least the author helped explained how the story went from Point A to Point B.

Characters:

• The characters are likeable. While I was reading the book, I kept thinking about I wish I could try all the candies that Josie had! It wasn't until later I found out the author had put a list of all the candies in the book on her website here :)

Ending:

• It was a satisfying ending! Finishing this book was like eating some candies you love :) Just a sweet story. Maybe a bit bittersweet.

Emotion:

• Good thing we usually don't have much snacks at home or I'd be indulging on candies the whole way through!

What I Learned:

• Chick-lit is not my genre, but when it is done right like this book, I do enjoy it (okay I don't really know if this book should be classified as chick-lit or not, but it is closer to chick-lit than other genre I read)

PS:

• Reading about all the candies reminded me of another (non-fiction) book I'd read a couple of years ago - Candyfreak: A Journey through the Chocolate Underbelly of America by Steve Almond. It was a fun read! Recommended if you like candies!  

Read this Author again?

• Yes!

Quote:

"Books can be possessive, can't they? You're walking around in a bookstore and a certain one will jump out at you, like it had moved there on its own, just to get your attention. Sometimes what's inside will change your life, but sometimes you don't even have to read it. Sometimes it's a comfort just to have a book around. May of these books haven't even had their spines cracked. 'Why do you buy books you don't even read?' our daughter asks us. That's like asking someone who lives alone why they bought a cat. For company, of course." (p180)

Overall Rating:
4 Stars. Would have been a bit higher if a bit less predictable.

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