The Book of Hours by T. Davis Bunn

Summary:

Castle Priory is a crumbling Oxfordshire mansion, one Brian Blackstone's wife considered a place of extraordinary enchantment. But for Brian there is no enchantment, only the burden of trying to honor Sarah's dying wish that he hold onto the property. With the local doctor, Cecilia Keeble, Brian begins to explore the mysteries of the old estate. In the process he discovers a medieval secret which offers a key to renew his spirit and heal his broken heart. The power of prayer reaches through the centuries in a surprising and mysterious way…

My take: 3 looks
Gripping from the beginning, this was a very nice Christian fiction book. It was not in the least heavy handed, as Christian fiction so very often is, but was more concerned with the story telling than the proselytizing.

I found many spiritual truths in the book, and the characters were real and flawed. I am looking forward to reading my next Davis Bunn book.

What celebrities read

Some are interested in what a celebrity wears, or a new hairstyle, or their homes. Me? I want to know what they are reading.

I was disappointed but not shocked to find a lack of pics online of celebs caught reading. Mind you, I don't want the posed pics. I want them to actually be CAUGHT reading. When they think no one is looking, like Britney Spears, here, reading C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe". I hope she read it to her boys, too.

Gardiner Public Library in Gardiner, Maine used to publish a yearly list of what celebs were reading, but they retired the list in 2008. Here is one reason: "We loved doing it, but it was getting harder and harder to have celebrities respond to our requests." Anne Davis, Director of Library and Info Svcs.


Actors are "artsy" by nature and I think that instills a love for books and the art of writing. It's good to see Snoop reading.

Don't these people realize what a statement it makes to be seen reading? Even if you don't care for their work, you have to admit that your opinion is probably raised a bit when you see them reading. I can't ever remember feeling that way when I hear what a celeb's favorite television show it.

Maybe it's because I love books. I want every one to love them. I don't love television. I like music, but I don't care what they are listening to. Why is that? Because I love books. I want to read what others are reading and discuss it with them. I want to see what the hubbub is about with a popular book or series.

I'm not sure where I am going with this other than I want celebrities to read more in public. I think that it would encourage more common folk like me to read, and I know it would put a book in the hand of more than one teen who looks up to a celeb. I'll care what they read later. After all, baby steps.

Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Summary:

Launched in November, Dell's Kurt Vonnegut reissue program continues with one of the world's great anti-war books. Centering on the infamous firebombing of Dresden, Billy Pilgrim's odyssey through time reflects the mythic journey of our own fractured lives as we search for meaning in what we are afraid to know.

My take: 4 looks
How I made it to my 46th year without reading this book, I do not know. It is listed as the 18th greatest English language novel of the 20th century by Modern Library. At the very least, I should have had to read this in high school or my ENG 101 in college.

It is touted, as seen above, as one of the world's great anti-war books. I would have to heartily disagree. I would say that "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien is far superior to this book, and can only assume that the Modern Library's list was created prior to its publication in 1990 (although I seriously doubt it).

Slaughterhouse-Five is a satire and, with the intent of pointing out vice or folly, certainly serves that end. However, the delusions of the main character became, for me, more of a caricature rather than a statement on the far-reaching effects of war on the soldier's psyche. While the Tralfamadore aliens were probably the Germans, the zoo's geodome posed as the slaughterhouse and Montana Wildhack a juxtaposition to Valencia, I thought it too exaggerated and comical to be taken seriously.

Although, is that Vonnegut's point? War is, at its heart, so ridiculous that the only thing we can do is present it as such? After all, this seems to be nothing short of an autobiographical novel, since Vonnegut himself was a prisoner of war, surviving in an underground slaughterhouse meat locker and being one of a very few survivors of the bombing of Dresden. His personal experience was the batting for this book's odd quilt of a story.

With that said, Vonnegut can write what he wants, as he had certainly earned the right. He can portray the war, and any war for that matter, as the fodder of fools masked as aliens. He can convey, in his broken, psychotic and delusional way, the total annihilation of city and soldier, regardless of whether the legs still stand. What did I walk away with? No one ever wins a war.

100 Best First Lines from Novels

I came across this list today from American Book Review. I have included the top 10, but if you'd like to see the rest, click on the link here.

1. Call me Ishmael. —Herman Melville, Moby-Dick (1851)

2. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. —Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (1813)

3. A screaming comes across the sky. —Thomas Pynchon, Gravity's Rainbow (1973)

4. Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice. —Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967; trans. Gregory Rabassa)

5. Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. —Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita (1955)

6. Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. —Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina (1877; trans. Constance Garnett)

7. riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs. —James Joyce, Finnegans Wake (1939)

8. It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. —George Orwell, 1984 (1949)

9. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. —Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1859)

10. I am an invisible man. —Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man (1952)

Banned Books

This pretty much puts an end to any and all banned books:

 The U.S. Supreme Court considered the First Amendment implications of the removal of the book, among others, from public school libraries in the case of Island Trees School District v. Pico, [457 U.S. 853 (1982)], and concluded that "local school boards may not remove books from school library shelves simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books and seek by their removal to 'prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion.'"

Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009

From the American Library Association, these are the top ten.

1. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
2. Alice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
3. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
4. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
5. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
6. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
7. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
8. His Dark Materials (series), by Philip Pullman
9. ttyl; ttfn; l8r g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

I'm not quite sure why I am on a "banned books" tirade at the moment, but I suspect it's the rebellious spirit in me making me want to read what others try to take off the shelves. If you'd like the see the entire list, click the link here.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Summary:

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever..

My take: 3 looks
What a fun YA book! Unlike the other popular books which focus on dystopian societies (Ender's Game, Matched, Hunger Games), this book has an excellent underlying message about beauty's ideal, sway and ultimate price. It moves along at a nice pace, has plenty of adventure, and is completely believable. I gave a start at the end of the one, and will most certainly read the next in this series.

Ray Bradbury: 1920-2012

Ray Bradbury was, without question or supposition, one of my favorite authors.

His The Illustrated Man changed me, in that this is the first book I read, put down, thought of, remembered, recollected, and picked up again and again to read. "The Veldt", in particular...I could smell those smells, feel the humidity of the air and prickle at the arid wind on the land. Finally, I smelled the copper-penny smell of blood. It amazes me even now, years later, that the story is still so much with me.

That is master storytelling.

Bringing science fiction to the general public was quite a feat, and introduced unsuspecting readers like me to a wider range of authors such as Arthur C. Clark, Philip H. Dick and H. G. Wells.

My pick for a Pennsylvania book club one month was Bradbury's Dandelion Wine. I didn't know at the the time that it was semi-autobiographical and was pleasantly surprised that the story was not at all like the others of his I had read. I loved the book. The rest of the club hated it. ha!

Fond memories of this author.

The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski

Summary:

Meet June Parker. She works for L.A. Rideshare, adores her rent-stabilized apartment in Santa Monica, and struggles with losing a few pesky pounds. But June’s life is about to change. After a dark turn of events involving Weight Watchers, a chili recipe, and a car accident in which her passenger, Marissa, dies, June finds herself in possession of a list Marissa has written, “20 Things to Do By My 25th Birthday.” Even though they barely knew eachother, June is compelled by both guilt and a desire to set things right and finish the list for Marissa. The tasks before her range from inspiring (Run a 5K), to daring (Go braless), to near-impossible (Change someone’s life), and as June races to achieve each goal before the deadline, she learns more about her own life than she ever bargained for.

My take: 3 looks
The perfect beach book, this one is a very quick and easy read. Which may be exactly why I am giving it three looks. There is nothing notable, ground-breaking or revealing. You know she will finish the list. 1/2 way through you foresee the guy she will eventually choose, and you know things with DeeDee will probably not turn out as expected. What I did like about the end of the book is how she finally crossed off #3: Change Someone's Life. That was worth reading alone.

Potter Springs by Britta Coleman

Summary:

With a fresh, authentic voice straight out of Texas, Britta Coleman has crafted a compelling, award-winning debut that carries readers with humor and heart. When fiery Amanda Thompson becomes engaged to the love of her life, Mark Reynolds, a talented man on a clear career path, she hopes for happily ever after. Except an error in judgment costs Mark his job at a big Houston church and their future is suddenly, irrevocably changed. A new opportunity in a small West Texas town moves the couple a full day's drive away from all that is familiar. Out of love for each other, and in spite of secret hurts and dashed expectations, Mark and Amanda settle in Potter Springs. With the help of the town's colorful citizens the displaced newlyweds undergo an emotional journey full of heartbreaking clashes and humorous mishaps that lead them to a heightened understanding of "ever after."

My take: 2.5 looks
It was a very fast book to read and was "okay" on the entertaining scale. I liked the mothers the best. It was predictable to the Nth degree and by the end, I couldn't wait for it to be over. I may read more by this author, but just to see if she has matured in her storytelling.

True Grit by Charles Portis

Summary:

Charles Portis has been acclaimed as one of America’s foremost comic writers. True Grit is his most famous novel. First published in 1968, and the basis for the movie of the same name starring John Wayne (for which he won his only Academy Award), it tells the story of Mattie Ross, a fourteen-year-old girl from Dardanelle, Arkansas, who sets out in the winter of eighteen seventy-something to avenge the murder of her father. Since not even Mattie (who is no self-doubter) would ride into Indian Territory alone, she "convinces" one-eyed "Rooster" Cogburn, the meanest available U.S. Marshall, to tag along with her. As Mattie outdickers and outmaneuvers the hard-bitten types in her path, as her performance under fire makes them eat their words, her indestructible vitality and harsh innocence by turns amuse, horrify and touch the reader. What happens — to Mattie, to the gang of outlaws unfortunate enough to tangle with her — rings with the dramatic rightness of legend and the marvelous overtones, the continual surprises, of personality. True Grit is eccentric, cool, straight and unflinching, like Mattie herself, who tells the story a half-century later in a voice that sounds strong and sure enough to outlast us all.

My take: 4 looks
I am amazed at how close (at least the first) movie is to the book. I could almost follow along in the book while watching. Maybe this was because an actor, Hume Cronyn, wrote the screenplay. In any case, only the ending is a bit different.

The telling of the story by a woman who is recalling her 14th year makes for a good story. There is some reflection but not much, and there is not much internal monologue. With that said, this book is driven by dialogue. Witty, clever, revealing and character-building dialogue. There are one-liners here that would work on a comedy stage in current time, but at the same time reflecting the old west as it was: harsh, cruel and providing little time for emotional softness.

The story is a good one, but one that probably would not have read if it were not for the movie. However, I will read more by Portis.

Decorated to Death by Dean James

Summary:

Not everyone can claim both Hercule Poirot and Nancy Drew as inspiration - but not everyone is a vampire sleuth from the States who pulled up stakes to live in a small English village. Even the eccentric denizens of Snupperton Mumsley might be surprised by Simon Kirby-Jones's rather unusual lifestyle. But murder is a more than adequate distraction when a visiting celebrity meets his maker - and Simon must suss out a killer.

My take: 3 looks
This is a fun cozy mystery. Well, if you call an expatriate-murder-solving-homosexual-vampire a cozy mystery!

This tale was fun from beginning to end. In the vein (haha) of Sookie Stackhouse, it is light-hearted, enjoyable and ties up all loose ends by the last page. The writing was fresh, energetic, and intelligent. I love the use of words such as "harridan", "loquacious" and "fishwife". I will read more by this author!

Thinner by Richard Bachman

Summary:

When an old Gypsy man curses Billy Halleck for sideswiping his daughter, six weeks later he's 93 pounds lighter. Now Billy is terrified. And desperate enough for one last gamble...that will lead him to a nightmare showdown with the forces of evil melting his flesh away.

My take: 3 looks
It's hard to not like a Stephen King (this time writing under the pseudonym Richard Bachman) book. Full of intrigue, mystery, violence, death and a huge dose of weirdness, this one does not disappoint.

Sleeping Arrangements by Madeleine Wickham

Summary:

Chloe needs a holiday. She's sick of making wedding dresses, her partner Philip has troubles at work, and the whole family wants a break. Her wealthy friend Gerard has offered the loan of his luxury villa in Spain--perfect.
  
Hugh is not a happy man. His immaculate wife Amanda seems more interested in the granite for the new kitchen than in him, and he works so hard to pay for it, he barely has time for his children. Maybe he'll have a chance to bond with them on holiday. His old friend Gerard has lent them a luxury villa in Spain--perfect.    

Both families arrive at the villa and get a shock--Gerard has double-booked. An uneasy week of sharing begins, and tensions soon mount in the soaring heat. But there's also a secret history between the families - and as tempers fray, an old passion begins to resurface ...

My take: 2.5 looks
It was a cute, easy read. I could have done without the infidelity because they "had to find out", the 16-year-old losing his virginity to the nanny while the mom turned her back, and the pot smoking ... but I won't be a prude on this one. I was glad it was happily-ever-after.

I have a few others by Sophie Kinsella on my list, and will read another one by her. After that, I'll decide whether or not she is an author worth keeping on my TBR.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Summary:

One of the most important works of twentieth-century American literature, Zora Neale Hurston’s beloved 1937 classic, Their Eyes Were Watching God, is an enduring Southern love story sparkling with wit, beauty, and heartfelt wisdom. Told in the captivating voice of a woman who refuses to live in sorrow, bitterness, fear, or foolish romantic dreams, it is the story of fair-skinned, fiercely independent Janie Crawford, and her evolving selfhood through three marriages and a life marked by poverty, trials, and purpose. A true literary wonder, Hurston's masterwork remains as relevant and affecting today as when it was first published— perhaps the most widely read and highly regarded novel in the entire canon of African American literature.

My take: 5 looks
This book is heralded as an "African American Feminist Classic", which put me off a bit. In the age of what came to be known as "racial uplifting" in literature, I didn't look forward to yet another story of the hardship, bitterness, plight and struggle of the American Negro. The book was panned because she didn't use her voice to try to advance the movement, and her fellow authors turned on her, as they thought she had turned on them.

However, this is a story that celebrates community, rural living, family and, most of all, a woman choosing her own path in a day when she was still considered the property of her husband. This strong-willed woman could have been any color, but her being black added to the story, as opposed to shaping or forming the foundation of the story.

The writing here is intelligent, lyrical and absolutely beautiful. It has insight, daring, courage and transports the reader in time. I was in the Everglades. I was on that store porch. I was in the big house. And I was on the dusty road, looking toward my next destination. Hurston was a writer...an author...and you should read this book simply because it is American literature at its finest.