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Personally, I love to read debut novels. I love the thrill of discovering books that most people haven’t read, yet. ‘Snow Falling on Cedars’ by David Guterson is one great example. Released in 2005, ‘Midnight at the Dragon Café’ is another great debut novel. The cover picture grabbed my attention first, and as I began reading, the plot did, too. You can read the synopsis listed elsewhere on this page, but the synopsis really does not do this book justice. The division of an immigrant family trying to make their way in a new country while trying to maintain their culture makes for richly detailed reading. The main character, a young girl, tries to make sense of all the swirling events going on around her while trying to fit in with her peers. Set against the backdrop of the idealistic naiveté of a small Canadian town the 1950s, the reader aches for the young girl and her family as they struggle, although some of the strife is self-induced. At the end of the book, some hope is present as the family comes to grips with its situation and some not-so-easy resolutions.
I originally picked this book because the cover was intriguing, and then, I read the synopsis on the flyleaf. It, too, was intriguing. I will admit that it was somewhat difficult to 'get into' this book, but, trust me, stick with it to the end. You definitely will be rewarded. The story has so many layers, and each layer contains such detail, that you will be enthralled. The author described the settings and tragedies with exquisite and sometimes horrifying detail. On the surface, the story is about a volatile mother-daughter relationship in a bi-cultural family. The secondary characters (husband/father, nephew, old friend from Iran) are also somewhat befuddled as to what will happen next. It is also a love story for the ages as well as a tale of what is and what could have been. Although the ending is somewhat ambiguous, the reader will feel hope that this family will somehow be made whole again. Overall, this was a great first-time read. It is definitely worth reading more than once to take in all the details.
From being nearly frozen to death as a tiny dirty furball to becoming internationally known and universally loved (even by non-cat lovers)...What a compelling story! Weave that dramatic storyline with the story of the rebirth of a small town at the end of hope and librarians with dramatic events of their own as well as hearts as big as Texas. I could not stop reading this book. As a cat person, I know that cats can sense what humans feel/want/need/etc., and I know that cats become attached to a particular person. I laughed at Dewey's antics and mourned when he passed away. This book is definitely worth repeated readings. Even if readers aren't 'cat people,' this is an enjoyable must-read (or must-hear if listening to the audiobook edition) that underscores human resiliency as well as the healing power of having pets.
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I absolutely LOVED this book! It is a must-read for any serious baseball fan, especially if you enjoy reading about the old-school players. The love and camaradie amongst these particular 4 players is very evident, even as one nears the end of a fruitful and full life. The author was very lucky to have had such intimate access to these players, and I am so glad that he was able to capture their story so vividly. This is one book I would gladly read over and over.
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(3 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
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mbtm2003 has commented on (4) products.
Midnight at the Dragon Cafe by Judy Fong Bates
mbtm2003, July 21, 2009
Personally, I love to read debut novels. I love the thrill of discovering books that most people haven’t read, yet. ‘Snow Falling on Cedars’ by David Guterson is one great example. Released in 2005, ‘Midnight at the Dragon Café’ is another great debut novel. The cover picture grabbed my attention first, and as I began reading, the plot did, too. You can read the synopsis listed elsewhere on this page, but the synopsis really does not do this book justice. The division of an immigrant family trying to make their way in a new country while trying to maintain their culture makes for richly detailed reading. The main character, a young girl, tries to make sense of all the swirling events going on around her while trying to fit in with her peers. Set against the backdrop of the idealistic naiveté of a small Canadian town the 1950s, the reader aches for the young girl and her family as they struggle, although some of the strife is self-induced. At the end of the book, some hope is present as the family comes to grips with its situation and some not-so-easy resolutions.The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther
mbtm2003, July 21, 2009
I originally picked this book because the cover was intriguing, and then, I read the synopsis on the flyleaf. It, too, was intriguing. I will admit that it was somewhat difficult to 'get into' this book, but, trust me, stick with it to the end. You definitely will be rewarded. The story has so many layers, and each layer contains such detail, that you will be enthralled. The author described the settings and tragedies with exquisite and sometimes horrifying detail. On the surface, the story is about a volatile mother-daughter relationship in a bi-cultural family. The secondary characters (husband/father, nephew, old friend from Iran) are also somewhat befuddled as to what will happen next. It is also a love story for the ages as well as a tale of what is and what could have been. Although the ending is somewhat ambiguous, the reader will feel hope that this family will somehow be made whole again. Overall, this was a great first-time read. It is definitely worth reading more than once to take in all the details.Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron
mbtm2003, June 5, 2009
From being nearly frozen to death as a tiny dirty furball to becoming internationally known and universally loved (even by non-cat lovers)...What a compelling story! Weave that dramatic storyline with the story of the rebirth of a small town at the end of hope and librarians with dramatic events of their own as well as hearts as big as Texas. I could not stop reading this book. As a cat person, I know that cats can sense what humans feel/want/need/etc., and I know that cats become attached to a particular person. I laughed at Dewey's antics and mourned when he passed away. This book is definitely worth repeated readings. Even if readers aren't 'cat people,' this is an enjoyable must-read (or must-hear if listening to the audiobook edition) that underscores human resiliency as well as the healing power of having pets.(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
The Teammates: A Portrait of Friendship by David Halberstam
mbtm2003, April 14, 2009
I absolutely LOVED this book! It is a must-read for any serious baseball fan, especially if you enjoy reading about the old-school players. The love and camaradie amongst these particular 4 players is very evident, even as one nears the end of a fruitful and full life. The author was very lucky to have had such intimate access to these players, and I am so glad that he was able to capture their story so vividly. This is one book I would gladly read over and over.(3 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)