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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
janmah51 has commented on (74) products
We Are the Destroyers
by
D. K. Lindler
janmah51
, September 18, 2015
This book has an interesting concept. Captain Bel'lar seem to be destined to repeat the same mistake over and over again. His planet is faced with over consumption and relying on synthetic foods. The people are becoming mutations called the Syns. He plans on rescuing some of the remaining Organics and transporting them to a new blue-white planet. Helping him is a female, Ry Sing. She is frustrating at times, spiritual one moment and a giggling little flirt at others. It addresses the themes of environmental destruction and that of spiritual destruction as well. This is the first book in a series, it will be interesting to see how it all plays out.
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The Rosie Effect
by
Simsion, Graeme
janmah51
, March 05, 2015
Rosie and Don have moved to New York City. Don teaches at Columbia and Rosie is working on her Ph.D. Their friend, Gene has left Claudia and moved in with them. Rosie drops the bombshell they are pregnant. Don reacts like you'd expect he would. After the dust settles, he sets out to research baby growth and development. His office/bathroom has white tiles. He draws a picture of the baby in each tile as it develops. He calls the baby BUD, Baby Under Development. In his research on fatherhood he gets in trouble with the law, and many other awkward moments occur as well. Rosie is very involved with the pregnancy and baby and begins to doubt Don's ability to be a good father. If you loved The Rosie Project, you should read this book. It is not as sweet but the story is a good sequel to the first book.
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What Comes Next and How to Like It: A Memoir
by
Thomas, Abigail
janmah51
, October 30, 2014
At the heart of this book is a friendship between Abigail and a man she met 35 years ago, Chuck Verrill. The chapters are short, the writing also short and somewhat choppy but it doesn't effect the power of the story. Abigail's husband has died, her daughter diagnosed with an illness and her dog also dies. Chuck is there throughout everything, a steadfast friend. She writes, and when she can't she paints on glass. She paints a forest on the glass, starts scraping away some of the paint, turns it over and it's an ocean. This is a lovely memoir reflecting on aging, family and friendship. It is a fast read but a good one. I enjoyed it.
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& the Dark Sacred Night A Novel
by
Julia Glass
janmah51
, September 18, 2014
What really makes a family a family? This book addresses this question and explores how choices made in our youth shape our future. Kit Noonan is stuck. He's an unemployed art history teacher. He couldn't finish writing a book required to keep his job. He finds himself unable to be motivated to do much of anything. His wife suggests he needs to find out who his father really was. Kit spends time with the father who raised him, Jasper who tells him to contact Lucinda Burns. It turns out Lucinda has the answers Kit needs. This book has a lot of characters and the journey is not an easy one. I enjoyed it and moved by the story. I won this book from the Reading Group Center Facebook page.
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Bones Never Lie A Novel
by
Kathy Reichs
janmah51
, August 12, 2014
Forensic anthropologist, Temperance Brennan is called in to the Charlotte PD's Cold Case Unit. She meets up again with detective Andrew Ryan. Anique Pemerleau has been linked to murder victims in Vermont and North Carolina, and earlier had almost killed Brennan. Another child is taken and Brennan and Ryan have to stop the killings. This is a great series, interesting characters and great action. In this book a lot of storylines are neatly wrapped up. The ending is very satisfying on several different levels. If you love this series and the TV show Bones, this is a must read.
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The Last Forever
by
Deb Caletti
janmah51
, June 25, 2014
Tessa is 17 when her mother dies. Her father isn't much help as he is grieving and in a daze. They take a road trip the ends up on Parrish Island where he leaves Tess with her grandmother, Jenny. Through the whole trip, she has carried a rare plant called a pixieball that belonged to her mom. Only the further she travels the plant becomes sicker and sicker. She is afraid she'll loose the last tread to her mother and seeks to find a way to heal the little plant. She meets Henry Lark and falls in love. This is an emotional and sometimes funny book. It explores the dynamics of grief and how different people deal with it.
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Lucky Us
by
Amy Bloom
janmah51
, May 15, 2014
The story is set in 1939-1949 and travels from Hollywood to Long Island. Eva is 12 when she is left on her father's porch. She discovers she has a half sister, Iris. They become close and Eva follows Iris to Hollywood to pursue Iris' dreams of becoming a film star. There are scandals and they leave Hollywood and Iris' dreams to head to a new life in New York. This is a story of family and what does and does not make a family. There are a lot of characters. You will enjoy meeting them all. This was an easy and enjoyable read. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves great characters and a good story.
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Some Girls Some Hats & Hitler A True Love Story Rediscovered
by
Trudi Kanter
janmah51
, April 24, 2014
Some Girls, Some Hats and Hitler by Trudi Kanter Trudi Miller in 1938 was a beautiful, chic and charismatic hat designer in Vienna. While traveling abroad for fashion shows and materials, friends warn her about the coming war and encourage her to not return to Vienna. She will not abandon her parents nor the love of her life, Walter. Trudi uses her smarts and connections to escape with both the parents and Walter to London. The book was first published in London in 1984 and res-discovered by a British editor in 2011. A very good story, sometimes you forget it is a true story and not a novel. It shows how it what could happen to well known, well off people in Europe just because they were Jewish. I enjoyed this book, and loved Trudi's spunk and determination to survive and even thrive in war torn Europe.
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Sun & Other Stars
by
Brigid Pasulka
janmah51
, March 10, 2014
Twenty-two year old Etto lives in the small resort seaside town of San Benedetto in Italy. The story takes place a year agter he loses both his twin brother and his mother. his father is the local butcher. His father is obsessed with soccer, as was his brother. Etto often retreats to the hills above the town to "talk" t his brother. Yuri Fil is a soccer star who is retreating as well, only from international scandal. He winds up in San Benedetto with his sister, the lovely Zhuki. They strike up a friendship with Etto. Etto is now swept into their circle of sport and celebrity. This is a lovely tale of family, friends and the healing effect of sports. Soccer becomes the glue that holds a town and it's people together.
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All Girl Filling Stations Last Reunion
by
Fannie Flagg
janmah51
, December 06, 2013
Sookie and Earle Poole have married off their last daughter and look forward to relaxing and maybe travelling. Her mother, Lenore Simmons Krackenberry is the one fly in the ointment. Sookie is taking care of her mothers business and her life is changed when she opens a letter sent to her mother from the Texas Board of Health. She finds out she is not the person she thought she was. The book alternates between present day Alabama to the years just before and during WWII in Minnesota and Texas. This was a fun book. Great story and wonderful women characters. Some interesting twists and turns as well, I really enjoyed it. It has a lot of great information on the WASP women who flew planes while the male pilots were overseas. This would be a great book to give to all the women and girls in your life. It is uplifting and wonderful.
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Queens Gambit
by
Elizabeth Fremantle
janmah51
, October 24, 2013
At age 31, Katherine Parr finds herself twice a widow. She returns to court and falls in love with Thomas Seymour. But when she catches the eye of the king, Henry sends Seymour away. Henry is old and ailing but must has Katherine as his queen. She will be his sixth and last queen. This book has all the intrigue, passion and betrayal you'd expect. It is well written and vividly describes the time and the pomplex people and the ways of the royal court. I love all things Tudor. The TV shows, movies and books. I was excited to get this book and to read it. I knew little of Katherine Parr so this was a new turn on a well loved story. I enjoyed it.
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Still Life with Bread Crumbs
by
Quindlen, Anna
janmah51
, September 30, 2013
Rebecca Winter is a 60-yr. old photographer whose career is on the down turn. As is her bank account. She leaves New York City and moves to the country. She is awakened by a scary noise in her attic. The noise turns out to be a raccoon. She calls a local roofer, Jim Bates who rids the attic of the raccoon. He is young, 30 and hunky, an unlikely love interest for Rebecca. Rebecca prides herself on the fact that she photographs things as she finds them. She finds a group of white crosses scattered across a hillside near her home. There is a trophy near one, a blue ribbon near another along with other objects. When she later learns of the true nature of who placed them there and why, it will rock her world. I loved this book. I love reading Anna Quindlen and this did not disappoint. Will it change your life? Rock your world? No, but it will make you feel good and it will make you smile.
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Forever Interrupted
by
Taylor Jenkins Reid
janmah51
, September 16, 2013
I call this Weekend, Interrupted. I received a copy on Friday and read it nonstop through the weekend. It was very engaging. It tells the story of Ben and Elsie. They have a short courtship and a quick, quiet marriage. Ben hasn't even told his mother. Ben goes out on an errand and dies in an accident. The rest of the book goes back and forth between the love affair and the aftermath of the accident. Elsie meets Ben's mom, Susan, in the ER. Susan doesn't know Elsie exists let alone that she is married to her son. The character, Susan, was too close to an ex's mother for me to feel sorry for her. It takes a while for the two women who loved Ben to connect, but they do. Elsie is blessed with good friends who help her along the way. This was a touching story and sometimes surprisingly funny. I enjoyed it and look forward to Taylor Jenkins Reid next book.
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Anonymous Sources
by
Mary Louise Kelly
janmah51
, July 16, 2013
This is an exciting spy thriller. The characters are well written, and the story will keep you turning pages. Alexandra James is a young, red-headed beauty who is a reporter for the Boston Chronicle. Her usual beat is education, interesting but rarely dangerous. That all changes when Thom Carlyle, the son of a powerful Washington lawyer, dies from a fall from a tower on the Harvard campus. Did he fall, was he pushed or did he jump. Alexandra is determined to find out. Add to the mix a sexy grad student she begins an affair with, the CIA, the FBI, and Pakistan scientists. Plus it seems, everyone in the White House. The action takes place all over the world and the pace is non stop. This was a great read and hard to believe it was a debut novel. I look forward to reading more of Mary Louise Kelly books in the future.
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Humans
by
Matt Haig
janmah51
, July 08, 2013
Andrew Martin is a Cambridge University professor.He finds the solution to a mathematic problem, The Reimann Hypothesis. An alien comes to Earth to prevent anyone else from knowing this solution. He has to kill Andrew Martin and assume his idenity. As the alien begins to know humans he sees hope and redemption. His mission to destroy any who knew about this problem being solved is suddenly less important then knowing more about these strange creatures. This was a great story and an interesting read. You are left with the knowledge, that flawed as humans are, there are some great things about them. I really like this book and look forward to reading more Matt Haig books.
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Rosie Project
by
Graeme C Simsion
janmah51
, July 03, 2013
Don Tillman is a professor of genetics. He's brilliant but socially inept. He is a high functioning person with Asperger's Syndrome. He decides it is time to find a mate. He launches the Wife Project. This is a 16 page questionnaire he gives to women applicants. His friend and fellow professor, Gene, introduces him to Rosie. She has a project of her own. The Father Project. She wants to find her biological father out of seven possible men her mother had relationships with. Don decides to help her and winds up helping himself as well. This is a funny book, with engaging characters. You know,from the start, where it is headed but the ride is worth the time it takes to get there. At times laugh out loud funny, at times very tender it is a good read.
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Summer Death A Thriller
by
Mons Kallentoft
janmah51
, June 19, 2013
Summer Death is the second book in the Scandinavian crime series written by Mons Kallentoft. I had not read the first book and didn't have any trouble following the story. I would have liked to have read the first to understand the main characters relationship with her ex-husband, Janne. Other than that one aspect, the story is good enough to stand on it's own. It takes place in the small town of Linkoping. It is a very hot summer and there are large forest fires raging making everything hotter. Malin Fors, in her mid thirties, is a police detective. Her ex-husband Janne is a fire fighter who is on vacation in Bali with their teenage daughter, Tove. Janne feels guilty being away from the fires he should be fighting. Malin is relieved her daughter is out of the country at the time of these crimes. The crimes start with the discovery of a young teenage girl found naked and stunned in the Horticultural Society Park. She's not talking and doesn't seem to remember anything. This is just the start of a string of attacks and murders that occur over the summer. The girls are murdered then their bodies are scrubbed clean with bleach. The age of the girls only add to the urgency that spurs Malin on to solve the case. The pace was pretty fast but lagged in places. The characters were well written, the good guys are flawed and the bad guys and girls are really, really evil. I liked it and will read the first to get the back story and look forward to the third.
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Last Word A Spellman Novel
by
Lisa Lutz
janmah51
, June 04, 2013
Review of The Last Word by Lisa Lutz. It's always a good day when I get a new copy of the latest Spellman Novel. This one did not disappoint. Last book, Izzy was fired from the agency by her parents. She fights backs and pulled off a hostile take over. Her parents revolted by wearing their pajamas to work and spending their day in bed instead of the office. Her sister, Rae comes back into the business with an agenda all her own. With all the family drama going on, Izzy is accused of embezzling from a client, the very wealthy Mr. Slater. My Slater has Alzheimer's and its getting worse. Izzy is trying to keep it under wraps. If Izzy is convicted of embezzlement she will lose everything she has fought so hard to keep. This is a fast paced, sassy read. It does leave somethings up in the air. Is this really Izzy's Last Word?
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Heart Like Mine
by
Amy Hatvany
janmah51
, June 03, 2013
Review of Heart Like Mine by Amy Hatvany. Grace McAllister has a great job working for an agency that helps women who are victims of domestic violence. She chose a career over marriage and children. She falls in love with Victor Hansen. Victor is a divorced father of two children. Grace is relieved when Victor tells her he doesn't want any more children. They become engaged. Before they can tell the children, his ex-wife, Kelli, dies unexpectedly. Victor must now take in Max and Ava. Grace must learn how to be a parent to two angry children. This is a tale of blended families. It's about love and about coming to grips with a terrible loss. The characters are well written and you will get caught up in their story.
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He's Gone
by
Caletti, Deb
janmah51
, May 21, 2013
Dani and Ian Keller attend a company party in Seattle. They drink too much wine, they fight, they drive home to their houseboat on the lake in stony silence. The next morning,Dani wakes up hungover, Ian is gone. As the days go by, she becomes increasingly frantic. She contacts everyone who knows Ian, even his ex-wife. No one has seen or heard from him. Her mantra becomes, "He's hurt, he's run off, he's been killed." The police and ex-wife believe Dani knows where Ian is and had a hand in his disappearance. This is a complex story of marriage and a domestic psychological thriller. Set aside a good chunk of time before you start this book. You won't want to put it down until the end. An excellent read. I love Deb Caletti's writing style and look forward to reading more of her work. I highly recommend this book to all who love thrillers or just plain good stories.
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Comfort of Lies
by
Randy Susan Meyers
janmah51
, May 15, 2013
The lives of three women revolve around one man and one child. Nathan is a college professor, married to Juliette. They have two boys and a great life. Nathan has an affair with a young college student, Tia. When she becomes pregnant, he tells her to have an abortion and walks out of her life. The novel takes place five years after Tia's and Nathan's child is born. The child, Savannah, is adopted by Caroline and her husband. Caroline has a demanding career as a pathologist and doesn't really want a child. She agrees to the adoption because her husband wants children. Every year Tia receives a letter with pictures of Savannah. After five years, Tia has been unable to move on with her life. She mails the letter and photos to Nathan. His wife, Juliette opens the letter and sees the photos of the little girl who looks a lot like her husband. The story is complex and well written. The book addresses some big issues. Infidelity, marriage, adoption and what it means to be a mother. I liked the stor but only gave it a 3 because I did not like any of the characters.
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Best of Us
by
Sarah Pekkanen
janmah51
, April 19, 2013
Dwight Glass is turning 35. His wife, Pauline plans a big birthday party, since Dwight is an Internet millionaire they spare no expense on the lavish trip and vacation. It's an all expenses paid trip to Jamaica for them and four friends from college. Savannah arrives alone, she says her husband, Gary, a doctor is too busy. In fact, they are getting a divorce because he had an affair with a much younger nurse. Tina has four kids, her husband, Gio works in a local architecture department. She has trouble keeping things together.Then there is Allie, with two teen kids and works as a social worker. Her husband Ryan is an engineer. The trip is paradise, but tensions run high and soon they are tested as friends as well as people. A force of nature in the form of hurricane Betty, brings them together and brings out what is the best in each of them. I enjoyed this book. I liked the character development. Like good friends they are engaging and at times incredibly annoying.
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Alys Always
by
Harriet Lane
janmah51
, March 13, 2013
Francis Thorpe's life is as boring and dull as her job as a sub editor at a London newspaper. All that changes as she drives home from her parents house one stormy night. She sees a car that has gone off the road. A woman is trapped inside. She can't see her but talks to her while waiting for the police and ambulance. The woman, who dies later, is Alys Kyte, wife of a famous author, Laurence Kyte. Since she is the last person to see her alive, Alys' family wishes to meet with her. Francis goes to the family home. To make the family feel better she lies about Aly's last words. The family invites her to stay at their home for a while. She becomes friendly with Polly, the daughter. Francis is suddenly thrust into a new world of wealth and privilege. The relationships she develops with the family are complex and compelling. This was an interesting story about how life can change in an instant. If half stars were an option, I'd give this three and a half stars.
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Three Good Things
by
Wendy Francis
janmah51
, March 04, 2013
I seem to be reading a lot of books with the simple message, "When things go bad, bake." In Three Good Things by Wend Francis, the baked good of choice is a Kringle, a Danish pastry. The book is really a tale of two sisters, Ellen and Lanie. Ellen is recently divorced and opens a bakery that specializes in Kringles. Her sister, Lanie, seems successful with a career and a baby at home. The sisters bond together over the loss of their mother and other life issues and become even closer. This is a sweet and pleasant read. I enjoyed the book. Warning: Don't read on an empty stomach.
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Marmee & Louisa The Untold Story of Louisa May Alcott & Her Mother
by
Eve Laplante
janmah51
, January 23, 2013
Little Women was released almost 150 years ago. It still stands up today as a family saga. Louisa May Alcott was very successful which was unusual for that time. Her father, Bronson Alcott was though by many biographers to be the source of her success. He was a vain man who spent little time at home, instead, traveling speaking out against slavery. The book uses diaries, letters and family papers to put together the story of Louisa and her mother Abigail. The story shows it was the strong Abigail who influenced Louisa and encouraged her to write. This is a must read to every one who ever read Little Women. It was a slow read for me, but rich in history with a fine feeling for the time period
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Abdication
by
Juliet Nicolson
janmah51
, November 08, 2012
I would have given this two and a half stars if half stars were an option. I was disappointed in this book. From the title I was expecting it to be about Prince Edward VIII and American Wallis Simpson. Instead it was about May, their chauffeur and Wallis' childhood friend, American Evangeline Nettleson. May and her brother grew up in Barbados being raised on a sugar plantation. Her story is the more interesting of the two with a sweet ending. I cringed whenever the story turned to Evangeline who was quite pathetic and hard to relate to. The best thing about the story is the picture you get of London in 1936. It is an interesting look at the world at that time.
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Love Anthony
by
Lisa Genova
janmah51
, October 08, 2012
This is a story about two women who connect through one little autistic boy. Beth is a mother of three girls. She is in her thirties and living full time on Nantucket Island. One day she is walking on the beach and sees a young boy lining white rocks up in a long line. One day she gets a card saying her husband, Jimmy is having an affair with a waitress at the place where he is the bartender. She throws him out and tries to put her live together. She decides to take up writing again and is haunted by the young autistic boy and his long lines of perfect white rocks. Olivia moved to Nantucket when Anthony died at age eight. Her husband Dan couldn't deal with the stress of the loss and it has ruined their marriage. They meet when Olivia once again begins to use photography to support herself. Beth wants a photo of herself and her three daughters. When Olivia reads Beth's story she is sure she is using Anthony's voice.Even if autism doesn't touch your life, read this book. It will educate, enlighten and move you. Keep a box of tissues on hand before you start the last chapter, you will cry. In the end it is all about unconditional love.
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34 Pieces of You
by
Carmen Rodrigues
janmah51
, September 27, 2012
This novel is very dark and pretty depressing. Jake, Sarah, Jess and Ellie are all friends. Ellie is a troubled girl who dies. Was it an accident or did she commit suicide? The friends set out to find clues behind their friends death. They break into and search Ellie's bedroom. They find a box under her bed. In the box are 34 scraps of paper containing 34 secrets of Ellie's life. The story is told in alternating chapters, each character tells the story from their point of view. The story is compelling, well told and the characters well written.
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Shelter
by
Frances Greenslade
janmah51
, September 25, 2012
The setting for this novel is the beautiful and wild countryside of British Columbia. Two sisters, Maggie and Jenny live in a rustic cabin with their father and mother. Their father is a quiet, hard working man who is killed in a logging accident. Irene, their free spirited mother drops the girls off at a childless couple and promises to come back for them. She leaves to work as a baker at a logging camp. She sends letters, and money for a while. Then nothing. Maggie sets out to find her mother. She heads back to her old home and talks to friends and neighbors to try to find some answers. This story is all about family bonds, between sisters and mothers. How can a loving mother abandon her children is the ultimate question, one that Maggie is struggling to answer. The story is good and the characters ring true. Not a fun or breezy read but a good book.
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The Making of Us. by Lisa Jewell
by
Lisa Jewell
janmah51
, August 28, 2012
A Frenchman, Daniel is dying in a hospice in Bury St. Edmunds. His friend Maggie is there every day. He talks about his life and the secret that he was a sperm donor who fathered four children. 2 boys and 2 girls. Maggie sets out to find them and get them to come and meet their father before he dies. The story is told in my least favorite format. Each character tells their side of the story in separate chapters alternating with the three main characters, Lydia, Dean and Robyn. Lydia is a very wealthy woman living on a huge estate in Wales, Dean has suffered the loss of his girlfriend when she gave birth to his child, and Robyn is about to begin a career as a doctor. I enjoyed this book and even though it tied up every loose end a bit too tidy it was a good read.
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Paris A Love Story
by
Kati Marton
janmah51
, August 24, 2012
Kati Marton is an award-winning journalist and distinguished author. This book,set in Washington D.C.,London and of course Paris,documents her life and her loves. She married two well-known and powerful men. This is her story of love,loss and moving on. She was married to Peter Jennings for 15 years and had two children with him.Richard Holbrooke with whom she found a deep and lasting love is the second man. After his death she returns to Paris to find a new beginning and a fresh start. This is a beautiful book about love and healing after loss.
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Ten Girls to Watch
by
Charity Shumway
janmah51
, July 31, 2012
Dawn West graduates from college on the west coast and heads east to NYC. Her plan is to become a writer. She starts out with an online lawn care advice column even though she knows little about the subject. Dawn manages to land a job at the glossy fashion magazine, Charm. Instead of writing feature articles in the pod, she winds up doing research in the basement. It's just her, her desk, computer, phone and well, there is Ralph. Her assignment is to track down the past winners of the magazines "Ten Girls to Watch" award. At the start of each chapter is a short bio of the girl at the time of the contest. The winners have gone on to become famous, rich and mostly happy. There is an opera singer, an air force pilot, and even a mayor. The only problem I had with this is that it would have made the book so much more interesting if maybe just one of them was a divorced mom of 6 kids or maybe even homeless on the streets of NYC. But no, they all lived up to their potential. Dawn finds herself in this assignment and grows as a writer even though her relationships are disasters, friendships fragile and her living arrangements under goes bizarre changes. I did enjoy the book and look forward to reading the next. I think Charity Shumway is a novelist to watch.
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Imperfect Bliss
by
Susan Fales Hill
janmah51
, July 27, 2012
Harold and Forsythia are a middle class couple from Chevy Chase, Maryland. They are a mixed race couple, Forsythia is from Jamaica. She is obsessed with the British royals. She names her girls after them. Elizabeth (Bliss), Victoria, Charlotte and Diana. Bliss moves home with her young daughter after a nasty divorce. Her daughter, Bella, wears bifocals and wears a brace on her leg. She has plenty of spunk and is always plotting a way to get her mother remarried. Things get interesting when a a new reality series picks Diana to star in their show, The Virgin. There are three suitors who vie for Diana's hand in marriage. Even though, Bliss isn't in the show she quickly becomes involved in the process and learns something about love along the way. This is a quick, fun read. Tuck it into your beach bag to read by the pool, on the sand or perhaps by a cozy fire after a day on the slopes. I really enjoyed the book.
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These Girls
by
Sarah Pekkanen
janmah51
, June 14, 2012
I've enjoyed each book I've read by Sarah Pekkanen and this one is no exception. Cate and her roommate, Renee both work at the magazine Gloss. Renee is trying to get the job of beauty editor at the magazine. She feels she can't get the job without looking the part. And so starts her diet madness. Her quest is leading her into emotional and physical tailspin. Cate is the new features editor and finds it involves more than she expected. The third party is Abby, she is the sister of the handsome Trey who travels the globe for stories for the magazine. Abby left a job as a nanny in Washington DC following a scandal involving the family she worked for. This is a great novel about friendships and how your friends help hide your secrets and help calm your fears. An enjoyable read, read it then share it with your best friend.
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Objects of My Affection
by
Jill Smolinski
janmah51
, June 08, 2012
Hoarding is a hot topic. There are television shows, magazine articles and now this book that address hoarders and their problems. Lucy Bloom is a professional organizer who wrote a book titled "Things Are Not People." It catches the attention of Will Meier. His mother is Marva Meier Rios, a famous painter who is also a hoarder. Lucy has sold everything to send her teen age son to rehab in Florida. She needs the money and takes the job. One of the many catches to the job is that Marva must see every object Lucy wants to toss. It is no easy task, the house is huge and Marva doesn't want to part with anything. The two form an unlikely bond and manage to get the job done. This is a book about letting go, of both objects and people. I'm not close to being a hoarder but am a pack rat. This book made me start cleaning out, my dresser, closet and on to the boxes stacked in the garage. There is an interesting story behind Marva's hoarding and helps explain her problem with letting go. I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and it addresses some interesting problems. Tuck this into your bag for your summer vacation, it is a fun and enlightening read.
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Far from Here
by
Nicole Baart
janmah51
, March 12, 2012
What really drives this book are the characters. They are so well written they will seem real to you. You really do care about what happens to them. Danica and Etsell Greene seem an unlikely match. They have been together since they were teenagers and married young. He is a pilot and she hates, even fears flying. Etsell is offered a chance to help another pilot in Alaska. He and his plane go missing on his last flight. Dani tries to find out what happened. There are many twists and turns that happen in the course of her search. Her mother-in-law, Hazel, hinders rather than helps. The friendship with a local Pastor, Ben, saver her sanity and helps her get on with her life. I found this a sweet and sad story with a great ending. I highly recommend this book, very entertaining and you'll hate for it to end.
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Possibility Of You
by
Pamela Redmond
janmah51
, February 01, 2012
Three different main characters, three different time lines.Cait is a journalist in the present, Billie is a struggling college student in 1979 and finally there is Bridget who is an Irish nanny in 1916. I usually do not like books using this format. But, Pamela Redmond did a wonderful job of telling each story and also to intertwine them. Both complex and well balanced, this will keep you reading until the conclusion. Each woman faces a difficult choice dealing with pregnancy and child birth. The book explores how these choices can effect people far in the future. This would make a good book club book. Much to discuss, love, family, race and relationships. Plus it is an easy, quick and enjoyable read.
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Year We Left Home
by
Jean Thompson
janmah51
, January 09, 2012
This story takes place from the early 1970's to present day. It follows the Erickson family though all their times, good and bad. it is set on the farms of Iowa, also Chicago and some time in Italy. At first, I found the format, told in vignettes that skip around in time, annoying. After a time I was able to ignore the time shifting and just relax and enjoy the family saga. A good read, an excellent choice for book clubs, it is sure to generate a lot of discussion.
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Carry the One
by
Carol Anshaw
janmah51
, December 23, 2011
A group of twenty-year old friends and relatives leave a wedding reception, they are happy, a little high and somewhat drunk. They hit and kill a little girl crossing the road. The book follows the people through several decades. It shows how this event changed their lives and how each of them dealt with it. This is beautifully written and the characters so real, you won't want to put it down. The end brought a tear to my eye and left me breathless. I highly recommend it.
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Strangers at the Feast
by
Jennifer Vanderbes
janmah51
, December 13, 2011
I love books about the holidays. Especially around the holidays. This novel takes place in 2007 on Thanksgiving day. The extended Olson clan gets together to celebrate the day. Due to kitchen malfunctions the whole group pile into their cars and moves the feast to another house. The house they are headed for is Gavin and Eleanor's. Kijo and Spider are two urban black kids. Mrs. Olson is their teacher and they know she will be away for the holiday. They plan some mischief. Armed with red spray paint cans they are painting one word on the upstairs bedroom wall. As they finish they hear cars drive up, doors slamming and voices entering the house. They are trapped. The characters in this book are vividly drawn and you think you know them. Think again. As the drama plays out you will be surprised by who will step up to deal with the situation and who will completely fail to do so. This would be a perfect book club choice. There are so many topics to talk about. Racial issues, moral issues, and how you may not know the people you are close to as well as you think. This book will stay with you a long time, it is very powerful. I highly recommend it.
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Atlas of Impossible Longing
by
Anuradha Roy
janmah51
, November 17, 2011
Anuradha Roy has a beautiful way with words. You really get a feel for the country of India, it's culture and it's people. The story spans from the 1920's to the 1950's. Amulya moves his family from busy, exciting Calcutta to a small quiet town, called Songarh. Amulya makes herbal potions from native plants and does well in this small village. His wife, Kananbala is so lonely that she is slowly going insane. Also in the family are the eldest daughter in-law Manjula who wants a child of her own, the youngest son is Nirmal who is an archaeologist. Bakul is his daughter.Bakul and Mukunda are playmates and become extremely close. Mukunda is sent to school in the city to keep him away from Bakul. There are many interesting relationships and some complex story lines. Still, it is an enjoyable read. I highly recommend it.
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Angelinas Bachelors A Novel with Food
by
Brian OReilly
janmah51
, October 31, 2011
This book has it all, you'll laugh, you'll cry and you will most likely want to cook something. Lucky for you there are recipes included. Angelina D'Angelo is in her thirties when her husband, Frank dies of a heart attack just after he sneaks a bite of her Dream Cake. She is sad and angry and channels all that energy into cooking. She has so much food that she gives it all away to friends and neighbors. Basil Cupertino, really loves her food. This is good since he has just moved in with his sister who is a poor cook at best. He offers Angelina a job cooking him two meals a day. She gets a nice salary which she needs now that Frank is gone. Soon she finds herself cooking for many more bachelors and it becomes a social event as well as a job. She now has friends and money, but can she find love again? This is a sweet story that I really enjoyed. Plus I can't wait to try some of the recipes.
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Oink!: My Life with Minipigs. by Matt Whyman
by
Matt Whyman
janmah51
, September 01, 2011
This book came into my life at just the right time. August has been a horrible month this year. One family death and one of the kids had a sad break-up. Needless to say I could use some comic relief. Oink! provided the perfect antidote. This is a warm, funny book. Matt Whyman's wife, Emma decides what the family, which includes 4 kids, needs are minipigs. She gets two and the fun begins. They are cute, noisy, and tearing up the yard. Emma refuses to give up on them no matter the destruction they cause. This book will cause you to smile, even laugh out loud and sometimes shake your head, but you will love every word. An excellent, fun read. I highly recommend it.
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Hundred Foot Journey
by
Richard C Morais
janmah51
, August 24, 2011
The Haji family moves from India to Lumiere, France. They open an Indian restaurant which is across the street, a hundred feet, away from a posh French restaurant. The Haji family are boisterous, along with the family noise there is also loud Indian music playing and the smells of many spices. All stream out of the restaurant. Madame Mallory, the owner and chef of the French restaurant, is not amused and storms over to confront the family. She sees teen-age Hassan cooking and realizes he's a natural born cook. She wants to mentor him and does so. This leads to Paris where he has his own restaurant. I love to cook, I love eating in restaurants and my husband and I love Indian food. I was so happy to get a copy of this book. I also love books with recipes. This book really fit the bill and I loved it. I highly recommend it.
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Mistresss Revenge
by
Tamar Cohen
janmah51
, July 29, 2011
Sally and Clive are both married to other people. They had a 5 year affair. After he breaks it off, Sally vows to get revenge. she becomes friends with Susan, the wife, their daughter and their son as well. I did not like or relate to any of the characters in this book. but like a train wreck, even though it is horrible, it is impossible to look away. I kept reading it just to see how crazy it would get. And it got very crazy indeed.
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The Little Women Letters
by
Gabrielle Donnelly
janmah51
, July 25, 2011
Like most women of my generation, I grew up reading Louisa May Alcott's books. So I was excited to get a copy of Gabrielle Donnelly's The Little Women Letters. It did not disappoint. The little women in this book are the great, great grandaughters of Jo March. The oldest sister is getting married and the youngest is starting her career on the London stage. Not much is going on in Lulu's life. Lulu's mother sends her up to the attic to look for some long lost family recipes. She discovers a collection of letters written by Josephine March. Through the letters Lulu finds guidance and solace. This is a warm and wonderful read. I highly recommend it.
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Doctor Confidential: Secrets Behind the Veil
by
Richard Sheff
janmah51
, July 08, 2011
Doctor Confidential by Richard Sheff, MD tells the story of a young man going through medical school, internship, and residency. This book seeks to pull back the veil that often surrounds medicine. Dr. Sheff manages to give us insights into doctors and their training. He also tells us how this training effects his family and patients. Early on Dr. Sheff asks, "What's love got to do with medicine?" In the end he has his answer, which is everything. This would make an excellent gift for anyone in the medical field. Also anyone who has had a lot of experiences with the medical industry. I can't wait to pass it along to our son, who is in his first year as an RN. This was a fast and interesting read which I enjoyed.
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Long Drive Home
by
Will Allison
janmah51
, June 23, 2011
As Glen Bauer is driving his 6-year old daughter home from school, an instant of road rage will set off a series of bad and reckless decisions. The lives of two families will never be the same. Glen only wanted to scare the young, reckless driver. To teach him a lesson. He cuts his wheel in front of the boy. Juwan Richards, the boy, overreacts and smashes into a tree which kills him instantly. Glen realizes that no one has seen the accident except for Sara, his daughter. And so the lies start. The story is told in Glen's voice, and also in a letter to Sara, written to her by Glen to explain what happened. This is a powerful novel about what happens when good people make bad choices in the heat of the moment.
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Untold Story
by
Monica Ali
janmah51
, June 06, 2011
This book addresses the idea of what would have happened if Princess Diana hadn't died? She survives the car accident in Paris but later fakes her death by drowning. She jets to Brazil to have some cosmetic work done then to Kensington a mid-American town. She has a dog, Rufus, a job at the local animal shelter and a group of good friends. All is well until she is introduced to a fellow Brit. He happens to be a reporter and recognizes her by her unusual eye color. I found it hard to believe that a mother could subject her beloved sons to public grief by faking her death. What I recommend, is to get this book, pack it in your beach bag and enjoy it while on summer vacation. It is an interesting read.
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Creep
by
Jennifer Hillier
janmah51
, May 12, 2011
Creep lives up to it's title. One of the main characters, Ethan, turns out to be a real creep. Also the story turns very creepy as it goes along. The ending was a surprise, it will keep you turning pages. It is the story of Dr. Shelia Tao, a psychology professor. She's been having an affair with one of her graduate students who is also her TA. She breaks it off when her boyfriend, Morris, proposes. Ethan starts to black mail her but things get ugly and she winds up in a basement as his prisoner. Morris doesn't believe the phone call that she makes telling she is calling off the wedding, not to worry or try to find her. He hires a PI and they try to find out what really happened to Shelia. This is a very entertaining thriller...you won't want to put it down and it is quite the ride.
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Cleaning Nabokovs House
by
Leslie Daniels
janmah51
, May 10, 2011
Barb Barrett is approaching age 40 when her life gets turned upside down. Her husband is divorcing her and he is taking their two children. She moves into a home once owned by Vladimir Nabokov and finds a manuscript that she believes is a lost work of his. She tries to get it published or at least find out who wrote it as the "experts" don't think it's Nabokov's work. She is also trying to get the kids back. She has to find a way to make a living. How she goes about this is very clever. It involves the men on the university rowing crew team. She shows that you can come back and even make life better. A strong testament tot the power of working hard, being creative and succeeding despite all odds and at any age. This is a very creative and funny book. I highly recommend it, it is a great read.
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Skipping a Beat
by
Sarah Pekkanen
janmah51
, May 06, 2011
This is a book about how a near-death experience can change a person and a marriage. Julia Dunhill is a thirtyish party planner and her husband is a successful executive. He dies for four minutes while at a meeting. Once brought back, he is a changed man. Julia struggles with the changes. This was an interesting read.
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Imperfect Endings: A Daughter's Story of Love, Loss, and Letting Go
by
Zoe Fitzgerald Carter
janmah51
, April 13, 2011
Zoe Carter is a busy wife and mother living on the West Coast. Her mother, Margaret is a glamorous, vivid woman who is living with Parkinson's disease. She is tired of being so sick and wants to end her life. Zoe and her sisters struggle with this decision along with the ones such as should they help her and should they be there for the end. This is a very demanding read and not an easy one. I would recommend this to anyone struggling with a very ill family member. It would also make an excellent book club choice. there are so many hot button topics, from family loyalty to the assisted suicide debate.
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Orphan Sister
by
Gwendolen Gross
janmah51
, April 07, 2011
Odette and Olivia are identical twins and Clementine is a fraternal. The book is written from Clementine's point of view. O&O, as she often calls them are very connected and Clem sometimes feels left out, like an orphan. Sibling rivalry is explored in a new, interesting way. Caroline Leavitt has written a book that addresses the emotional toll that can occur in family dynamics. This is a very interesting and original look at today's family. It is a tale of hope, love, sisters and binding ties.
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In Stitches
by
Anthony Youn
janmah51
, March 31, 2011
Tony Youn was a tall, skinny, Asian-American nerd growing up in an all white town. To make matters worse, as a teen, his jaw started growing to huge cartoon size. Between high school and college he had his jaw repaired. This transformation led to his life calling. It changed his life and he wanted to be able to change others as a plastic surgeon. The road isn't smooth but what you don't expect is how much humor is in this book. It also addresses the the bonds between fathers and sons. Tony became a very famous plastic surgeon to the stars and is also an entertaining author. One of the best memoirs I've read in some time.
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Bird House
by
Kelly Simmons
janmah51
, March 11, 2011
Ann Biddle is growing older and struggling with her failing memory. Her 8 year old grand-daughter, Ellie, needs her help with a school project called "Aspect". She chooses bird houses. This topic opens Ann's memories and uncovers a lifetime of secrets, regrets and long buried passions. This is a good book that explores one families complex relationships and the strong bonds that women form over the years and through the generations.
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AS HUSBANDS GO
by
Susan Isaacs
janmah51
, February 25, 2011
Susie B. Anthony Rabinowitz is living a charmed life. She is the wife of a successful, devoted and handsome Park Ave. plastic surgeon. She lives in a beautiful home in Long Island with their triplet 4 year old boys. She is also a partner in successful flower shop. All this changes when her husband goes missing for two days only to be found stabbed to death in a call girls apartment. Susie is certain her husband wasn't unfaithful and sets out to prove it. Her grandmother Ethel comes in from Miami to help. She is hindered along the way by her husbands partners, the police, who believe they has an open and shut cans and by her in-laws. Her mother-in-law really hit a cord with me. I could really relate to Susie trying to deal with a "refined" woman outwardly trying to be nice while actually disapproving of her every move. While some of the aspects of her investigation were over the top, I found this a fun and fast read.
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The Ice Princess: A Fjallbacka Novel: Fjallbacka 2
by
Lackberg, Camilla
janmah51
, February 21, 2011
This is a suspense novel set in a Scandinavian seaside village. Biography author, Erica Falck returns to her small hometown of FjAlbacka, Sweden to take care of her parents estate after their deaths. She discovers the body of her childhood best friend, Alex frozen in the bathtub with her wrists slit. Alex was a beautiful woman who seemed to have it all, why did she kill herself...or did she? Erica teams up with police detective Patrik Hedstrom to uncover the events that lead to Alex's death. This is a well written very good thriller that has many twists and turns and will keep you guessing until the end. I was excited to see that it was the first in a series of seven novels set in this town. I look forward to the next.
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Save as Draft
by
Cavanaugh Lee
janmah51
, February 18, 2011
Save as Draft is a novel told completely in text messages and emails. It is the story of Izzy, a lawyer in Atlanta who joins an online dating website and meets Marty. He seems like a nice, sweet guy. After one date she dumps him in favor of her best friend, Peter. This is a fun, fast read about the pitfalls of online romance and relationships.
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The Baby Planner
by
Josie Brown
janmah51
, February 16, 2011
Katie Johnson makes a living consulting with new moms all all things baby. Gadgets to social meet-ups she helps her clients find the best. Her husband, Alex, is determined that they remain childless. He is bitter that his ex wife won't let him see their ten-year-old son. Complicating the matter is her new client, Seth Harris who is a high tech entrepreneur who is raising Sadie after the death of his wife and mother. Katie learns a lot from Seth and Sadie about love, and what truly makes a family.
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Kitchen Daughter
by
Jael McHenry
janmah51
, February 06, 2011
I love a good ghost story. This book has plenty of ghosts. How they appear is what is really interesting. Ginny Selvaggio is a 26 year old who lives with her parents. They are both killed in a car crash. She is left alone. One day as she is cooking her Nonna's soup from her hand written recipe, Nonna appears and gives her the warning..."Don't let her...." then she disappears. Amanda is her sister who wants to sell their parents house and force Ginny to move in with her family. She later finds out that she can bring out other ghosts when she cooks their recipes written in their own hand. It is a good family saga as well as having lots of interesting information of the condition of Aspergers. What is really wonderful is how we watch Ginny grow from a very shy woman to someone who can function in the world.
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Hanging Tree
by
Bryan Gruley
janmah51
, February 02, 2011
This is a well written, fast paced mystery with a strong sense of place. Outside of the Olympics, I have never watched, or cared much about ice hockey. There is a lot of ice hockey action in this book. A lot of ice hockey play and a debate about a new rink. It concerns the death of Gracie McBride who drove the Zamboni on the old rink. She was found hanging in the shoe or hanging tree. Was it a suicide or murder? Gus Carpenter, an editor of a local paper and her second cousin intends to find out. It is a good mystery that keeps you guessing. Gracie is such a loser it's hard not to believe her death is a suicide. I also found her character hard to care about.
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Goodnight Tweetheart
by
Teresa Medeiros
janmah51
, January 31, 2011
This is a fast and fun read. Told mostly in Tweets and Direct Messages it follows Abigail Donovan's journey into love with Mark Baynard. She is a writer stuck on Chapter 5 of her second novel. Her first book won the approval of Oprah and she can't seem to reproduce the magic. I loved this book. Being a former bookstore employee, I could relate to the whole Bif the bunny and book signing episode. A funny and sweet story.
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Winter Bloom
by
Tara Heavey
janmah51
, December 14, 2010
Winter Bloom takes place in Dublin and is centered on a walled garden belonging to Mrs. Pendergrast. Eva discovers the garden and asks permission to take care of it and to try and bring it back to it's former glory. Many neighbors come in to help. The garden and it's flowers and veggies grow as do the people tending it. Bonds are formed and lives are changed. This is a well written book that is hard to put down. You care about these people. I was surprised how many big topics it addressed. Sudden loss of a spouse, abuse, the Holocaust and unplanned pregnancies are some of the issues that were brought up. A good book club book, much to talk about and a great read as a bonus. I loved it.
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The Legacy
by
Kirsten Tranter
janmah51
, December 06, 2010
Two friends in Australia add a third when one's cousin, Ingrid comes to Sydney. Every one loves Ingrid, Ralph is obsessed with her. She meets and marries an older man and moves to New York, then goes missing after 9/11. Ralph is sickly so he sends Julia to find out what happened to Ingrid. This is a good story that was way too long but somewhat satisfying in the end. Not a true thriller but some nice plot twists and a surprise ending.
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Healer
by
Carol Cassella
janmah51
, July 16, 2010
This is a novel following her first book,Oxygen. The author, Carol Cassella is an anesthesiologist in Seattle, WA and understands both medicine and the health care system. The Healer of the title is Claire Addison. She is a doctor who hasn't practiced medicine in over 14 years. She has been wife to Addison and mother to now teen Jory. Addison is a biochemist. His invention of a blood test for ovarian cancer gives him fame and fortune. He risks it all on the development of another cancer drug. When the rats being tested have liver complications the study is halted and his cushy life is ruined. While he tries to put things back together, Claire and their daughter Jory move to their summer home in rural Hallum. Claire gets a job in a public health clinic treating third world patients, many from the orchards. There she forms a bond with Miguela, a Nicaraguan immigrant who forges a special connection with Jory. I enjoyed the story, the characters and the medical problems. This book will make you think about immigration, public health care and the ethics of medical testing. This would make a great book club read as there is so many issues to discuss.
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Georgias Kitchen
by
Jenny Nelson
janmah51
, June 22, 2010
Georgia Gray is 33 and seems to have her life set in stone. She is a talented chef working at a popular Manhattan restaurant. She is also engaged to a good looking lawyer, Glenn. Her boss and restaurant owner, Marco makes a huge mistake by sleeping with a well known restaurant critic's teen age daughter. In retaliation, the critic gives Marco's restaurant and chef a terrible review and a rating of half a fork (using forks instead of stars to rate) Georgia is fired and her boyfriend calls off the wedding. Her life crumbles into a pile of dust. Georgia takes off to Italy. She works hard to get everything she wants, a good job in a popular restaurant, beautiful surroundings, good friends and a romance with the handsome Gianni who runs a vineyard next door. She is later offered chance to stay in Italy with the job, villa and the cute guy. Does she go for it or follow her dream back home? This was a fun read and should do well with all the focus on everything food. I'm a big fan of Foodnetwork TV and recently a new channel debuted called The Cooking Channel. If this trend transfers to books, this should be well received and sell well.
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The Opposite of Me
by
Sarah Pekkanen
janmah51
, May 17, 2010
This is a story about twins Lindsey and Alex. Lindsey is the smart one, Alex is the pretty one. I thought this was a stretch because of the incredibly stupid things Lindsey does when she doesn't get the VP promotion she wanted. She loses her job and her life in NYC. Tail tucked, she returns home. Here she finds out some things that turn everything she thought she knew about herself and Alex upside down. Overall I liked the book. I even came to like Lindsey. It is a fast read and an interesting take on sibling rivalry.
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Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives
by
Josie Brown
janmah51
, April 25, 2010
This summer grab a copy of Josie Brown's novel "Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives." It is a near perfect beach read. Women who live in suburbia with their families will especially be able to relate. Fans of TV's Desperate Housewives will love these very desperate housewives and husbands. The plot is complex and the characters are many. You'll fall in love with househusband Harry as easily as Lyssa does. You'll marvel at the Coven and how disruptive they are. A very fun read."
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A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table
by
Molly Wizenberg
janmah51
, April 06, 2010
Molly Wizenberg loves to cook as much as she loves to write. In A Homemade Life she showcases both. When her beloved father dies, she turns to cooking, writing and blogging. I'm not much of a blogger but you should check out her Orangette blog. I decided to flag the recipes I wanted to go back and try. By the end of the book, the little flags had grown into a forest of neon sticking out of the top of the book. I haven't tried any yet but the book now resides in my kitchen and I can't wait to start cooking. Molly may have lost her Dad but she found her passion and the love of a good man along the way. The story is as much fun as the recipes.
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Knives at Dawn: America's Quest for Culinary Glory at the Legendary Bocuse d'Or Competition
by
Andrew Friedman
janmah51
, January 04, 2010
You probably have heard of the main players, Thomas Keller, Danial Boulud and other chefs at the French Laundry. You might not have heard of this biannual competition held in Lyon, France. This book is about the US team effort in the Bocuse d'Or competition in 2009. This is the world's most prestigious cooking competition. It tests the chefs creativity and commitment to excellence. Twenty-four teams, each representing it's own nation have to cook and plate two platters in five and a half hours. It's tense, it's exciting and yes, I couldn't put it down. An excellent read, whether you cook, or just love to eat. Highly recommended.
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Girl Next Door
by
Elizabeth Noble
janmah51
, December 28, 2009
Eve and Ed move from England to New York city. Ed is busy with his new job, Eve is bored and sad. She is pulled from her loneliness by a 78 year old neighbor Violet. They become great friends. The apartment building on New York's Upper East Side is filled with interesting characters, with lives intersecting and clashing. This is very entertaining and you will become involved with this group. As a book club pick, there is much to discuss. Cheating, forgiveness, friendship and what makes a family. I really liked it.
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13th Hour
by
Richard Doetsch
janmah51
, November 24, 2009
This book starts at the end or rather one possible end to a bad day. Nick Quinn is in jail accused of killing his wife. He has no idea what has happened. Enter a mysterious gray-haired man with a watch and challenge. Go back in time in one hour segments to figure out who committed the murder and stop it. This is a great story with good characters and even better bad guys. Julia's murder is only the tip of a bigger scheme. Set aside a good chunk of time because you won't want to put down this thriller until it blazes to the finish.
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Carved in Sand When Attention Fails & Memory Fades in Midlife
by
Cathryn Jakob Ramin
janmah51
, August 12, 2007
Baby Boomers and Beyond...read this book. If it hasn't happened to you yet, it will. Memory fades as you get older. This book gives you all the possible reasons and what, if anything, you can do about it. It will engage and empower you.
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