Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Vacation!

Well since I'm heading off to Key Largo tomorrow, I know I won't be able to get any more reviews finished. In the past 2 days I have finished Revoultionary Road by Richard Yates and House Rules, an incredible memoir by Rachel Sontag. I hope to have those reviews finished toward the end of next week.

I still have to pick up a few things at the store, pack it all up, and a hair appointment tonight. Phew! I can't wait to be in the Keys with a margarita :) Hope you all have a safe 4th of July!


Saturday, June 27, 2009

It Had to Be You - Sarah Webb

This is the story of 3 friends, all living different lives in the sleepy town of Burnaby, Ireland. While the girls lead different lives (one is married with kids and running for local office, one is a bookshop manager who can't seem to get it right with men, and one has 2 very different jobs and a rough boss), they still meet up for coffee and to dish on life and love.

As always, some surprising twists create for drama and tension - although I didn't feel the book reached a good climax - it was more anticlimatic for me. Paige, the married and pregnant woman running for local office, survives setbacks that only come about when people go grasping at straws to get the "never seen before" picture of the local politican. In the end, she wins the race, of course, and becomes Deputy.

Paige's friend Molly, the bookshop manager, gets a huge surprise one morning at work when it's announced that the owner is selling the shop. It doesn't stop there - the new owner smells fishy, and he comes with an adorable son who is conveniently drawn to Molly. Can she get it right? (Obviously, this book is a happily ever after, and she does).

Kate, Molly's housemate, has 2 totally different careers - she's a (closet) shoe designer who moonlights as a matchmaker - can't get it right with men. She chases her old flame to Boston (from Ireland!) and realizes he's the same creep he always was. Crushed, she settles for the one she should have said yes to all along. (Nice guys finish last, right?)

I know this was an Irish bestseller, but I think it could have done a little better job at explaining Irish politics for Americans. Paige was a Councillor, but then ran for Deputy - but I don't really understand what each one is equal to in U.S. politics. For me, this was a large part of why I picked up the book (I love politics - from the sidelines), so I wasn't completely satisfied. However, this is still a fast and easy chick read for those seeking one.

Monday, June 22, 2009

And the TBR pile grows!

Surfing my "TBR" list and finding some titles on sale. Collecting books faster than I can read them. Receiving review books (yay!) when I still have a ton of books on my shelf. Such is life! (No complaints, I love the books!)

Here are some books that have made their way into my home recently.

Best Intentions by Emily Listfield - this was sent to me from an editor/publisher and I've yet to read it. I promise I'll get to it soon! It really does look good.

Michael J. Fox's Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist - I loved his first memoir, Lucky Man, and it was very well written. I'm always amazed when I pick up a book by a celebrity and it's extremely well written.

Obama: The Historic Journey - I'm so excited to read this and check out all the pictures! This will be my first "coffee table book."

The Social Media Bible: Tactics, Tools & Strategies for Business Success - I saw this in Barnes & Noble a couple weeks ago and knew I had to have it. I ordered it from Amazon to save some money, but I know I'll have this thing forever. It's 800 pages of social media goodness, from RSS to blogging to Facebook to LinkedIn. One of the reasons I wanted it was to research a couple ideas for my job - I am currently in charge of my company's social media (we have a blog, Facebook page and a dormant Twitter account) and I want to see which tools are actually worth my time. But I also wanted it for myself. Somedays I feel like I can't keep up with all this stuff on the web. I can't keep track of all my passwords, it took me forever to learn how to "retweet" on Twitter, and phew...it's a headache somedays!

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom - I've read it before (in high school) and I cried really hard. I remember the gist of it, but I really want to read it again. When I met my boyfriend, he made me read his book For One More Day, so I'm going to make him read this one too. It's one of those books I know I will keep forever.

The Likeness by Tana French - I loved her first novel, In The Woods, which won ...prize, so I'm dying to read this one! It's pretty much a follow-up too, so it'll be like picking up where I left off.

Friday, June 19, 2009

On Jodi Picoult...

I have said before that Jodi Picoult is my favorite author, and I've read more of her books than I have read any other author. I've also said before that sometimes while reading her novels it feels a bit predictable in that it will deal with a controversial issue and the law. There seems to always be a trial in her novels, which is part of the reason I like them - the drama and the legal talk is interesting, most of the time. But this article about Picoult's novels really said it well. In the New York Times article, the author writes that Picoult has found success as a writer of "literature of children in peril."

I do have to agree with the above statement - while it never seems that Picoult is trying to blame parents, or make them out to be unfit parents, she seems to write about topics that deal with the hard stuff. It's more or less that the parents are raising their kids they best they can. (Which is all you can ever expect of parents - that they will do the best they can.)

This makes me think of my own relationship with my family, and that while my sister and I had the same parents (duh), we turned out to be 2 extremely different people. And I see some traits of Picoult's characters in my sister and me, and it makes the books a little too personal sometimes.

Another part of the article I found very interesting was about Picoult's belief that what we remember vividly from childhood are often the moments that gave us the most humiliation or harm, and that she remembers a bully smashing her fingers into a locker. I really agree with this statement - at this very moment thinking about childhood the first thoughts that come to mind are my parents' divorce, the anxiety of starting a new school, some of the idiots who were rude to me in middle and high school, and the years that my sister and I couldn't get along for anything.

This is a great article for Picoult lovers, as it tells a little more about her choice to write these types of novels, and how it affects her life with her 3 teenagers. If you haven't read the article, you can read it here. Be sure to come back and discuss :)

Monday, June 15, 2009

The Wednesday Letters - Jason F. Wright

As I said in my Sunday Salon post, I finished The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright and while I enjoyed it, I don't understand all the hoopla surrounding it. It was on The New York Times Bestseller List, but for some reason it didn't grab me the way it probably grabbed others.

The Wednesday Letters is the story of a woman and her 2 brothers who come together at their parents' bed & breakfast after they've both passed away over night. As they come together, it is apparent the family has suffered from some losses, and there is some obvious tension between the 3 of them. While they are coping with their loss and accepting family and friends at their parents' estate, they stumble upon boxes of letters their father used to write to his wife each week, starting when they were married. These letters contain everything from the most mundane days to a huge, life-altering secret that the now grown children must come to grips with.

The secret affects each of them in different ways, and as they struggle through the days leading up to their parents' funerals, they are also each dealing with another crisis in their lives. Samantha, a police officer and single mom, had put her dreams on hold to care for her daughter and be close to her parents as she knew they were growing old and weak. Now she must decide what her next step in life is, and if she will chase her childhood dream of acting. Her (normal) brother must face the fact that he and his wife may never be parents if their adoption doesn't go through. Their troubled brother, who was called away from Brazil to go home to his family, must face the consequences he ran from years ago after a fight. He must also face the girl he loves who of course, was the reason for the fight.

I am sure you know where this is going. The kids made amends, bury their parents and live happily ever after. I'm always a little unsatisfied when I read the happy ending, because that's not how life really turns out. I'm actually a positive person, I just think that not every book needs to end up this way. I am curious what other readers thought about this book, so if you've got any thoughts, please share!

Friday, June 12, 2009

USA Today summer books preview

Just like every other day, I browsed the USA Today (my favorite newspaper) online, and yesterday I happened to find the Summer Books Preview, and it's oh-so-exciting! There are some really great titles coming out in the next few months, and I for one cannot wait! Here's what I added to my TBR list:
And 2 books coming this fall that I'm also looking forward to:
Also yesterday, I saw my reading buddy Kay and borrowed a couple more books from her:
I guess I have some reading to do!!

While you're on USA Today's site, check out this interesting article about a not-so-traditional college education.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

The Godmother - Carrie Adams

Tessa King is not your average mid-thirty woman; she is currently without a job and has way too many godchildren. She is also unlucky in love (although there are probably several women out there who relate to that one), but fortunately, has great friends in her life. She lives in London, is currently unemployed due to a disastrous stalking debacle with her former boss (she is an attorney), and she finds herself with too much time on her hands. She can only shop too much, eat out too much, and meet friends for drinks too often before she's wishing for something better. Wishing for Ben, her platonic friend, with whom she has a history (downfall of this novel: carries on too long) and who is also married, to another one of her friends.

Tessa's involvement with her friends is truly incredible - I do believe she's a great friend, and she goes through hoops to help her godchildren, which is so sweet. Her biggest downfall is her meddling into her friends' lives and relationships (with their spouses and their kids), which creates some friction. She pushes and pushes and meddles and meddles, and mostly because she is jealous. Her friends are all living their lives with husbands and kids and what she thinks are white picket fences, and lives life with a classic "the grass is always greener on the other side" feeling.

But then one day it all goes to pot.

[SPOILER ALERT!]

Tessa's great friend Helen and her (lousy) husband are killed in a car accident, and Tessa is devastated. She also instantly goes into mommy mode, as she is Helen's twin sons' godmother. Although she does not adopt them, she does care for them during transition, and it is this event that sends her into the arms of her true love, Ben.

Happily ever after, right?

WRONG.

Tessa considers the conversations she's had with her beloved friends, the lessons they've given her in love and marriage, and the truths she's learned (that people are never who they seem), and she cannot go through with stealing Ben from his wife. She cannot break a marriage and be the one who creates more tension with her friends. They had their chance and the moment passed, life goes on.

I did very much enjoy this book, despite some parts being excruciatingly long and dramatic, and some predictability, but I think the lessons were bountiful. And Adams' writing style is amazing. I found myself cracking up at some points, angry at others, and feeling solemn at other points. Going through these stages of emotions will usually leave me with a great feeling about a book, and I recommend this book to all.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

The Sunday Salon

The Sunday Salon.com

June 7, 2009 - 10:50 a.m.


Well here we are on Sunday again. I am always a little sad on Sundays, knowing work is just around the corner again. But I love Sundays for catching up on things around the house and reading. Today I think I'll be pulling weeds, doing some laundry and cleaning up a bit before I can read.

I finished The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright this week, and while I enjoyed it, I don't understand all the hoopla surrounding it. It was a New York Times Bestseller, but for some reason it didn't grab me the way it probably grabbed others. It's the story of a woman and her 2 brothers who come together in their parents estate after they've both passed away over night. They stumble upon boxes and boxes of letters their father has written to their mother over the years, and they discover all sorts of things - include one huge, life altering secret - that makes them all think about the past and the family they thought they knew. I am curious what other readers thought about this book, so if you've got any thoughts, please share!



One of my favorite reading times is on the weekend mornings, while Kevin and our dog are still asleep. They're usually stretched out and I just curl up on my pillows and I can usually read for more than an hour before they wake up. It's so quiet and peaceful at that time and it's great! I started a new book Saturday morning and was able to read for almost 2 hours. It Had to Be You by Sarah Webb is the story of 3 friends, all living different lives in the sleepy town of Burnaby, Ireland. While the girls lead different lives (one is married with kids and running for local office, one is a bookshop manager who can't seem to get it right with men, and one has 2 very different jobs and a rough boss), they still meet up for coffee and to dish on life and love. It's cute so far, and a quick read, but I'm still wondering about the title. I suppose I'll get it when I'm finished.

Almost 2 years ago, my best friend gave me a copy of Suze Orman's The Money Book for the Young Fabulous and Broke, and it was very helpful to me at that point in life. I pulled it out this week for some advice on finances, and guess what? It's still relevant! I am figuring it will be helpful to me for at least the next 10 years as well. It has great money tips for people my age - how to start a retirement account, how to manage your stock portfolio, how to work at trimming your debt while trying to pay your bills each month and save money, etc. I've said before that I just love Suze's style when it comes to money - her "Suze Smackdown" as I guess it's called. Her mantra is now my mantra: People first, then money, then things.


Kevin has all sorts of great business books, and sometimes I just grab one or two and sit down with them, hoping to learn something. I always do. Last night I took The Daily Drucker by Peter F. Drucker and started flippinng through it while I watched hockey. There are so many great examples of work topics in the book - including management (as a whole and as an individual), financials, inspiration and innovation and more. I like that each page begins with a quote, and ends with an Action Point (a takeaway, the charge to the reader for the next step). I think I ended up writing down 4 or 5 pages worth of notes. The book contains 366 different pages of advice, the point being to read one a day. (But who can wait that long?) :)

Happy reading to all my fellow bloggers out there. (All images courtesy Barnes & Noble)

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Reading of a different kind

So lately I've been on this "get well, live healthy" kick, and not just with fitness and food, but with more education. I've been considering going back to school for my Masters, although that's not what this post is about.

I've been trying to just educate myself. I feel like there is a wealth of good information out there that doesn't necessarily come in a textbook, or a classroom, especially on topics such as finances, career development, and life as a young professional. Recently I downloaded a copy of an ebook called The Young Professional Rockstar: 10 steps to rocking your career right now (get yours here!) and I'm trying to really learn from it. Sometimes I feel like I fly through books so fast I take nothing away from it.

Also fairly recently I've been reading a new blog, Sources of Insight, and I just found a really short ebook called You 2.0: Finding and Living Your Process (read more here). This topic is really speaking to me right now as I sort out my career and my priorities and the life I want for myself (and with my boyfriend).

I'm also pulling out my trusty Suze Orman book, The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous and Broke. My best friend bought me this book for my birthday almost 2 years ago, and it's such a great book. I really like Suze's style: she's straightforward, no bullshit. And she should be. Some of the questions she receives from callers on her show just blow my mind. It's like, "really? You are asking if you can afford this, and you have $20,000 in credit card debt?!" But I like her philosophy: people first, then money, then things. It's a good mantra, really.

Cross posted here.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

The Chicago Way - Michael Harvey

From the back:


Private detective Michael Kelly is hired by his former partner to solve an eight-year old rape and battery case long gone cold. But when the partner turns up dead, Kelly enlists a team of his savviest colleagues to connect the dots between the recent murder and the cold case it revived: a television reporter whose relationship with Kelly is not strictly professional; his best friend from childhood, now forensic DNA expert; and an old ally from the DA's office. To close the case, Kelly will have to face the mob, a serial killer, his own double-crossing friends, and the mean streets of the city he loves.


For starters, I love Chicago, but it really does contain some mean streets and horrific murders. For another thing, I love crime stories so this was right up my alley. Since that description from the back cover pretty much sums up the book, I just have a few extra comments.


While reading this, I really tried my best to keep an open mind about all the characters, despite their flaws, and to really try to figure out who the murderer was. I succeeded in the first but never did figure out the killer until it came out. I still felt unresolved at the end of the book though, as it seemed to never fully connect all the dots. I did really enjoy Harvey's writing style and his humor, as well as most of his characters.


I did have one issue with the book, that being the narrator's relationship with a reporter named Diane. Being a private investigator and talking to a reporter should create enough friction as it is, but to be in somewhat of a relationship with a reporter who obviously has an agenda is just bad news. It annoyed me to a certain degree that Michael Kelly didn't see Diane for who she was earlier - of course she's going to try to sleep with you, because she wants a story out of you. It was obvious from the start that's what she was after. But when she turned out to be just a little too involved with the case, it was a disaster. But of course, made for a great book.


I am curious if anyone else has read this one. I haven't come across it on any other blogs, I just happened upon it in the bookstore. Share your thoughts if you have some!