A great story, superbly written.
The book is about a 13 year old girl, who is conceived in-vitro to be a compatible donor for her seriously ill sister. Originally, only cord blood from her delivery was expected to be used, however as her sister relapses time and time again, she must continue donating to her sister to keep her alive. One day she decides she will donate no more. What we learn about her and her family is not always as simple as what we immediately see.
Picoult masterfully tells this story. The story is told from the perspective of ALL the individuals directly involved. We are able to observe how the same events are perceived differently by each of the characters. Added to this complex web, we visit different times in the lives of these characters. Only a skilled story teller could do this so well, that we never feel "lost" by changes in character or time. Picoult does an excellent job. We feel for each of the characters in this tragic family.
This is my first novel by Picoult, but judging by the quality of this work, it will not be the last by far!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian - Marina Lewycka
While not a bad book, I was none-the-less somewhat disappointed by it.
While light and funny at times, it seemed to lack some of the depth and substance I had expected of it. I failed to connect with the characters on any meaningful level.
The story is of an elderly widower, who marries a gold digging immigrant. His daughters who have been feuding, must come together in an attempt to save their Dad.
If you are looking for a book to help you pass the time, this book will certainly do. If you are looking for a book that will make you say "wow!" and become a favorite, you may, like me, be disappointed.
While light and funny at times, it seemed to lack some of the depth and substance I had expected of it. I failed to connect with the characters on any meaningful level.
The story is of an elderly widower, who marries a gold digging immigrant. His daughters who have been feuding, must come together in an attempt to save their Dad.
If you are looking for a book to help you pass the time, this book will certainly do. If you are looking for a book that will make you say "wow!" and become a favorite, you may, like me, be disappointed.
For One More Day - Mitch Albom
Mitch Albom does it again!
Another beautifully inspirational book, that will stay with you.
For any of us who have lost a dear loved one, what we wouldn't give to spend just one more day with them.
Albom's tale of a broken man, who is given the gift of a day with his deceased Mother, is simply put, a thing of beauty. We are reminded, that our loved ones are always in our hearts, and life is never so broken it can't be fixed. That being said, we still cannot afford to take for granted our time with our loved ones while alive. Albom again strikes a perfect balance of sentiment, without being preachy or over the top.
Mitch Albom is finding his way into my favorite authors!
Another beautifully inspirational book, that will stay with you.
For any of us who have lost a dear loved one, what we wouldn't give to spend just one more day with them.
Albom's tale of a broken man, who is given the gift of a day with his deceased Mother, is simply put, a thing of beauty. We are reminded, that our loved ones are always in our hearts, and life is never so broken it can't be fixed. That being said, we still cannot afford to take for granted our time with our loved ones while alive. Albom again strikes a perfect balance of sentiment, without being preachy or over the top.
Mitch Albom is finding his way into my favorite authors!
The Five People You Meet in Heaven - Mitch Albom
Profound and entertaining.
This tiny book packs quite a whollop!
Inspirational without being preachy, this book reminds us about how our lives are all interconnected with each other. This story reminds me somewhat of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol", in that our hero learns how his life, and his actions, have affected others he knew, and strangers as well. I hesitate to say more, lest I spoil the book for anyone who has not yet read it!
This is one of those books that becomes a part of you.
This tiny book packs quite a whollop!
Inspirational without being preachy, this book reminds us about how our lives are all interconnected with each other. This story reminds me somewhat of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol", in that our hero learns how his life, and his actions, have affected others he knew, and strangers as well. I hesitate to say more, lest I spoil the book for anyone who has not yet read it!
This is one of those books that becomes a part of you.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Map of Bones - James Rollins
A good thriller.
Intricately woven with twists and turns, this book will keep you up at night turning pages.
Loaded with mythology and fact, this book’s plot revolves around the history of the roles of various catholic figures, sects and events.Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Animal's People - Indra Sinha
This book is incredibly under-rated. Whether due to it's very serious story line, or lack of marketing, I don't know. It was however named to the "new" 1001 books list, and more importantly, was short-listed for the 2007 booker prize.
This book is narrated by "Animal", a young man who was left physically twisted and orphaned by a chemical company disaster. Sinha injects enough humor to make this book quite readable despite it's serious and sad nature. I would however caution that there is liberal use of strong language.
This book is not a light read. Many phrases are in French or Indian, and must be gleamed from context (unless of course you know these languages).
Technically, this book would have to be considered a work of fiction. However, don't be surprised if something about this book is niggling at your memory. This book is the author's interpretation of the effects of a very real event. The city of Khaufpur does not exist (don't let the city's "official website" fool you), and the characters may not exist by the particular names used in this book, but nothing in this book could not, or has not happened.
The fictional city of Kaufpur is based on the real city of Bhopal. The fictional American "kampani" talked about in the book is the Union Carbide company (now owned by Dow Chemical). The very real disaster occured on December 3, 1984. The long term effects and responsibility is still a matter of debate.
This book is narrated by "Animal", a young man who was left physically twisted and orphaned by a chemical company disaster. Sinha injects enough humor to make this book quite readable despite it's serious and sad nature. I would however caution that there is liberal use of strong language.
This book is not a light read. Many phrases are in French or Indian, and must be gleamed from context (unless of course you know these languages).
Technically, this book would have to be considered a work of fiction. However, don't be surprised if something about this book is niggling at your memory. This book is the author's interpretation of the effects of a very real event. The city of Khaufpur does not exist (don't let the city's "official website" fool you), and the characters may not exist by the particular names used in this book, but nothing in this book could not, or has not happened.
The fictional city of Kaufpur is based on the real city of Bhopal. The fictional American "kampani" talked about in the book is the Union Carbide company (now owned by Dow Chemical). The very real disaster occured on December 3, 1984. The long term effects and responsibility is still a matter of debate.
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