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Happy Reading, 
Christine

Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher

Those who know me know I love books written for Young Adults. This is one of those books.

"Thirteen Reasons Why" is a story, written in the form of a suicide note on tape. The young girl who kills herself leaves behind 7 tapes. Each side of a tape is one of the reasons she decided to end her life, and each of those sides is dedicated to one person (the "B" side of the 7th tape is blank). These tapes arrive mysteriously in the mail, and each person mentioned on these tapes must pass them on to the next person mentioned.

The story follows a tortured Clay Jenson as he listens to all these tapes and follows the map that Hannah Baker has left behind.

I found this to be a moving book, written with great insight and sensitivity. Asher is able to capture the insecurities of the teenage mind and show how all the little cruelties inflicted on each other without thought can have such a profound effect under certain circumstances.

This is a story every teen should read, but a worthwhile read for anyone of any age.

Trying to get Back on Track for 2010!

It has been a long time since I have tended to this blog. Far too many times I would finish a book and tell myself "I will blog about it later/tomorrow, only to find myself too engag4ed in the next read to make any worthwhile comment on the last. So for my sole resolution for 2010, is to blog more often.

The new blogs may be brief, but I hope they will still prove to be useful to anyone looking for suggestions on books to read, opinions of books they may be considering, other opinions on books they have read and of course see what other people are reading and their thoughts. After all, I am always looking for my next good read too!

Happy Reading for 2010 to all!

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas – John Boyne

This is a well-written and sensitive book, about a very serious subject.

Initially I found the writing style a little bit simple, but then I noticed the book was actually written for teens, and in then viewing it as such, was able to read the book without distraction.

This is a very good book for young teens to read about the holocaust. Once they have a basic understanding of the facts of the holocaust, this book expertly brings it to heart without being graphic or unnecessarily disturbing.

A good book for teens, but still a worthy read for adults.

This book was made into a movie.

The Judas Strain – James Rollins

Another great scientific/historical thriller by Rollins featuring the Sigma Force.

An ancient plague dormant since the time of Marco Polo, had been re-awakened and threatens the world. The Sigma Force must battle not only the clock, but also the evil Guild to find and control the cure before it is too late.

Another great page turner by Rollins to keep you up late at night holding your breath and turning pages.

Marley and Me – John Grogan

Sure to be a favorite of animal lovers. Well written and touching.

Marley and Me is the true story of Marley – “the world’s worst dog”, and the family who loved him and would not have had him any other way. Kicked out of obedience school, and with an uncontrollable and destructive fear of thunder storms, Marley is a unique dog. For all Marley’s faults though, his heart is pure, and he is ultimately too lovable to not forgive his shortcomings.

This books spans the humor of puppy hood, the love and devotion of the long time family pet, and the heartache of the final days together. Any pet owner will relate to this book easily.

This book has been made into a movie (Starring Owen Wilson, and Jennifer Aniston).

Stardust – Neil Gaiman

Love in the land of Faerie at it’s best.

In an effort to win the heart of a young lady, Tristan ventures past the city wall and into the land of Faerie to retrieve a fallen star. Filled with witches, ghosts, and a variety of other strange beings, the story is full of adventure.

Gaiman is a well respected fantasy writer, and this book is a fine example of why. His characters are well developed, and the story draws you in from the beginning, and holds you tightly until the end.

A Modern faerie tale destined to become a classic.

Now a movie, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Claire Danes, and Robert DeNiro.

I Know This Much is True - Wally Lamb

A wonderful and complex novel by Wally Lamb.

"I Know This Much is True" follows the lives of a set of identical twins, one of which is mentally ill. Lamb does an excellent job of examining several issues at once. Mental illness, the politics of mental illness, the love of family, the stress of mental illness on others, family history, and the effects of not knowing where one came from. All these layers are woven into a single, powerful, and complex story.

At 883 pages for the mass market paperback edition, this book will occupy some time, and it's well worth it.

A Spot of Bother - Mark Haddon

Another good book by Haddon.

In his previous novel "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" Haddon wrote brilliantly as a boy with a form of autism - Asperger's syndrom to be specific. In this book, he tackles mental illness and family dysfunction with the same skill.

I simply cannot say it better than the quote on the back of the book which says in part;
"As parents and children fall apart and come together, Haddon paints a disturbing yet amusing portrait of a dignified man trying to go insane politely."

Loaded with that dry British humor, and great human insight, this book works on more than one level.

Edited for correction of error - see comments for details.

The Gargoyle - Andrew Davidson

A great book.

This book received a lot of attention even prior to it's release. Davidson received the largest advance ever in the U.S. for a debut novel by a Canadian author. Davidson was paid $1.25 million by Doubleday publishing for this book. They certainly got their money's worth, and so did I for my purchase.

Part love story, part historical fiction, part fantasy, and filled with stories within the story, this book was an absolute pleasure to read. Don't let the "love story" thing put you off if you are not a fan of romance novels, it is not that kind of love story!

A man who is beautiful on the outside, and has relied on his good looks, has an accident which leaves him badly burned and horribly disfigured. As he lies in his hospital bed, planning for the day he can commit suicide, he receives a strange visit from a woman who claims to have been his lover hundreds of years ago. This woman who carves gargoyles, tells their tales while nursing him physically and emotionally back to health. Soon she tells him, that she has only twenty-seven sculptures left to complete before her time on earth is done.

A worthy read!

The Retreat - David Bergman

Bergman's "The Retreat" is a wonderfully believable story set in the area of Kenora, Ontario Canada, during the time of the occupation of Anicanabe park, in the early 1970's.

As cultures and generations clash, the reader finds themselves awash with emotional tension. Bergman balances emotions so delicately in this novel, that the reader constantly feels conflicted. Hoping for the beast, but dreading the worst. Love for family against hatred for corrupt authority figures. The sweetness of young romance, with the bitterness of that which is doomed before it starts. This book commands you to keep turning pages into the wee hours.

A fine novel by a former Giller Prize winner, proving that Bergman is a force to be reckoned with on the Canadian literary scene, and likely will be for some time to come.


This book courtesy of Random House - McClelland & Stewart/Library Thing

Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

A wonderfully complex novel. Slow to start, but well worth patience, Mitchell's novel is unique and unlike any other novel I have read.

Mitchell has written one novel, that spans not only several time periods, and several characters, but also several genres. From 19th century historical to sci-fi post apocalyptic future and everything in between. All this is expertly woven into a story of a single soul traveling through time. Themes subtly reappear from one story to the next, adding strength to that which ties these stories together. Technically brilliant and quite entertaining. This book was short listed for the Booker Prize in 2004.

One thing to note about this book is that early on, you may feel convinced that pages are missing, but if you carry on reading, it will make sense.

Brida - Paulo Coelho

Once again Coelho pens a tale of spirituality and the quest for knowledge.

Perhaps what makes his work so intriguing, is that it always spiritual, but rarely "religious" in any kind of traditional sense. His characters are always learning and discovering their place in the world. Brida is no different in that respect.

Brida is in search of knowledge. Her search brings her to a lonely magus, and thus her journey begins. She learns to listen to the soul of the world, to dance to it's music. She learns of her gift, her history, and her soulmate, and what these mean in her world.

A beautiful and enchanting story.

A Dog Among Diplomats - J. F. Englert

Book two of the “Bull Moose Dog Run Mysteries”.

The chubby, lovable, well read Lab, with a nose for trouble, and his owner Harry are back! The series continues as the plot around Imogen’s disappearance thickens. A man is murdered. Randolph’s missing mistress Imogen is implicated, and Randolph must go to work to solve the case.

Going “undercover” as a therapy dog, he is soon immersed in a world of diplomats and spies. Once again our furry hero must navigate his way through danger, and find a way to communicate with Harry to solve the mystery.

This series is light and entertaining. Randolph is completely and utterly lovable. I look forward to the upcoming book three in this series “A Dog at Sea” due for release in spring 2009.

This book courtesy of J.F. Englert

A Dog About Town - J. F. Englert

A light, entertaining, enjoyable mystery!

The first in the Bull Moose Dog Run Mysteries, this book introduces us to Randolph - a chubby, lovable, well read Lab, with a nose for trouble, and his owner Harry. Both are struggling with the sudden disappearance of Imogen, beloved mistress to Randolph, and girlfriend to Harry.

Imogen's disappearance has left Harry with an interest in the occult. When a man dies at a séance that Harry has attended, Randolph smells trouble. Not only must Randolph solve the crime, but he must keep Harry safe, while secretly guiding him to the answers that make up this mystery.

It was a delight to "meet" Randolph, and I look forward to reading more of his adventures!

Review of book two, "A Dog Among Diplomats" to follow.

This book courtesy of J. F. Englert

Dates From Hell - Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Kelley Armstrong, and Lori Handeland

A collection of four short stories of paranormal dating disaster. Overall, a good book that is light and entertaining. Prior to reading this book, the only author of the four I have read previously was Kim Harrison.

Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil – Kim Harrison:

A recent fan to the Hollows series, I enjoyed this story. Of course I missed some of the other Hollows characters, but it did do a nice job of being able to be a “stand alone” story for those unfamiliar with the series, while meshing with the events and characters of the series for those who know it.

The Claire Switch Project – Lynsay Sands:

While not a bad story, but it was my least favorite of the four in this book. I found it just a little too predictable. I felt that there were too many T.V./Movie adaptations on similar themes.

Chaotic – Kelley Armstrong:

A good story. Some action and intrigue.

Dead Man Dating – Lori Handeland:

This was my favorite of the four stories in this book. Like “Chaotic”, this story contained some action and intrigue, but I liked the story line better, and it had more of a twist.

The Philosopher's Apprentice - James Morrow

A good read, though not exactly what I had expected. Morrow's book has some almost sci-fi/futuristic aspects to it that I was not expecting.

In a world where morals seem to be lacking, is it possible for one person to be too moral? To be consumed by those morals? With no right or wrong answers, does a person of morals suffer more than the amoral? Morrow's book "The Philosopher's Apprentice" leads us to ask these questions.

As philosophical as the name implies, this book is not of the "light summer reading" variety. In fact, if there is to be any criticism of this book, it is that the language and characters often seem a tad arrogant and presumptuous. While one may argue that the characters are in fact meant to be somewhat arrogant and presumptuous, it is sometimes hard to warm to Mason, our hero, because of it.

Still, a worthwhile read.

This book courtesy of HarperCollinsCanada Reading Group.

Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

This book, is a model for what humanity should be, and a commentary on how we treat each other globally, and how that effects the world.

Winner of the Kiriyam Prize (The Kiriyama Prize is an international literary award given to books which will encourage greater understanding of and among the peoples of the Pacific Rim and South Asia) for non-fiction in 2007.

The story starts as young Greg Mortenson, a former army medic and nurse, stumbles ill and exhausted out of the mountains of Pakistan, after a failed summit bid on K2 (the world's second tallest mountain, and by many accounts more technically difficult that Everest, the tallest). After losing his way to the city he planned to go to, he arrives in the small remote village of Korphe, where he is sheltered and cared for during his recovery. He soon becomes very attached to the people of the village. While there, he tries to provide whatever medical assistance he is able to, and soon is dubbed "Dr. Greg". Appalled that the children study in an open field, he makes a promise before leaving, to build the village a proper school.

For many, the story would stop here, but not for Greg Mortenson. For him and his organization, this is where the story starts. Along with Jean Hoerni, he co- founed the Central Asia Institute, and has been working to educate children in that region ever since.

A remarkable story, filled with interesting people and encounters. Well worth reading!

Into Thin Air - Jon Krakauer

This is Krakauer's first hand account, of the deadliest storm ever on Mount Everest, which primarily because of that storm, became a part of Everest's most deadly season.

Krakauer is a well respected outdoor adventure reporter and author (see review for "Into the Wild" - Jon Krakauer), and for good reason. His writing skills are excellent, and he writes what he knows about. He is an avid outdoorsman and by all accounts, a fairly competent climber.

I have read another book about this event (see review for "High Crimes" - Michal Kodas), and I have seen a few documentaries about it as well, so I knew how things would come out in the end. Yet I still felt compelled to turn pages late at night to read Krakauer's perspective.

Scuba Dancing - Nicola Slade

This book was a delightful read.

An eclectic group of lonely people, getting together to help each other out through a "barter club", soon find themselves providing so much more for each other than music lessons and carpentry.

I was pleasantly entertained, as each of the characters made their journey to happiness, meaning, and freedom in their own ways.

My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.