#66 - The Street of A Thousand Blossoms

Book No: 66
Title: The Street of A Thousand Blossoms
Author: Gail Tsukiyama
Genre: Fiction
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2007/ Middle Bay Raffle
Completed: 7/30/08
No. of Pages: 422
Rating: 4/5*****

Gail Tsukiyama is one of my favorite writers. Her books are always graceful, peaceful, eloquent depictions of people caught up in events that they cannot control, yet always seem to become better human beings because of or in spite of the tragedies they face.

Hiroshi and Kenji are two brothers orphaned at an early age and raised by their loving grandparents. The book begins prior to WWII, and the deprivation and hardship of this war on the Japanese civilians is vividly rendered and brought to life. Continuing through the next 30 years, through post war occupation and rebuilding we watch each boy become a man, finding their places in the world. Hiroshi enters the world of Sumo wrestling while Kenji has a more artistic bent, learning to create the masks of the Noh theatre. Through their loves and losses we are completely immersed in the brother’s and the country’s struggles to rebuild from the ashes of a lost civilization, to find a new place in the world. With compassionate portrayals of both these two brothers and the strong women in their lives we become part and parcel of their struggles, defeats and successes. A completely different book than the other WWII book I read this month, this one far more riveting and heartfelt.

#65 - Cover the Butter

Book No: 65
Title: Cover the Butter
Author: Carrie Kabak
Genre: Fiction
Published: 2005
Obtained: 2005/Audible
Completed: 7/29/08
No. of Pages: N/A
Rating: 3.5/5*****

Kate Cadogan is a forty year old Welsh woman, trapped in a loveless marriage for 20 years. When she comes home one day after spending a weekend away with her husband she finds her 20 year old son has had a big party while they were gone. Her home is trashed, her son is completely indifferent to her anger and her husband only wants to look at the telly and watch the latest sports. When Kate fuels her anger with alcohol she falls into a tormented sleep. Through her dreams we relive Kate’s life with a controlling and distant mother, an ineffectual father, a love thwarted and an unplanned pregnancy. It is this dream that awakens Kate to the need to live her life for herself.

While I applaud certain aspects of this book, set in the early 60’s through today, I actually wished Kate wasn’t so wishy-washy. Until the turning point in her life every decision she made was to please someone else. I longed for her to stand up for herself just once, and when it finally happens it seems like such a long time coming it is almost anti-climatic. Still I could appreciate the themes of love lost and found and finding out who you are.

#64 - The Zookeeper's Wife

Book No: 64
Title: The Zookeeper’s Wife; A War Story
Author: Diane Ackerman
Genre: Non-fiction
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2007/Smart Reader
Completed: 7/28/31
No. of Pages: 342
Rating: 3/5*****

This book was such a disappointment for me. I usually like books about WWII and of those people who risked their own lives to save those being persecuted by the Nazi’s. Unfortunately this book left me cold. I had no connection at all with any of the characters, from the rescuers to the rescued. I read the entire book just wishing it was over.

During the time of the German invasion of Poland, Antonina and Jan Zabinski harbored hundreds of Jews and members of the Polish underground for as little as a few nights to several years. Risking their own lives and those of their children they provided refuge in their home and in the various cages of their former zoo. All in all an admirable and truly remarkable story. However Ackerman would go into detail about the playing of one song on the piano and glide over many of the logistics of this incredible charade. It is never made clear exactly how this subterfuge was carried out, and one never feels close to any of the people in the book. The writing is either so dry it is like choking down crackers or so overblown it is like smothering in verbosity. I read another book about WWII just after this one, and the difference was remarkable. I really wish the Zabinski story could be told by a more gifted writer, this book had then sensation of a distant look back, without any warmth or true feeling.

#63 - Belong to Me

Book No: 63
Title: Belong to Me
Author: Marisa De Los Santos
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Published: 2008
Obtained: 2008/ARC-Les
Completed: 7/25/08
No. of Pages: 395
Rating: 5/5*****

This book is a sequel to the fabulous Love Walked in that I read last week. Once again I was completed captivated by the characters established in that book and the new ones introduced here.
Cornelia Brown is now married and has moved to the suburbs of Philadelphia after deciding to leave New York City in the wake of September 11th. Here Cornelia seems to run into a brick wall- usually able to make friends without a problem she struggles to fit in with the very cliquey women in her new town, especially Queen Bee Piper Truitt. As each of these women struggle with personal problems, both within their marriages and within themselves a most unexpected friendship is born.
I love De Los Santos’ way with characters, words, images, friendship and marriage; the whole nine yards. She writes about people we all wish we knew, but gives them real life problems to deal with. I can’t believe it will probably be another year or two before I can read another one of her books. Totally delightful!

#62 - When You Are Engulfed in Flames

Book No: 62
Title: When You Are Engulfed in Flames
Author: David Sedaris
Genre: Memoir/Essays
Published: 2008
Obtained: 2008/Audible
Completed: 7/21/08
No. of Pages: N/A
Rating: 4/5*****

I have been hearing that I have to read Sedaris for some years now. Not a big listener of the radio I had no idea who he was. So when I found this available on audio, when I was looking for something light I finally decided to give him a try. And guess what?? I freaking love David Sedaris. I laughed out loud so many times while driving in my car that I am sure I scared more than one driver. This collection of essays was funny, sad, poignant, sweet, cute, and hysterical. One story after another with Sedaris doing the reading, it was just a great way to spend time in the car. The scary thing is wondering who is watching you and taking notes- Sedaris bases his tales on people and events that he has observed, his notebook and pen always handy to jot down a few notes. The story entitled Solution to the Saturday Puzzle was one of the funniest I have ever heard and I wonder what the star of the piece, Becky the nasty plane seat-mate, thinks of it- if she has indeed ever seen it. The ending essays, which cover Sedaris’ trip to Japan in order to quit smoking, run the gamut of emotions and were also among my favorite pieces. I just downloaded Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim to my Kindle. I want to compare the listening experience to the reading experience because I so enjoyed listening to Sedaris’ rendition of his stories. I think I have found a new favorite, and that always makes me happy!

#61 - Love Walked In

Book No: 61
Title: Love Walked In
Author: Marisa De Los Santos
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Published: 2006
Obtained: 2008/Paperbackswap
Completed: 7/21/08
No. of Pages: 307
Rating: 5/5*****

Oh my goodness, I cannot believe how much I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down, laughed, cried and read it over two days time, to the exclusion of just about everything else.

Cornelia Brown is a tiny sprite of a woman who loves old classic movies; in particular The Philadelphia Story. When Martin Grace walks into her coffee shop one day, looking so much like Cary Grant it’s unbelievable, Cornelia goes out with him and begins to fall in love. What she doesn’t know is that Martin has a few secrets he has yet to share, and when one is revealed to be is eleven year old daughter, Clare, Cornelia begins a journey that changes her entire life.

This book was pitch perfect, with two amazing characters in Cornelia and Clare, people you just wish you really had in your life. The secondary characters were all wonderful, and fleshed out people. The movie and poetry references were so clever and I was completely bewitched by this book. I was also very pleased to know there is a sequel, entitled Belong to Me, and I have it and have already devoured half of it. I’ll be back with that review shortly. My first 5***** book of the year (I’m cheap with that rating)

#60 - Zel

Book No: 60
Title: Zel
Author: Donna Jo Napoli
Genre: Fairy Tales
Published: 1996
Obtained: 2008/Amazon
Completed: 7/18/08
No. of Pages: 227
Rating: 3.5/5*****

Zel is a retelling of the Rapunzel fairy tale. In this one Zel is actually placed in the tower by her mother, after she meets a young man in the market one day. Zel’s mother is a witch, who loves Zel more than anything, and wants to keep Zel with her always and cannot bear the thought of sharing her with anyone.

I liked a lot of the touches in this book, especially the one that dealt with how Rapunzel dealt with being locked up alone in a tower with no company. I did find the storyline of the mother more than a little creepy; I guess I couldn’t understand any mother doing such a terrible thing to her child. Overall it was a interesting take on a classic tale.

#59 - The Yummy Mummy

Book No: 59
Title: The Yummy Mummy
Author: Polly Williams
Genre: Chick Lit/Contemporary Fiction
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2008/Kindle
Completed: 7/18/07
No. of Pages: 384
Rating: 4/5*****

The title definitely screams chick lit, but this book was much more deeply layered than I expected, and quite enjoyable.

Amy Crane is a new mother, living with her six-month old daughter Evie and Evie’s dad Joe, Amy’s boyfriend. Amy is struggling with a bit of the baby blues and questions about her relationship with Joe, and whether or not they would be together if it weren’t for their daughter. She’s also caught between two sets of friends, her birthing class group, which consists of earth-mother types, and her newer friends, a group of Yummy Mummy’s. You know the type; lost their baby weight in ten days, have live in help so they can lunch, get their hair done, shop etc. When Alice, Amy’s newest friend takes on project Amy, she succeeds in turning Amy into one of the YM’s; as well as a MILF (Acronym for Mom’s I’d Like to ****). While Amy slowly begins to find her balance Joe is pulling farther away from her. Then there is the complication of the very hot Pilates instructor who has Amy in his sights.

Lots here to laugh at, but anyone who has gone through new motherhood will identify with many of Amy’s feelings, doubts, and qualms about her new life. There is quite a bit of poignancy here too, and Amy is someone you really care about. Another good summer beach read.

#58 - Grimm's Fairy Tales

Book No: 58
Title: Grimm’s Fairy Tales
Author: The Brothers Grimm
Genre: Fairy Tales
Published: unknown
Obtained: 2008/Kindle
Completed: 7/14/08
No. of Pages: 560
Rating: 3/5*****

I read this as part of the Fairy Tale Tag challenge at Play Book Tag. What I didn’t know is that the Brothers Grimm didn’t actually write all these fairy tales- 64 of them- but actually collected them as a way of saving the oral traditional tales told throughout centuries. That would explain why many of the stories seem a little repetitious; they are often the same basic story told in different ways. While I enjoyed reading some of my childhood favorites, I was astonished at how violent some of these stories are. Disney may get bashed for sanitizing stories, but to be honest I would feel a little queasy reading some of these unvarnished stories to young children. It took me 2 weeks to get through all the stories, and many of them were a bit silly I did overall enjoy the experience of revisiting some old favorites.

#57 - T is for Tresspass

Book No: 57
Title: T is for Trespass
Author: Sue Grafton
Genre: Suspense
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2007/paperbackswap
Completed: 7/13/08
No. of Pages: 387
Rating: 4.5/5*****

This is the 20th book in the Kinsey Millhone alphabet series, and after some not so great entries in the series this one was one of the best.

When Kinsey’s elderly neighbor Gus, a cantankerous old man, takes a bad fall, Kinsey and her landlord Henry do all they can to help him. This includes investigating the home care nurse Gus’ niece wants to hire to care for him at home. All seems okay at first, but when Kinsey begins to suspect elder abuse things go from bad to worse. As readers we know from the start that there are indeed evil deeds occurring; the fun of the book is the cat and mouse game played by Kinsey and the villainous Solana Rojas. A few side cases keep Kinsey busy also, but the main storyline is gripping in its accelerating horror in what seems like an ordinary life, and the hope that Kinsey puts the pieces together before its too late.

#56 - Sweetwater Creek

Book No: 56
Title: Sweetwater Creek
Author: Anne Rivers Siddons
Genre: Fiction
Published: 2005
Obtained: 2007/Audible.com
Completed: 7/11/2008
No. of Pages: N/A
Rating: 4/5*****

This was a sweet and enjoyable coming of age tale set in the Carolina’s low-country. Emily Parmenter is twelve years old, living on her family’s plantation with her distant father and two older brothers. Her mother disappeared while Emily was a toddler and her adored older brother Buddy committed suicide, leaving her bereft and lonely. Her only salvation comes from training the family’s well known Boykin hunter spaniels. Emily seems to have an innate talent for this and her life is in a simple pattern of school and working the dogs, her only friends her beloved dog Elvis, her Aunt Jenny and the housekeeper Cleta. Into this quiet world comes the golden Lulu Foxworth, a debutante in need of a place to recover from what appears to be a nervous breakdown. In order to impress the wealthy Foxworth family Walter Parmenter invites Lulu to spend the summer working with Emily training the dogs. Lulu jumps at the chance and soon spins her magic web around the family. With her arrival comes life and laughter to an empty household, but it also brings dark secrets that ultimately changes everything. Permeated with sadness the story is also about friendship, love, betrayal and finding one’s way in the world.

#55 - The Idiot Girls Action Adventure Club

Book No: 55
Title: The Idiot Girls Action Adventure Club
Author: Laurie Notaro
Genre: Memoir
Published: 2002
Obtained: 2007/Kindle
Completed: 7/11/2008
No. of Pages: 240
Rating: 4/5*****

I seem to be on a roll, reading laugh out loud funny books by incorrigible women, first Jen Lancaster and now Laurie Notaro. This is Notaro’s first book and I literally laughed until I cried. The book is a collection of essays she wrote for the Arizona Republican; chronicling a few years in her life, through college and trying to become, more or less, a responsible adult. No one escapes unscathed; she targets not only herself, but friends, family and strangers. Her description of her teeth getting stuck in a caramel apple, while driving, is priceless. Another funny bit of great beach reading. I love summer!

#54 - Marley and Me

Book No: 54
Title: Marley & Me
Author: John Grogan
Genre: Memoir
Published: 2005
Obtained: 2007/Paperbackswap.com
Completed: 7/11/08
No. of Pages: 291
Rating: 3.5/5*****

I am not a big fan of animal books so I was prepared to not like this book, but it was a choice of my F2F book group. Although I love dogs, I didn’t want to read a memoir about ‘Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog”, sure it would be a sentimental remembrance that just wouldn’t appeal to me. So imagine my surprise as I was utterly captivated by the story of Marley, if not the world’s worst dog, surely a difficult one. A very large, headstrong and virtually untrainable Labrador retriever, Marley was also lovable, steadfast and the true definition of man’s best friend. His absolute joy for life and his love of his fmily came through on every page. Marley was not an idealized version of a dog, a Hollywood Lassie or Rin Tin Tin both of whom probably never sniffed anyone’s crotch. He had the heart of a puppy through all of his 12 years, but at 90 pounds his exuberance was often of a destructive nature. Marley hated thunderstorms, loved the ocean, was protective of his family and always ready with a big slobbery kiss. I give a lot of credit to the Grogan family for seeing the good in their beloved dog, he is the kind of adorable puppy that when grown often ends up back in a shelter. For all the love Marley gave them, they returned it in equal measure. A funny and thoroughly enjoyable memoir.

#53 - Where Are You Now?

Book No: 53
Title: Where Are You Now?
Author: Mary Higgins Clark
Genre: Mystery
Published: 2008
Obtained: 2008/Paperbackswap.com
Completed: 7/8/08
No. of Pages: 289
Rating: 3 /5*****

Mary Higgins Clark is a ‘comfort’ read for me. I’ve read all of her mysteries since her first book Where are the Children? came out, about 25 years ago. In the last several years her books have been hit or miss with me, although I found this one to be one of her better stories. The mystery involves the disappearance of Carolyn MacKenzie’s older brother “Mack”. Ten years ago he disappeared without a trace, yet he calls home ever Mother’s Day to tell his family he’s okay. Now an attorney Carolyn has decided to find out what led Mack to walk away from his family. In starting this investigation Carolyn opens up a Pandora’s Box of trouble and long buried secrets. While the writing was not top notch, the mystery was fairly well done, although some of the stereotypical cop behavior was a little over the top. Still I was entertained, even though I had figured out most of ‘whodunit and why’ about half way through the book.

#52 - Kitchen Confidential

Book No: 52
Title: Kitchen Confidential; Adventures in the Cultural Underbelly
Author: Anthony Bourdain
Genre: Memoir
Published: 2000
Obtained: 2003/Bookbox
Completed: 7/7/08
No. of Pages: 302
Rating: 3.5/5*****

Anthony Bourdain has become the celebrated bad boy of the restaurant business, and in the process has become a star of the Food Network, some of whose famous chefs he ridicules in this book, written before said stardom. That however does not take away from the enjoyment I took from this strangely beguiling memoir. I say strangely because Bourdain is clearly an Alpha Male, who has lead a wild and crazy life, crawling up the restaurant food chain to become the Head chef at Les Halles, a celebrated NYC establishment. This book is outrageously profane and full of sex, drugs and rock and roll. Having worked in the business myself for over 20 years, I can attest to the truth of many of his stories about life in the kitchen. The story telling is gritty but also extremely funny, and inside all the machismo I think there beats the heart of a nice guy, although I’m sure he would have you believe otherwise. The downside is you’ll never eat in a restaurant without thinking about what’s going on in the back of the house, and wondering what exactly went into the meal you are eating.

#51- Bright Lights, Big Ass

Book No: 51
Title: Bright Lights, Big Ass
Author: Jen Lancaster
Genre: Memoir
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2008/Kindle
Completed: 6/30/08
No. of Pages: 400
Rating: 3.5/5*****

She’s bbaacckkk! Jen Lancaster, of Bitter is the New Black fame, continues her totally irreverent view of the world in Bright Lights, Big Ass. Picking up pretty much where Bitter ended, Jen continues skewering anyone she finds pretentious, and gives you more of her wry and frequently convoluted take on the world. She and Fletch are slowly getting back on their feet after their financial meltdown and are still living in the city, which Jen make sure you know is nothing like Sex in the City. After receiving her advance to write what would become BITNB, Jen is still working temp jobs so she can write, still spying on her neighbors and still shopping-although her holy trio of stores is no longer Bloomies, Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus; it’s now Target, Trader Joe’s and Ikea. Her writing can sometimes seem way over the top, but her acute observations make you laugh in spite of yourself. Some of the best ‘beach reading’ I’ve done in a while. (Well since last week when I finished Bitter is the New Black). Also her wonderfully delicious and long subtitles really helped rack up the points for the Alphabet Soup Challenge!

#50 - The Queen of the Big Time

Book No: 50
Title: The Queen of the Big Time
Author: Adriana Trigiani
Genre: Fiction
Published: 2004
Obtained: 2004/Audible.com
Completed: 6/26/08
No. of Pages: N/A
Rating: 3.5/5*****

Adriani Trigiani revisits the theme of Italian immigrants in her story of Nella Castelluca and her family. Roseta is a small Italian community in Pennsylvania where Nella lives on the farm with her parents and four sisters. It is the early 1920’s and 15 year old Nella longs to go to school in town, and hopes to one day live there. When an accident forces Nella to give up her dreams of an education she goes to work in the local factory, where she meets two men who will become the loves of her life.

While I enjoyed much of this book I found the writing often very simplistic and there seemed to be huge gaps in the storyline. Certain characters are very well developed at first and then seem to fade away. Also toward the end the book seems to fly through the years. However the story of Nella and her determination was often enjoyable, and brought a tear to my eye more than once. I loved her Big Stone Gap books more, and this one wasn’t quite as good, but it wasn’t a bad read either.

#49 - Bitter is the New Black

Book No: 49
Title: Bitter is the New Black
Author: Jen Lancaster
Genre: Memoir
Published: 2006
Obtained: 2008/Kindle
Completed: 6/23/08
No. of Pages: 415
Rating: 4.5/5*****

Jen Lancaster’s memoir is funny, very, very funny. It may not be for everyone, but I laughed ‘til I cried while reading her story.
During the go, go dot.com craze at the turn of the millennia Jen Lancaster is living high off the hog. She makes a ridiculous amount of money, as does her live-in boyfriend Fletch. They have a spectacular apartment in the hippest part of Chicago and they spend money like crazy. Then comes the dot.com crash and before you know it Jen is out of a job and soon after so is Fletch. In the next two years, until re-employment comes her way, Jen mines her major lifestyle changes for some deliciously brutal comedy writing.

Jen doesn’t censor her thoughts and everything she thinks just comes out. Nobody escapes her wicked and wry commentary, not even herself. As she figures out how to go from the high life to please don’t turn my electricity off, she examines her irresponsible life-style and has an epiphany but it hasn’t changed her sardonic outlook one bit, she’s as caustic as before but now she is a bit more understanding of some of the plight of average wage earners. A bit!

I enjoyed this book so much I immediately got Bright Lights; Big Ass and will be back with that review fairly soon.

#48 - Blackbird

Book No: 48
Title: Blackbird
Author: Jennifer Lauck
Genre: Memoir
Published: 2000
Obtained: N/A
Completed: 6/21/08
No. of Pages:406
Rating: 4.5/5*****

Blackbird is the story of Jennifer Lauck’s childhood, which is reflected in the sub-title- A Childhood Lost and Found. Told through the perspective of the child that she was, Jennifer tells of the harrowing six years of her life, from the ages of 5 to 11. Five year old Jennifer is living with her parents and older brother Bryan. It is obvious that Janet, Jennifer’s mother is in the end stages of a long illness, and Jennifer takes care of her mom as best she can at her young age. In the course of time Janet Lauck passes away, and the children are left with their father, a kind but overwhelmed man; he quickly remarries a woman with children of her own, who obviously does not care for Jennifer or Bryan at all. When another tragedy befalls the Lauck family, things go from bad to worse. Although there is some abuse in the book, it is far more psychological than physical and quite disturbing. The indomitable spirit of Jennifer to keep on going, despite it all, is what lifts this book from maudlin to inspiring. The child’s eye view of the adult world is heartbreaking at times, but you will care about this little girl and root for her right until the end, hoping someone or something good comes her way.

#47 - The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

Book No: 47
Title: The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox
Author: Maggie O’ Farrell
Genre: Fiction
Published: 2007
Obtained: 2008/Paperbackswap
Completed: 6/19/08
No. of Pages: 245
Rating: 4/5*****

I really enjoyed this book, a gothic tinged mystery.

Iris Lockhart is living out her life in Scotland, running her vintage clothing store, having an affair with a married man, and just living a fairly normal life. One day Iris receives a stunning phone call, regarding her Aunt Esme, a woman she never knew existed. It seems that Esme is being released from a local mental institution where she has been incarcerated for 60 years, and Iris is named as the person to receive notification. When Iris calls her mother she is assured there is a mistake, but Iris cannot ask her grandmother Kitty about Esme, because Kitty is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease. So Iris brings her supposed aunt home, and tries to unravel the mystery of her incarceration.

Through Esme’s memories and Kitty’s ramblings we slowly piece together the tragic and haunting story of Esme, which leads to a final and stunning act.

I could not put this book down, I had to find out Esme’s story, and I had to read the ending twice to make sure I understood what happened. Very compelling read.