Musings of a Bookish Kitty: July 2014

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Bookish Thoughts: Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

Ten days after the war ended, my sister Laura drove her car off a bridge. ~ Opening of Blind Assassin

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

Anchor, 2000

Fiction; 521 pgs

From the Publisher:

More than fifty years on, Iris Chase is remembering Laura's mysterious death. And so begins an extraordinary and compelling story of two sisters and their secrets. Set against a panoramic backdrop of twentieth-century history, The Blind Assassin is an epic tale of memory, intrigue and betrayal...

Margaret Atwood was among the authors whose work I wanted to try, but hadn't yet gotten to. Years ago, my husband recommended I try Blind Assassin. He thought I might like it. For some reason, I got it into my head that Blind Assassin was a mystery. In a way, I suppose it is. Only, not the kind of mystery I was expecting. When Carrie added Blind Assassin to her list for the "I've Always Meant to Read That Book!" Challenge, I thought it was as good a time as any.

Admittedly, it took me three months to read this book, but it was not for lack of interest. Not exactly. I found myself taking my time as I read it, fully entranced, and yet when I set the book down, I found it a little too easy not to pick up again right away. Hence the length of time it took me to finish.

I am not sure I can adequately describe what this novel is about. There are several different story lines running through it; it is almost as if you are reading four different stories at the same time. And somehow, amazingly, all four come together perfectly in the end. I was not sure that was possible at first. You have present day Iris, who is working furiously to finish documenting her life story--the truth of it--which had never been told before. Within her story, of course, is the story of hers and her sister Laura's childhood, how they grew up and what became of them. Add to that excerpts of a controversial book Laura wrote which had been published about an illicit affair between a wealthy woman and a down on his luck man on the run. And within that story, is a science fiction tale about a faraway planet, a kingdom, a blind assassin and a virgin sacrifice. Interspersed throughout are news clippings relating events that had happened to Iris's prominent family long ago. Under the layers of each story, the reader gets closer to knowing the truth about what happened to Iris's sister, Laura, and Iris's own family, including her husband and daughter.

Taking the characters through a boom of success to the hardships of the Great Depression and into World War II, Atwood shows them at their best and at their worst. I really felt for Iris's character, both in her younger years and as a lonely elderly woman. She was the older sister, and, when her mother died during their childhood, was instructed to look out for her sister. Laura was always a little different, more free in thought and always questioning. With no son, Iris's father expected Iris to step into a son's place in the family business of button factories. Only, Iris had no talent for or interest in it. Iris is forced to make a difficult decision after her father's death, and as hard as her sister was on her, I felt Iris did the only thing she knew how to do. She did her best under the circumstances. We can argue right and left that she should have done more or made different choices, but Iris was Iris. Iris, just like Laura, was a complex character.

I loved Margaret Atwood's writing. It begs to be savored. And while early on I had no idea what was going on or how everything would connect, I soon began to speculate and put things together. While I can't say I was surprised by the outcome in the end, it all felt so right, the pieces having fallen nicely into place.

The Blind Assassin was not what I expected, but it was a book I am very glad to have read. This will definitely not be my last Margaret Atwood novel.

Rating:

(Very Good)

You can learn more about Margaret Atwood and her books on the author's website.

Source: I purchased both an e-copy of the book for my own reading pleasure (and also occasionally opened by husband's print copy of the book).

© 2014, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Wordless Wednesday: A Day at the Pool

Hosted by Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Where Is Your Bookmark? (07/29/2014)

As seems to be my habit, I completely forgot to acknowledge the anniversary of my blog last week. I began blogging on July 23, 2006. That makes it 8 years. I have seen book blogging change and grow, trends come and go as well as fellow book bloggers, and somehow I am still hanging on. My blog has under gone a few transformations as my life outside of blogging has changed. I am ever grateful to those of you who take the time to read my thoughts and especially to those of you who comment (I still feel a rush of excitement when I see a comment pop up). Thank you for your support, whether you are a new friend or visitor or an old one!

* * *

Thunder storms and flash flood warnings are the weather report of the day. I wish it would rain where I live. It seems to be falling all around us, but not in my town. Not that the rain will help keep water restrictions at bay any longer. The most recent "joke" (or it would be if it weren't actually happening) is how people are being fined by the city for having browning grass in their yards while at the same time being fined by the water company for watering lawns as usual. Hopefully someone will get that ironed out soon.

On another note, someone dropped a box of puppies off at a coworker's house this weekend, and she is frantically looking for homes for them. She brought them to work yesterday in hopes some of us would find it in our hearts to bring them home. She knows my situation, about how my dog passed away last year and how I go back and forth about wanting another one. She ~~cruelly~~ set one in my arms during her visit yesterday and then walked away, leaving me holding this adorable little puppy who promptly fell asleep against my chest. *Sigh*

As much as I wanted to, I did not bring her home. As much as I miss having a dog in the house and as cute as that puppy was, the timing is not right. One of my other coworkers argued that the timing is never right to take in a puppy--you just have to do it. And I would. If I wasn't working long hours, if I was home more, if I didn't have a husband who doesn't like dogs, if my daughter was a little older, and if I was not already having to spread my attention between two cats who I already feel get the short end of the attention stick. You get the idea. I am hoping all those adorable puppies find homes--and from the sounds of it, they will--because it will make me feel better about saying no.

Enough about the weather and dogs, and onto ghosts! I began reading Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo recently and am quite taken with the novel. The novel is set in colonial Malaya, with one foot in the afterlife, and I'm loving it so far. I mean really loving it. I hope it continues to be this good.

What are you reading at the moment? Is it something you would recommend?

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where

participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a

book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

The opening paragraphs from Ghost Bride by Yangszee Choo:

One evening, my father asked me whether I would like to become a ghost bride. Asked is perhaps not the right word. We were in his study. I was leafing through a newspaper, my father lying on his rattan daybed. It was very hot and still. The oil lamp was lit and moths fluttered through the humid air in lazy swirls.

"What did you say?"

Would you continue reading?

Mouse with my copy of Further Out Than You Thought by Michaela Carter

Sunday, July 27, 2014

From the Archives: A Taste of Truth, Nonfiction

I began keeping a reading journal several years before I began blogging. I find it interesting to sift through my thoughts of books that I read back then. My reviews were often brief and contained little substance, but I thought it'd be fun to document them here on my blog as well as share them with you. Here are two from October of 2005:

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

W.W. Norton & Company, 2003

Nonfiction; 303 pgs

I couldn’t resist picking up and reading Stiff. The author is someone I’ve come to know through Reader’s Digest, her little articles about daily life making me laugh out loud and nod my head in understanding. With all the suspense/thriller and mystery books I read, gory fictional death scenes and dead bodies don’t give me much pause anymore [Ha! Not so true anymore, says my 2014 self]. So with a bit of morbid curiosity mixed in with wanting to read more by journalist Mary Roach and the high praise I had heard in regards to this book, I took a chance. It was well worth it.

Mary Roach is a layperson who takes on a difficult and not often thought of subject. Her humor throughout is tasteful and respectful. I do wonder what the scientists and professionals thought and said after her visits though! I especially was interested in the historical bits she included in the book, often reading passages to my husband and coworkers much to their chagrin. I found myself shaking my head in wonderment at some of the experiments or ideas tested, laughing at the absurdity of some, and cringing at others. There were also moments when I had no doubt of the good accomplished by some of the trials cadavers are put through. Stiff has given me much to think about in regards to the life of my body after death. I never realized just how many uses there are for a cadaver.

The Mind at Night: The New Science of How and Why We Dream by Andrea Rock

Basic Book, 2004

Nonfiction; 224 pgs

I first heard about this book in a newsletter and the subject matter intrigued me. I have always been interested in dreams, including the how and why. While some of the research covered in this book was a review from my undergraduate days, I found this book fascinating just the same. The Mind at Night focuses on the science of dreaming, much more so than analysis or interpretation of dreams, although there is some mention of that as well. The current theories regarding dreaming tend to evolve around the significance of dreams during memory and learning processes. The emotional significance demonstrated in dreams was discussed at length, including how they impact individuals during their waking hours. Also, the current advances and theories in the uncovering of consciousness were touched upon. I came away from this book with more admiration for the brain and it’s complexities than ever before. The brain is an amazing organ. I look forward to seeing what further research reveals in this area down the road. The Mind at Night was well written and interesting over all.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Bookish Thoughts: A Vampire's Promise & A Vampire's Soul by Carla Susan Smith

I was folding laundry and watching an old CSI rerun on TV when Laycee called. ~ Opening of A Vampire's Promise

A Vampire's Promise by Carla Susan Smith

Kensington, 2014

Romance (Paranormal); 306 pgs

From the Publisher:

Rowan Harper is nothing but a smart-mouthed bookstore clerk with a crappy love life on the night she walks into Rosie's Bar. Most of the drama in her life is borrowed from her best friend's adventures. But when she meets Gabriel--tall and movie star gorgeous--everything changes. Never mind that she turns down the drink he offers, or that he brims with secrets she can't begin to guess at. He ignites a desire in her she never suspected--and shows a fascination with her she can't explain.

He has no family, no job, no bank account;he knows where she lives and her favorite flower. An aura of mystery cloaks him, even as Rowan grasps for facts, even as she fears an answer that could destroy her happiness. Gabriel can guide her through a wonderland of new sensations. But only if Rowan trusts him enough to follow. . .

I took to the character of Rowan right away even if I didn't agree with all her choices. She is a bit awkward and doesn't have it all together the way her best friend, Laycee, does, but, in her own way, she's a strong woman. She speaks her mind as she sees fit. Rowan hasn't had the luck with men that her best friend has had either, and so she has some self-esteem issues when it comes to men. She can't quite believe someone like Gabriel would be interested in her.

I really liked the early interactions between Rowan and Gabriel. He comes off as one of those perfect men--good looks, humble and yet strong, caring, and wanting to cater to Rowan. He has his secrets though, and while I appreciated that Rowan didn't press him in the beginning, I found myself getting annoyed with her the more involved she and Gabriel became for not asking questions. It went to show just how desperate Rowan was to hold onto Gabriel. I wanted to reach into the book and shake her. So, maybe that wasn't the part where she was at her strongest. Still, she did prove to be strong in other ways, and I have to give her credit for that.

Of course, I knew what Gabriel was from the beginning even if Rowan did not. And as perfect as he is, I still found myself enamored by him. The attraction between Rowan and Gabriel was clear from the very first moment and, as the novel went on, it was clear the two were perfectly matched.

As a book lover, I wouldn't have minded spending more time in the bookstore where Rowan worked, but, well, the book isn't about the bookstore. Or books for that matter. Although, I did have to wonder at times how someone so well read, including having read many vampire books, didn't instantly think "Vampire!" given some of Gabriel's behaviors and actions. Then again, in a world where most people do not believe vampires are real, I suppose I shouldn't be so hard on her. I mean, our brains automatically want to rationalize what we see and hear and put it in a context that fits our reality. I thought the theory Rowan came up with was great, although I questioned her judgement in staying with someone she thought was up to no good.

I had such fun reading this novel and trying to figure out just what a vampire's Promise is. It's clear that Rowan is special to Gabriel for a reason, and I found myself floating many theories as I read. Some came true, just maybe not for the reasons I expected. The vampires in Carla Susan Smith's world are definitely more on the side of the angels--well, some of them, anyway--than they are like the ones you might run into Bram Stoker's Dracula. But that's okay. It is a paranormal romance, after all.

Warning: If you do decide to give A Vampire's Promise try, plan to read A Vampire's Soul as well. The first book doesn't bring you much in the way of resolution. The two books read as Part One and Part Two.

* * *

There are some people who will tell you that if you fall in a dream it's a bad thing. ~ Opening of Vampire's Soul.

A Vampire's Soul by Carla Susan Smith

Kensington, 2014

Romance (Paranormal); 270 pgs

From the Publisher:

Rowan Harper’s world has been wrenched apart. The man she thought she loved—the man she does love—is a vampire, and not the kind that glitters. Running away isn’t an option. Gabriel isn’t just her lover. She’s bound to him in ways she can’t comprehend, ways that put both of them in desperate danger even as Rowan’s desire for him blazes anew.

The rules of her life before are gone. But she has a power of her own, a power she is remembering in fits and starts even as time races against her. With her life and Gabriel’s very soul on the line, Rowan has to choose who to believe—and who to trust…

I would not recommend anyone start with this book without first reading A Vampire's Promise. A Vampire's Soul picks up where the first book ends. Rowan has just discovered that not only are vampires real, but that her boyfriend, Gabriel, is a vampire. Rowan's reaction when she does discover this is how I imagine a real person might react--complete panic and utter fear. It was an aspect of the book I really appreciated. The author did a good job of bringing out Rowan's emotional turmoil. I could feel her fear, frustration and confusion. I could understand her anger and also her feelings of uncertainty.

In A Vampire's Soul, Rowan is soon to learn exactly what a vampire's Promise is and how it impacts her. Despite her new found knowledge that her boyfriend is a vampire, Rowan realizes she loves Gabriel with all her heart. He will do anything to protect her, but is she willing to risk everything for him, even if it means she might lose her life? It's a question she has to ask herself the more she learns about Gabriel's past and a promise made long ago.

In the midst of trying to remember a moment in her past she has locked deep away as well as figure out a way for her and Gabriel to have a life together, Rowan must also contend with a jealous vampire hell bent on getting her revenge. It places those closest to Rowan in jeopardy as well. This is where Rowan really shows her strength as a person, I think. She's the kind of person who would not think twice about giving someone the shirt off her back if he or she needed it.

The reader gets a better understanding of Gabriel and his past in this novel. I had my doubts at first, but the the author pulls it off well, I think. It does make me want to know more about him.

I was completely pulled into Gabriel and Rowan's story, both in this and the first book, A Vampire's Promise. The revelations in A Vampire's Soul brought some satisfaction, but also more questions. I am guessing the author will continue to write more books set in the world she's created with A Vampire's Promise and A Vampire's Soul. Or at least I hope so.

Rating of Books:

(Good +)

You can learn more about Carla Susan Smith and her books on the author's website.

Source: I received e-copies of both books for review from the publisher via NetGalley.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Where Is Your Bookmark? (07/22/2014)

Yesterday, when I went to pick Mouse up from school, my daughter greeted me with a huge grin and hug, asking me if it was a swim day, cheering when I said yes. As much as she loves her time in the water, getting her in her swimsuit and in the car on our way to the public pool is never a straightforward task. There is always something to do and friends to play with. To say three year olds are easily distracted is an understatement.

The swim lessons are going well. She went from being the first to volunteer to jump off the diving board her first day three weeks ago, to being afraid to get close to it the next. Fortunately for all of us, last week, the little ones weren't asked to try. When her class of five beginning swimmers were marched to the diving board yesterday, my daughter, along with another boy, stayed back, clearly afraid. One of the instructors coaxed Mouse over and helped her jump off the diving board and into the arms of the instructor in the water below. Mouse was grinning ear to ear when she got out of the pool. She said she wants to do it again tomorrow (now today). She may feel differently this afternoon.

I am still working extra hours at work, and it is wearing on me. I miss my family time most of all, but it is also leaving me exhausted, both physically and mentally. I am looking forward to my normal three day weekend coming up. I am finally at a place where I can slow down with the overtime and can settle back into a more normal routine. Mostly. All of this in preparation for my upcoming surgery, which will hopefully be in the late fall.

In the beginning of June, I began working out every morning (five days a week) in an effort to be more fit, lose weight and to see if it would help ease some of the chronic pain I suffer from. I always balked at the idea of having to get up any earlier than I already do to get to work on time, but I finally reached a point where I decided it was worth a try. Trying to fit exercising into the evening after work is impossible, as much as I wanted it to work. Except for a the two days I skipped when I was sick and the one day because I hadn't slept the night before and decided sleep was more important, I have kept to my schedule. I am very proud of myself. It has not been easy, especially when my bed looks so inviting. I feel so much better though. There might not be any obvious changes on the outside, but I feel better on the inside and my pain has lessened considerably. I still have bad days, but I also have good ones--and that makes it worth it. Now to stay motivated . . .

One of the many things I like about reading is how it forces me to slow down a little. And, especially right now, I need that release. Every minute I get to read is a treasure. Fortunately, the books I have been reading have been worth treasuring too. I finished reading Countdown City, the second book in the Last Policeman Trilogy, by Ben H. Winters last week. I started The Book of Life, the final book in the All Souls Trilogy, by Deborah Harkness over the weekend, and finished it last night--it felt so good to immerse myself in Harkness's world. How I loved visiting with Matthew and Diana and all their family and friends again!

Now I am back in that difficult but fun position of deciding what to read next. I am anxious to see if the world survives in Ben H. Winters' trilogy of which I have the final book, World of Trouble, but I am also curious about Yangsze Choo's The Ghost Bride, described by the publisher as "a startlingly original historical fantasy infused with Chinese folklore, romantic intrigue, and unexpected supernatural twists." Doesn't that sound good? At least I have narrowed my choices down to two this time . . .

What are you reading at the moment? Is it something you would recommend?

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where

participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a

book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

I love the All Souls Trilogy and was so excited (and a little sad because it is the last one) when I saw that The Book of Life had come out in stores. It didn't take long for me to purchase my own copy. Here is the opening of Deborah Harkness's The Book of Life:

Ghosts didn't have much substance. All they were composed of was memories and heart. Atop one of Sept-Tour's round towers, [Name removed to avoid spoiler] pressed a diaphanous hand against the spot in the center of her chest that even now was heavy with dread.

Does it ever get easier? Her voice, like the rest of her, was almost imperceptible. The watching? The waiting? The knowing?

Would you continue reading?

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Bookish Thoughts: The Curiosity by Stephen P. Kiernan

I was already wide-awake when they came for me. ~ Opening from The Curiosity

The Curiosity by Stephen P. Kiernan

William Morrow, 2013

Science Fiction; 448 pgs

From the Publisher:

Dr. Kate Philo and her scientific exploration team make a breathtaking discovery in the Arctic: the body of a man buried deep in the ice. As a scientist in a groundbreaking project run by the egocentric and paranoid Erastus Carthage, Kate has brought small creatures-plankton, krill, shrimp-"back to life." Never have the team's methods been attempted on a large life form.

Heedless of the consequences, Carthage orders that the frozen man be brought back to the lab in Boston, and reanimated. As the man begins to regain his memories, the team learns that he was-is-a judge, Jeremiah Rice, and the last thing he remembers is falling overboard into the Arctic Ocean in 1906. When news of the Lazarus Project and Jeremiah Rice breaks, it ignites a media firestorm and massive protests by religious fundamentalists.

Thrown together by circumstances beyond their control, Kate and Jeremiah grow closer. But the clock is ticking and Jeremiah's new life is slipping away. With Carthage planning to exploit Jeremiah while he can, Kate must decide how far she is willing to go to protect the man she has come to love.

Imagine if there really was a way to bring a living being back to life after it had been frozen. There are those today who believe it is possible. In Stephen P. Kiernan's novel, The Curiosity, he takes the idea of cryogenics and brings a human back to life, a human that had been frozen in a block of ice for over a hundred years. The author raises food for thought about ethics and morality, faith, our media culture as well as exploitation. This is also a novel about love and finding one's path.

The novel is narrated by four different characters, including Dr. Kate Philo who first discovered the frozen man, reporter Dixon, the leader of the Lazarus Project and rather egocentric Erastus Carthage, and Jeremiah Rice, the reanimated man and judge from the early 1900's. The fact that Carthage's section of the novel was written in second person seemed quite fitting given his personality. It was a nice touch on the author's part, although it did take me a moment to get used to.

I do wish Carthage and Dixon had been more filled out as characters, although the reader is given an idea of what motivates them to some degree. Dixon more than Carthage. Carthage's character never grew on me, and I suppose he wasn't supposed to. He was a purely selfish man who lost sight of the science and was more interested in the attention, power and riches.

Jeremiah and Kate were the most developed characters, and I liked both. I appreciated Kate's dedication to her work and to Jeremiah. And Jeremiah . . . I can see the draw to him, why the people he came into contact with liked him so much. He was charming and kind. He had an old worldliness to him, which given the time period he came from, it's no wonder. Admittedly, sometimes he seemed too good to be true, but that never got in the way of my enjoying the book. I loved his reaction to technology and the progress he saw all around him. It's easy to take it all for granted given we live in a time when passenger airplanes and cars are common place. Jeremiah's sense of awe and finding beauty in all that was around him even despite the violence he learned about was, in a way, inspiring.

I liked the way the author approached the ethical issues involved in science in research as well as the moral issues raised by the media, protesters and scientists themselves. Kiernan did not shy away from showing humanity in a realistic way, including how we treat those in the spotlight given our media driven culture. I hated to see how objectified Jeremiah was in the eyes of those around him. The fact that he was a feeling and reasoning being was ignored by some, the progress of science being more important to them.

The relationship that grows between Jeremiah and Kate takes its time to unfold. If you are expecting lots of romance and steamy sex, you won't find it here. The book is better for it. Both of the characters grow as people in part because of their relationship with each other--their friendship and growing love.

My only fault with the book is that I never really felt fully a part story. I felt like an outsider looking in. At times it seemed more academic than anything else. And maybe that's the way it was supposed to be, given the scope of the novel.

Overall, I enjoyed The Curiosity and being able to get to know Jeremiah and Kate. I can see this book being a good one for a book club discussion.

Rating:

(Good +)

To learn more about Stephen P. Kiernan, and his books, please visit the author's website and Facebook page.

I hope you will check out what others had to say about The Curiosity on the TLC Book Tours route!

Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. Print copy of The Curiosity provided by publisher. I bought an e-copy to read, however, for sake of convenience.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Where Is Your Bookmark? (07/15/2014)

Mouse in swim class.

This past weekend, my husband and I celebrated our sixteenth wedding anniversary. Anjin surprised me with dinner at a mystery dinner theater. Set in 1950's France, we were among the guests of a lavish birthday party, one in which the guest of honor was found murdered. This was not the first dinner theater experience, but it is my favorite so far. It made for a wonderful evening out. A rare treat in our household.

Poor Mouse didn't fare so well. She was sick most of the weekend. She seems to be on the mend now, just in time to start her second session of swimming lessons.

I have managed to fit in reading here and there. I spent some time in Larissa Ione's MoonBound world in Bound by Night, the first book in her new fantasy (vampire) series. I also polished off the final two books in the Fifth Avenue romance trilogy, Scandalize Me and Expose Me. And I read and loved The Last Policeman trilogy by Ben H. Winters. I am now reading The Hexed by Heather Graham, a mystery/romance novel set in Salem, Massachusetts. Yet another series book. I seem to be on a series reading roll of sorts right now.

What are you reading at the moment? Is it something you would recommend?

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where

participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a

book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

The Hexed by Heather Graham has a cozy mystery sort of feel to it with paranormal (ghosts) and romance mixed in. Here's a sample from the opening:

"Help me, Rocky! Help Me!"

Craig Rockwell--Rocky to family and friends--was seventeen, a high school senior. It wasn't that he didn't like Melissa Wilson; he just wasn't interested the way she was interested.

He rolled over restlessly on the bed, her voice--frantic as always--pushed to the background as his half-sleeping mind returned to the thoughts that had occupied him earlier as he drifted over homework.

Would you continue reading?

As far as beginnings go, this one did not grab me immediately, although it does set the stage well for the type of teenager Rocky was and what was to come in the story. I love that the female protagonist in the story is a children's book author who writes stories about a witch. Of course, she isn't introduced until a few pages later.

4th of July BBQ

Sunday, July 13, 2014

From the Archives: Crime Fiction in October 2005

Utterly Monkey by Nick Laird
Harper Perennial, 2006
Fiction; 368 pgs

Nick Laird’s debut novel is described as being a “searing, fiercely funny, and ultimately redemptive novel about surviving an office job, outwitting the bad guys, and, hopefully, getting the girl.“ Set in London and crossing the sea into Ireland, this is a novel about a corporate attorney whose life suddenly gets interesting when an old friend appears on his doorstep. So often today books set in the United Kingdom are Americanized, the language used adapted, however that was not the case in Utterly Monkey. I loved the descriptions and expressions used throughout this book. It made the story as well as the setting come to life. The characters were quirky and fun and the book was full of humorous moments mixed in with more serious issues. Although the book got off to a slow start, the ending took off at a record pace and had me racing to the last sentence.

Got the Look by James Grippando
Harper Torch, 2006
Suspense/Thriller; 467 pgs

James Grippando has earned a place among my “must read” authors. Got the Look hooked me in from the very first page and kept me captivated until the very end. FBI Agent Andie Henning and Jack Swyteck are trying to track down a kidnapper/killer who has recently abducted Jack’s new girlfriend. Will the ransom paid be enough to keep her alive? Although this particular book is the latest in a series featuring attorney Jack Swyteck, I hardly noticed even though I had never read anything by this author before. The characters were well defined and I found the plot itself quite intriguing in its varying nuances. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Derailed by James Siegel
Grand Central Publishing, 2003
Suspense/Thriller; 368 pgs

James Siegel’s Derailed was just as suspenseful and exciting as everyone claimed it was. Although my guess from the beginning about the mystery turned out to be correct, I still enjoyed every page of Derailed. This is the story of Charles Schine, a successful executive who meets a beautiful woman on a train. An illicit affair turns into a nightmare and his life will never be the same. Mr. Siegel is a gifted storyteller, keeping the reader on the edge of his or her seat through the entire book. [Skip the movie based on the book. It was awful.]

Wednesday, July 02, 2014

Bookish Thoughts: Losing Touch by Sandra Hunter

The viewing of the body has started. ~ Opening Sentence of Losing Touch

Losing Touch by Sandra Hunter

One World Publications; 2014

Fiction; 224 pgs

From the Publisher:

After Indian Independence Arjun brings his family to London, but hopes of a better life rapidly dissipate. His wife Sunila spends all day longing for a nice tea service, his son suddenly hates anything Indian, and his daughter, well, that’s a whole other problem. As he struggles to enforce the values he grew up with, his family eagerly embraces the new. But when Arjun’s right leg suddenly fails him, his sense of imbalance is more than external. Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, he is forced to question his youthful impatience and careless cruelty to his family, until he learns, ultimately, to love them despite — or because of — their flaws. In a series of tender and touching glimpses into the shared life of a married couple, Sandra Hunter creates strikingly sympathetic characters — ones that remind us of our own shortfalls, successes, hypocrisies, and humanity.

My father worked hard his entire life. He took his first paying job at age eleven to help out his family. He had a difficult childhood in many respects. His father worked long hours and he became the father figure in his sibling's lives. He served in the military, fought in a war, married and started a family. He wanted the best for his family and was disappointed when his efforts, in his mind, fell short. He felt as if nothing he could do would ever be good enough in his family's eyes--in his own eyes.

In this way, Arjun reminded me of my father. There was an awkwardness to his character; Arjun was unsure of himself and yet strove hard not to show it on the outside. He could be controlling at times (isn't that what he was supposed to do as a father, as the head of the household, after all?), he said hurtful things and resorted to violence (especially when he was hurting), and did not understand his wife and children. He did not know how to connect with them, and yet he longed to be able to. His illness was something he did not want to acknowledge or let define him. In a way, his feelings toward his disease mirrored the relationships in his life. That awkwardness again. The disconnect.

Sunila, in her own way, was struggling too. Whereas her husband wanted to maintain their cultural identity while setting up a home in another country, she wanted to embrace her new life and fit in. She also suffered from a similar disconnect from her husband as he did from her. She longed for a better relationship with him, but at the same time wasn't sure she liked the man she called her husband.

Their two children were raised in an entirely different environment than the one Arjun and Sunila came from. They are very much of two cultures, and adapted in their own ways. It was sometimes a bone of contention between the father and his children. Sunila often acted as the mediator between the children and their father.

The first part of the novel is set in the 1960's through the 1970's with each chapter divided by years, sometimes skipping a year or two or three and other times staying in the same year. It is an interesting way to tell a story and you might think confusing, but Sandra Hunter makes it work and work well. The reader still gets a good idea of who the characters are and what they are going through. The chapters vary in focus between Arjun and his wife Sunila, with Arjun being the main focus.

The second part of the novel takes the reader into the twenty first century, as an aging Arjun and Sunila are doing the best they can, despite Arjun's poor health. The children have both flown the coop, so to speak, and are leading their own lives. The reader gets to see an even more vulnerable side of Arjun at this point, and it is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

At the end of the novel, I cried not only for the characters, but for my dad and me, for those lost opportunities, and for my daughter, who will never know her grandfather but through my memories.

Sandra Hunter has written a poignant but quiet novel that touches on life's disappointments and regrets, about generational gaps, and the complexity of the human condition. The writing is beautiful; the characters are realistic and their plight is one I think many will be able to relate to.

Rating:

(Very Good +)

To learn more about Sandra Hunter and her book, please visit the author's website.

I hope you will check out what others had to say about Losing Touch on the TLC Book Tours route!

Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. The publisher provided an copy of the book for review.

Tuesday, July 01, 2014

Where Is Your Bookmark? (07/01/2014)

Happy July! What a week it has been (and will continue to be)! I have put in more hours at work than I have in a long time. I am counting down until the end of my shift on Friday for some time off--at least for the weekend.

Even despite having to be at the office both Saturday and Sunday this past weekend, I managed to fit in some quality family time, whether playing princesses, splashing in the pool, or feeding the ducks. This all before I had to leave for my ten hour shift at the office each day. My husband kept Mouse very busy while I was at work. I am sure they appreciated having the time just the two of them.

Mouse began swimming lessons this week, which she's already declared as her favorite activity ever. I don't think she remembers the parent/child lessons we used to take at the YMCA when she was younger. Water safety is high on my priority list, given the number of child drownings I come across in my line of work, especially this time of year.

This coming weekend is a big one for many in the United States as Americans celebrate Independence Day. Those of you who celebrate, do you have any special plans? Even though I have to work, I will be getting off at a decent hour to see the fireworks, at least.

My life has been so busy lately, I am afraid my reading has suffered. I have not been able to read as much as I would like. I am nearly done with The Curiosity by Stephen P. Kiernan, which I shared with you last week. As soon as I finish it, I plan to dive into The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters.

What are you reading at the moment? Is it something you would recommend?

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where

participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a

book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

As an asteroid threatens the existence of all life on earth, Detective Hank Palace is still on the job, investigating crime. I have heard wonderful things about this trilogy, and I am anxious to dive in. Here are the first couple of paragraphs:

I'm staring at the insurance man and he's staring at me, two cold gray eyes behind old-fashioned tortoiseshell frames, and I'm having this awful and inspiring feeling, like holy moly this is real, and I don't know if I'm ready, I really don't.

I narrow my eyes and I steady myself and I take him in again, shift on my haunches to get a closer look. The eyes and the glasses, the weak chin and the receding hairline, the thin black belt tied and tightened beneath the chin.

Would you continue reading?