Crossing Borders
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading ...Cultural misunderstandings, crazy and dangerous situations, inter-cultural friendships, love and disappointment and the excitement of exploring. “Crossing Borders” tells the story of living and becoming an adult in a foreign country. For anyone who likes to travel, whether in their mind or reality.
If you are interested in learning more about the author Michael Ferris and of his amazing journeys traveling abroad, you can visit his website.
This post was submitted by Michael Ferris.
The Shadow of the Wind
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5) Loading ...I loved the characters in this novel. There were many subplots that in the end explained the original storyline.
This post was submitted by Tracy G.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5) Loading ...
Lisa See transports you back in time to a wonderfully haunting story of two women caught within the treacherous times of 19th century China.
You will learn that women during this time period in old China lived with so much hopelessness, desperation and seclusion that you may find it hard to breathe while reading.
The story begins with the main character Lily as an old woman telling us about her life as she remembers it. From the very beginning she admits to her faults and her regrets in life, mostly focused towards her best friend Snow Flower. She refers to Snow Flower as her Laotong, meaning “old same”. These relationships were often times more powerful and cohesive than even a marriage since more often than not, women could only rely on other women for love and support.
You come to learn that both Lily and Snow Flower suffer terrible loss and tragedies throughout their lives, but that each would find brief moments of happiness and solace within each other as Laotongs. Their friendship, solidified for life as they entered the tortuous process of foot binding at the tender age of seven. They grew inseparable as they sought out each through this delicate period in their lives where death was just a knock away. They would from then on look to no one else but themselves to carry them through the rest of their lives.
As it is with Lily and Snow Flower, women of this time only had their closest friends for support. To avoid punishment by their husband and husbands’ family they would often communicate their true feelings by using a secret and ancient form of writing called Nushu. They would find creative and imaginative ways to pass messages to each other such as within the folds of a fan. Desperate to communicate with each other, Nushu managed to be kept secret from men for a thousand years.
What is so unique about this book is that even if you have no previous knowledge on any of the subject matter, the author gives you enough historical information for you learn and follow along in the story. The unknown details she leaves out are intriguing enough to inspire you to learn more about these elusive facts.
When I first started reading I described the book to friends as a bit monotone. I know it is a strange way to describe a book especially when you are the one reading it. There was no joy or happiness to be found in the beginning and the story was so incredibly sad that it became a bit overwhelming to think that women actually lived in this way. The story really picked up tempo for me once Snow Flower became a constant character within the story. More joy and happiness abounded from their Laotong relationship that it lightened the mood some while I read.
The story is without a doubt beautifully told and will stay with you for a long time.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, especially to someone who appreciates historical fiction.
If you are interested in learning more, go ahead and click on the links for the author Lisa See, foot binding, Nushu and the special relationship called Laotong.
Summer Knight
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Summer Knight is the fourth book in the Dresden Series by Jim Butcher. Harry Dresden is a wizard who helps the Special Investigation unit of the Chicago police force investigate unusual crimes. The Dresden series novels remind me of a cross between a grownup Harry Potter and a gumshoe detective story. In Summer Knight, Harry is attacked by faeries, hunted by vampires and called to appear before the White Council which oversees wizard behavior. Harry Dresden almost never has a good day. He is often attacked, aching and short on funds but Harry always tries to do the right thing. The fourth book was my favorite so far – good amount of action and pretty fast paced. I also enjoyed the first book of the series. The second and third books moved a bit slower. I have just started book 5, Death Masks. Summer Knight will appeal to men and women alike.
This post was submitted by Leesa H.
New Moon
(6 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Loading ...I think New Moon by Stephenie Meyer is an excellent follow up story to Twilight. I have to admit that I have officially caught the Twilight fever and cannot wait to read the entire series.
Most of my friends have already completed the series and have LOVED it. Of all the books in the series though the common theme is that New Moon was the least favorite. Majority said it was because it was so slow moving in comparison to the others.
My perspective is a bit different. I enjoyed Twilight, but it didn’t make me thirst for more (pun intended). Not in the way New Moon did. Before I even finished New Moon I already had Eclipse in hand and couldn’t wait to start it. Yet I found that I had to start other books in order to keep up with our book club picks. So I haven’t been able to move onto Eclipse yet, but I am looking forward to it.
So in comparing Twilight and New Moon I have to say that I enjoyed the story telling more in New Moon. I thought Stephenie Meyer improved her abilities even more than they already were within Twilight. New Moon had intensity, confusion, desperation, anguish, love and more. It seemed like I could actually feel the emotions that Bella Swan and Jacob Black were experiencing. I became completely absorbed into the book. To me that means that the author did an outstanding job in portraying the story to their reader. I was able to get to know each character on a much deeper level. I felt almost as if I had jumped into the deep end and swam without worrying about coming up for air. I became lost in the story. My favorite part was where Bella has to make an emergency trip to a certain location (I don’t want to give anything away). The action that transpires from that enveloped my imagination. I could picture things so vividly in my own mind and my heart raced with anticipation. I appreciate and admire that kind of story telling ability so much.
New Moon does not contain as much action as Twilight by any means. Although the action that ensues towards the end of New Moon as I mentioned previously was thrilling. The other aspect of New Moon that I appreciated was the developing maturity of Bella Swan. I felt that she was transforming herself into a self reliant individual and faced her pain and loss head on. Something she couldn’t have succeeded in doing in Twilight. She took ownership of her life and feelings and did the best she could despite the pain they caused her. The whole story of her trying the life of a thrill seeker was original since Bella is a self proclaimed, perpetually clumsy, individual. So this new side of her character is refreshing. Something you wouldn’t have expected the character of Bella to ever do. I thought that was ‘out of the box thinking’ regarding Stephenie Meyer’s writing. Well done.
The relationship between Jake and Bella is so endearing and innocent despite the hope you have for Edward to enter back into the picture. It is easy to become very fond of Jake in a “rooting for the underdog kind of way”. I found that I secretly hoped he succeeded in his quest for love. Wow, I didn’t see that coming. I think this intense relationship between Bella and Jake becomes a great dynamic to the story.
Stephenie Meyer did a fantastic job telling the story of New Moon. She did so with deliberate and elaborate details that effortlessly carry you into the world of Bell Swan. This book has submerged me into the world of vampires and werewolves.
For more information about the author you can visit Stephenie Meyers web site. Just so you Twilight fans are aware, Stephenie Meyer has posted a draft called Midnight Sun. To sum it up it is the story of Twilight but told from Edward’s point of view. You may be interested in reading it and you can read the DRAFT of Midnight Sun here.
She’s Come Undone
(3 votes, average: 2.33 out of 5) Loading ...Emotionally Provoking. That’s a simple summation of how I felt about this book. I experienced a wide variety of emotions while I read this story, but the emotion I felt the most was irritation. I had a difficult time “listening” to Delores; the main character in the story. I found myself many times sighing when I knew I would have to start reading She’s Come Undone. The character Delores was shallow and pitiful and often brought my mood down. She felt like that pessimistic, self absorbed friend that you try hard to help at first; only to later find that you have to politely steer her out of your life. When I finished the book, I was relieved to be done with Delores’ journey. Unexpectedly however, when it came to discussing this book during book club, I was delightfully surprised by the fabulous discussions that this book provoked.
I read quite a few reviews on this book before I started reading it. And because of the reviews I thought it was going to be extraordinary. Some reviews even regarded the author; Wally Lamb, as a literary lion and extremely gifted. Reviews even stated that Wally lamb slammed dunked his perspective as a female character. Sure, I can agree that he is gifted in that he actually created and followed through with writing and publishing a novel. That in and of itself is a major accomplishment. However, I’m bewildered. I may be completely unfair here but I just can’t agree with the reviews. I don’t feel that based on one book that critics can dub anyone as a gifted literary lion. Perhaps if critics said “an up and coming gifted literary lion” then I think it would have some meaning to it. I’m so tired of everything becoming an instant classic. Number #1 bestseller. I think ostentatious comments such as these can diminish the accomplishments from those authors that the majority of us actually deem as timeless.
I’m am so conflicted with this book. If you ask me what I think of She’s Come Undone as a book I would say this; read it if you have nothing else to read and make sure you go to the library to get it. But if you ask me as a book club pick then I would say to you that it is a spectacular book to discuss. All of the girls in our book club had a fervent comment about the book. Many of us could relate aspects of Delores’ life to someone we knew; whether to a friend, family member, or even to a friend of a friend. Some of us pitied her, some loathed her, and some sympathized with her. The whale was even a great discussion topic in and of itself. We had several discussions trying to determine the whale’s symbolism. We could all agree however that we could not find the gut bursting humor that we were hoping to get. Granted there were some good one liners, but that was the extent of the humor.
Overall I was let down with the book. If you are looking for a great book to discuss in book club then you won’t be disappointed with She’s Come Undone. But if your looking for a book that you just can’t put down, then She’s Come Undone will disappoint you for sure. What are your thoughts about this book if you have read it?
Nineteen Minutes
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Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult begins with a list of all the things you can do in nineteen minutes ending with - in Nineteen Minutes you can change your life.
In Nineteen Minutes, Jodi Picoult explores a young man going into his high school on a shooting rampage. She explores the young man’s life and the lives of those around him. She also causes us to reflect on how our own expectations for the teenagers in our lives can mix with years of disappointment and torment by their peers to push a young person to desire relief through such an extreme action.
All is not what it seems and I found myself haunted by this book, so much so that more than a year after reading it, I am writing this review.
I like to read books that make me think, challenge my perceptions and stay with me. This book gets high marks in all these areas.
This post was submitted by Leesa H.
Lullaby
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Lullaby is a book by Chuck Palahniuk, the author of Fight Club. The premise of Lullaby is the existence of a culling song, a song or lullaby that when spoken, song or even thought causes a painless death. When a culling song is included in a book of Poems and Nursery Rhymes from around the world, infants are dying.
Chuck Palahniuk writes modern day parables that are intriguing stories and so much more. He is a keen observer of pop culture and weaves his observations through the story line.
The book is a short 260 pages with short quick paced chapters. I was completely absorbed by the book and found it invaded my dreams the night I finished it.
Definitely not a “warm and fuzzy” read but a book I find myself pondering days later.
This post was submitted by Leesa H.
Fortune’s Rocks
(1 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5) Loading ...A book I definitely could not put down. I am a busy mom and teacher and found myself reading it as I ate and as soon as I woke in the morning. Very good!!
About a 15 year old girl at the turn of the century who has an affair with a married man and the ramifications of that affair!!
This post was submitted by Lisa .
The Tenth Gift
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...This books switches between present day England and a pirate ship on its way to Morocco in 1625. I found the book a delightful diversion from a cold New England winter.
This post was submitted by Leesa H.