Summer Reading 2012

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I've been remiss in actually writing down my summer reading list for this year.  I consider the "summer reading" season to be from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year; last year I squeezed in about 15 books (if you look int the left sidebar for 2011's list, they are the books with SR next to them).  Summer is busy, but I'm hoping this year with my kids a year older (and more independent) I'll have more time to spend curled up with books.  Plus, my daughter has a fantastic reward waiting for her at the end of the summer - if she meets her summer reading goal, she earns herself a Nook Color.  I suspect she'll be buried in books more often than not.

So, in no special order, here's what I'm planning to read this summer.  Some books have been sent to me by the publishers for review, a few have been on our home bookshelves for quite some time (and my husband has heartily recommended them to me), and a few are by favorite authors I am excited to read more from.  Take a look:

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (completed)

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (completed)

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

The House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Heart Sick by Chelsea Cain

Iron Council by China Mieville

Embassytown by China Mieville

The City and the City by China Mieville

The Kraken by China Mieville

Getting Married (and Other Mistakes) by Barbara Slate*

Arranged by Catherine McKenzie*

Picture This by Jacqueline Sheehan*

Walking Into the Ocean by David Whellams*

Woman Chased By Crows by Marc Strange*

Nemesis by Jo Nesbo

The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo

The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbo

The Unseen by Katherine Webb*

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Summer of Night by Dan Simmons

That's twenty-two books on my list, in fifteen weeks.  Plus, I'm planning to re-read the Sookie Stackhouse series (but really....that might take a couple of days, max, lol!).  Enough writing - I'm off to read!  Books with an asterisk next to them are the publisher-requested reviews. 

Do you do "summer reading"?  What's on your list this year?  Leave me a comment - I'd love to hear about it!

Book Review: Deadlocked

 I could not wait to get my hands on Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 12), the newest installment of Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series.  I confess, I have an emotional attachment to these books, which are completely different from the HBO series based on them.   Although I'd read them all previously, two years ago my wonderful husband purchased what was then the newest book {Dead Reckoning (Book 11) for me to read while I was in the hospital awaiting the birth of our son.  He was a very testy sleeper, so I re-read all ten of the preceding books in the wee hours of the night, while I sat up with him for weeks.  These books are just pure fun! Here is a brief overview of Deadlocked:

It’s vampire politics as usual around the town of Bon Temps, but never before have they hit so close to Sookie’s heart… 

Growing up with telepathic abilities, Sookie Stackhouse realized early on there were things she’d rather not know. And now that she’s an adult, she also realizes that some things she knows about, she’d rather not see—like Eric Northman feeding off another woman. A younger one. 

There’s a thing or two she’d like to say about that, but she has to keep quiet—Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), is in town. It’s the worst possible time for a human body to show up in Eric’s front yard—especially the body of the woman whose blood he just drank. 

Now, it’s up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl’s fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who’s set out to make Sookie’s world come crashing down.

Sounds entertaining, right?  Well, as with all of her Sookie novels, Harris does not totally disappoint.  There were more than a few points in the book when I found myself wishing things were progressing a bit faster.  Similarly to Dead Reckoning, I felt like Harrris was tired of writing Sookie adventures and was ready to be finished  with the series (I can almost understand that, but this is a beloved set of characters and I am of the opinion that she owes her fans more).  Personalities of characters are markedly different that in other novels (Eric doesn't seem himself,  and not in a "spelled by a witch" sort of way).  She redeemed the novel in the last two chapters.  I was literally on the edge of my seat (and talking out loud, randomly saying things like "No way!").  Admittedly, I'm a little sad that this is the penultimate book in the series; I don't want my little vacations to Bon Temps to end.  At the same time, Harris ended this book in such a way that I absolutely cannot wait to read the next one!   It seems like readers can see where Harris is pushing Sookie, and although I'm not a fan of that choice, I'm holding out hope that the final novel will be packed full of twists and turns and bombshells.

I'm not one for spoilers of any kind in a book review, so I'm trying very hard to not give anything away.  I won't comment on what happens with Sookie and Eric.  You just have to go and read it for yourself!  I'm struggling with whether or not I truly liked this book, as a stand alone novel, or if I'm just biased because of my attachment to the Sookie series.  I think the latter opinion clouds my judgment; Harris is letting her fans down and needs to step it up for the finale.

 Quick Facts:
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Ace; 1 edition (May 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1937007448
ISBN-13: 978-1937007447
Author's Website: Charlaine Harris

 *I own a copy of this book, and was not compensated in any way for this review*

Book Review: The First Warm Evening of the Year

I had a chance to read Jamie M. Saul's newest novel, The First Warm Evening of the Year, when I received it from the publisher.  The book was published late last month; it has been available for a few weeks.  This is my first experience reading anything by this author.  I'll admit, the title was a bit off-putting to me.  It's just more words than I like in a title! Here is a brief synposis of the book:

Geoffrey Tremont is untroubled by his neat, contented bachelor life in bustling New York City, filled with sophisticated friends, an undemanding lover devoted to her own career, and his wise brother, a psychiatrist who is the only one who sees and understands him completely—just the way Geoffrey wants it. On an ordinary day, Geoffrey arrives home to find a letter awaiting him with a postmark from an unfamiliar town: Shady Grove, New York. An old friend has named him the executor of her estate. Twenty years ago, in college, Geoffrey and Laura Welles had been each other's confidant; as their lives diverged, they went their separate ways. Now, she's reached out of the past to ask him a final favor. Laura's death has also brought her brother, Simon, to Geoffrey's doorstep. With his sister gone, Simon has no one but her old friend Geoffrey with whom to settle past grievances. 

With Simon in tow, Geoffrey travels up to Laura's hometown—the place she chose to live her final years—where he meets Marian Ballantine. A widow living in the shadow of an idyllic marriage, and now grieving the loss of her best friend, Marian knows a lot about Geoffrey. Laura often spoke of him, she tells him, and though he's flattered, he's also thrown off balance. From the moment he first sees her, Geoffrey instinctively knows this attractive, plainspoken woman has the power to upend his cool, compartmentalized life. What Marian knows is that life comes with no guarantees, no promises of lasting happiness, and although she finds herself unsettled by this persistent, compelling man, she's unwilling to trade her hard-won, quotidian existence for an indefinite future. Faced with the decision to embrace the unknown or retreat to the safety of the familiar, they will both have to discover the courage it takes to tumble into the abyss of love. 

The First Warm Evening of the Year is a gripping and evocative novel that resonates on every page with the joys and pains of being alive. It is a novel that more than satisfies the promise of the author's debut, Light of Day, about which the Indianapolis Star said, "Saul's ability to create deep and interesting characters is a strength that no doubt will surface time and again in future works," and prompted Bookreporter.com to praise Saul's "sensitivity and rare understanding of the human psyche."

Based on that snippet, the book seemed very promising to me.  And I checked out other early reviews as well - all glowing.  However, for me, the book was tedious and slow.  Beautifully written, though. Geoffrey, the protagonist, just rubbed me the wrong way; his willingness to invade a person's life the way he did was disturbing.  The brother of the deceased woman, Simon, seemed hollow and not well-developed.  I kept waiting for a huge bombshell to be revealed, or for one of the perfect strangers Geoffrey approached to be less forthcoming about their personal lives.  Something about the interactions felt improbable to me.

I'm sure for many people this is the perfect type of book - a good, slow, methodical story about love and relationships.  And there were a couple of moments where I found myself agreeing wholeheartedly with a thought or emotion.  Although I don't know that Id' read it again, I would recommend it to others.  For many people this should be an enjoyable summer read.

Quick Facts: 
Hardcover: 304 pages 
Publisher: William Morrow (April 24, 2012) 
Language: English 
ISBN-10: 0061449725 
ISBN-13: 978-0061449727 
Facebook: Jamie M. Saul  

I received a copy of this book from the publisher; all opinions are my own and no other compensation was given.

Book Review: The Inquisitor's Key

I recently received a copy of the newly published  The Inquisitor's Key: A Body Farm Novel by Jefferson Bass, compliments of the publisher.   I've never read a book by by this author before, and was excited to get started with this one!  I was immediately interested when I read the "about the author" blurb on the book jacket (does anyone else do that first?).  Jefferson Bass is not one person, but two.  One is a world-renowned forensic anthropologist and the other is a journalist, writer, and documentary filmmaker.  What an intriguing pairing! I was also intrigued by by the premise of the book.  Check out this brief synopsis, from the book jacket:

Miranda Lovelady, Dr. Bill Brockton's protege, is spending the summer helping excavate a newly discovered chamber beneath the spectacular Palace of the Popes in Avignon, France. There she discovers a stone chest inscribed with a stunning claim: inside lie the bones of none other than Jesus of Nazareth. Faced with a case of unimaginable proportions, Miranda summons Brockton for help proving or refuting the claim. Both scientists are skeptical—after all, fake relics abounded during the Middle Ages—but evidence for authenticity looks strong initially, and soon grows stronger. 

Brockton and Miranda link the bones to the haunting image on the Shroud of Turin, revered by millions as the burial cloth of Christ, and then a laboratory test finds the bones to be two thousand years old. The finding triggers a deadly tug-of-war between the anthropologists, the Vatican, and a deadly zealot who hopes to use the bones to bring about the Second Coming—and trigger the end of time. 

Set against an international landscape, and weaving a rich tapestry of religion, history, art, and science, The Inquisitor's Key takes Jefferson Bass to an exciting new level of suspense.

I love well-researched historical thrillers, anything related to anthropology, anything that takes place in Europe, and everything about art.  This seemed like a no-brainer for my shelves! I read through the book in one sitting.  It definitely held my attention, and I learned a few interesting things along the way.  Typically, when I'm reading I jot down notes about things I'd like to learn more about; it never fails to upset me when I fact check and find the author(s) didn't do their homework.  The writing team of Jefferson Bass did do their homework, though.  The history was accurate, the portrayal of historical characters evolved directly from widely accepted historical documents and data, and the depiction of the geography was perfect.

The main characters in the book were definitely relatable; I found myself smiling when Dr. Brockton would mutter something that seemed perfectly realistic to say in the situation.  I also really liked the way the narrative shifted from past to present - it was an excellent way to get immersed in the story.  I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes crime fiction, history, or science.  It's definitely a great summer read!  And next on my list are the preceding novels in the Body Farm series.

Quick Facts: 
Hardcover: 368 pages 
Publisher: William Morrow (May 8, 2012) 
Language: English 
ISBN-10: 006180679X 
ISBN-13: 978-0061806797  

I received a copy of this book from the publisher; all opinions are my own and no other compensation was given.

Strong in the Broken Places

There are lots of things about being bipolar I don't like.  I think though, after a couple of years of serious reflection on it, the two aspects I like the least are the feelings of despair and paranoia.  Often, people hear that word, paranoia, and think it's meant to note someone who is all about the conspiracy theory, or on the fringe.  For me, it's more of a creeping paranoia, and an obsessive desire to make sure I'm getting everything done.  I'm always beyond certain that people think I am an absolute slacker; when I make a mistake or forget to do something it sends me into a panic (no matter how minor the infraction).  I always, always, always think things are a bigger deal than they are.  And then the despair sets in....I think things like "why can't I get more done?" and "why did I forget that?" and "will so-and-so think I'm totally worthless now?".  Feeling like you've let someone down, and then thinking that they must absolutely be mad about it, is awful.  Notice how black and white my thought process is?  Yeah, that's part of my struggle too.  Everything is one way or another in my mind.

It's very tiring to wrestle with these thoughts, especially when the "normal" bipolar oddities are thrown into the mix.  I have very little control over my extreme ups and downs, and when I'm in a down it's SO very hard to remember that it will pass.  It's hard to exercise and eat well, and do the things I do that help keep me on as even a keel as possible without medication (by choice).  I shut down, and distance myself from the things that are draining to me - conversations, interactions, phone calls (I really, really hate talking on the phone)... anything mentally taxing.  So few people really understand and respect just how stressful even a little phone chat or a family dinner (involving anyone other than my husband and kids) can be - and that lack of consideration is so hurtful and upsetting.  Just because mental illness isn't something you can point at and "see" on someone doesn't mean it isn't there.

I'll raise my hand and say I suffer from major depressive disorder.  And I'm bipolar, and have OCD.  You don't have to like it, but I do ask that you respect it, and take my challenges into consideration.  I might simply say one day that I need a few days to myself.  Know that the statement alone has left me racked with guilt, and don't make me feel worse about saying it.  Don't get mad if I text or email instead of call.  Sometimes, I do these things for me, because I need it to get through my day, and be the best me I can be.  I need all that extra energy I'd spend trying to do those things that worry me, or that I accidentally missed doing, to be a good momma to my littles and wife to my husband.  They come first - they have to live with me, lol.

I came across the picture in this blog post, which I love, quite some time ago when I read this excellent post about another person's struggle with mental illness.  And this morning I read Brandon Marshall's thoughtful op-ed piece about the death of Junior Seau, and I realized that by not randomly sharing my feelings out loud, I really wasn't doing anything to talk about mental illness either.  So that's why I've rambled on today....thanks for listening!

I Love Libraries!

I recently received a copy of Anouk  Markovits' highly anticipated novel I Am Forbidden.  It will be available online and in bookstores tomorrow, May 8; you should definitely go get a copy!  Here is a brief synopsis of the book:

A family is torn apart by fierce belief and private longing in this unprecedented journey deep inside the most insular Hasidic sect, the Satmar.   

Sweeping from the Central European countryside just before World War II to Paris to contemporary Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I Am Forbidden brings to life four generations of one Satmar family.  Opening in 1939 Transylvania, five-year-old Josef witnesses the murder of his family by the Romanian Iron Guard and is rescued by a Gentile maid to be raised as her own son. Five years later, Josef rescues a young girl, Mila, after her parents are killed while running to meet the Rebbe they hoped would save them. Josef helps Mila reach Zalman Stern, a leader in the Satmar community, in whose home Mila is raised as a sister to Zalman’s daughter, Atara. As the two girls mature, Mila’s faith intensifies, while her beloved sister Atara discovers a world of books and learning that she cannot ignore. With the rise of communism in central Europe, the family moves to Paris, to the Marais, where Zalman tries to raise his children apart from the city in which they live. 

When the two girls come of age, Mila marries within the faith, while Atara continues to question fundamentalist doctrine. The different choices the two sisters makes force them apart until a dangerous secret threatens to banish them from the only community they’ve ever known. 

A beautifully crafted, emotionally gripping story of what happens when unwavering love, unyielding law, and centuries of tradition collide, I Am Forbidden announces the arrival of an extraordinarily gifted new voice and opens a startling window on a world long closed to most of us, until now.

As a contributor to the From Left to Write book club, we don't write reviews on the books we read, but rather engage in a discussion of things the books may bring to mind.  In the case of this book, which I deeply loved, I'm really glad that's what we do.  I'm still processing what I read, and will probably go read the book again (it's that good!) before I try to write an actual review.  It's a serious subject and deserves some serious thoughts.  I can't do that right now, but I will be posting a review soon, so be sue to check back in a week or so.

One thing the author touched on was the fantastic pull of libraries; the wonder and awe they can instill. I'll never forget the afternoons of my childhood, spent at the local public library while my mom went shopping (that's back when it was ok to leave your kid somewhere without supervision!).  I wandered the stacks for hours and hours, and absolutely hated leaving.  I'm so thrilled that my husband and I are passing that library love on to our kids.  Each week, on Sunday afternoons, the four of us walk (yes, walk...we live about 2 blocks from our small local library now) together and spend some time checking out books and wandering around.

I always encourage people to give libraries a shot.  Don't throw out old books, donate them to the library (last year, we donated about 20 boxes worth!).  Check out what fun programs they are offering kids.  Go by for story time.  Support them by checking out books (and if you are a true bibliophile, as the residents of my house all are, this will save some serious cash!).  Enjoy the silence amongst the stacks.  Try out something new you've never seen before (I have lost count of how many authors I've discovered since we've started our Sunday outings - Jo Nesbo, John Lindquist, Eowyn Ivey, and China Mieville, to name a few).  Just go!!!

This post is inspired by I AM FORBIDDEN by Anouk Markovits. Though not sisters by blood but through their Hasidic faith, Mila and Atara views the rules and structure of their culture differently. Mila seeks comfort in the Torah while Atara searches for answers in secular literature she is forbidden to read. Ultimately each must make an irrevocable decision that will change their lives forever. Join From Left to Write on May 8 as we discuss I AM FORBIDDEN. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.
 

Book Review: Honeycomb Kids

 Just in time for Earth Day, I received a copy of Honeycomb Kids: Big Picture Parenting for a Changing World and to Change the World! by Anna M. Campbell to review.  I was really excited about this book; I love ideas about raising conscious and aware children that can become productive members of society.  Normally, I find parenting books in and of themselves to be off putting (I've checked out more than a few that seem condescending, and mundane).  Happily, I immediately clicked with this author's relaxed writing style and obvious devotion to her children and family. Here's the official synopsis of the book:

Honeycomb Kids is a parenting book for the 21st Century. Including more than 300 practical ideas and activities, it comes with two priceless benefits: not only does it help you prepare your children for an uncertain tomorrow, it also helps you shift to a better family life for today. Reading this book will empower your family to make the most of a world increasingly defined by over-population, rising prices, poor health, fast depleting natural resources and an unstable political, social, environmental and financial landscape. Feeling daunted by these realities? Don't be! This book shows you how to nurture the timeless values and resilience your children will need to become contributors, not just consumers.

Intriguing, right?  I know!!  Demonstrating her dedication to her family, Campbell and her husband abandoned the fast paced city lifestyle and moved to a farm in the country (oh how I'd love to do that....I live in a rural area, but not a great community! I wish we could move to a farm!).  The book opens with a comprehensive overview of challenges facing our children and world today; she goes on to share what they might have to look forward to if changes don't happen.  I really liked that with each specific challenge presented, facts and studies were included to back the information up.  It is helpful to have the resource material to learn more about the topics, to both educate ourselves and our kids. An interesting concept Campbell presented was the concept of the hive.  As noted at the beginning of Part Two:

"A successful beehive is a place of cooperation, industriousness, shared decision-making, planning, determination to survive together, reverence for nature, yummy stuff, and a little bit of magic!  Kind of like the ideal human family!"

Exactly!  I loved it when I read it - I smiled out loud.  Another thing that resonated with me was her discussion of the problem with "helicopter parenting", and not allowing our children the space (or providing them with the tools) to deal with and overcome adversity.  It is possible to be too encouraging (kids need realism too - maybe they really CAN'T sing, or they DID play poorly in a soccer game).  There's nothing wrong with giving kids some responsibility to young kids - my six year old can absolutely handle making her pb&j for her lunch at school each day; doing so provides her with a sense of pride and accomplishment (and she knows how to forage in the pantry!).  It does children a disservice when parents try to be superheroes, and handle every minute detail of their little lives.  Just like kids need to get dirty, and play outside, they need to be taught how to handle real-life issues, stresses, and problems.  (No, I'm not saying you should boot them out in the street.  But isn't it better for you to be the person that teaches them how to handle adversity, rather than the inevitable day come when they have to fend for themselves, and don't know how? Like the author, I'd much prefer my children learn from me, in a setting I can have some input towards.)

At the close of each chapter, Campbell provides "Thought Launchers and Conversation Starters".  I enjoyed these sections immensely.  I will admit, often the suggestions were not at all practical for the area I live in (no way would a "time bank" work in my community), but by and large they at least contained a nugget of something we could adapt and use for our family.  And since reading the book, I find myself stopping to think about the way I'm preparing to phrase a question, so that my daughter will benefit the most from the ensuing discussion (my two year old son only participates if we are talking about trains, or Batman!).

I certainly didn't mean for this review to be so opinionated, or so wordy.  Thanks for sticking with me!  Here's what you should take away from what I'm saying about this book: it's definitely a keeper.  It's an easy read, full of thought-provoking discussions and ideas on raising well-rounded kids.  The author is someone I wish I was friends with, and I'm so grateful she shared her life experiences in this book!

Quick Facts:
Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: Cape Able (April 6, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0980747503
ISBN-13: 978-0980747508
Author Bio: Anna M. Campbell

*I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own; no other compensation was given. This post was also published on the From Left to Write blog.