Two Dead Husbands With Wives in Comas:

It has happened twice in the past month. I have read a new book only to a week or so later get a book with the very same plot show up on my paperback swap wish list. It’s hard to read the second book with out constant references to the first one you read, yet, I could not and did not want to wait to read the second, newer book. So instead I write about them today.

All 4 books were good, but of course I have my favorites and I have my reasons. The fist books deal with the loss of a husband and the second set deals with wives in comas.

The first two: Anybody Out There by Marian Keyes and P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern. The second two were The Choice by Nicholas Sparks and The Dead Don’t Dance by Charles Martin.

Okay- the fist set. The dead husbands.

The second set- Wives in Comas.

I give my top spot Charles Martin in the Dead Don’t Dance. The story is just so poignant and real. The writing is eloquent and beautiful. As for Mr. Sparks and The Choice, I enjoyed it, but things happened a bit too fast for me. Mr. Martin takes time to build and tell the story while I felt rushed during The Choice. All in all Mr. Sparks did not disappoint, I just felt the Mr. Martin’s story so much more. A word of caution here about Mr. Martin- the novel could be classified as Christian Fiction and is definitely southern-lit. If you do not appreciate or like either of these, I suggest you stick to Mr. Sparks, but I must tell you that you are missing out on one hell of a story.

The premise for both books is the same. Their beloved wives end up in a coma. One from a car accident which causes Travis much guilt and one from childbirth which is also the cause of the death of his son.

In Spark's novel the beginning most deals with the main character Gabby and Travis courtship and kind of glosses over the intricate details of the married relationship. They fall in love over a long weekend that kind of takes up about half the book. I was kind of disappointed by that. Based on the synopsis, I thought the choice (both the title and the book) would be Gabby choosing between Travis and Kevin; however that was not the case. Sometimes I felt the book didn’t have a clear and coherent story line, but I enjoyed the book nonetheless and it was still a touching love story. On the Nicholas Sparks scale this book definiltley beat out last years Dear John, but still does not live up to my favorite Sparks novel- The Wedding.

The Dead Don’t Dance on the Other hand, begging’s with Maggie becoming pregnant and quickly follows her pregnancy until childbirth. It is then that we learn of their courtships, their past while at the same time living the future with D.S. I just felt that the story was fuller and easier to follow. Of course, I might be just a little partial to this book since it is southern lit, but still, I just enjoyed The Dead, a lot more than The Choice. Both are fine additions to any bookshelf and should make and fall evening more glorious.

There is a sequel to The Dead Don’t Dance, Maggie, which is in transit to my local library and I can’t wait to read it.

The Cubicle Next Door

The Cubicle Next Door

Siri L. Mitchell

2006 Christy Award Nominee Author

I enjoyed this book except for the fact that I didn’t like Jackie. How can I like a book and dislike the main character? Well first the writing was good and the story was excellent. I just found Jackie annoying and I didn’t like her. It’s kind of like the co-worker that does a great job, is a team player ect, basically the perfect co-worker but you just can’t stand them personally .

Synopsis: Jackie is thirty year old self described geek. As the systems administrator at the Air Force Academy she is going through life perfectly fine until she is all of a sudden forced to share an office with the new instructor Joe. She begrudgingly divides her office into two cubicles and turns to the internet to vent. Everything is all good until her blog highlighted on the evening news and everyone including its subject Joe begins to read. Will Joe catch on that the blog is about him and will Jackie ever open her eyes to what’s right in front of her?

I mean how am I supposed to like a girl that doesn’t like football? At that point I almost put the book down for good (just kidding... kind of*). Plus all that damn environmentalism talk got on my last damn nerve. I’m all for saving, conserving recycling but I HATE when people push it down your throat. I think a lot has to do with this whole “Green is in” trend BS the media and Al Gore is feeding us. (My views can be summed up here). Also, Jackie was way to naïve for me. It was obvious that Joe was interested, but I detested the way she acted. Like when she was getting ready for the ball I wanted to shake her and say get over it. Do people really act that childish for no reason? So I didn't really like Jackie at all, she just annoyed me too much.

But here is where I believe good writing and a good story saved me. Both were so good, that I kept plunging back into the book (albeit more slowly than usual). In the end I enjoyed the story and have to give kudos to Ms. Mitchell for a creating a unique character, one you typically don’t find in chic-lit be it Christian or otherwise.

The topic and location were also interesting and different. The Air force Academy/Military- Civilian angle was cool (coming from an Army Brat). Of course there is the idea that most endeared me to the book- the blogging aspect and while it was a little underplayed for my taste and blogging expertise, I still enjoyed it. For instance the blog wasn’t really that interesting to me. Second I think that it is unbelievable to think that Jackie could start a blog and not get caught up in the blogshpehere ( especially checking stats). As a blogger for the last 3 years, the blogshpehere is addicting from reading other people’s blogs to updating your own ( sometimes obsessively) and Jackie did none of that. Part of me thinks Ms. Mitchell made it that way so those who are not as technologically savvy could still enjoy and understand the book.

So, if you are looking for an interesting, unique story from and interesting and unique point of view with a cute ending, than The Cubicle Next Door is for you.

*In my world, football is king, and the Southeastern Conference is the kingdom.

Southern girls know their religions:
Baptist
Methodist
Football

The People Next Door

The People Next Door
Bettye Griffin


What would happen if you were building your dream house, which you saved and searched for on a beautiful lake front only to find out that your ex and their new spouse just bought the house next door? That’s the premise in Ms. Griffin’s The People Next Door. Lisa and her husband Darrell have just bough a beautiful new house in St. Augustine/Jacksonville, Florida when they learn that Lisa’s ex-husbands’ and his new wife and children Suzanne are living next door.


I enjoyed this book a lot. To me it was a kind of a case study that touched on so many issues- class, race, love, family. The book alternates between the main characters of Suzanne, Lisa and also Flo and neighbor of Suzanne and Lisa’s who tries to befriend both of them with ulterior motives. This book is not chock full of drama like I’m sure many people were looking for, Rather it a story that looks at the situation instead and Ms. Griffin did an excellent job at portraying real emotions, real jealousy and real life situations.


My thoughts:

• My favorite characters were Flo & Ernie- the do-anything to keep up with the Jones, nose neighbors. I really enjoyed getting an inside perspective on that dynamic of a person. We all know someone like that and as annoying as they were they were my favorites. Perhaps because they were so authentic. In the end though I enjoyed all the characters.

• Many Amazon reviews indicated that this book was boring and slow and I completely disagree with that. This book is not your EJD, Sleeping with some else’s wives book. If you are looking for a book chock-full of craziness, drama and outrageous scenarios, this isn’t it. Rather this is a book that explores a nightmare come true, but the reality as the families are forced to deal with the situation- and realistically. Ms. Griffin also takes a look at the backdrop of each character’s life and examines class issues, jealousy, and family as well as a many other topics.

• The interaction between the characters was right on to me as were reactions and emotional descriptions. I think Ms. Griffin hit the nail on the head in character development.

• Apparently it seems that chapter titles and numbers are out. This is one of 4 books I’ve read in the past few months that instead of boring numbers, they used quotes. I enjoyed the clever quotes for each chapter which gave you an idea of what was coming up- gossip, family, friends ect.

• I found this an interesting book and in a way a case study on the issue in the book and I really enjoyed that aspect.

Overall- if you are looking for some crazy family drama- this is not the book for you. If you are interested in reading a good book- this one is it.

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I’m saddened that book club # 2 has folded. Or at least our chapter.

Book clubs are hard, especially if it is not a close group of friends or group that is already bound together (i.e. sorority, church). This group started in the commuter bus I take to and from work. One of the women was an avid reader and we got to talking and last summer she asked me would I be interested in joining a Christian Themed- book club. I agreed, enjoying the idea of a more relaxed bible study setting.

She became a facilitator for Glory Girls and in November we had our first bi-monthly meeting. Our first book was Diva’s of Damascus Road, which I enjoyed and we had a pretty good turnout – about 7-9 women and afterward we went out to dinner.

That was out highlight- January there were 3 people, March just 2 and May no one showed up. I was the facilitator and no one arrived. I’m sure there a plenty reasons- people say they will come and they don’t , traffic and distance in a city like Atlanta to name a few. Book clubs are hard.

I found this one even more difficult because we had no say in the books. Although I have sat through many prolonged, heated discussions and votes on next months books, I still enjoyed the process. In this book club, the books were chosen by (drum roll please)… Walk Worthy Press, the publisher that facilitates Glory Girls. It’s frustrating to not be able to suggest these books to or to have any hope they will ever be read and I have not enjoyed the selections. I could name so many books that would have been better selections.

That sucks, doesn’t it? Most of the books were theirs and in my opinion a lot of good books, especially independent publishers don’t get a chance. For instance we never read a Kendra Norman Bellamy book and she has got to be one of the top 3 in Christian Fiction.

I’m sad to no longer meet and fellowship with the facilitator (although she did mentioned finding another group to join), however I’d rather start our own book club

Nearlyweds

Nearlyweds
Beth Kendrick
***** (5/5)

So this was my second book by Beth Kendrick this summer. I read tried to read My Favorite Mistake, but I just couldn’t really get into it* this one however was a totally different story and I read it all in one evening.

Nearlyweds is about 3 women who have their dream wedding one weekend only to find out weeks later that the officiant died before signing the marriage certificates so they aren’t legally married. To make matters even more complicated, the honeymoon period is long over and the women are wondering if this legal loophole isn’t a blessing in disguise. One evil step-daughter an even eviler mother-in-law, a crazy dog an self-insecurity are just some of the themes that makes Nearlyweds one of my favorite books of the summer.

First, I enjoyed it because it was an extremely original idea and interesting. The characters were varied and not all the clichéd characters you usually read about in chic-lit. The story is extremely fast paced and I got so into the book that I finished it in one evening. I really couldn’t put it down without knowing what happened to the women and their men. There were ups and downs, I was excited, happy, angry and sad, and in the end I was satisfied. I spent the evening reading a great book, with a great ending.

Sometimes I did wonder in the women were acting a bit childish and running away from their problems instead of facing it, but I think ms. Kendrick did a good job with character development and their history to make us really see the women’s side of the story. But I would have really enjoyed discussing that at a book club meeting to get someone's else take on the situation(s).

If you like chic-lit you’ll definitely like this book; however, even if you don’t care for the genre too much (but still enjoy it from time to time) you’ll enjoy it as well, because in my opinion it came off as a little more than just chic-lit.

*I think I couldn’t get into My Favorite Mistake because I was also reading Flies on The Butter and they had similar storied- women who ran away and were now reluctantly returning home to face something and blah, blah, blah. I’m really tired of that story line at the current moment.

Rise and Shine

Rise and Shine

Anna Quindlen

I waited awhile to get this book for paperback swap and I have to say this book was definitely worth the wait.

Rise and Shine is the story of two sisters Megan, a married mother of one, Katie Couric-esuqe morning show host (popular, lovable) and Bridget a single, dedicated social worker. One day Meghan utters something on air that changes her life and those around her. That’s the book in a gist. Check out the amazon.com for a better written one. I had trouble writing one, without giving away too many plot lines and this book is better going in blind.

My thoughts on the book:

• The prose and insight was wonderful. I loved the introspection on NYC, her observations about class & race in NYC and the beautiful descriptions of a Jamaican vacation.

• I loved the interaction between the sisters- it felt real, and I enjoyed reading it from Bridget’s (the younger one) point of view. (I’m the older sister).

• I loved the characters from Leo (Megan’s son) to Tequila (Bridget’s secretary) Irving ( the boyfriend) and Aunt Maureen. They were likeable and familiar. Even Leo who sometimes sounded almost too good to be true.

• Toward the last third of the book the plot got away from me a little bit. While the events were not completely unfathomable or anything likes that- they way they were brought together made me almost roll my eyes. However who am I to say it can’t happen? Up until that part the books is relatively fast paced and insightful. After that, I felt a little dazed.

• I like endings where unanswered questions are answered and this one does that. Not necessarily neatly and perfectly but answered. I hate books where I am left saying “WTF does that mean”?

Overall : 4 and something stars. I enjoyed the book itself, the characters and the plot (minus the 3-4 penultimate chapters. I actually kind of skimmed through them, read the last chapter, and then returned to the ones I skipped to see if I missed anything, which I didn’t. A good read and an excellent addition to any bookshelf. It’s a mixture of intelligent chic-lit and little city lit ( books about the upper middle, upper class in NYC) This was my first Quindlen book and I am looking forward to more. This is one of those books I wish I could/would read in a book club setting and discuss it.

* Side note: I disagreed with so many of the reviews on amazon.com that my original review sounded like a defense of the book. This type review flowed much easier.

Death Around The Corner

Death around the Corner

C-Murder

***** ( 5/5)

I am not a fan of street-lit, worse yet I am not a big fan of rappers trying to act, much less writing. When I heard that C-Murder wrote a book- fiction no less, I rolled my eyes, hard. Then I happened to read an excerpt from the book in one issue of Vibe magazine and gasp! - It actually sounded good. Well written, grammatically correct, interesting. I was shocked and but still put off actually purchasing the book for a while. I mean any excerpt could sound good and be grammatically correct. Plus I didn’t’ think I could handle the looks on my friends faces when I would tell them what I was reading. However, that excerpt was good, it has a solid 5 star amazon.com rating, and so eventually I broke down and bought the book and all I can say is WOW.

At times I wondered if there was a ghostwriter (nope- at the end he tells the story of how, when, why he wrote the book) besides I’m not sure anyone at Vibe could write this well. I’ll admit, I went into this book very skeptical, looking for mistakes and anything I could find and I didn’t find anything. This book has it all character development (great character development) a good, solid plot, a good style, a viable theme, great , realistic dialoige, all that other stuff from HS English. However, most importantly it has a ( realistic) story and a purpose. It's not just glorifying like some of the other street trash lit that is polluting the shelves.

Death around the Corner introduces us to Daquan. Born and bred in the Calliope (CP3), Daquan gets an early and real introduction to the streets. He continues on this path as one of the youngest and most respected hustlers in NOLA, until he finds his passion, in music. DATC follows Daquan as he tries to make this transition from the streets to the studio. It’s a coming of age story for a totally different set. We had Flyy Girl & Coldest Winter Ever, I believe DATC will slip on the shelves right between those two as the quintessential ‘hood coming of age story. It’s a book cross between Boyz in da hood an ATL (that’s the best I could do- its closer to Boyz in da hood, but updated and for a different part of the world- A southern Boyz in da hood!)

It was a pleasant surprised by this I truly enjoyed this book. C-Murder is very talented writer I am actually looking forward to future works by him.

http://www.deatharoundthecorner.com

Please not that this is an urban book. The language and the descriptions are very real and gritty. This book is not for the faint of heart. That being said- this book is not vulgar either- Just real. Real talk, real language (profanity, use of the n-word and the h-word, street slang), real vivid streets scenes ( drugs, sex ext.) if you listen to rap music or are from the streets, hood, inner-city or whatever you call it- you will not have any problems, otherwise be warned.This book is probably rated R.

I am NOT looking forward to future Vibe books ( I read the excerpt from the next book- that is exactly what I was expecting). Maybe another publisher will pick up C’s next work.

*On another note I once wrote a homage to No Limit Records and my love for them circa 1998, on my now defunct LJ blog. Please click here to read it.

Eat, Pray, Love

Eat, Pray, Love

Elizabeth Gilbert.

Liz Gilbert, 30- something and recovering from a devastating divorce decides to travel to 3 places that hold special meaning for her- Italy, India & Indonesia. Each locale has it’s own therapy for Liz’s sole- In Italy, it’s the food (eat) in India she spends time at a Ashram and practicing yoga & meditation & Prayer (pray) and in Indonesia she returns to spend more time with an “old friend” and finds a host of new ones ( Love).

I loved, loved, and loved this book. It is a memoir a travel guide/ travel, self- help with even a hint of philosophy and religious studies. Liz Gilbert does an excellent job narrating and making you feel like you is not only with her, both physically and spiritually but of explaining what she encounters and what she learns. Her voice is fresh and raw I felt like Liz was one of my friends from college. The best part to me is a cross between the insights and things she learns on this journey- not just about the places she visits, but about her and human nature. Before I read this book I never had any inkling to visit India or Indonesia (Bali) - I’m more of a Malaga, Paris kind of international girl), but I have since added both of these locations to my “Places to Visit Before you Die” list. It’s always fascinating (to me at least) to watch people’s growth and that is probably one reason why I did enjoy this book so much.

I highly recommend this book to any and everyone- young and old. This book offers lots of hope for anyone and everyone- no matter where you are in your life’s journey. The book begins with Liz on the floor in her bathroom, crying and praying after realizing her marriage wasn’t exactly going as planned. We follow her through a tumultuous divorce followed soon after by another heart wrenching heart break to the decision to travel to her travels and to her triumphs, both big and small along the way. This is very spiritual book- and it does touch on various religions which I enjoyed. It helps understanding the importance of all religions and just how similar they all are.

This is a definite must read. A perfect summer book for vacation and I’m sure that will pick this book up again several times again and again for inspiration, hope and love (and as a guidebook when I visit these places).

http://maggiereads.blogspot.com/2007/04/summer-reading-challenge-info.html

Save Karyn

Save Karyn

Karyn Bosnak

I originally read this books about 3 years ago- they way it can be best enjoyed- outside, by the pool, on vacation with some great tropical drink (or and ice cold sweat) by your side. I enjoyed it when I read then, but decided to re-read it this week because I am in between books. The Birth of Venus from paperback swap has yet to arrive and the other book I’m reading- Death Around the Corner, while good, isn’t exactly “summer reading”.

The first thing I noticed about this book is I completely understand how Karny felt before she moved to NYC. That’s exactly how I feel right now. That is one of the best things about re-reading books again. You get a new experience each time.

The gist of this book is Karny Bosnak, 26 and she has the feeling that there is more to life than what she is experiencing now, so she decided to pack up and leave Chi-Town for NYC. She finds a job being a producer for a new Judge Judy Type show and she finds an apartment and Manhattan and so begins her saga. Upon moving to Manhattan, moving expenses set her back a little (lack of planning and emergency fund) and add that to her love of shopping and designer clothes, $800 highlights and hair cuts and things are quickly out of control. She even established a plan to help offset her American Express Balance and to get cash advances (AMEX is a charge and not a credit card so they don’t do traditional advances) and before she knows it she owes almost $25,000 in credit card debt. The book takes place a little over 2 years and is followed by a layoff, being fired, getting a so thought dream position on the Ananda Lewis show, a move to Brooklyn, new roommates and 9-11.

Karyn's writing is honest and it reads like chic-lit- very light hearted and fun. Each main chapter begins with the recreations of the month’s credit card statement(s) that really hits home exactly how she managed to get into that much debt.

After being let go from her job at Ananda Lewis , and bouncing around for a few months Karyn puts her story on Craiglist and jokingly (at first) ask for donations. Craiglist turns into her own website (www.savekaryn.com) and Within a few months it pays off and her debt is paid off, but the in between is a roller coaster ride filled with a new found celebrity status and the pitfalls that come with that. Of course people ridiculed her for what she was doing, but in actually she was a pioneer and figured out a way to use the web for her good. Besides, some other stuff people have solicited for online is much, much worse. I don’t agree with the whole thing, but it worked and I truly believe that she learned her lesson and that is what is most important.

Save Karyn is an open, honest and funny book about being young women, and are kind of the anti-theses for the Sex and the City Generation. It shows the reality of living the in NYC and the reality of life in general. I enjoyed it just as much as the first time (with a few more eye rolls for her naiveté and horrible money skills). Even at 19 (when I first read this) I felt bad for her and her mom. She talks about her view of money, possessions and designer clothes was warped from a young age (mom buys you stuff to help you fit in. With that kind of home money management, it’s no wonder Karyn never learned how budget or that if people like you for designer clothes – than they don’t like you and are not worth it.

In the end though, you know that Karyn learned her lesson and hopefully will pass that on and do a better job teaching her children money management. I just wish there was a little more off that in this. I mean- the Karyn Bosnak guide to Real Money Management. On her website and in her book she includes tidbits and things she has learned, but for the majority of us it’s called reality. For example- she discovers Old Navy and The Dollar store. I grew up in both of those even though I had a little of the designer stuff. A little more information espicially about Credit scores and such would have made this book complete.

This is a great book for a HS or college student as a warning or piece of advice. It’s also great reading for the rest of us.

The Secret of Us

The Secret of Us
Roxanne Henke

*****(5/5)

Laura and Donnie have been married for 23 years ( that means they were married in the wonderful year I was born- 1983!) and their 21 year old daughter Stasha ( real name Anastasia- now you can breath a sigh of relief that they did not name their child Stasha). Stasha is engaged to be married. The book alternates between all three as they each maneuver through, life, work and marriage. Laura is sick and tired of being sick and tired of Donnie putting his work first and is beginning to relive her dreams of being an artist. Donnie lives and breathes for his business, he has dreams making his ad agency even bigger, but at what cost. Stasha is excited- she has just graduated from college and is engaged to a great guy, however she just hopes to find a job. Once they are married, though she learns how big a job marriage is. The story is great and I loved how in intertwined between all the characters. You got to see things evolve fully and you got to see two sides of the marriage coin. Newlyweds, who typically go in not expecting all the work and a marriage that has so far, stood the test of time AND people willing to work to keep standing. I really enjoyed this book as an honest description of marriage.

Throughout the book, especially during Laura's section, there are “divine thoughts (or guidance)” so to speak. At first that annoyed me, but I grew to appreciate the “thoughts” as the story went on. Those thoughts added so much to the book and if you are a believer, than you will defiantly understand and recognize these moments. They make this and the characters appear even more realistic.

The Secret of Us is a beautiful, heartfelt, realistic view of marriage, relationships, life and the power of God to build and ( to help us) keep all of it together.

What Was She Thinking: Notes on a Scandal?

What Was She Thinking: Notes on a Scandal?
Zoë Heller

I did this backward, and saw the movie first, mostly because I did not know that there was a book. I netflixed the movie and loved it. I think Judi Dench was excellent and the Academy Award was well deserved. She played Barbra, but she added her own uniqueness to it. Usually I don’t like the movie version of books, but this one I enjoyed both almost equally (I’m still a book geek, so I liked the book a little bit better.)

I probably would have never picked up this book without seeing the movie and it is sad that I could have missed out on such a great book. The premise of the story is about a young woman who has an affair with her much younger male student. I’m kind of over that whole scenario with all the double-standards and media attention about that sort of thing but this book is not completely about that. The narrator is Barbara, a much older teacher at St. George’s (the novel is set in London) who takes an interest in the new, younger, prettier Bathsheba (Sheba) Hart. The form a friendship and Barbara takes us on a time line from the moment Sheba arrives, to the beginning of their friendship and everything until when the affair is discovered and the aftermath. The book alternates between the past and present (after the affair is discovered). The best part of the book is that in answers the question in the title- we know exaclty what Sheba was thinking. I think that the answer could only be told be an outsider and someone like Barbara. If it was told by Sheba herself, it would loose the umph of the story/scandal and we would all hate Sheba, but through Barbara- it is a masterpiece.

Barbara is one of my favorite narrators. Her tongue-in-cheek humor and dry sarcasm had me laughing out loud at times and her honesty and writing was superb. This book is worth 5 gold stars.

The movie is good (well of course - that is why it was nominated and won Academy Awards) - but my advice is read the book before the movie. Either way, the book is great.

Street Lit

So this article was published last January in the NYT and it got me thinking and agreeing. On a side note, I also got to meet the wife of the author of this article at a book club meeting last July.

I actually stopped reading a lot of contemporary African American literature because of the trash that started getting put out there. The last few books I read were full of mistakes and grammatical errors, stories and characters that didn’t make sense and generally full of nonsense. To me these books glorified the street life, the drugs, the hustling, instead of portraying an accurate view of it.

One of my favorite books is probably the grandmother of street fiction- “The Coldest Winter Ever”. I remember reading it and enjoying the fact that this seedy underworld was portrayed in a book. After that I read a few of the newer street lit, before throwing them away in disgust. That being said, I have absolutely no problem with books written about life on the street, about crack, cocaine, pimps and ho’s and what not. I’ve read most of Donald Goines and Iceberg Slim’s books and enjoyed them. The difference is the books were real. They kept it real- telling real stories AND they were well written with coherent story lines and such. Not only was that, the purpose of the aforementioned books was never to glorify, but to tell the story. The characters in Goines' novel were not extolling the glamorous virtues of being pimps, because in actually there is nothing glamorous about watching your back at all times only to usually be murdered in cold blood by a “friend”.

The argument that “as long as people are reading” and that “these books are a gateway world to reading” when you are talking about a certain sublet of the population- teenagers). The ones whose parents are actively involved or those who have seen first hand the true terrors and horrors of street life. Unfortunately, I doubt that it is this kids that are reading these books. The later is probably not interested in reliving past experiences glorified and the former are probably reading more traditional and classic fare, or at least the watchful eyes of parents to point out reality vs. fiction. The kids that are reading these books believe that being a hustler’s wife is glamorous and so is hustling. Never mind that most hustlers over the age of 40 (and their wives) are usually non-existent and the ones that are, have probably had some kind of change of heart (=conversion to Islam, usually in Jail). I also find it unlikely that many of those who read these books will go on to appreciate reading. Why? These books are pure and total drama. It’s like watching a soap opera. After reading books like these, when you pick up something more substantial (meaning not drama filled) - you will probably put it right back down because it doesn’t hold your attention. You are unable to appreciate good books and good writing (unless some college professor takes pity on your soul and works with you on the art of reading- thanks Dr. Lawson) this brings me to my next and final point- which is an argument in itself. These books are just bad writing, bad grammar and many other things I won’t say here in print form and they point the same view that Africans Americans fight in Hollywood- stereotypical.

So I don’t read street-lit, I detest it and hope that it a fad that will go away soon. Although it seems unlikely now, and according to publishers, it is just beginning to take off. So I’ve switched to reading other things. The bad part of it all is that decent African American writers are not getting there due- especially in book stores, where this trash dominates the shelves.

*Regarding “ The Coldest Winter Ever”, I read this at age 14 ( and 15,16), my goal in the next few months is to re-read it again as an adult and form an opinion at this age- 10 years later.

There a few street-lit books I actually recommend:

“The Coldest Winter Ever”

Anything by Donald Goines

White Lines- Tracey Brown

And that is where my list ends. I will not list others I’ve read and thrown away (literally- in the recycling bin they went). ers

* This is a rant about street-lit- I have an entire other rant about sex-lit (?), which also seems to be growing on the shelves.

Flies on the Butter

Flies on the Butter

Denise Hildreth
***** ( 5/5)

The first thing I have to say about this book is a note to the publishers. Please do not put realistic looking flies on book covers. Had they been actually on the butter- that’s would have worked, but just randomly placed… well that invites people to interrupt you to tell you that there is a fly on your book.

Denise Hildrith's latest is a break from her Savannah from Savannah series (which I review the first two here and here). Rose Fletcher is on a thirty something lobbyist from Mullins, South Carolina. As she is on her way back home, she preps herself to deal with her family, particularly her mother, whom she hasn’t seen in ten years and to mull over the mess her life is and the rift between her and her husband. Told alternating in Flashbacks between her childhood growing up in the south and her current anxiety driving car trip, complete with “perfect” strangers who give her a little guidance and lots of blessings as she goes on her way.

I knew I would enjoy this book, don’t ask me how but I did. Denise writes with such feeling that you can understand exactly where Rose is and how she got there. I could feel her loss and her frustration at being out of control. I also enjoyed the nature of the book- each chapter alternating between her childhood and the present and I loved the “strangers” at the end of each “present” chapter. Of course I loved the southern feel on this book. In fact, I even went in search of some good ole boiled peanuts for myself ( man, how I missed those when we used to live overseas). The only thing that bothered me was that I didn’t feel we got the full story on what happened, what exactly it was that made Rose run. There was a lot of leading up to, some foreshadowing but the resulting story/ discovery lacked punch, kind of like the air going out of a balloon really fast. Denise writing is very touching and she was able to deal with some heavy subjects without making it feel to preachy. Her words felt the words coming from you favorite aunt or big momma, or Mamaw- soothing, soul stirring and just right. Aside from that, it was a great, touching story about whether or not you really can go home again.

*In the reviews I read (Publishers & Booklist also on Amazon.com), there was some criticism about contradictions (a child lobbyist- not wanting to have children, driving instead of flying ECT). I felt that those contradictions are what make Rose and what makes her so lost. Everyone is a contradiction in their own way and when you are on the run from your past or your demons or yourself- you usually ARE a big contradiction. Just think back to the last time you were confused, scared and running.

too much didactic theological discussion with evangelism

Body of A Girl

Body of a Girl

Leah Stewart

**** ( 4.3/5)

When a young woman is found dead (body of a girl) in the middle of a Memphis summer, what starts out as usual for crime reporter Olivia Dale, but somewhere there is more to this girl and Olive sates out to find out what. However the investigation into Allison Avery soon becomes a self investigation into Olive’s life.

In two reviews, I’ve seen this book is listed as a thriller which in my opinion it is far from. There is a mystery and a good one at that. Stewart is very good at crafting mysteries and stories, but a thriller this is not. It’s a very good book, a short read and interesting story. I can proudly say I haven’t read this story line before. I think a lot of female heroines (not all) fall between Kinsey Millhone and Stephanie Plum and Olivia Dale was neither, which I enjoyed ( basically this isn’t chick-lit or a full blown mystery, but somewhere perfectly in between). At times, I wondered why Olivia was so into this story and I never really figured out why, and many times I wanted to shake her because she did some stupid things in search of the truth, even though that’s the only way you really ever find answers or the truth. In the end Olivia redeems her story- and the story of the young woman.

A quick read, recommended. The subject matter and the story is a little dark (i.e. this is not a beach read) but it’s a wonderful compelling story nonetheless.

Life, Liberty & The Pursuit of Happiness

Life, Libby & The Pursuit of Happiness

Lydia Hope

**** ( 4.5/5)


Libby Marshall thought everything would come together when she received the promotion at work that she was promised 5 years ago. However, a corporate merger changes and all that and Libby is demoted to an administrative assistant. Her demotion is just the beginning of crazy things to come and suddenly Libby’s life is a big mystery, with her former boss missing and a huge secret which might be the key to her future career. Libby begins a journey to start living life in the moment AND trusting her faith.

I really enjoyed this book. Overall Libby was a great character. She wasn’t to cliché or overly anything (whiny, ECT) - just a normal girl who thought she had everything figure out, but didn’t factor in life. The themes ( faith, trusting God,) were not shoved at us but sprinkled into a few key passages that were very moving for Libby (and for me). The message and the passages felt very real, I felt as if it were my aunt giving them to me.

There were a few times, especially at the end that I rolled my eyes as how perfectly everything wrapped up. I know sometimes life is like that, but some things at the end were a bit too perfect, but overall it was a great read.

I highly recommended this cute and inspiring story.

June

This is a record breaking month. I don’t think I’ve read so many books in a long time. Things in my life are not going so well at the moment, so I am using reading to escape….

So far I’ve read about 12 books this months and it’s just halfway through! Here is a sneak peek at upcoming reviews to be posted/ books I’ve recently finished.

Body of a Girl – Leah Stewart

Life, Libby and the Pursuit of Happiness

Flies on Butter- Denise Hildreth

Everything I needed to Know About Being A Girl, I Learned from Judy Blume- Meg Cabot, et. Al

My Soul Cries Out- Sheri Lewis

Everybody Say Amen by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

I also have tons of book reviews I’ve written over the years to sort through and decide what to post.

I’m having a hard time about posting negative reviews. I’ve posted a few, but I feel guilty- I always preface a bad review with anything that might have clouded my judgment, but I really mean no harm. I respect all authors out here publishing there work.

Anyway- stay tuned….

Maxed Out: Book & Movie Review

Maxed Out: Hard Times, Easy Credit and the Era of Predatory Lenders
James Surlock

Now presenting my first ever movie review ( in addition to the book review).

I actually had the movie on my Netflix queue before I saw the book at B &N. I decided to read the book first and then watch the movie when it was released. I read the book in early May and then watched the documentary last night.

The first thing I have to say is that the book is much better than the documentary, but the main reason I wanted to see the documentary was to put faces to the names and the stories and it didn’t really do that. The documentary gave us glimpses of the people and their stories but was lacking depth. In a sense the book was too.

I’d give the book about 3.5 or 4 stars the movie about 3. I ended
up slow-forwarding through parts of the movie that were didn’t feel relevant (mainly the First USA guys ??? and sometimes even the debt collectors). I was really disappointed to have ANY resolution to the people we met.

At least in the book we got a little more feel for the people involved.

My advice- read the book, skip the movie. The book as a lot more “umph”( even if you are a visual learner, I think you will enjoy the book a little more).

AThousand Splendid Suns

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Khaled Hosseini

*****( 6/5)

Can I really give a book six stars. Yep- my website, my rules and this one in my opinion deserves six stars. I cannot say how much I loved this book. It’s like The Kite Runner, but from a female perspective. This is a great book. One of the best of 2007 ( which is turning out to be a really great year for books , or for me at least).

In his sophomore novel, Hosseini takes us back to his homeland Afghanistan, beginning briefly in 1959 and takes us to almost present day ( the fall of the Taliban). He tells the story of two women Mariam and Lalia- two women who are drawn together. Told in almost alternating chapters we follow Mariam and Lalia through their respective childhoods and as the meet and are bound together as adult women. Hosseini gives us so much reality in the situation of Afghanistan over the last half a century, from a monarch to Society Rule to the Mujahdeen to the Taliban and briefly on life after the Taliban. He pains such vivid a clear picture that I sometimes felt as if is was with Maraim and Lalia and I felt their bond, their emotions, and their life’s so strong- for a book.

I could probably gush about this book all day but I won’t. I’ll just say that this is one of the top ten books of 2007 and is a must read. I’d also like to say that this book paints the history of Afghanistan in an excellent way, more interesting than say reading a non-fiction book. Between this , The Kite Runner and The Bookseller of Kabul, I feel like I could hold an intelligent ( factual) conversation about Afghanistan or at least am able to understand the culture a little more ( more than my fellow American to say the least). This book completely stops all over that Kabul Beauty School Book if you really want a light into Afghani women.

You HAVE to go get this book.!!!!!

Another Sad Love Song

Another Sad Love Song
LaJill Hunt
**** (4/5)


Since so many of her books are “street lit” I hesitantly picked this book up and was not expecting much, but this was one good book.

JaKoby is a young black man who seemingly has it all, A good job, a MBA, a new benz and great friends, all thats missing is the right woman to spend it with. Burned by love before, he wasn’t expecting much when loves( literally) smashed into his life in the form of Chryslyn Matthews’s uninsured Camry. As JaKoby maneuvers matters of the heart we learn that everything isn’t always what it seems. Will Chrys and JaKoby’s relationship be able to handle the storms of life in the form of crazy exes and live happily ever after?


I really enjoyed this book and finished it in one day. This brings me to the only thing I didn’t like about this book- it was too short( 219 pages- mass market paperback). Ms. Hunt kept everything short and sweet, but I would have liked to get to know JaKoby and Chrys a little more. Each chapter is titled with the name of R & B song- from Luther to Toni, which keeps you in the "love spirit", hoping that Chrys & JaKoby can make it. I enjoyed the drama and suspense that was in the book and the ending is one that can’t be beat- will this be just another sad love song?

Ms. Hunt is a very talented writer and after reading this one, I am curious about some of her other books and will give them a try.

The Blue Bistro

The Blue Bistro
Elin Hilderbrand

***** ( 5/5)

Aaah- what can me more relaxing then an Elin Hilderbrand novel, sunny skies and a deck chair- not much.

The Blue Bistro introduces us to, Adreinne Dealey, a 28 year old woman who is good a running away. After loosing her boyfriend and live saving in Aspen, she decides to head to Nantucket to get away. She ends up getting a job at the Blue Bistro, the most coveted restaurant in town and immediately get caught up in its part owner- Thatcher. Unfortunately this is the Blue Bistro’s last season and she sets out to find out the reason and to define the “friendship/ relationship" between Thatch and the other owner- recluse chef Fiona. What she finds is a lot more than she bargained for but she soon land you can’t run away from love- it will always find you.

I am a big fan of Hilderbrand; I love the Nantucket locations of all her books and would love to see these beaches for myself. Aside from the great imagery this book will make you hungry. In between the descriptions of the menu at the bistro, the orders called and the food that was described in each “family meal” I was salivating. I probably liked this book because she put three of my favorite things- love, food and the beach together and it came out to be a great story.

This novel was more romance than the previous Hilderbrand titles( The Beach Club, Nantucket Nights, Summer People) I’d read, but I enjoyed it just the same and would definitley recommend this to be in your beach bag this summer.

*I like this cover a lot better than the first one.

6 month Mark

Well- the year half over at this point. Today I am an embarking on a six month progress report of my life. The grade I give myself is a D-, but this blog isn't about how my life sucks or has sucked for the past 2 years ( another milestone).

I like milestones and so I will take this day to mark " Book Milestones". Even though I have the time, I am not going to give an exact number of pages read, rather I'll give a brief overview of my reading for the first half of 2007:


Books Read: 16

Book Club Books Read: 4
#1- 1
#2- 3

Total Pages: aprox 4000 pages

Books Re-read vs. New Books. 30 total 16 new

A Few of the notable repeats:

• Something Borrowed
• Something Blue
• The Myth of You and Me
• Girl Meets God
• Soul Matters
• The Untelling

(I'm re-reading a lot of books that I read from 2005 for some reason oh and my Babysitter Club books from childhood as well)


Book on deck:

• SexGod- Rob Bell
  
• A Thousand Splendid Sons- Khaled Hosseini

Best Book so far: White Lines- Tracey Brown

Finishing Touches

Finishing Touches

***** (5/5)

Finishing Touches by Deanna Krizis is a novel that explores something few novels (or at least ones that I have read) have touched. The story begins with twenty nine year old Jesse, and aspiring furniture designer living in L.A., working at mundane, sublime job with no dating prospects, but with her two best friends in tow. When one her best friend Cecile dies unexpectedly in a car crash, Jesse life is turned upside in more ways than one. Besides loosing a best friend, she also begins to Fall in love with her ex- fiancé with.

This book took on the subject of loosing friends. Books deal with loosing family members, husbands, wives and mothers and they deal with loosing friends to cancer, but many times the people in this book seem older. This was book deals with all the trials and tribulations of the twenties themselves AND what happens when you loose a friends. Many times there are no support groups or books on this, and people don’t pay attention to the friends even though the girlfriend bond is one of the strongest bonds in the world. Krisis deals with how everyone, from the ex-fiancé Zach, to the other member of the fabulous threesome, to Zach’s family and finally how Jesse, who has been wandering lost deals with the grief.

I thoroughly enjoyed this books which a book on life, love (lost and found), friendship, grief and growth. I highly recommended this book. Although the back makes this book seem like “light” chick lit- its not and is rather deep and doesn’t come with the requisite happy ending, although the ending is good and happy.

Other suggestion:

The Myth of you and Me- Leah Stewart

Then I Almost Came to the end...

Then We Came to the End
Joshua Ferris

undecided

This books is funny, but hard to read. I could sooo relate to the “office culture “and at times it felt like reading my favorite show “The Office” however, the writing is a little weird and it is hard to keep track of everything, not to mention the “cryptic” titles which made no sense, except to tell you kind of what was going to a happen in the chapter. To be honest I couldn’t really finish this one, but the part I did read was funny. Recommend (kind of). Wish I could have finished it.., I probably will later.

Here is a link to the advert for the book- which makes me want to start reading again.

Kabul Beauty School

Kabul Beauty School-
Deborah Rodriguez

* ( 1/5)

The author Deborah Rodriguez annoyed the hell outta me in the book. Couldn’t finish it. Wasn’t surprised to hear the story about her on NPR about exploiting, setting up and leaving these woman out and the cold, to face death for her greedy actions – and the book isn’t that good. I mean listening to her moan and complain after her (Afghan) husband got his first wife pregnant is rather sickening (it would coincide with her birthday and their anniversary). I mean come on- you married a man with a first wife!!!! WTF!!!

Besides that ( which I could't get over), i just didn't feel anything when I read this book but boredrom and contempt. I see that this book is on the NYT list ( #28) and has good rating from amazon.com- I just don't see how. *Actually- this is America and I when I think of Iraq see how.

Far better is:

“The Bookseller of Kabul" or even "The Kite Runner "if you want a legitimate book about Afghan society and culture. Even though KR is fiction it is still better than this. I actually learned a lot from it.( Speaking of which- the author”The Kite Runner’s” new books is awaiting me next week…..)