The Baker’s Daughter
4/5- ****
Sarah McCoy

So it’s no secret based on my GR read list that I books involving WWII and the Holocaust is a Genre that I enjoy reading. I think its goes back to my childhood and growing up In Germany.

Anyway, that background leads me to The Baker’s Daughter by Sarah McCoy. Another book I learned about while on GR, and by an author whose previous work- The Time it Snowed in Puerto Rico,  I enjoyed.

Once I learn that a book is about the Holocaust, I tend to not read the descriptions because I’ve found that it makes me compare books to others and I like reading with a fresh slate.

The Baker’s Daughter is written in the same tone as others such as Sarah’s Key and Those Who Save Us, in that it parallel’s two story lines- one present day and one in Europe during the 1940’s. This particular story focuses on Elise, a young teenaged girl goring up during the last months of the war. The daughter of a Baker, her family struggles under a crippling war and rations that threaten what’s left of their livelihood. Elsie’s older sister is away in the Nazi’s Lebensborn Program ( which I never heard about until reading this book) and it interesting to see a factious Pro-Nazi account ( even if it was only briefly).

The current day story involves Elsie as and the elderly co-owner of a German Bakery in Texas with her daughter when journalist Reeba walks in to write an article on her. Reba’s story follows her love-affair with an Immigration and Customs official and her struggle to understand her family.

I was much more interested in Elsie’s story than Reba’s but found Reba an enjoyable character. I just struggled to place her within the context of the story and felt that Riki’s full story would probably be a better tie-in with the overall story in terms of Riki’s struggle with his job. I was a little worried that when his job was instructed there would be a parallel  between that and what was happening in Elsie’s story, but there wasn’t.

I really enjoyed this story, again Elsie’s much more than Reba’s and I think this book is a great addition to my shelves. I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys this “genre” as well as to those who enjoyed Sarah’s Key and Those Who Save Us.

Perfect Fifths

Perfect Fifths
Megan McCafferty
After finishing this book I took a while to formulate a review because Initially I didn't like it. I was disappointed. After thinking about it for a few days my opinion landed somewhere in the middle. I didn't like it, but I didn't hate it either. Jessica's negativity which I enjoyed 16-25 got a little old for me. In addition the haiku's in the book got on my last nerve to the point I had to make myself read them. I felt they were unnecessary. Another unnecessary component was the hold Sunny theme, I just couldn't place the reason for it.

When I look back over the Jessica Darling series, I think Fourth Comings was my favorite and while I enjoyed the overall ending the Jessica Darling, I can't help but feel a little annoyed at the final book.

***(3/5)

I'm Back!

Almost exactly two years later and am returning to my original project.

So much as happened in the past two years,which is to say that I've been busy.

My last post stopped around Fall of 07. During that time I got a promotion, had a severe asthma attack and spent a few days in the hospital and then I got engaged.

I spent the first half of 2008 planning a beautiful wedding to my wonderful husband.

We got married in June ( 6/7/8) and then in August I quit my job, moved 500 miles away to Baton Rouge, La and begin graduate school in Higher Education.

I told you I was busy.

In between being sick, getting engaged, planning a wedding, getting married, moving and returning to school, I haven't been reading too much.That changed this year when some of the girls and I started a book challenge. I participated in a winter book challenge, but was unable to complete due to school and work. My overall challenge for 2009 was to read 100 books. Based on the past, it wasn't a huge task, but still a challenge nonetheless.

As I write this, I am a little over 60 books- over half-way there. Which is good, because come Fall( a.k.a. Football season), I doubt I'll get much reading done.

All that reading had me rethinking by book reviews. Around the same time I started a blog for a class I am taking this summer and voila - rebirth!

I hope you enjoy my new and and improved book reviews!

One Perfect Day

One Perfect Day
Rebeca Mead

I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I read this. I love weddings and have been in wedding withdrawal since my own wedding last year. I also frequent the nest/knot boards daily ( that's even how I found goodreads).

That being said, I'm not sure that I got much that I didn't already know about the wedding industry. Nothing was really shocking, eye-opening or interesting. If you are a knottie, than I say skip this. You'll get way more and better info hanging out on the message boards. For the uninitiated, you might enjoy this foray into another world much better.

***(3/5)

Bound South

Bound South
Susan Rebeca White
****(4)

I was so excited to get started reading this book. I saw it in BN and months ago and ordered it off amazon.com making sure to save it for my husbands and I am beach vacation. I woke up early our first morning there and headed out to t he beach to get started.
I was interested in this book for many reasons, the first of which is that it takes place in my hometown Atlanta. I love books about Atlanta, especially with the homesickness I’ve been feeling lately.
Bound South is the story of three different woman- typical southern belle- Louise, her rebellious daughter Caroline and the family’s maid and her daughter Faye and Missy. The story is told in points of view from Caroline, Louise and Missy and alternates chapter as it takes place over a span of 4 years. The story touches on some, important subjects such as race, socioeconomic level, sexuality, religion and marital issues. It touches on many of these points in some rather subtle ways which do not fail to still get the point across. I loved the books for the richness of experiences that each character brings to the table.
I do have to mention that this book was not what I was expecting, but in the end I was pleasantly surprised and still enjoyed it. The way in which the author handles many of the sensitive issues in the book was well thought-out and executed.
The cast of supporting characters- Louise’s son, husband and mother-in-law, also add a nice element of depth to the story.

The one thing that I was a little disappointed in was that there wasn’t much attention paid to the marital issues between Louise and her Husband, although we saw bits and pieces of where it came from and how it manifested itself. At times, I felt like I was missing something from the story.

Overall, Bound South was a perfect beach read. Not all chic-lit, but the perfect balance of substance, good real life characters, plot and great writing.

My Word!

My Word! Plagarism and the College Culture
Susan Blum
This is a very good primer on college students in general and plagiarism. As an college admin who deals with 5-7 cases of Plagiarism at a large university ( our system is much different from Saint U') it seemed basic for me. I hear most of the reasons day in and day out. What I was looking for when I first saw this book advertised was a a more in depth look at those reasons and I got a little. Ms. Blum skimmed the service of those reasons and gave some very realistic recommendations for facing this problem head-on

I am currently putting together a course/workshop for faculty on recognizing and handling academic integrity and will definitely use this book as well as recommended to it faculty as a resource.

Plagiarism is a very big concern today and this book offers a very good introduction and coverage of this issue on today's college campus.

London is the Best City in America

London is the Best City in America

Lisa Dave

I’ll preface this review with a snippet of a review from amazon.com and I have to agree that this is a very 20 something /30ish type of book. I think it just solidifies the whole idea of the quaterlife crisis and the idea of how my generation runs around confused- looking for answers by wanting other’s to choose or by running away. I fully accept that I am part of that dynamic and the past few years of my life have been true testament.

Synopsis- Emmy is returning to her hometown to attend the wedding of her older brother three years after abruptly calling off her own engagement. Returning home for the first time since then Emmy is already dealing with a range of emotions and realities and is not prepared when her brother exhibits his own doubts- mainly another woman. Emmy forced to face her own ghost, tries to help her brother figure out his path.

So it should come as no surprise that I enjoyed this book for what I got from it: Thoughtful, insightful prose from an identifiable protagonist. Of course I don’t consider myself as off the deep end as Emmy ( others might disagree), but I do understand her circles of thoughts and her introspections were decidedly familiar. This was one of those books that I couldn’t put down, because I had to know what happened and when I did I had just as many unanswered questions as before. That whole idea felt describing like my life and the past few years- more questions than answers and so I was able to actually put this book down satisfied, which is more than I can say for a few books that have ended similarly. For some reason there was no need for answers and the ending was sufficient enough.

There were about two chapters which lost me- the pace of the novel slowed and I struggled to finish them after skipping ahead and forcing myself to turn back. Overall, I found the book rather enjoyable and fitting. Again- I’d point out that if you are outside the 20/early 30 range you probably won’t enjoy this one.

Interview with Author.

****1/2