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Rebecca's Library |
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| I am quite an avid reader, when I've got the time. Below are reviews of some books I've read or listened to recently and recommend. You can also check out my current and recent reading and my favorite authors as well as a full list of all the books I've read this year and in previous years. | ||||
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| March 2008 | ||||
| Title: Steamed | ||||
| Author: Susan Conant, Jessica Conant-Park | ||||
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| It's been a while since I came across a new mystery author that I've really liked. I came across the sequel to this book in the library's new book section recently and took myself off to the mystery section to find the first in the series. It turned out to be just what I was in the mood to read - light, funny and well-written. The main character is Chloe, a 25 year old decorating-challenged foodie who is reluctantly pursuing a master's degree in social work in order to fulfull the requirements of her uncle's will. Feeling a little desperate after a recent disappointment in her love life, she signs up for a dating service late one night under the influence of a bout of insomnia. In the light of day, she has misgivings but finds that she's been approached by GourmetDude and she reluctantly agrees to meet him at a new upscale restaurant for a date. The restaurant and her date Eric are disappointing. Worse yet, Eric is rude, pompous and self-involved. When he leaves to take a cell phone call in the middle and doesn't return for a long time, Chloe goes searcing and finds him dead in the bathroom. Both relieved and horrified by the end of her date, Chloe becomes involved in solving Eric's death in order to try to clear from suspicion the hottie chef Josh that she hooks up with at Eric's funeral. This book was a thoroughly entertaining way to spend a few hours and I'm looking forward to reading the next two novels in the "Gourmet Girl" series. | ||||
| October 2007 | ||||
| Title: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time | ||||
| Author: Mark Haddon | ||||
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| I picked up and put down The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time several times in multiple bookstores before I finally decided to read it. The book jacket makes it sound like a humorous book but doesn't really give any idea about what to expect. The book is amusing, but it is also much more than just a humorous book. The story is told from the point of view of the main character, Christopher, who is a 15 year old who has what I assume is autism though it's never actually explained. The way in which Christopher understands and reacts to his world is fascinating. Through his decision to be a detective to find out who killed his neighbor's dog, Christopher discovers much more than he had expected and is exposed to adventures that are more challenging than he has ever dealt with. Christopher's perspective is fascinating, and it's obvious that the author is well-educated about autism. This is a unique story and I highly recommend it. | ||||
| September 2007 | ||||
| Title: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan | ||||
| Author: Lisa See | ||||
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| Snow Flower and the Secret Fan takes place in 19th century China and is the "autobiography" of Lily and by association her friend Snow Flower. Lily and Snow flower are contractually arranged at the age of seven to be lifelong friends, a uncommon and beneficial arrangement for women in China at that time. As they grow up, Lily and Snow Flower communicate in nu shu, a unique secret language that Chinese women used to communicate with one another without being censored by men. Nu Shu messages are embroidered into handkerchiefs and other items of clothing or painted onto common objects. The first vehicle for their communication, the folds of a fan, is used to record their story throughout their lives and is passed back and forth between them. Together and apart, they face the trials of footbinding, arranged marriage, motherhood, grief and political upheavals. Though they know one another better than they know their husbands, as they grow older their friendship ultimately faces tests and threatens to break apart. Lily and Snow Flower's story is fascinating both from a historical standpoint as well as a study of friendship and I will definitely be on the lookout for other titles by Lisa See. | ||||
| August 2007 | ||||
| Title: Water for Elephants | ||||
| Author: Sara Gruen | ||||
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This is easily the most page-turning book I have read all summer. It was recommended at one of my sewing groups and after a long wait on the library queue I finally got to take it home. From the description of the story, I was a little unsure that I would like it, but once I got started, the story and the writing really engrossed me. The details alone are reason enough to read this book. The author is not only an excellent writer, but has obviously extensively researched depression-era circus life. There are photos at each chapter start from old circuses which are interesting to look at and add to the mental picture of circus life that the author is painting. From my female perspective, the author also does an amazing job of telling the story where the main character is male as well as the majority of the supporting characters. Water for Elephants is the story of Jacob Jankowski, a man who spent most of his working life in a circus environment. When the story begins, we are introduced to Jacob as a crotchety old man in his 90s who is a reluctant resident of an old-folks home. We soon find that there is much more to this old man than the average grandpa. As he dreams/remembers his youth, the story alternates between the present day and his experiences as a young man. Jacob's youthful adventures begin in 1931, about a week before he is due to take his exit exams as a veterinarian at Cornell. Through a sudden turn of events, he finds himself homeless, penniless, completely alone and without hope or his veterinary degree. Completely by accident, he ends up on the train of a second-rate circus and there his life experiences begin in earnest. Thanks to his almost-degree, he manages to fall into a position caring for the circus menagerie. As an average American kid from a good family, he doesn't fit in to the corrupt and hard-scrabble way of life that is the circus and has to watch every step. Things really start to go wrong when Jacob falls in love with the wife of the dangerously insane animal trainer. To make matters worse, the circus doesn't have enough money to pay it's performers and workers. This circus life is a corrupt and dangerous world, where displeasing the wrong person or being unable to work can result in being "red lighted" - thrown off the moving train over a trestle in the middle of the night. Jacob finds himself in an untenable situation which must be resolved. To tell anymore would be to give the story away, so you will have to read it for yourself! |
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Reading Lists: |
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| Reading List - 2008 Reading List - 2007 Reading List - 2006 Reading List - 2005 |
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Favorite Writers |
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