The Engagements, by J. Courtney Sullivan

This was a book I had been eager to read for some time.  I initially had it in my Amazon cart, eagerly awaiting its release, until the geek gods stepped in at Book Expo America.  I was casually making my way down one aisle or another when I noticed a young woman (the author) quietly signing books behind a curtain.  Yes, boys and girls - I had found my wizard of oz!  I made a mental note to cancel my pre-order, and got on line for my freebie copy of The Engagements! 

Now, a fair warning to all who are reading this:  I already gave my copy of the book away to a friend.  Therefore, I'm writing this review strictly from memory.  (ie - this could get ugly, and rather silly).  That said, the book was...umm...err...good.  Yes, it was good.  The end.

Aww crap.  That's not going to cut it, huh?  Hmm...let's see.   The tale is told via a few different story lines (Three?  Four?  Same difference, really).  Each group of characters is dealing with different stages of engagements and marriages (and those blinding sparklies that go with them).  There was a major flaw here, though.  The characters (with few exceptions) sucked.  There were several moments when I caught myself literally rolling my eyes, and wanting to throw the book in the trash.  Whether it was the french woman who made it abundantly clear that Americans are the scum of the Earth, or the borderline-psychotic mom who wouldn't let her toddler daughter play with a dastardly Barbie (lest she get any false ideas about beauty), these people made me want to puke.  Combine that with the fact that the chapters were way too long for my liking, and you'll see why  I actually had to *work* to get through it. 

I'm happy to report, however, that the effort was worth it.  Without giving too much away, you'll see that these separate story lines weren't just randomly thrown out there.  There was no neat little red bow at the end, a la Jodi Picoult, but I would venture to guess that there will be more than one shiny little light bulb sparking over your head about 3/4 of the way through.  

This was a solid effort by a perfectly lovely author, who (whom?) I truly enjoyed meeting.  In fact, her previous books, Commencement and Maine, will likely make their way onto my 'to-read' list.  If I was going to be uber-critical, though (and why wouldn't I be...being from Jersey and all?), I would say that the despicable characters were a major drawback.  I know I mentioned this once already, but trust me - it's worth repeating.  Don't get me wrong here - not all of the characters were awful.  But, I found myself placing everyone into one of two schools of thought - I either hated them, or I was indifferent.  Blech.  Who on Earth wants to spend time with people you either loathe or couldn't care less about?  In this particular case, though, believe it or not, I say suffer through it.  I guarantee you, it will be less painful than listening to Great Aunt Tallulah and Uncle Tonoose fighting over how the stuffing should be made, while inadvertently spitting on the turkey you were waiting to eat.  As we all know, sometimes you have to get past the unpleasant surface stuff to get to the soft, gooey center.

The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion, by Fannie Flagg

Several years ago, when I re-discovered my local library, one of the first books I checked out was by Fannie Flagg.  Aside from the homey cover image depicting small town America, I was intrigued by the author herself.  Could this really be the same woman I remember watching on tv when I was a kid?  I mean, really...how many Fannie Flaggs could there BE??

After discovering that, yes, this author and the actress were one in the same, I settled in for a read that lived up to its nice, cozy cover, and never looked back.

It's been a few years since I read one of Ms. Flagg's books.  Admittedly, I couldn't tell you whether that's because she hasn't written any, or if I just missed them.  But, when I got that taunting 30% off coupon from Barnes & Noble in my inbox, The All-Girl Filling Station 's Last Reunion just jumped right into my cart. 

As the book opens, we meet Sookie Poole - a name that teeters a bit too close to that Jersey shore trash if you ask me, but maybe I'm just a bit too sensitive, as a life-long Jersey girl.  Anywho, Mrs. Poole has just successfully married off her third daughter and is looking forward to some peace and quiet at home when a letter arrives for her mother, Lenore, a drama queen who lives just two doors up.  The contents of that letter will shake up everything Sookie once thought she knew about herself.

What transpires in the next 300 pages or so is a journey back and forth between the present and the early 1940's, when war was wreaking havoc on this country and all its citizens.  The men are disappearing into the folds of military life, leaving the women on the homefront to keep the family businesses running (hence the book's title).  As Sookie tries to solve the mysteries surrounding her own identity, we're introduced to a colorful cast of characters, including several female World War II pilots, called WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots).  Google it - interesting stuff there, folks!

Ms. Flagg's books are, quite simply, good reads.  They're filled with insane antics that will have you laughing out loud, while you grab your box of Kleenex in preparation for your heart to crumble on the next page.  She manages to fill her stories with characters both unique and familiar, making you wish you lived in whatever fictional southern town her mind has whipped up.  (Although, when she's throwing around names like Marvaleen and Edna Yorba Zorbra, you *do* have to question what she's smoking.)

In short, this Yankee is a fan.  And, the fact that I learned a little bit of WWII history in the process is just gravy.

The Good Sister, by Wendy Corsi Staub

Reviewing a book like this almost feels like cheating.  The reason for that is simple – everything written by Wendy Corsi Staub always sounds the same to me.  This is probably the third book by Ms. Staub (Ms. Corsi Staub?) that I’ve read, and I’ve been left with that feeling of ‘meh’ each and every time.  They always hold so much promise - those shiny, thick, 400+ page tomes with spooky covers that call my name from the shelves of my local bookstore.  Alas, I always seem to get about 150 pages in when I realize I’m not getting anywhere at all – and I have HOW MANY MORE PAGES TO GO?  She bores me. 

Here’s the description directly from Amazon.com:  In New York Times bestselling author Wendy Corsi Staub's electrifying new thriller, a mother races to save her daughter before her darkest nightmare comes true.

Sacred Sisters Catholic girls' school has hardly changed since Jen Archer was a student. Jen hoped her older daughter would thrive here. Instead, shy, studious Carley becomes the target of vicious bullies. But the real danger at Sacred Sisters goes much deeper.

The only person Carley can talk to is "Angel," a kindred spirit she met online. Carley tells Angel everything—about her younger sister, about school, about the sudden death of her former best friend. Angel is her lifeline. And Angel is closer than she knows.

When another schoolgirl is found dead, Jen's unease grows. There are too many coincidences, too many links to her past. Every instinct tells her that Carley is the next target. For someone is intent on punishing the guilty, teaching the ultimate lesson in how to fear . . . and how to die.

Wouldn’t that description suck you right in?  (Nevermind the creepy cover to go with it!)  I was all set to FLY through this book.  Sadly, it was not meant to be.  Do you remember one of my previous reviews when I talked about superfluous characters?  Well, I think this woman specializes in them.  There were so many names thrown about – sometimes for just a chapter or two – I couldn’t understand what she was getting at.  They served no purpose whatsoever! 

All in all, the book wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t half as exciting as its synopsis promised.  With that said, I’ll devote no more time to it.  There are too many *good* books out there to read.

I still think the ideas behind the story were good, however, so it still earns (a generous)

Sycamore Row, by John Grisham

This book was a long time coming!  After being introduced to the scrabbling new attorney Jake Brigance in 1989’s A Time to Kill, we’re finally getting an update from Mr. Grisham.  And what a highly entertaining update it is!

In Sycamore Row, the year is now 1988, and the cast of characters includes the wealthy white Seth Hubbard, who takes his own life by hanging.  Before that, however, he writes a will, leaving most of his $20 million + fortune to his black housekeeper, Lettie.  Oh, did I forget to mention that he has intentionally excluded his two children?  Knowing that the contents of this will won’t be taken lightly, he enlists the help of Mr. Brigance via a letter left with his suicide note.  In the deep south of Clanton, Mississippi, you can imagine where this one is going.  And, lest you feel I’ve given too much away, this all occurs in the first 20 or so pages. 

Every time I pick up a John Grisham book, it’s abundantly clear to me why he’s so successful.  His books are just *so* readable, with likeable and unlikable characters alike.  (And, yes, I used a form of the word ‘like’ 3 million times in that sentence on purpose, just to make sure you’re still paying attention.)  Most importantly, though, each of those characters has a particular role to play.  Nothing aggravates me more than a bunch of ‘throwaway’ people added in the middle of the book, simply as filler.  Whether you love them or hate them, you’ll find yourself embroiled in the activities of each of the people introduced (or reintroduced) in Sycamore Row.

This is a tough book to review without giving too much away, though.  You already know the meat of the story – it’s the subsequent 425 pages that will fill in all the details.  Suffice it to say that it was an engrossing story, with a stomach-churning ending.  You’ll have to get there for yourself, though.  I’m not giving it away.   

 

 

Doctor Sleep, by Stephen King

From an Amazon.com description - “On highways across America, a tribe of people called the True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless—mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and spunky twelve-year-old Abra Stone learns, the True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the steam that children with the shining produce when they are slowly tortured to death.”

I’ll be honest – I’m glad I didn’t read that description before I picked up the book.  The whole concept of this troupe of marauding vampire-types just doesn’t scream ‘read me.’  Admittedly, though, I’m probably in the minority on that.

I will also say that I’m very glad I read the book’s predecessor, The Shining, shortly before picking this one up.  It’s not that the cast of characters will have you lost, or asking questions.  But, it’s nice that they were all fresh in my memory (feeble as it may be), and I was eager for an update on their progress. 

Dan (Danny) Torrance is now a middle aged man, struggling to defeat his alcohol-laced demons, when he wanders into a small New Hampshire town and takes up residence.  He soon becomes a responsible employee at a local hospice, where he is given the moniker Doctor Sleep.  I’ll let you interpret that one for yourselves.  Along the course of his journeys, Dan meets young Abra, who also has the shining, and the two embark on a quest to battle the aforementioned True Knot.

One thing I think readers should be aware of before picking this book up – it’s not going to send chills up and down your spine.  You won’t have problems sleeping because you’re afraid of things going bump in the night.  It’s not THAT kind of Stephen King novel.  What it is, is a well-crafted story, with rich, deep characters.  That said, in true King fashion, he gets a bit long-winded somewhere in the middle, and the book could probably benefit by a reduction of about 100 pages.  But, I'll let Mr. King slide on that one.  

I started reading Stephen King several years ago, when books like Insomnia and Cell were released.  I was less than impressed.  A few years ago, he released 11/22/63, and I was blown away.  HERE’S the master storyteller I’ve always heard about.  He followed that up with Joyland, another quick favorite of mine.  I don’t know what middle age is doing to Mr. King, but it’s working.  I have no idea what his next book will be, but you can be sure I’ll be ordering it.  In the meantime, I may need to dig out some more of mom’s old copies of King classics, such as Salem’s Lot, Carrie, and Christine.

4 Stars (Oops…have to get used to my new rating system!)  I give Doctor Sleep…

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

Lookie, lookie!!  I have a pretty blog now!!!  Isn't it pretty?? 

I figured if this was something I was going to stick with for a bit, I wanted a nice, eye-pleasing look to go with it!  So, since I have zero knowledge and/or skill in this area, I hired the *very* helpful and talented Lori at Imagination Designs to help me out.  If your blog is in need of some aesthetic assistance, please seek her out - you'll be glad you did!!

A few random book thoughts...

It’s been a few weeks (months?) since I’ve updated the miscellaneous extra books that I’ve finished without reviewing.  Here are just a few of them that I deemed worthy of my little, meaningless spotlight:

-      Unseen by Karin Slaughter – 4 stars (If you’re a fan of crime fiction, you *must* check out Ms. Slaughter’s books.  There have been a few random misses along the way, but for the most part, her books rock!  She definitely ranks somewhere in my list of top 10 favorite authors.)

-      The Hit by David Baldacci – 3 stars (Meh – nothing great here.  If you’ve read one Baldacci, you’ve read ‘em all.)

-      The Perfect Ghost by Linda Barnes – 2.5 stars (Don’t waste your time.  The description on the back flap is more entertaining than the 300+ pages contained within.  *yawn*)

-      The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith – 3.5 stars (I admit that I drank the kool aid on this one.  Once the cat was out of the bag that Mr. Galbraith is actually Ms. J.K. Rowling, I just *had* to have it.  It was a decent read, but certainly nothing earth shattering.  I could take it or leave it.  That said, the kindle edition is only $5.99 today – not sure why.  But, if you’re interested, why are you still here reading this?  Go spend some money…buy buy buy!  Okay, who’s singing the N’Sync song, now?)

-      Mistress/Guilty Wives by James Patterson – 3 stars (I bunched these two separate titles together for a reason.  If you’re a Patterson fan, you’ll know why.  His books all meld together after a bit, and you can’t tell one from the other.  These were your typical page-turning, speed-reading specials from someone who USED to be a favorite.  Go back to writing your own books again, Mr. Patterson, and maybe you’ll re-join the top 10 with Ms. Slaughter up there!)

 

And, since I’ve promised myself that no post shall be shared without a pretty picture to go with...

(The last time I shared some eye candy on here, it was a Channing pic for my friends.  This time, it's all about me, baby.  *sigh*)

Omens, by Kelley Armstrong

As I sit here mumbling and grumbling to myself over Amazon.com’s failure to deliver Stephen King’s new book to me on time, I figured I’d take the opportunity to share a few thoughts on this interesting little book that I picked up at the library last week.  (Technically, at 496 pages, it’s not so little, but the ‘interesting’ descriptive still holds!)

The central character in the book is a young woman named Olivia.  Early on, she discovers that her wealthy folks are not, in fact, her biological parents.  Instead, she’s the spawn of a couple of notorious serial killers.  She sets out on an adventure to a spooky little burg called Cainsville to find out the truth for herself, and exactly what that truth means.  This is when the book really started to get interesting.

Cainsville is a very small community where strange things seem to happen.  There was nothing over the top – more like a sordid cast of characters who, perhaps, knew a little more than they should have about everything.  There were gargoyles, black cats, ravens – all that Halloween-y stuff.  Then, of course, there was also the obligatory hunk, namely Gabriel Walsh, who you could never fully figure out.  He’s a local attorney who has more than his share of naysayers.  The question remains, however - is he a good guy or a bad guy?  Most times, it was hard to tell.

At nearly 500 pages long, you would think this one took a while to read.  Not so.  I borrowed it on Friday night, and finished it Sunday morning.  (Of course, that doesn’t say much for my social life, does it?  Oh, that’s right – I’m married.  Therefore, I don’t *have* a social life!)  This was a fast-paced novel, with concise, relatively short chapters, which I l-o-v-e!!! 

When I finished the book, I was a little disappointed – I had questions!!  Where are my answers?!?  Then, I read the teensy little print on the cover that stated ‘A Cainsville Novel.’  i.e. – there will be more to come.  Whew, I can relax now.  (Of course, by the time book 2 comes out, I’m sure I will have forgotten every single element of this book…story of my seemingly-elderly life.)

Before picking this up, I knew nothing about the author, Kelley Armstrong.  Apparently, she’s the proud mama of a popular fantasy series called Otherworld.  I almost wish I had known that previously, so I would’ve had a better idea of what I was reading.  The first time the ravens started appearing out of thin air, I was thrown for a loop, since the bulk of the story came across as simply suspenseful, contemporary fiction.  In general, I’m not a huge fan of the fantasy/paranormal genre, but this was highly entertaining.  I would be interested in hearing what Armstrong fans think of this one, in relation to her other efforts.  I’m tempted to pick up the first book in that other series, just to compare.  Of course, that’s only once I finish reading the 947 books I still have sitting in my living room, waiting to be read.  *sigh* The life of a book hoarder…           

3.5 Stars

The Shining, by Stephen King

This was a book I’ve been meaning to read for years now.  I never saw the original movie, but I *did* see the television miniseries that aired several years ago, with Rebecca DeMornay and Steven Webber (that guy from Wings – anyone remember that show?), and was quite underwhelmed.  In fact, I couldn’t understand how any part of that story could be deemed scary.  It just seemed…silly.  I was advised by my wise mother (always listen to Mom, kids) that I NEEDED to read the book.  After nearly two decades, I finally listened to her.  (I’ll be honest – it was the appeal of the upcoming sequel, Doctor Sleep, that sucked me in.  But, don’t tell Mom that!)  I eagerly downloaded Mr. King’s early masterpiece to my Kindle, and hunkered down for a long read. 

For those of you who don’t already know the gist of The Shining, it centers around the Torrance family – Jack, Wendy, and son Danny – and a famous Colorado hotel, called the Overlook.  Jack is out of work, and decides to take a job as caretaker for the hotel during the long winter months, when it’s closed for the season.  In a nutshell, the family will be cut off from civilization until the warm weather returns.  Sounds like the perfect setting for a horror story, doesn’t it?

The book was fairly easy to get into, although I admit I was a little bored early on.  I’d say I wasn’t fully engrossed until somewhere around the halfway mark.  That’s when inanimate objects started to come to life, and all that other good, spooky stuff!  Unfortunately, most of the iconic frightening elements of the story were already familiar to me – not necessarily from the movie, but because they’ve become a part of pop culture.  For example, do you know anyone who’s not familiar with the word ‘redrum’ by now?  But, if I had come across it here for the first time, I’m sure it would’ve supplied a shiver or two.

The Shining was just the ticket for me.  I like horror stories and scary, creepy stuff, but I’m also a big-time scaredy cat.  (In high school, I bought a book about Jack the Ripper, and had to leave it in my parent’s room between readings, because I was too scared to have it nearby.  Yeah, *that* wimpy.)  This had just about the perfect level of eerie happenings for me.  A true horror fan, in today’s day and age of blood and gore, may be a little disappointed.  (Remember, this book was written in 1977, when people were still afraid of Vampires.  Little did they know that the future held Robert Pattinson – ewwww.)  For those of you brave souls who think The Shining is for wimps, may I recommend a little book called Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill (who just so happens to be Mr. King’s son)?  If you want a book to scare the holy bejesus out of you, that’s the one to get.  (I got about a third of the way through before I gave it away.  Being a married woman, my parent’s bedroom was no longer accessible, and I couldn’t find another hiding spot that was safe enough.)

I’m glad I finally read this classic.  My copy of the sequel should arrive next Tuesday, and hopefully, I won’t have to give that one away, either.  I’ll let you know!  ;)

 4 Stars

Where the $#^& have you been?!?

She's alive...she's alive!!!!

Just barely...

So, it seemed as if I fell off the face of the earth, didn't it?  I sorta felt that way, too.  In actuality, I was just in Disneyworld.  I think I mentioned previously that the house of mouse is my favorite place, didn't I?  If I didn't, I'm telling you now.  Walt Disney World is utopia.  I want to live there.  No, not in Orlando, Kissimmee, or any of the other surrounding towns.  I want to live *in* WDW.  I'll take a room at the Animal Kingdom Lodge - club level, please.    A girl can wish, no?  Anyway, the hubs and I spend around two weeks a year in our favorite world, and we just returned from 2013's major jaunt last week.  While it physically hurts to get back to real life, here I am.  To soften the blow, I naturally picked up a good book.  So, that review is coming right up.  I'll try my best not to disappear again.  It's just so hard when you're spending time in Fantasyland. 

Justice for Sara, by Erica Spindler

There's something to be said for a simple, somewhat brainless mystery. I'm not sure exactly what that something is, but it sounded like a good way to start this review, no?

 

At the beginning of 'Justice for Sara,' we meet Katherine (Kat) McCall, referred to as the Lizzie Borden of small town Liberty, Louisiana.  (Now doesn't that just make you feel all warm & fuzzy?)  Ten years prior, Kat's sister, Sara, was brutally murdered in the little cottage they shared after the untimely death of their parents.  The teenaged Katherine was subsequently tried, and acquitted, of the murder but it's apparent that she was still guilty in the eyes of town residents. 

After making a new life for herself in Portland, Sara returns to her hometown in a final effort to find her sister's true killer, once and for all clearing her name.  When the cottage is vandalized, we're introduced to the town's acting sheriff, Luke Tanner (cue cheesy soap opera music), who just happens to be a big ol' drop of eye candy.  What a surprise!!!

Anyway, we meet the usual cast of characters for this type of book: ex-boyfriends, family members, nosy neighbors, former friends turned enemies, you get the drift.  There wasn't a whole lot of originality here. But, there was a decent amount of intrigue, and that whole 'just-one-more-chapter-and-then-I'll-go-to-bed' mentality. 

To that point, I read the book in just two days.  And not just any two days.  No sir.  These were two weekdays.  When I worked.  And cooked.  And cleaned.  And did laundry.  (Okay, I didn't really do any of those things.  I read the bulk of it on a Sunday afternoon, while my husband was engrossed in reruns of Law & Order.  Did you know the Criminal Intent episodes are the best?  So says Jim).  Anyway, I just thought it would sound more dramatic with a little embellishment.  Instead, I caved and told you the truth.  I enjoyed Ms. Spindler's novel while chillaxing in my Hello Kitty pj pants, k?  Get over it.  The book was good.  So...

 

In true whodunnit form, at some point or another, the finger of suspicion is pointed at just about everyone in the book, except for toddlers who haven't yet surpassed the Weeble stage.  (If you don't get the Weeble reference, then my old ass hates you...go google).  And, yes, I did figure out who *did* do it about halfway through the book.  You likely will, too.  But, it was still entertaining, without too much of the mush factor between Kat & Luke interfering (I hate when a mystery writer tries to write a sex scene.  seriously?  Yeah - don't do that.)

So, overall, this one was definitely worth the time.  An entertaining, fast-paced page turner that will likely get me to read more books by Erica Spindler in the future. 

 

3.5 Stars

 

The 9th Girl, by Tami Hoag

From goodreads.com:  "Kovac had seen more dead bodies than he could count: Men, women, children; victims of shootings, stabbings, strangulations, beatings; fresh corpses and bodies that had been left for days in the trunks of cars in the dead of summer. But he had never seen anything quite like this . . . "

Doesn’t that sound AWESOME (in a *not* sick way)??  I love me a good murder mystery, and this seemed like just the ticket.  Many years ago, I remember reading a few books by Ms. Hoag.  (How do you pronounce that, anyway?  Is it HOAG, as in hoagie?  Ho-Ag, which I seem to remember seeing someplace?  Or should I just keep it simple, and call her Tami Ho?  Yeah, I think that’s for the best.  She won’t mind…really.  How’s she going to know?)  Anyway, I distinctly remember reading one of her books back in high school and LOVING it.  Then, I remember reading a second one and HATING it.  Hence, I haven’t picked one up since.  God knows, it’s now been a long, long, (insert more long’s, please) time now.  But, we won’t discuss that.  Just refer to me as Grandma, and we’ll call it a day.

So, I figured xx number of years was enough time to let bygones be bygones, and I picked up Ms. Ho’s new book, The 9^th Girl.  I was sucked into the story immediately, with an easy to follow storyline, and likable, if stereotypical, characters.  You know the ones I mean - the surly, grumbly cop (Kovac); the struggling single mom trying to connect with her teenage sons (Liska).  And, how appropriate, with today’s trends, that the first victim is referred to as Zombie Doe.  Walking Dead, anyone?       

There were several different side stories going on at the same time, which could very easily have muddied the waters (particularly for this old brain).  Instead, though, they seemed to mesh and flow with one another seamlessly, resulting in a rich, robust whodunnit. 

I think it’s time to forgive Ms. Ho for previously doing me wrong.  She earned back my literary trust with this gem.  On a side note, however, I was a little bummed to find out that this particular novel is actually #4 in a series, titled (big surprise) Kovac and Liska.  It was certainly fine as a stand-alone novel, but it would’ve been nice to have a little background on the characters beforehand.  (Not to mention my OCD rearing its ugly head, screaming ‘READ THEM IN ORDER, OR NOT AT ALL!’)  Anyway, at least I now know where I’ll be heading next.  I just hope it wasn’t #1, 2, or 3 that initially turned me off the Ho to begin with.  That would just be wrong. 

4 Stars    

The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells, by Andrew Sean Greer

I finished reading this book several days ago now, but still haven’t been able to start writing a review.  This is a toughie.  Can I really say that I didn’t enjoy it?  Or were the confusing elements presented in an entertaining enough way to give it a thumbs-up?  I’m still not sure.

I should tell you up front that I didn’t purchase this book, nor borrow it from my library.  Instead, I won a copy through a Goodreads.com giveaway.  These things can be a blessing or a curse.  Sure, you get to read a new book – many times, before it’s even released.  The down side, however, is that some of them suck.  I mean really, really SUCK.  While this particular book won’t rank high on my favorite reads of 2013 list, it didn’t fall all the way down in the suckage puddle, either.

The story revolves around Greta Wells.  At the beginning of the book, it’s 1985, and many elements of Greta’s life seem to be falling apart.  Her twin brother, Felix, has just died of AIDS, while her lover of many years, Nathan, has decided to jump ship and leave her.  What’s a girl to do?  Why, she turns to electroconvulsive therapy, of course.  Don’t we all?  I *did* say that the year is 1985, didn’t I?  Ah well…

As Miss Wells embarks on these treatments, she travels through time – back to the Greta of 1918 and 1941.  She shifts between years with each session, waking up first in 1918, then in 1941, followed by 1985, and then starts all over again.  Here’s where everything went a little off course for me, however.  While the book is generally well written, and should be easy to follow, it’s a little ‘all over the place’ at the same time.  All the same characters are present during each visit – Felix, Nathan, et al.  The problem I had was keeping them all straight.  Sometimes Greta and Nathan were married, sometimes he was off at war.  Felix was always a homosexual, but at times he was married with a child, while other times, he was a loner, trying to face who he really was.  I can tell you what I was…CONFUSED. 

Granted, I’m a relatively fast reader, which can sometimes work against me.  I think that was the case here.  I’d go through the pages at a rate that made me forget what happened just four paragraphs ago.  That’s *not* a good thing when the story is flipping between three different time periods, involving (for the most part) all the same characters.  That brings me to my next point, though…

In 1918, Greta has a fling, if you will, with a young man named Leo.  I liked Leo.  I wanted to know more about Leo.  Sadly, though, Leo seemed like an afterthought that was thrown in just to add another element of drama.  Basically, what came out of the ‘Leo’ storyline could’ve been ripped from any soap opera script.  Is now a good time to mention that I don’t watch soap operas?

I don’t want to give you the wrong impression here, though.  The book was entertaining.  It was well written and interesting.  To be fair, I should probably sit down with it and give it another read – more slowly this time.  Unfortunately, though, there are far too many other books to be tackled.  So, I’m sticking with my middle of the road opinion.  Your mileage may vary.

3 Stars    

Yummy Veggie Pasta Salad

Well, it’s been about a month since I began this journey, so I figured it was time to finally get a recipe posted.  I want to get one thing out of the way immediately.  I don’t particularly *like* to cook.  Actually, that’s not completely accurate.  I do like to cook – it’s the cleaning up that I loathe.  My hubby and I have a deal that says whenever I choose to cook, he’ll handle the clean up.  There’s only one problem with that.  His idea of clean up is throwing everything in the sink to ‘soak.’  Yeah, right, gotcha honey.  Anyway, the reason I’m blathering on and on with all this useless information is simply to let you know that if I’m posting a recipe, it’s got to be two things:  Tasty and E-A-S-Y.

This first one I’m going to share is a big-time favorite of ours.  My husband (Jimmy – have you met?) has been known to refer to it as pasta crack, if that’s any indication.  I originally found it through Weight Watchers, but I’ve since tweaked it to make it my own.  Please keep in mind that I have never, *ever* written out a recipe on my own, so go easy on me here if I make any errors.  Also, with this particular recipe, you can make many, many alterations to make this recipe your own, as well.  The possibilities are endless.  

Ingredients:   

1 lb. whole wheat pasta (any shape - we prefer penne or rotini)

1/3 cup white wine vinegar

1 t. sugar

3 t. olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

4 T. shredded parmesan

2 bell peppers (any color – mix it up, and make it bright and pretty!)

1 bunch asparagus

½ cup sundried tomatoes, chopped

Salt, Pepper, Dried Basil to taste (or use the fresh stuff if you’re a snob)

Directions:

1.       Wash and dry all vegetables.  Slice the asparagus into 1-inch pieces and cook via your favorite method.  (I use those Steam bags from Ziploc, and nuke the suckers for about 2 minutes).

 2.       Cut the peppers into 1-inch square pieces.  Add 1 teaspoon of the olive oil to a non-stick pan and sauté the peppers until tender.  (Note the bland, yet Christmas-y colors I had to work with.  That's what happens when you send hubby to the vegetable market to get 'bright, fun' colors.)

3.       Chop the sundried tomatoes in a large dice and set aside.

4.       In the meantime, start a pot of salted water boiling and add the pasta.

5.       In a large bowl, add the vinegar, sugar, garlic, and cheese and whisk together.

6.       When the pasta is finished, drain and return to the same pot.  Add in the remaining two teaspoons of olive oil and stir.

7.       Add the pasta to the large bowl containing the vinegar mixture.  Add in remaining vegetables (asparagus, peppers, and sundried tomatoes).

8.       Stir well, and season with salt, pepper, and basil to taste.

Voila!  You’re done.  This makes nine 1-cup servings (at 6 points plus each) OR  six 1-1/2 cup servings (at 9 points plus each).  You can eat it when it’s fresh and hot, or let it get to room temperature, or be a rebel and eat it after it’s been refrigerated.  I like it all three ways, while Jimmy prefers the room temp version.

My FAVORITE thing about this recipe is that it makes oodles of leftovers, that are great to take with you anywhere (it’s that whole temperature thing, remember?).    Also, you can add or subtract just about anything you want.  In fact, I usually make this with the addition of a poblano or jalapeno pepper, to give it a little bit of a kick.  If you choose to go the spicy route, just remember to sauté the hotties with the boring bell peppers.


Disclaimer:  The finished product shown here was taken the *last* time I made this pasta salad (note the prettier colors!)  I admit, I spaced and forgot to take the picture this go round.  Sorry 'bout that!

Some other suggestions: 

-          I once made this with fresh corn that I stripped from the cob.  I added in some black beans for that healthy fiber, and used cilantro instead of the basil.  This is one of Jimmy’s favorite varieties and I made it up all by myself!!  Yay, me!!!

-          Okay, I really only made that one other variation, but I thought it would look stupid to only have one bullet point. 

Chow down, loyal readers.  I’ll wait ‘til you’re finished.

Miscellaneous Musings

I read a lot of books.  Sometimes, I'll get through 4 or 5 in a week.  Now that I've started this blog, however, I've come to the conclusion that I can't review everything I consume.  Admittedly, it's difficult to pick and choose which books will make the cut.  It's *particularly* difficult when you feel like you've been the victim of a brain-sucking zombie, a la The Walking Dead, and forget the plots of most books before even closing their covers.  But, I'll take what I can get.  In the interest of full disclosure, however, I'll share the books I've finished recently, and an overall rating.  Please keep in mind that these are the ratings I assigned on goodreads.com, which for some godforsaken reason does NOT allow you to rate in halvsies.  (Why not?  Seriously?  Did someone miss decimal/fraction day in math class?)  At this point, due to reasons mentioned above (which I can't recall now, so please go back and re-read, if necessary), I'm not able to add/subtract that all important .5 now.  If you'd like more details on any of them, check out some of the reviews on that evil Goodreads.com.  Aside from their screwed up ratings system, it's a pretty cool site.  Now, on with the show... 

 

The Heist By Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg (*not* the weather guy from WABC, New York.  I checked) - 3 Stars

The Truth About Love & Lightning by Susan McBride - 4 Stars

Second Honeymoon by James Patterson - 3 Stars (Why even rate Patterson novels anymore?  They're all the same, yet I keep going back.)

The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick – 4 Stars (And no, I didn’t see the movie, so I can’t compare.  Sorry!)

Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich - 2 Stars  (Holy crap, was this bad!!  I was REALLY hoping Miss Stephanie would share some of the funny gene so perfectly honed by her Aunt Janet, but this was just awful.  I contemplated doing a full review of this one, but didn't want to relive the horror.  If you insist on checking it out, however, stick to perusing the back cover.  Once you get through that, there's no need to read the other 200-something pages, because you'll have the whole story mapped out already.  There's not a single line of originality to be found anywhere in this sucker.  WHY did I give this crap 2 stars?  I think I'm going to adjust it to 1.  It's worthy of the change.)

The Pretty One by Lucinda Rosenfeld - 2 Stars  (Another crappy book.  I should've known the type of trash I was in for when - on page SIX - one of the main characters screamed at her toddler daughter “You’re driving me f***ing insane!!” before ‘pushing’ her.  Alllllrighty, then.  And, no, this woman did *not* have any sort of emotional issues.  That’s just how f’ed up the characters in this book are.)

The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro - 4 Stars (Umm...good book?  Sorry - drawing a blank here.  Surprise, surprise!)

So, that’s the synopsis for the past couple of weeks.  If you’ve come across any incredible books recently that you think I should check into, BY ALL MEANS, leave a comment, or shoot me an email.  I don’t bite. 

Initially.

Oh, and one more thing.  I realize this entry was a little bland - no purdy pictures or anything.  So, I'll leave you with a different kind of eye candy.  You can thank me later.  Nom, nom, nom

 

Retail Hell (How I Sold My Soul to the Store...Confessions of a Tortured Sales Associate) by Freeman Hall

I know, I know. What a BIZARRE book to review. There are so many wonderful, new books to choose from in this crazy worlds, yet *this* is what I choose?!? Yes, ma’am (or sir), I certainly did. Do you remember, way back when I first started with blog (approximately 18 days ago), I made mention of the fact that I read purely for entertainment? That I couldn’t give a rat’s hairy patootie if it had any educational, spiritual, or even literary qualities? Well, here ya go – I give you Retail Hell.
The book is a comical (yet sadly, factual) account of the author’s trek through the muddy waters of retail sales. One (not-so-real) word: Ewww. If you’ve worked – even one day – with the public at large, I think you’ll be able to relate to the sadness that is life behind a cash register (or handbag corral, in this case). Seriously people, it’s not rocket science. It’s harder.

As if working in retail wasn’t enough of a hardship, factor in that the author is a male, assigned to work in the handbag department of The Big Fancy (the fictional name Mr. Hall gave to that scion of snoot, Nordstrom, to avoid any pesky lawsuits). Although he eventually rose to the top of his game, it was quite a climb to get there. Between his snarky co-workers (fondly referred to as The Demon Squad), and a cast of customers that reads like a Saturday Night Live skit (Teddy Bear Lady, The Vampire Bavaro, This Little Piggy, et al), this guy had his work cut out for him.

The chapters have amusing titles, such as Shoposaurus Carnotaurus and The P-Word (it’s ‘purse’ people, get your minds out of the gutter). Some make it easy to figure out the nightmare within, like Babysitting the Devil’s Spawn, and my personal favorite, ‘The Shitting Room.’ I will warn you, however, that latter chapter was NOT an easy read. If you have a strong enough constitution, though, solder on, because you *will* laugh out loud (if you don’t puke first). Personally, I just peed a little.

It’s true that any one of us who has spent *any* time working with the public will have many horror stories to share. (Ask me about the rotisserie chicken I ‘suffocated’ in the supermarket checkout line by using an insulated bag ). Bottom line: We humans are a scary bunch.
I saw a few negative reviews for this book over on Goodreads.com, many of which accused the author of ‘whining’ or complaining too much. My challenge to those people? Work a shift at The Big Fancy (or any other retail store), and then we’ll talk. If you can still be all smiles and rainbows, then you’re a better person than I am.

I will admit that there are far too many of these ‘tell-all’ books cropping up lately. One quick search on Amazon will yield you similar tales told by people in the restaurant, airline, cruise, and hotel industries. And, yes, there were more than a few cursewords and sexual innuendos in this one, so if that sort of stuff offends you, skip it. My overall assessment, though? Well, perhaps I’m just not picky enough, but this book gave me something precious – laughter. And, what else can one ask for when reading for E-N-T-E-R-T-A-I-N-M-E-N-T?

3.5 Stars

Beautiful Day, by Elin Hilderbrand

I remember the first time I discovered Elin Hilderbrand, an author whose books take place in the popular vacation spot of Nantucket Island.  Appropriately enough, I was on my own beach vacation at the time, searching for a relaxing read, when I stumbled across the book Barefoot.  The cover, which featured the rolled-up denim-clad legs of three young women snuggling under a beach blanket, just yelled ‘BEACH READ,’ so I caved and bought it.  Although I admittedly don’t remember too many details of the story, I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads.com, so I’m guessing it was a keeper.  I’ve been scooping up all of her books since then, and typically enjoy them, with a few rare exceptions.  Her latest effort, Beautiful Day, falls somewhere in between. 

As the title and book cover imply, the story takes place over the course of a wedding weekend, the focal point of which is, of course, that ‘beautiful day.’  The stars of the show are the Carmichael family, consisting of father, Doug, and adult children Margot, Kevin, Nick, and bride-to-be, Jenna.  Perhaps you noticed a conspicuous absence there, and you would be correct.  The matriarch of the family, Beth Carmichael, had passed away some years before, a victim of cancer.  It’s ironic, then, that Beth is the first person we meet.

Knowing that she was facing a terminal illness, Beth spent the latter weeks of her life crafting ‘The Notebook,’ a  guide for her unmarried daughter, Jenna, to use while planning her future nuptials with her Prince Charming (who goes by the name of Stuart, by the way).  She goes into fine detail, covering every topic imaginable, from invitation etiquette to table linens, and we’re treated to missives from the book throughout the story. 

Sadly, this central element is the one that bothered me the most.  The priceless ‘notebook,’ which contains sage words of advice for the young bride facing the biggest day of her life without her mother, became tiring after awhile.  In the beginning of the book, I admit I had a few misty moments, remembering my wedding day, and what an important role my mom played in it.  As the pages turned, however, I found Beth’s advice becoming rather preachy and bossy, and very UN-advice-like.  (Yes, I realize that’s not really a word.  Hush)  Seriously, though, can the bride be free to make ANY decisions of her own?  This woman pretty much dictated every detail of Jenna’s day, right down to who ‘needed’ to be included on the guest list.  Sad to say, she became highly Annoying, very quickly.  (And, yes, the capital ‘A’ was intentional, just so you know!)     

Elsewhere in the Carmichael clan, there’s lots of angst and drama, as one would expect.  The strange thing, however, is that the other commotion really revolves around only two of the players – dad, Doug, and sister, Margot, both frequent narrators.  What happened to Kevin and Nick?  It’s obvious to me that they were thrown in as an afterthought, to tie-in other minor sub-plots.  In fact, there were so many of those sub-plots that I sometimes found myself losing track of people.  Who’s Pauline again?  Is she married to Doug or Edge?  Or is it Jim?  And, then we have Stuart’s mom, Ann, who also takes a turn at narration.  Unfortunately, though, her son, Stuart, is barely mentioned, which somehow seems wrong, him being the groom and all.

The book wasn’t bad, certainly.  Sadly, though, it wasn’t really great, either.  It did manage to keep me entertained, though, which is what it’s all about, isn’t it?  I also found it to be better than the last few Hilderbrand books I’ve read, though I couldn’t tell you offhand what they were.  (Again, hush).  Perhaps Barefoot just set the bar too high.  I’m not sure, but I don’t think I’ll be in as big a rush to grab her next book.  With so many other choices out there, why settle for mediocre?

3 Stars

Angelina's Bachelors, Brian O'Reilly

I

love books.  I love food.  I really love books *about* food.  So, when I first saw a blurb about Angelina’s Bachelors somewhere in the dregs of goodreads.com, I knew I would have to pick it up at some point.  It apparently came out in 2011, but didn’t make its way into my hands until now.

The book tells the story of Angelina D’Angelo, a young widow facing life on her own with a mountain of grief and bills to pay.  A born foodie, she finds a form of therapy in the intricate, yet homey, dishes she creates.  Before long, she finds herself accepting an informal job offer from a bachelor neighbor - to become something of a personal chef.  The deal is sealed and includes two daily meals, six days a week, prepared and served in Angelina’s living room.  Before long, several other bachelors jump into the fray, and a new family is born.  The cast of characters runs the gamut from a mobster to an aspiring priest, and certainly makes for some entertaining moments. 

There were various recipes interspersed throughout the book, to match Angelina’s creations.  I thought this was a nice touch, although admittedly, most were a bit far-reaching for the casual home cook.  At some points, I think the gastronomic detail was a bit much, as well.  I don’t need to read all about how Angelina is creating a new masterpiece, only to re-read virtually the same thing in the recipe section.  Too much of anything is not a good thing. 

Overall, however, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I found it to be an endearing, sweet look at how people – virtual strangers – can come together to form unbreakable bonds.  Sure, there were moments of predictability - some so saccharine they’d give you a toothache.  Ultimately, though, what this book has is heart.  It’s a feel-good story, and who couldn’t use one of those from time to time?

3.5 Stars