Showing posts with label Finished 2009. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Finished 2009. Show all posts
Review: The Night Gardener by George Pelecanos
Hilarie
Rating:
Genre: Crime Fiction, Washington DC, Mystery
Reading Challenges: 29 for 100+ in 2009

I can't call this book a thriller. It is so much more. It is, simply, the best crime novel I've read in several years. This book was my first introduction to George Pelecanos, and already I've added several more of his books to my TBR pile.

The Night Gardener begins in 1985, at the scene of a homicide committed by a serial killer known as "the night gardener"who has been targeting teenage victims. It is here that we are first introduced to three police officers: patrolmen Gus Ramone and Dan Holiday, and detective T.C. Cook. We are offered only a brief glimpse before the novel jumps to 2005. Gus Ramone, now a detective, divides his time between work and family. Dan Holiday is a cop no longer, but provides chauffeur services with security to the wealthy. T.C. Cook, now retired, is haunted by the faces of the serial killers victims, and longs to bring the killer to justice. The discovery of another homicide that bears remarkable similarities to the unsolved cases of twenty years ago brings these three men together.

Let me start my review with a warning. The dialogue in this book is extremely raw, including almost constant profanity and vulgar references. That being said, Pelecanos writes some of the best dialogue I've ever read. Personally, I wish the language could have been cleaner, but it might not have felt so authentic if that had been the case.

The Night Gardener really surprised me, in a good way. I was expecting a page-turning murder mystery which would resolve itself in a tidy black and white ending by the last page. Instead, I found a book which was almost a constant shade of gray, and which compelled me to keep reading because of the powerful questions it made me ask myself. I was especially impressed with the ending of the novel. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll simply say that for me I don't feel that it could have ended any other way.

I also appreciated that Pelecanos avoided so many of the typical plot devices that are present in so many crime novels. For once, I appreciated reading about a police officer who was a devoted husband and father, as opposed to a self-destructive hero. I was also fascinated by Pelecanos presentation of the racial tensions that are present in Washington D.C., and I appreciated that he was able to present more than one viewpoint. Pelecanos has made a fan of me with this one.

If you are looking for a crime novel with true substance, you can't do better than this. Just don't say I didn't warn you about the potty talk.

If you've read this, I'd love to hear what you think! Feel free to post links to your reviews in the comments.
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Review and Giveaway: Secrets to Happiness by Sarah Dunn
Hilarie
Rating:
Genre: Adult Fiction, New York City
Reading Challenges: 25 for 100+ in 2009

Sarah Dunn is a truly talented writer. Her writing is witty, lively, and flows beautifully. However, for me, Secrets to Happiness wasn't the book to showcase that talent. In fairness, let me start off by saying that I am probably outside of the target demographic of this book. I am a fairly conservative, career woman turned stay-at-home mother, who is totally devoted to my husband and children. The characters in this novel would likely describe me as a naive optimist.

The central character of the novel is Holly Frick, a recently divorced writer on the downward slope of her career, who has been anything but lucky in love. Holly lives, works, and plays in New York city. In general, Holly is a bit at a loss as to how to find happiness in her life. It turns out that most of her close friends, including her best friend Amanda, haven't figured that out either; despite appearances to the contrary. Secrets to Happiness presents us with a host of characters, and their search to find fulfillment.

Initially, I really enjoyed this book for the first few chapters in which the author introduced Holly, and some of her history. However, a few pages more had me wondering why Holly would choose to spend time with many of the other characters, especially her best friend Amanda. I found the majority of the characters in this book to be self-centered egoists who treated Holly as a quaint little country girl because she sometimes voiced a moral qualm with regards to the consequences of destructive behavior, like adultery. The character of Amanda particularly had me wanting to hurl the book out of the window. I think it was partly because I was still enjoying the post-reading high from Everyone is Beautiful, and suddenly, here was a character who drugged her infant with Benadryl so that she could enjoy uninterrupted sexual fantasies about a man she met at a park.

I am giving this book two stars because I really mean it when I say that Dunn impressed me with her ability to turn a phrase. As much as I disliked this novel, I still found myself wishing I could write like she does.

I would like to thank Hachette book group for my review copy. It is always a pleasure to be introduced to a talented new writer, and I am hopeful that Dunn will write something in the future that I will find more appealing. However, I am sure that this book will find a grateful audience in many readers out there! That is why I am giving my copy away to one lucky reader.

The giveaway starts now, May 26th and will run through next Wednesday, June 17th. We will use a random number generator to determine the winners at that time and notify them via email. Please provide us with your email as it is the only way we have to get in touch with you! We will also post the winners here on the site. The contest is only open to residents of the United States and Canada. Unfortunately, we are unable to ship to P.O. Boxes.

Entries
To enter, simply leave a comment to this post. You can get an additional entries by:
1. Post this giveaway on your blog. Please provide me with a link to the URL.
2. Become a follower or subscriber, or just let us know if you already are.

Good luck!
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Review: Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center
Hilarie
Rating:
Genre: Adult Fiction, Motherhood
Reading Challenges: 24 for 100+ in 2009

I really wasn't expecting very much from this novel. I began my read with an expectation that this would be a book much like the cupcake pictured on the cover; light and fluffy, and easily forgettable. Instead, I was pleased to discover a great read which made me reflect on my own thoughts and feelings of life as a stay-at-home mother to young children.

The heroine is Lanie, the mother of three energetic (to say the least) little boys, the youngest of whom is only eight months old. At the beginning of the book, Lanie explains that she has recently relocated because of a great career opportunity for Peter, her husband. Lanie has left behind her childhood home in Houston, her family, and her friends. A chance remark by a stranger at a park also convinces Lanie that somewhere along the way she has also left behind the girl she used to be, back when she and Peter first fell in love. Lanie becomes determined to reclaim her old self, but she finds this quest more difficult than she would have imagined as she tries to continue to meet her responsibilities as a wife and a mother.

I found this book to be refreshing because Lanie's life as a wife and mother, while not depicted as glamorous in any way (at one point, in an emergency, she helps her oldest boy poop into a Ziploc bag at a park), was not written as though it was one of constant drudgery. There were plenty of moments that had me smiling as Lanie's little boys tried to "help" her, and her husband Peter was portrayed as a loving, supportive, and faithful husband. I do feel that the author did a great job of capturing the exhaustion, frustration, joy, and adventure of parenthood. I also enjoyed reading about Lanie and Peter, and their relationship.

I am so glad I gave this book a chance. Ultimately, it reminded me that although I'm not necessarily the girl I used to be, it doesn't follow that this new person is any less valuable. It also reminded me to live in the moment, and be grateful for the present; stinky diapers, runny noses, and all.
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Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
RunningUtes
Rating:
Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir, Pets

Marley and Me, written by John Grogan in 2005, is a story about his life with his dog. It outlines his family's experiences living with Marley, a rather spirited dog, and some of the challenges and lessons learned from those experiences. This is a memoir, and is written in the first person. The book was made into a movie that was released in 2008.

Marley, is a giant yellow Labrador retriever who is energetic and lives life to the fullest. He is also rather high strung and sometimes uncontrollable, often destroying property. Even with this behavior, Marley shows his undying love and trust toward his family. Ultimately, the family recognizes and accepts him as a loved, albeit somewhat neurotic, fun-loving family member.

I really enjoyed reading this book because in many ways I can relate to the experiences of bringing home a new puppy, watching him grow from a cuddly fur ball to a powerful and destructive adolescent. Many times I would laugh out loud while reading about finding shoes that were chewed on or filled with slobber. In some ways I could guess what Marley's temperament would be while reading the description of him as a puppy, having experienced the same personality in our own dog. In many ways, I think the author loved Marley so much because in many ways the dog helped the rest of the family to become closer.

I would give this book 5 stars because I thoroughly enjoyed it, and reading it gave me a great opportunity to reminisce and compare the story of Marley to my own experiences. I've mentioned parts of this book to my family, and suggested it to a few of the people. I haven't seen the film, but I would suggest this book to anyone who describes themselves as a dog lover. I know I'll be reading it again and smiling when I think of my own rambunctious puppy.
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Review: The Four Feathers by A.E.W. Mason
Hilarie
Rating:
Genre: Classic Fiction, Sudan, British Imperialism
Reading Challenges: 22 for 100+ in 2009, 2/5 for Classics Challenge 2009

I was very excited to read this book. Of all the choices I made for my classics challenge for this year, I was certain that I would enjoy this novel the most. In this case, my expectations were not met, and although I did ultimately enjoy this book, it will never be a favorite.

The Four Feathers is the story of Harry Feversham, an English officer, who is descended from a long line of military heroes and expected to follow in their footsteps. One night, as a boy, Harry is present when his father and fellow Crimean war veterans are relating the tales of their military exploits. That night, they also happen to relate two stories of cowardice, which so distress young, sensitive, and impressionable Harry, that he is convinced from that time forward that he is himself a coward at his core. Years later, after becoming engaged to the beguiling Ethne Eustace, Harry is in the company of three friends when he receives a telegram notifying him that his regiment will soon leave for the Sudan. Harry resigns his commission, and ultimately receives three feathers from his once fellow officers and friends, as well as a fourth from Ethne as she breaks their engagement. Having lost everything he values, Harry begins a quest to redeem his shattered honor, and force those who have charged him with cowardice to recognize his worth.

Prior to having read the novel, I had seen two movie adaptations. In both cases, the films contained quite a bit of action, intrigue, and hair-raising escapes. As I read the novel, I was somewhat surprised to find that the majority of the narrative resides in England and Ireland, and focuses particularly on the characters of Ethne and Jack Durrance, once Harry's greatest friend. Durrance is a great character; he is a born soldier who finds himself unexpectedly handicapped and forced to adapt in ways he had never expected. His honor is in some ways even greater than Harry's, and the ways in which he and Ethne relate to each other as romantic adversaries is interesting. However, I found myself longing to read about Harry. So much of Harry's story is told in hearsay and vague allusion by other characters that I found myself getting somewhat frustrated. For me, the last 70 pages of the book were the best as I was finally able to read about Harry and some of the situations in which he found himself.

Despite my frustrations, there are many things to love about this book. The three main characters of the book are all studies in self-sacrifice for the good of others. If you enjoyed any of the film adaptations of the story, you may want to give the novel a try.
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Review: Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett
Hilarie
Rating:
Genre:  Fantasy, Satire, Discworld
Reading Challenges:   21 for 100+ in 2009, 3/37 for Discworld Reading Challenge

Equal Rites is one of my favorite Discworld novels, and it was a pleasure to rediscover it as part of my Discworld challenge.  The story concerns Eskarina Smith, or Esk, as she is more commonly known.  Esk was supposed to be the eighth son of an eighth son, but as anyone who has children knows, the sex isn't necessarily a given until the delivery is officially over.  Unfortunately, a dying wizard who wished to bequeath his knowledge to a successor didn't take the take to verify Esk's identity before making the transfer.  This of course results in all kinds of trouble as everyone knows that women aren't supposed to be wizards;  or at least that is what everyone who is a wizard knows.

Esk is a delightful character.  I keep hoping that she will make an appearance in another Discworld novel, but as of yet her story remains unfinished.  The writing in Equal Rites is more polished than it's predecessors.  It seems as though Pratchett hit his stride in this, the third Discworld novel.  If you haven't read any Discworld novels, or even if you have read some of Terry's later stuff, you can't go wrong with this one.

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Review: Made in the USA by Billie Letts
Hilarie
Rating:
Genre:  Adult Fiction, Coming of Age
Reading Challenges:  20 for 100+ in 2009

There are times I read a book and it makes me profoundly grateful for the relatively blessed life that I experienced during my journey to adulthood.  This is certainly one of those books!

Made in the USA is the harrowing, but stirring story of Lutie and Fate: a 15 year old girl and her 11 year brother, who find themselves unexpectedly orphaned and homeless.  Fear of the foster care system sends the siblings on a cross country trip to Las Vegas, where Lutie is certain that she can find a way to take care of them on her own.  Lutie and Fate experience humanity at it's best and worst as they struggle to survive with limited resources and at the mercy of those who seem to take what they want without conscience.  

At first, this was a difficult read for me.  Initially, I didn't really like Lutie as she reminded me of a lot of the foul-mouthed and skanky teenage girls I seem to see everywhere these days.  However, through the course of the novel I came to appreciate the depth of her character.  From the first, I fell in love with Fate and his precocious nature.  After I found myself really caring about the characters, the novel was suddenly a more difficult read.  Letts never seems to shrink in describing the challenges faced by teenage runaways and homeless individuals.  There were times I just didn't think I could handle any additional tragedy.  However, I couldn't put the book down.  I had to find out what happened!  I'm glad I stuck with it. 

I don't want to give any plot details away, so let me just say that the book is not one which will leave you feeling hopeless and discouraged.  I really enjoyed this book, and would like to express my gratitude to Valerie at Hachette books for providing me with a review copy.  It was truly a pleasure to read this book.
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Review: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow
Hilarie
Rating:
Genre:  Nonfiction, Inspirational, Memoir
Reading Challenges:  19 for 100+ in 2009

I first heard the name of Randy Pausch when I read an excerpt from this book in a copy of Reader's Digest, while visiting with some extended family.  I meant to get around to reading it someday, but found myself putting it off.  I think I was afraid that reading it would result in tears and flashbacks to unpleasant memories related to my mother's lost battle with cancer.  Finally, I broke down and decided to give the book a try.

I'm very glad I did.  The Last Lecture surprised me; I was expecting a last will and testament, instead I found a love letter to life.  Randy Pausch was someone who lived a blessed life, much the result of his own hard work and tenacity, who knew how to count his blessings.  Reading his book made me think about all the great things that I already have in my life, and all of the great memories I've already made.

Pausch did try to teach some valuable lessons that he had been lucky enough to learn from in his own life.  I specifically appreciated his thoughts on working well with others, and the idea that "brick walls are there to make us prove how much we want something."  I found this book to be a fast paced, enjoyable read.  This is no pity party, but a smile inducing memoir.  Yes, I did find myself caring about Pausch and his family, and even wondering how his family has fared since he passed away in July of 2008.

If you haven't watched the last lecture that Pausch gave at Carnegie Mellon which was the inspiration for the book, you can view it here.  If you have already watched the lecture, it is still worth reading the book, as Pausch expanded on many of the ideas he only briefly touched on during his live lecture.  The book is much less technical than the live lecture, and contains more detailed stories of Pausch and his family.  I really enjoyed this book.  I'm glad I followed the advice of so many of my fellow bloggers and gave it a chance.
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Review and Giveaway: The Locked Garden by Gloria Whelan
Hilarie
Rating:
Genre:  Children's Fiction, Early 1900's, Mental Illness, Coming of Age 
Reading Challenges:  18 for 100+ in 2009

The Locked Garden is set in the year 1900, and is primarily the story of two sisters: Verna, age 12, and Carlie, age 6.  After the recent death of their mother, the girls move with their father, who is a physician,  to a new home located on the grounds of an insane asylum where he will be given the opportunity to test his theories of treating mental illness with medication.  Joining the family in their journey is Aunt Maude, their maternal aunt, who seems determined to constantly remind the children and their father of the recent loss they have suffered in an effort to keep the memory of her sister alive.  Shortly after starting life in their new home, their father hires a young patient, Eleanor, to assist in the care of Verna and Carlie.  Eleanor's arrival changes everything, and soon Verna and Carlie find themselves at odds with both their father and their aunt as they try to ensure that Eleanor will remain one of the family.

This was an enjoyable read, which at times reminded me of Sarah, Plain and Tall.  I found the understanding and treatment of mental illness at the time of the novel to be especially interesting.  The book certainly didn't feel like a history lesson, but I felt that I learned a lot during the course of my reading.  This book would be a perfect introduction to helping children have an understanding of the concepts of mental illness and depression.  I can picture myself someday reading it to my own children when they are older so that we can have a discussion about what mental illness is, and how such illnesses are treated today versus in the past.  The book also deals with death and grieving, although this is certainly a minor focus of the book.  I am mentioning it because I really appreciated Whelan's handling of this topic.

The story itself is very fast paced.  I found this to be a quick read.  I was able to finish it in an afternoon.  The target age group is 8-12, or grades 3-7, and I feel that this book was perfectly suited to this audience.  The only reason I can't give this book a higher rating is because of the abrupt ending.  I really felt that the story came to a screeching halt just as I was bracing for the climax.  Perhaps this is because Whelan is planning to write a sequel, but I just found myself shocked that this book was actually over.

I would like to thank Harper Collins for generously providing me a review copy.  Whelan is a great writer, and this isn't the first novel of hers that I have read.  It certainly won't be my last.

I would love to giveaway my advanced review copy to a lucky reader.  To enter, please leave a comment below.  Extra entries can be earned by subscribing, following, or posting this giveaway on your blog.  Please leave me a way to contact you, as well as a link to your blog so I can see the posting.  The contest starts today, and will end next Sunday, May 17th.  I will announce the winners on the blog, and will also contact them via email.  Please, only enter if you have a US or Canada mailing address.
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Review: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Hilarie
Rating:
Genre:  Historical Fiction, US Civil Rights Movement, Mississippi, Racial Discrimination 
Reading Challenges:  17 for 100+ in 2009

Kathryn Stockett's first novel paints a vivid portrait of a way of life which, thankfully, no longer exists, but did once, and not so very long ago.  The novel begins in 1962, and is set in Jackson, Mississippi.  The experiences of three very different women are the focus of the novel.  Aibileen and Minny are black maids, while Skeeter (her proper name is Eugenia) is the awkward daughter of an old southern family, and has herself never really known a world without "the help."  Skeeter is returning home from college, burning with the desire to become a writer, but with no credentials that would help her to reach her ambitions.  The not-so-gentle guidance of Skeeter's would be mentor leads her to write about something that "disturbs her, particularly if it bothers no one else."  Almost through happenstance, Skeeter finds herself deciding to write about the experiences of the black maids that are so integral a part of Jackson life that no one really notices their existence.  At least, no one notices until one of them takes a single step outside of the rigid social rules that govern the interaction between the white mistresses and their "help."  

I was so drawn in by this novel, that once I started reading I literally couldn't stop.  I devoured this book in two days, and was truly sad when I reached the ending.  I was humbled to think of how many people had suffered, and how much those individuals had given just to have a few of the basic rights that I take for granted each day.  I thought I knew a lot about the history of racial discrimination in this country, but this book really gave me an idea of just how far we have come since the advent of the civil rights movement.  

I had chills as I read some of the dialogue between some of the white characters who casually discussed their black maids in some of the most dismissive and disrespectful language you can imagine.  The lack of self awareness was particularly startling to me as I read and I realized that many of the women of that time truly believed their own rhetoric with regards to white superiority.  The novel also features one of the most hateful characters that I have encountered in quite a while.  That being said, Stockett does not demonize the white population in this book.  She somehow balances perfectly between portraying what I believe to be an accurate depiction of the injustices suffered with a description of the sincere kindnesses that were shown during such a difficult time.  This was an eye opening and thought provoking read, as all the best books are.    

This was an excellent book, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

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Review: Freckles by Gene Stratton Porter
Hilarie
Rating:
Genre:  Classic, Indiana, Coming of Age, Rags to Riches
Reading Challenges:  16 for 100+ in 2009, Bonus read for Classics Challenge 2009

This is truly a forgotten classic.  I first read it many years ago, and recently had the desire to pick it up again.  I found that it was not as readily available as many other classics, which is certainly a shame as it is a wonderful book.

The story concerns a young orphan, named Freckles, who has personally experienced many of the worst aspects of humanity in his short life.  Sadly, these experiences have left Freckles with only one hand, no material possessions, little education, and most importantly, no concerned friends or loved ones.  As a result of the kindness of Mr. Mclean, part owner of the grand rapids lumber company, Freckles finds himself serving as the protector of timber in the Limberlost swamp.  The timber itself is very valuable, and there are several unsavory characters who would love to have a chance to sell the timber for themselves.  This employment proves to be life changing for Freckles, and ultimately leads to his discovery of the history of his past.  The book also features a charming love story that is both tender and engaging.

This is a great read, but I did find it slightly less enjoyable than Porter's Girl of the Limberlost, which also takes place in Indiana.  Porter describes Freckles as "plucky," and that really is the best word to describe him.  This book has just enough action to keep the reader engaged, and is a quick and easy read.  What really comes through on each page is Porter's love of nature and all it's wonders.  I am sure I will be rereading this again in years to come.  

If you enjoy listening to audiobooks, you can enjoy listening to this book for free!  There is a great version available at Librivox, which you can find here
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Review: Whistling in the Dark by Lesley Kagen
Hilarie
Rating:
Genre:  Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, Mystery
Reading Challenges:  15 for 100+ in 2009

Sally O'Malley knows what's really going on.  At least, she knows more than any of the adults in her life would believe possible.  It is 1959, and Sally is missing her father, who recently died in a car accident which occurred in the company of Sally's uncle and her little sister Troo.   Sally made some promises to her father before he died, and the most important is that she would look after her sister.  Sally, who is delightfully earnest, has every intention of following through to the letter.  In the meantime, someone is murdering and molesting little girls on Vliet street, the street where Sally is now living after her mother's hasty remarriage to her new stepfather, Hall.  Sally thinks she knows who is up to no good, and all she is hoping for is to protect her sister and herself.  This will be difficult, as Sally's mother is in the hospital, and the rumors are that she might never be coming out.  Sally and Troo are on their own.

I so enjoyed this book.  Sally was a wonderful character.  As with all children, Sally was aware of so many of the things going on in the community.  She might have drawn the wrong conclusions, but only because of her lack of experience.  The most difficult part about reading this book was that I longed to throw my arms around both Sally and Troo (they were so lovable), and bring them to my house to protect them from the things that threatened them.  The book is less a mystery than a coming of age story, but the mystery aspect of the story was satisfying as well.  There were also many poignant moments in this book that brought the hint of tears to my eyes, especially those related to parents and children.  I don't want to give anything away as far as storyline, so let me just say, read this book!  You won't be sorry.
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Review: The Seamstress by Frances De Pontes Peebles
Hilarie
Rating:
Genre:  Historical Fiction, Brazil, South America
Reading Challenges:  14 for 100+ in 2009, 1 for Do These Chunksters Make My Butt Look Big

The Seamstress is a good read, and truly an epic in every sense.  The book is set in North Eastern Brazil, spanning from 1928 to 1935.  The novel tells the story of the Dos Santos sisters, Emilia and Luzia; young women who have been raised in an isolated village located in the interior.  The sisters are both talented seamstresses, having been trained by their Aunt since childhood, but they possess very different temperaments.  Emilia is beautiful and desires above all else to escape to one of the cities, such as Sao Paulo, that she has read about in her Fon Fon fashion magazines.  She dreams of being a great lady living in a mansion, far from the dirt floors of her youth.  Luzia, whose deformity in the form of a permanently bent arm as the result of a childhood accident, is referred to as Victrola by the village children and adults alike.  Her disability has already limited many of the dreams and ambitions that she might have held for her future; perhaps her greatest wish is to escape from the village where that very disability defines everything about her.  Of course both sisters do ultimately leave their small village, but not in the way they anticipate.  Luzia is taken by a band of outlaws led by the mysterious Hawk, while Emilia marries a man she hardly knows, the wealthy son of a doctor in Recife.  Their two lives become increasingly polarized by their very different experiences.  Neither finds themselves able to reveal the existence of the other, but always they hold the knowledge of the other close to their hearts.  

It was clear that this book was a labor of love.  The novel was clearly well-researched, and each phrase seemed carefully and lovingly crafted.  I did enjoy the story and the characters.  At times, I did find the story dragging a bit, but it quickly picked up.  I also found the bond between the sisters to be fascinating.  Perhaps this is because I don't have a sister of my own.  The character of the Hawk was especially intriguing.  He was so enigmatic.  I loved that I could never guess what he was going to do next.  I do have to admit that I found Luzia's story to be the more interesting, and that I found myself hurrying a bit more over the chapters dealing with Emilia's experiences.  Overall, I enjoyed the book, even if it didn't quite live up to my expectations.
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Review: What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
Hilarie
Rating:
Genre:  Young Adult, Fiction, Coming of Age, Suspense, Noir
Reading Challenges:  13 for 100+ in 2009

What I Saw and How I Lied is several things at once: a coming of age story, a novel of suspense, and a book which captures the moral ambiguity and sexual tension of noir. The novel takes place shortly after the end of World War Two.  The story is narrated by Evelyn Spooner, the fifteen year old heroine, who shares with us the details of her family vacation to Palm Beach Florida in the company of her mother, Beverly, and her stepfather, Joe.  The Spooner family arrives in Palm Beach during the off season, only to find that their opportunities for entertainment are somewhat limited.  Shortly after arriving, they meet up with a man named Paul, who served with Joe in the military. Evelyn, or Evie as she calls herself, is suffering some serious growing pains and soon finds herself falling head over heels for Peter.  Before we reach the end of the novel, Evie's wold will have been turned upside down as she learns some hard lessons and lives through some harrowing experiences.  Most of all, she will come to know truths about those whom she has always trusted to know best, her parents, that will change everything.

This was an enjoyable read.  The author writes in such a way that we, the reader, can guess long before Evie what is really going on.  The author also did a good job of raising some moral issues.  I read in some other reviews that this was a difficult read for some as they felt that none of the characters were particularly virtuous.  This didn't bother me in the sense that I am familiar with the noir genre, and so I was expecting a resolution that didn't exactly wrap up all the ends neatly.  I also felt that although I wouldn't have made some of the choices that Evie did, that I understood why she chose to do what she did.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy film noir, and coming of age stories as I thought it was a well written and satisfying read.    
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Review: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Hilarie
Rating:
Genre:  Fiction, Classics, Horror, Suspense
Reading Challenges:  11 for 100+ in 2009, 1 of 5 for Classics Challenge 2009

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; the words conjure up all sorts of images in my mind, mostly from the theatrical and cinematic depictions I've seen at different times in my life.  I thought I knew the story well, and so I didn't expect to find myself surprised by much in the novel.  How wrong I was!  

The novel is interesting, because there are so many aspects of the story that are left to the imagination of the reader.  Mr. Hyde's appearance, as well as his misdeeds, are never defined in black and white, but are instead only alluded to in a manner that almost makes them more horrifying.  I was also intrigued with the complicated nature of the character of Dr. Jekyll, a man who desires to be seen as an upstanding individual, but is in many ways somewhat fascinated by the evil aspects of his nature.  

I found this to be a great read, and far more thought provoking than I had anticipated.  It is a very short read, around 100 pages, but provides plenty of "meat" for the reader to chew on.  If you haven't taken the opportunity to try this book before, I would recommend it as a very enjoyable read.  This has been a great start to my Classics Reading Challenge for 2008, and has left me thirsting for more! 
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The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett
Hilarie
Rating:
Genre:  Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Satire, Parody
Reading Challenges:  10 for 100+ in 2009, Discworld Reading Challenge

The Light Fantastic, Prachett's 2nd Discworld novel, picks up almost immediately where the first, The Color of Magic ended.  Rincewind, the Discworld's most inept wizard finds himself saved from certain death, by being magically transported to a talking forest after falling off the edge of the Disc.  It turns out that one of the eight great spells, the one trapped inside his head, has plans for him which luckily don't include his demise.  Rincewind and Twoflower the tourist soon find themselves enraging some druids, meeting up with Cohen the "aged" barbarian (seriously, imagine Conan the Barbarian if he lived to the ripe old age of 87), and trying to save the Discworld from the clutches of a power hungry wizard and the mysterious red star which appears to be on a collision course with the Disc itself.

This is a great read, and an improvement over Pratchett's first Discworld novel, which is saying something.  Pratchett's parody of barbarian heroes and sword-wielding wenches is especially hilarious.  This is a great read, and one that I recommend for those who don't take their fantasy too seriously.  Pratchett is especially fond of wordplay.  I found myself sometimes reading lines a second or third time, just to relish the joke.  This is definitely a read which rewards your full attention.  It isn't especially necessary to read The Color of Magic first, but it will make things a bit easier to understand.  
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Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt
RunningUtes
Rating:
Genre:  Non-Fiction, Statistics, Economics

This is a book by Steven Levitt, an economist who attempts to answer common questions using the laws of statistics and economics. Using these two basic principles he looks at cause-and-effect and their relation to our actual perception of events.  

One section I particularly enjoyed dealt with sumo wrestling. Using statistics Mr. Levitt was able to show that many of the sumo wrestling matches were actually rigged. This allowed for more well-established wrestlers to progress in the hierarchy making more money, but still allow for newcomers in the field to build a following of fans. I also enjoyed how Mr. Levitt spent time with a group of crack dealers and outlined their “business model” complete with a structure of bosses and underlings.  

I would give this book 5 stars because I enjoyed the principals of applying logic to explain entertaining and unique situations. I've already read a few portions of this book again and shared some of the stories with other readers and people that I work with. I have a background in science (biology, chemistry, physics) and really enjoyed the principles of applied economics and statistics. I would recommend this book to anyone who would want a nice quick read on a very interesting topic.
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Be Expert with Map and Compass: The Complete Orienteering Handbook by Björn Kjellström
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Rating:
Genre:  Non-Fiction, Outdoor Adventure

Be expert with a map and compass by Björn Kjellström, is probably the definitive work on how to use a compass and a map for orienteering both for survival and entertainment. This handbook begins with an introduction on compasses, their history and uses, outlines the basic principles and techniques for locating oneself on the map, and includes information regarding the sport of orienteering. There are example maps to practice with while reading the book, as well as information and tips for setting up orienteering courses.

This is a great resource to use while talking and working with Boy Scouts helping them achieve their orienteering merit badge. They're great examples to use for describing elevation maps terrain and the workings of a compass.

I give this book 4 ½ stars because I've used it multiple times for Boy Scouts as well as for my own personal enjoyment. It's quite fun learning to find one's location using a map and compass rather than just a GPS unit. I was suggested as book to anyone interested in camping and hiking or to anyone who may be unfamiliar with the use of a compass.
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Snake Oil Science: The Truth about Complementary and Alternative Medicine by R. Barker Bausell
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Rating:
Genre:  Non-Fiction, Medicine

This is a book by Barker Bausell that discusses complementary and alternative medicine. I read a description of this book in the Journal of the American Medical Association and was intrigued with the principles of statistics relating to cause-and-effect.

With all the advances in medicine today, many patients continue to rely on complementary and alternative medicine as they seek for ways to heal themselves. Acupuncture, herbal remedies, chiropractic manipulation, and many others have all been described as ways to heal various diseases. This book outlines the relationship between cause and effect as well as the natural progression of disease. Medicine today accepts a level of proof at 95%, meaning that there is a one in 20 chance that the effect may be due to sheer randomness versus a consequence of a specific action. Using the example of arthritis, the disease commonly waxes and wanes with a certain time period. The patient will commonly complain of their arthritis at the maximum point, seeking treatments to minimize their suffering. Anti-inflammatories and other pain medications can be used in the short term to help these patients. The patient using complementary and alternative medicine may mistaken the use of acupuncture for two weeks as the cause for the relief, when the relief is actually due to the natural Nader of the disease process.

I give this book 5 stars, because I have applied and used many of these topics in my daily discussions with people I work with. I would recommend this book to any patient with questions concerning their own health and seeking a quick fix for various health problems.

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A Very Long Engagement by Sebastien Japrisot
Hilarie

Rating:
Genre:  Fiction, World War 1
Reading Challenges:  9 for 100+ in 2009

"Once upon a time, there were five French Soldiers who had gone off to war, because that's the way of the world."  So begins Sebastien Japrisot's haunting novel which chronicles not only the horrors of war and the endurance of love, but the ways in which World War 1 forever changed the lives of those who were caught up in the conflict.  

I have already read this book several times.  For some reason, I seem to find myself returning to it every few years.  Japrisot's writing is so beautiful and flows so well in translation (the novel was originally written in French) that it makes me want to take language lessons so that I could enjoy his writing in his native language. 

The story concerns Mathilde Donnay, an intelligent and strong-willed protagonist who happens to be confined to a wheelchair because of an early childhood injury.  Don't let this detail bother you, as it certainly doesn't bother Mathilde.  She has far too many fish to fry to let a little thing like partial paralysis get in her way.  As a young girl, Mathilde formed a lasting friendship with a boy named Manech, who became her fiancee after their childhood friendship developed into a strong and loving relationship.  At the tender age of 19, Manech was sent off to the war, serving as an infantryman on the front of the French lines.  Literally driven past the point of endurance by the horrors he has witnessed, Manech arranges for an accommodating soldier in German trench to shoot him in the hand.  Manech is sentenced to death for this self-mutilation, along with four other soldiers.  Their sentence is to be thrown into no-man's land, the space between the French and German trenches, with no weapons and their hands tied behind their backs.  What happened to Manech and his fellow inmates becomes a mystery, one which Mathilde is not willing to let remain unsolved, and spends seven years trying to uncover.  In pursuing this mystery she will uncover not only Manech's ultimate fate, but also learn the stories of those who witnessed it.

This is such a beautiful novel, and Mathilde is such a likable character.  Each time I read it I find myself furiously turning the pages, hoping for a resolution to lives that were so unfairly interrupted.
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