Bring Me Up: Book Club

Stephen King - Just After Sunset

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:14:00 +0000

I finished Stephen King's newest book, "Just After Sunset: Stories", which is his first collection of short stories. I admit when I bought the book I didn't read about it first and so I was surprised to find it was a collection of short stories. In fact, I found myself immediately disappointed, but I read it anyway and I am so happy I did.

My first reaction was one of disappointment because I wanted the chance to sink my teeth into a great Stephen King novel. You know, something involved and thrilling. I didn't think short stories would indulge me enough to get my "thriller fix". I have read so many short stories which feel like they were rushed, unpolished and not quite finished once I'm done, but Stephen King is apparently just an amazing writer in all realms, because he developed incredible plots, solid characters and great endings in each of these stories.

Now that I'm done I wish there were more. I loved "N." and "the gingerbread Girl". I was fabulously disgusted by "The Cat From Hell" and "a Very Tight Place".

I even thoroughly enjoyed the Sunset Notes, comprising King's own thoughts about each of the stories in the collection.

Stories:
Willa
The Gingerbread Girl
Harvey's Dream
Rest Stop
Stationary Bike
The Things They Left Behind
Graduation Afternoon
N.
The Cat from Hell
The New York Times at Bargain Rates
Mute
Ayana
A Very Tight Place

2009 Alex Award, Nominated for the British Fantasy Award for Best Collection

A Hidden Place

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Sat, 02 May 2009 11:53:00 +0000

Sometimes I judge a book by its cover and if the cover appeals to me but I know nothing about the story or the author I may still purchase and read it. That is what happened with this book, "A Hidden Place." I had not of the author, Robert Charles Wilson, and I never even read the back of the book it was purely the title and cover which intrigued me.

The story began with a group of homeless men traveling in box cars, wondering where their next meal would come from and trying to stay away from the police. The influential character in this segment was a man named Bone. A name he wasn't sure how he came to have as his own, but knew it was given to him and so he kept it. He was tall, oddly shaped and a bit scary looking. His joints and bones and proportions were all out of whack, he almost didn't look human.

When it came to running from the law the other homeless men would normally let Bone take the brunt of the beatings. If he lives they'd proclaim him their hero, if he died they would take his coat and shoes. It was brutal. Two hobos in particular, Deacon and Archie, ended up recruiting Bone into their little clique purely for his strength. They went on a crime spree of sorts and the reason to include Bone was because no one would remember their faces if he was around. Eventually Bone realized he was being used, but it seemed to take awhile.

The further you get into the story the more you wonder about Bone. Why he acts the way he does. He talks about a sickness, he talks about a calling but he isn't sure what either element refers to in his world. It's all quite odd.

Until you get into the other part of this story where we meet Travis, his aunt and uncle, their attic renter Anna and townie girl Nancy. Not that things get any less odd, but they sort of all seem to follow the same strange theme. And in this part of the story it would be Anna that seemed to be the misfit. Except unlike Bone, Anna is incredibly beautiful, but equally as lost.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Travis came to live with his aunt and uncle after his Mom died. They took him in, but not exactly happily. In fact his Uncle treated him like dirt from the very beginning, because Travis's Mom lived in sin. So when Travis learned that his Uncle was raping Anna in the attic each night he resented the situation even more and he vowed to help Anna. In comes Nancy, a girl who works in a restaurant and befriends Travis boldly one afternoon. They end up working together to save Anna.

Little did anyone know, Anna is not human. Anna is from another world altogether and she and Bone need to find each other, reconnect and be on their way before they both die. This twist gets thrown into the mix rather suddenly and unexpectedly. I suppose if I had known it was a science fiction book I wouldn't have been surprised, but truthfully I didn't know and the first several chapters of the book made no mention of anything sci-fi in nature.

Well Nancy never strays from wanting to help Anna, but Travis does. He is afraid of her and he doesn't believe she means no harm. Plus she claims to be able to mirror his image of a woman and it happens to be she mirrors his dead Mom, which of course would be hard to take. Eventually though he realizes if he doesn't help then she will die and seeing as how he lost his Mom once he wouldn't want to be the reason he loses someone so in tune with her.

Anna tells Travis that Bone is near, but he is dying and she needs Travis to go find him and bring him to her. She describes a scene where she knows he is and Travis goes to find him. She explains Bone has been betrayed, wounded and deeply mistreated and will not trust Travis until he knows he can.

Another strange thing that happens is that the men of the town end up getting together with the idea of killing the homeless people out near the train field. I don't understand how this came to be, I read it, but it still doesn't make a bit of sense.

So on the way back to Anna, Travis and Bone see the town's men with their guns and their torches and they realize just how down to the wire they are. As Bone gets closer to the place they have been hiding Anna he seems to get stronger. Both he and Anna glow with a blue aura that no one else can see except for Travis and Nancy. The blue glow is what helps them find each other.

I admit it doesn't make sense, it's all quite bizarre but it eventually all does come together even if in a very bumpy manner. And I loved the book, I was sad to be done. If you're open minded and enjoy sci-fi stories than you'll like this book. I'm looking forward to reading more from Robert Charles Wilson.

Icefields

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:35:00 +0000

Thomas Wharton wrote a fictitious book about a group of people who basically live in a glacier community called Jasper. It begins with a small group who travel to the Arcturus Glacier in the Canadian Rockies in 1898 to adventure and name mountains and glacial aspects others have never viewed before. Dr. Edward Byrne is one of those in the group and he falls head first into an ice crevasse in the first few pages. His group realize what happened and are able to save him, but while he is down in the crevasse he sees something in the ice.

"Icefields" is written wonderfully in terms of imagery and emotion which tends to show up in italics.

The italics were different peoples poetry or journal entries throughout. They were personalized, raw and didn't always make sense until I read them again. Ordinarily that would frustrate me but in this book it intrigued me.

The imagery was appealing because of course it's an entire book about ice. How many different ways can one describe their surroundings when they are surrounded by ice? Well, you'd be surprised my friends.

After Dr. Byrne is saved from the ice he is brought to the nearest house, which happens to be the home of Sara. Sara nurses him back to proper health before he leaves the frigid place for his home in England. But Sara knows he will be back because in his delirious state she hears him talk about the mysterious thing he saw in the ice.

When Dr. Byrne does end up back at the Arcturus Glacier it is ten years later and a lot has changed. There is now a tiny town of Jasper where at one point only Sara and a small handful of other people had lived. Dr. Byrne meets the explorer Freya; the poet Hal; and Elspeth who he falls in love with. And of course one of the old group Trask, who wishes to turn the entire glacier community into a tourist attraction.

Things get a little tricky and difficult to follow as each person has their own thing happening. But for the most part everything ends up focusing back on Dr. Byrne who is in search of the mystery he saw a decade ago. As a doctor and scientist he ends up setting up tent near a place where he sees the glacier receding. He calculate and waits and watches in hopes that the area where he fell will be in view soon thanks to warming and melting of the glacier in areas.

*****SPOILER ALERT*****

There is a bit of a love triangle between Freya, Hal and Byrne. We know Byrne loves Elspeth but there is a sexual charge of sorts between him and Freya. But Hal loves Freya, and as a sappy poet he envisions life with her and kids and everything. At one point in the book she falls through the ice or a tip of it gives way somehow while she is out with Hal. He goes to save her, but she's dead. After losing the love of his life he carries her in a mad state to Dr. Byrne. He ends up leaving and being placed in a hospital away from Jasper. Then he ends up going to war and coming back to Jasper years later. It's a jumble and it's mixed into everything else happening with Dr. Byrne.

As Trask continues developing the area there ends up being a railway put in, roads put in and a plethora of other things. Dr. Byrne fights about it saying the ice is unstable and it's dangerous to build a tourist attraction there.

Elspeth spends time up on the mountain with Dr. Byrne on occasion, but she argues with him about whatever he thinks he saw when he fell. I don't like her character development at all. I really don't understand her place in the book. But Dr. Byrne is quite fond of her and maybe she is the reason he doesn't lose his mind completely while living in a tent out on the ice.

My trouble is the open end. There isn't enough of a plot or development to warrant a sequel and yet the end is left open like you should be expecting one. Though I can't imagine any type of sequel would be more than a chapter long. The entire book is a journey, a search for something one researcher saw a decade ago when he fell into an ice crevase. He never finds it...or does he? No, really, I have no idea.

Interested, then buy Icefields and give it a read I would love to know what you think.

Swan Peak

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 15:19:00 +0000

My father-in-law likes the author James Lee Burke. I had not read any of his books and so for Christmas last year he bought me one as a gift. The book he chose was the newest at the time, titled "Swan Peak: A Dave Robicheaux Novel."

First I must tell you I very much enjoy mysteries, suspense and thrillers and so I am sure he thought this would be a good fit. In many ways it really was; it kept my attention and I wanted to continue reading through until the end to find out what would happen.

However, there were many sections where the vulgarity of events taking place were quite offensive. I'm sensitive, but I love Dean Koontz and he has intense scenes in most of his books, too. James Lee Burke was just so descriptive it nearly turned my stomach in certain areas.

Clete and Dave were old friends, they were from New Orleans and the book takes place after hurricane Katrina. So at this time they are vacationing in Mnntana to get away from the ruins of their home. Clete is a PI and Dave is a cop so they have worked together on criminal cases numerous times. Their Montana trip is meant to be relaxing. Dave's wife Molly is up there and they're staying with an old friend, Albert Hamilton on his large estate out in the woods.

Unfortunately, the vacation winds up being anything but relaxing when Clete finds himself unknowingly trespassing on the Wellstone's property. Leslie Wellstone is a well known man in the area who runs Wellstone Ministries. Everything about them is crooked, including the nagging feeling Clete has that Leslie Wellstone is really the burnt up live body of Sally Dio, a criminal who was said to have been blown up in a plane crash. (Apparently this is from a previous book).

***Spoiler Alert***

Then we have Jimmy Dale Greenwood who is in prison for having helped a hooker who was being beaten up. He got put away as the assailant even though he was innocent. Jimmy Dale is in prison in Texas where the prison guard Nix takes on Jimmy as his toy and rapes him and humiliates him. Until Jimmy Dale has enough and during one of their out of prison trips he attempts to kill Nix with a shank.

Jimmy Dale escapes and winds up in Montana in hopes to reunite with his lost love Jamie Sue and her son Dale. Jamie Sue is now married to Leslie Wellstone. And Nix inevitable winds up all bandaged and irate in Montana as well; searching for Jimmy Dale Greenwood who is now going by the name of J.D. Gribble. And J.D. Gribble gets a job working for Albert Hamilton on his estate.

See how all the pieces sort of fit together?

The FBI gets involved when two college kids are found brutally murdered on Albert's property. Clete and Dave are interested in the case because of Clete's run in with the Wellstone's previously in that week. The kids were involved with Wellstone Ministries and everything about their deaths is suspicious. But who does it involve, who are the killers and who are the criminal minds? Why Albert's property?

Clete gets too close to the truth and winds up kidnapped, tied to a tree, doused with gasoline and lit on fire. But who is there to put out the fire and save him? None other than J.D. Gribble. Meanwhile Clete has met and slept with Jamie Sue Wellstone, further agitating that situation. And he brags about it a bit with J.D. who we know is in search of reuniting with Jamie Sue.

Trouble just keeps escalating and new clues pop up around every corner. While Clete and Dave are trying to find out who is involved they run into Nix who is in a Church showing people a picture of Jimmy Dale Greenwood and asking if anyone has seen him. Of course Clete has seen him and Jimmy Dale had saved his life, but now Clete knows J.D. is a convict on the run.

I'll stop with all the spoilers now. Everything gets tied up in the end fairly well. Not too many loose ends or questions. I enjoyed the fact that James Lee Burke was able to connect so many plots and characters without much confusion and without giving away too much of the twists. His descriptions of the surrounding areas, people and events were very vivid and in some cases bothersome. I think I missed out on some development by not having read other books which involved Clete and Dave, but I didn't miss out on enough to not be able to wrap my mind around the story.

All in all I liked it, I'd be open to reading another of his books. Hopefully one which doesn't involve a sex-crazed rapist prison guard or ministry.

Flabbergasted kept my attention

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:13:00 +0000

Flabbergasted: To cause to be overcome with astonishment.

Ray Blackston's book "Flabbergasted: A Novel" did not overcome me with astonishment, but I did very much enjoy it. I think the witty banter and dialogue throughout the story between all of the characters was the best part of the writing. It was the communication between strangers and new friends which filled in for the holes in the plot.

"Flabbergasted" follows the journey of a young man who has moved across the country to be with his girlfriend, only to then be dumped before the for sale sign is even removed from his new house. His realtor tells him the best place to meet women is at church. This is where the story begins.

Well for Jay Jarvis, who is a financial adviser and stock broker whose heart was just broken, he really doesn't believe he'll meet a girl in church and he also doesn't know if God would even care. So when he starts going to a singles class for the local Presbyterian church he is a bit "flabbergasted" to meet a girl he is very captivated by; her name is Allie. He is especially astonished since Allie is the daughter of the church Elder AND she does missionary work.

Since this book is written by a man and from the man's point of view nothing gets too sappy. In addition, since it does weigh heavily on a Christian single's group there isn't much suggestive content through either. It's wholesome, but it's not hokey and it definitely has it's tongue-in-cheek moments. I loved it. I laughed a few dozen times while reading.

For those of you who doubt your faith perhaps this book can open your eyes a bit. Otherwise, you might feel it is a bit much, but you have to remember Allie has devoted her life to working for God and being one of the main quirky characters you'll be dealing with her opinions throughout. You'll also have the more cynical Jay Jarvis as your narrator and that helps keep things toned down. But Jay definitely ends up finding God, love and a whole new enlightening perspective after many belly flops along the way.

The Grave Tattoo

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:30:00 +0000

"The Grave Tattoo" was supposed to be a psychological thriller and I suppose in some ways it was because it did keep me guessing. But it also had other more obvious components of academic passion, mystery, science (forensics) and history. The author is Val McDermid, this is the first of his stories I have read and I would read him again if I stumbled across another book.

Everything begins by the discovery of a body in a swampy area where Dr. Jane Gresham grew up in the Lake District of England. The body is assumed to be about 200 years old, it has very defined, black tattoos which signify a man who had traveled the South Seas.

Jane Gresham resides in the scary, ghetto Marshpool neighborhood and gets to go home to the more upscale and yet quaint Lake District when she pitches a theory to the college where she works that the body found could be none other than Fletcher Christian. She feels this way based on another theory of hers that Fletcher Christian told William Wordsworth his story and Wordsworth wrote about it in his manuscript The Bounty. She proposes the whole truth exists and is being kept secret in a local home. If found her theory would be correct, she would become an academic hero and the family with the manuscript could stand to make millions.

There are a lot of different characters who you sort of have to remember and connect on your own throughout the story. One of which is a thirteen year old girl named Tenille who Jane treats like a younger sister. She gets caught up in a lot of trouble and is wanted for questioning about murder, arson, burglary, etc. Keeping track of her drama is like keeping track of a whole separate story.

Then you have the forensic scientist making a documentary of the "bog body" which she named Pirate Peat. So you have chapters involving just her, her name is Dr. River Wilde. She ends up dating a detective while she is in the area his name is Rigston. Rigston ends up getting pulled into the Tenille situation. See how things connect, but not really?

Jane wanted to find out which ancestors would possibly have the manuscript so she did a lot of research. She spoke with people who were decedents of a lady who used to work for the Wordsworth family. But each person on her list to speak with winds up dead. And so Rigston gets involved with this search even though it appears each person died of natural causes.

I don't want to get into too much spoiler information, but the twists and turns did keep me on my toes. I liked the suspense, even though at times it was very unbelievable. Like when Jane is hit over the head, falls off a cliff into water and a sheep herder sees her fall and saves her.

But, for the most part it was an entertaining read and I did enjoy the 20 minutes each night when I took time to get through a few chapters.

Victorian Society Satire

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:16:00 +0000

Samuel Butler anonymously published his novel "Erewhon" in 1872. It's a book I read and finished last month but didn't write about it because I really just didn't get it, and therefore I didn't like it. But what the hey, I write about everything else, so here goes nothing.

Erewhon initially comes off as a Utopian land, but as you delve further into the chapters you realize it's not a utopia at all. Which of course makes sense since the world will most likely never see a Utopian society. And to think that the Victorian culture could conceive it self to be one does make the perfect theme behind this satire.
In fact, things are so backwards in this society that Samuel Butler put the book on hold from being published and then did so anonymously because he feared retribution.

In the book the criminals are helped and treated as though they can be fixed by people Butler terms as "straighteners." But then those people who truly do have a physical or mental condition are treated as though there is no helping them and they are actually punished.

It is awfully interesting to read this, because in today's American society it very often feels that criminals receive more assistance than good citizens who are suffering.

My biggest complain of this novel, which at many times did keep my interest, was that there was too much author interjection and presumptions. He would write exactly what he feared his audience might think of something he said. I didn't like that, I would have rather he kept those comments to himself or perhaps included them all in a commentary at the end.

The book is poorly organized and in that respect it is difficult to follow because you'll finish one chapter and then three chapters later you'll think you're reading the same thing.

And so there you have my few thoughts on "Erewhon".

Healing the New Childhood Epidemics

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:01:00 +0000

While I've not yet finished this book, "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders" I feel compelled to write about it now, because I know it will inevitably be one I continue to read and refer to for the rest of my life.

Written by doctors Kenneth Bock and Cameron Stauth, this is one of the most hopeful and insightful books regarding the health issues of today's children that I have ever been fortunate enough to read. And since I've been reading it I have recommended every parent I know purchase a copy and several of them have done just that after hearing some of thing things I have learned.

Dr. Kenneth Bock in an integrative pediatrician in New York. He sees patients from all over the world and he helps those who have been told there is no help. From the most severe forms of autism to the more minute issues involving dietary intolerances or allergies, he is able to diagnose and prepare a unique plan with which the child can recover or be significantly helped.

My son, age 5, has severe allergies, asthma and a history of an IgA Deficiency. We're still trying to get to the bottom of all his ailments. And my goal has been to do whatever is necessary to improve his quality of life. So whether my husband and I are buying new foods or driving him to Philadelphia, we'll do whatever we need to do to help him feel better for longer periods of time.

This book has helped to give me hope. It has enlightened me on just how important proper nutrition and diet are for all children. It has taught me that the chemical makeup of each child is unique and so the way to heal one child may be different than the next, but you do whatever works.

I have learned about the toxicity issues our children are facing from the environment around them both in the air and in the earth. The diet our children have includes so much harmful preservatives and pesticides that their body is already working under a slight strain. The more sensitive your child's immune system, the more likely they are to react to these elements. For our little boy his reactions at times are extremely alarming.

Braeden began having antibiotics at the age of 13 days when he had his first double ear infection. Over the last five years I cannot even begin to tell you how much medicine he has been on. But I am finding out, with the help of this book and new doctors, that the yeast build up due to all these medications may be playing a huge part in the sensitivities of his digestive tract.

In other regards I have found the book to be sad in all these children and their parents are up against. There are so many text book doctors out there who spend too much time listening to pharmaceutical companies than to their patients. Far too many doctors are ready to tell you there is nothing you can do. And did you know many doctors have only taken two courses about nutrition at medical school? It's not wonder they give to little mention to diet.

A quote from Publisher's Weekly says, "According to the authors, genetics "load the gun, and environment pulls the trigger": bodily toxins like heavy metals, exposure to viruses through vaccination and poor nutrition create "a veritable perfect storm of physical and neurological insult" that hits hardest those still developing their immune systems. In case studies, Bock approaches each patient like a puzzle waiting to be solved, a refreshing, multi-pronged strategy to healing: finding and treating the root cause of illness rather than its symptoms, reducing the body's toxin load and helping the body heal itself through nutritional and medical therapy."

I think this is an invaluable book. The resources it provides, the plans it provides and again the hope it can give is priceless. Thanks to this book I am confident that Braeden will continue to grow stronger and so will the rest of my family.

I highly recommend purchasing this book, I promise you that it will help to educate and enlighten you so that you can keep your child as healthy and strong as possible.

Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders

The Overlook

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:12:00 +0000

While reading "The Overlook" by Michael Connelly I was hooked and wanted to fight out what was going on. I loved trying to keep up with the twists and turns of the plot. But when all was said and done it felt rushed. You solve a crime in a very unlikely way and it hardly makes sense and then the book is over. Like the author got tired of writing and tried to wrap it all up in a big pretty bow.

Harry Bosch is a character in more than one of Michael Connelly's books, this was obvious to me even without having read any prequels to "The Overlook." But I don't feel like I missed out on his character development too much as his history seems to get thrown in his face a lot.

Repeater, FBI agent Rachel Walling, is also in this book.

Bosch has a new partner, rookie Iggy Ferras, and they get called into a huge case which just explodes into all types of fun in the middle of the night. They are a special team of the LAPD and find themselves getting mixed in with the feds. The sour relationship between the FBI and LAPD is evident through the entire plot. There is indeed a power struggle to say the least.

The story is based around an execution style murder of physicist Stanley Kent on a Mulholland Drive overlook. The FBI gets involved because they feel it could be terrorist related due to the radioactive materials Kent handles on a daily basis.

As the plot unfolds or rather twists and weaves you find out that the FBI are heading in the wrong direction and following misguided notions. Bosch on the other hand begins sniffing out the truth of the matter and due to tensions and doubts he isn't really taken seriously until we're down on the wire and multiple lives are at stake.

I won't tell you what happens, I will tell you I did not expect it. I appreciate that this book was unpredictable for me, that doesn't happen often. For the most part I was very interested in following the crime scenes and picking up on the clues, but I feel things could have come together slower and not thrown into overdrive just to finish the book and get it on the shelves.

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:56:00 +0000

This book, by Michael Scott, appealed to me on all levels. For one it mentions Nicholas Flamel in the title and of course my interest was piqued because I knew his name from having read the Harry Potter books; specifically mentioned in the first book of that series.

The cover of The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel looks interesting with it's colors and symbols. Nothing is explained about what you'll be reading, but it is enticing and mysterious. Cryptic.

Brother and sister, twins, Sophie and Josh Newman are spending the summer with their aunt in San Fransisco, California while their parents are away on yet another archeological dig. Josh finds a summer job at a bookstore, owned by Nick and Perry Fleming, and Sophie finds one across the street at a coffee shop. Their summer is turning out okay, mostly because at least they have each other.

The adventure begins almost immediately when Sophie sees something strange across the street from the coffee shop. Four dark figures emerge from a black sedan and enter the bookshop. She attempts to call Josh to see what is going on, but not before an explosion rocks the bookstore sending glass and strange smells out into the street.

While Sophie runs over to check out what is happening she runs into Perry Fleming, part owner of the store. Perry tells he to stay put, but Sophie isn't about to stay put while her brother is in danger.

Meanwhile, Nick Fleming, keeps telling Josh to run deep into the cellar and stay out of sight as he fights off a man he keeps calling Dee and three other strange clay people which he refers to as golems.

One item is stolen from the store during this mystical fight, it is the Codex, a book which is ten thousand years old and contains all the myths and legends of the world including sorcerer spells and potions from hundreds of generations. Fortunately, when Dee stole it from Josh's hands he didn't realize Josh had ripped the last two pages out. The last two pages of the Codex are extremely important and now both Josh and Sophie are in mortal danger.

After all this chaos the kids have more than enough questions for Nick and Perry Fleming. This is when they find out their real names are Nicholas and Perenelle Flemal and they are hundreds of years old thanks to an elixir that was keeping them alive. The elixir is in the Codex and without it they will age one full human year each day. But their aging is the least of their concerns. With the Codex in the hands of evil Dr. Dee the entire world is in danger of essentially being wiped out by those called the Dark Elders.

And this is where I'll leave you. If you like legends and myths, if you enjoy adventures and fantasies, if you like stories about magic then you'll love this book/series. I recommend The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel for all ages.

And yes, you might as well order the next book in the series because if you're like me you'll want to open it as soon as you're finished the first. The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel

Digital Fortress

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:25:00 +0000

Codes and cryptic messages just don't have the ability to be dull; especially if the government is involved and they aren't exactly up to par.

Dan Brown's novel "Digital Fortress" began on a Saturday morning when two newly engaged people were ready to leave on a romantic getaway until their phones rang. David Becker was called to Spain for a mission which was declared a matter of national security. His fiance, Susan Fletcher, was called into work at Node 3 in Crypto. Little did they know both their lives were in danger and no one could be trusted, not even the most sincere of their old friends.

With David Becker looking for a pass key in Spain which could be anywhere and Susan Fletcher finding out an "unbreakable algorithm" was tainting the top secret TRANSLTR. The National Security Agency (NSA) has a corrupt seed and he happens to be dragging the leading cyptographer, Susan, into a game which he doesn't realize will be so deadly.

While in Spain David Becker finds himself running all over the blessed country trying to find a pass key which is engraved on a gold ring. Knocking on death's door the pass key creator removes the ring and gives it to a random stranger.

Susan Fletcher finds out about an unbreakable code which the agency hasn't been able to make heads or tails of. Could it be a virus, could it be bringing down the national top secret database? When two other system security technicians show up and wind up dead Susan realizes there's an inside job happening and her fiance is in danger.

The book was absolutely riveting; a page turner to say the least. I wish there were some sort of sequel. I do love a good thriller and mystery and Dan Brown seems to know just how to write them. This is the 3rd of his books I have loved. Of course you either love him or hate him and there are many sticklers who find the books are just too unbelievable. Luckily for me I read to be entertained and enthralled both of which are guaranteed if the author is Dan Brown.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:46:00 +0000

This might just be me, but I'm happy this book of short stories was not J.K. Rowling's first release to the shelves. I read it, I enjoyed it and now I'm feeling "eh" about it. Granted she gave herself quite a star to have to jump over with the Harry Potter series and that's the only reason this collection of stories probably did well.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a collection for five short stories or fairytales, but I would say they are more similar to Aesop's Fables than anything else I have ever read. Each one has a very noticeable moral at the end.

Each story is also followed up by a commentary by Albus Dumbledore, who Harry Potter readers know as the infamous headmaster at Hogwarts. His insight into each story was more interesting to me than the story itself.

I'm still happy I purchased the book, especially knowing proceeds went to the Children's High Level Group. The Children's High Level Group (CHLG) was founded in 2005 by author J.K. Rowling and MEP Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne to help the 1 million children across Europe still living in large residential institutions. Its aim is to improve the welfare of vulnerable children across Europe, operating both politically and practically to build capacity at a country level. CHLG activities focus on health, education and welfare. It was registered as a United Kingdom charity on 21 December 2005 and a Romanian charity on 25 January 2006.

Louder Than Words

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 01:29:00 +0000

It's true the book "Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism" could have been read much quicker than I read it, but with the topic of autism it was something I wanted to slowly absorb from the beginning and through to the end.

For some reason I have always had a deep fascination in the autism spectrum disorder. Ever since I was a teenager I have researched the topic and wanted to know more. After reading Jenny McCarthy's book "Louder Than Words" I can tell you I am even more enamored with the topic than before.

Until reading this book I did not realize all the similarities between autism and other types of immune deficiencies. Essentially that is what autism seems to be, an immune deficiency, your body fighting itself. I know it is a neurological disorder and I am sure there are other genetic factors involved, although maybe I feel this way purely based on this one book. I am sure other children with autism have different symptoms and reactions and progressions.

When Jenny's son was three years old he began having seizures. Doctors diagnosed him with epilepsy even though the brain activity causing the seizures was coming from his frontal lobe which is not at all typical with epilepsy. They put him on medication which either made him act like a zombie or like a psychotic Tasmanian devil. Jenny knew this was not her boy, she knew something more was happening and she would not stop until she found out.

With much research, many doctors, many long nights and much borrowed money Jenny learned more and more about how vaccinations, diet and antibiotics all played a part in her son's behavior. While she agrees he does have developmental issues associated with autism and he has the stims including tip toe walking and hand flapping; a huge part of his issues came from how his body, his immune system, was functioning or rather malfunctioning.

I have to tell you, I could probably write all night about this one book. But I think if it interests you in anyway you should read it. I could read it again, even though at times it was emotionally draining to tackle. The information, the insight and revelations, the raw hope and faith of a mother with her son...well, let's just say it has penetrated into my brain and I am better for it.

My son has an IgA immune deficiency, one out of every 500 people have some extent of this deficiency. It means they are more susceptible to picking up viruses and bacterial infections and there's "nothing" you can do about it according to every doctor you speak with. Braeden has chronic infections, problems with his digestion and a whole slew of other issues. After reading this book I can tell you that I believe there is hope in improving him tenfold. I don't give a hoot what the doctors say anymore. Jenny has inspired me.

I can only hope this book helps to promote more and more autism awareness. I also hope people with children who have immunity problems will take the time to read it because I very much feel it will become a useful tool in their lives.

*~*~*

This morning I had an e-mail from someone who read this post and was concerned. They explained science is against most of what Jenny wrote in her book. She knows that, her son's doctors told her that. Fortunately the book is not a medical textbook, it's an account of her journey with her son. She talks about her opinions based on what she went through with her son, what worked, what didn't work and the progress he has made. She also explains that other parents tried the same things for their children with autism and it didn't work. Such is the mystery of autism. Thank you to the person who e-mailed me, I appreciate everything you said.

Summer by the Sea

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:33:00 +0000

Another recommendation from my Aunt Bobbie, I rather quickly was able to tackle "Summer By The Sea" by Susan Wiggs. I say quickly not only because it is an easy read, but because it's a good book, I really enjoyed it and didn't want put it down.

There is something unique about this book, every few chapters it begins with a quote and a recipe. The main character in the book own's a restaurant which she named after her mother. They are an Italian family and so naturally the food was good and the recipes were definitely share worthy.

Rosa and Alexander met as children. After Rosa's Mom passed away she went to work with her father. Her father was a gardener for some of the more affluent people in their neighborhood and all Rosa had to do was stay out of trouble. Of course all young kids get into mischief and after a few bee stings she was invited into the Montgomery house by the maid. While the maid took a phone call she wandered around and stumbled upon a pale little boy; Alexander.

Alexander was never allowed to do anything fun because he had severe asthma, but Rosa said they could walk down to the beach. Over the summer they did little things together like take walks, fly kites, play chess, etc. The Montgomery's were only a summer family in the neighborhood, but each summer Alexander and Rosa were the best of friends.

As the two get older the drama ensues. Mrs. Montgomery doesn't approve of Rosa, she is just the gardeners daughter after all. Alexander goes away to boarding school. He comes back one summer to sweep Rosa off her feet but after a tragic hit-and-run where her father almost lost his life, Alex leaves without so much as a goodbye.

It's not until Alexander's mom takes her own life that he comes back to the house by the sea and decides to stay and win back Rosa's heart.

That will have to be where my summary ends. You know I want you to read the book on your own if this piqued your interest. So get reading, Summer By The Sea!

The Lucky One

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:39:00 +0000

Nicholas Sparks is one of my favorite authors and I may not own all his books, but I have read them all, some more than once. He has a way of telling a story which makes you feel like you're part of it. They are similar in style always including a love story and some sort of drama. But it's never a scantily harlequin or a drama that feels too soap-operaish and I suppose that's one of the reasons it feels to real and possible.

My Aunt Bobbie let me borrow Sparks' most recent book, "The Lucky One
." I just finished it and battled with it in a few parts because I didn't see where it was going and I was afraid it would end badly. It seemed hopeless at times. I know not all things have happy endings, but I surely enjoy happy endings in fiction.

There are several important characters in the story, but it all starts with Logan. Logan had served three terms in Iraq and survived while the rest of his platoon did not. He and his friend Victor, who also served, said the reason for his luck was in a photo he found while in Iraq; a photo of a woman he didn't know. Before Victor died he told Logan that the photo was his destiny, he owed the woman his life because she had been his savior and that he must find her.

Logan treks across the country to find the woman in the photo. He figures out the landmark she is pictured near and he shows people the photo. Once he meets Beth, whom he likes to call Elizabeth, they end up falling in love. (It takes some time, but it happens. I'm just rushing the summary here.)

Elizabeth is divorced from the town Deputy who dictates her life since they share a son together. The son, Ben, ends up becoming close with Logan and Logan's dog Zeus. Elizabeth sees their bond and so does her ex-husband, Keith. Keith starts all sorts of trouble but essentially tells Beth that Logan has been stalking her for five years and came looking for her from a photo he had gotten in Iraq. The same photo she gave to her brother, her brother who never made it home from Iraq. Now we see the drama, right?

Turns out Beth is a very fair minded person and once Logan tells her the whole story she eventually sees he isn't an insane stalker. That he genuinely felt he owed her something, and he was taking the advice of his good friend Victor in following his destiny.

Needless to say Keith is unhappy. He threatens to take Ben from Beth. Ben hears it and he runs outside into a storm. A storm with much flooding and heavy rains. So immediately you know Ben is in danger. They realize he would have ran off to his treehouse. (You know I'm skipping over things, but really you should just read the story if any of this entices you).

So there you have a quick run down of a quick story. I happy how things closed though it wasn't tied up in a pretty little package. It's a beautifully written story.

Sugar Among the Freaks

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:26:00 +0000

What was it I last read? Oh yes, "Sugar Among the Freaks" by Lewis Nordan. As I wrote up quickly on Goodreads,

"This book was especially amusing, but dealt with topics I typically am not comfortable with. I had a few chuckles, and than other times wondered what would ever possess the author to write about masturbation so openly."

That pretty much sums it up for me.

The book was a collection of 15 short stories which mostly talk about family, coming of age and communities all in the South. It's very colorfully written and so it keeps your attention. Nordan does a great job of quickly describing scenes and scenarios in such as a way that you feel you are remembering something from your own life and childhood.

For me it was a little bit uncomfortable at times because there are coming of age themes which are awkward to read about. But as long as you don't take yourself too seriously it is a great book and an easy, entertaining read.

Let's put it this way, if you like people watching than you'll love reading this book. It gives you a chance to visualize the people while getting insight on their "freakish" lives. Just like people watching, only this time you're not making up stories from your own judgment because they've already been made up for you.

I give Labyrinth a big, Eh

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:52:00 +0000

The truth is I wanted to love Labyrinth by Kate Mosse, because the topics were intriguing and I enjoyed the main characters. For me the story of the Holy Grail has always been fascinating. But it didn't actually get and keep my attention until about page 300. I don't know about you but I am not a believer that it should take hundreds of pages to captivate the reader.

In the beginning I had trouble with the way this story was broken down. There are two components and each has their own leading character. Alias is the lead while the story takes place in the 1200s and Alice is the lead during present time 2000s.

Throughout the story there is extreme attention paid to each and every detail. Even those which really weren't necessary to be in the book at all. Although I love getting into a good book and breathing the very descriptions it just didn't work for me here.

There are way too many characters who all have similar names from one year to the next. There are too many things going on and they change scenes so often I forget where each paragraph is meant to be living.

The ending was terrible. Terrible. I know it's not easy to end a story on the holy grail and it has been done so many times you kind of have to really iron out some kinks to make your ending better or different. Unfortunately, this author failed. Maybe I can see where she was going with it, but she sort of threw it all away.

So why would I say it's a 3-star book? Because it is evident the author painfully researched the topic and wanted to be as realistic as possible. She wrote about other things which interested me including herbalism. Plus, Alias was quite the spunky lady for her time and I enjoyed her passion as a character.

So if you're still interested, than buy the book, Labyrinth.

Touched

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:49:00 +0000

This one was weird/hard for me to read. In the story, "Touched," the plot is about a little boy who is sexually molested by an older man. The story is told from the points of view of the man, his wife, the boy and his mother. There is a lot of psychological trauma going on in the story that made me angry. I have heard some people saying the story line shows a sympathetic twist in regards to the molester, but hearing his rationalizations just made me more angry. I'm just not sure this book accurately depicts the situation.

Scott Campbell write about a twelve-year-old boy who is molested by a neighbor he did errands for during the summer. After everything comes out he ends up having to sit through a court hearing against his molester. He is made to tell the story, in a very detailed manner in front of the jury and the court room which of course included his parents and older brother.

Long story short a rift was made in the family of the abused child. The molester felt bad for what he did and since he claimed devout love for the child he plead guilty; he died in prison.

Since we do not often hear about boys being sexually abused I do think it is important to hear such a story. It was difficult for me to read the molester's view of what happened because even until the very end he said he loved the boy. For him he claimed all emotional, it wasn't about being an abuser or taking advantage of a child. I suppose that would be hard for anyone to hear or read. Perhaps it is a sickness like alcoholism? I don't know.

I suppose this topic was too emotional for me to be objective about. It's well written for the most part I just don't feel it was accurate nor do I feel it would help anyone in a similar situation. =o/

The Splitting Storm

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:32:00 +0000

The Splitting Storm is by Rene Gutteridge and I loved every page of it.

FBI agent Mick Kline knows that adrenaline rush well. When he's not chasing criminals, he's chasing tornados across Texas and Oklahoma. The book opens with his pursuit of the perfect picture of a twister. But this storm quickly gives way to another one when Mick's brother, a police officer, is found dead and he becomes obsessed with tracking down the killer.

Instead, intent on revenge, Kline follows a trail of clues that leads to Bakerville, Tex., where Faith Kemper, the recovering wife of another murder victim, is in hiding - afraid she is next.

Right off the bat I was intrigued by the fact that the lead character was a storm chaser. The first chapter had such a powerful description of the storm he wanted to take photographs of and how it felt to be in the thick of it. Unfortunately there was to be no more storm chasing and he entire chapter was more of a foreshadowing than anything else.

Mick ends up being told he needs to take a month off because the strain of his brother's murder has gotten to him. He is obsessed with finding the killer and the more research he does the more he is certain there is a serial killer. A killer who kills police officers and in a very unorganized manner. No one believes his theory because the deaths seem so unrelated.

When Mick goes looking for more information on the death of Paul Kemper he ends up meeting the widow, Faith. She is battling more than just having witnessed the murder of her husband, she is also being stalked by the killer AND she has lost all faith in God.

This is a fantastic story, I truly loved it and will be looking for the next two books in this storm series. If you like a mystery, a thriller and a little bit of romantic tension mingled in then you'll enjoy this book. Four stars!

Letters to Gabriel

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:47:00 +0000

Karen Garver Santorum is the author of Letters to Gabriel and the story is about her life and the life she was carrying inside her for nine months. The baby lived two hours after birth, but to her and her family their little boy was alive and part of their family the entire time.

The book is 100% nonfiction and the family in the story was very much in the public eye since the father, Rick Santorum, was a Senator at the time.

Karen was over joyed about her pregnancy and all was going very well at first. However, further into the pregnancy complications arose and they were severe enough that the doctors offered the option of abortion. There was a very slim chance the baby would carry to full term or survive after birth.

It just so happened they found out their baby had a small chance of surviving during the time the partial birth abortion was up for debate in the Senate. And they are a pro-life family.

Karen and her husband decided to move forward and do everything they could to help their baby grow and survive. There were many tests and trips to distant hospitals. Baby Gabriel's kidneys were not functioning and his lungs were not developing properly. There wasn't enough fluid in the placenta and as the pregnancy progressed the percentage of survival diminished.

Gabriel Michael, was born prematurely and died two hours after birth.

Karen writes letters to her unborn son and after he dies she continues writing. As a reader you can feel her anguish and despair. You can also feel her faith and bravery. The book was hard to read, upsetting to say the least, but it was beautiful. And to know Rick Santorum was leading the charge against partial birth abortion in the U.S. Senate at the very same time this was happening makes the story even more powerful.

Sole Survivor

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:40:00 +0000

This weekend when I finished Dean Koontz books "Sole Survivor" I was sad because it was over. I had such an interest in the developments of the characters in this story. There was such growth and so many intertwined stranger connections that once the story was finished I continued thinking what could happen in their future.

Unlike many of Koontz's books this particular one was less of a thriller and more of a thinker, so to speak. There was never a doubt something scientific was happening throughout the story even though it isn't until the latter half when this is confirmed.

The deaths were murders even though all sources were saying suicide. Each victim did indeed die at their own hands, but they did not die of their own choice. You would have to read it to really understand.

For those of you, like myself, who know with certainty that there are spirits among us then you will be intrigued by this book. But it's also important to know there are human beings among us who have "spiritual-esque" qualities (for lack of a better word.)

This story discusses religion, but not in a bible thumping way. The main character, Joe Carpenter, does not believe in God. His wife and daughters were killed in a plane crash on their way home to him. His life ended then too, but his body carried on in spite of his broken spirit.

Things take a turn when he meets a woman, Rose, who claims to have survived the plane crash which incinerated all the passengers aboard. Rose walked away from the scene with a child, Nina, who matches the description of Joe's daughter Nina who was on board.

While it turns out not to be the same Nina, there is indeed a strong connection. And Rose did indeed survive this tragedy as she claims.

But will Joe, Rose and Nina survive the real killers? Read. Believe. See if you are strong enough to survive.

BUY A Dean Koontz BOOK!!!

The Four Agreements

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:10:00 +0000

It isn't the first time I have read Don Miguel Ruiz's book "The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book". In fact, I have read this book three times over the last several years. I am in the process of listening to it as well.

The four agreements are these: Be impeccable with your word. Don't take anything personally. Don't make assumptions. Always do your best.

You'd think the agreements would be easy to embrace and practice, but they are not. I am not surprised at how these agreements are not made in my life. I need to work on them, all four, and improve the quality of my life. Being aware is only a baby step.

Some of the book I have a very difficult time coming to terms with because I was raised in such a way that I always put everyone else around me first. I am easily guilted into doing something I don't want to do and I guilt the people around me. I definitely assume and I almost always take things personally. The only agreement I feel I strive to fulfill each day is the last one, which is to always do my best.

Always going your best is a great chapter because it explains that "your best" will surely change on a daily basis. When you're sick you're best will be less than when you're 100% healthy and so on.

The entire philosophy is based on Toltec beliefs. Ruiz, the author, was born into a Mexican family of traditional healers, became a surgeon in adulthood, then underwent a near-death experience that made him reexamine his life, his beliefs.

He talks about emotions, misconceptions, best practices and how each person allows external influences to guide them through life.

From the cover of the book:

Be Impeccable With Your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Don't Take Anything Personally: Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

Don't Make Assumptions: Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Always Do Your Best: Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

I love this book. I am sure I will read it many more times. I recommend it to everyone in my life regardless of your background, religion or current beliefs. Even if you end up disagreeing with the messages I do still think it is a beneficial read and well written. Or you can listen to it, you can buy it on iTunes or audible.com and it's very short so it takes less than 3 hours to listen.

Buy the book!

The Oxford Murders

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:55:00 +0000

Murder mysteries normally keep me enthralled from start to finish and while this was a good book I can honestly say nothing about it was enthralling.

The Oxford Murders, written by Guillermo Martinez, focused on the deaths of three people who were all already dying. The deaths appeared to be of natural causes but it turns out they were murdered by someone who wanted it to look natural. A smart someone.

You go through the entire book following the thoughts of the detective and the narrator. Our narrator is a student of math named Martin, from Argentina. Arthur Seldom, good friends with the narrator, received a series of notes which were meant to be warnings of a murder. Each note had a symbol which he claimed could be a mathematical challenge. Seldom being a mathematical genius, received these notes because in his recently published book he had a chapter on serial killers and how they can be "calculated" just like a math problem.

I found this thought process to be quite intriguing. I am not good at math and don't know much about theorems and such. This book discusses many mathematical symbols and the theories behind them. As I read along I realized just how smart the serial killer in the book really was and it added a sort of heightened fear to the mix.

***SPOILER***

So when it turned out that all the murders were separate and not a serial murderer at all I was sort of disappointed. Each murder was explained and one of them really wasn't a murder at all.

Plus, I was troubled by the bus crash which killed ten children who had Downs Syndrome. The bus driver died as well and it was he who planned out the bus crash. His daughter was in the hospital dying and on the top of a list for a lung transplant. He contemplated committing suicide so she could have his lung, but he found out they do not transplant the organs of people who have killed themselves. So he orchestrated a bus crash. It's very sad.

I'd give The Oxford Murders 3 stars out of 5. If you are not interested in reading you can watch the movie, Elijah Wood plays Martin. It was an international film released in Spain earlier this year. [trailer]

Eat Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Tue, 27 May 2008 13:02:00 +0000

In her most stressing of moments she escapes by imagining herself hiding in the center of a cake. I found this a bit odd, but it intrigued me enough to continuing reading.

Ruthie being a stay-at-home-momma spent a lot of time baking. It is something her Mom taught her at a young age and as she grew older she fell in love with baking; it became a craft. The ingredients worked for her like they would work for no one else.

When Ruthie's husband was laid off at the hospital things began to get a little bit crazy. It's no surprise what happened, I'm sure you know even without reading further. Ruthie began her own business, "Eat Cake."

The story isn't all predictable, though most of it is if you're astute enough to realize it. There is a couple love stories involved as well as the relationship between mother and daughter spanning generations.

Writing anymore about the book would give away far too much detail and so I won't be. However I will tell you this is definitely chic lit. It is an easy and entertaining read. I highly recommend it to anyone who needs a breather. The book is written excellently with great character development. You'll finish reading with a smile on your face and craving for some cake. =o)

Buy Eat Cake or look to see other books written by Jeanne Ray.

Calendar Girl: In Which A Lady Of Rylstone Reveals All

noreply@blogger.com (Christy) — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:41:00 +0000

Even now I chuckle thinking about eleven women over the age of 45 posing nude for a calendar; including one group shot for December. As a lady of only 27 years of age I cannot even imagine being in a nude calendar. And here these ladies put together the idea and launched it internationally with the hope of raising money to help fund research regarding leukemia. Thus begins the story, Calendar Girl: In Which A Lady Of Rylstone Reveals All.

Little did they know just what a sensation they would become. These women were part of a group called the WI which stands for a Women's Institute and there are many chapters of this group. This calendar includes ladies from the Rylstone Women's Institute in North Yorkshire, UK.

In 1999, one of the ladies husbands became ill with leukemia. He would say that if the ladies planted Sunflowers, he'd make sure he'd get better so he could see them. Unfortunately, Annie lost her husband after which she and her friends pulled together in a fundraising effort and their idea was a nude calendar. The calendar is displays each woman posing behind a different task that the Women's Institute teaches their members, such as making bread rolls, knitting, planting flowers, and playing the piano.

The book is told by Annie's closest friend, Chris, who posed behind an apple press in her month of the calendar. Chris receives a lot of flack through the book and at one point even separates from her husband after he distances himself and grows bitter over the calendar which has taken over their lives.

There were ups and downs to this ordeal and sadly enough their lives would never be the same. Friendships were broken after the calendar became such a sensation it was offered movie deals. Half of the group wanted one director while the other half wanted a different director. The arguments became a feud and the ladies drifted apart. The strain never repaired and it saddened Annie because she know it was not how her late husband would have wanted things to go.

Without getting into too much detail, I very much enjoyed the story, I just feel it drug on a big from time to time. And it seemed the same things kept being rehashed for pages upon pages. I feel it seemed that way because it probably felt that way for the writer, but as a reader I think some of it could have been condensed.

On another note, there is a lot of business and professional lessons to be learned from this book. So if you're an entreprenauer I would reccomend it purely for that purpose and luckily you'll be entertained along the way.

Buy the book, Calendar Girl: In Which A Lady Of Rylstone Reveals All.