Outstanding historical fiction!
Lovers of historical fiction, this one will be right up your alley! Christi Phillips' debut novel is a remarkable work of art with wonderfully rich characters, alternating and inter-connected storylines from 1618 and today, and a beautiful, vivid, true-to-life portrait of one of the world's greatest and most unique cities, Venice.
Alessandra Rossetti's world in 1618 Venice is consumed by Spanish Conspiracies, courteseans, spying, intrigue, and falling in love, while Claire Donovan's Venice of today is haunted with questions of the past, handsome potential lovers, solving puzzles, finding oneself, and letting go. Both protagonists are interesting, multi-dimensional female characters, and their tales are both so intriguing that you're guaranteed to be on the edge of your seat until the very last chapter.
I can't imagine finishing this novel and not wanting to hop on the first flight to Venice or read much more from this talented and giften author. Thankfully, Ms. Phillips is said to be writing a sequel to this one, which I will probably be first in line to procure!
I HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone, but especially for those who love historical fiction, as it is a singular example of the genre at its best!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The Wentworths by Kate Arnoldi
A must for any Bibliophile's Booklist!
Even though I finished reading "The Wentworths," I'm still laughing! Kate Arnoldi's creative, well-written satire is a brilliant insider's peek at the lives of the extremely wealthy and depraved.
While each of the characters has his/her own quirks - Mr. Wentworth's philandering with women more than half his age and alcoholism; Mrs. Wentworth's narcissism and innocence-in-bliss naievete; Conrad Wentworth's misogyny and potential murderous rage coupled with his superiority complex; Becca Wentworth's drug use, anorexia and control complex from failing to live up to her mother's expectations; her husband Paul's passiveness; Little Joey's Kleptomania; Monica's drug use and hatred towards her mother; and Norman Wentworth's Peter Pan Syndrome, drug use, and oddball behavior - they are incredibly life-like and it is easy to feel empathy, especially since each of their stories are autobiographical at times.
The book is written from varying perspectives which enables the author to show-off her ability to write from many different "voices" -she is truly a gifted novelist. Additionally, the author teeters the fine line between the downright funny and the depressingly sad in such a way that the result is uplifting and the reader laughs at the family, while managing to feel empathetic towards them, which is an incredibly difficult result to achieve.
I am looking forward to readiner more from this highly talented writer and recommend this book for everyone, espeically those who love to read!
Even though I finished reading "The Wentworths," I'm still laughing! Kate Arnoldi's creative, well-written satire is a brilliant insider's peek at the lives of the extremely wealthy and depraved.
While each of the characters has his/her own quirks - Mr. Wentworth's philandering with women more than half his age and alcoholism; Mrs. Wentworth's narcissism and innocence-in-bliss naievete; Conrad Wentworth's misogyny and potential murderous rage coupled with his superiority complex; Becca Wentworth's drug use, anorexia and control complex from failing to live up to her mother's expectations; her husband Paul's passiveness; Little Joey's Kleptomania; Monica's drug use and hatred towards her mother; and Norman Wentworth's Peter Pan Syndrome, drug use, and oddball behavior - they are incredibly life-like and it is easy to feel empathy, especially since each of their stories are autobiographical at times.
The book is written from varying perspectives which enables the author to show-off her ability to write from many different "voices" -she is truly a gifted novelist. Additionally, the author teeters the fine line between the downright funny and the depressingly sad in such a way that the result is uplifting and the reader laughs at the family, while managing to feel empathetic towards them, which is an incredibly difficult result to achieve.
I am looking forward to readiner more from this highly talented writer and recommend this book for everyone, espeically those who love to read!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Last Man Standing by David Baldacci
Very good read, but not his best....
I am a huge David Baldacci fan- he knows how to write suspensful thrillers like no one else. He does an enormous amount of research, keeps you on the edge-of-your-seat and creates multi-dimensional characters and layered plots that twist and turn at all the right moments. While Last Man Standing isn't my favorite Baldacci novel, it is certainly a very good book and I recommend it to Baldacci fans, as well as fans of this genre in general.
When Web London, the consummate hero and part of the FBI's elite Hostage Rescue Team, completely freezes on a mission that takes out his entire team, he tries to find the group or person who set him up, in addition to the reason why he frooze. Meanwhile, the D.C. druglord known as Big F. wants to find out what happened to his "brother" Kevin who was caught up in the mission that wiped out Web's team...but is he being set up too? Toss in the radical Free Society and their fanatic beliefs, and the motive of revenge on behalf of each of the characters, and you have one complicated, twisted, yet intriguing plot.
From the ghetto of D.C. to horse-country farm life, "Last Man Standing" truly delivers!
I am a huge David Baldacci fan- he knows how to write suspensful thrillers like no one else. He does an enormous amount of research, keeps you on the edge-of-your-seat and creates multi-dimensional characters and layered plots that twist and turn at all the right moments. While Last Man Standing isn't my favorite Baldacci novel, it is certainly a very good book and I recommend it to Baldacci fans, as well as fans of this genre in general.
When Web London, the consummate hero and part of the FBI's elite Hostage Rescue Team, completely freezes on a mission that takes out his entire team, he tries to find the group or person who set him up, in addition to the reason why he frooze. Meanwhile, the D.C. druglord known as Big F. wants to find out what happened to his "brother" Kevin who was caught up in the mission that wiped out Web's team...but is he being set up too? Toss in the radical Free Society and their fanatic beliefs, and the motive of revenge on behalf of each of the characters, and you have one complicated, twisted, yet intriguing plot.
From the ghetto of D.C. to horse-country farm life, "Last Man Standing" truly delivers!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
The Monsters of Templeton by Laura Groff
Completely original, intriguing and heartwarming...
When Willie Upton comes home to Templeton at the age of 28, after affair with a married professor ended badly, she must lean on the strength of her mother, her anscestors and her town to help her learn about herself, her past and where she is heading in the future. The reader is seemlessly transported through different time periods and varing perspectives in this wonderful breakout novel by a brilliant author.
This book is has it all: well-developed true-to-life characters; multi-generational family intrigue; plot twists and turns; and complete originality. At its core, this book is a tale of discovery. Each of the characters in the book, from narrator Willie Upton, her mother Vi, and friend Clarissa, to the town's own discovery of their heretofore unknown lake friend, the novel deals with uncovering the truth- of the past and of the self. It is a voyage of discovery of a family's roots, of a town, and of those ties that bind them all together.
Please don't let the premise of this novel deter you- when I first heard that it had to do with a "lake monster" I had no interest in the book, but it is merely one small undercurrent in the novel and is quite easy to accept and understand. I HIGHLY recommend this novel and look forward to hopefully reading more by this gifted novelist
When Willie Upton comes home to Templeton at the age of 28, after affair with a married professor ended badly, she must lean on the strength of her mother, her anscestors and her town to help her learn about herself, her past and where she is heading in the future. The reader is seemlessly transported through different time periods and varing perspectives in this wonderful breakout novel by a brilliant author.
This book is has it all: well-developed true-to-life characters; multi-generational family intrigue; plot twists and turns; and complete originality. At its core, this book is a tale of discovery. Each of the characters in the book, from narrator Willie Upton, her mother Vi, and friend Clarissa, to the town's own discovery of their heretofore unknown lake friend, the novel deals with uncovering the truth- of the past and of the self. It is a voyage of discovery of a family's roots, of a town, and of those ties that bind them all together.
Please don't let the premise of this novel deter you- when I first heard that it had to do with a "lake monster" I had no interest in the book, but it is merely one small undercurrent in the novel and is quite easy to accept and understand. I HIGHLY recommend this novel and look forward to hopefully reading more by this gifted novelist
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
American Purgatorio by John Haskell
I enjoyed this book, but its not for everyone...
From page one I was hooked on this fast-paced, interesting debut novel about a happliy married man who goes into a gas station to get a snack and comes out to find his wife and car missing.
The book is written in rather simple prose, which makes for an extremely fast read, however, there is a lot of depth and meaning underlying the simplicity of the words and sentences. So despite reading quickly, you're left pondering how John Haskell was able to so precisely capture raw human emotion, while using such deadpan prose.
He has a unique writing style, but one which is extremely admirable, as he so wonderfully taps into how the protagnoist must have felt at each stage of his "search" for his wife, while experiencing each of the seven deadly sins (named in Latin for each part of the book).
I really enjoyed this novel, but don't think its for everyone, so I have a hard time recommending it so highly in this review. If you're looking for something different, very well-written, and which captures the complexity of human emotion during a difficult time, this book will likely interest you. If you're on-the-fence, I recommend reading the first chapter before purchasing it, to get an idea about the style in which it is written. I would likely read another novel by this author, as I believe he is very gifted, and provides interesting insight into the human condition.
From page one I was hooked on this fast-paced, interesting debut novel about a happliy married man who goes into a gas station to get a snack and comes out to find his wife and car missing.
The book is written in rather simple prose, which makes for an extremely fast read, however, there is a lot of depth and meaning underlying the simplicity of the words and sentences. So despite reading quickly, you're left pondering how John Haskell was able to so precisely capture raw human emotion, while using such deadpan prose.
He has a unique writing style, but one which is extremely admirable, as he so wonderfully taps into how the protagnoist must have felt at each stage of his "search" for his wife, while experiencing each of the seven deadly sins (named in Latin for each part of the book).
I really enjoyed this novel, but don't think its for everyone, so I have a hard time recommending it so highly in this review. If you're looking for something different, very well-written, and which captures the complexity of human emotion during a difficult time, this book will likely interest you. If you're on-the-fence, I recommend reading the first chapter before purchasing it, to get an idea about the style in which it is written. I would likely read another novel by this author, as I believe he is very gifted, and provides interesting insight into the human condition.
What is the What by Dave Eggers
Should be required reading...
This stunningly heartbreaking memoir (in the guise of a novel) should be required reading for all ages and people throughout the world. It teaches of suffering, love, loss, humanity, hunger, war, poverty, religious/ethnic stuggles and hope.
If Valentino Achak Deng's story doesn't motivate you to take some sort of action - from passing along this book to others so they can learn the truth, to philanthopic endeavors on any scale, to lobbying for aid for refugees or victims anywhere in the world - I can't imagine what will.
It is so moving and at times gut-wrenching and tear-inspiring, that it simply leaves you with the desire to "do something."
I admit I did not know much about the Sudan prior to reading Eggers' book. Apart from tidbits about the current situation in Darfur, I was stunningly ignorant of the country's history and atrocities that occurred there. "What Is The What" was extremely educational and inspired me to learn more about the land that has undergone such turmoil, violence and conflict, which unfortunately doesn't seem to change as the decades roll by. Thankfully for this Dave Eggers and Valentino Achak Deng, the stories of the people/victims will be told and others, like myself will hopefully feel compelled to do something about it- no matter how small. I can not recommend this novel highly enough - there should be no doubt whatsoever about whether or not to purchase it- it will change your life!
This stunningly heartbreaking memoir (in the guise of a novel) should be required reading for all ages and people throughout the world. It teaches of suffering, love, loss, humanity, hunger, war, poverty, religious/ethnic stuggles and hope.
If Valentino Achak Deng's story doesn't motivate you to take some sort of action - from passing along this book to others so they can learn the truth, to philanthopic endeavors on any scale, to lobbying for aid for refugees or victims anywhere in the world - I can't imagine what will.
It is so moving and at times gut-wrenching and tear-inspiring, that it simply leaves you with the desire to "do something."
I admit I did not know much about the Sudan prior to reading Eggers' book. Apart from tidbits about the current situation in Darfur, I was stunningly ignorant of the country's history and atrocities that occurred there. "What Is The What" was extremely educational and inspired me to learn more about the land that has undergone such turmoil, violence and conflict, which unfortunately doesn't seem to change as the decades roll by. Thankfully for this Dave Eggers and Valentino Achak Deng, the stories of the people/victims will be told and others, like myself will hopefully feel compelled to do something about it- no matter how small. I can not recommend this novel highly enough - there should be no doubt whatsoever about whether or not to purchase it- it will change your life!
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Incredible....
I take issue when reviewers on sites like Amazon.com or BN.com write extremely detailed reviews of excellent novels, such as this one, so I advise not to read all the long detailed reviews others have written, and just take a chance with this book- you will not be disappointed!
I am ashamed to admit that I saw this book in a few different bookstores under the "recommended reading" sections/tables, but never purchased it since it didn't seem to interest me. It was only after it kept appearing on my personal "recommendations" through Amazon.com that I decided to give it a shot, since the recommendations I get are usually pretty good. Thankfully I did, and was pleasantly surprised by how much I LOVED this novel!
"Water For Elephants" is truly a rare find- meticulously researched and beautifully written, it manages to educate the reader (about circus life, Depresssion-era America, etc) while at the same time captures your heart with stories of love and loss and the reality of growing old. I fell in love with the characters and the author's writing style and truly hope to read more of her work - she has such a natural gift!
I HIGHLY recommend this novel to absolutely anyone - I think people of all ages, backgrounds and interests will find something in it to relate to and to learn from.
I take issue when reviewers on sites like Amazon.com or BN.com write extremely detailed reviews of excellent novels, such as this one, so I advise not to read all the long detailed reviews others have written, and just take a chance with this book- you will not be disappointed!
I am ashamed to admit that I saw this book in a few different bookstores under the "recommended reading" sections/tables, but never purchased it since it didn't seem to interest me. It was only after it kept appearing on my personal "recommendations" through Amazon.com that I decided to give it a shot, since the recommendations I get are usually pretty good. Thankfully I did, and was pleasantly surprised by how much I LOVED this novel!
"Water For Elephants" is truly a rare find- meticulously researched and beautifully written, it manages to educate the reader (about circus life, Depresssion-era America, etc) while at the same time captures your heart with stories of love and loss and the reality of growing old. I fell in love with the characters and the author's writing style and truly hope to read more of her work - she has such a natural gift!
I HIGHLY recommend this novel to absolutely anyone - I think people of all ages, backgrounds and interests will find something in it to relate to and to learn from.
The Book of Bright Ideas by Sandra King
Sweet summertime read...
This is the story of Button and Winnallee , two young friends living in a small town in the summer of 1961, and trying to discover the mysteries of life so they can fill up their "Book of Bright Ideas." The wisdom they learn is touching, heartbreaking and at times, funny. While I wasn't in love with the book or really so involved in reading it, there is nothing bad I can say about it either: it is a sweet, simple summertime/beach read. It is written well and has its share of meaningful themes and magical moments. I can recommend it only to those who want a very light, nice book that they can read in a day or so.
This is the story of Button and Winnallee , two young friends living in a small town in the summer of 1961, and trying to discover the mysteries of life so they can fill up their "Book of Bright Ideas." The wisdom they learn is touching, heartbreaking and at times, funny. While I wasn't in love with the book or really so involved in reading it, there is nothing bad I can say about it either: it is a sweet, simple summertime/beach read. It is written well and has its share of meaningful themes and magical moments. I can recommend it only to those who want a very light, nice book that they can read in a day or so.
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