tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2224687838392341592024-03-13T23:37:12.549-04:00Bangor Public Library Book BanterLibrary staff and patron book discussions. Share and discuss your favorite books with us.Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-57572854946233938632014-08-27T15:53:00.000-04:002014-08-27T15:54:13.180-04:00The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/pNWSMm2s3PEwZ9wpV8ZEJYKbSqmPOC8dc1MYXSGlrIcOHl3T0Qt6QZtKiX4CAW1gm5IHKAT6KxEXNMdvsK5EuZ-XOhQ4j7fe7ioUYmdQtXb2rQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71akyIAUObL._SL1500_.jpg" height="400" title="" width="260" /></a></div>
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A Review by Maggie:</div>
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Don Tillman is a genetics specialist, highly intelligent
able to memorize anything in a very limited time. He is very literal---sort of an Amelia
Bedelia type. He does have personality
issues and is on the Asperger’s spectrum scale and is riddled with OCD. When he decides he needs a wife he creates a
16 page questionnaire so he can weed out wrong types---ie vegans, smokers
disorganized people and women that are habitually late. He has the results sent to his only friend
Gene so he can weed them. He gets few
responses but when Rosie arrives in his office he presumes she is a result of
the survey. However, she meets none of
the criteria—she smokes , is always late and worst she is an almost vegan (only
eating sustainable fish). Rosie is
meeting with don for another reason his genetics expertise, She wants to find her biological father---as
the ones she call Dad is a personal trainer and certainly not the type of man
her brilliant deceased mother would
choose to mate with----She has Don checking all her mother’s past beaus. She is sure she will find DNA that matches
hers. Hilarity ensues as the search for
the match takes them to two continents.</div>
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In the meantime the only respondent to Don’s questionnaire
is a champion ball room dancer---she wants only to meet fellow dancing
experts. No problem Don believes that he
can learn anything from reading about it and practicing----he borrows a
skeleton from the anatomy lab to learn how to dance----it also comes in handy
at a later date when he things he might have a sexual encounter. Simison skills are such that this is funny
not prurient. He is an imaginative
writer and easily provokes laughter in the reader. Things get wound up to the reader’s
satisfaction.</div>
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If anyone has read this book tell me why the author keeps
referring to his dead sister that dies from a medical mishap. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iy098ihj8Nw/U1FFX4wEBXI/AAAAAAAAAH4/eAQAUek4qF8/s1600/The-Husbands-Secret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iy098ihj8Nw/U1FFX4wEBXI/AAAAAAAAAH4/eAQAUek4qF8/s1600/The-Husbands-Secret.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
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I enjoyed <u>The Husband’s Secret </u>very much. Moriarty tells a good story and keeps you
turning pages –compulsively. She creates
three women characters, Cecilia Fitzpatrick, Tess Curtis and Rachel Crowley and
fleshes each of them out with compelling back stories. The story starts with Cecilia (an annoyingly
perfect person) discovering a sealed
letter addressed to her from her husband with the ominous <b><u>TO BE OPENED IN THE EVENT OF MY DEATH</u></b> . John Paul is out of
the country when Cecilia finds the letter and he implores her to not open
it. However, his unexpected early return makes Cecilia
very suspicious and she loses the battle with herself and reads the letter. John
Paul’s secret is life changing .
Tess’s husband has a secret as well he has been having an affair with her
favorite cousin. Rachel Crowley is
searching for the person who killed her daughter in a hit and run twenty years
ago. Moriarty takes us through these
women’s lives and loves and suffering and weaves them all together in a most
believable way. I enjoyed this book so
much I immediately checked out <u>The Hypnotist’s
Love Story</u> I enjoyed it even more than Husband. Try Liane Moriarty she has a realistic view
on modern marriage and relationships and tells a good story in a compelling
manner---she is not just ‘chick lit’</div>
Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-84851238570815540922013-09-09T11:45:00.000-04:002013-09-09T11:46:07.022-04:00The Good House by Ann Leary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LDh9EY2P8pQ/Ui3svNbJDgI/AAAAAAAAAHY/gr_MFsfBQgA/s1600/2013-01-14-good_house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LDh9EY2P8pQ/Ui3svNbJDgI/AAAAAAAAAHY/gr_MFsfBQgA/s200/2013-01-14-good_house.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
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A Review by Maggie:</div>
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Hildy Good is a recovering alcoholic and a real estate agent
in a fictional New England town. She is a descendant of a witch that was hung
in Salem and because of this connection she claims to be clairvoyant and many
believe she is--- However, Hildy is fooling everyone is town with her
supernatural skills and her continued sobriety (not). Hildy knows the townspeople well and is successful with her business as
she has lived here her entire life. When
she sells an expensive home to beautiful
newcomer Rebecca McAllister the two form a bond of friendship which proves a
downfall for both. This book is not a page turner but enjoyable and the writer does well with her
description of small New England towns and
she creates interesting quirky
characters. I liked Ann Leary’s memoir
<u>An Innocent, A Broad </u>very
much and that is why I picked up this book.
The <u>Good House </u>is being made into a movie with Meryl Streep
playing Hildy .<b><i><u><o:p></o:p></u></i></b></div>
Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-24256552442058484232013-04-24T10:26:00.001-04:002013-04-24T10:26:38.028-04:00Cover of Snow by Jenny Milchman<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6WxfDehcDmQ/UXfqiDF7qvI/AAAAAAAAAG8/FEMRHUrKb-o/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6WxfDehcDmQ/UXfqiDF7qvI/AAAAAAAAAG8/FEMRHUrKb-o/s200/cover.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Review
by Maggie:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cover
of snow really grabs you in the beginning; it starts with the suicide of Nora
Hamilton’s beloved husband Brendan. He leaves no note and it is a mystery why
he would commit such an act with such a happy and fulfilled life. Nora is a
home restorer and Brendan was a policeman and they seemed to have it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although as the story goes along it is
amazing how little Nora really knew her husband or his family. It is set in a
small town in the Adirondacks and one really feels the cold and the snow. She
establishes an overall feeling of menace----one keeps reading to see what
criminal activity is afoot in the small town. Many quirky characters are introduced
that seem to have evil motivations but they do not move the story along since
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By
the time I was about half way through I had lost interest as Nora was not
especially likeable and the author seemed to be filling the narrative with unnecessary
side trips. However, I did finish and found the ending unsatisfying. Milchman
sets us up to feel much more was happening in this town and corruption aplenty
and it was not the case. This novel is a debut and I think the author is off to
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<br /></div>
Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-83423168383494884592013-04-10T10:54:00.002-04:002013-04-10T10:54:49.914-04:00The Best of Youth by Michael Dahlie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/fdU1lCN6XM73KevD0BJRJSMLtoV-JK6-8NbWQrghyo2SLEGeN6GUFVkYMfOKUMXYdgnI6rUUqX4aro-CohzueyiQkUeg8JhWQZckErAwY_Zess0WPs5a9sdSKzake_aEx-sSqM70yq7ly-7Y7xheI7Mjgo38g9QIl8JvnqGl1vjg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/fdU1lCN6XM73KevD0BJRJSMLtoV-JK6-8NbWQrghyo2SLEGeN6GUFVkYMfOKUMXYdgnI6rUUqX4aro-CohzueyiQkUeg8JhWQZckErAwY_Zess0WPs5a9sdSKzake_aEx-sSqM70yq7ly-7Y7xheI7Mjgo38g9QIl8JvnqGl1vjg" width="133" /></a></span></div>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Review by Maggie:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Henry Lang is a rich young man and a fine person but in
spite of his money he does not have self confidence. He does not fit in with
the Brooklyn post-grad crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has no
luck with females and does not have male friends. Henry contributes a large sum
of money to a start up magazine Suckerhead in the hope he will be one of the
gang and the magazine will publish his short stories. Such is not the case his
short stories are rejected by the magazine by form letter. </span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is interested
romantically in his fourth cousin but she does not return his feelings. Henry spends
lots of time with Abby and visits her rich aunt at her Vermont farm. He loses
visiting privileges when he is responsible for killing a herd of fancy goats worth
at least a million dollars. Things do not go smoothly for Henry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After many rejections from literary magazines he is happy
enough to take a ghost writing project with an ironclad contract for silence for
movie star Jonathan Kipling. However, when the book becomes a huge seller and
everyone thinks the star is a wonderful writer Henry is upset as Jonathan is a
dreadful writer and a sleazy person to boot. Jonathan took <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>advantage of Henry’s beloved cousin Abby and
gets her pregnant and then abandons her-----Henry is nothing if not loyal as a
way of getting back at Kipling’s caddish behavior<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he tells the press he is the ghostwriter
behind the Kipling book. Naturally he is sued and loses most of his
fortune-----however, and this would only be true in novels---Henry feels okay
once he learns that Kipling was sued by Abbie and she now has most of Henry’s
money lost in the contract dispute. It all sounds rather boring but Michael
Dahlie is a very good writer one enjoys the read and wants to see what happens
with the hapless Henry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "http://images-onepick-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?container=onepick&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*&url=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.btol.com%2FContentCafe%2FJacket.aspx%3FUserID%3DBPL%26Password%3DBT0059%26Return%3D1%26Type%3DL%26Value%3D9780393081855" with "https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/fdU1lCN6XM73KevD0BJRJSMLtoV-JK6-8NbWQrghyo2SLEGeN6GUFVkYMfOKUMXYdgnI6rUUqX4aro-CohzueyiQkUeg8JhWQZckErAwY_Zess0WPs5a9sdSKzake_aEx-sSqM70yq7ly-7Y7xheI7Mjgo38g9QIl8JvnqGl1vjg" -->Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-14295474440900608932013-03-26T10:35:00.002-04:002013-03-26T10:36:43.552-04:00Threats by Amelia Gray <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7JJlZbKGZZ8/UVGxrJ8d-LI/AAAAAAAAAGw/VMfxf6YRSuc/s1600/11982625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7JJlZbKGZZ8/UVGxrJ8d-LI/AAAAAAAAAGw/VMfxf6YRSuc/s200/11982625.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Review by Maggie: </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Threats by Amelia Gray is weird but compelling. The first
page is ominous and one wants to read on to see what is up…. The title comes from
threats that David keeps finding in curious places like the sugar bowl,
silverware draw and in his dirty laundry. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has no idea of the origin of these
threats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nor do we.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a simple story
with few characters albeit all total loons. Chico an odd detective, Shelly<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a character that spends her time in the
laundromat folding clothes, Marie a pseudo psychiatrist that has an office in
David ‘s garage of which he was not aware, it seems<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>before Frannie’s departure<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>arrangements were made with Marie for the
“office space.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aileen who was a wacky coworker
of the presumed dead wife Frannie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few
other strangers drift in and out of the narrative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of them very involved with the story but
they appear mostly to make us aware of what a screwball David is-----however,
he is nutty enough without being surrounded by loons. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">David lost his wife under suspicious circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chico, the detective assigned to his case, seems
to have been involved with the family many years ago before the death of
Frannie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would seem that David’s
mother had killed his sister and was in an asylum but David only says that his mother
left the family and moved to a home for women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is speculative since nothing is made clear in Threats.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">David was once a dentist and lost his license it is implied
by filling a tiny baby’s tooth buds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
has kept all his old dental xrays and finds comfort in sleeping on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We never know what happened to Frannie or
much about her except she was tall and gangly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Did I mention this is <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a bizarre story I wanted to finish the book to
see how she wrapped it up---well she does not wrap things up and I am just as
confused as to what happened as I was when I started reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is an engrossing writer with an active
imagination.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-77515245825027259162013-01-14T10:15:00.004-05:002013-01-14T10:16:03.041-05:00Fell the Angels by John Kerr<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="Book Cover" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9780709098386&erroroverride=1&" /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Fell the Angels</em> by John Kerr is a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>murder mystery based on a true story, the
Charles Bravo murders in the mid 19<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> century. It is a novel involving deception and greed
and a bit of passion. Cecelia was from
a well to do family but she had made a bad marriage to a brutal alcoholic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only way she could separate from him and
still appear respectable was to go to a type of spa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once there, she found she liked the
atmosphere and promptly started an affair with the married director.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While this sounds scandalous she was separated from her husband and the
doctor’s wife had been institutionalized for many years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, once Cecelia’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>affair became public her reputation was
ruined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was thought the only way to
save her from complete social oblivion was for her to marry well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her second husband was willing to deal with
her sullied reputation since he himself had an affair that resulted in a
child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus her attractiveness to him
was enhanced by her fortune. Cecilia
was forward thinking and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>canny, she took
advantage of a recently enacted law where she could go to keep her fortune if the
marriage did not work. Charles was presented with a pre-nup to sign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charles was not pleased but he was a
shady character and perhaps had a plan to get her fortune in another manner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spoiler alert—The marriage was only 4
months old when Charles became very ill with a mysterious illness and after
lingering for three day he dies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
original murder on which the story is based is never solved but author Kerr
neatly wraps this one up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is an
enjoyable and fast paced novel.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Maggie</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search~S1?/Xfell+the+angels&searchscope=1&SORT=D/Xfell+the+angels&searchscope=1&SORT=D&SUBKEY=fell+the+angels/1%2C11%2C11%2CB/frameset&FF=Xfell+the+angels&searchscope=1&SORT=D&1%2C1%2C">Request <em>Fell the Angels</em></a></div>
Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-55573336837866466222012-12-18T13:01:00.000-05:002012-12-18T13:01:05.933-05:00Firmin by Sam Savage
<a href="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=L&Value=1566891817" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_parent"><img alt="Book Cover" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=1566891817&erroroverride=1&" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Review by Maggie:</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you like the sound of an anthropomorphic rat and who
does’nt ???? Read Firmin by Sam Savage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is subtitled the story of a metropolitan low life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Firmin was born in a Scollay Square bookstore
in a nest made from a shredded Finnegan’s wake .. who knows what the author is
saying about Joyce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His mother, Flo was a promiscuous tosspot —his twelve
siblings would turnout to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have similar tendencies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Firmin<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was saved from that fate by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>being<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>number 13 of her twelve teats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His sibs learned to love the taste of liquor…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that was mostly what they got when they tried
to take nourishment from<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>time Firmin, the runt of
the litter,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>got his chance for a snack
the others were<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>passed out from the
liquor and milk was available. While<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>his
siblings were foraging for food at the nearby adult theater, slurping up
spilled beer and dropped popcorn,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Firmin
was exploring his bookstore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He learned
a love of literature by at first ingesting it and then realizing he<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>liked reading lit better than eating it...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Firmin has charm and is funny
and sad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This little novella is
delightful and a tale for anyone who loves literature.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search~S1?/Xfirmin&searchscope=1&SORT=D/Xfirmin&searchscope=1&SORT=D&SUBKEY=firmin/1%2C53%2C53%2CB/frameset&FF=Xfirmin&searchscope=1&SORT=D&1%2C1%2C">Request <em>Firmin </em>from the Bangor Public Library</a></div>
Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-74516190013969674012012-10-23T15:47:00.000-04:002012-10-23T15:47:06.134-04:00Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nypZRJRiJ-k/UIbz-sn6P3I/AAAAAAAAAFY/h9jhEtOTuWc/s1600/mrpipcover.jpg" /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Review by Maggie:</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a book about people that live on a tropical
island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The island is engaged in a civil
war so all the men and the teachers have left the island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr Watts is a white man who has chosen to
stay on the island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Watts<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is considered eccentric by everyone that
encounters him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He walks about hauling
his wife in a cart and wearing a red clown nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day he announces he will take over
educating the children. He begins his teaching by reading to the children every day and the book he uses
is <em>Great Expectations</em> by Dickens.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The children have very unpleasant lives and spend each day
with the sounds of guns in the distance. They love learning about this Pip
character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Pip, as Mr. Watts <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is now called,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>has a unique teaching style. Besides reading from the island’s only book
he has the older ladies come in and tell the children stories about what they
have learned in life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>way for the ladies to get to know Mr
Watts/Pip as some of the islanders are very suspicious of him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">War soon comes much closer than just the sound of gunfire and
soon soldiers are swarming the area and killing villagers . The soldiers believe there is a conspiracy afoot on the island led
by Mr. Pip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The villagers cannot convince<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the soldiers that he is just a fictional
character from a book since they cannot provide the soldiers with the
book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been stolen from the
schoolhouse and inadvertently destroyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Daily survival in this place is the objective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This does not sound enticing and when I picked up the book
to read I thought I am not going to read this. However,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it was a great read and I used it for a book
discussion and it was enjoyed by all and provoked good discussion.</span><br />
~MaggieBook Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-46324950156830764222012-08-13T09:32:00.002-04:002012-08-13T09:33:11.758-04:00Defending Jacob by William Landay<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<a href="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9780385344227" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Book Cover" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9780385344227" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">I seldom<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>read
courtroom dramas, they seem rather boring
and full of legalese.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like books<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>with few but well developed characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I d</span>o not know why I read <em>Defending Jacob</em> but am
glad I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Character development was
basic and while we know little about anyone in the book and what we do know
does not make the people likeable. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>A teenager
is stabbed and killed in an affluent
suburb and the only evidence is a thumb print.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Soon the print is traced to the local DA’s son Jacob and he is arrested
and put on trial for murder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trial
proceeds and the author keeps us guessing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if the teenager is guilty of murdering his
classmate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While Jacob is socially dysfunctional that does not
make him a murderer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After his arrest
the police are convinced they have the right suspect<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>so they do<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>no more investigating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bizzare
happening and a written confession helps Jacob beat the rap and the family
decides to take a celebratory vacation to get away from the town where the whole
family has achieved pariah status—They go off to the Caribbean where it would
seem all are having a great vacation when a young woman that has befriended
Jacob disappears. No more. This book has
a surprise ending----Good read.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~Maggie</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search/?searchtype=t&SORT=D&searcharg=defending+jacob&searchscope=8">Request <em>Defending Jacob</em> from the Bangor Public Library</a>Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-31325232536922516742012-07-23T10:32:00.000-04:002012-07-23T10:32:36.509-04:00Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan<a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search~S8?/tLifeboat/tlifeboat/1%2C5%2C5%2CB/frameset&FF=tlifeboat+a+novel&1%2C1%2C/indexsort=-" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="book jacket" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9780316185905" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Grace Winter is a newlywed and probably a widow. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace thought she was going to live a life of
privilege; that was her plan and instead she is fighting for a place in a
lifeboat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was on an ocean liner in 1914 when an
explosion blows her world to hell. Survivors in the boat have to make alliances,
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they are crucial and might determine<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>who lives and dies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hardie,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>only crew member on the lifeboat is at first
seen as a savior and the one capable of saving
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is able to grab fish from the
sea and he puts himself in charge of water rations. The boat is overloaded and
people must be sacrificed for the greater good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As days go on and people are
more desperate Hardie is seen as evil
and the decision is made to let him go overboard---hard choices must be
made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a story that makes one
wonder what one would do to survive. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
story is all told from Grace’s perspective and any<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>action takes place in the boat as people
fight for their right to live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is
an engrossing debut.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~Maggie</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search~S8?/tLifeboat/tlifeboat/1%2C5%2C5%2CB/frameset&FF=tlifeboat+a+novel&1%2C1%2C/indexsort=-">Request <em>Lifeboat</em> from the Bangor Public Library</a>Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-3924832690690757852012-07-17T14:42:00.002-04:002012-07-17T14:43:44.777-04:00To Be Sung Underwater by Tom McNeal<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9780316127394" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="book jacket" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9780316127394" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Judith Blunt is from a broken home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She decided as a teen to live with her father,
a college professor and she moves from Vermont to Nebraska where she meets
Willy Blunt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a carpenter in his
mid twenties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When her father thinks
maybe she is maybe going to settle with Willy rather than pursue an education
he pulls strings and gets her admitted to Stanford. After some violence
connected with Willy’s work she decides maybe getting out of town is wise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She goes off to California abandoning her
great love and does not look back until she is a middle aged woman.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
She seems to have a
good life and a happy marriage but when her daughter rejects the bedroom set
that Judith had as a child she decides to rent a storage unit to keep it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At any rate, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she goes off the rails and decorates<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the storage unit like her teenage bedroom
bringing back<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>teen memories of her lost
love Willy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also has suspicions that
her husband might be having an affair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judith
hires a detective to find her old beau and buys a throw away cell phone<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to receive private messages and spends time in
her storage unit/bedroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once Willy is
found, Judith decides what she needs is to reconnect with Willy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She makes some arrangements for someone to
cover her work and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>makes excuses to her
husband<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>off<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she goes to Nebraska<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to see Willy Blunt and find what he is up to--- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>obviously not a good idea. She reconnects with
Willy and they revert to their teenage selves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>will say no more as I am getting into spoiler
territory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story is told in
alternating chapters Judith as a teenager and Judith as an adult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The characters are well developed and while I
enjoyed the read I did not like the people at all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~Maggie</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search/Y?search=to+be+sung+underwater&sortdropdown=-&searchscope=8">Request <em>To Be Sung Underwater</em> from the Bangor Public Library</a>Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-91447455353273995252012-07-16T10:15:00.000-04:002012-07-16T10:19:34.273-04:00An Unexpected Guest by Anne Korkeakivi<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
</div>
<a href="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9780316196772" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="book jacket" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9780316196772" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a graceful novel about an elegant American wife of a
British diplomat that is posted to Paris.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It all takes place in a single day when Clare Morehouse,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a capable hostess,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is having the most important dinner in her
husband’s career----her gracious entertaining will determine if her husband
gets the coveted assignment to be the ambassador to Dublin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her husband thinks this is exactly what<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clare wants since she is Irish American.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clare is ambivalent about the
assignment<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>because of a youthful passion
that had her involved with an IRA member. She had unwittingly transported both
guns and money for the IRA cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clare
keeps her cool in her preparations for the perfect dinner---dealing with a
cantankerous cook, an ineffective housekeeper, a call from her son’s prep school
headmaster telling her he was being suspended and encountering her IRA guy that
she thought<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enough already, but as she is waiting for her
dinner guests she sees a terrorist on the television that is suspected of an
assassination that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clare knows that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he is not the assassin since she was giving
him directions to a doctor’s office when the assassination took place. Does she
contact the police and risk her husband losing his new assignment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This sounds<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>melodramatic but it is not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
a well written and a delicious read and Clare is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a well developed and likeable character.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">~Maggie</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search~S8?/Yan+unexpected+guest&searchscope=8&SORT=DZ/Yan+unexpected+guest&searchscope=8&SORT=DZ&extended=0&SUBKEY=an+unexpected+guest/1%2C6%2C6%2CB/frameset&FF=Yan+unexpected+guest&SORT=DZ&1%2C1%2C"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Request<em> An Unexpected Guest</em> from the Bangor Public Library</span></a>Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-57080119584904751212012-07-10T09:51:00.004-04:002012-07-10T10:02:08.910-04:00Heading Out to Wonderful by Robert Goolrick<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><a href="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9781565129238" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9781565129238" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="book jacket" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9781565129238" /></a><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you read <em>Reliable Wife</em> by Robert
Goolrick you know that he writes very sinister fiction---<em>Reliable </em>was a debut
novel and a tough act to follow. However, <em>Heading Out to Wonderful</em> is just as
compelling<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and equally dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Charlie Beale arrives in Brownsburg with two
suitcases---one full of knives ,the other full of cash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do not get any back story to why or how he
accumulated the cash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he soon gets a
job and he is the best butcher ever---so
we know why he has the knives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He soon
falls in love with the wife of the richest man in town, Boaty’s wife Sylvan
Glass---Sylvan was not her birth name but we are never told that as it would
be<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>according to her, unbelievable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many questions are never answered: Where
did Charlie come from? What is his background? What about family and why did he
take a five year old for his meetings with Sylvan? Charlie also has a problem being contained in
a house and prefers sleeping on the ground by his river land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In spite of unanswered questions and
unreasonable behaviors this is a great read---unputdownable.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">~Maggie</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search/Y?search=heading+out+to+wonderful&sortdropdown=-&searchscope=8">Request <em>Heading Out to Wonderful</em> from the Bangor Public Library</a></span>Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-19917449166337940542012-07-02T16:27:00.000-04:002012-07-10T10:04:49.735-04:00Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn<a href="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=L&Value=9780307588364" pe="S&|I|http://contentcafe.btol.com/Jacket/Jacket.aspx?SysID=bpl&CustID=bt0059&Key=…À Ž &Type=L"" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_parent"><img alt="book jacket" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9780307588364" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Gone Girl</em> is a page turner with well developed
characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story is told from
alternating<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>his/her points of view. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nick
and Amy Dunn are a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>couple downsized from
big New York City jobs and they return to Nick’s down at the heels hometown for
a new lease on life. Nick and Amy<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are
about to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary when Amy goes missing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amy has left behind an extensive diary
and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>clues to her disappearance. Also,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amy is the child of famous authors, and as the
star of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>their books,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the national media is interested in her
disappearance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the diary is read and
the clues followed, Nick realizes it is all an elaborate hoax and that Amy is
setting him up for her murder while everyone else including Amy’s parents are
thinking he killed her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We soon find out
that Nick was not the ideal husband and Amy far from a good wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amy is not only a bad wife but a diabolical
person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope I have not given away too
much. I do not want to ruin an excellent read for you. There are no draggy parts and one
changes sides<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from Nick to Amy---as to who was the wronged party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>This is a great read and a suspense novel a
bit different from usual fare-----loved it.</span><br />
~Maggie<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search~S8?/Ygone+girl&searchscope=8&SORT=D/Ygone+girl&searchscope=8&SORT=D&search=gone+girl&SUBKEY=gone+girl/1%2C45%2C45%2CB/frameset&FF=Ygone+girl&SORT=D&1%2C1%2C">Request <em>Gone Girl</em> from the Bangor Public Library</a>Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-26663187182658229022012-04-26T15:39:00.000-04:002012-04-26T15:48:19.044-04:00The French Gardener by Santa Montefiore<strong>Review by Jan:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bpl.lib.me.us/public/2012%20NYOBG%20Images/frenchgardenercover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><strong><img alt="Cover" border="0" closure_uid_ghj2hg="6" height="125" src="http://www.bpl.lib.me.us/public/2012%20NYOBG%20Images/frenchgardenercover.jpg" width="82" /></strong></a>I have posted this review once already on our Not Your Ordinary Book Group blog, so for those of you who follow both blogs please forgive the redundancy. Our book group lately has been choosing books that lean toward contemporary fiction, like <em>The French Gardener</em>. This is the May read for our book group. We do have book group copies available that are not on our catalog, both in eReader and book format. If you would like a copy, please let us know. <a href="http://www.bpl.lib.me.us/public/bgcontact.htm">contact us</a><br />
<br />
First I will begin by saying I
fell in love with the environment of this story. It's set on an English country
estate, with neglected gardens, stone bridge covered streams, and an abandoned
cottage complete with a scrapbook filled with secrets. It reads more like
contemporary fiction, or women's fiction, rather than a typical romance.<br />
<br />
It begins
with Miranda Lambert, an ex-Londoner and writer who we soon learn is not
entirely happy living in the country as she secretly sobs in her closet over her
unused Jimmy Choos. Her husband, a banker, travels from London to spend the
weekends with her and their two children. She is a posh socialite more
comfortable in the city than the country that she now inhabits. Her children
are lonely and unhappy, starving for attention; her son acts out in aggressive
ways, torturing the neighbor's poor donkey and biting classmates.<br />
<br />
I was
drawn to champion this woman as soon as her husband hit the pages. David is
arrogant, belittles his wife, and having an affair with her best friend! On his
weekends home, he watches golf and ignores his family. Miranda, after a
scolding from her husband to "get it together", hires a cook, housekeeper, and a
mysterious French gardener. While cleaning out an abandoned cottage on the
estate, she discovers a journal written by the previous owner who was lovingly
called Shrub by her husband. The journal chronicles Shrub's love affair with
her own French gardener that happened thirty years prior.<br />
<br />
We soon learn
that Shrub's French gardener in the past is also Miranda's French gardener in
the present; Jean-Paul is older but still handsome. The gardener returned for
Shrub but found a troubled family in her place. In honor of his lost love,
Jean-Paul agrees to stay and rebuild the overgrown garden. As the garden comes
back to life so does the family who lives amongst its magical surroundings, and
as Miranda reads the secret journal readers also journey through a forbidden
love story.<br />
<br />
This book intertwines two story lines quite nicely. I will
say I enjoyed this book despite the heavy influence of infidelity throughout,
both in the past and present. Shrub's affair in the past helps Miranda forgive
her own husband's infidelity in the present, so while the affairs
are distasteful, there are lessons learned. It is a story filled with secret
discoveries, forbidden love, and human weakness. The setting is exquisite, a
gardener's ultimate dream, and the cast is fun and quirky. The only other
spoiler I will give is that I think it wrapped up the French gardener's
storyline in a satisfactory way. I enjoyed the journey of Miranda and her
family toward happiness and forgiveness, although I wouldn't have minded if she
had punished her husband just a tad longer before allowing him back
home.<br />
<br />
Hope to see you in our library someday soon,<br />
JanBook Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-48025126382501473282012-03-15T15:53:00.002-04:002012-03-15T15:56:36.731-04:00Europa Editions<span style="font-family: inherit;">Europa Editions is a publishing company founded in 2005 and based in New York.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It publishes European authors in translation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The books are all the same size paperbacks and have publisher’s name and a stork logo on the front cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first translation they published was <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><em>Days of Abandonment</em> by Elena Ferrante <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had read and enjoyed it<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first best seller they had was<em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Elegance pf the Hedghog </em>by Muriel Barbery but I still took no notice of this publisher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I was just lucky finding these good reads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was reading<em> An Accident in August <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></em>by Laurence Cosse and enjoying it when I realized it was a Europa Publication. Then<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started paying attention and realized I have never come across a boring one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to Wikipedia <em>The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine</em> by Alina Bronsky is the 100<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th </span></sup>publication of this company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The company publishes about 20 titles a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have read another title by Alina Bronsky and enjoyed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will read her latest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My favorite read from last year is an Europa Publication <em>A Kind of Intimacy</em> by Jenn Ashworth.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">~Maggie</div>Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-69364140042210011642012-03-12T14:58:00.000-04:002012-03-12T14:58:57.689-04:00Heft by Liz Moore<div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Review by Maggie:</strong></span></div><br />
<a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search~S1?/theft/theft/1%2C4%2C4%2CB/frameset&FF=theft&1%2C1%2C" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="book jacket" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9780393081503" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Arthur Opp is nearly 600 lbs and has not left his Brooklyn brownstone in nearly ten years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately for him he owns his home and has a trust fund that enables him to have all the food he wants delivered to his home. Although he was always misfit<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>he was an academic before becoming a recluse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He kept up a correspondence with a former student but has not heard from her in years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of the blue he gets a letter and she wants to visit with him----Arthur feels he must warn her about his living conditions (he has not been upstairs in his house in many years climbing stairs is too difficult) but he welcomes the idea of being back in touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has secrets of her own---one being she has a teenage son-----</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Soon Arthur has cleaning lady that he develops a friendship with and we then hear of his back story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime, the novel alternates between Arthur’s life and the tale of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kel the teenage son of his former student.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is easy to like Arthur and I found his sections more interesting than Kel the teenage boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a very compelling read----one cannot help but like Arthur.<br />
~Maggie</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search~S1?/theft/theft/1%2C4%2C4%2CB/frameset&FF=theft&1%2C1%2C">Request <em>Heft</em> from the Bangor Public Library</a></div>Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-89778708746050471842012-02-22T10:24:00.006-05:002012-03-12T15:27:56.065-04:00The Woman In Black by Susan Hill<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search~S1?/tthe+woman+in+black/twoman+in+black/1%2C2%2C4%2CB/frameset&FF=twoman+in+black&3%2C%2C3" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="book jacket" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9780307745316" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Review by Jan:</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Every once in a while I will read a book that I think might appeal to literary fiction readers, and so I will post my review on both our popular fiction and literary blogs. This is the March read for our <em>Not Your Ordinary Book Group</em>. We do have copies available if you want to become a member, both in book and Nook format. Please </span><a href="http://www.bpl.lib.me.us/public/bgcontact.htm"><span style="font-family: inherit;">contact us</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> if you are interested. New members are always welcome.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now onto my review:</span></strong></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>The Woman In Black</em> is a ghost story set in historical England. At only 164 pages, it is a shorter novel, but beautifully written and well worth a read. It was first published in the 1980's and is now a major motion picture starring a grown-up Daniel Radcliff. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The setting is both lovely and eerie. There are no graphic elements in this book, but rather more of an emotional pull toward the character's plight and the mystery surrounding the woman in black. Arthur Kipps, the main character of this story, is a solicitor sent to a small country town to settle the affairs of a deceased client, Mrs. Alice Drablow of Eel Marsh House. Arthur becomes increasingly aware that the residents of this country town are keeping secrets about Eel Marsh House, and avoid his questions when asked. When Arthur notices an emaciated woman dressed in black at Alice Drablow's funeral, the residents do not wish to discuss her appearance, or even acknowledge who she might be. Determined to complete his task, Arthur sets out to Alice Drablow's home, Eel Marsh House, a solitary stone structure built on a causeway of marshes; travel is only achievable when the tide is down, leaving Arthur deserted to discover the secrets of the house and the mystery behind the woman in black.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Small spoiler alert:</strong> I will say that I truly enjoyed this book, even though I normally prefer a story with a happy ending---even <em>I </em>can step outside my happy-endings-box every once in a while! :o) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The story carries an emotional heaviness made more poignant by the solitary setting. The author's descriptions of the environment are perfect. It almost reminds me of a Hitchcock style story combined with the dialog of a Brontë novel. The suspense and mystery elements are well paced. Toward the middle of the story, however, I became very aware that this mysterious woman in black was not going to find happiness, that there wasn't going to be a benevolent light at the end of a proverbial tunnel for her to float away in peace; I knew the ending would be sad, as it needed to be to justify the burden of fear carried by Arthur Kipps and the other characters of the story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">As always, hope to see you in our library someday soon,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jan</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search~S1?/tthe+woman+in+black/twoman+in+black/1%2C2%2C4%2CB/frameset&FF=twoman+in+black&3%2C%2C3">Request <em>The Woman In Black</em> from the Bangor Public Library</a></span>Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-74620282477260506212012-01-17T09:49:00.004-05:002012-03-12T15:26:13.937-04:00The Women by T.C. Boyle<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search~S1?/tthe+women/twomen/1%2C6141%2C8170%2CB/frameset&FF=twomen&27%2C%2C30" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="book jacket" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9781597229296" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><strong>Review by Maggie:</strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">If you liked <em>Paris Wife</em> you will love <em>The Women</em> by T.C. Boyle. Boyle takes a look at the scandalous life of Wright through his wives and mistress----he had three wives and Mamah Cheney the woman he left his first marriage for----This book is told through the eyes of a Japanese intern who arrives at Taliesin to apprentice with the master. In his first week there Wright has the intern peeling potatoes. The author uses the experiences of the women, Kitty his first wife, who even though she bore him six children gets very little attention in the book, Mamah the tragic mistress, Maude an opiate addict and Olga his exotic last wife. . .</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Wright lived an unconventional life and his public life was always tied to what was going on in his tempestuous private life. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">This is an excellent read---I liked it much better than <em>Loving Frank</em> by Nancy Horan which came out about the same time. Wright led such a colorful life driven by his appetites and huge ego and <u> </u>his refusal to conform to societal norms he makes a wonderful subject for novelists especially one as good as Boyle.</span></span><br />
~Maggie<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search~S1?/tthe+women/twomen/1%2C6141%2C8170%2CB/frameset&FF=twomen&27%2C%2C30">Request <em>The Women</em> from The Bangor Public Library</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-26468005004884716352012-01-06T22:19:00.006-05:002012-03-12T15:26:44.228-04:00The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen<div align="left" style="border: currentColor; text-align: right;"></div><div style="border: currentColor;"><a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search/t?search=the+sugar+queen&searchscope=1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="book jacket" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9781602852297" /></a><strong>Review by Jan:</strong></div><div style="border: currentColor;">I adored <em>Garden Spells</em> by this author and am <em>very</em> pleased to write that I enjoyed <em>The Sugar Queen</em> just as much.</div><div style="border: currentColor;">(<a href="http://bangorpubliclibrarybookbanter.blogspot.com/2011/10/garden-spells-by-sarah-addison-allen.html"><em>Garden Spells</em> review</a>)<br />
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</div><div style="border: currentColor;">The <em>Sugar Queen</em> is about a young woman named Josey who cares for her overbearing mother. Josey stores candy in her secret closet and reads romance novels and travel books, dreaming of adventure and leaving the responsibilities of her repressed life behind. Everything changes when a local woman named Della shows up in her closet, hiding from an abusive boyfriend, and teaches Josey how to have the courage to reach for happiness. Josey's emotional journey from an unhappy recluse to social confidence is as heart-wrenching as it is beautiful, and like <em>Garden Spells</em>, every character is worth remembering. <br />
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</div><div style="border: currentColor;">This is a stand-alone book, not connected to <em>Garden Spells, </em>but with a similar setting in a southern quirky community. Once again, the story is sprinkled with just the right amount of magic to keep it intriguing, and with a unique cast of characters, flawed yet exquisitely penned. Allen's writing style is simply perfect. I devoured this book in one evening, and I do hope you give it a try.<br />
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</div>Hope to see you in our library someday soon,<br />
Jan<br />
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<a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search/t?search=the+sugar+queen&searchscope=1">Request <em>The Sugar Queen</em> from the Bangor Public Library</a>Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-9280800557695216202011-12-08T17:02:00.002-05:002012-03-12T15:12:12.110-04:00Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search/t?search=never+knowing&searchscope=1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="book jacket" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9780312595685&erroroverride=1" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Review by Maggie:</strong></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Never Knowing</span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> by Chevy Stevens is a good read but not as enjoyable as her first novel <i>Still Missing</i>. However, I have heard from many people that they liked it better than her first. I would be interested in hearing your opinion. I thought it could use some editing and that it went on for about 100 pages too long. Telling the story through her therapy sessions she is able to convey a sense of stress. This is an effective story telling method that worked well in her first novel. Sara, her character, is an adoptee who is eager to find her birth parents. When she does find them it is a disaster. Her mother wants nothing to do with her and Sara does not want her father to know her. Character development is nil so there is no one that we like. The character we learn the most about is the serial killer father and we end up finding him sympathetic. This book lacks suspense and is bit predictable.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As she did in<i> Still Missing</i> she has the surprise fiend at the end. As I mentioned before, some patrons are telling me they liked it better than her first novel---what do you think?<br />
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~Maggie<br />
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<a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search/t?search=never+knowing&searchscope=1">Request <em>Never Knowing</em> from The Bangor Public Library</a></span>Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-76057451239045452742011-12-06T14:14:00.005-05:002012-03-12T15:12:48.196-04:00What was your favorite book of 2011?As we approach a new year I thought it might be fun to hear what everyone's favorite read was in 2011. Old or new, fiction or non-fiction, it doesn't matter. Mine, without question,<em> </em>was<em> Garden Spells</em> by Sarah Addison Allen. (<a href="http://bangorpubliclibrarybookbanter.blogspot.com/2011/10/garden-spells-by-sarah-addison-allen.html">read Jan's review on <em>Garden Spells</em></a>) Maggie's was<em> A Kind of Intimacy</em> by Jenn Ashworth. (<a href="http://bangorpubliclibrarybookbanter.blogspot.com/2011/03/kind-of-intimacy-by-jenn-ashworth.html">read Maggie's review on<em> A Kind of Intimacy</em></a>) We would love to hear yours. So, please take a moment to place a comment below and share your favorite book of 2011.<br />
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As always, hope to see you in our library someday soon,<br />
Jan<br />
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<a href="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=L&Value=9781933372860&erroroverride=1 pe=S&|I|http://contentcafe.btol.com/Jacket/Jacket.aspx?SysID=bpl&CustID=bt0059&Key=…À Ž &Type=L" target="_parent"><img alt="book jacket" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9781933372860&erroroverride=1" /></a> <img alt="book jacket" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9780553805482&erroroverride=1" /> <a href="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=L&Value=0671507036&erroroverride=1 pe=S&|I|http://contentcafe.btol.com/Jacket/Jacket.aspx?SysID=bpl&CustID=bt0059&Key=…À Ž &Type=L" target="_parent"><img alt="book jacket" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=0671507036&erroroverride=1" /></a> <a href="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=L&Value=0670881791&erroroverride=1 pe=S&|I|http://contentcafe.btol.com/Jacket/Jacket.aspx?SysID=bpl&CustID=bt0059&Key=…À Ž &Type=L" target="_parent"><img alt="book jacket" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=0670881791&erroroverride=1" /></a> <a href="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=L&Value=9780307269751&erroroverride=1 pe=S&|I|http://contentcafe.btol.com/Jacket/Jacket.aspx?SysID=bpl&CustID=bt0059&Key=…À Ž &Type=L" target="_parent"><img alt="book jacket" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9780307269751&erroroverride=1" /></a>Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-54443709083802737762011-11-21T15:20:00.005-05:002012-03-15T08:10:54.581-04:00True Things About Me by Deborah Davies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yG0dQSVl8uU/Tsqx9QgDleI/AAAAAAAAAE8/PTLrNmFo0-o/s1600/truethingsaboutme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yG0dQSVl8uU/Tsqx9QgDleI/AAAAAAAAAE8/PTLrNmFo0-o/s1600/truethingsaboutme.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a story about a nameless, childless, single homeowner ( I think we are told about the house so we know that she was once a responsible person).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has a job at the benefits bureau and in her capacity as a counselor she encounters a handsome ex con---- within a half hour she meets him in a parking lot and has mindless sex with him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From that time on she is in thrall to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her behavior is wrong and self destructive but she cannot stop herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ms. X<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is in such a compulsive cycle she stops going to work<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and neglects her<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>family and only friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He steals from her and even beats her and she is totally controlled by him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are not given any background on him and do not understand her addiction. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We just<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>read on as Ms. X descends to the gutter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a offbeat story but very<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>readable.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;">~Maggie</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://mainecat.maine.edu/search~S0?/ttrue+things+about+me/ttrue+things+about+me/1,1,1,B/detlframeset&FF=ttrue+things+about+me&1,1,">Request <em>True Things About Me</em> from our interlibrary loan system</a></span>Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-222468783839234159.post-6104394848083545902011-10-06T14:41:00.006-04:002012-03-15T08:11:17.779-04:00Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen<a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search~S1?/tGarden+Spells/tgarden+spells/1%2C1%2C2%2CB/frameset&FF=tgarden+spells&1%2C%2C2" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="book jacket" border="0" src="http://images.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=BPL&Password=BT0059&Return=1&Type=S&Value=9780553805482&erroroverride=1" /></a>Every once in a while a book comes along that is so special it breaches the genre boundaries. If I had to categorize this I would lean toward calling it woman's fiction, but I think all readers would find something compelling about it.<br />
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<em>Garden Spells</em> came highly recommended to me by one of our patrons. I was compelled to pick this book up simply because of her recommendation, but I must confess what finally motivated me was the awesomely low page count of 286! :o) I was in the mood for a short, light read--but what I received was something so much more. From the moment I started the first page I literally could <i>not</i> put it down until I read the very last amazing word, and consequently went to work the following morning yawning with a very large coffee in hand to get me through the day. So, while this is a shorter book, the content is filled with some of the most beautifully written characters I have read in a very long time.<br />
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What touched me the most about this book was the relationship journey between four Waverly women: two sisters, a distant cousin, and a five-year-old daughter. It is set in a quirky southern community, with some magic realism thrown in. Each Waverly woman is born with a "gift." Evanelle, the distant cousin, described as "79 but looks like 120", is compelled to give people items like a lighter, or bed sheets, or a mango peeler. Every item she gives will have a significant meaning in the receiver's life. Claire runs a catering business while using herbs from the Waverly garden to weave a magical evening for her clients through her menu. Sydney has a gift for making people look good, and her daughter, Bay, knows where things belong.<br />
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Claire has always accepted her gift, unashamed of being one of the "odd" Waverly women, while Sydney hated the distinction and left town as soon as she was old enough. Now Sydney is running from an horrifically abusive boyfriend, knowing he will eventually harm their daughter, and returns home to the only safe place she knows. Although this is a secondary story line, there is a charming love story involving Claire and her neighbor. There is also a mischievous apple tree who (and I will say who because it has emotions) throws apples at people. If a person eats an apple from the Waverly tree, they will see the most important event of their life, which isn't necessarily a good thing. So, the Waverly women are always burying the apples.<br />
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<strong>I cannot rave enough about this book!</strong> There isn't a character or line I would change. There were moments when the author wrote in Bay's perspective, the young daughter, that were simply beautiful, although heart-wrenching. I was thoroughly touched by this book.<br />
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<b><i>Garden Spells</i> is officially on my top ten favorite reads of the year. </b><b>It was that perfect!</b><br />
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Hope to see you in our library someday soon,<br />
Jan<br />
<a href="http://ursus.maine.edu/search~S1?/tGarden+Spells/tgarden+spells/1%2C1%2C2%2CB/frameset&FF=tgarden+spells&1%2C%2C2"><span style="color: #29aae1;">Request <i>Garden Spells</i> from the Bangor Public Library</span></a>Book Banterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07931657189621483122noreply@blogger.com0