Liebster Award

4 Comments

I was nominated for an Liebster Award, who me???  I answer questions from the blog who nominated me, then nominate someone else. Thank you booksandpalletes.wordpress.com for the nomination, here are the answers to my questions:

 

wpid-liebster-award

 

Your questions:
1. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I would be a better multi-tasker.
2. If you could change one thing about your blog, what would it be?

Have more followers than the Pioneer Woman.
3. What is your least favorite book cover?

50 Shades of Gray.  Not my thing.

4. Would you rather have books as hands or bookmarks as fingers?

I would really rather have normal hands with thumbs and all, but if I had to choose I would have bookmarks as fingers.
5. What is your favorite book?

My favorite book is an obscure picture book entitled, Sophie and Lou.  
6. Where do you get your books? Why?

I get my books from my local library, for economic reasons and I love the library and all it stands for.  Everyone gets to read! 
7. What is your favorite place to read.

My cozy little home. 
8. Do you like magazines or books better?

Books, books, books.  
9. Why did you start your blog?

People kept asking me what to read next, and I just want people to know about books worth reading.  
10. What is the funniest scene you’ve ever read?

Fourth Grade:  My wonderful teacher read the BFG aloud to us.  We all laughed so hard at the whizzpopper chapter we begged her to read it again the next day. 
11. What is a genre you don’t usually read but wish you could read more of?

Mysteries, I am so chicken, I get weird dreams.  I do like them and can never figure out who did it until the end.  

 

In turn, I nominate 1,000 books before Kindergarten, the site can be found here:

http://1000booksbeforekindergarten.wordpress.com/

Happy Reading!

Four British Authors to Know and Love

2 Comments

England has produced great works of literature through the ages.  Books set in the backdrop of the British Isles , or written by a English author are some of my favorites.  Whether you adore Jane Austin, or only use her to cure insomnia, there are many current English authors worth reading. These are the reads from across the pond (as they say) that I have enjoyed, ranging from immensely to thoroughly.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

The Unlikely Pilgramage of harold fryFrom start to finish I enjoyed the tale of Harold Fry and his Unlikely Pilgrimage.  Harold and his wife exist, but do not live; they function, but do not thrive.  It is as if a large gray cloud cover their lives with gray and shadows and they have accepted their drab life.  Unexpectedly Harold receives a letter from an old friend.   Queenie, is terminally ill in a town across the country.   He gets the letter, and begins to walk to see his old friend.  Without a  plan, and a lousy pair of shoes upon his feet, he just walks.   The strange pilgrimage shocks and frustrates his wife, but Harold begins to collect a small following to cheer him on.  Pretty soon the whole country of England begins to rally for Harold to make it to see his old friend Queenie.  Harold sets out searching to find closure with an old friend, but the journey leads him to a vastly different destination.  This is a sweet story, honest, and well written.

To Order this book on Amazon, click here:

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: A Novel

Longbourne by Jo Baker

LongbourneLongbourne is reminiscent of Jane Austin’s story telling.  You will like it If you are looking for a book will elements similar to Pride and Prejudice.  However, it is not a retelling of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.  Let Longbourne speak for itself and tell its own story.  It is classic in its theme, tension, and hierarchy between servants and higher class.  It is romantic in its story of love hoped for, but unspoken and uncertain.   As a reader you need to attentively tune into the tension and longings of the characters.  The things that go unsaid are almost as important as what is said.  Longbourne takes you into old England, carriages, foggy mornings,  stone houses, and quiet romance.  I enjoyed this book, it is not a page turner, but a story that unfolds with quiet reserve.

To Order this book on Amazon, click here:

Longbourn (Vintage)

The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart

The tower, the zoo, and the tortoiseBalthazar Jones has lived in the Tower of London with his wife for years, along with their 120 year old pet turtle.  He is a Beefeater at the Tower and his wife is in charge of the lost and found department at the Tower of London.  This book is whimsical and completely unique. Julia Stuart is a superb writer and has a talent for strong characterization, and weaving beautifully written language.  Part history lesson and part tale of Balthazar Jones and his wife, you will get a rich feel for London’s history and the lives of the quirky characters that inhabit the tower.  It has a wonderful setting, rich characters, and an offbeat story.  It is a quality read.

To order this book from Amazon, click here:

The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise

What the Nanny Saw by Fiona Neill

What the Nanny SawWhat the Nanny Saw is a great summer beach read.  I listened to this on audio book, the advantage to the audio version is the fantastic British accent.  I highly recommend this book for a glance into extraordinary wealth, and the extraordinary fall that came to many during the 2008 financial crisis.  Alli is the trusted nanny who tells the story of Nick and Bryony, the couple with everything and more in central London. She cares for the children while maintaining a certain invisibility as the hired help.  However, she sees and hears more than she ever wanted to know.   The characters are charming and their lives are intriguing.  I think the author does a fine job with showing the good and bad in all the levels of social status.  The kind hearted nanny makes choices that are somewhat appalling, as do her employers.  This book is timely, engaging, and a good pick for summer.   

To Order this book on Amazon, click here:

What the Nanny Saw

 

3 Modern Love Stories that put 50 Shades to Shame

Leave a comment

Regardless of your feelings on 50 Shades, I am here to tell you there are better love stories out there people.  Sweet, gut wrenching, tender, heart warming love stories.  No whips, no chains, no cliche conversations, just dang good tales of two crazy people finally working it all out.  All three of these picks are a bit off the beaten path, have creative plots, and well written characters.  Like 50 Shades wants us all to do, branch out and try something new.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

The Rosie Project

A character driven novel is one in which the character would say and do the same things regardless of the time or circumstances the author places them in.  The Rosie Project is the most charming and heartwarming novel of this kind that I have stumbled across in recent months.    Don Tillman is successful in his job and many endeavors, however love and relationships is not one of them.  Don has autism and does not grasp human relationships or social interactions in the slightest.  He concludes that it is time to find a romantic relationship; but decides leaving to chance meeting someone compatible randomly is unlikely and inefficient.  He comes up with a compatibility measurement test to approach the quest from a logical and scientific angle.  Of course, we all know there is no science to love, so Don’s world gets turned upside down and back again.   The author captures the mind of an autistic person with precision, compassion, and humor.   This love story is quirky and wonderful; I am praying they do not turn it into a movie.

To purchase this book on Amazon, click here:

The Rosie Project: A Novel

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

The storied life of A.J. Fikry

Gabrielle Zevin writes a story of true and sacrificial love.  She shows us that blood is not always thicker than water, and love can shake you free from a painful stupor gone on too long.  The main character A.J. is suffocating under grief and hardship.  He runs a bookstore on an island (yes, it is as charming as it seems) and is struggling in modern day book selling in the midst of e-readers and online shopping.  He drowns his sorrows in wine in the evening, and his world turns upside down when his prize possession, a rare Edgar Allen Poe original, is stolen from his home.  As quickly as the book is taken from him, a mysterious baby is left in his care with a note explaining her parents are not up for raising a child.  The rest I will leave to you to read for yourself.  The characters are all quirky and lovable, flawed,and oh so  human. I truly believe there should be a special genre of  books only written about people that adore books.  The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry would shine in such a genre.  Many more events unravel in this story, I felt like I had moved onto the Island and gotten to know all the characters.  When the book was over, I was sure I would miss all of them.  It is not all happy, but it is sweet, and real, and worth your time.

To purchase the book from Amazon, click here:

The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry: A Novel

Attachments by Rainbow Rowellattachments

If you have not yet discovered the delightful Rainbow Rowell, you are in for a treat.  This is a  novel told primarily through company emails.  Rowell is a master at quick, smart dialogue.  The lives of a night internet security worker, and daytime employees connect through secret email reading without meeting face to face.  Lincoln, the main character is hired at night to ensure the employees are following standard procedures. He reads through emails and checks on employees computer activity.  Situations get  awkward when Lincoln starts to fall for a woman through her email prose.   The voices in the novel are witty, crass, and unbelievably awesome.  You will adore the banter between the characters and the odd love story that unfolds.  I wish there were more books like hers.  Wonderful, wonderful read.

To purchase this book on Amazon, click here: Attachments: A Novel

5 Books to Make a Plane Ride Fly

2 Comments

Waiting and sitting in airports and planes can be made so much more bearable when you have a good read in hand.  Here are five books that are suspenseful, fun, and engaging to help the hours seem like minutes.

The Husbands Secret by Liane Moriarty- 

 

 

 

 

A sealed envelope with the label, ‘open on the event of my death’, is the catalyst that moves a reader through this tale of marriage and family.  Cecelia is a successful mother of four girls, happily married, socially on top at her children’s private school, and has complete control over her suburban life.  One evening while her husband is away she finds an envelope in the attic with instructions to read only after he dies.  Her suspicions are raised and life changing events throw her world spinning out of orbit. The subplot of the story introduces you to Tess, a woman working through her own marriage crisis, and Rachel, a widow at the school where Cecelia’s children attend.  Their stories fit together seamlessly, the plot moves quickly and the author holds you in suspense throughout the story.  This is a perfect summer read, and a very well told story.

To Purchase this book on Amazon, click here: The Husband’s Secret

 

 Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson before I go to sleep

 

 

 

 

Suspense and a fast paced search for the truth drive this novel.  The woman in the story has amnesia and cannot remember anything when she wakes up each day.  She pieces her life together through a journal and scattered bits of memory before she goes to sleep each night.  From the first page to the last,  you will be hooked.  The main character evokes a readers sympathy, you fill find your self rooting for her.  The trail that leads her to understand her life now and the events in the past is an intense journey.  The rise of tension in this story is written expertly.  The movie is coming out this year, so it is a good one to read before it comes to the theaters. To order this book on Amazon, click here: Before I Go To Sleep: A Novel

 

The Descendents by Kaui Hart Hemmings

the descendants

 

 

 

 

If you like books about complicated, raw, and deep family relationships, this is a good pick.  The relationships between the characters are intricate, and the reader is drawn into the web of family ties from the very beginning.  A very wealthy family in Hawaii finds themselves with their mother in a coma.  The two daughters are grappling with this reality while their father tries desperately to hold things together.  The father in the story is the patriarch of his extended family.  The family owns a large, highly valuable piece of land on the islands and it is up to the father to decide if it is sold or kept in the family.  A reader will relate to the mixed emotions of loving someone but hating them at the same time.   The relationships are honest, the family heritage is interesting, and the struggles are well written. To Order this Book on Amazon, click here: The Descendants: A Novel (Random House Movie Tie-In Books)

 

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doer All the light we cannot see

 

 

 

 

If I voted for a book of the summer, this is it.  Doer writes a sweeping, intricately planned novel taking place during World War II.  The story is told through the lives of a young blind girl living in France and a German boy orphaned in his early life.  The girls father is in possession of a rare diamond with a legend of tragedy for anyone owns it.  This diamond is the force that the characters radiate around, creating an epic narrative.  The writing transports the reader, the characters are vivid, strong, and memorable.   If you liked the Book Thief, you will love All the Light We Cannot See.  An absolute must read. A quality choice for book clubs.  To purchase this book on Amazon, click here: All the Light We Cannot See: A Novel

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

Some books I love because I don’t want them to end.  The world they have transported you to is magical and creates a longing as you read.  Some books make me long for a different life or relate to a character so deeply I feel like my heart wrote the book without me knowing it.  Me Before You by Jojo Moyes is moving, quaint, well developed, and a great read.  Louis Clark is looking for a job, after being laid off from the café where she cherished the routine and mundane work.  Unqualified, undignified, and quirky, she lands the job of caregiver for Will Traynor.  Will is a quadriplegic, former sportsman, and financier.  Set in a small English town in beneath a castle, Lou begins her journey of learning to care for someone who does not want to be cared for.  The characters in this book unfold wonderfully.  They change, grow, piss you off, sadden you, and inspire you.  Moyes does a wonderful job with pacing and plot.  The story is long but never drags, the characters are believable and all well developed.  Some people will look at this as a romantic novel between two unlikely people.  Some people will look at it as an exploration of our right to choose life and death.  Life is hard and unfair, as we see in the lives of Will and Lou, but selfless love is still possible to be found.  That is what I believe Me Before You is about.  This book is worth the journey.

 

To Purchase this book on Amazon, click here:

 

Me Before you