The Shop on Blossom Street, by Debbie Macomber

November 4, 201020 Comments

Finished 10-26-10, rating 3/5, fiction, pub. 2004

You see, I’d always assumed I would die before my father.

Most people find talk of death unsettling, but I’ve lived with the threat of it for so long, it doesn’t have that effect on me. The possibility of death has been my reality for the last fourteen years, an d I’m as comfortable talking about it as I am the weather.

Chapter 1

Lydia has opened up a yarn shop in Seattle. After two bouts of cancer she has decided to make her dream job come true. She begins a knitting class to bring people to the store and suddenly has three new friends to knit with every Friday. Jacqueline is a society gal who is hard to like, Carol and her husband are on their last in vitro treatment and she is desperate to have a child and Alix is a troubled girl looking for an easy way to fulfill her court appointed community service. The four women become fast friends and are able to provide support through their troubles.

This was a sweet, easy read, like most of Macomber’s books. The chapters jump between the women and this diluted the stories for me. I got a little taste of each, but wasn’t really invested in any of them. The women were relatable and their stories made them feel like familiar friends, or maybe just acquaintances. I liked it but won’t be reading any of the other books of this series. It was just a little too easily wrapped up for me.

This is from my personal library and was chosen by ‘Nise, Mom, and Bonnie. Here’s what they had to say…

“You have to read Debbie Macomber and this is a great series about a knit shop and women’s friendships.” Bonnie

“It’s great when you need a light read.” ‘Nise

What to Expect When You’re Expecting, by Heidi Murkoff with Bonus Belly Shot :)

October 30, 2010October 30, 20109 Comments

Finished 10-16-10, rating 4.5/5, pregnancy, revised pub. 2008

When I found out I was pregnant I made the decision to buy and read only one pregnancy book and this is the one I chose. I’ve heard women complain about it being outdated or not detailed enough, but I found it to be very useful. I did not read it cover to cover and the last section on things that could go wrong I didn’t read, although I did reference it early on when I was afraid I might be having trouble. I felt like it gave me just enough information to feel comfortable, but not too much to cause increased worry, which is some thing I struggle with anyway. I definitely have a worry gene and I hope I haven’t passed it on to Gage!

Not only does the book cover eating for two, but its week by week updates were so much fun to read with Jason every week. It also helped for Jason to see some of my symptoms in print so he didn’t think I was making them up 🙂 As a first time mom who has spent very little time around pregnant women I thought this book was a wonderful resource and I would recommend it.

As a bonus I thought I’d share the last picture we took of me ‘expecting’. We took this Saturday afternoon and I went to the hospital later that evening. I gained 45 pounds during my pregnancy. Hard to believe I gained all that belly for a 6 pound little guy!

This book was from my personal library.

Why We Buy:The Science of Shopping, by Paco Underhill

October 28, 201014 Comments

Finished unabridged audio 10-13-10, rating 3/5, pub. 2000

Read by Rick Adamson

This book is a must have for retail managers or for those, like me, who would love to open my own business someday. Underhill is the CEO of a research company that specializes in helping companies, like McDonald’s and General Mills, attract more customers and bigger sales. He and his associates spend hours studying the psychology of the shopper in the shopping environment. They study the most mundane of decisions shoppers make to help the companies change things like product placement and the addition of seating to optimize sales.

I enjoyed this look into the mind of the shopper. It is a sneak peek into the things we do when we shop that we are not aware of and I found it interesting. I think the book was a little long and I did grow bored with it about halfway through, but if you are involved in retail and get to make decisions for the store then this would prove invaluable.

There is an updated version, but I did not listen to that one. I assume that it would address internet shopping with more authority. When this was first published it was still very new and not that accurate a representation of today’s internet reality.

I checked this audio out of the library.

The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan

October 13, 201020 Comments

Finished 10-12-10, rating 4.5/5, fiction, pub. 1989

The novel starts after the death of Sunyan Woo when her daughter Jing-Mei is asked to take her place at the mahjong table. And so begins the stories of four Chinese mothers and their American daughters. Jing-Mei finds out that before leaving China her mother abandoned two daughters and now Jong-Mei’s sisters have been found. Waverly Jong has a daughter, but not much respect for her mother or her heritage. Lena St. Clair is in an unhappy marriage and her mother considers herself a ghost. Rose Hsu Jordan is getting divorced much to the consternation of her mother.

The most interesting parts of this book are the stories of the mothers and their youth in China. I loved learning about the culture and history and how their lives changed when they moved to San Francisco. They all seemed to have real issues with the American way of life and values and lamented how it affected their children. It was fascinating.

As much as I loved the stories of the women there were too many to invest in completely. There was not a resolution for every story and that’s okay, but I would have liked one. This didn’t really detract from the beauty of the book, but it is worth mentioning.

I didn’t expect to love it, but I did. It wasn’t what I expected, it was so much better. It was fun escaping into another culture for a few hours. I will definitely be checking out more books by Amy Tan.

This is from my personal library and was chosen by Hannah, Golda, Margot, Jackie, Staci, Jenners, Mystica, and Mom. Here’s what they had to say…

“A modern classic, I think. Really well done.” Jenners

“Fantastic book by a wonderful author. You’ll remember this one well after you’ve read it!” Staci

“Because it’s an engaging tale of immigrants and generations, but also because this is one of those books that will be (or already is) a part of our collective consciousness.” Hannah

Good in Bed, by Jennifer Weiner

October 7, 201021 Comments

Finished 10-6-10, rating 4.5/5, fiction, pub. 2001

“You called me fat in a magazine. You turned me into a joke. You don’t think you did anything wrong?”

“Face it Cannie,” he said. “You are fat.” He bent his head. “But that doesn’t mean I didn’t love you.”

The box of tampons bounced off his forehead and spilled into the parking lot.

Chapter 1

Cannie has a good job as a reporter, close friends, a dog she loves, but she is unhappy with the extra weight she carries. To make matters worse her ex-boyfriend of five years has just written an article in a national magazine titled “Loving a Larger Woman.” Although she was the one to initiate the break-up she’s not sure she did the right thing and she makes some questionable decisions.

Cannie is a great character, full of humor, intelligence, laughter, and wit. It is light at first, but also addresses serious family issues with both of her parents that I found very real. And the fact that the reality wasn’t all tied up with a pretty bow at the end made it great for me. It managed to maintain the fun while still showing that not all things in the real world can be solved the way we want. It is chick lit at its best, but moves beyond that to a heartfelt story about starting to love yourself.

This was a great debut novel and I’m not sure what took me so long to read it. Oh wait, it’s the hundreds of other books I own. Anyway, I’m happy to discover a new author who I look forward to reading. My only complaint comes from the fact that I’m pregnant. The pregnancy storyline was a little flat for me only because it felt like Weiner just took things from a pregnancy book and threw them in. I’m sure that if you are not pregnant this would not bother you, but since I’ve had over eight months of living it it just didn’t ring true for me. Still loved the book!

This is from my personal library and was chosen by Shanyn, Debbie, Em, and Mom.

“Hilarious, love her.” Em

“I became an instant fan after I read this one.” Debbie

“I love that book.” Shanyn

Think of a Number, by John Verdon

October 6, 2010October 8, 201022 Comments

Finished 10-1-10, rating 4/5, thriller, pub. 2010

Do you believe in Fate? I do, because I thought I’d never see you again-and then one day, there you were. It all came back: how you sound, how you move-most of all, how you think. If someone told you to think of a number, I know what number you’d think of. You don’t believe me? I’ll prove it to you. Think of any number up to a thousand-the first number that comes to your mind. Picture it. Now see how well I know your secrets. Open the little envelope.

Chapter 4

Retired NYPD detective Dave Gurney is living in the country with his wife, Madeleine, and a hobby of using mug shots of serial killers to make art. His inability to move past police work frustrates Madeleine and their marriage suffers. Dave is contacted by an old college friend for help in finding who is sending him provocative letters. Dave wants him to go to the police, but he refuses, so Dave helps him the best he can. Only it looks like his friend is not the only one in danger and Dave is sucked into a state-wide investigation.

The hook of this thriller is the letters. Each one predicts a number that the recipient will guess between 1 and 1000 and the letter always knows. The letters also promise exposure for a past sin unless the recipient send money. I’m not usually one to figure things like this out without a lit of help and this was no different. Looking back there was one clue that could have made it less of a surprise, but I missed it. The hook was a successful one.

I liked the mystery of it, but I also really liked the story involving Dave and Madeleine. In thrillers there is rarely time or effort put into showing relationships, but this one did address a crumbling marriage and it did make me more invested in the book. I wanted to know what would become of the couple.

This is a great debut and if you are a thriller or mystery fan, don’t miss it. It would also appeal to puzzle lovers. I don’t know if he plans on writing more books about Dave, but if he does I’ll be first in line.

I received this book from Jenners at Life…With Books. Thanks Jenners 🙂

Free Books for October

October 2, 2010October 2, 20108 Comments

In my ongoing quest to keep books moving out and not just in I give away a few books each month. Leave a comment, tell me which book you want and I’ll get the book to you for FREE either by mail or personally if I’ll see you soon. The first one to request each book wins. Once you’ve ‘won’ the book I can get your shipping address if I need it. Also, you can come back and get a free book every month if you want. These have all been read a time or two.

1. The Prize by Julie Garwood. mass market romance. B&N review. for Linda B

2. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway. mass market classic. This copy is from college so it has some markings in it. B&N review. for Sarah E

3. Fortunate Harbor by Emilie Richards. ARC trade paperback. B&N review. for Misha

4. Contemporary American Short Stories. trade paperback. Never been read. B&N review. for Carol M

Happy Reading!

The History of Love, by Nicole Krauss

September 30, 201025 Comments

Finished 9-28-10, rating 4.5/5, fiction, pub. 2005

The floorboards creaked under my weight. There were books everywhere. There were pens, and a blue glass vase, an ashtray from the Dolder Grand in Zurich, the rusted arrow of a weather vane, a little brass hourglass, sand dollars on the windowsill, a pair of binoculars, an empty wine bottle that served as a candle holder, wax melted down the neck. I touched this thing and that. At the end, all that’s left of you are your possessions, Perhaps that’s why I’ve never been able to throw anything away. Perhaps that’s why I hoarded the world: with the hope that when I died, the sum total of my things would suggest a life larger than the one I lived.

“Die Laughing” chapter

Leo Gursky, a man who escaped the Nazis in Poland before following the love of his life to New York City, is staring a lonely death in the face. He has one friend, he makes a scene when in public so that people will remember him, and he is willing to embarrass himself just to be seen. He is alone, the love of his life is dead and his son doesn’t know he exists. Leo is full of wit and wisdom and sadness. I just wanted to give him a hug.

Alma Singer is a girl who wants to know who her namesake is. Her dead father had given her mother a book, The History of Love, and the woman in it, Alma, represented all women. Young Alma’s search for the author provides the catalyst and the mystery for this original novel.

The language is beautiful and the story bittersweet. It is both funny and confusing, touching and depressing. It came close to being perfect for me and I loved it. It is very difficult to describe, but pick it up and take a look. It may be just the unique voice you are looking for.

This is from my personal library and chosen by Vasilly, Heather, Mille, Alita, and Wendy. Here’s what they had to say…

“Best book ever. Really. Please, please tell me this came from your Holiday Book Blogger Santa? I might cry otherwise.” Mille (my very sweet Secret Santa :))

“You want to dig deeper into the book as you read.” Vasilly

Banned Book Quiz

September 28, 2010October 1, 201035 Comments

It’s Banned Book Week. Can you guess these 10 most challenged books of 2009? 10 points each (5 points title, 5 points author. You have until Thursday at midnight to submit your answers as a comment. I hide your answers until then.

Here are the rules… 1. Open to everyone. Play once or every week, that’s okay. I’m happy to have you here today.

2. No cheating. No googling, other internet searches or looking at other commenter answers. Yes, we’re going by the honor system

3. Your first answers will be the only ones accepted.

Last week’s Stephen King Adaptation Quiz here. Current Leaderboard here.

1. This four letter title is the first of the Internet Girl series and has been challenged for nudity, offensive language, being sexually explicit, and drugs. ttyl by Lauren Myracle

2. This children’s book is based on the true story of two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo who were given an egg to raise. Banned for homosexuality. And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson

3. First lines- “August 25, 1991. Dear Friend, I am writing to you because she said you listen and understand and didn’t try to sleep with that person at that party even though you could have.” The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

4. This beloved classic novel and film makes the list because of racism and offensive language. My cat is named after the pint-sized heroine 🙂 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

5. Not only do many teen girls love this book, first of a very popular series of books and movies, their mothers do too. This same author took one of my favorite girls names off our possibility list (Bree) by splashing it across the cover of her latest book 😦 Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

6. This classic made antihero Holden Caulfield a household name in the 1950’s. The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger

7. “When I was little, the great mystery to me wasn’t how babies were made, but why.” So begins this tear jerker, often challenged for being sexist, homosexuality, sexually explicit, drugs, suicide, violence, and offensive language. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

8. This YA book features Virginia, a high school sophomore who lives by the Fat Girl Code of Conduct. Often challenged for offensive language and being sexually explicit. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler

9. “You better not never tell nobody but God. It’d kill your mammy.” First lines of this classic. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

10. Jerry refuses to participate in the school’s chocolate sale and the Vigils make him pay the price in this popular school reading list book. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

See Jane Run, by Joy Fielding

September 22, 201014 Comments

Finished 9-17-10, rating 3.5/5, fiction, pub. 1991

Was she crazy? Had she just escaped from an asylum? From jail? Was she on the run? She laughed at her own histrionics. If she hadn’t been crazy before all this started she certainly would be by the time it was over. Would it ever be over?

Chapter 1

Jane is aimlessly walking around Boston, not knowing who she is or why she’s there. She has blood on her dress and $10,000 in her coat pocket, so she checks into a hotel to get her bearings. After a few days she realizes her memory is not coming back so she turns herself over to police, who in turn send her to the hospital. She is told that she had temporary amnesia and in a stroke of luck is recognized by one of the nurses. Jane’s husband, Michael is a pediatric surgeon at another hospital. The two are reunited, but Jane is still lost and confused.

The premise is a terrifying one. All of the sudden to be in a big city, not know who you are and to realize no one is looking for you would be quite a shock to the system. Jane was an interesting character. Since she didn’t know who she was I wasn’t sure who she was either. I grew frustrated at her docile ambivalence to her situation at home, especially when she was repeatedly told how feisty she really was. Who was the real Jane?

It’s a page turner, but my frustration with Jane and the too long chapters on her contemplating her unknown life kept it from being excellent. I kept wanting it to read faster. But once things started happening halfway through the pace and story picked up. The end was great and I did enjoy it.

This is from my personal library and chosen by Kristie, GMR, and Debby. Here’s what they had to say…

“One of my all time favorite books.” Debby

“This was one of the first fiction novels I read as I was growing up (aside from kids fiction and such)…didn’t actually realize the author until a few weeks ago when I read a review on the title. Definitely a fast paced thriller…” GMR

“I just finished reading this one Saturday and enjoyed it. You can see a review on my blog!” Kristie

Stacy's Books

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Tag: Books