Tag: Books

Salty Like Blood, by Harry Kraus, MD

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Salty Like Blood by Kraus Kraus: Book CoverFinished 5-1-09, rating 3.5/5, fiction, pub. 2009

In the next hour we asked every resident of the street if they’d seen our little girl.  Everyone we questioned returned the same concerned stare, as if we were bad parents.  They never said it, but I felt it at every doorstep.  You let your little girl go out by the water alone?

Chapter 3

Seven year old, Rachel Conners, is a normal little girl with two parents who love her.  Then, while visiting her sick grandfather on the Chesapeake shore, she goes missing.  Her parents, Dr. David Conners and his wife Joanne, are frantic and their sometimes troubled marriage approaches a breaking point.  Joanne wants to assume she is dead and move one, but David needs answers and the two live apart, each trying to cope in their own way.  While David stays at the shore to look for answers he is tempted by fantasies of his Muslim neighbor and back in the city, Joanne begins to fall prey to her ex-fiancee, Blake. 

This book tackles the horrifying prospect of losing a child and the uncertainty that comes with a disappearance.  David and Joanne’s marriage was in trouble and it was shown, warts and all.  It shows happens when two partners need to grieve or fight in two different ways. 

There were so many storylines that it was almost too much.  Losing a parent, losing a child, racial prejudice, small town expectations, betraying a friend, and social pressures are just some of the main themes.  The multiple storylines kept the story moving, although I’m not sure they all came together for me. 

The story is a quick read and written in a straightforward voice that will keep you guessing what will happen next.  David’s quest for answers leads to thoughts of revenge and forgiveness and Joanne must deal with the lies in her marriage.  The end was surprising and far-fetched (at least I hope so!) and I never really liked Joanne.  She was too cold and distant and never really thawed.  David was a more sympathetic character and I was rooting for him to find his answers and save the day.

All in all, there was more good than bad and I did enjoy it.

The Hiding Place, by Corrie ten Boom with John & Elizabeth Sherrill

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Cover ImageFinished 4-28-09, rating 5/5, autobiography, pub. 1971

“Happiness isn’t something that depends on our surroundings, Corrie.  It’s something we make inside ourselves.”

Chapter 3

The ten Boom family was an institution in Haarlem, Holland.  The family had owned the watch shop for over 100 years and the current ten Booms had settled into a comfortable life.  Father, known as one of the finest watch makers in the country, and Mother, with her giving spirit even though her own health was weak, raised 4 children and welcomed two sisters into the tiny house behind and above the shop.  This is a family that knew how to take care of each other. 

By the time the Nazi’s occupied Holland only Corrie, the youngest and author, her sister Betsie and Father were left in the house.  The two oldest children, Nollie and Willem, had families of their own close by.  The ten Booms were faithful Christians, exemplifying the spirit of grace, compassion, and giving.  When the Germans began taking Jews from their small village the ten Booms were appalled.  When the first Jew appeared on their doorstep there was no question that they would take him in.  So, the word was out and more people in need began showing up and the ten Boom family home became the headquarters for the Jewish underground effort. By this time Corrie and Betsie were into their 50’s and Father 80’s.

Corrie and her family had a secret room built in the house, had an illegal telephone and radio, and had to make deals with sympathizers to obtain ration cards and shelter for those needing to hide.  The operation became quite large and it was only a matter of time before they were caught.  First, everyone in the family was rounded up and taken to prison and there they were split up.  After some time both Corrie and Betsie were taken to a camp in Holland and then on to a concentration camp in Germany. 

The one thing that sustained Corrie and her family was their faith in God.  This book is a beautiful tribute to the Christian spirit that they were willing to give and suffer so much in the face of hatred.  Corrie’s words leave an impact and she has much to teach us all about forgiveness, death, and loving your enemies.  I am sure that I will read this book again.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

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Teaser Tuesday – Fox River

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teasertuesdays31Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! ;)

 

After nine years of listening to sobs and belches, to coughs and demented laughter, Christian tried to imagine that sort of peace.  One night, before the guards could intervene, he had listened helplessly as a man murdered his cellmate.

Fox River by Emilie Richards, Chapter 13

Fox River by Emilie Richards: Book Cover

What Book is That? Quiz (Take Two)

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You guys know your covers!  Thanks, Jo Jo, MOG, Tonya, the two Kathys, and Mark 🙂

It was such fun the first time I thought I’d try it again.  Can you identify these books by their censored titles?  Leave a comment with the number, title and author.

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1.  Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire – Tonya

2.  Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts – Jo-Jo

3.  Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder – Tonya

4.  Tex by SE Hinton – Mark

5. Charming Billy by Alice McDermott – Kathy

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 6. Heart & Soul by Maeve Binchy – Kathy

 7.  The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown – Kathy 

8.  Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier – MOG

9.  Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende – MOG

10.  Here On Earth by Alice Hoffman – Jo-Jo

Blue Smoke, by Nora Roberts

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Cover ImageFinished 4-26-09, rating 4/5, romantic thriller, pub. 2005

“Something else I need to talk to you about.”  He set down hos fork, looked into her eyes.  “Pastorelli’s out.”

“He–”  She drew herself in, glanced around to see if any of her family could overhear.  “When?”

“Last week. I just got word.”

Chapter 5

Reena was only 11 years old when she watched her family restaurant burn to the ground.  She had been attacked by a boy in her class and their two fathers had come to blows, causing the other father to take a match to their family livelihood.  Years go by as Reena studies to become a member of the arson unit and she returns home to the Little Italy area of Baltimore.  She is welcomed with open arms by her large Italian family and life settles into family, fires, and the occasional boyfriend.  She is a strong woman who has a hard time finding a man who admires her determination and when she does the relationships end in death or abuse. 

I really liked this book.  I liked Reena, although I didn’t love her.  The secondary characters were fun and lovable and well developed.  I’d love to read another story involving the Hale clan.  I think it is the large family with so much love and loyalty that made this book feel so cozy.  The hero, Bo Goodnight, was a dream and easy to fall for.  Who doesn’t want a well-built, handsome carpenter who fell in love with you at first sight and has spent years trying to find you?

I’m not sure I would classify this as a thriller.  It is more of a family/romantic drama?  There was a mystery, but it really wasn’t that hard to figure out.  Actually, my biggest complaint is that for a smart woman, Reena was a little slow in seeing the obvious.

I’m not a Nora Roberts fan, but I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for a fun, fast-paced read.

Free books for May

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may-free-books

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 few times.

1. Paradise Lost by JA Jance  for Arthur

2. The Perfect Bride by Brenda Joyce  for Gautami

3. Intensity by Dean Koontz  for Suboo

4. The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner  for Bridget

Thanks for helping me clear my shelves.  And, as always, Happy Reading!

Wow!  That was my quickest sell-out ever.  Thanks for stopping by!

April Morning, by Howard Fast

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Cover ImageFinished 4-23-09, rating 4/5, ya historical fiction, pub. 1961

For myself, I had the feeling that I was looking at my father for the very first time, not seeing him as I had always seen him in the vague wholeness of age and distance, but looking at the face of a surprisingly young man, his wide, brown face serious and intent upon me, his dark eyes shadowed in their inquiry, his broad full-lipped mouth tight and thoughtful.  How was it, I wondered, that I had never noticed before what a strikingly handsome man he was?  How was it that I had seen in him only the strength of overbearance and not the thewed strength of those massive brown arms spread on the desk with the white shirt sleeves rolled high and carelessly?  It was no wonder that men listened to him and heeded his words.

Chapter – The Night

It’s 1775 and the Battle of Lexington is about to take place in Adam’s backyard, but he doesn’t know it.  He is still hung up on feeling anger toward his father, unappreciated by his mother, and maligned by his younger brother.  He is a typical 15 year old, caught between wanting to grow up and needing to hold on to his childhood angst.  When their small community is warned that the British are headed their way, the men arm themselves, but hope that diplomacy may rule the day.  Adam is in the second line of defense when the British come through, guns firing and the blood flowing.  Adam started that April morning as a boy, but by the end of the day he had grown up witnessing murder, feeling despair, vowing revenge, and realizing that family is the most important thing. 

I loved this book.  I thought Adam’s adolescent relationship with his overbearing father was so real that it is really the heart of the book.  The battle and the rag tag way the men fought back that day at Lexington was a wonderful view into the ways of war over 200 years ago and it is interesting to contrast it with what we do to each other during war today.  This slim novel takes place over that one April day when Adam was forced into adulthood too soon, as was the case with many boys in 1775.

This book is told with such poignant honesty that it will touch your heart.  Although it is about life in the 1700’s, I think teens will recognize the feelings in this book and it may help them put their own feelings into perspective.  I’m glad I was able to watch Adam on his journey to manhood.

Storm Rider, by Cassie Edwards

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Cover ImageFinished 4-22-09, rating 2/5, romance, pub. 2002

Storm Rider was that man!

Soon the Snake’s evil deeds would be a thing of the past.  Then, and only then, could Storm Rider think of other things…most important, having a woman in his blankets to love, to cherish.

And then there would be children!

Chapter 2

Tabitha Daniel became Talking Rain the day her parents were killed and she was taken in by the Chief of the Crow tribe.  She was accepted as a member of the tribe, even though her blonde beauty and independent spirit set her apart.  Then Chief Storm Rider shows up wanted to reach a compromise with the Crows and Talking Rain finds herself drawn to him.    When a stunt goes too far Talking Rain finds herself a captive of Storm Rider and she is at his mercy. 

I found the story melodramatic and the writing tedious.  They were obssessed with one another at the very first look and there were pages and pages filled with alternating lustful and resisting thoughts and feelings without any real action.  And, while  I love a good exclamation point ! there were so many that it was distracting.  (Have you ever watched the Seinfeld episode where Elaine edited a book and used an ! every other sentence?  Then you know what I’m talking about.)

Cassie Edwards is a New York Times Bestselling Author, so I have to think I just read one of her less successful titles.  I don’t think I’d read another by her, but if you have a favorite, leave a comment.

Cry Me a Quiz

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You guys rock!  Thanks for playing 🙂

I avoid books that I think will make me cry, but occasionally one will sneak up on me 🙂  These are all books that have caused me to shed a tear or two. See full size image

Here’s how to play…Identify the book and leave a comment with the # and the title and I’ll cross it off the list. No Googling, that’s cheating and no fun!

1.  My sister is sick, really sick, and my mom expects me to do whatever necessary to make her well.  But no one has ever asked me what I want.    My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult, Kathy

2. I didn’t know that a boy and a girl could be best friends and I didn’t know nine year olds could die.  Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson, Megan

3. Even though I’m gone, those I left behind are still struggling to come to terms with my murder.  The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, Heather

4. Harry would never be the same after watching me die and neither would my faithful friends reading back home.  Harry Potter & the Halkf-Blood Prince by JK Rowling, Barbara

5. Every animal should be so lucky to live on a farms with friends.  Especially one who can weave a message.  Charlotte’s Web by EB White, Heather

6. Many lovers in the doghouse have tried my famous line, “Love means never having to say your sorry.”  I wonder if anyone would have paid attention if I hadn’t died.  Love Story by Erich Segal, Margot

7.My Dad slaughter pigs to support me and my family.  I had to grow up way too soon on that Vermont farm way back when.  A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck, Mark

8. For a little while it looked like I had died and my human parents were distraught, but they should have known that a dog intelligent enough to be named Einstein would find a way to live.  Watchers by Dean Koontz, Debbie

9. Dobby’s death snuck up on me and I was surprised at how much his sacrifice would mean to me.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling, Barbara

10. None of us wants to face our own mortality, but this college professor did it with dignity and a desire to leave his mark.  The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, Thoughts of Joy

Is there a book that has made you cry?

The Man Who Ate the 747, by Ben Sherwood

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The Man Who Ate the 747 by Sherwood Sherwood: Book CoverFinished 4-21-09, rating 4.5/5, fiction, pub. 2000

It wasn’t the easiest thing in the world, watching your best friend eat an airplane.  Some days you suspected he wasn’t all there in the head.  But then, on other days, he was the smartest. most insightful person you ever knew.

Chapter 3

 J.J. Smith is the Keeper of the Records for The Book of Records (a Guinness-like book).  He is your average man who witnesses greatness, but never acquires it.  His last assignment was to verify the world’s longest kiss, 30:45:00, and the couple misses it by 4 seconds.  He is under pressure from his boss to find the next great record or he could be downsized.  As luck would have it he receives an anonymous tip from someone that a man is eating a Boeing 747.  He catches the first plane to a small town in Nebraska.

Wally Chubb has been in love with Willa Wyatt since his ninth birthday and he figures by eating the 747 that crashed into his field he will finally get her attention.  He has made pretty good progress by the time J.J. shows up and he is excited when television outlets show up to record his feat.  He must find help for the black box, but executives from Boeing show up to help him out.  Unfortunately, Willa seems to take no more notice of him than she did before.

Willa knows why Wally is eating the plane, but figures if she ignores him he will eventually stop.  Then this handsome man shows up asking questions and spouting records that he has witnessed all around the world and she is hooked.  Against her better judgement she finds herself drawn into J.J.’s orbit.

I adore this charming  and original love story.  It is full of small town warmth and spirit and it is sure to inspire you, at least a little.  I wouldn’t want anyone to eat a 747 for me, but I had to admire Wally ingenuity.  It’s amazing to find out what foods you can put ground up metal  into.  It should have included a few recipes in the back 🙂

The quirky characters and plot will bring a smile to your face.  This was not at all what I expected, but I cannot recommend it enough.  At only 250 pages it is a quick, worthwhile read.  It’s my favorite book so far this year.