Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult
Jodi Picoult is a sometimes-favorite author of mine. How much I like her work depends on when I'm reading it and how I feel about the subject matter.
Harvesting the Heart is her second novel. I didn’t strongly engage with the characters in this one, but the language is beautiful. This book touched me as a mother and as a woman.
Friday, August 31, 2012
The Face of Deception
The Face of Deception by Iris Johansen
I read a suspense novel by Iris Johansen, then figured out that the character, Eve Duncan, has a series of books. I was very impressed with Johansen. She has a skill for chilling suspense. So now I have started the series from the beginning!
This is the first in the series. The character of Eve Duncan is introduced and is developed very thoroughly. She lost a young daughter to a serial killer, but her body has never been recovered. Eve uses her skill as a forensic sculptor to find other missing children and bring them home. She is pulled in a high profile, dangerous case by a mysterious man. I found myself pulled into the complexities of Eve Duncan.
The plot moves at a fast pace and kept me intrigued until the very end. I highly recommend this series for suspense lovers.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Even Silence Has An End
Even Silence Has An End: My Six Years of Captivity in the Colombian Jungle by Ingrid Betancourt
This is a very powerful memoir. As the age of 32, Ingrid Betancourt made the decision to leave the safety of France, to return to her home country of Colombia. Despite the dangerous political climate, Betancourt felt a strong sense of duty to try and make a difference in the country she loved.
While campaigning for President of Colombia in 2002, she was abducted by the FARC. What followed is nearly 7 years of being held captive in the jungle.
This book moved me on many fronts. Betancourt’s strong morality and strength shines through her words. Questions such as: How does one live life to the fullest? What really constitutes freedom? and How important is hope?; are brought to the reader’s mind. This urged me to read more about Colombia and about Betancourt’s life and captivity.
This book is inspirational and I strongly recommend it. It is quite long, but worth it.
This is a very powerful memoir. As the age of 32, Ingrid Betancourt made the decision to leave the safety of France, to return to her home country of Colombia. Despite the dangerous political climate, Betancourt felt a strong sense of duty to try and make a difference in the country she loved.
While campaigning for President of Colombia in 2002, she was abducted by the FARC. What followed is nearly 7 years of being held captive in the jungle.
This book moved me on many fronts. Betancourt’s strong morality and strength shines through her words. Questions such as: How does one live life to the fullest? What really constitutes freedom? and How important is hope?; are brought to the reader’s mind. This urged me to read more about Colombia and about Betancourt’s life and captivity.
This book is inspirational and I strongly recommend it. It is quite long, but worth it.
The First Rule
The First Rule by Robert Crais
I have had many of my fellow suspense/crime drama readers suggest author Robert Crais. The first book I picked up was “The First Rule.” This is apparently in a series of novels, but this one focuses on Joe Pike as the main character. I liked this book. It had great action, a decent plot and was easy to read. I didn’t love it…so am tempted to try another by Crais. Anyone have a recommendation?
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Not My Daughter
Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky
Description from Amazon: “When Susan Tate’s seventeen-year-old daughter, Lily, announces she is pregnant, Susan is stunned. A single mother, she has struggled to do everything right. She sees the pregnancy as an inconceivable tragedy both for Lily and herself. Then comes word of two more pregnancies among other high school juniors who happen to be Lily’s best friends. The town turns to talk of a pact. As fingers start pointing, the emotional ties between mothers and daughters are stretched to breaking in an emotionally wrenching story of love and forgiveness.”
My thoughts: As a mother with a daughter, this is one of my “worst-case scenarios.” This is told from the mother of a pregnant teenager’s point of view. Overall, I found this book to be well written and emotional. If you aren’t a mother with a daughter, you may not find it compelling.
Description from Amazon: “When Susan Tate’s seventeen-year-old daughter, Lily, announces she is pregnant, Susan is stunned. A single mother, she has struggled to do everything right. She sees the pregnancy as an inconceivable tragedy both for Lily and herself. Then comes word of two more pregnancies among other high school juniors who happen to be Lily’s best friends. The town turns to talk of a pact. As fingers start pointing, the emotional ties between mothers and daughters are stretched to breaking in an emotionally wrenching story of love and forgiveness.”
My thoughts: As a mother with a daughter, this is one of my “worst-case scenarios.” This is told from the mother of a pregnant teenager’s point of view. Overall, I found this book to be well written and emotional. If you aren’t a mother with a daughter, you may not find it compelling.
The Memory Keepers Daughter
The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards
Description from Amazon:
"On a winter night in 1964, Dr. David Henry is forced by a blizzard to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy. Yet when his daughter is born, he sees immediately that she has Down's syndrome. Rationalizing it as a need to protect Norah, his wife, he makes a split second decision that will alter all of their lives forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and never to reveal the secret. But Caroline, the nurse, cannot leave the infant. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child herself. So begins this beautifully told story that unfolds over a quarter of a century in which these two families, ignorant of each other, are yet bound by David Henry's fateful decision that long-ago winter night.
A rich and deeply moving page-turner, The Memory Keeper's Daughter captures the way life takes unexpected turns and how the mysterious ties that hold a family together help us survive the heartache that occurs when long-buried secrets burst into the open. It is an astonishing tale of redemptive love."
What I thought:
This book starts off with a bang. The author's voice is rich and descriptive. However, a few chapters in I felt the story went off track. The characters were flat, the emotion stale. I was surprised, as I had read some rave reviews for this one. Despite the beautiful language, I had difficulty getting through it.
Description from Amazon:
"On a winter night in 1964, Dr. David Henry is forced by a blizzard to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy. Yet when his daughter is born, he sees immediately that she has Down's syndrome. Rationalizing it as a need to protect Norah, his wife, he makes a split second decision that will alter all of their lives forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and never to reveal the secret. But Caroline, the nurse, cannot leave the infant. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child herself. So begins this beautifully told story that unfolds over a quarter of a century in which these two families, ignorant of each other, are yet bound by David Henry's fateful decision that long-ago winter night.
A rich and deeply moving page-turner, The Memory Keeper's Daughter captures the way life takes unexpected turns and how the mysterious ties that hold a family together help us survive the heartache that occurs when long-buried secrets burst into the open. It is an astonishing tale of redemptive love."
What I thought:
This book starts off with a bang. The author's voice is rich and descriptive. However, a few chapters in I felt the story went off track. The characters were flat, the emotion stale. I was surprised, as I had read some rave reviews for this one. Despite the beautiful language, I had difficulty getting through it.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Bitter is the New Black
Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office by Jen Lancaster
First of all, love the title of this book. Jen Lancaster writes an honest memoir, depicting herself, faults and all. You can clearly see that Lancaster was living the life of an entitled, self-centered person. When she loses her job she is forced to look inside of herself and do some soul searching. What I liked most is the honesty. Lancaster is not very endearing through most of this book, but she owns that. Overall, I enjoyed this memoir and found some valuable insights...not taking life for granted and focusing on being the person you want to be.
First of all, love the title of this book. Jen Lancaster writes an honest memoir, depicting herself, faults and all. You can clearly see that Lancaster was living the life of an entitled, self-centered person. When she loses her job she is forced to look inside of herself and do some soul searching. What I liked most is the honesty. Lancaster is not very endearing through most of this book, but she owns that. Overall, I enjoyed this memoir and found some valuable insights...not taking life for granted and focusing on being the person you want to be.
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