Welcome to fantasy love story 101. This book has everything in it you can imagine in an imaginary life. That's exactly how I felt reading this book. The situations are highly unlikely and highly unrealistic and quite possibly could have make a nice afternoon chick flick instead of a book. It's all in the name of good fun right?
The premise revolves around an English girl on her way to New York to stand up for her American cousin at her wedding. Our lead has just signed her own divorce papers (her husband having left her for a newer model). The cast includes the so-called ex, who may or may not be wanting her around. The handsome near-perfect stranger she sits next to on the plane. Her cousin. And her cousin's not quite what she expected fiance. If you are looking for a rainy Saturday light read then by all means, grab a spot on the couch with a mug of cocoa to keep you entertained.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Weekly Geeks Review
So it took me a couple of tries reading this week's Geek topic to 'get it'. Maybe it's because my 2 year old decided it was a good idea to get up before 6:30 on a Sunday morning. Now that I get it, have a read and see if you get it too:
1. In your blog, list any books you’ve read but haven’t reviewed yet. If you’re all caught up on reviews, maybe you could try this with whatever book(s) you hope to finish this week. (Be sure to leave a link to this post either in the comments of this post, or in the Mister Linky below.)
2. Ask your readers to ask you questions about any of the books they want. In your comments, not in their blogs. (Most likely, people who will ask you questions will be people who have read one of the books or know something about it because they want to read it.)
3. Later, take whichever questions you like from your comments and use them in a post about each book. Link to each blogger next to that blogger’s question(s).
4. Visit other Weekly Geeks and ask them some questions!
I'm caught up on my book reviews so I'm going to list 2 books that I'm currently reading.
The first is For Better, For Worse by Carole Matthews and the second is Fortune's Rocks by Anita Shreve. So fire away. Questions ready? Go!
1. In your blog, list any books you’ve read but haven’t reviewed yet. If you’re all caught up on reviews, maybe you could try this with whatever book(s) you hope to finish this week. (Be sure to leave a link to this post either in the comments of this post, or in the Mister Linky below.)
2. Ask your readers to ask you questions about any of the books they want. In your comments, not in their blogs. (Most likely, people who will ask you questions will be people who have read one of the books or know something about it because they want to read it.)
3. Later, take whichever questions you like from your comments and use them in a post about each book. Link to each blogger next to that blogger’s question(s).
4. Visit other Weekly Geeks and ask them some questions!
I'm caught up on my book reviews so I'm going to list 2 books that I'm currently reading.
The first is For Better, For Worse by Carole Matthews and the second is Fortune's Rocks by Anita Shreve. So fire away. Questions ready? Go!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult
Yes, I'm still working my way through Picoult's books (I have 3 left currently). This one sets itself up on a great premise. A man who has been recently released from prison sets up a life for himself in a small town. He was a teacher. He served time after being (falsely) accused of statuatory rape. As word gets out that there is a sex offender among them, the townspeople do their best to make them get the message that he is not wanted in their town. They are trying their best to maintain the look that nothing like that would ever happen here. As you read you begin to discover that the perfect small town is not perfect after all. There are many secrets hidden in this town.
This book does a lot of good in paralleling. It parallels the witch hunts of the past (1600's) to the witch hunt of the present (going after our main character). It parallels a falsely accused rape with a real one. It sets several father-daughter relationships in juxtaposition. There's a lot more to this book than first meets the eye.
Modern day witchcraft does take place as part of the storyline. I think it's a pretty accurate depiction of wicca and some of the things that happen. I know Picoult did her research well for this. I am not a fan of wicca myself. I know people who have practiced it. I do believe that there are powers out there that we know very little about and that we shouldn't be involved in. I live my life according to the teachings of Christ and the only spirit that I want working in my life is the Holy Spirit. I guess I just mention this as there were parts of this story that made me uncomfortable (spellcasting) - I wondered how much of what I was reading were real spells and if there are any affects by reading them. I don't know the answer to that. But I did pray often as I read this book.
The most relavant and interesting part of the story to me was the notion of a teacher being falsely accused of statuatory rape and being convicted for it. It sounds far fetched - why would someone make something like that up? right? Well, the truth is is that it happens more than we would like to admit and I've seen how it has affected people's lives. I know of one young teacher who ended up leaving the school district he was working in after a student accused him of sexual assault. He didn't do it. The only thing he did was turn her down. He decided to leave out of kindness for her. He didn't want to drag her down and become a big city show, so being young in his carreer he started fresh somewhere new. I know another teacher who is a wonderful man and had to leave his job while an investigation took place regarding an accusation. Again, he was innocent, but of course the rumours fly and it takes it's toll.
Many young men in particular have to be so careful. Teachers, pastors, coaches any one that could be a target for attention from a young girl can become a mess. They have to make sure that they are never alone with any of them, ever. Never leave yourself in a vulnerable situation.
Why do these girls do this? Often, girls who accuse someone have had something terrible happen to them , but not neccessarily from the person they are accusing. Often, they have felt slighted in some way by that person (perhaps they had been turned down by them) and turned the anger they feel from one situation and put in onto this one. I know grown adults who are so kind and wonderful with kids who have had kids say to them "I'm going to get you for this" when they have been disciplined and then make some terrible accusation. Of course, that adult needs to be taken out of contact with these kids when the accusation is made - we need to protect our kids! Unfortunately we live in a fallen world where there are a lot of perverts out there. And I want to make that clear. Not every accuser makes it up - by a long shot! I feel terribly for anyone who has been abused (sexually or otherwise) and my heart and soul cries out for them with rivers of tears and heartbreak. But likewise, there are people out there who do make things up, for whatever reason. And my heart breaks terribly for the person they hurt in the process. It also hurts for that child because somewhere, sometime, something has happened for them to act in such a manner and that isn't right either.
This book does a lot of good in paralleling. It parallels the witch hunts of the past (1600's) to the witch hunt of the present (going after our main character). It parallels a falsely accused rape with a real one. It sets several father-daughter relationships in juxtaposition. There's a lot more to this book than first meets the eye.
Modern day witchcraft does take place as part of the storyline. I think it's a pretty accurate depiction of wicca and some of the things that happen. I know Picoult did her research well for this. I am not a fan of wicca myself. I know people who have practiced it. I do believe that there are powers out there that we know very little about and that we shouldn't be involved in. I live my life according to the teachings of Christ and the only spirit that I want working in my life is the Holy Spirit. I guess I just mention this as there were parts of this story that made me uncomfortable (spellcasting) - I wondered how much of what I was reading were real spells and if there are any affects by reading them. I don't know the answer to that. But I did pray often as I read this book.
The most relavant and interesting part of the story to me was the notion of a teacher being falsely accused of statuatory rape and being convicted for it. It sounds far fetched - why would someone make something like that up? right? Well, the truth is is that it happens more than we would like to admit and I've seen how it has affected people's lives. I know of one young teacher who ended up leaving the school district he was working in after a student accused him of sexual assault. He didn't do it. The only thing he did was turn her down. He decided to leave out of kindness for her. He didn't want to drag her down and become a big city show, so being young in his carreer he started fresh somewhere new. I know another teacher who is a wonderful man and had to leave his job while an investigation took place regarding an accusation. Again, he was innocent, but of course the rumours fly and it takes it's toll.
Many young men in particular have to be so careful. Teachers, pastors, coaches any one that could be a target for attention from a young girl can become a mess. They have to make sure that they are never alone with any of them, ever. Never leave yourself in a vulnerable situation.
Why do these girls do this? Often, girls who accuse someone have had something terrible happen to them , but not neccessarily from the person they are accusing. Often, they have felt slighted in some way by that person (perhaps they had been turned down by them) and turned the anger they feel from one situation and put in onto this one. I know grown adults who are so kind and wonderful with kids who have had kids say to them "I'm going to get you for this" when they have been disciplined and then make some terrible accusation. Of course, that adult needs to be taken out of contact with these kids when the accusation is made - we need to protect our kids! Unfortunately we live in a fallen world where there are a lot of perverts out there. And I want to make that clear. Not every accuser makes it up - by a long shot! I feel terribly for anyone who has been abused (sexually or otherwise) and my heart and soul cries out for them with rivers of tears and heartbreak. But likewise, there are people out there who do make things up, for whatever reason. And my heart breaks terribly for the person they hurt in the process. It also hurts for that child because somewhere, sometime, something has happened for them to act in such a manner and that isn't right either.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Debutante Divorcee by Plum Sykes
You knew this was coming right? After finishing Sykes' first novel earlier this week, I sought out her second (and unfortunately for me, only other novel currently). Debutante Divorcee is a wonderful, light satire at the view of marriage of the elite of New York's Social Scene. As much as this is light, you can see the underside of taking marriage lightly in this book. Are these people as happy as they project? What is behind all the masks of late night soirees and the latest fashion escapades? For me, who will never be part of anything like it, it's a great romp of fun.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Testimony by Anita Shreve
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! I ate this book up. I made the mistake of starting it at bedtime, thinking I would get in a few pages before I turned out the light. An hour and half later I was forcing my eyes to stay open to keep going.
I won this book in a giveaway at Popin's Layer and was so excited when it came in the post last Friday!
The premise is that a sex scandal breaks at a private school and describes the events leading up to and the fall out after the incident. Written by several points of view (and several styles) this book is a page turner. You, along with the characters are trying to summise the real story here. Definately one to pick up for you next book club choice.
I won this book in a giveaway at Popin's Layer and was so excited when it came in the post last Friday!
The premise is that a sex scandal breaks at a private school and describes the events leading up to and the fall out after the incident. Written by several points of view (and several styles) this book is a page turner. You, along with the characters are trying to summise the real story here. Definately one to pick up for you next book club choice.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Bergdorf Blonds by Plum Sykes
This really was the perfect get me back reading book. It was light. It was funny. It was chick lit. This is Plum Sykes first novel (about 5 or 6 years old now I think) - some of the references are dated but that's the joy of living trendy. The book centres around an unnamed New York girl living the trendy life as only a New York girl can. You can fill in the names of real-life non-stars famous for being famous people that could qualify as characters for this book. I enjoyed it. It was well written and happy. I'm going to look out for more of her books :o)
Monday, June 1, 2009
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