Never Say Never

I swore I would never try to monetize my blogs in any way but with the recent changes in my circumstances, I thought I would try out a few new tactics.  I have joined IndieBound as an affiliate. I am a big believer in independent bookstores so I feel good about this association.

What this means for my readers....

In every book review, I will include a link in case you would like to purchase the book being reviewed.  The link will take you to IndieBound.  If you buy the book, I will receive a small referral fee.

I don't expect to generate much income through this but every little bit helps right now. Plus, it could help fund my book habit!!!

Something Personal

I'm 35 and I feel really old today.  My poor diet and lack of exercise is really taking its toll. I have made a conscious decision not to exercise because I don't want to take away from the limited time I have with my family. Since I am currently working 10-hour days, by the time I get home it is usually time to start dinner. So, not much time to sneak in exercise by doing something active with my family.  The diet problems are two-fold. First of all, I am an emotional eater.  Second of all, I sit at my desk all day and snack. I have been wondering what it would take to finally get me to make some changes. I want to be healthy and look good for my husband but I also want to set a good example for my child. Right now, he doesn't care if I'm fat overweight but one day it could be a source of embarrassment for him.

My friend Kim has been helping me by both providing a good example for me to follow and by offering me tools and ideas that have helped her.  While I will never be an Ironman triathlete like she is, she is a great role model for me.  Kim sent me this book for my birthday:

I'm working on it right now and I'm hoping to get some positive inspiration from it.

I am also interested in reading this one:

It sounds like it has some good ideas albeit ones that are wrapped in a trendy diet package. 

I am also going to try and make some lifestyle changes. Once my hours change back to an eight-hour day, I am going to change my work schedule so that I have time to go to the gym before work. This will mean even less time in the evening with my family but I have to do it.  I am also working on stocking up on healthy snacks for my desk area so I don't end up going to the candy jar at my co-worker's desk.  I'll let you know how it goes. My goal is to get down to a size 8/10.  I was really happy and comfortable at that size. Smaller would be fine but I think 8/10 is a reasonable goal for now.  I'll let you know how it goes. The new schedule starts on August 2.  In the meantime, let me know tricks that have worked for you and books you have found helpful.

NOBODIES ALBUM by Carolyn Parkhurst

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.

Carolyn Parkhurst always manages to come up with truly creative and original ideas for her novels. Best known for her book DOGS OF BABEL, Parkhurst returns with the NOBODIES ALBUM.  Many will view this book as a mystery but it is not. It is a story of relationships, specifically those between mothers and sons.  Successful novelist Octavia Frost is on her way to her publisher to drop off her latest novel when she hears the news that her estranged rock star son, Milo, has been arrested for the murder of his girlfriend. Octavia's husband and young daughter both died when Milo was 9.  This tragic event altered the course of their relationship and in his mid-twenties, Milo refuses to have any more contact with his mother. Octavia heads to California to be by her son's side while not knowing whether he will even speak to her. Octavia tries to figure out what really happened between her son and his girlfriend while attempting some sort of reconciliation. Her great attempt at getting her son back lies in her latest novel called THE NOBODIES ALBUM which is really a collection of rewritten endings for all of her previous books. The original and rewritten endings are interspersed throughout the book. The complexity of the relationship of mother and son and the effects of tragedy and grief on individuals form the center of the story.

Other reviewers have mentioned two main flaws in this book: it isn't a very good mystery and the inclusion of the rewritten endings from THE NOBODIES ALBUMS which many readers find distracting and pointless. I don't agree with either criticism. This isn't a mystery book so it wasn't important to me how effective the "mystery" was.  I think the inclusion of the rewritten endings was KEY to the story. I think many of us would love the opportunity to rewrite portions of our lives and the impulse must be doubly enticing for a writer. The rewritten chapters reveal a great deal about Octavia and how she dealt with her grief after the death of her husband and daughter. The rewrites reveal her attempt at changing history and healing her troubled relationship with her son. To me, they added a great deal to the story. Especially when you think about how much of themselves authors put into their work.

BOTTOM LINE: Highly recommended. An intriguing and moving story about the troubled relationships we sometimes have with those who are close to us and the profound effects that grief and loss can have on people. One of my favorites this year!

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RED HOOK ROAD by Ayelet Waldman

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.

I thought LOVE AND OTHER IMPOSSIBLE PURSUITS was a wonderful book so I was so excited to get my hand on a copy of RED HOOK ROAD. The book opens with two families gathering for the Maine summer wedding of John and Becca.  The families couldn't be more different with Tom's family being a working-class Maine family and Becca's family being a privileged New York family that summers in Maine. The two are brought together through a tragic event that has far-reaching consequences. The story follows the two families through the four summers following the tragedy.

This is not just a story about grief although that is a major part of it. It is also a story of relationships and the little threads that bind us to other people.  It reflects on how events both small and large can bind us to others forever or rip us apart. I don't want to go too far into the plot for fear of giving something away.  The characters are all beautifully done and the prose is wonderful. I was completely swept up in the story and greatly moved by it.   The story could easily verge into melodrama but Waldman manages to steer clear of it.  Several of the characters have strong ties to music and the structure of the novel alludes to the significance of music within the book.

BOTTOM LINE: HIGHLY recommended. A very beautiful and moving book with complex characters and emotions. This one will stay with you long after you put it down. This may be one of my favorites this year!!!

THE LOVERS by Vendela Vida

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.

In the aftermath of her husband's death, grieving widow Yvonne travels to Turkey where she and her husband had honeymooned 28 years before.  Her plan is to spend some time alone reflecting on her marriage and the loss of her husband and then meeting up with her adult twins for a cruise. Her plans become complicated when she quickly becomes entangled in the lives of several people.  She uncovers secrets about the man she is renting a house from. She becomes friends with the man's wife and forms an unlikely bond with her. She befriends an elderly woman who runs a yacht service with her husband. And, most poignantly, she befriends a young boy named Ahmet who sells shells at the local beach.  Through these interactions, Yvonne gains new insight into herself and the lives of her children until a tragic accident throws everything into chaos.

This is a short but affecting book not only about how we move through grief but also about how we define ourselves through relationships. As much as Yvonne longs to be alone with her memories and her thoughts, she cannot stop herself from connecting with other people and being affected by them. These strangers change the way she thinks about herself and her life in ways that she never imagined.  While the accident will not come as a surprise, it is still very moving.  Vida While some of the relationships in the book felt a little forced, the friendship between Yvonne and Ahmet was wonderful and the exploration of Yvonne's complex and difficult relationships with her addict daughter was also very well done.

BOTTOM LINE: Recommended. This book will not appeal to everyone. It is very introspective and quiet with little action or major entanglements. Still, it manages to be affecting and provides a very interesting character in Yvonne.

Notes in the Margin

Hello fellow bibliophiles!

I am so grateful for my local library and the stack of galleys on my bedside table since I don't have a book budget right now.  And what is a life without books?

I just finished THE WRITING CIRCLE by Corinne Demas and SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT by Beth Hoffman. I am currently working on APE HOUSE by Sara Gruen and THE LOVERS by Vendela Vida.  I think I am just about caught up on reviews and I apologize for the delay on some of them. The upheaval at home has really thrown me for a loop.

Two books arrived on my doorstep last week:

ROOM by Emma Donoghue
RED HOOK ROAD by Ayelet Waldman

I'm especially excited about the Waldman book.  ROOM looks really interesting but I am little worried it might upset me. Still, I have heard good buzz about it.  I was so excited to hear that Fannie Flagg will be coming out with a new book this Fall. I am a total sucker for Southern lit and Flagg is always a good cozy read for me. I hope you are all enjoying your summer and spending lots of time reading!!!

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Noodlebug is a finalist this week in the PARENTS magazine cover model contest!!

Please go and vote for him! 

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THE OWL KEEPER by Christine Brodien-Jones

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.

 I am always on the lookout for good children's books and I am pretty picky when selecting one.   I was intrigued by Brodien-Jones' new book, THE OWL KEEPER, because I happen to think owls are just about one of the most wonderful creatures you can find on this planet.  Maxwell Unger, the hero of the book, is also a fan of owls. Because of a rare condition, Max is unable to go outside during the day .  He often manages to slip out at night in order to explore and during one of his midnight forays he encounters a silver owl. Silver owls are thought to be extinct. Max appoints himself the protector of this rare owl. 

Max and the rest of the world live under the control of the High Echelon.  The High Echelon appears to be a corporate entity that took over when the world started falling apart due to pollution and other calamities. The High Echelon controls everything including the flow of information. When visiting his owl one night, Max discovers a young girl named Rose. Rose and her father appear to be on the run from the High Echelon and she reveals truths about that sinister entity that make Max begin to question everything he knows. Max's late grandmother used to tell him tales about the time before the High Echelon when the silver owls and sages were united against the powers of the dark. As truths come to light, Max and Rose must make an incredible journey to discover if the old tales about the Owl Keeper and the silver owls were really true. These tales may hold the key to a new future.

This book combines elements of a postapocalyptic world with a world of magic.  There are sinister people who may not be what they seem, fantastical creatures, dark experiments and children with untapped potential. It is a coming-of-age tale but also a quest story.  I really liked the fact that Brodien-Jones gives us two strong positive characters in the form of Max and Rose that can appeal to both boys and girls.Their quest isn't possible without the talents of BOTH children.  It is a story of finding hidden truths about oneself and fulfilling one's destiny.  There is plenty of action to go along with the mysteries and prophecies to make this a very entertaining read.

PARENTAL ADVISORY: The villians are quite sinister and may be a little frightening for younger readers.  (think Roald Dahl and the later Harry Potter books)  Also, there is a creature called a Skraek that sounds really scary.  The children are often physically threatened and one is even experimented upon. However, I don't think most children over 12 will have much of a problem with the book.

BOTTOM LINE: Recommended. Brodien-Jones will be coming out with a sequel to this book and I'm really looking forward to it. I believe the series has a lot to offer. I appreciate the fact that although the books is open-ended enough to leave room for the sequel, it can still stand alone.

TRANSFORMATION OF BARTHOLOMEW FORTUNO by Ellen Bryson

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.

There seems to have been a fascination with circuses and sideshows in recent years with such books as GEEK LOVE and WATER FOR ELEPHANTS.  THE TRANSFORMATION OF BARTHOLOMEW FORTUNO provides a new addition to this genre.  The book follows the life of human curiosity Bartholomew Fortuno who is billed as the world's thinnest man. Fortuno has made a life for himself as an exhibit in PT Barnum's museum.  Fortuno and his fellow curiosities seem happy and content with their home and profession. Their world is thrown into chaos when a new human oddity arrives. Bearded lady Iell Adams seems to hold many secrets and Fortuno becomes enthralled with her. He risks everything to get closer to her and becomes caught in a power struggle between Barnum and his wife. Will Fortuno risk everything for love?

This book was very hard to put down. The characters were interesting and entertaining and I was drawn along by the mysteries surrounding Iell.  Bryson manages to present these characters as average people with their own desires and problems who happen to have unique qualities that set them apart. The lives of these individuals as she presents it seem to be quite good. I liked the complications that Iell causes by her arrival although the extreme reactions of the different characters to her arrival seemed a bit hard to believe. By the end of the novel, it is somewhat obvious what the big twist will be but I still thought it was well done.

BOTTOM LINE: Recommended.  Bryson gives us a peek into this world of human oddities while maintaining their humanity. She makes an interesting case about the difference between being able to choose one's path and having it thrust upon you. A very interesting read.

An Al Franken Story

Once upon a time, I had a crush on Dennis Miller.  He was so snarky and intelligent. Until he took a bizarre and random turn into the world of radical conservatism.  I then transferred my allegiance to Al Franken. Goofy cute with real political savvy.  When Franken's second book came out and he was on his book tour, I found out he was going to be a the Tattered Cover in Denver and I managed to score some tickets to his booksigning.  I took my friend Greg with me. The bookstore only allowed one book signed per ticket. Greg didn't care about getting a book signed so I had him get one signed for my mother. The process was to write the name for the inscription on a Post-It and place it on the title page of the book.  Greg and I were the very last people in line.  I stepped up to Mr. Franken and he graced me with a charming smile and greeting as he signed my book. I then stepped aside to let Greg get his book signed for my mom.

My mother has an unusual name. My grandfather's name was Eugene and my grandparents wanted to name my mother after him but thought Eugenia was a little old-fashioned. So, they dropped the "Eu--" and changed the spelling of Genia to make "Jeania."  At the time of the book-signing, I neglected to tell Greg how to pronounce my mother's name. It never occured to me that I would need to. Mr. Franken asked Greg of the book was for him. Greg said yes.  He said the name was unusual.  Greg improvised and said it was Lithuanian.  (?!!!!)  Al Franken asked him to pronounce it.  Greg looked panicked for a moment and then said, "ZHHHEEEEN-YA!" very very loudly and proceeded to spit on Al Franken as he said it.  Everyone froze in shocked silence. Greg had just inadvertantly spit on Al Franken while acting like a loon. I didn't know whether to be worried that the cops were coming or to laugh so hard I would pee my pants.  Franken looked very surprised but composed himself and thanked us for coming. Greg and I ran out the door and as far I know, Franken has never returned to Denver for a booksigning.

My friend Greg is currently shopping his novel and had a chance to share this story with his Master's advisor, Lauren Groff. Maybe it will make it into one of Greg's books someday.