Monday, January 19, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Review of "The Knitting Circle" by Ann Hood
Ann Hood's "The Knitting Circle" was such a heartbreaking, but hopeful book. After the death of her young daughter, Mary is having a heard time getting back to life. Her grief is so overwhelming that it's destroying her marriage and affecting her career. In the midst of her grief, her normally absent mother sets her up with a friend who proceeds to teach her how to knit.
As Big Alice embraces Mary and brings her into her knitting family, Mary soon realizes that despite her grief, she is still able to feel compassion for her fellow wounded. She starts to realize the impact her grief is having on her judgement and that looks can be very deceiving when it comes to perfection.
I love the way each character unfolds and gives you the opportunity to get to know them, their grief, and how they knit their way into a less unhappy, almost happy, place.
If you have a small child, this book will break your heart. I can't imagine the depth of grief a mother feels when she loses her child. Hood does a phenomenal job of exploring grief, friendship and relationships.
As Big Alice embraces Mary and brings her into her knitting family, Mary soon realizes that despite her grief, she is still able to feel compassion for her fellow wounded. She starts to realize the impact her grief is having on her judgement and that looks can be very deceiving when it comes to perfection.
I love the way each character unfolds and gives you the opportunity to get to know them, their grief, and how they knit their way into a less unhappy, almost happy, place.
If you have a small child, this book will break your heart. I can't imagine the depth of grief a mother feels when she loses her child. Hood does a phenomenal job of exploring grief, friendship and relationships.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
'Tis the Season by Lorna Landvick
'Tis the Season
I have been a huge fan of Lorna Landvick's since I first read "Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons." She writes in the spirit of Fannie Flagg (author of "Fried Green Tomatoes." So when I saw her new book, I had to pick it up. I have to say, it was a little hard to get into at first. My disclaimer here is that my two kids are home sick today, so I was reading it in between hugs, medicine, doctor's visits and snacks.
Landvick uses a series of e-mails and letters to move the characters along. Caroline, the main character, is an heiress gone wild. Her drunk rampages have become the thing of legends. When an "apology" letter she wrote gets in the hands of a gossip writer, all her friends find out what she really thinks of them. As she starts seeing her friends turn away from her, she starts accepting the role she's played in her crazy life. She starts trying to make amends with people from her past and reaches out to her former nanny and a couple who owned a ranch where she was sent as a child. Surprising to her, she hears back from her nanny and the cowboy who remember her dealing with a difficult period of her life.
Landvick does a great job of inserting the right amount of humor and grace in the story. As we hear more about Caroline and her life, she moves from spoiled heiress to a lost soul. You can't help but root for her and her true friends.
I enjoyed the book and managed to read it in one day despite playing nurse all day. It's a sweet story and would be great for someone looking for a light read.
I have been a huge fan of Lorna Landvick's since I first read "Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons." She writes in the spirit of Fannie Flagg (author of "Fried Green Tomatoes." So when I saw her new book, I had to pick it up. I have to say, it was a little hard to get into at first. My disclaimer here is that my two kids are home sick today, so I was reading it in between hugs, medicine, doctor's visits and snacks.
Landvick uses a series of e-mails and letters to move the characters along. Caroline, the main character, is an heiress gone wild. Her drunk rampages have become the thing of legends. When an "apology" letter she wrote gets in the hands of a gossip writer, all her friends find out what she really thinks of them. As she starts seeing her friends turn away from her, she starts accepting the role she's played in her crazy life. She starts trying to make amends with people from her past and reaches out to her former nanny and a couple who owned a ranch where she was sent as a child. Surprising to her, she hears back from her nanny and the cowboy who remember her dealing with a difficult period of her life.
Landvick does a great job of inserting the right amount of humor and grace in the story. As we hear more about Caroline and her life, she moves from spoiled heiress to a lost soul. You can't help but root for her and her true friends.
I enjoyed the book and managed to read it in one day despite playing nurse all day. It's a sweet story and would be great for someone looking for a light read.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Book Review: "Grace" by Richard Paul Evans
Grace by Richard Paul Evans
What a wonderful book! I read the entire book in under an hour and a half. The story follows a young man who befriends a runaway during a time when child abuse was ignored. In addition to dealing with his own family's concerns about money and illness, the young man learns about the beauty and cruelty in life as he falls in love with Grace.
Not quite a tearjerker for me, but definitely a book to make you think. There's a realization that none of us do enough to protect the children we briefly come in contact with because we are sometimes too afraid to become involved.
It's a quick read that compares itself to "The Little Match Girl" in terms of theme. The story is well written and the input from Grace's journal at the beginning of each chapter does a great job of setting up the coming action.
If you want a good book that's a quick read, Grace is for you.
What a wonderful book! I read the entire book in under an hour and a half. The story follows a young man who befriends a runaway during a time when child abuse was ignored. In addition to dealing with his own family's concerns about money and illness, the young man learns about the beauty and cruelty in life as he falls in love with Grace.
Not quite a tearjerker for me, but definitely a book to make you think. There's a realization that none of us do enough to protect the children we briefly come in contact with because we are sometimes too afraid to become involved.
It's a quick read that compares itself to "The Little Match Girl" in terms of theme. The story is well written and the input from Grace's journal at the beginning of each chapter does a great job of setting up the coming action.
If you want a good book that's a quick read, Grace is for you.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Chick Lit Review #2
Just finished reading Susan Kay Law's "The Paper Marriage." I loved it. The story follows a woman whose husband has been in a coma for more than 10 years. While she owns her business, her life revolves around her husband. She has a complicated relationship with her mother-in-law whose entire life is tied to her son's vegetative state.
Law did a great job of not trivializing the topic of how families deal with a family member who has little chance of waking up and the commitment it takes for a young spouse to keep their vows "until death do us part."
Of course there's a romance, and all the self-doubt that goes with it. I really enjoyed reading the book--it was a great distraction and well written. The characters are realistic, the neighbor creates great tension and his relationship with his daughter explores what parents have to do to reconnect with their kids.
I really like characters I can relate to and I related well to the main character and the daughter. I look forward to reading more books by Law.
Law did a great job of not trivializing the topic of how families deal with a family member who has little chance of waking up and the commitment it takes for a young spouse to keep their vows "until death do us part."
Of course there's a romance, and all the self-doubt that goes with it. I really enjoyed reading the book--it was a great distraction and well written. The characters are realistic, the neighbor creates great tension and his relationship with his daughter explores what parents have to do to reconnect with their kids.
I really like characters I can relate to and I related well to the main character and the daughter. I look forward to reading more books by Law.
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