Showing posts with label Books Read 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books Read 2008. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips by Mignon Fogarty


Grammar Can Be Fun, Who Knew?

This excellent book makes a wonderful reference book and is also fun to read cover to cover.

Do you ever wonder which you should use, E.G. or I.E.? I always thought they could be used interchangeably. Actually they can't. I.E. stands for "that is" or "in other words" while E.G. means "for example".

If you have any grammar questions but are afraid to ask, most likely you can find it in Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips. You can also look for tips on Mignon's website and she even has an open invitation for people to email her with questions.

I checked this book out from the library but I am going to purchase a copy to have on hand. This book is indispensable!

5/5

Also reviewed by:

Posted by Teddy Rose at 3:47 PM 8 comments  

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Sunday, December 28, 2008

On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan


Fell Flat

It is 1962. The story opens with Edward and Florence just married and in their honeymoon sweet eating dinner. They are both nervous, as can be expected of two virgins. Florence is actually petrified. "Where he merely suffered conventional first-night nerves, she experienced a visceral dread, a helpless disgust as palpable as seasickness."

Edward had denied himself any "self-pleasure" for a week so that he wouldn't fail to perform on that all important night. However, once the event starts, it doesn't go well.

That pretty much sums up the story, of course I left out spoilers, which I figured out from the first few pages. The plot is very little and there is not a whole lot to the story. I'm not one to complain that something didn't "blow up". I don't need heart pounding action but I wish something more would have happened. The story was just too flat and one dimensional for me.
That said, I do like Ian McEwan's writing style. He really knows how to write about and capture emotions. I do have other McEwen books on my to-be-read list and do plan to read them.

3/5

Also reviewed by:


Posted by Teddy Rose at 8:19 PM 19 comments  

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Thursday, December 11, 2008

The American Journey of Barack Obama



Stunning Photographs

This book is what you would expect from Life books! There are photographs of just about every stage of Obama’s life. As a young boy, teenager, and as an adult. There are photos of him with each of his parents and grandmother and many of him with his beautiful family. There is even a photo of Barack and Bono together, sigh. The photography is exquisite!

The book takes us through Barack’s career all the way through to the August 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver.

If you want a memento of our 44th president elect’s life and achievements so far, this is a book for you. It is going on my coffee table, where everyone can see it. It’s a treasure!

5/5

Thanks so much to Anna Balasi of Hachette Book Group for sending me a copy of this book!

Also reviewed at:

Posted by Teddy Rose at 8:52 PM 4 comments  

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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

The Islands of Divine Music by John Addiego


Family Saga and the Immigrant Experience

Rosari had a difficult start in life. Born in southern Italy, her mother, Eleonora ran off with another man and her father, Lazaro was left to raise her. This was back in the early part of the 20th century, when men didn’t take part in child rearing let alone do it solo.

Rosari learned how to read and write at an early age, while the majority of the town folk didn’t know how at all. One day two men asked her to write a letter. They dictated and she wrote it, not understanding most of what she was writing but very happy that she earned some money. It turned out to be the thing that changed the family forever. When she confessed to her father what she did and what the content of the letter was, he was fearful. So much so that he book passage for the two of them on a ship to America. Right before they left, Eleonora reappeared and she went with them.

They landed in New York and soon Eleonora ran off again, only to show up dead a few months later. That is when Rosari and Lazaro ended up going to settle in San Francisco. That is where Rosari was reacquainted with one of the men that got her into trouble in the old country, Giuseppe. The man that she marries and bears seven children with. He also has an affair with a prostitute and got her pregnant with his eighth child, Jesús.

This is the point where Addiego lost me a bit. He goes on having each of the different characters in the family being the focus of each chapter in turn. These proceeding chapters made the book read much more like a series of short stories than a novel. At times I had to look back at the family tree to figure out who was who.

The Islands of Divine Music is a family saga that spans over 80 years, going through the generations. I really liked how Addiego took us through major parts of history like the Cuban missile crisis and the Vietnam War. I especially liked the story with Paulie, one of Rosari’s children. The story reenacted the famous Giants and Dodgers baseball playoff games.

If this book were to be marketed as a book of short stories that were loosely linked, I would have approached it that way and I think I would have enjoyed it more. As with most books of short stories, I enjoyed some of the stories more than others. The book didn’t work for me as a novel.

That said, Addiego’s prose was enchanting and shows great promise. Some authors have the rare gift of being able to write short stories well. This is how I see Addiego really shine. However, if he really wants to write a complete novel, that reads as a novel, I would recommend he change his approach some how. He has a way with words and I think he can do it.

I look forward to seeing John Addiego’s future endeavours as a writer.

3.5/5

Stay tuned for this coming Friday, December 12th when John will be here as my guest as part of his virtual book tour. I will also be hosting a giveaway of this book starting then.

Thanks to Caitlin Hamilton Summie of Unbridled Books for a copy of this book.

Also reviewed at:
Bermudaonion’s Weblog
Book Addiction
Booking Mama
Diary of An Eccentric
The Novel World



Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:16 PM 14 comments  

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Friday, November 28, 2008

A Golden Age by Tahmima Anam



Powerful

Rehana Haque is a widow with two children, Maya a strong willed 17 year-old girl and Soheil a 19 year-old boy who is also strong willed. As Rehana goes about her daily routine of cooking and caring for her children something is brewing in Bangladesh.

In March 1971, Rehana wakes up very excited one day, as she decided to throw her children a garden party and invite the neighbors. Rehana and her neighbor couldn’t have predicted that during the party a war would be starting. They hear loud noises and think perhaps it’s fireworks, but then realize that was wishful thinking.

In A Golden Age we see how one family copes during the Bangladesh War of Independence. With hope, passion, and heroism they help their neighbors and fellow man.

Tahmima Anam writes with poetic prose that makes her characters come alive. I felt as if I was living the war with them step by step. This is Anam’s first book and is to be the first in a trilogy. I can hardly wait for the next book to come out!

Very highly recommended!

5/5

Thanks to Harper Collins Canada for an advance copy of this wonderful book!

Note to my fellow bloggers who also reviewed this book: If you would like me to link your review at the bottom of my review, please leave a comment with the link to your review.

Also Reviewed at:

Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:11 PM 15 comments  

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Sunday, November 23, 2008

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

An Epic

"Taking us from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarchy to the present, The Kite Runner is the unforgettable and beautifully told story of the friendship between two boys growing up in Kabul. Raised in the same household and sharing the same wet nurse, Amir and Hassan grow up in different worlds: Amir is the son of a prominent and wealthy man, while Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant, is a Hazara -- a shunned ethnic minority. Their intertwined lives, and their fates, reflect the eventual tragedy of the world around them. When Amir and his father flee the country for a new life in California, Amir thinks that he has escaped his past. And yet he cannot leave the memory of Hassan behind him." The Kite Runner Unabridged Audio Book (Back Cover)

Told in breath taking prose, this is an epic story of family, friendship, and redemption. Hosseini gives us a good sense of what Afghanistan was like both pre and post Taliban, the good, the bad, and the devastating.

Khaled Hosseini was the reader of this audio book. At first his reading seemed a bit choppy to me however within the first few chapters he spoke pitch perfect. I felt as if I was right there, in the story.

I saw the movie version first, which I liked a lot. If you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and see it. However, the even better treat, is this book! Highly recommended. I am looking forward to reading A Thousand Splendid Suns!

4/5

Note to my fellow bloggers who also reviewed this book: If you would like me to link your review at the bottom of my review, please leave a comment with the link to your review.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:47 PM 13 comments  

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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult



What Lengths Should a Family Go to Save a Life?



Anna was conceived as a bone marrow donor for her sister Kate. Originally it was just going to be taken from the placenta but when that didn’t hold, Anna ended up being a long-term donor for Kate. By the age of 13, Anna had undergone several surgeries and transfusions. Now she is expected to donate a kidney to her sister. Now she will draw a line in the sand. She will fight this.

What length should parents and siblings’ go to save a family member’s life? What is ethical, moral, and legal? What is right for the person who has the disease? Picoult does not give us the answers but leads us through the journey of what one family, lawyers, and the courts go through. In the end, we must decide.

I like how the narrative of the story switches from character to character so that we can get inside what each person is thinking and feeling. Picoult also throws in a few twists and turns to keep the story and plot going.

Several people have recommended this book to me. I must admit I hesitated, blowing it off as "chick lit". Boy was I wrong. This story is not superficial fluff; it deals with deep ethical issues and is well written.

This is the first Jodi Picoult book I have read, but it is certainly not the last. I highly recommend My Sister’s Keeper!

Posted by Teddy Rose at 4:42 PM 18 comments  

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Saturday, October 25, 2008

Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson


Vivid and Beautiful


The year is 1954 and Kabuo Miyamoto a Japanese American fisherman is standing trial for murder in small town in Puget Sound Washington. Up until World War II, his family was growing strawberries and making payments towards owning the land they lived and worked on. With the onset so the war left for the land, they were sent away to a Japanese internment camp. After the war ended they came back to Puget Sound only to find the land that they had struggled for was sold.

The narrator of the story was the journalist covering the trial, Ishmael Chambers. As a child, he played with and later fell in love with Hatsue. When she was sent to the Japanese internment camp with her family, she sent Ishmael a "Dear John" letter. When she returned to Puget Sound, she was married to Kabuo Miyamoto.

Ishmael never stopped loving Hatsue and may be the only one to be able to uncover the truth and set Kabuo free. Will he let his feelings get in the way of doing the right thing? My lips are sealed.

This is a book of love, friendship, betrayal, honor, tradition, and racism. David’s Guterson’s characters ring true to me. His writing flows beautifully as he peels away the layers of the town and it’s inhabitants. This is a fast reading book that I didn’t want to put down. I highly recommend it!

4/5

Note to my fellow bloggers who also reviewed this book: If you would like me to link your review at the bottom of my review, please leave a comment with the link to your review.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:12 PM 16 comments  

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Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The Longest Journey by Diana Patterson and Rita Turner



An Amazing Journey and Amazing Historical Fiction!


As a young child, Elspeth lived with her father, the groundskeeper of the estate of Lord Reginald Westerna. When her father died, Lord Westerna took her in and bought her up as a Lady. She was the daughter he never had.

As a young woman, Elspeth’s wealthy English gentry’ world collapses when Lord Reginald Westerna dies and leaves her alone with her cruel stepbrother, Warwick. His jealousy and hatred of her brings him to accuse her of a crime she didn’t commit and she is sentenced to deportation to Australia.

There, the Governor of the Colony, Sir Rossmore, employs her. He is widowed and once he learns Elspeth’s story, she rises in station and a romance between the two begins.

This is a beautifully written story, that really captures the time and place of both England’s and Australia’s rich gentry. We also get a glimpse at the dark "underbelly" of the two countries. It is a story of love, courage, adversity, and romance. It has a fine cast of characters and a well thought out plot. A lot of research must have gone into writing this story and describing the costuming of the day.

I highly recommend this wonderful book.
5/5

Thanks to Diana Patterson and Rita Turner for an advance reading copy!

Note to my fellow bloggers who also reviewed this book: If you would like me to link your review at the bottom of my review, please leave a comment with the link to your review.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 11:24 PM 9 comments  

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Monday, October 13, 2008

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

Dominican Family Saga


"Things have never been easy for Oscar, a sweet but disastrously overweight, lovesick Dominican ghetto nerd. From his home in New Jersey, where he lives with his old-world mother and rebellious sister, Oscar dreams of becoming the Dominican J. R. R. Tolkien and, most of all, of finding love. But he may never get what he wants, thanks to the Fuku - the curse that has haunted Oscar's family for generations, dooming them to prison, torture, tragic accidents, and, above all, ill-starred love. Oscar, still waiting for his first kiss, is just its most recent victim." - The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao(Front flap)

I had some problems warming up to this book. It is not a cozy read. The book starts out telling us about Oscar and his childhood. We learn of his obsessions from a young age with science fiction, video games, and girls. I didn’t really warm up to him, yet I wanted him to succeed in life. I did get quite annoyed with his character at times as with the attitude of some of the other male characters especially. I’m not an old prude, honest, but do Dominican men have sex on the brain or is that just my female interpretation?

As the book progresses we learn about Oscar’s mother Beli and his grand parents coloured history in the Dominican Republic. We learn of the brutality that is brought about on their family and the many deaths. Beli must flee to the United States for fear of her life.

Diaz captures the economic, political and psychological Dominican history and we learn quite a bit about it here. I think this novel was worth the read just for that, but I did like other parts of the story as well. Was it worthy of winning the Pulitzer? I'll leave that up to you to decide for yourselves.

There are many Spanish words in the book with no definitions. Some can be figured out by the reader by the context, however, if you do decide to read it, I highly recommend that you have a Spanish-English dictionary nearby.

3/5

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Posted by Teddy Rose at 2:23 PM 14 comments  

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Friday, October 3, 2008

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein


Creative and Deeply Touching

Enzo knows he’s different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul, he has educated himself by watching TV and listening to his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver- Art of Racing in the Rain (Front Flap)
Enzo is convinced that he will come back in his next life as a man. On the last night of his death, he looks back on his life and the struggles that Denny had. The loss of his wife Eve and the custody battle for his daughter Zoe, against Eve’s wealthy parents. Enzo knows that he did his part to reunite the family and has the hope that Denny can still become a champion race car driver.

I received a copy of this as an advanced read from Harper Collins Canada. I was just about to start reading this book when my precious dog, Robbie died. Because of the nature of this book, I couldn’t get myself to pick it up until now. It was difficult for me to get through the parts where Enzo described his health and his passing. I had a good cry.

Garth Stein has an amazingly creative and fresh writing style. Using a dog, as narrator not only works, I don’t think the book could have been written any other way.

This may sound like it has the potential to be saccharin sweet and I must confess it has a little bit of that. The ending was also quite predictable, however, don’t let these little "flaws" keep you from this book. There are moments of great sadness, moments that are laugh out loud funny, and moments of great joy. This book is a gem!

Thanks to Harper Collins Canada for an advance reader’s copy of this amazing book and for their patience and understanding.

5/5

Also Reviewed By:
The BlueStocking Society

Posted by Teddy Rose at 7:18 PM 23 comments  

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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry







Richly Textured Like a Piece of Good Lace








Towner Whitney returns to her hometown of Salem, MA from California after the mysterious disappearance of her Aunt Eva. Towner comes from a family of women who can read the future through lace. The family has buried secrets that unfold throughout the novel, including the truth about Towner’s twin sister’s death.

Towner starts off by stating that her real first name is Sophya. She say’s "Never believe me. I lie all the time..."

When I requested an advance reader’s copy of this novel, I was under the mistaken impression that it was both about modern day Salem and an historical fiction about the Salem witch Trials. Though the historical was only slightly touched upon, the story did not disappoint!

This richly textured novel paints a vivid portrait of modern day Salem and how self-proclaimed witches live today. With a cast of eccentric characters and themes abound such as abuse, mental illness, witches, forgiveness, etc this is a real page-turner! This is sure to become a classic. Highly recommended!

4.5/5

Thanks to Harper Collins for an Advance Reader Copy of this book!

Note to my fellow bloggers who also reviewed this book: If you would like me to link your review at the bottom of my review, please leave a comment with the link to your review.



Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:19 PM 16 comments  

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Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Divisadero by Michael Ondaatje







A Story within a Story





In Northern California teenage sisters Claire and Anna live with their father and work the family farm together with Coop, a boy who is brought into the family from a neighboring farm. Very quickly this family shatters. To say why, would be to give away a spoiler. So, sorry dear readers my lips are sealed!

I will say that we do follow all three characters into their adult lives. Anna becomes a writer of biographies, which brings us to the second half of the book. She writes about the life of turn-of-the-century French poet named Lucien Segura. There was also another story within the story.

This book is about the past, loss, and passion.

To be quite honest, at times I had trouble following along. I wasn’t always sure what family I was reading about until I read further. Then I would catch up and follow smoothly along until it happened again.

I didn’t dislike this book, but I do think it would have been better written as three short stories. I just didn’t see the connection. That said, Ondaatje’s descriptions of both landscape and characters were amazing.

3/5

Also reviewed by:

The Bluestocking Society

Note to my fellow bloggers who also reviewed this book: If you would like me to link your review at the bottom of my review, please leave a comment with the link to your review.



Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:38 PM 13 comments  

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Monday, August 25, 2008

Dear John by Norma L. Betz



Enjoyable Debut Novel

Susanna Smith’s last living relative has recently died and she goes to Weymouth, Massachusetts to settle her aunt’s estate. Susanna’s faithful companion, a Weimaraner, goes along.

This is no usual estate. Both Susanna and her Aunt Susanna are both descendents of Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams. The house is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places and has many heirlooms in it including letters from Abigail to John, the future president of the United States.

Susanna is not sure what to do with the house and she consults with a Realtor who also hooks her up with an antiques dealer. The antiques dealer has a shady past, to say the least, and the adventure begins.

The letters from Abigail Adams are authentic and the highlight of the book. I really enjoyed reading them. The book itself had a little of everything, romance, mystery, adventure, danger, with emphasis on little. It was enjoyable but maybe a bit too rushed. I think I would have liked it more if we had gotten to know the characters more and had more plot development. It was hard to believe that a romance could bloom in a couple short meetings, etc. I loved the historical bits and pieces but could have taken or leaven the rest. I think this book, as written may be better suited for young adults.

3/5

Thanks to AuthorHouse for sending an advance reading copy of this book!

Note to my fellow bloggers who also reviewed this book: If you would like me to link your review at the bottom of my review, please leave a comment with the link to your review.


Posted by Teddy Rose at 2:04 PM 2 comments  

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Saturday, August 16, 2008

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson





Powerful!


The Gargoyle is a difficult book to review and summarize. The plot crosses many genre lines and deals with many issues. That said, here is my attempt.

The novel begins with the narrator getting in a car accident after bingeing on liquor and cocaine. He has a bottle of bourbon between his legs at the time and him and his car go up in flames. He is burned over most of his body and is in a hospital burn unit for a very long time.

Marianne Engel, a famous sculptress of gargoyles, shows up on his unit one day and tells him that they were lovers in medieval Germany. She claims that he was a mercenary and that she was a scribe. He doesn’t really much faith in this claim, but is mesmerized by Marianne.

When he was ready to be released from the hospital he was still going to need continuous care. Normally he would have been sent to a rehab centre, however Marianne volunteers to take him into her home. She has the resources for him to get the care he needs.

This book is richly layered with many themes and symbolism. It is not a book to be read quickly, but rather slowly and contemplatively. One of the major themes is of redemption and there are many references to Dante’s Inferno in it.

This book is not for the faint of heart. The burns that the nameless narrator goes through and many other aspects are vividly outlined. Though I don’t normally like a book with much gore, it is needed in this book. It’s not there to purposely shock the reader, but to inform.

I really liked this book. It has a lot to keep the reader interested and is well researched and written. The stories that Marianne tells are very engaging and were my favorite part of the book.

I only have one complaint. Throughout the book the author refers to Marianne by her full name, Marianne Engel. Her entire name appears several times on the same page. Though this doesn’t ruin the book, it is a distraction, at least for me. I have no idea if this was intentional, though for what purpose I can’t fathom or if is was in need of better editing. That said, I did read an advance reading copy, so maybe in the final version published this was fixed. I sure hope so.

I highly recommend The Gargoyle and look forward to reading more from Andrew Davidson.

4/5

Thanks to Doubleday for sending an advance reading copy of this book!
Also reviewed by:


Note to my fellow bloggers who also reviewed this book: If you would like me to link your review at the bottom of my review, please leave a comment with the link to your review.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:52 PM 24 comments  

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Sunday, July 6, 2008

Ringside 1925: Views From the Scopes Trial by Jen Bryant





Written for Young Adults, but Just as Engaging for Adults


The year is 1925 in small town Tennessee. The school year is winding down and the children are excited about having a laid back summer. However, when it comes to the towns peoples attention that the science teacher, J. T. Scopes taught Darwin’s theory of evolution in class, he is arrested and the children realize it won’t be the same summer they planned after all.

The title Ringside is quite accurate, as the town turns into a virtual circus for the trail with nationwide publicity: reporters, lawyers, scientists, religious leaders, and tourists.

The only drugstore in town orders in all kinds of monkey memorabilia to sell and even rents a real monkey to sell the items. Many of the towns people also cash in by setting up tables outside the courthouse to sell food and all kinds of things.

Some of the friendships in town became strained because of the differing point of views. In the end, some friends were able to come to terms with their differences and even see their friend’s point of view but a few could not.

Bryant tells the story from the town’s people’s and reporter’s point of view, each narrating in turn. By writing it this way, we really get to know the town and all it’s people, both it’s children and adults with differing point of view.

She writes in fresh lyrical prose. This small and fast paced book really packs a punch. Both children and adults will learn more about the real life Scopes trial while being thoroughly entertained at the same time.

I loved this book and highly recommend it!

5/5

A special thanks to Jen Bryant for sending me a copy of this extraordinary book!

Note: If you have also reviewed this book, please feel free to post your link in the comments. I will then add it to the end of my review.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:08 PM 3 comments  

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The Horseman's Graves by Jacqueline Baker



A Worthwhile Journey

This is Jacqueline Baker’s first novel. Set in the early 1900’s in the Saskatchewan’s Sand Hills, The Horseman’s Graves is about a community of German immigrant settlers’ in particular, two families; the Schoffs and the Krausses.

Both families have lived next door to each other since their families immigrated. Now in the second generation, the families continue to hold a grudge for each other. Leo Krauss is scorned by the community for his rudeness and his odd behavior. Stolanus and Helen Schoff are outcast from the greater community after their son gets run over by a wagon. He lives but must endure growing up physically scarred, perhaps with mild brain damage, and suffering from seizures. Many of the superstitious community still believe that seizures are the work of the devil.

Despite all this, the Schoff farm prospers and with the help of Lathias, the Schoff's young farmhand the boy grows up. Meanwhile, Leo Krauss gets married to a woman who has a teenage girl, Elizabeth. Lathias and the Schoff boy befriend Elizabeth and starts taking almost daily horseback rides to the river. One day in the winter the Schoff boy and Elizabeth go to the river alone and argue about Lathias. The boy walks away, but looks back and no longer sees Elizabeth. It is presumed that she fell through the ice and drown, but the body is not recovered. There is speculation the Schoff boy may have done something intentionally, but this is never proved.

Though this story takes a slow meandering path, it depicts the beautiful yet harsh landscape of the Saskatchewan Alberta boarder and has many plot twists and turns. It does go somewhere, but you must be willing to travel slowly, at least at the beginning. I am not always the most patient reader. I usually like to get into the plot rather quickly. However, I enjoyed the slower journey that Jacqueline Baker’s takes us on. The journey of passion, sin, redemption, through an amazing landscape of time, place, and people.

I look forward to reading more by Jacqueline Baker and recommend this book.

4/5

Thanks to Harper Collins for a copy of this book!

Note: If you have also reviewed this book, please feel free to post your link in the comments. I will then add it to the end of my review.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 1:01 PM 12 comments  

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Saturday, June 21, 2008

Tabasco the Saucy Raccoon By Lyn Hancock




A Zesty Story about a Spicy Animal






Almost 30 years ago Lyn Hancock was asked to be mother to a newborn raccoon. He was three weeks years old and she to bottle-feed and nurture this cute little being.

At the time, she was attending Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC Canada.
She has a tiny "no pets" apartment, but somehow she manages. As Tabasco grows, he goes with Lyn across the country on tour. He makes friends very easily, just about everyone falls in love with him.

When they return home, he is ready to explore his world. Lyn has a hard time letting go, but understands that he is wild and should be free. However, this is easier said then done. This is Lyn's story of the year she spent as Tabasco’s "mother".

This book is for 9-12 year olds, but I think any animal lover will enjoy it. I sure did! It was fun to see Tabasco grow up and see what he would get himself into (he got into a lot). Lyn made me fall in love with Tabasco.
4/5

If you have also reviewed this book on your blog, please leave a link to it in the comments and I will be glad to add your link to the end of this review.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:53 PM 6 comments  

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Thursday, June 12, 2008

Bang Crunch By Neil Smith








The Art of Short Story




This is Neil Smith’s debut book of 9 short stories. It’s somewhat uneven, like most books of short fiction. Some of the stories were gems and a couple duds.

I especially enjoyed "The B9ers", the story of a support group for people who had benign tumors. Yes, you read write, the non-lethal variety of tumor. This story was both humorous and touching.

Another story I enjoyed was the title story, "Bang Crunch". It’s the touching story about a girl born with Fred Hoyle syndrome. First she ages rapidly and then goes backward, back to an embryo again.

There were only 2 stories that I didn’t care for at all. "Green Fluorescent Protein" and "Extremities". They were just too "out there" for me.

Neil Smith is a strong writer. He writes with sensitivity and wicked humour. Though I didn’t like all the stories in this collection, I highly recommend it. The stories I enjoyed were well worth the time!

3.5/5

Note: If you have also reviewed this book, please feel free to post you link in the comments. I will then add it to the end of my review.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 10:10 PM 8 comments  

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Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels



Just a Little Too Poetic for This Reader’s Taste


The book opens with Jakob Beer as a seven-year-old child hiding in the bog in order to escape the Nazis. His family did not escape and were killed. Jakob was found by Athos Roussos, who smuggled him out of Poland and brought young Jakob to live with him in Greece. After the war, they immigrated to Canada. Jakob later becomes a poet and translator. The story is told by Ben, who discovered Jakob’s diaries, a man whose parents are Holocaust survivors.

This is primarily a story about memory, love, and loss. Anne Michaels is an accomplished poet, which is really demonstrated in this, her first novel. Every sentence is carefully crafted poetry. Her descriptions have great depth and make the reader see the great beauty and great horror.

This book is not a fast read. I found myself having to stop and ponder a lot. This was both negative and positive for me. I am not a huge fan of poetry, so in that sense this book was too lyrical for me. However, by being forced to stop and ponder I found some wonderful pearls.

I saw the movie version, which is what prompted me to read this book. The movie was a gem and I loved it. Sometimes it takes an overly lyrical novel to make a great film. It is very rare that I like the film version better than a book, but this is one of those cases.

I’m glad I read the book. I got to explore the characters more deeply. Now I want to see the movie again.

3.5/5

Note: If you have also reviewed this book, please feel free to post you link in the comments. I will then add it to the end of my review.

Posted by Teddy Rose at 9:22 PM 0 comments  

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