If you are looking for an epic story to read this is it. On Agate Hill is a drama that spans much of the life of the Molly, the main character. The Civil War changes the circumstances of her life, as does losing family members, going to boarding school, and marrying for love.
Molly is a very independent, circumspect girl. She grows quite wild, raising herself on the once grand estate of Agate Hill. Her life has been full of loss. Her father died in the war, and her mother and siblings soon after. She lives how she pleases until death takes her uncle and she is forced into going to a private boarding school. At the conclusion of her years at school, she takes up residence in close-knit community in the Appalachian mountains as a school teacher. While there she falls in love and marries, something she swore she'd never do. She has several happy years before things all of the sudden come crashing down on her. And then, coming full circle she goes back "home" to Agate Hill.
I can't say that this was my favorite book. It was a nice story, but that was all that it was. It lacked real literary substance. In a lot of ways it reminded me of a Belva Plain novel, following one character through the triumphs and tragedies of life.
My Rating
Overall: 3 stars
Objectionable Content: Again, this book is kind of like a Belva Plain novel, there is some sexual content.
Book Review: On Agate Hill by Lee Smith
Book Review: Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris
I just finished reading this book about five minutes ago. So while it is fresh in my mind, I will be able to remember all of the details, but I have not given myself time to really ruminate on it much. I do think that it will be a book that will stay with me for a while though.
Five Quarters of the Orange is written by Joanne Harris, who you may recognize by her other popular book, Chocolat. The book is told by an old French woman who returns to the village of her childhood. She has inherited her mother's old scrapbook that is full of recipes, memories, and secrets. As Framboise rebuilds the old farmhouse and starts a little restaurant, she recounts her past. She lived in the farmhouse during the German occupation of WWII. She was nine at the time, but remembers quite clearly the events that led up to her family having to leave the village in disgrace.
I was easily pulled into this story. The characters were well thought out and the storytelling was marvelous. I loved all of the mention of food, even though I'm not familiar with French cuisine. Beware when reading this book. It merrily floats along, keeping you interested the whole time, but it does turn a bit dark. It is a book about family struggles during war, so some of it is not pretty.
My Rating
Overall: 4.5 stars
Objectionable Content: Adult themes, and a fair amount of swearing.
Book Review: Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas
Anyone else a Sandra Dallas fan? I've loved her books since I first read The Persian Pickle Club about 10 years ago. I can't say that I loved Buster Midnight's Cafe, and I haven't read her newest one yet (Prayers for Sale), but I thought that Tallgrass was one of her better novels.
The setting for Tallgrass is very important for the plot of this suspenseful tale. It is set in a small sugar beet farming community in Colorado in the early 1940's. The story opens with Rennie, a smart yet naive, thirteen year old girl at the train station as she is watching a large group of Japanese Americans who have just arrived. They are being hauled off to an internment camp (Tallgrass) that is just down the road from her home. Many of the townspeople are in an uproar over having to live so close to the "enemy." So, befriending some the Japanese Americans during this time of war is very unpopular and creates problems for Rennie and her family.
This book is based on what might have taken place in a small town that was so closely tied to an interment camp. It explores the feelings of the time. To keep the book from being boring, the author injected a little murder mystery into the thick of things. I think this was an excellent addition, since it stirred things up a bit more. The townspeople definitely took sides, and from this a lot of conflict arose. It was a good look into the not too distant past.
My Rating
Overall: 4 stars
Objectionable Content: Adult themes. Really a pretty clean book.
Book Review: The World to Come by Dara Horn
I've got to tell you that I'm a sucker for novels that fictionalize the story of well known artists, writers, musicians, etc. I loved The Girl with the Pearl Earring and The Girl in Hyacinth Blue. So, I was drawn to this book, since it revolves around one of the paintings of Marc Chagall.
The World to Come opens with the main character stealing a Marc Chagall painting from a museum. It continues with this story, but jumps to many other characters' stories and soon you understand that these peoples' lives are all intertwined. They all play an important role in how this painting came to be where it is. The history of this painting is all very interesting, as are the many Yiddish folktales that the author has sprinkled throughout the book. These give some depth to the book, but also are great asides in themselves.
I thought that the book was very imaginative and random. Some may think that it might be better if the author didn't go off on so many tangents, but I really liked this. I thought the last chapter was brilliant, and I would read it again just for the ending. I know it has been compared to The History of Love, but I didn't feel like there was much to compare. I loved both of these books for different reasons.
I think this might make a good read for a book group, if your group is a little bit artsy. It was really very clean and had many subjects that could be discussed (a big one being where we came from and where we go after this life).
My Rating
Overall: 4.5 stars. I loved the stories. I loved the author's imagination. I would give it 5 stars for sure if I had felt a little bit closer to the characters.
Objectionable Content: There were a handful of swear words throughout the book.
Book Review: The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker
Curiosity made me pick up this book. It's about a giant. Besides that, it has so many elements that I enjoy in a book. It has bits and pieces about herbs, magic, and quilts.
The story outlines the life of Truly, a girl who starts out big at birth, and continues to grow at an astronomical rate. She struggles to find herself amid all of the loss that seems to be her lot in life. Her life is not the one that she would have imagined for herself. She is stuck in a life that is humiliating, serving an undeserving relative. The tables do eventually turn for Truly, and she is finally free to live and make decisions for herself.
I felt that this book started out strong and lost a bit of it's momentum. The story is compelling, but too much of it is told in the preface. It is one of those books that does make you think about medical ethics. Is there really only black and white, or does the line sometimes blur and you just follow your heart? It would probably make a pretty good pick for a book club read.
My Rating
Overall: 4 stars. I would probably give it five stars if the story had not lagged.
Objectionable content: There is a part where a character has premarital sex, and there is also some details about a character who is homosexual.
Book Review: So B. It by Sarah Weeks
Sometimes I judge a book by it's cover. This time I was intrigued by the title. When I picked up this book and skimmed the first couple of lines I knew I'd have to read it.
So B. It is a young adult book that although short and simple, has a lot of meaning. It is essentially about twelve year old Heidi who decides that she must uncover the truth about herself. Her life is not the average life of a young girl. She lives with her mentally disabled mother and is being raised by her agoraphobic neighbor. Communication with her mother is limited at best (her mother only has a vocabulary of 23 words), so she doesn't know where she came from or who she is. She shows great courage and determination as she sets out on her quest to solve the mystery of her identity.
I definitely would recommend this book. I was hooked from the first couple of pages. The story was wonderful and the writing style was fun. If you are looking for a quick read that won't disappoint I'd give this one a try.
My Rating
Overall: 5 stars. I thought this book was well done.
Objectionable Content: There is a question of Heidi's parentage, so maybe a more mature theme, but nothing objectionable.
Book Review: The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
What a great book. If you are a fan of the gothic romance/mystery type of book (like Rebecca, and The Thirteenth Tale), you will love this novel. It really isn't very dark, or ghost filled, but it is strangely enigmatic.
The basic plot of The Forgotten Garden goes like this: A woman tries to find out her own true identity after learning that she was found as a 4 year old by her "parents." She had been left on the dock of a small port town in Australia, with only a small white suitcase that held a few odd contents. She is in her sixties when she finally tracks down information that leads her to her "home" in England. Circumstances prevent her from uncovering all of the mystery, so it is not until years later when her grandaughter is curious about it all that the details start to fall into place.
The plot summary really doesn't do the book justice. It was very well written. Kate Morton is one of those truly gifted storytellers. She is able to tell the story in such a way that you are hungry to read more. It was suspenseful and fun too. I also enjoyed getting to know all of the characters. They all had very distinct personalities. It is one of those books that seem very familiar (think the Secret Garden). At first this bothered me, but the author creatively remedied this before I ended up thinking that she was just a copycat.
My Rating
Overall: 4.5 stars. I loved the book, I would probably give it 5 stars if I thought that it was all truly original.
Objectionable Content: Well, I don't want to spoil the story, but let's just say that there is some immoral behavior.
My Summer with Julia by Sarah Woodhouse
Well, I don't have much to say about this book. I don't think it was worth the time that I spent to read it, even though it was a short book.
In a nutshell, a middle aged, British portrait artist spends a lot of time trying to both remember and forget a long lost friend. This friend, who has recently died, has bequeathed her a box of memories that she is now sorting though.
I usually like to read novels written in first person, but this not this one. It made it confusing. It was hard to distinguish the flashbacks from the present. I found the story very ho-hum (boring), I'm not sure why I even decided to finish it.
My Rating
Overall: 1 star
Objectionable Content: none
Book Review: The Help by Kathry'n Stockett
I decided to jump on the bandwagon and read this book. It is so popular right now, and many of my friends on goodreads have given it four and five stars. After reading it, I too will recommend it to others.
To give you an overview, the setting is 1963 in Jackson, Mississippi. The civil rights movement has just begun, but things change slowly. There are still distinct lines that cannot be crossed in this society that is far from being color blind.
In this novel, the reader is privy to the happenings of both the young, white socialites and the black maids who serve them. Among this group of socialites, is one who is all of the sudden seeing things as they really are - not right and unfair. She coerces one of her friends' maids to tell her story. Pretty soon things really get rolling, and once they are rolling there is no turning back. Lives are changed and maybe Jackson, Mississippi will be changed for the better too.
I felt very much a part of this book from the beginning. It was easy to read and the characters were very well done. I enjoyed reading the story from the different points of view. It was easy to imagine all of the things that happened to these women, they didn't seem that far fetched. I think it made me realize that it hasn't been that long ago that this story could very well have been reality.
My Rating
Overall: 4.5 stars. It's really hard for me to give 5 stars. I loved this book, but the middle dragged a bit, and I would have liked to have heard more of the maids' stories.
Objectionable Content: There was some bad language throughout. Also, a scene that involved a naked man.
Book Review: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
Now here's a book that I picked up maybe a year and a half ago when it was at the height of it's popularity. I read the first couple of chapters, then decided that it just wasn't for me. I got to the chapter that was written from the dog's perspective and thought "nope, sorry, can't wade though this." So, I wouldn't have picked it up again, but it was chosen as the next book for my book club to read.
Guess what? I'm glad that I did have the opportunity to try this book again. I enjoyed it from the beginning to almost the end (I'll elaborate on this later). I liked the writing style, which was intelligent and intimate. I also discovered that it follows the story of Hamlet very closely.
So the main character is Edgar, a young teenager, who was born mute. He and his parents live in Northern Wisconsin, in the country where they raise Sawtelle dogs (a special breed that the family has been perfecting for genereations now). He is an only child, but he is far from lonely. He has the companionship of his faithful dog Almondine, who is always looking out for him. Everything seems pretty normal until his long lost Uncle Claude shows up. Edgar seems to have a feeling about him. Then out of the blue his father keels over dead one day. Things don't add up in Edgar's mind. He searches for answers. Meanwhile, his mother takes up with Claude and the story gets increasingly interesting. (Remember, think Hamlet)
I felt very involved in this story. I know some think that there was too much detail about the dog training in places or that the story slowed. I didn't find this the case, I kind of liked how the story meandered a bit. What I didn't like was the ending. I won't spoil it for you, but it lacked power and believability. I was also left wondering about a motive. All in all, I would recommend it to anyone that likes a long book and/or loves dogs.
My Rating
Overall: 4 stars. It could have been a 5 star book, but for the ending.
Objestionable Content: It did have a few swear words here and there. Also, there is the relationship between Edgar's mother and his Uncle Claude that is kind of sick and wrong.
Book Review: The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman
I have mixed feelings about this book. It received the Newberry Award in 1996 for reasons that become obvious while reading it. The writing style was fun. It was descriptive, yet simple. The story was very entertaining and brought to life by the medieval characters that populated the pages of this book. Alyce is smart and compassionate without knowing it. Most of the people that she runs into are rude and unfeeling, they tease her. She is an orphan who has wandered, but finds her place as a midwife's apprentice kind of by chance.
I guess my misgivings about this book stem from the appropriateness of the subject matter for a young audience. It does say "12 and up" on the back, but I know I was not mature enough at 12 to have read this book. It's not graphic or anything, just suggestive. So, while I wouldn't want my ten year old to read this book, I enjoyed it. It was so short that it seemed more like a short story than a novel.
My Rating
Overall: 3.5 stars.
Objectionable Content: It talks about women in labor and giving birth. It may not be appropriate for children to read.
Book Review: Stones for Ibarra by Harriet Doerr
My first impression of this book was that it was very formal and pretentious in style. I decided that since I had heard that it was a good book, a modern classic, that I would continue on and not be too judgmental right off. Harriet Doerr was awarded a National Book Award for this work of fiction, so it must have some merit. After about the first chapter, I had settled in and her style then became more familiar and I could feel her talent for telling a story.
In Stones for Ibarra, an American couple in their forties, decide to reinvent their life by moving down to live in a small, rural Mexican village. Richard has been told that he only has roughly six years to live. In that time, they reopen an old copper mine that Richard's grandfather had owned and operated. Life in Mexico is not as idyllic as they had anticipated, but they make a sanctuary for themselves from which they can observe their surroundings.
This book is told through character sketches or really short stories. Each chapter is a portrait of one of the villagers. The plot is advanced, but it takes a kind of a backseat to what is happening overall. It is within the short stories that the author is able to shine. She shows us how even the most insignificant of subjects cannot escape the hand of fate.
I think that it is a book that will grow on me over time. I can see it's beauty now, but I know that I don't fully understand it. When I started it, I was just looking for a good story to read and didn't know it would be more than that. It is a great piece of literature. With that said, it was frustrating to me at times because I just wanted to know more about Sara and Richard. I wanted more about them. I also wanted her to discover religion of some kind. I finally just had to accept it to enjoy it.
My Rating
Overall: 3.5 It's hard for me to rate this book. It wasn't my favorite in terms of a great story, but I recognize it's literary value. It should probably get 4 stars.
Objectionable Content: There were a few sexual references. Nothing explicit.
8th Day of Christmas Book Review
by Charles Dickens
Since everyone knows the basic plot of this story, I won't go into any details here. I just want to put a plug in about how this really is a sweet story. There is a lesson to be learned from reading it. For me it was if everyone could have a true change of heart like Ebenezer did, the world would be a better place. We need to let go of the materialism and just appreciate each other and live today.
Now I should probably hurry up and read the other Christmas stories that accompany the the main title. They are: The Chimes, and The Cricket on the Hearth.
My Rating
Overall: 3.5 stars? It's hard for me to rate this book, since I'd seen movies based on the book before I had read it.
Objectionable Content: none
6th Day of Christmas Book Reviews
by Jason F. Wright
It is kind of a story within a story. Hope Jensen, a young journalist, is looking to solve a mystery and in doing so, finds answers to her own past. She also gets to know people sho understand the true meaning of Christmas, and have made a difference in other people's lives in significant ways.
If you are looking for a short, sweet book to read this might be just the book for you. It may very well leave you wanting to start your own Christmas jar tradition.
My Rating
Overall: 3.5 stars
Objectionable Content: none
By Jason F. Wright
illustrated by Ben Sowards
While I think it is a good idea to make a children's book with the same message, I don't think this is a favorite of mine. I felt like unless you had read Christmas Jars, you wouldn't really pick up on what was going on in this story. It was condensed too much. I did like the art work though. I read that Ben Sowards used his children as models for this book. I'm not sure the technique he used for his pictures, but they were realistic, yet soft.
My Rating
Overall: 2.5 stars. Maybe this is harsh, you'll have to judge for yourself.
Objectionable Content: None. It is a feel good book.
Jason F. Wright has also written some other best-sellers that you may or may not have heard of:
Wednesday Letters
Christmas Jar Reunion (I wonder about this one, if you've read it please leave a comment.)
Recovering Charles (on my wishlist)
The James Miracle
4th Day of Christmas Book Review
by Boyd K. Packer
illustrated by Boyd K. Packer
My Rating
Overall: 5 stars. This would make a great gift or might be nice to read together as a family.
Objectionable Content: NONE.
3rd Day of Christmas Book Review
by Fannie Flagg
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe: A Novel (I remember loving the
movie.)
Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man: A Novel
Standing in the Rainbow
Welcome to the World, Baby Girl: A Novel
Can't Wait to Get to Heaven: A Novel
Anyway I knew I would like this book right away. It is a good book for a lazy afternoon, or even while waiting at the doctor's office ( which is what I did). It is an engaging read from the very beginning. You are immediately pulled into the story, by finding out that Oswald only has a few months left to live. You don't know who Oswald is yet, but you certainly want to find out.
The characters in this book really shine. They come to life and you feel like you would know them if you saw them on the street. The story is woven together nicely and although you may be able to guess how it will all end up, there are still a few surprises. The ending was satisfying and I'm glad I read this book.
My Rating:
Overall: 3.5 stars. I think that it was a nice story, but it wasn't a great piece of literature, or earth shattering in any way.
Objectionable Content: It only had a few places where the Lord's name was taken in vain. I thought it was a very clean read otherwise.
Book Review: Recipes for a Perfect Marriage by Morag Punty
After her recent wedding, Tressa is not sure that she has married "the one." Dan is a great guy, but she knows that she doesn't love him. She wonders if at thirty-eight she has "settled," just so that she won't be lonely. She wants the perfect marriage that her Irish grandmother had. As the story unfolds, we learn that grandma Bernadine was not as happy as she appeared to be.
In this book, the reader gets to read about both marriages, as the narration alternates back and forth from Tressa to Bernadine. The other fun thing is all of the recipes (I have to admit that I read through all of these first before I started the story). These are the old Irish recipes that Bernadine taught Tressa how to make when she was a child. Each of these recipes are kind of used as object lessons or as a comparison of different difficulties in marriage and how to cope with each. There are plenty of nuggets of wisdom throughout this book. I thought it was a good mixture of fiction and good old common sense.
My Rating
Overall: 3 stars
Objectionable Content: Watch out! This book is not one to read if you are offended by foul language. It was hard for me at times. Also, there are a few mild sexual "scenes."
Book Review: The Fiction Class by Susan Breen
November 14th, 2009 
Arabella teaches a once a week fiction class. It is the kind of class that has attracted all sorts of wannabe writers. There’s a middle aged woman that seems to be afraid of her own shadow, a wealthy bachelor, a young, beautiful blond, and a myriad of others who are trying to find their “voice.”
After each Wednesday class, Arabella visits her ailing mother in a nearby nursing home. She seems to have a few unresolved issues with her mother. She does however, try to “teach” her mother how to write, and her mother unbeknownst to Arabella, writes a very poignant story.
This story is fun to read because it alternates chapters, going from the fiction class to visiting her mother and back. There are also Arabella’s class writing assignments at the end of the chapters. I liked this because I would pause to think of what I might write. I was able to pick up quite a few tips on how to improve my own writing.
I think the overall theme for this book might be that people are not always what they seem. We need to not always let first impressions ruin our ability to look a little deeper. People have the chance to enrich our lives, and we may help others without even knowing it.
My Rating
Overall: 4 stars
Objectionable content: Some offensive language scattered throughout the book. Mention of porno and transsexuals. The main character does “sleep” with someone outside the bonds of marriage.
Book Review: Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
November 13th, 2009 
Have you ever had the thought that all of the time, energy, and money spent on “doing” up the holidays right just isn’t worth it? Maybe you’re a staunch traditionalist. That’s fine, but you’ve got to admit that just forgetting it all and going on a cruise may sound tempting. Right? I had to read to find out if the Kranks were really able to pull off this crazy idea.
This was a short, sweet story that made me chuckle quite a few times. John Grisham does a great job of describing his characters and their thoughts. You really feel for these characters. I have to admit that as with most “Christmas tales” it was a bit cheesy, but cheesy in a good way.
My rating
Overall: 4 stars
Objectionable content: none
