"Gone Missing" is the fourth installment of the Kate Berkholder crime series (I've read them all). I was initially intrigued with the idea of a strong female character who was once Amish, but has left the life and become Chief of Police in a predominantly Amish community. In the first three novels, some pretty terrifying crimes were committed in Kate's small hometown of Painter's Mill, Ohio. The question looming, in my mind, was how many murders can actually happen in a small town like this? Something was going to have to change in order for this series to continue to be believable.
Synopsis: A number of Amish teenagers have turned up missing over the last handful of years, presumed runaways. Those investigating, including John Tomasetti (Kate's long-distance love interest and fellow cop), know that an Amish teen is allowed a brief period of time to sow their wild oats, called Rumspringa, before they are baptized. So the assumption is that these kids have experienced a little freedom, and have run for the hills. Then one girl's body is discovered, and the case takes a sinister turn. Because Kate understands the Amish culture and speaks Pennsylvania Dutch, Tomasetti feels that her presence on the case would help open doors to a group of people that generally distrust outsiders. Kate is hired by the investigative team to assist.
My thoughts: I was pleased to see that Castillo took Kate out of Painter's Mill for most of this installment. Pretty soon Painter's Mill was going to have a higher crime rate per capita than Miami! I was also pleased that she retained Tomasetti for his dude-ish presence and rescuing services...he is a nice distraction AND he isn't a bad investigator either.
Kate continues to be the main attraction though. She is damaged and defiant and fierce. She isn't a pushover either...she is taking her time in the romance department. I just recently read that the first in the series, "Sworn to Silence" will be a two-hour television movie starring Neve Campbell. I'm pretty happy with that casting...she is exactly how I would have imagined her.
The mystery in this story was well-devised, with a few red herrings and a complicated structure. Castillo does a great job with her plots. The dialogue? Not that clever or snappy. On audio, it falls a little flat, and always has. But the characters and action (which is always pretty bloody) make up for it.
A few words about the audio production: It is always nice when a series maintains the same narrator, in this case Kathleen McInerney, who does a decent job. Her voice has become that of Kate, and I'd miss her if they replaced her. The one issue that I've had, however, since the very beginning, is the way she portrays Tomasetti. It just...bothers me. She lowers her voice, and makes it breathy and sultry. He sounds like a sleazy lounge lizard!! I've long since gotten past this, and she can't change it now, but I feel compelled to mention it.
Audiobook length: 10 hours and 9 minutes (288 pages)
3.5 out of 5 stars
This book is probably one of the oldest ones on my iPod...recommended to me by Beth Fish Reads almost two years ago. Her review inspired me to order the audio from the library, but then I lost interest quickly, probably because this is generally not my genre. But recently I had a hankering for some interesting facts and was also faced with an 8 hour drive that would offer a huge chunk of listening time, so viola!
Synopsis: Simon Winchester, a British journalist, broadcaster and traveler extraordinaire, has always had a love for the ocean. Only now, in his 60's, has he decided to share that love with the rest of the world. And he covers it all...from how the Atlantic was created, when the supercontinent broke apart and eventually settled into the Earth as we know it, to the state of the Atlantic today.
The range of topics is immense, but instead of going through it chronologically, he divides his material by topic. He covers early exploration, mass transportation "across the pond" (both by air and sea), wars waged on the Atlantic, great storms, and the inspiration is has provided poets and artists. He finishes on a less than positive note when he discusses the permanent depletion and extinction of some types of fish, of the pollution and the effects of global warming, and the outlook for our children and grandchildren.
My thoughts: While this was definitely not my usual fare, I found it fascinating. Some topics were more engrossing than others...I listened raptly about the early explorers and their amazing courage in conquering the unknown. But I found my mind wandering when I was working my way through the great battles on the seas. Overall, though, my expectations - learning more about something new - were met.
I did find his section about the deplorable state of the Atlantic's health...the over-fishing and pollution of the waters...to be a tiny bit heavy-handed. I totally understand that mankind is doing a wonderful job of ruining our natural resources in the Atlantic, and I'm horrified by it all. Florida residents have had their noses rubbed in some of these blunders, with BP's oil washing up on our beaches. But I felt bludgeoned by the end of this chapter, and it weighed me down. I felt like hanging my head and admitting that we all suck, and are on the highway to hell. And that is not how I want to feel at the end of a book. Nevertheless, it WAS a slap in the face and a reminder that we all need to check ourselves and do our part.
A few words about the audio production: Author narration is a slippery slope. Some do a phenomenal job (David Sedaris, Joshilyn Jackson) and others do not. Simon Winchester has a beautiful voice for narration, and I dare say he could do this for a living if he wanted.
Audiobook length: 14 hours and 30 minutes (512 pages)
3.5 out of 5 stars
There is something completely mesmerizing to me about Kate Morton's books. Her stories have a gothic feel, with old secrets and tragic pasts and huge, sprawling mansions. Granted, I will admit I've always felt that perhaps her books were a hundred or so pages too long, because she really takes her little sweet time in getting to the point, winding us around every garden, lake, whispered rumor and ancient fairy tale. But there is a delicious decadence about her stories...layer after rich layer of intrigue.
I've only listened to Kate Morton's books on audio. There is only one narrator that she uses, Caroline Lee, who is a perfect match with the type of story that Morton tells. So like Tana French, I will only ever listen. And much to my angst, my library did not carry "The Forgotten Garden" on audio until just recently. When I discovered they'd finally gotten it in, it was like Christmas.
Synopsis: In 1913, in a port in Australia, a dock master discovers a little 4 year-old girl, alone and abandoned after getting off a ship that traveled from England. She's not willing or able to tell them her name or her circumstances, and only carries a small white suitcase that contains a rare bound copy of fairy tales. The dock master and his wife take in the child as their own, and name her Nell. It is only when Nell is of age and about to marry that her father tells her the truth about her past, and this knowledge changes Nell forever. She calls off her wedding and retreats from her family for the rest of her life.
Upon Nell's death, her granddaughter Cassandra (the only family member with which Nell has a relationship) learns of Nell's questionable background. Cassandra also learns that Nell has secretly owned a cliff side cottage in England since the 1970's, that has now been bequeathed to her. Cassandra decides to unlock the secrets of her grandmother's past. Through Nell's journals and the mysterious book of fairy tales still kept in the little white suitcase, Cassandra learns of The Blackhurst Manor and the wealthy but tortured Mountrachet family. Of a sick cousin and an orphaned one, best of friends. Of a distant father, a hateful mother, and a mysterious authoress who writes her fanciful fairy tales on a high cliff top.
Morton's narrative moves from the early 1900's to the 1970's to the current day, slowly revealing the complex layers of secrets and intrigue of this spellbinding tale.
My thoughts: All of Morton's novels are a spiderweb of plots and characters, but this one was more complicated than the others. Three time periods, with five or six generations. However, I knew from experience that if I was patient, all would be revealed. She will take care of her beloved readers, never fear. Pack some food and water and wander through a garden maze at your leisure. Expect it to take all day. Stop and smell a flower, listen to the birdsong, close your eyes and let the breeze carry you away. This is what it was like to explore this story.
There were a few similarities to "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodges Burnett, which is such a wonderful children's book. The author was even mentioned in this story, with an implication that the garden mentioned in the title was inspiration to Burnett! Geek moment! But while "The Secret Garden" is innocent and makes your heart swell, this story is more twisty and dark and tragic and the best kind of brain food for the literary lover.
And unlike her other books, if I had a gun to my head to force me to decide which hundred pages had to be pulled? I wouldn't want to let a single one escape. I was engaged from the first page to the last. This was by far my favorite of all of Morton's books.
A few words about the audio production: I mentioned the narrator at the beginning of this post, Caroline Lee, and I said all there is to say. She is perfect. If the powers that be decided to record a Morton audio with someone else, I would be devastated.
Audiobook length: 20 hours and 38 minutes (560 pages)
5 out of 5 stars
Since the day this book came out, many of you have claimed it to be a phenomenal book. Beyond that, many said it was their favorite read of the year. Which is a pretty big deal, and something I pay close attention to.
The premise sounds OK, but really seems like it has been done before. Dysfunction, dysfunction, dysfunction. A character with big issues. A character you don't necessarily like. It was hard for me to get excited about it.
Well, I should have listened to all of you and read it sooner. It was wonderful. But now I struggle in verbalizing WHY it is so wonderful. What can I tell you that will help set this book apart from all the others? Thus, this is why I've put off writing a review.
Synopsis: Victoria Jones has spent her entire life in the foster care system, and has forever been mistreated, unloved and unwanted. As a result, she is distant and mistrusting of everyone. Now 18 and emancipated, she sets out on her own and flounders in the ability to streamline with society...until she realizes that her passion and gift for flowers is what is going to save her.
It is the chance meeting of a young man, someone from her past, that causes her to reflect back on the path she has taken in her life, and the special woman that took her in and taught her the language of flowers...and of unconditional love.
But Victoria is no longer a part of this woman's life. Something went very wrong, and Diffenbaugh slowly reveals to us Victoria's story, past and present. It is a story of love, loss, forgiveness and rebirth. A story so real and full of hope that your heart will soar.
My thoughts: Well, I guess a few of my thoughts and opinions crept into the synopsis. I loved this book. All the other reviews were right...Victoria is a piece of work. She is flawed and frustrating, but she is also capable and worthy of saving.
What makes this book so special? Well, I guess it goes without saying that Diffenbaugh has a special talent with words. Her words flow, and are as beautiful as the flowers she describes. And I'm not really a flower person...I have a black thumb. But she makes me want to be a gardener. She makes me want to bring forth beauty and life from the earth.
The Victorian language of flowers...honeysuckle for patience, acacia for secret love, asters for patience, daisy for innocence...and the ability to make a magical difference in people's lives through these flowers by using just the right one, is heady stuff. I compare it to the magic and healing properties evoked with food in the "The School of Essential Ingredients" by Erica Bauermeister. This delicate charm, matched up with a damaged young woman was an emotional combination.
But I think the most exceptional aspect of the story is the HOPE. The plot may seem dreary, and there are parts that are very dreary, but it is only there to help us appreciate the rebirth of Victoria, to give us a perspective. By the end of the story, my heart swelled to its maximum capacity.
A few words about the audio production: Our narrator for this audiobook is Tara Sands, who is one of the most gifted voices for young adult characters I've ever heard. I find it amazing that the woman is 37 but sounds like an 18 year old. If you look at the word she has done, she has been everywhere. She made this audio an amazing listening experience for me.
Audiobook length: 10 hours and 50 minutes (352 pages)
5 out of 5 stars
Gentle books and I don't always get along. I don't like this about myself...that I apparently need excitement and twists and action. I don't have much time these days to sit, undisturbed, and concentrate on complex issues embedded within a smart literary novel. I'll put that activity on my list of things to do when my kids go to college!
But this title caught my eye. Fizzy Jill (after an unsatisfying adventure with the book "Wild") said that "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" was the book she wanted "Wild" to be. Ti called it a gem. It sounded gentle to me, but I was able to get it on audio from the library so I gave it a shot.
Synopsis: Harold Fry and his wife Maureen are both in their sixties, retired, growing old and growing apart. While Maureen stays busy scrubbing their little home, Harold is going a little crazy without anything to do, and has given up on there being anything but estrangement and bitterness between them. One day, Harold receives a letter from an old friend and work mate Queenie Hennessey, who he hasn't seen in years. Queenie notifies him that she is terminally ill, residing in a hospice some 600 miles away, and wants to express her thanks for his friendship and to say goodbye. Harold pens a note back to her, but instead of dropping his letter in the mailbox on the corner, he keeps walking. Without a cell phone, in his boat shoes, without food, Harold impulsively decides that if Queenie knows he is walking to see her, she will stay alive and he will save her.
Much of what is hidden in Harold's heart is laid bare throughout this journey. Not only is Harold forced to deal with the physical hardship of exertion and exhaustion, but in the solitude he must face his thoughts and life's memories. Is it selfish to drain his retirement fund to purchase food and housing along the way? He misses Maureen, but wonders if she cares if he is gone? He thinks about his son, who is no longer a part of their lives. Did he fail the son somewhere, thus causing the escalating behavior issues, the drug abuse, the wayward restlessness and depression? And then there is the untold story of Queenie that slowly unfurls in his mind over the miles.
Harold meets humanity from all walks of life on his journey. Businessmen, feminist bikers, drifters, immigrant physicians, teenage slackers. Some make a huge impression on him, some take advantage of him, some offer moral support or gifts. But he tucks them all into his heart and takes them with him on this grueling but life-affirming pilgrimage.
My thoughts: This book was a very pleasant surprise for me. I expected to be lulled into a state of fog by the gentleness and lack of action. Instead, what I got was something extremely emotional and gritty. There were even a few turns in the plot that shocked and devastated me.
Was it a downer? Because I know I'm talking like it was. Part of it was very visceral - it wrung me out. Regret at the end of a life is a heavy burden. Feeling like you have failed a child, who was once a pudgy baby but turns into an angry adult, is a heavy burden. Failing at a marriage is a heavy burden. But Harold learns his lessons along the way, learns about himself, and by the end, you have hope for this man. Ultimately I was uplifted.
And crazy as it seems with a book like this, I found it suspenseful! Like...will Harold make it? Will he give up? Why is Queenie so important to Harold? Will she live long enough to see Harold one more time? These are questions that propelled me through to the end.
Have you ever seen the movie "The Straight Story"? A precious movie, about an old man who is estranged from his brother. The old man cannot drive, so he hops on his John Deere lawn mower and heads across several states to make amends with his brother, who has taken ill, meeting mankind along the way. These two stories were so similar in my mind. If you liked this book, you should watch "The Straight Story".
A few words about the audio production: The narrator for this story was Jim Broadbent. I've not heard him before, but it tickled me to see that he narrates Winnie-the-Pooh stories. He has a charming, kind, British accent that is perfect for Pooh and for Harold. He was a pleasure to listen to.
Audiobook length: 9 hours and 57 minutes (336 pages)
4.5 out of 5 stars
I have a long and beloved relationship with Amy Einhorn books. 95% of the ones I've read have been five star reads for me (and the other 5%...well that's OK. We can't love everything). This lady has a gift for picking books that will change your perspective, rock your world, haunt your dreams. She sniffs out the gems.
This was a highly-anticipated release for AE and for me. Anytime I hear the words "WWII" and "Resistance", my antennae start to cautiously twitch. I love the time period, and I love stories about the ordinary person doing extraordinary things, but because of this, I've become picky. Just any old WWII story won't do. It has to stand out. Well, this one did.
Synopsis: Sigrid Schroder appears to be your model German frau. She is married to a banker-turned-soldier, she works long hours at a patents office, she suffers her live-in mother-in-law, she isolates herself from the horrors occurring around her in 1943 Berlin. Prying back a layer, however, allows us to discover that her marriage is loveless, particularly after her miscarriage. She is lonely and adrift.
One day, while at the cinema, she has a sudden, passionate encounter with a man who becomes her lover. In a city of women, where most of the men are fighting for the Fuhrer, this has been known to happen. The problem is...her lover is a Jew. Sigrid also befriends a 19-year-old woman who is acting as a nanny for a family in the her apartment building, only to find that this women is part of a complex network of a resistance movement...the blind man on the corner, a taxi driver, a pornographic photographer, a doctor, a Nazi general...all individuals willing to take life-threatening risks to do what is right.
As Sigrid gets pulled into this underworld, she begins to learn things about herself she never appreciated. How far she would go for love, or for friendship, or to save innocent lives. How she can no longer turn her head when brutality occurs. But the trick is figuring out who can be trusted.
My thoughts: This was certainly a WWII book that stands apart from the rest. The general plot is one we have heard before. Where it differentiates itself is in the characterization of these women. These are not shrinking violets. These are steely, ball-busting women who carry cyanide pills and revolvers in their purses.
In fact, I was taken aback by the masculine spirit of the story. Two other fitting adjectives would be "gritty" and "dark", which are words I usually throw out when I'm talking about the damaged-homicide-detective-chasing-serial-murderers kind of book. There was a lot of sex, and it wasn't glamorous or romantic. It was needy, urgent attempts at pleasure in the back of a movie theater, in seedy motels, or back alleys. I was also a little alienated by the easy way these women hop from man to man, irregardless of who is married and who is not, for the purposes of passion or an agenda. It was all very feral and debauched.
But the story is one of incredible bravery and the belief in doing right by those who have been victimized. There is fear, exhilaration, and violent painful deaths of those who are caught. It is hard to say I loved this book. It was too harsh for love. But it is a story that will stick in my mind for a long time.
A few words about the audio production: Our narrator for this book was Suzanne Bertish. She does not have many audios on her resume, but I believe she was a good choice. She has a very harsh, gruff, accented voice, which normally is not what I enjoy, but this was exactly as Sigrid should have sounded. Bertish is a British actress that has enjoyed roles on television and the stage.
Audiobook length: 13 hours and 10 minutes (400 pages)
4 out of 5 stars
I've read an Emily Giffin book or two in my day. I can't say that this is my modus operandi, but I remember it was easy reading/listening and didn't require much thinking or problem-solving. So I wasn't too sad that this book was chosen for the next Books, Babes and Bordeaux Book Club meeting.
The bonus in this scenario is that Esther from Macmillan Audio sent it to me! Esther saved the day because there were a million holds on it at the library. We love Esther!
Synopsis: Marian Caldwell has got the tiger by the tail. She is a 36 year-old television producer who lives in a penthouse suite in New York City, and dates a smooth, handsome successful man. Life is good...that is, until her 18 year-old secret - a daughter she gave up for adoption - shows up on her doorstep.
Through Marian's eyes, we learn about the passionate love affair the summer before college that resulted in Kirby's conception...the hidden pregnancy, the heart-breaking decisions faced by this scared teenager, and the questionable choices made. Marian is terrified to unearth all of these ghosts, terrified at what her family, co-workers and boyfriend will think.
Through Kirby's eyes, we learn about her life with her adoptive family, who have always been loving and supportive. But Kirby has always felt like she didn't belong, is struggling with what the future holds, and has wondered about her birth parents. Were they rebellious, or musical like her? Why did they decide to give her up? Even when she does meet Marian, she still feels unwanted.
As Marian and Kirby attempt to find common ground, their families also try to make peace with this new family structure. This is a sweet, gentle story about finding your place on this earth, a place where you belong and where you are loved and accepted for who you are.
My thoughts: You need to know that I did not have very high expectations of this book, except that it would be a sugary balm for my frantic, twitchy brain. Giffin's books usually have some conflict, some turmoil or secret that needs resolving, but you know things are gonna work out in the end. They always do.
So the book was extremely predictable. I also felt like it was pretty far out in left field from reality. I'm fairly certain that the average adopted child does not seek out their birth parents to find them stunningly attractive, rich, and living in a penthouse in NYC. Or that everyone in the extended families is thrilled at the prospect of these new family members all in their business. I wish it were so, but Kirby's circumstances felt more like a fantasy of what every adoptive child would wish for versus what actually happens. I'm sure dreams like this come true, but it is not the norm.
All that being said, however, I flew through this book. It was entertaining and easy and low stress. If you are sick of serial murderers, the Holocaust, or tragic dysfunctional families, this is exactly what you need. It just had those moments when you had to smile, and say "There is no way that would really happen, but that is so cool."
A few words about the audio production: Our narrator for this audio was Orlagh Cassidy, who I've heard before and is literally everywhere in the current fiction audio category. She has a very pleasant voice, and did an excellent job toggling between the voice of a grown woman and a teenage girl.
Audiobook length: 11 hours and 1 minute (384 pages)
3 out of 5 stars
There are only a few sure things in life...death, taxes, and a brilliant Joshilyn Jackson narration. You all know how I feel about JJ. It is almost a religious experience listening to her voice say anything. So it was sorta kinda a done deal when I discovered that she would be narrating her first audio that was not hers. I really had no concern for author or plot or anything, I just wanted to hear her do her thing.
And I asked...the library delivered.
The problem is, I'm not really sure where to go from here.
Synopsis: As a child, Sunny was never normal. Born in Burma during a total eclipse, daughter of a missionary who was ultimately killed by the locals, she was without any hair on her body. Once she and her mother moved back to civilization in the US, her difference became very apparent. As a pre-adolescent, she met Maxum, who was brilliant and probably has a touch of autism. But they found comfort in being different together, and eventually married.
Now, as adults, Maxum is a rocket scientist on a mission to colonize the moon with his robots. Sunny had donned a blond wig, has one toddler-aged son Bubber who is autistic, and is pregnant with her second child. Sunny has made every effort to appear to her neighbors as normal as apple pie. She is the ringleader of the community.
But when she is in a traffic accident, and the wig flies off, secrets are revealed, and Sunny is empowered to face all of her childhood ghosts and her hidden fears. She must face the fact that Bubber may never have a normal life, that she is terrified of how the second child will come out, at her ability to be a mother when her husband is of little help, at the possibility that her marriage is on the brink, and that her mother is about to die of cancer.
Through her journey of self-discovery, Sunny is shocked to learn that in fact, normal may be a fantasy - a big lie. That no one is who we think they are.
My thoughts: I will be very forthright even though it hurts. I really struggled with this one. For the first two or three discs, I wasn't even sure I could finish it. The plot is very strange, and the characters are strange. Bald? Burma? The moon? But Joshilyn was narrating, and Joshilyn loves Lydia because they went to school together, and I HAD to try. So I trudged through, and slowly, I got into the swing of things.
The story never got anywhere NEAR anything I'd ever seen before. But I did get used to these odd characters, and I did start to see where Netzer was going with this. There were life lessons here, albeit extreme. Be yourself. Embrace who you are. Be brave. There is no such thing as normal. Everyone is slightly odd behind closed doors. I really couldn't relate to a single person in the story, but I understood their struggles. And I did begin to actually like these people.
So...it wasn't "love at first sight". Maybe more "like at halfway through".
A few words about the audio production: JJ IN DA HOUSE!!!! Her intonations, her accent, her funny little girlish voice, her interpretations of how these folks spoke...it was all Joshilyn. She made me laugh. She entertained me. She got me through the book. Love. So my recommendation is if you are going to read this one, listen, and do it for JJ.
Audiobook length: 10 hours, 53 minutes (320 pages)
3 out of 5 stars
There are a gazillion people out there that are Anna Quindlen apostles, but I have only discovered her recently. No doubt, one of my top books (listens actually) of 2012 will be "Every Last One". It only took this one book to make me realize that Ms. Quindlen GETS family dynamics. (She also knows how to freaking pull the rug out from under a girl.) After a little poking around, I found out that Quindlen did have two sons and a daughter (like the book) who have all grown up and become contributing citizens. AND SHE IS ALIVE TO TELL ABOUT IT! These days, I have a great deal of admiration for a parents who makes it through the teenage stage sane. Well, most of them do, but it is nice to see.
So when Quindlen came out with this memoir, from the perspective of a woman who has basically seen it all, and is sitting in the second half of her life, I figured I've got stuff to learn from her.
Synopsis: Anna Quindlen has opinions and nuggets of wisdom on a variety of topics, and in a musing, humorous, and slightly snarky voice, she imparts. She talks about spending decades with the same man, the importance of sticking out the tough times, of being a team. She talks of the accumulation of stuff, of raising children and then watching them leave. Of the aging body, the attempt to keep it from falling apart, but making peace with what you've got. Of lightening up. Of religion. Of the beauty of having alone-time. And most of all, the importance of girlfriends.
She doesn't claim to have all the answers, but she throws out thoughts to ponder and observations of life, with the astute eye and a turn of a phrase that makes her such an exceptional author.
My thoughts: Quindlen is 10 to 15 years older than I am, so she has gone through phases in life that I am currently dragging my way through. For this reason, I loved reading this memoir. It gave me hope! My marriage may make it through these years! My kids may actually emerge from high school and college and be respectable! Some day I might actually learn to relax! I shouldn't feel compelled to inject my face or lips or suck the fat out of my butt, just because everything is a little droopy!
I found Quindlen to be very grounded and wise, kind of like a mentor. She allows the reader to see what is in her heart, what and who has motivated her or defeated her, and some of her own life lessons. With a dose of piss and vinegar I might add...sister has some moxie. The part I loved the most, though, I admit freely, is her bit on girlfriends. There was a perfect paragraph where she talks about the definition of a true friend, but of course this book was on audio, I didn't write it down, and now I've deleted it from the iPod. So I will share another quote that I found on Amazon:
“Ask any woman how she makes it through the day, and she may mention her calendar, her to-do lists, her babysitter. But if you push her on how she really makes it through her day, she will mention her girlfriends. Sometimes I will see a photo of an actress in an unflattering dress or a blouse too young for her or with a heavy-handed makeup job, and I mutter, ‘She must not have any girlfriends.’ ”
I know, right? Throughout the entire portion of this chapter, my eyes kinda went dewy and I kept smiling, feeling blessed to have my girlfriends. Here is another jewel about old friends:
“The thing about old friends is not that they love you, but that they know you. They remember that disastrous New Year's Eve when you mixed White Russians and champagne, and how you wore that red maternity dress until everyone was sick of seeing the blaze of it in the office, and the uncomfortable couch in your first apartment and the smoky stove in your beach rental. They look at you and don't really think you look older because they've grown old along with you, and, like the faded paint in a beloved room, they're used to the look. And then one of them is gone, and you've lost a chunk of yourself. The stories of the terrorist attacks of 2001, the tsunami, the Japanese earthquake always used numbers, the deaths of thousands a measure of how great the disaster. Catastrophe is numerical. Loss is singular, one beloved at a time.”
I wouldn't say the memoir is life-altering, but it was a wonderful, warm, hilarious diversion, and so beautifully written. And I don't believe you have to be in the middle of your life to appreciate it. In fact, some of the pearls of wisdom in here might just help those in their 20's and 30's avoid a pitfall or two.
A few words about the audio production: I was delighted to see that Anna narrates this book herself. I'm not sure I'd want to hear her narrate, let's say, a Jo Nesbo book, but in this case, she knows the material and delivers it in the spirit in which it was written. She has a dry sense of humor, and this completely comes through in her spoken word. She was a pleasure to listen to.
4 out of 5 stars
When this book first came out, somehow the description wasn't enough to lure me in. It was during the Audiobook Week this year that it popped it's little head up again, demanding to be read because of the narration. From audiophiles that have heard it all, this book was deemed a gem. Not from one person, but a whole sea of them. I took the hint and ordered it. I believe I may have found my new favorite voice.
Synopsis: A not-quite-successful, soon-to-be divorced private investigator is lying in a hospital, paralyzed and nearly comatose. Ray Lovell has suffered from some sort of attack, resulting in a car accident, and he believes it was a result of his current case. He slowly recalls the events that led up to the accident that almost killed him.
Ray (who is half Gypsy) was approached by a Gypsy man who is concerned that he hasn't heard from his daughter, Rose Janko, in six years. She married, left with her husband's family, and was never heard of again. The Janko family, Gypsy as well, claims Rose ran away soon after having a child who was afflicted with a genetic illness that runs in the family and is usually fatal. But as Ray probes deeper into the vague stories and curious personalities of the Janko family, he senses that they know more than they are admitting.
We also hear from JJ Janko, 14 year-old cousin of Rose's abandoned son Christo. JJ provides the troubled but innocent perspective of the Gypsy lifestyle in 1980's England, and the burden of helping to care for a very sick little boy who likely may die. The embarrassment of not having an inside toilet, of never being able to invite a friend over, the transient nature of their lives...this old-fashioned notion of the Gypsy heritage clashes drastically with a modern society where a young man wants to be accepted.
As Ray attempts to solve the mystery of Rose, he develops and navigates through complicated relationships with JJ, sickly Christo, Rose's erratic husband Ivo, the Janko patriarch Tene, and Tene's younger sister Lulu, the hot tamale with the bright red stilettos. This is not only a story about a culture of people who remain to most of the world invisible, but of family, love, loyalty, secrets and relationships...a unique hybrid of multiple genres and a literary conundrum.
My thoughts: What was really fun in my listening experience of this book is that I had no earthly idea what it was about. I certainly read the reviews but didn't remember, and that worked for me. I'm not sure if I would have ever imagined that I was interested in the Gypsy culture...I see them in the streets in Poland, and I am both annoyed with their persistence and sad for the children who are forced to "work" for their livelihoods. But once I was plunged into this world, I was hooked. The mystery was compelling and unpredictable, the relationships were confusing and complex and even a little endearing. This story had it all, and was rich and fulfilling.
I was beguiled with this knack that Penney has in the story for throwing in questionable little...facts, I guess, or maybe little baby red herrings that to a reader of mysteries, tweaks the brain and makes you wonder. Many of these threads don't go anywhere, and it left me wanting more. I wasn't resentful, it just made my synapses zip around a little faster. It reminded quite a bit of Tana French in that way, and I know many of you know what a complement that is coming from me. (I got a little feeling of serendipity when I saw that French had interviewed Penney on Amazon.)
I know I am going on more than I usually do, but I must also address the texture of the two narratives. Ray's narrative reflected his grizzled, world-weary soul but earnestness. He is damaged, he has woman issues, he wants human connection, but is rough around the edges. JJ's narrative was the perfect contrast...he was completely adorable. How often do you find a 14 year-old in a novel that is adorable? He was a good kid with a difficult life, he has seen more than most kids his age but still held on to his innocence. I was fully invested in the both of them, but I would have taken JJ home with me.
A bunch of gushing about the audio production: This audio was narrated by the most flipping amazing Dan Stevens. For those of you addicted to Downton Abbey, yes THAT Dan Stevens. I can't even express to you the delight in listening to this man effortlessly navigate through the accents, the personalities, the nuances. I haven't had this much fun since Lenny Henry. I had heard him narrate "The Angel's Game", which was a great audio, but he was in top form here. So Stevens joins the very short and esteemed list of narrators I would chase down in any scenario.
Audiobook length: 11 hours, 23 minutes (416 pages)
5 out of 5 stars
I've never had any experience with A. J. Jacobs prior to this book, but I've been hearing about him for some time. He is known for a brand of full-immersion non-fiction, where he LIVES whatever he is writing about. One big blogger hit was "The Year of Living Biblically", where Jacobs follows every single rule of the Bible for an entire year. Which by itself is enough to make a person go "hmmmm".
But living healthy? Alright, I've been on a bit of a health trend for the last 9 months, so I thought I might learn something here. Book Addiction Heather loaned me the audio, and I was in the mood for something non-fiction and maybe funny.
Synopsis: A.J. Jacobs looked in the mirror and saw a middle-aged, doughy and out-of-shape guy, and worried about whether he would be around to raise his three small boys to adulthood. What better project then than to throw himself into every nook and cranny of the business of improving his health? The task was daunting...like 53 pages worth of things to do. So with gusto, Jacobs takes it all head-on.
He covers all the bases. Sure, there are the topics one would expect to see...like eating the right foods and exercise. But even in the realm of normalcy, Jacobs finds the abnormal, like a diet and exercise regime tailored to that of the caveman (throwing boulders in Central Park??), paying attention to the number of times he chews before he swallows, the cardio benefits of pole dancing, or walking on a treadmill while on his computer, for example.
He takes off from there, exploring skin and mole removal, the immune system and nurturing his phobia of germs, improving brain function, sleeping habits, maintaining healthy private parts and boosting the libido, decreasing stress, and how to have the most productive bowel movement. While Jacobs injects his humor into this experiment, his efforts are earnest and thorough and his tips are practical and helpful. He did, after all, lose 16 pounds along the way and competed in a triathlon. You may not ultimately embrace a pedestrian helmet or wearing noise-cancelling headphones all day, but you may pick up the inspiration to live a healthier life.
My thoughts: This was a fun little romp. Not quite as fascinating as the Mary Roach books, but almost. But similar to Mary Roach, a little bit of this goes a long way. I would not be able to listen to this type of book all the time, but is a nice side trip once in awhile.
Jacobs is totally over-the-top. He doesn't just do intensive research on, let's say, healthy testosterone levels. He gets himself tested, and against his wife's wishes even, takes Clomid (a medication I actually used myself when I was trying to get pregnant) to increase his numbers, thus making him aggressive and feisty. He doesn't just Google sleep disorders, he attends a sleep clinic.
I think his wife must be a saint.
So did I learn anything here? I like the idea of out-sourcing my worrying to someone else, thus reducing stress. Let Susie Poo do the worrying about that weird pain in my foot, and I'll worry about whether or not she will get a promotion. Kinda makes sense, in a weird way, doesn't it? And there is some good, old-fashioned practical advice at the end of the book that rang true. Everything in moderation. Shopping the perimeter of the grocery store and avoid all that processed crap in the middle. Own a pet. Walk. Avoid white flour products. Stop shoving so much food in your mouth. That kind of thing. Good stuff.
A word about the audio production: Jacobs actually narrates the audio himself, and does it well. There are some authors that narrate their own work and are so good at it, I will never read their work in print (ahem, Joshilyn Jackson, David Sedaris, Sarah Vowell). I'm not sure I'm at this point with Jacobs, but he was pleasant and delivered the message in the spirit in which it was intended.
Audiobook length: 10 hours and 10 minutes (416 pages)
3.5 out of 5 stars
It seems like in the last few years, there has been a sudden surge of novels that feature men struggling with middle age. Close your eyes and throw a Prozac and you'll hit a book with a female protagonist struggling mid-life to "find herself". But men? Seems like a new trend for me, and I'm liking it.
One of these books that totally blew me away was Jonathan Tropper's "This is Where I Leave You", where a middle-aged guy deals with a cheating wife, sitting Shiva for his deceased father, and the forced reunion of his dysfunctional family. Sounds dreary, I know, but I've never laughed so hard in my life. (There is a scene with some naked body parts coming in contact with a fully-lit birthday cake...I almost wet myself.)
Enter the Penguin publicists at SIBA, who made this book one of their top picks, combined with the arrival of the audio from Penguin Audio, and the result would be an extremely excitable Sandy. Let me try to tell you a little about the premise.
Synopsis: Drew Silver is the poster boy for a middle-aged shitheel. In his glory days, his band had one song hit the charts, and it was all down hill from there. Drugs, alcohol, infidelity, depression, and sloth. Predictably, Silver's wife leaves him, taking with her their only daughter. He now spends his life selling his semen to a sperm bank, and laying by the pool of his residence for displaced shitheels, ogling the college girls with his like-minded buddies.
Then his 18 year-old Princeton-bound daughter announces she is pregnant. His ex-wife announces her approaching wedding. And Silver has an "episode", from which he learns that if he does not have emergency surgery on his heart, he will die. Soon. Despite Silver's failings, his family begs him to have the surgery, but Silver isn't sure if his life is worth saving. Maybe he should just try to be the best man he can be for the remainder of his days and leave it at that.
In this ironic, humorous and heartfelt story, one man is faced with his past mistakes and the possibility of making things right with the help of his family, for better or worse.
My thoughts: I never thought I'd say this, but I believe Tropper has bested himself. He takes the general formula he used in "This is Where I Leave You" (humor, dysfunction, poignance and family) and adds more heart, more depth, more consequences of bad behavior. I laughed a bit less with this book, but was filled with more emotion and taken on more mental strolls through my own life. The book forces the reader to reflect on how we have lived our lives and whether we have done fight by our loved ones.
Not that most of us are going to have anything in common with Silver. At the beginning of the book, I couldn't stand the man. He was an immature, self-absorbed idiot. But after being faced with his mortality, he transforms into someone more innocent, earnest and wide-eyed than his formal self, and it is endearing.
At the center of it all is Silver's relationship with his daughter. He loves his daughter and while he knows he has failed her as a father, he wants to give her what he can now. But he also accompanies his father, a Rabbi, on a tour of all the life rituals...a circumcision, a wedding, a funeral, a Bat Mitzvah. He admits to his lingering feelings for his ex-wife. This is the circle of life stuff that hits you right where it counts.
Combined with Tropper's insanely clever and snappy prose, and wise perspective on life, this is a home run you won't want to miss out on.
A few words about the audio production: The narrator, John Shea, was able to completely capture the grizzled, befuddled essence of Silver. I've never heard any of his work before...most of his resume seems to be clustered in non-fiction and spiritual novels, which is ironic since Silver was such a heathen. His voice was pleasant to listen to and I would certainly not hesitate to pick up any of his work in the future.
Audiobook length: 8 hours and 18 minutes (336 pages)
5 out of 5 stars
So probably you all know I have a few fantasies on file whenever I am tired of the grind. Fantasies are good for you! As long as you keep your expectations in check, they are fun to swizzle around in your brain. One of my more frequent fantasies revolves around having chickens, and milkable animals so I can make cheese, and looking out over rolling green hills. (I know my mom is rolling her eyes, because as a young adult I couldn't move to the city quick enough.) I have seen the movies "Funny Farm" and "Baby Boom" and "Under the Tuscan Sun" at least 100 times. I can't grow a carrot but, you know...details.
Anyway, I knew when I first read the reviews of this book, that it would feed right into the whole scene. I was told the audio was a must, and my library didn't have it, so it was only when Kathy sent it to me that the day was saved. My fantasy-ante has just been upped!
Synopsis: Josh and his partner Brent are high-octane New York City dwellers...Josh works for a posh ad agency and Brent works for Martha Stewart. But occasionally they like to get away to the country to pick apples and enjoy the peace and quiet. One weekend, they stumble into a quirky little town, not on the map, and find a gorgeous farm and historical mansion for sale. Impulsively, they take the plunge. They would be weekend gentlemen farmers! It would be fun! They would have a vegetable garden and sip their homemade apple cider by the fire!
Turns out, it was a little more work than they had ever imagined. With visions of Martha Stewart perfection, they chased dreams of the idyllic Thanksgiving, garden parties for their newly-acquired local friends, making goat milk soap for friends and family for Christmas, cutting down a beautiful giant Christmas tree to be trimmed, and making their own garland. Instead, they got ghosts, drunk turkeys, tomato-canning all-nighters, human remains in the garden, dead birds in their cherry trees, zombie flies taking over the house, and lots and lots of goats courtesy of their caretaker Farmer John. Eventually, both Josh and Brent became victims of the economic downturn and lost their jobs, and began to watch their relationship deteriorate as a result.
But these two were in the business of marketing and image, and they were ultimately devoted to one another, so they dug deep and created the brand of "Beekman 1802" (named after the man who originally built the mansion), complete with goat milk soap, recipes, how-to videos, gardening tips, and even pictures of their animals...basically the fuel to ignite the smoldering self-reinvention fantasy in all of us. Josh's account of their journey is a poignant, humorous, and insightful look at chasing your dream, coping with middle-age, love...and cleaning up goat poo.
My thoughts: Well, as you can see, I wrote a little more than I normally do on my reviews. I do try to keep it concise so you don't shut down half-way. But sort of like anything Joshilyn Jackson or Tana French, this required more heart and soul. I LOVED this book. And not just because Josh and Brent were living the life that is supposed to be mine (ha).
I have lived on a farm, so I do know that the works never ends. And I liked that Josh laid out the realities of it all. This was supposed to be their weekend retreat, and sometimes all they did was scoop up goat dung, till their garden or can vegetables. Old houses do have zombie flies (or in my parents' case, zombie ladybugs) that appear by the thousands no matter how many times you vacuum them up. Josh made me chortle out loud throughout the entire book. Josh and Brent's attitude was endearingly self-effacing and honest about their bumbling adventures.
I also loved (for lack of a better phrase) the gay twist on the story. I loved the fact that they were warmly accepted into this small town (where more than a few gay couples were in the center of the social hub). I adored their unflagging commitment to each other. They are adorable. There were not-so-adorable moments in the story, however, like Josh butchering his own turkey for Thanksgiving. One that he had raised. That whole scene devastated me. I think I'd have to outsource that job.
Based on some poking around I did on their website, it appears that these two have not only reinvented themselves, but their small town of Sharon Springs. They have numerous festivals, they have included the locals to help make Beekman 1802 a success, and hoards of people now flock there to see their slice of heaven. Kathy and I swear one day we are going to do a road trip. I'm just waiting on Josh or Brent to see this review and invite me.
A few words about the audio production: The narrator for this book is Johnny Heller, who is new to me but based on his resume, seems to know his way around the audio world. He perfectly portrayed Josh's "voice" so much that I could easily imagine that it WAS Josh speaking. It was a pleasant listening experience.
Audiobook length: 8 hours and 7 minutes (320 pages)
5 out of 5 stars
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