Book Twenty Two

The synopsis from Washington Post:
Cloaked in a new identity, that of widow Yanne Charbonneau, she opens a chocolaterie on a small Montmartre street, determined to still the wind at last and keep her daughts, Anouk and baby Rosette, safe. But the weather vane soon turns, and Zozie de l'Alba blows into their live. Charming and enigmatic, Zozie provides the brightness that Yanne's life needs—as her vivavity and bold lollipop shoes dazzle rebellious and impressionable preadolescent Anouk. But beneath their new friend's benevolent facade lies a ruthless treachery—for devious, seductive Zozie has plans that will shake their world to pieces.

I am disappointed. Just finished The Girl With No Shadow and feel let down. Most often books are far better than movie renditions. With all due respect to Joanne Harris, her sequel just falls flat. In particular, the characters of Roux and Yanne (who are SO full of life in the movie Chocolat) seem devastatingly boring in the book. I blame Johnny Depp & Juliette Binoche far more than Joanne Harris. They're too good.

This book was just far too dark for me. I hated how Anouk grew up to be a challenging teenager casting spells on those that made fun of her at school. I just couldn't get in to the scratched signs and the stories of witches. Guess, I'm just not magical enough.

Sequels - never a good idea really. Don't you agree?

Book Twenty

New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

It's not worth the time to review this book. I am reinforced in thinking that we are dumbing down today's girls by publishing this crap. I will go toe to toe with anyone who contests that Bella is a good role model for girls.

And yet, I'll still probably watch New Moon when it comes out this fall in theatres and :( I'll probably read the third book. Because I'm too addicted to pop culture.

And therein lies the problem.

Book Nineteen

I wasn't terribly excited about reading On Chesil Beach. The size of the book appealed and also the title - it just sounded like a good summer read. Honestly though (much like all of Ian McEwan's books) it left me a little disturbed.

The plot of the novel takes its shape over the course of one day. Florence and Edward have just been married and are consummating their marriage on the shores of Chesil Beach in Dorset England. Spoiler Alert: The marriage breaks up because of the female protagonist's "frigidity." BNoble says the novel takes on subjects of universal interest -- innocence and naiveté, self-delusion, desire and repression, opportunity lost or rejected -- and creates a small but complete universe around them. Maybe . . . I just know Florence was a detestable character and I couldn't stand listening to her voice. I wanted to know what the real deal was with Florence - had she been raped, was she just a victim of the era and family upbringing or just plain awful?

The critics cannot say enough about McEwan. Reader reviews are all over the map. I agree that he's a competent writer. I just don't know if this is his best book. That said, McEwan continues to drum up suspense and the ending of the novel was quite gripping. Should Edward have broken things off with Florence? Could they have gotten through this moment in time? And how awful that one singular hour of a lifetime can have irrevocable outcomes.

I'd put this one on the maybe list.

Book Eighteen

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is significant for many reasons in the Harry Potter series but most and for all because Albus Dumbledore kicks the bucket. This is not a spoiler because simply everyone knows that Dumbledore dies. Excepting of course, my husband, who refuses to read the books. I remember when I first read the ending of the Half Blood Prince that tears streamed from my face. I was so sad for Harry and had an ominous feeling about the next book.

Although the ending of Half Blood Prince is spectacular, the rest of the book reveals its secrets as well. We learn about apparating & horcruxes. The sixth year students begin to fall in love. And Harry Potter learns that what ultimately holds Lord Voldemort apart from Harry himself is the ability to love. Chapter 23 is an excellent recap for those that need a reminder of this notion. Oh and in case I forget, yet again, the Half Blood Prince is Snape.

So many questions yet to be answered: Who is REB? Where will Harry find the remaining 4 Horcruxes? Will Ginny & Ron finally get together? Was Dumbledore wrong to trust Severus Snape? I think I'm ready for the movie now.

Book Seventeen

Just finished Another Country by Mary Pipher. Mary is one of my top three authors (Quindlen, Pipher & Glass) and an individual I would most like to meet someday. Her book Reviving Ophelia had a huge impact on what I want to do with my life and her instructive Letters to a Young Therapist has helped me discover exactly how I want to approach my professional life.

I loved Another Country in most respects. My favorite chapter was The Weariest River and included a good deal of poetry and metaphor concerning the subject of death. Pipher talked about the Japanese word wabi-sabi which captures the intensity of feeling two strong emotions at the same time. Wabi-sabi is the perfect way to describe the experience of death - feeling beauty and sadness simultaneously.

Whenever I read Pipher's material, I feel smitten with the world she describes. She quotes my favorite people (Willa Cather, Wallace Stegner, Eleanor Roosevelt, etc.) If I must find a fault with Another Country, it would be in its length. The editor could have pared it down quite a bit as the same themes were addressed again and again. There were a few typos that were a bit jarring for the reader.

And yet, Pipher did it again. She is a rare gem and I wish I knew her better.

Book Sixteen

Full speed ahead! Finished Valley of the Dolls over the weekend. There really is NO better beach book. I was able to read over 400 pages in less than 48 hours. Found my mom's copy of the book and took a bit of a detour from the reading stack that has been slowing me down. This book really is the best soap opera lit yet to be written. Like Sweet Valley High for grown-ups.

This book confounds me. I can't imagine reading it during the era it was published (1966) and how provocative it must have been (lesbian relationships, drug addiction, questionable mental health treatment, yikes . . . ) I squirmed at the characters while I was reading - how feeble and dependent Anne was and her terrible yearning for romantic love at all costs. Jennifer's vanity that ultimately ends in her suicide. Neely - Ugh! The characters seemed to get under my skin in such a bothersome way. The only character that was somewhat endearing was Kevin Gillmore. Oh, how I ached for him when Anne fell (yet again) for the slimy Lyon. I always feel kind of icky when I finish a book like this. Such a departure from my life but not a path I would want to walk whatsoever.

This is the second time I have read Valley of the Dolls. It was a hit at the Vanaheim book club and stirred a very interesting discussion. I'm a little wary and curious of how it will review at the Stillwater Book Club. I want to hear others' thoughts about how well this book reflects the era. People either love or hate this book. I really like it FOR what the book is. Not great literature but PERFECT for laying out at the beach while downing Cheez Curls and baking in the sun.

p.s. The movie is God awful. Stay away. I've heard that the Group is another cult classic. Hoping to add that novel to next year's summer reading list.

Book Fifteen

I realized this week that I have to finish 22 books in the next month to have any prayer of making my goal. Yikes! Luckily our TV has broken down which has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It has been a very productive start to the week.

I started the book Admission when I was at the Harvard Institute on College Admissions. It seemed to fit the theme of the week. I liked the book all in all. It was a bit descriptive and predictable and long. That said, the author depicted the college admissions world true to form. When I read the acknowledgments I noticed that several of the deans who attended the Harvard Institute were mentioned (including Janet Rapelye at Princeton).

The whole process is a bit sad. And Portia, the main character, has a good deal of sympathy for the problem at hand. Plainly, there are too many extraordinary applicants applying to extraordinary schools. What I liked about the book was the author's ability to put the reader right at the table. I felt as if I was reading the very applications and sitting down to the final process.

Portia's admission? Well, it was easy to see that coming. The love story didn't exactly grab me but was merely a vehicle to bring Jeremiah into the story and reveal that there were cracks in Portia and Mark's relationship. Obviously. I agree with this review from a reader: "Predictable from the get go and you'll have it figured long before the book ends. Jean Hanff Korelitz not a bad writer, just needs a more critical editor." I'm eager now to read Gatekeepers and compare.

Would I recommend this book to the Power Mom's at large? Maybe, but it might just get them even more riled up . . . if that's possible.