June and July 2007 Reads

June Reads

Foxmask by Juliet Marillier (TBR Challenge)
Fantasy, 563 pgs., 4.5/5

Dangerous Admissions by Jane O'Connor
Fiction, 354 pgs., 3.5/5
This is an A.R.C.

Alice in Wonderland (Norton Critical Edition) By Lewis Carroll (British Classics)
Fiction, 408 pgs., 4.5/5

The Annotated Alice: The Definitive Edition By Lewis Carroll (British Classics)
Intro & Notes by Martin Gardner Illustrations by John Tenniel
Fiction, 301 pgs., 5/5

Out by Natsuo Kirino
Fiction, 400 pgs., 4/5

The Glass Virgin by Catherine Cookson (TBR Challenge)
Historical Fiction, 356 pgs., 3.5/5

July reads

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Non-fiction, 294 pgs., 4.5/5

Rainbow's End by Lauren St. John
Memoir, 269 pgs., 4.5/5
This is an ARC. Remarkable story.

Dress Your Family in corduroy and Denim by David Sidaris
Memoir, 257 pgs., 3.5/5

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
Science Fiction, 405 pgs., 4.5/5
This was an amazingly clever story. I'll be looking for more by this author.

Conquistador by S.M. Stirling
Science Fiction/Fantasy, 596 pgs., 3.5/5

Target Underwear in a Vera Wang Gown: Tales from a Single Girl's Closet by Adena Halpern
Memoir, 256., 3.5/5
Very funny.

February Flowers by Fan Wu
Fiction, 244 pgs., 2/5
This is an ARC. While the culture was depicted very well, but the story itself dragged and character development was so slow that boredom set in.

The Elements of Persuasion: Using Storytelling to Pitch Better, Sell Faster & Win More Business by Richard Maxwell & Robert Dickman
Non-Fiction, 224 pgs., 3.5/5
this is an ARC.

Dedication by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Fiction, 278 pgs., 4.5
This is an ARC. Hilarious story.

May 2007 reads

In no particular order. A lack of comments doesn't mean I liked a book less--only that I don't have anything in particular to say about it. *s*

Deception by Amanda Quick
Historical Romance, 402 pgs., 3.5/5

Her Scandalous Affair by Candice Hern
Historical Romance, 374 pgs.,3.5/5

Burmese Days by George Orwell (British Classics)
Fiction, 258 pgs., 4.5/5
The subject matter of Burmese Days was difficult to read but it was a worthwhile journey all the same. Orwell's power of description add power to his points--which hold true today.

The Exiled by Posie Graeme-Evans
Historical fiction, 407 pgs., 4/5
Much stronger than the typical second-of-a-trilogy book. I'm looking forward to reading the third.

Dispatches from the Edge by Anderson Cooper
Memoir, 222 pgs., 5/5

The God of Animals by Aryn Kyle
Fiction, 305 pgs., 4/5
This was an ARC. The God of Animals isn't my usual taste in reading but it is a promising first novel.

Wickett's Remedy by Myla Goldberg
Fiction, 384 pgs., 4/5
Wickett's Remedy did have the added fun of being "plague fiction" since it included the flu pandemic, but the story wasn't particularly stellar. It does however; get bonus points for the ephemera that followed each chapter.

Pretty Little Mistakes by Heather McElhatton
Fiction, pages vary, story quality varies
It looks like a huge thick read, but it's really a collection of short stories that all begin on the same page. At the end of each section the reader must make a decision. That decision determines where in the book the reader will resume the story. Thus the reading experience varies according to the choices the reader makes. It isn't life changing material, but it is fun to read. It would be great fun to read aloud in a small group. Rather like a grown up version of Mad-Libs.

Current reads:
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll (British Classics)
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki (TBR Challenge)

April 2007 Reads

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko (Braincandy group)
Fiction (young adult), 225 pgs., 4/5

American Gods by Neil Gaiman (TBR Challenge)
Fantasy, 588 pgs., 4.5/5

The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan (Braincandy group)
Fiction, 368 pgs., 4/5

The Book of Saladin by Tariq Ali (Historical Favorites)
Historical Fiction, 367 pgs., 3.5/5

Genghis: Birth of an Empire by Conn Iggulden (review ARC)
Historical Fiction, 381 pgs., 3.5/5

The Jinx by Jennifer Sturman
Fiction, 313 pgs., 3/5

Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs
Memoir, 268 pgs., 3/5

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe (British Classics group)
Fiction, 654 pgs., 4/5

Currently I'm reading:
Wickett's Remedy by Myla Goldberg
Burmese Days by George Orwell (British Classics group)
and
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Portrait of an Unknown Woman

How refreshing it is to read a novel about the Reformation and Henry VIII’s marital woes from outside the royal court. Ms. Bennett has breathed life into some of the most prominent historical figures of the time in this well-researched novel. I was inspired to do a bit of research of my own while reading this story. I simply had to see images of the paintings described in the book. It's easy to see at a glance why these paintings would inspire so many questions. Ms. Bennett's exploration of these mysteries resulted in a story of betrayal, trust, politics, and love. I really enjoyed reading of how Meg, the main character, struggled with issues of loyalty and trust, unsure of even her husband’s identity, in one of history’s most turbulent times.

If Today Be Sweet

If Today Be Sweet is Thrity Umrigar at her best. The main character, Tehmina, is surrounded with vividly drawn characters that are fresh yet familiar enough to ring true. Ms Umrigar portrays the deep divisions between everyday life in India and America without becoming heavy handed. Even the most emotionally charged moments are subtle. If Today Be Sweet is sublime reading. Definitely one of my personal ten best books of the year.

March 2007 Reads

In no particular order:

After The Wall: Confessions from an East German Childhood and the Life that Came Next by Jana Hensel
Fiction, 180 pgs., 3.5/5

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Memoir, 188 pgs., 5/5

If Today Be Sweet by Thrity Umrigar
Fiction, 296 pgs., 5/5

Chore Whore: Adventures of a Celebrity Personal Assistant by Heather H. Howard
Fiction, 304 pgs., 3.5/5

Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Vanora Bennett
Historical Fiction, 432 pgs., 4/5

The Protector's War by S.M. Stirling
Fantasy, 608 pgs., 3.5/5

Current reads are:
The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe (British Classics group)
American Gods by Neil Gaiman (TBR Challenge)
The Book of Saladin by Tariq Ali (Historical Favorites)

February 2007 Reads

In no particular order:

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte (British Classics group)
Fiction, 311 pgs., 3/5

Disposable People: New Slavery in the Global Economy by Kevin Bales
Non-fiction, 290 pgs., 4.5/5

The Bride Finder by Susan Caroll
Romance/Fantasy, 416 pgs., 3/5

The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad by Fareed Zakaria (TBR Challenge Alternate)
Non-fiction, 290 pgs, 4/5

It's been a slow reading month here. I have yet to finish Shogun.

Current reads are:
The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe (British Classics group)
After The Wall: Confessions of an East German Childhood and the Life that Came Next by Jana Hensel