Fall 2013 book review

I've been a little late with this....
And having a baby doesn't make reading lots of books possible.  Half a dozen seems reasonable!

Inferno by Dan Brown, 3 stars

A very nice Dan Brown book with wonderful descriptions of Florence, Italy. I enjoyed this book and think it is a nice escape read.  It did talk a lot about biology and biomedical topics, so it would be great for anyone interested in those topics.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, 4 stars

I was hesitant to read this because I didn't want to have to read the complete series (yes, I'm a little OCD.) This was a great book. It had a nice ending that didn't make me feel like I had to read the other books. But, because I liked the book, I am planning on reading the rest of quintet. I would recommend this book to any one interested in science fiction or enjoy YA books like Hunger Games and Divergent.

Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand, 3 stars

Not her best book, but it was a nice easy read while nursing my newborn!

Dust #9 by Hugh Howey, 3 stars

This was a nice way to wrap up the series. Lots of things were answered, especially how tall/high each level is! I wondered why it would take days to go up and down the silo. The author also left some things for you to ponder and imagine on your own.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth, 2 stars

Not a great book. You need to read it to finish the series, but if this was the first book, I would have skipped it. Again, I felt like the author was rushed to write this and the story was not developed. It was repetitive. On the positive side the epilogue was fantastic. Wonderful character building and brought the series to a nice ending.  Recommendation - speed read the first ~450 pages, then enjoy the last ~100pgs.

Revenge Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger, 3 stars

I took this book with me to the hospital.  It was a nice easy read and relatable since Andy has a baby in the book.  It was fun to reconnect with the characters 10years later, especially since we are the same age and going through similar life events. Not a must read sequel book, but an easy, fun read for a vacation.

I am reading We Are Water by Wally Lamb, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple.  This last book is hilarious!

What are you reading?  Any recommendations?

Enjoy!

ELH

Summer 2013 Book Review

-->I did a lot of book listening this summer (my car has bluetooth, so that helps a ton!) and only read 3 paperback books.  Need to work on that!  Any great book suggestions? 

On to the my recommendations -

The Witch’s Daughter by Paula Brackston, 3 stars

This was an okay book.  The book wasn't really about magic and witches but more about a witch hunt that had lasted hundreds of years.  I prefer to read more about magic and the history of it.

I did like the author's writing style and will probably check out her other books.

I, Iago by Nicole Galland, 2 stars

This started out as an interesting book.  Then dragged on and on and on and bang done! 

The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith, 3 stars

This was an okay book. The main character Cormoran Strike was interesting and fun to follow. The story was okay, but there was something missing, something not developed. It was a better adult book than Rowling's other adult book (Casual Vacancy) but not as entertaining as the Harry Potter books.

Wool Omnibus (#1-5) by Hugh Howey, 3 stars

This was a recommendation from a friend because it was suppose to have "knitting" undertones. Not really! I think there was one paragraph about knitting.
However, it is an interesting series about the future and what happens to the world. It is a little depressing with lot of death, so I am not sure I would recommend this book. I am going to continue with the series, hoping to get answers many questions raised in the book.

Shift Omnibus (#6-8) by Hugh Howey, 3 stars

This was an okay book. It was difficult to get into at the beginning and relate to the characters. Towards the end, things started to make sense and tie back into Wool. I am looking forward to the next installment - Dust, to see how everything works out.

The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson, 2 stars

A very strange book.  I really don't know what was real and what was "fiction" in this book.  If you like reading about North Korea, then this is book for you!

Tumbleweeds by Leila Meacham, 3 stars

This was an okay book. Frustrating and unbelievable at times, but a fun, easy read. I did like her book Roses much better than this one, so check that one out and maybe skip this one.

Paris: The Novel by Edward Rutherfurd, 4 stars

I really enjoyed this book and following generations of families through the building of Paris. If you have been to Paris and want to relive your time there, definitely check out this book.

Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris, 4 stars

I love David Sedaris and reading about his crazy childhood and life as a crazy adult.  I am a closet crazy too!  It is best to get this book as an audiobook with David Sedaris as the narrator. He is hilarious and I laughed out loud many times! 

What books did you read this summer??

Enjoy!

ELH

Spring 2013 Book Review

Happy 1st official day of Summer!!

Can you tell that I am catching-up with posts?
Spring 2013 is designated at April 1st - May 31st.  The shortest "season" of the year for my reading, which explains why I only read 5 books!  Technically the first 2 in the list I listened to and the last 3 I read really paper books!

My reviews -

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler, 4 stars

I would classify this book as a historical fiction following the life of Zelda Fitzgerald, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s wife.  I enjoyed this book and enjoy reading about the "other side" of famous men.  I read The Great Gatsby in high school, but don’t remember it all.  I would like to reread some of his work.

I would also recommend checking out The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (about Earnest Hemmingway’s wife), Mary: Mrs. A. Lincoln by Janis Newman, and Loving Frank by Nancy Horan (about Frank Lloyd Wright’s unofficial wife.)

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel, 2 stars

I didn't realize this was a squeal book...opps!  #2 in the Thomas Cromwell Trilogy.  The summary on Goodreads makes the book sound amazing and really good.  It wasn't.  Maybe if I had read the first book in the series, I would have liked this book more, but I don’t think I will do that!
I did like the perspective from "He, Cromwell" but it was a slow and boring book.

Divergent #1 by Veronica Roth, 4 stars

Do you miss the Hunger Games? Are you watching Revolution on NBC? If you said yes, then this is a great book series. It follows a female protagnist through a modern revolution set in Chicago. It is a fast read and I am looking forward to the next in the series. My only negative, is because it is such a fast read you will want the next 2 books immediately and the third and final book isn't out until October 2013. So you may want to wait a few months to start the series!

Insurgent #2 by Veronica Roth, 2 stars

This book was lacking and didn't really add anything to the series. It made plenty of allusions to a larger force/being/cause to why the factions were fighting/being taken over, but nothing was made clear. However, in the final chapter Roth, does help the reader out and provide a major clue that will make you want to read the final book. I just hope that Tris' character will grow-up and stop repeating her same behavioral patterns. It started to get annoying and made her character unlikable. 

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan, 3 stars

I bought this book as a recommendation from reading The Night Circus, not sure about that connection. It was a good book, similar to a Dan Brown theme with hidden historical secrets, but with a Google twist!

What books have you been reading?  Any recommendations?

I am currently listening to Paris: The Novel by Edward Rutherfurd and Wool (books 1-5) by Hugh Howey.  Both are excellent books so far!

Enjoy!

ELH

Winter 2013 Book Review

Lots of reading this quarter!  Which equals not a lot of knitting.  It also helps that the Outback has blue-tooth, so get in ~30min of audiobook a day.

My reviews/recommendations - this is also posted on Goodreads.

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks, 2 stars
I like Geraldine's other books, but this wasn't a very good book. I listened to it read by Geraldine and the tone and cadence of her voice were so slow, it was tiring to listen to. The book is focused on a newly widowed women who has also lost her sons and most of her village to the plague. It follows her life in the village as the plague strikes until one day an event happens that causes her to leave. She then starts a new life and the book ends. It sort of leaves you wanting more, but story was so slow and boring that I wouldn't really want to read anymore. I would skip this book and read March or People of the Book.

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach, 3 stars

Nicely written story with well developed characters. Towards the end, the book gets a little crazy/weird that turned me off, but the author was able to recover and ended the book on a nice note. Very enjoyable!

A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson, 2 stars

Weird, crazy story. Skip this book and read Between, Georgia.  Much better book!

Death Comes to Pemberly by PD James, 3 stars

Mainly a book about Mr. Darcy and the estate. It was ok.

11/22/63 by Stephen King, 4 stars

If you are fascinated with the assassination of JFK, this is great historical fiction book. I enjoyed this story full of fiction and history. Great read.

The English American by Alison Larkin, 4 stars
Pippa Dunn is a hoot! I have read a handful of British novels and most are dark and depressing. This book is upbeat and light-hearted. It is a great book if you are looking for something different and want a fun story.  

Atonement by Ian McEwan, 3 stars

A nice classic. I really enjoyed the end of the book with the perspective of an older character. I haven't seen the movie, I might now.

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton, 3 stars
I listened to this book narrated by Caroline Lee. I just love her voice! This book followed a similar pattern as other Morton books - hidden family secrets discovered generations later. The story was very good, well developed, and had beautiful language but the secret was not surprising. If you are going to read a Morton book, I would recommend The Forgotten Garden. Loved that book!

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult, 4 stars

This was not a typical Jodi Picoult novel about a mother and her struggles with motherhood during a very difficult situation. This book does focus on family, past transgressions, and a whole section dedicated to one storytellers account of her time during the Holocaust. This was a wonderful book and I had a hard time putting it down. I definitely recommend reading this book.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, 4 stars

This was a pretty sad book, so if you are not in a happy place, then skip this book for a few months. 
It was a great book and I really enjoyed the story from the dog's perspective. Things did get a little screw in the middle that I found annoying, but the author wrapped up the story nicely.

 

The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder, 3 stars

My Pulitzer Prize book for the quarter.  It was a book of short stories related to the Bridge of San Luis Rey.  It was an easy read, but didn’t have a lot of meat.  Unless you are crazy like me and reading all the fiction Pulitzer Prize winners, you can skip this book.

What books have you read recently?  Any make it onto your top book list?
Enjoy!
-ELH

Fall 2012 book review

The fall has been busy and I haven’t really been interested in reading.  Nothing has grabbed me.  One of my New Year’s resolutions is to finish 3 books I have started and pushed aside – Murder in Marais by Cara Black, Death Comes to Pemberly by PD James, and A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson.  Also, I started reviewing books on Goodreads, so some of the reviews are repeats and I am going to include the ratings (x out of 5 stars.)

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

This book is quite popular and I would say the first 75% was awesome and I couldn’t put it down.  The ending was disappointing, to say the least.  It felt like the author rushed to finish the story to meet a deadline, but it does leave room for future stories.

3 stars

Winter of the World - #2 in the Century Trilogy by Ken Follett

From Goodreads, “Winter of the World picks up right where the first book left off, as its five interrelated families—American, German, Russian, English, Welsh—enter a time of enormous social, political, and economic turmoil, beginning with the rise of the Third Reich, through the Spanish Civil War and the great dramas of World War II, up to the explosions of the American and Soviet atomic bombs.”

The second book focuses on the children who are now adults and starting their own lives and families.  It was a great 2^nd book in this historical fiction trilogy.  I would recommend checking out this series.

3 stars

Merry Christmas Alex Cross by James Patterson

This was a Christmas present from G.  We have a 7 year tradition of him sending me an Alex Cross book, so I would have something to open at my parents house on Christmas morning.  The past 3 years we have both been at my parents house and he still sends the book!  Love it!

It was great to read that Alex and his family are doing well! This was a very quick read.  I started it on a 3hr flight and had 80 pages left when we landed!  It is a must read if you keep up with Alex Cross.

3 stars

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Guest review from a Bestie – “This was a little creepier and more fantastic than I generally like my YA books. The first half was gripping. The second half was just okay. Not sure if I'll continue with the series.”  My sentiments exactly!  I did like the use of old photographs to create an interesting story.  If you do read it, get the paper copy!

3 stars

The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling

I knew this book had adult content and that is no joke!  If they made it into a movie it would be R – death, teenage sex, rape, and more death.  If you are looking for a depressing book, then this is a great book!  Otherwise, skip it!

2 stars

Elsewhere by Richard Russo

I listened to this book, narrated by Russo.  I really like all of his other books, so it was fun and interesting to hear him talk about his life.  It was a very nice tribute to his mother and helps set the scenes for some of his popular books.  If you haven’t checked out any Russo books, then I would recommend you do.  Empire Falls is a good start, then check out this book.

4 stars

What books have you been reading?  Any recommendations?

Enjoy!

ELH 

Summer Reading Review

I didn’t read as many books as I usually do during the summer.  I am sort of in a book lull.   Hopefully, Fall reading will be better!

Spring Fever – Mary Kay Andrews – It was an easy read, cute love story.  If you are looking for a something to read on your vacation, this is a good book.  Recommended.

Shadow of Night – Deborah Harkness – The second book in the All Souls Trilogy.  I loved the 1^st book.  Magic and history = awesome.  The 1^st book ended with a small love story and a cliff hanger.  The 2^nd book is a HUGE love story, a lot of history, and magic.  I am not really into love stories, so I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I did the 1^st.  It sort of felt like a filler book, so she could have a trilogy series.

Obviously, you can’t skip it, but just remember how great the 1^st book was and hope the 3^rd book is amazing.

A Summer Affair – Elin Hilderbrand – She writes great easy beach reads with characters that you begin to love and want to see them succeed.  Recommended.

Her Fearfully Symmetry – Audrey Niffenegger – An interesting book about the deep relationship twins have with each other.  One of the main characters is ghost and her presence has an everlasting effect on everyone she interacts with.  This was a good book and I enjoyed reading it.  Recommended!

Lone Wolf – Jodi Picoult – I just keep reading all her books, hoping that one will be as great as My Sister’s Keeper was.  I keep being disappointed.  Skip it.

The Enchantress – Michael Scott – This was the last book in the Immortal Life of Nicholas Flamel.  I felt like the author was trying to shock the audience by adding tons of twists and turns.  It was annoying.  Not the best book of the series, but if you started the series, you need to finish it!

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks – Rebecca Skloot – Have you heard of the immortal cells called HeLa?  They are cancer cell taken from Henrietta Lacks back in the 1950’s and have biomedical researchers study and cure diseases.  This book recounts the history of Henrietta and her family and their struggles in life.  It was a very interesting book and I would recommend reading it if you like non-fiction books that read like fiction.

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand – Helen Simonson – A random book about and Englishman and his daily life in the English countryside.  His son is a pill and he has to make the best of dealing with him and cultural differences between himself and his love interest.  Just a strange book.  Skip it.

On an exciting note, I meet Erin Morgenstern, author of The Night Circus at a local book festival!  Read this book!!

Enjoy!
-ELH
  

The Night Circus

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

My spring book review isn't due for another month, but I had to share this book with you.  I just finished it this past weekend and loved every minute of it!  I haven't read a book in a while that I didn't want to put down and read it slowly to take in all the magical descriptions.  I kept thinking, this would make an amazing movie....they are in the process of developing the screen play!  Awesome!!

The book is set in 1880 - the beginning of 1900's in a magical, fantastical circus that is only open at night.  The characters come to life in the circus and make fall in love with them even more.

This is a must read book!!  

I was telling a co-worker about it and she ask me to make a list of my top 10 books.  I'll have to think about that, but I know The Night Circus and The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield are 1 and 2! 

Go read these books!

What books would make your Top 10?

Enjoy!

ELH

Winter book reviews

Winter book reading in the H house = Jan 1 - March 31st.

It looks like this “season” of book reading was full of easy, beach reads! I guess that happens when your hubby is out of town 90% of the time!

The Marriage Plot – Jeffery Eugenides – I loved Middlesex (great book, check it out if you haven’t read it), so I was looking forward to this newest book by Eugenides. The story is boring and predictable and the main character keeps making the wrong choices - annoying. Skip it!

Distant Shores – Kristin Hannah – I got this book from my mom and I am sure she just picked if off of Amazon’s recommendation list. It was good, fast read. Great for the beach. The main character’s have been married for years and the wife has sacrificed her happiness for her husband's career. The book talks about how the wife feels, what needs to change, how the husband feels, and his lack of noticing her sacrifices.

The Castaways – Elin Hildenbrand – Another great beach read. Set in Nantucket, it explores the dynamics of 3 married couples and their relationship with each other. I really like this author, if you are looking for an easy beach read.

Mini Shopaholic – Sophie Kinsella – Oh Becky, what have you gotten yourself into now?! This is the latest installment of the Shopaholic series, and you know me, once I have started a series I am in it for the long haul. The book is a train wreck of poor decisions, so if you haven’t read any in the series, just skip it. If you have kept up with the books, then this is pretty good, frustrating at times, and fun at others, so go ahead and enjoy it!

Twenties Girl – Sophie Kinsella – I do like this author for easy reading and there usually isn’t a wait for the kindle version of her books at my library! This is a new character, still set in London, who has some funny adventures when her great aunt ghost’s visits her to settle some unfinished business. It was light and charming, so I would recommend reading it.

Roses – Leile Meacham – If you loved Gone With the Wind and The Thorn Birds, then you will love this book. It is set in the cotton fields of Texas and has multiple layers of family devotion, love, and business that effect generations. I highly recommend that you read this book!!

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party (#12) – Alexander McCall Smith – 12^th in the series…..like the Shopaholic review, it is good if you are into the series, otherwise skip it.

The Charming Quirks of Others: SPC #7 – Alexander McCall Smith – see above!

Against Medical Advice – James Patterson – One of my goals for 2012 was to finally get my lazy butt to the library (there is one a few blocks from our house and the parking lot is always full) and get a library card! It was easy! Except for the part where the e-books would not download to my kindle. I have a Gen 2, so you have to connect the kindle up to the computer and drag the book to special kindle folder. Thanks internet for the info! Anyway….. this was one of the James Patterson books on my reading list and since it is a few years old there was no waiting list! It is about a child’s struggle with Tourettes. It was ok. Skip it unless you really want to learn more about Tourettes!

Beach House – James Patterson – an older book of his and I don’t know how I have missed it. It had a John Grisham lawyer feel to it and I enjoyed it. Recommended!

Private – James Patterson – did I mention how much I love the library?!? This is the start of a new character series featuring Jack Morgan and his investigation business. Typical page turning mystery book! Recommended!

Sing Me Home – Jodi Picoult – One of her latest books. I am not sure why I keep reading her…. This was a strange book about infertility, marriage, religion, sexual preference, and then returns to infertility. If you like Picoult books, then read it. It is a good story. If you haven’t read her books, then skip it and go read My Sister’s Keeper.

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, Book 1 – Michael Scott – I’ll admit that I didn’t know who Nicholas Flamel was until the Harry Potter books came out. This is book 1 of 6 with a similar target audience as Harry Potter. I like books about magic and set in modern day. I am on the 3^rd book now and enjoying the series. So if you miss Harry Potter, can’t wait for the next book in the All Souls Trilogy, and sped through the Hunger Games, you will enjoy this series! Highly recommend!!

The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, Book 2 – Michael Scott – see above!

Glass Castle – Jeannette Walls – Strange, Strange, Strange... 1^st – I love a memoir. David Sedaris’ books are some of my favorite. I was hoping this book would follow in the humor of the silly things we did as kids and stuff your parents did…. not so much. 2^nd – this was recommended to me by my FIL, who got it from my MIL, who got it from her nephew – a famous actor. Famous actor nephew (we went to his wedding in 2010 and were a little star struck – I meet Andy Samberg – love!) had a dad who had a second family on the side. So needless to say, he didn’t have the best relationship with his dad growing up and today they don’t speak. As I was reading the book, I kept thinking about why did my FIL give this book to me, why did famous actor nephew give it to them in the first place? The book is a very sad story about her childhood with parents that were vagabonds and don’t really care about the safety and well-being of their 4 children. It was easy to read, but the topic was difficult and full of heart break. I would recommend skipping this book, unless you really want to be depressed.

What have you been reading? Any recommendations?
Enjoy!
ELH

Book Review

Total books for 2011 = 43! To be accurate, I did not read all of them. I listened to 10 of them while I was running (unabridged). In my mind, I read all of them, G does not agree. Oh well!
You can check out the past reviews for Winter, Spring, and Summer.

Fall - Sept 1st - Dec 31st.

Lost Symbol by Dan Brown - Typical Dan Brown book with Robert Langdon, but set in Washington DC. It was fun reading about the history of the city and symbolism. If you have read any of his other books, you know who the good guy and bad guy are and what the outcome will be, so not much mystery. It is a good read and if you like historical fiction, definitely check it out.

Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins - Have you seen the movie preview?? The books are much better!! The first book is good and gets you hooked. The second book is AMAZING! The third book is good, but sort of a let down. I was a little disappointed and sad that the adventure was over. I highly highly recommend this series!!

The Women in White by Wilkie Collins - This a very old book and was recommended to me by a friend since I loved The Thirteenth Tale and that book used Jane Eyre and The Women in White as references. I did listen to this book while running and it is quite long and drawn out. If you want to read classic literature, this is a great book, otherwise skip it.

Ape House by Sarah Gruen - Did you read Water for Elephants and love it? I did. This book is about apes living in a language learning lab that gets bombed and the apes are moved to New Mexico and exploited for 24hr real time web cam TV. Think Big Brother with horny apes! The writing is good and the story is a page turner. Definitely check it out!

Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire - 4th and final book in the Wicked series. I read all of the books and honestly couldn't tell you much about them. I got lost in all the characters, locations, and Oz history. I did love Wicked the musical, so I felt I needed to finish the series. This is by far the best book! The author spent the first few pages giving a brief history/summary of the past books and had multiple family trees. I referred back to the family trees a few times! Thank-you Gregory for including that! On a side note, you probably want to read the paper copy instead of the Kindle addition, easier to flip to the family trees.
Dorthy does make it back to Oz and the cowardly Lion is one of the main characters. If you are an Oz fan, definitely check out this book. It will make you happy and give you closure.

Paris Wife by Paula McLain - A historical fiction about Ernest Hemingway and his first wife Hadley Richardson. It was interesting to listen about Ernest's life and adventures in Europe during the 1920s. I recommend reading this book if you are intrigued by the “Lost Generation” (Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.)

Don't Blink by James Patterson - Patterson books are my guilty pleasure. I can read his books in a few days! This book starts a new series with Nick Daniels as the main character. If you like Patterson, don't miss this book. If you are new to Patterson, start with the Alex Cross books!

Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson - The latest Alex Cross installment. Another page turner, but the title is a little misleading. The bad guy isn't really after Alex, only angry at him because Alex claimed he was a criminal. Definitely recommend this book to Alex Cross fans!

The Calhoun Women - Suzanne and Megan by Nora Roberts - This was stories 4 and 5 of the Calhoun Women series. Each girl finds her mate and the history/mystery of The Towers is solved. If you need some easy beach reading, then this and the first book are wonderful!

Alison Wonderland by Helen Smith - I got this book on my kindle for $1 when Amazon was having a sale. The review made it sound wacky like Bridget Jones Diary. Hummm, not so much. Definitely wacky, weird, and strange. Skip this book!

Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner - I really liked this book. Jennifer wrote this book a while ago, but didn't finish/publish it until recently. I was tired of her books because they all seem to have the same theme. The ugly, fat girl, who has a beautiful friend, who "has it all." The friend turns out to be depressed and the fat girl looses tons a weight and get pregnant by someone who doesn't really want to be a father. Same story, that was good the first time, but old the 2nd, 3rd..... times.
This book was about 4 different women each in different stages of their life, who through chance have their lives interwoven. It was a great book and I highly recommend it!

Summer book review

I am a little behind the times....just found out about www.goodreads.com
I will have to create an account and post my reviews there.
Since I started tracking my reading during the summer of 2004, I have read and listened to 288 books!
This summer was a little lite on the reading, mainly because some of the books I started were not that great, so it was hard to read more than a few pages a day. I usually read during lunch, but the last few months have been doing internet "research" during that time. And then add that I get 4 magazines a month (great Christmas present) - Bon Appetit, Real Simple, House Beautiful, and Better Homes and Gardens.

I did read 4 books and listened to 3 others.

Honolulu by Alan Brennert - I got this book for cheap at The Borders closing. I thought it would remind me of our trip to Hawaii. Not so much. It was a book about a Korean girl who becomes a picture bride and moves to Honolulu. Her life is not prefect and fill of adventure. It was a good read, but not a must read. Too many other great books! Skip-it!

A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan - 2011 Pulitzer Prize winner. This book is a flash back into the lives of a group of friends and their adventures through life and growing up. It was a good book to listen to, but another PP book that could be passed up. Skip-it!

Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness - Part 1 of the All Souls Trilogy. Love it!
A book about witches, vampires, and demons with a history and love story. The only bad part it is that the other 2 books haven't been written! I found this review on Amazon "The only trouble is, when you reach the end you will throw the book across the room and yell because the sequel is not already in your hot little hands. So then you'll be forced to read it again!" I was listening to this book while running and of course it finished and I still had 45mins left in the run, so I did start it again! Highly Highly Recommend this book!

The Calhoun Women (Catherine, Amanda, and Lilah) by Nora Roberts - This book is a series of three stories about sisters and their famous house and a hunt for a missing emerald necklace. Each story is a whirl-wind love story. Great fast beach read. Recommended.
Also note that there is another book about the last sister (Suzanne) and a sister-in-law (Megan). I'll probably read this soon!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowlings - reread this before the last movie. It was bittersweet, but I was glad I read it. Great book. Great movie. Great series! PotterMore here I come....

Arrowsmith by Lewis Sinclair - 1926 Pulitzer Prize winner. This was a book about Martin Arrowsmith a med-student and his life through school, falling in love, having a medical and research career. This book had a beginning, middle, and end! As PP books go, it was a good book and if you are looking for something different this is a good read.

Dracula by Bram Stoker - After listening to The Historian, I wanted to learn more/read Dracula. If you like vampires and history, this is a great book! Recommend!

Right now I am working on The Paris Wife, Alison Wonderland, and Fly Away Home. Next - I am going to start the Hunger Games Trilogy.
What have you been reading? Any suggestions??

Enjoy!
ELH

Book Review - Spring 2011

Spring reading: April 1st - May 31st.
Charms for the Easy Life by Kaye Gibbons. I am not sure where I got this book. It was interesting. The story follows the life and relationship of a grandmother, mother, and daughter and the grandmother's homeopathic healing in a rural city. I would recommend this book for something different.

The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand. Great book about a restaurant in it's final summer season on Nantucket. It gives you great insight into the restaurant business with a love story. Highly recommend.

The Love Season by Elin Hilderbrand. Another book set in Nantucket about the relationships with best friends and parents. This is my 3rd Hilderbrand book and I love them all. Great fast beach reading!

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. This is fictional history about Dracula and his origin. It was a long book and you had to pay attention to all the characters. It was really interesting to learn about Vlad Dracul. I definitely would recommend this book, especially for those interested in vampires!

Martin Dressler: The Tale of an American Dreamer by Steven Millhauser. 1997 Pulitzer Prize fiction winner. An interesting book about a man with a dream of making people happy with restaurants and hotels set in the early 1900's. Unlike other PP books, this had a beginning, a middle, and a conclusion. A good book if you need a change of pace.

Cleaving by Julia Powell. This is the famous Julia from Julie & Julia. It is a few years later and she is crazy! By crazy, I mean having a long term adulterous relationship, sleeping with strangers to easy her pain, and then becoming a butcher. I do enjoy her honesty, but it is a difficult book to read. She is a great narrator, just be prepared an unhappy story.

The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir. A book about Elizabeth I before she became queen. It is a historical fiction. If you love the Royals, this is a great book!

Enjoy!
-ELH

Book Review - Winter 2011

It is that time of year again.....
Book review from Jan 1 to March 31st.

Since the wedding is over and I am much more free time! I have been reading a ton. My to-read stack is getting smaller by the week.

A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain by Robert Olen Bulter - 1993 fiction Pulitzer Prize winner. It is a book of short stories primarily about Vietnamese. I like short stories, so this was fun book. Recommend.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave - set in England, which is fun, but the book is sort of depressing. It was an Amazon recommendation - I would skip it.

The Hemingses of Monticello by Annette Gordon-Reed - Won the 2009 Pultizer Prize in History. The book discusses the history of Thomas Jefferson and his second family with Sally Hemings. It is very well done and was interesting to learn more about our 3rd president. Recommend!

Island by Elin Hilderbrand - set on a small private island off of Nantucket, it follows the lives and relationships of a mother, her two daughters, and her sister. It was enjoyable and would be a great "beach" read for the summer! Recommend!!

Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson - a book about domestic violence set in Texas - not great. I really like Between Georgia by this author, but her latest books have become depressing. I guess when I read, I want to laugh not cry. Skip it.

Knit the Season by Kate Jacobs - part of the Friday Night Knitting Club series. If you have read these reviews before, you know I like book series. This is the latest installment in the growing lives of the Knitting Club. They are like old friends that you want to hear about their lives. I enjoyed the book and the series. Recommend!

Ironweed by William Kennedy - 1984 Pulitzer Prize fiction winner. Like most PP books, it ended with no conclusion. Skip it.

Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, and Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer - So I finally jumped on the band-wagon for the Twilight books (finished all 4 in ~month!) They are very entertaining and I had a hard time putting them down. I understand why adult women like them - new extremely passionate love. Makes my heart melt. If you haven't read this series, you should! Highly Recommended!!

Cross Fire by James Patterson - The latest book in the Alex Cross series. It was great! The book ended with a teaser about Alex working Detective Boxer from San Francisco....excited to see the Women's Murder Club and Alex Cross series combine! Definitely Recommend!

Run for Your Life and Worst Case by James Patterson - books 2 and 3 in the Michael Bennett series. Murder mystery page turners. It is an okay series, but I like Alex Cross better.

Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos - this is the book you should read before Belong to Me. Same characters, but describes how they met. Belong to Me is the future. I like books that continue with the lives of the characters. Both books were good and would be great for the beach. Recommend!

Book Review - Fall 2010

Piiholo Ranch Zipline, Maui

It's that time again...
Fall book reading season started Sept 7th and finished Dec 31st. I read 15 books!

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett - I listened to this book since it was read by John Lee (one of my favorite narrators.) It was long and I definitely enjoyed it. This is the first book in a series of three that focuses on 5 families starting in the early 1900's focusing on WWI and will follow them for the next ~90 years. Recommend

Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver - I'll be honest, it is a hard book to start. I was confused for the first ~50 pages or so, but stuck with it and enjoyed it. It is a historical fiction with Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and Leo Trotsky. Recommend!

The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova - very interesting book about art. Recommend!

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri - great book of short stories. Recommend

Double Comfort Safari Club: LDA #11 by Alexander McCall Smith - Since I am not book #11, I feel obligated to continue the series...good if you have started the series, but not really worth it to start.
The Lost Art of Gratitude: SPC #6 by Alexander McCall Smith - See above :)

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton - this is her third book and honestly wasn't that great. The story was drawn out and the conclusion was disappointing. Skip this one and read her other two fantastic books!

Vision in White by Nora Roberts - book 1 of the Bridal Quartet - great series for girls who love weddings and fast reading. Recommend!!
Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts - see above
Savior the Moment by Nora Roberts - see above
Happy Ever After - see above

Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos - great book and a continuation of characters from Love Walked In (need to read). Highly Recommend!

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner - another book about a plus-size girl who hates her life until she looses weight, falls in love with the wrong man, finds the right man, and has a best friend whoes a flake and goregous. Skip this one.

Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger - The Devil Wears Prada and Everyone Worth Knowing are much better books, so you can pass on this one also.

Enjoy!
-ELH

Summer Reading Review

Summer Reading Review (My time definition - Memorial Day to Labor Day)


The Women by T.C. Boyle - historical fiction about the women in Frank Llyod Wright's life. Well written, but read Loving Frank by Nancy Horan first otherwise the book will be spoiled. Recommended!

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Free book on my Kindle. Plus I wanted to refresh my memory after seeing the new Tim Burton movie.


Death in a Prairie House: Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Murders by William Drennan

Do you see a theme/obsession. His life is fanasting.


The Tinkers by Paul Harding - 2010 Pultizer Prize in Fiction. Very short book, not that interesting.


The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich - 2009 Pultizer Prize in Fiction runner-up. I listen to this book from audible.com It was interesting, but the transistions between characters and how they were related was a bit of a stretch. It was a good book. Recommended!


The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday: SPC #5 by Alexander McCall Smith - 5th book in the series. I am a sucker for serier of books. This is a good series, but like most of his writing, you are reintroduced to the characters in each book. One would thing that by book #5 you know who the characters are?! Recommended!


Swimsuit by James Patterson - easy reading. Not his best novel. It seems like his novels are rushed, except for the Alex Cross books. Thoes are fantastic. Recommended for fast, easy reading!

House Rules by Jodi Picoult - I have read all of her books and it is intersting to see her progress as a writer. This was a good book, but I did get frustrated with the characters and the ending was a disappointment. If you are going to read only one of her books, stick with My Sister's Keeper.


Scarlet by Alexandria Ripley - Written in the 90's as a continuation of Gone With The Wind. It focuses on Scarlet and Rhett's relationship. It is ~800pgs and could have been shorter. I love the relationship between Scarlet and Rhett, but this book doesn't do it justice. It is a great book and if you are a GWTW fan, I highly recommend this book!


A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley - 1992 Pultizer Prize Fiction winner. I enjoyed this book and the development of the three sisters. Unlike most Pultizer Prize winners, this book has a beginning, middle, and end. I like that! Recommended!

Rabbit, Redux by John Updike - This was book #2 in a series of 4 books. Books #3 and 4 are Pultizer Prize Fiction winners, and since I am trying to read all the Pultizer Prize Fiction winning books, I thought it was a good idea to first read books #1 and #2. #1 I hated. #2 not much better. It took me ~2years to finish book #2! I have started #3, but it is slow going. I wonder how long it will take me...



Enjoy!

-ELT