REVIEW - Blameless by Gail Carriger

Title: Blameless: Parasol Protectorate #3

Author: Gail Carriger

Synopsis (Courtesy of Powell's Books): "Quitting her husband's house and moving back in with her horrible family, Lady Maccon becomes the scandal of the London season.

Queen Victoria dismisses her from the Shadow Council, and the only person who can explain anything, Lord Akeldama, unexpectedly leaves town. To top it all off, Alexia is attacked by homicidal mechanical ladybugs, indicating, as only ladybugs can, the fact that all of London's vampires are now very much interested in seeing Alexia quite thoroughly dead.

While Lord Maccon elects to get progressively more inebriated and Professor Lyall desperately tries to hold the Woolsey werewolf pack together, Alexia flees England for Italy in search of the mysterious Templars. Only they know enough about the preternatural to explain her increasingly inconvenient condition, but they may be worse than the vampires — and they're armed with pesto."

Thoughts: Alexia Maccon is my hero. Her no-nonsense, pragmatic, non-emotional approach to life is equal parts hilarious and inspiring. If only everyone could approach life like her, misunderstandings would end forever. Also, everyone would follow the rules of etiquette, making the world a politer place.

As the third novel in the Parasol Protectorate series, I was seriously happy to see Lord Maccon come to his senses. Granted, his scenes of suffering made for some of the funniest scenes I've read in a long while. It also contains quite the mystery. Uncovering what the Templars know is not meant to be figured out early because watching the plot unfold in typical Alexia fashion is one of the most enjoyable parts of the novel. Each book builds on the last while remaining fresh, which means that Blameless is just as enjoyable as the first two books if not more so because of the preexisting relationship between Alexia and the reader.

My love for Alexia and the entire series grows with each novel. The tongue-in-cheek seriousness never gets old. In addition, Ms. Carriger continues to surprise and entertain readers with amazing twists and turns, all while setting up future stories quite nicely. Yet, in spite of the silliness, there exist some wonderful messages about friendship and loyalty. The end result is a novel that is as heartwarming as it is fun.

When looking for something fun to read that will help one forget all worries and cares, look no further than the Parasol Protectorate series. They are seriously good for the soul, whether you have one or not. 

TLC Book Tours presents A Secret Gift by Ted Gup

Title: A Secret Gift: How One Man's Kindness--And a Trove of Letters--Revealed the Hidden History of the Great Depression

Author: Ted Gup

Synopsis (Courtesy of Powell's Books): "Shortly before Christmas 1933 in Depression-scarred Canton, Ohio, a small newspaper ad offered $10, no strings attached, to 75 families in distress. Interested readers were asked to submit letters describing their hardships to a benefactor calling himself Mr. B. Virdot. The author's grandfather, Sam Stone, was inspired to place this ad and assist his fellow Cantonians as they prepared for the cruelest Christmas most of them would ever witness.

Moved by the tales of suffering and expressions of hope contained in the letters, which he discovered in a suitcase 75 years later, Ted Gup initially set out to unveil the lives behind them, searching for records and relatives all over the country who could help him flesh out the family sagas hinted at in those letters. From these sources, Gup has re-created the impact that Mr B. Virdot's gift had on each family. Many people yearned for bread, coal, or other necessities, but many others received money from B. Virdot for more fanciful items-a toy horse, say, or a set of encyclopedias. As Gup's investigations revealed, all these things had the power to turn people's lives around- even to save them.

But as he uncovered the suffering and triumphs of dozens of strangers, Gup also learned that Sam Stone was far more complex than the lovable-retiree persona he'd always shown his grandson. Gup unearths deeply buried details about Sam's life-from his impoverished, abusive upbringing to felonious efforts to hide his immigrant origins from U.S. officials-that help explain why he felt such a strong affinity to strangers in need. Drawing on his unique find and his award-winning reportorial gifts, Ted Gup solves a singular family mystery even while he pulls away the veil of eight decades that separate us from the hardships that united America during the Depression. In A Secret Gift, he weaves these revelations seamlessly into a tapestry of Depression-era America, which will fascinate and inspire in equal measure.

Thoughts: Reading A Secret Gift over the Thanksgiving weekend, the timeliness of the novel could not be ignored. Mr. B. Virdot placed his ad right before Christmas of 1933. Rather than worrying about getting the best deal on electronics or toys, most people then were worried about finding enough money to pay for their next meal. The contrast is almost appalling. As commercials and advertisements blitz audiences with fantastic sales, and as consumerism continues to drive the holidays, one cannot help but compare two generations in their abilities to cope and to offer hope to others.

A Secret Gift is not a novel to be read quickly over a short period of time. Rather, one has to read it slowly, only because the shame and despair behind each letter is difficult to absorb. Often full of grammatical errors and written by people with little to no formal education, the sheer need behind each letter is heart-wrenching. The stories of what occurred in each family after receiving the gift is no less poignant. For some, Mr. B. Virdot's gift was a high-water mark in a life filled with hardship and poverty. For others, it was the means by which they were able to turn their lives around for a future filled with unparalleled success. There is no rhyme or reason why some families were able to succeed so well while others continued to flounder, which makes the stories that much more difficult to stomach.

Mr. Gup does an excellent job of putting the Depression into context; the recipients of the gifts were already used to hard times and a life filled with danger. They were already survivors before situations got worse in the 1930s. This only helped them buckle down even further and find ingenious ways to continue to survive while maintaining their dignity. Written during the "Great Recession of 2008-2009", the parallels between then and today cannot be ignored. Given today's ease of living, even during the recession, would current generations be able to adapt and survive as well? The fact is that there is a reason why those who experienced the Great Depression rightfully earned the title of The Greatest Generation, and it is unlikely that any subsequent generation would ever be able to measure up to the amount of suffering that generation was able to overcome.

Mr. Gup's unraveling of the mystery of Sam Stone is rather anti-climatic given the suffering presented in the letters. Mr. Stone's life story is just as tragic, yet by 1933, he was able to weather the Depression in relative comfort. Yet, his remains a remarkable story of selflessness. The personal nature of the offer, the fact that he alone decided who would receive the money and who would not, rather than letting an agency decide, makes the act more poignant and more real. Again, it raises the question whether such an act would work in today's society.

The comparisons are inevitable, but they in no way lessen the suffering by each letter writer. If anything, Mr. Stone's gifts and the impact that $5 had on each recipient confirms the idea that the smallest gift from the heart means more than anything impartially given. A Secret Gift will force the reader to reevaluate what it means to suffer, to be poor and what it means to give. It will change the way a reader approaches the holidays and help one appreciate the Greatest Generation all over again.

For more thoughts on A Secret Gift, please check out the rest of the tour:

• Monday, November 15th: Debbie’s Book Bag
• Tuesday, November 30th: Book Reviews by Molly
• Wednesday, December 1st: I’m Booking It
• Care’s Online Book Club
• Wednesday, December 8th: A Fair Substitute for Heaven
• Thursday, December 9th: Knowing the Difference
• Monday, December 13th: Rundpinne
• Tuesday, December 14th: In the Next Room
• Wednesday, December 15th: Reading on a Rainy Day
• Thursday, December 16th: 2 Kids and Tired Book Reviews

The Sunday Salon - November 28, 2010

I hope everyone had a relaxing and fun Thanksgiving weekend! I know I have thoroughly enjoyed my four days without an alarm and with nothing on the schedule. I was able to participate in the Thankfully Reading Weekend, hosted by Jenn's Bookshelves, Beth Fish Reads, and Devourer of Books. As an extremely low-key event, it fit in perfectly with my weekend of relaxation.

I managed to review three books this week, a definite improvement and one that makes me feel a bit more like an actual book blogger than a "regular" blogger. My favorite book of the week is definitely Erin Blakemore's The Heroine's Bookshelf; I find myself still thinking about the lessons to be learned from each heroine. I also shared my thoughts on Charles Brokaw's The Lucifer Code and Marie Phillips' Gods Behaving Badly. I waxed poetic on why I am thankful this season and provided an update on my Motivate Me feature. Meanwhile, Connor shared his thoughts on a favorite classic, The Hobbit.

This week, I start back working full-time again. Given the additional time at work and the fact that I will be fitting in my exercise during my now-extended lunch hour, it is going to be a bit of an adjustment, not only to dinner times but also to the time I spend reading during the day. I'm hoping that the adjustment is not as drastic as I fear it could be, but we'll find out tomorrow.

That's about it from the Shannon household for this week. I need to go enjoy the last of my vacation, even if it means finally changing out of my pajamas for the day. I hope everyone enjoys their Sunday. Have a great week. Happy reading!

Connor's Corner - The Hobbit

Bilbo Baggins is about to go on a journey of a lifetime, but he doesn't care. In fact, it doesn't matter to him at all. He would rather be in his home, a snug little hobbit hole, eating cakes and sipping tea. Unfortunately for him, he's going on a journey no matter what, along with a wizard named Gandalf and 13 dwarfs (I'll skip the names). The dwarfs are the number one cause for the trip. They've been looking for someone to take with them to win back their long lost treasures from lazy dragon, Smaug. With plenty of dangers along the way, will the party be able to survive?

The Hobbit, Or, There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien was very beefed up on details, so I really enjoyed it, but it was also rather annoying. Tolkien made the book too long, and I desperately wanted to get to the end. I still like the book, and I'm looking forward to reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Oh, and my favorite character? That would definitely be Gollum. "Read The Hobbit we wants them, my Precious."

Motivate Me - Week Two (Holiday Edition)

I discovered that running three days in a row does a number on my shins. Hence, the three days of rest after that. Between the shin pain, my cold and Thanksgiving prep, I wasn't as diligent as I should have been during the middle of the week. To adjust, I plan to alternate days; this should prevent any build-up of stress on my shins while spreading out the exercise over the course of the week. As for weight loss, I weighed in at 160.8 pounds this week, up 0.4 pounds from last week. That could be anything from water to the congestion sitting in my lungs right now. I'm not too concerned, especially since I didn't run three days before I weighed myself. When I go on a more regular schedule next week, I'm hoping that the scale will reflect that.

Week three starts today, and I remain as focused as ever. This is about the time I start losing motivation, and with the change in the weather, the change to my work schedule, and the holidays, we'll see what this week holds!

Friday - rest
Saturday - Couch to 5k Week 2
Sunday - Couch to 5k Week 2
Monday - Couch to 5k Week 2
Tuesday - rest
Wednesday - rest
Thursday - rest

So Thankful

It's Thanksgiving here in the U.S., a day where it is socially acceptable to overeat and take a nap. It is also a time where we reflect on everything about which we are thankful. For me, these include the following:

• My husband - As my best friend, he bears the brunt of all my idiosyncrasies and is my number one supporter.
• My children - They remain my pride and joy and remind me to find my inner child.
• My family - Their love and support remains a comfort in times of need.
• My friends - They make coming to work fun and know how to get me out of my shell.
• My blogger friends - They have exposed me to an entirely new world for which I am forever grateful.
• My doggies - Their unconditional love makes coming home every day a pure joy.
• Our soldiers - Their sacrifice to defend freedoms everywhere is something we can never afford to forget.
• My life - I have my health, a beautiful home, more toys and electronics than are probably good for me, a great job and an entire personal library of books. I am truly blessed.

To all my U.S. friends, have a wonderful Thanksgiving. To all my friends around the globe, take a moment to consider your blessings. As we all sit down with friends and family no matter where we are today, I hope everyone is as blessed as I am.

REVIEW - Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

Title: Gods Behaving Badly

Author: Marie Phillips

Synopsis (Courtesy of Powell's Books): "Being a Greek god is not all it once was. Yes, the twelve gods of Olympus are alive and well in the twenty-first century, but they are crammed together in a London townhouse-and none too happy about it. And they've had to get day jobs: Artemis as a dog-walker, Apollo as a TV psychic, Aphrodite as a phone sex operator, Dionysus as a DJ.

Even more disturbingly, their powers are waning, and even turning mortals into trees--a favorite pastime of Apollo's--is sapping their vital reserves of strength.

Soon, what begins as a minor squabble between Aphrodite and Apollo escalates into an epic battle of wills. Two perplexed humans, Alice and Neil, who are caught in the crossfire, must fear not only for their own lives, but for the survival of humankind. Nothing less than a true act of heroism is needed-but can these two decidedly ordinary people replicate the feats of the mythical heroes and save the world?"

Thoughts: Read in a desperate attempt for escapist literature, Gods Behaving Badly delivered that and so much more. This modern-day morality tale is equal parts funny and tragic as well as 100 percent entertaining. It lived up to its description of a fun read while teaching what it means to be a hero.

Quite surprisingly, Gods Behaving Badly is not all humor and fun. It has its tragic moments as well. The idea of a group of powerful people, immortal or not, failing to adapt properly to its environment is depressing. Living in squalor and reliving the glory days are no way to go through life. Yet, in spite of its tragic undercurrents, this failure to adapt on the part of the gods creates some of the wittiest scenes in the novel. Their child-like attitudes do not mesh well with modern-day pragmatism, causing misunderstandings and other tongue-in-cheek moments that are as enjoyable as they are uncomfortable.

Alice and Neil make for two unlikely heroes. As the complete opposite of the gods, they are quite literally everything they are not. Prudish and chaste, nervous and shy, their simplicity belies their strength of character and determination. They are the epitome of the underdogs, and readers definitely root for their success. Readers want them to succeed not because they want the gods to succeed but because Neil and Alice represent the power of the every man. Their struggle becomes the reader's struggle against impossible odds.

One cannot discuss a novel about gods without discussing the idea of faith. Some of the most amusing points in the novel occur when Eros discusses Christianity with his siblings. This amusing what-if scenario is a twist on our modern belief system and well worth considering the power of faith.

Ultimately, Gods Behaving Badly is not meant to stand up to scrutiny. It is meant to be what it is - an enjoyable, lighthearted screwball comedy with a hidden message about taking oneself too seriously and the hero that lies inside each of us. One couldn't ask for better when searching for escapist literature.

REVIEW - The Lucifer Code by Charles Brokaw

Title: The Lucifer Code

Author: Charles Brokaw


Synopsis (Courtesy of Powell's Books): "Thomas Lourds ventures to Istanbul University in Turkey to examine artifacts never before seen by Western scholars. He's barely off the plane before he's kidnapped by ruthless people who leave a string of dead bodies in their wake. They want Lourds to translate coded writings that they hope will lead them to a lost scroll authored by John of Patmos—the same John who wrote the Book of Revelation in the Bible.

The writings on the scroll might bring about the end of the world—or might stop it. They might even raise the Devil himself—but there are signs that the Devil has already risen and that he is very interested in Thomas Lourds. No one knows for sure what will happen if the scroll is found, decoded, and translated, but several powerful men are seeking it, and they will stop at nothing to get it. And one of those people has ties to the US government, ties that lead directly to the White House.

Before he knows it, Thomas Lourds is in over his head, dodging spies, crooks, and bullets. He needs help to stay alive—and he has it in the form of a beautiful but deadly Irish Republican Army operative, and in his old flame, Olympia Adnan. Can they navigate the secrets hidden in ancient Istanbul's most secret depths before they are killed? Or will they be too late to stop the terrible workings of the Devil himself before he can bring the world down around them?"

Thoughts: Love him or hate him, Dan Brown definitely set a precedent when he wrote his thrillers about religion and conspiracy. It seems every writer in that genre is now looking for his or her own angle with which to stun readers and get an entire country talking. Some authors have been successful; far too many though have failed at their attempts to follow in Dan Brown's footsteps. For me, I would put Charles Brokaw in that latter category.

It isn't that The Lucifer Code is a horrible book; the story line is quite intriguing, and the action moves at a decent pace without seeming highly improbable. Are there times when the situations faced by the characters requires some eye-rolling on the part of the reader? Sure, but this is often the case in action thrillers of this nature. The issue is Thomas Lourds himself. Arrogant and lecherous, he thinks he is God's gift to linguistics and to women. While he doesn't cross into misogyny, the fact that he views almost every woman as his for the taking is, in one's opinion, an antiquated approach to gender relations. Of course, the fact that the two main female characters do end up sleeping with him does nothing to alleviate his pompousness or improve the situation on the whole. As for the sex scenes themselves, they were completely gratuitous and did nothing to further the plot, but definitely furthered Lourds' ego.

The plot itself was fairly predictable. Stories of this nature tend to be rather formulaic, and The Lucifer Code is no exception. Rather than forcing the reader to question certain institutions and present a very possible scenario, Mr. Brokaw relies on more action than thought, much like the James Bond series. In fact, like Bond, Lourds is a womanizer and supremely confident in his abilities. The Lucifer Code is not a religious mystery but rather a suspense as to whether Lourds can crack the code in time to save the world, a la 007.

When viewed in that light, The Lucifer Code is a decent story. It has action and adventure, near-death experiences, a touch of the otherworldly, hot women, fast cars, and state-of-the-art weaponry. It does not require much thought or problem solving but requires the reader to sit back and enjoy the ride. Even at 368 pages, it's pacing is fast and cohesive. The result is an enjoyable action adventure story that helps while away an afternoon. For those looking for a Dan Brown-esque novel, this one does not quite live up to those expectations. For those who enjoy more action and adventure, The Lucifer Code is definitely worth considering.


Thank you to Tolly Moseley from PR By the Book for my review copy!
 

REVIEW - The Heroine's Bookshelf by Erin Blakemore

Title: The Heroine's Bookshelf: Life Lessons, from Jane Austen to Laura Ingalls Wilder

Author: Erin Blakemore

Synopsis (Courtesy of Powell's Books): "Jo March, Scarlett O'Hara, Scout Finch—the literary canon is brimming with intelligent, feisty, never-say-die heroines and celebrated female authors. Like today's women, they placed a premium on personality, spirituality, career, sisterhood, and family. When they were up against the wall, authors like Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott fought back—sometimes with words, sometimes with gritty actions. In this witty, informative, and inspiring read, their stories offer much-needed literary intervention to modern women.

Full of beloved heroines and the remarkable writers who created them, The Heroine's Bookshelf explores how the pluck and dignity of literary characters such as Jane Eyre and Lizzy Bennet can encourage women today.

Each legendary character is paired with her central quality—Anne Shirley is associated with irrepressible "Happiness," while Scarlett O'Hara personifies "Fight"—along with insights into her author's extraordinary life. From Zora Neale Hurston to Colette, Laura Ingalls Wilder to Charlotte Bronte, Harper Lee to Alice Walker, here are authors and characters whose spirited stories are more inspiring today than ever."

Thoughts: For such a small book, The Heroine's Bookshelf packs quite a punch. It is one of those books that makes a reader proud to be female, while also making one appreciate the lessons learned from childhood heroines. It is the perfect novel to read when feeling blue or at a crossroads in one's life because it simultaneously reminds one of all those who have experienced similar thoughts/sensations/emotions while confirming the idea that we are not alone in our struggles. In a book filled with lessons, it is the most powerful lesson of all.

Ms. Blakemore does a fantastic job of presenting each beloved character in a fresh new light while simultaneously confirming why they are beloved in the first place. At the same time, she shares the struggles each author had to overcome in order to present these extraordinary characters with the world. Fighting to be heard among men, fighting depression, letting one's voice be heard - they are all issues that these authors dealt with while writing, which lends a note of familiarity to the entire proceedings because they continue to be problems today.

The Heroine's Bookshelf  posits the idea that heroines in novels can be important roles models in spite of being fictional. From Scarlett, one learns never to give up the fight. Who can forget the importance of happiness and looking on the bright side of things learned from Anne? What about staying true to one's own beliefs, as shown to us by Jane? Often, the authors' stories can be just as, if not more, inspirational than the heroines themselves. If they can overcome their own conflicts to write these extraordinary characters, we all can do the same in our own lives.

The Heroine's Bookshelf makes me want to revisit and rejoice in each heroine all over again. Read at a time when I am struggling with my own demons in my personal life, Ms. Blakemore reminded me that I need to stay true to my own values, to fight for them, to never forget my sense of wonder, and to have faith. It is a reminder that I feel everyone needs to receive, and one that I will truly cherish.

Thank you to Mark Ferguson at Harper for my advanced reading copy!

The Sunday Salon - November 21, 2010

This week was supposed to have been about reviews. Rather, it became a week of crises. Some "stuff" hit the fan at work, resulting in serious thoughts about my future at the company. Then, I was hit with a migraine on Thursday, followed by a car accident on the way home from work on Thursday afternoon. I'm okay, and the kids were not with me. Unfortunately, the gentleman was blitzed out of his mind at 4 PM in the afternoon and failed to notice both the red light, the row of cars in front of me, my brake lights or my turn signal. Idiot. This all occurred while Jim was out of town on a business trip. Needless to say, I stayed home on Friday in an effort to recover my sanity. It was much deserved.

Apparently, when I get stressed, I read. I finished five books this week, three on Friday alone. I was worried about not having enough to review for the month and now am about eight reviews behind. I cannot complain about this because it means I was able to remove five books from my TBR pile. That is always a good thing.

So what did I get done on the blog this week? I managed to post two reviews before things got heavy at work and my mind decided to take a break each evening: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides and Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff. Connor reviewed Tanglewreck, and we celebrated the winner of the Heidegger's Glasses giveaway. I continue to be brutally honest about my latest push to get healthy. Lastly, I put forth some thoughts I have on collecting books. I would have loved to have posted at least one more review, but I just did not have the mental capacity to do so.

This week, being a short work week, should not be as dramatic as last week. At least, I'm keeping my fingers crossed it is so. This means that I should be able to post at least a few more reviews. I'm hosting Thanksgiving at my house this year for those of us with no family in the area, and Connor starts indoor soccer this Friday. Between that, and getting ready for Christmas, I imagine the week will pass fairly quickly.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday and an even better week to come. Happy reading!

Connor's Corner - Tanglewreck

Silver, an 11-year-old girl, is known as The Child with the Golden Face, but she's too caught up in her work to know this, let alone anything else in the world. The only things she knows exist in her house, named Tanglewreck. Little does she realize that she's about to go on an incredible journey through time to find a clock called the Timekeeper. As soon as Silver sets off, two mysterious figures spring to life in order to stop her. Join Silver and her friend Gabriel on a race against time to save the world as we know it.

Reading Tanglewreck, you will definitely get the impression that the author, Jeanette Winterson, spent a lot of time making this book entertaining, confusing and suspenseful, all at once. I think what really gave this book its charm was its interesting theories on time, like that time moved slower in cold and darkness. That's why I liked this book. And now, I think I'm going to move to a sewer!

Motivate Me: One week done

One week into my new lifestyle and I now know how difficult this is going to be. First of all, I really dislike running in cold weather. Really dislike it. Throw in gloomy skies, and it is a recipe that has me wanting my lounge pants and a sweatshirt, not putting on layers. Still, I managed to get out five days out of seven days. I am quite proud of myself for that.

Even better, the smaller portion sizes helped. Weigh-in this week showed me 160.4 pounds on the scale, a 1.8 pound weight loss. I will definitely take it and hope that with Thanksgiving, I can keep that up.

On to week two of the rest of my life!

Friday - Couch to 5k Week 1 (30 minutes)
Saturday - Couch to 5k Week 1(30 minutes)
Sunday - Couch to 5k Week 1(30 minutes)
Monday - Walked with kids (45 minutes)
Tuesday - Rest
Wednesday - Couch to 5k Week 1 (30 minutes)
Thursday - Rest

Giveaway Winner

Last week, along with my Heidegger's Glasses review, I offered a giveaway for a copy of the book as well.

Random Number Generator chose #2 - Jen from Devourer of Books!

 

CONGRATULATIONS!

Inside Michelle's Brain - Let's talk about books

When I first started blogging almost two years ago, I had roughly ten unread books in my personal library of roughly 200 books. Every book I kept was one I had read and enjoyed. They were all personal friends. A year ago, I was hovering around 50 unread books. My personal library still contained around 200 books, but I felt like 50 was a manageable number. More importantly, I still felt like I was surrounded by old friends. Twelve months later, the number of unread books in my house is at 343. Yes, 343. What in the world happened?

My permanent library is smaller, at around 180 books, but it now contains the books I know without a doubt I want to keep forever because they are all books that have moved me in some way. This might include the book that contains my first literary crush or a book that took me three attempts to finally finish. They make me remember parts of who I used to be or even remind me of who I want to be. They are friends in a very real sense of the word.  So, who are these strangers that fill closets and every available shelf space in the house?

The thing is that I want to read all 343 books I have on hand. Yet, at that number, discerning which ones will make the cut for the permanent library is rather difficult. I still revel in the fact that I have my own personal library from which to choose something as the mood strikes. Unfortunately, I also become a little overwhelmed at the sheer number of them. I want to read them all, but I know that unless I quit my job and read full-time, stop buying/receiving books altogether, or learn to speed-read, it will be years before I get to them all.

This thought makes me very sad, for the special thing about each unread book is the promise each holds. They each whisper the possibility of some life-changing revelation or a story that is literally unforgettable. Given how quickly my unread pile exploded this year, I have to wonder if there is something seductive in this promise that makes book collecting almost compulsory. I know my home library is small compared to others. I know my unread pile is small compared to others. We all complain about never having enough time to finish all of the books we want to read, yet we all continue to add to our piles at rather disconcerting speeds. Why? Why not get through what we have? Why this incessant need to keep adding to the pile?

My friends laugh at me when I tell them, with the utmost sincerity, that I cannot walk into a bookstore and walk out empty-handed. It is physically impossible. It truly is an addiction. However, is an addiction to books a bad thing? I mean, I function perfectly well in public. Books do not prevent me from living life. I do not forgo social engagements to read. Friends and family come first and always have. So, is it really an addiction? Yet, why does this need to continue to add to the unread library still exist? Why can't I walk into a bookstore without losing my senses?

Don't get me wrong - I am not complaining at all. Over these last few years of blogging, I have been fortunate enough to have read some absolutely amazing books, ones I know I would have never picked up on my own. I love being a part of the publishing community and helping out authors. It gives me a sense of purpose and fulfillment that I never knew was missing until I found it. I guess my dissatisfaction is that I want to read more. I guess this is the age-old issue though, isn't it? The more we have, the more we want. In this case, the more books we have, the more we wish time were on our side. As another year comes to a close, and we reach the time of year for reflection, time becomes that elusive entity we all wish we had more of and wish did not move so quickly. In the end, is our need for more books just our attempt to stop time?

REVIEW - Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Title: Middlesex

Author: Jeffrey Eugenides

Narrator: Kristoffer Tabori

Length of Audiobook: 21 hours and 14 minutes

Synopsis (Courtesy of Powell's Books):

I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day of January 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of l974. . . My birth certificate lists my name as Calliope Helen Stephanides. My most recent drivers license...records my first name simply as Cal

"So begins the breathtaking story of Calliope Stephanides and three generations of the Greek-American Stephanides family who travel from a tiny village overlooking Mount Olympus in Asia Minor to Prohibition-era Detroit, witnessing its glory days as the Motor City, and the race riots of l967, before they move out to the tree-lined streets of suburban Grosse Pointe, Michigan. To understand why Calliope is not like other girls, she has to uncover a guilty family secret and the astonishing genetic history that turns Callie into Cal, one of the most audacious and wondrous narrators in contemporary fiction. Lyrical and thrilling, Middlesex is an exhilarating reinvention of the American epic."

Thoughts: There was always something about the title of this 2002 novel that struck me as a bit inappropriate; as a result, I ignored Middlesex for years. Having devoured the audiobook in a matter of days, I truly wish I had forced myself to pick it up sooner, for it will go down as one of my favorite novels I've read this year. The entire Stephanides clan moved me to tears, made me laugh out loud, and forced me to take a closer look at this thing called life and all the chance happenings that make us unique individuals.

Middlesex is a story that is indeed epic, crossing continents as well as generations, all while highlighting the importance of love. Desdemona and Lefty, Tessie and Milt, and most importantly Calliope/Cal - each discovers and struggles with love and all its burdens, whether it is love of family, love of self, or love of neighbor. In addition, Mr. Eugenides discusses certain taboos with honesty, integrity, and sincerity, taking the "ick" factor out of the taboo itself.

One of the many lessons in Middlesex is the idea that life is ultimately about the impact of others on an individual's life. At so many times throughout the novel, one small change in one tiny detail could have ended with a completely different result for Callie. Desdemona or Lefty marrying someone else, Milton or Tessie marrying someone else, a doctor with greater observation skills - one change and the entire story would be different.

"The timing of the thing had to be just so in order for me to become the person I am. Delay the act by an hour and you change the gene selection" (p. 11)

Is it fate that Callie would one day become Cal or chance? How can one tell? What does this mean for other individuals?

The way the story is structured, the reader knows about Callie's plight before Mr. Eugenides presents it in all its glory. This juxtaposition between Cal's present and Callie's past is both fascinating, reassuring and quite telling. The reader knows that Cal makes the adjustment he needed to make to thrive in society as a man, yet the reader also knows that Callie will be forced to make difficult decisions. The reader knows what is going to happen and fervently wishes that she or he could step in and prevent Callie's pain. No where is this emotional involvement more prevalent than when Callie discusses her relationship for the Object. Her love for the Object is beautiful, erotic and painfully poignant because the confusion and pain Callie feels is so unnecessary if only one person had changed their course of action. Yet, it is Callie's love that spurs the more dramatic moments and her ultimate decision. Again, is it fate or is it chance?

The narrator, Kristoffer Tabori, did an excellent job of bringing the Stephanides clan to life. His personifications of Desdemona chiding Lefty had me in tears with laughter. His personification of Milton and his relationship with Callie made me reminiscent of my own relationship with my father. As Cal, he becomes a friend, someone I want to protect and help find happiness and acceptance. In essence, Mr. Tabori made the audiobook. I highly doubt I would have had the same reactions or the same emotional connection without Mr. Tabori's narration.

That being said, Middlesex is still an extremely powerful novel that requires no narration for full impact. Mr. Eugenides uses each word brilliantly to create maximum emotional impact within each reader. Simultaneously, his blend of history with its personal connections creates a sense of legitimacy that blurs the line between fact and fiction. The end result is a novel in which the reader is completely absorbed and emotionally involved with a family that is incredibly realistic while being larger than life. Yet, the reader is a better person for having spent time with Desdemona and Lefty, with Milt and Tessie, with Father Mike and Zoe, and especially with Cal. Theirs is a story that truly transcends time.

REVIEW - Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff

Title: Cleopatra: A Life

Author: Stacy Schiff

Synopsis (Courtesy of Powell's Books): "Her palace shimmered with onyx, garnets, and gold, but was richer still in political and sexual intrigue. Above all else, Cleopatra was a shrewd strategist and an ingenious negotiator.

Though her life spanned fewer than forty years, it reshaped the contours of the ancient world. She was married twice, each time to a brother. She waged a brutal civil war against the first when both were teenagers. She poisoned the second. Ultimately she dispensed with an ambitious sister as well; incest and assassination were family specialties. Cleopatra appears to have had sex with only two men. They happen, however, to have been Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, among the most prominent Romans of the day. Both were married to other women. Cleopatra had a child with Caesar and--after his murder--three more with his protege. Already she was the wealthiest ruler in the Mediterranean; the relationship with Antony confirmed her status as the most influential woman of the age. The two would together attempt to forge a new empire, in an alliance that spelled their ends. Cleopatra has lodged herself in our imaginations ever since.

Famous long before she was notorious, Cleopatra has gone down in history for all the wrong reasons. Shakespeare and Shaw put words in her mouth. Michelangelo, Tiepolo, and Elizabeth Taylor put a face to her name. Along the way, Cleopatra's supple personality and the drama of her circumstances have been lost. In a masterly return to the classical sources, Stacy Schiff here boldly separates fact from fiction to rescue the magnetic queen whose death ushered in a new world order. Rich in detail, epic in scope, Schiff 's is a luminous, deeply original reconstruction of a dazzling life."

Thoughts: Cleopatra is a name that automatically conjures certain images thanks to Hollywood. Unfortunately, thanks to the adage that the victors record the histories, all that exists are myths and tall tales when it comes to her true self. Portrayed as a harlot and a witch who used magic and sex to lure two of the most powerful men into doing her bidding, the true Cleopatra has been lost to time. Ms Schiff, however, brings her back from the dead, weeding through the fiction to uncover the hidden truths behind the mystery that is one of the ancient world's greatest leaders.

Cleopatra truly does deserve that title as one of the ancient world's greatest leaders. Under her leadership, Alexandria and Egypt remained the wealthiest country in the known world. Alexandria was renowned for its learning, its culture. Cleopatra herself prized education and ensured she surrounded herself with the top philosophers, scientists, linguists, mathematicians, and the like. Brave and politically savvy, Cleopatra placed her people above all else. Her relationship with Julius Caesar was one way of obtaining the political support necessary to ensure her people would remain protected as the Romans obtained greater power. Her relationship with Mark Antony, however, was something special. Originally designed as another power play to shore up political support against Octavian, their relationship became one based on love. Unfortunately, this relationship also meant her tragic undoing.

As mentioned, very little remains about Cleopatra, and what does exist was written by authors and poets that were trying to incur favor with the Romans. As a result, that which does exist is understandably biased against her. Ms. Schiff does an amazing job of reading between the lines of these supposed histories, extracting a more accurate picture of Cleopatra or at least determining the blatant lies. Some things will remain hidden forever, including the truth behind Cleopatra's death. Was it a well-executed suicide, or was it something more dastardly on the part of Octavian? Unfortunately, mankind will never know. At least the asp is debunked.

What strikes the reader most is the loss of Alexandria and of such a great leader. As a female, one cannot help but marvel that one of Octavian's major reasons for opposing Cleopatra in the first place is because she was a woman, and he could not stomach the thought of that much wealth in the hands of a woman. Under her reign, women enjoyed an immense number of freedoms, the likes of which they would not see again for centuries. Octavian needed the Egyptian wealth, but he also did not like the precedent Cleopatra set for the rest of the world. How different would the world be today had misogyny and greed been a factor?

Extremely well written, Cleopatra transcends an ordinary biography. Instead of a dry, fact-filled timeline of history, Ms. Schiff uses historical narratives to obtain a complete picture of this mysterious woman, using not only narratives directly about Cleopatra but into the Ptolemy dynasty in general. She delves into Egyptian lifestyles, Roman politics and other sources to present the psychology behind her actions and remove as much of the mystery as possible. The result is as complete a picture of this remarkable woman as has ever existed.

The story of Cleopatra has always been rather tragic, only because Cleopatra has been portrayed that way throughout the ages. Ms. Schiff makes her story truly tragic only because of what might have been. Cleopatra was a leader like no other. Revered as a goddess, Egypt and Alexandria enjoyed unimagined prosperity during her reign. There were learnings that would disappear with her that would also take centuries to rediscover. The world lost an amazing woman when she died. Ms. Schiff brings her back to the world, so that we can rediscover the fascinating woman that was Cleopatra.


Thank you to Hachette Books and GLIBA for this advanced review copy.

The Sunday Salon - November 14, 2010

Finally, a peaceful weekend - no games in the middle of the afternoons or evenings, no parties or get-togethers with friends. Nothing. Dare I say it? It is wonderful!

This week was parent/teacher conference week. Connor's teacher actually reads my blog and is a fellow kindred reading spirit (hi, Mrs. Conley!), so I was actually looking forward to getting together and talking to her about Connor. It turns out he is still getting into trouble because he finds it difficult to stop reading novels during class (this has been a problem every year since 2nd grade), but honestly, as I smuggled HP 6 and HP7 into work and read them both when I should have been working, it's very difficult for me to get angry with him about that. Still, we had a pleasant chat, made more so by the fact that Connor is kicking butt in school this year and is having an absolute blast. We met with Holly's teacher on Thursday. As Holly is more subdued, we weren't certain what to expect. It turns out she is doing well, even if she is a bit of a chatty Cathy - which comes to no surprise to us. Overall, the reports are both kids are doing very well, which is something every parent wants to hear!

We also received the kids' school pictures this week. I am in love with Holly's picture this year. She is beyond beautiful. Connor's is so typical for him, slightly awkward but very sincere. I am so pleased with both of them and am even more thrilled they don't need retakes!

This week, I stayed busy as a stop on the TLC book tour for Heidegger's Glasses; I'm even hosting a giveaway for a copy of the novel, open through tomorrow. I also reviewed the audiobook of A Secret Kept by Tatiana De Rosnay. Connor shared his thoughts on the latest Wimpy Kid release, The Ugly Truth. I spilled some thoughts I've had about parental guilt and confessed my way into a new feature designed to keep me motivated and hold me accountable for my healthy actions. The support for the new feature has been great. I hope it holds!

Since today is all about relaxation and rest, my body is screaming for me to do just that. So, now it's time for me to sign off and enjoy the remainder of my stress-free weekend. Have a great week, everyone. Happy reading!

Connor's Corner - The Ugly Truth

And now, what you've all been waiting for - Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth (Diary of a Wimpy Kid #5)! Greg Heffley returns, learning about puberty (ick!). His friend Rowley and he aren't too comfortable about it. Also, Greg's mom starts going to school again, which completely ruins his normal life. Now, Dad's in charge, and things are going downhill. Oh well. Nothing could compare to having to go to his uncle's 4th wedding. Worse, this year he gets the "talk" from his 95-year-old Gammie. How could things get worse?

Jeff Kinney's done it again - in a way. It seems that Greg's vocabulary has increased beyond a regular middle-schooler's. Also, these books are good for only one time. I mean, you read it once and think, "that was a good book", and then you never read it again. Still, it is a great book though, funny, poetic, and most of all, wimpy.