...and boy what a dinner it was.

My awesome copy...when it came to my door

Before I started reading I knew absolutely nothing about the book The Dinner by http://hermankoch/ . I did not read a single review...I did not do any google research that I typically do. I went in completely blind...cause I like to live on the edge?? Maybe...nah, I just wanted to take a chance on it without any outside influence. Am I glad that I did??...well duh, here's the review:

For one, can I just say I loved the cover. Great cover...love the hole and severe burn where a plate should be...so fitting to the story...very symbolic of the journey you are about to take!! This is a totally uncomfortable book and I say that in a good way. How so you wonder??.. I just believe that Herman Koch's intentions are to make us uncomfortable as we read every single page, every single line, get deep into the lives of the characters in this story, be in the moment,  and it delivers. So we start off with the narrator of the story, Paul Lohman...Mr. Curmudgeon, I get that from the start. He goes on with the entire story in a complaining state...entitled..slightly annoyed...bitter that he has a successful brother..resentful of his brother's success at career, marriage, and life in general...Serg Lohman, whose status and money affords him the ability to get into some of the most exclusive eateries. Waiting lists??...what's that for Serg Lohman!! There is a dinner that is to take place between the not so successful Paul and his wife Claire...to meet with Serg Lohman and his beautiful and just as fabulous wife Babette. Chapter upon chapter we get the bitter Paul feeling oh so injusticed by Serg's success. It had me laughing a little and almost relating...even if it is an absolutely disgusting thing to admit. There is another story within that story and that's where it gets even more crazier..even more distorted...even more sickening. A revolting crime that involves his son Michel and Serg's two sons...but more than that it is how Paul describes the whole thing...his take on this very perturbing matter. And the thing is we have no clue how the boys are involved...in what way...we have to keep reading and as we keep reading the situation becomes more complex...stranger. We are expected to hate the very 'pompous' Serg if Paul could have his way about things but our opinions, at least mine, makes me think much deeper into Paul's resentments and what that tells about him as a person. A man with a chip on his shoulder all the way through and a penchant for violent thoughts, I found myself hating him...or at least feeling slightly uncomfortable with him as the story unfolds.

The thing I loved about this story is that we are taken through a fancy schmancy dinner in a very fine restaurant between 4 very different very dysfunctional people..all the elaborate and exquisite courses...and through each of these food adventures and Paul's narrative another cryptic story is unfolding. The way it is done is unique and amazing and I could not get enough. It reads very slow but I don't mean that in a negative way....highly suspenseful to the point of almost irritating....I LOVED it. It's one of those books that you just can't put down...you think each page is gonna give you something you need to know...but no...you have to wait for one other page..and one other page more....gripping and addictive!! And as you go along you know you are waist deep in something quite disturbing. It reminds me very much like The Lottery by Shirley Jackson. It gives me that exact same perverted feel. A gruesome car accident that you drive slowly to see if you can catch a glimpse at carnage even though you know you shouldn't.

This is the book to read if you like suspense but the kind that in a way can almost be construed as slow because it doesn't reveal itself by simply jumping out at you...it makes you wait...it takes you on it's journey. This is the book to read if you can find yourself highly disturbed and be ok with that. This is the book...PERIOD. I absolutely loved it. It took me a few days after I actually read the entire thing to write a review because I wanted to stew on how the story made me feel. A week later the book has not left me...I am haunted by the story..and that is always a good thing. This is one of those books you will not easily forget.

Thanks to Herman Koch for his genius portrayed on paper and for the peeps at http://bloggingforbooks/ for making my request possible...I received this book free in exchange for an honest review and honest review I did give. Again, Thanks!! 

Angels here on earth....just in time for the Holiday's...

So a lovely little gift with a great big intention happened to me the other day and I just had to share..one lovely action rippled into several more lovely little events. I have to be a bit cryptic about this just to spare the person I am referring to any embarrassment and attention that they do not want...otherwise if I had it my way I would shout it to the rooftops...I would proclaim what a wonderful friend I have..I would brag about her until peoples ears and eyeballs bleed with all the promotion I am giving to her. Trust me, I would....

And so...a few days ago I received a message from a FB friend asking me to give her my address. This friend is not someone I know in the outside world..it has been strictly social media..actually just limited to Facebook. Lovely person..I enjoy her postings when she does post and she has shown the same for me when I post..at least on occasion she has cause ya know,  if you know me, about 5,000,000 times a day that I do post can be exhausting to keep up with.  Although I will say I think she must get awfully annoyed with me from time to time...who doesn't, right??!! I am a Facebook posting beast and am not ashamed to admit it. Ok so back to the message...she asked me for my address..although I barely know her I give it because...well, why not...call it a good vibe!! She tells me it is to gift me a book. Of course immediate reaction is pure elation...(I think I did a cartwheel...I think I did two in a row actually). I bragged to my kids...I bragged to my hubby and I waited as patient as an extremely inpatient person could for the arrival of this "book". I did not have to wait very long..I go to check my mail and in it a letter...from the friend. I think to myself "Ok so it's probably a gift card..a voucher...even a coupon for a book...just as awesome". Only it was more than that..something I totally was not expecting but at the current time much needed for myself and my little family. Again, I won't go into those details...that would be rude. But the reason I feel I have to at least mention this much is because it was a beautiful moment..a lovely experience that was in some weird way shared among two people that met and only know each other via Facebook. The power of social media, right??!! Trust me when I say that this gift was beyond anything that I deserve...and I almost did not want to accept it. Included in the lovely gift was a note...with the wishes for me to enjoy my Thanksgiving and to get myself a book or two. (You don't have to tell me twice lady...lovely lady!!)

So I RUN home (2 houses down) and call the hubby...I could barely get the surprise out. He is overjoyed...yadda yadda yadda I message her to tell her how much I freakin' love her!!....AHA....yes I was laughing and typing...crying..and laughing...laughing crying...and typing....and crying. My grandmother was right..no matter what religion you are..or not.."there are angels on this earth and you don't have to die to meet them." Whatever the word you want to call it...blessed...lucky...gifted by random chance...whatever, I felt the holiday spirit...and trust me I was not feeling it at all. Every one singing and praising their blessings on facebook...(showing off is the term I use)...I wished I could smack some people into reality or just smack them period cause I'm kinda a Curmudgeon like that and my inner me always hates those fake outer people. Don't get me wrong I have many things and people and events in my life to be thankful for (also, not everyone is fake for being happy and showing it)...I live with 5 of them and they mean more to me than anyone or anything and get me through no matter what the obstacle..the only 5 people worth this roller coaster of a ride called LIFE...the only 5 that know my "crazy" and love it and accept it and totally get it..my little family!! But still I am not gonna sugar coat the fact that I...scratch that....WE have had a very tough year...most of it financial and unexpected. Yes my life is far better than most with the same situation or worse but still tough for us and we have dealt with not just the tough stuff but tough people that have spewed their opinions on us and ignored all our efforts as a family that we do make. Blah Blah Blah....it was that moment that I opened that letter that made me remember "the angels on earth"...a reminder that we are not alone...with no judgement, someone sees mine and my husbands efforts and struggles...sees all we do for our kids...and wants to help(mind you she didn't even really know any of my issues..I am not that open on social media)..with no stipulations or explanations or proof. I am reminded of the beauty that this world also has (cause sometimes we need a reminder...we all can't be perfect in happiness in faith).

So with that.....I follow the instructions to a Teeeeeeeee...ya, know, it DOES state I should get myself a book or two. There was a special store I had in mind but they were not open at the time so I picked a Half Price Bookstore..a local one I go to. The peeps there are always so kind. Before we get there my husband asked me "What book are you looking to get?"...Duh, he should know..for the past year I have been on a mission to find an old vintage copy of Gone With The Wind. Tough mission, I could not find it. I did not want to buy it online(nor could I afford to)..and I did find it at Barnes & Noble but for the price of $30...a beautiful edition but I felt guilt about ever getting it. If it's vintage I want it to be at a Vintage price. The hubby says "Why not just come across the street and get it?" (Barnes & Noble is across from Half Price) I said "Nope". but a part of me wanted to say yes. We get out of the car...walk in...I do my traipsing through the aisles first before I start focusing. My husband says "I am gonna ask the clerk if they have it on file."...Standing in the middle aisle with my daughter..waiting..my husband comes back and says "Nope...they say they don't have it in the system as having any copies here...if you want we can go somewhere else??"...Always helpful he is!! I tell him "Noooo..I am not gonna waste gas we can't afford to check out another store..I will just have to get my next option and save that one for another time." Just as I turn right at the corner of the aisle I was beside my eyes glance downward to the right..and there it is....GONE WITH THE(FREAKIN') WIND!!! And a vintage copy at that. I could not believe it. I didn't even know what aisle I was on or that I was beside the 'M's" (for Margaret Mitchell). It was so meant to be that I get this book..I am still freakin' the phug out!! Oh boy did I snatch that copy and hold it ever so tightly to my bosom like a brand new baby...she is my brand new Vintage baby!!

My beautiful vintage-ish baby

Okay so I am walking around with my new old baby girl...mission accomplished, I could basically die happy now when my hubby tells me to look around for something else...my daughter rooting that idea on...(as if I need all that....ppppfffttt). I decide on one more book...my daughter picks it out. She found it as the look of it called to her...she read the synopsis and that called to me so I said yes. Beautiful copy of the book Our Tragic Universe by Scarlett Thomas. 

and it comes with black painted edges folks!!

Thinking I was done..then I realized, I can't leave until I check out the clearance...I always check the clearance. There I found a copy of Revolutionary Road..reprint of the Vintage Edition (??). It was the cover I wanted. It was only $4 but $4 I felt bad about spending. I had a goal to not go over $10 and my seven year old was holding a movie copy of Shrek in 3D and my 4 year old had a stuffed squirrel (he LOVES stuffed babies). I go to the counter...debating still. She tells me the price..slightly over $10 so I tell her "I won't take the Revolutionary Road". The clerk...She says "Will you take it if I give it to you for $1?"...I jumped..."YES." Such a sweetheart she says "good then...you made the right choice..it's a great book..that's a great copy and it's gonna be worth it..you have to own it." It's Revolutionary Road, of course it is gonna be worth it. But still, so amazingly sweet of her to give it to me for only a Dollar for the simple fact that it's a great book and she wanted for me to experience it. That's why I love my local Half Price Bookstore!!. 

lovely edition...and lovely addition to my collection

So there's my story...my experience...my wonderful gift that started with a message from a lovely friend on Facebook. Now I am not the biggest fan of giving thanks to a bunch of Pilgrims on Thanksgiving...I side with my beautiful Native American Peeps on that one. But I am all for being with family...and honoring what my friend also stated in the note that she wished for me to do: Enjoy Thanksgiving with your family. With her gift that is very much a gift not only to me but to my husband and kids(books included), I now can!!(without all the stress and worry)

Mr. Squirrel that the 4 year old just had to have!!

Book Review of Marking Time by April White

A YA fantasy book that an adult can really get into...

Marking Time (Book One in the Immortal Descendants Series)

I received my copy of the book Marking Time by April White and I was intimidated to say the least..it's a whopper of a book at 431 pages and it's a fantasy novel. I don't have that much freakin' experience in YA fantasy. Am I too old for YA Fantasy?? The description had me intrigued and I was ready to tackle it...full steam ahead!! And I will say no matter the age it's a great book with a great plot, lots of mystery and plenty of excitement.

We are immediately introduced to Siara Elian, a 17 year old tom-boy tagger with a great and useful skill of night vision and a fear of shadows. So the book begins with her being caught marking up a tunnel by two cops..but not before she runs across some shady guys engaged in scandalous conversation. Intrigued to find out who they were she comes across another problem...her mother has been missing..which is typical of her mother..and she is forced to live with her grandmother Millicent until she returns per the cops orders. So she is off with her grandmother to Elian Manor in England...far away from the home and the home life that she is use to. Once at the massive Elian Manor she faces yet another ordeal...the posh life and the rules that Millicent has strongly enforced on her. Millicent is not so kind to Siara..she is cold and direct except when it comes to speaking to Siara about her mother and her past..suddenly it's a cryptic mess that only intrigues Siara even more. They get into a discussion about her mother..to which Siara shows her a drawing of a clock...a clock that was given to her by her father, another total mystery. Much to Siara's curiosity, Millicent becomes enraged to see the design of the clock and forbids Siara to ever draw such a thing. Not one to follow rules Siara flees the manor to search the woods nearby...while there she soon discovers that she is being followed...by two very different people. One being "Slick" one of the guys in the tunnel back at home and "Wolf" someone that is trying to help her to get away. Not sure whether to trust 'Wolf" she knows she has no choice..he leads her to a train station where he tells her to find "the spiral at White Chapel"...having no clue but needing to escape whoever "Slick" is she does so...hiding herself in a service alcove. And that's where things really start to get weird. Focusing on a spiral, she instinctively begins to trace it with her fingers...she hears an intense hum followed by violent shaking and a puking outburst...then she is in another time...the Victorian Era..only she does not believe it and thinks it is a play or a city tour experience. Again she comes across 'Wolf" who is drawn to her and wants to help her. There is a whole other dramatic suspenseful experience when she comes across Jack the Ripper...(I won't even get into all that although it is very important to the story). So there in the 1880's Victorian London "Wolf" goes on to fill her in on some facts...that his name is Archer Devereux and that she is what is known as a "clocker" which is a time traveler. Everything is a mystery to Siara and she does not know what to believe. Frustrated with Archers new information she flees only to run into Jack the Ripper who is for whatever reason out to get her. Archer comes to her rescue....and just when she is tracing the design of a spiral to go back home she spots her mother.....then she is back in her time...and "Slick" is waiting for her. She escapes and heads back to her grandmother's. It is there that she is presented with more cryptic clues to who she is..who her mother is and what her family is about. There is a book...pictures...and the truth of her lineage (sorta but not quite and only what little info Millicent wants her to know) She gets sent to St. Brigid's where things get even weirder..she discovers many new family secrets..meets many other strange characters....there's bears (shape shifters) a Vampire..werewolves...experiences many more time travels and yet the mystery continues to remain...where is her mother?? and who is Siara really??..Why is "Slick" and his goons after her??....Why is Tom( Adam and Ava's cousin that went missing from St. Brigid's) missing and found back in 1888??..how and why does Jack the Ripper play into all this?? The story takes you on many turns and "spirals" and in every chapter there is some new mystery and also some answers. Engrossing to say the least. This book does not quit.

On a personal level, I especially loved the wide range of characters...the descendants...family lineage and what they stood for. From the Aislin's..the descendants of fate. The Duncan's..the descendants of war. The Gorans..the descendants of nature. Elians...time travel. Aeron...death. Then there are the Suckers...and the Ungees...the Seers. I love all the witty nicknames that Siara's character gives to everyone and anyone that comes across her path before she figures out who they actually are. I loved Siara's character...tomboy...into parkour...a rebel at heart. I could easily imagine that edginess she portrayed but also see all her wild vulnerability. That is what made the book so fun..she was willing to take risks to get to the truths of all these mysteries..and for one goal..to find her mother even though romance and friendships get involved in the whole sorted mix. There is toooo much going on..and sometimes too much is frustratingly too much but not in this case...it is welcomed happily.

I really enjoyed this book. Again, I would classify this as a YA fantasy...and although I don't have much experience with YA this book did it for me...I am captivated no matter my age. It's complex...funny...and mysterious...an entertaining read until the very end. I am even more excited to learn that there is more...more of this story and I look forward to reading every single book that comes out in this series (The Immortal Descendants). April White is an amazing writer and she has me hooked completely.

I thankfully received my copy of this book via giveaway in exchange for an honest review...to which I have happily done so!!

The Gift Of A Charm by Melissa Hill

And we have another book review..Something warm and cozy for the season...a romantic read. 

So I don't typically indulge in romantic books but I liked the cover. Maybe it's the time of year..the cold in the air but I saw that cover and thought it would be fitting. Anything to get in the festive holiday spirit cause more times than not I am all about the 'Baaaahumbug!!'.

(my pic does not do the actual book cover any justice..it's really a lovely vibrant cover)

Again, I don't typically read feel-good sentimental romance stuff but I figured that since the holidays were here and the weather was getting colder I wanted to try something a little different from what I usually aim for...The Gift of a Charm seemed pretty amazing and so I went for it.

A feel-good story; the main character Holly working in a fabulous vintage clothing store in New York, comes upon a charm bracelet hidden in an old coat. The charm bracelet is very similar to the Tiffany's charm bracelet that she owns. Feeling impelled to seek out the owner she is on a mission. Then there's Greg, on a mission of his own...leaving the corporate world in order to follow his passion of photography. True to romance stories, we get a lovely little connection between Holly and Greg and that's the end of that...only that's so not true!! There are little twists and turns throughout..a lovely unique read and I have discovered that it is the only way I will enjoy a romance book...if it has unique little twists and a great purpose besides all the affection and lust.

Again, I don't typically read romance tales but the ones I have currently read I liked and this book goes right along into that grouping. Just in time for the holidays...it's warm..entertaining..lovely, a light read. I enjoyed it.

Thanks to Melissa Hill for making it possible for me to win via giveaway this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

Book Review...FINALLY...The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

 Tun Tun Tun....and here it is...my book review for a book I read awhile ago for anyone out there that gives a hoot about my reviews....

 ♫ Tell me, Is there anybody out there? Am I swimming through this empty sea alone?....♫ Pink Floyd's words not mine...but thinking the same thing. In any case I am die hard to the "book reviewing thang"...and The Handmaid's Tale is a great book to read and ponder upon. A timeless read and another reason to love Margaret Atwood's work. I received my copy of the book via purchase at the awesome site Thriftbooks.com. Now let me mention that there is a lot of bad reviews for Thriftbooks...people complaining that they took forever to send their books or they were not in the condition they signed up for. I happened to have a great experience. My books came earlier than I expected and the condition of the books better than I asked for. 

        (see..I went for a fair condition book.I got fair w/great character..hardcover..clean)

On to the book reviewin'....So we get a Science- Fiction-y....Dystopian-ish kinda read. I don't really know, I just know I loved the book. The main character...Offred (Property Of Fred), a handmaid in the Republic of Gilead...where men and their disturbingly sick government rule and women DON'T....ugh..the horror!!!  Calm down Dalai Momma...Calm the phug down. Back to Offred...the handmaid..and a handmaid's sole role in this society is to make healthy babies for families higher ranked in this twisted little dystopian world. That's basically the only way allowed to make babies but they are few and far between either losing them through miscarriage, stillborn, or with severe defects....yes we get (check-up)doctors trying to get some underground deals going with the girls...guards who want some handmaid lovin' on the side but those and many other things are forbidden. The consequences are severe and the book takes us down the path of obedience, intrigue, temptation, possible rebellion and the consequences. Offred fumbles back and forth with trying to stay in line and the desire to rebel...most especially when she discovers hidden messages left by the women before her (sometimes a mystery as to what ever became of these women)..the basic message and I quote: "Don't let the bastards grind you down!!"  I'm not giving any more..I am not a fan of spoilers...gonna have to read the book for that!! But is it worth the read??....Uh....YES (as far as I am concerned anything Margaret Atwood has written is worth the read...she could write a how-to-use the toilet in the most efficient way and I'd read it...she's that good as far as I am concerned...although this only makes the 3rdish book I have read from her as of yet)

And so there is my review...I know I know...I need polishing.  I am not huge on using complicated words. I don't have a sophistication about me like maaaany other book bloggers have. But I read...a lot...and I like to talk about books...and I like to encourage others to read..cause it's amazing......so uh, read a phuggin' book peeps....especially this one...cause it's good.

    

The Grownup by: Gillian Flynn

I just finished reading The Grownup by the very talented and amazing Gillian Flynn ...and I LOVED it. It's a short story...very short..at only 64 pages. I got through it in one sitting not just because it was so short but because I did not want to put the book down. It could have been 500 pages long and I probably would have gotten through it in evening..well into the night..neglecting all my mommy duties...the husband and kids gone to bed starving...ahaha. Moving on....

The story is great...and it's not what you think...trust me on that one!! First topic...hand jobs...only Gillian Flynn could pull off talking about hand jobs and make it so sarcastic and funny that you want to read more about it. After that we get a detailed story about who the main character is..why she is who she is..and then it goes on. It goes on and it almost seems cliche of every simple scary story. It had me thinking "not another one of those haunted houses with something sinister lurking inside ready to take out a family"...then it shifts into something totally different.....and that's all I am gonna give you. You have to read it...it's worth the read.

The story is great. Gillian Flynn's signature way of writing is amazing (and you can find out more about her at http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/70462/gillian-flynn/) The book cover and size is wonderful and perfect for displaying on a shelf. My only disappointment is that the book is a short story and not a full-on novel..but then again what I read was perfectly enough. I put the book down and it had me thinking of more and more and more..I love when books do that to me. Well worth the read.

(Oh and FYI: I received this book from Blogging for Books for this honest review.

        Captain No Beard: An Imaginary Tale Of A Pirate's Life....                                              By: Carole P. Roman

What a treat to check my mail and receive a copy of Captain No Beard: An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life..especially on a day of gloom and rain. I could not wait to tell the kids what was awaiting them. So what better way than to give an honest review on a children's book than to read it to your kids and see what they think of it. Consensus says......They absolutely loved it!!

This is not your typical children's book. It is an amazing one. For starters the illustrations are gorgeous...vivid..rich..full of detail...that alone had the kids in full suspense to check out the next page..and then the next page..and then the next (which is what parents need in a children's book to keep our ever so attention deficit kiddies to endure until the end) Second, I loved the font size and style...beautiful and easy to read...perfect for my 7 year old that is moving on to reads slightly harder than he is use to should he decide to follow along or read the book on his own. Easy for me as a parent to be able to hold the book and read it under a tent that is not well lit.  And lastly the story....absolutely loved the story...the ending, showing kids just how far imagination can go and the beauty of it.

My kids loved the book...I loved the book. In the course of about two weeks...since I've owned the book, I have read it to my kids easily over 10 times. We can't get enough of such an adorable read.


and now for the second book I received in the same haul......

                               If You Were Me And Lived In....China                                               also by: Carole P. Roman

So along with the book Captain No Beard: An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's LifeI also received a copy of If You Were Me and Lived in...China: A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World Something very much different from the first book but still a great read for kids.

Just as in the first book I figured what better way to give an honest review on a children's book than to go over it with my kids to see how this story holds up. I will say this book is better suited for children a little older simply because there is a lot of wording...and with a lot of wording comes the chance that little minds lose interest right away. My 7 year old held on to the end...my 4 year old walked away..came back..walked away. Still I have to say between my 7 year old and myself we really enjoyed the book. Great illustrations..vivid colors..adorable..by Kelsea Wierenga. It's like a travel book for children. Giving the child an opportunity to learn about a culture..places to visit...dialect..foods to eat...it was fun and informative. A really great idea to teach kids something so wonderful as a new place in the world that they may have never been.

Again, I think this type of book is centered maybe more for older kids past the age of 7 just because there is such rich information that smaller children's attention spans won't grasp. But still my 4 year old loved....wait, LIKED not loved..but a solid LIKED looking at the pictures with us and we have had a good laugh the day he called his father "Ba-Ba" (Chinese word for Daddy)..so you see, at his age he learned something from this book...WIN WIN for Mommy...or rather "Maa-Ma"

Two great reads both by Carole P. Roman. We crawled inside of our reading tent and we read those books...and it was awesome...because any time spent with my kids is awesome but most importantly spending time reading to your kids books that they didn't walk away from in the middle of it...then that's amazing...Read to your kids...Read to yourself...just #ReadAPhugginBook Please!! 


Thanks to the peeps over at The Children's Book Review and to Carole P. Roman for giving me the opportunity to own these books free in exchange for an honest review.