Review: Home Safe by Elizabeth Berg

First off, I must admit that I'm a huge fan of Elizabeth Berg's writing. I have read most of Ms. Berg's books except a few of her earlier works. I find that Ms. Berg connects to the heart of a reader by touching on topics that we can relate to. She has a skill in her writing from creating characters that a reader connects to and she uses words and phrases that are heartfelt and realistic. That is why I am such a fan of Ms. Berg's books. I recently read and adored Home Safe, the characters, the story they all touched me and I felt such a connection to the honest emotions and feelings expressed throughout the book.

In Home Safe, we meet Helen, a recent widow and writer. She is trying to adjust to the sudden death of her husband Dan, her struggling relationship with her adult daughter Tessa and her parents aging and declining health. Helen was a successful and independent writer and already had several novels published. She finds herself struggling to write again and we follow her along this journey as she works through all of the recent changes in her life. Helen's husband Dan tended to shelter her from life's difficulties and Helen now has to learn how to resolve simple household repairs along with managing their finances and other day to day issues. She discovers that there are some mysteries related to their finances and an expense that her husband did not share with her before his death. Helen is forced to take charge of her life and make decisions that allow her to get to know herself, her daughter and these decisions change the course of her life.

Here is an interesting quote about Helen from Home Safe:

"She is not one of those people. She is her odd self. The kiln has been fired; she is a person persnickety about keeping her house clean but not above spitting on her desk to rub out a coffee stain; she will never be an athlete or a mathematician or a skinny person or someone whose heart isn't snagged by the sight of fireflies on a summer night and the lilting cadence of a few good lines of poetry."

Helen's character narrates the story and it is written in a a style that is typical of Elizabeth Berg. It's such an honest, open style that you almost feel as if you know Helen. There is a familiarity to the storytelling that is comforting and for me pulls me right into the book. We walk along the path with Helen and through her anecdotes are charmed and challenged just a bit to think how these ideas apply so aptly to life. I'm going to share one that touched me:

"She sits down and puts her hand to her chest and rocks. Thinks of all she has lost and will lose. All she has had an will have. It seems to her that life is like gathering berries into an apron with a hole. Why do we keep on? Because the berries are beautiful and we must eat to survive. We catch what we can. We walk past what we lose for the promise of more, just ahead. " pg. 237

If you haven't read Elizabeth Berg's novels, please do yourself a favor and pick one up. Home Safe is a great one to start with and my most favorite is Year of Pleasures which is written in a similar style as Home Safe. I'm going to have to write a review or recap of Year of Pleasures sometime soon as I read it before I started this blog. Home Safe would make a wonderful book club discussion book as there is a lot to discuss about this book including identity issues, marriage, mother-daughter issues, friendships, aging, death etc. I even found a reading guide for Home Safe, at Reading Group Guides.

You can visit Elizabeth Berg's Blog here, to find out more information about the author, her books and appearances. She even has a section called Fun Things, where she writes about girlfriends, shares recipes, photos, a blog etc.

My Favorite Reads-June 4th

Alyce at At Home With Books just started a wonderful new Thursday meme called My Favorite Reads! This is where we can feature one of our favorite reads that we finished before we started blogging or even for older reviews that we would like to feature. We're not reviewing the books, but just giving a brief description (most likely the publisher's blurb) and then we tell you why the book is one of our favorites.

I think that this is a fantastic idea as there are so many books that I've read before I started this blog and would love to share them without a full review(many I have read years ago and my memory on all the details isn't the best). Also, I like the idea of featuring books that have been out awhile and not always focusing on current books and new releases.


For me, I've chosen a book that I read several years ago with my book club. It has stayed on my list of favorites for years and I would love to share a bit about this book with you.

The Fall of Rome by Martha Southgate

(first published 2002)

Cover Art: I found the changes in the covers very interesting. The one on the left is the harback cover that I read, the middle cover is the trade paperback and the right is the mass paperback cover.

Description from Martha Southgate Website:

The Fall of Rome tells the story of Jerome Washington, the sole black faculty member at the Chelsea School, an exclusive New England boys’ boarding school. From his perch in the Classics department, Washington lectures about the glories of Roman Civilization. Washington is a rigorous, difficult and lonely man who has spent much of his career trying not to appear too “racial” to his white colleagues.

Into his classroom steps Rashid Bryson, a bright, appealing young African-American who mistakenly assumes that the black teacher will be an ally. In the end, Rashid forces Jerome to examine his own self-hatred, and as a tragic triangle forms between these two men and Jana Hansen, a new white female teacher, the stage is set for a painful confrontation.

My thoughts on this book:

As I mentioned, I read this book with my book club several years ago. The author grew up nearby in Cleveland, Ohio and most of us are familiar with the city and several of us grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland as I did. Cleveland is a racially diverse community as well as many of the suburbs. I liked how the story is told from the perspective of the three characters and you learn how each of them end up at the Chelsea school. I found this book to be an interesting look at race and class and how the characters were effected by their past, their own experiences and their own perceptions. The story examines how characters of the same race clash and differ. This is a coming of age story that also focuses on finding racial identity. As a reader, the story makes you question your own stereotypes and to look at race from different sides. For me, it was the storytelling itself and the authors writing style that impacted me as I read this book. The descriptions were vivid and real and it was the kind of book that made me think about my own perceptions about race and class. We had a great discussion of this book at my book club as well. I just learned in looking back on the book that it is considered Young Adult.

Review: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Help is a wonderful story set in the deep south of Jackson, Mississippi and it is told through the eyes of three amazing women who join together to write stories of what it is like to be a maid in the 1960's during the civil rights movement. Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, comes home after graduation from Ole Miss in 1962. She is different than other women during this time, she is not anxious to get married and she has a college degree. She wants to find a job and applies for one at a NYC publishing firm. She is encouraged by an editor there and finds a job at the local newspaper writing a weekly cleaning advice column. She enlists the help from a friends maid which opens up the door to another writing idea and the start of an amazing connection between Skeeter and two maids and incredible ladies, Aibileen and Minny.

Aibileen and Minny's characters portray the beauty and strength of black women who were maids in the south during this time of great difficulty. Their strength of character shined through the pages through their first person narratives. The reader could understand the fear and tension and discrimination that these women felt. We could also see the ignorance and arrogance of white people during this time and I disliked many of them for these traits. Sadly, this is the reality of this time but Aibileen and Minny were able to make changes in their own lives indirectly through these stories. They loved the white children that they raised and many white families treated them very well. They also had to endure their own hardships within their own families sacrificing much to make ends meet. I was struck by the depths and layers of honesty this book portrays. This is not an easy time to write about and there is much shame I felt as a white women reading this that these events or ones similar to them, actually occurred in our history and racism on so many levels continues to exist. The book does leave you with a great sense of hope and as the characters in this book stood up to make change, this reflects the reality of time that so many others did as well.

The Help is Kathryn Stockett's first novel and what a wise and powerful debut this book is. Ms. Stockett shares in the acknowledgements and on her website that she was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi and was raised by a black maid. You can tell through her writing that this is a story close to her heart and one that she took great care in writing. One point that the author shares in her acknowledgement is that there was one line in the book that she prizes and it touched me as I read the book as well:

"Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, We are just two people. Not that much seperates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought. "

The Help is definitely one that is on my list of Best Books for 2009. It is a powerful and engaging book that I could not put down and I continue to think about the characters and the story after I have finished it. Make sure to visit Kathryn Stockett's website to read more about The Help, find discussion questions, discussion with the author, read an excerpt and more. You can listen to a podcast with the author here.

Thank you to Amy Einhorn Books/Penguin Books for providing me with an ARC copy of this book.

Review: Tomato Girl by Jayne Pupek

Tomato Girl by Jayne Pupek was so captivating that I could not put it down and read it in two days. The story is told through the eyes of Ellie Sanders, the main character who is an eleven year old girl. Ellie is forced into adulthood way too soon due to her parents behaviors. He mother has emotional troubles that are unpredictable and sometimes frightening for Ellie. She adores her mother and has taken on more of a caretaker role to her. There are moments and memories of wonderful times with her mother and Ellie treasures them. She realizes after spending time at her best friends Mary's house, that mothers are supposed to make lemonade and take care of you, not the other way around. Ellie clings to her father for solidity and strength hoping for a normal life as other children have. Her father takes care of her and her mother and they learn to hide some of the things that her mother does. This all changes for Ellie when her father becomes smitten with a young girl who raises and sells tomatoes to the general store that Ellie's father manages. Ellie calls Tessa the Tomato Girl and blames her for disrupting her home and luring her father away from their family.


Ellie has to watch as her mother's sanity gradually slips away. The story takes place in the 60's in the south and includes racial elements respective of that time. There are many wonderful people that take Ellie under their wing and I especially enjoyed reading about Clara-The magic lady and Jericho, Mr Morgan and her teachers that watched out for Ellie and loved her. Ellie creates a secret world to save herself behind the chalk door. Here's a passage that I loved that shows the power of our hearts and minds:


"The Chalk door is good magic to shut out cruel deeds and words from others. That was a gift from Mr. Morgan, something he wanted you to use to protect yourself from rumors and name calling. But you use the chalk door to hide. To learn real magic, you have to face things that scare you. You have to face the hurt inside here," she says pointing to my heart, "if you are ever to be rid of it."

I believe that everyone has a chalk door that they can choose to hide behind and this was such a powerful analogy. This is just one example of the beautiful writing of Jayne Pupek's novel Tomato Girl.

I enjoyed reading each chapter and looked forward to the chapter titles to give me an idea of what was ahead. One of my favorite chaper titles was "Chalk Doors, Chocolates and a Kiss". When I finished the book, I did return to the prologue and re-read it and gained a further understanding of the book.

This is a powerful book in so many ways. The subject matter can be difficult to read but it is written in such a way that pulls you in and you are drawn to Ellie and the other characters in the book. There is a sense of hopefulness that draws you along through Ellies voice to the end. It is hard to imagine that a child would have to endure some of these experiences that Ellie goes through but there is a reality and truth to this story that children do experience these things and can endure. There is a positive note to the sadness told in this story with a bittersweet ending. I highly recommend this debut novel by Jayne Pupek for the depth of emotion and truth it shares, that we can endure a childhood that presents so many challenges. This is one of my favorite books that I have read this year and I look forward to more books written by Jayne Pupek.

To read more about the author Jayne Pupek and her other work and projects, please check out her website here. There is Readers Guide for Tomato Girl available here.

Thank you to Jayne Pupek and Algonquin Books for this book.

Review: Summer on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber

Summer on Blossom Street is part of a wonderful series by Debbie Macomber called the Blossom Street Series. This is book five and I've read them all and they are one of my favorite series. Blossom Street is a friendly neighborhood in Seattle and the series centers on A Good Yarn, a cozy yarn shop owned by Lydia who also teaches many knitting classes. There are other shops along Blossom Street that are featured in the books and they include the French Café, Susannah’s Garden and Blossom Street Books.

The main character of the series is Lydia, who owns and runs A Good Yarn. She is a cancer survivor, married and a stepmother to a young boy. She runs the shop with the help of her often critical but supportive sister Margaret. Lydia decides to start a new class called Knit to Quit. It's for those who want to quit something or someone and start a new page in life. The members of the class include a few new characters and a familiar one. The new members include Phoebe who just ended an engagement to an unfaithful man and wants to get over him. A familiar character from previous books joins the class as well, Alix . Alix and her husband want to start a family but she needs to quit smoking. Another new member is Hutch, who needs to deal with stress in his life caused by running his family chocolate factory business as well as deal with an impending lawsuit brought about by a greedy and unsavory lawyer. His health has been affected and his doctor suggests he learn how to knit. Hutch decides to give it a try and finds he likes learning to knit and has more than one reason to stick with the knitting class.

Life is complicated on Blossom Street as it can be in "real" life and as it can be to learn to knit. I consider myself a newbie knitter as I have just made a few scarves and basically taught myself to knit as the knit shop I went to had a very impatient owner try to teach me how to knit. It was in no way like A Good Yarn. I ended up teaching myself with my mother-in-law's help. The members of the class learn to knit a Cable Sampler Scarf and there is even a pattern included at the end of the book.

Some other complications develop in the book among other characters such as Ann Marie, who owns and runs Blossom Street Books. Ann Marie recently adopted a daughter, Ellen and things are going along well in their family which includes their cute Yorkie named Baxter. I assume that may be him on the cover. Things change when a handsome stranger stops by the bookstore one day and starts to ask some questions about Ellen. Also, things are challenging for Lydia as she is helping her aging mother who they are helping adjust to a recent move to an assisted living facility. Then, Lydia and her husband Brad unexpectedly become foster parents to an angry and defiant 12 year old girl. She has a lot of uncertainty in her own life being shuffled from home to home while in the foster system. What she really wants is a family and a home but is uncertain that this will ever happen for her.

I savored this story when I read it. Debbie Macomber has a style of writing that for me, just pulls me right into the pages and I feel as if I know the characters on Blossom Street. They have become so familiar to me that they feel like old friends. These books are comfort reading at it's best. They lift you up and touch your heart and they make you yearn for more. As soon as I finished this book, I wanted more. I cannot wait for the next book in the Blossom Street Series. While I wait, I am going to work on catching up in another favorite Debbie Macomber series called The Cedar Cove Series. That will have to hold me for awhile. If you are a fan of this series, you will certainly enjoy this book. If you've never read a Blossom Street novel, dive in and start at the beginning with The Shop on Blossom Street. If you want you can even start with Summer on Blossom Street or any of the others in the series. Each book gives you enough background to follow the story and you can go back and catch up on the rest.

Summer on Blossom Street will be released on April 28, 2009. Check out the Debbie Macomber website here. You will find information about all of Debbie Macomber's books, readers guides, Knitters club including knitting & crochet patterns from her books, recipes, contests and more.

Thanks to Kim from Nancy Berland Public Relations for this ARC copy.

Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

Diary of a Wimpy kid: Rodrick Rules is the sequel to Diary of a Wimpy Kid and the second in the series. As I shared in my review of Diary of a Wimpy Kid (You can read the review HERE) that this is one of my son's favorite book series. My son AJ who is 10, was so happy that I read the first book and when I finished it, he lined up book 2 and 3 in the series on my nightstand. What mother could say no to that?!

This book picks up after summer vacation when school starts for Gregory. He continues writing in his diary or as he prefers to call it a journal as diaries are for girls. The book is largely focused on Gregory's escapades with his older brother Rodrick who is in high school and has a band called the "loded diaper". Rodrick knows a secret about Gregory, something that happened over summer vacation that Gregory does not want anyone to know. So, Gregory ends up helping Rodrick with his homework and covering his share of chores to avoid his "secret" from being exposed. His secret is finally exposed but as things turn out it isn't as bad as Gregory thinks it will be as the story gets twisted in translation. Gregory is turned into a hero and Mr. popularity and he never expected that. These books address issues that kids often deal with including teasing, bullying, sibling rivalry and more. If you read it along with your child, you can discuss these issues with them. It has the kind of humor that kids like and adults often do as well.

The reading level for these books are ages 9-12 but they are fun for adults to read as well. This is a great book for boys and girls, well read and reluctant readers as it will draw them in through humor and the comics. According to the author, Jeff Kinney's website, the series started off as a web comic online at Funbrain.com . There is another book in the series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do- it-yourself Book(an interactive journal)and a third book that was just released in January of 2009 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series. They are enjoyable and funny books and I like being able to read a book that my son likes. He had fun talking to me about the book asking me questions about what parts I had read and it was a nice dialogue and way to connect with him. He has the next book lined up for me on my nightstand so I will be starting that soon.

Review: Deep Dish by Mary Kay Andrews

Deep Dish is a light, southern foodie story that would make a good beach or summer read. The main character in Deep Dish is Gina Foxton, a 30-something chef who hosts a public TV cooking show focusing on healthier, fresh southern cooking. She is devastated when her show is cancelled because the producer (also the boyfriend of Gina) has slept with the shows sponsors wife. They find out that the Cooking Channel is looking for a new show and Gina decides this is her only option to save her career. The Cooking Channel is also interested in another southern cooking show hosted by an outdoors man style chef fondly referred to as Kill It and Grill It Tate Moody and his sidekick dog Moonpie. The Cooking Channel decides to create a competition between the two into a reality style cooking show. The winner will get the new show on The Cooking Channel. The competition turns into a romance but this takes awhile to develop and is fairly drawn out. There is a twist in the end as to who actually wins the competition which makes for an interesting conclusion to the book.

This was the first book that I have read by Mary Kay Andrews but I'm not sure that it was one of her best. I found the characters fell flat and some parts were drawn out. I did like the cooking show emphasis as I enjoy reading foodie type books. Parts of the competition reminded me of some of my favorite reality show cooking shows, one scene was reminiscent of one of my favorites, the new show Chopped on Food Network. There are some nice recipes in the back of the book as well as an author interview and readers guide. If you are a fan of southern fiction and chick lit and/or enjoy foodie type books, I think that you will enjoy this book.

I read Deep Dish as part of the Book Club Girl Online On Air Discussion with the Author. The show airs this Wednesday, March 25th at 7 PM EST. You can find more information about the show and listen in live at Book Club Girl. I am looking forward to being part of the discussion with other readers and especially the author Mary Kay Andrews.

For a different perspective on Deep Dish check out the review at Booking Mama.

Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is one of my son's favorite book series. This is the first in the series of 3 so far, and the author is to be writing at least 2 more in this series. How could I say no to reading this book when my 10 year old son AJ, put this book on my nightstand and asked me to read it. He told me, "Mom, you can even write a review on your blog and you're gonna' love it!". I have to say that I really did enjoy this funny book about a boy named Gregory in middle school (the 6th grade). Gregory's mother bought him a diary over the summer and he actually wanted a journal as he didn't like the idea of a diary as he thought that was for girls. The book is about his daily entries in the diary along with comics that complement the tales he writes about.

Gregory has a regular family, mom and dad an older brother Rodrick who is in high school and a younger brother Manny who is in preschool. Rodrick has a band and for the most part they get along with a few typical brotherly tricks up their sleeves. Gregory seems to be a bit jealous of Manny as he seems to get away with almost everything and gets most everything he wants. Gregory also writes about experiences with his best friend Rowley. Gregory has some interesting insights and thoughts on his life experiences, some good and some bad. He learns along the way about friends, bullies, being popular and what happens when you're not always honest and that it usually catches up with you.

This book was laugh out loud funny in many parts and the comics that supplement each entry are perfect. The reading level for these books are ages 9-12 but they are fun for adults to read as well. This is a great book for boys and girls, well read and reluctant readers as it will draw them in through humor and the comics. According to the author, Jeff Kinney's website, the series started off as a web comic online at Funbrain.com . There is a 2nd book in the series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do- it-yourself Book(an interactive journal)and a third book that was just released in January of 2009 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series. They are enjoyable and funny books and I like being able to read a book that my son likes. He had fun talking to me about the book asking me questions about what parts I had read and it was a nice dialogue and way to connect with him. He has the next book lined up for me on my nightstand so I will be starting that soon.

Book Review: The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County is a story of two sisters who are very different in many ways. Serena Jane was born first and is two years older than Truly. Serena Jane is the pretty and petite one that everyone adores. Truly is very different in appearance as she is oversized and plain and becomes the outcast. Truly becomes the heroine of the story and her spirit and strength grow in comparison to her physical size. The reader has no idea how large Truly really is and it is left up to the imagination in many respects. Truly is the narrator of the story and the story is told through her viewpoint after her mother died giving birth to her. Their father has trouble raising the girls and then they end up being seperated and living with two different families in town. The story unfolds as Truly and Serena Jane become adults and the paths that they are led down. I found myself rooting for Truly throughout her many challenges and often being in the position of the underdog. I didn't like some of her choices but she was often put into positions of defending and protecting those that she loved. Truly had a large heart to go along with her large size and she was very loyal to her friends and loved ones.

The story started out slow for me and I wasn't sure that I would like the book. I stuck with it and ended up not being able to put the book down and read it in two days. I felt a protectiveness toward Truly as she was someone who is different and not accepted because of it. She ended up being the strong one and was able to stand on her own and stick to her own beliefs and values. This is definitely a different and quirky tale and a very enjoyable one at that.

*Advance Reading Copy from Hachette.

Review: Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson

I received Sundays at Tiffany's from a book giveaway that I won from Alyce at At Home with Books. I've read a few of James Patterson's books and knew that this would be generally, an easy and quick read. It's been a busy and stressful week so this book fit the bill perfectly. I read the book quickly, in a matter of two days. It's the story of Jane who is a lonely child with an overbearing mother when the book opens. She has only one friend, an imaginary friend named Michael. He must leave her when she turns 9 as that is the rule of imaginary friends. She is not supposed to remember these details as most children do not. Jane is the exeption and remembers every detail of her wonderful imaginary friend Michael. Jane ends up meeting a man named Michael in her 30's and the rest is the story of the power of love.

There is one touching quote that stuck with me and I wanted to share it. In real life, James Patterson's son said to him when he was four: "Love means you can never be apart". How wise for a four year old to say that. This is very fitting for this story as well and the quote is also used in the book. For me, it makes me think about loved ones in my own life and when my son went to kindergarten and we read The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn.

I adored Michael's sweet and loving character and that Jane was finally able to connect to true love even though it is a fantasy type of love. I did like that Jane eventually grew a back bone and stood up to her overbearing and dominating mother. This is definitely a feel good kind of book that leaves you with a smile on your face after you read the last page.

Review: A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick

This is a gentle, wonderful story about the miracles of friendship and is testament to the saying that "when one door closes, another one opens". This happens for Evelyn, the main character in A Single Thread. Evelyn's husband of close to thirty years surprises her one day with the announcement that he wants a divorce. This changes the course of Evelyn's future and she ends up moving from Texas to a small town in Connecticut. Evelyn has always had a dream to open a quilt shop and she is able to do this in this small, tourist town. She meets wonderful friends along the way that truly become her angels as she goes through some challenging experiences. The story is told through the voices of Evelyn and her new friend and patriarch of the community, Abigail in alternating chapters. This enhances the book as you experience the story through both of the characters thoughts and experiences. Quilting is a part of the story that brings the friends together and is the single thread of their connections. You don't need to be a quilter to enjoy this book. I am not a quilter and enjoyed these parts of the story very much. I was thrilled to read at the end of the book that this will be a series and is titled the Cobbled Court series. In the Advanced Reading Copy, there is a sneak peek you can read of the next book in the series as well as a reading guide.

Marie Bostwick writes in a style reminiscent of Debbie Macomber with the contemporary style and craft themes of the Blossom Street series. Don't get me wrong, she has her own unique style which has more of a gentle, christian feel. This is her first contemporary fiction novel and she has written several historical fiction novels. I enjoyed the charm of the small town and quilt shop as well as the friendships developed in this book. I highly recommend A Single Thread to those who enjoy books with these qualities.

You can read more about Marie Bostwick and her novels on her website HERE. She has a quilt pattern available for download for her registered friends that was inspired by this novel, A Single Thread.

Thank you to Marie Bostwick for sending me an ARC copy.

Review:The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

The School of Essential Ingredients captures the moments of connection between food and life in the lives of the eight students that take part in an 8 month cooking class. The class is taught by Lillian, the owner of the restaurant where the class is held. The lessons that they learn release sensations and feelings that allow the students to connect to their inner selves. They learn about love and life and how food connects to the various meanings of love. Each chapter focuses on a student and their life and process of learning through the cooking classes.

This is a book that touches the depth of your heart and soul, if you let it. Just as the students in Lillian's cooking class must learn and grow and allow the lessons to seep through, so do we as readers. It is easy to open your heart and mind while reading this story that sparks the senses so easily that you can envision in your mind the smell of lavender, the taste of dark chocolate melting on your tongue or the feel of the knife slicing an heirloom tomato.

Erica Bauermeister has a gift of writing beautiful prose that is lyrical and sensual. She is able to use words in a manner to describe the simple beauty of food, life and relationships. She captures the essence of life and connects it so perfectly to food. Through the story, Lillian leads the students to connect to what is essential and to the importance of showing your love for others through choosing and preparing the food you serve them. It has made me want to connect more to the food that nourishes us and apply some of the lessons that Lillian has taught through her cooking classes.

Reading The School of Essential Ingredients is like finding the perfect recipe to escape the mundane day to day fast food pace of life and cooking that many of us subscribe to. It will allow you to vicariously savor the varied ingredients in the dishes that the class create and it may even inspire you to create some of your own.

The School of Essential Ingredients is definitely going to be on the list of my most favorite books that I've read this year. It is the kind of book that I can imagine reading over again. I didn't want the book to end. I loved reading every morsel. I enjoy cooking, but this book took cooking to a different level and has challenged me to expand my own skills. I want to find a cooking class like Lillians. This is the first novel written by Erica Bauermeister and I look forward to her next work. I can envision a sequel to The School of Essential Ingredients and certainly hope that the author is considering this.

For more information, check out the the author Erica Bauermeister's Website. There is an Excerpt, Discussion guide, Author Q& A and more.

Thank you to Matthew from Penguin Books.

Adriana Trigiani: Very Valentine Video Message and Walking Tour of Greenwich Village

Check out these videos with Adriana Trigiani that include details and information about her new book Very Valentine, just released February 3rd 2009.










Read my review of Very Valentine HERE.

Review: Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

Description: Meet the Roncalli and Angelini families, a vibrant cast of colorful characters who navigate tricky family dynamics with hilarity and brio, from magical Manhattan to the picturesque hills of bella Italia. Very Valentine is the first novel in a trilogy and is sure to be the new favorite of Trigiani’s millions of fans around the world.

In this luscious, contemporary family saga, the Angelini Shoe Company, makers of exquisite wedding shoes since 1903, is one of the last family-owned businesses in Greenwich Village. The company is on the verge of financial collapse. It falls to thirty-three-year old Valentine Roncalli, the talented and determined apprentice to her grandmother, the master artisan Teodora Angelini, to bring the family’s old-world craftsmanship into the twenty-first century and save the company from ruin.

While juggling a budding romance with dashing chef Roman Falconi, her duty to her family, and a design challenge presented by a prestigious department store, Valentine returns to Italy with her grandmother to learn new techniques and seek one-of-a-kind materials for building a pair of glorious shoes to beat their rivals. There, in Tuscany, Naples, and on the Isle of Capri, a family secret is revealed as Valentine discovers her artistic voice and much more, turning her life and the family business upside down in ways she never expected. Very Valentine is a sumptuous treat, a journey of dreams fulfilled, a celebration of love and loss filled with Trigiani’s trademark heart and humor.

I have to start by saying that I am a huge fan of Adriana Trigiani's books. I adore the Big Stone Gap series and was thrilled to find out about Very Valentine coming out this month. This is the first book in a trilogy so I can look forward to two more books in this wonderful series. I actually heard about this book from Bermuda Onion in a Mailbox Monday post and then contacted Ms. Trigiani by email and (begged and pleaded) kindly asked if she had an advanced reader copy available. She actually emailed me back herself along with her wonderful assistant. They sent out a personally inscribed copy of the book which made it that much more special!

What can I say, I loved this book. I enjoy hunkering down and being swept away by a contemporary family saga and this book met that criteria. Especially when there are wonderful characters with rich ethnic backgrounds as I believe that this gives a story a depth and richness. Valentine is the main character and we learn about her quirky Italian family that I would love to sit down an enjoy an Italian meal with. The drama alone would make great entertainment. Valentine works as an apprentice under her grandmother Teodora in their family custom shoe business in Greenwich Village in New York. I enjoyed reading about how custom shoes are made and the artistry and skill that goes into the process of what is considered an old world craft. Reading about this process has made me wonder what a custom handmade shoe would feel like, it has to be an amazing experience. This book makes you think about the art of family business and what they must do to survive against the big box companies that mass merchandise our goods. It made me think about the importance of supporting these family run businesses in our own communities. Valentine balances a new relationship with a new beau Roman who is a chef and just opened his own restaurant. I feel like I gained a few pounds while reading this book which includes scrumptious details of all of the wonderful meals the family eats...homemade ravioli, homemade bread dipped in golden olive oil, rich wine, lattes, cobblers and much more. There were a lot of vivid details of color and texture that related to the food and leather and fabrics in the shoes that were made. Reading this book was definitely a sensory experience in itself rich with details that allows the reader to imagine the experience. Along the way, Valentine discovers her artistic side, where her passion lies and she continues to learn and grow in her relationships with her family and with men. Valentine travels to Italy which is a wonderful place for her to grow and experience the culture and connect to her Italian roots. I appreciated Valentine's close relationship with her grandmother Teodora. Teodora was a strong female character who had worked side by side with her husband to carry on their family business. Her family was extremely important to her and she was a pillar of strength and wisdom to them all. She has a very special relationship with Valentine, they have a connection that is unique and strong. My own grandmother is 91 and she has been the pillar of strength in our family and her positive outlook and attitude made a great impact on me as a child. I could relate to this special bond that a grandmother and granddaughter have. I can't wait to find out what happens next in Valentine's life and family in the next book. I highly recommend Very Valentine to fans of Adriana's books or to anyone who has never read her books. Treat yourself, you must read her books!

Go to the Adriana Trigiani Website for more information about her books, book tour, recipes and more.

To read the first chapter of Very Valentine go HERE.


Readers Guide for Very Valentine go HERE.


Make sure to watch this video interview with Adriana Trigiani:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Review: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Description: In the opening pages of Jamie Ford’s stunning debut novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Henry Lee comes upon a crowd gathered outside the Panama Hotel, once the gateway to Seattle’s Japantown. It has been boarded up for decades, but now the new owner has made an incredible discovery: the belongings of Japanese families, left when they were rounded up and sent to internment camps during World War II. As Henry looks on, the owner opens a Japanese parasol.

This simple act takes old Henry Lee back to the 1940s, at the height of the war, when young Henry’s world is a jumble of confusion and excitement, and to his father, who is obsessed with the war in China and having Henry grow up American. While “scholarshipping” at the exclusive Rainier Elementary, where the white kids ignore him, Henry meets Keiko Okabe, a young Japanese American student. Amid the chaos of blackouts, curfews, and FBI raids, Henry and Keiko forge a bond of friendship–and innocent love–that transcends the long-standing prejudices of their Old World ancestors. And after Keiko and her family are swept up in the evacuations to the internment camps, she and Henry are left only with the hope that the war will end, and that their promise to each other will be kept.

Forty years later, Henry Lee is certain that the parasol belonged to Keiko. In the hotel’s dark dusty basement he begins looking for signs of the Okabe family’s belongings and for a long-lost object whose value he cannot begin to measure. Now a widower, Henry is still trying to find his voice–words that might explain the actions of his nationalistic father; words that might bridge the gap between him and his modern, Chinese American son; words that might help him confront the choices he made many years ago.


This is a story that is deeply touching and moving, it is about young love as well as about love and honor between children and their parents. I was entranced from the start when Henry a Chinese-American man, learns that Seattle's Panama Hotel has discovered unclaimed belongings of Japanese Americans. This is based on the real discovery of these items that were stored in the basement when Japanese families were sent to internment camps in the 1940's. The story is told from two different time periods, the 1940's starting when Henry was 12 years old and from the 1980's when Henry is in an older man and recently widowed. When Henry was 12 he was sent to a private white school and his parents make him wear a button that says "I am Chinese" so he is not mistaken for being Japanese. There not only does he have to deal with racism and bullying but on the bright side he develops a friendship with Keiko, a Japanese-American girl his age. Keiko and her family are later sent away to internment camps with hundreds of other Japanese families from Seattle. The story weaves back and forth from the past to the present and we learn much about the effect the internment and this painful time had on the Japanese and those who cared for these families. There is much focus on sharing parts of Seattle's history of culture, architecture and Jazz. This is woven throughout the novel and much is based on real history and experience. We learn what happens as Henry moves forward in life and the relationships that he develops and how he growns into manhood and the effect his childhood experiences have on him as an husband, father and friend.

The dialogue and characters are rich and vibrant. The story touched me on a deep level and the characters jumped off the page and felt real. This is a coming of age story that allows you as the reader to truly experience the bitter and the sweet that one can experience in life. I look forward to more books written by Jamie Ford, this is his first novel and I expect many more wonderful books ahead.


You can read more about Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and author Jamie Ford at the author's website HERE.

*Thanks to LibraryThing Early Reviewers for sending me an ARC copy of this book.

Review:The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb

The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb

Description: Wally Lamb's two previous novels, She's Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True, struck a chord with readers. They responded to the intensely introspective nature of the books, and to their lively narrative styles and biting humor. One critic called Wally Lamb a "modern-day Dostoyevsky," whose characters struggle not only with their respective pasts, but with a "mocking, sadistic God" in whom they don't believe but to whom they turn, nevertheless, in times of trouble (New York Times).

In his new novel, The Hour I First Believed, Lamb travels well beyond his earlier work and embodies in his fiction myth, psychology, family history stretching back many generations, and the questions of faith that lie at the heart of everyday life. The result is an extraordinary tour de force, at once a meditation on the human condition and an unflinching yet compassionate evocation of character.

When forty-seven-year-old high school teacher Caelum Quirk and his younger wife, Maureen, a school nurse, move to Littleton, Colorado, they both get jobs at Columbine High School. In April 1999, Caelum returns home to Three Rivers, Connecticut, to be with his aunt who has just had a stroke. But Maureen finds herself in the school library at Columbine, cowering in a cabinet and expecting to be killed, as two vengeful students go on a carefully premeditated, murderous rampage. Miraculously she survives, but at a cost: she is unable to recover from the trauma. Caelum and Maureen flee Colorado and return to an illusion of safety at the Quirk family farm in Three Rivers. But the effects of chaos are not so easily put right, and further tragedy ensues.

While Maureen fights to regain her sanity, Caelum discovers a cache of old diaries, letters, and newspaper clippings in an upstairs bedroom of his family's house. The colorful and intriguing story they recount spans five generations of Quirk family ancestors, from the Civil War era to Caelum's own troubled childhood. Piece by piece, Caelum reconstructs the lives of the women and men whose legacy he bears. Unimaginable secrets emerge; long-buried fear, anger, guilt, and grief rise to the surface.

As Caelum grapples with unexpected and confounding revelations from the past, he also struggles to fashion a future out of the ashes of tragedy. His personal quest for meaning and faith becomes a mythic journey that is at the same time quintessentially contemporary—and American.

The Hour I First Believed is a profound and heart-rending work of fiction. Wally Lamb proves himself a virtuoso storyteller, assembling a variety of voices and an ensemble of characters rich enough to evoke all of humanity.


Wally Lamb is most definitely, one of my favorite authors. I was thrilled when I heard about his upcoming novel, The Hour I First Believed and was anxious to read the book. I had read his previous novels and enjoyed them both and I had a feeling that this one would not disapoint. I was right, The Hour I First Believed, is a rich novel filled with layers of detail and intrigue that it felt like I was peeling away the layers of an onion waiting to reach the core or the truth at the center. I never knew exactly where the story would take me and the storytelling was superb. The novel held my interest throughout and that says a lot as this book is over 700 pages! There were some sad and difficult moments to read and I found myself deeply touched by many of the events. I found the main character, Caelum Quirk to be following the same metaphor of peeling away the layers of an onion. He was able to peel away the layers related to his life to find the heart of his issues and to discover some of the the truth that he sought. I felt connected to the characters who were extremely well developed throughout the story. After I finished the book, I would often think of the characters and what may have happened next. To me, that is a sign of a great novel!

The author chose to use a unique style of combining a fictional story with non-fictional events. Throughout the novel he wove in details related to Columbine, 9/11 , Hurricane Katrina, the history and conditions of women's prisons and others. I found this style very effective as I had been effected by these events through media and from knowing others effected by these tragedies and their own personal experiences. As readers, most of us have been effected in some way by the events in our world and can relate to that experience. As many of you know as you read my blog, I am very fond of epistolary novels and love reading books related to letters and journals. This is a favorite style of writing that I like to read. Wally Lamb chose to add journals , diaries and letters related to second generational family members to share the story. To me, this was an enhancement to the novel which personalized the story and helped to better understand the characters family history.

The search for faith is a strong theme in the book. The book explores the possibility that randomness controls our existence as well as exploring the theories of chaos vs. order. I loved the symbolism connected to the Praying Mantis that was woven throughout the novel. The Mantis appeared to me to symbolize hope and of stillness, the reminder to listen to the small voice within and you will eventually find the answers you are looking for .

*FYI: There are some graphic scenes related to violence, sex and language. Peronally, I did not find it offensive as it went along with the characters, the style of writing and the storyline. Keep this in mind, if you are sensitive to this style of writing.

Here are a few things to supplement your reading experience of this book:

• A Conversation with Wally Lamb
• The Hour I First Believed CD Playlist
• Reading Guide for The Hour I First Believed
• Listen to a Book Club Girls on air Blog Talk Radio Show with Wally Lamb -I was so disappointed that I couldn't be part of this show due to a scheduling conflict. There seems to be a glitch in the system at Blog Talk Radio as I cannot listen to the show in archives yet. Please check HERE for further information as it is available.

* I want to thank Book Club Girl for sending me this beautiful, Signed First Edition copy of The Hour I First Believed. I will treasure this special copy.

Curse Of The Bone Pirates:Nui Island Eco-Logical Adventures

Curse Of The Bone Pirates:Nui Island Eco-Logical Adventures

by B.T. Hope

Description:An evil force is destroying the natural wonders of Nui Island, and it’s up to three new friends to solve the mystery. When Big B is dragged from his comfortable life and close friends in Chicago by his grandfather’s mysterious affliction, he’s sure he’s going to have the worst summer ever. But soon after arriving in the tropical paradise of Nui Island, he is caught in a web of danger and intrigue. The Maemae reef is dying, his grandfather’s brilliant mind has been infected and creepy Island legends are coming to life. Big B and his new friends, Sam and Nalu, rely on wit, courage and strength to unravel Nui’s ancient mysteries. What they uncover will help them save the Island, restore his grandfather’s soul, and break the curse of the Bone Pirates. With a captivating plot, fascinating characters and an important ecological message, Curse of the Bone Pirates: Nui Island Eco-Logical Adventures will haunt and delight young readers.

This children's book takes an adventure story and turns it into a learning experience. It teaches them about the threats to our environment and encourages them to take action at home, at school and in their neighborhoods. Curse of the Bone Pirates: Nui Island Eco-Logical Adventures is set in the South Pacific Ocean on exotic, fictional Nui Island. The story focuses on three friends who face challenges and solve mysteries in an adventure to save Nui Island.

Here is some interesting information about Nui , the company and Publisher of this book:

Nui, is a healthy kids lifestyle brand that donates 50 percent of its beverage profits to children's health and environmental charities. The mission of the book is the same as the company's: to encourage kids to improve their physical, social and environmental health. Their hope is that by telling these adventure stories, in a manner that kids can relate to, kids will gain a better understanding of these issues.

The Nui website states "From the sale of each copy of Curse of the Bone Pirates, Nui donates $1 to support Healthy Child Healthy World and Surfers for Cetaceans."

The Nui website also has some fun features for kids such as Fun Facts, Games, Downloads, Coloring Book and you can register to win free gifts.

Thanks to Family Review Network and Nui for sending this book.

Review: The Music Teacher by Barbara Hall

Book Review: The Music Teacher by Barbara Hall


Description: The Music Teacher is a penetrating and richly entertaining look into the heart and mind of a woman who has failed both as an artist and as a wife. Barbara Hall, award-winning writer and producer of such hit television series as Judging Amy and Joan of Arcadia, tells the story of a violinist who has accepted the limitations of her talent and looks for the casual satisfaction of trying to instill her passion for music in others. She gets more than she bargains for, however, when a young girl named Hallie enters her life. For here at last is the real thing: someone with the talent and potential to be truly great. In her drive to shape this young girl into the artist the teacher could never be, she makes one terrible mistake. As a result she is forced to reevaluate her whole life and come to terms with her future.



I received The Music Teacher as an Advanced Reading Copy as part of LibraryThing Early Reviewers. This is the story of a woman named Pearl who teaches violon lessons in a music shop in LA after not making it professionally. Pearl focuses on one student, Hallie, who she feels has potential to be a prodigy. Hallie has a difficult home life and Pearl gets overly involved and makes mistakes in judgement that effect both of their futures. There are other characters in the book, mainly Pearls coworkers who are all floundering in life trying to find their way. I found the story a gritty, dark and sad representation of music teachers. The book wasn't about music as much as it was about how music relates to life and relationships. The story fell flat for me and I didn't find myself caring that much for Pearl or the characters in the book.

• You can read other reviews with different perspectives including 5 star reviews of The Music Teacher at BookBrowse HERE.
• You can read more about the author Barbara Hall HERE.
• This book will be published in February 2009.

Review: Finding Father Christmas & Engaging Father Christmas by Robin Jones Gunn

Robin Jones Gunn's Father Christmas Series are wonderfully charming novella's. There are currently two books in the series and they are both cozy and warm stories that are perfect reading for the Christmas season. I hope that the author will continue this series as I look forward to reading more Father Christmas Books.


The author shares on her website in The Story Behind the Story, that she "....realized the book was going to be about belonging. What sweeter gift is there for any woman at any stage of life than to discover the place and the people to whom she belongs?"

Finding Father Christmas (Father Christmas Series #1)

Description: Miranda Carson's search for her father takes a turn she never expected when she finds herself in London with only a few feeble clues to who he might be. Unexpectedly welcomed into a family that doesn't recognize her, and whom she's quickly coming to love, she faces a terrible decision. Should she reveal her true identity and destroy their idyllic image of her father? Or should she carry the truth home with her to San Francisco and remain alone in this world? Whatever choice she makes during this London Christmas will forever change the future for both herself and the family she can't bear to leave.

This is the first book in the Father Christmas series. I would highly recommend starting with this one as they are important to read in order to follow the events of the story. This first book, starts off with Miranda's search for her father which takes her from the US to England during Christmas. She finds herself in a cozy tea shop called The Tea Cosy which is just the kind of place I would imagine visiting in England. She finds new friends and the truth that she has been searching for.


You can read an excerpt of the book and find a reading guide HERE.



Engaging Father Christmas (Father Christmas Series #2)

Description: Miranda Carson can't wait to return to England for Christmas and to be with her boyfriend, Ian. She has spent a lifetime yearning for a place to call home, and she's sure Carlton Heath will be it, especially when a hinted-at engagement ring slips into the conversation. But Miranda's high hopes for a jolly Christmas with the small circle of people she has come to love are toppled when Ian's father is hospitalized and the matriarch of the Whitcombe family withholds her blessing from Miranda. Questions run rampant in Miranda's mind about whether she really belongs in this cheery corner of the world. Then, when her true identity threatens all her relationships in unanticipated ways, Miranda is certain all is lost. And yet . . . maybe Father Christmas has special gifts in store for her after all.


In this follow up to Finding Father Christmas, Miranda returns to England for Christmas with a new boyfriend and a new extended family. A twist of events makes Miranda question everything that she has learned to appreciate. Both books tie into the true meaning of Christmas and are uplifting stories of the peace and grace that the spirit of Christmas can bring. Miranda may not have found her true birth father but she did find the true Father of Christmas which is a blessing that we can all find.


You can read an excerpt of this book, HERE.

Check out Robin Jones Gunn website for more information and The Story behind the Story of writing these wonderful novellas as well as listening to an excerpt read by the author.


*Thanks to Miriam from Hachettte Books for sending me these books.

Review: Run by Ann Patchett

Run by Ann Patchett

Description: Since their mother's death, Tip and Teddy Doyle have been raised by their loving, possessive and ambitious father. As the former Mayor of Boston, Bernard Doyle wants to see his sons in politics, a dream the boys have never shared. But when an argument in a blinding New England snowstorm inadvertently causes an accident that involves a stranger and her child, all Bernard Doyle cares about is his ability to keep his children, all his children, safe.

Set over a period of 24 hours, Run takes us from the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard to a home for retired Catholic priests in downtown Boston. It shows us how worlds of privilege and poverty can coexist only blocks apart from one another, and how family can include people you've never even met.

Run by Ann Patchett was the selection for my book club this month. It was a great book to discuss with a book club as there are so many layers to the story to discuss. The story emphasizes the point that the events in a single day can change your life completely. There are many themes to this book...political issues of race, class and family. It is the kind of book that can take on many perspectives from the readers standpoint. Many of my friends in my book club felt this was a political book, others felt it was more focused on family. I found it to be a blend of the two.

To me, it made me think about the definition of family and what it means to each person can be quite different. Is a family by definition, only those who are related by blood? I think that there is so much more to being a family than shared bloodlines. I have both a brother and a half-brother. I am closer to my half-brother and we didn't grow up together for most of our childhood. We have a bond and closeness that I do not share with my full brother who I grew up with. There are many factors and events that may have affected that but I find it interesting that my connection to my half-brother runs so much deeper. In this story, a white family (Bernadette, Doyle and Sullivan) adopt two young african american boys, Tip and Teddy. I found it refreshing to read how the issue of race in this family made no difference in their choice of adoption and the way they raised the boys. They loved them unconditionally as if they were their own children by birth. Sadly, Bernadette dies shortly after and this effects them all in many ways. Their biological son, Sullivan, was more effected by the adoption as he was an only child and the focus shifted away from him after the boys were adopted. He also had to deal with the death of his mother and it appears to me that this effected him deeply and changed the course of his life tremendously. There is a theme throughout the book that relates to the importance of motherhood and how that loss can effect a child and family.

There are other characters in the book that make a direct impact to the story as well. Uncle Sullivan, the namesake of the biological son, Sullivan. Who has an intense bond to Teddy. Tennessee Moser a mysterious woman whose quick act of bravery will impact the lives of all of the characters in the story. Kenya is Tennessee's daughter who has an incredible maturity for an 11 year old girl and an olympic size ability to run.

The theme of politics dominates the book as this is the path that the father, has chosen as his role as a past mayor and would like his sons to pursue. He exposes them to many political experiences and speaking events and it is not a path that the boys are interested in pursuing. There was a suttle tie in to current political events with a sign posted in a window that caught my attention when reading the book. I found the explanation by the author in her On Air Show with Book Club Girl very interesting. You can listen to this wonderful conversation with Jennifer from Book Club Girl and the author Ann Patchett, HERE.

I believe that the title of the book, Run, reflects the idea that all of the characters are running from something. I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't read the book by saying more. I will tell that you should definitely read this book to uncover the meaning behind the title.

This was the second book that I have read by Ann Patchett. The first was Truth and Beauty which is a non-fiction book, a memoir of Patchett's friendship with Autobiography of a Face author Lucy Grealy. This book was a testament of the depth and beauty of their friendship even when life can bring such pain and agony. I read it a few years ago, before I started my blog, so I do not have a review here. I have Bel Canto and Patron Saint of Liars on my bookshelf waiting to be read. I look forward to reading more of Patchett's books.

You can read A Conversation with Ann Patchett from the back of the book, at this link HERE.

HERE is an Author Interview with Ann Patchett.

You can also visit Ann Patchett's Website.