Saturday, February 19, 2011

Shadow Tag

Shadow Tag By Louise Erdrich    Irene and Gil are married and have three beautiful intelligent children. Gil is a famous renowned painter and Irene is his wife, his model and his muse and always has been. Irene keeps two diaries, one is her truth, it is locked away in a bank vault and the second is her manipulative imagination because she knows Gil is secretly reading her diary and she intends to punish him. They are both descendants of American Indian tribes and the author works very hard, not always successfully, to bring this thread of Native American history and culture into the story. The novel depicts a violent relationship, both emotionally and physically, and its effects on their children. There is not a single character that is likable and it is hard to become emotionally attached to the any of them. The writing is excellent but at times the story is hard to follow and there is just something missing. 

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Lunch in Paris

Lunch in Paris  By Elizabeth Bard   One of the most delicious daydreams come true. Meet a handsome man in Paris, have lunch, fall in love, move there and live happily ever after. This is the life Elizabeth Bard shares with her readers in this honest, funny memoir that warms you like sunshine. Nothing could have brightened my weekend more than this light, witty account of living abroad mixed with a passion for cooking and fabulous recipes. Viva la france!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Room

Room  By Emma Donoghue    Jack and Ma live in an 11 x 11 square foot shed they call Room. Jack is five and has never been outside of Room. Ma has lived in Room for 7 years. This story is told by the voice of a precocious, intelligent and loving Jack. Their life together and their strong attachment to each other are remarkable. They find comfort in the simplest things that life has to offer. Until one day. Once you start reading this novel, it cannot be put down. It is emotional, scary, insightful, sad and can still make you smile at times. People do all sorts of things on a daily basis out of habit and routine, things that make us feel human and normal. Or at least what we think is normal, never questioning its meaning or importance until it is taken away. Room is a book I will never forget and highly recommend.

Friday, February 4, 2011

The Angel's Game

The Angel's Game  By Carlos Ruiz Zafon   David Martin is a writer in Barcelona in the early 1900's. After a tumultuous childhood, alone in the world, David begins work at a newspaper as a helper. Enveloped in dreams of writing, he is finally noticed and begins to author a popular column of dark Barcelona stories. Pedro Vidal is a wealthy writer on the paper that mentors David and looks out for him and his opportunities. After some success David is able to support himself and move into the abandoned tower apartment he has always dreamed about. This tower becomes part of Davids being for better or worse. Its past and history become his life. In a twist of fate David's love of writing becomes his doom. Author Zafon's writing is a magnificent poetry that brings the dark gloomy and dangerous Barcelona to life. The readers imagination is flooded with description that in itself becomes the page turner. If you LOVED Shadow of the Wind, you will LIKE this read, for some of the same reasons. There is a bit of the rush to the end routine with a cast of predictable characters but if you enjoy his writing it just won't matter.