The Lemon Tree

The Lemon Tree.  By Sandy Tolan           Whether I enjoyed this book is not important. Whether the author was fair in his interpretation is only my opinion. What is vital is that I read this book. The Lemon Tree is an education for the heart and mind. The story begins in 1936 when Bashirs muslim family builds a beautiful stone house in Ramla, Palestine and plants a fragrant lemon tree in the yard. In 1948 when war changes everyones lives and borders, Dalia's jewish family moves into this empty house. The Lemon Tree is a symbol of all the families that work hard to have a home and safe haven for their children. It is the story of the most unlikely friendship between Dalia and Bashir. It touches on the most contraversial issue of modern day middle east politics that started a long long time ago. Who does this belong to? Who does any land belong to? Who is most hurt, most right, most wrong. To put yourself in someone elses shoes for just a moment, it doesn't right the wrongs, just put the arguments aside and face the people.

Her Fearful Symmetry

BOO! Do you believe? In ghosts? As the weather changes and pumpkin is in the air, it is the ideal time to read this new novel by Audrey Niffenegger. Her first book, The Time Travelers Wife was a huge success. This author may be the only one who could lead a non believer down the path of ghosts! She creates the elusive world of Valentina and Julia Poole. Identical twins growing up in Lake Forest Illinois. The twins are inseparable and when they inherit a London apartment from their estranged Aunt Elspeth, they jump at the chance to go on an adventure. The apartment complex is adjacent to a famous cemetery and the two gentlemen that live in the apartments above take your imagination on a wild ride. Robert, previously the aunt's younger lover is a historian of the cemetery. Martin is a crossword puzzle maker, a linguist and suffers from an extreme case of OCD, agoraphobia and other phobias that make his life reclusive and lonley. The twins befriend both of them and begin to explore London. The authors descriptions of characters and place is so intense the reader cannot help but create the scenes as they are read. If you are in the mood for an otherworldly, noone really knows the truth, just the slightest bit creepy journey then you should read Her Fearful Symmetry ... and have a ghostly Halloween! Of course, if this ever comes to the big screen Keira Knightley could definitely play the twins and perhaps Meryl Streep should play Elspeth.

Thanks for the Memories

Thanks for the Memories   By Cecelia Ahern    "A" if for adorable. There is just no other way to explain this vivacious, smart, witty, funny, sincere, author who book after book takes me away to fairytale land!  In this story Joyce Conway is in a terrible accident and gets a blood transfusion. Justin Hitchcock has just donated blood for the first time. Joyce begins to have strange visions and thoughts, kind of like memories. You get the idea! This is a happy romantic story set in the most quaint, Ireland (as are all her stories!). The characters are completely loveable and if you haven't read any of her books yet, get started, they are terrific!

Sarah's Key

WARNING: Only read this book if you have 2 days with absolutely nothing to do. You will not be able to put it down or think about anything else while immersed in this memorable, historical, loving saga. Sarah is a ten year old girl living with her family in Paris. It is July, 1942 and the Germans have forced the French police to round up all the Jews and force them into holding areas to be deported to the concentration camps. Sarah leaves her little apartment with her parents but locks her brother, 4 yrs old in a cupboard, which has been their secret hiding place. She is sure she will be back soon and they will all be together again. Noone can believe they are really never coming back to their home. Noone can believe they are really being sent to their deaths because they have done nothing wrong. Nothing wrong except they were born Jews. She innocently questions why would everyone hate the Jews for no reason? What could they have possibly done wrong? The story changes chapter to chapter from Sarah's story to the present day of a journalist Julia Jarmond. An American living in Paris researching the upcoming commemoration of the "Roundup" in Paris that so few know about and fewer ever speak of. Both characters are captivating and the story flows smoothly and quickly, which is why the reader cannot stop until the end. We all know what happens in the end.  Sarah could be played by Dakota Fanning and Julia, Kate Hudson.

The Girl Who Played With Fire

The Girl Who Played With Fire  By Stieg Larsson.  Fabulous on the edge of your seat murder mystery. Just as suspenseful as the first book [Girl With The Dragon Tattoo] and wonderfully written. Lisbeth Salander is the main star this time around. Now she has grown on us and and the reader finds themselves rooting for this most unique challenging character. She is more clever than all her counterparts and very hard to love, but love her we do and only want her innocence to be proven when she is accused of a triple murder. Naturally, Mikael Blomkvist, and Millenium magazine are involved and Mikael has lost contact with Salander but feels indebted to her for saving his life in the first story so must help solve the mystery. Once again there are an enormous number of characters and towns that are equally hard to pronounce and keep track of but worth the effort. This book can be read even if you haven't read the first one but personally I would go in order to get to know the characters. As for the movie, it must be out there in someone's mind! A box office thriller for sure. Possibly starring Brad Pitt as Blomkvist and Kristen Stewart [Twilight] as Salander.

The Book Thief

The Book Thief   By Markus Zusak.      This is a story narrated by Death. At first glance that may be hard to grasp but as the reader becomes immersed in the life of Liesel, it begins to flow and Death is never questioned again. In Germany during WWII Liesel finds herself alone. She is a young girl and taken in by a foster family. Books and the notion of reading is something Liesel dreams of and her foster father enables her with the little bit he has, to bring words into her life. They take in a jewish man and hide him in their basement. Liesel develops an important relationship with him as well as with a boy her age that becomes her only true friend. This is a unique story, written from a perspective like none other. This is a story filled with compassion, love, friendship, good, evil, pain and suffering. Death is looking down at all of us and thinking what is with all this killing, I can barely keep up, are you people crazy? Yes, they were.

Best Friends Forever

Best Friends Forever, By Jennifer Weiner. Addie Downes is a quiet, talented artist that has led a lonely existence. The only true friend she ever had was Valerie who grew up across the street. As highschool progressed, their friendship was destroyed and they have not been in touch for 15 years. The weekend of their class reunion, Valerie shows up at Addie's door and drags her into a mystery, chase and ultimate reunion of their friendship. Can a friendship be revived after all these years? What is the meaning of true friendship and forgiveness? There is no doubt, you must like Jennifer Weiner (books) to enjoy her latest novel. If by some chance you have not read them, by all means give her a try! It is by no means earth shattering, it is field trip back in time. Her clear depiction of an adolescents uncertainty and emotions is uncanny. She mixes it all with a wonderful sense of humor and camaraderie (we are all in this together).  You will find yourself laughing out loud (or at least quietly smiling). If we see this on the silver screen any time soon, it may star Cameron Diaz and Melissa McCarthy.

People of the Book

People of the Book, By Geraldine Brooks. The story of Hanna, a rare book expert from Austrailia who  traces the history/mystery of the Sarajevo Haggadah. This book is a rare Jewish codex that has traveled extensively, survived many wars and been rescued by the most unlikely people. The story is based on historical facts of the Haggadah but as a novel, enmeshed in the lives of interesting characters completely fabricated by the author. Hanna has some of her own personal troubles that are borderline unrealistic and she is bitter as well, but that aside the focus is the Haggadah and Hanna is the tool to take us on this journey. This book takes place during the year 1996 and flashes back through hundreds of years of persecution, war and a quick history lesson of peoples lives that is most interesting to imagine. The story would be an excellent book club discussion. For one, it covers a range of emotions. Everything from religious persecution (and for those who don't want to read yet another Holocaust story, a chance to learn that this persecution started way before that!) to the mother daughter relationship between Hanna and her own (horrible) mother. Secondly, there are tons of book club questions out there which of course is always a plus. Definitely worth the read, wouldn't be surprised to see it as movie in the future, maybe starring Charlize Theron.

The Time of My Life

The Time of My Life  By Allison Winn Scotch   Fantasy like story featuring Jillian who seems to have it all. Loving husband Henry, adorable baby girl Katie, house in the burbs, etc. Only the grass always seems greener on the other side. The "what if" side. If I chose this or had done that.  One day Jillian wakes up and it is seven years prior! She is in bed with the past love of her life Jackson and those what ifs become real. Could she actually enjoy this dream like state, could this be real if it feels real. Could Jillian really start over and what about her beautiful baby that she loves with all her heart? Original story that gives the reader a chance to explore these questions through someone elses drama! Enjoyable summer read, and by the way, the grass is never that much greener.

The Motion of the Ocean

The Motion of the Ocean By Janna Cawrse Esarey.    1 Small Boat, 2 Average Lovers and A Woman's Search for the Meaning of life.  This memoir details the adventure of a lifetime, one that most people only dream about. Janna and Graeme are both adventurous, intelligent, young and in love (most of the time) and set out to fulfill their dream of sailing around the world. She is a teacher, he a businessman. They fix up an old boat, prepare, document, and determine a course for their trip. They plan for a long time and finally sail off into the sunset. Janna needs a hobby, as some fellow boat lovers warn her. The men tend to fix and putter around the boat at each marina (as they call their trip "fixing your boat in exotic locations") and the women also need something to focus on besides conquering what they call "divorce docking" (been there! not pretty!) Janna starts to write, hence, the memoir and column post her trip. This memoir is a fun loving, enjoyable story about two young people following their dreams and making new ones. It is both funny and sweet, touching on real issues of marriage, family and relationships. Reading this book can only make you wonder; what would you do if you knew you wouldn't fail?

Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict

Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict.  By Laurie Viera Rigler. This story is the follow up to the smash hit Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict (which I loved!) by this talented author. A clever twist on time when Jane Masfield, who resides in 1813 England wakes up in the body of Courtney Stone, present day Los Angelos. The dress, technology, verbage, and relationships are completely disarming and totally opposite of what Jane is used at home. One thing that never changes is human nature, men and women, lust and love. This hilarious journey is an adventure that is a pleasure to tag along. It is not quite as rivoting as the first book but enjoyable nontheless.

Rigged

Rigged  By Ben Mezrich.   After graduating Harvard, David Russo goes back to where he was born and bred in Brooklyn, NY. He is going to show/prove to the world (NY) that he has/will make it. With his Italian good looks and charm he finds his way completely by chance, to a job at the Merc in NYC. Thats the mercantile exchange of which I knew nothing about until I read this book. With the excitement and easy reading of Ben Mezich's other novels, Rigged is about Davids Merc education. The world of commodities is more than a numbers game and mostly about handshakes and relationships. He makes an interesting one with a Saudi man and together they want to start another exchange in Dubai and change the world as we know it. Thoroughly enjoyable read, cannot wait to see the movie.

Just Who Do You Want To be?

Just Who Do You Want To Be? By Maria Shriver.   Maria Shriver is the epitome of womanhood in America. Growing up as part of the Kennedy clan, success at everything she challenged herself with, marrying a "political nice guy" (is that really possible?!) and raising four healthy children. Wow. This journalist is independent, intelligient and talented. With that said, this book would be the type of gift you may give someone about to enter college, the workforce or at any time real life big changes are about to take place. It is a sweet, poetic rambling of life. Totally enjoyable on a sunny day. Take a moment and think about who you may want to be when you grow up, even if the world keeps telling you, you already are.

Beautiful Boy

Beautiful Boy. By David Sheff. What ever happened to my beautiful boy? This is what David Sheff says after finding his beautiful, smart, healthy, lovely teenage boy who just started Stanford laying, drugged, beaten , filthy in a dirty back alley. Drugs are bad, just say no, yadda yadda. We hear it everyday. WAKE UP PEOPLE. These are our children, we cannot let them throw their lives away. David has a beautiful family in Northern California. He is a writer. He is involved in his childrens lives. But Nick is curious. Nick tries drugs. Nick covers it up. The drugs get stronger. Then he is addicted to Meth. It is evil. There is no going back. This is now his sad reality. This is not one persons fault. But the one thing for sure is how deeply sad this is. Noone aspires to be a drug addict. Noone dreams to of living on the streets, sick and alone after having a magnificent childhood. The pull to this drug is so strong. David is a wonderful writer and this memoir is an eyeopener for every parent, every child. You cannot be afraid to read this, you must find some lesson to learn, something to take away to help yourself, your family or a friend. No matter where you live, no matter how hard you try, noone is exempt from this tradegy they call drugs.

365 Nights

365 Nights. By Charla Muller. Okay, where to begin. She is a hoot! This is a memoir written by first time author Charla Muller. It is funny, laugh out loud, I can't believe she just said that funny. Charla gives her husband the most unique birthday gift ever, sex everyday for one year, for his 40th birthday. He is thrilled to say the least. It is definitely the gift that keeps on giving. Raising two kids, working and life can get in the way of finding the time for real intimacy. This memoir is her year, her experience, her story. There are definitely truths to to this story that can be almost anyones story. So, she says, shut off the t.v., computer and phones and after the kids are in bed, so are they! Does it take away spontaneity, thrill and chills? Will they enjoy being on demand after a long busy day, EVERYDAY?????? I cannot tell you. You must read Charla's adventure to find out! Enjoy!

Loving Frank

Loving Frank By Nancy Horan. At first, this title didn't interest me. The main character Mamah has an odd name I did not like nor did I know how to pronounce. She had an inappropriate, dramatic, obsessed yet loving affair with a famous then and now, Frank Lloyd Wright. This account of historical fiction is based on their love affair. How it affected both of their families and tore them apart. The historical buildings being built, the absurd relationships, the deep love that would not dissolve. Nancy Horan hooked me in the first chapter. This book travels through so many lives, so many cities and continued to amaze me. Mamah was no ordinary woman but did she deserve more than everyone else. Could she do whatever she wanted, hurt whomever she needed to to fulfill her heart? Could Frank, who was already famous and getting more so with each passing year? All these questions and more will go through you rmind as you read this page turner. I was surprised how very much I liked this book. Excellent read but word of advice, do not research before or during because the information is readily available and you will ruin the story, especially the end. If you don't know the details prior, only look after you are finished! Enjoy!

Among Other Things I've Taken Up Smoking

Among Other Things I've Taken Up Smoking  By Aoibbeann Sweeney. Miranda lives on tiny Crab Island off of Maine with her father. It is just the two of them. They live a painfully quiet, lonely life on this practically nonexistent island. Her father translates ancient stories and she tries to get any attention of love he can spare. He deeply cares about her but has no ability to have true relationships or show affection. It seems he changed when her mother died years before and he is hiding from the world at this remote location. Miranda, completely naive to world starts to slowly step into town and see outside the island, her father decides she needs to visit  NY where he used to live and work. She stays with his old friends and begins to explore life, sexuality and the world. This novel is unique, funny in a dark humor sort of way. It's hard to say whether I really liked it because I did not care for any of the odd characters but the writing is so good the reader becomes involved and must continue to the finish.

How To Be Good

How To Be Good  By Nicky Hornby.  Okay, first rule - you are only allowed to read this if you really want a laugh! This story is about Katie and David Carr. Katie is a doctor, David is a columnist better known as "The Angriest Man in Holloway" (name of column), they have two children and live in the suburbs of London. If you appreciate English humor you'll truly enjoy this adorable, surprising story! Katie wants back the man she married. She is miserable and as cliches go, looking for love in all the wrong places. David writes a local column about how unfair and miserable life is. You name it, he is angry about it. Sound familiar? Katie wishes everyday, if only David would change their lives would be so much better. Be careful what you wish for! David "magically" changes and she wants to eat her words. He becomes the absolute complete opposite and she cannot stand him! There is alot of underlying meaning in this story, so when you are done laughing it really gives you somthing to think about! Enjoy, I did!!!

Marrying Anita

Marrying Anita.  By Anita Jain. Think Sex and the City from New York to India. Anita's memoir is a journey of her dating life. It is filled with feeling, experiences and laugh out loud humor. She is witty, intelligent, warm and caring. After growing up in California, later attending Harvard, this writer lived and worked in NYC. She was on the dating circuit literally unable to keep up with the scene. Like SATC Anita was able to find humor in her crazy dating experiences and bizarre guys she meets. Nearing 30 which is when girls in America start to fret, Anita is influenced also by her families Indian traditions (where 30 is way old) and she decides to get serious and find a mate! She decides to live, work and date in India for one year and give that a try. This memoir records in hilarious detail her relationships or lack thereof and her feminine feelings about needing to get married and have kids on this strident deadline the world (and our bodies) has put us on. Could not put this one down, even wrote this wonderful new author a letter and she kindly took the time to write back. I hope she keeps us posted with a sequel!

Brick Lane

Brick Lane  By Monica Ali.  Hazneen moves to England from Bangladesh to an arranged marriage. Chanu is kind, older and truly cares about her. They have two daughters. They live in a low income housing filled with other Indian families. Hazneen has trouble adapting. She is influenced to break away from certain Indian traditions that she finds restricting. She wants to learn, wants freedom. She begins to have an affair with a younger man who is angry and political. He is involved with protests. Hazneen believes that real love and affection exists. She sees herself as an individual and the Indian customs that her husband treasures seem outdated to her and unfair. Chanu dreams of going back to India and he spends his time scheming to make business so he can go back successful and be considered richer and more prominent. The more time that goes by, the less Hazneen wants to go back. It is a depressing story and with characters that are not very likeable. Hazneen is admirable but I struggled to hold my interest through the story.