Julie and Julia by Julie Powell

Julie and Julia

(Julie Powell) 

:Teaser:

You have Julie.  She's a 29 year old at a seemingly dead end point in her life of which she can't make any sense.  So, she throws herself into learning how to cook and daily blogging--something very laborious, routine, and highly structured--to see if she can once again find some meaning in her life over the course of a year and the 524 recipes included in Mastering the Art of French Cooking

Clockwork Heart

Clockwork Heart

(Dru Pagliassotti)

:Teaser:

    Taya serves as an Icarus, a metal winged courier, in Yeovil. Yeovil is split into sectors that have their own unique castes and cultures. On the day of her sister's wedding, she hurries to deliver her last package of the day. On her way, she prevents a major accident from claiming the lives of two very important people--the wife and child of a very high profile official. This changes her life as she gets swept up in the dangerous and peculiar affairs of the high-class.

:Short Thought:

Great unique setting. Perfectly paced adventure mystery. Wonderful, well-developed characters. Definitely one of my favorites!

:Expanded Thoughts:

(No Spoilers)

In Clockwork Heart, the author creates a unique setting that on the surface is nothing like our own. Through it, the author gives us a unique way in which to explore several social topics, and one cannot help but draw inward and environmental comparisons.  In Yeovil, the country where it takes place, there are strict social castes and peculiar customs that are brought to life by a cast of very enjoyable characters to whom it is easy to relate.

Taya's, the main character, country is split into very segregate and socially immobile sectors.  Each sector has its own unique characteristics that have been shaped by its residents.  The skilled laborers of the low class mainly reside in Tertius whose air is filled smoke and whose building tops are covered with soot and other debris.  For the Exalted of the high class, there is the beautiful capital sector, Onidinium, which is a stark contrast to the dirty streets of Tertius.  Other than their place of residence, customs are in place that further distinguish the members of the classes, such as, clothing, manner of speech, and color of hair and skin.

Very rarely do people pass between the sectors, but there are a couple exceptions.  The Lictors (police) and the Icarii (winged couriers) have the privilege of being outside of this strict structure.  (Though, they still have to treat the Exalted with extra care and respect.) Their occupations require them to perform duties for all citizens within the different sectors without prejudice. 

The setting was undeniably one of the things I loved about the story, but the main reason I keep reading this over and over is the characters and their interactions.  The author does a great job at developing the characters throughout and having each to have unique inner dilemmas. No character ends up the same as they started. Or, in more dramatic fashion: nothing is ever as is seems.

Taya is in an interesting position as the main character.  She was born of low class parents and worked hard to become an Icarus, thus moving up a level on the social ladder.  Even after she gets her new position, she still has the rules of her upbringing engraved into her mind.  She is very conscious of  social appearances and still uses strict manners in front of the exalted.  This slowly begins to change after the Exalted woman she saves invites her to a formal dance and gives her an opening into the lives of this exclusive class.  This begins to change her view as what she sees isn't a group of divine beings above reproach, but people that are painfully human.  Through this she gives the reader a unique perspective into this society that few in the story could.

This is further explored through the interactions between Taya and the Forlore brothers--Alister and Cristof.  Alister is the exalted younger brother who took a position as an official in the government.  He is very charming and revels in his high status.  Cristof has left the exalted life and all of its perks behind and opened a clock maker's shop in one of the seedier parts of town.   His sour attitude and lack of manners reflects his disheveled outward appearance.  Through them, Taya begins to learn that there is much more to people than their appearance and social status.  There is always something lurking beneath the surface, and sometimes it turns out to be very dangerous.

Midnight Bayou by Nora Roberts

Midnight Bayou
(Nora Roberts)

Pages: 368
Year Published: 2004

Teaser: Declan Fitzgerald gave up his life in Boston as a successful lawyer to purchase and restore an old plantation house down in swampy Lousiana. As he starts restoring the grand house to its original splendor, strange things begin occurring. Declan begins hearing the loud cries of a baby coming from his attic, and even begins having flashbacks to scenes from the house's rich past. To complicate matters, Declan has fallen in love at first sight with a local bar owner named Lena Simone, and it seems that she is also connected to what is happening in the house.

Short Thought: A fun, quick read, but not as good as the other Nora Roberts books that I have read.

Expanded Thoughts: So, I decided to read this after watching the Lifetime movie based on the book. The lifetime movie was pretty good. (Movie Information and I've embeded the trailer below the review) But I didn't enjoy the novel as much as the movie. (And I don't think it was just the fact that the movie had Jerry O'Connell in it.)

Let's get to it:

There are two absolute gems in this story--the beautiful setting and Lena's Cajun grandmother. The setting was portrayed richly, vibrantly, and really enhanced the story. Some of the old traditions of the region were discussed, mainly through Lena's grandmother, and the 'natives' spoke in wonderful colloquialisms. (The southerner in me rejoices). Even more than that, we are shown a sense of progression and made to really understand the rich roots of New Orleans through the flashbacks with Abby. It lends itself to this beautifully complex theme/argument whether of not people have changed in the last 100 years.

So why the low rating?

I felt that the main characters were flat compared to those in other Nora Roberts books I have read. Declan is a pig-headed, rich guy, who is very giving, and won't take no for an answer. Lena is the working class southern girl that fought to escape her crappy past and turned into a successful uber-independent woman who doesn't need anyone else. The romantic story between them was okay but was pretty lack-luster. I actually enjoyed the story between Abigail and Lucian better. It seemed more complex. To sum up, there was no real moment of tension throughout the book. It pretty much stayed at the same level throughout. Basically, It just wasn't not my taste.

I used to be one of those 'snobbies' that turned my nose up at these types of books, but now I can't wait to jump into the next Nora Roberts novel. No one should deny themselves a whole category of books, because, I tell you, I am sad that I have missed out on these for as long as I did.

Additional Thoughts: This novel has dark themes, mild violence, and sexual situations.


Midnight Bayou Movie Trailer

Crazy by Pete Earley

Crazy: A Father's Search Through America's Mental Health Madness

(Pete Earley)

Pages: 384
Year Published: 2007

Teaser: Pete Earley gives readers an inside and informative look at the country's current status when it comes to treating those with psychological disorders. He makes it personal with stories of his own family's battle with mental illness.

Short Thought: Heart wrenching and powerful food for thought.

Expanded Thoughts: {Spoilers} Crazy is very different than many of novels in the non-fiction genre with which I have been previously acquainted. It wasn't dreadfully boring, and it appealed to a wider readership instead of a more specialized audience dealing in a specific knowledge arena. Earley succeeds in this by hitting three distinctly different notes in this work. He includes the necessary statistics, figures, and research that would read as a dry news article. The presented issues are made more personal and memorable as he includes some of the background stories of various inmates and about how mental illness has affected and trapped them in the current system. Lastly, he gains the trust of the reader and ensnares our emotions and tugs at our heartstrings with the story of his son's battle with mental illness. Crazy is highly successful in bringing to our attention the “macro” issue of de-institutionalization, but portraying it in a “micro” way that is better received and remembered by readers.

The author's research portion for this novel kicks off at a high level and never really slows down its pace. Armed with firsthand knowledge of the problems with our country's current state of affairs in regards to mental health patients and a fire in his belly, Earley starts his research at the Miami-Dade County Pretrial Detention Center in South Florida. This jail is of the older inner architecture. The cells are crowded with up to fifty prisoners at any given time. He begins by shadowing the doctor in charge of the patients on the cell block as he makes his rounds for the day. When they finally reach the wing that houses the mentally ill, it becomes apparent that jails are not properly equipped to deal with these afflicted individuals. The filth is staggering, the stench is overwhelming, and the state of the prisoners is, at best, disheartening. After some figuring by Earley, he estimates that the doctor ends up spending about thirteen seconds per inmate on his rounds. It is a shocking statistic that jumps out at readers as one begins to realize the dire situation of the status quo.

The author explores many other problems with the current system, or “revolving door” as he so aptly refers to it, in a similar and equally telling fashion. He mirrors his research with stories from his own struggle with the fight for his son. These personal recollections in the novel with be the primary focus for the remainder of this paper.

Even more depressing and telling than the stories about the prison conditions was the story of the author's son, Mike, on his road from scholar to mad man and back again. Mike's descent into madness began when he was less than one year from graduating from university in Brooklyn, New York. Because of the stress of searching for a job and transitioning his life in general, he started exhibiting strange behavior and even physical sickness for no apparent reason. His parents assumed it was just normal behavior for someone at that particular stage of his life. Perhaps, it was just due to all of the stress he was under at his current stage in life. Unfortunately, they were horribly wrong. It was anything but routine and normal.

Mike's strange behavior only became worse. He began to have obsessive delusions about a classmate of his, that barely knew him, that he had to save from evil. He was even convinced they were on the verge of marriage. Mike's conversations were rapid, segmented, and made absolutely no sense anymore. For example, he was convinced that God was sending him messages, that only he could decode, on billboards and other medias. Earley got his son checked out and started him on medication, but the trouble wasn't treated that simply. Mike refused to take the pills, and then the chaos truly began as did Mike's severe symptoms of schizophrenia.

Earley runs into trouble from every direction as he fights to get his son the help he so desperately needs.. The insurance company won't allow him to be treated for more than a three day period. The laws don't make Mike take the necessary anti-psychotic medication. The police don't have proper procedures set up to deal with the mentally ill either. And if that wasn't enough, his ex-wife, Mike's mother, strongly disagrees with him as to how to deal with the young man. Unfortunately, these problems get shoved to the background when Mike, in a delusional episode, breaks into a neighbors' house and vandalizes it in order to take a bubble bath. Now, the author's son was arrested and in danger of serving jail time or even ruining his record with a felony. The situation has escalated very quickly. Mike's life could be permanently impaired if the charges stuck.

The couple whose house Mike had vandalized was vehement about on pressing charges. Earley then had to truly battle for his son's future while trying to get him court-ordered into a psychiatric program. After a long battle with the prosecutor and the victims of the break-in, Mike finally was allowed to plead no contest to two misdemeanors instead of a felony. He was placed on probation and required to attend a program which included orders to take the much-needed medication. Earley held his breathe until Mike finally remained on medication. His son eventually got a good job and gained back his independence. It was a refreshingly happy ending to a very frustrating and scary journey.

The portion of this novel that is most memorable are the six segments that make up Mike's Story. It makes it personal. It takes us knee-deep into the situation—straight through Pete Earley's eyes. Not only does the author portray, in gut-wrenching fashion, the chaos he endured, but he delivers a warning to the reader. A situation like his can truly happen to anyone. It makes it hard for anyone to push the matter aside.

It is easy to forget that Mike's story isn't a clever piece of fiction. It's real life, and it's how similar situations are dealt with around the country everyday. These and the other sections in Pete Earley's novel are indicative of a chaotic mental health care problem that is a rapidly growing Pandora's box pushing to crack open.

Though Pete Earley successfully conveys the desperate need for change in respect to this issue, and for special treatment to those with disorders in the eyes of the law, but the situation is complex and ever-evolving on both sides of the argument. It's true that the reader feels sympathy for Earley's son when he is put before the court, but one must not forget the crime he committed. His crime was minor compared to most, but it was still a crime with copious amounts of damage to the victims. Where does the line of sympathy get drawn? What if a schizophrenic kills someone because he believes they are aliens sent to destroy him? Is it really okay to give him a milder punishment just because he is ill? Where does treatment fit in with the feelings of the victim's family? What if a mentally ill man was caught taking inappropriate pictures of children in the park? Are the victims any less violated? Or if a delusional man broke into your house and smashed everything in sight? Is the damage going to cost less because the man was crazy? The questions and situations are endless, and they have equally reasonable opposing sides. Mentally ill patients need help, and people need to be able to feel safe. Perhaps, this is one question that may never have an answer supported by a majority.

The Girl Who Played Go by Shan Sa

The Girl Who Played Go

(Shan Sa)

Teaser: Just before the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in the early 1930s, a teenage girl is desperately trying to come into her own as she approaches adulthood. Life has great new things to offer her, but she can't seem to deny that all others that have left their childhood behind live in misery. She finds her once easy life crumbling apart and clears her head by playing Go.

A young Japanese man has just left his childhood home to join the Imperial Army. He finds himself detached from the world and surrounding by the horrors of combat. He is given just a brief glance into his old world when he begins a game of Go with a mysterious Chinese girl in the local square. She had no idea that he was just days away from, with his troop, charging a bloody path through her city.

Short Thought: Gritty account leading up into a huge event in Asian history and how it affected people from both sides of the conflict.

Expanded Thoughts: Be warned there may be minor spoilers in this section. I started writing it, and found it increasing difficult to discuss without revealing anything.

This novel was brilliant, but not for the light-hearted or those who wish to escape harsh realities. It held nothing back and made you react.

The story is told from two perspectives. First we are introduced to teenage girl going to school in Manchuria. She is a strange girl who instead of being obsessed with makeup and men loves and excels at the game of Go. Since she was a child, she could be found down in the public square besting experienced players. She frowns on the old Chinese traditions and receives a lot of crooked glances from her peers because of that.

As the story progresses, she begins to enter a little more into adulthood. She gets involved in her first relationship with an older college student, and learns the benefits and the woes that sharing your mind and body with someone brings. She becomes best friends with one of the girls at her school, and learns the blessings and worries that friends bring. All the blissful innocence of her previous life slowly fades, and she is left with a world with short lived joys and heart stopping tragedies as the situation in her country directly affects all the relationships that took her years to come into.

The second perspective in the story is that of a young Japanese soldier who leaves his mother's home to fight in the Imperial Army. He quickly experiences first hand the horrific traumas of the present society and those that war brings. He has no real purpose in life, and doesn't really expect his life to continue for very long. He drowns his troubles and questions in local women and prostitutes with whom he convinces himself to fall in and out of love. While camped outside side of Manchuria awaiting the order to charge a takeover, he hears of a place he can go undercover in the city to play Go a game that allows him to remember his simple life before the army. He begins a series of games against a mysterious Chinese girl who is one of the best go players that he has played against.

This novel deals with some huge taboo issues and portrays them in a way that you will not forget. With out giving too much away, here are some of the issues that I recall from the reading: arranged v. love marriages, abortion, speaking out against your government, prostitution, torture, suicide, selling your virginity, spousal abuse, pedophilia, man's claim over a women's body, and etc. As I said before, it doesn't hold back. It isn't a 'feel-good' novel, it is a 'micro' account of the impact of the period leading up to this bloody coup.

In closing, I was just amazed at how much happened in just 280 pages.

Additional Notes: This is an English translation of the original French text by Shan Sa. Translation was done by Adriana Hunter.

Additional Notes: This novel contains dark themes, violence, and sexual situations.

Angels Fall by Nora Roberts

Angels Fall

(Nora Roberts)

Teaser: Gourmet chef Reece Gilmore has been traveling nonstop for over a year, and she still doesn't have a destination in sight. Fate intervenes when her car breaks down in the majestic mountain town of Angels Fist. The repairs are serious and could take quite awhile to complete. In other words, she's stuck for longer than she ever intended.

She decides to take a job as a short order cook at the Angel Food Diner to help pay for her car repairs, and to keep her anxiety and restlessness at bay. On her day off, she decides to take a hike to enjoy the wonderful scenery around her. What should have been a wonderful hike turns into a life changing ordeal when Reece witnesses a murder in progress. Now, she is forced to stay in town even longer, and deal with her violent past with which she still struggles.

Short Thought: Wonderful mystery set in a majestic place.

Expanded Thoughts: I think this novel hit a special note with me. It portrayed the small town diner vibe very well. Having worked in many myself, it made it quite special to me. (And it had mountains, you can't beat mountains!)

This was a really good mystery. It was one of my favorite, if not my favorite, Nora Roberts novels so far. The murder plot was genius. Half the time the reader is left wondering if a murder even took place, or if someone is coming after Reece, etc. It isn't predictable in the least, and the supporting characters are brilliant. The novel was also moderately thick for this genre, so it wasn't over before you finish. It developed nicely and hit several different notes.

I don't have any complaints about it really. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a wonderful murder mystery with a perfect mix of romance and personal growth. I look forward to reading it again.

Additional Notes: This novel contains mild violence, dark themes, and sexual themes.

Montana Sky by Nora Roberts

Montana Sky

(Nora Roberts)

Teaser: Jack Mercy had three daughters by three separate women. Two of the mothers, he managed to pay off to get them of out his sight, and one daughter he was stuck with because her mother died before he could kick her out. Combine these activities with his successful Montana ranch and you have the legacy of Jack Mercy.

The story begins on the day of his funeral, the three sisters would meet for the first time. Tess, the oldest, is a screen writer from Hollywood. Lily is on the run from an abusive ex-husband in South Carolina. And Willa, a cowgirl without an soft bone in her body, lives and breathes the Montana ranch that Jack left behind.

As the lawyer reads the conditions of the will, the three sisters realize that their lives are about to change. In order to inherit the ranch, all three of them must live together on the property for an entire year. Jack just wasn't a controlling jerk in life, he continues through death.

Short Thought: My favorite book by Nora Roberts yet. Absolutely brilliant.

Expanded Thought: I loved this novel overall. It is different from a lot of the other novels like this in that there are three separate and connected female protagonists each with flaws and room for personal growth. It makes it more difficult for the reader to become bored or predict the future events. You get to see three exciting romances develop as the women grow into their own and heal and how it affects the storyline as a whole.

Some people have turned their nose up at this novel. One of the main complaints with it is that there is scenes of animal mutilation (of butchering) in it. (Someone is lurking around the ranch and butchering some of its animals and leaving them to intimidate the sisters into breaking the will. The unsub, unidentified subject, later escalates to human projects.)

Now, I am an animal lover, and I thought the scenes were just fine. They added to the story, and really had the reader feeling a dash of the horror that Lily and Tess must have felt. It was also fitting in with the rancher theme. Personally I believe if people were so bothered by the butchery descriptions, why weren't they bothered by the descriptions of the ranch activities? (like bull neutering and calf birthing) I mean, really, where do these people think their meat comes from? If you are going to eat it, don't turn your nose up at things like this. (I worked at a place for awhile where I had to butcher pigs and chickens that were shipped in. Perhaps, this makes me a little more immune to this foolishness.) The way I see it, if you eat burgers, you cannot find any fault with this story. If you're a full-time vegan, I humbly accept your stance and will enjoy my turkey burger.

I personally think that the gruesome goodness made this novel into the success that it still is today. It sets it apart from the linear, warm fuzzies in the genre. Nora Roberts proves that you can have a mystery in the romance genre that is as gritty and complex as the more masculine counterparts. It says a lot for women's literature in my opinion.

In closing, I think this was a brilliant and complex mystery. Each of the sisters had their own storyline that was so good it could have stood on it own. It is further enhanced in that each of the sisters play off of each other to form a beautiful vibe and flow. It's truly a mystery you cannot miss. It's just brilliant.

Additional Notes: This novel has mild sexual themes, dark themes, and scenes of animal butchery.

Carolina Moon by Nora Roberts

Carolina Moon

(Nora Roberts)

Teaser: As children in the small town of Progress, Tory Bodeen and Hope Lavelle were inseparable until tragedy struck. One night, Tory ran to the Lavelle's door bruised, bloody, and screaming hysterically. A few hours later, Hope's battered body was found in the woods near the property.

Fast forward many years, Tory is returning to Progress to confront the demons she left behind and open up her own business. She quickly becomes the talk of the town and the target of many dangers.

Short Thought: A richly developed mystery with just a hint of the supernatural.

Expanded Thoughts: Tory Bodeen is a great main character with a unique gift. She just 'knows' things. She can find lost items, hear thoughts, and experience things through others eyes. It is like a curse to her. Her father is a abusive man who views her gift as a sign of the 'devil,' and he attempts to beat it out her throughout her childhood. Her mother is no better, she just stands by and blames the beatings on Tory herself. Despite all of this, Tory turns out okay and actually quite successful. Upon returning to Progress, after her parents relocated, she is a savvy businesswoman and builds a profitable retail store. She was truly I character that I loved following.

As for the romance element, both main couples were great. It has that nice 'love will help heal wounds' vibe that is fun to read. These four damaged people are brought together and made into better people for it. The relationships weren't overly gushy and were uncomplicated and easy to follow.

I also loved this novel because it touched on some hot button issues. Class (sociological and financial status) was a huge issue. Cade (and his late sister Hope) are heirs to the wealthiest estate in the area with an enormous house to match. Tory's family used to rent a house from them until they relocated into a trailer with a roof that has more holes than shingles. We are shown that both classes have struggles and scandals that differ greatly but are equally as damaging to someone brought up in it. It just adds another element to the story, scandal, and romance. It isn't cheesily done either, it is done well.

The mystery plot, as with most of Roberts' works, was done very well. It had me guessing who the real perp was until the end. It was also perfectly balanced. The love story didn't overshadow the mystery, and the mystery didn't overshadow the any of the other mechanics in the story. This is a wonderful novel to start into this genre, or positively change your opinion of it.

Additional Notes: This novel contains dark themes, violence, and sexual situations.

Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts

Blue Smoke

(Nora Roberts)

Teaser: Catarina Hale's childhood ended as she watched the fire dance out of her parents' Italian restaurant. She couldn't help but be mesmerized by its beauty as it destroyed her second home. From the moment on, Catarina life would forever be centered around fire and the destruction it leaves.

Short Thought: Great romantic mystery that spans two decades.

Expanded Thoughts: The main character, Catarina Hale, is a strong female lead with tragic flaws that make her interesting. This novel differs from Roberts' other works in that we get to meet Ms. Hale when she is twelve years old, and follow her story until her early thirties when the breadth of the novel takes place. We don't get hints of how she came into her own, we truly get to see it and experience through her eyes. It makes the mystery plot deeper, easier to empathize with, and more memorable than many others.

As for the romance, it was okay. Bo's and Catarina's lives dance around each other for years until they finally intersect. They make a cute couple in the 'star-crossed lovers' kind of way, but it's a little too unrealistic for me. (Yes, even for romance novels.) Bo's character is just way too flat compared to Catarina's. He's the dumbstruck, good ol' carpenter that stakes his whole life on a woman that he had never met. It was sweet and did complement the hole in Reena's life, but it isn't close to the top when you compare to some of the other couples that Roberts' has spun out.

Overall, the mystery and intrigue greatly over shadow the romance. (Hurrah!) If you love Nora Roberts' novels sans all the mystical and magical themes, you should read this one.

Additional Notes: This novel contain themes of a sexual and dark nature.

Tribute by Nora Roberts

Tribute
(Nora Roberts)

Teaser: Cilla McGowan, former child star, has finally escaped the Hollywood life and now makes a living as a "home flipper." She decides that it may be time to set up roots and buys her grandmother's old, damaged farmhouse out in Virginia.

She gets straight to work with the renovations, and even becomes good friends with her closest neighbor, professional graphic novelist, Ford. As they begin to get closer, strange things start happening to Cilla. Someone cuts down her trees, paints graffiti on her property, smashes her new tile-work, and even destroys her truck. It is clear that someone wants Cilla out of Virginia and will go to desperate lengths to remove her.

Short Thought: A wonderful murder mystery that spans 3 generations. A pleasure to read from the first page on.

Expanded Thoughts: I have to admit that I wanted to read this novel after I saw the Lifetime movie on television.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was afraid that it was going to have those annoying, over-descriptive, sex scenes, but it was very tame and fit the story quite nicely. The relationship (Ford and Cilla) in the novel was actually fun to read and developed to new levels as the story progressed. (What can I say? I have a thing for the traditional country boys.)

What also makes this story unique is the fact that the crimes have actually affected the three generations of the family. Cilla has to find out about her grandmother's past to save her own skin.

I look forward to reading it again in the near future. This novel has opened my mind to more 'Chick Lit.'

The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima

The Sound of Waves
(Yukio Mishima)

Teaser: Sometimes described as the Japanese version of Romeo and Juliet, this novel centers around the budding relationship of two teens in a remote fishing village off the coast of Japan. It brings the reader back to the time of their teenage years when they embarked upon their 'first love.'

One day, Shinji, a poor teenage fisherman, spots a beautiful pearl diver out on the beach. The girl gets stuck in his thoughts, and Shinji finds himself 'head-over-heels' in love with her. Hatsue, the beautiful pearl diver and daughter to the town leader, finds that she has the same feelings for Shinji but her family disapproves. Soon, awful rumors start spreading about Shinji, and it seems that they have to fight to pursue their love for each other.

Short Thought: The imagery is beautiful, the characters are great, and the message is there.

Expanded Thoughts: This story is a classic, coming-of-age, love story. It's a true teenage love vs. the world. It is a very enjoyable, simple, and short read by a fantastic and notable author.

Additional Notes: This read was actually very special to me. I originally read this book in the fifth grade (checked it out when I visited the High school library). It was one of the books that got me interested in Japanese language and culture. For years, I had forgotten the name of it (I only remembered the fish on the cover) until one day I happened on it on amazon.com while searching for another book. I ordered it immediately.

The Tokaido Road by Lucia St. Clair Robson

The Tokaido Road
(Lucia St. Clair Robson)

TEASER: Kat is a former noblewoman who now spends her days as a courtesan of the Floating World selling her body to pay her family's debts. She accepts this way of life, but she always keeps a close eye on those around in fear that the man who murdered her father may send someone for her life.

So when one of her clients dies from fugu poisoning that had been intended for her, she makes her escape and travels the Tokaido Road to meet up with one of late father's retainers to finally get revenge for her father. The journey is very dangerous as Kat has a hefty bounty on her head and encounters trouble at every corner. She dresses as a male monk, and prays that it will be enough to get her through the numerous guard stations along the road.

Short Thought: Adventure-filled plot, wonderfully rendered setting, just enough romance, and enough twists and turns to make it genius.

Extended Thoughts: I originally read this some time back in 2005-2006 and loved it so much I decided to read it again. The Tokaido Road was a pedestrian road that went from Tokyo to Kyoto and had tons of guarded stop stations (is that the term?) throughout the whole thing. It is one of my favorite topics of Japanese history. It has it all: adventure, romance, class conflict, revenge, and mystery.

Additional Notes: This is a stand-alone novel.

The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

The Friday Night Knitting Club
(Kate Jacobs)

Teaser: The story is centered around Georgia and her 12-year-old daughter, Dakota. Georgia is a single "mom-prenuer" who runs a successful Yarn Store in New York. She has raised her wonderful daughter all by herself, and hasn't seen Dakota's father since she found out she was pregnant--almost 13 years. Her struggles have made her tough and business-savvy as she finally finds herself on solid ground. Unfortunately, that foundation begins to crumble as Georgia finds herself face-to-face with Dakota's father in her shop one morning. To make matters worse, he is determined to be a permanent fixture in her daughter's life--the daughter that he abandoned before she was ever born.

Short Thought: This is the ultimate chic lit. We see women from all walks of life, dealing with very real and gritty situations, coming to together for varying purposes for a weekly knitter's meeting.

Expanded Thoughts: This was the first chick lit I have read since The Notebook (had to read it after the movie came out). I am not a big fan of chick lit because it usually has way too much drama, way too descriptive sex, and little depth.

This novel pleasantly surprised me. (I originally picked it up because I am an avid knitter.) It was entertaining, witty, and had great plot twists. I recommend this to any gal who is looking for a good read.

Recommended Especially For: A fan of movies like "Now and Then," "Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood," and "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"

Northern Lights by Nora Roberts

Northern Lights
(Nora Roberts)

Teaser: A former Baltimore homicide detective, Ignatious "Nate" Burke, accepts a new job as the chief of police in Lunacy, Alaska. It is a far cry (and about 35 degrees) from the hustle and bustle of the big city of which he is familiar. But a tragedy befell him in Boston, and Nate welcomes the cold isolation more than anyone can guess.

Nate is not welcomed by all of the town's people, but one guest leaves a quick impression on him--Meg Galloway. She's a tough as nails, independent bush pilot with a huge chip on her shoulder. The two of them are drawn close together as the crimes starts piling up around Nate. He had hoped for some easy police work, but Lunacy proves to be as complicated as Boston and twice as dangerous.

Short Thought: Unique, sexy, with a splash of crime drama.

Expanded Thoughts: Okay, I have to admit that I read this novel because of the Lifetime movie that was just on television. It also had LeAnn Rimes in it. (Love country music!)

This was actually miles better than the movie. There are more characters and the major characters are developed very deeply.

It focuses on Nate as he tries to piece his life back together after the death of his partner in Baltimore and the failure of his marriage. His presence in the town really stirs up trouble for the people who hate change.

My only complaint is that the relationship in this one was all over the place and not as good as the other Nora Roberts novels I have read. It was still good, but too rushed and it didn't build very much throughout.

Recommended Especially For: The crime drama fan who has a stash of romance books, oh, and Tivo's of Lifetime movies.

Additional Thoughts: This novel does contain some mildly graphic scenes of a sexual nature. Also, there are scenes of mild violence.

Grand Ellipse by Paula Volsky

The Grand Ellipse (Paula Volsky)

Teaser: As two countries are on the brink of war, a great race, across several lands and seas, is being held. The prize is extremely valuable; the winner gets an audience with the king of the 'outcast' country.

A strong-willed anthropologist (a profession and attitude that sickens her traditional parents) gets approached to compete in the race. Her audience with the outcast King is crucial to prevent the impeding war. She has an undeniable thirst for adventure and reluctantly agrees to participate. As she boards the first ship to start the race, she runs into a fellow racer who makes her blood boil--her pompous, traditional ex-fiance.

Short Thought: Very complicated, hard to follow 'world,' but enjoyable and interesting none the less.

Expanded Thoughts: This was the first 'steam-punk' novel that I have read in quite awhile. The cover and the plot teaser caught me. (Dang those marketing people!) It had a pretty good plot, but all the long country and character names and such confused the snot out of me. I know that doesn't bother some people, but when you have 50 made up words in one paragraph it irritates me. I feel like I am back in history class and need to make an outline or relationship diagram to figure out the significance in what the freak just happened. (whoa, we'll stop this before a rant starts...heh).

The characters, albeit a little cliche, were great and entertaining. I always love a lead female who battles the societal, gender constraints put on her by the more traditional ways. The love story was very entertaining as well as the ideas of the fantastic "race around the world", but some items felt rushed and underdeveloped.

Especially Recommended For: Fans of 'Around the World in 80 Days,' Women Studies enthusiasts, Long Time Fantasy Fans Looking for a change of pace, Steampunk fans, and fans of non-vulgar romances

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Road
(Cormac McCarthy)

Teaser: A father travels through the dusty remains of our once great country with his son at his side. He is desperate to survive and protect his son as they journey to find the shelter of the 'good people' camp.

There is no food, clothing, or shelter, but there are plenty of dangerous happenings around every corner. All the boy has is his place under his father's wing, but as the journey progresses he must watch that place slowly deteriorate. There is no border between the land and hell, but that is all the boy has ever known and things will only worsen.

Short Thought: Different, sad, and tugged at the heartstrings.

Expanded Thoughts: What can I say? This was unlike any novel I have read in recent memory. Did I like it? I'm still not sure. Could I have done without it? Certainly. Did it enrich me in some way? Absolutely.

The way the man acts toward his boy is heartwarming, to say the least. I found myself welling up at times (not an easy feat, I tell you). Unfortunately, that is all there is to the book. It was a short read that took me a couple hours to read and never pulled any twists.

The only reason I probably rated it as high as I did is that fact that I'm a 'daddy's girl.' It's plain and simple. Seeing the way the boy thought of his father puts the reader back into their childhood and makes one think of their parent(s).

Was it a good story? Yes. Did it do anything outstanding for me? No. I would probably read it again just because it is like a gory Hallmark channel movie in a compact, simple package.

Note: This novel does contain a mild amount of gore, violence, and hard situations. It's not for the light at heart.

The Tattoo Murder Case by Akimitsu Takagi

The Tattoo Murder Case (Soho crime)
(Akimitsu Takagi)

Teaser: Set in Post WWII Tokyo, this novel gives us an inside look at one of Japan's most fascinating underground cultures--the intricate and genius art of the yakuza-style Japanese tattoo and the people who lend their bodies as canvases.

One such canvas is found mutilated along with the torso of the unfortunate victim. Kenzo Matsushita, a medical prodigy and newer member to the police force, is stuck with the most challenging puzzle he has ever faced. There's no shortage of possible suspects, motives, or secrets. Was the victim murdered for the tattoo or just made to look that way?

Short Thought: Gritty, tense, wonderful, and I can't wait to read it again.

Expanded Thoughts: Wow, this novel was written back in 1947, but it reads like a contemporary masterpiece with a 'film-noir' vibe.

I have read a lot of mysteries, but never any quite like this one. It had me hooked from the murder discovery on.

The setting was probably the most interesting to me. (Because of my educational background.) It was amazing to me to see just how western everything seemed not too long after the Pacific War. There was a 'East v. West' (or perhaps, 'Old Japan' v. 'New Japan') contrast throughout that made the novel into something more than just the characters or the murder.

I honestly can't say enough good points about it. In fact, I'm putting it back on my reading queue tonight.

Recommended Especially For: Fans of Crime Drama (CSI, Law & Order, etc.), Fans of Japanese Culture or Tattoo Culture, Historical Mystery Buffs

Additional Notes: This novel is a little gritty. It contains a mild amount of gore and descriptions of violence.