This novel consists of 5 short stories. In Catch and Release, Danny, a fishing guide, took his father's ashes to their favorite fishing spots. What Danny did with the last bit of his father's ashes was shocking to me.
In Bloodsport, Lynch, having an undertaker's background, gave an insider's perspective on the embalming process and depicted Martin's inner struggles with the murder of Elena. Was it possible he could have helped and prevented her death?
Matinee de September offers a detailed description of the idyllic Mackinac Island and the Grand Hotel where Aisling Black, a widowed English professor, took a respite before fall semester. Awestruck by the waitress Bintalou's beauty, Aisling became obsessed with her...
I didn't care for Hunter's Moon and the title story Apparition. All 5 stories have the theme of death, and how the living cope with the departed. At times it is morbid, but we are assured that "life goes on."
Monday, August 30, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
A Dog's Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron
What is a dog's purpose? This sweet novel explores that question from a dog's point of view. This particular dog lives several lives. In each life, he (and sometimes he's a she) ponders his past experience and current situation in an effort to understand what he's meant to do. If you like dogs even a little, you will enjoy this book.
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Icing on the Cupcake by Jennifer Ross
Meet recent graduate Ansley Waller, who thought she had her whole life figured out. When her finance Parish terminated their engagement in front of their friends, Ansley was humiliated and decided to leave Dallas for New York City to stay with Vivian, the grandmother she never knew.
The story continues with Ansley trying to open a bakery to sell cupcakes, as cooking was her passion and talent. Also, Ansley was trying to bridge the estranged relationship between her mother Hattie and Vivian.
The plot of this novel seems slow and unrealistic at times, especially the part about how Ansley set up her own bakery. But Ansley's determination was admirable. If you relish baking and collecting cupcakes recipes, you won't be disappointed. Ross has unique cupcake recipes - Green with Envy Cupcakes, Going Nuts with Coconuts, Taste of Spring Zucchini Cupcakes and more - after each chapter and provides some insider baking tips throughout the book.
The story continues with Ansley trying to open a bakery to sell cupcakes, as cooking was her passion and talent. Also, Ansley was trying to bridge the estranged relationship between her mother Hattie and Vivian.
The plot of this novel seems slow and unrealistic at times, especially the part about how Ansley set up her own bakery. But Ansley's determination was admirable. If you relish baking and collecting cupcakes recipes, you won't be disappointed. Ross has unique cupcake recipes - Green with Envy Cupcakes, Going Nuts with Coconuts, Taste of Spring Zucchini Cupcakes and more - after each chapter and provides some insider baking tips throughout the book.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Not Without Hope
This is not normally a book I would read but a patron suggested it to me after reading it in only a day. The book is called "Not Without Hope" and is written by Nick Schuyler.
February 28, 2009 4 large strapping young men including 2 professional
football players, a personal trainer and his best friend all go out into the ocean for a day of fishing. What happened next brings up many questions. The anchor gets stuck and they capsize the fishing boat trying to get free. 43 hours later only one survivor is found.
This book is his story on how the other 3 and he fought to survive only for him to watch one by one as the healthy, athletic men succumb to the elements. Nick has come under a lot of scrutiny for writing this book. One of the widows of the NFL players feels he has not been open with her about her husband's last days, but seemed to remember plenty of details for his book.
I found the book extremely open and honest and very believable. I felt no malice from the author at all. In fact I felt extreme sympathy. How would you handle having to explain every minute detail to multiple family members? What about the questions you would have to live with the rest of your life, like why God chose you to survive and none of your friends?
The book is one you can't put down once you start and truly makes you take a hard look at yourself and how you would handle such a situation.
I truly think no one would be disappointed reading this book, although it is a hard story knowing 3 extremely, physically healthy men ended up dying on a day that was supposed to be filled with fun.
Defiantly a book that makes you takes a good hard look at your own life and how you would handle such a situation.
February 28, 2009 4 large strapping young men including 2 professional
football players, a personal trainer and his best friend all go out into the ocean for a day of fishing. What happened next brings up many questions. The anchor gets stuck and they capsize the fishing boat trying to get free. 43 hours later only one survivor is found.
This book is his story on how the other 3 and he fought to survive only for him to watch one by one as the healthy, athletic men succumb to the elements. Nick has come under a lot of scrutiny for writing this book. One of the widows of the NFL players feels he has not been open with her about her husband's last days, but seemed to remember plenty of details for his book.
I found the book extremely open and honest and very believable. I felt no malice from the author at all. In fact I felt extreme sympathy. How would you handle having to explain every minute detail to multiple family members? What about the questions you would have to live with the rest of your life, like why God chose you to survive and none of your friends?
The book is one you can't put down once you start and truly makes you take a hard look at yourself and how you would handle such a situation.
I truly think no one would be disappointed reading this book, although it is a hard story knowing 3 extremely, physically healthy men ended up dying on a day that was supposed to be filled with fun.
Defiantly a book that makes you takes a good hard look at your own life and how you would handle such a situation.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
So Cold the River by Michael Koryta
An old-fashioned horror story, So Cold the River features an down-on-his-luck movie maker hired to make a film about a dying millionaire. As he travels to the man's hometown, he experiences hallucinations and vivid dreams. Is he losing his mind or seeing past events as they really happened? The suspense builds in a very satisfying way. I enjoyed it.
Pray for Silence by Linda Castillo
An entire Amish family is murdered and Police Chief Kate Burkholder sets out to solve the case. This one is a little too personal for Kate and she struggles to maintain her professionalism. This is the second in a series featuring Kate Burkholder and I'm hoping for more!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg
What is your sentiment towards high school reunions? If it is the final reunion, would you attend?
In Berg's latest novel, a menagerie of characters are determined to go to their last, 40th ,high school reunion. The group includes recently divorced Dorothy, Candy the homecoming queen, Lester the nerd, handsome Pete and the quiet Mary Alice. When the in-group and the marginalized collide, anything goes, even a brawl at the the dinner!
Berg has weaved an entertaining novel with their lives intertwined, romance rekindled and past misgivings forgiven. It is an enjoyable read!
In Berg's latest novel, a menagerie of characters are determined to go to their last, 40th ,high school reunion. The group includes recently divorced Dorothy, Candy the homecoming queen, Lester the nerd, handsome Pete and the quiet Mary Alice. When the in-group and the marginalized collide, anything goes, even a brawl at the the dinner!
Berg has weaved an entertaining novel with their lives intertwined, romance rekindled and past misgivings forgiven. It is an enjoyable read!
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