Waiting on Wednesday - Pearl of China by Anchee Min

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Okay, so techinically this was released yesterday, but since in all honesty I won't get my hands on it for awhile, I'm still counting it as my "can't-wait-to-read" selection.

Pearl of China - Anchee Min
Pub. Date: 03/30/2010
In the small southern town of Chin-kiang, in the last days of the nineteenth century, two young girls bump heads and become thick as thieves. Willow is the only child of a destitute family, Pearl the headstrong daughter of zealous Christian missionaries. She will ultimately become the internationally renowned author Pearl S. Buck, but for now she is just a girl embarrassed by her blonde hair and enchanted by her new Chinese friend. The two embark on a friendship that will sustain both of them through one of the most tumultuous periods in Chinese history.

Moving out into the world together, the two enter the intellectual fray of the times, share love interests and survive early marriages gone bad. Their shared upbringing inspires Pearl’s novels, which celebrate the life of the Chinese peasant and will eventually earn her both a Pulitzer and a Nobel Prize. But when a civil war erupts between the Nationalists and Communists, Pearl is forced to flee the country just ahead of angry mobs. Willow, despite close ties to Mao’s inner circle, is punished for loyalty to her “cultural imperialist" friend. And yet, through love and loss, heartbreak and joy, exile and imprisonment, the two women remain intimately entwined.

Teaser Tuesday - Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page


"This telling of the fairy tale was changing their perceptions of everything, of each other most of all. With that thought came another: what was it about the play-and about the fairy tale-that had upset Mom so much all those years ago?"

p. 242 -- "Winter Garden" by Kristin Hannah

Mailbox Monday - 6

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at the The Printed Page. It is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week.

So only one book this week, but even still, I am super excited about it. Skeletons at the Feast has been on my wish list for a while now, and I have read/heard nothing but amazing things. A love story and historical fiction both intertwined... (two of my favorite things ever when it comes to books) could it get any better than this?

Skeletons at the Feast - Chris Bohjalian A masterful love story set against a backdrop of epic history and unforgettable courage In the waning months of World War II, a small group of people begin the longest journey of their lives. At the center is eighteen-year-old Anna, the daughter of Prussian aristocrats, and her first love, a twenty-year-old Scottish prisoner of war named Callum. With his boyish good looks and his dedication to her family, he has captured Anna’s heart. But he is the enemy, and their love must remain a closely guarded secret. Only Manfred, a twenty-six-year-old Wehrmacht corporal, knows the truth. And Manfred, who is not what he seems to be, is reluctantly taken with Anna, just as she finds herself drawn uncomfortably to him. As these unlikely allies work their way west, their flight will test both Anna’s and Callum’s love, as well as their friendship with Manfred–and will forever bind the young trio together.

I shall miss you. I shall miss the possibility of you

A Wedding in December - Anita Shreve
At an inn in the Berkshire Mountains, seven former schoolmates gather to celebrate a wedding—a reunion that becomes the occasion of astonishing revelations as the friends collectively recall a long-ago night that indelibly marked each of their lives. Written with the fluent narrative artistry that distinguishes all of Anita Shreve's bestselling novels, A Wedding in December acutely probes the mysteries of the human heart and the endless allure of paths not taken.

As usual, I was completely captivated by Shreve's writing style. I love, love her - definitely one of my favorite authors! But... as far as the actual story? Yeah, completely missed the mark for me. I just didn't get it. At all. The seven friends that reunite for the weekend wedding, were extremely unlikable to me. Honestly, I despised them and their adulterous ways. Even the groom-to-be is a complete ass, who leaves his wife and daughter so he can marry his 'high school sweetheart'. I just don't get the message of this book.. adultery is okay and justifiable? Sorry, I completely and utterly disagree.

The most enjoyable part of this novel for me, was probably the story within a story, which involves one of the character's, Agnes, and her new novel, which depicts the Halifax Explosion of 1917. In the telling of her story, I became more attached towards her fictional character, Ines, than any of the main characters taking part in the wedding-reunion. I think that tells a lot about how I feel for this book. When you like the side story better than the main plot, that's probably not a good sign... I honestly could care less about what happens to Bill and Bridget, Harrison and Nora, or any of the other friends that reunited. Just very, very disappointed in this one! Hopefully the next Shreve novel I read will be better.

Wordless Wednesday : the Beach & a Book

For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

Teaser Tuesday - The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page


"She conducted her readings in the back of the store, where she blended the essential oils. She kept a cauldron back there as well, but that was just for looks."

p. 131 -- "The Lace Reader" by Brunonia Barry

Mailbox Monday - 5

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at the The Printed Page. It is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week.

Winter Garden - Kristin Hannah This one was sent to me by Marcia at The Printed Page - thanks Marcia!! Meredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children and manage the family business; the other followed a dream and traveled the world to become a famous photojournalist. But when their beloved father falls ill, these two estranged sisters will find themselves together again, standing alongside their disapproving mother, Anya, who even now offers no comfort to her daughters. On his deathbed, their father extracts a promise: Anya will tell her daughters a story; it is one she began years ago and never finished. This time she will tell it all the way to the end. I Am an Emotional Creature : The Secret Life of Girls Around the World - Eve Ensler In this daring, provocative, and insightful book, bestselling author and internationally acclaimed playwright Eve Ensler writes fictional monologues and stories inspired by girls around the globe. Moving through a world of topics and emotions, these voices are fierce, alive, tender, complicated, imaginative, and smart. Girls today often find themselves in a struggle between remaining strong and true to themselves and conforming to society’s expectations in an attempt to please. They are taught not to be too intense, too passionate, too smart, too caring, too open. They are encouraged to shut down their instincts, their outrage, their desires and their dreams, to be polite, to obey the rules. I Am an Emotional Creature is a celebration of the authentic voice inside every girl and an inspiring call to action for girls everywhere to speak up, follow their dreams, and become the women they were always meant to be.

So here's how this one ends: happily, I should warn you.

Sunday's at Tiffany's - James Patterson, Gabrielle Charbonnet
Jane Margaux is a lonely girl. Her mother, a powerful Broadway producer, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany's. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He's perfect. But only she can see him. Michael can't stay forever, though. On Jane's ninth birthday he leaves, promising her that she'll forget him soon. Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets a man, a handsome, comforting, funny man. He's perfect—

I don't know what I was expecting with this book, but after reading several negative reviews, I honestly wasn't expecting much (although I've read more than a few wonderful reviews as well!). I was actually, pleasantly surprised. It didn't blow me away or anything, but I enjoyed it. I loved the premise--what if your imaginary friend from childhood was real? The romance between Jane and her imaginary hero Michael, was very, very sweet! It faintly reminded me of Drop Dead Fred, one of my favorite childhood movies and which initially sparked my interest in this book.

This is my first time reading James Patterson and it definitely won't be the last. I really enjoyed his writing style (although, it did tend to get juvenile at times) and I'm looking forward to reading more of his books in the future, particularly, Along Came a Spider, which has been on my wish list for a while now! Sunday's at Tiffany's is just a very cute, adorable story and a fun, light-hearted read!

"Just because life is hard, and always ends in a bad way, doesn't mean that all stories have to, even if that's what they tell us in school and in the New York Times Book Review. In fact, it's a good thing that stories are different as we are, one from another." p. 300

What do I wear in bed? Why, Chanel No. 5, of course.

hiatus. I will be taking a mini-break from blogging next week, as I will be on vacation from work and therefore, I won't be around very much!! No worries though, because although I'll be taking a break from blogging, I definitely WON'T be taking a break from reading! I shall be back around the 22nd-23rd next week. Happy Reading everyone! books I will be immersed in;

Waiting on Wednesday - Whiter Than Snow

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

My "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Whiter than Snow - Sandra Dallas
Pub. Date: 03/30/2010
Whiter Than Snow opens in 1920, on a spring afternoon in Swandyke, a small town near Colorado’s Tenmile Range. Just moments after four o’clock, a large split of snow separates from Jubilee Mountain high above the tiny hamlet and hurtles down the rocky slope, enveloping everything in its path including nine young children who are walking home from school. But only four children survive. Whiter Than Snow takes you into the lives of each of these families: There’s Lucy and Dolly Patch—two sisters, long estranged by a shocking betrayal. Joe Cobb, Swandyke’s only black resident, whose love for his daughter Jane forces him to flee Alabama. There’s Grace Foote, who hides secrets and scandal that belies her genteel façade. And Minder Evans, a civil war veteran who considers his cowardice his greatest sin. Finally, there’s Essie Snowball, born Esther Schnable to conservative Jewish parents, but who now works as a prostitute and hides her child’s parentage from all the world.

Ultimately, each story serves as an allegory to the greater theme of the novel by echoing that fate, chance, and perhaps even divine providence, are all woven into the fabric of everyday life. And it’s through each character’s defining moment in his or her past that the reader understands how each child has become its parent’s purpose for living. In the end, it’s a novel of forgiveness, redemption, survival, faith and family.

I love, love, LOVE Sandra Dallas. Prayers for Sale is one of my absolute favorites and I am so excited for Whiter Than Snow!

Teaser Tuesday - Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page


"An engaged woman is always more agreeable than a disengaged. She is satisfied with herself. "

ch. 5 -- "Mansfield Park" by Jane Austen

Mailbox Monday - 4

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at the The Printed Page. It is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week.

Breakfast with Buddha - Roland Merullo When his sister tricks him into taking her guru on a trip to their childhood home, Otto Ringling, a confirmed skeptic, is not amused. Six days on the road with an enigmatic holy man who answers every question with a riddle is not what he'd planned. But in an effort to westernize his passenger—and amuse himself—he decides to show the monk some "American fun" along the way. From a chocolate factory in Hershey to a bowling alley in South Bend, from a Cubs game at Wrigley field to his family farm near Bismarck, Otto is given the remarkable opportunity to see his world—and more important, his life—through someone else's eyes. Gradually, skepticism yields to amazement as he realizes that his companion might just be the real thing. Septembers of Shiraz - Dalia Sofer In the aftermath of the Iranian revolution, rare-gem dealer Isaac Amin is arrested, wrongly accused of being a spy. Terrified by his disappearance, his family must reconcile a new world of cruelty and chaos with the collapse of everything they have known. As Isaac navigates the terrors of prison, and his wife feverishly searches for him, his children struggle with the realization that their family may soon be forced to embark on a journey of incalculable danger. Lucia, Lucia - Adriana Trigiani Set in the glittering, vibrant New York City of 1950, Lucia, Lucia is the enthralling story of a passionate, determined young woman whose decision to follow her heart changes her life forever. Lucia Sartori is the beautiful twenty-five-year-old daughter of a prosperous Italian grocer in Greenwich Village.

Love is an all-consuming affair...How do grown-ups fall in love and work at the same time?

Rooftops of Tehran - Mahbod Seraji
In a middle-class neighborhood of Iran's sprawling capital city, 17-year-old Pasha Shahed spends the summer of 1973 on his rooftop with his best friend Ahmed, joking around one minute and asking burning questions about life the next. He also hides a secret love for his beautiful neighbor Zari, who has been betrothed since birth to another man. But the bliss of Pasha and Zari's stolen time together is shattered when Pasha unwittingly acts as a beacon for the Shah's secret police. The violent consequences awaken him to the reality of living under a powerful despot, and lead Zari to make a shocking choice...

WOW! What an amazing story & debut novel by Mahbod Seraji. I absolutely love, love, LOVED this book! From the first few pages I was instantly immersed into the Persian culture and political backdrop of 1970s Iran. I felt like I was a part of the actual story, living right along with the characters in their Tehran alley.

The love story between Pasha and Zari was so mesmerizing, and so haunting - made all the more special by being a forbidden romance. I adored all of the quirky characters who grabbed my attention and heart right from the very beginning. Particularly, Ahmed, Pasha's best friend who was absolutely HIGH-larious! So many special and interesting people whose lives were touched with tragedy, yet continued to live on through love and hope.

I can't say enough about this story - it was funny, it was beautiful, it was heartbreaking. It has absolutely everything for everyone and I DEFINITELY recommend it to everyone. The ending was SO surprising and so wonderful, I was left feeling deliriously happy! Do not miss out on this book - it is amazing, and unforgettable.

"'She's the most beautiful woman on the planet,' I blurt out. 'She has blue eyes, a lovely chin and great cheekbones.' I notice that she stops peeling for a few seconds, and fear that I've gone too far. After all, she's the only girl in our alley with blue eyes. 'She sounds great. Where does she live?' she asks, keeping her back to me. 'Close by,' I say, hesitantly. 'What do you like about her, besides her looks of course?' she continues, her tone a bit more serious. 'Everything,' I admit. 'She reminds me of snow, pure and clean; of rivers, calm and flowing; of rain, revitalizing and refreshing; of a mountain, strong and majestic; and of flowers, delicate and soft.' Zari turns around and stares right at me with a puzzled but thoughtful, crooked smile." p. 55

Teaser Tuesday - A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page


"She wanted to tell him—oh God, she wanted to tell him—but what exactly would she say? I love a man, have always loved him, but he only loves me back sporadically with long, inexplicable gaps in between?"

p. 247 -- "A Wedding in December" by Anita Shreve

FEBRUARY WRAP UP

Books read in February : 8

All Together Dead - Charlaine Harris
From Dead to Worse - Charlaine Harris
Dead and Gone - Charlaine Harris
Everlasting - Kathleen Woodiwiss
The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks
The Choice - Nicholas Sparks
Body Surfing - Anita Shreve
The Flame and The Flower - Kathleen Woodiwiss
The Seance - John Harwood
Dear John - Nicholas Sparks
Rooftops of Tehran - Mahbod Seraji
Sunday's at Tiffany's - James Patterson, Gabrielle Charbonnet

PICK OF THE MONTH
Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji

Really great books this month! I enjoyed more than a few including the Sookie series (of course) and Kathleen Woodiwiss' novels, "Everlasting" and "The Flame and The Flower". But Rooftops of Tehran was just... amazing. Such a great story and definitely a new found favorite!