R.I.P. IX is nigh...Hurrah!

 

Its almost time for everyone's favorite reading challenge - R.I.P. IX!!  How exciting, eh?  I know that I can't wait to dive into some spooky reads that will keep me up late at night.  In fact, I've been trying to figure out which books I want to read for this challenge.  I'm thinking of the following ones:

What do you think?  Any suggestions?  Part of me wouldn't mind reading something gothic, but I'm just not sure what to read.  Leave me a comment if you know of any great scary reads.  And for those of you who are wondering what R.I.P. IX is, here's some information:

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril, or R.I.P. for short, is a participatory event created by Carl of Stainless Steel Droppings, wherein we the people spend however little, or much, time we want over the months of September and October imbibing all things ghastly and ghostly.

The purpose of R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril IX is to enjoy books and movies/television that could be classified (by you) as:
Mystery.
Suspense.
Thriller.
Dark Fantasy.
Gothic.
Horror.
Supernatural.
Or anything sufficiently moody that shares a kinship with the above.

There are two simple goals for R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril IX
1. Have fun reading.
2. Share that fun with others.

There are multiple levels of participation (Perils) that allow you to be a part of R.I.P. IX without adding the burden of another commitment to your already busy lives. There is even a one book only option for those who feel that this sort of reading is not their cup of tea (or who have many other commitments) but want to participate all the same. And there is a group read, too - (September 1st thru October 1st) a read-a-long of   The Haunting of Hill House.  For details on the various Perils check out Carl's site.  And, just so you know, there is a review site where you can add a link to your R.I.P. IX posts and check out what everyone else is reading or watching!

So, there you have it folks, all the pertinent details regarding one of the blogosphere's funnest reading experiences - R.I.P. IX.  Pick out your books or movies and have fun! I know I'm excited to dive right in. And now, I'm off to finish reading The Story Hour by Thrity Umrigar, so that I can start reading something spooky sooner rather than later.  Happy reading!!

Desire Lines: A Novel by Christina Baker Kline

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train comes a novel about friendship and the memories that haunt us.

On the night of her high school graduation, Kathryn Campbell sits around a bonfire with her four closest friends, including the beautiful but erratic Jennifer. “I’ll be fine,” Jennifer says, as she walks away from the dying embers and towards the darkness of the woods. She never comes back.

Ten years later, Kathryn has tried to build a life for herself, with a marriage and a career as a journalist, but she still feels the conspicuous void of Jennifer’s disappearance. When her divorce sends her reeling back to the Maine town where she grew up, she finds herself plunged into a sea of memories. With nothing left to lose, she is determined to answer one simple question: What happened to Jennifer Pelletier?

my thoughts:

Desire Lines is the third book I've read by Christina Baker Kline and I'm ready to declare myself an avid fan of her work.  She's an author who can create engrossing stories involving families, friends, lovers and doesn't shy away from taboo topics (kissing cousins!).  Kline writes women's fiction with such realistic details, relatable experiences, and fully developed characters that you can't but find yourself getting lost in one of her novels - they are fantastically riveting!  

In Desire Lines we get to know Kathryn, a woman whose life is a bit of a mess.  She's returned to her hometown just in time for her ten-year high school reunion.  Inundated with memories from her past, she begins to work through the problems crowding her life and eventually discovers what path she should be on.  Kathryn also manages to utilize her journalistic instincts to uncover the truth about the disappearance of her high school friend, Jennifer Pelletier (she disappeared the night they graduated).  Filled with 80s flashbacks, family drama, and red herrings this book kept me up late at night - and I loved it!

I would definitely recommend Desire Lines to fans of Kline's works and fans of women's fiction.  To find out what other bloggers are saying about this book, check out the link for the TLC Book Tour schedule of: Desire Lines

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Three Story House: A Novel by Courtney Miller Santo

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

As they renovate a historic Memphis house together, three cousins discover that their spectacular failures in love, career, and family provide the foundation for their future happiness in this warm and poignant novel reminiscent of The Postmistress and The Secret Life of Bees.

Approaching thirty and trying to avoid the inescapable fact that they have failed to live up to everyone’s expectations as well as their own aspirations, cousins and childhood best friends Lizzie, Elyse, and Isobel seek respite in an oddly shaped, three-story house that sits on a bluff sixty feet above the Mississippi River.

As they work to restore the nearly condemned house, each woman faces uncomfortable truths about her own failings. Lizzie seeks answers to a long-held family secret about her father in their grandmother’s jumble of mementos and the home’s hidden spaces. Elyse’s obsession with an old flame leads her to a harrowing mistake that threatens to destroy her sister’s wedding. And Isobel’s quest for celebrity tempts her to betray confidences in ways that could irreparably damage her two cousins.

This sharply observed account of the restoration of a house built out of spite but filled with memories of love is also a tale of friendship and a lesson in how relying on one another’s insights and strengths provides the women with a way to get what they need instead of what they want.

my thoughts:

Three Story House by Courtney Miller Santo is a family drama through and through.  Its chock full of relatives who love each other too much and too little at times.  There are family secrets, a run-down family home to repair, and personal issues to confront - all of which make for one spellbinding read.

Santo has written a terrific new story about three cousins who are best friends, nearly thirty, and searching for direction in their lives.  She brings them together to work on restoring their grandmother's old Spite House.  As each woman attempts to salvage a part of the home, they begin to mend the broken parts of their lives.  The book is broken into three sections, each one representing a different cousin, Lizzie, Elyse, and Isobel.  I love when authors provide us with each character's perspective on their own lives and the lives of those around them - its fascinating to see how differently everyone remembers the past or views the present.  I found myself hooked from the beginning when Lizzie is first introduced to her new cousins, Elyse and Isobel - she discovers a whole new world of family and friendship that will last a lifetime.

Three Story House is a book that I knew I would love, because of its focus on family dynamics.  I felt that Santo really explored the ways in which families support, encourage one another, while also looking at the ways in which families can fall apart.  This story had an interesting cast of characters that were realistic and very relatable.  I loved getting to know these best friends. 

I would definitely recommend Three Story House by Courtney Miller Santo to fans of women's fiction, specifically those about family dramas.  You will love this book!  And if you want to find out what everyone else has to say about this great book, here's the link for the TLC Book Tour schedule:
Three Story House

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Angel of Losses: A Novel by Stephanie Feldman

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

The Tiger’s Wife meets A History of Love in this inventive, lushly imagined debut novel that explores the intersections of family secrets, Jewish myths, the legacy of war and history, and the bonds between sisters.

When Eli Burke dies, he leaves behind a mysterious notebook full of stories about a magical figure named The White Rebbe, a miracle worker in league with the enigmatic Angel of Losses, protector of things gone astray, and guardian of the lost letter of the alphabet, which completes the secret name of God.

When his granddaughter, Marjorie, discovers Eli’s notebook, everything she thought she knew about her grandfather—and her family—comes undone. To find the truth about Eli’s origins and unlock the secrets he kept, she embarks on an odyssey that takes her deep into the past, from 18th century Europe to Nazi-occupied Lithuania, and back to the present, to New York City and her estranged sister Holly, whom she must save from the consequences of Eli’s past.

Interweaving history, theology, and both real and imagined Jewish folktales, The Angel of Losses is a family story of what lasts, and of what we can—and cannot—escape.

my thoughts:

The Angel of Losses is an entertaining read about love, loyalty, theology, and Jewish folk tales.  The imagery and descriptions are beautifully mesmerizing.  I fell in love with this story and couldn't put it down.  This idea of a notebook filled with stories that contain so much depth, secrecy, and history was spellbinding.  I loved Feldman's creativity with merging old folk tales and this family's personal (his)story - it was fantastical!

Marjorie and Holly are sisters who have had a falling out.  One is obsessed with studying their grandfather's notebook of stories, whilst the other one has embraced her husband's religion.  A medical scare brings the siblings together and leads one to further research their grandfather's past and the stories he once told them in the hopes of discovering a cure of sorts.  Its an emotional and fascinating read.  The dreams, the concept of fate, the old man - everything combined to create a truly magical read.

Stephanie Feldman's novel, The Angel of Losses is an interesting and unique read that will cater to fans of fiction involving culture and religion, and fans of magical realism.  I would definitely recommend this book!  I loved it!

Check out the TLC Book Tour schedule for: The Angel of Losses

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

2 A.M. at The Cat's Pajamas: A Novel by Marie-Helene Bertino

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

2 A.M. AT THE CAT’S PAJAMAS begins on a quiet morning in a Philadelphia apartment the day before Christmas Eve, where we meet the precocious and smart-mouthed nine-year-old Madeleine Altimari.  Madeleine’s mother has recently died, and her father is still lost in his grief. Meanwhile, Madeleine finds solace in music and aspires to become a jazz singer. Just two days shy of her tenth birthday, she is about to have the most remarkable day of her life.

After facing down mean-spirited classmates and rejection at school, Madeleine decides today is the day to find Philadelphia’s legendary jazz club, The Cat’s Pajamas, and make her debut. On the same day, Madeleine’s fifth grade teacher Sarina Greene, who has moved back to Philly after a divorce, is nervously looking forward to a dinner party that will reunite her with her high school love. And across town at The Cat’s Pajamas, club owner Jack Lorca discovers that his beloved venue may close be closed due to financial woes by the end of the night. As we follow these three lost souls over the course of twenty-four hours, we also meet a cast of unique and brilliant characters who surround them – from the warm-hearted cafe owner Mrs. Santiago to Melissa, the former “snake lady” exotic dancer who might be Lorca’s last hope for love.  With sharp wit and irrepressible spirit, Marie-Helene Bertino turns Philadelphia into a magical place where anything can happen.

A sparkling and completely original novel, 2 A.M. AT THE CAT’S PAJAMAS will capture your heart and make you root for Madeleine, Sarina, Lorca, and those whose lives they touch around them.

my thoughts:

A quirky and compelling read about a cast of eccentric characters living in Philadelphia on Christmas Eve eve.  Madeline is a precocious nine-year-old who just wants to sing; Sarina is a newly divorced teacher who still harbors feelings for her old high school crush; and Lorca owns a jazz club that's about to be shut down - all three characters will experience one unforgettable night. 

Marie-Helene Bertino has created a wonderfully sad, comical, and magical read with 2 A.M. at The Cat's Pajamas.  She has written a story that will entertain, intrigue, and charm the pants off you.  I absolutely loved this book!  It has love, loss, community, family, desire, dreams, and so much more packed into it - you can't help but fall in deep with the characters.  There are three story lines, but my favorite was Madelines.  This little girl who smoked, cursed, and defied expectations was a delight to read.  All she wants to do is sing, so when given the chance at school one morning - she is over the moon!  Except, Madeline doesn't get the chance to sing in the end and winds up getting expelled from school.  She has no one to report her news to except the neighborhood that is raising her.  Her mother passed away and her father has become a recluse, so Madeline is left to her own devices.  She has a recipe box of her mother's tips on life that she looks through on a daily basis and she has a passion to sing, but that's about all she has.  Thanks to her mother's friendships, she also has a neighborhood willing to feed her, watch after, and take care of her.  Its heartbreaking, but comforting to know that Madeline isn't really alone. 

As for Sarina, she's Madeline's teacher who feels badly that the little girl didn't get a chance to sing or eat a candy apple.  Her story follows her to a dinner with friends from high school that she really wasn't friends with - awkward much?  At the dinner she winds up running into her prom date and crush from high school.  He's actually the reason she went to the dinner.  Turns out that he's always harbored a crush on her as well, but as a teen-aged boy he took advice from his older brother and wound up ruining his one and only date with Sarina.  Years later, he's separated from his wife and Sarina is newly divorced - will a walk around the city rekindle old feelings?  And then there is Lorca, the owner of the once famous jazz club, The Cat's Pajamas - he's just been fined thirty thousand dollars in citations.  I guess setting fire to a drum kit wasn't a good idea, eh?  Plus, his girlfriend has just moved out and left him.  Oh and his teen-aged son is heading down the wrong path.  Hmm...Lorca has definitely kept his eyes shut as of lately and looks like Christmas Eve eve is the night its all gonna hit the fan. 

Now, that is all I'm going to write about this fantastic novel.  I just don't want to spoil any of the magic from the story - you have to read it for yourself!  I will say this - someone does rock the stage at The Cat's Pajamas at 2 A.M..  And someone does float away in the end, which I thought was pretty amazing and chalked up to the magic of Christmas.  So, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Marie-Helene Bertino's terrific book, 2 A.M. at The Cat's Pajamas - you will love it! 

Check out the schedule for the TLC Book Tour of: 2 A.M. at The Cat's Pajamas

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Bergdorf Blondes: A Novel by Plum Sykes

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

The tenth anniversary edition of New York Times bestselling author Plum Sykes’s timeless satire

Bergdorf Blondes are a thing, you know, a New York craze. Absolutely everyone wants to be one, but it’s actually très difficult. You wouldn’t believe the dedication it takes to be a gorgeous, flaxen-haired, dermatologically perfect New York girl with a life that’s fabulous beyond belief. Honestly, it all requires a level of commitment comparable to, say, learning Hebrew or quitting cigarettes.

Our heroine, “Moi,” described as a “champagne bubble of a girl about town,” gets into misadventures with fellow socialite and best friend Julie Bergdorf, a department store heiress. When Moi notices that getting engaged brings about a glow unattainable by facials, she and Julie scheme and shop to attract the perfect PH (Prospective Husband). Sykes’s debut is a pitch-perfect examination of the glittering lives of the young, rich, and fabulous living in New York.

my thoughts:

Chick lit is my vice.  Its my guilty pleasure.  I can't help it.  Its similar to my addiction to reality TV - Housewives, Rich Kids, Kardashians, Million Dollar Listing, etc.  I love watching these shows and reading these books about these insanely wealthy people and their over the top, ridiculous behavior.  I find it frivolous, fun, and totally unputdownable.  Especially after a chaotic day, I like the idea of settling down for some fluff reading/TV watching - its my escape from my reality.  So, when I got offered the chance to review Plum Syke's book, Bergdorf Blondes, I leapt at the chance.  First of all, the new 10th anniversary book cover drew me in - I loved it!  And secondly, the summary of the book - well, it most definitely sounded like my cup of tea - the search for a PH (how fun!).

Bergdorf Blondes is a smart, funny book about NYC PAPs (Park Avenue Princesses) and their fabulous lives.  These young women are rich, superficial, and uber-competitive.  They are obsessed with becoming Bergdorf Blondes and living in excess.  And they have just discovered that the latest "hot" accessory is the PH (Prospective Husband) - apparently being engaged makes your skin glow!  Of course the fun in having a PH is the actual hunt for a PH.  So, BFFs Julie and Moi are determined to find Julie a PH - because what else does the woman who has everything need?  Except, Moi is the one who becomes engaged to a famous photographer, while Julie continues to meet one eligible bachelor after another.  Life in NYC is turning out to be better than fabulous for these two besties.  Until Moi realizes that her PH is not exactly the man she fell in love with.  Hmm....maybe a PH isn't the answer after all.  As these two women navigate the world of shopping, facials, highlights, and dating they begin to discover that friendship and love is what its all about.

Plum Sykes has written a fantastic novel about the socialites in NYC and their seemingly vapid lifestyle.  She has created a cast of hilarious and unforgettable characters that are more than their Prada handbags and Marc Jacobs jeans.   Sykes appears to be poking fun at these women, but in a manner that lets you know they are in on the joke.  Witty one-liners and drama after drama fill this delightful book in a fast-paced speed.  You will devour it in one sitting!  I absolutely loved getting to know these Bergdorf Blondes and believe that you will, too!  I would definitely recommend this book to fans of chick lit - you will LOVE this read!

To find out what everyone else has to say about this book, check out the TLC Book Tours schedule: Bergdorf Blondes

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Gone Reading...

Too busy to post anything new as I'm currently engrossed in Haruki Murakami's latest book, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage.  I am obsessed with it!

What book(s) are you obsessed with?

What I'm Reading...

Short stories are where its at!  Seriously, I'm loving the short so hard right now, its all I can think about.  I'm actually in the middle of two short story books at the moment and absolutely loving it.  Okay, well, one of them is actually a book of novellas, but that just means the short stories are longer, so I'm letting it count as a book of shorts.  Here are the two books:

Talk about two vastly different authors and writing styles.  The King book consists of four novellas and I'm currently in the midst of one titled, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.  And let me just say that I am hooked.  This story is unputdownable, but I'm making it putdownable as I don't want finish it just yet.  I am so engrossed in Red's story of life at Shawshank and of his friend, Andy.  I must admit that as I read this story I can't help but imagine Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman as the characters - heck, I even want to watch the film version again when I'm done with the story.  Stephen King has really outdone himself with this short - makes me realize how much more I prefer his non-horror stories.

As for the Vonnegut, it is terrific! KV is my all-time favorite writer, so in my completely biased opinion - he can do no wrong when it comes to his writing.  Look At The Birdie is a collection of unpublished short stories.  They are quirky, funny, and filled with his dark humor.  I am loving them all!  Right now I'm in the middle of one where the characters are falsely accused of murder in a corrupt town where they have no chance of beating the rap.  Its pretty intense and I'm on the edge of my seat reading it (which I love!).  Plus, I am really enjoying looking at Vonnegut's drawings interspersed throughout the book - they are fantastic!

Of course, the new Murakami comes out today, so these books will be put on hold.  I'm just waiting for my book to arrive and then I'm settling in to read my new favorite book - Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage.  I can't wait!!  Happy Reading!!

Sweet Water: A Novel by Christina Baker Kline

about book:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train comes a novel about buried secrets and the redemptive power of forgiveness.

Cassie Simon is a struggling artist living in New York City. When she receives a call from a magistrate telling her she has inherited sixty acres of land in Sweetwater, Tennessee, from her grandfather, whom she never knew, she takes it as a sign: it’s time for a change. She moves to the small Southern town where her mother, Ellen, grew up—and where she died tragically when Cassie was three.

From the moment she arrives in Sweetwater, Cassie is overwhelmed by the indelible mark her mother’s memory left behind. As she delves into the thicket of mystery that surrounds her mother’s death, Cassie begins to discover the desperate measures of which the human heart is capable.

my thoughts:

As a fan of Christina Baker Kline's novel, Orphan Train, I was excited to read her first book, Sweet Water.  I knew that I would be in for an uputdownable story filled with fascinating characters and oodles of family drama.  Well, I was right.  Sweet Water is the story of Cassie, a big City gal, who decides to embrace country living in Tennessee and winds up finding out more about her family than she bargained for.

Life in NYC is not going all that well for Cassie, so when she inherits her grandfather's house in Tennessee, she thinks its the perfect opportunity to start fresh somewhere new and finally meet her mother's family. Of course, life in Tennessee is not at all what Cassie expected.  From suspicious relatives to dark family secrets, every one and every thing seems to be pushing Cassie to head back to NYC.  Except, she doesn't want to leave her new home just yet.  Inspired to create, Cassie begins to sculpt and envision a new life for herself.  Her new job at a local dive bar introduces her to some new friends and a new love.  Life is inching toward livable, when gossip, family squabbles, and burglary occur.  Cassie realizes that her mother's family is not one for embracing new relatives. 

Kline's debut novel is engaging, well written, and unputdownable.  I was hooked!  I found myself following Cassie's big move to Sweet Water with excitement.  I wanted to see her enmeshed with her mother's family and embarking on new adventures.  Of course, I wanted a little family drama to spice things up a bit.  Well, I certainly got what I wanted - in spades!  Cassie's family is not too happy with her relocation to their family home - why did she get the house?  Her grandmother, Clyde, is not welcoming and tends to look through Cassie instead of at her.  No one seems to really want her around, well, except for her cousins.  Although one of them happens to be her new love interest and that just about put me off reading the rest of the book.  Why Cassie had to fall for her cousin is beyond me, but that's what Kline wrote.  I didn't like this pairing and found myself rather disturbed by it.  However, that is my only quibble with the story.  I really enjoyed reading everything else, especially Clyde's musings at the beginning of each chapter.  I liked learning about this unhappy woman - we get to learn about her past and present state of mind.  Plus, we get to learn more about how/why Cassie's mom died and the dark, horrible secret that Clyde has kept buried for much too long.  This is one entertaining read!

I really loved Sweet Water and would recommend it to fans of Christina Baker Kline and fans of women's fiction.  This is a terrific book filled with family dramas and secrets.  If you want to find out what everyone else is saying about this book, check out the TLC Book Tours schedule for: Sweet Water.

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Non-Bookish Thoughts...

I'm 36.  It happened earlier this week and I have to admit that it wasn't so bad.  I thought I would be in tears when it happened - crying over getting older - but I wasn't.  Instead, I was too busy enjoying celebrating my birthday with loved ones.  There was lots of yummy food, a delicious ice cream cake (my favorite!), lovely cards and birthday wishes.  It was a very happy birthday.  I even received some books - hurrah!  Here are my new lovelies:

I'm so excited about my new reads that I'm not sure which one I should read first.  Any suggestions?  I'm leaning toward My Salinger Year by Joanna Rakoff.  Of course, it will probably make me want to re-read Salinger after and then I'll be adding more books to my TBR pile.  Oh, the woes of being a bookworm.


Aside from my birthday, my week has been filled with writing.  I've been writing a lot more lately, but I've also been throwing out a lot of it as well.  Its rather frustrating.  So, I've been watching too much TV, listening to the new Jenny Lewis CD on repeat, and reading to distract myself from thinking about how badly I've been writing lately.  I plan on culling my bookshelves later today as another means of distraction.  Well, the book culling is actually something I've been mulling over for a while.  You see, I'm thinking of only keeping the books that I absolutely LOVE - books by favorite authors and books I will most definitely re-read.  All of the other books will get donated to the local senior citizen's center (the ones that I read and liked, but have already forgotten about).  My only worry is that I will regret getting rid of some of the books, because I think I secretly am a book hoarder (ugh!).  Hmm...what to do?  What do you think?  Should I just keep them all?

Well, Bergdorf Blondes is beckoning me, so I'm off to do some reading. And I'm leaving you with Jenny Lewis, so that you can get a taste of her music.  Enjoy!