Jill Murray is a single Mom of a ten-year-old daughter, Anastasia. Jill teaches cooking classes and helps her students, young and old, to make dishes from around the world. Just as Jill is wiping down the counters from her Chinese cooking class, she notices a man with dark wavy hair standing outside the classroom door. It was her ex-husband, Seth, who abandoned Jill and Anastasia seven years ago.
Jill's second job is working for GGG (Great Girlfriend Getaways), a travel agency that offers the: "...girlfriend getaway of your dreams." Joni Robertson, the owner, allows Jill to work from home the majority of the time so she can meet Anastasia's bus after school.
One day Jill receives a phone call from a male client, Billy Sanders, whose family wants to sell a line of suped-up bicycles in Japan. He is requesting Jill's help in understanding Japanese tradition and culture. Billy turns out to be quite the character.
After thinking about Seth for awhile and secretly reading something in Anastasia's diary, Jill decides that she needs to allow Seth back into their lives.
What will Jill find out about Billy and Seth? Will Anastasia welcome her Dad back after seven long years? And, where will Jill end up in all of this?
This is a story of love, loss, friendship, and reinventing yourself. Claire Cook is a master at creating funny, warm, and lovable characters that we can all relate too.
April 30, 2011
THE BOOKBAGLADY REVIEWS BOOKS FOR YOU!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
PEARL OF CHINA (ANCHEE MIN)
Willow Yee lived in Chin-kiang, a small city far away from Peking, on the south side of the Yangtze River in Jiangsu province. She lived there with her father and grandmother, Nai Nai. Her mother had died after her father had rented her out to pay his debts and she became pregnant. He had given her "magic root powder" from the local herbalist. It was meant to kill the fetus but also killed her!
Willow was seven-years-old in 1897 and she was terribly afraid she was going to lose her Nai Nai like she lost her mother. Grandma was receiving men in the back of the bungalow they lived in. While Nai Nai was busy entertaining her men, Willow and her father worked as seasonal farm hands, he planting rice, wheat and cotton and Willow planting soybeans. In the off season her father stole and Willow, now 8-years-old, was herself a seasoned thief. Hunger does terrible things to people.
One day they met a missionary named Absalom Sydenstricker who walked the streets holding a Bible and proclaiming God was people's best friend. He held his church services in an old store. Willow's father befriended him for the sole purpose of stealing from him. Absalom's wife, Carie, was beside herself and in tears when he even stole the churches doormat. After stealing his wallet, Willow hurried down a side street and out of town. She felt as though someone was watching and following her so she took off running as fast as she could for the hills, after a couple of miles she stopped and sat down. As Willow began to open the wallet she heard a noise and new someone was approaching her. Suddenly she heard: "...you stole my father's wallet"! It turned out to be Absalom and Carie's daughter, Pearl. Pearl would eventually become known as, none other than Pearl S. Buck!!
I have read all of Pearl's books but had never really read too much about her personal life. I assumed she was a happy, contented, well-educated woman and author all of her life, but I was terribly mistaken. What I learned in this book about Pearl's personal life was truly sad and literally devastating. The book is rich in history, stories of wars and revolutions, love of family and the importance of friendship. The friendship between Willow and Pearl is all consuming and will touch the very deepest parts of your heart. The scene at the grave near the end of the book will have you weeping from the beautiful one woman service.
This was a smashing novel and well-written, I didn't want to put it down. If you haven't read any of Pearl's books, I would highly recommend "The Good Earth" along with this one, of course.
April 28, 2011
Willow was seven-years-old in 1897 and she was terribly afraid she was going to lose her Nai Nai like she lost her mother. Grandma was receiving men in the back of the bungalow they lived in. While Nai Nai was busy entertaining her men, Willow and her father worked as seasonal farm hands, he planting rice, wheat and cotton and Willow planting soybeans. In the off season her father stole and Willow, now 8-years-old, was herself a seasoned thief. Hunger does terrible things to people.
One day they met a missionary named Absalom Sydenstricker who walked the streets holding a Bible and proclaiming God was people's best friend. He held his church services in an old store. Willow's father befriended him for the sole purpose of stealing from him. Absalom's wife, Carie, was beside herself and in tears when he even stole the churches doormat. After stealing his wallet, Willow hurried down a side street and out of town. She felt as though someone was watching and following her so she took off running as fast as she could for the hills, after a couple of miles she stopped and sat down. As Willow began to open the wallet she heard a noise and new someone was approaching her. Suddenly she heard: "...you stole my father's wallet"! It turned out to be Absalom and Carie's daughter, Pearl. Pearl would eventually become known as, none other than Pearl S. Buck!!
I have read all of Pearl's books but had never really read too much about her personal life. I assumed she was a happy, contented, well-educated woman and author all of her life, but I was terribly mistaken. What I learned in this book about Pearl's personal life was truly sad and literally devastating. The book is rich in history, stories of wars and revolutions, love of family and the importance of friendship. The friendship between Willow and Pearl is all consuming and will touch the very deepest parts of your heart. The scene at the grave near the end of the book will have you weeping from the beautiful one woman service.
This was a smashing novel and well-written, I didn't want to put it down. If you haven't read any of Pearl's books, I would highly recommend "The Good Earth" along with this one, of course.
April 28, 2011
SNOW FALLING IN SPRING (MOYING LI)
***MEMOIR
Moying Li was four-years-old in 1958 and lived with her maternal grandmother and grandather, Lao Lao and Lao Ye in a traditional Chinese house. It was also occupied by her mother, her father, her 3-year-old brother, Di Di, aunts and uncles, the families of a tailor, electrician, and a clerk.
In the fall of 1958 Moying returned home one day to find the backyard, her beloved playground, strewn with: "...bricks, holes, and scrap metal". A huge big black furnace as tall as her father, was standing in the center. Her family was gathering materials for the "Great Leap Forward", launched by Chairman Mao. The leaders believed: "they could catch up with the west..." mainly Britain: "...in just ten to twenty years - in a giant single stride. The family was trying to gather strong construction materials and using the furnace to melt them down into steel. Women were giving up their favourite frying pans and woks. Too little Moying, the furnace looked like: "...a roaring dragon"!
Between 1958 and 1961, China underwent a siege of disasters. A plague of insects, then a serious drought and finally far reaching famine in which millions of people died.
Moying remembers with clarity the day her childhood ended. It occured one evening in the summer of 1966, when her elementary school headmaster hanged himself. Moying was twelve-years-old.
In the summer of 1963 Moying was packing to attend a school two-hours away from her home. She would reside there Monday through Friday. Moying was one of many students selected to attend this school where they would learn nine languages! The expectation was that after: "...ten years of training, many of the students would continue their studies in leading universities, with the possibility of diplomatic careers".
In late Spring of 1966 disturbances at Beijing and Tsinghua universities began. Large character posters were accusing school authorities of: "...departing from Chairman Mao's teachings". The posters demanded that these educational institutions be opened to workers and peasants instead of the privileged minority. Classes were cancelled and the students began to form groups, calling themselves the "Red Guards", and displayed red arm bands on their sleeves.
In mid summer, Chairman Mao stood at Tinamen Square, on top of the "Gate of Heavenly Peace" telling large crowds that he supported the Red Guards. Like piles of newspapers catching on fire one after another, Red Guard units appeared in all universities and high schools denouncing authorities.
One afternoon there was a scuffle in the headmaster's office. Moying and her friends went to see what was going on. The high school students were pasting up a poster saying that he should confess his crimes, he was poisoning their minds with western ideology and that he was training students to follow capitalism instead of communism. Moying and her friends were shocked and wondered why their headmaster would try to poison them? After speaking to a friends sister, they were told she was denounced the right to become a Red Guard as they believed she was following the headmaster's teachings. Moying and her friends were even more confused.
Every day uncertainty abounded. There were posters everywhere and some now included not only their headmaster, but teachers as well.
The Cultural Revolution continued on with every family losing someone to a labour camp. I have left a lot of information out of this review as I didn't want to give away any spoilers, except maybe one.
Moying Li's memoir was penned with deep thought, deep feelings, and the love of her country which touched her heart and soul. This is an excellent memoir that I would recommend to all and at 176 pages you'll be done in two hours. This book had more information and histories packed into it than some books of 250 pages or more do, truly amazing!!
April 29, 2011
Moying Li was four-years-old in 1958 and lived with her maternal grandmother and grandather, Lao Lao and Lao Ye in a traditional Chinese house. It was also occupied by her mother, her father, her 3-year-old brother, Di Di, aunts and uncles, the families of a tailor, electrician, and a clerk.
In the fall of 1958 Moying returned home one day to find the backyard, her beloved playground, strewn with: "...bricks, holes, and scrap metal". A huge big black furnace as tall as her father, was standing in the center. Her family was gathering materials for the "Great Leap Forward", launched by Chairman Mao. The leaders believed: "they could catch up with the west..." mainly Britain: "...in just ten to twenty years - in a giant single stride. The family was trying to gather strong construction materials and using the furnace to melt them down into steel. Women were giving up their favourite frying pans and woks. Too little Moying, the furnace looked like: "...a roaring dragon"!
Between 1958 and 1961, China underwent a siege of disasters. A plague of insects, then a serious drought and finally far reaching famine in which millions of people died.
Moying remembers with clarity the day her childhood ended. It occured one evening in the summer of 1966, when her elementary school headmaster hanged himself. Moying was twelve-years-old.
In the summer of 1963 Moying was packing to attend a school two-hours away from her home. She would reside there Monday through Friday. Moying was one of many students selected to attend this school where they would learn nine languages! The expectation was that after: "...ten years of training, many of the students would continue their studies in leading universities, with the possibility of diplomatic careers".
In late Spring of 1966 disturbances at Beijing and Tsinghua universities began. Large character posters were accusing school authorities of: "...departing from Chairman Mao's teachings". The posters demanded that these educational institutions be opened to workers and peasants instead of the privileged minority. Classes were cancelled and the students began to form groups, calling themselves the "Red Guards", and displayed red arm bands on their sleeves.
In mid summer, Chairman Mao stood at Tinamen Square, on top of the "Gate of Heavenly Peace" telling large crowds that he supported the Red Guards. Like piles of newspapers catching on fire one after another, Red Guard units appeared in all universities and high schools denouncing authorities.
One afternoon there was a scuffle in the headmaster's office. Moying and her friends went to see what was going on. The high school students were pasting up a poster saying that he should confess his crimes, he was poisoning their minds with western ideology and that he was training students to follow capitalism instead of communism. Moying and her friends were shocked and wondered why their headmaster would try to poison them? After speaking to a friends sister, they were told she was denounced the right to become a Red Guard as they believed she was following the headmaster's teachings. Moying and her friends were even more confused.
Every day uncertainty abounded. There were posters everywhere and some now included not only their headmaster, but teachers as well.
The Cultural Revolution continued on with every family losing someone to a labour camp. I have left a lot of information out of this review as I didn't want to give away any spoilers, except maybe one.
Moying Li's memoir was penned with deep thought, deep feelings, and the love of her country which touched her heart and soul. This is an excellent memoir that I would recommend to all and at 176 pages you'll be done in two hours. This book had more information and histories packed into it than some books of 250 pages or more do, truly amazing!!
April 29, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
COME AND FIND ME (HALLIE EPHRON)
Diana Highsmith hasn't left her house in more than a year. Her boyfriend, Daniel, had died while they were on a climbing vacation in Switzerland a year ago. Outside she had cameras which provided her with live video feeds. When someone was outside her residence, a Klaxon sounded and 'INTRUDER ALERT' would flash on her screen.
Diana, and Daniel's best friend, Jake, ran a successful Internet Security company. Diana meets her clients in a virtual world she created called: 'OtherWorld', and her character online is Nadia Varata. She assesses security breaches, potential and real, and offers her clients a way to protect their businesses and themselves from hackers.
Diana has a sister, Ashley, who had never seen the inside of Diana's office. When Ashley stopped over on Friday to visit, Diana was in a hurry as she had a meeting online in 4 minutes. Ashley was quite upset that Diana had never trusted her enough to see her office and began to cry. Not being able to stand seeing her sister cry, Diana finally relented and allowed her into her office. Ashley was stunned at the amount of technology Diana had set-up.
When Ashley had left Diana's, she inadvertently left her lap top behind and now it was Sunday and she handn't returned to retrieve it. Diana called and left her a message and sent her an e-mail which produced an automated 'out-of-the-office' reply. Monday morning Diana called Ashley's workplace but she wasn't there. Now Diana new in her heart that something was up and decided to call their mother in Florida. She hadn't heard from Ashley either. After opening Ashley's lap top, Diana buzzed off an e-mail to Ashley's contacts but no one had spoken to her since last Friday. Diana checked Ashley's e-mail and she had 181 unread messages so she knew something was terribly wrong as Ashley hadn't checked her e-mail in 3 days which was totally out of character for her as she was 'addicted' to e-mail.
From here the story is as suspenseful as you could ever get. A well-crafted tale that depicts the darkness and suspense well, and where nothing is as it seems. You'll be shocked and surprised and won't be able to put this one down!!
NOTE: Hallie Ephron was also author of "Never Tell A Lie", an excellent novel as well.
April 27, 2011
Diana, and Daniel's best friend, Jake, ran a successful Internet Security company. Diana meets her clients in a virtual world she created called: 'OtherWorld', and her character online is Nadia Varata. She assesses security breaches, potential and real, and offers her clients a way to protect their businesses and themselves from hackers.
Diana has a sister, Ashley, who had never seen the inside of Diana's office. When Ashley stopped over on Friday to visit, Diana was in a hurry as she had a meeting online in 4 minutes. Ashley was quite upset that Diana had never trusted her enough to see her office and began to cry. Not being able to stand seeing her sister cry, Diana finally relented and allowed her into her office. Ashley was stunned at the amount of technology Diana had set-up.
When Ashley had left Diana's, she inadvertently left her lap top behind and now it was Sunday and she handn't returned to retrieve it. Diana called and left her a message and sent her an e-mail which produced an automated 'out-of-the-office' reply. Monday morning Diana called Ashley's workplace but she wasn't there. Now Diana new in her heart that something was up and decided to call their mother in Florida. She hadn't heard from Ashley either. After opening Ashley's lap top, Diana buzzed off an e-mail to Ashley's contacts but no one had spoken to her since last Friday. Diana checked Ashley's e-mail and she had 181 unread messages so she knew something was terribly wrong as Ashley hadn't checked her e-mail in 3 days which was totally out of character for her as she was 'addicted' to e-mail.
From here the story is as suspenseful as you could ever get. A well-crafted tale that depicts the darkness and suspense well, and where nothing is as it seems. You'll be shocked and surprised and won't be able to put this one down!!
NOTE: Hallie Ephron was also author of "Never Tell A Lie", an excellent novel as well.
April 27, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
ACT TWO (KIMBERLY STUART)
Forty-year-old Sadie Maddox is an opera singer but isn't quite getting the high volume audience turn-out that she did when she was younger. Sadie called a meeting with Avi Feldman, a high falutin agent who Sadie said only signed: "...a new client only if six-figures were involved". She whole-heartedly agreed with Avi that she needed: "...a late career reinvention." Avi wanted Sadie to leave New York, go to Iowa and teach voice at Moravia College in Maplewood. Sadie was not impressed and this was not at all what she was expecting for a "career reinvention".
Supposedly, Avi had rented a bungalow for Sadie to live in while she was in Iowa. However, when Sadie deplanes she is met by someone from the University who tells her she's sorry but the bungalow had been sold, there is only one hotel in town and it's booked with students so Sadie will be staying with a family on a pig farm! For Sadie, this was akin to telling Queen Elisabeth that she had to live in an outhouse.
Then Sadie meets Mac, a veterinarian and she assumes they have nothing in common. He is a total country music fan and she's counting the days until she can return to New York. When the semester ends, Sadie packs up and decamps for the city that never sleeps then finds she can't sleep either. Will Sadie find the courage and grace she needs to embrace her Act Two?
April 25, 2011
Supposedly, Avi had rented a bungalow for Sadie to live in while she was in Iowa. However, when Sadie deplanes she is met by someone from the University who tells her she's sorry but the bungalow had been sold, there is only one hotel in town and it's booked with students so Sadie will be staying with a family on a pig farm! For Sadie, this was akin to telling Queen Elisabeth that she had to live in an outhouse.
Then Sadie meets Mac, a veterinarian and she assumes they have nothing in common. He is a total country music fan and she's counting the days until she can return to New York. When the semester ends, Sadie packs up and decamps for the city that never sleeps then finds she can't sleep either. Will Sadie find the courage and grace she needs to embrace her Act Two?
April 25, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
TIGER, TIGER (MARGAUX FRAGOSO)
Margaux Fragoso had a sexual relationship for 15 years with a pedophile. She was only 7-years-old when she first met Peter Curran. Margaux says she was: "...Peter's religion". He had 22 photo albums full of photos of Margaux.
Margaux and her mother, Sandie, began visiting Peter at his home every Monday and Friday after meeting him at the community pool. Margaux was completely taken with the number of pets Peter kept, everything from a dog to a small alligator. Visiting Peter was a nice break from Margaux's Spanish father, Louie, who was violent and full of put-downs. He especially treated Sandie terribly as she had a mental illness. Peter's live-in partner, Ines, worked full-time but Peter stayed home on a disability pension after being injured in the Korean war.
After a couple of months visiting Peter, he begins to kiss Margaux on the lips telling her that's what people who love each other do. That eventually led to Peter and Margaux spending more and more time in the basement together. While they played, Peter would tell her that the world lies and parents lie, that they should use the proper names for their private parts because they were meant to bring pleasure. Peter eventually talked Margaux into playing hide n' seek while 'she' was naked.
When a few months had passed, Peter took in a 6-year-old foster child named Karen. Who in their right mind places any child with someone like Peter? He obviously had more people duped then Margaux and Sandie.
At home, things were terribly intense. Louie was constantly berating Sandie and spent the majority of his time yelling and telling her what she couldn't do. He wouldn't allow her to cook, keep house, comb Margaux's hair and another whole list of tasks. He told her she was too stupid and had mental problems and therefore "he" had to do "everything". Louie's constant harassment made visiting Peter that much more appealing for Sandy and Margaux.
It absolutely made me angrier than a wet hen that Peter was outright molesting and lying to Margaux. On top of that, Peter knew how verbally and emotionally abusive her father was. Children are so innocent and believe everything that adults and or people in places of authority like teachers, police, clergy and others tell them. Peter was impressing upon Marguax how much "they" loved each other, and that "they" were made to be together and get married some day. Margaux at age 8 now fully believed she was quite mature and knew more than Karen did because she was only 6. You can see the amount of psychological damage Peter has already bestowed upon Margaux when she believed she was going to marry a man who was 52 and older than her own father.
This is just an overview of the story and believe it or not, there is so, so much more to this tale that you'll be utterly surprised, shocked and sickened. However, if you have a difficult time dealing with thoughts of pedophiles molesting young children, then this book would be far too heavy for you to read. I myself wasn't quite prepared enough to read this memoir.
April 24, 2011
Margaux and her mother, Sandie, began visiting Peter at his home every Monday and Friday after meeting him at the community pool. Margaux was completely taken with the number of pets Peter kept, everything from a dog to a small alligator. Visiting Peter was a nice break from Margaux's Spanish father, Louie, who was violent and full of put-downs. He especially treated Sandie terribly as she had a mental illness. Peter's live-in partner, Ines, worked full-time but Peter stayed home on a disability pension after being injured in the Korean war.
After a couple of months visiting Peter, he begins to kiss Margaux on the lips telling her that's what people who love each other do. That eventually led to Peter and Margaux spending more and more time in the basement together. While they played, Peter would tell her that the world lies and parents lie, that they should use the proper names for their private parts because they were meant to bring pleasure. Peter eventually talked Margaux into playing hide n' seek while 'she' was naked.
When a few months had passed, Peter took in a 6-year-old foster child named Karen. Who in their right mind places any child with someone like Peter? He obviously had more people duped then Margaux and Sandie.
At home, things were terribly intense. Louie was constantly berating Sandie and spent the majority of his time yelling and telling her what she couldn't do. He wouldn't allow her to cook, keep house, comb Margaux's hair and another whole list of tasks. He told her she was too stupid and had mental problems and therefore "he" had to do "everything". Louie's constant harassment made visiting Peter that much more appealing for Sandy and Margaux.
It absolutely made me angrier than a wet hen that Peter was outright molesting and lying to Margaux. On top of that, Peter knew how verbally and emotionally abusive her father was. Children are so innocent and believe everything that adults and or people in places of authority like teachers, police, clergy and others tell them. Peter was impressing upon Marguax how much "they" loved each other, and that "they" were made to be together and get married some day. Margaux at age 8 now fully believed she was quite mature and knew more than Karen did because she was only 6. You can see the amount of psychological damage Peter has already bestowed upon Margaux when she believed she was going to marry a man who was 52 and older than her own father.
This is just an overview of the story and believe it or not, there is so, so much more to this tale that you'll be utterly surprised, shocked and sickened. However, if you have a difficult time dealing with thoughts of pedophiles molesting young children, then this book would be far too heavy for you to read. I myself wasn't quite prepared enough to read this memoir.
April 24, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
VIOLA IN THE SPOTLIGHT (ADRIANA TRIGIANI)
Note*** This is a Young Adult novel but is also suited to adults.
Viola in the Spotlight is the follow up to the fun and humorousViola in Reel Life.
Viola is fifteen-years-old and her summer is just beginning. She is extremely happy to be back in New York with her family and best friends. She had been away at boarding school for her freshman year. Soon she finds out that her home buddies aren't going to be around during summer vacation and her best bud, Andrew, is acting strangely toward her and she doesn't know why. Things are not off to a good start when her friend Caitlin talks Viola into lying for her so she can sneak off with her secret British boyfriend, Maurice. Viola knows it's wrong but Caitlin is a good friend, but at the same time, she knows she should be talking Caitlin into telling her parents but she doesn't. Viola doesn't know what she's going to do for summer vacation now that all her friends are going to be busy but then she lucks out and her Grandmother gets her an intern job at the theatre.
The one thing in this novel that I really liked was the fact that Adriana focused on the 'friendships' between the kids rather than 'romance' which is what you usually find in Young Adult novels. The focus on Andrew, Caitlin, her school friends and how their friendships work is a refreshing change from the norm. Just like in real life, teenagers think more of their friendships than they do their parents and what their friends think and do is very important to them.
The great character development, the setting, and the relationships make this an intriguing and engrossing read. There are plenty of surprises in this novel and Viola must make some decisions that may change her life, or will they? Another great aspect of this novel is the fact that Viola is really a regular ordinary teenager and Adriana has her dealing with everyday situations. I can't wait for the third book in this series to see what Viola and her friends are up to next. Well done!
April 21, 2011
Viola in the Spotlight is the follow up to the fun and humorousViola in Reel Life.
Viola is fifteen-years-old and her summer is just beginning. She is extremely happy to be back in New York with her family and best friends. She had been away at boarding school for her freshman year. Soon she finds out that her home buddies aren't going to be around during summer vacation and her best bud, Andrew, is acting strangely toward her and she doesn't know why. Things are not off to a good start when her friend Caitlin talks Viola into lying for her so she can sneak off with her secret British boyfriend, Maurice. Viola knows it's wrong but Caitlin is a good friend, but at the same time, she knows she should be talking Caitlin into telling her parents but she doesn't. Viola doesn't know what she's going to do for summer vacation now that all her friends are going to be busy but then she lucks out and her Grandmother gets her an intern job at the theatre.
The one thing in this novel that I really liked was the fact that Adriana focused on the 'friendships' between the kids rather than 'romance' which is what you usually find in Young Adult novels. The focus on Andrew, Caitlin, her school friends and how their friendships work is a refreshing change from the norm. Just like in real life, teenagers think more of their friendships than they do their parents and what their friends think and do is very important to them.
The great character development, the setting, and the relationships make this an intriguing and engrossing read. There are plenty of surprises in this novel and Viola must make some decisions that may change her life, or will they? Another great aspect of this novel is the fact that Viola is really a regular ordinary teenager and Adriana has her dealing with everyday situations. I can't wait for the third book in this series to see what Viola and her friends are up to next. Well done!
April 21, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)