Three Weeks w/ My Brother - N. Sparks

For whatever reason - when I read an author's books and find them relatively entertaining....I end up having to read just about everything that he/she has written. It's just one of my odd habits.
So as you can see (if you've been reading previous posts) I've read quite a few Nicholas Sparks books here recently. And in a previous blog I ranted on how he wrote the same love story over and over....man and woman meet, fall in love, problem arises, situation resolved, and everyone lives happily ever after.

Well I decided I'd pick up his memoir, co-written by his brother. The book came about because Nicholas receives a brochure advertising the trip of a lifetime. You'd visit all various iconic spots around the world: Easter Island, Machu Picchu, Malta, Cuzco, Cambodia, Taj Mahal, Guatemala, etc. in only 3 weeks. So Nicholas ends up on the trip of a lifetime with his brother Micah. Dispersed amongst the story of their adventure and personal pictures you learn about the history of these two men. Their story is both tragic and uplifting - what would it be like to be the last 2 surviving members of your family? At times I felt like their history surreal - but we all know that some families are just marked with a lot of tragedy.

In this book you also learn that some of Nicholas' more famous books were inspired by people in his family. For instance, "A Walk to Remember" was inspired by his little sister. Though you might not enjoy his works of fiction, I think everyone would enjoy his memoir. It's a fantastic portrayl of family, love, tradition, struggle, and hope. I found myself crying in at least 2 different places.

The Choice - N. Sparks

The Choice by Nicholas Sparks in set in the slow watery banks of Beaufort, North Carolina. It's a story in which Gabby must choose between her boyfriend Kevin or sexy veterinarian (and neighbor) Travis.

Most of the story deals with the meeting and courtship of Gabby and Travis. Gabby is new to the neighborhood and soon realizes her pure collie is expecting. Of course she blames it on none other than Travis - the free spirited neighbor, whose dog runs the neighborhood off leash. As with other Sparks novels the characters soon fall for one another BUT add the complexity the boyfriend Kevin and you have yourself a love triangle. So as the title of this novel states - this story is about choices; however, the choice actually ends up being not about what you'd expect.

So this is only my 2nd Sparks novel. Yes, its another love story with the typical cliche - man meets woman (or vice versa), they fall in love, enter the complication, and end result = they live happily ever after. But at least in this book you're surprised. Again - most of the book deals with the courtship and budding relationship between Gabby and Travis but whether she decides to pursue a relationship with Travis or play it safe with Kevin isn't the actual choice that needs to be made. As always I won't give the details away...if you're looking for a light but enjoyable read then this book can offer you that.

Up next:
- Three Weeks with my Brother
- The Art of Racing in the Rain
- The Thorn Birds

True Believer - N. Sparks

I just finished reading Nicholas Sparks' True Believers. It's a book about Jeremy Marsh - a sci fi writer and debunker of the supernatural. He's a New York native and divorcee whose not only smart but incredibly charming and handsome.

Jeremy receives a letter requesting he visit Boone Creek, NC in order to debunk the ghostly lights in the local cemetery. Amongst the small town charm and southern hospitality Jeremy finds himself falling in love with local girl and librarian - Lexie. It's a witty and complicated courtship that leaves the reader saying "don't be so hard-headed"!!!

I've always said I'm a sucker for a good love story - and though I've read only one other novel by Mr. Sparks I agree with someone who said something to the effect - "his books are the same....two people fall in love but can't be together and then somehow in the end they find a way to be together"(LOL). Sometimes you can be in the mood for a romance story you know that's not going to break your heart - and for that we can rely upon Nicholas Sparks.

So if you're a sucker for a love story (like me) and you don't want to be left emotioanally sad and drained then I think you'd be in the mood for something from his long list of love stories. True Believers is a short read and being from the south myself, it was particularly nice to read.

Middlesex by J. Eugenides

For my e-book club we just finished reading Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides.

Let me start of by saying I was a little misled by the summary or synopsis of this book. The premise is supposed to be about hermaphrodite's struggle to identify with his sex as a boy after being raised as a girl.

What I ended up reading for the 1st few hundred pages was more about the family history (incest and all) and how the unique circumstances created Calliope otherwise known as Cal. The story is told through the eyes of Cal as he recalls his family's genealogical past. We also jump back and forth between Cal's current life in Germany and his past - being raised as a girl and then finding out that she was actually a he.

So the book won a pulitzer and though its written well - I think there was a lot left to be desired here. First of all - though I appreciated the family background I think that it could have been simpler and shorter. By cutting down the first half of the book Eugenides could have focused more on Calliope/Cal's story. Which is the 2nd issue I had - I don't think I ever really got an idea about how Cal was coping - how his brother and mother adjusted to his new life, etc. It's sorta hinted that Cal's still dealing but we don't get real insight. Cal's character as a man is never developed....we don't really know who he is.

And lastly - I was left wanting more. The book really just ends abruptly leaving you with lots of questions. Not only do you want more of Cal's story but you wonder - what happened between him and Julie?? The author just sorta wraps it all up by saying "well the brother loses all the family's money, mom moves down to New Smyrna Beach, and Cal is in Germany...." whoop de doo.

As of today I have no books on tap - some requests with the library but the only thing I have to read is my Battles of the American Revolution.....

Echo In the Bone - continuation of the Outlander Series

Diana Gabaldon's 7th book in the series Outlander came out on 9/22/09 to much anticipation. I'm a rather new fan to the series having read all the books within the past 2 months, which actually worked to my benefit...I didn't have to wait 3 years between each book to find out "what happens next".

If you read Breath of Snow and Ashes then you'll know that Echo doesn't quite pick up in the place that you'd expect. Rather than start with a letter from Jamie and Claire as expected, you begin with a narration by William and his involvement with the British army against the Americans. There are over 800 pages in the book detailing the late 1700's - 1778 through various narrators, such as: William, Lord John Grey, Claire, Jamie, and of course Brianna, and Roger Mac (their time frame falls between late 1970's and early 1980's).

The ever so clever Gabaldon is able to keep you in suspense the entire book as she developed new and impossible circumstances for each and every character; with a few of these being real eyebrow raisers. You'll be wondering just what the heck is going to happen. And of course, that's where she leaves you at the end of book 7 - clueless. You'll be aching for book 8 in order to fill your need to know what is going to happen. Just about every main character has an unresolved problem...(I've left these issues rather vague in order to not spoil the story for those who will read it)

1. What will happen between Jamie and Claire now?
2. What will happen between Claire and Jenny?
3. What will happen with Fergus and his inheritance?
4. What will happen between Lord John and William?
5. What the heck happens to Roger & William Buccleigh Mackenzie?
6. How will Diana solve the issue with Brianna, Rob, and Jem?
7. What happens between Ian and Rachel?

Of course, Diana had to bring about the tears with a death of beloved character...and one of the most endearing moments on the novel - Jenny buying her baguette in French...it was so touching I had to read that part twice!

Another favorite moment of mine is when Claire catches Jamie praying "Lord let me be enough". It's not until later that Claire understands the prayer wasn't about the war, him as a soldier, etc. It's about her....his prayer is a request that he'll be enough for Claire as she leaves everything behind - her heart of full of grief, loss, and fear. I can say that it was hard for me to see this more mature relationship because I was so fond of the Claire and Jamie of Outlander, but now after reading Echo I understand that it was necessary in order to create the intensity and understanding they have now.

My vote - read the book! If you haven't read any of the Outlander series, start with the 1st book Outlander and make your way through the other 6 books. If you're smart pace it out so by the time you're done with Echo maybe book 8 will be coming out. As for me, I'm not stuck with everyone else, waiting.....

Books in my current lineup:
- Middlesex (halfway through so my post will be coming soon)
- Thorn Birds
- True Believers

Follow the Stars Home - L. Rice

Follow the Stars Home by Luanne Rice is about a woman torn between the life she has and the one that could have been. After learning her baby in utero will have issues, Dianne is abandoned by her husband and forced to raise her deformed daughter alone.

Most of the story is about Dianne's decisions, her life now, and where she's going to end up. It's not the best story I've ever read but it was endearing. You get your happy ending and surprisingly you even get to hear from Julia - the daughter in the epilogue. I think that in particular is the best treat of all. Her silence and random babbling through the book make you wonder...whats really going on with her. Other characters in the book tell you "when she says Gaaa...I think it means..." or "she just loves the beach"....you wonder, is this just a parent's wishful thinking? So Rice adding just a few pages of Julia's voice was a really nice way to end the book. Read it if your reading list is running short. I was able to finish in a day.

Happy Reading!

Soul of a Dog by J. Katz

I just finished "Soul of a Dog" by Jon Katz. The book details Jon's dogs and other notable animals on his small farm in New York. He ponders the existence of a dog's soul and in the broader sense - those of his other animals such as Elvis the bull whose appetite for Snickers is uncanny. The "chapters" are broken down by animal where John details different experiences and relationships between himself and the animals or just between the animals themselves.

Does the book answer whether an animal has a soul...not really. Jon himself doesn't really mention what he believes, I guess he's sorta like me...you can only hope that there's a place for them in Heaven.