The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion

In The Rosie Effect, Don Tillman has been married to Rosie for ten months and ten days. His life has definitely changed since Rosie came into his life. Now, both of their lives are about to become more complicated as more changes are on the horizon. In order to deal with this, Don seeks advice from his friends and the internet. At first, it all seems helpful, but eventually it gets him into trouble. Not only can he be prosecuted and deported, but he may end up losing Rosie as well.

I really enjoyed this book, a follow up to The Rosie Project. I loved reading more about Don and his life, especially now that he's had to adapt to his new relationships and surroundings. There's some new people in his life: George the landlord/rocker, whom I really liked; and Lydia, the therapist, whom I didn't. Gene and Claudia are essentially the same as they were in the first book.

While I did enjoy this book, I didn't find it as good as the first one, The Rosie Project. The whole Gregory Peck impersonation thing was lost on me. I was really confused by some of Rosie's actions. I can understand how newcomers wouldn't be used to Don's ways, but Rosie should understand him by now.

There was one passage in the book that I really liked.

People cannot forget things on command. Being instructed to forget something is analogous to being instructed not to think of a pink elephant...(page 269)

I also read and enjoyed The Rosie Project, also by this author. If these books are new to you, I'd recommend starting with the first one.

Recommended. Even though I didn't love this book was much as the previous one, I'd definitely read another book by this author.

For more information about this book, please visit the HarperCollins Canada website.

I purchased this book because I loved the first Rosie book so much.

The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion, HarperCollins, ©2014. ISBN 9781443435901(Trade paperback),411p.

Summer People by Elin Hilderbrand

In Summer People, Beth Newton and her children retreat to the home on Nantucket after the death of her husband, Arch. She insisted that the family tradition of vacationing in Nantucket must continue and Arch's promise must be fulfilled. Before he died, Arch had invited the son of one of his clients to visit that summer. Now, Beth feels like she should honor that invite. So, she's taken her teenagers, Winnie and Garret, along with Marcus to the island for 3 months. When the kids learn about a secret from Beth's, they are desperate to keep the family together and carry on with the healing process.

I really enjoyed this story. There's just something about Nantucket and Hilderbrand's writing that draws me in every time. In this one, her characters are flawed and real; the storylines are accessible and relatable. The characters' grief about Arch's death and the return to Nantucket was palpable and accurate. It brought up lots of sad memories of my lost loved ones.

I love Elin's books, but I occasionally have a complaint about something that happened in the book that doesn't sit right with me. This one is no exception. First, there was a little too much teenage puppy love. There's a reason I don't read romance or young adult books. It's all a bit to sappy for me. Second, I don't want to reveal any spoilers, but the big shocking secret that the kids discover just wasn't that big or that shocking...at least to me. There's no reason for Beth to reveal her entire life story to her children. Their reaction after discovering the secret was a bit over the top. I realize that these are my criticisms and others, no doubt, will feel differently. Having said all of that, neither of these things stopped me from enjoying this book immensely.

Highly recommended. I love Hilderbrand's books and hope to read many more.

For more information about this book, please visit the St. Martin's Press website.

I picked up this book at a used book sale.

Summer People by Elin Hilderbrand, St. Martin's Griffin (St. Martin's Press), ©2003. ISBN 9780312283679(Trade paperback), 337p.

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

In Reconstructing Amelia, Amelia's mother, Kate Baron, is summoned to Amelia's school after Amelia is caught cheating. As she arrives, she learns that Amelia is dead from an apparent suicide; she has jumped from the roof of the school. The weeks that follow are a blur to Kate, but all of that changes the day she receives a text saying, "Amelia didn't jump". This launches Kate into a journey for the truth about Amelia's life and all of the speculation surrounding her death.

I loved this book! Even though the synopsis intrigued me, I wasn't sure how much I was going to like it. When I realized that part of the story was going to be told from Amelia's perspective and was about her online and school life, I had reservations. I was hoping it wasn't going to turn into a young adult (YA) read. My school days are long gone and my interest in young adult activity is seriously lacking. However, I found the whole book compelling and wonderfully laid out. The author was able to build suspense and reveal little details as the story moved along to keep me on the edge of my seat. I really had to stop myself from skipping ahead; I couldn't wait to find out what happened.

The thing I loved most about this book was that it seemed real. Kate's loss and pain were palpable. However, she didn't all of a sudden became an amateur sleuth or computer expert. Instead, she relied on the police and other professionals to help her find out what happened to her daughter. That's not to say she didn't strike out on her own sometimes, but you could tell that was out of sheer desperation and based on some outlandish notion.

I also loved that the story was told from two points of view: Kate's and Amelia's and that the book included snippets of texting conversations, emails, and entries from Facebook. All of that added to the book's authenticity.

The book contained a couple of quotes that I liked:

Sometimes it's hard to tell how fast the current's moving until you're headed over a waterfall. (page 106)

...some things you can't outrun, no matter how fast you move your legs. (page 330)

The other quote I liked is from USA Today and appears on the back cover:

...this disturbing tale will make readers fondly recall the days when kids got in trouble for passing (print) notes in class.

My one complaint about this book is the name for the secret club that Amelia belonged to, the Magpies. Apparently, "Magpies" were the collective, while "Maggie" was used for the individuals. While the name "Magpies" was quite appropriate considering their behaviour, I didn't understand the use of "Maggie" for the individual members. As far as I could see, the two names, "Magpie" and "Maggie" (as well as their plural forms) seemed to be used interchangeably throughout the story. It was confusing. I just wish the author had picked one or the other.

There appears to be some minor printing/binding problem with the cover of this particular book. It's not a big deal, but sometimes little things like this nag away at my OCD tendencies. Other than that, the cover is great and drew me to pick up this book initially. Had it featured the same black cover as the hardcover edition, I wouldn't have picked it up at all, which is too bad because I would have missed reading a great book.

Highly recommended. I'd definitely read another book by this author.

For more information about this book, please visit the HarperCollins Canada website.

For more information about the author, please visit Kimberly McCreight's website.

I picked up this book at Costco based on the description on the back of the book.

Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight, Harper Perennial, ©2013. ISBN 9780062225443(Trade paperback),385p.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

In The Rosie Project, Don Tillman, a genetics professor, is in search of a wife. He constructs a 14-page questionnaire to help him in his selection and weed out those who are undesirable. His Wife Project, isn't going all that great, until Rosie, who definitely wouldn't make the cut, walks into his life and changes him in ways he couldn't imagine.

I really enjoyed this wonderful debut novel. It's such a lighthearted, cute book with an exceptional quirky fun main character. At times, the story was laugh-out-loud funny. However, it wasn't always in your face. My favourite thing about the book was the subtle humour. There were a few times that I didn't get the "joke" until I had read a few sentences past it.  

Another thing that I liked about the book was that most, if not all, of the major characters experienced some personal growth over the course of the story. Don was the one I was cheering for the most, but the others also changed in positive ways.

From the first page of the book, the reader knows that Don Tillman is quirky and not like most other people. While it doesn't exactly pinpoint Don's condition, I think it's implied or hinted at that Don has Aspberger's syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder. Don has some of the same characteristics of Dr. Sheldon Cooper from the TV show, The Big Bang Theory. I absolutely love Sheldon, so it was terrific to read about a character like him. Their shared characteristics make them who they are; sometimes annoying, but always loveable.

The book is written from Don's perspective, which really is ideal for this story. It gives the reader insight as to what he's thinking and why he does what he does. In some ways, I could relate to him. For instance, lately I've been creating a number of small projects to tackle within the next year. I'm going to have to start giving them names. ;)

Even though I really enjoyed this book, at times it felt a little superficial. I don't think I fully connected with Don or Rosie because of that. While I loved Don, I thought Rosie was kind of abrasive. I didn't much care for Gene, Don's friend and confidant, but Gene's wife, Claudia, was okay. Don asked both of these people for advice on his Wife Project a number of times. Considering their marriage arrangement, I thought that was funny.

If you loved this book and want to read about another character with autism, Lisa Genova's Love Anthony (my review) is an exceptional book. It's very different from this one, but it can give you some insight into the mind of a very special little boy.

I could probably write a lot more about this book, but I think it's best if you just go read it.

Highly recommended.

For more information about this book, please visit the HarperCollins website.

I purchased this book at Costco.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, HarperCollins, ©2013. ISBN 9781443422666(Trade paperback), 324p.

The Book of Even More Awesome by Neil Pasricha

The Book of Even More Awesome presents a bunch of things that are, well, awesome.

I picked it up awhile ago at Costco. I heard/saw all of the hype on the internet about the first book, The Book of Awesome and while I was able to resist for awhile, I figured I should see what the fuss was about when the second book came out.

Maybe I'm missing something, but the book was just okay. I was really enjoying it at first, but it got old fast. Granted we are not all going to find awesomeness in the same things, but just maybe the author was trying to be all things to all people. Or maybe the book was written for young people. Or maybe it was written for adults, but I'm outside of the demographic.

Some of these "awesome" things seemed juvenile; others were way too specific to apply to many people; some encompassed both. For example, Rocking out on air instruments (page 231). I guess some people do this, but it didn't resonate with me. Another example: When your friends working in fast-food restaurants give you a little extra (page 100). I'm all for free stuff at the drive-thru (I've been there and it is indeed awesome), but I'm almost 50 years old and I don't have friends who work at fast food restaurants. Some of the items were so un-awesome to me that I didn't bother reading further and just skipped to the next page: Interspecies action-figure wars (page 332). Huh?

Some phrases in the book were in bold face text. I couldn't figure out what that was all about because it appeared to be totally random. It's not a big deal, but it was a bit distracting.

Having said all of that, there were a couple of items that I loved:

Coming back to your own bed after a long trip (page 3)

Finally getting that tiny piece of popcorn out of your teeth (page 10)

Seeing a license plate from home when you're somewhere really far away (page 71)

Getting through right away when you call a big company (page 49)

When you drive from a rough road onto a smooth one (page 303)

I don't really know if I'd recommend this book to others. It would probably depend on the person and how I felt that day.

For more information about this book, the first book, and other awesome things, please visit the 1000 Awesome Things website.

The Book of Even More Awesome by Neil Pasricha, The Berkley Publishing Group (Penguin) ©2011. ISBN 9780425245552(Trade paperback), 390p.

Trust Your Eyes by Linwood Barclay

In Trust Your Eyes, Thomas Kilbride, a schizophrenic, is obsessed with maps. So much so, he spends most of his time on his computer using a program called Whirl360 and rarely leaves his bedroom. He goes street by street, city by city, studying everything on the screen, memorizing it. That's his life, until he sees an image that looks like a woman being murdered in downtown New York. He shares what he's seen with his brother, Ray, who takes care of him. Ray doesn't quite believe Thomas, but agrees to poke around a little. It soon becomes apparent, though, that Thomas was right. A woman has been murdered and they have stepped into the middle of something very deadly.

I loved this book. Even though I'm a somewhat slow reader, I got through this one in just a couple of days. It was so good I didn't want to put it down. It was suspenseful and psychologically thrilling. The storyline was sort of like a modern twist on the movie Rear Window. It was awesome!

Barclay bounces between storylines and time periods quite a bit in this book. At times, I was wondering how it was all going to come together. It finally did, but not before making many twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat.

Thomas was such a great character. I really felt sorry for him, though. After the death of his father, he was so isolated with no face-to-face contact with anyone but his brother. His extreme interest in maps was very cool. I like maps, too, however, my interest is definitely not at this level. Having said that, I was oddly fascinated and totally drawn in by Thomas's obsession. It was interesting to see how his passion for maps combined with his mental illness lead him to his current state of mind. I loved that his delusions included emails to the CIA, keeping them informed of his activities and progress, and phone calls with President Clinton.

I've read two other books by Barclay. Here are my reviews for those: The Accident and Never Look Away. I loved them both.

I also have a number of books by this author that are still on my to-be-read bookshelf. I know they are going to be good, I just have to find time to read them. It's another case of buying books faster than I can read them.

Highly recommended. Barclay is definitely one of my favourite authors.

For more information about this book, please visit the Random House website.

For more information about the author, please visit Linwood Barclay's website.

Trust Your Eyes by Linwood Barclay, Doubleday Canada (Random House), ©2012. ISBN 9780385669573(Trade paperback), 498p.

The Devil Will Come by Glenn Cooper

In The Devil Will Come, Elisabetta Celestino a young archaeologist, has discovered some astrological symbols in an underground chamber in Rome's catacombs. She thinks that it's evidence of a pre-Christian sect. However, the Vatican is refusing to support any further study. Ten years later, a cave-in occurs in those same catacombs and an amazing discovery is made. Elisabetta, who is now a nun, is called upon to help with the find and uncover its secrets before an apocalyptic event destroys the world.

I loved this book! This story was so amazing. I can't figure out how Cooper comes up with this stuff. I found the overall storyline and conspiracy theory extremely fascinating. However, there were a few times that I wanted the author to focus less on the history and just get on with the mystery. Because of this, this book was probably my least favourite of his so far.

Like this other books, Cooper jumps amongst many storylines within different time periods. In this book, he takes the reader to ancient Rome, 16th century England, as well as present day Rome. This is a perfect format for a story like this. All of the jumping around really added to the suspense of the story.

I find books surrounding the Vatican and its activities particularly interesting. Because their history goes back centuries and they are so secretive about so many things, it's hard not to be curious. Even if Cooper's theories are improbable, they sure are fun to read. I especially liked the brief explanation about Irish Saint Malachy and his prophecies regarding the Catholic church and the popes.

I love it when authors allow their characters to interact with real people. In this book, Cooper writes about Nero, the Roman Emperor, and Christopher Marlowe, the author of Doctor Faustus, among others. Even when I don't know that much about the real life people, as is the case here, the fact that they are featured in this book makes me want to know more about them.

I'm not sure why, but I found the Lemures' physiology was a little off putting. I'm not usually that squeamish, but a few of the descriptions left me squirming a little. I don't want to get into any details that might spoil the book from someone else, so I'll leave it at that.

New word: anorectic (page 361): loss of appetite

I've read a number of other books by Glenn Cooper. Here my reviews for those: Library of the Dead, Book of Souls, and The Tenth Chamber. The first two books from the Library of the Dead trilogy are my favourites, but I also really enjoyed the last on in the list. He is definitely one of my favourite authors.

Highly recommended. I'm hoping to read many more books by this author. I'm especially looking forward to the third book in the Library of the Dead trilogy called The Librarians.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit the HarperCollins Canada website.

For more information about the author and his other books, please visit Glenn Cooper's website.

The Devil Will Come by Glenn Cooper, HarperCollins, ©2011. ISBN 9781554688074(Trade paperback), 440p.

Columbine by Dave Cullen

Columbine is the "definitive account" of the school shooting and attempted bombing of Columbine High School near Littleton, Colorado on Tuesday, April 20, 1999. The book is the result of 10 years of research by journalist Dave Cullen. In it, he relates what he's learned about the killers, the victims, the motives, the survivors and the school after pouring over the related documents and interviewing those close to the case.

I should start by saying that I'm not going to comment on whether I believe Cullen's conclusions or not. I'm not sure anyone is ever going to know the whole story. Those who held those truths are gone. Instead, I'm going to concentrate on how the information is presented and organized.

I was really looking forward to this book. I followed this event and the aftermath closely on CNN for days. It was really unbelievable. Unfortunately, everything I know about it comes from CNN and other media outlets. Since the media skews everything they get their hands on, "everything I know" probably doesn't amount to much. You can't believe everything you see/hear/read from them. When I saw this book in the book store, I wanted to read it and get another view of everything that happened.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed with this book. The extensive coverage on TV back when it happened was basically the last time I heard anything about the event. Since it took place over 10 years ago and my memory of the events was sketchy, I was relying on the author to help me remember what happened. However, that happen easily. The whole book was convoluted and written in such a way it was hard to know what was happening or who the people were. In some cases, this non-linear approach is very effective. Not here, though. I could see that Cullen wanted to build suspense and leave some details (for example, the timeline of the shootings) until the very end, but for me it didn't work. It left me frustrated at not knowing the basic details of the shooting or the people involved. It wasn't until the second half of the book that the number of dead was mentioned. I'm sure a lot of people remembered. I'm sorry, but I didn't.

Besides the confusing construction, the book also had too many duplicated sections. At one point I got to a section and thought "Didn't I just read this". I thought it was my imagination or that my bookmark fell out and got put back in the wrong place. I flipped back to check. Nope, it was neither of those. It was some previously presented material, even down to the same words. I'm not sure if it was like that for emphasis (unlikely) or poor editing (more likely), but whatever the reason, I didn't like it.

I appreciated the inclusion of the items in the appendices, but unfortunately they didn't translate well here. Journal pages from both Harris and Klebold were hard to make out; partially because of the handwriting, partially because of the way they were written. The map of the school and surrounding area was clear and good to have. It's too bad part of it, the most vital and most talked about locations, were partially swallowed up by the spine of the book.

Having said all that, I did learn some new things about Columbine and the events that happened there that day. I won't go into them here, but I very much appreciated the fact that Cullen presented some new information and straightened out some misinformation.

Even though I didn't like the way this book was written or organized, Cullen does deserve a lot of credit for spending 10 years on researching and writing this book. It really is an incredible body of work.

There are a number of other books on Columbine out there. Maybe one day I'll have some time or desire to read more about this. I'm open to recommendations.

For more information about this book, please visit Twelve's website.

For more information about the author, please visit Dave Cullen's website.

For online content, including photos, maps, autopsy reports, and lots of other stuff, please visit the Columbine Online portion of Cullen's website.

Columbine by Dave Cullen, Twelve (Hachette Book Group), ©2009. ISBN 9780446546935(Trade Paperback), 443p.

Finished Off by Rebecca Kent

In Finished Off, Meredith Llewellyn is the Headmistress at Bellhaven Finishing School. She's already seen one spirit, when a little girl spirit, who wants to be reunited with her family, appears to her. Meredith begins investigating the fire which claimed her family and finds that there's more there than meets the eye.

I enjoyed this book. It was well written while the story and characters were likeable. It kept me thoroughly entertained for the few hours it took me to read it. The story takes place in Edwardian England which was particularly exciting for me. I love reading books set in the past.

I really liked Meredith and her ways of investigating. She stayed true to being a lady while getting to the bottom of things. I also liked reading about Reggie, Grace and Olivia as they added some tension to the story.

While I enjoyed the book, it left me a little wanting, but I'm not sure why. This is the second book in the series of three books, but the first one I've read. Perhaps that had something to do with it. I didn't feel like I missed anything (this book can definitely stand on its own), but I wished I had read the previous one first. That kind of thing doesn't usually bother me.

Rebecca Kent is the pseudonym of Doreen Roberts Hight. She also writes under the names: Kate Kingsbury and Doreen Roberts.

Recommended. For fans of Hight/Kingsbury/Roberts/Kent and for other cozy lovers. I think those who believe in ghosts or like reading books set in this time period will especially like it.

For more information about this book, please visit the Berkley Prime Crime website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Doreen Roberts Hight's website.

Finished Off by Rebecca Kent, The Berkley Publishing Group (Penguin), ©2009. ISBN 9780425228111(mass market), 196p.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

In The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Flavia de Luce, an eleven-year-old, finds the body of a stranger in the cucumber patch. Finally something interesting is happening around Buckshaw, her home, and she's pleased to be a part of it. As you might have guessed, Flavia is no ordinary youngster. She has her own laboratory where she mixes chemicals to create fantastic poisons; some quite benign and some definitely deadly. She's determined to ferret out the numerous secrets that abound and solve the mystery that's shown up on her doorstep.

Fantastic book. I knew with all of the buzz surrounding this book and the numerous awards its won, I was bound to enjoy it. However, I did more than that. I loved it. Absolutely! Set in the 1950s in an English mansion, the story was charming, inviting and featured a great mystery. Honestly, it really didn't even matter that much how it turned out. I just loved reading about Flavia and the other characters in this setting.

Speaking of Flavia, she was delightful. I think she found the whole mystery situation quite amusing. Her penchant for poisons and knowledge of them were astonishing. I often had to remind myself that she was only eleven-years-old. She seemed much older. Her interactions with adults, especially Inspector Hewitt, were very mature. We get to see a little of her child-like playfulness when she's dealing with her sisters, Feely and Daffy.

Flavia's father was a avid stamp collector which allowed the author to bring in all sorts of interesting philatelic (stamp collecting) information. I particularly liked reading about the Penny Black stamp.

I loved the final scene between Flavia and Inspector Hewitt. Much like a final duel, they were still feeling each other out, each determining how to get the upper hand. Awesome. I hope Flavia encounters him (or similar characters) again.

Favourite quotes: There were lots of great lines in this book to choose from. Here are two of my favourites:
...silence is sometimes the most costly of commodities. (page 219)

I gave Father a silent hug to which, although he remained rigid as an oak, he did not seem to object.(page 221) This line from Flavia made me laugh out loud. On the face of it, it's sad that Flavia's relationship with her Father was such that a real hug would be out of the question. However, how could he object to a silence hug? Would he even know he was receiving one?

New Word Alert: This book had numerous new words for me. Here's a sampling:
budgerigar (page 5) - small bird
pinioned (page 7) - hold down
factotum (page 19) - menial, gofer
aeons (page 78) - era, age
cogitate (page 153) - think
boulevardier (page 160) - man of the world, a fashionable sophisticated man who treats life with light-hearted cynicism
netsuke (page 179) - toggle on kimono cord
prestidigitation (page 184) - conjuring, sleight of hand used in performing magic tricks.

Highly recommended. I can't wait to read Bradley's next Flavia installment, The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag.

If you love Flavia as I do, you might want to check out the The Flavia Fan Club. It contains lots of author information as well as updates on future books.

For more information about this book, please visit the Random House website.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley, Anchor Canada (Random House), ©2009. ISBN 9780385665834(Hardcover), 370p.

Estate of Mind by Tamar Myers

In Estate of Mind: A Den of Antiquity Mystery, Abigail Timberlake buys a crude rendition of Van Gogh's The Starry Night at an auction. While she thinks the painting is worthless, the frame might be salvageable. When she gets home, though, she discovers a hidden masterpiece beneath the painting; a lost treasure called Field of Thistles also by Van Gogh. Others must know or suspect what's going on because suddenly people pour out of the woodwork to lay claim to the painting. When scandal and deaths follow, Abigail has her hands full uncovering the secrets and determining the truth.

This was such a fun read and a welcome break from some meatier and emotional books I've been reading. I love cozy mysteries but they generally get left on my bookshelf because I've got a ton of other books to read. Note to self: I must read more cozy mysteries.

Anyway, this book is part of a series, but it can definitely enjoyed as a standalone book. Myers has a healthy sense of humour and uses it liberally in this book. She uses her knowledge about antiques (she's a collector) to inject authenticity into the story. I found it fascinating. All in all, the book is quick and easy to read with eccentric, likeable characters.

I've read a few books by Myers and while I love them, I'm still not wild about her sometimes overuse of the word "dear". Maybe it's a southern/regional thing. It grates on me a little, but not enough to stop me from reading and enjoying her books.

Recommended. Definitely for fans and other cozy lovers. Others looking for a light, fun read would probably enjoy it, too. Myers has written a couple dozen books and I plan to read them all...one day.

I picked this book up at a charity used book sale a few years ago. I'm so glad I finally got around to reading it.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit the HarperCollins website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Tamar Myers's website. [Caution: Music/beating drums on the home page. Turn down your speakers.]

Estate of Mind by Tamar Myers, Avon (HarperCollins), ©1999. ISBN 9781554685448(Mass Market Paperback), 290p.

Addition by Toni Jordan

In Addition, Grace likes to count. Maybe "likes" isn't the right word. "Compelled" is more like it. She counts everything; the number of times she brushes her hair, the number of poppy seeds on orange cake, the number of letters in her name, the number of steps she takes. Counting defines her world. That's basically her life until one day she walks into her favourite cafe and finds that all of the tables are full. There's no place for her to sit. That is until Seamus Joseph O'Reilly invites her to share his table. She doesn't know it yet, but her world is about to be turned upside down and secrets she'd rather not disclose will not be hidden for long.

A wonderfully funny and endearing story from Australia. Grace definitely has some problems, however, Tori Jordan almost had me believing that this was "normal". Of course, it isn't. Even Grace knows that not everyone is obsessed with counting like her, but Jordan shows us the person behind the OCD and all of a sudden Grace's counting doesn't really matter. It's part of who she is. I absolutely loved this book. It even made me feel a little bit better about myself. Not because Grace is even more screwed up than me, but because all of my little quirks are part of who I am.

I did find the beginning of the book a bit exhausting to read. The counting and recounting; it felt like I was going in circles. I could just imagine what Grace was going through.

The book seemed to suffer from a split personality, which isn't a bad thing necessarily. It went from sarcastic, funny and focusing on Grace's counting to hot and heavy sex scenes. I usually frown upon gratuitous sex or violence or the like, however, in this case the episodes didn't really feel out of place. They also appeared to distract Grace from counting. Besides Jordan really knows how to write those scenes well. Hot! ;)

My favourite quote: I like the spaces between people better than the people themselves. It reminded me a little of another of my favourites from Invisible Armies by Jon Evans. If I keep finding quotes like this people are going to think I don't like them. ;)

Grace's obsession with Nikola Tesla was intriguing and I enjoyed all of the information Jordan provides about his life. Ever since I saw a wonderful play at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival about Tesla, I've had a fondness for him. I'm a little embarrassed to say that I don't really know too much about him, but my ears perk up when I hear his name or in this case, my eyes light up when I read his name. It turns out that he, too, was a counter and suffered from OCD like Grace did. Interesting. I might have to do a little more reading on him.

On a personal note: I always thought my husband was a little OCD with numbers or counting. However after reading this book, I now think that he's just really comfortable with numbers and likes to know how many, how long, how far, and whatnot. He's not obsessed with them. I'll never complain again when he comes home from work and needs to know how many cookies I baked. ;)

Highly recommended.

Want to know more about this book? You can Browse Inside or read a synopsis.

Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup

In Slumdog Millionaire, Ram Mohammad Thomas has been arrested for allegedly cheating on the TV game show Who Will Win a Billion?. He has answered all twelve questions right and is entitled to a billion rupees. He's done so without ever having attended school or read a newspaper. The producers of the show assume that he has somehow cheated and have had him arrested. As he and his lawyer watch a tape of his performance on the show, Ram relates the details of his life about how he goes from a baby abandoned in a garbage, to bartender, to a tour guide at the Taj Mahal and beyond.

I adored this book. Parts of it were poignant and compelling, while other parts were quite humorous. Vikas's characters were convincing; I rooted for Ram and Salim all the way to the end. I laughed; I was moved to tears; I cringed at the brutality. While it is a work of fiction, it serves as a reminder of the despicable things human are capable of and the deplorable condition under which some people live. I also loved the first sentence of the book. I believe it's going to become a classic: "I have been arrested. For winning a game show." You just have to read more after reading that.

In general, I love to read books set in other countries. New cultures; new languages. I particularly find books set in India fascinating. I never tire of them. Their culture is so different from my own that I learn something new with each book I read.

This book was previously published as Q & A. The one I read was the movie-tie in edition and features a P.S. section at the back. It includes a biography of the author, an interview with him as well as other fascinating material. It's well worth the read.

I'd highly recommended this book.

I also saw the movie based on this book. While I'm not a big movie goer, I decided to see it because it's won so many awards and I was curious after reading the book. I'm so glad I did. It was sensational. Not as good as the book, in my opinion, but definitely worth seeing. My husband loved it and wouldn't stop talking about it. Now that I've seen the movie, I'd really like to reread the book.

Want to know more about this book? You can Browse Inside or read a synopsis.

For more information about the movie, visit the website. The site has music, so if you are at work, turn down the speakers. ;)

The Rosetta Key by William Dietrich

In The Rosetta Key an American adventurer, Ethan Gage, is on a quest to find the Book of Thoth, which is rumoured to contain great secrets and magic. The year is 1799 and Gage's adventures takes him across the Holy Land, Egypt and France. He's joined by a motley crew of characters some of whom are new friends; other he's run across before. As Gage continues on his journey he remembers the teachings of his mentor Benjamin Franklin, who's advice proves to be very helpful in getting out of the dangerous situations in which he finds himself.

At one time I thought historical novels had to be dull, boring and humourless. Dietrich has proved that this isn't true. This book was fun and highly entertaining to read. The protagonist is witty, cocky and has more lives than a cat. He can get out of harm's way with his wits and sometimes a little help from his friends. A little like Indiana Jones, but in my opinion, more entertaining. Besides Gage and his misfit friends, some real-life persons, like Napoleon and Josephine as well as other from the time period, are included in the story.

There are many interesting explanations scattered throughout the book; how the gypsies got their name, the Rosetta Stone, the Ark of the Covenant, Moses, Jerusalem and the Knights Templar. I don't know if any of it is true, but it's all fascinating stuff.

My one problem is the many reminders that this book was part of a series. Dietrich frequently references Gage's previous adventure at the pyramids. While I'm sure readers of that book were thrilled, I think it's a little unfair to those who didn't read it. Having said that, I found this book interesting enough that I'm likely to find and read the first one in the series, Napoleon's Pyramids as well as any subsequent books in the series.

Recommended.

The Last Oracle by James Rollins

In The Last Oracle, Commander Gray Pierce, a member of SIGMA Force, tries to stop a group of scientists from carrying out their evil plot that could destroy the world. Gray travels from country to country searching for answers after a supposedly homeless man hands him a rare artefact possibly dating back to the Oracle of Delphi. Meanwhile, Monk is half way around the world in a hospital room suffering from amnesia. With the help of some children with autistic savant abilities, he escapes and must save himself, the children and, ultimately, the world. These children are fleeing from the scientists who are planning to use them to create "a world prophet for the new millennium".

I really enjoyed this face-paced, thriller combining science, religion, history and a little psychology all into a one novel that was well-written, easy to read and hard to put down. I loved the author's timing. Just as a piece of the mystery was to be revealed, a gunmen would appear or a bullet would buzz by or he would simply cut to another scene with other characters. Very suspenseful.

Even though Rollins uses autistic children in this novel, he doesn't focus on the disorder so much as he does the savant abilities that some autistic children exhibit. I was amazed at the range of abilities that these young children had. Fascinating stuff. I don't know if some of these abilities (as stated by Rollins) actually present themselves in real life, but I found it interesting enough that one day I'd like to poke around on the internet to find out.

The author uses an interesting and thought-provoking quote regarding autism. It's from real-world Dr. Temple Grandin:

If by some magic, autism had been eradicated from the face of the earth, then men would still be socializing in front of a wood fire at the entrance to a cave.

There are plenty of diverse characters for the reader to root for. My favourite was Kowalski, the muscle who I think was written in for some comic relief. I often laughed out loud at his antics, although, I've never met a man so obsessed with shoes. Other great characters include: Gray, Monk, Marta, Pyotr and Sasha. The relationship between Marta and Pyotr was particularly intriguing.

Rollins' notes at the end of the book are quite interesting. In them, he presents some scientific facts to support his fiction. There are some surprises including a list of well-known historical people who may have showed some autistic tendencies. Very cool.

I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author. The short bio on the back cover of the book indicates that the author's interests are quite diverse. Spelunking, diving, veterinary medicine, and, although it's not listed, presumably writing. When I read the line "he'll often be found either underground or underwater", my first thought was, I wonder where he prefers to write: underground or underwater. ;)

Definitely recommended.

The Post-Birthday World by Lionel Shriver

The Post-Birthday World starts off in the "pre-birthday world" where Irina, Lawrence, Ramsey and Jude were friends. Every year for Ramsey's birthday they get together to celebrate. When Ramsey and Jude divorce and Lawrence is out of town, Irina and Ramsey are left to celebrate his birthday alone. At the end of the birthday dinner evening, they find themselves in a compromising position and Irina has a choice to make. It's either full steam ahead or high-tail it out of there. From that point on, the characters find themselves in the "post-birthday world". In alternating chapters featuring one of the two outcomes, we see how the lives of the main characters unfold based on this one decision.

Written from Irina's point of view, this is one of the most amazing books I've read. However, I had to get into it about 100 pages before I really started appreciating it. Her writing is dense with details and is far from simple, but it still felt like a quick read. The storyline is ingenious. I loved the parallel worlds in which events happen or words are spoken on both sides, but not always with the same characters. [It's hard to explain, but you'll see what I mean when you read the book.] Her characters are realistic, engaging and interesting. Irina was my favourite, but the other main characters were fun to read about also. I think I laughed every time Irina's mother called "Ramsey", "Rumsey". With respect to Ramsey, I kept picturing him as Richard Dawson ("Hogan's Heroes", "Family Fued") even though the physical description was completely off.

Because Ramsey is a professional snooker player, Shriver spends some time explaining the game and the circuit. Sure, I'd seen snooker a couple of times on TV and while I did find it interesting, I couldn't make heads or tails of the rules. Anyway, I learned more about it and that's always good. I even learned the right and wrong way to pronounce "snooker" or is it "snucker". Hmmm...I guess I've forgotten which way is proper. ;)

I loved Shriver's use of alliterations. To me they are like a seasoning in cooking. Too many can spoil a dish or in this case too many alliterations can spoil a novel. However, Shriver's a master chef in regards to alliterations knowing exactly when and how much to throw in. [I'm kicking myself now that I didn't save an example to include here. Trust me, she's good.]

In my favourite quote, Irina is talking about the moral in a children's book:

The idea is that you don't have only one destiny...But whichever direction you go, there are going to be upsides and downsides. You're dealing with a set of trade-offs, and not one perfect course in comparison to which all the others are crap.

I'm really looking forward to more works by this extremely talented author. I already have a copy of We Need to Talk About Kevin and hope to start it soon.

Highly recommended.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Water for Elephants is an incredible story of Jacob Jankowski, who as a young man inadvertently runs away with the circus shortly before writing his final exams to become a vet. Before long, he becomes familiar with the seedy underbelly of the circus world. Both compelling and heartbreaking, this story is told from Jacob's point of view as he sits in a nursing home and daydreams of his former life.

This is an amazing book. I just can't express how much I loved it. It's a sensational story with many wonderful characters. It's engaging, touching and filled with so many stunning details that I wanted to crawl into the story and not come out. My favorite characters include: Marlena and Rosie, both of whom steal Jacob's heart; Camel, a circus worker who helps Jacob get a job and then needs Jacob's help; Walter, a performer who's forced to share his room with Jacob and of course Jacob himself.

Even though the author, Sara Gruen, exposes the sleazy side of the circus life, it still felt romantic. That could be just me, though, because I've always wanted to run away with the circus. Ah, but that's another story for another time. For now, I'm satisfied with reading this book. I found myself routing for my favorite characters and wanting things to work out for them. Don't worry, I'm not going to let you know what happens. You're going to have to read this fantastic book for that.

I love Gruen's use of historical circus photos that precede some of the chapters. They really set the scene and transported me to a time when circuses were in their heyday.

At few years ago, we visited Baraboo, Wisconsin and the Circus World Museum. I fell in love with the place. The old circus wagons, the parade, the calliope, the spectacle; all fabulous. If you like the circus, it's the place to go. Be warned though, it's guaranteed to put a smile on your face and even make the grumpiest of grumps or the most ardent skeptic a circus-lover. For more information regarding the museum, Wikipedia or the official website should be helpful.

I'd highly recommend this book. It's a must read for those who ever thought about running away with the circus or anyone who has been to the circus or anyone who's had a dream, or anyone at all for that matter.

I hope that Gruen has written more books (and continues to write) because I intend to read many more of them. Awesome job on this one.

Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos

In Belong to Me, Cornelia moves from the city to the suburbs with her handsome husband, Teo. She desperately wants to find her place and make friends in this new environment. She meets her new neighbours: Piper, the neighbourhood know-it-all who’s best friend, Elizabeth is gravely ill and Lake who is also new to the area. She’s moved here so that her son Dev, a genius, can attend a special school. In this suburb, the secrets are plentiful and the relationships complex. At first, these characters barely know each other and have only brief encounters. However, soon their lives become connected in ways we couldn’t imagine.

Marisa de los Santos presents a beautifully written, thought-provoking and heartbreaking novel in which lives are torn apart, secrets are revealed, friendships are made and tested, and love is defined. I wasn’t surprised the find out that she was a poet. Her writing is lovely, engaging and captured my attention from the very first word. At first it’s hard to imagine how these lives become (or are) connected, but slowly and surely de los Santos reveals the story to us.

I love stories written in the first person. Therefore, I was particularly drawn to the chapters about Cornelia. Rather than having the whole book in the first person, the author presents the other chapters, the ones where Cornelia isn’t the “prime” character, in the third person. A unique and interesting idea. I think this is the first book I’ve read that is written this way. It was a delight to read.

de los Santos’ characters are believable and easy to love. My favourite was Cornelia. She was tough, smart and has a wonderful sense of humour. In addition, I liked Dev’s inquisitive and brilliant side, but not his teenage side so much. Piper was tough to like, but in the end I think I really enjoyed reading about her. Both her and Cornelia grew a lot through the course of the story.

I’ll be looking for more works by this exceptional author.

Even though Belong to Me is the second book featuring some of these characters, you don’t have to read the first one to enjoy this one. It can really stand on it’s own merits. At the time I was reading this story, I didn’t even know the other one, Love Walked In existed. Now that I know it’s out there, I’d love to read it.

Highly recommended.