Just for the Love of It Reading Challenge 2009 Wrap-Up

This was such a fun (no headache) challenge for me. It was just read something... and read I did. Originally I agreed to six books for this and obviously added a whole lot more. Here is my final list.

My List:
1 Life of Pi - Yann Martel (completed 1/23/09)
2 M is for Magic - Neil Gaiman (completed 2/25/09)
3 Handle with Care - Jodi Picoult (completed 3/17/09)
4 Playing with the Grown-Ups - Sophie Dahl (completed 2/24/09)
5 Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro (completed 2/01/09)
6 The Little Giant of Aberdeen County - Tiffany Baker (completed 1/26/09)
7 The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (completed 1/19/09)
8 Ms. Hempel Chronicles - Sarah Shun-lien Bynum (completed 1/27/09)
9 The Thief Lord - Cornelia Funke (completed 1/29/09)
10 Confessions of a Shopoholic - Sophie Kinsella (completed 2/02/09)
11 No Rest for the Wicked - Kresley Cole (completed 2/05/09)
12 One Fifth Avenue - Candace Bushnell (completed 2/09/09)
13 Upon the Midnight Clear - Sherrilyn Kenyon (completed 2/10/09)
14 One Silent Night - Sherrilyn Kenyon (competed 2/12/09)
15 Outlander - Diana Gabaldon (completed 2/19/09)
16 Confessions of a Former Child - Daniel J. Tomasulo (completed 2/22/09)
17 The Mistress's Daughter - A.M. Homes (completed 3/03/09)
18 He's Just Not That Into You - Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo (completed 3/06/09)
19 The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne (completed 3/07/09)
20 The Host - Stephanie Meyer (completed 3/11/09)
21 Dirty Little Angels - Chris Tusa (completed 3/14/09)
22 The Side-Yard Superhero - Rick D. Niece (completed 3/19/09)
23 Stardust - Neil Gaiman (completed 3/22/09)
24 Matrimony - Joshua Henkin (completed 3/24/09)
25 Nineteen Minutes - Jodi Picoult (completed 3/28/09)
26 Laura Rider's Masterpiece - Jane Hamilton (completed 3/29/09)
27 Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah (completed 4/01/09)
28 Shoot the Moon - Billie Letts (completed 4/04/09)
29 I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti - Giulia Melucci (completed 4/06/09)
30 The Lake that Stole Children: A Fable - Douglas Glenn Clark (completed 4/06/09)
31 The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane - Katherine Howe (completed 4/09/09)
32 Girls in Trucks - Katie Crouch (completed 4/12/09)
33 The City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau (completed 4/13/09)
34 The People of Sparks - Jeanne DuPrau (completed 4/14/09)
35 One Deadly Sin - Annie Solomon (completed 4/16/09)
36 Jantsen's Gift - Pam Cope & Aimee Molloy (completed 4/20/09)
37 The Late, Lamented Molly Marx - Sally Koslow (completed 4/22/09)
38 The Blue Notebook - James A. Levine (completed 4/26/09)
39 The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton (completed 4/30/09)

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

This story follows the lives of three women, set in three time frames (early 1900's, 1975 and 2005) but all linked together through a garden, on an estate in Cornwall. The story mostly revolves around Nell and the mystery of who she is, where she came from and how/why she ended up where she did. Nell was abound on a ship from England to Australia. She was found stranded on an Australian dock at the age of four. At that time, she was taken in by Hugh (who oversaw the dock) and was given a family and a home. On Nell’s 21st birthday, her father told her the truth of how she came to be a part of his family - a truth that changed the rest of her life.

The book mostly revolves around Nell’s mystery although it’s told through several points of view spanning a little over a century - Cassandra (Nell’s granddaughter - 2005); Nell (1975); and Eliza (early 1900's). At first it was a bit disconcerting all the jumping around from character to character, but I quickly got over that and I absolutely loved it.

The writing was splendid, I loved Ms. Morton’s descriptions of London and Cornwall at the turn of the century. Her characters were likeable and well-developed. With an interesting story and plot that had enough twists and revelations to keep the pages turning. The fairytales scattered throughout the story were my favorite part - I kept looking forward to each one. The book itself is a thing of beauty - with it’s illustrations of frolicking fairies on the inner flap of the covers.

This was just a joy to read!! and I recommend it to anyone that loves a good mystery with a beautiful historical backdrop.

The Blue Notebook by James A. Levine

Batuk is a 15 year-old Indian girl that was sold into prostitution at the age of 9 by her father (we never really find out the reason why, but there is a reference to the father having lost everything). The Blue Notebook is a journal written by Batuk in between rounds of “making sweet-cake” with her customers. In this journal she tells us of her life prior to being sold - what it was like living by the river, her family, her bout with TB and how she was taught to read and write by the nurses and priest at the ministry where she stayed to recover, her virginity being sold to the highest bidder, and what it is like to live in a cage - making sweet-cake up to 10 times a day with different “bakers”. In the second half of the book she is once again sold- this time to a wealthy businessman named Bubba so that she can help prepare his son to be a husband.

This novel offers a very interesting and real insight into India's prostitution ring, particularly the role played by children. In a setting where children are kept in cages while they wait for men to have sex with them, Batuk writes to save her sanity.

My only complaint would be that as you read Batuk’s entries you feel as if you are reading the thoughts of a much older person than a 15 year old girl. Then again I am sure that leading the life that she is living ages you much faster than the average teen.

For some reason I took a bit longer than usual to read this book. Although it’s not a very long book, it would affect me in such a way that I had to keep putting it down. I found the content to be a bit difficult to read at times and it left me feeling raw, emotional and even hurt for Batuk. This is one of the those books that you can’t help but ponder long after you have read the last page. It is masterfully written, well researched, and it delivers you right into the heart of Mumbai with it’s vivid descriptions of the city and its people. Overall, this is a story of a young girl trapped in a situation she cannot control yet even through the unfairness of it all she is quite brave in her actions - that alone is inspiring.

I highly recommend this book as long as you can stomach it's content. Not to mention, your purchase will go to a good cause as the author is donating 100% of the U.S. proceeds from his novel to the International and National Centers for Missing and Exploited Children (http://www.icmec.org). This title will be released July 7.

One Deadly Sin by Annie Solomon

Edie Swann heads back to her hometown, Redbud, with one intention only - and that is revenge. She has a list given to her by her dying aunt that has the five names of the men that her father had dealings with shortly before his tragic death. Her only problem is that someone starts off-ing these men making her the main suspect in their murders.

Local lawman and the man that makes Edie's heart race - Holt Drennen is handling the death cases of these prominent Redbud residents... but are they accidental deaths or murders? As his feelings for Edie grow so do his suspicions of her somehow being involved.

This book can be emotional when it delves into Edie's insecurities and fears. Although on the outside she might look tough riding a Harley, tattoos all over and wearing leather - she is rather fragile on the inside. She is a strong character that has to overcome her past and learn to live for herself and her future.

While spine-tingling is not a word that is usually associated with romance Annie Solomon makes it so by her masterful descriptions of these crimes. The not over descriptive intimate love scenes are frequent and varied throughout this read - add in a mysterious murderer, and you have a true page-turner.

There were some interesting plot lines, and the narrative was good enough to keep me intrigued, sometimes to push me to go to the next chapter when I know I should stop and go to bed. It definitely had me guessing as to the twists and turns it was going to take and I was never able to guess whodunnit until the very end. Overall, I enjoyed the book as a nice little romantic suspense read and would definitely recommend it.

GIVEAWAY: I have 5 copies of ONE DEADLY SIN by Annie Solomon to giveaway.

As always, leave a comment for one entry. And if you follow this blog or already are following leave me a note and I'll be glad to give you a second entry.

Rules: Books will be delivered directly from Publisher so giveaway is only available for residents of the US and Canada. No P.O. Boxes please. Winners will be drawn this Friday - May 1.

The Late, Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow

Molly Divine Marx is dead!

But that's just the beginning of this book. Molly is in her "Duration". Duration= being able to see your friends, family, etc. and hear their thoughts, yet not be able to do anything to contribute to what they're thinking, feeling, etc. (a little reminiscent of The Lovely Bones). With her guide "Bob" she is able to navigate through this new state of being and is able to flit from one person to another as they try to solve the mystery of her death.

The story starts at Molly's funeral and shows us how her husband, daughter, parents, sister and friends are all affected and are coping with her untimely death. Oh yea, and of course, the investigator who is handling her case and is trying to decipher whether her death was an accident, suicide or murder.

Through flashbacks we are able to read about Molly's relationships with her husband (who is quite the cheater and a very despicable character) and then there's Luke (the man that Molly was in love with). We are able to relive some of the best moments as well as some of the mistakes she made in her life.

I absolutely - hands down - adored this book. I thought Molly was such a lovely narrator. She was just so funny, likeable and so full of life - that it was sad to think that she was dead from the start of her story. Ms. Koslow's characters are well-developed and singularly distinct with little quirks and flaws that make them real. This is one of those rare books that draws you in and you feel as if you are experiencing it rather than just reading it.

Was Molly in such a slump in life that she couldn't find any other way out of her situation other than to kill herself? Or was she murdered? You'll have to read this gem of a book to find out - but I will warn you, this book isn't so much about solving a mystery as it is about relationships. I enjoyed this very much and I highly recommend it.

This book is scheduled for release on 5/19/09 - so mark your calendars as you will not be disappointed.

Jantsen's Gift by Pam Cope and Aimee Molloy

What an amazing memoir!

When Pam Cope loses her 15 year-old son, Jansten, due to an unknown heart condition, she falls into a very severe depression. Upon invitation from a friend, Pam and her husband Randy, travel to Vietnam to visit an orphanage that this friend has built, and to find a way of coping with her loss/grief. There they fall in love with a Vietnamese child and decide to adopt him. Eventually they adopt another Vietnamese girl - but not before they fall in love with these children and realize that they can use the money that was donated in Jantsen’s name after his death for such a worthy cause.

This memoir chronicles Pam and Randy’s journey to providing children with food, shelter, education and medical care in Vietnam and Cambodia. And eventually to their work in Ghana where children are sold into slavery or prostitution by their families at a very young age. It details the struggles they go through to obtain these children from their "masters" and their work in building the The Village of Hope Orphanage.

I cried (a lot)... I laughed... I was truly moved and inspired. This is the type of book that makes you rethink your life. It is heart-wrenching to read some snippets of the letters that Pam writes to Jantsen and this book is a touching tribute to him.

To find out more about their foundation - Touch a Life, or to make a donation (I already did), please visit their website at http://www.touchalifekids.org/. You can also visit their blog at: http://touchalifekids.blogspot.com/.

NOTE: You are in still in time for the giveaway of 5 copies of Jantsen's Gift that I was graciously provided by Anna at The Hachette Book Group. If you would like to sign-up for the giveaway, please click here. The 5 winners will be chosen 4/24/09.

The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau

What happens in Ember stays in Ember, or does it?

The people of Ember have emerged into the light... they are above ground where "it is green and very big and light comes from the sky" - and this is all thanks to Lina and Doon’s wisdom in deciphering the Instructions of Egress left by "The Builders". Once above ground, they come upon the people of Sparks, a small farming community. Here the town residents, barely remember the "old times" with incorrect names for old devices, and they have scavengers who pick over the remains of the previous industrial society from several hundred years back. Neither community knows what to make of the other but Sparks takes in the strange 'cave' people - feeding them, giving them someplace to sleep and eventually granting them a six month time frame to learn how to survive in this post-apocalyptic world and start their own community. But soon jealousy and resentment leads to disastrous events and the threat of war looms between the communities.

I have to admit that this story didn't capture me like the first book of Ember did, but yet I still enjoyed it and I found it satisfying in the end. The themes of this book echo the themes of the first book in many ways. You ask yourself - Just what does it take to survive in a new world? How does human kindness or the lack thereof affect and come into play towards the repetition of history?

My favorite quote from the book (and there were many) but this one stood out the most:
"People didn't make life, so they can't destroy it. Even if we were to wipe out every bit of life in the world, we can't touch the place life comes from. Whatever made the plants and animals and people spring up in the first place will always be there, and life will spring up again."

Ms. DuPrau is very good at writing a child's perspective without it seeming overly simplified or unreal. I’m looking forward to the next installment (The Prophet of Yonwood) - from what I read it’s a pre-quel to the first two books so it should answer some of the niggling loose ends about how this world came to be. Once again, this book was a page turner and I read it in a couple of hours. It is highly recommended no matter what the age.

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Doon and Lina are two teenagers who live in a city called Ember. A city built by "The Builders" using an underground river to power their generator which runs all their lights and storerooms filled to the brim with all their daily necessities - light bulbs, clothes, canned goods, etc. - that should last them forever. Well, sadly forever is here and their generator keeps breaking down and causing flickering lights and blackouts through the city that last longer and longer each time. There are also scary rumors of their storerooms being empty.

As the residents of Ember start becoming aware of their city’s dire situation and the mayor’s lack of providing them with a solution, they all start to realize that it is only a matter of time before the city will go dark permanently. As the townfolk begin to worry, Lina finds a very intricate box in one of her closets but sadly her little sister, Poppy, has chewed up the paper that was inside. So it is up to Lina and Doon to decipher this message that is mysteriously written in the same handwriting used by "The Builders" when they provided the city with their books on rules to live by. Together they will piece clues to lead the population out of the dark and into the light.

I know I'm a little old to read this book, but maybe that is what makes this book stand out and get noticed. This tale was able to hold my attention almost two decades after middle school, which I believe is the focal age group for this book.

This book will make you hold your breath in anticipation every step of the way. You'll cheer for the main characters and good folk of Ember. Ms. DuPrau’s description of this world is brilliant and you can picture the crumbling city as you read the book.

The story is full of mystery, adventure, great characters, and vivid descriptions. It plays with themes of light and dark. A fun, easy read that pulls you in from the very first chapter and will keep you hooked until the very last page! This book is very well written and I whole-heartedly recommend it to young and old alike.

Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch

Sarah Walters is definitely not perfect. Although she was brought up under the influence of the Charleston Camellia Society - she is surely not the debutante that her mother hoped she would turn out to be.

Shortly after graduation she heads to a university up north and eventually makes her way to New York City - or, as far away from the South as possible. From there we are strung along through her relationships, career (or lack thereof), and friendships.

I can’t help it - I love books about dysfunctional girls and their troubles! A great read with laugh out loud details of the horrors of dating and discovering for yourself what really matters in life. I thoroughly enjoyed this series of stories-- the changes in point of view, the various writing styles, the way they all held together. I would not call it a novel as much as a collection of related stories. I loved all the characters (even through their many flaws) and found myself rooting for all of them. I found it to be engaging, well-written, and fresh. I would recommend it as a quick read, but with a little more substance than your average chick-lit novel.

NOTE: You are in still in time for the giveaway of 5 copies of Girls in Trucks that I was graciously provided by The Hachette Group. If you would like to sign-up for the giveaway, please click here. The 5 winners will be chosen 4/17/09.

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

This is the story of Connie Goodwin, a doctoral candidate in American History at Harvard, who (upon her mother’s request) spends the summer cleaning and clearing out her grandmother's house that has been vacant for 20 years in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Little did Connie know what she was in store for when she agreed to this tedious task.

While browsing through her grandmother’s old books, Connie stumbles upon a very old key in a bible. Attached to this key is an equally old slip of paper with the name, Deliverance Dane.

Told through flashbacks from Salem in the late 1690's we learn the story of Deliverance, a woman condemned as a witch in 1692, her daughter and eventually her granddaughter, as well as the history of the "Receipt Book" which is handed down from generation to generation.

As Connie tries to get the house back to rights in order to sell it for lack of payment of taxes, she is also working on her doctorate course and is persuaded by her adviser to find Deliverance's physick book otherwise known as a Shadow Book which might be the perfect topic for her doctorate - having found an unknown Salem witch.

I could not put this down! -- this is historical fiction at it's finest. It makes you want to know more about the time and immerses you wholly in it's world. The link in the story between contemporary times and the past is gripping as well as the commentary on religion and the Salem Witch Trials. I especially liked that Ms. Crouch uses so much detail when describing Salem in 1692. The houses, the way they talked, dressed, lived was all very detailed. She uses real names and events to depict Deliverance’s demise. She definitely did her research and it was neat to read that she was related to two of the named witches. I highly recommend this.

This book will be available in June, so make sure to make a note of it and put it on your TBR list so you don’t forget to pick up a copy. In my opinion, you will not be disappointed. I’m dying to see what the finished product will look like - since I only have an ARC. But the binding, with its flap covering the pages, beautiful artwork, and thick paper makes this book quite a treasure.

The Lake That Stole Children: A Fable by Douglas Glenn Clark

The Lake That Stole Children begins with a fisherman who is out fishing with his son and daughter. The fisherman is quite strict on his children when it comes to fishing in the lake - as he knows how dangerous it can be for a child with its cold and strong currents. He will not allow them to cast their lines too far into the lake for fear of them falling into the water. The daughter is respectful and obedient but the son feels that if his father weren’t so strict about his casting the line far into the lake he would be able to catch all the fish that his father does. So the boy sneaks out of his home while his family is sleeping and is finally able to cast his line far into the middle of the lake. Lulled by the lake, the beautiful night and his dreams of bringing home fish, he isn’t aware of the danger that awaits him. A huge glass fish resides in the lake that drags him into the water and eventually swallows him into his big glass belly. There he finds other children who have also been imprisoned by the big fish. Fortunately, the fisherman hears the boy’s crying - but will he be able to free his son along with the other children of their glass cage? You’ll have to read this magical story to find out.

I don’t know if it was because it was late at night when I decided to read this short story, but I found it to be quite spooky. It definitely isn’t something I would read to my little one’s, but a 6-8 year old might enjoy it. I’ve read some mixed reviews about this one - but I found that it got the right message across. Listen to your parents - they’re usually right.

Many thanks to Author- Douglas Glenn Clark for sending me an autographed copy.

I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti by Giulia Melucci

A memoir of Giulia Melucci's fizzled romances... and although that doesn’t sound very enticing, I must say that there are some mouth-watering recipes intertwined with the telling of these romances that will definitely make up for it.

Throughout this memoir we go from Giulia’s first boyfriend Kit, to Ethan (the love of her life), Mitch (I didn’t like him much), a couple of writers, a hippie older guy, and eventually Lachlan (a Scot who eventually used her and dumped her). Call me nosey, but I actually like reading about people’s relationships. I liked reading about all the ups and downs of her romances. And although, yes, there was a time or two where I felt frustrated for her, I felt that in the end she learned to love herself as a person and realize that because someone doesn’t love you, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t love yourself.

I loved that she had a recipe for all the moments in life. The recipes range from very simple to something I wouldn’t even try (since I don’t cook!) - but they all seemed simple enough. I especially liked the "F*ck You Cupcakes" - that was great!

This is a memoir and cookbook all wrapped up in one. So, if you like eating, cooking and have ever been in a bad relationship (who hasn’t?) this is a book you’ll enjoy.

Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts

In 1972, the town of DeClare, Oklahoma, was consumed by a terrifying crime - Gaylene Harjo a teenaged single mother was brutally murdered and her 10 month old son Nicky Jack Harjo had disappeared. Nicky Jack’s pajama bottoms were found on the banks of Willow Creek and nothing was heard of him for nearly 30 years.

Shortly after his father’s death, Mark Albright finds documents revealing he was adopted. He always felt that he never fit in and was somewhat of an outcast, yet he followed in his father’s footsteps and became a successful veterinarian to the stars pets in Beverly Hills.

In search of his roots, Mark traces his biological mother to the town of DeClare where sadly he is informed of her untimely death and his mysterious disappearance. Befriending some of the local townsfolk and some of his long lost relatives, he reopens Gaylene’s murder case, making him the "talk of the town" but also placing him in danger since someone doesn’t want this case to be investigated any further.

Shoot the Moon is full of the authentic heartland characters that Billie Letts writes about so beautifully. This book is a fun, light read with some neat and quirky characters, suspense and even romance. I will admit it wasn’t as predictable as I thought since I was sure I knew "whodunnit" and was thrown for a loop when I found out who really "dunnit". It did have too neat an ending but it was still very enjoyable - if you don't want to think too much.

Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Firefly Lane is about two best friends "TullyandKate" and their life together. Kate Mularkey meets Tully Hart in the summer of ‘74. Kate is the shy, nerdy type when you meet her, but when she meets "the coolest girl in the world" (Tully) she becomes popular by association. Tully, on the other hand, has the coolest friends, the biggest boobs, the hottest clothes, yet she lacks a "real" friend and the love of a family. Upon that meeting, we are taken on a journey through high school, college, post-college years, careers, marriage, kids, etc. This is the story of two unlikely friends and their friendship that spans well over 30+ years. It showcases the ups and downs they are faced with and the consequences of selfishness and bad decisions. Most importantly, it shows the amazing power of what it means to have a friend at your side during the good times and the bad times.

I found this to be not only about friendship, but also about husbands and wives, mothers and daughters. I was on such an emotional ride from beginning to end. I loved all the fun, pop culture references - the music, fashion and clothes. I was hooked from the start and had a tough time putting it down. Keep a box of tissues handy - I was sobbing at the end and it was 2am by the time I finished it, but it was definitely worth the ride.

This is the first book I read by Kristin Hannah and, needless to say, I am already searching for another one. This is chick lit at it’s best. I highly recommend it!

Laura Rider's Masterpiece by Jane Hamilton

Laura Rider lives with her husband, Charlie, in Hartley, Wis., where they own and run the Prairie Wind Farm. After 12 years of marriage, Laura decides to stop sleeping with Charlie, and although Charlie’s best talent is lovemaking, she has decided that she’s done with the whole "sex" thing. Upon meeting local public radio host Jenna Faroli, Laura decides that the time has come to fulfill her fantasy and write a romance novel. It just so happens that fate was on her side and there was a chance meeting between Charlie and Jenna. Laura sees this meeting as her chance to experiment and helps Charlie concoct e-mails to Jenna and inspire a friendship of sorts. Little does Laura know that Charlie and Jenna have their own plans that ignite a feisty affair.

I found it a bit hard to get through the first couple of chapters, but eventually the story started to grow on me. I especially liked reading the e-mails between the supposed-Charlie and Jenna. And, although Laura was mischievous, conniving and manipulative (at times) - she was also quite funny and I really ended up liking her.

Overall, I thought this story was fun, and Ms. Hamilton’s writing was witty and smart.

This book has not been released yet, it comes out on April 9, 2009.

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

In nineteen minutes, you can mow the front lawn, color your hair, watch a third of a hockey game. In nineteen minutes, you can bake scones or get a tooth filled by a dentist; you can fold laundry for a family of five. In nineteen minutes, you can stop the world, or you can just jump off it. In nineteen minutes, you can get revenge.

Nineteen Minutes is set in Sterling, New Hampshire - a town where nothing ever happens – that is until the day that Peter Houghton walks into his high school and in 19 minutes kills and injures several of his classmates and teachers. The story is told through several perspectives and ranges anywhere from when before Peter is born until about one year after the deadly shooting. We hear from Peter’s parents, his old best friend Josie Cormier, who eventually became part of the popular crowd and abandoned her friendship with Peter, Josie’s mom, Alex - also the judge sitting on the case, Patrick the detective who was able to apprehend Peter after the shooting and, of course, Peter himself.

I was so caught up in this book while reading it - there were just so many emotions that I went through (anger, despair, heartbreak, sadness, etc.) The story is written in a way that helps you relate and even sympathize with all of the main characters. I thought it gave good insight into bullying, and the torture that some kids are put through while in school. The peer pressure, the complicated tumultuous life of teens - was perfectly captured.

This book will stick with me for a while, I think.

Matrimony by Joshua Henkin

Matrimony is the story of Julian Wainright and Mia Mendelsohn’s relationship from when they meet in college up through roughly 20 years later. We are able to follow Julian and Mia, through the heartbreaking loss of her mother to breast cancer, as he struggles to write his first novel, as they move from college town to college town while continuing their education, through betrayal, and eventually the ups and downs of life. Although the story is called Matrimony - there are so many other elements that come to play ... friendship, aging, wealth, loss and forgiveness.

Mr. Henkin is straight-forward in his writing and although there is no definitive plot, the characters are very well-developed and relatable.

This is a story about relationships - between friends, between husbands and wives, between parents and children, between siblings - and how imperfect they can be. It is a coming-of-age story that I found it to be like real-life. Life doesn't always contain a lot of drama and good things will happen and bad things will happen, yet through it all, it moves forward.

I'd like to once again thank Michele at A Reader's Respite for hosting the giveaway that allowed me to win this autographed copy.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

When Tristran Thorn is sent on a quest to find a falling star by his ladylove Victoria Forrester, little did he know of the magical adventure that would ensue.

After falling in love with the film, and being acquainted with other Gaiman works over the past year, I had high expectations for this novel. But sadly, I must confess, I actually liked the film better - which was quite a surprise to me. Don’t take me wrong, I enjoyed this book immensely, but the film just left out some of the irrelevant characters (i.e. stepmother and sister storyline) and brought a more comedic side to some of the more obscure characters in the book (i.e. Captain Shakespeare, the dead brothers, etc.).

Mr. Gaiman’s writing style had a marvelous balance between melodic poetics and simplistic ease in his sentence structure and wordsmithery.

Stardust swept me away on a magical journey full of dark humor, love and adventure. It was a surprisingly modern and moving fairy tale about finding the missing part of ourselves hidden "behind the wall". Witches, pirates, and a love story... what more can you ask for in a fairytale. It just goes to show that fairytales are definitely not just for children.

The Side-Yard Superhero by Rick D. Niece

Rick Niece is the President of The University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas. The Side-Yard Superhero is his "automythography". What’s an automythography you ask? According to Rick it is "A work of nonfiction that looks reflectively at what we think we remember and how we think we remember it; an iridescent memory based upon truth and fact."

The Side-Yard Superhero is Rick’s account of what it was like to grow up in DeGraff (a small town in Ohio) with about 900 residents. Rick (back then known as Ricky) recounts his job of paperboy (that he kept until he moved out for college) and the neighbors he met on his daily route, along with what it was like growing up in a town where you knew everyone, local Friday hangouts and the carnival coming to town.

Through Ricky we are introduced to several characters:

Fern an elderly woman who worked for a newspaper at the turn of the century and who now resided with her dog. Fern had a tendency of walking around the neighborhood in just her brassiere and pants (this was her normal everyday attire). We meet Miss Lizzie - she was somewhat of a recluse due to the loss of her fiancé during WWI but who could bake the best pumpkin loaf in town. But especially we meet Bernie Jones. Bernie Jones is a boy Ricky befriends on his paper route who is wheelchair bound due to cerebral palsy. Everyday Ricky delivered the paper - Bernie waited in the side-yard of his home so that they could sit together and read Dick Tracy comics, talk about school, life and dreams.

Each chapter is a story of its own. We learn of the Saturday that Rickie took Bernie along with him on his paper route, and the Halloween where he and Bernie helped Miss Lizzie hand out her pumpkin loaf to all the towns trick-or-treaters. Bernie gets his name of Side-Yard Superhero from dressing up like Superman that year. We also read of the year the carnival came to town and Ricky was able to ride Bernie on the teacup ride. I enjoyed reading of the stories that relate to the wonderful support and relationships Ricky and his neighbors had. It makes you think about the importance of your roots. I also found myself looking forward to reading the fantastic poems at the beginning of each chapter.

Overall, I thought this book was touching and insightful. It helps you think of the simplicity in life and the basics of what is important. It’s a story about friendships, promises and growing up. This was just such a nice, feel good read. I highly recommend it .

Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult

Willow O’Keefe is born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) Type III - otherwise known as brittle bone disease. Willow’s bones can break by just sneezing or turning over in bed while sleeping. She will suffer hundreds of broken bones throughout her life span.

After a horrible experience in Disney World, the family consults an attorney and they are introduced to the term "Wrongful Birth". The attorney’s and Charlotte (Willow's mother) believe that Willow’s condition was not diagnosed in time for Charlotte to have the option of whether or not to terminate the pregnancy. Therefore a malpractice lawsuit is filed against her OB/GYN and BFF, Piper.

This lawsuit is the main focus and the one that sets the wheels in motion throughout the story. It is also what makes and breaks these people; including two marriages, friendships, and two innocent girls.

Charlotte O'Keefe has to convince a jury that although she loves her daughter unconditionally, the cost and ability to properly raise her is just something that her family cannot afford and therefore must come from someone else, all by standing up in front of a jury and admitting that if she had prior knowledge to her daughter's condition, she would have terminated the pregnancy.

Written in the same style of "My Sister's Keeper", this story is told from different perspectives (Charlotte; Sean - Willow’s dad; Amelia - Willow’s older sister; Piper - Charlotte’s OB/GYN and best friend; and Marin - Charlotte’s attorney) - yet, all the chapters are written as letters to Willow. To avoid confusion, all characters have their own chapters and their own font-type so that you are aware of who you are living through at the moment.

I’ve read several reviews that say that this story is a remake of "My Sister’s Keeper" and, although there are some similarities, I found the storyline to be very engrossing and something that I honestly could not put down.I also read some reviews that say that the story was too much like Picoult’s other books and therefore predictable, but I did not find this to be true.

I learned so much about OI and, of course, plan on googling to learn more about it. I laughed and I cried and was at war with myself on who was right or who was wrong. I will say that I cried just about every other page for the first couple of chapters, then totally lost it at the end, but what a ride through moral/ethical issues. I hope you enjoy it through your tears, I know I did.