Courting Greta

Courting Greta by Ramsey Hootman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Samuel Cooke, a social awkward computer nerd, gives up his cushy job to teach computer programming to high school students. Samuel has no idea what he has gotten himself into with his new career choice. A principal that is more frat boy then a leader, a fellow teacher that is over zealous in his friendships and students that could care less. And then there is Greta the gruff P.E. teacher and girls basketball coach that has everyone at the school trembling in their shoes.

This is not your every day love story, in fact it is not like any other romance you have ever read. No one is brutally handsome or terminally pretty. This is a story about real people, people you probably know, that live down the street. Its that couple that you see at the grocery story and say how did that happen? That is what makes this book so wonderful. Characters that are wonderfully flawed and have real life problems. The book is at times hard to read because it is so honest and you want to yell at the characters to get it together and move forward.

One of the aspects I really liked was that the story was told entirely from the male perspective. I was instantly drawn to nerdy Samuel and his quest to start a new life. I was unclear why he was drawn to gruff Greta who in most all ways was his polar opposite. As their relationship grew I started to realize that she was exactly what he needed. And just as clearly she needed him.

This may not be your beach read for the summer but it is a must read.

Check out what others thought of the book.

View all my reviews

Hemingway's Girl

Hemingway's Girl by Erika Robuck
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Its 1935 in Key West Florida and Mariella Bennet is struggling to hold her family together after the tragic death of her father. Doing odd jobs and when necessary gambling to pay the rent and her sisters hospital bills. On one fateful day her path crosses that of Ernest Hemingway the famous millionaire writer and she ends up as the Hemingway's housekeeper.

Her life is not instantly better her mother doesn't want her to work for The Hemingways because of Ernest's bad reputation, Paulette Hemingway is suspicious of Mariella's relationship with her husband, Ernest is constantly flirting with Mariella and then there is Gavin, the WWI veteran working on the Overseas Highway.

Mariella is torn between the two men and in one summer her life will be forever changed.

I loved loved loved this book. I really can not express how much I enjoyed reading this book. Very quickly I was swept away to the Florida Keys (I have an urge to sing a Beach Boys song). Instantly I was connected to Mariella who just wanted adventure but was stuck with responsibilities of caring for her family. As she struggles to cope with her moms depression and falling in love with not one but two different men.

In one book I laughed, cried and craved Key Lime Pie. If you are a fan of Hemingway's book you will love this story.


View all my reviews

Heads You Lose

Heads You Lose by Lisa Lutz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Paul and Lacey are your average small town, twentysomethings, that live together, grow pot and find a headless corpse in the back yard.

Yup that's right they find a headless corpse in the back yard and since they don't want the authorities to be snooping around they do what any siblings would do...dump the body somewhere else. But when the body reappears they realize they are in way over there heads and as they try to unravel the mystery of who what where and why they uncover a small town full of secrets and shady characters.

The plot of the mystery is only a part of this bizarre book. the rest of the story is about the colobration between Lisa Lutz and David Hayward. They got together to write this book after Lisa extended an invitation to her former business and romantic partner to co-write a book.

They each take turns writing a chapter and in between each chapter are the notes they write to each other about character/plot/content. At first his highly annoyed me, I wanted them to get on with the story.

Soon I found it amusing because its obvious these two people have highly different opinions on EVERYTHING!!!!! Most especially how the story line of the book should progress. Then I was back to being annoyed because the in fighting was getting annoying and was hindering the story.

Now I am finished with the book and I found the whole thing thoroughly entertaining. Not a book for everyone but if you can hang in there you might just end up enjoying the ride.


View all my reviews

Trial of the Spellmans

Trail of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Things are changing in the Spellman family. Izzy is taking a more active role in the family business, David is married and a stay at home dad, and Rae is at college and concerned about the environment. On top of all that a Chinese wall has been evoked by the Senior Spellmans to keep overlapping investigations from becoming a conflict. But not everything is as nice as its seems. Izzy has really concerns with the way the business is being run and concerns about the cases they are working. David and Rae are fighting, Izzy is avoiding Henry, Oliva is enrolling in classes and taking up hobbies and then we meet Grandma Spellman!!!!!

As usual this was a laugh out loud read...few book are as funny as The Spellman books. I loved this one because you could see the family growing and changing. Especially Izzy, who makes some real changes towards maturity. And although I was not happy with all the choices she makes, especially her love life, it was fun watching Izzy out maneuver her family and resolve her problems. With each new page their is a new piece to the puzzle that Izzy is trying to solve.

If you are looking for a fun, outrageous alcoholic induced good read...run don't walk to get this one. Its well worth the read and

View all my reviews

The Help

The Help by Kathryn Stockett


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


So I resisted reading this book for a long time because I knew it was going to make me cry. And I was right I am such a sap I cried like a baby. What an amazing powerful book. But what do I say about this book. It has been widely read and reviewed that I feel I cannot add anything new except to say I really really realy liked.

I also loved the movie.
View all my reviews

One Day

One Day by David Nicholls


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Meet Dexter and Emma on July 15 1988 there last day of university. They spend the day together and start building a friendship that will last 20 years. Through this 1 day every year you learn about the ups and downs Dexter and Emma experience.

I don’t want to reveal to much for fear of ruining the plot but I can say that I LOVE THIS BOOK.

From the first page to the last I was hooked. Constantly asking do Dexter and Emma get together? Will their friendship last? The characters were wonderfully imperfect and flawed as they deal with their own insecurities and resentments, struggling to find their way in life and to maintain their amazing friendship.

View all my reviews

Something Blue

Something Blue by Emily Giffin


My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Darcy Rhone has just broken up with her fiancée when she discovers he has been cheating on her with her best friend Rachel. Shocked by the discovery that anyone would choose Rachel over her Darcy is sent into a tailspin. And her new boyfriend and baby on the way are not helping her put things in perspective. But after being dumped by her new boyfriend Darcy runs off to London to spend quality time with her old friend Ethan. And love finds Darcy again but is she able to move forward or be stuck in the past.

I am not a fan of Darcy Rhone. In fact you can say I dislike her a lot. So when I started reading this book I was prepared not to like it and I didn’t. All because I didn’t like her character I Something Borrowed. There was nothing Darcy could do to redeem herself in my eyes. Okay she redeemed herself a little bit but I just don’t like her at all. Unlike Something Borrowed I will not be rereading this book in fact I may get rid of my copy of the book.


View all my reviews

A Visit From the Goon Squad

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bennie Salazar is a former punk band member turned successful record company owner. Sasha is a former run away that becomes Bennie's personal assistance. Through Bennie and Sasha we are introduced to people who touch their lives, like people in our lives we are dropped in and out of their stories going back in time to the early punk music scene in San Francisco to some time in the future in New York City. Sometimes we spend a lot of time with a character and other times it’s just a moment before we move on.

Jennifer Egan ability to weave a connection between characters is fascinating. As you move through the story and characters appear in Bennie and Sasha's world you feel like you are a part of the inner circle saying 'OH I remember them' and 'Didn’t they do this'. You find yourself going back and verify that you remember every detail about the who, what, where, and whys. You are also let down when a character doesn't make another appearance. Often wondering what happened to them.

I devoured this book then went back and reread it. Unfortunately I have to return it to the library but it is one of the books I will buy and read several times in my life. One of the best books about the music world since High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

View all my reviews

Discovery of Witches

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Diana Bishop has long been denying the witch part of her life, she just doesn’t not have time for it. Then one day in the course of ordinary research she requests a manuscript. This is no ordinary manuscript, it is a long lost apothecary book said to hold the secrets of witches, vampires and daemons. Recognizing it for it is a bespelled book Diana sends it back into the library depths and goes about her day. Unfoundedly her actions have not gone unnoticed and before Diana realizes it her life is full of witches, vampires and daemons. But one vampire, Matthew, seems to stand out in the crowd. At first interested only in the book Matthew tries to understand how Diana found a book that has been missing for years, then interested more in Diana than the book Matthew will risk his own life to keep her safe. With dangers around every corner Diana and Matthew will need to rely on each other as well as family and friends if they plan to stay alive.

WOW!!!! This book blew me away.

Quickly and without hesitation Deborah Harkness drops us into the thick of the story. Going back when necessary to develop character but never failing to move the reader forward. Full of history and literary reference this book is not a casual read, it requires your full undivided attention to understand all the nuances. Harkness does a great job of educating her readers so they don’t feel left behind or inadequate by their lack of knowledge.

My only regret is that I know have to wait for some obscure date in 2010 for the next, title unknown, installment in the series

View all my reviews

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One day in 1986, Henry Lee, a Chinese American, noticed a commotion outside the old Panama Hotel in Seattle. Closed for years the new owner is planning on reopening the once majestic hotel but in the basement they found the belonging to of several Japanese families that were went away to the internment camps during World War II. That’s when Henry sees the parasol that he believes belonged to a young Japanese American girl, Keiko Okabe, who was his best friend and first love. Soon we are transported back in time to Seattle's Japantown and Chinatown. A time when Jazz music was on every street corner and a young Henry is going to an all white school. One day while working the lunch line he meets Keiko and they form a bond that defies the events and people around them. As events transpire Henry will defy his community and family to be close to the girl he loves. In 1986 we see Henry trying to build a lasting relationship with his son Marty as he searched through the basement of the Panama Hotel looking for the one item that was lost to him back in 1942.

As an avid reader it is rare that a book moves me as much as this book did. Throughout the story I was heart broken and uplifted as I read Henry's story. I felt Henry’s confusion as a young boy, only being allowed to speak "American" in his home with parents that barely understood him and his father’s desire to send him to China to continue his education. I rejoiced at Henry’s fascination with Jazz music and the friendship with sax player Sheldon. I was touched by the sweet tender relationship between Henry and Keiko. And I understood Henry desires for his son and the need to reach out to him but unsure how. I can not say enough good things about this book. It is a beautiful story of the human sprit that had me crying, laughing, cheering and moved.


View all my reviews

Juliet, Naked

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Annie's live is humdrum boring. She works at a museum in a seaside town in England. She lives with her equal dull boyfriend Duncan. Then one day everything changes when Duncan's Favorite musician Tucker (who has been a recluse for 20 years) releases an acoustic version of his most popular album. Annie writes a review of the album and before she knows it she is corresponding with the elusive Tucker himself and breaking up with Duncan. Now she is about to meet Tucker and taking risks she never would have taken before. Duncan must come to terms with his idol having clay feet and Tucker will face some of the demons from his past.

Nick Hornby is at his best when he is writing about relationships and music. And this book is as much about our relationships with each other as it is about our relationship with music. And in true Hornby style there is no happily ever after but a bunch of people who learn and grow and move forward in life.

View all my reviews

The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am not sure what more I can say about this book that has not already been said. Khaled Hosseini has presented us with a haunting look into the life of Afghanistan people in their home country and their adopted country America. He also shows us the power of fear, redemption and hope all in one book. On more than one occasion while reading this book I had to put it down and go find one of my nieces to hug I was very angered but the end of the book until the last 2-3 pages. The ending of the book was amazingly hopeful about the power of love and persistence.

View all my reviews