Jackie’s Comments (group member since Jan 02, 2009)

Jackie’s comments from the Reading List 2009 group.

#89 Beauregart the Bear by Kathryn Phyllarry

This is a lovely little children's book that helps to illustrate that disabilities don't need to be feared. In this case it's a bear cub with a deformed paw that saves the day. The illustrations by Robert Rath are charming.

#88
The Dog Who Loved Tortillas by Benjamin Alire Saenz

This is a fun little children's book, in both English and Spanish, that shows the importance of sharing, caring and responsibility. The claymation like illustrations are interesting.

#87 I'm Not Hanging Noodles on Your Ears by Jag Bhalla

This is a fun book--lots of interesting little tidbits from various cultures that are of interest to a word geek like myself. And a bit too much of the drier research and cultural commentary, frankly. I found it a bit repetitive so it took me quite a while to get through it, even just skimming.

#86 Yiddish Yoga: Ruthie's Adventures in Love, Loss and the Lotus Position by Lisa Grunberger

Newmarket Press is calling this debut a "hardcover gift book" since it's a slim volume full of original drawings by Art Glazer to go along with the often hilarious text. Ruthie is a recently widowed 72 year old Jewish woman living in New York City whose granddaughter has given her a year of yoga lessons "To help you grieve, Bubby. It will be healing for you." Ruthie's adventure into the new language and rituals of yoga will be healing for every reader of this book, since we all know that laughter is the best medicine! The reader will learn some things too--there is a Yiddish AND a yoga glossary included. But most importantly, they will learn that loss and advanced years do NOT have to slow anyone down or keep anyone from changing. This book is a gift all right--a gift of warm joy and slightly teary eyes to everyone who reads it.

#85 The Evolution of Shadows by Jason Quinn Malott

The title phrase comes up as one of the characters describes a sleepless night where "the evolution of shadows" keeps him from knowing what was truly there in the room with him
and what was not. The whisper of that phrase wafts in and out of the narrative of the main characters as they move back and forth in time, experiencing the things that become their shadows, their haunts, their memories. Gray Banick is photographer who plunges into the Bosnian war zone after his heart is broken--and completely disappears. It takes 5 years, but at last Lian Zhao, the Chinese American woman who wasn't able to chose Gray's love over familial expectations, Jack MacKenzie, grizzled and scarred veteran war photographer who was Gray's mentor, and Emil Todorovic, Gray's in-country interpreter who was the last person to see Gray, come together to begin a search. For the man, or for the bones, they are not certain. In reality, none are sure which they would rather find. The impact of the 5 years of brutal war and it's aftermath is a character in itself--a brutality that continues to shape everyone ever touched by it. This is an amazing, graphic,gripping story of war, and love, and what people are capable of. The fact that this is Malott's first novel is deeply impressive. He will be a writer to watch over the years.

#84 Cherries in Winter by Suzan Colon

This reads a little like sitting in the attic with your best friend going through a box of your great grandma's old recipes, filling her in on the stories that went along with
the memories of those dishes. Puzzling over faded hand-writing and laughing at some of the ingredients that haven't seen a store shelf in years. That's the kind of chatty
intimacy this slim book has--as well as fabulous recipes. Colon's family has always used the comfort of good, but practical, food to get them through hard times, and that wisdom is no less useful now than it was 50, 75 or 100 years ago. This book leaves you feeling like you just got a big hug from your Grandma right after she's dried your tears and slid a piece of warm cherry pie in front of you. Don't miss out on that!

#83 The Girl Next Door by Elizabeth Noble

Elizabeth Noble, author of "The Reading Group" and several other well received books, is back with another winner. "The Girl Next Door" involves an ensemble cast and seems very much like a reasonably intelligent soap opera. We get to see bits of the lives of several people in one building in Manhattan--relationships begin and end and have everything in between happen to them as well. There is birth and death, love and hate, fear and joy. This isn't a fluff read--Noble weaves some pretty powerful emotions into these neighbors' tales (I required a tissue late last night at one particularly intense
scene). You'll want to know what happens--with everyone!

#82 True Confections by Katharine Weber

The protagonist of this book, Alice Tatnall Ziplinsky, is not the easiest person to like. She's got her quirks. But she also cares a great deal about her family and especially the family business, which is candy making. Written as an affidavit, this is the story of one complicated family, two fires, and a whole lot of sugar. The premise is interesting and the pages begin to turn themselves as the reader puzzles over what's the truth and what's just Alice. It's also full of fascinating historical tidbits about the candy industry which are a lot of fun.

#81 No Mercy by Lori Armstrong

Lori Armstrong may just be the best mystery writer that you don't know about yet. She's got one series already (The Julie Collins series) and has been nominated for several awards, but so far she's flown below the popularity radar. No longer, at least if I can help it. No Mercy is the first book in the series featuring former Army sniper Mercy
Gunderson who is one tough-n-tough woman who nevertheless fiercely loves her family. She is on medical leave back at their South Dakota ranch trying to keep things together after the body of a local teen is found on her land--and others begin to show up as well. Armstrong worked in the weapons industry for several years before becoming a full time writer, and is a 4th generation South Dakotan herself, so she's made Mercy very nuanced and believable. She's the kind of woman you want in your corner, and I guarantee after reading this first book, you'll be eagerly waiting for the next to spend more time with her. The author's love of the ranch lands of the west comes through crystal clear as well with her ability to vividly set a scene. You do NOT want to miss this book!

#80 Wag by Patrick McDonnell

I had the pleasure of hearing Patrick McDonnell read this book to a rapt audience while showing the illustrations on PowerPoint. The gentle beauty and fantastic message of this book cannot be stated too strongly. Munchkins on my holiday list this year are getting this book--and I might just have to keep a copy for myself!

#79 Guardians of Being by Eckhart Tolle

Ordinarily I find Eckhart Tolle a bit over the top, but combined with Patrick McDonnell's sweet illustrations, this book won me over. It's a wonderful book for anyone who believes in the peace and joy that pets can bring into our lives.

#78 A Gate At The Stairs by Lorrie Moore

I read this book a couple of weeks ago, and I've been "sitting" on it, trying to find something to say about this book. All I can offer is the truth--I did not, in any way, connect with this book. The characters weren't presented in a way I could make them "real" for me, the story seemed strained and implausible, with minutia going on for pages upon pages while major plot and/or character reveals were handled in a sentence or two--if they were lucky. I sloughed through it because it was on the IndieNext list and many people I know and respect were very excited that this book was coming out, but I just cannot recommend anything about this book, other than perhaps to stay away from it.

#77 The Incredible Origins of the Onyx Sun
by Christopher Mahoney

Aimed at the 10-14 set, this book is a fun ride for just about everyone. This is the first book in a series about 11 year old Zack Goodspeed and his eccentric and mysterious grandfather Fyodor. It seems that the old gent has invented a new, limitless power source and has set out to colonize the moon. Zack and the new neighbor girl Max sneak their way into plenty of adventures and dangers throughout this book. The illustrations are fantastic, giving a reality to the imaginative sci-fi features in this book. There are plenty of thrills and mystery, with short chapters that are sure to have kids pleading for the chance to read just one more chapter before lights out. There is also an interactive website set up that will eventually allow kids to write their own Onyx Sun adventures, though a visit to it today showed the site was not quite ready for it's many
promised uses. Mahoney also plans teacher lesson plans that will link scenes in the books with real world math and science problems. It's an ambitious project and a fantastic book that should appeal to kids everywhere. Who knows, Zach could well be the
next Harry Potter!

#76 Matchless by Gregory Maguire

This book was originally commissioned by and performed on NPR by the author himself on Christmas Day, 2008. It is what Maguire callsa 'reillumination' of the famous, though not oft heard anymore, Hans Christian Anderson tale 'The Little Match Girl'. Accompanied by his own line drawings, this story is told in a way that only Maguire could. His fans will love it.

#75 Lit by Mary Karr

I love the double entendre that is this book's title, Lit. This third memoir from Karr (the first: Liars Club, the second: Cherry) picks up with Mary finally escaping Texas--but not the family alcoholism. With her characteristic unflinchingly honest prose that's nevertheless penned with a poetic beauty, she tells us about her education, the beginnings of her teaching career, her marriage, and becoming a mother, all under the influence of alcohol. She also takes us through what it took for her to get sober, her kicking and screaming deliverance into belief in a higher power, and the beginnings of her success as a poet and writer. It isn't an easy read--she's had more than her fair share of dark times--but it had no trouble keeping my attention. Don't worry if you haven't read her other two books--she fills in just enough detail from her early years to keep things coherent. This one is bound to be yet another of her books parked on the best seller lists for months.

#74 Perfect Timing by Jill Mansell

This is another hilarious read from best selling English novelist Jill Mansell. This tale is full of mistaken loves, comic mishaps, serious heartbreaks and plenty of love, laughter and shiny futures for all with an ensemble "cast" that wins your heart. Anyone missing the exploits of Bridget Jones will love any book by Mansell guaranteed.

#73 The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond

This book is a lot of fun. Part cookbook, part scrapbook (complete with the author's own photography and honest to goodness clip art), and all love affair with food, family and ranch life. There are homey tidbits (like what NOT to scratch after seeding a jalapeno), old fashioned recipe instructions ("throw on a big pile of pico de gallo" or "if your husband walks in as you're completing this step, shield the bowl with your body and stir quickly. What he doesn't know won't hurt him.") and other hilarities, this book is as much fun to simply sit and read as it is easy to follow the recipes which include tons of
step by step photographs. There are also plenty of pictures of the kids, the cowboys, the horses, the basset hounds and even the dirty dishes to show that anything good tends to make a bit of a mess. This is cooking for cowboys and kids, and it couldn't be more
entertaining or mouthwatering! She's also got a great blog with a recipe share link called Tasty Kitchen (with even MORE fabulous recipes). Foodies--check her out and I think you too will fall under her humorous charm: www.thepioneerwoman.com.

#72 The Errand Boy by Don Bredes

This is the third book Bredes has written with the main character Hector Bellevance in it, but don't let that keep you from reading it--the story carries itself beautifully. Hector is a cool headed farmer these days, as well as town constable in a small Vermont town, though he was once a big city detective. This comes in handy when, after an auto accident leaves his wife in a comma, Hector finds that there is more than bad driving in the other man's history--a history cut short by being murdered two days later. The path to the answers involves sex offenders, drug dealers, Hell's Angels, federal agents both in the open and undercover, kidnapping, meth labs and a whole bunch of chickens and flies. There are interesting twists and turns and not a whole lot of emotion involved in this hard boiled back country tale of crime and punishment. I think fans of Lee Child's Reacher will especially take a shine to Hector.

#71 The Birthing House by Christopher Ransom

This debut novel was inspired by a dream. Ransom and his wife DID move into an old birthing house in Mineral Point, WI. They DID find an old sepia photograph of some of the women who lived and worked there. The dream did involve a woman with long black hair in a black dress pushing him down onto his bed. For the Ransoms, the nightmare went away when Chris finished the book. For the couple in the book, Conrad and Joanna Harrison, the nightmare only gets worse.

This book reminded me of "The Shining" in the fact that a house, or what lives within it, comes to possess a man and drive him insane. But the writing is utterly original and completely creepy. I'm talking about checking the doors and windows and jumping at every little creak in your house as you read it creepy. The house wants life, and it goes to extraordinary means to get it. This is a very graphic book, both in violence and in sexuality. The faint of heart should not even crack the spine of this book. But those adventurous souls who enjoy the
thrill of a gory ghost story will love this, especially fans of King, Koontz or Straub.

#70 Get Cooking by Mollie Katzen

I'm one of those people who can read a cookbook just as avidly as any novel, and "Get Cooking" is quite a read. It's designed for the beginning cook, complete with pages of what gear a kitchen needs, from knives to storage. There is even a lengthy section--with plenty of pictures--of how to chop vegetables, which would have seemed odd to me if I hadn't just had to teach a young man I know that yes, you DO need to peel a yellow onion before you slice it. Then begins the 150 simple recipes to make some cooking basics like soups and mashed potatoes. She starts with the absolute basics, then lists add ins and other ideas for a bit more flair, still keeping it as simple as possible. Which I LOVED. I've read through her
"Moosewood" books and often been frustrated by their complicated instructions or exotic ingredients. There is very little of that here, and it's confined to the "get creative" sections of each recipe. This book is accessible to everyone, with enough tips and twists on recipes to keep a seasoned cook interested. Heck, her version of Waldorf Salad actually sounds GOOD, which is a minor miracle in my pot-luck scarred opinion. This would make a great first cookbook for a person just starting out on their own, or a great addition to anyone's bulging cookbook shelves.