Stranger Here by Jen Larsen 613.25 Lar

    

I really like memoirs - so even though I have no personal interest in weight-loss surgery I enjoyed reading this book!  Ms. Larsen had been a blogger and columnist before writing this book.  I think that is usually the sign of someone who can write something that is entertaining.  The sub-title for this book is "how weight-loss surgery transformed my body and messed with my head". 

Jen had always had a weight problem but now she was over 300 pounds.  Still she did have a job and a boyfriend.  Diets had never worked for her.  But if she could lose weight wouldn't she be so much happier???  So one day she sees the answer so clearly - surgery.  This book is the story of that journey which led her to go under the knife, the reality of what post-surgery life was like (not pretty!) and the realization that being skinny does not always equate to instant happiness.

It was a fast read, I was entertained and I learned some stuff along the way!

The Forever Girl by Alexander McCall Smith FIC McC

   

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed it a lot.  The voice of the narrator and the description of the Grand Cayman Island was so relaxing!  The title refers to Clover. (She was born Sally but decided that she preferred Clover when she was 4.  Her parents thought it would last a few days.  They were wrong!).  When the book begins Clover is living on Grand Cayman with her parents (Amanda and David) and her brother.  When she was quite young she developed a crush on her best friend James.  It turned into love - at least on her part.  This book follows the hopes and heartbreaks of that love during the decades to come.  It also tells a parallel story of Amanda.  As Clover was falling in love, Amanda realized that she was falling out of love with her husband.

The book touches on situations to which many of us can relate. Some are funny and some are sad but it was all entertaining and it was filled with endearing characters. 

The Innocent Sleep by Karen Perry FIC Per

    

Robin and Harry are two artist who as young newlyweds went to Tangiers. It was there that Dillon was born.  They adored their son even though he was a challenge.  Since his birth it was rare for them to get a good night's sleep.  On the day of Robin's birthday she is working late.  Harry is planning a wonderful dinner for her when he realizes her present is still at his friend's house.  Since Dillon is sleeping hard (makes you wonder doesn't it?) he decides to leave him and run his errand.  And that is when the earthquake hits.  When he returns back to his home there is nothing but ruins - and Dillon's body is never found.
      The story fast-forwards five years.  Robin and Harry are back in their native Dublin and getting on with life.  Harry's obsession with Dillon has been manifested through a series of sketches showing Dillon growing up on canvas.  He has never shared those with anyone - including Robin.  One day in the middle of a mob scene he catches a glimpse of Dillon with a woman.  He fights his way through the crowd but he loses sight of them.  He now believes that Dillon survived the earthquake or maybe he is losing his mind. 
       This was an interesting plot that kept me guessing. 

Mrs. Lincoln's Rival by Jennifer Chiaverini FIC Chi

When I first saw the title I thought some young house maid might have been putting the moves on Abe- but that seemed a bit far-fetched!  As it turns out the rivalry had to do with being the best hostess in the city.  The rival's name was Kate Chase.  Every time I read one of Chiaverini's historical novels I always have to check out the facts - and as always she was true to the facts.  And that is why I always enjoy these books.  This one was entertaining.  Parts of it were depressing - because there are a lot of things in Washington DC that haven't changed since the Civil War!

Kate lived in Ohio with her father and younger sister.  Since her mother was dead she became the 'hostess' for her father, Salmon Chase.  Chase was an ambitious lawyer and Kate was thrilled to do what she could to help him achieve a prominent role in politics.  Kate always thought her father should be President.  Salmon wasn't chosen by his party to run but after the election Lincoln appointed him Secretary of the Treasury.  Their new hometown was the perfect place for Kate to hone her skills.  Her father was her number one priority but she did fall in love along the way with the governor of Rhode Island.  That was probably the most interesting part of the book in my opinion.  You know that if I found it interesting that means it wasn't the average marriage of the times!

Entertaining and educational - perfect combination.  I think the audio versions of Chiaverini's books are great - in fact I have never actually read one of her books because I enjoy the narration so much. 
      
    

I've Got You Under My Skin by Mary Higgins Clark MYS Cla

I have read all of Ms. Clark's books and I will continue to do so.  Her books give me the same feeling that I had when I read Agatha Christie's books.  People die but it is never a very bloody affair.  People are in love but I don't have to read about the details.  There are always likeable characters.

Timmy is three years old when his father is killed in front of him.  He remembers the blue eyes of the killer and the threat that his mother would be next and then it would be his turn.  His mother, Laurie, has tried to go on with her life and she has done a good job.  Her father, a former policeman has kept a close eye on his daughter and grandson. Laurie is finally feeling secure enough to let Timmy go to camp for a week.  She will be busy starting her new TV reality series which focuses on unsolved crimes.  The first episode to be filmed is about a socialite found murdered in her home after a party celebrating the graduation of her daughter and three of her friends.  Twenty years later they are still living under a cloud of suspicion.  Maybe Laurie's new show will flush out the killer!

It's an easy read and I enjoyed it.

The Girl in the Blue Beret by Bobbie Ann Mason FIC Mas

Marshall Stone was a pilot who fit the stereo-type portrayed in many books and movies - a hot shot who thinks nothing will ever happen to him.  But he does get shot down.  I think part of my interest/fascination came from the fact that my father was also shot down but unlike Marshall my dad was captured in a few days and sent to a POW camp.  Marshall would have ended up there (or possibly dead) if it were not for the French Resistance.  There were all sorts of people who did things to thwart the Nazis but most books and movies portray the ones who saw a lot of action every night.  This story emphasizes the ordinary people - from the very old to young school girls (one of whom he remembers was wearing a blue beret!)  Many people helped him.  He eventually got to Spain.  After the war he becomes a commercial airline pilot.  He marries and has kids.  A good life.

When the book begins he is facing a new phase of his life.  His wife has died and he has hit the mandatory age of retirement.  At loose ends he decides to go back to Europe and look for some of the people who helped him.  He learns just how much some of those people sacrificed to help him and the many other aviators. 
     
(I listened to the audio version from WILBOR but the book is available from the library.  This is a book of fiction but the seed of inspiration came from the author's father-in-law's experience in World War II.)

Labor Day by Joyce Maynard FIC May

I downloaded the audio version through WILBOR and I would highly recommend it.  I found it almost hypnotic. So if you think you might like the story and you like audiobooks check it out!

Henry lives in a small town in New Hampshire.  In 1987 he is 13 but is carrying some rather large burdens.  He lives with his mother, Adele, who has always loved to dance.  Except now she only does it at home because she has become very reclusive.  The two of the them basically eat frozen dinners - rarely anything fresh (including milk) because she doesn't want to go out.  When necessary she will drive Henry to the bank so that she can get some cash.  He would do anything to make his mom happy.  On Saturday nights he goes out to eat with his dad (and his new family).  Life is predictable,  rather dull and lonely.  School will be starting after Labor Day so he convinces his mom that she has to take him shopping for pants.  In the store a man (Frank) approaches Henry asking if he thought his mother would give him a ride.  So what if the guy has a little blood on him!  Amazingly Adele agrees to help out.  I think that might have been hard to believe - but when you hear that seductive voice on the audio you will know why she said okay!

Over the next several days Frank takes care of things around the house (careful to stay hidden from the outside world), teaches Henry about playing baseball and fixes more home-made food than Henry has eaten in many, many years.  Henry has to wrestle with a lot of things that weekend.

The last chapter fast-forwards 20 years.  I loved that Ms. Maynard did that because I always want to know what happens after the main story ends!   I really enjoyed the book and will check out the movie on video some day.  I have a feeling that the movie will remind me a bit of "The Bridges of Madison County".

The Perfect Score Project by Debbie Stier 378.1 Sti

The subtitle is: Uncovering the Secrets of the SAT!
The only test I plan on taking in the future is an eye exam.  So why did I read this book?  Because I'm a bit weird when it comes to my taste in non-fiction books.  It looked interesting and it was.  I took the SAT in the 60's.  I remember nothing of the experience.  I was told I needed to take it so I did.  I have no idea what my score was.  I certainly wasn't traumatized by the experience.  Today it is a big industry!  Stier wanted to make sure her son was prepared for the test.  She went on a mission to find out about and sample as many preps as possible (and also took the test herself seven times!!!!).  People spend lots and lots of money on this stuff.  You can pick up a lot of good tips by borrowing this book from the library!

 I have never been a fan of standardized tests- either as a student or as a teacher.  This book does nothing to improve my attitude!  I liked the history and background of the SAT and how it has changed over the years.  The people that are making millions in the SAT industry have a good thing going. Kids and their parents are being held hostage and I guess you are forced to play the game.  This book will give you some insight!  So if you, or someone you love is going down this road check out this book - it really is very readable!
       

Hidden by Catherine McKenzie FIC McK

     

This was a great book.  It is a story woven together by three narrators - Claire, Tish and Jeff.  Sadly, Jeff is fatally hit walking home.  Happily,  we are still able to get his side of the story.  There are two women who are devastated when they hear the news.  The first to hear was Jeff's wife, Claire.  She tried to keep herself together for the sake of their son, Seth, but she really needs a lot of help from friends and family - and those "funeral pills" her doctor gave her.
      
Meanwhile Tish is hours away.  She has been waiting for an answer to her email.  When hours pass she begins to grow more frantic.  Finally she confides in a friend about her worry.  Has something happened to him or does he just not want to have contact with her anymore.  When she goes to work on Monday she is blindsided by an announcement - a colleague who worked in "the other Springfield" (an inside joke since there are two parts to the company and each is located in a Springfield), has died.  Tish quickly explains that she had worked with Jeff in her capacity as an H.R. person and that is why she is so upset.  It doesn't really explain why she disappoints her daughter and husband to travel to the funeral - she volunteered to be the rep from her branch of the company. 

It was a very readable book.  All three characters made mistakes but I found them all to be likeable so I was more understanding about how this whole mess came to be. 

The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls FIC Wal

If you have read The Glass Castle you are familiar with Walls' story of her childhood - one that was filled with abuse.  She survived and so do the girls in her new novel.  Liz is15 and Bean (a nickname for Jean) is 12.  They are being raised (if you use the word loosely) by Charlotte in California.  She believes her destiny is to be a great singer and song writer.  That sometimes requires her to be gone from home for extended amounts of time.  But don't worry about the girls - she always leaves them some money so they can get lots of chicken pot pies.  They get along fine until the day comes that they are afraid they may be taken away and put in foster care.  So they hop on a bus and travel across the country to see Uncle Tinsley (Charlotte's brother).
      
Well, they weren't exactly welcomed.  They do end up staying with him and trying to get along with him.  Wanting to help pay their way Liz and Bean look for some sort of job (even though Tinsley is dead set against any job).  Unfortunately they end up working for Jerry Maddox - scum of the earth and enemy of Tinsley.

The story was entertaining if a little predictable.  I liked her memoir better.

Love in the Land of Dementia by Deborah Shouse 362.196 Sho

A quote from the book: "I forget how many things you can forget.  My mother reminds me."

The subtitle of this book is Finding Hope in the Caregiver's Journey.  I don't think I found much hope - but it is a book that can bring some comfort and support to anyone who is dealing with this.  One certainly gets an up-close look at the impact of Alzheimer's on the family - especially if they are the caregivers.  The story is told with honesty.  It follows the progression of the disease - a little denial, lots of grief and more than enough guilt.  On one occasion Shouse brings her mom to her house to meet a new great-granddaughter.  The nurse sends an extra diaper along.  Some hours later she is wondering if her mother is sitting in a wet diaper.  "Still, I cannot walk over to the plastic sack and take out the white rectangle of protective paper. I cannot take my mother's hands and guide her into the bathroom.  I am not ready to take another step away from being her daughter, toward being her caretaker."     

It is interesting to see how Shouse handles the situations differently than her father does.  This is not an easy book to read.  It is, however, straight from the heart and an education.