HarperCollins UK (2010)
Adult Nonfiction/Memoir
336 pages
Summary: A woman troubled by pornographic dreams about Tom Jones. An 80 year-old man who can't remember why he's come to see the doctor. A woman with a common cold demanding (but not receiving) antibiotics. A man with a sore knee. A young woman who has been trying to conceive for a while but now finds herself pregnant and isn't sure she wants to go through with it. A 7-year-old boy with "tummy aches" that don't really exist. These are his patients. A witty insight into the life of a family doctor, this funny and moving account will change the way you look at your doctor next time you pop in with the sniffles. - from Good Reads
This book was quite funny, interesting, sometimes gross and once, so funny I was laughing so hard I was crying, (although to be honest, that part wasn't written by the author, but was a chain mail that went around online - I even remember getting it once and I'm pretty sure I laughed that hard then too.)
I must say though that reading a book written in the UK is quite challenging as a Canadian. Yes we both speak English but here in Canada, especially so close to the US where I live, we speak a version of English that is much closer to US English. There was also some UK Spelling which in my part of Ontario at least, we use a bit of (like Colour and Neighbourhood) but some we use the US spelling of (like Tranquillizer - not Tranquilliser like it is in the book.) I knew most of the UK words as I love words but had to look up one of the medications mentioned. E.g. surgery (meaning emergency department) or stroppy (easily offended or annoyed), row (argument), trolley (streetcar) and paracetamol (mentioned often - it's acetaminophen)
There are two controversial areas of the book that I want to mention. If you are able to read about ideas you may not agree with, then this isn't a problem. But if you will dislike the whole book because of one opinion, I'd rather you know before you pick up the book.
The doctor sees a patient with measles because his mom chose not to vaccinate him. She believes she just needs to strengthen his immune system with healthy foods and such. Doc explains that's not how it works. Doc explains his frustrations with those who choose not to vaccinate. Specifically because it puts those children who are unable to vaccinate (because of allergy to vaccination or they are deathly ill) at risk too.
The other has to do with alternative practitioners. The doctor sees a patient who has a simple problem but chooses to see many different alternative practitioners first who do everything but examine the problem area. She ends up back at Doc after having spent lots of money. So Doc makes a comment (not to patient) about his dislike of alternative practitioners.
I did appreciate that all the stories are only a few pages long. It's good for a quick reads (like in the bathroom)
Summary: Mention the term "heart disease" and most people picture an overweight, middle-aged man. Yet the reality is that heart disease is the number one killer of women in North America, accounting for a third of all deaths in women and far surpassing the prevalence of breast cancer. Cardiologist Dr. Martha Gulati and holistic pharmacist Sherry Torkos separate the facts from the many myths surrounding heart disease and offer the latest information on both the conventional medical approach and the role of natural medicine in understanding this illness. Saving Women's Hearts examines the unique gender differences for women and provides valuable insight into the screening procedures, diagnosis, treatment options, and most importantly, prevention of heart disease.- from amazon.com
Intro
February is almost over but February is Heart Health Month. When it comes to Heart Disease, most people think of older men. However the scary fact for women like me is that Heart Disease is the number one killer of women.
No one has to tell me this. My MIL died of a heart attack in my house, on my living room floor in 2006. She was 43 and it was her second heart attack (at least.) According to this book, Heart Disease happens early when it's before age 65 in women. So what do they consider 45 and under? Her first heart attack was around age 35.
Do you ever think about your own risk? Perhaps you should. The odds are currently 1 in 3 to have some form of heart disease in your life and it's getting worse. Pretty soon, the average North American woman will have a 50/50 chance of developing heart disease.
Reviewing the Book
As for the book, I think in general, it's a great idea and a much needed book. I've read up on Heart Disease before but I still learned some new things and most importantly, I got some much needed advice on which foods to eat and which to avoid.
However I think the book is not organized the best way. After some basic information (facts, determining your risk etc.) and a little quiz, we go right into tests used for screening for heart disease, heart medications, treatments, natural medicine and then FINALLY we go to eating right, exercising, stress, sleep and how they can help PREVENT heart disease. Shouldn't we learn how to prevent it FIRST and then about how they test for it and treat it?
I think what part of the book you find the most helpful will depend on if you currently have heart disease or not. If not, you would like the prevention chapters better as reading about ALL the medications and treatments will make you overwhelmed.
However if you already have heart disease you will probably find the treatment section more helpful although of course the prevention section is good too as taking care of your health, even when you already have heart disease, will lower your risk of a repeat problem.
I definitely think women need to read this, or something else to become more knowledgeable about their risk and how to recognize the signs (heart attacks present differently in women than they do in men!)
Disclosure - I am participating in the Saving Women’s Hearts program by Mom Central on behalf of Wiley Publishing. I received a copy of the book to review and gift card as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.
While not intended to be a parenting manual, Yale Law School professor Amy Chua's memoir, focusing on her trials and travails of mothering, is sure to go down in infamy. Having generated a considerable amount of controversy, Chua's Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother details, and, in some cases, promotes, an extremely strict parenting style that she attributes to her Chinese cultural background.
The media storm that followed the memoir's publication provides ample fodder for a review itself. But instead of analyzing what others have said about the book, I decided to crack it open myself to see what all the fuss is about. Of course, many of Chua's parenting dictates--not allowing children to attend sleepovers, participate in extra-curricular activities of their own choosing, and accepting nothing short of a straight-A report card--can be considered a form of child abuse. However, Chua is not quite the "Tiger Mother" the media have made her out to be, and the memoir has its moments of poignancy that extends beyond the extremist parenting.
The book traces Chua's relationship with her two daughters and husband Jed, an academic whose American-Jewish background views parenting in a much more benevolent, laissez-faire way. Some of the more alarming anecdotes, like when Chua dismisses her daughter's homemade birthday card as not good enough, or when she forces her child to play a tricky piano piece over and over, threatening her in the process, until she gets it right, may turn off many readers. But at the end of the day, Chua demonstrates a sense of humor that softens her fierce competitiveness. That her children seem to have turned out to be "normal", happy teenagers indicates that the accusations of child abuse among Chua's detractors are a little overblown.
While I would never actually employ the style of parenting that Chua seems to advocate, the professor and mother makes an interesting case against what she calls "Western" parenting. The heavy emphasis on self-esteem at all costs may indeed produce children who are satisfied with mediocrity and who begin to feel entitled to everything when they are older. Still, in my opinion, parents can strive for a happy medium. After all, teaching children that they must work very hard for success and recognition is a lesson that should, by all accounts, be instilled early.
Although Chua's memoir is by no means perfect, it is an interesting account of alternative parenting styles. What's more, any parent will be able to empathize with its basic themes of family, no matter how much they disagree with how Chua approaches raising children. Despite its imperfections, Chua's book is a worthwhile read for parents who struggle with anxiety over their child-rearing decisions. For more information, check out this excerpt, published in the New York Times.
By-line: This guest post is contributed byAlisa Gilbert, who writes on the topics ofbachelors degree. She welcomes your comments at her email Id:alisagilbert599@gmail.com.
Summary: Chicken, Pig, and Cow are very happy together in their Popsicle stick barn, so when Horse arrives, not everyone is pleased—especially Chicken, who points out that Horse takes up a lot of space. - from Annick Press
The fourth in the Chicken, Pig, Cow series introduces us to Horse! You can find my reviews of the first three at the following links:
As with the previous three books, Ruth Ohi delivers a great story. As with the Purple Problem, there is an underlying message. This time it's about acceptance and making new friends. The message would not be obvious to the child though so explanation would probably be needed for the 3-5 year old and probably would be beyond the 2 year old.
If you somehow haven't heard of the series, Chicken, Pig and Cow (and now Horse) are made of clay but are alive and the book is their adventures with dog (a real dog, not a clay one.)
The illustrations are still adorable, although I'm not sure why the dog looks so angry on the cover.
Where is the Green Sheep? ¿Dónde Está la Oveja Verde? by Mem Fox
Stars: ****
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2004)
Board Book Version (978-0-547-39694-1)
Translated by Carlos E. Calvo
Summary: A dual language and board book version of Where is the Green Sheep? So not only do you see all the different kinds of sheep (blue/red/thin/wide/up/down/swing/slide etc.) and wonder where the green sheep is but you get to learn some Spanish words along the way. (or if you speak Spanish, learn some English.)
I actually hadn't read Where is the Green Sheep? before but was happy to get a Spanish dual language version since I'm teaching my kids and myself Spanish.
It's quite a cute story and my girls loved it. They especially liked "reading" the Spanish words they already knew. I love dual language books. I'm just not sure why there is a Bath Sheep, Bed Sheep, Band Sheep, and Clown Sheep. Most of the others make sense, I'm just not sure why they chose these.
Summary: Is it really true that cows can't jump, gorillas can't swim and sloths can't leap? Yes, but discover what these and other animals do, as they swing, scamper and glide.
I was sent the paperback and board book to review. I prefer the paperback personally but the board book would be good for younger readers. There are 3-4 words per page which would make this a great book for the children to help read (from memory) after hearing the story many times. My 5 year old tried to guess what each animal could do and was right quite a few times!
For such a simple book, I really love it and donated the board book version to our playgroup so many more kids can enjoy it.
For fun, I saved all my blog spam from this blog for exactly one month. Here are the top 5 posts that received spam. I wonder why? My thoughts are in red
A friend of mine has a book about 1000 books to enjoy with your children (It's called 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up, edited by Julia Eccleshare and Quentin Blake.) So they choose books out of that. Some go with blog recommendations, some peruse the library and some base it on award winners.
A blogging and IRL (in-real-life) friend of mine has recently posted about Choosing Literature for Children. She has some good qualities of great children's literature so that as you are looking through a book, you can recognize if it's great or not. She has posted about some children's picture books that I also recommend. (Links in titles are to her review)
Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin
Ages 3-7 Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as we steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries and other big messes! But no matter what color his shoes are are, Pete keeps movin' and groovin' and singing his song...because it's all good. Pete the Cat Homepage
So I want to know, how do you choose what books to read to your children?
Happy Valentine's Day! I've got some hot book reviews for you!
500 Kisses: Inventive, tantalizing, and lusty ways to kiss, lick, nibble, and excite the lover in your life!
Stars: ****
Cider Mill Press (2010)
Summary: There's nothing more erotic and inspiring than a great kisser. Here's a collection of 500 kisses that will bring your lover to new heights! From the sinful-as-Chocolate Kiss to the Lolita, from the Knee-Buckling Kiss to the Pandora's Box, this book has all the smooches you'll need to have your lips declared Too Hot to Handle.
This book is smoking hot! I'm not a big kisser so I was looking for some new ideas to get me into it more. This book certainly has a LOT of ideas.
Chapters:
One - Techniques of the Skilled Kisser
Two - Kisses That Make You Crave For More
Three - Lips Aren't The Only Parts That Need Kissing
Four - Kisses That Will Keep You Playing Forever
Five - Kisses For Every Flavor of Love
Six - Kisses That Make You Beg For More
Seven - Kisses of a Kama Seducer
Eight - Kisses That Capture Magical On-Screen Moments
Nine - Kisses to Bump and Grind To
Ten - The Most Erotic Places to Kiss
There are kisses for married couples, kisses for boyfriends and girlfriends, kisses for sexually active people and kisses for non sexually active people. Kisses are not just for lips. Each kiss takes up only one page (and usually less than one page) and the pages themselves are small so it's not heavy reading. The pages are small but there are over 450 of them. It's good for just perusing when you need a new idea. Some involve preparation (planning ahead of time or getting props) and some you can keep in the back of your mind to try anytime.
I must say thought that many of these ideas are hard to impossible to pull off with a house full of kids. Some are much better for the single crowd. But if you happen to be able to get rid of your kids for a day or night....
Don't be shy, get the book and fire up your love life!
Buy 500 Kisses from amazon.com and help support SMS Book Reviews
My Sex Life: A Journal to record my every erotic whim, from the elaborate fantasies that distract me when I'm supposed to be doing something else to the real encounters that prove I've still got it to the dirty little secrets and naughty kinks I should probably keep to myself lest I scare off potential mate(s) to the hangups that continue to plague me despite my libertine airs - because after all, isn't everything, and I mean everything, about sex? (whew is that a long subtitle or what?)
Stars: ***1/2
Who's There (2010)
160 pages
Summary: Why does anyone write in a journal? Because we've all got sex on the mind - practically all the time. Journals provide us with a trusted place to be entirely honest, but Inner-Truth Journals are themeselves honest. Following titillating prompts and refreshingly forthright quotes, you'll journal until you're hot and not bothered.
Each left hand page contains a quote and each right hand page has a space to journal. Each journal page says "Why Sex Matters Today" which I thought was a bit weird if we are just journalling our thoughts on the quote or whatever sexual matter is on our mind this time. At the bottom of each journal page is a "Today's Sexual Success" meter that you can choose X, XX or XXX. I guess we get to keep track of if our journalling led us to sex.
I think I would have preferred more specific journal prompts than just broad quotes but I guess this way you can write about whatever's on your mind or what is being quoted.
I haven't started journalling yet but I'm interested in starting. Just have to figure out a safe place to put it as my oldest is learning to read.
Summary: Here is the book that Charlie Brown would have given Snoopy, Tonto would have given the Lone Ranger, Romeo would have given Juliet, and you can give to some very special friend.
This was a complimentary book, meaning I was sent it but hadn't requested it. It's s a cute idea. The book cover folds over the rest of the pages and sticks to the back cover with a little sticker that says Send a Story and the back cover has a FROM and a TO area to write an address and a spot for a stamp so you can actually address the book and mail it directly, without an envelope.
The pages of the book are a yellow colour and the illustrations are all in black, they are not in colour. The story is cute, talking all about what good friends you (and the person you send it to) are. But what they say is more for a friendship that's been many years long and you were friends as children. In fact it sounds like and shows from one child to another.
Here are some excerpts:
"I like you because
When I tell you something special
You know it's special
And you remember it
A long long time"
"If I pretend I am drowning
You pretend you are saving me"
"If I break my arm and
If you break your arm too
Then it is fun to have a broken arm
I tell you about mine
You tell me about yours
We are both sorry"
I think it's a great idea but I can't think of anyone to give it to as I'm not really close with my childhood friends and my new friends I've only known a year or so. It seems more like a book for an older child to give to another child but then they wouldn't appreciate it. It's not really for me but perhaps it's perfect for you.
Buy I Like You at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews
A Story Before Bed and Sourcebooks Partner to Give Away Bestselling Picture Book to Military Families this Valentine’s Day!
(February 9, 2011)—A Story Before Bed (www.astorybeforebed.com) has given away over 85,000 free recordable children’s eBooks to deployed and deploying parents in the U.S. Armed Forces. These stories, recordable and viewable on the online children’s book service, help keep families connected through long separations.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, A Story Before Bed is partnering with Sourcebooks to provide the bestselling picture book,I Love You More by Laura Duksta, and illustrated by Karen Keesler for *free* to military subscribers. The free promotion starts TODAY February 9th, 2011 (ending Thursday, February 24th).
I Love You More is a perfect Valentine’s Day gift for a child or a parent, and Sourcebooks and A Story Before Bed are thrilled to make a recording of the book available free to military families. Existing military subscribers can use their regular subscription code to redeem I Love You More recordings through the site. Deployed or deploying military families who have yet to subscribe to our service can head to www.astorybeforebed.com/militaryto apply for a free subscription.
Thanks to all the military families for their sacrifice and service. We appreciate everything you do and hope this lovely book will help bring joy and love to this Valentine’s Day.
# # #
A Story Before Bed(www.astorybeforebed.com) is the first and only service on the web that lets parents and grandparents record videos of themselves reading children’s books into their webcam. Kids can play back the recordings synchronized with the pages of the digital children’s book as often as they like in their web browser, and even on their iPad or iPhone via the free A Story Before Bed App in theApp Store. The library currently has over 250 books for your reading and recording enjoyment and more are being added all the time. Additionally, A Story Before Bed won a Publishing Innovation Award at the recent Digital Book World Conference in New York City in the Children’s category.
Sourcebooks is a forward-thinking, independent publishing house with a passion for books and a dedication to the belief that books change lives. We are committed to innovative publishing, where every book is personal and every author’s voice has a place. We are a group of passionate, energetic and enthusiastic book lovers, and we are committed to helping readers experience each book. Sourcebooks has over 70 employees, publishes over 300 new titles each year, and celebrates their success with 15 New York Times Bestsellers. Sourcebooks is proud to be the largest woman-owned book publisher in the country. Visit www.sourcebooks.com for more information, and check out the Sourcebooks blog.
Harper Collins Canada (2010)
Canadian Edition
Nonfiction
432 pages
Summary: Homework for Grown-ups is a brilliantly informative and entertaining book of old-school knowledge for adults. It is the ultimate refresher course on mathematics (remember Pythagoras' theorem? You will!), English grammar and literature (do you know your Margarets?), and chemistry and the sciences (including the big bang theory). It spans geography (can you name the planets in order?), history (what exactly was the Family Compact?), art, Latin, phys. ed. (hockey!), home economics and much more... including, crucially, recess (finally, definitive rules for Red Rover!).
I LOVED school. Well I loved the education part, not the social part. I love learning and I love knowing a little about a lot of things. It bugs me that I've forgotten knowledge I learned in school. I love watching Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? but it makes me mad that I can't remember it all, or at least the subjects I enjoyed. So this is the PERFECT book for me.
In this book, the following subjects are covered: English, Mathematics, Home Economics, History, Science, Religious Education, Geography, Classics, Physical Education and Art (plus a Recess!) For each subject there is a section covering some of the basics you would have learned in school. Important terms, dates or names are in bold. At the end of each section is a quiz (answers are at the back) if you really want to feel like you are in school. I didn't really take the quizzes. I looked over them and answered the ones I could quickly but didn't write anything down, score myself or look up answers.
I really enjoyed reading the subjects I enjoyed and was good at but found myself struggling with the ones I didn't care as much about. I guess I only care about remembering what I learned in school in certain subjects. This is NOT a book you read in one day. It took me a few months to get through this book because I read a bunch of other books as well. For the last few chapters I kept the book in the bathroom as a little knowledge pick me up when I get a break. (If you're a parent you know what I mean!)
Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat by Gwen Cooper
Stars: *****
Delacorte Press (Random House) 2009
Summary: The last thing Gwen Cooper wanted was another cat. She already had two, not to mention a phenomenally underpaying job and a recently broken heart. Then Gwen’s veterinarian called with a story about a three-week-old eyeless kitten who’d been abandoned. It was love at first sight. Everyone warned that Homer would always be an “underachiever,” never as playful or independent as other cats. But the kitten nobody believed in quickly grew into a three-pound dynamo, a tiny daredevil with a giant heart who eagerly made friends with every human who crossed his path. - read the rest at Gwen Cooper
I read this book last year but never got around to reviewing it because I lent it out to someone who took a while to return it. I'm a sucker for animal books, especially true heroic tales. The first few chapters when the author first finds and acquires Homer just about had me in tears. I think Gwen Cooper is the true hero as she changed her life to accommodate her blind cat and make his life the best it could be.
I wish I could give a more thorough review but it's been too long since I read it. All I remember is an overwhelming feeling of sadness for the first half of the book and happiness for the second half.
Please Note: 10% of all Gwen’s domestic royalties from Homer’s Odyssey will be donated to organizations that serve abused, abandoned, and disabled animals, including Blind Cat Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc.
Buy Homer's Odyssey at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews
Dewey's Nine Lives: The Legacy of the Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter
Stars: ***1/2
Penguin Group (2010)
Summary: The author (and caregiver) of Dewey, the Library Cat has compiled another book of nine stories. Two are new Dewey stories and the other seven are from other people about their cats.
I loved Dewey and so was excited to read this. I was a bit disappointed although I still recommend the book for cat lovers. I'll make this a point form review.
I think the authors picked a great nine stories to share with us.
However Vicki narrates them ALL. She interviewed the others and so tells their stories with a mixture of quotes and narration on what she observed
This bothered me. I want to hear about other people's cats from the other people. Completely in their words, even if they are not the best writers. But perhaps it wouldn't bother you.
Some of the stories were TOO long but then I have a short attention span sometimes. Nine stories (and a prologue) in a 300 page book is too much for me.
My favourite story was the fourth one about a couple who run a resort and the 28 cats they ended up with at one time.
I actually didn't read the last two or three stories because I just couldn't get into it anymore. I'm sure it's not the stories themselves but just that the rest of them were so long (sometimes with Vicki going on an on about something other than the cats) and because Vicki was narrating.
Summary: Your Baby Is Speaking to You illustrates the full range of behaviors--early smiling to startling, feeding to sleeping, listening to your voice and recognizing your face. The newest research--including information on subtle and fleeting behaviors not seen or explained in any other book--illuminates the meaning of the things babies do that concern and delight new parents.
I was happy to review this book being that I'm pregnant with my third child. I basically already knew most of it as I read a LOT with my first child but I was reminded about a few things. Also although I have read about baby communication, it was all within large nonfiction books full of other information. Not every new parent is as obsessed with information as I am. This is a much better way to teach new parents about baby communication without overwhelming them with 300 pages of small text.
The book includes professional photography by Abelardo Morell. We're talking about eye catching, captivating baby shots. I'd buy a coffee table book just full of photos by Morell. Each open spread includes the text on the left side and a photo on the right. Each section is very small and cuts right to the point. I read the whole book in one hour. If you bring a book to the hospital with you when you give birth, this one would be perfect as it can be read in short little parts whenever you have a few minutes.
Topics Covered: (all baby communication regarding:)
- Types of Sleep
- Types of Crying (full cry vs fussing)
- Eating (Search response and feeding)
- Newborn Reflexes
- Baby's Senses (including the difference between cuddly and not so cuddly babies)
- Settling In (startles, drowsiness, over-stimulation, signs of distress, sooth-ability, not easily settled baby)
- Social Newborn (Looking into eyes, feeding and communication, power of your voice, imitation, learning, temperament and social smile.)
- Growing Baby (Reaching Out, Exploring, Empathy, Learning to Love)
- Parent/Baby and Lifelong bond
It's a great book for parents to be, either new or seasoned, especially if its been a while.
Indigo Books & Music has stated the following books are perfect for Valentine's Day because they are a love story that's as great as your own. To make it more fun, I've included a poll so you can tell me which book YOU think is the best love story. To make it even more fun, voting (and commenting that you voted) will give you an entry into a giveaway to win whichever books is winning on Feb. 14. *Giveaway is Canada Only*
I really need your help. As a nonfiction reader, I've not ready ANY of these books although I've been interested in reading a few of them. So I certainly don't know which one is the Most Romantic or Best Love Story.
Here's the list of books and info on each. The poll is below it all. AFTER you vote, comment saying that you voted (you can include which book and why if you want, but not mandatory) to be entered. Your email MUST be visible in your profile or on you blog or you must include it in the comment. If I can't contact you, you can't win! You can vote, even if you don't live in Canada! You just don't need to comment.
Indigo Books will be shipping the winning book to the winner. Voting closes Feb. 13 11:59 PM EST so that the winning book and giveaway winner can be announced on Valentine's Day.
The List: (all links are to Chapters/Indigo Website, no affiliation)
The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger
The story of Clare, a beautiful art student, and Henry, an adventuresome librarian, who have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, and were married when Clare was twenty-three and Henry thirty-one. Impossible but true, because Henry finds himself periodically displaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity from his life, past and future. His disappearances are spontaneous, his experiences unpredictable, alternately harrowing and amusing.
Outlander, Diana Gabaldon In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon-when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach-an "outlander"-in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of our Lord...1743. Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire''s destiny in soon inextricably intertwined with Clan MacKenzie and the forbidden Castle Leoch. For here, James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a passion so fierce and a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.
The Notebook, Nicholas Sparks
At thirty-one, Noah Calhoun, back in coastal North Carolina after World War II, is haunted by images of the girl he lost more than a decade earlier. At twenty-nine, socialite Allie Nelson is about to marry a wealthy lawyer, but she cannot stop thinking about the boy who long ago stole her heart. Thus begins the story of a love so enduring and deep it can turn tragedy into triumph, and may even have the power to create a miracle...
Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez
In their youth, Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza fall passionately in love. When Fermina eventually chooses to marry a wealthy, well-born doctor, Florentino is devastated, but he is a romantic. As he rises in his business career he whiles away the years in 622 affairs--yet he reserves his heart for Fermina. Her husband dies at last, and Florentino purposefully attends the funeral. Fifty years, nine months, and four days after he first declared his love for Fermina, he will do so again.
The Princess Bride, William Goldman
A true fantasy classic. William Goldman describes it as a "good parts version" of "S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure." Morgenstern's original was filled with details of Florinese history, court etiquette, and Mrs. Morgenstern's mostly complimentary views of the text. Much admired by academics, the "Classic Tale" nonetheless obscured what Mr. Goldman feels is a story that has everything: "Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles."
Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden
For the protagonist of this peerlessly observant first novel is Sayuri, one of Japan''s most celebrated geisha, a woman who is both performer and courtesan, slave and goddess. We follow Sayuri from her childhood in an impoverished fishing village, where in 1929, she is sold to a representative of a geisha house, who is drawn by the child''s unusual blue-grey eyes. From there she is taken to Gion, the pleasure district of Kyoto. She is nine years old. In the years that follow, as she works to pay back the price of her purchase, Sayuri will be schooled in music and dance, learn to apply the geisha''s elaborate makeup, wear elaborate kimono, and care for a coiffure so fragile that it requires a special pillow. She will also acquire a magnanimous tutor and a venomous rival.
The English Patient, Michael Ondaatje
With ravishing beauty and unsettling intelligence, Michael Ondaatje''s Booker Prize-winning novel traces the intersection of four damaged lives in an Italian villa at the end of World War II. Hana, the exhausted nurse; the maimed thief, Caravaggio; the wary sapper, Kip: each is haunted by the riddle of the English patient, the nameless, burned man who lies in an upstairs room and whose memories of passion, betrayal,and rescue illuminates this book like flashes of heat lightening.
The History of Love, Nicole Krauss
A long-lost book reappears, mysteriously connecting an old man searching for his son and a girl seeking a cure for her widowed mother''s loneliness. Leo Gursky is just about surviving, tapping his radiator each evening to let his upstairs neighbor know he''s still alive. But life wasn''t always like this: sixty years ago, in the Polish village where he was born, Leo fell in love and wrote a book. And though Leo doesn''t know it, that book survived, inspiring fabulous circumstances, even love. Fourteen-year-old Alma was named after a character in that very book. And although she has her hands full--[...]--she undertakes an adventure to find her namesake and save her family.
Like Water for Chocolate, Laura Esquivel
The narrator’s great-aunt Tita is the youngest of three daughters born to Mama Elena, the Tyrannical owner of the De la Garza ranch. While still in her mother’s womb, she wept so violently-as her mother chopped onions-that she caused Mama Elena to begin early labor, and Tita slipped out in the middle of the kitchen table, amid the spices and fixings for noodle soup. This early encounter with food soon became a way of life, and Tita grew up to be a master chef. Each chapter of the novel begins with one of Tita’s recipes and her careful instructions for preparation.
Chocolat, Joanne Harris When the exotic stranger Vianne Rocher arrives in the old French village of Lansquenet and opens a chocolate boutique called "La Celeste Praline" directly across the square from the church, Father Reynaud identifies her as a serious danger to his flock. The priest says she'll be out of business by Easter. To make matters worse, Vianne does not go to church and has a penchant for superstition. But she begins to win over customers with her smiles, her intuition for everyone's favourites, and her delightful confections. Her shop provides a place, too, for secrets to be whispered, grievances aired. Vianne's plans for an Easter Chocolate Festival divide the whole community. Can the solemnity of the Church compare with the pagan passion of a chocolate éclair?
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