Review of 'Fingersmith' by Sarah Waters

Fingersmith

Sarah Waters

5*

"Growing up as a foster child among a family of thieves, orphan Sue Trinder hopes to pay back that kindness by playing a key role in a swindle scheme devised by their leader, Gentleman, who is planning to con a fortune out of the naive Maud Lily, but Sue's growing pity for their helpless victim could destroy the plot."

Wow! This book had me on the edge of my seat! Everytime I started to think I had it all figured out, it would throw me for a loop. My mind is still reeling as I try to piece together what happened and how it all went so awry. It's been a while since I've read a book that has shaken me up so thoroughly. I'm so glad I gave Sarah Waters another try after being so sorely disappointed in her snoozefest of a book The Night Watch. This is definitely one of the best books I've read this year!

Fingersmith is a book written in the style of Dickens with a gothic, Victorian feel to it. The characters in this story are very well-developed, and their selfish natures drive the plot forward and add complexity to the intricately woven storyline. Even the protagonists of the story, Sue and Maud, are unlikable and despicable by turns, but you cannot help but root for them in their endeavor to right the wrongs that have been done to them over the course of their lives.

Books by the Banks

  A couple weekends ago my mom and I went to the Books by the Banks event in downtown Cincinnati. It was a book lover's paradise! There were several well-known authors, as well as some lesser known local ones. I attended two panel discussions and had the pleasure of hearing some awesome authors talk about thier work. I bought the book American Wife for myself and had it signed by the author, Curtis Sittenfield. I also got to meet Katherine Howe, the author of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. I can't wait for next year's event!

                                                            Katherine Howe and me

Review of 'Let the Right One In' by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Let the Right One In

John Ajvide Lindqvist

2.75*

Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist is the story of Oskar, a 12 year-old boy who is mercilessly bullied by his schoolmates. When a young girl named Eli moves in next door to Oskar, they become fast friends. However, her appearance sets off a frightening chain of events that forever changes the lives of Oskar and several others.

Personally, I am not, nor have I ever been, a fan of horror. In fact, I've only read one Stephen King novel (Misery) in my life, and I NEVER watch horror flicks, because I am the biggest chicken when it comes to that stuff. However, I decided to venture out of my comfort zone and read Let the Right One In. I think I was lured mostly by the promise of vampires, thinking that they would resemble the sexy, intense Edward Cullen of the Twilight series, or the refined and tragic character of Louis in Interview with the Vampire. Suffice it to say that the vampire in this book resembled neither.

Overall, I felt that the plot and the writing were fast-paced and intriguiging, but there were several things about this story that just didn't sit well with me. The first and foremost thing that put me off about this book was the character Hakan, who lusts after young boys when he's not killing people to feed Eli's thirst for blood. As a mother, I have a difficult time reading about perverts and pedophiles. Another reason that I didn't care for this book is because it contained several gruesome descriptions that made me feel ill, even though I should have expected as much being that this is a horror novel. Definitely not a book to read when you're eating - eww!

Let the Right One In was not my cup of tea, but I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes scary stories and has a strong stomach.

Review of 'The Night Watch' by Sarah Waters

The Night Watch

Sarah Waters

2*

"Moving back through the 1940s, through air raids, blacked-out streets, illicit partying, and sexual adventure, to end with its beginning in 1941, The Night Watch tells the story of four Londoners - three women and a young man with a past - whose lives, and those of their friends and lovers, connect in sometimes surprising ways. In wartime London, the women work - as ambulance drivers, ministry clerks, and building inspectors. There are feats of heroism, epic and quotidian, and tragedies both enormous and personal." Sarah Waters describes the taut composure of a rescue worker in the aftermath of a bombing, the idle longing of a young woman for her soldier lover, the peculiar thrill of a convict watching the sky ignite through the bars on his window, the hunger of a woman prowling the streets for an encounter, and the panic of another who sees her love affair coming to an end."

-synopsis from Goodreads

I had really high hopes for this book, but I was terribly disappointed. I had read Affinity, another book by Sarah Waters, a few years ago and I loved it, so I expected this book to be pretty good as well. There are several reasons why I didn't enjoy this book. First of all, the story was incredibly slow and extremely anticlimactic. Secondly, the characters started to blend together after a while and I had a difficult time keeping them straight. The author definitely needed to develop her characters a little better and give the reader a reason to care about what happened to them. Third, there wasn't even a real plot to the story. It was just the story of four people during WWII in London and how their lives were interconnected.

One thing I did find interesting about this book is that the story was told backwards, so I have to give Waters credit for writing the story in such an original way. It begins in 1947 and goes backward to 1941, which was an interesting way to explain why the characters were the way they were, but the story was just too slow and uninteresting for it to really work.

Review of 'Eat, Pray, Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat, Pray, Love

Elizabeth Gilbert

1*

"This beautifully written, heartfelt memoir touched a nerve among both readers and reviewers. Elizabeth Gilbert tells how she made the difficult choice to leave behind all the trappings of modern American success (marriage, house in the country, career) and find, instead, what she truly wanted from life. Setting out for a year to study three different aspects of her nature amid three different cultures, Gilbert explored the art of pleasure in Italy and the art of devotion in India, and then a balance between the two on the Indonesian island of Bali. By turns rapturous and rueful, this wise and funny author (whom Booklist calls "Anne Lamott’s hip, yoga- practicing, footloose younger sister") is poised to garner yet more adoring fans."

-synopsis from Goodreads

The above synopsis is what originally sparked my curiosity about this book, but now, having it read it for myself, I can say that Eat, Pray, Love was, by far, the absolute worst book I've read all year, and that the author, Elizabeth Gilbert, is the most self-absorbed and self-indulgent author that I've ever had the misfortune to read. Like many people, she has experienced the pain and shame of divorce, but unlike the vast majority of people, she has the luxury to check out of life for a year and put all of her responsibilities on hold while she goes on a quest to find herself and discover her spirituality. As a divorcee myself, I wish it had been so easy to just check out of my life for a while so that I could have time to gather my strength and regain my confidence. However, as a mother of three, I had to do all this while being a mom and provider and learning who I was as a single woman, which, in my opinion required a lot more strength and determination than Gilbert is capable of. Perhaps my personal experiences have negatively affected my reaction to Gilbert's experience, but I find nothing that inspires or motivates me in the least about this book. If anything, it makes me feel as though I am stronger and better prepared to handle adversity than I would be if I were the type of person who runs away from my problems.

Review of 'Voyager' by Diana Gabaldon

Voyager

Diana Gabaldon

5*

"From the author of the breathtaking bestsellers Outlander and Dragonfly in Amber, the extraordinary saga continues.

Their passionate encounter happened long ago by whatever measurement Claire Randall took. Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her... and her body still cries out for him in her dreams.

Then Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Torn between returning to him and staying with their daughter in her own era, Claire must choose her destiny. And as time and space come full circle, she must find the courage to face the passion and pain awaiting her...the deadly intrigues raging in a divided Scotland... and the daring voyage into the dark unknown that can reunite or forever doom her timeless love."

- synopsis from Goodreads

"Triumphant ...her use of historical detail and a truly adult love story confirm Gabaldon as a superior writer."

- Publishers Weekly

The third book in the Outlander series, Voyager, was by far my favorite book yet.

 Without giving anything away, Diana Gabaldon has continued the epic love story of Jamie and Claire Fraser in a book that is jam-packed with action and adventure, leaving the reader breathless and wanting more until the very last page. Gabaldon is truly a master story-teller with a gift for weaving a tale that draws the reader in and makes them feel as though they were right there amidst all of the action. If you enjoy sweeping sagas about love and adventure in the Scottish Highlands, then this series is for you. Needless to say, I can't wait to read the next installment of this series!

Review of 'Fireworks Over Toccoa' by Jeffrey Stepakoff

Fireworks Over Toccoa

Jeffrey Stepakoff

3*

"Every so often that story comes along that reminds us of what it’s like to experience love for the first time—against the odds, when you least expect it, and with such passion that it completely changes you forever."

"Fireworks Over Toccoa takes us to a moment in time that will resonate with readers long after the book’s unforgettable conclusion. A devastating and poignant story, this debut novel will resonate with anyone who believes in love."

- synopsis from Goodreads

Fireworks Over Toccoa by Jeffrey Stepakoff is the story of Lily Davis Woodward, a young woman whose husband has been gone for three years, fighting in WWII. Right before her husband is to return home, Lily meets a handsome stranger in a starlit field, and this chance encounter forever changes the course of her life.

I enjoyed this book for it's value as a sweet, endearing love story, but there were a couple of reasons why I did not love it. For one, I felt that it was very similar to a Nicholas Sparks novel, so it didn't feel very original to me. Another reason was because it was such a quick read; the plot was fairly simple and some of the characters weren't as developed as they could be in my opinion. Had the author taken more time to flesh out the characters and develop the plot more thoroughly, I would have given it a higher rating. Not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but I think that this book would be a great read if you're looking for something simple and enjoyable.