Book review: Dance Lessons: A Novel

Dance Lessons: A Novel by Aine Greaney will be published in March 2011. It follows Ellen as she travels to Ireland to find her deceased husband's mother. Ellen has only just discovered she exists when she bumps into a woman who knew her husband growing up. He's always told her he was an orphan.

This book was very sentimental, and had a misty quality to it. It's light and airy, yet still has a great deal of emotion. I found it delightful, sweet, and very sad.

There are a few spots where the story seems to switch narrators and time frames rather abruptly, but overall it flows quite well.

It ends a little abruptly, without any kind of closing. But the idea of the ending is there, I just wish there were a few sentences that tied it up and signalled the end. When I read the last page, I tried to flip to the next to read the final paragraph.

Overall, this is a beautiful, poignant story.

Rating: 5/5
Source: Review copy from Net Galley

Book review: The New Read-aloud Handbook

The New Read-aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease is comprised of two parts. The first is information and research about why reading-aloud to children should be done. The second part is an extensive list of books to choose.

I understand the need and reasons to read-aloud to children. We do some reading to our son, and after reading this, we will expand to include it more on a regular basis. Books are always big in our house, and our son loves them.

I had intended to skim through the first portion, but found myself continually pulled in and reading large chunks. There are plenty of ancedotes to go along with the research, and it was quite entertaining.

The best part of the book is definitely the lists of books to choose. They are broken down by book type - picture book, short novel, novel. Each main entry states the ages it would be most appropriate for, a synapsis of the book, and other titles that are similar. The ages run from Pre-toddler (1-2 years) up to grade 8 and beyond.

I made a list of books to check out for our son's current age. I can definitely see myself checking this book out to get more ideas as he ages and is ready for longer, more involved books.

Rating: 5/5
Source: Local library

Book review: Before Cain Strikes

Before Cain Strikes by Joshua Corin will be published in March 2011. It is about FBI agent Esme Stuart, and her pursuit of a serial killer teacher who is encouraging his "class" to go killing sprees.

I found this book very graphic and gory. Too much so. There were too many killing scenes that were overly detailed. Toning back the detail would have made a much nicer read.

The actual plot was interesting. But I found it overshadowed by the gore.

I had a hard time believing the character for Esme. Yes, her workaholic nature seemed real, but she dismissed the rest of her life too easily. The rest of the characters were cookie cutter cardboard.

I wanted to like this book. But I couldn't. There just wasn't enough there to grab my attention and hold it.

Rating: 1/5
Source: Review copy from Net Galley 

Book review: Desserts 4 Today

Desserts 4 Today by Abigail Johnson Dodge is a dessert cookbook filled with recipes that use only four ingredients.

I can describe this book in one word: YUM. Reading through it, I found myself planning a quick run to the store to get the ingredients I need to try a few recipes. The recipes seem very simple to follow, and the desserts sound delicious.

My only complaint is that there aren't pictures for every dessert. I am very visual when it comes to food, and I tend to pick recipes based on the photos. The photos that were there look amazing. I would be more inclined to try more recipes, if I could see what the end result would be.

This is definitely a must-read for anyone who loves desserts. And I bet quite a few recipes would be easy and fun to make with kids.

Rating: 4/5
Source: Review copy from Net Galley

Book review: Shades of Grey

Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron by Jasper Fforde was my latest audiobook. It's very much a fantasy story set really far in the future, when humans have changed to only see mainly one colour. The story follows Eddie Russett, who sees red.

While listening to this, I kept thinking this was very fanatisical. It is very much a fantasy story, and it is very well done. It starts with Eddie, the main character, stating that he is being eaten by a plant, and that it was Jane's fault. The story then backs up four days, and you don't get back to the scene in the beginning until right near the end.

I found the story very easy to follow, and very enjoyable. It definitely made my commute seem quick. Almost too quick, I didn't want to stop listening. If I had been reading the story, it definitely would have been one that kept me up way too late because I couldn't put it down.

Being an audiobook, I had the added bonus of the narrator. My version was narrated by John Lee. He was a great narrator. With the added bonus of an English accent. Very enjoyable. When I was checking it out from the library, the librarian mentioned that I would enjoy it, and that the narrator was very soothing and great to listen to. And she wasw definitely right.


Rating: 5/5
Source: Local library

Book review: 1001 Facts

1001 Facts That Will Scare the S#*t Out of You by Cary McNeal. With the subtitle, The Ultimate Bathroom Reader.

As the title suggests, this is a collection of facts. They cover all topics, from food and drink, to the human body, to the weather and insects. Each fact has at least one source given, so you know the author isn't making them up.

But the unique thing about this book is that each fact is followed by a humourous comment from the author. The comment is often sarcastic, or reads like it should be delivered in a serious, dry tone.

Example from the front cover: Of the people who use personal ads for dating, thirty-five percent are married. Hey, we all forget things sometimes.

Being surrounded by people with this type of humour, I found the comments quite amusing. It was like my brother was sitting with me, adding his own bit to each fact. They definitely made the book more than just a dry read.

Rating: 4/5
Source: Local library

Book review: Before I Go to Sleep

Before I Go to Sleep by S J Watson is a novel scheduled to be released in June 2011. The story is about Christine, who has had an accident and is unable to form new memories. In addition to this, she has forgotten most of her adult life, and wakes up every day as a stranger in her own home.

Reading this story, I felt sadness and frustration. Both for Christine, and her husband Ben. I can't even imagine how horrible it would be to wake up every day and have no idea who you are, or what has happen during the past few decades. I think it would be equally as horrible to live with a person like that. To have to explain who you are, and who they are every day. I don't think I would have the patience.

I found Christine's character to be very real. She felt a gamut of emotions, and it seemed like you were privy to her version of life, feeling and living right along side her.

I didn't really believe the character of Dr Nash though. He seemed very cardboard-like, and just there. Not the professional you would think, or even like an obsessive researcher, which is how I think he is supposed to come off.

Overall, I was very impressed. I didn't guess the twist until right near the end, when everything started to come together. This was a very interesting, and at times, emotional read. Definitely worth checking out.


Rating: 5/5
Source: Review copy from Net Galley

Book review: Future Files

Future Files: A Brief History of the Next 50 Years by Richard Watson. As the title would indicate, this is a book about predictions for the next 50 years.

Normally I love to read prediction books. I am always intrigued about what people think will happen. But this book couldn't hold my attention. There was just too much crammed in the book.

The book starts with a description of the 5 most important trends. I think that if the book had taken those 5 and simply expanded on them, it would have been easier to read, and more interesting. Instead, the book goes into 11 different areas with 5 top trends each, and many more details.

The book ends with a list of 5 things that wouldn't change over the next 50 years. This list was also interesting, however very little time was spent on it.

Overall, I found the book had too great a range. There was just too much information to able to absorb much of anything.

Rating: 2/5
Source: Review copy from Net Galley

Book review: These Things Hidden

These Things Hidden by Heather Gudenkauf is about Allison, who was sent to prison for commiting a heinous crime, and her sister Brynne, who carrys the burden of the crime. Allison has been released on parole to a halfway house, and wants to make amends with Brynne, who wants nothing to do with her.


Based on the fact that Allison's crime is kept a mystery in the synapsis, I was surprised to find it revealed within the first 100 pages. But of course, it is more complicated that first given.

The story is told through the eyes of four different women, with each chapter being told by a specific person. It seemed like there were two completely unrelated stories being told until right near the end, but they did tie in together. The author did a very good job making each narrator unique. You didn't usually need to read the chapter title to know who's chapter it was.

I found this a very emotional read. There was one thing that I had trouble believing, but I can't say what it is without giving away the entire story. But even with that, the story was amazing.

Rating: 5/5
Source: Review copy from Net Galley

Book review: The Confession

The Confession by John Grisham. An innocent man is sitting on death row, about to be executed while the real killer is on parole for a different crime. When the real killer has a conscience attack, it's a race against time to save the innocent.

I have read almost every John Grisham novel ever written, and find his work to be fast paced, and gripping. He writes crime and legal thrillers that make the law very exciting, even though most of the action surrounds mundate procedures.

I found the characters to be a little one-dimensional. The good were good and the bad were bad. But the character of Keith Schroeder was very well developed. His internal struggles and thoughts were portrayed in a very real way.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. And while the summary of what happens to everyone at the end may not go over with everyone, I liked it. It helped tie everything up, and there were no loose ends leftover.

Rating: 5/5
Source: Local library

Book review: Fail Harder

Fail Harder is an upcoming book from the people who bring you failblog.org. So what qualifies as a FAIL? How about a nursery outfitted with a gun rack hanging over the baby's crib? Perhaps the equation, "E=MC3" written on a classroom's write/erase board. What about a trifecta of beauty parlor, chain saw repair, and nightclub housed inside an all-in-one-stop shop?

I have followed the Fail blog for a while as my source of easy, and quick laughs. The book is a collection of photographs that would definitely appear in their feed. The pictures are amusing, and make you wonder whuck?

There were a few pictures that I didn't find amusing, but since humor is very subjective, I know many people would love them.

Rating: 4/5
Source: Review copy from Net Galley

Book review: thxthxthx

thxthxthx by Leah Dieterich is a delightful book that is a collection of photographs of thank you cards the author has wrote. They are short (often only a sentence or two), and quite often humourous. They are addressed to the small and big objects in life, like Sneezes, her Partner's Understanding, and everything in between.

The collection is very sweet, and left me feeling happy and wanting to be more grateful for the everyday things we take for granted.

The pictures are clear and simple. Each is a snapshot of a cream thank-you card, sometimes with a partial envelop in the background, often with just a plain coloured backdrop. It helps the message of each thank-you card to stand out.

The book is scheduled for release in Jun 2011. It would definitely be a great edition to any coffee-table.

Rating: 5/5
Source: Review copy from Net galley

Book review: Dining with the Dollar Diva

Dining with the Dollar Diva by Elizabeth Fisher is a book filled with recipes that can be made with items purchased for a dollar or less.

The book is very personal, not just a cut and dry recipe book. There are stories with almost every recipe. It makes for interesting reading to go with your cooking.

I am not sure how she is able to find all the items she uses for $1 though. Maybe the dollar stores around me just aren't as stocked, I know mine don't have freezer sections. I'm sure the recipes would still be just as delicious if I spent more than $1 though.

This is definitely a neat cookbook, and really emphasizes the fact that good cooking does not require a lot of money.

Rating: 4/5
Source: Review copy from Net Galley

Book review: Delirium

Delirium by Lauren Oliver. This YA novel is set in an alternative present in Portland, Maine. In this world love has been declared a disease, and a cure is provided to everyone once they turn 18. The government evaluates everyone and sets out the course of their life: what they'll do, where they'll live, even who they'll marry, and how many children they'll have. The book centres on Lena who is just months from her procedure, and is counting down the days. Until she meets Alex and does the unthinkable and falls in love.

I found the book very intriguing and capturing. It reads very easily; I wasn't bogged down in the back story about the way the world and government works. It was all conveyed very seamlessly with the story.

Lena is very likable and relatible. I was surprised at how easily the author was able to capture Lena's thoughts and feelings. Would you know how to describe the feeling of falling in love for the first time? It was very believable and real.

The end is a little predictable, but still heart wrenching. Definitely an amazing read.

Rating: 5/5
Source: Review copy from Net Galley

Book review: Nerve Damage

Nerve Damage by Peter Abrahams was the latest audiobook I listened to in my car during my commute. It is about a scupltor, Roy Valois, who learns he is dying of an inoperable, incurable cancer. On a whim, he looks up and reads the obituary that will be printed about him in the New York Times. He finds that it inaccurately states where his dead wife worked, and he makes it his mission to investigate and correct this mistake. But is it a mistake? Or are there secrets his wife never told him?

I would classify this book as a conspiracy thriller. The premise really intrigued me, but I had a hard time enjoying it. I simply disliked, almost hated the main character. He just wasn't likable. He was in complete denial about his condition, and while this may be a common stage, he just took it too far.

And his attitude and treatment of others? He just rubbed me the wrong way, and I couldn't get past it.

Overall, the story was exciting, with some good twists and turns. But the ending was too fairy tale happy to fit the rest of the story.

Since I listened to this on audiobook, I had the addition of the narrator to contribute. And I wasn't impressed. The reading was very choppy. Each sentence stood alone. It was very difficult to follow in the beginning, but I did figure out thow to follow, but it didn't make for the most enjoyable listen.

Rating: 2/5
Source: Library

Book review: Waiting for Joe

Waiting for Joe by Sandra Birdsell. This is an emotional book by a Canadian author. The characters feel so real. The book is a picture into a time in Joe and Laurie's life, shortly after their lives start to fall apart. They are on the run in a stolen motorhome, after losing everything when Joe's business fails and they lose everything.

The book alternates between Joe, Laurie and Joe's dad Alfred. Not only do you get to see their present, you also glimpse most of their lives up to that point.

The book is a solid read, 5 star, up until the end. I felt the ending left too many questions unanswered. If there was even a one page summary of where everyone is at the end of the story, it would be much more complete.

Rating: 4/5
Source: Library

Book Review: Ceremony in Death

Ceremony in Death is the 5th book in the In Death series. This volume is centered around the theme of witches, Wiccan and Satanism. It starts with Eve investigating the death of a fellow cop, and escalates to investigating several murders.

The book really develops Peabody's character. She has quite the knowledge of Wicca based on her personal background, and starts to show herself as a real asset to Eve.

A bit more of Roarke's background and personality quirks are also revealed, centering around his Celtic background. He is shown to be more human than fantasy in his book. Not just the incredibly hot rich guy, his feelings, thoughts and insecurities are shown more thoroughly than in any previous book in the series.

While the theme is much darker, it still reads easily, quickly, and enjoyably, just as I'd expect.

Rating: 4.5/5
Source: own

Book review: Earth

Earth (the book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race by Jon Stewart.

If you are familiar with Jon Stewart's tv show, this book is exactly what you'd expect from him. If you haven't seen his show, the book is humorous, with a lot of sarcasm and  satirical fun-poking.

The format is a mock textbook filled with pictures with witty captions. It is easy to pick up and read for a few minutes whenever you have time. It is a light-hearted overview of life on Earth, as written for aliens who arrive after all human life has vanished.

This is an enjoyable read, if you have that type of humor.


Rating: 4/5
Source: Library

Book Review: Heat Wave

Heat Wave by Richard Castle is the latest audiobook I listened to during my daily commute. It is a police drama that follows NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat as she investigates the murder of a real estate tycoon.

This is not just a straight police drama though. Detective Heat is accompanied by Jameson Rook, a magazine jourmalist who is doing research. It is not a big surprise that there is chemistry between the two of them, or that Heat is trying to avoid it.

The plot progresses quickly, and does provide some surprise twists. I enjoyed the journey, although I think the last few paragraphs are a little weak and seem a bit out of character for Heat. It's like the author was running out of room, and needed to wrap things up.

Overall, a great police drama. Enough so that I think I'll keep an eye out for the next in the series.

Since it was an audiobook, there was the added element of having someone read it to me. I found the narrator to be a bit over dramatic in the beginning. Once I got past the first CD or two, he seemed to even out a bit. Also, the choice of a male narrator seemed odd, since the book is told from a female perspective. But it was still a pleasant listening opportunity.

Book review: Room

I just finished Room by Emma Donoghue. I found it very disturbing in the beginning, but once I got into it, I thought it was amazing. The premise of the book is the story of a boy and his mom who are being held captive in a one room shed, as told by the boy. He was born in the room, and the story begins as he turns five.

The author does an amazing job telling the story from a child's perspective. It is very real. And since Jack doesn't know there is anything wrong with his life, it is both joyful, and sad, because the reader knows the truth.

This book really drew me in, and I finished it super quick because I couldn't put it down.

This is definitely a must-read book.