Review : The Casual Vacancy by J.K Rowling

Saturday, 6th October was my deadline to finish this book. M glad I made to the deadline.( Patting my back). Before giving the review, I'd like to give u sum tips on how to read a famous authors book.

Most of them must have picked up this book just cuz its by J.K Rowling , thinking it to be sumthing like Harry Potter. But trust me, This not even close to Harry Potter. Its not even murder mystery. Not all book by JK Rowling is Harry Potter. I had the same experience with Nora Roberts, Danielle Steel, to name a few.

The Casual Vacancy is Simple and Plain. At first I found it a bit confusing with too many characters introduced in the beginning, i was in the middle of the maze and was hoping to get out successfully which I did. Casual Vacancy is not for everybody. I have seen people, heard people who quit this book after 60-100 pages. They found it very hyped, disappointing, and heartbreaking.

The characters in this novel are very real, very touchy, with all their ups n downs they gains the readers sympathy. For me this was a complete and absolute closure, cuz it left me with a smile on my face. A book which leaves a reader u with a smile on their face is a sign of a good book.

a man on a small-town council dies, and the rest of the book deals with what happens when heads bash in the election to re-fill his seat. A fine synopsis, to be sure, but since this book is only 20% about this plotline and 80% about the characters, such a synopsis fails to do the book any real justice.

This is because in terms of a cohesive plot, that really is the gist of this 500-page novel. Barry Fairbrother, who holds a seat on the Pagford town council, is in the midst of dying when the story begins. What happens throughout the rest of the book revolves around a number of other families in town as the stage is set to choose Barry's replacement, but it is the details about and interactions between these families that really make this book what it is. Relationships between husbands and wives, parents and their (adult and teenaged) children, students and their teachers, and council members and fellow council members take center-stage in this sprawling tapestry of a tale.

It's a point-of-view novel, so the character focus is constantly shifting as the full extent of characters' relationships to one another are slowly revealed throughout the book. In this, Rowling succeeds in creating both incredibly fleshed-out characters and a level of mystery, and both of these created more than enough enticement for me to continue reading. The characters themselves are largely unlikable and petty people, but in realistic ways that allow the reader to sympathize with (almost) all of them despite the dislike. Pretty much everyone in this story is fairly miserable to some degree, but that misery is very human and lends to a degree of universality. This in particular is what makes the book such a successful venture.

Overall , its a nice read. I would recommend leaving any and all Potter-based expectations at the door when reading this book.

Happy Reading !!

I BELIEVE

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "Will this matter year from now?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

So which one do u like, what do u believe in and agree from among the list? 

Leave ur site links for me to follow .

Happy Reading !! 

Waiting on Wednesday: The Racketeer by John Grisham

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights upcoming book release everyone is waiting on. 

My this week,s pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" is :

The Racketeer by Johm Grisham
Expected publication date is : October 23rd 2012
Hardcover: 352 Pages
Publisher: Doubleday
ISBN-10: 0385535147
ISBN-13: 978-0385535144


About the Author: 

John Grisham is the Master of Legal Thriller. He has 25 Novels to his credit. 

Here's the Amazon Review: 


Given the importance of what they do, and the controversies that often surround them, and the violent people they sometimes confront, it is remarkable that in the history of this country only four active federal judges have been murdered.

Judge Raymond Fawcett has just become number five.


Who is the Racketeer? And what does he have to do with the judge’s untimely demise? His name, for the moment, is Malcolm Bannister. Job status? Former attorney. Current residence? The Federal Prison Camp near Frostburg, Maryland.

On paper, Malcolm’s situation isn’t looking too good these days, but he’s got an ace up his sleeve. He knows who killed Judge Fawcett, and he knows why. The judge’s body was found in his remote lakeside cabin. There was no forced entry, no struggle, just two dead bodies: Judge Fawcett and his young secretary. And one large, state-of-the-art, extremely secure safe, opened and emptied.

What was in the safe? The FBI would love to know. And Malcolm Bannister would love to tell them. But everything has a price—especially information as explosive as the sequence of events that led to Judge Fawcett’s death. And the Racketeer wasn’t born yesterday . . .

Nothing is as it seems and everything’s fair game in this wickedly clever new novel from John Grisham, the undisputed master of the legal thriller.


So what r u "Waiting on Wednesday"? 

Love For Books

My love for books has lead me to be a student again. A college student at this age. Here's a poem expessing my joy towards returning to College after 15 yrs. 

"I've been blessed with Name, Fame, Family, Health, Wealth, Beautiful children. But still, for years I've wandered aimlessly through the midst of the shadows trying to elude the dark.

In spite of my stupendous efforts, I still felt melancholy in my heart, for I was all alone.

Yet, darkness is not always so dark when our imagination seeks the light of hope – a light that has been trying to find its sight through such darkened nights.

This darkness becomes me, for I am but the light of our shadow that quivers now, as I yearn for a flight towards the dream, away from the claws of fear.

So I rise, wearing this half-darkness, half-light, like priceless sapphires.

Yea, I rise, rise towards my destiny until what my heart craves seems so near.

I rise, flying high 'till I touch the sky, conquering an eternal bliss.

The bliss I feel…ah…it transports me into a world so enchanting and suddenly I am set free with the wings made of BOOKS

This is the Eden of our love, which I shall cherish and safeguard forever.

The fragrance of eternal flowers of love now permeate my fluttering heart…I feel beautiful...I am alive.

Yes! The spirit of love. The love for books, has descended upon my heart…I am renewed again.

Behold! The hand of GOD has touched my soul…indeed, I am reborn."

                                                                                BY

                                                                                        KHAIRU                                               

                                                                             

Review: The Lost Years by Mary Higgins Clark

Mary Higgins Clark is the queen of suspense.Biblical scholar Jonathan Lyons believes he has found the rarest of parchments, a letter that may have been written by Jesus Christ.  Stolen from the Vatican Library in the 1500s, the letter was assumed to be lost forever.
  Now, under the promise of secrecy, Jonathan is able to confirm his findings with several other experts.  But he also confides in a family friend his suspicion that someone he once trusted wants to sell the parchment and cash in.
  Within days Jonathan is found shot to death in his study. At the same time, his wife, Kathleen who is suffering from Alzheimer's, is found hiding in the study closet, incoherent and clutching the murder weapon.  Even in her dementia, Kathleen has known that her husband was carrying on a long-term affair.  Did Kathleen kill her husband in a jealous rage, as the police contend?  Or is his death tied to the larger question: Who has possession of the priceless parchment that has now gone missing? 
  It is up their daughter, twenty-eight-year-old Mariah, to clear her mother of murder charges and unravel the real mystery behind her father's death.  Mary Higgins Clark's The Lost Years is at once a breathless murder mystery and a hunt for what may be the most precious religious and archaeological treasure of all time.

Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick

Why m waiting on this? 

1. I enjoyed reading his Crescendo, Hush, Hush and Silence.

2. Second being its cover. Cover is the first thing that force us to pull out book from a shelf.

3. Lastly, it's releasing on my Birthday ... :) 

                                                      Release date: October 23rd 2012

Hardcover: 464 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada 

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1442426675

ISBN-13: 978-1442426672

Description:

Fates unfurl in the gripping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Hush, Hush saga.

Nora is more certain than ever that she is in love with Patch. Fallen angel or no, he is the one for her. Her heritage and destiny may mean they are fated to be enemies, but there is no turning her back on him. Now Nora and Patch must gather their strength to face one last, perilous trial. Old enemies return, new enemies are made, and a friend's ultimate betrayal threatens the peace Patch and Nora so desperately want. The battle lines are drawn—but which sides are they on? And in the end, are there some obstacles even love can't conquer?

About the author

Becca Fitzpatrick’s books, Hush, Hush, Crescendo, and Silence were all New York Times bestsellers. She graduated college with a degree in health, which she promptly abandoned for storytelling. When not writing, she’s most likely running, prowling sale racks for shoes, or watching crime dramas on TV. She lives in Colorado. Visit her at BeccaFitzpatrick.com.

Review: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

I began reading it without knowing what it was about or what the ending was going to be like. I absolutely love this book! It is incredibly easy to read and I couldn't put it down! I loved the characters and  I felt that I could clearly picture them from their descriptions in this novel.
Nicholas Sparks is also very good at describing scenery, as he describes buildings and rivers etc. with impeccable adjectives.

Nicholas Sparks describes it as "Alzheimer’s…It is a thief of hearts and souls and memories…"and I do have to say he described it so perfectly. Allie has forgotten everything: Her past, her husband, and she has no clue who she is. Every day Noah reads Allie their story from the notebook, and she always has to guess the ending when, we, the reader know in out hearts what it is. I personally began to feel so touched and moved at this point in the book I cried and it made me realise just how horrible Alzheimer's disease is and that it is a 'thief' in it's own right.

Nicholas Sparks' style of writing is very good, and he really draws you in with ever page. He really portrays the themes of  forbidden love; never giving up on your dreams; parental aspirations/expectations for their children; as  well as Alzhiemers disease and effects on loved ones.

'The Notebook' is incredibly easy to read and the descriptions of both character, and scenery are fabulous. The emotional side of the story about dealing with Alzheimer's Disease and following your dreams is very touching as well as inspiring to those who read this book. The beginning of the novel is spoken in direct address from Noah's point of view, and then moves on into the past which I quite like.

As always, I have nothing bad to say about this novel.

So without further ado I am going to give 'The Notebook' by Nicholas Sparks a: 5/5

Make A Difference

10 Easy and Simple ways to make a difference: 

1. Tell the one’s you love, you love them, everyday — better yet, act/be loving in all ways so they feel your love everyday, in every way.

2. Share your appreciation for those around you. Tell them,  ”What I appreciate most about you today is…” Focus always on their strengths. ie. if it’s your boss, “Boss, what I appreciate most about you today is your fairness/the way you handled that difficult customer/the fact you always smile and acknowledge me when you come into the office.” If it’s your child, “Child, what I appreciate most about you today is your… and then name one thing or aspect of them you cherish – [hugs/ willingness to clean up their room/ positive attitude when helping with chores/ laughter...] Do this everyday with those closest to you and feel/live/breathe the shift in energy.

3. Smile at strangers.

4. Never judge others. You dont know their story.

5. Read. Read and Read.. Google doesn't have all the answers.

6. Tip the server at Tim Horton’s, Starbucks, where ever you buy coffee and give them a compliment on their service.

7. Take a walk in the fresh air.

8. Touch people when you talk to them — a gentle touch on the arm, sleeve, hand creates a powerful connection.

9. Whenever u r sad, lonely, depressed, stressed, hurt, feel like crying. Go out of the house, go for a long drive or a walk. You will find many people who are less fortunate than you are, nursing homes, hospitals, old-age homes. You will feel blessed n better. And plz, don't forget to PRAY for them. It will make a difference in both the lives.

10. Respect. Respect yourself and others.

EVERYDAY.

Do u have some to add to the list? I'd love to hear ur ideas. 

Review: Friends Forever by Danielle Steel

I love Danielle Steels work. Her books are mostly romantic. Clean romance. She makes sure u fell in love with her characters. She is a writer full of surprises. "Friends Forever" is one such. A must read.

Five children meet at an early age in kindergarten, and the story of their life is revealed in this beautiful books. The amazing part is that the story focuses on their lives and struggles and how they depend on each other through every step of the way. It makes us realize how much true friendship is important in our lives. Their romance, their family issues all that they have to go through, they all have one common assurance that they will always be there for each other.

A very well written book far from what Danielle is used to writing. It goes beyond love unlike most of her novels. Being around since 1981 and among the most celebrated New York Bestsellers, Danielle Steel work has proved to be magical and existing. However the great twist in Friends Forever shows how much she is willing to deliver the story to her audience.

Foe less than twenty dollars, this book is available in all leading stores especially online. If your days seem longer and a little less occupied, then get this book and enjoy it to the very last end. You will be shocked how much Danielle has made it to compare our day to day's life and struggles with this book. How much friendship means and how much we can achieve together as friends have been revealed in this book. You have a chance to see that there is more to life than just being alone and fighting your battles alone. Enjoy reading as much as I did, n will always do. 

Au revoir et bonne nuit ...:)

Review: Family Blessings - Fern Michaels

"No place Like Home" was a much better read. This one is very badly written, poor plot. I could've given 2 stars but gave 4 stars for the time i've given to this book. I was quite disgusted with it actually. I had high hopes on this. Was very hard for me to even finish it but was a fast read. 

Sara and Hannah, two of the three Cisco triplets, are perturbed that their hubbies are coming home later and later, and immediately become convinced that they're having affairs. The truth? Hapless Zack and Joel have bought an expensive boat to sail around the world and are afraid to tell their wives. Sonia, wife of third triplet Sam, has just left her husband-why? He's not ready to start a family, and she's accidentally pregnant. Does she simply tell him? Of course not. The six lovebirds bumble around misunderstanding each other against the backdrop of cozy, homey Larkspur, Pa., where neighbors help the triplets' grandmother rebuild her tornado-destroyed home. The flimsy premise and artificial drama suck all the charm out of the story, and while Michaels's devoted fans might pick it up out of habit, this soggy tale will frustrate most.

Impossible by Danielle Steel

I started of this book when i was on holiday. Thought I would complete this but somehow got into reading from Kobo on my phone and could not finish this book. When I came back from holidays I got so busy in my routine that I didn't get straight 3-4 hours. I was always on roads most of the time n decided to get the Audio Version of  "Impossible". Finally M done with it. This was my first Audio book, actually n I loved it. My kids love listening to stories too... so, might as well ...Now no more music in the car only stories, for a change...lol....

My Thought: 

I throughly enjoyed listening this story. This story is abt two different people Sasha and Liam of different characters and age, trying to work things out. Liam is considered here as a wacky artist who doesn't want Sasha to control him while Sasha is a mature women who doesnt want him to ruin her reputation. So, this struggle of Liam to become what Sasha needs him to be makes relationship IM-POSSIBLE. I loved the ending that besides of their relationship being on and off due to different circumstances they still made it...

My favourite quote in the story: 

"I don't want to be one of those pathetic women who are desperate to find a husband. And I think dating at this age is disgusting. It seems so humiliating and awful." - Sasha

It's Monday !! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday !! What r u reading?" is a fun meme hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey. This is where we share the books we've read last week and our reading plans for this week.

Last Week I Read: 

This Weeks Read: ( Currently Reading) : 

What Are You Reading? 

Forevermore by Lauren Royal

I've never read any book by Lauren Royal. This is the first one. Actually very nice one, very romantic. The way the author had portrait the characters, the platform. Overall, its a very nice read. M not a huge fan of romantic novels, but the one who loves it, must read this one. 

They met at his cousin's wedding where he's an honored guest and she's there because of the flimsiest connections.


Clarice knows that her visit to Cainewood Castle is only a brief interlude from her normal life -- but she could not help but be dazzled by the ceremony, the dinner and dancing and the very young man paying attention to her.


Cameron Leslie may be younger than Clarice but he knows what he feels for Clarice and wants to explore the attraction a little more -- if only Clarice would cooperate.


In this novella, Lauren Royal explores the fine line between reality and fantasy -- Clarice is burdened by the former. She is painfully aware of her place in the world -- of her lack of connections and of the simplicity of her life. She is content with her lot in life but, Cameron's entry in her life is both a blessing and a curse to her -- Cameron represents everything that she can never have in her life -- a castle, a noble man and a chance at love. The contrast between her reality and fantasy is too broad and too painful for Clarice.


I'd like to quote some line:

...Clarice was nearly thirty-two years old. Old enough to know she had no business lusting over a young man of any sort, let alone one dressed in the trappings of aristocracy.

- p. 10

Her heart fluttered as it hadn't since her all-too-short youth. Evidently the fairytale hadn't ended yet. But it would, and then she would fall back to Earth, hurt again by a man.

- p. 57

Cameron gently (and ardently) reminds Clarice that the two need not be at war with each other -- that her fantasy can be a reality. And that she has value far more precious than a title and connections:

"You've the kindest heart, the sweetest soul. I wouldn't want you to behave any other way than you do already. And no matter what you say, we have quite a bit in common."

- Cameron, pp. 90-91

My Poem: "Let Me Dream"

This is where I want to be,

Mesmerized by the breath-taking beauty,

Where I empty my mind and set it free, (no books either)

Problems flow and awaaaaay they go.

Along comes the color Blue.

Blue is so calming,

Blue is my favourite color,

Why Blue? Cuz blue symbolises love and goodwill,

So let me tell u :

I have a pen, 

My pen is blue,

I have a friend,

My friend is you.

Childish? Yes ! But this is what I could collect from this beautiful image. Will try to be more sophisticate the next time ;-) 

"Waiting On" Wednesday

Hey Readers !! "Waiting On" Wednesday is weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine . This spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Those We Love Most by Lee Woodruff
Publication date: September 11


From Amazon: (Hold ur mouse n drag down in the white box)

Life is good for Maura Corrigan. Married to her college sweetheart, Pete, raising three young kids with her parents nearby in her peaceful Chicago suburb, her world is secure. Then one day, in a single turn of fate, that entire world comes crashing down and everything that she thought she knew changes.

Maura must learn to move forward with the weight of grief and the crushing guilt of an unforgivable secret. Pete senses a gap growing between him and his wife but finds it easier to escape to the bar with his friends than face the flaws in his marriage.

Meanwhile, Maura's parents are dealing with the fault lines in their own marriage. Charismatic Roger, who at sixty-five, is still chasing the next business deal and Margaret, a pragmatic and proud homemaker, have been married for four decades, seemingly happily. But the truth is more complicated. Like Maura, Roger has secrets of his own and when his deceptions and weaknesses are exposed, Margaret's love and loyalty face the ultimate test.

Those We Love Most chronicles how these unforgettable characters confront their choices, examine their mistakes, fight for their most valuable relationships, and ultimately find their way back to each other. It takes us deep into the heart of what makes families and marriages tick and explores a fundamental question: when the ties that bind us to those we love are strained or broken, how do we pick up the pieces?

Deeply penetrating and brimming with emotional insight, this engrossing family drama heralds the arrival of a major new voice in contemporary fiction.

Review: UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn

Usually people when they r on thier holiday they download music in their Apple devices, but I download books on my device. Boring me. I m on my 2 weeks vacation in States. Visiting my awesum brother n sweet sis-in-law. As usual took out time to read a book on my Apple iPod Touch via Kobo. Though I downloaded quite a few books but was happy to start one and even finish it in 2 days. This book is amazing. Didn't feel like putting it down, but had to cuz of 2 adorable children whose my first priority. The name of the book is "UnEnchanted" by Chanda Hahn. Here's the review.

When I saw UnEnchanted in the ibooks store I thought….What the heck?!?! It’s only 99 cents. But i got this book for free on Kobo App on iPod Touch. After reading it, I know that this is the type of novel that deserves to be on the shelf of every Paranormal Romance and YA Literature fan.

As I read UnEnchanted I was completely immersed in the story. Chanda Hahn managed to create some of the most likeable and relatable characters I’ve read about in a long time. I felt like I was on the journey with Mina. Mina is every girl! She’s quiet and likes to blend in but she born to stand out.

I was impressed with the flow of this book. I couldn’t stop reading until I finished Mina’s story. I needed to know what was coming next! I was so drawn to her character…every time Mina felt pain, I did too. Every emotion she felt, I was with her.Readers will want to be Mina. They’ll want to have a best friend like Nan. And they’ll definitely want a Brody Carmichael! They’ll even want a Jared.


I’ve read things about the spelling and grammar errors in UnEnchanted….Keep in mind that this is a self published book. Chanda Hahn is a rock star for releasing UnEnchanted to the world! Those little flaws are easy to forget when the story is great and this one is! Also, her blog says that UnEnchanted edits are pending and will be corrected soon.


Buy this book! Read it, fall in love with the characters, and dream about what’s next for Mina. I know I did and will! I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

How Do I Read A Book

Last night at a dinner table, myself, my hubby n my son were having a chat on the Reading Club my kid joined in the library yesterday. My kid is 9 1/2 yera old. He is a very gud reader n when it cum to completing the challenges in the reading, hez is worst than I m. In Reading Club he has to finish reading the book, rate it and review it. I let him join in Goodreads. Though he gave couple of reviews, but they r not impressive,m teaching him how to give reviews and stuff. Atleast its better than Facebook and those Wii, iPhone, iPod Touch n iPad that he has. I taught him the other use of these devies that he has and can make the better use of them than just playing games, and that is, downloading iBooks, Wattpad, and other reading apps. And m glad hez taking interest in these things.

This is how I read my book and I thought him the same. First of all, make your goal massive and unreasonable so that you freak out a little. :). The average book I read is maybe 250-300 pages. Some are larger, some are smaller. I break this down to 40 pages a day, which I read early on so I can get it over with. It’s an easy, manageable goal, which doesn’t seem nearly so daunting as 52 books in a year. This is critical to managing your emotional state, making it feel like it’s totally reasonable. Than break down these 40 pages in a day, according to my convience, But it SHOULD be 40 pages or more but not less. This way I know I can complete this book within a week or in a week. . This eventually encourages me to reach my goal n finish the challenge. I use every moment. I wake up very early in the morning, sleep late, when I take kids to swimming, while they r swimming I read, In the park, or even when I my husband is driving I read.

I told him, "Sometimes its OK to give up on it - just for now. You can do this when you’re ahead of schedule and it won’t screw with you too badly, and then you can go back to that book every little while until you finish it." I did this a number of times this last year, which means the number of books I started was probably in the 60-65 range (I finished 54.)

If I think m cuming close to deadline, I cheat. I cheat in the sence, I read small books. You might say, "This si cheating", I would agree. But the short term cheating to help yourself succeed in the long run on this goal is more important than hard-headed idea that every book you read has to be frikkin War and Peace. It doesn’t. This is to enrich your life, not to make you feel like crap. By the way, small books r also incredible.

To conclude, reading has made me a much better, more complete, and happier person, quite person. All the world’s wisdom is contained in books– most of it is not on the internet or known by people in your social group, so this can really help you expand, if you let it. Try it !!

HAPPY READING !!!

13 1/2 by Nevada Barr

Through my long voracious reading habits, I continue to find that writers can generally be classified in one of two groups: fine literary writers or terrific storytellers. Because the skill set and high level of artistry required is quite different for each group, rarely do the two groups meet and mesh. But Nevada Barr stands neatly balanced, with one foot inside each of these two groups. She is a fine writer, with literary finesse, and she is one heck of a storyteller.

Barr kept me awake with her storytelling, but not before messing with my head a bit, along with my sleep patterns. When I first opened the cover of 13 ½, I was thrown into a horrific scene of sexual molestation. Polly, a girl not yet nine years old, is being raped by her mother’s whiskey-chugging boyfriend. Rather than protect and defend her daughter, Polly’s alcoholic mother gets jealous and angry with her. Too frequently, this scenario is all too real. Victims become victimizers, and Polly’s mother, her own self-esteem nonexistent, allows her daughter to become victimized. At such a very tender age, this child understands the male psyche far beyond what she should.

Enter another main character: Butcher Boy. This child, Dylan, wakes into a family massacre, his parents murdered with an axe, his baby sister dead, his older brother badly wounded. He alone is whole, however dazed. Eleven years old, he is dragged to court and prosecuted for the vicious murder of his family. The boy hardly seems able to function as his mind and emotions shut down under the weight of something so immense, so incomprehensible. Only his surviving brother stands by him.

 Barr does a wonderful job of describing a juvenile justice system that is highly dysfunctional. Children who end up in juvenile delinquent homes, more often than not already coming from abusive homes, are often subjected to more abuse by the very staff who is supposed to help them rehabilitate. Reality, alas, matches fiction, and Barr has shone an important spotlight on a growing problem in our society. Dylan is thrown away, with no one caring enough to deal with his problems, and he spends years in a world where guards beat and rape little boys, psychologists and social workers conduct unethical experiments on their young prey, and wardens look the other way. The only person left who seems to care that Dylan is even alive is his brother Rich.

Another character to whom we are introduced is the Woman in Red. She reads Tarot-cards and is big, and loud, and impossible to miss. Almost no one notices that inside this woman is complete emotional devastation—another victim of abuse. Barr excels in her literary descriptions when Polly and this woman meet.

Although I do have to confess here that I had the mystery solved long before the conclusion of the novel, it did not slow my eager reading by one half of a page turn. I did not want to miss any of Barr’s pulsing-with-life descriptions, deep dives into the most shadowy parts of human nature, and the intricacies of dance between victim and victimizer. I wanted to see justice done. And I wanted to read exactly how Barr would put it into words. The images she created are lasting long beyond the final page. The important messages she illustrates remain even longer: abuse of any kind causes unspeakable damage, and those of us who do nothing about a broken juvenile justice system, or the increase of domestic violence, or look past the suffering of the battered, make such crime possible. This novel is more than a thriller.

Review: The World Without You

It's been a long time since my last post. The reason being, my kids summer vacation. And you all know, with kids the time is always running. Their swimming lessons, karate lessons, library visits n wat not. So was kind of very busy, but some how managed to finish my TBR books in between, late nights. They used to swim n I used to read. So here I cum with a review of "The World Without You" by Joshua Henkin.

This story is abt FAMILY. A family comes together to their summer home for their son Leo's memorial.

I loved this book...it drew me in from the very first page. First of all...it takes place mostly in the Berkshires...an area that I love. Then the book tackles the issues each member of this family face as they come together for Leo's ( brother/son/ husband ) memorial service.The flashbacks are huge in this book. Everyone has baggage and everyone has issues and no one is really coping very well at all.Marilyn has decided to leave David. One daughter is desperate for a baby. Another daughter lives in Israel and has no clue who she is or why she married her husband. Leo's widow is there... lost, sad and worrying about telling everyone about her new relationship. Another daughter is in a long term relationship with no plans to marry or have children.Those are the small stories within the big story. And sort of always hovering in the background is Gretchen...the 94 year old matriarch with tons of money who rigidly supports everyone. 

This book was very touching, moving, and has a very thoughtful ending. Give it a go, u won't b sorry.

Happy Reading !!!

Father and Son

An old man lived alone in a village. He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was very hard-work. His only son, who would have helped him, was in prison.

The old man wrote a letter to his son and mentioned his situation :

Dear Son,

I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my potato garden this year. I hate to miss doing the garden, because ur mother always loved planting time. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me, if you weren't in prison.

Love,
Dad

Shortly, the old man received this telegram :

"For Heaven's sake, Dad, don't dig up the garden !! That's where I buried the GUNS !!"

At 4 a.m. the next morning, a dozen FBI agents and local police officers showed up and dug up the entire garden without finding any guns.

Confused, the old man wrote another note to his son telling him what happened, and asked him what to do next.

His son's reply was :

"Go ahead and plant your potatoes, Dad... It's the best I could do for you from here."

     No matter where you are in the world, if you have decided to do something deep from your heart you can do it. It is the thought that matters not where you are or where the person is.