Book Reviews

The Fear Index, Robert Harris

2012-01-30T15:41:00.001-08:00

“The fear index” by Robert Harris, follows hedge fund founder Dr. Alex Hoffmann, an American living in Switzerland, as his life gets completely changed in the span of twenty-four hours—as Vixal-4, the computer program Hoffman created to hedge stocks according to complicated algorithms which uses fear as an indicator to predict the behavior of the stock market—begins to act suspiciously. At the outset, Hoffmann’s life seems perfect. His company, the Hoffman Investment Technology, is doing super good financially—thanks largely to Vixal 4, and both Hoffman, as well as his business partner Hugo Quarry, are incredibly rich and successful. Hoffmann lives in an idyllic Geneva mansion, along with his British artist wife, Gabrielle, and leads a rather tranquil existence. And then things spiral out of control. First, Hoffmann receives a very rare copy of Charles Darwin’s book about “Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals.” While Hoffmann collects original scientific tests, the arrival of this one surprises him particularly---as he doesn’t know who sent it to him. A short time passes, and suddenly, he discovers an intruder in his home. Somehow the stranger had managed to get past all his security barriers and knows all the codes. Hoffmann discovers him in his kitchen—sharpening knives. And then Hoffmann passes out. The thriller strengthens from there. Weird things start happening, to which Hoffmann doesn’t know how to react to, while his investment company scrambles to find out what is wrong with Vixal-4. Overall, this was an interesting thriller. Each chapter starts with a quotation from Charles Darwin, which is a creative touch. The main character, Alex Hoffmann, is an interesting protagonist who constantly strides the line between insanity. The secondary characters, Gabrielle and Quarry, with their calm dispositions, create a good counterbalance to Hoffmann’s frantic actions. In the background, of course, is Hoffmann’s complicated computer system—which casts a long shadow over the story. This book is movie-ready. Published by Knopf. January 31, 2012. 304 pages. List price $25.95

Death Benefit, Robin Cook

2012-01-19T09:09:00.000-08:00

In “Death Benefits,” Robin Cook explores what happens when medical breakthroughs damage one’s financial assets—and who wins this dangerous game of science against money. The main character is Pia Grazdani, a fourth year medical student at Columbia University, who’s interning with Dr. Tobias Rothman, a renowned molecular geneticist who has just uncovered the way to naturally grow artificial organs. His breakthrough promises to be life-changing, as Wall Street investors Edmund Matthews and Russell Lafevre are miserable to find out. Their company LifeDeals depends on buying life policies from sick people for cheap, and then making money when they die. But it just so happens that the majority of the policies they bought are from diabetes patients, whose lives are likely to be greatly prolonged should Rothman’s artificial organs make it to the market. And so Edmund and Russell turn to Dr. Jerred Trotter, the biggest investor in their little company—and the most rich. Meanwhile, some suspicious things start occurring at the lab. Pia strongly feels that she can trust no one except her mentor, Dr. Rothman. But a series of events leave her hanging on for her life, and risking her career investigating what appears to be a great cover-up. Overall, this was a very engaging mystery. Though the first couple of chapters spend a little too much time explaining the science behind the breakthrough, don’t let them mislead you. Once the storyline really starts, it never lets you go. Published by Putnam Adult. December 27, 2011. 432 pages. List price $26.95

This thing of ours, Cammy Franseze

2012-01-17T09:11:00.001-08:00

In “This thing of ours,” Cammy Franseze, the wife of Michael Franseze, a once-prominent mobster who, in the mid-eighties, walked away from his mafia life only to serve two terms in jail—details her mafia marriage and the impact it had on her faith. Even though this book had a lot of religious overtones, as Michael struggles to move past his criminal world background and Cammy feels that they’re being put to a test, I picked up this book largely because I was interested in the mafia angle. While Cammy meets Michael as a young twenty-year-old dancer, by dancing in a movie he’s executive producing in the mid-eighties, at the time she has no idea of his true background. What she does see is women throwing themselves at him, and Michael’s deep pockets. Neither of which lead her to him. Cammy sees herself as coming from a poor family, and having little in common with this spoiled player. Michael, on the other hand, enjoys the challenge he sees in her and pursues their relationship. They have a quick and passionate relationship, get married, Cammy gives birth, and then the trouble starts. Apparently Michael’s money have come about unlawfully. And police is pursuing Michael, with the FBI knocking at their house. And thus starts the real test of their marriage. If you like reading about relationships and faith, this book might interest you. But if, like me, you were reading it purely to get the mafia angle, then you might be disappointed. Even Cammy admits that she still doesn’t know the entire story behind Micahel’s former life, and thus focuses the book on telling her side of the story—a wife forced to see the results of her mobster husband’s criminal lifestyle, without seeing the criminal lifestyle itself. Published by Thomas Nelson. January 3, 2012. 208 pages. List price 15.99

Ali in Wonderland, Ali Wentworth

2012-01-15T08:43:00.001-08:00

In contrast to many memoirs I've read, this one tends to stray on the lighter side. Even though this book is definitely not all laughs--Wentworth mentions scary stories of her encounter with a gang while pursuing acting in L.A., how her friend was shot during the same encounter, and her own battles with depression--most of the stories tend to be more optimistic. The book is filled with many anecdotes from Ali's life--her upbringing among the Washington D.C. elite (her mom was social secretary under Reagan), her messy trip to Spain as an adolescent, the numerous jerks she dated (including a very sketchy French director), her attempts to break into acting (she used to be in the same comedy troupe with Will Ferell and Lisa Kudrow before they became stars, while her own acting luck stalled), her relationship with her family, and tidbits about marrying George Stephanopoulos, among other stories. And if you've never heard of her well-connected mother (the above mentioned ex-social secretary under Reagan) with a talent for disbursing her life's wisdom through witty punch lines, allow the author to introduce her to you. The writing can be described like a stream of consciousness--the author is honest and unembarrassed about sharing some pretty sensitive stories about her life. This lack of inhibition creates a pretty interesting read. Humor is the main component of this book, and with few exceptions, is entirely present throughout the book. Overall, an entertaining memoir. Especially if you like memoirs by female comedians. Published by Harper. 272 pages. February 7, 2012. List price $25.99

Oath of Office, Michael Palmer

2012-01-15T08:33:00.000-08:00

In Michael palmer’s newest thriller, “Oath of Office,” Dr. John Meacham goes through a violent shooting spree in his office—killing himself and his staff after a patient threatens to contact the medical board about his anger issues—while odd incidents continue to occur among folks in King’s Ridge: a worker at a local restaurant nearly loses his thumb, Meacham’s wife nearly gets herself killed in a car accident over a random road situation, and Dr. Meacham’s patient Roberta Jennings attempts to lose weight by operating herself. All these incidents have one thing in common—people doing dangerous things, and acting opposite their normal personality. Along comes Dr. Lou Welcome, a friend of Meacham who is concerned about the strange goings on in the town, and in a secondary storyline, first lady Darlene Mallory who is contacted by a mysterious man claiming that the disgraced Secretary of Agriculture Russell Evans was unfairly forced to resign over his refusal to pass some policies. Can those “policies” possibly be connected to what’s going on in King’s Ridge? As Dr. Welcome and his friends begin to uncover some strange clues, along with the local police chief Gilbert Stone, lives become threatened and nothing is what it seems.
Now to my thoughts: I thought the first half of the book is particularly engrossing, as the mystery is being set up. At first I was surprised about the White house angle of the book, but the subplot became as interesting as the main plot. The second half of the book balances action scenes with gradual explanations of what’s going on (some of it is easy to guess, while other parts, such as Mallory’s mysterious informer, kept me turning the pages). Overall, an entertaining read. Published by St. Martin’s Press. February 14, 2012. 384 pages. List price $27.99

Flipping, Mary A. Ellenton

2011-12-30T12:19:00.000-08:00

“Flipping” by Mary A. Ellenton follows young mortgage broker Faye Famaghetti as she becomes a red hot real-estate agent by capitalizing on the pre-2008 financial crisis housing boom, tears apart her family life as she cheats on her husband Genaro while involved with a seedy real-estate ex-broker who’s her mentor/lover Richie Califiano, and learns to satisfy her appetite for a successful career and partner despite deceiving customers and going out with a man who already has a live-in girlfriend. You can kind of see where this is going. The book follows the lead character’s career trajectory and love life in equal measure, while providing a poor girl-willing-to-become-rich-and-happy-by-any-means context. The big thing I noticed about this book is its degree of realism. Even though this novel can be classified as chick lit, the main character is much more than that. Faye isn’t some lovey-dovey naïve character that is a popular choice for other novels of similar nature, but a strong female character who actively tries to change her life and then pays the price. The writing is very detail-driven, if a little lengthy, and follows several years in the lead character’s life. If you like complex characters and three-dimensional plots, not to mention if you like chick lit books in general, then this book may surprise you. The lead character is one of these personalities who stirs an interesting combination of love/hate/fascination. Published by M.A.E. January 2012.

The Drop, Michael Connelly

2011-12-16T11:43:00.000-08:00

In “The drop” Michael Connelly announces Detective Bosch’s (the lead character in many of Connelly’s mysteries) eventual retirement –and then slams him with two complicated cases. Simultaneously Bosch is forced to figure out how an eight-year-old (now a twenty-nine year old convicted sex offender) could be charged for raping and killing a grown up woman in a 1989 case, and in the present, whether the apparent suicide of Councilman Irving’s son—who fell to his death from a balcony during his stay at the infamous Chateau Marmont—is really all that it seems. As in the last couple of novels, Detective Bosch is paired with Detective Chu—and their shaky relationship bears its share of ups and downs. Not fully trusting his partner but determined to solve the cases, Bosch interviews Clayton Pell (the sex offender who was eight during his alleged involvement with the murdered woman)to find out why his DNA was found on the victim—only to fall in love with Pell’s social worker, who runs the halfway house where he stays. At the same time, Councilman Irving continues pressuring Bosch’s superiors to solve his son’s case. But Detective Bosch doesn’t like where the case is leading him. George Irving was a lawyer, who used his father’s standing in the city council, to lobby for his clients. And some of the methods used are questionable—such as tarnishing the reputation of Irving’s client’s competitors. Overall, this was a fast read for me. Even though there are two cases going on simultaneously, Connelly does a good job of switching between them at an appropriate pace and keeping the story going, without confusing the reader. Bosch is a strong character, who hates deception. Yet it is deception in particular, which accompanies both mysteries. I particularly liked a masquerade-like scene at the end of the book. If your only experience with Connelly is watching “The Lincoln Lawyer,” then is an interesting book to get started. Published by Little, Brown, and Company. November 28, 2011. 388 pages. List price $27.99

dead man's grip, peter james

2011-12-12T17:35:00.000-08:00

“Dead man’s grip” is the newest entry in Peter James’s mystery series featuring Detective Superintendent Roy Grace of the Sussex police force. In Grace’s newest case, Tony Revere—an American student studying in Great Britain and the grandson of a New York mafia don—is run over by multiple cars while biking on the wrong side of the road. And soon, all the drivers involved in the accident begin getting murdered one by one, until there’s no one left except Carly Chase—a middle-aged lawyer and single mother who had narrowly avoided hitting the biker before crashing into a nearby café at the time of the accident. As Grace and the police figure out the murder pattern, they rush to protect Carly before it’s too late. But Carly, feeling she is innocent, has a mind of her own--and stages a dangerous encounter. Meanwhile Detective Grace is struggling with problems of his own. His fiancé, Cleo, is having a troubled pregnancy and struggling to save their unborn child. Meanwhile his ex-wife Sandy, who had disappeared ten years ago and presumably dead, winds up in Germany and is furious that Grace, who has no clue as to her whereabouts and needs to “divorce” her before he can get married to Cleo, wants to declare her dead. This was my first time reading a Roy Grace mystery. The storyline was pretty good, and the writing full of details. James had done a lot of research prior to completing this story, and it shows in the writing. If you like thrillers with well-developed characters and plot elements, then you will enjoy this. Published by Minotaur Books. November 22, 2011. 416 pages. List price $25.99

surprised by oxford, carolyn weber

2011-12-06T12:20:00.001-08:00

“Surprised by Oxford” is Carolyn Weber’s account of the time she spent studying classical literature at Oxford University in 1994. The memoir is pretty hefty, and Weber shares many of her experiences as an American living in England, falling in love with a fellow American, and discovering religion. Although many pages were dedicated to Weber’s religious outlook, many other pages were full of details about England, Oxford, and the author’s relationship with the above mentioned American—referred to as “TDH” (Tall, Dark, and Handsome) in the book. Weber discusses her fellow international classmates, her classes, and her adjustment to her new life (she’s from a poor family, and spent nearly all her life working multiple jobs and scraping away every penny—being able to attend Oxford based on a full scholarship). The writing also evokes nostalgia for the early nineties (for instance, the author’s boyfriend teaching her to use email—something the author had vaguely heard about but had no idea how to use--so she doesn’t have to spend money calling her mother in the U.S.) Overall, a well written memoir. Published by Thomas Nelson. 480 pages. List price $16.99

Tune in Tokyo

2011-12-02T12:38:00.000-08:00

The author finds himself at the cross roads of life, when, employed at several part time jobs and in his late twenties, he decides to go to Japan and teach English. He is accepted by a large Japanese school, with whom he interviewed ahead of time in the U.S., and starts his adventure. This book is definitely a travel memoir, as many of the pages are spent observing and reflecting on the Japanese culture. Anderson notices a lot of contradictions: anything from a shy and quiet student body that is corrupted by a their new provocative classmate, to a diner who looks like a beautiful geisha but soon turns into a hyenna-laughing "nut job" who talks to herself, to a city obsessed with Hello Kitty cuteness--whose popularity only rivals that of risque comic books and seedy underground bars (or maybe that was just Anderson's choice of entertainment). This culture of contrast is what makes anderson's travel memoir particularly interesting, along with his hilarious stories and commentary on anything from dealing with a crazy American roomate (the funniest part of the book), to singing in a Japanese rock band, to dealing with his fellow expats whose reasons for coming to Japan differed greatly from his own (let's just say that teaching, for which half of Anderson's fellow "teachers" were hilariously underqualified for, wasn't the main goal). If you're planning to visit Japan or just like to read humorous travel memoirs, than you might enjoy this.

Cook this now, Melissa Clark

2011-11-21T12:44:00.000-08:00

In “Cook This Now: 120 Easy and Delectable Dishes You Can't Wait to Make,” Melissa Clark, best known as a New York Times dining section columnist, shares some of her favorite seasonal recipes. The recipes are divided by months and seasons, with a separate section dedicated to Bonus Recipes. Each section starts with the author’s re-collection of her cooking habits for this particular season, and then continues on with the actual recipes. After each recipe, Clark includes a section titled “What else” where she shares her cooking techniques (possible substitutions, additional information about the ingredients, tips on cooking) pertinent to the recipe described. I thought the inclusion of this section following each recipe particularly lets this cookbook stand out, as each recipe is not just listed but discussed in depth. The recipes themselves are mixed in terms of the difficulty level: both sophisticated recipes (for well experienced cooks) and more basic recipes (for beginning cooks) are included. Pictures of some of the recipes are included in the two centerfolds of the book; below each picture is the page number of the corresponding recipe. Here is a sample of some of the seasonal recipes that I bookmarked: Winter: Whatever Greens You’ve Got Salad, Mallobars, Double Coconut Granola, and Fragrant Lentil Soup With Spinach and Crispy Onions. Spring: Pasta With Garlic Scapes Pesto, Sugar Snap Peas, and Ricotta; Whole Wheat Pizza with The Very First Cherry Tomatoes, Olives, And Tuna (my personal favorite recipe so far), and Buckwheat Pancakes With Sliced Peaches And Cardamom Cream Syrup. Summer: Maple Blueberry Tea Cake With Maple Glaze, Fresh Buttermilk Peach Ice Cream, and Creamed Caramelized Corn. Autumn: Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes And Garlic, Cornmeal Blini With Salmon Caviar, and Spicy coconut Eggnog. I can already tell that this will likely be one of my favorite cookbooks. Highly recommended for all the cooking enthusiasts. Published by Hyperion. October 2011. 416 pages. List price $29.99

A new turn In the south, Hugh Acheson

2011-11-21T12:43:00.000-08:00

In “A new turn in the south” by Hugh Acheson, the author—a restaurant owner and a food lover—shares his favorite Southern recipes. As Acheson starts the book, he confesses that even though he is Canadian, he has spent a third of his life in the South and is in love with Southern cooking. The cookbook is divided by the following categories: libations (drinks), snacks, soups/salads, first courses, from seas and streams (seafood), things with wings, red meats, sides: vegetables/grains/taters, pickles/put-ups/pantry items, and whipped cream and other delights. Full color pictures also accompany some of the recipes. Some of the recipes in this book include: pan roasted pork chops, pickled shrimp, chicken stock, bacon vinaigrette, oysters with sauces, oatmeal chocolate chunk cookies, pear and pecan flip cake, southern carbonara pasta, salmon with marinated vegetables, lobster pie, roasted potato salad, and veal sweetbreads. The recipe most memorable for me is the country ham with chilied mango recipe, which includes the author’s photographed section on how to cut a mango. That was pretty creative. I picked this book up expecting to learn some recipes by a home cook, and was not disappointed. Overall, a nice southern cooking cookbook. Published by Clarkson Potter. October 2011. 304 pages. List price $35.00

Need you now, James Grippando

2011-11-18T15:51:00.000-08:00

“Need you now” by James Grippando starts out as a Bernie Madoff-like character, Abe Cushman, commits suicide after his sixty billion Ponzi scheme is discovered. As his partner, Gerry Collins, learns about Cushman’s suicide, he is murdered himself upon getting into his car. Fast forward three years and we met, Patrick Lloyd, a Manhattan employee of the International Bank of Switzerland who had just returned from his six month stint in Singapore, where he had broken up with his girlfriend Lilly Scanlon, a fellow employee. Soon enough, Patrick’s life is disrupted and he is fleeing for his life as his boss accuses him of disposing of two billion dollars from Cushman’s funds, and notifies him that his ex-girlfriend Lilly had just been fired in connection with this. Lloyd is obviously clueless about the allegation and starts looking for Lilly, but is nearly killed on his way home from work. To complicate matters, Lloyd is not his real name, and his trip to Singapore was no mere accident. As Patrick finds Lilly, he soon loses her again as Lilly runs from his apartment in the middle of the night after an intruder appears. As they try to figure out what is happening, they put people around them in danger. And the violence escalates from there. There’s FBI agents (both good and bad), sketchy characters, and financial puzzles. Even Lloyd’s own family is thrown into the mix. This is a pretty hard to put down mystery. There’s no one you can trust—even the main characters constantly seem like they’re hiding something. That definitely pulled me into the story. Grippando also does a good job with the plot revelations and action scenes. Highly recommended. Published by Harper. January 3, 2012. 368 pages. List price $25.99

Zero day, David Baldacci

2011-11-18T15:48:00.000-08:00

In “Zero day” David Baldacci introduces Army CID (Criminal Investigation Division) investigator John Puller, who is tasked with solving the murder of Colonel Matthew Reynolds, an employee of the Defense Intelligence Agency and stationed in the Pentagon, who is murdered in a small house in West Virginia—along with his wife and two teenage kids. Puller is partnered with the local detective, Samantha Cole, as they work to uncover the secrets held in the small West Virginia town—and face a second murder. The most interesting part about this story was just the mystery, but the characters. Drake, West Virginia (the town where the action of this story takes place) is full of them. There’s Roger Trent, the town millionaire who owns the only big business in the area, and holds a couple of secrets of his own. There’s Bill Strauss, Trent’s number two, who appears to be playing a game of his own. His son Dickie appears not much more trustworthy himself. There’s Jean Trent, Roger’s gold digging wife, who knows their financial security is not what it seems. There’s Larry Wellman, a murdered cop who saw too much. There’s Howard Reed, the mailman who discovered Reynold’s murdered family. Then there’s Molly Bitner, one of the victims circulating in Puller’s mind, a secretary who worked for Trent, and had a meth lab in her basement—along with her friend Eric Treadwell. The mystery itself is organized in a complicated way--with plenty of puzzle pieces, plot changes, and action. While John Puller may at first seem like a stereotypical lead, the back story Baldacci develops for him (war hero father, John’s namesake and past war hero who had lost his wits, and his brother Robert, sentenced to life in jail for treason) gives him some depth and makes him a sympathetic character. The one thing that stood out to me the most, though, was the amount of research put into his book. With the amount of information incorporated into the story, you aren’t just reading about Puller—you’re basically living his military life. Overall, a very well-researched, sophisticated, mystery. Published by Grand Central Publishing. October 31, 2011. 448 pages. List price $27.99

The tempest, Julie Cross

2011-11-10T12:20:00.000-08:00

“The tempest” by Julie Cross follows nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer who has just discovered he can time travel by focusing on specific memories of the time and place he wants to go. What initially is fun and games—Jackson travels through time as his friend, MIT freshman Adam Silverman, times his progress and gives him a journal to keep track of his experiences—turns dangerous. One morning Jackson is sleeping over at Holly Flynn’s, his same age girlfriend’s dorm room, when two strangers burst through the door and tell Jackson to go with them. When Jackson refuses, thru fatally shoot Holly—as Jackson, still in shock, transports himself back two years to 2007. From 2007, Jackson views his life from a different perspective. He tracks down seventeen-year-old Holly—who doesn’t know him yet—at her gymnastics job, and befriends her, as well as her co-workers, feisty Jana, and girl-obsessed Toby. But when Jackson tries to return back to 2009, he finds himself trapped in 2007. Increasingly scared of his situation, Jackson tracks down the 2007 Adam—who hasn’t met him yet—and convinces him about everything that has happened to his life. With the help of Adam, Jackson goes back in time to years preceding 2007—and uncovers dangerous secrets concerning his father, his doctor, Agent Freeman, and the Enemies of Time. Meanwhile, he falls in love with 2007 Holly—terrified of what will happen to her two years from now. Ok, so now my impression of the story. I love the whole time traveling plot. The interesting thing about this story is that even though Jackson is able to travel to the past, he isn’t able to change anything in the future. This is in stark contrast to many other time-traveling stories. Secondly, a really strong area for this story is the love angle between Jackson and Holly. As a reader, you always wonder that if he had to choose: whose life would he save, his own or Holly’s? Lastly, a very strong aspect to the storyline is the mystery. Who is Jackson’s father? The pharmaceutical CEO that Jackson had always thought he was, or someone else? And who are those people around him? This was a pretty hard to put down story. Overall, I thought this was an enjoyable read. Should be interesting to see the movie based on this book when it comes out, as the story is very easy to visualize. Published by St. Martin’s Griffin. January 2012. 352 pages. List price $17.99

burial at sea, charles finch

2011-11-08T07:47:00.000-08:00

“Burial at sea” by Charles Finch, follows Charles Lennox on his adventures in nineteenth century Britain, as he is asked to travel to Egypt and meet up with a French contact—a high-ranking official . The outcome of Lenox’s journey impacts whether there would be a war between Britain and France. But Lenox’s problems start much sooner, as serial murders begin happening on the ship he is traveling to Egypt on. The first thing that stood out for me about the story, were the characters. The lead character, Charles Lenox, is very noble and courageous. When he’s asked by his brother, Edmund, to travel to Egypt on a British intelligence assignment, he doesn’t hesitate. He leaves his pregnant wife, Jane Grey, at home and jumps aboard a ship with the deceptively innocent name “Lucy.” There he meets a whole set of interesting characters: Captain Jacob Martin, first lieutenant Billings, second lieutenant Halifax, third lieutenant Carrow, chaplain Rogers, surgeon Tradescant, engineer Quirke, and purser Pettegree. Within a couple of days, some of these men will be murdered. And the murderer will be one of the men aboard the ship. What complicates Lenox’s journey, is that not only does he have to fear for his safety, but also that of his nephew Teddy, who is also aboard and on his first sea voyage. But as the murders continue, and the mysterious killer threatens mutiny, Lenox does not know if his sleuthing skills will be enough to save them all. Most of this book takes place during the sea voyage. But my favorite part of this book is actually after the killer is unmasked and Lenox’s life is in peril. There’s a lot of action particularly at the end of this book. Overall though, this is a very well researched story. Historical fiction is especially hard to write, and Finch deserves credit for quite naturally being able to pull the reader into the atmosphere of a nineteenth century sea voyage aboard a British ship. Recommended for fans of historical fiction or mysteries in general. Published by Minotaur Books. November 2011. 320 pages. List price $24.99

Mozart's last aria, Matt Rees

2011-11-07T15:38:00.000-08:00

In “Mozart’s last aria,” Matt Rees takes the real-life historical mystery of Mozart’s murder, and uses real-life facts and characters to present a possible solution to the case. In the early 1790s, Europe is facing some major problems. The French Revolution is going on in France. Prussia and Austria are sworn enemies. And Mozart loses his life in mysterious circumstances, suspecting poisoning. Mozart’s story kicks off when his sister, Nannerl, is dying and gives Mozart’s son the diary she kept. Upon learning of Mozart’s mysterious death, Nannerl leaves her village of Salzburg and travels to Vienna, where her brother Mozart had gained success and gained entry to the highest social circles. Nannerl’s aim is simple: find out what happened to her brother. Except, the world she encounters is a different Vienna than in her youth. The atmosphere is no longer open and laid-back, but secretive and deceptive. As Nannerl meets some of Mozart’s friends—piano pupil Magdalena Hofdemel, actor Karl Gieseke, patron Prince Lichnowsky, impresario Emanuel Schikaneder, musician Anton Stadler, and head of imperial library Baron Swieden—she can’t help feeling that they know something about her brother’s murder. As Nannerl starts questioning them, she enters a dangerous game—as she is attacked on the street, and forced to fear for her safety. Overall, this is a seductive read. Initially I was concerned that the historical details and multitude of characters might interfere with the writing, but thankfully this was not the case. Right at the beginning of the book, Rees provides the reader with a list of characters and their identities. The writing itself, despite the amount of historical data, is easy to follow. Yet, the mystery itself is anything but simple. Every time you think the killer is unmasked, Rees takes it one step further. I thought it was an interesting, well thought out mystery. Published by Harper Perennial. November 2011. 336 pages. List price $14.99

Stolen Souls, Stuart Neville

2011-10-26T15:41:00.000-07:00

“Stolen Souls” by Stuart Neville follows Galya Petrova, a Ukrainian teenager brought to Belfast, Ireland under false pretenses and made to work as a call girl after working on a mushroom farm, as she murders her very first client—Tomas Strazdas, the brother of the man who runs the whole ring—and escapes from the two thugs assigned to guard her, before getting herself into yet more trouble. Parallel to Galya’s escape, we follow the story of Detective Inspector Jack Lennon, as he is assigned to investigate the murder of Tomas and the two thugs who chased after Galya, while living with his own demons. Lennon’s wife Marie was killed in a house fire, and he is a single dad to little Ellen. As Lennon tries to solve Galya’s case, he develops an interesting relationship with his neighbor Susan, though he hesitates to make it romantic. Meanwhile, Galya contacts a man who claims he can help her—a mysterious man who calls himself Billy Crawford. As he drives Galya to his house, Galya starts to question herself for trusting him. Before long, she finds herself in an impossible situation. My thoughts: Neville is an Irish author, and the writing reflects that. You feel like you’re in Ireland. Jack Lennon, the lead character (alongside Galya), is a very multi-layered character. He is against human trafficking, yet had experience with call girls himself. He is lonely after becoming a widower, yet refuses the company offered to him by a woman who he admires. He wants to be a good father, yet frequently puts his safety on the line. Galya, the other lead character, is young, yet—considering her life experience—interestingly naïve. She listens to a man who lies—promising to hire her as a family nanny to teach English to little kids—only to wind up as a call girl. She barely escapes, only to fling herself into the arms of yet another man—one whom she knows equally little of—and proceeds to trust yet again. Between the two lead characters—each with his own faults—Neville plots an elaborate tale of lies, betrayal, and murder. Published by Soho Crime. October 4, 2011. 354 pages. List price $25.00

The silver spoon, new version

2011-10-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

“The Silver Spoon: New Edition” is an updated version of the original Silver Spoon cookbook. The original cookbook was published in Italy in 1950, and has only recently been translated into English, originally published in the U.S. in 2005. The new and updated version of this cookbook boasts over two thousand recipes, as well as accompanying full length photographs (in my opinion, the most important attribute of a cookbook) of many of the recipes described. The chapters are decided into Notes about cooking (including the glossary of many cooking terms mentioned in the book, as well as a section devoted to “tools and equipment” with accompanying illustrations), sauces/marinades/flavored butters, antipasti/appetizers/pizzas, first courses, eggs and frittata, vegetables, fish/crustaceans/shellfish, meat and variety meats, poultry, game, cheese, dessert and baking, menus for festive occasions, menus by celebrated chefs, and list of recipes accompanied by an index. Each pages consists of several short recipes, and, for the most part, a photograph of one of the dishes on the adjoining page. As expected, the recipes are absolutely mouth-watering. They include such recipes as: rosemary and cheese rolls, smoked trout, octopus in red wine, stuffed eggplants, avocado and tomato canapés, Tuscan anchovy crostini, crab and apple tartines, Parisian brioches, curried chicken puffs, onion soufflé, four seasons pizza, cream of truffle soup, eggplant and ricotta lasagna, mushroom tortelloni, Milanese risotto, smoked salmon crepes, shrimp with salmon mousse, bread frittata, glazed turkey, baked ham, roasted pork with lemon, duck with peaches, blackberry tart, pear crown, mocha cake, apple fritters, and walnut and coffee cake among many others. A couple of things really make this cookbook stand out from other cookbooks. First of all, unique chapters. The chapter about making your own sauces, marinade, and butter comes to mind. Recipes include whipped cream mayonnaise, ricotta sauce, red wine marinade, lobster butter, and garlic butter. Pretty impressive. Other chapters, like the ones devoted to vegetables and meat, are creatively categorized by types of vegetables and types of meat (venison, partridge, turkey, goose, pheasant, and duck are just some of the examples). The meat chapter also boasts a re-occuring section called “Italian cuts and cooking techniques” which present a picture of the animal featured in the section, and a careful illustration of all its parts and corresponding names and cutting techniques. I can actually imagine such thins being taught in a cooking school. The level of detail is seemly amazing. The last two sections, “Menus for festive occasions” (including New Year’s day, Easter, Christmas Eve, and Christmas) and “Menus by celebrated chefs” (including famous chefs like Lidia Bastianich and Benjamin Hirst among others, with recipes like truffle baked potato soufflés, fish ravioli, Tuscan romano, ricotta, and parmesan, tortelli with white truffle, lemon delight sponge cake, limoncello tiramisu, Bolognese soup, and coffee soufflé in a cup among others) are like a bonus cookbook rolled into one. If you were to only pick up one cookbook in your life, then I would strongly recommend this one. The amount of recipes here is jaw dropping—I don’t think I’ve encountered many cookbooks with this much dishes. My favorites so far are the mushroom tortelloni and eggplant and ricotta lasagna. I feel like I’m eating out at an Italian restaurant. An added bonus is the coffee-book quality of this book. This book is chock full of information, but still manages to retain its attractiveness. Strongly recommended for cooks of all stages, culinary school students, and food lovers. Published by Phaidon press. October 24, 2011. 1263 pages. List price $49.95

The orchard, Theresa Weir

2011-10-25T09:43:00.000-07:00

“The orchard” by Theresa Weir is a memoir of her life on the farm with her young husband. It is simultaneously a love story, a man versus nature battle, and a description of small town life. The story starts when Theresa, twenty-one years old and working at her Uncle Jim’s bar—meets the gorgeous Adrian Curtis, a farmer who works on his family’s apple farm and has a reputation of coming from a “cursed” background (various members of his family died in tragic ways, while the farm had its own set of troubles). While her uncle advises Theresa to avoid getting involved with Adrian, Theresa won’t listen and ultimately marries him. Soon enough, Theresa and Adrian are living at his family’s farm. While adjusting to her new life, Theresa has conflicts with Adrian—who shows himself to be less mature than Theresa expected—and his mother Ruth, who refuses to accept her into the family. As Theresa describes her current life, she devotes separate chapters to her old one—sharing a childhood where her mother is left by her father, and enters into various doomed relationships with different men. Ultimately her mother’s experience has a great impact on the author’s life, as Theresa’s attachment to Adrian is tied to her own wish of having a stable family. Overall, this is a very touching memoir. It’s much shorter that I thought it was going to be and a pretty quick read. The author shares a lot of personal details, and touches upon themes like loneliness, resilience, and the sheer unpredictability of life. The ending was not what I expected, but, in hindsight, exactly what the author hinted at throughout the book. There’s a decent amount of foreshadowing hidden in the text. Between exploring the different relationships—the author’s and her husband’s, the son’s and his dominating family’s, the young bride’s and her disapproving mother-in-law’s, the single-mother’s and the mature-beyond-her-year’s daughter’s, and the lonely uncle and the adventurous niece’s—I found this to be a very human story with a few lessons to it. If I had to characterize this memoir in one word, it would be “insightful.” Published by Grand Central Publishing. September 2011. 240 pages. List price $24.99

The best of me, Nicholas Sparks

2011-10-24T13:18:00.000-07:00

“The Best of me” by Nicholas Sparks follows the love story of Dawson Cole—a young man from a never do well family, who is sent to prison after he accidentally runs over the town’s doctor, and upon release is nearly killed during an explosion in his new oil rig job—and Amanda Collier, his high school sweetheart who came from a wealthy family, and who, all those years later, is a married stay-at-home mom who occasionally ventures out to volunteer at the town’s medical center. The occasion for their union is the death of Tuck Hostetler, an elderly car mechanic who was their mutual friend and wished for them to scatter his ashes at a cottage owned by his ex-wife, the love of life who died before him, Clara. As Dawson and Amanda visit Tuck’s estate and fulfill his wishes, they fall in love with each other all over again. But twenty years have passed, and Amanda’s current married life and her mother’s disapproval creates a huge obstacle. But this is not the only problem Dawson faces. Elsewhere in town, his cousins Ted and Abee found out his back in town and want to plot their revenge for Dawson beating them up all these years ago. Not satisfied with a confrontation, Ted plots to murder Dawson. Meanwhile, Abee is caught up in a romance of his own—one that ultimately turns dangerous for all the participants involved. My thoughts: as in many of Sparks’ previous novels, this story is told from different points of view. This is an effective device that Sparks uses, letting the reader get intimately acquainted with all of the characters. Right off the bat, we know that Dawson wears his heart on his sleeve—and is a vulnerable character—weighted down by guilt, lost love, and loneliness. Amanda is less of a dreamer than Dawson—preferring to stay in the present, and deal with the cards she’s been dealt. Ted and Abee are both emotionally unstable, violent characters who lack any sort of morality or practicality. And Tuck is a father-figure character, who is above any of the negative events taking place throughout the book, and more of a symbol of how the characters should have acted, but never did. There’s some paranormal elements to this story, but also a kind of nostalgic feel of lost time. You really root for Dawson and Amanda to get back together. But Sparks makes their relationship a mystery—up until the last third of the book. The conflicts created by the presence of Ted and Abee, Amanda’s unpleasant mother, and Dawson’s own demons are nicely incorporated into the plot. The ending is unpredictable, as the storylines of different characters are unexpectedly connected. The character who seemed so minor only a few pages ago, now has a major role in the story’s outcome. And Sparks keeps you guessing until the last chapters. Published by Grand Central Publishing. October 11, 2011. 304 pages. List price $25.99

The Secret in their eyes, Eduardo Sacheti

2011-10-23T15:01:00.000-07:00

"The secret in their eyes" by Eduardo Sacheri follows criminal court investigator Benjamin Chaparro, as he retires and types up the story of his most memorable case--the murder of a young school teacher, Liliana Colotto, whose unexpected killing leaves her banker husband, Ricardo Morales, unable to go on with his life. The couple is in their twenties, and appears to be too young and nice to have had any enemies. But, as Chaparro reasons, Liliana--who was killed while in her own apartment--could have only opened the door to someone she knew. And so begins the investigation--taking place in the late sixties and early seventies, in sun drenched but war torn Argentina. The story jumps back and forth--alternating between the current date, when sixty-year-old retired Chaparro tries to remember what exactly happened, and has a few run-ins with his crush, the judge who was his intern all that time ago, Irene Hornos. Simultaneously, we jump back in time to Chaparro as a young officer investigating the Colotto murder. My thoughts: While this is a mystery novel, there is one thing that distinguishes this book from your average suspense novel--and that is the amount of soul Sacheri puts into his writing. The storyline is emotional, the characters are not devoid of tragic flaws, and the Buenos Aires of the book's time period is a dark place. Instead of being about the mystery, this book is about the story--structured around how every turn of events can change everything. Published by Other Press. October 18, 2011. 320 pages. List price $15.95

Essential Pepin, Jacques Pepin

2011-10-18T19:11:00.001-07:00

In “Essential Pepin: More Than 700 All-Time Favorites from My Life in Food,” world-renowned chef Pepin, popularly known for his cooking show, shares his recipes—which are divided into categories like soups, salads, eggs and cheese, pasta/rice/grains/potatoes, breads/sandwiches/pizzas, shellfish and fish, poultry and game, meat, charcuterie and offal, vegetables and side dishes, fruit desserts, puddings/sweet soufflés/ crepes, cakes/cookies/candles, tarts/pies/pastries, frozen desserts, and basics. After each category, a page of recipes and corresponding page numbers is listed. The recipes themselves are listed with a related tidbit of information, list of ingredients, and a couple of short paragraphs detailing the preparation techniques. Most of the ingredients for the recipes are pretty basic and, thankfully, easy to find. The recipes cover a wide range of food: anything from risotto with vegetables, mint ice cream, black truffle salad, chocolate soufflé, cheesecake with apricot blueberry sauce, chocolate mousse, potato crepes with caviar, poached oysters with mushrooms and red pepper, apricot fondue, to Christmas fruitcake, broiled lobster with bread stuffing, onion and bread soup, smoked salmon, strawberry buttermilk shortcake, and etc, etc, etc. Throughout the book, well-known dishes are mixed up with more exotic once. The book ends with a long and comprehensive index, organized by ingredients and meal categories. A DVD is included with the book. Now to my thoughts: I tried making some of the recipes in the book, and was impressed by the results. My favorite so far is the black truffle salad. The book is pretty hefty—as the 700 plus recipes in the title indicate. It’s definitely worth it though. Recommended for fans of cooking programs, newbies, as well as professional cooks. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. October 2011. 704 pages. List price $40.00

the boy in the suitcase, lene kaaberbol

2011-10-10T14:11:00.000-07:00

“The boy in the suitcase” by Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis is a Scandinavian mystery, following the lives of different characters as a little boy, Mikas, is kidnapped, put in a suitcase, and picked up by the unsuspecting Red Cross nurse, Nina Borg. While Nina has no clue what to do with the boy, one thing is clear as she sees an enraged man with a Nazi haircut beating the locker where the suitcase had lain: they are both in danger. The same danger is felt acutely by Sigita, Mikas’s mother, after waking up in the hospital and failing to remember what happened to her, and having to cope with the disappearance of her son after a mysterious woman offered chocolate to him. It is unclear whether her ex-husband Darius, her mysterious boss Dobrovolskij, or the mystery woman is to blame. But Sigita won’t stop until she finds her son. Jan is flying in an airplane, having arranged for his employee Karin to give a hefty amount of money to Jucas, in exchange for the suitcase. Only Karin backs out of doing her part. And things go horribly wrong, as Jucas starts hunting for the money he was due, killing anyone in his way. It takes a while to see how all the storylines are connected, but when the connection is made, the book really takes off. The most interesting character is Nina, who is the least informed of all the characters, but the most courageous—being ready to risk her own life for the safety of a mysterious little boy, all the while trying to figure out why they are being hunted. I can see the authors making a series with Nina Borg. Overall, this is an interesting mystery with multifaceted storylines and characters. I also liked the international setting. Published by Soho Crime. 304 pages. November 8, 2011. List price $24.00

You deserve nothing, Alexander Maksik

2011-10-06T14:21:00.000-07:00

“You deserve nothing” by Alexander Maksik is about a brilliant professor of literature in the International School of France, Will Silver, whose life drastically changes after he accidentally begins an affair with one of the students, high school senior Marie Le Clere. As the story follows both Will and Marie, it also follows Gilad—a student who struggles with his own attraction to Silver, while trying to fit in and figure out how to go about his own life.I loved Maksik’s spin on the student-teacher love story, his characterization of Professor Silver, and the hard-to-predict plot. But made this book possibly my favorite read of the year was the deep philosophy embedded into the plot. Silver’s class lectures aren’t just discussions of Shakespeare and homework assignments. They are reflections on life. Professor Silver comes across as very human, using “fantasies to avoid the apparent permanence” of his life. How many people in the world are just like him, stranded into a life they hate, constantly thinking of imaginary escapes to make their job bearable? In his classes, he challenges the students to re-think their lives and actions, even as he fails to change his own. The supporting characters of Marie and Gilad face their own struggles, while providing readers with different views of professor silver. The writing is very thought provoking, while the graphic details of Silver’s and Marie’s affair lend a certain rawness to the book. As a bonus, the author’s experience of having lived in both France and the U.S. lends authenticity to the story. Strongly recommended. Published by Europa Editions 336 pages. List price $15.00

The lantern, Deborah Lawerenson

2011-10-06T14:20:00.001-07:00

“The lantern” by Deborah Lawrenson jumps between two central storylines—that of Eve, a beautiful young woman living in a Provence house with an intriguing history alongside her new husband Dom, an ideal lover whose façade begins to crack as eve tries to figure out why he keeps the destiny of his former wife secret---and that of Benedicte, a former resident of the house Eve currently resides in, and the sister of a blind perfumer, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances at the peak of her success. While the core of the plot is two different mysteries, what really impressed me about this book was the beautiful writing, which really makes the scenery come alive. Some of the descriptions are really breathtaking. I’ve never been in Provence, but reading Lawrence’s descriptions really made me want to go there. I savored the writing, and was intrigued enough by the two mysteries to finish the book in two days. I found this to be a very well written novel. Published by Harper. August 2011. 400 pages. List price $25.99

My Russian grandmother and her American Vacuum Cleaner

2011-09-20T16:47:00.000-07:00

“My Russian Grandmother and Her American Vacuum Cleaner” by Meir Shalev, tells the story of his obsessive-compulsive grandmother Tonia, life in Israel, and growing up in a household so encompassed with cleaning that bathrooms are not used (Tonia prefers everyone to do their business outside) and cleaning products like a vacuum cleaner are locked up for fear of dirt contamination. Visitors are told to come to the house from the back, rather than the front door. And Meir’s mother and her sisters are late to school because their mother deems cleaning the house more important. That’s precisely the kind of atmosphere that we find the author in—whose portrayal of his grandmother Tonya (the one referred to in the title) both critical and loving. His stories are funny but sentimental at the same time. The time described in this book is one of innocence and scarcity. America is seen as a dreamy faraway land (even though Meir’s uncle moved there and is seen as the traitor of the family, despite sending the well-intentioned vacuum, cleaner mentioned in the title). Technology is very rare, as most of the work in the country and the house is done exclusively by physical labor. And the overall philosophy is reminiscent of the Cold War communism versus capitalism dynamic. The author has a hilarious way of telling stories, and the writing is inundated with that. Even though this was the first time I read Meir Shalev, I came away with the feeling that I somehow know the author personally. His family stories felt very open, with a certain rawness of truth behind them. It’s the kind of book where you laugh, you cry, and you reflect on your own family. I look forward to checking out Shalev’s other books. Recommended for fans of poignant yet funny memoirs. Published by Schocken. 224 pages. October 2011. List price $25.95

The stranger you seek, Amanda Kyle Williams

2011-09-11T12:40:00.000-07:00

In “The stranger you seek,” Amanda Kyle Williams explores a whodunit serial killer mystery, at the heart of which is PI, ex-FBI profiler Kaye Streets—an Asian woman who grew up with an American family and struggled with alcohol addiction before being forced to quit her job. Kaye is well into her life operating her own small investigation firm, when violent murders start taking place—and Kaye is contacted by the killer. Kaye soon finds out that none of the victims seem to have anything to do with each other, as they’re all different genders, races, and live in different geographical locations. Even scarier, their killer orchestrates their murders in a grotesque way—and posts accounts of them on an online forum. But Kaye has enough on her hands already. One of her co-workers is far more dangerous than she realizes. Her friend and crush, A.P.D. lieutenant Aaron Rauser, seems to be dating someone behind her back. Her own ex-husband Dan is a dicey guy, and willing to sell her out for the media. While Jacob Dobb, an overconfident and show business hogging police overachiever threatens to take over Kaye’s serial killer case from her. Overall, this was an interesting mystery. Some scenes are quite unexpected. I was not able to guess whodunit. The pacing is pretty solid throughout the story, which increases in intensity when Kaye’s safety gets involved. Recommended for fans of mysteries. Published by Bantam. August 2011. 304 pages. List price $25

Carry yourself back to me, Deborah Reed

2011-09-07T17:25:00.000-07:00

“Carry yourself back to me” by Deborah Reed is both a mystery novel, as well as a story of love, betrayal, and how events of the past can make an impact on the present. I became interested in this book, after I read another one of Deborah Reed’s novels, called “A small fortune” and written under Reed’s pen name of Audrey Braun. I was impressed enough by this story, to see what other novels Reed published. And lo behold, I came across this book. The main character of “Carry yourself back to me” is Annie Walsh, a once successful singer and songwriter who currently leads a lonely life in a small town, after being abandoned by her cheating ex-husband Owen. As if that isn’t enough, Annie’s brother Calder is now accused of murdering his Danish girlfriend Sidsel’s husband. Chapters switch between the events of Annie’s current life, and her past. The backstory is what made Annie’s character especially memorable. Losing her father to a seemingly mysterious ailment. Falling in love with Josh, who used to be a bully until he saved her life. Finding out her unstable mother had cheated on her father with a man who means a lot to her. And starting her music career when others were going to college. Overall, I was intrigued by the mystery and the events of Annie’s life. Reed’s descriptions really brought the setting to life. But even more, underneath the story, I found a theme, that really added depth to this story. All the characters—just like real people--just want to be happy, but act in ways that aren’t always effective in getting what they want. And yet only one character realizes this—and acts in a way that changes everyone’s life. Published by AmazonEncore. September 2011. 316 pages. List price $13.95

Loose diamonds, Amy Ephron

2011-09-05T18:37:00.000-07:00

“Loose diamonds and other things I’ve lost along the way” by Amy Ephron is a collection of humorous vignettes by Ephron, based on events in her life. If you’re looking for a light read and an easy style of writing, than Ephron’s book may suit your needs. The book is sprinkled with comic incidents, accidents, occurrences, or simply events gone wrong—anything from a burglary that left Ephron without her jewelry, to her husband’s lover rear-ending Ephron’s car while driving her son to kindergarten, to the author stopping a possible terrorist on her plane, to living in a cursed house where every other December something unfortunate happens, to interviewing a member of Charles Manson’s gang, to having a champagne-chugging friend named Honey—and much more. The book is reminiscent of a having a heart-to-heart between two friends. It’s a pretty easy read, especially if you’re looking to pass some time, or read a light memoir. I found the writing to be engaging and comedic. Published by William Morrow. September 2011. 176 pages. List price $19.99

Shrink Rap, Miller, Hanson, and Daviss

2011-09-05T18:33:00.000-07:00

In “Shrink Rap,” three MD’s involved in the psychology industry--Dinah Miller, Annette Hanson, and Steven Roy Daviss –explore the modern landscape of diagnostic criteria, treatment, the path to recovery, and much more through this guide to the industry. The book alternates between stories of different patients, intended to portray different situations and their solutions. Chapters cover topics like the decision to get help, a walk through the system, different reasons why people might seek care, psychotherapy, prescription medication as alternative treatment, making medical decisions for others, mental disorders as a legal defense, psychiatry in a hospital setting, psychiatry as business (including insurance networks, preventing lawsuits, influences of the pharmaceutical industry, etc.), controversial topics that divide psychiatrists, and the future of psychiatry. The book itself is very detailed and covers all the topics in depth, using hypothetical patient cases to illustrate the material discussed. Recommended for students, people working in the industry, patients, and anyone interested in modern psychology. Published by the John Hopkins University Press. 272 pages. List price $45

Act of deceit, Steven Gore

2011-09-01T09:36:00.001-07:00

In “Act of deceit” by Steven Gore, detective Harlan Donnally goes on a dangerous mission—find the sister of his dying friend Mauricio Aguilera, Anna, whom Aguilera left on the front steps of a commune some thirty odd years ago, after they escaped from their father who molested her. The main problem confronting Donnally is that Anna was murdered back in 1986, and her killer—Charles Brown—was seen as unfit for trial, instead scuttling between different medical facilities and detention centers. Except that things are never what they appear. And Donnally is starting to get the feeling that Charles Brown was not her true killer. As Donnally delves deeper into Anna’s past, he finds a variety of shady characters that she interacted with—people like Father Phil, her troubled student Melvin, two drug dealing brothers, and characters who are not what they appear to be . As Donnally goes from lead to lead, he neglects the fact that he is risking his own life—and that of his girlfriend’s Janie—in the process. The interesting thing about this book is that Gore based elements of the plot on true stories. This fact makes the story all the more disturbing. If you like mysteries, and stories with some layer to them, then pick this up. Published by Harper. August 30, 2011. 352 pages. List price $9.99

Redirect, Timothy D. Wilson

2011-08-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

In “Redirect,” Timothy Wilson focuses on psychological strategies of changing one’s way of viewing life and re-directing their thought processes to become more optimistic. Popular strategies that Wilson uses in his book include story-editing (which is refocusing one’s view on a particular problem: e.g. the student who attributes his failed test to being stupid, versus a student who attributes his failed test to not enough studying—as a basic example of this premise), using writing as a way of coming to terms with a problem, and much more. Besides discussing the actual strategies, Wilson devotes many chapters to problems where they may be well utilized. Chapters cover a slew of social problems such as underage violence, teen pregnancies, racial discrimination, drug and alcohol abuse, becoming better parents, and closing the achievement gap between students. While the initial portion of the book focuses on increasing one’s personal well-being, the majority of the book is focused on addressing these popular problems by implementing Wilson’s strategies. Overall, I found Wilson’s book to be an interesting and useful guide to re-framing one’s way of viewing the world. An important thought that Wilson mentions in his book is that positive thoughts alone don’t mean anything—it is positive behavior that ultimately makes the changes. However, positive behavior are unlikely to come about without positive thoughts. And re-framing one’s way at looking at things, is the only way that positive thoughts can come about. I found the book to be both helpful and informational. Published by Little, Brown and Company. September 2011. 288 pages. List price $25.99.

A year and six seconds, Isabel Gillies

2011-08-25T19:25:00.000-07:00

“A year and six seconds” by Isabel Gillies, follows her life as her husband Josiah leaves her, and she is forced to move from their house in Ohio to live with her parents in their rent-controlled apartment in New York. To complicate matters, Isabel is forced to settle her two toddler sons into their new New York home, adjust to her ex-husband’s betrayal, and attempt to make a new life for herself (get a new state driver’s license, open a bank account, find a job, etc.) in spite of all the obstacles. Gillies is probably best known for her role in “Law and order.” Although I am not an avid watcher of the show, I became interested in her memoir after reading a blurb about her story. This is definitely not a weepy-divorce type of book. Rather, it an optimistic account of overcoming the pain and discomfort of divorce—only to end up on the sunny side of life. I found the writing candid, humorous, and down to earth. The memoir itself is very reminiscent of a diary, as Gillies reflects upon intimate issues. At one point, she even confesses to feeling unwanted—her ex-husband loves another woman, her mother is tired of seeing the constant ruckus in her apartment that comes from Isabel and her two children, her friends try to unsuccessfully match her up with potential suitors, and life in New York is giving her a hard time. It’s the kind of memoir that is both interesting and highly relatable. Published by Hyperion Voice. August 2011. 256 pages. List price $21.99

The keeper of lost causes, Jussi Adler-Olsen

2011-08-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

“The keeper of lost causes” by Jussi Adler-Olsen follows Danish detective Carl Morck, as he gets promoted to head a special police department dedicated to solving old cases which were never solved, and referred to as department Q. Carl’s first case is the five-year-old disappearance of an attractive Democratic vice-chairperson politician called Merete Lynggaard. The book then jumps back and forth between 2007, the year Carl starts his investigation, and 2002—the year when Merete disappeared. Carl soon finds that Merete’s private life was nearly non-existent—with the exception of her handicapped brother Uffe who resided with her, a politician who was enamored with her, and a man called Daniel Hane with whom Merete had a brief romantic relationship with before breaking it off. One thing is clear: While Merete was popular with the media, it is not clear how many fans or enemies she had in her personal life. What stands out for me in this book is the characterization of the main character. Adler-Olsen doesn’t glorify Carl with James Bond-type skills. He doesn’t make him a hunk with the ladies. And he doesn’t make the detective the best connected and most-liked man in town. In stark contrast to many stereotypes in modern thrillers, Adler-Olsen brings something truly European to his leading man—humanity. Carl hates his ex-wife Vigga, but can’t help financially supporting her various projects. He lives with his spoiled stepson Jasper (who ran away from his mother) and makes extra money renting some of his apartment space to Mortensen—an elderly guy, who Carl sympathizes with but has trouble getting along with. At work, he quickly realizes that the only reason he was given his own department was so his co-workers could get rid of him, and alienate him from some new cash pumping into the police department. Overall, I found this to be an interesting thriller with well-developed characters and plot twists. I’ve wanted to get better acquainted with modern European mystery writers, and Jussi Adler-Olsen is definitely a name to look out for. Published by Dutton Adult. August 23, 2011. 400 pages. List Price $25.95

It's hard not to hate you, Valerie Frankel

2011-08-15T14:39:00.001-07:00

“It’s hard not to hate you” is Valerie Frankel’s humorous memoir about her life, using one universal themes: hatred for mundane situations, things, and people—and the way to cope with it. This is not your typical chronological memoir, but rather a collection of stories adhering to the universal theme of this book. The author gets you to laugh with her, to cry with her, and to see yourself in similar situations. I found the memoir to be both humorous and sentimental. Frankel describes being an outcast in high school, going through various fake friends (the druggie, two hippies, the narcissist, and two turncoats who stopped being the author’s friends when she gained a few pounds), dating the wrong boyfriends (one is an intellectual, snobby type; another is a man-child with a coarse way of behaving), losing her first husband, coping with bitchy acquaintances, raising her two daughters while navigating the landscape of BFF parenting, coping with a negative body image, and much more. Despite the personal content, the writing is not self-conscious and words are free-flowing. Frankel doesn’t mind embarrassing herself, and even tries following one book’s advice to live in harmony (she quickly quits, realizing that venting and complaining makes one emotionally healthier). Many of the stories here are easy to relate to. Published by St. Martin’s Press. September 2011. 256 pages. List price $24.99

Iron house, John Hart

2011-08-11T07:17:00.000-07:00

“Iron house” by John Hart follows Michael, a hitman working for the mafia who had just quit the business when his only friend Otto—the powerful crime boss dies—and Michael has the crime boss’s son, Stevan, and his goons going after him for killing his father. Not only are they willing to go after Michael, but also blow up the restaurant where his pregnant girlfriend Elena works. And it doesn’t stop there. As Michael and Elena go on the run, Stevan and the mafia threaten to find and kill the only other person close to Michael’s heart—his troubled brother Julian. Flash-back twenty-five years. Michael and Julian are both at a boys’ orphanage called Iron House, after being abandoned when they were babies. Both hate Iron House. However, Michael is strong and able to stand up for himself. Julian is weak, and constantly gets beat up by the gang of boys headed by the evil Hennessey. One day. A rich woman named Abigail Vance, who is married to a billionaire senator, comes to adopt Michael and Julian. Only this is the day that Julian snaps—and murders Hennessey as revenge for all the bullying he had to endure. Knowing his brother would never be able to tolerate prison time, Michael takes the blame and runs away from Iron House the same day. He goes on to New York City where he meets Otto and starts building a life for himself. Julian, meanwhile, gets adopted by Abigail and moves into her and the senator’s mansion. Flash-forward to present. Michael arrives at Abigail’s residence to try to warn Julian about the peril he is in, before it is too late. Only things go terrible wrong. As bodies start piling up in the nearby lake, his girlfriend gets kidnapped, and Julian is in a mysterious state of madness—Michael is the only one who can figure out what is going on and save them while he still has the chance. This is a pretty gripping story, with many plot turns. Hart keeps the suspense strong, while creating multi-layered characters who, for the most part, are hard to figure out—making the story unpredictable. Most of the story takes place in North Carolina and Hart really uses the imagery to add a Southern taste to the story. This was a satisfying read. Published by Thomas Dunne Books. July 2011. 432 pages. list price $25.99

You're next, Gregg Hurwitz

2011-08-10T15:34:00.000-07:00

“You’re next” by Gregg Hurwirz trails Michael Wingate—a real estate developer who thinks he has his life made, until two thugs called William and Dodge track him down and threaten him during his award ceremony with the governor. Mike quickly goes over possible motives. Can it be connected to the sudden discovery of PVC pipes under his newly-completed green house land? Or is it somehow related to his past—where, at age four, he was mysteriously abandoned by his father at the playground even as he noticed that his father sported blood on his shirt? From there, circumstances gradually worsen. They start sneaking into Michael’s house. They hunt down Michael’s eight-year-old-daughter Kat, while she’s playing on the school playground. They make it a point to murder Michael’s wife Annabel. And they refuse to respond to Michael’s attempts to find out what they want. The only thing they make clear is they want to kill him. As Michael goes on the run, dragging Kat along with him, he has no one to lean on but Shep—his old childhood friend raised alongside him in foster care—and Hank, a private investigator hired by Mike. The only problem Mike keeps running into is that the hunt for him is deeper than just shady characters, as high-level police cops start chasing after him as well. With no one to trust and his life on the line, Mike must figure out what’s going on before the killers catch up to him. If you like thrillers like I do, then you will devour this. This is my third favorite book of the season. It has all the components: non-stop action, an elaborate cover-up, and a main character who has no idea what’s going on. Highly readable. Published by St. Martin’s Press. July 2011. 416 pages. List price $24.99

Back of beyond, C.J. Box

2011-08-09T07:28:00.000-07:00

“Back of beyond” by C.J. Box follows a suspended cop, Cody Hoyt, whose friend Hank is found murdered in a desolate cabin and whose laptop shows he’s been searching information about a Yellowstone Park Wilderness Adventure, led by a certain Jed McCarthy, before his murder. As if the case wasn’t personal enough, Cody finds out that the group is already leaving and his seventeen-year-old son Justin is on it. Strongly suspecting that Hank’s killer is there as well, Cody enlists the help of another Yellowstone Park outfitter in an attempt to locate the group. Meanwhile, his cop friend Larry is doing some research—finding out that several murders similar to Hank’s had been committed in the recent months. But when Cody’s hotel room is set on fire, he suspects that someone helping him actually wants to hurt him. Box then jumps back and forth between Cody’s investigation, and Jay’s Yellowstone Park outing. As Cody predicted, things soon turn dark. While the initial group seems safe enough—three Wall Street buddies from New York, a middle-aged father with his two teenage daughters, an older couple trying to repair their marriage, a single woman looking to spice up her life, a middle-aged man who prefers to keep to himself, and of course Jay himself with his twenty-something country-girl assistant Dakota Hill—it soon becomes apparent that someone from their group is not all they seem. Aside from the mystery itself—which is a creative whodunit—what I appreciated about this book is the detailed descriptions of mid-west America and wilderness in particular. Box does a good job of having the nature come alive—you no longer see things just from the view of the characters, but you feel as though you are there. While I was not familiar with the author, and the beginning was a bit slow, I was pleasantly surprised by the time I reached the middle of the book and I found myself in the middle of a good story. Recommended suspense thriller. Minotaur Books. August 2011. 384 pages. List Price $25.99

The two deaths of Daniel Hayes, Marcus Sakey

2011-08-09T07:24:00.000-07:00

In “The two deaths of Daniel Hayes,” Marcus Sakey weaves a tale of a mysterious man who is accused of murdering his wife, is forced to run from the police, and has two people going after him—all while trying to piece his life together. The story starts as Daniel is wading out of the water on a deserted Maine beach—he can’t remember whop he is or how he got there. Nearby, he finds an empty BMW, where he sees documents pertaining to a certain Daniel Hayes. Realizing that it is his car, and finding some cash inside, he checks into a hotel—only to leave the place in a hurry, after he finds a police officer at his door. While watching a TV program, he falls in love with one of the lead actresses, Laney Thayer, only to eventually discover that the actress in question is his wife, and the house pictured in the show is the very house they shared. He is happy to re-discover his old life—only to find out he had lost it all. What was he doing in the ocean? Why had he traveled to Maine when they lived in California? And most importantly, what happened to Laney? Did he truly kill her, as the police would have him believe? Or is there something more sinister going on? Hunted by a mysterious killer known as Bennett, dodging the police, and trying to protect the people he loves is a tough thing to do—but the hardest thing is remembering what happened. While the topic of a character struggling from amnesia and being vulnerable to circumstances surrounding him isn’t new—Christopher Nolan’s “Memento” and S.J. Watson’s “Before you go to sleep” spring to mind—Sakey does manage to put a fresh spin on the idea, and was successful in keeping my interest throughout the book. The beach opening grabs the reader. From there, Sakey keeps the reader guessing—some of the characters aren’t who you think they are, the lead character doesn’t know whether he is guilty of what he is being accused of, and a sinister character just won’t give up. If you like thrillers, then you might consider picking this up. Published by Dutton Adult. June 2011. 400 pages. List Price $25.95

William and Kate, Christopher Andersen

2011-08-05T06:33:00.000-07:00

In “William and Kate: A Royal Love Story,” Christopher Andersen explores the individual life stories of William, Prince of Wales and Kate Middleton, a commoner. He then follows their life stories until they intersect, and goes on to recount their ten-year relationship and eventual marriage. The interesting thing about their relationship was that it was the first time a high-ranking member of the Royal family, or “The Firm” as they like to be called in England, married a commoner and is still on his way to become king. Prince William’s own mother, Diana Spencer, was even more blue-blooded than Charles. But as he witnessed the breakup of his parents’ marriage, the thing that William grew to understand is that the aristocratic standing of his partner meant nothing, if he did not love her. Enter Kate: a girl from a self-made millionaire family (who made their fortune creating goodie bags for children’s birthday parties) and from a working-class background (her uncle is a drug dealer, her mother was an airplane stewardess). Andersen describes in detail the strategies she used in her relationship with William (wearing a provocative outfit in the student fashion show—which catches William’s attention and leads him to invite her to become his roommate, ingratiating herself with the Royal family without overplaying her card, invoking William’s jealousy during their period apart, and much more), while tracing William’s training in the army, navy, and aviation. Overall, I thought Andersen did a good job with this. I am not predisposed to read anymore William and Kate books, as he answered all of my questions. Recommended for anyone looking to gain a new view on the future King and Queen. Published by Gallery. 336 pages. List price $16.00

Now you see her, James Patterson

2011-08-05T05:39:00.000-07:00

In “Now you see her,” James Patterson tells the story of a mysterious woman named Nina, who’s running away from her old life and secrets which can ruin her life in the present. The story starts off when Nina, a single mom, shows a video recording to her sixteen-year-old daughter of her father wishing her a happy birthday. Only it’s not her father, but an actor hired by Nina. For whatever reason, Nina does not want her daughter to know the truth. Flashback to nearly twenty years ago: Nina is Jeanine, a college senior who travels down to Keywest, Florida for her spring break. As she, her boyfriend Alex, and fellow friends get a little drunk—things began to spiral out of control. Jeanine catches Alex cheating on her with her boyfriend. She steals his car, and runs over a man. A police officer who witnesses the scene offers Nina a choice. Nina feels guilty, even as she falls in love with this police officer. There are a lot of things that she doesn’t know about. Until she meets an FBI agent, who finally opens her eyes. But by then, it’s too late. Meanwhile, a serial killer by the name of the Jump Killer is terrorizing the Key West. And Nina is about to get herself into more trouble…Half of the book reveals Nina’s past. The other half of the book flash forwards to Nina’s present, as the demons from her past begin to catch up to her. Overall, I thought “Now you see her” was one of Patterson’s and Ledwidge’s better efforts. The plot is fast and clear. The lead character is interesting. And the writing is done in its usual easy-to-read, keep-them-coming-back-for-more short chapters. Published by Little, Brown, and Company. 432 pages. List price $27.99

Spycatcher, William Dunn

2011-08-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

“Spycatcher” by Matthew Dunn, a former MI6 spy himself, tells the story of MI6 spy Will Cochrane, a man sent on a mission to track down Meggido, a long-feared terrorist who is planning operations in the U.S. and Britain. The story starts with a bang, as Cochrane is forced to kill his own informer, after the two-sided spy is injured by the terrorists and Cochrane fears that if this informer is captured, he will divulge all their secrets. Cochrane is then summoned back to his boss’s office who gives him the assignment that forms the basis of this book. Cochrane travels to Serbia where he meets Lace, a sketchy businessman who has relations with MI6 and claims he has a lead about Meggido. Supposedly, Lace met a certain dangerous man when the Yugoslavia war was raging in the early 1990s and this man was aiding certain troops, by slipping money to Lana, a journalist and his eventual lover, who secretly carried the money to them, thus enabling them to purchase weapons and other supplies—using her profession as cover. Lace suspects that this man was Meggido. Quickly enough, Cochrane comes up with a plan. He flies to Paris, where Lana now lives, and plans to use her as bait for Meggido. Only things are a lot more sinister than they seem. I thought Dunn’s personal experience made this book more authentic, than many of the current spy novels out there. Fans of James Bond are likely to embrace Will Cochrane. Published by William Morrow. August 2011. 432 pages. List Price $25.99

Dominance, Will Lavender

2011-08-01T08:16:00.001-07:00

“Dominance” by Will Lavender follows the alumnis of a former night class taught by jailed professor Richard Aldiss—formerly convicted of murdering two female students, and in 1994 teaching a class dedicated to discovering the identity of enigmatic author Fallows. The book’s premise alternates between the class of 1994, and present day when one of the grads of the class is murdered and Richard Aldiss tells the book’s protagonist, Alex Shipley—another grad of that infamous night class, that the murderer is someone from that class. Events switch back and forth between 1994 and present day. Back in 1994, Alex is told by the college’s dean that he believes Aldiss is innocent of the murders, and the only thing that can prove his innocence is the discovery of the true identity of Fallows—whom their night class is dedicated to, and who might have been the true murderer. In the present day, former members of the night class are invited by the dean to attend the memorial of their killed classmate. But soon enough, they start getting murdered as well. All clues point to yet another Fallows connection, a sort of copycat murders. But this time, Alex is no longer sure of herself. Was Aldiss, the man to point to the connection between the current murders, ever truly innocent? Who was Fallows? And if someone involved in the night class is behind the murders, whom can she trust? Overall, the book has an interesting format—alternating between two mysteries, one set in 1994 and one set in the present day. I thought the structure was creative and kept my interest in the story. The ending is pretty unpredictable, as things finish out on a cliff-hanger note and the reader is left to wonder about the fate of Alex Shipley. Published by Simon & Schuster. July 2011. 368 pages. List Price $25.00

Killer move, Marshall Moore

2011-08-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

“Killer move” by Michael Marshall follows the life of Bill Moore—a successful realtor whose life gets ruined when suspicious events start happening to him, right after a card bearing the word “modified” is left after each situation-gone-wrong. At first the game seems silly, and Moore takes it in stride. He receives a book from Amazon that he never ordered, and a joking email is sent from his email address to all of his co-workers—except that Moore never sent it. A restaurant reservation that Moore was planning to make to have a celebratory dinner with his wife Steph, but somehow forgot about, is made by someone else. However, soon the tampering with his life takes a turn for the worse. A client that Moore was supposed to meet at dinner never turns up. After that, Moore is thrust into the rollercoaster of his life. His wife breaks up with him. Strange things begin to happen to his co-worker Karin. The girl Moore befriends gets murdered. And someone starts going after Moore himself. Running alongside Moore’s story, is the storyline of John Hunter—a convict who is released from prison and has one thing on his mind: revenge. Overall, this was a very intense thriller. I would add this book to my favorite thrillers category. It was that hard-to-put-down. I am not familiar with Michael Marshall, but I would give him props for this book. Very well-written and has “movie material” written all over it. Recommended for anyone searching for an engrossing read. Published by William Morrow. June 2011. 368 pages. List price $24.99

The insider, Reece Hirsch

2011-08-01T08:03:00.000-07:00

“The insider” by Reece Hirsch follows a lawyer named Will Connelly who gets involved with Russian mobsters intent on using him to get into the mafia, all the while sinister things are happening at his law firm after an associate gets killed after falling from his office window. Will, who is shortly thereafter promoted to partner, worked with Ben before his fall and has trouble believing that this is an act of suicide. But who would want to murder Ben, a tax lawyer? Events heat up as Will goes to a bar to celebrate his being promoted to partner—only to meet Katya, an attractive Russian security-firm receptionist who he has a one-night stand with, all the while accidentally revealing the top secret merger his company is working on with Jupiter Software, a company specializing in encryption. To complicate matters, Will has just been appointed to lead counsel on the case—representing Jupiter’s interests—and if word gets out about the merger, from Katya or otherwise, Will can be prosecuted for Insider trading. The next morning, two Russian thugs by the name of Yuri and Nikolai come knocking at Katya’s door—and won’t leave Will alone until he tells them the outcome of the merger, and finds them a certain encryption key created by Jupiter and much wanted by their terrorist friend. To make things harder for Will, the police are suspecting that he might have something to do with Ben’s death, and are gathering information about him to make the arrest—until stronger evidence point him to being involved in insider trading. Faced with accusations of murder and insider fraud from SEC and the FBI, chased and threatened by Russian thugs, as well as on the brink of being fired from his job and losing his sanity—Will is forced to make some very hard choices. This is Reece Hirsch’s debut thriller. Ok, so a couple of things. Hirsch worked as a lawyer himself and knows his way around a law office—bringing his knowledge to Will’s character and his own time at the law office. He skips a lengthy introduction to the main character, doesn’t delve on empty details, and avoids passive outcomes. The story starts off with a bang—Will sees Ben falling through his window—and jumps from there. Is the plot believable? Well, it’s hard to say. But the read is fun. Published by Berkley. 336 pages. List Price $7.99

I'm kind of a big deal, Stefanie Wilder-Taylor

2011-08-01T07:54:00.000-07:00

“I’m kind of a big deal” chronicles Stefanie Wilder-Taylor’s life, growing up and eventually “making it” in Hollywood as a game shows writer. In similar style to her previous titles, Wilder-Taylor tells her story in separate anecdotes, and finds comedy in every situation she encounters. Stories include everything from waitressing in New York, participating as an extra in Bob Dylan video, and participating in dating game shows---to stalking a guy she saw on TV, temporarily working as a limo driver to the rich and famous (Chevy Chase was nice, Lolita Davidovich not), trying her hand at becoming a stand-up comedian, and accidentally getting a break and finding employment as a game show writer. The writing is pretty funny, and the author succeeds in keeping things light. This was a nice sequel to “It’s not me, it’s you,” which I also read. Recommended for anyone who likes light comedy-centered memoirs, or is simply looking to be entertained. Published by Gallery. June 2011. 272 pages. List Price $15.00

In the Small Kitchen, Cara Eisenpress, Phoebe Lapine

2011-08-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

“In the small kitchen: 100 recipes from one year of cooking in the real world” follows twenty-somethings as they learn recipes and enhance their culinary skills, in their new post-college lives. Interspersed with the recipes, are biographical stories from the lives of the authors. Many of the recipes use creative spins on tried-and-tested meals like pasta, pancakes, and salads, while occasionally coming up with new recipes altogether like barbecue lentils, shrimp risotto, beer beef stew, and garlicky swiss chard, to name a few. The recipes themselves are divided into categories like “Cooking for one,” “Potlucking,” “Cocktail Parties,” “Dating and food,” “Brunch,” “The Dinner party,” “Leftovers,” and “prep school” to name a few. In other words, the authors’ aim isn’t just cooking for the sake of cooking, but rather cooking for the sake of occasions, and using food to add some color to their lives. It doesn’t hurt that the recipes themselves are tailored to the events they fall under. Overall, I thought this was an excellent cookbook to have in one’s collection. Published by William Morrow Cookbooks. 320 pages. List Price $21.99

Story Engineering, Larry Brooks

2011-07-19T07:35:00.000-07:00

“Story Engineering” by Larry Brooks consists of eight parts—including the introduction, the six parts dedicated to six “core competencies” (concept, character, theme, story structure, scene execution, and writing voice), and part eight, the last chapter, which is dedicated to the story development process. Right off the bat, the author admits that there are many books dedicated to writing a book—many of which are written by famous novelists themselves, but nevertheless fail to accurately analyze the process. Brooks goes about this a different way—saying that the best structure for writing a fiction book is one that the screenwriters use, and one which Brooks himself has adapted for this book. On the other hand, he avoids advocating formulaic writing--straight off saying that his book is about concentrating on different aspects of the story, instead of relying on some kind of a formula. If you’re looking for just that—a formula to writing a successful novel—than you’re better off picking a different book. On the other hand, Brooks himself admits that formulas often don’t work. Overall, I found this to be a helpful reference tool to writing a story. Many of the things Brooks covers have already been covered before, but nevertheless, I found the book well organized and presented. Published by F+W Media. 288 pages. List Price $17.99

Tolstoy and the Purple Chair, Nina Sankovitch

2011-07-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

“Tolstoy and the purple chair” is Nina Sankovitch’s memoir of the year she spent dedicating to reading—reading and reviewing a book a day, using reading as a healing process to recover from losing her sister. I found the book to be part memoir (the author recalls her childhood, her relationship with her sister, and her currently bustling household) and part exploration into how books connect with real life (the author includes various brief descriptions of the books she read, as well as her reaction to them). The end of the book also has a lengthy list of every book the author read during her reading year. I thought is subject matter was interesting. Throughout the book, Sankovitch emotionally reflects on her current and past life, while choosing books based on their similarities to her own experiences, original storylines—including many mysteries, as well as taking recommendations made by friends and strangers. While the prospect of reading a book a day is a venture that is time-consuming, Sankovitch confesses that she looked upon the time as a long vacation from the turmoil of her own life, and encourages readers to do the same. Overall, an interesting concept and a worthy account. Published by Harper. June 2011. 256 pages. list price $23.99

long gone, alafair burke

2011-07-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

“Long Gone” by Alafair Burke follows thirty-seven year old Alice Humphrey, daughter of a famous director father, former child star, and currently unemployed art-lover who attends an opening for a new gallery before getting recruited by the mysterious Drew Campbell to manage his friend’s gallery. It just so happens that managing an art gallery is Alice’s dream job—and an opportunity that sounds almost too good to pass up. However, contrary to Alice’s expectations, problems begin cropping up immediately. Protestors crowd outside the gallery, complaining that one of the portraits being sold is of an underage girl. The next day, Alice arrives to find the gallery mysteriously empty---all the portraits are gone, but even more disturbingly, someone killed Drew Campbell. Soon enough, police are knocking at Alice’s girl—suspecting her of participating in Drew’s murder, and even showing Alice a photograph of her kissing Drew. Except Alice knows it’s not her. She quickly realizes she is being framed, but by whom? The only people Alice can really trust are her on-again/off-again boyfriend Jeff, and best friend Lily. Or can she? The situation isn’t helped when Alice loses trust in her family, as dark secrets become revealed. As Alice tries to figure out what’s happening, a teenage girl by the name of Becca Stevens mysteriously disappears. And a detective called Hank Beckman is trailing Travis Larsen, a man who contributed to his sister’s death. But even more intriguing, is that these isolated storylines are not so isolated after all, but connect directly to Alice’s mystery….I was not familiar with the author before picking up this book, but I must say, this book was hard to put down. There were a lot of twists and turns in the plot, and far more plot background than was at first let on. Alafair Burke’s legal background—she was a Deputy District Attorney and currently teaches criminal law—serve as an excellent framework for the police aspect of this book, and contribute to the plausibility of the plot. Definitely one of my current favorite thrillers. Published by Harper. June 2011. 368 pages. List price $24.99

Heal Your Brain, David Hellerstein

2011-06-30T14:03:00.000-07:00

“Heal your brain” by David Hellerstein is divided into two parts: Getting Well and Staying Well. The focus of the author, a psychiatrist at Columbia University, is to explore the different ways common mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, etc. can be treated. He refers to his methods—a combination of talk therapy and medications—as New Psychiatry. Throughout the book, Hellerstein represents different patient stories as examples of successful treatments. Patients like the widowed lawyer with PTSD and OCD, whose wife had been killed in a car crash years before, when he was behind the wheel and a drunk driver crashed into them. Also, other patients like a middle-aged housewife who thinks her depression is strictly postpartum and only wants a prescription for anti-depressants—until she realizes that the meds would never fix her broken marriage and career unhappiness. Overall, Hellerstein strikes a good balance between describing the various ways to treat those kind of disorders: As a psychiatrist, he strongly believes that meds can help various stress-associated conditions, but he is careful to note that sometimes life problems are too complex to solve with just some pills. This book is not meant as a quick-fix solution, but rather an overview of modern psychiatry methods and appropriate patient stories to illustrate those methods. As far as similar books go, this one focused more on information and stayed clear of unsubstantiated claims--a trap that many similar works often fall into. Recommended for anyone interested in the field of psychology. Published by John Hopkins University Press. 304 pages. List Price $25.99

Buried Secrets, Joseph Finder

2011-06-29T10:22:00.001-07:00

“Buried secrets” by Joseph Finder is the second book where Nick Heller (the first was “Vanished”) tries to uncover a crime and find a missing person. The missing person in this book is Alexa Marcus—the carefree daughter of a Boston billionaire, who disappears after she gets drunk in a nightclub and is given a ride by a handsome stranger. Nick’s suspicion immediately falls on Alexa’s best friend Taylor, who was also present at the nightclub that night and introduced Alexa to the stranger. Also suspicious is Alexa’s father Marshall Marcus, who has the FBI after him and is obviously not telling Nick something. Marshall’s young wife Belinda, Alexa’s stepmother, is no better—claiming she loves Alexa, while Nick’s own nephew Gabriel—a friend of Alexa’s--claims she always hated her. Then there’s David Schechter, Marshall Marcus’s lawyer and an acquaintance of Taylor’s family—a man who knows more secrets than he lets up. As Alexa winds up buried alive, while some strange files are demanded from her father, the succession of shady characters continues. I thought the setup of the story works well. Overall, it was an engrossing read. Published by St. Martins Press. June 2011. 400 pages. List Price $25.99

Before I go to sleep, S.J. Watson

2011-06-29T10:17:00.000-07:00

“Before I go to sleep” by S.J. Watson is a psychological thriller focusing on a middle-aged woman named Christine Lucas and her attempts to piece her life together following a horrific accident, sketchy husband Ben, and her withdrawn psychologist. The book starts out with Christine getting about her new day. She doesn’t recognize the man sharing the bed with her (he tells her he is her husband Ben), the crowded apartment, or even herself. After a surprise conversation with the man who calls himself Dr. Nash (he tells her he is her psychologist), Christine finds the journal she’s been keeping after their sessions—the only chance she has of figuring out her own life. The caveat of the story is that Christine is only able to retain memories for twenty-four hours (only long enough to write them down), after suffering a brain injury in a mysterious accident years earlier. Thus, each day is like a new life—except that her journal finally provides her with her own biography. But as she finds her journal once again, she is surprised to see this caption in her own writing: “Don’t trust Ben.” But could the man sharing the house with her, calling himself her husband, and claiming he is in love with her, really be lying to her? And why exactly is he hiding important details from her life pre-accident? To answer those questions, and find out what happened, Christine needs to go through her journal and do a little investigating of her own—before it’s too late. An interesting storyline by a British novelist. The lead character is very sympathetic, but what really keeps the story moving is the mystery behind Ben and Christine’s previous life. Some of it is lengthy, but I did not guess the ending—which, by the way, succeeded in tying the story together. The central theme here is trust: Should she or shouldn’t she? I can see this getting made into a movie. Published by Harper. June 2011. 368 pages. List Price $25.99

Never knowing, Chevy Stevens

2011-06-29T10:06:00.001-07:00

In “Never Knowing” by Chevy Stevens, the main character, Sara Gallagher, gets the surprise of a lifetime when she sets out to track down her birth parents only to find out that her real father, John, is a serial killer referred to as the Campsite Killer—and her birth mother, Julia, was his only victim to escape. As Sara tries to forget everything she learned, the story catches fire and is widely publicized. As a result of all the publicity, John learns about Sara’s existence and tries to contact her. Reluctant to have anything to do with him at first, Sara finally gives in—pressured by officers Sandy and Billy, who see Sara as the only way they can catch the Campsite Killer. Despite communications with Sara, John remains as reclusive as ever. Meanwhile, Sara’s life goes downhill. She is forced to hide everything from her adoptive family. Her fiancé Evan becomes jealous of her relationship with officer Billy. But Sara is especially scared about her six-year-old daughter Ally’s safety, as John threatens to put an end to Sara’s whole way of life. This was my first Chevy Stevens book. What drew me to this story was the interesting premise. The structure is pretty original, with each chapter being told in the format of a therapy session. The ending caught me a little off-guard, as one of the characters turns out to be completely different than his portrayal throughout the book. If you’re looking for a light mystery, than this is a fulfilling choice. Published by St. Martins Press. July 2011. 352 pages. $24.99

This won't hurt a bit, Michelle Au

2011-06-29T10:04:00.001-07:00

"This won't hurt a bit" by Michelle Au is a memoir about going to medical school and becoming a doctor. First of: Medicine tends to be a depressing profession, unless spending your days caring for the physically sick patients and interacting with their emotionally sick relatives is your idea of fun. But the surprising thing is, aside from some seriously sad stories, Michelle keeps her writing light and even manages to laugh at herself in the process. The book recounts the author's four years in medical school, and five years of residency (two of which she spent as a pediatrician, and three of which she spends as an anesthesiologist after deciding to switch her career goals) in New York hospitals. Growing up in a family of doctors, it was a natural choice for Michelle to become a doctor herself--despite her father's warnings. It's only after she interns for the first time that she re-considers her career choice, asking herself what she's gotten into. The decision to become a doctor is an important step for any future doctor, and Michelle certainly doesn't take hers lightly. Anecdotes of her initial cluelessness and physical exhaustion at being on-call twenty-four/seven follow. This is a good book for any medical students or people considering joining the field, as Michelle includes a lot of information about both the training and the typical days on the job. On the other hand, it's also an interesting memoir. Au writes about the hardship of balancing her demanding job and the responsibilities of being a mother, with a husband who is also in the medical field and rarely home. It's an intricate look at the behind-the-scenes life of a medical professional. Published by Grand Central Publishing. May 2011. 336 pages. List Price $24.99

Sisterhood Everlasting, Ann Brashares

2011-06-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

“Sisterhood Everlasting” by Ann Brashares is the fifth book in the Sisterhood series—which followed the lives of four friends Lena, Bridget, Tibby, and Carmen. While the initial books were based on their young adult years, “Sisterhood Everlasting” is based on their grown up years—with the four friends nearing thirty. In their grown up lives: Carmen works as a TV actress in New York City and is engaged to ABC executive Jones. Lena lives in Providence, Rhode Island and teaches art classes, while painting and occasionally pining away for her former flame and nowadays successful Greek businessman living in London, Kostos. Bridget, who has yet to find her calling in life, lives in sunny San Francisco with her long-term boyfriend Erik, who works as an immigration worker. Tibby has re-located to Australia because of her boyfriend Brian’s job, and hardly communicates with the rest of the friends. Everything changes when Lena, Bridget, and Carmen receive a letter from Tibby inviting them all to meet up in Santorini, Greece (the birthplace of Lena’s family, the place where she met Kostos, and also the place where the Sisterhood had some meaningful moments in the past) for a week of catching up. Only nothing goes as expected. The interesting thing about this book is that contrary to my expectations, Brashares changes the whole story around right when the friends arrive in Greece. Thus, the next three quarters of the book are nothing like I originally imagined them to be. Let me start out by saying that this book is definitely more grown up in tone, than the previous novels about the Sisterhood. While there are still cute quotes preceding each chapter, the characters themselves have greatly evolved, along with their respective storylines. I was a big fan of the previous Sisterhood books, so I was excited toread this. Recommended for both Sisterhood fans, as well as a stand-alone novel. Published by Random House. June 2011. 368 pages. List price $25.00

Shania Twain, From this moment on

2011-06-20T15:27:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking for a modern day fairy tale, than “From this moment” is your best bet. I first heard of Shania Twain from her songs on the radio—popular nineties hits like “I feel like a woman,” “You’re still the one,” “From this moment on,” and “That don’t impress me much,” among others. Shania’s real name is Eileen, and she’s a Canadian country girl who never even ventured outside her home country until her twenties. Her childhood was the ultimate Cinderella story: She grew up in poverty, in an emotionally charged family. Early on, she lost her mother and her stepfather and was left to take care of her siblings on her own. Her only dream was to be able to make a living as a musician. And when her mother’s friend (and ultimately her manager) Mary Bailey suggests she play at a Canadian Las Vegas-like resort, Shania goes for it. Surprisingly, she gets offered a position and she agrees to move her entire family there in exchange for a decent salary that can cover their room and board. Mary Bailey then arranges for a Nashville music lawyer to see her perform, who then introduces her to her first American music label, Mercury. And that is how Shania Twain, the superstar, begins her musical journey. So a couple of things about this book: it’s very frank. Shania confesses to being terrified of getting fired from her music label if her first album isn’t well-received by the American public. She feels trapped into being labeled as only a “country” artist, when she loves different musical genres including pop and R’n’B—but feels no choice but to give in to her bosses, even when she hates the songs she records. Her soul-mate producer husband Mutt Lange ends up betraying her. The touring nearly does her in, as she can barely cope with the sheer physical exhaustion of it. And just when she takes a break from singing to raise her son and supervise renovations to their new house, her personal life collapses. Overall, this is one of the most intimate self-penned memoirs I read. Most stars are satisfied to give the reader just a “basic idea” of their lives. Right from the introduction, Shania insists she doesn’t want to hide anything. And she doesn’t. Even if one is not a fan or doesn’t know her that well (for the record, I didn’t), her life is a fascinating story. Published by Atria. May 2011. 448 pages. List price $27.99

Kara Dioguardi, helluva high note

2011-06-20T15:25:00.001-07:00

“A helluva note” is a memoir by Kara DioGuardi, best known as the fourth judge on American Idol series eight and nine, as well as a song writer known for hits like “Escape,” “Ain’t no other man,” “Sober,” “Walk away,” and “Spinning around,” among many others.After growing up as a wannabe singer and even temporarily singing in an independent band “Gramma Trips,” Kara gets a lucky break when she gets hired as an executive assistant at Billboard magazine, after her friend who was offered the job turned it down. It is during her time working there, that Kara makes some connections and gets into music publishing. Her first star client becomes Paula Abdul, who Kara co-writes “Spinning Around” for. After Abdul’s success with the song, Kara eventually quits her position and tries to make a living as a songwriter—barely making any money at first, and on the verge of going back to her old job, when an up-and-coming producer by the name of Steve Morales gets introduced to her. Thanks to him, Kara gets involved with Enrique Iglesias’s second studio album “Escape,” which goes on to become a multi-platinum record. From there on, Kara witnesses new door opening in front of her—doors that were previously closed. Interspersed throughout the chapters are Kara’s experiences working with artists like Pink, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry, the above mentioned Enrique Iglesias, Paula Abdul, and many others. Kara also describes her personal issues: living with an eating disorder, losing her mother, being molested as a child, enduring date rape by a producer acquaintance, surviving as a woman in a mostly male music industry, finding her husband, and getting fired from American Idol. The end of the book includes Kara’s advise to people who dream of also become songwriters, as well as full lists of all the U.S. and international singles she has worked on, in addition to top ten albums. Before starting this book, I only knew Kara from her stint on American Idol. Most songwriters always stay behind-the-scenes and remain largely unknown outside the industry. Because of Kara’s experiences, she ends up being the exception. For the wannabe songwriters out there, or simply curious American idol fans. Published by It Books. 240 pages. list Price $24.99

La seduction, Elaine Sciolino

2011-06-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

La Seduction is divided into five parts: So very French, Prolonging the moment, Written on the body, Seduction and public life, and The end of the affair. As you can tell by the title and the section headings, this book focuses on seduction as a French way of life. To prove her points, Sciolino explores French hand kissing techniques (citing an ex-French president as an example), interviews interesting characters (like the French gardener who used his status as an employee of the Versailles palace to seduce an attractive tourist), analyzes various media outlets (including French movies, newspapers, and even movie icons like Brigitte Bardot) as tools of seduction, and investigates seduction as a historically French way of life (a famous French courtesan who lived in the eighteenth century and whom Sciolino quotes compares seduction to war, when advising her young protégée on how to seduce a Countess). Francophiles will probably enjoy this. I think seduction is certainly an interesting theme, but I do think it would be helpful to see a French perspective on Sciolino's American characterization of the French. Also, the book occasionally reminded me of Robert Greene's `The Art of seduction," which is also full of short anecdotes with the same theme of "seduction." The difference being is that Greene's book is more a how-to, whereas Sciolino's book stops short of that territory by concentrating on seduction as a uniquely French way of life

Robert Redford: The biography, Michael Feeney Callan

2011-05-31T20:38:00.000-07:00

Michael Feeney Callan’s “Robert Redford: The Biography,” is a chronicle of the actor’s life before, during, and after his many years in movie stardom, his political activism, and struggles in personal life. I first noticed Redford when I watched “All the president’s men” back when I took a journalism class. Even though the movie was pretty old by today’s standards—shot in the seventies and chronicling the investigation of the Watergate scandal which left Nixon out of the office—I was intrigued by Redford’s portrayal of Bob Woodward, one of the two journalists whose investigation led to the unraveling of the greatest political scandal of the decade. Fast forward to this book. Going into it, I knew barely anything about Redford, other than some of his acting roles. However, as a big reader of celebrity memoirs, I must note that this is one of the most comprehensive biographies I’ve ever read—going from a brief description of Redford’s ancestors, to his childhood, the loss of his mother, the uncertainty of his adolescence, his love for travelling, an ultimate decision to get involved in acting, his first roles, the road to superstardom, divorce with his wife, the founding of Sundance institute and festival, his struggles to be taken seriously as an actor, his participation in politics—the list goes on and on. It must be said that Redford worked with some of the best actresses of his time: Barbra Streisand (who had a crush on him during filming “The way we were,”) Nathalie Wood (the relationship bordered somewhere between friendship and intimacy), Elizabeth Ashley (whose theater run with Redford ended in a nervous breakdown), and Meryl Streep (whose casting into “Out of Africa” co-starring Robert Redford, was contingent on her ability to portray “sexy”—something the producers initially doubted she could do, despite her acting talent). Redford also has the pleasure of co-starring with male heavy-weights such as Paul Newman, Dustin Hoffman, and nearly Titanic/Avator director David Cameron (before the movie production was scrapped due to financial reasons). Callan avoids assumptions, scandals, and any other kind of unsubstantiated claims—instead choosing rightly to focus on Redford’s career and his world view. The reader gets detailed stories behind Reford’s involvement in classics like “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Candidate,” and “All the president’s men.” To contrast his career hallmarks, Callan also includes the personal details of Redford’s life—his early relationship with ex-wife Lola, a devoted Mormon, the medical struggles of his only son, the fight to keep the Sundance Institute afloat, and the evolution from Robert Redford the actor to Robert Redford the director. I left this book with a full portrayal of Robert Redford the person. Published by Knopf. May 2011. 496 pages. List Price $28.95

The rich and the dead, Nelson DeMille

2011-05-31T20:36:00.000-07:00

“The rich and the dead” is a series of mystery stories surrounding the rich, compiled by writer Nelson DeMille. What attracted me to this book was the premise: there are a variety of stories to choose from, and characters are ever changing. If I don’t like something, instead of dropping the book, I can just switch to a different story. In that respect, the format was perfect for me. Overall, there are about twenty stories in the collection. Authors include Nelson DeMille himself, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Ted Bell, Joseph Goodrich, Daniel J. Hale, Frank cook, and Peter Blaumer, among many others. Storylines varied. For instance: In Michael Connelly’s “Blood washes off,” a widow is interrogated by police about the murder of her husband, following the suspect breaking into their house and accusing the husband of duping him out of his investments. In Karen Catalona’s “The Sadowsky Manifesto,” an owner of a literary agency is contacted by the FBI, after they find out that a mass murderer mailed him the manuscript of his novel. In Daniel J. Hale’s “The Precipice,” a wife and her acquaintance are abducted on their way back from a wedding reception, left in a cabin, and nearly murdered in an elaborate plot orchestrated by the husband. In David Morrell’s “The controller,” the founder of a security company suffers a series of assassination attempts, and refuses to trust his own security team. My favorite stories were probably “The Sadowsky Manifesto,” “The Precipice,” “Lamborghini Mommy,” “Happine$$,” and “Papparazzo. “ At first I found it hard switching so quickly from one set of characters to another, but got used to it very quickly. I would definitely recommend this book to all the mystery-lovers out there. Published by Grand Central Publishing. May 2011. 384 pages. List Price $24.99

Sixth Man, David Baldacci

2011-05-31T20:34:00.000-07:00

In “Sixth Man” Baldacci presents another thriller featuring his long-time PI Sean Kingston and his girlfriend Michelle Maxwell. The thriller centers around Edgar Roy—a supposed serial killer accused of murdering six people and burying them on his farm. The matter is complicated by the fact that Roy isn’t just any criminal—he used to work as a major intelligence analyst for a private company serving the U.S. government, and FBI closely monitor his imprisonment. Roy’s lawyer, Ted Bergin, is about to meet Kingston and brief him on the case when he is murdered on his way to the meeting. Feeling sorry about what happened to Bergin, a long-time friend, Kingston decides to work on Roy’s defense himself and begin his own investigation. After interviewing Bergin’s young associate, Megan Riley, and meeting people close to Roy, most notably his sister Kelly Paul, Kingston starts suspecting that Roy has been framed. As people close to Bergin and Roy continue getting murdered, Kingston starts suspecting that Roy’s career in the intelligence field is the real reason behind what’s happening. But that can only mean one thing—he has very powerful enemies. I have read several of Baldacci’s newer books, and this one brings him back to form. Chapters are short and sweet. Most importantly, the story line was not predictable and characters were not always easy to figure out. Almost every chapter had some new developments and moved the story forward in some way—a fundamental trait of good novels. The pacing is tight, and makes the long book a very quick read. Published by Grand Central publishing. 432 pages. List Price $27.99

Your voice in my head, Emma Forrest

2011-05-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

In “Your voice in my head,” British journalist Emma Forrest dishes on her mental issues and overcoming obstacles in her new American homeland of New York City. This book isn’t your typical self-indulgent memoir, as Forrest tackles some heavy issues: detailing her suicide attempts, self-mutilation, bulimia, harmful relationships, and a strive to make something out of herself among all these troubles. Soon enough, she finds herself a gifted psychologist that she introduces at the very beginning of the book as “Dr. R.” The book ultimately becomes as much Forrest’s own memoir, as a tribute to Dr. R—as chapters are suffused with short letters from his thankful patients. Unfortunately for Forrest, Dr. R succumbs to cancer and Forrest is once again left with her demons. She makes the move from cold New York to sunny California, to try her hand in screenwriting—but soon finds her old ways start catching up to her, as gets embroiled into an unhealthy relationship with a famous actor, that she refers to as her “Gypsy Husband.” Forrest’s writing reflects her self-analysis, as well as an uncensored glimpse at her stream of thoughts. This should prove a fascinating read for psychology students, or readers who had endured similar problems in their own lives. It’s a deep little memoir that leaves you thinking.

Sotries I only tell my friends, Rob Lowe

2011-05-27T11:17:00.000-07:00

“Stories I only tell my friends” is Rob Lowe’s memoir chronicling his years to stardom, his time with the brat pack (fellow young Hollywood stars like Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Sean Penn, etc.), behind-the-scenes look at his participation in hit movies like “The Outsiders” (starring young Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, etc. and directed by Francis Ford Coppola), as well as hit shows like “The West Wing” (starring Charlie Sheen’s father as the president of the United States). The memoir begins with his time growing up In Ohio, the separation of his parents, and the move with his mother and brother to California. Lowe showed a love for theater since young age, and had shorts stints on commercials and an unsuccessful TV show. He considers quitting showbiz altogether, until his successful casting in “The Outsiders” comes along. As he launches his acting career, Lowe meets fellow wannabe’s who are about to become stars themselves, people he refers to as Janet (Jackson), Sarah (Jessica Parker), and Demi (Moore), among many others. Also notable is his acquaintance with John Kennedy Jr., who wonders at Lowe’s ability to settle down with his wife, and later puts Lowe on the cover of “George” magazine despite many naysayers (most prominently the “invisible forces” on Lowe’s then-show “The West Wing” who lead Lowe to ultimately quit the show). As his acting career goes through success to troubles to somewhere in between, Lowe copes with a lack of a father figure, his mother’s mental problems, and his various relationships which range from “Little house on the prairie” actress Melissa Gilbert, to Princess Stephanie of Monaco (Grace Kelly’s daughter), and ultimately his wife, make-up artist Sheryl (with various flings and scandals in between). I found this book pretty entertaining and a suitable beach read.

Instant influence, Michael pantalon

2011-05-20T11:26:00.000-07:00

“Instant Influence” by Michael Pantalon is divided into three parts: “Get anyone to do anything fast,” “Expanding your influence,” and “Making the most of your results.” The topic itself is interesting enough to be fascinating, however I was initially concerned that the book itself might be compromised of textbook quality writing. Thankfully, the writing was actually pretty conversational and easy to understand. The foundation of this book lies upon the fact that you can never preach someone your world views—you can only subtly influence them, while letting them keep their independence and make their own decisions. Pantalon notes that the key is figuring out why one might want to change (using his reasons, not yours) and then working with them. Pantalon refers to the process as “six steps to Instant Influence.” The second part of the book actually focuses on utilizing Pantalon’s method in different situations. Chapters include “Influencing yourself,” “Influencing people who want to change,” “Influencing people who don’t want to change,” and “Influencing strangers.” The last part of the book is focused on identifying change, making an action plan, and moving on. Overall, I thought the book was pretty well written and based on an interesting idea. This is not based on a “get rich quick” scheme, that, unfortunately, many self-help books have taken to using. Instead, this book is based on working with personal psychology, and includes examples of different real-life situations (anything from the author using the technique on his father to get him to quit smoking, to getting a disgruntled customer to get his rewards from an airline company). I look forward to trying Pantalon’s techniques. Published by Little Brown and Company. 256 pages. List price $25.99

Bossypants, Tina fey

2011-05-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

“Bossypants” is Tina Fey’s memoir of her life, stint on Saturday Night Live, and as a lead actress/writer on 30 Rock. On-screen Fey has always been a comedian—whether it was imitating Sarah Palin during her McCain run, doing the Saturday Night Live “Weekend Update” section, or playing Liz Lemon on 30 Rock. Unlike many actresses, Fey’s acting tends to directly correlate with her writing. In other words, Fey is much a performer as she is a comedic writer. Not surprisingly, Fey brings that same sense of comedy into her own autobiography. The first third of the book is a chronological portrayal of Fey’s childhood and young adulthood: During high school, Fey gets involved in local theater and makes light out of her friendship with same-sex couples. Eventually, she graduates from college with a degree in drama and finds herself helplessly unemployed. Fey recounts her various dead-end interviews, until her roommate who dated “an early Obama prototype” helps Fey get a job as a receptionist at the local YMCA. There, she meets many depressing characters whose stories she uses for entertainment purposes. Afterwards, Fey very briefly describes joining the Second City improv troupe and quitting her YMCA job, before winding up on Saturday Night Live after acing her interview with Lorne Michaels. The next two-thirds of the book cover her SNL and 30 Rock years, as well as her life as a celebrity. This is when Fey goes all out: you start to feel like you’re attending her stand-up show. Chapters include Fey’s take on various topics: photo shoots, beauty tips, bitchy NY/LA moms, motherhood vs. career, etc. mixed in with personal stories (especially memorable is her disastrous cruise-ship honeymoon). Overall, a very light read. Published by Reagan Arthur Books. 288 pages. List Price $26.99

All my life, Susan Lucci

2011-05-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

“All my life” is Susan Lucci’s memoir of her life, as well as her forty years on the set of popular soap opera “All my children.” The memoir is recounted in chronological order, and focuses on the highlights of Susan’s personal life and career. Growing up near New York, Lucci dreams of becoming an actress—a dream that almost falls apart when her face goes through the windshield and is badly damaged because of her boyfriend’s reckless driving. Thankfully for Susan, her injuries heal in time and her dreams of acting do come to fruition. While working at a hotel, she meets her future husband Helmut, who is originally from Austria. Even though they have different backgrounds and Helmut is much older, they manage to build a trustful relationship that culminates in their marriage and later, two children. On the career side, Lucci goes through numerous auditions before she manages to land the role of a lifetime—with Lucci portraying the character of Erica Kane throughout “All my children’s” decades long run. In an attempt to capture her character’s evolution on the show, Lucci recounts several storylines and behind-the-scenes interactions with guest actors. Lucci also includes her run-ins with other celebrities, and her record setting losing streak on the Emmys, as well as her cabaret and Broadway experiences. If you’re a fan of Lucci or simply enjoy going through celebrity memoirs, than you might enjoy this. Published by It Books. 336 pages. List Price $25.99

Everyone loves you, Neil Strauss

2011-05-17T10:41:00.001-07:00

“Everyone loves you when you’re dead” is a collection of interviews that music journalist Neil Strauss has compiled from his twenty or so years of journalistic experiences. This book is basically a reflection of the crazy celebrities that Strauss does interviews with. There’s Snoop Dog— who is rumored to be targeted for assassination by his old record label at the time of his interview, but instead of worrying about his life focuses on “buying Pampers” and asking Strauss if he could leak his new songs online. There’s Brian Wilson—the former member of the Beach Boys who, while discussing his life, accidentally delves into his drug experimentation before he remembers it’s an interview. Then there’s Britney Spears, who is easily tricked into thinking she is psychic when Strauss writes down the most common number people think of, and Spears guesses it correctly. The interviews themselves are with pretty much any celebrity you can think of—Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, P. Diddy, Jackie Chan, Jay Leno, Cher, Bono, Gwen Stefani, David Bowie, Justin Timberlake, Marilyn Manson, Tom Cruise, and Orlando Bloom, among many others. And, as with the examples of Spears, Wilson, and Snoop Dog--commonly delve into private territory. As Strauss puts it in the introduction: the goal is to uncover the real person behind the glitzy celebrity exterior. There are also random interviews with lying music lawyers, Italian mafia musicians, a five-year-old French “music sensation” with a penchant for girls, and Strauss’ New York neighbors that ultimately make him move to a different neighborhood due to fears for his personal safety. Overall, Strauss keeps it entertaining and linear—when one celebrity talks about another, you can bet the next interview listed will be with the one talked about. Strauss also livens things up by dividing the interviews into “Acts” with corresponding crazy titles and summaries. An entertaining journey into the crazy world of celebrities. Published by It Books. 544 pages. List Price $16.99

My father's daughter, Gwyneth Paltrow

2011-04-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

“My father’s daughter” by Gwyneth Paltrow is a cookbook, in which Paltrow honors her father while sharing her recipes with the readers. Categories include: Soups, Salads, Burgers/Sandwiches, Pastas, Main Courses, Side Dishes, Breakfast, and Desserts. Right from the start, Paltrow discusses her father’s (whose passion for food is the inspiration behind this book) battle with throat cancer, which made Gwyneth become more conscious of what she eats and fueled her belief in eating healthy, organic foods. Much of the recipes incorporate her beliefs in healthy eating. Each recipe also has an icon beside it, to make the choices of which recipes to use easier. Icons include: “Make Ahead,” “Quick,”
“Vegetarian,” “Vegan,” “One-pot Meal,” and “Dress Up Meal” (a family sized meal that can be changed into something simpler or more sophisticated, depending on the occasion). The book also includes a section on what items should be included in a well-stocked pantry, as well as a section on how to make food and cooking a more child-friendly activity. As an aside to the main categories, a separate section called “Recipes for Stocks, Sauces, & Special Ingredients” is also included. The thing I like about this book is that a big chunk of the recipes are pretty realistic to make; most of the ingredients are recognizable, and the recipe descriptions tend to be on the simplistic, easy-to-understand side. Recipes range from the popular food staples like macaroni and cheese, blueberry muffins, brownies, pancakes, French fries, wood-oven pizza, and homemade veggie burgers----to more creative recipes like spiced apple crumb muffins, challah French toast, Milanese chicken, lobster rolls, sweet potato ravioli, spaghetti limone parmeggione, and bread pudding—among many others. The end of this book also has an index structured by ingredients, which is helpful if you want to incorporate specific ingredients into meals. Overall, this is a pretty well-done cookbook. Looking forward to trying out some of these recipes. Published by Grand Central Life & Style. April 2011. 272 pages. List Price $30

The fear of insignificance, Carlo Strenger

2011-04-21T10:34:00.000-07:00

"The fear of insignificance" by Carlo Strenger explores the popular mindset today--one that includes obsession with celebrity, status, and one's position in the world. Strenger analyzes the dangers of being dwarfed by the have-alls, and feeling insignificant and unhappy with one's own life as a result. The book is divided into three parts: "The Defeat of Mind," "From the I Commodity to the Dreams of Individuality," and "Reclaiming Our Minds." The first part delves into the popular belief system advocated by the modern media, most notably the "just do it" campaigns where celebrities, while marketing a product, are held up as heroes while they preach that anything is possible if one just reaches for the stars. The problem with such a popular belief system, as Strenger analyzes it, is that it's very easy to believe but not as realistic in life. The second part of the book puts emphasis on refraining oneself from seeing their life in terms of satisfying others and how much money one makes, but instead working on getting a satisfaction with the life one has. Stenger reflects that everyone is born with some limitations, and the people who make it to the top are no exceptions: they either had connections, luck, or some other unpredictable factors that lead them to success. Instead of buying into the star and dream obsessed media culture, Strenger advises people to avoid seeing themselves as "commodities," shun away from comparing themselves to others, and venture throughout their own lives with an open heart and mind--something discussed more in the third part of the book, along with religion. Overall, I thought Strenger's convincing argument was very relevant in today's "keeping up with the Jones's'" world. He recounts meetings with different people who had "respectable" jobs, families, and supposedly perfect lives---until they realized it wasn't what they wanted. Indeed, Strenger previously noted that merely having what used to be a respected job (medicine, law, engineering, etc.) was no longer enough when media continuously obsesses over the networth of singers, movie stars, and athletes. It is so easy to see oneself as very much in the bottom rung of this supposed pyramid. But Strenger's book rightly disagrees with such pessimistic views, and instead focuses on the realistic--the ability to work with one's limitations and actively accept yourself. While much of the writing is very academic, it doesn't take away from its relevance. Somebody experiencing a mid-life crisis or otherwise unhappy with life might benefit from Strenger's reality check. Published by Palgrave Macmillan. 228 pages. List price $24.00

Nerve, Taylor Clark

2011-04-21T10:32:00.001-07:00

“Nerve” by Taylor Clark aims to answer the question why some people have the nerve to get through anything, while others give in to their nerves and never fully live their life. The book starts off with an interesting story about how a Soviet submarine is stopped by an American one during the Cold War and the Cuba crisis—the Russians have been given an ultimatum by the U.S. government to clear the waters, except that the Soviet government never passed this information on to the submarine, which also suffers from technical problems. Its crew is unnerved, hungry, and especially irritated when they get stopped by the Americans. The American crew doesn’t help the situation by not taking the old Soviet submarine seriously, and being unaware of the fact the rickety Soviet submarine is secretly equipped with a nuclear bomb. It is only one of the Russians on the Soviet submarine who manages to talk his insulted captain into not releasing the bomb and killing all of them. It is this idea of surprising calm and decisiveness in the face of danger, which punctuates Clark’s book.The book is filled with many anecdotes of people overcoming fear—including in such diverse areas as sports, public speaking, performance arts, game show pressures, airplane catastrophes, war battles, and etc. You notice that Clark includes both light everyday situations like public speaking or sports, with truly dangerous situations like airplane catastrophes and war battles. But Clark’s goal is to point out that even many benign situations may entail the same fear as posed by truly dangerous ones, depending on how serious one’s fear is. While the large number of anecdotes are interesting, it is the solutions to getting around fear that make this book meaningful. There’s no new and quick solutions that are popular nowadays, but practical advice that therapists have been using for a while—things like gradually exposing oneself to his fear, learning to work with fear instead of against it, focusing on the task at hand rather than one’s emotions about it, focusing on calming oneself in any situation, and etc. Overall, I thought this book was very well researched. Clark explains the chemical neurological processes and parts of our brain that lead to fear, as well as illustrative stories, strategies to combating fear, and the important differentiations between fear, anxiety, and stress. This is a pretty handy book about an emotion that everyone experiences at one time or other, and covers the difference between people who handle their stress well, and those who give in to it. I thought it was well written and an enjoyable read on the topic. Published by Little Brown and Company. March 2011. 320 pages. List price $25.99

Sliding into home, Kendra Wilkinson

2011-04-21T10:26:00.000-07:00

“Sliding into home” is Kendra Wilkinson’s memoir about her life. Best known as one of Hugh Hefner’s “playboy bunnies,” Wilkinson’s story reveals there’s a little bit more beneath the surface than people would assume. What compelled me to become interested in Kendra’s story is her participation in Dancing With The Stars—a show that I’m a big fan of. Wilkinson came across as very human and not afraid of showing her discomfort with her image as well as the dances themselves. Her claim to fame was her involvement in “The Girl Next Door” reality show, which led her to become more known and eventually led to her own self-focused reality show. Raised without a father, Kendra struggles through childhood until she becomes a drug addict and has relationships with a string of unsavory characters. She ends up being photographed by a professional photographer while at a car show. Unbeknownst to her, the photographer posts her photos on a website that ends up getting noticed by one of Hefner’s people. A representative contacts Wilkinson, and before she knows it, she winds up at Hefner’s residence waitressing at his birthday party.Hefner becomes so attracted to her that he asks her to be his girlfriend—a role that is accompanied with residence at his mansion, and a generous allowance. The problem of course is that Hefner always had several girlfriends at once, and Kendra has trouble getting used to the new world she finds herself in. Kendra’s childhood, rocky adolescence, and entire stay at the mansion is covered--as well as her life post-Hefner, including her marriage and the birth of her son. For the most part, the memoir was very candid. Kendra doesn’t run away from her mistakes or any bleak parts of her life. She doesn’t sugarcoat anything either. Overall, it was an interesting read. Published by Gallery. 256 pages.

I'll walk alone, Mary Higgins Clark

2011-04-21T10:23:00.001-07:00

Mary Higgins Clark’s newest thriller, “I’ll walk alone,” follows lead character Alexandra Moreland (referred to as Zan in the book) as she is accused of kidnapping her own son Matthew who has been gone for over two years. The allegations surface as she dines with her ex-husband Ted, who is also Matthew’s father, and learns of a photograph that shows Zan taking Matthew out of his stroller on the day of his disappearance. As police and media attack Zan, she realizes she has no way of proving the woman in the photograph isn’t her—or is it? This book is filled with many characters, who add depth to what initially seems like a simple mystery. There’s Zan’s ex-husband Ted Carpenter, who has his own public-relations firm, but seems generally distrustful of the people around him—including his celebrity client Melissa, but most of all his ex-wife who he believes is hiding their son. Then there’s Bartley Longe, Zan’s ex-employer who works in interior design and who had unsuccessfully hit on Zan, before being enraged by her decision to quit and start up her own firm. There’s Tiffany Shield’s, Matthew’s babysitter who fell asleep when she was supposed to be watching over him, and accuses Zan of drugging her on purpose. Then there’s Father O’Brien who witnesses a confession by a woman that a murder is about to be committed. The interesting thing about this story is that throughout Clark gives the impression that it’s not really a mystery, as she clues the reader in on what’s happening with different characters. Relatively early on you think you know who the guilty party is—except Clark turns the tables on the reader towards the book’s finale. Overall, it was an engaging enough read. Published by Simon and Schuster. April 2011. 352 pages. List price $25.99

Heart of Ice, Lis Wiehl

2011-04-20T12:39:00.000-07:00

“Heart of Ice” is the third book in Lis Wiehl’s and April Henry’s trilogy of the Triple Threat series. While the first two were “whodunit” type mysteries, “Heart Of Ice” has a very visible villain right from the start—the gorgeous, manipulative, self-centered Elizabeth Avery. The introductions tells us all we need to know about her, as Elizabeth steals a gorgeous blue scarf from another cart and manages to flirt with the store clerk until she is able to smuggle it for free out of the store. But things get a lot more complicated after Elizabeth decides that she needs to kill her successful boyfriend’s ex and their son, in order to get him all to herself. As if that isn’t enough, Elizabeth manages to manipulate the men around her into doing it for her. Along comes Cassidy, a TV reporter who meets Elizabeth at a fitness club and is instantly impressed by her instructor. Elizabeth seems smart, nice, and funny—an ideal friend. Gradually Cassidy introduces Elizabeth to her other two friends—prosecutor Alison Pierce and FBI agent Nicole Hedges. They enroll in the class alongside Cassidy, and Nicole’s daughter even starts taking swimming lessons with Elizabeth. What they don’t know is that Elizabeth has a very dark past—a past that includes a murder conviction, a stint in school for troubled youth, and a wish to destroy anyone who stands in her way. I remember reading some time ago that this story is based on a real case that Lis Wiehl prosecuted—if so, this story is even more chilling. The book itself had its share of ups and downs—for instance I thought the chapters about Elizabeth were much more interesting than the chapters about Cassidy, Alison, and Nicole. But overall, this was an interesting addition to the trilogy.

Afraid of dark, James Grippando

2011-04-07T11:57:00.000-07:00

“Afraid of the dark,” James Grippando’s new novel, starts out with the murder of sixteen-year-old McKenna Mays —witnessed by her father Chuck’s best friend Vince Paulo. Unfortunately Vince, who’s a cop that’s been asked to watch over McKenna and her troubled relationship with boyfriend Jamal, is too late. McKenna has already been stabbed, and as she lies dying, she tells Vince it was her boyfriend Jamal who did this to her. As Vince rushes to catch Jamal, he gets blinded as his gun goes off but hits a propane tank—leaving McKenna ’s killer to escape. Fast forward three years later and Jack Swyteck, a Miami criminal defense lawyer, is involved with his new client—a detainee from Somali who is accused of being a terrorist. But after the detainee acknowledges he understands English, jack quickly notices that not everything is as it seems. The Somali detainee turns out to be nobody else but Jamal Wakefield, McKenna ’s ex-boyfriend and her suspected killer. The only glitch in the case is that Jamal claims he was at the Czech Republic when McKenna was killed—himself, kidnapped, drugged, smuggled out of the country, and interrogated. And as if to back up Jamal’s claims, a stranger calls Jack asking for a meeting and claiming he has photos of Jamal at the site in Czech Republic where he was held. But the main question remains: why would McKenna lie? Right from the opening sequence, the story evolves into a fast-paced thriller. But interestingly enough, especially rare for action centered stories, the characters have a lot of humanity that keep them from being two-dimensional. Jack is a criminal defense lawyer who visits his grandfather in his Alzheimer’s nursing home, and balances a difficult relationship with his fiancé Andie who puts her career ahead of family. McKenna ’s father Chuck grapples with losing his daughter while dealing with the disappearance and possible suicide of his wife, McKenna ’s mother, Shada. Vince is a police officer, Chuck’s best friend, who not only failed to save his daughter but lost his sight in the process, unable to deal with his new life and trust that his wife stays with him out of love, rather than pity. Overall, this was an entertaining suspense thriller. The characters are intricately drawn, while the mystery is complex enough to have several layers to it. Published by Harper. March 2011. 416 pages. list price $25.99

Come to the edge, Christina Haag

2011-03-31T19:23:00.000-07:00

“Come to the edge” is a memoir written by actress Christina Haag, about her five-year romance with JFK Jr. that took place in the eighties, and ended nine years before his tragic death. During his lifetime, John Kennedy Jr. always attracted a lot of media attention and it wasn’t hard to see why—not only was he the son of a former U.S. president and a famous mother, but he was , what Haag described in her memoir as “Adonis” looking. In other words, he had the looks to land the People Magazine cover as Sexiest Man Alive, be constantly taunted by the media as America’s most eligible bachelor, and have random strangers throwing themselves at him. In the midst of all this, and while going through various relationships on the side, he strikes a friendship with the author. Christina Haag first met JFK Jr. when her boyfriend at the time, a friend of his, invites her to join him at John’s house. Even though Haag is at a girl’s private school and JFK Jr. is at a boy’s private school, their schools are close enough that the friendships get intermixed and Haag finds herself in John’s crowd. Fast forward to college, and Haag attends Brown University as an acting major. JFK Jr. transfers to Brown as well, and they gradually end up sharing a house together with other students. JFK Jr. shares Haag’s interest in acting, and even goes on to star with her in a play post-graduation and at the very beginning of their romance. Looking back, Haag sees a disturbing connection between the play’s ending and John’s life. Even though JFK Jr. goes his separate way, doing a lot of travelling and eventually enrolling in law school, he continues to see Haag, who gradually gets introduced to his family. Haag discusses her relationship with Jacqueline Kennedy and JFK Jr.’s need for approval. JFK Jr.’s relationship with his mother again takes center stage, when he and Haag nearly die during their vacation in Jamaica. Also included are intimate details of JFK Jr.'s relationship with Haag, such as their vacations, romantic encounters (JFK Jr. liked visiting Haag by climbing through her window in a Romeo-like fashion, though he nearly gets in trouble with the police, and struggles with a long distance relationship (Haag's acting, JFK Jr.'s law career, his rumored relationships on the side. But what really shapes this book for me are Haag's descriptions of JFK Jr.'s contradictory nature (he yearns to be an actor, but pursues the practical career of a lawyer; he seeks Jacqueline's approval, yet does dangerous things that she would disapprove of behind her back; he is addicted to adventure, but acknowledges things can sometimes get a little too far). Overall, it's a fascinating read. Published by Spiegel and Grau. March 2011. 304 pages. List Price $25.00

Unknown, Dieter van Cauwelaert

2011-03-11T09:36:00.000-08:00

Unknown by Dieter van Cauwelaert is a psychological thriller that revolves around Martin Harris—an American botanist who arrives in Paris for a conference, only for his taxi to get into an accident which leads Harris into a coma. After waking up from his coma, Harris goes up to where he’s staying with his wife, only to see that another man has taken his place and is claiming to be the botanist Martin Harris. Ok, so this came out in the movie theaters recently with Liam Neeson starring as Martin Harris, January Jones as the wife, and Helen Kruger as the taxi driver. Also the movie takes place in Berlin instead of Paris. But nevertheless, I’m always interested in what makes one book into a movie, while other books remain books. And reading the story, I can understand why Hollywood came calling. First of all, the core of the book is a deep psychological mystery. What’s it like to have another person living your life? Having the exact same childhood, spouse, and profession? At first glance, this may seem like a science fiction type set-up. But the good thing about this story is there’s no fantasy involved. Everything is very real. The story pulls you in, and you walk alongside Harris—feeling the same emotions of confusion and anger as he does. The author makes it clear that something sinister is going on, but keeps you clueless until the end. Another good aspect of this book were the characters. As the main character, Martin Harris is sympathetic. As he runs to the police and tries to speak to his wife, no one believes him, except for the taxi driver—another sympathetic character who is a single mother and in danger of losing her taxi license after the crash. In balance to the sympathetic characters, we have the shadowy characters—like Harris’ wife, and Martin Harris #2.Overall, this was a decent European thriller. It’s super short and quick to read. There’s no superfluous information, it’s all about the main plot. For me, it was an enjoyable read. Looking forward to seeing the movie. Published by Penguin. 176 pages. List price $14.00

Sometimes I feel like a nut, Jill Kargman

2011-02-24T10:53:00.001-08:00

In “Sometimes I feel like a nut,” author Jill Kargman details the workings of her crazy life as a rebellious teen, New Yorker, and finally a mom. This book is tiny, but pretty hilarious. If Kargman wasn’t a novelist, she could probably be a Chelsea Handler-worthy comedian. Her memoir jumps all over the place—including ridiculous things Kargman is afraid of (clowns, vans, etc.), her nutty childhood nannies (my favorite section in the book), her time at a boarding school (she was the one who had to talk her parents into it, instead of the other way around), Jill’s first post-college job which was likely to turn even the healthiest person into an anorexic (read: maniac bosses and no food allowed), and her embarrassing forays into motherhood, culminating into stand-offs with Manhattans ambitious “yummy-mummies” and their offspring. Delving into Kargman’s life definitely presented some distractions from my own life. If you’re looking for a light, distracting read this book more than fits the bill. There’s short essays, some outrageous jokes, and a couple of humorous lists. The author is a self-confessed “weirdo” and, as she puts it so endearingly in the introduction, proud of it. Overall, a pretty entertaining read. Published by Harper Collins. February 2011. 192 pages. List Price $19.99

Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond

2011-02-24T10:50:00.000-08:00

“Pioneer Woman: Black Heels To Tractor Wheels,” is Ree Drumond’s sequel to her cookbook “The Pioneer Woman Cooks.” However, this time recipes are relegated to the last few section. This is no longer a story about cuisine, but a memoir about Ree’s life. Ree first gained popularity as an online blogger writing about her country life and cowboy husband. And if you ever wondered about Ree’s life behind the scenes, or happen to be one of the city girls who pine for small-town America, then this book is for you.After spending her college years in L.A. and breaking up with her surfer-type boyfriend J, Ree moves back to her hometown in order to relax before moving on to Chicago. But her plans go astray when she meets her husband, who she refers to as Marlboro Man, at a bar one night. Her sudden attraction for Marlboro Man becomes her lifesaver as she gets stalked by her ex-boyfriend, witnesses the downfall of her parents’ marriage, and is forced to choose between Chicago and the love of her life. I found this to be a very detailed memoir, and I have to say I admire the author’s candor. She doesn’t hide from even the most embarrassing moments (and as an inexperienced fiancé of a cowboy there are too many to count) and somehow survives everything from a fire at a fellow cowboy’s house, to a disastrous honeymoon and the games of her distrustful soon to be brother. If you like to read romance novels, skip them and go for the non-fiction. As I found while reading this book, sometimes real life beats fiction. Published by Harper Collins. February 2011. 341 pages. List Price $25.99

Dancing Lessons, Cheryl Burke

2011-02-17T11:38:00.001-08:00

As a fan of Dancing With The Stars, I was interested in reading the two-time champion Cheryl Burke’s memoir “Dancing Lessons.” And if you’re a fan of Cheryl or the show, there’s certainly some interesting insight inside. Born to a Filipina mother and an American father, Cheryl grows up in a multi-cultural household. Although her father leaves her mother early on, Cheryl has a wholesome enough childhood-, cared for by nannies and encouraged by her entrepreneur mother. Post high school, however, Cheryl attends some classes at a community college and realizes that she hates it. Fueling the only passion she has known since childhood—her passion for dancing—Cheryl decides to become a professional dancer and moves to New York City to achieve her dreams.A big chunk of the book is devoted to Cheryl’s Dancing with The Stars experience—including a typical day on the set, and Cheryl’s take on all her partners (Drew Lachey, Emmitt Smith, Rick Fox, Gilles Marini, and Tom DeLay to name a few) on the show, and the lessons she took away from them. Cheryl also shares some intimate moments from her life, such as childhood abuse and bad relationships. Overall, I enjoyed reading this memoir and learning a bit more about Cheryl. As the title hints, each chapter begins with a “dancing lesson” (description and brief history of various ballroom dances), which was an interesting touch. Because Cheryl is so young (Tom Bergeron notes in his introduction of the book that he was in his fifties before he began writing his own memoir), it would be interesting to see if she succeeds in any of the endeavors she mentions in the book. Published by Wiley. February 2011. 272 pages. List Price $24.95

A Heartbeat Away, Michael Palmer

2011-02-15T09:44:00.000-08:00

“A heartbeat away” by Michael Palmer touches a couple of modern issues—terrorism, biotechnology, and the underlying question of who is behind it all? Enter James Allaire, a charismatic President and former doctor who is in the midst of his State of the Union Address when suddenly, a virus is unleashed amid the exclusive White House crowd—by way of exploding glass flasks somehow hidden in the purses and bags of some of the audience. Genesis, a mysterious domestic terrorist group that has previously orchestrated less severe attacks, lets everyone know they’re behind this. But what bothers Allaire the most is that the virus Genesis unleashed is the same one he has authorized the development of as a bio-warfare weapon, until a portion of it has been stolen and the whole project locked up. Allaire quickly acts to contain the virus, locking up the White House and refusing to let anyone leave in a bid to avoid exposing anyone on the outside. However, unless a cure is found soon, it is almost certain that everyone in the White House, including Allaire himself, will die. Acting quickly, Allaire tries to summon up the small group of scientists who were involved in its development in the first place—Sylvia Chen disappeared, Melvin Forbush has turned into a guard—that leaves Griffin Rhodes, a respected virologist who has unsuccessfully tried to find a cure for it in the past. There’s just one problem: Rhodes is in jail, after being accused of stealing the virus before the lab closed down. Not trusting Rhodes but being left with little choice, Allaire authorizes the release of Rhodes from jail on the condition that Rhodes immediately gets to work on finding a way to cure this thing. Meanwhile, Genesis is intent on killing Rhodes and getting the White House to pass their own agenda. Suffice to say, this is a fast-paced thriller. What makes this a particularly intriguing read is the “ticking time bomb” and high stakes embedded in the storyline. One politician gets shot for trying to escape. Others start exhibiting grotesque signs, and going into zombie-like behavior. Allaire’s nemesis, the Speaker of the House Ursula Ellis, starts using the chaos in an attempt to impeach him and get the power herself. Meanwhile, time is running out.Lately, there’s been a lot of things written about radical terrorism or over-the-top pandemics, but the good thing about this story is that Palmer is an actual doctor (read: no sci-fi type developments) and there’s an actual explanation behind Genesis (no random fundamentalist-type sentiments). Overall, the plotline kept me invested in the story—once I got into it, I finished the whole thing pretty quickly. Published by St. Martin’s Press. February 2011. 416 pages. List price $27.99

Lunch in Paris. Elizabeth Bard

2011-02-09T11:03:00.000-08:00

“Lunch in paris” by Elizabeth Bard chronicles her Parisian adventures and her ensuing marriage to a Frenchman in “the most romantic city in the world.” Let me start off by saying that I’m a sucker for travelogues—I love descriptions of foreign countries, people, and places. And Bard does a great job of familiarizing the reader with France, and making the culture a little bit more accessible. But “Lunch in Paris” isn’t only a travelogue—it’s also a cookbook (Bard includes French/American inspired recipes at the end of every chapter) and a love story between Bard and her French husband, Gwendal. Bard met Gwendal at an academic forum during her graduate studies in London, and begins a long distance romance. Eventually she moves in with him, searches for a new apartment (they end up living below a Chinese mafia brothel), and meets his family. Bard, an avid New Yorker, is scared to formalize her relationship with Gwendal. To add to the stress, the author is at a career crossroads after freelancing in journalism and temping as a curator at the Louvre. Gwendal’s own dreams seem at odds with his formal education, as he dreams of the movie industry. Overall, I liked this book a lot. For starters, Bard is very relatable—a romantic (she imagines walking down the cobblestoned streets of the old Paris), underachieving (she’s terrified of returning to New York and letting her family and friends see her unemployable self post Yale and graduate study in London), but willing to fight for her happiness (despite the multitude of problems she faces in France) gal. The book also does a good job of analyzing the differences between French and American cultures, as well as including recipes from both. If you love travel, love story, or foreign recipes-type books, then you’ll enjoy this. Paperback published by Back Bay Books. February 2011. 352 pages. List price $13.99

Welcome to my world, Johnny Weir

2011-01-27T08:02:00.000-08:00

“Welcome to my world” is a new memoir by controversial figure skater Johnny Weir, chronicling his life and the various scandals that enveloped him since shooting to fame as an Olympic contender. I first heard of Weir during the 2006 Olympic games in Torino, and was intrigued enough to follow his career path since. When I heard he had a book coming out, I was especially interested to learn more about him—and Johnny didn’t disappoint. Initially billed as a “collection of humorous essays,” this book is actually a full, well-detailed memoir. In this book, Weir chronicles his childhood in a small, in-the-middle-of-nowhere town, known more for its Amish population than any prominent celebrities. Originally enamored with horseback riding, Weir starts figure skating at the relatively late age of eleven. However, as his skills improve and he starts winning championships—Weir starts to get in his own way. The first inking of trouble starts when Johnny wants to create his own costume for a championship. And while his fitted, bright costume satisfies his taste for fashion, it angers the American Skating Federation who thinks Johnny doesn’t look American enough (his costume style is similar to the one-piece, figure-hugging style worn by the Russian skaters) and demands he change his costume one day before the competition is due to start. Weir becomes so angry, that he drops out of the competition altogether. His entire career, including his costumes, was covered by Weir himself or his well-wishers, while the Federation never had anything to do him before the costume debacle. And that’s when Weir begins to burn his bridges…. Overall, I think Weir’s memoir is a fascinating read. He describes his struggles to be accepted by his own team, his sexuality, his first love, his relationship with his fans, and his run-ins with coaches, as well as his own demons. If you love rooting for the underdog, then you’ll love this book. I was saddened to see the memoir end on such an emotional note (re: Weir’s take on the Vancouver Olympics), and am hoping for an uplifting sequel. An enjoyable read. Published By Gallery. January 2011. 272 pages. List price $26.00

an object of beauty, steve martin

2010-12-26T20:19:00.000-08:00

I had no idea that actor Steve Martin doubles as a writer--until I read his new novel "An object of beauty," which trails a young woman named Lacey Yeager and her attempts at making a career in the New York art world. The first thing I noticed about this book is its creative cover, which resembles artwork itself. Inside the actual book, there are many full color reproductions of famous paintings--which is a nice touch that adds some sophistication and coffee-book quality. Since I was familiar with Martin's comedies, I initially expected this book to be comic as well--but instead found myself pleasantly surprised by this book's serious side. This is a character-driven story that explores the life of ambitious and cunning Lacey, just as much as it explores the nuances and intrigues behind the New York art world. I came away intrigued enough by this book to check out Martin's other novels. Overall, an engaging read. Published by Grand Central Publishing. 304 pages. List price $26.99

hell's corner, david baldacci

2010-12-26T20:17:00.000-08:00

“Hell’s Corner” is the latest Oliver Stone thriller by David Baldacci. It starts out with mysterious explosions in the White House that coincide with the visit of the British prime minister. Four people are present at the scene—a jogger, a lady sitting on the bench, a man standing beside the statue waiting for someone, and a stranger that reacts to the explosion. Sound like an interesting puzzle? It’s the mystery that keeps Oliver Stone focused throughout the book—as people even remotely connected to the incident are brutally murdered until Stone feels like there are no more witnesses left. The plot is an interesting bag of the expected and the unexpected. But, overall, I would say Baldacci is still in good form. Some parts of the book caught me totally off-guard, which is hard to do given that I’ve read a lot of thrillers out there. My only caveat with the book was the ending, but overall the plot was intense enough to keep me turning the page. Overall, another solid offering from Baldacci. Published by Grand Central Publishing. 448 pages. List price $27.99

The fall of the house of zeus, Curtis Wilkie

2010-11-30T13:26:00.000-08:00

“The Fall of the House of Zeus” by Curtis Wilkie tells the story of Dick Scruggs, a lawyer from Mississippi who comes frfom humble beginnings, achieves his wildest dreams, and nearly loses everything in a legal scandal that ends in his imprisonment. First off, I was not familiar with Scruggs when I picked up this book, but enjoyed legal thrillers enough to be interested in a real story. And this story pretty much lived up to my expectations. Scruggs grows up in Mississippi, an only child who lives with his mother. Early on, Scruggs yearns to succeed and is lucky enough to get accepted into the “right” college, where his social circles are greatly enhanced and he is exposed to kids from wealthier families. Shortly afterwards he spends a couple years as a navy pilot, until he decides to go to law school. After graduating, Scruggs uses a connection—a senator friend of his mother’s—to get his first two law firm jobs, but both end badly. Scruggs is fired from his first job, because he stands up to a partner who mistreated him. Then Scruggs quits his second law firm job after it’s clear that he will never be fairly compensated for his efforts. And that’s when Scruggs decides to start his own law firm. His first success comes when he links up the individual asbestos lawsuits—coming from former employees of a local shipyard company—into a class action, which transforms him into a millionaire. Then Scruggs uses his winning strategy to successfully bring a class action law suit against the big tobacco companies, suing on behalf of states whose government healthcare programs financed the medical expenses of ex-smokers. And just when Scruggs seems untouchable and on the brink of a third class action suit, this time against the insurance companies who denied coverage post Hurricane Katrina, disaster strikes. If you’re a fan of legal thrillers like I am, then you will probably enjoy this book, two thirds of which focuses on behind-the-scenes actions that ultimately lead to Scruggs’ indictment. This is not the fairy tale story of Robin Hood, but rather a cautionary tale of too much greed, power, and betrayal. Published by Crown. October 2010. 400 pages. List Price $25.99

Life, Keith Richards

2010-11-30T13:24:00.001-08:00

Rolling Stones is a group that’s been around since the Beatles, and was lucky enough to stand the test of time and keep touring well into their current ages. Unlike the Beatles, however, it was known for its more rebellious sound and scandal-laden past—the strange death of Brian Jones, numerous drug arrests, and erratic behavior. Throughout the group’s journey, only two men were there from the very beginning—Mick Jagger an Keith Richards. And one of them has finally opened the pandora’s box. “Life” by Keith Richards is a pretty hefty tome that chronicles Richards’ journey from the wreck that was post WWII London, to the glory of the Rolling Stones and his unique life. Unlike Jagger, Richards is generally known as the madman of the group—not least because of his famed drug past, which is why it’s symbolic that Richards’ book starts with the group’s drug arrest while touring U.S. in the seventies. The drunk judge and their lawyer’s connections let the Rolling Stones off the hook that time, though not all arrests ended as well. From this. Richards parlays into his childhood in unsavory neighborhoods and his meeting with Mick Jagger on a train station, where their shared passion for music cemented their friendship. Richards was a big fan of musicians like Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters, and was impressed by Jagger’s record collection. After attending a British art college where not much hope was held for the school’s graduates, Richards expected to be drafter into the army and serve two years—but his initial plans were interrupted when the Vietnam War slowed down and Richards was not drafted after all. Having a lot of time on his hands, Richards decided to pursue his passion—and after numerous stints in the local bars and sharing an apartment with Mick Jaggers et al, there was no turning back. During this time, Richards and his buddies are pretty much unemployed and play mostly for free, feeling elated at the rare gigs that pay. They have trouble having ends meet, but, as Richards states, “hate money,” and play mostly for the thrill. Jagger attends the London School of Economics, until he decides to quit as well. And that is when the crazyness of the group’s success begins. As a celebrity biography, this book really stood out for me. First of all, it’s very candid. The huge page count and small text seem to emphasize that Richards does NOT want to leave anything out. The numerous scandals are described scene-by-scene, as is Richards’ eventual disenchantment with Jagger and numerous relationships. Richards even includes his various diary entries and letters from pertinent periods, including the group’s beginnings. Overall, a very candid bio that should satisfy not only fans of the group, but anyone who enjoys reading celebrity tell-alls. Published by Little, Brown, & Company. October 26, 2010. 576 pages. List Price $29.99

Evening’s Empire: The Story of My Father’s Murder, Zachary Lazar

2010-11-30T13:18:00.000-08:00

“Evening’s Empire: The Story of My Father’s Murder” by Zachary Lazar tells the story of his father, Ed Lazar, an accountant who got lured by the promise of easy money in real estate by mob men Ned Warren, only to end up murdered on the day before he was to testify in front of the grand jury. The author includes a copy from a mid-nineties paper clipping, so the reader knows the outcome from the get-go, but the story is unraveling what really happened. The author was six years old in 1975, when his father was killed. Thus, much of the information from the book was gotten through countless interviews, research, and previous writings. At one point, Lazar even includes a page from the FBI file on his dad. In other words, this book is pretty well-researched. I was always intrigued by mob stories, and this book certainly lives up to that. Ed Lazar is characterized as an innocent man who picked a stable career in accounting, being taught that it’s better to be financially careful than a daredevil as early as college. However, after Ed started getting a meager salary for his job, he became irritated with his risk-taking employers who were raking in the dough and living a much fancier lifestyle. It was then that Ed re-considered how he was living his life and eventually became involved with Warren—a con-man who was quickly making a fortune from things like selling Arizona land to non-existent customers, and selling non-existent Arizona land (unless valleys and hills count) to Americans stationed out of the country. Warren needed a good accountant to keep track of his increasingly ambitious real estate endeavors, and in Ed he found that. The information compiled is told from several points of view, and paints a detailed picture of its main characters. A compelling read about corruption, murder, and real estate fraud. Paperback published by Back Bay books. November 2010. 256 pages. List price $14.99

me, ricky martin

2010-11-22T15:25:00.000-08:00

Me” by Ricky Martin chronicles his childhood in Puerto Rico, his teenage career in the boy band Menudo, and his steady rise to global superstardom with the subsequent emotional toll. If you’re looking for a gossipy tell-all, then you’ve got the wrong guy. Instead, Martin’s memoir comes across as sincere and emotionally guarded. He isn’t looking to focus on every little thing that happened to him, but he is looking to be understood. Back in the nineties, it seemed that Ricky Martin appeared practically out of nowhere but was suddenly everywhere—his songs were blasting on the radio and his videos were frequently on MTV. He was winning awards and one of the faces headlining the Latin music explosion in U.S. However, in his memoir Ricky describes that he was far from the overnight sensation he was perceived to be—having worked for fifteen years in the industry before finally having a chance at the top. Gradually, he left a glittering career and stepped out of the limelight for various reasons discussed in the book—including exhaustion and depression. And it was then that he underwent a transformation. Ultimately, this memoir was revealing not just in terms of Ricky Martin the singer, but also Ricky Martin the man. He shares stories about previous relationships, his involvement in global causes like human trafficking, his decision to have his sons through a surrogate, as well as his quest for spiritualism following the success that nearly derailed him. Published by Celebra. November 2010. 304 pages. List Price $26.95

why not say what happened, ivana lowell

2010-11-09T19:28:00.000-08:00

Why not say what happened," Ivana Lowell, one of the Guiness heiresses, details her childhood at the hands of her controversial mother Caroline Blackwood, the search for her biological father, and her journey from aspiring actress to girlfriend of Miramax honcho Bob Weinstein. The interesting thing about this book is that because of her privileged background--the family fortune, her grandmother's friendship with the Queen mother, her mother's well-connected boyfriends (screenwriter Ivan Moffet, New York Times reviewer Bob Silvers, poet Robert Lowell, and Sigmund Freud's grandson Lucias Freud), Ivana's introduction to one of Hollywood's top agencies straight out of acting school, not to mentions her friendship with the Weinstein brothers--you expect Ivana Lowell's life to be perfect. But Ivana confesses early on in the book, that she messed up. And in reading Ivana's story--her addictions to alcohol, her lack of a father figure, her complicated relationships with her family members, and her own troubled marriage--it's not hard to see why. You also get the feeling that some people around the author (such as the movie mogul Weinstein brothers) merely used her. Ultimately, this memoir proves that even being born with the so-called golden spoon doesn't always guarantee the same quality of life. An interesting read. Published by Knopf. October 19, 2010. 304 pages. List Price $27.95

my booky wook 2, russell brand

2010-10-29T11:00:00.001-07:00

“My Booky Wook 2: This Time It’s Personal” by Russell Brand, is the sequel to his “My Booky Wook,” which detailed his pre-fame life as a struggling comedian. Consequently, “My Booky Wook 2” delves into his rise as an actor and stand-up comedian in England, and, thanks to his newfound film roles in Judd Apatow comedies, the U.S. I read the original “My Booky Wook,” and was intrigued by his stories, and was therefore curious about this sequel. Unlike the first book, Brand no longer discusses his drug troubles (he’s been sober for eight years), hanging out with the homeless (having been nearly homeless himself, at one point), or his hard road to “making it,” but does reflect upon his new celebrity status, influential friends, and his transatlantic journey to the U.S. The first half of the book discusses his experiences in Britain, while the second half concentrates on the U.S. While Brand was big in Britain, he was a relative unknown in the U.S. until his gig hosting the MTV Music awards in 2008. The chapter discussing his MTV hosting experience was particularly hilarious, as Brand includes the transcripts of some of the hate mail he received post-Awards, and his replies. However, behind the scenes Brand’s life wasn’t as funny—his team was horrified that his controversial antics at the awards could be the end of his US career. In the book, Brand also includes his experience starring in comedies like “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek” (where he co-starred with P. Diddy), meeting wife Katy Perry, and how Adam Sandler helped jumpstart his career in America. Overall, I thought it was an entertaining read. Published by It Books. October 2010. 320 pages. List price $26.99

late at night, rick springfield

2010-10-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

Rick Springfield chronicles his life in the aptly titled “Late, late at Night.” While I wasn’t very familiar with Springfield, apart from his hit song “Jessie’s Girl,” I enjoyed reading about his life and his journey from obscurity into acting (most famously his role on soap show ‘General Hospital’) and singing stardom. It must be said that very few overcome such odds, which is why I enjoy reading celebrity memoirs. I try to find some common thread between the different stories—some of which are superficially written, while others delve well below the surface. Thankfully, Springfield’s book was of the latter variety, and made for a fascinating read. Born in Australia and forced to constantly move because of his father’s job, Springfield had to frequently adapt to being the new kid in school and adjusting to new cities. This was ultimately one of the contributing factors to his teenage depression and suicide attempt, mentioned in the opening pages of the book. Ultimately, Springfield dropped out of school and started searching for ways to make his rock star dream come true. Surprisingly, Springfield ended up witnessing the Vietnam war first hand when his group got invited to play there—and endangering himself in the process. Fast forward a few years, and Springfield commences the roller coaster of his career by moving to LA and briefly succeeding as the newest teenage pinup, before flailing back into obscurity and nearly giving up on his dream ten years later, before his life dramatically changes.

This book covers a lot of Springfield’s life-long problems with depression, infidelity, and unfulfilled ambition (the driving force behind his dreams), while candidly discussing the people in his life. Overall, a fulfilling story. Published by Touchstone. October 2010. 336 pages. List price $26.00

the no asshole rule, robert sutton

2010-10-19T11:42:00.000-07:00

“The No Asshole Rule” by Robert Sutton is a manual about making one’s work place a nicer place to be. As the title suggests, the focus of the book is on the co-workers, specifically the “tough-to-get-along-with” personalities. The first half of this book is aimed at the higher management, with tips how to weed out those types during the hiring process, as the author logically believes that once they’re hired, they influence more of the same type of people to join the company—until the whole place becomes a breeding ground for jerks. Such a work atmosphere, as the author points out, actually hinders productivity and overall morale. Sutton’s second half of the book discusses dealing with difficult co-workers. A chapter is devoted to strategies for dealing with them at work, while other chapters are aimed at getting rid of your own inner jerk and, for better understanding, the benefits of acting like a jerk where Sutton explains the psychology behind such behavior. Overall, this was a quick read. Sutton is a professor at Stanford, and actually based this book off a Harvard Review article he wrote about the same topic. I thought the idea behind the book was pretty interesting. If you’re looking for a short take on “the toxic workplace,” than this is for you. Published by Business Plus. PB. September 2010. 256 pages. List Price $14.99

it's not me, it's you, stefanie wilder taylor

2010-10-14T12:42:00.000-07:00

In “It’s Not Me, It’s You,” Stefanie Wilder-Taylor, a Hollywood producer, hilariously recounts her youth in LA and aspirations to find herself in life. I was not originally familiar with the author, but was intrigued by the book description. The book itself is formatted as a collection of humorous essays, presented in a non-chronological order. Anecdotes are pretty wide ranging—anything from getting kicked out of the house by her mother and temporarily put into a homeless shelter for troubled teens (even though she was from a solid middle-class background), to escaping a crazy cult she meets upon her arrival to L.A., to living through sleazy jobs that included a telemarketing stint at a place that recruited Las Vegas strippers and her various waitressing jobs that had one thing in common—she was always fired from them. In other words, I found Wilder-Taylor’s narrative freaking hilarious. Read this if you’re depressed or having a hard time in your own life—it’s one of those books that definitely gets you laughing. Published by Gallery. September 2010. 240 pages. List Price $15.00

safe haven, nicholas sparks

2010-10-06T18:23:00.000-07:00

In “Safe Haven” by Nicholas Sparks the main character is Katie—a twenty-something who has run away to a North Carolina town, in a bid to hide from her past life. Enter Alex: a widowed store-owner with two kids, who begins growing infatuated with Katie after her visits to his store. The first half of the book follows their budding relationship, as well as Katie’s friendship with her neighbor Jo. However, mid-plot, the thriller begins. We find out that Katie has a psycho husband, a police detective called Kevin who’s obsessed with finding her and exacting revenge—not only on Katie but also on the man she’s with. The book then alternates between Katie and Kevin, and their separate plot lines. This book has actually been optioned as a Hollywood movie, which is gonna begin shooting soon. The strongpoint of the book—the reason why it was probably optioned, besides the high-profile of the author—is the conflict. There’s a sympathetic main character who’s trying to start her life anew, and a villain bent on destroying her. I heard that this book was most similar to Sparks’ previous title “The Guardian,” which I haven’t read yet but look forward to starting. Overall, a decent read. Published by Grand Central Publishing. September 14, 2010 340 pages. List Price 25.99

the reversal, michael connelly

2010-10-06T18:18:00.000-07:00

In "The Reversal," Michael Connelly follows the story of Jason Jessup--a convicted murderer of a twelve-year old girl whose case receives a new trial--after new DNA evidence on the girl's dress doesn't match that of Jason. Defense lawyer Mickey Haller is asked to switch sides and become a prosecutor on this case--a role he agrees to after making his half-brother Harry Bosch (another big character in Connelly's thrillers) the main investigator, and calling his ex-wife Maggie McPhee to become the second chair on the prosecution. Opposing them is Jessup's defense lawyer Clive Royce--a media-hungry attorney who believes this is the case that would enhance his career--and Jessup himself, a cold inscrutable character who is tough to figure out. However, the main problem for Mickey and his team is that the case is over twenty years old and many of the witnesses--including the victim's sister who was the one to originally identify Jessup as kidnapper--are now untraceable. However when Attorney Royce asks the judge to grant Jessup bail, pending the start of the trial, Haller doesn't object despite the surprise of his prosecution teammates. His plan soon becomes clear--follow Jessup around and see if he inadvertently leaves any clues behind that could compromise his innocence. In contrast to Connelly's last book, "Nine Dragons," which was an action packed thriller, this book is a suspenseful court case drama. We don't actually get to the court until later in the book, but the plot focuses on the prosecution side and their unraveling of the case. The star of the book is obviously Jason Jessup--a cold-hearted convict who may or may not be hiding something. He vaguely reminded me of Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs, in terms of his steely behavior. The pace picks up towards the end, for a surprising finish. Published by Little, Brown, and Company. October 5, 2010. 389 pages. List price $27.99

going rogue, sarah palin

2010-09-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

In “Going Rogue,” Sarah Palin chronicles her life—from her childhood in Alaska to her college graduation to her involvement in local and state politics. When this book came out in hardcover, it was a huge hit so I was curious to read the paperback version, which has since been updated with a new afterword and includes the speech Palin gave at this year’s Tea Party convention. First it must be noted that while Palin details her political views in the book, I read it largely to learn more about Sarah herself. Not many people get plucked out from obscurity and put on center stage, especially if you’re a female governor who’s suddenly running for the second most powerful office in the country. That, coupled with her media portrayal, got my attention. Half of this book focuses on Palin’s life before becoming a vice-presidential nominee, while the second half covers the elections. We learn that Sarah’s family re-located to Alaska because her father was offered a position as a teacher, and had a romanticized view of Alaska as a fan of author Jack London. Palin’s childhood is briefly mentioned, as well as her college graduation, but the text mostly focuses on her life post-college. She mentions juggling several part time jobs, including as a sports commentator at a local tv station, and having kids with her husband Todd. Fast forward a few years and after an offhand suggestion by her acquaintance, Palin campaigns to join the city council and gradually runs for mayor, lieutenant governor, and governor. The book focuses on her political struggles as a mayor and governor, and her clashes with the establishment—which included Big Oil companies and the Republican party where she was considered an outsider. All of these experiences lead her to the surprising phone call from McCain, her secret visit to Arizona, and the confirmation of her candidacy. Alongside politics, Palin briefly mentions private moments like learning of her teenage daughter’s pregnancy and giving birth to s baby with special needs. Overall, this was an interesting memoir. I am not a big fan of politics, but this was a good celebrity autobiography regardless of the political content. Published by Harper Paperbacks. August 24, 2010. 448 pages. List Price $15.99

platinum, aliya king

2010-08-31T13:49:00.000-07:00

“Platinum” is a fictionalized account focusing on the lives of wives and girlfriends whose significant others are in the rap industry. What drew my attention to this book is that the author was inspired to write this book after interviewing real women for her article in a music magazine. The current music industry is largely idealized—full of rich rappers, wild tours, and fancy lifestyles. However, this lifestyle has a darker side to it---a side this book focuses on and exposes through the female point of view. Beth is a tough white girl who has five kids with her rapper, drug-addicted, and frequently cheating husband. Alex is a music journalist who’s engaged to an up and coming rapper Birdy, who entices her to help him with his career. Kipenzi is an r’n’b diva who’s retiring from her blossoming career to focus on starting a family with her rapper beau Jake. Josephine is a wedding dress designer who dreams of having a baby and being able to control her producer husband. Cleo is a groupie who has had intimate relations with all of the above rappers and is writing a book about it---much to the shock of the wives and girlfriends. The book jumps back and forth between these characters and eventually intertwines. It was an interesting read. I am not a big fan of rap, but I thought the author did a good job creating a behind-the-scenes atmosphere and making the characters come to life. The cover is awesome. Published by Touchstone. July 2010. 320 pages. List Price $24.99

angelina, andrew morton

2010-08-26T08:26:00.001-07:00

In “Angelina,” Andrew Morton explores the biography of Hollywood’s most successful actress—Angelina Jolie. What made me interested in this book is the juxtaposition between her current image of a generous UN ambassador and huge movie name, to her days as a young rebellious unknown who was involved in the drug scene and had a wild love life. Morton’s biography bridges the gap pretty well. Before launching into Jolie’s biography, Morton provides the reader with backgrounds about her parents (Jon Voight struggled for a long time in New York as a stage actor before making it big, and her mother Marcheline was actually Marcia Lynn—a woman who had a romance with Al Pacino before deciding to marry the more established at the time Voight and unsuccessfully dreaming of becoming an actress herself). Angelina’s biography begins with the separation of her parents, an event that deeply impacted her life and her behavior. As she grows up, hating her father for betraying her mother, she initially wants nothing to do with the acting profession and chooses modeling. However a change of heart ultimately sets her fate. Morton describes Jolie’s early acting obstacles, her drug use, depression, bisexual affairs, and wild lifestyle to a complete overhaul of her image, including joining the UN, traveling to third world countries, setting up clinics, participating in political discussions, and adopting her children from countries with a low quality of life. Morton also describes the men who have played a large role in Jolie’s life—such as Johnny Lee Miller, Bobby Bill Thornton, and Brad Pitt. The book also has two sections of color photos. Overall, it’s an interesting analytical biography. Published by St. Martin’s Press. August 2010. 336 pages. List Price $26.99