Labels: Andrew Greeley, Book Review, Fiction
Jodi Picoult
Contemporary Fiction
In an effort to save one of its own a Rhode Island family has lost its identity and way. The story revolves around Kate who has rare form of cancer and the effort to keep her alive by her family. However, the care and medical attention needed depends on the youngest child in the family, Anna. Her birth gave new life to her sick sister. Anna is a perfect genetic match to Kate. Anna has given everything to Kate from blood to bone marrow. Anna is told that she will give her kidney to her sister. However, Anna does not want to continue to be a guinea pig any longer. She decides that her parents have to look out for all their children not just Kate. Anna will take them to court if she must. This sets the stage for "My Sister's Keeper".
Jodi Picoult is a unique writer. Each chapter is from a different character's perspective making the story anything but onesided. Picoult reminds me of Alice McDermott.
Reading the book feels like sitting at a dining room table at a dinner party. Each guest taking a turn to tell you their side of the story.
The book as a whole works quite well. By changing the perspective every chapter the reader is allowed a full profile of the entire story. By employing this device Picoult allows you as the reader to be completely entrenched in the plotline.
All of the characters are believable but Sara who is the mother never is able to connect with me. I don't know if that was by design but it was disappointing that such a pivotal character never had an impact on me as the reader.
Picoult is the standard bearer for contemporary fiction today. She is the author of this generation.
Many consider "My Sister's Keeper" as the definitive Picoult novel. I disagree. This book is a wonderful read and I highly reccomend it. However, I think Picoult's "Nineteen Minutes" is her best work.
As I mentioned earlier Alice McDermott and her novels have some similarities to Piccoult's work. Tom Perrotta and Alice Sebold are two contemporaries of Picoult that have the ability to make their characters part of your life.
If you like this book, you will probably like....
"The Appeal" by John Grisham or "The Abstinence Teacher" by Tom Perrotta or "That Night" by Alice McDermott
If you hate this book, you will probably like....
"Coma" by Robin Cook and "The Stranger" by Albert Camus
Labels: Book Review, Fiction, Jodi Picoult
Labels: A.A. Milne. Nick Hornby, Dan Brown, NPR
The Search for God and Guinness
A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World
By Stephen Mansfield
Book Description
The history of Guinness, one of the world’s most famous brands, reveals the noble heights and crushing descents of a great family and an innovative business.
It began in Ireland in the late 1700’s. The water in Ireland, indeed throughout Europe, was famously undrinkable, and the gin and whiskey that took its place was devastating civil society. It was a disease ridden, starvation plagued, alcoholic age, and Christians like Arthur Guinness—as well as monks and even evangelical churches—brewed beer to offer a healthier alternative to the poisonous waters and liquors of the times. This is where the Guinness tale began. Now, 246 years and 150 countries later, Guinness is a global brand, one of the most consumed beverages in the world. The tale that unfolds during those two and a half centuries has power to thrill audiences today: the generational drama, business adventure, industrial and social reforms, deep-felt faith, and the beer itself.
Labels: Book Review, Coming Soon, New Release, Non-Fiction, Stephen Mansfield
Labels: Coming Soon, Dan Brown, J.K. Rowling
Book Review: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller.
0 comments Posted by Mick at 5:33 AMLabels: Book Review, Donald Miller, Motivational, New Release, Non-Fiction
Twists and turns are quite numerous in the latest installmant of T.L. Higley's Seven Wonders series. The book is Historical Fiction and has a heavy dose of romance. I am not a romance reader but Higley doesn't allow the romantic aspects to bog down the story. Some of the conflicts are far fetched but fun. The research and attention to detail make the book a worthwhile read. I must begrudgingly admit that the author has won me over and I am now looking for her other books in the series.
The story is quite compelling. Learning about the importance of the lighthouse and the coalition of Caesar and Cleopatra is fascinating. The story revolves around Sophia who is the keeper of the lighthouse. Higley brings to life ancient Egypt all while weaving an incredible mystery with some romance thrown in for good measure.
Labels: Book Review, Historical Fiction, New Release, Series, T.L. Higley
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Labels: Business, George Foreman, Non-Fiction
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The venerable PBS children's program Reading Rainbow is calling it a career after a quarter of a century on the air. The show's host and executive producer LeVar Burton explains in numerous news accounts that the focus of children's shows is shifting. Now the focus is on teaching kids how to read. Reading Rainbow instilled in me and I am sure many others a love for reading that has taken us around the universe without ever leaving the living room. NPR wrote a wonderful article on the show's historic run. Obviously, no one will argue the importance of teaching children how to read, however I do not see the logic in cancelling the show. Hopefully, PBS won't have a problem teaching kids to read but now they won't know why they should. Being a member of the original generation of kids who enjoyed Reading Rainbow growing up I am sad to see the end of the rainbow, but at least the end of my rainbow had a pot of gold. Unfortunately, this generation didn't have the same kind of luck. Of course, you don't have to take my word for it.
Labels: LeVar Burton, NPR, PBS, Reading Rainbow, TV
This classic novel tells the tragic tale of Lennie Small and George Milton. They are out of luck and out of work migrant workers roaming the highways of California during the 1920s. The depression is the backdrop for the story but that does not prevent Lennie and George from dreaming big. John Steinbeck paints a masterful and brilliant portrait of a bygone era that still resonates today. Every time I read this book it reads differently. This is required reading for most high schools. Fifteen years after I originally read I still love it. However, the difference between reading it at 14 and 28 is amazing. Lennie and George are some of the best characters of 20th Century Literature. I highly reccommend picking this one up.
Labels: Book Review, Classic, John Steinbeck
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Labels: Book Review, Everitt Hitch, Fiction, Robert B. Parker, Virgil Cole, Western
Labels: Book Review, Classic, Top Ten, W. Somerset Maugham
Labels: First Wall Street, Non-Fiction, Philadelphia, Robert E. Wright
Labels: Book Review, Richard Yates, Short Stories
Labels: Book Review, Dune, Frank Herbert, Hugo Award, Nebula Award, Science Fiction, Series
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Labels: Book Review, Ken Follett