Fall On Your Knees

i think that ann-marie mcdonald is a brilliant writer. i eagerly await her next publication, as i have allowed myself to get lost in the two worlds she has created thus far. her character development is extraordinary. her dialogue, pitch-perfect. in short, a literary haven.

next on the list: 'fall on your knees' by ann-marie mcdonald.

i struggle to know where to begin describing this book. it completely caught me off guard, drew me in, and shocked me in the end. i will say that i feel i'm a rather perceptive reader and find that i am rarely shocked by an ending that is smart and actually makes sense. this one, although extremely shocking, was one that definitely threw me for a loop.

what i love about mcdonald's writing is that it attains the perfect balance. there is never any superfluous information that you have to skim over and yet you never find yourself clamoring for more detail either. i love that and it is a rare find.

this book is a story of 4 sisters, the piper sisters, in nova scotia at the turn of the 20th century. their dad is caucasian, their mom is persian, and that balance during that time period often causes the girls to struggle knowing where they fit. they are cut off from their mother's side of the family, as they disown her when she marries a white man. their dad's family is dead. so it is their family unit alone that makes up their family. with a father who is obsessed with his oldest daughter's vocal talent and a mother who has become almost mute due to her husband's abuse, this is a story of how the girls struggle to grow up apart from any real guidance other than what they give one another.

the relationships between the sisters is what drives this book, especially the relationship between the two middle sisters, mercedes and frances. as their mother's death forces mercedes to conform to the mother role and frances continues to feel the need to protect the youngest in any way possible, the heart and drama of the story unfolds.

the pages turn themselves in this story. there is a driving pulse that is motivated by absolutely incredible character development that is addictive. the end is quite shocking, so i wouldn't recommend this to everyone, but will say that if you can get past some of the controversial subject matter, this book is one that will keep you thinking for a few days.

and hey, oprah recommends it, so it's gotta be good, right? :)

Murder on Lenox Hill

i will admit this up front. i only bought this book because it was on sale for 1 dolla' and i wanted a light mystery read. i thought a buck a book was a good deal.

next on the list: 'murder on lenox hill' by victoria thompson.

this book was okay. if you want a murder mystery for a semi-engaging beach read, i MAY recommend this one. it wasn't my favorite. it was really hard for me to get in to and then once i sorta did, the ending is extremely predictable. so much so that you keep thinking, surely, surely, that's not going to be the ending. oh, but it is, my friends!

this book takes place in new york city back in the day. like horse and buggy days. hence the series name of 'the gaslight mysteries'. sara brandt is from a well-to-do family of money in the early days of new york city. a widow, the tale of another book in the series apparently, sara strays from her society ways to work as a midwife. this was apparently not an occupation that was well respected in those days.

in this particular story, there are 2 plotlines woven together. one being the obvious...the murder on lenox hill. the other, the impregnation of a mentally challenged 17-year-old girl. how, you might ask, are these 2 plots woven together? not very well, i would answer. i won't go into the details because i don't think i'd recommend this book to anyone. but, because i read it and i'm sticking to my new "writing about every book i read" blog kick, i felt obligated to write a post about it. however, YOU should not feel obligated to read this book. save yourself the time and yo' dolla'!! go buy yourself a 1 dolla' hot fudge sundae at mcdonald's instead!! :)

Cold Tangerines

okay, next on the list: 'cold tangerines' by shauna niequist.

this summer, you need to read this book. simply put, it's wonderful. in reading it, i felt like i was being hugged by a friend. it spoke deeply and directly to my heart. read it. it's delightful.

this book is shauna's first and it is an absolutely wonderful collection of essays about life, celebration, and finding joy and significance in the little moments, the everyday moments of life. there are stories that will have you lauging out loud, as shauna's wit is spot on. there are stories that will have you crying, identifying with deep moments of pain and tender memories shared with the reader. there are stories that will inspire you as shauna gets to the root and the heart of what truly matters in life.

in reading this book, it feels like you've made a new friend. shauna writes in such a way that reading her stories makes you feel as though you're sitting at a table with her, drinking good coffee, and learning from the immense wisdom this woman possesses. her writing comes off as though you're having a conversation with her and let me tell you, it's one worth having.

'cold tangerines' is the only book i've ever cared to read more than once. in fact, i've read it many times and am reminded of something new each time. it is refreshing, wise, funny, and real. read it. you'll love it. once you read it, you'll want to share it. it makes a great gift. go buy it, wrap a ribbon around it, and share the wonderful warmth of 'cold tangerines' with a friend.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

wow. it's been so long since i've blogged. i think i was creatively worn out from all the writing i was doing at school, BUT i'm feeling rejuvinated and have been creatively inspired with an idea.

i love to read. it is one of my very favorite pastimes. i lose myself in the stories and characters and their lives. i feel i've been a million places, not because i've traveled extensively, but because i dive into books as often as i can.

once i finish a book, i find that i always want to talk about it with someone and share in the wonderful story together. i'm not one for book clubs. i don't like being confined to a schedule. solution? write about the book on my blog. perfection.

with that being said, i have a few books to catch up on, as i've been reading like a crazy woman this summer after having graduated from seminary and have the freedom to read fiction again.

the first book to start this new creative outlet: the vanishing act of esme lennox by maggie o'farrell.

let me start off by saying this book is heartbreaking. working within the mental health field, i felt especially connected to the story line of this book, both from the viewpoint of esme and of iris. esme has spent her life in a mental health institution in scotland and iris is her relationally distant family member a few generations removed. upon the closing of the hospital where esme has spent most of her life, the lot falls on iris to determine the best course of action and living situation for this family member she barely knows and in many ways is fearful of. the relationship between the 2 women is what makes the book worth reading, as are the confused wanderings through the psyche of esme.

i gobbled this book up. seriously, within 3 days i think i had it finished. o'farrell's writing style is addictive and her character development causes such empathy that the reader is immediately invested in the storyline.

with beautiful descriptions of the scottish landscape coupled with the social commentary of the mental health systems of the past, this is a read for anyone who likes a good character piece.

and, as i read this about 4 books ago, that's all the detail that comes to immediate memory. :)