Book Review: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

I hosted this month's book club meeting and chose Amy Chua's new book about her decision to raise her two daughters the Chinese way as a 'Tiger Mom'. I figured with us all being moms, it would make for interesting conversation and I was correct! This is a very quick read, which was a welcome change after the length and depth of our last choice, 100 Years of Solitude. The book centers around the author's parenting style and how it affects her two daughters. She makes some very controversial choices for her daughters and interestingly enough, the moms present at Book Club actually agreed with some (i.e. no sleepovers). I'd say the worst part of this book was the end, because she really didn't seem to know how to end it. So it was a pretty weak wrap up, and some would say not a wrap up at all. But all in all, I would recommend reading this book. It gives an interesting perspective on another type of parenting, and certainly incites some interesting discussion about parenting styles and childrens' personality types. Let me just say that Chinese parenting might work with Quinn, but I do know that I would struggle with Keely as the author did with her younger daughter!

I enjoyed hosting my second book club. In honor of the book's theme, I made Asian Inspired dishes for us to munch on...Asian Lettuce Wraps and Asian Cole Slaw. I served fortune cookies and strawberry shortcakes (yes, I know I broke from theme here) for dessert. We had our typical attendees and it was a lovely evening. I will miss these ladies. A book club is something I have always wanted to be a part of, and I have enjoyed this last year or so a lot with our monthly meetings, vastly different book choices and interesting conversation (some about the book, some not). It's just so nice to have a group of friends that you have easy conversation. We've talked about having me on Skype when I am in Virginia, but that's not the same as being there in person. There are certainly things I will not miss about Utah, but these friends and this book club are definitely among the things I will miss!

Book Reviews: 100 Years of Solitude and Where Men Win Glory

I have already read two books in the first month of 2011. So far, so good. I still seem to have a list a mile long, and growing each day but at least I am making progress. And progress with excellent reads at that!

The first book I read was the January Book Club selection, 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. This was the choice of my good friend Liliana. I have to say I would never have picked up this book on my own. That's the true beauty of book club. Reading this book was a bit of a struggle for me. The characters are all named similarly and it's hard to keep track of who is who. The family tree in the beginning of the book is invaluable as you read it, but it became a bit tedious to flip back and forth between that and reading. I also felt like I got the basic story but there was so much deeper underlying plot lines and implications that I should have gotten. Now that I know the story, I actually think I could read it again and get a lot more out of it. I never read books more than once though so that's probably not going to happen. I also really liked this book more once I got to discuss it at Book Club with my friends. And now James is reading it so we can discuss it too. He reads books of this sort all the time though so he's understanding it all and not having as much trouble with the names. He does agree that it is a slow read though. To describe the basic story, the book is about one family throughout 100 years and 5 generations living in a little town in Colombia called Macondo. There's not much more I can say without spoiling it or going on forever...but there is a little bit of everything in the book. I do recommend it, and stick with it because it's worth it to get to the end.

The second book I read is one I did pick, and James got it for me for Christmas. While I was reading 100 Years of Solitude, he read it first so I guess it was a gift for both of us. :) The book is Where Men Win Glory by Jon Krakauer. I love all of his books, and this one did not disappoint. It is the story of Pat Tillman who voluntarily left a successful NFL career to join the Army Special Rangers and serve in Afghanistan. He was then killed in action, the true reason covered up and this book details his life, death and the aftermath. It also details the history of Osama bin Laden as well as Afghanistan going back to the Cold War times when the Soviets were at war with the Afghans and the events leading up to 9-11. As usual, he is objective with his writing and does not take sides, merely presenting facts. I was especially shocked by some of the details of how our government works and what is hidden from the American people. Friendly fire and fratricide are scary aspects of war, and Tillman was the victim of this horrible fate. I also recommend this book, and frankly all of Krakauer's books. He is an excellent writer, he has a way of captivating his audience and presenting a well balanced story.

Book Review: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

I am a bit behind on book reviews. I actually read this one in December, mostly on a plane to Washington, DC for my last business trip. A few weeks before that, I heard the author on NPR and thought it sounded like a book I would like. Boy, was I right! The book is the true story of one man's entanglement with nature and how he manages to survive. I wasn't living in Utah at the time of this story, but it happens in an area of the state we have visited since living here so that provided an extra bonus to me. We've also hiked a slot canyon, which is where he gets stuck. I was so scared in that canyon, thinking about the possibility of flash floods but never imagining the possibility of dislodging one of the large boulders we were climbing on as Aron did in Little John Canyon.

This was an excellent book. It alternates between current time when Aron is stuck in Little John Canyon, trying to survive with one arm stuck and little food and water and Aron's past experiences with mountaineering and other aspects of his life. He really was a strong accomplished hiker and outdoorsman at the time of the unfortunate incident that nearly took his life. But as you learn from his past, it's not the first time he has put his life in nature's hands. He writes the book with such vigor and vim that you really feel that you are there with him. I rode his emotions as he determined himself destined to die in that canyon to his elation when he finally freed himself and the long hike out of the canyon to help and safety. I recommend reading this book and I am excited to see the movie that was made out of it, 127 Hours. As I have said before, I normally do not like the movies based on books but I am curious how they depict such a dramatic situation. It was also filmed right here in Utah, mostly in a Sugarhouse warehouse not more than 15 miles from our house.

I am now in the midst of reading the January Book Club selection, 100 Years of Solitude and will have a review of that next week. As is typical from Christmastime, I have a stock of books to read in the New Year. Lined up for me next are the first two of Stieg Larsson's trilogy and two books that James got me for Christmas, Where Men Win Glory by Jon Krakauer (one of my favorite authors and one who was quoted quite often in Aron Ralston's book) and Lord of Misrule, a book about life in the horse racing business. Let's hope I don't fizzle!

Book Reviews: Summer Catch Up

My good friend Linda reminded me that I am not up to date on my book reviews. I think there are two books I have yet to write about, 'The 19th Wife' and 'The Kids are All Right'.

So here goes:

The 19th Wife was a given to me by my mother-in-law. I think she should suggest books for me more often because I always like what she passes my way. She knew I would like this book because as you know, we live in Utah. Mormon Utah. This book is 'Under the Banner of Heaven'-ish. If you haven't read that one yet, I highly recommend it as well. This was in the same vain. It used the historic story of Brigham Young's 19th Wife, Ann Eliza Young and her effort to end polygamy in early Mormon times, and contrasted it with a modern day (albeit fictional) story of a 19th wife who was accused of killing her polygamous husband in a Southern Utah compound. That place does actually exist, and this story loosely fit in the FBI capturing of the 'Prophet' of what they call Mesadale (actually called Colorado City I believe) which is similar to the capture of Warren Jeffs a couple of years ago. It was a long book but really good. It switches back and forth between old and current times. Sometimes I wished they would stick with one story a little longer, or one a little shorter, because when it picked up on the other story again I found I had to remember what happened last. It doesn't help that I am not reading it consistently either. I did feel the length was a little much too. But when you are trying to fully develop two stories for the reader, I am not sure you can do it in much less than 600 pages. I do recommend this one, but if you are interested in learning about the LDS faith then I would start with the aforementioned 'Under the Banner of Heaven' by Jon Krakauer.

Next:
The Kids are All Right. It is funny how I happened on this book. I saw movie previews for a film with the same name. I noticed 4 people in it laughing around a dinner table. Then I was reading Self Magazine while getting a pedicure and there was a little blurb about this book about 4 kids who are orphaned. I wrongly assumed that the movie was based upon the book and decided to read it. When I finished, I discovered that the movie was not at all based upon this book and about something entirely different. Funny, huh? I am not sorry I read the book though. It was good. It is the story of 4 siblings who lose their father (in a tragic car accident) then their mother (to cancer) in the course of a few years. They are orphaned when they are between the ages of 6-17 (if I recall correctly) and then are split up to live with different people. It is told from each of their perspectives because they all remember things differently. The worst off was the youngest, Diana who got sent to live with this seemingly perfect family who treated her very poorly (mentally, not physically). I was glad to see that she turned out to be a well adjusted young adult (I think she's about 35 now). In fact they all turned out fine, thus the title of the book. It was a good quick read (compared to my other 600 pagers) and I recommend it.

Next up are The Shack and The Red Tent. Our September Book Club selection is Eat Pray Love which I read a few years back. So I'm on to other reads :)

Book Review: Cutting for Stone

I didn't write about last month's book, which was The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I read this book many years ago when it first came out and loved it. As a refresher, I watched the movie and actually liked it although from what I recall of the book, it is a departure for the sake of drama. I think if I had read the book closer to watching the movie I would not have liked the movie so much.

But anyways, this month's selection was Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. When I initially checked for information on the book, I was not going to read it mostly because of its length (~600 pages in paperback). I hardly ever read books that long, not that I never do though. It's just been a while. But I read reviews and they were all very positive, it's on the best seller list, so I ordered it and started reading.

From the beginning, it was captivating. I could not put it down. There are few books that catch my attention like this one. It was an epic novel, spanning some 50 years. It was reminiscent of the Kite Runner but totally different. It is mostly set in Ethiopia and intermingled with the characters' lives are descriptions of the country, its food and culture. I was immersed in it - so much so that when I would put it down at night, I would dream of it. I finished this ~600 page book in about a week! There was only one time when it got slow but then picked up again and whirled to a close. It left me wanting more, and that's exactly what a good piece of fiction should do. I highly recommend reading this book...and I have a copy if anyone wants to borrow it!

Book Review: A Reliable Wife

I hosted Book Club this month and chose A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick. As first, I was excited to choose a book for the group but when push came to shove, it was a bit stressful. I didn't want to pick a bad, or boring book. I read mixed reviews about this one, but chose it anyway because the premise looked so interesting to me when I read the back cover in the airport bookstore in January. It turned out my stressing was for naught (as usual!) and everyone really enjoyed the book, myself included. It was a page turner and a quick read. It was captivating and to be honest I had no idea how it would end even to the last few pages.

The book is set in rural Wisconsin in 1907 in the dead of winter (it was only fitting that it snowed while we were discussing it...yes, the winter that won't quit here in Utah!). An older man (I think he is in his late 40s or early 50s) places an ad in a newspaper for a 'reliable wife'. He gets many responses but chooses one particular because of how she responds. Turns out the picture she sent to him isn't even her, which he discovers as she gets off the train. That's just the first of many surprises that she has in store for him, but he has his own plans as well.

So in just my second month in book club, I picked a winner -- I recommend this book and am glad that the group enjoyed it. I can't wait to see next month's selection!

Book Review: 360 Degrees Longitude

Last week, I attended my first book club discussion about the selected book for March, 360 Degrees Longitude by John Higham. The host of the book club selected it because she knows the family (they are from Logan, Utah originally) and also seems to be a world traveler herself. The premise of the book is that a family of 4 embarks on a year long trip around the world. It seemed interesting and it was almost unbelievable as I began reading it. They started in Europe bicycling on two tandems! Their kids were 11 and 8 at the time of the trip and being a mom of two kids almost that age, I was intrigued that they had the energy to plan the trip and actually execute it. Most people would just talk about it but never do it. The first half of the book was really interesting but then it dragged. I struggled at times to continue on, skimming instead of reading even. That was the general feeling from the ladies at Book Club too, everyone had trouble finishing (some didn't even get to the end). All in all though it was an interesting book and I recommend reading it. It was fun to discuss where they went and think about what places I would choose if doing a trip of this sort. I think the reason it dragged on was because it was almost overwhelming to complete such a journey, I couldn't absorb all that they did in the year and I'm sure their own kids felt overwhelmed too. The experiences were unforgettable though. I think if I did a trip like this, I would do it in shorter trips instead of one long trip.

I have the pleasure of hosting Book Club in April and I have selected A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick. I hope it's a good choice, because the reviews I have read are mixed. I'll give an update after the next book club discussion!

The Secret Life of Bees

I love to read, and as I have gotten older I have expanded the palate of my reading. I am always open to suggestions on new things to read. I don't always have the energy to be reading a book but I go in spurts. It'd be nice to read more regularly instead of cramming several books into one or two months and then taking one to two months off. It's not my intention but it seems to happen that way. I'd love to be more consistent...so I was thrilled when I was to join a book club! This provides me with the motivation to read one book per month and then discuss it with a nice group of ladies, also giving me a night out. The bad news though is that I couldn't make the first one. But I didn't discover the scheduling conflict until the Sunday before the scheduled date so I'd already gotten into the book. The chosen book was The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. I had most definitely heard of this book but chosen not to read it earlier because I didn't think it would interest me. Anything Oprah picks I tend to stay away from :) But I gave it a whirl. It was a hard book to get into to, most definitely not a page turner at least for me. I even considered not finishing it once I knew I wasn't attending the discussion. But I persevered and it ended up getting better and finishing off nicely. It is a story of a 14 year old girl who runs away from her father in the 1960s. The girl's mother died when she was 4 and she's been raised by her father and a black woman who was called in from the peach fields on the farm. Through a series of circumstances, she ends up with the black woman at a house where a group of sisters keep bees. The beekeeping is weaved throughout the story and is interesting to learn about. I think everyone that reads this story will get something different out of it...and I would have been curious to see what the others in the book club thought. Oh well, I am left to my own opinions. I liked it, but didn't love it and don't think I would pick up any more of this author's books.

Book Review: Sookie Stackhouse #1-4

Probably the main reason I haven't been posting that much is that I am enthralled with this book series. I got hooked on a new HBO series, True Blood that aired last summer. Season 2 is about to start up and it reminded me that this TV show is based upon a series of books. So I ordered the first seven books in a boxed set from amazon.com for a reasonable $32.

I am now through the first 4, shown above (well, I have about 40 pages left in Book 4 but I expect to finish tonight). I find I like the books better than the show. Probably a large reason for that is with the show, you have to wait week to week to find out what happens next and the books provide instant gratification. I fly through them once I get started, and I find I am having to pace myself just so I don't finish them all too soon. I was hoping to have some of these left to read on vacation but it's not looking like they will last that long :)

For those who watch the show, the first book is basically the first season and they stayed very true to the plot. They did embellish certain characters for dramatic purposes but the basics are the same. I am so curious to see if the second season unfolds like the second book.

I really like the books, and that surprises me for two reasons. First, I don't typically like fantasy books. The premise of the books is vampire & mystery. I like mystery, but vampires are new. The first four books have gotten more and more into fantasy, covering creatures like werewolves, fairies, witches, maenads, and shapeshifters (people that change into animals on the nights of the full moon). Second, this is the closest thing I have read to a steamy sex novel. There are lots of sex scenes in the books, and it's vampire sex so that makes it even more steamy. Don't get me wrong, the sex is not dominant but it is a recurring part of the books. There is a lot of humor in these books too, and I often find myself laughing out loud and having to explain to James why I'm laughing.

So, I'm definitely hooked and have already ordered the next two books. Her newest will be out in October, so there will come a point when I am stuck for new Sookie reading. But until then, I am having fun reading along to find out what happens to her next :)

Book Review: A Wedding in December

I am a bit behind, but I finished this book during TV Turnoff Week (which went fabulously well by the way, and some of the changes have become permanent in our house namely the new rule that the kids must be dressed before the TV is turned on in the mornings). I had bought this book just after Christmas for about $4 and finally picked it up to read. The title is fairly self explanatory, as the main plot of the book is a wedding happening in December. It is a group of friends that get together for a wedding of two people that were a couple in high school, but they split up and married other people and then met at their 25 year high school reunion and got back together (and we will ignore the fact that he was still married when they reunited). So the group of them who were so close in high school get back together, some of them not having seen each other for 27 years and you can imagine that things are mildly different. The twist is that one of their friends died in high school, and the details of that fateful night have never been revealed completely. Also the bride has cancer, and is unsure of the future with her new husband. It's a good enough story, but takes a while to get into it. I have never read Anita Shreve before and this book was good, but I would not run out and buy any of her other books (unlike for example Jodi Picoult). Good thing it was a $4 book, because that's about all I would have paid for after reading it. Might be a good library book to borrow because it's not even really worth lending to family and friends.

Book Reviews: Gathering Blue and Messenger

Catching up on my two most recent reads, I finished out the trilogy by Lois Lowry that I first reviewed with The Giver. The second book in the series is called Gathering Blue. It is a totally separate book from the first, dealing with another strange village but this time a little girl who has a magic gift. It was not as dark as the first book, but did leave some unanswered questions for the third book. It also started out a little slowly, and I really didn't get into it until halfway through and then I could not put it down.
The last in the series, Messenger, ties the first two together (so I would really recommend reading them in order). The characters from the first and second book are both in this one, although the story really centers on a supporting character in the second book. I read this one pretty fast, as it was interesting and I wanted to see how it all wrapped up. I would say after reading the three that the first is definitely the best but the two were also interesting. For those of us that read Lois Lowry as kids, this is a whole new side to her that I think is worth delving into. They are quick reads, and they would be good to read with your kids aged 10-12 or so (or at least I think they would even though I have no kids that age).

Book Reviews: 90 Minutes in Heaven and The Giver

I have read two books since the New Year, and have been meaning to catch up with reviews.

The first one was 90 Minutes in Heaven, by a minister named Don Piper. He was nearly killed, actually was clinically dead for 90 minutes and experienced the glories of Heaven in that time before he was brought back to life. No one was administering CPR on him, there was just another minister praying for him and his return without major brain or internal injuries. The prayers worked, and although he had numerous hurdles to overcome in his recovery, he had no major internal injuries and no brain damage. This is a true account of his time in Heaven, and then his recovery and how he has used this experience to help others. He's a minister, as I said, so that part makes me a little cynical. Especially since his version of Heaven is fairly stereotypical. Cynicism aside though it was an uplifting story about a recovery and how his story has helped others feel more comfortable about loved ones dying, and their own impending deaths. My fear of death, which most likely translates to a fear of the unknown leads me to be intrigued by this topic and what it has to bring. I recommend it, but it may go against certain religious beliefs.

The second one I just finished, and read really quickly, is The Giver by Lois Lowry. My friend Linda was telling me about reading this book with her 11 year old daughter and she just knew I would like it. She was right :) Plus when I found out it was by Lois Lowry who I read when I was a teen, I was even more excited. It was a great book, totally deep though and I left it wondering how an 11 year old would take it. It's a story of a community in the future, sort of like a "Big Brother" scenario where pretty much everything is controlled by "government". The more I think about it and the ideas it presents, the deeper it penetrates into everything we hold dear as humans and individuals. This sounds vague, I know but trust me and read it. And I was so pleased when Linda told me about the two sequels...so I will be moving on to them next!

Book Review: Revolutionary Road

So I lied, I could not bring myself to read the copy of Twilight in my possession from the library. So it came up due and I returned it. Meanwhile, another one I was waiting on was ready for pickup. Not two days later, I was finished and very pleased with it. I heard about this book when I read of a new movie with the same name, in which Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio will reunite in their first movie together since Titanic. As it usually happens, when I hear of a movie based on a book, I always try to read the book first because it's always better. This book is set in the 1950s partly in Connecticut and New York City. It's about a couple who marries young and has two children, then settles down into suburbia in Connecticut. It begins with the main character, April starring in a play that the local townspeople have put on. The play bombs badly and it starts the downward spiral of the couple's "perfect" life. Turns out life isn't what either of them thought it would be. I can't get into the details, but let's just say that if they stick to the story, moviegoers expecting a happy Jack and Rose reunion will not get it. It was a gripping tale that I could not put down. It dragged a little at the end but I really liked it and recommend it. Now I have a few more lined up, thanks to a gift card to Borders (thanks Tyler!) but I am not sure which one I will read first. I usually get in the reading mode around this time of the year it seems, as the holidays are over and the dead of winter is setting in.

Book Review: He Sees You When You're Sleeping

Mary Higgins Clark is my favorite author, with a clarification. She is not the best author I have ever read books by, but she is the one I have read the most books by. They are the adult version of what "The Baby Sitter's Club" was to me in my teen years. Her books are all about the same, set in NY/NJ, and are all mysteries. They are not that predictable though and I usually can't put it down once I start. They are also quick reads for me, I'm usually done in about a day (with interruptions, obviously). Once a year, she teams up with her sister to write a Christmas mystery. I picked this one up from the library, it was from 2001 but I don't think I ever read it. I say think because sometimes I know I have read a book but can pick it up and feel like I am reading for the first time. Anyways, this was a good book. Sort of an "It's a Wonderful Life" story about a person who has been stuck in purgatory for 46 years and has to help someone on Earth in order to get into Heaven. It's a good seasonal read and I'd recommend this one or any of her others that she's written for Christmas.

Next up on my list is one I said I never would read, due to its popularity among the teen set and their mothers. Yes, it's Twilight and I am honestly not sure I will get through it. But I got it from the library free of charge so I will give it a try. Stay posted :)

Book Review: The Art of Keeping Secrets

My search for the third in a series of "The Art of..." books led me to this one. For those interested, the book that kept coming up in my searches was "The Art of War" but that didn't interest me. So I kept searching and found this fiction book. I have never heard of the author, but the subject sounded interesting. The book opens two years after a woman has lost her husband in a solo plane crash. She has immersed herself in writing for the local newspaper, and raising her two kids -- a boy named Jake and a girl named Keeley! When I read that name, I knew it was meant for me to read this book lol, even though the name is spelled entirely wrong :) Anyways, the book starts out with the woman learning that her husband's plane has been found with his remains, as well as the remains of a woman who was onboard with him! So enter doubt, wonder, secrets, and discoveries. It weaves a web of stories together and tells the story from
two people's perspectives. It's a premise that strikes the hearts of every married woman -- how much do you really know about the person you love most? And how can you deal with doubt when that person isn't there to confirm or deny the story? I enjoyed this book, and recommend it. It is set in North Carolina, and is semi reminiscent of Nicholas Sparks novels but not as cheesy. She has four other books and I think I may try another one.

Book Review: The Art of Racing in the Rain

The second of the books I have read in the last two weeks (read post below for the first review) is this book that James found for me and knew I would like. This book is written from the perspective of a dog, who thinks like a human and firmly believes he will be reincarnated into a human upon his death. It is the story of his master and his family's life, from the perspective of their dog. It starts with the end, as the dog is nearing his date with death at an old age (for a dog) and then goes back to the beginning and tells the story of his life, or his life first with just his master and then wife and daughter eventually. I think that any of you with a pet, but especially a dog, will enjoy this book because it's humorous but serious and makes you wonder if there's more to your dog than just a faithful companion. It's not a surprise to me (or James obviously) that I liked it, I've also read other books about dogs...Marley & Me and The Dogs of Babel come to mind. All I can say is, if you like dogs, you will enjoy this book. It was also a quick read, and I finished it quickly because I enjoyed following along with life through the dog's eyes.

And now I have just realized something about these two books. They both have titles starting with "The Art Of...". This reminds me of Ryan, my brother in law, who reads books in threes. He starts with a book and then reads two more that are connected by a part of the book or another aspect of the subject of the book...or something like that. Maybe he can comment and tell me what it is. But the titles of these books struck me as funny, and now I think I will find a 3rd book with a title that starts with the same words. Just to complete the trifecta, as Ryan does. Although I don't think he usually picks books in threes because of the titles but oh well. It's my world here and I'll make up my own rules :) Now I am off to search for another interesting book titled "The Art Of"...stay tuned!

Book Review: The Art of Mending

Catching up on books I have recently read, this one was sitting on my nightstand for a few months since I brought it home from my mother-in-law at her suggestion when we were in NJ in May. She seems to have a knack for selecting books that I will enjoy. Of course, this one wasn't too much of a stretch for me since I have read other books by Elizabeth Berg and enjoyed them (Open House is one that comes to mind). This one is a quick read, since the plot is fairly straight forward and only takes a few twists. It's about an adult woman who goes back to her family's yearly gathering at an annual fair and finds more out about her family that she intends. I can't say much more about it other than it starts with her sister asking for a dinner with just the narrator and their brother to talk about things that happened to her when she was a child. It ends up being an eye opening experience for the narrator, and a life changing visit for the entire family. I recommend it, especially if you haven't read her books before. They are a treat, and I finished this one in about 2 days because I couldn't put it down.

Book Review: Comfort, A Journey Through Grief

While we were in San Francisco, I read this book by Ann Hood. Actually, since it is a very quick read I read most of it in the airport while we were waiting to depart on the trip. This book sparked my interest years ago when I read an early excerpt (or I think actually one of the first parts of it before it was made into a full book) in a magazine. This is a true story of the author's daughter dying at the young age of 5 from a very common children's ailment, strep throat. The book is about the process of healing through the years that follow this tragic experience. I can't honestly say that this book will appeal to a lot of people I know. Why it appeals to me is mostly my fascination with death (and consequent fear of death of myself or my family). I enjoyed the book, it has a happy ending despite most of it being frankly a little depressing. I think anyone who has lost a family member, and especially lost a child, would find this book helpful and be empathetic with the author and her experience. But I also think that any parent can relate to this because every parent's worst fear is losing their child. I think it was a good book, and it will certainly make you thankful for what you have and hopefully have not lost.

Book Review: The Rule of Four

This is my latest read. A book that my mother-in-law sent in a box sometime a while ago and I didn't even know we had on our book shelf. I'm thinking she sent it for me, thinking I would like it and she was right, I did. This is a book similar in plot to The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, both books by Dan Brown. I enjoyed both of those books as well.

The main premise of the plot in this book is an ancient writing that the main characters are trying to decode. However, it's not the only part of the book -- there are two strong subplots that make it even more interesting. The first is a friendship between four college roommates as they prepare for graduation, and the second is a romance between the main character and his college sweetheart. All of this is intermixed with murder and intrigue. This really is a page turner -- and if you liked the aforementioned similar books, I definitely recommend this one.