Book Review: A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy by Charlotte Greig

A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy by Charlotte Greig

Published by Other Press, a subsidiary of Random House

Rating: 4 stars

The story takes place in the 1970s and Susannah is living with her boyfriend Jason, who also happens to be ten years older than her. Though she isn't completely convinced that Jason is "the one", Susannah appreciates the security that comes with an older man. After starting up a fling with her tutorial partner, Rob, Susannah finds herself confused and torn between two men and two different lifestyles. The fact that she has gotten herself pregnant also doesn't seem to be helping and she is forced to confront her problems and hopefully overcome them.

What was becomes evident almost immediately at the start of the book is how the reader is instantly transported into 1970s university life, so much so that I could easily envision the plot unfolding in that environment (even though I wasn't born yet during those years).

Since Susannah is a philosophy major, the narrative strives to incorporate modern philosophy into its plot development by way of teaching Susannah. I'm not convinced that the use of philosophy was successful in conveying the story's messages or imparting much wisdom for Susannah, but nonetheless it was interesting to read about it, even if it didn't add much to the story for me.

As a main character, Susannah leaves a lot to be desired at first, from her poor judgment and impulsive decisions to the way she justified every indiscretion. Although her behavior could be deemed 'realistic', I found it hard to identify with her profound lack of maturity and the way she handled herself. While I didn't find myself feeling particularly sympathetic towards Susannah in the beginning, I began warming up to her and truly sensed her character development when faced with a really difficult dilemma. I felt the need to read about what path she would take and how she would justify the choice to herself in the end became important to me.

Throughout the book, there are issues of infidelity and morality that come into play and more concretely the topic of abortion. I liked that the author never argued in favor of a particular viewpoint, but instead presented arguments for both and Susannah's ultimate decision didn't seem like it was intended to make a political or moral statement. The book's overall conclusion offers a positive message and also provides some interesting food for thought.

BIG THANKS to Tony of BlueDot Literary, LLC and Other Press for my review copy

Book Review: Breathers: A Zombie's Lament by S.G. Browne

Breathers: A Zombie's Lament by S.G. Browne

Published by Broadway Books, a division of Random House

Rating: 4.5 stars

I received this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program

Though zombies have been roaming the earth for years, they have yet to receive the rights and proper treatment they deserve, at least according to them. Andy Warner is a recent addition to the undead, and is trying to cope with his new 'lifestyle' as a zombie. He is currently living in his parents house, despite their disdain for his zombie status and is a member of Undead Anonymous, where he meets fellow zombies and makes friends. When the group starts eating mysterious meat provided by another zombie, drastic changes take hold of them and their destiny is altered.

I can definitely see why I received this book. I love humor books, especially off-beat ones that have elements of satire embedded throughout, such as the work of Christopher Moore and Chuck Palahniuk. Breathers is every bit as funny as I would have expected and had numerous pop culture references, making it current and very witty.

Just a little warning: Breathers is not for everyone. Some parts made me a little queezy, so if let's say the thought of someone chopping up his parents and eating them as a main course makes you feel a little sick then beware! I could have managed fine without certain unneccesary descriptions and I don't think the plot would have suffered either. Having said that though, most of the book is not gory or too graphic. In fact, a lot of it feels more like a romantic comedy then a horror. I read that the book will likely be made into a movie, which I think would ve very interesting to see!

This book does surprisingly go deeper than you would think. Much of the beginning is a satirical account of discrimination that could easily be substituted for the rights that women and other discriminated members of society have had to face throughout history (except that these zombies are undead, reak of formaldehyde and hang out in cemetaries). Another funny part of the book is a parody of the media circus we now know of that creates instant overnight celebrities. There are also issues of morality that come into play and though they're not particularly resolved, I still found them interesting to contemplate within such a hilarious context.

Breathers will make you root for the undead and join in the vilification of all those who are 'alive' , despite being one of them. Though this book will not suit everyone's taste, for those who enjoy off-beat humor and satire, this is an excellent choice!

BIG THANKS to Random House and LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program for my review copy

Book Review: The Toss of a Lemon by Padma Viswanathan

The Toss of a Lemon by Padma Viswanathan

Published by Random House Canada

Rating: 4 stars

The book begins in the year 1896, with ten-year old Sivakami, who is arranged to be married to the local village healer named Hanumarathnam. Despite astrological predictions that he will pass away in his tenth year of marriage, Sivakami marries him and soon enough finds herself with two children. After Hanumarathnam realizes that his death is imminent as was originally predicted, he hires a servant to watch over Sivakami and help run the household and business. As Sivakami's children get older and start families of their own, the book chronicles all of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren's journeys into the modern era confronting issues of religion, tradition, family, loss and love.

The Toss of a Lemon provides an excellent historical background and overview of many cultural customs and the way they influence daily life in India. It is clear that the author did a tremendous amount of research and I was not surprised to discover that many of the characters are based on her own ancestry.

This book is a very detailed account of many generations and is quite lengthy. As such, there are times when some patience is required in order to read further. It is an excellent character study for all of those depicted but keep in mind it is not plot-driven at all. This is not a book that is filled with plot twists and suspense, but rather one that delicately weaves together the lives of many generations. What this book offers that many others don't is a chance to really get to know characters and their whole family history and future, instead of just a slice of their lives. In that sense, I really appreciated the narrative and its details, even though some of it felt a little tedious. During those times, it was the beautiful writing that kept me reading and kept me intrigued.

Padma Viswanathan's strength definitely lies in her ability to breathe life into each character and give the impression that these are real people. That talent is what helped me become invested in the lives of even the most unlikable characters throughout the book.

For anyone who enjoys reading about family sagas and following characters throughout many generations then this is the perfect book. What it lacks in emotional buildup and complex plot structure, it makes up for in character development and intriguing description.

BIG THANKS to Jessica and Random House Canada for my review copy

Reunion by Therese Fowler

Reunion by Therese Fowler

Published by Ballantine Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

About the book:

Celebrity talk show host Blue Reynolds is the queen of daytime television—she is smart, funny, and as down-to-earth as her adoring fans. In the eyes of the world, she has it all. But no one knows about the secret she has harbored for the last twenty years—a secret that could destroy her image, her reputation, and her career. Twenty years ago, she gave birth to a son and put him up for adoption through illegal channels. And every day since, she’s been filled with regret. Now Blue has hired a private investigator to find her son, knowing full well the consequences.

A week in Key West to do her show on location brings Blue a much-needed change of pace—and an unexpected reunion with an old flame, Mitch Forrester. Helping him launch a television series may help her recapture the kind of genuine romance and affection long missing from her life. But it also means having to deal with Mitch’s disapproving son, Julian, who is only nine years younger than Blue. Emotionally battered from his years as a war photographer in the world’s most dangerous hotspots, Julian struggles to get close to his father while making his disdain for Blue crystal clear—which makes his desire for her all the more shocking.

My review:

Reunion is a definitely a quick and light read. That is not to say that there is no depth to the plot or characters, but rather there is an ease about the writing that kept me reading. Blue's difficult decision to put her son up for adoption many years ago still haunts her and parts of the book focus on her struggle and coming to terms with that choice. That aspect of the plot is what drew me in to the book and kept me intrigued. In my opinion, the romantic elements felt secondary to the real plot and and the development and conclusion of the love triangle seemed too unrealistic, given its unique nature.

When it comes to depicting the book's settings, Therese Fowler does an excellent job. In particular, the descriptions of the luxurious Key West were very well-written and automatically triggered memories from a trip I took there years ago.

The book's ending presents some unanswered questions, which can either pave the way for a sequel or leave readers to their own imaginations. I enjoyed reading this book and though some of the plot development seemed unrealistic, it makes for a wonderful beach read, as the cover implies!

About the author:

Therese Fowler is the author of Souvenir. She holds an MFA in creative writing. She grew up in Illinois and now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with her husband and two sons.

BIG THANKS to Random House for my review copy and Dorothy for organizing this great Pump Up Your Book Promotion tour!

Book Review: I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti by Giulia Melucci

Continuing the food theme.....here is another food-related memoir!

I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti by Giulia Melucci

Published by Grand Central Publishing

Rating: 4.5 stars

Giulia Melucci guides readers through her complicated love life, from men who couldn't commit to others who should be committed. Despite all the heartache and the never-ending quest for true love, Giulia has a positive outlook and shows how the joy of cooking changed her life. Throughout the pages, there are also many recipes that tie into the story and relate to Giulia's circumstances.

I read this book into the late hours of the night because every time I tried to stop at a certain chapter, I was too curious to put it down. The stories are fresh and interesting, many of them managing to induce fits of laughter. I also really love how personal the writing style is, almost as if she was a new friend filling me in on her past romances. Every time another man broke her heart, I wanted to shout at her, and tell her she deserves better than him!

While others may find the recipes interspersed throughout the narrative a distraction, I found them really charming and a perfect way to incorporate cooking into the storyline. I don't think including the recipes as an appendix would have had the same effect, especially given how funny some of their titles are, such as "Dinner to Impress an Older Gentleman" and "Spaghetti and Meatballs for Cooking Sluts and Those Who Love Them".

It is not that the recipes are exotic or even particularly unique, rather it’s their home-cooked feel that makes them special, as Giulia credits her own family for some of the recipes and for the inspiration behind many others. What is most important though, is the personality behind the food that stands out. Had the very same book idea been written by anyone other than Giulia, I doubt it would have turned out as engaging and witty as it is.

This memoir is not only enjoyable to read but practical as well, and I look forward to trying out some of the recipes in the future. With so many memoirs out there to choose from, I guarantee this one is not to be missed!

Be sure to check out this really interesting New York Times article about Giulia, which also features great pictures from her Brooklyn apartment.

BIG THANKS to Anna and Hachette Book Group for my review copy.

Book Review: Spiced by Dalia Jurgensen

Spiced: A Pastry Chef's True Stories of Trials by Fire, After-Hours Exploits, and What Really Goes on in the Kitchen by Dalia Jurgensen

Published by Putnam Adult, a division of Penguin Group (USA)

Rating: 4 stars

Dalia Jurgensen left her office job in the pursuit of a career in the culinary arts and quickly started off interning at Nobu, one of NYC's hottest restaurants filled with many V.I.P. customers. From there she worked at different restaurants, as well as a chef for Martha Stewart's TV show and a caterer in between. Spiced is the story of how Dalia navigated through the male-dominated kitchens and also provides details about her personal life during that time.

I found this book to be pretty entertaining, especially the insider's look into restaurant life and what really goes on in the kitchen while customers await their meals (which did frighten me at times!). There were a couple anecdotes about celebrity customers that were really fun to read about, although I wish I could have heard some more.

I enjoyed reading about the politics of the kitchen and how each restaurant has their own unique hierarchy for all the staff. It was also interesting to learn about the relationship between those who prepare/make the food and those who serve it, given that the chefs often view their jobs as a calling, while the waiters tend to think of their jobs as a means to some other end.

Jurgensen's decision to include a lot about her social life was smart because it helped paint the complete picture of what life is like in that milieu. I learned about the late night staff parties and bar cruising, not to mention the consequent lack of sleep. Some restaurant staff are wilder than others, and I was shocked to hear about some of the crazy antics that can occur once the last customer has left. There was also a fair bit about Jurgensen's romantic life but in my opinion much of it was unneccesary and didn't really help enhance the book.

I was a little disappointed that after reading all about these wonderful pastries, that none of the recipes were included as a glossary (not in my advanced copy, at least), but thankfully there are some wonderful recipes on Dalia's website that can be found here. I actually tried the brownie recipe and they were delicious!

Overall, I think this book provides an interesting look behind-the-scenes of some very busy and successful kitchens, while offering insight into what it's like working as a woman in those environments. Though the book concludes before describing Dalia's recent years, it still offers a nice overview of her experiences and how she became what she is today.

BIG THANKS to Penguin Group for my review copy.