Book Review: Do-Over! by Robin Hemley

Do-Over! by Robin Hemley

Published by Little, Brown and Company , a division of Hachette Book Group

Rating: 4.5 stars

This book is about precisely what its sub-titles states: "In which a forty-eight-year-old father of three returns to kindergarten, summer camp, the prom, and other embarrassments". Robin Hemley decides to re-visit his past of embarassing and shameful moments so that he can 're-do' them all over again with the additional benefit of perspective and wisdom from decades of life experience. Given the strange nature of his adventures, (what other kindergarten student has their wife pick them up from school?) Robin receives some interesting feedback from his fellow classmates, campers, and teachers. Thankfully though, for the most part Robin is supported in his quest and given ample opportunity to improve upon his past 'failures'.

I think that what initially started out as a unique opportunity for Robin's self-exploration and journey to his past, transformed into an experience that has proved insightful to many others as well. Though this book is focused on Robin's past, it can easily be translated to anyone with regrets or those who wonder what would happen if they could 're-do' a past experience. The book's idea and writing style, along with witty humor, reminded me a lot of A. J. Jacobs' work, including The Year of Living Biblically, which was a plus for me.

I only wish that each chapter could have been a little longer so that I could have read more about each experience. In particular, my favorite do-over by far, the kindergarten chapter seemed to go by too quickly. I longed to hear more of the dialogue exchanged between Robin and the children, who seemed to conclude that Robin had a 'bad time' when he was a kid and he wanted to back so he could have a 'better time'.

Though not many would jump at the chance to re-do experiences that humiliated them in the past, there is a fascination with someone who would have the courage to do so and share his experiences with everyone (photographs included!). It is often other people's reactions to Robin's endeavor that were most interesting to me and were also able to elicit the most laughter.

The underlying self-deprecative attitude translates into a humorous book where a grown-man can poke fun at himself while re-living past embarassments and come out a little wiser and insightful than he started out in the beginning. Do-Over! is not only a hilarious journey of flashbacks and re-dos, but also insightful in its implications and I certainly enjoyed accompanying Robin on his trip down memory lane.


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

Book Review: Angels of Destruction by Keith Donohue

Angels of Destruction by Keith Donohue

Published by Shaye Areheart Books

Rating: 4.5 stars

The books begins with a late-night knock on Margaret Quinn's door, which is highly unusual for a window living alone. The mysterious visitor is a young girl who claims to be an orphan with nowhere to stay. Ten years earlier, Margaret's own daughter, Erica, ran away with a radical cult-like group known as the Angels of Destruction and she has never seen her again. In an effort to reclaim the daughter she once lost and fill the void in her heart, Margaret takes in the little girl and presents her to the town as her granddaughter, Norah Quinn. Norah befriends a neighborhood boy nameds Sean Fallon, and together they find companionship until Norah's magical abilities threaten their security. Throughout the book, a mysterious figure haunts the characters and elements of magical realism fill its pages.

Angels of Destruction begins in the present and describes Margaret's re-awakening once the mysterious girl enters her life and only briefly refers to her runaway daughter through her memories. I enjoyed the second part of the book being told from Erica's perspective and getting into her psyche in order top find out what would possess someone to leave their life behind and never return. As more secrets are revealed, the book increases in intensity and I found myself amazed by what was transpiring.

I am particularly fond of books that incorporate magical realism into the stories, such as in books by Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen. In this book, the mystical elements had both uplifting and morose connotations which I found especially intriguing. Not only are the events in the book magical, but the writing itself felt like it had a magical quality to it as well.

Although some lingering questions remain after the book has ended, I really like the way things tie in together in the book's conclusion, offering the closure I was waiting for all along.

This wonderfully written book captured my interest until the very end and left me missing the characters once it was over.


BIG THANKS to Random House for my review copy.

Early Birds Blog Tour: Mating Rituals of the North American WASP by Lauren Lipton

Mating Rituals of the North American WASP by Lauren Lipton

Published by 5-SPOT, a division of Hachette Book Group

Publisher's description of the book:

After arguing with her live-in boyfriend about his inability to commit, Peggy Adams flies to a friend's bachelorette party in Las Vegas, and wakes up next to a man she can't remember. Hung-over and miserable, she sneaks out of the sleeping man's hotel room and returns home to New York, where her boyfriend apologizes for the fight and gives her a Tiffany box containing a pre-engagement ring. Not what she expected, but close enough! The next day she receives a phone call from the Las Vegas one-night stand, Luke, claiming she's already married to him¬-and he faxes her the license for proof! Both are ready for an annulment, until Peggy arrives in quaint New Nineveh, CT, where Luke cares for his Great Aunt, and the old woman makes Peggy an offer she can't refuse.

My review:

This book satisfies all the criteria for a great beach read: light, funny and a satisfying ending despite its predictability. I really liked reading about the world of "WASPs" and the challenges Peggy faces when trying to fit in with them. It was almost like reading about a completely different culture, with the specific clothing, behavior and "mating rituals".

Eventually Peggy's New York City life during the week starts to collide with her Conneticut weekend life and of course things get complicated. Life never turns out as we expect it to and in this book a chance enounter proves to be a life-altering experience. Though the plot is pretty unrealistic, it's still fun to read about what's going to happen next.



About the author:

Lauren Lipton is a journalist who specializes in lifestyle, business, fashion, and trend stories. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Conde Nast Portfolio, In Style Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings, Forbes Woman, Glamour, Marie Claire, and on National Public Radio's All Things Considered. She lives in New York City and in Litchfield County, Connecticut.

Check out the Lauren Lipton Fans facebook group

BIG THANKS to Miriam for arranging this wonderful tour and Hachette for my review copy.


There are many other wonderful blogs featuring reviews today of this book as part of the Early Birds Blog Tours:

http://thereviewfromhere.wordpress.com/

http://librarygirlreads.blogspot.com/

http://hiddenplace.wordpress.com/

http://kylees2009.blogspot.com/

http://www.devourerofbooks.com/

http://burtonreview.blogspot.com/

http://carolsnotebook.wordpress.com/

http://www.foreigncircuslibrary.blogspot.com/

http://www.xanga.com/bravehsgirl

http://books-movieschinesefood.blogspot.com/

http://inbedwithbooks.blogspot.com/

http://www.bookconfessions.com/

http://peekingbetweenthepages.blogspot.com/

http://www.readingwithmonie.com/

http://www.sheistoofondofbooks.com/

http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com/

http://www.squidoo.com/bookbin

http://www.acircleofbooks.com/

http://www.myspace.com/darbyscloset

http://www.thisbookforfree.com/

http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/

http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com/

http://lastexilewords.blogspot.com/

http://unmainstreammomreads.blogspot.com/

http://martasmeanderings.blogspot.com/

http://www.bermudaonion.wordpress.com/

http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/

http://abookbloggersdiary.blogspot.com/

http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/

http://bookslovejessicmarie.blogspot.com/

http://www.thenovelbookworm.com/

http://proudbookworm.blogspot.com/

http://kayespenguinposts.blogspot.com/

http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/

http://epicrat.blogspot.com/

http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com/

http://purplg8r-somanybooks.blogspot.com/

http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/

http://www.thebookzombie.com/

http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/

http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/

http://www.linussblanket.com/

http://donnasbookreviews.blogspot.com/

http://www.skrishnasbooks.com/

http://www.morbid-romantic.net/

http://www.writeforareader.blogspot.com/

http://www.brimfulcuriosities.com/

http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/

http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com/

http://savvyverseandwit.blogspot.com/

http://danys-san.blogspot.com/

http://www.iheartmonster.com/

http://debbiesworld.wordpress.com/

http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/

http://ebogie.blogspot.com/

Book Review: Who Do You Think You Are? by Alyse Myers

Who Do You Think You Are? by Alyse Myers

Published by Touchstone, an imprint of Simon & Schuster

Rating: 4 stars

This book is Alyse Myers' memoir about the difficult relationship she had with her mother and how that has affected her life in both negative and positive ways. Her parents had an unhappy marriage which further exacerbated the situation, until her father passed away when she was only eleven years old. From them on, Alyse felt like she was on her own because she was 'daddy's little girl' and couldn't relate to her sisters and certainly not to her mother. Alyse was unfairly treated for years and forced to suffer her mother's constant criticism, such as calling her a snob and asking her, "Who do you think you are?" all of the time. Finally one day when she had saved up enough money, she finally moved out and started to forge her own life and identity away from the clutches of her overbearing mother. It was only after the birth of Alyse's own daughter that she finally was able to see her mother for more than her past behavior.

Surprisingly enough, despite the emotionally charged subject matter, this book didn't leave me feeling overwhelmed. Of course, I was outraged at times by Ms. Myers' mother's appalling behavior, but as she was telling her stories, Ms. Myers' maturity and growth was apparent. There was almost a detachment between what she had experienced and where she is now because of how well her life has turned out. I could sense the forgiveness in her words and the path towards reconciliation beginning to develop.

Thankfully, this book is not bogged down by too much detail or unneccesary information. I enjoyed its conciseness and Ms. Myers' ability to hone in on the most salient and relevant chapters in her life that helped provide me with the complete picture, no more and no less.

My favorite part of the book is once Ms. Myers has a daughter of her own. She deeply feared that history would repeat itself and she would have a similar relationship with her daughter as the one she'd had with her mother. However, it was probably for the best that she did have a daughter because she was able to right the wrongs of the past and pave the way towards a better future for her family. I would have liked to have read a little more though about her relationship with her daughter and perhaps her daughter's reactions to what she went through as a child.

It took courage to come out and admit that she hadn't felt the love for her mother that society views as a prerequisite and frowns upon negative mother-daughter relationships. I'm glad that Ms. Myers overcame her tumultuous relationship with her mother and gained enough insight from it to raise a daughter of her own and to have a strong relationship with her.

Ms. Myers recently appeared on The View - to watch a clip scroll down this webpage!

BIG THANKS to Julie of FSB Associates for my review copy

Book Review: The Get Organized ANSWER BOOK by Jamie Novak

The Get Organized ANSWER BOOK by Jamie Novak

Published by Sourcebooks, Inc.

Rating: 5 stars


The Get Organized ANSWER BOOK features hands-on and practical answers to 275 of your most common questions about how to de-clutter your home and your life, as well as some questions you haven't even thought to ask. This book is part of the ANSWER BOOK series from Sourcebooks, which also includes other books about many other topics such as new baby, autism, and living gluten-free.

Since this book is presented in a Q & A format - my review will do the same!

Q: Who is Jamie Novak?

A: The book's author, Jamie Novak, is a professional organizer and clutter coach, who is known as "The World's Most Relatable Organizer™". She has been a featured organizer on HGTV and has written many articles for popular magazines. Plus, she has a great sense of humor - check out her article from Everyday with Rachel Ray.

Q: What topics does this book cover?

A: The following is the table of contents that outlines the book's main topics.

Chapter 1: Behind the Scenes Q&A
Chapter 2: Getting Started
Chapter 3: Organizing 101
Chapter 4: Everyday Stuff
Chapter 5: Paper
Chapter 6: Storage
Chapter 7: Kitchen
Chapter 8: Kids
Chapter 9: Out-of-the-Ordinary Times
Chapter 10: Work and Home Office
Chapter 11: Getting It All Done
Chapter 12: Simply Green Organizing
Chapter 13: Real Moments—Specific Organizing Questions

Q: What are some specific questions that the book answers?

A: Here are some examples from the book:

What should be put through a shredder instead of thrown away?
What can I do to make my desk setup more efficient?
How can I locate and organize an aging parent's important belongings?
What are the root causes of disorganization?
Free items or items on sale aren't really clutter, are they?
How can I spend less time running errands?

Q: What are some of the great features of this book?

A: Since the book follows a question and answer format, it's very clear and concise. It's an extremely useful resource that can be picked up at any time and consulted. It's also relatively small in size so it doesn't create more clutter, without compromising any information. If you don't have the time to read longer organization books, then this is one is perfect because the answers are rarely more than a page long because they get straight to the point! I also loved the inclusion of useful references and websites to consult for further information, as well as lists of charities and places where excess clutter can be recycled.

Q: Would I recommend this book?

A: Definitely! This book can be useful even for people who consider themselves very organized. There is always more to learn when it comes to quick tips and organizational skills.


BIG THANKS to Emily and Sourcebooks for my review copy

AudioBook Review: Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven by Susan Jane Gilman

Undress me in the Temple of Heaven by Susan Jane Gilman (read by the author)

Published by Hachette Audio

Rating: 4.5 stars

Undress Me in the Temple of Heaven chronicles Susan and her friend Claire's impulsive decision to travel the world after graduating Brown University. The story follows them throughout China as they meet new people, try new foods and explore a country that has since experienced a huge transformation. It is a chance to hear about how China used to be and at the end of the story, to hear how much it has changed.

This story itself is so interesting and at times, truly mesmerizing. I loved the descriptions of the beautiful scenery and the exciting adventures Susan and Claire experienced. It was wonderful hearing about all the unique people they met along the way and about the warm hospitality they often received in each destination. The narrative does not, however, shy away from describing the difficult times as well, especially when things take a turn for the worst. This story did not follow the path that I was expecting it to take, however hearing the author's explanations helped me understand why she felt she needed to document this journey. It is clear that Susan Jane Gilman went through a lot on this trip and it no wonder why it is only 20 years later that she decided to revisit this experience from her past.

This was actually my first time listening to an audiobook! Although I'm not sure how different my experience with this story would've been had I read it instead, I really enjoyed having the author herself read the audiobook, which probably made all the difference because its a memoir. Since this book in particular, features many foreign accents (Chinese, German ... etc.) it was a lot of fun hearing Susan putting on those accents since she happens to be pretty talented at it!

Another wonderful bonus of the audiobook is the interview that I heard at the end with Susan Jane Gilman discussing her book and the motivation for its conception which clarified things a great deal for me. For example, she discussed how most travelogues and travel memoirs only focus on the positive aspects of travel and always end happily. The problem with these books is that sometimes it appears that Americans (or perhaps more generally, "Westerners") have symbolically conquered these foreign countries and triumphed against language and cultural barriers, which is often unrealistic. Ms. Gilman wanted to show that we are not always as invincible as we think and there are important cultural differences in this world that should be respected. Not every ending is a happy one but despite all the pain and difficulties that both Susan and Claire encountered, lessons were learned and Susan can attest to her own growth and maturity that she developed as a result.

BIG THANKS to Anna and Hachette for my review copy