Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

The title of this book struck me first.  Followed by the fact it was about the Japanese internment during WWII.  I loved that it told a story about an old man and a child (him as a boy).  However, I became disappointed about halfway through the book when I could easily tell where it was going and how it would end.  It was too predictable for my taste, but I finished it.  It ended just as I thought it would, no surprises.  This would be a good book for a high school student learning more about the Japanese internment, but not as a novel for an educated adult.    

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

I had really high hopes for this novel, considering how much I loved reading The Time Traveler’s Wife.  It turns out that this was just a different kind of book.  More ghost story than love story, the twin main characters in this book have a flatness to them that made it hard to connect.  The story goes back and forth between several characters without really developing any one.  I think I had my hopes set too high to really enjoy what this book was; good for a rainy day with a hot cup of tea and nothing better to do.    

The Smoke Jumper by Nicholas Evans

Hot fire fighters, a love triangle, and Montana.  I’ve never read a book with quite this mix before, but it worked in it’s own way.  Even though some parts seemed a bit far fetched, I couldn’t stop reading.  If there was a “made for TV” genre of books, this would fit right in. 

Every Sunday by Peter Pezzelli

A lot of life changing things have happened since my last post, nearly two months ago.  Sadly, I have only finished one book in that whole time.  It seems backwards that moving to a Caribbean island would have slowed down my reading pace, but boy has it!  Not to worry, my appetite for books is coming back and I have the time to indulge myself.   

Review:

I always love books that are original.  The main character’s dead father narrates this sweet little story about an Italian family who puts their lives back together after his death.  Not exactly chic lit, Every Sunday is more of a rainy day feel good read than anything else.  This was the perfect book to help me get over jet lag and heat laziness.  

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

If you liked The Time Traveler's Wife, read this book. Although more reincarnation than time travel, the story is written with the same transitions between past and present. A little confusing at the get go, the story unfolds in a beautiful way that makes you want more of the past and more the present at the same time. I love how the author switches between first person and third person when changing times. This is a love story between Daniel who has ability to remember past lives and his soul mate who does not. The ending felt a bit unfinished, but I wouldn't want to ruin it for you. Overall, My Name is Memory was an enjoyable read with an original story that left me wishing for more chapters.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

What a journey. This book was an emotional roller coaster for me. Even though I made the mistake of seeing the movie before reading the book, I enjoyed every minute of reading this wonderful story. Wow.

Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos

 The words in this book surprised me. They flowed, they danced, they made me happy. Everything about this book was delightful, it was unexpected, it worked.

The Italian Wedding by Nicky Pellegrino

This book was given to me by my friend. She got it from a girl who was couch surfing at her house in Norway.

Review:
It took me 5 or 6 chapters to really get into this book. Pieta’s father came from Italy to London many years ago to start an Italian restaurant. As the story progresses, we learn about the mother and father’s history, which to me was more interesting than the base story. One of the best parts of the book is that the author includes Italian recipes as they are used in the story. Even if the story was a bit lacking, at least I learned a few new recipes.

Truly, Madly: A novel by Heather Webber

This book will always hold a special place in my heart as my first ARC. Fortunately, it arrived December 16th 2009, the day before we left for Christmas in Cabo.

Review:
I usually enjoy a little magic in my books or TV. Truly, Madly reminded me of the canceled ABC series called Pushing Daisies; a little magic, a little mystery, and a little romance. The main character, Lucy Valentine, discovers that her ‘special talent’ of finding lost objects is useful in solving mysteries. A member of a matchmaking family, she also has to contend with the family business while her parents are out of town. I thought the premise was cute, and the novel was a good crossover between romance and mystery. Truly, Madly has the potential to become a charming little series.

Second Glance by Jodi Picoult

Second Glance by Jodi Picoult

I made the mistake of asking the friend from whom I borrowed the book what it was about, which skewed the first half of the book for me. I still enjoyed the whole book, even slipping away on Thanksgiving to read it.

Review:
Written in three parts, present-past-present, Picoult works her magic in weaving the stories of many characters into one tale. This story spans over a hundred years of one family’s hidden history while tackling the issues of eugenics and genetics. I’m a sucker for books, movies, anything where I get to make the connections and put together the details into a completed puzzle. Without spoiling the novel, I can tell you that this is the story of lonely people finding something worth living for. The book was long, and bordered on the fine line between overboard and tying up the loose ends. After finishing it, I did appreciate Picoult’s attention to detail and the fact that no questions were left unanswered. I would recommend this book to someone who wants to curl up with a blanket on a cold weekend and enjoy reading something a little magical, a little sad, and a lot about love.