2010 In Review

(Please note that I stole the above logo from Cindy's Love of Books because it's such a gorgeous purple!)

Wow. It's the end of 2010 already. It seems like we just got finished with 2009, and here we are, almost in 2011!

2010 was a decent year in general life terms. I won't bore you with all of the details, but in September my hubby got a new job which was a much better fit for him and for our family. The first month or two brought a period of adjustment, but things seem to have settled down a bit, and we seem to be in a good place. My job went through some not-so-great changes, but I'm also adjusting, as best as I can. I just need to stick it out at this particular place of employment for two and a half more years, until my youngest is in Grade One and I can start exploring other employment opportunities.

As far as books go, I had a fantastic year. I've starting up working relationships with several fantastic publishers and publicists while continuing to work with the ones that I had already established relationships with. Thank-you to each and every one of you, and Happy New Year! I've met some fantastic bloggers and have gotten to know some of you through e-mail and your blogs. It still amazes me that some people take the time to come and comment on a regular basis. Thanks! You guys rock! (You know who you are).

Okay, summary time! In 2010 I read a total of 145 books, 107 of those by new-to-me authors. I read 26 library books and 27 off of my own shelves, meaning that I read 92 review copies. Wow! Since I'm pretty content with how things are here (I try to tweak things as I go along), my only reading goal for 2011 is to read more of my own books. I pick up so many great books from used bookstores, bookstores and friends, many of which it takes me forever to get to even though I'm excited about them. So, this year my goal is to read more books purely for pleasure, just because I want to.

Finally, here is a list of my favourite books of 2010. Not all of them were published in 2010, but all of them were read by me in 2010. This list is in no particular order, with the exception of the first one, which was my favourite of the year.

Husband and Wife by Leah Stewart: This was my favourite book of 2010. I loved the writing, the plot, and I could relate to the characters in so many ways. This is the book that I can't stop raving about.

Come Thou Tortoise by Jessica Grant: This quirky book stole my heart. It was different and truly fantastic.

So Much For That by Lionel Shriver: This book opened my eyes to so much about the American heath care system, and had characters and scenarios that are hard for me to forget.

Life After Yes by Aidan D. Rowley: This book was beautifully written and painted life in shades of gray. I can't wait for more from this author.

Mothers & Other Liars by Amy Bourret: A book about what it truly means to be a mother. I loved it.

The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond: A recent read for me, but one that I'm glad that I had the chance to read. Heartbreaking, and beautifully written.

The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook by Matt Dunn: This one made me laugh throughout, and I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read more by him, especially his upcoming The Accidental Proposal.

Room by Emma Donoghue: I would be remiss if I didn't mention this book and Jack, who captured my heart.

Every Last One by Anna Quindlen: I knew that something bad was going to happen, but I had no idea what it would be. This book shocked me and made me think about those who I love the most and how much they mean to me.

Jessica Z. by Shawn Klomparens: Klomparens just has a way with words, and in this book he creates this mysterious future world that I couldn't get enough of.

My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares: This book really made me think about memory and past lives in a different way. I can't wait for the sequel!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: I loved this book. If you haven't already, read it!

I could go on and on and on with this list, but I've already picked 12. 2010 was a great year in books- I read so many that I thoroughly enjoyed and that will really stick with me into 2011 and beyond.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

Review: "Mrs. Kimble" by Jennifer Haigh

I picked this one up a long time ago- probably more than a year ago- at our local Coles store when they were having a 4/$10 sale. I was intrigued by the premise- three very different women all marry the same man (at three different times). This story is essentially their story- the story of how one man can be perceived in so many different ways.

Mrs. Kimble opens with the story of Birdie, Ken Kimble's first wife. He's just left her, alone with two children and no income, to chase greener pastures (read: younger women). She had an idea that he was cheating, but refused to admit the facts even to herself. It's at this point that we meet Charlie, his son, whose point of view is the only male perspective in the book. From here we meet Joan, a wealthy woman in her own right, a breast cancer survivor, and a woman who has never been married but deep down has wanted to be all along. Ken arrived in Joan's town with his young girlfriend in tow, but quickly realized that it would never work with the young girlfriend. Finally we meet Dinah, who coincidentally was the baby-sitter for Ken's children with Birdie way back in the day. Despite their age difference the two marry, and create a life with one another. Dinah is the one who attempts to reconcile Ken with his older children, but when a scandal breaks, the truth about Ken becomes glaringly apparent.

Mrs. Kimble was interestingly enough not focused on Ken, even though he was the thread that held all of the stories together, but is focused on each individual woman- their downfalls and their self-esteem issues. Ken is so thoroughly unlikable, smooth like snake oil salesman, but not much substance, that the reader wonders what these three women saw in them. In fact, Ken seems to prey on women's insecurities about themselves, and makes them feel good about themselves by doting on them. It was an interesting character study, about women, our individual hang-ups, and the lengths that we'll go to just to "belong" to someone.

The well-developed characters were what made this book so compelling, although the plot was interesting as well. I especially like that the ending is left open to interpretation; each individual reader could create their own happy (or not so happy) endings. This is yet another book that I have read recently that I can highly recommend.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of women's/general fiction
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, RYOB Challenge 2010, Read Remember Recommend Fiction Reading Challenge

Review: "Sleeping Arrangements" by Madeleine Wickham

Chloe and her blended family need a holiday. Her partner Phillip is having trouble at work. She's sick of making wedding dresses for stressed out brides and could use a change of scenery. Hugh and his wife Amanda also need a holiday. Their two girls are incredibly adorable and well-behaved but Amanda could use a break from all of the pressure of being a stay-at-home mom and Hugh just wants to get to know his little girls, since he sees them so little.

When friend of the family Gerard lends both families his villa in Spain, disaster is imminent. Neither family is aware that the other famil will be present until they arrive, and sparks will fly. Will they all make it through the vacation unscathed or will there be bloodshed?

I'm going to make this review short but sweet. I liked Sleeping Arrangements, but didn't love it. Parts of it seemed too coincidental for me, and one part in particular actually angered me because I disagreed with how the author dealt with a particular situation. In short, it was nothing that I'll be shouting from the rooftops about, but I won't hesitate to pick up another book by Madeleine Wickham (aka. Sophie Kinsella) in the future.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of Madeleine Wickham, chick lit in general
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, RYOB Challenge 2010

Review: "The Year of Fog" by Michelle Richmond

I don't feel that I can truly express to you how much I loved this book. Funnily enough, I don't think that I would ever have picked this one up had it not been for the fact that WalMart made this book one of their book club picks of the month. I had run in there for something else and happened to see a prominent display of this book. I picked it up, read the back, and was hooked. For some reason the title didn't appeal to me, it sounded depressing, and even though this book is not filled with sweetness and light, it was compelling and I'm so glad that I read it.

The Year of Fog tells the story of Abby Mason, a photographer, a fiancee, and a soon-to-be stepmother. Abby is both excited and fearful about becoming a stepmother to 6-year-old Emma. Emma's own mother essentially abandoned her when she was young, and keeps in only sporadic contact. Abby knows that there will be walls that need to be broken down in order for the little girl to trust, and hopefully love, her, but Abby holds out hope that someday they will have a good relationship. Everything changes in an instant. Emma's father goes out of town for the weekend and leaves Abby in charge. The two go for a walk on the beach, Emma wanders ahead in the dense fog, and she disappears without a trace.

The rest of the book focuses on the search for Emma, and the search for answers. Jake, Emma's father and Abby's fiancee, is beside himself with grief and refuses to give up his search for her. Abby, devastated by the fact that her actions have led to so much pain, searches tirelessly for her. Michelle Richmond's decision to tell this story from the point of view of Abby, essentially an outsider, was a wise one. We, as readers, could experience the horror of the loss of a child, but we never get quite close enough that this pain and grief becomes too much to handle.

The Year of Fog was written with a delicate touch, and I'm not surprised that so many readers have devoured this one. I'm only surprised that it took me this long to pick up a copy. The characters were fleshed out and relatable, the plot realistic, and the conclusion fitting. Alternately horrifying, devastating, and complex, Michelle Richmond has written a gem of a book. This one is a must-read for any parent.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of fiction, parents
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010, RYOB Challenge 2010, Read Remember Recommend Fiction Reading Challenge

The Book Chick's 2011 Challenge Sign-Up Post

Forgive me for not posting each of these challenges individually. This year I would like to have all of my challenges posted in a single post, primarily for my own convenience.

2010 was the first year that I participated in challenges, and although I kept track of what I read for each challenge, I'll admit that I didn't actually go back to the host site and post my review links. Maybe I'll actually do that this year. Or maybe not. I'll see how things go. I enjoy participating in challenges, but mainly because it brings me interesting insight into my own reading habits and it encourages me to read books that I may not have read otherwise. There are two challenges that I will not be participating in this year, the New Author Challenge and the Chick Lit Challenge. They were both great challenges, but I found neither challenging. Apparently I like reading books by new-to-me authors because I read a total of 105 books by them last year. My goal was 25. Hmmmm....gotta love an overachiever! I enjoyed Chick Lit Challenge but stopped keeping track of my reads part way through the year. Let's face it: I love chick lit, and will read it without being challenged to.

In 2011 I will continue participating in two challenges with 2011 end dates: The Canadian Book Challenge 4 and The Read, Remember, Recommend Fiction Reading Challenge.

So, these are the challenges that I will be signing up for in 2011:

The 100+ Reading Challenge hosted by My Overstuffed Bookshelf
0/100

The goal is to read 100+ books in the year. In 2010 I read a total of 140 books (to date), but my plan this year is to have a more relaxed approach to my reading and my only goal for this challenge is to read 100 books.

The 2011 Support Your Local Library Challenge hosted by Book Junkie's Bookshelf
0/30

The goal for this one is to read 30+ books from your local library. In 2010 I succeeded in reading 26 library books, so it may be a bit of a challenge to reach 30, but I love my local library and all that it brings to my community so I am going to try my best. Since I just got an eReader and can now check books out of the eLibrary program it should make this challenge a little easier.

The South Asian Challenge 2011 hosted by S.Krishna's Books
0/5

The goal for this challenge is to read books about South Asia or written by South Asian authors. I'm signing up to be a South Asian Explorer and to read 5 books that fit the category. I'm excited about this challenge because I enjoy South Asian books but didn't read many in 2010.

2011 E-Book Reading Challenge hosted by The Ladybug Reads
0/12

This challenge challenges you to read eBooks. Since my wonderful husband got me a Sony eReader for Christmas I'd like to put it to good use. I plan to participate at the "Addicted" level, meaning that I'm committing to reading 12 eBooks in 2011, but hopefully I'll be able to reach the "Obsessed" level and actually read 20. My library offers eBooks for checkout, so that should make this challenge even easier.

2011 RYOB Challenge (no host at this time)
0/25

The site that hosted this challenge last year has yet to put up a 2011 sign-up page, but I'm still going to challenge myself to read 25 books of my choice off of my own bookshelves this year. I enjoyed participating last year, and since my personal bookshelf tends to grow in leaps and bounds (darn you, amazing used bookstore!) I want to make sure that I'm actually reading these books. My only rules for myself are that it has to be a personal copy of mine, and not a library or review copy. As far as this goes, though, the books that count for this challenge can be new, used, or contest wins.

Review: "Fairytale of New York" by Miranda Dickinson

When I received this surprise in my mailbox last week (courtesy of HarperCollins UK) I was instantly drawn to the beautiful purple cover (I have a weakness for purple- show me a purple cover and I'll buy that book!) and the image of the woman looking up towards the sky and falling snow. Given that it's the winter season I decided to read this book sooner rather than later, considering that I probably won't be drawn to a winter book while lying on the beach.

Fairytale of New York is the story of Rosie Duncan, a woman who has been hurt in the past (yes, by a man) and who is afraid to open herself up to love again. She owns a flower shop in New York called Kowalski's and her co-designer Ed and her assistant Marnie are as close to family as she has on this side of the pond. Throw in her bossy but well-meaning best friend Celia and her devious brother James and there's definitely the possibility for complications.

I liked this book, but I didn't love it. Given the fact that I read book after book after book I've been spoiled by some truly spectacular writing, and Fairytale of New York didn't measure up for me. I found some of the dialogue and writing awkward, and the whole book could have used one more good edit. The character development was spot- on in places, but other characters failed to come alive for me. Celia, Rosie's best friend, was the one that I had the hardest time with. I just didn't get why Rosie liked her so much. To me she seemed a little shallow and selfish at times. Add to this the fact that this story is yet another one set in the city of New York (seriously, people, there are other great cities out there!), and this one fell flat for me.

Rest assured that it did have its good points. The reader is left in the dark about the nature of Rosie's past hurts until midway through the book and I liked having to guess what was going on. The chemistry between Rosie and her two gentlemen callers was sizzling, and the ending was incredibly satisfying. For those reasons, I wouldn't hesitate to read another book by Miranda Dickinson. I just wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this one.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of chick lit set in New York
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010, RYOB Challenge 2010

Mailbox Monday

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope that Santa was very good to you, and that you enjoyed the extra time with your family and friends. Since we've spent the last three days visiting family and reveling in all of the Christmas goodness I have to admit that I'm ready for a quiet day at home. I'll spend the day cleaning up the disaster that is currently our home and my husband will be spending the day building our youngest sons' new bunk beds and setting up their new red Wii.

"Santa" Jay surprised the heck out of me by giving me a Sony Pocket eReader for Christmas. He knew how badly I wanted one and managed to track one down- on Christmas Eve to boot! Silly boy- didn't he know that it would be one of the hottest gadgets out there this year? However through a stroke of excellent luck he managed to find me one and I'm thrilled. I've spent lots of time playing with it in the past couple of days, and I look forward to doing some actual reading on it soon. The past couple of days have been too busy for me to do reading of any kind!

Okay, so on to Mailbox Monday. Originally hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page, MM is on tour and is being hosted for the month of December by Lady Q at Let Them Read Books. Each week we share which books we found in our mailboxes, but be warned: MM can lead to towering TBR piles and out-of-control wish lists!

Last week was a good week in books for me. I received two contest wins and a review book, and I also got my custom designed reading pillow from Marci at Serendipitous Readings. First to arrive was a contest win (along with a bonus book!) from the very generous people at HarperCollins UK. I got:

Fairytale of New York by Miranda Dickinson

Secrets and Sins by Jaishree Misra

I also got an ARC of Outside Wonderland by Lorna Jane Cook courtesy of St. Martin's Griffin.

I also has a lot of fun downloading a couple of eBooks for my new eReader. I downloaded Life, Love and a Polar Bear Tattoo by Heather Wardell, one of my favourite Canadian women's fiction authors, which is always available as a free download, and a copy of Dreaming in a Digital World by Blanche Howard (which is available for free download until January 15, 2011 by using the code LZ25D after clicking the above link).

That's it for my mailbox for last week. I certainly won't be at a loss for things to read in the coming months! What was in yours?

Dear Santa....

Dear Santa,

I have been a really good girl this year (okay, I've been a really good girl most of the time- we won't talk about those other times). I've done the dishes more times than I can count and made sure that the laundry was clean. I've cooked for hours just to hear my family say "That looks yucky. I won't eat it." and I managed not to throw dinner all over the kitchen in a blind rage. I continued to go to work with a smile on my face even though this year brought some disappointing changes to my job description. Somehow I manage to care for the kids and my husband even though there are days when I wonder if I can "quit" motherhood. And even though a new Sony eReader is on my wish list for this Christmas I know that the elves are busy making toys for the kids who really need them, so I'll happily settle for you bringing me one of the wonderful books on my wishlist. In case you don't already know what those books are, I'll share my list with you:

Skipping A Beat by Sarah Pekkanen: I loved Sarah's debut, The Opposite of Me, and have been lusting after her next book ever since.

The Accidental Proposal by Matt Dunn: Matt Dunn made me laugh out loud, uncontrollably, while I read The Ex-Boyfriend's Handbook, so I'm eagerly anticipating the sequel.

There's Cake in my Future by Kim Gruenenfelder: This book looks like it will be fun, fun, fun, but reflective at the same time. It just came out yesterday, and I want it!

Driving Sideways: A Novel by Jess Riley: This one has received a bunch of five-star ratings on Goodreads by my blogging friends, and the premise sounds wonderful.

Crossing the Line by Lauren Baratz-Logsted: I just finished reading The Thin Pink Line and hate not knowing how a story ends! I'd love to read this sequel.

Goodnight Tweetheart by Theresa Medeiros: This one is also a recent release, and since I loved Holly's Inbox, which was written entirely in e-mails, I have a feeling that I would like this one as well.

To The Moon and Back by Jill Mansell: A new book by Jill Mansell. 'Nuff said.

If You Were Here by Jen Lancaster: I've thoroughly enjoyed Jen's memoirs and am excited to give her fiction a whirl.

From Notting Hill With Love...Actually by Ali McNamara: Highly recommended chick lit. My favourite!

and finally, for when I'm in the mood for something a little more serious, The Wishing Trees by John Shors: I love books about parenting, and this one has caught my eye.

I know what you're thinking Santa, "But she already has lots of books!". I know that I do, it's been a good year in books, but there's always room for more. And I know that some of these haven't been released yet, but you're Santa! I know that you could nab me an ARC. Well, that's all for now. Good luck with getting all of your presents delivered on time and tell Mrs. Claus that I said "Hi!",

Jonita

Author Interview and Cookbook Giveaway!

Please join me in welcoming my friend and the author of the cookbook Learn, Laugh, Cook (my review) to The Book Chick today! Mandy has generously offered to answer a few of my questions and she's giving away one copy of her new cookbook.

The Book Chick: How long have you wanted to write a cookbook for?

Mandy Fernandez: That's funny you ask that.  I NEVER imagined I would write a cookbook of all things!  Since I was a child, I always knew I wanted to be a writer and hopefully an author of a book someday.  However, I never dreamed of writing a cookbook.  A year ago, I went from being a full-time working mom in a fast paced corporate environment to a full-time stay at home mom in a wacky, toddler environment!  I needed order in my new chaotic world so I began with meal planning and cooking at home.  It helped me save money and free up my time to do other things.  Soon I was sharing great recipes with family and friends.  A few months later, the idea for a cookbook was born.  My cookbook isn't your ordinary book with just recipes though.  There is a lot of humor in it.  I have silly poems written about food, such as how Mexican gives me the runs and how onions make me cry.  I also shared a story of how I took a barf bin and turned it into a measuring cup.  So it's something that can appeal to anyone, not just cooks or moms like me!

TBC: How long did it take you to put it together, from start to finish?

MF: Exactly a year.  I began my culinary adventures in November of 2009 and I published this book in November of 2010.  The first eight months were just tracking my favorite recipes and my misadventures in the kitchen.  I became serious about putting together the book in late August.  I worked non-stop in September, October and early November putting it all together.

TBC: What's your favourite thing about cooking?

MF: I like the creativity it offers!  When I'm having an off-day or stressful moments, I'll often bake something I love, such as chocolate chip cookies or blueberry muffins.  A great-smelling house and a delectable dessert is sure to put me in better spirits!   I also really love sharing my cooking disasters and how I learn from them.  They're ongoing and hilarious and I'm not afraid to poke fun at myself.  In my cookbook and on my blog, http://www.learn-laugh-cook.blogspot.com/, I will declare myself a "Loser Cook" and share photos of my not so good looking dishes.  It's all in good fun and I hope others will laugh along with me (or at me) and become courageous to try their own new meals.

TBC: Okay, so you have a potluck to go to. What do you bring?

MF: I love casseroles!  I love dinners where there is a little bit of everything in there to make a wonderful, complete meal.  I'd probably bring my ham and potato casserole or my "Man's Italian Meat Pie" which are two of my husband's favorites.  If he loves them, then anyone else would too!

TBC: Any plans for a "Learn, Laugh, Cook 2"?

MF: I'm thinking about it.  The idea certainly does appeal to me since I'm still learning, laughing and cooking each day.  However, I'd like to be open to other creative projects as well.  Time will tell, I suppose.  I like to have options and I'm taking things just one day (and one new recipe or cooking disaster) at a time!

Thank-you for stopping by, Mandy! Now, courtesy of the author, I have one copy of Learn, Laugh, Cook to give away to one lucky person in the US or Canada. To enter:

1. *Mandatory Entry* Share one of your funny cooking stories or disasters. The person who makes me laugh the hardest with his/her story will receive one additional bonus entry! Please leave me your e-mail address so that I have a way to contact you if you win. No e-mail= no entry!

2. *Bonus Entry* Follow this blog through Google Friend Connect and let me know in a separate comment that you now follow. Current followers are eligible as well, just leave me a separate comment letting me know that you already follow.

3. *Bonus Entry* Follow Mandy's cooking blog, Learn, Laugh, Cook through Google Friend Connect and leave me a separate comment letting me know that you now follow. Current followers are eligible as well, just leave me a separate comment letting me know that you already follow.


4. *Bonus Entry* Spread the word about this contest in some way. Blog about it, post it in your sidebar, Facebook or Tweet about it. It doesn't matter how you choose to spread the word, just leave me a separate comment with the link to what you did.
 
It's that simple to enter! This contest will run until January 5, 2011 at midnight, and the winner will be notified by e-mail. The author will be shipping the book directly. Good luck!

Review: "Learn, Laugh, Cook" by Mandy Fernandez

When I heard that my blogging friend, Mandy, had written and self-published a cookbook based on her recent cooking experiences, I knew that I'd have to order a copy for myself. Mandy's humour and thirst for new experiences shine through on her personal blog, Mandy's Life After 30 and her cooking blog, Learn, Laugh, Cook. I've never had the chance to meet her personally, but I'm sure that if I did we'd have a great time.

Learn, Laugh, Cook is her debut cookbook, and it doesn't follow the typical cookbook pattern. She has separated it into three sections, the aptly named "Learn", "Laugh", and "Cook".

In "Learn" we learn a little about Mandy's personal motivations for learning how to cook. After working full-time, she found herself in a new State as a stay-at-home mom for the first time in her life. She found that she wanted to cook healthier foods for her family rather than depending on takeout and prepared meals. In 'Learn" Mandy shares some of the tips and tricks that she has picked up in the past year. I personally found her freezer tips intruiging. I have a big chest freezer that sees very little action and I love the idea of cooking foods and preparing vegetables and being able to freeze some for later for an easy, healthy meal.

In "Laugh" Mandy's trademark wit and humour shine through as she shares some funny stories and poems that relate to her own cooking experiences. For more funny cooking experiences be sure to check out her cooking blog, especially this post (it had me laughing out loud!).

In "Cook" Mandy shares with us her favourite recipes, many of those being her own personal "lightened up" versions. I especially appreciated that her versions were a lighter version of her favourites considering that I'm always interested in cooking healthier versions of food for myself and for my family, but am not willing to sacrifice taste. Sections in "Cook" include "Muffins and Breads", "Breakfast", "Soups and Stews", "Dips and Dressings", "Salads", "The Main Course", and "Desserts". I'm especially excited to try the "Ham Tetrazzini" and the "Slim Caesar Salad Dressing".

My review wouldn't be complete without my review of the ordering and shipping process. I purchased my copy from LuLu.com and paid for it with PayPal. LuLu let me know that it would take them about 2-3 days to print my copy and then another couple of weeks for it to get to me (I chose the most inexpensive shipping option and live in Canada). I found the checkout process to be effortless, and my copy arrived, true to word, in about two weeks from the date that I ordered it. I was happy with the efficiency of the entire process.

Learn, Laugh, Cook is a handy tool for any cook, especially for those who are just starting out or who are looking for ways to cook healthier food for their families with minimal prep and effort. I was initially concerned that I wouldn't find recipes that suit my family's taste (Mandy is from a Southern background, while I am not) but my fears were unfounded- there are tons of recipes in here that I'm excited to try that are suitable for a variety of tastes. Ready to own your own copy? You can order Learn, Laugh, Cook here.

Check back tomorrow when I interview the author and give away one copy of Learn, Laugh, Cook!

Mailbox Monday

Welcome to Mailbox Monday! Originally hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page, MM is a place for us to share which books made their way into our homes in the past week. This month MM is being hosted by Lady Q at Let Them Read Books. Warning: MM can lead to towering TBR piles and out-of-control wish lists!

Last week was a great week in books for me. I found in my mailbox a contest win from Chick Lit Central and the author, Chantel Simmons. I won a signed copy of both of Chantel Simmons' books, Stuck in Downward Dog and Love Struck. Thank-you!

I also received a copy of a cookbook, Learn, Laugh, Cook, that one of my blogger friends wrote, which I ordered from LuLu.com. She did a great job, and be sure to check back for my review and giveaway, coming this week!

Last week I also received two books from my secret santa from the Book Bloggers Secret Santa. I received one book from my wish list, From Here to Maternity by Sinead Moriarty and Changes: A Love Story by Ama Ata Aidoo.

That's what was in my mailbox last week- what was in yours?

Review: "The Thin Pink Line" by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Jane Taylor is pregnant. Or at least she thinks she is. A couple of days late, she can't help but share the great news- with her best friend David, with random strangers, and with her unable-to-commit boyfriend, Trevor. Suddenly obsessed with pregnancy, Jane gets a glimpse into how the other half lives. Men hold open doors for pregnant women, they have a certain glow, and she can't wait to be a visible part of that community. When Jane finds out a couple of weeks later that she is most certainly not pregnant, she is unable to give up the illusion. Despite the fact that her flat stomach remains flat, she continues with the charade at the office and at home, desperate to be pregnant even though she really isn't.

I picked this one up a couple of weeks ago at one of my favourite bookstores. Light and fun chick lit never fails to amuse me, and I've been reading a quite a bit of it lately while we get ready for the Christmas season. I love books that entertain me, and maybe even make me laugh. Jane Taylor is a fun protagonist. She reminded me a little of Becky Bloomwood from the Shopaholic series. Jane gets herself into this impossible situation by lying to almost everyone around her, and once she discovers how hard it is to keep up the illusion of being pregnant, she's in too deep to simply tell the truth. I was curious as to how Lauren Baratz-Logsted would have this one play out. How would Jane maintain the illusion of her pregnancy? When would the truth come out? At the beginning I couldn't see how the plot would work out in a way that wasn't too far-fetched, but I was pleasantly surprised with what she came up with.

There was also a rather fun romance thrown into the mix of this as well. I really liked Tolkien, the love interest, but to be honest I wish that there would have been a few more scenes between the two of them as the romance developed. I felt a little blindsided by it all- one moment the two are just meeting for the first time, and the next moment they are in love. It was enjoyable nonetheless, but I would have liked the developments to be a little more gradual.

Overall, this was a fun read, great for when you're looking for something to read that isn't too heavy, but isn't dumbed down either. There's a sequel to The Thin Pink Line called Crossing the Line and I'm having a little trouble tracking one down from my independent bookstore. Does anyone have a copy of it that they would like to trade?

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of fun chick lit, possibly fans of the Shopaholic series
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010, 2010 Chick Challenge, RYOB Challenge 2010

Review: "The Tapestry of Love" by Rosy Thornton

Divorced with grown children, tapestry maker Catherine Parkstone longs for a change of pace. She finds it in the Cevennes mountains in France, in a cottage called Les Fenils, close to a place where she vacationed as a child. There Catherine plans to start a small upholstery and tapestry business and to fulfill her dreams. What she doesn't plan for is the fact that she will become so enamoured with the little town and her neighbors, especially the mysterious Patrick Castagnol.

Despite the fact that the plot it is a good one, The Tapestry of Love is not really about the plot. It's about the people who inhabit the small town where she lives. It's about neighbors and how they can ingrain themselves into your life, and it's about the importance of family and true friends. The Tapestry of Love reflects on the gentle rhythms of everyday life, on those motions that we often don't notice because we're so busy bustling from one place to the next.

Even though I didn't have a lot in common with our protagonist Catherine, I did enjoy the story of her dreams becoming realities. Despite the fact that most of the story is quiet and reflective, it is not devoid of those things that make everyday life complicated. Disappointment and heartbreak are evident within the pages. However along with the disappointment and heartbreak is hope for the future and true friendship, and these things balance each other out as they often do.

The Tapestry of Love reminded me at times of the memoir A Gift From Brittany, a true story of one woman who packs up her things and moves to a remote village in France. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a story that reflects on the things that are really important to one's well being in life, a story that is removed from the hustle and bustle of ordinary life.

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Armchair travellers, those who are looking for a feel-good story
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010

Thank-you to the author for sending me this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Book Blogger Secret Santa Gift Arrives!

My Book Blogger Secret Santa gift has arrived! It actually got here on Monday, but since the past couple of days have been a blur of working and getting holiday things done, I'm just getting a moment to post now. Now, my secret santa was clever and wrote on the outside of the package that this was from my secret santa. I could have chosen to wait until Christmas to open it, but I lack willpower when it comes to not opening packages containing books, and I REALLY lack willpower when it comes to opening packages that contain books that also happen to be presents! I did good, though. The mail arrived at about 10:30 AM and I managed to wait until 9:30 PM to open it. That's almost twelve hours, people! This is what I did to distract myself from opening that tantalizing package:

• laundry
• baked 6 dozen cookies to be given as gifts to teachers/bosses/etc.
• cleaned up after said baking
• fed hubby and kids
• packed hubby's lunch and sent him off to work for 1:30 pm
• did a bus run (1.5 hours)
• cooked dinner
• phoned my mom
• thought about blogging for a bit and then read blogs in Google Reader instead
• took a bath and read a book
• managed to not get the book wet
• broke up 9,673 fights between my children as to who was playing with what toy last (even if the toy in question hasn't been played with in a month)

Finally I could deal with the temptation no longer and I ripped open the package as quickly as I could! This is what my wonderful secret santa sent me:

• From Here to Maternity by Sinead Moriarty- This book has been on my wishlist since I read The Baby Trail (the first book in the series) earlier this year. It drives me crazy reading only one book in the series, so I can't wait to read this!
• Changes by Ama Ata Aidoo- This is a women's fiction book that my secret santa has read and enjoyed. Thank-you so much for this one! I love being introduced to new authors, and this story is set in Accra, Ghana, which allows me to indulge my inner armchair traveller as well.
• A beautiful "Peace" ornament for my Christmas tree
• 2 postcards from my secret santa's home province, PEI
• a candy cane
• chocolate
• a beautiful card with cyptic clues as to my secret santa's identity

My secret santa has chosen to remain anonymous, but has left me enough clues that I should be able to track her down! For now, though, thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!!!! The books and treats that you picked out made my week. I can't wait to read both of the books that you chose for me, and I'm so happy to be introduced to a new author to boot! Oh, and the chocolate? It disappeared moments after I took the picture. Delicious chocolate never lasts long in my house!

EDITED TO ADD: I have found my Secret Santa! A big thank-you to fellow Canadian blogger Amy of Amy Reads!

Review: "The Other Family" by Joanna Trollope

When Chrissie's partner, once-famous pianist Richie Rossiter, dies suddenly of a heart attack Chrissie has to deal with more than just grief. She also needs to confess to her daughters that she and their father were never really married, despite Chrissie's desire to be. In fact, Richie never divorced from his first wife, Margaret, the woman whom Chrissie stole him away from all those years ago. Apparently she didn't steal him away entirely- in his will he leaves his legal wife and his grown son some particularly meaningful personal effects.

Chrissie and Margaret, along with Richie's three daughters and his son, find themselves in the middle of a very complicated situation. Resentment abounds as a treasured piano moves from one household to another and as both Margaret and Chrissie try to move on with their lives. The Other Family is the story of how complicated life's relationships can be.

One thing I have to say for The Other Family is that it grabbed me from the beginning. The reader is told right away that Richie and Chrissie were never legally married, despite the fact that they have spent the last 25 years together and have three daughters together. This scenario raises that complicated question: is marriage all that matters? Or is creating a life and family together what's important? Since my now-husband and I lived together for seven years before tying the knot, and we had our children during that time as well, this was a question that definitely grabbed my attention. I think that it is one of those questions that will have a different answer depending on who you're talking to, and I appreciated that Joanna Trollope addressed it.

I actually liked all of the characters that Trollope introduced throughout the book, and she does a great job of telling this story from both sides. I felt sympathy for both Margaret and Chrissie, and I felt a little disdain at times for both of them as well. Although the children's stories are not all delved into with much detail, I felt sympathetic towards them as they came to terms with their father's death and his loyalties to the "other family". The one character that I didn't like, and whom we never meet, was Richie. I thought that it was rather sneaky that he amended his will without Chrissie knowing, and he seemed like the kind of guy who wanted to have his cake and eat it too. He didn't want to be married to Margaret anymore, but he didn't want to be divorced from her either, and this wasn't fair to Chrissie or to Margaret.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and the questions that it raised. I appreciated the complicated family dynamics and the way in which this story was told. This was the first book by Joanna Trollope that I've read, but it won't be the last.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of women's fiction and stories about families
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010, RYOB Challenge 2010

Mailbox Monday

Welcome to Mailbox Monday! Originally hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page, Mailbox Monday is currently on tour. Our host for the month of December is Lady Q of Let Them Read Books.

I've been making good on my personal commitment to not overwhelm myself with review books, as evidenced by my quiet mailbox last week. However, I won't tell you about the six review books that I accepted this week, nor will I tell you about the trip that I made to my favourite used bookstore, where I traded in a box of my pre-loved books for ten new additions to my TBR.

First to arrive in my mailbox was a contest win courtesy of author Amy Rickman. I won a copy of her book Gleeful!, which is an unoffical guide to the TV series. I'm a serious Gleek. I actually bought my DVR after I had to miss one week's episode due to other commitments. True story, I'm a little embarrased to admit. Granted, I haven't had to miss an episode since! I can't wait to read all of the dirt about one of my favourite TV shows, and there are some pretty cool pictures in there as well.

My other arrival last week was a copy of UpCountry by R.M. Doyon, which I will be reviewing in the new year. I love that the author is Canadian, and this looks to be a fast paced read.

That was what was in my mailbox last week. What was in yours?

Review: "A Tiny Bit Marvellous" by Dawn French

A Tiny Bit Marvellous is the story of a typical family in crisis. Mo is a 49-year-old mother of two children, neither of whom she understands, which is rather embarassing considering the fact that she's a child psychologist. Dora is seventeen and can't wait to escape to university. As far as Dora is concerned her mother understands absolutely nothing about her, and she had no idea why her mother insists on continuing her pathetic attempts at conversation. Peter is Dora's sixteen-year-old brother. Peter insists on being called Oscar due to his obsession with Oscar Wilde and when he develops a school- boy crush on his mother's new associate, nothing good can come of it.

Add in their quiet husband and father and a dog named Poo and we have a recipe for hilarity- and disaster.

For the most part I liked this book. Each chapter was narrated by either Mo, Dora, or Peter, and I appreciated the different points of view. In one chapter Mo would be recounting a conversation that she had with Dora that she thought went rather well, and in the next we would hear from Dora that this same conversation was disastrous. Since I clearly remember my own angsty teenage years I found Dora's voice to be particularly authentic and her outlook relatable. I had less in common with Mo, but I still enjoyed her part of the story, considering that I'm a parent (thankfully, though, I'm not a parent to teenagers right now). I had some problems relating to Peter. He was a unique individual, which made for some entertaining reading, but there was nothing about him that made him relatable to me, so I cared about his story less.

Although I enjoyed this book, especially the interesting (and rather shocking) conclusion, I have to admit that my biggest problem with the book was the fact that it was not incredibly memorable. I read it, I liked it enough, but it's not a book that I will remember much about a year after I read it.

If you enjoy books about dysfunctional families and if you enjoy stories filled with British flair, you'll enjoy A Tiny Bit Marvellous. I just wish that it stuck with me for a little longer after I read the last page.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Readers who like stories about dysfunctional families, those who enjoy books set in the UK
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010

Review: "The Girls" by Lori Lansens

I've had this one sitting on my shelf for a while, but I'm usually so busy reading review books and blogging that I don't have a lot of time to get to my own books (something that I'll be trying to remedy in 2011!). On the weekend I was in the mood for something other than what I was reading at the time, and this one caught my eye. I can't believe that it took me so long to get to it, because I absolutely loved it!

The Girls is the fictional story of Ruby and Rose Darlen, the world's oldest craniopagus conjoined twins. Joined at the head, the girls have had to learn to adapt to their limited circumstances. Ruby and Rose have been through far more than the average person, aside from the fact that they're conjoined. Their mother, young when she got pregnant with them, gives birth to them and flees. A kindly nurse present at the delivery, unable to have her own biological children, falls in love with the infants quickly and she and her husband, who the girls know as Uncle Stash, adopt them. Aunt Lovey, Uncle Stash, Ruby and Rose live in the small town of Leaford, Ontario and although a curiosity at first, Ruby and Rose quickly become an accepted part of the community. The Girls is their story, written in the alternating voices of Ruby and Rose.

I fell in love with this story within the first couple of pages. What stood out for me was the fact that this book wasn't written from a "poor me" point of view. Although Ruby and Rose could certainly justify being bitter given their unique challenges, they are filled with optimism and a certain gratefulness for their uniqueness. Ruby mentions at one point that she is happy that she can be with her sister, her best friend, all of the time; that she can tell by a quickening heartbeat or a heated cheek how her sister is feeling. The girls seem to tackle life's challenges with an overall grace and quiet charm, but that's not to say that they don't have their moments of being frustrated or wishing that they could do something simple, like sleep by themselves.

I especially loved this quote about books, found on page 187 of the edition that I read:

I feel, holding the books, accommodating their weight and breathing their dust, an abiding love. I trust them, in a way that I can't trust my computer, though I couldn't do without it. Books are matter. My books matter.

I loved Ruby and Rose and the people that filled their lives. I loved their town (and could relate directly to it since I live in a small Ontario town as well). I loved learning their story, their stories being very different depending on which of the sisters was telling it. I spent a lot of time while reading picturing the girls and how hard it was for them to move as a single unit, to sleep as a single unit, and to even use the bathroom as a single unit. I found the whole thing fascinating and couldn't put it down. Overall, I simply loved The Girls.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Recommended to: Fans of general or Canadian fiction
Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge 2010, RYOB Challenge 2010, The Canadian Book Challenge 4, Read, Remember, Recommend Fiction Reading Challenge

Liz & Lisa's Favourite Things Giveaway!

It's holiday time, and your burnt out from picking out gifts for other people, right? So why not win something cool for yourself? Liz & Lisa over at one of my favourite blogs, Chick Lit is Not Dead, are giving away some of their favourite things! Among the prizes to be won are a Blackberry Curve, a Sony eReader, a DXG high-def video camcorder, a HollyBeth's Organic Skin Care Basket, Ann Roth Designer Shoes, a McCall Wilder Holiday Dress for Girl, books and more! How can you win one of these fabulous things you ask? It's simple. All you have to do is like Chick Lit Is Not Dead's Facebook page, and then leave a comment on this post letting Liz & Lisa know that you want to win. And if you let them know that Jonita sent you? I would appreciate that!

Good luck everyone!