Showing posts with label fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fiction. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore




Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
Publisher - Picador
Publish Date - September 2013
Genre - Fiction
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads














I received this book as a gift for Christmas from my brother. I love getting and finding books that were never on my radar. I had never heard of this one so I was excited to read it. He knows me well too, because I love reading pretty much any book that has to do with a bookstore or Paris. Don’t ask me why, it’s just how it is.

The premise of this book is interesting. It focuses around Clay who is desperately unemployed in San Francisco. He stumbles across this 24-hour bookstore who just so happens to be looking to hire a night-shift clerk. After a few days on the job, he starts noticing that some of the customers that come in to the store are a bit strange. There is an entire section of the bookstore that these customers do not buy from, but rather check out these very odd, large volumes that don’t seem to make any sense.

Clay gets some of his interesting friends involved to solve the mystery – including his girlfriend who works at Google and a wealthy college friend who tends to invest in bizarre things. It takes them on a wild journey to discover the secrets behind Mr. Penumbra’s bookstore.

I’ll be honest when I say that after reading the summary, the book ended up being nothing like what I expected. That’s not a bad thing – it was just surprising. I didn’t expect the book to delve as deeply into the world of coding as it did. But it made for a fun, modern day twist on a bookstore that seems to be based in a time centuries ago. Even though parts of the book were a bit wordy, this was a quick read, I finished it in one day. It was the perfect “break” book for me in between the Game of Thrones series that I’ve been reading lately.


If you are into mysteries, adventure or computers then check this one out. It’s a fun read!


Pair This With: Mad Duck Zinfandel Lodi


I happened across this wine one day when I was "label shopping" in Total Wine. This 90 point wine is everything you want a Zinfandel to be - rich flavors of black cherry, easy drinking but bold. You can't beat the price either!

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

To Read Tuesday



I have to admit, over the past couple of months, my To-Read pile has been getting bigger and bigger. And I haven’t been doing much reading to tackle it. The holiday months seem to just be so busy that I don’t get to take much time out to read. Now that my calendar has slowed down a bit though, I’m getting back to it!

If you saw my Game of Thrones Book Club post, you know that I decided to finally read the book series. Game of Thrones was one of those incredibly rare times where I watched the show BEFORE reading the books. My husband and I both really enjoy watching the show and he didn’t want me to know what happens by reading ahead, so I agreed to wait. Aren’t I sweet?

Anyways – back to what else is on my To-Read list!

Here are two books that I received for Christmas that I can’t wait to dive into.




Robin Sloan

Amazon’s Description:

The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon away from life as a San Francisco web-design drone and into the aisles of Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. But after a few days on the job, Clay discovers that the store is more curious than either its name or its gnomic owner might suggest. The customers are few, and they never seem to buy anything―instead, they "check out" large, obscure volumes from strange corners of the store. Suspicious, Clay engineers an analysis of the clientele's behavior, seeking help from his variously talented friends. But when they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, they discover the bookstore's secrets extend far beyond its walls. Rendered with irresistible brio and dazzling intelligence, Robin Sloan's Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore is exactly what it sounds like: an establishment you have to enter and will never want to leave.



Les Parisiennes – Anne Seba

Amazon’s Description:
Paris in the 1940s was a place of fear, power, aggression, courage, deprivation, and secrets. During the occupation, the swastika flew from the Eiffel Tower and danger lurked on every corner. While Parisian men were either fighting at the front or captured and forced to work in German factories, the women of Paris were left behind where they would come face to face with the German conquerors on a daily basis, as waitresses, shop assistants, or wives and mothers, increasingly desperate to find food to feed their families as hunger became part of everyday life.
When the Nazis and the puppet Vichy regime began rounding up Jews to ship east to concentration camps, the full horror of the war was brought home and the choice between collaboration and resistance became unavoidable. Sebba focuses on the role of women, many of whom faced life and death decisions every day. After the war ended, there would be a fierce settling of accounts between those who made peace with or, worse, helped the occupiers and those who fought the Nazis in any way they could.




Sunday, November 27, 2016

Book Review - Gone Girl



Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Publisher - Broadway Books
Publish Date - April 2014
Genre - Fiction/Suspense
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads













My Rating:





This is not usually my type of genre but this book had gotten such rave reviews that I figured I would give it a shot. I definitely don’t do horror type thrillers but figured I could handle a psychological thriller like this one. I also knew that I wouldn’t want to see the movie until I read the book. The book is ALWAYS better.

Gone Girl tells the story of Nick and Amy Dunne and her mysterious disappearance. It is the eve of their fifth wedding anniversary when Amy vanishes without a trace. Nick starts off as the husband everyone feels sorry for. When Amy’s diary is found, it is revealed that her perfectionist, dominating personality could have put anyone on edge. Throughout the entire investigation, as pressure mounts from the outside, Nick becomes evasive and produces a string of strange lies that only tarnish his public image. As the story progresses, the reader learns that there is more to their lives than meets the eye.


Flynn takes the reader on a rollercoaster of psychological plot twists that make you question everything you thought you knew. Trust is constantly put on the line and questioned throughout this novel and Flynn does a great job of taking readers into a dark world of Nick and Amy’s relationship. You’ll never cease to be surprised at what someone is willing to put up with for their interpretation of love. The style of narration caused me to need to flip back to previous chapters every so often to keep up with the varying points of view but, once you start reading, you won’t be able to put it down.

Pair This With: Apothic Dark



You need something dark and brooding to pair with this thriller. Apothic Dark is exactly that. It has dark flavors of blueberry and raspberry with hints of dark chocolate and coffee. This wine is the perfect pairing to get you through this emotional rollercoaster.


Friday, November 11, 2016

Book Review - The Lake House






The Lake House by Kate Morton
Publisher - Atria Books
Publish Date - October 2015
Genre - Fiction
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads











My Rating:







My review of this book has been a long time coming. Since Kate Morton is one of my favorite authors, I’m a bit disappointed in myself that I didn’t do this one sooner! I had waited with bated breath for The Lake House to be released. I’ve loved every book of hers and I knew this one was going to be good.

In true Kate Morton fashion, this novel takes you through time as you follow along story lines of impossibly intertwined destinies. The Lake House tells the story of Alice Edevane who lives on her family’s estate in Cornwall, England. Her story begins during her teenage years when one evening after a party, her baby brother Theo disappears. This even tears the family apart and leads Alice to learn secrets about her family that she never could have imagined.

The present story line picks up decades later with Alice living in London and introduces Sadie Sparrow, a young London detective. While on leave from the force, she is staying with her Grandfather in Cornwall. She stumbles upon the old Edevane estate and the detective in her must discover the secrets the estate is hiding. Sparrow sets off to solve the mystery of the Edevane estate which inevitably intertwines her story with Alice’s and they both learn the truth about events that happened long ago but most definitely shape their futures.

Like her other novels, The Lake House transports you away to another world and makes you feel as though you are right there with Alice and Sadie as their story unfolds. It’s full of suspense and plot twists that you’ll never see coming. Once I started reading, I truly couldn’t put it down. Just like Sadie Sparrow, I needed to know what the Edevane family secrets were. I’m not going to give the ending away, but I was a bit disappointed in how it all came together after such a suspenseful ride to the finish. It was all a bit too tidy in my opinion. Now, even though that was my feeling about how the story ended, I do not regret reading the book one bit. It was still an exciting, unexpected adventure!



You’ll want a wine that wraps you up in warmth, but doesn’t take too much thought to enjoy. This is one of my go-to wines and it’s a perfect pairing with this novel. With flavors of raspberry, caramel and little bit of oak, this wine will stand up to the suspense but keep you calm all the way through.















Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Go Set a Watchman - Harper Lee






Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
Publisher - Harper
Publish Date - July 2015
Genre - Fiction
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads











My Rating:







As an avid reader and lover of literature from a young age, I couldn’t help but get swept up in the excitement when it was announced that Harper Lee was publishing a new book. Not only a new book, but one that picks up with the iconic characters of To Kill a Mockingbird as adults. While this review may be coming a bit late, I did not waste any time snatching this book up to read once it was released.

Go Set a Watchman takes us back to Maycomb, Alabama with Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. She travels back to her hometown for 2 weeks each year to visit her father, Atticus. Upon her return to Maycomb, she is met by her childhood sweetheart, Hank who now works for her father. The novel takes place during a time in history when the creation of the NAACP and the Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision are sources of controversy, especially in the small Alabama town.

After Jean Louise finds a controversial pamphlet among her father’s belongings, she follows him to a council meeting where he introduces a speaker that gives a racially charged speech to the audience. Upon seeing this, she is convinced that her father has lied to her about his beliefs all along and has abandoned everything she was raised to believe. The story spirals from there as Jean Louise tries to come to grips with the confusing political positions her father attempts to explain but she never backs down. The entire scandal rocks Jean Louise’s world and forces her to view things in a way that she never had to before.

As with her first book, there was a lot of criticism and scandal surrounding Go Set a Watchman because of the serious racist undertones suggested throughout the novel. I think what was lost during the publication of this novel was the fact that Lee actually wrote this novel BEFORE To Kill a Mockingbird. It is now most widely regarded as not a sequel to her famed novel but rather a first draft. If you view it from that perspective, it is really quite fascinating to see her “final product” as To Kill a Mockingbird.

This was not a newly written book from the perspective of a 21st century Harper Lee. So, while the tone and language in the book may be difficult for 21st century readers, you have to understand that this is a novel written about a time and during a time in American history where racial tensions ran extremely high. Lee sought to be realistic about the situation America faced in the 1950’s, she did not seek to sugar coat or stroke the Politically Correct ego that plagues our society today. Rather, she tried to emulate the difficulty of navigating that world and explain what the unfortunate circumstances could be should you (as a white person) stand up for the equal rights of your colored neighbors.





This is a great go-to, medium-bodied wine that is berry forward with a hint of spice. You'll want something to keep you composed during this novel and this Zin will do it.




















Wednesday, May 11, 2016

The Last Bookaneer



The Last Bookaneer by Matthew Pearl
Publisher - Penguin Press
Publish Date - April 2015
Genre - Fiction
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads











My Rating:






I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this on the blog before or not but, I have a thing for Pirates. Not the real-life creepy pirates who seize ships and have horrible pirate fashion sense but rather the romanticized pirates of days past. Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Carribbean Pirates. THOSE Pirates. You can't help but love all of their swashbuckling, eye-patch wearing, lawless behavior. Maybe deep down I just really love Johnny Depp but who knows.

At any rate, my love of pirates is what caused me to pick up this book while I was perusing the shelves at my local library. The Last Bookaneer just sounded pirate-y so I of course had to read it.

The title did not disappoint – it did have a touch of pirating (pirateerring?) I think I made up a word here. Just stay with me. Pirates make me a bit crazy. We’ll just say the book lets you into a world of the pirate life from a literary perspective – literally.

The Last Bookaneer takes place in the late 1800’s when the publishing industry was on the verge of collapse because of loose copyright laws hundreds of years old. Bookaneers of the time made a living off stealing the latest manuscripts from famous authors, selling them to publishing companies for a pretty penny all without the author’s permission. Pen Davenport is the most infamous Bookaneer in Europe and new copyright laws threaten his very existence.

Pen and his reluctant assistant Fergins set off on their last big heist – to steal a dying Robert Louis Stevenson’s final novel. Of course, Pen is not the only Bookaneer after this novel and he runs into trouble when his adversary Belial shows his face. They end up embarking on a journey that has more twists and turns than any of them ever expected as the sun begins to set on their bookaneering way of life.

The title and the synopsis had me hooked and I couldn’t wait to dive in to this novel. I expected excitement, action and crazy adventures. While the underlying plot and eventual conclusion was exciting, I was ultimately left disappointed in the novel as a whole. The writing style was never able to truly draw me in and keep my attention. I don’t give up on books though – even if they are slow, rough reads, I always finish them.


The narrative was weak and it tended to ramble without doing much in terms of development. I kept waiting for the story to really take off and it did keep me guessing at each turning point like “here we go, this is when it gets good!” Unfortunately for me, that never happened. Great premise and great promise that fell short on execution. For now, I’ll stick with Jack Sparrow.

There are studies about why we love pirates so much so read this and this. Or, if you wait until the fall, you can celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19th. Yes it's a real day. WikiHow teaches you what you need to know here so you'll be prepared.



Pair This With: La Sirena Pirate TreasuRed


I HAD to try to find a wine out there to pair with this novel that was pirate-y and I found it! I have to admit that I haven't actually tried this wine but I will be going out to find it ASAP. First of all, the play on the name? Come on. How cool is this wine? La Sirena's website describes this wine as a "rambunctious blend of seven varieties with full ripeness and big flavors..." I need this wine in my life and you do too so drink up ye sorry scallywags!

Monday, September 14, 2015

Blog Tour - Circle Dance






Circle Dance by Lynne & Valerie Constantine
Publisher - Bookbaby
Publish Date - 11/7/12
Genre - Contemporary Women's Fiction
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads













My Rating:












About the Authors

    Lynne Constantine is a coffee drinking, twitter addicted, fiction writer always working on her next book. She is the co-author of CIRCLE DANCE, a family saga written with her sister, as well as the author of several short stories. She is the managing partner of a social media consulting firm & gives talks on the role of social media in publishing. She is a contributing editor to The Big Thrill magazine published by International Thriller Writers (ITW). She likes to run her plots by Tucker, her golden retriever, who rarely disagrees with her.

 She recently finished her first thriller, and a second book with her sister. Lynne is now working on a third women’s fiction collaboration with her sister. In her spare time the loves going to the beach, spending time with her family, and reading.



      Valerie Constantine was born in Baltimore, Maryland.  She has always loved books and spent too many nights reading by the light of her bedside lamp until 3 a.m. (Those were the days when she was able to stay up that late.)  She graduated from Nancy Drew to Shakespeare and went on to study at the University Maryland where she received a degree in English Literature. She is a contributing editor to The Big Thrill magazine and has also worked with St. John’s College as chair of their Meet The Authors Program. She is an active community volunteer working with a
Washington, D.C. organization that fights human trafficking and also as president of Assistance League of the Chesapeake, a philanthropic organization that helps and supports children in need. In her spare time she reads, kayaks and travels.  Valerie lives in Annapolis, Maryland with her husband and Zorba, their brilliant King Charles Cavalier.


About the Book:

Young, smart and beautiful with everything figured out – or so they thought. Born into a prosperous Greek American family, sisters Nicole and Theodora have achieved the perfect balance between the old world rich in Greek tradition and the freedom of life in America. 

Nicole’s world spins out of control when she falls for a married senator who shares her heritage and her dreams. The decisions she makes will affect the happiness of those closest to her and will define the woman she is to become. 

As Theodora struggles to succeed at her marriage, she seeks the wisdom and council of her beloved Greek grandmother who has been happily married for over half a century. Ultimately she must come to terms with the reality of her own life and take responsibility for the role she has played in deceiving herself. 

As the dramatic plot unfolds, the two young women must confront deceit and betrayal and their own shortcomings—while they struggle to preserve the values they cherish. 

Set in Baltimore, Annapolis and the tiny island of Ikaria, Greece, Circle Dance provides a view into the lives of a dynamic family that has successfully achieved the American dream without abandoning the customs and traditions handed down through their Greek heritage.


Review:

The initial synopsis of the plot of this story was enough to capture my attention and sign up for this tour. But, to be honest, I still wasn't so sure that I was going to enjoy it. Well, after about 10 pages in - I was hooked. The writing style was so smooth and easy, that it drew me in right away. You can't help but love Nicole and Theodora from the first few pages. The two of them are such different characters and I just couldn't wait to see how they were going to come out on the other side of very different struggles. 

When I imagine a Greek family, this was exactly how I pictured it. Passionate, close knit and full of life. It really brought this unique heritage to life for me. The bond between this family is one that can never be broken and they really stick together to get through tough times. Nicole and Theodora are incredibly easy to relate to and seem like real people that you might meet at a coffee shop or something. 

The plot line was somewhat predictable (there were a few twists and turns that I didn't see coming), but that didn't stop me from enjoying every page. I seriously did not want to stop reading and I spent many late nights doing the whole "one more chapter" bit until I just fell asleep holding my Kindle. I wanted so desperately for the "bad guys" to be caught and for resolutions to come to the girls. I couldn't get to the end fast enough!


Pair This With:



Hermes Greek White - For this book, it made me want to go search out a Greek wine. I had never tried one before and I was in the mood for a white wine. This one was light and crisp and went down easy. It has hints of peach and herbs. This would pair well with a mozzarella and tomato salad or seafood.