Beth Fish Reads

Wordless Wednesday 242

2013-06-18T21:48:00.000-04:00

Mural / Street Art, Somewhere in the Lower East Side (New York City), 2013

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Love street art. We have some good examples of it ... by Ed T. http://www.blogger.com/profile/05901818490442310728
Very cool. It's too bad there's graffiti o... by anotherjennifer http://www.blogger.com/profile/02697826890724579041
Oh I LOVE it!! It's so colorful! by Heather http://www.blogger.com/profile/01991818614911652918
Wow! It's fabulous! by bermudaonion http://www.blogger.com/profile/10726401178972099557
NYC is a source of endless great photos.. by caite http://www.blogger.com/profile/05824538078958999767
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Review: The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank

2013-06-18T06:01:00.000-04:00

Last week I teased you with the opening lines of Dorothea Benton Frank's just-released novel, The Last Original Wife. I had barely started the book when I wrote that post, but I've already finished reading. Once I got to know the characters, I was dying to find out how the story would end.

Leslie Anne Greene Carter has been married to Wesley for several decades, one of the only solid marriages in their social circle. In fact, all of Wes's closest friends are currently married to much, much younger women. Lately, Les has become uninterested in socializing because she has nothing in common with the trophy wives, who are almost young enough to be her daughters. After a series of events leave Les frustrated and angry, she packs her bags and leaves town to visit her brother, hoping some distance will help her sort out her feelings.

The Last Original Wife is told in alternating points of view, so we hear both Leslie's take on her marriage and Wesley's. Frank's fabulous sense of humor is seen especially in Wes's sections. Although he's a bit of a selfish jerk, you cannot help but laugh at his justifications and his total cluelessness when it comes to his wife and all the things she has done to make their life pleasant. Once he's in charge of himself, he very quickly develops a strong appreciation for Les and begins to see their grown children without his rose-colored glasses.

Owing to the circumstances in which she got married (she was pregnant) and thanks to the expectations of her generation, Les has always put herself last. She takes care of the house, the kids, the grandchild, and her husband, which doesn't leave much time for her to pursue her own interests. Even worse, she has given up things she used love (classical music, for example) in deference to Wes. Once she leaves Atlanta for Charleston, she gets a taste of what life could be like on her own.

The big question Frank asks in The Last Original Wife is not whether the Carters' marriage can be saved but whether it should be saved. It's not completely clear how the book will end because there are complicating factors and the two still care for each other. Although Frank includes the serious themes of marriage, parenthood, lost youth, and fidelity, she provides lots of comic relief.

I love the combination of light, fun reading mixed with enough issues to make me think. I also like books that star smart, strong, slightly older women who are still looking to the future. Baby boomers are hardly ready to throw in the towel, and it's refreshing to see like-minded protagonists in contemporary novels.

No matter your age or marital situation, be sure to put a copy of Dorothea Benton Frank's The Last Original Wife in your beach bag this summer. It's a great choice for a weekend escape.

Published by HarperCollins/William Morrow, 2013
ISBN-13: 9780062132468
Rating: B
Source: review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

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Review: Family Pictures by Jane Green + Macmillan Audio Workout Challenge

2013-06-17T06:01:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you, but I consider my daily walk to be the perfect opportunity to listen to my current audiobook. This past spring, Macmillan Audio started a Listen While You Work Out campaign and fitness challenge.

The program has been written up by several major websites, including Parents and Fitness. It even has its own Facebook page! The first two challenge books are Secrets from the Past by Barbara Taylor Bradford, read by Stina Nielsen, and Family Pictures by Jane Green, read by Amy Quint. You can hear samples of the audiobooks by clicking through to the Facebook page.

I picked Family Pictures, and a publicist at Macmillan Audio kindly provided me with a review copy and a break-down of the timing of each chapter. Although I'm fully aware of the length of every audiobook I listen to and of how many minutes I walk each day, I had never really thought about combining the two sets of numbers.

Armed with the stats, it was fun to plan out my exercise around Family Pictures. For example, my first workout consisted of Chapters 1 to 6 for total of about 54 minutes. It was motivating to keep moving until I heard the words Chapter Seven instead of quitting when I hit a particular distance or I decided I had walked long enough.

Family Pictures is the story of two families--particularly the mother-daughter pairs--and how their lives become intertwined through a shared traumatic event. Even though I had most of the story figured out early on, I enjoyed getting to know the characters, and Green made me think about fidelity, honesty in marriage, obligations to loved ones, family dynamics, finding inner strength, and the ups and downs of friendship.

My only complaint is that just when I thought the novel was ending, there was jump to the future; in fact, this happened three times (if you include the epilogue). It is always great to learn the outcome and fate of the characters in a story, but I would have been happy if Green had left some questions unanswered or if we had been given only one "where are they now" section.

The unabridged audio edition (Macmillan Audio; 10 hr, 14 min) is read by Amy Quint. This was my first experience with Quint, who reads with enthusiasm and expression. She did a fine job distinguishing characters and was easy to understand, but some of her pauses seemed too strong and every once in a while the rhythm of her reading was slightly repetitive. Regardless, these issues wouldn't stop me from trying another book narrated by Quint.

If you want to join the Macmillan Audio fitness challenge, visit their Facebook page and learn more about the program as well as their great auidobooks. No matter how you get your exercise--walking, gardening, running, or just living--an audiobook will help keep you moving and is a great motivator.

Published by Macmillan/St. Martin's Press, 2013
ISBN-13: 9780312591830
Rating: C+
Source: review (audio edition) (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

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I love this idea of combing fitness with audiobook... by (Diane) bookchickdi http://www.blogger.com/profile/16640913682123489734
What a fun audiobook challenge. I am going to have... by Literate Housewife http://www.blogger.com/profile/01650853621765472111
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Weekend Cooking: Party Potatoes

2013-06-15T06:01:00.000-04:00

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.

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It's hard to believe, but this is the third Saturday in a row I've been either out of town or busy, busy. First I was in New York for BookExpo America, then I was in Ohio for my niece's high school graduation, and today we have a neighborhood graduation party followed by the village's annual strawberry festival. As a consequence of all that traveling and partying, I haven't been spending much time in the kitchen.

On the other hand, the celebration meals have me thinking about some of my favorite dishes to serve for informal gatherings. One of my go-to party cookbooks is the Toledo Museum of Art's Art Fare.

A couple of years ago, I shared a carrot recipe from Art Fare, which I hope you've tried. It's a dish that appears on my New Year's Eve menu every year, and even the vegetable haters seem to love it. The recipes in Art Fare come from museum supporters, including restaurant chefs, caterers, and home cooks. The foods reflect the diverse ethnic community of northern Ohio and southern Michigan, and each recipe was, as the cover copy says, triple tested to guarantee success.The cookbook, which won the Tabasco Community Cookbook Award in 2001, is available from the museum's gift shop.

Although my mom and I made a green bean recipe from Art Fare last weekend (and there wasn't even one bean left over!), I want to give you a different recipe because it's one of my standbys and it's always a big hit.

My friends often request that I make these potatoes when I ask, What can I bring? I love that the dish can be made the day before and then heated up when my guests arrive. If I'm taking this to a pot luck, I just wrap it up well, so it stays hot during transport.

Party Potatoes
Serves 10

8 large baking potatoes, peeled
¾ cup sour cream
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon sugar
¼ teaspoon pepper, or to taste
Milk
2 (10-ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach
½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
2 tablespoons chopped green onions
½ teaspoon dried dillweed
1½ cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Combine the potatoes with enough water to cover in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Boil until tender but firm; drain. Peel the potatoes. Mash the potatoes in a bowl. Stir in the sour cream, salt, sugar, and pepper, adding milk as needed for a fluffy consistency.

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Cook the spinach using package directions; drain. Press the excess moisture from the spinach. Combine the potatoes, spinach, butter, chives, green onions, and dill in a bowl and mix well. Spoon into a buttered 9 × 13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with the cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes or until brown and bubbly.

Note: May prepare up to 1 day in advance and store, covered in the refrigerator. Reheat before serving.

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Imprint Friday: The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton DiSclafani

2013-06-14T06:01:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Imprint Friday and today's featured imprint: Riverhead Books. Stop by each week to be introduced to a must-read title from one of my favorite imprints. I know you'll be adding many of these books to your wish list.

I don't know what I was expecting when I sat down to read Anton DiSclafani's The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls. I knew the story would involve horses and teenage girls, but the rest of the novel came as complete and thought-provoking surprise.

Here's the publisher's summary:

It is 1930, the midst of the Great Depression. After her mysterious role in a family tragedy, passionate, strong-willed Thea Atwell, age fifteen, has been cast out of her Florida home, exiled to an equestrienne boarding school for Southern debutantes. High in the Blue Ridge Mountains, with its complex social strata ordered by money, beauty, and girls’ friendships, the Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls is a far remove from the free-roaming, dreamlike childhood Thea shared with her twin brother on their family’s citrus farm—a world now partially shattered. As Thea grapples with her responsibility for the events of the past year that led her here, she finds herself enmeshed in a new order, one that will change her sense of what is possible for herself, her family, her country.

Weaving provocatively between home and school, the narrative powerfully unfurls the true story behind Thea’s expulsion from her family, but it isn’t long before the mystery of her past is rivaled by the question of how it will shape her future. Part scandalous love story, part heartbreaking family drama, The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls is an immersive, transporting page-turner—a vivid, propulsive novel about sex, love, family, money, class, home, and horses, all set against the ominous threat of the Depression—and the major debut of an important new writer.

As I mentioned in my Bloggers Recommend writeup of The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls, DiSclafani creates a misty, dreamy atmosphere that fits both the humid southern setting and Thea's confusion and uncertainty as she finds a way to move past her childhood and to step bravely into her future.

DiSclafani was wise to set this story in 1930, a time of great economic and social change, especially for old-money families in decline. Thea and the girls she meets at Yonahlossee are caught between their childhood expectations of marrying rich and being pampered and the realities of needing a real education that could allow them to earn a living. Yet their parents have invested their resources in their sons, freely admitting that their daughters are worth less, matter less. These historical circumstances color Thea's life both before and after her shame and banishment.

The novel is told in alternating time periods, so we learn what happened to Thea only slowly. Scenes of her family life are interwoven with her adjustment to boarding school and her self-awakening. We might not condone her behavior, but by the end of the novel, we sympathize with her situation and have a better understanding of what motivates her choices.

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls is a story about twins, family dynamics, parenthood, and growing up. And throughout it all are the horses Thea loves. They are her constants, her means of connecting to others, and the source of both her troubles and her happiness. Anton DiSclafani's debut novel is strong in period details, the examination of women's issues, and the world of horses. It's sure to be one of the much-discussed books of the summer.

For more about Anton DiSclafani, visit her website, like her Facebook page, and follow her Twitter.

Riverhead Books is a featured imprint on Beth Fish Reads. For more information about the imprint, visit the Riverhead website. While there, explore their terrific book list, check out authors in the news, and view some fun videos. Stay in the know by following them on Tumblr, Facebook, and Twitter.

Published by Penguin USA / Riverhead, 2013
ISBN-13: 9781594486401
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

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Imprint Friday Survey Results: I want to thank everyone who responded to my survey. I was grateful that so many of you took the time to answer the questions. The overwhelming conclusion is that you look forward to my Imprint Friday posts. With the help and support of the publishers, publicists, and marketing people I work with, Imprint Friday will remain a regular feature of Beth Fish Reads. At the same time, with your encouragement, I've decided to ease up on my self-made stress and may on occasion write a different kind of post for a Friday, if that's what makes sense at the moment.

Comments

When I first saw this book awhile ago, I didn'... by (Diane) bookchickdi http://www.blogger.com/profile/16640913682123489734
"equestrienne boarding school for Southern de... by caite http://www.blogger.com/profile/05824538078958999767
Definitely hope to read this one over the summer. ... by (Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea http://www.blogger.com/profile/10519875632878992728
One of my customers was raving about this book yes... by Miriam http://www.blogger.com/profile/17418549881771253836
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Guest Post and Giveaway: Three Truths and a Lie about Antoine de Saint-Exupéry by Ania Szado

2013-06-13T06:01:00.000-04:00

If you're like me, you loved the illustrated book The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Perhaps you even read it in French, as I did, when you were in school. This year readers the world over are celebrating the seventieth anniversary of the book's publication by rereading The Little Prince and by learning more about Saint-Ex.

Ania Szado's new novel, Studio Saint-Ex gives us an inside look at the French author's life in New York and the writing of his famous story. Here's a short description from the publicist:

Set in Manhattan and Quebec City in 1943, Studio Saint-Ex is a fictionalized account of the love triangle among Antoine de Saint-Exupéry; his mercurial wife, Consuelo; and a young fashion designer. Mignonne Lachapelle leaves Montreal for New York to make her name but is swept away by the charms of France's greatest living writer. Nothing about their relationship is simple—not Antoine's estranged wife who entangles Mig in her schemes to reclaim her husband, not his turmoil, and certainly not their tempestuous trysts or the blurring boundaries of their artistic pursuits. Yet the greatest complication comes in the form of a deceptively simple manuscript: Antoine's work-in-progress, The Little Prince, a tender tale of loneliness, friendship, love, and loss in the form of a young prince fallen to earth.

Studio Saint-Ex is a deeply evocative love story of a literary giant caught between two talented and mesmerizing women, set in the glittering world of French expatriates in Manhattan during World War II. Reminiscent of The Paris Wife, Loving Frank, and The Rules of Civility, Studio Saint-Ex explores themes of love, passion, and creativity in sophisticated, literary prose.

I have always been fascinated with how a French Air Force pilot came to write such a charming story about a little boy. There is so much I don't know about Saint-Ex and his world, and Szado's novel is calling to me.

To tide me over until I read the book, I asked Ania Szado to tell me a few little-known facts about Saint-Ex's life.

Studio Saint-Ex and WWII New York: Three Surprising Truths and a Lie

True: The Little Prince—the phenomenally best-selling tale of a boy who relates the story of his beloved rose and planet to a pilot on Earth, a mainstay of high school French courses, written by the French author–aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, was written entirely in New York. It was published in English first, in 1943.

True: World War II Manhattan was home to the world's largest wealthy, culturally elite group of French expatriates. Artists, filmmakers, and writers . . . and among them, Saint-Ex. Decommissioned from the French Air Force when the Nazis took over, he came to the United States to advise the military on their mission to liberate Europe and to persuade them to take him back into combat. His fiery estranged wife, Consuelo, followed, determined to regain his heart and share his spotlight—for Saint-Ex was a celebrity in America, a winner of the National Book Award, the man the Times relied on to explain the French to WWII America.

True: Early 1940s Manhattan was the cradle of American haute couture. Until this time, all high fashion came from Paris. If you were wealthy, you went to the Continent to shop. And if not? Copies of Parisian fashions filled the local department store racks. There was no homegrown fashion design scene. Then Paris fell, and Mayor LaGuardia and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt announced that New York would become the new fashion center of the world. Contests were launched. Designers were lauded. The first Fashion Week—then called Press Week—got under way.

Which leads to the lie: In Studio Saint-Ex, Saint-Exupéry is immersed in New York's glittering expat community, scrapping with his wife, aching to return to the war, and writing The Little Prince in friends' studios, including that of an ambitious young fashion designer, the entirely fabricated Mignonne.

In real life, Saint-Ex's girlfriends aspired mainly to save the author from himself. But a woman like Mig could do much more. She could identify with his creative struggles. She could illuminate the complex connection between love and art. Saint-Ex had artistic friends and devoted lovers, but none that came together in one person: There was no real Mig.

To me, that is the most surprising fact of all. She is such an agent of revelation and connection in Studio Saint-Ex. It's through her that we discover the greatest truths.

_________

Thanks so much, Ania. All three truths were new to me. Now I'm more excited that ever to read Studio Saint-Ex so I can learn more about New York, the fashion world, and the circumstances in which Saint-Exupéry wrote his famous book.

The Giveaway: Thanks to the publicist and publisher, I'm able to offer one of my readers with a U.S. or Canada mailing address a chance to win a copy of Ania Szado's Studio Saint-Ex. All you have to do to enter for a chance to win is to fill out the following form. I'll pick a winner, using a random number generator, on June 24. After the winner has been confirmed, I'll delete all personal information from my computer.

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Good luck!

Random House / Knopf, 2013
ISBN-13: 9780307962799
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

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I'm so glad you shared this! I have been thin... by Level 1 Homemaker http://www.blogger.com/profile/09726952526544619098
I've always loved THE LITTLE PRINCE and I real... by Beth Hoffman http://www.blogger.com/profile/16770840174293503835
sounds great .. i have an admission ... i maybe th... by Daryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/08241795455748298624
I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that I've... by bermudaonion http://www.blogger.com/profile/10726401178972099557
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Wordless Wednesday 241

2013-06-11T22:01:00.000-04:00

Daisy, 2013

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Gorgeous! <a href="http://sweetascanbe.info/2013/... by ester http://www.blogger.com/profile/03466768811423451386
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Today's Read: The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank

2013-06-11T06:39:00.001-04:00

How would you feel if your husband's friends were all on their second, much-younger wives? Leslie Anne Greene Carter is getting tired of being made to feel lucky just because her husband hasn't yet found his arm candy. Taking control of her own fate, Les moves back to the Lowcountry, hoping to rediscover the joys of her youth.

Welcome to Saint Magnolia's Wounded Theater. At least that's what I called it. Within these slick walls reside Atlanta's pish-posh team of premier psychiatrists, psychoanalysts, and relationship counselors who specialize in the broken hearts/crushed egos of the privileged and renowned. Their lavish confessionals, perched high above the city, are, well, breathtaking. I was here because my husband, Wesley, insisted this was the only place he'd even consider receiving, as he was loath to say, therapy. And as it was on my first visit, the vast waiting area was packed.

Just for the record? Wesley needed therapy. I. Absolutely. Did. Not.

—The Last Original Wife by Dorothea Benton Frank (HarperCollins / William Morrow, 2013, p. 3)

Quick Facts

Setting: contemporary, Scotland; Charleston and Sullivan's Island, South Carolina; Atlanta
Circumstances: Can this marriage be saved? Should this marriage be saved?
Characters: Leslie and Wesley, their family and friends
Genre: women's fiction, beach reading, contemporary fiction
Themes: friendship; marriage; family; aging; trust; loyalty; fidelity
Miscellaneous: the story is told from both Leslie's and Wesley's perspectives

ISBN-13:9780062132468
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

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Review: Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco

2013-06-10T06:01:00.000-04:00

In the summer after Pearl Harbor, twelve-year-old Bee notices changes in the traveling show and carnival that has been her home for all her life. When her carny parents died in a car accident eight years earlier, Bee was taken in by then-teenager Pauline, who taught the girl to read, do math, and help run the hot-dog cart.

Despite the hardships, Bee could have been happy, but she was born with a diamond-shaped birthmark that covers half her face. Ellis, the show's owner, has been waiting for an excuse to put Bee in a "look-see booth," knowing people would pay good money for chance to stare at her face. Only Pauline's fierce protection has kept Bee out of the orphanage and away from Ellis's control. What will Bee do when Ellis finds a way to separate the pair, leaving Bee all on her own?

Kimberly Newton Fusco's Beholding Bee is a magical story about self-acceptance, self-reliance, and finding bravery geared to a young middle grade audience. Although the story contains a few light paranormal elements (Bee is helped by an elderly woman whom only she can see), it is grounded in reality. Young readers will love Bee, who is hardened to the life of the carnival but who is still scared and shy when people want to catch a glimpse of her face.

Although older readers will find some parts of the plot to be a little too neat, young girls will love learning how Bee finds a way to fulfill her dreams. With the help and prodding of the mysterious old woman and by remembering the lessons she learned from the carnival workers who cared for her, Bee overcomes the worst of her troubles and gains a new sense of herself along the way.

Filled with interesting period details and facts about traveling carnivals, Beholding Bee would make an excellent book club pick. Topics for discussion include the differences between schools in the 1940s and today, victory gardens, life in a carnival, family, friendships, handicaps, cooking, and wartime rationing.

I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Listening Library; 8 hr, 5 min) read by Ariadne Meyers. This was my first experience with Meyers, who did an amazing job portraying the young Bee. Her expressive reading and fantastic characterizations greatly increased my enjoyment of the story. I loved how she made me feel the entire range of Bee's emotions, from her pain and hurt when people stared at her to the love she feels for Pauline. In fact, I'm not sure I would have liked the book as much in print.

This post will be linked to Kid Konnection, hosted by Julie at Booking Mama.

Random House / Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2013
ISBN-13: 9780375868368
Source: Review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

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Weekend Cooking: An Illustrated Guide to Cocktails by Orr Shtuhl

2013-06-08T06:01:00.000-04:00

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As some of you know, I was in New York last week attending BookExpo America (BEA), where I spent some time learning about the upcoming food and drink titles from a variety of publishing houses. I'm so excited by many of the summer and fall foodie books and can't wait to share some of my discoveries with you.

One fun little book I picked up was An Illustrated Guide to Cocktails by Orr Shtuhl, which is no ordinary bartender's cheat sheet. First, the book is amply and charmingly illustrated by Elizabeth Graeber. You can get a taste of her style by looking at the cover at the left and the scan I include below. I love her animal drawings, and she seems to have captured Shtuhl's engaging sense of humor.

As the subtitle, 50 Classic Cocktail Recipes, Tips, and Tales, implies, the book includes stories, history, and other information for each of the drinks. Although the cocktails are fairly no-nonsense classics (martini, bloody Mary, Tom Collins, for example), the recipes and presentation are anything but. All it takes is a look at the two-page chapter on the Long Island iced tea to make my point (click image to enlarge):

But despite the humor, Shtuhl provides quite a lot of information in this slip of a book. For example, on page 1 we learn that the structure of a classic cocktail is quite simple: strong + sweet + bitter = great cocktail. The strong is the alcohol; the sweet is sugar, a liqueur, or juice; and the bitter is, well, bitters or citrus. We also learn the origins of the cocktails, their names, and what famous people sipped them. We can even pick up some useful tips for buying bar equipment. But even here, Shtuhl is quick to point out that a good drink can be made without fancy gadgets. And, in fact, his zero bar equipment recipe is hilarious--and a bit reassuring to those of us who are minimalists.

I also enjoyed the sections on how to like different types of spirits (whiskey, tequila, gin, and so on). Included here are beginner, advanced, and expert cocktails (in taste, not execution) as well as general information about the liquor and how to use it in a drink. I thought the stories about the people behind the drinks--from the historic (George Washington) to the fictional (James Bond)--gave me a new appreciation for the liquid in my glass.

If you're looking for an easy introduction to traditional cocktails or a thoughtful Father's Day gift for your favorite home bartender, I highly recommend Orr Shtuhl's An Illustrated Guide to Cocktails.

Penguin USA / Gotham Books, 2013
ISBN-13: 9781592407958
Rating: B
Source: Review (see review policy)
Copyright 2013 cbl for www.BethFishReads.com

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BEA Book Group Speed Dating Session: Part 2

2013-06-07T06:01:00.000-04:00

**NB: Imprint Friday will return next with the results of my survey (there is still time to answer the 7 questions) and hints of what's to come.

Yesterday I mentioned that my favorite panel at BEA each year is the one geared to book clubs. Here is Part 2 of my recap of that event, covering four of the eight publishers that stopped by my table to present their hottest book club titles for the coming seasons. (Be sure to check out BEA Book Group Speed Dating Session: Part 1, which I posted yesterday.)

Here are the books I learned about at the session, plus my top pick from each publisher. Titles in boldface are books that made it to my wish list.

Random House Publishing Group

The Boleyn Deceit by Laura Andersen: alternate history in which Anne has a son who becomes king; second in a series
The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin: historical novel focusing on the life and accomplishments of Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Defending Jacob by William Landay: contemporary novel; a lawyer must defend his young son who has been accused of murder
A Thousand Pardons by Jonathan Dee: contemporary novel; can a family survive a man's poor choices?
Perfect by Rachel Joyce: contemporary novel; how much does a young teen really know about his perfect mother? [This is my real top pick, but the publisher's summary and book cover are currently unavailable.]

Once a privileged and loving couple, the Armsteads have now reached a breaking point. Ben, a partner in a prestigious law firm, has become unpredictable at work and withdrawn at home—a change that weighs heavily on his wife, Helen, and their preteen daughter, Sara. Then, in one afternoon, Ben’s recklessness takes an alarming turn, and everything the Armsteads have built together unravels, swiftly and spectacularly.

Thrust back into the working world, Helen finds a job in public relations and relocates with Sara from their home in upstate New York to an apartment in Manhattan. There, Helen discovers she has a rare gift, indispensable in the world of image control: She can convince arrogant men to admit their mistakes, spinning crises into second chances. Yet redemption is more easily granted in her professional life than in her personal one.

As she is confronted with the biggest case of her career, the fallout from her marriage, and Sara’s increasingly distant behavior, Helen must face the limits of accountability and her own capacity for forgiveness.

What will book clubs talk about? Marriage, trust, forgiveness, how far can a family bend without breaking, moving on, second chances. On sale August 6; ISBN 13: 9780812983388

Sourcebooks / Landmark

Book of Someday by Dianne Dixon: contemporary novel; three women unexpectedly connected and forever changed over the course of a summer
Lies You Wanted to Hear by James Whitfield Thomson: contemporary novel; two points of view; how a couple tears apart their family
Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure: historical fiction; how an architect creates hiding places for Jews during the German occupation

Like most gentiles in Nazi-occupied Paris, architect Lucien Bernard has little empathy for the Jews. So when a wealthy industrialist offers him a large sum of money to devise secret hiding places for Jews, Lucien struggles with the choice of risking his life for a cause he doesn't really believe in. Ultimately he can't resist the challenge and begins designing expertly concealed hiding spaces--behind a painting, within a column, or inside a drainpipe--detecting possibilities invisible to the average eye. But when one of his clever hiding spaces fails horribly and the immense suffering of Jews becomes incredibly personal, he can no longer deny reality.

Written by an expert whose knowledge imbues every page, this story becomes more gripping with every life the architect tries to save.

What will book clubs talk about? Morality, ethical dilemmas, selflessness, religion, tolerance. On sale October 1; ISBN 13: 9781402284311

William Morrow

Swimming in the Moon by Pamela Schoenewaldt: historical fiction about a mother and daughter in the early 1900s during a time of social change
Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson: southern fiction; messy love story
The Tilted World by Tom Franklin and Beth Ann Fennelly: historical fiction about the 1927 Mississippi flood
The Whole Golden World by Kristina Riggle: contemporary fiction; a happy, successful family is torn apart when the parents discover that their teenage daughter is having an affair with a married teacher
Help for the Haunted by John Searles: contemporary novel; the deeper a young girl looks into the death of her parents the more she realizes she cannot trust anyone
The House Girl by Tara Conklin: contemporary and historical; intertwined stories of two women: one a New York lawyer and one a runaway slave

It begins with a call in the middle of the snowy February evening. Lying in her bed, young Sylvie Mason overhears her parents on the phone across the hall. This is not the first late-night call they have received, since her mother and father have an uncommon occupation, helping "haunted souls" find peace. And yet, something in Sylvie senses that this call is differnt than the rest, especially when they are lured to the old church on the outskirts of town. Once there, her parents disappear, one after the other, behnd the church's red door, leaving Sylvie alone in the car. Not long after, she drifts off to sleep only to wake to the sound of gunfire.

Nearly a year later, we meed Sylvie again, struggling with the loss of her parents, and living in the care of her older sister, Rose, who may be to blame for what happened the previous winter. As the story moves back and forth in time, through the years leading up to the crime and the months following, the ever inquisitive and tender-hearted Sylvie pursues the mystery, moving closer to the knowledge of what occurred that night, as she comes to terms with her family's past and uncovers secrets that have haunted them for years. (Note: copy from publicity memo; no summary available.)

What will book clubs talk about? Family secrets, sisters, spirituality, truth, ghosts, loss, death. On sale September 17; ISBN 13: 9780060779634

Norton

The Obituary Writer by Ann Hood: historical fiction (1919 and 1961); two women living in different time periods that were marked by great changes in women's rights
Dirty Love by Andre Dubus III: contemporary; stories about finding fulfillment via food, sex, work, and love
A Guide for the Perplexed by Dara Horn: contemporary and historical novel involving twin sisters; about jealousy, memory, and secrets from the historic past
Brewster by Mark Slouka: historical fiction about two teens and their dreams for a better life beyond the confines of their small town

The year is 1968, a year after the summer of love and the peak of the Vietnam War. The world is changing, and sixteen-year-old Jon Mosher is determined to change with it. Racked by guilt over his older brother's childhood death, Jon turns his rage into victories running track. When he meets Ray Cappicciano, a local legend in the making, a rebel as gifted with his fists as Jon is with his feet, he recognizes a friendship with the potential to save him. Realizing that Ray needs saving too, Jon sets off on the race of his life--a race to redeem his past and save them both. Reverberating with compassion, heartache, and grace, Brewster is sure to remind readers of Andre Dubus III and Richard Russo.

What will book clubs talk about? Redemption, forgiveness, hopes, dreams, friendship, life before modern technology, social change On sale August 5; ISBN 13: 9780393239751

Don't forget that discussion guides will be available for all these titles. Check ReadingGroupGuides.com and the publishers' websites for more information about book club resources, the books, and the authors.

Comments

Loved this session too! Great to see what books yo... by Julie P. http://www.blogger.com/profile/16008101127541997459
I thought A Thousand Pardons was excellent! Defend... by Laurie C http://www.blogger.com/profile/00177559207735782406
Great recaps! I had totally different publishers a... by (Diane) bookchickdi http://www.blogger.com/profile/16640913682123489734
Nice list! The Whole Golden World sounds really in... by Vasilly http://www.blogger.com/profile/08463689838763126048
What a great post - I have to attend this next yea... by Sheila (Bookjourney) http://www.blogger.com/profile/05354184020340930630
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BEA Book Group Speed Dating Sesson: Part 1

2013-06-06T06:01:00.000-04:00

My favorite panel at BEA each year is the one geared to book clubs. For the second year, the Reading Groups Guides panel has been set up in a speed-dating format. Attendees sit at round tables, and the publicity and marketing people from various publishing houses move from table to table to tell us about their hottest titles that will prompt the best discussions. Here is Part 1 of my recap of that event, covering four of the eight publishers that stopped by my table. (Come back on tomorrow for BEA Book Group Speed Dating Session: Part 2.)

Here are the books I learned about at the session, plus my top pick from each publisher. Titles in boldface are books that made it to my wish list.

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Man Alive! by Mary Kay Zueavleff: a contemporary novel of family and values
Someone by Alice McDermott: a woman scorned in the 1930s; we are all fools for something
Tinderbox by Lisa Gornick: contemporary novel about how a nanny disrupts a family's dynamics
Hild by Nicola Griffith: historical novel; a seer in 7th-century Britain, just as Christianity is taking hold in the kingdom

All it takes is a quarter to change pediatric psychiatrist Dr. Owen Lerner’s life. When the coin he’s feeding into a parking meter is struck by lightning, Lerner survives, except that now all he wants to do is barbecue. What will happen to his patients, who rely on him to make sense of their world? More important, what will happen to his family?

The bolt of lightning that lifts Lerner into the air sends the entire Lerner clan into free fall. Mary Kay Zuravleff depicts family-on-family pain with generosity and devastating humor as she explores how much we are each allowed to change within a family—and without. Man Alive! captures Owen and Toni Lerner and their nearly grown children so vividly you’ll be looking over your shoulder to make sure the author hasn’t been watching your own family in action.

What will book clubs talk about? Family, the importance of money, ambition, the true meaning of success, marriage and expectations, adapting to change. On sale September 3; ISBN 13: 9780374202316

Grove / Atlantic

Just What Kind of Mother Are You? by Paula Daly: contemporary novel about a woman whose friend's child disappears while she is in charge
Wash by Margaret Wrinkle: historical novel; effects of slave breeding in early 1800s Tennessee
It's Not Love, It's Just Paris by Patricia Engel: focuses on the inhabitants of a woman's rooming house in Paris

In this luminous debut, Margaret Wrinkle takes us on an unforgettable journey across continents and through time, from the burgeoning American South to West Africa and deep into the ancestral stories that reside in the soul. Wash introduces a remarkable new voice in American literature.

In early 1800s Tennessee, two men find themselves locked in an intimate power struggle. Richardson, a troubled Revolutionary War veteran, has spent his life fighting not only for his country but also for wealth and status. When the pressures of westward expansion and debt threaten to destroy everything he’s built, he sets Washington, a young man he owns, to work as his breeding sire. Wash, the first member of his family to be born into slavery, struggles to hold onto his only solace: the spirituality inherited from his shamanic mother. As he navigates the treacherous currents of his position, despair and disease lead him to a potent healer named Pallas. Their tender love unfolds against this turbulent backdrop while she inspires him to forge a new understanding of his heritage and his place in it. Once Richardson and Wash find themselves at a crossroads, all three lives are pushed to the brink.

What will book clubs talk about? Slavery, breeding programs, spirituality, cultural differences. On sale November 9; ISBN 13: 9780802122032

Harlequin Mira

The Sweetest Hallelujah by Elaine Hussey: described as The Help meets Beaches; 1950s Mississippi
The Returned by Jason Mott: contemporary novel; what if your loved ones could return from the dead?
Teatime for the Firefly by Shona Patel: early 1940s India; unlikely love story at the brink of great social change; the author grew up on a tea plantation in India
The Tulip Eaters by Antionette Van Heugten: contemporary and historical (World War II); thriller in which the crime has roots in the Dutch resistance

Harold and Lucille Hargrave's lives have been both joyful and sorrowful in the decades since their only son, Jacob, died tragically at his eighth birthday party in 1966. In their old age they've settled comfortably into life without him, their wounds tempered through the grace of time. . . . Until one day Jacob mysteriously appears on their doorstep—flesh and blood, their sweet, precocious child, still eight years old.

All over the world people's loved ones are returning from beyond. No one knows how or why this is happening, whether it's a miracle or a sign of the end. Not even Harold and Lucille can agree on whether the boy is real or a wondrous imitation, but one thing they know for sure: he's their son. As chaos erupts around the globe, the newly reunited Hargrave family finds itself at the center of a community on the brink of collapse, forced to navigate a mysterious new reality and a conflict that threatens to unravel the very meaning of what it is to be human.

With spare, elegant prose and searing emotional depth, award-winning poet Jason Mott explores timeless questions of faith and morality, love and responsibility. A spellbinding and stunning debut, The Returned is an unforgettable story that marks the arrival of an important new voice in contemporary fiction.

What will book clubs talk about? Death, spirituality, religion, love, hope, what happens when wishes come true. Extra: this has been picked up as a television series, which will be called Resurection. On sale August 27; ISBN 13: 9780778315339

Penguin USA

Margot by Jillian Cantor: contemporary novel with flashbacks to World War II; what if Anne Frank's sister escaped to the United States and now must relive past horrors when her sister becomes posthumously famous
Me before You by Jojo Moyes: contemporary novel; UK setting; love story
A Working Theory of Love by Scott Hutchins: what happens when a man tries to build the first sentient computer using his late-father's journals
The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles by Katherine Pancol: translated from French; two sisters try to help each other out with unexpected results

When her chronically unemployed husband runs off to start a crocodile farm in Kenya with his mistress, Joséphine Cortès is left in an unhappy state of affairs. The mother of two—confident, beautiful teenage Hortense and shy, babyish Zoé—is forced to maintain a stable family life while making ends meet on her meager salary as a medieval history scholar. Meanwhile, Joséphine’s charismatic sister Iris seems to have it all—a wealthy husband, gorgeous looks, and a très chic Paris address—but she dreams of bringing meaning back into her life. When Iris charms a famous publisher into offering her a lucrative deal for a twelfth-century romance, she offers her sister a deal of her own: Joséphine will write the novel and pocket all the proceeds, but the book will be published under Iris’s name. All is well—that is, until the book becomes the literary sensation of the season.

What will book clubs talk about? Marriage, sisters, motherhood, get-rich-quick schemes, honesty, jealousy. On sale December 31; ISBN 13: 9780143121558

Don't forget that discussion guides will be available for all these titles. Check ReadingGroupGuides.com and the publishers' websites for more information about book club resources, the books, and the authors.

Comments

Thanks to you, I was able to pick up a few of thes... by Julie P. http://www.blogger.com/profile/16008101127541997459
Book Speed Dating... this the first time I've ... by Leslie (Under My Apple Tree) http://www.blogger.com/profile/17822229389189435951
bummer .. its not in Nook form! by Daryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/08241795455748298624
oh the Crocodile book sounds like my cuppa by Daryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/08241795455748298624
I read Wash for Library Journal and was impressed ... by Laurie C http://www.blogger.com/profile/00177559207735782406
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Wordless Wednesday 240

2013-06-04T21:56:00.000-04:00

Reflections, Bryant Park, New York City

Click image to enlarge. For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

Comments

This is an AWESOME photo! by Alice Teh http://www.blogger.com/profile/12623394887320093229
This photo looks incredible here, even better than... by (Diane) bookchickdi http://www.blogger.com/profile/16640913682123489734
Beautiful! Bryant Park is my favorite spot in NYC.... by Melissa (Avid Reader) http://www.blogger.com/profile/02119628715475021774
Great shot! by Hilary http://www.blogger.com/profile/00938287202761607041
Love it. The reflection of the reflection of the r... by Linda W http://www.blogger.com/profile/06606771866992943261
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Today's Read: Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown

2013-06-04T06:01:00.000-04:00

What if your life depended on your cooking skills? Now imagine that your kitchen is on a pirate ship and that your pantry is rarely restocked. Would you last even one night? Each Sunday, Owen Wedgewood must produce a stellar meal for Mad Hannah Mabbot, captain of the Flying Rose, or face the wrath of his abductor.

This body is not brave. Bespeckled with blood, surrounded by enemies, and bound on a dark course whose ultimate destination I cannot fathom—I am not brave.

The nub of a candle casts quaking light on my damp chamber. I have been afforded a quill and a blank logbook only after insisting that measurement and notation are crucial to the task with which I've been yoked.

—Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown (Macmillan / Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013, p. 3)

Quick Facts

Setting: the high seas, various ports around the world, 1819
Circumstances: female pirate Mad Hannah demands her weekly gourmet meal while hunting down her sworn enemies and obtaining wealth; Owen cooks for his life
Characters: Owen, world-famous chef; Hannah, world-famous pirate; the crew; a love interest
Genre: historical fiction; food fiction; adventure
Themes: friendship; loyalty; making the best of things; the darker side of the British Empire
Miscellaneous: I was lucky enough to meet Eli Brown at BEA, and he has promised us a guest post; the novel has been described as "the Scheherazade story turned on its head, at sea, with food"

ISBN-13: 9780374123666
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

Comments

Giveaway: Looking for Me (Audio) by Beth Hoffman

2013-06-03T06:16:00.002-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Beth Hoffman's new novel Looking for Me, which is about family and the power and sacrifices of following one's dreams. I concluded my review by saying that Beth "writes from the heart and with such an authentic voice, we come by our love for her work as naturally as if we were reading about our own kin."

Thanks to Beth's generosity, I am able to offer one of my readers a copy of the unabridged audiobook edition of Looking for Me (Penguin Audio; 12 hr, 14 min) read by Jenna Lamia. I haven't yet listened to the audiobook, but Lamia is one of my favorite narrators, and I've never been disappointed when she's behind the mic.

This giveaway is open to everyone around the world. Just fill out the form, and I'll pick a winner via random number generator on June 15. Once I've confirmed the winner, I'll delete all personal information from my computer.

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Good luck, and happy June Is Audiobook Month!

Buy Looking for Me at an indie or other bookstore near you.
Published by Viking / Pamela Dorman Books, May 2013
ISBN-13: 9780670025831 (print)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

Comments

This is jolly good! I'm so happy to see this g... by Alice Teh http://www.blogger.com/profile/12623394887320093229
I listened to the audio and the narration was fant... by Leslie (Under My Apple Tree) http://www.blogger.com/profile/17822229389189435951
I know someone who was a librarian for years and n... by (Diane) bookchickdi http://www.blogger.com/profile/16640913682123489734
Sounds like a wonderful listen, with a new-to-me n... by Laurie C http://www.blogger.com/profile/00177559207735782406
I am so looking forward to this book. I may be on... by Nise' http://www.blogger.com/profile/15586400022454009379
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Weekend Cooking: The Trip (Film)

2013-06-01T06:01:00.000-04:00

_______

When I spotted the mockumentary The Trip on several lists of recommended movies for food lovers, I knew I had to give it a try. Apparently the movie started out as a six-part spoof for British television and was reedited into feature film length for U.S. audiences.

Impressionists, comedic actors, and friends Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon partner up in this road tip movie in which the pair set off on a week-long journey to the north of England to eat the best that the region has to offer. Between the scenes of wonderful dishes (especially scallops, Rob's perennial choice), the two banter, laugh, and argue as only two close friends can.

The impersonation competition between Steve and Rob had both Mr. BFR and I laughing throughout the movie. The quick glimpses into the restaurant kitchens and the beautifully presented meals take second seat to the men's relationship and their personal lives. Although quite funny at times, there is also a more serious side to The Trip, as the friends discuss middle age, fatherhood, and their careers.

Most impressive is that the film is (I believe) completely improvisation, from the running gags of spotty cell reception and problems with the hotel reservations to the more poignant moments. I had never heard of Coogan and Brydon before, but I'm going to keep them on my radar.

Comments

This one is totally new to me but sounds like we m... by Julie P. http://www.blogger.com/profile/16008101127541997459
I watched this a couple months ago and was expecti... by Melissa (Avid Reader) http://www.blogger.com/profile/02119628715475021774
sharing our brunch by Daryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/08241795455748298624
I need to spend a whole day of summer vacation jus... by Peaceful Reader http://www.blogger.com/profile/10265198438524420667
OH goodie! Another food film. I just skipped over ... by Heather Webb http://www.blogger.com/profile/16998406608932437532
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Imprint Friday: The Survey Edition

2013-05-31T06:01:00.000-04:00

For the last three and a half years, I have featured or reviewed a don't-miss book from one of my favorite imprints for my Imprint Friday feature. As I walk the floors of BEA, discovering new authors and new books, I am also learning about new imprints and meeting new publicists. I thought I'd take a break this week and ask you to take a survey.

As I approach my 200th Imprint Friday post, I can't help but wonder what you think of my weekly feature. Thanks so much for taking the time to answer the following seven questions.

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Thanks again, for taking my survey

Comments

this may sound corny, but whenever I see an Amy Ei... by drbethnolan http://drbethnolan.wordpress.com/
I enjoy this feature. I never thought too much abo... by Leslie (Under My Apple Tree) http://www.blogger.com/profile/17822229389189435951
I mainly lurk but I always enjoy this feature! by shelleyrae @ book'd out http://www.blogger.com/profile/03888977858862922561
those were excellent questions .... by Daryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/08241795455748298624

Review: He Shall Thunder in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters

2013-05-30T06:01:00.000-04:00

You probably already know how much I love Elizabeth Peters's Amelia Peabody books. Unlike some long series, Peters continues to keep the plots interesting, the level of humor just right, and the characters growing and changing.

The general premise of series, which takes place in the early part of the last century, is that Amelia and Emerson Peabody are well-known archaeologists who work primarily in Egypt. They are accompanied by their son, who is known as Ramses, and their two wards, David and Nefret. Trouble, mayhem, theft, and/or murder seem to follow them wherever they go. Each book involves some kind of crime that must be solved, which is played out against the backdrop of contemporary events and the growth and changing lives of the children.

In He Shall Thunder in the Sky, the fourteenth installment, the children are young adults, out of university and starting on their chosen career paths. The year is 1914, and the Peabodys are very much affected by World War I. The action centers most strongly around Ramses and his secret activities. Is he a coward escaping the battlefield and his duty to king and country? Or does he have something else up his sleeve?

Treading very carefully here so as not to give you even the slightest hint of what's to come in this book, I will say this: The end totally surprised me. I learned something about one of the main characters I didn't suspect, although more astute readers may have already figured it out. And I thought Elizabeth Peters made a brave and brilliant decision to change the course of the remaining five books. As the younger generation reaches maturity, we readers have to expect change, and I'm excited to see where Peters will take us next.

It's pretty much impossible for me to describe Peters's sense of humor. It can be a little embarrassing when I'm walking around the neighborhood or grocery store listening to a Peabody book and suddenly start laughing. People have a tendency to turn around and stare. Amelia's personality and some of the situations she and Emerson get tangled up in are just too funny not to enjoy fully.

So, I've pretty much told you nothing, I suspect. I listened to the audiobook more or less at the same time that SuziQoregon did. You can find her review tomorrow on her fab blog Whimpulsive. Check it out to learn her perspective.

The unabridged audiobook edition (Recorded Books; 17 hr, 7 min) was read by the wonderful Barbara Rosenblat. Her characterizations are so spot on that I cannot think of Amelia, Emerson, and the children without hearing her perfect inflections, wry humor, and consistent accents. Truly, the Rosenblat-Peters pairing was made in heaven!

Buy He Shall Thunder in the Sky at an Indie or other bookstore near you.
HarperCollins / William Morrow, 2000 (edition shown)
ISBN-13: 9780380976591
Rating: B+
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

Comments

Wordless Wednesday 239

2013-05-28T21:45:00.000-04:00

Wheel, 2013

Click image to enlarge. For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

Comments

Love all the color, texture and shapes in this one... by SuziQ oregon http://www.blogger.com/profile/16877448541918740679
Can't put into words why that's a cool pic... by Taylor Dean http://www.blogger.com/profile/17737121798549300170
Artsy rust... I like it! by Leslie (Under My Apple Tree) http://www.blogger.com/profile/17822229389189435951
rusted to perfection by Daryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/08241795455748298624
Cute old pic.. i really love it.:) Happy Wordless... by rebecca http://www.blogger.com/profile/08386896830576818290
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Today's Read: The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

2013-05-28T06:01:00.000-04:00

What if turn-of-the-last-century New York was not what you think it was? Sure you'd find eastern European immigrants fresh off the boat, but you'd also find other-worldly creatures, the beings of folk tales. What would happen if, in the midst of the city, a Golem formed by a Polish Jew met a Jinni imprisoned in human form by a Syrian wizard? Would they have the same conflicts as their human counterparts?

The Golem's life began in the hold of a steamship. The year was 1899; the ship was the Baltika, crossing from Danzig to New York. The Golem's master, a man named Otto Rotfeld, had smuggled her aboard in a crate and hidden her among the luggage.

—The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker (HarperCollins / Harper, 2013, p.1)

Quick Facts

Setting: New York City, 1899
Circumstances: The Golem and the Jinni had no control over their arrival in the city; they must learn to live alone in a human world, until they meet and recognize each other for what they are
Characters: Chava, the Golem, made of clay and protected by a rabbi; Ahmad, the Jinni, made of fire and beholden to a tinsmith; human immigrants; poor and rich New Yorkers; forces of evil
Genre: alternate history colored by folklore and religious mysticism
Themes: clashing cultures, immigration, loneliness, love, survival, friendship

Comments

I think I'd like this one. Now I just need to ... by Leslie (Under My Apple Tree) http://www.blogger.com/profile/17822229389189435951
This book's getting a lot of great buzz but I&... by bermudaonion http://www.blogger.com/profile/10726401178972099557
catching up slowly ... by Daryl http://www.blogger.com/profile/08241795455748298624
I bought this one in print and in audio a few week... by Zibilee http://www.blogger.com/profile/07443338685890187334
I wouldn't have given this book a second look,... by Sandy Nawrot http://www.blogger.com/profile/00564390728106776030

Review: The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

2013-05-27T06:01:00.000-04:00

I wonder if I should duck my head in shame that I've only just now gotten around to Mary E. Pearson's The Adoration of Jenna Fox. Back in 2008, just months before I started Beth Fish Reads, I read about this young adult novel on one of my favorite blogs, Seven Impossible Things before Breakfast. I immediately bought the audiobook and put it on an mp3 player. Now, five years and several mp3 players later, I finally plugged in.

So for the two of you out there who haven't yet read The Adoration of Jenna Fox, here's the premise: Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox lives sometime in the future. It's after the big earthquake that changes the shape of California and technology is well advanced, but Jenna's America is not a dystopian one.

The book begins when Jenna wakes up after having been in a coma for almost a year after some kind of accident. She is struggling to regain her memory and get back her old life, which are made extra difficult because while she was still in the hospital, her mother and grandmother relocated her to the West Coast, leaving Jenna's father in their native Boston, where he must stay because of his work as a research geneticist. The more Jenna remembers, the more she senses something is not quite right--with her mind, her body, and her relationship with her parents.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox follows Jenna's journey to her reawakening to herself and the realities of her life after the accident. Pearson's world building is very cleverly done, especially because she set the time in the near future, in which people are coping with some of the problems that are today just beginning to rear their ugly heads, such as the effects of too many GMO products on the natural environment.

To keep from spoiling the story, I don't want to go into the characterizations too deeply. But I thought Jenna and her classmates reacted realistically to each other and to their circumstances. Pearson did a particularly good job with Jenna's grandmother, who is a little more traditional than the younger generations, and with the mysterious artist who lives next door.

I'm sure that many book clubs have discussed The Adoration of Jenna Fox over the years. The Macmillan website has a link to a reading guide with twenty-six great questions, ranging from the parent-child relationship to the future of technology. Teens and adults will find plenty to talk about after finishing this book.

I listened to the unabridged audio edition (Macmillan Audio; 7 hr, 44 min), read by the fabulous Jenna Lamia. Few narrators can capture the voice of teen as well as Lamia, and her talents shine in The Adoration of Jenna Fox, which is told from the first-person point of view. Lamia injects just enough emotion to allow listeners feel Jenna Fox's confusion and frustrations, anger and love without becoming overly dramatic. An audiobook treat.

Buy The Adoration of Jenna Fox at an indie or other bookstore near you.
Published by Macmillan / Henry Holt & Co., 2008
ISBN-13: 9780805076684
Rating: A-
Source: Bought (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

Comments

Weekend Cooking: Eat St. by James Cunningham

2013-05-25T06:01:00.000-04:00

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First off, I have to admit that I hadn't heard of James Cunningham or his Eat St. Cooking Channel television series before I saw this cookbook. Thanks to Cunningham's stand-up comedian background, I bet the show is hoot. Besides, who can resist the aromas and sights of fun, tasty street food?

Eat St. is the companion cookbook to the television show, featuring more than a hundred recipes from food trucks and food carts throughout the United States and Canada (and even a few from the UK). Although warmer climates and bigger cities are the best represented, Cunningham doesn't ignore the little guys.

I love the colorful, clean design of Eat St. and its fun, appetite-inducing photographs of the finished dishes. I also like the behind-the-scenes spotlight included with each recipe. Some of these sidebars feature the hardworking cooks; others tell us a story about the menu, the inspiration behind the flavors, or a history of the food truck.

The book is organized by types of food, such as snacks, wraps, burgers, and desserts. As you can imagine, there are quite a few recipes that call for deep-frying. But what I wasn't expecting was how many recipes (especially in the snack chapter) would call for prepared ingredients, like refrigerator biscuit dough, frozen potato nuggets, and canned fruits.

It's always a challenge to convert recipes scaled for restaurant service and relying on professional equipment for use in a typical home kitchen. In Eat St., the most successful dishes for the home cook, well for the way I usually cook at home, are the pizzas, sandwiches, soups, and salads. For example, there is a slow cooker pulled pork sandwich that I definitely plan on making this summer, and we loved the lamb sausage on greens salad, which I found easy to make. And, although my homemade pizza crust is a winner, I can't wait to try some of the variations given in the cookbook.

Unfortunately, I found the overall feel of the recipes to be uneven. Some didn't provide directions for major components of the finished dish. For example, a nacho recipe calls for prepared chili, but there is no recipe for that chili, making it impossible to replicate the original dish at home. Yet (proving that I'm hard to please), other recipes, like one for spicy chicken in a cone, consist of seven subrecipes! Yes, most of those subrecipes are for spice mixes and toppings, but I'm likely to flip on by that dish for something a little more time efficient.

Fans of the television show and of Cunningham will love this cookbook as will those of you who are lucky enough to live in a city with an abundance of food-truck dining. If you are planning a trip to southern California, New Orleans, or Vancouver, BC (among other cities), you should definitely take a look at Eat St. before you leave home; you wouldn't want to miss out on some of the tastiest quick meals around.

Late-Summer Harvest Salad
Purple Carrot in Lansing, Michigan
Serves 4

Sherry-Maple Vinaigrette

1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
6 tablespoons sherry vinegar
3 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1 tablespoon minced shallot
Salt and pepper

Salad

2 cups heirloom cherry tomatoes
2 cups watermelon balls
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
¼ cup shelled unsalted pistachio nuts
2 Honeycrisp or Fuji apples, julienned
Smoked salt or other coarse sea salt

For the vinaigrette, in a small bowl (or jar), combine all ingredients. Whisk (or shake jar) until emulsified.

For the salad, in a large bowl, toss the tomatoes, watermelon, cheese, and nuts with vinaigrette to taste. Serve topped with the apples and smoked salt.

Buy Eat St. at an Indie or other bookstore near you.
Penguin USA / Pintail, 2013
ISBN-13: 9780143187486
Rating: B-
Source: Review (see review policy)
Copyright 2013 cbl for www.BethFishReads.com

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There is something so lovely and spontaneous about... by Deb Nance at Readerbuzz http://www.blogger.com/profile/12128529491888701996
Sometimes think Portland's economy is based o... by Gilion Dumas http://www.blogger.com/profile/18080293172467000794
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Spicy chicken in a cone?! This book reminds me of ... by Vasilly http://www.blogger.com/profile/08463689838763126048
Thank you for sharing the salad recipe. I love sal... by Beth Hoffman http://www.blogger.com/profile/16770840174293503835
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Imprint Friday: And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

2013-05-24T06:01:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Imprint Friday and today's featured imprint: Riverhead Books. Stop by each week to be introduced to a must-read title from one of my favorite imprints. I know you'll be adding many of these books to your wish list.

I doubt I have to introduce you to Khaled Hosseini or even talk about why his new novel, And the Mountains Echoed, was on my must list for this month. Once I started reading this much-anticipated book, which begins with a fairy tale, I was lost in Afghanistan's world of contrasts.

Here's the publisher's summary:

Khaled Hosseini, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, has written a new novel about how we love, how we take care of one another, and how the choices we make resonate through generations. In this tale revolving around not just parents and children but brothers and sisters, cousins and caretakers, Hosseini explores the many ways in which families nurture, wound, betray, honor, and sacrifice for one another; and how often we are surprised by the actions of those closest to us, at the times that matter most. Following its characters and the ramifications of their lives and choices and loves around the globe—from Kabul to Paris to San Francisco to the Greek island of Tinos—the story expands gradually outward, becoming more emotionally complex and powerful with each turning page.

Hosseini asks a simple question: How far would you go to save your family and children? In 1952, Saboor, a poor Afghan villager, makes the heart-wrenching decision to sell his young daughter to a childless upper-class couple in Kabul, setting off ripples (echoes) that will affect both families for more than half a century.

One of the distinguishing features of And the Mountains Echoed is its structure, which consists of a series of non-chronological character studies played out against Afghan history and the diaspora. Together these studies make up a linear tale involving love and loss, hope and despair.

Because Hosseini gives each person in this story of family, betrayal, and hidden truths his or her own voice, we come to know the characters and the defining moments of their lives from different perspectives and in different time periods. In this way, Hosseini builds a multidimensional world that makes it easy for us to see the many sides of Afghanistan, from the poor villagers to the richest political bigwigs and from the people who chose to stay despite the conflicts to those who fled to the safety and freedoms of Europe and America.

Celebrating in turn the joys and and strengths of family bonds and the heart-breaking sadness when family and friends prove false, Hosseini's And the Mountains Echoed packs an emotional punch that leaves us momentarily stunned, as we take in the far-reaching consequences of a few simple acts.

Riverhead Books is a featured imprint on Beth Fish Reads. For more information about the imprint, visit the Riverhead website. While there, explore their terrific book list, check out authors in the news, and view some fun videos. Stay in the know by following them on Tumblr, Facebook, and Twitter.

Buy And the Mountains Echoed at an indie or other bookstore near you.
Published by Penguin USA / Riverhead, 2013
ISBN-13: 9781594631764
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

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Just from reading the publisher's summary, I&#... by Jennifer http://www.blogger.com/profile/05024986978579666451
Been reading lots of good reviews on this one. I h... by Leslie (Under My Apple Tree) http://www.blogger.com/profile/17822229389189435951
My daughter just read The Kite Runner a week or so... by Christine http://www.blogger.com/profile/00420773211895134710
I loved The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Su... by (Diane) bookchickdi http://www.blogger.com/profile/16640913682123489734
This one sounds great - really looking forward to ... by Lisa http://www.blogger.com/profile/05554217416500328610
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Spotlight and Guest Post: A. X. Ahmad (The Caretaker): On Writing and Cooking

2013-05-23T06:01:00.000-04:00

It's always exciting to discover a debut author who is quietly garnering high praise from print media and bloggers alike. A. X. Ahmad's The Caretaker is a literary thriller that doubles as a immigrant story.

Here is a quick summary of the premise. Ranjit Singh is an ex-captain in the Indian Army who has fled to the United States with his wife and daughter to escape his past. He is now working as the off-season caretaker for a senator on Martha's Vineyard. Plagued by hallucinations stemming from a traumatic event in his past and trying to cope with his wife's worsening depression, Ranjit is far removed from the America that's paved with gold.

When the furnace in his house goes out, Ranjit moves his family into the now-empty senator's house until he can see to the repairs. Unfortunately, the house is robbed, pulling the Singhs into a deadly game of political intrigue. Ranjit must evade the bad guys while figuring out what they think he knows, and at the same time, he must protect his family and hide his own misdoings.

When I first met A. X. Ahmad through e-mail, I learned that we shared something in common: a love of food and cooking. When talking about a possible guest post for Beth Fish Reads, Amin immediately suggested that he write about the role food plays in his fiction. A perfect match for me, my blog, and my readers! I hope you enjoy his post as much as I do.

On Writing and Cooking

I have a confession to make: I'm obsessed with novels that involve food and cooking. And until I wrote my first novel, I never really realized why.

Ranjit Singh, the protagonist of my debut novel, The Caretaker, knows how to cook only one Indian dish: khitchri, a mixture of spices, lentils, rice and vegetables.

He learns to make it in the Indian Army, where he cooks it high up in the mountains, in the midst of a war. When he moves to America and lives on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, he cooks it to feed his depressed wife and young daughter. Later on, when his world falls apart and he’s in hiding, he scrounges the ingredients and cooks it again, savoring every bite.

In the book, I describe, step by step, how Ranjit makes khitchri: meticulously sautéing the spices, then the onions, measuring out rice and lentils, adding hot water, and finally, potatoes and peas. If you, the reader, follow each step, you can probably cook it, too.

When I wrote the book, I wasn’t sure why I included all these details. Only later did I realize the connection between cooking and my character. Ranjit Singh is a poor illegal immigrant in a new country but is too proud to admit that he’s homesick for India. His wife deals with her alienation by losing herself in Indian movies, but Ranjit clings to his roots by making and remaking khitchri, the one dish that he knows.

Cooking reveals character. That was my revelation. As writers, we create characters by showing the choices that they make: and what is more fundamental than the way we choose to feed ourselves?

I’m writing this at my favorite coffee shop in Washington, D.C. I come here every day. As soon as I walk through the door, they start making my breakfast: a turkey-and-onion omelet with whole wheat toast. Strawberry jam on the side. No butter. I sit at my usual table, and eat while I write.

I wonder what that says about me.

I've just started Amin's debut novel, but I can tell you right now that I plan to give khitchri a try. Indian spices with perfectly cooked lentils and rice sounds like the ultimate comfort food. No wonder Ranjit craves it.

As for Amin's breakfast? I'm not sure what it says about him, but I think I'm going to have to ask for the name of that coffee shop next time I'm Washington, D.C.

Buy The Caretaker at an indie or other bookstore near you.
Minotaur Books, 2013
ISBN-13: 9781250016843
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

Comments

This book sounds both delightfully rich in charact... by Christine http://www.blogger.com/profile/00420773211895134710
I can tell from this guest post that I will apprec... by Julie P. http://www.blogger.com/profile/16008101127541997459
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What a thought provoking idea! I hope you enjoy TH... by Swapna http://www.blogger.com/profile/16171455620986800695
What a great post! However, what a shame I went t... by rhapsodyinbooks http://www.blogger.com/profile/07041412748239010264
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Wordless Wednesday 238

2013-05-21T22:15:00.000-04:00

Outbuilding, 2013

Click image to enlarge. For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

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Love the texture in this. (Sorry very late here.) by Indrani http://www.blogger.com/profile/13097788106899971708
great shot! by Hilary http://www.blogger.com/profile/00938287202761607041
Neat structure! But I still don't want to use ... by Kristin Aquariann http://www.blogger.com/profile/10016163705498153247
I love the look of old wood. by Gunilla Bäck http://www.blogger.com/profile/00249439893293982706
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