Falling Home by Karen White

ISBN-13: 9780451231444
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: November 2010
464 pgs
Source: Publicist

After having read a few Karen White books, I have to confess that I have fallen in love with her writing style and how her stories always seem to warm and touches my heart. Needless to say, when the publicist contacted me and asked if I would like to review Karen White's Falling Home, I didn't even have to think about it.

As the title indicated, Falling Home is a coming home story. However, there are more to it than about just having the protagonist coming home; it is also a story about forgiveness and acceptance, and of finding oneself along the journey.

Cassie Madison often thinks of herself as a city girl despite that she was born and raised in Walton, Georgia until an incident had deeply humiliated her and she had vowed never to return. That humiliation was seeing the guy she liked had chosen to marry her younger sister, Harriet. Cassie left for New York and began her life thereafter. For a while she feels happy since she has a great career in advertising and a fiancé whom she thinks she loves until she received a telephone call from her estranged sister one day, informing her that their father is dying and they want her to come home.

Cassie does not want to admit this to anyone, but deep in her heart she is afraid of seeing Harriet and Joe again. Despite this, she knew she has to return to Walton anyhow. As much as she tries to forget her unhappy past, what she didn't expect is she has grown to love her nephews and nieces the more she stays in Walton, and how much the place still means to her after all these years. During the stay, Cassie will also find out the secret which Cassie's father had kept and how it will mean to her after discovering the truth eventually.

Falling Home is one of Karen White's older releases and I was so glad that her publisher decided to reissue the book after seeing that many readers had asked about it (I definitely hope that they will print her other older releases as well). While nothing much has changed to the story, Karen did a little revamp and added two new points of view (Harriet and her daughter, Maddie) instead of Cassie's. Reading about their perspectives has made me understand more about their emotions and their stand and I felt these have further enriched the story in my opinion. Although the story might not be new, what I really enjoyed reading this book is the characterisations and finding out how much Cassie has grown and a changed person after all the experiences she has been through. Speaking of characterisations, Karen has done a great job in portraying the feelings and emotions from the three point of views but I felt there also should be more emphasis from Joe's view. Karen must have her reason for keeping Joe in the background and though I totally respect her choice, but being a reader I would like to know more about his thoughts and how he felt about everything.

Nevertheless, Falling Home is an engaging read and one that made me think of the fact that no place is anywhere like home.

(Many thanks to Joy Strazza for sending this book to me for review.)

You're the One That I Don't Want by Alexandra Potter

ISBN-13: 9780340954133
Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks
Published: August 2010
400 pgs
Source: Personal Library

When 18-year-old British girl Lucy Hemmingway met American boy Nathaniel Kennedy when they were in Venice, Italy, it was as if they were being hit by Cupid's arrow. Perhaps they are young, or perhaps they got carried away by the romantic atmosphere that they kissed under the Bridge of Sighs at sunset with the church bells ringing. And according to the legend, any couple who did that will be tied to each other for eternity.

However ten years later, they had went on separate ways and Lucy is now working in an art gallery in New York since her paintings have gotten her to nowhere in London, despite that she still has a passion for them. Just when she thought she had forgotten about Nate, she stumbled upon him and she brushed off their encounter as merely a coincidence. But it seems more like fate when they start to bump into each other, again and again until Lucy began to wonder if the legend is indeed true.

Lucy decided to give their relationship another chance, since Nate is separated with his wife, Beth and perhaps she thinks he is indeed The One after all this time. But as the time goes by, Lucy did not think their relationship is as wonderful as they were back in Venice, and to complicate things, Lucy thinks she has fallen in love with another man called Adam. Perhaps it is cursed by the legend, but Lucy finds it is hard to not bump into Nate wherever she goes, and vice versa. It is certainly hard to explain when things simply turned out to be that way, no matter how much they hated it.

I have not read a romantic comedy for a while, so this is one reason why I find this book so enjoyable and refreshing besides the fact that I had read one of Alexandra Potter's earlier releases and loving it. Alexandra Potter has a way with the plots and that is not all, she also makes her characters seem likeable. You would have thought my favourite characters are Lucy and Nate don't you, after all they are the protagonists but I have to say it is actually Lucy's employer, Magda and Lucy's friend, Robyn who have made this story so much more interesting and entertaining. Their dialogues are witty most of the times and it is always interesting to hear their side of their stories, from topics such as the laws of attraction in the universe (that's Robyn talking) right down to matchmaking and making meatballs (and that's Magda). While I find Robyn's opinion of believing in stars and fate to be romantic, I think one shouldn't take those too seriously and to be more open and observant to the people surrounding you because your true love might be hidden out there.

All in all, I had fun reading this book! So who did Lucy end up with? I wish I can tell you the answer but as you already know, I won't so you will have to read it and find out yourself.

Note: The last time I checked on Alexandra Potter's website, this book will be out in August in the UK and a year later in the US.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

ISBN-13: 9780670021390
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Published: January 2010
320 pgs
Source: Library

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt has been getting lots of rave reviews over the blogosphere so needless to say, my curiosity is piqued and I was thrilled to borrow a copy from the library.

Narrated by 12-year-old Cecelia Rose Honeycutt (CeeCee), she shares her story of living and taking care of her mentally sick mother to how much her life has changed after living with her great aunt Tootie in Savannah due to her mother's passing.

Through Beth Hoffman's beautiful prose and skilful writing, she has brought CeeCee and the other characters to life and I have to say I was on an emotional roller-coaster throughout my reading experience. I felt sorry for CeeCee right from the beginning and thinking how life has been unfair to her; at her age she should be having a happy and carefree life and not having so many reponsibilities dumped onto her. Her father, instead of being there for the family, chose to escape and find a new life in another woman.

At this point, I had great admiration for CeeCee for she seems to be able to take things in her stride despite anything, and instead of feeling sorry for herself she used this opportunity to bury herself in books. I felt relieved for her when her great aunt Tootie comes along and whisk her away from Ohio to Savannah. There, CeeCee made her acquaintance with Tootie's cook, Oletta and a few of Tootie's friends. Some of them are witty and fun to be with, while some are eccentric and gossipy. Either way, CeeCee's life is never bored with them around.

In a nutshell, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a heartwarming story of a young girl who has found hope and friendship after the loss of her mother. It is no doubt an uplifting story which I think would inspire many readers. Here's a few extracts from the book that I'd like to share with regard to Aunt Tootie's advice to CeeCee.

... "Life is full of change, honey. That's how we learn and grow..."

"It's not a book you can see or touch. It's a book that's held deep within your heart. It's guarded by your spirit... .

When a chapter of your Life Book is complete, your spirit knows it's time to turn the page so a new chapter can begin. Even when you're scared or think you're not ready, your spirit knows you are." (Pg 41)

(Click here for other bookbloggers' reviews.)

On Folly Beach by Karen White

ISBN-13: 9780451229212
Publisher: NAL Accent
Published: May 2010
416 pgs
Source: Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting
(ARC)


I fell in love with Karen White's writing style after reading a few of her earlier work - The Lost Hours and the Tradd Street series so when I knew she has a new book coming out this month, I just knew I have to read it!

Set in the 1940s and the Year 2009, On Folly Beach tells the story of the life of three women - Emmy during the present day, and Margaret and her younger sister, Lulu during the WWII period. Told in a third person perspective and with Emmy's and Margaret's stories alternate between the time span through chapters, I find this method to be effective as it allows the readers to get sucked into their stories at the same time instead of splitting into parts (which can be also effective in portraying the story but in a different light).

The story opens when Emmy is still depressed from the loss of her husband. To distract her from drowning into her misery, her mother suggested that she bought Folly's Finds, a bookstore at Folly Beach in South Carolina. Emmy is not at all keen with the idea in the first place, after all she is so used to her life living in her parents' place, tending to her mother's bookstore. Her curiosity is piqued only after she discovered some love notes written in some of the used books her mother had bought from Folly's Finds, and she thinks it might not be a bad idea to go to Folly Beach after all.

Upon reaching Folly Beach, she is somewhat touched by the warm hospitality from Abigail, the woman who owns Folly's Finds and her son, Heathcliff (he was named after a character in Wuthering Heights) but she could not say the same towards his great aunt, Lulu, for she feels Lulu's cool demeanour whenever she is around her. However, Emmy knew the older woman might have some answers in regards to the love notes found in those old books so she is hoping to find out some truth from her, though she knew it might take her some time and efforts to break the ice. Besides the mystery surrounding those love notes, Emmy is also interested in Lulu's bottle trees and why she is so adamant about continuing to sell them from the store's backyard.

When Emmy began to discover more love notes, the more she learned about the past history at Folly Beach and the relationship between Lulu and her elder sister, Margaret. The most interesting part is where readers will learn not only about Margaret's life but also her relationship between her lover, Peter as well as her cousin, Catherine.

While reading this book, I was very much like Emmy as we both have questions surrounding Margaret, Peter and Catherine, and not to mention Lulu who played an important role in this story. However, this is not all about mystery and secrets but is also about finding hope and having a second chance. With great characterisation and an intriguing plot, Karen White has succeeded in bringing this heartwarming story to life. And before I end this post, I need to mention that I absolutely loved the literary references mentioned in this book, as I am sure this will delight many booklovers. There, I said it. I hope I managed to convince you into reading this book because I really enjoyed it.

(Click here for other bookbloggers' reviews.)

The Queen of Palmyra by Minrose Gwin

ISBN-13: 9780061840326
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Published: April 2010
416 pgs
Source: HarperCollins
(ARC)



Some stories run for their lives. They zig and zag, moving so fast you can't find the secret path of their steps through the fields, only soft prints here and there to let you know something with a quivering heart and a soft belly passed that way or this. (Pg 297)


I have heard that The Queen of Palmyra has been compared to Kathryn Stockett's The Help, which got me pretty excited because I have heard lots of ravings about that book. Back to The Queen of Palmyra, I have to say Minrose Gwin's writing style is absolutely beautiful (see above quote) and I was most surprised that this is in fact her debut novel.

Set in the 1960s, The Queen of Palmyra focus on the delicate issue between the black and the white community in Millwood, Mississippi, through the eye of a twelve-year-old girl Florence Forrest. The Forrest family lives in the town where everyone seems to know everybody, though at bottom there is a strain between the black and the white community. Florence's relationship with her parents has been a distant one. Unlike other girls her age she has never feel close with her mother, perhaps that has got to do with her drinking and the fact that she bakes and delivers cakes around town in order to support the household, aside the income from her husband who works as a burial insurance salesman.

Florence spends most of her time with her grandparents and Zenie's (named for Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra) family, and she find comfort and security in them because Florence knew she could always turn to them whenever she needs some assistance or advice. Florence felt her life further enriched when Zenie's niece, Eva Greene enter into her little simple world. It is no secret that there is a division between the black and white community in Millwood, and Eva's arrival obviously created an uproar not only due to her skin colour but also the fact that she is holding the same job as Florence's father, Win. The strain between the blacks and the whites got worsen, and Florence's life will never ever be the same again after a tragedy strikes concerning Eva.

I knew I would have been on an emotional roller-coaster the moment I started reading The Queen of Palmyra, after all it deals with a delicate issue - racism. And I want to reiterate that Minrose Gwin really has a way of making her characters and story come alive through her outstanding writing style. I cannot say I loved all her characters, but I did feel for Florence and Eva, after all they are nothing but innocent people. Florence does not fully understand the situation given her naivety due to her young age and this is one reason why I find her narrative so real and convincing. She managed to evoke emotions in you through her experience.

Though the novel mainly focus on Florence, The Queen of Palmyra is also about great characterisation and storytelling. I think the author has absolutely done a great job in writing some sensitive scenes without much descriptions but in a more subtle way (honestly I don't want to read how some characters are suffering in details, it makes me too sad to think about it). I know books on racism and violence are always not an easy read, but in a way they help to create awareness and I find that is a good thing.

Other reviews:

Book, Line and Sinker

Book Chatter

Good Books and Wine
my Books. mMy Life.

The Girl from the Ghetto

Word Lily

(Let me know if I missed yours.)

Hotel Iris by Yoko Ogawa

ISBN-13: 9781846554032
Publisher: Harvill Secker
Published: April 2010
164 pgs
Translated from the Japanese by: Stephen Snyder
Source: Personal Library

I mentioned in my review of The Diving Pool that I am interested to read The Housekeeper and the Professor, since I have heard nothing but raves about that book but I am ashamed to admit that I have not got around to reading it, yet. I picked up Yoko Ogawa's Hotel Iris from the bookstore last week and decided I would read this first since it is a thin book and the premise sounds intriguing.

Frankly speaking, I do not know what to say about this book. The theme surrounding the story is dark and disturbing. It explores the emotions and mentality of the 17-year-old Mari and an unnamed middle-aged man (usually referred to as 'the translator' due to his work) after their short encounter at Hotel Iris.

Mari's mother runs Hotel Iris single-handed after the death of Mari's father and grandfather, and Mari helps at the counter and run little errands as and when necessarily. She finds her life routine and boring, but all that change after she stumbled upon the unnamed middle-aged man. He had created a commotion in the hotel but instead of turning her off, she is intrigued and mersmerised by the tone of his voice. They became friends ultimately, but no one knew of their acquaintance and they wanted to keep their relationship a secret anyway. Mari will find ways to go to his cottage which is situated in an island, and the unnamed man will always have something planned during her visit. It is as if he has turned into a monster when Mari is alone in his house, where he would do anything to her, including tying her up and made her do the most unthinkable things. It is not a comfortable read, but yet I read on because I was hoping that Mari would come to her senses eventually.

The story took a turn when the unnamed man's nephew enter into the picture, but I felt it rather abrupt and could not really decipher the feelings between him and Mari. Without a doubt, Hotel Iris is a character-driven story; it is a story that allows readers to take a glimpse of a person's dark side and what he/she will do under certain circumstances. While writing this review, I am still not sure of my feelings towards Mari. Should I sympathise with her for being a victim to the translator's sadistic demand, or should I criticise her for degrading herself?

Also, does Mari attraction towards the translator has something to do with the loss of her father? And does the translator seek solace and security in Mari because he too had lost his wife, something which he has in common with Mari? These are the questions I had asked myself after closing the book.

As for the ending, I guess it is up to the readers to decide if it is for the good or for the bad but let's just say it will linger in your mind for a while.

Other reviews:
1MoreChapter
Bibliographing
(Let me know if I missed yours.)

Magnolia Wednesdays by Wendy Wax

ISBN-13: 9780425232354
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: March 2010
448 pgs
Source: Joan Schulhafer Publishing & Media Consulting

I totally enjoyed reading Wendy Wax's previous novel, The Accidental Bestseller so when the publicist asked if I wanted to review her latest release, Magnolia Wednesdays, I said yes without hesitation.

While The Accidental Bestseller tells the story of a writer's life, this time around Magnolia Wednesdays allows readers to get a glimpse of the life of a journalist and I have to say I totally loved the setting as I have always been intrigued by this profession (and not to mention I am in awe of journalists who would go to great lengths to cover a story).

In this story, Vivien Armstrong is just one of them but it seems she ran out of luck one day when she got shot in the butt while investigating a story. To add up the humiliation, a video showing her getting shot is being circulated on the net and all of a sudden she became the news. Her employer is definitely not impressed by the way she works, and decided she should take a break. Vivien would not allow someone younger to take over her job, so she quits.

She decided to move in with her sister Melanie in suburban Atlanta, thinking this would be a good opportunity to spend more time with Melanie and her family, after all she has been neglecting them; it is also at that time she realised she is pregnant at age forty. She decided not to let anyone knew about her pregnancy, not even her boyfriend since he is a correspondent and he is always travelling. Vivien later found a job in writing columns for a weekly magazine but under the pseudonym of Scarlett Leigh, as she writes about her observations living in the neighbourhood in suburban Atlanta. After staying there for a while she began to see things differently while she search for her own happiness.

Magnolia Wednesdays is basically a story about family, secrets and life in general. One of the things I liked about this story is reading about the changes in Vivien, right from the beginning of her life being an ambitious journalist to being a woman who has a strong liking to her family and the simple things surrounding her. Besides Vivien, there is also a sub-story about Ruth and Angela; both women living in suburban Atlanta and are also friends of Melanie.

As much as I enjoyed reading Magnolia Wednesdays, I would have to say I'd prefer The Accidental Bestseller more partly there are more interactions between the three protagonists comparing to this, as it seems to focus more on Vivien. I understand this is simply a different approach by the author on the plot and style so I do not really have an issue with it and is simply my own preference. Nevertheless, Magnolia Wednesdays is a heartwarming story and if you love a good Southern women's fiction, this book is for you.

(Click here for other bookbloggers' reviews.)

The 2010 Pub Challenge

I'm so glad that Michelle from 1More Chapter is once again hosting the PUB Challenge. I have participated in this challenge for the past two years so that goes without saying that I'm joining again this year.

Here are the guidelines:

1. Read a minimum of 10 books first published in 2010. You don’t have to buy these. Library books, unabridged audios, or ARCs are all acceptable. To qualify as being first published in 2010, it must be the first time that the book is published in your own country. For example, if a book was published in Australia, England, or Canada in 2009, and then published in the USA in 2010, it counts (if you live in the USA). Newly published trade paperbacks and mass market paperbacks do not count if there has been a hardcover/trade published before 2010.
2. No children’s/YA titles allowed, since we’re at the ‘pub.’
3. At least 5 titles must be fiction.
4. Crossovers with other challenges are allowed.
5. You can add your titles as you go, and they may be changed at any time.
6. Sign up at the Pub Challenge site using Mr. Linky.