Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes by Julie Powell

Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes by Julie Powell
Non-Fiction

When Julie breaks down after being given a speech on how she should start having children before it's too late one too many times, her husband Eric helps her come up with a project to take her mind off things; cook all recipes in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking within a year. That's 524 recipes and some are not for the faint of heart. This includes aspic, liver, kidneys, chopping up a live lobster, and even brain.

Julie took to the internet to blog her progress, which is how we ended up with this book. The book was quirky and cute. Interspersed in the book though are letters from Paul Child, Julia's husband. These felt incredibly out of place. Don't go into this book expecting it to be more about Julia Child than Julie Powell, or expecting to find out anything new about Julia Child. This is really just a documentation of a cooking experiment, the way things can go horribly wrong in the kitchen, and life in New York City.

This book isn't the best written book in the world, nor the most interesting, but if you're looking for a quick fun read this shouldn't disappoint.

First Line: "As far as I know, the only evidence supporting the theory that Julia Child first made Potage Parmentier during a bad bout of ennui is her own recipe for it."

Rating:

(3.5/5)

The Last Ember

The Last Ember by Daniel Levin
Historical Thriller

Jonathan Marcus, an American lawyer is sent to Rome by his law firm to examine and authenticate a client's fragment of a stone map. He is a former disgraced doctorate candidate specializing in the biblical era. Upon examination he finds a hidden message carved inside the stone. He presents his findings in court against his former colleague and lover, a UN preservationist, Dr. Emili Travia.

After the case Emili and Jonathan start to dig deeper and deeper into the past. They are driven into a more and more perilous route, from a labyrinth under the Colosseum to the ancient tunnels of Jerusalem. They seek a 2,000 year old eight foot menorah. A terrorist group wanting to eradicate this symbol of freedom is close on their trails every step of the way. They get help from a old rabbi in Rome who explains the story of a possible Jewish double agent, Josephus Flavius who managed against all odds to possibly save the menorah when Jerusalem was razed by the Romans. This menorah according to legend has been kept lit throughout eternity. Jonathan's doctoral thesis was about Josephus Flavius.

Unfortunately I know little of the Roman and Biblical region of Jerusalem and found myself a little bogged down in trying to understand the geography, politics and religions of that era. But this is a wonderful thriller and full of information. I had no idea of the destruction going on under Temple Mount and the complexity of the jurisdiction of Temple Mount. I also loved the spy intrigue of Josephus Flavius.

Political intrigue, archaeology, religion and pulse-racing thriller is what awaits the reader. It is like a one stop book buffet.

First Line: "Why have I flown here? Jonanthan Marcus asked the chauffeur, raising his voice over the winter rain."

The Last Ember at Chapters

Rating:

(4.0/5)

The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan
Historical Fiction

It's 1915 and hydroelectric power is starting to take a grip on Niagara, Ontario. When Bess Heath's mom comes to pick her up from private school, Bess immediately notices things are different. Her father and sister aren't there like they usually are, and they have to take the trolley home rather than being driven. Bess learns that her father was fired from his job and her sister Isabel was dumped by her fiance. The Heath family goes from a prominent in society to Bess' mom being a dressmaker; a skill that Bess picks up quickly.

Meanwhile, Bess is enamored with Tom Cole, a "riverman" that can predict the movement of the water through the whirlpool, fish dead bodies out of the river, or save people from being swept away. Bess' parents don't approve of Tom and instead try to push her towards the son of an old family friend, which tears Bess apart.

Along with all the character development and drama, the geography adds another layer to the story, acting like a character on its own. Whenever something happens to a character, the river and falls are usually somehow involved. I very much enjoyed the depth this added and having lived less than an hour away from Niagara Falls my entire life I could easily picture where the characters were and the awe they saw in the river.

I also enjoyed reading of the Canadian perspective of what was happening at home during World War One. The book describes how everyone has to save, when they allow themselves treats, and how women were asked to convince their husbands to go overseas to fight.

The entire book has a sense of foreboding and the entire time I felt like something bad was going to happen. I just couldn't put down the book because I had to know what was going to happen to the characters. Interestingly, the novel was based off a real Niagara Riverman who saved many during his life.

Buy this book from Chapters

First Line: "The stone walls of Loretto Academy are so thick I can sit curled up on a windowsill, arms around the knees tucked beneath my chin."

Rating:

(4.5/5)

Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science

Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande
Non-Fiction

This book is about all the things that can go wrong in a hospital.

How does a surgical resident really learn his trade? Why, on his first patient!! Scary, definitely!!. The patient does not have control over this but can only hope that it goes right. It does make sense but it is still very alarming.

Atul Gawande has been very courageous in writing a tell-all book about the deficiencies of the system. Moreover, it does correct the doctor as 'god' idea. Doctors do make mistakes, they do experience burn out and some just are bad doctors.

It was interesting that he mentioned a specialized hernia hospital here in Toronto. I did not know that it was so well known.

Some of the other conditions mentioned were also fascinating: blushing too much, back pain with no physical reason, SIDs.

One little warning: do not read this book if you are close to going into the hospital for a procedure.

First Line: "I was once on trauma duty when a young man about twenty years old was rolled in, shot in the buttock."

Rating:

(4.0/5)

The Lost Throne by Chris Kuzneski

The Lost Throne by Chris Kuzneski
Mystery/Thriller

A gripping thriller, The Lost Throne tells two parallel, seemingly unrelated stories in two different parts of the world at the same time. The first story follows best friends David Jones and Jon Payne, ex-military, who start the story in Florida where Payne ignores a phone call in the middle of the night. By the time there are seventeen missed calls, two voicemails, and a text message Payne realizes that this might be serious. He traces the call to a Doctor who is in Russia, running for his life. Payne and Jones leave for Russia to try to help and meet with Allison, an expert on a specific treasure hunter from many years ago. Payne and Jones realize that treasure hunting must be involved in their current antics but what exactly is going on?

Meanwhile, Nick Dial, the head of Interpol's Homicide Division gets called out to Greece where a group of monks have been violently beheaded in their monastery. While Dial attempts to track down the killers, he finds that he's also involved with a treasure hunt.

Despite the two stories being told interspersed in bits in pieces, this book was easy to follow. I found the dialogue a bit amateur. It was like the author was trying too hard to make the reader like the characters, which was unnecessary because the characters would be likable without their fake-feeling introductions.

In the end, this ended up being quite a page turner. A little ancient Greek history is thrown in to help make the story feel more realistic (though in the end, it doesn't feel all that realistic). I would pick up another Chris Kuzneski book with enthusiasm.

First Line: "The greatest secret of Ancient Greece was silenced by a death in Italy."

Rating:

(4.5/5)

Midwives by Chris Bohjalian

Midwives by Chris Bohjalian
Literature/Fiction

In the middle of an ice storm in rural Vermont, Charlotte Bedford goes into labour with her trusted midwive, Sibyl Danforth at her side. After 10 hours of pushing, Charlotte is no further and Sibyl attempts to call an ambulance to take her to a hospital but the lines have been taken down by the ice storm. Taking Sibyl in her car also proves impossible with all the ice on the road. A few more hours of labour seems to cause Sibyl to stroke and no matter how much CPR Sibyl performs, she can't bring Charlotte back. Sibyl then focuses on saving the baby that is still alive within Charlotte.

As soon as the roads clear and the medics come out to Charlotte's house, it's clear the Sibyl requires a lawyer. The police seem to think that Sibyl caused Charlotte's death. Told partially from Sibyl's journal and mostly from her daughter's perspective, this book shows how a family strains under the weight of a criminal trial for something that isn't 100% clear.

This book was very easy to get into and it was easy to relate to Connie, Sibyl's daughter. I didn't find this to be a typical Oprah book, which usually I find to be about woman who have been done wrong by men. In this case, it's a very fuzzy line between right and wrong. An interesting moral question is presented to the reader and I'm sure each person reading has a different opinion about how the trial will end.

The ending to the book provided a perfect final touch. A great Oprah read!

First Line: "Throughout the long summer before my mother's trial began, and then during those crisp days in the fall when her life was paraded publicly before the country - her character lynched, her wisdom impugned - I overheard much more than my parents realized, and I understood more than they would have liked."

Rating:

(4.5/5)

Princess in Love

Princess in Love by Meg Cabot
Teens

Mia ia a princess of a small country in Europe. She tries to lead an ordinary life with her mother and step-father but is somewhat hampered by her paternal grandmother who insists on princess lessons and manipulates the press for coverage of her granddaughter.

Mia this time is in love but not with the boyfriend she has but her best friend's brother. She tries to find her way through final exams especially the dreaded Algebra, the school dance and the final preparations for her introduction to the Genovenian people.

Everything is 'over the top' but it is an easy read

First Line: "Over. That's what my life is."

Rating:

(3.5/5)

The Lost Throne

The Lost Throne by Chris Kuzneski
Historical Thriller

This book should contain a warning: Beware, nothing will be done until the last page is read.

Jonathon Payne and D.J. Jones, former members of an elite special forces unit, are called by a man being pursued in St. Petersburg, Russia. The calls are missed and upon investigation they find out the calls are from Richard Byrd, an American archaeological smuggler. After a frantic call from Byrd's assistant they find themselves on the way to Russia to save Allison, a doctorate candidate. Allison has seen Byrd murdered in front of her and doesn't know what to do next. She is doing research on Heinrich Schliemann a quirky treasure hunter of Grecian artifacts from the 1800s. Schliemann collapsed and died in Naples after mumbling incoherent words in 22 languages. Was he on to another important discovery? Scliemann had connections with The Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. Did Byrd hope to find a trail?

In Meteroa, Greece in a monastery on top of a stone pillar a group of ancient warriors invade and behead the monks inside. Nick Dial of Interpol and a young Greek policeman try to solve the mystery. Where did this group of ancient warriors come from and what did they want? Why were the monks beheaded?

These two groups work in parallel solving the mystery. The bodies keep on piling up and what the treasure is is slowly revealed. This book is a fantastic thriller which will keep you up all night turning the pages.

I also appreciated the Afterword by the author where he stated that some parts of this unbelievable story are true.

First Line: "The greatest secret of Ancient Greece was silenced by a death in Italy."

The Lost Throne at Chapters
Chris Kuzneski's website
Rating:

(4.5/5)

Falling Man by Don DeLillo

Falling Man by Don DeLillo
Fiction/Literature

Falling Man follows Keith and his family in the following days and weeks after 9/11. Keith was in the World Trade Centre when it was hit, but managed to make it out, taking a briefcase with him that belonged to someone else. Something brings Keith back to the doorstep of his estranged family, covered in soot and blood. He finds the owner of the briefcase and connects with her from the horrifying experience they shared. Meanwhile, Keith's wife feels a strong urge to somehow connect herself to the terrorist acts. Keith's son and his friends have decided to keep a watchful eye on the skies to make sure that planes never do the same thing again.

There were some interesting aspects to this book. No matter how much things change, some things always remain the same. Keith remains aloof and non-commitmental through the entire book. Unfortunately, this is a bit of a downfall from the story because the reader can never really connect with him.

For such an emotional time in history, I really found this book to be lacking in emotion. All exchanges between the characters were forced and hard to read. The snippets were short and there wasn't enough time to get a good understanding of the character. DeLillo also has the habit of not using the character's name but rather "he" or "she", which makes things really confusing throughout the entire book because you wonder which character DeLillo is referring to.

This book could have been amazing, since it's such an important story to tell. I found that it fell short and was quite disappointing.

First Line: "It was not a street anymore but a world, a time and space of falling ash and near night."

Rating:

(3/5)