Service Included

Service Included by Phoebe Damrosch
Non-Fiction

Service Included is a book about the food industry. Damrosch shows us the inside world of a 4-star NYC restaurant. We see the machinations involved in producing a true gourmet dining experience. I learned a great deal about how the food is presented and how the staff works very hard to have impeccable service. Damrosch recounts her training for this exclusive restaurant. She must learn how to anticipate the diner's need before they even know what they want. She must also learn how not to interrupt people but still provide service.

Although some of Damrosch's opinions might be offensive; her tips included throughout the book are informative and sometimes very funny.

Damrosch writes about her blossoming love affair with the sommelier. She also tells some great stories about marriage proposals and celebrities. Damrosch relates how even on her day off she is still taste tasting and trying other restaurants.

I don't think I will be one of those people willing to spend $20,000 on one meal but it is very entertaining to read about the experience. This book gives one the insight into what makes a restaurant great.

Rating:

(3.5/5)

Service Included by Phoebe Damrosch

Service Included by Phoebe Damrosch
Non-fiction/Food

Damrosch is a captain at one of the few 4 star restaurants in New York. Four plus hour meals and 16 course dinners are not uncommon at the French restaurant Per Se. Damrosch takes readers behind the scenes of such a restaurant and tells stories that those not in the industry would never otherwise know.

It is truly amazing how many aspects of a meal there are to consider. How to serve, when to serve, what to serve, what to serve it with, what utensils need to be used, what temperature those utensils should be, which direction they should face, which wine goes with each course. It is incredible that anyone could ever remember even half of this!

Of course, the most interesting part is the social aspect. What do these people really think of those they are serving and what are their relationships like with their co-workers? While Damrosch doesn't drop many names, she still gives many interesting stories. Imagine spending $20,000 on a dinner! Who would even think of doing that?

Damrosch also writes about her relationship with a sommelier who works at the restaurant, and how living in New York and working all night can affect your relationship. You would think that after spending all day around food they would want to do something different, but instead they go to try out other restaurants (or even their own).

Quite an interesting book. There are a couple of points and tips in here that have stuck with me because I would have never expected them! It's like water cooler topics!

Rating:

(4/5)

The Lake of Dead Languages

The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman
Mystery

From the Publisher
In the evocative tradition of Donna Tartt’s first novel, The Secret History, comes this accomplished debut of youthful innocence drowned by dark sins. Twenty years ago, Jane Hudson left the Heart Lake School for Girls in the Adirondacks after a terrible tragedy. Now she has returned to the placid, isolated shores of the lakeside school as a Latin teacher, recently separated and hoping to make a fresh start with her young daughter. But ominous messages from the past dredge up forgotten memories that will become a living nightmare.

Since freshmen year, Jane and her two roommates, Lucy Toller and Deirdre Hall, were inseparable–studying the classics, performing school girl rituals on the lake, and sneaking out after curfew to meet Lucy’s charismatic brother Matt. However, the last winter before graduation, everything changed. For in that sheltered, ice-encrusted wonderland, three lives were taken, all victims of senseless suicide. Only Jane was left to carry the burden of a mystery that has stayed hidden for more than two decades in the dark depths of Heart Lake.

Now pages from Jane’s missing journal, written during that tragic time, have reappeared, revealing shocking, long-buried secrets. And suddenly, young, troubled girls are beginning to die again . . . as piece by piece the shattering truth slowly floats to the surface

This mystery is extremely well written. The story is told in two times; the present and 20 years ago. I have never read a book that so seamlessly interweaves two time periods. When Jane attended Heart Lake School there were two tradegic deaths. Now she has returned to teach Latin and deaths are happening again. What really happened 20 years ago?

Rating:

(4.0/5)

Carved in Bone

Carved in Bone by Jefferson Bass
Mystery

From the Publisher
On the campus of the University of Tennessee lies a patch of ground unlike any in the world. The "Body Farm" is a place where human corpses are left to the elements, and every manner of decay is fully explored -- for the sake of science and the cause of justice. The scientist who created the Body Farm has broken cold cases and revolutionized forensics, and now, in this heart-stopping novel, he spins an astonishing tale inspired by his own experiences. A woman's corpse lies hidden in a cave in the mountains of East Tennessee. Undiscovered for thirty years, her body has been transformed by the cave's chemistry into a near-perfect mummy -- one that discloses an explosive secret to renowned anthropologist Bill Brockton. Dr. Brockton has spent his career surrounded by death and decay at the Body Farm, but even he is baffled by this case unfolding in a unique environment where nothing is quite what it seems. The surreal setting is Cooke County, a remote mountain community that's clannish, insular, and distrustful of outsiders. The heartbreaking discovery of the young woman's corpse reopens old wounds and rekindles feuds dating back decades. The county's powerful and uncooperative sheriff and his inept deputy threaten to derail Brockton's investigation altogether. So do Brockton's other nemeses: his lingering guilt over the death of his wife, and the fury of a medical examiner whom Brockton dares to oppose in court. Carved in Bone is a richly atmospheric, superbly suspenseful, and magnificently rendered trip into the world of forensic science, the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, and the dark passageways of the human psyche. Full of vivid characters and startling twists and turns, thisthrilling novel heralds the debut of a major new voice in crime fiction -- and an unforgettable work from the hand of a scientific legend.


A great book about forensic anthropology. A well-crafted murder mystery set in the back woods of Tennessee. The details of the forensics are sometimes stomach turning but still riveting.

A body dead for 30 years is found. What is the involvement of the sheriff? Does he know what is going on in his own county?

Rating:

(4.0/5)

The Five People You Meet in Heaven - Mitch Albom

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
Fiction/Literature

I know I'm a little late to jump on this train and that practically everyone has read this book. Better late than never though, no?

Eddie is a maintenance worker at a theme park on a pier. His wife died years ago and he has always been mad at his father for trapping him in the life he lives. When Eddie dies trying to save a young girl at the pier, he meets 5 people from his past (including people that he never really met or didn't remember). They all teach him lessons as to what the purpose of his life was and how to let go of some of the anger he had over his life.

This was a really quick read and was a touching story. It teaches us that we all have a purpose in life, regardless of how small we think a contribution we are making.

This is the second Mitch Albom book I've read and I think they are too deep for me. I'm not too sure if I'll read his latest one. I'll probably wait for my mom to read it and if she really likes it, I'll read it.

Rating:

(3.5/5)

Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat

Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat
Fiction/Literature

Sophie Caco lives with her aunt in Haiti while her mother has escaped from life and a rape to New York. At the age of 12, Sophie is summoned by her mother to New York and she has to leave everything she knows behind for a new world. Her mother is haunted by dreams of the rape that produced Sophie every night, and every night Sophie wakes her mother and "saves her".

When Sophie's mother realizes that Sophie is starting to fall in love, Sophie is "tested" to make sure that she is still pure. This traumatizes Sophie for the rest of her life. Yet Sophie's mom tells her stories of how and why her mother did it to her. Eventually, Sophie runs away to be with her soon to be husband, has a child, and travels back to Haiti where she learns more about what and why her mother has done.

Of all the Oprah Book Club books that I have read, I've found this one the easiest to read. It reads like an auto-biography, and I suspect that it follows pretty closely to Danticat's own life and her experiences in Haiti. There is a prominent member of the Canadian government right now that is a Haitian native and when the book speaks of Haitian beauty, I picture this individual who is stunning!

I really enjoyed the folk stories that the grandmother, aunt, and mother tell their children. I don't know much about Haitian culture so it was nice to read about that. Since I've never been in a situation that is even close to what Sophie and her mother have been in, I couldn't quite understand their relationship. Being that there is abuse involved, I guess I can't be surprised that Oprah chose it as her book club book. If you're going to read it, read it for the tales and information on Haiti!

Rating:

(3.5/5)

Eleanor Rigby by Douglas Coupland

Eleanor Rigby by Douglas Coupland
Fiction/Literature

Liz lives a lonely life, and that's really all she can think until she gets a call from a hospital claiming that an admitted patient has her name on their allergy bracelet. Liz can't think of who it is so she goes to the hospital and realizes that it is the son she put up for adoption when she was 16, which was over 20 years ago. Liz wants to know all about her son, Jeremy, and what his life has been like, but he is dieing of MS and does not have much time.

Liz enjoys her time with Jeremy and realizes that she isn't as lonely as she used to be. She reminisces over her trip to Rome when Jeremy was born, but she can't remember who his dad is and how exactly she became to be pregnant.

As usual for a Coupland book, this is a bit bizarre. I always find it interesting how Coupland can write, really, about nothing at all yet still make it interesting. I'm sure there were a lot of deeper messages about life and the general ways of society, but I'm kind of dense when it comes to things like that. I didn't find the characters as whiny as some other Coupland novels I've read. This book was weird, but interesting.

Rating:

(3.5/5)

A Tendering in the Storm by Jane Kirkpatrick

A Tendering in the Storm by Jane Kirkpatrick
Historical Fiction

Christian and Emma Griesy and their two young children come from a Missouri communal colony to emigrate to the Washington territory. Emma is a very independent woman who chafes at the ideas of sharing and living together with those in the commune. She wishes to own her own property and build up her own wealth. But when Christian dies saving another man's life, Emma must learn to survive without him.

When Emma learns that she is pregnant with Christian's child, she is concerned about how she is going to manage her growing family without the help of her husband. Although there is help offered from Christian's parents and even a marriage proposal, Emma wants to show everyone she can make it on her own. Emma has great difficulty accepting help as she feels that puts her under obligation. She wears herself thin trying to do the best for her children. After an illness Emma finally accepts Big Jack's marriage proposal, but will this give her the help she needs?

Although the story is about Emma, a second narrator is introduced. Louisa, the commune leader's wife, tells her story. Louisa is a woman who tries to affect change from within. Is it better to work from within like Louisa or work from outside the confining community like Emma?

This book is a wonderful story about independence and dependence, loss and grief, community and individualism, giving and receiving. Everyone knows that giving is a good charitable act. Emma has to learn how to receive. This is a hard lesson, one that is also hard for me to accept. How does one accept help without feeling under the obligation of that person? Although Emma struggles with living in the commune, she has to learn that even in a commune there exist individuals. Emma puts her children first at all times and this is admirable, however it may not always be what is best. There are times when you feel if she thought about her own needs, the needs of her children would then follow. I loved the gentle spiritual pace of the book. Emma's faith, although tested, remains steadfast and it is uplifting to read about her courage and faith.

It is very interesting to read about the early settlement of a Washington coastal town and an Oregon farming community. I was amazed at the amount of travel back and forth between the two communities.

This book is the second in the Change and Cherish series. I have not read the first book and found nothing missing. This book could be read stand-alone.

Rating:

(4/5)

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
Fiction/Literature

Nineteen minutes is all it takes to permanently change the lives of hundreds of people. Peter, fed up with being picked on, walks into school and kills 10 of his classmates, injuring many others, all in the time span of nineteen minutes. Josie is left alive to cope with the death of her friends and her lack of relationship with her mother. Really, this book is hard to explain. There are many characters and many emotions.

As any other Picoult book, her writing grabs you right away. After finishing the book and comparing it to My Sister's Keeper (my favourite Picoult book), I didn't think it was as good. The lines were far too blurred between good and bad. Practically every character was a victim, yet they had done something horribly wrong at the same time. Who are you supposed to feel sympathetic to?

The sad thing is that even after everything that happened to this town, nothing had really changed. Kids were still bullying other kids, and teachers were still turning their backs. Were 10 deaths not enough to realize that bullying needs to be stopped? Would it be enough in the real world??

Rating:

(4/5)

Rapture in Death by JD Robb

Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb
Genre of book

Lieutenant Eve Dallas returns for another round of solving crime in the future with her sexy hubby Roarke by her side. This time round, Eve investigates what at first looks to be suicides. But soon Eve starts to see a pattern, including an anomaly on each victim's brain scan.
As always, there is fantastic chemistry between Eve and Roarke. I also like that Peabody and Feeney came back. I'm hoping that Peabody finds a man soon!
As much as I enjoy this series though, I am really starting to get tired of the way Robb ends her books. Eve always finds out who the murderer is a moment too late when she walks into a trap all alone. Then she pulls a confession out of them while waiting for backup. I don't think there has been an 'in death' book that hasn't ended this way! This one was worse than normal though. Eve was in the office of the murderer and was looking at their computer screen which was just jumbled code. Then all the sudden it turns into the name of someone that was murdered? Yah, ok there.
The next book in the series BETTER not end like this!!

Rating:

(3.5/5)