Jennifer Chiaverini: The Quilter's Apprentice (Rating: 8)

I have just finished The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini (May's "Neighborhood Wive's Book Club" pick).

The book opens with the main character, Sarah McClure, trying to find her place . . .The book opens with the main character, Sarah McClure, trying to find her place in the small college town of Waterford, Pennsylvania. (Sarah and her husband, Matt, have recently moved to Waterford so that he could take a job.)

Specifically—ironically, even—she's waiting for Matt to pick her up from (what will turn out to be) yet another fruitless job interview.

Since moving to Waterford, Sarah has been having trouble finding work outside of her chosen profession (accounting), a career choice that she admits to herself now is not all that she'd hoped for. In short, Sarah is starting to long for something more.

On the way home from Sarah's interview, Matt—a landscaper by trade—needs to stop off for a talk with his new client, Mrs. Compson, the elderly woman who owns Elm Creek Manor (the estate—for lack of a better word—that Matt is restoring to its former glory.)

It turns out Mrs. Compson is planning to sell Elm Creek Manor, and needs help with the cleaning up of the inside, deciding what to keep and what to discard, and has decided she wants Sarah to help her with that job (at least until "something better" comes along, as in "a real job").

Now, before Mrs. Compson has a chance to bring this suggestion to Sarah's attention, Sarah has not only taken an interest in learning to quilt, but has seen first-hand that Mrs. Compson has mastered the art of quilting, so Sarah makes a condition of her employment that she be taught to quilt.

Throughout the rest of this book, during the restoration of the Manor's interior and her quilting lessons, and even at her meetings with the Tangled Web Quilters "in town", Sarah learns a great deal about Mrs. Compson's history, as well as the history of Elm Creek Manor, and decides upon a task that she wants to accomplish, other than learning to quilt.

Things I liked about this book:

• I cannot go into details about the big thing I liked, because there is something in this book that did surprise me, and it is the surprise itself that makes it so much fun, but I will say that it has to do with a puzzle, and that's all I'll say about that!
• I liked the way Mrs. Compson's background was revealed in the stories she'd tell Sarah.
• I really (a word which here means "really, really, really, really, really") connected with Sarah's second thoughts on her chosen career path!

Things I didn't really care for about this book:

• I didn't care for the voice used telling this story (the external story, not when Mrs. Compson was telling stories to Sarah)
• I didn't care a whole lot for some of the dialog.
• I thought the book was somewhat predictable in some regards, especially the ending.

Regarding the first two problems I had with the book, I guess I thought something along the lines of "Who talks like this?" Perhaps this is just some prejudice on my part, something rubbing me the wrong way, but it just didn't sit well.

The way it really came across as was: the writing seems amateurish. But then, it was a first novel, so I'm willing to cut some slack there. If my first novel is ever published, I wouldn't be surprised if my prose seemed equally amateurish.

What this book made me think:

• It was easy for Joseph Campbell to advocate "Follow Your Bliss", but you'll never do that until you figure out just what the heck that is!
• Mend fences! The lives you touch while you are planted on this planet is what it is all about!

In short, if you're looking for a light read that is also enjoyable, you might be interested in reading this book, in particular if you love to quilt. (I wouldn't say "I love to quilt.", but I have helped Julie with a quilt she worked on for her sister and found that I really don't hate it either.)

If you'd like to learn more about Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilts novels, follow the link I've provided.

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Matière du jour:
Ludwig van Beethoven
(Category: Music)

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Mark Haddon: A Spot of Bother (Rating: 8)

As I mentioned yesterday in my Comment Friday post, I finished reading A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon. While I didn't enjoy it as much as his earlier book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, it was an enjoyable read.

Here are the things I liked about it:

I rather enjoyed the main characters:

• George Hall, a recently retired man who discovers at the outset of the book—while trying on suits to wear to a friends funeral, no less—a spot on his side which he believes may be cancer
• Jean, George's wife, who finds it difficult having George home all the time now, especially as she has for some time been having an affair with a man George used to work with
• Katie, George and Jean's troublesome daughter, a divorced mom with a young son named Jacob
• Jamie, George and Jean's gay son
• Ray, the man who is dating Katie and wants to marry her

Also, there were particular scenes I rather enjoyed:

For instance, here's how Chapter Two opens:

He decided not to mention the incident to Jean. She would only want to talk about it and this was not an appealing proposition.

Talking was, in George's opinion, overrated. You could not turn the television on these days without seeing someone discussing there adoption or explaining why they had stabbed their husband. Not that he was averse to talking. Talking was one of life's pleasures. And everyone needed to sound off now and then over a pint of Ruddles about colleagues who did not shower frequently enough, or teenage sons who had returned home drunk in the small hours and thrown up in the dog's basket. But it did not change anything.

The secret of contentment, George felt, lay in ignoring many things completely. How anyone could work in the same office for ten years or bring up children without putting certain thoughts permanently to the back of their mind was beyond him. And as for that last grim lap when you had a catheter and no teeth, memory loss seemed like a godsend.

There is another scene, somewhat later in the book, that really tickled me: throughout much of the book, George is a bit unhinged by what is going on in his life. At one point he is having a particularly bad crisis, and decides he wants to grab a bottle of wine and head out to the studio that he is building behind his house. But Jean calls him to the phone because Ray is returning George's earlier call to him. After Jean gives George the phone,

Ray said, "George. It's Ray. Katie tells me you wanted a chat."

It was like those phone calls that woke you up at night. It was hard remembering what your were meant to do.

He had absolutely no idea what he had wanted to chat to Ray about.

Was this really happening, or had he tipped over into some kind of delusional state? Was he still lying on the bed upstairs?

"George?" said Ray. "Are you there?"

He tried to say something. A small mewling noise came out of his mouth. He moved the receiver away from his head and looked at it. Ray's voice was still emerging from the little holes. George did not want this to carry on any longer.

Carefully, he put the phone back onto the receiver. He turned and walked into the kitchen. Jean was filling the washing machine and he did not have the energy for the argument that would ensue if he walked out the door with a bottle of wine.

"That was quick," said Jean.

"Wrong number," said George.

He was halfway down the garden in his socks before he realized why Jean might not have fallen for this brilliant piece of subterfuge.

Here's yet another scene I liked:

George realized that Dr. Barghoutian was not so stupid after all.

The Valium was good. The Valium was very good indeed.

Then, a short while later in the same scene:

The only problem with Valium was that it did not encourage rational thought. It was only after supper, when the effects of the two pills he had taken during the afternoon began to wear off, that he did the maths. There were only ten pills in the bottle to start with. If he were to carry on taking them at this rate he would run out before the wedding had begun.

It began to dawn on him that although Dr. Barghoutian was wise, he had not been generous.

There wasn't much that I didn't like about this book, and that may be easily summed up as finding the final scene a bit disappointing for reasons I couldn't put my finger on.

Could I have come up with something better? Not likely.

Was it unbelievable? Nope.

Did I feel everything was resolved, one way or another? You betcha.

So why the let down?

I really can't say.

Perhaps it wasn't dramatic enough.

Or perhaps it had gotten so dramatic right before the end that when the end came it paled by comparison.

Whatever the reason, I felt I needed a bit more.

But it was still a very worthwhile read.

This book forces you to think about your feelings of mortality, that's for sure, but it doesn't depress the crap out of you in the process.Post to Del.icio.us

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Janet Evanovich: Hot Six (Rating: 8)

I just finished reading Hot Six another extremely enjoyable Stephanie Plum novel from Janet Evanovich.

The usual cast and crew are back again, but this time there is a quite unusual twist: the FTA—that's bounty-hunter-speak for "Failure To Appear", as in for a court date—that Stephanie's boss/cousin (Vinnie Plum, owner of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds) wants her to bring in this time is no other than fellow bounty hunter (or should we say bounty-hunter extraordinaire) Ricardo Carlos Manoso—AKA Ranger.

It wouldn't be giving anything away to say that Stephanie is not the best bounty hunter there ever was—she sucks at it actually—but she's very lucky so she usually succeeds at bringing in her FTAs.

Ranger, on the other hand, is everything Stephanie isn't. And Vinnie wants Stephanie, of all people, to bring him in! You just know this has got to be good!

In addition to the usual crew, Stephanie has a few more folks in her life during this book: a dog named Bob (who she begins watching for a Trenton cop who never comes back for him) and a kind-hearted druggie named Mooner.

Oh, yeah, and did I mention that Grandma Mazur moves in with Stephanie as well?

Four dead cars later I have to say: these books just keep getting more enjoyable!

Addendum (April 16, 2007)—I forgot, I had a really funny quote from this book I wanted to share:

For as long as I can remember, every Sunday morning, my mother went to church and stopped at the bakery on the way home. Every Sunday morning my mother bought jelly doughnuts. Nothing but jelly doughnuts. It was like taking communion. I'm a Catholic by birth, but in my own personal religion, the Trinity will forever be the Father, the Son, and the Holy Jelly Doughnut.

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Tom Mccarthy: Remainder (Rating: 8)

I just finished reading Remainder by Tom Mccarthy.

I really enjoyed this book for the most part. It is well written. It is easy to read. The main character is very complex and interesting. The premise is even more interesting than the main character. And it is a fairly strange book. (Not Running with Scissors strange, but strange enough!)

So, as a matter of course, what isn't to love?

This book—which is told in the first person—begins with the main character (I don't recall him ever revealing his name, nor do I remember him ever being referred to by name), telling us about this horrible accident he has been in. Or, rather, with him telling us what he can about the accident. Which isn't much. Between the amnesia he has been left with regarding the actual event, and the terms of the legal settlement that left him eight and a half million pounds richer, he pretty much is left with succinctly summing up the incident as "It involved something falling from the sky."

He then goes on to explain what his life is like at the time he gets the news that they—you know, them—have agreed pay up: the accident has really messed him up physically, and after what sounds like an enormous amount of physical therapy he is really able to get around quite well (the phrase "is really able to get around quite well" here meaning "is only able to navigate from place to place by giving thought to what every joint, muscle, and bone needs to do in just about every part of his body to get him there, in a way that you, I, and anyone you know probably will never have to!")

Sounds like fun, no? No!

Anyway, hrmm, 8.5 million pounds. Thats better than $16,000,000 at today's exchange rate! You could do quite a lot with that kind of money, but at first he doesn't know what to do with it. Then, one day it all comes to him.

Then things get really interesting . . . .

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Lemony Snicket: The End (Rating: 8)

I have just finished reading The End, the final book in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, and I must say that it was definitely worth the wait.

Not only did this book take me in unexpected directions, but the final word of the book was exceptionally pleasing in that it proved what I suspected for a while now to be correct (a word which here means "causing me to gloat mercilessly).

If you have read the rest of this series, I have no doubt you'll read this one too, but if you haven't started this series my recommendation is that you can't go very wrong starting at The Bad Beginning and reading them all through to The End!

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Janet Evanovich: High Five (Rating: 8)

I just finished reading High Five by Janet Evanovich (quite probably the best Stephanie Plum novel to this point in the series).

This time around the story does not center upon the fugitive Stephanie is trying to bring in (the word trying here meaning "trying, but not succeeding as easily as you'd think").

Instead, this story hits a little closer to home when her Uncle Fred disappears and the family asks her to snoop around to find him.

This book is filled with the usual cast of unusual characters that make these books so much fun to read: Stephanie's parents, Grandma Mazur, Lula, Joe Morelli, Ricardo Carlos Manoso (AKA: Ranger), Rex (the real man in her life), Vinnie Plum, Carl Costanza, and the ever-expected "soon to be scrap metal" (a phrase which here means "cars that get too close to Stephanie").

Yep! They're all here, ready to take you on a wild ride.

(Not that kind of wild ride! Get your mind out of the gutter! Okay—Joe & Ranger are probably thinking along those lines, but . . . oh . . . never mind!)

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Lemony Snicket: The Penultimate Peril (Rating: 8)

I just finished reading The Penultimate Peril, Book 12 of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.

I must say I was quite impressed, though I'd be hard pressed to say why.

Perhaps it has to do with the word penultimate showing up in the title. I just gotta love a book with that in the title. (We all have words we're more fond of than others; penultimate is such a word for myself.)

Perhaps it is a matter of getting close to the end of the series, close to seeing how the Beaudelaire Orphans are going to triumph over their nemesis, and getting close to finding out the answers the all the mysteries and what it is all about.

Obviously I not sure just what it is, but what I do know is that I'm more than ready to read the last book in the series. I expect to enjoy it immensely.

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Janet Evanovich: Four To Score (Rating: 8)

I just finished Four To Score by Janet Evanovich, a Stephanie Plum novel.

I must admit to being a bit unenthusiastic for most of this book, but by the end I was glad I stuck with it. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Evanovich knows how to get a laugh.

I'm a bit bummed though—I had a really funny quote involving Stephanie's loss of two things of value to her (the result of two different acts of arson) in one day (and yes, of course one of them was a car), but I can't find it at all now.

And she—finally—did the dirty deed! Good for her!

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Janet Evanovich: Three To Get Deadly (Rating: 8)

I've finished Three To Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich (another Stephanie Plum novel, as well as another enjoyable read).

These books are great for a laugh, if nothing else (yes, among other things, this means Stephanie has lost yet another car!)

I highly recommend these books.

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Janet Evanovich: Two For The Dough (Rating: 8 out of 10)

I finished reading Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich and, once again, I had a real good time, definitely better than the time had by the protagonist. Poor Stephanie Plum! Evanovich really puts her through some rough times. Well, at least she almost had sex this time; she actually got so far as getting almost naked for it but — alas — it simply didn't happen! Maybe next time.

One thing I'll say for Evanovich, she does create interesting, colorful, and fully developed characters.

She's also funny as hell (which, honestly, is a dumb phrase when you think about it; make it funny as anything, instead!)

This book wasn't rated any higher for the same reason that the previous book wasn't.

Oh, yeah, and there is a new Stephanie Plum novel out — a "A Stephanie Plum Between-the-Numbers Novel", they're calling it — called Plum Lovin' that I'll have to get around to reading when I'm all caught up with the numbered books.

Here is what Amazon has to say about it:

Watch your back Look both ways Because love is in the air And that means big trouble! Mysterious men have a way of showing up in Stephanie Plum's apartment. When the shadowy Diesel appears, he has a task for Stephanie -- and he's not taking no for an answer. Annie Hart is a "relationship expert" who is wanted for armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Stephanie needs to find her, fast. Diesel knows where she is. So they make a deal: He'll help her get Annie if Stephanie plays matchmaker to several of Annie's most difficult clients. But someone wants to find Annie even more than Diesel and Stephanie. Someone with a nasty temper. And someone with "unmentionable" skills. Does Diesel know more that he's saying about Annie Hart? Does Diesel have secrets he's keeping from Stephanie and the two men in her life -- Ranger and Morelli? With Stephanie Plum in over her head, things are sure to get a little dicey and a little explosive, Jersey style!

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Janet Evanovich: One For The Money (Rating: 8 out of 10)

I finished reading Janet Evanovich's first Stephanie Plum novel, One for the Money a couple of days ago and I must say I was quite pleasantly surprised (more on that in a bit). In short though, I had a great time with it.

So what did I like about it? For starters, I really love mysteries. And I love to laugh. Evanovich excels at writing mysteries that make you laugh. Let me give you some idea what I'm talking about. The opening lines of this book are:

There are some men who enter a woman's life and screw it up forever. Joseph Morelli did this to me — not forever, but periodically.

As for being pleasantly surprised, well, I guess was somewhat skeptical about reading this book to begin with. I only read it because Julie, AKA "The Missus", has been gently pestering me to read them. I've had to live with her laying in bed beside me every time a new Stephanie Plum novel came out, laughing out loud at some of it.

This is a woman who rarely lets out so much as a chuckle when we're watching TV or even a really funny movie.

Plus, most of her talk with Kendra (her "Stephanie Plum Pal") is filled with talk about whether Stephanie needs to be with Ranger or Joe. Now I am not — admittedly — an overly macho guy, but this was a bit off-putting to me.

On the other hand, there were bits I was looking forward to reading about, such as Grandma Mazur, or the destruction of one or more cars.

For, it seems, poor Stephanie has an extremely hard time keeping a vehicle. One must figure that Evanovich must either love cars passionately, or (my guess) hate them to the core of her being. In this book the car Stephanie is driving at the beginning of the story doesn't last and she winds up driving another that has, to put it mildly, problems. Most notably, a massive oil leak. For example, when Stephanie (while following someone) thinks:

I prayed he wasn't going far. I only had a case and a half of oil in the backseat.

she means it!

What else did I like? Well, the characters are very colorful and interesting. The mystery itself was satisfying. And, oh yes, did I mention it was laugh out loud funny?

What didn't I like? (AKA, why didn't I rate this book higher than an eight?) Well, it isn't so much that I disliked anything so much as, as is the case with most mysteries, it really is only a good way to pass time.

There's nothing here that I'm going to muse over for days, questioning the meaning of my life, or actually perceive any personal growth.

To put it another way, this book is at the shallower end of the literary pool, fairly close to the kiddie end of things (but NOT in content or language; if your ten year old tries to read this book, take it away!)

That said, this is definitely worthy of a read.

And, so far, so is the next book, Two for the Dough.

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