Well, after months of not blogging, I am pleased to be back at it.  I have probably read 50 or so books in the past year that I didn’t get the chance to write about, but as the book I just read taught me  – one must live in the present!

Niffenegger, Audrey.  The Time Traveler’s Wife.  Toronto:  Vintage, 2004.

A story like no other, The Time Traveler’s Wife melds science fiction with truly memorable characters and a passionate love story with genius and flare.  As Henry experiences time travel again and again after the ripe age of five, he leaves all romantic notions of his impossible gift/curse behind.  Unable to control when or where in time he travels, he is often left to thievery and deceit to cover his disappearance in one time and appearance in another. If he is lucky, he finds himself visiting with a younger/older version of himself, his future wife Clare, or even his dead mother.  Unfortunately just as often he is left unknowing where or in what year he has landed in.

Clare is six when she meets Henry for the first time; he is thirty six.  As an older Henry continues to visit Clare throughout her present, a bond forms between the two of them.  Traveling from a future time when they are married, it is hard for Henry to avoid shaping Clare’s future.  As their love grows, Clare is torn by the idea that she must wait to meet Henry in his present before they can start their life together.  Clare’s perseverance is rewarded though, her and Henry fall even more deeply in love; she is happy.  Soon though, their blissful marriage is plagued by sorrow as they attempt to start the family that Clare so intensely wants.

A refreshing spin on love, The Time Traveler’s Wife was thoroughly engaging from beginning to end.  The empathy Niffengger is able to produce from the reader for the victims of a concept not even based in reality is praise worthy.  Many times reading this book I forgot that time travel was not real, and Henry and Clare only characters in a finely crafted story.

Charbonnier, Rita.  Mozart’s Sister.  Trans. by Ann Goldstein.  New York:  Crown Publishers, 2007.

Nannerl Mozart was only a child when her ambitious father snuck her in to play her music infront of the aristocrats of Salzburg.  Soon however, the child prodigy would be forgotten, her talents surpressed by her father in favour of those of her younger brother Wolfgang.  Forced to hide her compositions from a young age, and even forced to give piano lessons to support her brothers career, Nannerl draws in on herself, becoming surly, and an embarressment to her family.

Although Mozart’s Sister is a work of fiction, the author’s portrayal of Maria Anna Walburga Ignatia Mozart seems believable and complete.  Although at times a little heavy, the writing moves forward at a good pace.  Although I believe that more emphasis on some of the background events happening (such an interesting time in Europe) would have made the novel more entertaining, it succeeds at displaying the predomintly emotional journey of a woman lost to history – eternally forgotten in favour to her younger brother.

Furnivall, Kate.  The Russian Concubine.  New York:  Berkley Books, 2007.

Living in Junchow, China, in the international settlement, Lydia is used to having nothing.  From the time she arrived in China, exhiled from Russia, her and her mother Valentina have been living day to day – just barely surviving.  Forced to steal to put food on the table, Lydia is no stranger to dangerous situations, but when she is rescued from sure enslavement by a young Chinese man, it sets into motion events which will forever change her life.

This book was absolutely lovely.  Occasionally, as a reader, one realizes that they are reading something powerful, and frequently in reading this novel, I was conscience of the effect it was having on me.  This true love story with pre-Revolutionary China set as backdrop will touch readers with its authentic characters, memorable relationships, and tremendous plot.

Cabot, Meg. Every Boy’s Got One. New York: HarperCollins, 2005.

When Jane Harris, best friend extraordinaire, is asked to attend the super hushed up elopement of her lovebird friends Holly and Mark, she can’t wait. (Of course that fact that it is to take place in romantic Italy doesn’t hurt!) Not even a harsh encounter with a rude stranger at the airport will ruin her mood, and her first trip to Europe. Or will it? When the rude stranger turns out to be Mark’s best friend and best man, Cal Langdon, Jane has her work cut out for her. When unforeseen circumstances leave Cal and Jane to save the day – can she make sure that this egotistical, pompous, jerk doesn’t ruin the wedding for all?

Continuing my summer fling with Meg Cabot and chick lit in general, I must say I was pleasantly surprised with Every Boy’s Got One. Blending Cabot’s trademark style of journal entries, emails, and text messages, this book is truly entertaining but believable (which could be do to the fact that it is loosely based on the author’s own experiences with marriage, love, and Italy.) With its easy pace, and warm, charming characters, I found this book the perfect summer getaway.

Canfield, Jack, Mark Victor Hansen, and Patty Aubrey. Chicken Soup for the New Mom’s Soul: Touching Stories About the Miracles of Motherhood. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc., 2007.

Given to me as a gift by a good friend, this book came just in time! With touching stories ranging from finding out about an expectant bundle of joy, to the big day, to that monumental discovery that there are more moms out there going through the exact same thing, Chicken Soup for the New Mom’s Soul provides a comforting and soothing read that will warm new mommies hearts world wide.

Kirkby, Mary-Ann. I Am Hutterite. Prince Albert, SK: Polka Dot Press, 2007.

In this heart-felt memoir, Mary-Ann Kirkby opens a door of understanding to a community of people largely misunderstood. I Am Hutterite documents her experiences as a young hutterite girl, and the struggles that her family faced when they chose to leave their close knit community near Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.

Although this book may not have been the most well written book I read this summer, it is definitely the most memorable. I would recommend this book for anyone willing to break the cycle of intolerance many communities who are different face, especially within Canada. To be able to throw away my stereotypes and to recognize that Hutterite communities consist of warm, compassionate, and loving people made this book well worth the read.

Cornwell, Bernard. The Last Kingdom. London: HarperCollins, 2004.

When ten year old Uhtred is captured by invading Danes, his fate is forever changed. In this historical adventure, Uhtred travels from one end of England to the other and back again, internally torn whether he is truly English, or if his Danish adolescence has overtaken any loyalty he once had. Within the context of Danish invasion, Cornwell introduces England’s one “great” king, Alfred, King of Wessex.

I really enjoyed this novel. It was well paced and satisfyingly full of historical details that fans of historical fiction crave. I really enjoyed the main character, Uhtred, and enjoyed that Cornwell is telling a bigger tale within this book. I look forward to the rest in the series.

Well, after a seriously long absence from blogging (not from reading mind you) I am back at it, trying to diminish the stack of books waiting for their blog highlight. While a few books got lost in transition, I hope to blog about my summer reads sometime soon. For the most part, the reading has been light, fluffy, and easy to pick up where I left off. With a new baby in the house, having a book with an easy plot line seemed important for the time being!

Cabot, Meg. Boy Meets Girl. New York: Harper Collins, 2004.

When Kate Mackenzie hits rock bottom (leaving her boyfriend of 10 YEARS because he won’t commit) she is living on the couch of her best friend, and co-worker Jen Sadler, making fun of her awful boss, and her even more awful boyfriend, when something even worse happens – she gets fired for doing something she didn’t do! Hired to get to the bottom is very cute (and single) lawyer Mitch Hertzog, who unfortunately also happens to be the brother of her bosses soon to be husband…

Written in a combination of diary/email/list formats, this book is cute. Not perfect, but a easy read with plenty of endearing characters. Boy Meets Girl would be great for the beach, or for a long trip.

Harbison, Beth. Shoe Addicts Anonymous. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2007.

One would not think that a political trophy wife, a phone sex operator, a nanny, and a waitress have anything in common, but in Shoe Addicts Anonymous, author Beth Harbison, sets the stage for friendships to form and readers to get addicted.

Despite a slow start, I just couldn’t put this book down! Harbison has created a tale worthy of praise by all “Chick Lit” fans. Her characters are warm, realistic, and the plot has just enough twists to keep you entertained right until the end!

Dietrich, William. Napoleon’s Pyramids. New York: Harper Collins, 2007.

Ethan Gage has spent most of his time in life just floating along, not really doing much of anything notable. When a chance card game leaves him in possession of a possibly ancient medallion, things start to change for Ethan faster than he can imagine. Soon he pursued by the Parisian law for a murder he did not commit, chased throughout the country by men determined to relieve him of the medallion, and left with few options for survival. His best bet is to join up with Napoleon’s quest leaving for Egypt. Attaching himself to the group as a “savant,” Ethan must learn whom to trust, and who his real enemies are, all the while trying to solve the mystery of his recently acquired treasure.

To start reading a new author that you really enjoy is kind of like starting a new love affair. You feel this guilty pleasure every time you pick up the book, and in the back of your mind the thought “where have you been all of my life” is prominent. Reading Dietrich for the first time definitely counted for me!