Reading Journal ... Wednesday, 5/14/08

The Sex Lives of Cannibals (Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific), page 109

This book is absolutely a riot. It's one of those books that when you read it in public you better be prepared for people turn and look because you're laughing hysterically and just can't help yourself. Even the smallest situation in the hands of J. Maarten Troost becomes one of epic portions with just right amount sensibility thrown in just so you he hasn't completely lost it. The writing is as out there as his life on Tarawa. One of those books I just can't seem to put down and pick whenever the opportunity presents itself. Sneaking paragraphs and chapters in between email and answering that dang ringing phone. Don't my co-workers know that I have something better to do. Just the table of contents alone is full of his humor and gives one a taste of what's to come if you choose to step inside this adventure.

The scene where he encounters the shark while swimming off the reef, actually Tarawa' version of a bath after cleaning the water tanks, is priceless and well worth the money paid for this gem.

A sample of what's to come:

Chapter One
In which the Author expresses some Dissatisfaction with the State of his Life, ponders briefly prior Adventures and Misfortunes, and with the aid of his Beguiling Girlfriend, decides to Quit the Life that is known him and make forth with all Due Haste for Parts Unknown. ~ The Sex Lives of Cannibals (Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific), Table of Contents ~

Some Like It Hot Buttered by Jeffrey Cohen

Some Like It Hot Buttered, Double Feature Mystery #1
Jeffrey Cohen

http://tobecontinued2.blogspot.com/2008/05/just-finished.html

Reading Journal ... Monday, 5/12/08

The Sex Lives of Cannibals (Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific), page 30

Now tell me who could resist a book with sex and cannibals in title? I love travelogues. If I can't physically travel there then what better way is there to go then through a book. I'm starting chapter 4 this morning and already I've laughed more in the first 30 pages then I laughed at a book in a long, long time. They've barely gotten out of the states and the grand mis-adventure has begun.

Just finished Some Like It Hot Buttered by Jeffrey Cohen for the Yahoo! book group Cozy First Mysteries. It's a new series with, I believe, lots of potential. It contains movie references so it helps if one is a movie buff especially comedy, black and whites at that. Movie trivia aside I enjoyed the book and didn't figure out the villains until the main character did it for me.

The Hindi-Bindi Club by Monica Pradhan

My great-aunt, widowed at fourteen, was a manglik. Three months after marriage, her husband was hit by a double-decker bus. He died instantly at the age of twenty-one. As custom dictated, she never again wore jewelry, or a tip (bindi) on her forehead, or sindoor in the part of her hair - all symbols of a married woman. Nor did she remarry, as widow remarriage was - still is, but to a much lesser extent - considered shameful in traditional Hindu culture. ~ The Hindi-Bindi Club, page 223 ~

For decades they have remained close, sharing treasured recipes, honored customs, and the challenges of women shaped by ancient ways yet living modern lives. They are the Hindi-Bindi Club, a nickname given by their American daughters to the mothers who left India to start anew - daughters now grown and facing struggles of their own.

For Kiran, Preity, and Rani, adulthood bears the indelible stamp of their upbringing, from the ways they tweak their mothers' cooking to suit their Western lifestyles to the ways they reject their mothers' most fervent beliefs. Now, bearing the disappointments and successes of their chosen paths, these daughters are drawn inexorable home.

I loved this book. It's one of my top choices so far in '08. It's witty, humorous, insightful, real. It's more than chick lit, more than mother-daughter relationships. It's about honoring family and tradition. The struggles and triumphs of blending two cultures vastly different from one another - Eastern beliefs with Western attitudes. Because the author was raised in a household very much like those of her characters this book is authentic. She knows of what she writes. She brings her characters to life and makes us care bout them. She involves us in their lives. I actually wanted to know these people, be a part of their world. I'd like to visit more with them. I want to know how their stories play out.

Just because people don't love you the way you want, doesn't mean they don't love you the best they can. ~ The Hindi-Bindi Club, page 19 ~

Reading Journal ... Thursday, 5/8/08

The Hindi-Bindi Club, page 220

I'm so enjoying this book. Witty, humorous, insightful, real life. I could go on and on but need to save something for my review once I finish. At times I feel like I'm reading about my life or at least parts of it. I hope the book girls like it as much as I do.

May book binging isn't going as I hoped. I know it's only May 8th and I'm on my 3rd book but it doesn't seem like I'm getting much quality reading time. I figured once I got done with double shifts at work that I'd have my nose in a book in my spare hours but not to be. I'm trying to catch up on chores like grocery shopping and laundry. Also TV shows in the DVR queue need watching as they won't stay there forever or I'll get so far behind I'll never catchup.

Trolling one of my favorite book blogs today (Caribousmom) I came across a home for book bloggers: Book Blogs. I immediately signed up. What a wonderful way to come together, share my passion for reading & books with other who feel the way I do and find great book-related blogs in one place. I can feed my habit without having go to several different sites. I put a Book Blogs member badge on both my blogs.

Reading Journal ... Wednesday, 5/7/08

The Hindi-Bindi Club, page 82

I usually stay away from Chick Lit style books but I have to admit this one is better than most. The mother-daughter expectations of the 3 main characters, daughters of immigrant Indian mothers, is very interesting. While for the most part the daughters are Americanized they struggle with their upbringing and heritage which is 180 degree different. Where this is headed I don't really know but the ride should fun.

Reading Journal ... Monday, 5/5/08

The Hindi-Bindi Club, page 1

Just finished Southern Fried by Cathy Pickens. This is my 1st book for May's Book Binge. I'm between so-so and recommended on this one. I think it'll take reading the second in the series to get a good feel for the main character, Avery Andrews.

The next book to read was a toss up between The Hindi-Bindi Club and The Sex Lives of Cannibals. How does one pass up a travel memoir with a title that has sex and cannibals in it? The Hindi-Bindi Club won as it's my f2f BC book. Seeing as I didn't read the one for last month and we're having dinner next week I thought I'd better get started. The Sex Lives of Cannibals has been on my Amazon wish list for a while now so it's right at the top of the TBR pile, probably right after Some Like It Hot Buttered by Jeffrey Cohen for a Yahoo! book group.

Southern Fried by Cathy Pickens

Southern Fried by Cathy Pickens
Southern Fried/Avery Andrews #1

http://tobecontinued2.blogspot.com/2008/05/just-finished.html

Reading Journal ... Book Binging in May

I'm book binging in May thanks to Literaryfeline.

Here’s how it goes: For the month of May, participants keep track of each and every book you read. At the end of the month, everyone will blog their list of books. Simple, no?

For simplicity’s sake, and to allow people time to hear about it and sign up if they want, we’ll start on Monday, May 5th. We will all publish our lists on June 1.

Other rules:

- You can include books you re-read, so long as you re-read them in between May 5 and 31.
- You may also include books you start but don’t finish, just note the page at which you gave it up. Something like, “Quit, page 47 of 322″.
- You may only include books you read aloud to your children if they are at least 125 pages long.
- Students may include textbooks (if they’re at least 100 pages long).

Book Binge

Takeover by Lisa Black

No cover image available, Early Reviewers book through Librarything

Forensic scientist Theresa MacLean is investigating a grisly murder when she gets word that her finance has been taken hostage with seven others in a bank robbery. Arriving at the scene, she discovers that the police have brought in Cleveland's best hostage negotiator. Handsome, high-profile Chris Cavanaugh hasn't lost a victim yet but Theresa wonders if he might be too arrogant to save the day this time around.

Wary of Cavanaugh, she seizes an opportunity to trade herself for her injured fiance. Once on the inside, Theresa will use all her wiles, experience, and technical skill to try to get control of the crisis. Yet nothing can prepare her what is about to unfold...

This is a very good first book from debut author Lisa Black. She starts right in the with suspense and doesn't let up until the hostage situation reaches it's final resolution. Tension builds and then backs off only to build up over and over again throughout the plot line. Ms. Black puts her background in the forensics field to good use and highlights a skill that you won't see on CSI on Thursday nights. This is one book where you must pay attention to the way characters say things as clues are hidden within the context of a statement.

You never know exactly what the hostages takers have in store for their victims nor do you clearly understand their motive until the end. Lead character Theresa MacLean is full of surprises of her own. She doesn't necessarily do the unexpected but she does lead down you an unexpected path to a co-conspirator.

This book kept me turn pages and I definitely look forward to reading more from this author.