‘Snow Flower and the Secret Fan’ is about two girls in 19th century China who created a friendship contract with they were 7 years old that vowed they would remain friends throughout their life. This was an agreement that is something like an arranged marriage. The parents of each girl worked through a 3rd party to come up with this. The girls did not have a choice in the matter. It’s purpose was to better the situation of Lily, who was from a poor village by being attached to Snow Flower, who was from a better village with a higher class family. Unlike other friendship contracts of the time, this particular one did not dissolve with the girls married at 17 years old. Although this story is told only from the point of view from one woman, both girls use a secret language that is taught by mothers, aunts and grandmothers to the younger girls that Lily and her sworn friend have written on the fan that is passed between them.
As the two girls grow, go through foot binding, arranged marriages, giving birth, and an invasion of a neighboring county, you see that at the end the girls have changed places. Lily becomes of higher status due to her marriage, and due to circumstances out of Snow Flower’s hands she becomes the wife of a man who is at the bottom of this caste system.
I really liked the book for several reasons. One, I enjoyed learning about the caste system in China and what they felt made a person. Two, as a history major, I like learning about different societies at different times. What their culture was, how they lived and the inevitability that life is short. Third, it brought to my attention the miscommunication between women and the conclusions they jump too. I am sure I am guilty of this as well, we all are.
I recommend this book to everyone. For me it was a quick read, 251 pages, but definitely a page-turner for everyone who reads it.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
'Predator' by Patricia Cornwell, 11/7/09
This is book number 13 in the Scarpetta series. As I have stated before, it’s really difficult to discuss her books without giving anything away. Let’s just say that without a doubt, this has got to be the best yet.
Usually, when you read her books you can get an idea on how everyone is intertwined early on. Although you never really know “who done it” until the last minute, the bad guys in this one are not revealed until the end, leaving the reader with a sense of WTF? Even if you think you know, you have no idea.
On top of that, the main characters, Kay Scarpetta, Benton Wesley, Scarpetta’s niece Lucy and Pete Marino are developing in ways that you could not have imagined in the first few books. They are growing, and with that the reader grows with them. There are certain scenes when you want to jump in the book and slap a couple of them for being…themselves, and not seeing what really matters. But it’s good that way because the characters seem more realistic, like people you would run into at the gas station or grocery store.
I still do not recommend starting her series in the middle; you won’t get a true sense of what I am talking about without reading them in order. Of course I may be a little OCD when it comes to reading things sequentially, but then again that is why they are written that way.
I think one of the reasons I like Cornwell's Scarpetta Series so well is because the cases are always completely different and twisted in their own right and that its really about the 4 main characters and how their lives are intimately connected with their cases. From story one, the bad guys are always trying to get Scarpetta's attention for one reason or another. Just read them.
Usually, when you read her books you can get an idea on how everyone is intertwined early on. Although you never really know “who done it” until the last minute, the bad guys in this one are not revealed until the end, leaving the reader with a sense of WTF? Even if you think you know, you have no idea.
On top of that, the main characters, Kay Scarpetta, Benton Wesley, Scarpetta’s niece Lucy and Pete Marino are developing in ways that you could not have imagined in the first few books. They are growing, and with that the reader grows with them. There are certain scenes when you want to jump in the book and slap a couple of them for being…themselves, and not seeing what really matters. But it’s good that way because the characters seem more realistic, like people you would run into at the gas station or grocery store.
I still do not recommend starting her series in the middle; you won’t get a true sense of what I am talking about without reading them in order. Of course I may be a little OCD when it comes to reading things sequentially, but then again that is why they are written that way.
I think one of the reasons I like Cornwell's Scarpetta Series so well is because the cases are always completely different and twisted in their own right and that its really about the 4 main characters and how their lives are intimately connected with their cases. From story one, the bad guys are always trying to get Scarpetta's attention for one reason or another. Just read them.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
'Trace' by Patricia Cornwell, 11/2/09
This is the 12th book in the series. I can't seem to put them down. They are well written, entertaining, educational and somewhat gruesome.
With the exception of the main characters being all present and accounted for, this book doesn't follow its predecessors. That is what I liked most about it... it was a whole new story.
There is a murder of a young girl that is a lot like the attack and assault on one of Lucy's friends. Through good investigative work, the murderer is found. He sort of reminds me of Norman Bates, the way he loves and hates his mother.
What I like about Cornwell's novels is that you are there for the investigation, beginning to end, through Scarpetta's eyes. You can see what she sees, hear what she hears and smell what she smells. All are important senses for investigating a murder.
I honestly don't know how to describe her books. One of these days I may have to sit down and tell you more about the main characters and what has happened so far. The stories don't take place one after another, but span years. From her first story, 'Post Mortem' to the current story, it has probably been 15 years or so. You get to grow with the characters, I really enjoy that.
With the exception of the main characters being all present and accounted for, this book doesn't follow its predecessors. That is what I liked most about it... it was a whole new story.
There is a murder of a young girl that is a lot like the attack and assault on one of Lucy's friends. Through good investigative work, the murderer is found. He sort of reminds me of Norman Bates, the way he loves and hates his mother.
What I like about Cornwell's novels is that you are there for the investigation, beginning to end, through Scarpetta's eyes. You can see what she sees, hear what she hears and smell what she smells. All are important senses for investigating a murder.
I honestly don't know how to describe her books. One of these days I may have to sit down and tell you more about the main characters and what has happened so far. The stories don't take place one after another, but span years. From her first story, 'Post Mortem' to the current story, it has probably been 15 years or so. You get to grow with the characters, I really enjoy that.
'A Kiss of Shadows' by Laurell K Hamilton, 10/31/09
I would classify this book as science fiction/fantasy/mystery/erotica. It is not something I would have ever picked up off a bookshelf because the cover looks like a romance novel and I can’t read those types of books. However, a friend actually purchased this for me thinking I would like it…and I loved it! You can’t judge a book by its cover.
The main character’s name is Meredith Gentry. She is a 33-year-old private investigator in Los Angeles. She is also a princess in the high court of Faerie and 3rd in line to the throne.
In the beginning the story is a little hard to follow because you aren’t familiar with the caste system of magical creatures and how that works in society. In this story magic is well known and accepted in the world, things are not hidden from public. Not everyone has powers, of course, and there are immortal creatures that walk the streets.
The story itself…Meredith’s aunt, the queen (who absolutely hates her) has sent someone to LA to bring her home. She is full of anxiety and fear, having no idea what is going to happen to her. She is mortal and thinks her aunt is bringing her home to have her killed as an example.
However, when she gets home her aunt informs her that she isn’t so sure she wants her son, the prince, to take over the throne and decides whoever has a child first in the next three years will succeed her. The aunt’s guards, made up of lovely immortal men, are released from their geas (only being allowed to have sex with the queen) and one of them is to be the father of Meredith’s child.
I can’t tell you how many men she has sex with in this book, or at least wants too. If you are into magic and sexual writing, this is a great book. It isn’t something I would normally read, but now I want to read the series. I want to know who has a child first…. and who gets the throne.
The main character’s name is Meredith Gentry. She is a 33-year-old private investigator in Los Angeles. She is also a princess in the high court of Faerie and 3rd in line to the throne.
In the beginning the story is a little hard to follow because you aren’t familiar with the caste system of magical creatures and how that works in society. In this story magic is well known and accepted in the world, things are not hidden from public. Not everyone has powers, of course, and there are immortal creatures that walk the streets.
The story itself…Meredith’s aunt, the queen (who absolutely hates her) has sent someone to LA to bring her home. She is full of anxiety and fear, having no idea what is going to happen to her. She is mortal and thinks her aunt is bringing her home to have her killed as an example.
However, when she gets home her aunt informs her that she isn’t so sure she wants her son, the prince, to take over the throne and decides whoever has a child first in the next three years will succeed her. The aunt’s guards, made up of lovely immortal men, are released from their geas (only being allowed to have sex with the queen) and one of them is to be the father of Meredith’s child.
I can’t tell you how many men she has sex with in this book, or at least wants too. If you are into magic and sexual writing, this is a great book. It isn’t something I would normally read, but now I want to read the series. I want to know who has a child first…. and who gets the throne.
'The Lovely Bones' by Alice Sebold, 10/24/09
This is a book that was recommended to me by a friend, and I am glad they made the recommendation.
‘The Lovely Bones’ is a story told from the point of view of a murdered 14-year-old girl. She is sitting in heaven describing how her murder has affected her family, friends and even her killer. Her body is never found, only one piece and while most people think they know who killed her, there is no proof.
I cried about 5 times in the first 100 pages of this book. I cried because things were funny, sad, and scary and in general just gut wrenching.
There is a movie version of this book coming out, I always recommend reading the book first to get a true feel for what is happening in the movie.
There really are no other words to describe this book and I really don’t want to ruin it for anyone. Just read it.
‘The Lovely Bones’ is a story told from the point of view of a murdered 14-year-old girl. She is sitting in heaven describing how her murder has affected her family, friends and even her killer. Her body is never found, only one piece and while most people think they know who killed her, there is no proof.
I cried about 5 times in the first 100 pages of this book. I cried because things were funny, sad, and scary and in general just gut wrenching.
There is a movie version of this book coming out, I always recommend reading the book first to get a true feel for what is happening in the movie.
There really are no other words to describe this book and I really don’t want to ruin it for anyone. Just read it.
'Blow Fly' by Patricia Cornwell, 10/17/09
This is the 11th book in her Scarpetta series. If you have never read one of these books, allow me to give a brief overview.
Kay Scarpetta starts off as the Chief Medical Examiner of the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is not only a doctor, but as a law degree as well. She is incredibly intelligent and genuinely kind.
There are several main characters that return throughout the books. Scarpetta, Detective Pete Marino, her niece Lucy and an FBI profiler named Benton Wesley. The stories are generally the same…dead body turns up and they find the killer.
There are several common themes. People hate Scarpetta. They are jealous of her intellect, money, position, and friends. This tends to make Scarpetta the center of their murderous focus. She also has an ongoing tenuous relationship with Marino, her niece and Benton. In the end of every story, she is forever changed and has to make sacrifices to her life in order to bring peace.
In ‘Blow Fly’ one killer that had actually tried to kill Scarpetta in a previous novel is in jail and will only talk to her about other victims. Although she is afraid of facing this person, she feels it is her duty to speak for the dead and to bring peace and closure to their families. There is tons more to each story in the series, but in the end of this one, the killer escapes, old loves are found and friendships are made stronger.
It’s hard to totally describe what happens in this book if people don’t know the back-story. But if you enjoy murder mysteries with a character you will actually like, I highly recommend this series. I plan on reading every single one because I must know how Scarpetta does in the end, if all her ghosts are laid to rest and if she gets everything she has worked so hard for.
Kay Scarpetta starts off as the Chief Medical Examiner of the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is not only a doctor, but as a law degree as well. She is incredibly intelligent and genuinely kind.
There are several main characters that return throughout the books. Scarpetta, Detective Pete Marino, her niece Lucy and an FBI profiler named Benton Wesley. The stories are generally the same…dead body turns up and they find the killer.
There are several common themes. People hate Scarpetta. They are jealous of her intellect, money, position, and friends. This tends to make Scarpetta the center of their murderous focus. She also has an ongoing tenuous relationship with Marino, her niece and Benton. In the end of every story, she is forever changed and has to make sacrifices to her life in order to bring peace.
In ‘Blow Fly’ one killer that had actually tried to kill Scarpetta in a previous novel is in jail and will only talk to her about other victims. Although she is afraid of facing this person, she feels it is her duty to speak for the dead and to bring peace and closure to their families. There is tons more to each story in the series, but in the end of this one, the killer escapes, old loves are found and friendships are made stronger.
It’s hard to totally describe what happens in this book if people don’t know the back-story. But if you enjoy murder mysteries with a character you will actually like, I highly recommend this series. I plan on reading every single one because I must know how Scarpetta does in the end, if all her ghosts are laid to rest and if she gets everything she has worked so hard for.
'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee, 10/13/09
Most people probably read this book in high school, I never did. Since I am trying to go back and read some classics, this was my next choice.
This story is told from the point of view of Scout, a young girl in a small town in Alabama, in the 1930s. It is the story of growing up and realizing that justice is not always served, relationships between friends, family and neighbors are forever changing.
Scout's childhood is one of innocence. A mysterious neighbor that no one ever sees, a friend that visits only in the summer, an older brother who slowly grows away from his younger sister and the trial of an African-American man who is charged with beating and raping a poor white woman.
Your hooked instantly from the beginning because it takes you back to all the childhood wonders you had. It was great in the sense that you can fully imagine playing those games, being afraid of the mysterious neighbor's house and having to deal with school because the adults tell you that is part of life. Her father is an attorney, her mother has passed away and they have a housekeeper who is just as much a part of the family as anyone. An aunt moves in with them late in the story and turns their lives upside down. The biggest upset is that her father is required to defend the African-American man in the trial.
Anyone reading the story who has ever watched a crime drama can tell the man is innocent. But in 1930s Alabama, it doesn't really matter. He is an uneducated black man. The white woman accused him of these crimes. The jury is made up of other white men. End of story. He is convicted, without a doubt and sent to jail where he is shot "trying to escape." From today's point of view you want to jump into the story and yell at the top of your lungs that the jury is too afraid to make the right decision. Unfortunately, its part of history that people got covicted of doing things simply for the color of their skin, their religion, their financial status in life.
I really enjoyed this book. So much more than I thought I ever would. I am glad that I read it because I wanted to and not because I was required to in school. I don't think it would have had the same meaning to me 10 years ago.
This story is told from the point of view of Scout, a young girl in a small town in Alabama, in the 1930s. It is the story of growing up and realizing that justice is not always served, relationships between friends, family and neighbors are forever changing.
Scout's childhood is one of innocence. A mysterious neighbor that no one ever sees, a friend that visits only in the summer, an older brother who slowly grows away from his younger sister and the trial of an African-American man who is charged with beating and raping a poor white woman.
Your hooked instantly from the beginning because it takes you back to all the childhood wonders you had. It was great in the sense that you can fully imagine playing those games, being afraid of the mysterious neighbor's house and having to deal with school because the adults tell you that is part of life. Her father is an attorney, her mother has passed away and they have a housekeeper who is just as much a part of the family as anyone. An aunt moves in with them late in the story and turns their lives upside down. The biggest upset is that her father is required to defend the African-American man in the trial.
Anyone reading the story who has ever watched a crime drama can tell the man is innocent. But in 1930s Alabama, it doesn't really matter. He is an uneducated black man. The white woman accused him of these crimes. The jury is made up of other white men. End of story. He is convicted, without a doubt and sent to jail where he is shot "trying to escape." From today's point of view you want to jump into the story and yell at the top of your lungs that the jury is too afraid to make the right decision. Unfortunately, its part of history that people got covicted of doing things simply for the color of their skin, their religion, their financial status in life.
I really enjoyed this book. So much more than I thought I ever would. I am glad that I read it because I wanted to and not because I was required to in school. I don't think it would have had the same meaning to me 10 years ago.
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