Review: A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King

I finished this book last night before bed. Couldn't put it down at the end. I purchased this copy myself at Borders, if the price sticker is to be believed.

This is the second installment in King's Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first one, but I'm not sure if that's because of the subject matter of this one or because the novelty has worn off. Whatever the reason, it took me a while to get into it, possibly because it took a while for the mystery to develop.

In this novel, Mary runs into her old friend Ronnie Beaconsfield and is coerced into attending a service with Ronnie at the New Temple of God, a feminist church led by one Margery Childe. Margery is a mystic of sorts, a magnetic woman whom Mary doesn't wish to be drawn to, but inexplicably is. Margery is well-to-do and Mary begins to wonder where she, and the church, get the money. When several young followers of Margery's Temple come to strange, accidental deaths, Mary decides it is time to investigate.

Not being a particularly religious person, I wasn't very interested in Mary's digressions into her Biblical studies or the long recitations of Margery's sermons. These topics seemed to take up a lot of room that I thought could have better been spent on developing the mystery. Also, there was a strange typo (or perhaps King made the mistake in her original manuscript?) regarding one character's name that really, REALLY bothered me. But *****SPOILER ALERT***** the budding romance between Holmes and Rusell was, I thought, well done, and the passages describing Mary's growing dependence on heroin were also quite illuminating.

Of the two books I've read, the first was the better, in my opinion. But this one was also pretty well done. I'll give it four out of five Whatevers. Recommended for those interested in Biblical scholarship, especially where it intersects with feminism, for those who are interested in the feel that the Roaring Twenties give the setting of a novel (there are flappers and cloches galore in this one), and for those who simply love the Holmes and Russell series.

2011-13

Review: The Instinct Diet by Susan B. Roberts, Ph.D.

This book was provided to me by the publisher, Workman Publishing, through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program.

The Instinct Diet is a weight-loss plan that touts the five natural food instincts as a way to lose weight. I've spent most of my adult life embroiled in the Battle of the Bulge, so I'm always looking for new ways to lose weight and new weight-loss programs. I've been on Weight Watchers at least twice, and it is, in my opinion, the gold standard of weight-loss programs. I've always been successful when I've stuck to the program, but after a while, I seem to get sidetracked and cease following it, which is when disaster strikes and I gain all the weight back. The Instinct Diet, like most diets, is supposed to make it easy to lose the weight and to keep it off.

Some of the tenets of the Instinct Diet were familiar to me, as they are common in most weight-loss regimes: get rid of the "bad" foods in the house (if they're not there, you can't eat them), make sure you get enough fiber and protein (so you feel satisfied and less inclined to snack). But the program is more than that. There are three other food instincts addressed by this specific diet. And the Instinct Diet does not really focus on exercise. Dr. Roberts says that you really don't NEED to exercise in order to lose weight, if you follow her plan to a T.

I have to say, while I wanted to buy into it, I don't see the Instinct Diet as a program I could successfully follow. The lists of high-fiber foods that are available during the eight-week weight loss portion of the diet (as opposed to the maintenance portion, which lasts as long as you want to keep the weight off) sound completely disgusting to me. And the portions recommended do not seem substantial enough to provide adequate nourishment for me. Granted, I am not a dietician or scientist like Dr. Roberts is, so maybe I just don't know what I'm talking about, but I can honestly say there is no way in hell that I would be satisfied with a turkey sandwich containing exactly one piece of turkey lunchmeat. That just seems crazy to me! I wanted to try the diet as part of my review of the book, but I couldn't open my mind enough to want to eat the things that are required eating during the first two weeks of the diet. Perhaps this is merely a motivation issue for me, and once I am again motivated to lose weight maybe I'll try it. It certainly seems like the science behind the plan is sound; it's just a matter of personal choice for me that I would prefer a plan with more freedom of choice.

Some of the recipes sound good, though, and I plan to keep the book and try some of them out. Overall, I'd give the book two and a half out of five Whatevers. It was interesting information, some of which I already knew, but it was nothing stunning, and the diet itself seemed unworkable, at least for me.

2011-12

Review: She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

While I am a reader who usually doesn't "play favorites" (mostly because it's just so hard to choose), I have to say that Wally Lamb is one of my favorite authors. I've only read two of his works, this one and I Know This Much Is True, but I've loved every word of both of them...and for very different reasons, which tells me that I'm on the right track. This book was purchased during my college years (probably at Target, as that's the only place I shopped back then). I actually finished this book last Monday, while I was spending seven hours in the Baltimore airport, waiting for the next flight to Florida, since my original flight was delayed and I missed my earlier connection.

I first read She's Come Undone in college, probably my freshman or sophomore year. It's hard for me to remember exactly when it was, since I didn't keep track of my reading back then. I remember the book being only okay for me when I read it in college, so I wanted to re-read it as an adult to see if my perceptions or understanding of it changed at all. I'm such a different person than I was in those early college years that I felt sure the experience would be different for me now than it was then. And I was right.

********SPOILERS AHEAD***************

The book is the story of Dolores Price, from childhood through adulthood, set in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's. She is a fairly normal child, but then her parents' divorce and her mother's ensuing mental illness throw her a little off track. When she is raped by the upstairs neighbor, she comes fully unraveled. Her mother soothes her own guilt over the rape by giving Dolores everything she wants, which includes food, food, and more food. Eventually, Dolores becomes morbidly obese and withdrawn from the world because of her obesity. When her mother is killed in an accident, Dolores decides to grant her mother's last wish and go to college. However, she is nothing like the other girls and is bullied and taken advantage of by them. Finally, she leaves college and descends into the mental illness that has been nipping at her heels since her mother died. She spends the next seven years at Gracewood, a mental institution, letting go of her anger, her despair, and her extra weight. When she leaves Gracewood, perhaps she is not quite fully "cured," as she sets out to find her college roommate's ex-boyfriend, whom she has obsessed over for years. She finds and marries him, only to find that the reality of Dante is not what she had created in her mind. It is only after her divorce, when she is focused on herself, that she meets her equal and earns her happily ever after.

I remember being extremely depressed by the subject-matter of the book, and that part hasn't changed. At least for me, this book was just so, so sad. Dolores Price is a protagonist who makes you want to root for her, but her life is just one sorry episode after another. I really related to her, having been significantly overweight for most of my adult life, and having struggled with the psychological issues that attend the physical. However, I think I have a bit more spunk than Dolores and, as a result, I refused to play the victim or let others victimize me. Dolores, on the other hand, was continually the victim: first of Jack Speight's rape, then of the bullying and cruelty of the other girls at college, then of Dante's thoughtlessness and selfishness. When she finally realizes that she is owed more from the world, I was so happy and excited for her. Lamb did a great job in making his protagonist both repellant and loveable at the same time.

Overall, I'd give this book four and a half out of five Whatevers. I cried and cried throughout the book. Recommended for those who love a good tearjerker, or those who enjoy a psychologically complex heroine, as Dolores Price is the most complex I've experienced in a long while.

2011-11

Review: Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

Another re-read in this series that I love, and another home run. This book was slower than some in the series, and it took me a while longer to get through than I expected, but I still enjoyed it a lot. Gabaldon does a great job of researching the time periods and locations she writes about (at least, *I* can't tell if there are any inaccuracies, but maybe a historian would have a bone to pick. I'd be interested in hearing from someone with a stronger background in history than I have).

In this installment, ***** SPOILER ALERT ***** Claire has returned to the 1700's and the love of her life, Jamie Fraser. She has left her daughter Brianna behind her in Boston, and she and Jamie have crossed the ocean to the Colonies. While they are trying to eke out an existence in the New World, Brianna remains in 1960's Boston, developing her burgeoning relationship with Roger MacKenzie Wakefield. When Brianna discovers some frightening information about her parents' lives in the past, she must make a decision that could change her life, and Roger's, forever.

People often ask me how I can re-read a book. Don't I already know how it ends? What's the point? Well, I first read this series about five years ago, during the end of law school, my summer studying for the Florida Bar, and the first year or so of my new life here in Florida. I honestly have forgotten most of the details of the books, so re-reading them is almost like experiencing the events for the first time. I remember the larger plot points, and sometimes things come back to me as I read, but most of the smaller details are like new to me.

I continue to rave about this series. The second read is as good as the first. I highly recommend this series for anyone who like historical fiction and certainly for romance lovers. Four out of five Whatevers for this one!

2011-10

Review: The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King

I bought this copy of
The Beekeeper's Apprentice at our local Barnes & Noble a few years ago. WHY has it taken me so long to get to this series?! I've heard nothing but good things about these books, and this one met or exceeded every accolade I've heard!

The books cover the apprenticeship of Mary Russell, a 15-year-old orphan at the beginning of this book, to the great Sherlock Holmes. Mary stumbles across Holmes on the Sussex Downs and he quickly realizes that, perhaps, he has met his equal in intelligence and observance. He takes the lonely Mary under his wing, teaching her the art of detection, fronting her money to make her comfortable when her stingy aunt won't allow her the money out of her inheritance, and coming to care for her greatly by the end of the novel.

Mary eventually becomes Holmes' second on the various cases he investigates in his "retirement," including the case of an American senator's kidnapped daughter. That case leads into a more complicated one, a new foe who seems to have both Holmes and Russell in his sights.

Watching Russell grow in her ability to reason and solve crimes is amazing. Seeing Holmes recognize that he has met his match is also wonderful. This book was smart, interesting, fun, the whole gamut. Exactly what I look for in a mystery (or any other novel for that matter). I can't wait to read the rest. Five out of five Whatevers. I couldn't read this one fast enough! Recommended for lovers of Holmes, for those who like to read about young women coming into their own, and for those who love a good, old-fashioned mystery.

2011-9

Catching Up

Life has fallen into a kind of rhythm these days. Between reading, working two jobs, couponing (and shopping), TV watching, computer game playing, and hanging out with friends, I feel like I need twice the amount of time in the day. (Notice I didn't say anything about keeping the house clean in there...it's kind of a wreck around here.) I've gone out after work on Friday for the last two weeks...something I haven't done in a long time. But I'm finding that by sticking to my grocery budget, using coupons wherever I can, and moving around some funds, I have the money to do the things I didn't think I could afford before. I got together with two of my good friends and one old friend whom I haven't seen in almost two years to have drinks and dinner at a local Chili's restaurant. (I LOVE Chili's...two for one margaritas, how can you beat that?)

Tonight, we went to the in-laws for dinner to celebrate Father's Day. My brother-in-law grilled us burgers and Ricky and I brought dessert. It was a nice chance to get together with the family. And we came away with some home-grown basil and mangoes from the tree in their backyard.

As far as work goes, it's been slow for a while, but I have a trial set for the week of July 4th. I'm kind of excited about this one, so we shall see how it goes.

Oh! I went back on Weight Watchers at the end of April, and so far I've lost 15 pounds. I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol/triglycerides, which is largely related to my terrible diet, pre-WW. I'm on two different meds right now, and it is absolutely ridiculous that someone my age should have to be on so much medicine, so I'm trying to lose the weight to get off the meds. I want to get healthy AND look good, and I'm doing well so far. The challenge will be staying on the program. I lost somewhere between 50 and 75 pounds a few years ago by doing Weight Watchers, but then I quit following the program and gained it all back (plus some!). Hopefully, this time it will be a true lifestyle change and I will keep it alllll off. I joined the 100 Mile Fitness Challenge to try to help me get in my exercise. We'll see how well I do...

I'm currently reading The Beekeeper's Apprentice. And I LOVE it. I've heard nothing but good things about this series by Laurie R. King, and those comments are proving true. I have the rest of the series on my shelf, too, so now the question is whether to pace myself or to rush through the rest of the series ASAP. I think I'll try to pace myself. Now, with the Outlander series that I'm re-reading, I'm in the midst of two series that I really love. Sigh. Book heaven!

What are you reading these days? What series do you absolutely love?

Review: Fatal Light by Richard Currey

This book was sent to me through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

Well, I'm just going to come out and say it. I didn't care for this book. I went into it hoping for an experience like that when I read
Loon - where I didn't expect to like the book at all, but ended up loving it. However, it was not to be. I don't know if it was the way the book was written or what, but it did not resonate with me.

The book is written in two different styles: one is a regular, everyday story-telling type of writing, but the other is this staccato, choppy, stream-of-consciousness style that I did NOT care for at all. I get that it is supposed to convey the confusion, weariness, and sadness that the nameless protagonist is experiencing during his time in Vietnam, but I couldn't get into it. Maybe that is because I felt like I couldn't relate to the narrator. We never learn his name or much about him, really. He loves a girl, he gets sent off to war, he has a family at home who miss him, he has strange wartime experiences in Vietnam, then he comes home. That's about it.

Maybe I'm burnt out on Vietnam books, having read Loon not too long ago, and then Beach Music, which also had a Vietnam component to it. Maybe, as I suspect, I just don't like books about war. Maybe I don't like books about Vietnam. I just didn't feel like I connected with this book or learned much from it. Had I not known what an LZ was from reading Loon, I certainly wouldn't have found out by reading this book.

Two out of five Whatevers. Recommended for people who like war books or Vietnam-era literature. Just not for me.

2011-8