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Thru My Looking Glass

10/31/2014

 
"A good book has no ending." ~R.D. Cumming

As I sit on this endless airplane flight, saying goodbye to Paris, I think about how lucky I am to have had this experience. I remember studying about the Mona Lisa and Winged Victory in humanities, and to stand close enough to touch these works of art brought tears to my eyes.  Standing in the very same Louvre that Dan Brown described in The Da Vinci Code, picturing the professor running down the very halls that Arthur and I were carefully exploring, definitely brought everything to life.

...And the pastry. Oh the pastry.  I am not sure how the French learned their technique, but they definitely do it better than anyone else.  The croissants and brioche for breakfast made breakfast an experience, and the tarts, eclairs, napoleons and macarons just filled in any spare moments in every day.  I am sorry to say that I was eating pastries instead of reading during any off time that we had. That is my explanation, although admittedly a weak one, as to why two weeks have gone by with no Madderly Review additions.

We are back however, and Jodi Picoult brought me right back to earth in her interesting novel, Leaving Time. As if a young woman trying to track down her long missing mother with the help of a psychic who has fallen from grace isn't enough to capture our attention, author Picoult delves into the emotions of elephants.  Although it sounds weird, it really works in this novel.

Looking for a quick read for my two nine and one half hour plane rides, I chose The Law of Second Chances by James Sheehan.  After reviewing Alligator Man by him several weeks ago, I knew this was just the book to pull me in without weighing me down.  I was not happy, however, when the main character's wife was diagnosed with stage four cancer.  Frankly, too many of my friends and extended family have battled this disease for me to want to deal with it in my escape time.  I realize that authors strive for realism, but I am not sure that is always the best choice.

Lucky for authors though, my taste in books is far from the last word.  I know that some of the most popular genres ( I.e. Fantasy and Science Fiction) are not fairly represented on the madderlyreview site because I could not do them justice.  That is why I ask you all to please contribute your reviews and opinions on the guest review pages.  I envisioned this as a place that everyone could share his/her opinion on the books we can't put down.  What was your favorite book of 2014 so far, and why?

Happy reading,

 - Beverly

Click on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog:

Even This I Get to Experience by Norman Lear

10/31/2014

 
Genre: Memoir
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If I had to say what television show that I believe changed the course of T.V., I would have to say "All in the Family".  Norman Lear, through Archie Bunker, introduced subjects that were never before broached.  Lear was never afraid to make us uncomfortable, and I thank him for that.  The world grew a little bit each time Archie did.  I have admired Norman Lear's talent for a long time and was thrilled to see this book.

He tells us about his most interesting life in this book, and much of it was surprising to me.  His childhood was tough and his parents self involved. When he was quite young his dad, always on the lookout for a quick buck, was jailed for several years.  His mother left him with relatives during those years, and he had his share of troubles.  When his dad was home he, much like Archie Bunker, ruled the house from his comfy chair.  When his mother tried to say something, his dad yelled "stifle."  Sound familiar?

Lear tells us about all the good and all the bad in this well written biography.  He was once the highest paid comedy writer of his time and wrote for some of the greats.  At their peak, his television programs were viewed by 120 million people a week (All in the Family; Maude; Good Times; The Jeffersons; and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman) and they always made us laugh till we cried.

This book helped me understand the man behind the television shows that I grew up with, and made me appreciate him just a little bit more.  Definitely an interesting read for all, especially the baby boomers who can sing the theme song to the Jeffersons at the drop of a hat.

- Beverly


Publisher - The Penguin Press
Date of Publication - October 14, 2014

The Law of Second Chances (Jack Tobin Book 2) by James Sheehan

10/31/2014

 
Genre: Legal Thriller
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Jack Tobin built a thriving law firm and sold it for enough money to allow him to defend only those he believes are innocent.  I liked him from page one.  James Sheehan is a strong enough author to juggle several story lines at the same time and keep the reader involved at all times.  I loved the flashbacks of Jack's young years.  I hated when those parts were over; BUT I loved the story line that finds Jack defending the son of his boyhood buddy and hated when those parts were over. The beginning of the book introduces us to Henry, who is days away from being executed.  Jack, with the encouragement of his wife Pat, fights to save his life.

The story alternates between the little town of Bass Creek, Florida, where Pat and Jack enjoy a peaceful life and New York City, where small-time crook Benny Avril is accused of murder. Jack isn't sure of Benny's innocence but has a very personal reason for taking the case. Benny is the son of Rico, one of Jack's boyhood buddies.

The only parts of the book that troubled me were the chapters dealing with Pat's illness. I understand the author's reasons for this sub plot, but I see too much tragedy in real life. I read to escape.  That being said, I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys legal thrillers.

- Beverly


Publisher - James Sheehan
Date of Publication - March 10, 2013

Thru My Looking Glass

10/10/2014

 
"Book lovers never go to bed alone." ~Author Unknown

It is human nature to search for a reason when a tragedy occurs.  Even those who truly believe in fate, need someone or something to explain away the unexplainable.  We can not accept, nor should we accept, that a child's death or disfigurement was "meant to be."  Sometimes, however, the search for reasons takes as great a toll as the tragedy itself. In The Fall: A father's memoir in 424 steps, Diogo Mainardi's search for those to blame for his son's deformity has him blaming everyone and everything including himself.  The book shows an equal amount of grief and courage and makes me wonder if eventually finding the villain makes it easier or more difficult to go on.

Mainardi also sees the beauty in his son and in the condition with which he was forced to live. I have always believed that it is important to see the good in every situation in order to
be happy.  Sometimes we all need to be reminded of that, and this book was my latest reminder.

I was also reminded today that one of my favorite authors, Andrew Gross is bringing back one of my favorite characters, detective Ty Hauck.  The book, One Mile Under, is due to be published April 7, 2015, and I can't wait.  If you haven't met Ty yet, check out some of Gross' past books featuring him.  I promise you a good time.

Speaking of a good time, Arthur and I are excitedly planning ours.  We leave Tuesday for nine days in Paris. We have never been to France, and plan to enjoy every romantic minute.  A little side trip to Amsterdam will round out our European vacation.  I have got a list of sites we want to see, but mostly we want to stroll down the streets, eat lots of croissants, find the perfect piece of art in Montmartre and maybe buy a great pair of shoes(last part is my idea).

I am not sure about the internet access in my hotel, so this might be my last Thru My Looking Glass for two weeks.  I do plan to do lots of reading on the bank of the Seine, so I promise to come back with lots to report.

Happy reading,

- Beverly
Click on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog:

The Fall: a father's memoir in 424 steps by Diogo Mainardi (author), Margaret Jull Costa (translator)

10/10/2014

 
Genre: Memoir
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Wow!  I picked up this book because I was offered a review copy, and I was instantly captured in Mainardi's pain and beauty.  He is a writer; he is a lover of art; mostly though, Diogo Mainardi is a father.  His son, Tito, was born with cerebral palsy due to the misjudgment of a doctor.  He was fine in utero...and then he wasn't. The doctor used an instrument to speed up the birth long before she should have.  When his heart rate began falling, she waited too long to perform a caesarean, and the results of her carelessness devastated a family.

When a tragedy occurs, we naturally feel the need to fix blame.  "If only he hadn't driven in the rain." "I should have made him take his medicine."  "The doctor should have, could have, didn't..."  Mainardi does have a true villain to point at in this memoir, but he allows us to enter his mind and see how many other places and things he holds accountable. He also shows us the goodness and beauty he finds in his son and therefor in cerebral palsy.

This memoir is written in 424 short passages, the number of steps taken by Tito as he walks, and falls, alongside his father through the streets of Venice, the city where he was born.  It is both foreign and totally relatable. It is terribly sad and amazingly heartwarming.
It shows the heart wrenching grief and the unmatchable love that only a parent can feel.

Order this book today. The words and pictures will captivate you, I promise.

- Beverly


Publisher - Other Press
Date of Publication - October 7, 2014

Hard Return (Cyril Landry Thriller) by J. Carson Black

10/10/2014

 
Genre: Thriller
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We first meet Cyril Landry as a hand on a horse farm, going by the name Joe Till.  He is good with horses and does his job well, but took the job with the understanding that he was unavailable afternoons.  Unknown to his boss, and sometime lover, his afternoons were spent watching over his daughter and wife who believe he is dead.

Cyril is a former Navy Seal who was supposedly killed in a fire fight off the coast of Florida.  In order to protect his family and keep himself alive, his family can't know that he survived.
The excitement begins several pages into the story, when he is watching his daughter and her boyfriend in front of her school.  He is so agitated by their close physical contact, that he doesn't notice the sniper until the first shot rings out.  Cyril quickly takes him out and disappears in time to save his daughter, but several young people (including the boyfriend who shielded his daughter) are dead.  He knows that somehow, someone is trying to flush him out.

Watching him use different names and locations to track down the "bad guys" kept me from ever being bored.  Author Black introduced, and apparently brought back, quite a few characters that definitely keep the readers on their toes.  I had taken a hiatus from reading about assassins and stumbled upon this book accidentally.  I am glad that I did, because the author took me back to the days when I grabbed every Baldacci book that I could find.

The main character definitely has the anti-hero role, and his personality is rough at times, but the reader pulls for him to save the day.  I also enjoyed Detective Jolie, a police woman in New Mexico and the relationship that she has with Landry.

I liked the book enough to read when I should have been sleeping, so I recommend it to you.

- Beverly


Publisher - Thomas & Mercer
Date of Publication - September 9, 2014

Thru My Looking Glass

10/3/2014

 
"If you have never said 'Excuse me' to a parking meter or bashed your shins on a fireplug, you are probably wasting too much valuable reading time." ~Sherri Chasin Calvo

I am always astonished at the depths that people can go and still see themselves as in the right.  There are actually very few absolutes in this world, yet so many people believe that they are ABSOLUTELY correct.  Many politicians and their followers take the moral high ground while standing on the rights of people who believe differently. I am not sure how they justify hand-picking who deserves constitutional protection, but I am sure that we need to protect everyone. There is a well known poem attributed to pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) that makes a valuable point.  When you protect others, you are protecting yourself:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

I read a book this week that made me think about today's politicians and politicians of years ago. My Grandfather's Gallery: A Family Memoir of Art and War was written by Anne Sinclair.  She tells the story of her grandfather who lost his prestigious art gallery to the Nazis.  He was lucky enough to escape to New York with his family, but the story was wrenching at times.  It showed humanity at its worst and at its best.  We need to make sure that we never allow our search for power to bring us to those depths again.

On a lighter note, I am finishing an easy mystery that has kept me smiling throughout. Mummified Meringues by Leighann Dobbs is a light mystery that certainly fills the bill after reading any book where Nazis play a key role. The characters are likable and the plot easy to follow.  Once you get past a corpse in the basement and a bunch of grandmas playing detectives, Dobbs writes books you can have fun figuring out.

I guess it is time for me to figure out what to read next.  Hope everyone has a great weekend and an easy fast for those who do.

Happy reading,

- Beverly

Click on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog:

Mummified Meringues (Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery Series Book 10) by Leighann Dobbs

10/3/2014

 
Genre: Mystery
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Lexy Baker is back, and I am determined to read Leighann Dobbs tenth adventure starring this baking sleuth.  I have a friend who swears by the series, but I was never too interested.  Guess what....I actually am enjoying it.  I still have a wee bit more to go, but I certainly understand why my friend is enthralled. The characters are, for the most part, charming.

When Lexy married Jack, he kept his house which was near to hers.  As the book begins  they decide  it is a good time to sell his house since he has moved into hers. Lexy's house belonged to her grandmother, Nans who decided to move into a place for seniors where activities keep her jumping.  Now Lexy owns the house but calls on amateur detective Nans and her group of granny sleuths to help her solve the mysteries that keep falling into her lap.

In this novel, while cleaning the basement of Jack's house, they come across a mummified body.  Jack, who is a detective, becomes the number one suspect, and Lexy needs Nans' help to find the real killer.  Nans' reluctance to get involved is a mystery in itself, and this somewhat fluff of a novel does keep the reader guessing in spots.

Dobbs writes the perfect book for the beach, the train or the bathtub. Enjoy!

- Beverly


Sold by - Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Date of Publication - September 27, 2014

My Grandfather's Gallery: A Family Memoir of Art and War by Anne Sinclair (Translated by Shaun Whiteside)

10/3/2014

 
Genre: Biography
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This book begins in early 2010, when author Anne Sinclair is blocked by the state police from entering her street (in France) without her "papers."  She was then required to prove her French ancestry for renewal of identity documents. Reading about this disturbed me so much, I can't begin to imagine what it did to her. Incidents like this make me fear we have not come as far as we like to believe.  Ironically Sinclair, a French journalist, is the model for the statue of Marianne, the national emblem of France.

She decides to tell the story of her maternal grandfather after finding a box filled with his many correspondences with artists of the time. Paul Rosenberg, a well-known Parisian art dealer  was stripped of his French identity during World War Two by the Vichy government because he was Jewish. He was one of the "lucky" ones who was able to save his family as he fled to New York, but his gallery filled with masterpieces from artists who became household names was lost to the Nazis.

As she delves into her family history, Sinclair brings me to tears and smiles, but always reinforces the horror that people can inflict on one another.  There are heroic moments too. Her paternal  grandmother, for example, somehow managed to dress herself as a nurse, borrow a Red Cross ambulance and some false papers, and get her paternal grandfather out of the antechamber of deportation.  There are also moments when friends become enemies, and the good guys are hard to spot.

This book is for anyone who loves art, who enjoys history or just wants to read a captivating story.  The translation is so well done that I had to keep reminding myself that it was not originally written in English. I definitely recommend it and look forward to finding other works by Anne Sinclair.

- Beverly


Publisher - Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Date of Publication - September 16, 2014
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