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Thru My Looking Glass

11/28/2014

"My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter." ~Thomas Helm

What better time to review a book about food than the week I am cooking enough food for two army battalions and gluttonously planning exactly what my Thanksgiving plate will look like. We rented a table, chairs and dinnerware this year, so all nineteen of our guests can have matching dishes, glasses and silver. That is the excuse we (sister Judy and I) gave ourselves, to hide the real reason. This life saving company delivers all of those goodies sterilized and wrapped, and allows you ( no...insists that you) return all dinnerware DIRTY...straight from the Thanksgiving table. After cooking for three days straight and hostessing all day, the thought of washing dishes was beyond awful, so thank you, Atlas Party Rental for giving our dinner that extra something to be thankful for this year.

The book I laughed through this month was written by Jim Gaffigan, stand-up comedian, actor, and bestselling author of Dad is Fat. The book, Food: A Love Story, was definitely a different take on food. He believes he is qualified to write this book because...he loves to eat and has the tummy to prove it. I believe he is qualified because he has the sense of humor to make us laugh at the most mundane things. Come on now...how funny can kale be. His take on the foods that fill our plates and thoughts is definitely worth your time.

On an entirely different note, married couple James A. McGoldrick & Nikoo K. Coffey McGoldrick (known as Jan Coffey) add a bit of suspense to our holiday season with the book, Trust Me Once. This thriller about an attorney who is thought to have been murdered is a fun read. Like all of Coffey's books, the protagonist is strong and the supporting cast likable. The police don't like her and make no secret of that, so we don't know who to trust.

Speaking of police, the decision is in, and the Ferguson grand jury choose not to indict Darren Wilson for the death of Michael Brown. There are always two sides to each story, and not having heard all of the information, I can't know whether their decision was a fair one. I do know that young men need to be able to walk the streets without fearing for their lives, and police need to be able to protect us without fearing for theirs. No one is a winner here, and no one ever will be, until we stop fearing each other and start respecting and appreciating our differences as much as our similarities.

May you all enjoy your leftover turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce sandwiches as you begin your hectic month of shopping, and while you are shopping...remember that books make great gifts!

Happy reading
Beverly

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Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan

11/28/2014

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Genre: Humor

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When an author explains that his qualifications for writing a book about food are non-existent except for being "a little fat," I become intrigued. When he explains that “choking on bacon is like getting murdered by your lover," I am totally convinced.

Gaffigan loves food and loves making fun of it. He obviously did a great deal of "research" for this book and enjoys sharing his viewpoints almost as much as he enjoys eating. His discussion about hot peppers made me smile and think of Art's mom. My mother-in-law never met a pepper that didn't seduce her...and then cause her hours of regret. Gaffigan says he probably needs a support group because he has an abusive relationship with hot peppers. He simply can't resist them and then pays the price in the morning.

His feelings about vegetables are a bit extreme. " I am sure we can all agree that vegetables should be removed from their classification as actual food." Since about 80% of my diet is vegetable and grain, I can't say I agree with him, but I can say he makes me laugh.

He also tends to discount any recommendation given to him (about food) by a thin person. His explanation about why he doesn't trust their judgment on tacos says it all. If they are so thin they probably eat only one taco, and no one can judge a good taco after eating just one.

Jim Gaffigan writes like he talks...comfortably and with humor. Give yourself a Thanksgiving non caloric treat and buy Food: A Love Story today.

- Bev

Publisher - Crown Archetype
Date of Publication - October 21, 2014

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Trust Me Once by Jan Coffey

11/28/2014

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Genre: Thriller

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While I have not read all of Jan Coffey's books, I have been a fan for several years now. The books are written by a married couple, James A. "Jim" McGoldrick and Nikoo K. Coffey.
He has a PhD in sixteenth-century British literature and she was a manufacturing engineer. They work together and produce some very thrilling adventure stories.

In this novel, attorney Sarah Brand returns from a trip to Ireland and finds out that her best friend was murdered. Even more confusing is the realization that Sarah has been identified as the victim. Everyone thinks she is dead, and her boss, a prominent judge, has been arrested for the crime. In this book where nothing is as it seems, Sarah deals with police who try to kill her and an actor becomes a savior.

Trust Me Once is an action packed suspense thriller. The excitement doesn't let up, and there is enough romance to soften the characters. There are definitely surprises to keep the reader interested, and I recommend this as a great holiday time read.

- Bev

Publisher - MM Books
Date of Publication - September 27, 2014

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Thru My Looking Glass

11/21/2014

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"Always look on the bright side of life. Otherwise it'll be too dark to read." ~Author Unknown

Last night was a rough one for me. I slept until 1:30 A.M. and woke up feeling unsettled. Never did fall back asleep, and somewhere around 3:30 I realized once again that my ebook library is indispensable. I am not sure how non readers make it through those impossibly long, sleepless nights. Sometimes I just need to escape the world that takes over my mind, and there is always an author around who allows me to live a different life for a bit.

I wanted to make sure that both of my children enjoyed that escape, so we literally began reading to them in utero. We continued that practice until Mike turned four, and I decided to teach him to read. We went to the store, and he picked out a book that had 50-60 words. I remember sharing a comfy chair with him, opening the book and asking if he would like to sound out a few words. He nodded, smiled his Mikey smile, and proceeded to read the entire book flawlessly. I ran to get Arthur, made Mike do it again, and I asked him where he learned to read. He shrugged, and to this day we don't have a clue, but I have to believe Sesame Street played a leading role.

I do know how Beth learned how to read at three. Her brother brow beat her by yelling, "do you want to be the dumbest one in kindergarten? Read this book right now, Beth!" We laughed, but darned if he didn't have her reading before her fourth birthday. They are both readers to this day. Beth, like her mom, can't go anywhere without a book in hand, and her daughter, Sarah, puts us all to shame. I think our love of reading is what led my mom, my daughter and me to degrees in education. We all wanted to share that love of books with as many young people as possible. My mother spent many years helping disabled children learn the alphabet and how to put it together, while I enjoyed teaching English to my wonderful high school students. Beth is continuing my journey as a high school English teacher, and I couldn't be more proud of her.

Speaking of educators and their students, Darren Sugrue takes us on a wild journey in his book, The Prediction. The plot line was so unusual, I had to pick it up, and then I couldn't put it down. Read my review and then read the book. Definitely got me thinking. If I could, would I want to successfully predict the date I will die? Hmmm.

While predicting the future is somewhat scary, exploring the past can be quite exciting. Many people have taken to genealogy with the ease of computer research, and writer David Laskin gives us insight into a decade and a half of his family in his book, The Family: Three Journeys into the Heart of the Twentieth Century. This book also was thought provoking. We all want to believe we would "do the right thing" when put to the test, but it isn't always so easy. The holocaust made heroes out of some and showed weaknesses in others.

Well, I am off to do some Thanksgiving baking. Mike gets in on Saturday, and I intend to spend ten days mothering him, so pre cooking is a good plan. We at MADDERLY REVIEW wish everyone a very happy, healthy and delicious week ahead.

Happy reading,

Beverly

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The Family: Three Journeys into the Heart of the Twentieth Century by David Laskin

11/21/2014

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Genre: Memoir

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My brother-in-law, Allan, is fascinated with ancestry and has spent the last few years putting together an impressive family tree. Each addition brings with it a story that captures our interest. Of course he shares those stories with us, but none of us has chronicled these stories any further than the tree. David Laskin is a writer whose interest was peaked when he thought he was related to Stalin’s notorious henchman Lazar Kaganovich, better known as "Iron Lazar," one of the men responsible for the deaths of millions in the Ukraine over time. His search found no relation to this monster, but led him to an incredible family tree of his own. He has the talent to share his findings, and he put together a wonderful memoir of a Jewish family through the decades.

Once upon a time (approximately) 150 years ago, a Torah scribe and his wife raised six children in a shtetl on the western fringe of the Russian empire. The family expanded, and when politics barged in there was much unrest, and the families divided. One branch ended up in America and achieved the American Dream. They founded Maidenform lingerie and became quite wealthy. Another branch went to Israel. They were not as successful, but they thankfully avoided the holocaust and eventually prospered. The third group remained and were caught up in the Nazi occupation. Watching the American branch try to help (and not help) those left behind made me realize we never know what we will do in a given situation.

Laskin tells the story of each of these groups. The successes are sweet, and the horrors are heartbreaking. It is not that Laskin's book is filled with things that we haven't read about before, it is that his book is so very readable. He did what we all want to do...write our own masterpiece...and he did it well.

This is a great book for your family library.

- Beverly

Publisher - Viking Adult
Date of Publication - October 15, 2013

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The Prediction by Darren Sugrue

11/21/2014

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Genre: Thriller

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What would life be like if we could predict the day we die? Seems like science fiction, but in Sugrue's novel, Daniel Geller wrote his doctoral thesis on mathematically predicting date of death. The thesis was rejected, and devastated, he left school to ultimately live a simple life.

Twelve years later he is approached by his college mentor, John Redmond, and asked to come back and continue working on his thesis. It seems that Redmond and his wife recently lost a child, and he began wondering if the death could have been predicted. He pulled out Daniel's papers and realized that out of the five people the thesis tracked, one has already died on the predicted date.

When John approaches Daniel, the former math student wants nothing to do with his past predictions until he realizes that the next person he predicted to die was his former girl-friend, Grace Visser. He is now faced with a dilemma. Does he warn her and possibly save her, or does he let fate take its course and build the credibility of his predictions?

I really enjoyed the book. The premise is a novel one, and the characters captivated me from the beginning. There are a number of voices throughout the book, and I always find that entertaining. The three main characters, Daniel, John and Grace, all have interesting back stories, and John's reason for wanting Daniel to continue his work is unorthodox to say the least. Grace is dealing with an abusive marriage, and the reader is privy to some of her trials and tribulations. Many of the secondary characters add a great deal to this plot.

I also love that the story takes place in Dublin and Amsterdam, and I get to "travel" through these cities with the characters. Since I had several encounters with bicyclists during my recent visit to Amsterdam, I loved Dugrue's descriptions of the bicycle heavy streets.

The author has travelled extensively. He has a science degree from Dublin City University, and now lives in Amsterdam. Perhaps his experiences helped make the places in this book come alive, and I think Ireland might be my next trip.

This book has mystery, tragedy and romance, and its plot is a bit different than most books on the selves today. It is funny and sad and exciting at the same time. I definitely recommend it for your holiday breaks.

Happy reading,

- Beverly

Sold by - Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Date of Publicati0n - January 16, 2014

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Thru My Looking Glass

11/14/2014

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"My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter." ~Thomas Helm

Well here it is, Thursday night and I have to pull myself away from the book I am reading and write this blog. I will review the book, The Prediction by Darren Sugrue, next week, but I am definitely caught up in it so far. The main character wrote his thesis over a decade ago using five acquaintances as test subjects. He predicted, through mathematical equation, the exact day each would die (not sure how, but does anyone remember the television show NUMBERS?). Well over ten years have elapsed, and he finds out that his first prediction recently died...on the day he predicted.

Another thing that makes this book fun for me is that some of it takes place in Amsterdam. Since we just came back from there, I am have a great time picturing the places he mentions. He also makes mention of the population's fascination with bicycles. The city authorities say there are well over 600,000 bikes in Amsterdam, and I think at least half of them barely avoided running me over during my two days there. They literally swarm the streets and the sidewalks, and they seem to have the right of way at all times. It is truly amazing to see.

Scott Pratt is my featured author this month. I discovered his books several years ago and want to make sure you all get a chance to meet his protagonist, Joe Dillard. I reviewed his first Dillard book this week too. An Innocent Client is a few years old but definitely worth a mention. I often wonder how lawyers deal with defending people who they know are guilty. I think that the secret is...many of them don't deal well at all.

I also reviewed The Neon Lawyer by Victor Methos. I know they are both legal thrillers (I am in a rut) but the second was recommend to me by a good source, so I gave it a try. It was a bit flawed, but it held my interest enough to make me want to see how it turned out. Check it out and share your opinion.

I am so preoccupied with choosing the options for the new house that we are building, that it is amazing that I find time to read at all. I never claimed to be a decorator, and trying to match the granite to the cabinets to the floor is simply headache producing. We were given a seventy-five page book of options to select from, and as we watch all of the other buyers catatonic as they attempt to decorate the perfect house, renting an apartment starts to sound more and more appealing. I think we do deserve credit though, because we are not arguing through this process. We are compromising our way from room to room, trying to have fun along the way.

Speaking of fun, go grab a book and have a fun weekend. Most of the country needs a warm activity to combat the weather, and what could be more comforting than a warm blanket, a mug of hot chocolate and a good book?

Happy reading,

Beverly

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The Neon Lawyer by Victor Methos

11/14/2014

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Genre: Legal

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Methos' story line was engaging if not original. A mother (Amanda Pierce) shoots and kills the man who brutalized and killed her six year old daughter. She does so on the court house steps with a number of witnesses watching. His protagonist is likable and surrounded with equally likable associates. The reader wants him to win the case and get the girl.

Where this novel strays a bit for me is in the believability factor. Attorney Brigham Theodore (fresh from passing the bar) is hired into a firm that pays lawyers a portion of the cases they handle...no benefits or actual salary. I accept that premise, but they lose me when they hand him his first case...the capital murder case of Amanda Pierce. He faces a prosecutor who seems to have been born without a heart and a judge who is indebted to the prosecutor. I could have accepted the possibility of her being tried for murder, but their is no world (fictional or not) where this grieving mother would face a death penalty.

The trial has too few witnesses (Attorney Theodore never seems to look for character witnesses or people to build his case) and speeds by without the usual courtroom antics that keep the reader engaged.

All that being said, for some reason I find myself recommending this book for a quick and entertaining read.

- Beverly

Publisher - Thomas & Mercer
Date of Publication - November 18, 2014

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An Innocent Client (Joe Dillard Series Book 1) by Scott Pratt

11/14/2014

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Genre: Legal Thriller

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I enjoy stories that take place in different locals and allow me to "live" in those areas for a while. Scott Pratt's protagonist, Joe Dillard lives and practices law in Tennessee. I read this book last year and quickly caught up with the rest in his series. The next Joe Dillard book is slated to come out around Thanksgiving, so I decided to get you all started on the first in the series.

Joe is tired of being a criminal defense attorney and is ready to quit, but he would love the opportunity to defend one innocent person. He believes he has found this person in Angel Christian. She is an attractive waitress who is accused of murdering a preacher after he visited an infamous strip club.

I enjoy the way Pratt writes. This book bounces around from first to third person, which helps make it a little different than the typical legal thriller. He also involves the reader in Joe's personal life. His sister is a drug addict who was recently released from prison. His mother is fighting Alzheimer's. His family is somewhat normal, and he is looking for the same answers many of us search for every day.

His villains might be a bit too evil, but I think it helps shine the light on Joe's fight for right. I find Pratt's characters a bit easier to relate to than Grisham's, and tend to like them better.

If you haven't gotten to know Dillard yet then you are in for a treat. Start with this book and work your way through.

- Beverly

Publisher - Onyx
Date of Publication - November 4, 2008

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Thru My Looking Glass

11/7/2014

"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."~ Mark Twain

I reviewed a book from one of my favorite authors today...Temple Mount by Keith Raffel. I actually read a review copy several months ago and was anxious for it to be published so I could share it with you. It is difficult to not got involved in this historical thriller. Raffel's style invites us all to be part of his protagonists' adventures. Of course Jodi Picoult's book, Leaving Time, will make her many fans happy. The story line was interesting and the info on elephants' grieving was remarkable.

Speaking of enjoyable, the travel reviewer in me ( MADDERLY REVIEW was originally book and travel reviews ) has to give some kudos to Marriott for our stay in Paris. We stayed in the Renaissance Paris Arc de Triomphe , and I must thank them for making this one of my favorite vacations ever. The location is amazing; every time we left the hotel I caught my breathe at the majestic Arc de Triomphe down the street. Even though we stayed all eight nights on marriott points, we were treated beautifully. The room was charming and spotless, and the view was typical European rooftops. I was most impressed by the people who worked there though. From the front desk to the concierge to the restaurant to the housekeeping personnel, they were warm and efficient. They remembered our names, always smiled and we felt right at home. Now we are back to saving Marriott points again.

The food on our trip was, for the most part, fine. A few great meals...the rest were good but not special. One of our favorite restaurants was a tiny place recommended by our concierge. L'Annexe, was just what you might picture a seven or eight table Paris bistro to be. The host was charming and spoke English with that perfectly sexy French accent. He understood our allergy issues and made sure we each got a perfect dinner. It was our first night there, and jet lag held us down a bit. Arthur, Judy and I had a beautifully cooked sea bass surrounded by amazingly fresh veggies. Allan had an equally well executed risotto and scallops . A great introduction to Paris.

Of course every morning found us plying ourselves with croissants and pastry at an amazing patisserie. What a life. The pastries are insane. If you have been to Paris, you have probably heard of Angelina's, a tea and pastry restaurant across from the Tuileries Garden. The garden was a park that took my breath away. We tried Angelina's for dinner one night. The food was delicious, but the pastries were beyond belief. My choice ( Millefeuille à la vanille Bourbon- layers of carmelized puff pastry, light bourbon vanilla cream, whipped cream) was voted best at the table, but every mouthful of every selection was weep worthy.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the fashions in Paris. I am not sure why certain manufacturers show different styles in Europe then they do in America, but I couldn't resist the shoes. Judy and I bought three pairs each, and the first time I wore a pair in the states a woman stopped me to say they were fabulous. They are! They all are!

Getting back to books, I am excitedly anticipating the books coming out next year. From January to July, authors Mitzner, Coben, Mofina, Lescroart, Gross, Finder, Grippando, Rosenfelt and Silva, to name a few, have new novels coming out. I am planning lots of reading time in the next year. Right now I am finishing The Lawyers Lawyer, the latest by Sheehan. Since I have already reviewed his previous two recently, I won't be reviewing this one, but I do recommend it if you liked the last two.

In fact, I think that it is just about time to grab my book and finish it. I have a stack waiting for next week's reviews.

Happy reading,

Beverly

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

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