Welcome, welcome, welcome!
It's the THIRD meeting of The Book Review Club. We are really getting good at this. Look at the coffee already percolating in the corner. And the cute little basket of assorted flavored creams. And another cute little basket filled with muffins. Not to mention all the very amazing book reviews we've written! (I divided them up by Children's, YA, Adult this month. Let me know what you think.) A HUGE thank-you to all our dedicated reviewers!
And who is this walking through the door? One of my very own critique partners? One of the Denny's Chicks? Yes, it's KATHY KREVAT. And she's saying something to me, "Go away and write I So Don't Do Makeup! I'm doing the book review this month."
Awww. Do I have the best critique partners or what? Last month, Kelly took the reins. And, now, Kathy. Yes, I do understand that I'm picking up the tab at Denny's. Grand slams all around! BTW, if I missed linking to anyone's review, it's totally my bad. Nothing to do with Kathy. Leave a comment and I'll fix you right up.
Take it away, Kathy....
Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos is my favorite book of all time. I'm so in love with this book that I'm having a hard time writing a review that does it justice.
From the cover copy: A devoted city dweller, Cornelia Brown surprised no one more than herself when she was gripped by the sudden, inescapable desire to leave urban life behind and head for an idyllic suburb. Though she knows she and her beloved huband, Teo, have made the right move, she approaches her new life with trepidation and struggles to forge friendships in her new home.
De los Santos weaves together the lives of Cornelia, queen bee Piper, the enigmatic Lake and her gifted son Dev with an intricate plot that moves the reader toward the startling conclusion demonstrating the power of love, family and friendship.
I love de los Santos' writing styles. As an award winning poet, her prose is true artistry.
Here's an example from page 53: What I mean by the first day of fall is that day when you suddenly understand with your whole body that the season has changed. When the air feels snappier against your skin and the sky's blueness turns wistful, and the humming of insects shifts pitch, and you just know like you know your own name that summer is over.
I love the characters who are genuine and true as they feel their way through the various complexities of life. I immediately appreciated Cornelia's wit and humor. I came to understand and even like Piper, especially when she commits herself so whole-heartedly to her dying friend. We get to be in the point of view of Cornelia, Piper and Dev. De los Santos is amazingly accurate in the feelings and thoughts of a brilliant, thirteen-year-old boy finding his way in a new school, his first love, and solving a family mystery.
I read this book three times. And I cried at the ending all three times.
My husband bought me a signed first edition for my birthday. I'll treasure it forever.
And, now onto the intrepid Book Review Club reviewers! They've gone all out to bring you some interesting books. Please visit them one and all!
Oh...and sending speedy recovery wishes for her knee replacement surgery to our reviewer Ellen Booraem of Freelance Ne'er-Do-Well
CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEWS
Beth Yarnall: AND TO THINK THAT I SAW IT ON MULBERRY STREET by Dr. Seuss
YOUNG ADULT BOOK REVIEWS
Thao of serene hours: I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE by Stephanie Kuehnert
Sarah Laurence: THE WILD GIRLS by Pat Murphy--includes author interview
Sarahlynn of Yeah, but Houdini didn't have these hips: THE DEBS by Susan McBride
Keri Mikulski: EVERMORE by Alyson Noel
Jody Feldman: JUST ONE WISH by Janette Rallison
Kathy Holmes: APRIL FOOL'S DAY (NANCY DREW AND THE CLUE CREW) by Carolyn Keene (Middle Grade)
Stacy Nyikos: THE SUMMERLANDS by Michael Chabon (Middle Grade)
ADULT BOOK REVIEWS
Scott Parker: DROOD by Dan Simmons
Patti Abbott: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP by John Irving
Gary Dobbs/Jack Martin of The Tainted Archive: HOMBRE by Elmore Leonard
San Diego Momma: LOVING FRANK by Nancy Horan
Kaye of The Road Goes Ever Ever On: THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES by Sue Monk
Jenn Jilks: PLAIN TRUTH by Jodi Picoult
D.A. Riser of the Writing Greek: THE SEVENTH SCROLL by Wilbur Smith
Alyssa Goodnight: REVENGE OF THE SPELLMANS by Lisa Lutz
David Cranmer of The Education of a Pulp Writer: TALES FROM DEADWOOD:THE TROOPERS by Mike Jameson
Blue Violet's Book Blog: THE BROKEN PARACHUTE MAN by Robert Bolin