Book Review: Mudbound by Hillary Jordan

Before We Begin: A Little About our Book Reviews

Disclaimer: If you are looking for reviews that discuss the juxtaposition of imagery and mood, the symbolism behind the broken flower pot in the garden, and the existential interpretations of a character’s motivation then this site is NOT for you. We’re just a couple of gals who love reading and know what we like and what we don’t. Simple as that.

How We Pick Our Book Selections: Whatever we feel like reviewing. There won’t be a rhyme or reason to what we pick except that it will either be something we have read, heard about, or wanted to read. There are plenty of new book reviews out there, so we’ll probably focus more on older books. Do you have a suggestion of a book you think we should review? Let us know in the comments. Disagree with our review? Let us know in the comments – nicely, of course. (You don’t want to get Christy mad – she’s brutal.) Do you have a bottle of a good vintage Bordeaux you’d like to get off your hands? You can send that directly to Kristi.
At the end of each review will also be a Random Movie Recommendation for the month – just because. Some new releases and some oldies but goodies.
So without further ado, this month’s pick is…..

Mudbound by Hillary Jordan (As always, the following may contain spoiler alerts)

First, our ratings...
K: Definitely a Georgia Peach
C: Yeah, Georgia Peach

NOTE: We were surprised that we liked this book so much as we hadn't liked the previous picks by one of our book club members (she knows who she is :) Although in her defense, several of her picks were critically acclaimed books - they just weren't our thing. So, I went into the reading of this with low expectations, and I love it when my expectations are blown sky high.

Our discussion:
C: It reminded me of sort of a grown-up Little House on the Prairie but way more intense.
K: I don't know. Little House on the Prairie was pretty intense - like that episode when Mary went blind (realizes she's digressing). Although the character in this book loses his tongue and becomes mute, so it is an interesting parallel.
C: Plus, I love historical fiction.
K: I also loved the multiple POV's which seems to be a theme with our book club lately. (NOTE: We've also read The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society and The Help which had various POV's - and were also amazing books. Both are must reads!)
C: I liked that too. Each voice was distinct and you could "hear" each character when they spoke.
K: That takes a lot of skill for an author to pull off. I also liked the use of the setting and how the mud was used as an antagonist- in addition to the father and societal issues like racism.
C: Definitely a tragic story but it was hopeful in the end.
K: I agree. I'm not a fan of those train-wreck stories that make you feel humanity is lost (like a former book club pick which shall not be named). The Help was like that too - there was so much hope in the ending.
C: It's interesting that we agree that we love all the books discussed today - and they're all historical fiction with multiple POV's.
K: So as not to be boring, we'll pick a book next time that does not contain multiple POV's. Anything else?
C: Nope, it was a great book. Bookclub member 'X' has redeemed herself.

In fact, our next pick has what may be the coolest narrator ever in the history of books. Until next time...

Random Movie Recommendation:

THE BLIND SIDE - I don't often get to the actual movie theater as I have small children and am thus usually relegated to Disney movies or Netflix, but I went with a girlfriend to this movie and LOVED it! Now I'll see any movie that has to do with football, but ones based on a true story, like this one, and Remember the Titans, make my heart sing. Sandra Bullock nails the woman she portrays and the movie is powerful, uplifting and hopeful. WARNING: Bring tissues as my friend and I both needed them at the end - and she's not a crier.

New Series Post

Ok so we're not so quick with our postings, but it IS that time of year (well that's going to be our excuse for the day anyway!!) Nonetheless, it's me, Christy, and a short while ago I explained I was working on another entry, which will now be known as my Strawberry Series Selection.

This series will highlight one of my favorite literary series and/or authors. Just to give you a background of some of the more mainstream series I follow, I absolutely love the Alex Cross series by James Patterson and the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. There is just something about following characters and storylines that attracts me. But of course I'm a sucker for new series, so feel free to recommend any you've read and enjoyed. I just had another series that I've started that will DEFINITELY be on the list shortly (just a little something to keep you waiting!! :)

You will learn, if you haven't figured out based on my "favorites", I am a VERY diverse and eclectic reader and the series I read are no exception. There is a little bit of this and a little bit of that so stay tuned and maybe learn of some great new reads for your taste.

My first recommendation isn't technically a series, although it may have been if the author had lived. With that introduction, my first selection is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson. His next novel, The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest is slated to be released next May but will surely be another fantastic read. Apparently, Mr. Larsson suffered a heart attack shortly after delivering the manuscripts for these 3 novels. And believe me, what a tragedy as he is clearly a talented writer.

These novels have been translated from Swedish, which is not typically my thing as translated novels often seem to lose part of the story (as we've discussed in our review of The Angel's Game) but these stories do not miss a beat. The first approx 50-75 pages of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo seem a little rough at first, but once you get through that bumpy part, it is a non-stop thrill ride. I simply can not say enough about these books and can't wait to read the final installment. Without giving too much away, these stories follow Lisbeth Salander who appears as a modern day Lara Croft heroine for lack of better description. She's not a very likable person but you end up thinking that she is the coolest chic out there!! The other main character is Mikael Blomkvist who is a journalist for a rather liberal Swedish magazine that is no stranger to controversy. Together, this unlikely duo search for the truth shall we say, all while hunting "serial criminals". This is an EXCELLENT series that will keep you up at night turning pages faster and faster.

I hope you enjoy it and we will return SOON, hopefully within the next week or so with our review of Mudbound by Hilary Jordan.

Until then - Happy Reading!!!!

Random Book & Movie Recommendation

Hi there Funky Fruit-ers - thought I'd give another random book and movie recommendation until we get our act together with the next official book review.

Book Recommendation: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Yes, I know I recommended her first book, The Hunger Games, in my last post but this is so worth it. I don't always like the sequel as much as the first book but this sequel was amazing. I dare you to put it down - I couldn't, and read the whole thing in one sitting. Warning: it's not the last book so I'm wanting to know how it ends and I have no closure :)

Movie Recommendation: Lars and the Real Girl. I just saw it this weekend w/ my hubby (via Netflix, my favorite thing ever) and we both LOVED this movie. Ryan Gosling can act like Peyton Manning can throw a football - he's awesome. I thought it would be a quirky, fun little film but it was so much more than that. It was a wonderful story of healing and human connection. Warning: my hubby and I are both psychologists which may have impacted how fascinated we were with the psychological elements of the story (we've both worked with delusional disorder), but I think that everyone can relate to the grief issues addressed. It's an uplifting, heart-warming way to spend your evening!

Random Book Recommendation

Hi - Kristi here. Okay, for those of you that enjoy reading YA (that's young adult - a la books like Twilight) I finally got around to reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and it was fantastic. One of those can't put down until it ends books - and then I find out it doesn't end because there's a Book 2 - which I just ordered today off of Amazon. I know, I've recommended The Help and then this but what can I say - I have eclectic taste.

Next Official Book Review: Mudbound by Hillary Jordan. :)

Book Review: Life of Pi

Before We Begin: A Little About our Book Reviews

Disclaimer: If you are looking for reviews that discuss the juxtaposition of imagery and mood, the symbolism behind the broken flower pot in the garden, and the existential interpretations of a character’s motivation then this site is NOT for you. We’re just a couple of gals who love reading and know what we like and what we don’t. Simple as that.

How We Pick Our Book Selections: Whatever we feel like reviewing. There won’t be a rhyme or reason to what we pick except that it will either be something we have read, heard about, or wanted to read. There are plenty of new book reviews out there, so we’ll probably focus more on older books. Do you have a suggestion of a book you think we should review? Let us know in the comments. Disagree with our review? Let us know in the comments – nicely, of course. (You don’t want to get Christy mad – she’s brutal.) Do you have a bottle of a good vintage Bordeaux you’d like to get off your hands? You can send that directly to Kristi.

At the end of each review will also be a Random Movie Recommendation for the month – just because. Some new releases and some oldies but goodies.

So without further ado, this month’s pick is…..

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel (Warning: Contains Spoiler Alerts)

Why did we pick this book? Yes this is an older book but one we thought that would be a great introduction to each of us personally. As you will learn, one of us LOVED the book and the other one was ready to jump out of the boat and drown herself from reading it. That being said let’s see what we have to say.

Ratings: Kristi (K): Georgia Peach

Christy (C): Rotten Banana (even past rotten for banana bread! We’re talking

MOLDY banana!!)

K: I absolutely LOVED this book. I found it heartbreaking and read it as if it were the boy and his mother on the raft. I don’t know, maybe it’s because I work in Mental Health, but I often see people who distance themselves from severe trauma by using symbolism through dreams, etc. I felt like at the beginning, the boy witnessed his mother’s murder which was too much for him to handle.

C: Huh?? All I saw was some poor kid on a raft who started hallucinating random animals next to him. I’ve worked in Mental Health too and I did NOT see any symbolism or I didn’t care too. I found the writing terribly boring and not at all interesting. I realize I am among a very few select readers who found this book boring because all I’d ever heard were rave reviews but I couldn’t stop thinking – just drown yourself already and spare us all the misery!!

**Insert Special Note here – We are both members of the same book club who read this and the group was split among the thoughts of the animals as metaphors. Half of our group agreed with K and there were also those who shared C’s beliefs as well. The group never did reach a consensus.

K: I think it’s one of those books that demonstrate how the reader of the book impacts how the book is perceived.

C: Funny because even though that doesn’t say a whole lot about me, (or maybe it does) I agree with that in some ways. Like I said, I know I’m one of very few people who did not like this book yet have heard that it’s affected people so profoundly but apparently I am just of in la la land because I just found it painful.

K: I don’t know, I just loved it. I remember the boy being absolutely ingenious with how he continued trying to survive.

C: Sorry, not me. I just kept thinking he was out in the sun too long and was starting to lose it.

Wow, how’s that for opposite views. But that’s what makes this blog so fun. We can agree to disagree and don’t feel the need to change each other’s views. We’d also love to hear your views. Feel free to send us your comments about this book or any that you’d like to see us review – we’re always looking for a good excuse to read a book.

Coming Next: We picked yet another book we both enjoyed but that still sparked some good discussion. See you in November!

Random Movie Recommendation: Coco Before Chanel

We both seem to love our little indie movies and this one was no exception. It is the story of Coco Chanel and how she came to be. It is French with subtitles so get ready to read (some more) but it’s very worth it. Audrey Tautou is absolutely brilliant in this role. Here’s the website if you want to see a preview:

www.sonyclassics.com/cocobeforechanel/

We braved Denver’s latest snowstorm (Oct. ’09) to see it and it really was worth it. We both loved it. Added note by Kristi: As often happens when I watch great foreign films, I forgot I was reading subtitles within the first minute of the movie. C: Me too!!

Side Note: Christy is working on another little random entry (name to be determined) that will focus on random book series and authors. Hopefully it will be as fun and informative as our regularly scheduled programming!!

Happy Reading!!!

Quick Book Recommendation

And now to interrupt your regularly scheduled programming:

No, this isn't a book review but I had to take a minute to recommend a book I'm reading right now. That's right, I'm not even finished with this book and I'm already recommending it because it's that fabulous. If you haven't yet read The Help by Kathryn Stockett, run don't walk to get a copy. Really. It's that good.

Book Review: The Angel's Game

Before We Begin: A Little About our Book Reviews

Disclaimer: If you are looking for reviews that discuss the juxtaposition of imagery and mood, the symbolism behind the broken flower pot in the garden, and the existential interpretations of a character’s motivation then this site is NOT for you. We’re just a couple of gals who love reading and know what we like and what we don’t. Simple as that.

How We Pick Our Book Selections: Whatever we feel like reviewing. There won’t be a rhyme or reason to what we pick except that it will either be something we have read, heard about, or wanted to read. There are plenty of new book reviews out there, so we’ll probably focus more on older books. Do you have a suggestion of a book you think we should review? Let us know in the comments. Disagree with our review? Let us know in the comments – nicely, of course. (You don’t want to get Christy mad – she’s brutal.) Do you have a bottle of good vintage Bordeaux you’d like to get off your hands? You can send that directly to Kristi.

At the end of each review will also be a Random Movie Recommendation for the month – just because. Some new releases and some oldies but goodies.
So without further ado, this month’s pick is…..

The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. (Warning: Contains Spoiler Alerts)
Why we picked this book? Okay, we did pick a newer book but we had a good reason. As you can see on the sidebar, Shadow of the Wind, is on both our TOP 5 Books of all time. We just HAD to read this book. Expectations were high - so what did we think?

Christy (henceforth known as C): His writing is so dark and eerie - very Gothic but not, you know, horror.

Kristi (henceforth known as K): Yeah, I love that style of writing. (NOTE: C & K both loved The Thirteenth Tale which was also a dark Gothic story involving a writer.) I started out loving this book and wanted it to be as amazing at Shadow of the Wind. He (Carlos Ruiz Zafon) has such a way with words.

C: I absolutely loved it until the end when it got – well, it felt like everything just stopped. I thought maybe something got lost when they translated the book and I didn’t feel that with SOTW.

K: I started really not loving it about three-quarters of the way through when it felt a little too similar to SOTW, only more confusing. Also, I got really frustrated with the MC toward the end. If he wasn’t the one that killed everyone else in the book, then he made some really dumb decisions. Like, everyone he visits dies minutes later and he decides it’s a good idea to leave Cristina alone in his house because he doesn’t think anything will happen to her?? Come on. But if he killed her - well, then that would fit.

C: I hadn’t thought about that. I would like it if he was the one that killed everyone because then at least it would all make sense.

K: The ending seemed symbolic of something but I don’t know what – it went right over my head.

C: Yeah, I wasn’t sure about that either.

C & K spend several minutes discussing the implications if David Martin was the killer through the whole book but decide that it doesn’t matter. We did love the secondary characters, especially David and Isabella’s relationship. Overall, we rated the book as follows:

C: An apple. I thought the first half of the book was a Georgia Peach and the last part was a Rotten Banana, so I’ll go with the apple since it’s in the middle. But after SOTW, I really wanted this to be the best Georgia Peach of all time. Sadly, it wasn’t for me.

K: An apple. I agree that it’s worth reading and maybe someone reading it without such high expectations would like it better. His gorgeous writing is always going to earn him at least an apple – but I was so hoping for a Georgia Peach.

C: Well, we agreed on our first pick.

K: Yeah, that’s not so controversial. What book have we read that we completely disagreed about? (C & K have discussion)

Coming Next: We picked a book for next month that we completely and totally disagree on – one of us LOVED the book and one of us felt like poking out her eyes with her knitting needles after reading it. See you in October!

Random Movie Recommendation: Julie & Julia.
We saw this movie a few weeks back and we both loved it. If you can relate to food, books, or struggling to reach your goals, you’ll enjoy this movie. ASIDE: Christy hated the book. A rare exception where the movie is better than the book.

Get Ready!!

Ok folks, after many weeks, we are finally ready to give you our first review.
We'll be reviewing The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. We apologize it took so long, but as you get to know us, it's just another one of our fun perks.
We're very excited to get this up and running and hope you'll enjoy it. And now that we're in the swing of things, maybe the next one won't be 6 months out!!!
Stay tuned and we should have our first review in the next few days!!!

Thanks for reading!!!

Upcoming Book & Movie Reviews

Coming soon - we're working on our first delectable picks just for you. See you soon!