The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

I just finished this book.  When I started it, I thought it was going to be a lot like the movie Julie & Julia.  I didn't like the beginning....until about the first 30 pages were finished, then it started to get more interesting.  Basically this book is based around a cooking class, and goes through short stories of the students and what lead them to the class, and at the end of the book they all become a part of one anothers lives.  It was a good light read, something different than I usually read.  I don't think I'd have read it though unless it was part of my bookclub list (it's January's book).  That's really all I have to say about this book.

The Bridges of Madison County & A Thousand Country Roads by Robert James Waller

Ok.  I read "The Bridges of Madison County" in October.  I'm late posting, but I wanted to wait until I had read the epilogue, "A Thousand Country Roads", which I read in November, so I'm still late posting.  The first book I read all in one night.  It was pretty good.  It had to be for me to sit and read for three plus hours.  But it was a short book.  And I had the time.  I did enjoy the book.  I thought maybe it would have ended differently.  It's about a man who travels the world due to his career in photography.  On one trip he meets a woman, falls in love, and then I won't give away the ending, but they don't stay together.  It all happens in the course of four days. 

The second book, took me much longer to read, even though it about the same in length.  I didn't enjoy the second book.  There is a twist thrown in there that I view as unnecessary.  Basically it was written to satisfy people about the untold story of the main character.  And his life after meeting the woman he fell in love with.  I would not recommend reading the second book.  If you want a summary look it up, or I'd be happy to share.  It just gives you hope that maybe the end of the last book wasn't "the end" for the two in love.  But it was.

I've been extremely busy and haven't had much time to read (mostly due to my lunch hour being cut in half to accumulate time to take off over Christmas), but I am still trying to finish "Silent in the Grave" which I am still very thoroughly enjoying.  I shall post when it is completed, and hopefully get a few more books read over the break, before our book club starts up again in January (we took December off for a break due to the stress and hustle of Christmas).  Cheers!

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

So I just started this book today on my lunch break.  I only have a half hour lunch from now until Christmas so I can book some time off over the holidays, so I only read the first two chapters.  One of my co-workers lent me this to read, and so far it's very descriptive so I can picture exactly what's happening.  It's the kind of book that is good right from the beginning, so it jumps right into what's happening instead of having all the crap leading up to it.  It set in the 1880's so it'll be interesting just by the things that were going on back then.  Like already her husband has died and it's talking about her going into mourning so she must wear nothing but black clothes and the whole house has to be transformed into black everything, even her handkerchiefs must be outlined in black.  I like it so far.  Hopefully it keeps my interest.  :)


Ok.  So on Wednesday night I finally finished this book that I started in November and haven't had much time to read.  Not the time it deserved.  Had I picked it up at a less busy time of the year I know I would have had this finished in two weeks.  It was wonderful.  I absolutely love reading this type of time, how they talk, and have servants in the house for everything.  Being called "my lady."  Sigh* What a time.  It had a very unexpected twisted ending.  Quick summary, Julia, quickly a widow in the beginning of the book, discovers that her husband may have been murdered.  She spends the bulk of the novel trying to piece together the events leading up to her husbands death and who the murderer is.  I think I shall have to read the second book as there are embers to a potential romance that do not amount to anything in this book, and I'm a sucker for romance.  I'd hope the embers would turn into flame in the second book.  When I get to it (it will be months for sure, I have a lot of books to read!) I'll be sure to let you know how it went.

House Rules by Jodi Picoult

Ok.  So I just finished this book on Monday.  I'd like to say that I didn't even realize I was nearing the end of the book, because I expected so much more to happen.  I'd also say that the end was a bit disappointing.  It had the outcome I suspected, but I felt like it left me hanging.  And I do NOT like that.  For this reason, it doesn't top the favorites list by Jodi.  It will stay at number three.

However, it was still an amazing book, given that I was so absorbed I didn't even realize how close to the end of the book I was!  I also love the way she writes for Jacob.  How he thinks and his reason behind things is so interesting.  It makes one stop and think about things we say that seem so natural to us.  But Jacob being in a literal world doesn't get them.  He explains them well, if you read the book, you'll understand.  It's difficult to put into words.  It's also very interesting to read about his routine being SO important and if it's disrupted he doesn't have the skills to cope.  Like every day of the week has a different color and on that day all the food is that color and his clothes are that color.  And trying to get clothes on Jacob that don't match the color of the corresponding day, makes him have an outburst. 

That's all I will say.  I think if you find that little blurb interesting, you should read the book.  It seems large but it goes by SO quickly.  Especially if you have more time to read than I do these days.  Anyway, I liked the book so much that in the middle of it I decided to put it on our book club list for my next turn (which won't be until March). 

If you read this book I want to know what you think of it, comment! 

Happy reading.  =)

Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult

I read this book in January.  It was so long ago that I honestly can't remember it.  This was the first book I read by Jodi Picoult.  I obviously liked it enough to keep reading her books.  So grateful to my friend for recommending her, and loaning me the books she owns to read!

The Pact by Jodi Picoult

I read this book in February.  And I have to say that this is by far my most favorite book by Jodi Picoult ever.  I couldn't put it down.  I didn't know what was coming next.  One thing that took a while to get used to though is that Jodi likes to write as one character and then in the next chapter flip to another character.  So just when you're getting so involved in one story and you want to know what happens next, BAM!  you have to wait.  Don't know if she'll ever top this one for me.  Change of Heart may be a very close second though, if not equal.  Definitely loved this book.

The Daring Game by Kit Pearson

I read this book in February.  I don't remember where I got it, and I couldn't remember what happened in it, so I decided to read it again.  It's a good pre-teen book.