Salem Falls

Oh, Jodi. I can't seem to get enough of Jodi Picoult's books. They draw me in and won't let me go until I finish them and find out what really happened. This book - Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult is a classic example.

Jack St. Bride has been framed. That much is clear. Or is it? Something has happened in his past that isn't made clear from the beginning. As he puts his life back together, and settles in Salem Falls, New Hampshire, he stands out as the handsome stranger who currently works at the local diner. He finds himself falling in love with the owner of the diner - Addie, who has a fuzzy background as well. As their relationship takes a giant step forward, so does Jack's past.

Jack was accused of raping a teenage girl in his past life. He claims to have been framed by the girl, but finds it difficult to support this argument when a girl in Salem Falls - Gillian - makes the exact same claim. Its like a reoccurring nightmare for Jack, who has now been labeled once again and is at a standstill in his relationship with Addie.

One of the things that I enjoy so much about Jodi's books is that she constantly keeps you guessing. Just when you think you know what must have happened, or how it must surely end - BAM! She switches everything up, and a plot that you never could have dreamed of appears. Additionally, you don't have the luxury of knowing all of the facts up front. Its great.

If you're new to Jodi Picoult's writing, give it a try. If you are a long-time fan, make sure you visit this one.

The Pilot's Wife

The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve has been out for quite a few years, but I just read it this summer. My soon to be mother-in-law let me borrow it after she and my father-in-law both read it and couldn't put it down. (so this books appeals to both females AND males!) Even thinking about it now, months later, I can still remember the suspense and driving sense of curiosity I felt throughout the whole book.

Kathryn is the wife of pilot Jack Lyons. After being married for 16 years, their relationship has had its ups and downs, but has been manifested in the form of their fifteen year old daughter, Mattie. When Jack is tragically killed in a flight that he was manning, and the black box reports that it was the fault of the pilot, Kathryn starts down a path from which there is no turning. She begins to uncover the truth behind her husband's death and more importantly, his entire adult life.

Shreve's writing is quick and deep, never leaving you wanting for descriptions or plot. As a reader, I often delve too deeply into books and find myself intertwined with the fictional characters. This makes the pain felt by the characters something tangible, and the situations something to struggle with mentally. I couldn't help wondering what I would have done in Kathryn's situation. Would I have handled the news with such grace? Would I have been able to move on from such deception?

Not unlike Jodi Picoult's works, this book will stay with you from start to finish and afterwards. Enjoy!

One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding

I read this really interesting book - One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding by Rebecca Mead at the end of last spring. Since then, I myself have been welcomed into the long line and tradition of engaged women. While it is a great place to be at in life, it also brings to mind so many questions that were never thought of before. Why do we celebrate weddings the way that we do? How did the wedding industry come to be a $161-billion industry in this country? Does it really matter if you have a "color scheme" or not?

Mead interviews various people involved in the wedding industry, from the Chinese laborers who hand-sew beads onto expensive gowns and receive very little payment in return, to the employees at Disney who can craft the perfect dream wedding at Cinderella's castle, to small towns that sustain their church by turning it into a wedding chapel. A lot of the pomp and frill of weddings has always bothered me, and I couldn't quite put my finger on the reason why. After reading this book I am able to say, "Aha! And THAT is why it has bothered me!" Because a wedding isn't about all of the pomp and frills. Its a day - and one that is over very quickly. Put thought and care into its structure of course, but make sure that you are putting equal time into the most important planning and preparation of all - for marriage. At a time when the divorce rate is so high it should be a necessity.


Whether or not you are getting married, have been married for years, or are just interested in the thought process of the greater American population, you may want to look into this book. It will certainly give you something to chew on.

She lives!

I'm back! I am ashamed and appalled that it has taken me so long to return to this blog. Please forgive my lack of attentiveness. And now, back to business. Since we spoke last, I've devoured so many books that I want to tell you about. So no more messing around. Prepare yourselves for a new post.

Reading Together...

Its been somewhat busy in my life lately, and I feel that I am juggling lots of projects in my free time: organizing my life, a new cross-stitch that I just started, reading three very different books, looking for library jobs, relaxing, and getting ready to work on several wedding presents. Since this blog deals with books, let me tell you what I'm working my way through now.

Balliett, Blue. The Wright 3.

This is a book that I have been reading out loud with my significant other. It seems to be the perfect book for a read-aloud, and I would suggest it to families, couples, or friends who enjoy discovering entertaining family-friendly reads. Its been so much fun to work our way through this book. It reads very quickly, and if neither of us had to get up for work in the morning we would be much farther along than we are! Calder, Petra, and Tommy are very real child characters who lead their audience on a great introduction to Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House and their attempts to save the house from destruction. While educational, it is not textbook in any stretch of the imagination! Prepare to be sucked into their adventures. For those of you in the Chicago area, it would be great pair this book with a visit to the Robie House. Check here for information on The Wright 3 tour!

Willas, Jim. God's Politics.

I'm only on the second chapter of this one, so I won't write much now. So far, it has really given me a lot to think about. Especially in light of the upcoming elections. Why do people vote for the candidates that they do? And how is it that there came to be "hot-button" issues in the first place? This is something that I know I have been guilty of in the past. I think living in the city and becoming more aware of the people around me has expanded my horizons and my political ideals. At this point, I'm trying to learn more about the candidates and what they are each standing for. I'm hoping this book will help me to keep my eyes and ears open as I make a decision about which candidate will claim my vote when November rolls around. In any case, Jim - as of chapter two - is doing a solid job of presenting weaknesses from both the Republican and Democratic parties. Check it out if you are interested in gaining a more well-rounded view of politics and what it means to vote for a candidate - blue or red.

Roberts, Nora. Heart of the Sea.

Okay, say what you will, but I confess that I love Nora Roberts' romance novels. I greatly enjoy her characters and their interaction with each other. This is the third in the Irish Trilogy, following Jewels of the Sun. I predicted what this book was going to be about before I picked it up. There was only one umarried Gallagher sibling remaining, and some new blood was going to be brought in when the family decided to join forces with the American Magee family. If you've read these books, I'm sure you've picked that up as well. The predictability of the plot and characters doesn't detract from the fact that Ireland is an awesome place to fall in love. And even better if you are helping a long dead lover finally become reunited with her faerie prince! While you might not classify this book as intellectually engaging, it provides a great balance for God's Politics and The Wright 3.

Secrest, Meryle. Frank Lloyd Wright: A Biography.

Title: Frank Lloyd Wright: A Biography

Author: Meryle Secrest

Publication Date: 1998

Number of Pages: 652

Genre: Nonfiction/Biography

Geographical Setting: Europe, North America, Asia

Time Period: 1869-1959, roughly

Plot Summary: This biography of Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the world's most most gifted architects is compellingly written by Meryle Secrest. Wright's ancestors are explored, along with their thoughts on life, religion, and occupation, giving great comprehension to the personal devotion and calling he felt for the architectural world. Exploring his many finanical difficulties and relationship troubles, Secrest invites readers to see Wright as en entire person, and not merely through the lens of talented architect or romantic struggler. Secrest discusses the many houses built by FLlW, the history and method that went into the construction of each, and also the unique combination that became the Taliesin Fellowship. Secret has a delightful way of telling the story of Frank Lloyd Wright -in a way that makes it impossible to put down the story of this one man and his impact on American architecture.

Similar Works (nonfiction): Friedland, Roger - The Fellowship: The Untold Story of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Fellowship (an insider look at Wright's group of apprenticed architects and their time at Taliesin); Amin, Karmal - Reflections from the Shining Brow: My Years With Frank Lloyd Wright and Olgivanna Lazovich (a personal story of a young Taliesin apprentice, highlighting the life and mannerisms of Wright's third wife); Tafel, Edgar - Years with Frank Lloyd Wright: Apprentice to Genius (yet another look at an apprentice's experience working with Frank Lloyd Wright).

Horan, Nancy. Loving Frank

Title: Loving Frank
Author: Nancy Horan
Publication Date: 2007
Number of Pages: 384
Genre: Historical Fiction/Best Seller
Geographical Setting: Oak Park, IL; Europe; Japan
Time Period: early 1900s

Plot Summary: The story of Mamah Borthwick Cheney and Frank Lloyd Wright is beautifully described in this title by Nancy Horan. From the beginning of their affair in 1904 until 1914, this is Mamah’s story of loving a man who – like herself – was married, talented, and extraordinarily complex. The ups and downs, moments of celebration and exhilaration, as well as tragedy and heart-shattering pain are all covered in this historical novel. Elements of Wright’s architectural plans, as well as insight into his personal behaviors and downfalls are particularly fascinating. Horan has combined the facts that were available regarding the Borthwick/Wright love story with probable dialogue, creating a story that is gripping in its authenticity.

Similar Authors and Works (Fiction): Hambly, Barbara – The Emancipator’s Wife (famous misunderstood woman – Mary Todd Lincoln and her issues within society’s constraints, tragedy); Morgan, Jude – Passion (story told by the main women in the lives of Keats, Shelley, and Lord Byron); Mills, Mark – Amagansett (tragic death of female lover, candid look at society in the 1940s).

Similar Authors and Works (Nonfiction): Drennan, William – Death in a Prairie House: Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Murders (closer look at the murder of Mamah Borthwick and her two children); Wright, Frank Lloyd – Frank Lloyd Wright: An Autobiography (his life from his own perspective, further reading regarding the women in his life); Forden, Sara G. – The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed (famous family, real-life tragic murder, establishment of current trends – albeit in fashion, not architecture).