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.