Matched... or rather hooked...

             Let me me begin this book review saying that my favorite read in middle school was Lois Lowry's The Giver.  So when I saw that Matched by Ally Condie in the blogosphere was described by comparing it to The Giver I had to read it.  I am very happy that I put it to the front of my reading list!  It turned out to be a more adult type of version compared to my middle school read.  Condie creates a society where every person is dictated by the choices made for them by the government.  People are only allowed to enjoy a hundred different types of songs, books, poems, etc. Everyone in the society has to die by the age of eighty no matter what their physical state, and their jobs are chosen for them as well.  The most significant moment of a seventeen year olds life is their matching ceremony where they are given the person they will marry at the age of twenty.  This person is chosen by a formula known as a matching system.

           This story follows the adventures of Cassia after she discovers here match is her childhood best friend, which proves to be an unusual circumstance.  However, the day after her matching ceremony she goes to view a data card with her matches information only to have the picture of another childhood friend flash on the screen.  Despite being warned that this is just a glitch in the system, the incident along with the death of her grandfather sets the plot spiraling into motion.  Cassia soon begins to question if the society really has everything all figured out while she falls in love with both of her matches.  Even though the second one is forbidden to be with her.  

          I completed this book within twenty-four hours of reading it, and am excited for the second installment set to come out in November.  Condie really was able to create a lot of drama within in the confines of the societies restrictions.  She also did not do too bad with the love story.  My favorite thing about Matched is that it gave me a lot of food for thought such as books like Scott Westerfield's Uglies series.   

My Newest Obsession... Food Trucks!

       I have been slacking in both my reading and reviewing as the summer heat slows me down.  The official temperature for right now is ninety-two degrees, and it is only June!  Anyway on with the show. Last week I finished the book Food Truck: Dispatches and Recipes from the Best Kitchens on Wheels by Heather Shouse.  She took a tour across the country interviewing food trucks from the Pacific to the Atlantic and everywhere else in between.  The book is a sorted into geographical areas and each section presents beautiful photographs of the different people, trucks, and foods. 

      Since I watched The Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network, I have been fascinated by the concept of gourmet food trucks.  Probably because you the nearest ones are in New Orleans or Baton Rouge from here.  (I would  even love to start my own.)  This book can even be used as a travel guide to the food enthusiast.  Especially since Shouse has mapped out the locations of high traffic food truck areas in cities such as Portland, Oregon.  The trials and errors of the owners are highlighted in the personal interviews she has conducted with many of the vendors.  If you can dream it, it can now be found on a food truck!

     Some of my favorite trucks featured in Food Trucks were the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck, The Que Crawl in NOLA, and Potato Champion in Portland.

**In other news, I was quoted in The Sun Herald in an article about the arrival of the new books for the newly rebuilt Biloxi Public Library downtown.  

Something Borrowed Book to Movie Review

         A few weeks ago, I downloaded and read Something Borrowed on my Nook.  This makes my fifth book in my eBook Challenge.  I have avoided reading it because the plot is about the maid of honor cheating with her best friend's groom.  Every list I have looked up for popular "chick lit" has Something Borrowed as a top pick.  Really reading it makes me realize it is a solid example of the genre in its modern state.  The first chapter jump starts the book with a wild drunk fling between the relatable main character Rachel and the hunky Dex.  The rest of the book is a lot of self-reflection, memories of Rachel's friendship, and the cat/mouse game.  It was a quick fun read with a layer of predictability suitable for chick lit.

         Now the movie......

       With my Maid of Honor, I caught the five dollar movie of Something Borrowed on Tuesday.  I enjoyed the movie for a fun girly movie.  As far as my rating for the the book to movie conversion, it is quiet low.  They kept the integrity of the story for the most part.  Shifts were made in the roles of the characters, and their personalities that I felt were unnecessary.  They also added plot elements that came from nowhere.  I wonder how many producers nowadays even care about the initial validity of the book.    I would suggest for everyone out there to read the book, watch the movie, and draw your own conclusion.  Has anyone else already done that and have their own ideas to share?
        

"Boredom is Death"~ Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

"People who cease to believe in God or

 goodness altogether still believe in the devil. 

 I don't know why. No, I do indeed know why.  

Evil is always possible. 

And goodness is eternally difficult."

~Anne Rice Interview with the Vampire

*Lafayette Cemetery in the Garden District of New Orleans*

        I am ashamed to admit that I read Twilight before I read Interview with the Vampire.  Seriously, how could I have missed this in my "read everything supernatural" phase in high school?  My Edinburgh Book Club decided on our trip to NOLA last month that we all should experience the book together.  Although I liked what I read, I did not realize how different it really would be from what I expected.

        Anne Rice is part of the triumvirate of famous local authors in the Gulf Coast area.  (Another noteworthy example is John Grisham.)  Her first big novel was Interview with the Vampire published in the 1970s.  It begins with Louis's (the main vampire) story as he tells it to a random young man.  Anne Rice then begins a story of self-discovery of a immortal.  Her writing style is reminiscent of the great Gothic writers such as Mary Shelley or Elizabeth Gaskell.  Something a little dark, but very thoughtful.  Imagine the possibilities if mortal life never ended?  


         Anne Rice does use Interview as a springboard into her own struggle with religion, mortality, materialism, and love.  Years later she wrote Called Out of the Darkness about her own religious journey from atheism to Christianity.  I have really wanted to read it, but I am glad that I started with Interview before reading her autobiography or anymore of her supernatural novels.  

        

Popcorn Novels... Review of Strange Bedpersons

           This weekend I expected to spend entirely on one of the barrier islands off the coast.  However, we ended up on Deer Island staring at the casino's of Biloxi with sand blowing in our faces.  So yesterday afternoon we packed up early and this morning I spent a good four hours doing laundry.  Instead of getting my fix on TLC or random internet browsing I decided to enjoy a quick read.  Since it has been on my "too read" shelf a good while I picked up Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Cruise.  The book itself was nearly the size of a novella or short story. So I kicked back on the couch with a cup of coffee (then a second) and read it completely through by the time I finished the last load of towels.  

             Strange Bedpersons is my first Cruise romance novel.  I am a sucker for quick romance novels with modern themes.  This one was written in 1993 about a pair of thirty year olds that could not be more opposite.  The main character, Tess, is a liberal that grew up in a commune, and Nick is the up-tight  Republican lawyer with her heart.  The story line gets rolling when the unemployed Tess is propositioned by Nick to attend a weekend with the firm in order to pose as his fiance.  Then the series of events unravel that begins their cat and mouse game in the normal romance novel fashion.  Random sets of events tested the characters, ultimately bringing them together in a neat happily ever after package.  

             That being said, I did not dislike the book.  Cruise gave us just what she intended, a few hours of no thoughts attached smutty romance.  I enjoyed the descriptions of baggy nineties fashions, the environmental justice movement, and no mention of the internet.  Not much more to be said about the quick afternoon read.  How romance writers select the names of their characters is a burning question of mine.  Do they draw them out of a hat?  Is there an app for iPhone?  They seem to be so random, I do not know anyone names Tess nor Park another character in the book.  I swear one time I read on the back of a romance novel where the main rogues name was Devil!  Does anyone else have any theories?

Master of my Own Ship: Book Review for Michelle Goodman's My So Called Freelance Life

       We have all imagined some scheme to escape the day-to-day bump and grind of our 9 to 5 jobs.  (Or in some cases swing shift employment.)  Some of us may have dreamed of being photographers, business owners, or like me writers.  Seriously, who would not love getting up at nine, and working in their pajamas?  A magical world where the rules of regular employment do not imply, and you are the sole manager.   My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire by Michelle Goodman is written to be a springboard for that alternate career path. 

           Since graduating in 2008 with my Master’s degree, I have struggled consistently with my long-term goals.  For years, I had worked towards becoming a professor, but now that I took this pause to get some “real world” experience, get married, and have the white picked fence my goals have become garbled.  Therefore, in the spirit of every good academic I have been exploring all possibilities.  Law school, doctoral programs in multiple fields, an Etsy shop, bakery/coffee shop ownership, and becoming a full time writer have all come up on the table.  For someone in the same boat as me or ready to tell their boss to shove it can really benefit from Michelle Goodman’s guide. 

          Honestly, Goodman had me with her book dedication “For anyone who’s ever hit the snooze button five times in a row on Monday morning.”  The entire book is a combination of practical advice such as tax advice, stories from a variety of freelancing professionals, and Goodman’s thoughts on the career path.  It actually creates a light and easy to read atmosphere for a non-fiction/how to work.  I find the concept of freelance work liberating and frightening at the same time.  The book quickly broke down my misconceptions about being a professional freelancer.  It is a constant life of selling yourself to clients, balancing different types of projects, and its own monster when it comes to health insurance. 

            In conclusion, be prepared to learn the truth about being self-employed, and be ready to want to pick up her first book The Anti 9 to 5 Guide as soon as you finish this one.  

P.S. This is book four out of twenty in my eBook Challenge!

There be Fairies... Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

       I have to admit that I am always looking for my next young adult obsession.  So when I saw the ninety-nine cent book deal for the first book in Melissa Marr's series for my Nook a few weekends ago I downloaded it right away.  This marks my third book in the eBook Challenge I am participating in this year.  During my weekend at Buccaneer State Park I finished the book, and I have to say that I was not too impressed.  The gist of the book deals with a fairy king looking for his lost queen among mortal women.  The main character, Aislinn, is a mortal that can see the invisible fairies among her, and is terrified when she attracts the attention of the king Keenan.  The rest of the book introduces characters such as an evil Winter Queen, a past love of Keenan's known as the Winter Girl, and a mortal love interest for Aislinn.

        I can summarize why this book is not my favorite:

1.  Marr began to create a love triangle, and I do love a good love triangle!  However, she ended up falling short in creating an emotion pull towards either of the possible love interests.  It left me wanting a little something more.
2. Section of the book read like an after school special. Although she made an attempt at acknowledging sex in the plot, she would quickly made comments about STD's as well as other pitfalls of teenage sex.  Randomly, one character even manages to mention going to a health screening for STDs.  I had a hard time believing any teenager would have that conversation or that it had any place in a dark fantasy novel.
3. Without giving away spoilers, I did find some loose ends in the logic within the plot as well as unanswered questions at the end.

        That being said, I did not find the book completely unpleasant.  I enjoyed it for a quick weekend read, but I will not be rushing to download the sequels.  

Book Review: Haunted New Orleans by Troy Taylor

            Haunted New Orleans: History & Hauntings of the Crescent City by Troy Taylor is surprisingly the first ghost story book I have read about New Orleans.  Since, the time of my childhood I have had an unusual interest in the supernatural, and Halloween is my favorite holiday.  I read supernatural teen reads before it was cool in high school.  Although I have mostly lived next door to New Orleans, Louisiana most of my life my interest has only sparked six months ago when I began my job at Local History.  The peoples of the Gulf Coast from New Orleans to Mobile are so closely related in history, and culture that we could be a state of our own.  (That is a line I have stolen from my friend, and New Orleans enthusiast Jerry.)  


        Taylor begins with a very brief history of the city, and I do not know if he really focused on the right points in the city's history.  He sort of just followed the stereotypes of the city such as Mardi Gras, and Voodoo.  I am not saying that those things should be ignored, but there is such a unique atmosphere in the city for many more reasons.  He was not able to communicate the merging cultures of the French, Spanish, African American, and Southern American culture that has developed since the 1700s.   In his biography in the back of the book it only mentions that he has written over seventy titles in the supernatural/true crime, and lives in Chicago.  I have to wonder if he actually left his home in Chicago to write this small volume.

"The history of Old New Orleans ends with the last shots of the Civil War." ~Troy Taylor 

       I cannot disagree with this statement on page twenty anymore.  Sure, the city has changed with modern times, but the retention of the things "Old New Orleans" makes city so special.  Taylor also skims the next hundred and twenty years of city history from the Civil War to Hurricane Katrina.  F.D. Roosevelt's New Deal, World War II, and desegregation had such an impact on our lives in the south as well as New Orleans.  

         The actual stories listed in the book were entertaining, and all the famous stories were included.  Marie Laveau, St. Louis Cemetery, and the famous LaLaurie Mansion that were touched on when I went on a ghost tour about three years ago.  It was a good introduction for someone that had a passing interest or wanted to do some reading related to a New Orleans vacation.  One ghost story that I enjoy that was not listed is the ghost at Muriel's Restaurant at Jackson Square.  You can read the full account at the link.  It is a fantastic place for a meal as well, and Edward recommends the shrimp and ghost cheese crepes!  

        In closing, I wish Taylor would have done more than secondary source research in order to write about the ghost stories.  The "history" of the hauntings was lacking when such wonderful sources are still available in the city with the New Orleans Public Library and Historic New Orleans Collection.  However, if you would like a quick ghostly read about New Orleans it is a good choice.  

Wedding Wednesday: Book Review

The book The DIY Wedding; Celebrate Your Day Your Way by Kelly Bare has been an informative read in my wedding planning process. Since my engagement, I have read dozens of wedding planning books. They sound the same very quickly, and this book turned out to be a little different. My only negative comment with the book is she tried to cover too many topics very quickly resulting in skimmed chapters. Her chapter on favors was slim for the wide variety of options out their as a "do it yourself" opportunity. She made up for this in her precision in only putting very good and relevant information in her book.

She really had me with this quite in her "Attire" chapter....

"Wedding shoes can be downright heinous-clunky, poorly made-and the pretty ones are insanely overpriced. And because most people don't wear white shoes in everyday life, there aren't a lot of options outside of the wedding shoe-ghetto. Or are there?"

I loved it! She really spoke to me in those few lines. My plan is to find the sexiest blue pumps and sport them with my T-length dress. I also plan on having no time lapse between the ceremony and reception which she also suggests in her book. There are no picture diagrams, and on a few "do it yourself" projects. However, this is certainly high on my list about useful wedding books. If only she could break up each chapter into a book within itself. I am sure brides would buy the whole box set.

I am Number Four

*Finished within a day of download!*

A very well respected colleague suggested that I read I Am Number Four about three months ago. I put it on my "to-read" list on www.goodreads.com immediately, but soon forgot as all the holiday excitement arrived. The up and coming YA book remained as just a number on a growing list until last week when I saw the trailer for the movie coming out! The movie opens February 18, and has one of the characters from Glee (Dianna Agron aka Quinn) as a main character. Seeing the movie before I read the book can also be a real downfall for me as well. Therefore, I moved I Am Number Four to the top of the list and downloaded onto my Nook in order to forgo the wait for it at the library.

I don't regret it one bit! Edward and I are big fans of the now cancelled show Heroes, and this has that same feel with a more Young Adult Novel twist. The difference between this YA novel and others is that the character already know who and what he is from the get go. The author also does not go too far out in left field explaining the origins of the powers (known in the book as Legacies). It also clever that the book is advertised as being penned by a surviving planet elder known as Pittacus Lore. With the eve of the movie releasing approaching quickly, I will not reveal much more.

However, expect some good action, a love story, and the beginning of an epic battle where the fate of the Earth will remain to be seen. Now if only The Hunger Games movie will get here!

The Moviegoer

I suggested the novel The Moviegoer by Walker Percy for a book club I am involved with that encompasses my friends from graduate school at the University of Edinburgh. The novel is set during Mardi Gras week in New Orleans leading up to the main characters thirtieth birthday on Ash Wednesday. I chose it because when the girls come to visit me in about three weeks (YAY!) we can discuss the book in New Orleans itself.

While taking a class in the modern American novel, I semi-read a book titled Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis. It was set about ten years earlier than The Moviegoer, and is based on the same premise. A working class red blooded American man on his quest for meaning in his life. However, The Moviegoer had more clout than Babbitt. Maybe it is due to the fact that the southern characters come to life for me. I have seen bits and pieces of these characters throughout my entire life. The main character named Binx Bolling is a New Orleans stock broker from a well to do family that lives in the Garden District. Although he is an avid ladies main successfully seducing every secretary that works under him, the one woman he truly cares about is his step-cousin Kate who suffers from server depression. It is one of those novels that you have to read all the way through to get the 360 view of the characters life, and the main action happens in the last ten chapters or so. Before that the reader is treated with a real taste of what is left of southern culture.

I am going to save the rest of my thoughts for my book talk in March, but i must say it is a true Southern American classic.

* Me in New Orleans Spring of 2010*