Chocolat

Chocolat by Joanne Harris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book deserves 5 stars for the descriptions alone. Everything is so detailed it's like you are a fly on the wall hanging out and listening and watching the characters. The food descriptions were high quality and made me feel warm and fuzzy. The items were made with such love that you could feel it exuding from the pages. I find the descriptions of the characters are very intense and they give you a perfectly clear picture of what that character is supposed to be like in looks and mannerisms. There is a lot of continuity issues if you are comparing the book and the movie. Things happen in the book in a different order and certain things happen that don't in the movie, ie. Pantoufle in the book is a rabbit and in the film he's a kangaroo. I prefer the kanga than the rabbit for Pantoufle as I can see him being a way cooler animal bopping around with Anouk. There were certain situations that were handled way better in the book than the the movie. I will say though, after reading both the book and the movie, there is a more well rounded picture of how things happen (Like Ted Chiang's The Story of Your Life and the movie Arrival dove tail completing the meaning and plot). I am currently looking in to other literature that will be doing this so that I can see if there are any books that have the connection like these two did. 5 Stars.... I feel like I haven't given that out in a very long time.


View all my reviews

Harvest

Harvest by Tess Gerritsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book didn't disappoint BUT there is never a time when Tess Gerritsen disappoints. Her drama/ thriller/ mystery type of writing littered with medical jargon is a like gold. I love the jargon and if I don't know what it means (rarely) it's something to research and learn about. The gritty, bloody descriptions are my fav as Gerritsen doesn't let anything slip away or make it less gross. I live for gritty writing and that's probably one of my favourite things to read. I think this particular book would make a great idea for a film and I think it would do way better than the Rizzoli/Isles books. 5 Stars, can't go higher than that.

REVIEW FROM October 11, 2011
This book was absolutely fabulous. I was looking for something gritty when I went to the book store and the people were suggesting stuff BUT I decided to take this book. Then I started reading it and it was even better then what I had hoped for. For all those people who like their medical dramas, ie. ER, chicago hope, grey's anatomy, this book is 10 times better then those shows will ever be, even when they are in their peak air times. This book is down right dirty. Surgeons using words like 'cut' when opening somebody's body cavity during surgery, harvesting organs for transplants, medical jargon supreme. And another twist to this book, I didn't once figure out who was behind the crime, therefore making it even more fab! Tess Gerritsen hits this one out of the park and gives herself a chance at two home runs instead of the proverbial one. LOVED IT (even minute, every heart beat!)


View all my reviews

Long Hard Road Out of Hell

The Long Hard Road Out of Hell by Marilyn Manson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to say when reading this book it was like Marilyn Manson was telling all these stories directly to me. I realize that Neil Strauss is a co-author but it was a very personal way of writing the book. Sadly the book ends before Marilyn gets involved with Rose McGowan or my personal fav Dita Von Teese. There are a few sporadic pictures at the end but nothing with Dita. I would have liked to read about is marriage to Dita but I'm sure there is more than enough material to write another book. One thing that Marilyn included was the legal actions brought against him by various activists saying he was performing lewd contact/acts on stage, killing live animals and also brutalizing band members and women that were on stage (This is at the end of the book) AND in the beginning of the book he actually states what he did during those times that were speculated by the activists and the people complaining, concluding that they were making assumptions and using false information. I found the part about Satanism very fascinating as it is not really about worshipping the devil it's about making choices and that people choose their path (at least that's what I gathered from what I read). Marilyn Manson is extremely bright and probably on the level of being a genius. He is very creative and wants to make people think while using his craft in ways different than the cultural norms. The book was well written and I enjoyed reading every bit of it. I would give it a 4.5 but I'm going to give a solid 4 as I don't quite think it's a 5 star book.


View all my reviews

Hands of My Father

Hands of My Father: A Hearing Boy, His Deaf Parents, and the Language of Love by Myron Uhlberg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had really mixed feelings about this book. My heart went out to Myron because he was the interpreter for his deaf parents and it often put him in an awkward situation, ie at the deli or when his father's co workers were asking how he turned out to be 'normal'. He got to learn sign language and use it fluently, and he really cherished when he got to speak and communicate with the hearing. A major point was that deaf people tend to colonize in certain areas or times. For example, the parents and kids of multiple deaf families would go to the beach and sit in a circle together and different people would be communicating across what would be a conversational line. Another important point was, that during that time, not many people communicated using sign language and interpreters were not readily available at hospitals to help the deaf. Luckily for Myron's father, there was Myron BUT even then there were things said that Myron chose not to say to his father bc of the type of comments that were made.


View all my reviews

Weekends At BelleVue

Weekends at Bellevue: Nine Years on the Night Shift at the Psych E.R. by Julie Holland
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book but it was more like a collection of stories/incidences that Julie Holland went through or had to deal with. Her perspective as a Doctor on the admission end of a psychiatric facility was quite intriguing bc not only did they take mental health patients but they also took police captures/ people that were considered possibly a threat so that they could keep them in isolation in a ward or they could take them to holding at the police station. A very high stress job but she worked 2 1/2 to 3 days but sometimes went in to help during crisis times. The division of the floors was very interesting and also the 'tests' they used to judge how much of a risk patients were and whether they could out in the world with some guidance or be 5150'd (which is an involuntary confinement of the patient). There was medium medical jargon, which was ok but I would have liked to see more as I love reading medical stuff and learning new facts, situations, and trials/tribulations. Julie was a great help and mentor to those that were her following, which is really hard to find. She treated her interns like people and not slaves. Good book but not fantastic, there for 3 stars.... not enough for 3.5 or a 4.

Homer's Odyssey

Homer's Odyssey by Gwen Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Note - This book is a re-read. Date Finished March 25, 2018

I have been reading a lot of books about people lately and I wanted something different. I wanted to break free of the dramatic saga known as life. So I chose this book. The picture on the front cover of the book looks like a cat with it's eyes closed, as you learn about Homer's story you find out that he is blind. Homer gives hope to everyone and proves that he is more then just a blind cat. He's the comic character of Daredevil in a pint size version with a furry coat. He's a Wonder Cat that has no boundaries. Most of all Homer is an inspiration to not only his owner(s) but to everyone that he meets, whether they are a cat lover or not. After a meet and greet with Homer people become cat lovers! When Cooper moves to New York City to get a job and take charge of her life she packs her 3 cats in carriers and takes them with her. Things are going great until........the horrible day of September 11 occurs. Cooper's patience and love for her feline friends is tested. She has to jump through many proverbial hoops to save her cats. In the end the cats are fine but they have been rattled by being separated from their owner for several days without any warning. (As a sidebar - it was refreshing to hear how the ASPCA was willing to help many pet owners be re-united with their pets after such a devastating occurrence. It truly shows that in desperate situations humanity will band together and help each other.)The book also tells the tale of Cooper falling in love and marrying her best friend. A dream that so many of us wish would come true. Overall the book was fantastic and really brought to light that even animals with disabilities can live a worthwhile and happy life. This book gets 5 stars for being a great story as well as a true tale of how sweet life can be. I found myself finishing the last few pages off with a smile and that alone was well worth it!

NOTE - Above Review has a date finished of December 26, 2012

Quiet Journey

Quiet Journey: Understanding The Rights Of Deaf Children by Joanne S Cripps
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm not sure if I have mentioned it here or not but I have taken up learning American Sign Language. I go every Sunday and meet with a study group and we are helping and learning from each other. As we were talking one day about Deaf culture, I was very saddened to hear how isolated a community they are. I thought it would be interesting to learn about Deaf Culture through a variety of resources. This was the first book that I read. It isn't quite textbook style but it is formatted like a textbook in that is has different chapters relating to different areas ie. School, family life, resources in the community etc. The main point that was scattered throughout the book was that Deaf people and their families,etc need to be aware of their rights as well as the importance of learning sign language. This book was written by a Canadian author from Ontario and at the time in early 2000, there were only 3 Deaf schools in Ontario. I found this appalling... I thought there has to be Deaf people everywhere, not just in the areas of these 3 schools. It turns out there are Deaf people everywhere but they tend to be together in communities and are very protective of said communities. Since sign language is really taught as another language option in school, and not all schools either, the amount of people that are hearing and can communicate fluently in sign is very limited. So while I am on my signing journey, I am going to immerse myself in Deaf culture. I want to read about families that are both Deaf and hearing. I want to read about the do's and don'ts when talking or being around Deaf people. I want to hear personal trials and tribulations and successes regarding sign language and Deaf culture. I want to learn so much about this language because I have wanted to do so for a very long time but was unable to teach myself for reasons you may understand. I watched the series Switched at Birth and there is TONS of signing in that show and it was a really great show. I also find sign language such a beautiful language. When you can watch people signing together and having a full out conversation it's such a beautiful thing and there's so much emotion AND sign language is very blunt and to the point. There's no skirting around things, people who sign just tell it like it is and I love that because that's how I live my life. While I am working on finishing the 52 book challenge from time to time you will see a book review about Deaf culture and it's really quite interesting... maybe it will spur your interest to take time to learn something new! Happy trails guys and a HUGE thank you to the people that come back every month and read my reviews on various items. Being accountable to you guys means a lot to me and definitely gives me a purpose.