Lisa @ Bellevue Archive.

A really strong friendship--one that will get you through death, divorce, and bad bathing suits--takes a while to develop.  Years, in fact.  But once you have it, it can weather many catastrophes.  In A Year on Ladybug Farm by Donnal Ball, Cici, Lindsay and Bridget, all in their 50s, have this kind of friendship.  They are at a point in life when they need to either put their energy into making their dreams happen, or admit that they won't.  Proving that it is easier to take that first step with a friend along, they find the perfect house--an old mansion in rural Virginia--and commit to living together for one year.

Their new home has a few things they don't need, like dry rot, a truant teenager, and thousands of hibernating ladybugs.  Accustomed to life in the suburbs, it takes the women a while to adapt to the country.  Bridget expects that growing a garden will involve some hard work.  What she doesn't expect is the disappearance of entire plants.  Cici, accustomed to the attitudes of men in the city, is pleasantly surprised when the men in her local hardware store politely ignore her instead of offering their opinions on what constitutes a project too big for a woman. And all three are amazed by their resident handyman, who charges $10 for any job, no matter how large or small.  They are determined to meet the challenges with a positive attitude, and start by hanging a sign at the driveway--Welcome to Ladybug Farm.

The women can't leave their old lives behind completely.  Bridget and Cici have grown children who think they have lost their minds.  Lindsay is offered the teaching job she has always wanted, just as she's deciding whether to throw in the towel on the farm.  As they search for a balance between their old and new lives, they find that making decisions isn't any easier the second time around.

As someone who moved from a small town to the big city, I confess to finding a lot to laugh about in this book.  It's a neighborly kind of laugh, though.  If you would like to share the ups and downs of three good friends who are young enough to go after their dreams, read A Year on Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball.

Book lovers believe that reading a book can change a life.  So what happens if the life that is changed is one that touches many others?  That is the question at the heart of Alan Bennett's charming novella, The Uncommon Reader.  The reader in question is Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.  Following her dogs around the palace grounds one day, she comes across the local library bookmobile.  Her natural curiosity prompts her to go inside, and, once there, she feels it's only polite to check out a book.  As she decides what book to select, she meets the only other patron of the traveling library, a young man named Norman who works in the kitchens.  From that point on, books and Norman have a growing influence on the Queen.

Many of us will find Her Majesty's behavior familiar.  She pleads a cold so that she can finish her book.  She begins to question others about their reading habits.  Her walks with the corgis become shorter.  After a lifetime of duty, she begins to read for the simple enjoyment of it.  The reaction of her family, staff, and subjects is less than enthusiastic. 

This portrayal of Queen Elizabeth is light and fun, and the peek into her life, whether accurate or not, is fascinating to consider.  At 120 pages, the novella is easy to slip into a pocket. The audio version is narrated by the author, who portrays the characters with great skill and humor.  In either version, you'll enjoy the impact of books on The Uncommon Reader.

Mehrunissa, whose name means "the Sun of Women," is born to Persian refugees in 1577 as they flee into the lands of the Mughal Empire.  Her birth marks a change in the fortunes of her family, and she is raised on the fringes of Emperor Akbar's court.  At the age of eight, Mehrunissa attends the festivities as the heir to the throne, Prince Salim, marries for the first time.  In that moment, she vows that she, too, will marry Salim and become a princess.  Several years later, Prince Salim is enthralled by teenaged Mehrunissa from the first time he sees her, just days before her marriage to another man.  Over the next decade and a half, Salim fights for his position in the empire as Mehrunissa endures a loveless marriage.  Finally, after years apart, Mehrunissa must decide if she will stand by her vow even if it means losing the man she has always wanted.

Much more than a simple love story, The Twentieth Wife, by local author Indu Sundaresan, is a fascinating look at the Mughal Empire during its height.  Spanning much of present-day India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, the Empire had a profound influence on language, culture, government, architecture and cuisine.  Sundaresan combines meticulous research with vivid description, bringing the land and people to life.  The sounds, smells, and tastes of India come through on every page, while the descriptions of court life provide action and intrigue.  Even though the historically-based ending of the story is no surprise, Sundaresan's skill as a storyteller kept me enthralled and wondering what would happen next.  That little sadness that I feel at the end of a wonderful book was tempered by knowing that the tale of Salim and Mehrunissa is continued in The Feast of Roses.

As a child, I loved fall, but these days it often means too many activities in too little time.  The last thing I want to think about when I get home is what to cook for dinner, so I'm a perfect candidate for make-ahead meals.  You know the concept.  You prepare a big batch of something and freeze it in individual meals, then just thaw and cook a meal when you need one.  I first tried this years ago, but most of the recipes were heavy on the cream of mushroom soup--not a good fit for my household.  I've continued to try each new make-ahead-cookery book, and my favorite is Fix, Freeze, Feast by Kati Neville and Lindsay Tkacsik.  

One thing that sets this book apart is that their recipes are based on quantities that you would find in your local warehouse store.  Rather than standing in the meat section trying to work out how many packages will give you enough chicken breasts for the recipe, you're already armed with a list that is in warehouse-tray multiples.  As someone who wants to spend as little time shopping as possible, I fully appreciate this feature. 

The recipes themselves are straightforward, with only a few steps and generally not requiring unusual ingredients.  If you aren't sure whether you'll like a recipe, it is usually simple to try it out by making only one meal.  It is also easy to adapt the recipes to allow for food allergies and family preferences.  Are you a fan of cream of mushroom soup?  They have a great recipe for that.  The authors write in a clear, friendly style that is a pleasure to read and inspires confidence. 

While others may spend Labor Day enjoying one last outing, I'll be freezing batches of chicken curry and snickerdoodles, thanks to Fix, Freeze, Feast. 

 

I'm breaking a personal rule here.  I usually blog books that you are likely to find sitting on the shelf. After all, if I hear about a book that sounds really great, I don't want to wait for it.  So perhaps the fact that I'm writing about Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy, even though many people already have it on hold, says something about how much I enjoyed it.

The story starts with Dr. Clara Casey, who has been passed over for a promotion that she thought was hers. Instead, she's given the thankless job of starting up a new (and underfunded) outpatient clinic for heart patients.  She's also dealing with two difficult adult daughters and a strained relationship with her former husband.  The year that she has committed to the clinic seems to stretch out in front of her with little hope for improvement. 

As she hires staff and the clinic begins to see patients, she inadvertently begins to build a community that is a slice of modern Ireland.  The Polish immigrant whom Clara hires first is a young woman working too many jobs to count, in the hope of sending money back home to her mother.  As the book unfolds, we meet a fascinating cast of characters, including a woman caring for her elderly mother, a priest troubled by a stalker, a nurse with a secret, and a snooty society maven.  The interconnected lives of these people bring to mind a small town where everyone knows everyone else--with the good and bad outcomes that are to be expected.

I enjoyed Heart and Soul as an audiobook. Reader Sile Bermingham was brilliant and performed every character with skillful attention to accent and personality.  Whatever form you select, Heart and Soul will be worth the wait.  (If you want a different take on the new Ireland, try The Deportees and Other Stories by Roddy Doyle, blogged in March.)

Maynard Gogarty and Jennica Green are both quirky people who are trying to find their places in the world and doing it a bit more slowly than their parents would like.  They meet first on the New York subway, in a short intersection of two travel routes; then, later, they meet again and begin a romance.  This is not a typical romantic novel, however.  The story is told through the accounts of some 35 different characters, all of whom have an opinion about Maynard and Jennica's relationship.  From their family members, to Jennica's oldest friend, to the super in Maynard's building, to the kids on the subway, each new point of view provides a small piece of the story. 

I'll be honest here.  Although I have already suggested Maynard & Jennica to a couple of people, I can't say with any certainty that I liked it.  So why did I suggest it?  Well, I thought it was funny, for one thing.  While Maynard and Jennica are both a little off-beat, some of the other characters are completely over the top.  It's not necessarily a comedy, in that there are some serious situations and issues that make the story more than a lighthearted look at romance.  For me, those issues gave the story some balance.

I also found the format intriguing.  Changing the narrator so frequently felt a bit disjointed at first, but I was able to get into the story and eventually came to enjoy the view from inside so many characters' heads.  So, while I'm not sure I liked it, I'm glad that I read it.  Somehow, that assessment fits this book.  If you are looking for a different point of view on relationships, try Maynard & Jennica by Rudolph Delson.

Which would you rather be--the smart one or the pretty one?  For Ava Nickerson and her sister, Lauren, that choice has already been made.  Ava is the smart one, a successful lawyer who lives near her parents and always does the responsible thing.  Lauren is the pretty one; she's younger, more outgoing, and lives on the other side of the country.  When a family emergency and her own lack of financial responsibility bring her back home, Lauren is subjected to Ava's lectures even as she tries out the role of the "good" daughter.  In retaliation, she looks up the boy to whom her parents betrothed Ava--in jest, of course--when they were children.

The Smart One and the Pretty One, by Claire LaZebnik, doesn't wallow, but it does look at the ways in which our families determine how we see ourselves.  Lauren was encouraged to rely on her good looks by a father who, with no malice intended, clearly implied that she would never get anywhere by using her brain.  Ava was rewarded for being bright by people who communicated their contempt for any attempt at outward beauty.  In opposition, each one helped to define the other.  Sisters don't always recognize personal boundaries, though, and that is where the fun comes in.  For Ava and Lauren, who have each other's happiness at heart even when they are nagging, the entry of childhood fiancé Russell provides a way for each of the sisters to leave behind a bit of their old selves.

If you have ever envied, picked on, been embarrassed by, loved, stood up for, or been furious at your sister, you might find something familiar in The Smart One and the Pretty One.

I've always been a fan of series fiction.  If you have read many of my earlier posts, you'll know that I like novels that have a good amount of action, some kind of puzzle, and a happy ending.  I also like to get to know the characters, and that can be hard to do when they're busy figuring out whodunit.  A series lets you see the characters develop over several books, providing ample opportunity to explore their relationships.  One of my favorite series, the In Death novels by J.D. Robb, has all of these attributes, plus the bonus of being set in New York City in the not-too-distant future.

I recently finished Salvation in Death, in which Lieutenant Eve Dallas investigates the poisoning of a priest who may not be exactly what he appears.  The religious theme provides an interesting look at the recurring characters, including non-religious Eve; Detective Delia Peabody, who was raised in a "free-age" community; and Eve's husband Roarke, who, while not a practicing Catholic, grew up in Ireland where the culture and religion were intertwined.  The differences come into play right from the beginning, as Eve sees the church where the murder took place as just another crime scene, while Peabody struggles with her discomfort over what feels to her like trespassing in a holy place.  In a lighter example, Eve relies on Roarke, who made most of his millions in shady deals before meeting Eve, as her expert on Catholicism, resulting in some highly comic scenes.

Though the books are written by romance queen Nora Roberts and do have some spicy parts, particularly between Eve and Roarke, they are mysteries foremost.  They don't have to be read in order, but if you are interested in the characters and their relationships, that's the way to go.  The first book is Naked in Death.  Many of the titles are available in audio, and narrator Susan Ericksen is wonderful. I usually opt for the downloads from OverDrive or the pre-loaded players, so that I can listen anywhere.  With 32 In Death titles and counting, you might know these characters better than your co-workers by the time you finish them all!

I confess, I don't know much about Goths--those folks who tend to dress mostly in black, with dramatic makeup and hair in colors that are generally not found in nature.  However, I like interesting fabrics and creative ways of dressing, even though my own attire tends toward jeans and t-shirts.  And I enjoy learning about people and the different things that they like, do, and believe.  My philosophy is that everyone is deserving of respect, and the world would be a better place with a bit more civility.  I feel like I've found a kindred spirit in Jillian Venters, author of Gothic Charm School: An Essential Guide for Goths and Those Who Love Them. 

This witty book, based in part on Venters' blog of the same name, gently reminds readers of all varieties that good manners are appropriate everywhere.  As the Lady of the Manners, she provides sound advice about interactions between Goths and non-Goths, tips on fashion and music, and info for parents of Goth-inclined teens, among other topics.  I found her history of the Goth subculture interesting, her take on teens and Goth informative, and her book suggestions illuminating.  The black and white illustrations by Pete Venters are a perfect complement to the Lady of the Manners's straightforward writing.

Venters lives in the Seattle area and will be starting her promotional tour here.  She's appearing at Bellevue Regional Library on Monday, June 29, at 7 pm.

Whether you are Goth, Goth-Friendly, or NotAGoth, Gothic Charm School: An Essential Guide for Goths and Those Who Love Them will have you snickering, nodding, and dusting off your velvet jacket.

Every wildly famous author was once a newly-published writer.  Imagine having the opportunity to meet a terrific new author before he or she becomes the next big name.  Well, your chance is here!  Come to the New Author Showcase on Saturday, June 20, at Bellevue Regional Library to meet some of the most promising new local authors.  The drop-in event will run 2 to 4 pm in Room 1. 

Featured authors include:

• Heather Barbieri, author of The Lace Makers of Glenmara
• Curt Ebbesmeyer, author of Flotsametrics and the Floating World
• Joe McDonald, author of Lotto
• Philip Marks, author of Brothers of the Wind
• Christopher Mattix, author of Nobody
• Theresa Meyers, author of Salvation of the Damned
• Will North, author of Water, Stone, Heart and The Long Walk Home
• Gina Robinson, author of Spy Candy
• David B. Williams, author of Stories in Stone

A second New Author Showcase featuring local authors of children's and teen books will be held at Bellevue Regional Library on Saturday, July 25, 2-4 pm.