The Love Market (migrated from bookblogger)

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

The Love Market by Carol Mason

Simply put, this is a fun summer read.  After the many heavy books I’ve completed this summer, this was a fun, light-hearted change.  The Love Market is a story about a woman just divorced who’s a professional British Yente (ie. runs a matchmaking service).  She rekindles an old flame of her own and it becomes a love triangle of sorts.

There is no larger meaning not did I learn about any major historical event.  But I enjoyed briefly getting to know these characters and sharing their romantic pursuits.

Gone Girl

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn

This is truly the perfect summer/beach read.   The story is about a couple who are about to celebrate their 5th anniversary and suddenly the wife, Amy,  goes missing.  There are, of course, shady circumstances surrounding her disappearance and the story takes many, many very unexpected twists and turns.  This is the kind of book that when you read, your own spouse gets annoyed because every so often you’re yelling at the book (“Oh, no!” or “Seriously??”) like a bit of a fool.  But you won’t be able to stop yourself because it’s that crazy!

I had fun with this one.  The characters are very complicated and while the husband is certainly the protagonist, he’s not exactly a hero in my mind.  And until the very end, the author is relentless with the surprises!

I will admit, I did quite a bit of yelling at the book at the end.  It felt initially as if it stopped short.  But after digesting it for awhile, I realized that it was the way it had to end.

I would love for others to read this one to see if you agree!

The Long Way Home

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

The Long Way Home, by Karen McQuestion

This utterly forgetable but mildly amusing story is about 4 women (strangers) who agree to take a road trip together to help one of them reconnect with her (sort of) stepson.  The women are different ages and have almost nothing in common, one is a recluse who on a whim decides to break her years of solitude to join in,  and —  of course! —  one is a psychic.  Basically, this story is as realistic as me winning the Miss America Pageant and the lottery combined!

There are a few funny moments and little surprises, and if you’re looking for a light, mindless read, this may be for you, but it’s not a must-read by any stretch.  Just my opinion…!

Lone Wolf

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Lone Wolf, by Jody Picoult.

I LOVE Jody Picoult.  She has the uncanny ability to delve into the stickiest of ethical dilemmas and to elicit sympathy on the part of the reader toward each side.  I believe it is because she creates such beautifully complex characters, each of whom you want to win.

And in this book, she does it again.

The book revolves around a man who in order to fully study the habits of wolves, leaves his family to live in the wild among them, becoming part of a pack of wolves who take him in as one of their family.    After he returns to his own, human family, he has difficulty fitting in and circumstances lead to the breaking up of his family.  When he later suffers a severe head injury and is on life support, his son and daughter take up a legal battle to determine who will make the decision of whether or not to end life support.

In addition, throughout the book, the author weaves in various facts about wolves which make them appear more human than we are.  Each tidbit is actually quite profound and provides a metaphor for what is happening to the characters in the story.   I’m no naturalist, but I do find these facts very interesting.  Each little factoid also serves to increase the suspense in the book with each further delay in the progression of the story.

This is yet another craftily woven story by Jody Picoult.  You easily come to know and love her characters, you empathize with each side because each side is made valid, and you can’t help staying up late — no matter how late it is and no matter how important your work is the next day! — because you have to find out what happens (and there are a few major surprises!)

While some say Ms. Picoult has something of a formula, I say she uses what works —  and it always does!

Fifty Shades of Grey – Posted 2012 on blogspot.com

Posted on by marjorieseidenfeld

Fifty Shades of Grey, by E.L. James

I thought I’d start out with a controversial one (or three)…  50 Shades of Grey!

Now, no one will freely admit that they’ve read it —  but we all have.  I have heard about people using their kids’ book socks to cover the book so that no one knows they’re reading it on the train, for example.  (Thank goodness for Kindles/Nooks, right?)  Everyone that I’ve asked about it, however, will admit it with some coaxing, and then won’t stop talking about it!

What is it about this book that we all find so unusual?  Is it the S & M stuff?  Is it the “love story” as one of my friends insists?  Is it the hero saving the damsel in distress, once again?  A Cinderella story, rags-to-riches dream that we all secretly share?  Or is it just that we’re all really horny and it’s too titillating to resist?

My guess is that it’s a combination of all of these.  But most importantly, I think it’s just plain hype!  With so much talk about the book, I figured I needed to read it just to be “in the know.”  Isn’t that why you read it also?

So what is my opinion?

Well, I have mixed opinions.  Yes, it’s a little fun to read.  Yes, there’s some suspense and some psychological intrigue.  Yes, it’s good that the female character actually has a libido too.  But yes, it’s horribly written.  Yes, the sex gets just a little repetitive (I get that they each smell good, ok?) And yes, it’s horribly unrealistic.

Mostly, though, I am sad that this may be another backslide for women.  Christian definitely steps in and saves Ana way too frequently and his money and power are all-consuming.  He is a controlling, conniving stalker and he manipulates any situation that he possibly can.  Has your boyfriend or husband bought the company you work for just so he can keep an eye on you??  Seriously??  Do women secretly want that?  Do we want someone to step in and grant us everything that we even casually wish for?  Do we want someone to solve all our problems?

I hope not.

I hope that we all look at this and feel a little sorry for Ana, who may seem to stick up for herself a bit (the end of the first book) but she really caves way too often.  I hope that we are stronger and have come further than that and appreciate when we take matters in our own hands and accomplish all on our own!  I hope that we have come beyond the Cinderella wishes of the beautiful dress and the prince who will save us from our evil stepmothers (why are the female characters always evil?).

I am not a radical feminist, but this aspect of the book did get me thinking about the way women are treated here.

Basically, you will have to read this book if you want to be a part of almost every conversation that is happening among friends these days…  so go for it!  And have your book sock ready!