Loraine Despres - "The Scandalous Summer of Sissy LeBlanc"

     I had this book recommended to me by "Smokey," a very good friend of mine, and moved it up in my reading que to "next" while bumping my next Stephanie Meyer book down to "next next."  It took all of five whole days to read it cover to cover, and even re-read some of her witty little quips out loud to my dear sweet, patient hubby.

The Scandalous Summer of Sissy LeBlanc: A Novel

     I was hooked at the beginning by it's vaguely similar qualities to "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood," a very special book to me for sentimental reasons.  It's reminiscent of my beloved Ya-Ya's in that it is set in a small town in Louisiana (near New Orleans) and takes place mostly during the early 1940's-1950's, and it is a story of a strong woman in a time when that was truly a novelty and even a threat.

     On a very un-Ya-Ya note, there are some ***VERY "ADULT" SCENES*** in this delicious and entertaining tale.  (It's wouldn't be a very "scandalous summer" without them, but be warned this gets graphic in spots and deals with some very mature issues!!!)  You've been warned...
 
     I like that Mrs. Despres deals with some very real and inflammatory issues of the time, such as desegregation, as well as some very provocative, age-old issues like adultery and murder.  I know, sounds pretty heavy for summer chick lit, but there's plenty of brainless fluff and cute wit to keep it light.

     I admit that reading this was a bit of an emotional roller coaster experience for me, ranging from embarrassment, horror, and frustration to pride and joy.  (Thank you, Mr. Stevie Ray for providing me just the right words I needed AND for such a classic song).  I think my favorite thing about this book is Sissy's own literary endeavor, The Southern Belle's Handbook.  Okay, it's not exactly something the character wrote, but it's an ongoing train of thought in her head, and it's pretty cute, though somewhat misguided and possibly even manipulative?

     This is the story of Sissy LeBlanc, wife, mother, fundraiser, hell raiser, and very charmingly unpredictable and outrageous "Southern Belle."  I use that term loosely, but it still fits, even if it's only in her mind.  The other main characters include Peewee (her husband), Parker (high school sweetheart), Borree (her father-in-law), and Clara (her cousin).  There is a rather large "supporting cast" that is typical of Smalltown, Deep South.  The character developement is a little lighter than I generally prefer but is still effective. 

     While there is levity, humor, happiness, and a few snicker-worthy moments, there are just as many, or more, terrifying, overwhelming, and downright aweful moments that comprise this twisted tale of tangled triangles of love (or at least lust).  She starts out as a pretty normal teenager, takes some twists and turns somewhere along the way, and things end up a little differently than she had originally planned.  (Can anyone else relate?)  Some of the scandalous, sticky situations she finds herself in are self-induced, some are out of her control, but regardless, she must deal with them, and take them on headfirst.  (Just as is necessary in real life sometimes)  It's interesting to see how she deals with each situation with gusto; all the while she continues to amend and update her handbook for living.  Even though I wanted to walk away at some exceptionally disheartening points, I could not tear myself away from the novel.  I couldn't wait to see what happened next!  
   
     I do recommend reading the book fully before making your assesment.  If you had asked me at the two-thirds mark what I thought of the book, I would have answered, "It stresses me out, and yet it still keeps me flying through the pages trying to find some resolution!"  Once the drama unfolds completely, it has unexpected resolutions, and makes for one heck of a conclusion.  Check it out if you're into a somewhat gritty (even smutty at some points) snapshot of scandalous Sissy at her best.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!!!!!


                                                                               

Charles Dickens - "A Tale of Two Cities"

     One memorial service, one and one - half months, three mini vacations, and one VERY LONG Brit. lit classic later, "The B!+@h is Back" - Sir Elton John  (I thought I'd stick with the British theme one second longer).

     The way this came about is mainly because I needed to soothe my conscience.  "How?" You ask.  Toward the end of my senior year of high school I was supposed to write a book report on this timeless classic.  I had a perfect GPA (no, seriously), a bad case of "Senioritis," and no desire to ACTUALLY read this book.  I know, it surprises me too.  I did, however, write a report worthy of a B+ based on the CliffsNotes version of it.  Sorry Mrs. Brown!  A full decade passed before I decided that it was time to make amends.

     It actually took FOREVER to read this book, partially because my brain hasn't had to digest Victorian English and it's extensive vocabulary for just under the ten year mark, and also because I've had an extremely full plate over the past month and a half.  I discovered that it's difficult to read classics when there is anything else going on in your life (music, work, cats, car sickness, etc) which is probably why I've never read it until now.

 A Tale of Two Cities

     That's right, I still have my mom's copy from 1962.  An interesting side note: Whoever worked for Scholastic Publishers the year that this edition went to print should lay off the drugs.  The reason being that one of the MAIN characters, Sydney Carton, has his name spelled as such.  If you read the summary on the back of this edition it's written Sidney Carton.  Hmm...  Now, enough about my personal life, and on with the show.

     When I first began the story it was like pulling teeth to read.  I didn't understand a lot of the language (or much of the history of the French Revolution, for that matter).  Lately I've mostly only consumed books that don't take much brain power to digest.  I have to admit, once I got through the first 364 (of 468) pages, I began to see where it was going, and to actually WANTED to finish it.  Sad, right?  Anyway, as I began to get a picture of what it was like to be there in Late 1700's France and England, according to Chuck, it started to make a little more sense.  I do own up to visiting http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/twocities/for some extra comprehension, and I actually made a 96% on their quiz too!

     I must admit, that despite all the difficulties, I really enjoyed the way Dickens weaves together this twisted and somewhat dark tale of kharma, altruism, and a love triangle set with the bloody French Revolution as it's backdrop.  I'm not saying that I am ready to jump into another classic right away, or that I like a book to take +/-  1-1/2 months to complete, but I am saying that I feel like I've made amends with my conscience and have the bragging rights to say that I've now read one of literature's greatest.

     The characters in this book were written in such a way as to represent a people group ("Jaques" the mender of roads), or to act as a full personification of a character trait (Lucie displaying ultimate gentility and compassion; Madame Defarge is a prime example of one who will stop at nothing to extract revenge whether it be deserved or otherwise).  Dickens even uses their names to help convey the depth or extent of their portrayal of a trait (Mr. Stryver strives for a better position in life).

     The plot is very well written to where the different plot lines and plot points are so delicately weaved into the story that when the end comes, it catches you off guard.  At least it did in my case.  I do have to say that I'm glad I finally read it, and enjoyed it (at least the end).  It was really hard to get through a lot of it because I had trouble seeing where it was leading me, however; in the end it was worth it.

     I hope you enjoyed my brief and fairly inarticulate opinion of one of literature's greats.  Please come back for my next episode right here at the same bat time on the same bat channel.

Until then, my friends Adieu...

Eoin Colfer - "Artemis Fowl"

     I know, I know, it's been a really long time since my last post.  Forgive me, it's also been a really really long time since I got to sit down and read much.  I did however like the first book in the "Artemis Fowl" series. 

     It's defiinitely written to a pre-teen - young teen audience, but it was really well written and there was plenty of action to keep you turning those pages.  Artemis Fowl is the youngest member of the very wealthy and notorious crime family.  This is a fanciful tale of how he is trying to find a way to restore his family's fortune and restore their "good" name.  He decides to rob leprecon of his pot of gold.  Sounds simple, right?  Not so much!  It involves blackmailing a fairy, evading a troll, kid napping an elf, and even stopping time, all in a day's work.

Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, Book 1)

     Mr. Colfer does a great job in instilling his work with creative touches everywhere.  The most notable is the hieroglyphic-type code that he has created.  It runs along the bottom of each page and is showcased on the cover.  He offers an extra challenge to the reader to crack it and get a sneak peak into the tale's future.  It was a lot of fun to decipher.  He is also very creative in the naming of his characters; it's very "punny."  I really enjoy subtle humor like that. 

      It was an entertaining, quick read that did not require too much thinking.  I heard they made a graphic novel out of this character and his series, but have not yet explored that particular avenue.  I do, however; look forward to the next book in the series.  You should check it out if you need a quick break from "heady" literature.  I am starting "A Tale of Two Cities" and thought Artemis Fowl would give me a nice "break" before delving into old school British classic literature. 

Enjoy your fat free, low carb, low calorie literature to the fullest!

Valerie Hurley - "St. Ursula's Girls Agains the Atomic Bomb"

     Soooo, I've not been reading as much this week due to the recent addition of a Blackberry to my life.  It took me SEVEN HOURS just to learn how to use the darn thing!  Ok, I know I'm slow, but give a girl a break, it's my first smart phone (that just so happens to be smarter than me.)


     Ok, on with the good stuff!  I just finished "St. Ursula's Girls Against the Atomic Bomb," a novel about a high school senior (for the second time), Raine Rassaby, and her guidance counselor Al.  Raine is a full-steam-ahead kind or Quixotic girl who is more concerned with ridding the world of evil in the form of atomic bombs than finishing high school.  I like Raine's quirky and "take charge" kind of personality, but could not for the life of me get into this book.            St. Ursula's Girls Against the Atomic Bomb

    The language as well as many of the references were pretty "high-brow" for my idea of how the book should be.  I understand it goes a long way in illustrating how intelligent and well informed Raine is, but I had a hard time getting a grasp on how wading through all of that enhanced the story.  Maybe, again, I'm just slow?

   
     Al Klepatar is her "one step behind" ally that is desperately trying to get her head out of the clouds and into the classroom, but to no avail.  He is involved with turmoil of his own when his wife of 14 years decides to bail.  Instead of forcing Raine to keep one foot on solid ground, he allows himself to get swept into her own little idealistic world.

     I guess it's the story of two wandering souls that meet up at just the right time to impact each other to the fullest, but the plot felt like it wasn't going anywhere fast.  I also didn't get much closure at the end of the book.  There was one pretty good surprise in the middle that became my second wind to get me to the end, but I won't ruin it for you.  Overall, I didn't really enjoy it, but I think there IS something to be said about how it is a beautiful thing when two people on opposite side of the spectrum find a way to meet in the middle and are better for it.

     Now that I have a grasp on the workings of my "smarter than me" phone, I'll be able to plow on through the next one in the stack.

Whew!

Janet Evanovich - "Eleven on Top"

     I was introduced to Stephanie Plum by my husband;s boss.  She said, "You will either love it or hate it by page 25" as she handed me a copy of "One for the Money."  I was not expecting great things, but here I am, devouring each novel as fast as I can.

     "Eleven on Top."  I don't exactly know what it mean, but Mrs. E and Ms. Plum are most definitely on top this go round.  This book is super fast paced with a couple of didn't-see-that-one-coming-twists.  I love twists: lemon, licorice, pretzel, French, and plot; they all keep life exciting.  This is no exception.

Eleven on Top (A Stephanie Plum Novel)

     Spoiler Alert*****  Stephanie has another car blown up. (two, actually)*****  Seriously, what else did you expect?  Most of the usual cast comes to play in this one.  Stephanie is done with chasing bad guys and is still not able to say the "L" word.  Lula is as sassy and spontaneous as ever, especially now that she's a newly promoted bounty hunter. Morelli is super sexy, leery of Ranger, and only has one thing on his mind, even with a broken leg.  Ranger, in this episode, is steamy and good-smelling, like always; mainly because he's Ranger, but also because he's her newly acquired boss.  Some girls have all the luck! *sigh*  Valerie and Albert make a surprising move that ends up leaving Mama Plum giving up the hooch and Stephanie swearing off sugar.  Yeah right.

     What is it about Stephanie that just attracts mayhem that affects her and all those around her?  Whatever it is, that special power keeps me laughing.  The conclusion to this composition caught me pretty off-guard.  I love surprises!  Maybe that's how it's written, maybe I'm just slow on the up-take.  Read it for yourself and let me know.

     I love the way that Evanovich can write a food fight, a steamy "love" story (or two), an old lady who thinks that funerals are the epitome of a fabulous social event, and a mystery/detective theme into one amazing novel.  As always, Mrs. E delivers a hilarious ride to the finish line.

I hear there may be a secret revealed in #12...We'll see!

Ron Hall and Denver Moore - "What Difference Do It Make?"

    Yeah, what difference DOES it make????  Sit back, relax, and find out exactly what kind of difference one person can make.

    What Difference Do It Make?: Stories of Hope and Healing
   
     This is the second book by these two fine gentlemen, the first being "Same Kind of Different as Me."  A man in our church, passed a copy of each of these books around for all to read, and both of them rocked me.  They are a true testament to the ultimate sovereignty and goodness of God.

     Their first book was the story of Debbie Hall, Ron's wife, and how one single, radical person can drastically change the world around them.  Debbie was passionate about loving God and loving others, and through that, she changed the face of Fort Worth, Texas, and the lives of Ron, Denver, and many more, forever.  YOU SHOULD READ IT!  http://samekindofdifferentasme.com/video.aspx

     "What Difference Do It Make" is a follow up to show how the Lord has used that story to make a difference.  It's composed of two different types of content.  1. Biographies: it delves even deeper into the lives of Ron, Denver, and Debbie, both past and present.  2. Real Life Stories: it has passages from readers detailing how "Same Kind" impacted their own lives.  Stories of children reaching out to make a difference, marriages being saved, and entire churches banding together to impact their communities.  Both kinds of content blend into one another to create a heartwarming and inspiring read.

     It illustrates, in real lives, God's perfect plan.  His mercy, grace, and forgiveness are unending, and powerful.  He can use the most "unlikely" people or events to accomplish amazing things.  Things beyond your wildest dreams.  These stories are proof; don't take MY word for it, READ THESE BOOKS!!!!  I love how, like the parables in the Bible, God uses our past experiences and our own unique perspectives on life to reveal magnificent truths to us; He is a personal God.  Denver is one clear example of how the Lord does this.  (The story of Jose in the book is a beautiful illustration of finding the profound in the ordinary.)

     Both works by Ron and Denver are written in an "easy to read" language, that expresses profundities and wisdom everywhere, while still being "real" and letting you in on the weakness of man.  The transparency of the authors is bold and beautiful.

For real, Read these books, and keep a box of tissues handy!

Anna Godbersen - "Envy"

Envy (Luxe, Book 3)

     Aahh, the continuing drama of the early 1900's high society teen queens, what's more entertaining?  This is the third book in the "Luxe" series by Anna Godbersen.  I have to admit that I bought the first book "Luxe" for the cover.  (Shh, don't tell anyone!)  The series is full of money, manipulation, pretty girls, gossip, more money, pretty boys, love, lust, bad timing, good timing, and a bunch of guff pertaining to the "rules of society."

     It's most definitely a result of the latest teeny-bopper idea of the "frienemy,"  you know them; the kind of girl who is your friend for the sake of not rocking the boat amongst your whole group of friends, but is really a horrible passive-aggressive manipulator.  It's all in the same vein as the movie "Mean Girls."  If you have questions, please start your research there with Tina Fey, Lindsay Lohan, and Rachel McAdams. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFP68RpX1Fg&feature=related 

     Ms. Godbersen writes uses very formal language, and a style that keeps you on your toes.  I really like that each chapter starts with a little blurb relating to the contents of the upcoming section.  It's like an amuse-bouche for your literary eyes.  (I can't get away from the dining terms; I relate everything to food, sorry! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amuse-bouche)  Though the chapters generally move forward through the timeline and plot, each one is generally not about the same character or storyline as the one before it.  You never know what (or who) you will get next.  I did have to keep my dictionary handy though.  Kudos for that, Anna!

     The author also does a good job of weaving many twists and turns into the plot, some predictable, some not at all expected.  Her villain, Penelope, is one of the craftiest girls around; there is no end to what she will do to keep herself on top.  She's truly vicious.  One way that Anna keeps you turning the pages is to intermingle a good amount of verbal misunderstandings, visual misinterpretations, as well as unfortunate timing on the part of some of the main players a la the demise of "Romeo and Juliet."  All of these contribute to a tumultuous ride that gives you just a hint of what the characters experience, meanwhile all the characters are stuck within the strict social framework of New York's high-society circa 1900.

     I'm not a huge fan of cattiness, and gossip, so the subject of the book is somewhat hard to stomach, but the way it's presented is amusing.  If nothing else, you can stare at the pretty cover.

It's not always wrong to judge a book by it's cover, just don't make a habit of it...