Review of The Elephant Keeper- Christopher Nicholson

Thanks to Harpercollins for sending me the ARC.

The Elephant Keeper- Christopher Nicholson


I asked the sailor what an Elephant looked like; he replied that it was like nothing on earth. In the middle of the 18th century, a ship docks at Bristol with an extraordinary cargo: two young elephants. Bought by a wealthy landowner, they are taken to his estate in the English countryside. A stable boy, Tom Page, is given the task of caring for them. The Elephant Keeper is Tom's account of his life with the elephants. As the years pass, and as they journey across England, his relationship with the female elephant deepens in a startling manner. Along the way they meet incredulity, distrust and tragedy, and it is only their understanding of each other that keeps them together.


The Elephant Keeper set in the 18th century is about a caretaker and his relationship with two elephants Timothy and Jenny. It's about the bond between them, the training, and the keeping. The devotion to Timothy and Jenny is charming, and engaging. From the very beginning Tom is a very likable character, though as the story progresses you begin to wonder if Tom has lost his marbles. The story gets wierd and loses momentum half way through. The "conversations" between Tom and the elephant were ridiculous, but if the author was trying to convey a love between them, well, he certainly did that. The writing was consistant with the time period. At times the story felt disjointed, but it wasn't so much so that you could get lost. Final word, The Elephant Keeper wasn't a hit, but it wasn't a miss either. I would give the author another try.


PRODUCT DETAILS
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: William Morrow (August 4, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061651605

The Elephant Keeper released August 4th.

Review of Prairie Tale: A Memoir - Melissa Gilbert

Prairie Tale: A Memoir- Melissa Gilbert


To fans of the hugely successful television series Little House on the Prairie, Melissa Gilbert grew up in a fantasy world with a larger-than-life father, friends and family she could count on, and plenty of animals to play with. Children across the country dreamed of the Ingalls' idyllic life -- and so did Melissa.

She was a natural on camera, but behind the scenes, life was more complicated. Adopted as a baby into a legendary show business family, Melissa wrestled with questions about her identity and struggled to maintain an image of perfection her mother created and enforced. Only after years of substance abuse, dysfunctional relationships, and made-for-television movies did she begin to figure out who she really was.

With candor and humor, the cherished actress traces her complicated journey from buck-toothed Laura "Half-pint" Ingalls to Hollywood starlet, wife, and mother. She partied with the Brat Pack, dated heartthrobs like Rob Lowe and bad boys like Billy Idol, and began a self-destructive pattern of addiction and codependence. Left in debt after her first marriage, and struggling to create some sense of stability, she eventually realized that her career on television had earned her popularity, admiration, and love from everyone but herself.

Melissa Gilbert was America's Sweetheart back in the 70's and early 80's. In her memoir Prairie Tale she swrites about her adoption, Little House on the Prairie, her relationship with Rob Lowe and her battle with drinking.
I've always been a fan of Little House , naturally I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. The book was very engaging, and read it in one day. For someone who reads tabloids cover to cover(I know, i'm ashamed) this book was great. She's very open about her time on Little Prairie giving a vast amount of info on her co-stars and what it was like on set. The most interesting part of the memoir for me was about her relationship with Rob Lowe. I've always been fascinated with The Brat Pack, and there's a good amount about them in the book. Did you know she auditioned for the part of Debbie in About Last Night? Luckily it went to Demi Moore, cause I just can't see her in that role.
The writing was straightforward and easy. It didn't seem like she was trying so hard, she just told her story. Memoirs are usually hard to follow because they can be disjointed, going back and forward in time but not with Praire Tale. The last couple of chapters were boring, but then again reading about someone being a mess is much more entertaining. Is that wrong to say? Melissa Gilbert also name dropped quite a bit in the book. It got annoying some, but it is about Hollywood so what can you do? I would definitely recommend it especially if you were a fan of Little House, or Rob Lowe.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Simon Spotlight Entertainment (June 9, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416599142

Review of Almost Single- Advaita Kala

Almost Single- Advaita Kala


My name is Aisha Bhatia, I am twenty-nine years old and single. I work as a Guest Relations Manager at the Grand Orchid Hotel. I dine at luxury hotels and stay in five-stars during my travels; I can name old and new world wines with great élan, and can tell my cheeses apart.I tolerate my job, hate my boss, and bond big-time with my friends, while routinely suffering from umbilical cord whiplash. I don’t really care for my vital stats at the moment, and I don’t have a cute/funny nickname either. Hence this introduction: it stinks, but it sticks. In fact, sometimes I think there should be support groups like the AA out there for people like me…’


Aisha Bhatia is not getting any younger, and all her and her friends want is a guy. While working as a Guest Relations Manager in a upscale hotel, she bumps into a gorgeous guy, and quickly falls for him. Is he out of her league? Does he like her? Along with her best girl friends, and her fun loving gay friends who are a couple hilarity ensues.
Dubbed as the Bridget Jones of India I had to read Almost Single. I love Bridget Jones! To start off with the good, this book was funny. I laughed quite a bit. Sometimes it felt the funniness in Almost Single seemed forced, but still I did laugh quite a bit. Example, the story starts with Aisha and her gal pals toilet papering a car. There was also a interesting part when the girls participate in a Indian tradition that was a total plus.
Now for what I didn't like about Almost Single. First, the setting could have taken a bigger part of this book. I would have loved to be able to picture India, but the setting description was lacking, seriously. The author barely skimmed the surface with the characters. They were caricatures, there was no insight to them.
Very funny, but predictable. Almost Single could have been way better.


PRODUCT DETAILS

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Bantam Discovery (February 24, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0553386107

The Double Bind- Chris Bohjalian

The Double Bind- Chris Bohjalian


When college sophomore Laurel Estabrook is attacked while riding her bicycle through Vermont’s back roads, her life is forever changed. Formerly outgoing, Laurel withdraws into her photography and begins to work at a homeless shelter. There she meets Bobbie Crocker, a man with a history of mental illness and a box of photographs that he won’t let anyone see. When Bobbie dies suddenly, Laurel discovers that he was telling the truth: before he was homeless, Bobbie Crocker was a successful photographer who had indeed worked with such legends as Chuck Berry, Robert Frost, and Eartha Kitt.

As Laurel’s fascination with Bobbie’s former life begins to merge into obsession, she becomes convinced that some of his photographs reveal a deeply hidden, dark family secret. Her search for the truth will lead her further from her old life—and into a cat-and-mouse game with pursuers who claim they want to save her.

In this spellbinding literary thriller, rich with complex and compelling characters—including Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan—Chris Bohjalian takes readers on his most intriguing, most haunting, and most unforgettable journey yet.


As well known of an author Chris Bohjalian is I've never read one of his books. I have a couple of them on my shelves that are waiting to be read though, and that puts a smile on my face. Why? Well, because I absolutely loved The Double Bind. For some reason I wasn't surprised by how well the story was. There had to be a reason why he has written so many books.
There are a couple of reasons why this book is now a favorite of mine. I really enjoyed how he incorporated one of my favorite books The Great Gatsby in the story. In fact, he made it almost the center of the story....well a huge part of it at least. Bringing in this element, he was able to move the plot along smoothly and timely. I'm not one that likes a book filled with fillers, and the writing was great in that I found there wasn't any. Everything written in the book served a purpose. The mystery aspect was a page turner, and the ending brilliant. The characters were also solid, and believable.
I won't go into what the story was about because the synopsis above tells all you need to know, and I don't think I can dive into the story without giving away to much information.
Looking forward to reading more of his work. I would definitely recommend this book. Enjoy it!




PRODUCT DETAILS
Publisher: Shaye Areheart Books; 1ST edition (February 13, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400047463
ISBN-13: 978-1400047468

TBR Update

Updating the progress on my TBR challenge. Out of the 5 books I had last week to read I only managed to read 3. I will be moving up the 2 left to this week and will add 3 more books to complete the 5 books. Let's hope I can complete all 5 this week.



This weeks books:



Prairie Tales- Melissa Gilbert

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You- Ally Carter

The Lace Reader- Brunonia Barry

Notes From The Backseat- Jody Gehrman

Restless Virgins- Abigail Jones, Marissa Miley

Ever Rising TBR Count

Right now I have 350+ books in my TBR and it's rising. I just went to my local bookstore today and bought 5 more books. Why? Honestly, why do I need more books? Obviously I'm not going to run out. I have a WL of 153 books right now on PBS (paperbackswap.com), and I've decided i'm only going to order those and that's it. No more buying books period. I've said this numerous times before, but never actually did it. This time I'm keeping my word. I've already closed my bookmooch account so that's a good start.

Every week on Sunday I'll list a total of 5 books that I must try to finish. I will mark off as I go, and if any books are left from that week I will move them up to the following week. Let's see if I can get that TBR down...for good.

Book list for this week.

1. The Double Bind- Chris Bohjalian
2. Case Histories- Kate Atkinson
3. I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You- Ally Carter
4. Prairie Tale- Melissa Gilbert
5. Almost Single- Advaita Kala

Jen Lancaster

I just read back to back Jen Lancaster. Started with Bitter is the New Black, then jumped to Pretty in Plaid. I feel like I'm one of the last women to read a Jen Lancaster book. I have been hearing alot of good stuff about her, and I couldn't understand what I was waiting for. All four books have been sitting in my TBR just calling me everytime I went looking for a new book to grab, but I would always decide not to grab it, I think because of all the hype I didn't want to be disappointed.

Welllll......I loved them. The two I've read so far were really good. I totally get Mrs. Lancaster. Bitter is the New Black was funny, witty, and I agreed with a lot of what Jen Lancaster said. Does that make me a egomanical, self-centered smart-ass?
BUT my favorite out of the two was Pretty in Plaid. Only because I can relate, I also remember important dates by what I was wearing at the time. Like for instance first date with husband, short black dress with a zipper that went all the way down to the end in the front with black knee high boots (circa 1996). If someone would have pulled down the zipper I would have exposed my matching tiger print Joe Boxer underwear and bra. Pretty in Plaid was a riot, I loved the story about the sorioty girl who had a lewie(LOL!), with the initials LV all over it, and those werent even her initials.

If you haven't read them(which i'm pretty sure most have), go out and get a copy.