book reviews

I loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti

Posted on Monday, June 1, 2009 by Peg in book reviews, cooking, memoirs, recipes

This delightful little book made me so hungry for Italian food. As the author recounted her lost loves, I kept thinking that this story was really not going to end happily, thinking all the while i was reading a work of fiction. It is in fact a memoir with recipes. It was reminiscent of Julie & Julia (which I reviewed in an earlier entry). Giulia Melucci's I Loved, I lost, I Made Spaghetti, almost made me wish I had spent my young, single years in New York City. I'm hoping for a sequel, perhaps she'll call it: I Loved, I Married, I Baked Lasagna.

James Patterson's "The Quickie" and "Sail"

Posted on Friday, December 12, 2008 by Peg in adult fiction, book reviews
Wow! Nothing happens in "slow mo" in these books. I read the Quickie one evening when the snow was falling and I had to have something to read. I just couldn't stop until I had finished the very last page. It had enough illicit sex and twists and turns to keep this reader firmly seated on the couch!

Patterson's Sail delivers the same kind of action. A family sets off on sailing trip to try to repair their battered relationships. Disaster strikes and they find themselves in desperate circumstances. The short chapters have cliffhangers that practically leave you gasping. You'll cheer for the family's triumphs and really hate the villains before it's all over.

Friends and Loss

Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 by Peg in book reviews


It's been a rough week, my best friend from across the street lost her mother to cancer on Monday and my best friends from Ohio, Milana Idle, gave up the fight to live on Thursday. Milana was a free spirit and a survivor! She was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 13, fought and won! In her thirties she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which she defeated. She wasn't through with the Big C when in her forties she was diagnosed with melanoma. She required open heart surgery, but wasn't strong enough to recover from it.

Milana was truly gifted and inspiring. She couldn't have children so she was engaged to John for ten years to make sure not having kids was ok with him. They married on the beach at midnight and she loved to tell the story of how the minister thought they wanted to be naked. She loved art, dogs, and swimming in the moonlight. I'll miss her.

I started the book, Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah at the beginning of this week. I had recommendations from two friends that it "was so good" but they cried through the last 45 pages. I may not have chosen to read this book if I'd known what kind of week I was going to have, but once I started it, I couldn't put it down. It's the story of friends who vow to be BFFs when they are still in high school. Kate's family is the perfect nuclear family but Talulah's mom was a child of the sixties and an addict, who walked out on Tully numerous times. Tully was ambitious and would someday be a big name in TV broadcasting. Kate sails along on her coat tails but really wants to be a wife and mom. They both have terrific success in realizing their dreams and stay close despite their many disagreements. The characters are so real, you'd swear the author lived just next door. I strongly recommend this book but wait until you're having a really good week.

Book Club Suggestions

Posted on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 by Peg in adult fiction, book reviews
I recently read two books that I feel would generate interesting discussion.
Lottery by Patricia Wood
"My name is Perry L. Crandall and I am not retarded." This is our first introduction to Perry, a Forrest Gump-like character, raised by his grandparents and befriended by his coworkers. Frustrated with the lack of attention he was receiving in public school, Gram began home schooling him at age 13. Even before that, she assigned him daily words from the dictionary. After Gram's death, Perry wins the lottery and finds that those who once shunned him now find him fascinating. Perry finds he has a knack for business and resists the efforts of his extended family to become his legal guardian. A delightful read with real insight into the value of every individual no matter their IQ! See comment from author, Patricia Wood, at the end of this post!

Songs Without Words by Ann Packer
Liz and Sarabeth grew up across the street form each other. They draw even closer as Sarabeth's depressed mother commits suicide. Their friendship survives the adolescent years and now in middle age they find their friendship challenged by a family member's suicide attempt. By the end of the book, I knew the characters like friends from my own childhood. I would love the opportunity to discuss this book. Invite me to your book club if you choose it as one of your selections!

Find Health and Fitness at the Library

Posted on Thursday, November 29, 2007 by Peg in book reviews, diet, fitness, health
I have a birthday coming and it is about this time that I start thinking I should be taking better care of myself. I joined Curves a few months ago, have lost a few pounds and inches, and have started looking for other ways to get fit and healthy. The new book shelf is a great place to browse! Here are a few books I've found interesting. I've linked the titles to Infosoup.

Curves: Permanent Results Without Permanent Dieting by Gary Heavin and Carol Colman
Here's the book to accompany the workout. The idea is based on sound nutrition and regular exercise! I'll try to stick to it.

Fitness Made Simple by John Baselow
"The Power to change your body, the power to change your life! 3 steps, 8 weeks, 1 Killer Body" The author encourages you to concentrate on nutrition, exercise and supplements. There is a DVD included to help you get started.

Fighting Weight is an inspirational account of the struggles of Khaliah Ali (the great fighter's daughter). At 325 pounds she underwent gastric surgery called banding. With the surgery she was able to eliminate her hunger and lost the weight.

In our quest for youth we sometimes go to drastic measures. Dying to be Young: From Botox to Botulism - A True Story of Survival is about the fountain of youth going terribly wrong. My husband is a microbiologist and very suspicious of injecting a potentially fatal micro organism into the body. You will just have to see me wrinkle!

Rethinking Thin: The New Science of Weight Loss and the Myths and Realities of Dieting
The author of this book, Gina Kolata, looks at the history of dieting, and follows the lives of four dieters. She tries to dispel the notion that people are obese due to lack of control.

Count Down Your Age: Look, Feel, and Live Better than You Ever Have Before by Frederic Vagnini and Dave Bunnell
This book includes a lengthy quiz asking you questions about your lifestyle. Each questions is scored and you determine how far backwards you can count down your age. My husband scored far better than I did because he eats a healthy breakfast everyday and has a daily exercise routine. Needless to say I ate a good breakfast this morning! (I usually skip it!) The authors say it is never too late to make positive changes.

The Good Housekeeping Supermarket Diet by Janis Jibrin helps you make choices even before you get to your own kitchen. Start with your shopping list! Buy the right packages and convenience foods, add a delicious assortment of fresh produce, follow the Good Housekeeping recipes, and watch the pounds drop."

The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book by Jessica K. Black
This book addresses the idea that many chronic diseases and medical conditions begin as inflammation, "the fist response by the immune system to infection or irritation." To prevent inflammation, Black recommends eliminating common allergens along with pesticides and other contaminates. This diet is based on eating "whole foods" while eliminating processed foods.

I've just scratched the surface! To find new items go the Recently Added Materials in Infosoup! See you at the Library!