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Book Review: Goodnight June

Why I picked it: I will read almost anything written by author Sarah Jio, her stories are simply readable.

Goodnight June Publishes May 27 - a must read!

Synopsis: Goodnight Moon is an adored childhood classic, but its real origins are lost to history. In Goodnight June, Sarah Jio offers a suspenseful and heartfelt take on how the "great green room" might have come to be.

June Andersen is professionally successful, but her personal life is marred by unhappiness. Unexpectedly, she is called to settle her great-aunt Ruby’s estate and determine the fate of Bluebird Books, the children’s bookstore Ruby founded in the 1940s. Amidst the store’s papers, June stumbles upon letters between her great-aunt and the late Margaret Wise Brown—and steps into the pages of American literature

Quick Take: Goodnight June is the first book I have read in a long time that I read in a day or two.  I know what to expect from Sarah Jio, a well written story that's absorbing and pulls me from life for a few days.  She has a talent for weaving a current day story with the past.

What did I love about this book? The backdrop is a much loved children's bookstore, filled with first editions. June inherits but doesn't have time for the store, she's planning to close/sell the building until her Aunt sends June on a treasure hunt that uncover family secrets, including letters with the author of the much loved book Goodnight Moon.  While her family history begins to unfold, she realizes that her life in NYC may not be perfect and is forced to make decisions regarding her future.

Recommend for book clubs? Absolutely

Speaking of book clubs, the Manic Mommies Book Club met with Sarah in 2011, to discuss The Violets of March, click here to listen to our discussion.

Rating: 4.5 stars
Source: Review Copy (NetGalley)
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Book Review: On The Island



Why I Picked it: I accepted reading a book for review, for an author who was new to me... after doing a little research I wanted to read this book.

Synopsis: When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation; a working vacation on a tropical island trumps the library any day.

Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter.

Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.'s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.

Quick Take: I read this book a month ago and can't seem to shake it from my memory. The story had me captivated from page one, from the plane crash to the daily life struggles on the island.  Imagine living every day with fear of the other dying and being left alone, wondering if you will eat today, consider your daily hygiene, its survival at its core.

Now for the twist, dare I say it's written for women... it's readable and tugs at your heart.  There's an emotional creep factor in that the boy develops a crush on his teacher (in the most natural way imagined), mix in a longing for human comfort and years of snuggling for heat, emotions get in the way.  Time turns a boy into a man, a teacher into a woman.  

I want everyone to read this book, so I can talk about it! Recommend for book club? Absolutely! It's an easy read, with a LOT to discuss. 

Rating: 4 stars
Source: Review Copy
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Book Review: Covet

Why I picked it: I was offered this book to read for review but had no idea that I would gain a new 'must read' author out of the deal.  Having read two books written by Tracey Garvis Graves, I connect to her writing, it's effortless and emotional.

Synopsis: What if the life you wanted, and the woman you fell in love with, belonged to someone else?

Downsized during the recession and out of work for a year, Chris copes by retreating to a dark place where no one can reach him, not even Claire. When he's offered a position that will keep him away from home four nights a week, he dismisses Claire's concern that time apart could be the one thing their fragile union can't weather. Their suburban life may look idyllic on the outside, but Claire has never felt so disconnected from Chris, or so lonely.

Local police officer Daniel Rush used to have it all, but now he goes home to an empty house every night. He pulls Claire over during a routine traffic stop, and they run into each other again at the 4th of July parade. When Claire is hired to do some graphic design work for the police department, her friendship with Daniel grows, and soon they're spending hours together.

Claire loves the way Daniel makes her feel, and the way his face lights up when she walks into the room. Daniel knows that Claire's marital status means their relationship will never be anything other than platonic. But it doesn't take long before Claire and Daniel are in way over their heads, and skating close to the line that Claire has sworn she'll never cross.

Quick take:

Rating: 4 stars
Source: review copy
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Book Review: Waking the Buddha

Why I picked it: The book cover and title grabbed my attention.

Synopsis: Is there more to Buddhism than sitting in silent meditation? Is modern Buddhism relevant to the problems of daily life? Does it empower individuals to transform their lives?

Waking the Buddha tells the story of the Soka Gakkai International, the largest, most dynamic Buddhist movement in the world today—and one that is waking up and shaking up Buddhism so it can truly work in ordinary people’s lives.

Readers will be inspired by the struggles and triumphs of the three founding presidents— These three men dared to revolutionize Buddhism by restoring it to its true purpose: to help people transform their lives and the world they live in. The result is a uniquely relevant form of Buddhism—one that “just makes sense” to the modern mind and is ready to meet the challenges of a global age.

Quick Take: I'm not sure what to say about this book, it read more like a thesis/research paper and wasn't at all what I expected.  I have several books on Buddhism, lifestyle, yoga... they all have a quiet feel to them.  This book was hard to read, mostly because I was expecting something completely different. 

The only review I found on goodreads was a DNF: I found it difficult to read and to follow. I got to about half and then gave up

Have you read this book?  Did I miss something? I didn't love it, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it.

Rating: 2 stars
Source: Review Copy (NetGalley)
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