Read: The Language Of Flowers

The Language of Flowers, By Vanessa Diffenbaugh, is a sweet novel about one orphaned girl's discovery of home, love, and the realization that home is a place you can always go back to. The language of Flowers is the first novel by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. The book is unique in that the key communication between main characters is done through the Victorian meaning of flowers. Ex. White Roses: love unacquainted, Basil: hate, Mistletoe: I surmount all obstacles etc.

The story is romantic, frustrating, and tear jerking. The protagonist, Victoria, is a young women whom was a ward of the state raised in foster care. She is feral yet lovable. Victoria's story starts the day she turns 18 and is released from state custody. Victoria has no skills, family, or money; all Victoria has is her love for flowers which she learned from an old friend. Homeless and hungry, Victoria finds work at a small flower shop. Her passion for flowers, and awkward social skills earn her the affection of  Renata the owner of the Bloom. Victoria begins assembling bouquets rich in Victorian Meaning and cultivates a cult following of clients through her magical flower arrangements. 

Through the success of her skill she is reintroduced to a past she had hoped to escape through the remorse of Red Carnations (my heart bleeds). Victoria finds love, passion, and hope through nostalgia and the recognition of everlasting love. 

The Language of Flowers, is beautifully written and as delicate as a fresh bouquet of orchids. The novel challenges the structure of language and the art of communication. I loved the subtleties and the romance of the novel. A beautiful read, rich in the sweet aromas of hope, blessings, and love. 

Read: 50 Shades Trilogy

50 Shades of Grey, is a mature tween literature inspired trilogy. My e-reader has become my most prized possession. I read all three hunger games novels via the kindle store. I love the discretion and privacy provided by e-readers. No one knows what you are reading. I first downloaded 50 shades of grey, after finishing "Mockingbird," (the best and last book in Susan Collins Hunger Games trilogy).  I can across "50 Shades of Grey," through an Internet search. I want to read the next trilogy obsession. 

"50 Shades of grey," is an intoxicating and erotic read that appeals to the inner goddess in every woman and her sexual fantasies. The "50 Shades trilogy," is x rated and infatuating. The author, E.L. James, wrote the books from a place of desire, desperation, and seduction. The novel is a play on her wildest sexual fantasies. "50 Shades of Grey," has erected a massive frenzy because the story appeals to all women whom dream of exciting and liberating sex lives. My alter ego came to life while reading "50 Shades of Grey."

The story explores the unconventional relationship between: Anastasia Steel, a 22 year old virgin and literature major; and Christian Grey, a 26 year old business tycoon. The couple met by fluke chance; and were both seduced by a carnal need for the other. "50 Shades of Grey," explores the karmic need and insatiable lure we are all capable of feeling. Primal attraction, fuels the trilogy as E.L. James dives in to un-explored rationalized desire. 

50 Shades of Grey, invites readers to a foreign world. Much of the activity described in full detail was beyond my personal comfort. The story of seduction, and magnetic attraction is what I related to in the novel. 50 Shades of Grey, should be read with an open mind. E.L. James is a fearless writer who challenges social norms in an eloquent, and language rich manner. "50 Shades of Grey," is the book every one's talking about. Pick it up, read it, and don't judge the book by it adult content. E.L James, is challenging taboo and writing for the modern world. 

Read: Story Of Beautiful Girl

"The Story of Beautiful Girl," by Rachel Simon is a heart warming love story inspired by another time; another world. The book begins, with a simple dedication: For those who were put away.

"The Story of Beautiful Girl," is an invisible love story that serves as a social commentary. The story takes place at a "school" for the mentally challenged. Up until the 1970s, many children with disabilities were often placed in institution away from their family and hidden from society. The Story of Beautiful Girl, centers on the love of two students; a mute beautiful girl, and a deaf black man.

Institution life, was anything but glamorous. The students were treated like convict; abused and misunderstood. Lynnie, the beautiful girl, and Buddy (the deaf man) make a decision one autumn night to escape the school. Lynnie is pregnant; and wishes to giver her child a better life, outside of the school. Lynnie and Buddy roam the street looking for a friendly house, in the midst of a raging storm, when a man in a lighthouse appears on a mail box. Lynnie heads to the house and rings the doorbell. The young couple is greeted by an elderly woman named Martha. Lynnie's freedom does not last long. Officials from the school are hot on her trail, in a manic chaos Buddy escapes and Martha is left with a newborn baby girl. The Story of Beautiful Girl, is a tale of love and of a lifes journey to reunite a family against all odds. The book inspires hope.

Rachel Simon, writes from her heart. Simon grew up with a mentally challenged sister. Simon writes with empathy and respect. The Story of Beautiful Girl, highlights the lessons that fully able people learn through their interactions with those perceived to be challenged. The story is honest, emotional, and raw. The Story of Beautiful Girl challenges the reader to examine his or her faults before casting judgment. While reading the book I cried, laughed, raged, and gave thanks.

The Story of Beautiful Girl, follows the characters on a 40 year journey through heart ache and disillusionment only to prove the strength of human compassion and determination. Thank you Rachel Simon, for sharing your compassion. The Story of Beautiful girl, is a beautiful read-That will leave you feeling whole; with the knowledge that there is always a place you can go back to.

Read: The Winter Palace

I have an infatuated with Russian History, I blame it on my Slavic ancestry. Soviet History, is somewhat of mystery. The Russia empire may be European; but the vast and cruel topography of the country isolates the state from the rest of the western world. The Russian Empire has always had strength that has been misunderstood and frightening to other powers.

In "The Winter Palace," award winning author Eva Stachniak, brings to life the animation of the most illusive empire through the awkward adolescence of Sophie and Peter III.  Sophie, is the insecure girl who would grow into her title as Catherine The Great.  The story is told through the narration of Varvara (Barbara), a beautiful orphan turned palace servant. Varvara a book binders daughter is employed to serve as: the prince's reader, the empress's tongue, and Catherine's greatest confident.

The Winter Palace, is an inviting and intoxicating read that transcends time. As I read, I could hear the empress and her shrill voice;  I could touch the elaborate fabrics of the tapestry; and I could stand in awe at admiration of the architecture of the worlds greatest palace. In greater detail, I could hear the banter of carpenters as the renovated and revamped the grounds.  Eva Stanchniak has a true gift for words. Her talent goes beyond her excelled ability to poetically place sounds in order. Eva writes as if she remembers the story first hand. I am convinced "The Winter Palace," is Eva Stanchniak sharing her memory of life on the grounds and being the grandeur of the 18th century empire.

The winter palace is a visually stunning read, that lures you in with vivid scenery; and catches you with vicious scandals. Like the winter palace it self, the characters are big, loud, intimidatingly beautiful, and surreal. The quality or research that Eva Stanchniak compiled to write this novel is beyond impressive. The book reads in accordance to historical events. The story is narrated in a friendly voice, distant, familiar, cold, and solitaire. The Winter Palace, is a beautiful and timely read. The relevance, and parallels  of the story to modern time is present in the details of the relationships and the heart ache of growing away from yourself. 

I read "The Winter Palace," in a single weekend. I Loved the book, I love the story, and I respect the raw emotion and truth of the cast of characters who populated the pages. The winter palace is a pleasure to read. 

Read: Rules of Civility

In a world before Gossip Girl, the allure and secrecy of the Upper East Side of Manhattan was just as intoxicating. Rules of Civility is a novel written by Amor Towles that follows Katey Kontent the daughter of Russian immigrants as she climbs the hypothetical and very real steps of New York society.

Rules of Civility, begins new years 1937. Where Katey and her boardinghouse room-mate are lounging at a dive jazz bar stretching their $3 as far as possible, when  smouldering sexy, and sophisticate young banker, Tinker Grey, joins in on their new years celebration.

Infatuated with the lifestyle and the characters of New York Society; and life changing circumstances, Katey leaves her secretarial pool and begins her journey of navigating through the foux, fake, and real. Where her desire to believe the presentations, isolates her from the truth of the circumstances.

Rules of Civility, is a reflection of time and place. It is a collection of memories that in turn make a person. The poise secured by wealth, is nothing but a facade; and the dream of importance's is over shadowed by insecurities. Rules of Civility is titled after the rules George Washington described as decent behaviour.

Amor Towles; debut novel, is reads as easily as a dirty martini. Rules of Civility, transported me to a different place and time, so well described I could smell the fresh leather of the chauffeured Bentley. Towles writes with rich language that is embelished by his wit and wisdom. The cast of characters that Towles introduces are all lovable despite their flaws. After all, one can only climb with the help of others. It is the commitment to self truths that allows for grace and success to flow, regardless of the setting.




I highly recommend reading "Rules of Civility," A drama-rich read loaded with scandal.

READ: THE FAMILY FANG

If you think your family is crazy, psychotic, and narcissistic you might be right; however the chaos and seer nepotism of your family would fail miserably in comparison to the Fang Family. Headed by Caleb Fang, a revolutionary performance artist who purposely crafts chaos and danger in public settings. Caleb believes that is art is the only true form of art, because it surprises its audience captivating them in a new venue. The audience's inhibitions are lowered. The audience does know that what they are seeing is a superlative of art. Caleb is married, to Camille; a talented painter who forgo fine art in favor of Caleb.

Caleb's mentor; always said: "kids kill art." The Fangs found a way to work family and their kids into their artwork. The children conveniently named Annie, and Baxter, are not referred to by name but instead as A, and B. Caleb and Camille fang use their children as props in their artistic endeavours, and they hijack what ever sense or normality that Child A, and B have in a liberal attempt to progress the stage of art.

The Family Fang, by Kevin Wilson is a hilarious book that will have you laughing out loud and some what uncontrollably. The characters that Wilson has penned are beautifully psychotic and purpose driven. Caleb Fang truly has no concept of how effed up he is, nor how he has effed up lives of his family and friends.

One of my  personal favourite FANG performances, as archived in various museums, is the exhibit in which: Child A, is cast as Juliet in school production of Romeo & Juliet. On the night of the performance the boy cast to be Romeo injures himself in a car accident. Child B who was working as a stage hand was the only option as an understudy. B knew the lines.  In a game of cat and mouse, Romeo and Juliet style A forces B into an opened mouth kiss which shuts down the play, suspends A and B from school, and costs the drama teacher his job. All for the artistic integrity of Caleb Fang who had paid of the original Romeo.

The book reads at a quick pace, and plays in the imagination like the most perfectly disastrous sit-com you have ever seen. The Family Fang, was my vacation from the chaos of  normal family life. I loved this book, and the plot concept conceived by Kevin Wilson.

Read: Half Blood Blues

Half Blood Blues, is the second novel of Esi Edugyan, whom critics hail an exceptionally talented young writer. Half Blood Blues; is the story of time and the age of personal growth. The book is written in two time periods which symbolize the youth and infancy of the main characters, and the denouement of life. The books narrator; Sidney "Sid" Griffiths, tells the story of his youth as a half blood American blues musician whom with his darker have blood friends travels to Berlin to escape the Jim Crow Laws of the southern US and to be a part of the Berlin Jazz scene. Only Germany is on the verge of World War Two, and Berlin is frozen in fear of the "boots" and the Nazi movement.

Half Blood Blues, is an optimistic dream, in a time of corruption and destruction. Edugyan takes her readers on journey through time and history from the viewpoint of the forgotten. She has cleverly crafted characters of depth and human imperfections; whom even in time of loss struggle with their own very human limitations.

Sid and his friend Chip are assimilated into a jazz band compiled of mixed races, religion, and back ground. The group was managed by a jazz club owner and music lover who took a fatherly role to the boys and the group. The group was a mix of talent the most evident being: "the Kid" Thomas "hiero" Falk, a jazz prodigy who's soulful melodies attract the attention and respect of Jazz Legend Lou Armstrong.

The novel jumps back and forth from the 1940's to 1992 and the collapse of the Berlin Wall. The story is beautiful, heartbreaking, and optimistic. Half Blood Blues, is a book that needs to be digested. While i was reading the novel I felt it moved a bit slow, however now that I finished the book and have stored on my shelf it haunts me the lessons and imagery embedded in the text. Esi Edugyan makes you think, and reflect, just as her characters do. The story is a beautiful and brilliant read that blames no one for lives pleasures and disappointments.

Half Blood Blues is wonderful. Edugyan has written the book in the jazzy beatnik language mad infamous by the jazz music community. It takes a bit of time to get accustomed to the language, but ones you do the slang lingo only adds to the characters and to the story.

Half Blood Blues has been nominated for numerous literature awards and won both the 2011 Giller Prize award, and The Man Prize Award.

A bewitching Read

I'm kind of a nerd who loves to read. Escaping to a fictional universe is a such a joy, I love the poetism in sentences and I'm a sucker for stories of magic, love, the impossible...whatever. A strong writer  can solicit the imagination far more powerfully than any TV producer. The Twilight series was a fun easy read; the marriage of plausible and fantasy tickled my interest. Twilight was good, but the series has nothing on what is to be "The All Souls Trilogy," by Deborah Harkness.

The first book in the series: "A Discovery of Witches, (Harkness 2011) appeared on my desk randomly. I didn't open the book right away, in truth I doubted the books potential, a historical fiction, really? 

I had finished my summer reads early, I had  packed two books for a three week vacation at the lake cabin not realizing the total isolation I would endure. I was in desperate need of new novel. The cabin had no phone, Internet, and horrible cell service.  When I rediscover, A Discover of Witches, lounging about I was mystified.  Within minutes of reading I had become completely and irrevocably bewitched by the story line. I could not put the book down.

Deborah Harkness has created a world so believable that the fidelity of the circumstances could and would be plausible in our physical world. The world of the novel is populated by witches, demons, vampires and humans. The story is centered around an idea of origins: who are we, and where do we come from? When a young witch discovers an ancient manuscript that is believed to explain all that has ever been asked- chaos and confusion run amok.

The discovery is scandalized by creatures, and accompanied by forbidden love. The book is addictive. You have to read it! Its captivating; in short it is twilight for adults-. I am in  and eager state of  anticipation  awaiting the release of the second book in the soon to materialize All Souls Trilogy.