Rules of Civility by Amor Towles Book Review

The New York Times bestselling novel that "enchants on first reading and only improves on the second" (The Philadelphia Inquirer) This sophisticated and entertaining first novel presents the story of a young woman whose life is on the brink of transformation. On the last night of 1937, twenty-five-year-old Katey Kontent is in a second-rate Greenwich Village jazz bar when Tinker Grey, a handsome banker, happens to sit down at the neighboring table. This chance encounter and its startling consequences propel Katey on a year-long journey into the upper echelons of New York society—where she will have little to rely upon other than a bracing wit and her own brand of cool nerve. With its sparkling depiction of New York’s social strata, its intricate imagery and themes, and its immensely appealing characters, Rules of Civility won the hearts of readers and critics alike.

-Barnes & Noble

Quite simply, Rules of Civility by Amor Towles is one of the best novels I've read. Period. Not only is it filled with wonderful writing detailing the year long journey of a young woman discovering the upper echelons of 1930s New York City, it is filled with poignant meaning that I will ponder for a long while. There aren't many novels that I want to reread, but this is one that I'm sure I've missed something worth gleaning.

Katey Kontent, the protagonist of this novel, is keen, witty, and intriguing as we follow her through one life changing year. One moment, she and her best friend Eve, are working girls in New York City, looking to spend a night out, and in the next serendipitous moment, they've met the man that would change both of their lives dramatically...Tinker Grey. I enjoyed every single moment of this novel...new characters, music, and imagery. I enjoyed the sights and sounds evoked in this piece. Towles is a master of characterization and voice. I couldn't have imagined any other character narrating this novel other than Katey, whose voice has a journalistic quality to it, and a way of showing emotion without over sensationalizing. It worked so well that one could believe that Katey is a real person of which Towles is simply taking dictation.

Towles has painted New York in the 1930s to a tee. It's as if he has jumped into a time machine and zipped back give us a walking tour of this roaring city. Being a New Yorker, it was such an alluring experience to know I am within walking distance of many of the churches Katey frequents, along with many places that may have once existed. He paints New York almost as a love/hate relationship that tends to mirror relationships within the novel; The city can draw one in like a siren with its sparkling lights, exciting people, and promises of dreams while awake...yet it is a mercurial behemoth with so many facades that one may not be able to keep up. There were so many surprises to be uncovered that I  could not put it down.

Bare In Mind: This novel contains profanity, and adult content/situations.

Rules of Civility carries the weight of lives lived, pondered, and squandered. What most touched me was that I chose this novel as the one I would take into my next year (My Birthday Novel) hoping that it would carry some great meaning I could take with me. Katey is the same age as I am, and experiences a struggle that many of us do, with deciding what directions our lives will take, and who will come into these new dimensions with us. It felt for a while that I were going on my journey with another who understood, minus the many nouveau riche Katey meets. The novel contains all of the glamour, excitement, and secrecy, but also carries the question of its' worth. Is it worth what it might take to gain the American Dream? Is it worth squandering childlike wonder for the world around you? Do you really know who you are, and who your friends are? These questions and more define a beautiful experience with the novel!

I give this novel 5 out of 5 flutes of sparkling champagne and a night on the town.

Strand Encounters: "Maybe that's what life is... a wink of the eye and winking stars." A homage to Ti Jean.

Strand Encounters is a feature detailing all of the wonderful bits of awesomeness I acquire in the legendary Strand Bookstore. Are you a New Yorker, or someone who loves the Strand Bookstore and wants to post about it? You should totally take on this feature on your blog!!!

The thing I love about the Strand Bookstore is that even if you come in with a book in mind, you never come out with what you expected. It's always a surprise, stumbled upon serendipitously. Last week, during one of the nicest days that the City has seen in a long while, I found my way into the Strand. No real money, but hey, you deal. I thought I would check for another novel called, Bodega Dreams by Ernesto Quinonez, but this was eclipsed as soon as I found this wonderful book: Atop an Underwood, early writings by the late Jack Kerouac. And then I discovered that today is his birthday, and thought that I should do a little homage to the beautiful Ti Jean! The book contained a personal message from an Uncle to his nephew on his way to college. Only in the Strand (or your equivalent of an indie bookshop) can you find books that have histories. Perhaps, I'll write a message in it, and if I decide to give it away (which probably won't happen) someone else can find it! 

I wanted to see his writing evolve from what it was when he was 13 to what it became when he penned his most famous work On The Road. What lies in the mind of one who embraced his own unique voice from a young age? I want to glean this from him.

I learned to be an exciting, passionate writer because this man wasn't afraid to chronicle his meanderings, thoughts, and visions onto the page. I may not agree with every single thing he got into, as the beatniks lived a quite sex/drug filled reverie. But, his words pulse with life, beauty, and zeal that is infectious. This man makes me want to take my own 'On the Road' journey, just so I can fill a journal with the people I'll meet, the places I'll discover, and the growth that God will no doubt bring me to. 

Every writer who hopes to make any kind of difference in the world, should read him. He'll encourage you not to let the critics get you down, but to throw your entire heart on the page. It's only then that you will change someone's life.

Do you like Kerouac? What's you're favorite work by him? For now, mine is The Subterraneans.

PostScript: Can I thank all of you new followers once again for clicking the GFC button? You all make me smile! I hope you enjoy my posts, and thanks for reading!

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Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris Book Review

In this poignant and evocative novel by acclaimed author Kristina McMorris, a country is plunged into conflict and suspicion—forcing a young woman to find her place in a volatile world.


Los Angeles, 1941. Violinist Maddie Kern's life seemed destined to unfold with the predictable elegance of a Bach concerto. Then she fell in love with Lane Moritomo. Her brother's best friend, Lane is the handsome, ambitious son of Japanese immigrants. Maddie was prepared for disapproval from their families, but when Pearl Harbor is bombed the day after she and Lane elope, the full force of their decision becomes apparent. In the eyes of a fearful nation, Lane is no longer just an outsider, but an enemy.


When her husband is interned at a war relocation camp, Maddie follows, sacrificing her Juilliard ambitions. Behind barbed wire, tension simmers and the line between patriot and traitor blurs. As Maddie strives for the hard-won acceptance of her new family, Lane risks everything to prove his allegiance to America, at tremendous cost.


Skillfully capturing one of the most controversial episodes in recent American history, Kristina McMorris draws readers into a novel filled with triumphs and heartbreaking loss—an authentic, moving testament to love, forgiveness, and the enduring music of the human spirit.
-Barnes & Noble

Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris can be defined as one of the most well done novels of 2012 thus far. This is the first World War II era novel that I've had the privilege of reading, and I'm so happy I got to experience a journey so beautiful. McMorris has taken me through so many emotions in my few days of reading--I didn't expect to feel what I felt! I purchased this novel from Kinokuniya, which I'm really excited I did, given the topic of this novel. From the moment I opened it, I couldn't tear myself away from it even if I tried. McMorris breaks the novel into seven parts, and writes from the varied perspectives of the main characters. It was so interesting to watch each point of view weave into the others, thus, tying the reader to each one.

Every single character is wonderfully human. I adored Lane and Maddie, and their ups and downs with staying united, regardless of the war that threatens to tear them apart. I loved learning about Japanese culture, and tradition, as Maddie does throughout the novel. TJ, Maddie's brother, is challenging, but not in a way that is unrelatable. I could feel his every struggle as he dealt with personal conflicts and pain. I would've loved to see more of Maddie's best friend, Jo. She is such a strong character that is charismatic and effervescent, yet, deals with her own struggles.

Not only is McMorris' writing style stellar, evoking the most classic of voices from the 40s, her research is impeccable. If she didn't come out and plainly state that this novel is a work of fiction, it could've easily read as a historical/biographical account! Yet, it is the true story of those who had to endure horrible racism, and removal from their homes as American citizens to camps labeling their culture and ethnicity a threat. My heart was broken so many times over the course of this story. But McMorris pens a novel of great hope, and knowledge that in the end, we are all fighting the same fight. This novel needed to be written. It will go into my Bookish Delights collection (novels with characters that feel like family members, and which will most likely be re-read).

Bridge of Scarlet Leaves is an epic novel filled with romance, adventure, and disturbing realities. It deserves high acclaim! Also, as much as I would rather some novels not become films, I can see this on the big screen!

I give Bridge of Scarlet Leaves 5 out of 5 cups of Earl Grey, and a cup of red bean ice cream!

One Day by David Nicholls Book Review/Film Parallel

It’s 1988 and Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley have only just met. But after only one day together, they cannot stop thinking about one another. Over twenty years, snapshots of that relationship are revealed on the same day—July 15th—of each year. Dex and Em face squabbles and fights, hopes and missed opportunities, laughter and tears. And as the true meaning of this one crucial day is revealed, they must come to grips with the nature of love and life itself.

-Barnes & Noble

One Day is one of those novels that you either love or you hate, and I must admit that this is not a novel that I would go back to. But despite the previous, I believe that it is a novel that should be read. It's not horrible in terms of content, or writing. I give Nicholl's many props for creating a fitting semi-omnipresent narrator peeking into aspects of each characters lives at the perfect time. His dialogue is engrossing, and pretty flawless, actually. There were hilarious moments that really boosted it's morale a bit, and then there were disheartening bits that really gutted you after reading. When I first started, I did not want to put it down. I loved the tone of it. It took a lifetime to read, and I literally felt as if I had lived through each wonderful and tank worthy moment in each characters' life. It was chock full of details, and by the end of it you definitely know these characters through and through.

My challenge with the novel comes with the characters, or really, just one...Dexter. I wanted to love him, and with the way Nicholls' paints him, you understand, to an extent, why he's so prone to idiotic decisions and has a seeming callous nature. Nevertheless, as the novel progressed, I couldn't stop wanting to smack him upside the face with something hard and bulky. Emma had her frustrating moments as well, but I felt I could relate to her more as she too is a struggling writer trying to figure her place in life. It was pretty hilarious, at certain points, to observe Dexter try and figure out what his feelings were for Emma, as well as his slip ups with her time and time again. I'm not sure if I were Emma, I could  endure Dexter's erratic, arrogant, and oftentimes condescending behavior.  It was a bit too much.

The conclusion is a scene that truly takes your breath away. I never pictured it ending this way, but it definitely causes you to wonder if you are appreciating the people in your life, and not taking their help, support, and love for granted.

Bottom line, I would say, read the novel. It's hard points read true to reality, and this could be perhaps, why it was so hard for me to enjoy the ride. I would love to discuss your thoughts!

The film, on the other hand...didn't even come close to the novel. Of course, this is probably true with most film adaptations, but I had a problem with connecting to the characters. It seems the film tried to squeeze their entire lives, and ended up leaving out really awesome parts, and rushing through significant  years. Jim Sturgess portrayed Dexter to a tee! I knew this because from the moment he popped onto the screen I couldn't STAND him. I wanted to punch his cocky little smirks off of his face, and scream, 'Show Emma some respect, for crying out loud!' Anne Hathaway also portrayed Emma very effectively. She brought out Emma's sarcastic deadpans, and wit. I'm not sure about her accent, but I'm not the authority on such things. Even after spending a year in the UK, I can't even say what an accurate Yorkshire accent is. The film was merely okay.

I give One Day three out of five cups of Earl Grey.

I give the film adaptation a two and a half out of five cups of Earl Grey. 

(This might be the meanest I'll ever review...hopefully!)

Fourth Degree Freedom by Libby Heily Book Review

Fourth Degree Freedom explores the best of humanity and the worst. The stories range from hopeful realism to the dystopian side of speculative fiction. Each story twists and turns through darkness and light, settling somewhere in the shadowy area of day to day life.

Thank You For Calling - A young woman fights to keep her sanity, her marriage and her hope while working in a call center.

The Event - Do the youth decide to go along with the government's plan to rid the population of the elderly, or will they fight back?

Fourth Degree Freedom - A family, shunned by neighbors and friends, struggles with their youngest son, a boy that was literally born a monster. 

The Last Six Miles - Samantha has hit rock bottom. Her husband has left her and her only source of comfort is junk food. Her slip into depression seems inevitable until she discovers running. Samantha begins the long journey from barely being able to jog a minute to completing her first marathon. 

She Floats - If you woke up and didn't know where you were, would you panic? What if you were trapped in a giant aquarium?
-Good Reads

Fourth Degree Freedom is a collection of 5 short stories blending dystopia with the everyday fight. Each are profound and imaginative. The pieces take you into the lives of a woman working at a call center, two young men armed to kill, a family with a child that has an obscure birth 'defect', a woman getting over a divorce, and a young woman who's trapped. Each story seems to compliment the other, and yet be in separate dimensions as well. The only piece that seemed so obscure that it didn't quite connect with the rest was The Event. This story was maddeningly violent and disheartening, but in such a good way, and will need multiple reads in order to decipher the depth of it.

The stories that really capture my heart are "Fourth Degree Freedom", "The Last Six Miles", and "She Floats". These pieces truly showed Heily's talent for characterization and plot. She placed them in bizarre situations that suck you in! I wondered how she came up with such wildly brilliant scenarios.  Heily made me care deeply for each of the characters represented throughout these pieces, and I couldn't help but feel connected to them and their lives. There were points where I was stunned at the profundity of the message being captured. "She Floats" was the perfect piece to end the collection, as it seems to draw each piece to a hopeful close.  Heily's writing style is very simplistic and measured, making each word count.

I'm purposely choosing not to go into great detail about any of the stories because I want readers to discover each world for themselves! Every piece is worth reading, taking in, and mulling over.

Fourth Degree Freedom is  collection filled with short and sweet stories that are each brilliant in their own way.

I give Fourth Degree Freedom by Libby Heily 4 out of 5 cups of Earl Grey!

Novel Days Celebrates: Banned Books Week

I'm happy to be able to take part in my first Banned Books Week!

Have you noticed that the most thought provoking and enlightening books are often banned by governments, schools, or parents? Just thinking about this kind of censorship irritates me, because it takes away our freedom to ponder, to agree or disagree, or to be introduced to something new. I can tell you that there are some books that I think should be more age appropriate regarding books marketed to younger readers, however, I would never go as far as seeking to ban them. As a Christian raised in a conservative household, I cannot thank my parents enough for allowing me to immerse myself in the written word. They never once shielded me from reading (and they're Pastors). Of course, there will always be topics, or stances that we disagree with, but power is not gained by censoring them. The reason I am able to believe and stand the way I do is because I was given the choice to stand of my own free will. Pick up a censored book this week and read it with glee!

Here are some of my favorite Banned Picks:

I consider The Diary of Anne Frank to be one of the most courageous autobiographies of all time. It was one of the first autobiographies I read when I was little, and I like to think it's what really drove my passion to journal, and my passion to write. God really used her, in that she still continued her positive outlook, even while being trapped in the space behind the bookcase. Although the ending seems bleak, her words and her spirit will always be a source of inspiration to readers all over the world.

I believe Ellen Hopkins is the most challenged author in the last few years, as her subject matter falls in 'taboo' category. Unfortunately, I've only read the first of the Crank series, but it was such an influential read. More people than ever have experienced the effects of Crystal Meth, and it's worth taking note of, and understand how it can ravage an individual as well as their families. Ellen Hopkins is also known for weaving a fully layered, awesome novel in verse.

Go Ask Alice is another novel with heavy focuses on drug use and depression. I'll admit that it is tough to take in, but it is no less profound because of it. I tried reading it through when I was little, but I feel I might glean more from it now that I understand the place that it's coming from. My mom gave me her weathered, dog-eared copy from the 70s, so when I was little I felt like I had a little piece of the time. What's most haunting about it is that no one knows whether it is autobiographical or fictional...this adds to its powerful effect on readers. Though it may not be everyone's cup of tea, it's worth reading even once, to understand the lives of what could be countless others who have sought to live up to perfection, and slipped in the process.

I'm sure you all saw this one coming. What's more awesome in the great YA Dystopia than The Hunger Games? I picked mine up last year during the release of Mockingjay. With multiple recommendations, I knew I had to give it a chance. I couldn't have been more please with this novel! I love that somehow, I can always use this novel as inspiration to stand up against whatever I'm facing. It's also profound how most dystopian novels can be connected to how the world actually is. Suzanne Collins is pretty much a genius for coming up with such an engrossing tale, and a heroine that drives you to continue the journey with her!

This week, I've been catching up on my reading of Delirium by Lauren Oliver. It's the perfect novel to read, as it's a dystopian piece full of awesome banned literature and music!

I had loads of trouble coming up with titles to showcase this week, there are simply too many awesome ones. What are your Banned Book Week picks?

Top Ten Books on my TBR list this Fall

Top Ten Tuesdays is a weekly/feature meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Here are ten novels I'm brimming for this Fall:

1. The Hidden by Jessica Verday: This has got to be one of my most highly anticipated! I was sucked into The Hollow and The Haunted, and now I can't wait to read the last in the trilogy. It's such a beautiful premise, with details I just devour with each page turned! Oh, what will become of Abbey and Caspian?
2. Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick: This is my second most highly anticipated choice! Who can get enough of Patch? Hush Hush was an entertaining read, but, Crescendo is what really captured my attention. 
3. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin: I'm looking forward to reading this because it seems to have angelic affiliation, and I would love to discover whether this suspicion is true!
4. All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin: I read Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, and I loved it, the writing style, the details, and the beautiful storyline! I'm looking forward to Zevin's newest Dystopian tale packed with romance, illegal chocolate, and crime bosses.
5. The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle: I would love to observe the growth of romance between Laurel and David after they've both experienced such trauma. There's something about angsty stories that always draws me.
6. Perfect by Ellen Hopkins: Really, all you have to mention is Ellen Hopkins to peak my interest. I love Hopkins for her beautiful verse, and her undeniably raw topics. My favorite of hers so far is Impulse, and I'm looking forward to this companion novel!
7. As I Wake by Elizabeth Scott: I love the mystery around characters so steeped in the haze of amnesia that they cannot trust the information given by those they used to know. It's the closest to mystery that I can take.
8. My Beating Teenage Heart by C.K. Kelly Martin: This novel captured me immediately by its beautiful premise! Ashlyn is trapped in a coma and Breckon is imprisoned by grief. Somehow, Ashlyn vows to help him even as she is trapped between realms.  Sounds wonderful! I also love the haunting feel of the cover! 
9. The Winters in Bloom by Lisa Tucker: This is my first adult fiction novel on the list. The premise of a family whose child is kidnapped, forcing them to face their past demons, seems pretty interesting to me!
10. Beautiful Days by Anna Godbersen: 1929, socialites, vintage new york, romance and drama? Sounds great to me!!!

What books are you looking forward to reading this Fall?

Book Birthday 8/23/11: The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Book Birthday Shout Out is a weekly meme hosted by Bewitched Bookworms created to celebrate authors and the release of their latest novels. For more information, click here.

A mesmerizing, moving, and elegantly written debut novel, The Language of Flowers beautifully weaves past and present, creating a vivid portrait of an unforgettable woman whose gift for flowers helps her change the lives of others even as she struggles to overcome her own troubled past.

The Victorian language of flowers was used to convey romantic expressions: honeysuckle for devotion, asters for patience, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it’s been more useful in communicating grief, mistrust, and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster-care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings.

Now eighteen and emancipated from the system, Victoria has nowhere to go and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. Soon a local florist discovers her talents, and Victoria realizes she has a gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But a mysterious vendor at the flower market has her questioning what’s been missing in her life, and when she’s forced to confront a painful secret from her past, she must decide whether it’s worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness. -Barnes & Noble

I am SO excited about The Language of Flowers (BN/Amazon)! I've always been so intrigued about how those in the Victorian Era used flowers to communicate so many things. I would love for our generation to go back to this kind of romance. It's a bit like handwritten letters and lock's of hair given in an envelope! In my own novel, I touch on this beautiful art a bit, and I'm so chuffed to see how it factors out in this novel. The story line also seems very layered, what with the romance of flowers, blending with the reality of a life spent in foster homes, or mistreatment.  I have such expectation for beautiful writing! I'm hoping to pick this one up very soon!

Happy Book Birthday, Vanessa Diffenbaugh, and thank you very much for writing a novel that will no doubt keep us intrigued!

Please watch the Amazon video interview on The Language of Flowers.

Huddled at the Strand .01

The Strand Bookstore is one of the greatest literary landmarks in New York City. It boasts 18 miles of books, and is a dreamland to anyone seeking safe haven amongst books at affordable prices. It's one of my favorite places in the world and this feature will celebrate hauls collected from the Strand.

The Brief and Wondrous World of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

This is the long-awaited first novel from one of the most original and memorable writers working today.

Things have never been easy for Oscar, a sweet but disastrously overweight, lovesick Dominican ghetto nerd. From his home in New Jersey, where he lives with his old-world mother and rebellious sister, Oscar dreams of becoming the Dominican J. R. R. Tolkien and, most of all, of finding love. But he may never get what he wants, thanks to the fukú – the curse that has haunted the Oscar's family for generations, dooming them to prison, torture, tragic accidents, and, above all, ill-starred love. Oscar, still waiting for his first kiss, is just its most recent victim.

Diaz immerses us in the tumultuous life of Oscar and the history of the family at large, rendering with genuine warmth and dazzling energy, humor, and insight the Dominican–American experience, and, ultimately, the endless human capacity to persevere in the face of heartbreak and loss. A true literary triumph, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao confirms Junot Diaz as one of the best and most exciting voices of our time.

During my Junior year in college, I was privileged to read Drown, a collection of short stories by Junot Diaz. I was, again, surprised to like this set of phenomenal short stories about the lives of dominican youth striving to stay above ground. His prose contained facets of surreality which really elevated each moment into something beautiful and haunting. So I thought, why not try his first novel on for size. This New York Times Bestselling, Pulitzer Prize winner should be the cherry on top of Diaz' literary ice cream cake. We shall see!

Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

On the eve of his ninetieth birthday a bachelor decides to give himself a wild night of love with a virgin. As is his habit–he has purchased hundreds of women–he asks a madam for her assistance. The fourteen-year-old girl who is procured for him is enchanting, but exhausted as she is from caring for siblings and her job sewing buttons, she can do little but sleep. Yet with this sleeping beauty at his side, it is he who awakens to a romance he has never known.

Tender, knowing, and slyly comic, Memories of My Melancholy Whores is an exquisite addition to the master’s work.

I've wanted to read some of Gabriel Garcia Marquez for a while, and when I spotted this, I thought...ahh, gritty! Really? I just find stories where the protagonist seeks out to get into something disheartening, and in the end discovers something life change, very intriguing. Hope I come away with sparks!

30 Day Book Challenge No. 3: A Book that completely surprised you (Good or Bad)

When I started my undergraduate Creative Writing courses, the instructors used to make us read a ton of short stories and I really disdained them. And then I found Guy De Maupassant, and he caused me to fall in love with them. He is truly one of the kings of the Short Story form.

The stories tend to take on quite an alarming slant at times. Like The Jewels, which chronicles a husband discovering his wife's infidelity after she's passed on, The Graveyard Sisterhood about women who possibly prey on men in mourning, and Idyll which I don't want to talk about because I'm not sure whether to think of it as crazy/beautiful, or crazy....well crazy. 

Maupassant infuses his stories with the beauty of descriptive Paris and the excitement of unpredictability. Of course, to an extent he sets out to turn certain ideals on their head a bit.

The edition I have is rare, and browning with that 'eau de biblio' musk that I just can't resist. I never expected to love him this much!