I've been reading sleeping arrangements by Madeline Wickham. This book was recommended to my by Julie. I know that she also wrote on her blog about the novel. (let's hope my analysis can equal to hers...)
The book starts introducing different stories. Almost like the Lord of the Rings connects different tales. However, the subject matter couldn't be MORE different than the Lord of the Rings! There are two families: The Strattons and The Murrays. Both families share a friend by the name of Gerard. This Gerard is a wine taster and owns a villa in Spain.
Also, both families share the desperate need for a vacation. Chloe (the partner of Phillip Murray) is a dress designer who works under the stress of demanding brides and their mothers. Phillip Murray works in a bank and is in the sticky situation of possibly loosing his job. The Murray boys, Sam and Nat are excited to take a break and enjoy a swimming pool and games. Hugh Stratton works non-stop and barely knows his own two little girls (Beatrice and Octavia). Whereas his wife, Amanda is a busy stay at home mom who is desperate to perfect her already glowing tan.
However....Gerard books them both at his villa for the same week!!!!!!! The vacation doesn't start out too smoothly for the families. Both are very mad about the mistake. And....Hugh and Chloe are forced to look back 16 years at the time that they were dating. This booking mistake was quite coincidental! (or was it?)
I'll have to read more to discover the mystery, or lack of behind Gerard's "whoopsies"
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
THE END!
I just finished Three Days, and it was a good book. However, I don't think I would recommend it to anyone. It was relatively slow moving and just a very silly idea. (Being captured by a sweet family?)
At the end of the story, questions raised throughout the book were answered (fancy that!) The reason Claudia (the woman that Jackie took walks on the beach with) was being kept by the family was because there was a girl around Jackie's age that had died. The girl's name was Antonia and was very close to Claudia (her mother). The family replaced Antonia with Jackie.
In the last couple of scenes, Jackie is taken to Antonia's grave, and this is where Jackie understands the reason she was treated so well and kept at the home. She sees through the family's tears that this girl was very important to them.
Jackie also is taken to the train station by Claudia. In other words, she is released to go back home. Jackie takes out a picture of her mom and tells the photograph not to worry, and that she'll be home soon. Then, she sits back and waits for the train to make it to the airport.
This is the most unrealistic story EVER!
At the end of the story, questions raised throughout the book were answered (fancy that!) The reason Claudia (the woman that Jackie took walks on the beach with) was being kept by the family was because there was a girl around Jackie's age that had died. The girl's name was Antonia and was very close to Claudia (her mother). The family replaced Antonia with Jackie.
In the last couple of scenes, Jackie is taken to Antonia's grave, and this is where Jackie understands the reason she was treated so well and kept at the home. She sees through the family's tears that this girl was very important to them.
Jackie also is taken to the train station by Claudia. In other words, she is released to go back home. Jackie takes out a picture of her mom and tells the photograph not to worry, and that she'll be home soon. Then, she sits back and waits for the train to make it to the airport.
This is the most unrealistic story EVER!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Jackie is now fully moved into the house of the Italian family. The two men (who she has discovered are the sons of the woman at the house) are rarely home. However, the mother stays at the house full time and takes care of Jackie like Jackie was her daughter. Believe it or not, Jackie isn't as scared as she was at the beginning of this strange experience. The mother draws Jackie's bath and the two go on walks along the shore near their home. Jackie is very aware of the fact that the family has a story, or something to tell her, but she just can't seem to grasp what it is that they want!
Honestly, this is a very very slow moving book and it contains a lot of day to day details. Like the fact that the lasagna smelled delicious mixed with the basil growing in the clay pots outside. And that the sun warmed her fingers while she watched the woman in the kitchen. (the woman being mother). Then, the book goes into detail on how the mother carefully puts layers of pasta, cheese, and white sauce with fresh herbs in order, and then repeats the process multiple times. It can get VERY slow and quite boring, but somehow the story keeps you hooked. You just HAVE to know what will happen in this BEYOND strange story!!!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
A Situation I Would Not Do Well In!
I’m now reading Three Days by Donna Jo Napoli. It’s about a girl whose father gets killed by a heart attack during their father/daughter vacation in Italy. Jackie (the daughter) doesn’t have a cell phone and doesn’t know what to do. She is left stranded on the Italian highway with a dead father and rental car.
Unfortunately, two men in a truck pick her up. She is VERY scared (and who wouldn’t be??) She has no choice but to go with them. They take her to their home and give her very nice things. They give her a beautiful room that is made just for a girl her age. Also, at the home is an older woman.
Since Jackie speaks little to no English, she has to piece together the family’s life. During all of this, all she can think about is how badly she wants to go home. The family’s marinara smells delicious, but it’s not the same as her mother’s. She can only imagine what is going on in the world. The home she is at is in a very secluded area and all of the neighbors speak…you guessed it, ITALIAN!
I’m only into the very beginning of the book, so I don’t know too much about the plot, but I have been getting to know Jackie. She seems to be a very considerate and brilliant young girl. It is obvious that she will find a way to get herself out of the situation no matter what. Surprisingly, she doesn’t seem too phased by the whole “being helpless” thing. Of course, this strange, yet very kind family does help with that little fact…
Unfortunately, two men in a truck pick her up. She is VERY scared (and who wouldn’t be??) She has no choice but to go with them. They take her to their home and give her very nice things. They give her a beautiful room that is made just for a girl her age. Also, at the home is an older woman.
Since Jackie speaks little to no English, she has to piece together the family’s life. During all of this, all she can think about is how badly she wants to go home. The family’s marinara smells delicious, but it’s not the same as her mother’s. She can only imagine what is going on in the world. The home she is at is in a very secluded area and all of the neighbors speak…you guessed it, ITALIAN!
I’m only into the very beginning of the book, so I don’t know too much about the plot, but I have been getting to know Jackie. She seems to be a very considerate and brilliant young girl. It is obvious that she will find a way to get herself out of the situation no matter what. Surprisingly, she doesn’t seem too phased by the whole “being helpless” thing. Of course, this strange, yet very kind family does help with that little fact…
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Final Remember Me?
The End
Oh my word!!!! This was such a funny story!!!!! There is a section of the book where Lexi is trying to help her husband Eric impress his customers at an open house of one of his beautiful houses. Lexi and Jon (a man she apparently was having an affair with, though she can’t remember him…..) were in charge of putting Italian stones into the exotic fish tank. However, Lexi throws the rocks in and ends up killing one of the fish. When she scoops the fish out (yes, with her hands!) she puts it in the “loo” but can’t find a flush button. She asks Jon how to flush the toilet, and Jon responds by giving her a remote control. When she tries to figure out the control, she looses patience and just jabs at all the buttons. NOT A GOOD IDEA! All of a sudden the read lights start flashing and an alarm rings out. While cages start coming down on the guests Lexi realizes she really got herself in trouble. But thank goodness for Lexi, Jon saves her by disguising her mistake as a “test of the alarm system’s state of the art qualities”.
This is just an example of the crazy things that happen in this book. It’s just hilarious.
Unfortunately, I have this habit of reacting to books out loud when I’m reading, and I really had to try to not laugh (for fear of strange looks from classmates)
I would recommend this book if you like a good laugh and a light read. However, I wouldn’t really recommend it to the males…. It’s a feminine type book. Though if you WANT to read it, go ahead!
Oh my word!!!! This was such a funny story!!!!! There is a section of the book where Lexi is trying to help her husband Eric impress his customers at an open house of one of his beautiful houses. Lexi and Jon (a man she apparently was having an affair with, though she can’t remember him…..) were in charge of putting Italian stones into the exotic fish tank. However, Lexi throws the rocks in and ends up killing one of the fish. When she scoops the fish out (yes, with her hands!) she puts it in the “loo” but can’t find a flush button. She asks Jon how to flush the toilet, and Jon responds by giving her a remote control. When she tries to figure out the control, she looses patience and just jabs at all the buttons. NOT A GOOD IDEA! All of a sudden the read lights start flashing and an alarm rings out. While cages start coming down on the guests Lexi realizes she really got herself in trouble. But thank goodness for Lexi, Jon saves her by disguising her mistake as a “test of the alarm system’s state of the art qualities”.
This is just an example of the crazy things that happen in this book. It’s just hilarious.
Unfortunately, I have this habit of reacting to books out loud when I’m reading, and I really had to try to not laugh (for fear of strange looks from classmates)
I would recommend this book if you like a good laugh and a light read. However, I wouldn’t really recommend it to the males…. It’s a feminine type book. Though if you WANT to read it, go ahead!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Remember Me?
Amnesia….
I changed the book I will be reading for this quarter. Thanks to Julie, I’ve started one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in awhile. It’s really funny, and a nice light read.
Lexi (the main character) gets into a car crash and looses her memory. She can remember everything up to three years before the crash. Unfortunately this means she can’t remember her husband, friends, job specifics, or who she is… Also, it doesn’t exactly help that she was a very ambitious woman when the accident happened, but three years before she was a low self-esteem, low totem pole worker who thought tight purple shirts were attractive.
So far, Lexi has been let out of the hospital and brought back home to her beautiful, remote control home. To her dismay, she finds herself constantly screwing up while trying to be the professional she once was. It’s absolutely shocking how she has transformed from her tacky old self into such a polished businesswoman.
Her husband, Eric writes a book that gives her details on everything she used to do. (Like, what she normally eats for breakfast). Some of the things she used to do come naturally to her, like complicated yoga moves and how to walk in heels. It’s all in the muscle memory. (how ever, she can’t remember how to drive a car…which might be a good thing)
When Lexi goes back to work, she discovers that she can’t remember her assistants, or even what she is supposed to be doing in her position. The company relies on her as the head of her department, but she is completely useless. It takes the workers a while to realize that she can’t be depended on for all the answers anymore. I wonder how long Lexi will be able to keep up with their demands before collapsing under the confusion and pressure? Is the old Lexi up to handling the modern Lexi’s life?
I changed the book I will be reading for this quarter. Thanks to Julie, I’ve started one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in awhile. It’s really funny, and a nice light read.
Lexi (the main character) gets into a car crash and looses her memory. She can remember everything up to three years before the crash. Unfortunately this means she can’t remember her husband, friends, job specifics, or who she is… Also, it doesn’t exactly help that she was a very ambitious woman when the accident happened, but three years before she was a low self-esteem, low totem pole worker who thought tight purple shirts were attractive.
So far, Lexi has been let out of the hospital and brought back home to her beautiful, remote control home. To her dismay, she finds herself constantly screwing up while trying to be the professional she once was. It’s absolutely shocking how she has transformed from her tacky old self into such a polished businesswoman.
Her husband, Eric writes a book that gives her details on everything she used to do. (Like, what she normally eats for breakfast). Some of the things she used to do come naturally to her, like complicated yoga moves and how to walk in heels. It’s all in the muscle memory. (how ever, she can’t remember how to drive a car…which might be a good thing)
When Lexi goes back to work, she discovers that she can’t remember her assistants, or even what she is supposed to be doing in her position. The company relies on her as the head of her department, but she is completely useless. It takes the workers a while to realize that she can’t be depended on for all the answers anymore. I wonder how long Lexi will be able to keep up with their demands before collapsing under the confusion and pressure? Is the old Lexi up to handling the modern Lexi’s life?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Misfits (part 1)
Hmmm…. Names, Ties, and Adolescence
I’m starting the book, “The Misfits” by James Howe. I’m not too far into it yet, but the some of the obvious main characters have been introduced. Bobby, a twelve year old boy, also known as Fluff by fellow classmates works in a tie store. He is called Fluff because he loved Marshmallow and peanut butter sandwiches when he was young.
His boss is named Mr. Kellerman (or Killer Man), and so far, this man has come off to be quite strict as to how his tie shop is run. He wears suits and whips around his silken handkerchief.
Squeeze Tookis is one of Bobby’s friends. He is a greasy, dirty, slimy boy who is very concerned about a Forum that Bobby and his friends have (Skeezie included). Other members of this Forum include Addie, a tall girl who is very smart and Joe. Joe scares other boys because of his feminine characteristics. Joe is also incredibly creative, and according to Bobby….possibly too creative.
It is apparent that Bobby isn’t a fan of names or tags. I can definitely understand this due to the fact that he is called Fluff. He thinks it’s silly to call someone by a name that only encompasses a small part, or individual characteristic of a person. He believes that there is so much more to a person than a name, and to judge a person through their label is shameful and disappointing. By doing this, you aren’t giving the person in question a chance to be themselves and you are missing out on enjoying what that person has to offer.
I’m starting the book, “The Misfits” by James Howe. I’m not too far into it yet, but the some of the obvious main characters have been introduced. Bobby, a twelve year old boy, also known as Fluff by fellow classmates works in a tie store. He is called Fluff because he loved Marshmallow and peanut butter sandwiches when he was young.
His boss is named Mr. Kellerman (or Killer Man), and so far, this man has come off to be quite strict as to how his tie shop is run. He wears suits and whips around his silken handkerchief.
Squeeze Tookis is one of Bobby’s friends. He is a greasy, dirty, slimy boy who is very concerned about a Forum that Bobby and his friends have (Skeezie included). Other members of this Forum include Addie, a tall girl who is very smart and Joe. Joe scares other boys because of his feminine characteristics. Joe is also incredibly creative, and according to Bobby….possibly too creative.
It is apparent that Bobby isn’t a fan of names or tags. I can definitely understand this due to the fact that he is called Fluff. He thinks it’s silly to call someone by a name that only encompasses a small part, or individual characteristic of a person. He believes that there is so much more to a person than a name, and to judge a person through their label is shameful and disappointing. By doing this, you aren’t giving the person in question a chance to be themselves and you are missing out on enjoying what that person has to offer.
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