Mathilda Savitch by Victor Ladato

Mathida Savitch by Victor Lodato

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It is funny to say that I liked the book but it really left me unsettled. I am still debating about how to describe it.



I think most of us have a little Mathilda Savitch in us. Mathilda constantly has lots of thoughts running through her mind. The difference between her and us is that Mathilda's thoughts come out through her mouth and most of us keep them inside. Mathilda's thoughts grow and expand until they get away from her with their largeness and she doesn't recognize them anymore.



Mathilda is living in a house with her Ma and Da. Mithilda's sister died the previous year and we learn more about her sister's death as the story unfolds. Her parents are so grief stricken that they don't really seem to realize that Mathilda is still living in the same house with them. The more they ignore Mathilda, the more she acts out to get their attention.



As Mathilda investigates the circumstances of her sister's death, she tries to make sense of it. Each bit of information she gleans from her sister's room helps her understand her sister, her parents and herself better. Each step is painful and takes her further from her childhood into an adult world that she is really not ready to enter.



If you are looking for an enjoyable weekend read that will leave you uplifted and peaceful at the end, this book is not it. Mathilda takes us on an interesting journey but all loose ends are not tied up in a neat little package at the end of the story. (Sounds a little like real life, doesn't it?) On the other hand, Mathilda is an unforgetable character, the writing is excellent, and I would definitely recommend it.



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My Life in France by Julia Child

My Life in France by Julia Child


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Julia Child was an amazing woman. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Julia's road to culinary success. She and her husband Paul ended up in France through his work with the United States Infomation Service. Julia did not know how to cook at all when she married Paul. They had so many opportunities to try amazing food while they were in France. Julia wanted to try some of those recipes at home to impress her husband. Little did she know that she was on the way to a new career!

Julia describes her life in France with such vivid descriptions of France, French food and the period in the history of world events. The world was changing rapidly and not only did Julia change with it but she also documented changes through film and print. She had a facinating life.

I was impressed with Julia Child as a writer, a culinary artist, and a pioneer in the new medium of television. I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I did.

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Southern Fried Divorce by Judy Conner

Southern Fried Divorce by Judy Conner


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was all prepared for Southern Fried Divorce to be another book about a bitter, vindictive divorcee. While I am sure the actual divorce was not easy to live through, Judy Conner surprisingly shares with the reader many amusing stories about her "X", as she affectionally calls him.

"X" is a character in only the way that a resident of New Orleans can be. "X" is an owner of drinking establishment. He constantly seems to attract trouble. "X" hangs out with everyone from the highest local officials to the lowliest bum on the street. Throw in a huge amount of alcohol and the most amusing things seem to happen wherever he goes!

Judy shares mixed feelings for her "X". She cares about him, and loved their private life but couldn't stand that he was constantly embarrassing her in public. She loves the attention he lavishes on her - even after their divorce - but can't stand his skirt chasing. He clearly loves her but just can't stay on the straight and narrow. Surpringly, Judy also shares that she is not without her own faults, the main one being a mean streak.

I love a good Southern writer. Judy Conner tells her story with humor and lots of New Orleans color. She entertains us with humor and wit, and, at the same time, makes the most of a difficult situation. I am sure we will be hearing more from her in the future.


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A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon

A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mark Haddon has a talent for writing about topics from an unusual point of view. In A Spot of Bother, Haddon takes a rather difficult topic - mental health - and discusses how it affects an entire family with empathy and humor.

George Hall is going crazy and trying to do it with dignity. George really does not want to be much of a bother to anyone. When a small spot appears on his hip, he goes off to visit the doctor without telling his wife. The doctor diagnosis is eczema but George obsesses about the spot and is convinced that he has cancer and the cancer is rapidly spreading to other parts of his body. George is polite to a fault and really doesn't want to worry anyone. George begins to have trouble coping and his family slowly realizes that there is something not quite right about George lately.

Throw in George's daughter's upcoming marriage to an unsuitable bridegroom, his son's homosexuality, and his wife's affair - George handles it all by avoiding the issues at hand. Things soon tumble into a mess and are sorted out again with humor and aplomb.

Mark Haddon writes about topics that touch all of our families and does it with humor and kindness without losing sight of the seriousness of the subject matter. Hats off to Haddon for a great story.

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The Morning Show Murders by Al Roker

The Morning Show Murders: A Novel by Al Roker


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I loved this book! The first thing you notice is Al Roker's humor sprinkled throughout the story. I love Al's humor so that was a big plus to me. The story line has really nice twists and turns so it isn't predictable. The surprises last until the very end.

Billy Blessing, the main character, is a likable carbon copy of Al. Billy is a weatherman on a popular morning tv show. He is a chef and has an extensive knowledge of food and food preparation. One reason this story rang so true is that Al wrote about what he knows best - and it worked well.

The main drawback to the story is that there are so many characters to keep up with! I am sure that also plays true in Al's line of work but it was dizzying to keep up with the extensive cast of players.

Al did a great job with this book. I can't wait to see his next one.

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Friday Nights by Joanna Trollope

Friday Nights: A Novel by Joanna Trollope


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Friday Nights is about an unlikely group of women coming together as friends. Eleanor, an older retired woman, notices two young single mothers pushing baby strollers on her street. They are always alone and look a little lost and stressed out. She invites them to come to her flat on a Friday night. The women, Lindsay and Paula, aren't quite sure of Eleanor's motivation but decide to go. They can't afford to do much of anything to get out for fun and Eleanor tells them to bring their babies with them. The three women have a pleasant evening.

Soon, three more women have joined their little group - Jules, Lindsay's younger and wilder sister, and Karen and Blaise. Karen is married to an artist that never paints anything. She has two small children. Blaise is her business partner and is single.

The six women enjoy their unlikely friendship and Friday night get togethers for a number of years. Then enters Jackson, Paula's new boyfriend. She brings him to a Friday night to introduce him to everyone. Jackson is totally at ease and fits right into the group. Then Jackson begins visiting Paula's friends without her and friendships are strained.

Although I enjoyed this book, I have to say that it was a bit average. It was an easy read and enjoyable but not terribly exciting.

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Odd Hours by Dean Koontz

Odd Hours by Dean Koontz


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Odd Thomas is definitely added to my list of favorite characters. He is a very unusual guy. Start with his quirky sense of humor. Add in his ability to see ghosts and that he has a ghost dog as a companion. Finally, who can resist a quirky character with supernatural abilities that saves the world from certain destruction?

Odd Thomas had an unusual start to life when his parents named him Todd but a mistake on the birth certificate pronounced him as Odd. His parents never bothered to change it and he has been Odd ever since. Odd is a fry cook that drifts from one job to another as the need arises. Odd Hours finds him working for an OCD millionaire in a beach front mansion. Odd takes a walk on a pier and meets a mysterious girl and somehow gets entangled in a murderous plot to take over the world. As you think the story gets a little predictable, an unimagined twist takes over and leaves you gasping to see what will happen next.

Dean Koontz has created a memorable character in Odd Thomas. Although I started with the fourth Odd novel, I am sure I will go back and read the other three. Dean Koontz leaves you wanting more.


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