The Dinner by Herman Koch

The Dinner is an intriguing novel. It occurs during the multiple course a dinner at a fancy restaurant that is attended by two Dutch couples. Each has their own interests and deep need to protect themselves and their family. It is a well paced novel that slowly lets the reader in on the secret held within its pages, which the reader discovers slowly as the novel progresses.

It is a mystery novel of sorts, but not in the conventional way. The reader is pulled into a complicated mess that can be our family and it explores the deep desire to protect our loved ones at any cost. The novel shows what some people will do to keep up appearance,  the battles that are waged between brothers, and finally the cost of silence in the name of love.

This is a wonderful novel that is different from many others. It can be enjoyed by many different kinds of readers and I highly recommend giving it a chance. I promise you will not be disappointed!

The End of the Affair by Graham Greene

I did not know what to expect for my first Graham Greene novel. Yes I chose an unconventional one to begin. A novel about a love affair that ended badly is not the author's usual fair. But I guess it was the girl in me that wished to read a romance, though a tragic one, more than a spy novel.                                                                                                                                                                                                For a long while I was unsure about this book. It was not the writing that confused me, but the story itself. It is a odd story of a man who connects with his lover's husband during a tragic time. It is an odd story where you are unsure if you should feel sorry for the characters or hate them. The character, at least for me, had little to no redeeming qualities. They were not likable in any way for me.  As most readers I'm sure can sympathize it is hard to read a book that does not contain at least one character that you can relate to or at the very least like.

The novel's simple yet interesting story does grab you in an unexpected way. The underlining sadness and pathetic nature of the characters stay with you long after the last page is read. This is not a story I can find myself relating to, but I found it haunting to read of an other's predicament. It is an interesting tale that is subtle and simple in its writing style. I would not be surprised to find myself reading it again in ten years or so. I also look forward to reading more from Graham Greene.

A Clash of Kings by R.R. Martin

This is the second novel in the Song of Fire and Ice series. R.R. Martin is an amazing author. He is a wordsmith of greatness and he does an amazing job of creating an entire world full of betrayal, love, families, and magic. This is an instance where the novel is amazing, but the show is too. On a side note, I think they did an amazing thing by making this into a show instead of going the movie root. This allows for much more detail and does not disappoint fans.                                                                                                                                     A Clash of Kings carries on the story of everyone who is fighting for the Iron Thorn.  It is a bloody battle to rule a kingdom that is changing. The only get more complicated and grows into a great beast. While reading I cannot help but ask where can we go from here? Even for non-fantasy readers, these novels are engaging, fun and at some points shocking. R.R. Martin does not hold true to conventional ideas and anything can happen. His novels are refreshing for this reason. Like The Wire, no character is safe and that makes is so much more true to real life. Yes, the world is magnificent and not at all possible, but the reader is able to connect with the human stories that are told. 

A Clash of Kings is a great second books that helps to further push the story of the Lannisters, Starks, Baratheons and Daenerys Targaryen along in ways that are unexpected, new and sometimes shocking to the reader (though it could be argued that nothing could shock the reader more than what occurred at the end of the first novel). I cannot wait to the third novel and see where this story goes. Considering that R.R. Martin refuses to rush the new, yet unpublished novels, I just know the entire planned seven books will continue to delight readers across the globe.

Big Sur by John Kerouac

I am a Kerouac fan, so I may be a tad biased here.  I think this is an interesting look into Jack's mind -- it greatly shows his addiction and sliding mental state.  He was a literary genius who showed his true colours in a way many people would be afraid to divulge.
In this day and age of over sharing of one's successes or embarrassing moments, Kerouac was a pioneer of telling a tale of inner struggle and turmoil.  He is not self indulgent, and being true to his self a tad manic at times. It is an intriguing read that allows you to feel what Kerouac was feeling at this particular time in his life.
It is a quintessential read for Kerouac fans, and if you are a first timer, start with On the Road.

Eat to Live- Joel Fuhrman M.D.

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This is an interesting read, though I have to admit I skipped a lot of chapters because I am a vegan.  The premise is good, however the delivery is a tad over the top. Yes it is important to eat your fruits and vegetables, however I do think some of the things he says in the book are perhaps sensational. I haven't done the program, but I had tried to eat more vegetables at every meal. Making it a priority to make vegetables and fruit the main component of each meal is a great lesson to take away from this book, though it is preachy at times.  All in all a great resource of people looking to learn more about nutrition and how change their diets for the better.  The recipes sometimes need a bit of interpretation and an experienced cook, as it lack basic instructions in some cases.

Drunk Mom by Jowita Bydlowska

This is an honest and sometimes gruesome look at what a mother would do because of alcoholism. Three years after becoming sober, Jowita finds herself going down a slipper alcoholic slope after drinking a glass of champagne to celebrate the birth of her son.  What follows is months of hiding bottles, blackouts, one trip to Montreal, a concerned sister and fights with her boyfriend.
There are no excuses in this tale, instead Jowita is frank and honest about her feelings as she tells of her love of booze, which somehow exists in conjunction with the love she has for her son.
There is no doubt that she cares deeply for her child, as any new mom would, however she is also dealing with her own demons, something that is not often talked about. I loved the grittiness of this memoir, and different portrayal of being a first time mom.  Yes some people may be offended by this refreshingly honest offering, but I hope it will forest some discussion about the dark side that can come from being called a mom.
Drunk Mom is a raw, emotional look at addiction and shows what lengths someone will go to for their love of alcohol.

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes

Honestly, I expected to hate this book. With all the ads on the subways and buzz I thought it would be yet another book that is so beloved by everyone and hated by me. I was very wrong.
I found myself helpless against the pull of the story and the characters. Yes it had the every so slight hint of romance novel, but at the same time it was real.
The novel follows Lou Clark a happy small town waitress in England, who is unexpectedly fired from her job. Left unemployed and with the need to pitch in to the family income, she takes a job as a caregiver to the son of a wealthy family.  Through caring for Will, a thirty-something ex-financial whiz, Lou learns about herself and is slowly pushed outside of her comfort zone.  Though Lou has a wild spirit and loves people, she is resistant to change.
Will is tested too, as Lou pushes Will to embrace life even though it is now limited by his mobility and medical issues.  Moyes does a great job of showing their lives in a realistic light and without over the top sentiments or I love yous. Instead she provides a beautiful coming of age story of self discovering that applies to both of her main characters. Me Before You is a lovely, heartfelt, and engaging read.  Perfect for a lazy summer day.