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.

The Undiet by Meghan Telpner

If you are looking for a way to change your diet and the way you cook, or just beginning cooking this is the book for you.  It does have some minor issues, however, if you are just starting out it is still the route to take.

Pushing for a different way of living, Meghan Telpner, a Certified Nutritionist and advocate for home cooked meals with only using the best nature provides (that means no pre-packaged foods), challenges readers to look at the way they are living.  Through her 8-week program in her friendly tone she breaks down the steps to successfully accomplish your goal of healthy eating, with vegan options.

Though I am already a vegan and cook most of my own meals, it was really nice to get some of her tips (my two new favourites are lemon cayenne water in the morning and taking the time to prep my veggies for the week).  This book is full of great tips and tricks to make living the undiet life easier, without the promise of it being simple to change.  Yes, change is a challenge, but this type of lifestyle means all the hard work is worth it.  She even throws in home cleaning recipes and beauty products.

The recipes are broken up into the various sections. For ease of use it would have been better to put them all together at the back of the book, or alternatively put them in the index by their ingredients.  To make my life easier I ended up writing names and page numbers of recipes I liked in the back of the book.  Not the end of the world, and it does not change the fact that this book had such great information that it is worth the minor inconvenience.

One big mistake was the book is directed to solely to the ladies.  It would have been nice if she interchanged between addressing women and men thereby making it approachable for her male audience. Hopefully, if she writes another book this will be taken into account.

For more about Meghan visit http://meghantelpner.com/ (it has great recipes too!)

Grace: A Memoir by Grace Coddington

For this book to be called a memoir is a tad misleading. It is more stories about her long and interesting life.  This book is structured as anecdotes about various notable moments in Grace's life.  Sometimes it follows a time line, but near the end it bounces around. She glosses over her idealistic childhood in Whales, and then her easy breezy years as a model ,were she proclaims she created the iconic 60s look of the doll eyes -- when models had to do their own make-up and hair in those days as this was before star hair and make-up artists became so instrumental to fashion. Then most important of all, she gets to the point where she almost fell into work for magazines with her start at British Vogue. 

The book is full of big names in fashion, like Karl Lagerfeld and of course arguably the most important woman in Vogue history Anna Wintour.  It has touching moments as well, as Grace struggles with her relationships and divorces, well creating a body of work that is absolutely unmatched, while all along having a faithful love of cats.  Her 50 years in the fashion world has seen some amazing moments and it is a pleasure to see them through the eyes of such a funny and often no nonsense woman.
Grace: A Memoir is not a typical autobiography, yet for fashion fans it is somewhat interesting read about one woman's love of fashion.

Stories I Only Tell My Friends by Rob Lowe

Yes everyone knows Mr. Rob Lowe is hot, a good actor, and now thanks to Parks and Recreations we know he is hilarious! But who knew Rob Lowe was such a talented writer!

I read this book because it was so highly recommended by a colleague. I would not have thought about reading it or even known of its existence had she not talked about it so often.  I was excited to read it after such a glowing recommendation.  I was super shocked at how eloquent and well written this book is.

The book is an interesting read. You learn things about him that you would not have known and of course things that were publicized (such as his sex tape).  Also, you get to hear his thoughts on many of the stars he came to fame with, including Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Matt Dillon.  It is an interesting look into the life of a young 80s movie star. 

Yes it can be a little vague and glaze over things, however, I didn't mind that aspect. It didn't draw out anything and just gave enough details to keep you wanting to know what happened to him next. As autobiographies go I feel like this was one of the most honest.  He is graceful in talking about his family and friends, as well as, certain situations in his life.  He does not over share or bad mouth anyone.  It was a delight to read a book that was so honest and captivating.

So thank you Rob Lowe for writing a funny, introspective, and touching memoir about your life so far.  It was great to get to know you a little better and to have shared in stories that you only tell your friends.  I now feel like I need to watch and read The Outsiders again.

The Plant-Based Power Diet: 10 Simple Steps to a Healthier, Leaner, Energetic You by Leslie Beck

This is an interesting book.  Like all books on health and nutrition I feel it is important to only take away what you feel will work in your life.  It is also important to not go too crazy or any changes you try to make won't last.
This is a good book for the novice or people who are already vegan.  As a long time veggie, I found it informative, yet not too complicated.
The book is broken down into sections and each builds upon the next.  She clearly explains what foods you need to eat in order to be a healthy plant eater.  Though I do feel like may be a little flat to those not familiar with nutrition.  I would be a good starting off point for getting terms and different kinds of grains, vegetables, and fruits many people are not used to eating so you can continue to do research or read other books that are more detailed.  It is also not preachy so it would be a good gift for relatives who are struggling to understand the vegan way of eating.
All in all it is a good informative read, but if left me hungry for more as there are more in depth books out there.  Becoming Vegetarian: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Vegetarian Diet and Becoming Vegan: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Plant-Based Diet by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Malina are great, especially Becoming Vegetarian (so many good recipes!).  Also The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone is great for the information and diverse recipes are a tad hit and miss.

Rules of Civility By Amor Towles

Rules of Civility is the first novel from Amor Towles. I now know why this book has gotten a bit of buzz. The novel is well written in a way that made me sad when I had to put it down. It is about Katey, who tells the story of her youth in New York City.  It has a variety of interesting characters. 
The story has elements of sadness, hope, and the prospects that can only come from an independent woman in her mid to late twenties.  The tale occurs from 1937-1940, when Katey and the people she meets have life altering experiences and their lives fell apart, yet slowly come together in a way they would have never expected.
The tale is well told in an almost hypnotic way.  You are transported to a time of luxury and excess at a time when not everyone was so fortunate.  Katey's rise in the social classes of New York in the late 1930s is an intriguing story that carries twists of fate that which a life could produce for such a no nonsense, strong and independent character.  
I highly recommend reading this tale of mystery of what happened between Katey and her larger than life friends.

The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year by Sue Townsend

I spotted this book when I was killing time in Coles before meeting a friend. Sometimes I get a feeling about a book when I pick it off the shelf.  I was drawn to this novel.   
The characters are not all likable, but there are interesting and believable in that they are not supposed to all be likable, as many people in real life are not all that likable all the time.
Eva, is a mother and wife who has given all her time and energy to caring for others.  Once her twins, Brian Junior and Brianne, go off to University Eva is overcome by the urge to get into bed without even taking off her high heels.  The longer she stays in bed the less she is able to leave it.
To the dismay of her husband, her mother, her mother-in-law and her children Eva refuses to leave her bed for any reason; be it food, water, and even toys with the notion of not even leaving to go to the bathroom.  Evan uses this time to think and become an observer in life, instead of a participant.  Over time Eva becomes a giver of advice to strangers and discovers the possibility to new love.
The Woman Who Went to Be For a Year is an interesting look at how life can change around us even when we don't participate, or in the case of Eva get out of bed.  The characters provide a good range of perspective on the situation and events that occur in the novel.  Though as the book progressed I found myself annoyed with the characters and the last few chapters of the novel did not seem to have the same flow as the rest of the novel.  Sadly, this book is not really worth reading, as there are much better novels out there.  The novel falls flat from its promising beginnings and the characters development is static at best.

We Need To Talk About Kevin Review by Lionel Shriver

I have to admit I was remiss about reading this book.  The topic is less than appealing.  Reading the history about a boy, who murders eight people (6 students, a cafeteria worker, and a teacher), and his mother.  Since Kevin's birth his mother, Eva, has struggled to love him.  He seemed a strange and increasingly vicious child.  The story is told from the view point of Eva two years after Kevin's horrific crime.  His mother is lost in a world that is devoid of career, husband or friends.  She is only left with her son, whom she visits faithfully even though their relationship has always been strained.

The book is a haunting read and I found it difficult to put it down. It was one other those rare books that stayed with you when you weren't reading it and after the last page was turned I yearned for more.  I highly recommend this novel.  Though it is an uncomfortable read at times, not only due to Kevin's behaviour, but Eva's frank and sometimes complete distain for her own child. The relationship between mother and son is strange and complicated and their shared history is full of odd incidences, frustration and earth shattering sadness.