Review: The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli

Helen Adams is a photojournalist who has dropped everything to go to Vietnam and photograph the war. Her 12 years of living, working and surviving in the war-torn country are replayed as she and her Vietnamese lover attempt to leave.

I went into this book not knowing all that much about the Vietnam War. I had a lot of questions for the hubby and am actually quite interested in learning more. Any book recommendations are welcome.

The Lotus Eaters is described as a love story and that is exactly what it is. However, I feel it is Helen's love affair with the country that drives the story. She is unable to pull herself away from her life there. She throws herself into the country and all it has to offer. She misses the smells, the taste and sounds when she is away and hurries to return more so than to any person she meets or loves in the story.

Soli's descriptions of the countryside and horrors of war show the contrast of beauty and devastation that only war can cause. Her characters were believable and interesting to follow around in their pursuit of the perfect photo. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good historical fiction. No knowledge of the Vietnam War is needed, but you will want more after finishing this book.

4.5/5

Source: Library Thing Early Readers Program


* I am giving away my copy of this book here.



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Tour de France 2010- Stage 2

Stage 2: Brussels-Spa

A hilly and what turned out to be a treacherous course filled with numerous crashes. An interesting end to the day as riders seemed to slow down and cross the finish line as a sort of protest to the dangerous conditions. Interested to hear the reasoning behind it.

Anyway, My knitting is coming along nicely despite a slight crash before (frogging). The bodice was completed. Look at how adorable this is coming out!

Tuesday's Stage (I am getting behind!): Wanze- Arenburg Porte du Hainault (Haven't seen it yet but so hard not to get updates on the stage)

Sunday Salon: Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July!
Hope everyone in the US is having a nice holiday. 
The 4th, in my family means that The Tour de France has begun. Woohoo. I must warn you all - my attention for the next three weeks will be on that. And since I am participating in a Knit Along for it most of my blogging will be on my knitting blog, mariknits. 
I have finished reading The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli so be expecting a review of it soon. Next book on the nightstand to read is Barry Eisler's new novel,  Inside Out. I should have that one read pretty quickly. His books are hard to put down. 
June wasn't all that great in number of books read, only two! They were fun ones, though. :)
28. Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter (review)
27. I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter (review)
Here's to a better reading month in July!
(I have turned off Word Verification again hoping to get some back some comments. Really hoping the spammers stay away.)

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2010 Tour de France- Stage 1

Stage 1: Rotterdam to Brussels

Not in France yet, but getting there. Route was flat and set up for a sprint finish. What a crazy last 10km! Crashes upon crashes. Wow. Alessandro Petacchi wins the stage, lucky to not have gotten caught up in the falls as did Cavendish, Farrar and Friere.

My knitting wasn't going well either. One row took me over an hour due to noticing a mistake in the increase row that I did at the very beginning and having to tink all the way back. Then again half way through my second try! I guess I was a bit caught up in the tour coverage this morning.

Tomorrow's stage: Brussels-Spa

2010 Tour de France- Prologue

Le Tour de France started today in Rotterdam with the Prologue. Fabian Cancellara rode away with the win as only the World Champion Time Trialist could. Tony Martin put up a great time early in the day that was the time to beat for quite a while. It was good enough to keep him in second.

For this year's KAL (on Ravelry), I am on Team Radioshack. Yay! Lance did great to come in 4th (ahead of Contador, who is in 6th). Woohoo. Levi is also in the top 10 with a good finish.

I started off pretty good today, too. I may actually finish my project way ahead of schedule. It is knitting up quicker than expected. I cast on Helena by Allison Green Will using Knit Picks Shine Sport in Orchid and knitting the 6mos size.  So far so good. Here's a peek:

HP and The Deathly Hollows Trailer

I cannot wait!! Opening night, I must be there. I will need a babysitter! :)

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Book Review-Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy is the second book in Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series for young adults. Cameron and her classmates are surprised and intrigued by some new completely unexpected additions to the student body at Gallagher Academy. The inclusion of boys from a previously unknown school throw the girls for a loop, causing some competition and a little more primping before classes.

This was another fun and fast-paced book. Once again, however, there was a big similarity to the HP books that I would be surprised if nobody else caught. It really reminded me of Goblet of Fire with the other school coming to stay for awhile, the kids learning to dance for a ball, etc.

Still, give it a try. The spy angle makes it different and their covert operations training makes in interesting and suspenseful. All in all, a fun book full of smart girls that teens will enjoy reading about.

3.5/5

Source: purchased



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More Baby Knitting

I have so much cute baby knitting to show off and more in the works. I really need to get busy with taking photos . I have a couple hats to share and the cutest little socks all knit up. Next to go on the needles will be a cute little sweater that I will start next weekend on the first day of the Tour de France for the annual TdF KAL.  There should be some regular updates during those three weeks.

Happy Knitting!

New Books! New Books!

And somehow one even managed to make it all the way to CA through the mail. Yay, USPS! Glad to know forwarding worked.
First up, Inside Out by Barry Eisler for review sent by the author. Both the hubby and I are excited to read this new one. I may have to go sit out at Borrone's to read it since that is where it was most likely written. 
My second book was a B&N clearance purchase of Tess Gerritsen's The Keepsake.

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia of The Printed Page



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Book Review: I'd tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Girls is seen by the locals as a place for the rich and spoiled but they could not be more wrong. The school is really a training school for spies. Yes, spies. The girls have classes on Covert Operations, Culture and Assimilation, etc. They are dangerous, smart and highly qualified to join the CIA once done with school.

Cameron, the headmistresses daughter, meets one of the local boys during a training mission in town and begins a secret relationship with him. It takes all her knowledge and skills that she has learned to keep her true identity a secret.

I was rather surprised to find that I really enjoyed this book. I haven't had the best of luck with my YA book choices lately for some reason, but this book was just what I needed. Smart, interesting girls, fun and mysterious setting, boy troubles. It was perfect.

I did notice some eerie similarities to a certain other book series set at a specialized and secret school for training young wizards, but the differences kept it interesting.

4/5

Source: purchased







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