Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

I once had a girl, Or should I say she once had me ...

About Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami: This stunning and elegiac novel by the author of the internationally acclaimed Wind-Up Bird Chronicle has sold over 4 million copies in Japan and is now available to American audiences for the first time. It is sure to be a literary event.

Toru, a quiet and preternaturally serious young college student in Tokyo, is devoted to Naoko, a beautiful and introspective young woman, but their mutual passion is marked by the tragic death of their best friend years before. Toru begins to adapt to campus life and the loneliness and isolation he faces there, but Naoko finds the pressures and responsibilities of life unbearable. As she retreats further into her own world, Toru finds himself reaching out to others and drawn to a fiercely independent and sexually liberated young woman.

A poignant story of one college student's romantic coming-of-age, Norwegian Wood takes us to that distant place of a young man's first, hopeless, and heroic love.

My two cents

I'm giving you fair warning: I'm a Murakami fan. Although I have to admit that this particular book is unlike what I've come to expect of Murakami. I was expecting a cat somewhere (and there is), something odd to happen (ok, odd but not with the magical realism touches), and maybe a romance with an older woman (not really). In other words, I didn't get any of the trademark Murakami from this read.

What I did get was a book that showcases Murakami's "younger" voice, a vulnerable side and an uncanny ability to tell a simple yet affecting story.

Now, open up the Beatles' Norwegian Wood, the obvious namesake of this novel, and revel in this love that's a throw back to the 1960s. Because at the heart of this sans cats and May-December romances, this is what it is: a love story between two young people. Their love is a strange one, however, borne out of the death of their best friend Kizuki.

This is what makes the story so poignant, so moving, and so unbearably sad. To be so young and to be touched and deeply affected by the hand of death, for me it's unthinkable or even blasphemous for twenty-somethings on the cusp of their lives to have to deal with death.

Toru and Naoko's teenage friendship pre-death seems typical enough. With Kizuki's death, loss and pain becoming their strange binding element, one can only expect a relationship wrought with pain. And so it was: Naoko is held back from truly living, becoming emotionally fragile and retreating from the world. Toru, too is held back, his budding friendship and potential love with the gregarious, sexually liberated Midori, is held at bay.

Throughout the book, we are constantly reminded of death, loss, illness, and the mental anguish that comes with these. All the characters that tromp through the book has been touched in some way. Naoko and Midori are polar opposites in their response to death - Naoko's retreat was brutal and complete; Midori, meanwhile, challenged herself to put herself out there. Toru was a strange one to me - nice but no-so-nice - but then I will let male readers read more into his actions. Reiko, Naoko's roomie-companion in the mountain retreat and later Toru's friend, was an interesting study of fragility and strength. Toru's friend Nagasawa and Nagasawa's girlfriend, both less significant characters, likewise reiterate Toru's constant struggle with loss.

Set in Japan in the 1960s, this book takes place during a time when the world was fired up with revolt and idealism. It is filled with descriptions of Tokyo City life and of Japan's beautiful mountainsides. Book lovers will enjoy references to Toru's reading fare (that too allude to death and loss) such as The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann.

And with this, I leave you the lyrics to Norwegian Wood. 

I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me
She showed me her room, isn't it good, Norwegian Wood?

She asked me to stay and she told me to sit anywhere
So I looked around and I noticed there wasn't a chair

I sat on the rug, biding my time, drinking her wine
We talked until two and then she said, "It's time for bed"

She told me she worked in the morning and started to laugh
I told her I didn't and crawled off to sleep in the bath

And when I awoke I was alone, this bird had flown
So I lit a fire, isn't it good, Norwegian Wood?

Verdict: This is a beautifully told story.  I've read this three times already and each time I am just struck by its simplicity, the naïveté in voice in which it is told, and how profoundly sad this is. When I hear the song Norwegian Wood, I remember the incongruity of youth and idealism ... and sadness. May Reiko continue playing her guitar to Toru and Naoko.

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Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson

You'll want your own love story after reading this.

About Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson: At twenty-one, Shandi Pierce is juggling finishing college, raising her delightful three-year-old genius son Natty, and keeping the peace between her eternally warring, long-divorced Catholic mother and Jewish father. She’s got enough complications without getting caught in the middle of a stick-up in a gas station mini-mart and falling in love with a great wall of a man named William Ashe, who willingly steps between the armed robber and her son.

Shandi doesn’t know that her blond god Thor has his own complications. When he looked down the barrel of that gun he believed it was destiny: It’s been one year to the day since a tragic act of physics shattered his universe. But William doesn’t define destiny the way other people do. A brilliant geneticist who believes in science and numbers, destiny to him is about choice.

Now, he and Shandi are about to meet their so-called destinies head on, in a funny, charming, and poignant novel about science and miracles, secrets and truths, faith and forgiveness; about a virgin birth, a sacrifice, and a resurrection; about falling in love, and learning that things aren’t always what they seem—or what we hope they will be. It’s a novel about discovering what we want and ultimately finding what we need.

My two cents

I put this down with a sigh and a smile on my face. It's a love story that I can't help but like. I didn't roll my eyes once; I did not find anything cheesy or corny or sappy; and I did not at any time have the urge to gag. As you probably have inferred, romances make me do that in general ... but this book is a rare exception.

***

The book opens dramatically: I fell in love with William Ashe at gunpoint, in a Circle K. We walk into this robbery as it is happening and are introduced first to William Ashe ... and the woman narrating,  Shandi Pierce, is a young mother of an adorable three-year-old. The first chapter was so well written, Jackson, just had me in the palm of her hand!

The storyline delves into this "love story" we've unwittingly stumbled upon. But life is never simple (is it?) and we learn about the tragedies in these two characters' lives: 

Shandi, caught in the crossfire of this robbery, was waylaid from her new start in her life away from her mother Mimmy. Her adorable and love-of-her-life Natty is a precocious child. But Shandi has done everything in her power justify her lovely child—including believing in a virgin birth - to erase the  horrible truth of one night at a college party which Shandi has virtually no memory of. 

William, was in the middle of buying detergent on the anniversary of his wife's death. William has not only lost his wife but his daughter, who is around the same age as Natty.

The robbery plays itself out and impels two people at a crossroads in their lives to deal with their past and create the lives they are worthy of. 

*** 

I love the idea of love, but time has taught me that loving takes time, effort, and commitment. Sometimes, too, love shows up in the most unexpected places and in the most unexpected of people. While this is entitled "someone else's love story," this has actually multiple love stories which highlight the sweetness, the tragedy, and the unpredictability of loving. (I don't dare give spoilers, but I loved how the story played out!)

I enjoyed how unique, complicated (and quirky!) the characters were, not only just Shandi and William: the geeky Walcott (Shandi's long time best friend), spunky Paula (William's one time fling and then become fast friend who stuck by him after losing his wife), Mimmy (Shandi's dear gorgeous mother and Natty's rather cloying grandmother), and even the annoying robber. They were well fleshed out, and had credible backstories. They felt real, their dialogues were unique and realistic, and they all had their own little moments in the story ... a combination of so many good things that these characters were memorable to me.

The storytelling shifts between Shandi's first person narration to third person narration and back; I was surprised that it did not grate on me at all. I found this very deftly accomplished and lent a rather additive pacing to the story.

The way Ms. Jackson writes is interesting and engaging, nor does she mince words—the detail, the little nuances she has with the characters, the metaphors so deftly used, oh, and the sly sly humour—I loved everything about it. I am eager to see what else she has written solely because I'd like to see what else she has up her sleeve!

Verdict: A sweet and charming yet dark bundle of love stories that I would wholeheartedly recommend to cynics and hopefuls alike. Definitely something for those who crave a different type of love story minus all the sappy trappings of stereotypical romance novels. Makes my favourite reads for the year!

Uh-ohs: I am writing this section as a warning to potential readers and not because I found these as issues with the book. This has a darkness to it that some people may find off-putting—totally understandable if you're after a love story. There are graphic descriptions of the near-rape, various lovemaking scenes, and some instances of violence.

About Joshilyn Jackson
Joshilyn Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of six novels, including gods in Alabama and A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages. A former actor, Jackson is also an award-winning audiobook narrator. She lives in Decatur, Georgia, with her husband and their two children.

Find out more about Joshilyn at her website, connect with her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

Check out the rest of the tour here. 

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Hardcover: 320 pages 

Publisher: William Morrow (November 19, 2013)

An Incurable Insanity by Simi K. Rao (+ Giveaway!)

Incurably melodramatic.

About An Incurable Insanity by Simi K. Rao: Her heart fluttered when she heard the sound of the key turn in the lock. She quickly adjusted her maroon silk sari with the yellow border, the one that had caught his eye, and waited eagerly for his footsteps.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven… Yes, exactly seven steps before he stopped, hesitated for a few moments, then removed his shoes one by one and arranged them neatly side by side on the shoe rack.

She smiled. He had been mindful of taking his shoes off every day now. “I am not used to it, but I will if you want me to. It’s probably a good thing to do anyway.”

As he settled down, he would pick up the TV remote and, without looking at her, would say in his smooth baritone, “So how did you spend your day, anything interesting?”

Shaan Ahuja found himself bowing to tradition and agreeing to an arranged marriage to the beautiful Ruhi Sharma. He went through the motions but had no intention of carrying through on his vows. His last foray into matters of the heart with an American girl had left him scarred and unwilling to try again. Thoroughly disillusioned and disgruntled he wasted no time in making his intentions clear to Ruhi on their wedding night. But, he was completely unprepared for what his new wife had in mind.

My two cents

Ahh, love. What a crazy thing and what things it makes us do. Across cultures, love is a constant. But what if two strangers are thrown together in marriage? Is love possible in an arranged marriage? Is it possible to learn to love someone within its bounds while honouring tradition?

An Incurable Insanity touches on these questions, showing the journey of a young couple brought together by the Indian tradition of arranged marriage. The beautiful and much-loved Ruhi agrees to marry her father's friend's son, US-educated Shaan, secretly excited at marrying such a handsome and accomplished man. Her hopes are dashed when Shaan reveals that he is in love with another.

Once in the US, they live a farce of a married life. But as they get to know each other they find themselves drawn to each other and only after a protracted love-hate courtship do they decide if they are truly meant to be together.

I liked: 

I was intrigued by the premise of this book as I really wanted to find out how an arranged marriage could play out. I looked forward to how this would explore cultural differences of the concept of love. Is having the independence, the choice to love someone a heavily Western concept? Is there merit in the longstanding tradition of arranged marriage in certain cultures? What happens when an arranged marriage enters into yet another culture, as is this case for this Indian couple that immigrates to America?

The beginning also held promise and I was initially amused by the emotional push and pull, the frustration of being thrown into circumstances unwanted by both. I found Ruhi sweet and rather endearing, and Shaan's obliviousness just plain odd.

A third into the book, I wanted to stop. But for the obvious reason that I always give books the benefit of the doubt, and I dislike reviewing books I did not finish, I kept going.

Uh-ohs:

I mentioned that I enjoyed the beginning but about a third into the book that I felt things weren't really progressing. Why?

The two main characters say one thing but want the exact opposite. We get to see their thoughts in italics, and how conflicted and frustrated they both are. Ruhi secretly loves Shaan already but pretends to hate him. Shaan is getting attracted to Ruhi but pretends to not care. It's a yes in italics but a no in action. Then those italics run one after the other and I am secretly seething at having to keeping tabs of who said what.

The love-hate, push-pull, yes-no, hot-cold theme was wearing thin; it was no longer amusing, it was getting tiring, annoying, exasperating. The romance felt juvenile, like two teenagers bickering. How I wished these two would just be able to read each others' thoughts (like me, the reader) instead of stubbornly refusing to talk to each other openly ... just because ... well, I have no idea why.

I felt the dialogues were corny and overly melodramatic. Corny: calling each other these silly nicknames (if you're a 50 Shades of Grey fan, it will probably make you smile). Melodramatic: descriptions and emotions to the extreme, hot or cold, black or white.

The main characters never really clicked with me and felt contrived. For example, Ruhi started out naive and sweet. Then she started swearing and it seemed that she morphed into different character altogether ... where did that come from? The other woman, Des, was a caricature of "the other woman": flat, predictable and no backstory or insight into why her viciousness with Ruhi.

This story and its characters drove me slightly crazy, and not in a good way.

Verdict: If you love over-the-top and melodramatic romances, you may enjoy this one. If you're interested in a different cultural milieu for your romance, the melding of Indian and American cultures in this romance may hold your interest.

I personally found that while the premise of a storyline based on an arranged marriage held promise, the romance was frustrating and tedious to read about.

About Simi K. Rao

Simi K. Rao was born in India and has been living in the United States for several years. This book is her first foray into writing. The inspiration for the story came from what she has seen transpire among and within the immigrant community. Some of the experiences included are her own; some have been garnered from friends and casual conversations with acquaintances. She also writes poetry, is an avid photographer, loves to travel, and is a practicing physician. She currently lives in Denver with her family.

To learn more about the author and her work and read excerpts from An Incurable Insanity, please check her blog www.simikrao.com.

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I received a copy of this book from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Giveaway!

Thanks to the publisher I have 1 copy of An Incurable Insanity up for grabs!

(Choice of either hardcover or Kindle copy - US only,
or Kindle copy - International) 

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Print Length: 376 pages

Publisher: Tate Publishing (October 8, 2013)

Freud's Mistress by Karen Mack & Jennifer Kaufman (+ #Giveaway!)

The tragedy of loving.    Synopsis of Freud's Mistress by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman: A page-turning novel inspired by the true-life love affair between Sigmund Freud and his sister-in-law, Minna Bernays, set in Vienna in 1895. Minna is everything her sister Martha is not—intellectually curious, an avid reader and a beguiling beauty. She and Freud embark on what is at first simply an intellectual courtship, yet something deeper is brewing beneath the surface, something Minna cannot escape.

In this sweeping tale of love, loyalty, and betrayal—between a husband and a wife, between sisters—fact and fiction seamlessly blend together to offer an intimate peek at Minna’s profound influence on the founding father of psychoanalysis, while revealing her unforgettable story of internal conflict and passion.

My two cents

Sigmund Freud
(From Wikipedia)

Everyone loves a bit of juicy gossip. Let's be honest. And with the longstanding rumour that Sigmund Freud had a mistress, then this part-fact part-fictional tale is bound to appeal to people's natural curiosity.  I don't really know much about Freud except for what I suspect is common knowledge (like his being the father of psychoanalysis and the concepts of the id, ego and superego and how all things can be explained by something sexual). I know all this superficially and I don't really have any preconceived notions about him.    His rumoured mistress is his sister-in-law, Minna Bernays. Apparently not much is known about her and if we're to believe the turn of events, she ended up living under the same roof as with him and her sister for most of her life. Hmm. Doesn't this sound pretty sordid?

***

Martha Bernays
(From Wikipedia)

The beginning is ominous: "The season for suicides had begun," setting the tone for Minna's intellectual and societal limbo. She is let go in her employment as a lady's companion, daring to help a sick co-worker. With no real prospects, and still single at an age where women are expected to be married and with children, she finds herself as a reluctant helper in the household of her sister, Martha.

Married to the then-struggling to be recognized intellectual Sigmund, Martha meanwhile is obsessed with keeping house and taking care of the children, egged on by her habitual opiate taking. Young Minna has a natural intellectual affinity with Sigmund; she finds herself drawn to him but while fighting the urge to give in, obviously they both follow up on their feelings for each other and the whole sordid affair commences.

What stood out in my mind is how longsuffering Minna was as a lover, what a self-absorbed cad Sigmund was, and just how totally oblivious Martha was.

Ridden with guilt, Minna tries to break away. But to no avail. The affair rides itself out over the course of their lifetimes. The ending provides us the tragic picture of two women who vied for the affections of the same lover.

***

What I liked: 
I think that this novel accomplishes what it set out to do: meld fact and fiction to flesh out this rumoured affair. If you're interested in the fine detail, check out the back of the book for all the juicy sources of the evidence, particularly the discovery of Minna's long-lost letters to Freud.

Even more compelling is how readers are provided insight into the Vienna of the time, the pursuit of intellectual research and discussion, and the place of women in a stringent society of class and expectation. And my goodness, the drug use that is described in this book is fascinating, as so-called "medicinal use" was the norm at the time.

I personally thought this was quite the sordid affair. It's a tragedy of how an extremely self-absorbed man comes between two sisters. While it is first and foremost a love story of sorts, it is also a story of the testing of filial love.

If you're interested in Freud as a person, this gives you a peek into his character. Depicted as brilliant, focused and passionate about his work yet totally self-absorbed and selfish that he was oblivious to his wife, and later on, to his lover. Genius always comes with a price.

While it was natural that I initially sided with Minna, I didn't like Martha's character from the onset but my view of her changed towards the end. If there's anyone longsuffering, it's Martha.

***

Uh-oh: This is a story about an affair. The title says it all. Hence the predictability; you'll get your courtship, your sexual encounter, and lots of emotional drama. But you knew that already.

Verdict: A melding of fact and fiction of the affair between Sigmund Freud and Minna Bernays, this is the tragedy of a rather twisted love story, and an even greater tragedy of filial love. Those fascinated by Freud will enjoy a peek into his lesser-known side. Those who enjoy historical fiction will enjoy the depiction of Vienna at the turn of the century. Those who dislike sordid affairs in all its sordid glory may not find this very appealing.

Some interesting articles I came across:

• Sigmund and Minna? The Biographer as Voyeur
• Maybe Freud did have an affair with his sister-in-law
• Hotel log hints at desire that Freud didn't repress

About Karen Mack & Jennifer Kaufman
Freud’s Mistress is the third novel by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman. Their first novel, Literacy and Longing in L.A., reached #1 on the Los Angeles Times Bestseller List and won the Best Fiction Award from the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association. Their second novel, A Version of the Truth, was also a Los Angeles Times bestseller. Freud’s Mistress is their first historical novel. Karen Mack, a former attorney, is a Golden Globe Award-winning film and television producer. Jennifer Kaufman is a former staff writer for the Los Angeles Times and a two-time winner of the national Penney-Missouri Journalism Award. Both authors live in Los Angeles with their families.

Find out more about Karen and Jennifer at their website, and connect with them on Facebook.

GIVEAWAY!
Thanks to the publishers, I have one copy to giveaway to one of you lovely folks!
(US/Can only)

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I received a copy of this book from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Hardcover: 368 pages 

Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam (July 9, 2013)

Burning Embers by Hannah Fielding

Burning Embers by Hannah Fielding

Amazon.com: Paperback | Kindle Edition  
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Love and passion in sultry exotic Kenya

Synopsis: Burning Embers is a contemporary historical romance novel set in 1970s Kenya. It tells the story of the developing love and passion between Coral, a naive, young English girl returning to the place of her birth, and Rafe, the handsome but tortured womanizer to whom Coral is inextricably drawn. It's a story of long, hot African days and sultry nights; of slumbering beasts and awakening desires; of intrigue and darkness; of journeys beginning and ending; of growing up and letting go; of falling in love, and following your heart.

My two cents

You may have noticed that I'm not a huge straight romance reader. But this one definitely caught my eye for two reasons: it's set in Kenya (how may books do you know that are set in Kenya?) and it belongs to the genre "historical romance" which is something that I never even conceived of being a genre!

So I was sort of expecting this to be a fluffy run-of-the-mill romance. Boy, was I wrong.

It's a love story of Coral, a girl-woman, and Rafe, handsome yet tortured womanizer. Their initial attraction seems innocent enough but as Coral learns of Rafe's rather sordid link to her own family, it seems their love story is doomed. The chase becomes unapologetically highly emotional and sexual as the true picture of Rafe surfaces and Coral comes into her own.
I wasn't wrong about the setting being a big draw -- in fact the beautiful descriptions of Kenya's natural beauty and wildlife, the details of the locals' lives, and the rich cultural references are enough to want one to travel.

This is a smartly written and well-characterized romance novel. The romance side of the storyline is tight though a tad formulaic and cliche-ish for my taste. But the historical and cultural details of the storyline really appealed to me -- this is set in in colonial 1970s Kenya and we become privy to an era of master-servant relations, of tribal uprisings, and of governments in the making.

The characters are a bit stereotypical for me: Coral is, of course, a bombshell but is totally oblivious, though I found Rafe's character as an old tortured soul extremely intriguing.

And that cover just doesn't appeal to me either. (Please don't get me started on the bad Photoshop job).

I am probably the worst person to start gushing about a romance novel, but in the case of this one, I turn blind eye to these and say: this is a romance novel a cut above the rest.

(Note: There are a few quite graphic sex scenes, there aren't many but they are meant to titillate and I wouldn't recommend for young teens.)

Verdict: A smartly written and well-characterized romance novel -- set in exotic 1970s Kenya -- that is a cut above the rest. Highly recommended for romance lovers who want something a little different!

Burning Embers by Hannah Fielding

Amazon.com: Paperback | Kindle Edition  
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I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Book Depository: Hardback | Paperback

Magic, romance, a circus! Let the show begin!

The book in one sentence: A long-standing feud pits unsuspecting lovers against each other in a magical circus.

Synopsis of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called "Le Cirque des Reves," and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway--a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love--a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per-formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats  

My two cents

This book has been so hyped up and majority of book bloggers have raved this to the high heavens. I, being who I am, caved. I finally got my own copy and overall, I wasn't disappointed. But I can't in all honesty say that I loved this with all my heart.

I wanted to just love it in a huge big swoop. But my mind kept going back to two of my favourite reads that seem to be in the same genre: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel by Susannah Clarke and The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (sure, my reviews were short and forgettable; but I do remember these boos as being among my favourite reads of 2009). I regained reason. While this Night Circus weaves its own magic, it pales in comparison to these two books.

First, what I did like:

1. The premise: if you like magic, the Night Circus is the perfect book for you. If you like romance, this one fits the bill. So two rather magical things coming together in one book really bodes well.

2. If you like getting lost in languid descriptions, this is the "atmosphere" book to read -- detailed descriptions of contortionists and magical acts; gorgeous details about clothing and scenery; the odd and magical characters that the circus brought in (my faves: the redheaded twins of course!) ... yes, it all there and I found myself wanting to experience the circus because the world that Morgenstern has built is amazing.

3. The build up ... wonderfully done as layer upon layer of learning about two magicians and their longstanding feud, of getting to know Celia and Marco as single characters, then coming together, the details of how the circus and how it is conceptualized and eventually built. ahh, the build up really sets the stage ... but maybe that was its Achilles' heel.


Why:

I wanted to feel more for Celia and Marco. But they seemed distant, aloof and maybe a little too goody-goody. Give me some flaws, I would've liked them more!

The storyline and pacing: it kind of fell flat about three-fourths into the book. If you want a fast-paced and riveting page turner, this is not it. The circus was becoming quite tedious (especially since the descriptive writing didn't really change). The magical romance was losing its sizzle and the characters found the feud senseless, making the book lose its steam. I sort of lost interest.

As the ending was crucial to the existence of the circus, I had to finish reading! I had an inkling that Bailey would play a part, but things just went pfffft with the underwhelming and disappointing conclusion. I hated the ending.

Verdict: A magical romance that you will want and need to read languidly! Recommended reading, but please don't expect to be bowled over.

The Marriage Mistake by Jennifer Probst

Amazon.com: Paperback | Kindle

Reading The Marriage Mistake is ... a mistake.

The book in one sentence: A sexual chase ending in an arranged marriage.

Synopsis of The Marriage Mistake by Jennifer Probst: Carina Conte has had a crush on her brother Michael’s best friend, Max Gray, since she was a teenager. Now she’s earned her MBA and come to work at Michael’s new venture, America’s fastest-growing bakery empire. But some things never change: her family still treats her like a child. With three drop-dead gorgeous siblings, she’s still the ugly duckling of the bunch. And Max, the company’s new CEO, still barely notices her.

Max knows Carina Conte is strictly off limits. But hot-blooded lust wins out at a conference when the two share a scorching one-night stand—and are busted by her mother! Now, forced by old-world Italian tradition into a marriage he’s not ready for, Max is miserable—and Carina is furious. Her new husband is about to realize that hell hath no fury like a woman transformed.

My two cents: This isn't my usual fare but I do enjoy some chick lit once in a while. The reviews seemed rather good and I needed something different. But reading The Marriage Mistake was, for me ... a mistake. Don't even think of picking it up lest you want to waste precious time on a piece of badly written fluff.

Granted I had never read any of the others in the series (this is the third book), but even as a standalone it doesn't work on so many levels. Why?

• I won't go into the story because the lack of it really should've triggered some warning signs. It's a classic "can't have it, but can't not have it" and the tension became weary and overdrawn out. 
• Ah Carina, Carina. Transformed from a once lovestruck silly girl to a woman fully aware of her sexual prowess. From innocent to savvy businesswoman. What a caricature -- totally unnatural, totally schizophrenic, and totally unlikeable (I think it was the shorts with the high heels that did me in). Sorry, Carina, I just couldn't buy into your character. 
• Do. You. Like. Dramatic. Sex. Scenes? Well, go for it then. But if I have to read "Own. Possess. Claim." (page 104) or some variation thereof, I think I am going to puke. 
• What is it about getting what you want? Max finally gets Carina in bed but remains unhappy. Carina finally marries Max but is unhappy. What a miserable feeling throughout the book!
• Side rant: Another Gray? Sheesh, when will people stop with the Shades of Grey references?

Verdict: Sexy mindless fluff with unnatural characters, stilted writing, and sex scenes designed to divert. Sorry, I don't know understand the raves about this one!

I received a copy through Goodreads First Reads.

The Marriage Mistake by Jennifer Probst

Amazon.com: Paperback | Kindle

The Venetian's Wife by Nick Bantock

About The Venetian's Wife: A Strangely Sensual Tale of a Renaissance Explorer, a Computer, and a Metamorphosis by Nick Bantock: Nick Bantock's illustrated novel, The Venetian's Wife, is part love story, part mystery, and part ghostly tale—and an altogether bewitching brew of sensuality and lost treasures. Thoroughly bored with her job at the local museum, Sarah heads to the gallery to take another look at that new drawing, the one she can't stop thinking about, the one of the Hindu god Shiva, who dances...That's when it all begins.

The next day, an e-mail message brings her a job offer: to find the few remaining pieces of a 15th-century adventurer's renowned collection of Indian sculptures. Her employer, curiously, wishes to communicate only by computer. She has no idea who he is or why he wants her. But other mysteries soon preoccupy her, such as the meaning of an enigmatic illuminated manuscript—and the sensual transformation that seems to be overtaking her.

Through her quirkily decorated diary and the artful e-mail exchanges between Sara and her mentor, Nick Bantock has conjured up a richly illustrated tale of a relentless quest, an amorous legacy, and the resonating power of art—a lush, romantic adventure of the soul that tantalizes the reader to the last line.

My two cents

I got a few of you interested in The Venetian's Wife: A Strangely Sensual Tale of a Renaissance Explorer, a Computer, and a Metamorphosis by Nick Bantock in my recent Friday 56. So without much ado, here's my promised post!

The book in one sentence: A bored young art conservator rekindles her passion for life starting with an unlikely encounter with a drawing of the Hindu God Shiva.

My thoughts: This is an unusual book. The title alone gives you an inkling that it's not a typical story. In fact, it may seem such an odd combination that it may put you off. After all, what on earth could these things have in common: a Renaissance Explorer, a Computer, and a Metamorphosis?

But that is exactly what you'll get and there is nothing remotely corny about it. In fact, I found the  experience of flipping through this book quite heady - a combination of romance, a mystery story, the mysticism of India, and rich luxuriant images.

The book opens with the renaissance explorer - a flashback to Niccolo Conti's anguish as he loses his beloved wife. It then comes back to the present-day and Sara Wolfe's arousing encounter with a drawing of Shiva in the museum where she works.

An unlikely correspondence ensues. Someone who has witnessed her extreme reaction in the museum contacts her through email, and she is offered a job: to track down the missing pieces of a 15th-century adventurer's collection of Indian sculptures. Her employer, Niccolo Conti - curiously of the same name as the explorer - insists on communicating solely through the computer. Who is he? Why does he want to communicate only through email?

Curiouser and curiouser.

Like her first encounter with Shiva, Sara surprises herself by willingly accepting the job. Hereon unfolds a beautiful love story of a young Venetian adventurer and his beautiful Indian wife; and out of his love for her, his quest to reunite the pieces of a vast collection of some 40 mystical Indian sculptures that they had acquired in their travels across Persia, India and China.

Through all this, we witness Sara as she travels the world tracking down these sculptures. She finds herself doing the unusual, at loggerheads with an equally persistent group of rival collectors from the Vatican. Slowly, she is transformed from a mousy art conservator, to a gutsy woman who finds herself, her voice, and love.

The illustrations are an integral part of the narrative. Like Griffin and Sabine, the story is told through the exchange of correspondence and personal diary entries. This not only lent a tactile experience, but also gave me the thrill of finding something out, sort of like peeking into someone's old love letters! But unlike Griffin and Sabine, this book accomplishes this mainly through the exchange of emails! The same tactile feeling remains with old yellowed and singed letters written in calligraphy, pages from art gallery catalogs, and beautiful collages of old photos, stamps, and maps. This is the trademark of a Nick Bantock book, and the reason why I absolutely love them!

I am intrigued by how Bantock so deftly weaves art, history, and Hindu mysticism into the storyline. In their own right fascinating; as a combination, even moreso. More subtlely, Bantock touches upon  sexuality and sensuality! Yes, this is actually an homage to sensuality in all its glory!

As for Sara, her character resonates with me. She reminds me of Steve Martin's Mirabelle in Shopgirl -  the insecurity, the unsureness and yet with a burning desire to find meaning and a passion in life. I found her transformation endearing, particularly as she slowly gained confidence in being true to herself and her feelings, and embracing life for all its worth.

Verdict: For the art lover, the mystery lover, and the lover of love stories.

First line: The year is 1496.

Last line: Then to a rattle of thunder, and enveloped in lightning's brilliance, Yasoda, celestial handmaiden to Parvati, rejoined me after over five hundred years of forced separation.

Listen to an interview about The Venetian's wife with the author here: