Kamryn and Adele were best friends from the day they met in college. But when Adele slept with Kamryn's fiance, Kamryn walked away from both of them. After years of silence Adele is trying to get back in touch with Kamryn. She is dying and wants her old best friend to adopt her five year old daughter. Dorothy Koomson's novel, My Best Friend's Girl is a thought provoking novel about how far we would go for those who have hurt us, and the extraodinary bond between Kamryn and this amazing five year old girl.
Kamyrn's life focused around work and Kamryn. She is not prepared to take on the responsibilities and sacrifices that motherhood entails. She loves this little girl with her whole heart and is trying her best to make good decisions for her. But being thrown into motherhood with such little notice is destroying her life. She is forced to make sacrifices and gut wrenching decisions that are best for the child who is now in her care and looking to her for guidance and shelter. That part of the novel was touching and believable.
Unfortunately, I feel that the auther fell flat when dealing with the romance she tries to create for the main character. Kamryn is forced to reunite with her ex-fiance and it stirs up old feelings for both of them. In addition, there is a romance with someone from Kamryn's office. The office romance is completely unbelievable and lacks chemistry and tension.
Not sure if I would recommend this one. I think that the author should have stuck to the issues of mothering an orphan, and balancing career and family. That part of the book was sweet and touching. The romance part of the story did not strike a chord with me and so I believe the novel lost some of its charm.
Happy Reading!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Life Expectancy
Dean Koontz delivers a thrilling, yet fun, novel in Life Expectancy. This is a story about the extraordinary events that occur on very specific dates in one man's life, as predicted by his grandfather. Jimmy Tock enters the world at the very same time his grandfather leaves it. Before his death, Jimmy's grandfather predicts five dark days that will occur in his life. The story weaves the reader through these dark days, and as anyone who reads Dean Koontz knows, the story is a page turner.
The best thing about this novel is how loveable the characters are. Jimmy Tock is a great guy. He is funny, smart, loving, loyal...and his family is just as loveable. His grandmother and his parents become very real to the reader. His parents are loving and kind, and his grandmother is a hoot. The family dynamic is wonderful.
I can't say too much about the dark days, because it may give too much away. However, I can say that each event shapes Jimmy's life, and even though they are difficult, scary, dangerous events, somehow Jimmy is better off for having gone through them.
Sometimes Dean Koontz is too wordy and too descriptive and turns off the reader. This book did not do that and I highly recommend it. Light and fun, dark and scary all at the same time, with characters you wish you could meet in person. How did Koontz pull that off? You have to read this book to find out.
Happy Reading!
The best thing about this novel is how loveable the characters are. Jimmy Tock is a great guy. He is funny, smart, loving, loyal...and his family is just as loveable. His grandmother and his parents become very real to the reader. His parents are loving and kind, and his grandmother is a hoot. The family dynamic is wonderful.
I can't say too much about the dark days, because it may give too much away. However, I can say that each event shapes Jimmy's life, and even though they are difficult, scary, dangerous events, somehow Jimmy is better off for having gone through them.
Sometimes Dean Koontz is too wordy and too descriptive and turns off the reader. This book did not do that and I highly recommend it. Light and fun, dark and scary all at the same time, with characters you wish you could meet in person. How did Koontz pull that off? You have to read this book to find out.
Happy Reading!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
The Art of Racing in the Rain
This novel by Garth Stein is a heartfelt, touching, sweet and funny story as told from the perspective of the family dog, Enzo. The story is tragic, beautiful, at times humorous, but always real. It is full of hope, love and family and was an enjoyable read from start to finish.
Enzo's human best friend, Denny, is a race car driver. He lives, breathes, eats and sleeps racing and tells Enzo all about it. As a result, Enzo is quite schooled in the art of racing. Enzo is Denny's best companion, but as Denny matures, gets married and eventually has a child, Enzo learns the true meaning of family. He senses things before they happen, but without the proper makings of the human mouth he has no way to tell his family of the upcoming changes they will all face, or to tell his Denny of the people who are working against him. Enzo knows that in his next life, he will become human, for he is so close to being human already.
This book was incredible. Anyone who has ever loved a dog or, for that matter, known anyone else who has ever loved a dog, will love this book. The bond between Enzo and his family is the truest form of love. Enzo is the type of character that will imprint on the reader's soul. Denny's character never gives up, even in the face of despair. This book is rich with humanity and is one that will have the reader thinking of it long after turning the last page. I highly recommend it.
Happy Reading!
Enzo's human best friend, Denny, is a race car driver. He lives, breathes, eats and sleeps racing and tells Enzo all about it. As a result, Enzo is quite schooled in the art of racing. Enzo is Denny's best companion, but as Denny matures, gets married and eventually has a child, Enzo learns the true meaning of family. He senses things before they happen, but without the proper makings of the human mouth he has no way to tell his family of the upcoming changes they will all face, or to tell his Denny of the people who are working against him. Enzo knows that in his next life, he will become human, for he is so close to being human already.
This book was incredible. Anyone who has ever loved a dog or, for that matter, known anyone else who has ever loved a dog, will love this book. The bond between Enzo and his family is the truest form of love. Enzo is the type of character that will imprint on the reader's soul. Denny's character never gives up, even in the face of despair. This book is rich with humanity and is one that will have the reader thinking of it long after turning the last page. I highly recommend it.
Happy Reading!
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