The good news about Texas this summer- great books to read INSIDE! And our friends at Penguin Group are nice enough to offer 2 Great Thoughts’ readers a copy of The Whole Package, review below. To enter, please leave a comment with your email address (U.S. residents only please).
Here’s a peek into what has graced my nightstand lately:
1. Angelina’s Bachelors: A Novel With Food by Brian O’Reilly – A lovely story and FABULOUS Italian recipes. How could I not like a book where the first chapter is titled, “Dreaming in Dark Chocolate.” Angelina is tragically widowed and uses cooking and food to assuage her grief. She quickly begins cooking for a group of nice elderly and single men who can’t cook. This quirky group of 7 bachelors and Angelina form a family of sorts. O”Reilly’s writing is sharp and witty:
“..you didn’t have to know her long to spot the surgically enhanced chip on her shoulder.”
“Of all life’s rich rewards, Angelina felt that the creation of cake must be one of the most gratifying.”
This sweet book is a quick read and I will definitely be trying out the recipe for Mint Sweet Potato Bisque.
Lucinda Blumenfeld Literary Consulting LLC provided a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
2. This Beautiful Life by Helen Schulman
Schulman attacks a very relevant theme today- teens sexting. Fifteen-year old Jake is at a party and has a few drinks. He has NO idea that the girl flirting with him is WAY too young to be doing so. The next day he finds an email from this girl that is not at all appropriate and he innocently forwards it to a friend.
Needless to say, panic and drama ensue. Schulman’s portrayal of Jake’s parents is wonderful. They are immediately supportive and they know their child. This is an important book for today’s times for anyone with kids of texting age.
My favorite quote in the book- ” .. she mentally dropped a dollar in the “shrink” jar, the imaginary fund she kept for the future therapy Jake would require as a result of her outsize adoration.”
Harper Collins provided a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
3. The Good Muslim by Tahmima Anam
Tahmima Anam is a prizewinning Bangladeshi novelist. This book is about the rise of Islamic radicalism in Bangladesh, told through by Maya, the story’s protagonist. Maya comes home after a long time away to discover that her brother Sohail has become a religious leader.
Maya struggles to understand her brother while taking care of their mother and of Sohail’s son. This is an exceedingly well written family saga which I greatly enjoyed. A sample of my favorite quotes:
“Now Maya counted Joy’s losses and stacked them up against her own.”
“She felt too old and too young. Ugly. Ugly spinster in an ugly sari.”
“Think of all the nice words you have stored up. Since you’ve used up all the nasty ones.”
Harper Collins provided a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
4. The Whole Package by Cynthia Ellingsen
Three old girlfriends are reunited in this vampy, fun tale. One is a sexy widow living abroad who runs out of money. One is a married housewife struggling with her weight and with the loss of her mother. The third is the divorced power businesswoman.
When life doesn’t go their way, they reunite and decide to open a restaurant staffed only by scantily clad men. The book is funny. When one friend says she may get Botox, another says, “Great. You’ll always look interested in what I have to say.”
Penguin Group provided a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
What are you reading and where are you going?
The Whole Package sound like a fun read. I would love to win a copy to read and share.
You are the best! You just affirmed two of my most recent purchases! I am in for the drawing – do not have what sounds to be a great read!
Your Comments
These all look intriguing. I especially like the look of the one about the three women in the “vampy fun tale.”
I can use some vampy fun right about now!
Here’s MY SUNDAY SALON POST
Your Comments. Love reading your reviews & have purchased several of the books you recommended this past year. Jenny has also sent along suggestions received by you. Thanks so much for sharing!
This sounds like a fun read package I’d love to read!
sounds like a wonderful collection of books! I’d lOVE to read them all!
jmndowning@gmail.com
You always have the best recommendations!
Loved, Loved, Loved Angelina’s bachlors – although anything with good recipes is a win for my bookshelf!!!!
My book club is looking for a new book to read this fall, and I knew I would find some good recommendations here!
I’ve been doing a lot of reading this summer, which means I’ve been doing less blogging! Right now, I’m reading 61 Hours by Lee Child, and I’ve caught up on the Nevada Barr/Anna Pigeon series. I also read a great non-fiction book called Into Africa: the Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone. I usually don’t read non-fiction, but it was really good!
I have read a few books this summer – but I wish I took the time to read more!! These sounds like great picks.