Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Book Store Loot For The Summer

There's nothing like a good book sale to jump start my summer reading. Check these out . . .

Mangoes and Quince by Carol Field.

"Part mystery, part love story, part family drama. Miranda pours her passion into cooking, opening a restaurant and seducing an entire city with her luscious and unforgettable creations."
Mmmm I could get into this. It sounds like Like Water for Chocolate, doesn't it? I can't wait.





Shooting Water by Devyani Saltzman.

"Spanning three continents and four countries, Shooting Water is one mother and daughter's remarkable story of love and redemption."
I like story-behind-the-story books like this. Deepah Mehta is an incredible filmmaker and I'd love to get to know her work through her daughter's perspective too.




An Equal Music by Vikram Seth.

"Micheal Holme is a successful violinist, part of the famous Maggiore Quartet. He has long been haunted, though, by memories of the beautiful pianist he loved ten years earlier, Julia McNicholl. Then one day Julia comes back into his life: married now, with a small child and a devastating secret."
This one sounds like it could lapse into soap territory, so I'm kind of on the fence here. But, who knows, it could be good.




Balzac and The Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie.

"In this enchanting tale about the magic of reading and the wonder of romantic awakening, two hapless city boys are exiled to a remote mountain village for reeducation during China's infamous Cultural Revolution. There they meet the daughter of the local tailor and discover a hidden stash of Western classics in Chinese translation. As they flirt with the seamstress and secretly devour these banned works, the find transit from their grim surroundings to worlds they never imagined."   Now THIS sounds good!

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane.

"In the year 1954, US Marshal Teddy Daniels and his new partner, Chuck Aule, come to Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane, to investigate an unexplained disappearance. Rachel Solando is loose somewhere on this barren island, despite having been kept under constant surveillance in a locked guarded cell. As a killer hurricane bears relentlessly down on the island, hints of radical experimentation and covert government machinations add darker, more sinister shades to an already bizarre case. Because nothing at Ashcliffe Hospital is remotely what it seems."
Hhoo boy, this sounds way creepy. It would be fun to read on a stormy night, wouldn't it? I'd never be brave enough to watch the movie, though. The book, I'm sure, is much better anyway. *shudder*

Louder Than The Sea by Wayne Bartlett.

"As power packed as an Arctic snowstorm, Louder Than The Sea revolves around the lives of a troubled family forced to relocate in the 1960s from their home on one of the smaller islands off the Newfoundland coast. Martin, the youngest son, has difficulty fitting into the new community. He decides to return to the island of his birth at the height of the seal hunt in March, crossing the dangerous channel on foot, only to be stranded there when the ice breaks up."
I love a good nature/survival/family type story, the funny thing is I couldn't find any information about this book during my brief search online. Who knows, maybe it's a terrible book. But it sure sounds like it could be good.

A Mountain of Crumbs by Elena Gorokhova.

"The moving story of a soviet girl who discovers the truths adults are hiding from her and the lies her homeland lives by. Elena's country is no longer the majestic Russia of literature or the tsars, but a nation struggling to retain its power and its pride. Through Elena's captivating voice, we learn not only the stories of Russian family life in the second half of the twentieth century, but also the story of one rebellious citizen whose curiosity and determination finally transport her to a new world."
I keep thinking I've reached my memoir limit, but then I always come across one more I've just got to take a look at.

13 comments:

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

I loved Shutter Island, and A Mountain of Crumbs sounds good as well.

Heidi’sbooks said...

What beautiful book covers! How come the books I've read lately have horrible covers? Anyway, the only one of these I've even seen before is A Mountain of Crumbs--at the bookstore. I almost picked it up. I'll be waiting for a review. :) I've read a couple of powerful memoirs this year, so this may be another worth looking into.

Trish said...

diane - I heard it got good reviews (and I'm so glad there's a book so I don't have to see the movie *I'm such a chicken* lol) I love a creepy book, but a movie can sometimes be too much.

heidi - yes, the covers! I'm a sucker for a beautiful cover. It's probably why I'm not a good candidate for an e-reader.

Tracy said...

I saw the movie of Shutter Island a few weeks ago on DVD - it is very good, much better than Inception IMHO, with which it does share some similarities, though it's nowhere near as confusing, the ending isn't ambiguous and no special effects - but I can imagine the book is better. (I don't like creepy movies either, but I didn't find this one to be too bad, I managed to watch the whole thing without burying my face in my partner's shoulder!)

Anonymous said...

I LOVED Balzac and The Little Chinese Seamstress. Do you know it is was actually written in French, not in Chinese? It is very very good; a movie has been made, same title, it is also very good, with some minor differences.
Unfortunately, I read it before I was book blogging.
Emma @ Words And Peace
http://wordsandpeace.wordpress.com

Sam (Tiny Library) said...

Some great finds!v Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress and A Mountain of Crumbs have gone on my already too long wishlist!

Trish said...

tracy - I don't mind a good psychological thriller, it's the gore I can do without. So, if it's like Inception only better, then I might see and enjoy the movie too. But first the book.

emma - no, I did not know that. That makes it all the more interesting. I'm looking forward to getting it started.

tiny library - they look good, don't they?

Tracy said...

It's definitely psychological rather than gory, Trish. I may read the book eventually - I'm curious to know how it differs from the movie.

Alexis @ Reflections of a Bookaholic said...

I love how diverse these are. And the covers look great as well. Congrats on the great finds!

Trish said...

tracy - okay, that's good to know. And yes it is fun to do a book/movie comparison, isn't it?

alexis - something for every mood ;)

KarenSi said...

Nice list, I think I am going to add one of these to my tr list.

The only one I have read is Equal Music. I can honestly say it is not soap like. One of the most beautifully written books I have ever read.

Trish said...

okay, great! I'd be a little disappointed if it did. But writing makes all the differnce, doesn't it?

BookQuoter said...

I have yet to read Shutter Island, but I enjoyed the movie. Interestingly, my daughter thinks the movie is better than the book (which is rare). Enjoyed Balzac.