Most war novels centre on soldiers and battles. “Suite Francaise” is one of the most unique books I have ever read for two reasons. The first is that is focuses on people. Not royalty or army folk but regular, everyday people during World War II and their experiences of evacuations, and occupations. It explores their thoughts and emotions and the realities of the hardships they faced.
The second reason is the back story of the book. Nemirovsky was an author pre- and during the war and she died in Auschwitz. This novel was buried in some trunks that her daughter had and was finally discovered 60 years after her death and published. The work was supposed to be composed of five volumes but Nemirovsky only made it through two. Instead we get two Appendices that translate her notes for the rest and for the entire novel. She had wanted to create something artistic, meaningful, and that would resonate throughout history. Although she didn’t get to write all five volumes, she still succeeded.
“Suite Francaise” is fascinating and although I’m not one to sit around and postulate on how something is a brilliant work of art, bla bla bla, this is. It’s original and fascinating and completely riveting. It sometimes required a few reading of certain passages because they were so beautifully written. This is not light summer reading, but something that you need to read nonetheless.

I love Emily Giffin. I loved “Something Borrowed” and “Something Blue.” Here newest “Baby Proof” continues her tradition of an easy read that sucks you right in and makes you stay up all night to finish it. This is not ‘chick lit’; that to me, connotates something without substance, pure fluff for the beach (see “Make Him Look Good”). Giffin’s books have depth, and great observations on human behaviour. And they’re so freaking enjoyable to read.
In “Baby Proof” Claudia Parr is married to her dream man. They’re madly in love and both want the same things in life: namely—no kids…ever. Claudia is thrilled, as most men she dated looked at her like she was a cold unfeeling b**** every time she mentioned that her womb didn’t want to host a parasite (my words, not hers btw.) But Ben is perfect, until he starts to waffle on the whole no kids thing and decides that he does, in fact, want them. Claudia doesn’t cave and this leads to a divorce, breaking both of their hearts. Now I won’t give more away but needless to say you’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll love this book to pieces. I’m giving them out left right and centre to people and everyone says they’re in love.
If you want a change from pure mind-numbing fluff (which does have its place) and are looking for something easy for summer but that will make you think, pick this baby up. You’ll thank me (I accept Paypal.)

It’s so hard to write a review for “Freakonomics” because it’s about…nothing. It looks at statistics, which sounds really boring. The truth is this is an absolutely fascinating book (even for someone who hates math like me) that gives you a ton of interesting material to spout off after you’ve read it, like I did to anyone who would listen. Seriously, I sounded really smart.
Levitt is an economist who looks at things others might not. One example—he wondered why drug dealers still live with their mothers. Hmm…good question, right? I mean, drugs are expensive so wouldn’t the dealers make good money? What results is a great look at the hierarchy of a crack-dealing gang and where the money really goes.
How about teachers and sumo wrestlers? What to they have in common? Apparently they both cheat. And what explains the falling crime rate over the last 20 years? Could it be the legalization of abortion?
The book really is absorbing and I zipped through it in about 2 days. It’s the end that left something to be desired. Levitt looks at the nature vs. nurture debate and analyses a bunch of things including what you name your child and how it affects their future. It’s interesting but far from the bang I was hoping the book would go out with. If you’re interested in weird and wacky statistics or just like a different viewpoint on the world—try “Freakonomics.” Don’t be put off by the math-sounding title. I do hope Levitt does more of these books in the future—I’ll be reading them and spouting off info to people I know to sound smart. Again.

The best thing about “Make Him Look Good” is a character named Jill Sanchez, obviously based on another Latina singer/ actress/ perfume spokesperson. Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez is so obvious about who she’s talking about, it’s a surprise she’s not getting in some trouble for it. Sanchez has no talent and relies on full computerization when recording her albums. Anyone who has heard the real-life singer try to sing live, would get a real kick out of the whole idea (remember? The green dress and the whole soap-opera on the stage in that dreaded duet with her crypt-keeper of a hubby?).
The novel takes place in slick and shiny Miami and drops names and product placement everywhere. If you’re into celeb gossip and fashion, you’ll love it. There was one thing that did bother me about the book and that was when it tried to get all serious. Please. Don’t give me lessons of family and love and relationships Valdes-Rodriguez. You’re no Emily Giffin. You spin a great yarn about the dark side of celebrity life that a lot of jaded people don’t see or can’t fathom (in which case you really need to go to laineygossip.com and get a dose of reality), but spare me the sappy, drippy happy ending that ultimately does not satisfy or fit with the rest of your book. It really seemed like it was tacked on as an after thought. But I digress.
The catty comments, the Choos, Gucci purses and thinly-veiled references will keep you reading and laughing. Valdes-Rodriguez is a modern-day Jackie Collins and as long as she fixes up those sappy endings, I’m on board for whatever she brings out next.

Anyone who walks into a Williams-Sonoma store gets that dizzy feeling where they think if they only had that gadget/ sauce/ pot/ knife they would becomes Julia Child. You know what I’m talking about—you’ve been there. Unfortunately, if you can’t cook, that big Kitchen-Aid mixer isn’t going to magically fix things. What can help is a solid cookbook. And Williams-Sonoma has those too.
Even if you don’t want to cook, their New Healthy Kitchen books are so darn pretty to look at! They are split into sections according to colour, based on the theory that your plate should always have richly coloured food on it as that’s the healthiest way to go. The Main Dishes book featured recipes like Shrimp, baby Spinach and Basil Risotto, Celery Root and Potato Potpie, Roast Pork Loin with Rutabagas and Apples (which I made and turned out delish!) and Salmon and Yellow Corn Chowder with Pancette (which I’m trying next.) The back of the books has an entire section on nutrients, nutritional values of the recipes and a glossary.
On to describing some of the desserts. You ready? Blackberry Crumble, Spiced Apple Cake, Streusel Banana Muffins (made these too, amazing!) and Brandied Berry Crepes. I’m a dessert girl so this book is like my porn and I pored over it thanks to its stunning photographs.
Beautiful books just to have in the kitchen, these Williams-Sonoma cookbooks also deliver on usability—easy colour-coded recipes, a huge variety of food and handy nutritional guides in the back. Plus, if it’s out of a healthy kitchen book, dessert has no calories right?

Let me explain the above perfect score. One does not pick up Jackie Collins expecting poetic vocabulary and writing with exquisitely detailed plotlines and deep and though-provoking characters. One picks up a Jackie Collins novel for smut, dirt, laughs and titillation. “Lover and Players” is super-fine Jackie at her best.
It’s a book I read in my spare moments waiting for things to happen-getting picked up, waiting to meet a friend, etc. Not once did I wonder where I left off or what was going on. It’s the kind of book you can read in bits or all at once (though I do suggest some time-outs). It’s the type of book you read and then feel a little hot and bothered. In other words, it’s great fun.
The very complicated plot includes an evil millionaire, his three smokin’ hot sons, a wanna-be Ashanti-type, a Russell Simmons-style rap mogul and some murders and beautiful settings and homes. It’s a great story, very much drawing the reader into its glittery and smutty existence.
It’s classic Jackie Collins and I loved it. Perfect for summer.

These are brilliant. I fully intend on buying a set for every young reader in my life for the next bunch of present-giving occasions. I often want to kids to read classics (and even gave my Grade 8 class a Classic Book Report to great disaster) but they do find them too difficult. The language is tough, especially when there are so many difficult old or simply foreign-to-young-minds words. That’s why these new abridged classics are so wonderful.
Each book comes in a delicious abridged version that just simplifies the story, not dumbing it down completely which is what some kids versions do. On the left hand side of every page is information about the words that are bolded throughout the text—how to pronounce them, what they mean or even any synonyms they might have. There is an introduction to the story, a glossary at the back and discussion questions. I received Little Women, Great Expectations and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer to review and all three were awesome. A great buy to get kids reading classics without hating them

There aren’t too many historical fiction novels about Poland. England? There are probably thousands? France? Same. But poor Poland always seems to get the short end of the stick. Growing up, I never really knew much about my Polish heritage. I knew the basics but being a historical-fiction freak, always hoped a good one would come along. I though Garden of Venus might be the one. It was and it wasn’t.
On the one hand, I learned quite a bit about one of Poland’s most famous families, the Potockis and what life was like in Poland at the time of Marie Antoinette. On the other hand, Sophia Potocka, the book’s protagonist, isn’t very likeable, or very Polish. She was a Greek girl who basically slept her way to the top.
The writing felt a little stilted and laboured, making it hard to get through the novel. It had some moments of magic, but they were interspersed with drawn-out passages about sideline characters I didn’t really care about. Stachniak has the talent, she just needs to fine tune it a little. Hopefully, her next novel will be a Polish historical fiction that focuses on an actual Polish character and Polish history, and she focuses in on one story to develop it fully. If that’s the case, I’ll definitely be reading it.

I’m in love with this cookbook. You see, I hate to cook. I feel like it takes forever and there are other things I would rather be doing. So this book to me is a Godsend. Nothing in it takes longer than 25 minutes. Seriously. But the best part? The food is actually yummy! And some of it tastes exactly like my favourite Chinese or Mexican or whatever takeout but it’s cheaper and healthier…YAY!!
I started with the Sweet and Sour Pork with Broccoli. Yum. I made the Chinese Lemon Chicken. Yum. I tried the Bow Tie Pasta with Hot Sausage Sauce. Super yum. The stuff is east to make, fast, and doesn’t involve any weird and difficult ingredients. Plus, the recipes include time-saving tips to make things go even faster. The only thing I do is double the recipes so I have leftovers and don’t have to worry about cooking for longer. This is a must-have for anyone who thinks complicated recipes are a waste of time or just likes to make great food quickly.

Patricia Pearson write a book called Playing House a year or so ago that was truly laugh-out-loud funny and got made into a CTV movie. It was very encouraging that a Canadian writer had done so well for herself. She is back with a new book where her main character’s baby has grown up to be five years old and is starting to ask questions abut religion. It’s just as good as her first book, if not better since it generates some great questions.
In it, Frannie and Calvin’s son Lester starts asking about heaven since his grandma is sick and might die. He wants to know whether the devil lives in Canada. Depends who you ask, I guess, but Frannie ends up exploring her own beliefs in the process. The novel flies by and is much more thought-provoking than Playing House. Sometimes I’m not really sure why Frannie is with Calvin since he seems like kind of a loser, but I digress.
Believe Me is a welcome sequel to Playing House and I command you to go out and support this Canadian author by buying and enjoying this book immediately.