/contact-over.gif',1)">
| You can search the Artella Web site or the Shoppes of Artella RIGHT HERE! |
Artella's
Click on a topic to see reviews of books by Artella Community members |
|
..NEW REVIEW!.. The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg Elizabeth Berg is my favorite fiction author because she writes about contemporary women that are very real. Betta, the main character in The Year of Pleasures, is no exception. She is a 55 year-old widow who starts a whole new life halfway across the country. The title comes from a friend's challenge to her, even in the midst of her grief, to do one good thing for herself each day for a whole year. I was moved deep within by the way the process of grief was shown.... very raw, very real, but also alive with the everyday nuances of life. |
Review by Anne Marie Bennett. www.KaleidoSoul.com
|
..NEW REVIEW!.. The Evolution of Jane by Cathleen Schine It's unusual for a novel to be both incredibly smart, and also easy to read. This novel fits the bill, making it the ultimate in pleasure reading for literary and scientific minds who like a classy heroine and a belly laugh. |
Review by Marney Makridakis.
|
..NEW REVIEW!.. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant I first read this book over 6 years ago, and the impression of it will last a lifetime! In this remarkable retelling of the life of Dinah - the only daughter of Jacob - Diamant gives lyrical voice to the woman's story - a story that reaches across generations and cultures. "If you want to understand any woman you must first ask about her mother and then listen carefully..." A timeless tale of mothers, daughters, birth and death, and the preservation of the female identity in the face of a male tradition - historical fiction at its absolute best! |
Review by Claire Sauer.
|
Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham The new novel by Michael Cunningham, "Specimen Days" is an act of creative bravery and lyrical poetry: three novellas set across a distant time span all linked by New York City and the recurrence of three main characters. As the author conjured the spirit of Virginia Woolf in "The Hours," here he masterfully utilizes the writings of Walt Whitman to establish the themes, and the timeless poetry is sprinkled throughout as well as spoken by various characters, usually beyond their control. Part One ("In the Machine") is a ghost story of sorts and is set at the peak of the Industrial Revolution. Part Two ("The Children's Crusade") is set in a more contemporary New York and is conveyed as a noir thriller. Part Three ("Like Beauty") jumps 150 years into a brave, new America partially inhabited by an alien race. |
Review by Dan Gremminger, www.zerogdanno.com.
|
The Accidental Tourist
by Anne Tyler The first time I read this book, I was touched and amused by the principal character, Macon Leary, an insular man who travels and writes guides for businessmen, so they don't encounter any surprises away from home. After losing his son, and two years later his marriage, Macon becomes a methodical nut, trying to simplify every chore, living with the least effort posible, and completely detached from everything and everybody. This book has several characters, and all seem to be weird, unusual, and for me, enchanting. There's the brassy dog trainer that forces herself into his life, the eccentric brothers and sister, even his boss that ends up in the family. I read this book every 2 or 3 years and I always love it again. |
|
Someplace to be Flying
by Charles de Lint I am a great fan of Charles de Lint books and this is one of my favorites. It blends myth and magic and reality in a wonderful, entertaining, yet thought-provoking way. This novel is set in Newford, a city that appears in several de Lint books. The characters are artists, writers and musicians who are all friends and mixes in animal shapeshifters and a 'holy grail' type quest. This is the first of his novels to 'make it' to the general audience and since then, there have been three others that feature the people from Newford. I have loved them all. |
|
The Color Purple
by Alice Walker Walker's fictional depiction of a woman's growth into self-love, acceptance and understating is a winner of the Pulitzer Prize (among others). The reading is alive with wisdom that will change reading to reading with the reader's own personal growth. One of the best depictions I have found on battering and the way one grows beyond it. That alone makes it a very important book, especially for women caught in the syndrome. You can leave. There is a tomorrow. |
www.tams-originals.com
www.artellawordsandart.com/Tammy Vitale.html
|
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
by Alexander McCall Smith Precious Ramotswe is a most satisfactory heroine. She is a "traditionally shaped" woman, with her head on straight and her feet firmly rooted in the soil and traditions of her beloved Botswana. In the five little books of this set (and Mr. Smith has promised a sixth - I can hardly wait!), Precious solves the mysteries presented to her with wisdom and humor and insight and kindness. The other main characters of the series - her secretary, the proprietress of an orphanage, Africa's best mechanic - interact with Precious and lend their own flavor to the books. A delightful look at life in an African town, and just a delightful read! This is book #1 of the set. |
|
Tears of the Giraffe
by Alexander McCall Smith Precious Ramotswe is a most satisfactory heroine. She is a "traditionally shaped" woman, with her head on straight and her feet firmly rooted in the soil and traditions of her beloved Botswana. In the five little books of this set (and Mr. Smith has promised a sixth - I can hardly wait!), Precious solves the mysteries presented to her with wisdom and humor and insight and kindness. The other main characters of the series - her secretary, the proprietress of an orphanage, Africa's best mechanic - interact with Precious and lend their own flavor to the books. A delightful look at life in an African town, and just a delightful read! This is book #2 of the set. |
|
Morality for Beautiful Girls
by Alexander McCall Smith Precious Ramotswe is a most satisfactory heroine. She is a "traditionally shaped" woman, with her head on straight and her feet firmly rooted in the soil and traditions of her beloved Botswana. In the five little books of this set (and Mr. Smith has promised a sixth - I can hardly wait!), Precious solves the mysteries presented to her with wisdom and humor and insight and kindness. The other main characters of the series - her secretary, the proprietress of an orphanage, Africa's best mechanic - interact with Precious and lend their own flavor to the books. A delightful look at life in an African town, and just a delightful read! This is book #3 of the set. |
|
The Full Cupboard of Life
by Alexander McCall Smith Precious Ramotswe is a most satisfactory heroine. She is a "traditionally shaped" woman, with her head on straight and her feet firmly rooted in the soil and traditions of her beloved Botswana. In the five little books of this set (and Mr. Smith has promised a sixth - I can hardly wait!), Precious solves the mysteries presented to her with wisdom and humor and insight and kindness. The other main characters of the series - her secretary, the proprietress of an orphanage, Africa's best mechanic - interact with Precious and lend their own flavor to the books. A delightful look at life in an African town, and just a delightful read! This is book #4 of the set. |
|
The Kalahari Typing School for Men
by Alexander McCall Smith Precious Ramotswe is a most satisfactory heroine. She is a "traditionally shaped" woman, with her head on straight and her feet firmly rooted in the soil and traditions of her beloved Botswana. In the five little books of this set (and Mr. Smith has promised a sixth - I can hardly wait!), Precious solves the mysteries presented to her with wisdom and humor and insight and kindness. The other main characters of the series - her secretary, the proprietress of an orphanage, Africa's best mechanic - interact with Precious and lend their own flavor to the books. A delightful look at life in an African town, and just a delightful read! This is book #5 of the set. |
|
Chocolat (Audio Recording)
by Joanne Harris This is the first audio book I ever listened to. It was marvelous. The added dimension of inflection and to hear the French accents made this an even more delectable treat than it already was. The word choice was so perfect I could see it unfolding in my mind's eye, so much so that I doubt I'll want to see the movie, as someone else's rendition would only ruin "my" movie. |
|
The Beekeeper's Apprentice
by Laurie R. King This is one of the best mysteries that I have ever read. Usually I am vehemently opposed to people who try to use the character of Sherlock Holmes in their books, but she does it extremely well. |
www.lifeflows.net
www.artellawordsandart.com/JennyRyan.html
|
Good Night, Mr. Holmes
by Carole Nelson Douglas This is the first in a series of books that feature Irene Adler, another character from the world of Sherlock Holmes |
www.lifeflows.net
www.artellawordsandart.com/JennyRyan.html
|
The Well of Lost Plots
by Jasper Fforde This is actually one of a series of books about Thursday Next, a literary detective who has the ability to physically enter the stories in fiction novels. This series is one of the most creative and ingenious Ive read in a long time. |
www.lifeflows.net
www.artellawordsandart.com/JennyRyan.html
|
The Manchurian Candidate
by Richard Condon Seduction, destruction, and betrayal--what more could you want in a novel? Condon's classic story of Cold War conspiracy is woven tightly together with highly-charged characters, explosive plot lines, and pages pumped with political intrigue. This novel is the perfect summer-beach-afternoon or cold-stormy-night read. Condon takes his time developing a truly wicked cast of characters intertwined with careful plot construction and builds into a brilliant climax. Reading this book not only gave me a true sense of the political climate of the late fifties, but also a more thorough understanding of current political and social events. (And both the original and current movie adaptations of The Manchurian Candidate are "just as good as" the book.) |
Collage and Paperarts topic editor, www.suite101.com
|
The Martian Chronicles
by Ray Bradbury I have read and re-read this book many times and every time I read it, I learn something new, even terrible, about myself, the universe, and humanity. Even before Spock's Vulcan logic challenged the "true goodness of man," Bradbury penned this novel, a series of montages, about the psychological impact of humanities' colonization of Mars. Bradbury is one of the fathers of the sci-fi genre and this is one of his best. When I was a kid, I saw the movie and have had nightmares ever since--and the experience of reading The Martian Chronicles doesn't even compare to seeing the movie. |
|
Daughter of the Forest
by Juliet Marillier First [and best] of her Sevenwaters trilogy. A re-telling of the celtic Seven Swans legend. Great characterizations, especially useful for those moments when you think you have problems. |
|
The Odyssey
by Homer Every artist, every writer -- every free-thinker should, at least once in their lives, read this book. The Odyssey has everything--passion, romance, danger, intrigue, murder, deception, monsters...every human vice, failing, or shining quality is addressed in this ancient tale of one man's journey home. This book is a testament to man's ability to rise above even the most challenging circumstance, rely on faith, and become more than he ever thought possible--and proves that a man can achieve greatness with only "the love of a good woman," or in Odysseus' case, "the love of a lot of good (or evil) women." |
|
Life of Pi
by Yann Martel Back cover says "... one of the most extraordinary pieces of literary fiction in recent years." If you like Marquez and Isabel Allende, enjoy going slowly, and thinking about what you've read, this one's for you. If you want a 'story', go for #1 or # 3. |
|
The Mists of Avalon
by Marion Zimmer Bradley A soft and beautifully written book of the Arthurian legend. It notes the conflict of the time of the "new religion," that being the God versus the Goddess. The old pagan religion that revered mother earth, nature and women is changing to the new more patriarchal religion of Christianity. I love the myth and magic of Celtic Folklore and Paganism and the rich story that is woven within its words. |
|
The Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger A first novel and delightful, as well as a technical triumph. She writes from the points of view of both the time traveler and the time traveler's wife. |
|
Their Eyes Were Watching God
by Zora Neale Hurston This really is my all-time favorite novel and it takes me to a new place every time I read the first few sentences. "Now, women forget all those things they don't want to remember, and remember all those things they don't want to forget. The dream is the truth. Then they act and do things accordingly." It's about struggle, love, art, discovery and overcoming. It is a classic of black literature and the most challenging and delightful of all dialects I've ever read. Zora Neale Hurston died in poverty and was buried in an unmarked grave. Thankfully she's now been recognized and rejoiced. |
|
Plain Truth
by Jodi Picoult I could mention all my favorite novels that you have probably already read because everyone loves them (The Red Tent, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Poisonwood Bible, etc.), but I bet you haven't heard of this one and it's really super! You could call it a murder mystery or a legal thriller, but it's really much more insightful than that. Set in an Amish community, it immediately drew me to the details of this religious family. You'll want to discuss the ending with a friend. I've read a few of Picoult's other books. This one is the best. |
|
Mary, Called Magdalene
by Margaret George Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ, The Robe by Lloyd Douglas, Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code and another read in progress entitled The Blood and The Grail have all led me to this book by Margaret George. Mary, Called Magdalene is a very long, involved, and comprehensive fictionalized account of the life and times of Mary of Magdala. Drawing upon biblical references and other literary resources, George places her version of Mary within the reasonable and realistic framework of the story of Jesus. This story is rich as George involves every sense in the telling of it. I do recommend this book but only should the reader have the intention of lending it his/her undivided attention. |
|
The Shadow of the Wind
by Carlos Ruiz Zafon It is the absolute cruelty of the perfect story fitted to its perfect reader. Drenched in the ambience of a tale, trapped in a symphony of words, unable to stop reading, and, therefore, unable to cede to the inevitable heartache when the last page is turned. There never seems to be a logical explanation why a book appears out of nowhere to touch a reader like no other has. There is no proof or defense to explain why one author's words may settle upon one reader like a blue web of worded spells and other readers escape. I only know that I have discovered this year's favourite book and, perhaps, my writing hero. The Shadow of the Wind written by Carlos Ruiz Zafon |
Review by Lyse Stormont
|
"Anne of Green Gables"
by Lucy Maud Montgomery The "Anne of Green Gables" series by Lucy Maud Montgomery has always been one of inspiration for me. As Anne "flies up on the wings of anticipation" I am driven to create and be free. She always lets my mind and heart wander through dreams and creativity. The movies are good, too, but skip some major parts of the books. Even just watching the movies can fill me with life. |
|
Jitterbug Perfume
by Tom Robbins I understand that some people vilipend Tom Robbins as an author because of his labored propensity to be jocose but I enjoy his characters because Robbins tends to treat them slightly waggishly, endowing them with quirky flaws and peculiar virtues. Where else but in Jitterbug Perfume can one read a story featuring immortality, radishes, the power of scent, and Pan, the Greek god of pastures, flocks, and shepherds usually represented as having the legs, horns, and ears of a goat? The novel manages to be classical, comical, and contemporary at the same time. The plot involves a century-hopping effort to bottle and market the spirit of youth. |
|
The Crack-Up
by F. Scott Fitzgerald It is by common consent that The Great Gatsby is one of the best American novels ever written and I agree with that sentiment but I believe The Crack-Up is a much more compelling embodiment of highly flawed characters living in the aftermath of the Roaring 20s. It is one big spree, and one long, heartbreaking hangover. It is a brilliant account of a very sick man. The chapters "Sleeping and Waking" about his insomnia, and "The Crack- Up" about his crisis, are hair-raisingly familiar to many of us, who, like myself, will sit up all night reading it. The book is not a biography, but a life story, as revealed through Fitzgerald's own writings, his brief, thin pleasures, |
Review by Kim Westerhoff
|
We
by Yevgeny Zamyatin "I prefer being wrong in my own way to being right in someone else's." (Yevgeny Zamyatin, Contemporary Russian Literature, 1918) Yevgeny Zamyatin's novel We was first published in English in 1924 and served as the archetype for all twentieth-century dystopian novels, including Orwell's 1984, Huxley's Brave New World, and Rand's Anthem. The story is set in the twenty-sixth century AD in a totalitarian, standardized One State of the future. Its dictator is the all-powerful "Benefactor," who offers the citizens, called Numbers, security and material affluence but not freedom. The narrator, D-503, is an engineer and mathematician who fully accepts the total control and rationality of the centralized state. Zamyatin is recognized for the power of his craft, for his celebration of the sanctity of the individual, and for his emphasis on the crucial importance of artistic freedom. |
|
The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children)
by Jean M. Auel This is the first in a series of 5 books so far. I think the first book is the most powerful, but I have enjoyed all of them. Jean goes to Europe, consults archeologists, and does a lot of research to make the background in these books of prehistoric lands as realistic as possible. The story follows a young girl separated from her parents in an earthquake to her becoming an independent woman and falling in love. She lives in a variety of communities and it is interesting to read about how they lived and what was important to them. You will get lost in these other worlds. |
http://www.vickieenkoff.com
|
Peace Like a River
by Leif Enger This is more than a book; it is an experience, a totally engrossing, all-encompassing experience. My dentist found me reading during my flouride treatment and missed his Moo-Goo Gai-Pan lunch. Instead, he spent his break flipping through my dog-eared, highlighted copy to read his favorite passages aloud to me. My teenage children were equally happy to reread this book, stopping often to marvel at Enger's uncanny ability to choose the one perfect word, often creating new uses for old words. His prose is concise and incredibly descriptive at the same time. For instance, Enger gives a tornado personality with this; "it (was) a strong slender lady |
Review by Suzanne Gwynne
|
Small Wonder
by Barbara Kingsolver Small Wonder, a collection of short stories and essays, was compiled just after September 11, 2001, by Barbara Kingsolver, who also wrote all of them. Some of the pieces were written before the tragedy, others came afterward. The title piece, written after 9/11, illustrates Kingsolver's unique perception of the worldwide crisis precipitated by that deliberate attempt to destroy the American way of life. "In a world whose wells of kindness seem everywhere to be running dry", Kingsolver finds the remarkable, true story of a hungry, lost toddler who is rescued and protected by a mother bear who takes the child to her breast. She finds hope in the |
Review by Suzanne Gwynne
|
The Law of Love
by Laura Esquivel Written by the author of Like Water for Chocolate, this is my favorite novel. It is lusciously written and includes elements of art and music, as well. I can't recommend the experience of this book highly enough. |
|
The Service of Clouds
by Delia Falconer A really cool novel, totally out-of-the-box, totally ethereal, totally sumptuous. If you like getting lost in words, you'll love this book. Set in 1907 in the Blue Mountains of Australia, it offers a bittersweet love story surrounded by the passion of photography, science, and art. |
Back to Index