Maid of Honor by C. Jagodzinski

This is the Teachers and Friends Book Club selection for January.  It was chosen by Board of Education member Ms. Libero, who is friends with the author, who is originally from Milford.  

Now this is NOT my cup of tea.  But that's the point of a book club, isn't it?  To read things one would not normally pick up, try something new, and discuss the merits of the literature.  

This is historical romance, set in Scotland in the late 1100s (if you couldn't guess, we're meeting at Duffy's later this month).  Lady Joan is set to marry Lord Robert Cunningham, when she runs away on the morning of the wedding to marry a pauper.  Her sister Elayne, who wanted to be a nun, must stand in per protocol.  Robert and Elayne eventually fall in love when Joan returns.  

Yes, definitely not something you'd read my review of here, but that does not mean I didn't like it.  It held my interest, and despite my annoyance at some of them, the characters were very well written.  I look forward to the author joining our meeting to talk about her process.

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. and do not represent those of WHHS or WHPS.

Meet Me in the Kitchen by Matt Price

I absolutely love Mr. Make It Happen's food videos.  So when he announced he was publishing a book, and the first 100 orders would get a signed copy, I jumped on it.  Never intending to be a chef, Price still considers cooking a hobby.  His successful Youtube channel, book deals, spice and knife lines, national tour, etc. were never the goal, which I guess is what makes him so...normal.  

Anyway, this is several of his videos in print form.  Which is what disappointed me a bit.  I was hoping to read lots of new recipes or perhaps like Snoop's and Molly's books a memoir in disguise.  

Now I am also super hopeful WHHS will run our once famous culinary course again next year.  With a new teacher, a new cohort of students, and some new equipment, I'd love to see the teacher lunch delivery back.  So, as with my other cookbooks, this one will be donated.

After all, "we're here for a good time, not a long time."

Opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. and do not represent those of WHHS or WHPS.   

Bittersweet in the Hollow by Kate Pearsall

I. LOVED. This. Book!

I've had this in my to-read pile for quite a while.  I chose it as a Halloween book, but The Historian took a while.  I'm so glad I didn't just return it as not fitting in the season any more!  To be honest, it's actually a summery book.

This is set in a tiny southern town in rural Appalachian West Virginia.  The James women are among the town's oldest families, and rumor has it they have magical abilities.  The run a diner and farm stand (and also a moonshine gig on the side) that are wildly popular.  Every June, on the solstice, the town has a festival with The Moth Man as its namesake.  A local version of BigFoot, Moth Man haunts the forest at the edge of town.  

Many years ago, a young boy drowned or was taken by a wild animal on a fishing trip in the forest with his father and brother.  Our main character Linden was kidnapped, but returned safely, the night of the festival one year ago.  And now a local beauty Queen has been murdered. Crazy theories run rampant, the old families are warring with each other, feuds re-open, and the James family is caught in the middle.

This was a great book I could not put down.  Linden, her sisters, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-aunt are excellently written characters.  I wanted to find this tiny town on my next racing trip.  Definitely a recommend. 

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. and do not reflect those of WHPS or WHHS. 

When Ghosts Call Us Home By Katya de Becerra

I wanted to like this.  I really did.  The premise sounds so awesome and definitely my cup of tea.  In a Blair Witch style documentary, older sister Layla records assorted footage of her younger sister Sophia being creeped out in an old home their parents are renting for the summer.  The movie becomes a cult classic.  And the girls find themselves always fending off would be ghost hunters and obsessed fans.  Layla disappears five years later, leaving Sophia taunted by memories of the house and its resident spirit.

So why could I not finish this? 

The type is unbearably small.  Look, I KNOW my vision isn't that great, but this was ridiculous.  I had to hold this right up to my nose in order to read the teeny tiny font, and it gave me an awful migraine.  I had to stop so many times it was no longer enjoyable to try. 

Unfortunately, until a large print (or normal size font print) version comes out, I'm done.

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. and do not reflect those of WHHS or WHPS.

 

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Chosen by locally famous Westie baker Roberta, the teachers and friends book club selection for October is The Historian. Roberta chose this older book, that we already have a copy of at WHHS, since it is about Dracula.  Fitting to have it be just before Halloween.  Our plan is to meet at Transylvania in East Haven/Branford. 

Now, this book is LONG.  It's long and has tiny little font.  It is not a book you can sit and read in an hour or even a night. You have to make the commitment to tackle it, a little at a time if need be, but stick it out.  

There is a TON of history.  I know more about the Ottoman Empire, Byzantine architecture, and of course Vlad than I will ever need.  It was fascinating from a historical standpoint.  And seriously, we think Vlad was some ancient ruler; he and Columbus were around at the same time!  I actually read a theory (when I fell down the rabbit hole about this) that Columbus was carrying Vlad's earthly remains to the New World so they would not be stolen/desecrated (dude was beheaded, what more could you do to him?, but I digress...).  

Anyway.

So Vlad as in Dracula the undead guy is the focus of this novel.  A professor becomes obsessed with finding his tomb to see if it contains a body, finding and falling in love with one of Vlad's descendants.  Then his mentee takes up the search, along with the professor's daughter.  They also have a daughter, who then continues the search.  They wind their way through primary source documents like maps, letters, and journals piecing together where Vlad went and why, and where his body might have ended up. 

All the while, their efforts are thwarted by a possibly undead vampire reference librarian.  He might have been my favorite character.  

So, would I recommend this?  Maybe.  If you want a longer read that's going to last you, if you like European/Middle Eastern history, or you have a strange obsession with Vlad/Dracula: definitely.  Casual beach read? Certainly not. 

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. and do not reflect those of WHHS or WHPS.

Pines by Blake Crouch

Welcome to the 24-25 school year! 

This book is the Teachers and Friends Book Club choice for September, chosen by Mackrille's Mrs. Tirollo. 

Acid trip.

This was made into a very popular series on maybe Netflix, maybe Prime.  I'm not sure, nor would I try to watch it.

I'm still not really sure what was happening.  In a dystopian future, a little town lives secluded from the outside world, everyone is happy, very Stepford Wives-ish.  

Ethan is a special agent.  His colleagues were sent to Wayward Pines to investigate a disappearance, but now they are missing too.  Ethan awakens in the hospital after a car accident, with partial amnesia and his personal items missing.  He can't seem to get in touch with his wife and son back in Seattle.  

What follows is a weird, time traveling, spatial circus.  There are killer kids dressed up as clowns, giant bird-human hybrid monsters, and really bad dialogue.  

Hard no. 

Curious what the rest of the group thinks of this...

A reminder all opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. and do not reflect those of WHHS or WHPS. 

The Golden Couple by Hendricks & Pekkanen

I honestly can't remember who gave this to me.  So, if it was you, I'm sorry for forgetting and sorry for not being a fan!

To be fair, I liked it until the plot twist.  After that, hate.

Marissa and Matthew seemingly have it all: he's a hot shot corporate lawyer and she's a boutique owner on the school PTA.  They have a son, a big house in a DC suburb, and nice cars. 

But, Matthew goes away on business and Marissa has an affair.  Marissa decides to confess, and the couple start seeing Avery, a therapist.  It would seem though Marissa's affair partner is not giving up on her so easily. Avery herself also has a clouded past that threatens.  Strange things happen, perhaps tied together.   

I thought it would tie up neatly, and I would have been satisfied with whom I believed to be behind it all.  Yeah, the plot twist just ruined it.  It all goes lightning speed after the twist as if the authors had a deadline to meet and rushed the end.

So this is a whodunit style novel, and as such I don't want to spoil.  I will say THE DOG LIVES.  As soon as the rescue pittie appeared, I was DREADING if he would be OK, but he really is just comic relief.      

A reminder all opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W. and do not represent WHHS or WHPS.