Letters From India
Carolyn Hayward

Set in 1936, “Letters from India” is a true short story, of “Love at First Sight” after a short romance of seven weeks, Ned and Ginny’s life will be put to the test. They hardly know each other and on their wedding day they sail to India.

Life in India was challenging and filled with many adventures. Then World War 11 set their lives in a spin. Ginny is forced to evacuate and has to leave Ned with the impending threat of Japan bombing Calcutta. Her trip back to New York was filled with challenges and frustration. The constant threat of war and the lack of transportation made her journey, a long and grueling undertaking.
Back in New York, she is miserable without Ned and longs to be with him no matter what the danger might be. Making the biggest sacrifice of her life, giving up her American citizenship, she becomes a Canadian.
Again she must travel thousands of miles, making the arduous journey of getting back to Ned. New adventures await her on the long trip, the war is only one of the hurdles she has to overcome.

This article was submitted by a reader like you! We would love for you to add one too! Write your own book review on any book!

This post was submitted by carolyn Hayward.

Jude the Obscure

Tomas Hardy

Don’t forget the classics! With so many great books coming out, it’s easy to slide over the oldies, but treat yourself once in awhile to a really great, classic read. There is a reason they have been around so long – writing styles, insight – things many times today’s writers skip over, or touch on too lightly.

I have just finished Jude the Obscure, a book you could say is a real downer in some ways, but ultimately, it is a story of a man’s drive and determination. Even though Jude never does accomplish his heart’s desire, he never lost hope, even to the bitter end.

The story takes place in Hardy’s mythical “Wessex”, and his love of the English countryside just makes you want to take off on a hike in pursuit of beautiful hillsides full of heather, and sheep grazing and life in small villages just bristling with passion and emotions.

This book could have been written today, as easily as in the late 1800’s. Thomas Hardy was originally a poet, and you feel that from his word usage and sentence structures. He can truly paint a picture so that you are right there with his characters. Jude develops an impossible relationship with Sue Bridehead, and from that they both grow into odd perspectives about marriage and life.

Ultimately, I think this book is about real life. Tragedy happens to everyone at some point; how do we deal with it? Some choose to never get over it, some choose to hide within themselves. To me, the real tragedy of Jude the Obscure is that while both Jude and Sue dealt with their lot in life differently, neither one of them was ever able to recover themselves afterward.

While I really enjoyed this book, my favorite of Hardy’s remains The Mayor of Casterbridge. Wonderful!

An interesting note on Jude: the book was so revolutionary in it’s ideas of marriage that it was thought to be pornographic in it’s time, and was condemned. Hardy was so outraged by the reaction that he vowed never to write fiction again. Our loss. He did continue as a poet.

This article was submitted by a reader like you! We would love for you to add one too! Write your own book review on any book!

This post was submitted by Lori.

American Wife
Curtis Sittenfeld

Quick Overview
Alice is a quiet and somewhat naive girl that learns tragedy as a teenager; what would her life had been like if that night had been different? She follows her dreams and learns hard life lessons along the way. Eventually she meets up with a loud, egotistical man who’s boisterous personality draws her in. Soon she’s a part of the Blackwell family, a powerful political family in Wisconsin, and her dimwitted husband eventually becomes president. Alice faces many dilemmas when her private and personal beliefs clash with her husband’s politics.

My Two Cents
Curtis Sittenfeld draws me in again! American Wife is not only a page turner, but it kept me up until the wee hours of the morning! This novel touches on lots of subjects and goes into the inner happenings behind the doors of powerful political families. Although this book is fiction, Sittenfeld does her research and the family that Alice marries into is eerily representative of a recent largely unpopular president. As a person with largely liberal views (although I really am more in the middle) I could relate to Alice, but still have compassion for her husband (who really isn’t very smart). I would highly recommend this book for a read in between reads, as it was fairly a breeze to read, but still very intriguing and thought-provoking, managing to keep a step above chick lit.

If you enjoyed Prep you would enjoy this book just as much.

Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace
Ayelet Waldman

While at the library, this book caught my eye and I had to read it! Being a new mother myself I enjoy reading light material that is relevant to my situation.

A Quick Synopsis:
Bad Mother is written from the author’s perspective of being a mother and trying to fit into the “Good Mother” category, but nevertheless, failing depending on who’s standards you are trying to uphold. Ayelet Waldman chronicles her own life as a mother and really delves into the nitty-gritty, the unspeakable, the truth about motherhood that few feel comfortable discussing or even admitting. She speaks on topics that only mothers can understand, covering everything from the “Bad Mother Police” to “Competitive Parenting.”

My Two Cents

What a relief! Once I opened Bad Mother I could not put it down; I was completely engrossed in her outlook on motherhood. Ayelet Waldman speaks honestly and openly about motherhood and all the critical judgements that women and the public in general make about each other. A lot of the topics and feelings discussed would make the “Perfect Mother” uncomfortable because they would see themselves reflected in the pages. I saw myself all through the book and it was comforting knowing that I am not the only one with these feelings. Ayelet Waldman really touches on some uncomfortable situations and along with laughing at some material, I found myself sobbing through certain chapters. I have different views, but I got it. She’s been slammed in the media for her views, but I say keep going! A breath of fresh air for all parents.

I love how she describes the double standards involving parenting. If you feed your kid organic you’re draining their college fund, if you don’t feed them organic you’re ruining their lives. We’ve all encountered the uppity parents, the ones that love to broadcast their perfect parenting styles through backhanded suggestions or just outright “You’re doing it wrong!”

Here are a few instances of where we were caught by the “Bad Mother” police or judgemental comments reflecting towards our “wrong way” of parenting.

Situation One:
“Can your son have a piece of orange?”
“Is it organic?”
“I’m not sure.”
“No thanks.”
-Parent encountered at a park in Marin County. I understand her values and what have yous, but come on a slice of a possibly unorganic orange is not going to contaminate your precious child. By the way this was said in the most pretentious manner possible.

Situation Two:
“You shouldn’t take away your child’s pacifier because they are in the oral stage until they are three and they might become a smoker if they are not ready.”

- Really? You expect me to listen to backwards ass Freud on this manner? By the way, myself and all my siblings have had our pacifiers ripped from our lives before three and guess what? None of us are smokers! On another note, my son is doing great without it and actually sleeps better at night now!

My own “Bad Parenting” moment…

My son slept in a crib next to our bed until he was six months old!

Bad parenting from an attachment parenting fanatic: “He’s in is own room!?” “Babies should really co-sleep with parents; it gives them a better sense of security.” Fine and dandy for those who enjoy feet in their backs and interrupted sleep for months, even years on end!

Bad parenting from the others: “Can’t believe you lasted that long!” “Babies need their own space” “Wow! Six months, my child was in their own room at 4 weeks and sleeping through the night!”

Whatever.

Have you ever had a bad parenting moment? Or been judged on your parenting skills?

The Deadline Murders
Ron Morgans

HENRIETTA FOX is a paparazzo. A wild, flame-haired girl in biker’s boots and leathers, with an Irish temper. She rides a Yamaha on the streets of London stalking celebrities for the tabloid gossip pages. When a Chinese military plane explodes in a fireball before her, life for Henri gets dangerous!

Five reporters across Europe have been murdered, each with their exotic, lop-eared Sumxu cats, animals considered extinct for 300 years. Only tabloid paparazzo Henrietta Fox knows why they died and that knowledge could kill her. With partner Cass Farraday she must pursue a madman across China. Only they can prevent an Armageddon assault on Britain’s Air Traffic Control. Fail and half a million lives will be lost!

This article was submitted by a reader like you! We would love for you to add one too! Write your own book review on any book!

This post was submitted by Barry Ferguson.

E-Book of the Day!!

Amazing Smoothies!

Who doesn’t like smoothies? This ebook has great smoothie recipes that you can try out daily. What a great way to stay healthy and on top of the world! I know that when I get back from a heavy duty workout the first thing I make is a delicious smoothie; it’s easy to make and easy to drink!

This ebook features some of the following:

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I wouldn’t waste anymore time! Get some proper use out of your blender and order your Smoothies ebook! today!

eBook of the Day!!

Yoga Master 3 Pack

Get your yoga on with this eBook 3 Pack!

Yoga has so many positive benefits that it would be silly not to invest in yourself this way. This Yoga Master 3 Pack starts off with introductory yoga then progresses to lessons. Great for learners and advanced yoga masters alike!

eBook of the Day!

Aztec Mexican Cookbook

Do you like Mexican Food?

Here is a great ebook that can bring cooking Mexican food a part of your reality! I personally am not allowed to buy any more cookbooks since the ones I have are rarely opened, but if I were to buy a new cookbook I would certainly check this one out!

If you have used this ebook for cooking your Mexican food then let us know how the recipes panned out!

Aztec Mexican Cookbook

Check out our other featured ebooks here!