Hello, hello lovelies. I'm sorry it's been a while. However, I finished two books and am in the middle of a third (Lost: A Novel by Mr. Gregory Maguire, author of the famous Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Harper Fiction)).

However, today I wish to discuss a different novel. Let's talk about The Girl Who Chased The Moon by Sarah Addison Allen. She has also written Garden Spells (Bantam Discovery) and The Sugar Queen (Random House Reader's Circle) which are two books I love dearly. Allen writes stories that take place in the South. However, it's not Faulkner nor stories about rednecks nor, heaven forbid, Gone With the Wind. Instead, it's the South I was raised in and still enjoy today.

This novel is no different than the others. She writes about the South, a more magical South than you see in the news (and I do not mean that youtube video on the Creighton Leperchaun). Her South, which I believe is closer to the true South, is full of sweet smells, beautiful trees, classic architecture, old family secrets and legends, old money, those with no money, the best food, and just a pinch of magic. What makes this one even better? The addition of barbecue, that's what!

Here's an excerpt from Allen's site that sums the story up:  Emily Benedict came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother’s life. But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew, she realizes that mysteries aren’t solved in Mullaby, they’re a way of life: Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbor, Julia Winterson, bakes hope in the form of cakes, offering them to satisfy the town’s sweet tooth—but also in the hope of rekindling a love she fears might be lost forever. Can a hummingbird cake really bring back a lost love? Is there really a ghost dancing in Emily’s backyard? The answers are never what you expect. But in this town of lovable misfits, the unexpected fits right in.

"A dusting of magic, the aroma of sugary cakes swirling through the breeze, and a girl who unwittingly brings change to a town of misfits makes for a sweet summer story filled with hope and forgiveness. The Girl Who Chased the Moon flirts with the supernatural while the light tinkling of a charm bracelet sounds in the night."

- Beth Hoffman, author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Plus, did I mention there was barbecue involved?  


Okay, now to serious reviewer business.  I cannot recommend this to most guys.  It's comfy, cozy chick lit.  Except, it's better than most chick lit.  Better than Nicholas Ruins Endings Sparks.  I do not like that man.  He ruins endings.  Exhibit A) Message in a Bottle.  


So, we've established A) I don't like Nicholas Sparks and B) Allen writes mainly for women.  However, if you are a guy and like that stuff, far be it from me to judge.  I pretty much eat her novels up like...well, barbecue.  She has beautiful themes in her stories that all tie together.  Her stories are hilarious. It is not classic literature now, but it does tell a good story.  Plus, she does not have any writer's quirks that annoy me such as noticeably bad grammar or irritating characters that the reader ought to be sympathetic towards (that was such an awkward sentence).  I read that book in one day--during finals.  Does that tell you how much I enjoyed it?


I guess I do have to list cons to be a good reviewer....*sigh*.  I guess the ending could have been less predictable.  I suppose there should have been a more sinister plot involved somehow.  But really, picking out things I didn't like about this story is very difficult.  She's one of my favorites.  Like I said, not really going to recommend it to men in general, but I'm okay with that.  Allen's stories are geared towards women without being all Danielle Steel damsel in distress romances where we learn the June Cleaver is the only way (not that I don't mind a Danielle Steel movie on WE when I'm feeling ill.  They're entertaining if Russia is involved in any way).  The point is, Allen's women are feminine without being weak and dependent.  They're very strong and always can stand on their own two feet.  They're very admirable.  In this one, Julia is an expert business woman who is also incredibly maternal.  I like that balance.  


Anyways, I give it five stars for me, four and a half for my readers, and for you macho guys out there who won't read it, three.  


Still....I can't help but say, I love that book.

Red to Black by Alex Dryden is a story about what has happened in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. The story centers around two characters, Finn and Anna. Finn was with MI6 and Anna with the KGB, and the two have developed a romantic relationship.

The story opens with Anna sitting in a basement reading journals, trying to find Finn. The entire book is told from her point of view, which gets a little bit odd at points. For instance, there are moments where the story is only about Finn at that point with Anna no where in sight, and she is still narrating. How does that work? Does she have ESP (or ESPN as a friend in high school used to say)? I mean, the KGB's good, but not that good...right? I mean, I should hope so--Otherwise, the U.S. has been in deep trouble for a long time and the Soviet's were being incompetent for over half a century by not listening to their intelligence service. I doubt that's true; therefore, Mr. Dryden has a bit of a logistics issue.

Another issue was grammar and spelling. That's the editor's fault. Moving on....

Anna's character could be a bit irritating just because she was so slow and could be a bit selfish. This is more than made up for with Finn--he's the must have dreamy British spy with a devil-may-care grin. Absolutely lovely. As for Anna, she's not intolerable, just slightly annoying. I can easily look it over, though. After all, I have noticed men have difficulty writing likable female characters (it's not their fault; we're the complicated sex).

This story was very entertaining, all of my criticism aside. I believe a good book or story must be entertaining above all else. Otherwise, it's a failure. This is why I loathe Hemingway, the old drunken bore. So, I give this story three and a half stars out of five. I really do recommend it. It was very fascinating with interesting points about politics tied in.

You can order the book from Amazon.

Check out my account at Goodreads

So, dear reader, whoever you may be, I am about to embark on an adventure into the great, wide-world of blogging.  I'll be honest; this is a test run for a travel blog I'll do next year when I'm living in Italy.  However, I do love to do reviews.  Books especially are my passion!  I'll try to be kind and write decently enough.  I've never really done this sort of thing before, so it'll be an experience.

The sort of review I would like to do will be more in depth than just a quick synopsis.  I would like to get some good analysis of the subject as well.  I have read many a book and wished I had my time and money back when I finished.  Unfortunately, quick reviews and short synopsis rarely help me decide on a book to read or film to watch.  Hopefully I can spare you some of my grief.

Now we come to the REALLY awkward part.  I apologize.  If you don't want awkwardness or are not a particularly "sensitive" reader, skip this. I want to make sure it is understood that because I say a book or film is a good read or entertaining does not mean I'm endorsing the author per say or moral actions of the characters.  I happen to be a Christian and am taking the time now to let you know my morals are pretty traditional.  I don't really want to go over this too much more and keep the blog away from my personal life, but I also have to consider people who share my religion and be considerate of their needs (as well as people I know offline.  I really don't want to shock them). Therefore, I will warn readers of things that might seem questionable.

That being said, many Christian novels are poorly written so I shall be steering clear of many of them (notable exceptions being Tolkien, Lewis, and Lawhead).   They're not all bad; I've just had some really bad experiences.  If you have suggestions, let me know, and I'll review that! Not all of the books and films will be morally perfect.  I would ask that more sensitive readers look past the little things and see the greater picture of the book or film.  And remember, I'll be sure to caution you. This really isn't a review of books or films aimed at younger readers.  If any of this is offensive, contact me, and maybe I can explain this better or put you more at ease.  Most awkward part over!  So sorry you had to endure that!

Okay, the first review will be about a book called Red to Black by Alex Dryden .  It is about Russia at the end of the twenty-first century on as well as foreign policy.  It's fiction.  I haven't finished it, but so far, so good.  If you want to get started before that review comes out, by all means, go ahead!