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The Handmaid's Tale
By Margaret Atwood
Completed May 4, 2008
It's been almost a week since I completed The Handmaid's Tale, and I am woefully behind in writing my review. To be honest, I am not feeling well and tired from helping my father recover from his shoulder surgery - things that will all pass. However, this wonderful book would have left me at a loss for words even if I was at 100 percent.
So, I will keep my review very short but hopefully poignant to those of you who have read this book or plan to read it. The Handmaid's Tale is worth every minute. And if you're like me, it won't take many minutes to complete this book because it will suck you in. I devoured it like a piece of chocolate cake. It was complex, frightening, suspenseful and intelligent. For sure, it is among my favorite novels of all time.
Perhaps when my personal life straightens out, I will come back to this post and write a review worthy of The Handmaid's Tale. But for now, I shall simply say: run, don't walk, to get this book. ( 
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sick
The Southern Reading Challenge is hosted by Maggie, and I am so glad to participate in this one. Last year, when I was still a challenge rookie, I discovered this challenge after it started. A day late, a dollar short as Grandpa always said. For this challenge, you must read three books set in the South and written by a Southern author. The challenge begins May 15 and ends August 15.Pour the sweet tea; here's my reading plan:
1) Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen by Susan Gregg Gilmore
2) Property by Valerie Martin
3) Becky by Lenore Hart
And some alternates if I have time:
1) The Known World by Edward P. Jones
2) Ecology of a Cracker Childhood by Janisse Ray
Ya'll want to play? Then go down the road a piece to Maggie's blog to learn more about The Southern Reading Challenge 2008!
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excited
Jamestown
By Matthew Sharpe
Completed May 2, 2008
Jamestown by Matthew Sharpe is a post-annihilated view of America, set against the historic backdrop of the early Jamestown settlement. In this story, John Rolfe, John Smith and company voyaged to Virginia from Manhattan, searching for more fuel and resources for their New York-based company. When they arrived in Jamestown, they met great resistance from the natives, but as in history, the young Pocahontas became the link between these two cultures.
The story was written with each chapter told from a different character’s viewpoint, which helped move the story along. By far, my favorite character was Pocahontas. She emerged as a funny, vulnerable and believable 19-year-old girl. As brutal as her male counterparts, Pocahontas preferred diplomacy and was fascinated by her northern visitors. And yes, like history, there was a romance, but I won’t reveal which John she fell for.
Reviewers of Jamestown loved the satirical nature of this book and raved about the brilliant execution of dark humor and political commentary. Furthermore, Jamestown was listed as a 2007 Best Book by Publisher’s Weekly. For me, however, I didn’t get it. It was like a conversation with a dark but witty guest at a party whose allusions and nuisances went over my head. I don’t fault Matthew Sharpe for my inadequacies, though. His writing style was easy and humorous, his characterization was spot on and I am sure other readers would enjoy this book.
If you enjoy the darkest of humor and the most satirical of political and environmental commentaries, then you may want to try Jamestown. ( 
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- Mood: content
Who are my favorite or newly favorite authors? Or, as I think of it, what authors am I always excited to read, or am excited to read more books from in the near future?
A - Margaret Atwood and Poppy Adams (who had a strong debut with The Sister)
B - Stefan Merrill Block (brilliant debut with The Story of Forgetting) and Geraldine Brooks
C - Michael Chabon and David Czuchlewski (check out The Muse Asylum if you like psychological thrillers)
D - Tim Dorsey (recommend to all Floridians)
E - Leif Enger (I have not read his books, but I have Peace Like A River on my bookshelf that I can't wait to get to)
F -
G - Steven Galloway (read The Cellist of Sarajevo and you'll thank me for it later!), John Green (check out his YouTube videos too) and Sara Gruen
H - Khaled Hosseini and Travis Holland (The Archivist's Story was a phenomenal, edge-of-your-seat book)
I - Kazuo Ishiguro (a new-to-me writer; his Remains of the Day is on my TBR list this year)
J-
K- Barbara Kingsolver
L - Lorna Landvik (she writes fun chick lit with some substance)
M - Margaret Mitchell, Cormac McCarthy, Ian McEwan, Kate Morton (her The House at Riverton is gothic fiction at its best!) and Valerie Martin (looking forward to Property)
N - Irene Nemirovsky
O - Julie Otsuka (When The Empire Was Divine was absolutely divine)
P - Jodi Picoult
Q - Anna Quindlen
R - Anne Rice and Mary Doria Russell
S - Diane Setterfield, Shel Silverstein, Lee Smith, Nicholas Sparks and Matthew Sharpe (reading his Jamestown and snickering my way through it)
T - Anne Tyler
U-
V-
W-
Y-
Z- Carlos Ruiz Zafon and Markus Zusak (highly, highly, highly recommend The Book Thief and I Am The Messenger)
I have some letters missing - any suggestions?
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- Mood: satisfied
Marley and MeBy John Grogan
Completed April 26, 2008
I think everyone knows this tale of a man, his family and their dog, Marley. This book chronicles the Grogans and life with their mischievous Marley, who behind the chewed shoes and hyperactivity, was a beloved member of the family until his death at age 13.
John Grogan did a good job showing how animals become a part of your life - and indeed your family. For many families, pets are their only "babies" while others mix children with animals with room in their hearts for all. As a member of the latter, I could not imagine life without my pets. If you feel this way too, then Marley and Me is the book for you.
Personally, I found many parts of this book to be boring. I also found many of the adults' (aka the masters') decisions to be questionable. Marley was depicted as a knucklehead, but I think he was way smarter than his owners, totally wrapping them around his paw. Perhaps that was the point of it all.
Moreover, I think you have to be a dog owner to fully appreciate this story. If you are, then check out this cute book about a cute dog. For cat owners like me, this book may remind you why you chose a life with whiskers, purrs and kitty litter. =) (
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bored
I will be the first to tell you that I am not a science head. Warmly smuggled in my English and U.S. history degrees, I shy away from anything scientific and mathematical - and that includes running away from books of scientific tendencies.Or do I? When my blog buddy 3M announced her Science in Fiction project, I shook my head: "Not for me!" I declared to myself. The Science in Fiction project focuses on books with scientific themes written in a realistic setting (as opposed to science fiction). After thinking about some of my recent reads, I realized that I am not that science shy - in fact, books that used the scientific method to explore historical truths are enjoyable to me. Also, working in a health care setting, I enjoy books that discuss health conditions and their effects on loved ones.
Admittedly, science intimidates me, and that's reason enough to participate in the Science in Fiction project. There is no beginning or end date, no number of books to committ to - just an opportunity to mix science and literature. If you are interested in learning more, please check out 3M's project blog for the details.
As for my list of science books, I am starting with 2008 reads and will update my list on this post:
1) The Sister by Poppy Adams (review) - The study of moths is a central theme to this Hitchcock-like tale.
2) People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (review) - A book conservationist uses scientific methods to uncover clues of the history of an ancient Hebrew codex.
3) The Story of Forgetting by Stefan Merrill Block (review) - This book explores the devastating effects and genetic coding of Alzheimer's.
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The Story of ForgettingBy Stefan Merrill Block
Completed April 20, 2008
Stefan Merrill Block made a strong debut with The Story of Forgetting– a tale of families, memories and how secrets can destroy relationships. Indeed, The Story of Forgetting is really a story of remembering – your family, your memories, your way of life. Central to this book is Alzheimer’s, the disease that not only robs people of their memories but how to live, regressing them from adults to children within years. It’s this pain that buttressed this compelling story.
The story intertwined the tales of Seth Waller – a sensitive, smart 15-year old who was dealing with his mother’s diagnosis of familial early-onset Alzheimer’s – and Abel Haggard – an elderly hermit who roamed his decrepit home, remorseful of a life of secrets that bound Abel to his home and land. Block switched back and forth between Seth and Abel’s stories – plus added in the mythological story of Isidora, a place where people’s memories are blissfully erased – and a scientist’s notes of the genetic history of familial early-onset Alzheimer’s. These chapters moved the story nicely, layering each story to the moment when it all came together.
Seth’s chapters mostly dealt with his “empirical research” into this particular type of Alzheimer’s. A novice scientist, Seth discovered a list of early-onset Alzheimer’s sufferers near his home and visited each one, trying to reconstruct his mother’s secret childhood and hoping to find a relative who can shed some light on his mother’s past. Abel’s chapters retold his life, his love for his brother’s wife, his brother’s suffering from early on-set Alzheimer’s and Abel’s love for his daughter who no longer was a part of his life. These characters were developed masterfully – sometimes you snickered at their actions, sometimes you frowned – but always caring about what happened to them.
Inspired by his grandmother’s battle with Alzheimer’s, Block’s The Story of Forgetting was everything but forgettable. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about family relationships. I look forward to reading more books from this promising young author. (
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....The Handmaid's Tale!I was, um, assigned The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood in college, but let's just say I got the gist of the story without actually reading it. I was an English literature major and a history minor, so cutting corners on reading my assigned books was a survival technique - and a successful one. My method was to read the last chapter first, then the first chapter, and then every three or four chapters. Between my fragmented reading and the class lectures, I was able to do well and save a ton of time.
But I digress...
The Atwoodian Group on LibraryThing is hosting a discussion of The Handmaid's Tale, which starts officially on May 18. It will be a rolling discussion, meaning you can contribute at any time (including before the official start date) and will continue until people are done discussing it. Interested in joining us? You have to be a member of LibraryThing to participate (it's free and painless and addicting!). I hope you will join us.
Another side note: This will be my third Atwood read - my first two were The Blind Assassin and Penelopiad. I have Alias Grace also sitting on my shelf, which I will read this year for the Orange Prize Project. I am looking forward to reading more Atwood in the near future.
And another side note: Thank you fellow bloggers for my many birthday greetings. You may be
wondering about the status of the requested bookshelves. Well, unfortunately, it didn't happen - but not for a lack of trying. My hubby looked for the bookshelves but couldn't find something nice. I had a wonderful birthday sans bookshelves, spending time with my family, which is really the mucho importante part!Happy Sunday!
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- Mood: refreshed
2. Read a children's book - review it
With two young boys, I read children's books on a daily basis. But for the mini-challenge, I wanted to read a children's book that would appeal only to me - and that's why I selected Lafcadio, The Lion Who Shot Back by Shel Silverstein (who, by the way, is my favorite children's writer, cartoonist and poet).Lafcadio was originally published in 1963. Its content certainly wouldn't fly nowadays. Lafcadio is a lion who ate a hunter, confiscated his rifle and then how learned to shoot very accurately. He emigrated to the city and became a famous sharpshooting lion with the circus. He loved marshmellows and unleashed a mighty ROAR when he didn't get his way. Lafcadio became more man-like as he lived in the city, and he realized that he was not happy. He returned to the jungle and determined that he didn't like being a lion either. Lafcadio was torn, and the story ended with him roaming the countryside.
Readers of The Giving Tree will recognize Silverstein's trademark "open" ending - allowing the reader to interpret the story's meaning. To me, the moral of the story is be careful what you wish for. But others could draw other meaningful lessons. Overall, once I got over the inclusion of guns and human death in a child's book (!), I thought the story was very lyrical and fun to read.
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YAY! I have completed the Themed Reading Challenge, hosted by Wendy at Caribousmom.
Theme: Other Books by Pulitzer Prize Winning Authors
Main Selections
1) The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon (review)
2) Cross Creek by Marjorie Rawlings (review)
3) Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo (review)
4) Digging to America by Anne Tyler (review)
My favorite book of the four was The Yiddish Policemen's Union, though I enjoyed each book that I read for this challenge. Thanks to Wendy for hosting!
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Digging to America
By Anne Tyler
Completed April 13, 2008
In Digging to America, Anne Tyler continued her storytelling mastery of family relationships – but added a new twist. This story focused on two families, the Donaldsons and the Yadzans, who adopted girls from Korea. The Donaldsons represented the “typical” American family while the Yazdans represented a “typical” Iranian-American family. The couples became friends, and this story followed their lives during their first several years as new parents.
The story meandered around the ups and downs of families: the best way to raise children, how to deal with the loss of a family member and what happens when a parent becomes ill. Tyler also examined the added dimension of being adoptive parents, especially of foreign-born children. However, the most interesting aspect of Digging to America was the exploration of what it means to be an “American family” and equally important, what it means to be an American. Compelling characterization – especially of Bitsy Donaldson, the overbearing mother of Jin-Ho, and Maryam Yazdan, the traditional Iranian grandmother – elucidated the challenges these families encountered as they learned about each other.
In my opinion, you have to like the soft whisper of Anne Tyler to appreciate the style of this book. I noticed other reviewers commented that Digging to America lacked conflict, an advanced plot or multi-dimensional characters. I can see how one could make these conclusions. However, I would argue these elements are there – just wrapped in Tyler’s subtle style. By the end of the book, I was thinking about what it means to be an American and how easy it is to become cocooned in your own culture. Digging to America was not one of Tyler’s best, but it certainly was not her worst. I would encourage fans of Anne Tyler to give this one a try. ( 
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To my dearest husband,Saturday marks the 36th anniversary of my existence on earth, and I know you often struggle with what to get me. Here's a hint. A big hint. Jilly needs some new bookshelves.
Look at this literary mess. My dad's Civil War books on the floor. Piles stacked two-deep on shelves intended for a vase and a few paperbacks. The top littered with too many pictures. What is a girl to do?
Certainly you would never suggest that your beloved wife stop acquiring books. I know this thought never entered your mind.
So, please help me out. And get a gift that keeps on giving - until I acquire more books and need more shelves. (But that's what next year is for.)
Thank you for your thoughtfulness and your love.
Your Wife
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mischievous
MarchBy Geraldine Brooks
Completed April 11, 2008
What happens to a family when a husband and father goes to war? Many books explore this question, and one of the most famous is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. But what about the husband and father - how is he impacted by the war during and after the battles are fought? For these questions, we can rely on the fantastic storytelling of Geraldine Brooks and her Pulitzer-winning March.
In this novel, we learn about Mr. March who was away during Little Women, which offered a creative canvas for Brooks’ story. March, an active abolitionist, enlisted as an army chaplain at the beginning of the Civil War. His service took many twists and turns before he ended up on a Yankee-controlled plantation, where he taught former slaves how to read, write and do math. While there, he fell victim to “the fever” and later a bullet, which forced him to a hospital in Washington, D.C.
Readers of the original Little Women may envision Jo’s father to be a docile, patient, kind-hearted man who made more good decisions than bad. Furthermore, one might expect Marmee March to be the typical antebellum wife and mother – silent, obedient and sinless. Brooks took a different path with these characterizations, however, in March. March was, in fact, very fallible whose idealism cost him (and his family) their fortune and almost March’s life. Marmee March was an impulsive hot head, constrained by the societal and marital norms of her time. Together, their marriage had secrets and miscommunications, which sounded very “normal” to me. Other readers may prefer Alcott’s original depictions, and if you’re one, I recommend skipping March because you will feel frustrated by the Marches.
While this story explored slave conditions and the horrors of the Civil War, the war’s toll on March left the biggest impression. He emerged hopeless and depressed. I think of war veterans now and realize that nothing has changed. We need to do a better job in helping our service men and women when they return to civilian life – whether we agree with the war or not. To me, that’s the biggest lesson I learned from March. The affects of war are timeless, and if you are interested in the social and psychological impacts of war on men, women and children, I would recommend March to you. (
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The Yiddish Policemen's UnionBy Michael Chabon
Completed April 8, 2008
The Yiddish Policemen's Union was one of the most peculiar, entertaining and head-scratching books I have ever read. Michael Chabon is a deliciously fun, imaginative writer, and this book is dripping with literary snark. I was expecting an "okay" read, and I am happy to report that I loved, loved, loved this one.
The book is set in Siska, a fictional district in Alaska inhabited by Jews who fled there in the late 1940's. Siska embodied the good and bad of any community, and to help combat the bad, Siska employed police officers like the main character, Meyer Landsman and his partner, Berko Shemets. Meyer was one of those Lethal Weapon/Mel Gibson cops- quick with the one-liners, always working on a hunch and on the verge of self-destruction. And Berko was just like Danny Glover - the stable married guy who often pulled his partner out of trouble. Mix in Meyer's ex-wife, Bina, who served as their commander, and you have The Yiddish Policemen's Union.
The guys were investigating the death of heroin junkie, who may or may not be the Messiah. Their inquiries led to the strictest of Jewish sects and a conspiracy of historical proportions. Each chapter took the reader closer and closer to unraveling the mystery, and Chabon kept his readers at the edge of their collective seats through each page. It's a classic "who done it" story - with a lot of Yiddish language.
I am not well-versed in Judaism or Jewish history, but I detected a serious side to this story - a commentary on the numerous displacement of Jews throughout history and an exploration of what happens when Jews get too comfortable in any one place. I wonder too if Chabon is holding up a mirror to Jewish society and showing readers the pluses and minuses of their culture. Again, I am not an expert in Jewish culture, but I will be curious to read thoughts from those who are - to learn more about the "Jewish" aspect to this tale.
The Yiddish Policemen's Union is not a book for everyone. I think you have to enjoy dark, subtle humor (similar to Christopher Moore) and not be intimidated by the Jewish themes in this story. It's a very readable story, brilliantly written and eloquently developed. I look forward to reading more work by Michael Chabon in the near future. (
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It has been an eventful week! It started last weekend when Anne Rice posted a comment to my blog. Rice is one of my favorite authors, and I was thrilled to see that she's leaving comments on blogs that reviewed her latest book, Christ The Lord: The Road to Cana. Starstruck? You bet!Next, I finished two compelling books this week: Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult and The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway. While they had different storylines, each book made me stop and think. Change of Heart contemplates what happens to a person when she accepts an organ donation - does she take on characteristics of the organ donor? The Cellist of Sarajevo is a provocative look into the city of Sarajevo during its siege in 1992 - and how brave residents "resisted" by committing benevolent, neighborly acts. I would recommend both books to my fellow readers.
Finally, this weekend kicks off my week-long Spring Break - no work or school for us! We have many plans, including visiting the beach, going to Busch Gardens and getting our pool ready for another season of swimming. Plus, I hope to squeeze in a book or two.
This week is also BAFAB (Buy A Friend A Book) Week. What a great concept! If you haven't done so already, head over to the Novels Now Web site and check out the four-book giveaway there. 3M launched Novels Now recently as a one-stop place to read reviews about recently (or soon-to-be) published books. I hope you will check out this site and sign up for her giveaway. Winners will be announced Tuesday.I hope each of you has a wonderful week!
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- Mood: relaxed
The Cellist of SarajevoBy Steven Galloway
Completed April 5, 2008
For 22 days in 1992 during the siege of Sarajevo, local cellist Vedran Smailović played in the spot where a mortar killed 22 people who were standing in line for bread. At any time while he played, he could have been shot by a sniper, but he survived each day, committing a small but significant act of resistance that became the inspiration for Steven Galloway’s new book, The Cellist of Sarajevo.
In this book, Galloway depicted the the lives of three (fictional) Sarajevo residents: Arrow, a sniper with deadly accuracy, sent to protect The Cellist; Kenan, a married father of three who risked his life every five days to get water for his family and neighbor; and Dragan, a man whose wife and son evacuated to Italy, which left him alone and unconnected to his fellow humans.
The Cellist was a minor character in the book, but his 22 days of music were what bound these characters’ stories. For the characters, The Cellist inspired each one to defy the atrocities around them, by doing human tasks, such as removing a body from the street or getting
water for a cranky neighbor. By committing these acts, each character proved that while the war raged on, they were committed to being human. To survive the siege, the characters not only had to dodge snipers, but keep the spirit of Sarajevo alive within them.Undoubtedly, Galloway swept the reader into the besieged Sarajevo so that you heard the gunfire and The Cellist’s music; you saw the shelled buildings and the haggard looks on people’s faces; you felt the citizens’ desperation as they looked for food or firewood. Galloway’s ability to transport readers to this place in modern history made The Cellist of Sarajevo so impactful and unforgettable.
Thankfully, Sarajevo is making a comeback, but it’s important that books like this one are being published so people can learn more about what this city and its citizens endured – and ultimately how their small acts of defiance during the siege laid the groundwork for Sarajevo’s restoration now.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about how people can rise above the ugliness of the world around us. (
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thoughtful
Change of HeartBy Jodi Picoult
Completed March 31, 2008
A priest, an atheist lawyer and a convicted killer walked into a bar…
Okay, not really, but they did take center stage in Jodi Picoult’s latest book, Change of Heart.
In this book, Picoult chose two hot-button issues, religious beliefs and capital punishment, to explore the following scenario: a man on death row wanted to donate his heart to a dying girl. And not just any dying girl – but the daughter of the man he was accused of killing. Should the dying girl’s mom accept this organ donation? If the girl gets this heart, will she take on characteristics of the donor? And why was the man really offering up his heart – to redeem himself, because it was the right thing to do? These questions may not have been answered in Change of Heart, but each perspective was presented and explored, leaving the reader to think hard about it all.
Picoult is a skilled writer, and her character development (again) was flawless in this book. From the convicted killer, Shay Bourne, to his attorney, Maggie Bloom, to his spiritual advisor, Father Michael, you crawled into each character’s head and ponder what they’re pondering, wonder what they’re wondering and believe what they’re believing. Each chapter of the book was told from a different person’s perspective, which made the story flow nicely. All in all, Change of Heart was a real page-turner.
However, one aspect of the story did leave me uncomfortable. With Shaye, Picoult made his character Christ-like. He was a 33-year old carpenter whose appearance on death row caused a stir, from the cell faucets that spewed wine, to the inexplicable remission of an AIDS-stricken inmate, to Shay’s comfort with a fishing pole. Sound familiar? Even his name, Isaiah Matthew Bourne (I.M. Bourne) made my eyebrows go up. None of these miracles or coincidences were subtle, but I am not sure of their relevance to this story. Admittedly, I am still scratching my head about this aspect of Change of Heart, and I will be curious to read what others think about this story.
Despite this, I would recommend Change of Heart to the many Jodi Picoult fans out there. She’s in true form, as always. (
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My Top Reads of 2008
January-March
I have to admit that only a few books really left their fingerprint on me during the first three months of 2008. When I tried to list my top five books from memory, I could only list two. It wasn't until I went back to my spreadsheet that I picked out the other three books, based on the ratings I gave them.
5 stars
The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
The Translator: A Tribesman's Memoir of Darfur by Daoud Hari
A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen
4.5 Stars
On Agate Hill by Lee Smith
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
What is nice about my top five list is that three of these books were released (or will be releasing) in 2008. And of the five, four of these authors are "new to me" ones, and I look forward to reading more books by these talented writers.
April is almost here - how did THAT happen? I hope each of you has a wonderful spring full of flowers, butterflies, nice weather and great books!
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Double Vote Getters
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (2 votes)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (2 votes)
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (2 votes)
Single Vote Getters
The Collected Words of William Shakespeare
Journals of Virgina Woolf
Poems by Maya Angelou
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Silas Marner by George Eliot
Light in August by William Faulkner
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
See something missing from the list? It's never too late to participate. Leave your save-from-the-fire book titles in my comments, and I will happily add them.
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When I signed up for this challenge in December, I never dreamed that I would have it completed by the end of March. In fact, I thought it would be very 
Hugs and thanks to 3M for hosting The Pub 2008 Challenge. Though I am finished with this challenge, I am not done with reading books published in 2008, and I will continue to add to my original challenge post as I finish each book.
1) Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell (review)
2) Atomic Lobster by Tim Dorsey (review)
3) The House at Riverton by Kate Morton (review)
4) Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana by Anne Rice (review)
5) People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (review)
6) Two Brothers - One North, One South by David H. Jones (review)
7) The Translator: A Tribesman's Memoir of Darfur by Daoud Hari (review)
8) The Sister by Poppy Adams (review)
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- Mood:accomplished
