ANIMAL DREAMS, by author, BARBARA KINGSOLVER, recommended by writer, Janet Rundquist

Author / Writer / Book Lover - which are you?

JR ~ Book lover, writer, and almost author

Title of Fiction book & year published

Animal Dreams 1990

Author name

Barbara Kingsolver

Type of book 

Women’s Fiction

What is it about this book that pulled you in?

JR ~ The protagonist’s sister travels to Nicaragua to help with crop rejuvenation after (well, during) the civil war in the 1980s. I was living in Nicaragua when I read this book (in 1995) so that probably had a lot to do with it. However, it wasn’t the sister that I could relate to, but the protagonist herself, Codi. I feel so much like Codi and understand her struggle to find her place in her own life story.

Is there a relationship in the story that resonated with you?

JR ~ Though we see the complicated relationship that Codi, the protagonist, has with her sister, her father, and her boyfriend, it is really the relationship she has with the town she grew up in that struck a chord with me.

Do you think that relationship was portrayed realistically?

JR ~ This relationship with the town felt authentic. As Codi grew up in the small town of Grace, Arizona, there were many factors that made her feel an outsider. As she returns to this town, she takes those memories with her and struggles with her own inability to accept that she need not be an outsider anymore.

Anything else you want to tell us about the book?

JR ~ Kingsolver, especially in her more recent works, focuses on themes of nature. This book is probably the birth of those themes with her stories, as well as mixing in a bit of social justice (which is also what pulled me in). At times her situational juxtapositions are a little forced in their metaphorical nature, but even after re-reading again just recently (for the 3^rd or 4^th time), I was able to overlook it. Frankly, I probably only really noticed because since my last read, I’ve written a couple books of my own. Ha.

A friend of mine uses the “did it make you laugh, think, and cry” meausure for good storytelling, and this definitely does all three for me.

Truly, Kingsolver’s prose is beautiful. If you read only one of her books, this should be the one.

  

If author or writer, your social media links:

http://twitter.com/ProfeJMarie

http://jmarierundquist.com

JHA ~ Thanks so much, Janet, for recommending this book! It sounds great, and I've been meaning to pick up one of Barbara's novels. It sounds like this should be the one!

Attention readers ~ Have YOU read this book?  If so, tell us what YOU thought of it!

***To leave a comment - Click the red 'comment' word below photo of book.

To follow this weekly book blog, just click the "Follow by email" link on the right side of this page, or sign up on my website through blogger or google plus.  

Interested in being a contributor? Contact me via email at jilla27@gmail.com. 

You will also find the list of upcoming contributors under the Fridayfictionfriend tab.  I'd love to hear from you if you have a great book to recommend.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE DOG, by author, SUSAN TAYLOR CHEHAK, recommended by author, Elizabeth (Beth) Havey

Author / Writer / Book Lover - which are you?

EH ~ AUTHOR, WRITER and BOOK LOVER    My own collection of short stories, A Mother’s Time Capsule, will be launched on May 1, 2015, just before Mother’s Day.

Title and year published

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE DOG   2015 

Author name

Susan Taylor Chehak

Type of book 

Fiction – collection of short stories

What is it about this book that pulled you in?

EH ~ Susan is always able to find that intimate detail that reveals so much about her characters. Her stories explore lives that we know, like ALL THE TIME, in which a son leaves the facility where his aging mother lives after having a stroke, only to make a wrong turn and get lost. As he struggles to correct his mistake, he realizes that he can’t redo the past. He has made wrong turns that are permanent. 

I have studied under Susan and read all of her novels. This is her most recent publication through her own FORVERLAND PRESS.

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/susan-taylor-chehak/its-not-about-the-dog/

Is there a relationship in the story that resonated with you?

EH ~ The characters in the story are in the 3^rd stage of life, dealing with second marriages, aging relationships. Their problems and cares mirror one’s own worries as life proceeds.

  

Do you think that relationship was portrayed realistically?

EH ~ Yes. In the story, DEAR MR. FANTASY, the main character wants to get rid of her husband’s dog as her husband has just died and that relationship had been a burden to her in his last years. Now the dog is a burden—but she learns that she should cling to the animal and what it stands for, rather than get rid of him. This is real life choice at its best.

Susan can tap into your heart and mind as you identify with the things in the rooms, the glances from one character to another, the gaps in conversation. And there is often a dog somewhere in the story.

Anything else you want to tell us about the book?

EH ~ These are short stories. Each one speaks to the reader on its own level. It is great reading for nighttime when you are tired and a short leap into fiction is all you need.  

  

If author or writer, your social media links:

http://boomerhighway.org/

http://twitter.com/BoomerHighway

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Boomer-Highway/194703633924247?ref=hl

https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.a.havey

http://www.pinterest.com/bethhavey/

JHA ~ Thanks so much, Beth, for recommending this book! I like the idea of short stories.

Attention readers ~ Have YOU read this book?  If so, tell us what YOU thought of it!

***To leave a comment - Click the red 'comment' word below photo of book.

To follow this weekly book blog, just click the "Follow by email" link on the right side of this page, or sign up on my website through blogger or google plus.  

Interested in being a contributor? Contact me via email at jilla27@gmail.com. 

You will also find the list of upcoming contributors under the Fridayfictionfriend tab.  I'd love to hear from you if you have a great book to recommend.

EQUILIBRIUM, by author, LORRIE THOMSON, recommended by writer, Jamie Raintree

Author / Writer / Book Lover - which are you?

JR ~ I’m a writer, hoping to be a published author soon. Definitely a book lover.

Title of Fiction book and year published

Equilibrium, 2013

Author name

Lorrie Thomson

Type of book

Women’s Fiction

What is it about this book that pulled you in?

JR ~ The first thing that pulled me in was Thomson’s beautiful writing. She has such a way with words and painted a vivid picture of the Klein’s life. As difficult as the Klein’s situation is, I still felt so at home in their home and I looked forward to picking up the book and spending time there.

Secondly, I was very intrigued by Laura’s conflicted feelings about her late husband. It gave the story a real-ness that made it hit home for me.

Is there a relationship in the story that resonated with you? 

JR ~ I really loved the relationship between Laura and Aidan, the man who moves into her husband’s old studio behind the house. I don’t want to give too much away, but I always love a character who comes in and encourages the main character to look at life in a different way.

Do you think that relationship was portrayed realistically?

JR ~ I do. I especially loved the way that Thomson made sure the kids were considered every step of the way. In some books where kids are involved, they are often off doing their own thing and not included in the journey that the main character goes through. Thomson did a great job of portraying that to a mother, her kids are the most important part of her life.

Anything else you want to tell us about the book?

JR ~ Equilibrium is told in two points-of-view: Laura’s and her teenage daughter’s, Darcy. Usually when there is more than one point-of-view, I favor one over the other, but in this case, I enjoyed both equally. Darcy’s point-of-view contrasted Laura’s perfectly, portraying two opposite, but equally understandable reactions to grief. I just really loved this book!

If author or writer, your social media links:

Website: http://jamieraintree.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/jamieraintreeauthor

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jamieraintree

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jamieraintree

Instagram: http://instagram.com/jamieraintree

JHA ~ Thanks so much, Jamie, for recommending this book! It has been on my TBR list for a while now and I need to move it up ~ it sounds great!

Attention readers ~ Have YOU read this book?  If so, tell us what YOU thought of it!

***To leave a comment - Click the red 'comment' word below photo of book.

To follow this weekly book blog, just click the "Follow by email" link on the right side of this page, or sign up on my website through blogger or google plus.  

Interested in being a contributor? Contact me via email at jilla27@gmail.com. 

You will also find the list of upcoming contributors under the Fridayfictionfriend tab.  I'd love to hear from you if you have a great book to recommend.

A MAN CALLED OVE, by author, FREDRIK BACKMAN, recommended by author, Lesley Kagen

Author / Writer / Book Lover - which are you?

LK ~ Author.

  

Title of Fiction book and year published

A Man Called Ove, published July 15, 2014

Author name

Fredrik Backman.

Type of book

LK ~ A contemporary novel that’s both funny and poignant.

What is it about this book that pulled you in?

LK ~ I loved the style. The voice. His way of approaching the characters and plot. The pace was wonderful as well.

Is there a relationship in the story that resonated with you?

LK ~ Every single relationship in the book worked for me, but the one that Ove continued to have with his departed wife and an old friend that he'd had a falling out with especially moved me.

Do you think that relationship was portrayed realistically?

LK ~ I do.

Anything else you want to tell us about the book?

LK ~ It’ so fresh and original. A great setting, funny, touching, and wonderfully authentic dialogue. The book has everything I look for in a great story. Couldn’t wait to hop into bed each night to read it.

If author or writer, your social media links:

www.lesleykagen.com

https://www.facebook.com/LesleyKagenBooks?sk=app_4949752878

Attention readers ~ Have YOU read this book?  If so, tell us what YOU thought of it!

***To leave a comment - Click the red 'comment' word below photo of book.

JHA ~ Thanks so much, Lesley, for taking the time to recommend one of your favorite reads! This book has great reviews and is going on my TBR list!

To follow this weekly book blog, just click the "Follow by email" link on the right side of this page, or sign up on my website through blogger or google plus.  

Interested in being a contributor? Contact me via email at jilla27@gmail.com. 
You will also find the list of upcoming contributors under the Fridayfictionfriend tab.  I'd love to hear from you if you have a great book to recommend.

THE CATALPA TREE, by DENYSE DEVLIN, recommended by author, Barbara Claypole White

Author / Writer / Book Lover - which are you?

BCW ~ All of the above, but I think of myself as a reader first and foremost. 
(side note from Jill - Barbara's third book will be out this summer, so she is definitely an author too!)

Title of Fiction book and year it was published (doesn't have to be a new release)

The Catalpa Tree (2005: Irish Penguin.)

Author name

Denyse Devlin

Type of book 

Women’s fiction with a dark edge

What is it about this book that pulled you in?

BCA ~ The tag line: “A story about love, loss and surviving them both”

Is there a relationship in the story that resonated with you?

BCW ~ Oh my goodness, yes. The Catalpa Tree has been one of my favorite novels for ten years, and the hero, Oliver Sayle, still lives in my head.

When the reader meets Oliver, he’s waiting to tell his best friend’s fourteen-year-old daughter, Jude, that she’s been orphaned. Sitting in the office at Jude’s Catholic boarding school, squirming as the senior nun watches across the desk, Oliver is trying not to feel intimidated. And he’s desperate for a cigarette. That was the moment I fell in love with him.

Oliver is Jude’s legal guardian. They’ve always been close, but everything changes once they’re thrown together through grief and tragedy. Oliver has his own family, and a young son, but Jude has no one else. As Jude grows into a desirable young woman, they test each other constantly.

And this is why I Iove The Catalpa Tree: It peels back the layers of a messy, complex relationship, going deeper and deeper into every twist and turn, every conflict. It’s impossible not to get swept up in the turmoil of this emotionally gripping page-turner. You cheer, you cry, and when you put the novel down, you have to know where these characters are ten, fifteen, twenty years into the future.

Do you think that relationship was portrayed realistically?

BCW ~ Yes! It’s a wonderful window into an incredibly complicated relationship.

Anything else you want to tell us without giving away too much of the plot?

BCW ~ Read it. Read it now. And fall in love with Oliver and Jude and the glorious settings in France, under the catalpa tree. Did I mention that it’s beautifully written?

If author or writer, your social media links:

Website: http://www.barbaraclaypolewhite.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraClaypoleWhite?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bclaypolewhite

JHA ~ Thank you so much, Barbara, for recommending a novel I'd never heard of, but one you've told me was a big influence in your writing career! It sounds wonderful, and is now on my TBR list!

Attention readers ~ Have YOU read this book?  If so, tell us what YOU thought of it!

***To leave a comment - Click the red 'comment' word below photo of book.

To follow this weekly book blog, just click the "Follow by email" link on the right side of this page, or sign up on my website through blogger or google plus. 

Interested in being a contributor? Contact me via email at jilla27@gmail.com. You will also find the list of upcoming contributors under the Fridayfictionfriend tab.  I'd love to hear from you if you have a great book to recommend.

CUTTING FOR STONE, by author, ABRAHAM VERGHESE, recommended by book lover, Dr. Arlene O'Connor

Author / Writer / or Book Lover?

A.O. ~ Book lover

Title of Fiction book & year published 

Cutting for Stone, published in 2010

Author name          

Abraham Verghese

Type of book 

Fictional autobiography

What is it about this book that pulled you in?

A.O.~ I am attracted to books that portray life in other countries and cultures.  Not only do I enjoy learning about their daily life and customs, but I love to see that regardless of where we reside on this planet, relationships and the bonds we develop with one another are very similar and the core of our human nature.

Is there a relationship in the story that resonated with you?

A.O. ~ The book is narrated by a son who lost his mother during childbirth and was raised, along with his twin brother, in a missionary hospital in Ethiopia.  As a mother, I was touched by the fact that these 2 boys were orphaned and abandoned shortly after their birth yet an entire community came together to raise them as their own.

The story weaves the lives of many people, including the boys’ adoptive parents, the hospital staff and the community at large.  Characters are developed very well and I felt I intimately knew them, almost as if I were a relative.

Do you think that relationship was portrayed realistically?    

A.O. ~ Yes!  The author did a great job at developing the characters including their idiosyncrasies and nuances.  With that, the characters came alive and became real people.  The interactions between parents and child, friends, husband and wife etc. were very realistic and portrayed a believable life.

Anything else you want to tell us without giving away too much of the plot?

A.O. ~ This is a great and interesting read.  Narrated from the wound and throughout adulthood this story is different and entertaining, touching and redeeming all at once.

Attention readers ~ Have YOU read this book?  If so, tell us what YOU thought of it!

***To leave a comment - Click the red 'comment' word below photo of book.

JHA ~ Thanks so much, Arlene, for taking the time to recommend one of your favorite reads! This has long been on my TBR list, and I need to take the time to read it!

To follow this weekly book blog, just click the "Follow by email" link on the right side of this page, or sign up on my website through blogger or google plus.

Interested in being a contributor? Contact me via email at jilla27@gmail.com. You will also find the list of upcoming contributors under the Fridayfictionfriend tab.  I'd love to hear from you if you have a great book to recommend.

MEMOIRS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND, by MATTHEW DICKS, recommended by writer, Orly Konig-Lopez

Author / Writer / Book Lover - which are you?

OKL ~ Writer and book addict

Title and year published

Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, published in 2012

Author name

Matthew Dicks

Type of book 

Contemporary fiction

What is it about this book that pulled you in?

OKL ~ First, how can anyone resist the idea of a story told by an imaginary friend? Oh the secrets they carry!

But I also have a child in elementary school and this story dealt with many issues that all parents face – whether your child is autistic or not.

Is there a relationship in the story that resonated with you?

OKL ~ That’s a tough one actually. The relationship between Max and his imaginary friend Budo was amazing. We moved several times when I was young and each time it was to another country where I had to learn a new language and, as an only child, I relied on my imaginary friend for company a lot of the time.

But it was the friendships between Budo and the other imaginary friends that delivered so many of the emotional punches in the book.

Do you think that relationship was portrayed 

OKL ~ Well, we’re talking about a relationship with a made up friend. But yes, I think it was. At least for those who admit to having imaginary friends. J

Anything else you want to tell us about the book without giving away too much of the plot? 

OKL ~ A year after reading this book, I still get a knot in my stomach every time I drop my child off at the elementary school.

If author or writer, your social media links:

website: www.orlykoniglopez.com

Twitter: @OrlyKonigLopez

Attention readers ~ Have YOU read this book?  If so, tell us what YOU thought of it!

***To leave a comment - Click the red 'comment' word below photo of book.

JHA ~ Thanks so much, Orly, for taking the time to recommend one of your favorite reads! I'm adding this to my TBR list of books!

To follow this weekly book blog, just click the "Follow by email" link on the right side of this page, or sign up on my website through blogger or google plus.  

Interested in being a contributor? Contact me via email at jilla27@gmail.com. You will also find the list of upcoming contributors under the Fridayfictionfriend tab.  I'd love to hear from you if you have a great book to recommend.

THE ROAD, by Cormac McCarthy, recommended by book lover, Fauntel Deshayes

Author / Writer / Book Lover - which are you?

FD ~ Book lover, although I have always enjoyed writing, too.

Fiction title and year published

The Road published in 2006

Author name

Cormac McCarthy

Type of book 

Post-apocalyptic drama

What is it about this book that pulled you in?

FD ~ This book reads so beautifully.  It is truly a masterful piece of art.  The words are written lyrically.  Within the first paragraph there are lines such as, "Like pilgrims in a fable swallowed up and lost among the inward parts of some granitic beast".  As soon as you begin you know that there is a powerful story waiting to be told.

Is there a relationship in the story that resonated with you?

FD ~ This story resonated with me deeply as it is ultimately a love story, but not in the traditional sense of romantic love.  It is a love story of a man and his child. The man’s sole purpose is to care for his child and maintain his innocence; protecting him at all costs from the harsh realities that the world has become.  Throughout the book the father teaches the child how to survive, and allows the child to feel and maintain hope about the future even though you know the father does not share the same hope.  The way the father gently teaches the child each valuable lesson reminded me of my own dad.  Particularly, his patience and the way he cared for his son and allowed him the freedom to express his emotions while comforting him.

Do you think that relationship was portrayed realistically?

FD ~ Absolutely.  It is the most beautiful part of the book.  Each and every action that takes place is for the greater purpose of the man pressing forward in the face of adversity for his son.  The son adores and cherishes his father.  It is very powerful. 

Anything else you want to tell us about the book without giving away too much of the plot?

FD ~ The audio version of this book was excellent.  I listen to a lot of audiobooks, and this was by far the best one I have ever listened to.  However, the physical version offers a lot as well since it is lyrically written which you do not capture in the same sense while listening to an audiobook.  This is not a light read.  There is starvation as all wildlife is extinct, there is cannibalism, there is violence, but the underlying relationship between the two main characters is what carries the story through. 

Attention readers ~ Have YOU read this book, or did you see the movie?  If so, tell us what YOU thought of it!

***To leave a comment - Click the red 'comment' word below photo of book.

JHA ~ Thanks so much, Fauntel, for taking the time to recommend one of your favorite reads, one I read years ago that I know has invoked many interesting discussions!

To follow this weekly book blog, just click the "Follow by email" link on the right side of this page, or sign up on my website through blogger or google plus.  

Interested in being a contributor? Contact me via email at jilla27@gmail.com. You will also find the list of upcoming contributors under the Fridayfictionfriend tab.  I'd love to hear from you if you have a great book to recommend.

OUTLANDER, by author, DIANA GABALDON, recommended by writer, Kerry Ann Morgan

Author / Writer / Book Lover - which are you?      

KAM ~ Book lover since birth (or pretty close to it), writer since high school, and author since Spring 2014 when my non-fiction piece was included in the book THREE MINUS ONE. Someday women's fiction author.

Title and year published     OUTLANDER, 1991

Author       Diana Gabaldon

Type of book   

   

KAM ~ That's tricky. How about historical fiction/romance/adventure/fantasy?  It did win the RITA for Best Romance of  1991, but at 650+ pages, it's FAR from your typical category romance. (Some bodices may have been ripped though.)

What is it about this book that pulled you in?  

KAM ~ The book has been out forever, but for some reason, I only picked it up this September.  I was instantly hooked by this swashbuckling adventure of a kilted hero and a spirited heroine who defy time to be together. When English nurse Claire touches a strange cleft stone on a Scottish hilltop she's swept through time into the dangerous world of 1743. Just as she's about to be captured by an evil English captain, she's (literally) swept away by Scotts warrior Jamie Fraser. The epic is the perfect blend of  history and intrigue—and then there's that fiery love story. Despite the long page count, there's no purple prose; instead the story is infused with vivid characters, wry wit, and a plot that races at a breakneck speed. Who could ask for more?

Is there a relationship in the story that resonated with you?

KAM ~ I was totally team Claire and Jamie. Though Claire is actually married back in her real time, I never connected with her husband. Jamie is far more her match, and both characters possess a ruggedness, intelligence, and sense of humor that make them a perfect match, even when sparks fly. I just had to keep reading to find out when those sparks would ignite.

Do you think that relationship was portrayed realistically?

KAM ~ Women across the globe have fallen in love with Jamie, so it's no surprise Claire succumbs to his wild Scottish ways. She's a pretty tough cookie herself—a WWII combat nurse and far more liberated than the typical 1940's woman. She doesn't have a problem standing up for herself or speaking her mind, even when amongst a pack of wild warriors. Jamie is practically the prototype for the alpha male, but he has some rather brutish behaviors that today's women would find...unacceptable. Claire's reactions as a 20^th century woman occasionally gave me pause, but then I remembered not only where she was, but when, and how she put him properly in his place.

Anything else you want to tell us about the book without giving away too much of the plot?

I'd read amazing things about this book and the entire series for years, but I was scared off by the “romance” and “fantasy” categorization. I was not a big reader of either genre. The amount of fantasy is ridiculously nominal and the story is set enough in reality that I wouldn't even consider it fantasy or sci-fy. And the romance is, well, swoon-worthy. There are some “uncomfortable” topics included that I thought were taboo in a romance, so once again this novel defies genre norms. Don't let the length scare you away either. The story so completely seduced me that I finished the book in a few nights, preferring to linger in 18^th century Scotland than to drift into my own dreamworld.  I haven't watched the new TV series yet, but I'll be getting my highlander on as I watch the adaptation.  Oh, and if you do read it, it's okay to cheat a little and google the correct pronunciation of “Sassenach.” You'll be glad you did.

If author or writer, your social media links:    

Website:		http://kerryannmorgan.com
Twitter:	@vinobaby1
Facebook:			https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vinobabys-Voice/161003207282858

JHA ~ Thanks so much, Kerry Ann, for recommending this mega-hit book. I've heard so much about it, and the very popular TV series! I am probably one of the few who hasn't been watching it, but I will definitely be reading this book!

Attention readers ~ Have YOU read this book?  If so, tell us what YOU thought of it!

Interested in being a contributor? Contact me at jilla27@gmail.com. 

You will also find the list of upcoming contributors under the Fridayfictionfriend tab.  I'd love to hear from you if you have a great book to recommend.

To follow our weekly book recommendations by guests, just click the "Follow by email" link on the right side of this page, or sign up on my website through blogger or google plus.