I just started reading My Family and Other Animals by George Durrell.  It's basically a memoir of his childhoold living in Corfu.  This really appeals to me because I have always wanted to travel to Greece.  Durrell was a famous naturalist and his descriptions of the plants and tiny inhabitants of Corfu are keeping me mesmerized.  I can almost smell the flowers!

Yesterday was a strange day.  Although the weather outside was almost balmy, my internal weather was definitely overcast. I believe that kind of day has a function for me, as it reinvigorates my need to reflect, look inside for answers to the things that are bothering me, and then renew my efforts to connect with others.  My mood instantly improved when I spent a few hours singing with my students in the late afternoon. Not every day is ordained to be a fount of creativity!

Next Time Lucky by Siggy Buckley reminds me of a Sex in the City for the middle-aged adventuress.  The author brings her expertise as a matchmaker to her own search for love on the Internet.  She recounts many hilarious, although somewhat salacious episodes.  The thoughts, opinions, and actions of the narrator, Cherie, are intriguing for their absolute honesty.  As a reader, I found myself reading rapidly as I hoped she would find true love, but occasionally I felt cast into the unwilling role of voyeur.  Blush, blush...possibly my prudish nature is showing! Still, if the reader is willing to share a room with lovers, she will be entertained by Ms. Buckley's approach to finding the ideal man.  Male readers may also learn some important lessons about creating a more honest profile on dating sites, although I am a bit concerned that Cherie's lovemaking standards might intimidate some of them. Woe to any shy creatures who dare to tread these pages!

Ms. Buckley's writing style is conversational...at times you might feel as if she is  confiding her deepest thoughts about men and love to you, the reader.  She includes a smattering of German and Irish expressions which were fun to read.  However, at least in the ebook, I felt the book might have benefited from the attentions of an editor.

In sum, the book is a fun romp through the Internet and through many bedrooms.  However, its appeal will be most appreciated by those who are sophisticated in the art of love and who enjoy vivid descriptions of verbal and physical interactions among strangers.  And you know who you are!

Let me start by saying I am a total chocaholic, so the title Chocolicious intrigued me from the outset.  I whole-heartedly empathize with the idea that eating chocolate is the cure for most of what ails me.  That said, this novel left me a bit hungry for more of the soothing flavor of chocolate and possibly for recipes for the chocolate treats mentioned by the author.

Blair Nightingale, the main character, finds herself in an untenable position when her young husband dies right before she gives birth to their first child.  After having completely relied on him to provide for her and to define her role in life, she must begin her life again, but this time as a single mother. Along the way, she finds a few allies, some in unexpected quarters.  She struggles to find romance again, and chocolate comes to the rescue.

Although the plot was interesting enough for me to finish this book, there were times when I frankly felt a little bored.  In particular, a lot of the dialogues were unrealistic and contained cliché phrases. Also, I felt that many things were spelled out for me as the reader, and I would have preferred to infer them from observing the scenes.

The main characters in the book are likable, although I would have appreciated a bit more depth in their development.  Sometimes, my lack of understanding of who they really were interfered with my acceptance of what appeared to be the impulsive actions that drove the plot.

That said, I would recommend the book to those who like romance novels  and are looking for a good girl meets boy just in the nick of time story .The plot is interesting and reinforces the values of family, love, and chocolate.

Waiting on Hope is an excellent depiction of one woman's struggle to rebuild her life after a horrifying, violent assault that has long-reaching implications.  The main character, Lexie Dodson, becomes suicidal after a violent rape that occurs in her apartment, perpetrated by someone she knew and trusted.  Lexie is a likable character and Souders does a terrific job drawing the reader into the her psyche, displaying a deep understanding of the issues facing a woman after such a horrendous event and also the way that she might rebuild her feelings of safety and love in the aftermath.

I particularly liked the female characters in this book.  They were strong, with a good blend of independence, ambition, and need for love,but flawed in understandable ways.  On the other hand, the male characters were a bit less realistic, either really evil or wondrously perfect. In spite of that, I did enjoy the romance between Lexie and her high school sweetheart, Elliot.

There were not many surprises in the plot, but I feel that the story is still compelling, mostly because of the investment I had in the main character.  I found that I really did care about what happened to her and was cheering for her to survive her ordeal and eventually to find the strength to find meaning in her life after her rape.

I have learned about Gerald Durrell later than many readers and animal lovers.  I am so thankful that I did hear about him.  I just finished reading and laughing through his book, My Family and Other Animals. Let me start by saying that my home is filled with animals.  Currently, we share out house with two dogs and two cats, but at times we have also hosted frogs, guinea pigs, and rabbits.  Our back yard is often visited by red foxes, beavers, raccoons, and deer.

I tell you this about myself because I detect a kindred spirit in the young Gerald as he recounts his adventures in Corfu where he amasses an impressive collection of pets.  Durrell’s genius lies in his ability to make readers feel they know the members of his families as well as the personalities of the animals he encounters.  In addition, his writing is so beautifully descriptive without becoming cumbersome.

I heartily recommend this book to observers of animals and families.  It is highly entertaining and I plan to read whatever else he has written.

The Skin on Water is a beautifully written book about an ambitious young Hungarian boy and his first love, a more sophisticated woman trapped in a loveless arranged marriage. War-torn Hungary becomes almost another character in the book, as its submission to Nazi control poisons all that is beautiful in the country: its music, its food, romance, family loyalty, and friendship. Although this is a book that demonstrates the devastation of World War II, it accomplishes that goal without referring to battles or to the complications of political allegiances. The devastation it discusses is the effect of causeless hatred on the human heart.

Each of the characters was multifaceted. Even the most villainous betrayed vulnerability or the capacity to make better choices. The plot was intriguing through the end of the book and I couldn't stop reading it! Although I finished it in a couple of days, I will remember the main characters, Eva and Zeno for a long time!

The Skin on Water is a beautifully written book about an ambitious young Hungarian boy and his first love, a more sophisticated woman trapped in a loveless arranged marriage. War-torn Hungary becomes almost another character in the book, as its submission to Nazi control poisons all that is beautiful in the country: its music, its food, romance, family loyalty, and friendship. Although this is a book that demonstrates the devastation of World War II, it accomplishes that goal without referring to battles or to the complications of political allegiances. The devastation it discusses is the effect of causeless hatred on the human heart.

Each of the characters was multifaceted. Even the most villainous betrayed vulnerability or the capacity to make better choices. The plot was intriguing through the end of the book and I couldn't stop reading it! Although I finished it in a couple of days, I will remember the main characters, Eva and Zeno for a long time!

A Note from an old Acquaintance by Bill Walker   is a romance where love gets a second chance.  Young sculptor, Joanna Richman   surrenders to a persistent courtship by older, successful businessman, Erik Ruby.  He treats her acquisition like one of his many treasured possessions, relentless during the pursuit, but lacking in devotion after she has been acquired.  After Joanna agrees to marry Erik, she meets a young aspiring writer, Brian Weller, who shares her artistic sensibilities.  For the first time, Joanna feels as though she has met her soul mate.

This book is fun to read, like nibbling on chocolates in bed! I especially liked the insights into how Joanna and Brian found inspiration for their creations, while remaining vulnerable to feedback from their audiences.  On the other hand, I felt that characters were underdeveloped.  Erik is a bit too much the evil businessman who only cares about money, while Joanna and Brian are granted too many free passes to pursue their vision of being soul mates without regard to the effect on others.  I wasn’t completely convinced about the enduring value of a love match that didn’t account for ethical obligations.  Still, the novel is a fun love fantasy and will be enjoyed by those who seek a good ,romantic read.

Trying to Stay Sane While Raising Your Teen by C. Lynn Williams is a short primer with advice on child rearing techniques for parents during the challenging teen years.  The book is written with humor and abundant examples on ways to work with teenaged children.  As a psychologist, I heartily agree with many of her comments on communication between child and parent.  I also found the section on blended families sensitive and helpful.

Ms. Williams also describes her personal need to involve a dialogue with God while facing some of the more overwhelming decisions she needed to make with her children.  She reinforces this approach with multiple biblical references at the end of the primer. Although some readers may not be comfortable with this inclusion in the primer, it is reasonable to assume that parents don’t always have the answers they need and may take comfort in advice from another source!   Of course as a psychologist, I would also recommend consulting a professional when parents are at a loss when confronting serious issues with a teen.

Trying to Stay Sane While Raising Your Teen by C. Lynn Williams is a short primer with advice on child rearing techniques for parents during the challenging teen years.  The book is written with humor and abundant examples on ways to work with teenaged children.  As a psychologist, I heartily agree with many of her comments on communication between child and parent.  I also found the section on blended families sensitive and helpful.

Ms. Williams also describes her personal need to involve a dialogue with God while facing some of the more overwhelming decisions she needed to make with her children.  She reinforces this approach with multiple biblical references at the end of the primer. Although some readers may not be comfortable with this inclusion in the primer, it is reasonable to assume that parents don’t always have the answers they need and may take comfort in advice from another source!   Of course as a psychologist, I would also recommend consulting a professional when parents are at a loss when confronting serious issues with a teen.

Did you ever see the movie, Rabbit Proof Fence? This book is also set in 1960's Australia with a similar focus on the draconian laws that separate Aboriginal parents from their children, should those children have any Caucasian ancestry. In Secrets from the Dust, the main character, Margaret, is stolen from her loving family and forced to live with a white, foster family who do her a "favor",by raising her to live in white culture, relinquishing all vestiges of her own culture.  Margaret's dislocation from her family and culture is heartbreaking and Hamilton does a great job drawing the reader into her views and desperate attempts to find somewhere she  feels comfortable.

Hamilton's characters are well-developed. Even  the most villainous seem realistic. His depiction of a sad period in Australian history elicited a profoundly emotional response from me.  At times, his use of language was a bit awkward and distracted me from the story. Plot also lagged at times.  Perhaps, the book could use some more editing.But, all in all,Secrets was an interesting read, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the conflict between Australia and her original citizens.

I am not usually a fan of the private investigator genre, but Angel Dance was so much fun to read that I completed it in one day in Cape Cod on vacation. In fact, I resented anyone who interrupted my reading time! Danny Logan, a private eye, takes on a case where a former girlfriend has disappeared mysteriously and as the case unfolds, the reader is drawn into the tumultuous world of drug dealers and mafia crime families. The excitement is punctuated by moments of humor and entertaining banter. Although the book does follow the usual formula for a private eye/detective story, it was quite enjoyable and readers should consider adding it to their beach bags this summer.

Marla Handy presents herself as a case study for post traumatic stress disorder. Although she functions exceptionally well, with her doctorate, a good job, and a husband and family, she is prey to the horrendous symptoms of PTSD including flashbacks, terror, poor sleep, anxiety, heightened sensitivity to select stimuli and a disjointed awareness of time. She breathes life into this list of clinical symptoms in a way that allowed me to fully understand her experiences.

As a clinical psychologist, I appreciate her frank expression of the experiences that caused her illness as well as the way that her symptoms have become hard-wired into her nervous system to the extent that they will always color her reactions to her current life. Her casual writing style was quite effective. As I read the book, I felt like I was eavesdropping on her thoughts.

I highly recommend this book to anyone in contact with aPTSD sufferer to facilitate an understanding of her/his difficulties and the persistent nature of symptoms caused by trauma or abuse.

Canada is the story of an American family driven apart by the father's sociopathology and the mother'e inability to stand up for her beliefs.  The father determines to solve his financial problems by robbing a bank with his wife.  As a result of this poorly planned and executed crime, the 15 year old fraternal twins are left to fend for themselves. As you may imagine, the twins do not fare well on their own, with consequences that last for their entire lives.

This book is well written and the narrator, the boy twin, is quite sympathetic.  However, there are few surprises in the plot as everything is heavily foreshadowed throughout.  Even the title foreshadows plot! I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys reading about interesting characters who will always remain outliers.

Cel and Anna is one of the few science fiction books I have read... I brought it with me on a trip to Paris and read it on the flight. I really enjoyed it!!!
The plot revolves around a love triangle consisting of Anna, a young intuitive, Cel, her love-struck computer, and Taz, the geeky but loyal neighbor. The lovers are persecuted by the Reunited States security system due to glitches in the internet that have been initiated unknowingly by Cel.

The characters in the book are unusual and fun, the plot was captivating, and the view of the future chilling. This book was a real page turner and made my flight home from Paris seem to pass in the blink of an eye.

The Last Days of Dogtown is a loosely historical tale of the end of a small village on Cape Ann, Mass.

However, the novel doesn't really focus on the place as much as on a cast of wonderfully idiosyncratic characters.  The reader becomes privy to the tightly held secrets of all of the denizens from my favorite, Cornelius...referred to as the freed African...who is a source of love and support for the weaker inhabitants to Easter, a jovial innkeeper who knows everything about everyone, but is quite discrete for all of that. Diamant does an amazing job of portraying each individual  replete with strengths and sometimes hideous flaws in a way that made me feel like they could become the inhabitants of any community and find someone there who could care about them.  And that probably is what kept me reading steadily and joyfully.

The structure of the book is interesting too in that each chapter really could stand alone as a short story, but the involvement of most of the characters in each story makes that story so much richer.