Welcome to Book Shares1
Author: Beverly Cleary
Title: Ramona Quimby, Age 8
LSU
Rating: 4
Summary: Just another Ramona book. This time this spunky girl is causing not that many problems. It’s just the usual tribulations of the Quimby family.
For a moment, I thought I had not read this book, and somehow I just passed it by. But I guess older age can play dirty tricks with you because I remembered a while later that in fact I did read this book when I was younger.
Author: Peggy Fallon
Title: Great Party Dips
LSU
Rating: 4
Summary: Hey! You may not think this is a regular reading book, but au contaire, it is! This book has some delicious dips recipes. Each recipe is easy to make, and that’s a plus in my book. I just wanted to pass on the word.
Author: Karyn Bosnak
Title: Save Karyn: One Shopaholic's Journey to Debt and Back
LINK+
Rating: 4
Summary: This is a true story of a woman who becomes stuck in debt, realizes the problem, and takes responsibility for it. The book is humorous about it too. Bosnak moves to New York City, and from Day 1, she charges everything because it’s either and emergency or an investment. Her example is why buy a $20 waffle iron when the best one is just $70 more. At first, the tone of the book is annoying, and Bosnak almost sounds like a Valley Girl. But as the book progresses from her charging up the wazoo to “What am I going to do?” tone, then the book is enjoyable to read.
Author: Beverly Clearly
Title: Ramona and her Mother
LSU
Rating: 4
Summary: Ramona and her Mother does not show much of the relationship between both of them. Rather, it shows the whole family in general. To see their relationship in action is found near the end of the book. All–in–all, it was a decent book.
Author: Beverly Clearly
Title: Ramona and her Father
LSU
Rating: 5
Summary: This is the nicest of the Ramona books that I have read. Ramona’s father has been let go at his job. The Quimby must now struggle with everyday living, and even Picky–picky the cat must now sacrifice his food for the cheapie one. Ramona is in second grade, and has matured a little bit since Beezus and Ramona.
What I loved about this book is how the relationship between Ramona and her father is shown. The other books do the same idea with her sister and mother, but this one book goes beyond the others. There is more compassion toward Ramona and her father, than even the mother.
Author: Amulya Malladi
Title: The Sound of Language
LINK+
Rating: 5
Summary: The Sound of Language is about two unlikely people who become friends. The story is set in Denmark, and after 9/11. Raihana has moved from Afhganistan, and Gunnar is Danish. While learning Danish to get a job, Raihana, a twenty–something woman, has an internship with Gunnar, a 64–year–old widow whose hobby involves bees and honey. Surrounding family and friends see problems with this friendship. But with the help of the bees, both sides overcome racism.
This has been one of the best books I have read this summer. It such a moving story. The idea that both of the main characters pushed aside differences, and in the end, were able to help each other with their problems.
Author: Beverly Clearly
Title: Beezus and Ramona
LSU
Rating: 4
Summary: Talk about a blast from my past! In preparation to watching the movie, I decided to read Beezus and Ramona once more to refresh my memory. Let’s just say I have sympathy for Beezus now.
Ramona is four, and she gets into trouble every waking moment of the day. She decided she wanted a party and invited all the kids in the neighbor. What she failed to do is to let her mom on in the details. Imagine entertaining 15 kids on a rainy day! Beezus turned 10, and somehow Ramona ruined not one, but two birthday cakes. Let’s just say Ramona was playing Hansel and Gretel, and her rubber doll was the witch, if you catch my drift. There was also the time when Beezus took Ramona to the library to check out a book to read. Ramona practiced writing her name everywhere, including the library book, and in crayon. Ramona claimed that was now her book because her name is on it. The librarian told her since Beezus used her card to check out the book, it belongs to her, not Ramona. Gotta love librarians!
I used to read a lot of Ramona books as a kid to the point my mom told me she should have named me Ramona. I now read this book through adult eyes, and I still love this book, but Ramona is a terror.
Author: Melinda Wells
Title: The Proof is in the Pudding
LINK+
Rating: 4
Summary: This book is the recent one in the series, so there won’t be anymore books in this series anytime soon. This time the victim was bludgeoned to death with a knife. This book was all right, but halfway through the book, I figured out who were the killers.
Author: Melinda Wells
Title: Death Takes the Cake
LINK+
Rating: 5
Summary: Another crime mystery involving food. This this the victim is found to have drowned in a bowl of cake batter. Della Carmichael has been entered into a cake baking competition. She is not thrilled about it because 1)Reggi-Mixx cake mix makes horrible cakes, and 2) Regina Davis and her became enemies in college. Then her best friend’s husband become involved with Regina, and when she is murdered, all fingers point to him. Della must find out who killed Regina to clear her friend’s name.
Though the who–done–it is predictable, Death Takes the Cake was still enjoyable to read.
Author: Melinda Wells
Title: Killer Mousse
LINK+
Rating: 5
Summary: As I have mentioned before, I now love mysteries with cooking involved. It’s just fun to read.
Della Carmichael is a new TV cook on her own cable show. During the taping of her first live show, the the host she replaced, Mimi Bond, drops dead after eating the first bite of Della’s “killer” mousse. The mousse was laced with not just vile tasting laxative, but also with ground peanuts. It’s turns out Mimi is severely allergic to peanuts. Now Della is the suspect. Della now needs to find out who killed Mimi, and clear her name. With people dying around her, she has no other choice. ’ From beginning to end, there is always something happening, and I enjoyed that. Della, a 40–something year old woman, is not afraid of danger. It was also interesting to see the story is set in Los Angeles, and that I recognized some of the places written in the story.
Author: Andrea Israel & Nancy Garfinkel
Title: The Recipe Club
LINK+
Rating: 3
Summary: Never judge a book by it’s title, not just the cover. I thought this book would be about a bunch of women who gather around every so often to eat, and talk about their lives. Not so with this book.
Valerie and Lily have been best friends for many moons, but an event ripped their friendship apart in 1973. I did not want to finish the book, but I had to find out why Valerie’s and Lily’s friendship nearly ended.
The book’s setup is written through letters they have written to each other. Each letter is enclosed with a recipe. There are times the recipe is titled after an event that occurred at that moment, such as lovelorn lasagna.
Author: Gustavo Arellano
Title: ĦAsk A Mexican!
LINK+
Rating: 3
Summary: The whole book is a question and answer session on almost everything you need to know about Mexican. I say most since most of the book does tend to play off on the stereotypes. Also, you can learn all the Spanish bad words you have ever wanted to learn, plus more!
Author: Nujood Ali with Delphine Minoui
Title: I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced
LINK+
Rating: 5
Summary: Nujood made headline a couple of years ago. She was forced into marriage at age 10, and her husband sexually assaulted her, even after he promised he would not touch her until her first period. While visiting her parent’s home, she escaped to the courts and asked a judge for a divorce.
I was shocked when I finished this book. I couldn’t put down the book because I wanted to know more about this poor girl’s situation. Some tribes of Yemen are used to this part of this culture, but Nujood wasn’t, as well as the rest of Yemen and the world.
Author: Shobhan Bantwal
Title: The Forbidden Daughter
LINK+
Rating: 5
Summary: Bantwal has written another book of a widow, but this time two daughters are involved. The setting is in India, and Isha Tilak’s in–laws are greatly upset that another granddaughter is on the way! Their suggestions, along with the doctor, is to abort the baby. Isha and her husband are completely against this idea to the point her husband has decided to turn in the doctor. It is illegal for any doctor to reveal the sex of the baby, and even to menion or perform an abortion. Isha’s husband is found murdered, and she knows it was not a botched burglary. The day after her daughter is born in a convent, she meets Dr. Harish Salvi, who is there to vaccinate every child there. Their friendship grows, and a few years later, will Isha find the murderer with Harish’s help.
The author brought to light the situation in India of female fetus abortions. She wrote this story to show her readers how people react on both sides of this problem. There are those who believe female babies born are a curse on the family, while others appreciate how precious each life is.
Author: Michele Serros
Title: How to be a Chicana Role Model
LSU
Rating: 4
Summary: This is a fiction book based on the author, and how her writing has evolved through the years. Her identity as a Chicana has helped to influence her writing as well. There is also a lot of anger flowing through the pages that at times I felt she never had a happy day in her life.
Author: Jenn McKinlay
Title: Sprinkle with Murder
LSU
Rating: 3
Summary: Best friends since elementary school, Melanie and Angie now own a cupcake bakery. Their other best friend and co-owner, Tate, is marrying the ultimate bridezilla, Christie, a fashion designer. Christie believes Melanie is in love with Tate, and even Melanie’s own mother believes so as well. Unfortunately for Christie, no one except for her parents and Tate like her. Melanie is the chosen one to make 500 cupcakes with unique flavors, meaning no one has had these flavors and Christie will own them. Melanie arrives at Christie’s studio to find her dead with a cupcake in her hand. Now many people believe Melanie is the murderer. Was this a love triangle, or someone else’s evil plan to wipe Christie off the earth?
This is the first in the series of Cupcake Bakery Mysterious. I love the combination of mysteries mixed with food, so I figured this book would be interesting. The author took too long to start Melanie’s detective work,and I was beginning to believe it would never be solved. I do have to say the descriptions of the cupcakes were quite enticing. There are recipes in the back, and I might be compelled to make some.
Author: Shobhan Bantwal
Title: The Sari Shop Widow
LINK+
Rating: 4
Summary: Anjali is a widow at 37. Her and her parents are co–owners of a sari shop in New Jersey. Anjali has thrown herself into this shop by designing every sari, as well as travelling around the world hunting for the right fabric. She doesn’t realize until her parents tell her that they are about to loose the shop due to lack of flowing money. Her notorious uncle is asked to step in to help the family, and brings a mysterious man with him. With her uncle’s money and business savy experience, there is hope the shop will thrive and succeed. Anjali does fear the shop will be taken away from her, and also fears she is falling with Rishi, her uncle’s mysterious friend.
I thought this book was interesting. The idea of the protagonist as a widow, who pines for her husband for 10 years was refreshing as well. Most of the books I’ve read with female Indian protagonists are single or married. I never thought I would find a book where I read about she will ever find another man, and of so, will she dishonor her dead husband.
Title: Ramona Quimby, Age 8
LSU
Rating: 4
Summary: Just another Ramona book. This time this spunky girl is causing not that many problems. It’s just the usual tribulations of the Quimby family.
For a moment, I thought I had not read this book, and somehow I just passed it by. But I guess older age can play dirty tricks with you because I remembered a while later that in fact I did read this book when I was younger.
Author: Peggy Fallon
Title: Great Party Dips
LSU
Rating: 4
Summary: Hey! You may not think this is a regular reading book, but au contaire, it is! This book has some delicious dips recipes. Each recipe is easy to make, and that’s a plus in my book. I just wanted to pass on the word.
Author: Karyn Bosnak
Title: Save Karyn: One Shopaholic's Journey to Debt and Back
LINK+
Rating: 4
Summary: This is a true story of a woman who becomes stuck in debt, realizes the problem, and takes responsibility for it. The book is humorous about it too. Bosnak moves to New York City, and from Day 1, she charges everything because it’s either and emergency or an investment. Her example is why buy a $20 waffle iron when the best one is just $70 more. At first, the tone of the book is annoying, and Bosnak almost sounds like a Valley Girl. But as the book progresses from her charging up the wazoo to “What am I going to do?” tone, then the book is enjoyable to read.
Author: Beverly Clearly
Title: Ramona and her Mother
LSU
Rating: 4
Summary: Ramona and her Mother does not show much of the relationship between both of them. Rather, it shows the whole family in general. To see their relationship in action is found near the end of the book. All–in–all, it was a decent book.
Author: Beverly Clearly
Title: Ramona and her Father
LSU
Rating: 5
Summary: This is the nicest of the Ramona books that I have read. Ramona’s father has been let go at his job. The Quimby must now struggle with everyday living, and even Picky–picky the cat must now sacrifice his food for the cheapie one. Ramona is in second grade, and has matured a little bit since Beezus and Ramona.
What I loved about this book is how the relationship between Ramona and her father is shown. The other books do the same idea with her sister and mother, but this one book goes beyond the others. There is more compassion toward Ramona and her father, than even the mother.
Author: Amulya Malladi
Title: The Sound of Language
LINK+
Rating: 5
Summary: The Sound of Language is about two unlikely people who become friends. The story is set in Denmark, and after 9/11. Raihana has moved from Afhganistan, and Gunnar is Danish. While learning Danish to get a job, Raihana, a twenty–something woman, has an internship with Gunnar, a 64–year–old widow whose hobby involves bees and honey. Surrounding family and friends see problems with this friendship. But with the help of the bees, both sides overcome racism.
This has been one of the best books I have read this summer. It such a moving story. The idea that both of the main characters pushed aside differences, and in the end, were able to help each other with their problems.
Author: Beverly Clearly
Title: Beezus and Ramona
LSU
Rating: 4
Summary: Talk about a blast from my past! In preparation to watching the movie, I decided to read Beezus and Ramona once more to refresh my memory. Let’s just say I have sympathy for Beezus now.
Ramona is four, and she gets into trouble every waking moment of the day. She decided she wanted a party and invited all the kids in the neighbor. What she failed to do is to let her mom on in the details. Imagine entertaining 15 kids on a rainy day! Beezus turned 10, and somehow Ramona ruined not one, but two birthday cakes. Let’s just say Ramona was playing Hansel and Gretel, and her rubber doll was the witch, if you catch my drift. There was also the time when Beezus took Ramona to the library to check out a book to read. Ramona practiced writing her name everywhere, including the library book, and in crayon. Ramona claimed that was now her book because her name is on it. The librarian told her since Beezus used her card to check out the book, it belongs to her, not Ramona. Gotta love librarians!
I used to read a lot of Ramona books as a kid to the point my mom told me she should have named me Ramona. I now read this book through adult eyes, and I still love this book, but Ramona is a terror.
Author: Melinda Wells
Title: The Proof is in the Pudding
LINK+
Rating: 4
Summary: This book is the recent one in the series, so there won’t be anymore books in this series anytime soon. This time the victim was bludgeoned to death with a knife. This book was all right, but halfway through the book, I figured out who were the killers.
Author: Melinda Wells
Title: Death Takes the Cake
LINK+
Rating: 5
Summary: Another crime mystery involving food. This this the victim is found to have drowned in a bowl of cake batter. Della Carmichael has been entered into a cake baking competition. She is not thrilled about it because 1)Reggi-Mixx cake mix makes horrible cakes, and 2) Regina Davis and her became enemies in college. Then her best friend’s husband become involved with Regina, and when she is murdered, all fingers point to him. Della must find out who killed Regina to clear her friend’s name.
Though the who–done–it is predictable, Death Takes the Cake was still enjoyable to read.
Author: Melinda Wells
Title: Killer Mousse
LINK+
Rating: 5
Summary: As I have mentioned before, I now love mysteries with cooking involved. It’s just fun to read.
Della Carmichael is a new TV cook on her own cable show. During the taping of her first live show, the the host she replaced, Mimi Bond, drops dead after eating the first bite of Della’s “killer” mousse. The mousse was laced with not just vile tasting laxative, but also with ground peanuts. It’s turns out Mimi is severely allergic to peanuts. Now Della is the suspect. Della now needs to find out who killed Mimi, and clear her name. With people dying around her, she has no other choice. ’ From beginning to end, there is always something happening, and I enjoyed that. Della, a 40–something year old woman, is not afraid of danger. It was also interesting to see the story is set in Los Angeles, and that I recognized some of the places written in the story.
Author: Andrea Israel & Nancy Garfinkel
Title: The Recipe Club
LINK+
Rating: 3
Summary: Never judge a book by it’s title, not just the cover. I thought this book would be about a bunch of women who gather around every so often to eat, and talk about their lives. Not so with this book.
Valerie and Lily have been best friends for many moons, but an event ripped their friendship apart in 1973. I did not want to finish the book, but I had to find out why Valerie’s and Lily’s friendship nearly ended.
The book’s setup is written through letters they have written to each other. Each letter is enclosed with a recipe. There are times the recipe is titled after an event that occurred at that moment, such as lovelorn lasagna.
Author: Gustavo Arellano
Title: ĦAsk A Mexican!
LINK+
Rating: 3
Summary: The whole book is a question and answer session on almost everything you need to know about Mexican. I say most since most of the book does tend to play off on the stereotypes. Also, you can learn all the Spanish bad words you have ever wanted to learn, plus more!
Author: Nujood Ali with Delphine Minoui
Title: I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced
LINK+
Rating: 5
Summary: Nujood made headline a couple of years ago. She was forced into marriage at age 10, and her husband sexually assaulted her, even after he promised he would not touch her until her first period. While visiting her parent’s home, she escaped to the courts and asked a judge for a divorce.
I was shocked when I finished this book. I couldn’t put down the book because I wanted to know more about this poor girl’s situation. Some tribes of Yemen are used to this part of this culture, but Nujood wasn’t, as well as the rest of Yemen and the world.
Author: Shobhan Bantwal
Title: The Forbidden Daughter
LINK+
Rating: 5
Summary: Bantwal has written another book of a widow, but this time two daughters are involved. The setting is in India, and Isha Tilak’s in–laws are greatly upset that another granddaughter is on the way! Their suggestions, along with the doctor, is to abort the baby. Isha and her husband are completely against this idea to the point her husband has decided to turn in the doctor. It is illegal for any doctor to reveal the sex of the baby, and even to menion or perform an abortion. Isha’s husband is found murdered, and she knows it was not a botched burglary. The day after her daughter is born in a convent, she meets Dr. Harish Salvi, who is there to vaccinate every child there. Their friendship grows, and a few years later, will Isha find the murderer with Harish’s help.
The author brought to light the situation in India of female fetus abortions. She wrote this story to show her readers how people react on both sides of this problem. There are those who believe female babies born are a curse on the family, while others appreciate how precious each life is.
Author: Michele Serros
Title: How to be a Chicana Role Model
LSU
Rating: 4
Summary: This is a fiction book based on the author, and how her writing has evolved through the years. Her identity as a Chicana has helped to influence her writing as well. There is also a lot of anger flowing through the pages that at times I felt she never had a happy day in her life.
Author: Jenn McKinlay
Title: Sprinkle with Murder
LSU
Rating: 3
Summary: Best friends since elementary school, Melanie and Angie now own a cupcake bakery. Their other best friend and co-owner, Tate, is marrying the ultimate bridezilla, Christie, a fashion designer. Christie believes Melanie is in love with Tate, and even Melanie’s own mother believes so as well. Unfortunately for Christie, no one except for her parents and Tate like her. Melanie is the chosen one to make 500 cupcakes with unique flavors, meaning no one has had these flavors and Christie will own them. Melanie arrives at Christie’s studio to find her dead with a cupcake in her hand. Now many people believe Melanie is the murderer. Was this a love triangle, or someone else’s evil plan to wipe Christie off the earth?
This is the first in the series of Cupcake Bakery Mysterious. I love the combination of mysteries mixed with food, so I figured this book would be interesting. The author took too long to start Melanie’s detective work,and I was beginning to believe it would never be solved. I do have to say the descriptions of the cupcakes were quite enticing. There are recipes in the back, and I might be compelled to make some.
Author: Shobhan Bantwal
Title: The Sari Shop Widow
LINK+
Rating: 4
Summary: Anjali is a widow at 37. Her and her parents are co–owners of a sari shop in New Jersey. Anjali has thrown herself into this shop by designing every sari, as well as travelling around the world hunting for the right fabric. She doesn’t realize until her parents tell her that they are about to loose the shop due to lack of flowing money. Her notorious uncle is asked to step in to help the family, and brings a mysterious man with him. With her uncle’s money and business savy experience, there is hope the shop will thrive and succeed. Anjali does fear the shop will be taken away from her, and also fears she is falling with Rishi, her uncle’s mysterious friend.
I thought this book was interesting. The idea of the protagonist as a widow, who pines for her husband for 10 years was refreshing as well. Most of the books I’ve read with female Indian protagonists are single or married. I never thought I would find a book where I read about she will ever find another man, and of so, will she dishonor her dead husband.