Food: A Love Story by Jim Gaffigan

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Publication date: 2014
Publisher: Crown Archetype
Pages: 335
My rating: 3.5 stars
Ages: 16+

In his new book, comedian Jim Gaffigan talks about the love of his life: food. All kinds of food, good food, bad food, fast food, "fancy" food, etc. Gaffigan also shares stories about his five kids and wife--but only where it is related to food, because that's what this book is about: food.

Gaffigan is funny, but I think that some people might find his slightly dry sense of humor hard to understand in writing, and I also found myself wishing that I could hear him read this book instead of just reading it. What's great about this is that food and eating is such a cultural thing--we get together and we have food, it's just what we do. So Gaffigan takes that, and in a way, shows how ridiculous it is to have things revolve around food, while at the same time showing exactly why it's so important in our culture.

The bad thing about this book is that it can make you hungry. I was hungry once and a few hours before I would be able to eat, so I decided to pass the time by reading. Unfortunately, the chapter I was on was about bacon. Not the best thing to read when trying to take your mind off food.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

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Publication date: 2013
Publisher: Speak
Pages: 369
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 16+

After a disappointing tour across Europe, Allyson is ready to go home. But then she meets Willem, who not only convinces her to go to Paris for a day, but allows her to reinvent herself as "Lulu." But when the day comes to an end, Lulu finds herself alone and heartbroken. Will she be able to find Willem again? And should she?

I was a little worried when I started this that it would be too similar to last week's book, which I had just read. However, though the concept is similar, the two books go in completely different directions. I felt that Just One Day was about finding yourself, discovering what you are capable of, while Probability was more about forgiveness and restitution.

I loved the addition of Shakespeare running through this book, as well as the emphasis of hearing and seeing Shakespeare, not just reading it. And then there is the focus on friendship, family, disguises, and changes. There really is quite a bit in this book, but the big thing is even with those focuses, it's still fun to read. I just wanted to read it all the time, but my day job and responsibilities kept getting in the way. I finished it and immediately started looking for the companion novel so that I could learn about Willem's side of the story. I'm disappointed that I have to wait for it to come in at the library. And I really think that's the best recommendation I can give.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

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Publication date: 2012
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Pages: 236
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 14+

When a missed flight leads to meeting Oliver, Hadley no longer dreads the long flight to England for her father's wedding. The seven hours they spend together seem like forever, but when they part ways at Heathrow, Hadley is left alone, wondering how she's going to get through her father's wedding and if she'll ever see Oliver again.

Sometimes, you just need to read a book that's clever, fun, romantic, and just easy enough that you don't feel like you are pushing yourself through it. Smith's books are perfect for this. I had previously read another of her books, so when I was at the bookstore with a gift card from Christmas burning a hole in my pocket, I decided to just buy this book.

The stories are sweet and simple, but with complicated elements. This is the kind of book that you just want to read curled up in a blanket on your couch, the cold trapped outside. Oliver is every girl's dream. In fact, I'm kind of wondering where my Oliver is . . . Anyway, even though I've only read two, I think any of Smith's books is going to offer an escape as you peek into the relationship of the main characters and fall in love as they do.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

Jackaby by William Ritter

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Publication date: 2014
Publisher: Algonquin
Pages: 299
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 13+

When Abigail Rook steps off the boat in New Fiddleham looking for an adventure, the last thing she expected to do was find one. Jackaby changes Abigail's ideas of reality and adventure right on their heads as she joins him in investigating the mysterious deaths that starting plaguing New Fiddleham.

I think I was drawn in by the cover at first--though it's a little misleading. Jackaby isn't a teenager, nor is he the narrator of the book. But that didn't matter, once I started reading. Ritter was able to create a supernatural Sherlock Holmes without making it feel like all he did was create a supernatural Sherlock Holmes.

Jackaby is strange and intelligent, yet lacks certain social graces or nuances. Abigail is his trusty assistant and historian--writing down the case much like John Watson did. But this time there are ghosts and trolls and other creatures that contribute to the story. This book is a standalone, but could very much become an enjoyable series if Ritter writes all of them as standalones--I wouldn't mind seeing a bit more of Jackaby and Abigail and their companions.

There is no language and no sexual situations, though the murders could be a bit grisly for more sensitive readers.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

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Publication date: 2013
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 178
My rating: 4 stars
Ages:16+

A middle aged man finds himself remembering a time in his childhood that he hadn't remembered before. A time that involved death, magic, the Hempstock women, and a pond that was an ocean.

If Neil Gaiman wrote a medical journal, it would read like a fairy story. I'm not sure what it is, but the simple nuances of his writing and his voice lend everything a sort of other worldly effect. Which just makes this book--which is other worldly--a story worth reading.

I wasn't sure what to expect from Ocean. Everything that Gaiman writes is so different from each other that I think it's hard to know what to expect. I think I thought that it would be just a man remembering something from his childhood (a la Guy in Your MFA, only better), but the addition of the Hempstocks, of the magic, made the story explode with color and imagination. In under 200 pages, this book was one of the best fantasy books that I had read in a while. There was no long description of the magic system, or background. It was simple, but intricate.

While this book may seem like a YA novel, I think that the themes and some of the situations makes it more adult.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.

The Expats by Chris Pavone

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Publication date: 2013
Publisher: Broadway Books
Pages: 326
My rating: 2 stars
Ages:18+

When Kate's husband gets a job in Luxembourg, it gives her the best way to quit the job she's started to hate. But when another expat couple seems to be checking up on them, Kate's CIA training kicks in. The FBI believes Kate's husband has stolen 50 million dollars. Kate is now faced with wondering who her husband is, if she should tell him about her other life, and who to believe.

This book started out one way, and I was really interested. Then with about a third of the book left, it just seemed to change and reading it was hard. I don't know if it just seemed that the story was dragging or the tone seemed different or what, but that last third was tough. The book was told in a unique way. Every few chapters there would be a chapter that was happening "Today"--so the book was kind of a long flashback/backstory. But even then there would be flashbacks. It made it a little hard to keep track of the story.

Something that was interesting was that there was a lot of talk about computer hacking. In my job the past few months I've been reading a lot about computer hacking and it was nice to know what the terms meant. Mostly it was for my own pride that I was actually learning something while I've been editing.

I think this book would be more liked by those who like to read spy novels. There is some sex and language.

*I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

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Publication date: 2014
Publisher: Dey St.
Pages: 329
My rating: 3 stars
Ages:18+

What do comedy, TV, Hilary Clinton, Smart Girls, and raising boys all have in common? Amy Poehler. In her memoirs, Poehler invites you into her home as a friend and shares not only how she became who she is today, but also advice on how to live life the fullest and get through hard times. Everything from growing up in Boston to Parks and Recreation are included, with a few guest writers pitching in.

I like Amy Poehler. I think she's funny, and I like what she's doing with her brand Smart Girls at a Party. Reading her book was at times like seeing a stand up, and other times like having a long "Ask Amy" video--that is, part funny, part serious and deep. I did not want to stop reading it.

However, there were times when I felt a little like I was meeting someone in person and realizing they weren't exactly who I thought they would be. You probably know by now that I'm not a big fan of hard swearing and sex; both of which are included in Yes Please. Poehler also talks about drug use in her younger days. For the sake of honesty in her memoirs, I suppose that to not include some of these things would have been akin to lying. Mostly, I could have done without all the F-words.

Fans of Parks and Rec will enjoy the chapter about it and how it came to be and the people that work on it. I also enjoyed stories from Poehler's SNL days. I appreciated the way she spoke about her two sons and what she does to bring some magic into their lives. Like I mentioned before, this book runs the gambit from hilarious to sweet and sensitive. Recommended for fans of Amy Poehler.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.