Nancy's Book Nook - Carol's Shelf

Title: Paula Deen:It Ain't All About the Cookin'
Classification: Biography / Memoir
Author: Paula Deen, Sherry Suib Cohen, C. Linda Dingler
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Copyright: 2007
Book Rating:

Reviewer Comments:

Food network culinary star Paula Deen presents us with a warm, comfortable and sometimes salty account of her rags to riches life story. Losing her parents, marrying at a very young age to an emotionally abusive man and suffering from agoraphobia did not stop her from always planning and jumping into a new venture. From near poverty to immense financial success and then entering into a happy second marriage Deen shares recipes and her zest for life with candor and good humor.

Title: Still Missing
Classification: Fiction
Author: Chevy Stevens
Publisher: St.Martin's Press
Copyright: 2010
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments:

32 yr. old Realtor Annie O'Sullivan is finishing up an open house showing when a well dressed man comes to see the house. What follows is a year of terror and horror. Interwoven with her account told to her psychiatrist is her first person telling of her captivity. "Still Missing" is brutally physically descriptive but very much a psychological thriller in which Annie tries to go from victim to survivor.

Title: The Fixer Upper
Classification: Fiction
Author: Mary Kay Andrews
Publisher: HarperCollins
Copyright: 2010
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments:

"The Fixer Upper" is Dempsey Killebrew, a Washington lobbyist who is duped by her boss into a political scandal. Escaping to the old Georgia family home she finds a decaying house and an array of quirky but interesting characters. As she undertakes the house renovation she finds herself and a new way of life.

As always, Andrew's fiction is charming, funny and engaging.

Title: Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage
Classification: Biography / Memoir
Author: Elizabeth Gilbert
Publisher: Penguin Group
Copyright: 2010
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments:

In "Eat, Pray, Love" Elizabeth Gilbert falls in love with Brazilian Felipe. In "Committed" she continues her love with Felipe but he is eventually temporarily deported because he is actually an Australian citizen. Thus to ever live permanently in the US they will have to marry. Having had a devastating marriage and divorce she agonizes over the entire structure and meaning of marriage. For a year, while they deal with the endless red tape, she researches all aspects of marriage's history, culture & customs.

I actually listened to this on CD and found it very interesting (Gilbert narrates it herself) but I think reading the book might be a bit tedious.

Title: Hearts on a String
Classification: Fiction
Author: Kris Radish
Publisher: Random House
Copyright: 2010
Book Rating:

Reviewer Comments:

As much as I love Kris Radish's books this one really falls short of the mark. Five unlikely and disagreeable women are thrown together for a long weekend during the worst storm of the century. The far-fetched plot does however have some humor and moments of female bonding and compassion (Radish's strong point).

Title: A Single Thread
Classification: Fiction
Author: Marie Bostwick
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Copyright: 2008
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments:

Evelyn Dixon, after the abrupt end to her marriage, travels to New England and falls in love with small town New Bern, Conn. Fulfilling her dream to open a quilt shop, she settles in, becomes friends with 3 very different women, but then faces a serious illness.

Her illness and recovery create a bond of community which forces all 4 women to re-examine their own lives. Poignant and polished "A Single Thread" (first in a series) is a definite must read.

Cobbled Court Series:

#1 A Single Thread

#2 A Thread of Truth

#3 A Thread So Thin

Title: Lowcountry Summer
Classification: Fiction
Author: Kris Radish
Publisher: HarperCollins
Copyright: 2010
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments:

In "Lowcountry Summer" we return to Plantation"s Tall Pines after the passing of matriarch Miss Lavinia. Daughter Caroline takes over and immediately has to deal with a raft of dysfunctional relatives. However her southern charm and wit save the day. Add this to Frank's list of must reads, especially if you love the Carolinas.

Title: The Black Tower
Classification: Fiction
Author: Louis Bayard
Publisher: HarperCollins
Copyright: 2009
Book Rating:
Reviewer Comments:

"Black Tower" is an interesting mix of history and fiction. Vidocq (1757-1856), a notorious criminal who eventually founded the Surete Nationale (France's first formal police service) engages a young medical student in the investigation of a man who may be the missing dauphin and son of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI (the child's body was never found). Complex characters and intrigue create a plot sure to please history buffs.





September Reviews Title: Paula Deen:It Ain't All About the Cookin' Classification: Biography / Memoir Author: Paula Deen, Sherry Suib Cohen, C. Linda Dingler Publisher: Simon & Schuster Copyright: 2007 Book Rating: Reviewer Comments: Food network culinary star Paula Deen presents us with a warm, comfortable and sometimes salty account of her rags to riches life story. Losing her parents, marrying at a very young age to an emotionally abusive man and suffering from agoraphobia did not stop her from always planning and jumping into a new venture. From near poverty to immense financial success and then entering into a happy second marriage Deen shares recipes and her zest for life with candor and good humor. Title: Still Missing Classification: Fiction Author: Chevy Stevens Publisher: St.Martin's Press Copyright: 2010 Book Rating: Reviewer Comments: 32 yr. old Realtor Annie O'Sullivan is finishing up an open house showing when a well dressed man comes to see the house. What follows is a year of terror and horror. Interwoven with her account told to her psychiatrist is her first person telling of her captivity. "Still Missing" is brutally physically descriptive but very much a psychological thriller in which Annie tries to go from victim to survivor. Title: The Fixer Upper Classification: Fiction Author: Mary Kay Andrews Publisher: HarperCollins Copyright: 2010 Book Rating: Reviewer Comments: "The Fixer Upper" is Dempsey Killebrew, a Washington lobbyist who is duped by her boss into a political scandal. Escaping to the old Georgia family home she finds a decaying house and an array of quirky but interesting characters. As she undertakes the house renovation she finds herself and a new way of life. As always, Andrew's fiction is charming, funny and engaging. Title: Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage Classification: Biography / Memoir Author: Elizabeth Gilbert Publisher: Penguin Group Copyright: 2010 Book Rating: Reviewer Comments: In "Eat, Pray, Love" Elizabeth Gilbert falls in love with Brazilian Felipe. In "Committed" she continues her love with Felipe but he is eventually temporarily deported because he is actually an Australian citizen. Thus to ever live permanently in the US they will have to marry. Having had a devastating marriage and divorce she agonizes over the entire structure and meaning of marriage. For a year, while they deal with the endless red tape, she researches all aspects of marriage's history, culture & customs. I actually listened to this on CD and found it very interesting (Gilbert narrates it herself) but I think reading the book might be a bit tedious. August Reviews Title: Hearts on a String Classification: Fiction Author: Kris Radish Publisher: Random House Copyright: 2010 Book Rating: Reviewer Comments: As much as I love Kris Radish's books this one really falls short of the mark. Five unlikely and disagreeable women are thrown together for a long weekend during the worst storm of the century. The far-fetched plot does however have some humor and moments of female bonding and compassion (Radish's strong point). Title: A Single Thread Classification: Fiction Author: Marie Bostwick Publisher: Kensington Publishing Copyright: 2008 Book Rating: Reviewer Comments: Evelyn Dixon, after the abrupt end to her marriage, travels to New England and falls in love with small town New Bern, Conn. Fulfilling her dream to open a quilt shop, she settles in, becomes friends with 3 very different women, but then faces a serious illness. Her illness and recovery create a bond of community which forces all 4 women to re-examine their own lives. Poignant and polished "A Single Thread" (first in a series) is a definite must read. Cobbled Court Series: #1 A Single Thread #2 A Thread of Truth #3 A Thread So Thin Title: Lowcountry Summer Classification: Fiction Author: Kris Radish Publisher: HarperCollins Copyright: 2010 Book Rating: Reviewer Comments: In "Lowcountry Summer" we return to Plantation"s Tall Pines after the passing of matriarch Miss Lavinia. Daughter Caroline takes over and immediately has to deal with a raft of dysfunctional relatives. However her southern charm and wit save the day. Add this to Frank's list of must reads, especially if you love the Carolinas. Title: The Black Tower Classification: Fiction Author: Louis Bayard Publisher: HarperCollins Copyright: 2009 Book Rating: Reviewer Comments: "Black Tower" is an interesting mix of history and fiction. Vidocq (1757-1856), a notorious criminal who eventually founded the Surete Nationale (France's first formal police service) engages a young medical student in the investigation of a man who may be the missing dauphin and son of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI (the child's body was never found). Complex characters and intrigue create a plot sure to please history buffs. To read Carol's past reviews, please visit The Back Shelves Return to Top		Meet Carol Like a quilt, my life is made up of bits and pieces of time in which to read, quilt, cultivate friendships and visit my three grandchildren. Stitch in a full time job and life is full! My reading preferences run toward historically based fiction, mysteries and biographies.







©2010 Nancy's Book Nook	Carol's page last updated on 09/03010