Jen's 101 Books

In the Woods - Tana French

Date Completed: March 6, 2009
Genres: mystery, thriller, Irish
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

When Dublin murder detectives Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox are called to investigate the grisly killing of a young girl in the woods of Knocknaree, Ireland, Rob has no idea that the case will be life-altering for him. Twenty years earlier Rob and his two best friends were victims of a crime in the same woods - a crime that left his friends missing, and Rob clinging to a tree wearing nothing but blood-filled shoes and ripped clothing, unable to remember anything that happened. Now, in order to solve his case, Rob has to come to terms with his past; and as the past begins to unravel, his life begins to unravel in the process.

This book is a well-written, often creepy psychological thriller that very literally made my spine tingle and my heart beat faster. Several fast-paced and riveting police interrogations had me turning the pages as quickly as I could to discover the killer's identity and motive. And the eventual outcome wasn't one that I was expecting. My favorite aspect of the story was that of Rob and Cassie's relationship -- part brother-sister, part old married couple, with enough underlying sexual tension to keep the reader wondering what might eventually happen between them.

Admittedly, I was a tinge disappointed in the ending, and for that I had to rate this one 4 stars instead of 5. I like that the author refused to tie everything up neatly; however, one of the story's major plot lines doesn't get any sort of resolution. I was frustrated at being strung along for nearly 450 pages to simply end at a question mark. However, overall, this is one of the better books I've read in awhile, and definitely one I'll be thinking about for a long time to come.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Anne Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Date Completed: February 7, 2009
Genres: fiction, WWII, epistolary
Rating: 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)

I really enjoyed this one. The epistolary format was a little daunting at first, but the letters brought out each character's personality and made the story all the more interesting. I admit to not knowing where Guernsey was before I picked up this book (I thought it was in the English countryside), so I enjoyed learning so much about such a beautiful place and its WWII history. I'll definitely be reading this one again!

The Beach House - Jane Green

Date Completed: February 3, 2009
Genres: chick-lit, fiction
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

I loved this one! The whole book had a cozy, laid-back, Nantucket sort of feel to it, which makes me want to pack up and head to the beach. This reminds me a bit of Maeve Binchy's books, with the multiple storylines that end up intertwining. Jane Green isn't quite the writer Maeve Binchy is, and this one veered toward the predictable. But it is a good, entertaining story, and one I look forward to revisiting down the road.

The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry - Kathleen Flinn

Date Finished: January 5, 2009
Genres: Culinary, memoirs, nonfiction
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

I love to cook. There's something soothing, methodical, and ultimately satisfying about putting together complex and tasty dishes that I love, so the desire to ditch my job for culinary school hits on a regular basis. While I just think about it, Kathleen Flinn actually did it. The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry is her interesting, often funny account of her days at Le Cordon Bleu, the world's most famous cooking school in Paris. Flinn gives a wonderfully detailed account of her ups and downs in Cordon Bleu's famous kitchens -- her run-ins with picky chefs, competitive fellow students, and her culinary triumphs and disasters. The book is also chock full of interesting facts about Cordon Bleu, Paris, and French Cuisine, and recipes at the end of every chapter give you a chance to try a little of Le Cordon Bleu yourself.

My favorite parts of the book were Flinn's descriptions of the people with whom she interacted in Paris: the famous chefs who create fabulous cuisine, but secretly love to eat at "McDo" (McDonalds); the World's Smartest Homeless Man who sits on the corner across from Le Cordon Bleu waiting for gourmet handouts from students; the fellow culinary student who has a little trouble with her lobster and ends up having to chase it across the kitchen. These people made me want to pack up and move to Paris and try my hand in Le Cordon Bleu's kitchens! This book was entertaining, enjoyable, and inspired me to do what I love. Bring on the kitchen!