The Carb Sensitivity Program

- by Natasha Turner

While there is really nothing ground-breaking in its concept (we all know that those with insulin resistance, diabetes, and/or PCOS have a difficult time with carbs), I really appreciated the personalized approach it takes in assisting a person in finding out which carbs negatively affect them the most. Everyone's body is different, so a "one-size-fits-all" approach is undesirable and ineffective.

The author deals with carb sensitivity herself, so she is not unsympathetic to the readers' plights! Her program offers many simple recipes, menu examples, and relatively simple strength-training exercises. Be prepared to drink a lot of smoothies and protein shakes (whey isolate protein is recommended). Turner does seem to peddle her supplements a fair bit, but those are easily ignored; you can always use your supplement(s) of choice, so long as you're getting what your body requires.

This book mainly outlines a 6-week elimination program - not dissimilar to one of those "elimination diets" done to assess food allergies or sensitivities - in order to assist you in finding out which carbs you're the most sensitive to, affecting weight loss and overall health.

The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank

- by Ellen Feldman

There are very few women my age who have NOT read The Diary of Anne Frank; it is one of the few secular books that have had an impact on my life. The author, Ellen Feldman, draws from that harrowing true life story and offers us a glimpse of what may have happened if Peter - Anne's young love - would have survived the Nazi regime and continued to live his life, after immigrating to America.

The young Jewish boy, Peter van Pels (or van Daan as Anne renames him in her diary) was hidden in the "secret annex" along with the Frank family; he was never reported as dead or alive after the War. What IF Peter van Pels, the boy who loved Anne Frank, survived the Holocaust? Would he have remained trapped in a psychological annex for the rest of his life? That is the story Feldman weaves in this scenario of 'what ifs'. It is written from Peter's perspective as he struggles mentally with what he has been through, what he has survived, and things he will never be able to forget.

While it was not the narrative I was expecting (to be honest, I initially thought it was book about Peter and Anne while they were living in the annex), it was an interesting read and one of those stories that make you think.

Code Name Verity

- by Elizabeth Wein
(epub)

This was a very unique book. At times, it was difficult to build a 'relationship' with the main character, due to the jumble of names and information presented in a disjointed style. It felt a bit too much like deciphering 'texting talk.' (Perhaps, because it is classified as a young-adult book? I'm not sure.) I also found it rather confusing when the main character wasn't overly clear regarding her identity, coupled with the often-times baffling stream-of-consciousness writing style and switch in narrators. All the pilot/flying talk was a bit dull and I'll be honest... I found myself skimming through a lot of it. However, the core premise of the plot was well put together and kept you reading. 

The story, of course, was heartbreaking but interestingly written, with a lot of heart. When it all comes down to it and you peel everything else away, this is basically a story about 2 bosom friends who would - and DO - anything for the other.

The Nightingale

-by Kristin Hannah

(epub)

It appears I am not the only one perplexed by the acclaim this book has received by countless reviewers. Granted, the novel is well-liked by those responding to something in the story that evidently touched them personally; however, I failed to have such an experience.

While the struggles and trials of the characters are weighty, the writing was such that it lent neither power, nor a moving quality to them. The characters themselves seemed two-dimensional and ultimately, failed to strike a chord. 

While facts and events surrounding WWII were obviously quite well-researched, the tale itself was over-written and melodramatic, lacking in depth. The tepid, clichéd writing style was overly distracting and, at times, downright cheesy. The reader is all but told what to feel by the author, with copious adverbs and adjectives, which merely detracted from a plot that actually had a lot of potential. I'll be giving her other books a miss.

Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter

-by Randy L. Schmidt
(epub)

I grew up listening to Karen Carpenter's velvet voice wafting from our record player in the late 70s and 80s. My mom always had her records playing, so The Carpenters' music was, in many ways, the soundtrack of my youth. When I was around years old 13 years old, I remember watching the made-for-TV movie of her life. Learning about the sad girl behind the amazing voice always stuck with me. Karen life was obviously tinged with a deep sadness, with hopes unfulfilled.

While Little Girl Blue came across as somewhat cold and factual at times, it was obviously well-researched. I learned many things that I did not know previously about Karen's life.

Karen's story in Little Girl Blue is not a "pleasant" read, by any means, but it is a worthwhile one, even if you aren't a fan of the music.

The New Rules of Lifting for Women

-by Lou Schuler 
 
I was up all night last night (caffeine overload!), so I read NROLFW in its entirety. Through my own personal research, I've learned that lifting heavy is a GOOD thing for us women - Schuler's research certainly confirmed this. I am rather disappointed, though, that I won't have the opportunity to give an honest "tried and true" or "meh" opinion on this actual program anytime soon.

I truly enjoyed the author's writing style. He has a great sense of humor and the science was well presented and easy-to-understand for the most part, so I was able to take quite a lot away from it. I love the fact that he debunks the myth that more reps with light weights are optimal for women, along with low-calorie diets and excessive cardio as means to "healthy weight loss".

However, there was one thing that rubbed me the wrong way, near the end of the book. In chapter 13 entitled "YES, YOU", Schuler mentions a woman who approaches him about doing a workout, but was not prepared to enroll in a gym or purchase home gym equipment. His response was:  

"I assume she doesn't really want to do the program... There's a clear path from where they are to where they say they want to be. But there's just as clear a roadblock they've installed that prevents them from following that path." 

Perhaps I'm misreading it, but I found Schuler's tone smuggishly dismissive in this instance. Did this woman install that 'roadblock' by choice, or perhaps was it because she simply could not afford either of the options this book calls for (gym membership or home gym)? The fact that she approached the author for information clearly shows she was willing and interested in the program. And yet, he *assumes* she doesn't want to do it. For some, it is not due to lack enthusiasm, willingness, or desire to try the program... but sometimes circumstances just don't allow it. Sometimes we don't create the roadblocks - they are just there!

The program calls for at least a dumbbell set, barbell with weights (and a rack, I'm assuming), chin-up bar, stability ball, adjustable weight bench, and steps. Many of the other workouts call for more elaborate equipment. I dare say a good number of New Rules readers aren't financially able to purchase a gym membership or even gym equipment for that matter, either of which are necessary to do the program. In fact, many don't even have access to a gym in their area - I don't, living in a very small town. Granted, there are 'Body Weight' training moves that one could do without equipment, but they only make up a small part of the actual program and do not really offer the full degree of training the book advocates.

So, while I would love to put the program to the test - and am ready to give it the time and effort it deserves - I cannot because my circumstances don't allow it. Maybe someday. Guess I'll just stick to my kettlebells for now.

The Mummy Case

 - by Elizabeth Peters

(Amelia Peabody #3) 

It's not you, it's me.

Ok, I'll admit. I struggled to finish this one and was pretty eager to see it end. Though I've only had time and energy to read before bed lately, I was "okay" with putting The Mummy Case down far too quickly; picking it up again seemed to be a chore, not a delight.

The first novel, Crocodile on the Sandbank, was what lured me into the series in the first place. I enjoyed the witty repartee between Emerson and Peabody; I could relate to Peabody, and found Emerson totally entertaining. And the mystery aspect of Crocodile was attention-grabbing enough to keep me reading with interest. The second novel (The Curse of the Pharaohs) ...meh, not so much. And this third one, even less captivating than the second. Not that Peters isn't a good writer. Not that the characters aren't amusing (although, for me, I found the series started to lag once Ramses the Egyptologist wunderkind was introduced). Something was just... lacking.

I suppose it's the fact I don't really enjoy reading so much light-hearted banter and goings-on amidst a mystery. Perhaps it's the serious-toned, dreadful mysteries I prefer (a la Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, Anne Perry). Perhaps light-hearted mysteries aren't my cup of tea?

Either way, it's not you, Elizabeth Peters – it's me…

Nevertheless, I am willing to read the next novel in the Amelia Peabody series, at some point in time, hoping that my stick-to-itiveness will be rewarded and my interest in the rest of the series will be rekindled.

The Face of a Stranger

 -by Anne Perry

 (William Monk, #1)

London. July 31, 1856. Enter, William Monk. At the outset of The Face of a Stranger, we know as much about Monk as he does: not much at all. A carriage accident has left him completely amnesic. Confused and dismayed at his current state, Monk gradually learns - through observation of his rooms, and carefully worded questions to others (without revealing his disadvantage) - that he is a police Inspector. Much to his chagrin, he comes to the realization that, while he is a brilliant detective, he is also callous, generally disliked, and infamously ambitious - willing to trample on others to advance his career. Others' reactions to Monk, paint a grim picture of his character - someone he does not even like, himself. While rather unlikely, it is fascinating to read the lead character's introspective thoughts and 'internal woolgatherings' as he comes to know the person he used to be, and is striving to change with every turn of the page.

Amidst all of this, Monk is sent back to work. He must piece himself together, while investigating a gruesome murder of a Crimean War hero, a member of the gentry. He ultimately succeeds in solving it with the help of his newly-assigned Sergeant, John Evans, who becomes his trusted friend, and Hester Latterly, a nurse who knew the murder victim in the Crimea.

I was impressed with how the story was constructed. While the investigation of the Grey mystery became cumbersome at times, overall the plot was very engrossing! Admittedly, I was a bit disappointed by who the culprit was, as I had suspected them early on, and hoped it was something a bit less predictable. However, the story was truly about Monk and his 'self-discovery' -- I enjoyed that aspect the most and it was really well done.

The Face of a Stranger was refreshingly different and a treat to read. What a clever way to involve the reader... by making the main character a mystery unto himself! I look forward to more in this series.

EDIT TO ADD (July 2013): I am current reading book number 11 of the Monk series. I am enjoying every single one!

Crocodile on the Sandbank

 -by Elizabeth Peters

 (Amelia Peabody #1)

What fun!

This enjoyable light read offers a playful romp through Egypt with a bit of mystery (albeit, predictable), romance, intrigue and humour thrown in for good measure. I'm looking forward to delving head-long into the rest of Peters' series - she writes with wit and a deft turn of phrase, but also bestows a certain amount depth to her characters.

Narrator and unlikely 'heroine', Amelia Peabody, is matter-of-fact, unflappable and very believable (I took to her in an instant); she resigned to the idea of becoming an 'old maid'. While in Rome, she rescues Evelyn, an English gentle-woman who has found herself on the losing end of a an imprudent relationship and in a compromising situation that jeopardizes her respectability. She soon becomes Peabody's companion and close friend, as the two head to Egypt to spend the winter months on the Nile - Peabody to escape the dullness of England's winter and Evelyn to escape a scandal. A chance encounter brings them into the acquaintance with the Emerson brothers, encamped at an ancient Egyptian archeological site. Strange occurrences begin to plague the dig, involving a run-about Mummy intent on frightening off the small party! New friendships are forged, and new enemies made, as the mystery at the archeological site begins to unravel.

Being the first of the series, this book "sets the scene", and is no doubt more of an introduction to the characters and their personas, as opposed to an elaborate storyline. (Emerson is quickly becoming a favourite!) It was certainly an enjoyable premiere!

Bring on the next!

Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady

-by Edith Holden

Country Diary was originally published in 1906. Is it any wonder that reading this book makes me feel like I'm stepping back in time? One flip of a page and I'm instantly in Edwardian accouterment, sitting in a beautiful field atop a quilt on a breezy summer day, with my pen and journal in hand.

Elegant and absolutely beautiful, this book is a visual banquet that I will continue to enjoy whenever I open its pages! Its amazingly detailed drawings and paintings of nature are coupled with the author's notes and poetry of the time.

It has encouraged me to dig out my own art journal now and then, even when I "think" I have nothing worthy to write about or draw. Sometimes it's the little things that mean the most, and the journey - not the destination - that counts.

Rebecca

Rebecca
-by Daphne du Maurier

416 pages (2001) Harper Paperbacks
originally published in 1938
ISBN 978-0452284142

MY RATING: 4.5/5

modern-day Jane Eyre

The house at the centre of Daphne du Maurier's novel Rebecca, opens with the famous lines: “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. It seemed to me I stood by the iron gate leading to the drive and for a while I could not enter, for the way was barred to me”. A fitting introduction to the spellbinding tale of intrigue, mystery and love.

At the outset of the novel Rebecca reflects on a dream she has had about Manderley estate, and as the story unfolds, she becomes the narrator of her story.

Simple, naive and young, Rebecca staying at a hotel with her employer, Mrs. Danvers, happens to meet the brooding handsome Maxim de Winter, a wealthy widower who is rumoured to have lost his first wife under mysterious circumstances. She ultimately becomes his second wife, and they moved to his estate at Manderley. As she settles into high society, she realizes how diffucult the adjustment is for her. Her relationship with Maxim becomes the object of rumours.

Mrs. Danvers, the mysterious and cruel housekeper.

The Shipping News

- by E. Annie Proulx

Awash with atmosphere and emotion

One can compare Proulx's rhythm of writing with that of the sea – mesmerizing! The Shipping News tells the story of a mediocre newspaper reporter in Mockingbird, NY, by the name of Quoyle (we don’t learn his first name). Lumbering, incurably withdrawn, and painfully self-conscious, he is described as having "a great damp loaf of a body" with "a giant's chin" that he constantly tries to hide with his hand.

Good-hearted but generally unsuccessful, Quoyle has always considered himself a failure. He is father to two young daughters, Bunny and Sunshine, and is completely devoted to his unfaithful and abusive wife, Petal Bear. Shortly after kidnapping and selling Bunny and Sunshine to sex traffickers, Petal and her lover are killed in a car accident. The two girls are located by police and returned safely to Quoyle. He feels his world collapsing around him.

When his paternal aunt (headstrong upholstering-entrepreneur, Agnis Hamm) convinces him that a fresh prospective would do both he and his two young daughters good, Quoyle decides to reclaim his life and goes back to his roots - Newfoundland; where his aunt, in search of a new life for herself, is headed. After moving into his family's ancestral home in Killick-Claw, he is hired on at a local newspaper, "The Gammy Bird", to report on the shipping news, the comings and goings at the local port.

Inevitably Quoyle settles into a small fishing village existence, where life is ruled (and sometimes, taken) by the sea. Where boats are a necessity and not recreation. As the tide ebbs and flows, troubling family secrets are uncovered. Despite his disturbing past, Quoyle gradually forms close bonds with those in the community and begins to gain the self-assurance and emotional strength he’s always lacked - allowing himself to love, and be loved, again.

Adding richness and atmosphere are the varying pieces - unusual characters - that make up the patch-work of small-town, Killick-Claw. Quoyle's newspaper coworkers... Jack Buggit, owner and editor of the newspaper, for whom fishing is both a calling and a curse. Old sea dog, 70-something, Billy Pretty – handles the home and local gossip column. Beaufield Nutbeem – animated English castaway on the Newfoundland shore who covers foreign correspondence and tracks down sexual abuse stories, is obsessed with his boat and plans of sailing across the Atlantic in it. Ever-enraged, Tert Card – "face like cottage cheese clawed with a fork" who describes himself as "the bloody so-called managing editor, copy editor, rewrite man, mechanicals, ad makeup department, mail and distribution chief, snow shoveler", harbours dreams of relocating to Florida. Then of course there’s the mad old hermit cousin who attempts to cast spells by tying a wide array of nautical knots. The former-truck driver who knits over his desk. The boat builder who hums the same folk tune under his breath. The tall quiet widow, Wavey Prowse, who ultimately changes Quoyle’s life.

Poignant, heart-rending, quirky, graceful, and often gut-splittingly funny, The Shipping News is a beautifully touching portrait of human emotion – a story of loss, pain, recovery and hope. Like most small village potboilers, it's a slow-moving yet vivid yarn that takes patience to immerse yourself in. But unlike the frigid and unforgiving Atlantic waters off the Grand Banks, it won't fail to warm your heart.
~
Penned prior to my review...
This book is on my 2011 reading list, and has sat on my shelf long enough. Glad I finally picked it up and read it. It's definitely one for my "favourites list". Started listening to this while in hospital, on audiobook. Narrated by Paul Hect who did an amazing job! This was so well-written (aside from a few expletives, which I felt were not necessary). Atmospheric and thoughtful. Really enjoyed this. Being from Nova Scotia, working in the newspaper industry, and knowing many Newfoundlanders helps too! ;) Hope to write a proper review of this soon.

From Land & Sea: Nova Scotia Contemporary Landscape Artists

 -by Dee Appleby

As diverse and beautiful as the province itself!
 
From Land and Sea, a fascinating introduction to the rich and varied texture of Nova Scotia’s landscape art, masterfully exhibits 65 contemporary artists and their work.

This beautifully displayed overview offers a unique visual story told by its artists, with styles as varying and exquisite as the diverse province itself… a marriage of land and sea.

Combining a remarkable play of shadows and light, deep hues and subtle tones, the stunning paintings and photography endow the book with drama and visual excitement, as the images virtually leap from the page.

The art itself is the jumping-off point for concise and fascinating descriptions of the artists, their work and important themes involving the creation of their art. Anecdotal stories regarding personal interests and inspiration of the artists and how they work, vividly personalize the pages.

Truly a book to cherish in your collection!

Bird Songs

- by Les Beletsky, Jon L. Dunn  

A beautiful book, and a treasure to own and use.

I take it along with me whenever we go on our many camping trips throughout the year, to identify and 'attract' the many birds in the National Park we visit. Such a treat!

The descriptions about each bird and the lovely full-color drawings are a wonderful complement to the sounds of these amazing creatures. It is a favorite in my collection!

South Shore Tastes: Recipes from the Best Restaurants on Nova Scotia's South Shore

- by Liz Feltham, Scott Munn

Taste and see that Nova Scotia is good!

This is the cookbook that I have been eagerly awaiting for a long time.

Many times I have dined at Nova Scotia's beautiful array of restaurants and wished upon a star that I knew the secrets to their delights. This book divulges those secrets, so that you can enjoy your favorite dishes again and again in your own home.

The photos are as mouthwatering as the recipes' results themselves.

South Shore Tastes has quickly become one of my favorite go-to cookbooks. Pick up a copy and start making your own culinary delights with a Nova Scotian twist!

The Devil on Horseback

- by Victoria Holt

 
The usual Holt equation = headstrong, smart (but penniless) heroine + the brooding could-be-cruel man who annoys her but ends up winning her heart.

The story is set in France, at the outset of the French Revolution. Strong-willed and clever, Minella, is suddenly orphaned when her beloved mother, an English school mistress, dies. She is given the opportunity to move to France, serving in the household of the haughty, arrogant Comte Fontaine Delibes as a companion to his wayward daughter, Margot. However France is on the brink of turmoil, as are Minella's feelings for the master of the house. It's not one of Holt's greatest, but fun brainless fluff nonetheless.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

-by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows

Brimming with witticisms and a cast of lovable characters, this epistolary novel is an enjoyable read. One cannot fail to be charmed by the small island cast milling about Guernsey (a small island in the English Channel), who manage to endure the Nazi occupation with their own unique brand of pluck and pertinacity.

Juliet Ashton - a successful English journalist well known for writing a humorous column during the war years - sets out to pen a book now that the war is over. Suffering writers block for a subject, she fortuitously stumbles upon the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - a band of islanders who form an intimate literary club, originally established on the fly as an excuse to conceal contraband food from the occupying soldiers.

Once the society’s members discover Juliet has focused on their club for her novel, it is not long before they start coming out of the woodwork. Sending Juliet letter after letter, they relate their experiences of how their little society helped them cope with the occupation, rallying them together, and often times the amusing predicaments they often found themselves in. But it’s not all silly antics. The grim reality of war casts a shadow on their letters, and gives the reader a window into the lives of those affected by the Nazi occupation.

While the entire premise is enjoyable, and the wit admirable, something in the story fell a little flat. Most of the characters seemed more akin to caricatures, writing with seemingly the same intonation as each other. Still, if you enjoy a good ‘story book’ ending and fun characters, it’s a rollicking - if not fluffy - read.

Historic Queens County

- by Tom Sheppard


A beautiful portrait of a way of life

Sheppard's Historic Queens County is a well-written book brimming with history and photos about a charming coastal county in the beautiful province of Nova Scotia, Canada.

While various communities are touched upon in the book, at the heart of Queens County is Liverpool, the hub of the Maritimes in the 19th century, offering a rich ship-building and shipping industry. Reading about my hometown's history was intriguing. The chapter dealing with daily life in Queens County is especially enjoyable.

As a life-long Queens County resident, this book is a charming reminder of my roots. Readers are treated to stories of days gone by and the history behind people and places that make Queens County what it is today.

This is highly recommended reading for history buffs, especially those interested in Canada's rich past.

No Name

- by Wilkie Collins

A virtually unknown masterpiece, and a new favourite from a picky reader

After the untimely death of their parents, the Vanstone sisters, Norah and Magdalen, face the stark reality of social stigma in Victorian England. Orphaned and penniless, they learn the devastating truth - they are illegitimate (children with "no name", hence the title of the book). And due to an anomaly in their father's will, the entirety of his wealth and estate is legally entailed away to their heartless uncle, who has no regard for their futures.

Vastly different in temperament, the elder sister, Norah calmly accepts her change in circumstance, resigned to accept work as a governess, while independent and scheming Magdalen refuses to accept the fate that their uncle has bestowed upon them and sets out on her own, vowing revenge.

To carry out her complex strategy of retribution, Magdalen enlists the assistance of the wily Captain Wragge, a distant relation and a self-confessed defrauder, who proves to be a comic relief with a tender humane heart at the core. Readers will be delighted to discover Wragge is just as memorable as many of Dickens' likable miscreants (not unlike Little Dorrit's Mr. Pancks).

Wragge and Magdalen face an uphill battle of wits, trying to outsmart the ruthlessly sharp Mrs. Lecount, the controlling and manipulative housekeeper of the will's beneficiary, Noel Vanstone. While Norah dutifully carries on with her life without incident, the intrepid Magdalen continues on with her quest for justice - at any expense - culminating in a surprise ending.

Perfectly plotted, though admittedly a tad bit slow at the outset, No Name is a treat for any classics lover and is well worth the time invested in its 700+ pages. Highly recommended!

The Convenient Marriage

- by Georgette Heyer

 
 A fun "Georgian Romp" well worth reading!

Fun, well-written, and refreshingly comedic, I thoroughly enjoyed The Convenient Marriage. It was everything I hoped it would be and, while lacking in the deep-thinking department, it more than made up for it in wit and humor. 

At the outset of the story we are introduced to the eldest Winwood daughter, Elizabeth - a beauty of of noble birth, yet virtually penniless. At the prodding of her well-intentioned mother, Elizabeth is about to turn her back on her true love, Captain Heron, and marry a complete stranger, the Earl of Rule, solely for his vast wealth. However...

Enter: Horatia ("Horry") Winwood, Elizabeth's younger rebellious sister. Though rather young and uncouth, as well as stuttering and stubborn, Horry decides to save her sister from a loveless match! After much scheming, and to her elder sister's relief, Horry eventually takes her her position as the Countess of Rule. The Earl accepts the swap, but not without 'enduring' the adventure and hair-brained antics that ensue, involving the Countess herself, Pelham (the Winwood's congenial gambling brother) and his drinking buddy.

The Convenient Marriage literally brims with witty dialogue and interesting back-and-forths, with well-drawn characters and a quickly moving, easy-to-follow plot. The ending, albeit predictable, will satisfy any romantic at heart.

This was my first Heyer experience - I was so charmed by it that I *know* it won't be my last. :)