The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

Images from Chapters.Indigo.caThe Namesake isn't a new book and the movie version came out a couple of years ago, but I've been meaning to read it for awhile and saw it at the library last week.

The novel follows a young Bengali woman's move from Calcutta to Boston, Massachusetts as she starts her arranged marriage to a fellow Bengali who is working toward his Ph.D in engineering. The story continues as they begin to create a family in a country that is not their home. The book really acutely captures the experience of many second-generation children born in North America, those who have parents who strongly carry the traditions of their respective countries and how delicate the balance between becoming American and staying true to your roots can be.

Was it worth the read?

Yes. Jhumpa Lahiri has a way of writing and observing things that make the minutiae of everyday life seem beautiful and special in their own right. The book had a simple flow to it that I found really relaxing and I loved learning about Bengali culture.

The Spellmans Strike Back by Lisa Lutz

Images from Chapters.Indigo.caUntil today I hadn't posted any reviews in almost a month. That's not because I haven't read any books...I've read lots of books. It's just that there haven't been many good books. I feel like most of the reviews I've written so far have been negative and it starts to take the fun out of writing a review. Well finally I have some good news...I read a GOOD book!

The Spellmans Strike Back is the fourth novel in Lisa Lutz's Spellman series and I think it was hinted that it might be the last, but I really hope not! The Spellman's are this seriously lovingly dysfunctional family who run a private investigation business. The book follows middle sibling Isabel Spellman, who's poised to take on the family business. At 32, Isabel may have finally grown up. She's got a boyfriend (the bartender at her favourite watering hole) and her court-ordered psychiatrist sessions ("read previous file"–as they like to say in the book) seem to have done her some good. Still, her mother still won't leave her alone. Not happy with her choice of companion she blackmails Isabel into going on a date with a lawyer once a month. Between these super funny dates,the doorknobs that keep mysteriously disappearing in her parent's house, her sister's obsession with "Freeing Schmidt" and much, much more, Isabel has got a lot to deal with and the results are a mix of suspense and hilarity that make for a really good read.

All the characters I've come to love were back and the best part of all was that Isabel really has seemed to finally grow up. You can't help but feel really happy for the Spellman's and wish your family ran a detective agency too!

Was it worth the read?

Obviously, YES! So good! Read it and read the previous three too!!!

Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

Images from Chapters.Indigo.caI work for a magazine publishing company. I'm not an editor, but a lot of my friends are and I sometimes get the lucky chance to read a book I'm curious about before it has even come out.

One of these books is Angelology.

I looked it up online because I liked the cover and couldn't tell if it was a book for teens or adults. There was already a wikipedia entry for it talking about a bidding war over the movie rights by some of Hollywood's biggest film companies.

It got me excited. Was I about to get a sneak peak at the next big blockbusting book?

Considering I haven't written this post till now, and I had the book way back in early February I can safely say no, this was not the epic masterpiece I had hoped for.

The novel had a promising start introducing the 19-year-old Angeline who's spent most of her life in a convent and wants nothing more than to continue being a nun. I found this incredibly intriguing, as it's supposed to be modern day and I don't think I've ever heard of a 19-year-old nun!

Angeline works in the convent library and receives a letter asking for access to some archives, archives she begins to wonder herself about.

Meanwhile in the heart of New York, Percival Gregori (isn't that an awesome name for a villain?) is ordering a young graduate student to drive up to the convent and find out more about these mysterious archives. We then follow Percival back to his luxurious Manhattan apartment and find out why he appears to be in so much pain and why he's so urgent to get his hands on these archives.

These are by far the best scenes of the book.

The author tries to create this epic story of otherworldly creatures who live among us (the big trend nowadays--thanks Twilight!), but isn't a strong enough writer yet to handle the number of twists and turns and the depth that a successful story like that requires.

The structure of the book was not well organized and the ending was almost ridiculous. This is not a story that needs multiple books to be told and yet that seems to be exactly what is trying to be done, at the cost of a respectful ending.

Was it worth the read?

No, don't bother! As a movie though, I think the sore points of the book would work well on the big scree, it has potential.