Domitille Debret Debret itibaren Sta Rosa, Mazatlán, Sin., Mexico
This is the second book of the Julie & Julia movie - or first, I suppose. I read it second. (I am glad I saw the movie first, though because it is one of two movies from a book that I did not immediately think "oh, the book is better" and I probably wouldn't have seen it had I read first, which would have been a shame because the movie is very good). Very different from My Life in France, but as much a story about a journey of the soul as Julia Child's. The movie is much kinder to Julie than she is, but I loved her story more because she was so much less perfect in her book. I was as fascinated with her husband as I was with Julia's - Eric was not as mysterious as Paul, but equally amazing. I could NOT have lived in the apartment she describes and that she managed to with the humor she presents...well, miraculous or insane, not sure which. There were moments when I could tell she loved cooking, moments when I could tell she was happy, but not many. The cooking was almost desperate - miraculously insane to stay up until 11pm to have dinner simply to have managed another recipe. Perhaps if she had had the time and space afforded Julia Child, cooking would have been a delight. Far easier to love cooking if you can spend your morning strolling through the markets, your afternoons creating and if you have someone available to clean up for you. Not a criticism of Julia Child - I am as in love with her as Julie Powell is/was. The books have some interesting political parallels - Julie works for a Republican administration after 9/11; Julia experienced a Republican administration - and was tormented by it - after WWII. My favorite sections are when she is in love with cooking and her husband and you can tell she is considering being in love with herself. I also identified with her mother - a physical presence in the book, not just a voice - because it is SO difficult to see your children hurting in this way. You either become silent or naggy (I tend toward naggy, I'm told), desperately wanting to fix the situation like you could when they were little and knowing you can't.
suspenseful, imaginative, and clever. I loved it!
Kate's life is up in the air. Her mother is dying and her deathbed wish is to return to her obscure hometown which will, essentially, uproot Kate from everything she's ever known. Nevertheless, she does it, and she's thrown into a brand new world where she is surprised to find she makes new friends and finds herself building a new life for herself. Then Henry promises her the one thing she wants most - her mother to live a long, happy and healthy life. But choosing to follow her heart and save her mother might just be her own undoing. The Goddess Test is one of the books I've been most looking forward to most this year, and I was so excited to see it featured on Netgalley. Presenting a world where Greek mythology and contemporary fiction collide, The Goddess Test is the perfect blend of fact and fiction, merging a story line with fascinating characters, layers of intrigue and story that sinks its teeth into you and doesn't let go. Aimée Carter has created a fresh debut with equal parts romance and turmoil with a fabulous writing voice that's engaging and moves with a steady, fluid pace. Kate, the heroine of The Goddess Test, was the perfect character for me. She had this vulnerability about her that made her relatable in her situation, but she was strong, too. She never lost her inner voice or her power, despite her struggles. The secondary characters like James and Ava, though slightly stereotypical as the nerdy best friend and the cynically-tongued friend, respectively, added a touch of humour to a fairly dark and twisty tale. Above all else though, Henry, was perfection. He added a subtle depth to The Goddess Test, rather quietly, through his dark demeanor and hidden agenda. There was much more to him than what originally meets the eye (tall, dark and handsome, of course.) The Goddess Test was a fabulous debut. It's a whirlwind of twists and turns, and the intermix of Greek mythology was refreshing and interesting. I give it a firm 5 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to fans who enjoy YA fiction, especially those who enjoy fantasy and paranormal stories, as well as Greek mythology. I received this eARC free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.