Literature in the Lymes

Our much missed and absolute favorite book reviewer is back - hooray! Jen returns with a review with a difference ... rather than one book she considers her stacks.  Hay stacks?  Chimney stacks?  Wrong and wrong again ... curious? This is so weird for me—this feeling of being literally unable to even remember a book that I have read when I sit down to review it for you. I … [Read more...] about The Stacks in Jen’s Life

Fact is often better than fiction.  Have you ever looked at a brightly colored fish or flower and thought, "It is not possible that that just appeared in nature.  I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen it.” Fact is like that too.  Imagination is contained by our perceptions so it makes sense, but some plots are so wonderful you think they must have been monkeyed with.  … [Read more...] about ‘Little Chapel On The River’ by Gwendolyn Bounds

Jen is here this week with a book written by the author of the much better known "One Hundred and One Dalmations." Dodie Smith's "I Capture the Castle" is sometimes compared to Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" and yet is something altogether different but equally—if not more—enjoyable. Nothing like a good book to cheer one up. This is like a grown-up version … [Read more...] about ‘I Capture the Castle’ by Dodie Smith

We love it when we've read something before Jen - a rare event to be sure - but it makes us feel extra-knowledgeable about her review. And, as this is the case with her book choice this week—"Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides—we can say with complete confidence that, yet again, her review absolutely hits the mark.  I am speechless.  Could be the early hour.  Could be the end … [Read more...] about “Middlesex” by Jeffrey Eugenides

Last week Jen reviewed "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen," which cleverly caught us out because it wasn't really about fishing at all. This week she reviews "The Big One An Island, an Obsession, and the Furious Pursuit of a Great Fish by David Kinney and so we think, "Hah! We're not about to be caught out again," but guess what, it's all about fishing. Can't win!  From Flyfishing … [Read more...] about “The Big One An Island, an Obsession, and the Furious Pursuit of a Great Fish” by David Kinney

We can never pretend we haven't noticed when we're late with Jen's review - first the emails arrive, then the phone starts ringing and finally when we see a line of cars cruising up and down the street, we know there's a problem. OK slight exaggeration...but not much, so without further ado, here she is - our Jen and "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" (note the pure poetry … [Read more...] about “Salmon Fishing In The Yemen” by Paul Torday

Lots of people think that the book our Jen selected this week, "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle," by David Wroblewski, is very good, including Stephen King who noted he doesn't re-read many books, but will be doing so with this one. Yet again Jen's review has tickled our fancy too and we think we'll also be reading it very shortly. I had dinner a few weeks ago with a gentleman … [Read more...] about “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” by David Wroblewski

Jen takes on Olive this week (no, not the kind with pits but rather one-of-a-kind Olive Kitteridge, who lives in Crosby, Maine) and finds herself captivated by the tangled web into which she ventures.  Author Elizabeth Strout won a 2009  Pullitzer for this book and we're thinking, if there were a Pullitzer for book reviews, our Jen would win one hands down.  This is … [Read more...] about “Olive Kitteridge” by Elizabeth Strout

Be warned, dear readers, you're in for a surprise this week when you click to read Jen's book review.  OK, we'll spill the beans - there is no book!  Yes, this week Jen analyzes why, in her opinion, she is the most voracious reader that we've ever had the pleasure to meet ... and of course, it makes fascinating reading. I thought this week might be a good time to monopolize … [Read more...] about Why I Read

Shouldn't we all be enjoying these last, lazy hazy days of summer before school starts next week by kicking off our shoes, relaxing and doing nothing much of anything? Not our Jen. She stayed up all night reading this week's book pick - that's how compelling she found "The Story Sisters" by Alice Hoffman. Alice Hoffman is one of my most-beloved authors.  She is consistently … [Read more...] about ‘The Story Sisters’ by Alice Hoffman

Published 08/14/09 While the cat's away, Jen will play.  But Jen is a good girl, and seeing as our editor has been in London, England, for a while, Jen dutifully read a book about London in her absence.  However, "Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman is not about the London tourists see ... well, actually, it is in part, but it is the "London Below" that is gripping. Whilst our … [Read more...] about “Neverwhere” by Neil Gaiman

Published 08/02/09 It's summertime - it is honestly, despite the weather, and our ever optimistic Jen has a wonderful book suggestion this week for those lazy, hazy days we're spending on our beach towels ... or rather (hopefully) about to spend. It's the garden-themed mystery, "Pushing up Daisies" by Rosemary Harris  Just back from a marvelous vacation where I read not a … [Read more...] about “Pushing Up Daisies” by Rosemary Harris

This weekend it is the Midsummer Festival in Old Lyme. So why not prepare for the splendid event by reading "Midsummer" by Marcelle Clements. It might not be quite as upbeat as the festival but, as our resplendent reviewer Jen Mann concludes, it is nevertheless, "a beautiful book." This is a beautiful book.  Rather depressing, but still beautiful. A group of friends rent … [Read more...] about “Midsummer” by Marcelle Clements

As all her loyal readers know, Jen Mann is never late with her reviews so where, you ask, is it? Well, it did a disappearing trick and decided to explore the world of cyberspace, which segues beautifully into her book choice for this week, "Plum Spooky" by Janet Evanovich, a story about, in Jen's words, "Who stole this and kidnapped whom and shot who with what?" Stephanie … [Read more...] about “Plum Spooky” by Janet Evanovich