This week our favorite book reviewer divulges her favorite author. Jen confesses Mark Helprin is her choice and takes us deep into The Pacific ... to prove the point. She says this book "moved her to tears in its unadulterated glory," which translates roughly as "Go forth and read [it.]" If I were to choose - well, I sort-of do - my favorite writer would be Mark … [Read more...] about “The Pacific and Other Stories” by Mark Helprin
Literature in the Lymes
“Les Jeux Sont Fait” by Jean Paul Sartre
We felt Jen's book review this week is suited for a Sunday. For those not familiar with Nobel Prize-winning French author Jean-Paul Sartre, his theme is existentialism, which preaches, in Jen's concise words, "life is a done deal before you started, so what's the point?" Sartre is a hard sell, but Jen makes us want to try him one more time. The Chips Are Down ( Les Jeux … [Read more...] about “Les Jeux Sont Fait” by Jean Paul Sartre
“The Female Brain” by Dr. Louann Brizendine
She's done it again! Our Jen has us rushing down to the bookstore again because her book review choice this week is a must-read. Can there be anything on earth more fascinating than the female brain? We think not, but then we're obviously biased as we're an exclusively female business. I wish I had read this book years ago. I’m not crazy. Who knew? What I am … [Read more...] about “The Female Brain” by Dr. Louann Brizendine
“The Story of a Marriage” by Andrew Sean Greer
Our voracious reader Jen Mann dives into, "The Story of a Marriage" by Andrew Sean Greer this week and surfaces to observe insightfully, "While exploring the idea of ‘marriage’, Greer is exploring the idea of self as well." As always, she has piqued our curiousity and to the library we must go. Andrew Sean Greer wrote The Confessions of Max Tivoli. I was interested to see … [Read more...] about “The Story of a Marriage” by Andrew Sean Greer
“Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro
"Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro is one of those books that never lets you forget, to paraphrase the opinion of our wonderful book reviewer Jen Mann. We've just read her words and now we're on our way to the library to request a copy - see if you feel the same way about this extraordinary book. Occasionally you read a book that resonates within you immediately and you … [Read more...] about “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro
“Morality Tale” by Sylvia Brownrigg
Two's company, three's a crowd ... or so my mother says. Jen's book review choice for this week, "Morality Tale" by Sylvia Brownrigg, does indeed dwell on an eternal triangle of love, but one that, in this fascinating case, is exacerbated by having a fouth point added. I am at a loss how to effectively encapsulate my thought on this. It is ironic that Brownrigg’s novel is, … [Read more...] about “Morality Tale” by Sylvia Brownrigg
“Last Kiss” by Luanne Rice
It's Spring and to quote Tennyson, "a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love." Our Jen, however, is busy thinking about summer days and beach books, but love is never far away from such novels and her pick for this week, "Last Kiss" by local author Luanne Rice is no exception. In case you missed it last year, click to read our interview with Luanne Rice. Happy … [Read more...] about “Last Kiss” by Luanne Rice
“The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
This 50th column is a landmark for our indomitable book reviewer Jen Mann. We're delighted to announce that she will be starting a new venture for us soon, but don't worry, she'll still continue with her book reviews. More on this to follow, but in the meantime, enjoy this week's review of 'The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie … [Read more...] about “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Alex and Me
Jen treats us to a review this week of Alex and Me by Irene Pepperburg. An extraordinarily clever woman, Greenburg sets out to discover just how smart the African Gray Parrot - in this case, Alex - is. Greenburg establishes Alex as "a beacon in a world that underestimated him," and, as is always the case in Jen's reviews, makes us think about the bigger animal picture. “Be … [Read more...] about Alex and Me
“I Feel Bad About My Neck” by Nora Ephron
Jen is back and her book choice this week is a must-read for every woman over 40. It's a disquietingly brilliant series of essays on the joys (or otherwise) of being female and aging. At the LymeLine office we are dominant in both characteristics, so this book was not only meaningful but also had us in fits of laughter, which, as Jen stresses, is a good thing ... at our … [Read more...] about “I Feel Bad About My Neck” by Nora Ephron
“Dating Jesus: A Story of Fundamentalism, Feminism, and the American Girl” by Susan Campbell
Jen Mann is taking a well-deserved vacation this week. Actually, being the dedicated individual that she is, she tried to email in her review but was beaten by a computer malfunction. So, we're delighted to welcome our friend David Holahan as her stand-in and he offers a wonderful commentary on, "Dating Jesus. A Story of Fundamentalism, Feminism, and the American Girl," … [Read more...] about “Dating Jesus: A Story of Fundamentalism, Feminism, and the American Girl” by Susan Campbell
“The Ghost In Love” by Jonathan Carroll
"The Ghost in Love" by Jonathan Carroll is an astonishing book. Our book reviewer Jan Mann, variously describes it as "weird" and a "whirlwind of a book," but also finds it raises some theological questions "that have stumped mankind for ages." As always, Jen has us intrigued. As soon as I am done writing this review I am going to go pick up as many of Jonathan Carroll’s … [Read more...] about “The Ghost In Love” by Jonathan Carroll
“A Cup of Tea” by Amy Ephron
Jen's book choice this week is, "A Cup of Tea" by Amy Ephron and Jen sensibly suggests it's a book well worth reading with one, but does venture to warn, "... enjoy drinking it cold, since you will be too engaged to remember it's there." So we're definitely off to the library for this one, a story of a chance meeting with extraordinary consequences. What a talented family. … [Read more...] about “A Cup of Tea” by Amy Ephron
“The Shack” by William P. Young
Jen takes us to "The Shack" this week and deep into a world of theological and idealogical questioning intertwined with a quest for a peace. Her review of William P. Young's recent novel is insightful, inspiring and intriguing, or to put it another way, we can't wait to snuggle up with this book (and its seasonally-appropriate cover) in front of a roaring fire. This is … [Read more...] about “The Shack” by William P. Young
“A World Made by Hand” by James Howard Kunstler
After the briefest of breaks, our beloved Jen is back and, never one to ease us in gently, she throws us headlong into the new year with a book that makes you sit straight up in your chair and say, "Wow." James Howard Kunstler's, "A World Made by Hand" is a sort of "back to the future" book in revese ... if that makes any sense, and we, like Jen, are hooked. I now feel a … [Read more...] about “A World Made by Hand” by James Howard Kunstler