Family Affair

I've been a fan of Caprice Crane since her first book, "Stupid and Contagious," hit shelves in 2006. Her follow-up, "Forget About It," placed me firmly in her fan club. What I love about Crane is that her characters are perfectly flawed. They bumble through life, as most of us do, with their share of baggage and neurosis, in a way that is both endearing and entirely relatable. I have a hard time reading a book full of perfect characters, who always say the right thing at the right time, and always know how to react in any given situation. I want my love stories to seem as if they might actually last past the last page of the book.

Crane's new release, "Family Affair," has many of the same elements that endeared me to her first two novels. Layla and Brett Foster have been together since...well, forever. They were high school sweethearts who got married shortly after finishing college. Now almost thirty, Brett is struggling with the marriage, feeling like their relationship has gotten stale. Layla has been a part of his family since her mother died in the tenth grade, but lately Brett is beginning to feel as if Layla is more of a sister than a wife. She spends more time cooking with his mother, playing poker with his father, owning a business with his sister, and serving as a confidant to his brother than she does attending his football games (he's the coach). One night at dinner, while Layla is thinking that Brett is going to announce that he wants children, Brett instead announces that he wants a divorce.

Layla is understandably crushed- how could you not be? However, she is determined not to lose both Brett and his family. Over the years, they have come to see her as a part of the family, and she isn't about to lose everything she has simply because her husband no longer wants to be married. Brett becomes increasingly angry and jealous of Layla, especially when he finds that his family (along with most of his friends) have taken her side in this dispute. He becomes absolutely livid when Layla files for joint custody of his family, and becomes determined to push her away by any means necessary.

The insanity that follows Brett's announcement is, in equal parts, both heartbreaking and hysterical. Both Brett and Layla are perfectly aware of how immature they are being, yet seem incapable of rising above their conflicting emotions in order to be the bigger person. "Family Affair" showcases all of the mistakes people make in dealing with loved ones, and how the power of family can overcome (almost) any obstacle. Within Brett and Layla, one can see the answers to the question of what goes wrong in a relationship.

I will admit that the ending is a bit more abrupt and storybook-ish than what seems reasonable for the amount of damage each party has done to the other (after all, Brett DID bring another woman to Christmas with him, knowing Layla would be there. This isn't something that's likely to be easily forgiven). All in all, however, Crane has produced an incredibly realistic, touching, and entertaining story about marriage, family, and love.

--Jenn C.

Handle With Care

The next four weeks will bring many popular new releases, with highly anticipated titles coming from many of today's top-selling authors. Danielle Steele's "Big Girl" comes out next week, Clive Cussler's "Silent Sea" is set to release March 9th, and Harlan Coben's "Caught" will hit bookshelves on March 23rd. Nonfiction books are also making waves in March, with both Mitt Romney and Karl Rove generating notable buzz about their upcoming memoirs. However, the new book I'm the most excited about is Chelsea Handler's "Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang."

Handler is a stand-up comedian and the host of the late-night talk show "Chelsea Lately." Her previous two books, "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea" and "My Horizontal Life" were both on the New York Times Bestseller list. Similar to her stand-up act, her books focus on stories from her personal life, which are equally witty, off-kilter, and downright hysterical.

"Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang" promises to deliver more of what I have come to expect from Handler: more ridiculous stories told from the odd perspective that can only be Chelsea. Nothing is safe from Handler- from Lean Pockets and Sex and the City to Cabbage Patch Dolls. I'm particularly interested in hearing her story of how she once managed to convince her boyfriend that there were Swiss Army Knives in the soles of her $16,000 shoes (that power of persuasion is something every woman should learn!!)

Fans of Celia Rivenbark (author of "Bless Your Heart, Tramp" and "We're Just Like You, Only Prettier") will love Handler's books. Check out a copy of "Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang," set to release March 9th, but beware- this book will likely cause readers to snort unbecomingly from laughter, so you may consider reading alone!

--Jenn C.

Gotham City Murder!

If you are a history buff as I am, I highly recommend The Murder of Helen Jewett: the life and death of a prostitute in nineteenth-century New York. During this time period murder in New York was not as prevalent as you might think, and brothels were a societal norm. Using historical records, news articles, and letters written by the victim to her patrons, author Patricia Cline Cohen provides a thoughtful and in-depth look into the life of one young lady from her childhood in Maine to her brutal death in a New York City brothel. Cohen discusses Helen's migration from Maine to New York, and touches on commerce, the development of communities, and the mingling of the classes in New England. Upon Helen's death, the reader is witness to every circumstance - from the inquest, to the investigation and trial, and the rumor and sensationalism created by the burgeoning field of investigative journalism. Cohen also includes the scandal involved with the murdered prostitute’s clientele and the fact that during her formative years she was in the care of one of Maine's leading families, who afforded her a formal education.

--Larry G.

Great December Releases

I know what you're thinking: as if you have time to read this month, what with all of the holiday preparation, shopping, and cooking! However, if you can spare a moment to yourself, check out one of these upcoming releases. Trust me, the break will be worth it!

December 7th: Puttering About in a Small Land by Phillip K. Dick
Roger and Virginia Lindhal’s marriage is already on the rocks when they enroll their son in a private school in the mountains of California. When they meet the Bonners, a complicated series of events, emotions, and traumas are released. This story is typical Phillip Dick, with an intense emotional buildup and very detailed characters. You’ll find that you won’t be able to put it down.

December 7th: The Good Son by Russel D. McLean
Looking for a new author? Try this debut by new Scottish writer McLean. Scottish private investigator J. McNee tries to come to terms with his immense personal baggage as he investigates the apparent suicide of Daniel Robertson. This tale of love, betrayal, and loss successfully blends classic mystery styles with a more edgy modern flair.

December 14th: Witch and Wizard by James Patterson
In this gripping dystopian story, 15-year old Wisty and her older brother Whit are thrown in a secret prison with no explanation. While in prison, they discover new and incredible powers, but can they master their skills in time to save themselves- and the world? Patterson delivers another page-turning thriller sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

December 14th: Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
In another dystopian world, Eddie Russett has no desire to be anything but completely loyal to the Collective, who rule society through color. When he meets Jane, life as he knew it is shattered as she opens his eyes to the truth behind the “Colortocracy.” Fforde is equal parts humorous, genius, and ridiculous in this new romantic thriller.

Happy reading!!

--Jenn C.

Flash Forward

What would you do if you got a glimpse of your own personal future and it looked bleak? Would you try to change things or accept that the future is unchangeable and make the best of it? In Flash Forward, now an ABC series on Thursday evening which is loosely based on the 1999 novel by Robert J. Sawyer, you will get a chance to see what some have done when faced with that question.

Give the book a try; it is a little more technical than the loosely based series but an interesting novel that makes you think, “What if....?”

--Lois M.

The Lost Symbol: What Did You Think?

“The Lost Symbol” by Dan Brown is a predictable adventure. Twists and turns that make you scratch your head but still hold your interest enough to want see where it all ends. And as in his previous book, “The Da Vinci Code,” there’s enough intriguing details to investigate further once you put the book down.

What did you think? Leave us a comment and let us know!

--Alana F.

More Historical Intrigue

What began as just another Showtime series soon became my obsession.
Life in Tudor England and especially the court of Henry VIII caught my attention not only for the main character Jonathan Ryes Myers but also the subject line that followed.
I knew it would be a fictional tale with liberties taken in the plot but soon it proved to be an interesting adaptation of this time in history.

Because of this Showtime series I found myself reading books, some fiction others nonfiction, in an attempt to sort out the true facts from the surreal; what follows are a list of books I found myself reading in a futile attempt to unravel the story.
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The Six Wives of Henry VIII
By: Alison Weir

The author uses many public records and personal letters of the early 1500's to offer a comprehensive version of the tempestuous private and public lives of Henry VIII and his six wives.

In Triumph's Wake: Royal Mothers, Tragic Daughters, and the Price They Paid for Glory
By: Julia P. Gelardi

Historian Gelardi focuses on the fates of three pairs of royal mothers and daughters: Isabella of Castile and Catherine of Aragon, Maria Theresa and Marie Antoinette, and Queen Victoria and Empress Frederick.

The Constant Princess
By: Philippa Gregory

As youngest daughter to the Spanish monarchs King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Catalina was promised to the English Prince Arthur when she was three. She leaves Spain at 15 to fulfill her destiny as queen of England but things do not turn out as planned, in this dramatization it shows how Catalina uses her faith, her cunning and her utter belief in destiny to reclaim her rightful title after the death of Price Arthur.

Mademoiselle Boleyn
By: Robin Maxwell

A look at the future queen of England before Henry VIII comes into her life.

Anne Boleyn; A new Life of England’s Tragic Queen
By: Denny, Joanna

For a change of pace read about the true life and tragedy associated with the life of Anne Boleyn.

The Other Boleyn Girl
Starring: Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson
DVD 2008

This is a tale of two sisters competing for the same king. This movie version uses some historical but mostly fictional details to weave an interesting and entertaining story.


The Last Wife of Henry VIII
By Carolly Erickson

In this first-person account of the life of Catherine Parr, who survived marriage to the dangerous and mercurial Henry Tudor, is arguably his most interesting bride. Cultured, well-educated and beautiful, "Cat" catches Henry's eye as a young girl and benefits and suffers from his favor all her life but in the end, gets everything she wants.

The Children of Henry VIII
By: Alison Weir

The tragedy of four accidental rivals to a throne, three of them children by different mothers of a much married king does not lose any of its drama by frequent retelling. Along with the royal siblings the doomed Lady Jane Grey is included.

Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey
By: Alison Weir

Lady Jane Grey (1537–1554), whose ascension to the English throne was briefly and unluckily. Jane's parents groomed her from infancy to be the perfect consort for Henry's son, Prince Edward. When Edward dies, Lord and Lady Dorset maneuver the throne for their 16-year-old daughter. Using multiple narrators, Weir weaves a conspiratorial web with Jane caught at the center.

The Lady Elizabeth
By Alison Weir

The tale chronicles the life of Elizabeth I from her early childhood to her coronation, through the final years of her father, Henry VIII, and the brief reigns of her siblings, Edward VI and Queen Mary.

The Mistresses of Henry VIII
By: Kelly Hart

This is a behind the scenes look at the many other women in King Henry VIII’s life.

I find myself anxiously awaiting the start of season four of Showtime’s “The Tudors” and reading, not only about the wives and children, but the many other fascinating people during this time period.



--Lois