Gerald's Game by Stephen King

Only Stephen King can talk about a glass of water for about 10 pages. This is one of his older books and it kept me wondering what was going to happen next.

The main character is stuck in a pair of handcuffs throughout most of the book. The story does carry along as she remembers things from her childhood. I don’t want to say much because I don’t want to give away anything, although I will mention that she manages to kill someone while handcuffed, albeit accidentally– now read the rest for yourself!

The Legs Are The Last To Go by Diahann Carroll

I enjoyed Diahann’s frankness about her stardom and being an entertainer in general.

She did not sugarcoat anything she went through as a well-known entertainer. She spoke candidly about her marriages, her daughter wanting to be recognized as her own person, her parent’s separation and mostly what it was like as a black entertainer and dealing with racism.

What I learned what that she had an affair with THE Syndey Poitier. I forgot he is still a man although I thought that would have been way out of character for him. They both were married with children.

What sticks out most to me is her comment that she “was always on time, always prepared, and always, always coiffed and dressed”.
She has battled breast cancer, her mothers death and the separation/reunion with her only daughter.

Under the Dome by Stephen King

I can’t say how much I enjoy Mr. King’s stories. I am just reading his older work now, along with his newest work. I think the only thing I haven’t had an interest in yet is the dark tower series.

So this book was really good, all 1072 pages. I couldn’t wait to get home to read it.

I once had a theme in my mind once for a story about people who were able to enforce a dome over their town whenever bad weather approached, but this story takes the cake!

I just keep thinking how we all live under a dome at times in our lives. At work, we are under a dome for 8 hours a day, so to speak. You really have to read the book – there are too many analogies to relate here.

Anyway, the story is about this town that gets locked in under this magnetic dome and all hell breaks loose. Literally! People start killing each other, themselves and you can’t even imagine the rest.

Mr. King certainly has some imagination!

New word: horripilation as in he was swept by horripilation…
Definition from Websters online dictionary :a bristling of the hair of the head or body (as from disease, terror, or chilliness) : goose bumps

Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Rebecca “Becky” Brandon nee Bloomfield is at it again!

She is just as out of control now as in all her other books.

Becky plans this elaborate surprise birthday party for Luke and tells everyone she can handle it. However, if you know Becky from the other shopaholic tales, nothing goes as planned once she sets her mind to do something herself.

Now, she had to learn some self-control so that her daughter, Minnie grows up with some structure and discipline. I think its hilarious that after Luke calls in a specialist to discuss Minnie’s behavior, and after spending the day with Becky and Minnie the result is Minnie is okay, but Becky may have a shopping addiction!

I enjoyed reading this tale – with each shopaholic book, the story gets more involved, but still a light, quick read!

Five Men Who Broke My Heart by Susan Shapiro

It's very therapeutic, jotting down your memoir, that is. Susan gives all the details of the 5 men who broke her heart and ends the story with the one who didn’t break her heart – her husband Aaron.

I liked Susan’s comment about Jewish parents. She said they are not passive/aggressive, but aggressive/aggressive.

I’d like to know why they place such pressure on their children to get married, have children, etc. Is it because the bible says be fruitful and multiply?

Anyway, Susan got married to Aaron. His father is a judge and he officiated the ceremony. His father also displayed is aggressive/aggressive nature by questioning if his son has brought along the wedding rings.

So after the 5 men broke her heart, she found her prince charming and is living happily ever after. The interesting thing is that Susan also realized that she had something to do with the failing of those relationships, it all wasn’t on the men.

REMEMBER ME? by Sophie Kinsella

Sophie Kinsella is the author of the entire Shopaholic series: CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC, SHOPAHOLIC GETS MARRIED, SHOPAHOLIC AND SISTER, ETC...

This story focuses on a new character, Lexi Smart (Gardiner), who has an accident and develops a type of amnesia that has blocked out the last 3 years of her life. She doesn't remember that her husband is rich, she drives a fancy car, she had dental work done or that she is on a no-carb diet. She is a bright young woman who doesn't give herself half the credit she deserves.

If you liked any of the Shopaholic books, you will enjoy this one too. Everything works out in the end for her characters, but not before a little bit of soul searching. Sophie does write some funny plots and she gives her characters vibrant lives and her writing is smooth and easy to read. You definitely can finish this in a weekend or one day if you really want to know what happens!

WHEN A CROCODILE EATS THE SUN by Peter Godwin

I enjoy reading memoirs, biographies and the like. This memoir is more about the authors parents who lived in Africa and how he unearths his fathers Jewish past, a past that was never talked about.

This memoir is a story about a family triumphing in a country where they lived and raised their children and are not wanted by a group of people who take other peoples homes by force. The Godwin family was harassed, but never to the point that they were forced to leave. They watched their neighbors and friends homes be burned down by the rebels in Zimbabwe.

Peter Godwin is an award winning journalist and filmmaker, born and raised in Zimbabwe. He was once assigned by the London Sunday Times, then he went to work for the BBC in London making TV documentaries around the world. He has also written for The National Geographic. Peter currently teaches at the New School in New York City. He begins this memoir by returning home to Zimbabwe when his father dies.

Zimbabwe, under the presidency of Robert Mugabe, has drastically changed since Peter was growing up there. Mugabe’s presidency comes with tales of cheating. His men used intimidation and bribery to get votes. In some areas, the votes were more than the constituency. How could this be?

The author had death threats imposed on him when he exposed the government-led massacres that occurred in Zimbabwe. He was considered an enemy of the state. For many years he could not go home. When a friend of his became the Minister of Home Affairs, he made sure Peter could return without being arrested.

In Zimbabwe, white farmers were producers of much of the crops that fed Zimbabwe. This was a benefit until the rebels came and ousted the farmers from their land. It wasn’t like they took over production to feed their own people. They burned everything down and that was the end of production. I can’t quite figure out the reason for that. The rebels prevented Zimbabweans from getting food. Was it because the producers were white? It would have been better if the rebels at least continued production so its own countrymen could still eat.

The economy of Zimbabwe was halved in size within 5 years and 70% of the black middle class has left. Tourism suffers in places like Victoria Falls where there used to be droves of people waiting to buy merchandise and see the Falls. Yet mansions were being built for government officials, generals, judges, etc.

When Peter’s father dies, his sister cannot attend the funeral. She hosted a radio show that was critical of the government in Zimbabwe. It was raided in 6 days after she went on air and ever since she left, she can no longer return for fear of her safety.

Prior to the death of Peters father, he discovers that his dad is Jewish and his real name is Jerry Goldfarb, not George Godwin. He took this name to conceal is ethnic. His father never talked about his past until he was close to death. Peter tries to find his grandmother and Aunt who were separated from his dad as they tried to escape the Holocaust. He never found any reason to think they were still alive.

Its ironic that his father wanted to conceal his Jewish heritage so that he could not be the subject of any racial targeting and instead he became a racial target as a plain white man in Africa.