Lust for Life by Irving Stone

This is a magnificent book! I am so glad I went back and reread it. Sunflowers by Sheramy Bundrick inspired me to search this book out. One of the things I loved about the book was that it was an old copy with that wonderful old book smell and it had his drawings and paintings interspersed throughout. What a pleasure!

This particular story is a fictionalized biography of Vincent Van Gogh. The endnotes suggest that it is mostly based on fact with the exception of the dialogue and a few other parts. The book begins when Vincent is in his early twenties and is trying to figure out what he is supposed to do with his life. It continues thru his struggles as an employee in his family's art business, his try as a clergyman and finally his realization that his great life ambition is painting.

It is amazing how many sketches and paintings he completed and the fact that he sold very few while he was alive. He spent many days and nights without food so that he could buy his art supplies. Now his artwork sells for millions of dollars.

Next on my list is the biography of Vincent and Theo (his brother).

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens

Wow! Chevy Stevens has done a fantastic job writing Still Missing her first novel. This book was given to me by a friend, and I'm so glad she picked it up! It is definitely on my list of potential book discussion books.

The writing and subject grabs you from the very beginning. I like how the book is set up in chapters that relate to Annie O'Sullivan, the main character, and her visits to her therapist. Annie is kidnapped from an open house she is sponsoring, and the story is told from her perspective of looking back. The conclusion will shock you! Could a person really treat another person the way that Annie was treated? Let's hope we never meet anyone who is capable of that type of malice and torment.

Pick this book up! You won't be sorry.

Sunflowers by Sheramy Bundrick

Sunflowers is a wonderful fictional account about the famous artist Vincent Van Gogh. I chose this book for our book discussion because when I was in a Humanties class in high school we read Lust for Life by Irving Stone. For some reason that book stayed with me, at least the part about Van Gogh. I remember it not being too terrible of a classic to read! So I thought why not read more about this interesting man?

This account covers a period of approximately 2 years of his life. During this time he meets Rachel, a prostitute, and starts to have a relationship with her. He spends his days painting and she spends as much of her off time with him as possible. At some point he has a mental breakdown and cuts off his ear and brings it to her at her house in front of other patrons and co-workers. He is hospitalized for the injury as well as his mental health. In this period of time, they were not sure of his diagnosis. During our book discussion we concluded that he was probably bi-polar. He struggled in an institution for awhile and when released moved to a small town to start again. It is here where he commits suicide.

The story is told in a way that draws you into their lives immediately. I felt compassion for Rachel and the struggles she dealt with in loving Vincent. Van Gogh was a man who did not live long enough to realize how important his art would become!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book! I will post more later, but this is the book we will be reading for the Brown Bag Lunch Discussion Group. If you have read the book and would like to comment, please do! We will meet to discuss it on April 28 at the library at NOON! Bring your lunch and join us!

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

This is the book we will be reading for our Thursday Book Discussion groups that will meet on April 15 at 10 am and 7 pm. If you have read the book and would like to post a comment, please do! Join us for the discussion too--we would love to have you!

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn By Betty Smith

I haven't started this yet, but I thought I'd put it up and let anyone whose read it already post comments if they want. This is the book we will be reading for our Classics Challenge. We will meet on April 12 at NOON at the library to discuss. Bring your lunch if you want!

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

American Wife is an excellent book to read! This book was suggested for our discussion group by one of our members. She was so right--well worth the read!

It says at the beginning of the book that it is loosely based on a real first lady--I won't reveal who it is because you should read the book. The story is told from her perspective and follows her from early childhood thru the years she spent in the White House.

Part of why I loved the book so much was that the whole time I was trying to figure out which first lady it was based on and then trying to put what the story said in relation to what was really the truth. I hate to say it, but I didn't really know all that much.

The first thing I did this morning was go check out books on her and her husband. I must say I wasn't their biggest fan when they were in office, but as people, this fictional account has made me very curious to see where they truly came from.

I hope you pick it up and like it as much as I did. Our discussion is tomorrow so I'll be interested in seeing what everyone else says.

London Boulevard by Ken Bruen

He's done it again! I LOVE Ken Bruen. What a day it was when I happened upon this author!

London Boulevard chronicles the days and months following Mitchell's release from prison. Mitchell ends up running into old friends almost immediately and gets caught up in his old ways all over again. If you add in a few new acquaintances that may not be the best people to consort with you have the usual Bruen novel of crime and punishment.

One thing I absolutely love about Bruen's writings is his many references to other works of literature both current and classic.

Try one of his books and you just may get hooked!

Witch and Wizard by James Patterson

Witch and Wizard is another hit by James Patterson. Is it possible that he can produce something with his name on it and it NOT be a hit?

Wisty and Whit, witch and wizard, find themselves kidnapped by a new government and have no idea why. They are unaware of their magical powers because their parents never mentioned it to them. Follow them thru their ordeal of imprisonment, escape and helping of others in this fast-paced novel.

There's nothing like leaving the reader hanging on--especially when the last words of the book are To be continued....

I cannot wait to see what happens next.

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

I know it's been forever since I've posted. I have read some things, but I'm a little out of the reading mode I've been in for the last 5 years. This book, though, is worth a review.

I watched The Scarlet Pimpernel in my freshman French class in high school and loved the movie. At that time I had no idea it was actually a book. When the leader of our classics book discussion group chose this, I was very excited.

From the moment I picked the book up I couldn't put it down. Sir Percy and Lady Margeurite Blakeney are a couple that shares so many misunderstandings, yet there is still an underlying love for each other.

The story is set in the 1790's in France and England. The French are killing off many of the aristocrats and someone, The Scarlet Pimpernel, is finding ways to enter France and rescue many of them before they meet their fate at the guillotine. No one knows who he is, but he is very popular among the ladies because of his mysterious ways. Throughout the book many daring rescues happen while the French are striving to uncover and expose this elusive man.

While all of this is going on, Lady Margeurite is trying to figure out why her husband has changed so much since they were married and is often caught up in the scheming ways of Chauvelin, a Frenchman. She is shocked when she learns certain truths after she has been forced to help Chauvelin in order to save her brother's life.

I definitely recommend this book. After reading it, I was able to watch the movie again and loved it all over again. It doesn't follow the book exactly, but it is a wonderful movie.