Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by James Ford ****

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

While this was a good book overall (it's about the conflicts with the Japanese-Americans in the WWII, and how it impacted a Chinese boy and his family); I was disappointed in the ending. I thought it all wrapped up a little too neat and tidily. I enjoyed the book throughout because the storyline was plausible; but in my opinion, the ending was a bit too corny and convenient.

Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke ***

Inkheart

I enjoyed it, but it was slow reading for me. I’m not normally a fantasy reader, but this was an interesting storyline, where the characters of a book came to life and took over. I'll definitely read the next book in the series, but I think I'll wait a bit first.

What I did for Love, by Susan Elizabeth Phillips ***

What I Did For Love


I picked up this book by accident, when I mistook it for another one that was recommended. It was the typical romance. Innocent woman, bad boy. They hated each other, then they loved each other. It was OK as an escape, if you’re into that sort of book (which I am occasionally) but it wasn’t spectacular.

Making Rounds with Oscar, by Dr David Dosa *****

Making Rounds With Oscar

This book is about a cat in a dementia ward for seniors, who could sense when the patients were going to die. It's written by a doctor who specializes in geriatrics, and talks about the challenges for both doctors and families when dealing with dementia. And, there's a cat in it too. Good book... I really liked it.

A Reliable Wife, by Robert Goolrick **

A Reliable Wife

This one was not so good. It’s about a mail-order bride who marries a rich man with the intension of murdering him for his money. I think it had potential, but I felt like I was reading a summary or Cole's Notes of the story. It moved so fast, the narration seemed detatched. I couldn't connect with any of the characters.

Ecoholic Home, by Adria Vasil *****

Ecoholic Home: The Greenest, Cleanest and Most Energy-Efficient Information Under One (Canadian) Roof

Written by a Canadian for eco-conscious people who want to be aware of the products they use in their home, where they come from and their impacts on the ecosystem. This is an excellent reference book.

The Other Boleyn Girl, by Phillippa Gregory ***

The Other Boleyn Girl

Loosely based on the life of Mary Boleyn, the sister of Anne Boleyn and mistress of Henry VIII. I read somewhere that this book is claustrophobic, and I think that’s accurate. I just can’t decide if that was intentional (to reflect on the times) or if it was just plain ol’ dry. It wasn’t a bad read, but I probably won’t run out and get any more like it.