The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

We all have heard stories about Ernest Hemingway, one of the finest writers of the twentieth century, but how much do we know about the man behind the myth? Although this is a work of fiction, author McLain has researched Hemingway for years and feels quite "proprietary" towards him as a subject and it shows in this book.

The story begins with Hadley and Ernest's first meeting at a party in Chicago. Hadley is a 28 year old quiet and respectable woman to Ernest's 20 year old lively self. The two become infatuated with one another, even as Hadley returns home to St. Louis, the two continue to correspond by mail. When Ernest proposes marriage and a move out of the country, Hadley accepts.

The Hemingways life in Paris was a whirlwind - befriending other creative types such as Ezra Pound, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Gertrude Stein, the "anything goes" lifestyle of Paris in the 1920's is a big adjustment for the young couple. Although very much in love with one another, Ernest's larger-than-life yet extremely needy personality and prevalence of a willing partner, leads Ernest to betray Hadley with one of her closest friends.

The Paris Wife is first and foremost a love story between Ernest Hemningway and the woman he continued to love for the rest of his life. It is poignantly and sympathetically told, bringing the characters to life as well as Paris and the lifestyle favored by the "in" crowd. If you are looking for a gripping story of love and betrayal, look no further!

Sing Them Home by Stephanie Kallos

The Jones siblings have had a unique upbringing - growing up in a very small town in Nebraska which still retained the strong Welsh traditions of its ancestors - not to mention the fact that their mother was carried away by a tornado and never found. Larken, the oldest has grown up to be an art professor who uses food to build a wall between herself and others; Gaelen is a handsome weather man whose hobby is women; and Bonnie, the youngest has remained in tiny Emlyn Springs working a series of odd (and often unsuccessful) jobs.

When they are called back home following the lightning-strike death of their father, they are forced to come to terms with each other, with their past and most importantly with their future. As they circle together around their common-law stepmother, Viney, they must grapple with their demons before they can move on with their lives.

This family drama is chock full of description and has a little bit of everything going on - dead ancestors, tornadoes (not just one, TWO tornadoes,) adultery, miracles, and even murder. It is a dense and ambitious book - perhaps a bit too ambitious for some light summer reading! The town is a character in its own right, and a tiny bit creepy one at that. Anyone who enjoys family dramas mixed with some ethereal story lines should enjoy this book.

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

With the movie version of this book being released soon, I thought it was time for me to delve into a little chick lit reading to determine how it might stack up with the film.

Something Borrowed follow the basic Chick Lit formula - single, professional woman suffering from relationship troubles. The woman in question, Rachel, is turning 30. Rather than the husband and children she anticipated having by this stage in her life, she remains not only single, but with no contenders on the horizon. This all changes, however, when she and her best friend's fiance take a little detour after her 30th birthday party, ending up in a very compromising position.

While she realizes that Dex is a great guy and one of her very good friends, she does not even consider the possiblity that he might be seriously interested in her - plus, after all, he is engaged to her best friend, the gorgeous Darcy. When she discovers that Dex does have feelings for her, she realizes that she reciprocates those feelings, and they begin a romantic relationship in spite of Dex and Darcy's continued engagement. How will this situation be resolved? Will Dex follow his heart and choose Rachel? Will Darcy discover the illicit relationship? Will Rachel ever find happiness? Anyone who has read any kind of Chick Lit probably knows the answer to those questions, but it's still worth the quick read to find out!