I was not impressed with the content nor the writing style through the remainder of the book.  It was extremely predictable, and as a book that set me to expect an exploration of a coming of age during political turmoil – simple relating that a friend was going crazy because they were drafted, really fell short.  Possibly the whole dive into selling children into prostitution out of Mexico with the help of some Cuban mercenaries was a political foray, but I was not convinced.  It seems as though multiple story lines were thrown together to shock and amaze the reader without any really character development or commentary.  We know selling children is bad – we know back alley procedures are bad – present me with something to think about, give me some new information.

I also was left dry on the what reviewers called evocative descriptions of Mexico.  I’ve been there and think I could have done a far better job calling to mind the small villages, streets, sights and sounds.

This just proves that the next book a choose to read will have more thought to it than – “Hey this is on my best friend’s floor and he bought it at Goodwill – I’ll give it a try….”

My biggest peeve about this book – it ends with a letter from Lily’s Grandmother Zozzie to her being left in a hotel during the frenzied flight away from a murdered Cuban mercenary and it is never mentioned again.  Why mention something to never mention it again? Sure – it could be a sign of the young girl growing up and away from her roots and family (but she was never shown to be close to them), it can be a final kiss goodbye to the life she had before, but the ending pretty much makes that clear without this letter.  It’s similar to a  poorly written show being canceled before the last episode – sure you can pretty much figure out what might have happened, but it still gnaws at you!

After reading reviews on Amazon that thought the ending was breathtaking and inspiring – I guess I just can’t be inspired by a character who had an abortion, is now travelling with an orphan from a sex ring in a country where she does not speak the language, has no job and may wind up as another character earlier described “doing things with men for money” – or hunted by the very people she used to work for – all while the child she travels with begs on the streets for money.

January 11th, 2010 | Tags: book group, Paper Wife, Review | Category: Daily Post, Review, books | Leave a comment

My New Year is shaping up even better now that I took a trip to Meijer.  I am usually a Woodman’s Woman, but last night I needed some quick groceries – we had no buns and my boys are famous for their love of soy nut butter sandwiches.  I don’t buy high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated oil laden products so normally I am out of luck at Meijer, they don’t carry Rudi’s or Natural Ovens. They do however carry this new product by Arnold called the Sandwich Thin. 

I am a firm believer that a sandwich is not a sandwich without a bun or bread – I detest open face – which I have been doing lately in order to up the protein with two Boca burgers I split them across one bun.  Imagine my delight when I found these delectable buns that have only 100 calories, 1 gram of fat, 21 carbs (5 fiber) and 5 grams of protein.  I now can enjoy a bun for each, truth be told I don’t like giant fluffy buns, but I need something to hold my patty.

These are perfect for me, no weird taste (like filler from low calorie alternatives) these are simply shaved down, thinner versions of their larger counterparts. Chow down and enjoy!

January 4th, 2010 | Tags: buns, Food, Review | Category: Daily Post, Fitness, Food, Review, weight loss | Leave a comment

I recently received a review copy of the soon to be released The Handbag and Wellies Yoga Club  by Lucy Edge, a follow up to Yoga School Dropout,  which I can attest is not a required reading to enjoy this book.

The book starts out slowly with an abundance of information and back story about characters I assume the reader would have already met in the previous book.  The first chapter is weighty because of this and can be a bit confusing for a reader trying to keep track of auxiliary characters whose back stories are fleshed out a great amount to only later fade completely into the background of the story.

Past the rough start the rest of the book flows better, and other supporting characters are introduced without as much detail, their characters slowly unfolding as the story progresses. Much of the book is full of colorful descriptions of the countryside and towns which helps to add a down to earth feel and provides a nice contrast and departure from the mentions of high end fashion and the celebrity name dropping.

This novel fills the need of the average mat toting, book lover for the summer – a beach novel.  Books on methodology, asana and philosophy can start to weigh on a reader and this book provides a nice departure from text book theory into real life practice.  The main character’s plight, in essence, embodies the individual’s struggle to find balance in life.

A bonus of this novel is its candid discussion of women’s fertility issues, the media’s portrayal of older mothers and the use of alternative therapies. The author has obvious knowledge of yoga and uses this to sprinkle Sanskrit terms throughout the story and in the cute chapter titles.

It is hard to believe that the story of this novel takes place in a year’s span. I felt during my reading that surely several years must have passed, but that may just be because of the fast paced nature of the characters. Even in a small country town the yoga characters are ambitious go getters who seem to live a fairy tale existence. All of the yoga characters “The Cappuccino Gurus” and “Bad Ladies”, whether in London or Beccles, are extremely colorful and larger than life. Most yoga practitioners do not have similar lifestyles to this cast of characters; however, that made this book even more interesting to me.  I loved seeing how others mold yoga to fit into their lives. This story brings the practice off of the mat, out of the studio and into the grit of the real world – even if it isn’t the average daily life.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys yoga, likes a fast read and wants a great pick up book that creates a new genre “Yoga Romance Novel”.

I have received a few tweets about where people can buy this novel state side with many people commenting it is only available in the UK.  Well it isn’t due out until August 9th, but you can win my copy if you are in the US.

Here’s how:

1. Follow me on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/skyyogastudio

post a comment that you followed me, that is how I will announce the winner

2. Post a link on Twitter to this contest and mention the contest.

3. I will choose a winner at random on Sunday July 19th, winner must send me a US Postal Address and I will send you the copy – as easy as that!

July 12th, 2009 | Tags: books, Lucy Edge, Review | Category: Contest, Daily Post, Giveaway, Review, books | Leave a comment

Bio:

For singer-songwriter Diane Birch, music was a refuge.  Although Diane was born in Michigan, her childhood was spent on the move as the daughter of a preacher, living between Zimbabwe, South Africa and Australia, before her parents finally settled in Portland, Oregon.  When she was in her early teens, Diane absorbed a unique and cosmopolitan perspective on life that shines through her music and makes a simple categorization of it impossible.

The result? Diane Birch sounds like an old favorite, with all the sparkle and magic of a breakthrough talent. People says she sounds like a combination of early Carole King, Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks, with a little Joss Stone and Cat Power mixed in. Bible Belt is only her first record, but it’s one of the most accomplished albums you’ll hear all year. From the opening track “Fire Escape” to the closing “Magic View,” Diane’s stunning voice is mesmerizing. 

Written entirely by Diane, Bible Belt was recorded in New York City and New Orleans with an impressive team of Grammy-winning producers: S-Curve Records founder Steve Greenberg, soul legend Betty Wright and Mike Mangini, in their first project together since producing Joss Stone’s first albums. 

Link to MP3 of ‘Fire Escape’ http://www.rcrdlbl.com/artists/Diane_Birch/track/Fire_Escape
Myspace = http://www.myspace.com/dianebirch

I recently received a review copy from One to One Network of Diane Birch’s new CD Bible Belt.  To be honest I had heard one song already from this CD as part of a contest to win an iPod and a signed CD.  I listened to the pre-release song on iTunes and was not as impressed as other reviewers.  I was surprised to receive the full CD yesterday and popped it in to have a listen.

Her press describe her as Amy Whinehouse without the dysfunction – I disagree.  To me Diane Birch’s new CD has the vocal styling of Norah Jones at times (for example in Valentino), and a great deal of the melody reminds me of Aimee Mann (track 3) and at times she even sounds a bit like Nelly Furtado. 

For me most of the songs are not sing a longs but I think that may be because of Diane’s vocal range.  Although the lyrics lacked the draw and recallable pull of mindless pop songs these days, the music was catchy, head bobbing and toe tapping.

The songs themselves have a folksy undertone and are for the most part upbeat and catchy.  If I had to sum the whole CD up in one thought it would be “Top down on an open country road”.  I will be adding Diane Birch’s Bible Belt to my CD changer this week as traveling music.

June 7th, 2009 | Tags: CD, diane birch, Review | Category: Daily Post, Music, Review | Leave a comment