Aug 25, 2018

Sunday Salon: Book Reviews and New Reads

America for Beginners
America for Beginners
I picked up America for Beginners by Leah Franqui from the library after seeing and liking the William Morrow Facebook Group promotion. I was not disappointed; in fact, I was delighted with the story of a Bengali widow from Bangladesh (complex situation here) who comes to America to take a guided tour but who in reality aims to find out about her son, disowned years before by his father. 

For me, there was pathos as well as laughter. I was in tears by Chapter 28 and laughed and cried in Chapter 29. This is a book that covers a lot of topics - immigrants from India and Bangladesh, culture differences, NYC versus LA, homophobia, mother-son relationships, relationships between diverse individuals, cross-country travels in the U.S.  I would recommend that everyone read this for an eye-opening experience.The book was a little slow-going in the beginning, but the story soon picked up and was well worth the wait. 

I also read an ebook:
Fromage à Trois
Fromage a Trois
Fromage a Trois by Victoria Brownlee is a travel novel as well as a romance, with lots of information about the cheeses of France. In fact, the author says there are 356 different kinds in France, and her heroine makes a bet to try every one of them during the course of a year.

Ella lands up in Paris after she buys a one-way ticket to France after her heart is broken by her boyfriend, who flies off to other parts, leaving her at a loss. She gets a job in Paris, becomes friends with a cheese seller or fromager, and falls in love with a "real" Frenchman. I enjoyed learning more about Paris, its food culture, about some of the many different nationalities who live in that city, and of course, its cheeses.

This was an enjoyable and informative romance and story about travel escape.

New books on my desk:


The Cold Summer (Pietro Fenoglio)
The Cold Summer
The Cold Summer by Gianrico Carofiglio is from Bitter Lemon Press, published May 17, 2018
This is a novel about organized crime and gang wars and is set in Southern Italy in 1992.

The First Prehistoric Serial Killer and Other Stories
The First Prehistoric Serial Killer
The First Prehistoric Serial Killer and Other Stories is by Teresa Solana, Spain's well-known crime writer. Publication is September 5, 2018 by Bitter Lemon Press.translated.

Every Wicked Man (The Bowers Files: The New York Years #3)
Every Wicked Man

Every Wicked Man by Steven James, September 4, 2018,  Berkley Books, features an FBI Special Agent in this thriller.
Idyll Hands (Thomas Lynch, #3)
Idyll Hands
Idyll Hands by Stephanie Gayle is a police procedural set in a small Connecticut town. A police officer's sister had disappeared two decades ago and they are now determined to find out what happened and if that case is linked to a more recent discovery!

What books will you be reading this week?
Memes:  
The Sunday Post  hosted by The Caffeinated Bookreviewer,
It's Monday, What Are You Reading? by Book Date.
Mailbox Monday. Also, Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews

30 comments:

  1. America for Beginners sounds totally like my cup of tea. Added it to my Goodreads stack. Thanks!!!

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    Replies
    1. Hope you get to it soon.I know my stack is way too high!

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  2. Did you say you read a book set in Paris? Well, that makes it a must-read for me!

    Thanks for sharing it and your other reads. I may look for America for Beginners, too.

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  3. Wow, what an array of intriguing titles! What to read first? Well, in our times, America for Beginners looks tempting, and so does Idyll Hands. Enjoy! Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.

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    Replies
    1. The first is fabulous, the second one I'm looking forward to reading.

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  4. America for Beginners sounds like my kind of book!

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  5. Nice set of books this week. I would start with America for Beginners because it sounds good. Have a wonderful week.

    Mary my Sunday Roundup 33!

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    Replies
    1. I'd recommend you start with that one, too!

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  6. Nice, varied reading list! I think I've read reviews of America for Beginners before, and it sounds quite intriguing.

    best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. I haven't heard of anyone not liking it, except for someone on Goodreads who thought it was too slow in the beginning. But it does pick up!

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  7. I’ve seen great reviews of America For Beginners, so I’m glad you liked it. Enjoy your new books! Have a good week.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  8. I borrowed America for Beginners from the library but when my mother spotted it, I let her take it home. She loved it, then there was no time for me to read it. Must check it out again!

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  9. Interesting assortment of books. Every Wicked Man caught my attention. Come see my week here. Happy reading!

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  10. I love your list today! Fromage a trois has me cracking up though. :)

    My list!

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  11. Hmm America for Beginners does sound good and I hadn't heard of it, I occasionally watch the William Morrow team live but not often.

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    Replies
    1. Glad I heard of the title from their FB video.

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  12. I really like the sound of the first two books on your list. See what I read this month at Girl Who Reads

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  13. America for Beginners sounds really good!

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  14. America for Beginners does sound like it covers a lot of topics, and I can see where it would be very eye- opening. A ticket to France and lots of cheese doesn't sound half bad either lol.

    Have a super week!

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  15. I need Fromage a Trois sounds good. I'm always up for anything involving cheese and France!

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  16. America for Beginners definitely sounds interesting. Your new books look good too. Happy Reading!

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