Nose in a Book

Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin

I’m not sure how to summarize this book without spoilers so there’s going to be a tiny spoiler (but it’s something that happens early on in the book) and then another spoiler that happens a lot later in the book but is obvious right from the start.  So if you don’t like spoilers, you should stop reading now.

The story is told from the point of view of two women 1. Valerie, a single mother whose son is burned in a campfire while at a birthday party (the tiny spoiler, maybe not really even a spoiler?).   When she arrives at the hospital, she finds that her son’s doctor/surgeon is extremely talented and very good looking Nick.  Nick is married to 2. Tessa, mom to two who has recently quit her job in order to spend more time with her children.  On the surface Nick and Tessa’s marriage and life are perfect but as the story progresses things start to break down.  Nick becomes attached to Valerie’s son and start spending more and more time with Valerie.  (You know where this is going right?  This is the other spoiler.)

I’m not sure what to say about this book.  I have no complaints about the technical aspects of the novel or even the interestingness of the story.  I’m just getting kind of bored of books about cheating.  Giffin seems to have a little bit of an obsession with writing about cheating.  (Her last book, Love the One You’re With, was about cheating.)  And to be honest, I was looking for something a little less serious here.  With that cover and some of her previous books, could I be wrong to be expecting a light hearted chick lit type book?

Really, what I disliked about this book is that it wasn’t what I was expecting.  Other than that there was nothing wrong with it.

Paper Towns by John Green

John Green is another one of those authors that I would totally be missing out on if it weren’t for book blogs.  (And I would be missing out on Brotherhood 2.0, which I discovered by reading the inside back cover of the book and since then I’ve been watching all the Brotherhood 2.0 videos.)

Anyway, I’d seen this book floating around the bloggy world so when I spotted it at the library I just decided to pick it up and I’m glad I did!  I can’t wait to read some more John Green.  Looking for Alaska is waiting for me at the library, but I have a few other books lined up first.

Anyway, Q and Margo live next door to each other and were friends when they were younger but haven’t spoken in a few years when one night, she appears at his window and takes him on a crazy night of revenge against a cheating boyfriend and back stabbing friends.  The next morning she is gone and Q in convinced that he can find following a set of clues she left behind.  I can’t say more than that without giving away too much (and I fear I have already!)

This was a fun book to read and I definitely enjoyed it.  For some reason I’m having a hard time writing about this book though.  I’m not sure why.  I liked it and I will for sure be reading more John Green.  I think I may have waited too long to write this review though.  I think this review is getting kind of lame though so I’ll think I’ll just leave it there.

The one thing I didn’t like about the book?  The cover.  I think it’s supposed to be Margo but that’s not what she looked like in my mind so there was always kind of a disconnect when I picked up the book.

I’ve seen this cover around the internet also and I think it works so much better.  I don’t know anything about this other cover though…is it from another country or is it the paperback cover or what?  Can anyone help me out?

I am a PROUD Canadian and today is Canada Day!  Canada Day (formerly called Dominion Day) is the day that Canada officially became a country rather than just a British colony.  Today, we’ll be heading over to my mom’s house where we’ll have a bonfire, roast hot dogs and marshmallows, eat lots of good food and wear RED!  Then once it’s dark out (about 11 at this time of year) we’ll set off some fireworks in the back yard.  We do this every year and it’s tons of fun!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

(Canadian National Anthem)