Time for another giveaway hop!

Thanks to I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Jinky is Reading

for hosting this giveaway hop.

We are giving away two books that both Sandra and I greatly enjoyed.

Choice #1

Read Sandra's review and see why she thinks Delaney is such a great storyteller.

Choice #2

Read Laura's review and see why the quirky characters were so engaging.

CONTEST NOW CLOSED

Each extra entry MUST be a separate comment or it will not count.
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*The dates for this hop are Wednesday, February 29th to Monday, March 5th, 2012. 

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked Walter's Muse. It includes a cast of quirky, flawed characters, most of whom are all retirees, and it deals with accepting that although one grows older, life is still full of surprises and worthy endeavours. It's written with humour and nuggets of wisdom on the gift of friendship. I especially liked the character of Martha Jane, the ninety-year-old who still has a zest for life despite her dementia and slow pace.

I work with seniors so reading this story about second chances at love and one's passion in life had me smiling. Sixty-five is not old to me. That's not to say it didn't stand out in the story. It did. The author didn't squirm away from addressing issues of growing old, and I liked that. It was very much about what does one do after one stops working and raising his/her family? I found it insightful.

The setting of Vashon Island is metaphorical. The pace of life there is slower, unlike the city, and it is isolated from the mainland, allowing for a life that encourages reflection and tranquillity. The author brings Vashon Island to life with Maggie's love of kayaking, walks on the beach, and description of the flora and fauna. The Island is also much like the characters, beautiful without fanfare. Maggie, unlike her sister who had plastic surgery and always looked like a doll, was very simple and didn't bother with make-up or fancy clothes. She was comfortable in her skin, even when her tone was self-deprecating at times. She was also a good person,  generous with her time, making her a likable person I could relate to, no matter her age or situation.

Walter is a wonderful character because he is genuine, larger than life, and an author. I really could relate to his insecurities about his writing. He could be cantankerous, funny and tender. Romance flares up between him and Maggie, and some of the issues in finding love at a later stage in life are also addressed. Things I would never have thought of!

If you like reading contemporary stories about life changes, finding love later in life, and the setting of small town life, then you will certainly enjoy Walter's Muse.

Note: This book is rated P = profanity for religious expletives, one f-words and some crude language. 

For more reviews of this book, visit the TLC Book Tour page.

We will be giving away a copy of this book on Feb 29 for the Leap Into Books Giveaway Hop! Don't miss it!

About the author:

The illustrations are adorable and Robertson gets the facial expressions right-on with a few strokes of his pen. Not only that, but he understands kids, especially boys, which isn't surprising since he has two of his own. I loved the strip named Surround Sound, and the ones that involved the mom and mealtimes. Lima beans, anyone?

I read this book mainly in bed just before falling asleep and it always made me laugh at what I knew were frustrating parenting moments but that Robertson succeeded in showing were universal situations. It made me happy I had kids. It made me see things through the eyes of my kids. It's not easy being a kid and feeling misunderstood because kid logic is so different from parental logic. And it made me think, “Okay, lighten up. All moms have meltdowns...”

If you have young kids, or grandkids, this is the perfect book for you and your spouse. If you don't have kids, get it for the young couple who look like they could use a break. They will thank you.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to the author and Pump Up Your Book Promotions for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

It's been awhile it seems since I've read a really good character-driven book. And this one was so satisfying on many levels. It simultaneously brought back memories of my high school days and first love and touched me on the level of a parent raising kids. This book held my interest from beginning to end. McComas knows how to build characters one cares about and could relate to even if our own life circumstances aren't the same.

Although Hannah's story deals with a physically and verbally abusive childhood, it is not overwhelming aspect in the story, but it's the propelling undercurrent that pushes the present story forward. As the story progresses, there are flashbacks to Hannah's past that give us an indication of not only what she suffered but also her strength, her resilience and what she and Grady meant to each other. It filled the story without interruption and I loved reliving how she first fell in love with Grady and how she discovered she could be loved in return.

Although I guessed what Hannah's secret was pretty early on in the story, I still enjoyed how the story unfolded. It was touching, with real, honest characters and a perfect pace. I loved McComas' writing, how she portrayed teenagers, life in a small town, family love and the rekindling of a special young love. It's the story of starting over and the quiet personal triumph of overcoming childhood trauma. I'm happy to have discovered this talented author, and I can't wait to read her next novel.

Reviewed by Laura
Disclosure: Thanks to HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Pictures of the Past is a beautiful story, sometimes heartbreaking but also triumphant. The time period of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, the love story between Taylor and Sarah, and a particular Impressionist painting that Taylor leaves with Sarah all work to create a compelling story. Initially, the jumping back and forth between several characters and time periods took getting used to even though I don't mind this in a novel. However, the story really took off for me only one-third into the book. I was distracted in the beginning by the third person omniscient point of view, which I discovered is not my favorite, and the overuse of adjectives and elipses. There is only so much I can take of being told over and over how incredibly handsome or gorgeous a character is. I also found the dialogue unrealistic at times.

But once I made it past this, I found that in the last two-thirds of the book the writing got better and I was caught up in Taylor's search for Sarah and her family, and the way Sarah changed and survived. Taylor's choices, some good and some not, affected his family life and this feeling of regret never left him. His last act as patriarch of his family was heartwarming and redeeming.

I was particularly interested in the historical sea voyage of the St-Louis that took Jewish refugees all the way to Cuba and America only to be denied entrance. This was a historical fact I had not heard of before and I like learning new things when I read a fiction novel. I also appreciated that the author portrayed realistic situations right to the end. Her pride in her Jewish culture comes through and helps the reader understand the bond that exists in the Jewish community. I also liked reading the author's historical notes at the end of the book.

If you like stories connected to the Holocaust and how they affect lives across continents and time, you will enjoy this debut novel. It portrays the power of first love, regret over parental responsibilities, and pride in one's heritage.

I am always on the lookout for good books on parenting, both as a parent and as an educational consultant. When I saw Smart Parenting for Smart Kids I knew I wanted to read it. My children are middle-graders with a new set of challenges from their toddler years, and I am a working mom with new challenges in my household management, parenting included! However, I didn't want a book on how to be a parent. I wanted one that helped me tackle specific issues as I helped my children to succeed in life. This was the perfect book for me.

Right off, I liked the tone in this book. It was intelligent, yet compassionate, chock-full of parenting insight and child psychology, yet practical and very readable. This book took me a long time to finish reading because it needs to be absorbed and it made me think a lot. It made me question my actions and my motives and had me observing more closely my children and their reactions toward my response whether positive or negative.

I'm on the bandwagon of parents who want to offer their kids good opportunities for learning, immersing our family in music lessons, extracurricular activities, sports, volunteering, homework supervision and so on. But I've learned to watch out for stress signals and to balance our family life so as not to be over-scheduled. Yet, I still struggle with this and reading Smart Parenting has assuaged my fears that my kids would be left out if not fully involved in activities that help them grow in some aspect of their life.

The chapters I focused on the most were: Tempering Perfectionism, which had me re-evaluating the way I supervise homework (I'm the perfectionist, not my kids!); Managing Sensitivity, which was so insightful for me on so many levels (both my daughter and I are sensitive); Handling Cooperation and Competition, which is helping me deal with my son's competitiveness; and Finding Joy, which made me realize how important it is to make small changes that will result in my family experiencing more joy and happiness.

Throughout the chapters, there are scenes with dialogue (some of which will sound so familiar) followed by strategies that parents can implement to deal with that particular situation or behaviour. These vignettes easily had me identify if this was a problem I had encountered (not just as a parent but also in my field) and how I could deal with the social, emotional and intellectual needs of my children and clients. I learned a lot about myself, not only as a parent but also as a person. Sometimes, helping your child succeed means changing the way you parent—like not correcting your child's homework!

I can't stress enough how helpful and insightful Smart Parenting is for any parent who wants to nurture their children's true potential without heaping expectations on them (ours or that of society) that can be detrimental in the long run. All parents, of course, want the best for their children, and whether we admit it or not, we do have expectations for them. But each child is an individual with a complex emotional, social and intellectual make-up. Smart Parenting guides parents in understanding their children and working alongside them to maturity and success according to their abilities and desires.

I highly recommend this intelligent book to all parents who feel the stress of helping their kids' achieve, to educators, social workers and teachers. It's an excellent resource and a keeper on my bookshelf. It' a book I will refer to again and again.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

I will count this book toward the following challenges: TBR Pile Reading Challenge, A-Z Book Challenge

This time we meet Annabelle Stirling, an ambitious draper (a cloth merchant) who was trained by her father since childhood. After her parent's death, Belle runs her father's shop while Wesley, her irresponsible and wayward brother, has little interest in it. Circumstances lead Belle and Wesley to London, where Belle sets up a draper shop and starts over with some help from her brother. Belle comes under the patronage of Mr. Nash, the architect to the Prince Regent, who later becomes George IV, and she is privileged to assist with the decoration of the King's Royal Pavilion in Brighton.

The story is set at the brink of the Industrial Revolution, spanning almost ten years from 1812 to 1821. I must say, Trent once again brought history to life with the events of this time. As in her other novels I learned about two trades, this time: cloth manufacture and cabinetmaking. She also brought to life George IV so well as an obese, pompous, manipulative and selfish monarch that it was easy to see why he was so disliked by his subjects. Her descriptions of the places and historical figures were so alive that I could picture this novel as a movie.

Although Belle was a strong and intelligent woman there were times I just didn't understand her behaviour, especially vis-a-vis Wesley, who was involved in treason. She wanted to improve her relationship with him and yet she was so ambitious and strove to be her own women that she was oblivious to her brother's actions (or refused to see them) and even pushed away the romantic and respectable advances of Putnam Boyce, a man who respected her trade and independence. Sometimes, I was frustrated with her. But she had a good heart, worked hard and generously helped the poor in times of great need. I also thought her last decision regarding her business was brilliant.

Trent included a few scenes with characters from her previous novels (Colette and Mme Tussaud) which I thought was fun. I wished Belle would have made friends with Colette earlier though, seeing that their shops were close to each other. And I would have liked Putnam's marriage proposal staged at a more appropriate time (other than right after Belle kills someone in self-defense--wasn't she in shock?) as it overshadowed the fact that he finally gets the girl after trying for several years!

I loved reading the author's note at the end of the book that gave more details of all the historical figures included in this story. Trent is a meticulous history buff and her novels truly reflect this. I look forward to reading her next novel.

Gillespie and I by Jane Harris
ISBN: 978-0-06-210320-8
Harper Perrenial
Published: January 31, 2012
Trade Paperback, 528 pages

As the book opens it is 1933 London, England and elderly Harriet Baxter begins to record the story of her friendship, 40 years earlier, with the Scottish artist Ned Gillespie.

This is historical fiction set against the backdrop of the Glasgow International Exhibition of 1888 and the art scene of the day. Thirty-six-year old Harriet Baxter arrives in Glasgow for the Exhibition. She soon meets and becomes fast friends with Ned Gillespie and his unusual family in a very intrusive way as she not only accompanies them on outings, but also does housework and laundry for them (what?) and is forever giving them gifts. Throughout the first few chapters of the book there are hints of things to come as Harriet says “if only we had known then what the future held in store” and “due to everything that happened” and “given what happened.”

There are a lot of references to Sybil, one of Ned’s two young daughters. Her wild, uncontrollable, destructive actions led me to think that she is somehow going to figure into the mystery that is very slowly developing and that only really begins in chapter 11. I wasn’t wrong. Sybil figures very largely in this tale. Suddenly her sister, Rose, is abducted, a ransom note arrives and mysteriously, Harriet is implicated and arrested. The household is turned into chaos. Sybil is put into an asylum. Life changes forever for the Gillespie family and Harriet.

Apart from 3-year-old Rose, none of the characters are very likeable. I didn’t care for Harriet, despite her being quite funny and witty. I saw her as a manipulative, sad, hanger-on. Her unrequited love for married Ned she describes 40 years later as “eternal, aching sadness about Ned Gillespie”!! Her life has been about regret and unfulfilled dreams.

While there was no artist named Ned Gillespie, several other real-life Scottish artists are mentioned and the writing is done in such a way that the reader is transported to the late 1800’s. The book is very atmospheric as the author describes the fog-shrouded streets of Glasgow, the narrow and smelly staircases in the old apartment buildings, the accents of the people, and the Victorian view of women.

The story alternates between events in 1888 and those of Harriet’s life in 1933. In 1933 Harriet is living a quiet life in Bloomsbury tending her pet finches. However, she is preoccupied with Sarah, her companion and helper who lends a mysterious, brooding atmosphere to the story. I wondered, “Why introduce a new character at the end of the story?” Then I began to put the pieces together and I recognized her.

Themes such as family dynamics, loss, grief, deception and mystery are explored in the novel. Don’t expect a fairytale ending.

This book is rated S = Sexual scenes. There are two homosexual encounters in the book.

For more reviews on this book, visit the TLC Book Tour page.

About the author:
Jane Harris is the author of the award-winning novel The Observations. She lives in London.

Connect with her here: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Reviewed by Sandra

Disclosure: Thanks to HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Our thoughts:

My 8 year-old son and I think this book is simply adorable. From the lively text to the colorful and whimsical illustrations, it's a book youngsters will want to flip through again and again. My son loves the illustrations, which are similar to what he likes to draw, and he took the time to look at each page again after we read the book.

From when my kids were babies I always loved reading children's books with rhyming text because it adds a sing-song quality to the reading that captures their attention. This book brought back those memories with its rhyming text.

We liked how Oscar found a solution to his empty bowl of milk, although my son who can no longer eat any dairy products because of intolerance, said it made him crave the wholesome taste of creamy milk. Yes, the story and pictures made me want to lap up a bowl of delicious ice cream too! 

Oscar's adventure into outer space and to the moon is fun and his return home to nap is the perfect ending, making this a delightful bedtime story for toddlers and preschoolers. Highly recommended.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to Dawn Kresan from Palimpsest Press for sending us this book for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

The Last Storyteller by Frank Delaney
Random House
ISBN: 978-1-4000-6785-5
Published Feb 7, 2012
Hardcover, 400 pages

I like Frank Delaney’s style of writing. It’s different and undoubtedly quirky, but somehow perfect for an Irish tale. I can hear an Irish lilt as I read it. The Last Storyteller is the third book in a trilogy that began with Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show followed by The Matchmaker of Kenmare and it brings to a close the story of Ben MacCarthy and Venetia Kelly.

Ben’s mentor, James Clare once told him, “There’s no story, no matter how ancient, as important as one’s own. So if we’re to live good lives, we have to tell ourselves our own story. In a good way. A way that’s decent to ourselves.” Ben is now an old man doing just that - writing a family memoir, his own story, for his twin children.

The setting is Ireland circa 1956. The IRA is at work and Ben inadvertently becomes involved in gun-running with an IRA sympathizer and is pursued both by the IRA and the police. Despite that, he still constantly thinks about his former wife and true love, Venetia Kelly, who was kidnapped from him 25 years earlier and pregnant, unbeknownst to him. When Venetia and her new husband, a brutal, abusive man, return to Ireland to perform Ben is determined to not lose her again, so he snatches her off the stage and they are reunited. But she is a sad shadow of her former self – “life” has happened to her. They can’t seem to recapture their former love although they enjoy their time together despite being pursued by the IRA, the police and Venetia’s husband. Venetia disappears again and Ben believes that her husband,
“Gentleman Jack” Stirling is involved so hires thugs to kill Jack. He feels instant remorse and regret.

Ben becomes an apprentice to the last storyteller, John Jacob Farrell O’Neill. Ben says of their time together, “I was relearning life.” He receives details about being a successful storyteller and embarks on his new profession of travelling around Ireland telling stories. Gradually he overcomes his feelings of guilt and anguish and learns to understand himself.

As in all of Frank Delaney’s books we learn something of Irish history, Irish politics, Irish customs and ways….always bittersweet, but done with humor and warmth, although with liberal use of religious expletives.

Frank Delaney’s descriptions are so amazing! Can’t you just imagine it when he says, “I eavesdropped on the silence around me.” Or “his eyebrows met, like a pair of black, dangerous insects.” Or “the coat’s folds sank to the floor like a tired widow.”

If you have read the two previous books you must read The Last Storyteller to see how Ben and Venetia’s story ends. Even if you haven’t read the earlier books, this can be a stand-alone novel. And, oh my goodness, the epilogue! Un-put-down-able! Frank Delaney pulls all the threads woven throughout the three books together into a satisfactory whole. He is truly an exceptional storyteller.

This book is rated P = Profanity for religious expletives.

We will be giving away a copy of this book on Feb 29 for the Leap Into Books Giveaway Hop! Don't miss it!

The Ruins of Us by Keija Parssinen
ISBN: 978-0-06-2064448-6
Published Jan 17, 2012
Harper Perennial
Trade paperback, 352 pages

Exotic Saudi Arabia is the setting for this stunning debut novel that kept me enthralled from beginning to end. It is mystery, romance, real-life family drama, and political intrigue all rolled into one magnificently-told tale!

Forty-seven-year-old, American-born Rosalie is married to fabulously rich and handsome Saudi businessman, Abdullah (Abdi), with whom she has two children. They appear to have a perfect life together. One day on a shopping trip with her teenage daughter she discovers that her husband of 25 years is buying jewellery for another woman. When Rosalie confronts Abdullah she learns that he has taken a much younger second wife – something that is legal in the Moslem Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but which is frowned upon by modern Saudis.

The household is thrown into turmoil and chaos as Abdi tries to share his life with two different women. Meanwhile, fuelled by anger, resentment, and a growing disdain for his parents, their teenage son becomes increasingly rebellious and ever more attached to fundamentalist Islam. Events come to a head when Rosalie is kidnapped, and taken into the desert. Though she is rescued, and unharmed physically, their life will never be the same. Abdi, Rosalie and their son must face difficult truths about themselves and their family dynamics. When Abdi’s second wife becomes pregnant, Rosalie must decide whether she can cope with the new development or leave behind her life in Saudi Arabia and start her life anew.

The author describes interesting scenes of life in “the Kingdom”. “They passed a high-end lingerie store, where mannequins wreathed in satin stood on tiptoe and thrust out their breasts. A male salesman was helping a female customer, who was completely veiled; even her hands were gloved as she reached to touch the negligees and corsets.” The author has experienced Saudi life firsthand so her descriptions of exotic flowers, the desert, the people, the political situation, clothes, food, customs and attitudes lend authenticity to the story.

Blue Moon Bay by Lisa Wingate

Heather Hampton returns to Moses Lake, Texas, to help facilitate the sale of a family farm as part of a planned industrial plant that will provide the area with much-needed jobs. Heather's future fiance has brokered the deal, and Heather is in line to do her first large-scale architectural design--if the deal goes through.

But the currents of Moses Lake have a way of taking visitors on unexpected journeys. What was intended to be a quick trip suddenly morphs into Valentine's week--with Blaine Underhill, the handsome banker who just happens to be opposing Heather's project. Spending the holiday in an ex-funeral parlor seems like a nightmare, but Heather slowly finds herself being drawn into the area's history, hope, and heart.

Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey

It is August 1944 and Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied advance, they ravage the country, stealing countless pieces of art. Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all, the Mona Lisa, as a post-war bargaining chip to get him to South America. Can Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler rescue DaVinci's masterpiece before it falls into German hands?

With nonstop action, Chasing Mona Lisa is sure to get readers' adrenaline pumping as they join the chase to save the most famous painting in the world. From war-ravaged Paris to a posh country chateau, the race is on--and the runners are playing for keeps.

When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason

As a member of the North Cascades Smokejumpers, Alexia Allen always takes care of the equipment that keeps her safe. So when she nearly dies in a fire due to equipment failure, she knows something is up. Ordered to take time off while the investigation continues, Alexia makes a last-minute decision to recuperate at her mother's home and attend her high school reunion. Yet trouble seems to be following her, and within hours of arriving home she's involved with murder, arson--and a handsome detective. But the conflicts ahead are nothing compared to the ghosts of her past. As she strives to remember and forgive her family history, she must also decide if the secret she's been guarding for the last ten years must finally come to light.

Chock-full of the suspense and romantic tension readers have come to expect from Lynette Eason, When the Smoke Clears is the explosive first book in the Deadly Reunions series.

Sixty Acre and a Bride Regina Jennings

With nothing to their names, young widow Rosa Garner and her mother-in-law return to Texas and the family ranch. Only now the county is demanding back taxes and the women have only three months to pay.

Though facing eviction, Rosa can't keep herself from falling in love with the countryside and the wonderful extended family who want only her best. Learning the American customs is not easy, however, and this beautiful young widow can't help but catch wandering eyes. Where some offer help with dangerous strings attached, only one man seems honorable. But when Weston Garner, still grieving his own lost love, is unprepared to give his heart, to what lengths will Rosa go to save her future?

Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart

Adriane Darcy was practically raised in her father's newspaper offices. She can't imagine life without the clatter of the press and the push to be first to write the news that matters. Their Tribune is the leading paper in Louisville in 1855. Then Blake Garrett, a brash young editor from the North with a controversial new style of reporting, takes over failing competitor the Herald, and the battle for readers gets fierce.

When Adriane and Blake meet at a benefit tea, their surprising mutual attraction is hard to ignore. Still, Blake is the enemy, and Adriane is engaged to the son of a powerful businessman who holds the keys to theTribune's future. Blake will stop at almost nothing to get the story--and the girl. Can he do both before it's too late?

Set against the volatile backdrop of political and civil unrest in 1850s Louisville, this exciting story of love and loyalty will hold readers in its grip until the very last page. Bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart once again delivers an enthralling and enduring tale for her loyal and ever-expanding fan base.

Bone: Quest for the Spark #2 by Tom Sniegoski and Jeff Smith

The quest continues!

The Nacht, the evil dragon that threatens to destroy both the Dreaming and the Waking World, is growing stronger, and twelve-year-old Tom Elm is the champion the Dreaming has chosen to defeat it. Along with Roderick the raccoon, Percival Bone and his nephew and niece, Randolf, Lorimar, and the two stupid Rat Creatures, Tom must race to find the missing pieces of the Spark. This leg of the journey introduces him to a trio of scheming bears and takes him into the depths of a dangerous beehive. And, on top of everything else, a traitor might be among them. . . .

Samantha Bravencourt lives a quiet life near Washington D.C. working at her mother's clothing boutique. She gave up her teaching after she returned from teaching in a refugee camp in the Philippines because her mother fell sick with breast cancer. Samantha visits her aunt in North Carolina and ends up meeting Carson Brylie, a fellow teacher who she met and fell in love with in the Philippines but who did not reciprocate her love. They end up working together to help one of their former Vietnamese students, a young refugee woman now living in America, but Samantha fears having her heart broken again.

I was expecting a lot of excitement from this book, I guess from reading the synopsis, but it turned out to be just a lukewarm story for me. The first-person narration alternates between the present and the past, seven years previous, when Samantha and Carson were teachers in the Philippines. I enjoyed the scenes from the refugee camps from where the author draws from her own personal experiences. However, it seemed that I was always waiting for the story to get exciting and it just didn't. It was also slow and the plot was predictable.

I didn't feel connected to the characters either, although I did like Dovie, Samantha's aunt who took in quirky women and gave them a home and a place to belong. Samantha was juvenile to me and I didn't always quite understand her behaviour with Carson. Both she and Carson were static characters, they didn't grow as people although seven years had passed since they last saw each other. There was no palpable tension between them and I think that if the plot vis-a-vis the Vietnamese refugees had been better explored and this connection between them exploited rather than Samantha's lamentations, I would have been more engaged.

The themes of forgiveness and letting go of the past are good ones in the story, even if the romance is lacking. It's a clean Christian read and will appeal to readers who are looking for a light story with a feel-good ending.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

I will count this book toward the following challenges: A -Z Book Challenge, TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Both my kids take music lessons. My daughter plays the piano and my son plays the violin, and they're both good at it. I, on the other hand, have a hard time grasping the concepts of music as I watch my kids quickly apply what they are taught. So when I saw Guitar Zero, I knew I wanted to read it.

Almost 40 year-old professor of psychology Gary Marcus decides to learn to play the guitar even though he had been previously told he has no sense of rhythm whatsoever. Marcus really desires to play guitar, and so he embarks on a quest to find out if he could learn to play even at his age and with no previous or innate musical talent. He sets out to explore the questions of whether music is built into the brain and how we learn to become musical.

I am always fascinated with the topic of the science of learning and this book was right up my alley. I really liked the fact that Marcus not only shares with us the latest studies on the human brain with regards to music, meets with and relates the views of scientists, teachers, famous musicians and other experts, but he also applies this knowledge to himself as a new musician. This personal aspect of the book prevented it from being a dry account of scientific literature. His fun experience of attending DayJams, a rock-and-roll summer camp for kids where he got to play in a band with 11 year-olds made me smile as Marcus relates his innermost and honest feelings about it.

I especially liked reading 1) about the differences in the way children and adults learn music and that one is not necessarily better than the other, 2) why learning music is hard–it has to do with our memory, 3) that music taps into two different brain reward systems at the same time rendering music as cocaine for the brain–explains the rush musicians get, 4) that both talent and practice matter, and finally, 5) that learning a new skill such as music makes us happy.

Having said all this, Marcus explores man's physical and mental nature in relation to music, which I found thought-provoking and insightful, but fails to acknowledge the spiritual nature of man in relation to it. The closest he comes to expressing it is when he talks about the pleasure we get from music that can be derived from a single note. He states, “...in the right circumstance, that resonance can bring a sublime, almost unearthly sense of connectedness to the universe.” (p.130)

Essentially, though, Marcus' theories stem from the belief that man has evolved. From my experience in reading scientific literature, evolutionists are baffled by the fact that man has a consciousness, pursues music and art, and has moral values. The book Life Ascending, while favoring a mere biological explanation admits: “When we ask how a process [evolution] that resembles a game of chance with dreaded penalties for the losers, could have generated such qualities as love of beauty and truth, compassion, freedom, and above all, the expansiveness of the human spirit, we are perplexed. The more we ponder our spiritual resources, the more our wonder deepens.” Indeed. When it comes to music and man's love of everything it encompasses—composing, playing an instrument, and deriving pleasure and awe that makes our spirits soar from listening to it—it seems logical to me that this awareness and attraction to music is placed in humans by an intelligent Creator in whose image we are created and who wants us to worship him with music and song as understood in Ephesians 5:19. I couldn't help thinking of this as I read this book.

However, even though I don't know much about the mechanics of music, I was impressed by how much Marcus learned in such a short time and how well he told it all in his new book. I sometimes struggled to understand the technical guitar jargon but it did not detract from the book's overall topic at all. A guitar player or any musician for that matter would have been able to relate, I'm sure.

After reading Guitar Zero, I have a new-found appreciation for music and musicians. I recommend it to all   musicians, parents, and anyone interested in the science of learning, guitar playing and music in general. Marcus states, “Music is the perfect storm for the human mind: beautiful in form, intricate, and eternally new.” (p.145) I wholeheartedly agree.

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Disclosure: Thanks to The Penguin Press and TLC Book Tours for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.