The Epicure by H.R. Howland

262 Pages published by Berkley

Genre: Horror and general ickyness

ISBN 042520717x

Where did I find it? a friends of the library book sale.  Where can you find it? you can have my copy, or you can find it on Amazon or at your local public library-if not, ask if they can interlibrary loan it for you - if you're still interested after my review.

Why did I pick it up? It has a great cover. 

Let me start with a little history/philosophy… Epicureanism is a philosophy that believes in having pleasure to satisfy desires and then abstaining from pleasure for a time.  There is more to it than that… but those are the basics as applies to this book.  If you would like to know more click here.

Many of us know and love the cooking website www.epicurious.com.  That has absolutely nothing to with this book; so if you read the book, try not to think about this when next you visit the website.

So, there’s this doctor and he is part of a special society; The Epicurean Society and they meet once a year to sample new cuisine with one special ingredient-human meat.  The main course is to be a woman between the ages of (and this is from memory, and I could be wrong) 22 and 32 and fit-not too much fat but with just enough.  The host this year is Dr. Sykes, he finds his Epicurean special guest and kidnaps her, including details on how he prepares the feast. 

We also meet 6-year-old Suzie, who has a special relationship with Saint Jude.  He talks to her through a statue at her church and shows her visions of what Dr. Sykes is doing through her Miss Becky doll and the Miss Becky  and Friends television show.  Saint Jude tells Suzie that she has to stop the Bad Doctor.  Suzie’s only help is Jessie, her babysitter and future guardian-her mom has terminal cancer.  Jessie also happens to work with Dr. Sykes.

Each host of the Epicurean Society dinner is charged with keeping a journal of their journey and preparations.  Only a couple of these are shared, the first is extremely graphic in description and the other is vague.  Some parts of this book are really graphic and very gross.  I usually read while eating my lunch-this is not a good book to read while eating.

I read a lot of icky death mysteries type books and love them.  This is one of the most disgusting books I have ever read… and it is supposed to be… Howland wants to turn our stomachs and he does a wonderful job at it.  I found myself telling more people about this book than any other.  I usually start with something like, “this book makes me want to be a vegetarian.”  It is a well written story and I really liked the characters; they are believable - all have flaws with the exception of Suzie because she's six and acts six; Dr. Sykes could be a real person.  I liked this book, but I will not read it again.

Who would I give this book to? Anyone over the age of 17 who understands that this book is fiction and that the author is not advocating the eating of human flesh –Ick- and who like horror.   I would give this to my brother who rides to work with me and has heard me talk about this book a lot and to my brother-in-law who will read just about anything, has a great sense of humor and will probably cringe in all the same places I did.  Who would I not give it to? Anyone under the age of 17-no matter how much they like horror, vegetarians and people with soft hearts.  I also wouldn’t give it to anyone I think would get the wrong idea about The Society.  It goes against everything good and right in the world to cook and eat another person.

And last but not least... Ick.

The In Death Series by Nora Robert writing as JD Robb

I know book reviews are supposed to be about a single book... But it would be next to impossible to write about just one of these books and I wanted to tell you about them.  I may have told you, I REALLY like Nora Roberts books.  I've read a bunch, listened to some, inflicted them on my Mom and brother and reread/listened to my favorites.  I was listening to Remember When a book by Nora Roberts and Nora Roberts writing as JD Robb when I met Dallas...

Remember When starts in present day with Lane and Max.  Lane owns an antique store named- you guessed it- "Remember When" in small town USA.  She lives the small town life-owns a house, has a dog named Henry and is best friends with the sheriff's wife.  But Lane has a secret; she is the daughter of ex-con and Con-Man turned jewel thief, Big Jack.  Max is in town to find the diamonds for the insurance company. 

After Max and Lane's story we jump forward 50 or so years to 2059 New York where Lane and Max's granddaughter has written a book about Big Jack, the diamond Heist and the missing diamonds.  Samantha arrives home from her book tour to find her best friend murdered in her bedroom.  She calls the police and Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her aide Delia Peabody come to investigate. 

As soon as I finished listening to Remember When I did an Internet search for Dallas and found a whole series of books.  Starting with Naked in Death.  I have to tell you, I've been a little obsessed with this series; I've read/listened to the books at least 3 times (except for the most recent.)  In Naked in Death, we meet Dallas (of course,) her friend Mavis, the super-hot billionaire Roark and Dallas' former partner Feeney as well as some secondary characters that show up again later.  

Dallas is stubborn, suspicious and independent.  Because of her childhood, she is driven and very ignorant about popular culture.  She is hard and vulnerable at the same time... lots of contradictions.  She's also amazing, intuitive and really good at her job.

There is language and sex and violence all throughout the series, I would absolutely consider it rated R. The audios are performed by Susan Erickson who does an excellent job with the cast of voices.  The books are well written and imaginative, there are some really fun gadgets in the future-like vending machines that tell to the contents of the snack and tell you to have a nice day and AutoChefs which I think of as a combo freezer, pantry and microwave they store and prepare food and hot beverages.  If you pay close attention, you can spot differences in the writing styles and language used throughout the series-which leads me to believe the claim that Roberts used a ghost writer for the series... and seriously, how could she possibly produce so many books if she didn't?  

BTW I have no idea where I read the claim about the ghost writer and if she does it doesn't bother me one bit because it's all about the story.

Where did I get it/them? the library's downloadable site, Kentucky Libraries Unbound. You can find them at your local library and book stores everywhere-these are really popular books-there are over 40 of them now.

Who would I give it to? Anyone over the age of 18... They have everything-suspense, mystery, romance, science fiction and humor.  My brother the 41-year-old divorced guy likes them, we listen to them on the way to work.  Mom has been listening to them too.  I find it very uncomfortable listening to the sex scenes with them in the car with me-just so you know.  My sister and her Mother-in-law read them also.

And if you want to know more-like the order in which to read them... check out the Wikipedia page and the In Death Wiki.  If you decide to read them or have read them, let me know what you think.

For One More Day by Mitch Albom

For One More Day

by Mitch Albom

I read the print version ISBN: 1401303277

197 pages

Where did I get it? Big Lots, I scan their books anytime I go-I'm thrifty like that.  But you can find this in the collections of most public libraries (yes, I will say this every time because you don’t need to buy every book you read.)

Reading age? It’s fairly easy reading, with some curse words.   Reading level- I would say is middle school, but most people won’t really “get it” until you’re at least 24.  Why? Because it is about appreciating your parents.

This is the story of former pro baseball player Chick Benetto.  His life is crap: He only got to play in the Major League for 6 weeks, he has a crappy sales job, his Mom died, his wife left and his daughter is embarrassed by his drinking.

Chick finds himself at his Mother’s house spending the day with her-years after she died.  They talk and go through Mom’s day of errands.   Chick’s story is broken up with memories of his mother, how she was so proud of him and how he was embarrassed by her.

What did I think?

I like Mitch Albom; have since reading Tuesdays with Maurie.  He is a good writer with unassuming storytelling ability-with everyday language while not trying to make it fancy.  

This book made me cry.  I lost my Dad almost 20 years ago and I often wish I could have just an hour-even five minutes.  I read the stories about Chick’s Mom and see similarities.  Not to say that I was embarrassed by my Dad (okay, that’s not true-he thought it was part of his job as a parent-ask me about the Jello Wrestling at Project Graduation sometime, that was not at all embarrassing.)  This is a touching, hard to read and hard to put down story about one man’s life with and one last day with his dead mother.  I loved it.  If you read it and love it, pass it on.

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Narrated by Deanna Hurst

978-0312548810
I checked it out from my library's downloading site but you can find it anywhere.

The story as I see it: 
Minerva-friends call her Min, gets dumped by short-term boyfriend, David (total tool) because she wouldn’t have sex with him.  David gets drunk then bets total hottie Calvin-Cal to his friends that he can’t pick up Min then switches the bet to be about getting her into bed.  Min overheard all of that and swears not to fall for it.  Chaos and hijinks ensue. 
This is a sassy and fun love story with plenty of drama involving Min’s ex David and Cal’s ex Cinthy, friends, families a crazy cat, funky shoes and that darn bet.
I do not remember any bad language-it doesn’t bother me so I don’t usually pay attention.  There we allusions to sex and some groping but little actual sex.

How does it read/listen?

I listened to this one, and thought narrator Deanne Hurst did a great job.  There were some moments when the timing bothered me, but that has to do with editing-not the reading.  It goes pretty fast , it's fun and cute.

Who would I cast?

I’d love to see Megan McCarthy as Min and maybe Karl Urban as Cal.  I don’t have an opinion about the rest of the cast except Cinthy, I think Charlize Theron should play her. 

Who would I give it to?
Anyone who likes romances but is tired of the usual, people who like chick flicks-especially romantic comedies.   It will definitely make you laugh.
I’d stick with 16 and up for the age range.

Would I read it again?

Yes., but I’d give it about a year but I would relisten.

Hi, my name is Alita and I'm a story addict.

It's not just hard and paper bound books... I've been listening to audio books for years and added e-books this past Christmas.  I love kids books, books for teens, romances, mysteries, science fiction, fantasy, graphic novels and everything inbetween.  I always have a book with me sometimes I tell people about them (The In Death Series by Nora Roberts writing as JD Robb) sometimes I'm embarrased by them (any of the Harlequin Inspired Romance books I've read- I really shouldn't read Harlequin it's too much like Mom's Halmark channel.)
I'm going to tell you about the books I'm reading and listening to, how it reads (or listens,) the type of person I think would like it, who I think should star in the movie and anything else I can think of.  Right now I'm listening to The In Death Series again.  But I always have another book going.  The first one I'm going to write about is Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie.