The Oracle of Stamboul

The Oracle of Stamboul by Michael David Lukas

In the summer of 1877, a child is born and many mysterious things happen during her birth. First, a flock of purple-and-white hoopoes which are a type of bird arrive. Then just as mysteriously, a pair of special midwives appears to deliver her. After the child, Eleonora is born her mother dies. Eleonora is raised by her doting father, Yakob and her not so loving step-mother, Ruxandra. As Eleonora grows she is found to be a genius. Yakob must leave on business for Stamboul. This is more than Eleonora can bear so she becomes a stowaway on the ship which is carrying her father. Once she arrives in Stamboul, Eleonora's life takes a big change. She lives in the home of her father's business partner, Moncef Bey. I had many questions and concerns about this man's intentions. Then we add in Eleonora's tutor, Reverend Muehler, who may or may not be a spy. But what or who is he spying on? It seems like everyone wants to keep Eleonora close to them as they know she is special. I adored this little girl and at times felt so sorry for her. At every turn there is more mystery and intrigue. The story is an intricate puzzle that at times moves rather slowly. I did however love the author's prose. It was as magical as the story itself. I was glad that I stuck with the story even when it slowed down. The symbolism in the story beautifully written. Usually I miss connections like that in a book but in this one I was able to savor it. Stamboul made for a very interesting setting, one that I am not all that familiar with. I love going to new places and times when reading a book. This book is beautifully published and I would recommend reading the actual book and not the e-book. The pages have a beautiful feel to them which added to the pleasure of reading this book. It almost had an antique feel to it. This is a wonderful debut book that will leave you thinking about this book and this little girl for quite some time.

I received this book for my honest opinion from the publisher through Amazon's Vine Program.

WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.
To play along, just answer the following three questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

I am still reading the same book as last week. the weather finally was decent enough to get outside which brought the need for yard work to be done. Hopefully this week will be a better week for reading. I have high hopes. Needless to say I am skipping what I recently finished because I didn't finish anything.

What I am currently reading..



The Oracle of Stamboul by Michael David Lucas

I am loving this book. I love the little girl who is the main character. I hope to finish it up soon.

What I hope to read next..



Leaving by Karen Kingsbury

I love Karen Kingsbury books. I read two full series of her books in a couple of weeks in 2008. I guess you could say I was kind of hooked. I am looking forward to visiting some old friends from the past books in this new series.

I am hoping life will settle down here and I can get back to reading more.

Mailbox Monday May 9

It's Monday again! I can't believe how quickly the weeks go by. Time for another Mailbox Monday post. Mailbox Monday is the creation of Marcia from A Girl and Her Books. The meme is on tour and this month's host is Mari of MariReads. Thank you for hosting Mari!

I hope all the mothers out there had a lovely Mother's Day. I had a wonderful day. I started the day cleaning out my front flower garden and planting some columbines and violas. I hope they survive my not so green thumb. Then my kids surprised me with a new patio umbrella to read under on sunny days and some really cute solar lights that are flowers that change colors. They are very cute ad we had fun watching them change last night. My oldest son grilled some mighty tasty burgers. All in all I was very spoiled and it is was the perfect day! I miss having those little ones under foot but I must say that I am thoroughly enjoying having grown-up conversations with my kids. Life is good!

On to the mailbox..I received two books for review. I am excited to read them both as they both are from authors I have read before and enjoyed very much. Summaries are borrowed from Goodreads.



Leaving by Karen Kingsbury

Hardcover, 352 pages
Published March 22nd 2011 by Zondervan (first published 2011)
ISBN
0310266998 (ISBN13: 9780310266990)
original title
Leaving (Bailey Flanigan, #1)
series
Bailey Flanigan #1

The Bailey Flanigan series begins with Bailey leaving Bloomington for the adventure of a lifetime. She has won an audition for the ensemble of a Broadway musical in New York City. She's determined to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but is she really ready to leave family and friends for the loneliness of the city? And what of Cody? His disappearance has her worried about their future and praying that their love can survive. In order to be closer to his mother in jail, Cody takes a coaching job in a small community outside Indianapolis. New friends, distance, and circumstances expose cracks in his relationship with Bailey Flanigan. Love, loneliness, big opportunities, and even bigger decisions highlight the first book in the new Bailey Flanigan series that features members of the popular Baxter family and finally completes the Bailey Flanigan/Cody Coleman story.





Heat Wave by Nancy Thayer

Hardcover, 304 pages
Expected publication: June 21st 2011 by Ballantine Books (first published June 14th 2011)
ISBN
0345518314 (ISBN13: 9780345518316)

Unerringly perceptive, superbly written, every page packed with the warmth and compassionate wisdom that have become Nancy Thayer’s trademark, Heat Wave tells the moving story of a woman who, after her seemingly perfect life unravels, must find the strength to live and love again.

Making the startling discovery that her family finances are in dire straits is only the latest shock endured by Carley Winsted after her husband’s sudden death from a heart attack. Resisting her in-laws’ well-meaning overtures to take in Carley and her two daughters, the young widow instead devises a plan to keep her family in their beloved home, a grand historic house on the island of Nantucket.

The solution is right at Carley’s front door: transforming her expensive, expansive house into a bed-and-breakfast. Not everyone, however, thinks this plan prudent or quite respectable—especially not Carley’s mother-in-law. Further complicating a myriad of challenges, a friend forces Carley to keep a secret that, if revealed, will undo families and friendships.

When her late husband’s former law partner keeps showing up at the most unexpected times, Carley must cope with an array of mixed feelings. And then, during a late-summer heat wave, the lives of Carley and her friends and family will be forever changed in entirely unexpected ways.

Lyrical, emotional, dramatic, and ultimately wonderfully uplifting, Nancy Thayer’s latest novel is compelling from its first page to its last.

Both books were received from the publishers through the Amazon Vine Program.

What interesting reads made their way into your home?

Happy Mother's Day

I'd like to wish all of the mothers a very Happy Mother's Day! The sun is shining here and we may hit 60 so it looks to be a beautiful day here! I'm hoping to spend a nice, quiet day with my chicks. Even though my kids are all grown up (my baby turns 18 next week) they are still my chicks.

WWW Wednesdays

I have seen this meme around for a bit now and thought I would give it a try this week. WWW Wednesdays is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.
To play along, just answer the following three questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?


What are you currently reading?

The Oracle of Stamboul by Michael David Lukas


What did you recently finish reading?

Friendship Bread by Darien Gee


What do you think you'll read next?

Mothers and Daughters by Rae Meadows

Friendship Bread

Friendship Bread by Darien Gee

Book Summary

An anonymous gift sends a woman on a journey she never could have anticipated.

One afternoon, Julia Evarts and her five-year-old daughter, Gracie, arrive home to find an unexpected gift on the front porch: a homemade loaf of Amish Friendship Bread and a simple note: I hope you enjoy it. Also included are a bag of starter, instructions on how to make the bread herself, and a request to share it with others.

Still reeling from a personal tragedy that left her estranged from the sister who was once her best friend, Julia remains at a loss as to how to move on with her life. She’d just as soon toss the anonymous gift, but to make Gracie happy, she agrees to bake the bread.

When Julia meets two newcomers to the small town of Avalon, Illinois, she sparks a connection by offering them her extra bread starter. Widow Madeline Davis is laboring to keep her tea salon afloat while Hannah Wang de Brisay, a famed concert cellist, is at a crossroads, her career and marriage having come to an abrupt end. In the warm kitchen of Madeline’s tea salon, the three women forge a friendship that will change their lives forever.

In no time, everyone in Avalon is baking Amish Friendship Bread. But even as the town unites for a benevolent cause and Julia becomes ever closer to her new friends, she realizes the profound necessity of confronting the painful past she shares with her sister.

About life and loss, friendship and community, food and family, Friendship Bread tells the uplifting story of what endures when even the unthinkable happens.

My Thoughts


I found this to be a sweet, charming read! Julia and her daughter Gracie arrived home one afternoon to find a loaf of friendship bread on their porch along with a bag of starter and instructions. Julia's first thought is to toss the starter but Gracie is so thrilled about it so Julia decides to go ahead and give the starter a shot. If you know anything about this starter, you know how it multiplies and eventually you will be looking for anyone to give it to. And when they see you coming with it, they will run away from you really fast! As this starter makes the rounds in Avalon we meet more characters who also have issues, most dealing with some sort of grief. I was able to feel every characters grief and pain. There were times in this book I was laughing and then after turning the page, would be crying. When the community pulls together to help out a nearby community, I found myself wanting to be baking right along side with the women. If you have ever had the pleasure of being the recipient of a starter of Friendship Bread, you will be able to appreciate this book. If you have never had the pleasure, be prepared to have the desire to make a starter. I'll never look at a bag of starter in the same way ever again. I thought the friendship bread made for a very hopeful, heartwarming story. This is a book that will have a permanent home in my library. There is a website that compliments the book called Friendship Bread Kitchen. I think this book would make a fantastic Mother's Day gift along with some starter and maybe a nice pan or a few utensils to help mix the bread. Or how about a nice apron or dish towels? The possibilities are endless.

I received this book for my honest review from Random House through Librarything Early Reviewers Group.

Mailbox Monday May 2

It's Mailbox Monday! I love checking out everyone's mailboxes and adding books to my wish list. Be sure to check out all the posts over at MariReads. Thank you Mari for hosting Mailbox Monday for the month of May.

My mailbox has been quite busy lately. I am having to spend much more time outside with the dogs so hopefully I will get caught up on all this reading. I keep the book I am reading by the back door so I can just slip some flip flops on and grab my book and out we go. The dogs can spend hours just sniffing outside. It's their favorite past time. Back to the mailbox...I received three books for review and I purchased one book (I actually pre-ordered it) and picked one book up at the library sale rack for $1.00. If you have read any of the titles, I'd love to hear what you thought of them. The titles are linked to Goodreads if you want to check them out.




The Oracle of Stamboul by Michael David Lukas received from Harper Collins through Amazon Vine
The Butterfly's Daughter by Mary Alice Monroe received from Gallery Books through Goodreads First Reads Program
The Soldier's Wife by Margaret Leroy received through Voice/Hyperion



The Violets of March by Sarah Jio This is my pre-ordered book...I have heard so many great things about this book that I had to have it.
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel This I found on the library sale and for a buck I thought I would give it a shot.

I am off to see what wonderful goodies made their way into your home.