Bookish delights :: 7

Anyone else still mourning the fact that Christmas has gone by so quickly? I am!

image courtesy of: Kimbrough Library

Blog Tour & Review: The Gilder by Kathryn Kay

Title: The Gilder
Author: Kathryn Kay
Publisher: Kensington Publishing (January 1, 2012)

Source: Received from publisher via Crazy Book Tours

Book description from Amazon:

Set against the exquisite backdrop of Florence, Italy, The Gilder is a compelling and beautifully wrought novel of secrets, friendship, betrayal, and the simple choices that change us forever. . .

In Marina Nesmith's skilled hands, even the most tarnished picture frame or objet d'art can be made perfect once again. Her life, too, seems flawless, at least on the surface. But more and more, Marina is conscious of what she lacks--someone to share her joys and sorrows with, confidence in the decisions she's made, and the courage to tell her teenage daughter, Zoe, the truth about her father.

Then Marina is invited to return to Florence, where she lived years before while learning her trade as a gilder. In those heady days, she wandered the city's picturesque streets, marveling at the masterpieces in the Duomo and the Pitti Palace. In the church of Santa Croce, she met Thomas, an American photographer who, along with his wife Sarah, introduced Marina to a thrilling, bohemian world of art and beauty. Through them, she also learned about love, lies, and the way one mistake can multiply into many. Now, as her past and present collide, Marina will finally have to move beyond the intricate veneer she's crafted around herself, and find the life that she--and Zoe--have been looking for.

Following college, Kathryn Kay spent five years living in Florence, Italy, where she studied restoration and gilding. Kathryn is the founder of the Nantucket Writers Studio, which offers writing workshops for women. She has three adult children, and lives on Nantucket Island with her husband, Robert.

Review:
I didn't know what to expect coming into this book. I have always wanted to travel to Europe and Italy in particular so when I read the blurb, I was definitely interested as an armchair traveler. The author, Kathryn Kay, spent five years living in Florence, Italy post-college where she studied restoration and gilding. She fills this story with so many intricate details about Florence and gilding that sometimes it is very easy to think that it is a true story even though it is fictional.

I enjoyed Part 1 of the story a lot because the main character, Marina, is young and innocent as she begins her life in Florence to study gilding. I especially love the details of her life in Florence in the bohemian world as an artist. She develops friendships and relationships with some very interesting characters in Florence that have a huge impact on her life later because of the decisions she's made along the way. I enjoyed how the author flashes us back from the first chapter because you know what to expect, but you don't know how it's going to happen.

At the same time, I was a little bit overwhelmed by all the art terms and vocabulary. I found myself on Wikipedia a lot just to get a better idea of what to picture in my mind when Marina was working on a project. I was also uncomfortable as it explored Marina's relationship with Sarah because it was unexpected for me.

In the 2nd part of the story, Marina is given the invitation to go back to Florence again much later in life and she does not want to take her teenage daughter, Zoe, because she has done everything to protect her from the truth. However, Zoe feels like she deserves to know the truth about her father. This challenges their relationship as mother and daughter because Marina's past and present come crashing together despite all that she has done to hide the weaknesses in her life which is symbolic in the work she does as a gilder.

Overall, I enjoyed this read about women, friendship, betrayal, and redemption, but it didn't quite grab me in the way I hoped it would. 

Rating:

3 out of 5 stars

Other blog tour stops:

1/5/2012  --  Reader Girls
1/6/2012  --  A Bookish Affair
1/7/2012  --  Psychotic State Book Reviews
1/10/2012  --  CelticLady's Reviews
1/11/2012  --  Novel Reflections
1/12/2012  --  Practical Frugality
1/14/2012  --  The Bookish Mama
1/15/2012  --  Sherri's Reading Jubilee
1/16/2012  --  Books in the Burbs

Review: Smitten by Colleen Coble, Kristen Billerbeck, Diann Hunt & Denise Hunter

Title: Smitten
Author: Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt & Denise Hunter
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (December 2011)

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley

Summary from Goodreads:
With Smitten Lumber closing, residents wonder if their town can stay afloat. Then four friends and local business owners decide the town is worth saving: they'll turn it into a honeymoon destination. Little do they know that love is already on the way.

Review:
I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the title, the setting, and most importantly, the characters. I think it was a great compilation of writing from four accomplished authors. It is not easy to make a story flow with so many writers, but they did an excellent job of connecting the four stories and perspectives together even though they each have their own style of writing.

My favorite story was Natalie's. I think it's because she seemed the most realistic to me. Her self-doubt and insecurities resonated with me and I sympathized with her the most. I enjoyed the other characters, but they did not have as much depth in my opinion.

I loved the setting of Smitten, a small town in Vermont, because it reminded me a lot of Stars Hallow from the show, "Gilmore Girls." Even though I don't live in a small-town, I love (and probably overly romanticize) the idea of living in one. 

I loved the theme of letting go and trusting God because it's a daily struggle for me to do the same. A wonderful, light read! Perfect for Christmastime!

Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Bookshelf Monday :: 27

I often dream of a wintery wonderland this time of year because it doesn't get very cold in Southern California, the land of two seasons: warm or hot. Now don't get me wrong, I am not complaining because I am a SoCal girl to the core and LOVE our mild weather. However, I do wish we could have a day or two of snow. That would be fun. :)

Hope you had a wonderful New Years!

image courtesy of: Chris Silas Neal

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! I pray that 2012 may be a wonderful year full of good books, health, spirits, friends and family for you and your loved ones. Anyone making any New Year's resolutions?

I'm looking forward to setting a new reading goal for 2012 and maybe participating in some reading challenges this year as well. How about you? Any recommendations for a fun reading challenge to join in on?

image courtesy of: Craftily Ever After