Giveaway: Sea Escape

Summary: Acclaimed novelist and nationally recognized family expert Lynne Griffin returns with Sea Escape—an emotional, beautifully imagined story inspired by the author's family letters about the ties that bind mothers and daughters. 

Laura Martinez is wedged in the middle place, grappling with her busy life as a nurse, wife, and devoted mom to her two young children when her estranged mother, Helen, suffers a devastating stroke. In a desperate attempt to lure her mother into choosing life, Laura goes to Sea Escape, the pristine beach home that Helen took refuge in after the death of her beloved husband, Joseph. There, Laura hunts for the legendary love letters her father wrote to her mother when he served as a reporter for the Associated Press during wartime Vietnam. 

Believing the beauty and sway of her father's words will have the power to heal, Laura reads the letters bedside to her mother, a woman who once spoke the language of fabric—of Peony Sky in Jade and Paradise Garden Sage—but who can't or won't speak to her now. As Laura delves deeper into her tangled family history, she becomes increasingly determined to save her mother. As each letter reveals a patchwork detail of her parents' marriage, she discovers a common thread: a secret that mother and daughter unknowingly share. 

Weaving back and forth from Laura's story to her mother's, beginning in the idyllic 1950s with Helen's love affair with Joseph through the tumultuous Vietnam War period on to the present, Sea Escape takes a gratifying look at what women face in their everyday lives—the balancing act of raising capable and happy children and being accomplished and steadfast wives while still being gracious and good daughters. It is a story that opens the door to family secrets so gripping, you won't be able to put this book down until each is revealed. -- Simon & Schuster

Last summer, I read and reviewed a wonderful novel called SEA ESCAPE by Lynne Griffin. SEA ESCAPE received many rave reviews including Entertainment Weekly Magazine's Must Read Books for the Summer as well as an Indie Next List Notable Pick. I was deeply touched by this story and I suggested it for book clubs who appreciate good women's fiction.

On June 7th, the paperback edition of SEA ESCAPE will be available. You will now have another chance to pick up this novel in case you missed it the first time around. I strongly recommend considering SEA ESCAPE for your next book club meeting, especially since it's now in paperback and less expensive!

To celebrate SEA ESCAPE'S paperback release, the author and publisher have offered two copies of the book for two lucky Booking Mama readers. To enter, just fill out the form below before Monday, June 20th at 11:59 p.m. ET. I will randomly select and notify the winners the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. addresses only. Good luck!

Review: The Ridge

Summary: On an isolated ridge in the Kentucky woods stands a homemade lighthouse, hundreds of miles from any substantial body of water. Local reporter Roy Darmus has always found it an amusing oddity- until he is selected as the recipient of a suicide note from its builder. Roy enters the bizarre structure to find the walls covered in maps bearing the names of the dead--including his own parents, who were killed in a car accident when he was a boy. Roy soon has a storytelling assignment more daunting than anything he's seen before: convincing people that an age-old legend has in fact come to life. With haunting atmosphere and tension-coiled plot, The Ridge is a terrifying journey into the heart of darkness. -- Little, Brown

If you had told me a year ago that I would be a huge fan of Michael Koryta's, I probably wouldn't have believed you. I rarely read books with supernatural elements, and when I do, I usually have a hard time getting past those make-believe parts of the story. But then, I met Mr. Koryta at a book signing/reading during last year's BEA; and I was instantly charmed. I won't go so far as to say that I developed an "author crush," but it was pretty darn close.

So I read SO COLD THE RIVER and loved it (my review.) And then I read THE CYPRESS HOUSE and loved it (my review) and I admit I was a little surprised! While I deeply appreciated the mystery and suspense aspects of these two novels, I also enjoyed the supernatural parts and actually found them to be believable. I was forced to admit that it was time to re-think my entire position on supernatural thrillers. (Although, part of me still thinks that I'm not a huge fan of these types of books -- it's just that Mr. Kortya is that good!)

I was very anxious to see if THE RIDGE, Mr. Koryta's third supernatural thriller would live up to my expectations. You know, that whole "third time's the charm" thing! I'm very happy to say that THE RIDGE didn't disappoint... at all. It is a little shorter than SO COLD THE RIVER and THE CYPRESS HOUSE, but it's still chock-full of action-packed, mind-blowing scenes as well as an intriguing mystery. And, it was more than a little creepy -- it definitely made the hair on my arms stand straight up!

THE RIDGE tells the strange story of a stretch of land in eastern Kentucky called Blade Ridge. When the owner of a lighthouse in the middle of the woods is found dead of an apparent suicide, things begin to get very interesting. Kevin Kimble, the deputy sheriff, and Roy Darmus, the local newspaper editor, become involved in the investigation; and both find that their individual investigations cross over into their personal lives. Added to the mix is Audrey Clark, the owner of a big-cat sanctuary that has recently moved near the lighthouse. When she realizes that her cats are bothered by the mysterious forces from the lighthouse, she also becomes caught up in these very weird occurrences.

Like the other books that I've read by Mr. Kortya, THE RIDGE captured my attention from the get-go. While I found the story to be incredibly interesting, especially the parts about the big-cat sanctuary, I was drawn into the mystery surrounding the lighthouse and the past "crimes" that occurred nearby. And of course, Mr. Koryta can weave a fantastic story -- I truly think he is one of the best out there! He had me on the edge of my seat for the entire 350 pages.

What really stood out to me about THE RIDGE, though, was the character development. I was pleasantly surprised by the range and depth of the characters, namely Kevin, Roy and Audrey; and I thought their flaws and insecurities were portrayed very effectively. I'm wondering if I am better able to "accept" the supernatural aspects of the story as being real because I find that the characters are so authentic. Hmmmm.... something to ponder! Either way, I have found that I absolutely love Michael Koryta's books.

If you haven't discovered Michael Koryta yet, then you are definitely missing out. He's a great storyteller and I guarantee that he will take you on a fantastic ride with his supernatural mysteries -- especially THE RIDGE!

Thanks to the publisher for sending an ARC of this novel.

Mystery Mondays is a "somewhat" regular feature where I review all types of mystery books -- traditional mysteries, suspense/thrillers, and even cozies! Please feel free to share your thoughts on any recent mystery books that you've read.

BEA 2011 Highlights -- Wednesday (Day 3)

Kathy and I began the day with the Adult Book and Author Breakfast. This year's authors were outstanding -- Mindy Kaling, Diane Keaton, Jeffrey Eugenides, and Charlaine Harris. Once again, we say in the back so we could make a quick escape if we were so inclined -- we did end up leaving a few minutes early. Mindy Kaling, Kelly Kapur on The Office, was the moderator; and for the most part, I thought she was pretty entertaining. Diane Keaton spoke next about her new memoir THEN AGAIN which tells about the relationship between Ms. Keaton and her mother. Ms. Keaton was quite the speaker and, by the end of her presentation, there wasn't a dry eye in the audience. I'm not entirely sure that I could handle reading this book, but I want to at least try.

After hearing these authors talk about their latest novels, I definitely have added the four books to my wish-list. (I know you're shocked about that!) Only one of the novels, Charlaine Harris' DEAD RECKONING, was available, so I guess I'll have to wait a few more months for the rest of them. I admit that I am most excited about Mr. Eugenides' latest book, THE MARRIAGE PLOT. I found him to be rather charming and his sense of humor was fantastic!

After the Adult Book and Author Breakfast, Kathy and I headed back to the show floor. There were a few books that we definitely wanted to get today including DOMESTIC VIOLETS and Beth Kephart's new one YOU ARE MY ONLY. Kathy and I had promised Beth that we would attend her signing at 10:00 and I am so glad that we did. Beth is truly one of the kindest authors I've ever met and she's just lovely! Plus, I can't wait to read her new book since I know it will not disappoint.

Photo Courtesy of Florinda (The 3R's)

Kathy and I separated for a bit and we each collected some autographed books. Last year I didn't come home with many signed books,  but this year I managed to snag a few more -- maybe I'm growing more patient in my old age! Ha Ha! I met Marisa de los Santos (author of FALLING TOGETHER) as well as Matthew Norman (author of DOMESTIC VIOLETS.) In addition, I met one of my faves -- Lisa Unger whose new book DARKNESS, MY OLD FRIEND is getting rave reviews. (Now that I think about it, I might have met her on Tuesday, but I just can't keep it all straight!) There were a few others, but I won't bore you with all the details.

Around lunchtime, I met with Nicole (Linus' Blanket) and Jennifer (Book Club Girl) and Maggie (Harper Collins) to iron out our plans for the Cool Down with Agatha Christie event that we are co-hosting this summer. This read-along is going to be so much fun and I hope many of you will us at least for one book, short story or movie! There are also some fantastic prizes -- not that I'm trying to bribe you or anything.

And then, Kathy, Dawn, Candace and I headed left the Javits Center for a few hours to visit my "reading soul-mate" Lydia from Penguin Books. After sharing emails for over a year now, I was glad to finally meet Lydia in person at the Beth Hoffman dinner. She is gorgeous and very funny, and I just adored her. (Plus she's really fun to tease -- she did bring it upon herself though!) We met up with her co-worker Kate and headed to Jacques Torre for some frozen hot chocolate. Now I'm not the biggest chocolate fan, but I've been wanting to check out frozen hot chocolate for some time now. I ordered a dark chocolate one with a pinch of hot pepper. It was absolutely decadent. I should have stopped half way through, but of course, I finished all of it... and then regretted it because I was stuffed.

We all headed back to BEA for a little bit before the end of the day, and Kathy and I took another stroll around the floor. We went back to our hotel for a little while not only freshen up, but also to figure out how to find our evening activities. First, we went to the BEA Genre Mixer hosted by Mulhulland and Orbit at Landmark Tavern. It was a lot of fun visiting with all my blogging friends, but the highlights of the evening were meeting Michael Koryta and Megan Abbott. I had recently finished Ms. Abbott's latest novel THE END OF EVERYTHING and I was desperate to discuss it with her. Ms. Abbott was great to talk to and I hope I didn't make a fool of myself gushing about her book and the characters!

If Kathy and I were "party crashers" on Monday night, then we were "party hoppers" on Wednesday. From the Mulhulland/Orbit party, we headed to Harper Collins' party at Bill's Gay 90s. (We had issues getting a cab so it wasn't exactly easy, but we did get there!) I love the folks at Harper Collins so it was great catching up with some old friends and meeting some new ones. There were also some great new authors there that I was fortunate enough to meet -- Talia Carner (JERUSALEM MAIDEN), Matthew Norman (DOMESTIC VIOLETS), M.L. Malcolm (HEART OF DECEPTION), and Kristine Gasbarre (HOW TO LOVE AN AMERICAN MAN.) I felt bond with Ms. Gasbarre because she is from a small town in Pennsylvania not to far from my grandparents. Of course, I immediately added all of their books to my wish-list too.

After all this talking (and drinking), Kathy, Candace, Dawn, Swapna, and I decided to grab a bite to eat at a nearby Chipotle. I think our Chipotle trips just might become an annual tradition!

And that brings me to the end of Day 3. I'm getting tired just thinking about all we did!

Kid Konnection: New Picture Books

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you some newly released picture books.

Summary: In Brother Sun, Sister Moon, award-winning author Katherine Paterson reimagines a hymn of praise originally written by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1224. Illuminated with the exquisite illustrations of cut-paper artist Pamela Dalton, this picture book offers a stunningly beautiful tribute to nature.

Katherine Paterson is a two-time Newbery Medal winner, a two-time National Book Award winner, and the 2010-11 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. She lives in Barre, Vermont.

Pamela Dalton is a master of scherenschnitte, the art of papercutting. Her artwork has enthralled collectors worldwide for more than two decades. She lives in Ghent, New York, where her home and studio overlook a biodynamic farm and a school community. This is her first book. -- Handprint Books/Chronicle

BROTHER SUN, SISTER MOON: SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI'S CANTICLE OF THE CREATURES reimagined by Katherine Paterson and illustrated by Pamela Dalton is one of the most gorgeous children's books that I've ever seen. This sure-to-be-a-classic book is a beautiful retelling of the Canticle of Creatures as reimagined by Katherine Paterson, the two time Newbery medal winner. And the book's artwork is nothing less than spectacular.

The Canticle of the Creatures, which was originally written by St. Francis of Assisi in 1224, is a beautiful hymn of praise. This hymn pays tribute to life, and it's clear that it's based on much of what St. Francis of Assisi experienced while living in the Italian countryside. BROTHER SUN, SISTER MOON celebrates "creation" from the sun, to the moon, to family and to work. It's all about the joy and beauty of life!

As much as I loved the text to this picture book, the artwork definitely sets it apart from your typical children's books. Pamela Dalton's cut-paper designs are truly one-of-a-kind and the perfect complement to the beautiful words. Each page is filled with so many precise details that it's almost hard to grasp that these illustrations are made from cut paper. Booking Son and I took time on each page to just check out all the spectacular images.

I absolutely adored BROTHER SUN, SISTER MOON. It's a beautiful book in many ways and one that is sure to be treasured by parents and children alike.

Summary: Duck and his barnyard friends are up to something. One by one we meet them, and then hear their familiar sounds.  But that Duck always has the last QUACK! In close-up images, the animals seem to be climbing upon each other. At the very end, we see the hilarious finale. Young readers will delight in making the animal sounds, noticing the funny expressions, and picking out surprising details in the illustrations. -- Tricycle Press

CHICKEN, CHICKEN, DUCK! by Nadia Krilanovich is a cute book that's perfect for the younger picture book audience. It's a funny story, and at the same time, it is also a great book to help little ones learn animal names and sounds.

At six years old, Booking Son is way too old for this book, but he had fun reading it to me. The idea behind the book is very simple, yet very fun. A whole bunch of farm animals are introduced to the reader one-by-one. They appear to be climbing on top of each other to make a barnyard pyramid. At the end of the story, there is a funny little surprise that is sure to bring a smile to your child's face.

As I mentioned before, CHICKEN, CHICKEN, DUCK! is perfect for little ones. There are only a few words on most pages and many of the words are just animal names or sounds, so it will even appeal to kids who have a hard time sitting still. The illustrations are also adorable and sure to capture your toddler's imagination. The animals are just precious and the expressions on their little faces make them almost come alive.

If you are looking for a cute introduction into barnyard animals and their sounds, then I definitely recommend CHICKEN, CHICKEN, DUCK!

Thanks to the publishers for sending a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!

Guest Review: Lone Survivor

Summary: Four US Navy SEALS departed one clear night in early July 2005 for the mountainous Afghanistan-Pakistan border for a reconnaissance mission. Their task was to document the activity of an al Qaeda leader rumored to be very close to Bin Laden with a small army in a Taliban stronghold. Five days later, only one of those Navy SEALS made it out alive.

This is the story of the only survivor of Operation Redwing, SEAL fire team leader Marcus Luttrell, and the extraordinary firefight that led to the largest loss of life in American Navy SEAL history. His squadmates fought valiantly beside him until he was the only one left alive, blasted by an RPG into a place where his pursuers could not find him. Over the next four days, terribly injured and presumed dead, Luttrell crawled for miles through the mountains and was taken in by sympathetic villagers who risked their lives to keep him safe from surrounding Taliban warriors.

A born and raised Texan, Marcus Luttrell takes us from the rigors of SEAL training, where he and his fellow SEALs discovered what it took to join the most elite of the American special forces, to a fight in the desolate hills of Afghanistan for which they never could have been prepared. His account of his squadmates' heroism and mutual support renders an experience that is both heartrending and life-affirming. In this rich chronicle of courage and sacrifice, honor and patriotism, Marcus Luttrell delivers a powerful narrative of modern war. -- Little, Brown

Note: This review was written by my dad.

With all the current interest in the Navy Seals after the Bin Laden adventure, I asked Booking Mama if I could write a review for LONE SURVIVOR: THE EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF OPERATION REDWING AND THE LOST HEROES OF SEAL TEAM 10 by Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson, a book I had read more than a year ago. Luttrell was the sole survivor of a 2005 Navy SEAL mission in Afghanistan which claimed the lives of three of his combat partners.

The book begins with the difficult task of Luttrell informing family and friends about the death of loved ones. The book then goes back to the beginning of Luttrell’s story of the SEALS and his training. Marcus and his twin brother had always wanted to be SEALS and began training at age 15 with a former U.S. Army soldier. Luttrell then uses the grueling period of training known as “Hell Week” to describe some of what he and his brother endured to become SEALS. He does a fantastic job telling of the mental and physical toughness it takes to make the grade.

Luttrell then describes Operation Redwing where he and three other SEALS were dispatched into the rugged Afghanistan Mountains to capture or kill a well-known terrorist aligned with Osama Bin Laden. After being spotted by some goat herders who apparently revealed their location, the SEALS were surrounded by a band of as many as 200 Taliban soldiers. After several hours of fighting three of Luttrell’s team were killed. During the fighting a distress call from one of the SEALS led to a helicopter being sent in for a rescue attempt. Unfortunately the helicopter was shot down resulting in the death of eight more SEALS and eight Army special force members. Despite being wounded several times, Luttrell somehow survived and was rescued by a group of Pashtu villagers who cared for and protected him for several days until he could be rescued. Luttrell’s detailed account of the story is remarkable. He was even able to recall the exact locations where each members of the team lost his life. Each body was later recovered.

In January, 2010 I had the opportunity to hear Marcus Luttrell’s first hand account of his mission. As Marcus continuously paced the stage during his presentation one had the feeling that he was reliving the experience. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Marcus Luttrell was not a polished speaker but was telling the story from his heart.It was not an experience he enjoyed and he thought he would never have to tell this story again after he wrote the book. But I’m sure he tells the story over and over in memory of his fallen comrades. All proceeds from book sales go to the Lone Survivor Trust whose mission is to welcome home, empower and restore America’s wounded warriors, their families and surviving families.

LONE SURVIVOR is an action packed and patriotic story about a brave group of men defending their country. I recommend this true story to anyone who wants to better understand the dangers and sacrifices our military members go through each day in the fight against terrorism.

Thanks to Booking Pap Pap for his very relevant review of LONE SURVIVOR.

BEA 2011 Highlights -- Tuesday (Day 2)

I hope you're not getting tired of all the BEA recap posts. If so, I apologize. I am trying to mix things up a bit over the next week or so with highlight posts and reviews. Please bear with me!

Tuesday was the first "real" day of BEA. Kathy and I headed over to Javits Center bright and early so we could pick up our badges and get a place in line for the Children's Book and Author Breakfast. I have attended the Children's breakfast for three years now and I have never been disappointed with it. This year's authors were especially stellar. In addition to the four scheduled speakers, Katherine Paterson, one of my very favorite middle grade authors, was the guest speaker. I felt honored just to be in her presence -- she is like a rock star to me. She is just an amazing writer and an amazing woman!

The other authors were also great! Julianne Moore, Caldecott Medal winner Brian Selznick, Sarah Dessen, and Kevin Henkes all were great speakers and I can't wait to read their new books! We did receive a few of their books including WONDERSTRUCK, and I managed to score an adorable Freckleface Strawberry print thanks to Kathy as well as a few great books. If you'd like to read more about the breakfast, here's a link to the Publishers Weekly article.

Kathy and I did leave the breakfast a few minutes early because we were so excited to head up to the show floor. (Don't worry, we sat in the very back so it was okay!) I will never cease to be amazed by how overwhelming the BEA exhibits are -- it's just unbelievably huge with thousands of people. I swore to myself that I was going to be a "good" girl this year when it came to taking home books, but I do love books... so much! You know how it goes....

Photo Courtesy of Kathy (Bermuda Onion)

One of my Tuesday highlights was the annual hot dog cart lunch with Stephanie, Beth Fish Reads, Dawn, & Kathy.) As much as I love BEA and the books, the real fun of the week is getting together with my blogging friends and just catching-up!

Later in the day, I attended the Young Adult Buzz Panel. It was so hot and so crowded that I ended up sitting down on the floor in the very back of the room. I was very interested in a couple of the books, but I am starting to wonder if the "popular" YA books really appeal to me. You can read more about the five YA titles that were presented here. I was a little disappointed that none of the books were available after the panel, but not so much that I was willing to join in the total chaos that ensued when a few attendees tore open the boxes and began grabbing books.

Photo courtesy of Stephanie (Stephanie's Written Word)

After the YA Buzz Panel, I moved across the hall to the Hot Book Club Titles. I am in a few book clubs myself and I am always on the look-out for good book club recommendations. (And if you've noticed, I link to the reading guides and discuss some of the major themes for almost every book I review!) This was probably my favorite panel because every single book looked interesting to me, and I had only read a few of them. Needless to say, my wishlist grew a lot as a result of this presentation. I even kept the handout with all of the titles listed and I am personally challenging myself to read as many of them as I possibly can. I'm hoping to share some of these titles with you in the next week or so as part of my Book Club Exchange feature, but we'll see -- life seems to be getting more and more chaotic as the school year approaches.

Kathy and I then headed back to our hotel to freshen up a bit -- goodness knows I needed it. (I can't believe how awful I look in some of the pictures floating around the blogosphere!) And then it was off to the Apple Store in Soho to see three big-time authors -- Brad Meltzer, Michael Koryta and David Baldacci. Is that an incredible lineup, or what? I had a great time hearing them speak and I became excited about all three of their new books. But what's new? Every single time I "meet" an author and hear him or her talk about a book, I want to read it!

Photo Courtesy of Kathy (Bermudaonion)

We weren't able to stay the entire time because we had to go next door to meet Beth Hoffman, author of SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT, and some fellow bloggers for dinner!!!! We ate at The Mercer Kitchen and it was definitely a very cool restaurant. Beth is just an amazing person and I can't even begin to express how generous she is. She is warm and gracious and had all of us in tears when she shared how much each of us meant to her. She also gave each one of us a little goodie bag filled with a beautiful bookmark and a notepad which says "What Would Oletta Say?" Too cute! I am so grateful to Beth for this very memorable evening!

After our delightful dinner, it was back to our hotel. I think Kathy and I were both ready to call it a day! We were exhausted (yet hyper) and we couldn't stop talking about all the excitement from our second day of BEA!

Review: Dreams of Joy

Summary: In her beloved New York Times bestsellers Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Peony in Love, and, most recently, Shanghai Girls, Lisa See has brilliantly illuminated the potent bonds of mother love, romantic love, and love of country. Now, in her most powerful novel yet, she returns to these timeless themes, continuing the story of sisters Pearl and May from Shanghai Girls, and Pearl’s strong-willed nineteen-year-old daughter, Joy.

Reeling from newly uncovered family secrets, and anger at her mother and aunt for keeping them from her, Joy runs away to Shanghai in early 1957 to find her birth father—the artist Z.G. Li, with whom both May and Pearl were once in love. Dazzled by him, and blinded by idealism and defiance, Joy throws herself into the New Society of Red China, heedless of the dangers in the communist regime.

Devastated by Joy’s flight and terrified for her safety, Pearl is determined to save her daughter, no matter the personal cost. From the crowded city to remote villages, Pearl confronts old demons and almost insurmountable challenges as she follows Joy, hoping for reconciliation. Yet even as Joy’s and Pearl’s separate journeys converge, one of the most tragic episodes in China’s history threatens their very lives.

Acclaimed for her richly drawn characters and vivid storytelling, Lisa See once again renders a family challenged by tragedy and time, yet ultimately united by the resilience of love. -- Random House

I can pretty much guarantee that whatever Lisa See writes, I will read. She is one of my favorite authors and I can credit her with giving me an on-going interest in Chinese history. Last year, I reviewed SHANGHAI GIRLS; and of course, I loved it. I don't expect you to remember this, but I mentioned that I still felt as if Ms. See needed to write more about the characters in this novel. In fact, here's what I said:

SHANGHAI GIRLS is almost like a family epic for me, but it ended too soon! I think there is a great deal more to learn about the characters of Pearl, May and Joy (Pearl's daughter.) In so many ways, I think there is more to their story about living in America and I'm very curious about what happens to the future generations of the Chin women. I sincerely hope that Ms. See is working on a sequel.

So you can imagine how thrilled I was to discover that Ms. See had, indeed, written a sequel to SHANGHAI GIRLS called DREAMS OF JOY. I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy and I was even more excited when I received an autographed copy of the book at the Random House Tea which took place during BEA week (Ms. See was the guest speaker.) DREAMS OF JOY did not disappoint. It was everything I have come to expect from a Lisa See novel and more. The book had memorable characters, vivid descriptions of  China, dramatic scenes, and many themes that touched my heart. In summary... I loved it!

DREAMS OF JOY picks up right where SHANGHAI GIRLS leaves off. It's 1957 and Joy, a 19 year old Chinese American student, has just learned some difficult secrets about her past. She becomes very angry with her mother and her aunt and decides to take off to China to find her birth father. Joy has an idealized view about the "new" China and she doesn't realize the risks she will face by leaving the United States. Her mother Pearl, however, realizes that her daughter's impetuous actions could put her in grave danger. Pearl, who is still reeling from the loss of her husband, decides to go after Joy; and in the process, she puts her entire life at risk for the love of her daughter.

DREAMS OF JOY is a beautiful story for so many reasons. Of course, Ms. See's writing is absolutely gorgeous. She brings China to life for her readers and I was especially impressed with all of the historical information in the novel. (As you might already know about me, I love "learning" history from my fiction reads!) In addition, I thought the story itself was riveting. I was fully immersed into both Joy's and Pearl's journeys -- both their physical journeys as well as their personal journeys; and the action in the story was even better than I was expecting (especially the exciting ending!)

And the characters... what more can I really say? I loved reading about these women and their plight in China. Both Pearl and Joy were so well developed and so complex; and they both had their fair share of character flaws. I absolutely loved Pearl and related to her as a mother; and as I read this novel, I hoped that I would find the strength to save my children if they one day put themselves into a dangerous situation like Joy had done. On the other hand, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention how much Joy annoyed me for the majority of the novel. I understand that she was hurt because of her family's secrets, but she was so selfish and impetuous; and I just wanted to shake some sense into that girl's head. Having said that, I loved that Joy did mature throughout the novel... even to the point of understanding and eventually forgiving her mother. And my heart definitely went out to her once she became a mother.

DREAMS OF JOY would make an excellent book club book especially for those groups that have already read SHANGHAI GIRLS. It's not necessary to read SHANGHAI GIRLS first to appreciate DREAMS OF JOY because Ms. See does a wonderful job of providing bits and pieces of the back story; however, I highly recommend it because both novels are so good! Why wouldn't you want to read both of them?

There are so many wonderful things to discuss in DREAMS OF JOY -- from the characters (not all of them are likable), to China's history, to the many relationships in the story. There is a reading guide available which touches upon many of the issues I mentioned above as well as some others. For example, you might want to discuss the role of men in the story, or the importance of food (or lack there of), or some examples of a mother's love and sacrifice. And that's just the tip of the iceberg for discussion topics -- you could discuss so many things about this story.

If you are like me and love Lisa See's writing or you just want to read a beautiful story about mothers and daughters, then I highly recommend DREAMS OF JOY. I have a feeling that it's going to be one of my favorites of 2011!