French Lessons: An Adult Book Review

“Sometimes we have to run away from ourselves in order to find ourselves.” 
― Ellen Sussman, French Lessons

“Why does naming a thing give it so much power?” 
― Ellen Sussman, French Lessons


“We don't need to talk. We need to love.” 
― Ellen Sussman, French Lessons

French Lessons by Ellen Sussman
Published: July 2011
Buy: Amazon or B&N
Format: Paperback
Source: Library

When I first saw this book on Goodreads, I thought it might be a decent read for my sorority book club. Then it didn't get chosen and I'd all but forgotten it. Then at the library, I saw it again, refreshed my memory and decided to bring it home. My hopes weren't too high, as I seldom like books like these (adult contemporary). I was so pleasantly surprised. This was one of those rare books that I sat down with, walked away from, and returned happily. I read this in just about two days. I wasn't trying to rush it, nor was I unable to put it down, I simply enjoyed reading it more than surfing the net or watching another TV show. Excellent job, Ms. Sussman. Hush now and tell everyone what the book is about!

This book is essentially broken into 5 parts. The first and last are short and show the relationships between three private french tutors working in Paris.

The second is about Nico, a tutor, and Josie, an American french teacher. Josie is in Paris nursing her broken heart. Perhaps, luckily she is paired with Nico the bleeding-hearted poet. 

The third is about Phillipe, a tutor and horrendous flirt, and Riley, a lonely expatriate mother living in Paris. Riley moved to Paris with her small beginnings of a family and has failed to fall in love with the city as she'd hoped. She hasn't even managed to learn the language after a full year!

The fourth is about Chantal, a beautiful Parisian tutor, and Jeremy, the American husband of a Hollywood actress. Jeremy is a man out of his comfort zone. He's a homebody and would prefer to stay in his home in California, but his wife drag him to Paris with her to shoot a film.

Each person involved will learn things about them selves they never would have guessed.

I adored this book. It was such a lovely story about personal growth and knowledge! It's also a story of love and heartbreak and family and happiness and sadness and... ALL THE EMOTIONS! It is certainly an adult novel that touches on some very mature content, and I loved it. After almost solely reading YA lit, it was a nice wake-up call into the real world of adult life that I've begun to dabble in. 

For the characters, I related most to Chantal. Maybe not all of her at the moment, but some of her now and some of her in the past. One quote in particular hooked me to her more than anything else. Jeremy asks her "What are you drawn to?" and she replies with an answer straight from my heart: "Language. Words. No, not teaching. Perhaps one day I'll write something." I just... too many emotions in those couple of lines to even express! I also really loved Josie's story and I love the relationship Nico and Josie develop. I liked Phillipe and Riley the least. I couldn't find myself even semi relating to either. I don't have a family to relate to Riley and I can't imagine being like Phillipe.

Over all, this book is definitely a 5 star book! Perhaps it's the Linguist or the French major in me, or perhaps it's the realist and the romantic, whatever it is, this book struck a chord and I'm so glad I read it. If you like thought provoking adult novels, this one may just be to your liking. If you like travel literature that ends with the characters learning about themselves, you will most likely love this. I find it difficult to recommend this to a "type" of person because it's such a great book. I want to just recommend it to everyone, but it may not be your forte. It's still a wonderful book and if it begins to interest you at all, I highly highly recommend it!

Have you read French Lessons? What did you think about it? Which character did you connect with or like most?

Choker: A Book Review

“The Ethan of her dreams had disappeared. He was just another person who was sad. She was kind of glad, actually. Dreams disappeared when you woke up. The real thing was better anyway.”
--Elizabeth Woods

I picked this book up from the library on the sole suggestion of my friend Ariel. She raved about this book, then while at the library returning and rechecking books before going to Colorado, it sat there on the shelf. I snatched it and off I went. I do not regret this decision. I officially trust Ariel, without question, in all that is book related.

Choker is about two best friends, Cara and Zoe, who were separated when Cara, was forced to move by her parents. Several years later, Cara is in high school and feeling rather miserable. She's not popular in the slightest bit and she feels that she has no friends. She even accumulates the nickname "Choker." Then, one day, Zoe appears on Cara's bed after school. She's run away from a horrible home life and begs Cara for refuge. Cara, of course, agrees, because "What are best friends for?"

This is going to be a very short review because this book is so amazing. I have no complaints what so ever. This book also needs to be read knowing as little about the story as possible. I can't even properly tell you who I recommend this book for without ruining it! All I can say is this book is though provoking, surprising, and amazing. If you're interested in good books, Choker is certainly the book for you!

Beauty Queens: A Video Book Review

This is a review of the book Beauty Queen by Libba Bray. I hope to write one in text as well, but, for now, this is all there is. Please enjoy and subscribe!

The Alchemyst: A Book Review

“At the heart of every legend there is a grain of truth.”
― Michael Scott, The Alchemyst

"Nothing is as it seems. You must learn to question everything.
― Michael Scott, The Alchemyst



Opening words: The first thing I have to say is that this book is fantastic, in every sense of the word! Mr. Scott obviously spent a large amount of time on this. His use of mythology is amazing and the "truths" he creates are wonderful. He does an excellent job at creating his world and his history within our own.

Summary: When twins Josh and Sophie move to San Francisco for the summer, they think getting jobs to buy a car is a great idea. Little did they know that their jobs would lead them into a world they'd always known to be fiction.
Nicholas Flamel died in the 1400s. Nick Fleming owns the book shop at which Josh works. When a man storms in and magic begins, Josh is caught in the middle. Sophie runs to help her brother and ends up learning more than she wanted to know about the store owners, Nick and Perry Fleming.
From that moment on, the twins are wound tight into a story of magic, immortals, and prophecy.

Opinions: Absolutely fantastic. Scott pulls in mythology from all over the world to create a web both complex and easy to follow. He creates characters with good and bad sides, selfless and selfish motives. He creates a world within our own that the reader can almost imagine is real.
My personal favorite character is Perenelle Flamel, Nicholas's wife. We see little of her in comparison to the other characters, but in that little bit you glimpse so many strong emotions and so much strong will that it's hard for me not to adore her.
I also love Scatty, a Warrior. She's spunky and makes even the tensest of moments easy to read.
Nicholas is a well developed character, while still keeping the bit of mystery that teaches you to love him but you're never sure if you fully trust him.
Dee makes a wonderful villain.
Sophie and Josh make the story. They are the center point of the story. Since they are two 15 year old kids, never having stepped into the world they're pulled into, the stories, the histories, etc. are all told to the reader naturally by their explanation to Sophie and Josh. They're also very different, which makes the story all the more interesting.
I really like that it is NOT a love story. Most YA books now, even in the face of apocalypse,are coated with a thick layer of love drama. Though you do see a bit of Nicholas and Perenelle's love, it's not a major part, but makes both characters very likeable.

Recommendation: I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy tales. Alchemy is, obviously, a major part of this story, as is magic. It is a YA fiction, but it's not one that reads slowly or like a story told to children. I highly suggest it.