Lunch in Paris - by Elizabeth Bard

2 1/2 out of 5 stars

I really want to say that I loved this book. I love memoirs. I especially love memoirs that tell about adventures abroad and when they have recipes..bonus! This memoir, however, I did not love. The story line was mostly predictable, as most of these types of memoirs tend to be. Her writing was at best average and her adventures were less than noteworthy. Where did the book lose me? With Elizabeth, I just didn't like her. I found her elitist and arrogant in a way that I couldn't get behind. Again, usually not a problem. I often felt as though Elizabeth thinks herself above her audience and that didn't work for me. It was little comments like how she was living an "extraordinary" life in Paris and it would be "ordinary" to live back in New York. There were many more little remarks that were subtle but just enough to catch my attention.

If like me you enjoy memoirs about foreign locales and recipes give it a go. Just don't expect anything riveting!

The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown

2/5

Professor Robert Langdon is back! This time he's in Washington DC, trying to save his friend Peter from a very certain death at the hand of a lunatic seeking the lost word, which will make him the most powerful man in the world. His sidekick is Katherine, Peter's sister, a noetic scientist who analyses the power of the mind on objects and events. This adventure focuses on the Masonic world, myths, and symbols.

I really enjoyed The Da Vinci code, didn't read Angels and Demon, and was interested in this book. I was disappointed. I didn't really care for the story itself -quite boring and without surprises. I felt that Brown's main goal was to impress the reader with his knowledge of symbols and of the Masons without linking much of the knowledge to the story. Readers who like puzzles will evidently enjoy this book, since Langdon has to fit all the pieces and symbols together. The end of the book sounds like a summary of The Secret, whereby our minds are the center of the world and have the power to alter anything. After finishing the book, I felt I lost my time and didn't care much for what I had learnt about the Masons -much of which I have already forgotten.

The Last Supper: A Summer In Italy - Rachel Cusk

2 1/2 out of 5 stars

In The Last Supper novelist Rachel Cusk chronicles her families 3 month trip to Italy. Though an accomplished and prize winning novelist, in this memoir she shows herself to be a bit of a snob. In a desperate attempt to leave behind the dreary English weather and the routine of daily life, her family sells their home and heads to Tuscany. Although I found the book to be beautifully written and stylish, I also found it to be lacking human interest. At no point does she mention the names of her husband or children and goes into little, if often no, detail about their personal experiences. At best she complains about tourist and expatiates as though feeling herself to be superior to them. Unfortunately, this is as deep as she goes. I often found myself reading on for hope and desire of depth. Never really finding it but continuing on because of the beauty of her words. The most appealing part of this book is the art that she encounters and writes on. This I found to be very interesting, as she touches on the great masters of Italian art. At first I was excited to read this book, having spent much time in Italy myself. However, Cusk never really delved into the qualities that make Italy so wonderful - the food and people. Although, she seems to consider herself a cultural elitist above those of the "herds" of tourist. She simply shows her ignorance and lack of adventure.