It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Back in 2011, I was an avid reader who had somehow lost my way with reading. Between working and being a full-time student, reading for pleasure had slowly fallen by the wayside.

I wanted to change that. So I gave myself a New Year's resolution to read one book every week for a year. I started A Book A Week on January 1, 2012 as a way to hold myself accountable and share what I was reading along the way.

I didn't quite reach my goal that first year, but I kept reading. I kept reviewing. And all these years later, I'm still here, looking forward to whatever book comes next. Some years I crush my goals, some years I don't, but my love for a good book has never wavered.

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

I'm a lifelong reader with a particular soft spot for mysteries and thrillers. I've always loved the genre, and I credit those stories—the twists, suspense, and need to know what happens next—with keeping me a reader as an adult. My reading has taken me in all kinds of directions since then, but I'll always come back to a good mystery.

I love creepy horror novels. A fascinating work of nonfiction can completely pull me in, too. And I've found plenty of favorites in science fiction, literary fiction, romance, and other genres I might never have picked up when I first started the blog. That's part of the fun. I never quite know what kind of story is going to grab me next.

When I'm not reading or writing reviews, you'll usually find me at home with my husband and our pets. I'm a classically trained musician and composer, an enthusiastic home cook, and a backyard gardener. There's usually a trip to look forward to or some new project that has caught my interest, too.

At the end of the day, I just really love books. There's nothing quite like discovering a story I can't put down or finding an author I can't wait to read again. Even when a book doesn't quite work for me, I still enjoy thinking about why and putting those thoughts into words. That's what keeps me reading, reviewing, and sharing it all here on A Book A Week.

Honest reviews, always.

Some of the books I review are ones I've purchased myself. Others are provided by publishers or authors in exchange for an honest review. Either way, what I write here is always what I really think.

Not every book is going to work for every reader, and that's part of the fun of talking about books. I'll tell you what worked for me, what didn't, and hopefully give you enough to decide whether a book might be right for you.

Good, bad, or somewhere in between, you'll always get my honest take.

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I'm always happy to hear from readers, publishers, authors, and fellow book lovers.

Review Copies

I'm always open to considering books for review. I read across a pretty wide range of genres, though mysteries and thrillers tend to be particular favorites. If you'd like me to consider a book, send along a little information about it and why you think it might be a good fit for A Book A Week.

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Gender equality has always been an important issue. Even with today's increased opportunities, the fact remains that women are not always afforded the same chances that men receive. This longstanding struggle was even more common in the 16th century, where author Regina O'Melveny sets her debut novel.

Dr. Gabriella Mondini is a rarity in Venice. While most women live more common lives, she has been afforded the chance to study medicine with her father, who is a well-respected doctor in is own right. Even though the guild of medicine is comprised entirely of men, her father has always done everything possible to ensure that his daughter becomes the best doctor she can be. When her father leaves the home to research maladies and cures to be published in his massive medical resource, The Book of Diseases, he leaves Gabriella to continue the family's medical practice.

Years later, Gabriella is still home, facing mounting disapproval from the medical guild, while her father continues his mysterious journey, sending letters that leave minimal clues to his activities or whereabouts. When, one day, she receives a letter from her father stating that he plans to continue his research with no intentions of ever returning home, Gabriella, despite her mother's warnings, sets out to find her father and convince him to return.

I have mixed feelings about this novel. Certain aspects worked extremely well. O'Melveny paints an accurate portrait of a young woman's struggle to reach her true potential. Set in the late 1500's the medical details, historical contexts, and character interactions are all fantastic. At times, however, I felt that the language of the novel got in the way of an otherwise intriguing story. The sections meant to portray the entries in the ongoing Book of Diseases seemed to be inserted in the middle of the plot, making the story a bit choppy. Overall, I think fans of historical fiction, mysteries and strong female lead characters will really enjoy this novel. Despite its setbacks, the story is strong enough to make this worth the read.

For more information visit the publisher's website

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780316195836.htm,

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12821037-the-book-of-madness-and-cures and,
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2SOBOJ9384VCR/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0316195839&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=

(week 18, book 20)

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18 Comments

Comments

Andrew BeckMay 6, 2012 at 4:02 PM
Yes, Ethan, I've read and marked your review as helpful. Congratulations! Glad to see you are ahead of your goal. (You must either be going to take a week off here or there, or else have some big doorstops on your agenda!)

abeck01@snet.net
DebbieMay 7, 2012 at 10:37 PM
I marked yes.

alibraryofourown at gmail dot com
mnleonaMay 8, 2012 at 7:17 AM
Yes, the review is helpful. Book sounds interesting to me.
Leona
mnleona@aol.com
www.mnleona.blogspot.com
LaurenMay 10, 2012 at 10:46 AM
I read the review and clicked "yes" it was helpful. Thanks for the giveaway- the book sounds intriguing!

laurenalexis at gmail dot com
UnknownMay 10, 2012 at 1:12 PM
Hey Ethan!

Great review! I marked it as helpful. You are a very talented writer!
KHAIRU DHANANIMay 11, 2012 at 9:58 AM
Hi Ethan ,

Nice Review, I love ur writing. I completed the above step and answered "YES" . Thanks for the giveaway !
Quilters' QuartersMay 12, 2012 at 7:25 AM
Hi Ethan,
Thanks for the directions. I am interested in reading and reviewing this book, have liked the review and clicked yes. Please add me to the list for Giveaways. And thank you for letting me know!
http://terrysthoughtsandthreads.blogspot.com
needlesandpens@comcast.net
ShoshanaMay 13, 2012 at 12:12 AM
This book sounds interesting. I wouldn't mind reading it and see for myself.

Shosh
thisbookforfree@gmail.com
http://dgr8mom.com
ShoshanaMay 13, 2012 at 12:13 AM
I forgot to say that I went to amazon and clicked yes on your review.

Thanks.
LyndaMay 13, 2012 at 12:49 AM
i clicked yes to the review. thank you!
STFMay 13, 2012 at 6:43 AM
I went to amazon and clicked yes on your review. Thanks for offering the giveaway!

SHEILATF52 AT YAHOO DOT COM
Carl ScottMay 15, 2012 at 12:07 AM
Hi Ethan,

First of all, thanks for directing me over here from Jagged Edge, I was lost Brother!

Second, I read your review on Amazon and marked it as helpful, I was #18 if you're counting.

Finally, please enter my name in the draw for the chance to win this book, I think I'd find it very interesting. Thanks

carlscott(at)prodigy(dot)net(dot)mx
ElizabethMay 15, 2012 at 10:20 AM
Great review. Please enter me in the contest.

Elizabeth

Silver's Reviews

http://silversolara.blogspot.com
ElizabethMay 15, 2012 at 10:21 AM
OOPS...forgot my e-mail, and yes I did Step 1.

silversolara AT gmail DOT com
UnknownMay 17, 2012 at 3:14 PM
Sounds like a great book! Yes to amazon :D alklong [at] hotmail [dot]com
AnnaZedMay 17, 2012 at 4:32 PM
Ethan, I read your review, now I have to read the book!

margueritecore [at] gmail [dot] com
EthanMay 19, 2012 at 9:05 AM
Congratulations to Erin, Terry, and AnnaZed! They will each receive a copy of The Book of Madness and Cures by Regina O'Melveny. Thanks to the publisher for making this giveaway available, and thanks to all who entered. Be sure to check this site for future giveaway opportunities.
UnknownMay 23, 2012 at 4:04 PM
Thank you!!! I'm so thrilled to have won!!!

A Book A Week

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About Me

It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

Honest reviews, always.

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