Reflections with coffee

Erebos -

2012-02-07T23:47:00.003-05:00

Erebos
by Ursula Poznanski
translated by Judith Pattinson
publisher Annick Press
source: Netgalley

Confession time. I'm thoroughly addicted to computer games. It all started with Zork. My kids and I sat at the dinner table discussing how to get rid of the troll, while my mother sat there wide-eyed. Hatchlings on Facebook caused me to miss Sunday School a few times.

So it was easy for me to understand Nick's problem with Erebos.

The story starts off with Nick, a high-school student in London, wondering why his best friend is skipping basketball practice. Why are some students in his school cutting classes and whispering to each other? What is this square package that is being passed from one person to another? Finally! Ta-da, someone gives Nick a package. It is a DVD of a computer game, Erebos.

The issue with Erebos:
1. you have to play the game alone
2. you are forbidden to talk about the game.
Nick is hooked.   He doesn't want to leave the game to even go to the bathroom. It is "a game that talks to you. A game that watches you, that rewards you, threatens you, gives you tasks." Tasks in real life, tasks that cause problems, major problems! Life and death problems.

The best book so far in 2012.

The book Erebos picked up the Youth Literature Prize in Germany, and is translated into several languages.   I'd love to see this filmed!

Delivering Hope - blog tour

2012-02-02T07:24:00.001-05:00

Delivering Hope

author: Jennifer Ann Holt

publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.

release date: February 8, 2012

source: author

summary: Infertility. If it doesn't affect us, it affects someone near us. An unexpected pregnancy. We all know someone who has been a surprise baby or had one.

Jennifer Ann Holt has written a novel about these two issues. Olivia wants to be a mom and Allison is shocked to have a positive pregnancy test.

My perspective: At first I had difficulties enjoying the first few chapters because I'm not familiar with the LDS terms. I was reminded of the Biblical stories of Hannah who had to deal with watching Peninnah and of Sarah and Hagar. The novel picked up when Olivia read her great-aunt's journal. The best part of the whole book is the Author's Note telling about her own struggle with infertility and joys of adoption. When I finished the book, I found myself wishing she had told more about herself rather than writing a fictional novel.

Giveaway: Jennifer is giving away two signed copies of Delivering Hope as well as magnets and bookmarks. There are three ways you can enter:
1. Follow Jennifer's blog and leave a comment there to let her know.

2. Like the Delivering Hope facebook page.
3. Watch the trailer and leave a comment about the book trailer on her facebook page.

An adoption attorney and adoptive father, Wesley D. Hutchins, says it perfectly: "Somewhere in the world a pregnancy test is negative...and a woman weeps. Somewhere else in the world a pregnancy test is positive...and another woman weeps. In Delivering Hope, the miracle of adoption brings them together"

Other stops on the Delivering Hope Blog Tour are here.

The Power of Habit

2012-01-25T02:28:00.000-05:00

The Power of Habit
author: Charles Duhigg
Publisher: Random House
to be published: March 2012
source: Publisher

Even though The Power of Habit is subtitled Why We Do What We Do and How to Change It, it is not a how-to self-help book.

Duhigg gives us several tales about habits and how they affect individuals and organizations. He talks about a few people with short-term memory loss. One had to be institutionalized, another was able to live at home because of his power of habit.

1929 ad source

In the early 1900's, only 7 per cent of Americans owned a tube of toothpaste. A man who invented Pepsodent asked his old friend to help sell it. They came up with a "gimmick" and a craving which immediately changed the habits of the nation. Within a decade, 65 per cent had a tube of toothpaste in their medicine cabinet!

Duhigg goes on to explain why Febreze became so popular, tells how Tony Dunghy changed his football team, and gives us many more interesting stories about the power of habit and how it works.

One tip is more than just a cue, routine, craving, and reward. That is why I'm doing Zumba -- the accountability of the Get Moving Fitness Challenge (see sidebar).

A fabulous read! If you cannot wait until it is published, check out Duhigg's website with other stories of habits.

Non-fiction short list

2012-01-15T22:59:00.000-05:00

These are the five books I'll be reading the next several weeks. They're the short list books on the Indie Lit Awards. Reviews won't be posted until after we have selected the winning book!

Berlin 1961 by Frederick Kempe (Putnam Adult)
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson (Crown)
Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff (Harper)
Physics of the Future by Michio Kaku (Doubleday)
The Social Animal by David Brooks (Random House)

Books in other genres can be found on the Indie Lit Awards website.

Now 'scuse me while I go cuddle with my cat and read, read, read.

2012 TBR Challenge

2011-12-22T09:57:00.001-05:00

Box of Doom

2012 TBR Challenge

is my TBR reading challenge. Kim of Sophisticated Dorkiness has a shelf of doom; she got the idea from Fizzy Thoughts who got it from our fearless leader Adam of Roofbeam Reader.

In sum, we are to choose 12 books we've had on our TBR Mountain more than a year, plus two alternatives, and read these twelve throughout 2012. We are to post reviews of them too. My shelves are too full to dedicate one shelf to these fourteen, so I pulled out the books and put them in a box next to my La-Z-Boy. So when I feel like watching mindless t.v., I can look down into my Box of Doom.

The 12 books, in no specific order, are:

Speaking My Mind by Tony Campolo Former pastor and his wife love this book. They couldn't always speak their mind publicly because of his position.
Level 26 by Anthony E. Zuiker Supposed to be a gruesome thriller
Complications by Atwul Gawande medical memoir
Await Your Reply by Dan Chaon lives of three strangers intersect
Babi Yar by A. Anatoli (Kuznetsov) Visited Kiev in July and Yad Vashem in Israel in January and October. Each time, I told myself, "Gotta get home to read Babi Yar!" (Goodness, I just noticed on Amazon that a used paperback is over $16!)
Breakthrough-Return of Hope to the Middle East by Tom Doyle Got this long before I knew I'd be visiting the Middle East twice in 2011.
The Six-Liter Club by Harry Krauss a medical novel
The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen I have all her books, yet haven't read one. No wonder my TBR shelves are overflowing.
The Girl in the Flammable Skirt by Aimee Bender
Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage by Alice Munro short stories
18 Seconds by George D. Shaman a blind psychic looks for a serial killer

Alternates:
Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison, a man with Asperger's
The Periodic Table by Primo Levi

BTT - Gifts

2011-12-22T06:44:00.003-05:00

Booking through Thursday asks

Any books you're hoping to get for the holidays this year?

11-22-63 by Stephen King for three reasons:

I remember 11-22-63
We always say "what if?". That's why we like reading so much, we put ourselves in the position of a character and we wonder "what if" this was me?
Sounds like King's earlier writings. I devoured his earlier books, then somehow they started to change, or I started to change.

The Belly Fat books by Jorge Cruise because I've seen the results in my pastor and his wife.

How about giving? Are you giving any good ones?

Hubby asked for three Tony Hillerman mysteries. Son wanted sequels to the Eragon series. They've already gotten them, none of us could wait! Daughter and I swap books all throughout the year, and she has asked for a NIV Bible for her birthday. And there are a few to wrap today for the grandkids.

In the meantime, please make your nominations for the best books published in 2011 at Indie Lit Awards.

BTT - Thankful

2011-11-24T20:56:00.000-05:00

BTT asks
What book or author are you most thankful to have discovered?
Have you read everything they’ve written? Reread them?
Why do you appreciate them so much?

photo credit: Charlotte's Fancy

Roald Dahl -- he spans generations. My children loved his books. Then we (as adults) enjoyed his adult books, some of which are horror. When I traded in books at the used bookstore, I never ever took a Dahl book in. Now, the Dahl bookshelf downstairs is being emptied, thanks to 8-year-old Madison, the next generation of a Dahl reader. But she isn't getting his "adult" books, at least not quite yet.

To add to my thankful list: Dahl's ex-wife Pat Neal was from around here; the Pat Neal Rehabillitation Center is nearby.

God's Eye - review

2011-11-21T21:57:00.000-05:00

God's Eye
author: A. J. Scudiere
published October 2011
source: from the publicist
note: currently 99 cents for Kindle!

Good versus evil. Remember the cartoons you used to see while growing up: an angel on one shoulder and a demon on the other? This book is a grown up version of the two warring entities. The problem (and it is a nice problem to have!) is that you don't know which guy is the angel and which one is the demon.

Katharine is wealthy. She works for her family's firm and moves from one department to another in order to learn the business ropes. At home, she finds soot and sees animals out of the corner of her eye.

At the same time, Katharine meets two attractive men --- one at work, the other a new neighbor in her apartment building. Suspense mounts.
Which guy is which?

Do download the first two chapters here and you'll be hooked!

Triangles and Ellen Hopkins

2011-11-19T16:47:00.000-05:00

Triangles

author: Ellen Hopkins
source: ARC from publisher
published: October 2011

FLAP COPY SUMMARY

THREE FEMALE FRIENDS FACE MIDLIFE CRISES IN A NO-HOLDS-BARRED EXPLORATION OF SEX, MARRIAGE, AND THE FRAGILITY OF LIFE.

Holly: Filled with regret for being a stay-at-home mom.

Andrea: A single mom and avowed celibate, she watches her friend Holly’s meltdown.

Marissa: She has more than her fair share of challenges.

As one woman’s marriage unravels, another’s rekindles. As one woman’s family comes apart at the seams, another’s reconfigures into something bigger and better. All of them will learn the meaning of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness.

Unflinchingly honest, emotionally powerful, surprisingly erotic, Triangles is the ultimate page-turner. Hopkins’s gorgeous, expertly honed poetic verse perfectly captures the inner lives of her characters. Sometimes it happens like that. Sometimes you just get lost.

About Ellen Hopkins:

Facebook link

Twitter link

Website

It is not often an author can change from one genre to another; Ellen Hopkins has accomplished this well! A popular famous author of YA books written in verse, she has added Triangles for adults, also in verse. The next adult book is Collateral, about deployment and what that means to those left behind.

Triangles is NOT meant for YAs, but it wouldn't surprise me to find out YAs picked up this book to read. Reminds me of decades ago when my younger cousin and I read Grace Metalious's books (she wrote Peyton Place -- the erotic book of its time). I saw our grandmother reading her book too; I was aghast and ashamed. Gran simply said, "I just wanted to see what you girls are reading." What a wise wonderful woman!

Ellen currently is at the Miami Book Festival. Soon, very soon, there'll be answers to some questions posed to Ellen.

In the meantime, if you haven't seen other reviews of Triangles, here are Bloggers participating in Crazy Book Tours Triangles Tour:

All I Ever Read
Taming the Bookshelf
Oodles of Books (with a giveaway!)
Ravishing Reads

Review from Here
Proud Book Nerd
The Book Swarm (interview)
Tiffany's Bookshelf
Kritters Ramblings
Hippies, Beauty and Books, Oh My!
So Many Books, So Little Time
Book Snob
Reader Girls
11/18/2011 Colloquium

visiting the Dovekeepers

2011-11-18T14:34:00.000-05:00

Looking down from Masada, you can see one of the Roman camps.

The Dovekeepers
author Alice Hoffman
publisher: Simon and Schuster
source: purchased myself

In January and again in November, I visited Masada. Masada is a mesa in the desert of Israel where a settlement of 950 Jews fought off Roman invaders in the years 70-73 AD. It took months for the Romans to build ramparts up to the settlement. The Jewish people vowed it was better to die FREE in mass suicide than to become slaves of the Romans. They burned all their belongings, but left the storerooms full of food to show the Romans, "We didn't die because of starvation." In the end, only 2 women and 5 children survived.

Alice Hoffman has taken this true story to weave a tale of four women living at Masada during this time. As soon as I heard about this book, I knew it was a must-read.

Hoffman does not disappoint. The four fictional women have vastly different backgrounds. They are thrown together to care for the doves at Masada. Yael's mother had died in childbirth; her father and brother are known as assassins. Revka's husband was a baker, she takes on his trade and uses it for her own purposes. Aziza is expert in the warrior ways of men and Shirah is a woman with magical properties and medicine.

Even if you never make it to Masada, the book is well worth reading for all the character development Hoffman has provided.

I shot the two photos this month while on top of Masada.

the Salt Sea (Dead Sea) at a distance

BTT E-volution

2011-11-10T04:22:00.002-05:00

BTT asks E-readers like the Kindle and iPad are sweeping the nation ... do you have one? Do you like it? Do you find it changes your reading/buying habits? If you don't have one, do you plan to?

I have the Kindle app and iBooks on my iPad and iPhone, along with many books inside. It is neat to preview or read the first chapters of a book (Amazon calls it "sample"). I still prefer hard copies, ARCs, or paperback. It makes it easier to refer back to previous pages.

However, I like having a Bible or a variety of Bible translations in my iPad while at Bible study or church.

BTT - Vacation

2011-10-20T18:34:00.000-04:00

Today's BTT asks
Do your reading habits change when you’re on vacation? Do you read more? Do you indulge in lighter, fluffier books than you usually read? Do you save up special books so you’ll be able to spend real vacation time with them? Or do you just read the same old stuff, vacation or not?

Perfect timing for this question, since I'll be going on vacation very soon. I tend to read more on vacation. Am taking three books
1. a new historical fiction about four women in the place we're visiting
2. a light mystery that I've been saving: Still Missing by Chevy Stevens
3. a book on my Kindle app that my book club is reading next Story of Beautiful Girl

BTT - Sequel

2011-10-13T03:09:00.000-04:00

Today's Booking through Thursday asks us

you could get a sequel for any book, what would it be?

Easy! A sequel to Time Traveler's Wife. I'd like to know more about the next generation: Henry and Claire's daughter.

Commune of Women - review

2011-10-12T16:35:00.035-04:00

Commune of Women

Suzan Still

publisher Fiction Studio

source: publisher

Goodreads summary: The lives of seven women are about to become inextricably entangled, as they converge upon LA International Airport for various purposes. Suddenly, the morning erupts into chaos, as black-clad terrorists charge into the terminal, guns blazing. As the concourse becomes a killing field, six of the women dodge a hail of bullets to find refuge in a tiny staff room.

The minute I first heard about the Commune of Women and its plot, I put it on my Wish List on Amazon. Then the publisher asked if I wanted to review the book. Did I!! Yes, definitely.

The seven women could not be any more different from each other. One is a frumpy fat housewife. Another is a world traveler in designer clothes. There's a homeless bag lady. A mysterious woman, huge in size, takes on the leadership role naturally. However, a psychologist feels she should be the leader because she's the one with the education.

The psychologist knows the best way to keep the women from panicking is to have them tell stories about their lives. At first I was reluctant to read those shorter stories, I didn't want to hear about the past .... I wanted to know what happened next in that small room. Still, the author Still, grabbed me with these stories. They made the book.

Her style of writing differed for each female character -- for example, the homeless woman spoke and thought in dialect (the same way as in the opening chapter of the book The Help).

How would you behave if you were in a room with five stressed emotional strangers for four days? Would you panic? What story would you tell when your turn? Commune of Women is a great book to ponder over.

About the author: Still has a masters in art and writing and a doctorate in depth psychology. Her experiences in teaching creative writing in a men's prison can be found in a three-part series on Fiction Studio blog.

Car Wash and a Giveaway

2011-10-07T08:41:00.001-04:00

FEAR! (and a giveaway)

Winner is Nan-c Feiertag! She will choose a Book by Tara.

Maddox, age 2 1/2, went through the car wash and covered his eyes, just the same way you and I cover our eyes in a horror movie. His daddy texted me this photo and said it was heartbreaking to see his fear.

A grammy will do anything for her loved one, and I knew just the solution.

Books by Tara to the rescue! I had recently won a book from Tara and chose Water. This time I ordered Car Wash.

Here is Max looking at his new book for the first time. The pages are full 8 1/2 by 11" photographs. Sound effects are printed in an arc on the steering wheel of the car.

The page Max is looking at says "Flippa Floppa Flippa Floppa Flippa Floppa."

Another page says "ka-poonka ka-poonka." What other sound effects can you think of while going through the car wash?

There are two ways you can win your choice of a book by Tara.

1. Sign up for Tara's monthly newsletter on her website. That's how I won Water.

2. Fill out the form below. Tara will give away one book to a random name selected. USA addresses only. I will randomly draw the winner on October 20, and email both the winner and Tara.

In the meantime, I think I might order couple more books for a baby shower. My daughter and I were at a baby shower, she and I were the only two people in a room full of guests that gave a book. Imagine!

Betrayed and advice - guest post

2011-10-06T23:51:00.035-04:00

Today's guest post is from sisters Morrigan Michele and Misty Carmody, authors of Betrayed, first in the Blood and Magick series. Let's hear from Morrigan -- then I'll close with more information about Betrayed.

What would I tell a new author?

by Morrigan Michele

I know how hard it is to be a new up and coming author. It's exciting and tough all at the same time. Trying to balance writing and marketing; not to mention work and family life as well. My advice is to keep writing. Try and make time each day to write. I know it's easier said than done.

Misty Carmody

To be honest, sometimes I have to step back and take a break from it all. If you're having a frazzled day and your heart and mind aren't in it...don't write. When I do, I end up scrapping my work later because it just isn't right. Pick a day that is set aside just for writing. Turn off the phone and t.v., put on your writing music (you know what I'm talking about) grab your drink and whatever "must haves" you need to set a while and write. I do aroma therapy when I write. Then just let it flow.

It also helps if you have someone you can call to run scenes by, especially if you're in a block situation. I call my sister Misty (the co-author) and she helps me get back on track. If you're not pressed for time, take a few days off and do something else; then come back later and write. I have found that it really helps my writing.

About Betrayed: Love. Lies. Magick. Betrayal.

Alexis Allcroft is used to being different, but nothing could have prepared her for the buried secrets about to be revealed. With her seventeenth birthday approaching the only thing on Alexis Allcroft's mind other than her birthday party is Sebastian Valto, the hot new guy in school. Things suddenly take a strange twist, and in an effort to take the spotlight off herself, a spell backfires and her secrets are revealed as well; secrets she didn't know existed. With her world quickly spinning out of control, Alexis realizes no one is what they appear to be, not even herself! Alexis will soon learn that family secrets run deep, blood deep....

You will find many more intriguing tidbits about the book, Morrigan and Misty at the Blood and Magick site.

BTT - Oddities

2011-10-06T09:19:00.000-04:00

This week's odd topic on Booking Through Thursday is:

What’s the oddest book you’ve ever read? Did you like it? Hate it? Did it make you think?

The best of times, the worst of times: being forced to read a book. I hated Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities; it was the 10th grade English teacher, Mrs. Miller, that caused this reaction. In the ninth grade, we read and adored David Copperfield, thanks to Mrs. Walker's presentation.

For voluntarily read books (not as a class requisite), the early Stephen King books take the cake!

Why We Broke Up - review

2011-10-03T16:31:00.002-04:00

Why We Broke Up

author: Daniel Handler

illustrator: Maira Kalman

to be published January 2012

source: Around the World Arc Tours

Breaking up is hard to do.    Or is it easy to do? At any rate, it can be tough.

A refreshing book about a BOX is Why We Broke Up.   Min (short for Minerva) sends a box of mementos back to Ed after they have broken up. Inside the box are many things: a matchbox, tickets, earrings, posters.    With each item, Min explains in a long letter "this is why we broke up."

Min is an "artsy" girl, meaning she and her best friend Al love seeing vintage movies and quoting lines from these films. At the very end of the book, it is heartbreaking to read Min's words on why she is NOT artsy.

The best part of the book is the illustrations. Full color! In a YA book! This is a rarity, and will be well worth the cost of the book.   The dialogue was a bit much, with many many many relative clauses in the middle of the too-long sentences.

Have a break-up story? The author and the illustrator want to know! You can post your story at The Why We Broke Up Project or read other stories and think "I'm glad this didn't happen to me!"

Pregnant Pause - review

2011-09-25T15:47:00.001-04:00

Pregnant Pause

author Han Nolan

published September 2011

source: Around the World Arc Tours

Eleanor is seven months pregnant. Ellie, formerly a wild girl, says it well, "I'd hate to have me for a kid." Her parents have the expected reactions when they find out about her pregnancy. Dad storms around the house and says, "payback time." Now that she's expecting a baby, uh-oh what will the baby be like? Her missionary parents tell her she has to go back to Africa with them or go live with her married sister. No Way! Ellie tells her parents she will get married instead.

Eleanor and her new husband live at a camp run by her in-laws. On their wedding night, he goes out partying with his friends. That's the kind of loyalty he gives her.

On top of pregnancy and the partying-boozing hubby, she has to cope with the camp kids, the MIL (mother-in-law), and the Old Bag.

This is a fun quick, yet serious, read --- more social issues are covered than teen pregnancy ... I'll let you discover those issues yourself.

Friday Blog Hop 9-16-11

2011-09-16T12:01:00.000-04:00

Today's Friday question from

“As a book blogger, how do you introduce yourself in your profile?”

When I read the question, I thought "huh? Simply post my profile! That's the easiest answer."

Then I realized it may be time to update my profile (not that it needs much updating), but to add a tab at the top of the page and separate the "about me" from the "review policy."

So, thanks Jen, for the nudge to do a bit of house-cleaning around my Reflections with Coffee.

A Plague Year - review

2011-09-15T12:05:00.000-04:00

A Plague Year
Edward Bloor
Publishers Alfred A. Knopf
source: Around the World Arc Tours

Feel like going back to the classroom for some teacher lectures? Want to learn some new and old facts? Then A Plague Year is for you.

The story is a journal by Tom Coleman, a junior high student who studies the PSAT prep book in his spare time; we get many vocabulary words.   Tom lives in Blackwater, Pennsylvania; his journal begins September 10, 2001. You know what is going to happen the next day.

Tom quotes his teachers. One compares the bubonic plague to the plague of meth coming. He includes vocabulary sentences:   The au pair pared a pear for the pair of peres. Tom works for his father in the grocery store. One of Dad's best employees is Bobby who has Down's.

Tom goes to drug counseling group -- there we are "treated" to more lectures about the dangers of drugs.   Tom seems like one Perfect kid. He disobeys his parents only once, when he goes on a road trip. He's at the top of his class.   I wasn't sure if I wanted to throw the book across the room or to keep on reading because of all the lectures.

There is one funny scene where Tom and his cuz go to a frat house in a nearby college town on a honor-vengeance road trip.   Great vengeance!

I was curious about all the lessons in this book so I checked the author's biography on his website. Yup, he is a former high school English teacher.

Thirsty? - Savoring Living Water review

2011-09-12T11:28:00.000-04:00

Thirsty?

granddaughter Madeleine Isabella 2 years ago

Need to quench your thirst for the Lord? Even better, want to savor the Living Water? You can do that with the new e-book Savoring Living Water by Katie Orr and Lara Williams.

I received a review copy because I filled out a survey many weeks ago. I liked the e-book so much that I immediately printed out all the pages. It is short but packs a powerful punch to the thirst.

Here's what's inside: reasons to recognize our thirst, studying, memorizing and applying God's Word. On-line study tools -- several I wasn't aware of. And the best part: journal-guide pages for you to write your own responses.

Both authors are contributors at Do Not Depart which focuses on memorizing scripture. Naturally their e-book has some pointers on memorization.

Katie at Living Devotionally and Lara at To Overflowing plan a big party Tuesday September 13 with giveaways on their blogs.

Amazon.com now has this e-book for your Kindle if you can't wait until tomorrow.

Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - review

2011-09-10T01:29:00.001-04:00

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
author Michelle Hodkin
to be published September 27, 2011
source Around the World Arc Tours

Goodreads summary:

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.

One of the most intriguing opening sentences ever is:
"My name is not Mara Dyer, but my lawyer told me I had to choose something. A pseudonym."

The story opens with Mara and her friends "playing" with a Ouija board. Remember those?   This gives off an omnious atmosphere.   The chapters are short and end with sentences that make you want to rush to the next chapter.   Example: "Six months later, they were both dead."

One nitty-gritty point I had was that Mara's family (both parents are professionals) packed up and quickly moved to another state within a few weeks after Mara's accident simply because Mara wanted to. What about their clients and practices?   Not that easy to set up new practices right away in this economy.

By the time I reached the end of the book, there was a bit of confusion, so I had to read backwards to clarify some points in my mind.   Great sentences and great intrigue at the beginning, however, 450 pages is quite too many.

Friday Blog Hop 9-9-11

2011-09-08T23:20:00.002-04:00

Crazy for Books blog asks:
“Many of us primarily read one genre of books, with others sprinkled in. If authors stopped writing that genre, what genre would you start reading? Or would you give up reading completely if you couldn’t read that genre anymore?”

That wouldn't be a problem for me! I read almost any genre, in fact I like variety. I'd go nuts if I was limited to one genre. Reading one genre leads you to notice stereotypes, to see what I mean, look at the Top Ten Stereotypes in YA Fiction.

Friday! Every Day a Friday - review

2011-09-08T18:48:00.002-04:00

Friday is coming on Tuesday!

Once you begin Joel Osteen's Every Day a Friday, your outlook on life changes.

I received this book for review, read a few pages, then immediately got my journal to scribble down some notes and lines.

You see the difference in one letter: I've got to vs. I get to. Think about it: "I've got to clean house, ugh" vs. "I get to clean house, I have a home to clean." Brought this up in Sunday School last Sunday when we were talking about attitudes.

Couple times recently in an argument with my hubby, I said (thank you, Pastor Osteen), "You aren't going to steal my joy." That takes him aback. (wink)

Sometimes a good friend of mine is a bit late to Sunday School because she likes to watch Joel and Victoria Osteen on t.v. Sometimes she slips out of church a bit early in order to get home to catch his program. I promised her my review copy. In the meantime, I'm going to set my TiVo to "see" him for the first time.

Even though Osteen repeats himself throughout the book, his enthusiasm is contagious. If only more grumpy people would pick up a copy, how different our world would be! I'm not saying you're a grump, but here's a way to win a copy plus a bag and mugs (which I'm drooling over) on Facebook between today and Monday evening.

Every Day A Friday
author Joel Osteen
source: Faith Words

BTT - reading now?

2011-09-08T07:35:00.002-04:00

Booking through Thursday asks about our queue

What are you reading now?

Reading so many review books, life is such a joy today ... one is
Commune of Women by Suzan Still
Would you recommend it? most definitely!

And what’s next? I'm dropping everything when my pre-order of Wonderstruck comes on September 13. My friend Julie (we used to work together) of Seven imps before breakfast alerted me to it way back in June and I immediately pre-ordered my copy. Here's the author Brian Selznick talking about it.

What about you? Anything special? Leave a comment here. And if there's a memorable 2011 book to nominate, please go to Indie Lit Awards and make your nominations. Seven genres!

Dark Eden - review

2011-09-04T21:32:00.001-04:00

Phobia!!!

That is what went through my mind while I read Dark Eden
author: Patrick Carman
to be published November 2011
iPhone and Android apps out now
source: Around the World Arc Tours

plot: Will Besting is 15 years old. He's an auditory learner (sorry for the "teacher-speak", been in the education field a long time). Will has been going to a psychologist for several years because of his fears. His technical skills help him figure out a way to download auditory files of his sessions and the sessions of the doctor's other patients.

One day the doctor tells him she wants him to go to a treatment kind of place with six other patients his age. By the time he meets the other six, he already knows about their phobias thanks to the auditory files he has stolen. Will makes plans.....

My thoughts: the advanced Reader's copy was an enjoyable read. The middle part describing the immersion therapy dragged a tiny bit, however the surprises at the end were things I didn't expect. Well worth the read!

10 Stereotypes in YA Fiction - guest post

2011-09-03T17:54:00.000-04:00

Today's post is by Rhiannon Paille, author of a new series, Ferryman and the Flame. Her book FLAME OF SURRENDER (The Ferryman and The Flame #1) comes out November 1st, 2011.

Stereotypes ... intriguing. See if you agree with the ones Rhiannon has listed. If you think of others, please leave a comment.

Top 10 Stereotypes in Young Adult Fiction

guest post Rhiannon Paille

I’m only one person, and I might not read every YA book out there, but in the ones I have picked up on, these are the common themes I’m always seeing.

10) High School

Why is it always set in High School? I can’t vouch for every other writer out there, and this doesn’t skim every book, but most of them deal with High School. I have to say, I liked the ones that weren’t set in that monotonous death trap.

9) New Hot Guy at High School

In the first or second chapter, some crazy hot guy graces the pages and the best friend of the female protagonist is like, “OMG HE’S SO HOT!” Followed by a lot of squeeing and the female protagonist hiding in embarrassment or shame.

*raises eyebrow*

8) Girl is a danger magnet

Female protagonist is saved by male hotness (I dunno if he’s a protagonist yet, I mean he comes off all dangerous and swanky and I’m like, he could be committing identity fraud for all I know.) And the female is always slipping on a banana peel, careening down stairs, or something to that effect.

FYI: Guilty as charged although . . . in my defense, it was at a waterfall . . .

Also, loved Moira Young’s waterfall scene in Blood Red Road, THAT was pure genius in terms of male saving female . . .

7) Some council finds Girl / Boy to tell them who he/she is

This always makes me cringe. It’s like, the female protagonist is going along and then bam! Her parents or some mysterious creepy dude comes up and says “Chloe? We’ve been looking for you, come with us please.” Follow it up with a whole lot of info dump and all of a sudden she’s part of some elite force of super human mutant ninja turtles and this birthright was hidden from her blah blah blah.

FYI: Also guilty as charged, but I have reasons for that and it’s not like Krishani’s ancestors come to find him, he ends up going to them but still . . .

6) The bad guy is obvious

He’s like the quiet nerd or the guy that lurked around the hallway, the guy who showed up at the wrong time, the love triangle dude, you get the idea. This guy is always around and he has a few lines and he even comes off as a friend sometimes, and then no, he’s not a friend, he’s really the ugly evil character.

5) The bad guy is a lame choice and does nothing for the plot

You know, Tom Culpeper was one of my favorite villains because he was useful. Others have been there just because someone needs to be bad.

FYI: Guilty as charged, although the Valtanyana are scary in their own right and the whole story wouldn’t work if nobody cared about owning the flames you know

4) The female protagonist is the chosen one, one in all the world chosen to fight against the forces of evil. She is the Slayer.

Oh sorry, I forgot this wasn’t an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but in a lot of books, the females are inundated to some rank of warrior class and told that it’s their job to fight against the things that go bump in the night.

3) He’s “dangerous but sexy”

And we’re back to every guy in fiction. I mean it, every guy in fiction. The only saving grace of this poor stereotype is Jace, who knows he’s the ultimate hot guy and doesn’t mind telling people about it every chance he gets. Mirror mirror on the wall, we know who is the hottest of them all.

2) Some teenager is hundreds of years old (or a vampire, or an immortal, or has some seriously awesome past life memory recall ability)

Yeah . . . apparently in these characters age doesn’t necessarily mean maturity. I also sometimes wonder why someone hundreds of years old would be interested in a teenager. (Because that’s a whole new level of robbing the cradle)

1) Someone has “powers”

*headdesk* Every book I read has someone learning that they can shapeshift, or teleport, or see ghosts, or see the future, or hear thoughts or make things move with their mind, etc. etc.

FYI: Guilty as charged although, my characters don’t think that what they are and what they can do is cool, quite the opposite, it’s scary, overwhelming, it comes with a crapload of responsibility they’re not ready for and it means they can’t be together. Plain put, it sucks, which is sort of what I remember of my childhood and finding out I could see ghosts and read minds and feel other people’s emotions.

More about Rhiannon: Rhi was never a normal girl. She tried, but she couldn’t get rid of the visions, the voices in her head, and the hallucinations. When she was on the edge of crazy, someone pulled her back and explained it all. She wasn’t insane. She was psychic, really psychic, too psychic. Her life was an urban fantasy wrapped in a paranormal romance and served with a side of horror. To escape her everyday weirdness she began writing fantasy. She frequents twitter and facebook, but if you really want to get to know her you should visit her site: www.rhiannonpaille.com

History - BTT

2011-08-25T09:44:00.008-04:00

Booking through Thursday asks "When is the last time you read a history book? Historical biography? You know, something that took place in the past but was REAL."

The most vivid recent historical read was The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. It was the runner up in the non-fiction category of last year's Indie Lit awards. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

Speaking of the Indie Lit, next week you can nominate your favorite 2011 books. I'm eager to see what will be nominated. For more info, see Independent Literary Awards.

Double - review

2011-08-23T11:30:00.001-04:00

British cover

Double

by Jenny Valentine

Hyperion Teen

To be published February 2012

source Around the World ARC Tours

tentative American cover

Chap, a homeless nobody, is shown a MISSING poster of a boy who looks exactly like him. Nothing to lose by pretending to be him. "Okay" he lied.

Now called Cassiel, Chap is taken to Cassiel's home in an English village. He isn't the only one with secrets. There are many hidden secrets. Danger lurks.

Double is not a paranormal book and does not have mystical characters, but it reads with the refreshing atmosphere of a fairy tale.

Ahhhhh, a thoroughly satisfying read when all the puzzling questions are tied up at the end.

A favorite passage: Grandad took Chap to the back room of a charity thrift store.

        I thought we were looking for clothes or something, I thought maybe he was going to buy me a suit like his, but all he showed me was a cardboard box full of glasses. Reading glasses, bifocals, lenses thick as bottle tops and thin as ice, big blue frames, little silver ones.
      "Think of all the reading they've done," he said. "Think of all the things those glasses have seen.
       It was like a box full of dead old people. We were standing in a room full of their clothes.
       "What are we doing here, Grandad?" I said.
        It was a history lesson. "It's what you do," he said. "It's what you think and see, not what you have."

Profound!

No wonder Valentine has received four Carnegie Medal nominations.

Note: quotes are from an advance proof.

Don't Stop Now - review

2011-08-22T12:05:00.002-04:00

Don't Stop Now

Julie Halpern

published by Feiwel and Friends, Macmillan

source Around the World ARC Tours

One sentence summary: Penny fakes her kidnapping; Lil (who views Penny as a charity case) and Josh go on a Road Trip.

It is interesting how different people perceive the same book in different ways. Most other reviewers gushed over the witty dialogue between Lil and Josh. It took me awhile to see the humor, I'm slow that way. Some re-reading helped.

Unrequited love: Lil loves her BFF Josh, his scent (odor) when he hasn't showered. Pheeeeew, I could almost smell his armpits while reading.

Lil and Josh's Road Trip is interspersed with excerpts from Penny's diary. The diary was a much more interesting read: how Penny views Lil and the other teenagers.

Never Knowing - review

2011-08-20T13:06:00.001-04:00

Never Knowing

Chevy Stevens

publisher: St. Martins Press, July 2011

source: Goodreads giveaway

Summary from Goodreads: All her life, Sara Gallagher, adopted as an infant, has wondered about her birth parents. Finally, she is ready to take steps and find closure.
But some questions are better left unanswered.
After months of research, Sara locates her birth mother—only to be met with horror and rejection. Then she discovers the devastating truth.

The truth: Sara's biological father is a serial killer.    How will Sara deal with this? Even worse, what if he finds out about her?

This is a wonderful thriller that kept me turning the pages to find out what happens next. Sara is engaged and has a six-year-old daughter.   The psychological implications are intriguing. Sara has anger issues, so does her daughter, a manipulative little girl.   How much of this could be genetic?

Each chapter is supposed to be a session with Sara's psychiatrist -- I didn't care for this kind of story-telling because the language and terminology used was more for a narrative book rather than a talk with a live person.

We learn a lot about Sara's adoptive family, the two sisters and parents. I did wish to know more about the father of her child. There seemed to be a gap.

In sum, an enjoyable book! My daughter also read Stevens' first book Still Missing and tells me this one is even better.   What delight to anticipate another juicy read!

Fluff read

2011-08-18T20:36:00.001-04:00


Booking Through Thursday

This week's question sets up a scenario many of us go through: You’ve just had a long, hard, exhausting day, and all you want to do is curl up with something light, fun, easy, fluffy, distracting, and entertaining. What book do you pick up?

What I pick up depends on how tired I am, I don't always pick up a book. It might be the current book I'm reading, or an unread book on my TBR shelves. I used to read magazines which are better for a shorter attention span, but have stopped most of my magazine subscriptions. Sometimes I prefer to simply watch something that is already recorded on TiVo.

Enthralled - review

2011-08-15T07:41:00.000-04:00

Enthralled
editors: Melissa Marr & Kelley Armstrong
source: Around the World ARC Tours

Come take a journey. Go on a diversion. Travel the paranormal way.   That is the theme of Enthralled, an anthology of stories by sixteen paranormal authors.

As a teacher, I've gone on hundreds of field trips. One high school student threw an orange from a fire tower in Gettysburg.   On another trip, we searched for a student who ran ahead of us and then disappeared in the parking garage at University of Tennessee. I texted the school, we searched the garage. Finally the school texted me that he was back on campus.   Turned out he rode with another teacher.   I was furious, because neither of them had told me he would ride a different school van.

Therefore, that's why my very favorite story was "Giovanni's Farewell" by Claudia Gray. Twins, Cairo and Ravenna, are on a field trip in Rome.   sidenote: Gray provides intriguing details such as Cairo and Ravenna are named for the cities where their parents met and honeymooned.   When the story ended, I was so disappointed -- wanted more!

Some of the stories are set in the worlds the authors have created in their full-size books.   That made it difficult to follow what was going on. But it is a great way to meet their characters and be introduced into their worlds.

Blood Wounds - review

2011-08-11T10:31:00.001-04:00

Blood Wounds

Author: Susan Beth Pfeffer

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's

Publication date: September 12, 2011

Source: Around the World ARC Tours

It is rare for me to finish a book the day I receive it. Blood Wounds is one of these books.

Pfeffer does a great job setting up the background in the first two chapters. Willa and her family sit down at supper; her stepfather makes a comment about happy families and unhappy families. We learn more about Willa's step-sisters. At the end of chapter two, we learn a secret that Willa has. Uh-oh.

The next day, Willa's Mother's best friend leaves a series of frantic phone messages that make absolutely no sense to Willa. "There's an Amber Alert for one of the twins." Twins? Next phone message, "Sounds like Budge is in a lot of trouble." Who is Budge?

Then the doorbell rang. Uh oh.

I was hooked! I liked the way Pfeffer goes on to explain why Willa's personality is the way it is, ramifications from a simple little fight between Willa and step-sister when they were preschoolers. The family members finally tell each other how they feel about the others.

Highly recommended.

Divergent - work

2011-08-05T12:31:00.000-04:00

Divergent

author: Veronica Roth

source: bought for myself

About you: Society in this dystopian novel is divided into five Factions. Each one emphasizes a characteristic: honest, selfless, brave, peaceful, intelligent. Which characteristic would fit YOU at age 16? Want to take a test to find out?

About me: Because of my job in the Career Center of my school as a Transition Assessment Coordinator, I fell in love with Divergent. I gave many many aptitude, interest, and achievement tests, then wrote up transition plans for all the high school students after interviewing them. Reading about the assessments in Divergent hit close to home (correction: close to work)!

Back to the novel: When a person in this futuristic society becomes 16, he or she takes a series of tests to see which Faction he/she belongs in. At a formal ceremony, the sixteen-year-olds declare whether or not they will stay where they were raised with their families, or move into another faction. Then comes a series of initiation trials.

My perspectives: I would have loved to read more about the assessment tests. The rest of the novel, however, was enjoyable. At first I had to write down a list of characters and which faction he/she came from ... soon that wasn't needed because Roth did a great job of describing her characters.

This is book one of a triology; I'm hoping her other books will describe how the other factions conduct their initiation trials. I declare this one of the best books I read this summer.

Turn of Mind - review

2011-08-04T15:30:00.003-04:00

Turn of Mind
author Alice La Plante
available July 5, 2011
source: NetGalley

Some personal reflections first: My mother lived alone until the month before she turned 95. At that time, I knew she needed to move into assisted living. Her regular physician suggested I take her to a geriatric specialist. After some tests, the specialist told me Mother had early, early Alzheimer's. The geriatrist emphasized early. When I asked her prognosis, the doctor said because of Mother's age, the chances were that she would die of a different cause before her Alzheimer's or dementia became really serious. The doctor was right.

So when I heard about Turn of Mind, a mystery "written" from the viewpoint of a character with Alzheimer's, this was a must-read for me. Dr. Jennifer White is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hands. Her best friend has been found murdered, with fingers skillfully amputated. The police repeatedly question Jennifer, or as she huffily says, "Call me Dr. White." Because of her dementia, she cannot adequately answer the questions --- or is she using her dementia as an excuse to avoid answering?

There are flashbacks to the past. Jennifer has a caretaker living with her. A journal is used to help Jennifer keep in touch with what is going on and who has visited. As the novel progresses, Jennifer's memory becomes dimmer and dimmer. She gets confused ... the reader in turn becomes confused. I thought this confusion was cleverly handled.

Whodunnit and why is a minor portion of the novel; I was able to figure it out before the end.

Another reviewer pointed out how the voice (first person tense, second, and third) changed throughout the novel. It makes me want to pick it up and re-read it again! Even though I don't often re-read books, I'm sure I will this one.

Tour: Cinder and Ella

2011-06-04T20:30:00.001-04:00

Cinder and Ella

author: Melissa Lemon

to be published: November 2011

source: Netgalley

Cinder and Ella is a new version of Cinderella. Cinder is one girl, Ella is her sister. The book opens with promises. Four sisters live in a small cottage. Katrina is a bossy one. Cinder is generally a people-pleaser. Ella, well, sad to say, no one in their village remembers Ella's name because everyone adores Cinder. The youngest is eleven years old and so Spoiled that her family must dress and spoon feed her.

Their father leaves mysteriously in the first chapter. Yes, we eventually find out why. Soon even their own mother forgets Ella. Ella who? Cinder, then Ella, leave home. The book includes a castle, a prince, knights, and sword fights galore. There's a legend about trees. The cover is awesome because of the tree on it.

One person is so evil, our author describes it wonderfully,

"in the practice of evil -- murders, stealing the virtue of women, stealing riches and possessions, stealing souls. All of these things were done by proxy. It was his sick delight to see someone else hurt another, bringing about ruin to both the doer and the receiver."

Great discussion questions at the end of the book add much to ponder.

I asked Melissa Lemon the author, "Where did you come up with the name Katrina? I kept wondering if she was named for the hurricane."

She replied: "It just popped into my head at the right moment and seemed to fit. Sometimes I go through name after name until I get it right, but Katrina just worked from the start. I didn’t name her for the hurricane, but I can see why that would make sense. I also have a friend named Katrina and I hope she knows I didn’t name my character after her."

Melissa adds, "All of the interview questions have been fun to answer. I especially love the random ones, so here’s something random: I’m not fond of swimming and even have a fear of deep, dark waters and large sea animals, especially whales (eerie) and sharks (terrifying)."

Hmmmm, this might make a good topic in Melissa's next book --- she could easily show the dangers of the sea.

You can learn more about Melissa and her book by checking the calendar for the Blog Tour. Some blogs are giving away the book, FUN!

reflecting upon Mr. Popper

2011-06-01T17:33:00.000-04:00

Remember this fellow?   This is Mr. Popper, a house painter.   He is heading home in the fall season. Will be too cold to paint for several months. Mrs. Popper isn't exactly happy because (1) he's going to be underfoot all winter and (2) no money will be coming in.

For reasons explained in Mr. Popper's Penguins, he becomes the owner of a penguin! Then two, then....

The book was written in 1938 and received the Newbery Honor award in 1939 (Thimble Summer won the medal that year). To give you an idea of how long ago that was, Hitler had not invaded Poland yet.   Movie goers had not yet seen the movie Gone with the Wind in the Fox Theater in Atlanta.

I came along many years after these events, and discovered Mr. Popper sitting on the school library bookshelf when I was in elementary school. He was one of my favorite characters. I memorized the names of all his penguins ... my favorite picture was of Mr. Popper leading them in a parade with his family.

I noticed a trailer on t.v. that Mr. Popper's Penguins is going to be a Jim Carrey movie. Mentioned it to my son who exclaimed it was one of his favorite childhood books too. Then I searched local bookstores and found a copy to give to Maddy who will be entering third grade.

Of course I had to re-read this first.    So interesting to see changes between 1938 and today. Mr. Popper paid a handyman $5 to poke breathing holes in an icebox for Captain Cook (the first penguin).    Five dollars! What handyman works for five bucks?      Mr. Popper also wanted an handle inside the door so that Captain Cook could let himself out. There was an argument, so Mr. Popper paid an additional $5.00 to add the handle.

Captain Cook sets up a nest inside the icebox. Reading the list of items he has collected around the house is a fun read .... many aren't in your own home nowadays, I guarantee.

I'm not sure if I will like the movie's spin on the story with Jim Carrey as Mr. Popper. But I plan to see the movie. If you buy the book, be sure to get the one illustrated by Robert Lawson!

What old old friends (childhood books) have you re-read recently?

Mr. Popper's Penguins, authors: Richard and Florence Atwater, illustrator: Robert Lawson, published 1938. Source: purchased myself for granddaughter

tours: I love America

2011-05-28T20:59:00.001-04:00

Two great blog hops this Memorial Day weekend!

Go to the IBC Blog, comment on the blogs in this tour, and get e-books for yourself AND a troop. Maybe win a Kindle too.

The second great blog hop is at Operation Write Home. These marvelous women (and men too) make cards for troops to send home to their loved ones.

Here's a card I made a few years ago. Will make more for the troops!

Why so many dystopians?

2011-05-26T22:28:00.000-04:00

Last night at a birthday dinner, my daughter and I talked about dystopia reads. Afterwards, I went straight to Border's and bought Divergent with a 50% off coupon. She ordered Delirium from Amazon.

Driving home, I wondered why so many dystopian books are coming out. So many! I wouldn't call dystopia the new replacement for vampire novels. Had to be another reason.

Today, I found the answer in Ilsa J. Bick's awesome essay at Fragments of Life. She includes many videos for us to reflect on. Some thoughts while I was in reflective mode:

Oh oh, I remember the fear of the Communist menace. Our fallout drills. We went under our desks.
The awe the first time I saw Wizard of Oz in the drive-in theater, when it changed from black-and-white.
Beth Goolsby introduced me to Star Trek when my family ate at her home in Gray, Georgia.
Twilight Zone, yes. A favorite show.
Rebel Without a Cause -- wow, I watched this when it first came out in the theater.
Hubby loved Logan's Run soon after we married.
Son's favorite movie a few years back was Matrix.

Ilsa mentions those and many others. I had many a-ha moments while reading her essay on templates
I'll shut up now. Go take a look-see.

Her book Ashes comes out in late August. I'm entering the giveaway (same link as the essay) AND putting this book on my wishlist at amazon. Here's the cover of another Bick book... isn't it eeriely creepy-beautiful?!

There are many more dystopian books being given away. Click on the Dystopian Domination button on upper the sidebar for more.

grabbing a chair

2011-05-23T10:49:00.001-04:00

I'm sitting in a comfy chair ~~at BEA~~ at the auto dealership having my car serviced. Another woman in the waiting room had stinky perfume on, giving me a headache.

The service manager told me I could move to a desk in the sunny corner of the showroom -- it isn't public because there's a wall in front of me.

I'm loving this -- free WiFi, my laptop, a desk, and books. I told the service-guy I have all day to wait (but not all night, ha) as it is a major service job. I won't be so happy when the bill comes.

To introduce myself, I'm Betty. Once several years ago, a school-librarian friend invited me to drive down to ALA Conference in Atlanta for the day. We paid only to go through the exhibit halls, not for the workshops. I was blown away by all the publishers and authors there. Also made several trips back to the car with goodie bags. I wasn't a blogger then, so many of the names there were new to me.

Now I'm sure BEA is even more awesome, and in NYC too! Trying not to drool. To my delight, here is Armchair BEA for those bloggers staying home or in my case, at the auto dealership.
Come join us in the fun!

I'd Know You Anywhere - review

2011-05-18T20:48:00.001-04:00

I'd Know You Anywhere
author: Laura Lippman
out in paperback May 2011
source: Crazy Book Tours

Whenever I get a Laura Lippman book in my hands, I know I'm in for an intriguing and suspenseful read.    More than just suspense, there will be great character development of ordinary people who have extraordinary problems.

Eliza was kidnapped at age 15. Luckily she survived and escaped later that summer. Now she's in her mid-thirties, married with a "rolling-her-eyes, rude at every moment" teenager and a young son with some anxiety issues.

Eliza receives a letter from her kidnapper who has seen her photograph in a magazine. He gasp! wants to communicate with her. He's on death row shudder What does he want?   Even worse, there are two women who are attempting to communicate with Eliza. say what?

Eliza shares the letter with her husband.   Days pass, there is communication and phone calls back and forth.   It took several days for me to read this book -- I read it slowly especially in the middle, but towards the end, it was faster-faster-faster.

I used to live in metro D.C.-Maryland decades ago.   Lippman's description of the areas Eliza traveled through made me nostalgic for those years in that part of our country.

There are excellent questions in the on-line reading guide that make you think more about the book. To avoid spoilers, don't go to that reading guide until you finish the book.

new blogger? need books? Here's news!

2011-05-17T04:16:00.000-04:00

Two exciting news about the Indie Lit Awards

1. Do you have a book blog and want more books to review? Bloggers who are willing to accept and review books published in 2011 can now add their blog to a Mr. Linky list for publishers and publicists to see. Go to the Indie Lit Awards site, look at the genres at the top of that page. Choose the genre you read the most and leave your home page link there. Be sure to have somewhere on your own blog a way for the publisher/publicist/author to contact you. There's no guarantee you'll be contacted, but worth a try!

2. All readers not just book bloggers, will be eligible to nominate books for this year’s Indie Lit Awards!

We’re looking forward to your nominations in September.

Friendly reminder: if you worked on a title (author, publisher, editor, publicist, etc.) you may not nominate that title.

So, start writing down your favorite titles of 2011 for each genre that you read. Better yet, fill in this form and I'll send you a reminder in September to post your nomination.

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BTT - age appropriate?

2011-05-16T23:41:00.000-04:00

This week's question from Booking Through Thursday is a no-brainer

Do you read books “meant” for other age groups? Adult books when you were a child; Young-Adult books now that you’re grown; Picture books just for kicks … You know … books not “meant” for you. Or do you pretty much stick to what’s written for people your age?

If I read only books "meant" for my own age group, it would make for very boring reading. Picture books are fun and the reason for the old proverb: a picture is worth a thousand words. And today's dystopias for YA! Thrills and suspense. 'nuff said.

Of course, I read adult books when a child, and adult books as an early teen: the steamy Peyton Place by Grace Metalious. I saw my grandmother reading Metalious' The Tight White Collar one summer while I was visiting her. I was shocked and embarrassed; Gran said, "I just wanted to see what you and Candy were reading." So sweet, no judgment on her part.

P.S. I was tickled to find a copy of The Tight White Collar on Paperback Swap (see sidebar). Will re-read it and see how it compares in today's culture.

Friday Blog Hop - Friday the 13th

2011-05-13T12:57:00.000-04:00

Parajunkee says:

Q. The Blogger Apocalypse made me a little emotional. What is the most emotional scene in a book that you have read lately?

one word: ROOM. Here's my review from last year. And now my book club is reading it.

April's RAK

2011-05-01T18:05:00.000-04:00

Thanks so much to Monique (I think she lives all the way in Australia) for sending me the book Vacations from Hell. Five stories in one book --- a sheer delight.

Keep your eye open at Book Soulmates for their announcement of May's RAK. Can't wait to see what others are wishing.

Spring Blog Carnival

2011-05-01T00:45:00.005-04:00

Welcome to the

The carnival is sponsored by Candace’s Book Blog, Reading Angel, PureImagination, and The Book Swarm

The prize from Reflections with Coffee is a book of your choice under $15 from amazon if you live in the states or from Book Depository if you live in a country where Book Depository delivers.

Details

Only one entry per person.

Winner will be chosen at end of day May 8 by random.org

Winner has 48 hours to reply to my email.

Enter by leaving a comment with your email address OR fill in the form.

After you enter, check out the other blogs here. (The linky doesn't work)

Friday Blog Hops - April 29

2011-04-29T16:10:00.000-04:00

Friday -- and the hostesses have great questions!

Jennifer at Crazy for Books asks:

"Summer is coming quickly - what 2011 summer release are you are most looking forward to?"

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater. I have Shiver and Linger on my bookshelves, but am waiting for Forever before I start this series.

Parajunkee's View wants a list:

Q. Keeping with the dystopian and apocalypse theme that seems to be running rampant on parajunkee.com, I have one very hard question for you: If you were stocking your bomb shelter, what books would you HAVE to include if you only had space for ten?

1. The Bible is first and foremost. Being in the bomb shelter, I'd want some comfort from scripture.

2, 3, 4. Pillars of the Earth- a fave along with sequels World Without End and Fall of Giants (haven't read the latter 2)

5, 6, 7. The Hunger Games - my daughter borrowed them, then her friends wanted to read them. I told her to pass on to them because I already have a huge pile of books. Eventually they'll make their way back to me. One friend is expecting a baby, we tell her to name the girl Katniss.

8, 9, 10. Foundation Novels by Isaac Asimov (triology) I adore his Robot stories and his Black Widower stories, but have never read the Foundation. Hopefully I'll be out of the bomb shelter by the time I finish all, and will be interested in reading the rest of the series.

I'm curious about your choices and recommendations.

Coming to the theater

2011-04-28T08:06:00.000-04:00

Booking through Thursday asks: If you could see one book turned into the perfect movie–one that would capture everything you love, the characters, the look, the feel, the story–what book would you choose?

Tough question!!! Really tough. At first I thought The Help. But they're already making a movie, and I'm afraid I'd be disappointed. Going further back, I'd say the Half Magic series by Edward Eager. I see some children made a book report silent movie on You Tube of the last scene. Cute!

What book would YOU like to see in the movie theater or on a DVD?

Hourglass -review

2011-04-25T15:06:00.000-04:00

Hourglass
Myra McEntyre
to be published mid-June 2011
source: Around the World ARC tours

Emerson, aka Em, hallucinates phantom apparitions.   She touches them, they scream, she screams.   Everybody thinks she's nuts.

WAIT! This is not a ghost story! I went into this book half-heartedly expecting ghosts, not my favorite kind of genre.   It is even better!

Emerson is kicked out of school because of her hallucinations. She confides in her older brother about these "hallucinations."    He hires an assortment of consultants to try to get rid of them.   Finally he hires Michael. The chemistry between them is, the best word to define it, sizzling chemistry! Add some paranormal physics; Einstein said time is relative, remember?

Hourglass doesn't simply describe Emerson's figure (shown on the cover). It is an organization that Michael comes from --- to say much more would be a multitude of spoilers. We meet other people who have unusual abilities.

To the author, I beg more, more, more!

Friday Blog Hop - April 22

2011-04-22T11:15:00.000-04:00

Today's question is: "If you find a book you love, do you hunt down other books by the same author?"

Simple answer: yes. Why would a person not do that? Sometimes, though, a Sophomore slump sets in. Worse, an author may write basically the same book or character over and over again. I reckon that's why I don't always finish the second book, because the first was so fresh.

cover judging

2011-04-21T22:19:00.001-04:00

asks CAN you judge a book by its cover?

Of course not! The ancient proverb says, "Don't judge a book by its cover." I recently reviewed Awaken -- a marvelous book. While reading, I kept looking at the cover with the Mason jar of flowers. How is the jar connected with that dystopian world? Now that I've finished the book, I know, or do I?

Awaken - review

2011-04-21T21:16:00.000-04:00

Awaken

Kate Kacvinsky

published May 23, 2011

source: NetGalley

summary from Goodreads: Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin.

The Year is 2060

Dystopia ... ah, one of my favorite genres. Awaken covers this well. I see Maddie's world approaching soon. Two weekends ago, I was at a women's conference. Four of us shared a hotel room. I laughed -- there we all were sitting in bed or on the sofa, each of us texting or reading email. I said, "Five years ago, we'd be sitting here chattering with each other."

Why did Digital School spread out in Maddie's world? Very sobering to find out the reason, M28. Shudder. I'm not going to tell you what M28 is. Come shudder along with me.

Need a break from shuddering? Maddie falls hard for Justin; she gives many descriptions of how hot he is. You'll start drooling soon -- his lips, his arms, his.... It is not all romance -- there's some thrilling high speed chases too.

I kept highlighting sentences throughout Awaken. Doesn't this sound realistic and possible today? "I had over a hundred new messages since I checked it (my mail) this morning. A dozen new clubs to join, twenty free offers, thirty comments, twenty chat invites, twenty new contacts my computer thought I would get along with. Zero messages from the one person I was craving to talk to. Figures."

Author Kacvinsky's comments keep getting better and better. "That's what our culture had become, bodies moving mindlessly between digital worlds."

And online, do you blog readers really know me? Do I know you? Another quote: "It's like living inside a reality show all the time. We edit out the scenes so we can appear a certain way. it makes me wonder if I really know anybody." Once or twice, I had to pause and think "What wisdom!"

Let's wake up and make sure our children and grandchildren don't live in a world like Maddie's.

note: the quotes were from a review galley and may differ from the actual final book.

Eggstravanganza Hop Giveaway

2011-04-19T23:49:00.016-04:00

Winner is Christine Davis. She has 48 hours to reply to my email.

Welcome to the Eggstravaganza Blog Hop sponsored by I Am a Reader Not a Writer and Once Upon a Twilight.
Simple entry. Simple prize. You don't even have to be a follower, but I'd love for you to follow.
$15 e-gift certificate to either amazon or Book Depository depending on where you live.
Fill out the form. Comments won't count.
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Other giveaways are awaitin' you to hop over there.

too many? - BTT

2011-04-07T02:36:00.003-04:00

BTT asks about Visuals:

So … the books that you own (however many there may be) … do you display them proudly right there in plain sight for all the world to see? (At least the world that comes into your living room.)
Or do you keep them tucked away in your office or bedroom or library or closet or someplace less “public?”

link

Bwahahaha, the books are everywhere. Not one room is big enough to hold all of them. This photo is NOT my home. I borrowed the photo from an organizing agency.

But that's okay, Edward Gorey's cartoon says:

While you're reading....

2011-04-05T09:28:00.008-04:00

While you're reading throughout the spring and summer, if you come across a "wow, this is the best of 2011," be prepared to nominate it at the Indie Lit Awards site.

Nominations aren't open yet, but they will be on September 1st (seems like a long time away doesn't it). Only literary (book) bloggers can nominate. Genres are:

Biography/ Memoir
GLBTQ
Lit Fiction
Mystery
Non-Fiction
Poetry
Speculative Fiction

I'm eager to see what'll be nominated in the non-fiction category -- that's the one I'm committed to read and vote on.
P.S. If you want to be reminded in September to nominate a book, leave a comment here or fill out the form, and I'll nudge you.
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Lead. Serve. Love. - review

2011-04-04T17:19:00.002-04:00

Lead. Serve. Love.
author Gregory E. Lang
publisher Thomas Nelson
to be published May 10, 2011

Three is a perfect number. The top reason is the Trinity.

Back when I was a teenager, I ran across three three-word prayers in a novel, Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge. It made such an impact on me that I say those while doing exercise:
Lord have mercy. Thee I adore. Into thy hands.

Gregory E. Lang has done a similar thing. He wrote and published one-hundred three-word sentences on ways to be like Jesus. Lang's friend calls his work "three-ology theology."    The book itself looks deceptively simple, but packs a wallop. After each sentence is a short paragraph explaining more; the next page has a few scriptures relevant to that sentence.

I did find myself thinking:   "I should pick up the Bible and follow the scriptures myself" rather than depending on this book to tell me what to do and how to do it.    One thing that bothered me a bit about this little book was the color of the font -- after some reading, my eyes were strained. But then, this book is not meant to be read in one sitting.

A six page sample is on the sidebar of Lang's blog. I encourage you to go look at the sample pages. You'll be impressed.

source: NetGalley for review purposes

RAKs

2011-04-03T17:19:00.000-04:00

RAKs are fun to do and receive.

Here are the ones I received in March.

Replacement has the UK cover, so unique. This RAK came from Kristen with a note on a day when I really needed it.
Three people from my church told me in one week different tales from Heaven is for Real; apparently a book soulmate for them! Appreciation to Vanessa of Book Soulmates.
Adoration of Jenna Fox came from a dreamer at Paper Dreams.

Thank you!

Sign ups at Book Soulmates are ~~on the first Thursday of each month~~ up now!

Friday Blog Hop - April 1

2011-04-01T15:30:00.000-04:00

Jennifer asks: "Since today is April Fool's Day in the USA, what is the best prank you have ever played on someone OR that someone has played on you?"

When I was a teenager, I put some warm water on my finger tips, went up behind my dad who was watching TV. I let out a big "Ahhhh-Chooooooo" while sprinkling the drops on his head. He was furious, naturally. My laughing didn't help the matter until he realized it was just water.

He copied that prank at his office, initiating every new person that joined the business.

Fool for Books Giveaway Hop

2011-03-31T23:10:00.006-04:00

Winner is Rad Hall. She has 48 hours to respond.

winner was chosen by random.org

Welcome to the Fool for Books Giveaway Hop!

Reviewed here.

No foolin' -- Fairly Fairy Tales is fantastic! A perfect weekend to give this away because I'm going to a Children's Lit conference focused on picture books Saturday and I'll see the person who told me about this book there.

Entering is simple, fill out the form below. Not necessary to follow (but I'd love it if you do).

Winner will be drawn by random.org the morning of April 3rd and has 48 hours to reply

Other blogs participating in this Giveaway Hop are listed here

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Burma Shave

2011-03-31T09:22:00.001-04:00

Booking Through Thursday reminds us we grew up reading everything under the sun and asks:

What’s the oddest thing you’ve ever read? (You know, something NOT a book, magazine, short story, poem or article.)

Sitting in a car

the miles go by

a little red sign!

More to come

What fun!

Burma Shave

I grew up in the heart of Georgia, my relatives lived north of Nashville. Every time we went up to visit, we passed the turn for Rock City, but never stopped. The Interstate didn't exist at the time, so it was easy to turn around and read the Burma Shave signs in the other lane.

ETA: Five small signs along the side of the road with a sixth sign saying Burma Shave 1925-1963 --- wiki tells more. I scrolled down there and saw it was even mentioned in The Time Traveler's Wife.

If you can read....

2011-03-19T23:58:00.038-04:00

Random org chose the winner: Dawn McVey of My Favorite Things

Dawn has 48 hours to let me know her address.

Thanks to Cindy over at Princess Bookie for allowing me to host a mini-challenge as part of her Contest Craze.

This is a card I made a few years ago and sent to my first grade teacher who also happened to be my mom!

Do you remember who gave you your love of reading? Your mini-challenge is to scribble a quick thank you note to that person.

Maybe it is a parent who read to you at bedtime, or an elementary school teacher or even a college lit professor. If the person is no longer here on earth or you don't have the address, scribble anyway. Then post it on your blog (and leave the link here) or tell us in the comments a bit about the person, and how he/she influenced you.

The prize is The Kitchen Daughter.
hardback donated by Simon and Schuster, Gallery Books

and

a book of your choice up to $15.00 from amazon.

The winner (US only or with an US address) will be chosen by random.org Don't forget to leave your email addy or a way we can contact you if you win. Contest entry deadline midnight March 30.

Mini-Challenge: TEAMS

2011-03-19T23:00:00.001-04:00

A mini-challenge mission from Princess Bookie
-Write a blog post telling us about a team and which team you are on and why.
- Be Creative. Use a favorite love triangle, tv show, movie, book, etc.

Team Lily or Team Robin

Which girl has the most personality? Changes her hair weekly or even daily. Is a go-getter, encourager, loyal and true. Although sometimes she can be a bit emotional. In the photo, she's the leader with the rest of the crew cheering her on. Lily Aldrin.

Not that there's anything wrong about Robin Sherbatsky, beautiful and hot. Because of her job as a news anchor, there's some repression of her true feelings and inner thoughts. She stands by, stands there, looks beautiful with very little facial expression. We viewers don't know yet who the kids' "Mother" will be, Robin is "Aunt Robin" always, Ted Mosby's second choice. So, I'm on Team Lily!

How about you? Which team do you choose?

Mini-Challenge: Most Anticipated

2011-03-18T04:09:00.001-04:00

Princess Bookie's Mini-Challenge during her Contest Craze season asks us our most-anticipated upcoming book.
I'm looking forward to The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon which comes out on May 4, 2011.

This is the story of a young white woman with a developmental disability* and an African American* deaf man. They are locked away in an institution. oooh! Anticipate the abuse, culture clash and romance.

Simon's memoir Riding the Bus with My Sister was a favorite years ago. It was later made into an Hallmark Hall of Fame movie.

*politically-correct terms used here, although different terms were used back in 1968

Friday Blog Hops - March 18

2011-03-18T02:31:00.001-04:00

Fridays are fun --- a time to answer book-related questions and then see what others say. The blog hops are sponsored by

Crazy for Books: "Do you read only one book at a time, or do you have several going at once?"

Several always. One or two are in the car in case I am stuck somewhere. Three are on or under my bedside table. One next to my La-Z-Boy in the living room. More on my kindle app.

Parajunkee's View: Q. How did you come up with your blog name?

Easy peasy, I tend to ramble on and on about what I remember of the Dark Ages. And coffee, brewed in the Keurig, mmmmm.

Fairy Tales & Seven Imps - reviews

2011-03-17T11:35:00.002-04:00

It is Maddox Eve! That means Max turns two tomorrow. When I read about this book on Seven Imps Before Breakfast, I absolutely had to buy it.

Let me read you two pages, then show you a picture from the book.

Red Hood?

Yes.

Wolf?

Yes.

Grandma?

Yes.

Shampoo?

NOOOOO!

Well, maybe.

Chavarri's picture borrowed from Seven Imps

Click on link to see Chavarri's work in progress.

I'm smitten. Aren't you? Imagine how sleek the wolf's fur is.   And how your favorite child would yell "NOOOOO!" when you read this book.

I'm also smitten with Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.   Jules and I worked together in the same school until her family moved away. I'm still wiping away tears.   She started her blog way back in 2006; oodles of pictures and interviews.   Jules is also a new columnist for Kirkus.   And has a book in the works ... not until late 2012.    NOOOO, such a long wait!

Time for me to go wrap the book for Max.
Details   Fairly Fairy Tales
author: Esmé Raji Codell
illustrator: Elisa Chavarri
published January 2011
source: bought it for family

What's your favorite fairy tale?

Breathless Reads

2011-03-15T22:43:00.002-04:00

Ends March 21. Click on picture for details.

a note, the difference - review

2011-03-14T09:37:00.002-04:00

The other day I had two moods: down and angry -- a double-whammy, two different reasons. No need for details. We've all had days like this.

The mail came. A package with a book.   I'm used to books in the mail: a swap from PaperbackSwap,   an ARC tour, something ordered from amazon, a review copy. So this is routine.   Opening the package I went "??? Didn't expect this book???"

Inside the book was a notecard envelope. I started sobbing (!!!) even before opening the envelope.    How much I needed that personal word, even though I don't know the person!   The note was a RAK (see sidebar) from Kristen of Bookworming in the Twenty-First Century.   Thanks, Kristen!

Cards. Notes. A letter. A tangible thing to hold. Not fleeting email. Not a "forwarded-thought-you'd-like-this-and-please-forward-to-ten-friends." Such a difference!

DaySpring is perfect for this. I have a pack of cards from (in)Courage. Looking through these cards, I immediately thought, "This one is great for Lorraine. This one for ......"

I just now discovered DaySpring has a Heart Connection Card Club, monthly pack of cards.   I'm signing up for this, even though I enjoy making cards by hand.     A word said goes a long way.   A word held goes farther.

I encourage you to mail some words for someone to hold.

15% off on all card purchases. Coupon code: 15OFFCARDS through 06/09/2011

disclaimer: DaySpring through (in)Courage sent me these cards for review.

a date!

2011-03-11T00:49:00.000-05:00

Well, a girl can dream! Princess Bookie is encouraging us to dream.

Her Mini Challenge is

Date A TV or Movie Character

-Close Your Eyes!

-Imagine You Just Won A Contest Consisting Of A Date (Dinner And A Movie)!

The rest of the description of the challenge is here.

The first qualification for this date is that we can communicate. None of this trying to lipread nor writing notes back and forth. He has to know my preferred language: ASL.

So, it is ---- drumrollllll, and make it loud please for his sake.


Dr. Gil Grissom of CSI

Gil lives in Vegas; we'll meet at any restaurant of his choice -- my usual caveat is "any place except McDonald's" With his background in forensics, he would know which restaurant to avoid because of connections with unsavory criminals and bugs.

Over dinner, we'd reflect on some of his most interesting cases. He probably knows the top forensics expert Dr. Bill Bass of the Body Farm in Knoxville. I took a non-credit class in forensic anthropology under one of his grad students once -- we handled skulls and skeletons. So I don't think our dinner conversation would be too queasy.

But if it is, we'll change the subject to ASL and linguistics.

After dinner, Princess Bookie suggested a movie. But while in Vegas, gotta do what Vegas is famous for --- a show! Any Cirque du Soliel show! There are seven to choose from.

And after that..... you know, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Gil is truly

Contest Craze begins

2011-03-08T07:55:00.000-05:00

Princess Bookie Cindy's Contest Craze begins tomorrow.

It runs until April 10.

Mini-challenges -- one will be here on Reflections.

Hint: you'll be asked to reflect.

Fun times ahead.

Many prizes!

How many prizes?

Cindy already has two boxes of books from publishers, one box is 30 pounds.

I'm ready to join. Are you?

pain mixed with beauty - review

2011-03-06T20:42:00.007-05:00

A NEED So Beautiful
Suzanne Young
to be published June 21, 2011
source: ARC from Around the World YA Tours

summary from the author's website: A girl must choose between following the destiny that will leave her Forgotten, or staying behind--risking becoming a Shadow forever.

Charlotte Cassidy has ~~needs~~ NEEDS. When a need hits, she has immediate pain which worsen until she fulfills it. Her need is to go to an address led by a flyer or a business card. The pain changes when she draws near -- similar to the hot potato, cold potato game; then she meets a stranger. Charlotte internalizes that stranger's past and says the exact thing the person needs to hear in order to move on in life.

Suzanne Young describes the NEED much better than I did, that's why she's the author! My favorite parts of the book are when Charlotte approaches the individuals and fulfills the need. I would have loved it if the whole book was about this! Charlotte is quite a character, dealing with other characters in her life: a foster mother, a needy best friend, a hot boyfriend, and a boss at the clinic she works at. A villain comes along, naturally.

An unique read with original ideas. Time passed fast while reading.

Sequel will be A Want So Wicked to be released summer 2012. I have a need to read this!

master of verse - review

2011-03-05T10:31:00.015-05:00

Exposed
Kimberly Marcus
published February 2011
source: bought it

Short Strong Suspenseful

The story is about two high school Seniors who are forever-best friends. They have an argument one night at their usual sleepover -- Liz tells Kate she should not major in history. Liz storms out of the room; lives are changed .... best you read for yourself.

This is only the second verse YA book I have finished! Kudos to debut author Kimberly Marcus for the way she mastered verse, characterization, metaphors, plot. She kept me flipping the pages to the end to find out what happens. She made me want to re-read Exposed immediately, this time more slowly to savor her poetry. Here's a page:

Jack Daniels in Brewster

The first sip sears
the lining of my throat.

I swallow hard
because I need to feel
something.

I swallow more
because I need to feel
nothing.

Thank you, Kimberly Marcus, for time well-spent writing this. More, please, more!

Friday Blog Hop - March 4

2011-03-04T00:52:00.000-05:00

Today's question at Crazy for Books posed by Mia is:

"Who's your all-time favorite book villain?"

"Favorite" is the wrong word paired with villain -- I'll rephrase that to

"Which book villain makes you shudder the most?"

I used to read lots of serial killer fiction books such as Silence of the Lamb, Red Dragon, and Black Sunday. But not these serial killers.
Then there are Stephen King villains, the clown in It, Cujo, the woman in Mercy, and other long forgotten ones.
The man in last year's best-selling book Room.
My final response is any character who does child abuse. These villains don't deserve names. I have a feeling the next book I'm going to read will have a character who makes me shudder. Fortunately, that book is going to be short.

being different - review

2011-03-04T00:01:00.029-05:00

One of the hardest parts of growing up is being different.

"They'll laugh at me."

Larry Peterson addresses this issue in Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes.

If you had to wear shoes like these, everybody would laugh like Elmo.

That is precisely what happens in the book. Even though there's no Elmo, everyone rofls (rolls around on the floor laughing). The kids in class, the teacher (!), the principal (gasp). Even the the jet plane in the sky tips its wings because people inside are laughing.

What happens next? Spoiler coming, but as we're all adults here and this is a children's book -- I'll go ahead and mention it. Slippery Willie wakes up. It was a dream. He still has to wear these stupid, ugly shoes, but life is not as bad as he expected. Why worry?

This is a sweet book, brings back memories. I remember fussing at age 11 because my mother insisted I wear a certain dress to a family Christmas gathering. Turned out the dress didn't matter, it was one of the most fun parties I remember. But I digress.

Because of the long text on some pages, the book would serve better as a read-aloud book in the classroom rather than being a "reader" for children. There are good discussion questions about differences in the back of the book; the same questions can be found here. If you have suggestions, please post there!

disclaimer: I received a PDF of this book from Tribute Books to review.

the end?

2011-03-03T02:00:00.004-05:00

Booking Through Thursday asks: Do you cheat and peek at the ends of books? (Come on, be honest.)

I do peek, but I don't consider it cheating. Reading nowadays isn't for a test or a grade; it isn't a competition. If I'm getting bored, I look at the last chapter to see if anything catches my eye. Sometimes it does, then I read chapters backwards. Odd, but that's me.

picture credit: Wikipedia

If I'm involved in the story, I won't look at the end --- don't like spoilers. Sometimes I'm in a bind and have to read super-fast in order to mail a book off in time, then I combine techniques.

How about you? Do you look at the end to see if the story is worth it, or do you stick with a boring book?

Make a difference - giveaway

2011-03-02T16:47:00.009-05:00

Winner of the book You Were Made to Make a Difference is Julie at Knitting and Sundries.

Julie has 48 hours to respond with her addy.

There is an archaeological excavation going on in the City of David in Jerusalem. A problem, thousands of bags of dirt have to be hauled away. How?

photos shot by Pat R.


Buy		Read

You Were Made to Make a Difference

by Max Lucado and Jenna Lucado Bishop

publisher: Thomas Nelson

Max Lucado and his daughter Jenna Lucado Bishop have teamed up to write stories of real-life teens who make a difference in their world. There are pages for teens to scribble their thoughts. Other pages give ideas on possible things to do. Verses and some Biblical history are included. A perfect book for the teen in your life! One verse is from Psalm 33:
¹³ The Lord looks down from heaven
 and sees every person.
¹⁵ He made their hearts
 and understands everything they do.

I'm giving away a copy on March 20. All you need to do is fill out the form below.
&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

More excerpts here

disclaimer: This book was given to me by Thomas Nelson Publishers, specifically Michael Hyatt.

Me Worry?

2011-03-01T00:02:00.019-05:00

Maybe because of the MAD magazines I used to devour, I don't worry. Used to worry before doing something new like starting high school or waiting for the college admission letter or buying a house for the first-and-last time.

Most of the time, I don't worry. One summer just before my pre-teen daughter and I were to leave for a trip to the British Isles, my husband asked, "What if the plane crashes?" My instant reply: "When God says it is my time to go, it is my time." Shrug.

Our pastor had a sermon Sunday "Look at the birds in the air," more specifically, Worry. I chose a photo of a sign my friend Pat shot in Israel and added some scripture to it for our church website.

Before heading to church Sunday morning, I ran across a post Tomorrow will Worry about Itself on (in)Courage by Candace McQuain.

A young couple (former students of mine) sat in front of me in church. Throughout Greg's sermon, they kept looking and nodding at each other in surprise, eyes wide. His words meant something to them.

Afterwards, the couple told me they had recently seen a Japanese movie with the same theme, don't worry. I told them if you hear or see the same thing more than once, it can be a message from God.

One thing Greg said in his sermon was, "Worry is a sin." I didn't quite understand. How?

Another blog post just came through, this time from Hieropraxis, Don't Worry about a Thing. Ah, there's more explanation -- worry is the sin of Pride. A great post to read.

Come to think of it, Alfred E. Neuman of MAD magazine fame didn't influence me. It is Faith and the knowledge that God and Jesus have our best interests in mind.

The Kitchen Daughter - review

2011-02-28T14:16:00.007-05:00

A dear friend has a teenage daughter who happens to have autism. C adores cooking. Her specialty is tetrazzini with chicken, turkey or ham. One highlight of her life is when she met Giada de Laurentis at a book signing. Giada was very sweet with C. Another heroine C would love to meet is Paula Deen.

When I first heard about The Kitchen Daughter and its basic plot, I thought about C and jumped at the chance to read it.

The Kitchen Daughter

by Jael McHenry of the Simmer blog

to be released April 12, 2011
publisher: Gallery Books, Simon and Schuster

Ginny is a twenty-something adult with Asperger's. Before her parents leave for a long vacation, they make special arrangements to accommodate her shyness and social ineptitude. For example, a guy leaves the weekly grocery order on the front steps so that Ginny doesn't have to deal with face-to-face shopping. After the funeral, which is on the first page, Ginny's sister Amanda (De-manda) swoops down and insists the house be sold. No!

When stressed, Ginny hides in the closet and mentally runs through cooking rhythms. A treasure she keeps hidden is her Book of Normal. Gert, the housekeeper who comes in once a week, gives Ginny some wisdom about grief. Great characterizations here. Family secrets too.

I don't especially like books with recipes and ghosts. The Kitchen Daughter, however, handles both with finesse, and both are essential to the story.

disclaimer: received from the publisher for review. No further compensation. Reading this fantabulous, creative, unusual book is more than enough compensation -- unless the author wants to cook dinner for me.

Friday Blog Hops - Feb. 25

2011-02-24T22:10:00.014-05:00

Crazy for Books and Parajunkee's View

Jennifer asks: "Do you ever wish you would have named your blog something different?"

No, I like the name -- Reflections with Coffee. At my old age, I'm always reflecting. Always did when I was young too. And coffee! Don't get me started on coffee! The stronger and the fresher, the best!

Q from NaKesha. Share your current fav television show! Tell us a bit about it...

Grey's Anatomy. First of all, I love the pun on the show's title. Meredith and Lexie Grey are half-sisters; both are doctors. A few seasons ago it almost jumped the shark with some woo-woo factors, but then it got back to normal and I'm enjoying it even more.

some reflection: I have a copy of Gray's Anatomy that belonged to my great-grandfather. Inside the front cover is his name, the place, and the date in neat cursive writing.

September 1st 1878

Even though I never met him (I'm not THAT old), will have to do a reflection post about him.

my own books

2011-02-20T20:49:00.001-05:00


Read Your Own Books Challenge

Jamie over at her Bookshelf has a challenge that I must join! Books are piled up everywhere here. I can barely walk into the bedroom because of the books.

Books must have been owned by 2-17-2011.

Please excuse me now .... I'm heading to my La-Z-Boy to read. Join me? No, not on my La-Z-Boy! Join us in the challenge.

Friday Blog Hops - Feb. 18

2011-02-17T22:11:00.002-05:00

Today's question from Parajunkee's Follow Friday:

If you are a fan of Science Fiction what is your favorite book?

Book? Whine.... you mean I have to name ONE? I'll name the whole series: Isaac Asimov's robot books and short stories. The robots had to follow three laws; how they got around these laws add to the plots. Sadly, the movie I, Robot disappointed me. For those of you who don't know the three laws of robotics, a summary:

No injury of humans, either through action or inaction.
Obey humans, unless it conflicts with the First Law.
Protect self unless it conflicts with the First or Second Law.

Asimov also wrote great mysteries, especially the Black Widowers Club short stories. He also put himself in as an irritating narcisstic character in Murder at the ABA. This book and the robot ones are downstairs. I think I'll go choose one for bedtime reading tonight.

What's your favorite science fiction book/series/author?

punch a dolphin? - review

2011-02-17T10:46:00.010-05:00

Why would anyone want to punch a dolphin in the mouth? Isn't that animal cruelty? All the better to read

5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth

Matthew Inman of The Oatmeal

published March 1, 2011

preorder here

Ouch, I'm not exactly sure these are very good reasons. But, and there's a little butt* coming, this is a comic book of satire. All the better to read it with an open mind, a box to tissues to wipe away the tears of laughter, and a friend nearby so you can say, "hey, listen to this...."

Because I've edited many newsletters, I tend to catch errors. When I proofread our school's yearbook, I caught the misspelling of our governor's name (even after the administration had proofed it). It is my OCD. So my favorite comics are the ones that focus on grammatical lessons:

Ten words you need to stop misspelling
How to use a semicolon

Then there are great hints for internet addicts like you and me: How to suck at text messaging and Facebook.

As a female, I don't know How to Pee Like a Champ. Inman demonstrates; oops, I mean he doesn't demonstrate in person, it's a comic!

Coffee is part of the name of this blog. So I laughed at 15ish things worth knowing about coffee, then I went eeeeew at something he said. I'm going now to grab a cuppa robusta and some more recent oatmeal. Even if you don't like to eat oatmeal, you'll enjoy feeding your mind with this.

*You ask where's the little butt coming? 'tis at the bottom of this comic. Inman's book has 27 new comics not shown on The Oatmeal.

FTC disclaimer: galley received through Shelf Awareness and NetGalley for an honest review

internet addiction - review

2011-02-15T14:20:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Sarah Mae of Like a Warm Cup of Coffee wrote about the internet addiction that affects her, me, and many of you. If you happen to go read that first, and then decide not to come back for the rest of my post, my feelings won't be hurt - smiles.

I need to cut down, cut back, or even cut out completely. It is not just the Internet, but things I get from there like Plants and Zombies. Internet addiction leads to worse things than waste of time. That is Alexis Singer's memoir.

Alexis

author: Alexis Singer

publisher: Louder Than Words Books

source: Paperback Swap

Alexis says at the opening, "I wish I had known the future when an instant message (IM) popped up." Alexis was sixteen, solitary and stressed, "in high school, we're all loners, at least from our own perspectives"

Teens with eyes glued to a monitor .. "escapism in its most luring form, especially for people who have a hard time being themselves in person. We all find our niche."

oooooh, that IM turns out to be from a man with predatory purposes. The six word IM leads to cybersex. Alexis becomes even more solitary and stressed. I couldn't put down this book ... wanted to see if this creep, stalker, predator (the real word I want to use isn't g-rated) would be caught and punished.

All females, no matter her age, with a tendency to look for an escape from loneliness should read Alexis. I'm now going to shut down this computer and go do other nagging and necessary chores. How about you?

Shine - how many ways? - review

2011-02-13T17:18:00.002-05:00

Shine

author Lauren Myracle

publishing date: May 2011

source: NetGalley and Around the World ARC Tours

Summary from Myracle's website: When her best guy friend falls victim to a vicious hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover who in her small town did it. Richly atmospheric, this daring mystery mines the secrets of a tightly knit Southern community and examines the strength of will it takes to go against everyone you know in the name of justice.

I live just over the Smoky Mountains from Cat's hillbilly redneck crossing. It is easy to imagine a small place like this -- with drugs galore, the chewing tobacco juice, the filthy trailer in the woods, and the gossipy women in the church kitchen. The place is not just small, but also small-minded.

Cat retreated from all her friends after the eighth grade. I almost screamed at the book, "WHY?" but eventually we do find out the reason. She regrets having pushed everyone away; people welcome her back, although some keep their lips sealed during her investigation. Some characters are likable, others we despise, and one or two where I wanted to say, "Oh hush yo chatterin'!"

It is also neat to notice the different ways Myracle uses the word "shine," without being obvious. For example, early on, someone said to Cat, "hoped he'd take a shine to you."

While I followed Cat around her environs in order to investigate who attacked her friend, I thought to myself, "This is the best book I've read in ages." Would like to know what you think about the hillbilly area.

a Beatles song.Not - review

2011-02-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

Across the Universe is a Beatles song.

Across the Universe is a movie filmed in 2007 with Evan Rachel Wood.

and

Across the Universe is a new YA book.

debut author: Beth Revis (funny, after I wrote the above three sentences, I find out the author already put the same info on her blog. Dare I say Great Minds? No, I could never have her great mind, besides google is my mind-at-my-fingertips.)

published: 1-11-11

source: Around the World Arc Tours

summary from Revis' website:

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.
Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awake on a new planet, three hundred years in the future.

photo from author's blog

Just before Amy is frozen, she overhears the technicans say an extra year will be added to her cryogenic sleep. We ache with her when she thinks to herself, "I want that year!"

Alas, Amy awakens too early in the spaceship. Murders and lies are also passengers. Amy befriends Elder, a young boy who will eventually rule the ship. Another main character (if you can call it a character) aren't the people, but the ship Godspeed itself.

This is a great read combining YA, mystery, science fiction, and my current fave: dystopia. The reversible cover adds great details. What does Godspeed look like? The blue cover has a full map. This blueprint is also on Amazon's site (scroll down to see it.) Even better is the interactive site about Godspeed, such details!

The other cover is on the right. Fabulous to have two covers appealing to either gender. And not to judge a book by the covers, inside is just as super. I want to re-read this one, especially before the others coming later in the triology.

Great prizes for one winner at Dystopian February. Droooool!

Truth or Dare

2011-02-11T17:49:00.000-05:00

Parajunkee's View has a Truth or Dare contest.
Dare I join??
Today's dare: find a song that reminds you of a book. Could be the latest book you've read, or your all time fav. Tell us about the book and show us the video in a blog post. Has to be a paranormal book BTW.

Goodness, this is a toughie! I'm deaf so I don't know many songs, but I know books! My earliest favorite paranormal series is the Half Magic series by Edward Eager. I especially liked the way wishes had to be phrased. The beginning lyrics of John Mayer's Half of My Heart fits the stories.

I was born in the arms of imaginary friends.
Free to roam, made a home out of everywhere I've been.

I have many imaginary friends who are book characters. Eager's Jane, Mark, Katharine and Martha were among my first imaginary friends and they took me half-where everywhere. Now let Mayer entertain you (not halfway) with his video of Half of My Heart.

Friday Blog Hops - Feb. 11

2011-02-11T13:33:00.028-05:00

Tell us about one of your posts from this week and give us a link so we can read it (review or otherwise)!

One of my posts is a giveaway of two copies of Putting God Back in the Holidays. It also gives you a link to 200+ blogs participating in the Follower Love Giveaway. I've noticed many gift cards galore.

What is your favorite romance hero-type? Stereotype wise. Do you like the strong silent type or the brute macho man?

Rhett Butler of GWTW comes to mind -- because he was my earliest romance hero. He helped Scarlett but didn't take any flak from her. As for the type I like, neither the strong silent type nor the brute macho. I like a guy who isn't silent, who isn't a brute, who has a sensitive side which overpowers any macho tendencies. Hmmmm, I'm describing my husband!

reflections - debut authors

2011-02-10T08:33:00.000-05:00

Today's BTT asks us Which authors have you been lucky enough to discover at the very beginning of their careers?

Kathryn Stockett and her debut novel The Help. I had just downloaded the Kindle app on my iPhone at the time The Help came out. Because I'm a G.R.I.T. (girl raised in the South), the book looked appealing; after the first chapter I was hooked and started spreading the word. I certainly hope Stockett doesn't end up like Margaret Mitchell who wrote only Gone with the Wind.

reflections - adult learning

2011-02-10T08:07:00.001-05:00

When I was 8 years old, my mother took driving lessons and got her license. She was already 40 years old. But she did it.

When I was a pre-teen, my mother and I took swimming lessons at Baconsfield Pool. I breezed through. Mother had a hard time, she was scared. It wasn't a life-or-death matter, but she accomplished the basic beginnings!

Adults can learn. Learning to Swim is about Troy Chance who sees something in the water with a face -- she doesn't think, she dives in. Debut author Sara J. Henry has signed her book to be given away through Booking Through Thursday.

Go here to read the review and enter the contest. P.S. If you win, can I read it after you? smiles

Love Giveaway - winners

2011-02-07T23:59:00.003-05:00

Winners of The Followers Love Giveaway post are Maria R. and MaDonna. They've been emailed. Congrats and many more happy holidays for your and your family.

Welcome to the Love Follower Hop organized by Kathy of I Am A Reader, Not a Writer.

Two copies of Putting God Back in the Holidays are given away, thanks to Moody Publishers.

Putting God Back in the Holidays

Bill and Penny Thrasher

Holidays stress me out at times. "Uh oh, it is almost Valentine's Day." I've been known to still be wrapping Christmas gifts until lunchtime.

The Thrashers cover several holidays with practical hints on making them holy-days with families. Just as Christ is part of our everyday lives, not just Sundays, include Him in our holidays.

One chapter is "Not forgetting the D word during the holidays." D = diligence and self-discipline, not desires, drives, desserts! In sum, when we control the holidays, and not let them control us, there is more joy.

So how do we find joy? Flipping the pages to the chapter on Valentine's Day, there is a chart of negative thoughts about self paired with scripture to show you are special and loved by God. A practical suggestion for Valentine's Day is to read Matthew 25:35-40 and then visit a nursing home or a homeless shelter to minister as a family.

~~Fill out the form below.~~ Giveaway has ended. Both winners will be chosen by random.org
Optional extra entry: +1 follow me on Twitter @bettymc Leave your twitter name
The list of the other 200+ blogs doing the Love Hop Giveaway is here.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Friday Blog Hops - Feb. 4

2011-02-04T02:36:00.041-05:00

FFF! I like today's date: Friday, February four

Today's FFF (Feature and Follow Friday)

asks What is the book you are currently 'pushing'? (Pushing means trying to get people to read it)

Easy! That's One Thousand Gifts, published two weeks ago. I've been giving it away for birthdays and thank-yous. My review includes a link to an excerpt in the first chapter.

Today's Crazy for Books hop asks us what we are reading and why. I'll answer the why first: because they are for upcoming reviews. Read along with me (click on the titles for excerpts)
Putting God Back in the Holidays by Bill and Penny Thrasher
and

You Were Made to Make a Difference by Max Lucado and Jenna Lucado Bishop.

Both of these books will be given away here on this blog! Details on the 8th.

What for?

2011-02-03T11:16:00.000-05:00

Booking through Thursday asks us today:

“How would a teen-age boy who is going to work with his hands ever use Literature of England in his work? The age-old How am I going to use this in real life? question."

Immediately, I snap sarcastically: because of the state proficiency exams, Race to the Top, and because the ivory tower legislators say so. Shudder, this shows how jaded I became the last few years I worked in education.

Backing up, here are some nicer answers:

Max & Galileo

just as practicing basketball improves your skills, reading more helps you read better (this is the stock answer used with kids who love sports.)
while working, no matter what field, ideas and imagination gleaned from reading remain in your mind to think about during the "ho-hum" part of the job
you can come up with a creative name for a pet, meet Galileo 8 weeks old.

your job and the paycheck isn't the only thing that'll be important in your life, you don't know where you'll be in ten years. People often change careers.

A carpenter named Jerry surprised himself and his family by going back to school. His manual skills with his hands helped him master sign language. He became a pastor to the Deaf for 33 years, my pastor. Jerry went back to school again for a PhD in counseling. Now he travels the world interpreting at missions conferences and counsels families while at home.
What reasons would you give for learning "this 'n that"?

Books obsolete?

2011-02-03T09:46:00.000-05:00

"Books will soon be obsolete in the schools...Our school system will be completely changed in the next ten years"

Thomas Edison, 1913, speaking about motion pictures.

I've loved this comment ever since I read it on a technology teachers discussion group back in 1995. What do you think will become obsolete soon? Doesn't matter if you're wrong like Edison. (and I'm glad he was wrong!)

Immortal, to be or not to be? review

2011-02-01T16:42:00.000-05:00

review: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

author: Rebecca Skloot

published: 2010

source: bought myself to read for Indie Lit Awards

Time for another confession. This blog is getting good at extracting confessions from me. I hated biology. My biology teacher in the 10th grade had a list of 31 rules to follow. In college I postponed biology until just before graduation. Made a D. Barely missed graduating on time because of that. Bleh.

So when I heard about The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and her cells spreading around the world, I went "eh, preposterous, not interested." Fortunately, I had to read this book to judge it for the Indie Lit awards.

Am so glad I read it! Skloot makes the scientific stuff easy to understand, without even talking down to me. Her website summarizes:

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells—taken without her knowledge—became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years.

Skloot first learns about the cells in a college class. Years later, she wants to find the woman behind these cells. Her writing is full of exquisite description of places and characters. She sits in a hotel room paging someone every few minutes while watching a huge clock with the letters B-R-O-M-O-S-E-L-T-Z-E-R. That same clock is mentioned several pages ahead, looking down on a Rolling Stone reporter who was also researching the same story.

Skloot tells us about many scientists and doctors by describing their characteristics and beliefs. One researcher who wanted to find a way to preserve "the superior white race" later praised Hitler (shudder). We are also introduced to Henrietta's family and children who are furious, "If our mother so important to science, why can't we get health insurance?"

Whether you like or dislike science, history, a study of ethics, Skloot will lead you for a good ride through Baltimore and rural poor Virginia, through the science labs and a mental hospital. Where would we be without the knowledge gained from HeLa? Thanks, Henrietta, we owe you.

January reflections

2011-01-31T16:32:00.015-05:00

What a month!

Baptism in the River Jordan

January 1 - woke up on the Mediterranean coast. The next two weeks were a whirlwind. Physically strenuous. Emotionally exhilarating.
Sailing on the Sea of Galilee, climbing the hills of Jerusalem

Plane wing being de-iced

Flew home January 11 -- a perfect day of travel for me -- others were stuck due to snow, but Delta and God got me through!

Snowbound for a few days, which gave a chance to rest and begin some great books.

Son-in-law's brain tumor came back. Prayer warriors uniting.

My double aunt's funeral was yesterday. Double because she was Mother's sister and married to Daddy's brother, so I saw cousins on both sides of the family ... some I hadn't seen since we were children. I like what Tracey C. wrote on FB: "Cousins are the first friends most people ever have as children. No one will ever understand your crazy family like your cousins. Even if you haven't talked much lately."

How was your month?

Friday Blog Hops - January 28

2011-01-28T10:00:00.037-05:00

Today's question from "What book are you most looking forward to seeing published in 2011? Why are you anticipating that book?"

I enjoyed Meg Waite Clayton's The Wednesday Sisters when it first came out, so I've already pre-ordered The Four Ms. Bradwells. Here's a summary from Clayton's website:

Mia, Laney, Betts, and Ginger, best friends since law school, have reunited for a long weekend as Betts awaits Senate confirmation of her appointment to the Supreme Court. Nicknamed “the Ms. Bradwells” during their first class at the University of Michigan Law School in 1979—the four have supported one another through life’s challenges.

Parajunkee's View Follow Me Friday asks:

What was your favorite subject in school?

In high school it was algebra and trig. The challenges were like solving fun puzzles. I adored the teachers, Mrs. Hansen and Miss Simmons. One day in trig when I caught on to a sine problem, I yelled out, "Ohhh!" Miss Simmons laughed. Had the best intentions of majoring in math in college, but changed my mind the first quarter. No favorite subject in college/grad school -- just finish and get out! The world was awaitin'

Heavy

2011-01-27T23:41:00.002-05:00

Booking Through Thursday asks a question about books or reading.

This week's question is: What’s the largest, thickest, heaviest book you ever read? Was it because you had to? For pleasure? For school?

I was 13 years old and visiting my Grandmother's farm. A hardback copy of Gone with the Wind was on my Aunt Virginia's bookshelf. I started reading it one summer afternoon. Finished it at 2 am the next morning! A very satisfying read for a Georgia girl!

Just remembered another thick one, with even more pages, Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, in hardback. It was a library book; liked it so much I searched for an out-of-print hardback on the Internet and bought it. Going to be a movie soon.

And I loved James Michener's books -- Hawaii, Chesapeake, Centennial, and others.

What about you? Your heaviest books? Boring school textbooks don't count! (wink)

Full of Reflections

2011-01-27T17:43:00.003-05:00

Dean Family 1922

I'm full of memories and reflections today.

My Aunt Marguerite died peacefully this morning, two days past her 98th birthday. My mother, three aunts, and a very young cousin have died within 11 months of each other.

Starting at far left, Marguerite, Minerva, father Clyde, Nell, baby Henry, mother Jessie, Wilmoth. One brother who came 9 years after Henry is still living. I cherish this Uncle.

Another picture -- this one from 1958, at one of the many Christmases we had at Oak Lawn. Different stages of saying "cheese."

front: Marguerite, Wilmoth, Jessie, Nell, Minerva back: Henry, C.W.

review: How to Be Perfect

2011-01-22T11:02:00.000-05:00

How to Be Perfect

author: Daniel M. Harrell
published January 5, 2011
publisher and source: Faith Words

I just returned from a trip to Israel and Jordan. While there, we saw how rough the Wilderness is. The Jews who wandered for forty years with Moses needed a set of rules to keep healthy. The Jews in the Promised Land also needed the regulations -- to remain healthy, live together as a group, and to follow the laws of G_d. The priests, the Levites, were told specifically how to worship.

That's where the Biblical book Levictus comes in.

Levictus! At the beginning of every year, many people make a resolution to read the Bible all the way through that year, but they fall by the wayside when they hit Levictus.

Daniel M. Harrell, a pastor in Boston, challenges his congregation through email to follow the rules in Levictus. Twenty members take up the challenge, and this makes the basis of How to Be Perfect. They communicated through Facebook.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially after being in Israel. One good chapter is about getting worked up over Sabbath. We were there for two Sabbaths. Our Israeli Jewish guide made a point of going home to her own family both Friday nights. It was also neat to see the local (Israeli) Jews celebrate in our hotel with their children; and the teens, oh! the teenagers! But I digress....

This is a book I'm glad to have had the privilege to read, I recommend it to you.

As a side note, here is a great article by Bob Deffinbaugh on Learning to Love Levictus.

Here is a place where you can read the excerpt from Harrell's book or order a copy.