As Usual, I Need More Bookshelves

Review - After the Moment by Garret Freymann-Weyr

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:25:00 +0000

After the Moment by Garret Freymann-Weyr
published May, 2009
328 pages

Synopsis from publisher:

Maia Morland is pretty, only not pretty-pretty. She's smart. She's brave. Shes also a self-proclaimed train wreck.

Leigh Hunter is smart, popular, and extremely polite. He's also completely and forever in love with Maia Morland.

Their young love starts off like a romance novel - full of hope, strength, and passion. But life is not a romance novel and theirs will never become a true romance. For when Maia needs him the most, Leigh betrays both her trust and her love.

Told with compassion and true understanding, After the Moment is about what happens when a young man discovers that sometimes love fails us, and that, quite often, we fail love.

My thoughts:

I found this novel to be lovely and frustrating. I was impressed with the author's ability to get into the mind of a teenage boy - I think, for the first time, I feel like I understand the way their brains work. In a lot of ways, I could see my brother and cousins in Leigh - their basic goodness, their fascination with girls, the way they try to do the right thing, and the confusion that sometimes results when those impulses collide. I think Leigh might have been just a bit too perfect, but that made his resulting betrayal all the more poignant.

I loved the writing - it was subtle but powerful, and kept me engaged in the story throughout. The author tackles some hefty topics, but the book itself never feels heavy - it is filled with humor throughout, and Leigh has some great lines.

"As anyone who has grown up surrounded by romance novels could tell you, they all end on moments that are certain and right. In these stories, the hero and heroine, even before their moment arrives, are full of qualities that can only be described as right. As good...

As anyone who has survived one could tell you, love affairs, and the people who have them, tend to be a little less right than romances. The moments are more uncertain, and the people having a love affair are not required to be good."

Now, this next part will get a little spoilerish, so consider yourself warned.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

This book also made me VERY angry. I am trying not to give too much away, but a VERY BAD THING happens. And eventually, we discover that one of Leigh's friends was involved in the VERY BAD THING. And everyone seems to know that this particular character was involved, and no one seems to be that upset about it, because HE SAID HE WAS SORRY. And boy, did that make me mad. Because I was NOT interested in absolution for this character. In fact, I was horrified, and I think Leigh's reaction was perfectly justified. I GET why Leigh did what he did, and I was STILL mad at that character.

And I realized that a book that can tick me off that much is probably pretty darn good. Because it completely involved me in the lives of its characters - so much so that I felt actual anger. At first I was even angry at the author for writing it that way, but I realize that was probably misplaced. What she wrote was, unfortunately, the way things would probably go. And THAT makes me even more angry. But, also thankful, that she was brave enough to write the story that was real.

I think this is a powerful novel that deals with important issues teens will likely have to face. Because some of the topics are sensitive, I would recommend reading it along with your teen, to be able to discuss the issues it raises. It stirred up lots of emotions in me, but ultimately I am glad to have had the opportunity to read it.

Finished: 10/25/09
Source: TLC Book Tours/the author
Rating: 8/10

Don't just take my word for it! Here are the rest of the stops on this tour:

Monday, October 19th – Books by Their Covers

Tuesday, October 20th – Eclectic Book Lover

Thursday, October 22nd – Cindy’s Love of Books

Tuesday, October 27th – The Brain Lair

Wednesday, October 28th – Luxury Reading

Thursday, October 29th – Pop Culture Junkie

Monday, November 2nd – Steph Su Reads

Wednesday, November 4th – Bart’s Bookshelf

Thursday, November 5th – A Striped Armchair

Tuesday, November 10th – The Bluestocking Society

Thursday, November 12th – As Usual, I Need More Bookshelves

Monday, November 16th – Starting Fresh

Tuesday, November 17th – Beth Fish Reads

Thursday, November 19th – Book Addiction

Monday, November 23rd – The Novel Bookworm

Tuesday, November 24th – All About {n}

The Nonfiction Files

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:10:00 +0000

The Nonfiction Files is a weekly journal of my adventures reading my toppling piles of nonfiction books. I won't be posting reviews, but rather my thoughts about what I'm reading, while I'm reading it.

My current read: My Father's Paradise: A Son's Search for His Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq by Ariel Sabar. If you need to catch up, you can read my first post about this book here.

Synopsis from publisher:

In a remote and dusty corner of the world, forgotten for nearly three thousand years, lived an ancient community of Kurdish Jews so isolated that they still spoke Aramaic--the language of Jesus. Mostly illiterate, they were self-made mystics and gifted storytellers, humble peddlers and rugged loggers who dwelt in harmony with their Muslim and Christian neighbors in the mountains of northern Iraq. To these descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel, Yona Sabar was born.

In the 1950s, after the founding of the state of Israel, Yona and his family emigrated there with the mass exodus of 120,000 Jews from Iraq--one of the world's largest and least-known diasporas. Almost overnight, the Kurdish Jews' exotic culture and language were doomed to extinction. Yona, who became an esteemed professor at UCLA, dedicated his career to preserving his people's traditions. But to his first-generation American son Ariel, Yona was a reminder of a strange immigrant heritage on which he had turned his back--until he had a son of his own.

My Father's Paradise is Ariel Sabar's quest to reconcile present and past. As father and son travel together to today's postwar Iraq to find what's left of Yona's birthplace, Ariel brings to life the ancient town of Zakho, telling his family's story and discovering his own role in this sweeping saga. What he finds in the Sephardic Jews' millennia-long survival in Islamic lands is an improbable story of tolerance and hope.

Populated by Kurdish chieftains, trailblazing linguists, Arab nomads, devout believers--marvelous characters all-- this intimate yet powerful book uncovers the vanished history of a place that is now at the very center of the world's attention.

My thoughts so far:

This second section of the book finds Yona and his family in Israel, which cannot live up to the dreams they have built for their homeland. While it is a much more melancholy read than the first part, I found myself connecting even more with this remarkable family.

While Yona's father and grandfather are each disappointed in their new country, Yona finds creative ways to make himself at home. While still in high school he gets a job to help support his family, and goes to school in the evenings. He quickly forms fast friendships with a group of boys at the high school - all feeling like outcasts because of their family situation and status as Kurdish refugees. I found the discrimination by Jews of European descent against Jews of Middle Eastern descent startling - as, I'm sure, did the families who were being discriminated against.

While Yona makes his way in the world, finishing high school and enrolling in college, he encourages his siblings to do the same. In a way, it was an interesting parallel to many of the stories of immigrant families to the United States - the kids assimilate fairly quickly, while the parents struggle to fit in. Yona's father was never able to replicate the success he had enjoyed in business, and his mother was virtually homebound. I felt sad for these two vibrant people who just couldn't seem to find their place in the new land.

Yona truly comes alive in college, and finds himself immersed in the world of linguistics. I love the way the author describes language:

"Language lives. It inhales culture and history. It sprouts new limbs, sloughs off old ones. It goes through cycles of rapid growth, unremarkable periods of stable maturity, decay, and sometimes, as with Hebrew, miraculous rebirth."

It is because of Yona's knowledge of a language that is almost unknown to the scholars of his day - Aramaic, the language of his youth - that he is finally able to go to America, which is where this section of the books ends. I feel so excited for him, to go on this great adventure, and yet worried as he leaves his family behind. I've become very invested in these lives - this is great storytelling!

Also participating in The Nonfiction Files is Jehara - stop by and visit! (p.s. she just got married this weekend, so you should really go congratulate her!!)

Green Books Campaign Review - Sweet Utopia by Sharon Valencik

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:00:00 +0000

This review is part of the Green Books campaign. Today 100 bloggers are reviewing 100 great books printed in an environmentally friendly way. Our goal is to encourage publishers to get greener and readers to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books. This campaign is organized by Eco-Libris, a a green company working to green up the book industry by promoting the adoption of green practices, balancing out books by planting trees, and supporting green books. A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris website.

Sweet Utopia by Sharon Valencik
published 2009
183 pages

Synopsis:

These easy-to-make, sensational desserts are all lactose- and cholesterol-free. Now you can create the luscious flavors and familiar textures of traditional desserts without the use of eggs or dairy. Straightforward ingredients are used to create a variety of the best cakes, cookies, pies, puddings, and other treats. Full-color photos provide inspiration for making these tempting sweets.

My thoughts:

So, my first cookbook review, and I choose a vegan cookbook? I know, it's a little crazy - I'm not a vegan- but the idea of "better for me" desserts won me over, and I had to try it. The book itself is quite nice - large pictures for each recipe make it easy to see what you are trying to make, and I felt all the recipes were explained in a way that made them seem quite logical to follow. The "green" part of this book is, of course, that all the recipes are vegan, and also that the book itself is printed on paper that contains postconsumer recycled content, which apparently saved 89 trees.

The author gives many ideas and suggestions for the vegan cook, including what to do if you don't have the ingredients you need, substitutions for many of the ingredients, and the option to make most of the recipes with non-vegan ingredients if necessary. She states that all the specifically vegan ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store, and for the most part I found that to be true. So, how are the recipes you ask?

The first recipe I tried was Chocolate-Pecan Paradise Pie. (Here's a picture of my finished product). It was described as looking like a thick brownie pie - I thought maybe it would be a cross between a brownie pie and a pecan pie. It was....not exactly that. I thought it tasted alright, but not really like what I expected when I read the recipe. There is molasses in the recipe, and I felt like that taste came through quite strong.

It wasn't bad, but not as fantastic as I would have hoped based on the description.

I also made the recipe for Pumpkin -Chocolate Chip Muffins, but left out the chips, and baked it into a loaf. (Again, my finished product - halfway eaten!) I thought this recipe was quite good, although not as good as other pumpkin bread recipes I've tried.

I also tried to make Cappuccino Custard, but that was a pretty serious fail. It required mixing of cornstarch and soy milk over medium heat - don't let the mixture come to a boil - don't let the mixture form lumps. I tried making this twice, and each time ended up with paste. I'm sure it was my own error, but didn't have the patience to try again.

I think if you are a vegan, or interested in starting a vegan lifestyle, this would probably be a great resource. For someone like myself, who was just an interested observer, I don't think the recipes are good enough to warrant purchasing the book. However, if eating vegan is something you are interested in, there is a lot of good information in this book, and I would recommend it.

Thanks to the publisher for sending my this book to review. If you are interested in learning more about the Green Books campaign, including a list of other books reviewed, make sure to visit their website!

Happy Birthday

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Happy Birthday, JoAnna Emma. You have my heart wrapped around your tiny little finger. It has been such a joy to be your aunt - I can't believe you are already one year old! You've had a busy year - here are some highlights.

Sweet girl, I can't wait to see what you learn next. Happy, happy birthday. I love you so much!

Relative Reads Review - On the Road

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:46:00 +0000

I was given the great fortune of growing up in a family of readers. Both of my parents read, and so do the majority of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. In fact, my Great-Grandma had cataract surgery in her 90's, because she couldn't bear to not be able to read. I thought it would be interesting to read some of the books THEY have discovered and enjoyed over the years, so I asked them to send me some recommendations, and the fun began! I have a list of the titles various family members have suggested on the side of the blog, so if you want to see what will be coming up you can take a peek.

On the Road by Jack Kerouac (read inspired by Uncle Jim)
published 1957
310 pages

Synopsis from publisher:

On the Road chronicles Jack Kerouac's years traveling the North American continent with his friend Neal Cassady, "a sideburned hero of the snowy West." As "Sal Paradise" and "Dean Moriarty," the two roam the country in a quest for self-knowledge and experience. Kerouac's love of America, his compassion for humanity, and his sense of language as jazz combine to make On the Road an inspirational work of lasting importance.

My thoughts:

Those of you who have read my Relative Reads posts before might notice a difference from past installments - this book isn't recommended by a relative, but INSPIRED by one.

This summer at the lake, as I was pestering everyone for book recommendations, I started talking books with my Uncle Jim. He mentioned that he had recently read On the Road, but that he hadn't been that impressed with it. When I asked why, he said he thought it was because so much of the book mirrored his own life as a young man that it just wasn't that interesting for him. Well, obviously that peaked my interest - my uncle used to be a beatnik??!!? So he graciously sent me his copy of the novel, and I have to say, it was an interesting reading experience.

I have to be honest and say that stream-of-consciousness narratives are difficult for me to read. I'm sure it's part of my own dislike of feeling "out of control", but the lack of structure often makes it a challenge for me to keep track of the actual story. I think perhaps it's a higher-level mental skill that I just never developed. Anyway, that narrative style made this novel a struggle for me.

That being said, I'm glad I worked my way through, because I get why it was such a mind-blowing story for its time - this was probably the first articulation of the idea that life's too short, so grab as much of it as you can, as fast as you can, and don't worry about the consequences. Dean Moriarty is a true larger-than-life hero, and the relationship between Dean and Sal is full of passion and complexity. And, despite my struggles, there were moments in the narrative that made me stop and catch my breath - here are some of my favorites -

"We turned at a dozen paces, for love is a duel, and looked at each other for the last time."

"A pain stabbed my heart, as it did every time I saw a girl I loved who was going the opposite direction in this too-big world."

"Why think about that when all the golden land's ahead of you and all kinds of unforeseen events wait lurking to surprise you and make you glad you're alive to see?"

"I woke up as the sun was reddening; and that was the one distinct time in my life, the strangest moment of all, when I didn't know who I was—I was far away from home, haunted and tired with travel, in a cheap hotel room I'd never seen, hearing the hiss of steam outside, and the creak of the old wood of the hotel, and footsteps upstairs, and all the sad sounds, and I looked at the cracked high ceiling and really didn't know who I was for about fifteen strange seconds. I wasn't scared; I was just somebody else, some stranger, and my whole life was a haunted life, the life of a ghost. I was halfway across America, at the dividing line between the East of my youth and the West of my future."

I found this video of Kerouac reading just a bit of his novel, and the meter of the narrative became apparent. I almost think hearing this novel aloud might enhance it for me - now if I can just find a good audiobook version.

This was certainly an experience. It's fascinating to put my uncle in the place of Dean and Sal - I've only heard a few of his stories, but I'm pretty sure he could write a book that would rival this one. I don't know that I can recommend On the Road, but I don't regret the reading of it myself.

Finished: 10/22/09
Source: on loan from Uncle Jim - thanks!
Rating: 5/10

This book counts toward:

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:32:00 +0000

Yes, I know, it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but we have to get ready!! Last year, JoAnna helped us decorate the tree - I bet this year she'll be trying to pull it down! =)

Here are a couple of fun events in the book-blog-o-sphere to get you in the mood:

How about a Progressive Dinner? A party you don't even have to clean your house for! Here's what Amy says about this fun event:

The holidays are for celebrating and what better way to celebrate than with food? Unfortunately, we all live so far apart that we can't get together but that shouldn't stop us from celebrating in style! So Nicole, Julie, and I put our heads together and came up with the Progressive Dinner Idea!

Here's your Invitation:

Who: You, of course, silly! And all the other fab bloggers who want to join in.

What: A Virtual Progressive Dinner (in which each blog hosts one part of the meal)

When: December 7-11

Where: The hub will be at the Book Blog Social Club

Why: Because we are party animals! Hopefully the fabulous recipes and ideas for entertainment and decoration will give you everything you need for the holiday season.

Sign-up and details can be found at any of the blogs listed above - how fun!!

And of course, have you signed up for the Book Blogger Holiday Swap yet? Why not?? Here's what it is about:

The holiday swap is a way for book bloggers to connect and celebrate the holiday spirit by sharing gifts. It’s done secret Santa style; all of the participants are randomly assigned a blogger to send a gift to, and these assignments are kept secret until the gift has been delivered. So no one knows who their gift is coming from!

You can sign up at the Book Blogger Holiday Swap website - why not join us? The Deadline is November 12, so hurry hurry! You might get a gift from ME, and I already have some fun ideas.....

If you seen any more fun, holiday -centric events floating around, let me know! I am ready for the holiday spirit!!

Poe Fridays (on Saturday)

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:25:00 +0000

This week's selection is the short story, William Wilson. You can read the full text here.

In this story, our narrator, who tells us to call him William Wilson, tells the story of his life, from childhood at boarding schoool, through profligate adulthood. While at school, which he actually enjoyed, another student was in attendance whose name was also William Wilson. The second William was the only student to offer competition in any area to our narrator, so of course he hated his namesake. Eventually, the second William began dressing and appearing identically to our narrator, so he fled from the school, only to find that the second William left the same day.

Thus began a period of years in which he did lots and lots of bad things, each ending with the appearance of the second William. One night, our narrator had the opportunity to catch the second William, and stabbed him fatally. He then found himself in front of a mirror, where his own image informs him that he has killed himself.

Oh, I love the doppleganger! It's one of my favorite literary tropes. This story actually reminded me, in many ways, of the movie Fight Club - it's easy to see how William Wilson could have influenced that story. In this case, Wilson's doppleganger appears each time he does something bad - potentially, the double is his conscience, and by killing it he has killed himself only in the sense that now he is completely evil.

This was an interesting story. I did figure out the "twist" early on, but that didn't make it less enjoyable.

Poe Fridays is hosted by Kristen at WeBeReading.

451 Fridays

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:17:00 +0000

Thursday Tunes

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:07:00 +0000

Sorry, no tunes today. At least, none that YOU can hear - there are plenty of tunes at my house, because I'm busy playing this:

This gorgeous instrument was my Grandma's, and she recently decided it should be mine. So, 4 days and 1,000+ miles later, it is sitting in my living room. Hmmm, wonder what I'll be doing today?? =)

The Nonfiction Files

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:16:00 +0000

The Nonfiction Files is a weekly journal of my adventures reading my toppling piles of nonfiction books. I won't be posting reviews, but rather my thoughts about what I'm reading, while I'm reading it.

My current read: My Father's Paradise: A Son's Search for His Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq by Ariel Sabar

Synopsis from publisher:

In a remote and dusty corner of the world, forgotten for nearly three thousand years, lived an ancient community of Kurdish Jews so isolated that they still spoke Aramaic--the language of Jesus. Mostly illiterate, they were self-made mystics and gifted storytellers, humble peddlers and rugged loggers who dwelt in harmony with their Muslim and Christian neighbors in the mountains of northern Iraq. To these descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel, Yona Sabar was born.

My thoughts:

I am completely fascinated with this book. (I think I say this every time, don't I?? But then, there are so many fascinating stories to be told, that I never seem to have a problem finding another one.)

Sabar is not only telling the story of his family, but also of a region rich with its own history and contradictions. The Sabars are from Zakho in Iraqi Kurdistan - a city on an island surrounded by a river, where Jewish-Muslim relations are so central to the city's identity that they have a creation myth to explain it. The two religions and their adherants flourished side by side in this unique area, so much so that when Jews and Muslims began to kill each other, the people of Zakho didn't believe it. It wasn't until the late 1940s that relations began to feel a strain, and when the majority of the Jewish residents left for Israel after the denaturalization laws went into effect in the 1950s, their Muslim neighbors gathered in the streets to mourn their passing and wish them well.

Along with the history of the region, we learn the story of Sabar's family. His great-grandfather, the mystic; his grandmother who, abused by her stepmother, was not told of her marriage until she arrived at her new in-law's house; his grandfather, a brilliant businessman, who resisted leaving for Israel until the last moments. These people literally come alive, and I feel an emotional attachment to them.

We also start to learn the story of Ariel and his father, and their strained relationship. To Ariel, his father was a relic from the old country, someone to ignore whenever possible, and confront when necessary. The realization that he wanted to understand his father came with the birth of his own son, and gave him the motivation to embark on this journey. We haven't been given a lot of insight into Ariel yet, but his care for the people he is writing about, and his love for the country they live in, is evident by the way he writes about them. I'm not an adventurous person, but he makes me want to go visit this land and meet its people.

I tend to enjoy family history - other families as well as my own - so this book is naturally of interest to me. Early on, the author says he wants to answer two bigger questions: "What is the value of our past?" and "When we carry our languages and stories from one generation to the next, from one country to another, what exactly do we gain?" I hope he shares his answers to those questions.

Stop back next week for part 2 of My Father's Paradise, and also be sure to visit Jehara, who is also participating in The Nonfiction Files. I think she's starting a new book - can't wait to see what she picks!

My month in movies

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:52:00 +0000

"Seems like everyone's an actor or an actor's best friend
I wonder what was wrong to begin with that they should all have to pretend."
~ Ani DiFranco

Surveillance (2008) - apparently darkness is genetic, as this film by director Jennifer Lynch is every bit as disturbing as anything her father, David, ever created. I was just a touch distracted by the casting of Cheri Oteri, but otherwise mesmerized by this really freaky tale. Recommended if you can stomach it - make sure you stick through the somewhat slow beginning, as the payoff is definitely worth it.

Knowing (2009) - Boy, this was a much better film than I anticipated! I'll admit to not expecting anything great from Nicholas Cage movies of late, but this one was a pleasant surprise. I absolutely loved the little girl who played Lucinda/Abby, and thought the story was quite intriguing. Of course, the religious implications of determinism vs. randomness always make for good debate, and I enjoyed the multiple interpretations the movie allowed. I wasn't completely impressed with the special effects, but the end was quite powerful. In all, I definitely enjoyed it.

Push (2009) - another movie that was much better than I expected. After the Nazis began experimenting on people to enhance psychic powers, a group called The Division continued their work, resulting in Movers - able to move objects with their mind; Watchers - able to see the future; Stitchers - able to heal; Sniffers - able to see an object's history by smell; Shadows - able to hide things from anyone; and Pushers - able to make you believe anything. Nick is a Mover, Cassie a Watcher, Kira a Pusher, and they are involved in a crazy chase through Hong Kong to find a mysterious case that can help bring down The Division. I was very impressed with Dakota Fanning as Cassie, although Camilla Belle as Kira was pretty emotionless. The movie left things open for a sequel, and I think there are a lot of interesting ideas still to explore, so I would definitely watch another movie about Nick and Cassie!

Race to Witch Mountain (2009) - so.....not as successful. Probably suffered from being the third sci-fi in a row, this one just didn't seem to be as strong. Also possibly because the whole movie seemed to be one long chase scene, which doesn't usually hold my interest. I did enjoy the kids, and Tom Everett Scott (who will always be Guy from That Thing You Do!).

The Soloist (2009) - This story of a journalist who befriends a homeless schizophrenic man with a remarkable musical talent was extremely hard for me to watch, due to my personal experiences with the topic. However, the scene in which the journalist takes the homeless man to the symphony, and he sees the music in color - that was amazing. This is a very good movie.

TSS - Monthly Wrapup

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:40:00 +0000

"The wild November come at last
Beneath a veil of rain;
The night winds blows its folds aside,
Her face is full of pain.
The latest of her race, she takes
The Autumn's vacant throne:
She has but one short moon to live,
And she must live alone."
- Richard Henry Stoddard, November

Do you know what November means?? It means my niece, the cutest little baby in the world, turns ONE YEAR OLD!! It's impossible to believe. It also means the nights are getting shorter, the days are getting colder, and I'm already longing for spring. It's true - I'm not a fall and winter gal. I love the sun - I yearn for it - so these months of darkness are hard. Guess I'll just go find a good book to curl up with, and hope they pass quickly! Here's what I've been reading this past month -

A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi - debut medical thriller about a child psychologist whose latest patient has some rather strange information about a murder. This was an entertaining read, although I don't know that I'll be placing on my re-read shelf. Rated 7/10. (My review of A Circle of Souls)

After the Fire, a Still Small Voice by Evie Wyld - debut novel about two men and the damage caused by war. This was quite a novel - bleak, but it's still in my head nearly a month after reading. Not for everyone, but a gripping read. Rated 8/10. (My review of After the Fire...)

The Return by Victoria Hislop - this novel blends historical and modern times in a tale about dancing and the Spanish Civil War. Parts didn't work for me, but I loved the scenes featuring dance. Rated 7/10. (My review of The Return)

The Real Wizard of Oz: The Life and Times of L. Frank Baum by Rebecca Loncraine - fascinating literary biography about the writer behind The Wizard of Oz. Very good. Rated 8/10. (My thoughts on The Real Wizard of Oz)

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - what to say but go read this book! Easily one of my favorite series, this sequel completely lived up to the hype for me. Rated 9/10. (My short review of Catching Fire)

The Widow's Season by Laura Brodie - beautifully written ghost story that was the perfect read for this season. Rated 8/10. (My review of The Widow's Season)

Between Me and the River by Carrie Host - moving memoir of a woman's battle with cancer, this is a very hopeful book. Rated 8/10. (My review of Between Me and the River)

Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente - Lyrical prose which at times left me feeling like I was stumbling through a fog, this was a challenging but memorable sci-fi read. Definitely not for everyone, but it's fascinating premise kept me going, and I ultimately enjoyed the read. Rated 8/10. (My short review of Palimpsest)

The Big House by George Howe Colt - part of my Relative Reads series, this book about a beloved summer home and the family who lived in it was absolutely wonderful. Highly recommended. Rated 9/10. (My review of The Big House)

Pasta Imperfect by Maddy Hunter - this is a very entertaining mystery series, and I like them especially because the main characters are from Iowa! Rated 7/10. (My short review of Pasta Imperfect)

Sugar Time by Jane Adams - in order for me to enjoy a chick-lit novel, I have to be able to relate to the main character, and I didn't in this one, so I think other readers would probably enjoy it more than me. Rated 6/10. (My short review of Sugar Time)

Moon River and Me by Andy Williams - nothing earth-shattering, but I think readers who grew up with Andy Williams will probably love this look into his life. Rated 7/10. (My review of Moon River and Me)

The Shack by William Paul Young - another in my Relative Reads series, this was a thoughtful, interesting book. Rated 7/10. (review forthcoming)

The Book of Murder by Guillermo Martinez - tense thriller by an Argentinian author about
murder and revenge, this was more intellectual than emotional, but still an interesting read. Rated 7/10. (review forthcoming)

After the Moment by Garret Freymann-Weyr - excellent YA novel about first love and betrayal, I read this for a book tour coming up next month. Very good. Rated 8/10. (review forthcoming)

Things We Didn't See Coming by Steven Amsterdam - a connected set of short stories about a man surviving a Y2K apocalypse, this was first published in Australia, and is set to be published in the US early next year. This was haunting and funny - I was very surprised by how much I liked this book. Highly recommended. Rated 8/10. (review to be posted on Bookloons.com)

Women Unbound Meme

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:10:00 +0000

WOMEN UNBOUND Start of Challenge Meme:

1. What does feminism mean to you? Does it have to do with the work sphere? The social sphere? How you dress? How you act?

To me, feminism is about the right of every woman to be treated like a full human being. In too much of the world, women are still viewed as property, to be bartered and used at the pleasure of men. Certainly the pay gap and the glass ceiling are very real issues that need to be addressed, but I don't think we can make headway in any arena until women are finally viewed as equal. (please note - I do not believe that, in this case, equal means the same. I do not believe that men and women are the same. I do believe that they are equal by the dictionary definition "like or alike in quantity, degree, value, etc.; of the same rank, ability, merit, etc.")

2. Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why or why not?

Yes.

"Does feminist mean large unpleasant person who'll shout at you or someone who believes women are human beings. To me it's the latter, so I sign up."
~ Margaret Atwood

"A feminist is a woman who does not allow anyone to think in her place."
~Michelle le Doeuff

3. What do you consider the biggest obstacle women face in the world today? Has that obstacle changed over time, or does it basically remain the same?

Have you read this story about a 15-year-old girl who was gang-raped outside her high school homecoming dance? The one where at least a dozen people watched it happen, and didn't report it? If you haven't, you need to. And then get angry.

This is America, folks. The America where 15-year-old girls can get gang-raped and people think it's a spectator sport. The America where, it seems, women are still viewed as objects to be used and abused at the pleasure of whomever is bigger and stronger and in the general area. If we can't even find a dozen people ethical enough to stop watching the rape and call the police in America, how are we ever going to effect change in the world?

Women Unbound Reading Challenge

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:09:00 +0000

Seriously? This is AMAZING!

From the challenge blog:

The challenge runs from November 1, 2009-November 30, 2010, but you may join in the fun whenever you wish! Participants are encouraged to read nonfiction and fiction books related to the rather broad idea of ‘women’s studies.’ The definition according to Merriam-Webster:

the multidisciplinary study of the social status and societal contributions of women and the relationship between power and gender.

For nonfiction, this would include books on feminism, history books focused on women, biographies of women, memoirs (or travelogues) by women, essays by women and cultural books focused on women (body image, motherhood, etc.). The topics I’ve listed aren’t mean to be exhaustive; if you come across a nonfiction book whose subject is female-related, it counts! Of course, if you’re not sure you can always ask about it in a comment. And if you need some ideas for specific books, check out the ‘Reading Lists’ page.

It’s trickier to say what is applicable as fiction. Obviously, any classic fiction written by a feminist is applicable. But where do we go from there? To speak generally, if the book takes a thoughtful look at the place of women in society, it will probably count. At the end of the day, it’s up to you to explain in your review why you chose this for the challenge and its connection to women’s studies. Once again, if you need some specific ideas, check out the ‘Reading Lists’ page.

One quick note about author gender. There isn’t a rule if a book’s written by a woman it counts and if by a man it doesn’t count. I firmly believe that men can be feminists and that not all women are feminists. As long as the book adheres to the definition of women’s studies I’ve shared above, it counts.

Interested in participating? Great! There are three levels you can choose as a reader (you can count books for other challenges as well):

Philogynist: read at least two books, including at least one nonfiction one.
Bluestocking: read at least five books, including at least two nonfiction ones.
Suffragette: read at least eight books, including at least three nonfiction ones.

Of course, I'll be signing up for Suffragette - here is my list of possible choices:

Fiction -

Native Tongue by Suzette Haden Elgin
The Judas Rose by Suzette Haden Elgin
Earthsong by Suzette Haden Elgin
Frost in May by Antonia White
Wild Seed by Octavia Butler
Mind of My Mind by Octavia Butler
Clay's Ark by Octavia Butler
Patternmaster by Octavia Butler
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood

Nonfiction -

Where the Girls Are by Susan J. Douglas (sociology, mass media)
The Woman who Ran for President by Lois Beachy Underhill (biography)
Mothers of the Disappeared by Jo Fisher (history, biography)
China to Me by Emily Hahn (travel)
Not Counting Women and Children by Megan McKenna (religion)
Six Myths of Our Time by Marina Warner (mythology, cultural criticism)
Nothing To Do But Stay by Carrie Young (biography)
Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman (travel)
Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts (history, biography)

Nothing like giving myself a few choices. I found all these by spending about 10 minutes browsing my shelves - as usual, I have lots of choices.

I'm very excited about this one!! If you want to join, visit the challenge blog and sign up!

4 Month Challenge

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

I have to admit, this one makes me feel JUST a little bit crazy....

From the challenge page:

November 1st will be the beginning of twenty all new challenges and I hope that everyone will join me again. I’m posting this now so everyone can start going through their libraries to find books for each category. Rules/guidelines will be posted November 1st when the challenge starts.

Here's my list:

5 Point Challenges

Read a book with a proper name in the title - Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson

Read a book about a queen or king - The King's Rose by Alissa Libby

Read a book by a Bronte - Villette by Charlote Bronte

Read a book about Vampires - Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Read a book by V.C. Andrews - Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

10 Point Challenges

Read a book by Canadian author - Mercy Among the Children by David Adams Richards

Read a book by Charles Dickens - Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Read a book set in France - City of Darkness, City of Light by Marge Piercy

Read a book by Georgette Heyer - A Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer

Read an ‘art’ themed book. - Van Gogh's Women by Derek Fell

15 Point Challenges

Read a book with a Civil War theme (any country) - In the Presence of Mine Enemies by Edward Ayers

Read a book with characters inspired by King Arthur or about King Arthur/Camelot - Gwenhwyfar by Mercedes Lackey

Read a biography/autobiography - The Woman Who Ran for President by Lois Beachy Underhill

Read a book related to or something by Shakespeare - Shakespeare by Bill Bryson

Read a book by an author born in November, December, January or February - The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

20 Point Challenges

Read a book with a wintery theme (Christmas, snow, ice, freezing etc.) - The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden

Read a book that was a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction - Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Read a book that begins with A and one that begins with Z - Antonio's Wife by Jacqueline Dejohn

Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu

Read a book from The Modern Library Top 100 - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Read a book and then write a review - ???

I'm aware the odds are against me, but I love the variety in the challenge, and it will be good for me to stretch myself a little.

Unlock Worlds Banned Books Challenge

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:11:00 +0000

From the challenge post:

The top 100 challenged books in the 90s are listed here. I thought it would be fun if we could compile reviews for these books. So if you've reviewed one of the books from the list, leave your link in the comments section of the post that includes the book you reviewed. If you haven't, go out, read a book, review it, and come back.

If possible, try to review books others haven't already. It would be great if we could have at least one review for everyone on the list! If you want to read a challenged or banned book that isn't on the list, feel free. Just leave your link in the comments section of the Other Banned Books post.

Here's my list:

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
The Giver by Lois Lowry
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle
Tiger Eye by Judy Blume
Jumper by Steven Gould
Earth's Children (series) by Jean M. Auel

I'll start with those and see what happens. Interesting how many of the books on this list overlap with the books on the Shelf Discovery list - wonder what that says??

Shelf Discovery Challenge

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:39:00 +0000

From the challenge sign-up:

SHELF DISCOVERY is a "reading memoir" which features over 70 MG and YA classics with Ms. Skurnick's unique impressions. There are also essays about these classics written by current women writers including Meg Cabot, Laura Lippman, Cecily von Ziegesar, and Jennifer Weiner.

Details:

The Shelf Discovery Challenge will run for six months (November 1, 2009 - April 30, 2010). To join me in this challenge, all you need to do is grab a copy of SHELF DISCOVERY and pick out what six books you want to read (of course, you can read more than six!) Then, after you read a book, just write a "book report" to share your thoughts with others!

Here's my list:

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle
Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan
In Summer Light by Zibby ONeal
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken
Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

I tried to pick at least one book from each section, and mostly books I didn't read as a kid - I think this sounds like a lot of fun!

Challenges Complete!!

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:11:00 +0000

I have finished TWO challenges!! Woo Hoo!!

Wanna know which ones?

The Pub '09

Read a minimum of 9 books first published in 2009

Here's my list:

While My Sister Sleeps by Barbara Delinsky (finished 5/1/09, rated 6/10)
Still Alice by Lisa Genova (finished 7/11/09, rated 9/10)
The Believers by Zoe Heller (finished 4/16/09, rated 5/10)
Infinity in the Palm of Her Hand by Gioconda Belli (finished 3/19/09, rated 7/10)
The Musician's Daughter by Susanne Dunlap (finished 2/10/09, rated 7/10)
A World I Never Made by James LePore (finished 3/26/09, rated 7/10)
Steal Across the Sky by Nancy Kress (finished 5/1/09, rated 8/10)
My Abandonment by Peter Rock (finished 5/4/09, rated 9/10)
Sonata for Miriam by Linda Olsson (finished 5/15/09, rated 8/10)
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (finished 5/28/09, rated 10/10)
Saints in Limbo by River Jordan (finished 5/29/09, rated 7/10)
Palace Circle by Rebecca Dean (finished 6/1/09, rated 7/10)
20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler (finished 5/29/09, rated 7/10)
All Other Nights by Dara Horn (finished 6/7/09, rated 8/10)
Best Intentions by Emily Listfield (finished 6/11/09, rated 8/10)
Life's That Way by Jim Beaver (finished 6/14/09, rated 10/10)
Sunnyside Blues by Mary Carter (finished 6/19/09, rated 7/10)

I've actually read more than this, I just stopped keeping track!

New Authors 2009

Read books by 50 authors that are new to me

Here's my list:

1 - Big Big Sky by Kristyn Dunnion
2 - By the Shore by Galaxy Craze
3 - The Eyes of a King by Catherine Banner
4 - Alaska by James Michener
5 - The Musician's Daughter by Susanne Dunlap
6 - Fatal Light by Richard Currey
7 - Convergence by Christopher Turner
8 - Canvey Island by James Runcie
9 - The Marchessa by Simonetta Agnello Hornby
10 - Infinity in the Palm of Her Hand by Gioconda Belli
11 - The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
12 - Deep Night by Caroline Petit
13 - 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
14 - Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
15 - The Silent Note by Patrick Davis
16 - Family Plots by Mark Patrick Kavanaugh
17 - Steal Across the Sky by Nancy Kress
18 - Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips
19 - Somebody Else's Daughter by Elizabeth Brundage
20 - My Abandonment by Peter Rock
21 - Losing my Religion by William Lobdell
22 - Sonata for Miriam by Linda Olsson
23 - The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan
24 - Jasmine by Bharati Mukherjee
25 - Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
26 - Saints in Limbo by River Jordan
27 - 20 Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
28 - The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
29 - Palace Circle by Rebecca Dean
30 - The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
31 - Best Intentions by Emily Listfield
32 - Cutting Loose by Nadine Dajani
33 - A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy by Charlotte Grey
34 - All Other Nights by Dara Horn
35 - Wings by Aprilynne Pike
36 - Skellig by David Almond
37 - Life's That Way by Jim Beaver
38 - Crossed Wires by Rosy Thornton
39 - Sunnyside Blues by Mary Carter
40 - The Fifth Vial by Michael Palmer
41 - Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie
42 - A Good House by Bonnie Burnard
43 - The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
44 - Somewhere in Time by Richard Matheson
45 - Still Alice by Lisa Genova
46 - Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs
47 - Written in Blood by Sheila Lowe
48 - Gentle Infidel and Queen's Cross by Lawrence Schoonover
49 - Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente
50 - The Widow's Season by Laura Brodie

Again, I know I've read more than this, but when I reached 50 I stopped keeping track.

I feel very proud - this was my first year to join challenges, and I've actually finished two of them. Of course, you know what that means - time to join some more!! Stay tuned....

Poe Fridays (on Saturday)

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Today's selection is, of course, The Raven.

It's hard to know what to say about this, one of the most popular poems of all time. It has the perfect combination of imagery and cadence, and is perfectly creepy, as well.

It's a brilliant choice for Halloween, and since my new favorite thing is finding related videos on Youtube, here is my scary present for you!

Poe Fridays is hosted by Kristen at WeBeReading. (If you can't get enough, Kristen has a great video of The Raven performed by Vincent Price - check it out!)

451 Fridays

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:59:00 +0000

The Nonfiction Files

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:57:00 +0000

When in the mid-1950s Andy Williams reached a low point in his career, singing in dives to ever-smaller audiences, the young man from Wall Lake, Iowa, had no inkling of the success he would one day achieve. Before being declared a national treasure by President Ronald Reagan, Williams would chart eighteen gold and three platinum albums, headline at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for more than twenty years, and host an enormously popular weekly television variety show whose Christmas specials still occupy a tender spot in every baby boomer's heart.

Williams knew everybody who was anybody during his seven remarkable decades in show business (including Judy Garland, John Huston, Jack Lemmon, John Lennon, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, and Barbra Streisand, among others) and was a close friend of Bobby Kennedy for many years, and he shares memories of them all in Moon River and Me. His millions of fans guarantee a huge audience for the autobiography of the plush baritone who- at the age of eighty-one-still draws thousands of fans to his Moon River Theater in Branson, Missouri.

My thoughts:

I had intended to talk about this book for 2 or 3 weeks, as I usually do in the Nonfiction Files, but shortly after I started reading it realized it probably wouldn't work for those purposes. It's an entertaining memoir, but I don't think I'll have multiple posts worth of things to talk about.

Andy Williams is a bit of a celebrity where I live, as he started his career here singing on the local radio station. It was fun to read about his early years in Iowa, and try to figure out the locations he mentioned - I'm not familiar with the street he said he lived on, but I have a feeling I know where in town it would be located. His depiction of small-town Iowa life was full of affection, and I think we can be proud to call him a home town boy.

His early years in show business had plenty of ups and downs, and he doesn't sugar coat the feelings of helplessness and failure he felt. He illustrates that making a name for himself in his business requires a lot of work, and a lot of luck, and he is careful to thank those who paved the way for him. He drops plenty of names, and his anecdotes about the famous people he brushed shoulders with, and occasionally befriended, are amusing and never mean-spirited.

I don't know that this book will win any prizes for writing, but it has a certain folksy charm - I can easily imagine sitting across a table in a smoky restaurant with Williams, listening to him tell these stories. At times I felt somewhat bogged down in what seemed to be too much detail, but that could be my unfamiliarity with the politics and events of the time hindering my enjoyment. I would anticipate that readers who lived this period of history with Williams will be delighted to gain a more intimate knowledge of the figures who were have probably seemed larger than life on television.

I found this to be a pleasant, entertaining story of the journey of one very famous man. I'm not sure it gave me any deeper insight into his life, but it certainly chronicled his rise to stardom, and the people who helped him along the way. If you are an Andy Williams fan, this would probably be a real winner!

Source: the publisher - thank you!
Rating: 7/10

Make sure to stop by and visit Jehara, who is also participating in The Nonfiction Files.

Congratulations John and Jessica!

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:14:00 +0000

Spent the weekend in Indianapolis, at the wedding of my cousing, John, to the lovely Jessica.

After the ceremony, ALL the people related to John - both his mom's and dad's sides of the family - got together for a big group picture. He has lots of relatives!

Me with my Uncle Mark - he doesn't get to come to stuff like this very often, so it was especially nice to have him and his wife, Susie, there.

Grandma and Grandpa won the prize for the longest married couple - 62 years!!

Me, my sister Carolynn, cousin Shannon (sister of the groom), aunt Rhoda (mother of the groom), and my mom Mary Lynn

Most of my family was able to come - grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. As always, it was great to spend time with all of them!

TSS - Sunday Shorts

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:32:00 +0000

Here are a few shorter reviews. =)

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
published 9/09
391 pages

Synopsis:

(short, no spoilers!)

The Hunger Games are over. The winners return home. The people in charge are NOT HAPPY!! Things go from bad to worse. Cliffhanger!!

My thoughts:

Okay, I know that's a horrible plot summary, but I really don't want to spoil this book for anyone who hasn't yet read it. I managed to remain spoiler-free, and am SO GLAD I did! Wow. So much good stuff in this trilogy, and Katniss is one of my favorite heroines. I didn't have any problems with pacing or plot twists like I've read about is some reviews - mostly, I just loved it. And also, I HATE cliffhangers, so now I'm really mad I didn't wait until book 3 was out to read this one! But seriously, if you haven't read this series yet, why not?? And maybe you should wait for book 3, because the cliffhangers will kill you!

Finished: 10/12/09
Source: my shelves
Rating: 9/10

Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente
published 2/09
384 pages

Synopsis from publisher:

Between life and death, dreaming and waking, at the train stop beyond the end of the world is the city of Palimpsest. To get there is a miracle, a mystery, a gift, and a curse -- a voyage permitted only to those who’ve always believed there’s another world than the one that meets the eye. Those fated to make the passage are marked forever by a map of that wondrous city tattooed on their flesh after a single orgasmic night. To this kingdom of ghost trains, lion-priests, living kanji, and cream-filled canals come four travelers: Oleg, a New York locksmith; the beekeeper November; Ludovico, a binder of rare books; and a young Japanese woman named Sei. They’ve each lost something important -- a wife, a lover, a sister, a direction in life—and what they will find in Palimpsest is more than they could ever imagine.

My thoughts:

I will be honest - I'm including this book in my Sunday Shorts post because I have no idea how to review it. I really, really enjoyed it, but have been struggling with the words to explain why. I loved the premise, and the writing was beautiful, but at times it was like peering through a fog - I felt like I really didn't know what exactly was going on. I think I would like to read it again, because I feel like it's the type of novel that will get better with familiarity. I expect some readers to be frustrated by it, but I was captivated. If you are a speculative fiction fan, and are up for a bit of a challenge, I'd definitely recommend this novel!

Finished: 10/14/09
Source: Forest Avenue Library
Rating: 8/10

Pasta Imperfect by Maddy Hunter (A Passport to Peril Mystery)
published 08/04
285 pages

Synopsis from publisher:

The discount travel package to Italy seemed like a great deal: Emily Andrew could lead her globe-trotting Iowans on the trip of a lifetime and bring her family to boot. Maybe she should have read the fine print....Sharing their itinerary with a group of hyper-competitive aspiring romance writers is just a prelude to more Machiavellian drama than an Italian opera.

First, their hotel burns to the ground. Then, when Emily's lost luggage turns up found, the disgruntled literary ladies raid her clothing supply like she's a one-woman Gucci outlet. But the real killer is a contest sponsored by a publishing house — and the depths to which the dime-novel divas will plunge to win a book contract. Amid backstabbing and catcalling, bodies start turning up — in Emily's favorite outfits! Now, Emily will need more than a phrasebook to say ciao to someone with a hot and spicy passion for murder.

My thoughts:

This is such a fun series - Emily is smart and sarcastic as usual, and in this installment the author adds tension with her boyfriend, Etienne, and another possible love interest to confuse matters a bit more. I still enjoy Nana, and the addition of Emily's mom to the cast was a lot of fun. Of course, being from Iowa, I can relate to a lot of the characters, and that might add to the appeal. This continues to be a great series, and I am looking forward to the next installment.

Finished: 10/21/09
Source: Forest Avenue Library
Rating: 7/10

Sugar Time by Jane Adams
published 2009
208 pages

Synopsis from publisher:

Charlotte “Sugar” Kane hasn’t produced a hit TV series in so long her last one‘s now on Nick at Nite, so when her kids grew up and the last guy in her life moved out she left L.A. for New York, where a woman over 40 doesn’t have to file an environmental impact statement to go out in public.

But since the network green lighted her new show, Sugar’s back in Hollywood, older, wiser, and ready to prove she can still deliver a hit - unless her young, clever and manipulative assistant doesn’t manage to steal it away. Then Sugar is struck by a crisis that threatens everything she holds dear – her career, her health, and the unconditional love she’s finally, unexpectedly found, long after she stopped hoping she ever would.

My thoughts:

I don't think I was the right reader for this book. Part of the appeal of chick-lit, for me, is the ability to relate to the main character as she searches for something - even if I don't really like her, I can usually understand her motivations. I didn't feel that sense of connection with Sugar, and I personally need that when reading this style of novel.

That said, I thought it was well-written, although my copy did contain several grammar and punctuation errors. (I don't know if this was a review copy, though, so those might be fixed in the final printing.) I can see that it would definitely appeal to readers - unfortunately, I just don't think I was the right demographic for this one.

Finished: 10/22/09
Source: the author - thank you!
Rating: 6/10

Poe Fridays (on Saturday)

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:51:00 +0000

This week we read the supremely freaky short story, The Pit and the Pendulum. You can read the full text here.

So basically, this is the story of a guy who has been captured by the Spanish Inquisition and thrown into a pitch black room. As he begins to inspect the room, he realizes there is a huge pit in the middle of the room, and blacks out. When he wakes up, he is strapped down, and a giant, scythe-like pendulum is swinging over him, getting closer and closer to his chest. He manages to escape, but the walls start to burn and close in, making him move closer and closer to the pit.

Yeeks! This story seriously pushes the limits of how much scary I can tolerate. Poe does a masterful job of creating fear without any supernatural intervention - all of the terror comes from the narrator's completely real situation. The tension increases throughout the story, so by the end I was holding my breath, waiting for the inevitable demise. Here's a sample of what I mean:

"Down -- certainly, relentlessly down! It vibrated within three inches of my bosom! I struggled violently -- furiously -- to free my left arm. This was free only from the elbow to the hand. I could reach the latter, from the platter beside me to my mouth with great effort, but no farther. Could I have broken the fastenings above the elbow, I would have seized and attempted to arrest the pendulum. I might as well have attempted to arrest an avalanche!"

And, just to creep myself out a little more, I found the following short film of the story - seriously, don't watch this in the dark!

The Pit and the Pendulum by Bravo!FACT

Creepy, Creepy. Kristen, if I have nightmares, I am totally holding you responsible!

Poe Fridays is hosted by Kristen at WeBeReading.

451 Fridays

elischulenburg@gmail.com (Elizabeth) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:14:00 +0000

451 Fridays is based on an idea from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. In his novel, a group of people (Bradbury calls them Book People) are trying to keep the ideas found in books alive. Instead of actually saving the books, the Book People each "become" a book - memorizing it, word for word, and passing it down to the next generation.

451 Fridays asks what books you feel passionate about. What book do you think is so important that you would be willing to take on the challenge of "becoming"?

Today I am thrilled to welcome Heather, better known to the blogging world as Zibilee, to 451 Fridays. Heather blogs at Raging Bibliomania, and is one of the blogs I've been following since the very beginnings of my own blogging journey. She reads a fantastic variety of books, and is also one of the best commenters in the blogosphere. I'm so glad she's here today - welcome, Heather!

Elizabeth, thanks so much for welcoming me here today. I love this feature and hope to be able to do it justice with my choices. There are many books I think worthy of saving, so I had a little trouble picking the top five that I thought would be most important not to lose. My list reflects the books that have changed my life in some way, and have impacted and shaped my tastes in my further reading.

Atonement by Ian McEwan

Not only was the writing hypnotic, the complex and intricate story in this book tells the tragic tale of what can happen when someone's preconceived notions and mistaken perceptions cloud an otherwise innocent exchange, and the horrible consequences of that mistake. Certain sections dealt with the atrocities and unexplainable evil of war and the madness that the circumstances of combat can inspire. This book was an emotional powerhouse and it's conclusion was heartbreaking. Even thinking about it now makes me a little teary. I think it was amazing what McEwan was able to do with this short book: essentially, he took one incident and tracked how it ruined so may lives, in so many differing ways, and he was able to invoke tremendously powerful emotions. I think this book should definitely be saved because of the heart-rending quality of the writing and the inexpressible sadness and beauty of it's story. It also has one of the most unforeseen and devastating conclusions that I have ever read, and for the ending alone, it deserves a place on this list.

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

Fingersmith is the story of two girls. The first, Sue is convinced by her band of outcasts to help cheat a young woman out of her fortune, and when that is done,to throw her into a madhouse. Maud, the bookish young woman whose fortune is at stake, finds herself drawn to Sue, which makes Sue have second thoughts about her plan. This book had one of the most fantastic twists I have ever read in literature, and there was not an inkling to give it way. It was moving and filled with drama, and had a most unconventional love story within it's pages. The writing was bold and the circumstances of the plot were not only unusual, but highly convincing. Waters managed to capture both tremendous darkness and chaos in this unpredictable tale, and her characters in this novel were schemers of the first order.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

I think Dickens is a master at storytelling and character creation, and I consider this one of Dickens' best. Great Expectations tells the story of Pip, the poor boy who wants to be a gentleman, and the mysterious benefactor that makes this dream come true for him. But although Pip becomes a gentleman on the outside, he has trouble becoming one on the inside. I think this book had the most amazing cast of characters I have ever seen in one place, from the violent Magwitch to the seriously disturbed Miss Havisham. In terms of character portrayal, this book excelled. There were some amazing twists and turns in this story, and I was left puzzling it all out until I turned the final page. I should also mention that the book was raucously funny at times, and it's ironies, satires, and symbolism make it not only a great read, but one that can be dissected and discussed at great length... if you're into that sort of thing. :)

A Confederacy of Dunces by John O'Toole

A Confederacy of Dunces seems to be a very polarizing book. Most either love it or hate it. I fall into the former category. This is the story of man who may possibly be the most annoying character in all of literature, Ignatius Reilly. Ignatius is a grown man who lives at home with his mother and spends most of his days, well, being annoying and filling up his personal notebooks with endless tirades against almost everything. All his mother really wants is for Ignatius to get a job and be a normal man, something that he can never seem to do. This book had spectacular moments of humor and some rather startling insights, and I thought Ignatius was a magnificent character. It was an interesting experience to both loathe and love him throughout his unlikely set of adventures. It's a stunningly original work of fiction that dealt craftily with a most unsavory man. This book was found and published posthumously, after the author took his own life, which I find incredibly sad, and which makes this book all the more precious. An astonishingly clever book.

Geek Love by Katerine Dunne

A book that continually startled and amazed, Geek Love tells the story of a family of circus freaks that will do anything to ensure their strangeness, including imposing genetic modifications on their unborn offspring. At times dark and incredibly twisted, this story was a melting pot of the fantastically bizarre, and had some really unparalleled characters. It also had a hell of a villain, in the form of a devilish boy born with flippers instead of feet. It was a malevolent story, rich with with weirdness, and I have never read anything quite like it. It is an incredibly well crafted book, both suspenseful and frightening. Geek Love is a book that I don't think many people have been exposed to, and it's been one of my favorite books for years now.

If I could choose to be one book, it would be A Confederacy of Dunces, because a world without Ignatius Reilly would be a little smaller, and a little colder.

Some quotes from A Confederacy of Dunces: "It's not your fate to be well treated," Ignatius cried. "You're an overt masochist. Nice treatment will confuse and destroy you."

"My respiratory system, unfortunately, is below par. I suspect that I am the result of particularly weak conception on the part of my father. His sperm was probably emitted in a rather offhand manner."

"How old is he?" the policeman asked Mrs. Reilly. "I am thirty," Ignatius said condescendingly. "You got a job?" "Ignatius hasta help me at home," Mrs. Reilly said. Her initial courage was failing a little, and she began to twist the lute string with the cord on the cake boxes. "I got terrible arthuritis." "I dust a bit," Ignatius told the policeman. "In addition, I am at the moment writing a lengthy indictment against our century. When my brain begins to reel from my literary labors, I make an occasional cheese dip."

Heather, thank you so much for taking the time to share with us YOUR list of books which must be saved.

I'm always looking for more participants - if you are reading this and would like to share your 451 list, please let me know!