minds alive on the shelves

Review & Giveaway: Crafting Jewish by Rivky Koenig

2022-10-10T14:16:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure what I did to get on Mesorah Publications' mailing list, but boy, am I glad I did it! Back in December, I reviewed Kosher By Design Lightens Up! and shortly after that I received a new book from them, Crafting Jewish. It's a lovely book and I have had a great time looking through it. I'm not Jewish and I have to admit that many of the holidays and celebrations in this book are completely unfamiliar to me. I had never heard of a succot, but now I have a great menu if I need to bring something to a potluck Succah Hop. I was similarly unfamiliar with Tu B'Shevat, but if you are planning a party to celebrate this spring holiday, the book includes recipes for linzer flower cookes and directions for making a beautiful decoupaged fruit tray to serve them on. There are lots of projects for kids in this book - a lulav and etrog wall hanging, an "I (heart) Pesach" painted trivet, a beautiful mezuzah covered in stained glass shards, and popsicle stick flowers for Shavuot. The introduction includes special instructions for kids, as well as a list of all the craft supplies and tools you may need. There are costumes for Purim, recipes for Chanukah and lovely handmade items for gift-giving and everyday use. Making your own gifts is a great way to both save money and give an extra measure of love to the people closest to you. My favorite project in the book was a Glowing Glass Menorah - it's very different from other menorahs I have seen, and I think it would look beautiful on a holiday table or sideboard:

And now the Giveaway:

I want to be able to pass these books on to others who will be able to really use them, so I am having a very special giveaway. I will be giving away my hardcover copies of Kosher by Design Lightens Up and Crafting Jewish. Unfortunately, due to shipping costs, I can only open this contest to readers in the United States. To enter, leave a comment (make sure I have your email address) after this review. You don't have to be Jewish to enter, you just have to enjoy crafting and cooking! Entries are open until Friday, January 30th at midnight EST, and I will announce the winner Saturday morning. Good luck!

This place is closed!

2010-04-06T19:23:00.002-04:00

My blog has moved. You should be automatically redirected. If not, click here.

Review: Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton

2009-12-09T14:37:00.002-05:00

If you're looking for my review, it has been moved to my new website! Check me out at Minds Alive on the Shelves.

Review: Pirate Latitudes by Michael Chrichton

My New Website!

2009-12-06T18:27:00.003-05:00

If the comment moderation was the bad news, here is the good news: I've got my own website! For quite a while I have wanted to move my reviews to my own website, and now I've got the chance. Come on over and check out my new digs:

Alive on the Shelves.com

You can find all my old reviews at the new site, but they are better organized - there's a reading list with links to each review and I've revised my tags and categories so you can find the reviews you're interested in more easily.

I'll be posting reviews in both places for a while and I am planning some giveaways to christen the new site. Come on over and make sure you're on my RSS feed!

I hoped it wouldn't come to this...

2009-12-06T16:45:00.002-05:00

Sadly, I have had to turn on word verification for the comments on this blog. After having to go in twice today to delete the same get-rich-quick spam comment, as well as deleting multiple comments from a Japanese porn site that likes my book reviews, I'd had enough.

We've got one major spammer going to prison, let's hope others end up in the same place. I would love to see an internet free of spam and malware.

A lovely idea for the holidays: The Dewey Tree

2009-12-04T12:33:00.007-05:00

Those of you who frequent a number of book blogs may be familiar with Dewey, a well-known blogger who passed away this time last year. She was a force in the on-line community - sponsoring and supporting a variety of the events we all participate in. Lisa at Online Publicist came up with a lovely idea to comemmorate Dewey and spread the charitable spirit around the holidays.

Here's how it works

"Here's what you do: Gather up the books you can live without. It can be 4
books, 10 books, or 20 books! Find a worthy group you would like to donate your overflow books to. It can be your local library, a literacy campaign (mine will go to the literacy center I volunteer for), or overseas. There's a great list of
book donation sites here on the ALA. Find a charity that speaks to you!*Then take a picture of your donation and email it to me (onlinepublicist [AT] gmail [DOT] com). It can be a pic of the mailing label on your package, one of your kids giving a box of books to a librarian, or you handing books over to your literacy center. Be creative and have fun!"

I will definitely be pulling together a pile of books. I can think of several local charities that might be able to use them (my local library is kind of funny about donations). I sometimes forget that although I consider books a necessity, for others they are a luxury, a luxury they set aside when there is barely enough for food and shelter. I hope these find their way into the hands of someone who will really enjoy them.

For more information, check out Lisa's post on The Dewey Tree.

Win a Free Book!

2009-11-30T21:16:00.001-05:00

Okay, you know I love contests and this is one to get you in the holiday spirit! The nice folks at St. Martin's Press are offering you the chance to win a signed of Augusten Burroughs' new book, You Better Not Cry. It's a story about Christmases past and present, and if the trailer is any indication, it's going to be very funny: Now, to enter, just click on the link below and fill out the information. I know that I'm hoping there's a copy in my Christmas stocking - how about you? You Better Not Cry Sweepstakes Good Luck!

Review: I Shudder: And Other Reactions to Life, Death and New Jersey by Paul Rudnick

2009-11-27T14:11:00.004-05:00

Paul Rudnick is one of those names that I was complete unfamiliar with, until I read his book. As he told his stories, I kept thinking “oh! I remember Sister Act!” “I’ve heard of Allan Carr!” “He wrote The Addams Family? I never knew that!” It was part discovery, part reunion, full of funny bits, a little gossip, and some entirely fictional chapters that were, perhaps, my favorite parts. It is wickedly funny, even — maybe especially — when recounting the worst stories. All in all, it was a pleasure to read.

I Shudder isn’t exactly a memoir, although it’s full of funny stories about his family, his Hollywood contacts, the plays he’s written and the people he’s met. Between these stories, there is also a (hopefully) fictional memoir, “An Excerpt from the Most Deeply Intimate and Personal Diary of One Elyot Vionnet.” Elyot is a bizarre character, a semi-retired substitute teacher living in a perfect studio apartment that almost overlooks Gramercy Park. One worries about what he might be teaching those impressionable young minds:

As this is my most deeply intimate and personal diary, I am assuming that it will one day be introduced into evidence at my trial.

Surely I can’t be the only one who goes to the movies but never remembers the name of the screenwriter. Paul Rudnick was involved with some very funny movies, but I had never heard his name. Frankly, even if I had, it might not have helped. There is a long chapter devoted to his involvement with Sister Act, but his name does not appear when I check my source for all things movie-related,IMDb.com. Still, he tells great stories about bringing the original treatment of Sister Act to producer Scott Rudin and how they originally met with Disney, and snagged Bette Midler in the lead role. A host of meetings later, this nice Jewish boy was on his way to a convent in rural Connecticut for some hands-on research.

In the end, Bette Midler didn’t star, Whoopi Goldberg was very funny as Deloris, but Rudnick has never been able to bring himself to watch it.

Renting a wonderful Gothic apartment that was once the retreat of John Barrymore inspired a play, I Hate Hamlet, about a young actor living in the same apartment, working on the role of Hamlet and being visited by the ghost of John Barrymore. The downfall of the entire play is choosing Nicol Williamson – an unfamiliar name but a very familiar face — to play Barrymore. Rudnick makes Williamson’s utter disintegration both funny and tragic. He gives Allan Carr much the same treatment — Carr is a flamboyant, extravagant character, and Rudnick knows him in both high times and hard times.

In between chapters full of stories so funny you wonder if they’re fiction, you’ll find some actual fiction. The story of Elyot Vionnet is the very best sort of dark, sarcastic humor. His campaign to make Hallie Tesler stop talking on her cell phone is utterly ruthless — and it does not have quite the intended effect. His stint as Mr. Christmas (and his various holiday visitations) require a certain sense of style:

I instantly donned my tuxedo, a garment which still appears sleek and fresh, although it has been passed down through over eighty generations of Vionnet men, and, of course, Great Aunt Vestra Vionnet, who wore the family tux to bewitch half the women of Bucharest. No, Vestra was not Europe’s first lesbian postmistress, but she was the first one to get it right.

In I Shudder, the fiction and non-fiction go well together. The stories are great — his mother and her crazy sisters, his partner John, his time at the Chelsea Hotel. Chapters sped by and I laughed often enough (and loudly enough) that people at the airport asked what I was reading. I always think that’s a good sign.

My copy of I Shudder: and Other Reactions to Life, Death and New Jersey by Paul Rudnick was an Advanced Reader Copy, provided free of charge.

Teaser Tuesdays!

2009-11-24T08:06:00.002-05:00

Good morning! It's Tuesday, so it's time for another little tease from a book I'm currently reading. You know the rules: Open your current read and choose two teaser sentences. No spoilers, please, and don't forget to tell us about the book!

This teaser comes from I Shudder: and Other Reactions to Life, Death and New Jersey by Paul Rudnick. Rudnick is one of those Hollywood types you never heard of, but he wrote screenplays for movies like Sister Act, The Addams Family, and In & Out. So, kind of a funny guy. Really liked the book (look for my review today over at When Falls the Coliseum or later this week here on the blog) and I liked this quote because it's so seasonal:

Santa's appearance is a cruel prank: red velvet on a fat man, with a wide black patent leather belt to provide some stab at a waistline? the beard and the boots? Over the centuries, Santa has begun to dress like an effeminate, drunken lumberjack...

Okay, maybe my idea of a fun, seasonal quote is a little off the norm but admit it - it made you laugh. I know it did.

What's teasing YOU this week?

New to my library...

2009-11-22T22:11:00.004-05:00

It has been a banner week for new books at my house! First, some great stuff came in while I was in Houston (including one surprise book). Then, my favorite bookstore (Joseph Beth Booksellers in Cleveland) had their Member Appreciation Day. For a very reasonable membership fee, you get bonuses and coupons and discounts, plus they make donations to a charity of your choice from their list. Today, I had pages of coupons and so really, I had to buy books, didn't I? How could I resist? Too bad they don't sell bookshelves.

So, here are the new acquisitions - I can't decide which one to start with!

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Vintage) by Stieg Larsson

Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly

Pirate Latitudes: A Novel by Michael Crichton

The Collectors by David Baldacci

The Woods by Harlan Coben

Brick Lane: A Novel by Monica Ali

The Vampire's Assistant and Other Tales from the Cirque Du Freak (The Saga of Darren Shan) by Darren Shan

Michael Symon's Live to Cook: Recipes and Techniques to Rock Your Kitchen by Michael Symon - this one is special because (a) it's autographed (well, initialed at least) and (b) because Michael is a hometown guy and I have been eating at his restaurants and listening to that terrific laugh of his for years. And now I finally have the recipe for the beef cheek pierogies!

Now, that's a pretty good haul, don't you think? I cannot wait to dig in to this pile of new books!

Review: The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer

2009-11-21T10:49:00.002-05:00

The Book of Lies is a tough review to write. There is so much going on, so many interesting side stories that I want to tell you about, but I don't want to spoil the surprises you have in store. There's Cain and Abel, a kid named Jerry Siegel, a dog named Benoni, a tractor-trailer full of melting shrimp, and the difficult relationships between fathers and sons. Add a healthy dose of mystery, ties to several real-life stories, and you've got The Book of Lies, a great mystery from a great mystery writer.

Cal Harper is a damaged man. When he was 9 years old, his family fell apart -- a crazy mother, an angry father and one hard shove. He lost his job with the Customs Service when he tried to help a young woman who eventually betrayed him. Now, he spends his nights aiding other damaged people, picking up the homeless and getting them help. But one night, he comes across the one man he never expected to see: his father. He's wounded and Cal cannot resist -- who could? -- the chance to find out more.

The encounter with his father leads to more mystery. Lloyd Harper was shot and the gun has its own startling secret: it can be traced back to a 70+ year old murder. In 1932, Mitch Siegel was shot with the same gun during a robbery, leaving behind a wife and six children. The youngest of those children, Jerry, was an artist, and in their suburban Cleveland home, Jerry Siegel created one of the most well-known comic book characters of all time: Superman.

Lloyd Harper is behaving strangely and his estranged son wants to know why. His curiosity leads to muder -- with all the evidence pointing to Cal. The only way out is for Cal to find the real killer, which means tracking down a book that may contain the secrets to the very first murder.

In chapter four of the Bible, Cain kills Abel. It is the world's most famous murder. But the Bible is silent about one key detail: the weapon Cain used to kill his brother. That weapon is still lost to history.

The mystery leads Cal, Lloyd and Lloyd's friend Serena from Florida to Cleveland, Ohio. To a modest house in the suburbs -- the house where Superman was born:

Their quest is full of twists and turns. They are being hunted by a ruthless killer named Ellis, although they don't exactly know why. Ellis is in contact with The Prophet, a shadowy figure who is orchestrating the hunt -- and who may be closer than they think. I read the book in one long sitting and it kept me turning pages right up to the end. The final scenes bring all the disparate pieces of storyline together beautifully. This book was a terrific thrill ride.

The stories in the book about Superman are true and author Brad Meltzer knows them well. He founded an organization called Ordinary People Change the World to raise money to save the house in the picture above, the house where a kid named Jerry Siegel, who desperately missed his father, created the world's most powerful superhero. He began researching The Book of Lies as a way to solve the mystery surrounding Mitch Siegel's murder. There are many other bits of historical fact (as well as some interesting supposition) in the book. It's not exactly historical fiction, but it's a fast-paced, interesting story with enough grounding in real-life mysteries to send me Googling and surfing Wikipedia. I love it when books have that effect!

Brad Meltzer is the author of seven novels and four comics. (I loved the quote on his Comics page: "Every teenage boy has two fantasies: writing a comic book...and dating a Playboy centerfold. Only one of them is actually worthwhile." I wonder which one he meant...) He has even created a soundtrack for the novel - the first time I've ever run into that.

I won my copy of The Book of Lies in a giveaway sponsored by Bermudaonion's Weblog.

Abandoned Books

2009-11-15T14:59:00.004-05:00

I admit it, I abandon books.

Once upon a time, I believed that I needed to finish every book I started. After all, on any page, the story might pick up - there might be some crucial scene, some plot twist, something that would redeem the story. But you know what? There usually isn't. A book that starts out badly usually finishes badly and there is no point in sticking around. It's like dating a guy you do't really care about, thinking you might learn to like him more. If there's no chemistry in the beginning, it's not likely to grow.

I have a rule - I'll give a book 100 pages. If, after that milestone, I find I am not interested in how the story ends, not interested in what happens to the characters, I figure that I have invested enough time. Sometimes I feel a little guilty, like I should really give a book another chance, but it seldom works out.

Occasionally, I break my own rule. I am slowly working my way through As Meat Loves Salt. I am sticking with this one because my friend, Ari - whose taste in books is very dependable - really enjoyed it and strongly recommended it. I hit a rough spot in the book and haven't quite gotten past it, but I am going to give it another shot.

This week's abandoned book is Nibble & Kuhn. It's supposed to be romance and intrigue at an eccentric law firm and instead? No romance, no intrigue, just an unhappy lawyer in love with a woman who is supposed to marry someone else. The quote on the cover says "Riveting" but I think that must have come from some longer quote, perhaps something about "riveting my eyes open in order to finish it."

What about you? Do you abandon books? Or do you feel obligated to finish the books you start?

I want to say a quick thank you to Peilo2006 at Photobucket, who posted the fabulous image above. All those sad abandoned books! It's a terrific shot.

Wondrous Words Wednesday

2009-11-11T08:01:00.003-05:00

Good morning! It's Wednesday again, but I only have 1 word for you! The books this week have been pretty easy reading, I guess, because I haven't come across much in the way of interesting vocabulary. Still, I wanted to share my lone word with you this week, from Nibble & Kuhn by David Schmahmann. (I figured a book about a law firm would at least yield some legal terms, but so far, nothing I didn't already know.)

1. Sinecure: A position or office that requires little or no work but provides a salary.

"Now she is in line for a lifetime sinecure on the bench, and while it isn't a job I would want, one can see why she would."

What new words did YOU learn this week?

Review: Going Fast by Elaine McCluskey

2009-11-10T13:00:00.002-05:00

It's finally here! The Green Books campaign: 1 Day, 100 bloggers, 100 green books, 100 reviews!
Today, there are 100 books being reviewed on 100 blogs around the web, promoting good books and good environmental policies. The boooks are printed on 100% recycled paper. Eco-Libris encourages readers to "balance out" their books - plant a tree for every book you read. It's a smart idea, and one small way to start going green in your everyday life. And the whole plan did get me a copy of Going Fast, so it's a win-win situation.

Going Fast is set in the boxing world of Halifax, Novia Scotia. It's got a full cast of unusual characters, folks who are a bit down and out, a bit on the fringe of things. They are colorful, interesting and just a bit sad, at least to me. Ownie Flanagan is a boxing trainer who wants to train one last, great fighter before he's through. Turmoil Davies may just be that fighter - he's big, he's tough and he's got...something. Presence maybe. Or possibly some sort of mental illness: he is supposed to be an Olympic fighter, but his mouthpiece is so new it doesn't have teeth marks and he doesn't seem at all at home in the ring. He claims, at various times, to have been a hockey player, a policeman, a hair dresser. He tells so many lies that it's easy to lose track of the truth - if anyone really knows the truth about him.

Ownie is working with Scott MacDonald, a reporter at the local paper, The Standard. Scott's a former athlete himself, but he's let himself go to seed without really knowing why. His involvement with Turmoil (and what a great name that is for a boxer!) has Scott re-examining his past. Scott and Ownie believe that Turmoil has a real shot at greatness, and they both want to come along for the ride. The newspaper provides more fascinating characters: Garth Mackenzie, the editor on the brink of a breakdown; Katherine Redgrave, hired gun brought in by the folks at corporate; Glenda, whose engagement is really going to cause problems. Everyone in this novel has a strange story to tell, or to hide.

As Turmoil's fame grows, his stories and behavior grow more and more outrageous. He shows up at a politicial function, explaining to the assorted bigwigs that everyone is really here to see Turmoil, and someday they will be proud to tell people that they shook his hand. He convinces Ownie to come to Florida and help him train, but once there, he's cut off from contact with his wife and subject to Turmoil's strange, late-night visitations. He assaults people working with him, laughs when another of Ownie's fighters is knocked out - this is a big, dangerous guy who is seriously off-balance.

The book is a bit of a hodge-podge. Lots of interesting stories, stitched together in a general sort of order, but I sometimes found it difficult to follow. If I put the book down for a stretch, I had to turn back and check names to be sure I knew what was happening. The second half of the book flowed a little better than the first, or perhaps by then I was familiar enough with the cast of characters to stay on track. Still, it was definitely an interesting read. Elaine McCluskey tells a good story and her debut novel will keep you turning the pages, because you don't want to miss the twists and turns.

This book was provided free for review by Goose Lane Publishing.

Teaser Tuesdays!

2009-11-10T00:37:00.005-05:00

Happy Tuesday! It's time for another wek of Teaser Tuesdays, hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. You know the drill: Take your current book, pick a page and pick two (just two!) teaser sentences to share with us. No spoilers, please, and be sure to tell us the name of the book so we can rush out and add it to our Wish List!

This week, I'm finishing up Nibble & Kuhn, an odd little book about romance and intrigue at a law firm. So far, there's not much romance (although Maria, the lady love interest is really starting to annoy me), and we're really just getting started on the intrigue. I'm hoping the pace picks up a bit soon because it really has potential. This passage should give you an idea why Maria is getting on my nerves. She says to fellow lawyer and would-be lover, Derek:

"That way you can do my work and I can go home, and then you can do your own work later."

"I'm not sure how anyone could pass up an offer like that," I said.

See?!? Don't you want to smack her? What's teasing you this week?

Wondrous Words Wednesday!

2009-11-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

Time for more words! On Wondrous Words Wednesday, we round up all the words from the previous week that we didn't know and we tell you what they mean. Then, when you read the books we've read, you'll know them, too!

This week, my words come from Mr. Darcy, Vampyre. (You can read my review here.)

1. Ensorcelled: bewitched: under a spell

"She was ensorcelled by him."

Okay, I admit that I know this one, but it's such a great word and has such a great sound to it that I had to post it.

2. Ormolu: brass that looks like gold; used to decorate furniture

"the vases of flowers were being replaced with porcelain and ormolu clocks."

3. Postern: a small gate in the rear of a fort or castle

"It was a nasty moment when the mob broke through the postern gate..."

4. Chamois: antelope; hoofed mammal of mountains of Eurasia having upright horns with backward-hooked tips

"Of wildlife they saw little, only the chamois who ranged over the crags and occasionally some hardy mountain cattle."

This is a cool word because I always love finding a new definition for a word I thought I knew. I know that a chamois is a cloth, but I thought the animal it came from was a goat, not an antelope.

5. Gentian: In this case, a photo is a far better definition:

"She lifted the candle to see it better and she saw to her horror that the woman peering out from the mass of strange creatures was wearing a spray of gentian in her hair."

Teaser Tuesdays!

2009-11-02T22:57:00.002-05:00

Welome back to Teaser Tuesdays, hosted by the lovely Miz B at ShouldBeReading. Now, you know the rules: open your book to a random page and choose 2 teaser sentences that will get us hooked on the story (without spoiling it).

I just posted my review of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, so I thought I would use a quote from that before I get involved in a new book. You remember how much Lady Catherine liked Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice? Well, she likes her even less in this book:

"The sight of you sickens me, so yes, I will go, but you have not seen the last of me," Lady Catherine said. "You will threaten us all if you pursue this course."

Come on, Catherine! Tell us how you really feel!

What's teasing YOU this week?

Review: Mr. Darcy, Vampyre, by Amanda Grange

2009-11-02T22:46:00.005-05:00

I swear, this is the last Jane Austen mash-up I'm going to read.

I also swear that I will not break out into Dear Jane letters, as Elizabeth is inclined to do at critical junctures of the book. The Postal Service could not be terribly reliable in Europe in her day, but the letters provide an easy way for Elizabeth to share her deepest secrets with us, as well as with Jane, and so she keeps writing.

I found Mr. Darcy, Vampyre to be a breezier read than Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. It's not written to be funny, although it is occasionally ridiculous; it seems a more serious attempt to extend the romance of Elizabeth Bennett and her beloved Mr Darcy. From the glorious morning of their wedding day to the novel's final sunrise, they stay true to the world Austen created.

The story begins on the morning of Elizabeth and Darcy's wedding. They are having a double ceremony, sharing the happy occasion with Jane and her Mr. Bingley. But the trouble starts almost immediately after the wedding breakfast -- Darcy has received some disturbing news along with their wedding congratulations, and he cancels their trip to the Lake District and he and Elizabeth head for Paris.

As they travel across the Continent, there is a whirlwind of parties and balls given in their honor, visits with Darcy's wide circle of friends and relatives, along with an undercurrent of menace. It is clear that things are not what they seem. Some of Darcy's relatives seem openly shocked to meet Elizabeth, and when Cousin Sophia lets slip - "This is the dress I wore to meet Marco Polo" - it's clear that someone has been keeping some secrets.

Of course, you and I know that Darcy is a vampire. Many of his friends and relatives are obviously vampires. Author Amanda Grange has tailored a vampire mythology (everything from their ability to go out in the sun to the way they age and die) to fit her story and purposes. In a puzzling turn, Darcy has not once visited Elizabeth's bedchamber. Weeks into their wedding tour, our bride is still a virgin. Obviously Darcy is restraining himself, but why? What fun are vampires that don't have sex?

I was disappointed that we didn't get to see more of the Darcy's vampire nature in action. There are a few incidents, but until about three-quarters of the way through the book, you could make the case that he simply had cold feet and was keeping his distance from his bride. It is fun to read certain comments and reactions, knowing what we know, and watching Elizabeth try to sort out the mystery on her own, but I would have liked it better if she clued in a little earlier.

I read Mr. Darcy, Vampyre on the flight from Cleveland to Minneapolis. It was a quick, fun read -- it kept the feeling of other Austen novels, with some downright silly situations. Devoted Austen fans don't seem to enjoy it as much, but I was amused by it. Heck, I finished it, which is more than I can say for Sense and Sensibility.

My copy of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre was provided free of charge for review. You can read more about the book at the novel's blog, and more about the author, Amanda Grange, at her website.

Wondrous Words Wednesday!

2009-10-28T11:09:00.005-04:00

I have been all over the place the last few weeks, so I'm thrilled to be able to post some words this week! The words are from Going Fast by Elaine McClusky. This is a book that I'm reading for the EcoLibris Green Reading Challenge - stop back on November 10th for my review.

Some of these are really interesting! Check them out:

1. Tumid: Swollen; distended

"His body was so tumid, Ownie noticed, that he could have been wearing a padded suit. "

2. Caliginous: Dark, misty, gloomy

"When purged, the toxins left as caliginous clouds of poison..."

3. Pogey: Financial or other relief given to the unemployed by the government

"There was no pogey or nothing."

4. Abstemious: Eating and drinking in moderation. Characterized by abstinence or moderation.

"After years of living the abstemious life of an athlete, of honing his body for one narrow purpose, he had decided to party."

5. Vertiginous: Dizzy; having or causing a whirling sensation.

"...a vertiginous shaft of swirling buoys, hot pain, and otherworldly doubts."

6. Strathspey: A Scottish dance resembling, but slower than, the reel; the music for this.

"It is time we return to our traditions, to the older strathspeys and reels that speak to the Gaelic heart."

7. Bochdan: Bogeyman

"How could he argue with Alasdair, who had such a keen interest in the supernatural and the bochdan, along with his gift of second sight."

8. Agate: Unit of typographical measure. An agate font was commonly used to display statistical data or legal notices in newspapers.

"...the intern had been assigned the sports agate, which took all of his concentration."

A nice mix of Gaelic words and more common usages. I especially like agate - I love words that I think I know and it turns out they have entirely different meanings.

What new words did YOU learn this week?

Teaser Tuesdays!

2009-10-27T09:12:00.003-04:00

Welcome to another edition of Teaser Tuesdays! This is by far the biggest meme I'm signed up for and has added more books to my TBR list than I can count! It's hosted by MizB over at shouldbereading, and by now you know the rules:

1. Open your current book to a random page (although I bet we all cheat on that one);
2. Choose 2 teaser sentences at random (okay, we cheat on that one, too)
3. NO SPOILERS! (I don't think anyone cheats on that one.)
4. And be sure to give us the details on the book, so we can run out and buy it!

My Teaser today is from a book I received for the Green Books Challenge. It's sponsored by EcoLibris: They will be rounding up 111 book blogs to review books provided by publishers with a commitment to going green. I will be posting my review on November 10th, so be sure to check back for it.

My book is Going Fast by Elaine McCluskey. It's focused on the world of boxing in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is full of some of the most fascinating characters ever. I am not quite finished, but this quote really stood out - I think you'll understand why:

"He remembered it all like a slide show: one bright, disconnected moment after the other: being hoisted from his chair, feet losing contact. Scott had no idea how he had landed with enough force to drive the desk spike through his wrist, or how an innocuous office implement stacked with memos could have entered his flesh and surfaced like an armour-piercing bullet."

Okay, anyone else have the urge to cradle their wrists to their chests? OUCH. But remember to stop back on November 10th for my full review! You can check out some of the other books and the participating blogs here. The colors make it very hard to read, but you'll get the idea - it's going to be a great day for reviews!

Vampire's Assistant Winners!

2009-10-27T08:51:00.005-04:00

First off, let me thank everyone who participated in this little contest. I know I am looking forward to seeing the movie (and eventually reading the books) and I hope a lot of our YA readers out there feel the same way. I appreciate everyone stopping by and I wish I had presents for all of you.

Sadly, there can only be 2 winners. I use Random.org to first randomize the list and then to choose the winning numbers. The two lucky winners are:

jenniferb & kinsfire

Please email me your contact info as soon as possible. Once again, thanks to all of you who participated - I appreciate you making the trip to my blog and hope you stop back often. There are always new reviews and new giveaways to check out.

Review: Green Eyes in the Amazon by P.J. Fischer

2009-10-23T00:23:00.003-04:00

Green Eyes in the Amazon is a very timely book — almost too timely. Fundamentalist religious groups are conspiring to control society and stifle scientific advances by any means necessary, including violence. It is set in a hazy but not-too-distant future. No more cellphones and SUVs, now we all have vidcoms and autopiloted cars. Central America is a Dead Zone, university professors and students have to swear loyalty oaths and religion is on the rise. In this contentious climate, a brilliant young biologist may have ushered in the next step in human evolution — but what will the religious zealots do to stop him?

There are a lot of interesting topics in Green Eyes – human evolution, the expansion of science, the influence of religion, medical and scientific ethics. It promises so much, but really doesn’t deliver. This may be a case of a book biting off more than it can chew.

The story is an interesting one: brilliant young biologist Steven Sumpter has distilled all the “mysterious, complex processes of life” into a series of algorithms. (Exactly what religious conservatives have always been afraid science would do.) He has used these algorithms in conjunction with some amazing quantum computer programming, to create a child, a whole new species of human. Steven is on the run from the authorities who accuse him of violating the Mutant Laws and hiding from religious extremists who want to be sure this child is never born. As the world lurches towards an all-out war between religion and science, Steven’s creation may represent reason’s only chance.

Steven receives some help from the military and spends most of the book hiding out in the Dead Zone. He is accompanied by his father, Dennis; former colleague, Benny; and Eli, his lover, his colleague, and the woman about to give birth to his greatest creation. They have to deal with the difficulties of surviving in the wilderness, avoiding the sort of thugs and villians that would make their home in the Dead Zone, while caring for a pregnant woman. Eventually, Steven and Julia will be called upon to try and prevent the end of the Enlightenment, as religious forces gain strength and show a frightening willingness to use mayhem and violence to increase their authority.

Unfortunately, I found the book rather shallow. There is a lot of discussion about what to do with this child, Julia, what she really is, but the discussion can be summed up as “she’s a new species and we must treat her with respect.” The question, at least for me, isn’t always can we do something, but should we do it. The shoulds are never addressed here. Julia is useful, she may save our world from a new Dark Age, and that’s all that’s important. Eli was also a biologist, but she doesn’t seem to think or speak like a scientist. She is completely taken over by her maternal instincts. I would have been more interested in her if she had more than just this dimension.

There is a lot going on in the story that is not fleshed out. For example, I am not sure how far in the future we are really talking. Steven’s father, Dennis, has a very cool car that will do 100+ miles an hour on autopilot, complete with evasion mode. Steven is able to synthesize a variety of human growth hormones from a small computer set-up he hauled into the Amazon with them. But the university Steven attends seems no different from any college today. I can’t tell if the story is set 20 years or 50 years or 150 years in the future. Steven is tried and convicted of violating the Mutant Laws, but I never knew for sure just what that entailed. There is a great deal of talk about war involving the military, the scientists and the religious extremists, but no real detail on what this war will entail. The description involves a lot of casualties, but what caused them? Did we bomb the churches? Did the extremists start burning libraries and librarians? If the government is getting more religious and more conservative, why does the military seem to be on the side of the scientists?

All in all, the story left me wanting. I wanted to know more about Steven’s world, more about the world of Helen and Alphonse, our window into the religious forces at work, I wanted to know more about Steven’s singing rabbits, about Toid — the virtual world he used for developing his theories — and the original Julia, a computer program that gained sentience and had to be destroyed. I wanted to know what the government and the military were up to while Steven and Eli were hiding out in the Dead Zone. It felt incomplete and unfinished. I think it’s good when an author leaves you wanting more, but this wasn’t the way to go about it.

My copy of Green Eyes in the Amazon was provided by LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer Program.

Teaser Tuesday!

2009-10-20T11:34:00.005-04:00

Okay, I'm getting a late start this week, but I think you'll enjoy this one. I'm reading a tiny little book called A Sportscaster's Guide to Watching Foorball by Mark Oristano. I certainly don't need the game explained to me, but it's the season and the book is fun so far. I had to scroll through and read the "Cool Things to Say During the Game" and thought I would share one with you:

"Cool Thing to Say During Game #14:

When the punter does launch the ball too high and too far, and you see the punt returner threading his way through huge holes for a nice return, click your tongue and announce, "He outkicked his coverage."

Now that will help you sound knowledgable at your next football brunch! Unfortunately, I haven't found anything in the book so far to explain the Cleveland Browns this season, but you never know.

(Pssst! While you're here, check out my new giveaway! I've got 2 sets of books from The Vampire's Assistant, plus some cool stuff for your locker. Check it out here!)

Review: How to Catch and Keep a Vampire by Diana Laurence

2009-10-17T17:20:00.005-04:00

Vampires are all the rage these days. True Blood on HBO, the Twilight series and movies, Being Human on BBC America has a vampire, even the recently (and sadly) departed Blood Ties on Lifetime (and the books by Tanya Huff) - those bloodsuckers are everywhere. (I've even got a giveaway featuring vampires!) And for the modern woman who can’t resist a real bad boy, Diana Laurence has written How to Catch and Keep a Vampire: A Step-By-Step Guide to Loving the Bad and the Beautiful. This fun bit of fluff is billed as a modern-day dating guide for the gal who wants her very own vampire boyfriend. It gives you all the inside info you need on where to meet a vamp, how to attract his attention, how to avoid a deadly dinner party…it even reveals The Secret of the Red Satin Ribbon. Follow that advice at your own risk.

The book starts with a bit of a cheat. To get around the obvious problem of not being able to be seen in daylight, Laurence provides vampires with LiquidShade - an elixir that keeps your new beau from bursting into flames when he steps out in the sun. She also explains that vampires long ago developed synthetic blood. After all, they have a lot of time on their hands for research and it was a pretty important problem for them to solve. Still, taking all the obstacles out of it takes some of the fun, too.

Laurence counsels “vampirophiles” on how to deal with their Inner Mina, named for Dracula’s victim in Bram Stoker’s novel:

“At every age we read vampire books and watch vampire movies over and over so we can imagine ourselves as Mina, melting into Dracula’s arms. We never tire of this fantasy of utter capitulation to the dangerous but imminently seductive power of the vampire. He is so dark, so foreboding…and yet promises such transcendant delights. All he asks is that you lose your will to him, and in return you will feel the glorious bliss of his domination…”

Okay, it’s not all quite that bad. It focuses on very modern-day problems, things like how to tell your co-workers you’re dating the undead, how to deal with the infidelity issue, whether or not to let him bite you on the first date. (And I do mean him — there’s really no info here for gents who want to meet a lady vampire.) She gives advice on where to meet vampires and how to balance dating a mortal boyfriend with keeping a vampire lover on the side. She also tells stories about her own dating experiences with her previous vampire loves - Conner, Mordred, Adam, Gunnar, etc.

There are also a lot of vampire myths to dispel: are they cold to the touch, can they see themselves in a mirror, can you kill them with holy water and garlic? And what about those fangs — how do they just pop out right when they’re needed? She treats these tops in a very matter-of-fact manner, as if you could pick up any issue of Vanity Fair or Scientific American and find the answers you need.

How to Catch and Keep a Vampire is, as I said, a bit of fluff. It’s fun, if you’ve caught the current vampire craze, and not a bad way to lounge away a weekend afternoon.

My copy of How to Catch and Keep a Vampire was provided free of charge for review.

Review: The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny

2009-10-12T20:46:00.004-04:00

The Brutal Telling is a first-rate detective novel. The mystery is complex and well-plotted, while the beautiful Canadian scenery and charming characters breathe life into the story. It is a look into the very darkest corners of the human heart, a reminder that we never truly know what another person is capable of, or what secrets they may keep.

The book starts with a story, told in the dead of night by a crackling fire.

"Chaos is coming, old son, and there’s no stopping it. It’s taken a long time, but it’s finally here."

It will be a long time before we know the whole story, or what Chaos is coming to this little village.

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is head of the Sûreté du Québec. His team is called to the remote village of Three Pines to investigate a brutal murder: a body is found on the floor of the small bistro run by Olivier and Gabri. No one admits to knowing the victim, but it is clear he was murdered elsewhere and purposely dumped in the couple’s place of business. Who is the old man and why would someone target Olivier? Some residents of this picturesque village will become entangled in a web of lies as they try to hide their knowledge and their connection to the victim.

This is the fifth novel in the series, so some of you may already be familiar with the Chief Inspector, his moustache, his graying hair, his kind eyes. He is not the sort of detective to chase criminals through dark alleys; instead, he is a thoughtful man, well-read, cultured, with a keen ability to see through the masks that people wear. He understands that to solve a murder like this you don’t move forward, you move back, back into the past to find the conflict that started it all. But how do you move at all when you cannot even identify the victim?

The novel is filled with wonderful characters. I was especially fond of Ruth and Rosa. Ruth is a curmudgeonly old poet, inclined to a few too many martinis and a lot of foul language. Rosa is a duck, and Ruth takes her everywhere. Old Mundin, and his wife — The Wife, no one knows her real name — and their tiny son, Charles. The Parras - Roar and Hanna and their teenaged son, Havoc. (What a terrific name for a young man.) Agent Morin, the young fellow who works up the courage to ask the famous inspector if he might join in the investigation…and is rewarded for his bravado. There is also Clara, perhaps my favorite character. Clara faces the sort of moral dilemna where we all want to believe we would be brave and stalwart. It would be so easy to turn a deaf ear — but would the guilt eat her alive? And is it worth all she would be risking?

The Gilberts - Marc and Dominique and mother-in-law Carole – gave up their big-city existence to escape the stress and came to Three Pines to open a hotel and spa. They bought the old Hadley house, the site of an earlier tragedy, and turned it into a luxurious vacation spot. But there are plenty of small-town rivalries to deal with; trying to hire away Olivier and Gabri’s staff is not going to make them any friends. They don’t quite grasp the dynamics of running competing businesses in a small town, and by the time someone points out their missteps, it might be too late.

Throughout the novel, I was charmed by Gamache’s thoughtful methods and his understanding of people and the things that move them. His second in command, Beauvoir, is a perfect foil. He’s more earthy, and even though he knows the value of the Inspector’s methods, he is sometimes frustrated and eager to act. Due to the nature of the investigation, the book is full of history and culture — art and poetry and music — and glowing descriptions of the beautiful Canadian wilderness.

As far as he could see there were mountains rising from the water, covered in dark forest. He could see an island and fishing boats. Overhead, eagles soared. the men walked onto the beach which was covered in pebbles and shells and stood silent for a few minutes, listening to the birds and the lapping water and smelling the air with that combination of seaweed and fish and forest.

The Brutal Telling is the fifth novel in the series and it is sure to send you looking for the first four (which I already have on request from my local library). You can read more about Louise Penny’s work at her website, LouisePenny.com. I received my review copy free through the LibraryThing Early Reviewer Program.