minds alive on the shelves

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.

Another Great Giveaway!

2009-10-13T22:40:00.007-04:00

Do I have a special offer for you! Have you seen the trailers for The Vampire's Assistant? It looks great and I've got a special giveaway to go along with the movie!

Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, based on the popular series of books by Darren Shan, is a fantasy-adventure about a teenager who unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires. Pulled into a fantastic life of misunderstood sideshow freaks and grotesque creatures of the night, one teen will vanish from the safety of a boring existence and fulfill his destiny in a place drawn from nightmares.

(The plot actually reminds me of Cirque Berzerk, which I saw in Los Angeles a couple of months ago.)

Anyway - two winners will receive a Cirque du Freak book Set (A LIVING NIGHTMARE * THE VAMPIRE’S ASSISTANT * TUNNELS OF BLOOD) and a Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant Locker Mirror

Tht locker mirror is the perfect back-to-school accessory, right? And all you have to do is leave a comment on this post to win.

Now, there's a little something in this for me, too. If you use the widget on the sidebar to vote for your favorite movie t-shirt, I could win an iPod touch! So leave a comment to win something for yourself and vote below and maybe your friendly neighborhood blog host will win a little something, too!

Okay, here are the details: the contest will run for 2 weeks, so get your votes in by midnight on Monday, October 26th. Shipping Guidelines: giveaway is open to legal US residents who are at least 13 years of age as of October 1st. Prizing is only available to United States mailing address only. (International readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail.) Leave a comment here for your first entry - blog about the giveaway and link to my post and I will give you 2 more entries! You've got to leave me an email address in your comment, so I can contact you. And encourage your kids to enter on their own!

Okay, I'm having some trouble with the widget - there's a very small version in my sidebar, or you can go to this link to vote for your favorite t-shirt.

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.

FTC Updates

2009-10-07T19:50:00.004-04:00

There have been some excellent posts recently about the FTC's new guidelines on endorsements. You can find more information at DearAuthor and Huffington Post.

One thing that was reassuring is that the FTC cannot actually levy fines. According to Jane at DearAuthor, it works like this:

The FTC has no ability to levy fines. A charge must be made and taken to an administrative law judge and a cease and desist is requested and provided if the FTC fulfills its burden. If the C&D is ignored, then a civil penalty can be requested for up to $11,000.00.

That's good to know. The idea that the FTC would be going after small bloggers is silly enough; the idea that the same blogger would ignore an official cease & desist notice is ridiculous. But as a commenter pointed out, what the FTC does respond to is complaints. We have already seen instances of disgruntled authors harassing bloggers over bad reviews. I would hate to think those authors had even more ammunition.

Still, it all boils down to a simple disclaimer: My copy of this book was an Advance Reader Copy. That should cover the bases for most bloggers. I know that's logical, but it still makes me nervous.

Teaser Tuesdays!

2009-10-06T12:06:00.002-04:00

Good morning! It's Tuesday and time for another Teaser!

This week, my teaser comes from Green Eyes in the Amazon by P.J. Fischer. It's a dystopian future where the world is governed by religion, science is outlawed, and one biologist may hold the key to the future of the human race -- if he can just keep her alive long enough. Sounds exciting! I'm just getting started, so we'll see where it goes. I loved this particular passage, because I can just imagine this smile...

"Of course, I usually don't have to be so direct. though sometimes, we have to show them how it is going to be, just to make the point," she said, smiling with all the sweet sadness of the guillotine."

Sounds ominous, doesn't it? What's teasing YOU this week?

So the FTC doesn't hunt me down...

2009-10-05T20:00:00.003-04:00

The Federal Trade Commossion has issued new guidelines about book bloggers. Apparently, if I review a book and don't tell you that I received it for free, I could be fined up to $11,000!

$11,000. For a book review.

Now, I do understand the motivation behind this. There are some powerful blogs (the examples I've read about are mostly mommy-blogs) that endorse consumer products and there have been some concerns that they do not reveal that they are paid by the manufacturer or given free products. I can see why that would be a concern.

You will notice that at the bottom of my reviews, I always tell you if the book was an Advanced Reader Copy (those are the ones the publishers send out for free) and give you a link to buy it online. That should keep me in the clear. But just to be sure, I guess I will have to BE VERY CLEAR when I review a book. Because no free book is worth an $11,000 fine.

You can read of my comments at When Falls the Coliseum.

Wondrous Words Wednesday!

2009-09-30T09:39:00.002-04:00

It's Wednesday and time for more new words! I'm on the road so it's a short post this week, but there are a few words I wanted to share.

My words this week come from The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny. It takes place in a remote village in Quebec, so I've had a chance to practice a little of my college French. Still, there were a few words I thought you might find interesting...

1. Chatelaine: "As a chatelaine would, confident in her place and without need to prove it."

The mistress of a chateau or large country house .

Wall-eyed: "He approached the tall, wall-eyed dark horse, who shied away."

Having large bulging or staring eyes. I particularly loved this part, because the chatelaine above had planned to buy some lovely riding horses, and instead bought 4 abused and neglected horses, intended for slaughter. Such a very kind thing to do - I'm hoping it works out for her.

Well, those are all I have this week. I guess I need to find some tougher reading assignments. What new words did YOU learn this week?

Tuesday Teasers!

2009-09-29T09:55:00.002-04:00

Happy Tuesday! It's time for another Tuesday Teaser! You know the rules - open your current book to a random page and select 2 teaser sentences that will make us rush to the library or the bookstore and check it out. No spoilers, please.

This week, my teaser comes from The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny. It's billed as a "Chief Inspector Gamache Novel", and while I haven't read any of the earlier books, I just might have to check them out - it's been very good so far. The story is set in the remote village of Three Pines in Quebec, Canada, so I am getting to learn all about the Canadian police system.

This is an odd choice of teaser for a murder mystery, but with fall upon us, it sounded so clear and perfect for the season:

"This was the last day of summer vacation, and while it had been decades since he'd gone to school, he still felt the tug. The mix of sadness at the end of summer, and excitement to see his chums again."

Perfect fall teaser, I think. What's teasing you this week?

And the winners are....

2009-09-29T01:00:00.001-04:00

First, I want to thank everyone who entered my Maximum Ride promotion. This is a great set of books and I wish I could pass them on to everyone who posted and commented. I am a big fan of anything that encourages young people to read, and giving them big sets of cool books certainly qualifies. I hope you'll check out other sites that are hosting this promo -- or at least check them out of your local library.

Okay - the two lucky winners in my special Maximum Ride promo are:

Adam C. Lipscomb & mckeesexton!

I will be sending out emails to our lucky winners tonight. If for any reason they cannot perform the duties required of them as winners, I will draw another name.

Again, thanks for stopping by the blog. There are more great giveaways (and some pretty darned good reviews) coming up, so be sure to stop back often.

It's not too late to win!

2009-09-28T06:02:00.002-04:00

Just a reminder: you have until midnight tonight (EST) to sign up for my special promotion - win a set of James Patterson YA books. This is a great promotion and the books would make great gifts for any young reader in your life. Don't miss out!

More books!

2009-09-25T16:01:00.004-04:00

I got even more books! It's so nice to be at home and see the UPS man pull up.

How to Catch and Keep a Vampire by Diana Laurence. This is the dating guide that Buffy and Sookie need - I am expecting a really fun read.

Nibble and Kuhn by David Schmahmann - intrigue and romance at a law firm. Hmmm.

At least I won't have to worry about what books to take back to LA with me!

New to My Library!

2009-09-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

I haven't done one of these in a while, but I came back from my trip to a PILE of books! What could be better? Well, I also bought one (just one!) while I was out spending my Barnes & Noble gift card (True Blood, anyone?) Anyway, here's the lovely pile that accumulated while I was out:

Green Eyes in the Amazon by P.J. Fischer. An interesting bit of dystopia, courtesy of LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

Murder in the Magick Club by Byron A. Lorrier, Esq. Okay, I am automatically suspicious of anyone who uses "Esquire" as part of their name. Also, I got an email about it, so we'll have to see how that goes.

Now and Then by Robert B. Parker. I can never resist a new Spenser novel.

A Sportscaster's Guide to Watching Football by Mark Oristano. Tis the season.

Little Bird of Heaven by Joyce Carol Oates. I love Joyce Carol Oates. Looking forward to this one.

I Shudder And Other Reactions to Life, Death and New Jersey by Paul Rudnick. I loved the cover (peeps!) and the title. I used it for my teaser this week, so some of you already know how funny it sounds.

So, anything new in your library this week?

Review: The Lost City of Z by David Grann

2009-09-24T20:53:00.003-04:00

I love a good adventure novel! Exploring the Arctic, searching for the source of the Nile, exploring the Amazon basin, all from the comfort of your local library. Most of us will never in our lives go anywhere that is truly unexplored, but I have great respect for the men (and occasionally women) who were unafraid of the unknown. In The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon, author David Grann presents not only a great tale of adventure but also a great mystery: what happened to Colonel Percy Fawcett?

Colonel Percy Fawcett was an amateur archaeologist and adventurer who spent the early years of the 20th century exploring South American jungles. He was known for his policy of non-violence when it came to the natives; while other explorers were escorted by troops of well-armed soldiers, Fawcett traveled with a small party, brought gifts for the tribes they met, and resolved to never fire a shot. He was the inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World and Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones. His career ended in mystery — in 1925, accompanied by his son, Jack, and a small party of explorers, Fawcett disappeared into the Amazon in search of the lost city of Z (which may have been code for El Dorado, the City of Gold. Dozens of expeditions were launched to try and determine what happened to Fawcett and his companions. No hard evidence was ever found.

Over the years he spent exploring in the Amazon, Fawcett became convinced that there was evidence of advanced civilizations in the jungle. Although the prevailing opinion was that the natives of the area were backwards and mentally inferior to Europeans, Fawcett was impressed with the way the indigenous people were able to build societies, albeit small ones, and find food and clothing in an area most referred to as The Green Hell. He spent years researching the reports of early explorers, and in 1925, he headed off on his final expedition.

David Grann was ill equipped to go searching in the Amazon:

Let me be clear: I am not an explorer or an adventurer. I don’t climb mountains or hunt. I don’t even like to camp. I stand less than five feet nine inches tall and am nearly forty years old, with a blossoming waistline and thinning black hair. I suffer from keratoconus — a degenerative eye condition that makes it hard for me to see at night. I have a terrible sense of direction and tend to forget where I am on the subway and miss my stop in Brooklyn.

His original plan was to head to the Amazon with a couple of pairs of shorts, his sneakers and a Swiss army knife. But Grann gets caught up in the Fawcett mystery that has captivated explorers for nearly a century. The staff at the Royal Geographic Society is accustomed to dealing with “Fawcett lunatics”, who want to read his papers and follow in his footsteps, even though Fawcett explicitly requested that no rescue mission be attempted. (That was part ego; he figured that if he couldn’t find his way out, no one could.) Estimates are that more than 100 people have perished in their attempts to solve the mystery of what became of Fawcett’s band of explorers.

The Lost City of Z is both the story of Fawcett’s expedition and Grann’s obsession with it. There’s some history, a little archaeology, and plenty of adventure. It’s a terrific story about a larger-than-life character who inspired great writers and touched millions of newspaper readers with the stories of his adventures. Perhaps the greatest tribute to Fawcett is that his final chapter remains a mystery.

My copy of The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon was an Advanced Reader Copy; get your copy at Amazon.com.

Wondrous Words Wednesday!

2009-09-23T09:35:00.002-04:00

I actually have some words this week! And time to post them! Those don't always happen at the same time. These come from Stone's Fall by Iain Pears. It's 800+ pages and hasn't been a particularly speedy read so far, but I'm hoping it will pick up soon.

1. Bumptious: Offensively self-assertive.

"Mr. Henderson was a young man for his job, perhaps in his mid-thirties, and, in my opinion, somewhat bumptious."

2. Toff: Informal term for an upper-class or wealthy person.

"He spoke with a measured neutrality, neither sounding like a toff, nor yet betraying any trace of his West Country origins."

3. Antipathetic: Having or showing a strong aversion or repugnance: antipathetic to new ideas.

"This was unwarranted; he was merely antipathetic.

So, a few more Britishisms to add to my vocabulary. What new words did YOU learn this week?