Musings of a Bookish Kitty

Bookish Thoughts: Between Interruptions edited by Cori Howard

2012-01-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

Between Interruptions: Thirty Women Tell the Truth About Motherhood edited by Cori Howard

Key Porter Books, 2008
Nonfiction; 328 pgs

Being a new mother, I jumped on the opportunity to read Between Interruptions: Thirty Women Tell the Truth About Motherhood when approached to be a part of the TLC Book Tour. I am eager to read about other mothers' experiences, especially honest ones. In part, I'm seeking out stories that are similar to my own, ones I can relate to so that I know what I'm experiencing is normal--or some semblance of normal at least. For another, I can't help but feel a special bond with other mothers, and I am curious about their stories just as much as my own.

It is easy to talk--and write--about the light and fluffy side of parenthood. About the smiles and milestones reached. It is even easy to joke about bowel movements and leaky breasts. It isn't so easy, however, to talk about the realities, including and especially the struggles of the entry into motherhood. I suppose that is one reason why I found myself clinging to the essays in Between Interruptions. Here were women telling it like it is, saying what I have been wanting to say--but not sure how.

It seems as if this topic has been popping up everywhere these days--in books, the media and around the blogosphere. I wish I'd thought to look for a book like this early on. I might not have felt so isolated and alone. I did talk a little about my own experience early on with Postpartum Depression last summer both on this blog and at Tales from the Toybox. Although, even then, I wasn't quite ready to go into too much detail. It's still difficult for me to talk about.

Between Interruptions offers several different perspectives of motherhood as the contributing writers share their personal stories with the reader. We hear from working mothers and stay at home moms as well as mothers of non-traditional families as they talk about their experiences finding friends, adjusting to work or staying at home, breastfeeding, dealing with anxiety (both general and specific), infertility, and having a child with special needs--among other things. The contributing writers pull no punches. They share their experiences and feelings, offering a real glimpse of the obstacles they have encountered as well as the joys.

The stories of new mothers in the workforce especially touched home for me. I may not have quite as glamorous a job as some of the writers who contributed to the book, but I understand the internal conflicts of being a working mom, of needing (or wanting) to work and of leaving my child in someone else's care. I still sometimes breakdown in my car after saying goodbye to my daughter after our lunch time visits some seven months later. Leaving her in the mornings as she still sleeps in her crib hurts my heart. It makes the mornings I am there when she wakes up, a smile lighting her face, all the more special.

The section on guilt had me in tears, I confess. It hit so close to home: Postpartum Depression, pressures surrounding breast feeding, postpartum sex, and dealing with feelings of inadequacies and jealousy. I could have written any three of those essays. I saw myself in each of them. It was a relief to read stories of other woman who had gone through what I am going through.

I do not think any book about motherhood is complete without touching on non-traditional families. I work with a number of single mothers and have friends in same sex relationships with kids. I also know parents who have adopted children--I even assisted in a few adoptions myself. So, I was glad to see essays devoted to such mothers as well.

One of my favorite essays in the collection was one by Joy Kogawa and her daughter Deidre Kogawa-Canute: Comparing Notes: A Conversation Between Mother and Daughter. The two carried on a conversation about motherhood, the patterns carried down through generations, and about their own expectations and feelings about being a mother and daughter and how our actions impact each other. There was quite a lot packed into their conversation. It was clear the two didn't always get along, and yet the openness with which they shared such a conversation with each other makes if obvious that they respect and love each other very much.

Even with the difficulties many of these mothers faced, one thing shines through in all the essays. The mothers' love for their children and their desire to give them the best life they know how. I came away from the novel feeling a pride I had yet to feel as a mother, feeling stronger somehow.

I hope you will check out what others had to say on the TLC Book Tours route!

Note: The print copy version of the book can only be purchased through the author's website. An e-copy can be purchased through Amazon and other vendors.

To learn more about Cori Howard, editor of Between Interruptions and founder of The Momoir Project, an online writing centre for moms who want to learn to document their own stories, please visit the Please visit the Momoir Project website.

Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. E-Book for review provided by the editor.

© 2012, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Sunday Salon: Happy New Year!

2012-01-22T08:28:00.000-08:00

Gung Hay Fot Choy! Despite my lack of Chinese ancestry, my mother introduced my brother and I to the Chinese New Year early on. The house would be cleaned the week before the New Year was ushered in to get rid the old--and the bad. Oranges and tangerines were a must on New Year's Eve, and we'd find red envelopes with a little money tucked inside on New Year's Day. It is the year of the Dragon, a year expected to be exciting and unpredictable. This past year, the year my daughter was born (the Year of the Rabbit), was supposed to be calm and tranquil--well, we know where that got my family! Hopefully this New Year will be a bit calmer and less intense despite the predictions.

This past week everyone in the house was struck down by a very nasty stomach virus. It was quite the nightmare. It seems to have subsided at last, and we are on the mend. I joked with my husband that perhaps it was a fitting end to such a tumultuous year.

I wish I could say I was reading something to fit the occasion of the Chinese New Year. Alas, my reading has taken me back to the familiar waters of the mystery. I am smack dab in the middle of my first Deborah Crombie mystery, No Mark Upon Her, featuring Scotland Yard detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James. I love the setting--and so far the characters and mystery as well. Duncan Kincaid was about to go on family leave when he was assigned a possible murder case, one involving a fellow police officer and prospective Olympic rower. While the investigation into the death is the main focus, I admit I am also quite drawn to the side story. Crombie offers a glimpse first hand at how work can interfere with not only the personal life of the investigator putting in the long hours, but also the family of that investigator. I will let you know what I think of the novel once I am finished with it.

Next up, I will be tackling the Independent Literary Awards' Mystery Short List books, and since I won't be able to post my thoughts until after the awards are announced, I am afraid you won't see many reviews from me in the coming weeks. I will try to fill the gap with more From the Archive reviews as well as perhaps an essay or short story now and then.

Have a wonderful week everyone! Happy Reading!

First Popsicle. Pedialyte in Disguise.

Cat & Mouse: Planning that First Birthday

2012-01-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

The big day is right around the corner. About three months ago, I began getting questions about what I planned to do for Mouse's first birthday. I hadn't given it much thought. It was too early, I said. Now it's less than two months away. I have given it some thought. I have been encouraged by some to have a big party--it's more for the parents, after all. Of course, my response to that is if that's the case, I want a quiet day at the spa. Throwing a big party sounds nothing like fun to introverted and reserved me.

When I think of Mouse, I am not sure she'd appreciate a big party either. She isn't one who likes a lot of attention heaped on her. It'd have to be time limited since she needs her rest. So wouldn't she be just as happy with a small intimate party, surrounded by people she loves? It isn't something she will remember anyway--only in photos.

You can tell which direction I am leaning. So, chances are, we'll be having a small party--maybe just mom and dad and the grandparents if they can swing it. I did, for a brief moment, consider something big. Maybe get a jumper, invite all the kids we know and their parents. My coworker's daughter who had a baby a week before I had Mouse, is having a big party at Chuck E Cheese. I could do that . . . Naw.

I suppose I should now decide on a theme (do I really have to have a theme?) and a cake. Do I give Mouse her own little cupcake or her own small actual cake like my friend gave her daughter on her first birthday?

What did you do for your children's first birthdays? Or for those who don't have children, what's your take?

Decisions, decisions . . .

Bookish Thoughts: Archon by Sabrina Benulis

2012-01-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

Israfel rather enjoyed the sight of the human stumbling into his nest. [opening sentence]

Archon: The Books of Raziel by Sabrina Benulis

Harper/Voyager, 2012
Fantasy/Horror (YA); 385 pgs

When I first read Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop, I found myself on shaky ground. I'm an extremely visual reader, creating scenes and characters in my head as I read the words on a page. I picture everything. With the first book in the Black Jewel's Trilogy, however, I had trouble seeing the world the author had created in my mind's eye. I can't explain why, just that it's so. Perhaps it was the way the author jumped right into the story and took off running. It was the same for me with Archon by Sabrina Benulis. And yet both books captivated me, drawing me into their worlds. Even when I wasn't reading, I felt a little like I had one foot in the book and the other in reality. I love it when a book has that effect on me.

Set in Luz, a city on the cusp of all that is holy and hell, the novel is about a damaged young woman who wants nothing more than to die. Only she can't. Every attempt she makes ends in failure. Haunted by visions of angels, Angela longs to join them. She is sure she will find answers at the Vatican's exclusive university in Luz.

A prophecy foretelling the end of the world warns of the coming of the Ruin or Archon. The Archon is believed to be the reincarnation of the once powerful angel, Raziel. Angela is one of many who fit the description of this alleged Ruin with her red hair, pale skin and mystical powers. Considered freaks of society and ostracized, the blood heads are both feared and hated.

Angela becomes the target of a particularly nasty sorority leader who will stop at nothing to prove that she, Stephanie, is the Archon. Soon Angela finds herself at the center of the struggle between Heaven and Hell--where good and evil are blurry at best and where the likely outcome is life or death.

Despite my initial difficulty picturing Luz, I found Archon to be an intense and entertaining book. The characters were fascinating--flawed and mysterious, beautiful and yet ugly. The whole evil versus good came into play time and time again and was upended just as many times throughout the book. It was hard not to feel sympathy for even the darkest of characters. Angela, the main protagonist, is a strong young woman despite her insecurities. She shows courage and decisiveness when she most needs it. And yet clearly she is quite damaged, having been terribly abused as a child because of her blood head status.

The angels in Archon are more like the ones in the television show Supernatural than they are from the show Touched by an Angel. The angels are prideful and self-centered, having their own agenda that doesn't always include the humans. It makes it all the more interesting. I confess I didn't see the allure of any of the angels really. Sure they were beautiful, but their personalities left a lot to be desired.

Of all the characters, the one that I was most drawn to was Sophia. She is a mystery right from the start. Kim, too, was an especially interesting character. He and Angela seemed well suited for each other. I was never quite sure of Kim or Sophia--where their loyalties lied. Both are still a bit of a mystery and I hope to learn more about them in future books.

It's hard to believe this is a debut novel. The author expertly weaves the characters and their stories together. There are several moments throughout the book that left me holding my breath, afraid of what was to come and yet dying to know what would happen. I picked up Archon to read on a whim and am so glad I did. It was an exciting read and I look forward to seeing what else Sabrina Benulis has to offer. I just hope she doesn't take too long!

To learn more about the author and her book, please check out the author's website.

Source: Copy of book provided by publisher for review.

Cat & Mouse: First Steps

2012-01-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

I am lucky enough to work in a job that allows me every Friday off. It's Mouse's and my day. We may do the laundry or straighten the house--or not. We dance to music from the radio, her bopping along and me, shuffling my feet and swaying. We play with each other. She plays on her own. She most likes my undivided attention, which I am happy to give her. She likes to crawl on me and play with my face. She has the most beautiful smile . . . We read books together and, occasionally, weather and health permitting, go out for walks or to play in the backyard.

One of Mouse's favorite activities, however, is grabbing hold of my index finger or thumb and pulling me along as she takes a tour of the house. We stop at various locations that catch her eye: a cabinet, her elephant blow pop toy, a bookshelf, a stray sock, a cat . . . She holds onto my finger despite sitting down to inspect something, not wanting me to go far. Then she'll get back up and off we go to the next stop on the tour. She has such a confident and determined look on her face in moments like those--sure of where she is going, trusting that I will be right by her side. Sometimes our tours take all morning or afternoon. Sometimes just a few brief moments. I love this time together.

Once I was in the middle of washing dishes and she came over and pulled herself up holding my leg. She wanted my hand. I began to ask her to let me finish and then decided against it. The dishes could wait. With my still wet hand, I offered her my finger and off we went, exploring.

In early December, Mouse took her first three steps all on her own. She was at daycare at the time. My husband and I didn't see it, therefore, it doesn't count. About a week later, she took three steps for me. It was a momentous occasion. Mouse was so proud of herself. She kept trying again and again, often only to fall on her bottom. She received two push type toys for Christmas and had a blast pushing them around the house, strengthening her leg muscles.

On New Year's Day, as I was sitting on the floor in front of the couch, Mouse cruised around the corner of the couch, out of my sight. The next thing I know, Mouse comes around the corner and walks towards me, without touching the couch. The grin on her face was priceless. She would do that several times throughout the day. There was much praise, tons of hugs and lots of smiles that day. Even a tear or two. My baby was walking!

The next day she felt braver and ventured out into the room, away from the couch and me. In all my excitement, I felt a little spark of sadness. My little girl is growing up--and so fast! It's hard not to feel proud, especially seeing how happy she is at having achieved a goal she had longed to reach.

I wondered if her finger holding tours would end now that she can walk on her own. I am sure they will someday. But the same evening she proved she could walk across the room on her own, she took hold of my husband's finger and took him on a little walking tour of the house. So, for now, at least, we can rest assured that she still wants us by her side.

From the Archives: July 2005

2012-01-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Bantam, 1813; Fiction, 360 pgs)

Pride and Prejudice has regained popularity in recent decades, the story making appearances in several movies and a renewal of interest in the book outside of classroom reading assignments for high school and college literature classes. My own interest in rereading this old classic was piqued by the mention of Jane Austen and her novels in the book, Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi, which I had read earlier in the year and in seeing the Bollywood production of Bride and Prejudice, a movie loosely based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Pride and Prejudice is a love story, full of comedy and drama that tells the tale of the Bennets, a family of five daughters. This is the story of smart and outspoken Elizabeth Bennet, the second eldest Bennet child, and Mr. Darcy, a prideful man whom Elizabeth takes an instant dislike to. Jane Austen has written a novel that has stood the test of time and continues to be enjoyed and related to in all its glory. Ms. Austen crafted a beautiful and moving story. She wasted no words, and there is not a scene in the book that does not belong or leave this reader wanting more.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (Scholastic, 2005; YA Fantasy, 652 pgs)

Like so many others around the world, I got caught up in the Harry Potter frenzy, awaiting the release of the latest in this popular series by J.K. Rowling. Although I gave in to sleep instead of attending the crowded bookstore release parties, I did not wait long to find my way to the store to pick up my copy. I waited even less time to dive in and read the 6th book in the series. Returning to Harry Potter’s world was like visiting with old friends. It was easy to get caught up in the lives of Harry and his friends, cheering them on, holding my breath when situations grew tense, laughing out loud, and even shedding tears. J.K. Rowling seemed less inclined to spend time with description in this particular novel, however, the story moved along quickly and never lagged. Answers were given to mysteries unknown and the book ended with many more unanswered questions. The depth to the characters that emerged during Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was less evident in this book. Perhaps the fans will better receive this one, as it is slightly less dark, although I still believe the 5th book stands out above the rest. Definitely an enjoyable read and it will not disappoint Harry Potter fans, although not everyone will be happy with the demise of one of the characters.

By A Spider’s Thread by Laura Lippman (Avon , 2004; Crime Fiction, 352 pgs)

I picked up this book to take a break from another book I’ve been trying to read the past couple of weeks and am wondering why I never had heard of Laura Lippman before now. By A Spider’s Thread is her most recent P.I. Tess Monaghan novel and I will definitely be on the look out for the books in the series I’ve missed so far. Tess reminds me a little of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhoune: independent, smart, resourceful, and tough. In By A Spider’s Thread, Tess is hired by a wealthy Jewish Orthodox fur merchant to find his missing wife and their three children, however, Tess has her work cut out for her because the man who hired her isn’t immediately forthcoming with information about his family. I love the concept of the SnoopSisters, helping each other out across the country. Ms. Lippman opened her novel with what seemed like a simple case and as the story unraveled, it became more complex as secrets and motives were revealed. There was never a lack of suspense and I had a difficult time putting this one down.

The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter (Knopf, 2002; Crime Fiction, 657 pgs)

In The Emperor of Ocean Park, Stephen L. Carter tells the story of a son whose deceased father, a former federal appellate court judge, has left him a complicated riddle to solve, a mystery that puts his life in danger as he gets closer to the truth. This novel is heavy with politics, conspiracies and at times religion. It focuses much on familial relationships and self-discovery. Although a suspense novel, it read more like a general fiction novel.

Several times during my reading of the book, I felt that the author was on the cusp of taking the story to a new and better level only to be disappointed. I liked the author’s writing style; however, it was heaped with what I thought was unnecessary detail. As one friend suggested, the author did too much telling and not enough showing.

Another reason I had trouble getting interested in the book was that I had a hard time relating to any of the characters, particularly the main character, Talcott Garland, attorney and professor at an Ivy League law school. I never felt that connection that I often have with characters in the books I read, however small.

Despite that however, the book did have redeeming qualities. The author wrote an intelligent novel that was complex and multifaceted. The characters were well developed and realistic. The book was much more about them and their interactions, I thought, than the actual mystery surrounding Tal's mission to find out what the arrangements were. The story did interest me enough to bring me back to it and give it more of a chance. About 400 pages into the book, the book finally grabbed me the way I like to be grabbed by the books I read, and I didn’t want to put it down because I wanted to see what happened next and not just because I was determined to finish it before the end of the month. I am glad I took the time to read this book, even though I found myself wondering why a couple of times. It was thought provoking and, in the end at least, entertaining.

Have you read any of these novels? If so, what did you think?

Sunday Salon: Where Is Winter?

2012-01-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

I am sneaking in a quick moment at the computer while Mouse enjoys her morning snack. After yesterday I wasn't sure I'd have time on the computer at all! I have posts ready for this coming week, but whether I have time to prep them will be another issue . . .

Winter seems to have taken a break the last few weeks in my part of the world, giving Spring an early peek at the year ahead. It's made for beautiful weather during the daytime and Mouse and I have enjoyed being outdoors. The nights are still very chilly, often in the 30's. It hasn't helped Mouse's cough which just won't seem to go away no matter what we try (and we've tried just about everything!).

On the reading front, I finished reading Between Interruptions edited by Cori Howard this past week. It's a collection of essays about motherhood. Although my intent is not to get too involved with review books this year, I couldn't resist joining the tour for this one (my review will go up January 23rd). I'm kind of sad I missed out on the tour for Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orienstein. I have been looking for an excuse to dive into that book. Oh well, it's for the best. I have enough reading I need to do in the next few weeks.

As of right now, I am reading Archon: The Books of Raziel by Sabrina Benulis, a young adult urban fantasy novel about a troubled girl who has visions of the supernatural, particularly angels. It's been compared to Twilight (what young adult fantasy series isn't these days?), but from what I can tell the similarities are very small.

I seem to be stuck in an urban fantasy and mystery phase right now--makes sense given they are my two main comfort reads. I do want to mix it up a little more this year, which is why I joined a couple of challenges that will force me to venture into my other loves, like historical fiction and literary fiction. That's the plan anyway!

I can't go without announcing the big bookish news of the week!

The short lists based on your nominations are up for the Independent Literary Awards. I hope you will go take a look! I am a judge on the mystery panel and over the next several weeks will be busy reading the five finalists. It'll be a challenge given how little time I have to spare for reading these days, but I am determined to make it happen! I, along with the other judges, are excited about seeing who will come out on top in each of the categories.

Biography/ Memoir
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua (Penguin)
Bossypants by Tina Fey (Reagan Arthur Books)
I Pray Hardest When Being Shot At by Kyle Garret (Hellgate Press)
Little Princes by Conor Grennan (William Morrow)
Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nina Sankovitch (Harper)

GLBTQ
Well With My Soul by Gregory Allen (ASD Publishing)
Swimming to Chicago by David Matthew Barnes (Bold Strokes Books)
Songs of the New Depression by Kergan Edwards-Stout (Circumspect Press)
Nina Here Nor There: My Journey Beyond Gender by Nick Krieger (Beacon Press)
Huntress by Melinda Lo (little brown books for young readers)

Fiction
Dance Lessons by Aine Greaney (Syracuse University Press)
Cross Currents by John Shors (Penguin Group: NAL Trade)
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (Knopf/Doubleday Publishing Group)
Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill)
The Last Time I Saw Paris by Lynn Sheene (Penguin Group)

Mystery
Missing Daughter, Shattered Family by Liz Strange (MLR Press)
The Cut by George Pelecanos (Reagan Arthur/LIttle, Brown)
A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny (St. Martin’s Press)
The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes by Marcus Sakey (Dutton)
Fun & Games by Duane Swierczynski (Mulholland Books/Little, Brown)

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

Poetry
Beyond Scent of Sorrow by Sweta Vikram (Modern History Press)
Catalina by Laurie Soriano (Lummox Press)
What Looks Like an Elephant by Edward Nudelman (Lummox Press)
Three Women: A Poetic Triptych and Selected Poems by Ramos, Emma Eden (Heavy Hands Ink)
Sonics in Warholia by Megan Volpert (Sibling Rivalry Press)

Speculative Fiction
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (Candlewick)
The Magician King by Lev Grossman (Viking)
11/22/1963 by Stephen King (Scribner)
Among Others by Jo Walton (Tor Books)
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (Crown)

So many of the nominees from all of the categories look tempting! I imagine my wish list will be growing by the dozen the more I read about some of those books. A few already are on my wish list.

Oops. Baby calls. Do drop me a comment and let me know what you are reading and have been up to so far this year! I hope you all have a wonderful week. Happy Reading!

On a Blogging Break, but First . . .

2012-01-02T10:22:00.000-08:00

Yeah. So. I am officially taking a break this week from blogging as is my start of the year transition. The truth is I have no reviews or posts ready and only ten minutes to spare on the computer right now (I'm supposed to be getting dressed for a run to the hardware store).

Before I do go on break, however, I am caving in and joining two more challenges. Well, one challenge and one project. Don't judge. It is the beginning of the year, and I don't make New Year's resolutions. But being goal oriented, I have to put my energy somewhere. My intentions are good, anyway.

Here goes . . .

I haven't been reading nearly enough historical fiction as of late and I really like the folks over at Historical Tapestry. Therefore, I am joining the Historical Fiction Challenge. I am aiming for the Out of My Comfort Zone level requiring me to read two books even though historical fiction isn't really outside of my comfort zone. It's what I feel I can manage though and since I'm already challenge crazed it's best to keep things simple, wouldn't you say? The challenge lasts throughout the year. I have a ton of historical fiction novels on my shelves still to read--now to decide which two to read!

Just yesterday I was putting something away in the spare bedroom where I keep my mass market paperback books (the ones not on the bookcases in the master bedroom that is) and noticed my Stephen King books. I would really like to read one this year if possible. Then I saw Kathleen and Natalie's announcement of The Stephen King Project and decided I couldn't refuse. Since I was already going to read one anyway, right? So, off I go to sign up for the the King Novice Level! I have actually read two King books, but I still think of myself as a novice. I really enjoyed one and laughed my way through the other. It'll be interesting to see what I think of the next book I read by Stephen King.

I haven't decided yet which book of his to read. I'm dying to know what is so freezer worthy about The Shining, but I really want to read The Dead Zone, of which the television show was based (the one I watched episode after episode of while on maternity leave while cluster feeding). And then there's The Stand and the Dark Tower series . . . Hmmm. Choices, choices.

Enough is enough. That's it. No more challenges.

I hope you all have a great rest of the week! I hope to be back up and posting soon.

2012 Challenges: Bring It On!

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

This past year I barely read half the amount of books I read the year before, and I don't expect to do much better this year. Still, I have caught challenge fever. I am limiting myself to five challenges. Five too many, I know. Call me crazy.

I am a series addict. I have started a gazillion series with every intention of reading more in each series only to get distracted by other books, sometimes other series. When I saw that Yvonne was hosting the Finishing the Series Challenge, I had to join in.

The challenge requires that all books be part of a series. The number of books a person has left to read in the series is open to the reader. The challenge will span over the course of 2012.

Yvonne offers three levels (Level 1 = 1 Series; Level 2 = 2 Series; Level 3 = 3 or more Series)--and while I have enough series going I should sign up for Level 3, I am going to aim lower in order to be more realistic (and so I won't feel so bad joining other challenges).

Level 2 - Complete 2 Series
The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher (I have read 9 out of 14 books in the series so far)
The Alphabet Series by Sue Grafton (I have read 19 out of 22 books in the series so far)

I have been tempted to join Carrie's Essay Reading Challenge in past years but my love for full length novels always won out. I have several books full of essays that I have been meaning to read and occasionally come across one online or in a magazine that I just have to read. And what better way to fit in a little reading when I only have a brief moment to do so than by reading an essay or two?

Running from January 1st to November 30th, participants are asked to read anywhere from 10, 20 or 30 essays. I am going to set my sight on reading 10 essays this year. I considered going up to 20, but think I'd better play it safe for now.

Now I have an excuse to get to those Nick Hornby books as well as the one by Michael Chabon I've been meaning to read.

One of my absolute favorite challenges is the What's in a Name Challenge hosted by Beth Fish Reads, and I am happy to be participating in the challenge this year.

Participants are assigned to read one book from each of the following categories within the year:

A book with a topographical feature (land formation) in the title.
A book with something you'd see in the sky in the title.
A book with a creepy crawly in the title'
A book with a type of house in the title.
A book with something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack in the title.
A book with a something you'd find on a calendar in the title.

I can't wait to browse my shelves looking for the perfect titles to fit those categories!

Among the more ambitious challenges I am taking on this year is the Eclectic Reader Challenge hosted by Book'd Out. Open through the entire year, this challenge asks readers to read one book from twelve different categories, the goal being to give the reader a variety of tastes from the different book types.

Participants will read books from the following categories:
Literary Fiction
Crime/Mystery Fiction
Romantic Fiction
Historical Fiction
Young Adult
Fantasy
Science Fiction
Non Fiction
Horror
Thriller/Suspense
Classic
Participants Favorite Genre

I am not going to make a list of books ahead of time--my options right now are limitless. I do hope to read books already on my personal shelves, however, which will be good for both my TBR pile and my bank account.

It wouldn't be right if I didn't participate in my own challenge, the Merely Mystery Reading Challenge, now would it? I am really excited about exploring the mystery genre more fully. I love a good mystery and can't wait to dive in. The challenge spans the entire 2012 year. My goal is to complete the Shamus Who Has Seen It All Level, which means reading one book from each mystery sub-genre:

The Whodunit
Locked Room Mystery
Cozy
Hard-Boiled/Noir
The Inverted Detective Story
The Historical Whodunnit
The Police Procedural
The Professional Thriller
The Spy Novel
Caper Stories
The Psychological Suspense
Spoofs and Parodies

Which challenges are you participating in this coming year?

Merely Mystery Reading Challenge 2012 January Reviews

2011-12-31T10:57:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already, please sign up for the Merely Mystery Challenge here!

One of my favorite parts of challenges is supporting and cheering on my fellow participants--not to mention all the great new-to-me book recommendations I come across! Please leave direct links to your January review posts for qualifying reviews for the challenge here. Participants without blogs can post reviews on general review sites such as LibraryThing, Goodreads or Shelfari. And if you have the time, stop by and check out some of your fellow participants reviews as well! I am sure they would love to hear from you!

Please include your name or blog name along with the title of the book you reviewed as well as a direct link to your review post (not just a general link to your blog). Thank you!

2011: A Year in Review

2011-12-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

Two thousand eleven was the year for comfort reads. While I did read a few thought provoking books, I spent most of the year craving brain candy. When I look over the titles of the books I read this year, I can pinpoint what was happening in my life at that particular time.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much was a fitting book to read as I gave away hundreds of my own books, preparing for my move. I read most of the Patricia Briggs's books, beginning with Moon Called, during my final days of pregnancy when I needed something fast paced and deliciously good to distract me from the million thoughts going through my mind. I read A Game of Thrones during those seemingly endless cluster feedings. Bloodline was the first book I read in our new house. And Harley Jane Kozak's Wollie series was what jump started my reading again when I was beginning to think I might never read again. Madelyn Alt's The Trouble With Magic saw me through right after my father's death. It's only been in the last few months I feel as if I have found my reading groove again--even if in a limited capacity.

I am breaking from my usual tradition of posting my stats and own special book categories this year. My record keeping fell by the wayside, and I haven't the energy or time to try and pull it all together at this late date. Instead, I am turning to an end of the year survey that is going around thanks to Jamie from The Perpetual Page Turner.

1. Best Book You Read In 2011?

Looking over the titles of the books I read this year, I an struggling over which book would take top honors. I read a little less than half of what I read last year, and so I hesitate to make a top ten list like I normally do. Instead, I will share the titles of a few books that most stood out for me:

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin managed to hold me captive despite it's length at a time when my attention span was shot because of sleep deprivation and constant interruptions. It is the first in an epic fantasy series. The characters got under my skin and I fell under the spell of the world so completely. The HBO miniseries based on the book was pretty awesome too.

A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Deception and Survival at Jonestown by Julia Scheeres was not only well researched but also extremely well written. I learned so much I hadn't known before about the Jonestown Massacre, and about Jim Jones and his followers in general. There is much more to it than what meets the eye.

While Patrick Ness's The Chaos Walking Trilogy amazed me in its detail and world building as a whole, the first book in the trilogy was by far my favorite. The Knife of Never Letting Go was much more than I expected in terms of depth and heart. There was one scene in particular that was heartwrenching--I nearly threw my nook across the room.

Witchlanders by Lena Coakley was so very good. The writing, the characters, the setting , and the story . . . There wasn't anything I didn't like about it. It definitely is among my favorites this year.

Linda Castillo's Sworn to Silence is perhaps my favorite mystery of the year. The protagonist is a complex character and her past played a particularly interesting role in this first in the series. I liked the setting, particularly the Amish cultural aspects and the conflicts that arose as a result.

2. Most Disappointing Book?

The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening by L.J. Smith wins this category hands down. I wanted to like it because the television show is a guilty pleasure of mine, but the book fell completely flat for me.

3. Best series you discovered in 2011?

I finally got around to reading Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson series and it quickly became a favorite. I am anxious to read more by the author.

4. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?

I think most of the authors I read this year were new to me. Among my favorites would have to be Patricia Briggs, Lena Coakley, Linda Castillo, Patrick Ness, and George R.R. Martin.

5. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Hmm. I suppose I'll have to go with a book outside of my comfort zone on this one since I didn't tackle any new to me genres. Bossypants by Tina Fey--not only did I listen to the audio book (way outside of my comfort zone), but I generally avoid celebrity memoirs. I really liked Bossypants; I laughed all the way through it and have been recommending it to people right and left.

6. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?

Patrick Ness's Choas Walking trilogy had me from the first page. I began with The Knife of Never Letting Go, raced through The Ask and The Answer and devoured Monsters of Men.

7. Book you most anticipated in 2011?

I am afraid books were the furthest things from my mind when it came to anticipation. Baby. New House. These were things I anticipated. I did read several books that were published in 2011, however, all of which I enjoyed to different degrees.

8. Most memorable character in 2011?

Todd Hewitt and Viola from The Chaos Walking Trilogy captured my heart, but then, so did Arya Stark, the youngest daughter of Edward Stark, of A Game of Thrones. All three faced difficult times and were forced to grow up too fast. They each had an innocence about them and had good hearts.

9. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?

Tigerheart by Peter David probably comes the closest. I loved how the author wrote his novel in the spirit of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. It was poetic and fun. I felt myself transported right into the pages of the book, lost in the descriptions of places and characters.

10. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read?

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs was so good! I am still kicking myself for putting off reading the series all these years.

11. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

I wanted to talk about The Chaos Walking trilogy with a passion you wouldn't believe. Only, everyone who had already read it seemed all talked out and those who hadn't yet--well, I couldn't exactly talk to them about it, could I? Ho hum. I almost made my husband read it but then decided against it. With my luck, he'd hate it and then I'd feel bad.

Another book that had me chomping at the bit to discuss was A Thousand Lives by Julia Scheeres. I actually did talk about it quite a bit as I was reading it--to my coworkers, whether they wanted to listen or not.

Looking Ahead

Two thousand twelve will no doubt be an eventful year. Soon the finalists for the Indie Lit Awards will be announced, and I will be busy catching up with the top five mystery nominees before the final votes are tallied. I will be hosting my first challenge, the Merely Mystery Reading Challenge, and I hope to join a few others just for the fun of it.

I predict my reading will follow a similar pattern this coming year as it did this year. I have enjoyed reading books from my own stacks and so want to keep the review books to a minimum. Also, I imagine I will be too busy chasing a certain little Mouse all over to read quite as much as I might like!

What were some of your favorite books and authors read this year? Did anything stand out above the rest? What are your goals for this coming year?

Changes

I mentioned before I might try my hand at writing about more than just books and movies here at Musings of a Bookish Kitty. I hope to do some of that this coming year. I would love to hear your ideas about what you might like me to write about. I confess I am not the best at brainstorming on my own so could use a little friendly guidance. Pretty please?

Also, I am going to start referring to my reviews as my bookish thoughts. I have never been good at writing a formal review and, really, my reviews tend to be merely my thoughts and reflections about how a book touched me or what I thought of it. Saying it's just my "bookish thought" takes some of the pressure off as well--at least psychologically. It gives me a little more freedom, if you will. Semantics, I know.

Before I close, I want to say again how grateful I am to those of you who are still keeping up with my blog. My posts have been sporadic this year, sometimes few and far between. I have not been able blog hop the way I would have liked which meant a lot less commenting on my favorite blogs. I truly appreciate your support this year and look forward to being more involved this next year. Thank you and have a very Happy New Year!

© 2011, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Review: Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

2011-12-29T00:00:00.000-08:00

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Avon, 2007
Fantasy; 384 pgs

As much as I enjoy urban fantasy, I can only take so much paranormal romance. The two are so intertwined these days that it is sometimes hard to tell where one begins and the other one ends. There's definite crossover and I imagine we could get into a real debate about the classifications if we wanted to. I can't say that I do though.

Jeaniene Frost's novel is set in a present day urban setting. Her protagonist is a rare breed--half human, half vampire. Out to avenge a wrong done to her mother, Cat Crawford has made it her mission to kill all vampires she comes across. She's doing a great job too--up until she runs into the likes of Bones, a centuries old vampire who is downright sexy and on a mission of his own. The two team up to track down a very dangerous vampire with powerful connections. There is no shortage of hot steamy sex--or good fight scenes.

I confess the book was a little too sexy for my tastes, but I did enjoy the story overall. I wasn't too sure about Bones at first, but he grew on me after awhile. I think, like Cat, I needed a little convincing to be sure of his intentions. Cat herself is an interesting character. She often uses her toughness to cover up her feelings of insecurity and internal conflict. I really like Cat and appreciated the growth she made as a person over the course of the book.

I wasn't sure I wanted to continue with the series, to be honest, but then near the end the book took an interesting turn that has me seriously reconsidering. Oh, what the hey. I have to find out where the author will take me next!

You can learn more about Jeaniene Frost and her books on the author's website.

Source: I purchased an e-copy of this book.

Review: Witchlanders by Lena Coakley

2011-12-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

Witchlanders by Lena Coakley
Atheneum Books, 2011
Fantasy (YA), 416 pgs

I first heard about Witchlanders on Twitter and, after reading a glowing blog review (wish I could remember whose!), I instantly added a copy to my nook for future reading. I had actually forgotten exactly what Witchlanders was about when I finally did open it up to read. I expected young adult paranormal romance or something similar. Instead I found myself reading a high fantasy novel, set in a different world. It wasn't quite what I was in the mood for, but once I stepped into the world of the Witchlanders and Baen, there was no looking back.

You have two young men on opposite sides of an old rivalry. Their two people had once been at war and now have a begrudging peace held by such a thin fraying thread that it can't possibly hold. Ryder is a Witchlander. He is skeptical of his own people's beliefs in the Goddess and the blind faith the people put in the witches and their prophecies. Then there is Falpian, the Baen, sent to the mountains on a secret mission he is even anaware of under the guise of praying for his dead brother.

Ryder and Falpian's fates come together in an unexpected way when Ryder's village is threatened. Full of magic and conflict as well as confronting one's own beliefs and testing the limits of loyalty and friendship, Witchlanders has a little bit of everything.

The novel is rich in culture and heart. I cannot believe this is a first novel. It is beautifully written, the characters well fleshed out, the world amazingly crafted . . . What more is there to say? I could go into more detail, but you're wasting time here. Go read the novel. What are you waiting for?!

You can learn more about Lena Coakley and her novel on the author's website.

Source: I purchased an e-copy of this book.

Review: Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

2011-12-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris
Ace, 2011
Fantasy; 336 pgs

I nearly rushed out to buy and read Harris' latest Southern Vampire Series book featuring Sookie Stackhouse, but I didn't. The book came out during a time when I wasn't reading all that much. I kind of had my hands full with a newborn and a move. I did eventually get myself a copy of the book though and finally got around to reading it in November.

I had a little trouble getting into the book initially, but once I did, it felt good visiting my old friends again. Knowing the end of the series is near, I find myself speculating about how the author will end it. Who will Sookie end up with? I have my doubts about her current beau. I know who I want her to end up with. Although I changed my mind twice as a read Dead Reckoning. Not that there is any mention of her switching up mates in the book--it was just where my mind took me as I read.

In this latest installment, Sookie finds herself the target of a woman bent on revenge, trying to uncover the purpose of a hidden treasure left behind by her grandmother, and exploring her fae heritage. I was pleased to see a couple of favorite characters from another of Harris' series make an appearance in Bon Temps. As I've come to expect with this series, Dead Reckoning was light and entertaining. I am looking forward to the final book in the series with both sadness and anticipation.

You can learn more about the Charlaine Harris and her books on the author's website.

Source: I purchased a copy of this book.

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-23T20:28:00.000-08:00

May your holiday season be filled with
love, laughter and happy memories.
Have a Merry Christmas!

Review: A Thousand Lives by Julia Scheeres

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story of Hope, Deception and Survival at Jonestown by Julia Scheeres

Free Press, 2011
Nonfiction; 320 pgs

I wish now I had sat down to write my thoughts about Julia Scheeres' A Thousand Lives right after I completed the book. My mind was reeling as I read the book and there was so much I wanted to discuss about it. Alas, I decided I needed more time to think, and now, two books later, I am not sure what to say any more other than you have to read this book!

I had heard of Jim Jones as many of you have. I knew about Jonestown in Guyana. About the murder-suicides. I didn't know the details, however. I didn't know how Jones got his start, about how he dreamed as a child of being a pastor and how he wanted to bring whites and blacks together at a time when segregation and prejudice was running rampant. I could see how people were drawn to him. He was charismatic and full of passion. He was extremely personable. He took the time to get to know his congregants and reached out to them in times of need and doubt. He reached out to the underprivileged and gave them hope. He and his congregation did a lot of good for many people during those early years. At least that's the way it seemed on the surface.

It is unclear when Jim Jones' desire for power and adoration developed. Was it always there? Or was it something that grew over time, twisting into something ugly? I have no doubt Jim Jones was mentally ill, a condition exacerbated by drug use. I wanted to believe Jim Jones had started out with altruistic intentions, but given the amount of manipulation and lies, I have my doubts. The things he and those directly under him did . . . It's disgusting and appalling. I confess I am extremely skeptical of faith healings. I know about planting a supposedly sick person in the audience and then calling them up to have them miraculously healed. But reading about the lengths Jim Jones went to in order to create such an elaborate ruse, including drugging congregants without their knowledge and making them unwitting characters in his show made me sick.

In the beginning, the doors of his church stood open to all. As time wore on, however, those doors began to close. Jones reminded me of a domestic abuser. On one hand he could be extremely charming. On the other he was controlling and cruel. He moved his congregation from place to place, each time isolating his followers, getting them away from their families and friends. He made them completely dependent on him. He punished them just as he rewarded them.

His followers loved him initially. They would do anything for him. Jim Jones used that and twisted their faith and trust in him. The lie that was Jonestown, this supposed perfect socialist community, would become a grave for nearly one thousand people. Three hundred four of them were children, one hundred thirty one under the age of ten. The reality is that Jonestown was a living hell for most of the people there.

The sad thing is, this wasn't something that happened out of the blue. Jones had been building up to this for years. Many of the signs were there. He had such a grip on his followers, however, that many of them either didn't want to believe the worst or were too afraid or dependent on him to go against him. He made sure his followers knew to leave him meant certain ruin, possibly death. His threats were not idle.

I have said a lot about Jim Jones here, but the book really is about his followers. What is clear in the documentation and interviews with the survivors is that they believed in Jim Jones at one time only to be betrayed by him later. Scheeres does a good job of letting the reader into their hearts and minds, getting a better understanding of what his followers must have gone through. We never can truly know, of course. Even as horrible as it sounds on paper, I imagine the reality of it was even more terrifying.

A Thousand Lives is extremely well written and researched. I only wish we could have known more about what went on in the minds of Jones' top aides, those who participated in the deception and lies and eventual murder of so many people, including hundreds of children.

I haven't come close to expressing all of my thoughts about this book. I do think it's one worth reading and definitely is among my top reads of the year.

You can learn more about Julia Scheeres and her books on the author's website.

Source: I purchased an e-copy of this book.

Review: The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening

2011-12-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

Vampire Diaries: The Awakening by L.J. Smith

Harper, 1999
Fantasy (YA); 320 pgs

I bet you were beginning to wonder if my recent love for all books, faults included, was related to postpartum hormones. Maybe. Or it could be a result of sleep deficiency, joy at finding any time to read at all, and the inability to be too critical right about now. Regardless, I met a book even my postpartum brain couldn't grow to love--or even like.

I actually tried reading the first book of The Vampire Diaries a couple of years ago, right before the start of the television series. I got about ten pages in and couldn't bear anymore. My liking a main character isn't mandatory, but I do have to find something redeemable in them--something relatable at the very least. Elena just made me mad. I didn't like her one iota. And I wasn't all that taken with the story either.

Fast forward to November. I have only just started really watching The Vampire Diaries television show and am somewhere in the middle of the second season. The show is a guilty pleasure of mine, I confess. And so, given my state of mind and my enjoyment of the show, I figured it was time to give the book series another try.

Let's just say I finished the first book in the series this time. I still don't care for Elena. I know she's a teenager but I couldn't get past how egocentric she is--and how superficial. I really didn't care for any of the characters. Maybe it is because I wasn't the popular kid in school and boys and being the prettiest weren't on my priority list. As a result, I never completely lost myself in the book. I found it easier to poke fun at it, I'm ashamed to admit.

I did like Damon's character, Stefan's estranged brother. He was different from the others. And mysterious in a bone chilling sort of way. Another positive is that the book was short. It made for a quick read.

The story is your typical vampire romance story: teen girl meets centuries old vampire and has to have him. He tries to keep his distance for her own safety (he's a monster after all) but can't resist her charms. Meanwhile, people are being attacked, even murdered in town by something more vicious than an animal. Sound familiar?

The book is not the television show. The television show is loosely based on the books--and I mean very loosely. Except for the names and the feud between the brothers, I never would have guessed they were related in any way.

The Awakening ended with a cliffhanger, but I won't be reading more in the series. I think I'll stick to the TV show.

Source: I purchased an e-copy of this book.

Reviews: Dead Ex & A Date You Can't Refuse by Harley Jane Kozak

2011-12-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

I read Harley Jane Kozak's Dead Ex (Doubleday, 2007; 352 pgs) and A Date You Can't Refuse (Broadway, 2009; 340 pgs) back to back. Wollie had gotten under my skin, and I didn't want to say goodbye until I'd run out of books to read about her. Wollie, in case you missed my two reviews of the first two books in the series, is a greeting card artist, only it seems she rarely gets a chance to do much of that as it doesn't bring in enough money. In past books, Wollie has earned money dating men for research and being on a reality dating television show. Dead Ex follows suit as Wollie finds herself back on the little screen, dating celebrities. Her boyfriend isn't too sure what to make of it, but Wollie has to make money somehow. And it's not like she's sleeping with the guys.

Wollie's best friend Joey seems to be at the brunt of suspicion when Joey's (and Wollie's) ex turns up dead by gunshot. Another murder only adds to the suspicion of her guilt. Wollie doesn't believe it, however. Wollie takes more of a backseat to the actual murder investigation in Dead Ex. She has too much else on her mind. Although, that doesn't stop the trouble from coming her way.

In A Date You Can't Refuse, Wollie reluctantly accepts a job working for a media-training company, instructing the male clientele the intricacies of dating. She would have said no had a rather pushy FBI agent not twisted her arm in spying on her boss for him. She is tasked with getting close to the boss, his family and the other employees. She hadn't anticipated that she would have to move into her boss's compound. It's a minor complication . . .

I took to Dead Ex like there was no tomorrow. I normally don't like the Hollywood scene, but Harley Jane Kozak makes it fun with her eccentric characters and their hijinks. Although I liked A Date You Can't Refuse, it wasn't my favorite in the series. Perhaps because it didn't follow the same familiar formula or featured fewer of her friends. It was a little more over the top than the other novels, although that isn't saying much. It also got a tad political--although not at all in a preachy way. I appreciated the way the book ended though, bringing closure to the series. Not that there isn't room for more if the author decides to write more though! A cozy series worth reading? Absolutely! Give it a try.

You can learn more about Harley Jane Kozak and her books on the author's website and the blog The Lipstick Chronicles in which she contributes.

Source: I purchased an e-copy of these two books.

Review: When I Found You by Catherine Ryan Hyde

2011-12-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

When I Found You by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Black Swan, 2009
Fiction; 512 pgs

I was drawn to the book, When I Found You, because of the subject matter: a newborn discovered abandoned in the woods by a hunter. The novel is about Nathan McCann, the man who found the child, and the child himself, Nathan (Nat) Bates, and how their lives intersect years later when Nat's grandmother leaves him on Nathan's doorstep. The novel takes the reader from that first day when Nat is discovered up into his adulthood.

When I Found You was a touching and thought provoking novel. Nathan is one of those characters I would love to know in person. Nathan is the constant, never wavering in his support of Nat, a child who, twice abandoned, is most in need of such love and support. Nat is not an easy child to raise. He is rebellious and finds trouble easily, sometimes even despite his best intentions. Nat is not a bad person. He is struggling to find himself and understand his place in the world. Nathan believed in consequences and Nat was not immune to them. Nathan's support of him was not to carry Nat, rather to guide and encourage him.

In my profession, I come across a lot of kids like Nat. They are labeled incorrigible and trouble makers. They are the ones who experiment with drugs and alcohol and get in trouble with the law. I couldn't help but wish that Nathan was a real person and that every child like Nat could have a person like Nathan in their life. It's all too easy to give up on kids like these when what they need most is someone constant in their life, someone who will be firm and stand by them even through the difficult times. It won't necessarily solve all their problems or even stop the bad behavior completely, but I do think it would help enough to make a difference, however small.

I do wish I could have gotten to know Nathan more, learn more about his past. As the book progresses, the reader does learn more about him. However, I never quite felt like I knew him quite the way I came to know Nat. Maybe that was intentional. The novel is more about Nat when all is said and done.

Catherine Ryan Hyde's When I Found You is definitely worth reading. I found it inspirational but not in a sappy or too sweet way. There is no sugar coating here. I fell in love with both Nathan and Nat. I only wish I'd had more time with them.

You can learn more about Catherine Ryan Hyde and his books at the author's website.

Source: I received an e-copy of this book from the author for review. Despite my current ban from accepting reviews, I couldn't help myself. I had read the author's Pay It Forward years ago and just knew anything else she wrote had to be worth my time. Fortunately, I was right.

Sunday Salon: This & That

2011-12-11T08:37:00.000-08:00

The holiday cards and gifts are finally in the mail. The Christmas tree is up and the decorations set in their places. I have holiday music playing in the background. I am ready! Almost. I have yet to get to the bookstore to buy Mouse's books for Christmas. Likely it won't happen until next weekend at this rate. There's still time . . . I just hope I can find parking.

How have you all been? Are you ready for the holidays? Mouse, Anjin and I had plans to travel north to visit our families this past week but it fell through because of our recent illnesses. We hated to disappoint the grandparents and extended family--many of which have yet to meet Mouse. There will be other opportunities, I am sure.

As for reading, I am in the middle of a great fantasy novel called Witchlanders by Lena Coakley. It puts many of the young adult fantasy novels I've read in recent years to shame. I love the writing and the characters, not to mention the story. It's about two young men, one a Witchlander who sets out to find an assassin in mountains and a Baen who was sent to the mountains to offer prayers for his twin brother's death. The Witchlanders and Baens had once fought a vicious war and there are many hard feelings to this day. The book is full of music and magic, internal struggle, and grief. I hope it continues to enthrall me the way the first half of the book has.

I have been eying the reading challenges starting this coming January. So many sound good. And as much as I would like to dive in and join several, I am trying to be realistic. I don't anticipate my reading increasing back to what it was pre-baby for a while yet. Still, I decided to take the plunge and am hosting my own challenge this year. It's called the Merely Mystery Reading Challenge and the goal is to explore a variety of the crime fiction genre's sub-genres. If you are interested in, I hope you will sign up!

Also, now is the time to run--not walk--over to the Independent Literary Awards website to nominate your favorite books published this year. The following categories are being considered:

Select a genre to view and complete the 2011 nomination form!

Nominations are open until December 31st. Time is running out so nominate now! And please, please, please spread the word! The more nominations, the better!

That is it for my news. Do drop me a note and let me know what you're reading lately! Happy Reading!

Review: Dating is Murder

2011-12-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Dating is Murder by Harley Jane Kozak
Doubleday, 2005
Crime Fiction, 352 pgs

I had every intention of reading A Thousand Lives by Julia Scheeres after finishing the Chaos Walking Trilogy. I was in a certain mindset and figured the nonfiction book about Jim Jones and his followers was a good place to go next. Only when I sat down to begin, I suddenly felt like catching up with Wollie Shelley from Harley Jane Kozak's greeting card artist and amateur sleuth mystery series. And so I found myself reading Dating is Murder.

Dating is Murder is the second book in the series. Wollie is a contestant on a low rated reality dating show called Biological Clock, a show her friends talked her into participating in. Wollie is really only in it for the money. She isn't particularly interested in any of the male contestants and, while she does want to have a child, she isn't actually planning to do so if she wins. Things heat up for Wollie when a young woman helping out on the show who has also been tutoring her in math goes missing. The young woman's mother, who is in Germany, requests Wollie's help in locating the girl. Wollie can't refuse. She ends up stumbling into a whole lot more than she anticipated.

I could be extra critical and go on about how the male love interest in this second book wasn't all that much different than the one in the first (maybe Wollie has a type?) except by occupation. He, of course, is mysterious and over protective. Haven't seen that before, have we? Then there was the not so subtle warning to stop--of which our main character hasn't a clue what the warning could apply to. Yeah, I was rolling my eyes too.

And yet. And yet, I didn't care. I loved the novel anyway. It was fun. It was escapist. I enjoy spending time with Wollie and her friends. I was actually surprised by the ending, a definite plus in its favor. Like with the first book in the series, the author mixes humor and suspense together, in what turns out to be a fast paced and entertaining read.

You can learn more about Harley Jane Kozak and her books on the author's website and the blog The Lipstick Chronicles in which she contributes.

Source: I purchased an e-copy of this book. Reading on my Nook has proven to be a godsend in terms of getting any reading done these days!

Merely Mystery Reading Challenge 2012

2011-12-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

There is something about a mystery I just can't resist. If you think about it, all books contain some element of mystery. Only, the mystery might not involve an actual crime. Even so, crime fiction has a special place in my heart. It's the place I go when I am seeking out a comfort read or to be entertained. I turn to mysteries when I am looking for a good puzzle to solve or am wanting to further explore human behavior and motivation. There are different types of crime fiction to satiate a variety of my reading moods, whether I want to read something funny, thought provoking, heavy in atmosphere, lyrical, suspenseful, or serious.

There are those who snub their noses at genre fiction, including crime fiction. I think they just haven't met the right mystery for them yet. While crime fiction is known for being plot driven, it isn't always. Nor does a good crime fiction novel have to sacrifice well developed characters, a strong setting and good writing. The best, in fact, often include all of those qualities.

Yes, it's true. I am crazy. Just when I start to wonder if I should give up blogging, I decide to try my hand at hosting a reading challenge. As if there aren't enough challenges out there already. Maybe only one or two people join. That's okay. We'll have a great time and maybe discover new authors and books to try!

The focus of this challenge is to explore the different types of crime fiction out there. If you are new to the crime fiction genre, want to step outside your comfort zone and try another kind of mystery or are a mystery lover needing an excuse to join another crime fiction related challenge, here's your chance!

As sources go, there are a number of them that offer a wide range of sub-genres to crime fiction. For the purposes of this challenge, I've narrowed it down to the following because they tend to encompass the full breadth of mystery sub-genres. Within each sub-genre are even more categories (for example, add in a bit of romance or fantasy for good measure). So you have a never ending list of choices to choose from!

Sub-Genres:

The Whodunit: The classic crime puzzle. The story generally revolves around determine who committed the crime, and potentially apprehending them. Some Whodunits, called "fair play mysteries", will include all of the clues available in the text so that a careful reader can solve the crime on his or her own.

Locked Room Mystery: Like the Whodunit, there is a puzzle (crime) to solve. However in this instance, the crime has taken place under impossible circumstances, such as in a locked room or on an island with no way to exit or enter.

Cozy: The nice person's mystery. Often the crime, particularly if it's violent, occurs off scene. Sex and language are on the cleaner side. Humor is a common feature of the cozy.

Hard-Boiled/Noir: Often cynical, bleak or realistic, hard-boiled and noir stories often focus more on the characters involved instead of the crime. Violence and sex are not downplayed.

The Inverted Detective Story: In this style of story, the person perpetrating the crime is known up front. The point of the story is to see how (or if) the detective goes about solving the crime and how the perpetrator reacts to the investigation.

The Historical Whodunnit: Simply put, this is a mystery set in a historical setting. Often the mystery has some historical significance and features detection methods that are appropriate for that era.

The Police Procedural: Instead of featuring a independent detective, the police are investigating the crime in these stories. They often focus on the actual methods that police officers use to solve crimes.

The Professional Thriller: This kind of mystery involves a professional who is not involved directly in law enforcement, such a lawyer or doctor, who nonetheless finds themselves investigating a crime.

The Spy Novel: Related to the other professional mysteries, spy novels focus on intelligence operatives as they work to prevent or avenge some criminal plot. Spy novels can feature either in fantastic or realistic settings.

Caper Stories: While other crime and mystery stories look at the aftermath of crimes, caper stories feature criminals as the lead characters. The story usually details the planning and commission of a crime.

The Psychological Suspense: In these stories, the detective story takes on a psychological component.

Spoofs and Parodies: Spoofs and parodies make light of crime fiction, often with the goal of commenting on the conventions of the genre. Many feature famous characters, e.g. Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, Philip Marlowe, or pastiches of those characters.

The Merely Mystery Reading Challenge will last the entire year (January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012), giving participants a chance to read at their own pace. In addition, to make things easy, participants can complete one of two levels. One is for those of you who want a more relaxed challenge while the other is for those more serious about exploring the various sub-genres:

Down on Her/His Luck Gumshoe - Read two or more books falling into any of the above sub-genres. Each book can be from the same sub-genre or can be varied among the different sub-genres. You pick the combination and the number of books.

Shamus Who Has Seen It All - Read at least one book from each of the sub-genres for a total of 12 books. If you are feeling ambitious, read more than one book from each sub-genre.

Making a reading list ahead of time is not mandatory, but it's fun--not only for you, but also for your fellow readers. Even if you don't stick to the list, we'd love it if you could share a few of the titles you are considering reading.

*Audio books and graphic novels are welcome.
*Crossover books from other challenges are okay.
*Cross-genre books are perfectly fine.

To sign up, please fill out the below form. The challenge is open to everyone, regardless of whether you have a blog. If you have a blog, please provide a link to your initial blog post committing to the challenge. Participants without blogs can post reviews on general review sites such as LibraryThing, Goodreads or Shelfari. I will be creating a post in which all participants will be able to link their reviews so that everyone can follow everyone's progress and perhaps get a few good mystery recommendations. [Edited to add: You can post your reviews following this link.]

Sign ups are open ended and so you are welcome to sign up at any time throughout the year.

There will be a prize! The biggest reward will be completion of the challenge, of course, but isn't it more fun when, at the end of the day, there's a drawing for a prize? For all those who complete the challenge, your name will be entered into a drawing for an as-of-yet-unspecified prize.

If there is an interest (and volunteers), I would like to feature guest posts from authors and readers on the topic of crime fiction throughout the course of the challenge. It won't be every day. Maybe once or twice a month at most, depending on volunteer interest (so, if you are interested, please let me know! Shoot me an e-mail).

I hope you will join me for the Merely Mystery Reading Challenge!

(*Let me know if I have forgotten something, please. This is my first time hosting a challenge, and I'm sure I missed something!)

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Review: Love at Absolute Zero by Christopher Meeks

2011-11-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

Love at Absolute Zero by Christopher Meeks

White Whiskers Books, 2011
Fiction; 406 pgs

You wake up one morning and everything seems typical. It's just an ordinary day. You expect the worst only to be rewarded with a promotion--or in Gunnar's case, tenure. Suddenly, life is looking pretty good. Gunnar Gunderson has always been all about his work. He is a physicist, both a researcher and a professor. He is on the verge of a major break through in his research and suddenly and everything seems to be going his way. He is reminded, however, of the fact that he has no one to share his successes with, other than his research partners. Time is tight, however, and so Gunnar decides to try and find a wife during his spare time. He gives himself three days. He approaches the experience as he would a science project, sure science won't fail him. What comes next is a comedy of errors as Gunnar, so clearly out of his league, attempts to date and find the woman of his dreams.

Love At Absolute Zero is more than just a love story--or a comedy. It is the story of a man coming into his own. My initial response to Gunnar was one of sympathy. It was hard not to feel sorry for the guy as he bumbled his way through the dating process. While an expert in science, his social skills and knowledge of women left a lot to be desired. He sure tried though, it was impossible not to like Gunnar as the story wore on. I found myself cheering for him, wanting him to get the girl in the end.

While the novel's beginning was on the comical side, it grew rather serious towards the middle. It was a natural transition as the reader sees Gunnar grow and learn from his experiences. The author did a remarkable job capturing what it would be like for someone in Gunnar's shoes, being solidly ensconced in science to diving into love and all the joy and pain it can bring. I also appreciated the author's ability to describe the culture shock Gunnar went through, traveling from Wisconsin to Denmark under especially difficult circumstances.

Love At Absolute Zero was not only an enjoyable read but fit my mood well. It was humorous even while being serious. I was riveted to the story and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next to the protagonist, Gunnar Gunderson.

You can learn more about Christopher Meeks and his books at the author's website.

Source: I bought an e-book copy of this book for my own enjoyment.

Sunday Salon Review: The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness

2011-10-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Knife of Never Letting Go
(Candlewick, 2008 - Science Fiction YA - 496 pgs)

The Ask and the Answer
(Candlewick, 2010 - Science Fiction YA - 528 pgs)

Monsters of Men
(Candlewick, 2011 - Science Fiction YA - 608 pgs)

Have you ever finished a book and then had a hard time picking up another? You just aren't ready to let the last one go. The characters, the story and the world became such a part of your own life that you have trouble moving on. That is the way it has been for me and Patrick Ness' Chaos Walking Trilogy. I didn't rest until I had the entire trilogy under my belt--and the short story "The New World" (Candlewick, 2010 - Science Fiction YA - Short Story) set in the same world. I was glued to every page, unable to tear myself away, not completely, even when I wasn't able to read.

It is hard to discuss any aspect of the trilogy without giving something important away. The trilogy opens with The Knife of Never Letting Go and what a start it is!

From the author's website:

Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown.

But Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in a constant, overwhelming, never-ending Noise. There is no privacy. There are no secrets.

Or are there?

Just one month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd unexpectedly stumbles upon a spot of complete silence.

Which is impossible.

Prentisstown has been lying to him.

And now he's going to have to run...

It is impossible not to fall in love with Todd. He is innocent and good. He is compassionate and smart. Even despite the community he grew up in.

As The Knife of Never Letting Go was full of hope even in the worst of times, the second book in the trilogy, The Ask and the Answer, was much more dire, much more horrible. All hope seemed lost. Both of the main characters have to make difficult choices, some of which there is no easy or good answer. I was reminded of Ugwu from Half of a Yellow Sun, who was put into an impossible situation--risk his own life by speaking up or be complicit in the rape of a woman and survive. Likewise, Todd was put into a terrible position, having to do things no man should. It was with a heavy heart that I read the middle book in the trilogy. Todd was no longer innocent. I didn't like some of the things he did, but I still felt for him. I still believed in him.

Monsters of Men is a fitting title for not only the final book in the trilogy but the entire trilogy. Throughout the series, we see the horrors that man can wreck on one another, both in the pursuit of power and survival. Even the most despicable of characters in the books are merely human. Flawed and vulnerable. With fears and doubts, just like everyone else. As much as I hated one particular character, by the end, I had to admit that even he was not entirely a monster.

If you have noticed that I haven't provided a synopsis for more than the first book, it is simply because I can't think of a way to provide one without giving away too much. There is much I would like to mention and discuss--the trilogy cries out for discussion, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. What I will say is that the trilogy is all at once a coming of age story and a commentary about humanity in all its ugliness as well as beauty. Through his characters, Patrick Ness brings the ambiguity of morality to the forefront.

I vaguely recall complaints about the spelling and slang in the novels when I first heard about the books a couple of years ago. I hardly noticed it, being so immersed in Todd's world. Thinking back on it, I actually think such language choices by the author were quite fitting given Todd's inability to read and his lack of a proper education.

I cried. I held my breath. I found myself praying for a good outcome. When all was said and done, and I reached the final sentence in the trilogy, I wanted more. Not because the book didn't end well, but rather because I wasn't ready to let Todd go. I wasn't ready to leave the New World behind. Not yet.

You can learn more about Patrick Ness and his books at the author's website.

Source: I bought an e-book copies of these books and short story for my own enjoyment.

From the Archives: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

2011-10-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

I began keeping a reading journal several years before I began blogging. I find it interesting to sift through my thoughts of books that I read back then. My reviews were often brief and contained little substance, but I thought it'd be fun to document them here on my blog as well as share them with you. Here is one from July 2005:

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
Harper, 1967; Fiction, 458 pgs

Gabriel García Márquez weaves a story about the rise and fall of the town of Macondo through the lives of one of the founding families, the Buendia family. It is a story about dreams, love, betrayal and family. Mr. Márquez is able to write in a lyrical style, telling a sometimes sad and at times humorous tale. The novel flowed well and was not hefted down by description, as some authors tend to do when writing in such a way. However, the story did not captivate me and several times throughout I considered giving up on the book. I felt as if I was unable to fully appreciate the book, as if I was skimming the surface and missing out on the deeper meanings hidden in the text. When commenting about the book to my husband, I wondered aloud if perhaps I was caught up in the praise of the book, expecting more than was really there. He asked if it was something akin to looking for the emperor’s new clothing.

The book covered a lot of territory time wise, spanning several generations, and Mr. Márquez successfully kept the novel’s length reasonable, avoiding turning it into a book of needless epic proportions. I found the characters hard to follow at times, in part because of their similar names. There is a lesson here in naming children repeatedly after ancestors, I think, especially if the family story is to be put to paper! I’ve read reviews suggesting this was a purposeful ploy by the author to further show the connectedness of the characters to their ancestors’ fate, but, however true that may be, it still was confusing.

My impression was that the novel demonstrates how history, even within a family, is likely to repeat itself, how our ancestors, even those we may never have met, have already played a part in who and what we will become as well as how we live our lives. Despite the sometimes arduous task of keeping the characters straight, I found the characters and their stories mostly interesting, my favorite being the matriarch of the family, Úrsala. With each character, came the realization that they were very much alone, left to their own thoughts, broken dreams, and lost loves, leading many to find peace in their solitude later in life.

I try not to go into a book with too many expectations, but I did have high hopes for this one. I was disappointed overall, finding reading it more of a chore than a pleasure, but in the end I am glad I did take the time to read and finish it.

Source: From my own personal collection, bought and paid for by myself.