A Bookish Affair

HF Virtual Book Tours Review: The Gods of Heavenly Punishment by Jennifer Cody Epstein

2013-06-17T04:00:00.000-04:00

Title: The Gods of Heavenly Punishment
Author: Jennifer Cody Epstein
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co.
Publish Date: March 11, 2013
Source: HF Virtual Book Tours

Why You're Reading This Book:

You're a historical fiction fan.
You don't mind tough subjects.

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "In this evocative and thrilling epic novel, fifteen-year-old Yoshi Kobayashi, child of Japan’s New Empire, daughter of an ardent expansionist and a mother with a haunting past, is on her way home on a March night when American bombers shower her city with napalm—an attack that leaves one hundred thousand dead within hours and half the city in ashen ruins. In the days that follow, Yoshi’s old life will blur beyond recognition, leading her to a new world marked by destruction and shaped by those considered the enemy: Cam, a downed bomber pilot taken prisoner by the Imperial Japanese Army; Anton, a gifted architect who helped modernize Tokyo’s prewar skyline but is now charged with destroying it; and Billy, an Occupation soldier who arrives in the blackened city with a dark secret of his own. Directly or indirectly, each will shape Yoshi’s journey as she seeks safety, love, and redemption."

My Two Cents:

"The Gods of Heavenly Punishment" is a story set in both Japan and the United States during World War II. It follows many different characters, both Japanese and American, through their experiences during the war. Due to the setting and time period in this book, I'm sure you can imagine that some of the subject matter of this book is certainly heavy indeed but I can promise that if you stick it out, you'll be rewarded with a pretty good story full of interesting characters and set against several world changing events.

Each chapter follows a set of different characters although some of the characters appear in more than one chapter. All of the chapters come together in the end to tell a whole story. Because all of the stories feel very separate (some more or less than others), I kept waiting to see how they would come together, which was a tiny bit distracting.

There were many interesting characters in this book. I was especially intrigued by Hana and her daughter, Yoshi. There is a lot of mystery surrounding Hana throughout the book and I really liked putting all the pieces together to see what happened to her. Yoshi definitely fascinated me as well.

The writing in this book was really good too. Even when I was a little bit frustrated by trying to see how all of the parts were coming together, the writing definitely kept me going. I will be anxious to see where else Epstein's writing takes her.

Follow the Rest of the Tour:

Monday, June 10
Review & Giveaway at Bippity Boppity Book
Tuesday, June 11
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Wednesday, June 12
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Thursday, June 13
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Friday, June 14
Review & Interview at A Bookish Libraria
Monday, June 17
Review at A Bookish Affair
Tuesday, June 18
Guest Post & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair
Wednesday, June 19
Review at Just One More Chapter
Thursday, June 20
Review at Tiny Library
Friday, June 21
Interview & Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Monday, June 24
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Tuesday, June 25
Review at Kinx’s Book Nook
Review & Giveaway at So Many Precious Books, So Little Time
Wednesday, June 26
Review at Bitches with Books
Thursday, June 27
Guest Post at HF Connection
Friday, June 28
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee
Saturday, June 29
Review at WTF Are You Reading?

Literary Locale and Giveaway!

2013-06-14T04:00:00.000-04:00

Literary Locale is a meme here at A Bookish Affair on Fridays where I talk about where I've been reading lately or any other bookish locations that I feel like talking about. Feel free to grab the logo and play along!

I'm less than a week away from going to the Historical Novel Society conference in St. Petersburg, FL. I am so excited!!! I've never been to the west side of Florida so I'm definitely looking forward to exploring a new place! I'm getting to the conference a little early and am leaving a little late so I'm hoping to actually get out and see some of St. Petersburg.

One thing I'm hoping to get to see is the Dali Museum (yes, as in Salvador Dali). I love his work so I'm really, really hopeful I'll get to see it!

The Persistence of Memory

I'm also looking forward to going to the spa. Yes, you can find a spa just about anywhere but what better way to relax!

Giveaway:

Today, I'm also excited to be able to give away two books in honor of both Father's Day and armchair traveling.

The first book is Bunker Hill (which I've reviewed here):

The other book is The Boys in the Boat (I will be reviewing this book in the coming weeks):

Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TLC Book Tours Review, Author Interview, Giveaway: The Keeper of Secrets by Julie Thomas

2013-06-13T04:00:00.000-04:00

Title: The Keeper of Secrets
Author: Julie Thomas
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publish Date: May 28, 2013

Why You're Reading This Book:

You're a historical fiction fan.
You like family stories.

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "Beautiful and mysterious, this debut novel follows a priceless violin across five decades-from WWII to Stalinist Russia to the gilded international concert halls of today-and reveals the loss, love, and secrets of the families who owned it.
A priceless violin. A family torn apart. A decision that could change everything.

Berlin, 1939. Fourteen year old Simon Horowitz is awash in a world of music. His family owns a superb collection of instruments and at its heart is his father's 1742 Guarneri de Gesu violin. But all is lost when the Nazis march across Europe and Simon and his father and brother are sent to Dachau. Amid unimaginable cruelty and death, Simon finds kindness from an unexpected corner, and a chance to pick up a violin again, a chance to live.

In the present day, orchestra conductor Rafael Gomez has seen much in his time on the world's stage, but he finds himself oddly inspired by the playing of an aspiring violin virtuoso, a fantastic talent who is only just fourteen. Then the boy, Daniel Horowitz, suddenly refuses to play another note, and Rafael knows he'll do anything he can to change that. When he learns the boy's family once owned a precious violin, believed to have been lost forever, Rafael thinks he might know exactly how to get Daniel playing again. In taking on the task he discovers a family story like no other that winds from World War II and Communist Russia all the way to Rafael's very own stage."

My Two Cents:

"The Keeper of Secrets" really is a story about a family and what brings a family together. I love reading about families and the ties that bind them. This book also involves a priceless violin and while I was never really good at playing any instruments (I failed at playing the flute and the piano), I appreciate the ability of music to bring people together. Add some great historical detail and you have a fantastic book that will keep you engaged.

I really enjoyed reading about the family at the center of the book. It was so interesting to see them both in the past and the near present. You really feel for Simon and everything that his family goes through. There are a lot of characters in the book and some of the names are the same or similar, which made it a little difficult to keep up (I had to keep referring back to previous chapters to make sure that I was keeping everyone straight. There wasn't just one character that I liked. I wanted to see what happened to all of the characters.

This book takes place in two time frames: late 1930s/ early 1940s in Europe and the mid-2000s. I really enjoyed reading both the story set in the past and the story set in the present, which sometimes does not happen for me. Being a historical fiction lover, I tend to like the story set in the past better.

I must also mention that I really liked the scenes set in the Kennedy Center. This is a small thing but I love books that give glimpses into the Washington, D.C. area that don't have anything to do with politics. The Kennedy Center is one of my very favorite places in D.C. Seeing a show or a concert there is truly magical!

Overall, this is a great but short historical fiction book for readers who love reading about WWII and families!

Interview:

I'm really excited to welcome Julie Thomas here to A Bookish Affair.

1. What is the inspiration behind The Keeper of Secrets?

I read a magazine article about a missing 1742 Guarneri violin and that sparked my interest. At the same time I witnessed a discussion between my late sister-in-law (who was a music teacher) and my nephew about playing sport and playing the violin. It created a 'perfect storm' of ideas and I started researching. The more I found, the more passionate I became about the story. I also love music with a passion, including opera and classical, so it was a labor of love!

2. Why do you think that people are so drawn to reading about WWII today?

It was an extraordinary time in history for so many nations and so many people. There was so much sacrifice and bravery and good only just triumphed over evil. If it hadn't the world would be a very different place today. The scope of subjects within WWII ranges from the epic and dangerous to the intimate and heartbreaking. With a few exceptions, we can't imagine life under that much pressure and danger and I think people live vicariously through the stories that are re-created, both fiction and non-fiction.

3. Who is your favorite character in the book?

Interesting question. I am very fond of Sergei because he is larger than life, but I would have to say my favorite is Rafael. He is the 'moral compass', without him nothing would be resolved and he risks a great deal personally to make it happen. Through him, we travel back in time as the old gentlemen tell him their story and I love his relationship with Daniel, I love the way he talks to Daniel.
Simon was the hardest character to write, not just because of what he went through but because of who he became. When Benjamin died I cried for days, but it had to happen.

4. What was your research process like for this book?

Long!! Complicated and detailed. When I started there was no internet so I read lots and lots of books. I watched and/or listened to over 200 pieces of violin music so I could describe the piece and how it was played. The characters took on more life as the research filled them in. The Horowitz family in WWII Germany was created through research and the real people I found, men who didn't flee because they believed it wouldn't last long or be serious, people who fled but had trouble escaping, the resistance in Berlin etc. Some of the stories I found would have made a story all by themselves - the people Rachel worked for, the pilots Yulena flew with etc.

5. If you could bring three fictional characters with you to a deserted island, who would you bring and why?

Sherlock Holmes, because he could probably figure out a way off the island and he could play the violin for me and entertain me.
Mr Darcy because there would be water and he could stride around in a wet shirt and teach me how do those very dainty dance moves - he looks remarkably like a young Colin Firth
James Bond, because...well because he's James Bond and there might be something from which I need rescuing and we could drink martinis.

Giveaway:

Thanks to the publisher, I am able to give away three copies of this awesome book!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the Rest of the Tour:

Thursday, May 30th: From L.A. to LA
Monday, June 3rd: Mom in Love With Fiction
Tuesday, June 4th: That’s What She Read
Thursday, June 6th: A Patchwork of Books
Monday, June 10th: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books
Monday, June 10th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Tuesday, June 11th: Excellent Library
Wednesday, June 12th: Lisa’s Yarns
Thursday, June 13th: A Bookish Affair
Monday, June 17th: Drey’s Library
TBD: Hardcover Feedback

Giveaway Winners!

2013-06-12T20:49:00.001-04:00

I have a couple of giveaway winners to announce.

Murder as a Fine Art:

Carl

What My Mother Gave Me:

Terry

Meg

Spartacus: Rebellion:

Susan

A Prince to be Feared:

Review: Forty Years in a Day by Mona Rodriguez and Dianne Vigorito

2013-06-12T04:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Forty Years in a Day
Author: Mona Rodriguez and Dianne Vigorito
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Tate
Publish Date: November 2012
Source: I received a copy from the authors; however, this did not affect my review.

Why You're Reading This Book:

You're a historical fiction fan.

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "Confession is good for the soul even after the soul has been claimed...

The story begins in Italy, 1900. After years of torment and neglect, Victoria and her four small children immigrate to Hell's Kitchen, New York, to escape her alcoholic, abusive husband. On the day they leave, he tragically dies, but she does not learn of his death for several years—a secret that puts many lives on hold.

Quickly, they realize America's streets are not paved with gold, and the limits of human faith and stamina are tested time and time again. Poverty, illness, death, kidnapping, and the reign of organized crime are just some of the crosses they bear.

Victoria's eldest son, Vincenzo, is the sole surviving member of the family and shares a gut-wrenching account of their lives with his daughter during a visit to Ellis Island on his ninetieth birthday. He explains how the lives of he and his siblings have been secretly intertwined with an infamous Irish mob boss and ends his unsettling disclosure with a monumental request that leaves Clare speechless."

My Two Cents:

"Forty Years in a Day" follows the story of an Italian woman who leaves her abusive husband to make a new life with her children in America. The premise is that the story is being told through Vincenzo to his daughter at the end of his life.

I love immigrant stories. Many of my ancestors came from Ireland and Ukraine in the beginning of the 20th century and I have always enjoyed reading the accounts of other immigrants to this country. I really liked that book from this aspect. Victoria and her children come to Hell's Kitchen in NYC and are able to carve out a life and I loved reading about how they were able to do that. There was a lot of really good detail that really pulled me in and made me care about the characters.

This book went by way too quickly for me. This is both good and bad. I understand that the book is told from the point of view of Vincenzo (although all of the historical parts were told in third person omniscient point of view) and that he had a day to go through the life of his family but I felt like the narrative glossed over a lot that would really been interesting to explore a little bit more. Also, because the book was told in third party omniscient, I kept forgetting that Vincenzo was the one that was telling his daughter this story, which is sort of important for the ending of the book.

I was also sort of lost with the timeline of the book. Every once in awhile there would be some sort of mention of a time marker (talking about a specific historical event or something) but I wish they had been more frequent to give greater context to the book.

Overall, the writing in this book is very promising and I would love to see what these writers come up with in the future.

Review: Pride and Prejudice and Kitties by Jane Austen, Pamela Jane, Deborah Guyol

2013-06-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Pride and Prejudice and Kitties
Author: Jane Austen, Pamela Jane, Deborah Guyol
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Skyhorse
Publish Date: April 8, 2013
Source: I received a copy from the publisher; however, this did not affect my review.

Why You're Reading This Book:

You're a Jane Austen fan!
You love lolcats.
You're an animal lover.

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "What if Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice was told from a cat's point of view? On the heels of smash hits like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and I Can Has Cheezburger, this hilarious mash-up by children's author Pamela Jane and photographer Deborah Guyol spins a fresh, quirky take on two of the things we just can't get enough of: classic cats and classic Jane.

Pride and Prejudice and Kitties juxtaposes wacky photos of cats with the wicked humor of Jane Austen, and it's just in time for the 200-year anniversary of the publication of the original Pride and Prejudice. Soulful Mr. Darcy gazes at Elizabeth Bennet in fascination; hysterical Mrs. Bennet yowls that no one understands her; somnolent Mr. Hurst passes out on the sofa after dinner; arrogant Lady Catherine hisses at Elizabeth. Each photo includes a hilarious caption that goes along with the text of Pride and Prejudice, told from a feline perspective.

Pride and Prejudice and Kitties is a book for cat-lovers, Austen-lovers, and people who love to laugh--in other words, just about everyone. The adorable meets the absurd!"

My Two Cents:

"Pride and Prejudice and Kitties" is just what it sounds like, a retelling of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" told through the point of view of kitty cats. It also has a lot of lolcat style pictures that I really enjoyed. It's a cute book and actually is one of the first mash-up books that I've actually read.

I could see this book being a fun gift for the cat or animal lover in your life. Some of the book is a little goofy and some of the pictures match better with the action than others.

Overall, this was a pretty cute book although probably best for a niche audience.

Book Blogger Problems: Doubles!

2013-06-11T18:00:00.000-04:00

Okay, has this ever happened to you guys (please say it's happened to someone or else I'm going to feel even worse!)? You're at an author event and you pick up a book to get signed, the back sounds good and you don't think you've read it before. You also don't think that you've seen the cover before. Secure in your decision, you make your way to the cash register and plunk down the book and a fistful of pesos... ahem... dollars (or whatever currency your bookstore allows you to pay in. This book is coming home with you. It is all yours. And it will be signed by the author, which makes that little book just a little more awesome (all my signed books have a special shelf in my house).

So you bring the book home and you have a lot of books. You have tons of books because you're a book blogger and it is your lot and great honor in life to be surrounded by piles upon piles of books.

So you place your new purchase on the very special shelf for all of the signed books when low and behold, you realize you bought the book you just signed before at a charity sale a couple weeks prior, it just has a different cover. And because you got it from a charity sale (luckily for 50 cents in my most unfortunate case), you cannot return it!!!

Ugh, it just feels so wasteful. I have unfortunately had this similar situation happen to me before it happened again last week. I went to the Sarah Dessen event last week and bought a couple more of her books to have signed in addition to the one book that I remembered that I had at home. I think I was too excited to really think about what books I was getting. All of the covers of her books have been very recently redone too so it was very hard for me to remember what books I had and which I didn't. Like I said, I am a very visual person and when covers change, it is crazy difficult for me to remember what I already have. Nonetheless, I will be donating my old, unsigned copy of "This Lullaby" back to the library sale. Bad Megan, bad!

Has this ever happened to you?

HNS Conference Preview: Stella Duffy

2013-06-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

We are getting ever closer to the Historical Novel Society Conference in St. Petersburg, FL! I can't believe it's so close! In celebration of the conference, I am very excited to welcome historical fiction writer, Stella Duffy, here to A Bookish Affair.

Stella Duffy

What got you first interested in historical fiction?

I was at a book festival in Ravenna, Italy and saw the mosaics of the Empress Theodora, astonishingly vibrant and beautiful after 1500 years, and was further astonished to find so little fiction written about her when I came home. So I wrote two books of my own to tell the story. I’m especially delighted that as well as the US and UK, the novels have been published in many European countries, relevant to Theodora’s life, and this year will be published in Turkey – so she can go home to Constantinople.

For you, what is the line between fiction and fact?

The only line I really care about is the one that asks how good a story is this, and how well can I tell it?

Is there a writer, living or deceased, you would like to meet?

Theodora herself wrote a hugely important work on prostitution – On Pimps and Prostitutes. Of course I’d love to meet her.

What book was the most fun for you to write?

Always the latest book – which is, always, also the hardest to write!

Thank you for visiting A Bookish Affair, Stella!

Review: The Sword Dancer by Jeannie Lin

2013-06-10T04:00:00.000-04:00

Title: The Sword Dancer
Author: Jeannie Lin
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Harlequin
Publish Date: May 21, 2013
Source: I received a copy from the author; however, this did not affect my review.

Why You're Reading This Book:

You're a historical fiction fan.
You're a romance fan.

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "Sword dancer Li Feng is used to living life on the edge of the law—a woman alone in the dangerous world of the Tang Dynasty has only her whirlwind reflexes to trust. She will discover the truth about her past, even if that means outwitting the most feared thief-catcher of them all...

Relentless, handsome and determined, Han sees life—and love—as black and white. Until he finally captures the spirited, courageous Li Feng, who makes him question everything he thought he knew about right and wrong. Soon he's faced with an impossible choice: betray the elusive sword dancer he is learning to love, or trust his long-disregarded heart and follow her to dangerous, tempting rebellion..."

My Two Cents:

Now some of you may have known that I really didn't read romance novels before I began book blogging. It's hearing about books like Jeannie Lin's historical romances set in China that really turned me on to reading more romance books. I really, really enjoy her books.

"The Sword Dancer" is a great romance that takes place during the Tang Dynasty. Lin pulls together a lot of great historical detail together with a fantastic love story between Li Feng, the beautiful sword dancer and Han who is torn between love and his duty. I loved following this love story. There are some twists and turns, which kept me reading so I could find out what happened to this couple.

The attention to historical detail bears repeating. I do like historical romances but I find that a lot of times, the setting and the historical detail either is there in name only (someone is called a duke or something, which automatically makes it a historical romance, no?). However, in Jeannie Lin's books, you really get the whole package. You get good detail and a good sense of setting.

I was very pleased and surprised to see that this book is marked as Sword Dancer #1 on Goodreads, which tells me that there will be more of these books (hopefully continuing to follow Li Feng and Han!) in the future. Color this reader excited!

Review: The Blood upon the Rose by Tim Vicary

2013-06-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

Title: The Blood upon the Rose
Author: Tim Vicary
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Pocket
Publish Date: 1992
Source: I received a copy from the author; however, this did not affect my review.

Why You're Reading This Book:

You're a historical fiction fan.
You like a good love story.

What's the story?:

From Goodreads.com: "Ireland in 1919 is seething with violence, tension and divided loyalties - and so is the heart of the beautiful, wilful heiress Catherine O'Connell-Gort. For Catherine, by heritage, is a glittering symbol of British rule and oppression - yet by inclination she is a traitor to her class. A fervent supporter of Sinn Fein, she is also the secret lover of Sean Brennan, an IRA volunteer who is being hunted by the police for terrorism and murder.

When the British government decides to meet terror with terror, Catherine finds herself in a position of even greater conflict. Her father, a colonel in British Military Intelligence, recruits Major Andrew Butler, battle-scarred war hero and Irish landlord, to assassinate IRA leader Michael Collins. He also decides that the dashing major would make the perfect husband for his headstrong daughter ...

In a violent climax of passion, guilt and betrayal, while her country hurtles towards civil war, Catherine faces and a agonising choice as she makes her final, fateful decision."

My Two Cents:

"The Blood Upon the Rose" is sort of Romeo and Juliet story set against the backdrop of the violence in Ireland in the early 1900s when the Irish Republican Army (Sinn Fein) was actively engaged in fighting for Irish independence. Catherine is a member of the upper class, which does not believe in the independence movement. Sean is actively engaged in Sinn Fein. They should be natural enemies but in a twist of fate, they fall hard for each other even with everything else going on. It is a great, gripping love story set against chaos. I really enjoyed reading this historical fiction!

One of the things I love about reading historical fiction is being taken to a place and time that I've never really known about before. Sure it's nice to visit old favorites in WWII and Tudor England but it's especially nice to learn about someplace entirely new, which I got a chance to in this book. Vicary really uses a lot of great historical detail to create Catherine and Sean's world. You get to feel of chaotic it would be and what it must have been like to live in those times. I personally did not realize how far the Sinn Fein movement went back so it was really interesting to see the movement during the early part of the 1900s. All of the detail really made the characters feel real to me, which is an important part of any book, in my opinion.

I also really like a good, forbidden love story. The story of everything that happened between Catherine and Sean kept me fully engaged and wanting to know if they were going to get to be together. You really are pulling for them through the whole book until the very end.

Overall, this book has so many good things going for it.

Literary Locale: An Evening with Sarah Dessen

2013-06-07T04:00:00.000-04:00

So this week, I had a chance to go see YA romance queen, Sarah Dessen, in D.C. at the main library downtown. I love the books of hers that I've read. They are just really fun reads, especially for summer. The day I saw her also happened to be the day that her latest book, The Moon and More, was released so she read a little bit from her book.


Sarah speaking.

I love going to author events. It so cool to hear straight from the mind that created a book that really moved you. Luckily, we get a lot of authors who come through the D.C. area, which is good for me.

After Ms. Dessen spoke, she signed books. The line was long but what I really appreciated is that Sarah took the time to speak with everyone and take pictures with them. She is really just as sweet as she seems in real life, which is always nice to realize. I bought a copy of The Moon and More and got a couple of other books signed.

Me meeting Sarah Dessen.

It was a fantastic event and I fully suggest going to see Ms. Dessen if she comes anywhere close to you!

Where are you reading this week?

Review: Mike Holmes Kitchens & Bathrooms by Mike Holmes

2013-06-06T04:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Mike Holmes Kitchens & Bathrooms
Author: Mike Holmes
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Time Home Entertainment
Publish Date: April 2, 2013
Source: I received a copy from the PR; however, this did not affect my review.

Why You're Reading This Book:

You are a DIY-er.
You're looking for sound construction advice.

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "One of Canada's leading contractors, Holmes provides expert advice in all aspects of planning and completing the most common renovation projects. Packed with color photographs, illustrations, and sidebars, this new book will help ensure homeowners avoid costly mistakes."

My Two Cents:

I absolutely love Mike Holmes so I was very excited to read this book. My husband and I don't agree on a lot when it comes to tv shows but Holmes' shows are some of the few that we can agree on to watch together. My husband is very handy while I am not really but Holmes does a really good job of giving information that is useful to both the handy and the un-handy alike and I definitely appreciate that. His good, no nonsense advice extends to this book.

Out of all of the home renovation projects you could choose to do, I think some of the most difficult are probably kitchens and bathrooms. You have so much to think about besides aesthetics that it can be very overwhelming. Last year, we bought our first house and it's quite old (we have papers on it dating back to 1892) so needless to say, we have a lot of upgrade projects that we want to do in the future, including our kitchen. I know that this book is going to be endlessly helpful for us as my husband is planning to do most of the work himself (a huge undertaking to be sure!).

Holmes breaks down what you need to think about into simple questions that are very accessible to just about anyone. Some of the questions are things that we had already thought about but others are questions that didn't jump out at me right away. Reno projects are often more than just making things pretty. You have to think about everything behind the walls and under the floor too. Holmes goes through things to force the homeowner to think through everything step by step.

This book uses a lot of pictures to show the right way and wrong way to do things. I thought the pictures showing the wrong way to do things were very helpful. On the surface, the pictures look nice until Holmes starts pointing out what he would hone in on. Some of those pictures were incredibly eye opening.

There are a couple sections of the book that were a little repetitive (Holmes' discussion of stove hoods were sprinkled through big sections of the books) but overall, I really liked how this book was laid out.

Overall, I know this book is going to be a great resource for us as we embark on some of our own home reno projects. If only Holmes could tell us how you make money quickly in order to do all of these projects!!!

HNS Conference Preview: Frederick Ramsay

2013-06-05T04:00:00.000-04:00

We are just a couple of weeks away from the Historical Novel Society Conference, which will be taking place in St. Petersburg, Florida this year. I am very excited to be attending! This will be my first time. In celebration of the conference, I am very excited to welcome historical fiction writer, Frederick Ramsay, here to A Bookish Affair.

What got you first interested in historical fiction?

I have always enjoyed Historical fiction. When I was anticipating a college major I very nearly opted for history. Indeed, I once thought that if I ever had to teach a class in history, I would do so using fiction rather than traditional texts. As it happened I did not major in history and therefore, who knows how many scores of students were spared my experiment in novelty teaching. My interest in writing HS stems in large part from a two and a half week course entitled “The Palestine of Jesus” offered in Israel by St. Georges College. It was an eye opener and one that instilled a love for the Holy Land that endures to this day. I learned how to strip away the years and see the countryside and the city as it must have been two thousand years ago. Fascinating.

How do you find the people and topics of your books?

Generally, the people find me. Since my era is rather narrow, there are some very obvious personalities from which to choose

Do you follow a specific writing and/or research process?

Not really. I am a “top down” researcher, rather than “bottom up.” That is to say, I research what I need to know to carry the story and that’s pretty much all. Having said that, I refer you to the first answer (the course at St. George’s) which provided a solid background to begin with.

For you, what is the line between fiction and fact?

Very thin. If nothing else, the operative word should be; is it plausible?

Is there an era/area that is your favorite to write about? How about to read?

I will read any era but I write exclusively in the first century Jerusalem and the extensions from it the characters take.

Is there a writer, living or deceased, you would like to meet?

Two: Mark Twain and Earnest Hemingway

What book was the most fun for you to write?

Not so much fun as educative. I learned the craft while writing (and rewriting) Judas, The Gospel of Betrayal

Thank you for stopping by, Frederick!

TLC Book Tours: Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver

2013-06-04T04:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Flight Behavior
Author: Barbara Kingsolver
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Harper Collins
Publish Date: November 6, 2012
Source: TLC Book Tours

Why You're Reading This Book:

You're a fiction fan.
You like stories about family.

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "Dellarobia Turnbow is a restless farm wife who gave up her own plans when she accidentally became pregnant at seventeen. Now, after a decade of domestic disharmony on a failing farm, she has settled for permanent disappointment but seeks momentary escape through an obsessive flirtation with a younger man. As she hikes up a mountain road behind her house to a secret tryst, she encounters a shocking sight: a silent, forested valley filled with what looks like a lake of fire. She can only understand it as a cautionary miracle, but it sparks a raft of other explanations from scientists, religious leaders, and the media. The bewildering emergency draws rural farmers into unexpected acquaintance with urbane journalists, opportunists, sightseers, and a striking biologist with his own stake in the outcome. As the community lines up to judge the woman and her miracle, Dellarobia confronts her family, her church, her town, and a larger world, in a flight toward truth that could undo all she has ever believed."

My Two Cents:

"Flight Behavior" is the latest release from Barbara Kingsolver, an author whose work has enchanted me for a long time. Kingsolver is really fantastic with taking a couple different story lines and weaving them together in order to create a masterful work.

This book focuses on two main stories. First, there is the story of Dellarobia, a woman who dreamed of getting away from her life in Appalachia where she is seemingly at the mercy of her in-laws. She feels like she doesn't have a lot of other options besides just making due with what she is given. The other story line is the mysterious appearance of the monarch butterflies in the mountains of Appalachia even though they usually originate in Mexico. It's truly a miracle.

Some of the elements that I loved so much in Kingsolver's other books are very much present here. Kingsolver definitely knows how to write well about human ties. The ties between her various characters in this book really seemed realistic to me. You get so involved in the lives of the characters through the detailed writing that you begin to feel like these are truly people that you could come across in your own life.

This is the kind of book that you sort of linger with in order to take everything in. This book continued to enforce to me just why I will continue to look forward to every one of Kingsolver's future releases!

Odds and Ends: The Green Edition

2013-06-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

We had a very relaxing weekend around here. I've been a little overwhelmed with life in general lately so I was happy to have a weekend where we didn't do too much of anything especially because the next couple weekends are going to be packed full! I got in a good deal of reading, which always makes me a little happier.

From my garden, you guys!

Our yard is finally looking more finished. For the past couple weekends, we've been doing a lot of landscaping. There are a couple things ready in the garden already. We have asparagus growing like mad. We also have delicious kale. I've also been really surprised with how well our strawberries have done. I've never had a lot of luck with strawberries but I'm actually getting some good sized strawberries that are amazingly sweet! I can't wait for all of the other goodies that we planted to be ready!

Review: The Neruda Case by Roberto Ampuero

2013-06-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

Title: The Neruda Case
Author: Roberto Ampuero
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Riverhead
Publish Date: June 2012 (paperback released June 2013)
Format: Paperback

Why You're Reading This Book:

You're a fiction fan.
You're a Latin American history fan.
You love armchair traveling.

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "In The Neruda Case, readers are introduced to Cayetano as he takes on his first case as a private eye. Set against the fraught political world of pre-Pinochet Chile, Castro’s Cuba, and perilous behind-the-Wall East Berlin, this mystery spans countries, cultures, and political ideas, and features one of literature’s most beloved figures—Pablo Neruda.

Cayetano meets the poet at a party in Chile in the 1970s. The dying Neruda recruits Cayetano to help him solve the last great mystery of his life. As Cayetano fumbles around his first case, finding it hard to embrace the new inspector identity foisted upon him, he begins to learn more about Neruda’s hidden agenda. Neruda sends him on a whirlwind expedition around the world, ending back in Chile, where Pinochet’s coup plays out against the final revelations of their journey.

Evocative, romantic, and full of intrigue, Ampuero’s novel is both a glimpse into the life of Pablo Neruda as death approaches and a political thriller that unfolds during the fiercely convulsive end of an era."

My Two Cents:

"The Neruda Case" is a great book is a mystery that stars the famous poet (and one of my very favorite poets personally), Pablo Neruda. I love his poetry so much (my husband and I actually had one of his poems read at our wedding as one of the readings) so I was very excited to get a fictional glimpse of what the man was actually like.

Mysteries are not my usual fare but I really enjoyed this one. Through Cayetano taking on Pablo Neruda's case, we get to learn more about Pablo Neruda and the politics of 1970s Chile, which was a very tumultuous but fascinating time in the country. I really liked how Ampuero was able to weave all of these elements together in order to create a story that will appeal to so many different readers.

The book also has a fantastic setting. Throughout the book, Cayetano travels in order to solve Neruda's case. I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before but back in college, I had a focus in Latin American politics so that area of the world is absolutely fascinating to me. I loved seeing Chile, Mexico, and Cuba through the eyes of the characters. I thought you got a very good sense of what was going on in each country. This book definitely makes for good armchair traveling!

Armchair BEA: Keeping It Real, Fresh, and Fun and Children's Lit

2013-06-01T11:15:00.002-04:00

Keeping It Real, Fresh, and Fun:

I love my blog. It has been a really fun hobby for me. I love talking books and I love sharing my opinions on books and meeting other bookish people. I figure that if I'm happy with what I'm doing, that's what really matters. If I'm not happy, things are not going to be too fun around here. So for the others wondering how to keep things fresh, just let yourself shine through.

Oh yeah...

Children's Lit:

So before book blogging, I really never read YA fiction at all but the book blogging community really opened that realm up to me! Book blogging has also urged me to re-read some of my childhood favorites.

Here are a couple of good YA books that I've read recently:

Do you read YA or children's fiction? What are some of your favorites?

Armchair BEA: Ethics and Non-Fiction In All Its Forms

2013-05-31T13:28:00.001-04:00

Ethics:

I think one of the biggest duties that a book blogger has to their audience is to be honest in all aspects. Ethics come into play here.

There are a couple things I do to keep myself on the straight and narrow:

I will tell you if I bought it, borrowed it from the library, or received it from someone.
When I accept books for review, I make sure that I tell whoever is giving me the book that my review will be honest and that may mean that I say that I didn't like the book.
I will not review a book if I have not finished it because that is not fair to my readers.
I never accept reviews for payment as it could create a bias.

These are fairly simple things to do but they are so important in the long run!

Non-fiction:

Today we are talking about our love for non-fiction books! I love non-fiction books. One of the big reasons that I read is to learn something. I love non-fiction in so many different subjects but some of my favorites are in history, politics, memoirs, and biographies.

One non-fiction book that I am especially looking forward to reading is (and I just picked it up from the library):

Here's a couple of good non-fiction books that I've read lately:

Do you read non-fiction? What are your favorite kinds of non-fiction?

Review: Royal Mistress by Anne Easter Smith

2013-05-31T00:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Royal Mistress
Author: Anne Easter Smith
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Touchstone
Publish Date: May 7, 2013
Source: I received a copy from the publisher; however, this did not affect my review.

Why You're Reading This Book:

You're a historical fiction fan.

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "Jane Lambert, the quick-witted and alluring daughter of a silk merchant, is twenty-two and still unmarried. When Jane’s father finally finds her a match, she’s married off to the dull, older silk merchant William Shore—but her heart belongs to another. Marriage doesn’t stop Jane Shore from flirtation, however, and when the king’s chamberlain and friend, Will Hastings, comes to her husband’s shop, Will knows his King will find her irresistible.

Edward IV has everything: power, majestic bearing, superior military leadership, a sensual nature, and charisma. And with Jane as his mistress, he also finds true happiness. But when his hedonistic tendencies get in the way of being the strong leader England needs, his life, as well as that of Jane Shore and Will Hastings, hang in the balance.

This dramatic tale has been an inspiration to poets and playwrights for 500 years, and told through the unique perspective of a woman plucked from obscurity and thrust into a life of notoriety, Royal Mistress is sure to enthrall today’s historical fiction lovers as well."

My Two Cents:

"Royal Mistress" is the story of Jane Lambert (aka Jane Shore) who becomes Edward IV's mistress. Sometimes I get complacent with reading about palace intrigue and royal courts but it's books like this that remind me how much I really enjoy this kind of historical fiction. I found the love affair between Jane and Edward to be really fascinating. Edward IV by himself is very interesting to me and I loved being able to see his reign through this book. The affair with Jane only adds another layer of very interest and intrigue.

I really liked Jane's character and she made this book especially interesting. She goes after what she wants. She doesn't seem to think about consequences but I still enjoyed reading about her. I thought she was a really well written character.

This is the second book that I have read by Smith (the first was Queen By Right) and in that book as well as "Royal Mistress," I really enjoyed how much research and care she put into the book. The interactions between all of the characters are very realistic. I think that this really, really helps to pull the reader into the book.

This book will definitely appeal to historical fiction lovers who are looking for a book that is packed full of details and story lines with a side of salacious drama.

ArmchairBEA: Literary Fiction

2013-05-30T08:14:00.000-04:00

Literary fiction: what a loaded term! Oh, boy! What does that even mean? Literary fiction seems to be one of those bookish terms that is quite nebulous.

It's kind of like this.

In looking up the definition on handy, dandy Wikipedia, it states that literary fiction must be "serious" and have critical acclaim. Oh, genre fiction is not supposed to count.

Who gets to decide what's serious? Critical acclaim is at least a little more tangible but what critical acclaim counts. Do you have to win an award? Do certain critics have to love the book and appreciate its amazingness? But genre fiction doesn't count? What??? So yesterday, I was talking about my favorite genre, historical fiction. Now some of the books are pretty serious and I see them as fitting into the literary fiction realm but according to definition, they don't get to count.

It's just kind of crazy to me that you would leave books out because of their genre. Certainly there are some genres that are not prone to serious-ness or critical claim but there are genre books out there that are fantastically literary. What about them?

Anyhow, can you all tell that I have an issue with this book designation?

What say you?

Review and Guest Post: Jack Absolute by C.C. Humphreys

2013-05-30T08:08:00.000-04:00

Title: Jack Absolute
Author: C.C. Humphreys
Format: ARC
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Publish Date: May 7, 2013
Source: I received a copy from the publisher; however, this did not affect my review.

Why You're Reading This Book:

You're a historical fiction fan.
You like adventure.

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "In 1777 Jack Absolute, the charming lover in Sheridan's comedy The Rivals, is famous throughout London. However, this notoriety comes as something of a shock to the real Jack Absolute when he arrives in England after four months at sea. But there's barely time for outrage before he finds himself dueling for his life. Even worse, as soon as he's won the duel he's forced to flee London by the quickest means possible, becoming a spy in America's war of Independence.

Thus we meet Jack Absolute - rogue, duellist, charmer and Captain in the Light Dragoons. From the field of honor in London through the pivotal battle of Saratoga to a hunt for a double agent in wintry Philadelphia, this novel marks the impressive debut of this new series."

My Two Cents:

"Jack Absolute" is the story of the title character who is thought to be dead by his playwriter buddy who, of course, writes a play with him as a title character. Much to Jack's surprise, he comes back to London to find that his name is intrisically linked with this play. This is the first book in a series that is being re-released by Sourcebooks.

As an aside, the play, "Jack Absolute," is still put on today. In fact, the author, C.C. Humphreys actually played Jack Absolute in the play back in the 1980s so the character is very near and dear to his heart. This was very cool to me. What better way to get to know your character than to actually play him in a play??? I think this fact really helped Humphreys breathe a ton of life, vim, and vigor into the character of Mr. Absolute.

The historical detail in the book was really great. This book takes you from London to the new world. As Humphreys himself puts it, Absolute is the 007 of the 1700s. This book is perfect for when you want your historical fiction action packed. I really enjoyed the book once it moved to the new world where Absolute begins to work his spying magic; that part definitely made me keep reading!

Guest Post:

In several ways, of course, my research for this novel began long before I became a novelist. I was simply an actor then (though perhaps always with dreams of more!) and was cast to play the role of Jack Absolute in Sheridan’s 18 Rivals’.

I loved the part – I mean, give me thigh boots and a sword and I’m your man! Beyond the period, the style, the humour, though – I so enjoy playing comedy! – I truly felt I got into the author’s intentions for Jack. Played him as a rogue with a heart, a bon viveur, a man who enjoyed a joke – and didn’t get too upset when it was on him.

I toured the play for six months all over the UK and was so sad when it was over –I felt I’d lost touch with a good friend! So when, fifteen years later, I was asked what I was going to write for my next novel (having written two so far) I saw a way to reconnect with my old pal. But I knew Jack couldn’t simply be the dashing cad of yore in what I hoped would become a series of books. He had to do something. That’s when I came up with the phrase that has haunted me ever since: ‘He’s the 007 of the 1770’s’.

So I felt I’d researched the character quite a lot before I began. More conventional research followed – I am a book man and dived into the British Library in London where I lived at the time, to pull out texts old and new. I read, read, read – of war, spies, the secret society of the Illuminati, the Iroquois – all because I knew that I wanted Jack to do his spying – and his wooing and fighting – in that fascinating place, the Colonies (or America as it is now known!) and at one of its most interesting times: the Revolutionary Wars. Narrowing down, I knew I would also like to write about another intriguing – and real – man: General John Burgoyne. Also wanted to explore my fascination for native Americans – hence Jack’s history with the Mohawk, and his blood brother, Ate. So it all came down to the Saratoga campaign.

And there I truly struck research gold. Because there was a huge re-enactment of the battle happening very close to the original site which I was able to attend and pump those brilliant historians, the re-enactors, for information. As well as get to wander the real battlefield, a beautifully preserved National Monument, for a couple of days, in all lights. Such ‘research on the feet’ truly made the book.

Lastly, there was the subject I didn’t need to research too much – what happens in a theatre, both in front of, and behind, the curtain. And actresses. Those I think I had a good – eh hem - grasp of!

Armchair BEA: Being a Better Blogger and Genre Fiction!

2013-05-29T07:54:00.003-04:00

Pathways to Better Blogging:

Today, we're talking about how to be a better blogger. I don't know if I know the ultimate answers to that but I'll tell you what I know. I know that you have to be yourself and you have to do what you love.

If you aren't loving what you're doing, why do it in the first place. Book blogging is supposed to be fun. Once it stops being fun, you know that you either need a break or you need to figure out a new game plan for making it fun again.

Book blogging should make you feel like this, you guys!

If you aren't having fun, your audience isn't going to be having any fun, which is just not any... well... fun.

Genre Fiction:

If you hang around here for any length of time, you may figure out rather quickly that I love historical fiction. It is by far my favorite kind of genre fiction! I'm a history buff and I love reading fictionalized tales of historical people and events. Even though its fiction, a lot of times, it is a great introduction to a new person, place, or time. All of these people and places are so exciting for me!

I joined my local chapter of the Historical Novel Society (Chesapeake Bay chapter), which has been a great way for me to socialize with other people who share an affinity for historical fiction. I am also attending the Historical Novel Society Conference in St. Petersburg, FL in June for the first time. I cannot wait!

I bet Marie Antoinette is getting ready to settle down with a good historical fiction book.

What's your favorite kind of genre fiction?

Review: The World's Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagarne

2013-05-29T00:00:00.000-04:00

Title: The World's Strongest Librarian
Author: Josh Hanagarne
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Gotham
Publish Date: May 2, 2013
Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Why You're Reading This Book:

You're a non-fiction fan.
You like memoirs.

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "Josh Hanagarne couldn’t be invisible if he tried. Although he wouldn’t officially be diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome until his freshman year of high school, Josh was six years old and onstage in a school Thanksgiving play when he first began exhibiting symptoms. By the time he was twenty, the young Mormon had reached his towering adult height of 6’7” when—while serving on a mission for the Church of Latter Day Saints—his Tourette’s tics escalated to nightmarish levels.

Determined to conquer his affliction, Josh underwent everything from quack remedies to lethargy-inducing drug regimes to Botox injections that paralyzed his vocal cords and left him voiceless for three years. Undeterred, Josh persevered to marry and earn a degree in Library Science. At last, an eccentric, autistic strongman—and former Air Force Tech Sergeant and guard at an Iraqi prison—taught Josh how to “throttle” his tics into submission through strength-training.

Today, Josh is a librarian in the main branch of Salt Lake City’s public library and founder of a popular blog about books and weight lifting—and the proud father of four-year-old Max, who has already started to show his own symptoms of Tourette’s.

The World’s Strongest Librarian illuminates the mysteries of this little-understood disorder, as well as the very different worlds of strongman training and modern libraries. With humor and candor, this unlikely hero traces his journey to overcome his disability— and navigate his wavering Mormon faith—to find love and create a life worth living."

My Two Cents:

In "The World's Strongest Librarian," Josh Hanagarne writes his life story with great candor. Before reading this book, I didn't really know a whole lot about Tourette's Syndrome, which can be very difficult to control and very noticeable to those around you. But this book isn't only about Josh's syndrome and his struggle to live with it. Josh is a pretty cool guy; he's also a librarian and a weight lifter. He defines resilience!

I really love memoirs that are a little bit off the beaten path, which this one definitely is. Josh has a really interesting story and recounts it in such a way that you feel like you are having a chat with an old friend. He is a really great storyteller and his "voice" in the book definitely kept me reading. I think that the personal style really made me feel like I got to know Josh well through this book.

I especially liked the parts that talked about the author's love of books and his job as a librarian. These parts of the book are the ones that any book lover will enjoy. Josh knows the magic of a good book. The book also discusses some about his Mormon faith. Often I find things having to do with religion to be a little bit too preachy for my liking but in this case, the author is basically just telling you where he is coming from.

Bottom line: This is such a great story!

Armchair BEA: Introductions and Classics!

2013-05-28T04:00:00.000-04:00

I am very excited to be participating in Armchair BEA again this year. For those of you not in the know, Armchair BEA is for everyone that isn't able to make it up to BEA this year! It's a great way to get to know some of your fellow book bloggers.

Today, we're answering some questions so we can get to know each other a little better.

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Who are you? How long have you been blogging? Why did you get into blogging?

I'm Meg. I've been book blogging for the past two years although I blogged off and on before that, just not about books. I got into book blogging because I absolutely love everything about books. I love reading them and talking about them with anyone that happens to be around at the moment!

2. Where in the world are you blogging from? Tell a random fact or something special about your current location. Feel free to share pictures.

I am blogging from just outside of Washington, D.C. It is one of the coolest cities in the world. I love living here. I'm a political junkie so living here is really, really cool for me! I grew up in the area and am almost a native (I've lived here since I was 4 years old)!

I do a lot of my reading on the Metro!

3. Tell us one non-book-related thing that everyone reading your blog may not know about you.

I am living in a house that was built in 1892 and spend a lot of my free time fixing up the house with my husband. My green thumb has been getting a lot of exercise recently!

This is my house all dressed up for Memorial Day!

4. If you could eat dinner with any author or character, who would it be and why?

I would love to have dinner with Augusten Burroughs and David Sedaris at the same time! Dinner would be absolutely hilarious!

5. What literary location would you most like to visit? Why?

On Fridays, I run a meme called "Literary Locale" and I love spending time armchair traveling through books. One place that I have been thinking about a lot lately is London. I've been there once but I am dying to go again. That city has so much literary history and I would love to just take a trip to focus on seeing everything literary there!

Classics:

Today, we are also talking about the Classics! I try really hard to get more classic books in my reading diet. While I realize the importance of reading classics, they are often not my first thought when I want to pick up a new book. I really like participating in read-alongs for that reason. Depending on the book, I find some classics to be a little difficult to get through and it's really nice to be able to discuss more difficult books with a group of people to keep you going and to ensure that you get a lot out of the book.

Some of my favorite classics that I have read fairly recently are Daphne Du Marier's Rebecca and Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. Both are really wonderful books!

What are your thoughts on Classic books? Have you ever done a read-along?

Happy Memorial Day and Announcements!

2013-05-27T05:00:00.000-04:00

First things first, today is Memorial Day. Yeah, it's nice that many of us have off but try not to lose sight of the reason we have this day. I am happy to know a lot of people who have served (and are still serving) in the military and they are absolutely amazing to me. I love that we have this day to celebrate them and to remember those that gave so much for this country that I love.

Announcements:

I wanted to mention that Shelf Pleasure is doing a summer book club this summer for Year of the Gadfly, a book that I have been very excited to read! They are going to have some online chats with the author, Jennifer Miller, so it should be pretty cool!

There are still several giveaways going on here at A Bookish Affair:
Win a copy of Murder as a Fine Art!
Win an ebook copy of A Prince to be Feared!
Win a copy of Spartacus: Rebellion!
Win a copy of What My Mother Gave Me!

With regard to the What My Mother Gave Me giveaway, the editor, Elizabeth Benedict, found my review and has offered to give the winners of the giveaway a signed book plate! How cool is that?