Tip of the Iceberg

Blog Break

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:57:00 +0000

I'll be taking a blog break for about 2 weeks. I've got some important people/things that need my attention for awhile, so you won't see me either here at Tip of the Iceberg or dropping in to visit at your lovely blogs until a few days into August. See you in a couple of weeks!

Sound Travels: Page & Plant

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:34:00 +0000

No Quarter Unledded

This week I'm listening to some old guys who can still rock. Page and Plant joined up with an Egyptian ensemble, musicians in Marrakech, and the London Metropolitan Orchestra to create an aural experience that will take you to Marrakech (Marec), Snowdonia (Wales), and London (Albion). I like this quote found in the liner notes:

"Credit must be given to Bron-Y-Aur, a small derelict cottage in South Snowdonia for painting a somewhat forgotten picture of true completeness which acted as an incentive to some of the musical statements."

A number of the tunes are pulled from old Led Zeppelin albums and re-worked to pull in Middle Eastern and Celtic musical elements. If you like the music on No Quarter, I also recommend the concert/on location DVD.

It's Tuesday, Where are you?

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:59:00 +0000

Today my reading is taking me to London where Mr. Norrell is trying to bring magic back to England. I didn't know that fairies existed, but apparently they do and one of them has just aided in bringing a young lady back to life. Of course, a price will be extracted for this service. I'm getting the impression that you should be very careful when dealing with fairies. I think I might still be in the same place next week since the book is over 800 pages. (Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke)

Join raidergirl3 at An Adventure in Reading and let her know where you are this Tuesday.

Book Awards II Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:35:00 +0000

Book Awards II Challenge

This 10 month, 10 book challenge sounds like a great way to organize some more of my reading, so I thought I'd join in the fun. Here are the rules:

1. Read 10 award winners from August 1, 2008 through June 1, 2009.
2. You must have at least FIVE different awards in your ten titles.
3. Overlaps with other challenges are permitted.
4. You don't have to post your choices right away, and your list can change at any time.
5. "Award winners" is loosely defined; make the challenge fit your needs, keeping in mind Rule #2.
6. SIGN UP using Mr. Linky at this URL.
7. Have fun reading!

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Here are my reading choices:

American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Bram Stoker Award 2001

The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Pulitzer Prize 2007

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
The Hugo Award 2005

The World According to Garp by John Irving
The National Book Award 1980

Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss
The British Book Award 2004

Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
The Man Booker Prize 1981

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
The Hugo Award 1962

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
The Man Booker Prize 2000

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
The National Book Award 2005

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The British Book Award 2006

Sky Burial by Xinran

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:31:00 +0000

Sky Burial is Xinran's telling of Shu Wen's story of the thirty year search for her husband in Tibet. Shu Wen was only married to her husband for 3 weeks when he was called up to serve as a doctor in the People's Liberation Army. After only 100 days of marriage, Shu Wen received notice that her husband had died in Tibet. She was given no details and what she had been told led her to doubt that he was really dead. Shu Wen was herself a doctor and so she joined the army in order to get into Tibet with the hope of finding her husband. This dedicated woman spent 30 years in Tibet before she learned her husband's fate. Sky Burial is truly a love story unlike any I've ever read before. It is made more amazing by its veracity.

The sense of place and people in Sky Burial left a great impression on me. The immense landscape, and the isolation and intense spirituality of the nomadic people with whom Shu Wen lived out her years in Tibet, were a striking part of the story. I was also struck by the timelessness of the vast spaces and hardy people. That lack of time sense was a bit disconcerting to my Western mindset, but perhaps it is more reflective of the place and people than I might comprehend from my own compartmentalized life. Counting days on a calendar, or even counting seasons, would seem irrelevant in a life that needs to be lived in the present. Sky Burial provides no markers to let the reader know just how long Shu Wen was in Tibet but for her own statement that she had been in that country for 30 years.

The isolation of the Tibetan people and the vast spaces in which they lived would seem a hindrance for finding someone and gaining information, but this was not so. I was astonished that Shu Wen was able to learn her husband's fate and receive his last words in such an environment. Contrast that with her return to modern China to her family neighborhood. No one was able to provide Shu Wen with any information as to the location or fate of her parents and sister. The neighborhood itself had been razed and rebuilt 3 times in a decade and the residents had no history with the place nor the people.

Overall I found this a fascinating look into the life of a very dedicated woman and into a culture with which I have little familiarity.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

If you are interested in world music, I would suggest Sister Drum by Dadawa as a companion to your reading of Sky Burial. See my recent post about Sister Drum if interested.

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Note to other reviewers: If you've written a review for this book, please let me know by posting the permanent URL for your review in the comments. I'll be happy to add a link to your review with my post.

Also reviewed at:
Thoughts of Joy

Japanese Literature Challenge 2

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:45:00 +0000

Dolce Bellezza is hosting the second Japanese Literature Challenge. Read 3 books of your choice between July 30, 2008 and January 30, 2009. For some reading suggestions, check out this post at Dolce Bellezza.

My choices:

Out by Natsuo Kirino

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto

Sound Travels: Dadawa

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:01:00 +0000

Sister Drum
(music samples can be heard here)

The melodies and spiritual nature of Sister Drum, inspired by Tibetan culture and created by ordinary musicians, destroys the old image of Chinese music as rigid and repetitious. Tibet has long been famous for its richly colourful people and lifestyles, as well as its isolation from the outside world. This, together with the religion and Buddhist philosophy of the people, is brought out in the music. Sounds resonate and roll, underpinned by a calm, steady beat.

The composer is HE Xuntian. By his technical skill and musical knowledge he takes thoughts and turns them into feelings. The singer is ZYU Zheqin, known as Dadawa. It is she who invokes the power of the Chinese word. The spirit of Tibet which they have together discovered has opened a window on that culture. But their music will give you the impression that these sounds are coming from your own heart.

(From the liner notes of Sister Drum)

I recently read Sky Burial (see book review here), which is the true story of a Chinese woman who left China in 1958 in order to search for her husband of 100 days who had supposedly been killed in Tibet while serving in the People's Liberation Army (China). This story beautifully captures the isolation and intense spirituality of the nomadic Tibetan people as well as the immense and harsh landscape in which these people live. As I read this book, I recalled the way in which hearing Sister Drum transported me to this same amazing landscape and expressed so well the spirit of the people of Tibet. Listening to this music with my eyes closed was itself a spiritual experience.

Where is music taking you today?

It's Tuesday, Where are You?

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:04:00 +0000

Lately my reading has taken me to New York. I just left Manhattan where I was climbing the corporate ladder and pining away for someone other than my spouse. A romantic at heart, I believed in love at first sight and had many "Walter Mitty" moments. (Beginner's Greek by James Collins)

I'm just about to go to New Jersey where I will hang out with the working class, get myself into a lot of trouble, and hopefully make some money at my job as a bounty hunter. I really hope my car doesn't get blown up this time. (Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich)

Join raidergirl3 at An Adventure in Reading and let her know where you are this Tuesday.

Sound Travels

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:42:00 +0000

I grew up in the Southwest and spend some time each year in the Four Corners area of the U.S. More specifically I go to the Navajo Nation and enjoy the peace and quiet that I can experience there. One of the things I like most is the way the Navajo converse. They do not dive right into "what I came to see you about," but spend a bit of time chatting about life in general before getting down to business. They do not engage in verbal tennis and do not talk over each other or cut in when the other pauses for a breath. Conversation is not a race, but instead it is paced with one person speaking while the other listens. It is common to allow a period of silence after someone finishes speaking in order to assure that they have finished expressing their thought. I usually need a few days to slow down after leaving my own fast paced environment and the wide open spaces with endless skies and deep canyons definitely help me to adjust my pace. Sitting alone on the edge of one of my favorite canyons and watching the sun rise usually starts the de-stress process for me. It is soothing to watch and hear the earth come alive and to be reminded of the natural rhythms that we tend to dismiss in a more urban environment.

So what does all this have to do with Sound Travels? In order to allow myself mini-breaks from my sometimes frantic life, I keep a small collection of Navajo flute music on hand to listen to when I find myself needing some Southwest soothing. One of my favorites is "Canyon Trilogy" by R. Carlos Nakai.

Go here to listen and see if it transports you.

Other favorites are:
"Inside Monument Valley" by Paul Horn and R. Carlos Nakai
"Ancestral Voices" by R. Carlos Nakai and William Eaton with the Black Lodge Singers

Artist website:
R. Carlos Nakai

Where is music transporting you today?

It's Tuesday, Where are You?

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:45:00 +0000

In real life I'm at ALA picking up free books from publishers that don't want to ship them back to headquarters. Whoot! Today is the last day of the ALA Conference and I am tired. When I recover from my adventure, I'll post a picture of the book booty.

My reading is taking me to Tibet in 1958 where I am looking for my husband who has been reported dead by the Chinese People's Liberation Army. I don't believe that he is dead, so I've joined the Army myself in order to get into Tibet and search for my husband of 100 days. (Sky Burial by Xinran)

Join raidergirl3 at An Adventure in Reading and let her know where you are this Tuesday.

Sound Travels

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:27:00 +0000

Today I'm in Sao Vicente, a tiny Cape Verde island off the Western coast of Africa. I'm listening to Cesaria Evora's CD album "Cafe Atlantico" and if I close my eyes I can imagine I'm in a smoky cafe drinking a gin & tonic while the fans overhead move the air around me. The album is in Portuguese, but I don't need to know the language in order to understand the "joyous ache that sings her love to the world."

Samples from "Cafe Atlantico" can be listened to here.

Where is music transporting you today?

It's Tuesday, Where are You?

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:31:00 +0000

Today my reading is taking me to Baldwin Hills in Southern California. I occasionally leave Baldwin Hills though and go into Fairyland where the Queen of the Fairies (Titania aka Mab) is being held in a glass jar by the King of the Fairies (Oberon). Puck appears once in awhile to stir things up among the humans, as fairies are wont to do. If you think this sounds a little bit like Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream," you would be correct but I'm actually reading Magic Street by Orson Scott Card.

Join raidergirl3 at An Adventure in Reading and let her know where you are this Tuesday.

Desert Noir by Betty Webb

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:47:00 +0000

This book does indeed include noir elements as the title might suggest.

Anyone who has ever lived in the Phoenix area will recognize much of the setting. Longtime residents will appreciate the author's commentary on the changes to their hometown. The Phoenix area has changed over the years from a "big town" with clean air, wide vistas, and low crime to a sprawling metropolis with smog and the usual big city problems. The author's own heartbreak over these unflattering changes is evident through her main character, Lena.

Lena Jones is a likeable wiseass investigator who tries not to think about her tragic childhood in the foster care system. She has patchy memories of her own parents and life with them before becoming a ward of the state. She begins the book as an atheist, but a strange mystical experience in the desert as she struggles to survive leads her to believe there is something more than what is on the everyday surface of life. She's not sure what it is or what to call it, but it serves to help her avoid a consuming hatred and bitterness when faced with the evil actions of others. She is able to see the sad and tragic souls buried beneath ugly and criminal behavior and it is this that allows her to do her job compassionately.

As a first novel, I found the plot well crafted and the characters affective (yes, I do mean affective); the author makes you feel something, sometimes strongly, for each of her characters. I was a bit disappointed in the rather high number of "typos" the publisher failed to correct before printing.

A well done regional mystery. I'll be back for more from this author.

Rating: 4 out of 5

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Note to other reviewers: If you've written a review for this book, please let me know by posting the permanent URL for your review in the comments. I'll be happy to add a link to your review with my post.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:48:00 +0000

First line: "The story that follows is one I never intended to commit to paper."

The Historian is the interweaving of three stories. One from the 1930s, another from the 1950s, and the main narrative from the 1970s. The common denominator for all three stories is the quest for answers to the truth about Vlad Tepes (the Impaler), also known as Dracula. These interweaving stories involve mysterious old books, castles, crypts and a realization by the characters that the undead do exist.

Kostova provides plenty of atmosphere and uses a rather old fashioned way of revealing her story that reminds me of Bram Stoker. I'm sure this was intentional. Her novel could have easily devolved into mere cliche, but Kostova put her own twist on the vampire legend. She also avoided too much focus on the grotesque and instead created tension using the sinister. There are plenty of castle ruins, secluded monasteries, underground crypts, sinister librarians, and ominous Eastern Bloc secret police to hold the reader in suspense.

Kostova was able to use her characters to promote the idea that history is not dead and it is not just a story to be told. People actually lived and experienced the events from which we feel so removed. The horrors and the joys of the past were real to someone. Kostova also brought the historical research process to life and showed it as something active and exciting and even dangerous. The map of Cold War Europe on the front and end pages of the book was extremely helpful and gave some sense of place to the story.

At 642 pages (hardback version), the book is a commitment but I found it a good read that held my attention throughout.

Rating: 4 out of 5

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Note to other reviewers: If you have written a review of this book, please leave the permanent URL to your review in the comments section and I will be happy to add your link to my post.

Also reviewed at:
Bookworms and Tea Lovers (Samantha)
What Kate's Reading
Musing of a Bookish Kitty (Literary Feline)
The Written Word (Stephanie)

Sound Travels

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:42:00 +0000

Thank you Jo at Always Been A Dreamer for the title of my new weekly post, Sound Travels! I like what raidergirl3 does at An Adventure in Reading each Tuesday when she asks "It's Tuesday, where are you?" and thought I'd copy her idea and apply it to music listening. Like reading, music can be transporting and take us places. Feel free to join me each week at Sound Travels and let readers know what you're listening to.

Today I'm listening to Big Head Todd and the Monsters 1993 CD Sister Sweetly. I first heard this, when it was new, while sitting in a coffee house in Colorado (reading, of course) and it grabbed me right away. A few years later, I got to see this band in concert at a small to medium sized venue and still have fond memories. When I listen to this particular CD, I can actually smell the coffee and feel the wonderful Colorado mountain air again!

Big Head Todd and the Monsters is a touring band that doesn't depend on CD or download profits for their income. Because of this, they offer free downloads of their music. Go here to read about it and download some tunes.

So what are you listening to and where is it transporting you?

It's Tuesday, Where are You?

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:51:00 +0000

Where is reading taking you this week?

Today I'm in Tokyo. I'm not sure exactly what year it is, but I'm guessing it is the 1990s. I've come all the way from 1934 to get here and I am now the Empress of Japan. I started out as a commoner and wed the Crown Prince. When he became Emperor, I became Empress. My only son will not marry unless a certain girl agrees to be his wife and Crown Princess. She, like me, is a commoner and is afraid to leave her own life and become a part of the Imperial Family. In the interests of the continuation of the Imperial Family, I must convince her to marry my son. (The Commoner by John Burnham Schwartz)

Join raidergirl3 at An Adventure in Reading and let her know where you are this Tuesday.

Weekly Geeks #7: Photo Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:17:00 +0000

A loved one doing what she does best. She didn't get to pick up her copy of the last Harry Potter until a week after everyone else, but she didn't waste any time getting started once she got her hands on the book. We didn't see her for about 24 hours after we got her home.

One of my obsessions. This is my Murakami collection, minus my copy of Norwegian Wood which is currently traveling. The background items are from Japan in the 1950s. My father bought the geisha doll and the silk painting while he was stationed there and brought them home to my grandmother. I am now the loving keeper of these treasures.

Other Weekly Geeks:
I visited Bride of the Book God and admired her very comfy looking reading chair.

I also visited Terri at Reading, Writing and Retirement to see her solution to reading temptation.

Deweymonster at The Hidden Side of a Leaf sponsors Weekly Geeks. To see a list of others participating in Weekly Geeks #7 go here.

Transported ...

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 03:16:00 +0000

Today I came home from a long day at work, put a CD in the player, poured a glass of chardonnay from my favorite Edna Valley winery, sunk into my couch, closed my eyes ... and listened. I was slowly soothed and transported.

Each week I play along with raidergirl3 at An Adventure in Reading to write about where my reading is taking me that week. It's an appropriate question since any reader will tell you that they do indeed "travel" through various time periods, cultures, and geographies when they read. Some of us even leave the planet or reality as we know it. Music has a similar effect on me. I'm transported. I'm enchanted and held spellbound. I'm carried away by overwhelming emotion. Not all music has this effect, but much of what I listen to does indeed have the capacity to move me this way.

These thoughts led me to the idea that I might like to do a weekly post about the music I'm listening to. I'm not sure what this weekly post should be called, so if any of you have ideas for naming this pursuit, please make suggestions. I would also love it if you would join me each week. I'm always interested in what people are listening to.

So ... what was I listening to this evening? You didn't think I'd go away without telling you, did you?

Madredeus: O Espirito Da Paz
(the link should give you the opportunity to hear samples)

Madredeus is a Portuguese group of six that includes voice, classical guitar, cello, accordion, and keyboards. There are strong elements of fado here, but may be classified by some as classical. A sense of sadness and longing come across without becoming unbearably heavy. It is powerful and emotional and the voice of Teresa Salgueiro is heavenly. The lyrics are in Portuguese, but it is not necessary to understand the language to get the message of the music. Truly breathtaking.

What music is transporting you today?

It's Tuesday, Where are You?

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:13:00 +0000

This Tuesday my reading is taking me back and forth in time and place. I am alternately in Istanbul in the 1950s and somewhere in southern France in the 1970s. Istanbul is a beautiful city with a long history. Some of that history is very cruel and bloody. While in Istanbul I encounter some very sinister and dangerous people as I search for clues to the whereabouts of my beloved dissertation adviser. Southern France is very rural and I am hurrying south as I search for my historian father who I believe to be in danger. (The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova)

Join raidergirl3 at An Adventure in Reading and let her know where you are this Tuesday.

Cat Etiquette

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:27:00 +0000

more cat pictures

For your Monday enjoyment from I Can Has Cheezburger.

Rusalka by C.J. Cherryh

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:25:00 +0000

Rusalka is a fantasy set in pre-Christian Russia. Cherryh creates plenty of atmosphere as her characters Pyetr and Sasha flee trouble in Vojvoda during the darkness of winter and find themselves at the mercy of a powerful wizard in a dead forest. Pyetr, who was mortally wounded as he fled, has ironically been healed and returned to life by a magic he denies exists ... a skeptic. Sasha believes in magic and lives at its mercy until he discovers that he is a wizard and must learn how to direct the powerful forces that flow through him.

Despite their differences, Pyetr and Sasha are devoted to each other. Street-wise Pyetr is determined to protect the younger and naive Sasha from those who would take advantage of his innocence, and Sasha refuses to leave Pyetr alone and unprotected from the powerful magic that he vehemently denies. Pyetr relies on his wits to shield him from misfortune. Sasha is determined to avoid trouble by learning to carefully control his powerful thoughts. Together they learn that neither wits nor careful manipulation will protect them from the uncertainties of life and that there is nothing more powerful than a good and loyal friend.

Pyetr and Sasha will need to rely on each other if they are to survive the ordeal that awaits them. They encounter various magical spirits that inhabit this dark forest while constrained by the will of Uulamets, the wizard. These spirits are quite fickle and most times very dangerous. Along with these not-so-benevolent spirits, the forest is haunted by the ghost of a young murdered woman. She is a rusalka and she is the daughter of Uulamets. The rusalka doesn't want to be dead and so must drain the life from anything or anyone in order to maintain existence until her father can bring her back to life.

Cherryh uses Slavic folklore, with its heavy emphasis on magical power, to tell the story of a different kind of power ... the power of friendship. This is the strength of Rusalka. Cherryh's ability to create an atmospheric novel is one of her strong points as a writer. She can also generate an intensity that leaves you gasping and dreaming strange dreams at night. That said, I was disappointed with this novel. The struggle of wills revealed through the dialogue between characters was meant to build and create that intensity I just mentioned, but instead I found the conversations repetitive and tedious. I couldn't wait for the characters to stop their constant bickering and for Cherryh to just get on with some action instead. I generally like Cherryh's books a lot, so I'm a bit baffled by my ambivalence toward this novel. Perhaps I wasn't in the right mood for this one, so I'm glad that this was not my first experience with Cherryh.

Rating:
4 out of 5 for story and atmosphere
2 out of 5 for the dialogue
3 out of 5 overall

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Note to reviewers: If you've written a review of this book, please leave the permanent URL to your review in the comments and I will include a link to it in my post.

Also reviewed at:
Things Mean a Lot (nymeth): Rusalka, Chernevog

Lot's of tagging goin' on ...

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 02:23:00 +0000

Tagged again! This time E. Peevie at The Green Room tagged me with the following questions:

1) What was I doing 10 years ago?
Pretty much what I'm doing now. I'm boring. Same job, same home, same trips to Colorado. That was the year I bought my first car; previous to that Mr. Distortion and I walked, rode our bikes (as in the self-powered kind), took the bus, and shared one car.

2.) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):
Today, which is almost over ...watch Dr. Who, watch Battlestar Galactica, write a book review, sleep. Tomorrow morning ... shop for a dress to wear at my sister's wedding.

3) Snacks I enjoy:
Cafe latte, something chocolatey, Trader Joe's fake cheetos.

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
Buy a house on a mountain lake, get Mr. Distortion set up with his own recording studio, make sure my mom is financially secure, invest, donate.

5) Places I have lived:
Toledo, Phoenix, Glendale, Fullerton. I've spent so much time in Colorado that I feel like I've lived there too.

6.) Jobs I have had:
Tutor, waitress, CRT operator, administrative assistant, wire operator, assistant operations manager, interim operations manager, library paraprofessional, librarian/professor, consultant.

California Girl by T. Jefferson Parker

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:34:00 +0000

On the surface, California Girl is a well written crime novel. It will particularly appeal to those who have a familiarity with Orange County, California and are interested in a story that captures the atmosphere of the OC of the 1950s and 60s with its orange groves, hippie culture, and drive-in churches. There are cameo appearances by California icons Timothy Leary, Charles Manson, and Richard Nixon. Just the local interest and plot action are enough to make this a worthwhile read, but the author has gone a step further and woven some thoughtful issues throughout the setting and plot.

Telling the truth can be painfully difficult and this becomes a noticeable theme throughout the novel. This seemingly black and white concept becomes shades of gray when seen in the context of the story and the lives of the characters who find that they may hurt good people and reward the despicable if they tell the truth. A minor, yet not insignificant theme, is the struggle of growing up in a counter culture such as that of the 1960s. Thoughts and ways of life changed rapidly during this period and created much personal and societal upheaval. I appreciated that Parker never trivialized these themes or turned them into cliches.

This was my first T. Jefferson Parker novel and my experience would lead me to seek out other books by this author.

Rating: 4 out of 5

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Note to other reviewers: If you have written a review of this book, please leave the permanent URL to your review in the comments section and I will be happy to add your link to my post.

It's Tuesday, Where are You?

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:37:00 +0000

This week my reading isn't taking me far from where I live, but it is taking me to a much less populated and conservative version of that land. I'm in Orange County, California ... mostly in Tustin and Laguna Beach ... in 1968. I've met Timothy Leary, Charles Manson, and Richard Nixon. I'm hoping that Detective Nick Becker finds the person who murdered the beautiful 19 year old Janelle Vonn and I'm watching David Becker as his drive-in church ministry grows to a congregation of thousands. I'm disturbed that journalist Andy Becker has been blackmailed by a slimeball news publisher into writing a signed op-ed piece criticizing his detective brother Nick. Yes, Orange County has never been so exciting. I should know ... I live here!
(California Girl by T. Jefferson Parker)

Where are you today?

Join raidergirl3 at An Adventure in Reading and let her know where you are.

Look! It's a Scrolling List!

noreply@blogger.com (Terri B.) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:07:00 +0000

Yes, I have been playing with my blog template again. This time I've added a scrolling list of book bloggers in the sidebar! Of course I went to my new favorite website and I used this tip sheet to add the scrolling links and this tip sheet to add coding to make the scrolling list stop when you mouse over the list. Tips for New Bloggers is making me actually look like I know what I'm doing!

Please let me know if I'm a visitor to your book blog and I've forgotten to add you to this list.