1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, 61-90

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die

It’s time for another update on my music project.  Last summer I started using this book as a guide to explore music with my son.  Gage has been a party to some of the journey, but not all.  I try to play at least parts from every album for him, except the explicit ones, and some he likes and some he covers his ears.  He is probably more discerning than I am.  This post is more for me than you because I know that these lists can get boring, but feel free to comment if I’ve listened to a favorite of yours (whether I liked them or not :)).  Happy listening.

Simon & Garfunkel  are responsible for 2 albums this round and have 7 of my all-time favorite songs.  I was already a fan and loved hearing these albums again. Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966)   Scarsborough Fair, Patterns, Homeward Bound, and For Emily

and Bridge over Troubled Water (1970)  Bridge Over Troubled Water, If I Could, The Boxer

I discovered new favorites, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and their album It’s a Blitz (2009), liked the whole album, but especially Runaway.  The XX were new to me as was their XX (2009) album, VCR was probably my favorite song.  The Flaming Lips had two albums and I really liked Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (2002), more so than The Soft Bulletin (1999) but I found them both so relaxing and look forward to listening to them again.  And since I listened to a lot of Bob Dylan it makes since that I also listened to The Band, his backup singers, and their two albums on the list, Music from Big Pink (1968) and The Band (1969), enjoying the former more. Franz Ferdinand’s Franz Ferdinand (2004) was fresh and funky.

Somehow I’ve become a bit of a Neil Young fan which I feel good about since he is currently taking a stand against GMOs and the companies that support them. There were 7 albums on the list and I listened to 4 this time around.  My favorite was After the Gold Rush (1970) with Tell Me Why being my favorite song.  Tonight’s the Night (1975) felt more bluesy? but I liked it, especially Tonight’s the Night, part 2.  Harvest (1972) was great too and I liked the personal The Needle and the Damage Done.  And Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s Rust Never Sleeps (1979) album made the cut, with My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) a thoughtful and beautiful song.

I also got a bit of a Bob Dylan education since 7 of his albums made the cut. I made it through five this go round and liked them more that I thought I would.  Blonde on Blonde (1966) had the favorite Just Like a Woman and the fun Everybody Must Get Stoned.  Loved Highway 61 Revisited (1965) and the classic Like a Rolling Stone.  Blood on the Tracks (1975) was good but it was by this time I realized that while I could listen to the Beatles’ albums back to back, it didn’t really work for Dylan, but I did like A Simple Twist of Fate. The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963) had the iconic and original Blowin’ in the Wind Bringing It All Back Home (1965) and Subterranean Blues was probably a favorite.

A few that I knew I loved before I listened again. Rumours (1977) by Fleetwood Mac had the popular Don’t Stop.  The Doors (1967) by The Doors had Break On Through and Light My Fire.

Amazingly, at the age of 43 and 20 years after the album’s release, I became a fan of Tupac’s Me Against the World (1995).  I liked his song to his mother, Dear Mama, Me Against the World, and Temptations, but my favorite was So Many Tears.

The ‘Boys’ were somewhere in the middle for me. The Beastie Boys had Licenced To Ill (1986) with the throwback Girls and Paul’s Boutique (1989) with Hey Ladies.  While I liked Pet Sounds (1966) by the Beach Boys it wasn’t as upbeat as I thought it would be, especially for a group whose name screams fun in the sun.

And then there were the ones I just didn’t care for all that much. Surprisingly, I didn’t like The B-52’s (1979) by the B-52’s, just too over the top for me, I guess.  Hot Rats (1969) by Frank Zappa and The Yes Album (1971), Close To the Edge (1972) and Fragile (1971) by Yes were a little instrument heavy for me.  And as much as I loved Tupac, I very much disliked Dr. Dre’s The Chronic (1992).  Any time you have to resort to having sex on an album it negates everything else (and I didn’t really like anything else anyway).


List of the albums we listened to from the book(The Visitors by ABBA, Back to Black and Highway to Hell by AC/DC, 21 by Adele, Pump and Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith, School’s Out by Alice Cooper, Dirt by Alice in Chains, Among the Living by Antrax, Tidal by Fiona Apple, Funeral by Arcade Fire, The B-52’s by the B-52’sThe Band and Music From Big Pink by The Band, The Atomic Mr. Basie by Count Basie,Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys,  Licensed to Ill and Paul’s Boutique by the Beastie Boys, Abbey Road, The Beatles (white album),  A Hard Day’s Night, Revolver, Rubber Soul, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, With the Beatles by The Beatles, Parallel Lives by Blondie, Boston by Boston, Station to Station by David Bowie, Crosby Stills & Nash by Crosby Stills & Nash, The Doors by The Doors, The Chronic by Dr. Dre, Blonde on Blonde, Blood on the Tracks, Bringing It All Back Home, Freewheelin’ Bob DylanHighway 61 Revistedby Bob Dylan,  Eagles and Hotel California by The Eagles, Seldom Seen Kid by Elbow, The Marshal Mathers LP andThe Slim Shady LP by Eminem, Sweet Dreams by Eurythmics, The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips, Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, Frampton Comes Alive by Peter Frampton, Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand, So and Melt by Peter Gabriel, Appetite for Destruction by Guns N’ Roses, Darklands and Psychocandy by The Jesus and Mary Chain, Tapestry by Carole King,  Destroyer by KISS, Tragic Songs of Life by the Louvin Brothers, Illmatic by Nas, Red Headed Stranger and Star Dust by Willie Nelson, In Utero, MTV Unplugged in New York, and Nevermind by Nirvana, Ready to Die by The Notorious B.I.G.,  Straight Outta Compton by NWA, Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd, Regatta de  Blanc and Synchronicity by The Police, Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley, 2112 by Rush, Bridge Over Troubled Water and Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme by Simon & Garfunkel,  Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim and In the Wee Small Hours by Frank Sinatra, System of a Down by System of a Down, Dear Science by TV on the Radio,  Me Against the World by Tupac, All That You Can’t Leave Behind, Joshua Tree, and War by U2, Velvet Underground & Nico by Velvet Underground, Back to Black by Amy Winehouse, XX by The XX,  It’s a Blitz! by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Close To the Edge, Fragile and The Yes Album by Yes,  After the Gold Rush, Harvest, and  Tonight’s the Night by Neil Young, Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Hot Rats by Frank Zappa) 90/1001

Linkup to my past posts

1-10, 11-30 31-60

What I Know For Sure by Oprah Winfrey

What I Know For SureWhat I Know For Sure. Finished 5-18-15, rating 4.5/5, inspirational, pub. 2014

From all her experiences, she has gleaned life lessons—which, for fourteen years, she’s shared in O, The Oprah Magazine’s widely popular “What I Know For Sure” column, a monthly source of inspiration and revelation.
 
Now, for the first time, these thoughtful gems have been revised, updated, and collected in What I Know For Sure, a beautiful cloth bound book with a ribbon marker, packed with insight and revelation from Oprah Winfrey. Organized by theme—joy, resilience, connection, gratitude, possibility, awe, clarity, and power—these essays offer a rare, powerful and intimate glimpse into the heart and mind of one of the world’s most extraordinary women—while providing readers a guide to becoming their best selves. Candid, moving, exhilarating, uplifting, and frequently humorous, the words Oprah shares in What I Know For Sure shimmer with the sort of truth that readers will turn to again and again.

from Goodreads

 “While I was waiting on God, God was waiting on me. He was waiting on me to make a decision to either pursue the life that was meant for me or be stifled by the one I was living.” – Oprah

I’ve never considered myself an Oprah fan.  Sure there are things that I like about her, she does good things and sends positive energy out into the cold, cruel world, but every time I watched her show she seems both sincere and out-of-touch.  But Kathy said she liked this one and the audio was short (only 4 cds) and read by Oprah herself so I thought I’d give it a listen.  I’m so glad that I did.

Oprah has many gifts and one is the power of communication.  I loved listening to her read her short columns from O Magazine about the things in life that she knows for sure.  It was like having Oprah sitting in the car with me (much like the cross-country road trip she takes with best friend Gayle that she talks about in the book) telling me to live my best life.  As often as I get pulled into the drudgery and annoyances of everyday life, it was such a breath of fresh air to hear Oprah tell me to open my eyes and live my best life.

There may have been no brand new lessons, we’ve heard many of these things before, but Oprah sharing her varied experiences and what they taught her left me with a smile on my face as well as in my heart.  Inspiring and positive and definitely worth a listen.

Scrambled Johns – guessing closed

Okay, I’ve been negligent in posting quizzes these past few weeks and I have no excuse except that I have been very busy (and sick so that doesn’t help).  We’ll see if I can get another week or two in and then crown a winner for this round.

No Googling or looking at other commenter answers.  Yes, we’re going by the honor system 🙂  Play every week or just one time, you are always welcome 🙂  It only takes once to be eligible for a prize.

Leave your guesses as a comment. Good luck!!

There are lots of Johns who have written bestselling books. I scrambled the title of one of their books and their last names.

1. A EIMT OT LILK – John MSIARGH  A Time To Kill by John Grisham

2. GOOKINL ROF AAALSK – John EERNG   Looking For Alaska by John Green

3. A RAYPER ORF WENO NEAYM – John RINGIV   A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving

4. STEA FO EEDN – John TECKBSEIN    East of Eden by John Steinbeck

5. LURES FO REYP – John FANDORDS   Rules of Prey by John Sandford

6. HET YOB NI TEH TRIPDES JAMASPA – John YNEBO   The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

7. NIGHTMID NI HET DENGAR FO DOGO NAD VILE – John BEERTND   Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

8. HET KOBO FO STOL INGTHS – John NNOOLLCY    The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly

9. THNOR NAD OUTSH – John KESJA   North and South by John Jakes

10. RINO SHOUE – John THAR   Iron House by John Hart

11. UFFSER ETH CILDHREN – John AULS   Suffer the Children by John Saul

12. A FEDERCONACY FO CUNDES – John KEENNDY LOOTE   A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

May’s Movies

A very manly movie month, well except for Pitch Perfect.  Did you see anything good this month?

Now it’s your turn.  Add your 5 words (or less!) to mine and earn $1 for charity.  Once we get to $100 the person with the most reviews will choose the charity.  Click here to see the past winners, the charities they chose and the other reviews you can add to.  Anyone is welcome to join in at any time.

We’re up to $92!!

I hope that you will take a few minutes to participate when you can each month.  It’s fun for me and for everyone else who reads it.  I’m not looking for a critical review, just a few words about how you felt about the movie.  This is ongoing so you can leave your 5 words anytime.

Cars 2006.jpgCars, 2006 (voices-Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Paul Newman, Larry the Cable Guy, Tony Shaloub)   Grade B+

Cute, although it was racing 🙂

Cutest car movie ever – voices!  (Kay)

Fun and sweet. True friendship.  (Heather)

My favorite animated movie ever!  (Vicki)


Avengers Age of Ultron.jpgAvengers:Age of Ultron, 2015 (Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner)             Grade B

Avengers take on artificial intelligence!

You had me at Avengers!!  (Kay)

Excellent..plus all the hotties!  (Michelle)


Pitch Perfect movie poster.jpgPitch Perfect, 2012 (Cast-Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Skylar Astin, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Elizabeth Banks)     Grade B-

Cheesy but oh so fun.

Love that acapella singing – funny!   (Kay)

They had me at singing!  (Michelle)  

I ended up loving it!  (Vicki)


Furious 7 poster.jpgFurious 7, 2015 (Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris, Tyrese Gibson, Kurt Russell, Jason Stratham)    Grade C-

Just don’t get this franchise.

Franchise oddly appealing to me.  (Kay)

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)The Secret Garden. Finished audio 5-12-15, rating 2.5/5, children’s fiction, pub. 1911

What secrets lie behind the doors at Misselthwaite Manor? Recently arrived at her uncle’s estate, orphaned Mary Lennox is spoiled, sickly, and certain she won’t enjoy living there. Then she discovers the arched doorway into an overgrown garden, shut up since the death of her aunt ten years earlier. Mary soon begins transforming it into a thing of beauty–unaware that she is changing too. But Misselthwaite hides another secret, as Mary discovers one night. High in a dark room, away from the rest of the house, lies her young cousin, Colin, who believes he is an incurable invalid, destined to die young. His tantrums are so frightful, no one can reason with him. If only, Mary hopes, she can get Colin to love the secret garden as much as she does, its magic will work wonders on him.

from Goodreads

Unabridged audio read by Finola Hughes. 8.5 hours.

PARTY POOPER ALERT!

This beloved children’s classic, that details the healing of the spoiled, irritating Mary Lennox and her similarly unlikable cousin Colin, can certainly be appreciated as a coming of age story. Mary had bad parents who died and she was shipped off to an equally distant uncle in the lonely moors of England. Spending time with the saintly Dickon and the robin who communicates with them (my two favorite characters of the book) helped to turn these two brats (Mary and Colin) into good kids.

The idea of nature being a healer was a good one and I liked the transformation of the children and even the adults.  Spending days working in a secret garden is certainly something that holds a magical appeal to lots of people.  And Burnett’s writing did make me feel like I was on the moor and the isolated nature of it really brought home the lavishness of the garden they were creating.

Let me say a word about the narration because I do think it’s possible it contributed to this book leaving me cold.  Mary and Colin’s voices were so whiny and irritating all the way through that even as they grew into better kids they were still grating on my nerves.  This might not have happened if I had read the book.

Mary did manage to grow on me a bit and the end was as expected for a children’s book, but I was bored most of the time.  It moved too slow and add that to the annoying narration and it just didn’t work for me.  I read the reviews of the people who loved it (almost everyone!) and in theory I should have loved it too. Oh well, maybe my next classic for The Classics Club will be a better fit.

So what was your favorite part of the book?  Did you like the audio if you listened to it?

The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson

The BooksellerThe Bookseller. Finished May 13, 2015, rating 4/5. fiction, 338 pages, pub. 2015

Nothing is as permanent as it appears . . .

Denver, 1962: Kitty Miller has come to terms with her unconventional single life. She loves the bookshop she runs with her best friend, Frieda, and enjoys complete control over her day-to-day existence. She can come and go as she pleases, answering to no one. There was a man once, a doctor named Kevin, but it didn’t quite work out the way Kitty had hoped.

Then the dreams begin.

Denver, 1963: Katharyn Andersson is married to Lars, the love of her life. They have beautiful children, an elegant home, and good friends. It’s everything Kitty Miller once believed she wanted—but it only exists when she sleeps.

Convinced that these dreams are simply due to her overactive imagination, Kitty enjoys her nighttime forays into this alternate world. But with each visit, the more irresistibly real Katharyn’s life becomes. Can she choose which life she wants? If so, what is the cost of staying Kitty, or becoming Katharyn?

from Goodreads

 

I received this from the publisher courtesy of She Reads and they rarely lead me to a bad book.  I think in the almost two years I’ve been receiving books every month or so chosen by She Reads there has only been one I didn’t care for that much.  Kudos to Marybeth and Ariel for finding such great books for us.

The dual storylines of Kitty and Katharyn were not difficult to follow, even as the lines blurred, and for the most part worked for me.  I am not giving too much away (I don’t think) to say that I was surprised at the autism aspect in one of the storylines. It was difficult for me to read because it was so…stereotypical?  And cold, definitely not something I’ve seen come up in a 1960’s novel.  As someone with first hand experience, it spoke both truth and not, like most difficult issues I suppose.

I liked Kitty, mostly, but not so much Katharyn and then I wasn’t sure about Kitty.  The pages kept turning and even though I knew where it would end by halfway through, I was still anxious to get there.  This is a terrific debut novel and sure to please book lovers, especially those that dream of opening up their own bookstore someday!

Sundays with Gage – Happy and a great time for a Mom ‘vacation’

IMG_3217[1]IMG_3218[1]IMG_3222[1]IMG_3223[1] IMG_3224[1]

Autism can be a series of highs and lows.  When I last talked about it in March we were coming out of some hard months and justlikethat we got this cutie who has been happy ever since.  He’s pictured here with his favorite tutor/babysitter Meagan who has been with us for almost two years.  (Prepare yourself for a tearful post when I talk about us losing 3 of his ABA tutors within a week, but not yet)  I met and now am Facebook friends with a very gifted autistic young man and at least once a week one his posts includes, “I feel gleeful!”  And that pretty much sums up where we are right now.  Gage is back to his loveable, stubborn self and I feel gleeful.

Two months ago when things were rougher around here I decided to take the plunge and sign up for the Autism One Conference in Chicago.  The conference is this week and I’m excited.  I plan on lots of sessions on diet and toxicity and many more on cutting edge treatments.  This conference treats autism as a medical condition and I’m ready to learn.  My cousin from Kentucky will be joining me and I look forward to some quality girl time.  I leave early Tuesday and won’t return until Saturday after Gage is in bed.  That’ll be the longest I’ve been away from both of my guys ever.

I couldn’t do this without my extraordinary parents who are taking over Gage duty this week.  I am always grateful for all the love and support they give me and Gage and Jason.  It’s been over a year since they moved to be closer to us and we couldn’t be happier.  I am sounding awesomely gleeful aren’t I?

So, tell me, what is making you gleeful today?

The Hard Way by Lee Child

The Hard Way (Jack Reacher Series #10)The Hard Way. Finished 4-26-15, rating 3.5/5, thriller, pub. 2006

Unabridged audio read by Dick Hill.  12 hours.

Jack Reacher series #10  (Killing Floor) (Die Trying) (Tripwire) (Running Blind) (Echo Burning) (Without Fail) (Persuader) (The Enemy) (One Shot)

Jack Reacher was alone, the way he liked it, soaking up the hot, electric New York City night, watching a man cross the street to a parked Mercedes and drive it away. The car contained one million dollars in ransom money. And Edward Lane, the man who paid it, will pay even more to get his family back. Lane runs a highly illegal soldiers-for-hire operation. He will use any amount of money and any tool to find his beautiful wife and child. And then he’ll turn Jack Reacher loose with a vengeance–because Reacher is the best man hunter in the world.

 

from Goodreads 

The last one was one of my favorites of the series so maybe that’s why this one fell a little short with me.  Reacher was still his ex-military, loner with a taste for justice self, but the focus this time around was fully centered on the kidnapping and while that was fine, it didn’t really elevate it above any other thriller.  Well, except for Reacher, he always elevates the story I suppose.  I just wanted more of him and his vigilante ways.  It goes without saying that he was able to convince a woman to sleep with him (I feel like every Reacher book should start with a disclaimer telling women reading the book not to try this at home – Do Not Sleep With Drifters Especially Ones With A Menacing Presence And No One To Vouch For Their Character). Anyway, the mystery part of the book was fine, with an interesting ending location, but it only left me wanting to read the next one since I didn’t quite get my fill of the badass Reacher that I’ve come to love.

So, how many of you are Reacher fans?  Are you obsessed with reading them in order like I am?

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

The ReaderThe Reader. Finished 4-25-15, rating 5/5, fiction, pub. 1995

Unabridged audio read by Campbell Scott. 4 hours, 30 minutes

Hailed for its coiled eroticism and the moral claims it makes upon the reader, this mesmerizing novel is a story of love and secrets, horror and compassion, unfolding against the haunted landscape of postwar Germany.
When he falls ill on his way home from school, fifteen-year-old Michael Berg is rescued by Hanna, a woman twice his age. In time she becomes his lover–then she inexplicably disappears. When Michael next sees her, he is a young law student, and she is on trial for a hideous crime. As he watches her refuse to defend her innocence, Michael gradually realizes that Hanna may be guarding a secret she considers more shameful than murder.

from Goodreads

I watched the movie made from this book in 2009 when it came out because I love Kate Winslet and I ended up being very moved by it.  And it was with those images in my mind that I listened to the book expertly narrated by Campbell Scott. He became the young and then the adult Michael for me.  Between the movie and Campbell’s narration there was a warmth and richness to this story that I don’t know if I would have found in reading the book alone.  At just over 200 pages it tackled a lot and much of it had to be personally considered by the reader.  What I’m saying is that I can vouch for the audio, but I don’t know it I would have loved it as much if I had read the book alone.

The first part is the love? story between the 15 year old Michael and the 30 something old Hanna.  I didn’t ever truly figure out the why of it on her end, but it’s an easier sell for a 15-year-old boy to be captivated by a woman who teaches him all about sex .  I found it realistic especially since as he started to spend more time with his peers he began to question Hanna’s place among them.

Flash forward a few years and Michael is at university studying law and his class is studying a trial of women accused of Nazi crimes and he sees Hanna for the first time since he was 15.  She was a guard for one of the concentration camps and now must face her day in court.  Michael is riveted and doesn’t miss a day.

I loved this for how much it manages to pack into such a short book.  There was the strange physical relationship between the two, but then it moved into things more thought-provoking, horrifying and sad.  It’s a great book for discussion and those who are interested in post-war Germany.  Not a happy book, but one that left me satisfied and enriched.

I will probably have to watch the movie again now because from what I remember the two almost the same.

Monday Mailbox – May 11

mmb-300x282Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day, I sure did.  Brunch with my mom and then the theater with Gage, Jason and my parents made a nice day.

For those of you who participate in my weekly quizzes, you’ll see an answer to the current quiz here so feel free to go back an add an answer 🙂

mm511

The Accidental Bestseller by Wendy Wax (this was a Goodreads win)

Once upon a time four aspiring authors met at their very first writers’ conference. Ten years later they’re still friends, survivors of the ultra-competitive New York publishing world. Mallory St. James is a workaholic whose bestsellers support a lavish lifestyle. Tanya Mason is a single mother juggling two jobs, two kids, and too many deadlines. Faye Truett is the wife of a famous televangelist and the author of inspirational romances: no one would ever guess her explosive secret. Kendall Aims’s once-promising career is on the skids-and so is her marriage. Her sales are dismal, her new editor detests her work-and her husband is cheating. Barely able to think, let alone meet her final deadline, Kendall holes up in a mountain cabin to confront a blank page and a blanker future. But her friends won’t let her face this trial alone. Together they collaborate on a novel using their own lives as fodder, assuming no one will ever discover the truth behind their words.

Losing Faith by Adam Mitzner (this was a win from Under My Apple Tree)

Aaron Littmann, the chairman of one of the country’s most prestigious law firms, has just been contacted by a high-profile defense attorney, whose client is Nikolai Garkov, a Russian businessman arraigned on terrorism charges for pulling the financial strings behind recent treasonous acts. The attorney informs Aaron that Garkov is looking to switch representation and will pay one hundred thousand dollars just to take the meeting. But Aaron doesn’t have any choice, as Garkov is ready to go public with the damning evidence that Aaron and the judge in the high-profile case—Faith Nichols—had a torrid affair during another recent case.

The Stranger by Harlan Coben (I purchased this)

The Stranger appears out of nowhere, perhaps in a bar, or a parking lot, or at the grocery store. His identity is unknown. His motives are unclear. His information is undeniable. Then he whispers a few words in your ear and disappears, leaving you picking up the pieces of your shattered world.

Adam Price has a lot to lose: a comfortable marriage to a beautiful woman, two wonderful sons, and all the trappings of the American Dream: a big house, a good job, a seemingly perfect life.

Then he runs into the Stranger. When he learns a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne, he confronts her, and the mirage of perfection disappears as if it never existed at all. Soon Adam finds himself tangled in something far darker than even Corinne’s deception, and realizes that if he doesn’t make exactly the right moves, the conspiracy he’s stumbled into will not only ruin lives—it will end them.

Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth (sent to me by the publisher)

The amazing power and truth of the Rapunzel fairy tale comes alive for the first time in this breathtaking tale of desire, black magic and the redemptive power of love.

So, did anything fun arrive in your mailbox  this week?