Travel Writing, by Peter Ferry

September 16, 2009September 20, 20094 Comments

Finished 9-11-09, rating 3/5, fiction, pub. 2009

See, I think that’s Pete’s problem,” said Carolyn. “He knew what was going to happen. You know what I mean? He could see it happen before it happened, and then it happened.” (Of course I now know that even if for a moment I could see what was going to happen to Lisa Kim, I had no idea what had already happened to her and would not for a long time.)

Chapter 1

High school teacher Pete Ferry (you may notice the similarity with the author’s name) sees a woman driving erratically one night and watches in horror as she crashes and dies. The police say it’s an accident, but Pete is not convinced. His guilt at not having stopped her fuels his obsession with finding out everything about that night and the victim, Lisa Kim. Pete’s distraction takes it toll on his relationship with his girlfriend of many years and he can’t seem to work up enough energy to save it.

Of course, this may all be a lie, a story. Pete is telling this story to his students so they see how a great story is pieced together, with truth and lies. What is real and what isn’t? Or is it all a dream?

This clever concept was interesting, and it mostly worked. I guess I had more of an issue with Pete. I didn’t ever quite warm up to him or understand his motivations. And if I was to take his character at face value I guess I didn’t really like him much.

I thought it was original and I liked the alternating storylines and flashbacks. It’s a solid debut that will keep you guessing to the end. I liked it enough to try this author again.

I received this book from the pubisher.

And the Winner of Killer Mousse by Melinda Wells is…

September 15, 20093 Comments

…Raelena!!!

I’ll be contacting you for your address. Thank you to all who entered!

And don’t forget to sign up for my Carly Phillips giveaway.

BBAW Interview with Marjorie of PaperTigers

September 15, 2009January 9, 201015 Comments

I was paired with Marjorie of PaperTigers. I’ll let her tell you a little about herself and her blog, but I think you’ll really enjoy stopping by the PaperTigers blog. It is fun and easy to use for recommendations and fun features. Here’s Marjorie…

1. How did your blog get its start and focus?

PaperTigers is part of Pacific Rim Voices, which aims to promote tolerance and multi-cultural understanding through books. PaperTigers focuses on children’s and YA books and we publish a web-based magazine, with regular issues on a given theme throughout the year. The blog, which we started in May 2007, was and is a great way to complement the website by expanding on current features there, as well as providing space to go beyond it! It also means we can draw together news and events from around the world and take an active part in the vibrant Kidlitosphere.

2. Can you tell us a little about the contributors?

There are currently four of us: Aline in San Francisco, Corinne in Vancouver, Sally in Winnipeg and me in a rural corner of the UK. We are all parents with, needless to say, a passion for books We haven’t all met each other in person yet – so this November will be very special, as the whole PaperTigers team is meeting up for a few days in San Francisco… You can find out more about us here… http://www.papertigers.org/wordpress/about-us/

3. What is your favorite feature of the blog?

Yikes – that’s really hard to answer! But I think what I love most is that our blog brings together so many different voices – not just in what we write ourselves but by focusing on the riches on offer from such a diverse range of writers and illustrators, and indeed those elsewhere who write about them. I am forever having to add another book to my To Be Read list – and Corinne’s monthly ‘Calendar of Events’ http://www.papertigers.org/wordpress/category/calendar-of-events/ is a veritable mine of information!

Of our own regular features, I love our Around the World in 100 Bookshelves, (http://www.papertigers.org/wordpress/category/reading-the-world/around-the-world-in-100-bookshelves/ )where parents send in photographs of their children’s bookshelves. We’re at Number 13 so far and they’ve come from Canada, Hong Kong, India, the Philippines, Sweden, and the UK… Our second bimonthly draw takes place TODAY! (ie Sept. 15^th!)

4. With the focus on children and young adult books, what are a few of your favorites so far this year?

Sticking to books that were actually published this year, three of my favorite picture-books have been Allen Say’s Erika-San (Houghton Mifflin, 2009), Etsuko Watanabe’s My Japan (Kane/Miller, 2009) and Ambellin Kwaymullina’s Caterpillar and Butterfly (Fremantle Press, 2009). Then there’s Grace Lin’s beautifully illustrated middle-reader, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon (Little, Brown and Company, 2009); and I was bowled over by the YA-adult The Holy Tortilla and a Pot of Beans: A Feast of Short Fictionby Carmen Tafolla (Wings Press, 2009).

5. What is the best part of the book blogging community?

There are just so many fabulous book blogs out there – and it really is a community, sharing ideas, pooling resources. I love the way we come together for regular features like Poetry Friday. There are some very generous people putting a lot of energy into initiatives like Carnivals, Literacy Roundups, the Cybils – and indeed BBAW. It is so easy to get drawn into following link after link, from blog to blog – and that To Be Read list is constantly being replenished!

6. Have you always loved reading? Have a favorite book growing up?

Yes, I was a total bookworm and read everywhere. My bedroom was in our attic and I had a great system of juuuuustholding down my light switch without it clicking so that my Mum would think I was asleep when she turned off the stair nightlight to check on me – then I’d carry on reading until 2 or 3 in the morning… I can’t do that anymore!

Hmmm, favorites… I swallowed Enid Blyton whole then went on to the Anne books – and once I start Anne of Green Gables I still just have to carry on until I’ve read them all; the same with Little Women and the Little House… books. As I got older, I started going back in time so that by the time I was 14, I was revelling in Walter Scott. My friends thought I was very strange! But my Mum gave me a key piece of advice, which was to skip the first couple of chapters and go back to them later… I recommend it!

7. Are you a book buyer, downloader, or borrower?

A buyer and a borrower – we’re lucky in our very small town that we have a library and a bookshop! And I love second-hand bookshops – I never know what I’m going to find and I can’t help it, I always come out with something…

8. I love quotes. Do you have a favorite?

My current favorite, which I came across when researching my article (http://www.papertigers.org/personalViews/archiveViews/MCoughlan3.html)for our current issue of PaperTigers, was said by a six-year-old child in Hong Kong: “When I hear some lovely music, I feel that I can fly”.

And one I have above my desk: “Things are getting bad – please send chocolate!”

9. If you were trapped in the life of one fictional character who would you choose?

Elizabeth Bennet…

I’m so glad that I was paired with such a wonderful blogger. Thanks, Marjorie!

MY BBAW Shortlist

September 14, 2009January 9, 201010 Comments

[BBAW_Celebrate_Books.jpg]

For the first day BBAW we are asked to highlight a few blogs that did not make a shortlist for the big awards. It is hard because I have close to 100 blogs in my Google Reader and they are all there because I like reading them! But, it’s always nice to give a shout out to other bloggers who are extra special to me. I have a 9 in ’09 feature and my interview partner for tomorrow answered 9 questions, so I think I’ll pick 9 blogs.

Margot at Joyfully Retired – Her blog makes me feel right at home. If you haven’t stopped by, you are missing out on a great blog and a great lady 🙂

Molly and Andy at The Bumbles – Fun and fresh these two always have something interesting going on.

Trupti at Violet Crush – Creative and a good mix of books.

Heather at Book Addiction – Her reviews are top notch.

Staci at Life in the Thumb– She’s a fellow midwesterner with a cool name 🙂 and her blog is a must read.

Wendy at Musings of a Bookish Kitty – She’s got a little of everything and it’s all good.

Debbie at Wrighty Reads – For some reason I am obsessed with her hammock, oh, and her other posts 🙂

Jenny at Jenny Loves to Read – I feel right at home at Jenny’s and you will too.

Michael at A Few Minutes with Michael – Wonderful new blogger who jumped right to the crazy blogging community.

Don’t see your blog on here? You might have been next. I started typing and then I realized I had 9, but I’ve still got lots of very cool and awesome blogs I want to include. But I can’t. When I get some time I need to update my blogroll which I haven’t done for ages. I guess the blogroll has my nominations, these 9 are the shortlist, and the winner is me because I get to interact with these great bloggers everyday.

Common Thread Quiz

September 14, 2009September 14, 200912 Comments

Answers to last quiz here.

What is the common denominator in these book combinations? Tell me the number and what you think the five books have in common, Go ahead and take a guess – you could be right!

First in a series – Beth F

Literary One Hit Wonders – the only novel writtne by these authors – Eva

Novels set in Alaska – Calila

Main characters are named Elizabeth – Calila

Oprah Book Club Selections – Debbie

Books made into movies starring Hugh Grant – Michael

Native American authors – Eva

Blizzard settings – Calila

Booker Prize Winners – Calila

10.

Main characters are or were football players – Calila

9 in ’09 with Carly Phillips & Book Giveaway

September 11, 2009September 6, 200958 Comments

This week, New York Times bestselling author, Carly Phillips has stopped by to answer a few questions and give away one of her books to a lucky reader. She is the author of many romances and you can visit her website here to find a list. She also has a blog with three other romance authors called Plotmonkeys that is fun and runs weekly giveaweays, you can visit it here.

Read her interview and then enter the giveaway by leaving a comment.

1. I first saw one of your books on Regis & Kelly and love your Cinderella Story about the whirlwind experience (read about it here), but you wrote ten manuscripts before being published. Can you tell us a little about your writing life during that time? I really admire your perseverance!

Thank you! During the time I was trying to sell, my daughter was a baby and also during that time I became pregnant with my second child. My writing was in between my daughter’s schedule, but I was pretty determined and motivated to sell. I lived to check the post office each day … for rejections usually, but as long as the rejection letterasked for something else or mentioned something positive in the story, I held onto hope and kept writing a new book and moving forward. RWA was also a huge part of my life at this point too, going to monthly chapter meetings. I think everyone has to find their own “normal” and schedule, especially when trying to sell and fighting the perception of others that this is a hobby and not a real job. If you want to sell, you have to incorporate the writing into your life as if it IS real. Force everyone around you to respect it as much as you do!

2. You are a lawyer turned roamce writer. Are there similarities between these two professions or are they polar opposites?

In my opinion and experience lawyer and romance writer are polar opposites. I think the only similarity is that the dedication you need to go to law school, tough it out, study for and pass the bar is like trying to sell a book. You must keep at it and keep going. But the similarities end there. I make my own hours, I answer to myself (mostly) and I love what I do. For me, that’s it in a nutshell. The ability to be creative versus put together a brief based on fact … very different. I never loved law. I love writing Romance!

3. I love a great romance and feel they often get a bad rap. What are some of your favorite reactions when people find out you write those books?

Well the shock value is always fun because I believe I am thought of as a very “good girl” and I think the perception is naughty girls write about sex. Of course it’s not just about sex it’s about LOVE and relationships and the people who are shocked by it are the ones who don’t get what Romance is.

4. What’s the best advantage of working from home? For me it might be wearing pajamas to work.

Wearing pajamas to work is a good one. Working from bed is another. Being able to watch television while I write, playing on the Internet, making my own hours … you name it! I’m very very lucky to do what I do!

5. Do you use a Kindle or other electronic reader?

When the first Kindle came out I tried it and hated it. I thought it was because I missed the feel of a book in my hands and couldn’t see what actual page number I was on. When Kindle 2 came out, I didn’t bite. But I had foot surgery a few weeks ago and bought the Kindle and all I can say is I am in LOVE. I don’t like the fact that I don’t go into bookstores, and that concerns me about e-readers, but I have to say I enjoy having whatever I want in my hand when I want it. Kindle’s Whispernet that auto-connects to Amazon is amazing.

6. I love quotes. Do you have a favorite?

I have a very short term memory on these things. Not really 😦

7. What are you currently reading?

Roxanne St Claire’s Hunt Me Down. Hooked me from the get go!

8. If you were trapped in the life of one fictional character who would you choose?

Wow. Good question! Maybe a heroine in a good romantic sports hero book!

9. And finally, what are you working on now?

Next year I have two new releases out – the start of a new series. Right now I don’t have titles so I haven’t promoted them yet – but the premise will be the idea of the most eligible bachelorspotlighted by a Blog in a major NYC newspaper. The heroes are your every day guy who gets caught in a heroic situation and gets into the Bachelor Blog. Then the women turn out for him … it’s fun and the first story is one of the favorites of my books so far! More at www.carlyphillips.com when I have titles! I promise. 🙂 And of course LUCKY BREAK is in stores September 29, 2009 so I’m working on promotion for that book!

Thanks so much for stopping by Carly!

Carly has graciously agreed to send one lucky commenter either Lucky Charm or Lucky Streak.

To enter, just leave a comment!

To earn one extra entry you can post about it on your blog and/or Twitter.

How easy is that? I’ll draw a winner on Sept 25th.

If I Stay, by Gayle Forman

September 10, 2009September 6, 200910 Comments

Finished audio 9-6-09, rating 4/5, YA, pub. 2009

I don’t read many young adult books, haven’t since I was a teenager, but I saw so many positive reviews of this one I thought I’d give it a try. I’m so glad I did! It is the wonderful story of Mia and her very cool family and friends.

Mia is in the car with her family on a snowy Oregon morning when the unthinkable happens. She wakes up on the side of the road looking at the wreckage of her life. Then the reality of her new life is and memories of her past collide and she must decide if she stays.

It is easy to get pulled into this story. Mia’s family is so fun and loving and supportive. Aging rockers, her parents are the sort that every kids wants growing up. And Mia’s boyfriend, Adam, is the perfect boy for a first love. Music is the main thread through the book highlighting its healing power and the ability it has to bring people together.

It really is hard to describe this book without giving too much away and I don’t really want to spoil it for anyone. I loved the heartfelt story and the compelling and accessible characters. A great YA book that many will appreciate. I did.

Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason, by Nancy Pearl

September 9, 2009September 13, 200911 Comments

Finished 9-3-09, rating 3.5/5, non-fiction/reference, pub. 2003

Whenever I begin reading a new book, I am embarking on a new, uncharted journey with an unmarked destination. I never know where a particular book will take me, toward what other books I will be led.

from the Introduction

I love lists and I love books, so this book with it’s very cool title made me check it out of the library. Librarian and author, Nancy Pearl, has compiled lists of books that range from Southern fiction to bicycling. Each of the more than 175 categories has a page or so written about it with her experiences and book recommendations. She has also thrown in authors who she thinks are ‘too good to miss’.

There are many things I liked about this book. Nancy obviously has a passion for reading and books and knows what she’s talking about. Too her credit I hadn’t heard of many of these books and a few made it onto my wish list. As a romance reader I loved her recommendations in the area, they are some of my favorites.The writing style is very friendly and accessible.

There are a few things that kept me from loving this book. For me, I was disappointed in how few fiction categories there were. She spent a lot of time on non-fiction topics and I think it may have been nice to do one book for each fiction and non-fiction. And writing a book of lists is essentially an impossible task. There are just too many books out there! So, one person trying to do it is hit or miss. It did get me thinking that I could compile my own lists and how much fun it would be to try.

I think this would be a great book for booksellers or librarians. And I recommend all others who lust after books to go and check this out of their library. There is also a sequel, More Book Lust.

The Xibalba Murders, by Lyn Hamilton

September 6, 20099 Comments

Finished 9-4-09, rating 3.5/5, mystery, pub.1997

Book 1 of An Archaeological Mystery series

“I cannot tell you more about it right now, but I can assure you that it is – – what is that American expression? — right up your alley, and that it will interest and possibly even excite you?”

“You’ll have to tell me more than that!” I laughed.

“This is not a subject for discussion over the telephone,” he replied. “The risk is too great.”

And then, perhaps fearing I wouldn’t come on the strength of so little information, he relented a little.

“I will give you a hint, then, since you are a student of the Maya. We seek what the rabbit writes.” And that was all he would say.

It was a ludicrous request, so of course I went.

IMIX chapter

Lara McClintoch is fresh off a bad divorce that left her jobless and a student once again. An old friend and museum expert on the Maya, Dr. Hernan Castillo, asks her to fly down from Toronto to Merida, Mexico, to aid him in a new project. She jumps at the chance to work with him and visit old family friends in the city and is soon in Merida. Only Dr. Castillo is nowhere to be found and Lara finds his dead body, casting suspicion on her in his murder. With her passport confiscated, Lara thinks the only way to clear herself is to find the killer. Instead she finds another dead body and is now under house arrest.

This is mystery is heavy into the Mayan history and the current struggles of the people trying to retain their culture. It was a little too detailed for my taste, but I did appreciate learning more about a culture I know little about. The mystery was very good. Although I suspected who might be behind the murders I did not know for sure and there were enough suspects to keep me guessing.

Lara was an interesting main character and this is the first in a series of archaeological mysteries that take her all over the world. I wouldn’t mind reading the next in the series, but I won’t be rushing out to get it.

Title Meme

September 5, 20093 Comments

This has been going around the blogs and thought I’d give it a try. Using only the titles of books you’ve read this year answer the following questions…

Describe Yourself…The Angel (that was almost too easy, LOL)

How do you feel…Salty Like Blood

Describe where you currently live…House of Many Shadows

If you could go anywhere, where would you go…The Inn at Eagle Creek

Your favorite transportation…The Time Machine

Your best friend is…Comfort & Joy

You & your friends are…Smart Women

What’s the weather like…Yesterday I Saw the Sun

Favorite time of day…Shoot the Moon

If your life was a…Pot of Gold

What is life to you…What I Did For Love

Your Fear…The Pigman

What is the best advice you have to give…Dreamers of the Day

Thought for the day…A Body to Die For

How would I like to die…Dead Sleep

My soul’s present condition…7th Heaven

Go ahead and give it a go.

Stacy's Books

books, movies, and boy

Tag: Books