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.

The Broken Window, by Jeffery Deaver

September 3, 200911 Comments

Finished 8-31-09, rating 4.5/5, mystery, pub. 2008

“But tell me if those benefits are worth somebody knowing every detail about your life. Maybe you don’t care, provided you save a few bucks. But do you really want ConsumerChoice lasers scanning your eyes in a movie theater and recording your reactions to those commercials they run before the movie? Do you want the RFID tag in your car key to be available to the police to know that you hit a hundred miles an hour last week?”

Chapter 23

This is the 8th book in the Lincoln Rhyme series

Quadriplegic forensic specialist Lincoln Rhyme is back with his most personal case to date. His cousin, Arthur, has been arrested for murder and his wife comes to Lincoln even though the two men haven’t been friends since high school. Lincoln feels the familial bond and takes a look at the case and discovers that they may be dealing with a serial killer. As Lincoln and his girlfriend, Amelia Sachs, try to prove the innocence of more than one person in prison, they become immersed in the new world of Big Brother.

SSD, Strategic Systems Datacorp, is a data mining company that specializes in knowing everything about you. No really, everything. And they do know it all. And it would not be difficult for an employee to commit awful crimes and pin them on someone else or even to steal a person’s life and destroy it piece by piece.

I loved this book. We learn more about Lincoln’s personal life than in any book since the first one and I enjoyed learning more about his childhood and family. And Amelia had her own things to deal with involving Pam, the teen from two earlier books who is now in foster care.

This book knocked it out of the park as far as scaring me to the point of paranoia. I think most people recognize that many of our individual freedoms are being stripped from us little by little, and some of us are okay with it and some of us aren’t. But this book takes it to the next level. Our whole lives are fodder for commercial gain and government dossiers. It is frightening and although this is a novel, it hits home because it is happening right now.

This book is a timely novel that will please Lincoln Rhyme fans and fans of fast paced thrillers. I loved it.

A Prison Diary, by Jeffrey Archer

September 2, 2009September 2, 20098 Comments

Finished audio 8-28-09, rating 2.5/5, non-fiction, pub. 2002

Jeffrey Archer was 29 when he became a member of British Parliament. After a bad investment and on the brink on bankruptcy he quit Parliament and started writing. After a string of bestsellers, he enters politics again as a candidate for the mayor of London. He was forced to pull out of the race when he was accused and convicted of perjury and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He was sentenced to four years. This is all the backstory to this book.

Jeffery was convicted the day that his mother died. He found solace in knowing that she passed away before she knew he had been found guilty and sentenced to jail. He spent 22 days in the high security prison of Belmarsh where he was housed with all sorts of convicts from murderers to druggies. He wrote this diary every day by hand on yellow legal pads from his small cell.

I listened to this on audio and it wasn’t until I was done and looked on Archer’s website that I realized this was Part I:Hell. There are two more parts, Purgatory and Heaven where he chronicles the rest of his two years behind bars. I will not be reading either of those. It is not because he is a person who does not summon sympathy (although he doesn’t), it is because this book was boring. And if part one is called Hell and is boring, well, how much more monotonous can parts two and three be? It claimed to be ‘shocking’ and he said repeatedly that people would be blown away. I wasn’t shocked or even really that interested to learn that he had Coco Puffs for breakfast, but preferred Kellogg’s Corn Flakes.

This is a British prison so I may have felt too removed from it to appreciate it. And maybe in the context of the British prison system this seemed excessively bad, but I didn’t get it. And Archer was only there 22 days! I guess I wondered how sheltered his life had been if his new surroundings shocked him. I mean it is prison after all.

It was well written and a had a few interesting things to say, but on the whole I was obviously disappointed.

Words Behind the Pictures Challenge

September 1, 2009September 1, 200910 Comments

I have decided to join another challenge. Yes, I a currently in 3, but I’m confident I can finish them all! Michael is hosting this fun challenge and I look forward to reading a medium that I’ve never tried before. Screenplays! I love reading and I love movies, so this sounds like a perfect challenge to me.

Words Behind The Pictures Challenge

The first Saturday of every month, from September, 2009, through to August, 2010, an electronic copy of one screenplay will be made available through this blog.

The goal is to read the screenplay and then watch the movie before the end of that month and comment on what you’ve experienced.

The more screenplays you get through, the stronger you are as a reading challenger, but you only need to do one month to consider yourself to have completed this challenge.

Of course, the more months you complete, the more chances you’ll have for winning a collection of screenplays I’ll be awarding to one random participant in August, 2010.

So, why not join me in trying something new. Head on over the A Few Minutes With Michael and sign up.

Stacy's Books

books, movies, and boy

Tag: Books