Literary Fangirl Book Reviews

Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff

2010-07-14T07:45:00.000-07:00

Summary:
Sometimes, we fall in love on mission trips even though we know we’ll break up when we get back. Sometimes, you have to shot block a friend’s prayer because she’s asking God to bless an obviously bad dating relationship. Sometimes, you think, “I wish I had a t-shirt that said ‘I direct deposit my tithe’ so people wouldn’t judge me.”

Sometimes, the stuff that comes with faith is funny.

This is that stuff.

Jonathan Acuff’s Stuff Christians Like is your field guide to all things Christian. In it you’ll learn the culinary magic of the crock-pot. Think you’ve got a Metro worship leader-Use Acuff’s checklist. Want to avoid a prayer handholding faux pas? Acuff has you covered.

Like a satirical grenade, Acuff brings us the humor and honesty that galvanized more than a million online readers from more than 200 countries in a new portable version. Welcome to the funny side of faith.

About the Author:

Jonathan Acuff

For the last ten years, Jonathan Acuff has written advertising for clients ranging from the Home Depot to Chick-fil-A. In addition to his many day jobs, he also writes a blog called www.stuffchristianslike.net. He and his wife live with their two daughters outside of Atlanta, Georgia.

Learn more about Jonathan at http://stuffchristianslike.net.

Jonathan Acuff’s Facebook Profile

Follow Jonathan Acuff on Twitter

My thoughts:
Our worship pastor is a big fan of the website, so when the opportunity to snag a review copy came up, I took it. I loved it. Every word. Even then stuff that was written specifically about me and the Christianese things I do was funny! Somehow Acuff manages to shed satirical light on the Christian subculture without crossing the line into offensive or sacrilegious -- which makes this book pure art.

Also, being a church-staff wife and married to The Sound Guy, I loved the sound guy illustration. It's painfully funny. Nobody notices all the good work he does, all the times things don't go wrong because he's running up and down from sound booth to stage for five hours on Sunday morning. But when there's feedback, or a mic switched three seconds after someone starts talking? OHHHHHH RIIIIIIITTTTTE we have a sound guy.

(Myhusbandisawesome)
also
(Mychurchisawesome).

I was reluctant to let this book go to church, though. I mean, all our tech guys and girls have GREAT senses of humor and I just KNEW one of them would abscond with it. But they proved Good and True, and it was returned. They didn't even read all the words off the pages!

Anyway, TOTALLY AWESOME, especially for anyone in ministry who isn't easily offended. And really, I don't know how can be in ministry for any length of time without developing a thick skin and a good sense of humor. Fun stuff here, but it makes you think more fully about our rituals and expectations of the church.

Buy STUFF CHRISTIANS LIKE on Amazon

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Unretouched Photo
wandering, wonderings of a whacked-out woman

A Slow Burn by Mary E. DeMuth

2009-10-04T07:50:00.000-07:00

The follow-up to Mary DeMuth's Daisy Chain is here! Here's a summary and quick Q&A with Mary about the book.

She touched Daisy’s shoulder. So cold. So hard. So unlike Daisy.

Yet so much like herself it made Emory shudder.

Burying her grief, Emory Chance is determined to find her daughter Daisy’s murderer-a man she saw in a flicker of a vision. But when the investigation hits every dead end, her despair escalates. As questions surrounding Daisy’s death continue to mount, Emory’s safety is shattered by the pursuit of a stranger, and she can’t shake the sickening fear that her own choices contributed to Daisy’s disappearance. Will she ever experience the peace her heart longs for?

The second book in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy, this suspenseful novel is about courageous love, the burden of regret, and bonds that never break. It is about the beauty and the pain of telling the truth. Most of all, it is about the power of forgiveness and what remains when shame no longer holds us captive.

Where did you get the idea for the book?
I wrote the series of stories based on hearing friends of mine talk about their Christian homes that appeared great on the outside, only to hide abuse on the inside. This really bothered me. Daisy became the inciting incident to explore three people’s stories relating to authenticity and hiding. In book one, Daisy Chain, I explore a teenage boy’s perspective to a family in crisis. In book two, A Slow Burn, I examine what would it be like to have deep, deep mommy regrets enough to want to be free from them. In book three, Life in Defiance, I tell the conclusion of the story through a battered wife’s perspective.

I am not a teenage boy. Nor am I a neglectful mother. And I’m not a battered wife. But I’ve interacted with folks who are. It’s for them that I wrote these stories.

What are the major themes of the book?
You’re never too far from God’s grace and love and forgiveness. That God is a pursuing, redemptive, relentless God. He loves His children, even when they run far, far away. That Jesus comes to us in surprising packages, and sometimes we’re so bothered by appearances that we miss Him.

What kind of research did you have to do for the book?
I had to figure out how a drug addict acted and thought. I had to research what drugs do to a person, particularly the lure and the trips they take folks on. I had to get into the mind of a drug addict, which wasn’t easy for me, someone who is terrified of drugs. I created Defiance from my head and my two-year stint in East Texas.

With which character do you, personally, identify most and why?
That’s really hard. I see myself in all of them. When I feel guilty about my parenting, I relate to Emory. When I feel like an outcast, trying to do the right thing, I understand Hixon and Muriel better.

What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
That God is bigger than our sin, our regret, our hopelessness. He takes delight in intersecting the darkest of circumstances. He is there, available.

About the Author:

Mary DeMuth is an expert in the field of Pioneer Parenting. She helps Christian parents plow fresh spiritual ground, especially those seeking to break destructive family patterns. Her message guides parents who don’t want to duplicate the home where they were raised or didn’t have positive parenting role models growing up.

An accomplished writer, Mary’s parenting books include Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture, Building the Christian Family You Never Had, and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God. Her real-to-life novels inspire people to turn trials into triumphs: Watching the Tree Limbs (2007 Christy Award finalist, ACFW Book of the Year 2nd Place) and Wishing on Dandelions (2007 Retailer’s Choice Award finalist).

Mary is a frequent speaker at women’s retreats and parenting seminars, addressing audiences in both Europe and the United States. National media regularly seek Mary’s candid ability to connect with their listeners. Her radio appearances include FamilyLife Today, Moody Midday Connection, and U.S.A. Radio network. She also has articles published in Marriage Partnership, In Touch, and HomeLife.

As pioneer parents, Mary and her husband Patrick live in Texas with their three children. They recently returned from breaking new spiritual ground in Southern France where they planted a church.

Learn more about Mary at http://marydemuth.com.

A Slow Burn
Release: October 2009
Soft cover, 368 pp.
ISBN: 0310278376

Buy it on Amazon!
A Slow Burn Tour Stops

A Surrendered Heart by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller

2009-09-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

Escape into the history, opulence, and elegance of the Thousand Islands.

When cholera strikes Rochester, New York, in the spring of 1899, the members of the Broadmoor family flee to their castle home in the Thousand Islands. But Amanda Broadmoor, who has always held a special compassion for the less fortunate, resolves to remain in Rochester with Dr. Blake Carstead, working to help control the spread of the dreaded disease.

However, much more than Amanda's health hangs in the balance. Mishandling of the family fortune threatens to leave the Broadmoor family penniless--and even willing to sacrifice Amanda's future. Will she be forced to marry a man she disdains in order to save the Broadmoor legacy?

The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathleen Y'Barbo

2009-09-09T20:49:00.000-07:00

This Wild West adventure just might be the life she was meant to live.

The future is clearly mapped out for New York socialite Eugenia “Gennie” Cooper, but she secretly longs to slip into the boots of her favorite dime-novel heroine and experience just one adventure before settling down. When the opportunity arises, Gennie jumps at the chance to experience the Wild West, but her plans go awry when she is drawn into the lives of silver baron Daniel Beck and his daughter and finds herself caring for them more than is prudent–especially as she’s supposed to go back to New York and marry another man.

As Gennie adapts to the rough-and-tumble world of 1880s Colorado, she must decide whether her future lies with the enigmatic Daniel Beck or back home with the life planned for her since birth. The question is whether Daniel’s past–and disgruntled miners bent on revenge–will take that choice away from her.

North! Or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson

2009-09-09T20:39:00.000-07:00

Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby thought they were normal children with normal lives and a normal past. But now they know they’re really the Lost Jewels of Anniera, heirs to a legendary kingdom across the sea, and suddenly everyone wants to kill them.

In order to survive, the Igibys must flee to the safety of the Ice Prairies, where the lizardlike Fangs of Dang cannot follow. First, however, they have to escape the monsters of Glipwood Forest, the thieving Stranders of the East Bend, and the dreaded Fork Factory.

But even more dangerous are the jealousies and bitterness that threaten to tear them apart, and Janner and his siblings must learn the hard way that the love of a family is more important than anything else.

1. All possessing very sharp teeth.
2. Murderous scoundrels, the lot.
3. Woe!

Rose House by Tina Ann Forkner

2009-09-09T20:37:00.000-07:00

Still mourning the loss of her family in a tragic accident, Lillian Diamon finds herself drawn back to the Rose House, a quiet cottage where four years earlier she had poured out her anguish among its fragrant blossoms.

She returns to the rolling hills and lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley in search of something she can’t quite name. But then Lillian stumbles onto an unexpected discovery: displayed in the La Rosaleda Gallery is a painting that captures every detail of her most private moment of misery, from the sorrow etched across her face to the sandals on her feet.

What kind of artist would dare to intrude on such a personal scene, and how did he happen to witness Lillian’s pain? As the mystery surrounding the portrait becomes entangled with the accident that claimed the lives of her husband and children, Lillian is forced to rethink her assumptions about what really happened that day.

A captivating novel rich with detail, Rose House explores how the brushstrokes of pain can illuminate the true beauty of life.

The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love by Beth Pattillo

2009-09-09T20:31:00.000-07:00

Once a month, the six women of the Sweetgum Knit Lit Society gather to discuss books and share their knitting projects. Inspired by her recently-wedded bliss, group leader Eugenie chooses “Great Love Stories in Literature” as the theme for the year’s reading list–a risky selection for a group whose members span the spectrum of age and relationship status.

As the Knit Lit ladies read and discus classic romances like Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice, each member is confronted with her own perception about love. Camille’s unexpected reunion with an old crush forces her to confront conflicting desires. Newly widowed Esther finds her role in Sweetgum changing and is surprised by two unlikely friends. Hannah isn’t sure she’s ready for the trials of first love. Newcomer Maria finds her life turned upside-down by increasing family obligations and a handsome, arrogant lawyer, and Eugenie and Merry are both asked to make sacrifices for their husbands that challenge their principles.

Even in a sleepy, southern town like Sweetgum, Tennesee, love isn’t easy. The Knit Lit ladies learn they can find strength and guidance in the novels they read, the love of their family, their community–and especially in each other.

Fortunes of War by Gordon Zuckerman

2009-09-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

In the financial devastation of the 1930s, a greedy, power-hungry group of German industrialists plot to usher in the National Socialist Party in order to rearm Germany and reap the financial rewards. Thus rises Hitler.

With Hitler in power, the Six Sentinels, graduates of an elite American doctoral program, uncover the industrialists’ plan to hoard hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal war profits. Using their financial and familial connections around the globe, they work to foil the machinations of the financiers of the Third Reich. In a daring strategy of Robin Hood–style thievery, the sentinels put their lives on the line to serve justice—and thus become embroiled in a dangerous and violent international conspiracy.

A gripping story that escalates at every turn, The Sentinels: Fortunes of War is the first in a series that follows the Six Sentinels as they continue to alter the course of history.

The Carousel Painter by Judith Miller

2009-09-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

Carrie loves painting the beautiful carousel horses . . . but can she stand strong against the many who don't want her to keep the job?

When Carrington Brouwer receives the enviable job of painting carousel horses for a factory in Ohio, she believes her future is secure. But after an expensive necklace disappears from the home where she's been staying, she's caught up in a search for the truth that puts her entire livelihood--and her developing relationship with the factory manager--at risk. Can she lead police to the real culprit before she loses everything?

How Do I Love Thee? by Nancy Moser

2009-09-09T20:17:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Barrett is a published poet--and a virtual prisoner in her own home. Blind family loyalty ties her to a tyrannical father who forbids any of his children to marry. Bedridden by chronic illness, she has resigned herself to simply existing. That is, until the letter arrives...

"I love your verses with all my heart," writes Robert Browning, an admiring fellow poet. As friendly correspondence gives way to something more, Elizabeth discovers that Robert's love is not for her poetry alone. Might God grant her more than mere existence? And will she risk defying her father in pursuit of true happiness?

A Claim of Her Own by Stephanie Grace Whitson

2009-09-09T20:13:00.000-07:00

Determined to put the unspeakable circumstances of her past behind her, twenty-year-old Mattie O'Keefe travels to Deadwood, South Dakota, in search of her brother, whose letters boast of making a fortune in the gold fields.

Once in Deadwood, Mattie is soon convinced that gold mining will be the key to her future happiness. When a handsome street preacher speaks out against storing up treasures on earth, Mattie turns a deaf ear... until circumstances force her to decide for herself where true riches lie--and what's worth dying for.

Flowers for Elvis by Julia Schuster

2009-09-09T20:07:00.000-07:00

I came into this world and left it on the same day. I guess God knew what He was doing. Being the illegitimate daughter of a nun would have been restrictive, to say the least. Then, when you factor in that my mother was white and my father black, that they lived in the podunk town of Iuka, Mississippi, and the year was 1956—I guess I should really feel blessed to be dead.

In 1956, Olivia and her twin sister are born to a nun an old auto parts store turned convent in rural Mississippi. Little Olivia doesn’t survive the day, but her spunky spirit hangs around and takes on the role of ethereal watchdog over her twin. When the Reverend Mother—and holy guilt—convince the nun’s sister (a young pregnant newlywed) to secretly raise the baby as the twin of her own soon-to-be-born child, Olivia realizes the urgency of her presence and support. Not only is her aunt a fanatical Elvis fan, she’s a renegade Southern belle, bent on self-indulgence and desperate to safeguard her multitude of sins.

Without revealing which girl is her twin until the end, Olivia takes the reader on a flower strewn tour of misguided love and maternal betrayal which culminates at Elvis’ funeral, where they finally discover the truth of their parentage and unravel the generations of secrets that shadowed their lives.

Flowers For Elvis is quirky Southern fiction with a literary edge, surprising humor and an uplifting spirit.

Passeggiata by GG Husak

2009-09-09T19:57:00.000-07:00

Ms. Husak’s memoir of travels to Italy with her husband will appeal to those who love travel in general and Italy in particular. Their journeys are both personal and universal. From their first shared trip to Italy in 1993, which marked the first of their empty nest years, their annual passeggiata reflects the shift in their lives through the next decade. On their spring pilgrimages to major tourist centers, Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Naples, they develop appreciation for Italy’s art, music and architecture. Wandering together along out of the way paths in tiny hill towns and seacoast villages, they explore breathtaking scenery. By traveling light and learning the vagaries of Italian life, they have become Italian in spirit. The book provides many practical hints on how to travel like the locals, reminding us that even novice travelers can learn valuable lessons from immersion in another way of life, and that one’s companion can be an essential part of the pleasure of a journey.

Behind!

2009-09-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

Hey, guys! I've fallen behind on my reviews, thanks to a crazy, exciting, weird summer. I'll be focusing on catching up the next few days! Thanks for your patience.

Fangirl

Ghostgirl series by Tonya Hurley

2009-08-01T15:28:00.000-07:00

Summary: Ever feel invisible? Charlotte Usher did. Teased by classmates, overlooked by teachers, beneath contempt of the popular and ignored by Damen, the guy of her dreams, she barely registered on the radar at Hawthorne High. The kind of girl no one would ever miss if she died tomorrow. And then she did...

The End?
Not exactly...

My Review:If you haven't read the first in this series, definitely read it first! Homecoming isn't a stand-alone sequel -- it really builds on the original book and does it really well.

Hurley's emo-snark and morbid sense of humor had me laughing out loud in every chapter, but it never goes pushes the death-joke envelope too far, which is a testament to the authors' skill. Her unique story is carried off beautifully, with great pacing that makes this a really fast, tasty read.

Add a gorgeous book design, complete with die-cut covers (pun totally intended!) and quotes from awesome bands, the Ghostgirl books just beg to be read. And you won't regret it, not at all!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

2009-08-01T15:08:00.000-07:00

Summary:It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

My review: This isn't Anne Frank, this isn't Corrie Ten Boom. This is a different side of the story, richer than real life with careful, perfect prose. The narrative is unique and decadent, the story painful and sweet. Even though you know it can't be a happy story, the fullness leads you through. This is as much an adult book as it is YA, and I strongly suggest just about everyone read it. Know going in that it's heavy in language, though!

Blue Like Play Dough by Tricia Goyer

2009-08-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

Summary: In the everyday stretch and squeeze of motherhood, Tricia Goyer often feels smooshed by the demands of life. In Blue Like Play Dough, she shares her unlikely journey from rebellious, pregnant teen to busy wife and mom with big dreams of her own. As her story unfolds, Tricia realizes that God has more in store for her than she has ever imagined possible.

Sure, life is messy and beset by doubts. But God keeps showing up in the most unlikely places–in a bowl of carrot soup, the umpteenth reading of Goodnight Moon, a woe-is me teen drama, or play dough in the hands of a child.

In Tricia’s transparent account, you’ll find understanding, laughter, and strength for your own story. And in the daily push and pull, you’ll learn to recognizes the loving hands of God at work in your life… and know He has something beautiful in mind.

Buy it online!

Love's Pursuit by Siri Mitchell

2009-07-07T06:17:00.000-07:00

Summary: In the small Puritan community of Stoneybrooke, Massachusetts, Susannah Phillips stands out both for her character and beauty. She wants only a simple life but soon finds herself pursued by the town's wealthiest bachelor and by a roguish military captain sent to protect them. One is not what he seems and one is more than he seems.

In trying to discover true love's path, Susannah is helped by the most unlikely of allies, a wounded woman who lives invisible and ignored in their town. As the depth, passion, and sacrifice of love is revealed to Susannah, she begins to question the rules and regulations of her childhood faith. In a community where grace is unknown, what price will she pay for embracing love?

My review: There has only been one handful of authors I've emailed directly after reading their books to tell them how much I adored their story. The books and authors:

Jennifer Donnelly, after reading A Northern Light
Susan Meissner, after reading The Shape of Mercy
Lisa Mantchev, after reading Eyes Like Stars

Now I can add Siri Mitchell to the list after reading Love's Pursuit. When I enjoy a book this much, I don't often say a lot about it -- I want you guys to read it and I want you to experience without a lot of opinions bumping around in your brains.

I will say this, though: While I was reading, my husband and I ran some errands and I brought it with me, because, as I told him, "It would cause me pain to put this book down."

Go. Read. Enjoy. Comment. :-D

The Brides of Gallatin County series by Tracie Peterson

2009-07-07T05:47:00.000-07:00

Summaries: After years spent following their father and his wanderlust, the three Gallatin sisters begin to fashion a life for themselves in the Montana wilds, operating a roadhouse at the crossroads of two stage lines. When their father is accidentally killed, however, the oldest sister, Gwen, reasons that she's cursed. Death seems to haunt her every step.

As the sisters work to maintain the roadhouse, an unexpected visitor arrives, sending Gwen into turmoil. Is he whom he claims to be? And can she dare to hope that love might again be hers?

All Beth Gallatin has really wanted out of life is to settle down in one town, with one man, and raise a family. But with her father's roaming ways, she's always been denied that dream; instead, she found solace in reading romantic books. With her father's passing, she can, for the first time, dare to claim the rugged Montana frontier as her home.

Lacy Gallatin, the youngest of the Gallatin sisters, is a woman with a mission: to find her father's killer. Haunted by the belief that she's failed him, Lacy is also battling a desire to have something more than just revenge, something she can't quite figure out.

My review: I really liked this series, but the third installment, A Dream to Call My Own blew the previous two books out of the water. So much happened, and so many difficult topics were handled with grace and wisdom that I finished the book feeling completely challenged and refreshed. The ending was satisfying, although not every story line was left in a perfect little bow. There are still some unresolved conflicts, which makes me wonder if Ms. Peterson is going to further the series. ;-D But even if she doesn't, that's great -- she did a wonderful job with Lacy's story! I am a Tracie Peterson fan. Don't ever let anyone tell ya different.

The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn by Liz Johnson

2009-07-07T05:15:00.000-07:00

Summary: Myles Parsons is just another inmate in Kenzie Thorn’s GED course until he kidnaps her, offering only a feeble explanation–that he’s actually FBI Special Agent Myles Borden. Terrified, Kenzie doesn’t want to believe his story of being undercover to protect her. Moreover, she can’t believe that someone might really want her dead.

But just when Myles thinks he has her out of harm’s way, his plans start to fall apart. He attempts to take Kenzie to a safe house—but the stubborn woman won’t go! So together they must uncover the clues that will reveal a most shocking perpetrator. All the while Myles tries to keep his distance from Kenzie … but finds himself falling in love.

My review: One of the things I look for the most in Christian romance is a believable relationship to God -- and each of these characters' stories were quite believable. Since it's such an action-packed, fast-paced book, I can't imagine how hard it was to bring these characters together emotionally as well as spiritually, but Liz Johnson does a great job. She's definitely an author to watch in the Steeple Hill collection!

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

2009-06-24T06:48:00.000-07:00

Summary: Connie Goodwin should be spending her summer doing research for her Ph.D. dissertation in American History. But when her mother asks her to handle the sale of Connie's grandmother's abandoned home near Salem, she's compelled to help. It's not long before the time she's set aside for research is instead spent sorting through her grandmother's ancient possessions, discovering a woman she barely knew.

One day, while exploring the dusty bookshelves in the study, Connie discovers a key hidden within an old bible. And within the key is a brittle slip of paper with two words written on it: Deliverance Dane. Along with a handsome steeplejack named Sam, Connie begins to dig into the town's records, looking for references to Deliverance Dane. But even as the pieces begin to fall into place, Connie is haunted by visions of the witch trials so long ago, and she begins to fear that she is more tied to Salem's dark past than she could have ever imagined.

Written by an author completing a Ph.D. in New England Studies, and whose ancestors were accused witches in Salem, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane travels seamlessly between the trials in the 1690s and a modern woman's story of mystery and discovery.

My thoughts: I absolutely love the classic gothic novel feel The Physick Book has, complete with a family mystery and a great old house! Like The Hisorian and The Thirteenth Tale (both of which I devoured), this book is rich in mood and texture. I haven't studied the Salem Witch Trials extensively, but I've read several books (including The Crucible and The Shape of Mercy) and am familiar with most of the history. I love the take in Deliverance Dane: searching for a new, original source with which to build a career. There weren't many surprises as far as the plot goes, so those of you who read for mystery and suspense might be disappointed, but I really enjoyed it just the same.

A word of warning, though: it draws you in, so this not a book to read in short spurts!

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

2009-06-24T06:25:00.000-07:00

Summary: Dru Anderson has what her grandmother called athe touch.a (Comes in handy when you are traveling from town to town with your dad, hunting ghosts, suckers, wulfen, and the occasional zombie.)

Then her dad turns up dead-but-still-walking, and Dru knows she's next. Even worse, she's got two guys hungry for her affections, and they are not about to let the fiercely independent Dru go it alone. Will Dru discover just how special she really is before coming face-to-fang with whatever--or whoever--is hunting her?

My thoughts: I've heard this book called Supernatural for girls. And that's a great description, as it's more Dean and Sam than Buffy. Dru's got a gutter mouth and a violently practical edge, but more than that she's got real feelings and real fears. Even if she is a little superhuman, her vulnerabilities make her real and interesting. Strange Angels is an action-packed book that moves faster than a sparkling vampire and it still manages to have depth and plot. I'm really looking forward to the next in the series!

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

2009-06-24T05:55:00.000-07:00

Summary: Sometimes you don't wake up. But if you happen to, you know things will never be the same.

Three lives, three different paths to the same destination: Aspen Springs, a psychiatric hospital for those who have attempted the ultimate act — suicide.

Vanessa is beautiful and smart, but her secrets keep her answering the call of the blade.

Tony, after suffering a painful childhood, can only find peace through pills.

And Conner, outwardly, has the perfect life. But dig a little deeper and find a boy who is in constant battle with his parents, his life, himself.

In one instant each of these young people decided enough was enough. They grabbed the blade, the bottle, the gun — and tried to end it all. Now they have a second chance, and just maybe, with each other's help, they can find their way to a better life — but only if they're strong and can fight the demons that brought them here in the first place.

My thoughts: I was lucky enough to receive an audio copy of this for review, and I was glad I did. I don't have much experience reading free verse, and just hearing the book made me understand how novels-in-verse are to be read: just like regular books.

The story isn't at all hampered by the format; in fact, it flows even more beautifully. I ached for each character, even the bad guys. I cringed, I winced, I felt deeply. The voice actors were amazing, the intonation of characters spot-on.

No doubt this is a painful book, full of fear and wrongs, but the truth and beauty aid the telling of things that need told.

This is my first Ellen Hopkins book, and it's thrown her to the top of the favorite authors list.

Excellent book, not for the faint of heart, and would be awesome for discussion.

The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul

2009-06-24T05:45:00.000-07:00

Summary: Donita K. Paul’s 250,000-plus-selling DragonKeeper Chronicles series has attracted a wide spectrum of dedicated fans–and they’re sure to fall in love with the new characters and adventures in her latest superbly-crafted novel for all ages. It’s a mind-boggling fantasy that inhabits the same world as the DragonKeeper Chronicles, but in a different country and an earlier time, where the people know little of Wulder and nothing of Paladin.

In The Vanishing Sculptor, readers will meet Tipper, a young emerlindian who’s responsible for the upkeep of her family’s estate during her sculptor father’s absence. Tipper soon discovers that her actions have unbalanced the whole foundation of her world, and she must act quickly to undo the calamitous threat. But how can she save her father and her world on her own? The task is too huge for one person, so she gathers the help of some unlikely companions–including the nearly five-foot tall parrot Beccaroon–and eventually witnesses the loving care and miraculous resources of Wulder. Through Tipper’s breathtaking story, readers will discover the beauty of knowing and serving God.

Buy it here!

Stealing Home by Allison Pittman

2009-06-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

It’s 1905 and the Chicago Cubs are banking on superstar Donald “Duke” Dennison’s golden arm to help them win the pennant. Only one thing stands between Duke and an unprecedented ten thousand dollar contract: alcohol.

That’s when sportswriter David Voyant whisks Duke to the one-horse town of Picksville, Missouri, so he can sober up in anonymity. He bides his time flirting with Ellie Jane Voyant, his unofficial chaperone, who would rather hide herself in the railway station ticket booth than face the echoes of childhood taunts.

Ned Clovis, the feed store clerk, has secretly loved Ellie Jane since childhood, but he loves baseball and the Duke almost as much–until he notices Ellie Jane may be succumbing to the star’s charm.

Then there’s Morris, a twelve-year-old Negro boy, whose only dream is to break away from Picksville. When Duke discovers his innate talent for throwing a baseball, Morris might just have found his way out.

Four individuals, each living in haunted isolation, each harboring a secret passion. Providence brings them together. Tragedy threatens to tear them apart. Will love be enough to bring them home?

Buy it here!

Saints in Limbo by River Jordan

2009-06-01T20:27:00.000-07:00

Ever since her husband Joe died, Velma True’s world has been limited to what she can see while clinging to one of the multicolored threads tied to the porch railing of her home outside Echo, Florida.

When a mysterious stranger appears at her door on her birthday and presents Velma with a special gift, she is rattled by the object’s ability to take her into her memories–a place where Joe still lives, her son Rudy is still young, unaffected by the world’s hardness, and the beginning is closer than the end. As secrets old and new come to light, Velma wonders if it’s possible to be unmoored from the past’s deep roots and find a reason to hope again.

“Strange as it sounds, River Jordan’s fascinating novel Saints in Limbo somehow reminded me of Walker Percy and Dean Koontz simultaneously. It’s that original. It’s that good. It’s a wise, funny, joyful, and deadly serious book. Saints in Limbo is the kind of story they ought to publish in leather-bound hardcover with gilded pages so you could leave it to your grandchildren." –ATHOL DICKSON, author of River Rising and Winter Haven

Buy it here!

Take the Reins by Jessica Burkhart

2009-05-31T14:11:00.000-07:00

Summary: Who says teammates have to be friends?

When Sasha Silver and her horse, Charm, arrive on the campus of the elite Canterwood Crest Academy, Sasha knows that she's in trouble. She's not exactly welcomed with open arms. One group of girls in particular is used to being the best, the brightest, and the prettiest on the team, and when Sasha shows her skills in the arena, the girls' claws come out.

Sasha is determined to prove that she belongs at Canterwood. Will she rise to the occasion and make the advanced riding team by the end of her first semester? Or will the pressure send Sasha packing?

My Review: I spent most of my time growing up with horses. Riding lessons, riding camp, horse-related volunteer work, playing horses, writing horsefic, dreaming up my future stable complex, dreaming about riding college, showing, watching shows, learning dressage terms...yeah. I was never a Pony Clubber -- we didn't have that kind of money -- but I learned everything I could about riding. I read all horsey books and series I could get my hands on: the Thoroughbred series, the Black Stallion books, anything that had Marguerite Henry's name on it (even Brighty! but Stormy was was my favorite), and Bonnie Bryant's The Saddle Club until I outgrew it. But not many of those stories was as real to the riding world as Take the Reins.

No kidding. Burkhart's Canterwood Crest is solid -- from how girls relate to their horses, to the actual riding and safety stuff that's easily integrated into the story. This is exactly the kind of book I'd have liked to read at that age, because it teaches gently and the riding technique is important to the story. It's also very realistic -- I spent so many days from the ages 7 to 17 at barns and with other riders, that I could almost smell sweet feed and hear the old Coke machine running in our admin office!

I'm really happy about this series. Definitely the books I want to have on my shelf to share with all the horse-loving kids I know!

Also, check out the uber-cool Canterwood Crest web site!

Trailer love:

Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell

2009-05-31T13:49:00.000-07:00

Summary:
Nothing ever happened in Ondine, Louisiana, not even the summer Elijah Landry disappeared.

His mother knew he ascended to heaven, the police believed he ran away, and his girlfriend thought he was murdered.

Decades later, certain she saw his ghost in the town cemetery, fourteen-year-old Iris Rhame is determined to find out the truth behind "The Incident With the Landry Boy."

Enlisting the help of her best friend Collette, and forced to endure the company of Collette's latest crush, Ben, Iris spends a summer digging into the past and stirring old ghosts, in search of a boy she never knew.

What she doesn't realize is that in a town as small as Ondine, every secret is a family secret.

My Review: From the minute I sat down with Shadowed Summer, it felt like one of those books I wasn't supposed to read in junior high and high school. "Deliciously athrill", Anne Shirley would've called it. It's a quick book, but it's packed with suspense and fear--and, best of all, plot. There's a deep story here, beyond the leading man ghost and the trouble he causes. No doubt Shadowed Summer will be a good first foray into sociology for young fiction reader, on a different (metaphysical) plane than the The Outsiders, but with similarities.

Shiny book trailer love:

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

2009-05-31T13:24:00.000-07:00

Summary:
In Mary's world, there are simple truths.

The Sisterhood always knows best.

The Guardians will protect and serve.

The Unconsecrated will never relent.

And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village. The fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power. And, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.

Now she must choose between her village and her future, between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded by so much death?

My Review: The Forest of Hands and Teeth engrossed me from the first line, and didn't let me go -- I couldn't get enough of this story. I keep telling people it's like M. Night Shyamalan's THE VILLAGE meets 28 DAYS LATER, only better. I'm a terrible reviewer -- I'm so anti-spoiler that I can barely even write about WHY I like a character, because I don't want to spoil the story. But Mary's character is strong and smart, proactive and a real heroine. I loved this book because it's even more character driven than action-zombie-bugaboo-driven. But the zombies are terrifying and integral, not incidental, either.

Zombies + plot + strong prose + realistic characters = ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE BOOK FOR THE WIN.

Can't wait for the movie, can't wait for THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES. Oh, and look! Here's an awesome book trailer!

The Mortal Instruments trilogy by Cassandra Clare

2009-05-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

Summary: When Clary Fray witnesses three tattoo-covered teenagers murder another teen, she is unable to prove the crime because the victim disappears right in front of her eyes, and no one else can see the killers. She learns that the teens are Shadowhunters (humans who hunt and kill demons), and Clary, a mundie (i.e., mundane human), should not be able to see them either. Shortly after this discovery, her mother, Jocelyn, is kidnapped. Jocelyn is the only person who knows the whereabouts of The Mortal Cup, a dangerous magical item that turns humans into Shadowhunters. Clary must find the cup and keep it from a renegade sector of Shadowhunters bent on eliminating all nonhumans, including benevolent werewolves and friendly vampires. –Heather M. Campbell, Philip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock, CO

My Review: I've read a lot of poor reviews about this series, and I just can't agree. Having finished the whole set, I love it more now than ever -- and I totally fell in love with it from City of Bones. I try hard to stay spoiler-free in these reviews, so I'll just say that City of Glass is an excellent finale: the character development progresses steadily and is realistic. I absolutely love where it goes, and how it gets there. Definitely one of my favorite series of all time! I can't wait for The Infernal Devices! Shadowhunters in Victorian London! OMGSQUEE!

Worldweavers Series by Alma Alexander

2009-05-17T05:20:00.000-07:00

Summary of Gift of the Unmage: “When there is a battle to be fought, it is you who can choose the place of the battlefield.” Thus says Cheveyo: mage, teacher, and the first person in Thea’s life to remain unimpressed by her lineage. From birth, great things were expected of Thea, but her magical abilities are, at most, minimal. Now, with Cheveyo, Thea has begun to weave herself a new magical identity, infused with elements of the original worlds.

Back in her everyday life, she attends the Wandless Academy, the one school on Earth for those who, like her, can’t do magic. It is at the Academy that Thea realizes she will indeed have to fight, since her enemies are hungrier and more dangerous than she thought. Fortunately, her greatest strength may be the very powerlessness she has resisted for so long…

My review: At first glance, this looks like an alternate Harry Potter universe, but this series completely original. Drawing on her Masters in Science, Alma Alexander weaves a multi-dimensional world and, throughout the series, takes us through time, space, and worlds belonging to other magical races. It's every bit as SciFi as it is Fantasy, and that, gentle reader, is cool.

Thea is an awesome lead character. Even before she begins to develop her gifts, her intelligence gives her an edge. That edge only sharpens as the world around her changes and draws her into a complex mystery to which she is the key. Her attention to detail and ability to see the big picture as well as the details within are the real magic in this story. I love that her gifts aren't limited to the bibbity-bobbity-boo, and that she is the story's impetus.

There's plenty of fun in the series, too -- we meet characters at the Wandless Academy (aka the Last Ditch School for the Hopelessly Incompetent) who are worse than Rowling's squibs--some kids are even dealthly allergic to magic.

Most of all, I really loved that fantasy element wasn't based only in European mythology. The SciFi/Fantasy world has recently dealt with what's come to be known as RaceFail: the way SciFi/Fantasy writers tend to make their main characters Caucasian and relegate other nationalities to side characters. While Thea is "white", diversity is integral to the story. Kudos to the author for creating a world that more accurately resembles the melting pot of our own.

The Luxe Series (books 1-3) by Anna Godbersen

2009-05-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

Since it was described as Gossip Girl meets Edith Wharton, I wasn't sure I'd like it. I mean, I love Gilded Age New York, and I get tons of pleasure watching events and relationships unravel and snowball simultaneously before the Upper East Side crew. And throwing both together sounded like a cool idea. But I knew it'd be all in execution.

First things first: the cover art had me at hello! I mean, sure, the dresses are of questionable authenticity for the era, but the moment I saw The Luxe, I had to touch it. I wanted to hold it. And I wanted to take it home with me. And I did! I do love me some couture, after all.

When I cracked it open and started to read, I fell more deeply for the books. The chapters start off with bits of gossip, newspaper clippings, and notes, and the narrative draws the reader into the time with a cadence indicative of the period. Godbersen transitions between characters well, too -- you know exactly who's talking, what they're feeling, and what their motivations are. The suspense and amps up with each book, the antagonists become more clear-cut and dangerous, and the romantic pull increases just as it should. At the end of each book I've even cried, OH NO!, and run to my husband to tell him what happened...and even he approves of the plot twists.

I'm very much looking forward to Splendor, which releases in late October!

Dear Mom: Everything Your Teenage Daughter Wants You to Know But Will Never Tell You by Melody Carlson

2009-05-08T17:59:00.000-07:00

Every mom knows how communicating with a teenage girl can be difficult, even impossible at times. One-word answers. Defensive conversations. Daily arguments. How typical for teens to put up such barriers. All the while, moms truly long to know what their daughters really think.

Best-selling author Melody Carlson, whose books for women, teens, and children have sold more than three million copies, bridges this chasm with trusted insight. She speaks frankly in the voice of the teen daughters she’s written for and she tells it like it is: struggles with identity, guys, friendship, and even parents—it’s all here. The straight-talk to moms covers such things as “I need you, but you can’t make me admit it,” “I’m not as confident as I appear,” and “I have friends. I need a mother.”

Instead of focusing on outward behaviors, Dear Mom looks at a young woman’s heart and reveals to moms:

· how to talk to teens so they hear,

· how to connect despite the differences of perspective or years and experiences,

· and how strengthen the bond every mom and daughter ultimately wants.

The lively chapters in Dear Mom can be dipped into topically or used as a read-through tool by moms and daughters alike to understand what motivates or deflates, troubles or inspires—and just in time for Mother’s Day and all the Mother’s Days ahead.

“What a valuable treasure chest of insights into the mind of a teenage girl! This carefully crafted book is a must-read for any mom who desires to see her relationship with her teenage daughter move past the volley of words that pass between them and move into a new season where they can be joined at the heart. Thank you, Melody, for this superb handbook that gives us a glimpse into the teenage mind and equips us with understanding.”
–Robin Jones Gunn, best-selling author of the Christy Miller series and the Sisterchicks novels

“You think this is a book? It’s really a bridge–no, a cord!–that will connect moms and daughters in a way to get through those turbulent teen years. Read it and reap!”
–Dr. Kevin Leman, best-selling author of Have a New Kid by Friday and Running the Rapids

“When it comes to mom-daughter relationships, Melody Carlson gets it. In fact, I think Melody must have had our house bugged. She understands and she cares. Dear Mom is honest, authentic, practical, and hopeful.”
–Jim Burns, PhD, author of Confident Parenting, Teaching Your Children Healthy Sexuality, and Creating an Intimate Marriage

“Ever want to be let in on the running commentary going on inside your daughter’s head? Now you can. With wit and honesty, Melody Carlson explains what every mom needs to know.”
–Rebecca St. James, author, singer, and actress

Grab your copy here!

Mama's Got a Fake ID by Caryn Dahlstrand Rivadeneira

2009-05-06T18:23:00.000-07:00

I'm in the middle of Mama's Got a Fake I.D., and it couldn't come at a better time. My daughter is three, and I'm trying to figure out how to balance my life as a freelance writer and a mom. I even talked extensively about this issue with friends last week, over Facebook and then again at a local cafe. They're both creative people, too, so we commiserated with one another, but we didn't know the big answer:

Are we being selfish? Or are we being what we're supposed to be, when engage seriously in our "extra-mommy" activities?

Rivadeneira tackles this hard issue from a fundamental Christian perspective -- and her verdicts might surprise most everyone.

I'm seriously loving this book!

Formula for identity loss:

1. Take one multifaceted, intriguing human being.

2. Bless her with a child.

3. Mix with today’s cultural assumptions.

4. Add the demands of motherhood.

5. Presto! All identity except Mom disappears.

For every woman wondering what happened to the unique combination of gifts and abilities she was known for before kids came along, Caryn Dahlstrand Rivedeneira has good news: in Mama’s Got a Fake I.D., Rivedeneira helps moms reclaim their full identity as creative beings, gifted professionals and volunteers, loving friends, children of God—and mothers.

This inspiring and practical guide shows women how to break free from false guilt, learn a new language to express who they really are, and follow God’s lead in sharing their true self with others. After all, motherhood doesn’t have to mean losing one’s identity. Instead, being a mom makes it possible for a woman to discover a more complete identity as the person God made her to be.

Pick up your copy here!

The Year the Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice

2009-05-06T18:22:00.001-07:00

Set in San Capistrano, California, The Year the Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice tells the story of ten-year-old Groovy, who dreams of going to cooking school. When Groovy's father is arrested, Groovy must find out what he did, who turned him in, and, most importantly, come to grips with his deed.

Woven into Groovy's storyline is that of her best friend, who is trying hard to understand his own parents' failures. By dealing with their problems together, Groovy and Frankie learn that forgiveness is part of growing up.

The Year the Swallows Came Early is another book I'll add to my daughter's must-read list, and I highly recommend it.

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

2009-05-05T16:03:00.000-07:00

Summary: In this sophisticated thriller, 15-year-old Evie grows up quickly when she discovers her adored parents are not the people she thought they were. While on vacation in Palm Beach in 1947, Evie’s parents, Joe and Bev, get involved in a shady business deal with the Graysons, another couple on holiday.

Meanwhile, Evie begins a flirtation with Peter, a handsome ex-GI who served with Joe and just happens to be staying at their hotel. Evie soon learns that Peter’s presence is no coincidence and that he threatens to uncover a terrible secret that Joe has kept since the war. Then Bev, Joe, and Peter go boating, but only two of them return. Evie must sort through secrets, lies, and her own grief to find the truth.

Using pitch-perfect dialogue and short sentences filled with meaning, Blundell has crafted a suspenseful, historical mystery that not only subtly explores issues of post–WWII racism, sexism, and socioeconomic class, but also realistically captures the headiness of first love and the crushing realization that adults are not all-powerful. Grades 8-12. --Jennifer Hubert

My review: I love it when a YA historical-with-suspense makes waves. Since I adored Jennifer Donnelly's A Northern Light and Christine Fletcher's more recent Ten Cents A Dance, I knew there would be something for me in What I Saw and How I Lied.

The suspense and story were solid, and the atmosphere strong, but Evie's character and experiences wrapped me up and pulled me deep into the story. I ached for her, and, being on the "other" side of teenagerhood, I winced and prayed that somehow she wouldn't have to go down the road her parents were taking her. What I Saw and How I Lied is a deeply emotional journey about making very tough decisions, like when to forgive and what is forgiveable.

Aurora: An American Experience in Quilt, Community, and Craft

2009-05-05T15:46:00.000-07:00

Wrap yourself in a fantastic journey,
a remarkable commitment, and a spare and splendid story

Master storyteller Jane Kirkpatrick extols the beautiful treasures, unknown to a wider public, rediscovered in the Old Aurora Colony of Oregon’s lush Willamette Valley. The people and legacy of Aurora, a utopian community founded in the mid-1800s, will stir your imagination, hopes, and dreams; and remind you that every life matters—that our lives are the stories other people read first.

~Featuring~

Unique and treasured quilt pattern variations
More than 100 photographs, many never-before published, from 1850 to today
Cherished stories from Aurora descendants
Rich images of fine crafts from the Aurora Colony and private collections
An introduction by renowned American artist John Houser

Aurora is about the difference every ordinary life can make—and a beautiful celebration of a time and place in which people expressed their most cherished beliefs through the work of their imagination and hands. Check out auroracolony.org!

Buy it here!

A Flickering Light by Jane Kirkpatrick

2009-05-05T15:26:00.000-07:00

She took exquisite photographs,
but her heart was the true image exposed.

Fifteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele loves nothing more than capturing a gorgeous Minnesota landscape when the sunlight casts its most mesmerizing shadows. So when F.J. Bauer hires her in 1907 to assist in his studio and darkroom, her dreams for a career in photography appear to find root in reality.

With the infamous hazards of the explosive powder used for lighting and the toxic darkroom chemicals, photography is considered a man’s profession. Yet Jessie shows remarkable talent in both the artistry and business of running a studio. She proves less skillful, however, at managing her growing attraction to the very married Mr. Bauer.

This luminous coming-of-age tale deftly exposes the intricate shadows that play across every dream worth pursuing—and the irresistible light that beckons the dreamer on.

Buy it here!

Don't Let Me Go by David Pierce

2009-03-16T15:30:00.000-07:00

About this book: One day after reading a book about a wilderness adventurer, David Pierce’s fifteen-year-old daughter Chera announced that she wanted to climb a mountain. What David heard behind that wish was a bold declaration: “I’m growing up, Dad—what are you going to do about it?”

Beyond a father-daughter relationship, this book is filled with humor and insight. You’ll discover ways you too can create strong, loving relationships with the important people in your life, as you make your way through the valleys and over the summits of life together.

- www.Amazon.com
- www.ChristianBook.com
- www.FamilyChristian.com

Say the Word by Jeannine Garsee

2009-03-10T18:37:00.000-07:00

Summary: The world expects perfection from seventeen-year-old Shawna Gallagher, and for the most part, that’s what they get. She dates the right boys, gets good grades, and follows her father’s every rule. But when her estranged lesbian mother dies, it’s more than perfect Shawna can take.

Suddenly, anger from being abandoned ten years ago is resurfacing along with Shawna’s embarrassment over her mother’s other family. As she confronts family secrets and questions from the past, Shawna realizes there’s a difference between doing the perfect thing and doing the right thing. Shawna’s honest and relatable voice will draw readers in and hold them until the last page in this coming-of-age story. Jeannine Garsee has delivered a compulsively readable second novel, perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Laurie Halse Anderson.

My thoughts: Wow, to be compared to Sarah Dessen and Laurie Halse Anderson? That's a tall order. But it's totally appropriate. Say the Word is one of those books that, even as you're reading it, you're growing. Shawna is a completely real person, even when she's being "Perfect Shawna." But as she's forced to deal with betrayals and perceived wrongs from everyone around her, the perfection is stripped away, and Shawna sees herself as we see her: not a robot or trained pony, but an emotionally intelligent, loving human being.

I related to Shawna more than I've related to a character in a long time. In high school, I tried to be That Person. By the time I was about seventeen, I realized I could no longer live for someone else's expectations, and, with my own life falling down around me, I finally had to step out and be my own person. For me, it took a few years more, and I'm still dealing with a lot of those things...and avoiding some others. And, even though the book is "over" for me, I know Shawna's still dealing, too.

All that to say that Jen has created a fully relatable character, and around that character, a fully relevant story. This isn't a book to read alone--it hits so many issues on so many levels that it deservers to be talked about in depth. I'd totally recommend this for a book club--adult or teen.

Say the Word comes out March 17!

Daisy Chain by Mary deMuth

2009-03-10T17:48:00.000-07:00

Summary: The abrupt disappearance of young Daisy Chance from a small Texas town in 1973 spins three lives out of control-Jed, whose guilt over not protecting his friend Daisy strangles him; Emory Chance, who blames her own choices for her daughter’s demise; and Ouisie Pepper, who is plagued by headaches while pierced by the shattered pieces of a family in crisis.

In this first book in the Defiance, Texas Trilogy, fourteen-year-old Jed Pepper has a sickening secret: He’s convinced it’s his fault his best friend Daisy went missing. Jed’s pain sends him on a quest for answers to mysteries woven through the fabric of his own life and the lives of the families of Defiance, Texas. When he finally confronts the terrible truths he’s been denying all his life, Jed must choose between rebellion and love, anger and freedom.

Daisy Chain is an achingly beautiful southern coming-of-age story crafted by a bright new literary talent. It offers a haunting yet hopeful backdrop for human depravity and beauty, for terrible secrets and God’s surprising redemption.

My thoughts: Jed Pepper is a strong lead: even in his weakness and youth, he's searching, trying to make sense of his own world, and then of Daisy's. A fully developed character, Jed carries the reader through. Mary's thoughtful and real prose shines in this novel, soothing the reader just enough to make the darker spots navigable.

Although Daisy Chain deals with many of the same themes in Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, Daisy Chain's worldview is more comprehensive: it's not dealing with suppositions about heaven and God, but grounded in Biblical truth -- something I can completely stand behind.

The small and large betrayals of the Christian community are brought to light, serving as a cautionary tale to those of us who might commit the same wrongs. But grace presides over the events in the story, both in the writing and in the message.

Daisy Chain at Amazon.com
Mary deMuth's Web Site (lots of great help for aspiring writers here)
Family Secrets Blog

Other blogs participating in this tour, and offering more information, interviews, etc.:

Secrets Unveiled by Sheshenna Pledger

2009-03-08T15:21:00.000-07:00

The sins of the father shall not be visited upon the child. This is a basic tenet of American law that an individual will not be punished because a parent committed a crime. This does not apply in the world surrounding Samuel Harris and his family. This is something known all too well to the Miller family. The Millers' connection to Samuel Harris has been a long and bloody one. Nicholas Miller's father was murdered by members of the Harris clan. Now Nicholas is the prime target as he is the last Miller left, The Harris' never rest until their enemies no longer exist in any form. Along the way Nicholas will learn a secret of his past to which he must come to terms. If he doesn't then he will surely die.

This novel is remarkable in that it is told not only from the point of view of protagonist, but also from that of the antagonist. At first it was a bit disconcerting, but as the novel progressed it became welcome and necessary to the storyline. Ms Pledger has done this so well that it appears this novel has been written by two distinct personalities as there is no similarity between the two points of view.

"Secrets Unveiled" also reveals an understanding of the nature of man and the dynamics of social interaction. The ties that bind the Harris family together are not those of blood, but those of intense loyalty brought by fear and abuse and the fear of abuse that marks so many dysfunctional families and cults. This is shown through the power struggles that occur as the story evolves on a course of its own.

Read "Secrets Unveiled." Read it with eyes wide open and take in all it has to offer and be among the many who await the next installment in this series. Here is hoping the second part is as scintillating as the first. Review: John Helman, Allbooks Reviews.

The Five Browns: Life Between the Keys

2009-03-08T15:15:00.000-07:00

With sold-out concerts and screaming fans, The 5 Browns are redefining what it means to be classical musicians. Twenty-something siblings who grew up in a small town in Utah, the piano virtuosos are sweeping the nation—and the classical charts. In LIFE BETWEEN THE KEYS, these charming, warm, and funny prodigies reveal their most intimate musings, impressions, and memories along their journey from obscurity to stardom.

The 5 Browns’ insights found in this book will relate to readers of all ages through a collection of true short stories and vignettes, written by each one of the siblings in his or her own words. Readers can listen to the accompanying unedited live performance CD, matching The 5 Browns’ individual styles of playing with their different personalities.

Readers will experience the journey with each of the pianists as they take their places at their respective pianos, lock eyes, exchange a silent signal, and in a mere instant transform themselves from regular kids into musical dynamos, flawless in precision and steeped in passion. They have shattered all the preconceptions of classical music as being inscrutable or intimidating. As the New York Post proclaimed, "One family, five pianos, and fifty fingers add up to the biggest classical music sensation in years."

People Are Idiots and I Can Prove It! by Larry Winget

2009-03-08T14:09:00.000-07:00

Press Blurb: The 10 Ways You Are Sabotaging Yourself and How You Can Overcome Them
By Larry Winget New York Times Bestselling Author of You're Broke Because You Want to Be

"Larry's frank, brutal, tough, and sometimes even obnoxious! But you know something? He has a big heart and an even bigger gut for how we can avoid big mistakes."
--Neil Cavuto, Fox News Channel

Larry Winget, The Pittbull of Personal Development and New York Times bestseller is back!

First he brought us bestselling advice in Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get A Life and It's Called Work for a Reason! Then he taught us to get our finances under control last year with You're Broke Because You Want to Be.

What do people really want? They want what they've already got. It's a simple formula.
You have what you want because your actions produced your results. Not your words,
and certainly not your wants.

In his signature caustic yet straight-talk style, Larry Winget tells it like it is on what he
calls "life's messes" and offers sound, simple solutions on subjects such as business,
family health, being fat, being stupid, success, money, and more. Winget points out
exactly which changes have to take place in order for people to turn their lives around.

People Are Idiots And I Can Prove It! is a little mirror you can hold up to your life to
reflect your areas of stupidity back to you. A mirror that has a little action plans taped to
the back of it. A little business. A little bit personal development. A little finance. A little parenting. A little health and wellness. And a whooping dose of common sense!

People Are Idiots And I Can Prove It ! will help anyone identify their own "areas of stupidity" and take action to finally achieve real success.

About the book:
People Are Idiots And I Can Prove It ! by Larry Winget
ISBN: 978-1592404377
Publisher: Gotham Books
Date of publish: Jan 5, 2009
Pages: 258
S.R.P.: $25.00

Rich is a Religion by Mark Stevens

2009-03-08T14:04:00.000-07:00

Rich is a Religion , by best-selling author Mark Stevens, is a book every American should read!

WHY? Americans need to START treating money as a religion and:

- Get off the earn-it, spend-it treadmill.

- Live a degree below their means.

- Live up to the Buffets, Gates and Hiltons-not the Joneses.

- Stop spending for external gratification.

- Understand the most important money is that which others cannot see.

- Learn to be thrifty.

- Invest in appreciating assets-not toys!

Have YOU said NO to your kids (or yourself) lately? Saving for a rainy day has gone the

way of dial phones-and money does not grow on trees. Today is the day to start saying

NO to your family's wants (not needs).

Wise money management is a philosophy-a mindset. Rich is a Religion: Breaking the

Timeless Code to Wealth, examines the wealthy, the famous (and not so famous, and

happy to be that way), and how they use money as an instrument of independence,

confidence, stability and enduring value. Author Mark Stevens shows how those who

embrace the " 'religion' of the rich" (how they think/use money) can weather any

economic downturn because it is NOT what you earn in life, but what you keep.

Today's parents are not teaching children about money, and now have to learn along with

them about the reality of being behind in payments, job loss, no savings, etc.

Readers of this book will learn how to be thrifty, exercise discipline, control fiduciary

responsibility, to buy appreciable assets, not toys, and much more. Mark says, "The

secret to building and maintaining wealth is by changing your philosophy. Learn how to

live like the rich do-one degree below your means."

Now that's a message we all need to hear and live by starting today.

Too Tall Alice by Barbara Worton

2009-03-08T14:00:00.000-07:00

"Hi, I'm Alice. I'm eight years old, and I have something to say. It's not easy to be tall. I know. I'm four inches taller than any of the other girls in my class. And then, I have a friend who's kind of short, and she's not too happy about that either. So, I guess it's just not easy being different. But I think it's okay to be different . to be you! What's different, anyway? Boy, I wish I knew."

Maybe you're not too tall, but maybe you think you'retoo short or too fat or too skinny. Maybe you think your ears or your nose are too big. But I'm here to tell you that it's all going to be okay because I learned to see me, the real me. And now I know I can be anything I want to be, because I'm okay."

Here's what 4th grade teacher Linda Balaban has to say about the book: "Too Tall Alice is delightfully entertaining with a message that young children will understand and appreciate. It is a refreshing portrayal of one's uniqueness that allows children to beproud of their own distinctive characteristics. An appreciation for one's self can result in an acceptance of the individuality of others, which is the heart of the story."

About the book:
Too Tall Alice by Barbara Worton
ISBN: 978-0979066115
Publisher: Great Little Books
Date of publish: March 15, 2009
Pages: 32
S.R.P.: $15.95

Ralphina the Roly-Poly by Claudia Chandler

2009-03-08T13:41:00.000-07:00

Press: Some books for children are so charming and magnificently illustrated that they are a pleasure for every reader regardless of their age. These are the books that will be treasured beyond childhood. Ralphina, the Roly-Poly is this type of book.

Written to appeal to preschoolers and early readers, the author introduces young children
to the hidden world of a tiny insect. Ralphina, the Roly-Poly is sad because she gets
lonely in her garden and wants a friend to play with. But she is so small that nobody
seems to notice her. With her mommy's encouragement, Ralphina digs up a clever
solution to her loneliness and in the process learns that she has a lot to offer in friendship.

Children will love to hear this fascinating story of friendship and will delight in the
vividly colorful illustrations. Fun facts about roly-polies and rainbows are included to
provide an educational and entertaining opportunity for children, parents, and educators.

A perfect tale that will be a bedtime favorite, Ralphina, the Roly-Poly is a story that
children will want to hear again and again, and one that adults will be happy to read and
reread.

About the book:
Ralphina, the Roly-Poly by Claudia Chandler
ISBN: 978-1585974627
Publisher: Leather Pub
Date of publish: Jan 30, 2008
Pages: 32
S.R.P.: $21.95

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

2009-02-19T07:38:00.001-08:00

Summary:

All her world's a stage.

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.

She's not an orphan, but she has no parents.

She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own.

Until now.

Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book--an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family--and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

My thoughts: I was totally pumped to receive this ARC, and I was even more pumped to read it! I was physically unable to put it down (I think my copy was enchanted), and it took all of my willpower to not toss Lisa a message every time there was a plot twist or a character revelation or a funny line. Which was every few pages. Seriously.

When we did talk, I told her I wasn't looking forward to writing this review, because it would be hard to tamp down my enthusiasm.

This was exactly the book I wanted to read.

Here are some of the other things I told her, at the risk of enlarging her amazing head:

The word that kept coming back to me as I read it was effortless. The humor works perfectly, and the dialogue rivals Gilmore Girls--only it's a lot more genuine. The cast--and it is a large cast, since, you know, every character from every play lives in the Theater--was handled deftly, and even the minor characters shine.

I was worried when I started, afraid that worldbuilding could have weighted the manuscript down. That's the problem with coming up with something so unique, so fresh--most writers don't know how to make it work. I'm always terribly interested in the workings of the world in which characters I like live, but oftentimes it gets in the way of plot. Again, the word effortless pops up. Mantchev tells the reader just what they need to know to make the story viable--no more--and leaves the rest up to the imagination...or perhaps the next books in the series.

And the voice?

Oh wow, the voice rocks my socks. Glib but tinted with mystery, new but old, curious and straightforward, the contradictions only add depth and flavor to an already solid plot.

As for the characters, I fear saying much beause their stories are so tightly woven that I might give spoilers. Trust me, you don't want spoilers. You just want to experience the magic that is this book.

And I think that's what's been missing from a lot of fantasy stories: real magic. But Eyes Like Stars has magic and so much more. Can't wait for the next installment to get here!

This book isn't out until June, but you can pre-order on Amazon. And you should. Fo' real.

The Outlaw Marshal by Al and JoAnna Lacy

2009-02-19T07:29:00.000-08:00

Summary: A good deed grants outlaw Whipley Langford early release from prison and a friendship with Chief U.S. Marshal John Brockman. Another good deed gets Whip framed for murder and looking at life through a hangman’s noose. John arrives just in time to reveal the true murderers and lead Whip to Christ.

A new man and a fast draw, Whip becomes Brockman’s deputy. Life is still fast and dangerous, and there’s a pretty lady Whip would like to get to know better too. Before he admits his love, Whip is shot in a bank robbery. Survival looks slim until he awakens to hear his lady confess her love. Weeks later, they are married.

Readers who are familiar with the Journeys of the Stranger and Angel of Mercy series reunite with well-loved characters John and Breanna Brockman. Western history buffs will enjoy a wholesome, fast-paced story where the Gospel is presented clearly. Christian readers will learn how to lean on the Lord in times of trial and non-Christians will have the opportunity to make Christ their Savior.

You can buy The Outlaw Marshal (Return of the Stranger #1) at Amazon.com .

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz

2009-02-12T06:52:00.000-08:00

Summary: Using a series of interconnected monologues and dialogues featuring young people living in and around an English manor in 1255, she offers first-person character sketches that build upon each other to create a finer understanding of medieval life. The book was inspired by the necessity of creating a play suitable for a classroom where "no one wanted a small part." Each of the 23 characters (between 10 and 15 years old) has a distinct personality and a societal role revealed not by recitation of facts but by revelation of memories, intentions, and attitudes. Sometimes in prose and more often in one of several verse forms, the writing varies nicely from one entry to the next.

Historical notes appear in the vertical margins, and some double-page spreads carry short essays on topics related to individual narratives, such as falconry, the Crusades, and Jews in medieval society. Although often the characters' specific concerns are very much of their time, their outlooks and emotional states will be familiar to young people today. Reminiscent of medieval art, Byrd's lively ink drawings, tinted with watercolors, are a handsome addition to this well-designed book. This unusually fine collection of related monologues and dialogues promises to be a rewarding choice for performance or for reading aloud in the classroom. --Carolyn Phelan

My Thoughts: I listened to the audio version of this book--and it was tremendous! I'm going to be talking about Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! for a very long time, and recommending it to adults as well as middle grade students. I can't say anything about the illustrations, but if they match the scenes, writing, and relevance, I'd likely be raving about them, too.

Definitely a book I'm passing along, even to high schoolers. Love it. Love it lots.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

2009-02-12T06:42:00.001-08:00

Summary: Here's a great big fantasy that you can pull over your head like a comfy old sweater and disappear into for a whole weekend. Christopher Paolini began Eragon when he was just 15, and the book shows the influence of Tolkien, of course, but also Terry Brooks, Anne McCaffrey, and perhaps even Wagner in its traditional quest structure and the generally agreed-upon nature of dwarves, elves, dragons, and heroic warfare with magic swords.

Eragon, a young farm boy, finds a marvelous blue stone in a mystical mountain place. Before he can trade it for food to get his family through the hard winter, it hatches a beautiful sapphire-blue dragon, a race thought to be extinct. Eragon bonds with the dragon, and when his family is killed by the marauding Ra'zac, he discovers that he is the last of the Dragon Riders, fated to play a decisive part in the coming war between the human but hidden Varden, dwarves, elves, the diabolical Shades and their neanderthal Urgalls, all pitted against and allied with each other and the evil King Galbatorix. Eragon and his dragon Saphira set out to find their role, growing in magic power and understanding of the complex political situation as they endure perilous travels and sudden battles, dire wounds, capture and escape.

In spite of the engrossing action, this is not a book for the casual fantasy reader. There are 65 names of people, horses, and dragons to be remembered and lots of pseudo-Celtic places, magic words, and phrases in the Ancient Language as well as the speech of the dwarfs and the Urgalls. But the maps and glossaries help, and by the end, readers will be utterly dedicated and eager for the next book, Eldest. (Ages 10 to 14) --Patty Campbell

My Thoughts: I went into this book, having heard that it was "too much like The Lord of the Rings" and that it ripped off other high fantasy stories. I'm not a big high fantasy reader, so I saw none of it--and only a few traces of LotR, to boot.

I loved it. I became fully rooted in the world, and had no problem keeping track of names and places. There was so much original stuff, and the prose is near perfect, that my mind kept drifting back to the story when I wasn't actively involved in it. Paolini has done a great thing, and there's no way I'm going to pass up Eldest.

Love without Fiction -- Four Books on Matters of the Heart

2009-02-12T06:03:00.000-08:00

Love As A Way Of Life Devotional by Gary Chapman

In his book Love As a Way of Life, best-selling author Gary Chapman shows readers how to cultivate a new lifestyle built around the seven characteristics of authentic love. Now in a companion devotional, he provides ninety inspirational readings to help Christians consistently live out the characteristics of love in every relationship.

Each devotional entry showcases biblical truths that guide a life of love, offering fresh insight and practical guidance in how to make love a lasting habit. Over the course of three months, readers will learn to follow God’s lead as they practice the characteristics of a loving person: kindness, patience, forgiveness, courtesy, humility, generosity, and honesty.

The Love As a Way of Life Devotional makes an ideal gift for the holidays or for any special occasion. Couples, parents, new graduates, and anyone celebrating a milestone in life will welcome this inspiring daily guide to richer, more satisfying relationships.

Author Bio: Dr. Gary Chapman is the author of twenty-six books, including the New York Times bestseller The Five Love Languages, with more than 4 million copies in print. His daily radio program, A Love Language Minute, is broadcast on more than 100 stations nationwide. Dr. Chapman, a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, Wheaton College, Wake-Forest University, and Southwestern Seminary, serves on a church staff in North Carolina.

I Do Again by Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs
With their professional success and adorable twin daughters, Jeff and Cheryl Scruggs looked like the perfect couple. But their polished facade concealed a widening chasm between two people unable to connect on an intimate, soul-deep level.

After years of frustration, Cheryl’s desire for emotional fulfillment led to an affair and, finally, divorce. Yet, incredibly, seven years later, Jeff and Cheryl once again stood at the altar, promising to “love, honor, and cherish” one another. A new and vibrant love had risen out of the ashes of this family’s pain.

I Do Again details the fascinating real-life story of a couple whose relationship seemed shattered beyond all hope until a spiritual awakening led them to reconsider their definitions of “happily ever after.” A riveting account of the power of prayer and redemption, this remarkable book offers renewed hope for even the most troubled marriages—and reveals why the rewards of restoration are well worth the wait.

Author Bio:

Cheryl and Jeff Scruggs are the founders of Hope Matters Marriage Ministries, and for the past several years they have shared their incredible story of a marriage restored with audiences across the nation. Jeff is an account manager with OshKosh B’Gosh, and Cheryl has served as director of the Frisco, Texas, office of the Center for Christian Counseling. They live in Dallas, Texas with their two college-age daughters.

For Couples Only Box Set:

Since their debut, these revolutionary guides have sold well over a million copies, been translated into fifteen languages, and sparked much fascinating water-cooler conversation around the country. Now together in the For Couples Only boxed set, these books provide the perfect resource to help you understand what you never knew about the woman or man in your life.

Each volume is based on input from more than a thousand members of the opposite sex—including an unprecedented nationwide survey and hundreds of personal interviews. This innovative approach yields candid and surprising answers about everything you don’t “get” about your significant other—even what that person deeply wishes you knew. It also produces simple but groundbreaking awareness of how you can best love and support the one who is most important to you. [Part of me wanted to make this paragraph past tense—yielded and produced—because of the first paragraph, but that took away some of the immediacy of what the books offer. I’ll leave that up to you.]

So whether you are newly dating or have been married fifty years, get ready to know each other in a whole new way. The adventure is just beginning!

Author Bio:

Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn hold graduate degrees from Harvard University and are popular national speakers, authors, and entrepreneurs. They are also active church members and the parents of two young children, and they enjoy every minute of living life at warp speed.

Pick these books up via Amazon by using these links!

I Do Again

Love As A Way Of Life Devotional

For Couples Only Box Set

Christian Writers' Market Guide

2009-01-31T14:18:00.000-08:00

Do you write? Looking to get published? Do you need some direction? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then you cannot afford to miss out on the Christian Writers’ Market Guide 2009. For over 20 years, author Sally Stuart produces this amazing resource, filled with trusted content. The only one of it’s kind, the 2009 Edition includes the latest information on more than 100 editors and publishers, conferences, writers’ groups, and more are not only listed and indexed in the book, but this year, readers will get a code in the book and on the CD-Rom for accessing more updates through the year on author Sally Stuart’s web site, www.stuartmarket.com. A must-have!

For 24 years running, the Christian Writers’ Market Guide has remained the most comprehensive, complete, essential, and highly-recommended resource for beginning and veteran Christian writers, agents, editors, publishers, publicists, and those teaching writing classes.

This year’s Guide is even handier with a CD-Rom (works on Mac systems as well as Windows, as I have have a MacBook) included that features the full text of the book for easy searches of topics, publishers, and markets, as well as 100 pages of exclusive content including indexes and writing resource listings.

This is the resource you need to get noticed—and published.

Completely updated and revised to feature the latest on…

more than 1,200 markets for the written word
416 book publishers (32 new)
654 periodicals (52 new)
96 literary agents
100 new listings in Resources for Writers
226 poetry markets
316 photography markets
25 African-American markets
and 166 contests (29 new)

Drood by Dan Simmons

2009-01-30T05:41:00.000-08:00

I'm shifting all my attention now to Drood, Dan Simmons's new novel, primarily because it is 800 pages and, well, 800 pages demands attention. It comes out in February, so I wanted to make sure I got it good and read!

I'm a bigger fan of Wilkie Collins than of Dickens, and you guys know I love Victorian stuff, so I jumped at the chance to review this. I love the narrative voice--it has all the snark of a masculine friend turned acquaintance, and is strong even through the backstory setup. Reminiscent of Caleb Carr's The Alienist, Drood is full of interesting detail and richly textured scenes of real Dickensian London.

On June 9, 1865, while traveling by train to London with his secret mistress, 53-year-old Charles Dickens--at the height of his powers and popularity, the most famous and successful novelist in the world and perhaps in the history of the world--hurtled into a disaster that changed his life forever.

Did Dickens begin living a dark double life after the accident? Were his nightly forays into the worst slums of London and his deepening obsession with corpses, crypts, murder, opium dens, the use of lime pits to dissolve bodies, and a hidden subterranean London mere research . . . or something more terrifying?

Just as he did in The Terror, Dan Simmons draws impeccably from history to create a gloriously engaging and terrifying narrative. Based on the historical details of Charles Dickens's life and narrated by Wilkie Collins (Dickens's friend, frequent collaborator, and Salieri-style secret rival), DROOD explores the still-unsolved mysteries of the famous author's last years and may provide the key to Dickens's final, unfinished work: The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Chilling, haunting, and utterly original, DROOD is Dan Simmons at his powerful best.

The Vampire Academy Series, books 1-3 by Richelle Mead

2009-01-19T16:44:00.000-08:00

Summary of Vampire Academy: Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampires--the ones who never die.

The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir; she is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.

After two years of illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking hearts.

Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir's--but their world is fraught with danger both inside and out of the Academy's iron gates. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through

this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever...

My review: I picked up the first in this series and enjoyed exploring the world, but I didn't connect much with the main character, Rose. There was enough going on to make me come back for Frostbite, and it vastly exceeded expectations. I quickly saw how much Rose had grown since the events of Vampire Academy, and found her increasingly likeable--and I was drawn entirely into the story. I love exploring the world of Moroi and dhampirs, and it's explained in such a way that I understood everything easily, even though the world is as complex as the characters. Also a boon to this series is the way Mead recaps. It's quick and easy, and never bogs the story down. I loved every minute of Shadow Kiss and wish August would hurry up and get here--I want to hang out with Rose more!

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

2009-01-12T17:33:00.000-08:00

Summary: Jeannette Walls's father always called her "Mountain Goat" and there's perhaps no more apt nickname for a girl who navigated a sheer and towering cliff of childhood both daily and stoically. In The Glass Castle, Walls chronicles her upbringing at the hands of eccentric, nomadic parents--Rose Mary, her frustrated-artist mother, and Rex, her brilliant, alcoholic father.

To call the elder Walls's childrearing style laissez faire would be putting it mildly. As Rose Mary and Rex, motivated by whims and paranoia, uprooted their kids time and again, the youngsters (Walls, her brother and two sisters) were left largely to their own devices. But while Rex and Rose Mary firmly believed children learned best from their own mistakes, they themselves never seemed to do so, repeating the same disastrous patterns that eventually landed them on the streets.

Walls describes in fascinating detail what it was to be a child in this family, from the embarrassing (wearing shoes held together with safety pins; using markers to color her skin in an effort to camouflage holes in her pants) to the horrific (being told, after a creepy uncle pleasured himself in close proximity, that sexual assault is a crime of perception; and being pimped by her father at a bar). Though Walls has well earned the right to complain, at no point does she play the victim. In fact, Walls' removed, nonjudgmental stance is initially startling, since many of the circumstances she describes could be categorized as abusive (and unquestioningly neglectful). But on the contrary, Walls respects her parents' knack for making hardships feel like adventures, and her love for them--despite their overwhelming self-absorption--resonates from cover to cover. --Brangien Davis

My Thoughts: This was one of our book club selections earlier in 2008, but I didn't finish in time, so I thought I should get through it before the year ended. And I did! It was a hard read--emotionally, that is. Even so, it was easily one of the best books I read all year, and I'm extremely glad I finished it. Jeanette Walls has made it to the list of people I'd love to meet, and I strongly recommend adults read this.

Fakie by Tony Varrato

2009-01-12T17:25:00.000-08:00

Summary: Nominated for the 2009 YALSA Quick Picks list, this short novel for reluctant readers has action, intrigue, and relatable teen characters.

At first glance, Alex Miller seems like a typical kid – typical hair, typical clothes, typical hobbies. But Alex's life is anything but typical – and fitting in has become a matter of life and death. The unfortunate witness to a crime, Alex can't forget the things he has seen, and neither can the man he helped put in jail. The Witness Relocation Program has changed the identities of Alex and his mother repeatedly, but they still need to keep running to stay one step ahead of his enemies. His latest identity as a skateboarder in Virginia Beach is no easy ride – nosegrabs, ollies, and kickflips are all new to him. Alex has to catch on quickly to blend in – but the biggest trick he'll have to master is staying alive. --Lobster Press

My thoughts: I can totally see how this would appeal to guys--especially guys who don't read for pleasure much. There are no big themes to examine, no long plotlines to tear apart--and it works well that way. As an avid reader, I found myself wanting a lot more for the story...but I think it did its job very well. Guys being guys, and the story itself is complete, with a satisfying ending. I'm interested to see how junior high and high school boys would receive this.

Meg and the Disappearing Diamonds by Holly Beth Walker

2009-01-12T17:15:00.000-08:00

My Thoughts: I loved the Meg books when I was ten, so when I came across this at my local Goodwill, I had to snatch it up. A sort of middle grade Nancy Drew, the Meg books deal with small mysteries around a suburb of Washington, DC, called Hidden Springs. I adored these books so much that in fifth grade I created a board game around them. No kidding. So this was simply a pleasure, a blast from my past.

If I can find more of this series, I'm totally snatching them up.

Animal Farm by George Orwell

2009-01-12T16:56:00.000-08:00

Summary: Since its publication in 1946, George Orwell's fable of a workers' revolution gone wrong has rivaled Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea as the Shortest Serious Novel It's OK to Write a Book Report About. (The latter is three pages longer and less fun to read.)

Fueled by Orwell's intense disillusionment with Soviet Communism, Animal Farm is a nearly perfect piece of writing, both an engaging story and an allegory that actually works. When the downtrodden beasts of Manor Farm oust their drunken human master and take over management of the land, all are awash in collectivist zeal. Everyone willingly works overtime, productivity soars, and for one brief, glorious season, every belly is full.

The animals' Seven Commandment credo is painted in big white letters on the barn. All animals are equal. No animal shall drink alcohol, wear clothes, sleep in a bed, or kill a fellow four-footed creature. Those that go upon four legs or wings are friends and the two-legged are, by definition, the enemy.

Too soon, however, the pigs, who have styled themselves leaders by virtue of their intelligence, succumb to the temptations of privilege and power. "We pigs are brainworkers. The whole management and organisation of the farm depend on us. Day and night, we are watching over your welfare. It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples." While this swinish brotherhood sells out the revolution, cynically editing the Seven Commandments to excuse their violence and greed, the common animals are once again left hungry and exhausted, no better off than in the days when humans ran the farm.

Satire Animal Farm may be, but it's a stony reader who remains unmoved when the stalwart workhorse, Boxer, having given his all to his comrades, is sold to the glue factory to buy booze for the pigs. Orwell's view of Communism is bleak indeed, but given the history of the Russian people since 1917, his pessimism has an air of prophecy. --Joyce Thompson

My Thoughts: First time I read this I was in seventh grade. I figured there was a lot I missed, so I picked it up again. Having read Upton Sinclair's The Jungle recently, I found it a really interesting foil to the 1900 publication. It also lead me to the biggest "Aha!" moment all year: Boxer the workhorse's mantra, "I will work harder" was exactly the same as Sinclair's Jurgis's promise to himself and his family. Every time I read it, I heard it in Jurgis's gruff accent. This book is amazing, and if you haven't read it since school, consider reading it again.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall

2009-01-12T16:40:00.000-08:00

Summary: The African-born author of more than 50 books, from children's stories (The Perfect Hamburger) to scholarly works (Forensic Aspects of Sleep), turns his talents to detection in this artful, pleasing novel about Mma (aka Precious) Ramotswe, Botswana's one and only lady private detective.

A series of vignettes linked to the establishment and growth of Mma Ramotswe's "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" serve not only to entertain but to explore conditions in Botswana in a way that is both penetrating and light thanks to Smith's deft touch. Mma Ramotswe's cases come slowly and hesitantly at first: women who suspect their husbands are cheating on them; a father worried that his daughter is sneaking off to see a boy; a missing child who may have been killed by witchdoctors to make medicine; a doctor who sometimes seems highly competent and sometimes seems to know almost nothing about medicine.

The desultory pace is fine, since she has only a detective manual, the frequently cited example of Agatha Christie and her instincts to guide her. Mma Ramotswe's love of Africa, her wisdom and humor, shine through these pages as she shines her own light on the problems that vex her clients. Images of this large woman driving her tiny white van or sharing a cup of bush tea with a friend or client while working a case linger pleasantly. General audiences will welcome this little gem of a book just as much if not more than mystery readers.
--Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

My Thoughts: In general, I'm a fan of any book that takes me out of my world and firmly deposits me in someone elses. This book does just that, and introduces me to a character I'd love to befriend in Mma Ramotswe. While not a thriller or suspense novel, it drew me by the character and her voice. And I have to say I gave the end my biggest cheer of the year. If you're looking for warm fuzzies, this is the book for you.

Never Say Diet by Chantel Hobbs

2009-01-12T16:26:00.000-08:00

Summary: After years of failed diet attempts, Chantel Hobbs discovered the missing ingredient to permanent weight loss: to change your life, you first have to change the way you think.

She developed a balanced plan for exercise and nutrition and lost two hundred pounds. Now, through writing, speaking, and her work as a personal trainer, she inspires others to achieve far more than they thought possible.

In Never Say Diet, now available in trade paperback, Chantel provides everything readers need to lose weight for good, including:

Simple, step-by-step workout routines that fit into a normal weekday schedule
A realistic approach to nutrition that helps people break their bondage to food
Strategies for staying motivated when life takes unexpected turns
Keys to dealing with discouragement by relying on God’s strength
The secret to moving beyond past failures and getting over old excuses

Chantel helps readers make the five commitments that are necessary for changing their lives. Her high-energy, no-nonsense approach inspires readers to achieve results that last in body, mind, and spirit.

Personal Trainer: Her newest book, The Never Say Diet Personal Fitness Coach, now allows readers to have Chantel show up each week to inspire, encourage, and energize them on the journey to a healthy life that centers on body, mind, and spirit.

This fitness guide helps readers set new weight-loss goals and create an exercise schedule that works in the midst of life’s constant demands. Readers will be inspired with Scripture, and they will welcome Chantel’s healthy eating plan with simple, energy-and-nutrition-packed recipes. Weekly checklists and personal evaluations direct readers in reaching their goals. Plus, Chantel’s personal and entertaining stories provide the motivation needed to get through even the most frustrating days.

With Never Say Diet and The Never Say Diet Personal Fitness Coach readers will establish new fitness habits that burn off excess weight, increase strength, and establish a new, healthy way of living.

For more information, check out www.chantelhobbs.com

Buy NEVER SAY DIET

Buy THE NEVER SAY DIET PERSONAL FITNESS COACH

Field of Blood by Eric Wilson

2008-12-23T12:21:00.000-08:00

Summary: Judas hung himself in a place known as the Akeldama or Field of Blood.

But what if his death didn't end his betrayal?

What if his tainted blood seeped deep into the earth, into burial caves, causing a counterfeit resurrection of the dead?

Gina Lazarescu, a Romanian girl with a scarred past, has no idea she is being sought by the undead.

The Collectors, those released from the Akeldama, feed on souls and human blood. But there are also the Nistarim, those who rose from their graves in the shadow of the Nazarene's crucifixion--and they still walk among us, immortal, left to protect mankind.

Gina realizes her future will depend on her understanding of the past, yet how can she protect herself from Collectors who have already died once but still live?

The Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy takes readers on a riveting journey, as imaginative fiction melds with biblical and archaeological history.

My Review: Once I got into this--and, to be honest, it took a few chapters--I really got into this story. Even though the main character, Gina, is young female, this is definitely a masculine book--perhaps the guys' version of The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Gina's story was the most gripping to me, and I hated being pulled away from it, unless it was to catch a glimpse of the other two "good guys." I loved the use of real places: Rembrandt's Coffee was one of my hangouts in college, and it was very cool locations from my past, including Ruby Ridge. I imagine the other locations are accurate, too, and the settings did come alive to me, perhaps more than some of the characters.

Field of Blood is a hefty book, but one that moved with the same sort of feel as one of Clive Cussler's recent (better) releases. I'm not a fan of books that follow the Bad Guys heavily, and this one did (I'd wager about half the book is about them, and the other half about Gina's story) but Erota's storyline held me captive. While the Bad Guys' story was rich in mythology, history and geography, I felt as though this could have been integrated in a less heavy-handed way, and with fewer characters. By doing this, the pacing would have flowed a bit better and the characters that remained would have received more air time--more time for us to connect and begin to really experience the events with them.

Even though I didn't like certain aspects on a macro level, I really enjoyed the book, and I'll definitely seek out the rest of the series.

On a petty note, they mention Harry Potter in, I think, 1996. It wasn't out until '97, and I'm not sure when it was published in the U.S. Gina doesn't seem to be the type to rabidly follow children's lit--especially not kidlit that wasn't wildly popular in the US until 2000. But that's nitpicking. I did love the Rob Zombie reference.

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary Schmidt

2008-12-23T09:50:00.000-08:00

Summary: From the sad and shameful actual destruction of an island community in 1912, Schmidt weaves an evocative novel. When Turner Buckminster arrives in Phippsburg, ME, it takes him only a few hours to start hating his new home. Friendless and feeling the burden of being the new preacher's son, the 13-year-old is miserable until he meets Lizzie Bright Griffin, the first African American he has ever met and a resident of Malaga Island, an impoverished community settled by freed or possibly escaped slaves.

Despite his father's and the town's stern disapproval, Turner spends time with Lizzie, learning the wonders of the Maine coast. For some minor infraction, Turner's father makes the boy visit elderly Mrs. Cobb, reading to her and playing the organ. Lizzie joins him, and this unlikely threesome takes comfort in the music. The racist town elders, trying to attract a lucrative tourist trade, decide to destroy the shacks on Malaga and to remove the community, including 60 graves in their cemetery.

Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME for School Library Journal.

My Review: I have to say, this is the perfect book to read alongside or right after A Northern Light. The main character is a kid you'd want to be friends with, and the story is strong enough to keep you going all the way through. Even though Turner and Lizzie are young (this is a middle grade book), and it's more of a "boy book", I fell into Turner's world easily. The climax and ending are the strongest I've seen from fiction in general--not just middle grade fic, either--in a long time. This is one I'm passing along to my mother-in-law, who teaches English, especially because I liked it more and more as the story progressed.

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

2008-12-23T09:31:00.000-08:00

Summary: It is 1906 and Mattie Gokey is trying to learn how to stand up like a man -- even though she’s a sixteen-year-old girl. At her summer job at a resort on Big Moose Lake in the Adirondack mountains, she will earn enough money to make something of her life.

That money could be a dowry to wed the handsome but dull Royal Loomis. It could save her father’s brokeback farm. Or it might buy her a train ticket to New York City and college and a life that she can barely allow herself to imagine.

But Mattie’s worries and plans are cast into a cold light when the drowned body of Grace Brown turns up – a young woman who gave Mattie a packet of love letters, letters that convince Mattie that the drowning was no accident.

Inspired by the sensational Chester Gillette murder case of 1906, which was also the basis for Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy and the film A Place in the Sun, this story evokes novels such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Little Women, and other classics that hark back to times of lost innocence.

My Review: I don't really agree with some of the the summary here. Royal Loomis is way more interesting and well-developed, if still not desirable for Mattie, than "handsome but dull" gives him credit. Nearly every character in this book is three-dimensional, and Royal is almost a protagonist himself. The key is not desirable for Mattie. We understand all his choices, even when we don't agree with them, and his dreams and his version of a good life are real and valid...but they're not Mattie's dreams. He's a hardworking guy, and while rough around the edges, he'd surely grow into a great husband for someone.

Just not Mattie.

Because their values aren't the same.

And that's just one of the hundreds of places where this story finds strength. I can't say enough good things about this book. It's definitely literary, not commercial, so if you're looking for something to breeze through without thinking about much, then this isn't the book. But if you're looking for something to savor, take the time to walk through old New York state with Mattie Gokey as your guide.

For the Love of St. Nick by Garasamo Maccagnone

2008-12-17T10:33:00.000-08:00

This is a great book trailer because it matches the feel of the story and gives a solid summary without giving away the surprise at the end of the story. For the Love of St. Nick is a good story, but could've been made better with more time, more digging, and more editing. I'd love to see another, fuller incarnation of this, since it feels like the surface was only scratched in this edition.

How to Help a Grieving Friend by Stephanie Grace Whitson

2008-12-17T10:15:00.000-08:00

Summary: Break down the barriers that separate you from your grieving friends and be a person who says the right thing at the right time. This quick read will help you know how to act and what to say around a grieving friend. Learn to:

• speak healing words instead of tired cliches
• comfort and emphasize with others
• break down barriers

My review: This is a really quick read--but it's also a good read. Whitson's prose is clean and real, and she expresses her emotions regarding her husband's death with, as her name suggests, Grace. Definitely a helpful read for those of us who've never lost someone extremely close to us, because the sad truth is, we'll all need these words sometime.

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

2008-12-17T09:35:00.000-08:00

Synopsis: Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker–his classmate and crush–who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Review: Jay Asher's debut young adult novel is gripping and chilling. Readers are taken on emotional, heartrending rides--both Clay's and Hannah's--that are relevant and realistic. Hannah talks about the snowball--how little things grow into bigger things, and how those things roll out of control, such as the little grievances in her own life that lead to irreparable circumstances

Definitely a hard but worthwhile read that keeps the pages turning on its own volition.

Giveaway: Living Rich for Less by Ellie Kay

2008-12-17T09:15:00.000-08:00

You really can be rich in every way, every day.

So you want to own the home you love, make memories on wonderful vacations with family or friends, finance college educations, and help others too?

You can—starting here and now.

With lively humor, proven know-how, and practical principles for financial health, Living Rich for Less helps you stretch your dollars to realize the lifestyle of your dreams. Ellie Kay’s entertaining and enlightening examples show you simple steps to save, spend, and give smart, and her three main principles are undergirded by dozens of effective rules and hundreds of Cha-Ching Factor™ tips that keep or put money in your pocket.

Ellie knows what it’s like to be financially-strapped or struggling, wanting to be the Joneses but feeling as poor in spirit as in pocketbook. She went, within two and a half years, from being a new wife and mom with $40,000 in consumer debt and seven children (and college educations) to support, to being completely debt-free and within fifteen years able to pay cash for eleven different cars, give away three of those cars, buy two five-bedroom houses (moving from one to the other) and nicely furnish each, take wonderful vacations, dress her family in fine fashion; and support more than thirty non-profit organizations in more than a dozen different countries, giving away more than $100,000.

Isn’t that the kind of transformation to a rich life that you want?

Living Rich for Less helps anyone get there in our taxed-out, maxed-out times. Because financial security doesn’t mean just genuine prosperity, but being able to live luxuriously, give generously, and care for yourself as well as the others around you.

Why keep up with the Joneses when you can be them?

www.Amazon.com

www.ChristianBook.com

www.FamilyChristian.com

Giveaway Rules: To win, email eliza(dot)osborn(at)gmail(dot)com with the subject LIVING RICH FOR LESS. Include your name and email address, and three things you've been doing to save money during (or before) this current economic crunch!

Offer open to continental US and Canada residents only. Thanks!
Drawing ends Wednesday, December 24th!

Forever Lily by Beth Nonte Russell

2008-12-03T10:16:00.000-08:00

From Publishers Weekly
Russell was asked by a friend, Alex, to accompany her to China to help her pick up the baby she and her husband were adopting. While parents usually make the trip together, Alex's husband had to stay home to care for another child. Russell didn't know Alex all that well, but agreed to go anyway. In this offbeat memoir, Russell describes the trip. It wasn't long into it before she noticed signs of Alex's ambivalence— she'd brought no camera to document the baby's adoption, and she'd refused to spend more time in China than was absolutely necessary. Meanwhile, Russell was having heavily symbolic dreams: she was an empress of China pregnant with an illegitimate child who had to be given away for adoption. Before long, Alex confessed that she didn't want this baby after all, and Russell fell in love with the baby herself. In the end, Russell brought home the baby she felt she was meant to have. The foreshadowing's heavy-handed, the dreams perhaps too prescient and some apparitions—the Virgin Mary, no less— strain credulity. But spiritual-minded readers might embrace the concept of linking reincarnation, adoption and fate. (Mar.)

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

My Review: I can't say I "really enjoyed this book" or that it was particularly pleasant--not because of the writing or the style, but because it was difficult. The content, much like that in Somaly Mam's The Road of Lost Innocence, breaks your heart. Not only does Alex not want the baby she worked so hard to gain, but the conditions in the Chinese orphanages--and throughout most of Russell's travels through China--are blistering illustrations of the oppression we Westerners gleefully ignore.

Russell's dream sequences did take me out of the story -- and it was easy to skim those portions because they were, for the most part, recapped when the present-day sequences began. Although I believe dreams to be powerful and important for many people, I found the Buddhism presented in the present narrative much more informative, as part of my desire to read the book was to learn a little more about personal experience.

In all, it was a solid read, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to read and review Forever Lily.

A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbottsen

2008-11-21T17:25:00.000-08:00

Summary: After the Russian revolution turns her world topsy-turvy, Anna, a young Russian countess, has no choice but to flee to England. penniless, Anna hides her aristocratic background and takes a job as servant in the household of the esteemed Westerholme family, armed only with an outdated housekeeping manual and sheer determination. Desperate to keep her past a secret, Anna is nearly overwhelmed by her new duties—not to mention her instant attraction to Rupert, the handsome Earl of Westerholme. to make matters worse, Rupert appears to be falling for her as well. As their attraction grows stronger, Anna finds it more and more difficult to keep her most dearly held secrets from unraveling. And then there’s the small matter of Rupert’s beautiful and nasty fiancée. . .

My Review: This is one of those stories that you know how it will end, but the fun is in the journey. Thoroughly researched, richly plotted, and full of memorable characters (even though there are a lot of them, most are three-dimensional enough to remember forever), Ibbottsen has crafted a wonderful riches to rags tale. I love stories where people are good -- even in a Horatio Alger sense -- and I love worlds where the characters, while not completely perfect, strive for goodness, intelligence, and compassion. This is one of those stories, but even with "straight" characters, it doesn't lack in conflict. Gripes? There were a many asides and obscure (for current readers) references, and the point of view changed extremely quickly, without warning. The story was strong enough to keep me in, however, so the gripes are minor ones. I loved this, and I'll definitely be reading more Ibbottsen in the future!

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

2008-11-21T16:46:00.000-08:00

Summary: A king orders a young thief to carry out a near-impossible heist under threat of death. "In addition to its charismatic hero, this story possesses one of the most valuable treasures of all a twinkling jewel of a surprise ending," said Publisher's Weekly of this 1997 Newbery Honor book.

My Review: I'm not big into high fantasy, but Gen's world was easy enough to fall into. I loved the folklore, so much like Greek and Roman mythos, and each member of the cast was three dimensional and easy to believe. My aversions? First, I had no real grasp of Gen's age. For the most part, all of his characteristics could have been those of a teenager or those of a petulant-acting middle aged man (I could see my husband making the smart remarks!). spoiler alert -- you've been warned! I've read a few books this year that have annoyed me because I've felt lied to through at least a portion of the story. This was one of them. A trick that might work in film (the protagonist's surprise) doesn't always translate well into text -- especially when we have to live with a character for a very long time. spoiler over! I'll definitely be reading the sequels, though!

My Mother's Wish by Jerry Camery-Hoggatt (giveaway!)

2008-11-21T16:26:00.000-08:00

Summary: A grandfather’s song turns a diner into hallowed ground, like a church. A contrary girl with a gypsy heart feels the tug of home. A mother, far away, confronts impossible expectations. And a truck driver named Jedidah keeps his foot on the gas to sweep you into an unforgettable story of belonging and grace.

Readers looking for a meaningful, powerful read on a winter’s evening or with the family will love the rich 1960s nostalgia captured in the Midwest of Jedidiah’s and Ellee’s story; the peace found when family strife boils over, and the gentle reminders of the influence and effect every life has on another.

My Mother’s Wish is an unforgettable, powerful tale that ends on a memorable Christmastime note, but will be cherished and reread year-round for its bold message of grand hopes, impossible expectations, and the gift of grace that comes in between.

My Review: This quick, quirky tale is a fun read. Ellee is strong-willed and relatable young girl, and her tale is equally odd and heartwarming. It's super-fast, super-fun, and will give you the warmth you need to face this wintry season!

Giveaway Rules: To win, simply email eliza(dot)osborn(at)gmail(dot)com with the subject MY MOTHER'S WISH GIVEAWAY. Include your name and email address!

Offer open to continental US and Canada residents only. Thanks!
Drawing ends Monday, November 24th!

Buy it online!

- www.Amazon.com

- www.ChristianBook.com

- www.FamilyChristian.com

50 in '08

2008-10-16T08:55:00.000-07:00

I set out to read 50 books in '08. And I completed my task!

The Thirteenth Tale Diana Setterfield

Organizing Magic Sandra Felton

Women's Intuition Lisa Samson

The Last Battle CS Lewis

The Expert Maid-Servant Christine Terhune Herrick

North River Pete Hamill

On Chesil Beach Ian McEwan

The Two Faces of January Patricia Highsmith

The Road Cormac McCarthy

The Sweet Far Thing Libba Bray

Gunner's Run Rick Barry

Hollywood Nobody Lisa Samson

In Between Jenny B. Jones

Guns of Thunder Douglas Bond

Against the Tide Hope Irwin Marston

The Higher Power of Lucky Susan Patron

City of Bones Cassandra Clare

Northanger Abbey Jane Austen

The Dark is Rising Susan Cooper

Beyond Reach Melody Carlson

Kingdom's Call Chuck Black

The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini

Maggie Come Lately Michelle Buckman

Chosen Ted Dekker

Diamonds in the Shadows Caroline B. Cooney

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness Andrew Peterson

Death of Riley Rhys Bowen

Fatal Deduction Gayle Roper

The End Lemony Snicket

City of Ashes Cassandra Clare

Tweak: Growing up on Methamphetamines Nic Sheff

A Drowned Maiden's Hair: A Melodrama Laura Amy Schlitz

Twilight Stephenie Meyer

Breaking Dawn Stephenie Meyer

Fairest Gayle Carson Levine

Love As A Way of Life Gary Chapman

Artichoke's Heart Suzanne Supplee

The Jungle Upton Sinclair

Suite Scarlett Maureen Johnson

The Faith of Barack Obama Stephen Mansfield

Saturdays with Stella Allison Pittman

Vampire Academy Richelle Mead

Frostbite Richelle Mead

The Road of Lost Innocence Somaly Mam

The Encore Effect Mark Sandborn

Evernight Claudia Gray

My Sister's Keeper Jodi Picoult

For Young Men Only Jeff Feldhahn and Eric Rice

Rumors Anna Godbersen

The Outsiders SE Hinton

and still going strong

The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner

2008-10-16T08:19:00.000-07:00

Eliza's Review: I'm coming to Susan Meissner fresh, never having read any of her work before. THE SHAPE OF MERCY looked like one of my fantasy jobs: a college girl is hired to transcribe a journal of one of the Salem, Massachusetts, girls sentenced to death during the infamous witch trials.

There's a huge hook in that for bookish girls like me. I mean, it's a dream come true. But the hook isn't nearly as interesting as the themes, characters, and the stories surrounding them all. Lauren is a privileged California college student questioning her, and everyone else's, place in the world. As she deciphers the contents of Mercy's journal, her questions regarding her own life become more fundamental. Lauren realizes that the most important truths surpass race, social class, and even time, and her journey is not only enjoyable, but completely believable. THE SHAPE OF MERCY is a read anyone will benefit from. Seriously, guys, this is a must-read.

Synopsis:
Women of all ages will appreciate this highly-readable, layered, and fast-paced story about self-discovery at all stages of life. With rich undertones of intrigue and romance, this contemporary novel with a historical twist explores personal blinders and how upbringing and conditioning can shape people to judge others in ways that can lead to unhappy consequences.

Lauren Durough is a college student who finds herself on the road to self-discovery as she is hired by octogenarian Abigail Boyles to transcribe the journals of Mercy Hayworth, a seventeenth-century victim of the Massachusetts witch trials. Almost immediately, Lauren finds herself drawn to this girl who lived and died four centuries ago. The strength of her affinity with Mercy forces Lauren to take a startling new look at her own life, including her relationships with Abigail, her college roommate, and a young man named Raul. But on the way to the truth, will Lauren find herself playing the helpless defendant or the misguided judge? Can she break free from her own perceptions and see who she really is?

Readers will identify with Lauren’s struggle to break away from society’s expectations and her attempt to strike out on her own while figuring out what parts of her own story to hold on to.

Through The Storm by Lynne Spears and Lorilee Cracker

2008-10-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

When given the opportunity to review Lynne Spears' autobiography, THROUGH THE STORM : A REAL STORY OF FAME AND FAMILY IN A TABLOID WORLD, I jumped at the chance. As a teenager, I'd been a huge fan of The MMC, and had been sort of shocked when Britney exploded onto the music scene in 1999. I'd heard the "stage mom" rumors about Justin and Britney's mothers, and I was interested to see how Lynne would defend herself.

And it's not a great defense.

Having grown up with Southern Christian parents, I find it hard to believe that Lynne Spears was as naive as she claims to have been, particularly when it came to the '99 Rolling Stone magazine cover.

Lynne writes, "What I saw was Britney in a bra and hot pants, sitting on her bed . . . 'Let's stop now,' I said, flustered and uncomfortable." She goes on to say, "We assumed we would have final say over which pictures were chosen. Besides, they took so many cute shots, why would they want this one . . ?"

When you think Rolling Stone, do you think 'cute' or 'hot'?

Hm.

According to the book, also present at the time were Britney's agent, Larry Rudolph, and her father. Between the three 'managing' adults present at the photo shoot for this internationally-known magazine--one that is extremely infamous in conservative Christian circles--not one person would have looked at the contract and demanded to have their say? And beyond all that, Britney was 18 years old at the time. She was making her own decisions. She had a right to. If her parents were as down-home and Christian as we're being asked to believe over and over again, wouldn't they have raised her to at least ask herself the question, "What will my mama think?"

Instances like these force me to question the narrator's sincerity. I believe Lynne is telling us the events in a true light, but I can't quite she's telling us all of her story.

But that's what this book is. It's Lynne's story--she doesn't speak for Britney, Jamie Lynn, or anyone else. That's the way it should be. She does speak openly about her relationships with her parents and siblings, friends, and co-workers. She obviously loves her children and grandchildren very much. But something seems to change when she writes her perspective on Britney and Jamie Lynn's fame, and the paths they took to get there. I don't believe she is withholding things from the reader as much as she may be withholding things from herself.

THROUGH THE STORM gratefully acknowledges many of the sacrifices family and friends have made to the Spears brood, and accepts that compromises were made by many different people, herself included. But above all the fame and blame, this is a story of a mother who desperately wants her children to know the grace, redemption, and fulfillment waiting faithfully for them.

The Road of Lost Innocence by Somaly Mam

2008-09-18T07:59:00.001-07:00

Help TripAdvisor Decide How to Donate $1 Million
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------------------------

A few weeks ago, I received this email:

"I know this is last minute, and very different from our other Blog Tours. However, we at WaterBrook believe that Somaly’s message needs to be shared, so we are teaming with Spiegel & Grau (a sister division of Random House) to promote the book."

They were right. They were so very right.

Born in Cambodia and orphaned at an early age, Somaly Mam, a Buddhist sex trade survivor, grew up never knowing her real name or birthday.

As a teenager, Somaly Mam was sold into prostitution and spent years in the brothels of Cambodia where she witnessed and experienced the full-blown horrors of the human sex trade – rape, torture, and nearly unfathomable abuse. After her eventual escape, she could not forget the young girls (some as young as 5) left behind in the brothels, and so she returned to serve them. Her new book, "The Road of Lost Innocence," is her newest means of advocacy. It tells her personal story, ultimately inviting people of conscious, such as our Christian community, to become involved (or to continue involvement) in this war against an epic evil, a modern battle for "the least of these." Truly, not only is this book worth reading, it's worth sharing.

I'm not quite finished with this book yet -- but it has me by heart. As a mom, I'm terrified of Somaly's world. As a woman, I'm grateful never to have experienced the things so many little girls have to endure every day. As a human being, I can't be silent about this world.

Unfortunately, there are no giveaway copies of this book. But I'm going to beg and plead with you right here to head over to Amazon and order it RIGHT NOW, or at least demand that I hand it over to you next time we see one another.

Besides rescue and rehabilitation, the Somaly Mam foundation, with the help of microfinanciers like you and I, help create sustainable employment for these girls. Want to know more about microfinancing from the uber-cool John Green (and about another awesome organization, called Kiva)? Watch the video at the end of this post.

The Internet is a big and awesome place, and I was able to to find all of Somaly's appearance on the Tyra Banks Show, via the Somaly Mam Foundation Web site.

The full show is available on YouTube, but here's the visit to Cambodia with the Somaly Mam Foundation founders.

Review: The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray

2008-03-07T07:38:00.000-08:00

I picked up A Great and Terrible Beauty when it first came out. I read the first chapter, didn't like Gemma much, and put the book down. But the title kept I really liked these stories, so I finally gave in. And after the bratty!Gemma first chapter, I was pulled into the setting immediately, fell in love with certain characters, related well with others, and was very frightened at times.

Wonderful YA Gothic fantasy!

Rebel Angels was by far my favorite. The Sweet Far Thing could have -- and probably should have -- been a lot tighter, as far as the plot goes. I wasn't happy with the resolutions of many of the storylines, either, but that won't stop me from

A) seeing the films
B) reading the series again
or
C) really enjoying the story.

Review: North River by Pete Hamill

2008-01-02T09:05:00.000-08:00

Depression-era Manhattan, seen through the eyes of a Great War field doctor, James Delaney, turned general practitioner and, in some ways, his 3-year-old grandson, Carlito.

When Carlito is left on his grandfather's doorstep, Delaney must face his own self-neglect, his frustration toward his daughter, and the loss of his wife, who'd run off after he returned from Europe. Delaney hires Rosa, a Sicilian immigrant, to care for Carlito when he's at work. As a doctor, Delaney has connections to all the West Village, even the mob, which jumpstarts the action of the book. Over the course of the story, wounds open, are cleaned and treated, and a family reforms in slow, strange ways.

I've read Snow in August and Forever, and I didn't connect with either one at all. I'd read some of his nonfiction, though, and really liked Hamill for Hamill -- he's a Manhattan legend to me, like Joe Mitchell, and that's what kept me coming back to his fiction.

It paid off. The tone of this story was absolutely perfect. The pacing was perfect. The characters were perfect. The scenes he painted, the places he took me, the emotions he gave me were all so powerful. Bloody brilliant, this book.

Review: Women's Intuition by Lisa Samson

2008-01-02T09:02:00.000-08:00

This book had some serious stylistic issues that really drew me out of the narrative. The story follows four women -- three generations of a family, plus the housekeeper -- and each chapter is written in first person by each of these women. Which gets a little hairy for the reader, if it's not done perfectly. Of course, there's a heading at the beginning of each chapter that denotes which character is speaking, but all of them have VERY similar patterns of speech (something I can forgive) so if you're not paying attention (and I don't generally read chapter titles, because I want the story!) you get two pages in and are like, "Who the frick is this person?" And then you have to go back and realize that character X isn't even IN the chapter, and it's character Z, and then it makes sense.

:-)

Also, the front end of the story is filled with the main character's backstory. Like, very little happens because of the backstory. Character X starts to do something, but PAUSE....BACKSTORY DUMP! And a good portion of it either comes out later in the story or you'd probably be able to figure out yourself. One other thing -- at the beginning, the Main Character is the Only Thing Important to Everyone. They're all consumed with the main character's BACKSTORY and their interpretations of it and you know what? I'd much rather get to know them, on their own. Because the main character was the weakest link.

I'm glad I stuck with it, though. The story finally hit its pace, I was interested, I was touched. Overall a good book, even if the execution was off. I will be reading more of her work.

Review: Organizing Magic by Sandra Felton

2008-01-02T08:56:00.000-08:00

I've been following FlyLady for a few years now, and it was time for a slightly different perspective on domestics. I was really pleased with this book, and have been changing the mantra, "I am too smart for this" over and over when thinking about my lifestyle. The content was designed well, which made the book easy-to-read. I took a TON of notes, too!

Review: The Thirteenth Tale by Diana Setterfield

2008-01-02T08:47:00.000-08:00

If, as a child, you loved to read, and if, as a young adult you loved ghost stories, and if, as an adult, you find comfort in the Gothic novels, you'll likely find find this book a completely cozy (if, at times, a little uncomfortable). A little twisted, a lot engrossing, The Thirteenth Tale grabs wannabe bluestockings and carries them quickly across the pages, and deep into the almost autistic world of the Angelfield House.

Review: The Chronicles of Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis

2007-12-31T05:49:00.000-08:00

I hadn't read these since I was, oh, eleven? Maybe younger? So I tackled them again, and flew through 'em.

I love how Jack (Lewis) can write something as whoa as Mere Christianity, then something as huh as The Screwtape Letters and also write something as yeah! as the Chronicles. Let's not forget the mm-hmm of Out of the Silent Planet and...

Well, yeah. You get the point.

Still love these books. I remembered loving The Last Battle the best, but Voyage had the Very Best Opening Ever (TM):

"There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it..."

Magician's Nephew is still Very Cool, but I think I might like The Horse and His Boy the most. Oh, and The Silver Chair can still creep me out.

Review: The Twilight Series (1-3) by Stephenie Meyer

2007-12-21T05:36:00.000-08:00

You know all the hype surrounding these books? It's well worth it. I mean, sure, there's quite a bit of wish fulfillment going on, and some definite weaknesses, but I loved reading these. My favorite? New Moon.

New Moon was the best surprise of the year. I enjoyed Twilight well enough, but Mrs. Meyer showed she could tell a compelling story even when she took the hero more or less out of it. This was a great read, and even though Bella was doing TSTL-heroine things, I never once disconnected. I remember being a teenager and shutting down for lengths of time–not so much as Bella did, but close enough. Anyway, wow, these really hooked me. Several of us are planning to go to the local B&N release "Engagement Party", and have a read-in the day after! I love books!

Review: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

2007-10-02T08:12:00.000-07:00

Even though Robinson's worldview and her characters' theologies are at times questionable, the truth that resonates through this book and into the reader is love.

Just love.

And that's good enough.

Touching, difficult, provocative. What Saturday lacked, this had. This had real soul. Gilead is a sweet song about faith and understanding.

Review: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

2007-09-02T08:07:00.000-07:00

I’d heard it was a good book, but didn’t know what it was about, and I nearly put it away after I’d started it. I’m a mom, I don’t like stories about child abuse, child rape, or child murder. But I buckled in and let it take me somewhere scary inside me, and made me deal with some stuff I really did not want to think about. And I am better for it. In one of his books on writing, Noah Lukeman talks about “transcendent fiction”, stories that change the reader. This is transcendent fiction. I am a better person for having read this book. If you get a chance to hear Mrs. Sebold talk about the book and her own experience, listen carefully. As a side note, even though I loved this book, I have no intention of reading the follow-up. One of the best of my '07 reads.

Review: The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge by David McCullough

2007-08-20T05:36:00.000-07:00

How often do you cry when reading nonfiction?

Yeah. I was crying last night.

I wanted to know more about My Bridge. I wanted to know more about Emily Roebling. Info needed for The Upstairs Girl revisions, because I knew it was a worthwhile story. It made sense to read this, right? But it’s 608 pages so a girl’s gonna skim, right?

Heh.

This big ol’ book don’t let you skim. And you don’t have to know anything about engineering to follow it. Even though the idea of a caisson still blows my mind.
I took this out at the library. I started reading. I ended up reading the last part via a copy at Barnes & Noble last night.

I finished it.

I cried. At Barnes & Noble.

There’s conflict on every page. There’s conflict at every turn. I even knew how it ended: I read the last page years ago when I walked across that incredible piece of work, but I still was yanked in because I was as emotionally invested in the story as the Roeblings. That bridge was Wash’s heart.

And Wash’s heart was Emily’s soul.

Unfreakingbelievable.

And forevermore I’ll scowl at the mention of Seth Low, who previously I found rather ambiguous and benign. Now he’s just another sodding, opportunistic, antagonistic politician to me. That’s some good writing, to make me all growly at someone whose name is on a rather cool building.
You’ll be hearing more about this story. I love this story.

Review: Saturday by Ian McEwan

2007-08-01T06:40:00.000-07:00

So the protag is a brain surgeon, right? And the story’s all about him thinking though most every moment of his day. I’m no brain surgeon, but even if I were, I have to wonder if I would think in such a linear fashion. I don’t think so. That’s what bugged me the most about it — it didn’t ring true.

My thoughts are more like Holden Caulfied's, only quicker, more frame-by-frame. Very rarely is my thought life expository. It wasn’t like most first-person narrative fiction in its style–it seemed Mr. McEwan wanted you to feel like you were were the protag, not as if the protag was relaying the story to you. And it was a good story. A fine story. But some kind of connection was missing in it.

Review: Glimpses of Paradise by James Scott Bell

2007-06-02T05:33:00.000-07:00

I liked this on a lot of levels even though the story felt very rushed. I haven’t read any of his other stuff, but I recognized a character from a separate story, and now I’m gonna have to read that series, too. ;-) What I liked the most: the snapshots of what was going on in the church during the late 1910s-early 1920s. He included a lot about RA Torrey, which was really cool for me since my parents went to the Church of the Open Door when they lived in LA. I grew up on Torrey’s doctrines through McGee’s preaching, so I really appreciated the inclusion of letters, sermons and so on in this novel. Also, the ending was very good.

Review: Danger in the Shadows by Dee Henderson

2007-06-02T05:32:00.000-07:00

A quick read, which was good, a little unbelievable but I wanted to buy the story so I suspended reality and just read the book. The fatal flaw to me was when they went horseback riding and a character went to get the “tackle” for the horses.

OMGthatdidnotjusthappen.

It’s “tack”, people. I can handle an author’s mistake here and there, but a copy editor should’ve just checked their OED for technical terms, right? I mean, that’s what they do, right?

Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it.

Review: The Trimmed Lamp by O. Henry

2007-06-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

Dude, that guy is such a romantic. Another bunch of short stories, all about New Yorkers and New York. Funny little glimpses into everyday life at the time. All had a good little ending, per usual, but if I absolutely HAD to choose between O. Henry and Wodehouse, I’d chose Wodehouse.

That’s so unpatriotic of me, even though Wodehouse wrote quite about NYC, too.

Review: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

2007-06-02T05:24:00.000-07:00

Biggest letdown of the year. Read it in a single day. First twenty pages were good, rest of the book was recycled, impractical, selfish crap. Really hated it. Could have been very good, an interesting look at a culture based around both Catholicism and Islam, but no. Just a lot of bull. The whole, “A shepherd can always go back to his sheep” thing, for instance. If I thought my own happiness was the only thing important in the world, I might have liked it. But I didn’t. At all. Ugh. If we ever have a book burning…

Review: Get a Freelance Life by Margit Feury Ragland

2007-06-02T05:22:00.000-07:00

Who knows freelance better than MediaBistro? Nobody I can think of. So I picked up the book and boom, I was hooked, helped, and encouraged. My only gripe is that this was a library book, because I need it on my shelf. Great stuff about the freelancer’s home office, about the freelancer’s Web presence, about — well, yeah. Wonderful stuff. Has already helped me more than any related book this year.

Review: Second Glance by Jodi Picoult

2007-06-02T05:18:00.001-07:00

(catching up)
This was a cool book that dealt with some really difficult topics: suicide and eugenics to start. Unbelievably good, though, and I was not disappointed at all. Plus, you gotta love a good ghost story. Especially one that surprises you by becoming an historical a third of the way through. Big love on this one, too.

Review: The Noble Fugitive by Isabella Bunn and T. Davis Bunn

2007-06-02T05:18:00.000-07:00

Another killer historical. LOVED it. Loved it a lot. An inspirational romance, but it was one of the strongest, most sincere books I’ve read this year. I didn’t realize it was a part of a series until the end and nothing made me happier than to find there was more to be read. And I’m in the middle of the sequel right now. And I will gladly read the earlier books, too.

Things I adored:

An accurate representation of what it’s like to dedicate yourself to your faith. Sometimes praying only makes things harder. Sometimes praying is impossible. Sometimes things don’t just get better because you know Christ. Sometimes peace comes when you don’t get your way.
The look at the slave trade. William Wilberforce, John Newton, et al. Wow.
The heroine.
The hero.
The side characters.
The setting
The storytelling — simple, streamlined, concise, full. Just good writing.

This was the only book this year that I’ve called someone for the sole purpose of telling them to read that particular book. Don’t make me diagram that last sentence.

Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2007-06-02T05:16:00.000-07:00

Some folks haven’t read this and are going to read this so I’m not going to say anything but I LOVE HARRY POTTER.

Review: The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

2007-06-02T05:14:00.000-07:00

(catching up)
I read this first when I was seventeen. It’s good to reread CS Lewis, but it’s better not to wait ten years to do it.

The Wow.

Now, if only Mr. Lewis would get off my toes and quit using me as an example, I should very much appreciate it.

Review: Ten Days in a Mad-House by Nelly Bly

2007-06-02T05:13:00.000-07:00

I’m a liiiiittle behind on book reviews. I finished this one at the top of June. I know, I’m lame, but I’m still professionally awesome, an’ don’choo forget it.

This was way, way cool. I have no desire to be Nelly Bly, but man, wouldn’t she make an awesome Nancy Drew character for a serial? If it all happened the way she described in her story, she’s one tenacious lady!

So her editor’s like, “Yo, Nell, I want you to go undercover at Blackwell’s and report your experiences. You game?” And she’s like, “You got it!” And so, she like, totally does. Kid’s only nineteen, and she switches boarding houses, convinces all her cohabitants that she’s loony, gets herself arrested, then convinces the judge–who knew her as a reporter–that she’s loony. And so she gets herself carted off to the nuthouse, where (gasp! surprise!) not all are nutty.

My only criticism about this was that she gave away the ending at the beginning:

I left the insane ward with pleasure and regret–pleasure that I was once more able to enjoy the free breath of heaven; regret that I could not have brought with me some of the unfortunate women who lived and suffered with me, and who, I am convinced, are just as sane as I was and am now myself.

Could’ve done without that, as it kills the Big Suspense, but plenty of other stuff kept me interested. I love stories like this, from Mary Sullivan’s My Double Life (which I can’t find my copy of and I NEEDED it last night and OMG does anyone know where it is, Kimmy, did I lend it to you?) to The Longest Day. Exposés are The Awesome. So is Nelly Bly.

Review: Sweet Land Stories by EL Doctorow

2007-06-01T05:11:00.000-07:00

Review: Sweet Land Stories by E.L. Doctorow

Fascinating, disturbing stories.

Murder, baby-stealing, serial remarriages, cult life and the dark side of politics. Plain writing, complete narratives, tight pacing.

Yeah, this is literature.

Until recently, I didn’t like short stories. The stuff we were sentenced to read in school didn’t compare to stuff like this. Back then, in my lit books, I was more interested in essays, plays and novel excerpts. The best short story I remember was “The Gift of the Magi”, and it was nowhere near as good as some of his other stuff. Oh–wait–I loved Saki’s “The Swartz-Metterklume Method” — but still, the goodness of the short story was lost on me.

This is quickly turning into an essay, not a review. I’m gonna let it go there.

Since I’ve been reading short stories lately, I’m gonna direct you to the dark and occasionally disturbed Wheelhouse Magazine (if you wanna read stuff that makes you a little uncomfortable). It’s totally free, and the current issue will up until July, methinks. I hopped over there the other day and found that Charlie Anders had a story up there (”Tea Before Couple’s Therapy”), which was cool, ’cause a few weeks ago I’d listened to her Bat Segundo interview (with Annalee Newitz, on their book She’s Such a Geek). The stories over at Wheelhouse don’t run too long — maybe 10-20 minute reads max — and I swear I’m not promoting it just ’cause my story’s gonna be in the next issue. Promise!

That got off topic. But if you don’t mind being weirded out and having your nerves a little fried with suspense, you’re gonna like Sweet Land Stories.

Some have happy endings, though, I promise.

Review: A Woman's Place by Lynn Austin

2007-05-29T05:10:00.000-07:00

Women in the the early 1940s. No writer should ever have a problem finding conflict for that setting, and Lynn Austin used all the pressures of the era and the people to create a solid book.

The thing that I realized about writing is this: interpersonal conflict really is what draws a person through a story, if the characters are crafted carefully. And the characters were realatable: I’m a curmudgeon like Helen, I really miss Brooklyn like Rosa did, I was very similar to Jean when I was a teenager, and I’m a wife and mom like Ginny.

Ginny was the character that really got to me, and she pulled me through the story. Her conflict with her husband, hit me in the same way the film The Hours did. Even though I’ve never been treated like that, I think every woman can see herself in that position, and that’s why we overcompensate and, well, become bitches.

Jean’s story kind got shuffled to the back, but it worked. Why? Because she and her mom (who was almost always off-camera) were the very Christian folk, but they didn’t beat anyone over the head with their religion. I didn’t feel hog-tied, with my mouth pried open so Heroic Christian could stuff the Bible down my throat. She did her job, she worked hard, she lived pretty carefully, but when somebody asked her a question, she had an answer. That was cool.
Rosa was the weak point. She seemed like a stock character: hey, let’s get the city girl and stick her in midwestern life, with devout in-laws. She seemed very forced, and very unnatural, and I didn’t like her. Her being from my city was the only saving grace. But even that wasn’t believable to me (but hey, I’m a big critic): mostly because if she really was from Brooklyn, she’d have mentioned a specific neighborhood at least once.
Well, I didn’t like her at first. But as the story progressed, I really got attached to her. And she became more real as the story progressed: by the last half I was as much into her journey as I was the other women’s.

Also, the balance of historical fact and story was good. It’s hard to do, but it was good. Kudos to Ms. Austin for that one.

Also, there was drinking and dancing in this story. Which was cool. And people didn’t die from either. However — and I’ll probably have to put my foot in my mouth for the next comments — I took issue with the vodka stuff:

Sometimes I think that the writer’s only experiences with alcohol came from I Love Lucy.

Fact: approximately 8 oz. of mid-proof vodka (or 8 shots) will make one person very drunk, if not sick especially if they haven’t eaten much because their flight to LaGuardia left way early and there was no time to eat while getting settled, and there were no quick restaurants in that part of the East Village, and even though the Shake Shack taxi dog was really good it apparently was not substantial enough to absorb that vodka martini and the tender looked like Colin Farrell, kinda. also, where was the jazz?!? why was all the jazz gone?!?
Fact: approximately 8 oz. of mid-proof vodka (or 8 shots) split between 20 people will get no one drunk
Fiction: one sip of vodka turns you into an addict
Fiction: not everyone who gets drunk gets slap-happy.
Fact: sometimes people get irritable. sometimes people get flirty. sometimes people get very quiet. sometimes people get pushy. there are as many kinds of reaction to alcohol as there are human emotion.
Fiction: vodka is sweet. well, maybe it’s sweet if you’ve been eating, like, sauerkraut
Fact: while not as odorous as some other liquors, vodka’s scent is still noticeable
Fiction: giggling and hiccuping always accompany a drink
Fact: You can totally smell vodka on a person’s breath. Just because it doesn’t taste like much doesn’t mean you can’t smell it.
Fact: Bears eat beats.

Bears, beets, Battlestar Gallactica.

You guys think a book in the vein of the Howdunit series, but for Christian writers would sell? Possible title: Vice for Saints. Subtitle: I’ll do the dirty deeds so your soul can remain clean and your fiction truthful!

Review: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

2007-05-23T05:08:00.000-07:00

SPOILERS CONTAINED

Okay, so I would so hate Rochester. What a girly man! Whine, swoon, aloof, brood, rinse, repeat!

But he was interesting. He was really, really interesting. And for all the interesting that is Rochester, Jane is ten times the interesting. Of course, it was tied up way, way too neatly toward the end for it to be a real gothic novel, but man, I enjoyed it. Also, this is one of the few books that I would prefer abridged. You could tell the same story, not lose any of the goodness, and have a book 2/3 the size.

Thanks to everyone told me to read this. It was way better than that Wuthering Heights nonsense!

KIMMY, the 1944 film version came out on DVD last month. And it stars Joan Fontaine! *love!*