Sunday, December 30, 2012

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

MondayI am reading BY LOVE POSSESSED by LORNA GOODISON. It's a collection of Jamaican short stories. I am also reading a novel titled Hikikomori and the Rental Sister by JEFF BACK HAUS.  One book is published by Algonquin. The other book is published by Amistad.

by

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros

 
"WHEN THE SUN set over Thebes, splaying its last rays over the limestone cliffs, we walked in a long procession across the sand. In a twisting line that threaded between the hills, the viziers of Upper and Lower Egypt came first, then the priests of Amun, followed by hundreds of mourners. The sand cooled rapidly in the shadows. I ould feel the grains  between the toes of my sandals, and when the wind blew under my thin linen robe, I shivered. I stepped out of line so I could see the sarcophagus, carried on a sledge by a team of oxen so the people of Egypt would know how wealthy and great our crown prince had been. Nefertiti would be jealous that she'd had to miss this."

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

THE WILD GOOSE CHASE CHRISTMAS by JENNIFER ALLEE

KINDLE Net Galley Abington Press

I enjoyed this Christmas novel by Jennifer Allee so much. A Wild Goose Goose Chase Christmas is about family love. However, it is an honest novel. Just because we're family doesn't mean there aren't any disagreements and misunderstandings. I think family is like friendship. The only difference is with family you live together, grow up together knowing each others most secret flaws and of course, it's impossible to pick family like you would pick a friend. Izzy's family is going through many difficulties during the happiest time of year. Yes, I have to accept it. Difficulties occur at Cristmas time too. The women in Izzy's family haven't always gotten along together. It beginning to look like a recurring pattern of frustrated feelings between mothers and daughters. Izzy's mother, Janice, didn't have a good relationship with her mother. As a matter of fact, Janice, after her mother's death, is still dealing with negative feelings about her mother. Now there is Izzy, and she doesn't get along with her mother, Janice. Then, there is Izzy's relationship with her brother, Brandon. It's explosive at best. It's Christmas time, and here are a houseful of people who don't really like one another at all. However, God is Love so He knows how to deal with ugly relationships

This is Christian fiction. We never see the grandmother. She has died, but she leaves behind gifts, tokens, treasures, which will heal all of these relationships. Also, she will strike up a romance that Izzy doesn't expect with a man named Max. The Wild Goose Chase quilt is a wonderful prop. It will help to bring these people together and make them love each other again. I especially enjoyed reading about the different scrap fabric memories in the quilt. It's like there is a little piece of each person stitched in the quilt. Along with the quilt there are diaries, etc. Grandma seems to have thought of this love project for a very long time. There are notes all over the house.

It is a fun novel. It's light, loving, honest like a wonderful greeting card. I am very excited because this is one book of a series. It's a Quilt series. Each book seems to take up an important issue. One novel is about a quilt made for AIDS. Each novel, I think, is written by a different author. Oh, along with all the interesting characters there is Bogie, the pup. I think a good Christmas novel should have a pup or kitty inside the pages.

This is the first time I finished one novel totally unrelated to another novel and found an answer to a question I had asked in the review about the other book. I asked, "Is love always tragic?" By golly, the answer is written in Jennifer Allee's novel. "Sometimes love is tragic. Not always...."

 In the end Grandma's purpose is very clear and precise. "Remember what I've always told you: an object's true value does not come from monetary worth. It comes from the emotions and memories....." This is a lesson that will never grow old. I suppose this is why people say Christ is the reason for the season..jenniferalleesite,quiltsoflovebooks






Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan

At Irving school in New York, somewhere in the Hudson River Valley, students are preparing their Tragedy Papers for Mr. Boxersox. Mr. Boxersox does not take this assignment lightly. Past student papers are locked up and kept in a special drawer for him to read again at a later time. For this year two Albino students, Duncan and Tim, will become a part of his class along with two girls, Daisy, Vanessa and a boy named Patrick. This time The Tragedy assignment becomes all too real when a real tragedy happens at the school. Patrick, a student, wants to have a sledding party. For some reason this sledding party reminded me of Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton. Although in Ethan Frome the characters are grown-ups and the circumstances are very different.

Duncan listens to Tim retell what happened that fateful day. Tim's voice is on cd's. I expected to grab tissues for this book. I never did need a tissue. The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan remained like a newspaper story told by a news reporter who wanted to get all his facts straight. Perhaps, because it's holiday season or maybe because I'm a female I wanted a tear jerker. What I loved the most and what I gained the most from the novel were three words which describe a tragedy: "Order, chaos, order. I think this is a great description of  the word tragedy whether a Shakespearean tragedy or a tragedy like the fire one of the students experienced in her life. Perhaps, Elizabeth LaBan freely gave me a way to mark my way through the next tragedy in my life. I must remember ultimately order will return. I would have read this novel to gain just the knowledge of these three words. There is a way to make it through the darkness. As Duncan  and the girl faced their tragic moments I'm sure these words might have helped them.

When I first picked up the novel, I thought it would focus on what it is like to be born an Albino. I did gain a knowledge of their plight. I also gained far more than a scintillating tale about an Albino. I learned the measures we take to protect ourselves from rejection. For example, Duncan would make sure to sit for lunch at a table in the back where no one else would sit. Really, the other students had the problem not Duncan. Somehow when we're challenged differently we politely gather ourselves away from everybody else in order to protect their space. Isn't that ironic?

Then when Duncan wore the pink hoodie to hide his identity from other students and teachers I thought that would become a huge part of the novel. After all, society and the gender thing makes for wide ranging thoughts and division in our society today. I never knew where exactly Elizabeth LaBan was taking me.

As far as lessons, I learned when we are challenged, living daily with some dark hole in our life, we're willing to reach out and help others very quickly. When Patrick's girl friend becomes ill, Duncan stays with her. He empties her awful smelling vomit. He gives her ice cubes. He refuses to leave her side. Patrick, the so perfect guy leaves her side. He can't take it. He's unable to give himself fully to her at the most neediest time of her life at school. Duncan seemed the weakest of the two guys. Really, Duncan was the strongest one. Life is full of surprises. Life is full of serendipity. Life is full of chaos. Life is full of order. Mr. Boxersox is the type of teacher who makes our chaotic, perplexing adolescence days easier. I won't forget him. Is he related to Mr. Chips? "Let's go forth...." literarymamaelizabeth-laban

Monday, November 12, 2012

Teaser Tuesday

"His hand hovered for a moment over his long rifle, mounted neatly on the white wall. The gun was not something he'd normally carry, except to hunt, because of the length of the barrel. But something made him take it all the same. He grabbed up the needed ammunition in a pouch and headed out."

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday

1.I didn't get sick or have anything bad happen unexpectantly on Election Day. The line was very short. All of the volunteers were very helpful.

2.I felt so happy to see my grandson in his Tootsie Roll costume. He looks so healthy and handsome. I am glad he has a good mom and dad who love him so much and spend quality time with him.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Quote it Sat

"The entire creation of the universe cheers for me today, and my joy, peace, love and freedom are greater than any treasures of the world.fredasvoice

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Thankful Thursday

1. I am thankful for my eyes. With good eyes I have the chance to read a wide range of books.
2. I am thankful for my hands. I can type freely on my new laptop without feeling pain.
3. I am thankful for cameras. Photographs give me a chance to keep up with my granddaughter's growth. gentlerecovery

Book Beginnings

"The first shaft of sunlight pierced through the hole in her bedroom shade, and Jo, who had been awake and watching for it, jumped out of bed. Wrapping herself against the mid-September chill in her raggedy but cozy terry robe, she padded into her small kitchen, wondering if she'd actually slept at all." Wreath of Deceptionnetworkedblogs

Friday 56

Wreath of Deception by Mary Ellen Hughes

"Oh, yeah. Guess I better bone up on scrapbooking some more. They never taught it at art school, you know, mostly because it didn't exist at the time."

Theme Thursday

"Time, hour, minutes, seconds, duration, etc."

"He had been right--on both counts. Thankfully, her insurance would pay, and Jo arranged to have a crew come out the next day...What arrived was a huge van--bright yellow--which the driver parked smack dab in front of the store."readingbetweenpages

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Teaser Tuesday

"Her wares, Jo suddenly pictured the store as she had last seen it at eleven o'clock the previous night, before stumbling home for a couple bites of cold pizza and collapsing into bed. Should she have put more Halloween items near the front? Yesterday she'd worried over making Jo's Craft Corner look too much like a Halloween-only store."shouldbereading

Sunday, October 14, 2012

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

The last book I finished The Between by Tananarrive Due. I am reading American Dervish by Ayad Akhtar. Also reading The Cat Heroes by Omoryi Uwigiaren. It's on Kindle. Want to read WAR STORIES by ELISABETH DOYLE next if my thinking is correct. It's a review book.bookjourney



Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Wondrous Words

A Hope Undaunted by JULIE LESSMAN

"Bobbie Sue knows one of the kids, apparently, Says he's been living in an alleyway on(Pernod) since his grandma died of pneumonia last month."

Pernod   Pernod Absinthe is a richly flavored anise spirit with an unparalleled sense of history. As the original absinthe, Pernod Absinthe closely follows the recipe of the ...

Teaser Tuesday

"I swear I never liked him from the get-go because he was a dead ringer for all those bullies who taunted me in school--always picking, pushing, doing everything in his power to try and control me. And then one day I finally let my guard down and confide in the little weasel, and what does he do? He turns around and wounds me with the most hateful words he can...Cluny McGee is one bad memory I will never forget or forgive."review book from Revellshouldbereading.wordpressteaser-tuesdays-oct-9/#comment-57950

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Friday 56 and Book Beginnings

a killer read by Erika Chase

"Lizzie drove home by rote, deep in thought about Frank Telford. She didn't like what was happening to her friends. Despite what she'd told Milly, she realized that none of them were really off the hook until the killer was in jail. The police's persistence in questioning the book club members was evidence of that."


THE SPIRIT WOMAN by MARGARET COEL


"He could see his breath ahead of him. The rhythmic crunch of his boots on the snow punctuated the sound of water gurgling over ice. It was November, the twelfth month in the Arapaho Way, the Moon When the Rivers Start to Freeze."

Theme Thursday

KID , child, baby, toddler, boy, girl etc

readingbetweenpages
"She had to get off this island. What would happen if the (boy) never came back? Or another storm came? She eyed the clouds drifting across the brilliant blue sky. Was there anything she could use for a raft?"

 

Thankful Thursday



I am thankful my son is finding time to work with his son.
I am trying to write again. I'm grateful for the courage.
I am grateful for my husband. gentlerecovery


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Teaser Tuesday

"Since sunshine was forecast for the entire day, she decided to pack a small lunch and spend a few hours hiking along the Minto Country Nature Trail on White Mountains."shouldbereading

Monday, October 1, 2012

Mailbox Monday


Very grateful for my books.I've started Tidewater Inn by COLLEEN COBLE.Her friend has been kidnapped.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

I just finised Camilla's Roses by BERNICE L. MCFADDEN. It's a very moving novel about family and love and heartache. Now I'm reading TIDEWATER INN by COLLEEEN COBLE. So good, I love her books.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Camilla's Roses by BERNICE L. MCFADDEN

"New lives begin with a question. Do you love me? Will you marry me? Will you have my child? Some people think it's in the telling, but I know it's in the asking....."fredasvoice

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Thankful Thursday

1. I enjoyed a pancake breakfast yesterday with friends. Grateful.
2. I am thankful for the beauty of the seasons.
3. I am thankful for people in authority who really search for missing children.


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Wondrous Words

1.coloratura
1. The ornamentation of music written for the voice with florid passages, especially trills and runs.
Vocal music characterized by florid ornamental passages.(freedictionary.com)
2.diorama a scene, often in miniature, reproduced in three dimensions by placing objects, figures, etc., in front of a painted background. (dictionary.com)

1.At daybreak, Mother whisks into your room in a long satin robe, waking you with a contrived coloratura, "Good morning, Rodney."

2.Mother frets over a sequined shoe box in the center of the sturdy oak kitchen table. It is a diorama, Sister's fall project.bermudaonion

Teaser Tuesday

"It was Jashante. The fuzzy snapshot had been taken before he chipped his front tooth. He looked like a little boy. The scarf woman was crying. He didn't come home after school....A phone number on the bottom of the screen. Call if you know anything. Call if you see anything. Someone out there knows something. Don't be afraid. Come forward."shouldbereading

Monday, September 17, 2012

Teaser Tuesday

"There were three factors that were instrumental in spurring me on to write this memoir. The first was reading The Artist's Way. When I'd first heard about Julia Cameron's seminal book on breaking through writer's block, I had no clue that the self-defeating thoughts I'd been having were normal...What Cameron's book  offers are tools to deal with writer's block, which never disappears."