It's Monday! What are you reading? 11-23-2009

What are you reading on Mondays? is hosted by J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog. If you would like to participate, please leave your link with Mr. Linky at J.Kaye's blog - but you can also leave me a comment - I would love to know what you are reading!

Still waiting for reviews. . .
1. All About Us #5: Tidings of Great Boys: An All About Us Novel by Shelley Adina
2. Saint John of the Five Boroughs by Edward Falco

Old books finally reviewed:
2. How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff (audiobook)
3. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Finished and reviewed/to be reviewed this week:
1. The Time of My Life by Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi (audiobook)
2. Thirsty by Tracey Bateman (need to review)

Still reading:
1. Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent (Bathroom book)
2. Beg, Borrow, Steal: A Writer's Life by Michael Greenberg
3. The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenaz by Michelle Cameron

On audio:
1. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Up this week:
1. Bo's Café: A Novel by John Lynch, Bill Thrall, Bill McNicol
2. Hoodoo Sea by Rolf Hitzer
3. Nibble & Kuhn by David Schmahmann

What are you reading this week?

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer (Book Review)

Title: Life As We Knew It
Author: Susan Beth Pfeffer
Publisher: Harcourt Books

(I checked this out from the library.)

First sentence: Lisa is pregnant.

Miranda is a normal 15 year old. She journals about school, fights with her mom, her dad's new wife and her pregnancy - just normal everyday stuff. Even when a meteor is predicted to be on a collision course with the moon, it doesn't seem too exciting. It just gives the teachers a chance to give extra homework surrounding the upcoming collision.

When the meteor actually hits and the moon is knocked off it's axis, everything changes. Tsunami's, earthquakes, volcanoes become prevalent. The moon hangs lower in the sky and seems to be a warning of more changes to come. Food and gas become scarce and Miranda and her family begin to stockpile everything from food to firewood. Weather changes cause crops to die and snow to fall early. An influenza wipes out much of the population. Miranda and her family must come up with new and creative ways to meet everyday occasions.

The entire story is told as journal entries in Miranda's journal - so the perspective is that of a teenager's. It made me think of all the things that I take for granted every day - from indoor plumbing, to being able to flip on a light switch when it gets dark. I had never thought about those things that the moon affects - like tides - and how they would change if anything happened to the moon. There is hope in the book, even though everything seems pretty hopeless. Miranda and her family really band together in the face of adversity and their commitment to each other is very apparent towards the end of the book. It doesn't have the happily-ever-after ending and I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series!

I really enjoyed this story, though I don't seem to be able to put into words why (could have something to do with the pounding going on in the next room - my husband is busting out the tiled kitchen floor to put in a new one this week - there will be pictures later!) I have the second book, The Dead and the Gone, already checked out from the library and ready to read!

How I Live Now (audiobook) by Meg Rosoff (Book Review)

Title: How I Live Now
Author: Meg Rosoff
Read by: Kim Mai Guest
Publisher: Random House audio

(I checked this one out from the library.)

Daisy, a 15 year old from Manhattan, is sent to England to live with her cousins and Aunt Penn, relatives she has never met. Her father and stepmother, newly expecting, think this is the best for everyone.

It doesn't take Daisy long to realize that her stay on her Aunt's farm is going to be unlike anything she new in New York. Aside from the fact that Aunt Penn travels extensively, and often leaves her children unsupervised, there is also the uncanny "telepathy" that the cousins seem to possess. Daisy soon finds herself falling in love with Edmund, despite the fact that they are cousins. While this was upsetting to me, that taboo didn't seem to make a difference in this story. Soon, war breaks out. We do not know who invades or what the war is about, just that it has stranded Aunt Penn in Norway and the children are more isolated than ever.

After soldiers take over their farm, the children are separated, with the girls (Piper and Daisy) going to one farm to work, and the boys to another. When trouble erupts in the area, Piper and Daisy take off on a journey to try to find the farm that the boys were sent to. All they find is death.

Daisy really comes of age in this story. She transforms from a normal American teenager to a young girl with compassion and courage - able to survive, with the help of Piper, in the wilderness and face situations she would never have imagined. It was a good story to listen to, but I am not sure that I would have understood or appreciated it as much if I had read it as a teen.

The Time of My LIfe by Patrick Swayze & Lisa Niemi (Book Review)

Title: The Time of My Life - audiobook
Author: Patrick Swayze & Lisa Niemi
Read by: Patrick Swayze & Lisa Niemi
Publisher: Simon & Schuster audio

(I checked this one out from the library.)

Listening to this, it was hard for me to believe that he was actually gone. I loved the movies Red Dawn, Dirty Dancing and Ghost - and can actually remember where I saw them and who I was with. Red Dawn was the summer after I graduated high school and I saw it with my best friend Pam in Des Moines. Dirty Dancing was the fall after I got married the first time and we were living in San Diego. My husband and I were young and stupid and actually walked downtown to see the midnight showing of this one. We were so lucky that nothing happened to us! Ghost I also saw in San Diego, but it was while my husband was deployed during the Gulf War and I saw it with another Navy wife, Polly, who was living with me while our husbands were gone. So was I, am I, a fan of Patrick Swayze? Absolutely.

This narrative starts right after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and then takes us back to the beginning, when he was a football player in high school. His football career ended when he took a hit from two opposing players and tore all the ligaments in his knee. When that dream ended, he pursued gymnastics and was set to go to the junior Olympics. That also fell through when he landed wrong during warm ups on the low rings and blew his knee out again.

Since he had danced from a young age at his mom's studio, he started to concentrate on ballet. He was able to get a scholarship to go to New York to study ballet for Harkness. He had met Lisa when she was 15 and she came in to his mom's studio for dance lessons. She was one of the few girls who wasn't affected by Patrick's looks and charms. Somehow the two of them became friends, and one thing led to another. They married in the mid 1970's after Lisa had also moved to New York on a scholarship to Harkness also. Even though ballet continued to make his knee swell, he refused to give up on this career. After a near mishap on a motorcycle, he realized that his previous dreams had ended when something had happened physically to him making him unable to pursue them. He felt he was setting himself up for the same failure in ballet and that maybe he should expand his horizons. He turned down an offer to dance with Mikhail Baryshnikov and they moved to L.A.

Patrick suffered from low self-esteem throughout his entire life and career. He never felt he was good enough, which pushed him to work harder and longer to get roles that he wanted. He had to convince the directors of both Dirty Dancing and Ghost to cast him, as neither one saw him in the role. Can any of you picture someone different as Johnny Castle or Sam Wheat? I know I can't.

He goes on to tell about his different roles in his movies, some of which I had forgotten (City of Joy), some of which I had not heard of (Letters from a Killer, Green Dragon) and some that I did not know he was in (To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar)- but hope to see them now. He tells a hilarious story about his transformation into a woman for To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. He learns too late not to let his costars, Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo dress him in tight pantsuits for his role as Vida Boheme.

I probably listened to this audio book quicker than any other, and remembered it better when it was done. I am not sure if it would have impacted me as much had I read the book. It made a difference to me to actually hear about his life in his own voice, and in Lisa's. I highly recommend the audio version of this book.

Mailbox Monday/In My Mailbox 11-23-2009

Mailbox Monday is hosted at The Printed Page or In Your Mailbox at The Story Siren. Please stop by those posts and take a look at what packages everybody else got this week!

Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy by Mary Tomer

Celebrated for her style and substance, Michelle Obama has transformed the role of first lady and become a 21st century icon, attracting attention from all over the world. The qualities so admired in her -- intelligence, strength, and charisma -- radiate through her personal style, which has united accessibility with high-wattage glamour. The clothes, like the woman, feel both familiar and inspirational. Readily mixing high-end labels with more affordable brands, with a focus on craftsmanship and artistry, Mrs. O has elevated the notion of real value and ushered in a new era of "fashion democracy."

Building on the success of Mrs-O.org -- the Web site that chronicles Michelle Obama's style -- Mrs. O: The Face of Fashion Democracy takes a closer look at America's modern style icon, featuring more than 125 magnificent photographs of the first lady and delving into the back story of the clothes and accessories. It also goes behind-the-scenes with interviews from her favorite designers, including Isabel Toledo, Jason Wu, Michael Kors, Maria Pinto, and Isaac Mizrahi.

Opening with a brief overview of Michelle Obama's early years, the book goes on to provide rarely seen photos from the presidential primary trail through the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the monumental events of election night, the inauguration and early chapters of life in the White House. The final chapter hears the opinions of Mrs. O's adoring fans from all over the world -- giving the last word to the people.

Original photography of her most iconic looks, along with commentary from fashion experts top off this tactile visual feast. Woven together with sketches and illustrations inspired by the first lady, the book reveals the story of a new era of American fashion. (book jacket)

I won this book from Susan at her blog, Black-Eyed Susan.

Six Pixels of Separation: Everyone is Connected. Connect Your Business to Everyone by Mitch Joel

Is it important to be connected? Well, consider this: If Facebook were a country, it would have the sixth largest population in the world.

The truth is, we no longer live in a world of six degrees of separation. In fact, we're now down to only six pixels of separation, which changes everything we know about doing business.

This is the first book to integrate digital marketing, social media, personal branding, and entrepreneurship in a clear, entertaining, and instructive manner that everyone can understand and apply.

Through the use of timely case studies and fascinating stories, Six Pixels of Separation offers a complete set of the latest tactics, insights and tools that will empower you to reach a global audience and consumer base -- and, best yet, you can do this pretty much for free. Digital marketing expert Mitch Joel unravels this fascinating world of new media -- but does so with a brand-new perspective that is driven by compelling results. The smarter entrepreneurs and top executives are leveraging these digital channels to get their voice "out there" -- connecting with others, becoming better community citizens and, ultimately, making strategic business moves that are increasing revenue, awareness, and overall success in the marketplace -- without the support of traditional mass media.

Everyone is connected. Isn't it time for you and your company to connect to everyone? Six Pixels of Separation will show you how. (book jacket)

I won this from Nicole at Mom Saves Money for my husband.

A Christmas Carol Special Edition

Since its publication in 1843, the tale of a miserly old man and the ghosts who visit him has been bringing the true spirit of Christmas into hearts and homes. Whether you've read the story a thousand times or have only seen the movie, A Christmas Carol Special Edition will enrich your enjoyment of this holiday favorite with:

The complete text of the Charles Dickens classic.

Annotations offering interesting insight into the story's biblical allusions, the author's faith, and compelling Christian themes throughout.

Discussion questions designed to engage and promote dialogue among readers of all ages on such subjects as regret, repentance, and redemption.

A list of related resources to enhance your study.

Enjoy A Christmas Carol Special Edition in your home, study group, book group or Advent celebration and learn how to say with Scrooge: "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." (back cover)

I received this book for review from FSB Associates.

Hero's Tribute by Graham Garrison

Two men. One front-page story. A small town changed forever.

Michael Gavin was a local hero, admired for his prowess in sports, his service in the military, and his work in the community. But there is more to Michael Gavin -- including a past that has long been hidden.

Wes Watkins is a local newspaper reporter whose job it is to find a story, even if it means digging through court reports, interviewing the most unlikely people, and following leads that make him unpopular.

When Wes finds himself charged with writing Gavin's eulogy -- though the two had never met -- he sets out to find the truth. What happens next is something the little town of Talking Creek never expected. Secrets come to light, confidences are broken, and lives are redefined. But in the end, everyone will know what truly makes a man a legend. (back cover)

I received this book for a First Wild Card Tour next February.

Samson's Walls by Jud Nirenberg

Jud Nirenberg, as an organizer of human and civil rights efforts, has seen first-hand the destructive forces of inter-ethnic violence. His experiences color a dark vision of one of the Old Testament's most powerful stories in his new novel, SAMSON'S WALLS.

While the United States tries once more to draw Israeli and Arab leaders to the negotiation tables, SAMSON'S WALLS shows readers a much older view of the same region. Binding the psychology of its characters to the socio-political context of ancient Canaan, the novel breathes life into Samson, Delilah and others who struggle to survive and to connect with others in a world full of divisiveness and violence.

In a Canaan where Philistines and Hebrews vie for dominance, it is important to know one's place. Samson is isolated in his, trapped by unusual rules and expectations. He was promised to his parents by an angel, destined to grow into a great man and make his people strong. Raised with Philistines for playmates, he aches to be a part of their world. At marrying age, he chooses a Philistine wife. When his new family denies him the acceptance he craves, he releases years of frustration and loneliness in blood.

Samson goes into hiding, seeking to make peace with his wife's people. Other young Hebrews soon join him, each with their own reasons for rebellion. Even while longing for peace, Samson leads this growing army. He is trapped by his successes and grows in fame and power, taking enemy territory. He is alone.

He tastes love when he meets Delilah, the unlikely prostitute-queen of a village in no-man's land. She is the opposite of the clannish divisions he hates, with unclear ethnic origins and leading a mixed community. They become intimate as Philistine spies gather around them. Samson and Delilah are ensnared in Samson's fight to fulfill his own heart's need despite his tribe's and God's expectations. (publicity email)

I received this galley from Carol Fass Publicity for review.

Life After 187 by Wade J. Halverson

Sentenced to life in prison when he executes the men who murdered his wife, Kane Silver is singled out by the warden for his fighting ability. Along with inmates Valentino Lopez and Si'Ling Lee, Kane is drafted into service and forced to fight for money in high-stakes tournaments. But when the three friends escape during a New Year's Eve match in Lake Tahoe -- saving the warden's life in the process -- their situation becomes more complicated.

Their status undetermined, they vanish underground and sign on to help a young woman whose parents are being held by an Argentinean drug kingpin. Follow Kane and his friends as they compete and grow closer while rediscovering what it means to be free. From Lake Tahoe and the western United States to Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, and Thailand, Life After 187 takes readers on an exhilarating ride filled with big money, intense action, justice, and the pursuit of honor. (back cover)

I received this autographed book from the author for a review early next year. (boy - doesn't that sound strange!)

Lion's Pride by Debbie Jordan

Beware the Old Lion who jealously guards his pride.

In 1911 Arizona, as Sheriff Paco Alaniz investigates the murder of Don Santiago Castillo de Leon, he must deal with the priest who seems to be more than a confessor to the distraught widow, a runaway teenager who's promised as the tenth bride to the leader of renegade Mormon polygamists, and ex-Mormon gambler who wants to save his sister and the woman he loves from the husband they both share, and a vicious mountain lion threatening inhabitants of the Territory. (back cover)

I received this autographed book for a January tour from PR by the Book.

The Lost Child: A Mother's Story by Julie Myerson

While researching her next book, Julie Myerson finds herself in a graveyard, looking for traces of a young woman who died nearly two centuries before. As a child in Regency England, the young woman, Mary Yelloly, painted an exquisite album of watercolors that uniquely reflected the world in which she lived. But Mary died at the age of twenty-one, and when Julie came across this album, she was haunted by the potential never realized. She was also reminded of her own child.

Only days before the graveyard visit, Julie and her husband had locked their eldest son out of the family home. He was just seventeen. Their formerly bright and happy child had discovered drugs, and it had taken only a matter of months for the boy to completely lose his way and propel the family into daily chaos. Julie -- whose fragile relationship with her own father had left her determined to love her children better -- had to accept that she was powerless to bring her son back.

Honest, warm, and profoundly moving, this is the story of two young lives -- one cut short, one derailed. They are separated by centuries, but the questions remain terrifyingly the same. What happens when a child disappears from a family? What will survive of any of us, in memory or in history? ANd how is a mother to cope when love is not enough? (book jacket)

I received this book from Library Thing's Early Reviewers program.

Waking Evil: The Mindhunters by Kylie Brant

A killer, a prophecy -- and three deaths foretold.

Buffalo Springs, Tennessee, is a neighborly kind of place where folks leave their doors unlocked and crime is unheard-of. But once every generation, a strange red mist settles over the town, and with it come omens of death. . .

When the body of a young woman is found, forensic investigator Ramsey Clark is called in. She knows about the legend of the mist and about the curse that has the entire town afraid of the dark. But Ramsey blieves in evidence, not superstition, despite what she's told by the parapsychologist who's been dogging her every step. Then another murder rocks Buffalo Springs, and Ramsey begins to wonder if a killer is playing on everyone's fears or if a prophecy is indeed being fulfilled -- one victim at a time. (back cover)

I won this autographed book from Bingo at Bookin' with Bingo.

Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day
by Jeff Hertzberg, M.D., and Zoe Francois

From the authors of the groundbreaking, bestselling Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day comes a new cookbook filled with quick and easy recipes for healthy bread.

Their first book was called "stupendous," "genius," and "the holy grail of bread making." Now, in their much-anticipated second book, Jeff Hertzberg, M.D., and Zoe Francois have taken their super-fast method and adapted it for the health-conscious baker, focusing on whole grains and other healthier ingredients.

The method is still quick and simple, producing professional-quality results with each warm, fragrant, hearty loaf. In just five minutes a day of active preparation time, you can create delectable, healthy treats such as 100% Whole Wheat Bread, Whole Grain Garlic Knots with Parsley and Olive Oil, Black-and-White Braided Pumpernickel and Rye Loaf, Cherry Black Pepper Focaccia, Pumpkin Pie Brioche, Chocolate Tangerine Bars, and a variety of gluten-free breads. And many of the recipes are 100% whole grain.

Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day will show you that there is time enough for home-baked bread, and that it can be part of a healthy diet. Calling all bread lovers: Whether you are looking for more whole grains, watching your weight, trying to reduce your cholesterol, or just care about what goes into your body, this book is a must have. (book jacket)

I received this book for review from FSB Associates and can't wait to try out some of the breads this week!

This Week's Winners!

Winner of the 50 Custom Thank You Cards from Digital Room is:
Etirv

Winners of Sins of the Flesh are:
elaing8
Sweet Vernal Zephyr
Lyoness2009
Mitz
brizmus

Winners of To Desire a Devil are:
Busy Bee
Lee P
Maria
heatherzilla
Allison('s) Reads

All winners have been emailed and have 48 hours to get me their mailing information or new winners will be drawn.

Faith and Fangs - Blog Tour (Nov 16 - Nov 20)

There are two books touring this week for Multnomah Books. They are Thirsty and Touched by a Vampire.

Thirsty by Tracey Bateman

About the book: There's no place like home, they say.

"Hello, I'm Nina Parker. . .and I'm an alcoholic."

For Nina, it's not the weighty admission but the first steps toward recovery that prove most difficult. She must face her ex-husband, Hunt, with little hope of making amends, and try to rebuild a relationship with her angry teenage daughter, Meagan. Hardest of all, she is forced to return to Abbey Hills, Missouri, the hometown she abruptly abandoned nearly two decades earlier - and her unexpected arrival in the sleepy Ozark town catches the attention of someone - or something - igniting a two-hundred-fifty-year-old desire that rages like a wildfire.

Unaware of the darkness stalking her, Nina is confronted with a series of events that threaten to unhinge her sobriety. Her daughter wants to spend time with the parents Nina left behind. A terrifying event that has haunted Nina for almost twenty years begins to surface. And an alluring neighbor initiates and unusual friendship with Nina, but is Markus truly a kindred spirit or a man guarding dangerous secrets?

As everything she loves hangs in the balance, will Nina's feeble grasp on her demons be broken, leaving her powerless against the thirst? The battle between redemption and obsession unfolds to its startling, unforgettable end.

About the author: With close to one million books in print, Tracey Bateman is the award-winning author of more than thirty titles. Fan favorites include the popular Kansas Home historical series: Color of the Soul, a tale of race and prejudice; and her many intriguing Heartsong Presents romantic novels. Tracey resides in Missouri with her husband and four children.


Touched by a Vampire: Discovering the Hidden Messages in the Twilight Saga by Beth Felker Jones

About the book: Examining Twilight Through a Biblical Lens

People around the world are enraptured with Edward and Bella's forbidden romance in the Twilight Saga, a four-book serial phenomenon written by Stephenie Meyer. The bestsellers tell the story of a regular girl's relationship with a vampire who has chosen to follow his "good" side. But the Saga isn't just another fantasy - it's teaching girls about love, sex, and purpose. With 48 million copies in print and a succession of upcoming blockbuster films, now is the time to ask the important question: Can vampires teach us about God's plan for love?

Touched by a Vampire investigates the themes of the Twilight Saga from a Biblical perspective. Some Christian readers have praised moral principles illustrated in the story, such as premarital sexual abstinence, which align with Meyer's Mormon beliefs. But ultimately, Beth Felker Jones examines whether the story's redemptive qualities outshine its darkness.

Cautionary, thoughtful, and challenging, Touched by a Vampire is written for Twilight fans, parents, teachers, and youth workers. It includes an overview of the series for those unfamiliar with the storyline and a discussion guide for small groups.

About the author: Beth Felker Jones is assistant professor of theology at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. She is the author of The Marks of His Wounds: Gender Politics and Bodily Resurrection, as well as numerous articles and reviews. Beth is a mother and a pastor's wife.

Cherokee Legend

Cherokee Legend

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of Passage?

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him an leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone.

Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.

He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him . Maybe even some human might do him

harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!

Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold.

It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him.

He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone.

Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, Sitting on the stump beside us.

When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

If you liked this story, pass it on.

If not, you took off your blindfold before dawn.

Moral of the story:

Just because you can't see God,

Doesn't mean He is not there.

"For we walk by faith, not by sight."

My mother-in-law sent me this email this morning - and I really needed to hear it today - so I wanted to pass it on.

I am being featured at Scene of the Blog today!

I am very honored to be featured this morning by Cathy over at Kittling: Books. Please stop by and see my blogging space and visit some of her previous Scene of the Blog posts to find some other bloggers who may be new to you. Say hi to Cathy while you are there too!

It's Monday! What are you reading? 11-16-2009

What are you reading on Mondays? is hosted by J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog. If you would like to participate, please leave your link with Mr. Linky at J.Kaye's blog - but you can also leave me a comment - I would love to know what you are reading!

Ok, I am almost embarrassed to admit to this - these books are STILL WAITING to be reviewed. My mom and sister are visiting this week, so I am hoping to get a little extra time to actually review these! If I wait much longer, I am going to have to reread them!
1. All About Us #5: Tidings of Great Boys: An All About Us Novel by Shelley Adina
2. Saint John of the Five Boroughs by Edward Falco
3. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Books finished last week:
1. The Peruke Maker by Ruby Dominguez (reviewed)
2. The Wildest Heart by Rosemary Rogers (reviewed)
3. How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff - I finished this audiobook but it is still waiting for a review.

Currently Reading
1. Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent (Bathroom book)
2. Beg, Borrow, Steal: A Writer's Life by Michael Greenberg

On Audio:
1. The Time of My Life by Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi

Kid's Reviews
1. Christmas Fun and Mean Machines - both by Jennifer Marks

Books up next:
1. The Fruit of Her Hands: The Story of Shira of Ashkenazby Michelle Cameron
2. Touched by a Vampire: Discovering the Hidden Messages in the Twilight Saga by Beth Felker Jones
3. Thirsty: A Novel by Tracey Bateman
4. Tales for Delicious Girls by Barbara Knobova

What are you reading?