Saturday, December 31, 2011
Happy New Year's Eve!!!
New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights. ~Hamilton Wright Mabie
Guest Post By Dina Silver
I was so thrilled when Emily asked me to do a guest post on her fabulous blog, because One Pink Line is my debut novel, and having just released it this past November, I haven’t done many guest posts. So, in a valiant effort to not bore anyone, I asked her what she thought might be a good topic for me to blab, I mean blog, about. She very kindly suggested that you, her amazing followers, would be interested in hearing about my son or me. To that I responded, “Great, two of my favorite things!”
Many years ago, I started writing notes/letters to my son Ryan (he is nine years old today). Just short little tidbits about the day, or the milestones he was achieving at the time. There was a time when I thought that this might be my first book. That maybe other mother’s would be interested in a compilation of these random letters that I wrote to Ryan each month. So that being said, here is a sample of one of the letters I wrote to him on February 14th, 2006 – he was four years old then:
February 14, 2006
Today is Valentine’s Day, and I just had to write you a quick note b/c you were so ridiculously adorable. You and Daddy woke me up with breakfast in bed (scrambled eggs with onions & cheese, bacon and toast) and you asked me to be your valentine. Then you proceeded to ask me all day long, and tell me you loved me, and say “Happy Valentine’s Day,” and “I just love you the most mommy,” which you also said to daddy when he came home from Brian’s house. It was the loveliest broken record I’ve ever heard.
I also wanted to mention two other things that are just so genius and fabulous. First, when it’s time for you to go on the potty, I place you up there and you immediately look at me and say, “private seat please,” because when we first started potty training you, I would ask you if you wanted “privacy” and you interpreted it as “private seat.” So cute!
Second is genius. Robin bought you this random kitty shaped blankie when we were in Atlanta. And b/c it’s a kitty & a blankie it’s body is a square blanket, but it has a small kitty head, and two nubby feet in the back. But since its overall shape is flat, and grey in color, you named it Stingray Kitty…precisely b/c that’s what it looks like! The only time you’ve ever even seen a stingray was at the Shedd Aquarium seven months ago. You are a little genius and I love you.
Thanks for making this the most wonderful Valentine’s Day a girl could ever dream of.
Mommy
You made it through my guest post, and you’re still awake! Victory! Thanks for taking the time to read a little bit about the boy and me. Have a wonderful 2012!
-Dina Silver
Friday, December 30, 2011
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
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| book |
| movie |
My Review:
I absolutely loved the book THE HELP. I felt connected to many of the characters and was deeply moved by their struggle for equality. It was a story that pulled you in and did not let you go until the very last page. At the end you were left feeling sad because you would miss your friends. I felt invested in them and wanted to see how things turned out for them long after the story was finsihed. So, when I saw that a movie was coming out I was very apprehensive. Because aren't we, more times than not, let down after we see a movie based on a book? There are very few book to movies that really hit the nail on the head. But I am happy to say that The Help is a rare gem. I loved the movie just as much as the book, maybe a bit more. The acting was spot on and it followed the book fabulously. I highly recommend both the book and movie, but do yourself a favor and read the book first!!!
Product Description
The wildly popular New York Times bestseller and reading group favorite.
Aibileen is a black maid in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, who's always taken orders quietly, but lately she's unable to hold her bitterness back. Her friend Minny has never held her tongue but now must somehow keep secrets about her employer that leave her speechless. White socialite Skeeter just graduated college. She's full of ambition, but without a husband, she's considered a failure. Together, these seemingly different women join together to write a tell-all book about work as a black maid in the South, that could forever alter their destinies and the life of a small town...
Aibileen is a black maid in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, who's always taken orders quietly, but lately she's unable to hold her bitterness back. Her friend Minny has never held her tongue but now must somehow keep secrets about her employer that leave her speechless. White socialite Skeeter just graduated college. She's full of ambition, but without a husband, she's considered a failure. Together, these seemingly different women join together to write a tell-all book about work as a black maid in the South, that could forever alter their destinies and the life of a small town...
About the Author
Kathryn Stockett was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. After graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in English and Creative Writing, she moved to New York City, where she worked in magazine publishing and marketing for nine years. This is her first novel.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Quote...The Fall
Albert Camus, The Fall
"I shall tell you a great secret, my friend. Do not wait for the last judgment. It takes place every day."
"I shall tell you a great secret, my friend. Do not wait for the last judgment. It takes place every day."
Book Description
Elegantly styled, Camus' profoundly disturbing novel of a Parisian lawyer's confessions is a searing study of modern amorality.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
PIECES OF US by Margie Gelbwasser
There are things that are a part of life and cannot be avoided. For most kids, that is experiencing the trials and tribulations that come with growing up. Most of us have suffered a breakup, suffered from a bad choice that took us down a wrong path, suffered fights with friends and/or siblings and suffered through issues with our parents. Pieces of Us touches on all those topics is in honest and realistic fashion. It is the other side of the story, the side that is not always happy, the side that makes us uncomfortable, the side that shocks us.
Pieces of Us, takes you on a journey through the harsh realities of high school, family relationships and dating violence. Pieces of Us exposes the ruthlessness of love, betrayal, bullying and other more serious topics. Pieces of Us shows how technology (computer and cell phones) can be used to bully, intimidate and control an individual. Making damaging a victim so much easier.
As a parent, Pieces of Us was an emotional read. It forced me to confront fears and evaluate my parenting. The stresses our youth are under are greater than when I was growing up. Sex, alcohol and peer pressure are much more prevalent now. This story will resonate with me for a long time. I am still reeling. I am strongly encouraging every parent to read Pieces of Us. The struggles described in those pages will leave you wanting to hold your children a bit closer and to love them a bit more. I am nearly at a loss of words...powerful story.
P.S. I am in love with this book cover!!!
Book Description
Two families. Four teens.
A summer full of secrets.
Every summer, hidden away in a lakeside community in upstate New York, four teens leave behind their old identities…and escape from their everyday lives.
Yet back in Philadelphia during the school year, Alex cannot suppress his anger at his father (who killed himself), his mother (whom he blames for it), and the girls who give it up too easily. His younger brother, Kyle, is angry too—at his abusive brother, and at their mother who doesn’t seem to care. Meanwhile, in suburban New Jersey, Katie plays the role of Miss Perfect while trying to forget the nightmare that changed her life. But Julie, her younger sister, sees Katie only as everything she’s not. And their mother will never let Julie forget it.
Up at the lake, they can be anything, anyone. Free. But then Katie’s secret gets out, forcing each of them to face reality—before it tears them to pieces.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Margie Gelbwasser is a freelance writer who has written for a variety of magazines. Her first novel, INCONVENIENT (Flux, 2010), was named a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Teens. It tells the story of Alyssa Bondar, a Russian-Jewish teen who is coping with an alcoholic mother, tuned-out father, hot/cold boyfriend and distant best friend. Margie's next novel, PIECES OF US (Flux, March 2012), is told in 4 POV (one of them second) and focuses on cyber-bullying, abuse, family relationships, and how one teen's actions affect the other three. When not writing, Margie loves hiking, cooking, dancing, and reading. She lives in NJ with her hubby, and four-year-old son.
A summer full of secrets.
Every summer, hidden away in a lakeside community in upstate New York, four teens leave behind their old identities…and escape from their everyday lives.
Yet back in Philadelphia during the school year, Alex cannot suppress his anger at his father (who killed himself), his mother (whom he blames for it), and the girls who give it up too easily. His younger brother, Kyle, is angry too—at his abusive brother, and at their mother who doesn’t seem to care. Meanwhile, in suburban New Jersey, Katie plays the role of Miss Perfect while trying to forget the nightmare that changed her life. But Julie, her younger sister, sees Katie only as everything she’s not. And their mother will never let Julie forget it.
Up at the lake, they can be anything, anyone. Free. But then Katie’s secret gets out, forcing each of them to face reality—before it tears them to pieces.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Margie Gelbwasser is a freelance writer who has written for a variety of magazines. Her first novel, INCONVENIENT (Flux, 2010), was named a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Teens. It tells the story of Alyssa Bondar, a Russian-Jewish teen who is coping with an alcoholic mother, tuned-out father, hot/cold boyfriend and distant best friend. Margie's next novel, PIECES OF US (Flux, March 2012), is told in 4 POV (one of them second) and focuses on cyber-bullying, abuse, family relationships, and how one teen's actions affect the other three. When not writing, Margie loves hiking, cooking, dancing, and reading. She lives in NJ with her hubby, and four-year-old son.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Q&A with debut author Dina Silver
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| Dina Silver |
Author, mom, friend, adoring wife, online Scrabble junkie, red wine drinker, Bon Jovi lover, Daily Show watcher, cheese fry fanatic, and debut novelist.
Q. What inspires your writing?
A. Caffeine
Q. What is your favorite thing about being an author?
A. People think I’m smart
Q. What is the toughest part of being an author?
A. People think I’m smart
Q. If you could not be author, what would you do/be?
A. If I could not be an author, and IF I could act, I would be an actress.
Q. What would the story of your life be entitled?
A. Eat. Drink. Love.
Q. What is your favorite book of all time?
A. Pride & Prejudice
Q. Which character from any book are you most like?
A. I related a lot to Skeeter in The Help. I’m very hard to offend, and she seemed to have an ability to forge ahead, regardless of what was happening around her, and not sweat the small stuff.
Q. What is your favorite season?
A. Summer. Have you been to Chicago in January?
Q. Tell me something funny that happened while on a book tour or while promoting your book.
A. My son took my book to school and pointed out all the swear words to his classmates.
Q. Are you working on something new?
A. Sure am! My second book, Kat Fight, comes out in the spring.
Q. You appear to have a funny sense of humor (which I appreciate, share and love)...what is something embarrassing you did that made to laugh at yourself?
A. I tried to open a tube of Krazy Glue with my teeth once (after my mother told me not to). Had to scrape the glue off my teeth with a razor blade. It wasn’t until much later…but I did eventually laugh.
Q. Anything you want to say to followers of this blog or those that are just stopping by?
A. Just thanks for your interest, and if you do get a chance to read One Pink Line…please drop me a line and let me know what you thought. I absolutely love hearing from readers! Thanks!
Check out more about Dina HERE
Book Description
Can the love of a lifetime be forever changed by one pink line? Dina Silver’s tender, absorbing novel, One Pink Line, is the warmhearted, wry story of love, loss and family, as seen through the prism of one singular, spirited young couple who find themselves in a predicament that changes the course of their lives, and those closest to them. With heart, humor and compassion, this debut work of women’s fiction is certain to stir anyone who relishes a good laugh, can stand a good cry, and, above all believes in the redemptive power of love. This unique, contemporary story gives readers a dual perspective. Sydney Shephard, a sweet-tempered, strong-natured college senior is young, in love with an exceptional man, and unexpectedly pregnant. Faced with a child she never planned for, she is forced to relay this news to her neurotic mother, relinquish her youth, and risk losing the love of her life. Then there’s Grace, a daughter, who believed she was a product of this great love, grows to realize her existence is not what she assumed, and is left with profound and puzzling questions about who she really is. Spanning generations and every imaginable emotion, One Pink Line reveals how two points of view can be dramatically at odds, and perhaps ultimately reconciled. Simultaneously deeply felt and lighthearted, One Pink Line deftly mines how the choices we make are able to alter so many lives, and how doing the right thing and living honestly can bring unexpected, hard-won happiness. It’s a must-read for anyone who craves a great love story, absorbing characters, and plenty of laughs along the way.
Monday, December 26, 2011
REVIEW: DESTINED TO FAIL by Samantha March
Life is not a fairy tale and bad things happen to good people. Destined to Fail is a coming of age story where happy endings are not everyone's destiny. March forces us to confront a world of trauma and tragedy which is uncomfortable and unsettling. Lighthearted books are fun to read, however March forces us to address and contemplate what a life of tragedy would feel like. Destined to Fail has depth and a strong message. Life's obstacles can be overcome, but it will take hard work and a personal investment. Life is full of choices and we as individuals must chose which paths to proceed down. March exposes us to trauma that does occur throughout every segment of our society. Destined to Fail speaks to the individual who is suffering and provides moral support and encouragement to fight while also serving as a guide for someone who needs to advocate for a friend in the middle of the fight.
"The other things that have happened, none of those I had control over. But, this situation, I could do something about. I could take the wheel and make my own decisions. It was such a powerful feeling, knowing I could control my own destiny. " (March, pg. 119)
Book Description
Jasmine Jones is ready to begin her new life as a college student, and is ecstatic to have best friend Abby by her side. But weeks into their new college life, Abby drops the bomb- she is pregnant, and dropping out of college. Jasmine can’t handle the fact that Abby is wasting her opportunity to get an education, and going back to her cheating, abusive boyfriend. She struggles to move on from her friendship with Abby, but befriends two new girls at college. Everything seems back on track for Jasmine- great new friendships and roommates, a strong relationship with boyfriend Nate, and excelling at her college courses. But Jasmine’s newfound happiness is shattered when her pregnancy test comes out positive. Does she have to drop out of college now and become a young mother? Will Nate stay with her? How can she afford a child? Jasmine’s life has been filled with obstacles and challenges along the way- from a missing father, sexual and physical abuse, and addictions that tore her family apart. With this latest setback, Jasmine fears her life will always be a struggle. Destined to Fail is one woman’s story about overcoming adversity in life, about taking the negatives and finding a positive, and about never giving up hope.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Twas The Night Before Christmas told by Dick Van Dyke
Twas the Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"
Friday, December 23, 2011
eBooks vs. Print Books by Jay Alabaster
eBooks vs. Print Books
The question about ebooks is not if they will pass print, but when.
The short answer is ... not yet, but we'll have a much better idea in January.
Buzz around the young format has been building since the first mass-market ereader, the original Kindle, sold out in less than six hours in 2007. Amazon, which has estimated it holds over 70% of the ebook market, has stayed in the spotlight with new devices like the Fire tablet (see "Amazon Kindle Fire vs. Apple iPad 2") and two new Kindles it unveiled in September, but also with repeated declarations of how ebooks are flying off its virtual shelves.
NETWORK WORLD'S HOTTEST TECH ARGUMENTS: Read them all here
RELATED: Ladies love ereaders, tablets not so much
The company said in May that its digital books were outselling its print books, after reporting last year that they had eclipsed hardbacks. The latest pronouncement was headline-perfect and ricocheted around the Internet and media outlets as the latest sign that paper books are on their way to extinction.
Amazon doesn't disclose its metrics, however, and some pointed
out that the company's numbers refer only to unit sales, which could easily be swayed by the thousands of cheap titles available, many for less than a dollar. In July, Amazon said its Kindle store had 950,000 books on offer, 800,000 of which were $9.99 or less.
In the overall market, ebooks represented just 6.4% of total revenues for books published for the general public last year, according to the Association of American Publishers, whose membership includes the country's major publishing houses.
But that is changing. The group later released a report on the first five months of 2011, showing that ebook sales had risen to about a fifth of the overall pie during that span, soaring 160% while total hardcover and paperback sales were both down nearly 20%. Retail sales have taken a hit this year as the national Borders chain closed its stores after declaring bankruptcy.
The trend will accelerate as more readers buy dedicated ereaders as well as tablets and phones that can display the books, which is why this holiday shopping season is important. Analysts have long held up $100 as the line for general acceptance for such devices, and while Amazon's $199 Fire tablet has drawn much of the attention because of its matchup with the iPad, the company's two new kindles are $79 and $99 when purchased with advertising. Offerings from Barnes and Noble (See "Android lovers: don't overlook the Nook" and dedicated manufacturers like Aluratek have offerings slightly higher, near $130.
One disappointment to users so far has been the pricing of ebooks; Amazon currently lists many books where the Kindle version is more expensive than the print version, after it lost a battle with publishers to fix the pricing of its ebooks. Prices should come under pressure as competitors such as Apple and Google assert their own ebook offerings run on their native software.
So as ereaders become more popular, users will naturally look for alternative, cheaper ways to fill them with content. One sign of their popularity will be libraries, which monitor their users closely to make better use of tight budgets. Already 67.2% of libraries offer some access to ebooks, according to a report issued by the American Library Association in June. Local media reports mirror this trend - an October article in the Boston Globe said ebook borrowing rates are climbing quickly at area libraries, although print titles are still far more popular.
Another factor that could drive readers to the devices is exclusive content. J.K. Rowling's new "Pottermore" website, for example, will begin offering Harry Potter ebooks from 2012.
The remainder of 2011, with cheap ereaders and tablets on the market in plenty of time for the holiday shopping season, and ebooks more widely available then ever before, will show the strength of ebooks vs. print.
The short answer is ... not yet, but we'll have a much better idea in January.
Buzz around the young format has been building since the first mass-market ereader, the original Kindle, sold out in less than six hours in 2007. Amazon, which has estimated it holds over 70% of the ebook market, has stayed in the spotlight with new devices like the Fire tablet (see "Amazon Kindle Fire vs. Apple iPad 2") and two new Kindles it unveiled in September, but also with repeated declarations of how ebooks are flying off its virtual shelves.
NETWORK WORLD'S HOTTEST TECH ARGUMENTS: Read them all here
RELATED: Ladies love ereaders, tablets not so much
The company said in May that its digital books were outselling its print books, after reporting last year that they had eclipsed hardbacks. The latest pronouncement was headline-perfect and ricocheted around the Internet and media outlets as the latest sign that paper books are on their way to extinction.
Amazon doesn't disclose its metrics, however, and some pointed
out that the company's numbers refer only to unit sales, which could easily be swayed by the thousands of cheap titles available, many for less than a dollar. In July, Amazon said its Kindle store had 950,000 books on offer, 800,000 of which were $9.99 or less.
In the overall market, ebooks represented just 6.4% of total revenues for books published for the general public last year, according to the Association of American Publishers, whose membership includes the country's major publishing houses.
But that is changing. The group later released a report on the first five months of 2011, showing that ebook sales had risen to about a fifth of the overall pie during that span, soaring 160% while total hardcover and paperback sales were both down nearly 20%. Retail sales have taken a hit this year as the national Borders chain closed its stores after declaring bankruptcy.
The trend will accelerate as more readers buy dedicated ereaders as well as tablets and phones that can display the books, which is why this holiday shopping season is important. Analysts have long held up $100 as the line for general acceptance for such devices, and while Amazon's $199 Fire tablet has drawn much of the attention because of its matchup with the iPad, the company's two new kindles are $79 and $99 when purchased with advertising. Offerings from Barnes and Noble (See "Android lovers: don't overlook the Nook" and dedicated manufacturers like Aluratek have offerings slightly higher, near $130.
One disappointment to users so far has been the pricing of ebooks; Amazon currently lists many books where the Kindle version is more expensive than the print version, after it lost a battle with publishers to fix the pricing of its ebooks. Prices should come under pressure as competitors such as Apple and Google assert their own ebook offerings run on their native software.
So as ereaders become more popular, users will naturally look for alternative, cheaper ways to fill them with content. One sign of their popularity will be libraries, which monitor their users closely to make better use of tight budgets. Already 67.2% of libraries offer some access to ebooks, according to a report issued by the American Library Association in June. Local media reports mirror this trend - an October article in the Boston Globe said ebook borrowing rates are climbing quickly at area libraries, although print titles are still far more popular.
Another factor that could drive readers to the devices is exclusive content. J.K. Rowling's new "Pottermore" website, for example, will begin offering Harry Potter ebooks from 2012.
The remainder of 2011, with cheap ereaders and tablets on the market in plenty of time for the holiday shopping season, and ebooks more widely available then ever before, will show the strength of ebooks vs. print.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
What I am reading now....
Book Description
Two families. Four teens.
A summer full of secrets.
Every summer, hidden away in a lakeside community in upstate New York, four teens leave behind their old identities…and escape from their everyday lives.
Yet back in Philadelphia during the school year, Alex cannot suppress his anger at his father (who killed himself), his mother (whom he blames for it), and the girls who give it up too easily. His younger brother, Kyle, is angry too—at his abusive brother, and at their mother who doesn’t seem to care. Meanwhile, in suburban New Jersey, Katie plays the role of Miss Perfect while trying to forget the nightmare that changed her life. But Julie, her younger sister, sees Katie only as everything she’s not. And their mother will never let Julie forget it.
Up at the lake, they can be anything, anyone. Free. But then Katie’s secret gets out, forcing each of them to face reality—before it tears them to pieces.
A summer full of secrets.
Every summer, hidden away in a lakeside community in upstate New York, four teens leave behind their old identities…and escape from their everyday lives.
Yet back in Philadelphia during the school year, Alex cannot suppress his anger at his father (who killed himself), his mother (whom he blames for it), and the girls who give it up too easily. His younger brother, Kyle, is angry too—at his abusive brother, and at their mother who doesn’t seem to care. Meanwhile, in suburban New Jersey, Katie plays the role of Miss Perfect while trying to forget the nightmare that changed her life. But Julie, her younger sister, sees Katie only as everything she’s not. And their mother will never let Julie forget it.
Up at the lake, they can be anything, anyone. Free. But then Katie’s secret gets out, forcing each of them to face reality—before it tears them to pieces.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
WHAT ARE THE TIRARAS READING
WHAT ARE THE TIRARAS READING
Well, the New Year is just around the corner and I have decided to add WHAT ARE THE TIARAS READING to my blog line up. THE TIARAS is the book club that I am lucky enough to be part of. It is a fabulous group of woman whom have gown to be my rocks. We laugh, we eat, we drink wine and chat...but most importantly once a month we come together as woman. We are not Moms, wives, workers ect during that few hours a month, we are just friends hanging out and it is WONDERFUL!!! Everybody is busy, but we make time each month to just relax and do for ourselves. I think everyone can afford to do more for themselves.
So, you can take the opportunity to read along with us or just see what my fellow book clubbers think about our reads. We meet the third Wednesday of the month, so the third Friday of the month is when I will post what everyone from THE TIRARAS thought about the book.
Here are our picks for January. We picked 2 to start the New Year right...every subsequent month will only be 1.
Book One:
Book Description
Death is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.
Coming home from a Hawaiian vacation with her best girlfriends, Lucy Fisher is stunned to find everything she owns tossed out on her front lawn, the locks changed, and her fiancé’s phone disconnected—plus she’s just lost her job. With her world spinning wildly out of her control, Lucy decides to make a new start and moves upstate to live with her sister and nephew.
But then things take an even more dramatic turn: A fatal encounter with public transportation lands Lucy not in the hereafter but in the nearly hereafter. She’s back in school, learning the parameters of spooking and how to become a successful spirit in order to complete a ghostly assignment. If Lucy succeeds, she’s guaranteed a spot in the next level of the afterlife—but until then, she’s stuck as a ghost in the last place she would ever want to be.
Trying to avoid being trapped on earth for all eternity, Lucy crosses the line between life and death and back again when she returns home. Navigating the perilous channels of the paranormal, she’s determined to find out why her life crumbled and why, despite her ghastly death, no one seems to have noticed she’s gone. But urgency on the spectral plane—in the departed person of her feisty grandmother, who is risking both their eternal lives—requires attention, and Lucy realizes that you get only one chance to be spectacular in death.
Coming home from a Hawaiian vacation with her best girlfriends, Lucy Fisher is stunned to find everything she owns tossed out on her front lawn, the locks changed, and her fiancé’s phone disconnected—plus she’s just lost her job. With her world spinning wildly out of her control, Lucy decides to make a new start and moves upstate to live with her sister and nephew.
But then things take an even more dramatic turn: A fatal encounter with public transportation lands Lucy not in the hereafter but in the nearly hereafter. She’s back in school, learning the parameters of spooking and how to become a successful spirit in order to complete a ghostly assignment. If Lucy succeeds, she’s guaranteed a spot in the next level of the afterlife—but until then, she’s stuck as a ghost in the last place she would ever want to be.
Trying to avoid being trapped on earth for all eternity, Lucy crosses the line between life and death and back again when she returns home. Navigating the perilous channels of the paranormal, she’s determined to find out why her life crumbled and why, despite her ghastly death, no one seems to have noticed she’s gone. But urgency on the spectral plane—in the departed person of her feisty grandmother, who is risking both their eternal lives—requires attention, and Lucy realizes that you get only one chance to be spectacular in death.
Book Two:
Book Description
When Chelsea Handler needs to get a few things off her chest, she appeals to a higher power—vodka. Seems reasonable, when considering that she discovered her boyfriend was having an affair with a Peekapoo and she had to pretend to be honeymooning with her father in order to upgrade to first class. Welcome to Chelsea’s world—a place where absurdity reigns supreme and a quick wit is the best line of defense.. In this highly entertaining, deliciously skewed collection, Chelsea mines her past for stories about her family, relationships, and career that are at once singular and ridiculous. Whether she’s convincing her third-grade class that she has been chosen to play Goldie Hawn’s daughter in the sequel to Private Benjamin, deciding to be more egalitarian by dating a redhead, or looking out for a foulmouthed, rum-swilling little person who looks just like her...only smaller, Chelsea has a knack for getting herself into the most outrageous situations.
Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea showcases the candor and irresistible turns of phrase that have made her one of the freshest voices in comedy today...
Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea showcases the candor and irresistible turns of phrase that have made her one of the freshest voices in comedy today...
Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea is also set to be a television show on NBC...
Series Premiere Wednesday, January 11th Wednesdays 8:30/7:30c
Life, straight up or on the rocks?
Starring Laura Prepon (That '70s Show) in the title role and based on the outrageous number one best-selling book by Chelsea Handler, this is one prayer that should definitely not be taught in schools.Monday, December 19, 2011
REVIEW: I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER by Sophie Kinsella
OMG...LOL ;0 xxxxoooooo
Sophie Kinsella has done it again. Her newest book, I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER, due out February 14, 2012, is another hit. I have read every single Kinsella book and I really think this is by far my favorite. Poppy Wyatt has a mile a minute mind. She is whimsical, smart and funny, but doesn't quite know it...which makes her so much more enduring. I instantly loved her. The story is tight and well written. There are some stressful moments where you will find yourself hoping the good guys come out the victors. In true Kinsella form, you will laugh out loud and take a fast-paced trip with a great female character. Kinsella fans will find the wait worthwhile. I would love to see this become a series, but there is no word that is the case...but a girl can hope, right???
Book Description
I’ve lost it. :( The only thing in the world I wasn’t supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It’s been in Magnus’s family for three generations. And now the very same day his parents are coming, I’ve lost it. The very same day! Do not hyperventilate, Poppy. Stay positive :) !!
Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry her ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her “happily ever after” begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring in a hotel fire drill but in the panic that follows, her phone is stolen. As she paces shakily around the lobby, she spots an abandoned phone in a trash can. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!
Well, perfect except that the phone’s owner, businessman Sam Roxton, doesn’t agree. He wants his phone back and doesn’t appreciate Poppy reading his messages and wading into his personal life.
What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other’s lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls, and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents . . . she soon realizes that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.
Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry her ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her “happily ever after” begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring in a hotel fire drill but in the panic that follows, her phone is stolen. As she paces shakily around the lobby, she spots an abandoned phone in a trash can. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!
Well, perfect except that the phone’s owner, businessman Sam Roxton, doesn’t agree. He wants his phone back and doesn’t appreciate Poppy reading his messages and wading into his personal life.
What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other’s lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls, and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents . . . she soon realizes that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Awesome events at a great bookstore: The Readers Loft Green Bay WI
The LatehomecomerTuesday, January 106:00pm at The Readers Loft  | In search of a place to call home, thousands of Hmong families made the journey from the war-torn jungles of Laos to the overcrowded refugee camps of Thailand and onward to America. But lacking a written language of their own, the Hmong experience has been primarily recorded by others. Driven to tell her family’s story after her grandmother’s death, The Latehomecomer is Kao Kalia Yang’s tribute to the remarkable woman whose spirit held them all together. It is also an eloquent, firsthand account of a people who have worked hard to make their voices heard. |
Author Event with Judith SuhrThursday, January 126:30 p.m. at The Reader's Loft  | "From Kids to Corporations" is a down-to-earth, common sense approach to successful parenting and management. Judith Suhr takes a refreshing and creative look at an age old question, "How do I raise responsible and compassionate children to become trustworthy and loyal adults?" Her examples of effective parenting and management styles are easily adaptable to many situations in both the home and the work place. Never before has there been presented a direct correlation between successfully raising children and successful management in the business world. A unique and entertaining approach! All new parents & managers need to read this book!!! -Anonymous Review |
John Shier, RN, PhDThursday, January 266:30 p.m. at The Reader's Loft  | |
An Evening With Jodi PicoultSaturday, March 107:00pm, Doors open at 6:00pm at Radisson Hotel, Green Bay, Wi  | The Reader’s Loft is proud to present internationally acclaimed author, Jodi Picoult March 10, 2012. Tickets are 38.00 and will include a hardcover copy of Jodi’s latest novel, Lone Wolf – due for release February 28, 2012. Please contact the store and a Reader's Loft representative will assist you with ticket sales. 920-406-0200 -Publisher’s Comments: A life hanging in the balance...a family torn apart. The #1 internationally bestselling author Jodi Picoult tells an unforgettable story about family, love, and letting go. Edward Warren, twenty-four, has been living in Thailand for five years, a prodigal son who left his family after an irreparable fight with his father, Luke. When he gets a frantic phone call: His dad lies comatose, gravely injured in the same accident that has also injured his younger sister Cara, he is suddenly expected to rejoin the family. With her father's chances for recovery dwindling, Cara wants to wait for a miracle. But Edward wants to terminate life support and donate his father's organs. Is he motivated by altruism, or revenge? And to what lengths will his sister go to stop him from making an irrevocable decision? "Lone Wolf "explores the notion of family, and the love, protection and strength it's meant to offer. But what if the hope that should sustain it, is the very thing that pulls it apart? Another tour de force from Jodi Picoult, "Lone Wolf "examines the wild and lonely terrain upon which love battles reason. Holiday Gift to you or someone you know who is a Picoult fan? Book club field trip? Mother-daughter date? There are so many great reasons to treat yourself or someone you know to an evening of Jodi Picoult reading from what is sure to be another work of social and suspenseful genius. Please join us at The Radisson Hotel at 7pm on Saturday, March 10, 2012! |
Saturday, December 17, 2011
The Library Phantom Returns! (Mysterious paper sculptures) by Robert Krulwich
My friend, Amy, sent me this and I had to share it with all of you. Those of you who don’t keep up with Edinburgh’s literary world may have missed the recent spate of mysterious paper sculptures appearing around the city. Scotland is one of may FAVORITE places in the world!!! Wish I would have gone to the library while we were there!!!
The Library Phantom Returns!
by Robert Krulwich
He? She? It? Whoever it is, the Phantom Sculptor is suddenly back!
Guardian article, 3rd March 2011.
One day in March, staff at the Scottish Poetry Library came across a wonderful creation, left anonymously on a table in the library. Carved from paper, mounted on a book and with a tag addressed to @byleaveswelive – the library’s Twitter account – reading:
Guardian article, 30th June 2011.
This time the sculpture is a complex scene in a paper cinema; punters arrayed on seats watching men and horses coming alive from the screen and charging outwards.
The tag?
Scotsman article, 11th July 2011.
Once again carved from a Rankin novel, they don’t know how long it might have been sitting there unnoticed as it’s quite well hidden. Perhaps the loveliest tag so far:
more HERE
One day in March, staff at the Scottish Poetry Library came across a wonderful creation, left anonymously on a table in the library. Carved from paper, mounted on a book and with a tag addressed to @byleaveswelive – the library’s Twitter account – reading:
It started with your name @byleaveswelive and became a tree.… … We know that a library is so much more than a building full of books… a book is so much more than pages full of words.… This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas….. a gesture (poetic maybe?)
For @natlibscot – A gift in support of libraries, books, words, ideas….. (& against their exit)
Guardian article, 30th June 2011.
This time the sculpture is a complex scene in a paper cinema; punters arrayed on seats watching men and horses coming alive from the screen and charging outwards.
The tag?
For @filmhouse – A gift in support of libraries, books, words, ideas….. and all things *magic*
Scotsman article, 11th July 2011.
Once again carved from a Rankin novel, they don’t know how long it might have been sitting there unnoticed as it’s quite well hidden. Perhaps the loveliest tag so far:
For @scotstorycenter – A gift in support of libraries, books, works, ideas….. Once upon a time there was a book and in the book was a nest and in the nest was an egg and in the egg was a dragon and in the dragon was a story…..
Nobody knows whether there are more to come and if so, where they might appear. Some say the newly opened National Museum, others suggest the Edinburgh International Book Festival. It’s all a bit exciting!
Having been on display in the Scottish Poetry Library for a few months, the poetree is now kept behind the counter for safety, but if you ask nicely I’m sure they would let you have a look.
The National Library’s gramophone is in a display case near the front door.
The Filmhouse’s cinematic diorama is currently not on display.
The Scottish Storytelling Centre’s dragon is probably going to estivate during the Festivals to avoid any possible manhandling by infant hordes but will surely make a return in the autumn.
UPDATE: The dragon has been moved out of harm’s way but is still visible to the public!
UPDATE 24/08/11: Two more appeared today at the Edinburgh International Book Festival!
One, addressed to @edbookfest (the Book Festival), was left on one of the signing tables in the Bookshop.
The tag on this reads:
To @edbookfest ‘A gift’ This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas…… & festivals xxIt includes a teabag filled with cut out letters, on the tag of which are the words “by leaves we live”. The cup on the top has a swirl of words which read ” Nothing beats a nice cup of tea (or coffee) and a really good BOOK”, and on the ‘tray’ next to the cupcake it says “except maybe a cake as well”.
The other, addressed to @edincityoflit (UNESCO Edinburgh City of Literature), was secreted about their stand in the entrance tent.
The tag reads:
To @edincityoflit ‘A gift’ LOST (albeit in a good book) This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas…. “No infant has the power of deciding….. by what circumstances (they) shall be surrounded.. Robert OwenIntriguingly, this is crafted from a copy of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinnerby James Hogg.
This book is not only a favourite of the City of Literature team but is also known to have been an influence on Ian Rankin’s work. So far quite a few of these sculptures have overt links to Mr Rankin, suggesting this is no coincidence. As Ian was due on site later in the day and had not yet met any of these creations face to face, the @EdinCityofLit team introduced him to their new baby.
Former local Guardian beatblogger Michael MacLeod and all round top journo was on the scene to file a swift report. The Book Festival’s blogger also shared with the world, and @edinCityofLit’s Anna has a mention of them…
Guardian article, 24th august 2011
Edinburgh International Book Festival blog post, 24th August 2011
Anna Not Karenina’s blog post
Once the latest additions to the family have found offical homes I will update with further images and information…
UPDATE 30/08/11
Another has appeared in the Central Lending Library on George IV Bridge.
Taking the form of a book with a magnifying glass mounted atop it (made of paper of course!) it was left on a shelf and was unreported for at least a couple of days.
For Central Library ‘A Gift’ @Edinburgh_CC This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas…. LIBRARIES ARE EXPANSIVEThe word “expensive” has had the E crossed out and replaced with an A. No question of the creator’s views on library cuts… The tag then notes, “Words on book – Edwin Morgan”. No talk of Rankin this time!
In the news:
Scotsman article, 30 August 2011
Library blog post, 31 August 2011
A plastic cover has been placed on it and for the time being at least it is on display where it was left.
And here’s some coverage from STV.
UPDATE 16/09/11:
The ‘poetree’ is now on display in the reception area of the Scottish Poetry Library.
Which has clearly had the desired effect, as the comments book next to it shows:
UPDATE 20/09/11
The Edinburgh Evening News claims to have discovered the identity of the sculptor. The general view is that We Don’t Want To Know…
23/11/11
“It’s important that a story is not too long ……does not become tedious …….” There was a flurry of excitement when someone at the Scottish Poetry Library spotted this note in their guest book:
“Hopefully next time I’ll be able to linger longer – I’ve left a little something for you near Women’s Anthologies X. In support of Libraries, Books, Words and Ideas….”A quick dash into the library led to the discovery of another gift.
The tag on this read:
“To @ByLeavesWeLive……. THE GIFTS “Gloves of bee’s ful, cap of the Wren’s Wings…….” Norman McCaig …. maybe sometimes impossible things… In support of LIbraries, Books, Words Ideas….”And with the suspicious addition in the corner reading 10/10.
So here we have a cap made of a wing.
A wing, of course, made of exquisitely crafted paper feathers.
And with it a pair of paper gloves…
… made in the texture of a bee.
And an explanation!
“It’s important that a story is not too long ……does not become tedious …….‘You need to know when to end a story,’ she thought.
Often a good story ends where it begins. This would mean a return to the Poetry Library. The very place where she had left the first of the ten.
Back to those who had loved that little tree, and so encouraged her to try again …….and again.
Some had wondered who it was, leaving these small strange objects. Some even thought it was a ‘he’! ……. As if!
Others looked among Book Artists, rather good ones actually…….
But they would never find her there. For though she does make things, this was the first time she had dissected books and had used them simply be- cause they seemed fitting….
Most however chose not to know….. which was the point really.
The gift, the place to sit, to look, to wonder, to dream….. of the impossible maybe…….
A tiny gesture in support of the special places…..
So, here, she will end this story, in a special place … A Poetry Library ….. where they are well used to ‘anon.’
But before exiting …a few mentions. There could be more, because we have all colluded to make this work……. Just a few though.
- the twitter community who in some strange way gave rise to the idea in the first place
-@chrisdonia who gave the story a place, a shape and some great pictures
- and not least @Beathhigh whose books and reputation have been shame- lessly utilised in the making of a mystery ……..
…… But hold on. Someone’s left behind a pair of gloves and a cap……….?
Cheers Edinburgh It’s been fun! A wonderful end to a wonderful story and a lovely mention for a humble photographer! But talk of ten sculptures had everyone a-flutter. There were only eight we knew of, what of the remaining two? Could they have been lost? stolen? or worse, thrown away by someone who didn’t realise what they had found?
X
Mercifully the answer was forthcoming the next day. The National Museum of Scotland had received a gift, found on the plinth under a skeletal stag. A consciencious member of staff had found it and passed it to his supervisor, thinking it might be something more than average lost property. It soon made its way up the chain of command until it came to rest in the Director’s office for safety.
Meanwhile the museum staff were abuzz with the imminent arrival of their millionth visitor since reopening (which was a surprise as that wasn’t really expected until about August 2012) so they didn’t have time to tell the world about it until that had died down.
And so another is unveiled!
A Tyrannosaurus Rex, bursting from the tattered leaves of a book. And what book could it be other than Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World?
The tag here reads:
“For @NtlMuseumsScot A Gift Your friends at @edbookfest suggested you might like this. …. In support of libraries, books, words, ideas and those places that house our treasures……”And in the corner, 9/10.
Hidden amidst the tattered leaves of the book are tiny men with weapons that probably wouldn’t do much damage to the beast, as its bloodstained jaw seems to prove.
The museum hope to exhibit this as part of the 26 Treasures series.
And what of the last?
Yesterday afternoon staff at the Writer’s Museum found something atop the donations box in the Robert Louis Stevenson room.
A wonderfully atmospheric street scene with what appears to be a silvery moon with wisps of cloud hanging from it. This tag reads:
“@CuratorEMG A Gift “The stories are in the stones” Ian Rankin In support of Libraries, Books, Words, Ideas …… and Writers.”And the 8/10 in the corner, confirming that we’ve found them all!
The cover says, “the stories are in the stones / Ian Rankin” …
…which is fitting as it has been sculpted from a copy of Ian Rankin’s Hide and Seek.
Inside the book are an array of people with birds on wires and a streetlight…
There are even goings-on visible behind some of the windows, as well as a pentagram scrawled on a wall in red with the signs of the zodiac around it.
Along the front of the scene have been placed the words, “commingled out of Good and evil;” Misha Hoekstra pointed out that this is a line from Jekyll & Hyde, “I have observed that when I wore the semblance of Edward Hyde, none could come near to me at first without a visible misgiving of the flesh. This, as I take it, was because all human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil: and Edward Hyde, alone in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil,” and that Ian Rankin has said of Hide & Seek that he was hoping to create an updated, Edinbugh-based version of Stevenson’s story.
The curators are looking into ways to display this piece although it’s possible that it will have to live in a different venue due to considerations of space – the Writer’s Museum is absolutely packed with stuff! They’re terribly happy with it though; apparently they had been hoping to receive one and now feel very lucky to have had one of the last three.
So this seems to be the end of the story. There is talk of organising some sort of exhibition but so far it’s just an idea. Some of the ‘gifts’ are viewable anyway – those in the Scottish Poetry Library, the Scottish Storytelling Centre and Central Library (the gramophone in the National Library seems to have been temporarily displaced). The rest will hopefully find a place in the public eye and I’ll keep an eye on them as I have grown rather attached.
Many thanks to whoever has been crafting and distributing these magical objects, and thanks on behalf of the creator to those who have followed their discovery with such infectious delight.
more HERE
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