Barney's Online Book Club -- January Selection

I hope everyone had a very happy holidays! Here is the January selection of Barney's Online Book Club -- The House on Tradd Street by Karen White! Thanks to everyone who voted. The discussion questions will be posted on Sunday, January 24. All are welcome!

Barney's Online Book Club -- Vote for the January Book!

Sorry for the delay everyone! Here are your choices for the January selection of Barney's Online Book Club. Please leave your first and second choices in the comments section. I have provided links to each book's Barnes and Noble page so you can read the summaries and physical descriptions of each book. Voting ends on December 23rd at 8pm EST. The discussion questions will be posted on Sunday, January 24th. All are welcome to join! Please leave your email in the comments section if you want to be added to the email list. Let the voting begin!



1. The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent

2. Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Ben H. Winters

3. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

4. The Red Leather Diary by Lily Koppel

5. House on Tradd Street by Karen White

Barney's Online Book Club -- Looking for January Book Suggestions!

Barney's Online Book Club is getting ready to choose another great selection to read for our January 2009 discussion. I have decided to skip the month of December due to an increasingly busy holiday schedule. Thanks to everyone who participated in discussing The Help by Kathryn Stockett last Sunday. It seemed that everyone really loved the book. Please leave your suggestions for our next book in the comments section. This weekend I will take five of the suggestions and set up voting for sometime next week -- check your email! All are welcome to join the discussion, if you would like to be put on the email list, please leave your email address in the comments section. Thanks and have a great holiday!

Barney's Online Book Club -- November 2009 Discussion

Welcome to the fourth discussion post of Barney's Online Book Club! This month we are discussing The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Below are some questions to help start the discussion, please feel free to raise your own questions in the comments section. Please note that the questions and the comments may include spoilers. So if you haven't read the book, then read at your own risk!

Let the discussion begin!

1. The Help is written from multiple points of view. Did you enjoy the different points of view? Was there one character you enjoyed reading about over the others?

2. Hilly is definitely the villian of this piece yet the author paints her as a good mother. Was it hard for you to reconcile these two opposite pieces of her personality? What do you think drove Hilly to treat the help (and eventually Skeeter) in such terrible ways?

3. Miss Skeeter has some rough relationships throughout the novel. What are your impressions of her relationship with her mother? What about Stuart?

4. What do you think was the eventual motivation or reason that the maids stepped forward to help with the book?

5. What are your overall thoughts on the novel?

So get typing and don't forget to come back throughout the day and reply to other members' comments!

Review -- Stolen

Stolen: A Letter to My Captor
Lucy Christopher
**I bought this book in England while on vacation and did not realize that it hasn't been published in the U.S. yet. There was no publisher or page numbers available on the Internet. (Sorry!)

Summary: Gemma is kidnapped while on vacation with her parents. Her captor, Ty, takes her into the rugged Australia outback where she must fight for her life.

Review: Stolen is an interesting read. The story is written completely from Gemma point of view as she relays her side of the story to her captor and tries to make sense of what has happened to her. A young adult novel, it was an easy read and had some very intense moments. My only concern with the novel is that Ty's character is still a mystery at the end. I would have loved rotating chapters by both Gemma and Ty so the reader could understand both characters motivations for their actions. Well written and entertaining, I would recommend this book. Rating: *** out of 5.

Review -- Testimony

Testimony

by Anita Shreve

Little, Brown, and Company, 2009
352 pages

Summary: Testimony is the story of a sex scandal that breaks out at a small New England private school and shows the repercussions through the eyes of the students and their parents.

Review: An intense novel that tackles a difficult subject through multiple characters, Testimony is a fantastic read. It is hard to feel sympathy towards many of the characters whose actions are met with the deepest consequences, but the author delves deep into each character so the reader can feel their emotion and understand their intent. At times a slow read, the book leaves the reader to contemplate how one act can change so many lives. Rating: ***1/2 out of 5.

Barney's Online Book Club -- Discussion Reminder!

Just a quick reminder that Barney's Online Book Club will be discussing The Help by Kathryn Stockett this Sunday, November 29th! All are welcome to join the discussion. Please email me if you have any questions and I will 'see' you on Sunday!

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 11/9

This week I am reading Sarah's Key by Tatiana DeRosnay for the library book club that I belong to. Barney's Online Book Club has selected The Help by Kathryn Stockett for the November book. The discussion post will be Sunday, November 29th and all are welcome. If you have any questions about the online book club, please email me at jedziedz@hotmail.com. Next month, the library book club will be choosing books for the next six months, so if you have any suggestions please feel free to leave them in the comments section and I will recommend them at the meeting. Thanks!

What are you reading this week? This meme is hosted by J.Kaye's Book Blog.

Barney's Online Book Club -- November 2009 Selection

The Barney's Online Book Club selection for November 2009 is The Help by Kathryn Stockett! Thanks to everyone who voted. Please note that this month's discussion will take place on Sunday, November 29, 2009. If you have any questions, please email me at jedziedz@hotmail.com. Happy Reading!

Barney's Online Book Club -- Vote for the November Book!

Time to vote for the November book! Below are the 5 choices suggested by members (each title is linked to its Barnes and Noble page so you can read a plot description). Please leave your first and second choices in the comments section. Voting will end on Friday, November 6th at 8pm EST. The discussion post will take place on Sunday, November 29th. If you would like to join the email list, please leave your email address in the comments section as well. Let the voting begin!

1. The Widow's Season by Laura Brodie
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
3. The Condition by Jennifer Haigh
4. Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell
5. Playing House by Fredrica Wagman

Barney's Online Book Club -- Call for Suggestions!

Can you believe it is already November 2nd? Time has gotten away from me, so over the next two days leave your suggestions for November's book club selection in the comments section. I will take suggestions until November 4th at 8pm EST and then post the voting, so (hopefully) by the weekend we will have chosen a new book!

Thanks,
jess

Friday Finds -- 10/30

Happy Friday! My find this week is the new book from the author of Eating Heaven, Jennie Shortridge. It is called When She Flew and is available November 3rd. Here's the Barnes and Noble description:

Police officer Jessica Villareal has always played by the book and tried to do the right thing. But now, she finds herself approaching midlife divorced, estranged from her daughter, alone, and unhappy. And she's wondering if she ever made a right choice in her life. But then Jess discovers a girl and her father living off the radar in the Oregon woods, avoiding the comforts-and curses-of modern life. Her colleagues on the force are determined to uproot and separate them, but Jess knows the damage of losing those you love. She recognizes her chance to make a difference by doing something she's never dared. Because even though she's used to playing by the rules, there are times when they need to be broken...

What did you find this week? Friday Finds is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Last week I finished Testimony by Anita Shreve and I am now in the middle of my library book club's selection -- The Painter from Shanghai by Jennifer Cody Epstein.

Have a great week!

Barney's Online Book Club Discussion -- October 2009

Welcome to the third discussion post of Barney's Online Book Club! This month we are discussing Testimony by Anita Shreve. Below are questions to start the discussion, feel free to raise your own questions in the comments section. Please note that the questions and the comments sections may include spoilers! Read at your own risk.

Let the discussion begin!

Discussion Questions:

1. Many blog reviewers have mentioned that telling the story through multiple characters made the story difficult to follow. Do you agree?

2. Did you sympathize with any of the characters? Why or why not?

3. Who do you feel is to blame for Silas's death?

4. How do you feel about Rob's assessment at the end of the novel? Do you think he (and the other characters) will lead a better life because they survived the scandal?

5. What was your over impression of Testimony?

A Real Life 'Testimony'?

My sister-in-law, Deb, who is a member of the Barney's Online Book Club wrote me an email today about our book club pick Testimony by Anita Shreve. She remembered seeing an article about a real life private school sex scandal that had happened in Massachusetts -- which is very similiar to the plot of Testimony. Here is part of the email that she sent me:

This one paragraph really reminds me of the 'Testimony' story:

The lowlight of this giant love-in came that January, when a sophomore girl slid into the locker room for the varsity hockey team and fellated five boys in succession. This story passed from students to parents to the headmaster to prosecutors and The Boston Globe. The ensuing scandal was devastating for almost everyone involved. The school was nationally embarrassed, and sometimes girls who’ve graduated from Milton are asked if they are the serial fellator. The five boys involved were expelled, and the three older ones were charged as adults with statutory rape — charges that were eventually dismissed. Controversially, the girl was not expelled. She was placed on administrative leave and eventually transferred.

For more of this article, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/books/review/Toure-t.html

Thanks Deb for the great info!

Barney's Online Book Club -- Discussion Post Reminder

Just a quick reminder that the discussion post for Barney's Online Book Club will go up on Sunday, October 25th. We will be discussing Testimony by Anita Shreve. All are welcome!

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 10/19

I am currently reading Testimony by Anita Shreve for Barney's Online Book Club. It is an interesting read, told in a very interesting style, and I can't wait to discuss it on Sunday.

What are you reading? This meme is hosted by J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book Blog.

Pictures From My Trip

Here are some pictures from my fantastic vacation! The photos are from the first day of the tour. We went to Windsor Castle and Oxford University. Both places were beautiful and the weather was gorgeous so I was able to take a ton of photos. Enjoy!

Windsor Castle:

Oxford University:

Review -- The Opposite of Love

The Opposite of Love

by Julie Baxbaum

Random House, 2009

320 pages

Summary: Emily's life begins to unravel the day she breaks up with her boyfriend just as he is about to propose. So she throws herself into her job only to be sexually harassed by her boss, starts spending quality time with her grandfather as he memory slips away, and tries to connect with her father who is still grieving the death of her mother.

Review: Even with the substantial plot, The Opposite of Love is a light and quick read. Emily is an interesting character, whose life is complex and funny. At the same time, Emily can be a difficult character to understand and empathize with. Her choices are sometimes hard to swallow even though they eventually lead her to a happy conclusion. Baxbaum's writing is clear and flows nicely keeping the reader entertained. Many of the supporting characters are wonderful, such as Ruth -- the retired judge that takes Emily under her wing. While other characters are not as clear, such as Emily's father -- a man who seems to be unable to communicate with his own father and daughter. Rating:*** out of 5.

Review -- The 19th Wife

The 19th Wife

by David Ebershoff

Random House, 2008

528 pages

Summary: It is 1875, and Ann Eliza Young has recently separated from her powerful husband, Brigham Young, prophet and leader of the Mormon Church. Expelled and an outcast, Ann Eliza embarks on a crusade to end polygamy in the United States. A rich account of her family’s polygamous history is revealed, including how both she and her mother became plural wives. Yet soon after Ann Eliza’s story begins, a second exquisite narrative unfolds–a tale of murder involving a polygamist family in present-day Utah. Jordan Scott, a young man who was thrown out of his fundamentalist sect years earlier, must reenter the world that cast him aside in order to discover the truth behind his father’s death. And as Ann Eliza’s narrative intertwines with that of Jordan’s search, readers are pulled deeper into the mysteries of love, family, and faith. (From Barnes and Noble website)

Review: David Ebershoff writes an ambitious novel that ties together the fall of polygamy in the late 1800s with a present day mystery of polygamous marriage that ends in murder. The author fully immerses the reader into the history of Ann Eliza as well as the current lifestyles of polygamous cults still active United States. The novel is immensely detailed and can, at times, be a slow read. Still, the end result is an amazing read that should not be missed. Rating: ****1/2 out of 5

I'm Back!

I am back from my fantastic vacation! I went to England, Scotland, and Wales for 11 days and had a wonderful time. Thanks for all the great comments wishing me well as I went off on my fantastic adventure!

Now that I am back I will have reviews for The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff, The Opposite of Love by Julie Baxbaum, and Stolen by Lucy Christopher posted within the next week or two. I also have to start Testimony by Anita Shreve which is the Barney's Online Book Club selection for October. Only a few weeks until the discussion post!

On Vacation

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that I will be on vacation for the next two weeks. I am taking a tour of England, Scotland, and Wales and am leaving today. When I get back, I will post reviews for The 19th Wife (my library book club's selection) and getting ready for Barney's Online Book Club meeting in October. Thanks for all the comments and I will 'see' you when I get back!

jess

BBAW -- Book Blogger Interview!

As part of the Book Blogger Appreciation Week, I had a fantastic pleasure of interviewing Lizabeth over at Book Hoot. She has a wonderful blog filled with great reviews and information on young adult novels. Let's get to the questions!
1. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging because a friend and I were thinking about presenting a paper at a national English conference about young adult fiction for teenage girls. We were sick of the sort of books that kill off the mother and focus on female teenage characters who are disempowered, or just plain old sad. So the search for “kick ass female protagonists” was on! Since then, I’ve blogged about the sorts of books I want to teach in my English classes.

2. Tell me something about your blog that visitors might not notice at first.

I think they will see my obsession with owls! I try not to be too overt about the teaching, because I don’t want to be overly teachy/ preachy. I’ve dropped my teaching ideas for texts for that reason. My (small amount, but most welcome!) followers aren’t teachers they just love books!

3. What is you all time favorite book and why?

This is WAY TOO HARD! When I was a teenager, my favourite book was John Fowles The French Lieutenant’s Woman. I think it was the first ‘post modern’ text I had read- I loved the way the ending messed with my head. Then there’s a whole list of classics that I read and reread all the time: Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, The House At Pooh Corner, Atonement… Like I said too hard!

4. What is your favorite thing about blogging?

I like comments! It’s nice to know that someone is reading all my random thoughts. I like thinking about my writing, and how it is improving too.

5. How do you choose the books that you review?

This changes all the time. Sometimes I review something that comes across my desk at work. We have been looking for some year nine (14 year old) texts recently, so this had been my focus in my choices. But I also try to look at the current and controversial texts that are getting press coverage.

Thanks Lizabeth and keep up the great work -- your blog is fantastic!

Barney's Online Book Club -- October 2009 Selection

Testimony by Anita Shreve is the book club's selection for October 2009. Thanks to everyone who voted. The discussion take place on Sunday, October 25th. There will be no live commenting this month (I have tickets to a play that night), but everyone is welcome to answer the questions and check in throughout the day to read and reply to other member's comments.

Questions? Concerns? Want more info on the online book club? Email me at jedziedz@hotmail.com.

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 9/14

Happy Monday! Well, I am still working on David Ebershoff's The 19th Wife, which is wonderful but slow going. I am also reading Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning, which is the 4th book in the Fever series. I am only a few chapters in, so the jury is still out on this one. I have also started Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson which is great. All these great books, but I just don't seem to have enough time to read them!

What are you reading this week? This meme is hosted by J. Kaye over at J. Kaye's Book Blog!

BBAW -- Favorite Blogs

Happy BBAW! The topic for today is favorite blogs. Below is a list of blogs that I love because they give great reviews on all sorts of books from YA and chick-lit to literary and women's fiction. If you haven't already, then definitely check them out!

Bookfan-Mary

All about {n}

Cindy's Love of Books

mis(h)takes

Peeking Between the Pages

Trisha's Reading Nook

Thanks to all the great ladies who run these blogs -- keep up the great work!

Friday Finds -- 9/11

My Friday Find this week is By the Time You Read This by Lola Jaye. I found this book while reading Book Chatter, Harper Collins online newsletter. Here is a description from their website:

When he discovered that he had only six months to live, thirty-year-old Kevin Bates picked up his pen and wrote The Manual—advice for his five-year-old daughter, Lois, to live by, laugh at, and follow from twelve until thirty. Seven years later, when Lois is given The Manual, she can barely bring herself to read her father's words, the pain of his loss is still so raw. Yet soon Kevin's advice is guiding her through every stage of life from teen angst to career arcs, to knowing when she's at long last met "the one." While The Manual can never be a substitute for having Kevin back, the words left behind become Lois's steady support through all of life's ups and downs, and prove invaluable to unlocking the key to happiness.

What did you find this week? Friday Finds is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

Barney's Online Book Club -- Vote for the October book!

Time to chose a new book for the month of October! Here are your choices taken from member recommendations:
1. Testimony by Anita Shreve
2. Pope Joan by Donna Woolfork Cross
3. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
4. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
5. Bird in Hand by Christina Baker Kline

In the comments section, tell me your first and second choices. All the titles are linked to their Barnes and Noble page, please take a few minutes to read the summaries and physical descriptions. Please also make sure that the book is available in your area.

If you are not on the email list, please leave me your email address so I can add you. New members are always welcome! If you are on the email list, you will receive book club news and links to all the posts. I will not count your votes if you are not on the email list. The voting will end on September 13th at 8pm EST. The results will be posted on September 15 and the discussion will take place on Sunday, October 25th. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jedziedz@hotmail.com.

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 9/7

This meme is hosted by J. Kaye over at J. Kaye's Book Blog.

This Monday I am reading The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff. I am about 130 pages in and enjoying it. I just finished Hot Six by Janet Evanovich for the Stephanie Plum challenge. Even though High Five was my favorite so far, Hot Six comes in at a close second.

Have a great Labor Day! What are you reading?

Friday Finds -- 9/4

My Friday Find is Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson. I won a copy of this book from Liz over at BookLover and am really looking forward to reading it. Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

Scarlett Martin has grown up in a most unusual way. Her family owns the Hopewell, a small hotel in the heart of New York City, and Scarlett lives there with her four siblings - Spencer, Lola, and Marlene.When each of the Martins turns fifteen, they are expected to take over the care of a suite in the once elegant, now shabby Art Deco hotel. For Scarlett's fifteenth birthday, she gets both a room called the Empire Suite, and a permanent guest called Mrs. Amberson. Scarlett doesn't quite know what to make of this C-list starlet, world traveler, and aspiring autobiographer who wants to take over her life. And when she meets Eric, an astonishingly gorgeous actor who has just moved to the city, her summer takes a second unexpected turn.

What did you find this Friday? Friday Finds is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading.

Month in Review -- August 2009

Books Reviewed:

The Bronte Project by Jennifer Vandever

The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O'Neal

Montana Rose by Mary Connealy

Already Dead by Charlie Huston

Evermore by Alyson Noel

No One You Know by Michelle Richmond

Dancing with Ana by Nicole Barker

Julie and Julia by Julie Powell

Misc.:

Barney's Online Book Club Discussion of Julie and Julia by Julie Powell

Best Books: No One You Know, Julie and Julia

Just Okay Books: Montana Rose, Evermore

Barney's Online Book Club -- October Book Suggestions

It is time to suggest books for the next discussion of Barney's Online Book Club. So far, we have read The Late, Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow (July) and Julie and Julia by Julie Powell (August). Thanks to everyone who participated in the discussion posts! I have decided to skip the month of September because I will be away on vacation at the end of the month and with the BBAW this month I thought we all could use a month off. So the book suggestions will be for a discussion post at the end of October. Please feel free to leave your suggestions in the comments section or you can email me at jedziedz@hotmail.com. I will take suggestions until Saturday, September 5th (midnight EST) and then email everyone about voting. Not a member yet? Then just leave your email address in the comments section and I will add you to the email list. Once on the list, you will receive updates to book club posts here at Barney's Book Blog.

Barney's Online Book Club Discussion -- August 2009

Welcome to the second discussion post of Barney's Online Book Club! This month we are discussing Julie and Julia by Julie Powell. Below are questions to start the discussion, feel free to raise your own questions in the comments section. Please note that the questions and the comments sections may include spoilers! Read at your own risk. Please also note that I will be commenting live tomorrow night at 7pm EST. Anyone online at that time is welcome to join me!

Let the discussion begin!

Discussion Questions:

1. How did you initially feel about Julie and the Julie/Julia project? Did your perceptions of Julie change during the course of the book?

2. What do you think was Julie's true motivation for the Julie/Julia project?

3. Do you feel that all of her family and friends were supportive of the project?

4. Did anything in the book surprise you?

5. What were your impressions of Julia Child's dislike of the Julie/Julia Project? Do you think Julie handled Julia's dislike appropriately in the book?

6. What were your overall feelings about the book?

Friday Finds -- 8/28

My Friday Find this week is The Opposite of Love by Julie Buxbaum. This is my library book club's October selection. Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

When successful twenty-nine-year-old Manhattan attorney Emily Haxby ends her happy relationship just as her boyfriend is on the verge of proposing, she can’t explain to even her closest friends why she did it. Somewhere beneath her sense of fun, her bravado, and her independent exterior, Emily knows that her breakup with Andrew has less to do with him and more to do with...her. “You’re your own worst enemy,” her best friend Jess tells her. “It’s like you get pleasure out of breaking your own heart.” As the holiday season looms and Emily contemplates whether she made a huge mistake, the rest of her world begins to unravel: she is assigned to a multimillion-dollar lawsuit where she must defend the very values she detests by a boss who can’t keep his hands to himself; her Grandpa Jack, a charming, feisty octogenarian and the person she cares most about in the world, is losing it, while her emotionally distant father has left her to cope with this alone; and underneath it all, fading memories of her deceased mother continue to remind her that love doesn’t last forever.

What did you find this week? Friday Finds is hosted by Should Be Reading.

Review -- Julie and Julia

Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously
by Julie Powell
Little, Brown and Company, 2005
307 pages
Barney's Online Book Club Selection -- August 2009

Summary: Julie is unhappy with her life. So she decides to cook her way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking over the course of one year.

Review: This book was not what I anticipated. I thought it would be Julie's account of cooking through Mastering the Art of French Cooking and all the crazy kitchen mishaps that happened along the way. It is that and so much more. Julie feels stuck in a dead-end job, is nearing thirty, and is concerned about her ability to have children. So she decides to take on a project to help her feel more fulfilled. The project ends up changing her life. Julie Powell's account of her year of cooking is entertaining, revealing, and down right funny. There were times when I was reading and unsure of the point she was trying to make (such as connections between cooking and The Joy of Sex or Buffy The Vampire Slayer), but eventually she makes her point. Through these analogies you feel like she is a friend telling you an interesting yet complex part of her views on life. This book is an interesting memoir, filled with funny stories of Julie's family and friends and the year in which she completed the impossible. I only wish there was more then a glimpse of Julia Child's life, although you do feel the connection that Julie has with her. Rating: **** out of 5.

**** On Sunday, August 30th, there will be a discussion of Julie and Julia on Barney's Book Blog. All are invited. Click here for more information!

Review -- Dancing with Ana

Dancing with Ana

by Nicole Barker

Golden Road Press, 2009

170 pages

Thanks to author Nicole Barker for sending me a copy of this book.

Summary: Beth becomes obsessed over her weight in a way of controlling her feelings over her parent's divorce. As her friends watch her slowly waste away, they try to help her overcome her obsession with the help of the boy she loves.

Review: A compelling read, Dancing with Ana takes on the issues of body image, anorexia, cutting, and underage drinking in a sparse 170 pages. Nicole Barker does a fantastic job writing a novel that flows with interesting characters and the problems they face individually and as a group. I especially loved the subplot with Beth's friend, Rachel, a girl whose pain is hidden inside as she grapples with a disturbing home life and finds hope as she falls in love with a local surfer boy. A novel that should promote discussion amongst teens and their parents, Dancing with Ana is a great read. Rating: **** out of 5.

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Currently Reading:
Julie and Julia by Julie Powell (discussion is Sunday, August 30th -- all are invited!)

Destined for an Early Grave by Jeanniene Frost (good, but so far not my favorite of the series)

Dancing with Ana by Nicole Barker (almost finished, review this week)
___________________________________________________

Want to play along? Go to J.Kaye's Book Blog and join the fun!

Julie and Julia Discussion Reminder!

Just a quick reminder that there will be a discussion of Julie and Julia by Julie Powell on Barney's Book Blog on Sunday, August 30th. I am hoping to have the discussion questions posted on Saturday night. After the questions are up, everyone is welcome to post comments or questions of their own. I am going to try blogging live on Sunday night from 7-8pm EST, so anyone who is near their computer at that time is welcome to join me for a real time chat. Any questions? Just email me at jedziedz@hotmail.com. Everyone is invited and please spread the word to anyone you know who has read the book. See you next Sunday!

Saturday Stuff -- 8/22

Good morning! This has been a slow reading week for me. I am currently reading 3 books (Dancing with Ana by Nicole Barker, Destined for an Early Grave by Jeanienne Frost, and Julie and Julia by Julie Powell) but I can not seem to finish anything!

I reviewed No One You Know by Michelle Richmond this week. This was my library book club's selection and our meeting was Monday. We even spoke to the author herself. She was wonderful and gave us a lot of information about how she wrote the book. My mom absolutely loved this book and we both recommend anyone who enjoys a character driven mystery to check it out.

In other news, Barney's Online Book Club's discussion of Julie and Julia by Julie Powell is next Sunday (August 30th). This should be a fantastic discussion and I invite anyone who has read the book to join us next Sunday. The more the merrier!

Also, this week the BBAW nominations were announced and I was very lucky to be nominated for 4 awards (Best New Blog, Most Concise Blog, Best Literary Fiction Blog, and Best Book Club Blog). Thanks so much to the bloggers who nominated me. I am thrilled!

Okay, so I am off to try and finish a book and enjoy my Saturday. I hope you have a great day as well!

Friday Finds -- 8/21

Happy Friday! My find this week is my library book club's selection for September: The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff. Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

It is 1875, and Ann Eliza Young has recently separated from her powerful husband, Brigham Young, prophet and leader of the Mormon Church. Expelled and an outcast, Ann Eliza embarks on a crusade to end polygamy in the United States. A rich account of a family’s polygamous history is revealed, including how a young woman became a plural wife. Soon after Ann Eliza’s story begins, a second exquisite narrative unfolds–a tale of murder involving a polygamist family in present-day Utah. Jordan Scott, a young man who was thrown out of his fundamentalist sect years earlier, must reenter the world that cast him aside in order to discover the truth behind his father’s death.

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think?

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

I just wanted to say a quick thank you to the lovely bloggers who nominated me for 4 (!) different BBAW awards. I am speechless and just wonderfully surprised by the fantastic recognition. Thank you so very much!

Review -- No One You Know

No One You Know
by Michelle Richmond
Bantam Books, 2009
352 pages

Summary: Twenty years after the death of her sister Lila, Ellie comes face-to-face with her sister's lover, the man she believes killed Lila. After their brief encounter, Ellie begins to investigate what really happened to Lila on that fateful night.

Review: An interesting look at how traumatic events can change the life of those left behind, No One You Know is an engaging read. Michelle Richmond describes the very different lives of two sisters. Lila, a mathematical genius, whose life is taken away too soon and Ellie, an average girl whose life is scarred by the death of her sister. The novel is part character piece and part mystery as Ellie looks for her sister's killer more than twenty years later. The murder and it's outcome are strongly written and the ending was satisfying for this reader. I was struck by the intensity of Ellie's perceptions of herself and her place in the world, which are questioned and altered due to the death of her sister. The only difficultly I had with this book was the mathematical puzzles presented, not being interested in math I had a hard time understanding and concentrating on those sections. Rating: **** out of 5.

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 8/17

This meme is hosted by J. Kaye over at J.Kaye's Book Blog.


Currently Reading:
Dancing with Ana by Nicole Barker (just started, getting some good blog buzz)
Julie and Julia by Julie Powell -- Barney's Online Book Club Selection
A Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton (a re-read)

Read / Reviewed / Reviews to come:
Montana Rose by Mary Connealy -- review
Already Dead by Charlie Huston -- review
Evermore by Alyson Noel -- review
High Five by Janet Evanovich -- S. Plum Challenge -- review
No One You Know by Michelle Richmond -- Library Book Club -- review to come

What are you reading?

Friday Finds -- 8/14

This meme is hosted over at Should Be Reading.

This week my find comes from Entertainment Weekly. It is The Magicians by Lev Grossman. Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

At once psychologically piercing and magnificently absorbing, The Magicians boldly moves into uncharted literary territory, imagining magic as practiced by real people, with their capricious desires and volatile emotions. Lev Grossman creates an utterly original world in which good and evil aren't black and white, love and sex aren't simple or innocent, and power comes at a terrible price.

Sounds utterly fantastic, doesn't it?

Review -- Evermore

Evermore
by Alyson Noel
St. Martin's Griffin, 2009
301 pages

Summary: Ever moves to Southern California after her family is killed in a car crash. After the accident, Ever is left with psychic gifts and struggles to control them. She is drawn to Damien, a new student at her school, who can tone down the intensity of her new powers with his touch.

Review: A paranormal romance for the young adult crowd, Evermore is an entertaining novel. The story is strong in the beginning and Alyson Noel had a great gift for storytelling. Noel develops interesting characters and gives readers an unique twist on the paranormal genre. I felt the main character of Ever was interesting -- racked with guilt over the accident, determined to live a normal life, and enraptured by a boy she just met. There were parts of the plot I found somewhat confusing, especially at the end when the villain needs to be defeated. Overall, a quick and fun read that should go over well with the Twilight crowd. Rating: *** out of 5.

Review -- Already Dead

Already Dead
by Charlie Huston
Ballantine Books, 2005
268 pages

Summary: Joe Pitt is a rouge vampire and private investigator living in Manhattan. While looking for a zombie infecting the population, he is called in to investigate the disappearance of a wealthy teenage girl.

Review: Wow -- this book is not for the faint of heart. Already Dead is gritty, morose, and action packed. Joe is a vampire who is living on his own and is balancing his individual lifestyle around the politics of neighboring vampire clans. Much of the story revolves around vampire politics and how Joe can make a living without getting too involved. Joe is tough and makes no excuses for his choices. He is a fantastic character that jumps off the page. The writing is strong, especially the dialogue, and the plot is fast paced. Most likely not for the vampire romantics, but overall this novel is a great read. Ratings: **** out of 5.

Review -- Montana Rose

Montana Rose
by Mary Connealy
Barbour Publishing, 2009
318 pages

Summary: When Cassie Griffin's husband dies, she ends up marrying rancher and preacher Red Dawson before other area cowboys can claim her as a wife. Pregnant and alone, Cassie learns to love Red and their life together even as it is threatened by the obsession of local goon Wade Dawson.

Review: A fun story that is filled to the brim with scripture and lessons on how to be a good Christian, Montana Rose is a fun read. If Christian fiction is not your genre, I would pass on this book. There is very little violence and bad language and a whole lot of love thy neighbor. Even though I read very little religious fiction, I couldn't help but enjoy this book. Mary Connealy tells a great story, filled with interesting characters, and the pages just fly by. Rating: *** out of 5.

It's Monday! What are you reading? -- 8/10

This a meme that is hosted by J. Kaye. It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week.

Sorry I am late with my post but I have the day off of work and have been sleeping and reading and laying around most of the day. It has been fabulous!

Currently Reading:

No One You Know by Michelle Richmond (very good, for book club)
Persuading Annie by Melissa Nathan (just started)

Read / Reviewed / Reviews To Come:

Montana Rose by Mary Connealy -- review to come

Evermore by Alyson Noel -- review to come

Glitter Baby by Susan Elizabeth Phillips -- review to come

Already Dead by Charlie Huston -- review to come

The Bronte Project by Jennifer Vandever -- review

The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O'Neal -- review

What are you reading this week?

Saturday Stuff -- 8/8

I hope everyone in bloggerland is having a wonderful Saturday. Lots to do today, so let's get to the books!

Question of the Week: Do you read author interviews on blog sites? Do you post author interviews on your blog?

I have posted one author interview a few months ago and was surprised by the small response I got from the post. I asked pretty generic questions, but the post was short and I thought the author's answers were very interesting. So what makes a great author interview? As a reader, what makes you stop and read?

Currently Reading:

Glitter Baby by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (I may stop reading this, not really liking any of the characters, will give it another 20 pages or so)

Finished Reading This Week:

Already Dead by Charlie Huston (vampire noir -- not for the faint of heart)

Mona Lisa Awakening by Sunny (paranormal romance a la Laurell K. Hamilton)

Reviewed This Week:

The Bronte Project by Jennifer Vandever

The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O'Neal

***Book Recommendation: I am looking for a historical fiction recommendation. I would like to submit a review to the upcoming Bookworm's Carnival but read very little historical fiction. Is there a fantastic book from this genre that is a must read?

Friday Finds -- 8/7

My Friday Find this week is by a local author, J. North Conway. His book, King of Heists, is not my normal fare (being non-fiction) but I absolutely love stories about bank robberies. Here is the Barnes and Noble description:

King of Heists is a spellbinding and unprecedented account of the greatest bank robbery in American history, which took place on October 27, 1878, when thieves broke into the Manhattan Savings Institution and stole nearly $3 million in cash and securities—around $50 million in today’s terms. Bringing the notorious Gilded Age to life in a thrilling narrative, J. North Conway tells the story of those who plotted and carried out this infamous robbery, how they did it, and how they were tracked down and captured.

What is your Friday Find?

*** Interested in joining an online book club? This month Barney's Online Book Club is discussing Julie and Julia by Julie Powell. All are welcome! Click here for more information.

Review -- The Lost Recipe for Happiness

The Lost Recipe for Happiness

by Barbara O'Neal
Bantam, 2009

447 pages

Summary: Elana gets the chance to run her own kitchen in celebrity director Julien Liswood's newest restaurant. The offer couldn't come at a better time as she breaks up with her boyfriend and is fired from her job. But as she starts over in Aspen, she is overwhelmed by the demands of a new job, the difficulty of a rival chef, the attraction she feels towards her new boss, and the memories of her terrible past.

Review: I thought this would be a quick chick-lit read and was very surprised by the depth of the characters and the immense sadness which is woven throughout the plot. The story is filled with great characters, all of whom have difficult pasts which they must overcome. The plot is fast paced, but the complexity of it is overwhelming. There are secrets, lies, romances, fate, soul mates, murder, car accidents, ghosts, recipes, and teenage angst all rolled into one story. Barbara O'Neal's writing is wonderful, but is sometimes overshadowed by the tremendous plot. Rating: *** out of 5.

Review -- The Bronte Project

The Bronte Project: A Novel of Passion, Desire, and Good PR
by Jennifer Vandever
Shaye Areheart Books, 2005
278 pages

Summary: Sara is a Bronte scholar and has always believed in romantic and torturous love. That is until her fiance leaves her, she loses her job because of Princess Diana scholar, and her ideas for a movie based on the Brontes is turned into anything but historically accurate.

Review: The Bronte Project is an interesting ride. The novel is one woman's journey to live the romanticism of the Brontes' novels. Jennifer Vandever shows the funny side to academia, the humorous competition and the ridiculous controversies. Sara is a wonderful character -- funny and smart. As she tries to get over a broken heart, she stumbles through her life making decisions not based on what will make her happy. It is only through a unique cast of supporting characters that she does truly find the ending that is right for her. This novel is not chick-lit, it works in the same way that Jennifer Johnson is Sick of Being Single works, it has the characters making hard decisions that the reader may not agree with. Rating: ***1/2 out of 5.