Giveaway: The UltraMind Solution

Summary: "Broken brains" go by many names -- depression, anxiety, memory loss, brain fog, attention deficit disorder, autism, and dementia, to name a few -- and show up in radically different ways from person to person, making each seem like a separate problem.

But the truth is that these "diagnoses" are all the result of a few basic problems with our biology. Pinpoint these biological problems, fix them, and let your body's natural healing intelligence take over to repair your brain. Now you can experience an UltraMind -- one that is highly focused and able to pay attention at will, with a strong, reliable memory and a mood that is calm, confident, in control, and in good spirits.

We have all heard of the mind-body connection or how our thoughts affect the health of our body. But the reverse is far more powerful: what you do to your body, your basic biology, has a profound effect on your brain.

Have you ever experienced instant clarity after exercise? Alertness after drinking coffee? A mental crash after popping candy? Does your brain inexplicably slow down during stress, while multitasking, or when meeting a deadline? Each is an example of how what we do to our bodies -- whether through nutrition, sleep, exercise, or stress -- has a dramatic effect on our brains.

Conventional treatments don't help, or provide only slight benefit, because they just manage symptoms rather than deal with -- and heal -- the underlying problem. And just as brain problems all stem from the same root causes, they all have the same solution -- The UltraMind Solution.

Our ancient genes interact with our environment to create systemic imbalances that affect our brains. Correct those imbalances -- most caused by nutritional deficiencies, allergens, infections, toxins, and stress -- and you can achieve optimum mental health without drugs or psychotherapy.

The UltraMind Solution is the future of medicine, the culmination of the last twenty years of research on what makes the brain happy, focused, and calm; research that has uncovered a few simple factors that explain why things go wrong and how to fix them.

Don't wait for this revolution in medicine to trickle into your doctor's office: it usually takes research twenty years to move from the lab to the patient. The answers are here, right now, in The UltraMind Solution. -- Scribner

I just received two copies of THE ULTRAMIND SOLUTION by Mark Hyman, M.D. yesterday, so I haven't had a chance to really do much more than skim through it. However, I must say that some of his ideas about health and wellness fascinate me. I am very interested in learning how this program helps people with food allergies, autism and ADHD.

There is a very informative website for this book. While you are there, you can take a quiz which will help you determine if your "brain is broken." In addition, you can read some of the results that you will see in six weeks after following Dr. Hyman's program and some of the inspiring success stories. If you want to learn more about this book, click here for a free sneak preview; and if you see what you like, click here to buy it.

If you'd like to win a copy of this book, please leave a comment with your e-mail address. If you'd like to double your chances, blog about this contest with a link back to this post. You can also twitter about it for another entry. The contest will be open until Wednesday, February 11th at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will announce the winner the following day. Unfortunately, this giveaway is for those of you with U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only. Good luck!

Hello...You Won Love & Other Natural Disasters

Congrats Wrighty! You won a copy of Holly Shumas' LOVE AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS. Make sure you check your e-mail and send me your address.

Thanks to everyone who piped in about emotional affairs -- your answers were very interesting. And, thanks to Hachette Book Group USA for sponsoring this giveaway!

Review: Toon Books

THE BIG NO-NO! by Geoffrey Hayes

Summary: Benny and his sister Penny know it’s wrong to sneak into someone else’s backyard but their mysterious new neighbor—or is it a monster?—may be a thief. They go snooping and discover a lot about themselves and…a new friend.

Bestselling children’s artist Geoffrey Hayes enchants early readers with his charming and subtle storytelling. In this lively caper, the artist’s small-scale mice take on large-scale issues with enormous comics mastery. -- Toon Books

LUKE ON THE LOOSE by Harry Bliss

Summary: Luke looks on at the pigeons in Central Park, while Dad is lost in “boring Daddy talk,” and before you know it—LUKE IS ON THE LOOSE! He’s free as a bird, on a hilarious solo flight through New York City.

Harry Bliss, the renowned illustrator of many bestselling children’s books, finally goes on a solo flight on his own with a soaring story that will delight any young reader who has ever felt cooped up. -- Toon Books

A few months ago, I was lucky enough to receive the Fall 2008 line of Toon Books (see my review.) My son and I both treasure these books, and that's a very good thing because I read them to him all the time! I can't tell you how many times we've read them, but he's still laughs like a nut each and every time. So I was very excited when I received a package with two more of these Toon Books -- THE BIG NO-NO! and LUKE ON THE LOOSE. Both books are part of the Spring 2009 line and will be released in May 2009.

If you're not familiar with Toon Books, they are a line of comics for young readers. TOON Books' Editorial Director Francoise Mouly (who is also Art Editor of The New Yorker) and Advisor Art Spiegelman (author of the Pulitzer Prize-winner MAUS) introduced these books for young readers in Spring 2008. These books have since received loads of terrific praise. Schools are even beginning to use these comics in the classrooms as part of their reading curriculum.

THE BIG NO-NO and LUKE ON THE LOOSE were very similar to the other TOON books that we've read. Since they are in a comic book format, they have loads of pictures with lots of color and are jam-packed with action. There are few words on each page so the early reader won't get easily frustrated; and there is also lots of word repetition -- perfect for a young one who is learning to read. Another huge benefit is that the stories are filled with humor which definitely keeps my little guy interested. Take a look at some sample pages from LUKE ON THE LOOSE to get a better idea of how wonderful these books are!

These books will certainly appeal to kids ages four and up, but I love how they will especially appeal to young boys. Sadly, young boys often times just aren't interested in reading as girls of the same age. I think these comic books will definitely help to bridge that gap. I can see how these comics would encourage even the most reluctant reader to pick up a book.

I LOVE these books and look forward to reading them many more times with my son. I appreciate how he enjoys the stories now (at four years old), but I know that he will also love these books as he begins reading. I highly recommend checking these books out if you have a young child who is learning to read!

Hello...You Won The Change Your Life Challenge

Congratulations to LuAnn. You won a copy of THE CHANGE YOUR LIFE CHALLENGE by Brook Noel! I hope you enjoy this book!

Make sure you check out my other giveaways:

LOVE AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS

NANA STAR book and doll combo

Guest Review: Giants

I am so excited to share with all of you a guest review written by my dad -- otherwise known as Booking Pap Pap. He has recently retired and is settled in his new home, so he has plenty of time to read (except for all those times when my mom has chores for him to do.) He enjoys books about the history of our country, but he also likes to read all types of fiction. His latest read was GIANTS by John Stauffer.

Summary: Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln were the preeminent self-made men of their time. In this masterful dual biography, award-winning Harvard University scholar John Stauffer describes the transformations in the lives of these two giants during a major shift in cultural history, when men rejected the status quo and embraced new ideals of personal liberty. As Douglass and Lincoln reinvented themselves and ultimately became friends, they transformed America.

Lincoln was born dirt poor, had less than one year of formal schooling, and became the nation's greatest president. Douglass spent the first twenty years of his life as a slave, had no formal schooling-in fact, his masters forbade him to read or write-and became one of the nation's greatest writers and activists, as well as a spellbinding orator and messenger of audacious hope, the pioneer who blazed the path traveled by future African-American leaders.

At a time when most whites would not let a black man cross their threshold, Lincoln invited Douglass into the White House. Lincoln recognized that he needed Douglass to help him destroy the Confederacy and preserve the Union; Douglass realized that Lincoln's shrewd sense of public opinion would serve his own goal of freeing the nation's blacks. Their relationship shifted in response to the country's debate over slavery, abolition, and emancipation.

Both were ambitious men. They had great faith in the moral and technological progress of their nation. And they were not always consistent in their views. John Stauffer describes their personal and political struggles with a keen understanding of the dilemmas Douglass and Lincoln confronted and the social context in which they occurred. What emerges is a brilliant portrait of how two of America's greatest leaders lived. -- Twelve

When my daughter asked me to read and review a book for her blog, I was pleased that she selected GIANTS by John Stauffer. The book fit quite nicely with my interest in biographies of great Americans.

When you think everything possible has been written about Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War along comes a book with a fresh approach to the story by paralleling the lives of Lincoln with Frederick Douglass, a slave who became one of the great civil activists of his time. Stauffer does a great job of portraying these great men as real individuals with real problems and not just bigger than life heroes. I particularly enjoyed the details Stauffer shares with us about the lives of Lincoln and Douglass from their early years up until their death. I garnered an understanding of how those early years impacted the later lives of Lincoln and Douglass as they became the prominent leaders of their time.

I was also surprised to learn that both these men changed their social and political positions many times throughout their lives. Although at odds throughout most of their lives, they finally realized their goals were not mutually exclusive. Lincoln’s decision to abolish slavery with his Emancipation Proclamation was not always his position and was driven by his conclusion that the Union could not be saved without it. Douglass moved from being a strict abolitionist to understanding that saving the Union was necessary to achieve his dream of abolishing slavery.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with interest in the story of slavery and the Lincoln presidency. This book is very timely with the election of Barack Obama, our first African-American President.

A huge thanks goes out to my dad for writing this guest post! I hope this is the first of many times that he'll be "visiting" my blog.

Giveaway: Nana Star Book and Doll

Summary: Join a little girl's magical adventures as she promises to bring a lost baby star home where he belongs. It won't be easy–he lives high up in the heavens. -- e e publishing & production

I am just thrilled to share this wonderful giveaway with all of you! I have a copy of the book NANA STAR by Elizabeth Sills and Elena Patrice and a Nana Star doll to give to one lucky reader.

If you read my previous post, you know how much my kids and I adored the book and how adorable the NANA STAR doll is. Any little girl in your life would be lucky to have these very special items.

To enter the contest, please leave a comment with your e-mail address. To double your chances, blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post. You can also twitter about it for another entry. The contest will be open until Friday, February 6th at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will announce the winner on the following day. This contest is open to those of you with U.S. and Canada mailing addresses only. Good Luck!

Review: Nana Star Books

Summary: Join a little girl's magical adventures as she promises to bring a lost baby star home where he belongs. It won't be easy–he lives high up in the heavens. -- e e publishing & production

I don't know who was more excited to read these books -- me or my kids? We started out by reading the first book in the series, NANA STAR by Elizabeth Sills and Elena Patrice. We all loved the story of a little girl who sets out on a journey to bring a lost baby star back to the heavens.

The illustrations, by Linda Saker, were absolutely beautiful. I loved all the bright colors, and I thought Nana Star was just adorable. The flowers and creatures were precious too. I think the illustrations were just perfect and absolutely complimented the story.

Even though the main character was a young girl, my four year old son still enjoyed the book. And while the book isn't geared to nine year olds, my daughter truly appreciated the book and story. I liked that we were all able to talk about the deeper meanings in the story after we finished it.

Every NANA STAR book deliberately includes a mistake because "Nana Star believes that in life we all made mistakes, yet, even with those mistakes, we can still create something beautiful!" My daughter and I had so much fun looking for the error in this book, although I have to admit that it took us a little longer than it should have!

I think NANA STAR is a wonderful book for any little girl in your life. The Nana Star character embodies so many positive traits and sends a wonderful message to young girls. NANA STAR is one of those books that you can read again and again; and I believe that little girls will see how generous and selfless Nana Star is and hopefully model their own behavior after her. I also think that the book will have different meanings depending on the age of the reader so the book has the potential to "grow" with the girl.

Not only do the hardcover books include a sing-a-long CD, but you can also purchase the companion Nana Star doll. My daughter just loves Nana Star and has been begging me to keep her! You can see for yourself how adorable she is:












Summary: The next inspiring story in the Nana Star series.
Nana Star is ready to bring the lost baby star back home where he belongs, but the world has gone to bed and she feels scared and alone. With help from a new friend, she learns that she is never alone, that the Moonman is always watching over and guiding her, even when she can't see him. -- e e publishing & production

The night after we read NANA STAR, my kids were anxious to read the next book in the series, NANA STAR AND THE MOONMAN. Once again, we all agreed that this book was terrific. The book picks up where NANA STAR left off -- Nana Star is helping the baby star return home. This book shows how compassionate and loving Nana Star is; however in this book, we see that Nana Star has some fears about traveling alone and in the dark.

Moonman enters the story and shows Nana Star that he is always with her even when she can't see him. This gives Nana Star the strength to continue on her journey. I thought this book had a beautiful message for children of all ages, and I love that it helps to build character and confidence.

Take a look at the adorable companion toy to this picture book. He even lights up!

If you're still on the fence after reading my reviews, you should also know that these books/toys have been given numerous awards including: Dr. Toy Winner - 100 Best Children's Products, Mom's Choice Awards -- The Just for Mom Foundation, and an iParenting Media Award. They truly are very special books, and they'd be perfect for the very special little girls in your life!

Another great reason to buy these books and toys is that a portion of all Nana Star proceeds goes to The Nana Star Foundation. In addition to donating thousands of picture books to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and other needy children , this foundation also helps terminally ill children and under-resourced inner-city schools. All of these products are available for purchase here.

Another Chance to Win The Change Your Life Challenge

I am currently running a contest for a free copy of THE CHANGE YOUR LIFE CHALLENGE by Brook Noel. The giveaway is still open for a few days, but there is another way to increase your odds of getting this book. Check out 24/8 - A Chicago Book Club for Busy Women.

I absolutely love this website and I've also received some wonderful books from them! While you are visiting, make sure you sign up for a chance to win THE CHANGE YOUR LIFE CHALLENGE. They are also giving away some copies of THE KISS MURDER! Take a look at this terrific book club resource and let me know what you think!

Review: The Hour I First Believed

Summary: Wally Lamb's two previous novels, She's Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True, struck a chord with readers. They responded to the intensely introspective nature of the books, and to their lively narrative styles and biting humor. One critic called Wally Lamb a "modern-day Dostoyevsky," whose characters struggle not only with their respective pasts, but with a "mocking, sadistic God" in whom they don't believe but to whom they turn, nevertheless, in times of trouble (New York Times).

In his new novel, The Hour I First Believed, Lamb travels well beyond his earlier work and embodies in his fiction myth, psychology, family history stretching back many generations, and the questions of faith that lie at the heart of everyday life. The result is an extraordinary tour de force, at once a meditation on the human condition and an unflinching yet compassionate evocation of character.

When forty-seven-year-old high school teacher Caelum Quirk and his younger wife, Maureen, a school nurse, move to Littleton, Colorado, they both get jobs at Columbine High School. In April 1999, Caelum returns home to Three Rivers, Connecticut, to be with his aunt who has just had a stroke. But Maureen finds herself in the school library at Columbine, cowering in a cabinet and expecting to be killed, as two vengeful students go on a carefully premeditated, murderous rampage. Miraculously she survives, but at a cost: she is unable to recover from the trauma. Caelum and Maureen flee Colorado and return to an illusion of safety at the Quirk family farm in Three Rivers. But the effects of chaos are not so easily put right, and further tragedy ensues.

While Maureen fights to regain her sanity, Caelum discovers a cache of old diaries, letters, and newspaper clippings in an upstairs bedroom of his family's house. The colorful and intriguing story they recount spans five generations of Quirk family ancestors, from the Civil War era to Caelum's own troubled childhood. Piece by piece, Caelum reconstructs the lives of the women and men whose legacy he bears. Unimaginable secrets emerge; long-buried fear, anger, guilt, and grief rise to the surface.

As Caelum grapples with unexpected and confounding revelations from the past, he also struggles to fashion a future out of the ashes of tragedy. His personal quest for meaning and faith becomes a mythic journey that is at the same time quintessentially contemporary—and American.

The Hour I First Believed is a profound and heart-rending work of fiction. Wally Lamb proves himself a virtuoso storyteller, assembling a variety of voices and an ensemble of characters rich enough to evoke all of humanity. -- Harper

When I list some of my very favorite authors, Wally Lamb always makes the list. Like many other fans, I have been anxiously awaiting his new novel THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED for a long time (more than ten years to be exact.) I have read his previous novels and loved them, so I was expecting a great deal from his latest. I am so happy to say that I was not disappointed.

THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED is a big novel, coming in at over 700 pages; however, I can say that I enjoyed the entire book. The novel didn't really have any slow parts for me, and it did hold my interest throughout, but some parts of this book were so sad that I found them difficult to read. I don't mean that in a bad way because the writing was beautiful, but so much of the story just broke my heart. I knew that the ending would be hopeful, but it did take a lot of heartache for the characters until it reached that point. It was definitely worth the wait, though. As I finished this amazing novel, I found myself crying because I found it just so special.

One thing that really impressed me with this story was how Mr. Lamb was able to combine so many events into one cohesive story. I was just blown away by how much he was able to cover with this novel. He incorporated the Columbine tragedy, Hurricane Katrina, and his experiences with women's prisons just to name a few. I also think his use of letters and journals to tell about the characters' past was a very effective method of telling the story. Another thing that I appreciated was how Mr. Lamb wove praying mantises throughout the novel. I just loved how the mantis symbolized hope.

Needless to say, I absolutely adore Wally Lamb and his novels. I find that his writing style is so easy to read, and his development of characters is wonderful. As I read THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED, I got caught up in the characters' lives and truly felt their pain as well as their hope. If you'd like to learn more about Mr. Lamb and this novel, check out this great "conversation" with him. I found it very interesting that a New York Times critic compared him to a "modern day Dostoyevsky" because I consider him one of my favorite authors as well. I certainly hope that I won't have to wait another ten years to read one of Mr. Lamb's novels.

THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED would make an excellent book club discussion book, but I have a feeling that the length of the novel might deter some clubs from selecting it. Despite that, I highly recommend it because there is just so much to discuss. When I finished this novel, I just wanted to talk about it with one of my friends. Unfortunately, no one I know has finished it yet! Some of the topics for discussion from this book include: good vs. evil, violence, victims, survivors, fate, free will, family, rebirth, and most importantly hope. Because the book is kind of lengthy and there are so many opportunities for terrific discussion, maybe your club would consider reading it over two months rather than just one. Check out the reading guide because I'm sure you will be impressed with the fantastic and thought-provoking questions.

This evening (January 27th) at 7 pm EST, Book Club Girl will be hosting a BlogTalk Radio show with Wally Lamb. Set your reminder for the show here. Feel free to just listen, or you can even call in and ask Mr. Lamb your questions. If you can't participate tonight, you're still in luck. You can still listen to the tape of the interview. I, for one, can't wait to be part of this very special show.

A huge thanks goes out to Book Club Girl for sending me a signed first edition of THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED. It came on December 23rd, and I think it just might have been my favorite "Christmas" gift.

Mother Daughter Book Club Meeting #9

Summary: E. L. Konigsburg's 1968 Newbery Medal winner, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, is truly a contemporary classic. This beloved tale of two siblings who run away from their suburban home to the Metropolitan Museum of Art has been made into two films and has millions of fans, including Katie Couric. To lead off our Konigsburg repackaging initiative, we're creating an elegant trade paperback edition with spectacular new cover art and French flaps. -- Atheneum

This month, our Mother Daughter Book Club read FROM THE MIXED-UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER by E.L. Konigsburg. This book holds a near and dear place to my heart, and I definitely enjoyed it as an adult just as much as I did when I was a kid. Although, I do think I picked up a few more things this time around. I'm happy to say that my daughter enjoyed this novel as well!

I think that our meeting went pretty well; however, the girls wanted to assert their independence and hold their discussion by themselves. Being the curious/nosy mom, I sat on the steps and tried to listen in. While a few of the girls came up with some excellent discussion questions, I still felt the need to pipe in with a few of my own. For the most part, the girls liked this book and enjoyed the adventure of the story. Many of them also picked up on the deeper themes. I was surprised by how excited they were about the book and how long they talked about it -- over 20 minutes.

Next month, we will be reading THE DOLL PEOPLE by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin, and illustrated by Brian Selznick. I was not familiar with this book before today; but after reading the description, I think it sounds terrific.

Annabelle Doll is eight years old -- she has been for over a hundred years. Not a lot has happened to her, cooped up in the dollhouse, with the same doll people, day after day, year after year . . . until the Funcrafts move in! Now Annabelle has a friend. Sure, she’s made entirely of plastic and she‘s living in the scariest room in the house, but she’s an adventurer, and after a hundred years of boredom, that’s just what Annabelle needs. When a secret diary surfaces, these two unlikely friends venture into the exciting and dangerous world outside the dollhouse to unravel an age-old mystery. This masterfully plotted adventure by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin is illustrated throughout with remarkable black-and-white drawings by Brian Selznick. -- Hyperion

Mailbox Monday - January 26, 2009

I had another huge week of book goodies! So many of these books look wonderful, and I can't wait to read them. Quite a few of this week's stash are for book blog tours that are coming up in the next month or so.

I've found by participating in Mailbox Monday that I need to learn to say no. There is absolutely no way I can read at the pace I'm receiving books. Even so, I do love getting packages.

Here's what I found in my mailbox this week:

MADEWELL BROWN by Rick Collignon

GOING GRAY: HOW TO EMBRACE YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF WITH GRACE AND STYLE by Anne Kreamer

THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett

THE SCHOOL OF ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS by Erica Bauermeister

BEAT THE REAPER (audio book) by Josh Bazell

HOLIDAY ON ICE (audio book) by David Sedaris

GALWAY BAY by Mary Pat Kelly

DROOD by Dan Simmons

FIREFLY LANE by Kristin Hannah

THE PALACE OF ILLUSIONS by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

THE YEAR THE SWALLOW CAME EARLY by Kathryn Fitzmaurice

What did you get last week?

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page.

Weekly Geeks - January 25, 2009

"The Classics"

In the third Weekly Geeks of 2009, let's have fun with the classics. For our purposes, I'm defining a classic as anything written over 100 years ago and still in print. (If your memory needs jogging, see: Classic Literature Library for examples.)

For your assignment this week, choose two or more of the following questions:

1) How do you feel about classic literature? Are you intimidated by it? Love it? Not sure because you never actually tried it? Don't get why anyone reads anything else? Which classics, if any, have you truly loved? Which would you recommend for someone who has very little experience reading older books? Go all out, sell us on it!

I hate to even talk about "the Classics" because I am so blatantly ignorant of them. I read a few in high school and enjoyed them for the most part, but I really haven't made the effort to read them much since then. It's been over 20 years, but back then I did love CRIME AND PUNISHMENT and DANTE'S INFERNO. I'm afraid that I'm not going to be much of a help to those of you looking for recommendations!

It's not that I don't want to read the classics because I do have loads of them on my bookshelves. In fact, every single year I tell myself that I need to read at least one classic this year; however, I find that I rarely get around to it. There are always other books that take priority or interest me more. The members of my book club feel the same way I do. We always say that we're going to read one classic this year and discuss it, but no one seems to take the jump when it's their turn to select the book.

In the past few years, I have read some books that reference Jane Austen and her life. I have thoroughly enjoyed these novels, but I always feel like I'm missing out because I've only read one of her books. I am certain that I will love them, but why do I keep putting them off? Are any of you in a similar situation to me or am I just crazy?

4) As you explore the other Weekly Geeks posts: Did any inspire you to want to read a book you've never read before—or reread one to give it another chance? Tell us all about it, including a link to the post or posts that sparked your interest. If you end up reading the book, be sure to include a link to your post about it in a future Weekly Geeks post!

As I've been reading the other Weekly Geeks posts, I have been making a mental note of what classics I definitely need to read.

A Girl Walks Into a Bookstore - "For Jane Austen, definitely Pride and Prejudice, or maybe Sense and Sensibility." I would love to read SENSE AND SENSIBILITY and even re-read PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

Becky's Book Reviews - "A few classics that I've just loved--and would recommend--are Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Persuasion by Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, Dracula by Bram Stoker, The Diaries of Adam and Eve by Mark Twain, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell." What a fantastic list! I agree with GONE WITH THE WIND, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (my all-time favorite) and HUCKLEBERRY FINN, but many of Becky's other recommendations sound great.

Weekly Link Round-Up, January 17 - 22

Welcome to the Weekly Link Round-Up. Each week, we will be posting links to some of the best book blogging highlights from around the blogosphere.

LOST Book Challenge - Check out My Friend Amy's Lost Book Challenge. I'm a little embarrassed to admit this, but I've never seen an episode of Lost. Amy has told me that it's a must see show -- both because of my love for books and some guys that are quite attractive! Sounds like a show that I need to catch up on. Even if you're a newbie to Lost like I am, the challenge still looks fun.

The Ethics of Book Reviews, Part 2 - Trish really started some terrific discussion this week when she posted the question "Does WHERE you received the book influence your opinion of a book?" You have to check out the responses. After all this, I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it, but I'm leaning towards full disclosure.

Review of CONSCIENCE POINT - I can speak from experience when I say that CONSCIENCE POINT by Erica Abeel is a very well-written book. Of course, S. Krisna's review sums up this book so much better than I was able to do. She says that "CONSCIENCE POINT comes alive through Abeel's descriptions. The details are wonderful and they really create a "gothic mystery" atmosphere for the reader."

Review of HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEMA - I have seen a few reviews of HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEMA by Gwendolyn Zapeda popping up around the blogosphere; and it looks like a fun, light read. Marta at Marta's Meanderings said, "This book was really good. It has a strong latino theme to it, but it definitely crosses all cultures with the themes of growing up, tolerance and acceptance." Sounds like one I need to check out!

Review of THE VALENTINE EDITION - If you are looking for a heart-warming Christian fiction book, you should definitely read Wendi's review of THE VALENTINE EDITION by Robin Shope. It's the second book in Turtle Creek edition series; and based on her review, I think they look wonderful. Wendi says that it's "a very fun and enjoyable read....a wonderfully romantic story that helps the reader to gently remember the importance of prayer, forgiveness and faith."

Interview: Tony Peters - I always think it awesome when a blogger gets an interview with an author. This time, it's Shelburn and she had the opportunity to ask a few questions to Tony Peters, author of KIDS ON A CASE: THE TEN GRAND KIDNAPPING. I enjoyed both her interview as well as her review of this children's mystery.

Review: THE CENTURION'S WIFE - Talk about a review full of praise -- she certainly sold me on this book! ForstRose wrote an in-depth review of THE CENTURION'S WIFE by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke, an historical epic from the Acts of Faith series. She obviously treasured this book: "I'm not sure how to balance this rave out with more sober thoughts on the book as truly I wasn't able to find anything not to love about it."

Review: AMERICAN SAVIOR - This book definitely has a unique premise - Jesus running for president of the United States. As if the plot of AMERICAN SAVIOR by Roland Merullo doesn't tempt me enough, Bermuda Onion has written a super review which really makes me want to get my hands on this novel. Here's little peak at what she had to say, "This book is humorous as well as thought provoking and I enjoyed reading it." I love a book that makes me think!

Review: REBEL - Beth Fish Reads posted an interesting review this week of REBEL by Bernard Cornwell, the first of the four-book series The Starbuck Chronicles, which covers the U.S. Civil War. This book mixes fact with fiction, but it sounds like the author did a good job keeping things authentic. Here's what Beth Fish Read said about listening to the audio version of this book, "(Tom) Parker does a fine job differentiating the characters and with the various accents. His rendition of women is not the strongest but is definitely adequate. The reading was engrossing, and I had a hard time turning off my MP3 player."

It's My One Year Blogiversary!

Wow! I can't believe that I've been blogging for a year (although if you ask my family, they will tell you it seems like much longer.) I don't want to get all mushy, but I feel like blogging has been such a wonderful addition to my life. Not only do I get to read and review so many terrific books, but I've made so many new friends. I absolutely love "talking" with all of you each and every day! I am in awe of how amazing the book blogger community is.

In honor of my One Year Blogiversary, I am going to do a little giveaway. This time, it's not a book! It's a crocheted scarf made by yours truly! I tried to take some pictures of the scarf, but none seem to show the details. Please know that I positively adore this scarf, and I wear one just like it all the time! Here's a picture of my daughter modeling it:

This scarf is called a potato chip scarf because of all the curlicues. I love how there is mohair in the yarn so it is nice and fuzzy (although it is a bit itchy.) The scarf is gold metallic with lots of other bright colors in it including red, pink, blue, and green -- it goes with everything! You can wear it around the collar of your coat and it will almost go to your waist, or you can fold it in half and pull the ends through. That's how my daughter is wearing it in the picture.

The yarn is called Moonlight Mohair and the color is Rainbow Falls. Here's a little picture of the yarn so you can get a better idea of the colors:

This scarf is one of the first things that I completed as part of Dewey's Knit-A-Long Challenge. I can't think of a more special way to pay tribute to Dewey than by sharing this scarf with one of you. I have been knitting and crocheting like crazy the past few weeks (often times at the expense of reading), so be on the look-out for my challenge update post with pictures (albeit lousy ones) of my other creations!

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment with your e-mail address. I will select a winner on February 7th and announce it here. Unfortunately, this contest is open to those of you with U.S. or Canada mailing addresses. Good luck!

Review: Beat the Reaper

Summary: Dr. Peter Brown is an intern at Manhattan's worst hospital, with a talent for medicine, a shift from hell, and a past he'd prefer to keep hidden. Whether it's a blocked circumflex artery or a plan to land a massive malpractice suit, he knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men.

Pietro "Bearclaw" Brnwna is a hitman for the mob, with a genius for violence, a well-earned fear of sharks, and an overly close relationship with the Federal Witness Relocation Program. More likely to leave a trail of dead gangsters than a molecule of evidence, he's the last person you want to see in your hospital room.

Nicholas LoBrutto, aka Eddy Squillante, is Dr. Brown's new patient, with three months to live and a very strange idea: that Peter Brown and Pietro Brnwa might-just might-be the same person ...

Now, with the mob, the government, and death itself descending on the hospital, Peter has to buy time and do whatever it takes to keep his patients, himself, and his last shot at redemption alive. To get through the next eight hours-and somehow beat the reaper.

Spattered in adrenaline-fueled action and bone-saw-sharp dialogue, BEAT THE REAPER is a debut thriller so utterly original you won't be able to guess what happens next, and so shockingly entertaining you won't be able to put it down. -- Little, Brown & Company

After reading some pre-publicity hype, I desperately wanted to read BEAT THE REAPER by Josh Bazell! I loved this book and devoured it in a day, but I have kind of been procrastinating with writing the review. First, I've seen so many wonderful reviews out there from "real" reviewers; and secondly, I am afraid that my review won't do this book justice.

BEAT THE REAPER is a very special book. It has been selected as a #1 Indie Next List Great Read for January 2009; and I can't even count how many terrific reviews I've read in the past few weeks. It's kind of hard to classify what type of book BEAT THE REAPER is, but I'd have to say that it is a suspense thriller as well as a comedy. It's full of action and even some intrigue; however, I most enjoyed how much I laughed (and was shocked) while reading this novel.

I found the main character of Dr. Peter Brown to be fascinating on so many levels. I've read quite a few stories where the characters were mob hit men who turn government witnesses; however, this is positively the first one where the hit man becomes a doctor. Peter goes to medical school and decides to help people as a sort of penance for killing so many in his past life. I enjoyed how the story was told using flashbacks into Peter's childhood and prior mob life because it gave the reader insight into his character. I also appreciated seeing how conflicted Peter was throughout the various times in his life.

While I absolutely loved BEAT THE REAPER, it's definitely not a book for everyone. There is a fair amount of "bad words" and loads of violence (after all, it is a book about the mob.) And, there are a lot of scenes that won't sit well with readers who are easily offended. I don't consider myself someone who gets squeamish while reading; however, the scene at the end of this novel absolutely shocked me! I felt my stomach churning and it was so weird because I was grossed out yet at the same time I couldn't put the book down. Needless to say, it's a scene that I don't think I'll ever forget!

BEAT THE REAPER is Josh Bazell's first novel; and it's a wonderful debut. Josh Bazell is a resident in psychiatry; and it's evident in this book that he has a medical background. While some of the hospital scenes terrified me (and I hope they aren't based on reality), there were also some informative medical tidbits thrown in. I don't know how he did it, but he actually wrote this novel while completing his medical internship. When asked in an interview on the Today Show about this very subject, he deadpanned that he has "no life whatsoever." He mentioned that he is working on his second novel, and I can't wait to read it! You can see the entire interview here.

There is a terrific and entertaining website devoted to BEAT THE REAPER. Once you are there, you can learn more about author Josh Bazell, play a medical game, watch a video, and even read an excerpt. You can also listen to an excerpt from the novel here.

If you enjoy thrillers and especially mob thrillers, you have to check out BEAT THE REAPER. I know my review just touched the surface of how much I liked this book, so I'd love to hear your thoughts about it if you've read it (or plan on reading it.)

A huge thanks goes out to Miriam from Hachette Book Group for sending me a copy of this book (after I shamelessly begged for it.)

Seminar & Giveaway: The Change Your Life Challenge

Summary: Thriving on grassroots popularity, The Change Your Life Challenge has already been used by more than 50,000 people. The audience is growing constantly, as more than 45,000 readers receive Noel’s weekly Challenge newsletters and visit the companion website, which offers moderated support, weekly audio, newsletters and printables.

Created by Brook Noel as she sought to make over her own life in an achievable step-by-step fashion, the premise of The Change Your Life Challenge is that although our lives are complicated, our systems do not need to be. Noel will show readers how to make over finances, friendships, relationships, family, organization, health, fitness, self, home, self-esteem and spirituality. Readers will learn:

- A step by step system for conquering clutter and keeping your home clean
- How to make time work for you—instead of against you
- How to discover and live by your core values and beliefs
- The key to never forgetting anything
- How to end procrastination

Simple daily actions can result in an entire lifelong makeover—just take the challenge. -- Sourcebooks

How many times have you wanted to change your life? Brook Noel, author of the motivating THE CHANGE YOUR LIFE CHALLENGE, is an innovative and encouraging woman on a mission to make a difference in lives across the country!

Known for the interactive experiences she creates for program members, Brook will kick off a virtual tour starting next Mon., Jan. 26, with a free, week-long workshop that will help women manage their time, get organized, decrease stress, live by their priorities, and get 2009 off to a balanced and exciting start. For more info and to register for the free program, go to http://www.maketodaymatter.net/tour.htm.

To sign up for the free seminar, you can visit Brook’s Facebook page: http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=54952104896&ref=nf.

Additionally, anyone who buys her book at Target or Costco stores nationwide can submit their receipt; and in exchange they’ll receive a free month-long membership to Brook’s Make Today Matter Life Coaching System.

By leaving a comment, you have the chance to win a copy of Brook’s book, THE CHANGE YOUR LIFE CHALLENGE! Let me know what you think of your own resolutions, or what has helped you change your own life over the years. Make sure you leave a valid e-mail address with your comment. One lucky commenter will win a copy of Brook’s book and can jumpstart the challenge to make today matter. This contest will be open until January 29th at 11:59 p.m EST and is open to those of you with U.S. mailing addresses. I will announce the winner on the following day.

Guest Blogger: Jill Pitkeathley

Yesterday, I reviewed a charming book called CASSANDRA AND JANE by Jill Pitkeathley. I really liked the book and highly recommend it. I am honored that Ms. Pitkeathley is stopping by today with this wonderful guest post about Jane Austen and the reason why her books are so fun to discuss.

"Jane Austen?” said my friend “are you mad? Nobody will want to read Jane Austen at the women’s group.”

“Why ever not?” I asked, amazed by the vehemence of her reaction
‘Well she is so, so ... un-liberated—all that Mr Right stuff and women sewing shirts while men were out hunting—it is all so irrelevant and anyway we need to discuss books which are controversial—there is no controversy in Jane Austen.”

This was my first try at getting a book group to focus on my favourite author and it certainly was not going very well. To be fair, it wasn’t actually called a book group—it was called a women’s group—this was the 70s after all—but we met in each others houses, read books and discussed them so a book club in embryo perhaps?

My friend who was so opposed to Jane Austen was the group leader so I needed to ask why she thought my suggestion would be so unpopular.

“They all have the same plot—‘poor girl wins rich man after some misunderstandings’, there is no sex in them and most of us were made to read them at school- enough reasons?”

I resisted the temptation to refute her first two by reference to Emma- who is extremely rich and to the various seductions and women fallen from grace to whom I could point. I had to own though that if you had been forced to study a book—especially for an examination and almost every educated English woman had had that experience at the time, reading that author for pleasure might take some getting used to. So I resolved to resist pressing Jane on to the group immediately.

At the next meeting the book we were discussing was about whether marriage was necessary for a woman to be happy and how you could cope with a marriage which was unhappy. One member suddenly said: “It all depends doesn’t it on whether you see yourself as Elizabeth Bennet or Charlotte Lucas in Pride and Prejudice ? — you know whether it is all about romance and dreams coming true or whether you settle for the least worst option.”

“Oh but Elizabeth is not a romantic fool” said another “she will manage Darcy well but there will have to be compromises on both sides.”

“Well,” I joined in scarcely able to believe my luck at this unexpected development in the discussion, “there are compromises and compromises—would you settle for Mr. Collins?”

Almost immediately the room was buzzing, every member trying to contribute: “Think of the consequences in those days of not being married”

“Yes, how would you like to be dependent on your brothers?”

“But imagine Mr. Collins in the bedroom—it is too awful.”

“Far better to be single and poor or even a governess.”

“Don’t be ridiculous—governesses were slaves—think of Jane Fairfax.”

I glanced over at my friend as the heated conversations went on.

“Still think there is nothing to discuss in Jane Austen?” I said.

“You win” she said—“which book do you want to present next time?”

Since then I have heard Jane Austen discussed in endless different settings. I have seen people laugh helplessly at some of her scenes and cry uncontrollably too. I have witnessed people almost coming to blows about whether Fanny Price is a moral example to be admired or a self-righteous prig, or about whether Emma’s attentions do more harm than good to Harriet Smith.

I suppose the commonest topic for discussion in the groups over the years is whether Jane’s writing is relevant today or a form of escapism. I have no doubt where I stand on that—I rarely pick up a Jane Austen without finding within it some dilemma which is facing me or my friends and family today, or some new historical perspective on a problem. Above all I will always find her delicious irony and her wicked humour which will enable me to cope better with what ever is worrying me at the time.

Of course the huge interest in Jane Austen and the new films and TV series which have been made of her works and about her life, have introduced many more people to the joy of her. They have added many more topics for discussion too not only well trodden one such as –
“Was she ever in love?” “Was she a feminist?” but also details of the adaptation, casting and dialogue, is the new Elizabeth as good as the last and is this Captain Wentworth better than last years?”

I am sure I am like many others in that there some portrayals I cannot bear to watch, others I could watch every week. As long as people feel the same about the adaptations, the novels themselves and above all about dear Jane, book clubs will never be short of discussion topics!

Jill Pitkeathley was born on the Channel Islands of the United Kingdom. The former chief executive of the Carers National Association (now Carers UK), she is a Life Peer in the House of Lords and a longtime Austen fan. She lives in London.

Review: Cassandra and Jane

Summary: They were beloved sisters and the best of friends. But Jane and Cassandra Austen suffered the same fate as many of the women of their era. Forced to spend their lives dependent on relatives, both financially and emotionally, the sisters spent their time together trading secrets, challenging each other's opinions, and rehearsing in myriad other ways the domestic dramas that Jane would later bring to fruition in her popular novels. For each sister suffered through painful romantic disappointments—tasting passion, knowing great love, and then losing it—while the other stood witness. Upon Jane's death, Cassandra deliberately destroyed her personal letters, thereby closing the door to the private life of the renowned novelist . . . until now.

In Cassandra & Jane, author Jill Pitkeathley ingeniously reimagines the unique and intimate relationship between two extraordinary siblings, reintroducing readers to one of the most intriguing figures in the world of literature, as seen through the eyes of the one person who knew her best. -- Harper

I know this might be hard for some of you to belive, but I have not read many Jane Austen books. I always have them on my list of must-reads and I even own quite a few; but for some reason, I end up not getting around to them. (I'm thinking that I should pick one for a future book club meeting because that way I know I'll read it.) Despite my lack of knowledge about "all things Jane," I still thought the description of CASSANDRA AND JANE: A JANE AUSTEN NOVEL by Jill Pitkeathley sounded intriguing.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fictional account of Jane's life told by her sister (and closest confidant) Cassandra. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I found this story about two sisters to be beautiful and very heartwarming. I loved how Ms. Pitkeathley was able to capture the strength of their relationship and how much they meant to each other. The scenes at the end of the book where Jane is ill and eventually dies were extremely touching. I have no doubt that these two women had a very special (and dependent) relationship with each other.

One thing I really appreciated about this book was how Ms. Pitkeathly wrote this novel from Cassandra's point of view. I think this narrative method definitely gave the reader more insight into Jane's character. While Cassandra positively adored her sister, she was still honest about Jane concerning both her positive and negative traits. I especially liked how Cassandra pointed out Jane's sharp and witty sense of humor.

Another thing that I found fascinating about CASSANDRA AND JANE were the historical aspects of the novel. I thought the author did a remarkable job of capturing the essence of the time period. Neither Jane nor Cassandra ever married, and this situation eventually caused them much turmoil -- they always felt like their future wasn't in their hands and they had to be dependent on others. This novel really demonstrated the lack of social standing that women had in the 18th and early 19th centuries.

I think Ms. Pitkeathley did a wonderful job with this novel. I found the book very interesting, yet also easy-to-read; and her descriptions of the time period seemed quite authentic. I appreciated how she took the small amount of information known about Jane (rumor has it that Cassandra actually destroyed all of Jane's letters) and was able to merge it with a fictional account of her life. The blend between facts and fiction were seamless. If you'd like to learn more about Ms. Pitkeathley and this novel, there is a great interview with the author.

I highly recommend CASSANDRA AND JANE for a future book club meeting, especially if your group is a fan of Jane Austen. There are a great many issues to discuss such as sisterly love, family dynamics, friendship, women and their social status, loss of loved ones, etc. In fact, there is a terrific discussion guide available. I have a feeling that your group could talk for hours about the themes in this novel.

Make sure you come back tomorrow because Ms. Pitkeathley will be stopping by with a wonderful guest post about her long time interest with Jane Austen.

Review: Jack with a Twist

Summary: Planning a wedding can be a trying experience…

A little prewedding anxiety is normal for every bride, and Manhattan attorney Brooke Miller isn't worried. She's got the loving support of the world's greatest guy, so planning her nuptials should be a piece of cake.

But that was yesterday.

Today, Brooke's landed her first big case and has just discovered that the opposing attorney is none other than her fiancé, Jack. But that's okay. These two professionals aren't going to let a little courtroom sparring get their legal briefs in a bunch. Right? Wrong! Now Jack's pulling every dirty trick in the law books, and Brooke's starting to suspect that maybe he isn't the man she thought he was. Warring with her fiancé at work and at home, Brooke realizes that she'll have to choose between the case of her life, or actually having a life. -- Red Dress Ink

JACK WITH A TWIST by Brenda Janowitz was an ideal book for me to read last week. My husband was out of town, the kids were being well...kids, and I was stressed over hosting book club so much so that I decided to clean the grouting in my kitchen the morning of the meeting (I don't recommend this.) I definitely wanted to kick back and relax with a good book, and JACK WITH A TWIST was just what I needed.

A few years back (way before I was a stay-at-home mother of two), I used to read a ton of chick lit. But then I got older with different responsibilities and interests, and I found myself only reading one or two of these types of books a year. I still enjoyed them, but I just didn't "click" with the characters like I used to. I have to admit that when I read chick lit books now, I enjoy reading about the friendships, careers and fashion; however, I definitely don't envy their relationship woes. I am so grateful that I am where I'm at in my life -- married for 15 years with two awesome children! Isn't it funny how the reasons I enjoy this genre have changed through the years?

JACK WITH A TWIST is actually a sequel to the novel SCOT ON THE ROCKS. I don't think it's necessary to read them in order because the author gives enough background to keep things straight; however, I did find myself wishing that I had read SCOT ON THE ROCKS just because I thought it sounded cute. JACK WITH A TWIST was written first person in Brooke's voice, and I felt like it gave me insight into Brooke's character and mindset. However, there were many times during this novel that I felt frustrated with Brooke and her actions -- I thought she was very immature and selfish (I was glad to see that she eventually wised up.) That being said, for all those times that I got mad at her, there were just as many times that I thought she was absolutely hilarious.

When I sat down to write this review, I remembered that there were discussion questions in the back of the book. As I read this novel, I didn't really think about it being a book club type of book. But then the more I thought about it, I realized "why not?" Many women will appreciate this story and Ms. Janowitz's writing style. This book might even cause some women to re-think some things about their relationships.

If you're looking for a cute, light read then I suggest giving JACK WITH A TWIST a try. Every once in awhile it's just fun to partake in a little guilty pleasure (otherwise known as chick lit!)

Mailbox Monday - January 19, 2009

I'm a little (only a little) embarrassed by how many books and other goodies I received this week. Needless to say, it was a pretty good week for me. Now, I just need to start reading them!

SIGNORA DA VINCI by Robin Maxwell

THE LAWS OF HARMONY by Judith Ryan Hendricks

EAT, DRINK, AND BE FROM MISSISSIPPI by Nanci Kincaid

SECRET CONFESSIONS OF THE APPLEWOOD PTA by Ellen Meister

THE SILENT MAN by Alex Berenson

NANA STAR and NANA STAR AND MOON MAN by Elizabeth Sills and Elena Patrice (illustrated by Linda Saker) - I also got a Nana Star and Moon Man doll that are just precious!

THE KISS MURDER by Mehmet Murat Somer

THE JEWEL TRADER OF PEGU by Jeffrey Hantover

NINE LIVES by Dan Baum

LUKE ON THE LOOSE by Harry Bliss

BENNY & PENNY IN THE BIG NO-NO! by Geoffrey Hayes

What did you get last week?

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page.

Weekly Geeks - January 18, 2009

"What it Means to Be a Weekly Geek"

This week's question is from Joanne of The Book Zombie:

For those who have been with the group, either from the start or joined within recent months, what does being a member mean to you? What do you enjoy about the group? What are some of your more memorable Weekly Geeks that we might could do again? What could be improved as we continue the legacy that Dewey gave us?

For those just joining us, why did you sign up for Weekly Geeks? What would you like to see here?

This is only my third time to participate in Weekly Geeks (twice in two weeks though, so I am off to a good start in 2009.) Since I am brand-new to the Weekly Geeks, I am going to address the second part of this week's question:

I decided to finally sign up for Weekly Geeks because I love the sense of community that it promotes. While I have always enjoyed reading everyone else's Weekly Geeks posts, I just didn't think that anyone would care to read mine! When I first started my book blog, I thought all I should ever blog about was books, books and more books (and of course lots of reviews.) I loved that other bloggers shared so much of their lives, but I was hesitant to do that. Plus, I was just a little afraid to commit to a weekly post.

This year, I made some blogging resolutions -- one is to be a bigger part of the blogging community. In addition to leaving more comments, I also decided to start participating in Weekly Geeks. So here I am and here's to hoping that I stick with it!

Review: Etta

Summary: Beautiful, elusive, and refined, Etta Place captivated the nation at the turn of the last century as she dodged the law with the Wild Bunch, led by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Her true identity and fate have remained a mystery that has tantalized historians for decades. Now, for the first time, Gerald Kolpan envisions this remarkable woman’s life in a stunning debut novel.

Kolpan imagines that Etta Place was born Lorinda Jameson, the daughter of a prominent financier, who becomes known as the loveliest of the city’s debutantes when she makes her entrance into Philadelphia society. Though her position in life is already assured, her true calling is on horseback. She can ride as well as any man and handle a rifle even better. But when a tragedy leads to a dramatic reversal of fortune, Lorinda is left orphaned, penniless, homeless, and pursued by the ruthless Black Hand mafia.

Rechristened “Etta Place” to ensure her safety, the young woman travels to the farthest reaches of civilization, working as a “Harvey Girl” waitress in Grand Junction, Colorado. There, fate intervenes once more and she again finds herself on the run from the ruthless Pinkerton Detective Agency. But this time she has company. She soon finds herself at the legendary hideout at Hole-in-the-Wall, Wyoming, where she meets the charismatic Butch Cassidy and the handsome, troubled Harry Longbaugh, a.k.a. the Sundance Kid. Through a series of holdups and heists, Etta and Harry begin an epic and ultimately tragic romance, which will be the greatest of Etta’s life. Then, when Etta meets the young and idealistic Eleanor Roosevelt, her life is changed forever.

Blending a compelling love story, high adventure, and thrilling historical drama, Etta is an electrifying novel. With a sweeping 1900s setting, colorful storytelling, and larger-than-life characters, Etta is debut that is both captivating and unforgettable. -- Ballantine Books

When I first saw ETTA by Gerald Kolpan listed on the Library Thing Early Reviewers December batch of books, I decided to sign up for it. I'm not exactly sure why because I've never been a big fan of books (or movies) about the Wild West, but something about this book intrigued me. I'm guessing that it was most likely because the perspective of this novel was so unique -- it told the story of a woman living in the Wild West who was part of the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid gang (better known as the Wild Bunch.) Needless to say, I was very excited when I saw that I was selected to review an ARC of this novel.

Prior to reading this book, I knew absolutely nothing about Etta Place. In fact, I have not even seen the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (although I have now saved it on my TiVo.) I guess I wasn't at that much of a disadvantage though, because there is actually very little known about Etta Place. I can't decide if this lack of knowledge made Mr. Kolpan's job easier or more difficult when writing this novel; but either way, I thought he did an amazing job. I was so impressed with how he took the few facts known about her life and wove them it into a very entertaining story. In fact, I found the author's note and the Q&A in the back of the book to be fascinating. His development of Etta's characters and her life events were all very well thought out and actually seemed to me as if they could have happened -- I found the flow between the real events and the "made-up" ones to be seamless.

Even though I wouldn't consider myself a huge fan of western fiction, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The book was extremely entertaining and moved at a very fast pace. I thought the story that Mr. Kolpan created for Etta's early life made a great deal of sense and definitely contributed to the woman she became. I also thought the book was very well written. Not only was the story well-told, but Mr. Kolpan's writing style was wonderful. I appreciated all of his descriptions; and I loved how he told the story through a variety of methods including journal entries, letters, and newspaper accounts.

ETTA will be available on March 24, 2009, and I highly recommend adding it to your book wishlist. I wasn't able to find any discussion questions at this time, but don't let that stop you from considering this novel for a future book club meeting -- I'm sure there will be a readers' guide soon. There are a great many issues and themes to discuss; and I think it would be very interesting to hear what my friends have to say about her life.

Thanks again to Library Thing Early Reviewers Program for allowing me to read this novel.

Review: Planet of the Dogs

Summary: Far out in the sky, on the other side of the sun, is the Planet of the Dogs. Dogs have always lived there in peace and happiness.

There are country dogs and city dogs. They live in places like Shepherd Hills, Poodletown, Muttville, Biscuit Town, and Shaggy Corners.

The most special thing about dogs is their ability to love. They do this better than any other creature.

One day, many years ago, the council of the elder dogs learned that there were problems on Earth, the Planet of the People. Many people had forgotten how to love. They had become cruel and greedy.

This is the story of the first time that dogs came down to Planet Earth to teach people about love and to bring peace to Green Valley. -- Lightning Source

When Robert J. McCarthy, author of PLANET OF THE DOGS, asked if my daughter and I would be interested in reading his PLANET OF THE DOGS books, we jumped at the chance. After reading the books' descriptions and some of the reviews, we just knew we had to read them for ourselves. There was no doubt in my mind that these books contain some very special and important messages.

I enjoyed the story in PLANET OF THE DOGS. This first book told how people were losing touch with what's important and becoming very unhappy. Dogs on the Planet of the Dogs decided to come to Earth and help. They first communicated with children because their hearts and minds are more open than adults; however, it wasn't long before they won over even the most difficult humans. The story had a little bit of adventure, a little bit of the supernatural, and a lot of entertainment.

Not only did I like the story, but I loved so many of the messages in the book -- messages that are important for children and adults to remember! It was nice to see all the different ways that dogs are beneficial in our every day lives as well as some of the less obvious ways that they bring happiness. I especially liked how the potential conflict was averted and how the book ended. It was nice to see a happy ending and have people realize what's important in life.

PLANET OF THE DOGS is almost 80 pages long, so it's not for beginner readers. It does appeal to kids who are comfortable with a longer book (probably eight year olds and up); however, each chapter in the book is very short (only a few pages.) I liked this format because young readers could enjoy the story without getting frustrated, and it makes for a great classroom read-along. The brief chapters also had a few teasers which will entice the reader to continue to the next chapter. There are also some beautiful black and white sketches in PLANET OF THE DOGS. The book is illustrated by Stella Mustanoja McCarty; and her drawings definitely add to the story.

My daughter had a similar reaction to the book that I did. You can read her thoughts here:

People from earth are forgetting about loving each other and they are getting ready to fight. Dogs to the rescue. Dogs travel from Planet of the Dogs to Earth to help people. People didn't know these creatures existed, but most people looked at the dogs and wanted to keep one. The dogs try to finish the mission so that their love would help make the earth a better place.

I liked the book because it was fun to imagine dogs helping people from Earth. I also liked the message that if people help each other, there won't be as much fighting. Dogs still protect people from dangers and make them happier.

After reading the first book in this series, my daughter and I are now anxious to read CASTLE IN THE MIST and SNOW VALLEY HEROES. If the first book is any indication, I'm sure that these books will be entertaining and have great messages too!

Review: Love and Other Natural Disasters & Giveaway

Summary: Eve is eight months pregnant and in the middle of a Thanksgiving celebration when she discovers that her husband Jonathan has developed an intimate relationship with a woman over the past year. Jonathan asserts his innocence (an affair involves physical intimacy, and he didn't have any), while Eve feels deeply betrayed by the emotional connection he shared with someone else. What Jon has done seems so terrifyingly out of character that Eve finds herself questioning her entire reality. Did she ever really know Jon at all? Was their happiness together a lie? Is emotional intimacy more forgivable than sexual intimacy? And can their marriage survive? -- 5 Spot

A huge thanks goes out to Miriam from Hachette Book Group USA for sending me a copy of LOVE AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS by Holly Shumas. I really, really liked this novel about an eight month pregnant woman who discovers that her husband is emotionally involved with another woman. While I thought the book was going to be a standard chick lit type of book, I was pleasantly surprised by how deep the story was and how much it made me think. I actually had a hard time putting this book down because I got so caught up in Eve's story and had to find out how she ultimately resolved the situation.

For some reason, I could really relate to this story! No, I didn't catch my husband with another woman when I was eight months pregnant; however, the story was kind of like a pregnant woman's worst nightmare. I think almost every pregnant woman feels a little insecure about herself (especially around the seventh/eight month when you feel huge and still seem like you're going to be pregnant forever.) But I can absolutely tell you that my feelings towards Eve's situation were definitely more intense because I can clearly imagine how betrayed she felt at that point in her life.

Even though my feelings definitely went out to Eve and her horrific situation, that doesn't mean that I totally related to her. There were times during this story that I wanted to hit Eve upside the head -- I found her behavior at times to be very frustrating, stupid, etc. Now I don't know exactly how I would have reacted in a similar situation, but I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't have made some of the same decisions she did. While I did get mad at Eve (a lot), I found that her emotions and erratic behavior made the character very real to me (and the story very readable.)

One thing that I loved about this book was Ms. Shumas' decision to make the affair an emotional one rather than a physical one. It definitely muddied the waters and made me think. Was it truly infidelity, is it reason enough to end a marriage, etc.? Things suddenly aren't as clear cut when the affair is an emotional one (especially when there are kids involved.)

While I personally consider Jonathan's indiscretion to be cheating, it definitely is something that individuals will interpret differently. I think that most women consider it cheating, while most men will probably say it isn't. Eve found the emotional attachment of the affair to be as devastating, if not more so, than a physical one. Women tend to value the emotional part of relationships over the physical ones. Eve's husband, Jon, thought he was being punished (unjustly) because he never followed through with his feelings! It all makes for a very interesting story; and I found all of these male/female dynamics to be fascinating.

I wasn't familiar with author Holly Shumas before reading LOVE AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS; however, I now consider myself a big fan of her writing. (I have a copy of Ms. Shumas' first novel FIVE THINGS I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT in my TBR pile, and I can't wait to read it.) Ms. Shumas is a practicing marriage and family therapist, and I think it's evident in this novel that she is familiar with the emotional aspects of affairs. I found this novel to be very engaging as well as easy to read, but I was even more impressed with Ms. Shumas' ability to create such well-developed characters, especially Eve. Even if I did want to shake Eve a time or two, her feelings and actions did seem very realistic to me.

I highly recommend reading LOVE AND NATURAL DISASTERS, especially if you are a mother. I also think that book clubs would thoroughly enjoy reading and talking about this novel. It's not my club's normal fare, but I know we'd have so much to discuss. Take a look at the reading guide, and you'll see that there are some very thought-provoking discussion questions. I'm sure that many groups will have a very spirited debated about the emotional versus physical affair issues. I'd also be interested to hear what my friends think about Eve, her behavior, and her ultimate decision.

Does LOVE AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS sound like a book that you would enjoy? If so, please leave a comment (with your e-mail address) telling me whether you consider an "emotional affair" to be cheating. One lucky, random reader will win a copy of this book! The giveaway will be open until Friday, January 30th at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will announce the winner on the following day. This contest is open to those of you with United States mailing addresses only (no P.O. boxes, please.) Good luck!

Check out these other tour stops:
http://www.writeforareader.edublogs.org/
http://www.bermudaonion.wordpress.com/
http://booksamyreads.blogspot.com/
http://cafeofdreams.blogspot.com/
http://ablogofbooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.acircleofbooks.blogspot.com/
http://athomewithbooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/
http://thetometraveller.blogspot.com/
http://bookingmama.blogspot.com/
http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com/
http://www.skrishnasbooks.com/
http://enroutetolife.blogspot.com/
http://www.anovelmenagerie.com/
http://printedpage.us/
http://cindysloveofbooks.blogspot.com/
http://luanne-abookwormsworld.blogspot.com/
http://bookopolis.blogspot.com/
http://www.bookthoughtsbylisa.blogspot.com/
http://exlibrisbb.blogspot.com/
http://jennsbookshelf.blogspot.com/
http://www.marjoleinbookblog.blogspot.com/
http://linussblanket.com/
She Reads and Reads

January 2009 Book Club Meeting and February Selection

Summary: In an age of wonderous beauty and terrible secrets,one man searches for his destiny...

In the majestic heart of Florence, a beautiful golden-haired boy is abandoned and subjected to cruelty beyond words. But Luca Bastardo is anything but an ordinary boy. Across two centuries of passion and intrigue, Luca will discover an astonishing gift—one that will lead him to embrace the ancient mysteries of alchemy and healing and to become a trusted confidant to the powerful Medicis…even as he faces persecution from a sadistic cabal determined to wrest his secrets for themselves.

But as the Black Death and the Inquisition wreak havoc on his beloved city, Luca’s survival lies in the quest to solve two riddles. One is the enigma of his parents and his ageless beauty. The other is a choice between immortality and the only chance to find his one true love. As Luca journeys through the heights of the Renaissance, befriends Giotto and Leonardo Da Vinci—140 years apart—and pursues the most closely guarded secrets of religious faith and science for the answers to his own burning questions, his remarkable search will not only change him…but will change the course of history. -- Delta

Last night, our book club met to discuss IMMORTAL by Traci L. Slatton. I really enjoyed the book (you can read my review here), as did a few other members; however, some had a difficult time with the more graphic parts of the novel. All of us did agree that Ms. Slatton told a fascinating story, and we most definitely appreciated the extraordinary amount of research she conducted while writing this novel. We also liked how the author incorporated real historical figures and events into the pages of this story.

We are one of those clubs who like to start our discussions with the readers' guide; however, we weren't able to find any discussion questions for IMMORTAL. My friend (the one who chose IMMORTAL) decided to e-mail Ms. Slatton to see if any were available; and I was just elated with her reply. Since there was not a formal discussion guide for IMMORTAL, Ms. Slatton actually sent us some questions that she wrote herself. In addition, she sent a Q&A from a prior meeting with a book club. The generosity (and accessibility) of authors will never cease to amaze me!

One other highlight of this month's meeting was sharing the box of books I received from the Read It Forward team. Because The Preschool Moms Book Club was featured as their December Group of the Month, they sent me an assorted box of ten books -- kind of like chocolate, only better! Each member of our group selected one book to take home with them. The general idea is that we will bring the books back to a future meeting so everyone has a chance to read them.

For February, we will be reading NEFERTITI by Michelle Moran. I absolutely loved THE HERETIC QUEEN, and I've heard that NEFERTITI is just as wonderful. I'm also really looking forward to our discussion because Ms. Moran will be joining us be telephone -- you know how I love those author chats. In the past few months, we've read a lot of historical fiction books (like four in a row), but I think we all enjoy this genre and agree that the books have been very interesting.

Summary: Nefertiti and her younger sister, Mutnodjmet, have been raised in a powerful family that has provided wives to the rulers of Egypt for centuries. Ambitious, charismatic, and beautiful, Nefertiti is destined to marry Amunhotep, an unstable young pharaoh. It is hoped that her strong personality will temper the young ruler’s heretical desire to forsake Egypt’s ancient gods.

From the moment of her arrival in Thebes, Nefertiti is beloved by the people but fails to see that powerful priests are plotting against her husband’s rule. The only person brave enough to warn the queen is her younger sister, yet remaining loyal to Nefertiti will force Mutnodjmet into a dangerous political game; one that could cost her everything she holds dear. -- Three Rivers Press

Review: Immortal

Summary: In an age of wonderous beauty and terrible secrets,one man searches for his destiny...

In the majestic heart of Florence, a beautiful golden-haired boy is abandoned and subjected to cruelty beyond words. But Luca Bastardo is anything but an ordinary boy. Across two centuries of passion and intrigue, Luca will discover an astonishing gift—one that will lead him to embrace the ancient mysteries of alchemy and healing and to become a trusted confidant to the powerful Medicis…even as he faces persecution from a sadistic cabal determined to wrest his secrets for themselves.

But as the Black Death and the Inquisition wreak havoc on his beloved city, Luca’s survival lies in the quest to solve two riddles. One is the enigma of his parents and his ageless beauty. The other is a choice between immortality and the only chance to find his one true love. As Luca journeys through the heights of the Renaissance, befriends Giotto and Leonardo Da Vinci—140 years apart—and pursues the most closely guarded secrets of religious faith and science for the answers to his own burning questions, his remarkable search will not only change him…but will change the course of history. -- Delta

I first heard about the novel IMMORTAL by Traci L. Slatton from Iliana at Bookgirl's Nightstand. I was fortunate enough to win one of her giveaways for a copy of the ARC awhile back. Like so many other books, it just went into my TBR pile. When my good friend selected it as the January 2009 selection for our book club, I was thrilled. I just had a feeling that I was going to enjoy this story!

Oh my gosh -- I just loved this book! It's a relatively long book (over 500 pages), but I read it in just a few days. I couldn't put it down and I even stayed up late at night to read it (as a mother of two, I don't stay up late very often.) I was so drawn into Luca Bastardo's story from the first few pages until the last. Not only did I like the characters of Luca, but the basic premise of the story was so unique and extremely interesting.

I am just fascinated by the characters and the time period covered in IMMORTAL. I love all things Italy, and this book certainly was full of wonderful things about this country. One thing that I really appreciated in this story was the author's ability to weave actual historical figures into Luca Bastardo's life. Fortunately for me, Luca lived for a very long time so he encountered many of the interesting characters in Florence history including Giotto, Botticelli and (my favorite) Leonardo da Vinci. I also enjoyed the many scenes that involved the Medici's. I learned that I'm extremely interested in everything concerning them -- what a unique bunch of people. I'm dying to read more historical fiction books about these characters and this time period; so if you have any recommendations, please leave me a comment!

I was so impressed that IMMORTAL is Ms. Slatton's first novel. I found so much of the historical aspects of this novel to be interesting (I can't even imagine how much research she must have conducted before writing this novel;) however, I also appreciated how well she developed the character of Luca. In addition, I thought her prose and descriptions of Florence were very beautiful. I think Ms. Slatton is going to have a wonderful future as a novelist!

Another thing that I really enjoyed about IMMORTAL was following Luca's quest to learn about his origins and identity. I can imagine how difficult it would be not to know your background; but when you add that Luca didn't age like normal people, I think not knowing would be so difficult. While Luca encountered many famous historical figures throughout the course of this novel, he also met many interesting characters who were spiritual and (to me) very thought-provoking. I liked how the author was able to incorporate the study of alchemy into this novel; but what I really found intriguing were the issues surrounding faith, religion, science, and even morals.

As I read this novel, I kept thinking that it would make a wonderful movie. When I was looking around the author's website, I discovered that IMMORTAL has already been optioned for film by Vast Entertainment. Not only am I very anxious to read another book by Ms. Slatton, but I can now look forward to a movie too. Make sure you take a look at her website because there is an extremely interesting video interview with Ms. Slatton. She is such an interesting woman!

If you love reading historical fiction books, then you'll definitely want to check out IMMORTAL. I am so anxious to talk about it this evening with my book club. I'll be sure to post tomorrow with a recap about our meeting and our discussion!

Mailbox Monday - January 12, 2009

Welcome to my first Mailbox Monday post! I have been reluctant to start posting my "book booty" because I wasn't sure that I would post regularly. But then I thought, "What the heck? Sometimes is better than never." So here it goes.

Some have said that it's the effects of the holidays, but it was a pretty slow week for me. I did get three terrific books though that I can't wait to read:

KISSING GAMES OF THE WORLD by Sandi Kahn Shelton -- I won a one day only contest from Fresh Fiction for a signed copy of this book and a $20 Starbucks gift card.

BEAT THE REAPER by Josh Bazell -- Miriam from Hachette Book Group USA sent me this book after I shamelessly begged her for a copy!

THE MUSIC TEACHER by Barbara Hall -- I received this book from the people at Algonquin Books. I've seen a few reviews and it looks great!

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page.

What did you get in your mailbox last week?

Weekly Geeks - January 11, 2009

This is only my second time to participate in Weekly Geeks, but I'm hoping that the beginning of the year is a great time to start. I also think it's a wonderful way to pay tribute to Dewey!

In the spirit of the amazing community building that Dewey was so good at, tell us about your favorite blogs, the ones you have bookmarked or subscribe to in your Google Reader, that you visit on a regular basis. Tell us what it is about these blogs that you love, that inspire or educate you or make you laugh. Be sure to link to them so we can find them too.

Another option: Reading goals for ’09 and wrap ups for ’08 have been pretty well covered by now on a lot of blogs and other memes. But if you haven’t done this, feel free to make that your first WG of the new year, in addition to or instead of the above.

I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I subscribe to over 200 blogs in my Google Reader so coming up with just a few favorites is really difficult for me. What I read all kind of depends on my mood that day! I'll try to list just a few of my "regulars," although I'm very worried that I'll leave out someone special!

My Friend Amy - I know I'm not alone in loving Amy and her blog. I feel blessed to have her a friend! She's just terrific -- what else is there to say?

Bermuda Onion - Kathy is also a huge reader and we have very similar taste in books. I am also very lucky to have her as one of my best blogger friends.

Book Club Girl - This is one of the very first blogs that I began following. I love her recommendations and her Blog Talk Radio Shows.

Books on the Brain - Lisa is another one of the original blogs that I followed. Her honestly about both books and her life are so refreshing. She also talked me into starting my own book blog -- I owe her a lot!!!

Devourer of Books - I love her passion for books! She's such a sweet person too.

S. Krishna's Books - Oh my gosh! Can this girl read or what? I love her reviews and get tons of book ideas from her.

The Debutante Ball - If you're not familiar with this grog of first time authors, you must check it out. Their posts are always entertaining and the books have been amazing.

I really hope I didn't leave anyone out! This list is just a very small portion of the blogs that I read each and every day! What are some of your favorite blogs?

One More Little Challenge

I know, I know. I just said yesterday that I was only doing one challenge this year. But Dewey's Knit-a-Long is just a mini-challenge, and it's going to be so much fun, and it's not really reading......

Robin (A Fondness For Reading) and Chris (Stuff As Dreams Are Made On) are co-hosting this wonderful challenge. Here are the details -- I copied these directly from the challenge post:

"Now that the holiday season is over, it’s time for new projects! Help celebrate Dewey’s love of books AND of knitting! This is a mini-challenge for those of us that are honoring her memory by reading the books she talked about on her blog, and who also share her love of knitting! How about dedicating at least one of your 2009 knitting (or other handwork!) projects to Dewey’s memory? Perhaps you would like to knit or crochet some things for a local charity? Or if you’ve never learned to knit, maybe it’s time to learn! (Come on, Chris!)

Leave a comment on this post to sign up for Dewey’s Knit-A-Long by the end of January, and I will randomly pick one of your names and send you a free scarf pattern, some beautiful NORO yarn, and some bamboo knitting needles for the project.

Post about your projects on your own blog as you finish them, (or post updates on your progress!), include photos, and then leave a comment on this post each time. I will update this blog throughout the next few months with links to your project updates, with reviews of knitting books, and with interesting and helpful knitting information.

Please put one of the Knit-A-Long buttons on your sidebar with a link to this post for easy access.

A drawing will also be held at the end of February, March, and April for more prizes: patterns, yarn (I have some Malabrigo for you sock knitters!), and knitting books!

You don’t have to finish your project in that time. Just post about what you have on the needles and about your progress! But please keep us updated!

If you prefer another type of handwork other than knitting…we welcome you, too! Please just make a note of that when you sign up here so that if your name is chosen for a prize, I can adjust it to your preferred handwork materials!

Dewey would be the first one to encourage you to start a new knitting project, or to learn to knit, if you’ve never done it before! She was a new knitter, herself, who found many helpful knitting friends through the posts on her blog. (I’m not sure these links still work, but try clicking here and here to read what Dewey wrote about her knitting projects and to read her reviews of knitting books.)

So join us for Dewey’s Knit-A-Long and enjoy your knitting as well as your reading for the Dewey’s Books Reading Challenge!

Happy Knitting!"

I am so excited about this challenge! I knit and crochet for fun and relaxation, but I 'm definitely not an expert. I haven't planned out what projects I'm going to complete as part of this challenge, but I know that I'm going to start with an adorable crochted potato chip scarf -- it's one of those thin, fuzzy scarves that turn into a curly-q. Since I want to share a little love with all of you, I'm going to do a giveaway for this scarf. I better hurry since it won't be winter forever!

I was also thinking about tying this challenge to reading since this blog is mainly about books. So, I'm toying with the idea of knitting the afghan which was featured in Kate Jacobs' KNIT TWO (you can read my review here.) I'm totally up for other ideas so please chime in.

Chunkster Challenge 2009

Okay! I've finally taken the plunge with the Chunkster Challenge 2009. I have been tempted for weeks with all the wonderful challenges out there, but I told myself that I wouldn't sign up for any. I'm so high-strung about reading and blogging normally that I didn't think my family deserved to have me stressing out even more trying to complete various challenges; however, I just couldn't resist this one. Not to mention that I am feelin' (a bit) chunky after the holidays.

One of the main reasons why I felt compelled to join this challenge is because I tend not to pick up the bigger books in my TBR pile. I participated in this same challenge last year, and I'm happy to say that it did encourage me to read some wonderful (albeit large) books!

Here are the rules (copied directly from the Feelin' Chunky page) for those of you who haven't signed up yet:

There have been a few changes to the rules so please read closely:

*A chunkster is 450 pages or more of ADULT literature (fiction or nonfiction) Don't complain folks, I read all thousands of pages of the Twilight series and they were good, but not a challenge. A chunkster should be a challenge.

*If you read large type books your book will need to be 525 pages or more I asked around and the average LT book is 10-15% longer or more so I think that was a fair estimate.

*No Audio books in the chunkster. It just doesn't seem right. Words on paper for this one folks.

* You may start any time after signing up. You must complete your reads before or on Nov 15th.

*Short Stories and Essay collections will not be counted.

*Books may crossover with other challenges (see option 4 for a collaborative effort with TBR challenge.)

*Only option 4 requires that you make a set list of books to complete the challenge.

Those are the basics. Here are your options:

*The Chubby Chunkster - this option is for the reader who has a large tome or two to read, but really doesn't want to commit to more than that. 2 books is all you need to finish this challenge.

*Do These Books Make my Butt Look Big? - this option is for the slightly heavier reader who wants to commit to 3-5 Chunksters over the next ten months.

*Mor-book-ly Obese - This is for the truly out of control chunkster. For this level of challenge you must commit to 6 or more chunksters OR three tomes of 750 pages or more. You know you want to.....go on and give in to your cravings.

And lastly, in an intriguing collaboration with the wildly popular Miz B of the TBR Challenge we have:

*Too Big To Ignore Anymore - this option is for those chunksters on your TBR list. You may select any number of books over 450 pages but you must LIST THEM to complete the challenge and they must be on your TBR list as well (honor code folk, I don't have time to be the challenge police)

Although I'd like to sign up for the "Do These Books Make My Butt Look Big" version because it sounds do darn funny and I actually do say that about my pants/jeans all the time; I think I'll take the plunge and go for the "Mor-book-ly Obese" one. I might end up regretting that decision come November; but if I'm only doing one challenge, I think I should do it right -- right?

Sign ups end March 1st, so you still have a little time to think about it. Please join me!

I find it very ironic that I just completed a 500+ page book three days before signing up for this challenge. It doesn't count because the challenge officially starts after signing up!

Author Chats with Joshua Henkin

Check out this fantastic article from the Philadelphia Inquirer about MATRIMONY author Joshua Henkin entitled "Author, your Group is Calling." The article tells how Mr. Henkin has managed to meet with over 80 book groups (either by phone or in person) to discuss his novels.

While the popularity of author chats is definitely on the rise, Mr. Henkin is a little different from most other authors -- he often is the first to initiate contact with book clubs. I found it interesting that he is using Goodreads and Facebook to find his audience.

As many of you already know (because it was one of my book highlights of 2008,) Mr. Henkin drove two hours to spend an evening with my book club last May. You can read more about our little meeting here. As the article mentions, Mr. Henkin did reach out to me by offering to drive to our meeting. I was shocked (and totally excited) to say the least.

My book club had a wonderful time discussing MATRIMONY with the author, and I highly recommend it for one of your future book club meetings. If you're interested in having Joshua Henkin as a "guest," you can contact him at jhenkin@slc.edu.

Review: Sweetsmoke

Summary: The year is 1862, and the Civil War rages through the South. On a Virginia tobacco plantation, another kind of battle soon begins. There, Cassius Howard, a skilled carpenter and slave, risks everything—punishment, sale to a cotton plantation, even his life—to learn the truth concerning the murder of Emoline, a freed black woman, a woman who secretly taught him to read and once saved his life. It is clear that no one cares about her death in the midst of a brutal and hellish war. No one but Cassius, who braves horrific dangers to escape the plantation and avenge her loss.

As Cassius seeks answers about Emoline’s murder, he finds an unexpected friend and ally in Quashee, a new woman brought over from another plantation; and a formidable adversary in Hoke Howard, the master he has always obeyed.

With subtlety and beauty, Sweetsmoke captures the daily indignities and harrowing losses suffered by slaves, the turmoil of a country waging countless wars within its own borders, and the lives of those people fighting for identity, for salvation, and for freedom. -- Hyperion

I have been wanting to read SWEETSMOKE by David Fuller since I heard about it way back last summer. The premise behind this book sounded so unique to me -- kind of a Civil War/historical fiction story mixed in with a murder mystery. It took me a few months to get my hand on a copy of SWEETSMOKE; but thanks to Mini Book Expo for Bloggers, I finally received an ARC. I couldn't wait to read it! Unfortunately, I started it during the chaotic holidays and really couldn't devote the attention it deserved until one calm Sunday afternoon. Then, I absolutely devoured this wonderful book.

Ever since I was a kid, I have always found novels about the Civil War to be extremely interesting -- I guess I'd choose that time period as my favorite one in the United States' history. SWEETSMOKE definitely goes up there are one of the best books about the Civil War that I've read in recent memory. I thought Mr. Fuller captured the essence of this time period perfectly. I was so impressed by how realistic he made this novel from the personalities of the characters, to the descriptions of the war scenes, to the dialect between the characters --everything just clicked to me.

I think the aspect of this novel that I found to be most appealing was the character of Cassius. He has been in my thoughts not only while I read SWEETSMOKE, but days and days after completing the book. To me, that really means he was an amazing character. Cassius was an extremely complex and sometimes flawed character; however, I found myself drawn to his story. I love that Mr. Fuller made Cassius such an incredibly real person. His intelligence, desires, frustrations, insecurities and even his humor were so well-developed for a character (especially character who was a slave) in a novel.

I was also extremely impressed with how Mr. Fuller told this story. The writing was so vivid that I could picture every detail, especially those of the battles in the war. I so appreciated how the author not only told a story about a slave during the Civil War, but incorporated a murder mystery into the plot. SWEETSMOKE just made me think on so many different levels. I just thought it was a brilliantly told story!

There is a wonderful website devoted to the novel SWEETSMOKE. You can learn more about the novel there as well as read some of the praise that keeps coming in for this book. There is a map of the SWEETSMOKE plantation and even a link to an excerpt from the first chapter of the novel. In addition, you can read about author David Fuller -- he actually is a descendant of some men who fought in the Civil War -- and even take a look at his blog. There is also a very interesting Q&A with Mr. Fuller which will definitely give you more insight into his novel.

As if I need to repeat this (I'm sure you can tell how much I liked this book) -- I highly recommend SWEETSMOKE, especially if you enjoy historical fiction or novels about the Civil War. It would make a most excellent book club discussion book too! There are a great deal of things to discuss in this novel, especially those concerning the themes of justice and morality. There are also many thought-provoking discussion questions available which will help facilitate your meeting.

Thanks to Mini Book Expo for Bloggers for granting me the privilege of reviewing SWEETSMOKE.

Review: The Sinner's Guide to Confession

Summary: Kaye and Barbara are longtime friends, now in their fifties. Ellen, who is several years younger, develops a friendship with the other two women years later, solidifying this close-knit group. The three women are inseparable, yet each nurtures a secret that she keeps from the others.

Barbara, a widowed mother of three grown children, is an accomplished romance writer, who also has a secret persona as a celebrated erotica writer—an existence she feels compelled to keep from everyone. Kaye, a practicing psychotherapist and the mother of two, finds her marriage stable, but joyless. When she becomes involved with another man, she keeps her affair secret from her friends, too conflicted about her duplicity to expose herself. Ellen, a successful interior designer, childless and the seemingly perfect modern woman, harbors the most profound secret of all.

After her beloved husband betrays her, leaving her for a woman half her age who is also pregnant with his child, Ellen must face all her losses anew. First, there is the pain of the children she could never conceive with her husband. More importantly, however, there is the haunting memory of the child she had at sixteen and was forced to relinquish at birth. Estranged from her family, Ellen is reluctantly thrust back into contact after the death of her father, and learns that if she is ever to find her lost daughter—now a grown woman herself—she will have to confront her shame--and share her secret with her two closest friends.. -- Berkley Putnam

THE SINNER'S GUIDE TO CONFESSION by Phyllis Schieber is a very good book about women and their friendships -- notice the emphasis on the term "women." I have mentioned a few times that I enjoy the occasional "chick lit" book, but I'm finding that I don't have a lot in common with the characters anymore. As I approach 40, I'm realizing that I have more in common with their mothers -- UGH -- than I do the main characters! Recently I've noticed that things are changing. I guess authors have realized that those of us who loved chick lit 10-15 years ago are now "mature" women who are married and have children. I'm so happy to see that there are now fun books out there with "middle-aged" women as the lead characters.

The three main characters in THE SINNER'S GUIDE TO CONFESSION are actually a little older than I am -- probably closer to my mother's age; however, I still found myself enjoying their story and even relating a bit to them. I am certain that many women out there will have a lot in common with these characters and even see themselves and their friends in this book. There are lots of interesting themes in this book, especially those relating to secrets; but for me, this book is really about the strength and resilience of women and their friendships.

One thing that many women will appreciate is the author's ability to portray these women as real people. I found each of these characters to have serious personality flaws. In fact, many of their relationships were deeply affected by their issues and secrets. These women not only had relationship problems with their significant others, but they also bickered amongst themselves. While I definitely don't have this type of relationship with any of my close friends, I don't doubt that frienships like this do exist. Most importantly, the women in this book cared deeply about each other and were always there for one another.

Ms. Schieber did a wonderful job of developing these characters -- they were all extremely complex (and even rather sexual.) They weren't afraid to think about, dream about and talk about sex. At first I was a little put off by all this frank talk (I mean who wants to think of their mothers and grandmothers like this) but eventually I learned to appreciate that women are still women no matter how old they are. Another part of this novel that I found to be interesting was that all three of these characters were living with major secrets. While most of us aren't keeping this level of secrets from our family and friends, I do think the author makes an important point that we are all hiding things from those we love. This novel points out very clearly how secrets can affect not only your life, but also the lives of your family and friends.

There is a website devoted to THE SINNER'S GUIDE TO CONFESSION. There are some terrific words of praise for Ms. Schieber's books from two of my favorite authors -- Jodi Picoult and M.J. Rose. In addition, you can learn more about the book including short descriptions of the three main characters (including some of their secrets.) There is also an essay written by the author as well as a more detailed bio.

THE SINNER'S GUIDE TO CONFESSION would make a wonderful book club selection. There is even a readers' guide with 13 questions included in the back of the paperback edition of the book. There are loads of terrific issues/themes to discuss including female relationships, secrets (including betrayal, affairs, adultery, secret careers, and hidden identity), family (motherhood, marriage, grown children), and adoption (biological mothers and the impact of being forced to give up a child, adopted children in search of biological mothers, and teens forced to give up children for adoption.) I have no doubt that your book club could take about this book for hours!

Would you like to win a free book? It's very easy to be entered in a drawing for a FREE book by Phyllis Schieber. Post comments on any of the blogs participating in the virtual tour (including right here on Booking Mama); and you will be entered for a chance to win a free Phyllis Schieber book. One random person will win.

In addition, you also have the opportunity to win another book by sharing a secret after this post (or any post participating in the blog tour.) One secret will be selected to win a free book. As an added bonus, the blog owner that hosted the winning comments will also win a book -- so please leave me some comments! I look forward to reading all of your interesting stories/secrets as well as your questions for Phyllis Schieber. Good luck!

Here's a little information about author Phyllis Schieber: "The first great irony of my life was that I was born in a Catholic hospital. My parents, survivors of the Holocaust, had settled in the South Bronx among other new immigrants. In the mid-fifties, my family moved to Washington Heights. The area offered scenic views of the Hudson River and the Palisades, as well as access to Fort Tryon Park and the mysteries of the Cloisters." Her first novel, Strictly Personal, for young adults, was published by Fawcett-Juniper. THE SINNER'S GUIDE TO CONFESSION, was released by Berkley Putnam and in March 2008, Berkley Putnam will issue the first paperback publication of WILLING SPIRITS. If you'd like to learn more about Ms. Schieber, make sure you check out her blog and listen to this show on BlogTalk Radio.

A big thanks goes out to Promo 101 Virtual Blog Tours for sending me THE SINNER'S GUIDE TO CONFESSION.

Review: The Adventures of Songha

Summary: THE ADVENTURES OF SONGHA is the story of a rare exotic cat, as seen through the eyes of Songha, a beautiful Savannah cat. Songha is half African Serval wildcat and half domestic cat, and this unusual combination sets her apart from most other cats. She has a domestic temperament, but her wildcat blood drives her to seek adventure by escaping from the safety of her wonderful home. Her restlessness takes her into exciting, and sometimes dangerous territory, as she follows her wild urges to run free.

Songha tells us about leaving her African Serval father, to come and live with her new family in Las Vegas, Nevada. She loves her new family, but when she is not allowed to go outside and run free, she begins searching for ways to escape. She doesn’t want to run away from her family. She just wants to run free for a little while, and then come back to her loving home.

From her daring first escape, through an upstairs window, to her confrontation with a notorious wild coyote, Songha gives us a "cat’s eye" view into the heart and soul of this exotic feline. She is wild and sweet, endearing and infuriating, all at the same time. And of course, she is always entertaining. As Songha pursues her adventures, she learns some valuable life lessons along the way, and also gains some much needed wisdom.

This is the story of Songha, the amazing Savannah cat. -- AuthorHouse

I thought THE ADVENTURES OF SONGHA, THE AMAZING SAVANNAH CAT by Linda R. Caterine was a very enjoyable book. The story about the adventures of an exotic Savannah cat is a relatively short chapter book (66 pages) and geared for kids aged 9 - 12 -- my daughter is the ideal age for it. I started out reading the book with her; but unfortunately, it got put aside during the busy holidays. Since she spent last tonight getting ready for her first day back at school and didn't have time to read it with me, I decided to finish it on my own. She can always go back and read it by herself later.

The book is actually based on the author's real-life experiences with her Savannah cat, Songha. Before reading THE ADVENTURES OF SONGHA, I was not familiar with this breed of cat; however, the author does a great job of explaining the origins of this very beautiful and rare animal at the beginning of the book. Ms. Caterine even dedicates the book to her cat Songha and pays tribute to Savannah cat breeders who are working to perfect this breed.

The story was told in Songha the cat's voice; and I found it to be very entertaining. Songha is an exotic cat who was always looking for things to get into and ways to escape from her safe, comfortable home. Needless to say, Songha's adventures were exciting (and at times very funny.) I have no doubt that her owners were constantly being challenged by her behavior, and that's probably what inspired Ms. Caterine to write this book. I thoroughly enjoyed Songha's witty insight into people and other animals as well as her ideas of self-importance!

I liked that each chapter in the book told a different story about Songha's exploits -- a few of them were actually very funny. I was especially intrigued by the last chapter when Songha assisted in capturing a wild coyote. The author does a great job of having Songha "explain" her antics to a young reader, and she also ends each chapter with a poem. The various poems actually summarize the adventures of Songha which were told in the prior chapter.

I think that THE ADVENTURES OF SONGHA is a terrific book for young readers. I can really see children who are animal lovers (or better yet, cat lovers) enjoying the story of Songha and her many exploits.

Review: Ralphina, The Roly-Poly

Summary: Written to appeal to preschoolers and early readers, the author introduces young children to the hidden world of a tiny insect.

Children will love to hear this fascinating story of friendship and will delight in the vivid and colorful illustrations. At the end of the book, readers can learn fun facts about roly-polies and rain-bows, which provide an educational and entertaining opportunity for children, parents, and educators.

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

I thoroughly enjoyed reading RALPHINA, THE ROLY-POLY with my four year old son. The book, which is written and illustrated by Claudia Chandler, is just downright precious! I will preface this review by saying that roly-polies are probably the only bug that I find the slightest bit cute -- or maybe I should say non-disgusting. I can even pick them up without being squeamish. I'm thinking that my comfort level with roly-polies might have added to my enjoyment of the story (just a little bit.)

RALPHINA, THE ROLY-POLY tells the story of a lonely roly-poly bug, Ralphina, who wants to befriend a young boy who lives in a nearby house. She thinks of a creative way to get the boy to notice her, the two become fast friends. Ralphina also manages to teach the boy (and the reader) a thing or two about roly-polies along the way.

While we my kids agreed with me that the story was cute, I think we all really loved the illustrations in the book -- they are absolutely gorgeous. The colors are vibrant and do a great job of enhancing the story. I thought Ralphina was just adorable with her big eyes and long eyelashes. My four year old really appreciated that there were just a few sentences on each page so he could turn the pages often and continue to explore new pictures.

While I have to admit that the book was a little young for my nine year old daughter, she still enjoyed reading the picture book and sharing her comments. She especially enjoyed the end of the book where the author provided lots of fun-filled facts about roly-polies and rainbows.

I was very impressed with author and illustrator, Claudia Chandler. She not only holds a master's degree in elementary education, but she is also an artist and photographer. She also claims to be an avid gardener. I think you will see that all of her passions are evident within the pages of RALPHINA, THE ROLY-POLY. You can learn more about her by listening to this January 8th BlogTalk radio interview.

All Out of Whack!

This isn't an apology for not posting regularly through the holidays -- I know that I'd be flattering myself if a few of you even noticed my sporadic/non-existent blogging. But I do want to touch base with all of you because I've missed all of your comments.

Now that everyone in the house is back to normal health-wise, we are just enjoying the holidays. Today, some of my in-laws are coming to celebrate Christmas. I feel a little bad that it doesn't look like Christmas anymore around here -- I took down all of the decorations on the 27th because I just couldn't take all of the chaos anymore. Of course my little guy is excited to get more presents (just what he needs.) One more big meal to eat and then the dieting starts again. I've gained a few pounds back over the holidays and I'm thinking that it will be easier to take them off right away.

My husband and kids have been home for almost two weeks, so my reading and reviewing are taking a back-seat to other family activities (and rightly so.) We did lots of after-Christmas shopping, and we had a great time bowling. We also did a major toy/basement cleanup. While I am enjoying the family time, I have to admit that I'm just about ready for life to go back to normal.

Another reason that I'm reading less is that I'm watching a lot more television. My husband and I are catching up on Season 2 of Dexter; and I've been watching lots of football! We also got a Blu-Ray for Christmas, so I've been watching some movies. I saw three movies in the last three days -- so unlike me because I don't think I watch three movies a year. They were all just okay for me, but I'm not a big movie person. I saw Mamma Mia, Get Smart and 21 ( I definitely liked the book BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE way better than the movie version.)

I finally started reading again the past few days, but I have read some good ones! Now if I can just get back to writing some reviews. That's my goal for Monday morning when the husband is back at work and the kids are back in school. I started IMMORTAL last night for our January book club and so far I'm really enjoying it. I need to finish that one soon so I can start THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED for the Book Club Girl BlogTalk Radio show in January.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Hello...I Won!

Happy New Year to all of you!

I just found out that I won a contest from Fresh Fiction -- a signed copy of KISSING GAMES OF THE WORLD by Sandi Kahn Shelton and a $20 Starbucks gift card. You can read more how the author found inspiration for the characters in her novel here. I am so going to need some of that caffeine to get through all the books I need to read and review in the next few weeks.

I was beginning to feel like I was in the middle of a contest dry spell. Not that I needed more books or anything, but I used to win a lot. Recently, I haven't won anything. But, I'm happy to say that it looks like my luck's beginning to change. Just last week, I received a "Book Group in a Box" from the Read It Forward Newsletter team because my book club was picked as their December Book Group of the Month. This big box was filled with ten books (2 copies of 5 books) of their favorite Shaye Areheart Books including CONFESSIONS OF A PREP SCHOOL MOMMY HANDLER, THE PARROT WHO THOUGHT SHE WAS A DOG, THE SOUL OF A HORSE, THE OTHER MOTHER, and VISITING LIFE.

Then yesterday, the UPS man delivered a box full of goodies from author Sarah Pekkenan. Her debut novel WAY BEYOND COMPARE will be published by Atria in early 2010. I can't wait to read this book because it seems like it will be right up my alley. I won her monthly newsletter giveaway just for signing up to receive it, so make sure you head on over and subscribe. Her gift is just perfect for the cold weather ahead. I received ONCE UPON A DAY by Lisa Tucker (one of her favorite authors), a box of Godiva chocolates, some awesome Chamomile tea from Ineeka, and a pair of adorable soft socks. What a wonderful surprise!

Less than an hour later, the FedEx woman brought a huge box filled with a case (36 bags) of Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop Butter popcorn! It's my very favorite and I'm embarrassed to admit that I eat a bag every afternoon while I read and blog. A big thanks goes out to My Friend Amy for offering this terrific giveaway.

I know I should be busy ringing in the New Year, but it kind of feels like Christmas all over again in my house. (Albeit a sick-free one!)

And I know it's not really book related at all, but I can't post today without giving a little shout out to the Penn State Nittany Lions!!!! Good luck against Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl.

WE ARE...................PENN STATE!