Thursday, May 30, 2013

Trailer Thursday: He's Gone

He's Gone - Deb Caletti
The Sunday morning starts like any other, aside from the slight hangover. Dani Keller wakes up on her Seattle houseboat, a headache building behind her eyes from the wine she drank at a party the night before. But on this particular Sunday morning, she’s surprised to see that her husband, Ian, is not home. As the hours pass, Dani fills her day with small things. But still, Ian does not return. Irritation shifts to worry, worry slides almost imperceptibly into panic. And then, like a relentless blackness, the terrible realization hits Dani: He’s gone.

As the police work methodically through all the logical explanations—he’s hurt, he’s run off, he’s been killed—Dani searches frantically for a clue as to whether Ian is in fact dead or alive. And, slowly, she unpacks their relationship, holding each moment up to the light: from its intense, adulterous beginning, to the grandeur of their new love, to the difficulties of forever. She examines all the sins she can—and cannot—remember. As the days pass, Dani will plumb the depths of her conscience, turning over and revealing the darkest of her secrets in order to discover the hard truth—about herself, her husband, and their lives together.


Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Question of the Week

What book about murder and mayhem made you laugh?

Three Graves Full by Jamie Mason had me hooked from the first sentence.  I was laughing out loud by the end of the first paragraph.

The hilarity begins when Jason Getty decides it's time to mow the lawn.  It's been a long time since he's done it because he's somewhat troubled by the body he buried in the back yard 18 months ago...  Meanwhile, the grass is growing higher and Jason figures neighborly suspicion must be mounting.  Since he hasn't got the stomach to do the job himself, he hires a landscaping company to do his dirty work.  If  the landscapers stick to their contract and stay in the front yard, Jason can bring back his home's curbside appeal and project an image of normalcy to his neighbors.  Imagine his surprise when the landscapers dig up a body - and it's not the one Jason planted.  Fans of Coen brothers films such as Fargo will find this a tasty morsel indeed. 

This is Jamie Mason's first book.  I can't wait for the next.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

A Study in Madcap

Mystery aficionados agree:  The best-known fictional detective is Sherlock Holmes. He is still popular with readers more than 125 years after his debut in A Study in Scarlet.  He's also a popular figure, in one way or another, in some recent mysteries.  Many readers are familiar with Laurie R. King's series featuring the master sleuth and his student Mary Russell.  Perhaps you have heard of the new collaborative effort of Marica Muller and Bill Pronzini, The Bughouse Affair, in which Holmes makes an extended appearance.  Here are two caper mystery series you may have missed...

Steve Hockensmith's Holmes on the Range series features two red-headed brothers who believe Sherlock Holmes is real. 

After reading The Red-headed League, Otto and Gustav (Big Red, and Old Red, respectively) decide to leave the cowpoke life behind and put their "deducifyin' skills" to work.  Hilarity ensues.

Follow the exploits of the Amlingmeyers from Montana, to the Pinkerton Detective Agency, to the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.  The first in the series is Holmes on the Range.


In Michael Robertson's Baker Street Letters series, brothers Reggie and Nigel Heath have stumbled onto a wonderful location for their law office:  221b Baker Street.  The rent is affordable.  That's probably because of the lease's stipulation that occupants must reply to letters addressed to the famous detective, Sherlock Holmes.  It seems easy enough to Reggie. A form letter is all that is required in response, and that has been provided to the brothers.  Everything goes fine until Nigel digs deeper into an old letter.  This seemingly simple act sets in motion a chain of events that take the brothers far beyond the requirements of their lease, and into danger.  Ultimately, the pair must work together to solve the mystery.  The first in this series is The Baker Street Letters.

Go ahead: laugh in the face of murder and mayhem.

 

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Trailer Thursday: Red Moon


Red Moon - Benjamin Percy
They live among us. They are our neighbors, our mothers, our lovers. They change. When government agents kick down Claire Forrester's front door and murder her parents, Claire realizes just how different she is. Patrick Gamble was nothing special until the day he got on a plane and hours later stepped off it, the only passenger left alive, a hero. Chase Williams has sworn to protect the people of the United States from the menace in their midst, but he is becoming the very thing he has promised to destroy. So far, the threat has been controlled by laws and violence and drugs. But the night of the red moon is coming, when an unrecognizable world will emerge...and the battle for humanity will begin.


Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Question of the Week

What is your favorite book you read as a child?

My absolute favorite book was Caddie Woodlawn, by Carol Ryrie Brink.  I read it numerous times when I was young, and have read it as an adult.  I know exactly where my copy is sitting (with this cover), and will no doubt read it again.

Not all that long ago I wrote a short paragraph about my love for this book:


"I have read the 1936 Newberry Award winner by Carol Ryrie Brink again and again throughout my life.  The first time, I was thrilled by the stories of Caddie’s adventures on the Wisconsin frontier.  Caddie didn’t behave like a proper “lady” and ended up getting herself into all sorts of trouble because of it.  In later readings, I began to see deeper into her character – her sense of justice and wish to do the right thing (despite her sometimes mischievous behavior), as well as her resistance of the gender roles of the time stand out as important messages in the book.  Caddie’s strong character, plus the lessons she learns from her family and adventures not only make for a good story, but also provide an example of the importance of caring and social justice that transcends the decades."

Our childhood favorites stick with us for good reason - which book is your favorite, and what qualities made it special for you?

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Lost at Sea with Jon Ronson

If I ever find myself lost at sea (which I hope I don't), it would be all right with me if Jon Ronson was along in the life raft.  He has spent time with so many unusual and eccentric people that I'm sure his storytelling would help while away the hours as the sharks circled, waiting for us to perish.

You may know him from The Psychopath Test, his 2011 release that explored the dark corners of the madness industry.  Perhaps you've seen the George Clooney movie The Men Who Stare at Goats, which was adapted from Ronson's book of the same name about a top-secret military project in the 70's by the US Army which believed that a soldier could adopt the cloak of invisibility, pass cleanly through walls and, perhaps most chillingly, kill goats just by staring at them.

My favorite so far is Them: Adventures with Extremists.  Ronson spends time with such notaries as Randy Weaver, David Icke, and Alex Jones in an attempt to get to the bottom of the belief that a small group of politicians and business people actually rule the world, with secret meetings in dark rooms and annual pagan rituals in the woods of northern California.  Are these people crazy, or could they be on to something?

Up next is his latest - Lost at Sea: the Jon Ronson Mysteries.  This is a collection of shorter pieces, investigating the dark underbelly of humanity that lurks beneath the surface of mundane circumstances.  Ronson is a true investigative journalist, who reports it as he sees it.  He just happens to find himself with strange people and in strange situations - and it always makes for a humorous read!  I'm especially looking forward to his chapter on Juggalos, the fanatic fans of the band Insane Clown Posse...

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Trailer Thursday: Instant Mom


Instant Mom - Nia Vardalos
Writer and star of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Nia Vardalos firmly believed she was supposed to be a mom, but Mother Nature and modern medicine stood in her way. So she made a choice that shocked friends, family, and even herself: with only fourteen hours' notice, she adopted a preschooler. This is Vardalos's hilarious and poignant true chronicle of trying to become a mother while fielding nosy "frenemies" and Hollywood reporters. With her signature wit and candor, she describes her and husband Ian Gomez's bumpy road to parenting, how they found their daughter, and what happened next. Vardalos includes a comprehensive how-to-adopt section and explores innovative ways to conquer the challenges all new moms face, from sleep to personal grooming. She learns that whether via biology, relationship, or adoption--motherhood comes in many forms.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Do you spend more time reading cookbooks than cooking?

 



I do! I enjoy cooking and I love eating, but I find myself reading cookbooks more than actually using them. I get lost in the photos, ingredient lists and visions of elegant dinner parties that I will never have!

My latest cookbook read? 

Chocolate for Breakfast -- the title alone should explain why this book is a great read. The photos and the author's description of how to cook are wonderful.  I will never make one of these recipes, but who cares!

And, although there wasn't cooking involved, I did enjoy reading Cheese & Beer and thinking of the appetizer party I will never hold!

What was your last great cookbook read?

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Interactive Fun

Let me say straight off, I am not a techie. My phone is dumb; my laptop is old; I don't own anything with an apple on it; and I use proper grammar in my texts. However, I am hooked on books that use various media.

My love for interactive books started on my non-techie level when I first discovered Nick Bantock's Griffin & Sabine books in the 1990s.  No computers necessary for these, only a desire to open other people's mail and explore (and, really, I do see it as an exploration).


Of course, with new technology came new interactive reading.  Recently, my sons and I have been exploring Skeleton Creek, a great book in which you read a chapter and then log onto a Website using a password to continue the story. Very fun and, in this case, scary.

I am sure that soon I will be reading and teleporting!


Saturday, May 11, 2013

Trailer Thursday: Adulting

Do you sometimes wish there were rules that told you how to be an adult? Well, here you are -

Adulting: How to Become a Grown-Up in 468 Easy(ish) Steps - Kelly Williams Brown
If you graduated from college but still feel like a student . . . if you wear a business suit to job interviews but pajamas to the grocery store . . . if you have your own apartment but no idea how to cook or clean . . . it's OK. But it doesn't have to be this way. Just because you don't feel like an adult doesn't mean you can't act like one. And it all begins with this funny, wise, and useful book. Based on Kelly Williams Brown's popular blog, ADULTING makes the scary, confusing "real world" approachable, manageable-and even conquerable. This guide will help you to navigate the stormy Sea of Adulthood so that you may find safe harbor in Not Running Out of Toilet Paper Bay, and along the way you will learn: What to check for when renting a new apartment-Not just the nearby bars, but the faucets and stove, among other things. When a busy person can find time to learn more about the world- It involves the intersection of NPR and hair-straightening. How to avoid hooking up with anyone in your office -- Imagine your coworkers having plastic, featureless doll crotches. It helps. The secret to finding a mechanic you love-Or, more realistically, one that will not rob you blind. From breaking up with frenemies to fixing your toilet, this way fun comprehensive handbook is the answer for aspiring grown-ups of all ages.


Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Question of the Week


What book are you currently reading?

I'm currently reading Poison, the second book in the Bloodline trilogy by Jordyn Redwood. Kidnapping, murder, revenge, hallucinations, biological weapons, people poisoned with spider venom, a patient who becomes desperate enough to rip the chest tube out of her collapsed lung. Christian fiction isn’t what it used to be. I can’t wait to read the final book when it comes out in the fall! Be sure to start with Proof, the first in the trilogy.





























Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Families




I come from a big family, and recently one of my sisters found some old family photos. She posted them on Facebook so that everyone could see our bad hairstyles and funny poses. One of my favorite books about families is the hilarious Born under a Lucky Moon by Dana Precious. It’s about an L.A. woman recounting the crazy and embarrassing stories of her childhood on Lake Michigan. Last week I finished The Smart One by Jennifer Close, which tells the story of 3 grown siblings who, due to various circumstances, end up moving back to their childhood home with their parents. I also recommend the Walsh Family series by Irish author Marian Keyes and the suspenseful O’Malley series by Dee Henderson.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Trailer Thursday: Play of Passion

Looking for a paranormal romance series with strong urban fantasy elements? You might try this one...

Play of Passion - Nalini Singh
In his position as Tracker for the SnowDancer pack, Drew Kincaid must reign in rogue changelings who've lost control of their animal halves- even if it means killing those who've gone too far. But nothing in his life has prepared him for the battle he must now wage-to win the heart of a woman who makes his body ignite...and who threatens to enslave his wolf.

 


Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Question of the Week



What is your favorite animal story?

Well, I don't have a favorite animal story per se. But I really enjoy books where the animals are important characters and enrich the stories by their mere presence. Here are a few of my favorite series that have these animal characters...

Celta's Heartmates - Robin D. Owens
This romantic fantasy series features a planet, Celta, that was settled by individuals with psychic powers. As their unique society formed, their animals also began to develop psychic powers. Ever wanted to know what your pet was thinking? These cats, dogs, foxes, and housefluffs definitely let you know!

Dragonriders of Pern - Anne McCaffrey
Dragons! Who share a telepathic bond with their riders. Sigh. This was one of the first fantasy series I read, and it's one of my favorites. All life on the planet Pern is threatened every couple hundred years by the pernicious thread that must be eradicated before it hits the land. Dragonriders and their dragons protect the life on Pern, but never without facing numerous struggles.  

Ghost Hunters - Jayne Castle
Set on the planet Harmony, this paranormal romance series features couples who are all psychic in some way (all humans developed paranormal talents after arriving on Harmony) and one of the characters always has a dust bunny. These cute little grey creatures look like dust bunnies and are generally easy going pets, until they sense danger. Then they are all predator.