tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67181654252960293182024-03-13T20:40:39.360-07:00Book HogRecommendations for the 'Book Hog' in You!Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.comBlogger247125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-83728677058631055552017-09-21T21:44:00.000-07:002017-09-21T21:44:18.919-07:00The Right Side<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When times are tough, the last thing I need to read is a story about a war-damaged female veteran who suffers from PTSD. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg390iOivdaTZeTkTDDNVae2qzEbcDxLpKsv9zPUGwmtrR0CpGOO4MwiEUro9-5u8avQ-N5woxYA8K8GMIRErn6infdvR-_y9S1q9zTmeBADIifhnCOqBxIFZUryPpYm-ofacuMA6Ol-vJK/s1600/Right+Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg390iOivdaTZeTkTDDNVae2qzEbcDxLpKsv9zPUGwmtrR0CpGOO4MwiEUro9-5u8avQ-N5woxYA8K8GMIRErn6infdvR-_y9S1q9zTmeBADIifhnCOqBxIFZUryPpYm-ofacuMA6Ol-vJK/s320/Right+Side.jpg" width="211" /></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But she's tough, as tough as the times I've gone through lately; perhaps more. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Spencer Quinn (a.k.a. 'Peter Abrahams') is the author of one of my most favorite mystery series, the 'Chet and Bernie' books. Chet, being a dog with a keen mind and a nose for trouble, is the narrator, and his perspective is pretty hilarious. His human partner, Bernie, is sexy, stupid about investing, and a great private investigator. I've read all of those books, and eagerly await the next.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">However, Spencer has taken a side trip into the horrors of war, and what it does to those who serve. And one of those who served is LeAnne Hogan, one of the toughest characters you'll ever meet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Once a rising star in the military, she's gone through hell, lost her right eye, and suffers from facial scars. She's tough, sarcastic, and seems to have lost her warmth along the way. Of course, after what's happened to her, I don't blame her for creating such a defense system. While in Walter Reed Army hospital, she rooms with Marci, a fellow soldier who has lost a leg. These two hardened veterans who have suffered so much become friends, and both are dedicated to their life of service to their country. Just. Like. Men. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When something happens to Marci, LeAnne leaves the hospital and travels to Marci's hometown in Washington state, where she learns that Marci's 8-year old daughter is missing. When she decides to search for the girl, a stray dog enters her life and refuses to leave. The dog, now named 'Goody', is tough and powerful, and she stays with LeAnne through thick and thin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This was a hard book to read, but not because it wasn't interesting. It's also not a 'hurried' story; it takes its time. The suspense is not in the search, but in the telling of LeAnne's bright beginning in the military, and the horror from which she eventually suffered. I'm not one to read 'war stories', but this particular one grabbed me and made me think of family members who served and came back changed. </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">LeAnne is a woman, true, but she's a soldier first, and her strength becomes her weakness. War changes everything, and <i>that's </i>why it was a hard book to read.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As Stephen King wrote, "Brilliant. Deeply felt, but totally under control. I loved it".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And so do I. I can postpone reading about Chet & Bernie. I want to learn more about LeAnne and Goody.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you, Spencer. This new one just might open a few more eyes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>'The Right Side' , written by Spencer Quinn, and published by Atria Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) is available in hardcover at your local library or favorite bookstore. </i></b></span>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-90988951856827034272017-09-03T21:28:00.000-07:002017-09-03T21:28:22.516-07:00'Reincarnation Blues'<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, I know. It's been a year since my last post, but I won't apologize. Nope. I needed a 'mental health' year; a.k.a. Iwaslazyandmycomputersucked.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But I'm back, and I'm opening with a book I've read and really liked. I've been reading so many books that came highly recommended, as was this one, and I really didn't like some of them. However, I found a few that grabbed me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>'Reservation Blues'</b> was one of them.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTBh_Ru2RLGyYDb2uNeCQQfbENmBU7DEU2D_17-uhAQh83sScZFfyNev0rsIucpqH1JVQnLmK-vccIkU_NgWB63KA76WFSHgAsQ-N7z1DLLjTF0ZFoXB0jjQFfboPSGE3ndyLOTP_rQYw/s1600/Reincarnation+Blues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTBh_Ru2RLGyYDb2uNeCQQfbENmBU7DEU2D_17-uhAQh83sScZFfyNev0rsIucpqH1JVQnLmK-vccIkU_NgWB63KA76WFSHgAsQ-N7z1DLLjTF0ZFoXB0jjQFfboPSGE3ndyLOTP_rQYw/s320/Reincarnation+Blues.jpg" width="210" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Milo has lived thousands of lives, and he's closing in on the last few he's allowed to have. But the only thing he really wants is to spend time (and a life) with his lover, Suzie. But in order to become part of the 'Oversoul', he has to reincarnate until he achieves perfection. He wins, he loses, he comes back as a bug (a few times), a total asshole, and a total genius. He was a family man, a total jerk, and a farmer. But he's a man in love, and he searches for her time and again. During his various journeys, he learns the pieces to the cosmic puzzle and gains experiences that propel him into a future that might not be so bad. And lonely.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What really grabbed me from the first was Poore's style (which is reminiscent of Douglas Adams and Kurt Vonnegut). It was total 'smooth sailing', which in my lingo means I didn't try to mentally rewrite the story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">lthough this novel carries serious undertones, it is amazingly humorous, and full of spirited dialogue. His characters are so well-developed that you wish you had them as personal friends (well, maybe <i>a few</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> of them). Some of the chapters about his various lives are like little short stories; some are utterly sad, some are utterly devastating, and one in particular is the sum total of almost everything he's learned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have spent a major portion of my time wondering where I'll go after I die, and although there are no 'real' answers, this story came pretty close to what I've imagined. Perhaps that's why I love this story so much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But I'm hoping I don't have to live thousands of lives just to get to where I need to be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>'Reincarnation Blues', published by Del Ray, is available at your favorite bookstore and your local library. ISBN 978-0-399-17848-1</i></span></div>
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Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-48967292850444180742016-09-03T23:09:00.000-07:002016-09-03T23:09:42.210-07:00The Woman in Cabin 10<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So many mystery stories, so little time.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Or, perhaps, too much time, and few well-written mystery stories.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Except for this one: <b>'The Woman in Cabin 10'</b>, written by the incomparable Ruth Ware. Her previous novel, 'In a Dark, Dark Wood' had such an incredible premise, and it left me feeling so claustrophobic, much like her new one. Ware is a good writer, indeed. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOwsmr_71TixxLrk8L0WR04FAFBzYlGq3ZH7H65fpN0gJ3txoJPH5BmPIZ2RQ3_aFz1xt7BKZaw34GqF1ADGbGIsn6Pjw_4GaTEdN46ijqBGZC676H4t3wfGiurfQyHjuSwyBgRuWu9Za/s1600/Woman+in+Cabin+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOwsmr_71TixxLrk8L0WR04FAFBzYlGq3ZH7H65fpN0gJ3txoJPH5BmPIZ2RQ3_aFz1xt7BKZaw34GqF1ADGbGIsn6Pjw_4GaTEdN46ijqBGZC676H4t3wfGiurfQyHjuSwyBgRuWu9Za/s320/Woman+in+Cabin+10.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Imagine that you're at sea in a beautifully outfitted luxury cruise ship. And imagine that you have an assignment for a travel magazine; to interview the owner of said ship and talk up the accommodations and staff. The fabulous life on calm seas, with jovial guests, the best food, and sparkling, calm seas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But then you've had a bit too much to drink, and while you're alone in your luxurious cabin, you hear the sound of a body being thrown overboard. When you try to investigate, you find that everyone is accounted for. The ship sails on as if nothing's happened. However, what doesn't help the situation is the fact that you've been involved in a most unfortunate incident before you left for your assignment, an incident that left you feeling paranoid and scared. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Laura Blacklock (better known as 'Lo') is given the chance of a lifetime and the opportunity to gain a promotion at the travel magazine for which she works, but when she knows, just </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">knows</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> that a body has been thrown in the ocean, <i>no one believes her</i>, and she feels as if her whole life is being questioned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But she knows what she heard, and she's desperate to prove it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ware's previous novel, 'In a Dark, Dark Wood' kept me guessing until the very end, and her new one is no different. Just when I thought I knew what was really going on, she pulled me in another direction. And the end wasn't what I imagined. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The only bone I have to pick with this new one is with the protagonist. As with most recent mysteries I've read, if it contains a female protagonist (case in point: 'The Girl on the Train'), she is usually addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. Why? Are those particular weaknesses supposed to provoke sympathy from the reader? And is the reader supposed to think that because the protagonist is an addict, they are to naturally question the character's discoveries? The answer is 'Yes'...but it's becoming a bit overplayed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As I usually don't find such weaknesses employed with most <i>male</i> mystery characters, I'd like to read about a woman who knows her own mind, and can contribute more to the plot than the reason why she has to take anti-depressants or consume mass quantities of alcoholic drinks. Sure, she can be questioned, but I want her to believe her discovery with <i>every fiber of her being</i>, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">without the impediment of drugs or alcohol.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNjkF1eLBoT_TMFWFM2PRz37UW-RFz13YuDM8OYfWS8z1jWdSquTBly-9pPwZX4M6JGh3PDD6KXGdyHx02ABVl75ncLEZVAMg_2r4hrLOnx_jSe58hxF9P2wuHiBjSo_4QlEIFpjwkSLN/s1600/Ruth+Ware.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNjkF1eLBoT_TMFWFM2PRz37UW-RFz13YuDM8OYfWS8z1jWdSquTBly-9pPwZX4M6JGh3PDD6KXGdyHx02ABVl75ncLEZVAMg_2r4hrLOnx_jSe58hxF9P2wuHiBjSo_4QlEIFpjwkSLN/s200/Ruth+Ware.GIF" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Author Ruth Ware</i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, I want a Superwoman. Even a Wonder Woman. But one that is down-to-earth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I want a character who will inspire me, who will make me cheer for them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I certainly hope that the talented Ms. Ware's next female protagonist will rise above. Like I said earlier, Ms. Ware is such a good writer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Book Hog can't wait to read her next one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>'The Woman in Cabin 10', by Ruth Ware, and published by Scout Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, is available at your local library and favorite bookstore. Book Hog would like to thank Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to review and highly recommend this book!</i></b></span></div>
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Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-76680613201827509492016-08-25T17:38:00.000-07:002016-08-25T17:38:42.370-07:00Disappearance at Devil's Rock<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3Wx4dXi-_lhJfY_UaB-495MpeK-mnoAAp23nFMB7L3wDrcCjo79zZy3feBkVplgwyGz67AMgG_VyrBZEQsyRKDnfO3c-_26-mNv-_UXdnpYlyXknjYMN-Sp4H8XY6REcFeF20f9ckSYW/s1600/Disappearance+at+Devil%2527s+Rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3Wx4dXi-_lhJfY_UaB-495MpeK-mnoAAp23nFMB7L3wDrcCjo79zZy3feBkVplgwyGz67AMgG_VyrBZEQsyRKDnfO3c-_26-mNv-_UXdnpYlyXknjYMN-Sp4H8XY6REcFeF20f9ckSYW/s320/Disappearance+at+Devil%2527s+Rock.jpg" width="209" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not long ago, I reviewed <b>'A Head Full of Ghosts'</b>, written by Paul Tremblay, and I really wasn't impressed. Sorry, but the supernatural aspect of the story really didn't hit me. Stephen King loved it, though. Gotta give him some credit for promoting a fellow horror writer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But now, with Tremblay's new one, <b>'Disappearance at Devil's Rock'</b>, I grew very involved in the story, to the point that I had tears running down my face. Any story about the loss of a child really really punches me in the gut. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are supernatural occurrences in this novel, too, but a bit more subtle. One, however, was chilling, and the sense of fear permeating through the story made me turn the pages, but slowly because I dreaded learning the fate of Tommy, the missing boy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tremblay's characters are well-formed and you actually care about them. Elizabeth, the desperate mother, was someone to whom I could relate, and Kate, her pre-teen daughter, had a lot of angst brewing under the surface. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Author Paul Tremblay</i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But it was Tommy who had a diary, Tommy who loved to draw, Tommy the lover of the video game, Minecraft, who grabbed me and didn't let me up for air. Tommy who disappeared in the woods of the local state park, and his friends, Josh and Luis, who aren't telling the entire truth about what happened that night. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When you learn the truth, you'll be stunned. And perhaps you'll cry, as I did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But you'll pay extra attention to the shadow in the corner, and the pages on the floor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>'Disappearance at Devil's Rock' is available at your local library and favorite bookstore. ISBN 978-0-06-236326-8</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-6796805925498409492016-08-15T11:31:00.000-07:002016-08-15T11:31:45.233-07:00A Monster Calls<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Having finished 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child', I was in the mood to read another book for independent readers (btw, I thought the HP book was....okay. I'm not big on reading plays; I much rather see them performed).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, when I received the notice that a library book came in for me, I wasn't surprised to learn that it was a story for independent readers. What was even more coincidental was that I had just watched the trailer of the film adaptation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In October, I will head to the theater to watch <b>'A Monster Calls'</b>, especially now that I've read the story. Hearing Liam Neeson's voice as the monster is a nice little nudge, too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7_tt7kA84Eg3-SZITPJjycoIklmmxP7I4P0EBOb5gt2a7WR26TrOhQLuT3XQMM47m3-iXni5XIyw9yue-ttdz3yliELeU8HgQrFFcxi6ozArPMQS_EUZX1vdgeQ39LtT3i-OjQyin2r9/s1600/A+Monster+Calls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7_tt7kA84Eg3-SZITPJjycoIklmmxP7I4P0EBOb5gt2a7WR26TrOhQLuT3XQMM47m3-iXni5XIyw9yue-ttdz3yliELeU8HgQrFFcxi6ozArPMQS_EUZX1vdgeQ39LtT3i-OjQyin2r9/s320/A+Monster+Calls.jpg" width="246" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Author Patrick Ness has written a story (and the screenplay) based on an idea from the late children's writer Siobhan Dowd (her premature death from cancer kept her from writing the book). Funny, dark, and very, very moving, the story brought me to tears several times, and made me consider my own mortality.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Conor has been expecting the monster from his nightmare, the one he's had every night since his mother started chemo. The nightmare with the darkness and the wind and the screaming...</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>But this monster is different, and not the one from his nightmare. It is ancient and wild. And it wants something that is difficult for Conor to give: The truth.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is a story of a young boy dealing with his mother's terminal illness, and the school bullies, and his dreaded grandmother. It is also the story of a young boy who needs his father, but gets just a small part of a parent who lives far away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His grandmother turned out to be a total surprise. Her devotion to her daughter was truly heartfelt and made me cry (very familiar ground for me). But it was Conor who earned my sympathy; a young boy full of anger and sadness. A very scared child. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Unlike Conor's teachers, the monster does not coddle him. It encourages Conor to release his anger so he can get to the truth he is reluctant to reveal.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3CTSHiDpK7GPn1XSYvq03d8PDKLZMcyaVMNiZX58gRPNqO-zHOeBkBe6CAkDiLI1BLZSfP7TC4HGxl1NGYN_ph5b99ugTC0AD7cAA6PHmrMHO8uio0VLCNEDZDhjRT4XVC2Cm7FttH7i/s1600/Patrick+Ness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3CTSHiDpK7GPn1XSYvq03d8PDKLZMcyaVMNiZX58gRPNqO-zHOeBkBe6CAkDiLI1BLZSfP7TC4HGxl1NGYN_ph5b99ugTC0AD7cAA6PHmrMHO8uio0VLCNEDZDhjRT4XVC2Cm7FttH7i/s200/Patrick+Ness.jpg" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Author Patrick Ness</i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The illustrations by Jim Kay are perfect; black and white, and phenomenal. They lend a dark air to the story, up until the very end.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Patrick Ness, author of the 'Chaos Walking' series (and other fantastic novels), has done an incredible job with Dowd's last idea. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He has certainly done it justice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>'A Monster Calls', by Patrick Ness, and published by Candlewick Press, is available at your local library and favorite bookstore. Book Hog suggests you purchase a big box of tissues, too.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-399849380518268092016-08-10T08:04:00.000-07:002016-08-10T08:04:07.523-07:00A Man Called Ove<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Even though I took some time off from reviewing, it doesn't mean I took time off from reading. My 'Hold' list at the library just got longer and longer, thanks to those of you who sent me recommendations via social media and Goodreads. Some of those books came in at once, so I did a great juggling act.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of those books was mentioned <i>everywhere,</i> and after much anticipation, I finally got to read it. It was worth it, and I couldn't put it down.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3Vpv3MplWrjlI1QwJOCMGUYlxmsziU7DvwQypJ9A_FLDqBVVrjiEMc7K1yJAVC14GGeMCAQ79rUBaukokTWBsuD02SeB77SsRsRDF1Ux_p5sPbHFMsDd6mbzQjSq4qrM9mjbysBhHAgC/s1600/Man+Called+Ove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3Vpv3MplWrjlI1QwJOCMGUYlxmsziU7DvwQypJ9A_FLDqBVVrjiEMc7K1yJAVC14GGeMCAQ79rUBaukokTWBsuD02SeB77SsRsRDF1Ux_p5sPbHFMsDd6mbzQjSq4qrM9mjbysBhHAgC/s320/Man+Called+Ove.jpg" width="208" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>'A Man Called Ove'</b>, by Fredrik Backman, was a delight from the first page to the last. Backman's deceptively simple story is packed with humor and sadness, and his great character, Ove, is the most curmudgeonly man I've ever met. He might be a stereotypical 'grumpy old man', but he's surprisingly tender when you learn his backstory. Ove lives simply, has staunch principles, certain routines, and a short fuse. He feels that the world is full of idiots, especially those who buy the wrong car.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A stray cat and new neighbors burst into his well-ordered life, bringing with them mayhem and hilarity. They all have lessons to teach one another, and some of those lessons are heartbreaking. One by one, other people enter Ove's world, giving his life more meaning. Sometimes, experiences are forced upon him, and although he fights them, Ove finds a way to fix most anything.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihosuKDD0gyWrrJREycQDnFqMWBeDCF6y1f9roFCkCzkveSoyfuX_sq9kipfugfspanEnzM3sUXMFdiS8Bb4t-RQdfUucT5pJXsVdPZaZrTKSa9weN8xfCewOmXa04p4e235vsZUnYNAia/s1600/Fredrik+Backman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihosuKDD0gyWrrJREycQDnFqMWBeDCF6y1f9roFCkCzkveSoyfuX_sq9kipfugfspanEnzM3sUXMFdiS8Bb4t-RQdfUucT5pJXsVdPZaZrTKSa9weN8xfCewOmXa04p4e235vsZUnYNAia/s200/Fredrik+Backman.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Author Fredrik Backman</b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But the two people he has known the longest are the ones he soon sees in a different light: Rune, Ove's former friend, is the catalyst who helps bring the greatest 'disorder' to Ove's life. And Sonja, Ove's wife, provides the greatest inspiration. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's a good thing when one can find the perfect 'vacation book'. I think it's time I looked into his other stories. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But if his other novels are as good as </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">'A Man Called Ove'</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">,</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> I just might extend my time off.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>'A Man Called Ove', written by Fredrik Backman, and published by Atria Books (a division of Simon & Schuster), is available at your local library and favorite bookstore. </i></b></span><br />
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<br />Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-22429594071008169102016-05-19T18:50:00.000-07:002016-05-19T18:51:35.947-07:00Behind Closed Doors<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Have you ever read a story that takes you by the hand and leads you into a horrible anxiety attack? Or one that makes you panic every time you see a lock on a door?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I just did. And it wasn't pleasant. It was bad enough to drive me out of the house so I could take a walk and breathe fresh, clean air.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm not kidding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>'Behind Closed Doors'</b>, the first novel from B. A. Paris, took the air out of my lungs.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgja2UYViMGkHlgrYT0XXyBusnjGDbBOPlcdTsCPSoNPelHf4_2ODP8rkLgQ_7wDBCqDU-XsC1zqb9UhuZFc0w9NUPjxbVKrge1qlp08MZpVLwb_effoatnlC9RDNKa5wXagOqkzaB0ZOjk/s1600/Behind+Closed+Doors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgja2UYViMGkHlgrYT0XXyBusnjGDbBOPlcdTsCPSoNPelHf4_2ODP8rkLgQ_7wDBCqDU-XsC1zqb9UhuZFc0w9NUPjxbVKrge1qlp08MZpVLwb_effoatnlC9RDNKa5wXagOqkzaB0ZOjk/s320/Behind+Closed+Doors.jpg" width="210" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I could go on and on about her talent for creating memorable characters, and using short, tight paragraphs that make you jump. But I won't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Paris brought terror right to my front door.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you loved 'The Girl on the Train', or 'Gone Girl', this new one will really hit you. For a first novel, Paris has written a riveting story that stunned me. I had to put it down a few times, although it really only took me a day to read it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>The narrator, Grace, is married to Jack Angel, a movie-star-handsome, wealthy attorney who champions the cause for abused women. Grace, his perfect, elegant wife, has a down syndrome sister who she loves very much; in fact, Millie, will be living with Jack and Grace in a short while. But Grace learns that the man she's fallen in love with isn't who he seems. Grace and Jack are never apart, and their friends are getting a bit miffed when Grace cancels lunch plans all the time. Soon, Jack lets her in on a secret that could be her life's ruin.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But I'm not saying any more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is a story to experience. One that will keep you turning the pages...but one that will make you set it down just so you can find some sort of mental stability.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's brilliant, it's scary, and it's horrifying, and Grace is an incredible character. And so is Millie, who is more aware of things than Grace realizes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It has stayed with me. And I think it will be with me for quite a while.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">B. A. Paris has found a new fan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>'Behind Closed Doors', by B. A. Paris, will be published on August 9, 2016 by St. Martin's Press. Movie rights have been sold. Put it on your hold list at your local library, or pre-order it from your favorite book store. You won't be sorry.</i></b></span><br />
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Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-28976520642012454642016-05-17T12:55:00.000-07:002016-05-17T12:55:23.825-07:00Night Shift: Midnight Texas #3<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm sure that most avid readers have to step away from stories that are so deep we have to run to our faithful dictionaries (I still have one in paperback; I'll never give it up, even though Google is much more convenient). When a story gets a bit too deep for me (and somewhat confusing), I take a break and gravitate toward books that are entertaining, yet still pose a challenge (something any well-written story should do). I crave stories that don't make my brain ache.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In other words, I look for something <i>fun</i> to read. Something that either makes me cry with happiness, makes my blood run cold, or makes me run screaming into the night (it's great if I experience all three). If you're a serious reader, and one who dips into various genres, you know what I mean. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of my current favorite series is an interesting one written by Charlaine Harris, she of 'Sookie Stackhouse' fame (the t.v. show, 'True Blood' is based on that series). Her new books are about the very small town of Midnight, Texas, where strange, spooky things happen. Most of the citizens living in Midnight have supernatural ties, and as each book progresses, you learn just what those people can do. They are powerful, and in the third book, <b>'Night Shift'</b>, they all join together to stop a huge threat to the town. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZ2ddPdPyNzqZk_FRv03OF6zHb_dXqeAavzDQUFR6IT4jXDdnQsCpdWEHPjIxTS9aOcGmwQ5BxSP4adX0by77Jra2Tznh7PDoQtvoubP9kOX0jwloV3dnGbOGCGPEhR5V8XUSZDKHqGOl/s1600/Charlaine+Harris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZ2ddPdPyNzqZk_FRv03OF6zHb_dXqeAavzDQUFR6IT4jXDdnQsCpdWEHPjIxTS9aOcGmwQ5BxSP4adX0by77Jra2Tznh7PDoQtvoubP9kOX0jwloV3dnGbOGCGPEhR5V8XUSZDKHqGOl/s200/Charlaine+Harris.jpg" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Author Charlaine Harris</b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Harris has written many mystery series peopled by wonderful, well-written characters, and now she has added more to her stable. As with her 'Sookie' series, I grew so fond of the 'Midnight' citizens, especially the witch, Fiji. The others are remarkable in their own right, but there's just something about the earthy Fiji that made me smile.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All of these books are great Summer reads, but the only thing that saddens me is that <b>'Night Shift'</b> is supposed to be the last one in the series. The most recent news states that NBC has ordered a pilot, so perhaps 'Midnight, Texas' will have a longer life in book form. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> hope I'm right.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>The 'Midnight, Texas' series ('Midnight Crossroad', 'Day Shift', and 'Night Shift'), written by Charlaine Harris, is published by Ace, an imprint of Penguin Random House. You can find all of them at your local library or favorite bookstore. ISBN 978-0-425-26322-8</i></b></span><br />
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<br />Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-24973196971275281692016-05-08T08:53:00.001-07:002016-05-08T08:53:59.217-07:00Lily and the Octopus<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Back in July 2013, I posted a review of 'The Rosie Project', a book I absolutely adored. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7m87DQry5DkBrFEGgIqvf4yErswqEZqGA4dG1r9afNtWvqj_1DFUeNZp5-HDDCjANMYG_IPOO8OxJB4rjyzOnuGTftFtVs9x8HUp5da42A8rCIVo32qkgCNyL4yJP3sd8VM04sKTyz5N/s1600/Lily+and+the+Octopus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7m87DQry5DkBrFEGgIqvf4yErswqEZqGA4dG1r9afNtWvqj_1DFUeNZp5-HDDCjANMYG_IPOO8OxJB4rjyzOnuGTftFtVs9x8HUp5da42A8rCIVo32qkgCNyL4yJP3sd8VM04sKTyz5N/s320/Lily+and+the+Octopus.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's been a while since I've come across a story like that. A story that doesn't ask a lot of my poor, frazzled brain; except to smile, nod my head, and laugh a little bit. It became a book worth recommending, and I couldn't stop talking about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, much to my delight, I've found another such story. But this one tugged at my heart quite often. There was a point, however, when I had to step away from it. I knew what was coming, and I had to disengage myself for a short time. It brought back memories of my beloved Molly and the ones who came before her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But <b>'Lily and the Octopus'</b>, written by Steven Rowley, is a novel that will also take you totally by surprise. It's funny, it's thoughtful and sensitive, it's engaging. Most of all, it's precious. Yes, <i>precious.</i> Many reviewers consider it a cross between <i>The Art of Racing in the Rain</i> and <i>The Life of Pi</i>; both stories asked for a lot of emotional investment, and they were richer for it. <b>'Lily...'</b> asks much the same.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's about the little dance of love and forgiveness between a man and his beloved, aging dog, Lily.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSjFyBlNqetTXdVXIioNVPW7jm72k72Y39baRWGb9yIXo7lwuhW1hv7iZKDWuWnozjWdkzOjzoBMXE076NDPrkq6227b_gYJq-2KUayEl3mWwpsOUSOH3k80f_ugci7oTrserVitx0h8n/s1600/Steven+Rowley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSjFyBlNqetTXdVXIioNVPW7jm72k72Y39baRWGb9yIXo7lwuhW1hv7iZKDWuWnozjWdkzOjzoBMXE076NDPrkq6227b_gYJq-2KUayEl3mWwpsOUSOH3k80f_ugci7oTrserVitx0h8n/s200/Steven+Rowley.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I cannot say enough about it. Honestly, I <i style="font-weight: bold;">really</i> can't say enough about it because I don't want to ruin it for you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When it comes out in June, please read it. Recommend it to friends and family. This </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">wonderful story deserves to land in front of as many hearts-and-minds as possible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you, Steven Rowley, for hitting me in the gut with a story I won't soon forget. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>'Lily and the Octopus', by Steven Rowley, will be published in early June 2016 by Simon & Schuster. Book Hog would like the thank the publisher for letting her read such a phenomenal story in advance of publication.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-26415297146312780132016-05-05T18:55:00.000-07:002016-05-05T18:55:52.633-07:00Ink and Bone<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think I'm in love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not love in the romantic sense. More like, I love this story. I love this author (but not in a romantic sense, remember?). I squeal with delight whenever I find that a beloved author has a new book coming out, and better yet, one that will be a great Summer read.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDxmDEV6wOwWt1mWO8Jbq78Lf2rExDLouFI8oLdlXRBfjUvY7lX7vRyAVIdv_K2gCfRN26wnIZZ2bk7hfuL3scBIxDLBLKhpti1NgValRBZpxPUG3wJVcAIkgXwJfRd1hxBv6vg9BwGZM/s1600/Ink+and+Bone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDxmDEV6wOwWt1mWO8Jbq78Lf2rExDLouFI8oLdlXRBfjUvY7lX7vRyAVIdv_K2gCfRN26wnIZZ2bk7hfuL3scBIxDLBLKhpti1NgValRBZpxPUG3wJVcAIkgXwJfRd1hxBv6vg9BwGZM/s320/Ink+and+Bone.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Spencer Quinn's 'Chet & Bernie' books. Anything by 'Little Stevie' King. David Mitchell (his latest, 'Slade House', is the creepiest, weirdest story I've ever read). Kate Morton. Charlaine Harris. Neil Gaiman. I could name more, but for now, I want to concentrate on Lisa Unger.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, <i>Lisa Unger.</i> Lisa Unger, the phenomenal author of stories that are a combination of horror and thriller. Yes, there is a difference. And Unger has a gift for bringing them together in a way that works very well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Finley, the young psychic in her newest novel, <b>'Ink and Bone'</b>, finds that her gift is becoming too big for her to handle, so she runs to her grandmother, Eloise, a well-known psychic who assists the local detective, Jones Cooper, in investigations in The Hollows, New York. Finley's lover and tattoo artist, Rainer, follows her there, and although she isn't pleased about it, she's quietly grateful that he did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Drawn into the case where a little girl went missing while she and her family were on vacation in The Hollows, Finley works with Cooper, and finds that the voices in her head are stronger than ever. It is up to her to locate the little girl and find closure for the dead who are drawn to her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But just when you think you know what's around the corner, or how the story will end, Unger throws us for a loop. Things aren't always what they seem, and in this story, nothing could be truer. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Author Lisa Unger<br /></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you love a good thriller, especially one mixed with some good horror, read <b>'Ink and Blood'</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And the little twist near the end will take you by surprise.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>'Ink and Bone', written by Lisa Unger, will be published in June 2016, by Touchstone, a division of Simon & Schuster. </i></b></span><br />
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<br />Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-26465222285948176702016-04-16T17:50:00.000-07:002016-05-17T12:57:18.088-07:00Every Heart a Doorway<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think that many of us have a secret fantasy world.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some have a 'Fifty Shades of Gray'-type thing going on. But most of my friends and family have Hogwarts, Narnia, Wonderland... The list of fantasy worlds may be endless, but there are some who are creating new worlds right now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Syfy channel is currently ending the first season run of 'The Magicians', the first book in Lev Grossman's phenomenal trilogy. It's dark, it's <i style="font-weight: bold;">very</i> adult, and it's rather amazing. In my opinion, the series is like a cross between Harry Potter, Narnia, and Less Than Zero.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However, I like my fantasy worlds to be a bit lighter in tone. I prefer a bit of humor, a bit of fantastical magic, a bit of humanity. If I had the choice, I'd be in Hogwarts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But what happens when one leaves their chosen fantasy world? That is addressed in Seanan McGuire's new novel, <b>'Every Heart a Doorway'</b>. I waited for it for what seemed like forever, and once I got it home, I finished it in two hours; no lie. I loved it. Tor.com even has a chart based on McGuire's types of fantasy worlds; 'Logical', 'Netherworld', 'Nonsense', etc. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Children have always disappeared under the right conditions---slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe. Or a suitcase with a stairway. Even down a rabbit hole.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>But what happens after the children are sent back to the 'real world'? The children a</i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>ttending 'Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children' know all too well. Each of them are seeking a way back into their magical worlds...even Miss West. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Something dark, however, is threatening the school. After tragedy occurs, the newest student, Nancy, and her new-found friends must get to the heart of the matter.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love the characters. So finely-drawn, so memorable. Some shine, some are so dark. But it is Nancy, the girl who went to the Halls of the Dead, who I remember most. The girl who can stand as still as a statue. The girl who is given the chance to make sure she wants to stay in the Halls of the Dead forever. McGuire has given us a character who is meant for another time and place, yet is a fish-out-of-water in our reality. She's a girl on the brink of womanhood, and more courageous than she realizes.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Author Seanan McGuire</i><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, it's a dark tale, and your heart will break while reading about children who had found their true happiness, but had it wrenched away. Although it's only about 169 pages long, it's a well-written tale about discovery, tragedy, and yearning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">An excellent fable for our time.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>'Every Heart a Doorway', written by Seanan McGuire, and published by Tom Doherty Assoc. (Tor Books), is available at your local library and favorite bookstore. ISBN 978-0-7653-8550-5</i></b></div>
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Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-6607897713150976252016-04-09T11:46:00.000-07:002016-04-09T11:46:18.357-07:00'The Passenger'<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A few years ago, while happily reading the first book in Lisa Lutz's wonderful 'Spellman' mystery series, I became hooked on the witty, sarcastic dialogue, and the great character interactions. "What a strange family," I thought. "I want to be them". I still wish I could meet the narrator, Isabell Spellman. To this day, I can't say enough about the series; it's still a point-of-pride knowing that I introduced many friends and customers to the books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And now I can't say enough about Lisa Lutz's new book, <b>'The Passenger'</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But this isn't 'The Spellmans'. It's dead serious, dear reader; 'dead' being the key word.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2WOShG3Bmr3UdSeNBkMusH0S8nkYaOt878ZzVI8wPDYIjjHXDKdsIfKqn_FUWOVaKBAeCg3t9DMl671BExU1-Z8WxsGNcfFS0e17HWiNUhEOdYcTkm-j8Bs1IoxT9lVDoB88we5M1eS1/s1600/Passenger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2WOShG3Bmr3UdSeNBkMusH0S8nkYaOt878ZzVI8wPDYIjjHXDKdsIfKqn_FUWOVaKBAeCg3t9DMl671BExU1-Z8WxsGNcfFS0e17HWiNUhEOdYcTkm-j8Bs1IoxT9lVDoB88we5M1eS1/s320/Passenger.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's so good that I read it in one sitting; on the sofa, not caring what time it was. It pulled me in and wouldn't let me go. Sure...that statement may be a total cliché, but it's true in this case.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Each chapter is headed by each name used by the<i> woman-on-the-run</i> protagonist, Tanya Dubois.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Forty-eight hours after leaving her husband's body at the base of the stairs, Tanya Dubois cashes in her credit cards, dyes her hair, and flees town. And it's not the first time.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>On the road, she meets Blue, a woman who recognizes the haunted look in Tanya's eyes. They form an uneasy, yet necessary, alliance. But who is Blue? A kindred spirit? Or someone with nefarious designs?</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are so many twists-and-turns in this story, and if you're paying attention, you'll enjoy the ride. Lutz has a gift for creating characters you want to explore, but they are soon left behind, and for that, you feel very sad.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The story runs at an amazing pace, yet along the way, I found myself learning more about her backstory (and her clever ways of obtaining identifications); the hair colors and cuts were firmly set in my mind, giving me a solid picture of each of her aliases.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So much of the story is breathtaking, chancy, <i>she'sonthevergeofgettingcaught</i>. She works hard to find places in which to hide, and you long for her to obtain some freedom, if only for a little while. It's heartbreaking when she has to leave everything behind as she makes yet another getaway.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTvMm-gpW7NnnqCKnTw2qC5t2xf2T5HgGfB-psjKSN9iGSS46-PtGwmXCamWHJGEPdVsv_aHD4Ff_qBYdj6dfeXOSCzM5QFGsDorj-RiHSQnOTp66E_o5YVHyPRjidO0aHc1HTVNPgx7M/s1600/lisa+lutz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTvMm-gpW7NnnqCKnTw2qC5t2xf2T5HgGfB-psjKSN9iGSS46-PtGwmXCamWHJGEPdVsv_aHD4Ff_qBYdj6dfeXOSCzM5QFGsDorj-RiHSQnOTp66E_o5YVHyPRjidO0aHc1HTVNPgx7M/s200/lisa+lutz.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">Author Lisa Lutz</i><br /><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But when she decides to go back home to 'face the music', that's when the answers are revealed. The pieces come together as you finally learn why she's on the run, and you meet the characters who were only hinted at in previous chapters. It all comes down to secrets being exposed...and then the surprise ending. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And that epilogue....it was totally worth it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm happy that Lisa Lutz has given us the gift of another fine creation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I can't say enough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>'The Passenger', written by Lisa Lutz (author of the incredible 'Spellman' series) is now available at your favorite bookstore and local library. Book Hog would like to thank Simon & Schuster for the chance to read this pre-publication! </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-19675465616497015812016-03-12T20:29:00.000-08:002016-03-12T20:29:30.468-08:00'Hide'<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's not often that I find a story that truly stays with me; a story full of tenderness and a feeling of frustration.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I find that story in my real life. I am not a 'young one'. I'm heading into my sixties, a time I wish to warn the young ones about. A time that lends me frustration with my partner; my love. He does things that really, really piss me off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've learned that it really doesn't matter what gender or persuasion that I cling to. I'm heterosexual, and my husband makes me crazy. Really, really crazy. When you're a 'caretaker', life takes a more than casual spin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He makes me as crazy as the partner, Frank, in the fantastic new novel, <b>'Hide'</b>, written by Matthew Griffin. I love this story because I can truly relate to it. No matter the gender, no matter the orientation. We <i>are</i> merely humans, first, aren't we?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I can relate to Wendell, Frank's partner. And I find that love is love.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstSD1-ceteLLCStn_jFC9z9U9Dw9mjebXrq1WEnqF3NTtHw-X2ngE9gZ5f52LDx579c-xI4lqV6b30UDy4mKEn3lTjCGTlEzUJZgUk_neFGKY_P5dcx3QHLBLVH33d94omEv3wjdfGaC_/s1600/Hide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstSD1-ceteLLCStn_jFC9z9U9Dw9mjebXrq1WEnqF3NTtHw-X2ngE9gZ5f52LDx579c-xI4lqV6b30UDy4mKEn3lTjCGTlEzUJZgUk_neFGKY_P5dcx3QHLBLVH33d94omEv3wjdfGaC_/s320/Hide.jpg" width="216" /></a><span id="freeText2995554078302441473" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;"><b>W<i>endell and Frank meet at the end of World War II, when Frank returns home to their North Carolina town. Soon he's loitering around Wendell's taxidermy shop, and the two come to understand their connection as love-a love that, in this time and place, can hold real danger. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;"><b><i>Cutting nearly all ties with the rest of the world, they make a home for themselves on the outskirts of town, a string of beloved dogs for company. Wendell cooks, Frank cares for the yard, and together they enjoy the vicarious drama of courtroom TV.<br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;"><b><i>But when Wendell finds Frank lying outside among their tomatoes at the age of eighty-three, he feels a new threat to their careful self-reliance. As Frank's physical strength and his memory deteriorate, the two of them must fully confront the sacrifices they've made for each other-and the impending loss of the life they've built.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;">I cried throughout this tender love story. It is written so well, and the characters could almost be anyone I know (you know who you are...). Except for the fact that they must hide their love. It made me mad.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;">It pissed me off, actually.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJ8grXrnpIjxpjAM3SzFLAf_fF-0vB-emFbf3LYBJ04X7UTDjguKKqg51L-a7MVd57unm-jksPG6dv25vLhI1PuOWSYrNaxmErjaqUkkDJCdal1agsDWClku_8MUmQJpbm0RFIAQRufh6/s1600/Matthew-Griffin-credit-Raymie-Wolfe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixJ8grXrnpIjxpjAM3SzFLAf_fF-0vB-emFbf3LYBJ04X7UTDjguKKqg51L-a7MVd57unm-jksPG6dv25vLhI1PuOWSYrNaxmErjaqUkkDJCdal1agsDWClku_8MUmQJpbm0RFIAQRufh6/s200/Matthew-Griffin-credit-Raymie-Wolfe.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Author Matthew Griffin</i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;">There is, however, one passage that totally surprised me, but I will not divulge it. Let's just say that I didn't see it coming. I cried like a baby, and for that, I'm a bit upset at the author. I loved the small character of Daisy. Let's not see that in your second brilliant novel, okay?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;">If you love love, no matter what. If you don't care what the world thinks. If love is love, in your world.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;">Read this. Love should <i>never</i> have to hide.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; line-height: 21px;">It must be shown to the world. Thank you, Mr. Griffin. Book Hog loves <b>'Hide'</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><b><i>'Hide', written by Matthew Griffin, can be found in your local library and favorite bookstore. Book Hog loves it, and so will you!</i></b></span></span></div>
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Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-63387779042523301822016-03-05T10:11:00.000-08:002016-03-05T10:11:17.133-08:00'The Immortals'<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mythology has always interested me. Be it in a comic/graphic novel universe, an ancient civilization, or even a children's book series. Not all of it centers around religion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But the book I just finished <i>does</i> center around religion, albeit an ancient one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>'The Immortals'</b>, a new book written by Jordanna Max Brodsky, takes ancient Greek mythology and turns it on it's ear. It's the first in a series, and after experiencing great satisfaction in reading it, I'm anxious for more.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaGNuaRc9xzgIZwlwr1utl3Bx4qMkXzljdinXQ0M2HM_B2FVSqg3pJGjo2yAVSM__Zq8_XMqk6x7O-VBhLyEgwfXBw9LwlSkEhfyEjKbtJJBMT-hC0ZKG1uXlTSKhoiInViue20yAlQ7U/s1600/Immortals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaGNuaRc9xzgIZwlwr1utl3Bx4qMkXzljdinXQ0M2HM_B2FVSqg3pJGjo2yAVSM__Zq8_XMqk6x7O-VBhLyEgwfXBw9LwlSkEhfyEjKbtJJBMT-hC0ZKG1uXlTSKhoiInViue20yAlQ7U/s320/Immortals.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The city sleeps as Selene DiSilva walks her dog along the banks of the Hudson river. She enjoys her solitary existence; she doesn't have friends, and she doesn't speak to her family. Most of of them are simply too dangerous.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>During her walk, she finds the body of a young woman that has been gruesomely mutilated and wearing a laurel wreath. Selene's ancient rage arises, and so does the memory of a promise she made long ago---when her name was Artemis.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This book was recommended to me, and once I held it in my hands, I wasn't sure if I had the time to do my customary 'plopping down on the sofa' and devoting a couple of hours to the story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But I did. And I was pleasantly surprised. Brodsky is a good writer; she keeps up the frenetic pace, and <i>really</i> knows her Greek mythology. The story is set in our time, and Greek gods and semi-gods are walking the earth, no longer important idols. As the centuries pass and civilization forgets about them, their powers lessen, while their anger grows.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As most scholars (and fans) of Greek mythology know, Artemis was the Huntress, and the twin sister of Apollo. She was the daughter of Zeus and Leto. But in this story, Selene-Artemis is given a chance to narrate her own life. She chose chastity, but fell in love with Orion. She was the goddess of the natural environment, yet lived in the city where she spent the last of her days.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABIE_yYsqWP9pYmOJ8mLxX-KmlBenScIh6gooJRHS3rrLMmbYvU7DnpR2787_g47t51ZdpAKABfxVrP3CYJFPcD62YLSRrx_3nC63rkS11OpX1bwU7P5vNrbkJWcs90w_8WIWKWWJAgSQ/s1600/Jordanna+Max+Brodsky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABIE_yYsqWP9pYmOJ8mLxX-KmlBenScIh6gooJRHS3rrLMmbYvU7DnpR2787_g47t51ZdpAKABfxVrP3CYJFPcD62YLSRrx_3nC63rkS11OpX1bwU7P5vNrbkJWcs90w_8WIWKWWJAgSQ/s200/Jordanna+Max+Brodsky.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Author Jordanna Max Brodsky</i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At first, I didn't have much sympathy for her (Artemis was a rather aloof goddess), but when I learned that her current passion for helping women in distress was her life choice, I grew to respect her. After a slow start, the story began to move, and with it, more characters were introduced. Theo Schultz, a professor of mythology, comes into her orbit; Helen, the murdered woman was once his lover and a colleague. As the story progresses, Theo and Selene set off to find Helen's murderer, and in doing so, discover that an ancient ceremony is taking place, one which offers up human sacrifices. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jordanna Brodsky 'knows her stuff', and it's a wonderful education for the reader. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But, most of all, <i>it's so damned interesting.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>'The Immortals', first in the 'Olympus Bound' series by Jordanna Max Brodsky, is available at your local library and favorite bookstore. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>ISBN 9780316347181</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-34098667351908097722016-03-01T22:52:00.000-08:002016-03-01T22:52:43.178-08:00'Pax'<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I should know better than to read stories about animals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They reach in and tear out my heart, even if the story is fiction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One that comes to mind is </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">'Pax'</b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, the story of a little fox and his boy, written by the wonderful children's author, Sara Pennypacker.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDmv0Qmco3At0JK7LVy_8VAqxlHxFeZSMUx_7knuPpvjudYPXJ7nh91dREqH5lfKPMMJGT84ugAydIBwoXhhxuonVVKYlTrrocmv147SIuCaoIqkEA48c0g5pSuGQ2LbgdGSzZDHkgPQN/s1600/Pax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDmv0Qmco3At0JK7LVy_8VAqxlHxFeZSMUx_7knuPpvjudYPXJ7nh91dREqH5lfKPMMJGT84ugAydIBwoXhhxuonVVKYlTrrocmv147SIuCaoIqkEA48c0g5pSuGQ2LbgdGSzZDHkgPQN/s320/Pax.jpg" width="224" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You see, the problem I have with animal stories is that the animal usually dies, and I cannot handle the grief. I end up on the couch, crying my stupid eyes out, while my cats circle me and wonder when I'm going to feed them. Every time I'm in a bookstore, or the library, and find an animal book, I always ask if the animal dies. Most know better than to tell me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>'Pax'</b> is a wonderful story about, as I said before, a little fox and his human boy. The boy saved the fox when it was just a kit, and it lived with Peter and his father. It had no taste for the wild, aside from various animals milling about the yard while Pax was in his cage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But when Peter's father enlists in the military, he makes Peter return Pax to the wild. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Although Peter ends up living with his grandfather, who lives 300 miles away, he strikes out on his own to find his beloved companion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While Peter continues on his journey back home, Pax keeps a look-out for his boy, and finds adventures of his own.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURg0j64gzWqeKEwBRdiIkXJjnC-7LPDG1Efl1mddh5Tk7OBoEOmb9HrcBSGvhnN9mhk-Y3DNr-aS0_PAh8ZQQ8c77Hw_XHhS0blI9thbz7u_mRBMOBQj-iJfz4B0OVAtn73CLEKAYiAOZ/s1600/Sara+Pennypacker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURg0j64gzWqeKEwBRdiIkXJjnC-7LPDG1Efl1mddh5Tk7OBoEOmb9HrcBSGvhnN9mhk-Y3DNr-aS0_PAh8ZQQ8c77Hw_XHhS0blI9thbz7u_mRBMOBQj-iJfz4B0OVAtn73CLEKAYiAOZ/s200/Sara+Pennypacker.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Author Sara Pennypacker<br /></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is such a gently-written story, so full of love and compassion. Peter and Pax make a remarkable pair, although they are separated for most of the story. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But the 'not knowing' hit me hard; I wanted to read ahead, but the story deserved my fullest attention. It is very compelling and full of suspense. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Writing a children's story is hard work, and much care goes into it. There are lessons to be taught, and lessons that are learned.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And, in this case, tears that are shed for a story that will be cherished for generations to come.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>'Pax', written by Sara Pennypacker, is available at your local library and favorite bookstore. ISBN 9780062377012. Ms. Pennypacker is the award-winning author of the 'Flat Stanley' and 'Clementine' series, along with many other stories for children.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-5279799936135027562016-02-10T17:55:00.000-08:002016-02-10T17:55:03.921-08:00'The Little Paris Bookshop'<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's not often that stories can make me cry. Tears of joy, tears of terror, tears of sadness. How about tears of familiarity? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">People have been recommending the book, <b>'The Little Paris Bookshop'</b>, for a while now, and once I put it on my 'hold' list at the library, I had to wait a good while for it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Once I got the notice that it was waiting for me, I ran down that day and picked it up. It was a story that I won't forget anytime soon.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNH1WbgoC-ZRMr1Xr2fgX6PD86Ma4CwEk7cwu7jjWlctw-hrOx0HTC5AyIFf4gRV4W49nudCbLnf1ASvQtHDBryGYNk4kwrGjaOm0pdU3aCtDVmZTriHeSyqL5HaJ2wQTfkyuns_4CKaF/s1600/Little+Paris+Bookshop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNH1WbgoC-ZRMr1Xr2fgX6PD86Ma4CwEk7cwu7jjWlctw-hrOx0HTC5AyIFf4gRV4W49nudCbLnf1ASvQtHDBryGYNk4kwrGjaOm0pdU3aCtDVmZTriHeSyqL5HaJ2wQTfkyuns_4CKaF/s320/Little+Paris+Bookshop.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is at once a gentle, yet passionate, tale of a Parisian man who is drowning in memories of his lost love. Before she took off, she left a letter, but her lover couldn't bring himself to read it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But, twenty years later, he rediscovered it and read it, which led to the journey of a lifetime.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I realized from the very first paragraph that author Nina George is an extremely talented writer. She pulled my heartstrings. She made me cry. She made me concentrate on lifelong regrets, and guided me toward a reconciliation of what I had done, and what I was too fearful to try.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is a deep book, folks. It's not a pretty romance. It's not a 'bromance', either (two men accompany him, and they each have their own reasons for the journey) It's a journey of enlightenment; a journey to find things lost and delight in things found. Her characters touched me deeply.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary. From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, he prescribes novels for the hardships of life. But the only person he cannot heal is himself. He's still haunted by the heartbreak after his great love disappeared. She left him with a letter that he has never opened.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UVnuAdMhxNjOue3XvhJbKcge2d9qJw7pyU-89gIVbCJ5zosTCksFlGkGqTP4aMpeDUn-HvKWwjF1bfWpkwmYL7OffsmP4RKVfnOp3G3vESIksnSMo765qIaH5hatgdwtuN8roBzPF1Hr/s1600/Nina+George.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UVnuAdMhxNjOue3XvhJbKcge2d9qJw7pyU-89gIVbCJ5zosTCksFlGkGqTP4aMpeDUn-HvKWwjF1bfWpkwmYL7OffsmP4RKVfnOp3G3vESIksnSMo765qIaH5hatgdwtuN8roBzPF1Hr/s200/Nina+George.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Author Nina George<br /><br /></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>After finally reading the letter, he lifts anchor and travels to the south of France, hoping to discover the end of the story. Joined by a young bestselling, but blocked, author, and a lovelorn Italian chef, Perdu goes on a journey to heal his soul.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I cannot recommend this novel enough. It is warm, full of wisdom, and has a few surprises. And, yes, it is romantic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What do you expect from a story set in a floating bookstore (with two cats!) on a river in France?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>'The Little Paris Bookshop', by Nina George, is available at your local library or favorite bookstore. ISBN 9780553418774 Published by Crown Publishing, a division of Penguin Random House.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-26721924717374351592016-01-04T10:59:00.000-08:002016-01-04T10:59:00.912-08:00'Winter'<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There comes a time when all good things must come to an end. And it's especially difficult if the 'good things' are book series.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As with so many, grief strikes when I read that last page. I still want more <i>Harry Potter</i> books. I crave to read more about the <i>Magicians</i>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdAZFA9wHm1MDSBZqha3S0BNAjkpmydsiF9kljtluLt09GatJXAtJdoRL4LSyRvw8aRADlKhnhSf4Fpbx1JBJdEfY9sp79D73IDwx0vTvseoMhbRxJkW11FuNvHgPyAJVhdGUK98uU83J/s1600/Winter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdAZFA9wHm1MDSBZqha3S0BNAjkpmydsiF9kljtluLt09GatJXAtJdoRL4LSyRvw8aRADlKhnhSf4Fpbx1JBJdEfY9sp79D73IDwx0vTvseoMhbRxJkW11FuNvHgPyAJVhdGUK98uU83J/s320/Winter.jpg" width="211" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last night, I finished Marissa Meyers' <b>'Winter'</b>, the last Young Adult book in her wonderful 'Lunar Chronicles' series. But this time, I wasn't grief-stricken. The whole ending was tied up with a neat little bow, and I felt satisfied with it. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I no longer have to bite my nails to the quick while waiting for the latest installment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But that doesn't mean I won't be anxious to read her future stories. Meyers is a good writer; she's clever, creates full-bodied characters, and knows how to keep the tension alive. Plus, I absolutely loved/hated Queen Levana. What a realistic bitch!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you've been keeping up with my reviews on this series, you know that I love fairy tales. They were a big part of my childhood. And they still are.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Levana thinks that Winter is a little weakling, but appearances deceive. Before she knows it, Winter and her love, Jacin, are involved in an elaborate plan to lead a rebellion against the Queen. Together with Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, and her other allies, they are determined to win a war that's been going on way too long.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks, Marissa Meyer, for the wonderful series. It was a great way to end the old year, and begin the new one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>'Winter', the last book in Marissa Meyers' 'Lunar Chronicles' series, is available at your local library and favorite bookstore. The series is published by Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan books. </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>ISBN 978-0-312-64298-3 </i></b> </span><br />
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Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-73391711552335901342015-12-27T18:41:00.000-08:002015-12-27T18:41:18.011-08:00'Did You Ever Have a Family'<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Stories about death are the last things most people think I need to read. A year to recover from my daughter's death isn't enough time; there will <i style="font-weight: bold;">never</i> be enough time. But sometimes, a story comes along that not only lifts me, but makes me feel as if someone has read my soul. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I survived, although it took me a while to really get into it. But I finished it. I loved it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOt7gRbm6KPgj94MHILtInVxACOhtDUZ3OKbzDqb-kyf76Gs8thAHPtky7plGfSBRWhtA00LS3CFa1SN9jIdJwG3ZBiRdmd8qGBqGxS963zeyXJKLzCJjHf9xaJ5gY86vcaBoafzgFdrg/s1600/Did+You+Ever+Have+a+Family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOt7gRbm6KPgj94MHILtInVxACOhtDUZ3OKbzDqb-kyf76Gs8thAHPtky7plGfSBRWhtA00LS3CFa1SN9jIdJwG3ZBiRdmd8qGBqGxS963zeyXJKLzCJjHf9xaJ5gY86vcaBoafzgFdrg/s320/Did+You+Ever+Have+a+Family.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>It's my choice for 'Book of the Year'. Thanks, Bill Clegg, for 'Did You Ever Have a Family'.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>On the eve of her daughter's wedding, June Reid's life is upended when a shocking disaster takes the lives of her daughter, future son-in-law, June's ex-husband, and her boyfriend, Luke. Her entire family is gone in an instant, with June being the only survivor.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Alone and not knowing what to do, June drives across the country, away from her small Connecticut town. In her wake, the community emerges into something viable and worthy of sympathy. Luke's mother, Lydia, the town outcast; the couple running a motel on the Pacific coast, where June eventually settles into a quiet half-life; the wedding caterer, whose bill has been forgotten; the boy who brings us to a tragic discovery.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although most people I know thought that I would never be able to finish this book, I think I surprised them all. It is so tragic, yet so uplifting. It echoed my own feelings about sudden death. And like June, I just<i> wanted</i> to run away. Forgetting my bills, forgetting my friends and family. Forgetting every disappointment. Insulating myself from the people who most wanted to help me overcome the tragedy.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Author Bill Clegg<br /></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But, unlike June, I stuck around. I didn't run away. I settled my daughter's estate. I got through her memorial service. I managed to stay afloat during the first birthday/Christmas/Thanksgiving without her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This story is full of forgiveness and hope, love and sadness. The characters are ones I wanted to embrace, and I think I did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because I know them. I know them well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>'Did You Ever Have a Family', the remarkable novel from Bill Clegg, and published by Scout Press (an imprint of Simon & Schuster), is available from your local library or favorite bookstore. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>ISBN 978-1-4767-9817-2</i></b></span></div>
Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-18444770815781540192015-12-03T19:22:00.000-08:002015-12-03T19:22:38.894-08:00'The Bazaar of Bad Dreams'<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The weather's pretty crazy in my part of the country.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's not even Winter yet, and it's cold enough to _________. I'll let you</span><span style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"> fill in the blank.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I haven't been running through books as I usually do at this time of year; that's what illness will do to you. But the books I do manage to finish are quite interesting. Especially this one. <b>'The Bazaar of Bad Dreams'</b>, by Stephen King, is a collection of twenty short stories. There are a few that I really wish had been longer, but I feel lucky that I had a chance to even read them. Some are bazaar (see what I did there? Did ya?), some are straight fiction </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(and very dazzling, if I might add). And some of them make you think.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some of these stories have never been published, and some of which Stephen has revised. He introduces each one with the story of it's origin, or the reason he wrote it. Very enlightening info from a man who doesn't shy away from sharing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>King's 20 short stories have connections: Themes of morality, the afterlife, guilt, what we would do differently if we could see into the future or correct the mistakes of the past.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>'Afterlife' is about a man who died of colon cancer and keeps reliving the same life. Other stories address what happens when someone discovers that he has supernatural powers--the columnist who kills people by writing their obituaries in 'Obits', or the old judge who, as a boy, canoes to a small island and sees names written in the sand, the names of people who then die in freak accidents. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Some of the stories are scary in another way: They tell of real life and the real horror hidden within the nicest person.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zijZFlUXoZlZ4Lwr8Ed1Zf6APqm8xvBLA-4NJoxYJpClugIsU6a3u7jnmQkHazM4WjerKzWKEtnPdRwZ6QuP3t_69kCasb-mH9EFLMZFrGTNH5mkUjMoVQoaI0C67Ivi-KDjNBVFn2Ko/s1600/Little+Stevie+King.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zijZFlUXoZlZ4Lwr8Ed1Zf6APqm8xvBLA-4NJoxYJpClugIsU6a3u7jnmQkHazM4WjerKzWKEtnPdRwZ6QuP3t_69kCasb-mH9EFLMZFrGTNH5mkUjMoVQoaI0C67Ivi-KDjNBVFn2Ko/s200/Little+Stevie+King.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Author 'Little Stevie' King</i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The story that really stayed with me was 'Ur', and when you read it, you'll know why. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">King's stories tend to become instant classics the minute the ink hits the paper. He's done a great job with this new collection. The stories have kept me up all night, and it wasn't because I was scared.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>It's the writing. </i>The writing pulls me in and doesn't let me go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When it starts pulling me under the bed, I'll send for help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i>'The Bazaar of Bad Dreams', published by Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, is available at your local library and favorite bookstore. ISBN 9781501111679</i></b></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-54471001014536110892015-11-24T19:17:00.000-08:002015-11-24T19:17:12.750-08:00'Beastly Bones'<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm sorry it's been so long, faithful readers, but I've been taking a hiatus. A health hiatus. Reading is still one of the best ways I spend my days, but I've had to stand back and think about my future.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I've determined that this blog is part of it, especially if my dream of owning a book shop comes to fruition. I'm still working on that. And if it does happen, I'll most likely stock a lot of Young Adult novels.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGciwHAHKYXQIGb5vqnSBGiSLMC8LXU8zAHpk2e_zFkAFQe7imCznleDzEGq9L-i33HiKxsXglANfF1KBYHBNPiPEapDTdEzgaUarxuBp8zsxf-sH4OAg0qxdPyWHSz2GndPB-h7FJz8_/s1600/Beastly+Bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGciwHAHKYXQIGb5vqnSBGiSLMC8LXU8zAHpk2e_zFkAFQe7imCznleDzEGq9L-i33HiKxsXglANfF1KBYHBNPiPEapDTdEzgaUarxuBp8zsxf-sH4OAg0qxdPyWHSz2GndPB-h7FJz8_/s320/Beastly+Bones.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Speaking of Young Adult novels, I was overjoyed to find the second book in the 'Jackaby' series by William Ritter while I was roaming around the library not too long ago. I grabbed it, checked it out, and ran, eager to throw myself upon the couch and dig into Ritter's newest story, <b>'Beastly Bones'</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I really liked it. It wasn't as <i>unusual</i> as the first book, but it was entertaining, nonetheless.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>In 1892, New Fiddleham, New England, Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, R. F. Jackaby, are called upon to investigate the latest supernatural incident. First, members of a particularly vicious species of shape-shifters disguise themselves as a litter of kittens. A day later, their owner is found dead, with a single mysterious puncture wound to her neck. Then, in nearby Gad's Valley, dinosaur bones from a recent dig go missing, and an unidentifiable beast attacks animals and people, leaving mangled bodies behind. Policeman Charlie Cane, recently exiled to the valley, calls on Jackaby and Abigail for help, and soon all three are on the hunt for a thief, a monster, and a murderer.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ritter has maintained the same type of humor that was so well-displayed in his first book. But what truly delighted me was learning more about the 'house ghost', Jenny. She and Abigail have become close friends, and the fact that she loans clothes to Abigail seemed rather strange, yet endearing.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvz6FH1qxXppY4XFz5CkRXEnKJ5zLChgGgvUOnZMihm9LBZ0UL6IjmtuT1fbROExfp6XwqbrOrCk4FgopwfzGaEsH-ZCKHT6m3qsYkqrvd96sR2vATDVD2HtDJ5P6bNJtG4Mu2jCCJJ5y/s1600/William+Ritter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvz6FH1qxXppY4XFz5CkRXEnKJ5zLChgGgvUOnZMihm9LBZ0UL6IjmtuT1fbROExfp6XwqbrOrCk4FgopwfzGaEsH-ZCKHT6m3qsYkqrvd96sR2vATDVD2HtDJ5P6bNJtG4Mu2jCCJJ5y/s200/William+Ritter.jpg" width="147" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Author William Ritter<br /></b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The story's pace never lets up, even when there's an incident broiling between two of the antagonists. I especially love the story's 'Sherlock Holmes' vibe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But the tentative move toward a romance shared by Abigail and Charlie has taken a few steps. <i>Small</i> steps, I grant you, but at least it's moving forward. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>'Beastly Bones'</b> is a quick read, but I was totally satisfied and am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>'Beastly Bones', the second 'Jackaby' book by William Ritter, is now available at your local library or favorite bookstore. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>ISBN </i></b></span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>9781616203542</i></b></div>
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Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-67501455491255761672015-10-03T11:40:00.000-07:002015-10-03T11:40:14.638-07:00'A Head Full of Ghosts'<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Autumn is now upon us, and for avid readers, it's truly the season of cuddling up on a couch/chair/bed, pulling up a cozy blanket, and sipping from a hot beverage while a few cats sleep on your legs/stomach/head. But if you're reading a <i>good</i> story, you forget about the cats while your hot beverage grows cold, especially during the Halloween season.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But while I found <b>'A Head Full of Ghosts'</b>, written by Paul Tremblay, intriguing, it just wasn't what I thought it would be; I noticed the cats, and my tea was still hot<b>.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxoTB14DfTYzTKMu-wDr_IJ3dwfl3Kc4Pz6q3N219EapywS0AfoY9DzWqXL7z9pSeIMZ37mNLASz4RhYjZG-FBfeU74uQMmbqBSEbmp6VF3PAhNTUsfRUJ4bOCie-lETyRn7h9D65m5Aa/s1600/A+Head+Full+of+Ghosts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxoTB14DfTYzTKMu-wDr_IJ3dwfl3Kc4Pz6q3N219EapywS0AfoY9DzWqXL7z9pSeIMZ37mNLASz4RhYjZG-FBfeU74uQMmbqBSEbmp6VF3PAhNTUsfRUJ4bOCie-lETyRn7h9D65m5Aa/s320/A+Head+Full+of+Ghosts.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's been garnering good reviews, and although I don't always listen to critics, I do love a good ghost story. But this time, I expected something a bit 'spookier'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Perhaps I didn't 'get' it. Maybe I should read it again. But I know I'll feel the same way about the story. It's well-written, the characters are fully realized, and it was very dark. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">did </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">have strange moments that are hard to explain, but it seemed like a garden variety story of possession. It brought to mind a lesser version of 'The Exorcist'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The Barretts, a family living in New England, are torn apart when fourteen-year-old Marjorie begins to display signs of acute schizophrenia. The doctors are unable to stop the teenager's bizarre outbursts and descent into madness.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoygEKTbM8pZBUZsL8sG8lSY16k72Vj21JnKoB6hhyphenhyphenv569uTqp84ra2x6Obbypzw7MvJkwtVc-pBJe2U_-eSlUKyqlWd9fprfNMZ75hyphenhyphenxOdBlxa-oDodTYLPwQEmHp5FzTNOlPpy5JSeW/s1600/Paul+Tremblay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEoygEKTbM8pZBUZsL8sG8lSY16k72Vj21JnKoB6hhyphenhyphenv569uTqp84ra2x6Obbypzw7MvJkwtVc-pBJe2U_-eSlUKyqlWd9fprfNMZ75hyphenhyphenxOdBlxa-oDodTYLPwQEmHp5FzTNOlPpy5JSeW/s200/Paul+Tremblay.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Author Paul Tremblay</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>As their home devolves into a house of horror, they reluctantly turn to a local Catholic priest for help. He suggests an exorcism, and then contacts a production company which is eager to turn the family's plight into a reality series. The family agrees, and they never imagined that </i>The Possession <i>would become an instant hit.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I do have to say that a great 'reveal' near the end was the story's saving grace. It was then that I felt the pull of it's supernatural content.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Too bad it didn't arrive sooner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>'A Head Full of Ghosts', published by Wm. Morrow (a division of HarperCollins), is available at your local library and favorite independent bookstore. ISBN 9780062363237</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-56010059354456237652015-09-25T18:46:00.003-07:002015-09-25T18:46:49.164-07:00'Lair of Dreams'<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's not easy finding a sequel that is just as good as the first novel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I find one, I get very excited to read it. "Will this keep me reading until the early morning hours?". If it's good, I take it to work, or I read it in the bath tub. I'll even forget about Facebook and Twitter. Who needs social media when you have a solid story waiting to bewitch you?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And especially now. Halloween isn't far away, and it's time to start reading spooky-scary stories. One of my current reads is a new collection of Shirley Jackson's stories (but not all of them are spooky-scary. Some are very ironic, though, which is scary in itself).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But the book I just finished reading is the second novel in Libba Bray's 'The Diviners' series. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>'Lair of Dreams' </b>doesn't entirely concentrate on Evie O'Neill, the protagonist from the first novel. She's there, alright, but the story slowly showcases two characters, one being new to the group (and I hope to read more about her in the next book).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHKozTAKI_ROITQrw_GFI67VLZ9qzCo75y5KtGj_KRviGXpef0aCgbEaf1teB1m7-Z9jeTL9lRbjpjPAL8HaRGyG6V0tE79wmwyIMGjAuzJiPtX2JgxLgxiDrc40eCnbp4WPWpuI7wW4X/s1600/Lair+of+Dreams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEHKozTAKI_ROITQrw_GFI67VLZ9qzCo75y5KtGj_KRviGXpef0aCgbEaf1teB1m7-Z9jeTL9lRbjpjPAL8HaRGyG6V0tE79wmwyIMGjAuzJiPtX2JgxLgxiDrc40eCnbp4WPWpuI7wW4X/s320/Lair+of+Dreams.jpg" width="215" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O'Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. With her uncanny ability to read people's secrets, she becomes the star of a radio show and soon earns the title, 'America's Sweetheart Seer'. As a publicity stunt, she and her friend, Sam, pretend they are romantically involved, which brings both tremendous favor with the public. But a darkness soon descends, and Evie is pulled in, despite the fact that she prefers to go to various parties and drink until morning. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Pianist Henry DuBois and Chinatown resident, Ling Chan are two Diviners trying to keep their powers a secret; they can walk in dreams. And the dream they are both pulled into is but the surface covering of a dark evil that is threatening to take innocent souls hostage via the city-wide 'Sleeping Sickness'. Henry searches for a lost love, and Ling strives to succeed in a world that shuns her, but once they are pulled into the dream, they find a friendship that can only make them stronger.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6bvKZ93s97kl2o4CXQPSxwDT3rNOEnxkIEK0vVGOOrzuBrwudxh4H-03seaG08r8aT0QamcbWCVAvtVs0G7cNtNYqCUkjkOrR34IStSyzVdQQ16A-JMMbwxk-Es7LlnEedtqQv-RQHSu/s1600/Libba+Bray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6bvKZ93s97kl2o4CXQPSxwDT3rNOEnxkIEK0vVGOOrzuBrwudxh4H-03seaG08r8aT0QamcbWCVAvtVs0G7cNtNYqCUkjkOrR34IStSyzVdQQ16A-JMMbwxk-Es7LlnEedtqQv-RQHSu/s200/Libba+Bray.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Author Libba Bray</i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although this book took me a bit longer to read, I still spent two days happily submerged in a story that is set on the cusp of the 1930's. The characters from the first book appear, and I'm glad that Bray didn't abandon them. I learned more about their backgrounds, I loved watching some of them take charge of their responsibilities (while some tried to run away from them), and I was intrigued by the romantic relationships that bounced back and forth. But, most of all, I loved the mysticism, the eeriness of the whole series. It was so atmospheric and a great 'pre-Halloween' read.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But a great surprise was the way Bray managed to insert Gemma Doyle (heroine of Bray's 'Gemma Doyle' trilogy) into the story. Just a short appearance, but enough to make me wonder if she'll be included in the third book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Make it so, Ms. Bray. Make it so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>'Lair of Dreams' by Libba Bray, and published by Little, Brown and Co., is available in hardcover at your local library and favorite independent bookstore. ISBN 9780316126045</i></b></span>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-27823064900074422492015-09-01T21:04:00.000-07:002015-09-05T18:43:45.718-07:00'Finders Keepers'<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Little Stevie Kings gets me every time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just when I think he's touched on the distinctive human experience, minus the horrors, he proves that life is nothing <i>but</i> horror. Everything we go through is nothing but horror; worrying about our children getting home before curfew, not getting called to the principal's office when our kids have done wrong. The dreaded call from the police when our children have decided to end the constant suffering.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yeah, it affects me every time. And I love him for it. I get in touch with myself, with my daughter. His current series intrigues me with its compassion and humanity. I love you, Little Stevie King. I hope to speak with you some day. Apart from the public, the conventions, the signings. I'd love to speak with you in a coffee shop; cups in hand, Tabitha sitting back, listening to our exchanges. You're a real guy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, as a sequel (somewhat) to his marvelous 'Mr. Mercedes', I find a great settling of the 'chills' from his previous novel. But I still don't trust it. I know there's something dark and thrilling waiting for me.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lBfPitJXYq5Soamg-7lp-6fvBoXWvPw0ILoEsPBjfaR8Jk62ItlbTydilF0d1_LolRjpoBzlW1Dbr20wfe4sZY6w9lxB7aIF5MD3sIR7EvNu4t_ukoOet45yScLjS7GkA1KND0Ogjrh2/s1600/Finders+Keepers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-lBfPitJXYq5Soamg-7lp-6fvBoXWvPw0ILoEsPBjfaR8Jk62ItlbTydilF0d1_LolRjpoBzlW1Dbr20wfe4sZY6w9lxB7aIF5MD3sIR7EvNu4t_ukoOet45yScLjS7GkA1KND0Ogjrh2/s320/Finders+Keepers.jpg" width="206" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>"Wake up, genius!" </b>Stephen King has written a riveting story about a vengeful </i></span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">reader. The genius is John Rothstein, who created a famously beloved character (think Salinger's 'Catcher in the Rye'), Jimmy Gold, but who hadn't published a book in decades. One of Rothstein's most faithful fans kills him because his non-conformist character, Gold, has sold out for a career in advertising. Morris kills Rothstein, maybe for cash, but his real point is the treasure trove of notebooks that contain at least one more Gold novel.</i><br />
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But Morris hides the money and notebooks before he lands up in jail for a previous crime. Decades later, a young boy by the name of Pete Saubers, finds the money and the novels (and whose father is injured in the previous novel, 'Mr. Mercedes'). Pete discovers he is being rescued by the previous team of Bill Hodges, Holly Gibney, and Jerome Robinson from Morris, who is released after 35 years, and wants his money and his notebooks back.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">King's follow-up to 'Mr. Mercedes' is all real, yet fictional, experience; the sweat and tears, the terror, the horror of finally facing up to the final altercation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But they highlight the infamous Brady Hartsfield in slight little references. But the reader knows that he will be the focus of the last book in this trilogy. And that's where the horror comes in. Fully-fleshed out. Fully realized, as only King can do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But 'Finders Keepers' is a rather mundane story. Kid finds notebooks and money. Criminal who found it and buried it decades ago. Criminal is released from jail and begins a journey in order to get back the precious notebooks (he's not concerned about the money). Kid who refuses to give it all back. That's the power of this story. Who deserves it. Who would use it for their better selves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">King constantly astounds me. What is good? And what is bad? But, most of all, I'm so glad he's provided a sense of the supernatural. Because that is what makes him so significant, so 'branded'. I love his horror novels; no one else can convey a special horror as well as Stephen King.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktYNMzCBuQsqELnNVkeSmHPw3DIHj0tN4bHjhMDEnd7eErvsJTfxNv_Xi0LKqWs8xrqSbwYdfRlc8J6YR1z9NL7xz8Qt5-bzziGoYr5Fa_ucdUojQyUJs9sh6ctJht2R8lvT3qtwH-y_D/s1600/Little+Stevie+King.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktYNMzCBuQsqELnNVkeSmHPw3DIHj0tN4bHjhMDEnd7eErvsJTfxNv_Xi0LKqWs8xrqSbwYdfRlc8J6YR1z9NL7xz8Qt5-bzziGoYr5Fa_ucdUojQyUJs9sh6ctJht2R8lvT3qtwH-y_D/s320/Little+Stevie+King.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Author Stephen King</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is his sense of every day horror confronted in every day life that has terrified me for so long. His book, 'Gerald's Game' has left me with a strange sense of claustrophobia. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">His brilliance in creating real characters, people we'd see on an almost daily basis, is what always surprises me. These are people who are 'real'. Breathing, consistent, actual human beings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That is his genius. He makes us care. And you'll care a lot when you read the first two books in his 'Mr. Mercedes' trilogy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But I'm scared to read that third book. That's how good Stephen King really is. He brings darkness into the sunniest day.</span><br />
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<b><i>Stephen King's new novel, 'Finders Keepers', ISBN 978-1-50110-0007-9, is available at your local library and favorite independent bookstore. But make sure you read 'Mr. Mercedes' first. You'll thank me. </i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-86777637332974465602015-08-27T18:56:00.000-07:002015-08-27T18:56:32.503-07:00'The Sex Lives of Siamese Twins'<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sometimes, I'm in the mood to read strange, wonderful, gritty stories. Stories that surprise me. Who, in the name of all that is crazy and holy, doesn't like surprises?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>'The Sex Lives of Siamese Twins'</b>, by Irvine Welsh (he of<b> 'Trainspotting'</b> fame), is no exception. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's rough, it's sexy, it's full of characters who have personalities that turn on a dime. When I was halfway through it, I thought, "Who needs a plot?" Welsh is <b>that </b>good. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pfpX6qySEx4Ze5qbuz-CeNbUMPgUNnUVT2CsDTUs8w690JRTkoKIGpcukHjvl_zBj5x2skyIe4UgPsCpDnZNZYQNJiCCiEamODdMrDpisJTbJaXYt3FdY7cBkG5SWVa5OpcG_GOSh3-8/s1600/Sex+Lives+of+Siamese+Twins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pfpX6qySEx4Ze5qbuz-CeNbUMPgUNnUVT2CsDTUs8w690JRTkoKIGpcukHjvl_zBj5x2skyIe4UgPsCpDnZNZYQNJiCCiEamODdMrDpisJTbJaXYt3FdY7cBkG5SWVa5OpcG_GOSh3-8/s320/Sex+Lives+of+Siamese+Twins.jpg" width="208" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>When Lucy Brennan, a Miami Beach personal fitness trainer, disarms an apparently crazed gunman who was chasing two frightened homeless men along a deserted causeway at night, the police and the news media are not far behind. Within hours, Lucy becomes a hero. But her celebrity is short-lived: The 'crazed gunman' turns out to be a victim of child sexual abuse and the two men are serial pedophiles.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The only witness, the depressed and overweight Lena Sorenson, is thrilled with Lucy's heroism, and becomes obsessed with her. She enrolls as a client at Lucy's Body-sculpt gym.</i></span><br />
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<i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But when the truth comes out about the pedophiles, Lucy's transition from hero to villain is complete. Although Lucy tries to shake it off, her solution is to imprison Lena and make her lose weight. When Lucy can't stop thinking about the sex lives of some famous Siamese twins who are in the news, the real problems start.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I found it amazing how well Welsh turned the tables. You can feel the anger and sexual longing in Lucy, and her dedication to her health and fitness is somewhat alarming. In Lena, we have an obese artist who, at first glance, seems happier just to stay on the sidelines and eat until her pain goes away. But when Welsh presents the backgrounds of these women on a silver tray, it makes the story even more interesting. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiGpB-8o-n81iAxbblzSHbbKxpllHAYsUswYGohYu0yqu2StZA7fxqnnwLExBgkWE4-g8BqoZQshwn1RhuJ0r8ZX5Nyaatvf1FBrl6Ky2lUouSoRadOQtjKDKHSJX-Eu1kcDB82sCzz4E/s1600/Irvine+Welsh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiGpB-8o-n81iAxbblzSHbbKxpllHAYsUswYGohYu0yqu2StZA7fxqnnwLExBgkWE4-g8BqoZQshwn1RhuJ0r8ZX5Nyaatvf1FBrl6Ky2lUouSoRadOQtjKDKHSJX-Eu1kcDB82sCzz4E/s200/Irvine+Welsh.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Author Irvine Welsh<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are more characters, but to me, they were merely window dressing (although that doesn't diminish the author's skill at creating them). But each one has a place, a set place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's all about the two women. Their strengths and weaknesses. Their needs and longings. The way they dance around each other, with twists and turns....and surprises.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I loved this book. And despite its grittiness, you'll like it, too. Actually, the grittiness gave this story the familiar mark of Irvine Welsh. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And welcome to the good, ol' U.S.A., Mr. Welsh!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>'The Sex Lives of Siamese Twins', published by Doubleday, a division of Random House, can be found at your local library, and your favorite independent bookstore. ISBN 978-0-385-53938-8</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6718165425296029318.post-81116351905898956842015-08-08T13:38:00.000-07:002015-08-08T13:38:49.714-07:00'Scents and Sensibility'<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know. You don't have to say it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Book Hog's been out of circulation for a while. Okay, okay. Out of circulation for a <i>long </i>time. The job I held for three and a half years has finally come to a close, and I've been spending a lot of time looking for a new one. You see, I managed the book section of a non-profit thrift shop, and it was one of the best jobs I've ever had. Imagine going through boxes and boxes of treasure (well, not <i>all</i> treasure), determining their value, and sometimes finding first edition/first printing, SIGNED books. Merchandising the section any way you wanted (of course, my boss had to approve all moves). But I felt appreciated, and we sold quite a few books; I became known as 'The Book Lady'. I remembered my lessons from the various bookstores in which I worked, and they served me well. Man, I miss it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway, I've been searching for a new job, and when it gets discouraging, I read. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I received a packet of advance copies from one of my favorite publishers, I was so happy to spot a copy of Spencer Quinn's new one, <i style="font-weight: bold;">'Scents and Sensibility'</i>. I immediately grabbed it and read it s-l-o-w-l-y. I hate to see any of the 'Chet and Bernie' books end too quickly, but it's hard to hold myself back sometimes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was also very happy to discover that Quinn has moved the action back to the desert, where Chet and Bernie run the Little Detective Agency. And I was glad to learn more about the pup that looks suspiciously like Chet...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JmVEoZoxznL2JNE6M45XnJ3vhaBYXxILKtBoEcr7hkUj4sx75nZZFQMSbW6fYUy3fih3qWvQDTi4QRsSMRDKrvBRyDnzwF8h45a_UNPBuZxl4YyTerHiduGvPYa4H1eZ48MV_kCYpKSz/s1600/Scents+and+Sensibility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JmVEoZoxznL2JNE6M45XnJ3vhaBYXxILKtBoEcr7hkUj4sx75nZZFQMSbW6fYUy3fih3qWvQDTi4QRsSMRDKrvBRyDnzwF8h45a_UNPBuZxl4YyTerHiduGvPYa4H1eZ48MV_kCYpKSz/s320/Scents+and+Sensibility.jpg" width="208" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Private Investigator Bernie Little and his canine partner, Chet, return home from their last adventure only to encounter some alarming developments. First off, Bernie's wall safe is missing, and with it, his grandfather's watch, his most valuable possession. Meanwhile, old Mr. Parsons, the next door neighbor and owner of Chet's best friend, Iggy, is under investigation for being in possession of a saguaro cactus illegally transplanted from the desert. Chet and Bernie go deep into the wild to investigate, but will they find that Mr. and Mrs. Parsons have a terrible secret in their past?</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Chet and Bernie find worse things happening in the desert, far worse than cactus smuggling, and all connected to a strange desert festival called Cactus Man. Their search uncovers leads that take them back to a long-ago kidnapping, and a criminal who sees at once what Chet and Bernie mean to each other and knows how to exploit it.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrVQBGQhOkmVdGVowoXIdYHhycbC8TKhp0q-TcwgIsZD7JdJOvj9HzxlqACXfT5XjXgKd7SqgOnZlitrBeIvHHctzBpQchJW5bYWyjSDVhG9BFjbeqjaWvOwBqzIf0ULXOHnjoGIpxzCf/s1600/Spencer+Quinn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrVQBGQhOkmVdGVowoXIdYHhycbC8TKhp0q-TcwgIsZD7JdJOvj9HzxlqACXfT5XjXgKd7SqgOnZlitrBeIvHHctzBpQchJW5bYWyjSDVhG9BFjbeqjaWvOwBqzIf0ULXOHnjoGIpxzCf/s1600/Spencer+Quinn.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Author Spencer Quinn, with Audrey and Pearl</i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In every C&B book, there is a moment in the story where you find yourself crying (especially if you love animals). This one is no exception. But this time, Chet has help from the unlikeliest source. And learning more about Mr. and Mrs. Parsons and their beloved dog, Iggy, made the story richer. Once you commit yourself to it, you find yourself becoming addicted to a wonderful, funny, and heartwarming mystery series.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I can't get enough of Chet and Bernie. Read the books. Wipe away tears, and laugh yourself silly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I still think that Spencer Quinn is part dog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>'Scents and Sensibility' is now available at your library and favorite independent bookstore.</i></b></span><br />
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<br />Jackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11868782573805016121noreply@blogger.com0