Congratulation to #25 Patricia!
The winner has been chosen using Random.org and has been emailed. Thanks to TLC Book Tours and Dutton Publishers for offering this book to giveaway and to all my new and current followers for participating.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
We have a winner!
Congratulation to #25 Patricia!
The winner has been chosen using Random.org and has been emailed. Thanks to TLC Book Tours and Dutton Publishers for offering this book to giveaway and to all my new and current followers for participating.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Joy for Beginners by Erica Bauermeister (TLC Tour and Giveaway)
G.P. Putnam's Sons
ISBN: 978-0399157127
Published June 9, 2011
Hardcover, 288 pages
When I closed the last page of this book I wanted to give a whoop of joy because, like its title suggests, this novel brings joy and satisfaction. It is a moving and inspiring book. Right from the beginning as I began to read I knew I was going to like it. The phrase, “There is nothing so seductive as reality,” on the first page caught me somewhere deep within. I had to keep reading.
When Kate recovers from breast cancer,
she has a festive dinner with the six women who stood by her and were
closest to her. When she tells her friends that her daughter Robin
wants to take her white water rafting down the Grand Canyon,
something that she is terrified to do, they encourage her to do it.
The women make a pact that if she does it, they promise to do
something scary or difficult too. And so the adventure begins for
each of the women and the reader.
The author chooses to tell each of the
women's stories separately (dedicating a chapter to each) so that it feels like reading seven short
stories with several of the same characters intermingling in each of
the stories. I didn't know if this was going to work for me at the
beginning, but I actually loved it. I got to know each of the women's
personal stories, and I felt I got to know them more intimately this
way. The character development was well-done. All the women had different circumstances, were of different
ages and with different life situations.
Each woman and her story offered gems
of wisdom and insight on a particular aspect of life. I savoured this
book. It gave me so much food for thought that I couldn't read too
much of it in one day because I needed time to absorb it all. Essentially, this is a book about healing, acceptance, and friendships.
Bauermeister's writing is beautiful, filled with metaphors, never
bogged down with superfluousness, but full of wonderful prose. It's the kind of writing that makes you ponder, reflect, and appreciate life. This book made me laugh.
It made me cry. It made me want to take risks and not fear failing.
If you are looking for an inspirational
read this summer, don't hesitate to pick up this book. I highly
recommend it. If you feel stuck in your life, have just undergone a
difficult time, or you simply want to read something that will make
you smile for a long time, take the time to savour this very
enjoyable read. And one more thing; if you have a best friend, this
would be the perfect gift book.
Note: This book had some mild language and some sexual references, not explicit.
Read an excerpt: http://www.ericabauermeister.com/joy-excerpt
Buy it on Amazon.com
About the Author:
Erica Bauermeister is the author of the national bestseller The School of Essential Ingredients (Jan. 2009). She lives in Seattle with her family. Connect with Erica on her website, www.ericabauermeister.com, and on her Facebook page
And now for the giveaway!
The publisher is offering to give away one copy of this book. Entering is easy:
1) Leave a comment with an email address.
2) Giveaway open to Canada and US.
Extra entries:
Each extra entry must be a separate comment.
1) If you are a follower, new or current, leave a comment telling me so.
2) Like me on Facebook and leave me a comment telling me you did.
3) Follow me on Twitter and leave me a comment telling me you did.
*Buttons for following found on top left-hand corner of blog.
Giveaway ends July 8, 2011.
I will count this book toward the following challenges: Reading the World Challenge
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Mailbox Monday for June 26
Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at A Girl and Her Books. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Bluestocking is hosting for the month of June. You can view the touring blog list at Mailbox Monday blog for the upcoming months.
Folly Beach is the land of Cate Cooper's childhood, the place where all the ghosts of her past roam freely. Cate never thought she'd wind up in this tiny cottage named the Porgy House on this breathtakingly lovely strip of coast. But circumstances have changed, thanks to her newly dead husband whose financial—and emotional—bull and mendacity have left Cate homeless, broke, and unmoored.
Folly Beach holds the promise of unexpected fulfillment when she is forced to look at her life and the zany characters that are her family anew. To her surprise, she will discover that you can go home again. Folly Beach doesn't just hold the girl she once was… it also holds the promise of the woman she's always wanted—and is finally ready—to become.
So what did you get in your mailbox last week?
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Kid Konnection: The Spaghetti Detectives by Andreas Steinhofel
Chicken House (Scholastic)
ISBN: 978-0545289757
Publication: July 2011
Hardcover, 176 pages
Unusual. Different. Not quite what we
expected. With eyebrow-raising characters and brutally honest
situations and dialogue, this book held our interest in unexpected
ways. I initially thought this book suitable for my 7 year-old son
but its mature themes were more fitting for my 10 year-old daughter
who didn't expect to like it.
What captured our attention right from
the beginning is that Rico, an odd boy with mild learning
disabilities, who thinks a lot but needs time to figure things out
(considered dim-witted by some) is the main character who tells the
story from his point-of-view. And it is his “oddity” that lends
him a captivating voice throughout the story without losing his
perspective as a middle-grader.
Rico lives with his young mother (his
father passed away) in an apartment building in Berlin inhabited by
an eclectic group of people. She is a single parent, works in a
nightclub, and sleeps during the day. It's clear she loves Rico but
he is often left alone or hangs around with his neighbour Mrs
Darling. He has no friends until he meets Oscar, a 7 year-old genius
who constantly wears a blue crash helmet. He has a fear of dying in
an accident. He quotes statistics and hard-to-remember facts. He and
Rico build a friendship and end up solving the case of a child
kidnapper.
This aspect of the story was
suspenseful and a little scary. As parents we warn our children not
to talk to strangers. Our greatest fear is the loss of a child
through kidnapping. So I took the time to talk to my daughter about
this topic, since I remember the horror that one of my colleagues
lived through when her teenage daughter was kidnapped. Which is why I
was taken aback when one of the characters, Mrs Darling, openly
voiced to Rico that she wished the kidnapper would take the brats
that lived in the apartment above them! I made sure my daughter
understood that sometimes people say things that are wrong and they
may not mean it.
Overall though, I felt his book
explored the human need to build friendships, to be loved and
understood, and the view that even if we are different (slightly
autistic or overly smart) we can all do our part for a better whole.
At times funny, sometimes sad and a few times scary, this book kept
my daughter and I alert and thoughtful. It's a story that leaves you
thinking about it long after it's been read. Translated from German
to English and winner of the prestigious German Youth Literature Prize in 2009, this book is unlike any we've read before.
I will count this book toward the following challenges: Middle Grade Book Challenge and TwentyEleven Challenge
Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kritikos from Scholastic Canada for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.
I will count this book toward the following challenges: Middle Grade Book Challenge and TwentyEleven Challenge
Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kritikos from Scholastic Canada for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.
Every Saturday, Booking Mama hosts a feature called Kid Konnection—a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, visit Booking Mama.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner (Book tour)
(Rated: S, V, P)
Ballantine Books
ISBN: 978-0345501875
Published May 24, 2011
Trade Paperback, 420 pages
Reading C.W. Gortner is like stepping
into the past and into the intimate life of a historical character we
think we know. But Gortner's impeccable research coupled with his
talent for bringing out the possibilities of what may have happened
both from a historical and human standpoint easily captures the
reader until he is swept away into an emotional journey.
The Confessions of Catherine de Medici
does exactly this. It is the personal tale of one of the strongest and controversial women who ruled France during the most difficult years of religious
warfare when Protestants, also known as Huguenots, wanted freedom to
worship. The story begins when she is a child and flees her native
Florence and follows her tumultuous marriage to a king whose mistress
took over the raising of Catherine's children and on into her fight
to keep her sons on the throne until her death.
It's true that Catherine was ruthless,
but she also suffered considerably. There were times when my heart
ached for her and other times when I shuddered at the lengths she
went to produce an heir for France and to keep the Valois line alive.
With the Guise family and the churches vying for power she had to be
cunning and forthright if she wanted to stay in the game. Treachery,
betrayal, warfare and death were a constant in her life. Gortner
brings all of this out with superb storytelling. It's an absorbing tale. Four hundred pages
and not one boring scene.
Needless to say, this book propelled me
to research more about this much-maligned Queen and the events that
surrounded her life. I love books that teach me history through a
fascinating story. This is an ambitious novel and Gortner meets the
challenge with a well-written and well-told story. After reading and
loving his last book The Last Queen, I did not expect any less. Fans
of historical fiction will not want to miss this one.
Note: There are several explicit sex
scenes in this novel. The massacre of St Batholomew's Day is also
described in horrific detail. Catherine does consult with an astrologer and she herself has visions of her future. Like many of her time it was believed that being a seer was a gift from
God. This paranormal aspect does not dominate the story but is part
of it.
About the Author:
C.W. Gortner is the author of the acclaimed historical novels The Last Queen, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici, and The Tudor Secret. He holds an MFA in Writing with an emphasis on Renaissance Studies from the New College of California. In his extensive travels to research his books, he has danced a galliard in a Tudor great hall and experienced life in a Spanish castle. He is also a dedicated advocate for animal rights and environmental issues. Half-Spanish by birth, he divides his time between Northern California and Antigua, Guatemala. You can visit the author online at www.cwgortner.com or his blog at http://historicalboys.blogspot.com/.You can read more reviews on his tour stops here.
I will count this book toward the following challenges: Historical Fiction Challenge and Italy in Books Challenge
Disclosure: Thanks to the author and Pump Up Your Book Promotions for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Esther: The Remarkable True Story of Esther Wheelwright by Julie Wheelwright
(Rated: C)
ISBN 978-0-00-200723-8
Harper Collins
Published: February 2011
Hardcover, 275 pages
Reviewed by Sandra
I stopped in at the local library last week and this book was on display (new acquisition). The title intrigued me so I borrowed the book and completed it in a couple of days. It is fascinating reading not only because of the story line but also in the context of Quebec history. The French and Indians were allied against the British for the prize of Quebec. The events on the Plains of Abraham between Wolfe and Montcalm were in the not-too-distant future.
In 1703, seven-year-old Esther Wheelwright from Wells, Maine is abducted by an Abenaki and French raiding party leaving behind her parents and siblings. She eventually ends up over 200 miles away at a Jesuit mission in Quebec from which she is adopted into the family of her native captors. Contrary to popular opinion, children were valued and well taken care of by this clan. Esther’s release was finally negotiated when she was about 12 years old but it was too late.
For whatever reason, and a few a hinted at, she refused to return to her family in New England and her parents never saw her again. Later, she is contacted by one of her brothers and two of her nephews, but they also are unsuccessful in convincing her to return “home.” Apparently it was not unusual at the time for captives to remain with their new native families. Esther remained in Quebec, became a cloistered Ursuline nun and eventually rose to the rank of Mother Superior of the order as well as an influential figure in 1700’s Quebec.
Esther’s story was known in the extended Wheelwright family – “the story handed down through the generations in my family is of a lost child who made good in French Canada, saving the Ursuline convent from closure and the nuns from exile by the British conquerors. She stands out among the unwritten lives of wives and daughters, a rare female descendant of Reverend John Wheelwright’s Puritan stock who was venerated for her own accomplishments” writes the author.
Author Julie Wheelwright, a relative, has thoroughly researched the story. There is no written documentation from Esther Marie-Joseph Wheelwright de l’Enfant Jesus, her name upon taking her religious vows. However, the author has consulted a copious amount of official archives from Quebec, to the USA to London, England as well as books written about the life and times of the prominent Boston Wheelwright family. The author herself is amazed at the transformation in Esther. Her forebears were strict Puritans, against any sort of “popery” in worship. Esther, at a young age, is seen to have a vocation for a spiritual life. Influenced by Jesuit priests and Ursuline nuns she becomes a cloistered nun around the age of 18 and remains so until the end of her life at 84 in 1780.
An expert on native history and professor at Laval University consulted by Julie Wheelwright said: “…There was strong pressure for Esther to become a nun. She was a spoil of war, and for the Catholics in the early eighteenth century, having any Protestant convert was a victory – but to have a little Protestant girl transformed into a nun was a huge triumph. It was the opposite of what was acceptable to Esther’s family.” Nevertheless, Esther made a success of her life as a nun and later, as the head of the Ursuline convent in Quebec City, a testimony to the human capacity to adapt and transform oneself. Significantly, at a time when other women were restricted to marriage and motherhood, Esther rose to the “most powerful religious position for a woman in eighteenth-century colonial life.
This is an intriguing read. I recommend it to anyone interested in Quebec history, true-life stories of survival despite overwhelming odds and the human capacity to change, adapt and transform one’s life.
Disclosure: I borrowed this book from the library. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.
Monday, June 20, 2011
The Italian Quarter by Domenica De Rosa
Headline Book Publishing
ISBN: 978-0755321391
Published Sept 23, 2004
Hardcover, 256 pages
After reading The Eternal City, I was
anxious to read another book by this author and even more excited
when I found and read the synopsis of this book. It is the story of
Sophie who delves into her Italian grandfather's past when he was a
POW in Britain and considered a dangerous criminal with connections
to Fascism and Mussolini. I simply couldn't wait to read this book.
But I was left disappointed.
The novel is divided into three parts.
The first part introduces Sophie and her family with their Italian
roots stemming from her charismatic and respected grandfather Cesare.
We learn of Sophie's affair with an older Italian man in Rome years
ago. Her life now seems at a standstill until Antonio, her third
cousin, brings up the possibility that Cesare may have been a
Fascist. The second part is Cesare's story as he narrates it from his
humble beginning in the Italian quarter of London's Clerkenwell to
his present day. And the third part is the conclusion to what could
have been but was not a good plot.
First off, I did not like the main
character. I kept reading in the hopes that this would change but I
disliked her more by the end. She ends up having an affair with her third cousin (recently divorced and brooding) Antonio, with whom she exchanges a few words throughout the
novel. They kept tearing off each other's clothes. I really wondered
what their relationship was based on apart from lust. Oh, and in
between all this she sleeps twice with a journalist she doesn't care about. Actually, after the first time they had sex, she was left repulsed. And she sleeps with him again!! She
ends up pregnant at the of the book with no clue as to who the father
is. And then the story ends. Just like that. I wanted to throw the
book across the room.
The only part of the book I liked was
Cesare's story, but even this fell flat as it lacked the suspense I
expected from the synopsis. It was interesting, however, to learn
about how Italian immigrants were viewed in Britain at the turn of
the century and how Mussolini and the events of WWII changed things.
This author's last book left me with so much longing for Italy and
although this feeling did assault me a few times as I read this book,
overall, it was not what I expected.
Note: There are a few f-words in this novel, and although not explicit, there are several sex scenes and sexual references.
I will count this book for the following challenges: Italy in Books Challenge and Support Your Local Library Challenge
Disclosure: I borrowed this book from the library. I was not told how to rate or review this product.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Mailbox Monday for June 19
Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at A Girl and Her Books. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Bluestocking is hosting for the month of June. You can view the touring blog list at Mailbox Monday blog for the upcoming months.
Summer Fit contains grade appropriate, basic skill activities in reading, writing, math and language arts. The daily fitness component is a fun and easy-to-use exercise routine that gets children moving on a daily basis and is designed to help children build healthy exercise habits while away from school. Children choose from Aerobic, Strength and Sport activities using a Fitness Index developed by professional trainers, school coaches and parents. Exercises are reinforced online with videos that show children performing each of the different exercises.
Weekly core value activities and exercises are a resource for parents and guardians to use in talking about and teaching good character and values. Each week a different value is introduced and reinforced using real world examples of a person who represents that value.
Summer Fit is the most comprehensive summer workbook available and provides parents with the tools and the motivation to develop the physical and social well being of their child as well as the academic.
Summer Fit includes online games to reinforce basic skills in reading, writing and language arts.
This is what I got from Cindy at Cindy's Love of Books
Divergent by Veronica Roth
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.
Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.
Songs for a Teenage Nomad by Kim Culbertson
After living in twelve places in eight years, Calle Smith finds herself in Andreas Bay, California, at the start of ninth grade. Another new home, another new school...Calle knows better than to put down roots. Her song journal keeps her moving to her own soundtrack, bouncing through a world best kept at a distance.
Yet before she knows it, friends creep in-as does an unlikely boy with a secret. Calle is torn over what may be her first chance at love. With all that she's hiding and all that she wants, can she find something lasting beyond music? And will she ever discover why she and her mother have been running in the first place?
The Guilty Plea by Robert Rotenberg
On the morning his high-profile divorce trial is set to begin, Terrance Wyler, the youngest son of Toronto’s Wyler Food dynasty, is found stabbed to death in the kitchen of his luxurious home. Detective Ari Greene arrives minutes before the press and finds Wyler’s four-year-old son asleep upstairs. Hours later, when Wyler’s wife, Samantha, shows up at her lawyer’s office with a bloody knife wrapped in a towel, the case looks like a straightforward guilty plea.
Instead, an open-and-shut case becomes a complex murder trial, full of spite and uncertainty. There’s April Goodling, the Hollywood starlet with whom Terrance had a well-publicized dalliance, and Brandon Legacy, the teenage neighbor who was with Samantha the night of the murder. After a series of devastating cross-examinations, there’s no telling where the jury’s sympathies will lie.
As in Old City Hall, Rotenberg’s gift for twists and turns is always astonishing, but his true star remains the courtroom: the tension, disclosures, and machinations that drive this trial straight to its unpredictable verdict.
So what did you get in your mailbox last week?
Saturday, June 18, 2011
The Lovely Shoes by Susan Shreve
Arthur A. Levine
ISBN: 978-0439680493
Published June 2011
Hardcover, 256 pages
It's 1956. All the teens are in love
with Elvis Presley and swinging on the dance floor. Franny is a
beautiful girl with a birth defect. She needs to wear ugly,
orthopaedic shoes because her left foot is “crippled” as her
father, the paediatrician would say.
At fourteen, Franny is experiencing new issues. Her mother, Margaret, is a tour de force, beautiful, elegant and flamboyant in their small Ohio town. She is determined for Franny to have fun as a teenager without letting her physical impediment get in the way. This embarrasses Franny, as her mother disregards Franny's fears of going to the school dance and being unable to fast dance. She takes Franny shopping for a new dress and makes her experiment with new shoes.
At fourteen, Franny is experiencing new issues. Her mother, Margaret, is a tour de force, beautiful, elegant and flamboyant in their small Ohio town. She is determined for Franny to have fun as a teenager without letting her physical impediment get in the way. This embarrasses Franny, as her mother disregards Franny's fears of going to the school dance and being unable to fast dance. She takes Franny shopping for a new dress and makes her experiment with new shoes.
Because of this, a very embarrassing
incident happens at the school dance and Franny's anger silently
boils over so that she no longer wants to be the sweet accommodating
girl everyone loves and takes for granted. But Franny's mom doesn't
give up and decides to write to Salvatore Ferragamo, a well-known
Italian shoemaker, asking him to create a beautiful pair of shoes
specifically for her daughter. The journey to Italy helps Franny to
accept herself as she is while appreciating the mother who loves her
unconditionally and who will concoct crazy plans to make sure Franny
does not miss out on the joys of first experiences.
Although I am certainly different from
Margaret, I admired the way she understood her daughter's pain and
patiently did her best to help her. She was a fun mom, even though
Franny did not think so at the time. Franny hated the fact they were
going to Italy specifically because of her deformed foot and not for
the sake of going on a trip. The author handles Franny's anger well,
and although Franny is passively aggressive, it's clear she needs to
come to terms with her angry feelings and her self-image. Her inner
strength is hidden within her, and she discovers it when others who
matter see her for who she is and not for what she can or cannot do.
This story is based on the author's own
experience of having had polio and undergone surgeries, making it
possible for her to walk and run. She also went to Italy after her
mother wrote to Ferragamo to have a pair of shoes made for her. The
author has certainly succeeded in taking her experiences and turning
them into a beautiful story! I enjoyed reading it. I also liked
Franny's relationship with her younger brother which made me think of
my own children, a sister and brother team. Sometimes, the writing
felt choppy, but overall, it's a story teens will appreciate.
I started reading this to my 10
year-old daughter but decided she should read it when a little older
since the main character had finished 8th grade, while my
daughter was only ending 4th grade. She couldn't relate to
the themes relating to high school and dating. Frankly, I would
rather she wait before reading books that explore discovering boys.
She has plenty of time for that later. So although this book is
marketed for middle grade (9-12) I thought of it more for teen or YA.
This is a coming of age story, perfect
for mother/daughter book clubs who want to explore mother and
daughter relationships, inner beauty versus outer beauty, and the
emotionally-wrought world of teens and high school.
Disclosure: I received this book from Nikole Kritikos of Scholastic Canada. I was not told how to rate or review this book.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The Art of Forgetting by Camille Noe Pagan (TLC Book Tour and Giveaway)
Dutton (Penguin Group)
ISBN: 978-0525952190
Published June 9, 2011
Hardcover, 304 pages
Marissa and Julia have been best
friends since childhood. Marissa is a smart, quiet girl with a
conciliatory nature. She has always battled with her weight and lack
of self-esteem, and her relationship with Julia makes her feel
needed. Julia, on the other hand is gorgeous, charismatic and
possessive. They are opposite in character but inseparable as
friends. Now, ten years later, they are living their dream of living
in New York city—Marissa as senior editor of a glossy health
magazine and Julia as a publicist for NYC Ballet. Their relationship
changes suddenly, though, when Julia is hit by a cab and suffers a
traumatic brain injury that affects her memory and alters her
personality.
The Art of Forgetting is a novel about
friendships and defining who we are through them. When Julia brings
up the past, trying to reunite Marissa with her first love ten years
ago because of the guilt she feels at having separated them years
ago, Marissa is forced to confront her decisions both past and
present. Ultimately, Marissa discovers her strengths, her beauty, and
appreciation for what she has in her life.
I liked Marissa right from the start,
with her insecurities, her loyalty and devotion, and her kindness.
The whole brain injury setting was fascinating and the author even
includes resources on traumatic brain injury at the back of the
novel, stating that each year an estimated 1.4 to 1.7 million people
in the US will suffer a brain injury. Truly a sobering statistic.
I also liked Julia, with her “joie de
vivre”, inability to commit in relationships and her
possessiveness. My heart ached for her as she struggled to cope with
her accident and the changes it brought in her life. The equilibrium
of her relationship with Marissa was jolted by the effects of this
accident but as with all close friendships, both Marissa and Julia
discover a new level of their relationship through forgiving and
forgetting—the foundation of any strong friendship.
I found this novel refreshing and
thought-provoking. It made me appreciate the wonderful friendships in
my life, from my husband to my closest girl friends. The serious
topic, the setting, the evolution of the characters and the theme of
forgiveness and moving ahead made this a satisfying and memorable
reading experience.
Note: This book includes a few f-words.
About the author:
Camille Noe Pagán is the author of the debut novel The Art of Forgetting (Dutton / Penguin, June 2011). She’s also a journalist specializing in health and nutrition; her work has appeared in Glamour, O: The Oprah Magazine, SELF and Women’s Health, among others.For more information on Camille, visit her website, www.camillenoepagan.com
Buy The Art of Forgetting at Amazon.com.
Read more reviews at Camille's TLC book tour stops.
And now for the giveaway!
The publisher is offering to give away one copy of this book. Entering is easy:
1) Leave a comment with an email address.
2) Giveaway open to Canada and US.
Extra entries:
Each extra entry must be a separate comment.
1) If you are a follower, new or current, leave a comment telling me so.
2) Like me on Facebook and leave me a comment telling me you did.
3) Follow me on Twitter and leave me a comment telling me you did.
*Buttons for following found on top left-hand corner of blog.
Each extra entry must be a separate comment.
1) If you are a follower, new or current, leave a comment telling me so.
2) Like me on Facebook and leave me a comment telling me you did.
3) Follow me on Twitter and leave me a comment telling me you did.
*Buttons for following found on top left-hand corner of blog.
Giveaway ends June 24, 2011.
Disclosure: Thanks to Liza Cassity from Dutton and TLC Book Tours for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Winner of the Vega Prize Pack
The winner was chosen using Random.org and has been contacted by email. Thanks to Penguin Canada and Vega for offering this Prize Pack. A big thank you to all who participated and to those of you who have become new followers.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Frederico, the Mouse Violinist by Mayra Calvani (Book Tour)
Guardian Angel Publishing
ISBN: 978-1616331146
Published Nov 2010
Paperback, 24 pages
Ages 4-8
My seven-year old son plays the violin.
So when I saw this book, I wanted to read it to him. And I'm so glad
I did because it inspired and touched him!
Frederico is a little mouse who lives
in the workshop of Antonio Stradivari, the famous Italian luthier or
violin maker. He longs to play the violin and is delighted when
Stradivari gives him a gift. Throughout the story, we learn about the
violin and its parts as Frederico entertains himself at night after
the violin maker leaves the workshop. The different names of the
parts of the violin are written in bold in the text and my son was
happy to learn them since he knew them only in French. (His violin
teacher is French Canadian.)
The illustrations are delightful and my
son commented on the bright background that he particularly liked.
The use of the color yellow illuminating the scenes gave such warmth
to the pictures. “It's a happy story, Mom,” he added, “with no
sad parts.” Clearly, this book with its cute mouse and wise luthier
made him happy. In addition, there are several activities relating to the
story that are included at the end of the book.
My ten-year old daughter also listened
to the story as I read it and found it sweet, simple and very
interesting since we learned about the famous Italian luthier who
lived from 1644 to 1737 and whose violins today are worth millions of
dollars. This led us to do more research on the Internet and we
became fascinated with the Stradivarius violins. The story of
Frederico, the mouse who had a passion for violin playing, and
learning some history about this beautiful instrument inspired my son
to pick up his violin and practise his songs, the ones he played in
his concert just yesterday on a stage full of other violinists.
This is a lovely book for any child who
loves to play a musical instrument but especially the child who is a budding violin player.
Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. Her nonfiction work, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing was a ForeWord Best Book of the Year Award winner. She’s had over 300 stories, articles, interviews and reviews published. Frederico, the Mouse Violinist is her fifth and latest children’s picture book.
Mayra reviews for SimplySharly.com and is co-editor of Voice in the Dark Ezine. She also offers book reviewing workshops online. Visit her website at www.MayraCalvani.com. For her children’s books, visit www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com. You can find Voice in the Dark at http://voice-in-the-dark.com. You can also connect with Mayra on Facebook and Twitter.
I will count this book for the following challenge: Italy in Books Challenge
Disclosure: I received a pdf version of this book through Pump Up Your Book Promotions. I was not told how to rate or review this product.
Monday, June 13, 2011
To Be Queen: A Novel of the Early Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine by Christy English
New American Library
ISBN: 978-0451232304
Published April 5, 2011
Trade Paperback, 400 pages
What an engrossing read! Christy
English has managed the incredible feat of taking the much-read and
written-of Eleanor of Aquitaine and bringing her alive through the
pages of To Be Queen. The author's writing is seductively seamless
and unencumbered and draws the reader in quickly and effortlessly. I
absolutely loved reading this book!
The novel covers Eleanor's life from
childhood as she is taught by her father, the Duke of Aquitaine, to
her marriage with King Louis VII, her rule as Queen, and finally, to
her annulment after fifteen years of marriage. With captivating
prose, the author sweeps the reader into the world of royalty, power,
betrayal, and treachery. Written in the first person, we experience
Eleanor's life through her eyes, her desires, her ambitions and her
losses. I especially enjoyed the journey into the Empire of
Byzantium. Again, the exotic world was easily captured and revealed
through the author's deft pen.
The character of Eleanor is so well
built that from the beginning the reader is captivated by this strong
woman who fights to rule at a time when men dominated the throne. She
encounters many enemies along the way, and I was fascinated to see
how she handled herself in the French court and partially gained her
husband's ear even though he was pulled by the corrupt teachings of
the Church.
In the end, though, King Louis stood in
the way of her desire to be free to rule her own kingdom. He did not
share her ambition and remarkably, Eleanor succeeded in doing
something only men were known do to—dissolve her marriage union.
She was a woman who knew what she wanted and sought it no matter the
cost. I am always amazed at how children of royalty are really not
brought up by the king and queen at all but rather prepared by the
court to be “sold” into a marriage contract for political
alliances when barely into their teens.
I have no doubt that fans of historical
fiction will devour this one quickly. I am eagerly anticipating more
from this fascinating storyteller, and I will look to read her other
historical novel The Queen's Pawn at my earliest convenience.
Note: Although tastefully written, this
book contains three explicit sex scenes.
I will count this book for the following challenges: Historical Fiction Challenge
Disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending me this book for review. I was not told how to rate or review this product.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Mailbox Monday for June 12
Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at A Girl and Her Books. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Bluestocking is hosting for the month of June. You can view the touring blog list at Mailbox Monday blog for the upcoming months.
The Singleton family's fortunes seem unaffected by the Great Depression, and Perri--along with the other girls at Atlanta's elite Washington Seminary--lives a carefree life of tea dances with college boys, matinees at the cinema, and debut parties. But when tragedies strike, Perri is confronted with a world far different from the one she has always known.
At the insistence of her parents, Mary "Dobbs" Dillard, the daughter of an itinerant preacher, is sent from inner-city Chicago to live with her aunt and attend Washington Seminary, bringing confrontation and radical ideas. Her arrival intersects at the point of Perri's ultimate crisis, and the tragedy forges an unlikely friendship. The Sweetest Thing tells the story of two remarkable young women--opposites in every way--fighting for the same goal: surviving tumultuous change.
Nerve: Poise Under Pressure, Serenity Under Stress, and the Brave New Science of Fear and Cool by Taylor Clark (win from Psychotic State)
Nerves make us bomb job interviews, first dates, and SATs. With a presentation looming at work, fear robs us of sleep for days. It paralyzes seasoned concert musicians and freezes rookie cops in tight situations. And yet not everyone cracks. Soldiers keep their heads in combat; firemen rush into burning buildings; unflappable trauma doctors juggle patient after patient. It's not that these people feel no fear; often, in fact, they're riddled with it.
In Nerve, Taylor Clark draws upon cutting-edge science and painstaking reporting to explore the very heart of panic and poise. Using a wide range of case studies, Clark overturns the popular myths about anxiety and fear to explain why some people thrive under pressure, while others falter-and how we can go forward with steadier nerves and increased confidence.
Cascade by Lisa T. Bergren (bought at Book Depository)
Gabi knows she’s left her heart in the fourteenth century and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence—while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead.
But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she’s willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever.
So what did you receive in your mailbox last week?
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The Mysterious Four #1: Hauntings and Heists by Dan Poblocki
Scholastic Inc
ISBN: 978-0545299800
Published May 2011
Paperback, 176 pages
My daughter took one look at the book
cover and I could tell she wasn't interested in reading it. As usual,
I gave her the “let's give it a chance” speech and before you
know it we got into this book and enjoyed trying to solve its
mysteries.
Viola Hart is new to Moon Hollow. She
is described as short and a bit plump, with freckles, bright blue
eyes, and an explosion of red curly hair. Her toenails are painted
fluorescent green, she wears bright red flip-flops and carries a
notebook for recording possible clues. My daughter and I loved her
instantly.
Her curiosity and friendly manner are
infectious. Viola befriends her next-door neighbour Rosie along with
two boys, Sylvester and Woodrow, and together they form The Four
Corners Mystery Club. The four friends quickly catch on about being
alert to what is happening in their neighbourhood and together solve
the mystery about what appears to be a haunted house and ghostly
appearances on their street.
What my daughter and I enjoyed the most
was trying to figure in six clues or less the various mysteries they
encountered. As readers we were invited to guess alongside the four
young detectives and this was fun. It meant we had to be alert to the
subtle hints or clues as we read.
But the fun doesn't end here. The
second book The Mysterious Four: Clocks and Robbers comes out this
July. If you have kids who like mystery stories, this will turn out
to be a great series for them, especially since it's targeted for
both girls and boys. It reminds me of when I was growing up and got
together with a group of kids (boys and girls) and actually played
make-believe or started our own club. It`s a wholesome book with
mystery and suspense thrown in and a good dose of friendship. Highly
recommended.
Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kritikos from Scholastic Canada for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.
Every Saturday, Booking Mama hosts a feature called Kid Konnection—a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, visit Booking Mama.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Are You a Montreal Book Blogger?
So...if you are a book blogger who lives in Montreal and the surrounding area and would like to meet us and other local book bloggers, please, please fill the form below. Either Cindy or I will be in contact with you. If you've already filled out the form on Cindy's blog, there's no need to fill it out here too. If you want to simply find out more about this project, you can also leave a comment.
Looking forward to making more book blogging friends!
Winner of the Splash Into Summer Giveaway
#155 Krysta Banco
Congratulations for winning Mr. Darcy Goes Overboard: A Tale of Tide and Prejudice by Belinda Roberts!
Winner was chosen using Random.org and has been contacted by email. Thank you to all who participated and for those of you who have become followers.
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