Diary of an Eccentric

Mailbox Monday -- December 7

2009-12-07T08:08:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday! It's a cold morning in my neck of the woods, having received the first snowfall over the weekend. But talk of books always warms me up, and today marks another installment of Mailbox Monday. Marcia from The Printed Page hosts this weekly meme, with book lovers taking note of the books they received for review, purchased, or otherwise obtained in the past week. Here are the books that were added to my shelves:

For review:

The Glass Room by Simon Mawer, from Other Press LLC

The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli, for an upcoming TLC tour

Don't Know Where, Don't Know When (The Snipesville Chronicles Book 1) by Annette Laing, from the author

A Different Day, A Different Destiny (The Snipesville Chronicles Book 2) by Annette Laing, from the author

From giveaways:

Night by Elie Wiesel

The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent

From a co-worker:

Wait Until Twilight by Sang Pak

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

The Girls by Lori Lansens

The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank

What books did you add to your shelves recently?

Mini Reviews: Children's Book Edition

2009-12-04T14:02:00.001-05:00

I had a few review copies of children's books lying around, and I thought my Thanksgiving vacation was the perfect time to tackle them. I read these without The Girl, as she's been swamped with work for her science fair project, and since I don't have enough to say to warrant separate posts, I figured some mini reviews would suffice. Here goes:

Fairy Glade & Other Enchanting Tales is a collection of short stories for children by Dawn Beaumont-Lane, who I applaud for not letting dyslexia stop her from realizing her dream of becoming a writer. Her stories feature a variety of characters -- friendly fairies who befriend a couple of children; a teddy bear and a steam engine who save a group of toys from disaster; a lizard and a frog who find some similarities among their differences; and a dove dealing with feelings of abandonment when his father leaves the nest. Beaumont-Lane wrote some of these stories for her daughter as Christmas presents in the late 1960s at a time when she was struggling financially, and I think reading and writing are some of the greatest gifts we can pass on to our children. I liked how the stories tried to tackle some heavy issues and provide some comfort to children, but neither the stories nor Beaumont-Lane's writing grabbed me. I felt they could have been more polished in terms of structure, and I didn't find anything remarkable or memorable about the stories and the characters. Also, the design of the book is a bit off-putting, as the only graphics are basic clip art.

In Otis: The Musical Owl, the Chappelle family finds an abandoned baby owl, takes him home, and cares for him until he can be taken to an animal rehabilitation lab to learn to fly, hunt, and eventually live on his own. (Not sure whether the author, Joseph N. Chappelle, based this obviously fictional tale on his family and a real owl, but that's my assumption.) As Otis grows up, he masters the human language and the languages of various animal species, learns to maneuver in ways that most birds cannot, learns to control each of his feathers in time to music -- classical being his favorite -- and earns the respect of all the animals in his tiny area of New York State. While Chappelle spends a lot of time describing Otis' musical tastes and the family that rescued him as a baby, they really don't have a lot to do with the plot, which seems to be centered on Otis finding his family and enlisting scores of other animals in the search. Chappelle's writing is good, and I enjoyed the story until I got to the end -- where golden unicorns appear out of nowhere, along with talk of Otis traveling to faraway galaxies and some Christian preaching. Those aspects of the story left me scratching my head, as they didn't seem to fit with the rest of the story. Overall, it wasn't a bad book; I just wish there would have been fewer descriptions about Otis moving his feathers to music and more about the search for his family, which is accomplished too quickly and neatly. I must remind myself that this is a children's book, but the length of the chapters and the type of words Chappelle uses makes the book suitable for ages 10 to 12 -- an age group that seems to prefer more action and tension in their stories, at least from what I know of The Girl's reading habits.

The Adventures of Songha: The Amazing Savannah Cat by Linda R. Caterine is a fun book about a savannah cat who thinks like a queen, acts like a queen, and is determined to be treated like a queen. Sounds pretty much like every cat I've ever owned! Songha is a rare breed; her father is an African Serval, and because of this, Songha says she cannot be contained by walls, doors, fences, and screens. Songha spends much of her time trying to break free to explore beyond the boundaries of the Caterine's Las Vegas home. She doesn't want to run away, though; she just wants to roam free. One escape brings her face to face with El Diablo, a wild coyote intimidating and killing neighborhood pets, and Caterine does a great job building tension and describing the action as Songha does her best to outrun El Diablo and save the neighborhood (I mean, her kingdom). I really enjoyed this story, which Caterine based on the antics of the real-life Songha. The only thing I didn't like was that Caterine ends each chapter with a poem to recap what happened in the chapter. Because I'd just finished the chapter, the events were fresh in my mind, so I felt they were unnecessary. I also thought Songha's going on about how wonderful she is got a little old after awhile, but the rest of the story was engaging, so I was willing to overlook it.

The Girl has expressed interest in reading The Adventures of Songha, so when she gets to it, I'll let you know her thoughts. But she's been having problems getting into books lately. There are so many she wants to read that she starts a new book almost every day, but she nevers seems to finish any of them. Well, at least she's reading, right?

Disclosure: I received free copies of Fairy Glade & Other Enhanting Tales, Otis: The Musical Owl, and The Adventures of Songha: The Amazing Savannah Cat from the authors for review purposes.

THE LISTENERS by Gloria Whelan and Mike Benny (illus.)

2009-12-03T13:58:00.000-05:00

We come home tired. We come home hungry, but Bobby, Sue, and me, Ella May, got more work to do after supper.

We got to listen. (from The Listeners)

The Listeners is a picture book depicting the lives of slaves, in particular three children who, after a hard day of work, go to the main house, hide under the open window, and listen to the conversations of the master and mistress of the plantation. They listen for anything that might be important to the slaves, such as the arrival of a new boss or the sale of a particular slave, which could mean harsher working conditions or that a family would be separated.

Gloria Whelan brings one aspect of slavery to life in a way that is easy for children to grasp. She explains the hard work the slaves are forced to perform and how they had no say in what happened to themselves or their families without detailing the beatings and other hardships that slaves endured at the hands of their masters. Whelan shows how slave families did their best to stick together and help one another, and how their faith in God helped them survive. And the illustrations by Mike Benny are dark hued, complementing this dark page in our nation's history.

By telling the story from the point of view of a child, Whelan helps spark a discussion among parents and children, who will see sharp differences between their lives and the lives of the book's characters. I read this book with The Girl (age 9), and she told me what she'd learned so far about slavery. We talked about how unfair and even dangerous it is to look at people differently based on the color of their skin, social class, religious beliefs, etc. The role of the listeners was new to us both, and the courage of these children fascinated us. The Listeners is an amazing story that can teach both children and adults about a chapter in history that must be discussed but never repeated.

Disclosure: We won a copy of The Listeners in a blog contest.

November in Review

2009-12-02T13:05:00.004-05:00

Wow, is it really December already? November just flew by! Well, last month I read 14 books, bringing me to 119 for the year. I had set a yearly goal of 100 books completed for 2009...now I'm wondering what goal I should set for myself for 2010.

I've been doing pretty well with my other goal, which was to review every book I read. I fell behind a bit because of my Thanksgiving vacation and computer troubles, but I should catch up with that over the next several days.

Here's a list of the books I read in November (the links will take you to my reviews):

Conscience Point by Erica Abeel

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney

The Hierophant of 100th Street by Cullen Dorn

Riddle in the Mountain by Daryl Burkhard

Inglourious Basterds by Quentin Tarantino*

Being Written by William Conescu [review coming soon]

The Sentinels: Fortunes of War by Gordon Zuckerman* [review coming soon]

The Girl on Legare Street by Karen White [review coming soon]

The Listeners by Gloria Whelan and Mike Benny (illus.)

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink* [review coming soon]

Fairy Glade & Other Enchanting Tales by Dawn Beaumont-Lane

Otis: The Musical Owl by Joseph N. Chappelle

The Adventures of Songha: The Amazing Savannah Cat by Linda R. Caterine

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay* [review coming soon]

*counts toward the War Through the Generations WWII reading challenge

So tell, me...how many books did you read last month? Are you meeting all your reading goals?

War Through the Generations 2010: Vietnam War Reading Challenge

2009-12-01T13:49:00.000-05:00

You've asked about it, and the information is finally here! Serena and I will be co-hosting another war-related reading challenge on War Through the Generations next year, and our focus will be the Vietnam War.

All the information you need to sign up can be found by clicking here.

The Vietnam War Reading Challenge will run from Jan. 1, 2010, to Dec. 31, 2010. We hope you will join us!

Meanwhile, this is the final month of the World War II Reading Challenge, and we'll be furiously adding the remaining reviews to the site. We had more than 100 participants, and you guys certainly rose to the challenge! Thank you for helping us create a site that we hope will serve as a resource over the long-term. That's right...even though the focus will switch from WWII to Vietnam, we'll continue to add links of WWII book reviews and add titles to the WWII recommended reading list. And we'll continue to do this (for WWII and the other wars we cover) as long as we keep hosting challenges.

Again, thanks to all of you who helped make our World War II Reading Challenge a success! We hope the Vietnam challenge will be even bigger and better!

I'm Featured on 451 Fridays!

2009-12-01T07:57:00.001-05:00

I'm thrilled to have been featured recently on As Usual, I Need More Bookshelves' 451 Fridays. While I've never read 451 Fahrenheit by Ray Bradbury, I think it's neat that Elizabeth created a weekly feature based on the book.

Click here to see which books I think are worth saving and which book I'd "become." Thanks, Elizabeth!

Mailbox Monday -- November 30

2009-11-30T14:11:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday, everyone! I'm back from my mental health vacation, unfortunately, and now I'm playing catch up. (Forgive me, but I had to "mark all as read" in Google Reader. Y'all were busy bees while I was gone! As I'm still without a home computer (UGH!) there was no way I was going to get through all of those posts any time soon, so I figured it was best to start fresh.)

I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving, and I appreciate you stopping by my blog while I was resting. I got a lot of reading and napping done, despite the fact that much of my vacation was spent taking care of a sick husband. He's fine now, and I'm thankful that no one else in the house caught his germs.

Anyway, it's that time again. Yup, it's Mailbox Monday, the weekly meme hosted by Marcia from The Printed Page where book lovers list the books they received for review, purchased, or otherwise obtained in the last week.

Here's what I received:

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford for an upcoming TLC Book Tour. I'm so excited to finally be reading this book. It's been on my to-read list for months now!

Thursday Night Widows by Claudia Pineiro. This was an unsolicited review copy, which I will be passing on to my mother. This is more her type of book than mine, and she said that she'd share her thoughts with me when she's done so I can post them here to share with all of you. (I guess I'm trying to get the whole family into book reviewing. Not sure how successful this venture will be. LOL)

What books did you welcome into your home recently?

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T06:00:00.003-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my friends celebrating today. I hope you have a wonderful time with your loved ones. We'll be spending the day with Serena and her husband, cooking, eating, chatting, and making bookmarks for a church bazaar next month.

Before we begin to eat, we sometimes ask one another what we are thankful for this year. One of the things I'm thankful for is all of you. Thanks for stopping by Diary of an Eccentric from time to time and sharing your thoughts. I appreciate each and every one of you and hope you all have a wonderful day!

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS by Quentin Tarantino

2009-11-25T06:00:00.127-05:00

Serena and I went to see Inglourious Basterds as soon as it hit the theaters, and not being a huge Quentin Tarantino fan, I didn't have high expectations for the film. However, I absolutely loved it (read our review here), and when Kathy told me there were scenes in the published screenplay that weren't in the movie, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy.

Inglourious Basterds is a revenge war film with a lot going on. It takes place in Nazi-occupied France and has two major storylines that ultimately converge. There's Shosanna, who escapes being murdered by "the Jew Hunter," SS Colonel Hans Landa, and eventually comes to own a cinema in Paris. She meets a German soldier who is attracted to her, and he decides that the Nazi propaganda in which he stars should be premiered at her theater. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Aldo Raine and his Basterds, a group of Jewish-American soldiers, are attacking German troops, scalping them, and leaving one survivor with a Swastika carved into his forehead. The Basterds are determined to attend the film premier and hopefully put a stop to the war.

Inglourious Basterds is the first screenplay I've ever read, so I didn't know what to expect. Tarantino's stage directions are very detailed, making it easy to picture the story in my head, but the fact that I saw the movie first probably helped quite a bit in that respect. He gives a lot more description and commentary than I would have expected.

Strangling the very life out of somebody with your bare hands is the most violent act a human being can commit.

Also, only human beings strangle, opposable thumbs being a quite important part of the endeavor. (page 137)

It's these kinds of details that really make the screenplay interesting to read. The dialogue also is very clever, and there were several scenes or parts of scenes that weren't in the movie. I can see why they weren't included, as they aren't crucial to the plot, but they were interesting nonetheless.

I enjoyed reading Inglourious Basterds almost as much as I enjoyed watching it. If you're someone who doesn't mind reading graphic violence and would rather read it than watch it, then the screenplay is the way to go. While the violence can be a bit much in Inglourious Basterds (this is Quentin Tarantino, after all), the plot and the characters were so captivating that I could overlook it in this case. As for whether I'd ever read another screenplay, I'm not sure. It's not like reading a novel after watching the movie; with a screenplay, you're essentially reading the movie. But it was totally worth it in this case.

Inglourious Basterds is book 25 for me for the WWII reading challenge at War Through the Generations.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of Inglourious Basterds from Hachette for review purposes.

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: DOG DAYS by Jeff Kinney

2009-11-24T06:00:00.123-05:00

The Girl loves Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, has all the books, and even waited in line for about 2 hours at the National Book Festival to meet him and have her books signed. So when the fourth book in the series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, was released in October, she bought a copy right away. In fact, she saved a gift card she received for her birthday back in July solely for this purpose.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days was my introduction to the series, and I probably wouldn't have read it had The Girl not fallen ill and wanted me to read to her. But I was sucked in from the first page, and in less than an hour, we'd blown through 90 pages of the 217-page book. It helps that it's written like a diary with cartoon drawings, but it's also very funny.

Here's the gist: Nothing seems to go Greg Heffley's way. The summer arrives, and he plans to spend it in his room playing video games with the curtains drawn. But his mother (thankfully) has other plans.

The Girl asked me if we could do this review a little differently, sort of like an interview. So here goes:

The Girl: What was your favorite part of the story?

Me: When Greg has to pay his friend Rowley's father back, and he decides to start a lawn care business. The advertisements in which he superimposes his and Rowley's faces on the bodies of burly construction workers were hilarious.

The Girl: Who was your favorite character?

Me: I thought Greg was pretty funny, but he doesn't always make the right choices, as we discussed. Since the story is written from Greg's point of view, and he tends to focus mainly on himself, you don't get to know the other characters really well.

The Girl: What do you think this book teaches kids?

Me: Well, I hope they'd see that the choices Greg makes typically are bad ones. While the events that occur are supposed to be funny, and they are, you really wouldn't want kids trying to act like Greg Heffley. But it's fiction. I mean, how many kids Greg's age really think their parents would try to sell them and then call the police on them? It's purely entertainment.

What was your favorite part of the book?

The Girl: When Greg and Rowley were under the boardwalk and sticking a dollar bill through the wooden planks and pulling it back before people could grab it.

Me: Is this your favorite book in the series?

The Girl: Yes. I thought it was the funniest.

Me: Do you think Greg is a good role model?

The Girl: No. He disobeys his parents and causes trouble. He called the police on his father for no reason.

Me: Why do you think the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are so popular?

The Girl: The stories and the cartoon illustrations are funny. Jeff Kinney has a way of telling a story that grabs your attention and is easy to understand.

Me: Last question. Do you identify in any with Greg Heffley?

The Girl: No. I never disobey my parents.

Me: HA! HA! HA! You certainly have a sense of humor.

Well, there you have it. In a nutshell, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days is a fun book for middle grade readers, and even grownups will get a laugh out of it. In fact, I've borrowed the other three books from The Girl, and I hope to read them when I'm in the mood for some light reading.

Have any of you shared these books with your children? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Disclosure: We purchased our copy of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days.

and

Mailbox Monday -- November 23

2009-11-23T06:00:00.155-05:00

It's time for another Mailbox Monday, where book lovers share the books they received in the mail, purchased, or otherwise obtained during the past week. This fun weekly meme is hosted by Marcia from The Printed Page.

Here's what I received last week:

For review:

The Dolphin People by Torsten Krol

Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall (illus.)

The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley

Lion's Pride by Debbie Jordan

Kathy from Bermudaonion's Weblog kindly sent me this book:

I Have My Mother's Eyes: A Holocaust Memoir Across Generations by Barbara Ruth Bluman

Thanks so much, Kathy!

And I snagged this book from the library for 50 cents:

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

What books did you welcome into your home recently?

[Just want to let you all know that I won't be online this week, but I've pre-scheduled some posts. I'm on a mental health vacation, which for me is sitting at home just reading and relaxing. I'll catch up with your comments and your blogs when I return on the 30th. Don't miss me too much! ;)]

Interview With Laura Brodie, Author of THE WIDOW'S SEASON

2009-11-19T13:51:00.001-05:00

My home computer is still non-functional, but I'm plugging along with posts here and there. My dear friend Serena is letting me use her computer this weekend so I can pre-schedule some posts for next week while I'm on vacation, so expect more book reviews in the near future.

In the meantime, I hope you'll check out my latest author interview on Examiner.com. This time I had the pleasure of interviewing Laura Brodie, author of The Widow's Season. (If you haven't yet read my review, click here.)

Laura was kind enough to answer questions about herself, getting published, and upcoming projects. Click here to read the interview.

Mid-Week Randomness

2009-11-18T08:15:00.003-05:00

This week seems to be moving along so slowly, probably because I'm on vacation all next week and want to be done with the work week already! Since I haven't written reviews for the 4 books sitting on my desk patiently waiting their turn in the spotlight, I thought I'd post some random updates.

First, I want to thank everyone for the birthday wishes. You all made my day! And thanks to my husband for holding a small gathering for me over the weekend, Serena and her husband for the awesome bookish gifts (the Jane Austen action figure rocks!), and to The Girl for making sure I didn't have to do any housework on Monday and could put my feet up with a book after I came home from work. You are all awesome!

Second, I just want to let you all know that I still don't have an Internet connection at home, so it remains to be seen how often I'll be able to post here or when I'll have time for blog reading and commenting. I'll do my best to stay current, though, but please forgive me if I'm MIA -- which will be the case when I'm on vacation next week. Well, at least I can count on more reading time, since my vacation will consist of me sitting at home and relaxing.

Third, I want to direct you to my Examiner page, as I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Donna Jo Napoli, whose YA novels set during World War II are must reads. (If you haven't already, check out my reviews of Stones in Water and Fire in the Hills.)

Those of you still planning to complete the World War II reading challenge by the end of the year should consider Napoli's books. They are quick reads, with plenty of action and emotion to hold your attention at a time of year when everything is hectic. (I can't believe that I'm going to have to start Christmas shopping soon. Where has the year gone?)

Have a great day, everyone!

THE HIEROPHANT OF 100TH STREET by Cullen Dorn

2009-11-17T12:35:00.000-05:00

"It is hard sometimes, I know. One goes astray from the pattern prepared -- allowing mundane affairs to carry you away, thinking you are in control when actually you have betrayed yourself. In the example of one extreme, I will mention the soul whom you knew as Hitler, who was to be a benevolent leader of the European countries, a great light in that part of the world. But he failed and, in his lust for power, short-circuited his own mission and the lives of tens of millions of others. He believed in the illusion produced by his politics, and in the darkness of that delusion he was carted away. In that hell now, he grieves an indescribable grief, painful beyond any experience known. He grieves for who he is and what he did, a measure that is not easily repaired, though healed in time it will be." (The Hierophant of 100th Street, page 204)

This is probably the hardest review I've ever had to write. I was intrigued by the summary on the back of the book calling The Hierophant of 100th Street a cross between The Celestine Prophecy and West Side Story. When I saw it categorized as fiction/metaphysics, I was hesitant. What the heck is metaphysics? And more importantly, what is an hierophant? After looking up the definition of hierophant ("a person who brings religious congregants into the presence of that which is deemed holy"), I dove in.

Because there are quite a few characters and a lot going on in The Hierophant of 100th Street, making it difficult to put my thoughts into words, let me just tell you upfront that I enjoyed the book That being said, I'll admit that a lot of it was over my head. To me, it seems as though the book could be divided into two parts: the people and events of 100th Street -- a rough East Harlem neighborhood -- in the 1960s, and the spiritual journey of the main character, Adam Kadman.

Author Cullen Dorn follows Adam beginning with his decision to be reincarnated and his rebirth as Adam Kadman, with the book officially opening when Adam is 17. He is different from the other youths of 100th Street. He is intelligent, always seeing things that others can't, and not interested in cheap women, drugs, or fighting. Adam's story involves a near fatal stabbing, being drafted during Vietnam, his journey to Egypt and his flight back to the United States when love and culture butt heads, and his friendship with renowned psychic Clifford Bias (who in real life was a close friend of Dorn's).

The spiritual aspect of the story involves Bias and the secret rituals he leads, as well as Adam's visits to Arizona to hear Crowfoot speak about the different planes of heaven through medium Richard Ireland. The mystical religion that guides Adam through his later years -- what he had been seeking all along -- is clearly spelled out throughout the book, but these scenes felt preachy and read like I was sitting in a college lecture hall. I longed to quickly read through them to get to what I felt was the meat of the book: the block of 100th Street where Adam grew up and the captivating characters found on its corners. I couldn't get enough of these characters: John, Adam's younger brother and a hoodlum and drug addict who winds up in prison; Eddie, a friend of Adam's who grows up to be a cop and desires only to stop the drug dealers taking over the neighborhood; Count, whose lust for a conniving woman leads him to commit a crime that has the mafia and crooked cops seeking him out; and Landy, a talented musician whose love for Nicola is stronger than her heroin addition. 100th Street, as portrayed by Dorn, is akin to an entire semester's worth of sociological study packed into just under 400 pages.

While Dorn does connect the spiritual aspect of the story to the larger picture of 100th Street, it is these characters that brought the book to life for me. I don't know what it's like to live in a crime-ridden, drug-infested neighborhood, to worry about being murdered in a stairwell of a public housing complex, to see an entire neighborhood fall to the drug dealers, its inhabitants walking around like zombies. How these characters come to terms with their situations and how their past lives and choices on the other side affect their actions in this world and the next gets you thinking about the workings of the universe, neighborhood dynamics, friendship and family, and how our decisions affect others.

Even if you think the mystical aspect of the book isn't your cup of tea and doesn't jibe with your own personal religious beliefs, The Hierophant of 100th Street is worth checking out. Dorn's characters are flawed yet endearing, and he takes readers to the streets to witness firsthand the heartbreaking effects of drugs, gangs, and prison. At times graphic and completely devoid of hope, The Hierophant of 100th Street shows that life may not be all that it seems and that even in the darkest of situations, there is promise, if not in the here and now, then somewhere else.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of The Hierophant of 100th Street from Frog Books and LibraryThing for review purposes.

Mailbox Monday -- November 16

2009-11-16T12:08:00.003-05:00

After I gave myself a little pat on the back for catching up in my blog reading on my day off last week, my computer decided it doesn't want to connect to the Internet anymore. UGH! (I can connect with the Wii, but you won't see me using the controller to type one letter at a time.) Hopefully they'll be some good Black Friday deals on laptops because I've been patiently waiting to buy one. :)

Anyway, it's time for Mailbox Monday, where bookish folk list the books they received for review, purchased, or otherwise obtained over the past week. A big thanks to Marcia from The Printed Page for hosting this weekly meme.

Here's what I received:

Another BBAW win:

The Murder of King Tut by James Patterson and Martin Dugard

And a few books for review:

They Were Just People: Stories of Rescue in Poland During the Holocaust by Bill Tammeus and Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn

The Silent Gift by Michael Landon, Jr. and Cindy Kelley

Almost Home by Pam Jenoff

What books did you welcome into your home recently?

CONSCIENCE POINT by Erica Abeel

2009-11-12T13:12:00.001-05:00

From the very first page of Conscience Point, it's obvious that Madeleine Shaye is writing her story, but to whom is uncertain. It's not a chronological account of her life; rather, it's a twisted tale of messed up relationships and secrets. At the center is Conscience Point, a crumbling mansion with Gothic undertones in rural New York, the estate of the eccentric Ashcroft family: Serena, a matriarch obsessed with her birds; Violet, a hippie-like, free-spirited and mentally unstable artist with a drug and alcohol addiction; and Nick, a handsome charmer with commitment problems.

Author Erica Abeel tells Maddy's story out of order. Readers know right away that Maddy and her adopted daughter, Laila, have been living with Nick for about 8 years. Maddy, a concert pianist and television arts correspondent, and Nick, a struggling book publisher, met when Violet brought Maddy home for a weekend during college. Despite an immediate attraction, they didn't become lovers until much later. Maddy and Nick's relationship seems stable yet fragile at the same time. And all at once, things begin to fall apart. There's a shakeup at the television station, Nick's job troubles make him moody, and Laila is planning to run off to Guatemala to do activist work. Here and there, snippets from the past help readers to see how Maddy's friendship with Violet bloomed and how she and Nick became a couple.

The plot of Conscience Point centers on secrets: why Laila wants to leave the country, the shady circumstances leading to Laila's adoption, what happened to Violet and her grand plan to turn Conscience Point into a commune for artists, and what makes Nick start pulling away from Maddy. Abeel writes about love and betrayal, music and art in a choppy narrative that is difficult to follow. I kept wondering what I was missing, the overarching theme or point she was trying to make, but I couldn't even figure out why I was supposed to care about these characters. While the characters' eccentricities and stories were interesting, I found the characters themselves to be annoying and difficult to like even a little bit. I couldn't see what was so attractive about Nick, Laila seemed whiny and melodramatic, and Maddy was so blind about everything (I figured out the story of Nick's betrayal on page 6).

As I read, I couldn't decide whether I liked the book enough to keep going, and I changed my mind every 10 pages or so. It would shift from difficult to follow, to interesting, to scratching my head, to interesting. If it hadn't been for my desire to learn more about the odd but endearing Violet, I may not have finished the book. Overall, though, I'm glad I read the book, as the twists and turns and uncovered secrets were interesting enough and made the story more understandable. Still, I felt like Abeel was trying to make a point about artists and old money that I just didn't get -- maybe because I have zero in common with these characters? While there was some evolution in Maddy's character by the end, the others didn't change as much as I'd hoped they might, though they stayed true to what I'd seen of them thus far. If you like tales of complicated relationships and Gothic settings and don't mind overly dramatic characters, then I'd encourage you to give this one a try.

Click here to read an excerpt from Conscience Point.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Conscience Point from Unbridled Books and LibraryThing for review purposes.

Thank you, Dad: Let's Not Forget the Veterans

2009-11-11T12:11:00.000-05:00

On Dec. 14, my father will have been dead for 10 years. It doesn't hurt any less than it did 10 years ago, and tears are in my eyes as I type this post.

Although my father is no longer with us, I want to thank him today, on Veteran's Day. He was an MP in the Air Force in Vietnam, and he was proud to have served his country.

I hope you will take a minute to read the essay I wrote about him last year, "Memories From the Daughter of a Vietnam Veteran," which Mrs. Lieutenant author Phyllis Zimbler Miller posted on her blog.

And I hope you will take a minute to remember the sacrifices of the men and women who fought and died for our country over the years and to thank those who continue to serve our country.

I only wish I had been old enough and wise enough when my father was still alive to tell him how proud I am of him.

And the Winners Are...

2009-11-11T07:21:00.000-05:00

The winner of a hardcover copy of Cleopatra's Daughter, a paperback copy of The Heretic Queen, and an authentic ancient Roman coin, courtesy of author Michelle Moran, is...

Arielle!

And the winner of Horrid Henry and the Mummy's Curse by Francesca Simon, courtesy of Sourcebooks, is...

lag123!

Congratulations and happy reading! I've passed on your addresses, and you should receive your goodies soon!

Now I'm off to enjoy my day off... More book reviews planned for later this week!

Green Books Campaign: RIDDLE IN THE MOUNTAIN by Daryl Burkhard

2009-11-10T13:00:00.163-05:00

This review is part of the Green Books campaign. Today 100 bloggers are reviewing 100 great books printed in an environmentally friendly way. Our goal is to encourage publishers to get greener and readers to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books. This campaign is organized by Eco-Libris, a green company working to green up the book industry by promoting the adoption of green practices, balancing out books by planting trees, and supporting green books. A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on the Eco-Libris website.

The book I chose, Riddle in The Mountain by Daryl Burkhard, is published by Dogtooth Books, an imprint of Nomad Press, which is a member of the Green Press Initiative. According to the copyright page, Nomad Press "contributes a percentage of its resources to non-profit organizations working on projects related to the topic of its books." The book is printed on recycled paper, and as part of the Green Press Initiative, the publisher must adhere to minimum standards for manufacturing. Other green features, according to the publisher, include black-and-white printing; the use of a printer, Friesens, with robust in-house environmental practices; and a minimal freight footprint because it was manufactured in North America, specifically Canada.

I think this campaign is important, especially for people like me who like the feel of a book in their hands and are a bit resistant to the emergence of e-readers. I love everything about printed books -- the smell, the texture, and how these differ for every book. But I struggle with the fact that books eat up paper, not to mention other aspects of the printing process that consume energy and other resources and create pollution. It's nice to know that many publishers are taking steps to make the process more eco-friendly, and it's important to look for these "green" books whenever possible.

Okay, now on to the book itself. Riddle in the Mountain is an engaging book for middle-grade readers that touches upon ghosts, time travel, and the Wild West. Burkhard tells the story of Kathy, a 12-year-old girl who hears whispers and learns that she has a gift that enables her to open the door to another world. Her family just moved to Boulder, Colorado, and she's afraid of the dark, so it's quite possible that the voices she hears are in her head. Her neighbor, Mrs. Acheson, however, recognizes Kathy's gift. After being teased by her 13-year-old brother, David, and his friend, Frank, the trio go on a late-night ghost hunt -- much to Kathy's dismay -- and meet a tommyknocker who lets them know that a door has been opened by the one with the gift and that the three of them must save the key and return it to its rightful place so he can go home to the mountains and the mines.

To accomplish this goal, he imprints a riddle in their minds, each of them with a different part of the riddle. They find themselves transported to Boulder, Colorado, in 1879 without money, appropriate attire, or adult supervision. They have only the riddle and a desire to find the key, but of course, they must enjoy the hands-on history lesson. Who wouldn't?

On their journey, they meet Rocky Mountain Joe, who teaches Kathy a lot about life:

Kathy groaned. "Not me," she said in a low tone so the boys wouldn't hear. "The dark scares me."

Rocky Mountain Joe tilted his head and gave a quizzical look from under his leather hat. "I reckon that's because you imagine bad things in the dark. Think of its beauty and wonders, instead: the call of the nighthawk in the fading sky; the roar of its wings as it dives for an evening meal; crickets calling back and forth; laughing coyotes as they sing their melodies; the hooting of the owl; or the brilliance of the stars and moon. Without the night and its cloak of darkness, we would miss these wonderful things."

"What about ghosts and goblins and -- well, other things?"

Joe laughed. "Can't say I've run into any of them. Leastwise, none that I can't handle," he added with a wink. (Pages 129-130)

Riddle in the Mountain is an action-packed adventure perfect for readers between the ages of 9 and 12, but I think adults could enjoy it, too; I found it to be an enjoyable read. Burkhard's descriptions of the Wild West bring the scenes to life, and illustrations by Frank Riccio only add to the book's charm. The characters seemed true to the period, and Kathy, David, and Frank were very real -- bickering and all! The mystery of the riddle and the tommyknocker who sent them on their journey grabbed my attention right away, and it was interesting to see how the children joined together, adapted to their new environment, and learned a lot about themselves along the way. I recommend Riddle in the Mountain if you're looking for a quick read that requires a little thinking but isn't overwhelming or if you have children fascinated by ghosts, gold mines, western pioneers, and time travel. The book received an Independent Publishers Award.

More green information about Riddle in the Mountain: The book is 100% PCW (post-consumer waste), processed chlorine free. The paper is 55-pound New Leaf EcoBook 100, natural antique.

To see the complete list of books being reviewed for the Green Books Campaign, click here.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of Riddle in the Mountain from Dogtooth Books/Nomad Press for review purposes.

Reading Comfort: Product Reviews (and a Special Discount for You!)

2009-11-09T18:02:00.001-05:00

After trying out and absolutely loving the Book Buddy from Reading Comfort (read my review here), I just couldn't say no when they asked if I'd be interested in checking out some of their other products.

I received a lap blanket in Floral Sienna, and let me tell you, I never want to be separated from it. It's smooth on the top and warm and fleecy underneath. It's 44" x 52" of goodness. It's perfect for curling up on the couch with a good book during the winter months, and I also use it when I'm sitting at the computer (it's on my lap right now, as a matter of fact) and when I'm watching tv. Actually, The Girl and I fight over it, but I'm a softie, so she usually wins. Anyway, what's great about the lap blanket is it can be purchased by itself or with a matching Book Buddy. My only complaint was that the blanket wasn't accompanied by care instructions. I assume it would be okay to wash and dry on the delicate cycles, but don't quote me on that.

I also received the Elegant Bookworm, a paperweight that makes it easy to read hands-free. I'm not sure what color mine is officially called, but it's maroon and gold with a maroon tassel. It's designed for hardcover books, but it worked okay with a trade paperback, but only when 1/4 or more of the book has been read. Otherwise you chance warped pages and covers. It's perfect for keeping books open without damaging their spines, and I plan to use mine to read and knit at the same time.

Finally, I also received the Elastic Four-Ribbon Bookmark in solid purple with button. You slip the elastic loop over the front cover of a hardcover book and use the ribbons to mark your pages. I've found the four ribbons are useful in marking passages to remember for my reviews, and if I don't need to use more than one ribbon, I can easily keep them together. The elastic does fit over most trade paperbacks, but it's a snug fit, so you'd be risking bent pages and covers. Reading Comfort beautifully packages their products, and this bookmark came in a small drawstring bag that can be used for numerous other things (knitting stitch markers, for example) when the bookmark is in use.

Like I did with the Book Buddy, I checked the lap blanket, paperweight, and elastic bookmark for sturdiness and durability. They appear to be put together quite well, and I predict that they all will get as much use as my Book Buddy.

Speaking of the Book Buddy, check out Reading Comfort's new YouTube video here.

Also, as a special treat for my readers, Reading Comfort is offering you a 15 percent discount on your order from now through the end of the year! All you need to do is enter the code "blogger" when you check out. Their products are pretty affordable and would make great holiday gifts!

If you give these products a try or already have done so, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. I'd love to hear your thoughts, too.

Disclosure: Reading Comfort sent me the lap blanket, paperweight, and elastic bookmark for free for review purposes.

Mailbox Monday -- November 9

2009-11-09T17:19:00.000-05:00

Boy, life's been hectic lately on all fronts. I'd hoped to get this posted earlier today, but better late than never! I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed lately, especially as the holidays approach. I hope the Veteran's Day holiday will offer me a day of relaxation. The hubby has to work, and The Girl will be at school (I didn't realize this was a no longer a school holiday), so I have the house to myself. :)

Anyway, it's time for Mailbox Monday, the weekly meme graciously hosted by Marcia from The Printed Page where bookworms list the titles they received for review, purchased, or otherwise obtained during the last week.

Here are the books I added to the already sagging shelves...er...floor:

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See (from Random House for an upcoming TLC Book Tour)

The Information Officer by Mark Mills (from Random House via Shelf Awareness)

Breathing Water by Timothy Hallinan (contest win)

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Jane Austen and Ben H. Winters (from FSB Associates)

What books did you welcome into your home recently?

Interview With Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery, Authors of NUBS: THE TRUE STORY OF A MUTT, A MARINE & A MIRACLE

2009-11-06T13:25:00.002-05:00

I'm thrilled to welcome Kirby Larson (right) and Mary Nethery (left) to Diary of an Eccentric today to discuss their latest book, Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle. The book was released earlier this week by Little, Brown, and it caused a lot of excitement in my house when I received a review copy last month. Nubs is the story of Major Brian Dennis and the dog he befriended in Iraq. After trekking across the desert to be with Brian, Nubs was later relocated to the United States. What an amazing dog, and a beautiful story of the rewards one can reap from being kind to others. [If you haven't read my review with The Girl, click here.]

I want to thank Kirby and Mary for taking time out of their busy schedules to answer some questions. Since the book was just released, I can only imagine how hectic things must be for them, and I truly appreciate their generosity.

How did you get involved in the writing of Nubs? Did you have a chance to meet Nubs and Major Brian Dennis in person?

Kirby: Mary and I had written Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival and found we loved the collaborative writing process. The moment we finished that book, we began to look for another friendship story we two dear friends could tell together. Mary was convinced we would find such a story set in Iraq and just as she was thinking about that, her husband handed her a newspaper article about Brian and Nubs. The rest is history!

We knew we wanted to tell this story, but it was important to get Brian's (and Nubs!) approval. Mary and I flew to San Diego in June 2008 to meet with them both. Brian had warned us that it usually took Nubs awhile to warm up to new people but Mary armed herself with some Bow-Wow-Wownies and instantly won him over. We clicked with Brian, too, and he with us and we set right to work interviewing him.

Mary: When Kirby suggested the idea of us writing a book together about unusual, cross-species friendships, I had two responses. One, I've been passionate about animals since I was a small child and this seemed like a perfect match of two best friends writing about best friends. And, two, it seemed as if the decision had already been made, in another time and place, that we would write together. It felt like it was meant to be. I just jumped in and swam! There's not a day that goes by that I'm not thankful for the treasure of working with Kirby.

Meeting Nubs for the first time was the most fun thing ever! One look at him and you know he's quite special. Brian said Nubs hasn't been the same since we spent a day and a morning with him -- he meant that in a good way! Sometimes I just find myself missing Nubs and wishing he lived a lot closer.

Could you tell me a little about yourself? For example, what books have you written previously, what things you like to do when you're not writing?

Kirby: I am a Washington state resident and have lived here nearly all my life. Along the way, I've acquired one husband, two children, assorted cats and, as of May, a dog named Winston. Though I was a history-phobe most of my life, writing Hattie Big Sky (2007 Newbery Honor Award) changed all that. Though I had written chapter books and picture books previously, that book led me to my true passion: historical fiction. I love the research -- digging around until I have enough information to set a fictional character in another place and time. It's detective work -- without the danger! I will have another historical novel coming out in Fall 2010 and one in Spring 2011.

Since I've had several book deadlines, I haven't done much but write lately! But I do love to travel (because of HBS, I got invited to visit schools in Doha, Qatar and Beirut, Lebanon last April), read, walk on the beach and drink lattes with friends.

Mary: I'm a California girl, born and raised. I’m married to Harry Arthur Nethery III (Han) and have one son, Harry Arthur Nethery IV (H.A.). We have a brand new kitten, a Bengal named Dashiell (Dash for short.) Dash came to us from an Atlanta, Georgia, foster home. He has a little heart of gold.

The first word I learned to read was "stop." But that didn't stop me from picking up a pencil and starting to write in first grade. My goal was a novel. With lots of pictures. I never finished the novel, but since then I've seen three of my picture books published: Hannah and Jack, Orange Cat Goes to Market, and Mary Veronica's Egg; plus the two narrative non-fiction books that Kirby and I have written together: Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival is the recipient of the ASPCA's Henry Bergh Children's Book Award and the SIBA Book Award (Southern Independent Booksellers' Association). Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle has just received the 2009 National Parenting Publication Gold Award. Kirby and I are radiantly proud of these two books.

When I'm not writing or doing "writing" things, which is mostly what I do, I love reading, travel, Pilates, shopping, movies, watching Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model, and enjoying beautiful desserts, especially frosting!

What other projects are you working on?

Kirby: Just a week ago, I turned in an historical novel set during WWII, taking place between fall 1941 and spring 1943. Right now, I'm writing another historical novel, which intertwines the stories of 4 girls and takes place between 1929 and 1941. What can I say? I'm hooked on history!

And, of course, Mary and I are on the hunt for another nonfiction picture book to write together.

Mary: My newest picture book, The Famous Nini: A Mostly True Story of How a Plain White Cat Became a Star is illustrated by John Manders and published by Clarion, and will be out in the spring of 2010. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous! In preparation for his work, John studied the paintings of John Singer Sargent who lived in Venice at the same time Nini did. My favorite is the double-page spread of Nini blessing the Pope! This is a story of a real cat named Nini who became a celebrity and rose to the world stage in Venice during the 1890's, capturing the attention of doting visitors such as Giuseppe Verdi, Pope Leo XIII, King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Italy, Czar Alexander III, and Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia. The Author's Note contains a photograph of the cafe´ he lived in which still exists today.

I'm also working on an adventure fantasy novel set in the 1920's, The Curse of the Amber Baboon, with authors Barbara Kerley (Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins; Walt Whitman: Words for America; and What To Do About Alice?) and Natasha Wing (The Night Before Series, and her newest book An Eye for Color).

What have books have influenced you most and why?

Kirby: I'm not sure there's a particular book, but there are certainly authors who inspire me: Karen Hesse, because she takes great risks in her writing; Karen Cushman, who is the queen of historical fiction; Katherine Paterson, for her topics; Barbara O'Connor, for her story telling; Rodman Philbrick for the characters he creates; Dave Patneaude for his ability to weave detail and description into narrative; Mary Nethery, for her brilliance at plotting and story structure; Ann Whitford Paul, who is the queen of poetic picture books; Helen Ketteman, for her outrageous and crazy-fun use of language. . .the list is too long for this interview but I can't sign off without adding all of the people whose diaries and journals I've read. These latter were average folks who never made the headlines but without their stories, I would not be able to write the books I write. It is the real life details from times past that help me write books that connect with contemporary readers.

Mary: Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories, Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat, and the works of James Marshall were early influences on my own work. One of my favorite novels is How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff. I admire how she drips in the back story as if it were on an IV. That book has haunted me ever since I read the last line, closed the book, and said goodbye to her cast of characters and the dystopia she so artfully created. I also love Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials Trilogy (especially the animal daemons); Frank Cottrell Boyce’s Millions and Framed because I admire his ability to create unforgettable characters; and M.T. Anderson’s Feed because it’s so visionary and written in such a cohesive style.

I love books that make me laugh and are wicked in some way! My favorite picture book is Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh—I adore the sentient Martha! I also like Graham Oakley’s Church Cat books; Mark Teague’s Dear Mrs. Larue; Jack Gantos’ and Nicole Rubel’s Rotten Ralph books; and Maira Kalman’s Ooh-la-la (Max in Love).

Thanks, Kirby and Mary! I wish you much success with Nubs, and I look forward to reading more of your work in the future.

To watch a video about Nubs, click here. To learn more about Kirby and Mary's previous book, Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship and Survival, click here.

FIRE IN THE HILLS by Donna Jo Napoli

2009-11-05T13:58:00.001-05:00

“Why did you join?”

“It doesn’t matter. Everyone has a different story. A German soldier shoots two men, and their widows, who never even liked each other before, find they are best friends. They start a little band of resistance. And they meet another woman whose father was killed, and she bands with them. And another woman who was raped by a Nazi officer, and she bands with them. And the girl who watched her mother get raped. And the girl who watched her brother get arrested and dragged away. Everyone has a personal story. But in the end, they’re all the same.” (from Fire in the Hills, pages 92-93)

Back in August, I reviewed Donna Jo Napoli’s World War II novel for young adults, Stones in Water. Napoli tells the story of Roberto, a young boy from Venice, Italy, who goes to the cinema with his brother and some friends, and the Germans come in and round up all the boys and transport them to work camps. Roberto successfully escapes from a work camp in the Ukraine, but he must make his way on foot back to Venice. While I really enjoyed Stones in Water, I was a little frustrated with the open ending, and I was thrilled when Napoli e-mailed me to say there was a sequel called Fire in the Hills.

Fire in the Hills opens with Roberto still hoping to return to Venice (Note: I’m not telling you anything big or giving away the end to Stones in Water). He’s finally made it to Italy, but the German occupation means his hardships are far from over. Roberto is alone and hungry, and while he’s grown up a lot since his capture, he’s really still a child. He wants most to get back to his parents, learn what happened to his brother, and simply be safe. However, he’s roaming through Italy depending on the kindness of strangers for food and shelter. Roberto is recaptured by the Germans and eventually freed by resistance fighters, whose family takes him in. While staying with this family, he meets Volpe Rossa (“red fox”), a young girl who is a member of the partigiani, the Italian resistance movement. Roberto decides to reassess his priorities, putting his desire to see an end to the war above his desire to stay safe, and he embarks on a journey with Volpe Rossa and becomes Lupo (“wolf”). As Lupo, he goes on many missions, mainly delivering messages and weapons to other resistance fighters -- all as he tries to make his way back home.

Fire in the Hills is full of action and tension, and every time Lupo and Volpe Rossa came in contact with the Nazis, I was on the edge of my seat. I’d grown attached to Lupo, and I could feel his fear. I loved the character of Volpe Rossa, a young woman wise beyond her years, a leader with great strength. She knows how to use her femininity and her beauty to her advantage and to advance the cause -- and no matter what happens, she doesn’t want to be viewed as a helpless girl. Napoli provides a lot of interesting details about the Italian resistance, emphasizing the role women played in helping bring the war to a close. She also brilliantly captures the innocence of Lupo, his gentleness and respect for humanity, which he retains despite all of the horrific things he has witnessed.

Fire in the Hills is a wonderful conclusion to the story begun in Stones in Water, but it is a standalone book. Napoli weaves the major events of Stones in Water into the narrative, so readers have enough information about Roberto and his experiences since the cinema roundup that they shouldn’t feel lost. While classified as a YA novel, I would recommend this one for mature YA readers. There is more violence than the previous book, and these scenes might be too much for middle-grade readers. (Personally, I wouldn’t let my 9-year-old daughter read this book yet, and I think I’d even wait a year or two before giving her my copy of Stones in Water. But I definitely will recommend these to her at some point.)

These are perfect books if you like historical fiction and would like to learn a little about the German occupation of Italy and the Italian resistance through the eyes of a young boy directly affected by the war. They are short, but powerful, and because they are geared toward the YA market, they aren’t overwhelming in terms of graphic details.

Fire in the Hills is my 24th book for the WWII reading challenge at War Through the Generations. I think I'm slowing down with this challenge, but there are so many more WWII books I want to read before the end of the year!

Disclosure: I borrowed Fire in the Hills from the library.

October in Review

2009-11-03T13:36:00.001-05:00

Wow, I can't believe it's already November. The months are flying by, and sometimes it seems as though I don't have time to stop and catch my breath.

Thankfully, I've had time to read. In October, I read 15 books, putting me at 105 for the year!! This means I've met my goal of reading 100 books in 2009.

Here's my list for the month (click the links to read my reviews):

A Match for Mary Bennet by Eucharista Ward*

Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle by Major Brian Dennis, Kirby Larson, and Mary Nethery

Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace

Betsy-Tacy and Tib by Maud Hart Lovelace

Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill by Maud Hart Lovelace

Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown by Maud Hart Lovelace

Heaven to Betsy by Maud Hart Lovelace

The 13 Days of Halloween by Carol Greene and Tim Raglin (illus.)

Betsy in Spite of Herself by Maud Hart Lovelace

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

The Widow's Season by Laura Brodie

The Return by Victoria Hislop

Horrid Henry's Underpants by Francesca Simon and Tony Ross (illus.)

Horrid Henry and the Scary Sitter by Francesca Simon and Tony Ross (illus.)

Fire in the Hills by Donna Jo Napoli**

*counts toward the Everything Austen Challenge
**counts toward the War Through the Generations Challenge

As for my challenge progress, I've completed 2/6 for the Everything Austen Challenge and 24 books for the War Through the Generations Challenge. I plan to read at least a few more WWII books by the end of the year, as well as complete the Everything Austen Challenge. Wish me luck! (It's a good thing I have the entire week of Thanksgiving off from work.)

So tell, me...how many books did you read last month? Are you meeting all your reading goals?

Have a YA Novel or Ya Novel Idea? Check Out This NaNoWriMo Contest

2009-11-03T13:11:00.001-05:00

I have too much going on right to participate in NaNoWriMo (maybe next year!), but I thought I'd take this opportunity to tell you about an awesome contest for those of you who have a YA novel or a YA novel idea. It's hard to get your writing noticed by agents and editors, but this contest will give you that necessary exposure.

Paul Samuelson from Sourcebooks -- one of the publishers involved in the contest -- wanted me to let you know about this contest, and I'm all for promoting writing, so here are the details:

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Get in Front of Top YA Editors and Agents with ONLY the First 250 Words of Your YA Novel!

Have a young adult novel—or a YA novel idea—tucked away for a rainy day? Are you putting off pitching your idea simply because you’re not sure how to pitch an agent? No problem! All you have to do is submit the first 250 words of your novel and you can win both exposure to editors, and a one-on-one chat with one of New York’s TOP literary agents Regina Brooks.

Regina Brooks is the founder of Serendipity Literary Agency and the author of Writing Great Books for Young Adults. Brooks has been instrumental at establishing and building the careers of many YA writers, including three-time National Book Award Honoree and Michael Printz Honoree Marilyn Nelson, as well as Sundee Frazier—a Coretta Scott King Award winner, an Oprah Book Pick and an Al Roker book club selection. As an agent, she is known for her ability to turn raw talent into successful authors.

ADDITIONALLY: The top 20 submissions will all be read by a panel of five judges comprised of top YA editors at Random House, HarperCollins, Harlequin, Sourcebooks and Penguin. All 20 will receive free autographed copies of Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina Brooks. Of the 20, they will pick the top five submissions and provide each author with commentary and a one year subscription to The Writer magazine. ONE Grand Prize Winner will have the opportunity to get feedback on a full YA manuscript and win a free 10-week writing course courtesy of the Gotham Writer’s Workshop.

Please submit all entries via the contest website at http://www.writingclasses.com/ContestPages/YAPitch.php. One entry per person; anyone age 13+ can apply. Open to the U.S. & Canada (void where prohibited). Entries for the YA Novel Discovery Contest will be accepted from 12:01am (ET) November 1 until 11:59pm (ET), November 30.

NOVEMBER IS NaNoWriMo

In honor of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo.org)—an international event where aspiring novelists are encouraged to write an entire novel in 30 days—this contest is meant to encourage the aspiring YA author to get started on that novel by offering an incentive for completing the first 250 words.

So apply now! http://bit.ly/1PYGaN

JUDGING

YA literary agent Regina Brooks, along with editors at Sourcebooks, will read all of the entries and determine the top 20 submissions. These submissions will then be read by Dan Ehrenhaft, head Acquisitions Editor at Soucebooks Fire; Alisha Niehaus, Editor at Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin); David Linker, Executive Editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books; Michele Burke, Editor at Knopf Books for Young Readers (Random House); and Evette Porter, Editor at Harlequin. These judges will whittle the top 20 down to four winners and a grand prize winner—all five will be provided commentary on their submissions.

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Best of luck to all the entrants!