Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Review: In the Woods by Tana French

What I warn you to remember is that I am a detective. Our relationship with truth is fundamental but cracked, refracting confusingly like fragmented glass. It is the core of our careers, the endgame of every move we make, and we pursue it with strategies painstakingly constructed of lies and concealment and every variation on deception. [pg 3]


In the Woods by Tana French
Penguin Books, 2007
Crime Fiction, 429 pgs


I am not sure where to begin with this review. In the Woods is not a mystery that had me rushing to turn the pages. Rather, I wanted to take it slow and savor every word. Tana French is a beautiful writer who appears to take great care with each word she writes.

The novel is dark and the subject matter heavy. A young girl is found murdered at an archeological site in Knocknaree, Ireland, and detectives Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox are assigned to investigate. Detective Ryan knows he should not be on the case. At the age of 12, he had been the only one found after the disappearance of him and his two best friends in the very woods where Katy’s body was discovered. His shoes were filled with blood, and, to this day, he has no memory of what happened that fateful day. His past has haunted him off and on all his life, and suddenly, it is placed front and center. He wants to remember. And he and Detective Maddox, one of the few who knows about his past, are determined to discover whether a link between the twenty year old disappearances has anything to do with the recent murder.

Tana French’s gift lies not just in crafting an utterly intriguing story, but also in creating characters that are complicated and very much three dimensional, from the big players in the novel to the minutest of characters. The author did an amazing job of capturing the stress and tension an ongoing and high profile investigation like Katy’s murder brings with it. It weighed heavily on everyone involved, including the protagonist and his partner. The longer the investigation went on, the more dead ends they encountered, and even the closer they came to the truth, the more strain it put on them.

Ryan and Maddox had an extremely close relationship. The two were like siblings in many ways. They knew each other inside and out. They both carried their own baggage, and while they shared much about themselves, including some of their darkest secrets, they still held a few things back. This bond between them made them even better at their job in many ways, or so it seemed in the beginning.

Part of the reason I decided to read this book when I did was as part of an online book discussion. I got to it a little late, but one of the bonuses of online groups is that the questions and discussion live on after everyone else has set the book aside for something else. I thought about incorporating some of the questions and answers into my review, but that really wouldn’t work. Too many spoilers. I will say though that this book makes for good discussion fodder!

The ending seems to be the most controversial part of the book. Many people were left disappointed for reasons I’ll refrain from giving here. I actually quite liked the ending. I wish I could say more because there’s a lot I liked about it, but, well, you know how it goes. A little something called spoilers.

This is one of my shorter reviews for a book that deserves more. I can see why so many people have recommended this book, and you can bet I’m adding my voice to that chorus.

Rating: * (Very Good +)

You can learn more about Tana French and her books on the author's website.


© 2009, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.
If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Monday At the Movies: Going Back to School & The New Fall TV Schedule

The Monday Movie Meme is brought to you by The Bumbles.

This week's movie topic is all about school ...
September is drawing to a close and that means that lots of Moms & Dads out there are rejoicing that the school system is taking their children in during the week to educate their minds and give the parents a breather. There are lots of college students back in the full swing of course work, research and all nighters. And then there are us Bumbles who have no little ones to send off to school and are far removed from our own school days. So instead, we think of movies that portray various levels of schooling and themes surrounding them. Here are some that we've enjoyed. Share on your blog movies touching upon the world of education and then link back at The Bumbles. And don't forget to visit your fellow participants!
Grease (1978)








Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

What are some of your favorite school-related movies?



Monday's Movie is hosted by Sheri at A Novel Menagerie.

With the new fall television season underway, Anjin and I have not watched any movies recently. Growing up, television was a nightly staple, but for a few years now, I like to keep most evenings free. Thanks to the DVR, Anjin and I record all the shows we watch and rarely watch them when they originally air. I can't stand sitting through those pesky commercials for one thing. Sure, I could try and read during them, but then I always end up getting caught up in my book and miss part of the show when it comes back on.

Here's a peek at what we've been watching lately (the last show listed hasn't actually started yet, but it's one I definitely will be tuning in for):

Castle ~ Drama/Mystery


Glee ~ High School Comedy/Drama


Vampire Diaries ~ Urban Fantasy/Thriller/Drama


Flash Forward ~ Science Fiction/Mystery/Thriller

Grey's Anatomy ~ Hospital Drama


Dollhouse ~ Science Fiction/Drama/Thriller



V ~ Science Fiction/Drama/Thriller


Sometimes we lose interest in a show after a few episodes and drop them from our line-up. My husband had a 3 episode rule with any new show we watch. He figures that by then, a show should have its feet underneath it and we will know if it is worth continuing to watch.

There are other television shows we follow on DVD during the off season, which are not mentioned here. Those are shows we are a season or two behind on. I actually prefer watching television that way. Not as long a wait in between episodes and I can get through a season quickly.

What television shows are you watching this season?


© 2009, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.
If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Sunday Salon: A Reading Retrospective (September 2004)

It actually is quite common for the fall season to open with triple digit temperatures in the part of the world where I live. Summer likes to hold on as long as she can before giving way to her cousin. I wouldn't be surprised if she gets winter and fall confused, considering how little change there is between the two seasons; and, therefore, winter thinks fall has an advantage. The heat now will only make the fall weather all the sweeter when it finally does arrive. I just hope it will be before Halloween.

In honor of the coming spooky holiday, I will be reading and reviewing Haunting Bombay by Shilpa Agarwal next month. Got to try and fit a ghost story in there somehow. In the meantime, I have been spending much of my time overseas in Darfur, Sri Lanka, and London as I study hard to become a doctor, travel cross-country by train and fall in love with a mobster. I also spent a little time closer to home this month in New Orleans, but that might as well have been a foreign country. It is not every day I get to walk around in the shoes of a wealthy mentally ill woman.

September is nearing an end and as has become my habit on the last Sunday of every month, I pulled out my old reading journal to take a look at what I had been reading five years ago this month. Mystery, particularly involving murder, was the order of the day (which does not seem that much different from the month before that same year does it?).

My husband's and my end of the summer road trip through the southwest was encouragement enough for me to pick up and read the third book in J.A. Jance's Sheriff Joanna Brady series set in Cochise County, Arizona. In Shoot/Don't Shoot, Joanna Brady attended law enforcement training in Phoenix and got wrapped up in an investigation of possible serial murders. I especially love the setting of this particular series, having a special place in my heart for the state of Arizona. Joanna is one of those strong female protagonists I like to read about so much.

My reading that year also took me to the Virgin Islands where I met up with Jonathan Nasaw's Pender, a retired FBI agent who was called in to help investigate several murders on the fictional island of St. Luke. Who is behind the murders is no mystery in Twenty-Seven Bones to the reader as the author reveals it early on; it is the game of cat and mouse which made me keep turning the pages. This is one of those books that I really cannot remember much of were it not for the notes in my reading journal, and, even then, I could not tell you anything beyond what I've written there.

I did not have the same problem with Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's Cabinet of Curiosities, a book I devoured in no time. It was my first introduction to FBI Special Agent Pendergast and it was practically love at first sight. In this book, the mutilated bodies of 36 people are found deep inside a tunnel—a horrific crime that occurred over a century ago—and Pendergast is called to investigate. Preston and Child are skillful writers and I was riveted to my chair the more I read of this novel—a bit of history and horror rolled into one. I even went so far as to do some research on cabinets of curiosities, something I had not been familiar with before. I love it when a book inspires the researcher in me.

September of 2004 also found me spending time with ex-cop turned art historian, Kate McKinnon, in Jonathan Santlofer's Color Blind. She is asked to help with a murder investigation. It is the second book in a series, but my first experience with Santlofer's work. Although I hadn't been overly impressed with the heroine, finding her to be a bit too perfect and a little mechanical, that did not detract much from my overall enjoyment of the story. I loved the pop culture references, and I made a special note of the ending in my journal, mentioning how well written it was, both in conception and length. It was a fitting ending given all the characters had gone through.

Abigail Padgett's Child of Silence was not my first book by the author, but it is one of my favorites by her. Child of Silence is the first book in a series featuring a Child Protective Services Social Worker in San Diego County. In this book, the protagonist, Bo Bradley, is assigned to investigate the case of an abandoned boy found tied up and unconscious on a local reservation. The further she gets into her investigation, her own life is suddenly on the line and she finds herself on the run from two hitmen. One of the aspects I like most about Padgett's series is the way she weaves Bo's mental illness (Bipolar Disorder) into the story in a very real way. Padgett also paints a very realistic portrait of what many child welfare workers face day in and day out.

I was still reading Patricia Cornwell back then. I was anxious to read Blow Fly, the 12th book in the Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner series, because Trace would be coming out soon after. I had been an early fan of the series and always looked forward to seeing where Cornwell would take me next. I had been disappointed with Isle of the Dogs, a book from another of her series, and hoped the return to more familiar ground would prove better. While on some level I liked Blow Fly, I also found it disappointing. The ending in particular left a lot to be desired, and it was clear the series was going in a direction that I wasn't sure I wanted to go. Up to that point, I had never given up on a series, and so I figured I would wait and see what Trace had to offer before deciding if Cornwell and I would part ways.

Although also a mystery, I stepped out of reality and into urban fantasy in September of 2004 as well. I quite enjoyed Laurell K. Hamilton's Cerulean Sins, the 11th book in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series. The mysteries in the series at that point were fast becoming very minor story lines. In this case, Anita was asked to help find a serial rapist/killer who was believed to be a lycanthrope. Vampire politics played a heavy part in the novel, however, as Anita was pulled deeper and deeper into her lover and vampire friend Jean-Claude's world. In my notes about this particular book, I commented about how I appreciated Hamilton showing me a softer side of Anita and giving voice to some of the emotional turmoil the character was experiencing with all that she had been through up to that point. Anita was also beginning to recognize the sacrifices that others had made for her, something she had taken for granted for so long.

I clearly had murder on the brain five years ago this month, in particular serial murders. It was a month for visiting old friends and making new ones--and for seeing justice win the day. All this talk of mysteries and thrillers is putting me in the mood to read one next. I wonder which it will be . . .

Where has your reading taken you lately?

This Week In Reading Mews:

Reviews Posted:
A Disobedient Girl by Ru Freeman (Plus a giveaway--there's still time if you are interested!)
The Hunter (Richard Stark’s Parker, Book 1) adapted and illustrated by Darwyn Cooke

Currently Reading:
DeMarco Empire by J Lou McCartney
Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival by Halima Bashir

Posts of Interest This Week:
TGIF: Music, Wish Lists & Tears

I can't resist putting in a little plug for a new feature on my husband's blog, where he stretches his creative muscle. Take a look:
Microfiction: Cross-Country.


© 2009, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.
If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Friday, September 25, 2009

TGIF: Music, Wish Lists & Tears

This week Rebecca's Musings Monday question:
Do you listen to music while reading? Does this change if you’re reading in or out of your house? Do you have a preference of music for such occasions?
The soft snores of my dog or the gentle purrs of my cats accompany my reading in the evenings. Murmurs of conversation sound in the background while I read during my lunch break at the office. The music of life going on around me is what I listen to most when I lose myself in a book these days.

There was a time when I insisted on having music on when I read. I used to try and match the music to my book, as if creating a soundtrack. The older I get, however, the more I prefer the quiet and natural sounds as the soundtrack to my reading. It is not that I cannot read to music. I can--on the condition that the volume is reasonable. As it is, I tend to block out all sound when I am truly engrossed in a book.

I do like to listen to music when I am blogging or writing, however. I find it relaxing. Plus, it gives me an excuse to sing to my heart's content.





For this week's Tuesday Thingers, Wendi asks:
Have you explored/used the Wish list collection on Library Thing yet? If so, have you found it helpful? Do you have any other tips or uses for the Wish list collection? [Question courtesy of Caite of A Lovely Shore Breeze]
A couple of nights ago I was re-labeling books in my library collection that were a part of my BBAW giveaways. Ever since LibraryThing added the collection feature, there is no need for me to completely delete the books I give away (I use LibraryThing as a catalog for all the books I own and have read and reviewed). I simply switch the books from "My Library" to "Gave Away" and all is right in my personal library again.

I had seen the wish list feature before but had not really explored it. I still am not using it, but it is an option I am considering. At the moment I keep two wish lists: one with Amazon and the other is an Excel spreadsheet. There are crossovers, but neither is fully up to date. I have bits of paper here and there too with books I keep meaning to add to my wish list. I am always trying to be better organized, but it never quite seems to work out. Perhaps if I switch solely to LibraryThing's wish list feature it would solve my problem. I could keep better track of where I first heard about a book, search for other reviews to make sure it is a book I want to consider getting, and it would be easily accessible.



Hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine


The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova
Release Date: January 12, 2010

From Books-A-Million:
Psychiatrist Andrew Marlowe, devoted to his profession and the painting hobby he loves, has a solitary but ordered life. When renowned painter Robert Oliver attacks a canvas in the National Gallery of Art and becomes his patient, Marlow finds that order destroyed. Desperate to understand the secret that torments the genius, he embarks on a journey that leads him into the lives of the women closest to Oliver and a tragedy at the heart of French Impressionism. Kostova's masterful new novel travels from American cities to the coast of Normandy, from the late 19th century to the late 20th, from young love to last love. THE SWAN THIEVES is a story of obsession, history's losses, and the power of art to preserve human hope.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova is one of my favorite novels. I first heard mention of the author's latest novel over at My Friend Amy's. I was too late to enter the giveaway unfortunately, but at least now I can make room for it on my wish list.



What’s the saddest book you’ve read recently?
The book I am reading right now is sad. And angry-making. It is called Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival in Darfur by by Halima Bashir with Damien Lewis. Just from the title alone, you can probably guess what the book is about and why I would find it sad. It is even sadder still because it is a true story.

I find myself drawn to sad books now and then. I like books that bring out my emotions. Often the sad books I read offer some glimmer of hope, however small. Ru Freeman's A Disobedient Girl, which I recently read, was one such book, one of the character's stories was devastating. It was a heartbreaking. While the other character's story ended on a more hopeful note. I would offer the details, but I wouldn't want to spoil the story for anyone who has yet to read the book (and that's probably too much information, isn't it?).



Graphic courtesy of Tonya!
*Click on the image above graphic to get to the Friday Fill-In headquarters, hosted by Janet!*

1. One week ago we were celebrating BBAW.

2. You could often find me daydreaming when I was young.

3. Mama told me to smile and laugh often.

4. We are good bloggers, you and me.

5. Take your time when you read a book and savor every word.

6. If I am offered a book about wave particle duality, I will pass!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching the premiere of Flash Forward and Dollhouse; tomorrow my plans include running errands and enjoying my husband's company; and Sunday, I want to try out The Beatles: Rock Band.


© 2009, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.
If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Review: Richard Stark's The Hunter by Darwyn Cooke


Parker: The Hunter (Richard Stark’s Parker, Book 1)
adapted and illustrated by Darwyn Cooke
IDW, 2009
Crime Fiction (Graphic Novel); 140 pgs


From Amazon:
The Hunter, the first book in the Parker series, is the story of a man who hits New York head-on like a shotgun blast to the chest. Betrayed by the woman he loved and double-crossed by his partner in crime, Parker makes his way cross-country with only one thought burning in his mind - to coldly exact his revenge and reclaim what was taken from him! Richard (Donald Westlake) Stark's groundbreaking Parker books are adapted for the first time as a series of graphic novels by Darwyn Cooke. The initial graphic novel brings to life the first Parker book, The Hunter, which introduces readers to the dangerous anti-hero's cold and calculated world of criminals, thugs, and grifters.

Donald E. Westlake is a well-known name in the crime fiction arena. His work can be found not only in books but also on the silver screen. He took up several pseudonyms during his writing career, including that of Richard Stark. One of the series the author wrote under that name featured Parker, a cold-blooded professional thief in New York City. Westlake wanted to create a character who was very much a bad guy, but who, by then end of each book, the reader would sympathize with. The Hunter was the first in the series. It was later given a new title, Point Blank, which was also the name of the movie based loosely on the book.

Working closely with Westlake before his death in 2008, artist and comic book writer Darwyn Cooke took to adapting The Hunter to graphic novel format. His intention was to stay as close to the original story as possible. Unfortunately, I am unable to make a comparison, having not read Westlake’s novel. I can at least say that I found the graphic novel everything my husband said it would be when he recommended I read it. It is dark and suspenseful. And Parker is a character that is hard to like right off the bat, and only grudgingly after that. Still, by the end of the story, I was rooting for him just as Westlake would have wanted me to.

Not having a creative bone in my body when it comes to drawing, I can only speak in general terms at the skill Cooke possesses. The attention to detail, the shading and overall images captured the mood and feel of the story, moving it along and making it all the more interesting. I can see why Westlake gave Cooke his blessing in adapting his novel to the graphic novel format. It works, and it works well.

Rating: * (Very Good)




© 2009, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.
If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Review: A Disobedient Girl by Ru Freeman & a Giveaway

"Earrings are not decorations. They are a statement of legitimacy, of dignity, of self-worth. Ask any woman, and she would tell you that she would pawn everything she has before she gave up her earrings. Even her wedding band. For what is a wedding band worth except to say that a man coveted your children and wanted to claim them for his own? A wedding band can come from any man, just like children. Earrings, a real pair of earrings, come only with love." [pg 121]


A Disobedient Girl by Ru Freeman
Atria Books, 2009 (ARE)
Fiction; 374 pgs


Sri Lanka is located in South East Asia, an island country just south of India. It is a beautiful country that has been mired in conflict for over 40 years. Cultural and religious differences are at the forefront of the civil unrest and terrorist acts by extremists. Ru Freeman's novel, A Disobedient Girl, is set during these tumultuous times. Biso is the mother of three young children. In the early morning hours, she prepares her children for travel. After years of abuse, she has finally decided to leave her husband. They travel by train to the north, hoping to take refuge with Biso's mother's sister. The long train ride allows Biso time to reflect on her life, about her affair with the love of her life, his death at her husband's hands and the continuing abuse she suffered. Her children are her life, especially her youngest, the product of her affair.

This is also Latha's story. Latha works as a servant for the Vithanages, a wealthy family in Colombo. She and the daughter of the house, Thara, become friends although Latha is never allowed to forget her lower status. Latha has never taken easily to her role as servant. She feels she deserves better in life and often lands in trouble for going after what she wants. Her choices in life are not always the wisest, and, while still a teen, she becomes pregnant by her friend and mistress' love interest.

Biso's story is told over the course of a few days in first person; while Latha's is in third person and spans many years. It is an interesting technique that the author balances well as she alternates between characters with each chapter. The stories of the two women are connected in such a way that makes the ending all the more bittersweet.

I was drawn to both stories equally. Both Latha and Biso are flawed characters and strong women. My heart instantly went out to Biso and her children. While I may not approve of extramarital affairs, I do understand on some level why and how they come about. It becomes more complicated when cultural issues are thrown into the mix. Biso had lost her own mother at a young age and was married to a man not of her choosing. That marriage quickly became a violent one. Biso longed for love and to feel wanted. She found that in Siri. All that ended when he died, and Biso had to begin making other choices.

It took longer for me to warm to Latha. Latha is a passionate character. As the novel opens, she is young and naive and often impulsive. She carries with her a sense of entitlement and does not seem to know her place. The treatment of child servants was appalling and a part of me cheered for Latha for knowing she deserved better even while knowing her life would have been easier had she played along like the good little servant girl. I have read several other reviews that berate the fact that that Latha does not evolve as a character over the course of the novel. She never does seem to fully take responsibility for her actions, always seeming to lay the blame at others' feet. At the same time, I think she did grow as a character in other ways, eventually coming into her own.

Ru Freeman captured the hearts of her characters and the country about which she wrote. Through her characters, readers get a feel for the political unrest, the caste and class struggles, and the inner turmoil and sacrifices of both Latha and Biso. It took me about 76 pages or so to really get into A Disobedient Girl and while I wanted to shake the characters at times for the decisions they made, I enjoyed it just the same.

Rating: * (Good +)


Challenge Commitment Fulfilled: ARC Challenge, New Authors Challenge & 2009 Pub Challenge


Be sure and visit Ru Freeman's blog for more information about the book and to get to know the author. Visit TLC Tour stops for a list of Ru Freeman's tour stops!

Many thanks to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for the copy of this book and the opportunity to be a part of this book tour.


I also have a hardcover copy of Ru Freeman's A Disobedient Girl for one lucky commenter. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing and notified by e-mail. The deadline to enter is Tuesday, September 29th at 11:59 p.m. (PDT). Giveaway open worldwide. Make sure you include your e-mail address if it is not easily accessible on your blog so I contact you if win. Good luck!

**Stacy from Stacy's Books is the lucky winner of A Disobedient Girl. Congratulations, Stacy! Thank you to all who entered!**


© 2009, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.
If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Sunday Salon: Bookish Stereotypes & Reading in Public

I awoke this morning to my dog's nose pressing incessantly against my arm. I felt sure it must only be six in the morning, but it was two hours later than that. They let me sleep in! That's cause for celebration. Or something. I was up late last night catching up on the unread posts in my Google Reader. I managed to get below 200 by the time I went to bed. It would be easy to throw all the blame on Book Blogger Appreciation Week, but I am not sure how accurate that would be. It probably only deserves 75% of the blame.

In my blog reading last night, I came across Melanie's (The Indextrious Reader) interview with Kelly on The Written World. One of the questions the two women posed to each other was "Do reading stereotypes bother you? Do you prefer/avoid any genres due to lurking stereotypes?" Kelly had a recent experience in which someone assumed she was reading a romance novel because she was a woman. I shared a similar experience on my blog once, but for the life of me cannot find the post. It was a simple case of a man in my office wandering into the break room assumed I was reading a romance novel because I had a cloth cover on my book (I thought it would help protect the cover from getting bent at the corners as a result of being pulled in and out of my purse frequently). He was rather condescending, especially when he gave me that all-knowing smirk and nod. Ugh.

Their question brought me back to last month when I was reading Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter adapted and illustrated by Darwyn Cooke. While I do not avoid reading books because of stereotypes, I confess that I had some hesitation about reading a graphic novel in public. You would never know that it is a graphic novel from the outside. I had started reading The Hunter one Sunday night and wanted to continue with it the next day. I took it to work with me. I suddenly felt anxious, pulling it out during my lunch break in the break room. What would people think? I gave myself a big mental kick in the head. Why was I so embarrassed? Hadn't I, just the week before, been extolling the virtues of reading graphic novels to a couple of coworkers? What was wrong with me? After that, I sat up a bit straighter and hoped someone would ask me what I was reading that day. No one did.

How do you feel about reading stereotypes? Has anyone ever made assumptions about you based on what you were reading or what they thought you were reading? Is there anything you won't read based on a stereotype? Or at least won't read in public?


This Week In Reading Mews:

Reviews Posted:
Eleanor Rushing by Patty Friedmann

Currently Reading:
A Disobedient Wife by Ru Freeman
Tears of the Desert: A Memoir of Survival by Halima Bashir

New Additions to my TBR collection:
The Eye of Jade by Diane Wei Liang (saw mention of this in Mystery Scene and couldn't resist buying it)
Siren of the Waters by Michael Genelin (I wish I could remember who recommended this to me. 'Fess up if it was you!)
Volk's Game by Brent Ghelfi (another case of wishing I could remember who recommended this to me; was it you?)
Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist (Library Thing Early Reviewer Program)
Haunting Bombay by Shilpa Agarwal (TLC Book Tour)

BBAW Posts of Interest This Week:
Some Blogger Love
Interview with Adele from Persnickety Snark (you can read her interview with me here.)
Reading Meme

Current Giveaways I am Running (BBAW Related):
Giveaway #1 (ends at 11:59 p.m. September 20th)
Giveaway #2 (ends September 21st)
Giveaway #3 (ends September 22nd)
Giveaway #4 (ends September 23rd)
Giveaway #5 (ends September 23rd)


© 2009, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.
If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Friday, September 18, 2009

BBAW: Book Giveaway #5


As a final send off to this week's Book Blogger Appreciation Week, I want to offer one person a book of his or her choice. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing. The deadline to enter is Wednesday, September 23th at 11:59 p.m. (PDT). The catch? Tell me what book you would like and share with me the name of a new blog you discovered this week through BBAW. Make sure you include your e-mail address if it is not easily accessible on your blog so I contact you if win.

Good luck!

The winner of the book of your choice giveaway is . . .
Rebecca of Rebecca Reads

Congratulations, Rebecca!


Did you miss the last three giveaways? There's still time to enter!
Giveaway #1 - Closed
Giveaway #2 - Closed
Giveaway #3 - Closed
Giveaway #4 - Closed


© 2009, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.
If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Review: Eleanor Rushing by Patty Friedmann

As book blog readers, we have come to accept that discovering new authors and books are givens. We come across a review that catches our eye, and we can't wait to add that book to our wish lists or TBR piles. Those of you who know me, know I have more than just a TBR pile. Rather, I have a TBR room. My wish list is quite long too--mostly filled with books recommended by my fellow book bloggers.

In preparation for today's Book Blogger Appreciation Week topic, which is to highlight a book I first discovered on a blog and the blogger who introduced me to that book, I pored over several of my options, finally settling on one in particular.

If you haven't noticed already, book bloggers are a generous bunch. Just take a look at the number of BBAW giveaways, many at the expense of the individual bloggers themselves. Occasionally you may come across a blogger who offers a reader a book out of the blue. You read a review, comment that you are interested in reading that book and suddenly it's in the mail to you. I have been lucky to be on the receiving end of a handful of books like this over the past three years from various bloggers. Florinda from The 3 R's: Reading, 'Riting, and Randomness is one such blogger. It isn't something every blogger is able to do, especially not often, and so when a blogger does, it makes it extra special.

I had the opportunity to meet Florinda this past spring and she is just as wonderful in person as she is on her blog. She's intelligent and witty, not to mention a great writer. She touches on a variety of subjects on her blog, books included. I have found a kindred spirit in Florinda and am glad to call her my friend.




I think it is impossible to change the world unless you are truly evil and so mad for control you never sleep.
[First Sentence]


Eleanor Rushing by Patty Friedmann
Counterpoint, 2000
Fiction; 275 pgs



I had never heard of Patty Friedmann or her novel Eleanor Rushing before reading Florinda's review of the book, but she certainly piqued my interest. Florinda didn't exactly love the book, but her description of the main character as an unreliable narrator who is both frustrating and fascinating, made me curious. I said as much in my comment to her review, never expecting her to offer me her copy of the book, which I accepted (thanks, Florinda!).

Eleanor Rushing is a novel about a woman who sets her sights on a married pastor after meeting him in a council meeting. She is sure he loves her and goes to great lengths to learn about him and to draw him closer, including staging a car accident right outside his home, following him to Nashville, and insinuating herself into his life in just about any way she can think of.

Eleanor has a troubled past. Her parents died in an accident when she was ten, and she is haunted by memories of being molested as a child. Nearly thirty years old, Eleanor is wealthy and lives with her grandfather and housekeeper in New Orleans. She has never worked a day in her life.

Friedmann's novel is related in first person from Eleanor's perspective. From the first paragraph of the novel it is clear that her impressions of what is going on around her--or what has happened in the past--is not to be completely trusted. Rather, it is more in the other characters throughout the novel that the reader gets a more accurate picture of what is really going on. Eleanor is every bit the unreliable narrator. It makes the story all the more intriguing.

As I read Eleanor Rushing, I could not help but think of The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall which I read in June of last year. Like Eleanor, Eric Sanderson appears to be suffering from some sort of psychosis. The difference between the two books, however, is significant. In Hall's novel, the reader is left guessing. Is what is happening to Eric real or is it mental illness? I instantly connected with Eric; he was easy to relate to and sympathetic. He was likable.

Eleanor is not so easy to like. In fact, I cannot really say I ever grew to like her at all. I felt sorry for her, if anything. Yet even that was hard at times. She is extremely self-absorbed, not to mention does not believe she can do any wrong. It does not take long for the reader to realize Eleanor has mental health issues, that she is perhaps even delusional. Whereas I felt like I was a part of Eric's story, I felt more like an observer in Eleanor's. I looked on with horror at her gall and amazement at her tenacity. Eleanor has a distinct voice, a bit of wry humor with an underlying sadness.

Eleanor Rushing makes for a fascinating character study, perhaps more so because of my background in psychology and my never ending curiosity about what makes people tick. I read this book in two sittings because I hard a hard time pulling myself away. Patty Friedmann certainly has written an interesting novel about a character I won't soon forget.

Rating: * (Good +)


Challenge Commitment Fulfilled: New Authors Challenge

Drop by the Patty Friedmann's website for more information about her and her books!


© 2009, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.
If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

BBAW: Book Giveaway #4


I found another couple of books that could use a good home. Each of the books in this giveaway have been read once and are in good condition. Both are hardcover copies. (Each title is linked to my review of the book if you want to read my take on it.)

Every day this week, I am offering a new giveaway. Each giveaway will be open for one week, and so those late to the party will still have a chance to enter.


The Mechanics of Falling and Other Stories by Catherine Brady
(Winner: Vicki of Reading at the Beach)

(Winner: CGManley)
To Enter:
1) You must leave a comment to this post along with the title of the book you are interested in winning (you can request both but will only be eligible to win one).
2) Please remember to include your e-mail address in the comment section if it is not easily accessible on your blog so I can contact you if you win.
3) Open worldwide.
4) The deadline to enter is Wednesday, September 23rd at 11:59 p.m. (PDT). The winners will be chosen at random and notified by e-mail.
Good luck!

Did you miss the last three giveaways? There's still time to enter!
Giveaway #1 - Closed
Giveaway #2 - Closed
Giveaway #3 - Closed


© 2009, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.
If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

BBAW: Reading Meme


It's time for the Book Blogger Appreciation Week Meme!

Instructions: We encourage you to be creative with this! Please choose one or two questions to answer or try to answer all the questions in five words or less. Or choose a picture to answer a question! Brevity is the goal of today!

Note: I'm really going to try sticking to the five words or less rule. Yes, me, Ms. Ramble-Nonstop-For-Hours-If-You-Let-Me. I should get a prize if I succeed, don't you think? Maybe a new book perhaps?


Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?
Sometimes while I eat lunch.


Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
Rarely but always in pencil.


How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears?
A bookmark or miscellaneous paper.


Laying the book flat open?
Don't hate me but sometimes.


Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?
Both really, but fiction mostly.


Hard copy or audiobooks?
Hard copy please.


Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?
Chapter breaks; not always possible.


If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?
If I'm near a computer.


What are you currently reading?
Ru Freeman's A Disobedient Girl


What is the last book you bought?
Alan Bennett's The Uncommon Reader


Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time?
One book, but sometimes two.


Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?
Anytime and wherever I can.


Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?
I enjoy both.


Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte


How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)
Alphabetical by author's surname.

Want to play?


© 2009, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.
If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

BBAW: Book Giveaway #3


I found a couple of more books that could use a good home. Each of the books in this giveaway have been read once and are in good condition. Both are hardcover copies. (Each title is linked to my review of the book if you want to read my take on it.)

Every day this week, I am offering a new giveaway. Each giveaway will be open for one week, and so those late to the party will still have a chance to enter.


(Winner: Amy from The House of the Seven Tails)


A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon
(Winner: Softdrink from Fizzy Thoughts)

To Enter:
1) You must leave a comment to this post along with the title of the book you are interested in winning (you can request both but will only be eligible to win one).
2) Please remember to include your e-mail address in the comment section if it is not easily accessible on your blog so I can contact you if you win.
3) Open worldwide.
4) The deadline to enter is Tuesday, September 22nd at 11:59 p.m. (PDT). The winners will be chosen at random and notified by e-mail.
Good luck!

Did you miss the last two giveaways? There's still time to enter!
Giveaway #1 - Closed
Giveaway #2 - Closed

*****CLOSED*****


© 2009, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.
If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

BBAW: Interview with Adele from Persnickety Snark


Last year I had the opportunity to
interview the brilliant Bookish Ruth for BBAW. After submitting my request to be partnered again this year, I waited with bated breath to find out who my latest interview partner would be. I am pleased to introduce you to Adele from Persnickety Snark. She is every bit as charming and friendly as you might guess from reading her blog. So, after this interview, hurry on over to check out Persnickety Snark!


Wendy: I like that you focus quite a bit on Australian YA. It really does seem like an underrepresented area. Can you share a little about your experience in choosing to blog about books, particularly YA books?

Adele: I am an English teacher and so my exposure to books is part of the job. That being said, I wouldn't teach English if I didn't love reading in the first place! The reason for YA review blogging was two-part; 1) bring more attention to the talented Australian YA authors and 2) receive review copies to supply my school's minuscule library. It's been successful on both counts but seeing my student's smile as they pore over the new books that arrive is the best part of blogging.


Wendy: What has been one of the highlights for you as a teacher, helping instill the love of reading in your students?

Adele: That's a tough question as every time you see them make that connection, or that "a-ha" moment, is a highlight. However, reading The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins) with my grade eight class last term was fantastic. My students are all ESL (English as a Second Language) so a 400+ page book was enormously intimidating for them and yet within two chapters they were reading ahead of the class. They are now hanging out for the release of Catching Fire - not bad for "reluctant readers".


Wendy: I love the title of your blog. It's catchy and memorable (it should have won the award for Best Blog Title, if you ask me). How did you come to choose that name?

Adele: Thanks so much Wendy!

It's not so evident in my review writing but in person I can be quite snarky, so it was an immediate choice. Persnickety is my favourite word - it just sounds deliciously prickly and apparently I can be a snob. Together they sound like perfection, even if they aren't an accurate representation of my review style.


Wendy: Besides reading and books, what are some of your other interests, hobbies or passions?

Adele: I was a huge podcaster until Persnickety Snark became more time consuming than I anticipated. I was the host of a podcast called Fringe Dwellers that discussed each week's episode of FOX's Fringe. I love discussing my thoughts on any mode of storytelling whether television, movies or novels and being able to do that through the Internet is enormously rewarding. I loved editing as well but it took a huge amount of time and it eventually came down to a choice between Psnark and Fringe Dwellers.

I am a huge movie buff - specifically teen movies of the Hughes era and forward. I am such a huge fan of YA that it makes sense that the cinematic storytelling of teen experience would also grab my interest. The Breakfast Club is one of my favourite films of all time!


Wendy: What types of books do you like to read outside of YA or do you solely read YA books?

Adele: Sadly I don't really have the time to read outside of YA. I read my first non-review title in nine months last week and it was great. I am lucky to receive so many review copies so I feel guilty if I am not placing my whole attention on them. I am itching to re-read Stephen King's The Stand though, it's one of my faves alongside Austen's Pride and Prejudice. On the bright side, YA covers all genres and rocks so I am sitting pretty.


Wendy: Labels have their purpose, but they also can be very misleading. In the blogosphere, there has been a debate recently (and probably for a lot longer than that) about what constitutes a YA book. Some believe it is a marketing tool while others rank it as a genre or category of book. As a teacher and someone who focuses mostly on YA literature, what do you think qualifies as a YA book?

Adele: I might be oversimplifying it but I tend to think that YA literature is that which focuses on a teen protagonist and their perspective of the world regardless of setting. I do agree that it had increasingly becoming a marketing tool but anything that gets young people to read is a GOOD thing. It's for this reason that I can't begrudge Twilight too much as many teens have reacquainted themselves with reading.


Wendy: To the adult reader who is looking to try YA fiction for the first time or perhaps someone like me who is still testing the waters, what would you recommend?

Adele: I would start by searching blogs for reviews of books or authors you enjoy and see what that blogger also likes. Usually you can match your own tastes with another blogger - Jenny at Wondrous Reads is my reading twin (though she doesn't know it.)

Meg Cabot is the Queen of YA for a reason - I would start with some of her older titles eg Teen Idol and the Mediator Series. Melina Marchetta and Simmone Howell are great contemporary Australian YA novelists and can transcend international time zones. I love Lisa Ann Sandell's Song of the Sparrow as it mixes Arthurian legend, beautiful characterisation and the most exquisite free verse you've ever had the pleasure to drink in. In terms of new releases you can't go wrong with Lisa Mantchev's Eyes Like Stars, Gayle Forman's If I Stay or Michelle Zink's Prophecy of the Sisters.


Wendy: Who are some of your favorite Australian authors?

Adele: Those who are familiar with Psnark know that I have a fierce love of Melina Marchetta's work. Her debut title, Looking for Alibrandi came out when I was eleven and I have been a captive audience ever since. Marchetta won this year's Printz Award for her fantastically complex, intriguing and utterly magnificent Jellicoe Road.

Some names that you should know - John Marsden, James Roy, Anthony Eaton, Simmone Howell, Lili Wilkinson, Kathy Charles, Kirsty Murray, Shaun Tan...there are too many to mention :)


Wendy: So, have you decided yet? Is it Team Unicorn or Team Zombie?

Adele: Nope...is there a third choice? Like Team Winged Monkey? I'd be on that team faster than you could say Justine Larbalestier!


Wendy: I do have one bone to pick with you. How can you not like bananas? Seriously though, what is your favorite fruit since it is obviously not bananas?

Adele: As a toddler I apparently glutted myself on bananas, as a response I can no longer smell them without feeling extremely ill. My students know this and torment me!

I am rather partial to the humble grape - ideally Pacey (Dawson's Creek) would feed them to me by hand as Ben (Felicity) would fan me with palm fronds :D


Wendy: Thank you, Adele, for taking the time to answer my questions!


Don't you just love her? If you haven't yet, do stop by and visit Adele at Persnickety Snark. Also, if you are interested, head over to read Adele's interview with me.


© 2009, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.
If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.