Musings of a Bookish Kitty: October 2013

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Bookish Thoughts: Help for the Haunted by John Searles

Help for the Haunted by John Searles

William Morrow, 2013

Fiction; 368 pgs

From the Publisher:

It begins with a call in the middle of snowy February evening. Lying in her bed, young Sylvie Mason overhears her parents on the phone across the hall. This is not the first late-night call they have received, since her mother and father have an uncommon occupation, helping "haunted souls" find peace. And yet, something in Sylvie senses that this call is different than the rest, especially when they are lured to the old church on the outskirts of town. Once there, her parents disappear, one after the other, behind the church's red door, leaving Sylvie alone in the car. Not long after, she drifts off to sleep only to wake to the sound of gunfire.

Nearly a year later, we meet Sylvie again struggling with the loss of her parents, and living in the care of her older sister, who may be to blame for what happened the previous winter.

As the story moves back and forth in time, through the years leading up to the crime and the months following, the ever inquisitive and tender-hearted Sylvie pursues the mystery, moving closer to the knowledge of what occurred that night, as she comes to terms with her family's past and uncovers secrets that have haunted them for years.

This is one of the more popular books this fall and although it's taken me awhile to get to it, I finally did. Now I know what all the fuss is about--and I have to agree; it's worth it.

I love a good thriller and John Searles wastes no time in his latest novel, Help for the Haunted, setting the scene and pulling the reader right into the book. The story is narrated by teen-aged Sylvie, a bright girl who is basically good through and through. She was her parents' obedient daughter, the one who they could trust to do as she was told, unlike her older sister Rose who seemed to rebel at every turn.

I grew to really like Sylvie and care for her. Her parents were brutally murdered, and she is lucky to be alive. As she recounts the tale of her parents's lives and their murder, we get a strong sense of who her family was, what they meant to her, and just how deep their secrets went. I appreciated Sylvie's honesty and naivety. It gave the narration a more authentic feel. Sylvie had an inner strength that was undeniable. My heart broke for her at every turn while at the same while I admired how resilient she was, and how resourceful.

When I first began reading Help for the Haunted, I wasn't sure what kind of novel I was getting myself into. Was it a ghost story or more of a crime fiction novel? Was it a good mix of both? I liked how the author worked the paranormal into the mystery, really leaving it up to the reader what to believe. Much of what happens can be explained away, and yet there is just enough to make you wonder on the other hand. It really can go either way, depending on the reader.

The author strikes a good balance between plot and characterization. The characters are all fully developed, and the plot is well set with plenty of twists to keep the reader guessing, including this reader which can be hard to do.

I had such fun reading this atmospheric novel, and had a hard time putting it down. I hope to go back and read the author's back list and look forward to seeing what he has to offer in the future.

Rating:

(Very Good +)

You can learn more about John Searles and his books on the author's Facebook Page.

Source: Review copy provided by publisher via NetGalley.

© 2013, 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, October 30, 2013

Mouse's Corner: What Will Mouse Be For Halloween?

Mouse and I have been reading her favorite Halloween book just about every day for the past couple weeks. Sometimes multiple times in one sitting. I have to say, it's my favorite too. I love the story and the writing. The artwork is fun and tells a story all its own.

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (Puffin, 2003) is about a witch and her cat who are flying through the air on her broom. She keeps losing things, however. First her hat, then her bow and wand. Along the way she makes new friends, all of whom want to ride on her broom. Only, the weight proves to be too much for the broom. What happens next is both scary, funny and inspiring. It's such a cute story. I highly recommend it if you have a young one around to share it with! Or heck, even if it's just you.

What are your favorite childhood Halloween reads?

Mouse has been talking nonstop about Halloween since the beginning of August. At first she wanted to be a bumblebee like last year, but then decided she liked the idea of being a pirate. After reading a Halloween book about a girl who dressed up as a princess, it's been everything princess related for the last several weeks. Now that she's tried on a few costumes . . . Well, I guess we'll find out Halloween morning whether the pirate will win out over the princess.

Which is your favorite?

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Where Is Your Bookmark? (10/29/2013)

Although not intentionally, I seem to be reading quite a few books that are fitting for this time of year. Yesterday, I posted my review of Litter of the Law by Rita Mae Brown, a more relaxed seasonal read, and Thursday I will be sharing my thoughts on a more gritty read, Help for the Haunted by John Searles. This past weekend, I finished reading Juliet Dark's The Angel Stone, the third book in the Fairwick Chronicles, in which Halloween plays a large part. My reading has certainly helped put me in the mood for the season--that and an eager young daughter who is talking nonstop about Halloween.

I have since moved on to a more traditional mystery, Darkness First, by James Hayman, involving murder and drugs. It was random pick my husband chose for me after I gave him a list of titles I was considering reading. The book I had really wanted to start wasn't yet downloaded to my Kindle, and I wasn't in a place I could download it. Luckily, I have plenty of back up.

What are you reading right now? Is it something you would recommend?

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where

participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a

book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

I recently read a John Searles's Help for the Haunted, which seemed rather perfect for this time of year.

Whenever the phone rang late at night, I lay in my narrow bed and listened.

My mother picked up on the first ring, so as not to wake my sister, if she was home, or me. In hushed tones, she soothed the caller before handing the phone to my father. His voice was stiffer, more formal, as he made plans to meet somewhere or offered directions to our faded and drooping Tudor on a dead-end lane in the tiny town of Dundalk, Maryland. There were times when the person on the other end of the line had called from a pay phone as nearby as Baltimore. A priest, I guessed, had scratched our number on a scrap of paper and handed it over. Or maybe it had been found by simply searching the tissuey pages of the phonebook, since we were listed, same as any ordinary family, even if ordinary was the last thing we were.

Would you continue reading?

Monday, October 28, 2013

Bookish Thoughts: Litter of the Law by Rita Mae Brown

Litter of the Law by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown

Bantam; 2013

Crime Fiction; 256 pgs

From the Publisher:

Autumn has descended and crops are being harvested all over Crozet, Virginia, ideal conditions for a scenic drive for Harry and husband Fair. Bucolic views are all well and good, but Harry’s nose for trouble leads her straight to a cornfield’s macabre scarecrow—an all too real murder victim that frightens all but the noisy crows.

This accountant’s gruesome death is only the first of many disturbing events in this normally pastoral corner of the world. While Harry tends her beloved grapes and sunflowers, a killer edges closer—as does Harry’s protective menagerie of animals.

Halloween’s approach brings with it bona fide terror and a beloved local tradition that threatens to become fatal. Rooting out the guilty in the treacherous center of a lucrative conspiracy requires Harry’s farmer’s wisdom—along with the quick wits and extraordinary senses of Sneaky Pie, Pewter, and Tucker. A vicious murderer may know the lay of the land far better than Harry does, but that’s about to change. It’s up to her vigilant four-footed companions to make sure that the unearthing of this plot is not Harry’s last act.

This time of year is perfect for cozies. There is a chill in the air, the leaves are changing colors and falling from the trees, and there's a general sense of good will in the air. Mostly, anyway. Rita Mae Brown's Litter of the Law is a perfect cozy for the Halloween season, set in small town Virginia. This was my first Rita Mae Brown mystery, believe it or not. I have not read all that many cat mysteries, despite what my blog name may suggest.

I thought it was cute that the author's cat earned a spot on the cover as a coauthor, her contribution to the book being the animal conversations and activities, something which took me awhile to get used to. I'm not used to cats, dogs, birds, mice and foxes talking--at least not in a book like this. It grew on me though and by the end, I didn't mind so much. It was comic relief.

The novel seemed to get off to a slow start. Much time was spent setting the tone and atmosphere of the book. Even after the first body is found, the mystery took its time unfolding. It was nice change from the more fast paced books I've been reading. A breath of fresh air. Cozies tend to be like that for me.

Harry and I hit it off pretty quickly. I love it when the heroine is close to my age. I also could relate to Harry's love for animals. Harry is not one to sit still when there is something to be done, nor will she keep her nose out of trouble when something isn't right. After finding the body in the cornfield, Harry does her own digging, and the crime becomes more personal when someone she knows is targeted. There's always a risk of an every day heroine's involvement in an investigation seeming too unbelievable, but it made sense in this instance.

Harry was just one of the many characters in the novel, each character very much their own person. I especially liked Harry's husband Fair and Tazio, a young architect with a sense of history and culture.

In Litter of the Law, Rita Mae Brown brings attention to a very real issue that I think is worth noting (and the author does too, given she's written about it), and that is the fact that the federal government refuses to acknowledge Virginia Native American tribes, as a result denying these tribes legal standing, being able to claim historical and cultural artifacts and gaining access to federal programs that other recognized tribes have access to, among other things. Tribes long discriminated against continue to be victimized in this day and age.

I enjoyed reading Litter of the Law, and am eager to read more by Rita Mae Brown.

Rating:

(Good)

You can learn more about Rita Mae Brown and her books on the author's website.

Source: Review copy provided by publisher via NetGalley.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Bookish Thoughts: Backlash by Lynda La Plante

Backlash by Lynda La Plante

Bourbon Street Books, 2013

Crime Fiction; 496 pgs

From GoodReads:

Late night on an estate in Hackney and a van is being driven erratically. The driver is pulled over by the police and questioned. A woman on the street after a long evening's drinking never makes it home. A suspect, an arrest, a confession, a case done and dusted?

There is much I liked about this novel, from the writing to the fast paced plot. I also liked the fact that Backlash is more of an inverted detective story. I don't run into those too often. The reader knows who the bad guy is up front, and the mystery is in seeing how law enforcement pieces the crime together--what exactly, if anything, did the suspect do and what could his motive be.

One of the things I like about police procedural novels is seeing everyone work together to solve a crime. While there is often one or two protagonists who stand out over the other characters, solving crimes really is a team effort. A good police procedural acknowledges the internal struggles and frustrations that often face the team, while not overdoing it and drowning the story in politics and ego. Lynda La Plante found a good balance, I thought, in capturing the doubts and head butting that can take place.

Backlash is more of a plot driven novel rather than a character driven one, as often crime novels are. In this instance, I felt there were too many characters and too much going on for me to really get to know any of the characters well (other than the antagonist). I imagine, as a series book, this would be a problem easily solved by my reading the earlier books in the series. Backlash is the eighth book in the series, and while this particular book can stand alone quite well on it's own, there were moments I wish I knew more about the characters' background.

Anna Travis, the main protagonist, and for whom the series is named, is an interesting character. Clearly she is an intelligent woman who is a force to be reckoned with. She is diligent and thorough in her work. She carries her own emotional baggage which I think she does a good job keeping out of her work for the most part. That's why it was such a surprise when it all came to the surface later in the book. And yet, looking back, it makes sense. She has a job to do, and she does it well--but it has to affect her. It was good to see that it did, especially given past events.

I really liked DCI Mike Lewis, who initially is given the reigns in the investigation into Oates, the suspect. While put out by his investigation being somewhat hijacked by his superior, Langston (who is supposed to be on medical leave) he handles it with class. Langston was one character I didn't particularly like. He was pushy and demanding. What irked me especially was that he got away with it so often.

I had been excited about reading Backlash when I first heard about it and am so glad I did. Backlash had me reading late into the night. Lynda La Plante is definitely an author I want to read more of in the future.

Rating:

(Very Good)

To learn more about Lynda La Plante and her books, please visit the author's website.

I hope you will check out what others had to say about Backlash on the TLC Book Tours route!

Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. The publisher provided an e-copy of the book for review.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Cat Thursday (on Wednesday): Mom's Arm is Most Comfy!

Welcome to the weekly meme hosted by The True Book Addict that celebrates cats; their foibles and humorousness and the joy they bring. You can join in by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you made or came across, cat art or share with us pics of your own felines, then post your link up at The True Book Addict.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Where Is Your Bookmark? (10/22/2013)

It was an eventful weekend in the Literary Feline household, with soccer, a visit to a local pumpkin patch, and (finally!) putting up the trampoline Mouse's great aunt and uncle gave her this past summer. The weather was perfect--in the mid to high 80's. We spent a lot of time outdoors. How did you spend this past weekend?

Just Finished: Instead of catching up the television show, Scandal, this past Friday, I finished listening to Lionel Shriver's We Need to Talk About Kevin. It is one of those books I wished I had someone to talk to as soon as I finished it.

Last night, I finished reading An Illustrated Death by Judi Culbertson, a cozy-type mystery, about a book seller who finds herself tangled in her most recent clients' family secrets. I hadn't realized it was the second book in the series when I read it; not that it matters all that much, I suppose.

Currently Reading: After much back and forth, I finally settled on an urban fantasy novel: The Angel Stone, the third installment of Juliet Dark's The Fairwick Chronicles. I enjoyed the first two books immensely and so have high hopes for the latest.

What are you reading right now? Is it something you would recommend?

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where

participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a

book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

From one of my recent reads, Litter of the Law by Rita Mae Brown, a cozy mystery for cat lovers:

Fair Haristeen, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, and his wife, Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen, loved to steal a Saturday and cruise the back roads of central Virginia. It reminded them of their courting days, back in high school, when Fair, bruised from Friday night's football game, would pick up Harry, dirty from the stable, and they'd drive around in his 1958 Chevy pickup. Now, over two decades later, Fair was at the wheel of their station wagon, Harry beside him, the pets in the back seat, as they road through the countryside.

Would you continue reading?

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Cat Thursday: Cozy & Pink

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Bookish Thoughts: Unseen by Karin Slaughter

Unseen by Karin Slaughter

Delacorte Press, 2013

Crime Fiction; 400 pgs

From the Publisher:

Will Trent is a Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent whose latest case has him posing as Bill Black, a scary ex-con who rides a motorcycle around Macon, Georgia, and trails an air of violence wherever he goes. The cover has worked and he has caught the eye of a wiry little drug dealer who thinks he might be a useful ally. But undercover and cut off from the support of the woman he loves, Sara Linton, Will finds his demons catching up with him.

Although she has no idea where Will has gone, or why, Sara herself has come to Macon because of a cop shooting: Her stepson, Jared, has been gunned down in his own home. Sara holds Lena, Jared’s wife, responsible: Lena, a detective, has been a magnet for trouble all her life, and Jared’s shooting is not the first time someone Sara loved got caught in the crossfire. Furious, Sara finds herself involved in the same case that Will is working without even knowing it, and soon danger is swirling around both of them.

Unseen is the first novel I have read by Karin Slaughter, an author who I have been wanting to try for years. It is a part of a series; however, the book stands well on its own. I had no trouble jumping right into the lives of the characters and following along on Will Trent's latest investigation.

The novel opens with Lena, a detective who has just undergone an intense Internal Affairs review of a raid gone wrong. She'd recently suffered a terrible loss in her personal life as well, one that has impacted her relationship with her husband even further. Suddenly men burst into her home and start shooting; her husband nearly dead. It was a hell of an opening. And one that set the tone for the rest of the book. The intensity and suspense did not let up much in the pages to come.

It appears the Macon police are working on one crime and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations are working on another. Somehow both seem to be connected. As Will and his partner set out to untangle the mess in front of them, they uncover quite a few secrets.

I took to Will right away. He seems like a good man, hardworking and interested in justice. I wasn't so sure about his girlfriend, Dr. Sara Linton. I wanted to like her, and most of the time I did. There were moments though I felt she passed judgement too quickly and wasn't as understanding as I assumed her character should be. Lena was another tough nut to crack. She was smart, but she was tough and too easily pushed people away. I only have a few minor complaints in terms of character behavior, overall, but nothing to hurt my enjoyment of the book. I never really fully understood the feud between Lena and Sara. I thought Sara was being unfair to Lena much of the time. But then, Lena, had her moment of meanness as well. I can't help but think this is an area that would have been more clear had I read previous books and known their back stories.

There was quite a bit going on in the novel. Karin Slaughter juggles several story lines in the air before tying everything together in a somewhat surprising ending. I definitely will be reading more of Karin Slaughter's work in the future.

Rating:

(Good +)

You can learn more about Karin Slaughter and her books on the author's website.

Source: Review copy provided by publisher via NetGalley.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Cat Thursday: Meet Gracie

"When the time comes, you'll know it . . . "

I didn't. Not exactly. Soon after Anya passed away, the opportunity to adopt a couple of dogs who needed to be re-homed presented itself. I wanted to. Even despite all the reasons why it would not be a good idea, particularly that I was grieving. Not only had I lost my beloved cat, but also my best friend and dog, Riley, in such a short amount of time. Their absence left a hole in my heart that I did not know how to fill, and yet I so desperately wanted to. My husband and a couple of good friends talked me down from making a decision that was much too big to make at a time in my life when I wasn't thinking rationally. I took a step back, and realized they were right. Besides, it wasn't just me who was hurting. I had to think of my husband, daughter, and my cat Parker. The old adage that you should not make big decisions while you are grieving is a wise one. At least in my case.

Recently it seemed like everyone has a kitten he or she is trying to find a home for. I started turning the idea over in my head. My husband and I talked about it. We still weren't sure. We are still grieving.

My darling cat Parker has been having a rough time. He lost both of his best friends within months of each other. I read up on cat behavior to see if bringing another cat into the home was a good idea. Wait six months, most of the research said. And so I was prepared to wait and give us all more time to heal.

Only, there was Gracie. When I took Parker in for a check up this past Friday, as I began to describe my concerns about Parker's health and behavior, the veterinarian and her technician were quick to ask me if I had considered taking in another cat. Cats are loners by nature, but sometimes they do well with other cats. A lot has to do with personality. Like humans, cats can be picky about who they like and don't like, other cats included. I hesitated. They offered me an opportunity to meet Gracie, and then, if I wanted, perhaps to consider a trial visit.

Gracie was abandoned outside the cat hospital, along with her siblings. She was the biggest of the litter. Her siblings had been adopted, and she was all that was left. She had been living at the cat hospital since July. Another kitten and she had bonded during that time, but the other kitten was adopted out, leaving Gracie alone again. She was lonely and in need of a forever home.

I called my husband. I honestly wasn't sure what to do. A part of me wanted to give it a try and another part of me was afraid. I was afraid Parker really didn't want a new companion and afraid I wasn't ready. My husband gave the thumbs up and so, instead of coming home with just one cat, I came home with two.

I think everyone in our house knew Gracie would be coming home to stay, that the trial visit was just a formality. She's fitting in well already. Mouse adores her and Gracie seems to have taken to Mouse as well. They play together (although we're still teaching Mouse exactly what playing with a cat entails), and give each other kisses. Gracie is just as affectionate as the staff described: she loves to climb on my chest and nuzzle my ear, hair and face. She likes to take long naps on my husband.

I had forgotten how playful a kitten can be. She's ever so curious and into everything. She even knocked several books off one of the bookshelves the other day.

It's taking awhile for Parker and she to warm up to each other, which we expected. It took Parker four months to fully accept Anya when she first came to live with us. I want so much for Gracie and Parker to grow close, but I know it will take time, and it could be they end up tolerating each other more than loving each other. Only time will tell.

Gracie is six months old. The hospital staff had named her Graycie because of her gray coloring. Neither my husband nor I were a big fan of the spelling, so we dropped the "y". Her formal name is Grace, but we still call her Gracie.

Wednesday, October 09, 2013

Bookish Thoughts: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (narrated by Wil Wheaton)
Random House Audio; 2011
Science Fiction; 15 hours 46 minutes

From the Publisher:

It's the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place. Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending this waking hours jacked into the OASIS--a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets.

And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS create James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune--and remarkable power--to whoever can unlock them.

For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that Halliday's riddles are based in the pop culture he loved--that of the late twentieth century. And for years, millions have found in this quest another means of escape, retreating into happy, obsessive study of Halliday's icons. And then Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle. Suddenly the whole world is watching, and thousands of competitors join the hunt--among them certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to beat Wade to this prize. Now the only way for Wade to survive and preserve everything he knows is to win.

I put off listening to this book because the subject matter didn't particularly interest me. The world described in the book is more up my husband's alley. He's the one into video games and Dungeons and Dragons. And while I was a child of the 1980's, I have no special affinity for that time period. However, several of my blogging friends kept singing the book's praises and finally I relented. I have no regrets.

Is the book heavy on eighties nostalgia? Absolutely. Did I get all the references? Absolutely not. Do I feel like I missed out as a result? Not at all.

Wil Wheaton was the perfect Wade Watts. His voice led me through Wade's quest to complete the competition and it was his voice that most led me to believe in and root for Wade. I would have anyway. Rooted for Wade, I mean. I could relate to him to some extent. An awkward teen, mostly invisible to those around him. I really came to care for Wade and his friends and the bond they shared. Each of them had their own struggles. I felt the author captured the essence of young adults well in his characters. At least this group.

A friend of mine's granddaughter is attending high school online this year, and I couldn't help but think of the virtual high school that Wade attends. I am sure it is a different experience--the one my friend's granddaughter is having right now from the full sensory experience that Wade has in the future. Technology advances are moving so fast, I wouldn't be surprised it Ernest Cline's vision of the OASIS isn't far from reality someday.

Wade and his online friends have never actually met. It makes their friendship deeper and more real on one level because of the intimacies they share and the insignificance of appearances, but more shallow on the other. Do they really know each other? How do they know they are who they say they are? You also have the idea that these are people living their lives in a computer program, experiencing life through games and virtual worlds. Their own reality is in bad shape and sorely neglected. Poverty and an ailing environment are very real and big problems. Is it any wonder than they would prefer to live in a virtual world? And yet they miss out on so much. How much real living can you do, locked into a computer all day and night? And I think that is a big part of this story too.

While I was intrigued from the moment I began listening to the book, there were a couple moments early one when I worried I would get bored. As Wade described the virtual world he "lived" in, I found myself starting to tune out. Then Wade finds the first key and everything changes. From that moment on, it was a near nonstop ride until the end of the book. I won my Binge Listener badge on Audible. The book was intense and heartfelt. There is action, a mystery, romance and plenty of humor to boot. I was wrapped up in the characters lives, had become one of them, and couldn't wait to see everything come together in the end.

I am not sure I would have enjoyed the written version of the book as much as I did the audio version. This is definitely one I am glad I took a chance on despite my earlier reservations.

Rating:

(Very Good +)

You can learn more about Ernest Cline and his book on the author's website.
For more information about the narrator, Wil Wheaton, visit his website.

Source: I bought an audio copy of this book for my own listening pleasure.

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

Where Is Your Bookmark? (10/08/2013)

I wish I could have stopped on my drive to work this morning to take a picture of the sunrise this morning. It was beautiful. Reds and oranges mixed in with the pale blue sky. I almost wish I had not yet finished reading Adé: A Love Story by Rebecca Walker just yet. It would have been the perfect backdrop to do so. I finished the book last night and am not quite ready to begin another one. Sometimes books have that effect on me.

I am thinking of reading Help for the Haunted by John Searles next. It seems a fitting October read. But Juliet Dark's The Angel Stone, the third book in the Fairwick Chronicles is calling to me too.

What are you reading right now? Is it something you would recommend?

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where

participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a

book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

Since I haven't quite settled on the next book I want to read, I decided to share the introduction of a book my daughter pulled off the shelf and handed to me last night. From Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary:

We were in study hall when the headmaster walked in, followed by a new boy not wearing a school uniform, and by a janitor carrying a large desk. Those who were sleeping woke, and we all stood up as though interrupting our work.

The headmaster motioned us to sit down, then turned to the teacher and said softly, "Monsieur Roger, I'm placing this pupil in your care. He'll begin in the eighth grade, but if his work and conduct are good enough, he'll be promoted to where he out to be at his age."

The newcomer hung back in the corner behind the door, so that we could hardly see him. He was a country boy of about fifteen, taller than any of us. He wore his hair cut straight across the forehead, like a cantor in a village church, and he had a gentle bewildered look. Although his shoulders were not broad, his green jacket with black buttons was apparently too tight under the arms, and the slits of its cuffs revealed red wrists accustomed to being bare. His legs, sheathed in blue stockings, protruded from his yellowish trousers, which were pulled up tight by a pair of suspenders. He wore heavy, unpolished, hobnailed shoes.

Would you continue reading?

Monday, October 07, 2013

Mouse's Corner: The Digging-est Dog by Al Perkins

The Digging-est Dog written by Al Perkins and illustrated by Eric Gurney

Random House, 1967

Fiction (Children's); 72 pgs

A friend loaned Mouse a copy of The Digging-est Dog about a month ago and it is one of the most often read books in our house presently. So much so, that I bought my daughter a copy so that I could finally return the copy loaned to us by Mouse's friend.

It's a cute story about a dog living in a pet store, lonely as can be. A farmer takes him in, wanting to give the dog the the life he deserves and place where he can run around and, well, be a dog. The other dogs in the town come to check the new dog out, only to discover he can't dig. They turn their backs on him. The farmer and the dog practice and practice, trying to teach the dog how to dig. When he finally does figure it out, he gets in a heap of trouble by digging up the entire town.

I think I enjoy this book as much as my daughter. No matter how many times I read the book to her (sometimes back to back to back to back . . . ), she never fails to feel for that poor dog, both when he's sitting on that "cold hard floor" and later when the other dogs ostracize him for not being able to dig. She cheers for him when he finally is able to dig and then at the end when he is rescued after a little mishap. It's a story of compassion, friendship, making mistakes and learning from them. Lessons that I think any child--and adult--can always benefit from.

There is only one part of the story that I don't especially like, but it is realistic--and provides a good opportunity to discuss feelings of anger and how we sometimes lash out at each other. Mouse is still a little too young to be bothered by this particular scene (it's probably just my issue anyway), but when she's older, I think it will be worthy of discussion.

The artwork does a good job of helping to carry the story along; each image telling a story of its own. Overall, The Digging-est Dog is a household favorite, and one I imagine we will be reading for a long time to come.

To share your children's book related posts stop by Booking Mama’s feature,

Kid Konnection and leave a comment as well as a link to your posts!

Thursday, October 03, 2013

Bookish Thoughts: The City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, Book 1) by Cassandra Clare

Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2008

Fantasy (YA); 485 pgs

August was the month for reading books that have become movies. I admit it was the movie trailer of City of Bones that first got me interested in reading the books. And I just had to read the book before seeing the movie.

From the Publisher:

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

Cassandra Clare takes familiar mythology and mixes in a good dose of her own in this first book in the Mortal Instruments series. I was quite taken with the world she has created: a world of Shadowhunters, Downworlders, demons and just about everything else imaginable.

As you often find with young adult paranormal romances, you have the innocent girl who suddenly finds herself thrust into an unknown world, one in which she has untapped powers and the ability to bring cute boys to their knees. You have that here, more or less. In big doses such tropes draw a big yawn, but occasionally, they prove to be a fun guilty pleasure. At least for this reader.

I was often reminded of Harry Potter, to be honest. There were similarities that I found hard to ignore. As I told my husband in a discussion on the subject after finishing the book and seeing the movie, however, I came to recognize that these are common themes we see throughout literature. The idea of wanting a "pure" society, being among them.

I confess to getting a little tired of the love triangles--of which there were three or four (I lost count after awhile), but I did enjoy the other aspects of the novel overall. I wanted to be a Shadowhunter myself as I read. I was fascinated by the actual City of Bones, for which this particular book in the series is named. I wouldn't mind spending more time there, exploring and learning its secrets. Unfortunately, it plays such a small part in the book.

There were many aspects of the book I thoroughly enjoyed from the Institute where Jace and the other Shadowhunters are living to the scene leading up to Clary and Jace's entrance into the vampire lair. I was particularly fascinated by the warlock Magnus Bane.

Throughout the novel there was plenty of action and tease-like-romance as well as a small dose of humor (Simon and the mouse incident, the flying motorcycles, i.e.). Or maybe that was just me. I hope it was intended. Anyway, I enjoyed reading this novel and am curious as to where the next one in the series will take me.

In my eagerness to read a book before the movie version comes out, I often find myself finishing the book weeks, sometimes days, before seeing the actual movie. This is both a bad and good thing. On the downside, all of the details from the book are still fresh in my mind, making it impossible for the movie to ever live up to my expectations. I notice just about every hole imaginable. On the upside, however, knowing and remembering all those details adds a depth and richness to my movie watching experience. Having background information on the characters can be a real plus.

If a movie is very well done, I can usually overlook discrepancies and even come to view the movie and book as the separate entities they are, enjoying them both equally--or almost equally. When I am less than impressed, those discrepancies stand out. Unfortunately for City of Bones, the discrepancies stood out. I liked certain aspects of the movie (Magnus Bane was nothing like I pictured him, but he was totally amazing in the movie and I think I like the movie version best) and the special effects, but I was less than thrilled at several changes that were made or scenes that were left out for the sake of time or what have you. Some of the relationship dynamics between the characters were sorely lacking in the movie.

There was also a major spoiler in the movie that I understand does not come out until one of the later books in the series. While it's something I suspected while reading the book, it bothered me that it was so quickly given away in the movie. Not to mention the way it was blurted out.

I don't think the movie was a total failure. As I said, I did like parts of it. I just wish it had been more true to the book.

Book Rating:

(Good +)

You can learn more about Cassandra Clare and her book on the author's website.

Source: I bought an e-copy of this book for my own reading pleasure. I also saw the movie on my own dime.

Tuesday, October 01, 2013

Where is Your Bookmark? (10/01/2013)

Autumn is my favorite season. Just the feel and smell of it fills me with such warmth and excitement. In the part of the world where I live, it is not unusual to see the warm temperatures hold out for as long as they can, often into October. There is a definite cooling down in the evenings. If it weren't for my allergies, I would leave the windows open at night. I set out Mouse's sweater or jacket for her in the mornings these days to protect her against the chill.

Mouse has already decided what she wants to be for Halloween. She started out asking if she could be a bumblebee, but now she wants to be a princess. I confess I tried to sway her towards a pirate, which she considered for a while (she even told Princess Aurora at Disneyland that's what she'd be), but she's back to wanting to be a princess. So a princess she will be. I have the dress. I just need the shoes and a crown. And I need to start practicing doing her hair. I have no talent when it comes to that sort of thing, something that makes me feel bad for my daughter. So, if you see a photo with her hair down on Halloween, you know my attempts at doing something--anything-- failed miserably.

In other news, my husband has submitted another entry in the Windhammer Prize for Short Gamebook Fiction, which is held each year. The gamebook he wrote last year was one of the runners up. This year he wrote a mystery called The Independence Job, about a bank robbery. It has a definite noir feel to it. It is sort of like a choose your own adventure, only with dice. I haven't yet read any of the other entrants' gamebooks, but that's on my list of things to do this week and next.

Last week was dismal on the reading front. I read not one page (unless you count Mouse's books) nor did I listen to my audiobook. I did read my copy of Entertainment Weekly, but barely. It wasn't an issue that particularly captivated me.

Saturday night I finally settled into a book. I am reading Lynda La Plante's Backlash, which I will be reviewing later this month for a tour. Sam of Booked on a Feeling actually inspired me to pick up the novel when I did as she's reading it right now too. It's my first by the author, and so far I'm enjoying it very much.

I hope to get back to We Need to Talk About Kevin this week, which is my current audiobook. It is proving to be a difficult book for me to listen to (and I'm still not that far in), but not for the reasons you might think. The narration is actually quite good, and I like Lionel Shriver's writing style. The story is captivating. No, my problem with the book is more personal. It's a book I need to be in the right frame of mind to listen to.

What are you reading right now? Is it something you would recommend?

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where

participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a

book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

Here is a taste of the murder mystery, Backlash by Lynda La Plante, I am reading now:

'Quiet night so far, isn't it?'

'Yeah, an' we've still got seven hours to go before the shift finishes!'

The two uniformed officers in the night duty car were chatting whilst driving past a council estate in East London, and all was quiet in the residential street, in contrast to the numerous clubs, bars, restaurants and buzzing nightlife of Shoreditch, just down the road. And so the van bearing the log KIDDIES PARTY DATES stood out as it failed to give way for a pedestrian waiting at the zebra crossing.

'Is he on another planet?' said the officer driving.

'Bit late for a kiddies' party,' his colleague joked. 'Go pull him over, we've nothing better to do at the moment.'

As they drew closer the van driver began to accelerate away from them and suddenly, without any indication, took a sharp left turn down a side street.

Would you continue reading?