Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Where Is Your Bookmark? (02/25/2014)

I have been out of the boot since around Valentine's Day.  Hooray!  It's such a relief not to have that extra weight on my leg.  My ankle seems to have healed fairly well.  It is still a bit sensitive and will be for awhile as it strengthens, from what the doctor says.  His biggest advice was to "go slow" and "take it easy."  I wonder if he actually believes that's possible because I am pretty sure it is not.

I am on a Michael Robotham binge at the moment.  I currently am reading my third book by him, this one called Say You're Sorry.  He writes crime fiction novels set in London, one of my favorite settings.I hadn't realized when I started reading the books that they featured some of the same characters.  Fortunately, the books read very much like stand alones, and so I do not feel lost or like I am beginning the series in the middle.

I am starting to get excited about my March reading plans.  I usually do not like to plan too far in advance, with the exception of the occasional tour.  My mood often dictates the direction my reading will go.  As I have mentioned before, Veronica Roth's Divergent is on the calendar for next month as is Ann Patchett's State of Wonder for Carrie of Books and Movies' "I've Always Meant to Read That Book!" Challenge, among others.

I commented on Twitter last week that I have been craving a book with that "wow" factor.  I seem to be reading fair to good books these days.  Good is great.  There's nothing wrong with good books.  But sometimes I want more from my reading, you know?  Andi of Estella's Revenge recommended The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, a book I had started once before, but couldn't get into.  It's gotten high praise from so many. I think this may be the year to try again.

What are you reading at the moment?  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.


For this week's Tuesday Teaser and First Chapter /Paragraph exercises, I grabbed a book recently added to the stack of books on my desk waiting to be read.  This is one I am particularly excited about.  Three Janie Chang's Souls is a historical fiction novel set in China, following the life of Leiyin as she reviews her life after death. In order to pass into the afterlife, she must make amends with her past.  The publisher describes the novel: "Suffused with history and literature, Three Souls is an epic tale of revenge and betrayal, forbidden love, and the price we are willing to pay for freedom."  Here is a taste of what's inside the cover:
We have three souls.  Or So I'd been told.
 But only in death could I confirm this.
The moment the priest spoke the last prayer and sealed my coffin, I awoke and floated upward in a slow drift of incense smoke, until I could travel no farther.  I settled in the rafters of the small temple, a sleepy wraith perched in the roof beams.  I had knowledge, but no memory.  My first thoughts were confused, for clearly this was the real world.  But surely I no longer belonged there.  When would I take my journey to the afterlife?
Would you continue reading?


Hosted by MizB Should Be Reading


© 2014, 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.

48 comments:

  1. I'm not sure I'd keep going with this one. It reminds me of The Book Thief's beginning chapter. The gatherer of souls is the narrator. It seemed creepy but I kept going and loved the book. Maybe the same is true here with this book.

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    1. Margot - The novel is definitely written from an interesting perspective, that of a dead woman. I can understand your reservations. I loved The Book Thief when I read it. I am thinking this and Zusak's book are quite different from one another, but I do hope to like Three Souls as well.

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  2. WoW, this sounds fantastic and I've been wanting to read some books set in China as well. ENJOY and thanks for joining us Wendy,

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    1. Diane - Doesn't it?! I think so too! I love reading books set in other countries, especially that touch upon history. I can't wait to read this one.

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  3. I like the intro and would keep reading.

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    1. Pat - I really like it too. There's a beauty in it as well as a mystery.

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    1. Harvee - It sure sounds good! I am looking forward to reading it.

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  5. The opening doesn't sound like something I'd usually read, but it makes me want to keep going anyway. Enjoy!

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  6. It is hard to go slow when you have a toddler.

    I know just what you mean. I've read some good books lately but none that have grabbed me so much that I try to read it while doing other things like vacuuming and cooking.

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    1. Kathy - Extremely hard. She has me up and down and all around. LOL

      Yes! That's what I want. A book I don't want to put down for any reason--one that I walk down the hall reading and prop up while I wash my face . . .

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  7. Love the intro!! I would pick it up....

    Here is my intro post

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    1. Gautami - I am really drawn to it as well. I am so looking forward to reading this one.

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  8. I like the sound of this book, and it's different from what I've been reading recently, so I'd keep going.

    My WoW: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2014/02/first-chapter-first-paragraph-51.html

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    1. Catherine - It's different from my current reading too. I used to read novels like that all the time, and am slowly finding my way back to them. I'll never give up my mysteries though. :-)

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  9. Glad things seem to be on the up, long may things continue to improve. I've seen Three Souls featured on a lots of blogs, it seems lots of readers are very excited by it. Busy reading my second children's book by David Walliams.

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    1. Tracy - I just hope we will all stay healthy . . . Except I do feel another cold coming on. Argh.

      I have been reading a lot of Mother Goose fairy tales lately.

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  10. I like that opener...I am curious! Thanks for sharing. Here's MY TUESDAY POST

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    1. Laurel-Rain - I like it too. I almost didn't set the book back down and go to bed last night after I copied it to the computer. LOL

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  11. The cover is so lovely, it would get me to open the book. I am intrigued and would keep reading.

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  12. Glad the boot is off! I haven't read Michael Robotham but the books sound like interesting thrillers, happy reading :)
    Also, Three Souls sounds like a good one, I'd keep reading.
    And finally, I am soooo waiting for a book that has the "wow" factor like you mention. I want to be blown away.

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    1. Naida - I am so glad not to have to wear it anymore. The first few days were touch and go though--I wasn't so good about weaning out of it--but rather went cold turkey, which was probably part of the problem.

      There has to be a "wow" book out there for us. We'll find it!

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  13. I agree, I sometimes have to take my reading where my mood takes me… i.e. not always in the mood for romance or crime etc. I would like to know more about Three Souls before continuing, but wouldn't rule it out.
    Thanks for stopping by :)

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    1. Peggy - Exactly! If I am not in a mood for a particular book, it can really impact my enjoyment of it--or stall my reading.

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  14. Glad you're feeling better and that your ankle's healing, and I hope Mouse feels better, too (I remember you saying she was ill again). I agree, good books are good but then too many of them mean that good becomes average, so you want something incredible. I would keep reading because I think the subject's fascinating.

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    1. Charlie - Thank you! Mouse is feeling much better. I haven't heard her coughing in a day or two, so that's definitely good news.

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  15. Replies
    1. Kelley - I thought so too. I'm really looking forward to reading more.

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  16. I'm not sure this one is for me…all the death and afterlife stuff is not my cup of tea.

    Here's Mine: http://www.sarahsbookshelves.com/fiction/first-chapter-first-paragraph-tuesday-intros-dark-road-mercy-wiley-cash/

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    1. Sarah - I can see how a book like this might not appeal to everyone. I think the main focus of the book will be on her life story, but how she processes her actions while living and what happened to her will no doubt play a part in the outcome of the book.

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  17. The cover on this is glorious. Sounds like a curious book. Here's Mine

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  18. Not sure about this one, but I strongly recommend The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. It's on my lifetime Top Ten list. It's amazing!!

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    1. Les - I do want to try it again. I think the timing wasn't right the first time.

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    1. Yvonne - I think so too! I hope it continues to be good.

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  20. This is a very sinister and interesting paragraph.I would read on to see what happens next. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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    1. Spangle - I am curious too. I really enjoy reading historical fiction.

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  21. Glad you've shed the boot!

    I've never read Michael Robotham, but I enjoy crime novels and will keep him mind.
    I like the cover for Three Souls, and yes, the first paragraph would keep me reading, at least for a while. :)

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    1. Jenclair - I am too! It was such a pain. I had to take it off whenever I got behind the wheel, which was a pain in and of itself.

      I am enjoying the Michael Robotham mysteries. The one I am reading right now reminds me a little of Jonathan Kellerman's series with the psychologist and the cop.

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  22. You need to try S.J. Bolton! She is an author that will make you say wow after finishing! I just finished Blood Harvest and oh boy....so, so, so good!

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    1. Samantha - I really need to! She's on my must read list. :-)

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  23. Good luck with all of your plans for March! I sometimes wonder if I read The Sparrow at a bad time in life because I honestly don't get why people love it. I will be curious to see what you say!

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    1. Kelly - Thanks! Hopefully I will like Sparrow when I read it. I'm trying not to get my expectations up too high--so am glad you shared your opinion.

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  24. You know when I first read The Sparrow I didn't like it but I think it was because I was so shocked by it and it just really rattled me. After discussing it with my book group I thought wow that was a good book. I read that one probably about 12+ years ago and I may not remember much but I just remember how it made me feel after I read it. Hope you'll give it a go. I haven't made any March reading plans yet but maybe I should hope to finish some of my Jan/Feb reads! :)

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    1. Iliana - I wish I had been more in the mood to read it when Florinda had her read-along for the book. Some books really are better when you are able to talk them out with others.

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