Monday, February 29, 2016

Bookish Thoughts: North of Here by Laurel Saville


North of Here by Laurel Saville
Lake Union Publishing, 2016
Fiction; 257 pgs
From Goodreads: 
The sounds of unexpected tragedies—a roll of thunder, the crash of metal on metal—leave Miranda in shock amid the ruins of her broken family.  
As she searches for new meaning in her life, Miranda finds quiet refuge with her family’s handyman, Dix, in his cabin in the dark forests of the Adirondack Mountains. Dix is kind, dependable, and good with an ax—the right man to help the sheltered Miranda heal—but ultimately, her sadness creates a void even Dix can’t fill.  
When a man from her distant past turns up, the handsome idealist now known as Darius, he offers Miranda a chance to do meaningful work at The Source, a secluded property filled with his nature worshipers. Miranda feels this charismatic guru is the key to remaking her life, but her grief and desire for love also create an opportunity for his deception. And in her desperate quest to find herself after losing almost everything, Miranda and Dix could pay a higher price than they ever imagined.


Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea 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. It is also where I share my first impressions about the book I am sharing.

As Miranda moved through the house, putting away a load of laundry, picking up the glass her mother left in the living room the previous night, straightening the magazines on the coffee table, removing a few dead flowers from a vase, she found herself glancing out of each window, her view of him coming and going, her perspective on him a bit different from each vantage point. He was like a man inside a kaleidoscope to her, fractured bits and pieces coming together and moving apart and then coming together again in a slightly different form.


Every Tuesday, Jenn from A Daily Rhythm hosts Teaser Tuesdays at which time participants grab their current read, open to a random page, and share a couple or more "teaser" sentences from that page while avoiding any spoilers.

Teaser from 50% on my Kinde:
Then he smiled and his entire demeanor altered, an actor slipping into character. Somewhere deep inside her, Miranda recognized that he was giving a performance, and yet she did not care. It didn't seem to matter. She was willingly transfixed by the play.
What do you think? Would you keep reading? 


My Bookish Thoughts: 


I found North of Here . . . unexpected. The above description is a fitting one, but the novel took a turn I  hadn't expected--I feel it's safe to say that without spoiling anything.  This really is a novel about the characters in many ways, about the way their lives interconnect, and the consequences of their actions and inactions.

Although it is never said, Miranda is clearly depressed, feeling helpless and lost after everything she has been through. Raised in wealth, she has never wanted for anything. With all that now gone, she is forced to re-evaluate her life, only she is not in the mental frame to do it. She doesn't know what she wants, not really. She isn't sure what she needs. Laurel Saville has created a character in which her feelings, her grief and sense of hopelessness, seem so very real. She is like a wounded bird you cannot resist but want to help.

I liked Dix instantly. I am not at all like him myself, but I wish I was. He gets things done. He fixes things. He respects the land and lives a relatively simple life. People think of him as just another local, uneducated and simple. They would be wrong. He is the local handyman who goes out of his way to help Miranda, taking her under his wing. Perhaps his biggest strength and also his biggest weakness is that he takes things as they are and doesn't often ask questions or sweat the small stuff. While admirable on one hand, it makes one wonder if it also meant a lost opportunity or two.

Then there is David, aka Darius, who is lost in his own way. Dropping out of college, he wanders aimlessly in search of a purpose. He stumbles on land and envisions building a life there--not just for himself, but for wounded people and troubled teens. Armed with the knowledge he has gained from self-help books and his own ego, he is sure he is the one who can save them. His good looks and charisma made me wary of him, but not so the other characters in the novel.

Sally was more of an enigma to me. I did not much care for her at first. She is a social worker by trade, and owns the land Darius wants to buy.  She decides to stay on in the house with Darius, saying she wants to make sure he pays the mortgage. Perhaps loneliness drives her initially. That and Darius's good looks. I was disappointed in her as the novel continued, in her complacency particularly. She isn't dumb. She knows how the real world works, is a bit hardened because of her experiences, and obviously has a heart. By the end of the novel, she redeemed herself somewhat in my eyes.

As the novel progresses, the relationships of the characters evolve, and not always in the best or even expected ways. Perhaps this is what makes them so very human and real. You see Miranda's depression grow worse and her need to fill a void in her life grow. She ostracizes the one person who offers her a safe haven, turning instead to the false promise of The Source, the community Darius has put together which is made up of women and the occasional teen or two.

The novel is told in third person, divided into three sections. The narrative winds slowly along at times and speeds up at others, jumping days and weeks ahead. This sometimes can bother me in novels, but I felt it worked well in this one.  I found North of Here to be a quiet and unassuming novel, as well as quite compelling. I became emotionally invested in the characters and their stories. I have so many questions on finishing the book--about the characters, about the choices they made. I can see this one being a good one for a book club. There's certainly a lot here to discuss.


To learn more about Laurel Saville and her work, please visit the author's websiteShe can also be found on GoodreadsTwitterand Facebook.

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



Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. I selected this book as part of Amazon's First Program for Prime Members.


© 2016, 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.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Sunday Post: Family of Readers & Goodbye February

The Sunday Post is hosted by the wonderful Kimba, the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and gives us all a chance to recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. 

February always feels like such a short month. I suppose that makes sense, since it is. While I did not get as much reading as I hoped to this month, I think it turned out okay. I enjoyed the books I read, and that's what matters most, right?

What are you up to today? I will likely not be around the blogosphere much today. With this irresistible weather, my family and I will be out and about. Please don't panic if you post a comment and it doesn't appear right away. I moderate all comments to keep out the spam and will approve them as I can. I will be sure and stop in and visit you in the next day or so.

Book Blogger Hop

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.


Do your children, siblings, or other family members enjoy reading as much as you do? (submitted by Elizabeth
While no one in my family has taken reading quite to the level I have (making it a more social activity, for instance), I am surrounded by a family of readers. My husband likes to read as does my daughter. Although, I suppose it would be more appropriate to say my daughter likes to be read to at this point.

As for the rest of my family: my father was an avid reader during his lifetime and instilled in me a love of history; and my mom enjoys reading immensely, and ensured I would too with frequent library visits when I was growing up. My brother came into reading late in life--so there is hope for those who might not be into books at a young age. I have aunts who devour books like there is no tomorrow, although both are very particular about their book choices. One aunt feels so strongly about books that all gifts she gives to children in the family must be books. So, as you can see, my family is made up of readers. Some might say a love for reading is in my genes.

Even so, I do not really talk about reading and books with my family very often--with the exception of my husband. My aunts and I are not that close. And while my mom, who also lives a good distance away, will sometimes come bearing books when she visits, we do not really read the same books.

What about you? Does anyone in your family share your passion for reading?


New to my shelves: 


Sisters of Heart and Snow by Margaret Dilloway ~ I couldn't resist this story of two sisters brought together to help their dad with their mother who suffers from dementia. It also is the story of a real life female samurai, Tomoe Gozen. (Received from publisher for review)


The Martian by Andy Weir ~ This was actually one my husband bought, but at my request. Yes, I finally broke down and may actually read it. I loved the movie. (Purchased)


Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan ~ A young adult fantasy novel that caught my eye recently. (Purchased)


What I Am Reading: I am nearly done with Jaime Lee Moyer's Delia's Shadow, and enjoying it quite a bit. Thank you to all who voted for it in my February poll! I am not yet sure what I will be reading next. I have a couple books I am considering. Clea Simon's latest cat mystery The Ninth Life or perhaps Within a Captain's Hold by Lisa A. Olech, a historical pirate romance.


What I Am Watching: This week's episode of The Walking Dead was quieter than the mid-season premiere, but still a good one I thought. Blacklist continues to be interesting. I never know which direction that show will take me next. Mouse has gotten me interested in a Heidi cartoon series, which has brought back memories of the original book. It was always one of my favorite stories as a child.


What's Going On Off the Blog:A stomach bug was going around my daughter's school this past week, and Mouse was unable to escape it. Luckily, it was short lived. She is feeling much better now, and just in time for soccer on Saturday. We spent that afternoon buying birthday supplies for her upcoming birthday in two weeks. She was excited to be able to help pick everything out.

Mouse with her ball and a flower she just picked.

Challenge & Dare Update: 

  • What's In a Name? Reading Challenge  ~ One down, five to go. 
  • Nonfiction Challenge ~ None yet. At least I set a low goal . . .
  • COYER ~ My unspoken goal was to read and review at least 10 books for the Clean Out Your E-Reads Challenge, and by the end of the challenge on March 4th, I will have come in just over that at 12. I just need to get those two more reviews posted. 
  • The TBR Triple Dog Dare ~ I am doing well here too, sticking only to review books I received before January 1st. I did evoke one of my exceptions, that being my postal mail club book, which I read earlier this month. It is getting much harder to keep this one going, but I am determined to hold out until the end. One more month to go.
  • FitReaders ~ February was not a good month in terms of my getting off my tush and get moving. Although my daughter and I have been dancing to her favorite tunes in recent days . . .  March will be better. 

This Past Week In Reading Mews:

I hope you all have a great week! Happy Reading!


© 2016, 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, February 24, 2016

Bookish Thoughts: The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

If I was going to kill the Prophet," I say, not even keeping my voice low, I'd do it in Africa."  
~ Opening of The Chosen One



The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
St. Martin's Griffin, 2009
Fiction (YA); 213

Polygamy and cults have long been an interest of mine. I had a college professor who used to talk about his days studying cults, observing them up close and from a distance, helping former members recover once they got out. A few years ago I read just about everything I could get my hands on that dealt with cults and fundamentalism. Somehow, The Chosen One didn't make it onto my radar. I was quite excited at the opportunity to read it now that it had.

This is the story of 13-year-old Kyra who is one of the Chosen Ones, chosen to marry her much older uncle who is an Apostle of the polygamist sect her family belongs to. Krya has never been the most faithful in her family, sneaking off to read forbidden books or just to be alone . . . and then there's the boy she likes. The last thing she wants to do is marry her uncle, who already has six wives. Not to marry him means certain punishment not just for her, but for her family as well. Kyra loves her family dearly and must decide whether to stay or try to escape the only life she's ever known.

The Chosen One is a heartbreaking story. I have read similar stories about groups of people living together in a closed community, shut off from the modern world which they view is full of sin and the temptations of the devil. Polygamy is a way of life, girls being married off to older men, sometimes their own close relatives, while teenage boys are sent packing--a very real phenomenon called the Lost Boys. It is no different in Kyra's community. The rules are strict, and what the leader, the Prophet, says is law. 

Kyra's own family is quite large. She's lived a relatively happy life. Her father and mothers are kind to her. She looks after her younger siblings. Kyra is easy to like--and easy to relate to. She is smart and very independent minded. It makes living in a community that values obedience above all else a bit difficult for her, however. She often wanders outside the gates of their community despite being told it is forbidden. She takes advantage of a book mobile that drives by now and then, relishing every opportunity she can to read books, books other than the Bible, which is the only book she is supposed to read. As many of us know, books open doors and windows into new ways of thinking. They expose us to the world outside our own lives. To someone like the Prophet, they are dangerous. To someone like Kyra, they are empowering. 

As I mentioned before, it was impossible not to like Kyra and to root for her as the novel progressed. I soon was engrossed in Krya's life and story. The author does a good job of getting us in Kyra's head and understanding what she is going through. She is in a difficult position. Everything in me screamed, "Run away!" But I also realized that it wasn't so simple a decision for her to make given the circumstances, including what it might mean for the family she would be leaving behind.

This is one of those books that sort of crept up on me. I wasn't too sure about the writing style, given the novel is narrated by a rather naive 13-year-old with limited experience. It reads like the Young Adult novel it is. While the writing style may give the impression this is a book on the lighter side, it deals with serious issues. There are some violent and difficult scenes to read; one in particular, involving a young child, had me wanting to throw the book across the room because I was so mad. 

The Chosen One was an emotional read, but one that I think is very important. While this story is fictional, there are groups like this out there. I still find myself thinking about Kyra and her sister Laura, wondering how each are faring. This is definitely a book I recommend reading.


To learn more about Carol Lynch Williams and her books, please visit the author's website. You can also find the author on GoodreadsFacebook, and Twitter.

Source: Many thanks to Rebecca Taylor of I'm Lost in Books for sharing this book with me through our postal bookclub! 

© 2016, 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, February 22, 2016

Where Is Your Bookmark? (02/23/2016)

It has turned into such a lovely day. I hate to be cooped up in the office all day. Oh well. There are bills to pay and mouths to feed. Or as my daughter would say, "We don't want to live in a cardboard box, Mother." (Yes, she calls me "Mother;" I miss "Mama".) I currently am enjoying North of Here by Laurel Saville, which I will be reviewing next week for a tour. In the meantime, I thought I would share a bit of the last book I read, Death Sits Down for Dinner by Tessa Arlen. This is the second in Arlen's Lady Motford Edwardian mystery series.




Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea 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. It is also where I share my first impressions about the book I am sharing.


A wet and miserable late-autumn day had turned into a bitterly cold winter night as the sun sank unseen below a horizon obscured by a bank of thick gray clouds. The wind veered to the east and the first strong gust gathered force from the estuary and bellowed up the Thames, blowing sprays of puddle water into the air and plastering wet leaves against the legs of those unfortunate enough still to be hurrying homeward. 
Tucked away in the quiet comfort of her bedroom at Montfort House, Clementine Talbot, the Countess of Montfort, and her maid, Pettigrew, were absorbed in the leisurely business of dressing her for dinner. As they went diligently about their work, engrossed in the particulars of choosing the right shoes for her evening dress and making difficult decisions on the appropriate jewels for the occasion, they enjoyed an intermittent exchange of information on the new cook who had recently taken up her appointment at Montfort House.

Every Tuesday, Jenn from A Daily Rhythm hosts Teaser Tuesdays at which time participants grab their current read, open to a random page, and share two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page while avoiding any spoilers.

Teaser from 12% of Death Sits Down for Dinner:
A wave of nausea burned her throat and she heard herself observe in a neutral and dispassionate voice, "I think that's a knife handle sticking out of his chest." 
and at 75%:
"So what will you do if you discover who killed Sir [. . .]? Will you make a citizen's arrest?" He was laughing now, no doubt at the thought of his mother and her housekeeper tracking down a desperate killer. Did he think this was some sort of parlor game she had invented to while away the empty hours?
*[. . .] Name removed to avoid spoilers.

What do you think? Would you keep reading?  

I love a historical setting, and in this one, we leave the English countryside and spend time in London. While the opening two paragraphs are more set-up than revelation as to what is to come, they do set the tone nicely. The first of the teasers is much more to the point, I'm sure you would agree. And the final one, well, her son makes a valid point.

What are you reading at the moment?  Is it anything you would recommend?


Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely ladies at Broke and Bookish.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday theme is Top Ten Book I Enjoyed Recently (yearish) That Weren't My Typical Genre/Type of Book.

Poetry ~ Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost have been favorite poets of mine since childhood. I enjoy reading and writing poetry, but I am also intimidated by it. I am so sure I will miss the deeper meaning behind the words. I find it hard to review poetry, and yet, when offered the chance to be a part of three different tours within the past year, I decided to give it a try. I set aside my insecurities and went with how the poems made me feel and what I got out of them, trying hard not to think about how I might get it wrong. Each of the collections brought me something different, and reminded me of why I enjoy poetry. From the sparse beauty and sadness of the poems in Wet Silence to the relateable poems of Paradise Drive, and the joy and self-discovery in Joy Street.


Paradise Drive by Rebecca Foust



Wet Silence: Poems About Hindu Widows by Sweta Srivastava Vikram



Joy Street by Laura Foley


Nonfiction ~ While I enjoy nonfiction quite a bit, I tend to pass it over for fiction all too often. I was proud of the fact that I read two nonfiction books this past year, after having read none the year before.  Both books were historical in nature--oh, how I love history!


by Alex Palmer



by Denise Kiernan


Science Fiction ~ I actually have a handful of science fiction novels I am eager to read this year.  It is not a new to me genre, but, like nonfiction, it is one I do not read often. I have long been a lover of fantasy, and science fiction doesn't fall far from that tree. Both of the science fiction novels that made my list are quite different from one another. One takes place in outer space and is action packed, and the other is more literary, set in near modern times on Earth.


Erased by Liz Strange  




The Curiosity by Stephen P. Kiernan


Contemporary Romance ~ I went from not reading straight romance for over two decades to slowly coming back to it. My common refrain for many years has been that I prefer romance on the side and not as a main course. The urban fantasy/paranormal romance cross-overs and romantic suspense are among my favorite types of romance novels--and remain so. In the past couple years, I have been reading more contemporary romance than I have in a long while. It's been hit and miss, but I have read some good ones, and these titles are among them. Admittedly, they are both holiday romances as well.  


A Cold Creek Christmas Story by RaeAnne Thayne



Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan


Contemporary Young Adult (YA) & Audiobooks ~ I am combining these two because they both fit on today's list. My history with audiobooks is hit and miss. It is not my preferred way to take in a book, but I keep at it, hoping the format will grow on me. I enjoy a good YA novel now and then, especially one that is fantasy based. I find myself less drawn to contemporary YA, although I do read it too on occasion.


Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, 
narrated by: Rebecca Lowman & Sunil Malhotra

While it is hard for me to classify some of the above books as outside my comfort zone because they all have elements in them that intrigue and interest me, they do fall into categories I do not read often--or at least not in the last several years. Mysteries and general fiction tend to make up most of my reading, with fantasy, particularly urban fantasy, come in soon after.

What have you read recently that was outside your usual norm?


© 2016, 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.

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Sunday Post: Favorite Place to Read, Mild Fever & Pizza

The Sunday Post is hosted by the wonderful Kimba, the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and gives us all a chance to recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. 

I got sidetracked this past week by Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW), and was not able to get my review of Chosen Ones written for you like I had hoped. That's the top blogging priority for this week.

The weather has been crazy as of late. We went from mid to high eighties temperatures (it was 90F one day)  to cooler rainy weather towards the end of the week. I got a good soaking one day leaving work as I picked up my daughter from her daycare. Mouse and I were all giggles as we ran to the car.

How was your week? Did you take part in BBAW?
Book Blogger Hop



Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.


Do you have a favorite place to read? (submitted by Elizabeth
The simple answer is my favorite place to read is anywhere I possibly can get in reading time. But if you want me to narrow it down, well, I think my absolute favorite is being able to snuggle under the covers in bed before I go to sleep with a book. Sometimes I enjoy curling up on the couch to read, either the one in my personal library (aka the living room) or in our family room. When I am at work, there's an out of the way office at work I often hide out in during my lunch break so I can get in some uninterrupted reading time. It is very quiet, which is something I really appreciate after being on a busy floor with ringing phones and constant chatter going on around me. What about you? Do you have a favorite place to read?

My reading and blogging space in my library


What I Am Reading: I finished reading Tessa Arlen's Edwardian mystery, Death Sits Down For Dinner earlier in the week, and am now reading reading North of Here by Laurel Saville for an upcoming tour. I hope to start on my February TBR list book Delia's Shadow soon. 


What I Am Watching: The Walking Dead is back! I caught up with the mid-season premiere Friday. Oh my goodness, what a great episode! Did any of you who watch the show catch it? I also got caught up on Blacklist and Agent Carter. I love the idea of Agent Carter, and while I enjoy the show, I haven't been overly smitten with this season, admittedly.


What I am Listening to: I haven't made any further progress in Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America by John Waters. That seems to be the way audiobooks go for me. If my current pattern holds, it will be a couple months from now when I finish it. Sad to say, it's not that long  of a book either.


Around the Blogosphere:
  • Fighting Blogger Burnout - For the final day of BBAW, bloggers talked about ways to avoid burnout, both in reading and blogging. Katie's post was one of my favorites from the day, although all were amazing.
  • ON MOTHERING AND SOCIAL MEDIA -  Someone linked this great post by Amanda on Twitter, and I meant to share it last week, but forgot.

What's Going On Off the Blog: I haven't much to report. Mouse and I had a quiet Monday. It was a holiday, but my husband had to work. She was running a low grade fever and so we took it easy for the most part. We colored in our new Harry Potter coloring book, painted, and read a few books, among other things. The work week that followed was a busy one--which will likely continue for the next few months.

This week has been better for Mouse at school. The little boy who was acting out inappropriately has been spoken to, and the school staff have put into place a definitive plan to keep anything from happening again.

There was no soccer Saturday. It would have been a great day to go to Disneyland, but with the main freeway we use to get there closed because of construction, we decided to stay local instead. We spent the afternoon at John's Incredible Pizza restaurant, which has games and rides for kids of all ages to enjoy. Mouse was disappointed she's still too short to ride the bumper cars, but she was able to go on a few others. It made for a fun day.

Valentine's Day with her Pink Rose


This Past Week In Reading Mews:

I hope you all have a great week! Happy Reading!


© 2016, 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, February 18, 2016

Day 5 of BBAW: My Book Blogging Story


On this final day of Blogger Appreciation Week, hosted by the amazing ladies of  The Estrella Society, I thought I would close with my book blogging story. The topic of the day is to talk about Blogger Burnout, which I do a little bit here. Honestly, I didn't think I would even be able to come up with a post for today, but then I started writing and this is what came of it. I went where my thoughts took me, which isn't exactly the direction I was probably meant to go. Hopefully no one will mind.

In the fall of 2003, I began keeping a reading journal of the books I read. I kept a table with the basic stats, such as title, author, page number, and rating. And then I had a separate section for jotting down my thoughts on all the books I read. While on one level it served as a guide to help trigger my memory of each book, on a deeper level it gave me the opportunity to reflect on the books as I finished them. I often referred to it as my closure process. The years journaling my reading thoughts quickly morphed into necessity. I did not feel ready to move onto the next book without first having written down something about the book I had just finished. 

For years I had been a part of online book groups, mostly through Yahoo. They varied from the formal to the informal, sometimes divided by genres or book types. At some point I began sharing my bookish thoughts on a few of those sites. I am not sure when my husband first mentioned I might want to try blogging. I didn't start right away. It took a while for me to finally feel ready to give it a try. I jumped in with both feet. 

I remember the feeling of getting my first comment. But it wasn't until the first reading challenge I participated in that I really began to see just how big the book blogging community was. I had thought I was one of a few, and here I was one of many. It was its own sort of bookish heaven. I made friends quickly after that and blogging became a very important part of my life. I joined challenges, took part in community activities, tried my hand at hosting a challenge, even served as a judge for book awards. I attended the Los Angeles Festival of Books and had the chance to meet other bloggers--all were so kind and welcoming, even as I was somewhat shy. It was amazing. I would spend my days at work, come home and be up until the wee hours of the morning commenting on blogs, writing blog posts, and reading books, with my husband supporting me all along the way and my cats and dog as my mascots. I watched my stats, got excited with every comment and felt sad when they didn't come fast enough.

Somewhere in there, the blogging energy that had carried me for those first several years began to wane. It was harder to keep up. The strain of balancing everything was wearing on me, not to mention my priorities were beginning to change. Some book bloggers have no problem getting pregnant and carrying on as if nothing has changed. A part of me envied them, seemingly being able to balance it all. A move into a new house and a baby slowed my blogging down considerably, and I had trouble gaining my footing again for a long time after. I posted sporadically, wasn't reading as much, and was being pulled by a darkness I was trying to pretend didn't exist. Some of my heroes came in the form of book bloggers who reached out to me, helping me through the fog that I would later come to accept was Postpartum Depression and Anxiety.


I have found my happy rhythm again. It is a different rhythm than the one I danced to early in my blogging career. It's slower, much more relaxed, and a bit quieter. I post less often. I still read review books and participate in book tours. Sometimes I over do it out of sheer excitement over those books I MUST read. I take breaks, sometimes without warning, and I no longer feel guilty about it like I once did. I do not keep track or look at my stats--you can't imagine how freeing this has been. While I still love to receive comments, I no longer let them define me as a book blogger. There are things I want to improve on, and ideas I would like to implement, but there never seems to be enough time between my real life career and my family, both of which are my first two priorities. I try not to sweat it though. I am content where I am right now with my blog and with my place in the blogging community.

Over the years I have had my ups and downs with book blogging. There are times I wonder if it's worth continuing. Would I miss it? Would anyone out there miss me? And there are times I feel like I have nothing to say and struggle to write anything, much less reviews. I think many of us have thought of quitting at one point or another. Several bloggers who I count among my friends have stopped blogging altogether. Others have expanded their book blogs and write about their other interests and about their lives. It's bittersweet, this loss of great bloggers and the beautiful growth of others. 

This coming July my blog will be turning ten. I never imagined I would still be at it. What keeps me coming back, in part, is all of you. The book blogging community, the support I have found here, and the friends I have made. I love talking and writing about books and reading about books--and just plain hanging out with other people who share my passion for books. I haven't always felt like I fit in throughout my life, but I feel like I fit in here. With all of you. Thank you for making this small part of the interwebs feel like a home away from home.



© 2016, 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, February 17, 2016

Bookish Thoughts: The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer

I dream about Carmel often. ~ Opening of The Girl in the Red Coat



The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer
Faber & Faber; 2016
Crime Fiction; 304 pgs

From Goodreads: 
Kate Hamer's stand-out debut thriller is the hugely moving story of an abduction that will keep you guessing until the very last page. Carmel has always been different. Carmel's mother, Beth, newly single, worries about her daughter's strangeness, especially as she is trying to rebuild a life for the two of them on her own. When she takes eight year-old Carmel to a local children's festival, her worst fear is realised: Carmel disappears. Unable to accept the possibility that her daughter might be gone for good, Beth embarks on a mission to find her. Meanwhile, Carmel begins an extraordinary and terrifying journey of her own, with a man who believes she is a saviour.
It was almost eerie how similar The Girl in the Red Coat was to Gilly Mcmillan's What She Knew in the beginning. At least in terms of the books being about single women, each of whom were left by their significant others for younger women. And each who had 8 year olds who disappeared one day after wandering off. Both novels capture the fear and grief a mother goes through when her child is missing. I probably noticed the commonalities more since I read them so close together. Still, the two books are very different in many more respects. Which, of course, is a good thing. 

While in Mcmillan's book, the reader does not know what happened to the protagonist's son, the reader knows pretty quickly who is behind the disappearance of Carmel, the young girl in The Girl in the Red Coat. The novel is told from the alternating perspectives of a frantic mother and her confused and frightened daughter. Hamer's book got under my skin. It was a difficult book for me to read, especially in the early days and weeks of Carmel's kidnapping. Beth's anguish and grief are palpable. She is constantly second guessing herself, blaming herself for what's happened. As time passes, she finds comfort from surprising and not so surprising places. All the old grievances she might have had pale in comparison to what she is going through now. She slowly begins to rebuild her life, but always missing her daughter.

Even more compelling is Carmel's own part in the novel, about the initial kidnapping and what follows. She is so innocent and trusting. She is often lost in her own thoughts and is easily distracted. It was impossible not to feel afraid for her, especially as a mother of a young girl myself. The man who kidnaps Carmel  is quite devote, his faith driving his actions. He believes she has a special gift and that it is his responsibility to develop and share it with the world. The two lead a nomadic life, joining with his girlfriend and her daughters. Carmel forms a friendship with the other girls, and comes to think of them all as a family and yet still somehow apart from them.

I enjoyed the novel quite a bit, having a hard time putting it down. At times there an uncanny quality that appears in reference or around Carmel that can be interpreted in a couple different ways. I love it when an author is able to do something like that well, and I think Kate Hamer does for the most part. There were only a couple instances in which it felt a little off.

On one hand, you have a story about a mother grieving the loss of her daughter, looking for her in every corner, and learning to survive without her. On the other, you have the story of a girl stolen from the mother she loves and forced into a completely unfamiliar life where she is both revered and neglected. The mother/daughter bond is strong between them even with the distance and the unknown. While not a heart-stopping thriller as one might initially expect, it is a very compelling read. It is also quite heartbreaking at times. 


To learn more about Kate Hamer and her work, you can find her on Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook.

I hope you will check out what others had to say about The Girl in the Red Coat on the TLC Book Tours route!



Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.



© 2016, 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, February 16, 2016

Day 3 of BBAW: Blame a Book Blogger


When I began book blogging nearly 10 years ago, I had no idea there was an entire community of equally obsessed book people out there. Over the years I have been introduced to books and authors I had never heard of. My reading has expanded and grown in more ways than I could possibly imagine. I am sure many of you can relate. Quite a few of the books I read have been recommended by book bloggers in one way or another, and about 98% of my wish list is made up of books recommended by them. Unfortunately, I am terrible at keeping track of who recommended what, even despite my efforts over the years to try to do so. Today, in honor of Book Blogger Appreciation Week, I thought I would share with you a few of the titles I have enjoyed over the years thanks to book bloggers and readers like you.

  • My fellow book bloggers and mothers proved to be extra supportive during my early years of motherhood (and still are!). My friend Stacy from Stacy's Books not only recommended I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids: Reinventing Modern Motherhood by Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile to me, she also was kind enough to give me her copy. I found it to be funny as well as insightful.

  • Athira of Reading on a Rainy Day gave me a push to finally read Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson. I now know what all the fuss is about.

  • I never would have discovered this awesome trilogy if it weren't for Nancy of Bookfoolery. I have so much love for this and the two follow-up books.

  • While my daughter was the one who gifted me with a copy of The Other Daughter last year for my birthday, it was because of Katherine of I Wish I Lived in a Library it landed on my wish list for my daughter to find. It was everything Katherine said it would be. I loved it.

  • I found a hidden gem in When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin which came recommended by Amanda from A Patchwork of Books. Christian fiction is not my usual reading material, but this book touched me deeply.

  • Most recently, my friend Caspette from Narrative Causality  recommended the book, The Night Parade by Kathryn Tanquary, which I just adored.

  • Sarah Waters is an author I only learned about after I began blogging. Although I have wanted to give her work a try, I never managed to do it. Until Jennifer hosted a Fingersmith Read-A-Long hosted by Jennifer of a Literate Housewife, that is. I really enjoyed being a part of the small group of readers reading such a modern classic. And I loved the book.

  • It was also because of the Stand-along hosted by Trish of Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity that I finally got around to reading Stephen King's The Stand, which was a bit out of my comfort zone. The same goes for World War Z by Max Brooks (an amazing book!), hosted by Natalie of Coffee and a Book Chick.

I may never have read The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins or Leo Toltsoy's Anna Karenina  had it not been for bloggers. I fell in love with  The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Chimamanda Ngozi's Half of a Yellow Sun, both books I discovered through blogging. I cannot even begin to name the number of books I have read that came from recommendations from you all. I cannot thank you enough for sharing your recommendations and bookish thoughts with me. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

As a final thought, because I can't help but share a little more book blogger love, here is a sampling of some of the recommended books on my wish list that I am very much looking forward to reading one day (oh, how I wish it could be today!):
  • Winter Rose by Patricia Mckillip recommended by Lianne of Electictales 
  • Blue Suburbia: Almost a Memoir by Laurie Albanese recommended by Kathy of BermudaOnion Weblog

  • Charlotte's Story: A Bliss House Novel by Laura Benedict recommended by Samantha of Booked On a Feeling

  • All that Followed by Gabriel Urza recommended by Beth F of Beth Fish    


I would love to know what books you have enjoyed that came recommended by book bloggers. Let me know in the comments!


© 2016, 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, February 15, 2016

Bookish Thoughts: My Sweet Vidalia by Deborah Mantella

My momma believes all babies to be gifts from God, no matter what. ~ Opening of My Sweet Vidalia
 

My Sweet Vidalia by Deborah Mantella
Turner Publishing, 2015
Fiction; 272 pgs

From Goodreads: 
On July 4, 1955, in rural Georgia, an act of violence threatens the life of Vidalia Lee Kandal's pre-born daughter. Despite the direst of circumstances, the spirit of the lost child refuses to leave her ill-equipped young mother's side.

For as long as she is needed―through troubled pregnancies, through poverty, through spousal abuse and agonizing betrayals―Cieli Mae, the determined spirit child, narrates their journey. Serving as a safe place and sounding board for Vidalia's innermost thoughts and confusions, lending a strength to her momma's emerging voice, Cieli Mae provides her own special brand of comfort and encouragement, all the while honoring the restrictions imposed by her otherworldly status.

Vidalia finds further support in such unlikely townsfolk and relations as Doc Feldman, Gamma Gert and her Wild Women of God, and, most particularly, in Ruby Pearl Banks, the kind, courageous church lady, who has suffered her own share of heartache in their small Southern town of yesteryear's prejudices and presumptions.
I was drawn to this novel because of the setting and the description: set in the South in the 1950's, it is a novel about a woman living a hard life. Vidalia Lee Kandal is kindhearted. She got good grades in school, but was a bit of an outcast. It made her easy prey for the likes of JB, a man with his own insecurities and leanings toward cruelty. The two eventually marry and Vidalia remains faithful to him despite emotional and physical abuse he heaps on her.

Domestic violence is an extremely important topic that deserves attention and needs to be talked about. The author does a good job of presenting a very realistic glimpse into the life of a victim of domestic violence. Although the novel takes place over sixty years ago, it could very well represent some situations today, sad to say. The times certainly played their part though. My heart ached for sweet Vidalia, who remains amazingly good-hearted despite everything, but even more so for her children. You have the people who help in limited ways: the doctor, the women from the local churches, and other townsfolk. It would be easy to wish Vidalia had left JB early on (I know I did), but nothing is every that simple, especially in a relationship involving domestic violence.

I had no sympathy or even empathy for JB. He is a despicable character. There was nothing good about him, no glimmer of remorse, or a kinder side to him. Although his mother annoyed me much of the time, I could understand where she was coming from. She loved her son, wanted to see and believe the best in him despite everything. I adored Ruby Pearl Banks, a black woman who takes Vidalia under her wing. Her own story intrigued me. I wish she'd made an appearance earlier in the novel. She's the only character I didn't want to kick some sense into. Even Doc Feldman, who did what he could to help Vidalia, should have done more, I felt.

What make this novel stand out is that it is narrated by Vidalia and JB's unborn baby, one which Vidalia miscarries. The spirit of the unborn child, Cieli Mae, hangs on, staying with her mother, observing and helping her through the roughest of times. I did not quite buy into Cieli Mae's role in the novel, as much as I wanted to. At times she seemed like a splinter of her mother because of Vidalia's stress and hopelessness. I might have bought that more easily.

My Sweet Vidalia is a very sad novel. Even with Vidalia's flicker of hope and Cieli Mae's efforts to keep that going, I found this to be a depressing read. At the risk of spoiling the novel, it doesn't stay that way. There is hope. There is redemption of sorts. And I was quite satisfied with the ending. I might have fist pumped the air at one point.

In the end, I have mixed feelings about My Sweet Vidalia. While pulled into the novel immediately, I found it slow going after awhile with not much character growth or story development. It does pick up, fortunately. Even despite my inability to completely buy into Cieli Mae as the narrator, I liked Deborah Mantella's writing. The story was rather predictable, but compelling just the same. This book may not have been the best fit for me, but it has garnered much praise from other readers, including several along the tour route. I hope you will check out their reviews before accepting my word for this book. I would be interested to try something else by the author.


To learn more about Deborah Mantella and her work, please visit the author's websiteShe can also be found on GoodreadsTwitterand Facebook.

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



Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.


© 2016, 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, February 14, 2016

Day 1 of Book Blogger Appreciation Week: Five Books That Define Me


From the Estrella Society: 
Back in the fall of 2008, a wonderful book blogger named Amy (from My Friend Amy) created an online festival for book bloggers called Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Her intent was simple:  
Acknowledging the hard work of book bloggers and their growing impact on book marketing and their essential contribution to book buzz in general, I am excited to announce the first Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Think of it as a retreat for book bloggers and a chance for us to totally nerd out over books together. And of course, shower each other with love and appreciation.  
The event grew every year and, even though it was fun and Amy loved it, she had to end it in 2012 due to the work and time involved. BBAW has been missed dearly ever since. 

The ladies over at The Estrella Society (AnaAndiHeather, and Jenny) have brought back Book Blogger Appreciation Week, an event to bring book bloggers together to celebrate our blogs, the people behind the blogs, and to reconnect with old friends as well as to make new ones.

I will not be participating in every event hosted this week, but I will take part when I am able. I am excited to see BBAW revived. I always had such fun participating in years past. The community has grown so much since I began blogging in 2006. The book blogging community remains one of the main reasons I have kept up with blogging even at my lowest of blogging points. That and my love  to share and talk about books.

Today's BBAW topic is to "introduce yourself by telling us about five books that represent you as a person or your interests/lifestyle." Oh, goodness! How do narrow the list down . . . I read a variety of types of books for many different reasons, and I wanted my list to reflect that, as well as tell a bit about me. When it came down to making the actual list, these five titles kept screaming to be included, and so here they are.

1.

Tarantulas on the Brain by Marilyn Singer ~ While I could list a dozen favorites from my childhood, Tarantulas on the Brain instantly came to mind. While I never took a job working for a magician, I have always been fascinated by spiders, particularly tarantulas and Emily Dickinson remains one of my favorite poets today. The main character, Lizzie, is curious and smart, but not without her flaws. As a mother to a daughter, this book I hope she will pick up and read. Lizzie makes a good role model. (Please do check out excerpt from Chapter One to see what I mean.)


2.

The Way the Crow Flies by Ann-Marie MacDonald~ My dad was a career United States Marine, and I spent the earlier years of my childhood moving around from base to base. While this particular novel is set in Canada and in a different time period than the one I grew up in, it still resonates with me. As I wrote in my original review: "I just had no idea how much this book would get under my skin, how much of my own life I would see flitting across the pages. Or echoes of it at least."


3.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson ~ I was a reader of Jenny's blog, The Bloggess, before I listened to her first memoir. I laughed and I cried and I could relate in so many different ways to Jenny, including the way her mind jumps from topic to topic, sometimes without a seeming connection--and yet there is in our strange own sense of logic. There's also the mental health piece. I know what it is like to live with Depression. her humor might not suit everyone, but it speaks to me.


4.

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley ~ What I remember most about this novel is the strong female characters, independent minded and powerful as well as the constraints of organized religion. I read this book at an age when I was coming into my own womanhood from childhood and it sang to me. It has stayed with me all these years, and I still look back on it as a cornerstone of my life. I seriously considered leaving it out of this list, however. While for some things I am able to separate the author from the work he or she created, in this particular case it has been difficult. It is unfortunate her actions have tainted her books for me, because this one really means a lot to me. I came very close to choosing something else, like Mercedes Lackey's The Last Herald Mage Trilogy, which means a lot to me as well, in part, because they are a part of my husband's and my story. (See how I slipped it in anyway?)


5.

Behind Closed Doors by Elizabeth Haynes ~ I wanted to include a crime fiction novel because they are among my favorite genres, and this one is among my favorites. This one speaks of two subjects dear to my heart, the issues of child abuse and human trafficking. These aren't other people's problems as many would like to think. They are our problems as a community, as a society, and as a world. And I am glad to see people writing about them, both in fiction and nonfiction.

What these books don't tell you, of course, is that I am a wife and mother, an animal lover, a book lover and reader, that I love music and movies, I enjoy writing and singing, even if off key, that I like ice cream and chocolate a little too much, and I love a rainy day and a starry night, and a host of other things. All of which I could probably find in books to share with you that help define me--but then the list would have been way too long.


Please share with me what books define you. I would like to know!



 © 2016, 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.