Monday, May 30, 2016

Where Is Your Bookmark? (05/31/2016)

It was a weekend for reading! We spent a good part of it on the road, traveling to and from my in-laws. I finished Jesmym Ward's Salvage the Bones this evening after we arrived home, and thought I would share a bit with you. Set in Mississippi, this novel is about a teenage girl named Esch and her family. Her alcoholic father is preparing for a hurricane, her brother Skeetah is trying to keep his pit bulls pups alive, and another of her brothers is hoping to get a scholarship to a basketball camp for the summer. Esch, at 15, is pregnant.



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.

China's turned on herself. If I didn't know, I would think she was trying to eat her paws. I would think that she was crazy. Which she is, in a way. Won't let nobody touch her but Skeet. When she was a big-headed pit bull puppy, she stole all the shoes in the house, all our black tennis shoes Mama bought because they hide dirt and hold up until they're beaten soft. Only Mama's forgotten sandals, thin-heeled and tinted pink with so much red mud seeped into them, looked different. China hid them all under furniture, behind the toilet, stacked them in piles and slept on them. When the dog was old enough to run and trip down the steps on her own, she took the shoes outside, out them in shallow ditches under the house. She'd stand rigid as a pine when we tried to take them away from her. Now China is giving like she once took away, bestowing where she once stole. She is birthing puppies.

Every Tuesday, Jenn from Books And A Beat 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 page 88 of Salvage the Bones:
They cannot tell, but it is there. Perhaps Skeetah saw when I walked from the water and put on my clothes. I do not know, but I will not give him the chance to see again now. I will not let him see until none of us have any choices about what can be seen, what can be avoided, what is blind, and what will turn to stone.

What do you think? Would you keep reading?  

The opening paragraph brought back the memory of my dog Riley who liked to play with my husband's shoes. He wasn't so much trying to nest with them as entice us to play with them. I finished Salvage the Bone Monday evening and hope to get my review written and up on my blog at some 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 Beach Reads Week --which is a difficult theme for me to take on. I could list books I think fall under the category of Beach Reads, but the truth is I don't really read at the beach. And my reading during the summer months--when people are likely to be at the beach-- doesn't really change in terms of the type of books I read. So, instead. I thought I would go with the Top Ten Books you should read if you are stuck at home alone on a stormy summer night (although I'm not sure "stuck" would be the appropriate word to use--because any reading time should be embraced, right?).

1. Storm Front by Jim Butcher and any of the other books in the Dresden Files series that follow. This is a fast-paced urban fantasy novel about a modern day wizard with his own Chicago-based agency. It's got its dark side, but it's also funny in spots.

2. Rachel Caine's Weather Warden Series is perfect if you are into urban fantasy and paranormal romance. You'll never think of a storm or tornado the same way again.

3. The Woman in White  by Wilkie Collins is the perfect choice if you prefer to settle in with something thicker with a Gothic feel. Don't be afraid to pick up this classic and read it. It's perfect reading for a stormy night.

4. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters is a modern Gothic classic that will have you reading long into the night.

5. If horror is more your style, I highly recommend Joe Hill's Heart-Shaped Box.

6. Mind of Winter by Laura Kasischke offers a more subtle thrill, and is set in the middle of a snow storm.

7. For a quiet ghost story that will be much less likely to leave you checking under your bed, you might want to give The Uninvited by Cat Winters a try.

8. Perhaps you are more of a romantic at heart and would do best with Karen Marie Moning's Beyond the Highland Mist. 

9. This might be a good time to finally give George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones a try. You know you've been wanting to. Winter is coming, after all.

10. If you are looking for sweet dreams, perhaps you'd be better off sticking with Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove.


What books would you recommend for a stormy summer night?


© 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.

47 comments:

  1. I started Storm Front once but fell away- I may try again at some point since I'm trying to read more urban fantasy. The Weather warden series sounds good from your description- i like the idea of controlling the weather- and I like sno storm thrillers sometimes too. :) Nice list.

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    1. Greg - I hope you like Storm Front if you give it another try. I enjoyed the Weather Warden series. I read all those while recovering from my surgery.

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    2. I really love that series. The mythology as it evolves gets more and more interesting. Mr. Butcher writes fantasy, as well.

      Heather

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  2. I like your Fingersmith choice - this is on my shelf as a re-read - I would recommend A Tapping at my Door by David Jackson which is truly creepy for crime fiction lovers.
    Your opener for Salvage the Bones is good, and I liked the teaser - I'd like to read a little bit more to be sure though.

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    1. Cleo - I would like to re-read Fingersmith someday. It wasn't too long ago that I read it for the first time, so it's still (somewhat) fresh in my mind. I will have to look for A Tapping at My Door. It sounds like a fun read!

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  3. I read Salvage the Bones several years ago and still think of it fondly. I really felt for the main character. I recall that it was rather controversial when it came out, but it was highly praised.

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    1. Margot - Esch was a likeable character, wasn't she? I can see why it would be controversial--it wasn't an easy book to read.

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  4. I really enjoyed Fingersmith. I agree that it's a great beach read! Great list! :-)

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  5. For the intro, I have to say I'm not sure. I like the writing but don't know if it's a book for me I'm afraid.

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    1. Emma - It's definitely not a book for everyone. I struggled with it myself. What I liked, I really liked though.

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  6. I'll echo your recommendations of the Harry Dresden and Weather Warden series - both entertaining reads to get your teeth into over a holiday period:). If it's a standalone book you'd like to take you right away from the here and now, then I'd suggest Doomsday by Connie Willis - a fabulous, historical time-travelling story and Planetfall by Emma Newman, set on a space colony and one of my favourite reads of the year so far. If you're looking for another series - why not try Lois McMaster Bujold's Miles Vorkosigan series? My TT this week would also make a good holiday read...

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    1. Sarah - I am glad you enjoy both those series too. I will look for Doomsday. It sounds wonderful. I have Planetfall on my wish list already because of you. :-)

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  7. Sadly, I donated Salvage the Bones unread after having it sit unread on my shelves for a number of years. I have heard good things about it but, just didn't think it was for me. I did love Fingersmith though.

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    1. Diane - I likely wouldn't have read it if it hadn't been for my postal book club--that's also the reason I finished it. :-S Fingersmith is such a good book!

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  8. I never continued on with the rest of the Dresden series but I enjoyed reading Stormfront. And I totally agree with The Woman in White! I've actually been meaning to re-read it, I enjoyed reading it the first time around...

    My TTT

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    1. Lianne - I am not caught up with the Dresden Files, but I have read quite a few of the books in the series so far. It's one of my favorites. I would like to re-read The Women in White someday. It was so good!

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  9. I love the Harry Dresden novels by Jim Butcher. Did you see the short live TV show based on the books?!?

    My teaser this week is from a rare (for me!) non-fiction work. http://abookaddictsview.blogspot.com/2016/05/teaser-tuesday-joy-of-less.html

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    1. Abookaddict - Yes! I enjoyed the show, even if it could have been better. I was sorry when it was cancelled.

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  10. I remember reading about this one and checked to see if it's on my list. It is and I think I'll move it up to my summer reading list.

    My TT from Miss Mayhem

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    1. Laura - It's a gut-wrenching read. Just be prepared.

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  11. Fingersmith sounds interesting. I hope you enjoy your books!

    Here's my teaser.

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    1. Majanka - Fingersmith is such a good book. I hope you get a chance to read it!

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  12. I really want to read Salvage the Bones but have heard it's gut wrenching so feel like I need to be in the right mood.

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    1. Kathy - That's a good way to describe it. It was a very difficult read for me.

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  13. Salvage the Bones has been on my list forever. I would definitely keep reading. Enjoy!

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    1. Heather - It was an interesting read. I have mixed feelings about it.

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  14. Ok..I almost need to know if the pups survive before reading Savage the Bones. I have always been curious about it, but don't know if I could stomach it in the long run.

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    1. Barb - I left you a comment on your blog in relation to your question. :-)

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  15. Loved the excerpts. The opening lines made me visualize that dog and his activities. The teaser was kind of mysterious, which piqued my interest. Thanks for sharing.

    Here's mine: “TWO IF BY SEA”

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    1. Laurel-Rain - I can just see her taking off with everyone's shoes too. :-)

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  16. Teenage pregnancy, alcoholism, pit bulls, all with a hurricane coming! Sounds like there's lots of opportunity for conflict in Salvage the Bones. I love family dramas, and this sounds like a good one.
    My Tuesday post features REDNECK P.I.

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    1. Sandra - It was an interesting book. I can see this one being a favorite among book clubs. Some will love it and some will hate it, no doubt.

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  17. Wow -- that book sounds HEAVY! I hope everything turns out okay (or at least hopeful) in the end.

    The dog's hoarding behavior sounds exactly like my cat, Elsie. Without the burying, of course. She likes to take all of her toys and stash them under furniture. She'll sit in the middle of the empty living room floor and stare at us like we abuse her BY NEVER GIVING HER ANY TOYS. So we have to take a broom, lift all the furniture, and sweep them out. *sigh* I love her, though.

    Wow, our reading tastes are really similar! LOL Jim Butcher, Karen Moning, George RR Martin, Rachael Caine. I've known and loved Rachel's work since WAAAY back in our Buffy fanfic days! She's an awesome lady and a terrific writer.

    Thanks for sharing your list! I'm going to add a few to my ENDLESS TBR list. :)

    Heather
    Bloodthirsty Muses

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    1. Heather - Salvage the Bones was heavy. And I am so relieved to now be reading something else. That says a lot, doesn't it?

      That's so cute about your cat, Elsie. I bet you are finding toys in interesting places. :-) I had to use the broom to get a toy out from behind our television stand the other day from where one of my cats batted it. It's always something. We love them though, don't we?

      I need to explore more of Rachel Caine's work. The Weather Warden series was so much fun.

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  18. The teaser has my interest. I'd keep reading.

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  19. I've read a couple of Dresden Files books and need to read more. I like The Mind of Winter. Salvage the Bones sounds like I'd need to be in just the right mood to read it.

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    1. Nise' - I hope you do get a chance to read more of the Dresden Files! It's a great series. I always feel out of breath when I finish reading one of those books.

      Yes, I think Salvage the Bones is definitely one to a reader needs to be in the mood for. At least for us mood readers. :-)

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  20. Salvage the Bones sounds interesting. And I know I want to read Fingersmith one day soon! :-)

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    1. Melody - Oh, do read Fingersmith! I know you'll like it. At least I hope you do. :-)

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  21. Great list -- with several that are on my TBR! I reeeeally want to finally get to "A Game of Thrones" this year, along with any and all of Joe Hill's books (I've only read "Horns" so far). I actually own "Fingersmith" -- I picked it up secondhand years ago and really need to read it. And I enjoyed the first Harry Dresden book last year and I'd like to try book 2... one of these days!

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    1. Lindsay - Thank you! I need to continue with the Game of Thrones series. I loved the first book. Joe Hill is such a great story-teller. I want to read his The Fireman at some point soon. I had my copy of Fingersmith for what seemed like forever too. It's definitely one worth reading.

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  22. I tend to like anything urban fantasy for my summer books. I also put The Dresden Files on my summer reads list- something about it just screams summer. ;)
    I've heard good things about Salvage the Bones, so I would keep reading. That cover just draws me.
    Hope you have an incredible week!
    ~Litha Nelle

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    1. Litha Nelle - Urban fantasy does make wonderful summer reads. :-) I hope you enjoy your weekend! Can you believe it is here already?

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  23. Excellent choices for books to read if you're stuck inside during a storm! In fact, I'm wondering where my copies of some of those are at - it's going to rain this week, after all.

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    1. Lisa - I was hoping we'd get rain yesterday, but no such luck. Enjoy the rain! Hopefully it won't be too humid on top of wet.

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