Wordless Wednesday: Riding the Highway (Part 10)

Arizona

Hosted by Wordless Wednesday

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© Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty 2006-2009
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.

2 R’s and T: Reading, ‘Riting, and Time (and not enough of any of them!) - Guest Post by Florinda from 3 R's

I was on a pretty good streak for a while. By the middle of July, I had posted 29 book reviews this year. Compared to some other book bloggers, I'm an utter slacker - but compared to myself in 2008, when I only reviewed 35 books for the entire year, I was feeling pretty good. And then I went for close to three weeks without even finishing a book. Can't review them if you don't get them read, can you? (Wait, that's not completely true; I did finish Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which I re-read after seeing the movie, but since it was a repeat, it's the rare book that won't be reviewed on the blog.)

There were some other things going on at that time, though, to be fair. I went to a conference, and when I came back, there was a lot to process - and to write about - which didn't have much to do with books. I hadn't brought books with me on my trip, but I did bring my new Kindle - it travels much more easily! But I didn't finish the book I started on the Kindle before I got home, and when I came home, there were already two books in progress waiting for me, and a third that I needed to start (and finish!) for an upcoming blog-tour post. All of this has just reinforced for me why I really do better when I read just one book at a time. I feel less pressure when I only have one book unfinished, as opposed to three.

I can't blame everything on the travel, though, because there's still the same Catch-22 I've experienced ever since I got into this almost two and a half years ago - writing about reading books takes time away from actually reading books, but if you're not reading the books, you can't write about them! And I write about other things besides books, too - someone recently described me as a "hybrid" blogger. (Does that make my blog a Prius?)

I hadn't thought in those terms before, but it fits. Book-related content is a big component of what's on my blog, but there are also posts about travel, popular culture, current events and issues, stuff my family does, and even stuff that other bloggers do. That reminds me that another reason that I have less time for books is that I read a lot of blogs - maybe not all of every post, every day, but the number I subscribe to is so large I'm embarrassed to tell you. For me, reading other blogs - book blogs, personal blogs, entertainment blogs, news blogs, just-for-fun blogs - is as big a part of being a blogger as writing my own posts is. They amuse, provoke, and inspire me. And sometimes, they keep me from hitting the books.

I do my best reading, and my most productive writing, when I have big chunks of time for it. Since I work full-time in a job that has nothing to do with either books or blogging and, for some reason, my family actually does want to have me around (and paying attention to them!) every now and then, I don't get those time chunks as often as I'd like. I suspect many of us could say that, though, so we all learn to seize our moments when we can. I read every morning at breakfast and every night in bed, and I always have a book (and/or my newly-acquired Kindle) with me so I can sneak in some pages whenever the opportunity comes along.

My husband likes to talk about what he'd do if he won the lottery; I already know what would be at the top of my list. Money would free me up from other responsibilities, and buy me time; time for the many books to be started - and finished - and written about! But assuming that doesn't happen, I've just got to get myself back on that reading-and-reviewing streak some other way. I liked it there.

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Many thanks to Florinda for visiting Musings of a Bookish Kitty. Be sure and drop visit Florinda at The 3 R's: Reading, 'Riting, and Randomness. If you don't already follow her blog regularly, you should! You can also find Florinda at the Los Angeles Moms Blog.

The Post-Birthday World by Lionel Shriver - Guest Review by Sandy Nawrot

The Post-Birthday World by Lionel Shriver
Reviewed by Sandy Nawrot from You've GOTTA read this!

I actually read this book a year and a half ago, but is one that needs to be acknowledged here. It is one that has stuck with me, and has been scribbled down and e-mailed countless times to my friends. Have you ever allowed yourself to wonder "what if"...if you'd made this decision over that one, married this person instead of that one...how would your life had changed? This book allows a delightful opportunity to peer into a parallel life of Irina, our protagonist, and actually see the "what if".

Irina has lived in London with Lawrence, an intellectual think-tank manager, for a decade. Their relationship is comfortable and maybe a little boring. Every year they get together with their friend, Ramsey, a devil-may-care snooker champion, to celebrate his birthday. One year, Lawrence is out of town and Irina decides to continue with the tradition by herself. Irina and Ramsey proceed to get hammered (or in London, "pissed") and approach the fork in the road. You see this coming, right? At this point in the book, there are two "Chapter 2's", "two Chapter 3's", etc. In the first of the two chapters, Irina falls for the dashing Ramsey, ultimately leaves Lawrence, and lives the unpredictable and non-stop life of a snooker wife (or more appropriately a snooker widow). In the second of the two chapters, Irina resists temptation and stays with Lawrence, steadfastly loyal but bored out of her skull. Each outcome is so completely different, and unexpected, and I won't ruin it for you.

Shriver is a very talented writer and is a joy and a hoot to read. This book is FULL of ironies, some absolutely hilarious. The two story lines intertwine fabulously. For example, in one parallel life, Irina and Ramsey visit Irina's family for Christmas, Ramsey gets toasted and trashes the place, and Irina is left apologizing. In the other life, it is Irina that drinks too much and makes a mess, and Lawrence has to pick up the pieces. These clever little slights of hand had me laughing out loud. It was rated in the top 5 must reads of 2007 by Entertainment Weekly, and I know that I will read it again.

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Sandy from You've GOTTA read this! kindly volunteered to loan me this review, which was originally posted on her blog in October of last year. I couldn't be more grateful to you, Sandy, for filling in for me like this! And for adding yet another book to my ever growing wish list.

Sunday Salon: Why Read Crime Fiction? & Other Random Thoughts

I was listening to National Public Radio (NPR) on my drive home from a workshop this past week and author Walter Mosley was on, along with someone whose name I cannot remember from Law & Order. They were talking about what draws people to crime fiction. My very first thought was, “Oh good! I have a long drive ahead of me!” One of those rare times in recent history anyone’s prayed for lots of traffic so the drive will last longer.

It's obvious people are drawn to crime fiction for very different reasons. A small few of the reasons I heard given on the radio show:

- To live the life of the bad guy vicariously through the TV or book
- To see good win out over evil
- To better understand the criminal mind
- To enhance problem solving skills
- For the love of the characters, including that flawed good guy who might not be so different than the rest us
- For the thrill
- An escape from real life
- Predictability
- Unpredictability
- Relevant social issues

The list could go on forever.

Most of the callers to the show were fans of Law & Order. I wish more people had called in specifically for author Walter Mosley. That's why I probably remember his name and not the other guest's. (I have nothing against Law & Order--I'm actually a big fan of the original Law & Order and Law and Order: SVU.)

Anya's taken to chewing on the corner of my books more often. She likes hardbacks in particular.

Anjin is reading Casino Moon by Peter Blauner.

Please check out my friend's new blog, The Book Nurse. It's brand new, and so Denise has not had a chance to post any of her reviews just yet (they'll be worth checking out, I assure you!). Take her up on her offer to prescribe you a book. ~ You can also find her at Celtic Librarian, where she and her high school students blog about the books they read.

Riley thinks a book is a holder for his toy bone.

One of my coworkers was being especially nosy the other day, going around to everyone's desk and looking closely at what each of us had sitting on the surface. I asked her if she was looking for something in particular. Her reply: "Yes, I'm looking for something to read." Evidently she often borrows books off of people's desks and returns them before anyone notices they are missing. Don't worry, she's always gentle with the books. Still, I'm glad I always take my book with me.

Parker takes every opportunity to make a stray book his latest napping spot.

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When I put my request out there for guest bloggers, I figured one person would volunteer if I was really lucky. I was quite surprised then when many more of you than that offered to lend a hand during my time away from the computer. I hope you will join me in welcoming all of my upcoming guests:

Buddy - Peeking Between the Pages
Carrie - Books and Movies & Mommy Brain
Florinda - The 3 R's: Reading, 'Riting, and Randomness
Gautami - Everthing Distils Into Reading
Melody - Melody's Reading Corner
Nicole - Eagle Dawg Blog
Sandy Nawrot - You've GOTTA read this!
Sheri - A Novel Menagerie
Wisteria - Bookworm's Dinner

I cannot thank the volunteers enough. Nor can I adequately express how excited I am that each of them will be making an appearance here at Musings of a Bookish Kitty. Each of my guests are quality bloggers who I am honored to host on my blog. I hope you will drop in and read what my guests have to say, and if you have the time, be sure and leave a comment. I am sure they would love to hear from you!

I hope you all have a great next few weeks and I will see you again at the end of the month. Happy Reading!

In Reading Mews:

Reviews Posted:
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey & a Giveaway

Currently Reading:
In the Woods by Tana French

New Additions to my TBR collection:
Sometimes We're Always Real Same-Same by Mattox Roesch (Many thanks to Unbridled Books for sending me this one. It was an unexpected but much welcome surprise!)

Other Posts of Interest This Week:
Monday at the Movies: A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That
Wordless Wednesday: Riding the Highway (Part 9)

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

Review: Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey (& a Giveaway)

"So cold," he murmured. "Once she was warm and breathing."

It was what he could never quite get his mind around--not just how complex life was, but why it was so easy for life to leave a person once so complex. [excerpt from Wife of the Gods]


Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey
Random House, 2009 (ARE)
Crime Fiction; 319 pgs


When I first saw mention of Kwei Quartey’s Wife of the Gods, I knew I had to read it. I can’t resist a crime fiction novel, especially one set in a country other than my own. I get to learn about another country and culture while at the same time settling in with the comfort of the familiar format of a mystery.

Kwei Quartey’s protagonist, Darko Dawson is the kind of detective I would want investigating my murder. He has a dogged determination and a strong sense of right and wrong—at least where others are concerned. Righteous is the word that comes to mind, but not in an arrogant or overbearing way. Darko is anything but perfect though. He has a weakness for marijuana and a bit of a temper which lands him in plenty of trouble.

The novel is set in the beautiful country of Ghana. Quartey paints a portrait of a complex society, one that straddles the old traditions and the new. In a community where witchcraft is feared and superstitions are commonplace, science is still trying to find a foothold. Detective Inspector Darko Dawson is a modern man. He trusts in science and facts to solve his cases. When he is assigned to Ketanu, a small out of the way community, to aid in the murder investigation of a volunteer AIDS worker, he comes face to face with the very superstitions he disdains.

The Chief Inspector of Ketanu has his eyes set on a particular young man as his suspect, but Darko isn’t convinced. He sets out on his own investigation, determined to solve the murder.

Darko’s mother disappeared after a visit to Ketanu over twenty years before while visiting her sister who lived in the town. Perhaps he can look into her disappearance while there as well. It’s a long shot after so many years, but he at least wants to give it a try.

I have seen this book compared to Alexander McCall Smith’s The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, and I have to disagree. Smith’s series is not much of a crime fiction series at all—and if you go into those books expecting a mystery, you may well be disappointed. With Quartey’s book, on the other hand, a mystery is exactly what you get. It’s also a bit darker in some respects, than Smith’s series.

There was so much I liked about this series, including the various interesting characters, the flashbacks into Darko’s past and the unfolding of the mystery of his mother’s disappearance as well as the murder of that young volunteer. There was a moment early on in the book when I thought one story thread might get lost in other, but fortunately that did not happen.

Another aspect that especially caught my attention was the health department and volunteers like the murdered woman who struggle to reach a population of people who are very entrenched in the old ways. The misinformation and superstitions surrounding AIDS is frightening. Add to that the issue of fetish priests and the practice of families marrying off their teenage daughters to them in hopes of turning around bad luck or getting rid of a curse. Quartey offers both sides of these issues to some extent, but it is clear which side Darko falls on.

Wife of the Gods is a promising start for a new series. There are many characters, including Armah, Darko’s inspiration and mentor, that I hope I can visit again. And I do hope I haven’t seen the last of Elizabeth Mensah. She’s an admirable and strong woman. Kwei Quartey is definitely an author to watch.


Challenge Commitment Fulfilled: ARC Challenge, What's in a Name Challenge, New Authors Challenge & 2009 Pub Challenge

To learn more about the author, Kwei Quartey, and his book, visit his website. Visit TLC Book Tours for a list of Kwei Quartey's tour stops!


Interested in winning a copy of Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey? Here's how you can enter the drawing for a chance to win:

• Leave a comment along with an e-mail address where I can contact you if it is not easily accessible on your blog or profile page.
• To be entered, you MUST answer the following question: Who is one of your favorite fictional detectives?
  
• Open to anyone with a valid mailing address.
  
• Deadline to enter is August 22nd at 11:59 p.m. The winner will be notified by e-mail.

Many thanks to author Kwei Quartey and TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. Review copy provided by LibraryThing's Early Reviewer Program (via the publisher) and giveaway copy provided by the publisher.

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© 2009, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.