Sunday, September 21, 2008

Paranormal Romances

FYI~
I do not 'grade' books I read. I either keep them or trade them or return them. All books are traded or returned unless I specifically say I've kept them.




Ghosts

Bride of the Mist, Christina Skye

The Ruby Ghost; June Calvin Cross referenced in Traditional Regency


Vampire


A Kiss of Midnight; Lara Adrian

A Kiss of Crimson; Lara Adrian

Dark Celebration, Christine Feehan

Dark Demon, Christine Feehan

Fantasy Lover, Sherilyn Kenyon

Night Pleasures, Sherilyn Kenyon

Kiss of the Night, Sherrilyn Kenyon

Night Play, Sherilyn Kenyon

Seize the Night, Sherilyn Kenyon

Master of the Knight, Angela Knight

The Immortal Hunter; Lynsay Sands

Love Bites, Lynsay Sands

Tall, Dark & Hungry; Lynsay Sands

The Companion, Susan Squires more info here

If Angels Burn; Lynn Viehl

Dark Need; Lynn Viehl

Dark Lover, JR Ward

Lover Awakened; J.R. Ward

Lover Eternal, J R Ward



Werecreature


Immortal Warrior; Lisa Hendrix

Dark Side of the Moon, Sherrilyn Kenyon


Wicca

Dangerous Tides, Christine Feehan

Oceans of Fire, Christine Feehan

The Dark Lord, Patricia Simpson



Other Paranormal

Have Glass Slipper Will Travel, Lisa Cach

Atlantis Rising; Alyssa Day

Deadly Game, Christine Feehan Psychic Abilities

Do You Believe? Ann Lawrence Supernatural beings

Master of the Knight, Angela Knight

Heart of the Hunter; Tina St. John Cross indexed in medieval romance

Heart of the Flame; Tina St. John Cross indexed in medieval romance

Fae & Magical Creature Romances

FYI~

I do not 'grade' books I read. I either keep them or trade them or return them. All books are traded unless I specifically say I've kept them.




Listed here are romances in which the primary relationship is between a fae/fairy/magical creature and a human or between two fae. Other titles that have these elements as part of the story are listed separately.


Happily Ever After, Marylyle RogersCross indexed in Historical Romance

Stronger Than Magic; Heather Cullman Cross indexed in Historical Romance

Lord of the Fading Lands; CL Wilson Cross indexed in science Fiction & Fantasy Romance


Fae, etc. as elements of a romance


A Sprinkle of Fairy Dust; Anthology: Bevarly, Crawford, Rogers, Shayne Cross indexed in historical romance

Lavender Blue; Sandra Heath Cross indexed in traditional regency

Marigold's Marriages; Sandra Heath more info
hereCross indexed in traditional regency

Kiss of the Highlander, Karen Marie Moning Cross indexed in Historical Romance & Time Travel

Dark Highlander,Karen Marie Moning Cross indexed in Time Travel

Beyond the Highland Mist, Karen Marie Moning Cross indexed in Historical Romance and Time Travel

Heart of the Sea; Nora Roberts

Jewel of the Sun; Nora Roberts

Tears of the Moon; Nora Roberts

Fairytale/Mythological Romances

FYI~
I do not 'grade' books I read. I either keep them or trade them. All books are traded unless I specifically say I've kept them.




Fairytales

Retelling or reinterpretation of a fairytale

The Fairy Godmother, Mercedes Lackey

Wildwood Dancing, Juliet Marillier 12 Dancing Princesses



Mythology

Directly involves or reinterprets a myth or mythology or legend


Goddess of the Rose; P.C. Cast

Goddess of Spring, P C Cast

To Hell With Love; Sherri Erwin

Fatal Attraction, Alicia Fields

Love Underground, Alicia Fields



Fairytale or Mythological Plot Elements, Setting, etc.


Cupid's Mistake; Karen Harbaugh Cross indexed in traditional regency

Fantasy Lover, Sherilyn Kenyon Cross indexed in Vampires, Werecreatures, etc.

Night Pleasures, Sherilyn Kenyon Cross indexed in Vampires, Werecreatures, etc.

Kiss of the Night, Sherrilyn Kenyon Cross indexed in Vampires, Werecreatures, etc.

Night Play, Sherilyn Kenyon Cross indexed in Vampires, Werecreatures, etc.

Seize the Night, Sherilyn Kenyon Cross indexed in Vampires, Werecreatures, etc.

Master of the Knight, Angela Knight Cross indexed in Vampires, Werecreatures, etc.

Fortune's Fool, Mercedes Lackey

One Good Knight, Mercedes Lackey

Traditional Regencies

FYI~

I do not 'grade' books I read. I either keep them or trade them or return them . All books are traded or returned unless I specifically say I've kept them.




It Happened One Night; Anthology (Balogh, Laurens, D'Alessandro & Hern)

Aunt Dimity and the Duke, Nancy Atherton

Lady Silence, Blair Bancroft

A Noble Resolve, Sara Blayne

Theodora, Sara Blayne

The Devil's Due, Rita Boucher

Her Perfect Earl, Bethany Brooks

The Ruby Ghost; June Calvin Cross indexed in paranormal romance (ghosts)

The Earl's Prize; Nicola Cornick
Lady Scandal, Shannon Donnelly

Under the Kissing Bough, Shannon Donnelly

Love’s Reward, Jean Ross Ewing

Valentine's Change of Heart, Elisabeth Fairchild

A Sister's Quest; JoAnne Ferguson

A Daughter's Destiny; JoAnne Ferguson more info
here

A Singular Lady, Megan Frampton

Cupid's Mistake; Karen Harbaugh Cross indexed in mythological romance

The Scent of Lilacs, Barbara Hazard

Lavender Blue; Sandra Heath Cross indexed in fae romance

Marigold's Marriages; Sandra Heath more info
here Cross indexed in fae romance

Elizabeth's Mistake; Emily Hendrickson

Lord Nick’s Folly, Emily Hendrickson

Pursuing Priscilla, Emily Hendrickson

Drusilla's Downfall, Emily Hendrickson

Miss Timothy Perseveres, Emily Hendrickson

Tabitha's Tangle, Emily Hendrickson

Miss Haycroft's Suitors, Emily Hendrickson

One Good Turn, Carla Kelly

Lord Draggoner's Wife, Lynn Kerstan

A Bird in Hand, Alison Lane

Birds of a Feather, Allison Lane

Devalls Angel, Alison Lane

The Bedeviled Duke; Judith Lansdowne

Just Impossible, Judith Lansdowne

Just Perfect, Judith Lansdowne

Just in Time; Judith Lansdowne

The Mystery Kiss, Judith Lansdowne

Lord Nightengale's Debut, Judith Landsowne

Lord Nightengale’s Triumph, Judith Lansdowne

Four in Hand; Stephanie Laurens

Lady Leprechaun, Melinda McRae

A Christmas Kiss, Elizabeth Mansfield

The Magnificent Masquerade, Elizabeth Mansfield

Winter Wonderland, Elizabeth Mansfield

A Passionate Endeavor, Sophia Nash

Just Say Yes, Myretta Robens

The Last of the Winter Roses, Jeanne Savery

The Perfect Husband, Jeanne Savery

Touched by Time, Leane Shawler

A Rake's Redemption; Donna Simpson

Moonlight and Mischief, Rhonda Woodward

Medieval Romance

FYI~
I do not 'grade' books I read. I either keep them or trade them. All books are traded unless I specifically say I've kept them.



A Knight's Vow; Anthology: Campbell, Kurland, Potter, Simmons

Bewitching, Jill Barnett

Fire Song, Catherine Coulter

Earth Song, C. Coulter

Secret Song, C.Coulter

Warrior's Song, Catherine Coulter

Beauty, Claire Delacroix, more info here


Once A Knight, Christina Dodd

Lord of the Mist; Ann Lawrence

Dark Champion, Kinley MacGregor

Sword of Darkness; Kinley MacGregor

Beyond Temptation, Mary Reed McCall

Heart of the Hunter, Tina St. John Cross indexed in paranormal

Heart of the Flame; Tina St. John Cross indexed in paranormal

The Faery Bride, Lisa Ann Verge

Historical Romance Archive

FYI~
I do not 'grade' books I read. I either keep them or trade them or return them. All books are traded or returned unless I specifically say I've kept them.



Intimate Enemies, Shana Abe

A Sprinkle of Fairy Dust; Anthology: Bevarly, Crawford, Rogers, Shayne Cross indexed in fae romance

Duke of Sin, Adele Ashworth

Under the Mistletoe, Mary Balogh

The Painted Rose, Birdsell

Lord of Scoundrels; Loretta Chase

Bewitched, Heather Cullman

Stronger Than Magic; Heather Cullman Cross indexed in Fae, Fairy & Magical Creatures

A Well Favored Gentleman; Christina Dodd

Wicked; Shannon Drake

An Invitation to Sin; Suzanne Enoch

Sin & Sensibility, Suzanne Enoch

Devil Takes A Bride, Gaelen Foley

Rebellious Desire, Julie Garwood

The Perfect Rake; Anne Gracie

The Perfect Waltz; Anne Gracie

Seducing the Prince; Patricia Grasso

To Love A Princess; Patricia Grasso

The Bride Sale, Candice Hern

The Sinner; Madeline Hunter

Duchess in Love, Eloisa James

Fool in Love, Eloisa James

Much Ado About You, Eloisa James

The Magnificent Rogue, Iris Johansen

The Wind Dancer, Iris Johansen

Veil of the Night, Lydia Joyce

Into the Wind, Katherine Kingsley

No Greater Love; Katherine Kingsley


Dreaming of You, Lisa Kleypas

Stranger in my Arms; Lisa Kleypas

Rebel Passion; Betina Krahn

Devil's Bride, Stephanie Laurens

Four in Hand; Stephanie Laurens

A Lady of His Own, Stephanie Laurens

A Rake's Vow, Stephanie Laurens

The Duel, Barbara Metzger

Beyond the Highland Mist, Karen Marie Moning Cross indexed in Time Travel and Fae Fairies and Magical Creatures

Kiss of the Highlander, Karen Marie Moning Cross referenced in Time Travel and Fae, Fairies &Magical Creatures

To Tame A Highland Warrior, Karen Marie Moning

The Prisoner; Karen Monk

The Secret Diary of Miss Miranda Cheever; Julia Quinn

When He Was Wicked; Julia Quinn

Above All Others, Karen Ranney

Happily Ever After, Marylyle Rogers Cross indexed in Fae Fairy and Magical Creatures

Hidden Honor; Anne Stuart

To Love A Dark Lord, Anne Stuart

Passion; Lisa Valdeza Cross indexed in erotica

Friday, September 19, 2008

Female Solidarity

I came across this article today. Never mind the title. Go and read it and come back. This post is not an attack on Islam or a commentary about the wearing of different types of veils. Click here to see graphics of the different types of veils. Found on BBC News. Basic information about Islam here.

These ladies just touched my heart today. They sound so lonely. Powerless in even the smallest decisions- to wear a veil or to remain uncovered in their own homes, to walk in their neighborhood unaccompanied, the ability to have their legal testimony equal that of a man (it is my understanding that in some countries a woman's testimony is only fractionally weighted as a man's), the right to vote. Not to have to ask permission for the littlest things- lunch out with a friend, to hold a job. Never mind all of the political problems that separate us, women everywhere should have the same access to food, education, power over their own bodies, equal say in familial and intimate relationships.


It sounds like the only full freedom they have is in their thoughts. I understand that the form of Islam in Saudi Arabia is one of the strictest in the world. But what are the differences between what the faith teaches and what are the cultural norms? Obviously, it is easy to conflate Islam and the culture but they are different. There's so much misunderstanding and misinformation between our countries, I fear there won't be peace until we can breach the walls we have built between each other.



Women here in the US have only had the right to vote since 1920 and the right to own property outright, across the country generally speaking, since 1900. Women's suffrage around the world is still relatively young. Western women ought not be so smug, we've traveled a long hard road to win the freedoms we have. What my daughter takes for granted was once unthinkable. We women need to learn to stand together, not pull each other down.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

It's Book Blogger Appreciation Week



This is the inaugural year of Book Blogger Appreciation Week. I found out about it too late to nominate anyone, and then forgot to make a note of it, and thus I've missed the first few days. Looks like Amy's is a place to put on your feed reader or your blogroll or both in order to keep up with the suggestions and ideas.

The People of the Book; Geraldine Brooks


Image found on Warren County (IL) Public Library

Published by Viking this year, The People of the Book was written by Geraldine Brooks who recently won the Pulitzer for her previous book March. I’ve not read March mainly due to uncertainty about if I’d be able to set aside my feelings and opinions about the book his character comes from, ie: he’s the dad in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. After I finished this one, though, I think I may borrow March and see just what Ms. Brooks has done with him. I am very very pleased I picked up TPotB. It’s an engrossing story about obsession and deception and preserving history and family expectations. About lies and truth and motivation.

The plot seems pretty basic on the face of it: a rare five hundred year old manuscript, an illustrated haggadah (the liturgy of the Seder) has turned up in Sarajevo. The United Nations and the local governments have asked a well known, if young, restorationist to come in and make assessments and, possibly, repairs. Interwoven with the contemporary story are vingnettes of the book’s past. The circumstances under which it was made. Who the artist was who painted the illuminations, and why she did them. How it was hidden the first time. The reader watches over Hanna Heath’s shoulders as she painstakingly, lovingly examines the manuscript, makes notes and discusses her findings with her mentors.

The haggadah’s travels range across the Old World from Spain to Vienna to Sarajevo, just as Hanna’s own life has straggled across Australia, the States and Europe in pursuit of knowledge, in pursuit of physical and metaphorical space between her mother and herself. I loved the vignettes of the haggadah’s creation. All of the different characters who play a role in its creation or preservation illuminate the time and place and condition of the people who possess it. The haggadah traces a small slice of European Jews and their tenuous integration in Christian Europe across history. Like many old and valuable objects, the haggadah has always been at the mercy of political ambition, greed power and persons who feel they have moral superiority over others.

Hanna too is at the mercy of these same forces, and it isn’t pretty. Hanna had me puzzled towards the end. Commonly, people’s identity is closely wrapped with their career. Hanna’s no different. She discovers something about the haggadah that literally causes her to question herself, her training, her very identity. Hanna is so shaken by events she leaves her profession. None of her mother’s forceful character and will seems to have transmitted itself to her. Hanna is unable to overcome childhood feelings of neglect and overshadowing to see her mother’s strength. This too is a common problem, nonetheless I wished very hard that Hanna could grow more.

My problem with how Ms. Brooks deals with this is that Hanna is too accepting, too emotionally needy of a companion thus she doesn’t deeply question people intimately involved in the events that led directly to her change of occupation. And I wanted her to. I was shocked that a woman whose life was so profoundly changed by people and events didn’t question them or rail at them when she had a chance. I felt let down in a way. I had come to really like Hanna quite a bit and I hoped for..more inquisitiveness, more questioning of people important to her and to the book. Even if they didn’t/wouldn’t/couldn’t answer her I would have felt better. Essentially Hanna is an historical investigator, but when it comes to real live people her investigating instincts and training are washed away. I don’t need all of the threads to be wrapped up in a neat bow, I simply feel that Ms. Brooks could have fleshed her out more after such a serious and life altering event.

The People of the Book is loosely based on real events surrounding a haggadah found in Sarajevo during the Bosnian war. I found the narrative enjoyable and engrossing if somewhat flawed. Link to brief article about the actual Sarajevo Haggadah. In depth article of actual relic and its recent history here, free registration necessary to read full contents.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

SeducingthePrince; Patricia Grasso

One of my favorite hero types has always been Russian princes and I usually enjoy Ms. Grasso’s books, so I excitedly snatched this one up. It helped that I’d read another one in this group earlier this year. Unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed. Seducing the Prince is a regency published by Zebra in 2005.

I felt Regina Bradford was a modern woman plopped down into a Regency setting. Using familiar nicknames upon introduction into upper society, using a dog to protect herself from her husband’s abuses, she’s a mushroom (merchant’s social climbing offspring) who doesn’t appear to have been taught the etiquette and demeanor expected of upper class women. Which is highly unlikely considering that’s all her father wants for her. Her expectations of how royalty would behave towards her in an extreme circumstance is naive at best. Then there are issues with language and word usage inappropriate for the time and setting. Then there’s the idea that a member of the royal family would marry such a woman. Dally with. Keep as a mistress. Not marry.

I’m very disappointed. As mentioned above I’ve read this author previously and enjoyed her work and I usually enjoy the Russian prince as a hero. Not this time.

Wallbanger.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Pentagon Memorial Dedicated

Pentagon: Sept.11,2001



Pentagon Memorial Sept.11,2008

Images found on Wikimedia


It's my understanding the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial will be open to the public 24 hours a day 7 days a week and is on the Arlington County bike path. At least that's what the newscaster said. We didn't go today. We want to wait until it's a little quieter. Peaceful. Sometime when you can hear the water under the benches. Watch the trees grow. Leaves change.

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

New Link Added

Down the left hand column I've added a new blog Mags Across the Pond. Miss Maggie, as we've always called her, is a lovely young lady currently employed in London. The blog, as you'd surmise will detail the adventures of a transplanted young American spreading her wings. Enjoy!

The Secret Diary of Miss Miranda Cheever; Julia Quinn

Image found on Harper Collins



TSDoMMC was published in 2007 by Avon and written by Julia Quinn. The setting is Regency England, and the plot is the classic childhood friends turn lovers. It has been a long while since I’ve read anything by Ms. Quinn. I stopped somewhere in the middle of the Bridgerton series, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, I think, and I haven’t picked her up since then. I remember I was put off by RMB but that’s all. Overall, though, I remember Ms. Quinn as a light touch with a wonderful sense of humor that rings true to her characters. In this, TSDoMMC also rings true. In other ways things didn’t work out so well, unfortunately.

Miranda Cheever has grown up with Olivia Bevelstoke and her family, the Earl and Countess of Rudland. Miranda’s dad is distant and uninvolved with his daughter which behavior worsens when his wife dies. The Bevelstokes easily and happily step in. Miranda develops a huge, huge crush on Olivia’s older brother, called Turner after his courtesy title (as opposed to his actual name, which is Nigel). Turner’s wife has just died while carrying another man’s child. Their marriage has made Turner fiercely unhappy and disillusioned about relationships and women and he can’t bring himself to mourn his wife at all.

Things progress quite rapidly, I must say. Miranda, while always around during her childhood, isn’t actually related to the Bevelstokes. Turner seems to like his brandy of an evening, and well- the situation moves almost immediately into “OMG What am I going to do now?” Olivia and Miranda plot Miranda’s escape to Scotland, aided by Miranda’s father’s habitual obliviousness to his daughter. Olivia figures out that Turner is responsible and tells him where Miranda went. Turner goes up to Scotland and eventually they marry. They adjourn to his estate where her pregnancy proceeds apace and they settle into a reasonably happy routine. Then fate intervenes in the form of a near death childbirth experience. Only when faced with the possiblity of Miranda’s death does Turner accept that he loves her. It reminded me forcefully of Catherine Marshall’s book Christy, wherein Christy must nearly die before the doctor admits his love and tells her.

My biggest problem is that I never felt the author explained why Turner and Miranda loved each other. On her part it seems the reader must accept that the childhood crush explains it all. For Turner it seems that proximity and close relationships among his family and Miranda are to serve as reason enough for him to love her. That and the fact that Miranda and his dead wife are as different as night and day, which Turner realizes. Second problem- Turner’s affection for several nightly brandies goes totally unremarked by Miranda but raised red flags for me. Third problem. The magical ‘virgin’s only time and now I’m pregnant’ fairy comes by. Ms Quinn has been a writer for a long time, I was more than a little surprised to see that particular plotline show up.

Ms. Quinn’s signature sense of humor does shine through in several episodes. I liked the affection between Miranda and Olivia, and Olivia’s loyalty to her even in what could possibly have been a giant scandal for both families. I was glad that Turner wasn’t the kind of man who paints all women with the same brush as that of his dead wife.

Maybe these things aren’t enough to bother you. I finished TSDoMMC and enjoyed it quite a lot. I found I’ve missed Ms. Quinn’s voice and work. Yes, there were parts that didn’t sit quite right with me, but overall TSDoMMCwas worth the time.

Monday, September 08, 2008

Sunday in DC



Both images found on Wikimedia; image of Ben's Chili Bowl taken by Ben Schumin.



Yesterday was the last day the Afghanistan exhibit was open in the East Building of the National Gallery of Art on the Mall up in DC. We took Metro since we also wanted to try the locally famous Ben's Chili Bowl chili half smokes.

The exhibit was crowded, as one would expect to find on the last day, but it was nice to see all of the kids wandering around with little quiz booklets hunting up answers. The only irritating problem was all of the old folks who need new glasses and a brush up with Miss Manners. It seems that if you have an old grey head you're automatically absolved of all behavior faux pas, including standing directly in front of exhibits less than two inches away from the glass for as long as you damn well please. And heaven forfend anyone might say excuse me. The exhibit moves to San Francisco, then Houston and finally NYC.

The jewelry was delicate and often finely detailed. Set with some local jewels, notably lapis lazuli and carnelian. Some of the hair ornaments? I'd buy replicas. They are unique. You could see the Indian and Chinese influences. I was amazed that such small pieces survived a harsh climate and nomadic life and burial. It makes me sad that the Taliban has been running amok over there destroying the Afghanis cultural artifacts- not to mention the people. These priceless objects have been saved twice at least in recent decades. Once they return, will they remain so?

Ben's was crowded too, but everyone there was on their best behavior despite the huge line, the incredible crowding and the din of 70's disco music that my hubby says was James Brown. We all had a great time, except AQ who ordered the chili instead of her better tolerated grilled cheese. She didn't like the chili all that much, poor thing. She can be finicky. I had an all beef dog & fries- no chili. I've had awful reflux recently & I didn't want to risk it on the long ride back home. Pianist gulped his chili drenched half smoke in record time, prompting Hubby to tell him he could have another one if he was willing to wait in line again. LOL No dice.

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Happy Anniversary!

Yesterday was our twenty first anniversary. Hubby had to work all day and I had a million errands to run, but the evening was all ours. Ours and Tropical Storm Hannah's that is. There was a guy in a top hat and jacket on the dock who had a couple of card tables with various glasses filled with liquid and played a very accurate version of Ode to Joy to huge applause. It was amazing how fast his fingers flew around the rims of the glasses and how accurately they were tuned. The crystal rings quite clearly and carried out over the water easily. I did wonder, though, if he'd end up with blisters on his fingers. ;)

You see, our favorite anniversary tradition is to take a tour boat up the Potomac to the docks in Georgetown and back down to Virginia. We never stay up there. The restaurants are too chichi for my taste and we rarely drink anymore. And the shopping is too expensive. So we always come straight back. Usually we have dinner out somewhere in Old Town. This year was fish and chips-very pedestrian I know, but this place always has fresh caught fish. The fish place was pretty quiet, it was early (just after 6 pm). Thank goodness. It gets really loud in there when its busy.
And ice cream (bananas on the rum from B&J is FAB! BTW) after the cruise.


The cruise was quiet too. The hurricane predictions may have kept the tourists away, although the river was peaceful. It spitted (spat?!) rain steadily the whole time we were out, about an hour and half or so. The sky grew heavier and heavier with clouds as we motored north up the Potomac so we couldn't see the sunset. The steel grey clouds were perfect to watch the planes taking off and landing at the airport. The planes' lights are brighter against the dark clouds, helping you pick them out faster. They fly in and out right over the river, the lights glitter and shine on the water growing and shrinking like shadows across a lawn over the daytime. The new bridge between Maryland and Virginia has white lights strung across the edge, from a distance at night it looks like a pearl necklace flung from one shore to another. There's another bridge between Maryland and DC that has intense sapphire blue lights barely visible as we passed up the left fork. Very noticeable on the dark water.

So as we eat our ice cream we wander up the hill toward the parking deck where we'd left the car and the steady spitting rain gradually grew heavier and heavier. We decided no music this year since the forecasters were calling for high winds and heavy rain and the kids were home alone. Just as we pulled out of the deck the heavens opened and torrents and buckets of water poured down. We finished our little evening out on the river just in time.

BTW, if Maman or Lovely Sister reads this- the beautiful embroidered rose colored dress you altered for me fit perfectly! Thank you!

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Thursday 13#48~ Family Update


Thirteen Things about Bookwormom



The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Thursday 13 originated here. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! Click link in the title above to go to a list of other Thirteeners, compiled by Technorati. If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in the comments. It’s easy and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well. I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things.
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!








1. Anime Queen & Pianist started the new school year Tuesday past.

2. I was amused to discover that higher functioning calculators can be hacked. Kids add games LOL 0__0 and notes. IT smarties (like Pianist & College Student) know how to hide the notes from the teachers even when the teachers take the calculators & ‘clear them’. Kids are feral, I swear. You always have to stay one step ahead.

3. As the kids age, the supply lists get shorter although the dollar value rises. Figures.

4. College Student was here for a flying overnight visit. We needed Pianist’s bike returned from Grandmere’s and the CS needed $$$.

5. Anime Queen’s schedule is messed up. She has two seventh periods and no third. She emailed the necessary folks Thursday last and they expect to see her first thing Tuesday morning.

6. Staying with Anime Queen she will continue to work one evening and one afternoon a week, making sure to leave Friday nights free for football and basketball games and sleepovers.

7. The Pianist has decided to join the robotics team at school this year. Maybe this will bleed off some of his need to hack every single electronic or technology related item he can lay his hands on. Hopefully.

8. I’m thinking about taking a bellydance class late this fall. There’s a group nearby whose instructors are Egyptian & have a good reputation. It’ll be a problem trying to fit it into the transportation grid here at Bookwormom Central, but I’m hopeful.

9. Why is kids never want to cook anything until after you’ve just finished cleaning?

10. Pianist has steady money coming in. He gets paid to iron his father’s shirts. $2 a shirt, which is .30 more than the dry cleaner down the street, but without the noxious fumes. The caveat? If we decide he hasn’t done a good enough job he has to redo it for free, which he thinks is a crock but I didn’t budge. No money for a crappy job, pal. Deal. Anyone who knows me knows I refuse to iron, so he’ll have regular cash money.

11. One of College Student’s golden arches coworkers is a freshie downstate where he attends school. He saw her crossing the parking lot a few days ago.

12. Hubby has returned to school too, with what has to be one of the most burned out humanities professors ever. Gave everyone a huge lecture about being ‘grownups’ now in ‘real school’. This to a weekend class with mostly working and/or older students. Grammar and punctuation count. Don’t ask stupid questions. Blah blah blah. Jeez. Way to get things off on a good foot. He’s already decided he’s gonna let her have it with both barrels on the survey later in the course.
13. Speaking of Hubby , this is his last year. God willing and the creek don’t rise, he’ll graduate next May

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Lord of Scoundrels; Loretta Chase

Image found on Fantastic Fiction

I’ve had this on my shelves for a long time. It sat there and taunted me regularly. I guess I’m a little jaded as a romance reader. Lord of Scoundrels has won quite a few reader polls around the Romanceland blogoshere. And I’m always suspicious of poll winning or award winning books. Plus I buy books and then bury them in my TBR as a matter of course anyway. So between my usual behaviors and my inherent suspicion LoS sat and sat and sat. OK. I admit it. I was wrong. There, are you happy now?

Plot is the usual: bad evil rake meets refreshing young(ish) thing who finally cracks his hardened outer shell and helps him set his inner honorable and loving self free. Set in Paris in 1828. Except that this book is the real deal. It’s easily one of the best historical romances I’ve read in a long time. Lord of Scoundrels is a character study of two individuals despite the fact that both of them are, in fact, common types easliy found in Romanceland everywhere.

Dominick Ballister, Marquess of Dain is a real bad guy who initially really doesn’t care. Due to traumatic experiences in school and a cold, emotionally unavailable father Dain has had to make his own way since early childhood. The difference between intellectual knowledge of emotions and actually experiencing said emotions makes him uncomfortable. Luckily Dain’s surliness and studied nonchalance is matched by Jessica’s charm and wit and determination.

Miss Jessica Trent has been summoned to Paris, by the servants no less, to rescue her brainless brother from himself. Again. It appears she's inherited all of the common sense in the family. Between her personality, having to cope with Brainless Brother, her age (an on the shelf spinster at 27) and an innate ability to see through Dain's facade ensures she isn't put off by Dain's antics as others of her class have been. Jess is observant, funny and calm and isn't easily discomposed by Dain's attitude or initial behavior.

Their adventures range across Paris to London to Dartmoor involving exorcising the past, learning monumental patience, and becoming responsible for a freer future for yourself and your family.


The hilarious and sharp tongued Mrs. Giggles gave this a 99! Keeper. One of the best.

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

This Charming Man; Marian Keyes

Image found on Har per Collins

This Charming Man is a new release, published this year by William Morrow. Ms. Keyes is a well known UK based author who has a large backlist. I will say up front that TCM turned out to be a DNF for me. Between the cover image, the description on the flap and the content, I felt very mislead. Both cover and flap portrayed an upbeat positive story about women overcoming adversity, but I came away feeling outraged and sad and depressed. I’m very disappointed as this would have been my first Marian Keyes title. Leaving it unfinished left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm fully aware that both chick lit and women's fiction deal with serious topics and I'm not averse to reading them. I simply prefer not to be blindsided. When I'm looking forward to light & frothy that's what I want. I don't want a sneak attack, so to speak.

Honestly, I expected it to be about bonding and finding the strength to overcome hardship. Between my perception, right or wrong, that Ms. Keyes’ works were more along the lines of lighter chick lit or women’s fiction and the bright yellow (which equals cheerful in my mind) cover I thought the tone and treatment would be lighter. So I was unprepared for the abuse recovery issues the book is built around. Very unprepared. Physical abuse and the recovery from it isn’t a theme I would pick up on a whim. Bonding and overcoming obstacles? Certainly. The book was faced out on the new title shelf and I was drawn in by the cheerful cover and Ms. Keyes’ good reputation. I read the flap, which drops vague hints, but reading it, I felt deceived.

The story is written about several women whose lives have been profoundly affected by a well known Irish politician who has what Americans might call a ‘good old boy’ reputation.Yet this is a man who thinks nothing of manipulating, shaming, humiliating, raping and, yes, physically abusing the women who have the misfortune to become involved with him. That so many women have been sucked in by his false front is sad and threatening. That these women suffer from post traumatic stress disorders and abuse alcohol among other problems won’t surprise anyone. Ms. Keyes’ point that abuse knows no social, class, religious, political or economic boundaries is taken.

I had one or two other problems, but comparatively speaking they were minor and ordinarily probably wouldn’t have prevented me from finishing This Charming Man. I felt the prose was stilted because I missed articles such as ‘the’ and ‘a’ and ‘that’. I'm aware that grammar and word usage is different in British English, but this is the first time reading such a book I felt the prose was stilted. Even though one of the women is written as a fashion stylist, the constant brand dropping annoyed me. The other problem is that the last Irish set novel I read, Cecelia Ahern’s P.S. I Love You, also had a serious theme (grief, loss and moving on) and felt heavy in parts. I wanted something light and upbeat this time.

So, it was high summer when I tried to read this. Warm and sunny and happy. The book didn’t match my mood or outlook or what I was in a mind to read. It has little or nothing to do with Ms. Keyes. In the future I will do more research before buying or borrowing a Marian Keyes novel.

Monday, September 01, 2008

August Synopsis

As mentioned in the July synopsis, I'm a month behind on my reading reviews. :( I plan to keep slogging ahead and eventually I'll catch up. Hopefully. As it is, at least I'm making progress towards my annual reading goal. The tortoise won, right?? These are listed in no particular order.




1. People of the Book, Geraldine Brooks

2. Miss Perfect, Loretta Chase

3. The Sinner, Madeline Hunter

4. Heart of the Hunter, Tina St. John

5. Heart of the Flame, Tina St. John

6. Atlantis Rising, Alyssa Day

7. Where’s My Hero; Quinn, Kleypas, MacGregor

8. The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever, Julia Quinn

9. Sins of the Night, Sherrilynn Kenyon

10. Passion, Lisa Valdez



DNFs and/or Wallbangers

1.Seducing the Prince, Patricia Grasso

2. Cherished, Elizabeth Thornton

3. To Hell With Love~ Sherri Erwin

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Irish Trilogy (Gallagher Family); Nora Roberts

All images found on Fantastic Fiction

Jewels of the Sun

Written by Nora Roberts and published by Jove in 1999, Jewels of the Sun is the first of Ms. Roberts’ trilogy about the Irish Gallagher family. This is only my second foray (after more than an eight year hiatus) into Ms. Roberts’ body of work. What I came away with is an appreciation for Ms. Roberts’ insight into how individual members are meshed into a unit bringing strengths and weaknesses and needs and love. Each novel in the trilogy stands alone and can be read singly, although the strength of the family bond won’t be so apparent.

Jude Murray is one of those women who has drifted through much of her life on the currents of what others wanted for her, what she thought others expected of her. Finally Fate intervenes and Jude travels to Ireland for some breathing room. There, in a stereotypical quaint Irish village, Jude meets the Gallaghers. The three Gallagher siblings run the local pub and are trying to build its reputation as a destination for authentic traditional Irish music. And so the dance begins. Aidan Gallagher and Jude Murray with music provided by a local myth revolving around a fairy prince named Carrick and a local girl named Gwen.

Deftly done, yet while I appreciated the familial relationships and Jude’s character, I didn’t really get hooked into the relationship building. Aidan is indeed yummy, and Jude needs to come out from behind the clouds, but together they just didn’t click.



Tears of the Moon

Second in the Gallagher family trio, this one revolves around childhood pals Shawn Gallagher and Mary Brenna O’Toole. It’s one of my favorite plotlines, TBH, the opening of one’s eyes to the truth that your childhood pal is actually the love of your life. My attention was grabbed from the start because Shawn’s the one who has to do the wooing and strategizing. Complications get thrown in by Mary Brenna’s younger sister’s hormonally driven meddling, and by Carrick and Gwen’s interference. I must say that by the end I wished that I too could meet an Irishman who sings beautifully and is more than happy to cook and sing at the drop of a hat.

Unlike the first book, the relationship in Tears of the Moon caught and held my attention from the first. In the previous book, each person had become real to me, so that in this book I enjoyed looking at them from a new perspective. I must say I found Mary Brenna’s idea that you could make a childhood pal into a “friend with benefits” without repercussions laughter inducing, and yet, coming from her it was somehow believable that she would think she could do this.

For me that’s the magic of this book: each person is unique and authentic and realistically captured and the eventual evolution of their relationship feels natural and satisfying.



Heart of the Sea

Featuring the final Gallagher sibling, Darcy, and an American developer named Trevor Magee, this book turned out to be the most problematical for me. The Gallaghers have decided to ask the American to become business partners and open a performance space conjoined with the pub. Trevor and Darcy spark right from the start. He has money and connections, which Darcy always claimed she wanted in a man. To her credit, once she has a man who actually has these things Darcy reevaluates her position.

My problems are mostly with Trevor, secondarily with Darcy. At first Trevor and Darcy are simply satisfying their mutual lust. Then he discovers she can sing and his attitude changes slightly to lust with a helping of potential business relationship. My biggest hangup with Trevor is that Ms. Roberts never quite convinced me he loved Darcy just for herself. I never felt like I watched him fall in love with her for herself. I felt that it took too long to figure himself out and then it was too neatly done. IMO, Darcy caves in the end. I was mad. I wanted her to make him cringe and crawl a little bit more. I needed Darcy to make Trevor grovel. Oddly, I also felt that Trevor was pressured too much by Carrick who was very desirous of finally achieving his goal after a disastrous temper tantrum centuries ago.

So- overall, the Gallaghers were a success. Like all multi book sets, and indeed most anthologies, each book had individual strengths and weaknesses. The second one worked best for me, but Ms. Roberts is certainly deserving of the legions of fans who consistently place her at the top of the bestseller lists. All of the books were well done, including the one that turned out to be *meh* 'take it or leave it' and the one that I had some problems with. These are the first three books by Nora Roberts I've read in over eight or ten years. I think my library list will be growing.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Five Quarters of the Orange; Joanne Harris


I’ve had this book for years, I probably bought it new, but it sat and sat. Until one day I finally pulled it down and read the first few pages and *wham!* I was hooked. Just like that. Often a book will have to wait patiently, very patiently, after it comes to live on my shelves until I pull it out to read it. As the song says, I have to be in the mood again. Otherwise, either I won’t finish it or it’ll be a wallbanger or I’ll pick it apart. Or I’ll trade it or give it as a gift without actually reading it. But- if I’m in the mood? At least it’ll have a fair shake, so to speak.

Anyhow, Ms. Harris has written quite a few other books, Chocolat perhaps most notably. While reading Five Quarters I was reminded somehow of Like Water for Chocolate, written by Laura Esquivel. In different ways each author emphasizes centrality of food and family, the lasting effects one event can have. Both novels are powerful. Ms. Harris’ character does not triumph until much later in her life, but I ought to save that for later, I suppose.

Five Quarters is narrated by a sixty something year old woman named Boise, Framboise properly. That was one of Ms. Harris’ unique touches, most of the narrator’s family members are named (in French) after foods. The one sibling who isn’t? Comes to a tragic end. I am getting ahead of myself though. The narrative moves back and forth between Boise’s present and one year, during World War II, that is the pivot of all their lives. Framboise, her sister and their brother live with their widowed mother on a little farm in rural France. Money is tight; they do whatever they can to make ends meet. Right from the start their mother is harsh, cold, rarely allowing finer feelings to surface. Then again, if I had no money, three kids and a farm to run I don’t know that I’d be able to show softer feelings either, TBH. Still, their mother is hard on them and appears to have more than a small touch of what is now called obsessive compulsive disorder.

In the present day Framboise has returned under cover to the farm, using her married surname only. She is a secretive woman. Like her mother, she shows few of her feelings: coldness, irritation, anger. You realize that she would be a difficult woman to live with, a difficult woman to love. Prickly and defensive, Boise is a woman who is more likely to wound you first to save herself from you wounding her. The best defense is a good offense. The question is: what happened to make her this way? What happened to the little family that Framboise has snuck back to the farm incognito decades later? Why after all of these years is she still hiding?

I talked out loud to myself while I read this- not a common occurrence for me. “O.M.G.” “You’re kidding!” “Wow. That explains a lot!” And, last but not least, “Boy, I didn’t see that one coming!” Because Boise was a kid during the flashbacks, you only have as much information as a kid could expect to have or reasonably expect a kid to figure out. And Boise, while smart and tough and resourceful, is still only a kid.

Five Quarters of the Orange is a wrenching, powerful read. Ultimately, it’s about personal growth and love and making peace with the past. A wonderful, wonderful book. Keeper.

Image found on Harper Collins

Saturday, August 23, 2008

To Hell with Love; Sherri Erwin


Like her voice, like the premise. Like mythology based romances. Skimmed through a lot of it, unfortunately. The plot goes like this: lonely interior designer wants to have a baby, but she’s single; Hades (Owen Glendower) is lonely too and he’s stuck in the Underworld with the shades & various others unsuitable for friends with benefits type relationships. The minions find the designer, set the stage & voila.

Spoilers ahead





Problem number one: Hades comes off as selfish, cold, unfeeling & out of touch with how humans operate on an emotional level. A user. I know, I know- not all that unusual for heroes in Romanceland (or real life for that matter). The God of the Underworld spends millennia with human beings, this characterization is unbelievable to me. Owen is portrayed as caring about the children in the Underworld, yet his feelings for Kate aren’t fleshed out. Also- Kate's desperation to have a child is offputting. Very.

Problem number two: Owen gives her an ultimatum about their future in the middle of a huge family crisis. This circles back in with number one, but also shows that her love is unrequited & his motivation is lust alone. It’s about forcing her to choose him- power. Not love.

Problem three: the hospital scenes don’t ring true in terms of actual medical practice or in terms of emotional truth. My hubby’s a CCU nurse, so my reactions to the hospital scenes may not be those of an ordinary reader. I was already having serious issues with the book by now, but the hospital parts dropped me right out of the story.

Problem four: Owen and Kate don’t end up together. Literally. Hades is in the Underworld and Kate and their child are alive on earth. Problem four is the biggest one for me. As far as I’m concerned the entire premise of a romance is that the central couple will be together at the end. Maybe not married. Committed. Deeply in love. Able to work on their relationship because they're together. Owen reigning in the Underworld watching Kate and his child on earth while Kate raises the child without him? Doesn’t fit in any way fit my definition of an HEA. Actually, Owen bargains with Zeus without Kate’s knowledge, a huge deal breaker for me, then leaves her to raise the baby she so desperately wanted. See also problems one and two.

Wallbanger. DNF.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Ladies of Liberty; Cokie Roberts


Written by the inimitable Cokie Roberts, Ladies of Liberty was published this year by William Morrow. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not to be missed. Factual and backed up by extensive primary sources,the ladies' own words via letters, journals and diaries, Ladies of Liberty feels informative and upbeat while giving readers a sense that you are hearing the truth behind the scenes played out by prominent politicians of the era. Ms. Roberts has a deft, light touch and the book is engrossing. It's relatively quick to read; although I went back and reread it when I had undisturbed time so I could better absorb what happened.

Ms. Roberts mentions early on that (and I’m paraphrasing here) while the men upon the political stage may have edited their words for posterity, i.e.: assuming someone would collect and read their words later, the women wrote to each other about the difficulties of traveling back and forth between the capitol and their home states, the heartache of leaving children behind when necessary, the gowns and jewels and entertainments that, even to this day, grease the wheels of politics. The ladies wrote of patronage ‘gifts’, the lack of adequate shopping in the scantily settled outback of Washington DC, they ranted about how the press was biased and similar issues. All of this benefits us with a fuller picture of how events unfolded, a more authentic, less posed image of what transpired in the early days of our country.

Ladies of Liberty takes place between 1797 and 1825, the terms of Presidents John Adams, Thomas Jefferson (twice), James Madison (twice), and cumulating with President James Monroe. The events of the day are matched with correspondence by relevant ladies: their wives, their daughters and well known hostesses of the day. Women who had strong opinions and some influence. These are not your stereotypical wilting wallflowers, preoccupied with feminine fripperies and child rearing. Oh no. Even the quieter ladies, the ones overshadowed by other prominent women or those whose male relatives try to stifle or try to ignore them, they too are shown to be influential and having a deft hand juggling familial obligations and political aspirations.

My eyes were opened significantly specifically in reference to President Thomas Jefferson and the role his daughters played in his life, as well as Sally Hemmings’ connection to Jefferson’s deceased wife. Previous to reading this book I often thought Jefferson’s role in shaping early American politics was painted in too rosy a light, but even so after finishing his sections I was more than a little astonished at my negative reactions to his attitudes and actions towards the women in his life. I’m not an especially deep scholar of American history and I was surprised by some of the things I learned.

Aaron Burr (and his daughter) was also given dimension and depth. Offspring used as political pawns is nothing new, I realize, but the extent to which some parents are willing to use their children and in laws to further their own purposes fascinated me. Alexander Hamilton’s widow was left penniless with a houseful of (10!!)children. Thus an activist and an advocate was made and Ms. Roberts details how ladies’ societies came into being, how they slowly became a source of power and influence for positive social change. President John Adams' wife Abigail was opinionated and, IMO, more than a little overbearing and tended to be meddlesome in the life of her son John Quincy and his wife. I doubt I'd like her as a MIL, TBH.

Excellent reading, highly recommended especially for those who don’t especially like history or those who slept through class. The book assumes a certain level of familiarity with early American history, to best appreciate Ladies of Liberty, a quick brush up might be in order. A quick zoom through an online timeline of the relevant historical period will help, but may not be strictly necessary.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Thursday 13 #47- Bumperstickers #4


Thirteen Things about Bookwormom



The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Thursday 13 originated here. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! Click link in the title above to go to a list of other Thirteeners, compiled by Technorati. If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in the comments. It’s easy and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well. I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things.
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!




Part I is HERE. Then there's Part II and also Part III. Seen while I’ve been out and around lately

1.I had a life, but my job ate it

2.Born ok the 1st time

3.If you aren’t completely appalled you haven’t been paying attention

4.Caution: Blonde thinking

5.And your point is..?

6.I will honor those who honor me

7.Fight Prime time read a book

8.It is not our differences that separate us, it is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences

9.The last time we mixed politics and religion we burned people at the stake

10.Consciousness: that confusing time between naps

11.I brake for saucy wenches

12.Books not bombs

13.Women won’t admit their age, men won’t act theirs

New Post up

Over at Access Romance.com. If the romance genre were to have a library all to itself, dedicated solely to romances, which authors and which titles would be included? If you have ideas or comments please go on over & chat.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Weekend Events

Busy busy busy weekend. The hubby is off, the Anime Queen is visiting with her Gma & Gpa & assorted others for a week or so. Pianist is off to the beach with the other Gma & Gpa & assorted others. College Student is settling back in at Gma & Gpa's and has his sights set on the start of another semester at school. His wheels are at the shop being fixed and he's bought some of the books he needs.

Hubby and I are alumni of College Student's school. They've just completed renovations and major additions to the campus that will enlarge and diversify the studant body, so we wandered around ooohing and aaaahing and reminiscing. It was fun. I hope that the improvements will bring the school a brighter future and help them nurture the dreams and ambitions of generations of future students.

Unfortunately the town closest to the school isn't doing so well and its struggles are reflected in decrepit storefronts and overgrown homes easily seen from the road. When we attended school here the town thrived and bustled and hummed with activity. It's sad to see it now, honestly. I guess it's like watching a loved one go from healthy to gravely ill and no matter what you do, it won't be enough.
Fortunately, College Student and the assorted grandparents live two towns over in a bustling little burg, so the opportunities for jobs and shopping and nightlife.


We're still down here visitiing and catching up with the family news and letting Gmas cook for us (YUM!). On the book front, I bought a copy of Orhan Pamuk's My Name is Red for the Read the Nobels project I just joined. Image found on Tulumba.com.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Thursday 13 #46- Beijing Olympics


Thirteen Things about Bookwormom



The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Thursday 13 originated here. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! Click link in the title above to go to a list of other Thirteeners, compiled by Technorati. If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in the comments. It’s easy and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well. I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things.
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!





1. All of the empty seats in the arenas make me sad, no matter the reason. Olympians have worked so hard the seats ought to be full to capacity.

2. The perpetual smog is awful. I wonder how many Beijing residents have respiratory diseases?

3. Whatever version of the national anthem they're using, I wish we could use it over here. It's much nicer than what we normally hear.

4. Am I the only one to find the "Michael Phelps 24-7" channel annoying? Or perhaps I'm the only suspicious one who wonders if he's really clean. Then again, I do watch a lot of professional cycling, which everyone knows is full of doping. Regardless. Phelps' contribution to Olympic history is substantial, but for heaven's sake there are so many other athletes there, lets hear about them too!!

5. The airline commercial of the ocean animal orchestra is beautiful. The flying fish leaping out of the water in time to the music just brings it all together for me. The McDonald's commercial with the gloating little kids? Showcases all that is wrong with a society who allows kids to behave like that.

6. As my Lovely Sister pointed out, the ladies who bring the athletes to the podium wear beautiful floor length cheong sam. The floor length white dresses with blue appliques along the edges.

7. The U.S. gymnastics comments about Beijing falsifying birth dates and purposefully delaying scoring to favor their athletes sounds like childish whining over spilt milk, not to mention salacious. The US ladies did the best they could, don't belittle their efforts by griping and complaining.

8. According to the Washington Post the US 'hospitality house' is Beijing is anything but. You may need to register to see the article (free). Supposedly the U.S. house is only for VIPs and moneyed businessmen. In order to drum up business and contacts one presumes. Our reputation overseas is already so bad, the delegation could have shared good will and hospitality and friendliness by inviting regular folks in for a good time. Unfortunately our bad international reputation is being reinforced. Again.

9. The Belgium- US women's beach volleyball match was excellent. The Belgians gave as good as they got for the first set. It was fun to watch.

10. Enjoyed the dressage and the all too brief snatch of fencing and water polo. Watching it all on the 'puter just isn't the same. Then again, I'm likely to be older than the demographic they're aiming for.

11. Love the Cube architecture. You can see the 'bubbles' inside and out all the time. Fun and funky and apropos.

12. I read somewhere that during the ancient Olympics, the athletes were nude. Can I just say, that might make them more interesting to watch. Especially now that both men and women can participate. LOL ;)

13. The interview with the artist who designed the mascots and the "dancing/running Beijing" symbol? Was great. I love that the Chinese government chose a former dissident who had been jailed, but whose work is now seen as representative of China and Chinese culture all around the world.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Joining Up

I guess I don't have enough to read. Maybe it's simply that I'm getting bored and burned out with the genres I've always been loyal to. Maybe I feel like I need to tune up my little grey cells a bit, take your pick. Whichever reason you choose, I've decided to join the Read the Nobels blog. Nobel lauretes information here.I found them via Marg on Reading Adventures almost two weeks ago. I may also join the Pulitzer List as well, I've not decided.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

6 Month Stats/MidYear Synopsis

The linked list below runs from January 2008 through the end of June 2008. The list doesn't include four titles I read over the winter but neither listed nor reviewed but only mentioned in passing. I won't count them in my totals. I’m feeling hopelessly inadequate. :{

I checked my midyear stats for the other two years I’ve done them. End of June’07 46 books. End of June ’06 67.

This year is a scant 37. How pathetic can you get ?!

I checked the archives and in the January '08 posts I discovered I didn't post a reading goal for this year or an annual summary for 2007. Or, if I did, it's buried in a post and wasn't tagged. After a few minutes hunting and totting, I finished 64 books last year. In January 2007 I totted up 104 books read in 2006.

So, the goal this year is to, at a bare minimum, read more than last year (65+). Preferably I'd like to meet or exceed 2006's 104 books read. Not likely to happen, but it's always nice to shoot for the stars and land on the moon.

1. The Snow White Bride by Claire Delacroix Not reviewed

2. A Splendid Indescretion by Elizabeth Mansfield Not reviewed


3. Love Me Forever by Donna Fletcher Not reviewed


4. When I Fall in Love by Lynn Kurland Not reviewed


5. Love Came Just in Time by Lynn Kurland Not reviewed


6. A Well Favored Gentleman; Christina Dodd

7. Stronger Than Magic; Heather Cullman

8. Goddess of the Rose, P.C. Cast

9. Wicked, Shannon Drake

10. Even Vampires Get the Blues, Katie Mac Alister


11. A Lady of his Own, Stephanie Laurens

12. Much Ado about You, Eloisa James

13. Sword of Shame, Medieval Murderers

14. A Rose for the Crown, Anne Easter Smith

15. A Perfect Rake; Anne Gracie

16. Tangled Webs, Anne Bishop

17.The Invisible Ring, Anne Bishop

18. Perfect Waltz, Anne Gracie

19. Kiss of Midnight, Lara Adrian

20. A Kiss of Crimson; Lara Adrian

21. The Queen in Winter; Kurland, Delacroix,
Shinn & Monette


22. Dragon's Kin; Anne & Todd McCaffrey

23. The Duel; Barbara Metzger

24. An Invitation to Sin; Suzanne Enoch

25. To Love A Princess; Patricia Grasso

26. Just in Time; Judith Lansdowne

27. Kushiel’s Mercy; Jacqueline Carey

28. Mystic and Rider; Sharon Shinn

29. The Thirteenth House; Sharon Shinn

30. Dark Moon Defender; Sharon Shinn

31. Reader and Raelynx; Sharon Shinn

32. Wrapt in Crystal; Sharon Shinn

33. Summers at Castle Auburn; Sharon Shinn

34. Force of Nature; Suzanne Brockmann

35. All Through the Night; Suzanne
Brockmann


36. Just Perfect; Judith Lansdowne

37. Just Impossible; Judith Lansdowne



Total Books Read~
Chick Lit-
Diet-
Fantasies-10
Historical Fiction- 1
Historical Mysteries- 1
Horror-
Humor-
Literature-
Science Fiction-
Thrillers-

Romances
Contemporary Suspense-2
Medieval-2
Mythology- 1
Fairytale-
Fantasy Anthology- 1
Time Travel- 2
Traditional Regencies- 1
Historical (Incl. long format Regencies)- 11
Paranormal- Vampire- 3
Paranormal- Faery- 1
Paranormal- Mythological Being- 1

YA Paranormal/fantasy-
YA romance-

DNF~

Contemporary Romance- 1

Monday, August 11, 2008

July Synopsis

I’m late with this, in addition to the fact that none of them have been reviewed, but here’s the list nonetheless. Currently the plan is to write up the "Noras" in a group and the remainder individually. Listed in no particular order.

1.Jewels of the Sun, Nora Roberts
2.Tears of the Moon, Nora Roberts
3.Heart of the Sea, Nora Roberts
4.Lord of Scoundrels, Loretta Chase
5.Five Quarters of the Orange, Joanne Harris
6.Ladies of Liberty, Cokie Roberts


DNF

This Charming Man, Marian Keyes

Edited to add:
7.Komarr; Lois McMaster Bujold
8.A Civil campaign, Lois McMaster Bujold
9.Diplomatic Immunity, Lois McMaster Bujold

BBubbly
OOrganic
OOverwhelming
KKinky
WWild
OOld
RRelaxed
MMystical
OOutrageous
MMisunderstood

Name / Username:


Name Acronym Generator
From Go-Quiz.com

Found first on Midwifemuse, link on sidebar.

Friday, August 08, 2008

Olympic fever

Am totally mesmerized by the sheer splendor and beauty of the opening ceremonies. I thought the Greeks would be hard to outdo, but the Chinese aesthetics are awe inspiring. Politics and environmental issues aside for the duration of the Games.

Go here for beautiful photos! Or here.

Thursday, August 07, 2008

Thursday 13 #45- Miscellaneous items on today's to do list


Thirteen Things about Bookwormom



The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Thursday 13 originated here. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! Click link in the title above to go to a list of other Thirteeners, compiled by Technorati. If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in the comments. It’s easy and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well. I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things.
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!



This week is a last minute list of some of the various things I managed to accomplish today.

1. Scrubbed out the bathroom

2. Good thing I did because the painter came by today to put the first coat over the primer.

3. Sorted through two of the bookcases. I now have enough shelf space so that everything stands upright. No extra piles on top or in front of books.

4. Also sorted through my keepers and decided some of them have to go too. Especially if I can't remember reading them or why I wanted to keep them in the first place.

5. Surfed the 'net looking for lists of who's been named to the Olympic road cycling teams in many of the European countries. Somehow I expected there to be a nice convenient list someone else would be kind enough to post. Uh yesh- I went back looking for the legs photo for #7 & the LIST is here.

6. Then again, I was sidetracked looking at photos of cyclists and China on Velo News.

7. Um. Gerald Ciolek's legs are YUMMY. Just sayin'. Thought the photo was on Velo News, but now I can't find it.

8. Beijing appears to be quite smoggy and the air pollution seems intractable.

9. I read somewhere that the Chinese gov't shut factories down for weeks to improve air quality. As much as I applaud their efforts, a gov't that can do that in the first place and be obeyed? Frightens me.

10. Washed dried and folded three loads of laundry.

11. Made dinner.

12. Picked Anime Queen from the Golden Arches.

13. Finally remembered that today is Thursday and I need to put up a post!! It was only 11:40 pm. I refuse to admit I might be disorganized or a procrastinator.

Monday, August 04, 2008

Dreams;
Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.



Found on Poets.org

Friday, August 01, 2008

Cause to Celebrate

The repairs to the bathroom and kitchen floor are done!! YAY!!

But- my allergies are here full force. Good thing Pianist isn't here, he'd be miserable. Oy, the dust and dirt and mold spores (from the damp wood under the linoleum) floating around in the house. I changed the AC air filter. It was caked with dustbunny fuzz and dirt. Uck. I cleaned everything as best I could with warm soapy water and a few drops of bleach to kill the spores, but it'll still take several days to settle out. Then I'll have to clean up all over again. :(

The guys were pretty thorough, I think. I'm no professional, but it's a damn sight better than the standard repair crew the landlord sends over here. This crew says most of our issues stem from neglected plumbing repairs. I already knew that, as I've put in several requests but they won't send plumbers. Only the maintenance men who steal my flowers and are barely literate. So heaven only knows how long these repairs will last. I'll enjoy them for now though.