Happy New Year... and resolution/plans

It's been a busy Christmas break... not that I've done anything substantial, but this is what I feel like.  I've been very good this year and not joined any challenges, except the Reading off my Shelves.  I have one library book left to read and then I'm hiding my card, or maybe I'll just put it in a safe place and as usual forget where that is.  So needless to say I will not be getting anything, well maybe one, books in the mail.  SO no Mailbox MONDAY.  And I vow to keep better records of what I'm reading.  I've lost track of the books I read in 2014.  I'm not really good on the Good reads website, so it's a little more word processing with a pencil.  Rest more. Read more.


One other resolution that I'd like to make is to use my camera a little more, and figure out how to use more of the features.  My photo course was not so good.  The purpose of my taking it was to better get reference photos for my drawing/painting.  That was a limited sucess, and I'm just too tired at night to do another class.  Rest more. Paint more.

I don't plan on purging... my kids can do that when they put me in a home. I like my junk. I would like to organize it, so I can more enjoy it.  Rest more, read more, paint more, scrap more.

And  I'd like to revisit my bookbinding.  I really enjoy that skill and now with pinterest... the ideas some people have, are incredible.  Rest more, read more, paint more, scrap more, bind more books.

So that for today is what the plan for the upcoming year.  Not too many outrageous plans, but I do wish there were another day in the week. 

What are you reading... Norwegian by Night is still in my book bag, and the library book is All The Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr.

Sunday Salon...A Change of Climate

Sunday Salon finds me frustrated.  My lap top has had issues, so I'm forced to wait till one of the guys is not using their computers to do "anything" .  My husband has some weird program on that keeps asking me if I'm him.  Way too much security, wait till he sees I've "fixed that".  It's been an unusual week, other than I'm still waiting for workmen to get to me and do things they have been paid for.  I told my husband that it was his job to wait, but then again I can't exactly have him staying home from work to wait.  So it's me... that means I'll be missing my watercolour workshop tomorrow.  DANG! The inside job is very SLOW! and there are no inside fairies at work.  A dear friend is not doing well, and I suspect she'll give up.  SAD, all around story.  Why do some people just have it so hard? 

The rest of the week I imagine will be a bit of this and a bit of that.  It is suppose to cool down, so I'm hoping to use "pesticides" on my lillies, imagine a bug eating my beautiful lillies, one day they were there and then they weren't. 

I try really hard not to use pesticides, but this did it, between the red spider bite, and no I'm not radioactive, but I still have a hard unhealed spot in the area where I was bitten, so pesticides it is.  We here in the GTA are not permitted to use harsh chemicals so I'm not sure what I bought will be very effective, but dish liquid just didn't do it.

On the reading front,  I finished Change of Climate, Hilary Mantel,  a good story, which I enjoyed reading, even if it left me very sad.  I can't remember who reviewed it, but thank you for suggesting it.  It was well worth the trip to the library. 
from amazon.ca

Ralph and Anna Eldred are an exemplary couple, devoting themselves to doing good. Thirty years ago as missionaries in Africa, the worst that could happen did. Shattered by their encounter with inexplicable evil, they returned to England, never to speak of it again. But when Ralph falls into an affair, Anna finds no forgiveness in her heart, and thirty years of repressed rage and grief explode, destroying not only a marriage but also their love, their faith, and everything they thought they were.

My young niece is a missionary, and we worry. 

up next,  The Wives of Los Alamos, Tarashea Nesbit.  I'm not quite half way through, but so far all I can say is "we've come a long way baby..." or have we?

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Sunday Salon...Tell the Wolves I'm Home...

I just finished this book.  WOW! it's definitely going on the list for the top ten reads of the year.

 description from Amazon.ca
 1987. There’s only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that’s her uncle, the renowned painter Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her older sister, June can only be herself in Finn’s company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies, far too young, of a mysterious illness her mother can barely speak about, June’s world is turned upside down. But Finn’s death brings a surprise acquaintance into June’s life—someone who will help her to heal, and to question what she thinks she knows about Finn, her family, and even her own heart.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even though it took me way too long to finish it.  I laughed and cried, not necessarily at the same time.  I have Nise to thank for suggesting this wonderful read, Russian Teapot and all...

 Sunday Salon finds me in a reflective mood, if only because, my body is aching from gardening, and the usual household tasks.  I don't normally do gardening or any real gardening until July 1st.  Canada Day.  Historically it's been the first opportunity I've had to get at it, consequently I had planted perennials to show their blooms before then, making it look like I've been slaving away, when in fact I've been busy elsewhere.  But, the weeds didn't get the memo.  So Saturday is a good day to begin the weedin'.And what a lot of weeds have survived this harsh winter.  the plants not so much.  I've lost all my water lilies, and couple of roses and the evergreens look tired.  I managed to clear off the patio weeds, and only dropped one stone on one finger, I won't be flipping anyone off for awhile, it hurts too much.  Today it's on to the rose garden, what's left of it.  Apparently my nursery is open on Canada Day so I'll be heading out to get a few things.  I do have to say that about 5 minutes into the weedin' a red spider bit me, and it hurt like the dickens,  I though I might be radioactive and you could call me Spider Woman, even today it's still a hard spot.  After our major house improvement, (which has only just begun with the roof replacement) I think I may call someone to level my patio, I've already paid Dan for this job, but it's taking too long to get it finished.  NEVER HIRE A RELATIVE.  I'd like to get rid of the ugly pavers and put in some flat field stone,  more my style, it would also blend in quite nicely with the pond surround.  But for today... Let get those weeds out,  I may even crash and read a bit.  

What's in a Name... After Her

I've just finished reading this thriller.  A GOOD one.   While the product description will give you the particulars of this book, I truly enjoyed the story line for the relationships in the seemingly "disfunctional" family.  I'm not sure it was disfunctional, just different.  I would have a hard time believing that children are so unattended but, they must have been.  The mother in this story is almost not, yet the father, who is really a deadbeat dad is the hero.  I would have thought that with all the murders happening in the area, something more significant would have happened, but then again, this is fiction.  Having lived for a very long time with a police officer, I understand the "not home"ness of the dad, they just aren't there, or at least ours wasn't.  Things do consume them, even after they retire.  It's not like Blue Bloods at all, they are hardly ever at the table together,  I want to know how they all get the time off together, and I don't believe they get called to go either, you work your shift, and overtime.  But, I suspect if the truth were told it would make for a boring program.  I love Tom Selleck, but have not been able to get into this series, it's just too fake for me.  O.k. getting back to the book.  Good read, thrilling, but I found the conclusion a little out there, like the author couldn't tie things up so she just did.  I would have thought the extensive police investigation would have uncovered the evidence of the rusty vehicle, but then again maybe I've watched too many CSI programs.  I liked this book, I didn't love it, and I won't rush out to read another by this author, if one crosses my path... love the sisters and their dedication to each other, and Gina was just too convenient. But a good story nonetheless, not great, but good.

Product Description

The New York Times bestselling author of Labor Day and The Good Daughters returns with a haunting novel of sisterhood, sacrifice, and suspense.
I was always looking for excitement, until I found some . . .
Summer, 1979. A dry, hot Northern California school vacation stretches before Rachel and her younger sister, Patty—the daughters of a larger-than-life, irresistibly handsome (and chronically unfaithful) detective father and the mother whose heart he broke.
When we first meet her, Patty is eleven—a gangly kid who loves basketball and dogs and would do anything for her older sister, Rachel. Rachel is obsessed with making up stories and believes she possesses the gift of knowing what's in the minds of people around her. She has visions, whether she wants to or not. Left to their own devices, the sisters spend their days studying record jackets, concocting elaborate fantasies about the mysterious neighbor who moved in down the street, and playing dangerous games on the mountain that looms behind their house.
When young women start turning up dead on the mountain, the girls' father is put in charge of finding the murderer known as the "Sunset Strangler." Watching her father's life slowly unravel as months pass and more women are killed, Rachel embarks on her most dangerous game yet . . . using herself as bait to catch the killer. But rather than cracking the case, the consequences of Rachel's actions will destroy her father's career and alter forever the lives of everyone she loves.
Thirty years later, still haunted by the belief that the killer remains at large, Rachel constructs a new strategy to smoke out the Sunset Strangler and vindicate her father—a plan that unexpectedly unearths a long-buried family secret.
Loosely inspired by the Trailside Killer case that terrorized Marin County, California, in the late 1970s, After Her is part thriller, part love story. Maynard has created a poignant, suspenseful, and painfully real family saga that traces a young girl's first explorations of sexuality, the loss of innocence, the bond shared by sisters, and the tender but damaged relationship between a girl and her father that endures even beyond the grave.

Monday what are you reading...R.I.P challenge wrap up (late)

 Description from the book jacket:      .

  Riktor doesn't like the way the policeman comes straight into the house without knocking. He doesn't like the arrogant way he observes his home.The policeman doesn't tell him why he's there, and Riktor doesn't ask. Because he knows he's guilty.  But it turns out that the policeman isn't looking for a missing person. He is accusing Riktor of something totally unexpected. Riktor doesn't have a clear conscience, but this is a crime he certainly didn't commit.

my thoughts:

I almost quit reading this one early on in the book.  However, I was stuck at a hospital waiting with nothing to do, so I continued.  Mostly I wanted to throw up.  Riktor is a one sick person.  My fear is that people such as he do exist and work in the health care environment.  A compelling story line, certainly worthy of R.I.P. challenge, way to close to home for me though.  I'm a little slow in posting my R.I.P. challenge, but I must say, I think I may be scared silly till next year. 

Up next:  Line up(another too scary one) I'm continuing my R.I.P. challenge, just because these books were made available to me, I seemed to be on hold forever waiting for them from the library.

Thanks to Vicki for hosting this week.

Sunday Salon...

Sunday Salon finds me winding down from a lovely day spent with family and friends.  We celebrated the baptism of our Grand Niece.  She was lovely, her siblings, were very lively today.  Delicious food, good company and lovely weather.  EXCEPT I forgot my camera. So no pics.  I finished reading The Welsh Girl.  

Summary

Set in the stunning landscape of North Wales just after D-Day, Peter Ho Davies's profoundly moving first novel traces the intersection of disparate lives in wartime. When a POW camp is established near her village, seventeen-year-old barmaid Esther Evans finds herself strangely drawn to the camp and its forlorn captives. She is exploring the camp boundary when the astonishing occurs: Karsten, a young German corporal, calls out to her from behind the fence. From that moment on, the two foster a secret relationship that will ultimately put them both at risk. Meanwhile, another foreigner, the German-Jewish interrogator Rotherham, travels to Wales to investigate Britain's most notorious Nazi prisoner, Rudolf Hess. In this richly drawn and thought-provoking work, all will come to question where they belong and where their loyalties lie.

While I find the summary of the book somewhat accurate, it does not mention the evacuees, or the family that surround Esther, or her trials.  I enjoyed this book, because you do know that there must be two sides to a story, well here Ho actually shows us more sides.  A good crossection of "views" of the war and the difficulties everyone must have felt. 

I can't remember who recommended this book, but thank you. 

Chains, a readalong,... week one

Today is week 1 of our group read-a-long of Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson.  This week we read chapters 1-10, Here are a few questions to get us talkin'.  Thanks to War Through the Generations for hosting.

1.  What are your first impressions of the book so far?
 I don't know why, but when a book opens with a death, it always piques my interest, I'm morbid that way.  I like Isabel, and I'm curious about Ruth.  I do however think that their situation is all too common in that day and time. I'm not sure Curzon would have approached Isabel so soon, wouldn't they be a little more cautious, although,  since they , slaves are not considered people/?  I like the feeling that the battle is about to begin, I'm morbid that way.

2.  When we meet Isabel after the death of her owner, why do you think she turns to the tales of ghosts to guide her?

I think ghost stories were very much the norm, I can remember my mom telling us stuff like that, so I do think Isabel turning to her ghost mom for guidance is very typical of the time.  Superstition is a big thing in some cultures,  not to mention that the girl is in desperate need of an adult to help her.  She's grasping at the only thing she knows how to do.

3. Once under the control of the Locktons, do you think Isabel has the ability to protect herself and her sister? Just herself? Just her sister? or Neither?
Quite the contrary, I think Isabel has no hope of protecting herself and her sister.  She is literally at their mercy.

4. Do you think Isabel does the right thing by seeking out Curzon with information about the Locktons, or do you think it makes more sense for her to take Becky’s approach and stay loyal to the Locktons, no matter her opinion on the war, in order to keep her and Ruth safe?

I have to admit, I admire her bravery, but think it's a dangerous thing for a slave to defy their masters, they could beat her, kill her and Ruth without even having to explain themselves, should they find out.I'm for a safe existence, much like Becky. I'm enjoying this book so far, and I'm not sure I can drag out reading it for a month. 

It's not too late to join in, the chapters are short. 

Here is the Reading Schedule, Discussion on Fridays:
Sept. 1-6: Chapters 1-10
Sept. 7-13: Chapters 11-24 (end Part 1)
Sept. 14-20: Chapters 25-36
Sept. 21-27: Chapters 37-45 (the end)

The Glass Room... Ann Cleeves

I didn't write a real review of this great book when I read it, mostly because Margaret from Books Please did such a great job.  I must say this was a really good mystery, I truly didn't have a clue who dunit until the end.  I also like the investigative teams dynamics, and the mystery in some of their characters.

Certainly a candidate for the Best New Author to me.  Ann Cleeves does a outstanding job.

book description from Amazon.ca

This is the new novel in Ann Cleeves' Vera Stanhope crime series. DI Vera Stanhope is not one to make friends easily, but her hippy neighbours keep her well-supplied in homebrew and conversation so she has more tolerance for them than most. When one of them goes missing she feels duty-bound to find out what happened. But her path leads her to more than a missing friend...It's an easy job to track the young woman down to the Writer's House, a country retreat where aspiring authors gather to workshop and work through their novels. It gets complicated when a body is discovered and Vera's neighbour is found with a knife in her hand. Calling in the team, Vera knows that she should hand the case over to someone else. She's too close to the main suspect. But the investigation is too tempting and she's never been one to follow the rules. There seems to be no motive. No meaning to the crime. Then another body is found, and Vera suspects that someone is playing games with her. Somewhere there is a killer who has taken murder off the page and is making it real...

The Best of new Authors is hosted by Mysteries in Paradise

I will certainly be looking to read more of this authors works.

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Sunday Salon...Happy day.

I have boys. I've been trying to train them to be thoughtful spouses and remember special occasions with small gestures of "APPROPRIATE" GIFTS.  When they were little they'd buy me a toy they really wanted, and I always accepted gracefully, or maybe not so gracefully, explaining that their  choice while I would not be playing with it, made me happy because I would be happy that they would  be happy playing with it and their happiness was a gift for me. However, and this is a big HOWEVER they need to think of what would make the gift recipient happy or would be something they would like.   FINALLY!

This year I actually got a bouquet of flowers I LIKE. and a favorite author.  MAYBE THEY ARE FINALLY LISTENING. 

So Sunday Salon finds me delighted that I can download photos again.  No idea what was up with that.  I'm doing the usual house stuff, and keeping positive thoughts and prayers for my sister, who is undergoing some serious stuff.  My guys are off at their jobs, and I'm home alone for a few hours.  I've just picked up my library book Peaches for Monsieur le Cure, Joanne Harris. Not sure any reading will get done today, I've taken apart my sewing room, trying hard to get rid of as many particle board pieces as possible.  Hate that stuff.  The only thing I may not be able to part with are book cases.  What to do about that, don't know.  I have grand plans, but... I can't seem to motivate myself, my mind is in the waiting room of that hospital, where my sister is.  My son put on Mad Men, love that show, can't help but think of Miss Stevenson, my shorthand teacher, when I see Joan.  I keep wanting to sing "you've come a long way baby" So when you watch Mad Men you tend to "see" commercials.  I love the latest one for the mattresses with the two little girls that live with a bear.  .  Because you really can't tell a bear anything.   Unplanned week at the moment, hopefully some reading, other than that... Enjoy your week.

Snapshot Saturday...

On one of our many visits to the green house in Niagara we were delighted with the hydrangea exhibit.  This particular one is quite different from the one's in my garden it's more lacey.  Apparently the ones I have in my garden don't or are suppose to not flower, well guess what? they do very well all summer long and well into the fall.  I'm a negligent gardener, and perhaps they appreciate that.

On the reading front, I finished The Glass Room, well!  I didn't have a clue who dunnit... until the very last chapter.  Well done.

I'm now reading The Sunshine When She's Gone, Thea Goodman. (different)
My sister's are reminiscing their trip to Barbados, wonder if they met up with Monika and the gang? This is a holiday weekend here in Canada, so I'm home alone, with the laundry and my paint brushes.  Wish I could download my photos to show you.  Stripped a  rocker yesterday and today off with the layers of paint, and pulling dandelions.  I have baby rabbits in my yard, so I don't want to spray the weeds.  They are such a delight to watch in the morning, they run around chasing each other, and then I suppose they are off for a nap. We don't see them again until late in the day/or early evening.  The cat of course is going bonkers watching and running from window to window.  My poppies have finally spread enough to my liking, they look great with the purple tulips and lillium.  I always think the lillium looks like a firecracker. It's growing up between the car parts, reaching for the sun.  Have a great weekend.


Snapshot Saturday is hosted by Alyce over at home with books.

What's in a Name...

Welcome to the sixth What's in a Name challenge This challenge was originated by a young blogger named Annie, who hosted it for two years. When she decided to give up on being the host, Beth Fish took over the challenge.

I credit this challenge with being one of the prime reasons for my becoming a blogger, so I am thrilled to be its new host.

Here's How It Works

Between January 1 and December 31, 2013, read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with up or down (or equivalent) in the title:i.e. Deep down True, The Girl Below, The Diva Digs up the Dirt, my choice: The Light Between the Oceans
2. A book with something you'd find in your kitchen in the title:i.e. Loose Lips Sink Ships, The Knife of Never Letting Go, Breadcrumbs  my choice A Red Herring without Mustard
3. A book with a party or celebration in the title:i.e.  A Feast for Crows, A Wedding in Haiti, Cocktail Hour under the Tree of Forgetfulness my choice Strangers at the Feast
4. A book with fire (or equivalent) in the title:i.e. Burning for Revenge, Fireworks over Toccoa, Catching Fire, The girl who played with fire (hopefully, it's awfully long)
5. A book with an emotion in the title:i.e. Baltimore Blues, Say You're Sorry, Dreams of Joy, my choice Mr. Rosenblum dreams in English.
6. A book with lost or found (or equivalenti.e. in the title: The Book of Lost Fragrances, The World We Found, A Discovery of Witches)my choice, Lost Girl

The book titles are just suggestions, you can read whatever book you want to fit the category.
For more information click here.

For Today...Teaser Tuesday

FOR TODAY... Hosted @ The Simple Woman’s Daybook
Outside my window... it's hotter than Haitii

I am thinking... I should turn the air on, my husband will be complaining that it's too hot.

I am thankful...for a cool breeze.

From the learning rooms... I learned last week that I'm not sixteen, and can't finish everything I want to in one day, so this is day two in my husband's office.  It's shredding time. I did windows yesterday.

In the kitchen...General Tao Chicken with peppers and couscous

I am wearing...really comfy clothes, for cleaning

I am creating...WELL,  I'm creating order.  I hope!

I am going...no place.

I am wondering...can you die from a broken heart?  Last week during my visit with my mom, her table mate got very upset because my mom had me and her daughter was not there.  She speaks Italian mostly, with the odd word in English, it was heartbreaking for me, for all. Don't get me wrong, the daughter often is there when I'm there, just not that day. This is when I'm thankful my mother's dementia is so progressed that she doesn't seem to know what is happening. I understand completely how heart breaking it is not to see your child.  When my eldest moved out I thought I'd run out of tears. Now I'm just mad.

I am reading...All Shall Be Well, Deborah Crombie.
Here's my teaser: "Then we discovered that Jasmine had asked a young friend to help her commit suicide, but had backed out at the last minute, I ordered an autopsy."  Teaser Tuesday

I am hoping...to get the laundry done and finish this dang room, and my poor cat gets rid of all these hairballs, poor thing can't seem to get past it this season.  

I am looking forward to...getting back to my painting, it's really starting to look like something..

I am hearing...bird chirping, they NEVER shut up. They've had me awake since 4:30 a.m.  I've started to have evil thoughts. (yes, this is still the same from last week, they seem to have gotten stronger voices) I love animals but give me a break.  I had such a hard time hearing the 6p.m. news, I finally set my cat on them, of coarse he doesn't know what to do. But they quieted down for a bit.  Heaven forbid if I put the sprinkler on, their all have a shower.  It's like the local splash pad at my house.

Around the house...just stuff, 

I am pondering... adding another day between Sunday and Monday.

One of my favourite things...a newly cleaned room, desk tidy, no filing to do, for at least five minutes, you know when my husband comes home he'll have to stand at the entrance with his cases, and junk. What am I saying he'll be dumping them on the table.

A few plans for the rest of the week: same ole same ole, I'm off on retreat for Friday .

 Here are photos I'm sharing with you.

The corner of our pond, the Irises are in full swing and as you can see the water lilies are doing well also.

This is suppose to be my moonlight garden, I wanted a moonlight garden, because it's often dark before I sit to enjoy it.  Well! Those white flowers you see seduce me each spring.  They really are invasive, and you can't leave even one or this is what happens.  They look so good right now, but in a week it will be just a mess.  Last year I THOUGHT I pulled each one out.  What to do? And see those evergreens, well they were all planted at the same time and were the same size, some grew tall and some did not.  I think my only option is to have a gazebo built in that spot and hide the runts.  Wait till I tell handy Andy.


One of my favourite sayings... If you can't beat em' join em'.

Prayers for Sale... Happy Mother's Day

I just finished reading Prayers for Sale.

Product Description

Hennie Comfort is eighty-six and has lived in the mountains of Middle Swan, Colorado since before it was Colorado.  Nit Spindle is just seventeen and newly married.  She and her husband have just moved to the high country in search of work.  It's 1936 and the depression has ravaged the country and Nit and her husband have suffered greatly.  Hennie notices the young woman loitering near the old sign outside of her house that promises "Prayers For Sale".  Hennie doesn't sell prayers, never has, but there's something about the young woman that she's drawn to.  The harsh conditions of life that each have endured create an instant bond and an unlikely friendship is formed, one in which the deepest of hardships are shared and the darkest of secrets are confessed.

My thoughts:

I believe I put this in the TBR pile when I was reading the Civil War Challenge and I've only just got to it now.  While the story takes place in   1936 well after the end of the war, some of the memories of the horror linger into the hearts and minds of the characters, certainly the Punch Line as it were happened during the Civil War, and I must say, I was not expecting what the end brought forth.  A well written, quickish read, a few tears, and a great deal of colloquialism, some of which will make you smile loudly.  I enjoyed my visit with Hennie and Nit, and thought what a good read just before Mother's Day. 

You Are My Only...

I enjoyed this book immensely, I actually had to stop reading it on the bus one day because I thought everyone is going to think I'm losing it, and I was, I hadn't brought enough tissues to keep up with the water coming from my eyes.  I didn't pick it up for a couple of hours after that, just needed to digest it .  I can't imagine living like poor Emmy.  And how horrible mental health care was, is it still?  Does anyone know?  This was a short read, apart from the break I had to take.

I loved both Emmy and Sophie and I really liked Autumn, and although in the end Sophie's mom was not so nice, I did feel for her.  She was doing the best she knew how.  Again I don't know if this book was intended as a look at mental health, but it sure rang that way for me.  There must be someone out there in this field that has a heart.   I'm starting to feel like Chloe from The Sugar Queen, I'm reading books that are hitting too close to home. I've read Beth's books before and enjoyed them as well so I'm sure I'll continue, she just writes what I like to read. This is the last of my library books and now to hit the shelves.

Coal Black Horses....War Through the Generations

Back in May I read a review about Coal Black Horses, on War Through the Generations blog.  I was impressed with the review so I requested the book from our local library.  And although my teaser of yesterday was GROSs, it was a remarkable book, I started the book on Sunday night and stayed up on Tuesday to finish it.  I do admit on Tuesday afternoon, I had to puke whilst reading it.  Nonetheless it was a compelling read a real "GRAPHIC NOVEL" not the normal graphic novel.  Imagine that we are only reading about it, imagine living it.  At any rate this novel is not for the faint at heart, but it is VERY GOOD, even if the subject matter is horrific.

If you're brave you'll immediately request a copy at your local library and read this one...

Where are you Reading,  Pennsylvania

Support Your Local Library

Teaser Tuesday...

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
•  

My Teaser
He found Todd Rosenthal standing at the platform's open edge.  He was dangling a cord of spit from his mouth.  Chuck shoved him and watched his body hit the ground.

This teaser probably is not a true reflection of the story line, but it was such a shocking statement that I just had to include it. 


I've just finished reading The Illumination, by Kevin Brockmeier.  I almost feel like the author was winding up at the beginning of the book, it got a bit weird about 3/4 of the way through, but it was by far the most unusual book I've read this year. 

Support Your Local Library 
Where are You Reading- Arkansas (the story line takes place in several areas, but I chose this one as my main one.

Borderlands, McGilloway, Brian

In the old days, when I shared my television viewing with both my sons,we often watch CSI the original one, with Grisom.  Haven't watched much of it lately.  One of the episodes a foot is found as part of the crime scene, and Grisom says: "the games a foot"... or something much like that.  That phrase has always been part of our humorous rant (the boys and I ) like in ... I say, "my feet are killing me" the response would be " well Mom,the games a foot" or "put your shoes away", "well Mom the games a foot" you get the idea.  So as I was cruiseing the posts on the Ireland Challenge the blogger posting after me is "the games a foot" I had to read what he recommended..
http://ignacioescribano.blogspot.com/2011/02/borderlands-by-brian-mcgilloway.html

Borderland, by Brian McGilloway was MUCH better than Faithful Place in my humble opinion.  I must say that I don't think I'd encourage my children to go into law enforcement in Ireland, I'm almost not wanting them to even visit.  I was all packed up and ready to leave, got my passport and everything after reading The Book of Tomorrow  and then I read Faithful Place and hesitated now I'm down right "a feared".
Anyway, loved it, had appropriate twists and turns and way too many bodies for a small town. But, there was rhyme and reason for these crimes, and the ending was not obvious, at least to me it wasn't, and even if it became so, it was almost the end of the book, which is a good reason to label it a page turner.  It was a shortish read, *didn't have to wait for the next train to get some reading done, but recommend it anyway.
 equally unclear.

* I read mostly on public transit, and sometimes if the book is really good I wait for the next train so I can finish it.

Ireland Challenge 2011
Where Are You Reading - Ireland
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What's in a Name, 13 rue Therese

I was really excited to read this book, love the cover, and read many reviews raving about it. And it did not disappoint.

I really enjoy books written in letter format, and this one was quite like that.  It also "travelled" which I really enjoyed.  I completely understood Louise's feeling about having a baby.  I'm not sure, I understood her wandering thoughts, and her means of entertainment were simple "unusual".  A most interesting read.  I recommend it. You might have guessed by now, I like to read of the lives of individuals affected by war.  Not sure why?

I read this book as part of the What's in a Name Challenge.
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Books Read in 2011
Reagan Arthur Book Challenge
Where are You Reading? - France

The Chocolate War, Cormier

When I began reading this book, I started to think of the chocolate sales that many of our schools still participate in.  I know we never co conspired with any student group to promote or not promote the sales.  But, I must say it is a drive that makes one really go nuts.  We actually had one mother take her daughter out of school for the day so she could get a jump start on her sales.  As the Co-Chair of the council my kids sold chocolates, but were never included in the totals, simply because heaven forbid they win something, everyone assumed it was fixed because I was involved in the sales.  I'm so glad I'm done with that nonesense.  If I could give any parent advise it would be to "pull a Jerry Renault".  The fund raising monies never really did anything significant , in my opinion, and only proved that "fundraising is the government education cut backs at work".  I hate the idea that in this particular story line, this was a Educational Institution and their behaviour is appalling.  One question?  Where were the parents of these boys?  

You can tell that I'm deeply affected by this book.  I was also very shocked to see that it was the 30th Anniversary of it's publication.  SHOCKING!   It sort of gives you something to say to all those individuals that claim things are getting worse, they were never that good according to this book.  I know this is a fictitious storyline but... 

I'm giving this book a 5star, I don't think I'll be getting it out of my mind for some time.  I can't remember who recommended this book on their blog, but thank you.  

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Where are you Reading (New England, I'm saying Maine)

The Ship of Brides...

I just finished The Ship of Brides, Jojo Moyes, what a good story. The books setting is on a Aircraft carrier, headed from Australia to England with brides. Young women who married English servicemen were transported to England to reunite with their husbands. The War is over, and the prospects of a new life are exciting, little do the brides realize the tough life on board a aircraft carrier. My mom came on such a ship to be reunited with my dad. She was brought from Mexico to England. Her trip to Mexico, I believe, from Bombay to Mexico was during wartime, and yes they were on a battle ship. Six weeks below deck, with action happening, yes battles. You can imagine how not excited she was when she had to board yet another ship to be reunited with my dad, who was in England, and then one more time from England to Canada.We didn't really hear of adventures on board, only of adventures in Mexico. 

The Ship of Brides was a historical novel, a little romance a little character development, not at all what my teacher said I should read but nonetheless enjoyable. It was pleasant, an easy read, somewhat longer than I expected, but shorter than Musashi. (but isn't everything).I only almost cried once, or twice. 
I give it a 41/2 *
Chunkster Reading Challenge
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Where are you Reading  
(Australia)