January Reads

1. The Center of Everything (Moriarty)

2. Blindness (Saramago)

3. Lullaby Town (Crais)

4. A Separate Peace (Knowles)

5. Kiss (Dekker)

* Overtime (Rash)

6. North River (Hamill)

7. The Darker Side (McFadyen)

8. The Full Cupboard of Life (Smith)

9. Sundays at Tiffany's (Patterson)

10. Roseflower Creek (Miles)

11. The Mystery of Mary Rogers (Geary)

12. Paper Towns (Green)

13. Hitler Youth (Bartoletti)

14. Jar City (Indridason)

* Cold Harbor (Rash)

* Honesty (Rash)

* Dangerous Love (Rash)

15. Devil in a Blue Dress (Mosley)

* The Projectionist's Wife (Rash)

* Short Story (not counted)

BOLD titles made my Best Reads List

Clicking on a title will link you to "Thoughts of Joy...".

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Monthly Genre Stats:

Fiction: 5

Mystery: 3

Non-Fiction Graphic Novel: 1

Thriller: 3

YA Classic: 1

YA Fiction: 1

YA Non-Fiction: 1

Short Stories: 5

Audiobooks: 10

Books: 5

Total: 15

Best Reads: 3

Series: 6

Premio Dardos Award & Your Blog is Fabulous! Award

Bonnie from Redlady's Reading Room has bestowed upon me yet another award! Isn't she kind? :) It's the Premio Dardos Award. Thank you, my friend.

AND . . .

Sally906 from Books and Musings from Downunder (her main blog) has given me the Your Blog is Fabulous! Award and this one comes with a meme. If you are interested, you can share 5 things you are addicted to. Thank you so much, Sally906! I appreciate your thoughtfulness. :)

I'm the Winner of Sundays at Tiffany's!

Sundays at Tiffany's

James Patterson & Gabrielle Charbonnet

Toni from A Circle of Books had a give-away of this book, while I was having a give-away of the audio version and I just happened to win!  Being that I have the audiobook, Toni mentioned that it would make a great gift for someone.  She's right!  I already have the special recipient in mind.

Thank you, Toni!  :)

THE PROJECTIONIST'S WIFE

Author: Ron Rash

Genre: Short Story, Collection

Published: Chemistry and Other Stories, 2007

Personal Rating: 4/5

(ss) Yearly Count: 5

"You ain't a man till you get blooded, boy."  Being told that, Russell is prepared.  At the age of 12, Russell becomes a man in more ways than one.

This story swept me up into this youngster's world.  He had a lot of grief in his life, but a lot of good, too.  Listening to Russell reminisce of his younger days was thought-provoking.

DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS

Author: Walter Mosley

Genre: Mystery, Series #1

Published: 1990

Personal Rating: 3/5

Yearly Count: 15

Ezekiel (Easy) Rawlins is a young, black veteran living in Los Angeles during the late 1940's. He owns his home, but suddenly finds himself without a job - making paying his mortgage a problem. Without much effort, Easy finds employment by accepting a job from a white man to locate a French woman who has connections to a heartsick gangster. Easy winds up in a heap of trouble.

This book started out as a 4/5. It was interesting getting to know and understand Easy, but it started going down hill towards the middle of the book. Throughout, there was a lot of racial slurs and disrespect creating a very gritty and uncomfortable feeling. That began to wear me down and turned my enjoyment into dislike. Also, I didn't anticipate the s*x scenes and found them to be crass. Blah. I really wanted this to be good. At some point, I may give the second one a try, but I'm not too enthused at the moment.

BTW ~ This was made into a movie starring Denzel Washington as Easy.

DANGEROUS LOVE

Author: Ron Rash

Genre: Short Story, Collection

Published: Chemistry and Other Stories, 2007

Personal Rating:  3.5/5

(ss) Yearly Count:  4

A traveling circus relationship between a knife-throwing male and his willing female target is explored.

This was good; however, it felt a little like it was being told in fast-forward motion.  Maybe there wasn't as much depth in these characters as his others - making them slightly superficial.  I'm not sure, but it still ranks as a good short story. 

HONESTY

Author: Ron Rash

Genre: Short Story, Collection

Published: Chemistry and Other Stories, 2007

Personal Rating: 4/5

(ss) Yearly Count: 3

A college professor agrees to his wife's proposal of dating someone from an ad in the newspaper.   

This story felt a little out of character for Rash.  It was still set in the South, but the actual story line had a different feel than the rest.  Ultimately, it carried a variety of emotions and made me wonder a little at the end.

COLD HARBOR

Author: Ron Rash

Genre: Short Story, Collection

Published: Chemistry and Other Stories, 2007

Personal Rating: 3.75/5

(ss) Yearly Count: 2

 Following the Korean War, a nurse is riddled with dreams of dying soldiers.  She seeks out some peace from a soldier she saved.

A bleak feeling runs throughout this piece - making it a heavy, gloomy story, but one that is told very well.

As it seems to be the case, I become very engrossed in Rash's writing, feeling and believing every story.  They transport me, brief as they may be, to another place/another time.

  

Give-Away Winner!

CONGRATULATIONS!

There are 3 winners of:

Sundays at Tiffany's

(audiobook)

James Patterson

Darcie from Reading Derby

Laura from Reading Reflections

Samantha from Sam's Book Blog

I hope you ladies enjoy the listening experience!

(Please leave your e-mail address in the comments, so I can contact you. I'll delete it after I have taken note of it. The actual book will be mailed to you by Anna from

Hachette Book Group USA.)

JAR CITY

Author: Arnaldur Indridason

Genre: Thriller, Series #1

Published: 2004

Personal Rating: 3.5/5

Yearly Count: 14

Inspector Erlendur of Iceland heads a case involving the presumed murder of an older man in his flat. His body was left with their only clue - an obscure, three worded message.

The reading of this, first in a series thriller, was a unique experience for me. There were quite a few elements that got in the way for this to be a truly satisfying experience. The writing was unlike most thrillers I have read, so I had to adjust to Indridason's style and the quietness of Iceland (even though it rained continuously). The translation did not feel spot on and I always have to acclimate myself to names and places outside of my country-sweet-country. And, the mystery itself was different. I watched Erlendur go off on tangents (purposeful tangents) and it made me feel unsteady.

Even with all the new emotions, I still felt it was a good mystery. It purely was a matter of location and style of writing. They didn't make for a comfortable read, but not an unpleasant one either. I now have the ground work in place for when I pick up Silence of the Grave, the second in the series. I anticipate that being a better experience.

HITLER YOUTH

Author:  Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Genre:  NF YA, Standalone

Published:  2005

Personal Rating:  4.5/5

Yearly Count:  13

This book is a product of Bartoletti's extensive two year research of former members of the Hitler Youth and Jewish people during the time of the Third Reich.  She conducted interviews in person, through letters, e-mails, and phone calls.  Bartoletti also spent numerous hours reading diaries and letters of personal histories.  This book is Bartoletti's attempt to "make sense" out of the 12 year devastating period of history.  "Stories connect us, teach us, and warn us never to forget."  These stories "turn the heart over."

My basic knowledge has been greatly expanded by facts regarding the role of the youth in WWII.  Bartoletti focuses on 12 individual youths that had some sort of experience with or in the Hitler Youth.  This group is a well-rounded representation of the youths' emotions and actions in the 12 years of horror.  Even though Bartoletti focuses on the 12, she also provides ample details that help understand how it all happened.

I listened to this book and have just become aware that there are fantastic black and white photos throughout the book version.  I need to get my hands on it - asap.

PAPER TOWNS

Author:  John Green

Genre:  YA Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2008

Personal Rating:  3.5/5

Yearly Count:  12

At the end of their senior year, Quentin's (Q's) first childhood love, Margo, appears at his bedroom window one evening, requesting that he take her on a road trip.  Now who wouldn't accept an invitation like that from THE Margo Roth Spiegelman?  Like all the high school seniors would do, Q accepts, and a crazy night of adventure ensues.  Unfortunately, the fun doesn't last long, because as quickly as Margo reappeared in Q's life, she disappears just as fast.  Now with Margo's safety in mind, Q and his buddies follow the trail that she has left behind.  Q is determined to rescue her.

    Now that I have read two John Green novels, I think he just doesn't write books that fancy my inner young adult.  While I found the adventures to be somewhat interesting and exciting, they were certainly not realistic.  There was nothing special about the main character, Q, that helped me connect or truly care about him and I didn't care for Margo at all.  One of Q's buddies was okay, but he didn't play a huge role.  Now, the book's saving grace was the mystery itself.  Following clues and solving the puzzle of where Margo could possibly be was the best attribute of the novel.

THE MYSTERY OF MARY ROGERS

Author: Rick Geary

Genre: YA NF Graphic Novel, Series

Published: 2001

Personal Rating: 4.5/5

Yearly Count: 11

The unsolved death of Mary Rogers of New York City is told and explored in Geary fashion - a graphic novel. The "cigar girl" was murdered and found on the banks of the Hudson River in 1841.

This is my second read in this series and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. Geary tells the facts of the story, goes backwards in time to the days prior to the murder, proceeds to the investigation, then reveals how Edgar Allen Poe fits into the scenario, and concludes with questions and possible solutions regarding the death of Mary Rogers.

ROSEFLOWER CREEK

Author:  J. L. Miles

Genre:  Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2001

Personal Rating:  4.25/5

Yearly Count:  10

Lori Jean, a 10-year-old from rural 1950s Georgia, shares the most crucial two years of her life.  Unfortunately, Lori Jean is dead - she tells her story from the heavens.

Wow.  This was tough to get through at times.  Lori Jean was an adorable, insightful, yet innocent, strong, little girl that brings you into her world - hook, line and sinker.  Unfortunately, her world was not a pleasant one.  The turmoil in her life didn't prevent Lori Jean from being a delight to know; she will not be forgotten anytime soon.  She lived out many messages that will remain in my heart.  

This is J. L. Miles first novel - the idea was prompted by a real life event.

SUNDAYS AT TIFFANY'S

Author: James Patterson

Genre: Fiction, Standalone

Published: 2008

Personal Rating: 2/5

Yearly Count: 9

From the inside cover:

An Imaginary Friend

Jane Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, a powerful Broadway producer, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany's. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He's perfect. But only she can see him.

Michael can't stay forever, though. On Jane's ninth birthday he leaves, promising her that she'll forget him soon. He was there to help her until she was old enough to manage on her own, and now there are other children who need his help.

An Unexpected Love

Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets a man, a handsome, comforting, funny man. He's perfect -

An Unforgettable Twist

Sundays at Tiffany's is a heartrending love story that surpasses all expectations of why these people have been brought together. With the breathtaking momentum and gripping emotional twists that have made James Patterson a bestseller all over the world, Sundays at Tiffany's take an altogether fresh look at the timeless and transforming power of love.

For light reading/listening, I enjoyed both Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas and Sam's Letters to Jennifer, but this one was not of the same caliber. I simply did not enjoy this attempt at a romantic fantasy. It was foolish and, frankly, I'm disappointed. Well - nobody can get it right all the time, now can they?

Thank you, Anna, from Hachette Audio. Even though it wasn't a successful listen for me, I still appreciate you!

THE FULL CUPBOARD OF LIFE

Author:  Alexander McCall Smith

Genre:  Cozy Mystery, Series #5

Published:  2003

Personal Rating:  3/5

Yearly Count:  8

Precious Ramotswe's case requires her to help a rich woman decide which of her four suitors would be the best choice for marriage.  The remaining story line focuses mainly around her engagement to Mr. J. L. Matekoni and includes all the regulars.

This series is averaging out to be "just okay" for me.  I know that it is a character driven series, but I enjoy it more when Mme. Ramotswe has a full caseload.  I'm hoping she gets more business in the future.

Premio Dardos Award

Jackie from Farm Lane Books Blog was so kind in passing the Premio Dardos Award along to me. Thank you, Jackie! Believe it or not, Jackie has only been blogging for approximately 4 months and already has a blog full of book reviews!

Here's what Jackie is all about:

I love books! I love them so much that I gave up my 'proper' job, and now sell books online, giving me the opportunity to live with several thousand books!

I read anything that has been recommended to me, has won a prize, or just sounds interesting. I particularly like completing lists of books, and am currently trying to read all the winners of the Booker, Pulitzer and Orange Prizes.

I live in Surrey, England, with my husband and two young sons.

I hope you'll visit Jackie. With lots of reviews, I'm sure you'll find a common interest.

Thanks again, Jackie. I'm honored. :)

THE DARKER SIDE

Author:  Cody McFadyen

Genre:  Thriller, Series #3

Published:  2008

Personal Rating:  4.5/5

Yearly Count:  7

Smoky Barrett, FBI agent/surviving victim, is personally called to a morgue outside her jurisdiction.  Upon her arrival, the murdered victim's body creates more questions than answers.  It proves to be a unique murder and evidence suggests that it is by no means the only one.  It also reveals the victim's secret, which leads Smoky and her team to hunt for a killer that collects unspoken truths.

HOORAY (and not surprised), I have my first Best Read of 2009!  Cody did not let me down in the latest Smoky Barrett thriller.  Holding to his word, this edition explores Smoky in a more personal manner, which tones the book down (in comparison to the first two) maybe a notch - maybe.  He has not eliminated his trademark suspense, shock, gore and grave descriptions.  Nope - they're still prominent.

Aside from all the thrill and suspense, there is a continuing story that flows within the main characters.  The story and the chase are both very compelling and made it difficult to put the book down.  I did - many times, because I know I have a long time before the next one comes out.  What could Cody possibly come up with next?  I can't wait to find out.

NORTH RIVER

Author:  Pete Hamill

Genre:  Fiction, Standalone

Published:  2007

Personal Rating:  3.5/5

Yearly Count:  6

Greenwich Village, 1934, is where and when Dr. Delaney finds his 2 1/2 year old grandson seated in a stroller in his foyer - alone, but with a note.  Trying to deal with the past, heal the poor and make do with what little money he receives for his services, Dr. Delaney now has to hire someone to take care of his grandson.  Questions and concerns begin to arise regarding his daughter's disappearance and his choice to help out injured mob members.  What has life brought him now?

The description of New York and the general living conditions during the depression were very vivid.  The neighbors, the streets, the restaurants - everything, contributed to the sense of being transported to a different era.  The emotions of loss, hope, fear, joy, loneliness and love are all explored in this slow-paced, character driven novel.  It's a good story with good writing to tell it.

*Recommended By:  Carrie from Books and Movies

OVERTIME

Author: Ron Rash

Genre: Short Story, Collection

Published: Chemistry and Other Stories, 2007

Personal Rating: 3.5/5

(ss) Yearly Count: 1

After they punch out from work, a group of men gather to play basketball at the gym, some of which played ball in high school together.  Soon after the game begins, another high school teammate shows up at the door; however, he had the fortune of turning pro.

This story was one that sunk in a little deeper after I gave it some thought.  It didn't portray anything profound, but showed the heart and desires of people left in the dust.

Audiobook Give-Away!

I have the pleasure of giving away 3 audiobooks of Sundays at Tiffany's, courtesy of Anna from Hachette Book Group USA!

AUDIOBOOK

Sundays at Tiffany's

James Patterson & Gabrielle Charbonnet

From the inside cover:

An Imaginary Friend

Jane Margaux is a lonely little girl. Her mother, a powerful Broadway producer, makes time for her only once a week, for their Sunday trip to admire jewelry at Tiffany's. Jane has only one friend: a handsome, comforting, funny man named Michael. He's perfect. But only she can see him.

Michael can't stay forever, though. On Jane's ninth birthday he leaves, promising her that she'll forget him soon. He was there to help her until she was old enough to manage on her own, and now there are other children who need his help.

An Unexpected Love

Years later, in her thirties, Jane is just as alone as she was as a child. And despite her own success as a playwright, she is even more trapped by her overbearing mother. Then she meets a man, a handsome, comforting, funny man. He's perfect -

An Unforgettable Twist

Sundays at Tiffany's is a heartrending love story that surpasses all expectations of why these people have been brought together. With the breathtaking momentum and gripping emotional twists that have made James Patterson a bestseller all over the world, Sundays at Tiffany's take an altogether fresh look at the timeless and transforming power of love.

If you are interested in listening to Sundays at Tiffany's, you can earn up to 3 entries:

1 Entry: Comment that you'd like to win the audiobook

1 Entry: Blog about this audiobook give-away and let me know that you did/will

1 Entry: Answer the following question:

What is your favorite Patterson book?

*USA or Canada resident without a PO Box

Winners will be posted on January 26, 2009!

KISS

Author: Ted Dekker & Erin Healy

Genre: Thriller, Standalone

Published: 2009

Personal Rating: 2.75/5

Yearly Count: 5

Shauna wakes up in the hospital, after a car accident, to discover that she has lost the last six months of her memory. As she tries to remove the fog in her mind, she also removes (yes, removes) some information that may be a threat to her life. She begins to wonder if the accident was really an accident.

I was right there with Shauna when she was trying to figure out who she could trust or not; however, once memories started to develop in her mind - the method in which those memories arrived was beyond my acceptance level. It turned a plausible scenario into an implausible one. I had no idea that there was this paranormal element to the book and I was not prepared for it. The method, in and of itself, was not a big deal - I just don't care for unexpected paranormal elements. The suspense/thriller portion of the book was still of some interest, but the memory method ruined it for me.

Kiss is released today, January 9, 2009.

Thank you, Alex from Bookreporter.com for sending me this book by new-to-me authors.

Premio Dardos Award

J. Kaye from J. Kaye's Book Blog is out spreading the love again! :) This time it's in the form of an award called the Premio Dardos Award. This award is given to acknowledge a blogger that shows effort to communicate cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values in the form of creative and original writing. What an honor it is to receive this award.

J. Kaye is a prolific blogger. Her whole family contributes to her blog - making it a very warm and homey place to visit. They read a variety of genres, so I'm sure you will find J. Kaye's Book Blog a wonderful place to visit, let alone a great resource for books.

A big hug of thanks to you . . . {{{J. Kaye}}} !

A SEPARATE PEACE

Author:  John Knowles

Genre:  YA Classic, Standalone

Published:  1959

Personal Rating:  3.25/5

Yearly Count:  4

A New Hampshire boarding school for boys, houses roommates Gene and Phineas.  The boys develop a close relationship that doesn't necessarily bring out the best in either of them.  They struggle with their internal thoughts that many coming-of-age teens experience along with the added emotional challenge of an impending war.

The first half kept my interest and it felt like a genuine experience.  However, as the book continued, it slipped a little.  I can't pinpoint when the change took place, especially being that the boys still seemed authentic, but whenever it was - it contributed to my 'little better than just okay' rating.  Again, even though I recognize the symbolism, the theme and the general exploration of the human heart, I think this is another classic that I would have enjoyed discussing in a classroom.

The Lemonade Award & Butterfly Award

The Lemonade Award was given to me in the middle of December by Kara from World According to Books. The Lemonade Award is given to those people showing great attitude and gratitude. And I, certainly, am grateful to Kara for passing this on to me. Unfortunately, I totally forgot to post about it until a few days ago. When I was trying to get this post together - blogger wouldn't let me upload any images, so here I am . . . trying again.

You can stop by Kara's blog anytime; she'd love to have you visit. Here's what she says in her header:

Welcome to my world where you can dare to dream, fall in love, experience the unexpected, share in the lives of others, and, of course, meet some of the hunkiest men!!!

Thank you, Kara!

Bonnie from Redlady's Reading Room and Mary from Bookfan awarded me with the Butterfly Award. It is "for the coolest blog I ever know". These are two very special ladies. They both post more than just reviews, so if you don't want to miss out - head on over to their blogs asap.

Thank you, Bonnie. Thank you, Mary. I appreciate the both of you very much!

LULLABY TOWN

Author:  Robert Crais

Genre:  PI Mystery, Series #3

Published:  1992

Personal Rating:  3.75/5

Yearly Count:  3

Private Investigator, Elvis Cole, takes on a case to locate an ex-wife and son of a famous filmmaker.  It takes him from his hometown of Los Angeles to Connecticut, where he quickly locates them.  Major problems arise due to the ex-wife's profession, causing Cole to call in his partner, Joe Pike, for assistance.

Filling in the missing books of the Elvis Cole series brings me to #3.  I enjoyed this one more so than #2.  The quips were delivered with good timing and made me giggle.  I could have done without a portion of the story line, because I'm simply just tired of that scenario, but it worked.  Hopefully, #4 (providing I didn't read that one) will continue the series on the upswing.

BLINDNESS

Author:  Jose Saramago

Genre:  Fiction, Standalone

Published:  1995

Personal Rating:  4/5

Yearly Count:  2

Outside America, in an unknown city, people are going about their daily routines and then, one by one, they lose their eyesight.  The government quickly gets involved and life for the blind people go from bad to worse.  The story is one of great disaster.

A few spots were of a slower nature, but for the most part this book kept my attention.  I didn't truly relate with anybody in particular, but I was able to stand back and watch this random group of people with a sense of sympathy.  They all had their own distinct personalities that made for a great variety of main characters.

The plot of Blindness was extremely interesting, and it offered much to contemplate.  It did contain graphic scenes that are not for the faint of heart, along with a clear view of good and evil.  I found it to be a worthy read and look forward to more by Saramago.