Friday, September 4, 2009

Embrace The Grim Reaper


The intriguing first in a new series from Clemens (Different Paths and four other Stella Crown mysteries) introduces a classic tragic heroine, Casey Maldonado, and her companion, the Grim Reaper. Casey, who's trying to come to terms with personal losses suffered in a fatal car accident, regularly wishes that Death will take her so she can spend eternity with her departed loved ones. Unfortunately for Casey, it's not her time, and Death decides only to tag along on her sad journey. Hitching rides to anywhere, Casey ends up in Clymer, Ohio, a town as deeply troubled as she is. Casey is soon drawn into investigating the death of a young mother, who supposedly committed suicide after losing her job. Clemens is adept at creating an appealing cast of characters while keeping the plot moving at a fast clip. Casey and Death make an oddly entertaining pair, and readers will hope to see their relationship fleshed out in future titles. (May) - Publisher's Weekly



I found myself far more interested in Casey's back story and her relationship with Death, far more then the mystery that presented itself in this book. I thought that the writing was ok at best. The ending of the mystery was way to rushed. I may try the sequel, only to find the answers to the questions left in her back story.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Finished SuBC

5 POINT TASKS

1. IHO the Beautiful weather read a book while enjoying the outdoors. The Christmas Crimes at Puzzel Manor - Brett Simon

2. Take 10 books you want to read and put the titles in a hat, pick one at random and read that book. Dead As A Doornail - Charlaine Harris

3. Read a book with a Summer word in the title (sun, heat, sand, hot, etc).- Labor Day - Joyce Maynar

4. Read a book YOU would considered a beach read (Chick lit, mystery, etc.). Definatley Dead - Charlaine Harris

5. IHO Friendship day (August 2nd) read a book about friends or siblings. Grave Surprise - Charlaine Harris

6. Read a book with a food or drink in the title. I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell - Tucker Mazz
7. Post a poll on NBC of 5 books of your choice and let the nesties pick your next book (leave up for at least a day) One For The Money - Janet Evanovich
8. Read a book that takes place at a beach, ocean, lake, or resort. Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane

9. Christmas in July, Read a book about/set during Christmas Visions of Sugar Plums - Janet Evanovich

10.IHO Dog days of Summer read a book with the word dog in the title or about a dog. Around The Next Corner - Elizabeth Wrenn

10 POINT TASKS

1. IHO summer blockbusters read a book of your choice and then choose your cast, then share with NBC Grave Sight - Charlaine Harris

2. IHO Fourth of July read a book about the revolutionary war or any other important time in your Country’s history. -Killer Angels - Michael Shaara

3. IHO Women’s equality day (August 26th) read a book with a woman as the main character or about a woman you admire. Dead To The World - Charlaine Harris

4. Read a book set in a place you have, will, or would like to travel to. The Overlook - Michael Connelly (Hollywood)

5. Read a book about a Summer romance or a romance book. All Together Dead - Charlaine Harris

6. Read a book about a library, librarian, book store, or anything else book related. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane - Katherine Howe

7. Read a book about getting married, weddings, being married. The Time Travelers Wife -Audrey Niffenegger

8. Read a book with a verb in the title (Walk, run, talk, etc). Living Dead In Dallas - Charlaine Harris

9. Read a book you first heard about on NBC. Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris

10. Read a book with a teenager as the main character or set in a high school. HP & The Prisoner of Azkaban - JK Rowling

15 POINT TASKS

1. Read a book that an author you enjoy has read or suggested. Cemetery Dance - Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (Johnathan Mayberry)

2. IHO back to school in August read a book off your high school’s summer reading list. The Secret Life of Bees - Susan Mott Kidd

3. Read a book by an author born in July, August, September. HP & The Chamber of Secrets - JK Rowling

4. Read a book about a disaster or tragedy (Tornado, hurricane, 9/11, plane crash, etc.) The Penelopiad - Margaret Atwood

5. Judge a book by its cover, read a book based solely on the cover or title. An Ice Cold Grave - Charlaine Harris

6. Read a book about Royalty (Tudors, Princess Diaries, etc) The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot

7. Read July, August, or September’s NBC book and participate in the discussions. Summer Sisters - Judy Bloom

8. Read the first and second (or 3rd and 4th) book in a series HP & The Order of the Pheonis, HP & The Half blood Prince - JK Rowling

9. Read a book that is at least 500 pages. HP & The Goblet of Fire - JK Rowling

10. Second chances- Read a book by an author you didn’t enjoy the first time around. My Sisters Keeper - Jodi Picoult


25 POINT TASKS

1. Mrs.GinTN- Read a book and cook a meal inspired by that book.

2. AdaraMarie-Read a book recommended by the staff at your local library or bookstore. Complete the task by posting a review of the book with no spoilers so we can all learn your opinion of the book. HP & The Deathly Hallows - JK Rowling

3.Mac&Chip- Read a book and do an activity that the characters in the book did. Club Dead - Charlaine Harris (waited tables)

4.RoMoSquare- Read a book over 700 pages: Voyager - Diana Gabaldon

5. Rebus82- Read a book that you've never read before because it has always intimidated you. Afterward, make a non-spoiler WIJFR post about how you feel about the book now that you've finally read it, and if you feel the original intimidation was justified. The Jane Austen Book Club - Karen Joy Fowler

6.danamh83- Read a book written by or about a famous person (living or dead) that you would like to meet. Post a list of questions you would like to ask them, based on what you read in the book. Please Stop Laughing at Me - Jodee Blanco

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

One Min. Writer 8/5

Describe your ideal writing and reading room.


A medium sized, room with floor to ceiling bookcases, a super comfy glider and ottoman, big bright windows looking out at the lake and mountains. a cozy crackling fire place in the corner, no phone, TV, or interruptions of any kind, and my cat.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

The Time Traveler's Wife


Synopsis: Audrey Niffenegger's innovative debut, The Time Traveler's Wife, is the story of Clare, a beautiful art student, and Henry, an adventuresome librarian, who have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, and were married when Clare was twenty-three and Henry thirty-one. Impossible but true, because Henry finds himself periodically displaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity from his life, past and future. His disappearances are spontaneous, his experiences unpredictable, alternately harrowing and amusing. -BN.com

I had heard rave reviews for The Time Traveler's Wife on the Nest Book Club, and i had been interested but it wasn't until I saw the movie trailer that I knew i had to read it. In just a few pages I was hooked, and devoured the pages with every spare moment i got. It is rare that a novel makes me cry, but I admit that I cried at the end. The author did a great job moving the plot along, when Henry is shuffling back in forth in every chapter. The writing made me feel like i was there witnessing Henry and Clare meeting, falling in love, and going through their lives year by year. The main characters are well drawn out, but the supporting characters seemed to be lacking in development. This book is filled with emotion cover to cover. I found the time shifting confusing at first but it didn't take long to adjust to this sequencing. This story is hard to forget, and a perfect rainy day read. I highly and enthusiastically recommend this book.


Sunday, July 26, 2009

What I Read In July

Voyager - Diana Gabaldon
Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling
Agnes and The Hitman - Jennifer Cruise and Bob Mayer
Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter & The Order of The Pheonix - J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling
My Sisters Keeper - Jodi Picoult
Visions of Sugarplums - Janet Evanovich
The Christmas Crimes at Puzzel Manor - Brett Simon
The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot
Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris
Living Dead in Dallas - Charlaine Harris
Club Dead - Charlaine Harris
Dead to the World - Charlaine Harris
Dead as a Doornail - Charlaine Harris
Definitely Dead - Charlaine Harris
All Together Dead - Charlaine Harris
Summer Sisters - Judy Blume
Grave Sight - Charlaine Harris
Grave Surprise - Charlaine Harris
One For The Money - Janet Evanovich
Cemetery Dance -Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Grave Sight

I'll admit that i only picked this book up is because i have enjoyed her Sookie Stackhouse series, and i think i like this the story line a little more than the Sookie books. Ever since Harper Connelly survived a zap from a lightning bolt, she's been able to find dead people. Harper is protected as well as assisted by her step brother Tolliver Lang, with whom her relationship is complex to say the least. In the first book in the series, they travel to the Ozarks to find a missing teenage girl and are entwined in a town filled with secrets, lies, and a murderer.

The mystery was a little easy to figure out but the story held my intrest, and it will be interesting to see how the characters develop in further novels.

I read this for the Summer Book Challenge the pick a cast category.
Cast for Grave Sight

Harper Connelly - Jamie Ray Newman
Tolliver Lang - Christian Kane
Sheriff Harvey Branscom - Ron Livingston
Deputy Hollis Boxleitner - Jeffery Dean Morgan
Mayor Terry Vale - Adam West
Sybil Teague - Meryl Streep
Dell Teague - Teddy Dunn
Monteen "Teeny" Hopkins - Alona Tal
Paul Edwards - Gregg Henry
Helen Hopkins - Lauren Graham
Sally Hopkins - Samantha Ferris
Patsy Bolton (Lawyer) - Liza Weil
Geneva Roller - Sally Struthers
Mary Nell Teague - Beth Reisgraf
Jay Hopkins - James Ganolfini
Marv Bledsoe - Mark Sheppard
Art Barfield - Mark Rolston
Phyllis Folliette - Gina Bellman