Book Embargo

A Plaistow New Hampshire family’s home burned down this week, with near total destruction, and if that wasn’t enough, one of their dogs ran away from the boarding kennel, was hit by a car, and hasn’t been seen since. Here is the website but there is more info on the blog page.

PLEASE keep your eye out for that pooch if you live in the area. I cannot imagine what those people are going through. Please think good thoughts for them.

Tags: cardi corgi, cardigan, corgi, dog, house fire, missing corgi, new hampshire, nh

I just read two books in a row, both called Godmother. One is about a woman who is Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother, and how she fell in love with the prince and was banished from the fairy realm. The other was about a woman who was godmother to her three best friend’s kids. Both started fun, but the Cinderella book ended with me shocked and in tears and happy and sad for the characters. The godmother who was all about fun, but ended up being a drunk floozy, well that one ended up with me being angry with how shallow the character was.

Carolyn Turgeon has written Godmother. It deals with an old woman, named Lil with white hair who manages a bookshop and is secretly a fairy godmother. She was Cinderella’s but messed up MAJORLY somehow. The novel is told through Lil’s point of view, and then in dreams and memories takes us back to Cinderella. Because of Lil’s mistake she is banished from the fairy realm and there is some mystery about her sister that she was very close to. She makes references to an accident. It is not clear if she means that she can’t see her sister any more (because she was banished) or if something happened to her sister that resulted in death/injury. I had NO idea where Turgeon was going to take me, and I was wet-eyed at the end, but thought it had a beautiful and perfect ending for Lil.

Carrie Adams has written Godmother and has a new book called Stepmother coming out. I hesitate to read Stepmother now, because of how GM ended. The characters were real but for all of the shocking and heavy events that happened in this novel to this character, I did not feel that there was any growth. The drinking and lack of responsibility continued to the very end.

Two books, same title, so very very different. Keep your eyes peeled, they will be out in ‘09.

Tags: Book, carolyn turgeon, carrie adams, cinderella, fairy godmother, godmother, hardcover, paperback

Has anyone told you that I have solved the gay marriage crisis? Yep. I did.
Everyone gets a civil union. This would encompass all government dealings (taxes, any death issues that come up, legitimacy, etc). If you want to further that by getting a “marriage” within your church, that is your option. Then the sacrement of marriage is clear (though what’s that about the USA divorce rate? 50%? right. that sure is sacred) and everyone is happy.

Obviously, not that simple. I personally don’t care who gets married to whom. Be good and safe and healthy and happy together, and go for it! Any combo works for me.

That said, there is an interesting post on Huckabee and his viewing of rights and civil rights, here. I was very proud of myself that very early on in the report about violence I thought, “what about Matt Shepherd in Wyoming? Doesn’t being beaten to death count as violence?” Interesting article. I especially liked the comment from the person from Denmark. Many good points.

If you believe in the rights to all to marry, please head over to White Knot.org. Here is some of their info.

A symbol of equality…
because everyone should be able to tie the knot.

The white knot represents your support of the rights of gays and lesbians to marry. Showing your support for this shows your belief in equal rights and non-discrimination for all people.

Thousands of white knots were distributed at Saturday’s rallies. Since you can’t carry a sign and chant everywhere you go, start wearing a white knot to show your support and continue the conversation. Join our mailing list to find out more. Keep this issue on the top of mind of everyone. We are working to get white knots manufactured. In the meantime, make you own.

Be kind to one another. We are all stuck on this one planet. And be kind to IT too.

Tags: civil rights, civil unions, gay marriage, gay rights, marriage, matt shepherd, mike huckabee, whiteknot.org

Just finished “Girlfriend Material” by Melissa Kantor. I liked it… but I did not love everything about the ending… I did like the relationships between Kate and her mom and sister (though I felt the relationship between her and her dad was a bit weak).

I have read bits of Kantor’s other stuff. I really liked what I read of “If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince?” and I would say I really liked about 75% of this one. I still liked the rest, but my hopes were higher than where Kantor took the novel.

Now with all that depressing review out of the way, who WOULDN’T want to to go Cape Cod (albeit with her mom who is taking a break from her dad) and be seen as the cool girl? It made me not look forward to 6 months of winter, but did make me long for summer nights and walking on the beach.

Definitely worth it to pick up because it WAS a fun time. I would be interested to get feedback on what you thought of the ending. See if you thought the same stuff was missing as I did… though maybe it is just because there is a sequel already in the works…..

Tags: breakup bible, confessions of a not-it girl, disney, girlfriend material, hyperion, hyperionteens, kantor, melissa kantor, summer reads, teen summer reads, ya novel, young adult

Everyone is neurotic. At least, I hope so, so that I am not alone. Alicia Thompson’s book helps prove that. Leigh Nolan is such a great girl and has no problem “thinking up for her self,” even if she has trouble speaking up for herself, if you get what I mean. She is majoring in psych and going to the same school as her high school boyfriend, who is a bit of a dick. Each of the chapter headings are different psychology terms, Counterconditioning, intimacy v. isolation, and confirmation bias.
Absolutely fabulous. Such a fun read.

Fabulous review here, from someone who I guess knows the author, at Shane Guy External. And another good description at Marsh Agency.com which I will copy for you here,

Eighteen-year-old Leigh Nolan is just starting her freshman year at a small college in California and is suffering from the psych major syndrome, a common affliction wherein a psychology major, overwhelmed by conditions, effects, and disorders, begins to overanalyze her own life.
When Leigh is asked to complete forty sentences about herself for an assignment, some of her answers start her thinking. What compels her to procrastinate on every paper she has to write? Why does she lie all the time, mostly about little things that don’t even matter? And how in forty sentences could she have possibly forgotten to mention Andrew, her boyfriend of over a year? Although, what exactly is going on with the lack of intimacy in their relationship anyway?
Not that Leigh feels guilty about that last one when she shows up at Andrew’s apartment, all dressed up for their date, and finds him still in his pyjamas. Nor does she feel too bad that the date is a bust, largely due to her aversion for peanut sauce (she never told Andrew she hated Thai food, but still). Now, Leigh’s appreciation of Nathan, Andrew’s aloof math-major roommate, walking shirtless around their apartment . . okay, that she feels a tiny bit guilty about.

Unfortunately, this book is not due out until AUGUST of 2009. Not sure why I have already gotten an advance of it… but yeah. It was so much fun.

There is this whole story line about being a mentor, and yeah it will spoil it a bit for you, but it made me laugh SO HARD, I have to share it with you. This is Leigh describing a contest she got 2nd place in, “…”You can achieve anything you want. Well, almost anything. You know, if there wasn’t some stupid girl who wrote some cookie-cutter piece of crap essay about The Heart of Darkness.” THIS IS TO A BUNCH OF MIDDLE SCHOOLERS!!!
Oh lord priceless.

So yeah, definitely check it out. It has good times, bad times, serious topics and one liners, and lots of overanalyzing. But it also has lots of good kids, which make every book better to be. Remember August 2009, BE THERE!

Tags: alicia thompson, august 2009 release, college, disney, fiction, hyperion, hyperion teens, leigh nolan, novel, psych major syndrome, psychology, stiles college, teen read, thompson, young adult

Not a real post, just to say that RIGHT AFTER I post saying I want more Tammy, we get the advance of her new Beka Cooper. Yay life. Sometimes there are good things. Now, if I could stop sneezing….

Ah, Tammy Pierce. How I love you. I don’t love that new books aren’t coming out 5 a year, but as an adult, I must deal.

yeah, I’ve lived that.

I do love that she also loved Impossible by Nancy Werlin. It was a beautiful novel and its use of “Scarborogh Fair,” WOW. I don’t know any young adults who have read it, just other staff from my shop, but yeah, everyone should read it.

Just a general, “make sure you have read some Tamora Pierce lately” blog post, with some fabulous Impossible thrown in for variety.

Happy Monday!

Tags: books, fiction, garfunkle, hardcover, impossible, nancy werlin, paperback, pierce, scarborough fair, simon, tamora pierce, tortall, werlin, young adult

I read the Host by Stephenie Meyer and loved it. That was NOTHING compared to the pleasure I felt from listening to it. Some stats on the Amazon page but the key there was Kate Reading. After I finished listening, I wanted to TALK like her.

I also listened to the Twilight series, and greatly enjoyed those novels too. I listened to all seven of the Harry Potters. Jim Dale, mm mmm mmmmm what a great voice. I have listened to a few of Scott Sigler’s works as well. I can’t listen to them for hours because they are SO frightening. I read Infected, and loved it, but I can only listen to his other stuff 3 chapters at a time, because I know how scary he is. And yet he can be scared himself by a little bumble bee…. go figure!

With the prevalence of Ipods and the ease of services like Audible.com and through Itunes, Audio books are getting a bit more of a push. I wish that the could find a way to price them in cd form at a way that everyone can afford. I have found that most unabridged audio books are between $30 and $50 dollars. Well that could buy 5 paperbacks, or even 2-3 hardcovers. To only buy one book on cd, where generally you buy it and listen to it only once, well OUCH.

Regardless, audio books are a great way to spend the time when working out, when walking the dog, when driving to work, when going on a car trip. Time flies and you get to experience a great book in a new way.

Also, Dragonrider by Cornelia Funke. Brendan Fraser is the reader, and he does a PHENOMENAL job. Don’t miss it!

Tags: audio, audio books, breaking dawn, cornelia funke, dragonrider, eclipse, harry potter, host, infected, ipod, itunes, jim dale, kate reading, meyer, new moon, scott sigler, sigler, stephenie meyer, twilight

You might think this book is just another little bit of fluff. The cover indicates it is definitely woman fiction. Yes to the woman’s fiction part, but it was so much more than just a bit of fluff. These days it seems that there is not enough “pressure” (if that is the right word) on what should be done to keep a marriage together. I think that this book shows (in a fabulous and fun way) different routes you can take.

Amazon info here though please make sure to purchase through your local independent bookshop! And from the Random House website,

All you need is love? For the residents of swanky Mayfair Estates, a pre-nup is just another item on the wedding to-do checklist—but three friends get more than they bargained for when they promise to love, cherish . . . and sign on the dotted line.

Ellie married her handsome, wealthy Prince Charming when she was young, naive, and willing to sign a one-sided pre-nup in the name of true love. But seven years and one toddler later, her happily-ever-after has come screeching to a halt. If she can’t save her marriage, she’s determined to save her divorce…. When Jen married Eric, he knew she wasn’t head over heels. Still, he insisted they were perfect together and even bankrolled her business. But when Jen’s career takes off, she may lose the husband she loves more than she realized—and everything else she’s worked for…. Up-and-coming attorney Mara is sure her fiancé has forgiven her for a foolish one-night fling—until he adds a “cheating clause” to the pre-nup she had demanded. If he really trusts her, why the clause? And if she’s really trustworthy, why is she objecting?

As romance collides with real life, three very different women turn to each other for moral support and insights about how to safeguard their most valuable assets: their hearts.

Good review over at Genre Go Round. It really is a great friendship book, though I did not feel that the men were all that thin on the description. From that review, “Thus the reader never fully sees the viewpoints of Michael, Eric or Josh.” While you don’t see the viewpoint of the three men, I feel that the way Kendrick writes them shows the kind of men they are. While I was definitely not endeared to Michael, I actually respected Eric and Josh as much as the three women.

It was a fun one and goes on sale on November 25th, 2008. Head on over to your local independent bookshop, and then start reading!

Tags: beth kendrick, Book, chick lit, fiction, h ardcover, kendrick, novel, paperback, prenup, prenuptial agreement, random house, rh

Be part of a new experiment in publishing and community

Concord Free Press is publishing its first book—Give and Take by novelist Stona Fitch—in October, 2008. We’re distributing it free online and via a network of independent bookstores. In return, we ask readers to make a voluntary donation to a charity or someone in need. And we ask them to pass the book on, so that every time the book changes hands, it generates more contributions.

“Give and Take is a smart novel with a surprise on almost every page, an unexpectedly admirable hero, and an infectious spirit. Fitch has a moral and political point to make, but he’s an entertainer first and foremost, with a wry take on generosity and greed, and a jazzy style that’s irresistible. All that for free?” –Stephen McCauley

They publish books and give them away for free. Its that simple.

We’re dedicated to a different kind of publishing, one that connects readers and their communities in new ways. We’re interested in expanding the definition of publishing and re-invigorating the book, which isn’t dead yet, by the way.

No matter who published them or how good they are, most books go on a familiar trajectory—new, used, shelved permanently, dusty. Ours keep going from hand to hand, generating donations along the way. Readers are generally good people. We give them a chance to get great books for free—and make contributions to organizations and individuals right in their own community, wherever that may be.

From our global headquarters in West Concord, Massachusetts, high above (well, we’re on the second floor) the mighty Nashoba Brook (a creek, actually), we’re creating books that connect reading and giving like never before.

(All these quotes are direct from their website. But there is more information there if you want more. Head over to Concord Free Press to get more info!)

I got my book and chose to give money to our local humane society. I can’t wait to start reading. This is a really interesting concept that I think can go far.