BookedinChico

Book Review- Beatitude by Larry Closs

2012-02-05T12:35:00.000-08:00

Title: Beatitude

Author: Larry Closs

Publisher: Rebel Satori Press

Pages: 272

Rating: 4 Shots of Espresso (Red Eye)

Book Review:

Relationships keep people together, push people apart and test people's boundaries. Whether the bond is brotherly or romantic, for relationships to be healthy and to last they must be treated with tender and care. Larry Closs' Beatitude raises multiple, thought-provoking questions about how to define and create boundaries in a relationship without negative repercussions. The blossoming and, at times, tumultuous relationship between main characters, Harry and Jay, grows and develops into a beautiful story about friendship and much more.

Harry has been working at this struggling New York magazine when Jay recently joins the staff. Both men have an extreme fascination with the Beat Generation, especially Jack Kerouac. Their relationship begins to form as they share their passion for the Beats. They soon begin their quest to find the manuscript scroll of Kerouac's On the Road, a dream for both of them.

The bond between Harry and Jay forms quickly. From going to a party together to daily lunches, I began to think that this was a relationship blooming beyond just traditional friends. I, then, began to feel that Harry was becoming too clingy and dependent upon his friendship with Jay. Harry's and Jay's relationship reminded me of the interesting relationship between George Talboys and Robert Audley in Mary Elizabeth Braddon's Lady Audley's Secret. Both of these relationships push the boundaries of traditional friendships; both raise questions and commentary on how boundaries form between two people. What is too much? What is a friendship? How do significant others change the boundaries between friends? We all go through these questions as we grow up and form new and different friendships.

Closs keeps you reading in his meticulous character development. Although Harry bothered me many times in his need to always obtain satisfaction from Jay, I still cared very much for Harry's life. This gave me the same uneasy feeling that I get when I read a novel with a subordinate women. I wanted Harry to be stronger and stop putting himself in a vulnerable position where he would keep getting hurt. Closs writes his characters so well that you can empathize with them as if they are your own friends. I found myself connecting with the characters in the way I have seen how boundaries in friendships is important. Much of the struggles in Beatitude seem to come from the fact that Harry is still learning and struggling with his own identity. He still needs to find some confidence and a sense of security in himself. His vulnerability bothered me but not to the point where I would have put the book down; quite the opposite in fact, I wanted to keep on reading.

Closs knows how to develop a character extremely well without forgetting to provide you with a plot. The search to find Beat first editions, original manuscripts and new typewriters keeps the character development balanced. Many novels, lately, with great characters have forgotten include a plot, and Closs doesn't fail! The passion about the Beats, their works and their history is seamlessly worked into Beatitude. I am not a Beat fan, but Closs' perspective provided me with a greater appreciation into their literary tradition. Closs invokes the Beats in his plot and in his writing. I enjoyed the passion that Closs clearly has with the Beats in his writing. This novel is a fabulous addition to the novels of the Beat Generation.

I give Larry Closs' Beatitude four shots of espresso. He keeps the reader engaged and continually prompts the read to try and define what relationships are and how to place boundaries. My perpetual investment in Harry to see how his and Jay's relationship turns out is a fresh addition to what is out their for novels with themes about relationships. The missing shot, for me, was the dialogue and descriptions of the dialogue. I wanted Closs to show me more in the characters' dialogues than just have the narrator tell me. Closs does such a fabulous job at developing his characters that I thought the dialogue detracted from some of those beautiful developments at times. I highly recommend this novel to those who want a novel to toy with and, especially, for those who love the Beat Generation.

I was very proud to have been apart of Lori of TNBBC's Beatitude Blog Tour. Larry Closs wrote a beautiful piece about NYC, which is very complimentary to his wonderful novel. If you missed it or want to read it again, check out Larry Closs' Guest Blog Post.

~Erica

The Tiger's Wife - Tea Obreht

2012-01-30T00:30:00.000-08:00

Title: The Tiger's Wife

Author: Tea Obreht

Publisher: Random House

Pages: 338

Rating: 3 Shots of Espresso (Coffee Buzz)

Book Review:

Plot - Set in the Balkans during a tumultuous war, Tea Obreht's The Tiger's Wife follows the doctor Natalia as she tries to find details of her grandfather's death. Though Natalia is clearly aware that her grandfather was dying, her grandmother summons her to discover why her grandfather dies alone and not at home. The story fluctuates between the search about Natalia's grandfather's death and the fantastical stories that her grandfather has shared with her over time. One story she has been told while her grandfather was living, the deathless man, and one was revealed after his passing, the tiger's wife. These fantastical stories enhance the search for the grandfather and, also, help reveal more about the grandfather's life. The plot begins with Natalia and her grandfather going to the zoo to see the tiger; then, the plot continues to take the reader on an adventure to discover what the tiger's wife is all about.

Character - Obreht uses two characters--real and magical. Her real characters--Natalia--foil the magical characters--the deathless man. Natalia, for instance, becomes the guide to the real story and the real characters. I thought that the magical characters were more interesting and allowed for more commentary on culture, life and society. (This matters to me because I do not enjoy reading novels that are not able to discuss our current state in society.) Obreht's use of the magical characters allow her to comment on how people communicate and how ideologies dominate. Natalia, as a character, stays rather consistent and keeps working towards the same goal. I never felt that she was really torn on her decisions. The deathless man may have been fated to play one role only, he raises discussions with others to allow his character to grow in the story. Obrhet seems more comfortable writing in a fantastical genre than general fiction. I would have wanted her to keep pushing on the issues that the magical characters raise; I saw several lost moments.

Style - The Tiger's Wife adamantly flirts with magical realism with the inclusion of the deathless man and the tiger's wife. I absolutely love magical realism and enjoy trying out debut novels that enter in this genre. Obreht does a phenomenal job in telling the story of the deathless man and the tiger's wife. My favorite aspect of the story was the deathless man because it was more compelling and realistic, while I did not really care for the tiger's wife story. The tiger's wife story was drawn out and the follow through was less than impressive to me. The deathless man story is carefully revealed in each new occurrence. Obreht's novel, due to the magical elements, reminds me of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Chronicle of A Death Foretold, but with less conviction and care. Her debut entrance into magical realism is impressive, but I hope to see a seamless transition between reality and magical reality in her next novel. Her fantastical stories detracted from Natalia's work to help the health of children. The was a lot of story lines in The Tiger's Wife and some could have had more attention and care. Natalia's life would only have several pages at a time, while the fantastical stories dominated the books length. As a writer, I wanted Obreht to manipulate the plot more by using these fantastical stories. I believe that one more stylistic edit would have drastically improved a great book to be an amazing novel.

Tea Obreht's The Tiger's Wife is an admirable debut novel, especially, because the novel was written by an author who was only about twenty-four. I recommend this novel to those who enjoy reading magical realism and fantastical stories. Though Obreht has some work to obtain the genius of Marquez and Salman Rushdie, The Tiger's Wife is an enjoyable novel that is impressive for a debut, modern novel. I look forward to reading future novels from Obreht in the future.

I am glad that the Huffington Post Book Club decided to kick start the year with Tea Obreht's The Tiger's Wife. I quickly went to my local indie bookstore and picked the novel up. I was excited to read a novel that dapples in magical realism because I needed a book to prompt me to read that genre again. I love them, but after a thesis chapter on Rushdie's The Satanic Verses and an entire year of reading Rushdie, I just needed a break. Thanks Obreht for getting me excited again and now I want to go back and read some more Marquez and Morrison.

The next Huffington Post Book Club choice will be posted on my blog. Click here for more info.

~ Erica

The Larry Closs Blog Tour - New York City

2012-01-27T01:00:00.000-08:00

I felt so honored when Lori the genius and Indie supported if TNBBC asked me to join her for the BEATITUDE Book Blog Tour. Larry Closs' wonderful novel, BEATITUDE, about relationships and the ominous Beat Generation captures New York life and a passion of the Beats. It is my greatest pleasure to host Larry as a guest blogger. I know you will enjoy Larry's short about New York life.

Only in New York

The bright lights and big city of Beatitude
Larry Closs

I’m alone at Think Coffee on Bleecker and Bowery—yeah, the original and still the best—and that good-looking guy from The Good Wife sits right next to me. He’s wearing a black hoodie, dark stressed jeans and work boots and he seems instantly at home yet somehow out of place. For a moment, I find myself wondering why he’s not sporting a suit. And then I realize: we are in an East Village coffee joint and he is just another New Yorker, craving caffeine, just like me.

Only in New York does the line between fact and fiction so easily blur. New York is
as much a set as it is a city, a charismatic, cinematic mise-en-scène that everyone in the world has visited—even if they’ve never been here—through books, movies and TV. Set a fictional story in New York and you instantly add a sense of verisimilitude. I was fortunate to be able to set my novel, Beatitude, in New York, to have my protagonists’ story play out beneath the bright lights of the big city that’s instantly familiar yet awe-inspiring to everyone on the planet. It helped to be a New Yorker, of course, although I wasn’t always one.

When I first moved to New York and I was looking for an apartment, I called a broker about a listing. He told me to meet him in front of Citarella Fish on the Upper West Side.

Where's that?” I asked.

“Citarella Fish!” he yelled into the phone, as if saying it louder would somehow clarify its location, as if there was no way I couldn’t know where it was.

But I didn’t.

“You don’t know where Citarella Fish is?” he asked incredulously.

“Sorry,” I said. “I’ve never heard of it.”

“What? It’s next to Fairway!”

I’d never heard of Fairway, either.

“You’re not a New Yorker, are you?”

Twenty years later, Fairway is my neighborhood market. And I am a New Yorker. I walk fast. I talk fast. I don’t wait for traffic lights. I work out. I order out. I stay out of Times Square. And now Soho. I know that Dan Smith, whose Zen-like smile follows me on flyers posted in every bodega in the five boroughs, will teach me guitar, that Dr. Z, whose friendly face beams from rainbow-embossed ads in every subway car, will give me beautiful, clear skin and that I can hear the first three notes of “Somewhere” from West Side Story in the metallic screech of a subway train’s wheels as it pulls out of a station. When I go for a run in the park, it’s Central Park. When a friend walks across a bridge on her way to work, it’s the Brooklyn Bridge. When my sister calls and comments on all the noise in my apartment, I vaguely remember being bothered by the sound of the traffic just beyond my windows but haven’t heard it for years. I know where Citarella Fish is, but I would never berate someone for not knowing.

As a Metro Card-carrying New Yorker, I was intimate enough with the city to make it one of the main characters in Beatitude. New York shares every scene with Harry, Jay and Zahra, from the New York Public Library, Gotham Book Mart and Rudy’s Bar & Grill to Café Dante, the Bitter End and Nuyirican Poets Café. But the New York of 1995, when Beatitude takes place, is gone. The Gotham Book Mart, gone. Chicago Blues, gone. Star Burger, gone. Subway tokens, gone. The Tytell Typewriter Company, Martin Tytell and Allen Ginsberg, gone, gone and gone. The run-down red-brick row house where Jack Kerouac wrote the first draft of On the Road on a 120-foot scroll, not gone but completely rehabbed. All a part of history now, a New York that was but no longer is, existing only in the memories of those who were there.

Harry and Jay were there. One reviewer described the dimensions of their friendships as “epic,” a quality conjured by their supreme loyalty to one another but no doubt enhanced by the fact that their story unfolds in the near-otherworldly dimensions of New York. The city’s influence on my life, my work and my writing has been incalculable. Epic, even. New York is beat and beatific. It’s a concrete jungle with streets that make you feel brand new. It’s the stuff of song. It’s the stuff of dreams. It’s the stuff of Beatitude.

Larry Closs is the author of Beatitude, a novel, and a New Yorker who often wanders far from home. Follow him on his website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram (larrycloss).

Head on over the lovely Book Sexy Review's blog tomorrow for the next stop. Click here to go there.

End of Year Survey - Book Blog Style

2011-12-30T11:55:00.000-08:00

Here is my End of Year Survey from The Perpetual Page-Turner. Join in the fun!

BookishBests

1. Best Book You Read In 2011?

The Girl Who Fell fromthe Sky by Heidi W Durrow isby far the best book I read in 2011. Durrow has a fabulous way of writing and depictinga world of sorrow and hope that is so real and compelling. I prefer novels thatmake important statements about society and Durrow does suberbly in her debutnovel. She is up there with Toni Morrison and Zadie Smith. I can’t wait fordecades more of her novels!

2. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish YouLoved More Than You Did?

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern was extremelydisappointing to me because there was so much hype and anticipation for thisnovel. Once I finally got my hands on it, I couldn’t get into it and, then,could never find a reason to care about the characters. It felt like a YoungAdult novel, which was marketed poorly to the adult literary community. I nowknow to be cautious of books people boast so much about for next year.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of2011?

I excitedly won The GhostTrap by K. Stephens from The Next Best Book Blog’s giveaway, where wediscussed with the author about her novel. This was such a fantastic experiencefor me to kick off my book blog. I was intrigued by the story before I startedbut was wary if I would like it in the end. The verdict? I loved it! It wassuch an amazing story, where I really fell in love with the characters. Such agreat way to kick off a book blog! Thanks again Lori and K. Stephens!

4. Book you recommended to people most in2011?

I would recommend Mudbound by Hillary Jordan because I think that she is a fantasticauthor who is writing in a way I think all authors should write—about the worldaround them. Salman Rushdie always talks about how authors should write aboutthe truth in their surrounding worlds. Jordan does just that. She writes aboutreally important issues that we have still yet to fully address in our society.She is a true American author that raises issues that we still haunt us today!Go read Hillary Jordan next year!!

5. Best series you discovered in 2011?

I didn’t read any books that are in a series,but I did discover a new favorite author, Hillary Jordan and read two of herbooks this year—Mudbound and When She Woke.

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?

Hillary Jordan, Heidi W Durrow and JohnMilliken Thompson are my new discover authors for 2011. They seem to fall inline with my favorite writing and subject matter—Southern and African Americanliterature. My master’s degree and English training came through even when Itried to deny it this year.

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

BeforeI Go to Sleep by SJ Watson becauseI don’t normally read thriller type books. But this summer I really wanted toread something different and absolutely loved it!

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?

Us by Michael Kimball because I literallywas reading this book everywhere. In less than 24 hours, I read the book becauseit was so incredible. I read it through my classes and even on my walk to andfrom school. I couldn’t get enough of it. Kimball is an incredible author whoreally knows how to emotionally pull at his readers. Fabulous book!

9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?

TheNight Circus by Erin Morgensternand was incredibly disappointed by the novel. I felt like there was a lack of aplot. I had no investment in the characters and felt like it moved slowly. I amfinding that I prefer novels that do two things—develop characters but with theuse of a plot.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?

TheBird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussenis absolutely beautiful and intriguing for a reader to pick up.

11. Most memorable character in 2011?

Rachel from Heidi Durrow’s The Girl Who Fell from the Sky. Thiswill be a novel that I will return to throughout my life and rekindled my lovereading and wanting to still write about what I read. Durrow will sit next toToni Morrison in my future writing!

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?

Us by Michael Kimball was one of my favoritesdue to his ability to write succinct sentences that push you through the noveleffortlessly.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011?

TheGirl Who Fell from the Skyby Heidi Durrow reminded me that I still do love to unpack literature and towrite about it. Though I need a long break from writing traditional literaryessays, I know that I will come back to do such but on my own terms, outside ofthe institution.

14. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read?

JaneEyre by Charlotte Bronte becauseas an English major, I have never really read any Victorian literature.Shocking, I know, but somehow I was able to avoid it. I liked it but definitelythink that Victorian literature is only to be read during the dreary, coldmonths.

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011?

"But I must start at the beginning, if I can find it. Beginnings are elusive things. Just when you think you have hold of one, you look back and see another, earlier beginning, and an earlier one before that. Even if you start with "Chapter One: I Am Born," you still have the problem of antecedents, of cause and effect" (Laura from Mudbound by Hillary Jordan).

I felt that Laura has become one of my favorite characters. She makes me mad, excited and happy, which is what makes her such a great character follow. This passage was interesting to me because it discusses how events or moments start or stop, or do they? It shows how we, as humans, want to make things so black and white, simply packaged; however, life isn't that way no matter how much you want the good to always start and the bad to always end.

16. Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012?

TheGirl Who Fell from the Skyby Heidi Durrow because that novel will continue to unravel new things to meand will be in a literary essay that I will write in the future.

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk ToSomebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.)Be careful of spoilers!

In Tasteof Salt by Martha Southgate, the main character Josie reveals a nonchalantcomment about her relationship with her husband that irked me so much. Ihighlighted it and am still disgusted by it.

Book Blogging/ReadingLife in 2011

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2011?

I love BookSexyReviewbecause she reads much of what I like and has some of the best reviews. It wasan awesome find!

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2011?

Us by Michael Kimball because I was sopassionate about the book.

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

Having just started blogging, I haven’t reallyhad that much of a discussion. This is something I really want to change.During Arm Chair BEA, I had some discussion and encouragement to keep blogging,which was rather exciting.

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else'sblog?

Lori of The Next Best Book Blog’s review aboutThe Passage. She asked questionsabout what other’s read and what is popular usually isn’t in line with what shereads. I tend to agree because so many people LOVED The Night Circus and I didn’t at all. I don’t understand this!

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtualevents, memes, etc.)?

Arm Chair BEA 2011 was the best because itallowed me to really become immersed into the book blogging world. I was ableto participate and see how awesome and supportive the book blogging communityis with each other.

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2011?

When I received my first book from a publisherin the mail. I was so incredibly shocked! It was War Memorials by Clint McCown. Gray Wolf Press sent it to me.

7. Most Popular PostThis Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

War Memorials by Clint McCown is mypost popular, which shocks me because it wasn’t something I would havenecessarily have thought I would love but it was a great novel!

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

I had wished my review and interview on the novel, The Reservoir by John Milliken Thompson, received more attention becauseI really enjoyed the novel and loved his interview that I did with John. He isa fabulous author and can’t wait until his second novel.

9. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Better World Books was the greatest discovery this year because it is anaffordable book selling website where they support libraries and other literacyprograms. I think it will be the only place I go to for online book shoppingfor 2012.

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set foryourself at the beginning of this year?

I did the Goodreads 2011 Reading Challenge, where I challenged myself to read50 books. I will have reached my goal by Saturday, December 31^st. Iam very proud because I was struggling to read when I was getting adjusted toworking at my first real job.

Looking Ahead...

1. One Book You Didn't Get To In 2011 But WillBe Your Number 1 Priority in 2012?
1Q84 by Haruki Murakami because Ihave always wanted to read one of his novels and never have. I will be readingthat and Kafka on the Shore. They aremy January and February goal novels.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2012?

Home by Toni Morrison hands down ismy most anticipated novel. I absolutely LOVE Toni Morrison’s novels. I had aclass in college that was reading only Morrison and William Faulkner novels. Sincethen, I have been a Morrison and Faulkner freak!

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2012?

I want to improve my reviews and really step up my book blogging game nextyear. I am challenging myself to be an awesome book blogger. I am going to putthis as one of my biggest priorities for 2012 and I can’t wait to do so! BringIt!

Oh it’s already beenbroughten!

Happy New Year! Thank you to all of my readers, authors, publishers and fellow bloggers for all of your support and hospitality during my first year at blogging. To a new year and a better blog!

~ Erica

@BookedinChico

Practical Jean - Trevor Cole

2011-12-05T09:57:00.001-08:00

Title: Practical Jean

Author: Trevor Cole

Publisher: Harper Perennial

Rating: 5 shots of espresso (The Coffee Shakes)

I may be weird, crazy or even human, but I thoroughly enjoy humor involving death or dying. Sadistic, or simply dark, a novel that can make you wonder about life and laugh hysterically at the same time is wickedly fabulous.

Meet Jean Vale Horemarsh--the practically, crazy ingenious character of Trevor Cole's latest novel, The Practical Jean, may possibly be one of my new favorite characters that I have recently met. Mrs. Horemarsh witnesses the unflattering and painful process of her mother's slow death due to cancer. Upon moving into to her mother's house during the process, Jean failed to see the beauty and comfort that life also brings. She neglected her relationship with her husband and slowly let the sadness and death take over her thoughts about life.

Sound depressing? It is, until, Jean finally decides to find some happiness in life by having all of her female friends over for a party. All the women come over to reminisce and laugh about their good times and to discuss the implications of life and death. Though Jean was having some difficulty with the loss of her mother, she decides to devise a plan that will keep those she truly loves from having to deal with the horrid process of suffering during death. And thus, Cole introduces the practical Jean that I now know and love.

Cole's Practical Jean kept me on an enjoyable reading roller coaster from laughing to contemplating the realities of life and death. I loved that I was able to enjoy the light-heartedness of the novel, but was able to really think about what life is all about. Cole's ability to balance humor and philosophy is incredible. Enjoy reading serious humor? Then, Cole's novel should be your next read!

I give Trevor Cole's awesome, new novel, Practical Jean, five yummy shots of espresso! Cole's novel pulled me into the life of Jean Vale Horemarsh, where I empathized with her, thought she was insane and even, at times, thought she was so right on--so practical. Want to know how a novel can make you laugh until the end with death sewn throughout? Go check out Cole's Practical Jean. A perfect read to keep you laughing throughout the holiday craziness!

~ Erica ïIð

String Bridge - Jessica Bell

2011-11-13T18:28:00.001-08:00

Title: String Bridge

Author: Jessica Bell

Publisher: Lucky Press

Rating: 3 Shots of Espresso (Coffee Buzz)

Passionate about music? Curious about the passion of amusician?

Jessica Bell’s debut novel, String Bridge, develops a keen sense of how to show the enveloped passionof a musician. Melody, the Australian musician living in Greece, decides tomake a decision for herself rather than someone else. She decides to thinkabout returning to the stage; she is no longer happy in her career that she hadchosen over her guitar. String Bridgetakes the reader on Melody’s journey and through each of her obstacles.

Bell’s novel is a nice change in the genre where thecharacter decides to redefine their identity or go back to their roots. String Bridge examines Melody’s life andher society defined gender as a female and what that was supposed to mean whenshe married her music promoter husband. Melody seeks what she wants andcarefully decides what type of sacrifices are necessary.

I really enjoyed the connection Melody has with her mother,and the guidance that she seeks from her mother. The people that Melody sees asharboring knowledge, such as her mother, kept me interested in the decisionsthat Melody would make. I felt like I had invested in Melody and her decisionsthat I kept reading and waiting to see what she would end up doing by the endof the novel. The passion that Bell portrays through Melody’s desire to be amusician again is wonderful and believable. I felt like String Bridge is worthy in the way Bell fully develops thestruggles of a character who wants to redefine their identity. I felt that Bellexamines the situation without simply having Melody being only negative abouther current situation. There was a push and pull that Melody goes through thatvalidates this category of novels that I, at times, have had trouble reading.Jessica Bell’s String Bridge does afabulous job developing the struggles and decisions that Melody ends up makingby the end of the novel.

I give Bell’s StringBridge three shots of espresso because I think that those who really enjoycharacter self-discovery novels will thoroughly enjoy the novel. I know thatthis is a genre that I normally don’t fawn over, but I really enjoyed thisgreat addition. Also, those who are passionate about music should definitelycheck out String Bridge becauseJessica Bell also has a fabulous soundtrack that goes along with the novel. Fora great read and a great listen, pick this one up!

Check out the trailer:

ï(ð~ Erica

Self-published Sunday Spotlight - November 13, 2011

2011-11-13T18:27:00.001-08:00

I have decided to showcase three self-published authors every other Sunday. I will briefly explain their book and what it’s about and who the author is. I want to support self-published authors, and I believe that this is of more value to my audience. The actual reviews of these books may come later. This is how I plan on continuing my support of the self-published author population, as I have now fully entered the work world. Cheers to the wonderful world of self-published authors; a great group of authors that all should take the pleasure of picking one of these fabulous novels up!

eBook (Non-fiction):

Culinary School: Three Semesters of Life, Learning and Loss of Blood

Written by: S J Sebellin-Ross

2011

words

S J Sebellin-Ross’ memoir, Culinary School, confesses her experiences from the good to the bad to the bizarre. Immediately, Sebellin-Ross takes you into her culinary world by describing who really is the average student. “[They] are not foodies. [They] are not people who read Saveur or own cookbooks or eat in fine restaurants. [They] are not people who know who David Chang is or what soba noodles are.” Instead, Culinary School depicts a world that may be foreign to the average person, the foodie or even the restaurateur; Sebellin-Ross roughly depicts her experiences with her fellow culinary connoisseurs. While much of the memoir revels in the struggles of Sebellin-Ross, the lighter moments keep the memoir insightful, and, at times, the memoir does offer some recipes. Sebellin-Ross’ Culinary School left me with a burnt feeling in my mouth because her whole experience seemed torturous. I love to cook and warn the foodie at heart that this is memoir for the strong stomached, but do check it out!

Non-fiction (Print):

Still Life with Brass Pole: The Cross-Country Coming of Age of a Teenage Love Junkie

Written by: Craig Machen

2011

269 pgs

Craig Machen’s memoir, Still Life with Brass Pole, takes you into his life as a 16 year old thrown into a world of drugs and abandonment. Though Machen deals with rather heavy and serious issues, he manages to keep the moments lighter with his humor or snide comments. Still Life with Brass Pole manages to maintain a sense of optimism in a life full of obstacles and hurdles that are only heightened due to the fact that he is a teenager where everything is so much more dramatic and earth shattering. The hope that drives the memoir keeps you interested in how his cross-country adventures to find his own life and family pans out. Machen’s Still Life with Brass Pole shows how one surrounded by sorry material conditions can redefine their identity for the better. Finding a sense of purpose and the good in the world is what makes this memoir worth the read. Check out Still Life with Brass Pole!

Print Fiction:

The Water Men

Written by: Adelaide MacKenzie Fuss

2011

226 pgs

Adelaide MacKenzie Fuss’ novel, The Water Men, examines the redefining of Shawn McGuire’s identity. After having to rethink his income situation, Shawn goes back to his hometown of Newport Beach, California. Though Shawn may be financially hurting, he seeks the ocean waves of the Pacific to help redirect his new path. Along his own path, he discovers the needs of others and finds that living only in his own head and for himself is not the best path for him to take this second time around. He uses his love for the ocean and surfing to help guide him to form a self-satisfying identity. Fuss’ The Water Men provides the reader with a sense on wonderment about life and how we choose specific paths in our lives. How circumstances can mold us to travel one way rather than another way. Check out Adelaide MacKenzie Fuss’ The Water Men if you want to fall into the California surfing fantasy and to see what path Shawn McGuire decides to take.

Sunday Self-published Spotlight - October 30, 2011

2011-10-30T20:51:00.000-07:00

I have decided to showcase three self-published authorsevery other Sunday. I will briefly explain their book and what it’s about. I want to support self-published authors, and I believe thatthis is of great value to my audience. The actual reviews of these books maycome later. This is how I plan on continuing my support of the self-publishedauthor population, as I have now fully entered the work world. Cheers to thewonderful world of self-published authors--a great group of authors! Everyone should take the pleasure of picking one of these fabulous books up!

eBook:

Sleeping Kings: Dark Force – Book One

Written by: John Prentice

2011

78,500 words

John Prentice’s Young Adult novel, Sleeping Kings, follows a geek, Nik, who now has to deal with herparents’ divorce. She moves to France with her father, where her ordinary lifeis transformed into adventure and mystery. As Nik tries to help figure out whatis going on after finding a dead man, she must figure out how she fits into hernew life. She uses the craziness from history to come to an understanding ofwhat is happening around her. Prentice wondrously creates this world ofmystery, fantasy and realism that is sure to keep you turning the electronicpages. Sleeping Kings is for anyonewho likes to delve into a fantastical mystery, but also for those who like themysticism of history. Check out Prentice’s SleepingKings, especially those Young Adult fans!

Non-fiction(Print):

Waiting for Pops: A Journey from Boy to Man

Written by: John Philip Riffice

2010

331 pgs

John Philip Riffice’s memoir, Waiting for Pops, depicts Riffice’s life as a child dealing with afamily history of alcoholism. The memoir begins strongly with a theme ofbetrayal and how that plays out for a young boy. Specifically, the young boyfaces the betrayal of his mother because of her struggles with alcoholism.Riffice recounts the shame and betrayal the young boy feels because of livingwith an alcoholic mother. The memoir, however, doesn’t end with this onestoryline; it, also, explores the boy’s childhood and search for answerssurrounding his father. Riffice does a fabulous job analyzing how, as an adult,life and reality can drastically change. The now adult man must decide what istruth and what is fiction between what he remembers as a child and what he nowknow as an adult. Check out Riffice’s Waitingfor Pops if you enjoy what sort of truth self-reflective tales bring to themind’s surface.

PrintFiction:

The Watchman of Ephraim

Written by: Gerard DeMarigny

2011

273 pgs

Gerard DeMarigny’s political thriller, The Watchman of Ephraim, is perfect for the current politicalseason to keep you thinking. DeMarigny takes the history and sadness of September11^th and creates a fantastical political thriller. The maincharacter, Chris, rethinks his high-end career after the death of his wife on9/11. The sadness and rage he feels from loosing his wife in such a horrificway catalyzes his decision to begin an agency to combat terrorism. DeMarignytackles current political issues that do not have easy answers, but he does afantastic job at raising such issues in a faced paced novel. I encourage thoseinterested in politics or fiction that tackles political issues to check out The Watchman of Ephraim.

The Man Booker Prize 2011...

2011-10-20T19:20:00.000-07:00

I was waiting in anticipation all day Tuesday to find out who was going to win this year's Man Booker Prize. I had seen articles all morning predicting that Julian Barnes was projected to win. Sure enough, Julian Barnes' THE SENSE ON AN ENDING won the 2011 Man Booker Prize. Though I have yet to read it and hadn't really looked into any of the five that were shortlisted, I was pushing for either Stephan Kelman's PIGEON ENGLISH or Patrick deWitt's THE SISTERS BROTHERS. Why you ask? Because those I had known the most about and had seemed intrigued to read them; in fact, they are both on my TBR list (no matter how insane that list is quickly becoming).

So now I have looked into Barnes' novel a bit more; okay, so it was not what I would read if it didn't have the "Booker" stamp of approval. I will, then, give it a try; however, I am fearful this novel falls into that category of uber maleness, which vomits uncontrollably the male protagonist's pity party about how horrible their downgraded life may be. And to those novels, I can say how much I like them: NOT AT ALL. But like I said, I will give it a try.

Barnes' win makes me question the prize just like many are questioning the National Book Award prize. The Booker Prize has awarded some phenomenal novels, LIFE OF PI, THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS, and MIDNIGHT'S CHILDREN. So why does this one give me the same chills that A SEPARATE PEACE and CATCHER AND THE RYE gave me? And note, those were never good chills!

I guess I will have to wait until next year. This may be why my new favorite literary award is the PEN/Bellwether Prize. Check out that one for other wonderful novels that even more align with themes that I absolutely fall love.

Here's to reading, soon, THE SENSE OF AN ENDING by Julian Barnes; CONGRATS Mr. Barnes!

National Book Award Fiasco

2011-10-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

I wanted to comment on two aspects of all the hype and discussion about the National Book Award (NBA). The first is in response to the mere lack of professionalism and treatment of author Lauren Myracle. The second is in repsonse to a lot of talk about who wins the NBAs and literary awards in general.

Treatment of Lauren Myracle

If you don't already know, the National Book Award panel mistakenly reported that Lauren Myracle's novel SHINE was shortlisted for the prize. The NBA panel, then, decided to add Myracle's novel to the list bringing it to six contenders. This was rather embarrassing, and they could have left it at that. But no, they couldn't maintain even that level of class. The NBA panel proceeded to contact Myracle and ask her to resign from the chance to win. Not only did THEY make the mistake, but now they are placing the enormous embarrasement onto the innocent author, Lauren Myracle. I am absolutely appalled as an avid reader and book blogger with a Master's Degree in English Literature. The NBA panel should be ashamed of themselves. How on earth you can mess something up like this and, then, have the gall to embarrass the innocent author is way beyond my scope of class, literature, etc.

I here by stand to support Lauren Myracle and her novel SHINE by going to my local Indie store--Lyon's Books--and buy her book. On the bright side, Ms. Myracle, this is great press even in such an awful way!

SUPPORT MYRACLE AND HER NOVEL SHINE!

Who Wins the NBA...

Lately, there has been a ton discussion about who wins literary awards and whether or not they are worthy contenders. First of all, I have not read every single one of the short lists, let alone long lists, for the National Book Awards, Man Booker Prize and Pulitzer Prize. However, I do know what these prizes aim to represent and award and how I feel about their identity. Specifically, I love and deeply respect the Man Booker Prize because I have enjoyed and respect many of the authors and titles that have won the prize. In fact, many of my all time favorite novels have won the prize--LIFE OF PI, THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS, and dear ole Sir Salman Rushdie. So, I understand that people have issues when they don't think that a winning novel represents the award. It should. We shouldn't award novels that speak to broad populations. They are supposed to speak to a culture, a community and/or an identity. However, yesterday I came across an article on Salon.com, which critiques the NBA and their finalists. Laura Miller's article, "How the National Book Awards made Themselves Irrelevant," discusses how she doesn't like or care to know who wins the NBA anymore. She believes, "[t]he NBA for fiction often comes across as a Hail Mary pass on behalf of 'writer’s writers,' authors respected within a small community of literary devotees but largely unknown outside." My question, then, is why does this matter? I was really excited to see Bloomsbury's novel SALVAGE THE BONES by Jesmyn Ward shortlisted. How wonderful that Indie Presses are receiving recognition. I believe that Indie Presses represent us more, nationally, than other "well received" and popular novels. But we all have our opinions, so I wanted to finally be a little bit literaryily political. (Yep I can make up words too; just like a politician!)

Happy reading and give the awards a chance, as long as, the panel maintains class (I won't even go into the Philip Roth vs Carmen Callil).

Peter Geye's Interview - Author of Safe From the Sea

2011-10-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

Here's another wonderful treat from author Peter Geye--an interview about his novel SAFE FROM THE SEA. Peter shares about himself as a writer, about his novel and other authors he admires. Enjoy!

I enjoyed your language, which greatly describes both the characters and the setting. Do you craft your language or do you write organically? Or both?

For me, the real joy in writing comes on the sentence level. As much as I love to conceive of plot devices and interesting characterization, nothing is as rewarding as a well-turned sentence. And though I wish I could say that my sentences just flow from my pen, they don’t. There’s usually a pretty workmanlike approach to them. One thing I find myself doing often is constructing a sentence around a single word, which is probably unwise, but I can’t help myself.

The struggle the main character, Noah, has between his father and his wife is really compelling. Did you start with that struggle or did this come later?

In point of fact, when I began writing Safe from the Sea I didn’t have any characters in mind at all, much less multiple characters that struggled with one another. I began with the setting. Simply and literally. All I did for the first month or two or three of writing was sketches of the North Shore. This is a terribly inefficient way to write, but in many ways I was spending that time letting the characters come to me as a result of the place, not forcing it the other way around. I think this ended up being a good thing.

As for Noah’s loyalties to his father and his wife, and all of the tension these loyalties create, I can’t recall exactly the order in which they occurred to me. I do know that the idea of writing about infertility and the anxieties it causes, the stresses it puts on a relationship, these things came from my own experience. The fact that the theme of families and the way stories are handed down from one generation to the next ended up working so nicely with the storyline of Noah and his father, that was accidental in many ways.

What authors do you look up to or use as guidance in your own writing?

I'm easily influenced, so I’m very careful to push what I’m reading out of my mind while I’m writing. That being said, there are so many books and writers whose work is an inspiration. This could really be a whole dissertation, but I’ll keep it brief.

I'm a huge fan of Cormac McCarthy, whose baroque style is on a par with Faulkner and Melville, even if he writes very different books from them. I would never attempt to emulate him stylistically, but I love the largeness of his themes. I could say the same thing about William Gay, Annie Proulx, John Casey and Robert Olmstead.

Other contemporary writers I love, but again am careful not to emulate, include Bruce Machart, Gil Adamson, Shandi Mitchell, Ben Percy, and Ron Rash.

As a writer, do you try to find time to write daily? Do you follow a particular writing regimen?

If only I had time to write on a daily basis! I’m a stay-at-home father of three young kids, so most of my time is given to changing diapers and keeping the kids from killing each other. Not an easy job.

I usually have four days a week dedicated to writing. Most every Saturday and Sunday I get up early while my wife takes care of the kids. Then we have someone come in a couple times a week to help out. Taken all together, this usually allows me about twenty hours per week of work time. I could use three times that amount. But there’s a great reward in seeing my kids grow a little each day, and as much as I wish I had more time to write, I wouldn’t want to trade one for the other.

When I am working, I’m usually pretty diligent. I don’t believe in writer’s block, and I don’t let myself get distracted by facebook and twitter. The social media business—all ancillary business, in fact—I try to conduct in the odd hours. It’s eleven o’clock on a Monday night as I write this.

Are you currently writing another novel now that Safe from the Sea has been rather successful in its debut year?

I’ll always be writing another novel. The one I’m working on now is almost finished, though I don’t like to talk about it for fear of jinxing it.

The fact that Safe from the Sea has enjoyed a little success has certainly been a pleasant development, and its success has surely inspired me to work hard on the next project, but like I said, I’ll always be writing, regardless of anything else that’s going on in my life.

And for our readers out there, do you recommend any novel for the upcoming Fall Reading Season?

A couple of books I’ve read recently and loved include Denis Johnson’s Train Dreams, a book so taut and perfect it seems impossible. Bruce Machart has a new collection of stories coming out called Men in the Making that’s sensational. Bruce writes such gorgeous sentences, and his stories are full of moments of incredible insight. I sincerely believe that when it’s all said and done, he’ll be one of our great writers. Another collection of stories I’ve just sunk my teeth into is Bear Down Bear North by Melinda Moustakis, who went to the same graduate school as me but who I never met. This woman has chops, and her stories are spellbinding.

A couple other books I’m looking forward to are Charles Frazier’s new novel called Nightwoods and Russell Banks’ Lost Memory of Skin. When I’ll have time for all this reading I’m not exactly sure. But I’ll try.

Remember to check out his novel, SAFE FROM THE SEA!

[For a review, click here]

The Taste of Salt - Martha Southgate

2011-10-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Title: The Taste of Salt

Author: Martha Southgate

Publisher: Algonquin Books

Rating: 5 Shots of Espresso (Coffee Shakes)

Creating herself between her job as the only female to resisting a strong family history of alcoholism, Josie Henderson is one of the strongest female characters. In fact, she is one my favorites now!

Josie Henderson, the marine biologist, grew up in Cleveland, Ohio; she knew from a very young age that she loved the ocean, and yet, had never been to it. Josie knew she would be a marine biologist despite it being a predominately white male culture. She, also, knew she would break her family's horrible history of alcoholism, even though no one in her family had yet.

But how could she?

Josie Henderson is not an angel by any stretch of Southgate's imagination--in fact, she irked me several times throughout the novel. Josie, however, can be a clear representation of that particular woman who you look up to because they push through the hardships that life has brought them. Josie is completely admirable and real. Though she does rather selfish things that hurt those who are near her, she is a fighter who attempts to create a new life that is purely her own.

Martha Southgate's latest novel, The Taste of Salt, marks a real story of a family ailed by alcoholism, which examines how alcoholism affects an entire family well into their adult life. Southgate's novel is riddled with pains and sorrows, but Josie's struggle to strive for her own identity solidifies my love for Southgate's portrayal of addiction.

Southgate, also, pushes against cultural categories--specifically gender and race--when she describes and animates Josie within her job as a marine biologist. Southgate raises really important ideas and blends them beautifully in The Taste of Salt. The relationship Josie creates both with her family, her husband and her co-workers all help develop the ideas and issues that Southgate addresses poignantly. These issues are as real and illuminating as her characters.

I rate Taste of Salt five tasty shots of espresso. The aromatic taste that Southgate's novel leaves is that of your favorite comfort food dishes--mine just happen to be salty.

Cheers!

~ EricaïIð

San Francisco Book Sale Extravaganza

2011-09-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, September 24th, I went to the San Francisco Friends of Library Book Sale with my dad. I had gone two years ago, where I spent about $40 and got around 30 classics. But this year, I had an agenda: to find my favorite Indie Publishers' books from before I started blogging AND any Booker Prize Winners.

So, was I successful? Let's see...

The Booker Prize Winners

Moon Tiger; Possession; Amsterdam; The Sea; & The Gathering

My Booker Prize collection is sure coming together with 21 of the 45 (almost 46 next month--voting for The Sisters Brothers). These novels are truly amazing. Many of these are my all time favorites, and I know many future favorites will be awarded the Booker.

Other Amazing Books I Bought

I fond books from awesome presses and some other great "must reads."

I am really excited about many of these finds!

And These Were My All Time Favorite Finds...

David Maine & Joshua Mohr

So the damage was...

45 books (with most being $1 each) purchased...

...and I spent $55! Not bad if you ask me (though this

is coming from the lady with a wall full of books at the

age of 24--Iz have problmz)

This means that I will be changing my TBR Challenge and will be developing a new Reading Challenge that I will launch in October! So stay tuned, but this one will be a challenge that I can actually take on. I am finally managing my working schedule with my blogging schedule. No more excuses!

Happy Reading & Happy Fall!

~ Erica

SAFE FROM THE SEA Giveaway

2011-09-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

Safe From the Sea - Peter Geye

Giveaway

Published by Unbridled Books

Take this wonderful opportunity to win this great debut novel that has recently come out in paperback! Peter Geye's Safe From the Sea captures you from the first chapter until the end. You will love Geye's beautiful language and vision. Don't let this novel pass you by!

The publisher, Unbridled Books, is a wonderful independent publisher known for their great works and wonderful support. They support the creative efforts of authors like Geye in the world of publishing. Check them out for more great novels!

Here's my review of Safe From the Sea - Peter Geye

A modern day twist to the struggles Noah faced on his ark of twos.

Peter Geye’s debut novel, Safe From the Sea, takes this biblical story and transforms it into the modern day saga of twos. First, there’s Noah—the man struggling to balance it all. Then, there’s Noah’s father Olaf—the man with a hard working and sea –faring past. And last, there’s Noah’s wife Natalie—the woman who lacks some understanding; doesn’t she know the biblical story?

[For more: click here.]

Note: This is a publisher sponsored giveaway for US participants only. Please fill out the corresponding form with your First & Last Names, email and your address. (All information is for giveaway purposes only!) The winners will be chosen at random on Oct 1st and emailed shortly after! Good Luck & Happy Reading!

Giveaway Closes: Friday September 30 @ 5p PST

TBR Challenge August 2011

2011-09-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Books Received:

Safe from the Sea - Peter Gaye
Taste of Salt - Martha Southgate
Mama's Homesick Pie - Donia Bijan
The String Bridge - Jessica Bell
The Santa Shop - Tim Greaton
All You Can Eat - Richard Harlan Miller
Waiting for Pops - John Philp Riffice

Books Read:

Truth of the Python - Paul Vitols
Blood for Love - Chris Finkelstein
Carbon: Session 01 - Jason Berg
Sleeping Kings - John Prentice

Again, I am raising the debt ceiling much like the United States during the month of August. Thank goodness the interest rates dropped to an all time low so that I feel less guilty. How did they drop you ask? Well, I recently became employed with a real job that brings in some element of the bacon--maybe not a whole pack, but hey it's a job!

Soure: Vision to America

So here I am, indebted again. I will try; I will try. And how will I try, well I will postpone my nonfiction month at a later date and play catch up this month. No more excuses. Reading and reviewing are on the To Do List -- NOW!

Here's the sorry math equation:

12.5 books - 4 books = 8.5 books + 3.5 books = 12 books

In one month I cut down my debt by a half of a book...here goes another month!

Via Bustatheif

Let the reading begin! I vow to read 20 min on my lunch everyday for the month of September!

Safe From the Sea - Peter Geye

2011-09-06T20:53:00.000-07:00

Title: Safe From the Sea

Author: Peter Geye

Publisher: Unbridled Books

Rating: 4 Shots of Espresso (Red Eye)

A modern day twist to the struggles Noah faced on his ark of twos.

Peter Geye’s debut novel, Safe From the Sea, takes this biblical story and transforms it into the modern day saga of twos. First, there’s Noah—the man struggling to balance it all. Then, there’s Noah’s father Olaf—the man with a hard working and sea –faring past. And last, there’s Noah’s wife Natalie—the woman who lacks some understanding; doesn’t she know the biblical story?

Safe From the Sea brilliantly juxtaposes binaries from the minimal to the central. Geye creates intricate layers in these binaries, which draw the entire novel together so well. With his knack for lyrical and sensory language, the reader can perfectly see the world Geye is depicting. Many times I willingly and happily got lost in the language and his great lyricism. The language and writing alone should compel everyone to pick up Safe From the Sea.

But if that does not do it for you; then Geye offers you much more. The binaries, as I said, are so magnificently crafted and woven within the story that you can’t not appreciate them. Noah—the white collar professor—struggles to understand his father—the blue collar sailor. The push-pull between Noah and his father bring the novel’s heart to the surface. Noah going to help his father and his failure to truly understand who his father is became so compelling and intriguing. Geye, then, adds another layer with Noah’s wife and how she fails to understand Noah’s struggles with his father. Her desire to want a child more than anything and her outlandish—and sometimes bazaar—demands take her character to the extreme. These binaries, though, captivates and directs the reader through Safe From the Sea.

I give Peter Geye’s Safe From the Sea four shots of espresso. I enjoyed contemplating on the binaries and the layers after reading and while writing this review. I just had one bone to pick—that one missing espresso shot—which is the character of Noah’s wife Natalie. Her demands and her portrayal was WAY over the top. She was not believable at times and this pulled me out of the enjoyment of Geye’s beautiful language. But that is nothing in comparison to the entire novel. Go seek out Peter Geye’s wonderful debut novel today!

N ~ Erica

Like the book? Enter for a chance to win: SAFE FROM THE SEA

Truth of the Python – Paul Vitols

2011-08-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

Title: Truth of the Python

Author: Paul Vitols

Publisher: Self-published

Rating: 3 Shots of Espresso (Coffee Buzz)

Paul Vitols’ beautifully written self-published novel, Truth of the Python, delves into a character’s memories that conjure up tragedy from centuries ago.

Vitols’ creativity and written execution is brilliant; you’re immediately drawn into the therapist’s room and move effortlessly into Greg’s mind. Greg’s memories are not the of average patient because his go back to a horrific memory of the Goddess Python where he is Pythagoras. But that’s just the beginning. Truth of the Python incorporates tragedy, lyrical writing and a musicality in its language.

The plot goes back and forth between Philip and Greg. Philip, the taunted therapist, deals with his struggle of where his life has turned. Greg deals with his memories under hypnosis. Vitols displays an expertise in mathematics and music, which greatly enhances the story. The memoires of Greg draw the story forward and keep you reading.

Much of Paul Vitols’ Truth of the Python reminded me of other novels for further reading. Vitols has a knack for musicality as do these three authors:

Birth of Tragedy – Fredrick Nietzsche (1872) Creates theory about drama, where Nietzsche deliberates on the ‘chorus’ and the human condition.

Doktor Faustus – Thomas Mann (1943-47) Invokes the Doctor Faustus legend to rethink the history of Germany after World War II. The novel also uses musical theory to drive the story along.

Bel Canto – Ann Patchett (2001) A group of politicians and executives are held hostage in South America. A famous Soprano is at the heart of the novel, where her music plays a role.

I rate Paul Vitols’ Truth of the Python three shots of espresso because I loved his language, but the male characters irked me. These men made the little feminist in me want to be blind to how they think and how they describe women. The book falls under a man re-examining his life and another man with memories from a far, far past. The final ending confirmed my dislike of Paul. I highly recommend Truth of the Python for those who like self-discovery novels with fantastical elements. Go check out this musical novel!

ï(ð~ Erica

Tower of Parlen Min – Matt Xell

2011-08-17T06:45:00.000-07:00

Title: Tower of Parlen Min

Author: Matt Xell

Publisher: Self-published

Rating: 1 shot (It Must be Monday...)

Matt Xell’s self-published novel, Tower of Parlen Min, is for the Young Adult fantasy lover.

Tower of Parlen Min follows orphan, Ves Asirin, who gets sent to Parlen Min for eight weeks free of charge with other specifically selected orphans. Xell’s concept has a fantastic start that keeps you wanting to know more. What is Parlen Min? Why is Ves going? These questions keep the e-Reader button warm.

Ves is not your typical orphan from Orem Church Orphanage, as he succumbs to memory loss every time he goes to bed. Ves, therefore, maintains a journal to keep him from being at a total loss as to what goes on. The journal houses Ves’ personal cataloguing system to remind him of how he views people.

The beginning three chapters had me going; I was enjoying both a YA novel and a fantasy novel—both genres I rarely, if ever, read. Xell should have taken these three chapters and pushed himself with the same caliber for the next chapter. Tower of Parlen Min in chapter four became too familiar—way too familiar. There is a list of similarities to the Harry Potter Series and I have only read the first four (uh oh…Harry Pottalypse). An orphan who travels to this fantastical place where there is sword-fighting, wolves that speak in their own language and girls who go to the greenhouse with unusual things that happen. The gendering of the children may have also really bothered me; J K Rowling has kick ass Hermione. I, therefore, couldn’t finish because of this too close for comfort feeling.

Though I only give Matt Xell’s Tower of Parlen Min only one shot of espresso, I do recommend it for those who enjoy YA fantasy and like the loss of memory aspect. Xell’s novel, then, would definitely be worth checking out! For the first five (5) people to comment on this review, I will give you a free eBook of Xell’s YA novel to download from Smashwords.com; that way you can choose the format. Coupon expires October 31^st. Enjoy!

Þ~ Erica

The Snow Whale – John Minichillo

2011-08-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Title: The Snow Whale

Author: John Minichillo

Publisher: Atticus Books

Rating: 3 Shots of Espresso (Coffee Buzz)

Compared to Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, this adventure whale story is a must read for all seafaring fans!

John Minichillo’s debut novel, The Snow Whale, depicts the mundane and self-loathing life of John Jacobs. His job lacks creativity and zeal as he attempts to sell plastic office desk doodles with cliché sayings about success. John Jacobs’ wife pays no attention to him and is still able to guilt John for his lack of zest. And thus, the midlife crisis ensues. Jacobs, in response, takes a DNA test to see if he has any interesting ancestry and of course he does or the story would stop there. Jacobs is an Inuit and now wants to take a racially ignorant quest to see who “his people” are and what they do. This prompts Jacobs to pack up and abandon his life and his wife in order to hunt the infamous Snow Whale. Jacobs encounters new tribulations as he sets out on his adventures, while his wife attempts to “find herself” back home.

The Snow Whale, however, is more than a book about a midlife crisis or how a middle-aged couple trying to “find” themselves. The Snow Whale offers a flare for adventure and oceanic tension as Jacobs eventually sets out on the water. The connection between Jacobs emotional struggles with the physical struggles, upon the novel’s end, are what brought Minichillo’s novel home for me.

I normally do not offer up further reading for a novel; however, I would recommend checking out these three seaventure tales (that’s right, I just Disney’ed a word), while checking out The Snow Whale.

Recommendations:
“The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” – Samuel Coleridge (1797-98) A poem about a mariner telling about his sea adventures to a wedding party.

Moby Dick – Herman Melville (1851) A sea adventure in search for the white whale, Moby Dick.

The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway (1951/52) About a man and his struggle to reel in a Marlin fish.

I rate John Minichillo’s The Snow Whale three shots of espresso for those who like a sea tale or a novel where the character attempts to “find themselves.” I have never read Moby Dick (I know, I know), but I found the ending much like Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. I wanted more of the ocean scenes and less of the 80+ pages of Jacobs’ mundane life—we get it; it sucks!

All you Melville lovers out there, Minichillo’s The Snow Whale is perfect for you!

ï(ð~ Erica

Weekly Geeks: 2011 #24 – Back IN School

2011-08-13T17:01:00.000-07:00

For Week #24, the Weekly Geek Request is to bring in the back to school spirit. But I, alas...I mean HECK YEAH, will no longer be in school for the first time EVA! Woot! Take that and test it. So I am answering the following questions about school and reading of what happened way back in the day. Enjoy!

What's your favorite bookish school memory?

My favorite bookish school memory was when I was reading for my thesis and ideas about literacy. It was the semester of Fall 2010 and I was finally able to draw interesting connections between different schools of thought and authors. I felt like I was finally becoming a graduate student. I will defiantly read like that again in the future, but I am going to take a long break from that type of heavy reading. Post-it notes scare me know and give me massive anxiety because of Grad school.

Did your teacher read aloud to you? Do you remember what book it was?

Many of my teachers read to me in classes, but my favorite was How to Eat Fried Worms. I loved having that book read to me!

Do you remember what books you checked out at the school library?

I checked out a lot of books by Dick King-Smith, Lois Duncan and R. L. Stein’s Fear Street Series. I read tons of those books by those authors. I remember reading 9 Fear Street books in one week when they took my tonsils out…haha.

What was one of the first book reports you did for school?

I remember doing a book report on Bunnicula by James Howe as a book report and a Baby-sister’s Club Little Sister’s books probably second and third grade.

Do you have a favorite book or author that you first heard about from a teacher or school project?

In first or second grade, I was introduced to the Box Car Children Series, which I devoured.

Do you have a not-so-pleasant bookish memory from your school days?

I always hated in school when you had to do some sort of book project and the teacher told you the book you were reading wouldn’t work. I was always reading, so the fact that they said some stuff “wasn’t good enough” always pissed me off. This happened in 7^thgrade, 9^th grade and Grad school. I forgive my English Professors, but I do not forgive my 7^th and 9^th grade English teachers. To them, I say: I got a MA in English and “neener neener neener!”

TBR Challenge – July 2011

2011-08-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

Books Received:

One Day – David Nicholls
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children – Ransom Riggs
Shiver – Maggie Stiefvater

Books Read:

Before I Go To Sleep – S J Watson
The Reservoir – John Milliken Thompson
Room – Emma Donoghue
The Tower of Parlen Min – Matt Xell
The Snow Whale – John Minichillo

So, I became incredibly behind reading only five (5) books this month when I was supposed to challenge myself to sixteen (16)...doh! Well, I won't give excuses because some of it was laziness and some of it was being busy. But I need to be better at managing reading time, especially once I am employed. I, then, am going to try and begin making up for all that I didn't read last month.

Here's the math equation:

16 books - 5 books = 11 books + 1.5 books = 12.5 books

Via Bustatheif

I need to read 13 books to make up for both last month's debt and buying books in July. Hopefully I can be a better reader this month of August! (Crosses fingers)

Now I am off to read in my theme of Self-Published authors for the month of August!

John Milliken Thompson Q & A – The Reservoir Blog Tour

2011-07-27T11:24:00.000-07:00

I am tremendously excited to host a Q & A with debut novelist and long time nonfiction author, John Milliken Thompson. He recently published his debut novel, The Reservoir, which takes place in 1885 Virginia. The novel is based and inspired by the murder trial of Commonwealth v. Cluverius and wonderfully follows in the Southern Gothic tradition.

I wanted to post John's responses on the day he is in Northern California for all of you who are unable to attend his appearance tonight in San Mateo at "M" is for Mystery Book Store. He will be there at 7pm tonight Wed., July 27. For those of you in the San Mateo area tonight, head down to "M" is for Mystery and check out The Reservoir.

Here's a link to my review: John Milliken Thompson's The Reservoir

Now for the all important Q & A with John Milliken Thompson about his debut novel, The Reservoir.

> You have written nonfiction before you started writing your first novel, The Reservoir. What inspired you to write a novel?

I became so engrossed by the real-life Cluverius case and its setting--Virginia in the 1880s--that I decided to try to write a book about it. It didn't take me long to realize that the only way I could discover who the characters were and why they did what they did was through an invented narrative.

> Your blog expands on all the research you did on the court case of the murder you base The Reservoir from. But was there other inspiration that catalyzed the writing of your novel?

Yes, absolutely. Inspiration for fiction comes from all kinds of sources--I drew on everything from books I'd read, to people I knew, to events I'd heard of or witnessed. For example, my father was a small-town Southern lawyer and judge, and though I didn't base a character specifically on him, I could hear his voice in my mind sometimes as I wrote.

> I absolutely love Southern grotesque novels, and I believe you have done a superb job to continue in that tradition. What Southern authors do you enjoy reading or books your recommend?

There are so many great ones: Flannery O'Connor, Walker Percy, Robert Penn Warren, William Styron. I think it's also a great inspiration to visit the house of a writer you love; I just saw Thomas Wolfe's house in Asheville when I was doing a reading there. I've seen it several times now, and it's always inspiring. I've been to Faulkner's house in Oxford, MS, tried to visit Margaret Mitchell's place in Atlanta but it was being restored, and tramped around Miledgeville, GA, where O'Connor lived. I've seen some of the great Southern writers in person, like Penn Warren, and just missed seeing others, like Walker Percy and Eudora Welty, which I regret.

> Are you currently writing anything? Can we expect another novel from you in the future?

Yes, I'm working on another novel with a historical Southern setting, and I hope it won't be too long coming to light.

> For the sake of Summer and the reading holiday, what is your Summer read recommendation?

Well, I just finished reading Cormac McCarthy's THE ROAD, which, depending on your taste and tolerance for grim subject matter could be considered great summer reading fare; it's not terribly long, though you do want to savor it. I think summer is really a perfect time for escaping into any good book. Travel books especially--anything by, say, Paul Theroux or Jan Morris.

> I thank you for your time to answer my questions. Thanks for a wonderful novel and I hope your tour is fabulous.

Thanks for having me on your blog; so far the tour's going great.

I was elated when he said Flannery O'Connor before any other Southern literature author. Ms O'Connor was my first literary love in college once I read "A Good Man is Hard to Find," which sums up my personality in just under 17 pages. Of course, all the other authors are just as amazing. Also, John's comment about going to author's homes is so true; when I went to Faulkner's house in Oxford, I learned so much about how Faulkner wrote a novel. I am truly looking forward to John's next historically Southern novel.

I want to thank both Terrie from Other Press, a fabulous Independent press, and John Milliken Thompson, a wonderful Southern author.

Happy Book Tours!

Reading Away the Year in Themes...

2011-07-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

Picture via Little Silver School District

As we enter the second half of the year, each month begins to have themes or holidays that help us get through the non-Summer months. As August approaches, many of us begin to fear life after Summer. What are we to do? Will we have time to read? My solution to this fear of the reading slump is to begin reading books in themes for each month. I have chosen themes based upon my personal preference, events happening in the month and holidays in that particular month.

Here's my categories so far with books that I will hopefully read in the corresponding months. I, also, want to encourage everyone to read with me and to suggest other books for each category.

August – Self-published
I wanted to kick off these themed months with self-published authors because I want to support this group of writing. I thought that with August, typically, being back to school that self-published would inspire all the students and non-students to get inspired to write. We can all be authors and we can all enjoy what stories others have to offer. Here are just a few I hope to read!

Tower of Parlen Min – Matt Xell
Blood for Love – Chris M Finkelstein
Carbon: Session 01-Alignment – Jason J Berg
Shattered Wings – Bryan Healey
Truth of the Python – Paul Vitols

September – Non-fiction

Since I blog about events in the Chico and Northern California area, I wanted use September to honor Chico's one and only Book in Common where the community and the Chico State students read a book and discuss the surrounding issues all year long. I will begin September reading this years Book in Common, Zeitoun by Dave Eggers.

Zeitoun – Dave Eggers
The Emperor of All Maladies – Siddhartha Mukherjee
Still Life with Brass Pole – Craig Machen
Unlikely Brothers – John Prendergast & Michael Mattocks

October – Supernatural/Crime

October is the month of dressing up and halloween; so what is more appropriate than Supernatural novels and Crime? Let's read novels that fall in line with Halloween spirit and read books that embody the scary–both real and unreal.

Photo by Maharepa

Warm Bodies – Isaac Marion
The Gravedigger – Peter Grandbois
The Watchman of Ephraim – Gerard de Marigny
The Mysterious Affair at Styles – Agatha Christie
The Platinum Loop – Austin Williams

November – Man Booker Prize Winners

In October, the Man Booker Prize Winner for 2011 will be announced. Because it is my favorite Literary Award due to my love of Postcolonial literature, I want to keep chipping away at the lovely list of extraordinary novels this month. I will kick it off with this year's winner (TBA).

TBA – 2011 Winner
The Blind Assassin – Margaret Atwood
Disgrace – J M Coetzee
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha – Roddy Doyle
The Finkler Question – Howard Jacobson

December – Cold Weather Reading

Whether it be holiday warmth, from the wood stove or from a cold Victorian story, this month I want to read books that keep us warm both in our hearts and souls. I always try to read a Victorian lit novel in December so I will do so again this year with a self published book to keep me modern.

Gustave Flaubert

The Santa Shop – Tim Greaton
Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert

Now come read with me and suggest more awesome book! Happy reading!

THE RESERVOIR – John Milliken Thompson

2011-07-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

Title: The Reservoir

Author: John Milliken Thompson

Publisher: Other Press

Rating: 4 Shots of Espresso (Red Eye)

Southern literature that alludes to back country brawls and family duels have become my guilty pleasures since reading Southern literature from the last three years. Whether the characters are gouging eyes out or the characters are lawyers on trial for murder, I am right there reading the drama until it dries up. And fortunately, the drama has yet to do so…

John Milliken Thompson’s debut novel, The Reservoir, fictionally depicts the real life trial of Commonwealth v. Cluverius. Thompson takes the research of a nineteenth century murder case and creates a historical recreation of Southern life in 1885. The Reservoir follows the family of Tommie Cluverius and his family love triangle between Tommie, his brother Willie and cousin Lillie. What more could a reader want or even need? I should leave it at that, but I am a recovering English major (meaning: I can’t keep quiet!)

The Reservoir begins with Tommie leaving the scene and the workers at the reservoir finding Lillie’s dead and pregnant body floating in the water. The mysterious story-telling slowly reveals the details of a family with many horrific allegations and secrets, which keeps the pace of the novel raging like a river. The story is told through different characters as the focalizers, which adds several dynamics to each character. The reader can see the character as both good and bad; this makes it much harder to cast judgment and just as hard to empathize with them too. The reader is just as unsure of what is fact and what is not as Thompson must have been while researching for this novel. We, as readers, and Thompson, as the researcher, can only speculate on what was the background on the case; this position almost places a reader in the place of a juror who can only judge based on the evidence given in court. In fact, I was reading The Reservoir just after the verdict of the Casey Anthony trial, where almost everyone was mad about the acquittal. Thompson’s novel allows the viewer of the trial to empathize with a juror who only knows what is present in court.

The historically Southern family dynamics, then, kept me going in order to find out how the trial ended up. The role of females in the Cluverius family and extended family were so interesting but also extremely repulsive. I felt rather uncomfortable at times while I was reading about some of the allegations. The ethical hierarchy becomes so skewed that I don’t know how they find ways to justify certain acts. But then again, the lack of female power seems to be always at the core of what happens in Thompson’s The Reservoir. This drama is sure to keep anyone interested.

I recommend The Reservoir to all Southern literary fiends and lovers of historical fiction because the reader becomes consumed by the time period and culture. As I said earlier, I happened to have read Thompson’s novel just after the end of the Casey Anthony trial, which added to the craze that people seem to get while watching a high profile murder case. The Reservoir, also, captures that craze rather well.

I give Thompson’s The Reservoir four shots of espresso for its ease to keep me captivated in the Southern world of Tommie Cluverius. My missing shot came at the end when the novel kept explaining and kept lingering on the appellate process. I would have enjoyed the novel more so without that section because it kept drawing on and on; however, I still thoroughly enjoyed the novel and could definitely benefit from reading the novel a second time through.

I am happy to support the nonfiction writer turned novelist Mr. John Milliken Thompson and his Independent publisher, Other Press. I am truly excited to promote The Reservoir just as Thompson is about to make a Northern California appearance in person and a virtual appearance on my blog next week. I had the wonderful pleasure of interviewing Mr. Thompson, which I will make available as he tours in Northern California next week. Keep a look out for that! Happy Book Tours!

N ~ Erica

My Top 5 Books Throughout School

2011-07-20T11:12:00.000-07:00

I started thinking about what were my favorite books that I read in high school and college. I decided to make a list and to see if it revealed anything about me. Were they required reading? Did I read them on my own? Where did I hear about them? Did they win prizes?

So here they are, my top five books from high school, undergraduate school, and graduate school. (They appear in the order I read them...)

Top 5 Books Read in High School:

1. The God of Small Things – Arhundhati Roy (1997)

Won the Booker Prize (1997)

Recommended on Rory's Book Club on the GILMORE GIRLS Website

Read Summer 2002

2. Life of Pi – Yann Martel (2001)

Won the Booker Prize (2002)

Recommended on Rory's Book Club on the GILMORE GIRLS Website

Read Summer 2002

3. A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole (1980)

Won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1981)

Recommended on Rory's Book Club on the GILMORE GIRLS Website

Read Summer 2003

4. The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway (1952)

Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1953)

Recommended on Rory's Book Club on the GILMORE GIRLS Website

Read Summer 2005

5. A Series of Unfortunate Events – Lemony Snicket (1999-2006)

Read Summer 2002 to Summer 2005

Top 5 Books Read in Undergraduate School:

1. A Long Way Gone – Ishmael Beah (2007)

Read Summer 2007

Re-read for Children's Literature Course Spring 2009

2. Beloved – Toni Morrison (1987)

Won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1988)

Read for Faulkner/Morrison Course Spring 2008

Re-read for Southern Literature Conference Summer 2009

3. As I Lay Dying – William Faulkner (1930)

Read for Faulkner/Morrison Course Spring 2008

Re-read for Southern Literature Conference Summer 2009

4. A Mercy – Toni Morrison (2008)

Read Fall 2008

Re-read for Contemporary American Literature Course Fall 2010

5. Georgia Scenes – Augustus Baldwin Longstreet (19th Century)

Read for Southern Literature Course Spring 2009

Top 5 Books Read in Graduate School:

1. A Question of Power – Bessie Head (1974)

Read for Postcolonial Literature Course Spring 2010

2. White Teeth – Zadie Smith (2000)

Read for Contemporary British Literature Course Spring 2010

3. Imagined Communities – Benedict Anderson (1983)

Read for MA Thesis Research Fall 2010

4. The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet – Jamie Ford (2009)

Read for Contemporary American Literature Course Fall 2010

Re-read for MA Thesis Winter 2011

5. Lady Audley's Secret – Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1862)

Read for Victorian Crime Fiction Course Spring 2011

TOWER OF PARLEN MIN Giveaway

2011-07-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks to author Matt Xell, I will be hosting an eBook giveaway for his self-published book TOWER OF PARLEN MIN. It is a YA fantasy book that is sure to keep you reading this Summer. The beginning reminds me greatly of the debut adult fiction novel BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP written by S J Watson with a boy who has memory loss.

Tower of Parlen Min – Matt Xell

Enter to win 1 of the possible 5 eBooks and come join me on Goodreads to talk about the book next month, August 2011. I will be talking about and reviewing Xell's book. This is a quick giveaway so enter by Sunday, July 24th 2011 @ 5pm PST.

Matt Xell (author/blogger/graphic designer)

The giveaway allows you to download through Smashwords.com so you can choose your format.

Cheers and happy Blog Book Tour to Matt Xell!!

~Erica

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Previous Giveaways #1: Amazon Gift Card

2011-07-19T09:51:00.000-07:00

I am super excited by the wonderful support and the following that my blog has received in just a short amount of time. I want to thank you all by providing a small giveaway to my followers. For my first giveaway, I want to give a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate to the winner. In the future, I will be hosting more giveaways but for my first I want it to be more a token of my gratitude.

I will email the winner the Amazon Gift Certificate. Please enter the giveaway below. I will be choosing the winner using random.org. The giveaway ends on Friday, June 24th @ 5pm PST.

Rules:

Fill out the GoogleForm Below
Make sure to follow me on Twitter: @BookedinChico
Like my Facebook Page: BookedinChico Facebook
Follow my Blog: BookedinChico Blog
Blog about the book(s) you purchased using the card on my blog!

Cheers, Erica

Giveaway Form:

June's TBR List

2011-07-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

Sat June 4 Butte Co Library Book Sale in Chico, CA

Books Received:

The Year of the Flood – Margaret Atwood
People of the Book – Geraldine Brooks
There is No Year – Blake Butler
True History of the Kelly Gang – Peter Carey
Disgrace – J. M. Coetzee
The Watchman of Ephraim – Gerard deMarigny
The Sisters Brothers – Patrick DeWitt
Room – Emma Donoghue
The 19th Wife – David Ebershoff
Safe from the Sea – Peter Geye
Girl Unwrapped – Gabriella Goliger
Secret Daughter – Shilpi Somaya Gowda
The Gravedigger – Peter Grandbois
The Santa Shop – Tim Greaton
Still Life with Brass Pole – Craig Machen
Warm Bodies – Isaac Marion
Don't Breathe a Word – Jennifer McMahon
The Snow Whale – John Minichillo
Father-Mucker – Greg Olear
State of Wonder – Ann Pachett
Exit the Actress – Priya Parmar
Unlikely Brothers – John Prendergast
Waxwings – Jonathan Raban
Where's Unimportant – Daniel Shortell
The Reservoir – John Milliken Thompson
The Great Lenore – J M Tohline
Tiny Sunbirds, Far Away – Christie Watson
Before I Go to Sleep – S. J. Watson
The Collection of Short Stories – Eudora Welty
The Platinum Loop – Austin Williams
The Uncoupling – Meg Wolitzer
How to Escape from a Leper Colony – Tiphanie Yanique

Some of the books my parents donated to me for my unemployed Summer!

Books Read:

The Land – David Allan Barker
The Girl Who Fell From the Sky – Heidi W. Durrow
A Visit From the Goon Squad – Jennifer Egan
Go the F**k to Sleep – Adam Mansback
This is a Book By – Demirti Martin
War Memorials – Clint McCown
A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry
And Yet They Were Happy – Helen Phillip \s
The Great Lenore – J M Tohline
Joe is Online – Chris Wimpress

The wonderful packaging from Daniel Shortell for his book WHERE'S UNIMPORTANT. Just Sayin'.

I think this month is setting me up to fail my challenge the first time through... By the looks of this list, I have to read at least 16 books next month. Can I do it?

Weekly Geeks: 2011 #20 – Tech & Reading

2011-06-30T16:20:00.000-07:00

Nothing is more appropriate to talk about my change of heart in how I read than on Social Media Day! Weekly Geeks asks this week to answer how has my mindset changed in the past year about how I read and where and what I read. Have I changed the format of the books that I read? Etc. Etc. Etc.

Well, my last year—in the reading world—has changed drastically. Last summer in 2010, I was hunkered down in my house to read the brilliant and frustrating Salman Rushdie for my Master’s thesis. And boy, was that a grueling Summer! Reading one Rushdie book in a year is a feat, but reading three—Midnight’s Children, Shame and The Satanic Verses--in one Summer makes you feel DEFEATED as a reader, a person, and an intellectual. Though I finally made it through with a little help from the audio version of The Satanic Verses to help me follow along and pace myself. I did it. I read the two hardest books of my life and maybe even in the literary world. I am not impressed by myself, however, because I would been more impressed if I were able to enjoy my Summer of reading if I finished all those books I attempted to read instead of Sir Rushdie—Brady Udall’s The Lonely Polygamist, Steig Larson’s The Girl Who Played with Fire and Yann Martel’s Beatrice and Virgil. And yet, I couldn’t read ANYTHING for fun. It was depressing and what added to the hardship was having to over analyze every minuscule aspect to each of those Rushdie novels. I had multicolored post its, multicolored highlighters, and pens spread out across my bed as I read and read and read. My Summer of 2010 will been down in the books as conquering the Humanities intellectual circuit by being able to pretentiously say: “Oh no…? YOU haven’t read Rushdie? Hmm.” This means that the Summer of 2010 will be marked as a unsuccessful one…sigh.

But that was then, I won’t bore you with the moments between Summer of 2010 and Summer of 2011 because that is being saved for my memoir.

Alas, we have come to present day Summer of 2011, where I am happily reading and experiencing a reading world I never thought I could indulge. Thanks to my creating of my new book blog, I have had the wonderful opportunity to read in ways I never had before—reading from a Kindle, books sent to me via authors and publishers and reading books from new Indie publishers. I have entered a world of books from new self-published authors to up and coming publishers to future classics.

Reading from a Kindle was quite the experience at first. I was so adamantly against eReaders because they were eliminating the old fashion book, where you sit outside with new book smell and turn the pages one-by-one. I actually enjoy reading my eReader for the self-published books and for reading The New Yorker. I love that it marks my spot and I can conveniently pull up different articles or search for that one I was trying to find. My Kindle is the best for reading in bed because of the awesome book light that came with my cover. This was something a year ago I would have told you that you were crazy to use an eReader. I am so happy I chose the Kindle over other products as well.

Opening up to self-published authors was also a very hard thing for me to do coming from the university with a Master’s degree. At the university, being peer reviewed and accepted is huge, so being self-published sends a red flag. I, now, believe that being self-published can be a really cool thing. I think that there are novels and writing out in the world that is just as awesome or even more awesome when self-published. There is more of a raw artist flare to self-published and less calculated that some MFA programs crank out. Don’t judge a book by its publisher; judge it by its storyline and content.

Working as a book blogger has been the coolest thing for me since sliced bread. After coming off of my arduous thesis and the reality that being an English major equals unemployment, I needed something to make me feel like I had something to offer or at least to be passionate about. Starting my book blog helped me to see that I am passionate about something—books—but only when it is not set in a classroom among emotions, egos and bullshit. I like to read all different types of books other than Victorian literature and Shakespeare; I get to read anything and everything and still get to write about it. Book Blogging took me out of my English MA Degree depression…well at least a little bit.

The Girl Who Fell From the Sky – Heidi W. Durrow

2011-06-30T15:43:00.000-07:00

Title: The Girl Who Fell From the Sky

Author: Heidi W. Durrow

Publisher: Algonquin Books

Rating: 5 Shots of Espresso (Coffee Shakes)

Another important author to watch out for and who is already on her way up to being with Toni Morrison!

Heidi W. Durrow’s debut and Bellwether Prize winning novel The Girl Who Fell From the Sky falls into the top book of the year easily. Set between time periods and character perspectives, the main character Rachel and her life become peeled apart angelically. The novel deals with how half-Black and half-Danish Rachel must form her identity. Once she moves to Portland, OR after a tragic incident, Rachel is forced to re-identify herself based upon race for the first time in her life. Durrow expertly examines race and identity all while carrying Morrison’s torch into today’s society as Durrow examines mixed race in contemporary America. How does being mixed challenge contemporary categories that society uses to make life’s complexities seem simple? Rachel grows to understand how to mark yourself as an individual with a heartfelt and a compassionate soul, while she meets and forms new relationships with both family and friends.

Durrow’s great cast of real life characters adds dynamics to the story in order to reveal how society can leave behind innocent and fruitful lives. The loving and bird-charting Brick brings additional layers of how other entities beyond race are more important in defining a person, such as, determination and self-sacrifice. The Girl Who Fell From the Sky should make you question statistical categories and reveal the beauty in every individual. This is the first novel since I graduated, where it encouraged me to possibly write a literary paper. I now want to read Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and Frantz Fanon’s Black Skin, White Masks. But not to worry, Durrow’s novel is for anyone and everyone!

I excitedly give Heidi W. Durrow’s The Girl Who Fell From the Sky five shots of espresso. It is one of the best coffee shakes that I have received from a book! The novel’s strategic pacing to slowly reveal the details of the incident, as well as, revealing details from Rachel’s past is just one of the many, many wonderful reasons to read The Girl Who Fell From the Sky. Go pick it up for your Summer Vacation! A sure firework for your Fourth of July weekend!

ïIð~ Erica

The Land – David Allan Barker

2011-06-30T15:37:00.000-07:00

Title: The Land

Author: David Barker

Publisher: Self-published

Rating: 3 Shots of Espresso (Coffee Buzz)

When the Southern grotesque meets the unruly West, David Allan Barker’s The Land is laid. The main character George and his family must deal with the demands of maintaining an organic farm in the midst of family woe and death. The Land goes between different narrators that brilliantly switch perspectives during crucial points in the novel. Barker invokes William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury and As I Lay Dying with the grotesque elements, as well as, with the themes of death and grief. Barker, however, is a much tamer Faulkner because he doesn’t add Faulkner’s bold step to give Addie a voice only post death; The Land, instead, flips the Southern grotesque on its head by adding a Wild West flare at the end. Barker’s The Land unveils the ways people deal with death and how some grieve in rather extreme ways. The Land has to be read to fully enjoy what it has to offer. I don’t want to spoil the big story elements, so I will offer and encourage all you Southern literary buffs, Cormac McCarthy lovers to download David Allan Barker’s The Land now.

The Land may not be for the light of stomach, but it will wow anyone who enjoys how the grotesque reveals truth. George’s family must conquer the hard reality of a family member’s passing and how it goes beyond the funeral into their dreams and organic farming certification. George’s boys—Justin and Ford—must cope and survive the self-destructive path of their father despite a learning disability and a passion for others, respectively.

David Allan Barker’s The Land is sure to give the Southern and Western feigns a great coffee buzz. I give Barker’s self-published novel, The Land, three shots of espresso because it’s sure to give a buzz for those who like the grotesque genre. The last part of the novel—when George takes a turn for anarchy—lost my investment in the novel’s wonderful beginning. The unruliness at the end kept me from believing the validity of George’s move. There wasn’t enough in the beginning to set me up for George’s final acts. If you are a risk taker like George, then I highly suggest you read David Allan Barker’s The Land.

ï(ð~ Erica

The Great Lenore – J M Tohline

2011-06-22T13:02:00.000-07:00

Title: The Great Lenore

Author: J M Tohline

Publisher: Atticus Books

Rating: 4 Shots of Espresso (The Red Eye)

I would first like to thank Atticus Books for graciously sending me a copy of Tohline's book to review. The Great Lenore was published June 15 2011.

Enjoy sensationalized mysteries that are grounded in the reality of life?

Catch J M Tohline’s recently released debut novel, The Great Lenore. Set in-between the winter vacation homes of Nantucket and within the narrator’s writerly head; The Great Lenore depicts the tale of one family’s almost obsession with the immensely beautiful Lenore. Upon finding out of Lenore’s not-so-really-dead death, the family becomes distraught. Slowly everyone reveals their connections to Lenore to the narrator who just happens to be writing a book–or this book? Tohline’s novel stylistically mimics the crashing waves of the Nantucket ocean. Going back and forth, quickly, between past and present, as well as, between different character’s perspectives. Tohline’s style slowly reveals the secrets of Lenore’s past–creating a not-so-suspenseful suspense. Wait what? The captivating The Great Lenore modernizes Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s Lady Audley’s Secret due to its suspense building, which keeps the real secrets secret. The reader learns everything in the final pages that stitch every character together magically.

J M Tohline’s style and clue building kept me turning the pages until I knew all of the details. I give Tohline’s The Great Lenore four shots of espresso. Tohline’s novel lured me in and kept me reading until the final pages where the connections between characters and details were fully revealed. The missing shot, for me, came down to literally the last two pages where the novel goes on about where the characters end up in the future. These extraneous details took away from the potency of the climax. If the novel ended right before the description of the future, then this novel would have resonated much deeper. The climax enticed me because of its rippling effect that was suspended once the future entered the novel. I, nevertheless, highly recommend The Great Lenore for anyone wanting a twisting read that keeps the readerly intuition churning and the novels waves a-crashing!

N ~ Erica

This is a Book by Demetri Martin

2011-06-16T17:22:00.000-07:00

Title: This is a Book

Author: Demetri Martin

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Rating: 5 Shots of Espresso (Coffee Shakes)

I would first like to thank Grand Central Publishing for graciously sending me a copy of Martin's book to review. I was extremely excited to read it and I am still just as excited.

Comedian Demetri Martin has now reached out to the bookworm community with his first book. This is a Book by Demetri Martin instantly catalyzes laughter and sore abs. A superb ab workout plan should include reading Martin’s comedic prose novel. From “Megaphone” to “We’re Pregnant” to the “Cat Calendar,” you are sure to find dozens of short comedic quips that strike a few cords. Martin’s novel, at points, was even hard to keep reading because I was laughing so much. I will be sure to keep This is a Book by Demetri Martin on my coffee table just in case an awkward silence ensues at my next house party. You never know when you may need to tell your guests of one of Martin’s statistical facts–i.e. “you are 10 times more likely to get hit by a car when the driver is aiming for you” (38)–hell, that’s just great advice! Martin’s comedic prose is a fabulous read to do in one sitting–like I did–or read a piece here or there. Demetri Martin definitely knows how to deliver–comedic prose that is…

I give This is a Book by Demetri Martin five shots of espresso for its ability to make me need to catch my breath in order to continue reading. Martin ensured that I fulfilled my week’s cardio by simply opening the cover. Go read it NOW…

…OR ELSE!

ïIð~ Erica

Political editor for the Huffington Post, Chris Wimpress, has recently self-published

A Visit From the Goon Squad – Jennifer Egan

2011-06-16T16:37:00.000-07:00

Title: A Visit From the Goon Squad

Author: Jennifer Egan

Publisher: Random House

Rating: 5 Shots of Espresso (Coffee Shakes)

I purchased Egan's A Visit From the Goon Squad due to its 2011 Pulitzer Prize win for Fiction. I decided to see why it was placed next to novels like Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and Toni Morrison's Beloved and I am beginning to understand why.

Jennifer Egan’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, A Visit From the Goon Squad, follows a group of self-indulging people who live in the moment and rarely beyond it. The novel begins and ends with three characters–Sasha, Alex and Bennie–who connect each other to music, pop culture and other characters. Each of the thirteen chapters could easily be their own short story, but the cleaver and endless threads that Egan sews together make each chapter a new reveling entity to the tragic and very real lives of each character. These characters are genuine and true to the people who live in our communities; for every character I was reminded of someone I had encountered in my own life. Egan’s novel takes us into the worlds of each character who tries to find a place and an identity although most choose their personal need of instant gratification. While all the characters have their unflattering moments, there was only one who I just couldn’t empathize with–Lou…the raunchy and despicable music producer; there are just some things that are simply immoral. Egan exposes the raw aspects of human nature by attempting to provide the material conditions of why someone would act in a particular way.

Jennifer Egan’s A Visit From the Goon Squad valiantly examines pop culture from the last forty years or so and depicts the humanness of particular cultures. Egan demystifies the cultural myths and legends and puts a face to those who have participated. I give Egan’s A Visit to the Goon Squad five shots of espresso because of her ability to expose society in a personal manner that keeps you wanting more. Egan captures American pop culture and predicts where it may go if the goon squad continues to visit.

ïIð~ Erica

Joe is Online - Chris Wimpress

2011-06-09T14:04:00.000-07:00

Title: Joe is Online

Author: Chris Wimpress

Publisher: Self-Published

Rating: 4 Shots of Espresso (The Red Eye)

I would first like to thank Chris Wimpress for allowing me the opportunity to read his eBook Joe is Online.

Political editor for the Huffington Post, Chris Wimpress, has recently self-published the modern-aged epistolary novel Joe is Online. It clearly uses instant messages, diary entries, and blog posts to track the world and the lives of mastermind hacker Joe Brady and terrorism analyst Penelope Hunt. Joe is Online is set between England, Scotland, and partially the United States. It follows Joe’s sad and abusive childhood and how his material conditions shaped him into a powerfully manipulator using the Internet. But more importantly, Wimpress’ novel does more than cleverly use social media to tell a story; he examines the political implications of how people use the Internet: to communicate; for work; or how some use it to take advantage of others. Joe is Online mainly examines how the Internet is abused and how it may harbor cult-like groups and ringleaders. Several cultish groups are examined within the novel, but even the “good” cult figurehead seems rather disturbing by the end as well. Wimpress’ novel wonderfully explores the politics and psychology behind terrorism and does so by taking both race and culture out of the equation. Joe is Online draws the reader in by its fast-paced action; the constant action kept the pages moving and curiosity growing. Also, the exhibitionist-like position the read is placed in helps with the readers’ need to continue reading. I, at times, felt like I was reading a 48 Hours or Dateline investigation show about cultish terrorism.

I enjoyed reading Chris Wimpress’ Joe is Online and the use of the social media as the medium to tell the story. I give Joe is Online four shots of espresso because I couldn’t stop reading, but I wish there was a frame for the story. Some of the diary entries that showed up in the book did not seem clear as to how they had become available. I wanted to know who found these IMs and diary entries besides Penelope? Who put the book together? Also, I am aware that the use of IMs and blogs might keep some readers away because they are uncomfortable with social media. To those weary readers, it would be wrong to not consider reading it because of this spin on the epistolary novel. This creative move—to use social media instead of the out of date letters—is admirable and makes the reading more interesting. Using social media allowed Wimpress to more accurately critique and examine society as a whole. Go download Joe is Online!

N ~ Erica

Erica's TBR Challenge Kick-off!

2011-06-06T10:35:00.001-07:00

In honor of Nick Hornby's The Polysyllabic Spree–which is a collection of his "Stuff I've Been Reading"–I have decided to give myself a reading challenge. I think I am probably setting my self up to fail, but I need deadlines and scare tactics to keep my little lazy school-withdrawaled head reading. So here it is:

I will update a list of the books that I have bought/received/etc. for each month and a list of the books that I have read for that month. I am challenging myself to read one-half of the amount of books I receive for the following month. (If I get 10 books in June, then in I must read 5 books in July). If I can easily accomplish that, then I will read one for one. Why you ask? Because I am known for having a habit of purchasing books (a lot of books) that sit on my shelves. I have built-in book cases that take up a whole wall (floor to ceiling) that was filled the day they were made for me. (I am 24 and I already own more books than I could probably read in a life time.)

First bookcase built for me for my 23rd B-day

These are the built-ins; filled the day they were built...oops!

I may, then, let my TBR List grow and grow, but I will be attempting to read as much as my little heart and head can muster. Cheers to Summer Reading and more!

~ Erica

War Memorials – Clint McCown

2011-06-01T18:26:00.000-07:00

Title: War Memorials

Author: Clint McCown

Publisher: Graywolf Press

Rating: 4 Shots of Espresso (The Red Eye)

I would first like to thank Graywolf Press for allowing me the opportunity to read Clint McCown's novel War Memorials. Graywolf Press graciously sent me McCown's novel to read and review.

I thought reading Clint McCown’s War Memorials for Memorial weekend was only fitting. What better way than read about the lives of veterans during the weekend most of us “remember” while vacay-ing. But even more fitting than the not-so-coincidence weekend connection was enjoying all of the novel’s carnival scenes—4H animals, Ferris wheels, fried food and the demolition derby. I decided to take a reading break by going to Chico’s very own Silver Dollar Fair where I watched the Sprint cars, ate a soft pretzel with amazing nacho cheese and saw my favorite little furry friends—sheep and baby goats. Though I didn’t go to the demolition derby, I am now well versed that McCown’s figure eight track was much more exciting than Chico’s version where they line up. But you didn’t come to read about my fair adventure…

…back to McCown’s story, which is of a man on the way to an unsuccessful and pitiful life. The main character, Nolan Vann, has lost his job, his cockroach eating lizard and possibly his pregnant wife, Laney. So why read? That’s what I thought about twenty pages in, but the novel is MUCH MORE than a pathetic man “finding” himself. McCown’s War Memorials examines how a man who seems to have nothing has a lot—he has relationships with everyone in his community. Nolan isn’t trying to form his identity; Nolan is developing his relationship to his family and his community. He meets snake worshipers, veterans of all the wars Nolan never fought, and people who Nolan repossess their cars. Nolan is a man who finds a place for himself in a community he doesn’t belong once other community outcasts reach out to him.

I recommend Clint McCown’s War Memorials to anyone who wants to remind himself or herself that individuality is a good thing. McCown reminds his readers to acknowledge the past but, also, create your future; be yourself. I give War Memorials four shots of espresso because I enjoyed where Nolan ends up. The missing shot, however, is due to the slow beginning that doesn’t provide the necessary connection between characters. I needed to have a deeper investment with Nolan, initially, but by fifty pages I was fully sucked into to Nolan’s life. War Memorials is a wonderful novel for all tastes!

N ~ Erica

Armchair BEA Blogger Relationships

2011-05-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

Since I am new to this blogging scene, I have been trying to learn from all the blogging experts. I follow many on Twitter and go on their blogs to see what they are reading. I really want to support independent authors and publishers because the books that are apart of that scene are fantastic! I, also, want to promote new authors and self-published authors. In just over two months of blogging, I have received many requests for me to review books. I am so excited when I see a request in my inbox or a book on my front porch. I do my crazy happy dance when I hear that wonderful thud on my front step and here the delivery truck zoom away. I am so very thankful for the authors who have sent me their books and the publishers that have sent me books as well. You all have a lot of faith in a new blogger and I really appreciate everyone's support!

Since I am new, I haven't made the biggest connections yet. I, however, have thoroughly enjoyed the conversations I have been able to have two authors that I reviewed–K. Stephens and Rebecca Rasmussen. Both are both wonderful authors and great spirits. It is so cool to be able to talk to them and ask them questions about their writing. If nothing else, the little bit of blogging I have done so far has allowed me to be in touch with authors in a way I have never been unless they came to my campus. I really hope that the blogging I do and the people I make relationships just keeps growing and growing.

Another great day with Armchair BEA! Thank you to all my new followers and supports!

Cheers,
Erica

Armchair BEA Blogger Inspiration

2011-05-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

So, I shamefully did not interview anyone for today's Armchair BEA. I, however, wanted to give a shout out to those who have inspired me to start my book blog.

First of all, Lori of The Next Best Book Blog (TNBBC's Blog) had a book club on Goodreads, which I have been following and apart of for about 2 years. I have been following her blog and her twitter, which are both entertaining and informative. Lori is a wonderful support to new authors, independent publishers and fellow book bloggers. I graciously won a giveaway on her blog–The Ghost Trap by K. Stephens–which inspired me to begin my blogging. Everyone probably knows Lori's TNBBC's Blog; but if you don't please check it out!

My other book blogger inspiration is Melissa's The Sunday Book Review. She reads an eclectic list of books and has turned her blog into a really professional archive of book reviews. I love following her on Twitter and wish I could go to her Indie Book Event that will happening this summer (oh to live in New York Book City...sigh). The Sunday Book Review is a wonderful book blog; I aspire to have as wonderful a blog as Melissa's soon!

Let's keep the networking going because I love how receptive and supportive all the book bloggers are to one another. Cheers!

~ Erica

If You Go Into the Woods – David Gaughran

2011-05-24T21:21:00.000-07:00

Title: If You Go Into the Woods

Author: David Gaughran

Publisher: Self-Published

Rating: 4 Shots of Espresso (The Red Eye)

I would first like to thank David Gaughran for allowing me the opportunity to read his short stories from If You Go Into the Woods. Gaughran submitted his stories for my reivew. I wanted to read his stories in honor of May being Short Story Month.

David Gaughran’s newly self-published eBook, If You Go Into the Woods, comes with two short stories: “If You Go Into the Woods” and “The Reset Button.” Though they are extremely different in plot—a young boy who goes to the woods and a divorced man who drinks at a bar—both stories have potent endings with a similar message. I, usually, am not one to drop philosophical categories about a work of fiction; in fact, I never used any in my papers through both my undergrad and graduate school as I studied literature. (Note: I was determined to never be one of them...) I, however, must categorize Gaughran’s stories as nihilistic portrayals of life. “If You Go Into the Woods” is about a boy who enters the woods after hearing a bird’s chirp. The ending left me with an emptiness and shattered my expectations, which I liked. Call me a literary masochist, but the story brought out my rather cynical perspective about life. The bonus story, “The Reset Button,” follows a disgruntled and lonely man who is divorced and everything has been taken from him. The ending, again, forced me to take a moment and say: “What the what?” I enjoyed both of the short stories, although they may not have been something I would have been drawn to in the past. I did, ironically, enjoy their philosophical elements.

I give David Gaughran’s If You Go Into the Woods four shots of espresso. I enjoyed the catch-you-off-guard endings, but there was a shot of the story missing. In “If You Go Into the Woods,” the narrator mentions how the boy’s mother is always crying, but it is dropped and never picked back up. I wanted to know more about the boy's mother. Also in “The Reset Button,” I had absolutely no sympathy for the man and, at times, I felt that he was a flat character. That being said, I do recommend Gaughran’s If You Go Into the Woods for a quick read with a philosophical blow.

N ~ Erica

The Bird Sisters – Rebecca Rasmussen

2011-05-24T21:07:00.000-07:00

Title: The Bird Sisters

Author: Rebecca Rasmussen

Publisher: Crown Publishing

Rating: 5 Shots of Espresso (Coffee Shakes)

I purchased Rasmussen's The Bird Sisters because of all the hype on Twitter. This novel has been the talk of the social networks over the last two months. I decided to join the craze and I am glad that I have.

Rebecca Rasmussen’s The Bird Sisters is a wonderful story of two bird saving sisters whose bond outlast turmoil and time. Rasmussen interweaves the perspectives of Milly and Twiss. One story is from their childhood summer when their cousin Bett visits and the other story is the day they cannot save yet another goldfinch in their elderly days. Milly is the eloquent baker who forgets to boil kidney beans for her kidney bean pie. Twiss is the tomboy who rebels against anything feminine. Both sisters must make big decisions that will affect their lives forever and with possible devastating consequences. Their strong bond and love for one another provides hope and an acceptance to life’s hardships.

What I particularly enjoyed about The Bird Sisters was how Rasmussen created Twiss’ and Milly’s world—a small Wisconsin town with a real family. I wanted to visit their home in Spring Green and meet the grumpy Kingsley—the snapping turtle. The story reminded me of both Willa Cather’s O Pioneers! and William Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County where the land becomes a character and helps to shape the characters. Rasmussen has wonderfully dynamic characters who really fight for what they believe. The story element, however, is more than enough of a reason to read The Bird Sisters.

I give Rebecca Rasmussen’s The Bird Sisters five shots of espresso. I enjoyed the mysterious and foreshowed elements that provided just enough suspense to continue each chapter. But more than anything, I was captivated by Twiss’ character and her rebellious personality. Twiss’ determination is inspiring because she acts only for her family, especially Milly, by sharing her rather big heart. I strongly recommend The Bird Sisters for a wonderful story but also for a new understanding of how to cope with what life sends you way. Go pick this novel up because it is sure to stick with you beyond 2011!

ïIð~ Erica

Armchair BEA: Best of 2011

2011-05-24T10:09:00.000-07:00

I am supposed to choose between all the amazing books that I have read this year as my "Best of 2011" and it's only May! Well, I cannot be partial to only one so my favorite books of 2011 (so far) are

Us by Michael Kimball was one of those books I read until I was finished!

I, however, also thoroughly enjoyed another novel that was incredible in its own right.

The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen tells the story of the bond between sisters.

Both novels tell a simple but powerful story that will last beyond 2011, which is why I cannot favor one over the other. As for the books that I am most excited to read this year, I will choose two again.

Father-Mucker by Greg Olear

AND

Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson

Olear's Father-Mucker seems funny and quirky, which I cannot wait to indulge in. Watson's Before I Go To Sleep has had so much hype that I have been dying to get my hands on this book. Let the reading begin!

Let's celebrate the awesome books of 2011 by kicking our feet up in an armchair and reading!

CHEERS!

~ Erica

BookedinChico

My First Armchair BEA Attempt...

2011-05-23T17:16:00.000-07:00

May 23rd to 27th 2011

Since I have yet to be blogging for very long, I am still a novice about the goings-on in the book blogosphere. I am, however, rather excited to begin from the sidelines of the sidelines by being a participant of the Armchair BEA. As I hear more and more about the excitement and the events that are currently happening in New York at BEA, I think that I will begin saving money for next year's event ASAP! But until then, I am rather excited to participate in the Armchair BEA option this year.

My name is Erica or otherwise known as BookedinChico. I just graduated and received my MA Degree in English as of Friday night! Woot! I am excited to begin putting more time into my blog and to hopefully see it grow. I am so very thankful to all the fellow bloggers, as well as, the wonderful authors and publishers who have been sending me books to review. I am ecstatic about all the support I have been given. For this year's Armchair BEA, I would like to be an observer. I, also, will offer my blog to those who would like to giveaway books or to host an interview.

Cheers!

~ Erica

Us - Michael Kimball

2011-05-09T21:31:00.000-07:00

Title: Us

Author: Michael Kimball

Publisher: NY Tyrant Books

Rating: 5 Shots of Espresso (Coffee Shakes)

I would first like to thank NY Tyrant Books for allowing me the opportunity to read Michael Kimball's Us, which will be released Tuesday, May 10, 2011.

First of all, I want to share with you why I wanted to read Michael Kimball’s Us so desperately. I watched this heart felt and bone gripping book trailer:

(blackarrowstudio)

Upon watching this trailer, how could you not want to know more and read Us? I was instantly intrigued and curious. I may be slightly biased. Why? Because I am known for over sympathizing with widowed males. I tend to develop fantastical and lavish stories of how it must be triumphant that they make it through life without their wives. So obviously, I would be drawn to Kimball’s story.

Us casts the reader into a husband and wife’s struggle, where they must cope with the death and the dying of a loved one. As the wife slowly passes away, the reader is introduced to Kimball’s methodically sharp sentences, which reveal how the husband copes with his wife’s death and how his love succeeds death. Eventually, in several bolded typeface parts, the reader engages with the grandson’s perspective of his grandfather’s grief. All seven sections powerfully reveal the many layers of grief and lasting love.

I give Kimball’s Us five shots of espresso because the potency of the novel kept me from taking a moment to stop. I even walked to and from school in order to keep reading the novel. Kimball’s novel has given me the coffee shakes that will last for a very long time. As cliché as this sounds, Us moves you, rattles you, and shakes your spirit as a human who can potentially love. Both perspectives of the grandfather and grandson expand the value of the human experience and the possibility to love beyond one relationship across generations. Us reminded me of the value of life and the potential to love beyond death. I, however, feel that if I say anything more, then I will undermine the beauty of Kimball’s novel. I will leave you with one plea: read this magnificent novel.

ïIð~ Erica

My New American Life - Francine Prose

2011-05-08T18:51:00.000-07:00

Title: My New American Life

Author: Francine Prose

Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers

Rating: 3 Shots of Espresso (Coffee Buzz)

I would first like to thank both Harper Collins Publishers and Goodreads for allowing me the opportunity to read Francine Prose's My New American Life. Harper Collins added Prose's novel to Goodreads' giveaways, where I graciously won ARC to read and review. My New American Life was released in Hardback and eBook on Tuesday, April 26, 2011.

Francine Prose, author of many acclaimed novels, recently published her latest novel My New American Life. Prose’s novel depicts an Albanian immigrant Lula who is in the process of getting her United States green card, while working as a live-in nanny for teenager Zeke. The novel follows Lula and her struggle to form a new identity in her new American life. Both Lula’s lawyer and boss help her to begin shaping a stable beginning, eventually encouraging her to write a memoir. Life as an Albanian immigrant, however, becomes complicated with a knock from three Albanian blood brothers. The complication, though, does not end there; multiple characters come in out of Lula’s life. The secondary and tertiary characters, at times, don’t serve a purpose; also, the connections between big events just suddenly happen. These moments are jarring and rather unbelievable for Lula’s story. These unsettling moments make the novel and the writing seemed rushed, but not enough reason to stop reading.

Prose’s novel packs a lot into 300 pages from political commentary about life after 9/11 and life within the university as a professor. Much of the commentary removes the reader from the story. The pop culture and political references date a book that is published in 2011. The novel, set 6 years earlier in 2005, assumes its readership knows the specifics of that year’s culture. The rants about American life in 2005 is unappealing and don’t help the great tension that Lula faces as she recreates her identity. Prose’s novel shines when Lula and Zeke interact, which makes their relationship both real and deeply layered. I wanted to read more about how Lula and Zeke help each other to shape their own desirable identity—from Lula merging her Albanian life with a potential American life to Zeke growing into an adult despite a strict father and an insane mother. These were the moments that kept me reading. The Albanian blood brothers may have elevated suspense and some page turning; however, their evil depiction greatly bothered me. Why are the Non-Westerners depicted as bad? They are there to taunt and potentially jeopardize Lula’s chance at her new American life, but why the Albanian blood brothers? The portrayal of Albanians seems rather cliché. Prose’s novel almost suggests that Lula, as an Albanian, is the exception and, therefore, worthy to re-identify herself as an American.

I, then, give Francine Prose’s My New American Life three shots of espresso; the novel gave me just enough of a coffee buzz to read more about Lula’s newly forming American life. The cultural tension and Lula’s struggle for a new identity kept me intrigued; however, the other issues—i.e. pop culture and political rants—force me to recommend this novel for those interested specifically with genres that illustrate cultural tensions and/or identity. My New American Life did not necessarily inspire me to read another Francine Prose novel.

ï(ð~ Erica